Harry Potter and the Amulet of the Moon

Chapter 15

Auror Leader

It took over an hour to sort out the prisoners. Harry, Ron, and Kingsley visited each cell; Kingsley because he knew virtually all of the real criminals, and Ron because many of those held were innocent Muggle-borns whose counterparts Ron had talked to soon after Voldemort's defeat. In all, a hundred and twenty people would be released: about eighty Muggle-born wizards, and forty wizards arrested for various political reasons. Those who were left behind loudly protested their innocence, but all were questioned by Harry, whose ability to recognize lies left him amazed by the pure creativity exhibited by those who were desperate to leave the island, even with the dementors gone. Not all the dementors have gone, Harry reminded himself; a few dozen were out at sea, and could come back. He suspected they wouldn't, but in any case, there was little he could do. Flying over the sea to hunt them down was too risky.

He expected the Weasleys to immediately go to Grimmauld Place, but to Harry's surprise, led by Molly, they chose to go to the Muggle campground Hermione had chosen as a temporary place for them to recover from their experience, away from the eyes of the wizarding world. Assisted by Bill and Fleur, Molly and Arthur would take charge of organizing living arrangements, food, and so on. Dean, Justin, and Colin would later that day use Harry's money to buy from Muggle shops enough tents to house everybody.

Draco insisted on taking his parents back to the hideout and getting them past the Fidelius Charm; Harry decided that to object would cause a great risk of fracturing his relationship with Malfoy. He did stay close to Malfoy and his parents as they entered the cave. Hermione was with him, as was Luna; Ron was with his parents, helping deal with the Muggle-borns.

In the main entrance area, there were several pieces of conjured furniture; no doubt awaiting the result of the operation, Blackstone was sitting in one of the chairs. He stood when the group came in, but didn't speak.

To Harry's surprise, Lucius addressed Blackstone with the same respect that his son did. "Mr. Blackstone," he said, "it is a pleasure to see you again..." He trailed off as his voice choked up; it seemed for a moment as if he might cry. He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I've... not yet recovered from my stay."

Blackstone took a few steps forward and extended his hand, which Malfoy shook. "I would be amazed if you had," said Blackstone gently. "I know the toll that place takes. It is very good to see you, Lucius. And how are you faring, Narcissa?"

She looked down. "I... will recover, I believe, thanks to my son and his... new friends." Harry exchanged a quick glance with Hermione; it was obviously going to take Narcissa a while to get used to the new state of things.

Blackstone nodded. "Clearly, it is helpful to be on friendly terms with the Auror Leader." He gave Harry a half-smile, letting him know that the comment, while true, was intended humorously. It was Blackstone's first attempt at humor that Harry could recall.

"Auror Leader?" repeated a baffled Lucius. "Who?"

"That would be the young Mr. Potter," responded Blackstone. Lucius turned to Harry in shock; Harry gestured to Draco, who preformed the Reveal Magic spell to show his father the symbol.

Draco spoke to his mother. "I may have been there, but it was Potter who found the spell that kills the dementors. Without that, we never could have gotten you."

A clearly humbled Narcissa turned to him. "We will be forever in your debt," she said softly. "And a wizard's debt is something we take seriously."

"Well," he admitted, "I hadn't known you were there. The main reason we went, I'm sure you know, was to get the Weasleys." He didn't want them feeling that they owed him anything.

"Your motivation does not matter," she insisted. "We still owe you our lives."

Harry suppressed a smile, recalling that in his dimension, he had resisted Narcissa's attempts to extract favors from him because she'd had other motivations for saving his life. At least now I know she wasn't lying, he thought wryly.

Malfoy looked at his parents, and from the uncharacteristically humble expression he saw, Harry knew what Malfoy was going to say. "Mother, Father... I want to apologize for getting you put in there--"

Both parents shook their heads. "You need not, Draco," said his father. "No one but the Dark Lord is responsible for what happened to us. He knew we had not betrayed him, but he did not care.

"After the events of that day, I pleaded with him to be allowed to meet with you, talk to you. He insisted that I take an Unbreakable Vow that I would, upon meeting with you, capture you and turn you over to him. Your mother and I refused to do so, and tried to change his mind. After some period of... punishment, he sent us to Azkaban. I had been there before, of course, but it is different when you are sent there by an enemy, and when you are sent there by an ally. The first time, I could focus my feelings toward resentment of those who had put me there, and know efforts would be made to release me. My purpose was unchanged. But the second time, my wife with me, the framework around which I had built my life was in ruins. There was nothing to do but suffer, and wait for the end. I did not think I would get a second chance."

He turned to Harry. "You have given me that chance." Shaking his head in wonder at the notion, he went on, "I never would have imagined that I would say this, but I thank you for your actions. I will be your faithful servant."

Taken aback, Harry shook his head. "I don't want a servant, Mr. Malfoy. But I would like an ally."

"Then you will have that." Malfoy solemnly extended a hand, which Harry shook.

"Thank you," said Harry. "Tell me, how would you feel about taking a public role in this fight?"

Draco turned on Harry angrily. "Potter! They've been out of there for what, an hour or so? Give them a chance to get over it! It's hellish in there--"

"Draco," interrupted Blackstone; Draco stopped talking immediately. "I do not think the Leader meant, this very minute. I believe I understand what Leader Potter is thinking." Turning to Harry, he said, "I gather, then, that you are ready to take the public role of Auror Leader?"

Harry nodded. "How did you know that, sir?" asked Malfoy.

"The Leader would not ask Lucius to take a public role if the Leader himself were not ready to do so as well," explained Blackstone. "I believe the Leader is thinking that when he announces himself in public as Auror Leader, if Lucius Malfoy is standing at his side, it would have a significant impact on opinion leaders within the Ministry. Is that right, Leader Potter?"

"Exactly, sir. But I just now had the idea, and the fact is, Draco is right. Mr. Malfoy should take some time to recover. I should announce myself soon, but it may be too soon for him to help." To Lucius, he added, "You should probably take a few days or a week, think it over."

Blackstone shook his head. "Leader Potter, your kindness is commendable, but your first impulse was correct. You need to think about the greater good, and here, the greater good is served by Lucius doing as you suggest. If he does not feel capable, then he will tell you, but you should at least ask it of him. You must get used to the fact that as Auror Leader, you may have to ask hard things of people."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. He wondered if too much was being made of this right now; he had intended only to sound Lucius out on the subject. "Well, I wasn't planning to do anything before the next switch, so we can both think about it."

"Actually, Leader Potter, I was planning to discuss that with you. I am given to understand that the next dimensional shift will occur shortly after one o'clock this afternoon. If a suitable opportunity can be found, I think it strongly advisable to do so before then."

Whatever the reason, Harry found he didn't like being rushed on so important a decision. "Why?"

"First of all, you have done something extremely disruptive to social norms; the dementors have been guarding Azkaban for over a century, and everyone is used to it. For this to be done by a party that does not identify itself will be unsettling to many; in fact, it is a great wrong that you have righted, but no one will be making this argument publicly. The Ministry and the Dark wizards who control it will demagogue this issue, presenting it as a threat to public safety. Those you have released will be described as hardened, violent criminals whose escape necessitates crude crackdowns and the revocation of citizens' rights. The sooner you announce yourself, the less time the Ministry has to paint your actions in this light. You can reassure the population that as Auror Leader, that you will be responsible for their security, since that is in fact your job. You do not want your opponents to have time to have an impact on public opinion. In addition, I can see no valid argument to delay this announcement. So, sooner is better."

There was silence as Harry absorbed this. As was usual when Blackstone spoke, Harry could find no flaw. Amazing, he thought. This guy is to power what Dumbledore was to magic. "You said, if an opportunity can be found. What kind of thing were you thinking about?"

"I am formulating a plan," said Blackstone. "Lucius, I believe you know Thicknesse personally. What kind of man is he?"

It was strange for Harry to spend so much time with a Lucius Malfoy who did not have the malice and arrogance of the one he used to know. This one twitched occasionally, held his wife's hand most of the time, and looked uncertain. But as he prepared to talk about something he knew about, he seemed to regain some of his confidence.

"An unremarkable man. I have never known him in a position of power, but in power, I would imagine him to be a consensus-builder, one who would be careful to... I would say, look where he leaps, but perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he would carefully map the area into which he will gently step. But power does odd things to people; even Fudge--an indecisive man if ever there was one--got used to it. To say more, I would need to know the current political situation."

Blackstone took a few minutes to get Lucius up to date. When he finished, Harry had a question. "Mr. Malfoy, is Thicknesse someone who would naturally have allied with Dark wizards? I mean, I wouldn't think so, or they wouldn't have found it necessary to put him under the Imperius Curse. Right?"

"Yes and no," replied Lucius. "I believe he was placed under the Curse because while he might not have resisted Dark control, he also would not have embraced it. He was a mainline Slytherin, and so not naturally inclined to join up. He might have done so out of fear, but he would not have been as aggressive as the Dark Lord would have wished."

"Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy," said Harry. "What do you mean, mainline?"

Draco answered before his father could. "It means, as opposed to Dark Slytherins, the type who would join the Dark Lord because they wanted to, not because it was a good idea for more power. Mainline Slytherins are the type who want power, but not by violence. Like Mr. Blackstone, for example, or like Zabini."

"I see," said Harry. Looking at his watch, he said, "Let's see, it's three o'clock now. Mr. Blackstone, what would you say about the idea that I be the person who wakes Thicknesse up this morning?

Blackstone's eyebrows went up, and he grinned a little. "I would say, Leader Potter, that it was the very plan that I have been considering." His tone made it clear that he was impressed and pleased that Harry had had the idea independently.

"Well, I must be learning, then," said Harry wryly. "But how well will that work? I mean, a few weeks ago Malfoy, I mean, Draco, was telling me that the Ministry might hesitate to join me because while I can get rid of them, what's-his-name can kill them. If he's the careful type, won't he really hesitate to ally himself with me?"

Harry expected Blackstone to answer, but Lucius did. "He will, indeed. He must be persuaded that it is in his self-interest to ally with you. The mark on your forehead will go far towards doing so, but there may be more you can do..."

* * * * *

After another hour's discussion, the meeting broke up. Harry decided to go outside for a bit of predawn fresh air. He walked a dozen meters away and sat on the ground, resting against a tree that had become his favorite.

I wish I hadn't had to become so involved in politics, he thought. It seems like once you get in, you can't get out. Of course, on my own side--if we ever get back--I'm involved in politics too, it's just more complex here because I'm not the Auror Leader, at least not yet, and Voldemort isn't dead yet.

And here I've gone and told Ron and Hermione's counterparts that I wanted their feedback on going public, and now I'll have to tell them, oops, went and did it anyway. Not that it's their decision, but still...

Now, what's the point of getting involved in politics, anyway? To affect public opinion? Put Voldemort on the defensive? I know, I know, to right what's happening to the Muggle-born. Like Ron said, it's not all about Voldemort. But politics is so unpleasant. Makes me appreciate the DA more. Good people, trying to do what's best for society, at risk to themselves. The way Blackstone talks about the Ministry people shows they're mostly thinking about their own self-interest, their little power games. Guess that's a Slytherin for you. But it's so disgusting that once I take the Imperius Curse off of Thicknesse, he may even be grateful, but he won't do the right thing just because it's right. Politicians...

Can I talk to you, said a voice in his head. Sure, he answered. He knew she would know where he was by being able to see through his eyes.

He saw her leave the cave and walk towards him; she sat on the ground across from him, less than a foot away. "I guess we have to talk," she said without preamble.

"Why?"

"Because of what I did at Azkaban. And because you didn't look happy to see me. Not that you have to, but you usually do."

He shrugged a little. "I've been very busy."

She looked disappointed. "Harry... that isn't a lie, but it's an evasion. I hope you won't do that with me. You can talk to me, you know that. And if what you need to say is that you're not happy with me, then you should say that."

He sighed; talking about his feelings had never been his strong point, but he knew he would have to. "That's not the way I would have said that. I guess I'd say that I'm... emotional about what happened. I'm thankful that you're still alive, and I was very scared when it happened. I assume that you were trying to track the one that got away the first time, with the idea that it had Malfoy's soul?"

"Not exactly," she said. "Partly. I hoped to lure it back, maybe along with some other ones. I thought I could run around, get their attention, get them to follow me, and lead them to you and the others."

Harry couldn't help but wince at the sheer riskiness and irresponsibility of what she had tried to do. "I just didn't want to say anything, because I know you got your soul taken out, and I'm sure it's terrible. I figured it would wait until we were back on the island, or later than that."

She met his eyes. "I understand that. But afterwards, when you looked at me, it was different. I want to be able to see what I usually see when I look in your eyes. So, even if it's difficult, I want to talk about it. I need your support, and if you have things you need to say and aren't saying, I can't get it."

"All right," he conceded. "The main thing I was thinking after that happened was that you probably shouldn't go on missions anymore."

She blinked in surprise. "Do you mean you think you can't trust me, even if I promised not to do anything like that again?"

"No, it's not that. If you said that, I would believe you. It's just that with you there, and in danger, it's hard for me to make decisions just as Auror Leader. Like, when we went out to sea to kill the one that had gotten your soul... I hadn't done this operation as a broom-based thing because of Neville and Hermione's lack of broom experience. I knew it was much more dangerous for them. But when the one that took your soul flew out into the sea, I didn't hesitate to order them to get brooms and join us. Neville almost fell off once, which lost us time, and we would've been overwhelmed in seconds by the ones closing in on us. But I'd already decided I wasn't moving until the one with your soul was dead.

"That wasn't the decision of an Auror Leader," he went on earnestly. "It was the decision of someone desperate to save the person he loves." She reached out and took his hand. "I risked their lives for that, and I'm not sure I'd have taken the same risks if it had been someone else's soul I was trying to save. I feel like it compromised my decision-making."

She thought for a few seconds, and responded. "Do you mean that you wouldn't have done the same thing if it had been Ron or Hermione's soul at stake?"

"Maybe," he admitted. "But I might not have if it had been Michael or Lee. And I get your point, but right now, Ron and Hermione are Aurors; you're not."

"Does that make a difference? I mean, if you would set aside your tactical judgment to save them, then they shouldn't go on missions with you either, if that's your reason for thinking I shouldn't go."

He was silent, thinking. She went on. "Honestly, I think you're confusing your reasons and your emotions. The thing I did that was wrong, strictly speaking, was go after the dementors without your permission. But the thing that you're upset about was that I almost got killed; I think you'd be a lot less bothered that I did something without permission if nothing had come of it. I hope you can separate those two things in your mind."

He knew she was right, but he felt how he felt. "I understand, but it's difficult. I'll think about it. I just had this terror that I was going to lose you. I know your terror was worse, but still..."

"I'm not sure it was worse, bad as it was," she said. "Fearing the death of the person you love is really bad, as my father can attest. And if we end up together, I'm probably going to experience that quite a lot. I wouldn't blame you; you didn't choose this, and there's not much you can do about it. But if we stay together, we have to do more than see through each other's eyes. We have to feel with each other's hearts."

Affected, he nodded. "I'll try. I've just never been very good at expressing how I feel."

She smiled. "I'll try to help you."

He smiled in return. "I'll bet you will."

They sat in silence for a minute, then the rustle of leaves indicated someone approaching; Harry looked up. "Hey, Malfoy."

"Potter," Malfoy replied in greeting. "Luna."

"Pull up a chair," said Harry humorously, gesturing to the ground. Malfoy rolled his eyes and sat.

"Didn't want to interrupt you two."

"It's okay. What is it?"

Uncomfortably, Malfoy said to Luna, "First, I wanted to thank you for what you did. I'm told that you chased after my soul even though it didn't occur to the Auror Leader here."

"You're very welcome. And as for the other thing, don't blame him. I am a Ravenclaw, after all."

Harry and Malfoy both chuckled. "I'll keep it in mind," said Malfoy. "And about you, Potter... by the way, did you know that Mr. Blackstone is telling me that I should, when talking to you, refer to you as 'Leader Potter'?"

Harry laughed out loud. "It wouldn't sound right."

Grinning, Malfoy responded, "That's almost exactly what I said. It's hard enough to keep the word 'idiot' out of every sentence."

"You don't have to stand on ceremony with me," joked Harry, knowing Malfoy was kidding.

"Well, anyway... I did want to say that I shouldn't have jumped on you for what you said about my father helping. Both he and Mr. Blackstone said later that we have to do what we have to do, even if it isn't very comfortable, and you've had to do much harder things than that."

Harry grunted. "That's the kind of thing I'd really rather not think about."

"I wasn't actually thinking about the Auror Leader test, but I guess that too," agreed Malfoy. "I'd guess that's pretty nasty."

"Not to whine, but 'traumatic' would be the word I'd use," said Harry. "If I had to pick between that and Azkaban for six months, I'd really have to think about it. They're both awful. I guess it'd be a matter of whether you want your pain in a concentrated burst, or spread out over time.

"But I wouldn't worry about it, Malfoy. I know Blackstone and your father are right, but one reason I backed off was that I think you were right, too. I threw a fit right after the test, and basically ran away for a few months. Different situation, but I can see why you'd want him left alone. Believe me, I don't want to use him unless I have to."

"I know. But I have to admit, it was a good idea. I'm pretty sure my father always intimidated Thicknesse, so him and the Auror Leader telling him what to do will be a big push. Oh, that reminds me, there was something I wanted to ask you. After you announce, maybe in the next switch, I'd like you to help us get Malfoy Manor back. Since a Death Eater puppet won't be controlling the Ministry anymore, we'll have the law on our side again. We could do it without you, of course, but it would be long and tedious."

"Hmmm... I'm inclined to do it, but I'd rather not give a firm answer until the next switch, and after talking to your father. There would be more risk than last time--not a lot, but some--since this time we wouldn't have a pair of eyes already there. I just have to weigh the risk, make sure it's okay. I assume you'd come with me."

"Of course," agreed Malfoy. "Okay, I'll let you think about it. I'm going to go take a nap, all this switching really messes up my schedule."

"Sorry," said Harry facetiously as Malfoy got up. He spent another few minutes with Luna before going back into the cave.

* * * * *

Harry knew where to Apparate into the Ministry; Thicknesse's sleeping location and the extent of his magical protection had been secret before Voldemort's death, but after the Ministry in his own dimension was cleared of Dark influence, his Kingsley had known it well, and informed Harry a few switches ago in case he wanted to do what he was doing. Harry also knew there would be Auror guards, but he was surprised that they were two Aurors he'd interacted with in the Auror Leader test.

In a room that served as the last one an intruder would have to get past to get at the Minister, there was a large magical field, an X shape that went from corner to corner, the two lines meeting in the middle of the room, about two feet off the ground. Standing with their backs to the door were Melanie Frommant and Paul Hedghorn. He knew where the field would be, and Apparated in across the room from the two Aurors. He didn't use the Cloak.

Startled by the Apparition sound, both drew their wands. "Drop your wand!" shouted Frommant.

"My wand's not pointed at you, and it won't be unless you get hostile," replied Harry. "I need to talk to you for a minute."

"I don't care if you're really Harry Potter," said Hedghorn, voice raised to nearly a shout. "When an Auror tells you to drop your wand, you drop your wand!"

"And when the Auror Leader tells you he wants to talk to you, you talk to him," responded Harry.

"Hah!" responded Hedghorn derisively. "What drugs are you on, Potter?"

"Wish I was, Hedghorn. It's the sad truth. Check if you want."

Apparently surprised that Harry knew his name, Hedghorn exchanged a glance with Frommant. He took a few steps forward and pointed his wand at Harry's forehead, but instead of a Reveal spell, he sent a low-power Stunner.

His sense of knowing when about to be attacked having told him, Harry darted away while sending a Freezing spell at Hedghorn, who went motionless, then toppled over to one side. Frommant was still pointing her wand at Harry, but he could sense that she wasn't ready to attack yet.

Annoyed, he addressed Hedghorn's prone form, knowing he could be heard. "I said check, you idiot, not Stun! We're going to have to have a talk about this later. Not the way to get off on the right foot with the new boss." He turned to Frommant, who appeared to be contemplating the possibility that Harry was telling the truth. "How about you, Mel? Are you going to give me a chance?"

Neither checking nor attacking, she looked at him quizzically. "We've never met, but you really sound like you know me."

"We met in the Auror Leader test," he said somberly. "I liked you, you were very nice, and helpful."

She gestured to her comrade on the floor. "How about him?"

"He spent all his time insulting people, trying to get a rise out of them."

"Well, you really appear to know him," she grinned. "All right, then." She did the Reveal spell, and had the usual reaction. "I don't believe it," she whispered to herself.

He crossed the room to stand across from her, putting up a temporary shield to protect himself as he crossed the magical field in the middle of the room. "Well, it seems like you do. I know this is all very sudden, Mel, but I'm here for a reason. I need to see the Minister."

"Why?"

"Well, first, to take the Imperius Curse off of him--"

"He's not under the Curse! We'd know if he was!"

"Yeah, I heard Yaxley did a good job. But he is, I'll be able to confirm it when I get in there. Anyway, first do that, then talk to him, and offer him the chance to ally himself with the new Auror Leader. It seems only polite," he added with a light shrug.

She hesitated. "I really don't know if I should let you in there."

He knew he had to assert his authority. "Mel, I'm the Auror Leader. You don't have much choice. But if you want, I could overpower you," he joked.

She raised an eyebrow. "I don't think you could overpower me."

"Oh, I could. Why don't you ask Horny here."

She grinned. "I suppose it's the first time his nickname is appropriate, since he is completely stiff right now."

Harry chuckled. "That's the kind of joke he'd appreciate. That reminds me, did you hear the one about Fudge and Thicknesse?"

She winced, with humorous exaggeration. "Of course, everyone was telling it. It's disgusting."

"Yes, it is. But still kind of funny. So, you going to let me in?"

She thought it over for a few seconds, but he knew by her face that she would follow him. "Tell me, what happened to me, in the test?"

"You died in action. Very bravely."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. Who killed me?"

Harry tried not to look at Hedghorn. "I don't know how accurate the test is when it picks a villain, so I shouldn't say."

She grunted. "Probably him," she said, glancing down at Hedghorn. Harry tried not to respond as she opened the door to the Minister's temporary quarters.

"You know he can hear you, right?"

"It's not the worst thing I've ever said about him, believe me." As they walked into what served as the living room, she lowered her voice. "I've read that Auror Leaders have special powers. Is that true?"

"I'm here, aren't I?"

She gave him a small grin, understanding that he wasn't going to talk about it. "Will you be able to get rid of the Imperius Curse?"

"I'm pretty sure I can. I hope he's still asleep, it should make things easier."

Opening the bedroom door noiselessly with the aid of magic, Harry saw the man sleeping on the bed. He appeared to be in his late fifties, with black hair that was no doubt colored. He looked at the man's head, and saw the intricate magic that Yaxley had managed to perform in such a way that it did not easily dissipate. It took Harry only a minute to get rid of it; he reflected that it would have been much harder without the ability to see magic, and in any case, it was always easier to destroy than to create.

Harry motioned for Frommant to leave the room, and he did as well. When they were out, he knocked loudly. "Just a minute," he heard from inside; he imagined that Thicknesse was putting on a robe. No doubt believing the visitor was one of the two Aurors, he opened the door casually. His sleepy expression turned to shock when he saw Harry. "You're..."

"Harry Potter, yes. And you're no longer under the Imperius Curse."

Thicknesse seemed further shocked as it dawned on him. "Merlin... it's like waking from a dream, a terrible dream..." Eyes wide, he looked at Harry. "You did this?"

"I removed it, yes. I'm sorry, Minister, but there are some things I need to talk to you about. I know this is all very sudden. Can we sit down?"

Shaken, Thicknesse nodded, and they sat in chairs in the living room. "How did you get past my protection?"

"There's a story, but I'll tell you the important thing first. I'm now the Auror Leader, so they had no choice but to let me through."

They went through the familiar pattern: surprise, a check, an explanation. Harry went on to explain what had happened several hours earlier at Azkaban. "I'm going to announce that I'm Auror Leader very soon," he concluded. "By noon today, is the plan. It occurred to me that it would be a good thing if you were there with me."

Thicknesse shook his head, as if it was too much to process. "Mr. Potter, I have my own mind back for the first time in... I suppose it's been months. I'd like the opportunity to think about things before making such big decisions."

Harry had been prepared for that answer. "I see. Well, if you'll excuse me, sir, I think you need to hear from an associate of mine." He stood and Disapparated, then reappeared several seconds later holding the arm of Lucius Malfoy. Thicknesse recoiled slightly. "I believe you know Mr. Malfoy."

Lucius smiled; a polite smile that looked friendly but behind which a threat seemed to be lurking. Harry understood that Lucius was putting on his political face, and that face contained Lucius's understanding of political power: unnerve your adversaries. If they fear you, all the better. Harry was, he knew, using Lucius's reputation to his own benefit. Society's benefit, he corrected himself. "Minister," said Lucius.

"Lucius," replied Thicknesse, struggling to regain his equanimity. "You're with Potter?"

"I am pleased to assist Leader Potter as he begins to repair the damage that has been done to our society," responded Lucius. "We both hope that you will join us in this effort."

"I see... forgive me, but Lucius, were you not one of the ones who was assisting the Dark Lord in causing this damage?"

His expression not changing, Lucius nodded. "I have had a change of heart, shall we say. The best way to make up for my actions is to help clean up their consequences, and the best way to do that is to help the Leader. I would think this would be the case for you as well."

"I was under the Imperius Curse, Lucius," protested Thicknesse. "I did not have any choice."

"So, now that you are not, you will assist us?"

"As I was telling Mr. Potter, I have had the Imperius Curse lifted for the first time in months. I would like a chance to recover before making any important decisions."

Lucius's tone became harder. "I have spent the last several months in Azkaban, Minister, which I assure you makes the Imperius Curse look like heaven by comparison. I was only released hours ago. I have suffered much, but I am here, trying to help. Surely you can do the same."

"I will not be rushed, Lucius," insisted Thicknesse, with surprising backbone, considering that moments ago he had seemed afraid of Lucius. Harry wondered if that fear was lessened by the knowledge that Lucius was no longer working for Voldemort.

Harry decided to try again. "Minister, do you want to see the Dark Lord defeated?"

Thicknesse paused, which was all the answer Harry needed. "Yes, I do," he said. Harry could tell that it was the truth, but not the complete truth; a more honest answer would have been, 'Yes, as long as I come out of it all right.'

"But I don't yet know what is the best way to accomplish that," Thicknesse went on. "I really do not think it is asking too much to take some time to consider this question."

"Well, I'm announcing by noon," said Harry. "I'm sorry, but I can't give you any more time than that. If you haven't decided, I'll do it by myself. And... just in case this matters in your decision-making, there are currently some Death Eaters working in the Ministry. Six, I think it was. By noon today, they'll be gone."

Thicknesse's eyebrows went high. "Where will they have gone?"

"That, sir, is my responsibility," replied Harry. "Minister, the Auror Leader is responsible for all matters relating to security and the Aurors. I'm answerable to no one, including the Minister. I'll do what I think is best to protect society. In peaceful times, the Leader doesn't take such an active public role, since it's not so necessary. In dangerous times, his role is much more active, and his power is as well. This is one of the most dangerous times imaginable, and I'll do anything I have to do to keep society safe. Those six are standing in the way of that, and so they'll soon be gone. I'm sure you understand why it has to be that way."

He had meant for the threat to be subtle, but he saw from Thicknesse's eyes that it was clearly understood. Obviously unnerved, Thicknesse nevertheless asked, "Why don't you make the Dark Lord gone in the same way you will these six?"

"Because I don't know where he is," replied Harry calmly. "If I did, I would."

"It would be that easy?" asked Thicknesse doubtfully.

"No, not that easy," admitted Harry. "But I'm sure you know the prophecy. I'm the one who can beat him, and I will."

"I'm not sure I believe in prophecies," countered Thicknesse. Harry's sense told him it was a lie; Thicknesse apparently wanted to be reassured that he would end up on the winning side.

Lucius apparently understood this as well. "Minister, you should understand this clearly. The Auror Leader is not requesting that you ally with him. He is offering you the chance to ally with him. He will control the Aurors, and he will have the hearts of the people. You would do well to listen to him."

"It would be better for me if you joined me," added Harry, "because then the government would be working as one, in a positive direction. I don't want to have to fight the Ministry at the same time I fight the Dark Lord. But I will if I have to, and if you've read history, Auror Leaders tend to come out on the winning end of things like this.

"Now, if you don't join me today, it's not the end of the world. Assuming you don't oppose me, you can still join later, and it'll be better than nothing. But--and I'm not a politician, and I don't mean to tell you your business--the later you join, the more it looks like an act of political calculation. I wouldn't want to go down in history as having put my political interests ahead of the safety of the people. But that's just me. Anyway... if I don't hear by eleven that you've scheduled a speech at noon, I'll make my own arrangements. Good day, Minister."

He gestured to Malfoy, who picked up the Portkey and disappeared; Harry deactivated and Summoned it as he strode out of the room, leaving behind a stunned Thicknesse.

Frommant and a recovered Hedghorn were in position on the other side of the door. He looked at both. "I'd like to get all the Aurors together, as soon as possible."

* * * * *

One hour later, he was back at the cave, in the meeting room. "How'd it go?" asked Ron.

"They were pretty surprised," replied Harry, "but they're on board. A couple asked to duel with me, and I beat them. That helped convince people."

"I'll bet," agreed Ron. "But I remember that on our side, some of the Aurors got corrupted by the Dark wizards. Has there been enough time for that to happen yet?"

"Our Kingsley said that a few had by this point, but not irretrievably. I did mention it. Basically I said that I knew some of that had happened, and if anyone had anything they wanted to confess, they should owl me and I'd meet them privately. If someone should have confessed and doesn't, well, I'll figure out what to do later on."

"I assume you'll fire them," said Malfoy, as if it were obvious.

"Probably. They don't know I have the benefit of knowing what had happened on the other side. Which reminds me, I have to make sure that everyone who knows about the switching knows how top secret it is. Now that I'm going to be out as Auror Leader, that being known could really undermine my authority."

"I'm not so sure it would, actually," mused Kingsley. "Maybe a little, but you're still Harry Potter, and still the Auror Leader. Would it matter so much that it didn't happen in this dimension? It's hard to know for sure, since this is so unprecedented. But you passed, that's the point. One important thing is that if you're found out, if someone confronts you with it, don't lie or be evasive. Your answer should be along the lines of 'so what?'"

Harry nodded. "I understand. Anyway, I told them they're not to follow any instructions that the Head of the Auror Office tries to give them, or of course, anyone from the Ministry. And they're to take into custody anyone who they know or suspect has ties to Death Eaters, except for the six I'll be taking care of myself later.

"Now, the next mission is for me alone, but I'd like some advice before I go..."

* * * * *

This time, Harry entered Hogwarts through the main entrance of the castle, having Apparated onto the grounds. He was no more than a dozen strides into the castle when he heard a voice. "Potter!"

Filch was walking toward him from the side. Harry studiously ignored him and continued walking. "Potter, stop right there. You're not supposed to be here."

Without breaking stride, Harry pointed his wand at Filch and, pointing at Filch's feet, used the spell Hermione had found a few months ago that slowed down the victim of the spell substantially. "Potter!" Filch sputtered helplessly as Harry walked ahead and turned a corner. Never quite realized how much I disliked him, thought Harry.

Approaching the gargoyles, Harry decided he wouldn't bother trying to guess the password; instead, he Apparated past them and continued walking. Reaching the headmaster's office door, he decided to knock rather than just barge in.

The door opened, and he found Snape behind the headmaster's desk, with McGonagall sitting opposite him. McGonagall's eyes went wide, but Snape appeared unsurprised. "I am busy, Mr. Potter," said Snape, as though dealing with an unimportant annoyance. "You will have to come back later."

Harry chuckled as he entered the office. "Yeah, I don't think so." To McGonagall, he said, "Hello, Professor. It's good to see you."

"How did you get in here?" she asked in amazement.

"Mr. Potter," said Snape disdainfully, "has always excelled at getting into places he should not be. Since he apparently will not wait, Professor, would you excuse us?"

Looking at Snape, then Harry, then Snape again, she finally got up, and wordlessly left. Snape looked up at Harry expectantly. He didn't offer Harry a seat, and Harry didn't take one. "I see you took my advice about coming up with something creative," observed Snape dryly.

"Yeah. Well, it was partly your saying that that got me thinking along those lines. Anyway, I've also decided to take your advice, and come out as Auror Leader. I'll be announcing it around noon today."

Snape had no particular reaction. "And you are telling me this because..."

"I plan to announce that I'm putting Hogwarts under my protection."

At this, Snape raised an eyebrow. "The governors have lawful authority."

Harry grinned. "And here I thought you never had a sense of humor," he responded airily. "Talking about what's lawful when what's-his-name controlled the government is pretty humorous. As you know, as Auror Leader, I have a wide latitude when it comes to protecting society. I'll say publicly--and it'll be true--that the governors failed in their responsibility when they installed a headmaster who condoned torture of students, and for the students' protection, it's necessary for me to ensure Hogwarts' security."

"If you are Auror Leader," responded Snape, "you need not take specific control over Hogwarts. Hogwarts can simply operate as it has before, with no outside interference."

"Well, normally, that would be true," agreed Harry. "But the problem is, there was torture--"

"You would do well," replied Snape with a mild sneer, "to refrain from harping on that one subject. It is not important in the scheme of things."

With a large effort, Harry bit back the replies that came to his mind, mostly variations on the notion that Snape would probably think torture more important if it were happening to him. It was important that the conversation not get sidetracked.

"Since there was torture," Harry continued, "and since I've already made a big deal out of it--which, as far as I'm concerned, was totally the right thing to do--the governors are ultimately responsible, so I can't very well just let them continue running things. I have to take responsibility for it myself."

"If the governors are unacceptable, given their complicity in allowing torture, then surely the headmaster is even more responsible. Are you planning on taking over as headmaster as well?" asked Snape sardonically.

Harry had thought this over back at the cave, and discussed it with the others, especially Blackstone. Ideally, he would prefer Snape gone, but he knew Snape had value in that he had Voldemort's confidence. If Harry tried to push Snape out, Snape's reaction would be unpredictable, and very possibly strongly affected by his personal issues with Harry, or rather, James Potter. Harry didn't want a repeat of what had happened last time. Snape might threaten to reveal that Harry wasn't from this dimension, or to withhold support from their cause unless he approved of whatever action was taken regarding Hogwarts.

"No, I'm not," Harry answered. "Here's the bottom line for me: that Hogwarts goes back to being the kind of school it was before the Scrimegour government fell. No torture, no Dark wizard teachers teaching that Muggles are vermin, that kind of thing. Now, there are any number of ways that that might happen, and a lot of factors involved. What's best for the school, what's best politically, what's best in the fight against what's-his-name.

"Those issues are very complex, and I'm not sure I'm the best person to work them through." As he spoke, he took three small objects--no longer than a hairpin, and almost as thin--out of his pockets and tossed them onto the floor. They were mini-Portkeys, set to activate on impact with the ground. "So, I've decided to have a few associates do this instead of me."

Snape had reached for his wand when he saw what Harry was doing, but his alarm turned to surprise when he saw the three men suddenly appear: Draco and Lucius Malfoy, and Blackstone. "Sorry for the unexpected intrusion," Harry went on. "I would've asked, but you tend to reflexively say 'no' to anything I ask, and I really wanted them here."

Snape looked at Harry as if the Portkeys had brought the wrong people, and Harry hadn't recognized it. "You want these gentlemen to represent you," he said, seemingly trying to keep his incredulity under control.

"That's right. I'd like them to work out with you how things are going to go forward from here." Harry started towards the door.

Apparently still startled, Snape looked at Harry, then back at the others. "Why? Why not do this yourself?" Snape's tone was almost hostile.

"I think we both know the answer to that, Professor," said Harry. "It's better this way." He turned and left.

* * * * *

"That was fast," commented Ron as Harry Apparated into the sleeping quarters the three shared in the cave, where Ron and Hermione were talking.

"Like I said, I didn't plan on staying long."

"Like you said? Harry, she and I weren't in that meeting for long, remember? It was just you, talking with the Aurors and the Slytherins. She and I have been working on what to do with the Ministry Death Eaters you're going to bring us."

"Yeah, I forgot, sorry."

"So, how'd it go?"

"As you said, I wasn't gone long, so I'll find out when the Malfoys and Blackstone get back. They came by Portkey, and they're going to negotiate with Snape on my behalf."

"Bet that surprised Snape," grinned Ron.

"You could say that," agreed Harry.

"Was that because it was mostly political matters," asked Hermione, "or because Snape can't deal with you without irrational anger?"

"Both, but mostly the second one. I mean, he was talking with McGonagall when I came in, and he tried to make me come back later. It was all I could do to pretend I wasn't annoyed. I came this close to telling him that I'd already made the appointment, and his secretary must have forgotten to tell him."

Hermione smiled a little. "Better that you didn't. So, I guess this means the Malfoys and Blackstone know what you want, and you'll go along with whatever they agree to?"

"As long as it's within the parameters I told them, yes. Just the way things used to be is fine. I told them I'd rather Snape was gone as headmaster, but not to push too hard for that if they think it'll push Snape over the edge. I know that if I'd tried to push him out, he'd have made any kind of threat he could think of. I still have hope that his being a spy could be of use to us."

"Hasn't yet," muttered Ron.

"No, it hasn't," agreed Harry. "Of course, on our side he did the thing that helped me find the Gryffindor sword, but here that's not an issue, since we have the basilisk fangs. Who knows if he's going to be of any help in killing what's-his-name or not, but at least it's possible."

"Did you mean Snape shouldn't be headmaster," asked Hermione, "or that he shouldn't be at Hogwarts at all?"

"The ideal thing from my point of view is that he stays at Hogwarts, but isn't headmaster anymore. The problem is that from a public point of view, it makes sense that he be held responsible for the torture, but realistically, he couldn't do much about it. I'd rather he wasn't headmaster for appearances' sake, but if he resisted, he'd have a good argument. Mainly, I'd like him to explain to those three why he should stay as headmaster. He'd never be willing to explain it to me."

Ron sighed. "Amazing, that he can't even deal with you. But I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, considering how he was with you when we were at Hogwarts. So, you're off to the Ministry now?"

Harry nodded. "Just have to take the Polyjuice Potion so I can walk around the Ministry inconspicuously. That'll be fun."

"Do you have to?" asked Ron. "Wouldn't the Cloak be enough?"

"It's too crowded," pointed out Hermione. "It'd be too easy for someone to bump into him. Be sure to talk to Luna before you go, of course," she added to Harry.

"Of course, I was just going to. She'll be watching the whole time, and Kingsley and Tonks will be here as well. But I'll be fine, I'm sure."

* * * * *

An hour later, his mission accomplished, he returned to the cave. Ron, Hermione, Dean, and Justin were taking care of the captives, getting ready to deposit them into the Muggle world. Harry spent about ten minutes in his room with Luna, after which Malfoy stuck his head in. "Potter, we're back."

Harry stood and followed him to the meeting room, where he found Lucius and Blackstone. "How'd it go?"

Blackstone shook his head in wonderment. "I have seen a lot, Leader Potter, but seldom have I seen such unreasoning hatred as I saw Professor Snape display toward you. It was quite remarkable."

"Well, I'm used to it," said Harry casually. "I guess it was a good idea for it to be you three instead of me. But I am a little surprised that he said something that made it so clear."

"Oh, he did not," replied Blackstone. "You see, my ability registers power, but I have learned to recognize other emotions by their power signature. Love, for example, has a distinct signature. It causes more vulnerability in one sense, but more confidence in another. Hatred has its own unique signature, and I saw it strongly every time your name was mentioned. I coped with this by making a few mildly derogatory references to you--nothing too obvious, of course--so he would feel that I had a low estimation of your abilities but was forced to deal with you out of necessity."

Harry nodded. "So he'd be more favorably inclined toward you, and be more agreeable to a deal."

"Yes, exactly," said Blackstone. "Even so, he insisted that some details of our conversation remain confidential; it was clear that this was only in order to keep them from you. What was decided was that he would agree to step down as headmaster."

Harry's eyebrows went high. "How did you persuade him of that?"

"I pointed out, with Lucius's support, that the Dark Lord would find it peculiar if Snape were to remain headmaster after your having taken over the school. I also let it be known that you were not insisting on his removal, that his remaining headmaster was an option. I am certain that had you not allowed that option, he would have insisted on staying. My senses told me clearly that anything you demanded, he would adamantly refuse. It was wise of you to have us negotiate in your place. In addition, he demanded that your firing of him not be in person, and that you not mention his name or blame him in your speech later for the torture that occurred at Hogwarts. I told him that we would persuade you to do as he wished." Shaking his head slightly in wonder, he added, "I sensed that he would have preferred that I demand it of you rather than persuade you, but he declined to say such a thing."

"Well, the result is the important thing," said Harry. "Thank you all for your help. Now, any advice about the speech?"

Blackstone shook his head. "I do not think we could have any positive recommendations in this area. Your job will be to rally the people, to convince them of the rightness of your cause, and that your cause is their cause. Though actually, as a practical matter, I would recommend you not emphasizing too strongly the plight of the Muggle-born. As we have seen recently, many were willing to look the other way as they were persecuted. What you are doing will bring some danger to the population, and it would be better if they did not think that their danger was brought on solely to protect the Muggle-born. I can see that you do not like this, but it would be prudent, and probably beneficial to our cause."

"Well, I don't know," responded Harry. "On our side, Ron did say that a lot of the Muggle-borns were told by wizarding friends that they felt bad, and ashamed, of what happened to them. Isn't it possible that most people--I mean, those who aren't actively prejudiced against Muggle-borns--will be happy to support the fact that this helps them?"

"Maybe during the speech," said Malfoy doubtfully, "but afterwards, if there's a body count, it'll seem like too high a price to pay."

"Won't opposing him, period, have seemed like too high a price to pay if there starts to be a body count?" countered Harry.

Malfoy shrugged. "For some people, yes," he admitted. "All I'm saying is that Mr. Blackstone's point is that you get some short-term benefit at a possibly higher long-term cost. You may not be able to keep the population as united if this was a big part of the rationale."

He means, the mainline Slytherins won't be with me, thought Harry. I wonder if I was going to have them anyway, since all they want is to end up on the right side. "Well, I'll think about it," he said.

He turned to leave, but Lucius stopped him. "One more thing, Leader Potter."

Lucius explained what he had in mind as Harry's eyes went wide. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" he exclaimed. "You're already in huge danger as it is!"

A corner of Lucius's mouth turned up. "You, my son, and I have one thing in common; there is little we could do to increase the Dark Lord's desire to see us dead, so high is that desire now. I do not see that I have a great deal to lose."

"But... shouldn't you rest, after what you've been through?"

"I rested far too much in Azkaban. When talking to Thicknesse and Snape, I realized... it feels good to act, to do something. I will rest later, I assure you."

Harry looked at Blackstone; even though the man had no eyes, he had spent enough time around Blackstone to understand his muted facial expressions. This one seemed to be saying that Harry was worrying too much. "Okay," he said. "I'm going to go talk to Ron and Hermione about what I'm going to say."

* * * * *

At a quarter after eleven, Kingsley told Harry that word had come from high in the Ministry that there was to be a major speech in the large open area of Diagon Alley at noon. Wow, he decided to take my side after all, thought Harry. Didn't think he'd really do it.

At eleven-thirty he again asked Hermione what time the switch back was, and again was told it was one twenty-two. He resolved to look at his watch once in a while, and urged both Ron and Hermione to get him off the stage if for whatever reason he wasn't off it by one o'clock. He knew there was no way he could talk for that long, but still...

The time finally came, and at five minutes to twelve he, Luna, Ron, and Hermione Apparated to the third floor of a building whose window overlooked the open square; the room had been cleared by Aurors in preparation for their arrival. Nice to finally have the Aurors on my side, he thought.

The area was rapidly filling up, and he expected that it would continue to do so; he could see streams of people emerging from the public fireplaces, as well as many Apparating in. As twelve o'clock approached, Harry wondered why Thicknesse hadn't taken the stage.

Kingsley walked into the room. "One of Thicknesse's aides told me that the Minister was detained on important matters, and would likely appear at the rally late," he reported with a dour expression.

"What could have happened?" asked Hermione with mild anxiety.

"Nothing happened, Hermione," said Ron in annoyance, which Harry understood was not directed at Hermione. "That's Thicknesse's way of saying, 'I'll join you later if I judge that you have enough popular support to make it worth my while.'" He glanced at Kingsley for confirmation.

Kingsley nodded. "Took the words out of my mouth."

Harry couldn't help but chuckle. "I love politicians sooo much..."

Luna spoke. "I suspect he'll end up wishing that he'd joined you earlier rather than later."

Harry smiled. "Thank you for the support."

"You're welcome," she said. "Here's some more." She walked up to him and kissed him briefly but energetically. After it ended, he smiled at her again, then at the others, and Disapparated.

He was suddenly on the stage, at which a podium and a magical microphone had already been set up. A gasp worked its way through the crowd as people noticed and recognized him.

"Hello, everyone, thanks for coming out here today. I'm Harry Potter. As most of you know, I've been sought by the government for a while. I've more or less been in hiding, with my friends, doing what I can to fight the darkness that's been settling over our society. I'm sure most of you have noticed it. Many of us would rather not face it, as Minister Fudge did not at first want to face it when the darkness returned over two years ago. But the fact is that unless we want to lose our freedom, we have no choice but to deal with this.

"If you look to either side and the back of the crowd, you'll see some Aurors on duty. These Aurors have been under orders from the Ministry to apprehend me, as the Dark government claimed that I had committed crimes. They called me Undesirable No. 1. Well, from their point of view, I'm about to get a lot more undesirable. Kingsley?"

Kingsley Apparated to the stage a few feet away from Harry. "Kingsley Shacklebolt, an Auror, is going to do a Reveal Magic spell on me, and display the results, magnified, in the air above us." Kingsley did, and the resulting gasps dwarfed the original ones that had been heard when he was first seen on the stage.

"For those who don't know, that symbol is the symbol of the Auror Leader. I have taken, and passed, the test to be Auror Leader. The Auror Leader has total control over the Aurors and all matters related to public safety. I'm not authorized to tell you the details of this test, but I can say that you don't pass it unless you've shown that you're willing to lay down your life, and the lives of those closest to you, if necessary to protect society. So few people pass this test because, as you can imagine, it is excruciating. I've never been accused of being a coward, but to be honest, if I'd known what it involved, I'd have hesitated. After taking the test, I had to take some time to recover.

"The reason I tell you that is to assure you that I'll do everything I can to fight the darkness that has come to our society. And the way to begin this fight is to say the name that we have become afraid to say. My fellow citizens, it was two and a half years ago that Voldemort"--there was another large gasp--"returned from near-death, and it was six months ago that Voldemort, through his agents, seized control of the Ministry of Magic, putting the Minister under the Imperius Curse."

There were suddenly several Apparition sounds, and off to the left of the stage suddenly appeared five Snatchers, who appeared startled at the event they were witnessing. "The men who just appeared are known as Snatchers," said Harry, keeping his eye on them, and his hand not far from his wand. "They are hired by those loyal to Voldemort, to apprehend and punish anyone who dares to say their leader's name." Turning to them, his voice taking on a light mocking tone, he asked, "Would you like to try to apprehend me? Frankly, I wouldn't if I were you."

They exchanged uncertain glances; finally, one shouted, "Get him!"

Several fired at Harry, who had already ordered the Aurors not to interfere if such a thing happened. He Disapparated out of the way, ending up behind them, and shot off two Freezing spells in quick succession. Darting away from the other three as they fired again, he fired a Stunner, followed by the spell he'd learned from Takenaka in Japan. He now blocked incoming spells as one stumbled from the Stunner, and the slower spell finally hit its mark, causing its victim to spin uncontrollably, fortuitously sending him sprawling into the man next to him; both hit the ground hard. The man who'd been on the receiving end of the Stunner, which he'd managed to only partly block, took a look at the current turn of events and promptly Disapparated. Harry quickly wrapped the two on the ground in ropes, then took the stage again.

"Now, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted..."

He'd meant to get a small laugh, but following the laugh was applause, small at first but gradually increasing, finally reaching a high point at which it seemed that the entire crowd was applauding and cheering loudly. He let it continue for a half a minute, then held up his hands with palms facing out. The applause slowly diminished.

"Thank you, but to be honest, those were not exactly the world's greatest duelists they sent out for that," he said dryly, to more laughter. "I think any Auror would be able to do that.

"As I was saying, the government we've been living under for the past six months has been controlled by Voldemort and those loyal to him. We've all seen the signs. The Daily Prophet has been turned into a hateful form of government propaganda, those of less than pure birth have been persecuted, over a hundred people guilty of no crime but opposing this government have been shipped off to Azkaban, dozens of innocent students at Hogwarts have been tortured, and the vile dementors enforce the will of those in power. This is not the wizarding society that I've lived in since I was eleven. This is not the wizarding society that I'm proud to be a member of. This is not the wizarding society that years ago so many, including my parents, fought and died to protect! And this is definitely not the wizarding society that will be here when Voldemort is finally disposed of once and for all!"

Excited cheers and applause spontaneously rang out from the still-increasing crowd. The last section of the speech was the one he'd written ahead of time, with help from Ron and Hermione.

Now that they were excited, it was the time to tell them about the hard part. "This must be done, but it will not be easy. You see, this time around, Voldemort has been operating differently than he did seventeen years ago when he was finally stopped not by a baby, but by the magical protection given to that baby by the love of a mother who died to protect him.

"At that time, he and his followers were killing freely, using the Dark Mark to sow fear and terror. This time, he operated differently. Since returning, he has been careful to keep a low profile, not drawing attention to himself. A year and a half ago, when Cornelius Fudge saw Voldemort with his own eyes, he told the rest of society, and Voldemort went deeper into hiding. He wanted people to forget what Fudge had said. Finally, he took over the government, but still drew no attention to himself. He would have slowly wrapped his tentacles all around the Ministry, then eventually emerged, his grip on our society unshakable.

"So, we now have a choice. We can passively allow him to take control over our society because we don't want to fight him. Or, we can fight, knowing it won't be easy to defeat him. Once he discovers that his hold over the Ministry has gone, he'll see no reason to remain in hiding. He'll come out, and he won't be subtle about it. He'll kill, he'll terrorize, he'll leave the Dark Mark. Some people will lose loved ones, as I did. Some people will say, why didn't Potter leave well enough alone? Nobody was dying before.

"Well, this is our choice. Peaceful and safe slavery, or a dangerous fight to restore freedom. But I really believe we will win in the end. Why do I think so? For a few reasons. One is that Auror Leaders have a history of bringing society together. If we look at history, no Auror Leader who faced a challenge to society's safety has ever failed to lead them through it successfully. I don't intend to be the first." This drew strong applause.

"The second reason I'm sure we'll succeed is this, a prophecy given eighteen years ago, a prophecy that the late Professor Dumbledore strongly believed was true." He pointed his wand, and his memory of the prophecy appeared in the air for all to hear and see. He could tell by the reactions that people were impressed.

"The prophecy said that I would have 'powers the Dark Lord knows not.' What power is that? I can't be sure. Perhaps the power to become Auror Leader, which stems from a willingness to make great sacrifices. Voldemort could never in a million years understand that, since to him, his own power is the beginning and the end of the meaning of life. He can never understand love, fellowship, sacrifice, friendship, the things that make life worth living. His is a barren existence, measured only by how much he can exert his will, how much he can make others suffer. We must do anything and everything to prevent that from becoming our reality. Now, before I continue, I would like to introduce someone who has lived in that reality, and has turned his back on it."

Harry stepped away from the microphone, and Apparating into the spot in front of it was Lucius Malfoy; this also drew gasps from the crowd.

Malfoy spoke loudly and confidently. "My name is Lucius Malfoy, and until six months ago, I served the Dark Lord. At that time, my actions displeased him, and I was viciously tortured and placed into Azkaban. That was, in fact, no less than I deserved--not for betraying him, but for betraying you. I now want nothing more than to make restitution for those actions. Even if I die in the attempt to bring down the Dark Lord, it will have been worth the price.

"I can make no excuses for my actions. I fell in with the Dark Lord while still a schoolboy, attracted by his charisma and power. To be in his circle, one had to be willing to do anything he asked, no matter how black or evil, and there were many who were willing. I regret that I was one, and I urge all parents to do all they can to prevent such a thing from happening to their children. The Dark Arts can be seductive, their true cost hidden from view until one has traveled so far down the path that he cannot return.

"The time I spent in Azkaban broke me, and made me finally face the tragic toll of my life. Death there would have been most welcome. But less than twenty-four hours ago I, and others, were brought out of that terrible place by Leader Potter and his friends. I feel I have been given a second chance, and I wish for nothing more than to be of what service I can to the Auror Leader and to the cause for which he will lead us." Also drawing healthy applause, he stepped away from the microphone and gestured to Harry.

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. I welcome your efforts, and I have a message to all who currently serve Voldemort willingly. If you join me, if you join us, now, whether secretly or openly, you will be forgiven your past crimes. If you do not, you will go down with your master. And believe me, he will go down. If--" He had to pause again to wait out the applause. "If anyone who hears these words is now working for Voldemort but would like to join our cause secretly, send me an owl to let me know. If you want to end up on the right side of this fight, now is the time.

"Now, as Mr. Malfoy mentioned, he was in Azkaban until last night. A few hours before dawn this morning, I led a small force of my Hogwarts comrades and Aurors in an assault on the dementors of Azkaban. This was made possible by a spell I discovered, a spell that can kill dementors. We killed several dozen dementors, and a few dozen fled out to the ocean. Now that we know how to kill them--I will make the details of the spell public in the next few days--no longer will any member of our society involuntarily find himself in their presence." This was met with scattered applause; Harry guessed that most of them were people who had been around dementors. Only they could truly understand how important that was.

"My friends and I surveyed the prisoners, and released those who committed no crime but opposition to the Dark government. I am certain--this is on my responsibility--that no one who had committed acts of violence was released. The dementors are not totally exterminated, but in the future Azkaban will become an ordinary prison, a place where people pay their debt to society but do not suffer needlessly. We hope for criminals to be rehabilitated, not mentally destroyed. As we have recently seen, dementors are natural allies of Dark forces, and have no place in our society." There was little or no applause during the short pause as he transitioned between topics. He hadn't expected any, of course.

"Another consequence of my assumption of the responsibility of Auror Leader is that Hogwarts will now become the school it used to be. I hereby declare that Hogwarts is under my protection. Torture will no longer occur there, and I urge parents to return their children there as soon as is practical. Their safety will be my responsibility, and that I take very seriously. The Hogwarts governors have failed in their responsibility by failing to prevent the widespread torture that occurred. Governors may protest that I have no authority to do such a thing. But the lawful authority of the Auror Leader is wide-ranging when it comes to public safety and security, so in fact, I had little choice but to do as I have done. Our children must be safe.

"As for the Ministry, I expect that they will return to the general policies that they followed in the months before Voldemort took control. The Ministry had been infiltrated to some extent by Dark wizards. This morning, Death Eaters working at the Ministry were removed from their posts, and are now in my custody. Other longtime Ministry employees had worked enthusiastically with Dark wizards during the time of the Dark government. I expect that those employees will redirect their efforts towards the betterment of our society. Any Ministry employee who continues to assist the Dark wizards... well, let's just say that his or her career prospects will suddenly take a dramatic turn for the worse." There was a moderate current of laughter at this.

"Finally... I caution everyone that there are difficult times ahead. Not fighting was safer in the short term, but deadly in the long term. Fighting Voldemort and the Death Eaters will not be easy. Some people will die, in spite of my and the Aurors' best efforts to prevent it.

"There are some measures people can take to minimize any risks. If you think you may be a target of Death Eaters, do a Fidelius Charm on your home. Be sure you choose a Secret-Keeper who can be trusted; my parents died because my father chose unwisely. Stay in certain areas, such as Diagon Alley and the main road in Hogsmeade, that will be routinely patrolled by Aurors, and sometimes by me. Apparate from your home to your destination whenever possible. If not done already, get specialists to render your home immune to Apparition, except for one spot known only to you and those you trust. The Aurors will prepare a list of such measures, and it will be printed in the Daily Prophet in the next few days. I will see to it, by the way, that the Prophet strives to be a newspaper worthy of the name, that it will present the news fairly and impartially, no matter who is in power. It has been used as a vehicle for Ministry propaganda for too long, as I know from being attacked in its pages after I told people that Voldemort had come back. We need honest newspapers.

"Watch out for yourselves, watch out for each other. Be careful, but not paranoid. Don't act as if a Death Eater is behind every corner, but be aware of your surroundings and any possible danger. And most importantly, if you get information that could help locate any Death Eater or Voldemort, send it to me by owl. We need to help each other. The sooner Voldemort is dealt with, the sooner we can again have the kind of society we grew up in, that we can be comfortable in. But first, we have a job to do. Thank you for coming out today, and I'll be seeing you around."

Without waiting to see what kind of final reception he would get, he walked off the platform. There was strong applause, which grew when he waved from the ground next to the platform. While the applause was still going strong, he Disapparated.

* * * * *

Next: Chapter 16, Three For Six: Harry's first successful operation as Auror Leader provokes a brutal response from Voldemort.

From Chapter 16: "Harry," said Kingsley, in a more businesslike tone. "I can guess what's going through your mind right now. But I have to remind you that you're the Auror Leader, and you need to be that right now. Take charge. Self-recriminations can wait for later."