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
- 6
- 7
- 8
Chapter 7

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

For updates to this or any of my stories, you can follow me on Twitter or FaceBook (links are on my profile- yes, I fixed FB so that anyone can send a friends request) or you can join my mailing list. SpeedyTomato_updates@live.com Just mention which story you want to receive updates for or just say you want to be notified for all of them Thank you, Rogue, for running that for me. Also, review replies, if they are needed, are on my FaceBook page.

Putting away the last of the work she had been attending to in preparation for leaving for the day, Charlene Nettlesharp, Minister Fudge's secretary, was looking forward to just going home and relaxing with a good book. She was in the middle of a series of romance novels geared for witches, something she found addicting. As she was at a very climatic point, she couldn’t wait to get home and delve in once more.

After stowing the last of the correspondence she had been working on in a drawer and spelling it shut, she grabbed her purse out of the bottom one. Sitting it on the desk, she was double checking that everything was attended to then was about to set the inbox on her desk to automated so that it would pick up anything that came in overnight and get it ready for her to take care of in the morning when a scroll with the seal of the French Ministry of Magic appeared. As these things were always important, she immediately grabbed it to see what it was. Minister Fudge was still in his office because of some late meetings so if it had to do with something like the Sirius Black case, she could get it to him before she left.

Breaking the seal, something that triggered the received spell on the parchment, the normal message of 'received by the British Ministry of Magic' appeared in flashing red letters with the time before becoming part of the document. Opening it, she read through it, eyes widening as she did. Shaking her head as she realized what it was, she quickly stood then hurried to Minister Fudge's office. After a tap on the door, she let herself in. Like her, it appeared the Minister was getting ready to leave for the night.

When he looked up, he smiled at her and said, “Unless it's of vital importance, I think it can wait for tomorrow, Miss Nettlesharp. We're both tired and want to go home, so no more business tonight.”

“This is from the French Ministry, Minister Fudge, and it's very important,” she told him softly, eyes still overly large, voice quivering slightly. Looking at him, she held out the parchment in a shaking hand, not sure what his reaction was going to be to what was in it.

Brow furrowing, Fudge took the parchment, wondering what it could be. France wasn't a country they had too many issues with nor would they send something this late at night if it wasn't an issue that needed attending to right away. After all, their Ministry hours were over long ago. Figuring it might be related to the Black issue or something else troubling Britain right now, he opened it then went pale before an unhealthy red flush began to creep into his face. Lips pursed as he scanned the document, he couldn't believe what he was reading! No! He would not allow them to do this!

Mouth working but no sounds coming out, he looked at his secretary and was about to have her gather those he used as advisers when the special edition of The British Seer flashed into the office then dropped on the desk. As no owls were allowed in the Ministry itself, they all went to a mailing room and it was then forwarded in this way to where the correspondence was meant to go. With a shaking hand, temper still trying to get the better of him, Fudge picked up the paper and looked at the headline then bylines. Face turning a deeper shade of red, teeth gritted, he hissed out, “I need my advisers, now. We have a great deal to discuss tonight! Reach them at home if you have to, but I want them here. I'll sign your overtime voucher so you can expect to stay late tonight. Make sure you send Percy Weasley in and try to contact Lucius Malfoy. I want him here as well, if he's in the country.”

Nodding, all thoughts of going home and losing herself in her romance gone, Miss Nettlesharp bustled out of the office to get on her new task. With that, she secretly hoped that a copy of that paper was on her desk as well so she could get in on just what was going on.

Amelia Bones was doing the same thing that Minster Fudge was when an official package from the French DMLE arrived on her desk; preparing to go home. Eyeing the package, frowning, she wondered what it could be. As she knew such things didn't usually come this late at night, she assumed that it was something of vital importance. Breaking the seal, ensuring that it showed it was received, she opened the package, surprised to see many jars of pensive memories contained therein. Pulling out what seemed to be a mass of parchments in a file that was contained in it, she read the cover letter, eyes growing wide at what it said. Mouth growing dry, she quickly thumbed through the parchments to find the one labeled sexual assaults then began to glance through it, feeling sick as she did.

Dropping the documents, she stood up so quickly her chair went over backwards, then dashed out of her office. Getting with her secretary, she had her put a halt to anyone going home and to call those that had left for the day back in. After telling her to have them meet in the main office, she went to find Rufus Scrimgeour. As head of the Aurors, it was going to have to be him to lead this. If what was contained on that one sheet was factual, something she was certain it was if the memories were there as well as the fact that it came through the French DMLE, they were going to have a long night sorting through that mass of jars and seeing what was there then what they could do.

After coming back, Rufus in tow, looking as grave as she was, she told her secretary, “Get an official document out to the French Ministry about interviewing Harry Potter. Tell them we'll do it any way they wish if he won't come back to Britain. I will go there myself to tend to it if need be. Just get it off as fast as you can.”

Pale, putting down the copy of The British Seer she had been reading with astonished disbelief, she said, “Right away, Madam Bones,” then went to work drafting an official request.

Stepping into her office with Rufus, she shut the door then increased the privacy wards around it. Gesturing to the box that was sitting there, she said, tone firm and grave, “We have an accusation of repeated sexual assaults at Hogwarts by Severus Snape. Not only that, plenty of charges leveled at everyone from Minister Fudge all the way to Albus Dumbledore. We have a problem, Rufus!”

Looking grave himself, Rufus said, “Let's take the sexual assaults first and go from there. I'll handle the most obvious criminal cases and you take the one's dealing with those from the Ministry. That way we can divide this up to work with it. Is it just Mr. Potter making the accusations?” Unlike many who toed Fudge's line in the Ministry, Rufus wasn't one that was following it. He knew Fudge, first and foremost, was a politician that loved his job, wanting to keep it. There was also the fact that as a being that helped run part of the DMLE, he was charged with looking into facts and not buying political maneuvering. That was a large part of what was going on with Mr. Potter from what he could see.

“The memories are from Mr. Potter but the file that came with them says there are other names mentioned as victims, including one that is still in the school,” Madam Bones told him, tone serious. Looking on the desk, she saw a copy of The British Seer there. Grabbing it, she looked at the front page, expression growing even more dour as she did. Grabbing the parchments that came with the package after dropping the paper, she quickly flipped through them then found the one labeled Sirius Black. Reading it quickly, she glanced at Rufus then said, “They say there is proof in here that Sirius Black is innocent. The French Minister believes it and is offering asylum to him because of it.”

Face going stony, Rufus held out his hand for the parchments. When they were handed to him, he glanced through them, eyes hardening. Looking back up at Madam Bones, he said, “If this is true, heads need to roll and there will be some big ones doing so.”

“We have a long night ahead of us, Rufus.” She told him, looking into his face.

Nodding, leafing through the file, he then shook his head at what he was seeing cataloged there. “I'm not sure I have enough bodies to go through this tonight. The sexual assaults alone-- I’m not going to force those under me to watch them all. Those need to be divided up with no more than one per person. Might I suggest we call Moody back in? I know he's paranoid, but we need help. He knows some of the history with parts of this we don't, like the Black case.”

“I'll sign the order to call him in. Do this how you need. I'll take the more politically charged bits then work with those, especially where it pertains to Fudge and Dumbledore,” she told him, tone firm.

Shaking his head as he read through the part about Mr. Potter's relatives, he said, “We're going to need some of the Muggle Relations Department as well. Mr. Potter's relatives are Muggles and there are serious accusations here of abuse. That is out of our area when it comes to dealing with such matters.”

“I'll sign the orders,” Amelia told him with a nod, making a note about that on some parchment. Just as she was about to continue on, there was a knock on her door. Scribbling out the part about Moody, she barked, “Enter.”

Sheri Cornsworth, the DMLE’s secretary, was pale as she came in with the official dispatch from the French Ministry. “I have the response from France, Madam Bones.”

“That was fast. Good,” Amelia nodded. “How do they want to do this? I can leave immediately if needed.”

Shaking her head, the younger woman said, tone quavering slightly, “The request is denied, Madam Bones.” Holding out the paper, she waited for the woman to take it. “The French Minister is willing to give a sworn affidavit that the memories are real and come from Mr. Potter, but Mr. Potter refuses to help the British DMLE.”

“What?” Madam Bones said, astonished, eyes wide. That was a first. In fact, she had never heard of such a thing. France, because of their close relations with the British, always made witnesses available to them, even if the caveat was they had to go to France to do the interview. Looking at an equally astonished Rufus, she took the paper and read it, brow puckering as she did. When she finished, she dismissed her secretary with the warning to stay as she would be needed then had her shut the door on her way out. Putting the official parchment on the desk, she stared down at it then said, tone aggravated, “Mr. Potter is making it clear that though he's given the memories, he won't aid Britain in any way. The French Minister of Magic is supporting him and will give an affidavit but won't produce him, even if we go to France. He's made it clear that Mr. Potter wants no part of assisting the government that is hellbent on persecuting him over what Albus Dumbledore said.”

Looking down at the parchment that was spread out over his boss' desk, Rufus then looked at Amelia and said, quietly, “I can't say I blame him at this point. Now what do we do?”

Shaking her head, looking furious, she snapped, “We investigate just how we planned, top to bottom and everything in between. I don't care whose life we have to tear apart, someone is being prosecuted over this. I want everyone in this government to know that when you pick on one being to the point that they refuse to help prosecute their own assailant because of it, there will be hell to pay! We'll do this just as we said. And heads will roll, mark my words!”

Smiling slightly, Rufus nodded, liking what he was hearing. “I'll see to it. However, how are we going to prosecute if we do find something? Without Mr. Potter verifying these are his memories, we can't even get a warrant to talk to anyone involved, let alone compel them to take Veritaserum.”

“We'll find a way,” Amelia told him in a cold, hard tone. “There are other names. We'll start with those, especially if it's as stated and one victim is still in the school. For that one, we need to do something and can work around even if the memories aren't authenticated. For the rest-- if I have to call a special session of the Wizengamot to get something through to allow us to work without Mr. Potter, I will. Either way, whoever is involved in this will be dealing with us!” Looking back at Rufus, she said, “Go. Do what you need to do and I'll start on my end. I'll be here all night if you need me.”

“Yes, Madam Bones,” the head Auror told her with a nod of his head. “Send a copy of the memories to my office and as soon as I get everyone in then organized, we'll get to work.” When he saw her nod, he swept out to rally the troops and get down to business.

Not ten minutes after the special edition of the paper showed up in all the Wizarding households in Britain, members of the Order began to show up at Grimmauld Place. It was a good thing too, because everybody that could be mustered was needed to forestall the imminent demise of Severus Snape.

As most expected, Sirius was homicidal, vowing to go to Hogwarts and earn his term in Azkaban, willing to risk being Kissed to take revenge on what had been done to his godson. However, he wasn't the only one. Even the normally calm Remus Lupin had to be restrained from intending to murder Snape.

The first to arrive were the Weasleys; Molly, Arthur and Bill. Of course, after a brief read through of the article, not only were they highly upset, but worried about Harry and what Sirius might do. Molly, in tears over what she had read, wanted to get with Albus to find out the facts behind it so they all Apparated to headquarters. When they got there, they found not only destruction from Sirius all but going on a rampage, but he and Remus intent on leaving to go to Hogwarts so they could take their revenge. It had taken all of them, plus a few spells, to get them settled at the table. After that, other members of the Order were filing in, disgusted, astonished and panicked over what was read.

Sitting at the table, glancing at the copy of the paper Sirius had received, more tears streamed down Molly's face. Looking around, she asked, tone watery and voice unsteady, “Does anyone know if it's true? That he's really gone? I know he vanished from Hogwarts sometime over night because of an owl Ron and Ginny sent. Did he go to France or is this just sensationalized?”

Everyone looked around the table and shook their heads, no one seeming to know the answer. Arthur, though working at the Ministry, had left at his normal time so he didn't know either. Glancing around, he said, “No one that works at the Ministry, other than myself, is here so I don't know. Did someone try to get hold of Moody? He might know. Or Albus, though if this paper hit Hogwarts as well, he’s going to be tied up for quite some time.”

“It's apparently real, at least part of it,” Sirius snarled, snatching up the paper and waving it around. “I'd bet my damned wand that he's been given asylum! There is no way this paper went out to all of us without it being true! And if the shite about Snape is, he's a walking dead man because I'm going to kill him, after I castrate the bastard!”

“I'm with Sirius,” Remus snarled, eyes flashing, arms folded over his chest.

Before anyone could say anything else, a sickly looking Fred and George came in. Looking around to see who was gathered, they took a seat then George said, “We got a message just before we left from Moody. He said Albus contacted him and will be calling a full meeting after ten tonight. So, everyone should be getting a notice to show up.”

Looking at his sons, Arthur asked, tone quiet, brow creased with worry, “Did he say if this is real or one of those things that a paper puts out to get attention?”

Looking at his brother, still pale, freckles standing out in stark contrast to his pallor, Fred said, joking tone that was usually there absent, replaced with something deadly serious, “It's real, dad. Moody said he just got called in by order of Madam Bones to help with the investigation. His Patronus said they have pensive memories from Harry about not only several sexual assaults but plenty of other problems. Every active Auror out there has been called to work. Same with some of the Muggle Relations staff. Whatever this is, it's real.”

Normally, Fred and George were beings that were close enough that they completed sentences for each other. This time, though, they were both worried enough that they were quiet and weren't doing that. Once Fred finished, George added, “He said this is big, really big. He was called in because he was around and active for Sirius' case.” Glancing at the furious Black, he added, “They are looking into that because they apparently have proof he's innocent.”

“He said for you to stay put, Sirius. That it looks like you're going to end up cleared so you're not to go out and do something foolish,” Fred said.

“I don't give a shite!” Sirius snarled, dark eyes flashing. “I want to either know where my godson is or to get my hands on that fucking child molester so I can kill him!” Sitting rigid in his chair, arms folded over his chest, wand clutched tightly in his hand, Sirius glared at everyone then looked down at the paper, teeth clenched tightly. “I need to find Harry.”

“You need to stay here right now, Sirius,” Bill told him, trying to keep his voice calm. “We don't even know where to start looking for Harry. If he's in France, we can't go and do what we would here. It would just get us all in trouble.” Stopping, hoping it got through to the animagus, though he doubted it would have, Bill then looked at the paper, quiet. After a couple moments, he asked, softly, “Why wouldn't Harry come to one of us for help? Why would he run? I don't understand that.”

“Why would he come to us?” Remus asked, tone icy. “We've proven we won't help him. The only one that would do something is Sirius, even if it would get him in trouble or put him in danger.”

“Now, Remus, you know that's not true!” Molly admonished, startled anyone would even say that. “Harry is like a child to Arthur and I, you know that! We would have done something to help him!”

“Really? You would have? I don't think so!” Remus snapped at her. “You would want to, just like you always do, but, in the end, if Albus said not to, you would follow his word like it was law then step aside and let it go. Just like you have in the past when it comes to his so-called family. All of us have done that, every single one of us. We know what the Dursley's are like to him, but we do nothing. We know Umbridge has been targeting him for the last two years, but we've done nothing. We know everything else that goes on, but we've done nothing. None of us have, taking Albus' word that this is how it needs to happen. So, yeah, I don't see him coming to any of us if he expects us to just take Albus' word for what's going on.” Finishing, he glared at everyone then said, tone icy, “So much for being the good, light side of this fight. We won't even protect one of the beings that lost so much to this war. I hope whoever he found to help him has more of his best interests at heart that we've shown towards him.”

Lip quivering, tears starting to flow again, Molly looked at the werewolf then to her husband, hoping Arthur would say something to him, to tell him he was wrong. However, Arthur had his glasses off, polishing them, looking down, an expression on his face that said what Remus just imparted hit a little too close to home.

Looking at the Weasley's, he then glanced at everyone around the table before saying, tone quiet but with a knife edge to it, “Yeah, we're all wonderful, aren't we? We won't even protect a teenage boy, deciding that the greater good is far more important.” Picking up the paper, he held it up then pointed to the quote from the French Minister before saying, tone bitter, “He's right. We don't deserve heroes if we can't treat someone like Harry better than we did.” Throwing it back down on the table, he crossed his arms and legs, looking at the floor, disgusted expression on his face. The worst part of this? He was just as guilty as the rest when it came to taking Albus' word for things and not stepping in. Shutting his eyes, shaking his head, he whispered, “Lily, James, I'm sorry. If we can find him, I'll make it up to him, I promise.”

The Great Hall at Hogwarts was complete and utter chaos just minutes after the paper was dropped. The noise level was so high that it was hard to hear anything. After a quick glance at the paper, a pale Albus stood and called for quiet. Though not getting it completely, the noise level dropped considerably. In his usual authoritative tone, he directed everyone to return to their dorms immediately, telling the prefects, head boy and girl to ensure they all got there. Once the bodies were moving, he quietly called for a staff meeting in a half an hour in his office for everyone. Glancing around, he was less than pleased to see that in the middle of the chaos Severus had vanished. He didn't like that, not at all, but right now he had more pressing issues to deal with. Standing up, he swept out and started setting things in motion. There were not only things at the school to handle, but he needed to contact some in the Order to set up a meeting then get hold of some of his contacts in the Ministry to see what was going on there. No, this wasn't good, he knew that. Nor did he think the story was a hoax. The fact that Harry had vanished sometime over night told him the young man was gone and the paper was probably accurate.

Minerva, after the announcement, was down by her lions. Ginny Weasley was in hysterical tears and Hermione Granger, despite the fact that the young lady was among the coolest of heads in her house, didn't look to be far behind in that department. Having Poppy take charge of the two so they could be given something calming, she made certain that her house was headed in the right direction. Oh, this was going to be a bad night and she knew it. If even half what was in that article was right, all hell was going to be breaking loose not only in the school but everywhere else in Britain over it. Though she, too, was upset, she kept a handle on her emotions and proceeded with what she knew was needed.

Once she was certain that her house was all in the dorm, promising that when she knew something she would hold a meeting and tell them, she swept into her office. Right now, she needed some time to think before going to the meeting. Not only that, to get herself under some form of control. It wouldn't do to work off emotions when cooler heads were needed to sort this out. Albus, she was positive, would end up having an Order meeting tonight to deal with the ramifications of this so she was going to be left in charge to deal with a school full of emotional beings, not to mention ones that had questions she had no answer for.

Seating herself at her desk, she took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself. What she really wanted was a couple good belts of aged whiskey to settle her nerves but knew she couldn't. Leaning back in her chair, she looked at the neat desktop then her brow furrowed when she saw a letter waiting for her. As she had dealt with all correspondence earlier in the day, she didn't have a single clue as to what this could be.

Grabbing it, she felt the magic activate then the letter glow before the words 'received by Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' then the date and time flash on it before scrawling out across the envelope in black ink. Now she knew what it was. With a shaking hand, she opened the letter and unfolded the parchment in it. Reading through it, one tear slipped down her face as her lip quivered slightly. It was Harry's resignation from Hogwarts and it was official. Looking at the very bottom where there was a place for comments or reasons why the student left, something that was usually never filled out as any complaints would have to be investigated by the Board of Governors, Harry had listed a myriad of abuses, from sexual assault all the way to the blood quill and the Headmasters many manipulations. Harry, though leaving, was going to ensure that he didn't go quietly and the issues would have to be dealt with one way or another.

Reading it over again, she then sat it down on the desk and stared at it. Shaking her head, she said, softly, Scottish brogue far thicker than normal, “I'm sorry, Harry. I failed you. We all did.” Then, picking up her wand, she made copies of the official paperwork and filed the original. Picking up the copies, she made certain she was composed then headed towards the Headmaster's office. If nothing else tonight, the one good thing that would come was Harry wouldn't be expelled, despite what Umbridge wanted. He had resigned and it was not only legal but binding. There was nothing the High Inquisitor nor Fudge could do about it.

Please review!
- 6
- 7
- 8
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...