Warning: Break out the brain bleach, Dolores is in this chapter. Lol, I got a review on the whole Dolores and Cornelius interactions, as well I figured I warn you guys this time.
Harry's POV
Harry whirled around to see who was causing the alarm. His golden shield flared, protecting him, and those with him, from everything that could come their way. He was sure that it would stop the Unforgivables. Though he wasn't going to test it. Right now, all he could see was a shadowy figure still partially hidden by the portrait. He could make out vague shadows of a fat man, who seemed to like the color green. Bright green, if what he could see was anything to go by.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded with his hands at the ready defend himself. He noted that Bones, and Remus held their wands in a defensive position as well. Not that it would do much good with the dome around them, but he'd rather be safe than sorry.
He was glad that he hadn't dropped the alert system when he came here. He had thought about it, with all the adults running around, but decided to keep it on low. The alarms hadn't gone off while he was here, so whoever this was must have spooked his crew. He didn't know if it was because they were sneaking up on him, or because they were dangerous.
"Ah, Harry Potter. What a delight it is to see you," came the jovial reply from a pudgy man, who stepped into the light. "I heard you have amnesia, such a terrible tragedy for such a young man. Let me reintroduce myself, my name is Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic. We've met a couple of times before, and I'd like to think we were friends." He held out his hand but seeing that it couldn't get past the shield he dropped it, and from the look on the boy's face that wasn't going to happen right away. This pissed him off, who did the teen think he was, not taking his better's hand. His thoughts were not nice; however, that slippery smile that got him into off never left his face.
"Minister Fudge, why are you lurking in the shadows? You almost got your face blown off," Amelia barked, lowered her wand, rubbed her forehead, and gave a relieved sigh. It was only Cornelius, nothing to worry about.
Fudge turned his attention to the Head of the DMLE, pasted on a politician's smile, and came further in the hall. "Ah, Amelia, I was just having a little fun. No harm done. I heard Harry Potter was in the building and wanted to chat with the child. Surly, there is no crime in that," he said, turning his attention back to Potter. "Could you, by chance, lower this marvelous shield. You must tell me how it is done. In my line of work, I need all the protection I can get."
Harry looked at Madam Bones' face and saw only frustration. She nodded that it was okay, so he canceled the shield, and looked at the portly man. The Minister was looking at him like he was a prize, though Harry didn't know if it was for political purposes, or some other reason. The dark-haired teen glared at the man, he didn't want anyone to think he was a token — for any reason. Especially, not for some trumped up story on how he survived the impossible. He had read the stories, and Harry wasn't impressed with their logic. Now, this man was looking at him like he was the last piece of candy in the store. He probably wanted the Boy-Who-Lived as a poster boy. Well, the dark-haired amnesiac wasn't sure how he felt about that.
These thoughts were going on in his head, while he weighed his options. Yeah, the guy looked like and oily salesman, but from what he heard of this man was relatively harmless. Rumor was that he bought his way to Minister on Malfoy's dime. Or Sickle, as the case may be.
While Potter was trying to figure out what to do, Bones was glaring at her boss. She didn't know there was a hidden passage behind that picture, and it upset her greatly that the man didn't tell it was there. Heck, she didn't know there were any hidden tunnels. She was going to have to have one of her officers to check it out. That, and she was going to have to sit Cornelius down, and pick his brain on how he knew about this one. As far as she knew he didn't know anything about the building. He mostly stayed in his office and made deals. Oh yeah, she knew all about his shady dealings; however, Fudge was smart enough to not leave a trail. She was just waiting for the day she could bring him down. And his toad of a secretary too.
Letting her daydreams go for now, she narrowed her eyes at her boss. "Where does that tunnel lead?" she asked Fudge with a wave of her hand.
"Isn't it simply marvelous, it leads right to the Main Hall. Comes out right at the portrait of Malus the Rich. I must have scared ten years of Madam Marchbanks. Not that she can afford it," Cornelius stated with a chuckle as he moved his beady eyes to her face. He didn't give any indication that she was intimidating him. He needed to appear that he was in charge, so he could get the Potter boy to follow him.
"How did you find out about them?" she asked shrewdly, leaving off his prank for the moment. Though, she did feel sorry for the ancient woman. However, she needed to focus on the important things, like if others knew about this one. And it there were, then they would know if there were more. This was vital information she needed to know. The entire safety of the building was at hand. More tunnels could be disastrous. If He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was still running around, this would make the Ministry vulnerably. On the other hand, defenses could be set, and escape routes could be outlined. Yes, she was going to have to investigate this.
"Oh, I stumbled across this one a few days ago," he said, waving it away as if it were no big deal. "I don't think it's been used in centuries. The dust and grim that I had to Scourgify, was horrendous."
That airy statement made her groan, she had been hoping for more information than that. However, from what she could tell, the man was telling the truth. She turned her thoughts to the more serious problem. She glanced at Mr. Lupin and wondered if she could get a moment of his time.
"Now, Harry, we have many things to discuss," the minister continued, looking at who he thought was the weaker of the group. "Why don't you come to my office, so we can deliberate your godfather? I am very hopeful that we can get his story heard in front of the Wizengamot. Mr. Waters and I have come up with a few ideas and I would like to pass them by you. Then you in turn, can tell them to your godfather. We want his story heard, so then the public will know that he is innocent and didn't buy his way out of prison. You want that for him, don't you?" Cornelius offered, with a slight wringing of his hands.
"You'd really do that?" Harry asked, conflicted. He really wanted to be able to give Sirius his life back, but he didn't know this adult. However, if Mr. Waters trusted him with Sirius' life, perhaps he could be helpful. His subconscious told him he didn't like the man, but it didn't tell him why. The girls warning sounded through his head, but if he could give his godfather the life he deserved perhaps he should take the man up on his offer.
He looked the Minister up and down, to try and figure out what his game was. What he saw was a nervous, out of shape, fat man in hideous clothes. He looked to the two other adults to weigh what they were thinking. They both seemed to think that Fudge was not a threat. He did a quick scan of the man's magic, and it showed him to be a low-level wizard at best. So, Harry felt he would have no problem defending himself.
"If things go as planned then the Wizengamot can give him a full pardon. However, I wanted to talk over the details with you. You know, the things we'll say to the press, how we can spin the story in his favor, and all of that. You are, after all, family to the man," the portly man said with a brilliant smile. His eyes never leaving Harry's face, like he was just willing the boy to trust him. Small beads of sweat dotted his brow, and his hands never stopped moving.
Harry didn't know what was making the man nervous, or if it was his normal state of being. He looked to the exasperated Bones, and the unconcerned Remus. Seeing they weren't going to be any help, he weighed his options.
"Remus?" he asked, looking at Moony.
"I think it may help. If you want I can come with you," the older man offered. He wasn't worried, as long as Harry kept his wits about him, Fudge was no match for the teen.
"Mr. Lupin, while I am sure you want to accompany Mr. Potter, I have something we need to discuss. Perhaps while these two talk about Mr. Black, we can go my office. It's about that matter we discussed the other day. Will you please join me?" Amelia asked, making everyone stop, and wait for the answer. She needed to get those horcruxes out of the way. She wanted to go over the people she was thinking about for the hunt. He would know most of them, and where their loyalties lay.
"Very well," the always tired man stated, and then looked at Harry. "Is that alright with you, Harry? This is about that toy you gave me. Amelia is thinking about giving to some people, and I'm sure she just wants my opinion. However, I don't want you to think that I'm abandoning you," the werewolf asked, making sure that the boy was comfortable going alone. He didn't get the feeling that Harry was in any danger from Fudge, after all, the Minister want the kid's support.
"It's not my toy any longer, I gave it to you guys," Harry stated. He wanted nothing to do with any of that. It would be up to the adults to figure it out. "Fine, yeah, go with Madam Bones. I'm sure I'll be okay. I'll meet you in, say, an hour," he said, looking at his watch.
"Are you sure?" Remus asked one more time.
Meanwhile, Harry's entire crew was going over the pros and cons of talking with Fudge, and he wasn't coming up with no reason to say no. So, he looked at the waiting man, and said, "Yeah, okay, sure, let's see if we can't get Sirius back his life. I'll see you later, Remus."
"Wonderful," Fudge said, clapping his hand on the boy's shoulder, and leading the way. "We'll write up a press release for when Black receives a full pardon. Why, I'll even throw in some gold for compensation. Think of the headlines." The jovial man continued as he led the boy down the hall.
Harry was getting excited at the picture the man was painting. Visions of Sirius living his life filled the teen's head. He was glad his godfather would be able to walk free, as himself.
"Harry, met me by the fountain in an hour," Remus call after them as he joined Bones on her journey to her office.
Harry stopped, and hollered back, "Alright, Remus, don't be late."
"Yes, well then, come, Harry, let's go to my office," Fudge said lightheartedly. Once more taking Harry's shoulder and leading him away. He was still spouting how he was going to help Black when they came to the office in question. Cornelius waved the teen to sit and took the chair opposite. "Tea, Harry?" he asked casually, picking up the waiting pot.
"Sure, thanks," Harry said, taking a seat, and looking around the tacky office. He wondered how the man got any work done with all the gaudy statues, and noisy painting. A teacup came to view. It tipped precariously, making him grab it. He nodded his head in thanks at the Minister and took a sip. He wrinkled his nose at the bitter taste, and then his eyes rolled back. The crew in his mind-spaceship called out a warning, but it was too late— he blacked out.
The Minister quickly waddled to the wall and opened another secret passageway. He then went back to the fallen boy. He rubbed the top of his head and wondered if it was worth the money.
It was all arranged; the robed man, who had dropped Lucius' name, had laid it all out. They were to take the boy to the entrance of this tunnel, which opened in the alley behind the building. Then they were to hand him over and get paid. Then the robed man was to take the child to evaluate him. If he was deemed a threat, then Potter's magic would be bound, and he would no longer pose any danger to society. They really didn't need a glory hound, that could turn Dark, running around. It was bad enough that Dumbledore kept spouting that the Dark Lord would be back. Rubbish, the man was dead. And if Fudge had anything to do about it, there would be no Dark Lords while he was in office.
However, his thoughts were conflicting. Would he be caught? That would be bad, if he were implicated in the harming of the Boy-Who-Lived. Though, the money was really good. That and, the hooded man had promised that the boy would survive, with his memory modified. On the other hand, if he did get implicated, he'd go to prison. Then again, if this went off without a hitch, then he'd be rich, and no one would be the wiser. Over, and over his thoughts see-sawed. He was still debating it, when his door opened.
"I knew rumors were false. There is no way this child is all powerful. Look how easily he was taken down. Though, I never doubted you for a minute, Cornelius," came the simpering voice of Dolores Umbridge, who had been waiting outside the office. Her job had been keeping everyone away. She had had to chase off quite a few people who wanted to meet the boy hero. But with her book of blackmail, it was easy to dissuade them. She only entered once she heard the body fall.
She was a vile looking woman who was a cross between a bullfrog and puking pink pony. Her beady eyes took in the teen on the floor, and she giggled, and gave Cornelius a proud look. She entered the room completely, and then locked the door behind her. She waddled up to the Potter boy, and almost gave into desire to kick him in the head. She was not a nice woman. The only thing that held her back was her crush standing by her side. Dear Cornelius was such a kind man, in her eyes.
"Ah, Dolores, just in time. Help me get him in the tunnel. We must make haste," the Minister said, taking Harry's legs, and nodding to his shoulders. He finally decided that the money was just too good to pass up. So, he was going to do this without leaving a magical signature. Which meant they were going to have do this the hard way. At least until they got in the tunnels.
The squat woman did as bid, and the two overweight, unfit adults huffed and puffed as they attempted to pick up the skinny teen. After a few minutes of futile effort, Dolores snarled, took out her wand, did a levitation charm, and guided the boy into the tunnels. Making sure to bump him into the wall a few times, while her sweetie wasn't looking.
"That could be dangerous," warned Fudge as he followed her with his back turned. He was waving his own wand in an attempt to erase his undersecretary's signature. "If Bones comes in she'll know it was us," he whined pitifully. Not that Amelia scared him, but if this got out he'd be ruined. So, the last thing he wanted was the Head of the DMLE on his case.
"Don't worry, Cornelius, she is not a smart as you," the fat toad simpered, playing on the man's ego. She always knew that if she followed this simple man, he'd lead her to riches. It was too easy to pander to him. A few kind words, and he preened like a peacock. Too bad he was married, still she was working on that as well.
"Too right," the stout man agreed, pushing a part of the panel inside the tunnel and closing the wall behind him. He marveled about these secret passageways that he didn't even know about until a week ago. The hooded man had come to him, offered him more gold than Malfoy, and showed him all these wonderful tunnels. All he had to do was set up some supplies, wait until the Boy-Who-Lived came to the Ministry and then snag him.
"Now, where were we supposed to meet our contact?" he asked, forgetting for the moment due to overwhelming stress he had just put himself under. He never could handle pressure, thank Merlin he had Dolores. He was glad he had sent the owl the minute Potter stepped foot in the building, convinced that he would get the boy. Now, all he had to do was follow the plan, if he could remember it.
"At the end of this tunnel. We have to keep him unconscious until then," Dolores said, still guiding the boy hero down the passage.
"Oh, no worries about that. That potion will keep him asleep for hours, even with just a sip. I got the recipe from that Snape fellow," he shuddered a bit remembering the trip to Azkaban. "He was more than willing to help capture the 'Potter brat'," the Minister stated proudly. When he had told the man the plan, the ex-teacher was more than willing to give up the formula. Fudge didn't even have to offer to cut his time, not that it would have help. Snape couldn't brew the potion, so Cornelius had one of his contacts do it. Seeing how well it worked, he was glad he took the trip to Azkaban, nerve-wracking though it was. That hooded character had been correct, Snape was very helpful. He was going to have to remember that, and perhaps get the man out of prison. He could hire him on as a personal brewer.
Umbridge 'accidently' knocked Harry's head into a wall, and simpered inconvincibly, "Oops."
Fudge just chuckled, "Now, now, Dolores, he is supposed to be unharmed. We don't want to lose our gold, do we?"
"No, of course not. It was an accident," she smirked, and continued down the dark, dirty tunnel. There were lights on the walls, but they only showed how filthy these passages were.
Fudge followed her to the end of the tunnel, and there waited their contact. "Here's Potter, now where's our gold?" the Minister demanded importantly, trying unsuccessfully to be the leader in the conversation. His posturing made him look foolish as they stood in the end of the dark tunnel.
Dolores, non-to-gently put the boy on the ground near the hooded man. She didn't even think for a moment they would be backstabbed. This was the Minster after all. No one could afford to thwart him.
"Oh, I've got it right here," was the reply as a wand flashed out. Two hurried shots of green light, and the two officials were dead on the floor. It would be some time before they were found.
"I'm sorry, Harry," the still hooded man said as he leaned over and took the boy's arm, and then he Disapparated, leaving the clean crime scene behind in the dark tunnel.
Luna's POV
Luna Lovegood was sitting in her History class, reading the book along with the professor, humming a little tune, when suddenly she saw. It wasn't much, only flashes of an unconscious Harry being tied to a large object. It had the feel of something that hadn't happened yet. She shook her head, gathered her books, and then quickly left the class. She didn't know where the rest of her friends were, so she ran out of the castle to the Whomping Willow. With a wave of her hand the tree stopped, letting the little blonde go through the tunnel.
"Sirius! Remus! Is anyone here!?" she yelled urgently, when she got to the end. She slammed the door open and looked frantically around the room. She was glad when she saw Harry's godfather, he was the only adult her friend trusted completely. She needed to let him know what she saw. She only hoped the man understood.
"Luna?" the glamored man asked, confusion showing clearly on his disguised face. "What's wrong?"
"Where's Harry?" she asked, grabbing the man's shoulders in a tight grip, and shaking them.
"He's with Remus. They're at the Ministry listening to the prophecy. You should know that. Didn't Harry tell you?" Sirius asked, getting a gentle hold on her hands, and pulling them in front of him. He held them tight since they were shaking. He just knew she saw something. "Tell me what's wrong," he said softly.
"The Nargles have Harry, or they will soon. Do you have a way to contact Mr. Lupin?" she asked with tears in her eyes. She hated her sight sometimes. She just knew they wouldn't be on time. The tears tracked uncontrollably down her face. She didn't even bother to stop them. Nothing they did now would help. She knew that this next part Harry would have to do alone. Still, she had to try. It's what friends did.
Sirius, well used to Luna's way, puzzled out that Harry had been kidnapped or was going to be. He ran to his room and grabbed the communication mirror. "Moony!" he yelled, holding the mirror so hard that is almost cracked.
Luna followed him, hoping to hear good news. Praying that just this once her vision was wrong.
"Padfoot, what is it? I'm in the middle of a meeting," the werewolf asked, when his face showed in the mirror.
"Where's Harry?" the other man demanded.
"He went with the Minister. Why?" was the confused response.
"Let's just say our favorite blonde saw something. You need to find him," Sirius ordered urgently. His eyes frantic with worry. He was upset that Remus would let Harry out of his sight for even a moment. He sat and berated himself for not going. Now his godson was in trouble, and there was nothing he could do.
"Don't be ridiculous Sirius, he's with Fudge. What could happen?" the greying-haired man asked as he got up to go investigate, Amelia right behind him. If Luna saw something then it was worth checking out, but he still didn't see the Minister as a threat. However, that didn't mean that someone else could have nabbed the boy. There were many unsavory characters running around the building. And with that thought, he cursed himself for his thoughtlessness.
"A man who almost had me Kissed, so he didn't look bad. A man who is in Malfoy's pocket. A man who has no morals. Remus, how could you leave Harry alone with him?" the dogman all but yelled. He couldn't believe Moony would leave Harry with that… politician. Didn't all the bias laws the man had tried to pass teach the werewolf anything?"
"Harry knows how to take care of himself. Besides, we're in the Ministry, where there are wards against all forms of travel. How would anyone be able to kidnap Harry?" Remus asked, even as he started worrying. He was attempting to keep his voice calm, and not say what he was thinking. He could see a bit of blonde hair in the background and knew Luna was there.
He and Bones had been running since Sirius said Luna sawsomething. They were pushing people out of the way, and taking the stairs two at a time, to go faster. They got to the Minister's office and threw open the door. It was empty.
Madam Bones stomped out to ask the secretary if she knew where the man was.
"Shite, he's not here," the werewolf swore, looking around, and finding the spilt teacup. He leaned over the cup and took a big whiff. "Potions," he growled as he smelled the fumes that only a canine could scent. He didn't pick it up, leaving it there for Amelia. He started to sniff around the room, but there was only the smell of some hideous perfume filling the air.
"I'll kill that man if anything happens to Harry," Sirius declared, a fierce snarl on his face.
"Not if I get to him first," Moony growled, still trying to pick up Harry's scent. Though he wasn't completely sure it had been Fudge, all the evidence was pointing to him. The man had a lot to answer for.
After he circled the entire office, he slumped his shoulders in defeat. All he could smell was the perfume, making him belief whoever wore it was a frequent visitor. He'd have to tell Amelia. Right now, he was blaming himself for the loss of his cub. He picked up the still activated mirror and looked at Sirius and could see the man was thinking the same.
"Don't think you're off the hook either. I will never forgive you if anything happens to him," Padfoot stated firmly. His face morphed into a growl, that would have been more at home on his dog form.
"I'll never forgive myself," was Moony's sad reply. "I'm going look around here and be home as soon as I can. I'll find him, I swear," he said, he looked at his friend all but begging for understanding.
"Make sure to check around outside," Sirius suggested, holding on to his temper with the tip of his fingernails. "There might be a trail there. I'm going to sniff around the Alley. I'll see you later. Out," he said, causing the mirror to go black. "Don't worry, Luna, we'll find him," he said to the crying girl.
"No, you won't," she said woodenly, and then left the Shack to go, and have a good cry.
"Dammit."