582Chapter 20: You Shouldn't Have Done That
Thanks for all the reviews.
Also, for those of you who haven't read my other works, I wanted to let you know I have 44, at the writing of this note, (33 on AO3 under faewm) other stories that could use some love. They range from one-shots to full-on novels.
They also differ in genre from angst to drama, with some crack. There is no romance, I don't do romance. So, while you wait for updates on this one, you might want to see what else I've written. Or not, it's up to you.
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Alastor stomped into Amelia's office one Wednesday afternoon. He was not a happy person, which was not unusual, but this time he was beyond frustrated. He slumped down in a chair and waited for her to finish the parchmentwork she was working on.
"You're in a sour mood," she commented as she pushed her work away.
"Albus is a sanctimonious prick," the grumpy man stated, his fake eye twirling around looking for anything out of place. "Is your office secure?" he asked, his real eye narrowing.
"Probably not," she confessed with a shrug. She would have thought so a few months ago, but since Potter took office, she had been proven wrong. She did the sweeps on his office daily and found listening spells in it every other day. It was annoying as all get-out. They still haven't found who was putting them there.
"Let's go get some coffee then. In the muggle world," he said, hefting his decrepit body out of the chair. He really hated that he had this wooden leg and wanted to go and get one of those newfangled real looking legs that the muggles had. But with his magical eye, he couldn't pass as a muggle.
"Sure, just let me tell my secretary," Amelia said, getting up and gathering her purse and lifting the phone. She spoke into it for a minute, hung up, nodded to Alastor, and they left. They moved through the Ministry without disturbance and were soon in the muggle world at a café not far from the Leaky Cauldron. "What did Albus say?" she asked after they both ordered some tea and cakes.
"Mostly that he knew what he was doing and that he didn't need any help. He did tell me that he knew about the horcruxes, only because I blindsided him with the word. He wouldn't tell me what they were, or what he knew about them. He did let slip that You-Know-Who's name is Tom. However, he didn't give a last name," Moody said, then hushed as their tea came. He had a hat covering his magical eye. It made him look shady, but better unsavory looking then scary. He hated that hat, but he knew it was necessary.
The waitress placed the tea and cakes on the table and moved away. She kept glancing back at their table, probably because Moody looked so intimidating with his hat and scars.
They busied themselves with the repass for a moment and then continued. Moody discreetly spell checked his tea when no one was watching, making Amelia roll her eyes.
"Tom…" Amelia said thoughtfully, going over all the people she knew by that name, which was few. "Well, we know it's not Tom the bartender. I only know a few others by that name," she said, taking a bite of a delicious pastry. It was light and flaky, and she just knew it was high in calories. Not that she cared, she was quite an active woman.
"Aye, I think I know who he was talking about. I went to school with a bloke named Tom Riddle. He was a few years behind me. Slytherin. Crafty bugger that had the whole school convinced butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. He was a muggleborn in the house of the snakes. He ruled that house before his fourth year," Alastor said, putting something from his flask in his tea. "At least we thought he was muggleborn, until it came out in later years that he was a half-blood," he reflected.
The waitress saw him doctor his tea, but other than frown didn't do anything.
"Riddle, you say?" Amelia asked, a frown on her brow. "I know that name," she said, like it was a tickle in the back of her head. "I've read it somewhere," she stated, it was just out of her reach.
"He got an award for 'special services to the school'. Something about catching Rubeus Hagrid having a creature that opened the Chamber of Secrets, or some such rot. Bullshit if you ask me, but no one did. Ask me, that is. It sits at the school," Moody supplied, taking a swig of his spiked tea. "That boy was as dark as they come. I wouldn't doubt he's our current headache," he added, taking another drink then setting his cup down.
"You-Know-Who's a half-blood? That'll put the kneazles among the nifflers. I'll look into what he did after he left Hogwarts and his heritage. Maybe it'll give us some clues as to what and where we can find our treasures," Bones said, finishing off her pastry and taking another. She was the only one eating them. As it was, she was going to have to take the rest back with her.
"I'll ask around the more unsavory parts," Mad-eye said, drinking the last of his tea and getting up to leave. He knew the underbelly of the magical world loads better than she did.
Amelia waved down the waitress and asked for a doggy bag. The waitress gave her a weird look but went to get her a bag for the leftover pastries. Amelia figured it just wasn't something that was done often in the muggle world, but she was damned if she was going to let these delicious cakes go to waste. She paid the bill and went back to the office, Alastor having already left. He had left without her even noticing. Blasted man.
She started in the records department, looking up the heritage of one Tom Riddle. Oh, look he's related to the Gaunts. Lovely.
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The week leading up to the charity dinner, Vic and John sparred every free minute the minister had. He was woefully out of shape. He had been quite the dueler before he had been thrown in Azkaban, but he had not done any since he escaped. Sure, he had exercised with Harry and was not fat or anything. However, he was not in fighting form.
"Just what have you been doing with yourself?" John asked as Vic gasped for air. The bastard wasn't even winded. Arsehole.
"Politics mostly," the minister confessed, bending over, and putting his hands on his knees. He really was ashamed that he had let his body get this bad. He never thought he could be beaten so thoroughly. "Give me a minute, yeah?" he begged, holding up one hand in a 'hold on' gesture.
"No," John said, lifting his wand and sending a stinging jinx at his rump.
"Dammit," Vic said, jumping and defending himself. "Why?" he demanded as he sent some color changing spells the man's way. They had agreed that there wouldn't be any lasting spells. Only mild jinxes, spells, or hexes. If it impeded movement, then it would not be used. Those would be saved until Vic was in better shape.
"Your enemies aren't going to wait until you catch your breath," his bodyguard said, sending more stinging jinxes at him.
"Merlin bless it!" Vic shouted as his hand was hit and he lost his wand. He hadn't dodged well enough. He rolled out of the way and snatched it back up and came up firing.
They did this for around ten more minutes, until Vic couldn't move anymore. He flopped to the ground face first and didn't stir a muscle.
"Bang, you're dead," John said, holding his fingers in a gun shape and firing an imaginary bullet.
"It's a good thing wizards don't use guns," Vic said, with a chuckle. His everything hurt. He was sure his hair hurt.
"No, but they do use Killing Curses," John stated, in a chastising way.
"Yeah," the other man said, rolling over on his back and just staring at the ceiling. He was just contemplating how he was going to get back into fighting form. He needed to be able to protect himself and Harry. "You'll teach Harry?" he asked, looking at John.
"He'll learn all he needs to know at that spy school," the bodyguard stated in a knowing fashion.
"Really?" He knew they'd teach him to fight, but like this?
"They'll teach him things I'll never know," was the answer. "I'm good, they're better," John said, in a 'what can you do' manner. He wasn't the least bit put out by that. "However, I'll spar with him a bit until such time that he doesn't need me," he offered.
"Thanks," Vic said, getting off the floor and getting ready to get his arse kicked again.
"No problem. You could spar with him too. It'll be a bonding experience," Stances suggested. The two Potters had so little time together, this would bring them closer.
"Good suggestion," Vic agreed, for much the same reasons the man was thinking.
The two went at it again, and Vic did indeed get his arse kicked over and over again. He was getting better as he remembered his younger days, but his muscle memory was shot.
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Saturday came and Vic, Harry and John were ready to go to Malfoy Manor. They didn't want to, but they were anyway. They all braced themselves for a long and tedious night. They knew they were going to have to face at least two men they hated. And they were going to have to play nice. It was going to be nerve-wracking.
Malfoy Manor was quite the estate. It was sprawling on a lavish green lawn and had albino peacocks everywhere. The lawns were lush and beautiful. There were trees littering the expansive yard that provided just enough shade and made for quite the sight. It was nicely laid out and looked professionally done.
The house itself was a stately manor that stood five stories high and was just as wide. It was white with a golden trim, which Vic thought was pretentious. There was a steeple tower on the north side, and a turret on the south. It was like the manor wanted to be a castle but didn't quite make the cut.
"Wow," Harry said, not exactly in awe, but close. It was bigger than their manor, and much flashier.
"Yeah," Vic said, sharing the sentiment.
"Stick close, you two," John said as they walked from the gate, which is where the portkey dropped them off. They were walking with a long line of guests, some of whom they knew. Others, they didn't. Everyone was dressed in their finery. Even their group was dressed to the nines in dress robes and suits.
The dinner was an early one, so there was still plenty of light on the walk up to the mansion.
Vic even brought a host gift of wine. He didn't go all out, but it was a respectable vintage. They got in the receiving line and were soon in front of their host. "Mr. Malfoy," Vic said, handing him the wine.
"Minister Potter," Lucius said, taking the wine and sniffing at it. He turned and handed it to a house elf. "My wife, Narcissa," he said with a smile for his beloved. She smiled a lovely smile in greeting.
"Madam Malfoy," Vic said, not showing any signs of recognition. He took her hands and bussed the knuckles. "My nephew, Harry Potter," he said, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Ma'am," Harry said, copying his uncle's gesture.
"Minister Potter. My Lord Black, welcome to our home. Do you know my son, Draco?" Narcissa asked, indicating the boy at her side.
"No, ma'am," Harry said, bobbing his head to the white-haired boy, who sneered at him. Harry kept the smile on his face with great effort.
"Draco, say hello to our guests," Narcissa said, her tone firm. She had told the child to be nice to the Boy-Who-Lived, but she could see that had been a futile talk. Her son was too much like his father, and her addressing Harry Potter as her lord was a slap in the face to her sprog.
"Hello, Minister Potter, Mr. Potter," Draco said, the sneer still firmly on his face.
"Young Master Malfoy," Vic said, his tone cordial. He wondered just how spoiled the other boy was that he seemed to be defying his own mother. Her smile was so strained that he was sure everyone could see it. He smiled reassuringly at her and then put his hand back on Harry's shoulder.
"Hello," Harry said, waving a bit, just to annoy the brat. He could see they weren't going to be friends. He was doubly glad that they hadn't brought Hermione. This boy would have been insufferable.
"If you'll excuse us," Vic said, seeing Amelia waiting to the side. He steered Harry that way and John followed.
"Why didn't you introduce John?" Harry asked, looking back at the bodyguard, who was looking at everyone and everything with an evil eye. Well, he thought that was what he was doing. He had shades on.
"You don't introduce servants," Vic said in his most snobbish tone. Even going so far as to stick his nose in the air.
"Arseholes," Harry muttered under his breath.
"It is what it is," his uncle said, then stopped in front of the Head of the DMLE. "Amelia," he said, nodding his head.
"Minister," she acknowledged. She too was scanning the crowd for trouble.
"Anyone to watch out for?" Vic asked, looking around trying to spot Snape. He didn't see the man anywhere, but he just knew he was lurking somewhere out of sight.
"No one yet," she answered, sipping her champagne flute. "I talked to Moody," she said, looking at Vic's face. "I'll come by your place later and tell you what he said," she finished.
Vic grabbed a flute from a passing floating tray. Harry went to grab one, but the tray floated out of his reach. He tried to jump to get one, but the tray just floated out of his reach again.
"You're too young," Vic said with a laugh. He spotted another tray that had juice and pointed towards it. "Grab one of those," he said, still laughing.
Harry stomped off and grabbed a juice and went back to join them. He was already bored and hated being there. The only person his age was a stuck-up brat. So, he decided to put his spying to use. He subtly went to the bookcase and was pretending to peruse the titles. He used that time to listen in on conversations and see what was being said, about Vic or the government. He only learned about peoples' love lives, and it was people he didn't know. It was when he was halfway down the bookcase when he came across a book that was radiating evil.
It was so evil that it made him go cross-eyed just looking at it. It was a wonder that not everyone in the room felt it. Maybe there was a containment field around it? Something had to be preventing it from leaking its evilness.
"Shite," he said, staring at the book. There were charms around the book, he could tell, because he couldn't reach up and take it. He casually moved down the bookcase like nothing happened and noted where the book was. After about ten minutes he went back to his uncle. "Uncle Vic?" he said, looking around the room like he was looking for something. "I need the loo," he proclaimed.
"Oh," Vic said, furrowing his brow. He waved down Narcissa and discreetly asked her where the bathroom was. She pointed him in the correct direction and the two Potters moved off. Harry grabbed his uncle and pulled him inside with him when they got there.
"There's a horcrux in the bookcase," he whispered directly in the man's ear. He didn't want to take the chance of them being overheard.
"Shite," Vic said, a bit too loud.
Harry told him where it was, still directly into his ear, and then they didn't say anything else. They stared at each other in dawning horror. Harry quickly made it sound like he had done his business and they left the room. No one seemed to notice that they were both in the room at the same time. Which was good.
Harry wandered around the room a bit bored again. He listened to the gossip and took what he could from it. There was a greasy-haired man with a hooked nose staring at him, but he ignored him. He was just killing time until dinner was called. The only boy his age was sticking close to his parents, and didn't seem to want to make friends, so Harry was left to roam.
Vic, on the other hand, was having a frantic whispered conversation with John and Amelia. It was short and quiet. They were trying to be discreet, but this really wasn't the place or time for that. However, they were without a choice.
"Why would he keep it in the bookcase?" Amelia asked, trying to sound casual. They were done whispering, that just drew attention.
"Hiding it in plain sight?" John suggested with a shrug. It's what he'd do. He looked around the room again and spotted the man glaring at Harry. He glared back and the man stared at him like he was a particularly fascinating bug. John hated Snape's ability to make people feel small. Well, he wasn't a kid anymore, so he just stared him down with a blank face. He placed his hand on his gun and Snape backed down.
"As good a reason as any," Vic said after a moment, looking around the room. "John, do you think you can get it while we're eating?" he asked, bringing John's attention back to the conversation, knowing the man would not be joining them at the meal.
"Do you really think Malfoy is going to let me just roam around his estate while you dine?" the bodyguard asked, a note of derision in his tone. "I am lower than the house elves in his eyes."
"Well, no," Vic agreed, wondering how they were going to get the horcrux.
"We know where it is," Amelia said, tapping her fingers on her leg. "I say we wait and get someone to break in and take it later. This way none of us get fingered for it," she suggested, thinking of a few people that she or Alastor knew that could pull it off. "Or I could sanction a raid," she said, looking at the minister.
"Yes, I could sign off on that," he agreed, he did have that power.
"Dinner is served," Narcissa said, breaking up their conversation. She gestured for everyone to follow her and then turned to the dining room.
Everyone trooped into the dining room and took seats were their names were. It was a significantly long table, seating over fifty people. Vic and Harry were seated to the left of Malfoy with his family on the right and one Severus Snape next to Draco.
Oh Joy.
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"Ah, yes, the Potters," the greasy-haired man sneered, his face twisted in distaste. Like he had swallowed a bitterer than usual lemon.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Vic asked, his face blank, flipping his napkin into his lap. Harry followed suit, keeping his face as blank as his uncle's.
"Minister Potter, this is a friend of the family's, Severus Snape. He is one of the youngest potions masters of the century, and he teaches Potions at Hogwarts," Lucius said, nodding in Severus' direction with a great deal of pride.
"Quite the accomplishments for one so young," Vic said, a polite smile on his face.
"Wow," Harry chimed in, showing that he was impressed with the man's feats.
John was standing at the wall, leaning casually back against it, just watching the show. He knew this was going to be fun to watch.
"As if I need compliments from the Potters," Severus snapped, lifting his glass of water, and taking a drink. He then all but slammed the glass on the table as if it had upset him.
"Have I offended you in any manner? As far as I know we've never met," Vic said, his tone calm but quizzical. He tilted his head like Snape was a puzzle he was trying to solve.
"You're a Potter, your very existence offends me," Snape stated as if it were a foregone conclusion.
"That certainly sounds like a personal problem to me," Vic stated, then turned to his other neighbor, who was sitting next to Harry and started up a conversation over Quidditch. She was flustered that the minister would be talking to her, and giggled over the fact that the single man singled her out. Her date was less than amused.
The dinner was pheasant and duck with all the dressings and quite an arrangement of vegetables. It was all displayed in a fashionable manner.
"Tell me, Potter, how did an illegitimate son of a dog get into one of the highest offices of the land?" Snape asked, trying to rile the man after the dinner was served.
"Now, Severus," Narcissa started, only to be stopped by her husband's hand on her arm.
The conversation ceased around them, everyone wanted to hear what the man's response was.
"I am not the Queen of England," Vic stated, chuckling at his own joke, making Harry and a few others laugh with him. "Please don't poke fun of the dead, it is beneath you," he added, his tone a bit harder. He knew he couldn't let the potshot at his 'father' go unheeded.
"No, you insufferable fool, how did you become Minister of Magic? Did you buy your way into office?" Severus demanded to know, once again trying to get a rise out of the other man. "I'll 'poke fun' of whomever I please," he stated, not caring who heard.
There was a general murmur of discontent around the table as the guests who knew Charlus Potter or thought well of Vic Potter were getting upset. Many were putting their eating utensils down and listening in to what was happening at the head of the table. They were ready to jump in if it got out of hand. Severus Snape was not a well-liked man, and he was wanted by many to be dismissed from Hogwarts.
"No," Vic said, slowly as if weighing his words for a particularly slow person, "I was voted in by the people. Just like all Ministers," he added, like it was a given. "I did not know my father; however, I am told he was quite the gentleman," he said, grinning a winning smile at the rest of the guests, who all nodded. Charlus Potter was a well thought of man. Vic's book didn't make anyone think less of him.
"All Potters cheat," Snape snapped, taking a vicious bite of his duck. "Including your father," he sniped, bits of duck flying from his mouth as he didn't take time to swallow. He was just that frustrated that he wasn't getting the reaction that he wanted.
"You seem to have a problem with my family," Vic said, delicately cutting his pheasant. He then took a bite and chewed. He was holding on to his temper by a thread, Snape always did rub him the wrong way. "Why is that?" he asked when he finished his bite.
"Potters are all arrogant snobs that think the world owes them something. You pop up out of nowhere and strut around like you own the place. Your father did, your brother did, and now you are. Your nephew is as well. You two are not important," Severus stated, making everyone not Malfoy, at the table frown at his words.
"I am the Minister of Magic, I think I am someone of minor importance," Vic countered, still cutting up his meat as if the man didn't faze him. "My nephew is off limits to your petty grievances," he added, his tone getting firmer by the word.
"Where did you even come from?" Snape tried a different tactic.
"London," was the answer.
"Where in London?"
"What's it to you?" Vic asked, getting riled up a bit. "Since when do I have to answer to the likes of you?" he questioned, his eyes narrowing. "I have answered the questions of the public and the Aurors. They are satisfied. You hate me, I get that, I don't owe you anything," he stated, putting his fork and knife down and staring at the man.
"I'm going to find out your secrets and ruin you," Snape said, and then went to use Legilimency on him. That was a mistake.
"Amelia, arrest this man," Vic said, throwing down his napkin on his plate.
"On what charge?" she asked, taking out her magical handcuffs. If the Minister of Magic said to arrest someone, she was going to do so. Of course, she was going to know why.
"Legilimency," Vic said, smirking at the greasy-haired man's face. "That is a treasonable offence on a government official," he stated, standing, and indicating for Harry to do the same. "Malfoy, I'd say it was a pleasure, but…" he said, then trailed off. He then pulled out his money pouch and handed Narcissa a thousand galleons. "For the charity," he stated and then nodded to John, and they all left. They stormed out of the dining room and out of the manor.
Guests were all talking in their wake. This will be the talk of the town for weeks to come. It won't look good for the Malfoys. Narcissa was already trying to do damage control.
Amelia followed behind them, dragging Snape with her. "You know it will be hard to prove," she said, looking at the sneering man in her cuffs. He was fighting for all he was worth, but they were magical cuffs, and she was strong. She had put a silencing spell on him, so she didn't have to listen to his vitriol comments.
"Pour Veritaserum down his throat," Vic said, without care. "Ask him why he was asking me all those questions," he added, walking quickly down the walkway. He wanted to be shot of this place.
"Alright then," she said as they made it to the borders of the property. Vic, Harry, and John went back to their home, and Amelia dragged Snape to the DMLE. He was in for a long night.
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"Well, that didn't go as you planned," Narcissa said as the last of the guests left. While it hadn't been a well-thought-out function, they did raise some money for St. Mungo's.
"It was your plan," Lucius reminded her, having just seen his son back at Hogwarts. Draco had complained that the whole night had been boring for him and that he would rather have stayed at the school.
"Yes," she agreed, not saying that it went as well as she thought it would.
"I thought for sure that Potter would break," the blond man said, snapping his fingers for a drink. He got a firewhiskey and started gulping it down. He had just gotten one of his best friends arrested. He wasn't sure how he was going to get him out of this.
"You'd better call Dumbledore," Narcissa said, knowing that the headmaster needed to be informed.
"Dammit," Lucius said, downing the drink. That was the last man he wanted to talk to but needs must. He went to the fireplace and threw in the floo powder. It was going to take some fast talking to keep this from escalating. How did you tell one of the most powerful men on earth that you just got his teacher arrested?