"Your copies were waiting for you when we arrived," said Sirius, rising from the table and going over to the coffee table.
He picked up their two copies that were on the low table waiting for them, and brought them back. He tossed them to the three teens. There, on the front page, was the headline 'HE'S BACK!'
Skeeter had worked fast to get the story written and covered for the front page, lead story. There was also a photograph of Harry holding up a prone Pettigrew's arm with the Dark Mark bared. And another with Harry pulsing magic when his oath took hold and he cast his sparklers.
Their fastest reader, Hermione said, "Fudge is accusing you of being confounded again. He's claiming you didn't really witness Riddle's resurrection. Instead, he's claiming you were kidnapped by subversive elements out to discredit his Ministry, and are using you as their pawn.
"And... according to him, the reason you were able to give the oath and weren't punished was because you believed what you were saying was true; even though it wasn't."
"Arsehole," muttered Harry. "That's twice now he's accused me of being confounded because he refuses to accept the truth."
"Skeeter mentions that," said Hermione; still looking down at the paper. "She also mentions how Fudge was wrong about you being confounded the last time he accused you of such; and that Sirius really was innocent."
"We need him gone," said Harry.
"Can I ask you to hold off on kicking him out, for now?" asked Madam Bones.
"Why?" frowned Harry, staring back. With a sigh, she said, "The Unspeakables and I have a plan to clear the Ministry of all those with the Dark Mark, are otherwise Riddle supporters, or have otherwise engaged in illegal activities. I'd like to enact that plan immediately after sacking Fudge, and before a claimant for the position can rally support."
"You'd be up for that position, Amelia," said Matthias. "You'd make an excellent Minister."
"I know," she replied. "However, I hadn't planned on running for the position until my Susan graduates. And, with Riddle back, I need to be where I am."
"We can't let Scrimgeour get it," said Harry.
"No," she replied. "So, we need to prepare a viable alternative candidate." "Kingsley Shacklebolt was supposed to be the Minister after Thicknesse was tossed out after the Battle of Hogwarts if I'd beaten Riddle," mused Harry. "I also think Arthur Weasley would make a good Minister."
"How about Amos Diggory?" added Daphne.
"I have an idea," smirked Hermione.
"Oh-oh!" said Sirius. "I know that look. It was the same one Lily used to get when she thought up a good prank."
"We're listening," said Madam Bones, a little warily.
"Minister Hermione.
Matthias
Greengrass,"
grinned
Daphne gasped as the rest of the table held their collective breaths and thought about it. Matthias just looked back in shock.
Harry snorted. "You have the experience, Matthias," he explained, turning to look at his father-in-law. "You've served on the Wizengamot, with distinction. You know all the players. You're respected within the Ministry. You're known not to take bribes or the like. And you have both the fortitude and the skillset to be a huge success."
"I..." stuttered Matthias. "I'll... have to think about it."
"You've got time," said Madam Bones. "I'll keep you up to date with the plans to clean out the Ministry. I'll give you my full support as Head of the DMLE when the time comes..."
"You'll have the backing of the Potter alliance," added Harry. "And the Black alliance," added Sirius.
"As I said; I'll have to think about it," the man warily said.
"Spoken like a skilled politician," grinned Sirius.
"You do realise it'll paint an even larger target on my back, don't you?" asked Matthias, a little grumpily. "If Riddle follows the same path as in the old timeline according to these three, he'll demand my removal and - one way or another - kill me himself or have me killed."
"The difference, here, is that you won't be like an ostrich and stick your head in the sand as Fudge did," said Harry. "You can immediately implement overarching legislation that makes things like having the Dark Mark an offence. You can make being scanned for the Mark a requirement for working at the Ministry, including within the aurors. And have those scans occur at any time. Snap inspections, they're called.
"You can then make it an automatic jail sentence to be caught wearing Death Eater robes, guilty until proven innocent. And the same for those who haven't already managed to successfully claim the Imperius curse for their existing Marks. You can even throw in mandatory Veritaserum for all trials relating to Death Eater activity by suspending the law that allows purebloods to escape being forced Veritaserum in their trials."
"There're lots of advantages to curb the number who became Death Eaters from becoming them in this timeline," said Hermione. "Personally, I'd figure out a way to seize their vaults. Claim it as a breach of law to finance terrorist or other subversive actions against the Ministry; or something like that."
"Ouch!" winced Sirius.
"The way to do it is for the Ministry to take control of the family vaults and monitor how much money goes out of it. You set each family member a stipend, including the Head of House," explained Harry. "Then, they'll be able to live off what they get, but won't be able to donate huge sums to Riddle's terrorist organisation. Or anywhere else, for that matter."
"That's another thing that can be done," said Hermione. "Force the Prophet and other media organisations to refer to 'You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters' as 'Riddle and his terrorists', common street thugs who hide their identities because they know in their hearts... their blackened hearts... that what they're doing is wrong."
"She's right," said Daphne. "Calling them by their chosen name of 'Death Eaters' gives them power. You take that off them by refusing to use it. And never refer to Riddle as a Lord. Call him, 'the murderous wizarding thug Riddle'. And tell people he brands those who foolishly follow him as if they were nothing more than cattle and makes them call him 'Master' as if they were his slaves."
"All good ideas," said Harry. "By doing so, you both rob him of the power of his image, and will probably prevent many from joining him in the first place. Information control is an important part of any war. However, if you set the terms used, you're far more than halfway there to controlling the message." "And that's the biggest problem with the Prophet under its current management," said Hermione. "You'll find Barnabus Cuffe is a Riddle supporter, even if he doesn't take the Mark. He'll block you every chance he gets. You'll need to be firm with him."
"As Harry said, all good ideas," sighed Madam Bones.
After the adults left, the three teens sat for a while relatively lost in their own thoughts.
Suddenly, Hermione sat forward and asked, "What time is it?"
"Hmm?" asked Harry right back until her question finally cogitated enough in his brain to make sense from his initial confusion. He raised his arm to look at his watch. "Just after three," he replied. "Then how about we get some of our homework for the break out of the way, now?" she asked. "Or, we can quiz Harry on third and fourth year runes ready for fifth year next year."
Perking his head up, he asked, "I'm ready for that?"
"Not quite yet, but you will be," said Daphne. "We plan on you sitting the aptitude test at the Ministry in early August. Pass that and you're in fifth year starting next year."
Confused, Harry said, "Wait. I thought I was still working through third year stuff, and only brushing on fourth year."
Both girls smiled back and Hermione said, "No, we just let you think that. You've been working on the fourth year curriculum since just before Christmas."
"For example," said Daphne. "You don't even begin properly carving runes until fourth year; and that's carving in wood and similar material. You've been doing a very good job of carving in granite. We don't normally even touch on that material until fifth year."
Surprised, Harry simply said, "Oh." He thought for a moment and said, "But, what about the material? The education material, I mean."
"You're there," replied Hermione. "While I think you can do much better on some of the information regarding rune chains, that's mid to late fourth year, anyway. I think we can easily get you caught up to us by the time you sit your aptitude test."
"Oh,"
he
said
again.
"Well,
in
that case, thank Merlin! I thought I was going to fail it; what with having to do the Tournament, and all."
"No, we'd have never let you do that," said Daphne.
Nodding, he asked, "So, time to work on summer assignments we've already received and see how much we can get out of the way before we leave on the train?"
"Good idea," nodded Hermione, going and getting their assignments and writing material.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ready to lose yourself in an epic tale? Download the full PDF now and start reading from page one!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~