It’s Not Fair
The next morning, no one rushed to breakfast. Lessons had been cancelled for the day and most of the young people were taking advantage of that fact to sleep in. The adults were another story. They too were in no rush to attend breakfast. Instead, they settled all throughout the various chambers in small groups discussing the issues that had arisen in the most recent book.
Alastor and Amelia were sitting together in the library, sequestered in a hidden corner, away from prying eyes and listening ears. Amelia had even gone so far as to put up a silencing ward around them.
"Never in all my life," Amelia was saying, "have I ever imagined that I might actually plan a coup."
"You always have been a stickler for the rules." Alastor gave a wry grin.
Amelia did not deny it. It was the truth after all.
"But that is what I'm doing." Amelia sighed. "Isn't it?"
"The current establishment needs a complete overthrow if the prince is to achieve his goals," Alastor said with a shrug. He didn't feel anywhere near as conflicted as Amelia did.
"While I do not doubt that, I cannot help but think that it goes against my vows as an auror..."
"Amelia, we vow to uphold the law," Alastor said, "to protect the citizens and to..."
"Protect magic," Amelia finished.
"The minister treats the law as if it is something that exists for those beneath him, not himself. Removing him, will give us the opportunity to uphold the law. Our citizens will only suffer under his government. And as for Magic. I believe that if Mother Magic thought Fudge capable of change, he'd be here in this chamber. He certainly has more than enough to be held accountable for in these books. Personally, I'd delight in him being here. I'd quite like to rub his nose in all his shortcomings."
"Wouldn't that be something." Amelia smirked. "I have a few choice words for him myself."
They were quiet for several moments. Neither feeling the need to break the silence as they pondered the magnitude of their decision.
Eventually though, Alastor said, "I think the prince needs an extended break before the next book. This one was harder for him than the others."
"For good reason." Amelia nodded thoughtfully. "You're right though. He needs to catch his breath before we steamroll all over his privacy yet again."
"It really doesn't seem particularly fair."
"But what can we do about that?"
"I don't know." Alastor shrugged.
The entire Weasley family were gathered around the dining room table. Other than their location, it was much like any other breakfast at the burrow, their family all together. And they weren't particularly quiet either. Talking over each other and laughing loudly at a prank that the twins had pulled the night before, involving the headmaster's beard and pink glitter.
”I guess you’ll want another family meeting,” Ron grumbled, eyeing his father uncertainly.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” Arthur said. “Do you have something you think we should discuss?”
Ron shrugged. “Not really.”
“Any one else?”
“I told Oliver about the love potion,” Percy said quietly.
“You did?” Molly asked, getting to her feet so she could wrap her arms around her son.
”Wow! Percy, that was really brave of you,” George said.
Everyone stared at him in shock when they didn’t hear even a shred of humour in his tone.
”What? I know how to be serious.”
”Yeah, we know. You just rarely show it,” Charlie said, patting his shoulder.
George just shrugged his shoulders. His brother wasn't wrong.
”I’ve been thinking,” Ron said.
”Careful,” Fred began.
”Your brain might explode,” George finished before they both made firework sounds.
“Percy’s situation is what made me think of it,” Ron said. “We all have secrets. But all of Harry’s secrets are being exposed. All his pain. Everything.”
”Yes, Ron. But Mother Magic said,” Arthur began.
”I know that. I’m not saying we should stop. I’m just… I think we need to even the score.”
”And how do you propose we do that?” Percy asked. “I’m not telling the entire chamber about the love potion. If that’s what you’re suggesting.”
”No, Percy. I’d never ask that of you,” Ron spluttered. “Just a secret. The more personal the better. Whatever you feel safe sharing.”
”It’s not a bad idea,” Arthur murmured. “I’m guessing you want everyone to participate. I’m not sure it could be enforced.”
”Everyone who is willing,” Ron said.
Arthur nodded. “I’ll talk to Madam Bones and see if we can arrange something.”
Molly smiled brightly at her son. He was so thoughtful sometimes.
The Grangers were in the middle of a heated argument.
”I just don’t understand!” Mr Granger said angrily. “Why would you do such a thing?”
”I let her out, dad,” Hermione said with a sigh.
”This is just like what you did to us,” her mother said. “You don’t even realise you’ve done something wrong.”
”She was writing lies,” Hermione argued.
”So? That doesn’t excuse kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and blackmail, Hermione!” Mr Granger said before continuing to pace.
He wasn’t looking at her now. His temper was definitely frayed. And he was struggling to maintain anything close to composure. This was his daughter and yet her decisions utter confounded him.
“I can’t believe some of the things you’ve done in these books,” he continued. “First year, you set your teacher alight. Second year, you drugged two classmates and stole from your teacher, third year you used magic…”
”I don’t think Hermione can be blamed for using the time turner, dear,” Mrs Granger said. “The headmaster told her to do it.”
”And that man has a lot of explaining to do!” Mr Granger huffed. “If he wasn’t dead, I’d…”
He paused momentarily. “Hermione, I understand that you believed you were doing the right thing but I just don’t know if I can agree with you.”
”I couldn’t just let her…!”
”She wasn’t your responsibility. And what's more, she’s one reporter. A bad egg sure. But do you really think the others will be better?”
Hermione sighed. The others had been just as bad. He was right about that.
”I understand why you did it,” he said, “but I need you to really think through your decisions before you make them. I know you have a strong moral code. But it feels like it’s a little bit wonky to me.”
”You can’t force people to be better people,” Hermione’s mother said. “That’s a choice only they can make.”
”It all comes back to autonomy,” the younger Mrs Granger said. “Rita Skeeter is a horrendous woman. But that’s her choice. If you felt so strongly about what she did you should have reported her. Presuming you knew how?”
”It was in the muggleborn welcome pack,” Mr Granger said. “She knows how.”
”I get that you’re disappointed. I get that you’re angry. But you don’t know what it was like.”
”Then tell us,” Mr Granger said.
”Harry keeps saving the world. Every year, I watched as he sacrificed just a little more of himself. It hurt to watch that and know that there wasn’t anything I could do. And the things she was saying. Calling him mentally disturbed and… It wasn’t right. He deserved better. He deserved to have parents to protect him. And he deserved to be safe at school. And he deserved to be treated with kindness and love. But he didn’t get any of that.”
Mr Granger sagged slightly as he listened. While he couldn't approve of her actions, he could certainly understand her motivation.
”All he had was me and Ron and honestly we weren’t worth much. There was so much we couldn’t do for him. But I could do this. I don’t regret it, dad and I’m sorry if that displeases you.”
Her father nodded his head but said nothing. He wasn’t sure what he could say. He understood. He really did. But it didn’t make her behaviour right. He tried to consider what he’d do in her situation, at her age. It was impossible to say. And perhaps that was the point. He couldn't understand because he'd never experienced anything close to what his daughter had. He couldn't empathise with a situation so outside the world of possibility. At least to him. And not for the first time in his life, he mentally berated himself for being a muggle. Perhaps if he'd been magical he'd have been in a better position to protect his daughter.
Sometime later everyone gathered in the main chamber. They needed to decide how long they would wait before starting the next book. Not that the book had been delivered yet. Perhaps, Mother Magic was making the decision for them.
”Perhaps a week?” Someone suggested.
Amelia nodded. “I think that might be wise. I think we all need time to process everything that’s happened so far.”
”And it will give us more time to plan,” Harry said.
”We certainly need all the time we can get,” Kingsley said. “There’s a lot to do. But it also gives you time to rest.”
Harry sighed, noting that the statement was directed at him. It would appear they’d all noticed that this book had affected him more than the others.
With a flash of light, the next book appeared on the coffee table near the fire. Standing around it, were several individuals. Harry recognised them all. They were aurors. He grit his teeth at the sight of Rufus Scrimgeour. He still hadn't quite forgiven him for trying to force him to dance to the ministry's tune.
”Things are going to get interesting,” Ron muttered in his ear.
”That’s Sirius Black!” Dawlish shouted.
All eleven of the new aurors raised their wands.
”Stand down aurors!” Amelia said sharply, getting to her feet.
”Amelia, but you’re dead!” Robards said. “Where in Merlin’s name are we and what is going on?”
Moody barked a laugh. “You’ll never believe it, Robards.”
”Come with us,” Amelia said. “We’ll explain everything.”
And with that, she led them out of the chamber.
”Are we really just going to leave Black…” Dawlish asked.
”Forget about Black,” Alastor said. “We’ve got bigger fish to fry.”
”Just who could be worse than Sirius Black?” Proudfoot asked.
”The minister,” Amelia said as she opened the door to their office.
”T-the minister?” Dawlish asked, looking between them all. “You’ve all gone barmy.”
”Was that really the best place to start?” Kingsley asked with a heavy sigh. This was going to be a long day. And to think, he'd been planning on taking a quiet day to himself. It really wasn't fair. No rest for the wicked, he thought to himself, as he sat down in the DMLE office.