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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
- 17
- 18
- 19
Chapter 18

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

It was a solemn bunch that sat around the Weasley kitchen table that evening. Molly and Arthur, though having time to talk it over beforehand, were still unsettled at what they had to pass along. Charlie, who had managed to come in for a couple hours so he could meet with them, was sitting there shaking his head. Bill, who already had enough stress in his life, had his arms folded over his chest and was looking down, a sour expression on his face. Fred and George were sharing pointed glances, slightly pale.
Finally, after a long silence, Arthur told his sons, “While the choice of what to do is up to all of you, your mother and I are going to distance ourselves from the Order. What we keep hearing, and it's not rumors, as I told you where I got some of the information from, disturbs us greatly. I do understand that the cause we embraced is a good one, one we all believe in, but what is being done to help it isn't something I want to be associated with. The part with Severus alone has me questioning just what is going on here and what Albus may be hiding from all of us.” Stopping he looked around.
Rubbing his eyes in a tired way, Charlie said, “I'm out. I don't like what I'm hearing. You lot have to depend on the Prophet, and now the Seer, for information. Where I am, we're getting other news. I'm leaning heavily, from what I've seen, that the Seer is dead on correct with everything it's putting out. You forget that papers on the continent are different than here. What hasn't made it into the Prophet here has there. So, we're hearing all kinds of different things. And I don't like some of them.” Stopping, he thought it over for a minute then said, “I'm going to wait to see everyone's stance on this before I impart something I learned today.”
Though curious about what Charlie said, Bill sighed then shook his head. “I'm out as well. Most of it is for obvious reasons. I'll be back in Egypt by Friday. Fleur is coming with me. My plan was to help Albus all I could from there, though I knew it would be limited as to what it would be. This though—some of it I didn't know and it's not sitting right with me. I think, though we need a light side here if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, I don't think Albus should be running it. We need someone that doesn't have a secret agenda. Though I’m not certain what that agenda is, I’m positive by now that there is one. The cause is good, I don't think any of us here would deny that, we just need to work with it another way. And right now isn't the time to even be thinking about that. The dust needs to settle before anyone else even considers taking up the mantle.”
I agree,” Arthur nodded, looking at his oldest. “It's something to be brought up at a later time.” Glancing at the twins, seeing them look down, he waited to see what they had to say.
Sighing, shooting George a look, Fred said, “Honestly? We were going to get with you in a day or so to say we were out. Today--”
“Well, what was in the paper was enough for us,” George finished. “What came before was bad, we admit that and we were leaning that way. Today's paper—dad, we can confirm some of it because we were there. Others we can because we saw it. Harry isn't lying. Even everything Dumbledore has tossed out there confirms it.”
“That's not sitting well with us,” Fred sighed, shaking his head. “I mean, we didn't know how bad this was, obviously, because Harry just didn't talk about it. What we did know was wrong. Like the bit where we had to pull the bars off his window to rescue him.”
“And how his trunk was locked under the stairs, with his wand in it,” George added.
“Then you saw what his family was like with him before the Quidditch World Cup,” Fred sighed.
“No, we were going to back away anyway. We just didn't know how to tell you,” George said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Looking at the two, Arthur nodded slowly. “I understand completely and don't blame you,” he told the two. Out of everyone and everything coming up in the paper so far, his children, at least the ones that had been in school with Harry, and Hermione weren't getting the treatment. In fact, they were just mentioned here and there, like the bit with the rescue from Privet Drive.
Looking around, Fred asked, “Is someone going to say something to Ron, Ginny and Hermione about Madam Bones wanting to talk to them? We're more than willing and will be honest about it.”
“I've already sent them a letter making it clear it's coming and to answer honestly with everything, no matter how bad of a light it may put someone in,” Molly told them with a firm nod, crossing her arms over her chest.
Pleased that no one chose to argue over the whole thing, Arthur looked at Charlie and asked, “What is it you know or have heard?”
“It goes no further?” Charlie asked, looking around. Seeing nods, he said, “We were getting rumblings in the evening edition of a Romanian paper that the French are about to slap Britain with sanctions over this. They are furious because, if the source in the paper is correct, those memories that were sent to the DMLE were leaked to some who had no business seeing them.” Stopping, he glanced around again and said, voice lowered, as if he were afraid to be overheard, “I don't think it's a joke. I think it's dead on real because one of the sources quoted gave the time the French Minister is supposed to meet with their Parliament tomorrow, something he wasn't scheduled to do before this. I'd bet my dragonhide boots it's real.”
Rubbing his eyes, Arthur sighed. That wouldn't affect them much as a family, that he knew, but it would many people and would just make a situation that was already bad, worse. “I guess we're going to have to wait and see on this. I don't like the sound of it though.”
Looking at George, Fred saw a look on his twin's face that he was sure mirrored his own. He would bet their inventory one of those that would be on that list was Dumbledore.

Coming back into her office after her summons to the Ministry, Madam Maxine flopped down behind her desk and immediately poured herself a glass of potent wine. Downing it, she then poured another and began to sip. Leaning back in her chair, she let out a shaky sigh. That meeting with the education undersecretary had not been a pleasant one, that's for sure. It was even worse when it was made quite clear that what he had to say was at the behest of the Minister himself. No, she didn't ever want to go through that again.
Looking at her desk, she shook her head at the mass of things that still had to be attended to. Being called away had put her far behind and she needed to get on them. However, she needed to steady her nerves before she could think about doing that.
Leaning her head back and shutting her eyes, she let out a soft groan then uttered a few mild curses. This was bad.
Going in, she wasn't sure what the meeting was about though she thought it might have to do with the situation that was in the papers with Harry Potter. As she was dead certain that everything was accurate in that he was now in France for the foreseeable future, she thought it might have to do with enrolling him in her school. She would take him, of course, no question there, though there would be problems as she was sure the young man didn't speak French. Along with that, she would be able to let Albus know she would be in contact with him as the old man wanted to get in touch with Mr. Potter. That had pleased her.
That was until she got there.
Oh, indeed, the meeting was about the mess in the paper, however it was her that got a scathing lecture and it was made clear that because of her relationship with Albus Dumbledore that Mr. Potter would not be attending Beauxbatons. He was going to be homeschooled because he feared her giving Dumbledore access to him. Then she got a good reaming.
It was made very clear to her that France, and her school, were not to be pulled into whatever Albus Dumbledore was doing. In fact, it was imparted that one whiff of something that sounded like that and she would be out as headmistress. Knowing the undersecretary the way she did, she knew that wasn't an idle threat and agreed. Which meant she now had to back as far away from Albus as she could, as quickly as she could manage.
Sipping at her wine, she looked at the letter from Dumbledore on her desk. Shaking her head, she decided it was time not to answer it. No, the less contact with the old man, the better off she would be. Grabbing the parchment, she tossed it into the fireplace then turned her back on it as it burned. That was done and she would ensure that all owls from the man would be returned, unopened.
Feeling better and more in control once again, she looked at the letter from Hagrid and smiled. She figured there would be something in it about the mess going on, but she could avoid talking about it with him.
Leaning forward, she picked it up, opened it and began to read, a soft smile growing as she did.

Talking with Rufus in her office about what she wanted to do the following day to tackle all the issues that still needed to be dealt with, Amelia was looking forward to going home. Once again, she was bone tired and wanted to rest. She wouldn't sleep well, she knew that, not with all the stresses going on in her life and over what was involved in this nightmare, but some rest was needed. Envisioning being wrapped up in her nice quilt in front of the fire, sipping some hot chocolate was what was pushing her on. As it was almost time to quit for the day, she was looking forward to this.
As she was finishing going over with Rufus what plans he had for the team he was assembling for the following day, she frowned when her secretary signaled. Hitting the button on the box that allowed them to communicate, she asked, “What do you need?”
“Madam Bones, I'm sorry to disturb you as I know you're getting ready to go home, but I have someone here that asked for you personally. She said it's about the Harry Potter case and that she has some information that you need.” The woman told her, sounding exasperated.
Rubbing her eyes in a tired way, Amelia wondered who this could be and if she could put it off until the following day. “Who is it,” she asked, deciding to determine what to do once she heard the name. If it was someone just off the wall, they would be coming back.
“She says her name is Arabella Figg,” the younger woman told her.
Head coming up, Amelia looked at Rufus, eyes wide. Oh, this person was one they wanted to talk to, badly! If it was her, that would save them all kinds of trouble in tracking her down. Straightening up, seeing a hungry look on Rufus' face, she said, “Send her in. Also, get one of the transcribers for the Aurors and tell them I'm going to need them shortly.” Hearing the confirmation, she cut off the box and looked at Rufus, smirking.

Nervously shutting the door behind her, Arabella looked up clutching her purse tightly. Walking over and taking a seat in the chair when she was gestured to, she looked at the two behind the desk, feeling her insides quiver. This was going to be hard, she knew that.
Since those horrible articles hit the paper, she had been wondering what to do about what she knew when it came to Harry. Then today, when the Dursley's had been covered and the Prophet even seemed to be backtracking its stance on what they were saying, she had thought long and hard about her role in this mess. Nothing she did was going to have her coming out of this smelling sweet, she realized that. She had done plenty wrong in this area and was going to pay. All she hoped was that she could stave off the worst of it then vanish to her sister's in Germany while the storm raged.
Lifting her chin, she looked at the two and waited.
Settling back in her chair, Amelia looked at the squib and said, tone smooth, though containing a bite to it, “You're someone we were going to come talk to, Mrs. Figg. The topic is one I'm sure you know already.”
“I do and I guessed my name would come up in it,” Mrs. Figg told her, trying to keep the quiver out of her voice as she did.
“Is there a reason you decided to come see us before we came to you?” Amelia asked, pleased with this turn of events.
Looking down, Arabella let out a ragged sigh then lifted her head and said, looking between the two, “With what was in today's paper, I felt that you would need to hear what I have to say on the matters in how it relates to what went on with the Dursleys.”
Liking that, Amelia nodded then asked, “What are you willing to give up? We want everything, Mrs. Figg, including how Albus Dumbledore had you move there to keep an eye on the young man.”
“I will tell you what you want to know,” Mrs. Figg told her firmly. Looking between the two, she then added, “I even brought all correspondence I've had over the years with Albus on the matter. I'll give that up, too.”
Loving that, knowing it could add even more nails to the lid of the coffin that had plenty in it already, Amelia leaned back in her chair and asked, “Is there a reason, besides what you've said, that you decided to do this?”
“Yes,” Arabella told her honestly. “I want out once I talk. I'll come back for a trial, whatever, when you need me, but until then I want to go to my sister's in Germany. Of course, I'll ensure you know how to get a hold of me there. I just don't want to be here for the worst of this.” What she didn't add was she didn't want to deal with Albus anymore either. He had sent her a couple owls over the days that the series had been running. Though he hadn't said it outright, he implied that he didn't want her to talk to anyone. That didn't set right with her and she knew it meant trouble.
“We can work with that,” Amelia told her after a glance at Rufus and saw his nod. “As long as you sign a binding statement promising to return when summoned.”
“Anything you want, Madam Bones,” Arabella told her with a firm nod.
“Let me get a transcriber in here and we'll begin,” Amelia told her, a grim smile on her face.
Sighing, starting to shake slightly harder than she had been, Mrs. Figg nodded. This was going to be hard, but she was determined to do it.

Sitting in the dorm, huddled with Ron and Ginny, away from everyone else, Hermione let out a sigh as she reread Mrs. Weasley's letter. Looking up at the other two, after folding it with shaking hands, she asked, keeping her tone down, “What do you think? It sounds like your mother was saying to give up everything we know, including about the Order.”
“That's what she means,” Ginny nodded. Looking around, making sure no one was paying attention, she then lowered her voice and added, “I don't like this. Something is very wrong here. Mum and dad would never tell us something like that if they didn't mean it. I mean, with what they've done with the Order, I'm thinking they are pulling back from it.”
Looking at the letter in his hands, Ron shook his head. He didn't like this either. His mum was making it clear to him to tell those that came to talk with them everything he knew. And she emphasized the word everything. That meant they knew something big and wanted to make sure they were warned. “This is bad,” he muttered. “Really bad.”
“From what Professor McGonagall said, the Aurors are going to be here tomorrow to talk to us,” Hermione whispered. “Gryffindor is going to be the first house questioned. I mean, that makes sense because Harry was in this house. What do they want to know about is what I'm wondering.”
“I don't know,” Ginny said, shaking her head. “If it's as mum said and Madam Bones is going to be here as well, it's big, whatever it is. She doesn't get involved unless it is.”
“Do you think this might have something to do with Professor Dumbledore?” Ron asked, looking between the two. “I mean, what's been said about him in the papers isn't good.”
“Probably,” Ginny told her brother.
Looking down, Hermione sighed then said, “I think there were a lot of things Harry didn't tell us over the years. I mean, some of what is coming out we knew about. Others? We didn't have a clue about it. That's bad. It sounds like, if you read it closely, Professor Dumbledore knew what was wrong and did nothing. I don't know how I feel about that.”
“I don't either,” Ron told her, shifting around. “I mean—we knew it was bad, all of us, just not this bad. I don't get it. If it was as Harry said in the paper, why wouldn't Professor Dumbledore have done something? Or mum and dad? I don't understand! I mean, they are all the adults and supposed to do what is right.”
“I don't either, Ron,” Ginny told him softly, looking at the floor. “This is a mess.”
Sighing and slumping, Hermione said, “We better tell them everything then, no matter what. We don't want to get into trouble over it, after all.” Seeing the other two nod, she began to wring her hands, worried about just what was coming the following day.

Sitting in his office, looking at everyone gathered there, the owner of the Prophet, Archibald Winston, said, firmly, “I want to make myself very clear here; as of tomorrow we no longer follow the Ministry line. Period. We take the Prophet wherever the story leads us. Our time of kowtowing to what Fudge wants has ended. If the story leads us to where the Ministry doesn't look good, so be it. We are going to follow the story, not a line. Am I understood?” Looking around, seeing the nods, he was pleased. The Seer was hurting them, badly, and that's all there was to it. It was time they stopped that and went back to doing what they did best. If Fudge didn't like it, he didn't care.
Straightening up, he added, “Make sure you toe the legal line as well. I will not be bailing you out or paying for your defense if you step over it. Winchell and Skeeter are on their own here. They made the choice to get their hands on something illegal, so they will be handling it themselves. We also won't run anything that puts us afoul of the law.” Seeing more nods at that, though some looked wary, he added, “Remember who we are, folks. We are the only British daily and want to ensure the Seer knows that. There is no way some French upstart of a paper can take away our history and usurp what we do. It's time we show them what we care capable of and bring the readers back.”
Sitting there listening to what was said, Renfield was nodding like he should. However, unlike what he was seeing on the faces around him, he wasn't that hopeful this was going to work. The Seer had too much of a lead in this explosive expose for them to have much of a chance at capitalizing on it. Not to mention the one thing that they had in the works that might be explosive enough to help was something they couldn't use. No, this wasn't good. In fact, he was pretty damned sure it was too little, too late. The Prophet was in trouble and he wasn't sure that there was anything left that could save it.

Sitting in his living room, flanked by Lucius and Sirius on the couch with Padfoot curled up at his feet, Harry rubbed his eyes, not sure what to say. Tom had proposed something about Snape that, though it sounded good, he was leery of doing. If he did it, it meant he had to face the man. That wasn't something he was sure he could do yet.
Seeing the look on Harry's face, Tom told him, gently, “I'm going to be honest here; I think this will do you good, Harry. You get to face the man. That alone will do you a world of good nothing else will ever manage. It's going to show him that nothing he did ruined your life. It's affected it, yes, but not ruined it and he didn't break you. It's also going to be in the safest manner possible. I'll be there. That alone should tell you he won't try anything. Lucius will be there too. You know he won't let anything happen to you. Sirius will be as well. Bella, Narcissa, Rodolphus, Rabastan, all of those you trust will be right there so nothing will happen to you. You don't have to say a word to him or even look in his direction. You just have to be there and sit while I say some things. Nothing more. Once that's over, you'll go back to my house and stay there with Remus until we're done. That's all.”
Thinking that over, Harry glanced at Lucius to see what he had to say.
Putting a hand on the back of his young man's head, Lucius rubbed it and imparted gently, “I do agree. If you want to look at him or say something, you can. All of us will protect you if you chose to do so. You know that. I'll ensure that I'm on one side of him so no harm will come to you. I'm quite certain that we can ensure that Bella is on the other and your godfather is right behind. He won't do anything or say a word. He's going to know that he's in a world of trouble by that point.”
“I think you should as well, Harry,” Sirius told him quietly. “You may never have another chance to face the pervert. This will give you that. It may still be raw and hard to deal with, but you can look the bastard in the eye, knowing that you're going to keep right on going when he's going to pay for what he did. That's good and will only help you in the future. If you don't want to look at him, look at Lucius or me. That’s all you have to do. None of us are going to let anything happen to you.” Stopping, he snorted and said, “Honestly? Snape is too much of a coward to even think about trying anything anyway. Like any bully out there, he's going to cringe when finally confronted with those that are stronger than he is and that won't be intimated by his act. We aren't his students, what he does with them won't work with us. And if Tom makes it clear that you're under his protection, the man isn't going to do a damned thing but about wet himself.”
“I'll stand right by you the whole time,” Tom assured him. “Nagini will be right at hand as well. I'll also make sure Narcissa is right beside us. If you can't handle it, we'll work out a signal and I'll cut it short then you can leave.”
Thinking it over more, looking down and petting Padfoot, Harry sighed, “I can, I think. If I can't handle it, I'll say something. I just—I don't want to know what you do to him, alright? I really don't.”
“I promise no one will say anything to you. And you won't see anything upsetting,” Tom told him firmly. “However, there is one thing I will tell you now that will 'happen' to him.” Seeing the young man look at him, a concerned expression there, he held up his hand and smiled then said, “He's going to be in the hands of the DMLE when we're done. That's all you'll need to know. I'll ensure he gets there. They can take it from that point. That way he'll never have a chance to do it again.”
Relieved, Harry nodded, “Alright. I can handle that. Tomorrow night then?”
“Tomorrow night,” Tom told him. “It's nothing to worry about, I promise. The only ones that will be there will be ones you know and trust, the same ones that have met you before. None of my other Death Eaters will know anything about it. You know the ones you've met will protect you. Just remember that as you deal with what comes.”
“I'll try,” Harry sighed, not sure about this.
Hand slipping down to Harry's shoulder, Lucius gave it a squeeze then said, “I think it will be cathartic for you. I'll make sure you know just where I am. All you need do is look at me.”

Liking that, Harry nodded. “Okay,” he said softly. “I'll do it.”
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If This Is How You Treat Your Heroes...