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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
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Chapter List
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Chapter 24

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

Coming back in to where everyone was seated after leaving Harry, Lucius planned to tell them his young man wanted to stay outside for a time, then he had to leave. It wasn't that he had pressing appointments to attend to, but the mess meant he had plenty to do to even keep up with all that was being thrown about. It was worth it, he knew that, and he needed to stay on top of it to not only keep up, but keep Tom apprised so they could work with what was there and steer it to their advantage.
Stepping into the room, he was about to say something when he stopped, eyes widening. Looking around, he didn't know what to think. This was bad. Black was furious, pacing around and swearing. Lupin was trembling slightly, pale, and staring at the table. Narcissa had a sick look on her face as she glanced at him, shaking her head. Tom had his elbows propped on the table, hands over his mouth, staring at the parchment on the table. Swallowing thickly, Lucius asked, now wanting to see whatever was in that confession, “What is going on?”
Stopping his pacing, Sirius asked, tone furious, “Where's Harry?”
“He wants to stay outside with Padfoot for a time. They are playing on the Quidditch pitch,” Lucius told him, glancing between the faces, not liking what he was seeing.
“I'm going to join him,” Sirius said, striding out, slamming the door behind him so hard that the walls seemed to shake.
“I think I better join them and get Sirius calm before he goes outside,” Lupin said quietly, standing and leaving himself.
Waiting for Lupin to shut the door, Lucius looked between the two then asked, “What in Merlin's name is in that confession? And I want to read it.”
Shaking his head, Tom said, quietly, “You may want to wait until you get home, Lucius. You have plenty to attend to. If you read this, you're going to be worthless.”
Stiffening up, staring at the parchment, Lucius said, “I want to read it now. I need to know what is going on, Tom. If it's causing this reaction, I need prepared. Harry wants us to spend the night together, alone. I can't do that if I'm irate. He doesn't ask much of me and this was something he did. I fully plan to do so. Show me.”
Thinking it over, looking at the still pale, sick looking Narcissa, who was eying him, Tom sighed then asked, “Do you have any appointments this afternoon or meetings you have to attend? Or is it just trying to stay caught up?”
“I have nothing pressing other than trying to stay on top of what's going on,” Lucius told him, walking over and taking a seat.
“Then you need to send a message that something urgent has come up that you have to attend to. Once you do that, come back and I'll let you read it,” Tom told him softly. “When you do, you're staying put if I have to stick you to the chair and bind you there with Nagini keeping herself wrapped around you. Understood?” Looking at Lucius, Tom waited.
That wasn't good and he knew it, but Lucius nodded. “Let me go to the manor and get in touch with my appointment secretary. I'll tell her that something urgent came up and I’ll be out of town for the rest of the day,” he said, standing. Looking at the parchment, he said, “If anything vital comes up, I'll have her forward it to the manor.” Seeing Tom nod, he swept out to Floo to the manor, now on edge over what might be coming.
Waiting until she was sure her husband was gone, Narcissa said, “I'm going to get Bella, Rodolphus and Rabastan over here. We might need their help to keep him right where he is.”
“Good idea,” Tom sighed, shaking his head. “That and to keep an eye on Sirius. I'm not sure what he might try at the moment as angry as he is.”
“I—Tom—dear Merlin, even I didn't think he was that bad,” Narcissa told him with a shake of her head.
“I don't think any of us did,” Tom sighed. “It doesn't matter now. Let the DMLE handle it. They know, so they'll be taking steps to attend to it. We'll work with what's here. When Lucius is done reading this, we'll put it away. Harry will want to see it at some point, so we'll save it. Thankfully, he didn't want to read it right now. This wouldn't help anything.” Shutting his eyes, he rubbed them then shook his head. “Go get the others. I would suggest sending Bella out to the pitch to keep an eye on them. I know she doesn't have the best relationship with Black, but she adores Harry. That should help.”
“I will,” Narcissa said, standing. After giving Tom a kiss on the cheek, she went to get her sister and the other two.

Sitting at the desk in his new, still almost bare office, Wienstein finished going over what Amelia and Rufus had just presented him. Shaking his head, he put his head in his hands, elbows resting on the table. As head of the Wizengamot, he had known what was coming was bad, but he didn't have a clue it was this rotten. Taking deep breaths, he didn't know what to say here. He had been briefed on other pressing matters he needed to know about, but put this nightmare off until the very last as it was currently causing the most headaches.
Lifting his head, he leaned back then called his new secretary, as he had replaced everyone close to Fudge, moving them to new departments after the DMLE debriefed them so there was no hint of shenanigans on his end, and had her summon not only Angus but the head barrister for the Minister. He wanted both of them to attend this meeting as there was much to decide here.
Shaking his head, looking at the parchments on his desk, he asked, quietly, “How was so much of this allowed to go on for so long? Someone, somewhere, should have stepped in.”
“We have no excuses,” Amelia told him honestly. “Some of it we should have taken on and didn't. I can say that Black escaping and the breakout at Azkaban were things that drew the bulk of our attention, as would be warranted. However, we should have done something, as should many others.” Shaking her head, she added, “I can honestly say, though, that much of this we didn't know, Wienstein. I'm sure you didn't either and Albus was on your panel for how long? We never suspected anything. It was hidden, covered up, done covertly and no one said anything to anyone that might be able to help the situation.”
Taking that in, Wienstein sighed and nodded, understanding. “Albus—he fooled and misled many of us over the years. I can safely say I knew about almost none of this. The obvious bits, like what was in the paper, we all did. The rest? Merlin's beard, this is bad.”
“You'll get no arguments from us there,” Rufus sighed, looking down, folding his arms over his chest.
Having his secretary send in the two men when she alerted him that they were there, he straightened up and waited for them to take a seat. Once they did, he launched in, “We have a right mess here, something I want cleared up, well as much as we can with it, before all of you leave the office.” Looking around and seeing nods, he said, “First and foremost, I want to ask this; is there any doubt that Sirius Black is innocent? What I just read tells me that he is.” Stopping, he waited.
“He's innocent,” Angus said softly, looking at the new Minister. “We have enough proof, including from Snape's confession, to clearly show that he didn't betray James and Lily Potter.”
Muttering a mild swear word under his breath, Wienstein sighed, “Understood. I'll have legal draw up the pardon papers and push the Wizengamot for reparations. I want this done fast. The man has suffered enough and shouldn't have to fear coming back to the country that he was born in over an obviously false charge. Though this doesn't even begin to make up for 12 years of his life spent in prison for something he didn't do. That and we'll put Peter Pettigrew on the top of our most wanted list, including his animagus form so people know what to look out for.” Pressing on after making a note of that, he asked, “Snape is in custody, correct? With a deal in place?”
“Yes,” Amelia told him firmly with a nod. “He's going before the Wizengamot tonight after the Ministry closes so no one is the wiser. He'll be in Azkaban shortly after that and probably won't ever leave again unless we need to bring him in for a trial.”
“Good.” Wienstein said with a pleased nod. “I want that emblazoned across the front page tomorrow in the biggest letters we can manage.” Looking over the papers, he then inquired, “Where are you with Fudge and the related issue of the Prophet?”
“Charges are coming,” Angus told him firmly, leaning back and crossing his legs. “We just have to wait a couple of more days to see what we're leveling. It wasn't until this morning that we got Fudge's financials. The DMLE are still going through those. The Prophet is one we're not sure about when it comes to this and what we can do. Whatever charges might crop up will be so minor it will be little more than a slap on the wrist over it. It does appear that some money did change hands between Fudge and the owner of the Prophet about the time the paper began to go after so many. We're just not sure we can prove what it was for. With the charges coming against Fudge, I'm not going to cut a deal there to just get the Prophet because even those won't amount to much. I'll level what I can when it comes to this area even if it's not something that will amount to much to ensure that everyone knows this is unacceptable, but don't count on much. Fudge—we're still waiting to see what pans out. He's facing some jail time, just not a lot. The financial, if I can prove those, will tack more time on. It just won't be much more than five years.”
“I want him in jail,” Wienstein said firmly, looking around. “I don't care for how long. You do not use this office to do what he did. The Prophet--” trailing off, he sighed and shook his head. “Charge what you can if you can make sure it'll stick. Beyond that, I think we can make them sting more.” Drumming his fingers on the desk, he said, “What I plan to do here is this—the Prophet gets nothing from the Ministry beyond the pat statements we issue to all media outlets. If there are press conferences, we don't call on or answer questions from their reporters. I will send out a memo that legal will craft to all departments making it clear that any leak of any kind of information, no matter how innocuous, to the Prophet will result in an official reprimand. From this point forward, the Seer, despite the fact it's based in France, will be the daily we go with for many things. Of the UK publications, we're going with the Weekly Crystal Ball. I plan to make this clear tomorrow when I issue our official apology to Mr. Potter. That I will give to the Seer to run. Every other paper will get the blurb of we made an official apology. Only the Seer will get the actual text. I also plan to use that to officially apologize to many others, such as Sirius Black and the French Ministry. I want the Prophet cut out of everything until we finish whatever charges that can be leveled at them and they learn what they did is not acceptable. They are not a tabloid. We don't deal with those. If that's how they want to act, we'll treat them as such. Understood?” Seeing nods, he pressed on. “Now, on to Albus. What are we doing here? I want the man in custody as fast as you can manage.”
“That is probably the most complicated and complex part of all this mess,” Amelia sighed. “Angus is working on the charges as we speak. Some of this is so old we're not sure we can level anything. Others we can. Yet others—despite being morally wrong, we can do nothing about. It's a right mess.”
“How much jail time are we talking here?” Wienstein asked, looking at the head prosecutor.
“While it's not the amount I would like, for someone of his age it's going to hurt. Maybe ten years.” Sighing, he said, “For all he's done, it's not want I want, but it's all I can prove now. In the next couple of days, I'm hoping I can level more. Either way, at his age, ten years in Azkaban isn't going to be a walk in the park. Then there is the loss of reputation, respect and everything else. We can also go in and seize assets to pay fines, which is something I'll ask for a massive amount of, then ask the court to take the rest for reparations for the victims here. That I will probably get. Albus won't come out of this smelling sweet. Whatever good he's done isn't going to be his legacy anymore, this will.”
Though not pleased with all of it, Wienstein understood and nodded. “When are you planning to arrest him?”
“Tomorrow was our plan,” Amelia told him firmly. “We want everything in place and Snape secured before we do that.”
“Is there any way to do it tonight?” Wienstein asked, looking around. “I would like it done if you can manage. Not only will it help me tomorrow at the press conference to show we are doing something, but it will negate any fool hardy scheme he might come up with. We all know him, he has to know the heat is on and is probably planning a way to dodge the coming storm. I want him in our custody so he can't do that or call upon what I can only term as minions to help him get out of this mess or harass a teenage boy who had to flee our country.”
Looking at Angus, who gave a slow nod, Amelia sighed then said, “We can. How about we wait to get Snape in Azkaban then go get him. We have some charges we can level and can get him for a bail hearing in the morning.”
“That might be wise.” Angus said, thoughtfully. “Let's arrest him. The charges I can level for sure are enough to get no bail. If I tack on that we are looking at more and produce what we're considering, he's going to be no-bailed. We'll keep him here in the Ministry under Hitwizard watch.”
“I want that done,” the Minister said firmly with a nod. “I would suggest, with what I know of Albus, to post several Aurors you know you can trust to watch his house now and prepare to put up anti-exit wards of all kinds. He is a tricky one and I'm sure he has plans to get out, like he did from Hogwarts.”
“We will,” Rufus assured him, planning to get with Wallias and have his crew do the watching.
“Alright, on to the more minor things here. What's going on with Umbridge, the Dursleys, Weasley and the rest?”
“The Dursleys are fighting the charges so this is going to take time. We'll get a conviction, no doubt there, and are arranging for whatever time they'll serve to be in the Muggle system. It probably won't be much when it comes to Petunia. Vernon—we aren't sure there. Either way, they will pay.” Angus started, looking at the Minister.
“Percy Weasley we have nothing on that we can level charges over. He's a bootlicker, we know that, but he didn't step over any lines. However, he's going to be an immeasurable help with other cases, like Fudge and Umbridge, because he was in meetings with them. And I'm going to use him all I can.” Angus said, pressing on.
“Umbridge is trying to cut a deal. We aren't going to. What information she has is something we can get from Percy. So, I won't do it. The charges coming her way are going to result in jail time because most of them involve those underage.”
“Moody is going to get fined, heavily, but the charges are minor enough he'll keep his pension. What information he had was big enough that I needed it. It will shore up plenty of the charges against Albus.”
“Finally, there are a couple of minor ones,” Angus told him. “Skeeter and Winchell will be convicted. No doubt there. Winchell will probably get a fine only. Skeeter may face about a year for some of it. Either way, it's going to be enough that both will have problems getting jobs in journalism again. What they did was illegal, not something touchy like protecting a source, especially in Skeeter's case with her animagus form. Arabella Figg did something morally wrong, but I can't level charges. She's going to be needed for not only the Dursleys, but Albus so no charges are coming. Everything else, like leaks, are being handled in house at the moment. Nothing has come of it that we can prosecute over it. That may change at some point and I'll take them if they do.” He finished, looking at the new Minister.
Pleased with that, Wienstein nodded. “Good.” Looking around, he said, “I want all of you with me at the press conference tomorrow. I want a united front to show we are not Fudge's administration and will handle these problems the way the government should. And that we're working together to solve the problems.” Seeing nods, he looked at the parchments then asked, “Off the record; this theory of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named being back—any truth to it?”
“We don't know,” Amelia admitted with a shake of her head. “We keep hearing that from various places. Snape swore that he's seen him in person. At the moment, we have no convincing evidence, only circumstantial, that won't get us anywhere. We'll keep an eye on the situation, but we are seeing nothing like we did in the last war. Rufus and I will keep an eye out for any signs, but there is nothing. Even the Azkaban breakout was non-violent. If it was him, there would have been casualties.”
Taking that in, Wienstein nodded. “Keep me apprised if you do find actual evidence. As there is none, we press on how we are and take on what we do have evidence for.” Looking around, he said, “Now, I'll let you get back to what you were doing. I want updates three times a day until all cases are settled. While you do that, legal and I will work on statements and everything else.” Seeing firm nods, he dismissed everyone so he could tackle the monumental tasks facing him until the British elected someone to take his place.

For the first time since Harry vanished, Albus was well and truly worried. This was bad. First, he hadn't heard from Severus since he went to that meeting. To him, that didn't bode well. Either Tom found out he was a spy and exacted retribution, or the Ministry had the man. At this point, he hoped it was the former. It would put him at a distinct disadvantage when it came to getting information, but it was better than the Ministry working with him. Severus would give up everything if he truly had to face charges over what he did. That bothered him.
Next was the fact that other than minor Order members, no one was willing to help or he couldn't get in contact with them. Alastor hadn't answered any calls. The Weasleys were backing away. Tonks and Kingsley chose their jobs. Sirius and Remus were in France. That left him without the system in place he needed to do anything. He also couldn't get anything from contacts he had in the Ministry. Either they didn't want to help him because of the hell that had come or they just didn't know, as information was hard to come by now. That was bad, very bad.
Cornelius was out. In the past, he would have loved that because it would only help. Now he didn't. Wienstein was Minister. He was a man he had no influence with and would go by the law. With all that was being thrown at Britain, it wasn't a good thing.
Pacing his living room, hands behind his back, looking at the floor, the old man tried to decide what to do. Wallias had made it clear that he was being looked at. Those memories Harry provided were enough that it would give the DMLE places to look to get evidence, even though they couldn't be used in court. That wasn't good. It meant he was in real trouble. Charges would come, though he was sure the worst couldn't be leveled for various reasons.
Sighing softly, he stopped and shook his head. He had to make a decision here, one he didn't like. For now, he thought it best to vanish. Oh, there would be a hunt for him, no doubt there, but he knew places on the continent to hide. He would go there until the heat was off. Then he would slip back into the country and do what he could. Besides, he might be able to use a few contacts he had elsewhere to see if he couldn't find Harry. Once he did that, he would work with the situation and the lad then press on.
Deciding that's what he needed to do, he began to plan for what he had to move. Overnight tonight he would get out with no one the wiser. Once on the continent in a safe place, he would continue with his plans.

After reading the confession, Lucius threw the parchment on the table then got up and began to pace. The fury was easily readable on the man's face. Shaking his head, he snarled, “We should have done something sooner. Or I should have. I don't know! That man—death is too good for him!”
“None of us will argue that, Lucius,” Tom told him softly, keeping a close eye on him. “Getting him out sooner wouldn't have helped anything, keep that in mind. Albus has been planning this for years. There was nothing we could have done other than what we did.”
Pacing faster, hair streaming along behind him as he did, Lucius wanted to hex something, or someone, but didn't. It wouldn't help anything and he knew it. Snarling, he huffed, “Is there any way you can find out what the DMLE plans to do about the old goat? I want to know.”
“I can and plan to,” Tom told him with a firm nod. “However, until you give me your word that you won't do anything foolish and will stay completely out of it, I won't tell you.”
Stopping, Lucius glared at Tom then huffed, snarling through clenched teeth, “I won't. I want to know what they plan to do about this—debacle!”
“I'll get with some contacts today and see what I can find out. When I know, I'll pass it along.” Shaking his head, Tom said, trying to keep a soothing tone, “The DMLE will do what they can, Lucius. With the reaming they are getting, they aren't going to fumble. Let them handle it. Snape is in custody. I imagine he'll be in Azkaban soon. Albus has to be in their sights. Let them handle it. You worry about Harry. While anger is warranted, as we're all feeling it, doing something foolish will only hurt what we're doing and Harry.”
Glaring at Tom, Lucius gave a bare nod. “Understood,” he hissed then began to pace again, running a myriad of tortures he wanted to use on the old goat through his head.
“He planned for him to die. To face you and die,” Lucius snarled, pacing faster. “After ensuring he was a good little follower that he let suffer. This is madness! He had no right!”
“No, he didn't,” Narcissa told her husband softly. “Planned is the operative word here, Lucius. It won't happen. We won't let it. We are and will keep Harry safe. You especially. We can't go undo all of this, but we can make it better for him. Focus on that. We've already started. He's safe and in a place where he won't ever be mistreated again. We make sure he's surrounded by people that care about him. You—we know what you feel for him. It all just means we press on from here. Nothing more. We can make sure he's happy. That's where we focus, not on this. They'll pay, we all know that. Let it happen.”
Nodding, Lucius stopped and looked at the floor, thoughts racing all over and overlapping, not sure what to do.
“Why don't you calm yourself then go spend time with Harry?” Narcissa suggested. “It'll be the first time since the mess started that you'll have this much time with him. He'll adore it and it'll do him a world of good.”
Thinking that over, Lucius gave a stiff nod. “I will. Once we come in, I think we'll spend the rest of the day alone. It'll do both of us good.” Glancing at the two at the table, he nodded then headed out. The walk to the pitch would be enough to make sure that his mask was in place. He would then go from there. Oh, he was furious still, no doubt there, but Harry needed him more than he needed revenge. At some point he would get that, something he vowed, it just wouldn't be now.
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