Arch Mage, the Path of Magic Chapter 47 (Patreon)

Hey friends and fans, Kairomaru is here with another chapter of Arch Mage, the Path of Magic! Harry has fought Voldemort and his undead—even if he didn’t know they were undead—and managed to capture Barty Crouch Jr. and drag him back to Hogwarts. However, we already see Fudge trying to deny reality, and with Barnabas Cuffe, the Editor for the Daily Prophet being friendly with the Minister there are ways to spin this story in favor of maintaining the status quo, as a career politician loves to do. But Harry is the youngest High Sorcerer in history, holds multiple Masteries, and already has two Order of Merlin, one Third Class and one Second Class. The public has no reason to turn on Harry…but the witches and wizards of Magical Britian are often sheep.

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So, without further delay, please enjoy.

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Chapter 47 – Aftermath and Unrest

Harry wondered how much louder the ‘so-called’ adults could get as he sat to the side of the antechamber room that Dumbledore and Moody had practically dragged Barty Crouch Jr. into, with Fudge, Cuffe, and the Daily Prophet photographer following closely behind. That was followed by Professor McGonagall, Snape, and Tonks…in her capacity as an Auror.

“I will not have the ramblings of a half-mad escaped convict creating chaos and disorder throughout the country!” Fudge hollered at Dumbledore; the man having worked himself up into a proper bluster by this point.

“Minister, we’ve questioned him under Veritaserum and he’s confirmed that Voldemort has returned.” Dumbledore responded tersely, his tone barely raised, by his presence almost seeming to fill the room. “As you know, Severus is a Potions Master and the Veritaserum was brewed by him…”

Fudge looked at Snape for a moment but scoffed after a second. “If a person is made to believe something is true, then Veritaserum will not get the actual truth out of them, Dumbledore! That’s why testimony under it is inadmissible in court!”

Snape looked slightly annoyed that his brewing skills were so blatantly dismissed.

Cuffe was standing just behind the Minister with his photographer, the Chief Editor was still writing in his parchment notebook taking down the words said in the argument.

“Minister, Madam Bones will be here shortly to take the escaped convict into custody.” Tonks spoke up to, at least temporarily, stop the loud argument.

“Madam Bones should head for the Crouch home and arrest Bartemius Crouch Sr. for illegally smuggling his son out of Azkaban instead of coming here.” Fudge declared, his face slightly reddened from his argument with Dumbledore. “I’ve already contacted my office and a handler from Azkaban will be here soon.”

McGonagall looked aghast at what Fudge had just said. “You cannot be seriously thinking of bringing one of those things onto the grounds, much less inside the school!”

“Things?” Harry asked Sirius—who was with him as legal guardian—curious as to what immediately got McGonagall into a proper anger.

“Dementors, Harry… Fudge is suggesting bringing a Dementor here to administer the worst punishment possible to Crouch Jr. over there.” Sirius motioned with his head towards Barty who was immobilized and held under wand point by Moody in the corner.

Harry nodded, recalling learning the basics about Dementors when he’d learned the Patronus Charm years ago. “The Kiss, then…” To Harry that seemed foolish as Crouch Jr. clearly had much more information than what had been gotten out of the Death Eater, so far. ‘Is Fudge so desperate to maintain the status quo that he’s willing to silence a key witness to Voldemort’s return?’

“Minister, I strongly object to a Dementor being on Hogwarts grounds.” Dumbledore spoke against bringing one of the jailers of Azkaban to the school. “With Voldemort returned…”

Fudge—and most of the other people in the room, bar Moody, Harry, Sirius, and Snape—visibly flinched at hearing the name…but Fudge’s face immediately reddened again. “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is NOT back! No magic in the world can bring the dead back to life, Dumbledore! Do you not still teach that here at Hogwarts?!” He blustered out with some sweat appearing on his face.

The flash of the camera briefly illuminated the room, capturing Fudge and Dumbledore standing across from each other, clearly at odds.

“Will you stop that!” McGonagall snapped sharply at the photographer.

Fudge harrumphed audibly before turning to Harry and walking over with a politician’s smile. “Har…” He stopped as he saw the look on both Harry and Sirius’s faces. “Mr. Potter, I know you’ve gone through a terrible experience tonight. Please rest assured I, as Minister for Magic, and the Ministry will ensure that this escaped criminal will be dealt with properly, and whatever group of dark wizards and witches he gathered together to attack you will be found and brought to justice.” The smile grew slightly as Fudge leaned in a bit. “And I personally assure you that an Order of Merlin, First Class, will be awarded to you for bringing this Death Eater into custody, especially in the situation that you found yourself due to the lax security…” He made sure to raise his voice and shoot a pointed glance at Dumbledore. “…of Hogwarts.”

‘Is he really trying to buy me off with an Order of Merlin?’ Harry wondered briefly as he was about to tell Fudge—again—that he had directly fought Voldemort.

Knock

Knock

Two sharp knocks on the door to the antechamber got everyone’s attention. The person on the other side didn’t wait for a call to enter, opening the door immediately to reveal almost dirty-looking red Auror robes as the man entered.

But it was what followed him that immediately got everyone’s attention.

It had a humanoid shape, standing approximately 4 meters tall and was covered in ragged long robes and hooded cloaks of ripped black cloth, making it closely resemble a wraith. What skin that was visible was grey, slimy, and decayed-looking, like a decomposing corpse. Its breathing emitted a rattling sound, like it was trying to suck more than the air out of the room. As soon as it floated into the antechamber it seemed to exude a constant aura of cold.

This creature was a Dementor, considered the foulest and darkest of all magical creatures known to Wizardkind.

Fudge noticeably backed away from the Dementor as it followed the Auror ‘handler’ towards him.

“Minister,” The haggard-looking Auror nodded to Fudge. “I’ve brought a Dementor as requested.”

“V-Very good…” Fudge stumbled over the first word, eyeing the Dementor warily. “Th-The criminal is o-over there…” He pointed at the restrained Barty Crouch Jr. in the corner.

Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Sirius, and Tonks all had their wands out now, none of them taking their eyes off the Dementor as it began to move. Moody kept his normal eye on Barty and his magical eye trained on the Dementor as it floated closer to him.

“Minister, I protest.” Dumbledore thundered out, no trace of his normal kind smile or twinkle in the eyes. His strangely knotted wand was aimed at the Dementor, though it barely slowed down its approach towards its victim.

The Auror handling the Dementor raised his wand, using it to ‘pull’ on the geas that bound the Dementors to the Ministry’s control, forcing the creature to halt its movement.

Fudge opened his mouth to say something, but the flames in the fireplace of the antechamber flared upward and turned green as the Floo was connected. Out of the green flames stepped a witch in red Auror robes with a badge over her left breast that denoted her as Head of Magical Law Enforcement. She had close-cropped grey hair, likely early greying from stress, and a bit of a square jaw that made her look very serious as her sharp eyes took in the situation while two other Aurors stepped out of the Floo behind her.

“Auror Tonks, what is the situation?” Madam Bones questioned as she stared at the Dementor sharply before turning her eyes on Fudge.

“Madam Bones, an escaped Death Eater, Bartemius Crouch Junior, was captured after spiriting Harry Potter away from Hogwarts grounds with an illegal Portkey placed onto the Triwizard Cup. Preliminary questioning of both Crouch and Harry Potter has revealed the return of the Dark Lord, Vol…”

“He is NOT back!” Fudge blustered out loudly, cutting Tonks off. “An escaped, half-mad convict gathered together a group of dark witches and wizards and kidnapped, with intent to murder, Harry Potter! Those are the facts! Whoever was there claiming to be You-Know-Who is nothing more than a charlatan trying to upset the order of Magical Britain!” It was the first time since his days in the Obliviation Department that he’d ever had to use any of the terms and preliminary deduction skills he’d learned when he’d first started out at the Ministry.

The chill in the air from the Dementor seemed to grow and spread as emotions ran high. The creature floated a bit closer to Barty as the Death Eater nearly cackled at Fudge’s fear and denial.

“As if I would ever serve anyone but the Dark Lord!” Barty snapped at Fudge. “You’re right to fear him, Minister!”

“Silence!” Fudge yelled at Barty, his face a blotchy red from anger now. “I will not listen to the ravings of a mad man!” With a couple of heavy breaths, he turned to face Madam Bones. “Amelia, as Minister for Magic I’m stripping Bartemius Crouch Senior of his position as Head of International Magical Cooperation and putting out an arrest warrant for him on the crime of breaking his son out of Azkaban prison. Find Crouch and arrest him, immediately!”

Amelia looked at Barty in the corner briefly before looking at Fudge again. “And what of the recaptured convict? As head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I should take him in for a proper questioning.”

Fudge waved that off as if rights and laws didn’t apply in this case. “No need for that. I’ve had a Dementor brought to dole out his proper punishment.”

The Dementor, bound by the geas to the Ministry, felt the invisible binds on it slacken at the current Minister’s words. It nearly flew straight at Barty, its rotten hands reaching for the Death Eater, who shrieked and tried to press himself further into the corner.

“Expecto Patronum!” Moody whipped his wand towards the incoming Dementor and a thick, glowing silvery mist erupted from the tip of his wand and blasted the Dementor back.

“Aauuaauuhh…” The Dementor’s rattling shriek was like the sound of dry sticks clattering to a stone floor.

Amelia had her wand trained on the Dementor now. “Minister!” Fudge’s lackadaisical words and actions had nearly set a Dementor loose in a room full of people.

A green translucent Barrier surrounded the reeling Dementor in a coffin-like rectangle. The creature hit the walls and thrashed around, but it couldn’t pass through the spell as it had a physical form and was not a spirit of some kind like Peeves or one of the many ghosts that called Hogwarts home.

“I think that’s more than enough.” Harry said as the haggard-looking Auror from Azkaban raised his wand and the Dementor went still within the Barrier. ‘Hmm… So, whatever geas binds the Dementors isn’t a direct connection?’ It wouldn’t be able to bypass Harry’s Barrier if it was as it blocked all magic. That was a rather interesting bit of new information.

“Auror Spindle, take the Dementor back to Azkaban, immediately!” Amelia’s voice brooked no argument as her eyes nearly bore into Fudge for his blunder.

Auror Spindle nodded rapidly before looking at Harry, silently asking the High Sorcerer to remove the Barrier that trapped the Dementor. Harry cancelled his spell and Spindle swiftly ushered the Dementor out of the antechamber and towards the large front doors of the castle.

“Amelia!” Fudge managed to raise his voice as the Head of the DMLE overrode his orders. He immediately shut up when Amelia took a step towards him.

“Minister Fudge, I will be taking the escaped convict into custody.” Amelia stated simply and clearly. “Once we’ve properly questioned him to the full extent of the Ministry’s capability, THEN you may drag him before the Wizengamot and try him for his escape from Azkaban and the Wizengamot can sentence him to whatever punishment is deemed appropriate.”

Fudge’s backbone proved to be made of balsa wood with how quickly it snapped under the weight of Amelia’s intense presence. “V-Very well then. Right. My order to arrest Crouch Senior still stands, however.”

Amelia nodded in agreement. “I will personally go visit him to make the arrest as soon as his son is secured in a cell.” With that and a loop and point from her wand, the bound Barty levitated into the air and was taken through the Floo by the Aurors.

Tonks shot Harry and Sirius a look before following after her boss and colleagues through the green flames.

“Minister, I think you should return to the Ministry first.” Dumbledore offered, his tone light, but his expression unreadable. “Things are about to get very busy, I do believe.”

Fudge coughed lightly once and put his bowler hat atop his head. “Well, yes.” He took a step towards the fireplace, but stop as he recalled something. “Ah, right, Mr. Potter.” He turned and strode over to stand in front of Harry, rummaging in the large pocket of his robe. “Your winnings.” He pulled out a sack that jingled with the sound of coins. “One-thousand Galleons, don’t spend it all in one place.” He handed the sack to Harry.

“Thank you, Minister.” Harry took the sack and felt that it weighed nearly nothing, a Featherlight Charm clearly at work.

“I’ll send you an owl once we have the time set to present you with your Order of Merlin.” Fudge gave Harry a small smile, one that lacked the false bravado of his previous politician’s smile. It was clear that the Minister still thought he could keep Harry out of this debacle…or at least not take Dumbledore’s side in the ‘madness’ of the incident. With only a few strides, Fudge took a pinch of Floo Powder in his hand. “Dumbledore.” He said a bit tersely before tossing the powder into the orange-yellow flames, turning them green. “Ministry of Magic!” He said clearly before walking into the magical fire and vanishing.

Dumbledore turned to Harry, his expression still lacking its normal warmth and there was no trace of the familiar twinkle behind his half-moon spectacles. “Harry, you’re free to go home with Sirius if you wish, or you may remain in the castle. I’m sure this night has not been anything close to what you…or any of us…expected.”

Harry nodded and stood up, Sirius standing up from his seat at the same time. The two left the antechamber just as Dumbledore began to speak again. Harry managed to catch the beginning of the Headmaster’s words.

“Alastor, please help me call the old group…” Dumbledore said as the door closed and the antechamber was cut off from Harry and Sirius.

“So, what do you want to do, Harry?” Sirius asked as they walked through the Great hall towards the doors.

Harry thought it over for a brief moment before making his decision. “I think I’ll stay. Term is over in a few more days, so I’ll be back home then and everyone can fret over me then.” He said with a small grin as he looked at Sirius.

Sirius grinned back, glad to see that the unexpected kidnapping and attack by Voldemort hadn’t changed his godson. Those green eyes were still filled with the same warmth and light as always…the hint of curiosity also told Sirius that Harry was pondering on probably a dozen new questions after the experience as well. “I’m sure staying doesn’t have anything to do with your lovely girlfriends…”

“Luna and Astoria too.” Harry said without missing a step, a little smile on his face.

“Never change, Harry.” Sirius wrapped his arm around Harry’s shoulders and pulled him into a side hug. “But if you ever need to talk…”

Harry returned the side hug with a smile. “I know where to find you.”

The two shared a long father-son moment as Sirius walked Harry all the way back to the Ravenclaw common room.

As soon as Harry stepped into the common room, he was nearly bowled over by Luna and Hermione. The double hug was tight enough to nearly squeeze the breath out of Harry, but he didn’t make a noise of complaint as he let the two girls hug him and vent some of the worry, confusion, and fear that had piled up since he went missing from the labyrinth.

“Harry!” Luna looked up at her surrogate big brother with worried eyes. “Are you alright?”

“We were so worried when Fleur and Krum were retrieved from the maze but you were nowhere to be seen!” Hermione said as she squeezed him again, her brown eyes searching Harry’s face for any sign of injury.

Harry manage to free his arms and hugged both of them back. “I’m fine, you two. I promise.” He said with a gentle smile. “Just an unexpected and unpleasant reunion…but I did get to experiment with quite a few spells.” Harry said with a bright grin, making Luna giggle at him.

Hermione couldn’t stop the smile that formed on her lips as she nuzzled her face into Harry’s neck. “Tell us about it soon, okay?” She’d like to know right now, but it was starting to get late and she didn’t want to keep Harry up after he’d gone through something unexpected.

“I will.” Harry agreed as he squeezed them both again.

Ravenclaw was notably subdued, given that Harry had just won the Triwizard Tournament. But everyone was a mix of confused, concerned, and curious as to what exactly had happened. No one wanted to be the one to potentially upset Harry by asking a tactless question tonight. The entire dorm remained quiet, for now, giving Harry his space with his little sister and his girlfriend.

-Daphne’s Dorm ~ Night-

The door slowly opened without a sound, having been silenced. It closed just as silently and none of the girls in the dorm so much as stirred when a soft blue light briefly filled the air. The curtains of Daphne’s four poster bed were parted just enough on one side and a gentle shift of weight sank the mattress as someone unheard and unseen sat down.

“You know I could’ve hexed you, right?” Daphne said without opening her eyes, but she moved her hand to reveal that she’d had her wand hidden beneath the covers.

Harry faded into view with a little smile. “I was aware.”

Daphne opened her eyes and sat up in her bed, pulling Harry into a warm hug. “Are you okay?” She asked in a whisper, not having been able to sleep much at all with her worry for Harry heavy on her mind after not being able to see him once he’d returned from the maze.

“I’m alright, Daphne.” Harry assured her as he hugged her back. “I wanted to make sure that you knew.”

“Mm, thank you.” Daphne smiled as she nuzzled into Harry a bit, the tension that had been in her shoulders releasing as she held him, breathed in his scent, and was able to physically tell that her boyfriend was okay. “You can’t stay.” She smiled against his skin, leaving a gentle kiss on his neck.

Harry fake pouted as Daphne pulled back. “Bollocks…” He chuckled and smiled brightly when Daphne giggled as well. Leaning in, Harry kissed Daphne softly, the couple humming gently as the held their kiss for a long moment.

Daphne pulled back from Harry’s lips with a little grin. “Someone is being forward tonight.”

“You know you love me~” Harry said with a grin of his own.

“Do I know that?” Daphne pretended to think before she leaned in and gave Harry a quick kiss. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

The two held each other for a bit longer, just taking comfort from one another, before Harry had to return to Ravenclaw Tower for the night…even if he was already out after curfew. As Harry stood up from Daphne’s bed, he looked around the dorm room.

“My new Sleep spell does work well.” Harry commented with a pleased little smile. He’d been working on it for a long time to gently put people to sleep, rather than knock them unconscious like the Stunning spell, or only putting them into a light and temporary sleep that lasted a handful of seconds as the current Sleeping Charms worked.

“Don’t misuse it.” Daphne teased as she laid back down in her bed. “Just because you want to sneak into my dorm room.”

Harry pretended to look affronted. “I would never…” The raised eyebrow that he got from Daphne made him grin. “Okay, maybe once…or twice.”

The two shared a warm look at that.

“Goodnight, Daphne.” Harry said softly.

“Goodnight, Harry.” Daphne returned as she pulled her blankets up, feeling sleepiness coming to take her now that her worries had been assuaged.

Harry vanished from view and the door to the dorm room opened slightly. A soft blue glow shone in the air for just a second, then the door closed without a sound.

“Mmm…” Tracy rolled over in her four-poster bed next to Daphne’s and then went quiet again.

‘That could be a useful to spell to learn for a Healer.’ Daphne thought to herself with a little smile as she closed her eyes and let sleep take her.

-Hermione’s Dorm Room-

“Hm?” Hermione blinked as her mattress moving stirred her awake. Seeing Harry sitting on the edge of her bed, she blushed cutely. “H-Harry?”

“Hey, Hermione.” Harry smiled at her warmly as he leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

Hermione sat up in her bed and looked at Harry pointedly. “Harry, you shouldn’t be in here…” She said, though their was no heat or recrimination in her tone. It was pointless to ask how he’d gotten into her dorm room. Harry had proven long ago that he could bypass the wards and alarms placed on the girl’s dorms. A simple locked door was no more than a thought for Harry to open.

Harry grinned at Hermione’s words. “I know. It’s a good thing we get our own rooms in Raven Claw, huh?” He said with a soft chuckle.

“I suppose so.” Hermione’s cheeks were still a little pink at having Harry in her room late at night with no one the wiser. “Did you need something?”

“That depends on you.” Harry replied as he leaned in and placed a soft kiss to Hermione’s lips.

Hermione hummed softly as she kissed Harry back, gently looping her arms over his shoulders. “Harry… I…I’m not ready for…” Her words were cut off as Harry gently placed the tip of his index finger against her lips.

Harry shook his head once. “Not that, Hermione.” He assured her that he wasn’t after her body.

“W-Would you like to stay?” Hermione offered, now that she knew Harry’s intentions weren’t sexual in nature.

“You read my mind, Hermione.” Harry said warmly, smiling when Hermione pulled her blankets aside, revealing her nightgown that covered her from neck to knees, a very conservative sleep garment.

Hermione couldn’t stop the soft giggle that escaped her. “That’s impossible.” She knew that for a fact since it had been Harry that taught then all Occlumency. There was likely no Legilimens in the world that could break into Harry’s thoughts before he could repel them. She let out a cute squeak when Harry transfigured his clothes into pajamas and slipped into the bed with her.

Harry smiled, loving the cute sound Hermione made, and pulled the blankets over them while wrapping his arms around Hermione gently. Hermione took a slow breath, her body relaxing, and then she cuddled into Harry’s embrace, pressing herself against him as close as possible. She felt so warm and safe in Harry’s arms that she started to doze off almost immediately.

“Goodnight, Harry. Love you.” Hermione said softly as she placed a kiss on his cheek.

“Love you too, Hermione.” Harry returned her love with his own, placing a gentle kiss atop her head. “Goodnight.” He relaxed completely as he held Hermione close to him. While he held no fear of Voldemort, nor the strange beings that he’d brought to the graveyard…which Crouch Junior had claimed were the dead risen from their graves while under Veritaserum; he’d still been in a life-and-death battle and being close to his loved ones was a soothing balm for the heart.

The boyfriend and girlfriend slept in the same bed together, completely innocently, and let the presence of each other lull them to sleep. They slept through the night holding each other close, not caring a bit about what was going on beyond the walls of Hermione’s dorm room.

-Voldemort’s Safehouse-

“Hah…hah…” Voldemort didn’t need to breathe, but he still took haggard gasps as his body finally finished repairing itself. Whatever Harry had hit him with at the end, it had been more than just repulsive force. ‘No Banishing Charm could do what he did. It was magic…but I couldn’t call it a spell…’ The mystery of just what Harry had hit him with made his anger flare, and it was only compounded by the loss of Barty. “First Lucius… I need to find out what happened to my diary.” Once he knew the fate of his first Horcrux, then he’d make sure to have Lucius push the incompetent Minister’s opinion firmly into disbelieving of his return. ‘I’ll build up my forces more before I move openly. But once Lucius finishes that task…’ His red eyes nearly glowed with malice as he longed to take out his rage on the Head of the Malfoy Family. Lucius had been one to disavow him and claim he’d been under the Imperius Curse, and now he’d gone and lost his first Horcrux too! “He must pay for his treachery and attempts at autonomy!” He hissed out sharply, the unnatural chill in the air deepening as every wall cracked from the force of Voldemort’s magic.

While Voldemort plotted, his remaining undead stood at attention, none of them moving, speaking, or even blinking. They remained where they’d been ordered to stand and could do nothing more until such time as Voldemort allowed them to move again. Being mere extensions of the Dark Lord’s will rendered them practically the same as the furniture that was in the safehouse.

-Department of Magical Law Enforcement ~ Holding Cells-

Barty sat in a metal chair, bound to it with thick iron chains, his eyes and expression blank. He’d been dosed with Veritaserum again and Tonks, along with Senior Aurors Scrimgeour and Dawlish, were doing the questioning.

‘Well, I’m mostly just the scribe.’ Tonks thought to herself as she made sure that the Dicta-Quill was accurately taking down the words of both the interrogators and Crouch Junior. Her eyes turned a sharp electric blue as she looked at Barty again, imagining how easy it would be to turn the very air he breathed into blades, or boiling water, or half a dozen other painful implements. She’d kept her hair under control to not give away her emotions, but after hearing what Voldemort and his Death Eaters…or undead if Crouch Junior wasn’t able to somehow get around Veritaserum…had done to Harry. ‘Wandless magic would make it so easy…’ But she was an Auror, so she kept her true thoughts and feelings to herself.

“And where is your father?” Dawlish asked directly, his face hard as he looked at one of the Death Eaters that had proudly gone to Azkaban in service to Voldemort.

“At home.” Barty answered in the same flat tone he’d answered every other question in.

Scrimgeour glanced at Tonks and got a nod that the Dicta-Quill had recorded the answer. “How do you know that for sure?”

Barty barely turned his eyes to Scrimgeour. “Because I left him there.”

None of the three Aurors liked what that implied with a known sycophant of the Dark Lord saying it.

-Crouch Family Home-

The front door was unlocked with a spell and opened slowly. Amelia led Aurors Proudfoot and Shacklebolt into the residence, all three wands casting the Revelio Charm to get a layout of the area. The lack of wards stopping them from entering or setting off alarms…and the fact that the front door was only locked with the mechanical lock…didn’t bold well.

“Bartemius Crouch! This is Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement! I have a warrant for your arrest!” Amelia called out loudly, the warrant a folded up piece of parchment in the inner pocket of her red Auror robes.

A loud bawling sound coming from deeper in the house put all three Aurors on high alert. With wands at the ready, they slowly followed the sound of the wracking sobs, casting Revelio every couple of steps to ensure that their pathway was truly clear. Reaching a backroom with the door open, the three cast Revelio again.

“Merlin’s beard.” Proudfoot said with a grunt as his spell came back to him.

Amelia and Shacklebolt entered the room to visually confirm what their spells had told them.

The room was mostly empty, but the body of Bartemius Crouch Senior lay on the floor with a disheveled House Elf crying on the dead man’s chest. The former Ministry Head had clearly been tortured, his body covered in cuts and bruises and closer inspection would likely confirm extended Cruciatus exposure.

“Whomever did this carried a deep grudge, Madam Bones.” Shacklebolt gave his opinion of the crime scene. Just looking at the body proved that death had not come swiftly. This was drawn out as long as possible before Crouch had finally succumbed to his injuries…or perhaps been finished off with a Killing Curse.

“Elf.” Amelia spoke to the sobbing House Elf. “What is your name?”

The bawling Elf looked up at Amelia, her large tennis ball-shaped eyes red from crying. “I…I’s be…Winky.” She sniffled loudly. “The Cr-Crouch Family…House Elf.”

“Did you see what happened here?” Amelia questioned the distraught Winky, balancing her stern and authoritative voice with a gentler tone.

Winky shook her head, her bat-like ears flapping around. “Winky cant’s be saying… It will trouble the young master! Winky is a good Elf!”

“By young master, do you mean Bartemius Crouch Junior?” Amelia asked Winky directly.

“Winky cannot say…” Winky sniffled and shook her head again, tears falling onto the dead Bartemius Crouch’s chest that was littered with cuts and bruises.

Amelia looked at Proudfoot. “Call in the Investigation Department. This entire house and the land it sits on is now a crime scene.”

Proudfoot nodded once. “Yes, ma’am.” He tapped his Auror badge three times with the tip of his wand to send an alert to the DMLE.

-Hogwarts Great Hall ~ Next Morning-

Harry was wrapped in a warm hug almost the instant that he’d stepped through the doors. The familiar warmth and scent made him smile as he hugged Fleur back. “I’m alright, love.” He whispered into her ear as he gently squeezed Fleur in his arms.

“I was mostly certain, but it is good to hear you say it, Harry.” Fleur smiled beautifully at him once she pulled back a little. Without a single care for everyone looking their way, Fleur kissed Harry while pressing her body flush against his as her arms looped over his shoulders.

“Mmm…” Harry hummed pleasantly into the kiss before they separated. “It’s been a good morning.” He said with a grin since this had been the second kiss that he’d gotten, so far. Hermione had felt it only right to kiss him first thing in the morning when they woke up in her bed in each other’s arms. “After breakfast, I’ll tell you all what happened.” He promised Fleur quietly.

Fleur nodded just slightly before a warm smile lit up her face. “You have another that was worried about you.” Without explaining, she took one step to the side and Astoria nearly barreled into Harry, hugging him tightly around the middle.

“Harry!” Astoria squeezed her surrogate big brother—and probably future brother-in-law if Daphne had anything to say about it—tightly as she looked up at him. “Are you okay?! No one would let us see you last night! You went missing and no one knew where you were or what happened or…” She was silenced as Harry playfully tapped her nose with his index finger.

“I’m fine, Astoria.” Harry reassured the Second Year as he picked her up and carried her along as if she was much younger than she was. “It was just a bit of an unexpected trip is all.” He sat her between Tracy and Daphne at the Ravenclaw table and then sat between Daphne and Fleur himself.

Hermione, having watched all of this from Behind Harry with Luna, sat down across from harry with Luna at her side.

“Good morning!” Luna smiled at her friends, already having been comforted and reassured by Harry last night and again this morning.

“Morning.” Tracy smiled back as she looked at Harry. “You certainly worried everyone last night, Mister High Sorcerer!” She jibed at him playfully.

Harry raised his hands in front of him as if to ward off her words. “It was not by my will, I assure you.” He said with a faux fancy tone.

The owl post flew into the Great hall a moment later as it always did. As the mail was delivered, the murmurs that had been filling the air grew much louder and Harry could practically feel all of the eyes of the students, including the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang visitors, directed his way. A barn owl dropped Hermione’s copy of the Daily Prophet in front of her before flying off again. It was quite obvious what had caused the sudden increase in the volume of the students. The large headline across the front page practically screamed for attention along with two large pictures, one of Harry from earlier in the year, and the other of Minister Fudge standing in the Ministry and surrounded by his cabinet…and if one looked at the edge of the picture they’d see one Lucius Malfoy as well.

Boy-Who-Lived Kidnapped From Hogwarts Grounds During Third Task!

Last night, during the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament, Harry Potter, youngest High Sorcerer ever, was kidnapped from the center of the hedge maze used for the Third Task by an illegal Portkey, reports Barnabas Cuffe, Chief Editor of the Daily Prophet.

For almost half an hour the whereabouts of the Boy-Who-Lived were unknown to all, having simply disappeared as soon as he touched the Triwizard Cup. None of the Tournament organizers had any explanation and there was no ability to find the kidnapped student. But as luck, or perhaps overwhelming skill and talent, would have it…Mr. Potter managed to save himself from the culprit!

And who was this culprit that kidnapped Magical Britain’s most famous student?

The escaped Death Eater, Bartemius Crouch Junior!

In a fortunate turn of events last night, I was in attendance with Minister Fudge to the Third Task and was allowed to come along when Barty Crouch was taken into custody. Under the effects of Veritaserum, the half-mad Death Eater revealed that it was his own father and mother that had orchestrated his escape from Azkaban shortly after his incarceration! This lawbreaking by the then Head of Magical Law Enforcement is, of course, a gross miscarriage of justice…but it gets worse, dear readers! Crouch Jr. revealed that his father kept him under the Imperius Curse for the following years while hiding him in their family home!

“Truly a terrible state of things.” Says Minister Fudge in a direct statement to the Daily Prophet. “That the Head of the DMLE could engage in such lawbreaking is not only unconscionable, but a betrayal of all the trust placed in Crouch and his position! It is most fortunate that Mr. Potter is so very skilled and managed to turn the tables on the Death Eater, Bartemius Crouch Junior! I plan to award Mr. Potter an Order of Merlin, First Class, for his courage and the capture of such a dangerous escaped convict!” Minister Fudge finished his statement with this. “And to those dark witches and wizards that assisted Crouch Jr. I have only one thing to say: The Ministry will find you and you will be brought to justice!”

The Minister is clearly taking this case very seriously and we here at the Daily Prophet wish Mr. Potter well in hopes that this incident, terrible as it was, has not shaken him or left any lasting damage.

“Laying it on a bit thick, but it’s actually truthful, for once.” Harry said after reading the front page article. He didn’t mention the very notable LACK of any mention of Voldemort’s return. “I guess Cuffe doesn’t want to go the same way as Skeeter did.”

The vile ‘reporter’ was still barred from writing for the Prophet after her lawsuit from the Black Family for her articles about Harry. The paper had barely managed to sidestep a massive loss of funds from the lawsuit by throwing Rita under the bus, as it were. Now the woman was not only near destitute, but most publications wouldn’t associate with her at all.

‘Not sure that she’ll be gone forever though. She did have her fanbase…for some reason.’ Harry thought to himself as he watched the others finish reading.

“You’re getting an Order of Merlin, First Class!” Luna beamed at Harry. “Congratulations, Harry!”

“Thank you, Luna.” Harry smiled back at her warmly. He’d keep it to himself that Fudge was clearly trying to buy him off with the prestigious award. If anyone asked him for the truth, he’d tell them exactly what he knew to be true. The Ministry wouldn’t like it, at all, but that wasn’t Harry’s problem.

Even as the voices in the hall grew louder as more and more students read the article in the Daily Prophet, Harry and his friends focused their conversation on their plans for the summer. Daphne needed to move all of her research and cultivars to her home, as did Harry. The two were going to be working together over the summer to complete the project that they’d set for themselves.

And if they succeeded, they’d screw Snape out of his ‘Youngest Potions Master’ achievement while they were at it.

Fleur briefly mentioned that she’d be handling some things with her family’s Veela Enclave, before looking into gaining a Mastery of her own and looking into what career she’d be interested in pursuing. She also wanted to spend as much time with Harry as possible, of course. The tempting little smile she gave her boyfriend made it very clear what she wanted them to get up to over the summer months.

Tracy was planning to laze about over the summer and see some Quidditch games with her family. A fact that she happily laughed about when Daphne looked at her with a roll of her eyes. The two best friends would also be spending time together, even if Tracy had to drag Daphne away from her work.

Hermione wanted to continue her research into Runes and see if she could discover new things in the field now that she had her Mastery. With pink cheeks she also said that she wanted to spend time with Harry over the summer. A quick glance at Fleur had her cheeks burn a little darker. “I believe we’re going to France again this year.”

“Then we’ll have to make sure that we have time to spend together, Hermione.” Fleur said with a warm smile, though the gentle little purr in her voice and the look in her gorgeous blue eyes made Hermione blush prettily and lightly squirm in her seat.

As the Great Hall became louder, the friends did their best to ignore it, even as a few questions were tossed Harry’s way across the hall. But he wouldn’t respond to any of them, because he’d already promised to tell the truth of last night’s incident to his girlfriends and friends first and foremost. When they’d all finished their breakfasts and stood up to leave the Great Hall, Harry led the way, planning to take them to the practice room where they wouldn’t be disturbed.

No one knew that Dumbledore would be making an announcement that night about the truth that they’d gotten from Barty Crouch Junior, including the return of Voldemort and just how much friction it would cause in Magical Britian.

-End Chapter-

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Harry got his one-thousand Galleon prize for winning the tournament…that’s something.

He makes sure to reassure Luna, Hermione, and Daphne that he’s okay…even sneaking into the Slytherin dorms to check in with Daphne at night! Kek!

Hermione and Harry spend the night sleeping—completely chaste—in each other’s arms for the first time. Another step forward in their relationship! So cute!

The argument about the truth is already heated! Fudge certainly put his own spin on things, with encouragement/advice from Lucius Malfoy.

Voldemort still won’t spare Malfoy torture now that his task is complete. But Lucius doesn’t know that just yet.

As friction begins between Dumbledore and Fudge, and therefore the Ministry, just how will that affect the summer for Harry and friends?

Accomplishments are being planned, sides are going to be taken, and yet there’s still so much that Harry wants to learn and explore in the world!

But will that curiosity attract only positive attention, or will there be some that see his unheard of rise in the ‘Hierarchy of Witches and Wizards’ as a threat?

Keep reading to find out!

Until I get your reviews, later!