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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
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Chapter 29

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

With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues

“Just so we know; are we staying in the castle for the time we would normally have classes? I assume, as there are no students staying over break, we don't then,” Filius asked, looking at Minerva as she sorted through her notes.
“We're staying for the normal time,” she told the diminutive Charms professor. “The board has many areas they want to cover with us while students aren't around.” Seeing him nod, Minerva looked at her notes now that she had them in somewhat of an order. Sighing, she said, “Let's start.” Looking around the table and seeing nods, she said, “I'll begin with the easiest of this first; the staffing problems. The board is now taking on hiring, not whoever is the Headmaster/Mistress. So, they are going to handle finding professors to shore up areas where we’re understaffed. It's my understanding that they are trying to get Horace Slughorn back to cover Potions until they can find someone else.” Hearing groans, she smiled just a little then added, “It's just temporary until they can find someone permanent for the position. That's just buying them time as they have to replace not only that one but DADA and Transfiguration as well. I can cover Transfiguration for a while, but not all the time with my new duties.”
“Understood,” Pomona sighed. “Let's hope that he doesn't do the same things he used to. That won't help what's going on.”
“He won't,” Minerva told her firmly. “It's a part I'll cover later, but they've assured me that his Slug Club won't be allowed.” Seeing relieved nods, she pressed on, “Now, on to replacing the heads of house we need—Septima, if you're willing to take the position permanently, it's yours.”
“I will,” Septima told her with a firm nod and smile. With that, she fully planned to make sure her old house was brought back up to the standards it had for so long and the shenanigans that had gone on under Severus and Horace stopped.
Pleased with that, Minerva nodded. “On to Gryffindor—Aurora? Would you be willing to step in as head of house?”
“I will,” Aurora said with a soft smile. “Have words with the castle and I'll get everything moved today sometime.”
“Very good,” Minerva said, happy with that. “Next is the deputy position—Filius, the board is asking if you would be willing to take that on.”
“I will,” the man said firmly. “Just so you can give me a quick course in what I have to do. I was never prepared to take a post like this and am not sure what all it is you tend to.”
“That I can do, easily,” Minerva assured him, making a note on her parchment. “I'll help all I can until you get used to it.” Happy that the staffing issue, at least what she could do with it, was handled, she pressed on. “Now, on to some resolutions the board has passed—First and foremost, as I said, the board is taking on handling the staffing from now on. With that, they are doing background checks on the new staff brought in. Those of us already in the castle are fine. In many cases here, we taught plenty of members on the board, so this won't affect us as they know us well. However, many changes coming will.”
Shuffling her papers a little, she said, starting out, “What happened with Albus, and so much he did, won't be allowed to continue. That's blunt and to the point. They made that very clear to me.” Oh, indeed, they had, she thought dourly. She had been on the receiving end of a serious chiding for her role in so much of what Albus did, including being there when Harry had been put on that doorstep. She couldn't get in legal trouble for it, of course. The statute for that ran out long ago and she was in no legal way bound to stop or report it. They just weren't happy with that and how she did so much to aid Albus' other plans. It was also made clear that if she followed his agenda in areas, she, too, was out. No, that wasn't going to happen! Her focus was now the school and students. That was all.
“The laxity he allowed to go on won't be allowed to continue either. As it was something that went on for decades and is considered normal, they have put resolutions in place to ensure that it doesn't continue. The first on that list is the points system. They are changing that and how we're allowed to award them. Severus, as we're all well aware, abused that system to show favoritism. As did Dolores. That won't be allowed to continue. Before break is over, they'll have a new system in place as to how we award them to cut down on such problems. As all of us seated here are fair with awarding of points, I don't see an issue. We just need aware that it's coming. There is also going to be a code of conduct for teachers and what they can do. We won't have an issue, I don't think, as we toe the lines they want anyway. It's going to stop the foolishness that went on with so much and allow me to step in if someone thinks to pull those types of things. The Slug Club will be one of those matters. Such favoritism and teacher backed clubs won't be allowed anymore.”
Seeing nods, she pressed on. “Next, the board wants us to have a monthly meeting with our houses to check for problems, hear issues and whatnot. I don't see that as something taxing and can probably help. We try to stay on top of what issues are going on where, but as busy as we are, we miss many areas. What happened with that damned squad is part of that. I can safely say I had no idea Dolores used a Blood Quill. I knew she was bad, but I never suspected that she would do that.”
“I don't think any of us did,” Pomona said with a sad shake of her head.
“Which is why we need to do this,” Minerva said firmly. “Also, we need to make sure that our students are comfortable enough with us that they will tell us about such instances or problems. It's my understanding that some of them weren't or thought we knew when it came to the Blood Quill. The fact that they thought we knew and said nothing, thinking we either couldn't do anything or approved tells me we have issues we need to resolve. We need to work on that area. Again, I think that relates to the laxity of Albus in so many areas. If he was willing to allow Severus to treat students the way he did and turn a blind eye to it, the students are going to think it doesn't do any good to say anything. That has to change.”
“Agreed,” Filius said with a firm nod. “We need to put something in place to work on that issue, quickly.” Seeing Minerva give a firm nod, looking determined, he then asked, “What about that stupid squad that was put in place and what they did? Are they getting off with no punishment? The same with all those proclamations from Dolores?”
“Those—proclamations—they are void. The board rescinded all of them. As for the squad--” Minerva sighed, shaking her head. “It's my understanding that with as much trouble as Dolores is in, she's trying to drag every member of that squad with her to shift some blame and make it easier on herself. The board has stopped that for the most part with some of what they did. Some of what's in the charter did as well. So, the students can't be prosecuted for it. However, that doesn't mean they get off either. To help and keep them from being dragged into the mess, they've decided that every member of that squad is barred from any extracurricular activities for the rest of their school term. That includes the house Quidditch teams. Also, none of those on the squad can hold the Prefects badge. Hogsmeade visits are also affected and they won't be allowed to go. While this is harsh, they feel it's showing that they are being punished so Dolores can't drag them in or shove blame onto them. It's also showing we're handling it.”
“I bet there are a few on the board that didn't like that as their children are affected,” Aurora chuckled, shaking her head.
“Probably not,” Minerva admitted, smiling just a little. Looking at Septima, she said, “I know this only affects Slytherin and puts you in a position that isn't nice, but there is nothing I can do with it.”
“It's the right thing to do,” Septima told her firmly, crossing her arms over her chest. “If they hadn't done it, I would have. The students need to learn that such behavior is unacceptable. I plan to make sure that such activities and behavior don't continue. Horace was bad enough, what with his Slug Club and pandering to the students he could get the most out of, Severus was worse with what he allowed. No, I will not permit this to continue.”
“Good,” Minerva said, approvingly. “We're also going to have to sit through some classes ourselves from the sound of it.” She then continued with a sigh. “First, they want us to sit through classes on detecting child abuse, and not just physical. They want us to know the signs and what the procedure is to report them. Poppy is taking a refresher course herself on the matter at St. Mungos. From my understanding, we all missed plenty from Mr. Potter, or that some were ignored in many cases by those that knew.” With that, she was thinking about Albus.
Pressing on, she said, “And we're going to have to sit through one on bullying. It's going to talk about the signs, how to prevent it and measures to put in place to cut down on it.” Stopping, she looked around then sighed, “We need this. I admit that. Even with myself, I've ignored signs of it, thinking that the students needed to sort it out themselves. There is also the fact that we've had teachers involved and doing such a thing. It's time it stopped. When the students come back, they too will have to attend a couple of classes about it. I don't see this as a bad thing, honestly.”
“I don't either,” Filius said firmly. “We need to stop this in its tracks, now. The fact that Severus treated students so shabbily and the squad is enough to tell me we have serious problems. It's time it stopped. This will help.”
“It will,” Minerva agreed. “Students are also going to have to undergo physicals at the start of every year. I don't see this as an issue either. It can only help, in many areas. I doubt Mr. Potter is the only one in this school that had a home life that was abusive. If we can detect it, we can help them.” Again, there were just nods so she pressed on.
“Lastly, just before we go home for break, the board itself is going to come in and go over everything they have passed. As they're sorting through the issues from this mess themselves, I'm sure these aren't the only things that will come of it. They also plan to keep us up to date on what they are doing where it affects us. Also, the students themselves will get an owl about the changes before they come back and I'll cover it at Opening Feast as well.”
Folding her hands on the table, she looked around then said, quietly, though her tone was firm, “I think, though all of us liked Albus, he did a great deal of damage to the school and its reputation by so much of what he did. We have to put a stop to it, now, and try to reverse that. The board is doing what they can to repair the damage, but it's up to all of us here to help as well. Unwittingly, many of us aided in the problems, thinking Albus knew best. We need to do our part, all of us, to help fix the mistakes we made. Wolfgang assures me that as long as we're doing the right thing to work with the mess here, he'll have our backs and help us. If you see a problem area that you think needs fixed or see a better way to take on problems, tell me or go to Wolfgang. At this juncture, all of us are willing to listen to anything said that might help. All of us sitting here attended Hogwarts and adore the school. It's time we stepped up and did what was right by her, not following someone. That can only help.” Seeing firm nods and determined looks, she settled back and began to ask for suggestions in areas that were problems, though, while she did, she felt mildly ill with herself over all she allowed to go on or aided in the time she followed Albus.

Looking at the furious Winston, who was seated across the table from him and Amelia, Angus couldn't help but smile smugly. This was good. He thought, maybe, though he couldn't level much that wouldn't get more than a fine, he might be able to give the Prophet a chance at surviving.
After conferring with his irate client, Bennie Mash sighed. “What are we looking at with the charges? There isn't much so I don't see why you're making a big deal out of this, Angus.”
“We're making a big deal out of this because Winston cut a deal with Fudge to slander a teenage boy and anyone else that didn't agree with what Fudge wanted them to,” Angus bit back. “Totalitarian nations use their news outlets this way, the Ministry of the UK isn't supposed to do that. As money changed hands, something we can easily prove and have a witness willing to back it up, we're pressing hard for this.”
“It's a minor charge and fine,” Mash said, sighing and shaking his head.
“That may be, but it'll be on the record that Winston was slapped with it,” Angus shot back. Grinning slightly, he said, “And, as the Prophet is owned by Winston and was part of the bribe, we're going to press for all profits from it to be confiscated until the profits since this mess started are retrieved. They'll go into a victims fund, of course, as the law states. The law makes it clear that we can do that as you profited from the bribe with not only the money Fudge gave you, but what it generated in income from the paper. Then Winston has to worry about Mr. Potter coming after him personally with a civil suit. As we're making sure he'll be convicted, it's proven that he did that, thus making it so much easier on Mr. Potter's solicitor to get what he might want.”
“You can't do that!” Winston bellowed, face going a deep red.
“Oh, but I can,” Angus said, conjuring a copy of the book the law was in. Opening it, he passed it to Winston and waited, fingers tapping on the table.
Looking it over, face going even redder, Winston leaned over to listen to what Bennie had to say. None of that was good either. Though it was an ancient law, it was still on the books. That wasn't good. And with the evidence they were already shown, they could get a damned conviction. There were two witnesses that knew about what happened, having been there or seen the aftermath, and they would come in to testify. One he was damned sure who it was and had an inkling of the other. As bad as this mess was, he was sure both were singing, loudly.
Feeling his stomach sink as Bennie talked, Winston gave an internal sigh. Yeah, he was screwed. No doubt. And as bad as this was making the UK look, he was sure Angus would do just what he said. Which meant he had to do some fast dancing.
Quickly conferring with Bennie, he decided that he would sell the Prophet. His solicitor assured him that they couldn't take the profits from the sale. Which meant he could make some kind of money off this then see what he could invest in.
As Bennie went back to the negotiations, having heard what he wanted to do, Winston began to think who he had to contact that night about selling the paper. If he worked this right, Bennie could drag this out long enough that he could sell it and make sure it was to someone that would stay quiet until they did. That meant the prosecutor's office couldn't step in and halt it. Oh yes, he was pissed, not having expected this and thinking all the tracks of what Fudge did were covered. That was a wrong assumption, but he could work with it. He just had to be fast about it was all.

“My professional opinion is this; Albus Dumbledore is not fit to stand trial,” Kerry Weemes said, looking between Angus and Cuthbert. “I'm sure it's a combination of areas that brings this on, coupled with his age, but he's not competent. Part of it, I think, is dementia, though I'm not certain on that. I can't honestly tell. He's delusional, that I'm sure of. While some of what he spouts may be factual, I think what is real and what he thinks is are so intermingled that neither of us could tell what is what. And he can give me no real facts to back it up to investigate. What he does give won't hold water, for anyone. It's either someone that was too young at the time, it happened years ago so memories aren't exactly reliable, someone that, obviously, won't help, criminals or whatever. Either way, Albus isn't fit to stand trial. And I doubt he ever will be, what with his age.” Stopping, he waited.
Groaning, Angus rubbed a hand over his face and shook his head. It was well after normal hours, but with all he had to deal with, he had stayed, especially knowing this was coming. Looking at Cuthbert, he saw the man shrug. Quietly, he asked, “Any idea what caused it? Or if it can be reversed?”
“I doubt its reversible, Angus,” Kerry told him softly. “Albus' age is a big factor here. I'm sure that's part of it. Though he's not ancient by our standards, he's old. With age sometimes comes senility and dementia. I'm sure both factor in, with some of what he came across with to me. It doesn't even sound reasonable and is in no way verifiable. There is also what he used to do when he was younger. As much as he experimented with areas like dragon's blood, and helped to do in areas no one had really worked in much, I'm sure it affected his faculties as well. We don't know all he did and worked on, but some of it was plenty dangerous and toxic. That can't have helped what is here. It's probably catching up to him, like it has so many in the past that worked in such endeavors. The standardized tests I ran showed plenty off. He's smart, no one will argue that, charismatic, can sound good, all that, but he fits the legal definition of insanity as we have it on the books. That's what I'm going to put in my official report as well. I know neither of you like that, but it's what I found.”
“Understood,” Angus sighed, giving an internal groan. “Can you do anything to help that might eventually make him fit for trial?”
“Maybe. There are some potions that might work to get him in shape for that, but I doubt they will. I think there is too much damage done. Couple that with his age, and they might not work fast enough to get you what you want,” Kerry told him quietly. “I'll say, off the record, that the best thing for Albus is to put him somewhere secure that he won't be able to harm others. Most people with these problems are safe. The only person they are a danger to is themselves. In Albus' case, because what I can only describe as delusional trains of thought, are directed at others and a war that just isn't there, he's dangerous to the populace, specific people as well. I guarantee that if he's let out Mr. Potter won't be safe from him. He'll find a way to find that young man and pick up right where he left off. We need to factor this into whatever you decide.”
Taking that in and nodding, glancing at Cuthbert, who was shooting him looks, he said, “Understood. I'll take that under advisement. Send me your official report and I'll decide what I'm doing from there.” Seeing the man nod then leave, he sighed then looked at the other solicitor, “We need to work something out with this. He can't defend himself, which leaves you as solicitor of record. What do you want to do? Then I'll run through what I want as well.”
Settling back with a sigh, Cuthbert shook his head and tried to think. This was a right ruddy mess he didn't want to take on, but had to. Now came the hard part.

Looking at the dour Wienstein after passing over the Mind Healers report, Angus said, “We have something worked out. It's not what you want, but it keeps him away.” Lowering his voice, he added, “And I damned well guarantee that it'll probably give more justice to Mr. Potter than what we could level charges on.”
Not happy with this, Wienstein sighed then leaned back, “What do you have? I'll withhold judgment until I hear it.”
“The official report, not the one you have, that's preliminary, is going to clearly state that Albus is dangerous and not fit to stand trial. I don't think anyone will argue that. So, with that, I was able to push for Cuthbert to agree to have Albus housed in the medical wing of Azkaban. He'll have magic dampening spells on his cell and have his magic bound. That's not only for treatment, something Cuthbert pressed for, but to protect the old man as well. He has plenty of enemies in that prison, so he needs protected. We're also going to make damned sure the Dementors stay away from him. They won't help anything. If there ever is a hope of him going to trial, they would harm that. He'll get all the treatment he can in hopes that he can eventually stand trial. We aren't going to house him as a normal prisoner as he's not, so he'll get a better cell. That's all though. He's considered dangerous, Wienstein, especially to Mr. Potter. Weemes told us, plainly, that if he gets out, he's going to go right back to what he was doing. We can't have that. We'll push for treatment and hope he gets better. If he does, I’ll go for insanity. That will allow us to have him locked up at St. Mungos, probably for the rest of his life. I doubt it's coming to that. If it's as that report says, Albus will die in Azkaban without ever being fit to stand trial.”
Thinking that over, hand over his mouth as he stared at the report, Wienstein then sighed. “I don't like this.”
“I want him to go to trial as well, to at least get some kind of conviction for this to pacify plenty of people. We can't ignore this report, though. Weemes is who I called in. I trust his judgment. He's not going to pull this out as something to throw us off or help Albus. As far as I'm concerned, his word is golden. We need to take it at that.” Angus said plainly.
Lowering his voice, he added, softly, “This isn't a sweetheart vacation, Wienstein. It's Azkaban. That's not nice. Even the nicest cell there is still a cell. There is also the fact that Albus will lose everything and can't do what he normally does. He won't get out to talk to people and convince them of whatever. Everyone is going to know he's been found insane. Then there is the fact that no one is going to believe his off the wall ramblings about anything, well most anyway. And he's going to have to follow other people's orders, no matter how much he won't like them. This won't be nice for him. He's used to being in charge and people doing what he wants. That's not happening anymore. For Albus, I bet that's a worse punishment than anything else in the world. Everything he spent his whole life building is gone.”
“I guess I didn't think about that,” Wienstein said softly, leaning back in his chair.
“He'll spend more time there with this than he would with the charges I could level. That's sad, I know, but it's the truth,” Angus added with a shrug.
“There is that, too,” Wienstein admitted, foot starting to tap. Thinking it over, he gave a slow nod. “I don't like it, but understand and won't push for anything else. I do want this out there, though, once you get it set in stone. I'll do the press conference and have you with me. It needs to be out there for everyone to know. Especially that the old man is nuts. That should curtail any issues with most of his followers.” Seeing Angus nod, he asked, “Anything yet on this bizarre theory of You-Know-Who he keeps spouting? It factors in, that's why I'm asking.”
“Nothing,” Angus told him firmly. “What we've already told you is all we have. Snape—he'll back it up, but no one is going to believe him. All they’re going to think is he's doing that to get something. We could press for his memories, but with how he is, I wouldn't believe part of them. The man is smart enough to tamper with them. Usually you can tell, but with him I wouldn't trust them. Amelia mentioned the only thing that might have helped us Fudge, well, fudged. Barty Crouch Jr. Supposedly that factors in here. Fudge had him Kissed before anyone could question him. We can't question him now. Mr. Potter won't help us. Everyone else is going by second hand information. If You-Know-Who is back, he's laying so low we can't find him or changed so completely that we're not in danger. I doubt either one is true and going with it's part of Albus' illness. Amelia will keep looking, though.”
“I'm going with a delusion as well, especially after seeing this report. Have her keep looking, but we need to focus on something that isn't shadows from the mind of an insane man,” Wienstein told him firmly. “If proof comes later, we'll look at it.” Leaning forward, he began to ask questions about other areas. As most were being tended to, he wanted kept abreast of them.

Lying in bed that night, curled up to Lucius with Padfoot sleeping at the end, Harry didn't realize as he slept that, for the first time in his life, he was safe from Albus Dumbledore and what he might try to pull. The man that had dictated so much of his life and tried to drive him to do what he wanted to make something play out would never again walk free. He would be in Azkaban, probably until the day he died. Snape, the man that tormented him for so long, would never step outside the prison walls again. Harry, for the first time in his life, was completely safe. Not only were those that caused the nightmare in his life somewhere they couldn't ever harm him, he was with people that only cared about him, not anything else.
Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, was finally on the right path and had the chance to be happy, just what his mother wanted for him.

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