55

CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE:

Severus kissed the top of Harry's head softly and began the finicky process of extricating himself from the younger man's hold. The man is like an octopus, he thought in fond exasperation as he untangled his legs from Harry's. Harry stirred and blinked up at him, and Severus found a small smile for him. "Sleep," he whispered and pressed a soft kiss to his lover's temple. As he had hoped he would, Harry immediately burrowed deeper into the blankets, and Severus slipped out of the bed unhindered.

I hate teaching, he thought wearily, the animosity of the thought dulled by many years of repetition. I cannot wait until I can leave this job. Once in the bathroom he closed the door and splashed water on his face, meeting his gaze in the mirror. I look half-dead, he thought mirthlessly. The dark rings under his eyes did nothing for his almost sickly pale complexion. With a sigh he grabbed a towel and dried his face. At least I don't have to go through the whole ordeal of agonizing over why Harry seems to love me, he smiled slightly. Since nobody could love me for my face.

He had used to think nobody could love him, full stop – but the fact that he and Harry had shared their entire lives through Legilimency had eradicated that doubt. Sometimes Severus would start questioning why Harry seemed to enjoy his company and companionship, but just as quickly he would remember the things Harry had showed him and realize there was no point in questioning it. Legilimency was, over all, an honest method, and Harry had hidden nothing when it came to him: past slights were displayed, Severus's every imperfection acknowledged, his terrible teaching personality laid bare – but also many, many things were revealed that Harry had found made getting to know his former teacher worth it. And look at what it led to, Severus smiled, drawing his robe on over his teaching clothes. No, he would never question Harry's feelings.

OoOoO

The entire student body looked up as a large number of owls flew into the Great Hall that breakfast, eager to know what had happened the previous day.

"We already know from Professor McGonagall that Umbridge is gone and Madam Bones is interim Minister; do you think there'll be anything else important?" Harry asked as he watched a great tawny owl winged its way over to Hermione.

"Probably not," Hermione hurriedly cleared a space for the owl to land if it wanted to, but instead it dropped the newspaper right onto her plate. "Urgh," she grimaced, picking up the newspaper by a corner and casting a cleaning spell on it to get the jam off it. "Right, let's see what Skeeter has to say."

The front page was quite clearly that reporter's work, with a huge headline reading, 'NO CONFIDENCE FOR FUDGE! HOGWARTS INQUISITOR ARRESTED FOR CHILD ABUSE AND TORTURE!'

"Why does Hames let that," Ron quickly swallowed his mouthful of food at Hermione's warning look, "woman write the articles? He should know perfectly well what a liar she is."

Harry replied before Hermione could, "She's effective, that's why." At Ron's puzzled look he elaborated, "I mean, of course I know what a liar she is, but she hasn't lied up till now, right? She wouldn't dare, anyhow – she knows that Hames has ways to ruin her, especially now that he has the political backing to, and he's the reason she even has all these big stories to report on. She wouldn't let that chance pass her by. Hames knows that she's well-liked by most of the wizarding public, since she's considered to write the truth without mincing words – which isn't true, of course, but they don't know that – and while she's on his side she'll badmouth his opponents more effectively than he could. Right, Hermione?"

"Absolutely," she agreed absently, already skimming over the title page article. "Fudge will have a hard time getting back into anyone's good graces after this article," she snorted, "and Skeeter is definitely trying to stay in Hames' good graces by publicly supporting him and Madam Bones." Unwilling to hand over her newspaper, Hermione read the article out loud.

Yesterday during a Wizengamot session Lord Potter-Black called for the trial of the Chief Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, Dolores Umbridge. Sentenced to life in Azkaban, the crimes of the Ministry-appointed Hogwarts Inquisitor threw up doubts about Minister Fudge's competency – and resulted in a vote of No Confidence.

Minister Fudge turned pale all the way up to his steadily receding hairline when his Chief Undersecretary and right-hand woman was charged with numerous crimes including abuse of power, child abuse, official misconduct, and torture. This reporter was shocked to hear that the woman's many crimes all led back to one post: That of Ministry-appointed Hogwarts Professor!

While the courtroom was reeling from the implications of the charges, Lord Potter-Black stood to explain his reasons for them. "As you already know, I was once her student, and […] I have accused her of using a Blood Quill on students in detentions – we had to write lines with it, and to this day I retain the scar." To the courtroom's collective shock, the Lord then raised his right hand, clearly displaying the words 'I must not tell lies' etched into the otherwise flawless skin. According to Lord Potter-Black, Umbridge chose those lines for his detentions because he insisted on telling the truth: That Lord Voldemort had returned. This was not a view shared by the Minister, and Madam Umbridge defamed and ad hominem abused the young Harry Potter with the full support of Minister Fudge.

Once Lord Potter-Black had spoken a few choice words about the other charges, he finished by saying that "she should never have been given a position of power over anyone, let alone over a whole school of children. Her position as Hogwarts Inquisitor gave her the power to systematically oppress the student body, and neither the teachers nor the Headmaster could do anything about it."

By this point Madam Umbridge was looking decidedly uncomfortable, fiddling nervously with the hem of her garishly pink tweed cape. In an attempt to escape justice she declared that she has a right to legal representation – no doubt hoping to delay the trial long enough to make an escape – but Madam Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, had wisely assigned a Ministry barrister to present the defense. While a capable barrister, Madam Umbridge's guilt was clear for the court to see, and she was sentenced to life in Azkaban with a unanimous vote by the Wizengamot, a feat that has not been achieved in over a century. The shrew was led kicking and screaming from the courtroom, each person present heaving a sigh of relief at seeing the torturess safely away from our children.

Madam Augusta Longbottom, who was soon after elected permanent Chief Warlock to replace Dumbledore, then announced a vote of No Confidence for Minister Fudge, again called for by Lord Potter-Black.

"We have just completed the trial for Madam Umbridge, on whom the Wizengamot voted unanimously for lifelong incarceration," Lord Potter-Black stood to say. "I would like to point out that Madam Umbridge was until just a few minutes ago the Chief Undersecretary to the Minister, as well as a Hogwarts Inquisitor and Professor that the Minister himself set in place. I argue that Minister Fudge knew not the specifics, but the general methods that Madam Umbridge would use, and as such not only condoned, but enabled abuse of power, abuse of rank, abuse of trust, ad hominem abuse and defamation, along with several other charges that were leveled against Madam Umbridge. I put forward that Minister Fudge himself be charged with abuse of authority, incompetence, character assassination, corruption and bribery, and call for a vote of No Confidence."

No member of the Wizengamot dared speak up against such forceful words (although Lords Liechtenstein and Jecht appeared less than pleased), and within short order Fudge was Minister no longer.

This reporter couldn't help but notice that many Lords previously tried as Death Eaters but released for various reasons, including claiming to be victims of the Imperius curse, were not present. Coincidence? During my brief visit to the Ministry I asked select people for their opinions on the current situation, and heard rumors that Madam Bones had taken quick action to capture as many Death Eaters as possible following You-Know-Who's defeat. According to my source the Head of the DMLE questioned her entire department under Veritaserum to weed out the followers of the late Dark Lord – one of which was the Head Auror, Rufus Scrimgeour. Did the woman, now elected interim Minister by the Wizengamot, also manage to capture Death Eaters outside her department for trial? This reporter managed to have a quick word with the new interim Minister after the Wizengamot session.

"Several members of Voldemort's Inner Circle are already in Ministry holding cells," the woman affirmed, a competent, no-nonsense air surrounding her. She was recommended for the post of interim Minister by Lord Potter-Black himself, and intends to run for Minister once the elections take place. "I have also been forwarded a list of marked Death Eaters by the goblins, and the DMLE, now under the heading of Kingsley Shacklebolt, has already started to bring them in for trials. Each trial will be held individually, as Lord Potter-Black has expressed an interest in sitting in on all of the trials."

Why is that, you may wonder? According to interim Minister Bones it is because Lord Potter-Black does not believe all Death Eaters to be true Death Eaters. "A perfect example is Severus Snape," Madam Bones says, to this reporter's delight. Much speculation has arisen at the declaration that the Potions Master was a spy for the Light. "When he was a freshly graduated student Snape was lured into joining the Death Eaters with promises of a Potions Mastery. A young man from a poor background, he jumped at the chance to make his dreams come true, believing the group he was joining to be a group of Slytherin alumni. He only discovered the true motives of the Death Eaters when it was already too late, and soon after turned spy for the Light, carefully working his way through Death Eater ranks until he was a member of the Inner Circle and privy to Voldemort's most important plans. He was the one who ensured that the Potters went into hiding – a plan that had disastrous results for the Potter family but extremely beneficial results for the rest of the wizarding world."

Were there other spies in the Death Eater ranks? "Not that we know of," Madam Bones replies promptly, "but there may well be other Death Eaters who were tricked, coerced, or even blackmailed into joining the Death Eaters. We wish to see justice carried out, and don't intend to simply toss anyone with a Dark Mark into Azkaban. True Death Eaters will soon find themselves locked up, but victims will be supported by both the Ministry and Lord Potter-Black himself."

Curious about these statements, I managed to have a quick word with Lord Potter-Black. The figure he cut in the purple Wizengamot robes was no less impressive than the one he had presented at the press conference, and he greeted me by my first name when I approached him.

"I have the full list of Death Eaters," he told me gravely when I asked about the upcoming trials. "There are names on there that I had not expected to see, names of good people who I would never have guessed were Death Eaters. I believe that they were most likely not true Death Eaters, but only a trial under Veritaserum will clear up my – and the public's – doubts. Each Death Eater will receive a fair trial, and a just sentence. The trials, and their results, will be made public, and I hope that tricked or coerced Death Eaters will be spared the stigma associated with the tattoo on their arm." The young Lord also expresses concern over the Death Eaters' children. "They are not to blame for their parents' mistakes," he says. "Lucius Malfoy, for example, was Voldemort's right hand man, but his son, Draco Malfoy, is not even sixteen years old yet. He grew up surrounded by very specific views and has not had the chance to learn about other ones; a chance that I hope he will have in the future. His mother, Narcissa Malfoy, will be rejoining the Black family under the specification that she learn about Muggle culture, and I hope that Draco will accept the same offer."

This reporter, for one, is very interested in the future developments Lord Potter-Black will bring about. Can anyone doubt that he has done much to improve our society these past few days? I look forward to hearing your opinions.

"He's bringing Malfoy into the Black family?" was Ron's disbelieving remark. Hermione was tempted to ask whether that really was the most important part of the article, but bit her tongue.

"It makes sense to me," Harry responded pensively, and both Ron and Hermione turned to him with surprised looks. "I mean, he is right that Malfoy hasn't learned any other opinions than his father's – I mean, he's forever hiding behind his father's power, isn't he?" he said defensively, and Hermione nodded encouragingly. "We all know that right now he's as good as a Death Eater – he definitely would have joined Voldemort right out of Hogwarts – but who knows? Maybe Hames can change him. It's worth a try at least, no?"

Ron seemed unconvinced. "Well, at least Hames can keep him in line as Head of House Black," he muttered.

"I'm more interested in the implications about the Death Eaters," Hermione said, frowning slightly. "I mean, even the Head Auror was an unmarked Death Eater! I wonder how the goblins got a list of marked Death Eaters? Though I suppose that means we won't know who the unmarked ones are unless everyone in Britain is questioned under Veritaserum, but since that's not about to happen I guess the best we can hope for is that they stay low and don't cause any trouble…"

Ron seemed unconcerned, but Harry seemed to turn it over in his mind. "There will definitely be resistance," Ron said as he served himself another helping of eggs, "but Hames has got enough political power at the moment that they're unlikely to try anything. All the powerful political players are either Death Eaters or on Hames's side already, after all."

"What about the two Lords Skeeter mentioned?" Hermione asked the lone Pureblood in their group. "Liechtenstein and Jecht?"

Ron shrugged and speared a sausage. "No clue, but they can't be very important if we've never heard of them, eh?"

Harry hummed in agreement, but appeared slightly concerned anyway.

"At least assassination attempts are unlikely to succeed," Hermione said pensively as she checked out the second page of the Prophet. "Between Dobby, Professor Snape, and Harry's own skills, I don't think anything anyone could try would work. If anyone even makes the attempt – his reputation is pretty fearsome since he killed Voldemort. Have you two heard the stories about the amazing duel that apparently took place even though Hames said to the press that all it took was a cutting curse?"

"Yeah," Harry grinned wryly, already very familiar with how rumors worked. "The one I like best is the one where Professor Snape somehow holds off the entire Inner Circle while Hames battles it out with Voldemort, if only because it's funny to see the looks Professor Snape gets now," he snickered.

Hermione laughed. "And he always glares back – I think he really hates the attention," she grinned. "I have to say, though, the story I like best is the one where it's this pissing match – the long, drawn-out verbal fight that culminates in both of them casting at the same time and Harry's simple cutting curse overpowering Voldemort's killing curse."

"Nah, you're both wrong," Ron said through a mouthful of bread. "The best one is definitely where You-Know-Who keeps hitting Hames with killing curses and none of them work, and eventually Hames gets fed up and kills You-Know-Who with a first-year curse as a final insult."

"Rumors are pretty fun when they're not about me," Harry grinned. "Even if technically they are." Ron nodded wisely, and Hermione hid her smile behind her newspaper.