Coming Clean…One Way or Another
Ministry of Magic, Cornelius Fudge’s Office, 11:45 AM, Monday, June 26, 1995
”Thank you for your report, gentlemen,” Fudge was addressing Bill and Percy Weasley, after they’d gone to Percy’s office, with the newly-registered Animagus, Rita Skeeter.
Before Fudge could terminate the inter-office Floo call, Arthur added, “I’ll meet you in your office, this time Friday, to take you home for lunch, Percy,” he said, in a tone that would accept no argument. Percy turned Gryffindor scarlet at that, and Bill just laughed at his brother.
”Are you going to advise your wife about this?” Fudge asked, in an amused tone.
”Maybe when we get there!” Arthur responded, laughing. Having seen Molly’s actions and reactions Saturday night at Hogwarts, even Fudge could guess what type of reception most likely awaited Percy on Friday…but it was something that Arthur’s wife was going to have to deal with, Cornelius knew.
~~~~~
”Are you all right, Sir?” Arthur inquired, as Fudge’s head dropped to his desk; he’d also been mumbling—berating himself, in fact—ever since Dolores Umbridge’s exposure as a Death Eater.
The Minister sighed. “I can’t believe what I was about to expose those dear children to, come September,” he said.
”Sir…?” Arthur asked.
”She had me convinced…not that it was hard to do, before the Third Task…,” he said the last part wryly, as he waved in the general directions of Hogwarts, then the Holding Cells, “…that we should actually drastically pare back the DADA material, starting in September...and even BAN teaching of all defensive spells,” Cornelius confessed. He pulled out a proposed Fifth-Year text (the one Ron and his Year-mates would’ve been using) from his desk drawer, passing it to Arthur.
Flipping through the book, Arthur paled, and slumped in his seat. “They would’ve been sitting geese…,” he mused….
~~~~~
”…I believe that’s ‘sitting ducks, Mr. Weasley,” teased Rita Skeeter, as she re-entered, Bill and Percy just behind her.
”What’s wrong, Father?” While both Weasley sons had chuckled lightly, at Rita’s attempt at levity, they’d all sobered immediately, once they’d spotted the man’s trembling form.
”This…,” Arthur said, passing around the proposed “textbook”.
”Minister…?” Percy’s mouth dropped open, as he realized his youngest brother would’ve been subjected to such drivel.
”She was going to be the next DADA teacher at Hogwarts…,” he confessed, “…and I was also going to give her free rein in dealing with anyone who tried to say he’s back.” No one had to ask who “he” was.
”I don’t remember seeing anything about this,” puzzled Percy.
”I’d decided on her while you were in Wales last month; I thought that you’d…understand the urgent need for a ‘smokescreen’…,” Fudge confessed.
~~~~~
Rita Skeeter now spoke up, her reporter’s need for a “scoop” (not to mention, her natural curiosity) kicking in. “If I may, Sir: Do you have any idea how…?” She never got a chance to finish, as Cornelius jumped up, and headed toward his door. He’d paled so quickly, that it was a miracle he hadn’t fainted.
As the Minister, the Weasleys and the reporter burst into the outer office, Fudge began barking orders. “Have any available Auror—except those questioning Dolores Umbridge—meet us at her office; we may have more charges to file,” he first told his secretary.
Now leading the group toward the lifts, Cornelius went on, “Next, we need to try to locate that cemetery. He turned to face the others. “Any ideas…?”
”Question Crouch, Jr., under Veritaserum?” Skeeter suggested, as the group moved toward the lift that would take them to Dolores Umbridge’s office.
”Not that that wasn’t a good idea, Ms. Skeeter…it was. Unfortunately, Crouch also apparently figured out that strategy, as well. He’s not eating or drinking anything. Our Healers can’t get near him, to even scan him…,”
”They’re too big,” mumbled Percy, slyly nudging Rita. At the upraised eyebrows around him, he winked at Rita, while passing his report to Fudge.
After reading the most pertinent parts of the report from the Animagus Registration Department, Fudge and the others met up with a group of Aurors (all of whom Arthur and Bill recognized as Order members) outside the Death Eater’s office. As soon as Cornelius advised the others of the woman’s alliance, the Aurors all drew their wands.
~~~~~
Dolores Umbridge’s (former) Office, 1:45 PM
”Merlin’s beard!” exclaimed Percy, as the examination (and meticulous tearing down) of Umbridge’s office continued. The group had already confiscated stacks of pro-Pureblood materials, which the Aurors had taken in as evidence, after Bill had removed a number of curses. He’d also owled Lord Gringott, and could only imagine how his boss would react to the day’s events…at least the ones Bill knew about so far....
”I thought the Basilisk that Ron and the others talked about two years ago was bad news!” Percy totally missed the questioning look from Rita. “To think that that reincarnation of Riddle was Petrifying Muggleborns is bad enough…but this nut case—er, woman—was after ALL non-Purebloods!”
At the thought of seeing Hogwarts morph into one large playground for Slytherin students, Arthur felt bile rising in his throat; he knew there was no way—Purebloods or not—that his family of “blood traitors” would be allowed to continue at Hogwarts…or, possibly, even exist.
At that moment, Skeeter, who’d been quietly roaming the office, spoke up, trembling. “Minister Fudge…?”
”Yes, Ma’am?” he answered, tensing at her odd tone, for he knew it took a lot to upset the daredevil reporter…and Rita’s voice was full of disgust and fear. Even the Aurors (not mention Arthur and Percy) paused; all eyes were on Skeeter.
”I believe I may have found out how Umbridge’s discipline may have played out, if she’d been allowed access to any ‘unruly students’.” She stepped aside from a corner the Aurors had yet to explore (for they were proceeding slowly, and leaving no stone unturned), and indicated a seemingly harmless case of quills.
Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge nearly fainted at the sight of far-from-harmless Blood Quills. “How many…?” Wand temporarily forgotten, he tried to physically count the illegal objects. There were so many of them!
”I show 500, Sir.” Rita barely gasped out. She was clearly in shock, and would have collapsed, if Percy hadn’t been there…although he seemed to be leaning on her as much as she was leaning on him.
”I have to inform Shacklebolt immediately,” Fudge said, dashing from the office…and running headlong into Junior Auror Tonks.
”I have some additional information,” they said simultaneously….