Around the time the trio left for the bank, Moody decided it was time to face Albus and Snape. He went to the Floo and called the Burrow. Sticking his foot in the fireplace, because he really couldn't get on the floor with his peg leg, he waited for someone to answer. Soon enough he heard Arthur say, "What can I do for you, Alastor?"
"Is Albus there?" the one-eyed man asked, leaning over a bit so his voice would carry.
"No, I believe he's at Hogwarts," the redhead said, thought Moody thought he hear a bit of humor in the other man's voice.
"Right, thanks," was all Moody said, pulling his foot out of the fire. He then turned to the people still sitting at the table. "I'm heading out. Tell Sirius I'll be back tonight," he stated, with a curt nod to the kids.
"Okay," came the answer of many.
He nodded again and stomped out. When he got to the front stoop, he Disapparated. He appeared at the gates of Hogwarts. Grunting with frustration on having to walk all the way to the castle, he started his journey.
About ten minutes later, he was no spring chicken, he came to the doors. Right as he was making his way up the steps, Albus opened the doors.
"Ah, Alastor, what can I do for you today?" the old man asked, waiting for his friend to ascend the stairs.
"I need to talk to you and Snape," the ex-Auror said, coming to the top of the steps.
"Whatever for?" Albus said, leading the way to his office.
"Order stuff," was all the answer he got.
Albus sighed and continued walking. He glanced at his old friend and tried to read his face. Nothing. There simply was no indication about what his friend wanted to talk about. So, he silently led the way to his office. He knew nothing he said would change that. Alastor confirmed that with his next words.
"Don't bother, you'll get nothing from me until we are all safely ensconced into your office," Moody said as he continued walking. Years of experience with Albus let Alastor know just what to do and say to handle the old man.
Dumbledore just sighed again and led on. A few minutes later they were at the gargoyle. Giving the password, Albus stepped onto the rotating stairs. Moody joined him; thankful they were self-rising. They entered the office, and Dumbledore went to the fireplace and called Snape.
"You seem upset today, my friend. Can you tell me what is bothering you? I can assure you that anything you heard has a good reason," Albus said, trying to feel out what was bothering his longtime friend.
"Albus, you've known me for a long time, why do you think I would fall for your grandfather act?" Moody asked, his face getting grumpier. He really hated that Dumbledore would try and treat him like a newbie.
"Alastor, I am appalled that you would think that. I am merely concerned that something I have done has upset you," the old man said, a contrite look on his face.
Moody grunted and held his tongue. About that time, Snape finally came through the Floo.
"What is this about?" Snape snarled, glaring at Alastor. "I have potions that need tended."
"Sit down, Snape," Moody growled, pointing to an empty chair. This man, he hated. There weren't many he could say that about, but this one, just rubbed him wrong. He didn't like that Albus let him get by with so much that should have seen Snape in Azkaban. That and from what he heard from the kids, well, seeing the end of this abuser would be a pleasure. Now, it was up to him to see if he could put the fear of Mad-Eye Moody into him.
Reluctantly and with a great deal of sneering, Severus complied.
"Now that we are all here, Alastor, what did you need to talk to us about?" the Headmaster asked, folding his hands together and placing them on his desk.
"I have a few things to tell you, and ask you, that I feel you should know. I'm not breaking any confidentiality with tell you, but don't ask what I won't tell," Alastor started off, giving them a gimlet eye. "We know about the horcruxes, as you know. We've found them all and are in the process of obtaining them. No, I'm not telling you where," he stated, folding his arms, almost daring one of the two to try and breech his mind.
"If you will not tell us where, then why tell us at all?" Severus sneered, looking down his long-hooked nose at the man.
"I'm only telling you, so you don't do something stupid," he sneered back with just as much loathing. "Like you're doing at the Ministry, Albus. I know Black told you that it was fruitless to be there, but as usual you are not listening," he added, giving Dumbledore a disappointed look.
"What we are guarding at the Ministry is quite important. You would know that if you had not left the Order," Dumbledore stated, folding his hands on his desk.
"I've done more since I left the Order than I did the month I was there," Moody disagreed, glaring at his friend. "Take Black's advice and keep your people out of the Ministry."
"I will think on it. Now, if you do indeed know where the horcruxes are, would it not be imperative for you to tell me? After all the Order could help," Albus asked, ignoring the advice, and sliding his hands into his lap as he sat back.
"No, I don't think you would, or even could, help. I think that you'd try to take over and botch it up," Moody said, keeping his magical eye on the other man's hands.
"I am deeply offended that after years of friendship that you think so little of me," Dumbledore said, truly upset that one of his dearest friends would think him so tyrannical.
"It's your action this last year that have led me to my conclusions. For example, if you hadn't kept everything close to your chest, then we could have stopped that mad man from coming back. And don't even say anything about the thrice dammed prophecy. Only a fool would put the end results of a war on a teen's shoulder." He glared at his friend.
"You know the prophecy?" the aghast Headmaster asked, hoping that wasn't true.
"That is why I told you to quit guarding it. Black told us there was one. I even recall him telling me that Harry does too," he threw that tidbit in there to see how the old man would react.
"Harry knows the prophecy?" Albus asked, his face taking on a fearful look.
Alastor wondered about that. Did he think the boy would go and tell everyone?
"Of course, the boy-wonder knows. I am sure that he has told his sycophants as well," Snape sneered, snorting at the look Moody leveled him.
"No, he doesn't know the whole of it. And I can tell you now that and neither they nor I believe in such hooey anyway. I thought you didn't either, Albus," Mad-Eye stated, tilting his head in curiosity.
"Whatever do you mean?" the old man inquired.
"I mean, that you never have believed in divination in the past. I remember the many times you told me it was all misleading," the one-eyed man stated, looking at the ever-paling faces of the men in front of him. "Yet, here you are trying to mold one to work as you want it. I've known you a long time, Albus, yet I never before took you for a fool."
"I expect that hearing one given has changed my perspective," the old man said, slouching his shoulders.
"That doesn't give you cause to ruin a young man's life," Moody accused, then looked to Snape. "You have no excuse either," he snarled.
"Potter is an arrogant toerag," the Potions Master sneered.
"Really, because I've spent quite a bit of time around the lad, and I find him to be quite humble," was the rebuttal.
"All Potters are arrogant," Snape rebutted as if it were fact.
"Look here, Snape…" was as far as he got before Dumbledore stopped them.
"Enough, our opinion of young Harry is not up for discussion right now. What I want to know is why you are denying me information that I can use to end the war," Albus said a bit harshly.
"Doesn't feel good, does it? Having the shoe on the other foot," Alastor barked, laughing a bit as he rubbed his chin. "You've been denying us information for ages. I don't think you've told us the whole truth since you started the Order back in the first war."
"Alastor, how can you accuse me of such? You know as well as I that some information must never get out," the Headmaster said, looking intently at his friend.
"Albus, young Sirius gave us one word, and in the space of two days, we've uncovered more that the weeks we spent under your… regime," the other man said, still keeping he eyes on the both of them. "We know what, who, why and where. That's three times as many things than you told us."
"Alas, I am sorry you feel this way, my friend. Would it be at all possible to tell us what you know?" he tried again.
"I did. What you need to know, is what I told you. Oh, and by the way, Sirius knows what you tried to do, going to Bones to see if she'd press charges for kidnapping. It backfired; he has had his lawyer on this from the start. I would strongly suggest you not try again," Alastor stated, a smug look on his face.
Albus just nodded, it was a longshot anyway.
"So, you are just going to let those still in the Order die?" was Snape's question, bring the other man's attention back to him.
"No, I'm giving you all a warning. If you don't have all the information, then leave it to those that do. That means, quit guarding the prophecy. As I said, Harry knows about it, and he doesn't care. The Unspeakables know you're sneaking around, so just stop before someone gets killed or arrested. I mean, do you really think anyone you have standing down there could take on a Death Eater, let alone, Riddle? Or that they are going to be let go for trespassing? Get it together, Albus, or you're going to get people killed," Mad-Eye said, living up to his name while his magical eye went berserk.
"Tom must not know…"
"It's guarded, closer now that a few days ago. Let people do their jobs, dammit."
"I will take that under advisement," the Headmaster sighed, thinking on what he could do with the free time the Order had. Now that Harry was with Sirius, there was no need to guard him. If the prophecy was indeed watched, there was no need there either.
Maybe, he could get his people to spy on Sirius' group. That way he would find out information that they knew. Perhaps, he could get someone in the group, or sway one of the members to turn back to the Order. Remus, Nymphadora, or even Andromeda. He'd have to think about it. As it was, he was very put out that his longtime friend was withholding information.
"There are few other things that have come up that I'd like some answers too," Alastor said, relaxing, as much as he was able, in his chair. "When we went to Wiltshire, we found that the information we had on the wards and the number of Death Eaters, was vastly understated. Any idea why that is, Snape?" he glared at the spy with both his magical and non-magical eyes.
"I only reported what I was told I could," the man said, sniffing importantly.
"By whom?" was the question.
"Albus, of course," came the reply.
"You told him to give us false information! Merlin dammit, Albus, why?" Moody raised his voice.
"I was trying to keep morale up. If the others know just how strong Voldemort has gotten, they will not wish to stand against him," the old man reply, sinking further in his chair. He was so tired of being questioned like an unruly school child.
"That is the lamest excuse I've heard yet. Keep up morale is all find and good, but if you go into a fight expecting five opponents, and seeing ten, then you are as good as dead," the other man snapped back.
"It was never my attention to have to Order fight, Alastor. You should know that," the Headmaster said, straightening in his throne like chair.
"I know you never used what Snape told you, but I thought you would have at least used us to protect the innocent, or assist in the final battle," Moody said, going over what all the Order had done since this all restarted. Which wasn't a whole hell of a lot. In the last war, they did go out and fight, so what changed? He voiced the question.
"I… well… I cannot give you an answer you would like," Albus hedged. Truthfully, it was the prophecy, but he knew his friend wouldn't like that.
"I have to say, Albus, I am very disappointed in you. You are leading people to their death. I know for a fact that you've let the curriculum of this school fall so low, that everyone, and I do mean everyone, has to have remedial classes when they graduate. If they want to be healers, Aurors, or even Heads of Departments they need to be taught how. Things they should have learned here. You care more about your pet Death Eater, than you do about those you're supposed to care about," Moody stated, waving at the sneering man with a look of disgust.
"Hogwarts is a top-notch school," the Headmaster denied.
"No, it is not," Alastor scoffed, pinning the old man with a disgusted look. "I looked it up, it's a second-rate school. You are taking away what makes us magical and trying to conform the new generation into something else. Why else would you cancel the culture classes, the rituals, and the account management?" the one-eyed man questioned. They had all been classes when he went to school.
"The muggleborn…"
"No, they are not just muggleborn, they are wizards and witches. They are coming into a new culture, they should adapt. We are not the same, we didn't celebrate the Christian holidays, like Christmas, Halloween, or Easter, or whatever other ones they have. We celebrated Yule, Samhain, and Spring Equinox."
"They are the same thing," Albus said, looking confused.
"No they are not. There is no ritual in the Christian holidays, not ones that touch magic. You know as well as everyone that magic is an entity. That it needs to be thanked. You took that away from the children these last few decades and now most of those that graduate will never reach their full potential, unless they self-study, or get a family to teach them," Moody growled, leaning forward as if to intimidate his friend.
"The muggleborn are more comfortable with what they know," Dumbledore tried again.
"So those raised in the wizarding world mean less to you then those not?" was the angry question.
"I do not want the muggleborn to leave when they've finished here," the headmaster replied.
"So you will leave generations of magicals stunted, just for the sake of a few wary feelings? Are you daft?" Moody yelled, getting very upset with what he was here.
"Those rituals were not helpful to anyone," came the rebuttal. "I decided to make the muggleborn more comfortable in their new environment," he added firmly.
"That wasn't your call," Alastor snarled, thumping his hand on the desk in front of him. "Those rituals are a part of our culture and you have denied them to those who come to us. Now, I'm not saying that we should not progress, we are a bit stagnant at the moment, but that is because your 'conforming' has had every grind to a halt."
"Explain what you mean," Snape said, very curious to what the ex-Auror meant by that statement.
"Rituals are needed to move forward. It is only when we can ask magic to assist us that we can learn more about it. If we don't then we will studder and die," was an equally firm reply.
"Hogwash," Snape said, folding his arms. "I evented spells all the time in my youth."
"Right, and since you left, how many have you created?" the one-eyed man asked, lifting his right eyebrow in inquire.
Snape said nothing.
"You are half the problem," the other man stated, giving the younger man a disdained look. "You refuse to teach and come down on anyone that doesn't help your cover. And don't give me that bullshit that you must maintain your act. I know for a fact that you do it for pleasure. If you didn't you wouldn't have hurt the society the way you have." He glared at the Potions Master.
"I am only…"
"Bullshit," Alastor stated, slamming his hand on the armrest of the chair.
"Alastor, Severus has my complete confidence," came the tired or refrain.
"Don't you see, Albus? The two of you are a major part of why we are stuck in the 1400's. We can't move on, because the lack of education and the lack of magical celebrations are pitting pure-bloods against muggleborn. If you taught what they needed to know, then there would be more comradery. Perhaps not pure peace, but they wouldn't lash out at one another as often. You have tried so hard to appease everyone, that you've hurt everyone," he finished, taking a few deep breaths to calm a bit. He hadn't realized that this was true until he put it into words.
"What would you have me do, old friend?" the Headmaster questioned.
"Either fix your mistakes, like get rid Snape, or make him do his job," he tried to assert some feelings into that, to make Albus listen. "Resume the lost classes, and try to find a middle ground, instead of taking away the magical culture."
"Severus is needed. I cannot know what Tom is up to, if he does not do his job," the other man protested. He was quite used to people demeaning Snape, and his teaching habits, or lack thereof. They just didn't understand what was needed. "Those classes would require teachers, that the school just can't afford."
"You've just proved my point," Moody pointed out, sighing in disappointment. "You are lying through your teeth. I've seen the ledger. I know that you could do a great deal more than you are. You are almost as bad as Riddle; you're just going about it in a different way and at the opposite end. Instead of repressing the muggleborn, you are repressing everyone else."
The Headmaster opened his mouth to deny it, but Alastor just slashed his hand at him. He was done talking.
"I'm glad you lost a few of your positions, Albus, and I will do everything in my power to make sure you don't get them back," he threatened, then sighed again. He knew Albus would keep his own counsel, and he was wasting his breath trying to change his mind about Snape. "I don't know what game you're playing, but you need to stop," Alastor stated, glaring at the old man who used to be his friend.
"Harry…"
"No, the fate of the universe does not rest on that young man's shoulders. What of the Death Eaters, the giants, the werewolves, the vampires, or whatever else Riddle gets to fight for him? Is Potter supposed to fight them all, on his own. Dammit, Dumbledore, what is going on in your head?" the one-eyed man shouted, leaning forward in his chair.
"I'm only doing what I know best for the whole of Britain. I know you don't see that, but I truly am trying to make our world great," Dumbledore said with a sigh.
"Your vaulted 'Greater Good', isn't helping anyone. Take my advice, disband your Order, or someone is going to get killed. And if they do, I will make sure that is all rest on your shoulders. Reel in your pet, reinstate classes," Moody said, leveraging himself out of the chair. "Heed my words, Albus, or you will die disappointed and a disappointment."
He had had enough with this disillusioned old man. He once thought of him as a great leader, but now that those tinted glasses were gone… well, he'd do his best to train those that needed it. Perhaps, he could get Arthur to let the kids come back to Headquarters when they've done with Umbridge. They would certainly learn more. He might get the word out that Hogwarts was repressing their children, and see if they didn't pull the students out.
Something to think about later.
"Alastor, try to understand," the old man pleaded. He truly didn't see why his old friend could not see it his way. He needed all the people he could get to help him when the war was over. All hands would be needed to rebuild what Tom would tear down. It didn't even cross his mind to stop that from happening. Only that he would lead the rebuilding.
"Nope, I've heard enough," Moody replied, opening the door. "Oh, and leave the kid alone. He's got all the help he needs," were his final words as he left.
He started towards Minerva's office. While he was here, he might as well tell her of their plans. First, he had to convince her not to tell Albus. Hopefully, that wouldn't be too hard.
Hphphp
Sirius was waiting in the atrium for his lawyer. He looked at that hideous statue again, and his fingers itched to blow it to smithereens. The two exchanged parchments when they met. Then Sirius headed towards the Minster's office to… talk to a toad. His lawyer went to meet Bones, to make sure everything was documented.
As he made his way to Umbridge, Sirius was laying out his discussion in his head. He needed to make sure that that woman was well and truly frightened of him, without out right threatening her. That probably won't happen, she did seem full of herself. He was going to need to lay all his cards on the table. Well, the trump cards anyway.
Upon reaching his destination, he stopped to blink his eyes a few times, the office was pink. Completely and utterly pink. It made his head hurt. Umbridge wasn't in the office, so he went to hunt her down.
He found her trying to intimidate one of her co-workers. That woman seemed to think she was more important than she was. He knocked on the doorframe to the office. "Umbridge, I want to talk to you," he stated firmly, like a Lord should.
"Lord Black, have you come to drop your suit against the Ministry?" she simpered, turning to meet the man face on. The one she was berating could wait. If Black was going to drop the charges, Cornelius would be happy.
"Let's talk in you… a meeting room," Sirius suggested, he didn't want to have to be in that office if he could help it.
"Do I need to inform the Minster?" she asked, batting her eyelashes, like she was flirting, which made Sirius do an internal full-body shudder.
"Why don't I tell you what I have to say, then you can decide," he hedged, gesturing for her to lead the way.
"Of course,' she said cautiously. Nevertheless, she led the way to a small meeting room.
The two entered and sat across from one another. Sirius took a piece of parchment from his robe, laid it on the table and slid it over.
She looked confused, until she picked it up and read it. Then a look of horror showed on her face, and she dropped the parchment like it had stung her. The only thing written there was two words: Ellen Cracknell. She looked warily at the man in front of her.
"What do you want?" she asked fearfully.
"Nothing much, just for you to do your job, and your job only. If I find that you are interfering with me and mine again, this," he picked up the parchment and waved it in her face, "will become public," he said, taking the piece and putting it in his robes.
"I have always done my job," she protested, still staring at where the parchment had been hidden.
"No, I think you do far beyond what is required for an Undersecretary," he rebutted, keeping his voice calm.
"I don't know what you mean," she denied.
"Listen to me, woman, I know what you did. I can't prove it, or you would not be sitting here," Sirius stated, leaning into her personal space, as much as the table would let him. "If I hear even a sliver or rumor that you have overstepped yourself again, well, just take this as a friendly reminder that you have skeletons in your cauldron, and leave me and mine alone," he threatened.
"I will do what is necessary to protect the Ministry," she stated firmly. She would not be threatened, she was stronger that that. Her position protected her. On the other hand, if that name was made public, it might just be the end of her career.
"Then I will bury you," came the reply. "Do you think this is all I have on you? You must not know my family well if you think I came to you without protection. Listen to me, you toad, don't hurt anyone I know, Harry knows, or their families. Or I will pull your oversized ego off and blast it with every blasting spell I know," he said, getting up from the table, kinda hoping that she disregarded his warning. He would take great pleasure in seeing her hang.
"Don't think to threaten me, Black. I know things about you as well. Your family has done many shady dealings that I could bury you too," she stood, putting her fist on the table, heaving herself up, and leaning forward.
"Oh, you foolish woman, there is nothing in my tree that could hurt me as much as I could you," Sirius said, barking with laughter. "Go ahead, tell the world what they already know."
"I can go after Potter," she made her first mistake.
Sirius drew his wand and dug it into her many chins. "Then you will be dead," he said, his voice like ice.
She looked into those icy grey eyes and panicked. Closing her eyes so she didn't have to see her upcoming death, she took a breath. She was the undersecretary; she would not be intimidated. "Fine, we shall see who had the bigger wand," she said, backing away from the man.
He let her go, he had made his point. Now, it was up to her to see how quickly and hard she fell. "Glad we understand one another," he said, leaving the nervous woman in the room as he made his way to the Minster's office. Not waiting for the secretary announce him, he opened the door.
"Black," the portly man behind the desk uttered, off footed.
"Fudge, I am here to serve you these papers. Not only am I suing the Ministry, but my ward, Harry Potter, is suing you, personally, for slander. If you do not cease and desist, then we will make it a criminal matter. Good luck with that. Oh, and my lawyer is good. You will be left knutless," Sirius said all of this with a smile as he threw the parchments on the desk. Then he faux tilted his hat and left. Leaving a stuttering man behind him.
Now that he was done throwing his weight around, he felt good.