Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

If This Is How You Treat Your Heroes...	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Lucius Views: 96985 -:- Recommendations : 12 -:- Currently Reading : 15
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no form of profit off this story

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
Chapter 17

Beta'd by the most wonderful, amazing and stupendous Tenchi. Woman, you are the best and love you for all you do for me!

“What the hell is wrong with you? You know better than to pull a stunt like this!” Rufus raged at Moody, who was seated in front of his desk, looking down. “We trusted you to do the right thing, Alastor, to do a job you were the best at for years. And now we get this? I specifically asked for you to be called in to help us because I trusted you and what you know. This is what I get in return? No, Alastor! I will not stand for this! I don't know what Albus Dumbledore has convinced you of, or why you have decided that is more important than the law and what you used to hold dear, but it's over. Here and now, it's over. There will be charges brought, Alastor. If we level them and you are convicted, you will lose your pension. All those years of hard work will be for nothing. Tell me, what rates losing everything you worked for and the reputation you built?”
Rubbing his good eye, Alastor didn't know what to say. Going through his contact in the Department of Mysteries to get those memories had seemed to be the right thing to do at the time. As he made sure not to view them, just get the copies and pass them along, he knew he couldn't be charged with that. What he didn't expect was the spell on them. He had checked for all kinds of other things, of course, and they had come up clean. What he hadn't anticipated was the originals having a spell on them to track who saw them, one that would carry over then create an alert when they were copied and passed. Now he was in trouble. “I was asked to get them to see what is going on.” That's all he said.
“Let me guess, by Dumbledore,” Rufus sneered, leaning back against his desk, arms folded over his chest.
Shaking his head, Moody said nothing, not sure what to do at this point.
“I'm going to be blunt here, Alastor. You don't have many options in this matter. There is only one out I can give you. And it's not much of one, but it will save your pension. To take it, you need to talk. We can make sure the charges leveled in your direction are low enough that they won't warrant the loss of your pension. That's the only thing you have here that is an out. If you don't, you better get a solicitor because Amelia Bones is going to go after you with everything she has. She is right furious and has every reason to be. This disaster is pulling us in all kinds of directions here. Now France is involved and they are irate. Sanctions against Britain are being leveled and every bit of dirty laundry over this mess is going to be aired out for everyone to see. Fudge, I can guarantee, will be going down. Dumbledore isn't going to be far behind. We are just waiting for Amelia to finish going through the mass of accusations and problems pointing in that direction for us to go after him.” Lowering his voice, he said, “She's even willing to cut a deal with Snape to get information.”
Normally, he wouldn’t reveal information like that to anyone, but one of the spells he activated on his office would ensure Moody couldn't communicate what was said to anyone in any way. He hoped like hell that he could jar something loose this way, something they could work with and get pointed in some direction of where to look for the why behind this mess. Tone deadly, he added, “With what Snape will be facing when it comes to penalties, I will bet you my wand he will start singing louder than any bird out there. He knows the full penalty for what he's done. Like every other bully out there, he'll be a coward and take the easy out.”
Taking a sip of his ever-present flask, Alastor couldn't look Rufus in the eyes. Sighing, he said, “And if I don't?”
“You're facing Azkaban, Alastor. And Amelia is mad enough that she will push for it with everything she has. In the whole time I've known her, I’ve never seen her this angry. And she has every reason to be. In the last forty-eight hours, we've had a nightmare dumped in our laps, one that grows each day. And guess whose name keeps coming up each time we get more dumped on us? Care to take a flier on who it is, Alastor? And it's not Fudge.” Rufus told him, tone deadly.
“Albus,” Moody said, shaking his head.
“In every corner of this mess, Albus keeps being mentioned. He drops a child on a doorstep in the middle of the night after his parents died and walks off. Sends someone to keep an eye on the poor lad and knows he's being abused, but does nothing. Only Albus dictates when the lad can leave that house, though he's starved, as well as verbally and mentally abused. All of you so-called good, light folks helping him just stand aside and let him do it. Sirius Black is innocent and there is proof, but Albus won't tell anyone about it or let the kids that saw what happened come to us. He lets someone accused of molesting students stay in a castle full of them. That is just a few of the things we have so far. Then, to top it off, I find out you are standing right beside him, helping. I don't think I need to spell out for you just how bad this is going to be, Alastor.” Stopping, he stared at the man and waited. When there didn't seem to be any reaction, he finally said, tone soft, “I contacted Wallias Renford a short time ago. He's going to be coming back to help me with this. I made it clear that I want his 'crew' as well. Come tomorrow, I'm turning them loose on every part of this mess there is.” Stopping, he waited for the reaction to that.
Head coming up, good eye widening, Alastor looked at the man, swallowing thickly. That wasn't good. Wallias was the former head of the Aurors, the one that had been in charge during the first war. The man was not to be trifled with. He's the one that pushed through the legislation that allowed the use of Unforgivables during that time by Aurors. In fact, he had served under the man. If there was someone in this world that you didn't play with, it was Wallias. Shaking his head, knowing that he was going to be going to Azkaban, where plenty of his enemies were, if he didn't talk, he asked, “ What do you want, Rufus?”

“Everything, Alastor,” Rufus hissed. “Under Veritaserum. You will give it up or you will be going to Azkaban. It's your choice. I'm not playing here, Moody! This is the only shot you have in this. It's your one out to save your pension. Your reputation is gone, something you've done on your own, but you can move away. That's all there is. I won't negotiate any more than that. Your choice.” Stopping, he waited, tapping his foot.
Thinking it over, Moody nodded once then gruffed, taking another sip from his flask, “Let's get this over with then.”
Pleased with that, Rufus stood then went to get his team ready and to alert Amelia.
Sitting there after the man left, Alastor sighed, wondering what to do now. Albus was in trouble and his first instinct was to warn the man. This time though—Albus was on his own.

Looking between Lucius and one of his other Death Eaters, Merwin Jung, a low level Auror, Tom said, softly, trying not to grin, “You're joking!” Leaning his elbows on the desk, hands clasped, he let out a snort of amusement and shook his head.
“I'm not,” Lucius told him smugly, smirking. “Minister Jacques is infuriated and is leveling sanctions. Harry and Black will probably be granted citizenship tomorrow. I would bet my wand on it. I am going to give it no more than a week and Fudge will be out on his backside with mobs howling for his head.”
Grinning bigger, Tom chuckled. “Oh, this is good. Unexpected, but good! You did back away, right? Making it clear you won't help Fudge?”
“Oh yes,” Lucius told him with a firm nod. Quickly, he gave a rundown of the conversation. “I'm out and staying away. I may end up with some muck coming my way, but it won't be anything I can't either duck or wash off quickly. I would suggest, though, you get with others and make it imperative that they get out now then back off as fast as they can or reverse stances.”
Merwin, having listened in to the whole thing, said, quietly, “That's not all. Rufus got permission to call Wallias Renford and his team back in. They will be taking over the lead in looking at some of what's being leveled in all directions by not only Rufus' say so, but Madam Bones' as well. I'm sure you know what that man's like.”
Sobering up, Tom nodded firmly. “I do. I'll get with who I need to so they know to protect themselves. You do the same, Merwin.”

“Never fear, I am. I'm staying as far out of what's going on as I can. With me being low-level, I’m not involved in much of this other than some minor things.” Stopping, he said, lowering his voice, seeming that he was almost afraid someone would overhear, “Longbottom gave up the memory. Snape is going to probably have two days, tops, before he's taken in. If you're going to do something about him, you need to move fast. From what I know, he's not at Spinners End right now. They are keeping a close watch on that place for when they can move. I've heard talk around the office that he's not there. He was, they knew that, but he isn't now. Someone thinks that Dumbledore was given a heads up and he warned the man. Where he is now, I don't know.”
Leaning back, blowing out a breath, Tom said, “That is a concern. Which means we have to push up what we're going to do. I'll get Peasegood and work something out with him to get Snape in the hands of the Ministry when we need to. I'll have to get with some others to work with them as well. I'm going to shoot for tomorrow or the next day on doing something about the man.”
“Rufus had Moody in his office when I left. That's not going to end well for the other side of this. Moody will end up giving up everything he knows on what is going on with Dumbledore or he'll be in Azkaban with many people he helped put there.” Merwin said, looking between the two.
“That can only help us,” Tom said, nodding. “Keep an ear to the ground, but make sure you keep yourself protected. If it's something that can get you in trouble, don't pass it and try to direct it elsewhere. You know what I mean.” Seeing Merwin nod then inquiring if there was anything else, he dismissed the man when it was clear there wasn't. After the door shut, he focused on Lucius, “Who do you think is going to get the job when Fudge goes?”
Looking down, thinking it over, Lucius said, shaking his head, “I don't know. Before today, I would have laid odds on Amelia Bones. I don't know now. The only other one that comes to mind is Scrimgeour. I don't think so there either right now. Both of those two, though having less muck on them than anyone else high placed, aren't going to fair well when what was revealed today hits the paper. They will maintain their positions, but I doubt anyone will consider them for the Minister's job, what with the leaks. Which works out well for us anyway. Those two are irate enough that they will do things to help us without realizing it. Anyone attached to Fudge in any way has no chance. Whatever he has in place is going to be gutted and any staff will either be facing charges or be reamed to the point they will find another job.”
“Let me see who I have where in this and then I'll get with you on the topic. Though I would like you close to the top, if not in that job, it won't work. The history there will negate you trying, not to mention what is going on now. No, I need you where you are and not to even consider it.” Tom said, looking down.
“I don't want it,” Lucius said softly, shaking his head. “In the past, perhaps. Now? No. What's going to come with Harry is something I would rather have. I think, if you play it right, I can maintain a close tie to whomever gets the office, something that may actually help more.”
Smiling a little, Tom nodded, “Understood. Let me see what I have in place where. We weren't expecting this so fast. I can work with it, it's just going to take some fancy footwork. Even if it's more of a neutral party until we can build the right base it'll be something we can work with.”
“That may be the way to go. Whatever is coming after this mess isn't going to reflect well on whoever steps into Fudge's place. There is so much there that is just a right cock-up that it's going to be a bad job to take on. Let them take the heat then we can come in behind and clean up. In fact, that might be the way to go, actually. It's a no-win situation. Whoever it is won't come out of it smelling like roses. Let them take the reaming. We can suggest, lay the base of what we need and let it go. Then prepare for what we want with the situation that is there and we'll be in.”
Thinking that over, Tom looked at the man then said, “Good idea, very good idea. Let me hunt around for who might be good for this and would listen when it's obvious that help is going to be needed. There are a couple on the Wizengamot that might work for it. They would work well and might be able to be put into place easily enough as they sound good.” Give me a day or so to see what happens and investigate. If you can think of anyone else, I'm more than willing to listen to suggestions.”
“I will,” Lucius said with a firm nod.
Softly, Tom said, “I'll be busy for several more hours yet, but when you get a chance to finish for the day, I need you to go warn Harry there is something very important I have to talk to him about. Bella's plan for Snape is what I'm going to go with. I want Harry, if he's willing, to help. I think it'll do him good, actually. He gets to face the man with all of us there when he does. It might help. I'll give him the details, of course, and it'll be his choice, but I think it'll do him a world of good.”
Knowing the plan, Lucius nodded. “I'll let him know and put him at ease.”
“I'll fill him in on what we want to do. I need to get with Black as well. He wants to help. That's something I'll allow as well. It'll do not only him, but Harry some good.” Tom told Lucius.
Liking that idea, Lucius nodded.
Leaning back in his chair, Tom said, “You go do what you need to and let me get with those that need to be warned. I'll pop over to Harry's when I'm done and we can both talk to him. I may get with Black first and go that way. We'll see. Let's get this done, though. Lots to work with.”
Standing, Lucius nodded then swept out, heading back to the Ministry.
Looking at his desk, Tom grinned, shaking his head. Oh, this was good! More work, yes, but good!

Hands trembling, though they were clasped tight, Molly looked at her kitchen table, shaking her head. She had known when Arthur showed up at home long before he was normally off work, saying he had taken the rest of the day off, that it would be bad. This—she wasn't prepared for what he had said. Letting out a ragged sigh, she asked, tone quivering softly, “What do we do?”
“We back off and get away, Molly,” Arthur told her firmly. “There are many ways we can help with so many things. Albus—I know what we both feel about him and that we thought he was doing what was right, but what I heard today tells me something is off here. I agree with it. I don't know just what is going on, though I believe Albus did tell us the truth, just not all of it, but I don't want any part of this. We made poor Harry suffer through plenty when we shouldn't have over something that is sounding very bad. Other things—I don't think we were told the whole truth, Molly. We just took Albus' word for so much.”

“I wouldn't think he would do anything to put Harry in danger,” Molly said, voice almost a whisper.
“He apparently did by letting it go on for a long time. I think he did with others as well to let something play out or push it in the direction that he wanted it to go. Rufus was right in what he said. They would have had a way to tell if the kids were making up what went on with Sirius. Why would Albus do that?”
“I don't know, I just don't know,” Molly told him, shaking her head.
“The Dursleys—we knew how bad it was, Molly. We did nothing but be here when Albus finally said he could leave. We shouldn't have done that. We would never have stood by and allowed that to happen to anyone else. Why did we with Harry? It's the same with so much. I don't know what's going on here, I really don't, but I don't like what I heard today.” Arthur told her quietly, but with a firm tone.
“I don't either, not when it was put that way,” Molly said with a shake of her head.
Taking off his glasses and polishing them, Arthur sighed, “We had blinders on. Albus is such a beacon that I don't think we saw beyond that. Then we took his word for everything. That was a big mistake. We wouldn't have done that with anyone else. That we can only blame ourselves for. And I do. More than I care to admit.”
Sighing, Molly nodded, not saying anything for a moment then she asked, “Are you going to get in trouble over some of this? I've already heard from a few that there are big problems and many Order members are either being forced to resign or just running from it because of what is happening.”
“No,” Arthur told her with a shake of his head. “My job isn't one that raises an issue with that like others who are having problems.” Stopping, he slipped his glasses on then said, quietly, “I'm going to help Madam Bones and Rufus all I can though. I don't care how much Albus gets dragged into it. Harry was the victim here. He's the one that needs justice. If Albus ends up mad at me over it, it's his problem, not mine. I'm going to give them everything they need. We're also going to take Amelia's advice and get out, Molly. The kids too. They don't need to be pulled into this. From the sound of it, I can't stop that completely as Madam Bones and Rufus want to talk to them about some of what happened, but I want them out as much as possible.”
“That—yes, we need to do that,” Molly said firmly, nodding, looking at her husband.
Lowering his voice, almost as though he was afraid to say what he was thinking, Arthur imparted, “Something is not right, Molly. The part with Severus—that sits wrong with me. Why would Albus keep protecting him? You said yourself the charges are valid. Why? What does Severus have that Albus needs to protect him so badly over? Rabidly enough to seemingly ignore such a vile crime? And to allow him to stay in a school full of children? I don't know what is going on there, but something is very wrong. And I don't like it. In the past this would never have happened. During the first war, Albus would have been the first person to drag him to the Ministry to see that he was prosecuted. What's changed? I don't understand!”
Looking at her husband, thinking it over, Molly shook her head then admitted, “I don't know, but you're right. Merlin, this is bad. I—I don't know. I just don't know. Something is wrong.”

Sighing, Arthur looked down then shook his head.
Quietly, Molly said, “Albus contacted me not long before you got home. Grimmauld Place is locked down completely. The Fidelius has been canceled and Albus can't get in. He also said that he can't get in contact with either Sirius or Remus, that the owls just return.”
Looking at his wife, Arthur thought it over then said, “I'm going to bet that Harry got in contact with them somehow and they are with him. I hope that's the case, because Harry needs someone. And those two would be good for him to have around. However, if that's the case and, as the paper said, Sirius can get asylum, all hell will break loose here over it.”
Rubbing her eyes with a trembling hand, Molly said, “He wants to use the Burrow for the Order meetings. I told him I didn't think it was a good idea. This was before I knew what was going on with you, of course, but I didn't think we needed to draw attention to ourselves over it. Not with what is happening.”
Reaching out, Arthur put a hand on his wife's arm and patted it. “You did the right thing,” he told her firmly. “Let him find somewhere else for the meetings. We just won't go. We'll come up with an excuse of some kind and back away.”
Taking Arthur's hand with both of hers, she held it tightly then said, tone firmer than it had been, “Let's get the boys together and have a family meeting. They need to know what's going on here. We can talk all this out and see if we can't figure out what is going on. Fred and George alone need to be told about some of it so they can prepare. When we're done, I'll write a letter to Ron, Ginny and Hermione to make sure they know to prepare. We can't just let them be surprised by this. They need to know.”
“Good idea,” Arthur agreed. “You get the kids and we'll work it out from there. Maybe, if we put our heads together, we can figure this out. At least part of it.”

Standing up behind his desk to face Rufus and two of his Aurors, Renfield Smythewick snarled at him, “If this is about sources for some of what we're doing, you can forget it, Rufus! You know the law; they are protected! The Prophet will fund any battle against a Ministry intrusion to find those!”
Lifting his chin and glaring at the man, a cold smile on his face, Rufus said, holding out two arrest warrants, “I wouldn't worry about protecting sources, Smythewick. Those sources gave up two of your reporters to save their own skin. So any blathering in court about protecting sources flew out the window on a broom. I have arrest warrants for both Skeeter and Winchell. Unless you want to be arrested for hindering, I would suggest that you turn them over, now. And, a friendly suggestion? Unless you and the owner of the Prophet, both, want to be arrested, don't run any article that mentions what were in the memories the two managed to get their hands on. It's illegal to have viewed or to impart what is in them as Mr. Potter is underage.”
Going white, knowing that was the base for the two biggest articles they were running the following day, Renfield then sputtered, “I can run them! I didn't view them!”

“He's underage, Smythewick, thus protected by law from anyone revealing what is in those memories. As it was illegal to even have copied or someone that doesn't have the need to know right to see them, anyone that imparts what was in them can be arrested. If you think Amelia Bones is joking with that, try her. I would love to come arrest you if you're foolish enough to duel with her over it.” Ginning in a feral way, he then barked, “Winchell and Skeeter, now!”
Sputtering, not sure what to do, Smythewick decided that it was better to give them up so he motioned for the men to follow him and led the way. He would work with the legal end after the Aurors left.
Loving this, Rufus adjusted his robes and walked behind the man, feeling he was doing some kind of good for the first time that day.

Standing in the doorway to his godson's room, arms folded over his chest, Sirius looked at the bed where Harry was curled up asleep, head resting on the dog. Smiling at the scene, he just watched, glad Harry was resting peacefully.
Startled by a quiet noise behind him, he looked to see Cissy slipping up beside him. Feeling her slip her arm through his, he reached down and gave her hand a pat.
Leaning against her cousin, she said, softly, “At least he's able to rest quietly. I think Padfoot was a good idea.”
“He was,” Sirius told her with a nod, smiling as he looked back at Harry. Glancing down at his cousin, he said, softly, “Thank you, all of you, for taking care of him.”
“Nothing to thank us for, Sirius,” Narcissa told him with a shake of her head.
“Yeah, there is. You did what Remus and I couldn't. That's taking on a lot there.”
“He's made it easy,” she said with a smile.
Glancing at Harry, he asked, softly, “What's Lucius' intention with him, do you know? I mean—well, I know there isn't an agenda, obviously. I guess what I want to know is what it's leading to.”
Sighing, Narcissa told him, “Lucius, though he doesn't say such things aloud, loves Harry. I think he has before he realized he thought about him in that manner. Beyond that, it's complicated, as I'm sure you understand. He wants a real commitment, as does Harry. It's just not possible right now.”
“That I get,” Sirius chuckled, leaning against her slightly. Quietly, he told her, looking at his godson, “I think Harry adores Lucius as much as Lucius does Harry. Neither say much about that, I'm sure, but what he has points there, like some stuff this afternoon.”
“I think so as well,” Narcissa told him with a soft smile. “They are good for each other. It's odd, we all admit that, but it works for them. I think that's all that matters, don't you?”
“It is,” Sirius confirmed with a nod.
Looking at the sleeping Harry, smiling softly, Narcissa said, “Those pictures that were taken in the Minister's office arrived. That's why I came to find you. I was going to have you help me frame them so Harry can put them up somewhere. I thought he would like that.”
Grinning, Sirius nodded, “Yeah, I can help. Did they turn out good?”
After another glance at the sleeping young man, Narcissa led her cousin away saying, “They did. You both look quite handsome. The one of you two together is going in the paper tomorrow. Which means, dear cousin of mine, we're going to be getting fan mail for you from some of the French women.”
Allowing himself to be led away, Sirius chuckled, “Good! That means I might be able to get a date. Haven't done that in a while. You're going to have to help me get all totted up so I look decent. I can't pull right if I don't look good, you know.”
“Oh Merlin,” Narcissa sighed, shaking her head. “I think the female population needs to start hiding now. Just tell me you have better pickup lines than you did in school. Those were horrid, Sirius.”
“Don't worry, I have all kinds of new lines that work, trust me. I spent hours dreaming these up,” Sirius told her confidently.
“That doesn't sound good,” she chuckled, grinning just a little. “Let me help you with those too. I think I can probably come up with something better for you.”

“Hey! I have some good ones!” He told her with a roguish grin. “You're a bird, though, so yours might work better. Yeah, I think I better get your help there. Up my chances for success. We need to find someone for Remus too. You know, he's the quiet type, so he's not apt to go do it himself.”
Smiling, she shook her head. “I think he will do fine on his own.”

“Maybe. Just gotta point him in the right direction, I think,” Sirius said scratching his chin. “It's my duty to help though, you need to understand that. Now, about this dating thing—where is the best place to pick up birds? It's been a while since I’ve done this, so I'm rusty on it. That means I need somewhere that's going to make it easy on me. Maybe I should drag Harry along. He's adorable and the girls would think he's cute. He's not on the market, of course, I'll make that clear, but he would be good to draw them in.”
Shaking her head, Narcissa led him towards the stairs. “Whatever you do, don't use that line about riding your broomstick. That was bad, Sirius, not to mention it got you slapped countless times.”
“Hey! That was one of my better ones! It worked quite well, I'll have you know,” he told her, sounding affronted.
“This isn't Hogwarts, Sirius. They are older and more sophisticated. I think it's best if you let me help you there,” she told him, pushing him towards the stairs.
“Don't knock the broomstick line, Cissy,” he told her, making his way down the staircase. “It's a classic. Maybe I do need to update some a little though. You can help with that. I'll have you make me a list.”
“You know, if you just try talking to someone, you might get further,” she suggested, shaking her head.
“Well, yeah, but you have to get them to do that. That's the hard part,” Sirius told her.
Sighing, Narcissa rolled her eyes, “You're impossible, even after all these years.”
- 16
- 17
- 18
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

If This Is How You Treat Your Heroes...