Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was deep in thought about the ramifications of a letter he had received the previous afternoon from Ollivanders. It stated that the brother wand to Voldemort's had been sold, yet it did not choose either of the two boys he had suspected could be the Chosen One. Instead, it had selected the youngest Weasley son. How could this be? Shouldn't this wand rightfully belong to the true Chosen One?
The old headmaster considered two possible interpretations of this perplexing situation. One, the wand was simply a tool that held no intrinsic significance, and who wielded it did not truly matter. Two, he might have erred in deciphering the prophecy that Sybill had made, leading to the possibility that neither Harry Potter nor Neville Longbottom was the actual Chosen One. But if that were the case, how could Ron Weasley be the one? Perhaps the prophecy did not relate to this era at all.
Yet, he dismissed the latter idea; if nothing else, Voldemort believed in the prophecy. Thus, Dumbledore was left weighing two options. On one side, Harry had already demonstrated his ability to delay the Dark Lord and accomplished feats beyond the capability of an ordinary twelve-year-old. His scar was a mark of his connection to Voldemort. On the other side, Harry did not consistently exhibit the qualities one might expect from a savior, harboring some shadows within him, while young Ron was nothing but bright, despite lacking any notable talents so far. As for Neville Longbottom, he seemed to fall somewhere in between the two, though at present, Dumbledore could not regard him as a potential Chosen One.
Shaking his head, the old wizard tapped his Pensieve with his wand, causing an ethereal image of Sybill Trelawney to emerge from the basin.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…" The image intoned, her voice unmistakably prophetic. This wasn't the first time Dumbledore had listened to this memory in just twenty-four hours, yet he still found no clarity in the prophecy amidst the current circumstances.
Once more shaking his head, Dumbledore recognized that his current line of thinking was getting him nowhere. Perhaps it was time for a different approach. It was a known fact that prophecies often gained clarity only after the events they foretold had unfolded. So, he thought, perhaps analyzing it from that angle could yield some insights. However, that would require him to determine which of the boys was indeed the true Chosen One.
Five days later, Dumbledore believed he had unraveled the mystery surrounding the prophecy. It had taken him considerable effort, but he had finally made sense of it once again. Yet this clarity brought forth another challenge: how would he convey this revelation to the public, particularly to the family of the true Chosen One? And what actions should follow?
While it was commonly said that politics involved a great deal of deception, there were certain moments where direct honesty was the best course of action. Therefore, Dumbledore resolved to present his findings to the public after first discussing them with the chosen one and his family. As for the subsequent plan of action, that was straightforward: the Chosen One needed training so that he could be ready to confront his destiny when the time arrived.
With purpose, the venerable Albus Dumbledore approached the fireplace in his office and tossed a handful of Floo powder into the flames.
"The Burrow." As the flames transformed into vibrant emerald green, he leaned forward and allowed his head to emerge into the fireplace at the Weasley family home. Molly Weasley, who was preparing dinner, spotted him almost immediately.
"Professor? What can I do for you?" she inquired. Dumbledore nodded in greeting.
"Is your family present?" he asked, and upon receiving a nod, he continued, "May I come through? This is best discussed face to face rather than through the Floo." Molly nodded and bade him enter.
~/ *** \~
On Friday, August 6th, late in the morning, Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, made his annual visit to Azkaban, the most unwelcoming place in all of magical Britain. Traditionally, this visit involved discussions with the warden and the Aurors, but this year, for reasons unknown, Fudge opted to descend into the holding cells to visit one of the most notorious criminals of recent times.
"I trust you're enjoying your time rotting in here." Fudge greeted prisoner #c81122, known as Sirius Orion Black. Despite his disheveled appearance, having been incarcerated for twelve years, Black managed to respond with a sharp retort.
"What I wouldn't give for a couple of nice ladies to keep me warm at night." Fudge scowled and instinctively took a step back from the cell, wary of Black's unpredictable temperament. "But let's be honest, Minister, as much as I love this charming establishment..." The playfulness in his tone was unmistakable. "...I could really use some reading material, lest I turn feral in here." Once Black finished his maniacal laughter, he continued, "So, do you happen to have anything to read, Minister?"
"A-ah..." Realizing it was harmless to share a newspaper (after all, how could one escape Azkaban with mere print?), Fudge retrieved a week-old issue of the Daily Prophet—the one featuring Arthur Weasley's lottery win—and tossed it toward Black with mild vexation. To his annoyance, Black caught the paper effortlessly.
"Much appreciated, Minister." With that, Black turned away, unceremoniously perusing the newspaper as if nothing else mattered. Fudge, his anger boiling at the apparent lack of respect, stormed away from the cell.
As the Minister concluded his tour of the prison, Sirius Black obsessively re-examined the article about Arthur Weasley's lottery victory. His attention was captured by a photo: a familiar rat nestled within the pocket of Arthur's youngest son. After a moment's realization, he recognized it was none other than Peter Pettigrew in his Animagus form. The implications were dire; if the rat was still alive and Ron Weasley was of Harry's age, then Harry was in grave danger. As a protective godfather, Sirius knew he had to capture Pettigrew before he could inflict harm on Harry. And if it meant escaping the living nightmare he had been relegated to without trial, so be it...
That evening, the Aurors on duty reported that Sirius Black was mumbling in his sleep. This was not unusual behavior for Azkaban's prisoners; what was peculiar, however, was that he kept repeating, "He's at Hogwarts," with a newspaper opened beside him, resting on the image of the Weasley family. It appeared that Sirius Black was concocting plans for a new reckoning.
~/ *** \~
The following morning, Harry was at Salazar's cottage, experimenting with his 'pet project,' while contemplating his next steps, especially since Violet had found him a suitable proxy. This proxy was a sixty-eight-year-old wizard named Ernst Schmidt, hailing from a lesser-known pureblood family in Germany. His background and the historical conflicts he had lived through had shaped his political viewpoint in ways very much aligned with young Lord Potter-Slytherin's own.
His musings were interrupted when an owl carrying the latest edition of the Daily Prophet landed on the bush in front of him. After paying the bird five Knuts, he accepted the newspaper. Unfurling it, he skimmed the articles. Initially, it seemed like another mundane issue, but then a headline caught his eye: Albus Dumbledore had made a startling announcement that Friday.
Knowing Dumbledore seldom addressed the public, Harry felt this news must be significant. The article, however, was placed more toward the center of the newspaper. Flipping through the pages, he began reading:
"Wizards and witches of Great Britain," Dumbledore declared as he faced a crowd the previous day. "I understand many regard my past actions as infallible, but I am still a mere human. Yes, I am older and perhaps wiser than most, and my mistakes are less frequent, but when I err, the consequences tend to be severe. I fear twelve years ago, in the aftermath of that fateful Halloween night, I made a grave error. When young Mr. Potter miraculously survived the Killing Curse cast by the Dark Lord, I naively assumed he would lead us toward peace and safety." Dumbledore paused, allowing the crowd to absorb his words before continuing. "This summer, however, evidence surfaced that, upon careful examination, indicated my previous assumption was incorrect. It seems the true savior of our world was hidden in the shadows of the false one. Therefore, I must announce that young Mr. Ronald Bilius Weasley is the one chosen by fate to guide magical Britain toward the Greater Good."
After leaving the stage, Dumbledore took a few moments to engage with the press. The reporter noted, "Professor Dumbledore, may I ask a few questions?"
The great wizard nodded. "Please proceed."
"What led you to conclude that Mr. Potter is not the true Chosen One?"
Dumbledore replied, "Unfortunately, this information is one that is better left undisclosed for the masses, as dark forces are always afoot. However, I can state that I had my suspicions regarding Mr. Potter's status even prior to this summer."
"Understood. If it's not too much trouble, can you share any insight into what clues pointed you toward the actual Chosen One?"
"I regretfully must decline that inquiry as well, as it poses a threat to national security."
"Fair enough. Moving on to my next question..."
In anger, Harry threw the newspaper to the ground and drew his wand, ready to incinerate it with a particularly nasty curse, only to halt. Why was he upset that another would bear the burden of fame that he never sought? Whatever misguided notion led Dumbledore to proclaim Ron as the Chosen One had inadvertently freed him... provided people had the decency to leave him in peace.
On second thought, reflecting on Ron's tendency toward foolishness, Harry worried that if the magical world placed their faith in Ron, nothing good would come of it. The thought of having to find an alternative living arrangement loomed ominously in his mind.
~/ *** \~
Simultaneously, as Harry grappled with Dumbledore's announcement, a meeting unfolded among the Ministry of Magic's upper echelons, where officials debated their next steps in light of the shifting landscape.
"...So, this raises the important question: what's our course of action now, Minister?" a certain toad-like witch, holding the title of Senior Undersecretary, inquired. Cornelius Fudge pondered for a moment before answering.
"As far as I see it, the Weasley family is too entrenched in Dumbledore's influence to easily sway the Chosen One to our cause. However, this does not render the task impossible, which means your mission at Hogwarts remains unchanged, Dolores. I need you to align the Chosen One with our objectives." He instructed. Dolores nodded in agreement.
"Of course, Minister, I will do my utmost. But what of the Potter boy? Individuals like him, full of lies, have no place in the noble society of magical Britain." She retorted. Cornelius leaned forward in his chair, fingers steepled.
"I will devise a plan before the school year commences: we need to show Potter that deceit has no sanctuary here. But should he find a way to escape justice, I want you to ensure that he is expelled from our esteemed homeland as he does not belong." Fudge declared.
"I shall attend to that." Umbridge replied. "But could you enlighten me about your intentions for the boy? I am quite curious." The Minister nodded and leaned back, revealing his 'evil' plan...
~/ *** \~
Just yesterday, it was confirmed that the notorious murderer Sirius Black, infamous for betraying the Potters to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, somehow achieved the improbable: he escaped from Azkaban prison. The details of how he managed this remain unclear, but the Ministry insists that such an occurrence will never again transpire and that when Black is apprehended, he will receive the Dementor's Kiss without delay. In the meantime, citizens are advised to remain vigilant and to inform the Aurors about any suspicious behaviors or potential leads regarding Black's whereabouts.
The Daily Prophet cautions readers not to confront Black under any circumstances. The criminal had already demonstrated his capacity for viciousness, having reportedly killed Peter Pettigrew (posthumously awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class) and twelve Muggles with a single spell. Should you observe Sirius Black, please retreat without drawing his attention and immediately notify the Aurors!
Harry swore under his breath. A week prior, Dumbledore's claim had upended the magical world, and now, this. It seemed his anticipated year of peace was implausible. Well, at least he should feel somewhat safe, as no one knew the location of Salazar's cottage, and Hogwarts was off-limits for attackers. The train, however, presented a weak point, but he was confident that additional magical protections would ensure their safety against Black.
Yet, one fact remained troubling: Voldemort had no recollection of Sirius Black's involvement with the Death Eaters. In fact, Tom had characterized him as a Dumbledore ally, one who, alongside the rest of the so-called 'Order,' had thwarted numerous attacks. This inconsistency gnawed at Harry, prompting him to seek clarification on the truth. He sent a letter to Violet, requesting that she locate Black's trial records to shed light on the situation.
~/ *** \~
The next morning, young Lord Potter-Slytherin received an intriguing missive from the Wizengamot. It was peculiar because it did not conform to the official correspondence style one would expect from such a prestigious body. Instead, it read simply:
"Mr. Potter, you are to appear in the Wizengamot chambers on August 19th at 10:00."
To Harry, this bore the hallmarks of a scheme to dismantle his reputation, ensuring he would not overshadow the new 'Chosen One.' Hence, trusting his instincts, he contacted Violet, instructing her to accompany him alongside his personal assistant and, if necessary, a barrister.