Setting the Stage
~The Next Day~
~Ministry Holding Cells~
Albus Dumbledore’s POV -
Albus practically ran through the halls of the Ministry, heading to Moody’s cell. The Aurors on duty let him into the holding area without a second thought. Now, Albus stands outside of Moody’s cell. The bars and barriers separating the two. Inside the cells were worn and dirty. A musty bed, sink, and toilet were the only things in the cell besides Moody,
“What were you thinking!?” Albus practically yells. “Are you insane!?”
“I was trying to solve our pest problem,” Moody growls.
“And if you had consulted me or done on any other day, that would have been fine. But like a fool, you choose the one day when ¾ of the Ministry was there. Cornelius and Amelia are out for your blood, as well as most of the Wizengamot. Not to mention Voldemort and his followers. To put it lightly, you really messed up. Ted tells me that when the Malfoys take you to court because they will, you have no case. You are screwed and will be charged guilty. The best we can do it try to get a reduced sentence and prevent them from using veritaserum,” Albus explains.
“Really? That's the best you can do?”
“I’m afraid so. Ted will be by later to talk to you about a plea deal.” With that, Albus walked away from the cell.
~The Burrow~
Fred’s POV -
Fred and George were minding their own business. They happily experimented in their room using ingredients they got from Diagon Alley and gifted to them from Hadrian. Hadrian also sent them some money to start their pranking business early. Though they initially wanted to reject the money, they decided to take him on as their first investor. Once they got back to school, they would start selling their creations. They had made portable swamps, the creaming yo-yo, whiz-bangs, and a bunch of sweets which made people look sick so they could get out of class early. They were going to make a ton of money with these profits and would send Hadrian 20% for believing in them and their products. Overall, things were going pretty well.
“HOW DARE HE!!!” The duo heard their harpy of a mother yell.
“Please Mollywobbles, please calm down. I’m sure if we talk to him, everything will sort itself out,” They heard Dad say.
“He?” Fred asks George, who shrugs. The twins head down the creaky stairs into the living room where their mother and father are.
“What’s”
“Going”
“On?” The twins ask, going back and forth.
“That brat is charging us with using a love potion on his gifts. How dare he! He should be grateful we got him anything at all!” Their mother yelled.
“Who?” The twins ask at the same time.
“Lord Hadrian Peverell-Potter is pressing charges against us for attempting to use a love potion on him as well as multiple other compulsions,” Dad explains calmly.
Fred and George stare at their mother.
~Malfoy Manor~
Hadrian’s POV -
Hadrian enters Lucius’ study. Marvolo, Severus, and Antonin were sitting on the couches inside the study, with Lucius sitting by the desk. Hadrian took a seat and served himself some tea.
“So, how’s the permanent polyjuice going?” Marvolo asks.
“So far so good, we are trying to get it to last as long as possible,” Severus replies.
“When do you think we can use it?”
“You can use it now actually,” Hadrian says. “It would last a month, and since there are some Azkaban guards loyal to use, it wouldn’t be too hard to have them give the muggles the potion once a month.”
“In that case, we’ll do it tonight,” Marvolo says. The others in the room nod.
“I’ll let everyone know,” Lucius says.
“Narcissa and the other healers should stay behind to heal them when we get back” Marvolo plans. Hadrian nods.
“We should only bring Death Eaters who can cast a patronus and lots of chocolate,” Antonin says. Marvolo nods.
“I have paperwork to do, so I’ll see you all later tonight?” Hadrian asks.
“I thought you said you were done?” Severus asks.
“Yes, but I swear that pile grows every time I leave the room.” Lucius nods in agreement.
“See you guys later,” Hadrian says before flooing home.
AN - Hadrian won’t go with Marvolo and the rest of the Death Eaters because he doesn’t know how to cast a patronus yet.
~Later that day~
At 11:00 PM exactly, a group of 20 death eaters apperated to the docks which was closest to Azkaban. They planned to take a boat to the island prison after getting the muggle criminals from a warehouse nearby.
About 30 minutes later, the death eaters returned with their fellow death eaters in tow. Narcissa and the rest of the healers immediately got to work with healing the injured.
Hadrian stood in a corner, watching the death eaters. Severus joined him after getting checked over by a medic.
“Everything went well?” Hadrian asks. Severus nods.
“Marvolo already introduced you as his heir,” Severus mentions. Hadrian nods.
~The Next Day~
Hermione Granger’s POV -
Hermione stood outside Headmaster Dumbledore’s office. She spent Winter Break at Hogwarts and she was miserable. No one but the teachers wanted to talk to her. She couldn’t any books from the library (or even enter it) and was bored out of her mind. Her only presents that year were from the Weasleys, Dumbledore, and her parents. All the other students avoided her, including her roommates. The room was a mess since the elves stopped cleaning it. And while she did want the house elves to stand up for themselves by staging a protest, it was annoying to have to clean a room that big.
Headmaster Dumbledore would be able to fix everything.
“They broke them out?” Headmaster Dumbledore exclaims from behind the door. Hermione leans closer to the door. “Why didn’t you warn me?”
“Because it was a last-minute thing,” a voice from the fireplace says. “I didn’t have time to tell you and by the time we came back, it was 11:30 at night, I wasn’t going to try and wake you up.”
Headmaster Dumbledore let out a long sigh. “Thank you for telling me my boy.” Hermione knocks on the door. “Come in.”
“Headmaster Dumbledore,” Hermione greets him.
“Hermione, what can I do for you?” Hermione stared into the wall next to the Headmaster. Should I tell him that I heard?
“Who broke out of what?”
“Sorry?”
“I overheard you talking with someone in the floo. They said that people broke out. Who and what did they break out of?”
“Well, the people who broke out were the Death Eaters-”
“And they got out of Azkaban!?”
“Yes.”
“We have to tell people!”
“No, we don’t.”
“Why not!?”
“Because they won’t believe us.”
“But!”
“No buts Hermione. We must have evidence that they escaped.”
“But won’t the guards notice?”
“Maybe, but my spy was unable to find out how they hide that the death eaters have escaped. Right now it is best to wait.”
“Okay, Headmaster.”
“Is there anything else you need my dear?”
“Is there any way for you to unban me from the library?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Why not? I have a right to those books just as much as anyone else!”
“The board has dictated that you can’t go into the library. I have tried but can’t change their mind. And no note I send Mr. Harris will pursue him otherwise.”
“So those blood purists want to keep me from learning!”
“I suppose so.”
“When I’m minister, I’ll get them all thrown in Azkaban and make sure they stay there,” Hermione says.
“I’m sure you will. Is there anything else you need?”
“I guess not.”
“Then you best get going. Wouldn’t want you to waste your winter break talking with me.”
“Right, I’ll get going.”
William Harris’ POV -
That Granger girl was the most annoying person on the planet. Every day since he got his job as a librarian she has tried to access the library, despite being resolutely told that she wasn’t allowed to. William was tempted to employ the Weasley twins to keep her from getting to the library. He had more than enough money to spare.
Then there was the two youngest Weasleys. Both were clearly getting books for Granger, seeing as their grades were notoriously bad. William would be surprised if they could even read. They had no idea how to act in a library. Always talking loudly and leaving books everywhere, despite there being a basket for books right at the end of all the shelves. How they miss the baskets that are always brimming with books when they enter, speaks volumes on there spatial awareness.
All three of them were the most annoying students out there. Even the first years are better, and they’re first years.
William went through his mail for the day, on the top of the stack was a letter with a familiar symbol on it. The one behind it had the symbol of the Ministry stamped onto the seal.
Dear Lord William Harris,
The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge would like to speak with you at the next Wizengamot session. If you can not make it, please write back soon.
Thank you.
Why does the Minister want to meet with me? I suppose he might want me to spy on Dumbledore for him. But why now?