herumtreiber

Title: The Privy Councilors 2/33
Chapter: two
Author:

herumtreiber
Genre: AU to HBP, romance, adventure
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or related characters. Nor do I make any money from the writing of these stories.
Rating: R
Warnings: Sexual content
Epilogue compliant? No way!
Chapter length: 4619 words
Beta: None.
Summary: Draco/Harry, Luna/Neville, Ron/Hermione, Narcissa/??? Harry is about to be sent to Azkaban. The story explores Wizengamot politics and the fight against evil Dumbledore - where he gets vanquished early and does not prattle on and on - but is he gone? Plus de-aging. Someone returns whose name begins with a S. (And my revenge on characters whose accents are hard to read – like Hagrid and Fleur ;-)

Table of contents

Part 1

In the Dungeons, Severus Snape was busy trying to hide the potion he'd used on Albus. Being a Potions Master, he was loath to destroy a good product, but the liquid needed to be hidden at all costs.

He got an idea and mixed the liquid with unicorn tears and Dragon's blood - a new use for the blood that the mighty Dumbledore did not know about.

Later, to reconstitute the potion, all that needed to be done was a magical distillation.

He'd put the potion in Dumbledore's tea as he had to listen to the headmaster rant about Potter. What the potion caused was a selective removal of magical prowess: if Dumbledore used Legilimency on a passive victim, if he cast a spell affecting an innocent person, part of his powers would be locked away.

He expected, given Dumbledore's profile and tendencies, that his powers would not be a danger for very long. Unfortunately Severus didn't notice Fawkes suddenly appearing in mid-air and causing that some bottles tumbled, one of these was opened and the brownish liquid inside mixed with the preparation of unicorn tears. The result was splashed across Severus' robes, but it also touched his bare neck and hands.

Severus proceeded to the magical showers and took an immediate bath, but the damage was done.

A little while later, he felt weak, he sensed he had little time left. He dressed, and decided to go to the damned trial and maybe get a last glimpse of his beloved, brattish godson, and perhaps a last glance of those green eyes that reminded him so strongly of Lily's.

He made it to the Great Hall before he passed out. Fortunately Remus was observing him and was able to break his fall. He checked his pulse and noticed that he was very cold to the touch.

Remus was in a quandary. It was useless to take Severus to the Infirmary, as Madame Pomphrey refused to treat people who did not come with the express authorization of Dumbledore. He could Apparate them to St. Mungo's, but the outlook of good medical attention was grim. He was openly discriminated against due to being a werewolf, and Severus was loathed by those who were convinced he was a Death Eater.

He needed someone with influence and money to bluff their way through the hypocrites' thicket. He needed a Malfoy! Unfortunately Malfoy Manor was unplottable and he couldn't go to see Narcissa, but if he went to the Ministry, to Harry's trial, he would surely find Draco Malfoy there, jeering at Harry with the rest of them. Draco would not refuse to help his godfather.

Remus Apparated himself and Severus to the Ministry. Ten minutes later, after checking Severus' temperature and finding it suspiciously low, he realized he was near the Office of Misuse of Magical Devices, he could see Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas nearby, looking as lost as he felt himself, nowhere near the trial. He connected all the threads of the information available to him, and came to the conclusion that the doors to the Trial chamber were protected against Harry's supporters, he could not get inside.

Severus would die, his enemy/once-friend would depart from here, having enjoyed a less than thrilling stay on this Earth, thanks in part to the redoubtable Marauders.

He remembered then Sirius's admonition: "Let the wolf free!" He had the inner certainty that his wolf could succeed against the hellish ideas of the so-called Light warriors.

He let his inner wolf free. No longer would he try to curb its curiosity, playfulness, anger, or strength. The mental abilities and construct of the wolf came into being. Outwardly Remus looked as human as the rest, for it was not a full-moon night, inwardly he cavorted and pranced.

He grabbed Severus carefully, but easily, and set at a fast trot to the place where he felt their cubs.

They soon arrived at the doors to the Chamber. Remus tried to open them using Alahomora, but nothing happened, until he used his wolf strength and literally tore the damned doors off their hinges.

Remus walked into the chamber, carrying Severus.

HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH

At the Ministry, within a bubble of suspended time, the Seekers returned to their confederates and Draco said, "Now comes the time to start enacting a little revenge. For too long they have done what they wanted, they need a strong hand to show them what is right. Before that, I want to tell you what being a Privy councilor entails."

"During the Plantagenet period, the Kings frequently left England and dwelled on their Angevin properties on the other side of the Channel. Fair Normandy and Acquitaine seemed better to them than old England. The kings had many problems with the budding Wizarding society, and often thought about abolishing it altogether. Some nobles, including our ancestors, proved useful to the king and to show his appreciation he created the Privy Council as it exists today. Charged with providing advice, the Council initially dealt mainly with Wizarding aspects."

"You are aware of the hierarchical nature of magic. This is plainly seen even in wands, where an Elder wand holds sway over the other ones. The magic of the Wizarding World must needs submit to the will of the Sovereign. This is why any Dark-Light dispute, however heated, will not escalate to the Monarchy."

"The will of the Sovereign, by custom and law, is expressed through the Privy Council.

Shakespeare was right when he wrote that all the water in the ocean cannot remove the oil of an anointed prince, neither can all the hexes in the world."

"You see then that our position is a delicate one, fraught with rewards but also touching many other lives."

Draco left them a few minutes to digest the news.

Soon, however, Harry asked him, "Did you use Hermione's spell to sidestep the traps at the door?"

Draco replied, "No, I did not. Luna and Neville bypassed those using charms to obfuscate the charms, as it were. Pansy and Blaise have the Slytherin mindset of looking at things from two diametrically opposed angles and advocating alternatively one or the other. It is an attitude I also have, and I just followed the mental construct of an Uber-Draco that hates all things Potter, though it was a chore at times."

Draco suggested Harry nap again, and when the Gryffindor scowled and was about to argue, he added, "Some of us need the time to sleep a bit. We need to be at our best, after all, to defeat the Dumblesians."

Eventually Draco decreased the light and several of them fell asleep. Harry could almost follow their individual snores and breaths, and wondered about the pluck of his friends, and his former enemy, and what a terrific and strange team they made. He muttered in Draco's direction: "Thanks."

Draco replied gruffly, "Go to sleep, Potter! You've been through a lot and need to be at your best soon. Otherwise Hermione will crucify me, and that'll be awful."

HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH

Hermione held Ron's arm near her waist, and never let him go. Her warm brown eyes continually sought contact with Ron's blue ones. In her mind, she hoped that one day they would have the leisure to explore the physical aspects of their relationship together. She was grabbing the portkey with the other hand and she only wanted to see how the trial would go in order to shout the password and disappear from that dratted Ministry, that dratted Wizarding World that dared rebel against its supposed savior.

She breathed a sigh of relief when they all sat down around the table and there was a silver energy field keeping everybody out. Hopefully that would include Dumbledore. She was trying very hard not to call his attention, or things would become ugly very soon.

After five minutes, the silver covering disappeared and the councilors came out.

When Hermione kept stumbling upon mentions of the councilors in several history books and she asked Draco Malfoy for information, instead of laughing in her face as was his wont, the silver-haired Slytherin had shared what he knew about this topic. Together with family books of the Malfoy Manor, they were able to unravel the mystery.

When Summer vacations came in and all the odd occurrences multiplied – no writing to Harry, having to stay in the hospital far too long – and Draco came with his news, all Hermione could do was garner Ron's support and prepare to weather the storm. Even if it meant relying on Draco and using a spell to hide one's thoughts.

HHDHDHDHDHDHDHDHDHD

Councilor Malfoy stepped in front of the table, flanked by Harry and Blaise. He said, "The trial of Lord Harry Potter will commence, under the auspices and direction of the Privy Council."

Dumbledore started to shout when Draco drawled menacingly, "You will keep your mouth shut by order of the Privy Council, Headmaster."

Draco told them, "Anyone feels the temerity of interrupting? If you do you will be dealt with. In the matter of the trial against Lord Potter, I understand that a capital witness is Dumbledore, along with Auror Shacklebolt. I think they are unwise to be witnesses, and offer this pensieve memory."

Draco flicked his wand energetically, and a pensieve appeared, supported by a Malfoy elf. Draco put the pensieve in exposition mode and the audience was treated to the Will scene, together with the refusal of Fudge and Bones to do anything.

Shortly after this, a disturbing sound was heard and everyone could see that the doors were forcibly taken off their hinges.

Draco, Neville and Harry walked to the front, Draco and Neville brandishing openly their wands, and Harry unobtrusively flexing his fingers around his invisible wand. Luna and Pansy rolled their eyes, and they were joined by a sighing Blaise.

Soon Harry and Draco saw Remus, who looked a bit more defiant than before, clutching an unconscious Severus Snape. Draco shouted, "Hold your thoughts! I will be right back!" He then muttered to Harry, "Come, on Harry, our godfathers need us!"

They went to a corner and Harry cast his privacy screens. Remus explained what had occurred to him, why he needed someone with pull to support Severus. If they went to St. Mungo's as they were, they would lose all day and finally they would be told that the place was full. Meanwhile Severus would die.

Draco nodded energetically and then seemingly went into a contemplative mood. Visibly rousing himself, he said, "It might help us to remember that Severus is a Potions Master that has to handle strange brews, which can be mixed in alarming ways. I think he might be suffering from such a thing, especially as I can feel some wetness beneath his robes, denoting the use of a shower recently. Probably after he was exposed he sought to remove the noxious agents from his skin."

"Fortunately there is a very useful spell that all potion apprentices learn by rote." Draco swished his wand saying "Venenum exagito." Severus' neck and hands were brightened, and writing appeared in the skin. Draco read: "unicorn tears, amortentia, Dragon's blood. Quite a very powerful mix. Knowing what the poisons are, they will be able to treat him in no time. To make sure they pay attention, I suggest you go with my mother Narcissa."

Draco took out another ring and gave it to Remus, saying, "This is a portkey to the front entrance of Malfoy Manor. Because you will be traveling with Severus, you can use it to appear in any room of the Manor, I suggest the parlor. If there is any trouble locating my mother or she doesn't want to go, you can use the portkey to come here. Just say "return." Draco took his endless bag and reached for something inside it. He took out a small bag, which he presented to Remus, he said, "This bag is charmed to weigh little but has an ample provision of gold. If you have some problems at St. Mungo's, you can use the money to assure some goodwill. I would go but we are in the middle of a strategy war to ensure Harry's freedom."

Eventually Remus left, carrying Severus. Draco turned to Harry and said, "Now I must do what I swore to myself I would not do. As is her wont, Hermione prevailed on us to learn to cast her mind-cloaking charm. She said we would never know when we might have a use for it. Of course she was right."

"I will cast the charm on me, because I'm torn in two directions: I want to see to Severus's safety, and I also want to see to your safety. I cannot do both. I'm counting on Lupin finding my mother and both of them taking Sev to St. Mungo's and healing him. If I went with them I would just be kind of like a third wheel."

"I could insist that the trial be delayed until tomorrow, but this would give Dumbledore time to try more feints and maneuvers. It would also be highly dangerous for your friends. Necessity dictates that the outcome must come today, and I can help sway the results in our favor. But I worry about Severus and your friends. Maybe this worry lets me know I'm still alive and subject to the world and its explosions."

Draco said wistfully, "I will close off the memories of a caring Severus, a wonderfully fresh opinion about life and magic, his careful and plain advice. The person that made me realize I would do all right by nyself. I will key the mind-cloak to your voice, saying 'Rampaging Snorkacks.'"

Draco swished his wand, pointed it to his head and muttered, "Immolatio mens!"

Draco stood up seemingly unaffected, though Harry could see that his grey eyes were subdued and had lost a great deal of the spark they had until a few moments ago.

HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH

Draco attacked the hapless Wizengamot with glee, "So you see what your supposed savior does. When he doesn't get what he wants, he tries to kill. But since he is the head Gryffindor, he can kill whomever he likes before the Minister or deputy Minister do anything."

"Before anything, I call for a vote for the impeachment of Minister Fudge and Amelia Bones. They are not worthy to fill the lofty jobs they have."

The vote was called and a majority of the Wizengamot voted for the miscreants. When the turn of the Privy councilors came, they all sided with Draco. The Slytherin grinned malevolently and said, "The normal majority of the Wizengamot votes for Fudge and Bones, the Privy Council votes to impeach the people. Given our combined 180 votes, we carry the day. Fudge and Bones are hereby expelled from the Wizengamot and any present or future political post in the Wizarding World. We will look later for possible administrative or judicial punishments."

The people were astounded, some were mad. Draco added, "You still have not understood that we are above the Wizengamot, which I think is providential, as too many miscreants have found their abode there."

"I will now conduct the Veritaserum testimony of Harry Potter. Wait, there is no need to administer the truth serum to a member of ours. We will put his memory in the pensieve."

Draco approached Harry and his wand touched Harry's temple. Softly Draco intoned, "I promise that with this we will prepare Dumbledore's grave, Harry." Draco put the memory in the pensieve and flicked it to exposition mode.

Rescue rangers