Chapter 1
January 2001
The order didn't have many reasons to meet after the war. Not after the funerals, the appointment of Kingsley as an Interim Minister of Magic,not after the awarding of the Order of Merlin and the trials of death eaters.
It's been three years since the last official meeting, three years of relative and hard earned “peace”. The transition of power after the final battle was swift but rocky to say the least.
The Wizarding World did not trust their leaders, the people were traumatized and hate and resentment was the order of the day, every single change great or small was met with pushback from the Wizengamot , still ruled by old families, or by the public still being manipulated by the press and propaganda.
If you were wondering, Rita Skeeter is alive and well and at the peak of her career, thank you very much.
No matter the efforts and support of international councils of magic or resident heroes Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter there's non changing the tides, Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt was soon to be unemployed.
Is with these news that the members of the Order, the ones left at least, were once more around the table of 12 Grimmauld Place.
Harry moved in right after the war while following his training as an Auror, Ginny and Hemione joined him a year later, once they ended their last year at Hogwarts. Ron wanted to join Harry, he wanted to be an Auror too, share a “bachelor pad” with his best friend and try a possible relationship with Hermione, but losing Fred was too hard for George. Ron took the chance to step up and grow up, taking charge of WWW and helping George out of his depression.
Grimmauld place saw positive changes since the girls moved in, the walls were now in clear colors of cream, the furniture with elegant colors and the windows clean and clear,they never closed the curtains if they could help it.
The kitchen table, were they decided to reunite has seen lovely changes too, colorful pots and pans, pictures and paintings tastefully decorated the walls, the kitchen looked cheerful but if you look closely, you'd see the out of place tumbler with the almost empty bottle of firewhiskey covered in dust, the old chair that doesn't match the others and that nobody dares to sit on, the ashtray and pack of cigarettes over the counter.Traces of grief and mourning were all over the place. It's still shocking for him to see these mementos in every nook and cranny of the wizarding world but the people living in it to be without memory.
“ They're asking for my resignation” said Kingsley to the room “there are already rumors of a coup, but i'm being asked to resign peacefully”
The silence of the room was not one of shock but of worry
“ We've been hearing rumors about a new candidate making waves in the ministry” said Percy, breaking the too long silence. “ I was discussing this with dad the other day” looking at Arthur
“ we’ve have too many budget cuts in the department, no one is happy”
“Us too. I'm going to be honest Kings, I’m not happy with your administration and I’ve made it perfectly clear, repeatedly, however a coup sounds terribly dangerous and I don't think this new candidate they've been whispering about is going to be any help in the department of magical creatures”
Hermione Granger no longer hesitated to bring her point across and became an admirable professional and an invaluable colleague. Kingsley wasn't ashamed to admit that he'd sometimes look for the advise of the 22 year old golden girl, however hard or rude, she could be when expressing her opinion
“ The goblins are in on it too” a heavy with worry Bill stated
“ It has recently come to my attention that once the dust settled after the battle and while we were busy rebuilding Hogwarts, starting the Trials and working on the reparations money, they had already infiltrated my team. Important legislation, annual budgets, changes in personal,they hid everything from me feeding me with the information and priorities they thought convenient leaving me out of the loop in many circumstances”
“They’re being hold into custody now” Harry confirmed “But because they were part of the Minister’s team and had access to delicate information, including the Department of Mysteries, it will be difficult to interrogate them and only Head Auror Robards has clearance”
“Yes, the only conclusion that we have so far is that these people and the ideas of coup are serious business and not only empty threats. They're moving pieces about in a way very similar to how powerful families influenced government after the first war, however there's a subtlety to it, different to past experience, that's why we cannot go after the usual suspects” revealed Kingsley to the room
“that and the usual suspects are in Azkaban. Have you visited dear brother-in-law of mine to check on this information” asked Andromeda from the other side of the room
“I have” answered Kinsley “ he wasn't very forthcoming” while he looked at Ron, Harry and Hermione in turn
Odd thought Hermione exchanging looks with her two best friends
“so, if it is the same old crowd, and we're talking about Malfoy, what are their intentions? Are they releasing the Death Eaters and reopening the muggle-born register ? No one is going to allow that”
“Ha!” Hermione cackled “Allow that, they didn't stand up against it during the war, Ron, or did you forget the crowd at the ministry running after us when we stole the locket, or the scarce number of adults in our ranks during the battle?”
Hermione was definitely not on diplomat mode tonight
Xerophilous Lovegood coughs from his seat next to Andromeda in the corner of the room.
“ we have received a pamphlet at The Quibbler, the whole platform looks to be the contrary to what young Mr Weasley thinks” a pause “ they are talking about reforming Azkaban, improving the conditions as they are inhumane and approaching it to the muggle penitentiary system”
“ Well, apparently someone listens when you broach a problem”
Xerophilous nods to Hermione and continues, “ however what improves their popularity in the polls is that they are promising severe punishment to those who infringe the law, accent in Death eaters, and to prosecute corrupt citizens who have been overlooked the last twenty years”
Minerva Mcgonagall who has been silent and stern during this exchange finally says “ I can see how that is appealing, there is much unrest and resentment in the halls of hogwarts, crimes unpunished people getting free after too short sentences or no sentence because of technicalities”
“ Do we know who their candidate is and if these are really their intentions?” asked Molly.
They all shook their heads and Harry answered
“No matter who it is, this is bad news. They've already infiltrated the Minister's team,they are threatening a coup and I believe Head Auror Robards is also with them. He sends me on missions away for days every time I start asking questions. The rest of the DMLE started turning a blind eye to avoid being sent to Inverness with me”
“ that and he’s the only one with access to the witnesses” Ron added
“And if they are also in talks with the goblins” Andromeda added
“Merlin’s dry ballsack” George whispered
Indeed
Minerva Stood up saying “ We should all keep an ear on the ground about this, we can’t lose what we fought for so easily. I expect your owl Mr Shaklebolt with how are you planning to get us out of this one”
“Don't think for a moment that you can blame everything on these people and wash your hands.The responsibility of learning what is happening inside your office is yours alone and we trusted you. If anything I’m sure Arthur, Mister Weasley and especially Ms Granger have approached you with this issues personally” Minerva declared, her scottish accents getting thicker with the anger that carried her statement
Andromeda chuckled seeing Kingsley's reaction to Minerva “ If you were hoping for the Order to be your campaign team you were sorely mistaken. I will however help in whatever way I can, good evening to all”
Andromeda stood up and followed behind Minerva
An anguished Molly being comforted by Arthur left too nodding their goodbyes until the room was only with Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione, who was politely asking Xenophilius for the pamphlets he mentioned, whilst the latter responded in riddles and evasiveness.
Salazar!, thought Kingsley, she's going to be in a lovely mood for the conversation we’re about to have
“ I need to have a word with Ron, Harry and Hermione”
Xenophilous didn't need to be told twice and left practically skipping followed by Ginny who was trying very little to cover her laugh under a cough when she saw Hermione scowling after the man
Once the door was closed Hermione turned “WHAT NOW?”
Taking a deep breath Kingsley pondered if it was in anyway worth it inviting Xenophilius to any event including Hermione and Minerva
Releasing his breath he answered “ As I said, I visited Lucius Malfoy’s cell before coming here”
“Is he really a suspect behind this new, what do we call them candidate?” Ron asked and only received shrugs from the others “and how could he do anything from Azkaban anyway”
“ Through Mrs Malfoy?”
“We don't think so, Harry. She cut all contact with him, not a visit nor a letter. Word on the street is that she resents him for what he put them through during the war, and hasn’t forgiven him for Draco’s involvement and Death”
“She's been giving donations to orphans of the war, and even to my department, though they always use those funds for unicorn and dragon protection” added Hermione with narrowed eyes “She always makes a point in events to talk to Harry and even Neville and every now and then sends letters to the editor of The Prophet against the Death Eater movement”
“None of the death eaters have received even a letter from their families and we scan letters leaving Azkaban..”
“Is that even legal?” interrupted Hermione
so we know there is no incriminating evidence, however…” continued Kingsley “ His letter got to my office without going through the normal channels”
“Someone from Azkaban got a letter directly inside your office?” Harry asked concerned
“What did the letter say? What did Lucius want?” Hermione asked, Ron and Harry leaned closer to the table separating the soon to be ex Minister from them.
“He asked for a meeting, and once I was there he didn’t have any intentions of talking to me”.
A pause.
“he asked for the golden trio to visit him”