Yes, He IS!

Ministry of Magic, Dolores Umbridge’s Holding Cell, 2:50 PM

As Celestina Cooper, the Morning Shift Head Guard (HG), prepared to end her shift, she and the Aurors were approached by the Evening Shift HG, William Whyte. Before the two could exchange information on the events of the Morning Shift, Whyte spotted Umbridge. ”First Crouch, Jr., and now this one…although I can’t say I’m surprised. This is gonna be an interesting shift,” he thought to himself, as his eyebrows rose.

Back from their late lunch, Aurors Shacklebolt and Tonks greeted Whyte. Before Cooper could hand Umbridge’s file to her counterpart, Kingsley stepped forward with a vial of Veritaserum. “We’re sorry, Whyte,” he said, “but some disturbing events have taken place today, and the Minister wants all of the guards re-tested….”

”…for starters, I’m sure,” Whyte quipped wryly. Before downing the Truth Potion this time (like every other Guard, he’d been tested upon his hiring), he raised his eyebrows at Cooper, who nodded; she’d actually volunteered to take the Potion at 9:00 AM, after Umbridge was securely in her cell. She’d passed with flying colors, neither Auror being able to find any act of wrongdoing.

Once Whyte showed the telltale signs of being “under the influence”, Kingsley asked, “What is your full name?”

”William Othello Whyte.”

After correctly answering other basic questions—Tonks had Whyte’s file, and gave nods of confirmation—Shacklebolt got down to business. “Are you a Death Eater?”

”No, Ma’am, I am not,” came the proud, defiant response, as Whyte bared his left forearm in proof.

Kingsley now took over the interrogation. “Do you know of anyone else in this Department who is a Death Eater?”

The Death Eater/Animagus began rattling off names—a few, but not many, within the Ministry…no name was a guard’s names—so fast, poor Tonks could barely write fast enough to keep up. ”Thank Merlin for Pensieves!” she thought, with a sigh of relief….

Hogwarts, Headmaster’s Office, Monday, June 26, 3:20 PM

Just as Albus was preparing to send an update to Sirius, via Fawkes, his Floo flared Kelly Green, instead of its normal shade of green. “Calm yourself, Fawkes,” said Dumbledore…even as his own heart began to race. Floo flames this shade of green could mean only one thing: Red Alert of the highest nature.

Sure enough, Minister Fudge was making the Floo Call. Dumbledore didn’t waste any time…or words. “Cornelius, please come through. What’s wrong?” he asked.

”Plenty,” Fudge answered. “I was just contacted by Auror Shacklebolt that not only is a recently incarcerated Ministry official—a high-ranking official, at that—actually a Death Eater—and an Unregistered Animagus…a poisonous Common Toad, to be exact—I was just informed that said prisoner claims to know how You-know-Who planned to survive, after his re-birth,”

A feeling of dread overcame Albus, especially since his Floo flamed Kelly Green again. This time, it was DMLE Head, Amelia Bones. “Sorry to disturb you, Albus,” she said, “but I’ve just received an extremely upsetting report from the Aurors that I dispatched to the Ministry today. Could we possibly talk?”

”As it so happens, Minister Fudge is with me now, Madam Bones. Please join us.”

After Bones entered the Headmaster’s office, and pleasantries exchanged—although cool, on Bones’s part…which made the two Wizards grin, Albus knowingly, and Cornelius somewhat guiltily—Dumbledore began by setting the DMLE Head straight on one matter.

”First of all, Madam Bones, please let me put you at ease about certain aspects of yesterday’s Daily Prophet article.”

”How so?” she interrupted, one wary eye on Minister Fudge.

Albus actually chuckled. “Well, while most of the content of the article about the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament and its aftermath are true, the last part and the resulting headline are 100% fake!”

At Amelia’s stunned expression, Cornelius also began to chuckle, albeit self-consciously. “Yes, it’s true, Madam Bones: I’ve had a change of heart…and a reversal of opinion about the fate of our world. The Headmaster suggested, and I agreed, that Ms. Skeeter—whose earlier articles about the Tournament had had certain unflattering aspects…many of which will have upcoming retractions this week, Albus—be allowed to publish a ‘Triwizard Wrap-up story’, in which I would conveniently ‘deny’ Harry Potter’s claims that You-Know-Who had been ‘reborn’.”

”Wait a minute,” Amelia said. Despite being seated, she nonetheless felt faint. “You’re saying you now truly believe he’s back? That’s news to me.”

”He saw the same Pensieve memories you did, Amelia…in fact, Cornelius saw them Saturday night, soon after the events took place,” Albus informed her. “I’m sorry I didn’t clarify that, when you saw them.”

”Maybe you did, and I just wasn’t paying attention…or simply dismissed the possibilities,” she confessed, gazing at Fudge shamefully, before looking back up. “However, I’m here on more urgent matters.”

”Let me guess: Dolores Umbridge’s interrogation?” Fudge ventured, grinning as she nodded.

”Your Senior Undersecretary?” Dumbledore asked, after taking a moment to place where he’d heard the name before: Of course, during Wizengamot meetings and hearings. He remembered that she’d been a thorn in his side for years, especially when it came to “certain” legislation. His eyebrows furrowed in concern, he now asked, “What does she have to do with anything?”

”Plenty…and it’s Former Senior Undersecretary, I’m happy to say!” Fudge practically crowed. “I was planning on recommending her to the Hogwarts Board of Governors as the next DADA Teacher,” Fudge then contritely confessed. “I dare say it would’ve been most unfortunate for you and many of your students and Staff, Albus.”

”Why?” Albus and Amelia chorused.

”Well, it started out when Arthur and Bill Weasley came in this morning, to discuss plans about mobilizing ourselves, and also to convince Percy Weasley about the truth. Soon after he arrived, Ms. Skeeter and Ms. Umbridge arrived.” The Minister’s “demotion” of Dolores Umbridge from “Madam” to “Ms.” did not escape the others…nor did the scorn in his voice.

Here, Fudge turned to Bones. “Madam Bones, I must confess to twice using Veritaserum. on both Percy Weasley, and Dolores Umbridge.”

After filling the others in about Percy’s epiphany and change of heart (not to mention a round of questions under Veritaserum…which each one individually passed, when questioned by the other two), Fudge told them about learning about the two Witches’ secrets about being Animagi—and Umbridge’s also having been a Death Eater ever since her Sixth Year at Hogwarts—Cornelius told of the Floo Call he’d received, from the Holding Area, about the Blood Quills in Dolores’s office (at which the others gasped), and Umbridge’s proposed DADA textbooks, which made the others groan, when he passed around.

Finally, came Fudge’s information about Umbridge’s revelation about Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Albus further paled.

”That’s why I’m here, Dumbledore,” Amelia added quietly. Auror Shacklebolt just advised me about those.”

”Do we..Do we know how many, and what the Horcruxes are?” the Headmaster asked, after his head stopped spinning.

Both of Dumbledore’s visitors pulled out parchments. “After you, Minister,” said the DMLE Head.

Clearing his throat, Cornelius began, “There’s a ring and a locket out there, possibly both belonging to someone in his family; a snake…how unsurprising; some kind of crown, or tiara; a book….”

”What kind of book?” nervously interrupted Albus.

As Fudge shrugged his shoulders vaguely, Amelia consulted her notes, supplying, “A diary of some kind, I believe….”

”A diary?” At that, Dumbledore jumped up, and dashed over to a special cabinet, and pulled out the diary once belonging to Tom Marvolo Riddle. “ Omne malum semel intus revela*,” he quickly intoned.

All three gasped as the diary quickly showed a flicker of silver—the unmistakable sign of a Horcrux…at least, the indication of a previous Horcrux—before dying out. Once identified and found, a similar Charm would be performed on any objects.

All three must’ve come to the same conclusion about Horcruxes simultaneously. “In order to perform this ritual…,” began Madam Bones, ominously….

”…a Charm has to be spoken…,” added Dumbledore…,

”…and a victim for the ritual murder,” choked out Fudge.

”Do we know any of Riddle’s victims?” Amelia asked.

”Well, there’s Myrtle Warren, who died while they were both students here, in the 1940s,” said Albus. “I was Transfiguration Professor at the time.”

Amelia pressed, “Who else?”

”There’s talk he killed at least two in his family…,”

”…and, of course, Potter’s parents…,” Fudge provided. Realizing the implications of what he’d just said, the eyes of all three grew wide in horror.

”No…please!” Amelia practically begged.

Sighing in resignation, Dumbledore said, “Something I’ve been made aware of, from another source, seems to corroborate today’s information; however, I’d like to wait until our students finish their Finals. There’s no good reason to add this kind of burden to anyone.”

”Is there anything we can do in the interim, Dumbledore?” Fudge asked.

Pretending to ponder the situation—while Amelia Bones kept her face blank—Albus finally said, “I seem to have a couple of options. I’ll need to check them out. I’ll be in touch….”

Cornelius left first, determined to have Dolores Umbridge added to the Registry of Animagi before Dusk…with or without her cooperation. This gave Amelia the opportunity to ask, “After you contact the Order—which we both know you’re preparing to do—where do plan on placing Mr. Potter this summer…and in the future?”

”Certainly not back with his Muggle relatives,” came the reply. “The Blood Protection gifted to him by Lily was certainly compromised two nights ago; it’s reasonable to assume the Blood Wards on the Dursleys’ home may be similarly affected. It may be that his days with them have ended.”

A devious smile crossed his face, as he added, “I actually have a couple of options available, one of them being the Burrow….”

”The Weasleys’?” Bones was shocked at the thought.

Albus laughed at his friend’s consternation and confusion, before she remembered, “Well, Molly and Arthur are both accomplished Duelists, but what about the rest?”

Albus began his assessment of the Weasley offspring, and what each might contribute to the Cause. ”Bill informed me last night that he was going to Lord Gringott; I’m sure the Goblins will band with us. Charlie will be back from the Romanian Dragon Reserve, likely sooner rather than later. If Percy truly has had a change of heart, he may actually be able to provide us with inside information, rather than chancing revealing information that might find its way back to Vol-….”

Not in the mood to indulge Dumbledore’s propensity to use the Dark Lord’s chosen name, Amelia interrupted, “What about the four youngest? I’m told you gave Molly Weasley a Vow to keep them safe.”

”I don’t think that will prevent the twins from supplying the Order with their inventions.” The Headmaster chuckled again…as did the DMLE Head. “As for Mr. Potter’s young friend Ronald, this may be the incentive he needs to truly apply himself.

”Finally, as for young Ginerva, I feel that her experience of being possessed, and very nearly murdered, during her First Year most likely inspired her to apply herself to her studies almost as much as her Housemate, Miss Granger. Both young ladies lead their respective Yearmates in many classes…especially Charms. With the talents of those two bolstering the talents of our older students—at least the ones not too proud to ask for help…and I plan on making that an option—we’re actually better off than I even dared to hope before you asked that question. Thank you, Amelia, for asking me that question. Answering that aloud just now gave me the opportunity to realize that we have even more options and resources, beyond just the Order of the Phoenix.”

Somewhat placated—for now—although still far from satisfied, Amelia Bones rose to leave. “Well, I’d better check on the Aurors I had at the Ministry today. I know the two who took care of Umbridge gave each other—and the Holding Cell Guardss—Veritaserum, and everyone passed. I just hope there are no ‘surprises’ in my Department. Good day, Albus.”

”Take care, Amelia,” he replied.

After the Floo died down a second time, Albus went to Fawkes with a note he’d been working on, even as he’d been conversing with Amelia and Cornelius. “This goes to Remus Lupin; please wait for his further instructions,” he advised his Familiar.

Fawkes trilled in understanding, then disappeared in a blinding flash. After the golden bird has departed, Albus Dumbledore settled back to process what he’d heard today. He then put quill to parchment again, this time to prepare for tonight’s emergency Staff Meeting….