Open Your Eyes: The Goblet of Fire

Disclaimer:  No I don’t own any of the characters, settings, or plot devices attached to Harry Potter.  JK Rowling does, so if you have any flames or complaints forward them to her.

Story suggestions:  I’ve come across a couple of alternative fanfics that I would highly recommend during the past week. 

First, Paddy’s little Pup on ff.net by teacherbev; http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3152469/1/

I highly recommend this WIP.  Also, on FF.net and ficwad.com a story titled

Luna’s Hubby by Meteoricshipyards.  http://www.ficwad.com/viewstory.php?sid=20019

Any Luna fans would do well to read this WIP.  It is delightfully quirky, just like Luna.

As Harry released the tri-wizard cup portkey, he knew that he was going into an unknown situation and needed any advantage he could get.  With a flash of inspiration, Harry quickly disillusioned Gryffindor’s sword and scabbard with a flick of his wand, and kicked his feet to slow his decent and prepare for his landing. 

As he touched down in the midst of a large graveyard he brandished his wand and immediately rolled out of the path of a red bolt meant for him.  The movement quickly reminded Harry of his previous brush with the Acromantula a few moments earlier as pain shot through his body.  The pain quickly disappeared and was replaced by blinding rage as the blood in his veins boiled, when he recognized one of the men as Wormtail and he screamed, “I won’t give you mercy this time Peter.”

The answer was another red bolt as Harry dodged the spell again with ease.  A moment later another wizard, this one with black hair, joined Wormtail as they traded spells with Harry.

Harry waved his wand and sent out a wide beamed stunner as both men managed to evade the spell and returned with spells of their own.  The fighting slowly trailed away from the landing site and back towards some older graves based upon the decrepit marble of the headstones.

Harry dove behind a one particularly old tombstone before it crumbled from a spell blast and he rolled away unleashing a flurry of reducto on the two wizards.  Harry managed to graze the black haired wizard sending the man to the ground as a reducto from Pettigrew hit the ground directly in front of the teenage wizard sending him tumbling several feet backward as he landed with a painful thump.

If his ribs and chest had ached before, the feeling now was several times worse as he fitfully tried to catch his breath.  As Pettigrew approached him he tried to do a silent stunner, and was rather pleased as a red bolt snapped out from his unmoving wand and impacted the former marauder directly between the eyes.

With a tiny smirk he climbed to his feet as he thought, I am so glad I worked on some silent spell casting with Moody.   Slowly and gingerly climbing walking to his quarry, Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he gazed down at the prone form of Wormtail.  With a flash of inspiration Harry thought, “Accio Tri-wizard cup.”  As he reached out to grab the cup and return to Hogwarts, a large serpentine tail lashed him in the back and the cup painfully gashed his forehead before it dropped onto the unconscious form of Wormtail and vanished.

Harry mentally cursed whatever hit him as he rolled over, and then looked directly into the eyes of an enormous snake that he instantly knew was Nagini.  As the beast lunged and sunk its fangs into his left leg, the pain Harry felt was enough to finally claim his consciousness as the darkness took hold.

At Hogwarts the crowds had finally been settled enough for ministry aurors to begin escorting them to the edge of the wards, Hermione had been awakened and the Potter group had been led down to the field.  Cedric had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and he would tremble violently every few moments from the lingering effects of a briefly held cruciatus curse.  Spotting Hermione he managed to stutter out, “T-tell Harry thanks for saving me in there.”

Hermione managed a small reassuring smile, “I will Cedric, but for now you need to take care of yourself.”  Cedric managed to nod slightly as another tremor shot a spasm through his body.

Krum looked dazed, and Fleur had a bandage wrapped around her head as Madam Pomfrey was running diagnostic spells.  As the group passed they all heard Madam Pomfrey mutter, “Placed under the imperius curse.  Blunt force trauma, resulting in a concussion.  Cruciatus exposure and Merlin knows how bad Potter will be.  I knew this tournament was a terrible idea.  But, nobody listens to the person who actually has to deal with the injured.”

Hermione frowned as her lip trembled before her mother wrapped a reassuring arm around her, and they continued towards Dumbledore who was now talking to Moody animatedly.  As they approached Moody grumbled, “I’m telling you Albus, the wards surrounding that tracking charm are so thick and powerful you’d need a team of Gringott’s best curse breakers to take them down.  Even then it would take a few hours.”

Dumbledore felt the approaching presence of Harry’s support system as he turned to them and spoke, “We are currently doing everything in our power to bring Harry back safely.  I assume that if Harry can get his hands back on the tri-wizard cup he will be able to reactivate the portkey and come back to the castle.”

Dumbledore closed his eyes as a brief white nimbus swirled around his head before he sighed and opened his eyes.  Remus frowned and asked, “What was that Albus?”

Dumbledore removed his glasses, buffing them against his robe before placing them back on his nose and he replied, “I’ve directed any portkeys entering the wards to arrive about ten feet in front of us.”

Hermione, forgetting about Harry’s plight for a brief moment stated, “It didn’t mention anything about headmasters being able to adjust the wards like that in Hogwarts a History.”

Dumbledore managed a quick grin, “While it is a very informative tome, I am afraid certain things must remain secret to ensure the security of the castle.”  Hermione nodded before her face became pensive again, waiting anxiously for Harry to return.

It had been another ten minutes of tense whispering when a flash in the sky alerted everyone to an incoming portkey.  Every available wand was trained as a still form landed on the ground next to the cup, and it wasn’t even Harry Potter.

Remus growled, “It’s Pettigrew; someone get him under wraps, and remember he’s a rat animagus.”

Moody grinned as he turned to Dumbledore, “When you told me that Black was innocent Albus I admit I was skeptical, but now seeing this I’d be happy to set up a nice cozy spot in the ministry and have Pettigrew questioned before Fudge can mess it up.”

Dumbledore nodded, “See that you get an official interview with Verisateum done Alastor, and talk to Amelia Bones about drawing up the proper paperwork.”  Reaching into his robes he pulled a string from his pocket before he muttered, “Portus” and watched as the string let off a blue glow for a moment before returning to its normal state.

In a measured tone Dumbledore said, “This will take you to the ministry atrium Alastor.  Work quickly, Cornelius is somewhere in the castle as we speak.”

Hermione asked in a strangled voice, “Headmaster, if the portkey has returned without Harry how are we going to find him?”

Dumbledore sighed heavily, “The portus charm generally only works for a trip to a destination and back.  I will task Fawkes to find Harry, and hopefully it will be in time.”

A moment later the phoenix appeared and Dumbledore murmured, “Fawkes you must find Harry, you should be able to locate him by the feather in his wand.”  Fawkes trilled his understanding and a moment later vanished in a flash of fire.

Ron had been quiet up to this point, just trying to take everything in before he asked, “Harry’s core is one of Fawkes’ feathers?”  Dumbledore merely nodded, he had been alive for around one hundred and fifty years and the coming minutes were to be some of the most anxious of his life.

In the graveyard connected to Riddle Manor things were starting to take a very sour turn.  After Harry had finally succumbed from Nagini’s bite, Avery had managed to stem the bleeding from his own wounds enough to get started on the task at hand, the ritual to completely restore the dark lord.

He bound Harry to the tombstone of Tom Riddle Sr., and finished the preparations for the ritual potion before he finally entered the Mausoleum his master had been resting in.  Voldemort hissed at Avery, “What has happened to Wormtail?”

Avery sighed, “Potter managed to best him in a duel and the idiot was portkeyed back to Hogwarts.”

Voldemort’s face was contorted into a fierce scowl before he spoke, “Very well, his usefulness was coming to an end anyways.  You will take his place in the ritual and then will take the position your father once held in my inner circle.”

Avery nodded as he gathered his master into the bundle he had been wrapped in before walking back out of the mausoleum and towards the cauldron about fifteen feet away from Harry. 

Sitting his master gently into the cauldron he took two long bones by the side and began the ritual, “Bone of the father unknowingly given, you will renew your son.”  Dropping the two bones into the cauldron a flare of magic was released as the cauldron began to bubble more frequently.

The next part was what Liam Avery had least looked forward to since being informed that he was taking Pettigrew’s place.  He grabbed the ritual dagger and slowly slid the magically sharpened dagger around his hand cutting it off just above the wrist.  The hand dropped into the cauldron and an even more powerful flare of magic dissipated in the surrounding area. 

With this flare Harry’s eyes slowly blinked open as he took a very brief inventory of his situation.  He was bound to something large and elevated less than ten feet above the ground.  His ribs and chest still ached and his left leg was throbbing painfully, and now that black haired wizard was walking at him with a very nasty looking dagger in his one good hand.

The man managed a pained smile, “Ah welcome to our little party Mr. Potter.  Well actually, you might not be enjoying your night as much as the rest of us.  But, you can’t please everyone now can you?”

Harry just looked into the man’s eyes and with a start he realized that whoever this man was, he was completely mad.  The man took Harry’s left arm and the blade dug into his flesh as a jagged V was carved into his arm.  Capturing a fair amount of the blood on the blood the man walked back to the cauldron before he incanted, “Blood of the enemy forcibly taken you will revive your foe.”

The blood dripped into the cauldron and a huge flare that knocked the unknown man off of his feet rippled around the surrounding areas before it faded and a figure began to rise from the cauldron.  Based solely by the throbbing pain in his scar, Harry had a fair guess as to who it was.

But, all of his suspicions were confirmed as the man stepped into a robe held by the black haired man before he also took a wand from the ground by the cauldron.  The man was pale, bald, tall, and his body was of the sort that appeared suited to powerful movement.  Turning to look at Harry the burning red eyes of Lord Voldemort greeted the teenage wizard as he hissed, “Ah Potter, it appears you have been damaged some.  Let me fix that so that you can die only from my malice.”

With a couple of almost careless flicks of his wand Harry’s breathing became almost normal again, his leg wound was sealed and healed without a noticeable scar, and he was dropped the five feet to the ground.  After a moment Harry’s wand was tossed at his feet and he picked it up.

Voldemort walked over to Avery and with a graceful wave of his wand a silver hand replaces the flesh and bone of a few minutes earlier.  With a glance over at Harry, Voldemort casually spoke, “From what I’ve been told congratulations are in order Harry.  Tri-wizard champion at your age is quite the impressive feat of magic.”  Turning his full attention to Harry he continued, “I see tonight ending one of two ways for you Harry.  One, you accept my offer to join the ranks of my deatheaters as my apprentice where your greatness can be cultivated.  Or the other option is you refuse me and I kill you in front of an audience of my followers before I send your body back to Hogwarts in pieces.  So what’s your preference?”

Harry looked straight into Voldemort’s eyes and with a look of pure defiance he replied, “I would rather die fighting on my feet than live on my knees like the rest of your followers.”  With a wicked smirk he asked, “Tell me Tom, are Pettigrew and Crouch really the best you have, because if they are I think you need to beef up the recruiting program.”

Instead of answering in anger Voldemort merely smirked, “So be it Potter, your death will mark the return of Lord Voldemort.”  With a wave Avery walked over and Voldemort pressed his wand to the man’s left forearm where the dark mark appeared in all of its evil glory.  With a nod he said, “Well Potter I believe the best way to spend our time together until my followers arrive is to test out my wand.”  Harry arched an eyebrow before the dark wizard screamed, “Crucio” of course despite the fact that Harry was mostly healed from the task and Nagini, he couldn’t dive out of the path of the sickly yellow beam as it impacted him.

Harry’s vision was like a flickering light bulb for a moment as his body tried to compensate for the extreme pain rippling throughout his body.  Voldemort released the spell after a minute and chuckled with mirth as he lectured, “Have you ever wondered why unforgivable curses are deemed as such Harry?”  Taking Harry’s spasm as a no he continued, “It’s true they are largely un-blockable and that intent to perform the spells properly requires a certain perverse pleasure from others suffering.  But, more importantly the spells can corrupt the purest of souls.  Magic truly is a remarkable thing you know.” 

Harry was still twitching, but it had lessened greatly as Voldemort continued, “I believe the filthy muggles would describe chocolate and sex as addictive quantities.  The exhilarating rush one receives from a properly performed unforgivable eclipses all of those by leaps and bounds.  So, you can plainly see why the ministry discourages the practice with a stay in their lovely little hotel on the sea.  It wouldn’t do for addicted witches and wizards to go about killing anyone they can find simply for what I believe would be called a fix.”

Harry braced himself on his arms that were still quivering as he slowly climbed to his feet, an occasional facial twitch or spasm in his muscles still plainly visible.  As a funnel formed in the sky Harry replied, “I reckon I’ll stick with chocolate, and when I get to having sex I’ll think I’ll draw the line there.  You can keep your pain jollies for yourself.”

Voldemort quirked an amused eyebrow, the only visible hair on his body, as he turned his back on Harry and watched as nine cloaked individuals appeared.  Each of the men immediately bowed around Voldemort and he hissed, “Why is it that so many of my inner circle are free and yet could not make the effort to seek me out so that I could return more quickly?”

Voldemort pulled a few of the deatheaters’ masks off as he gave furious looks at each of them waiting for one to crack.  Harry vaguely looked at the few unmasked deatheaters and couldn’t place their faces even though a few of them looked familiar.

When none answered Voldemort continued, “My most faithful rot in Azkaban and I am left with a pack of fools who are too cowardly to answer when spoken to.  Penance will be made, but for now join me as I kill the foolish boy credited with my defeat.”

All of the other men removed their masks and Harry blankly only recognized one of them, Lucius Malfoy, not a surprise for Harry all things considered.

At Hogwarts Severus Snape downed another pain relieving potion as his mark burned horribly, he would need to begin research into finding a means of cutting the link between the mark and his pain receptors.  If he were to be of any use in the war ahead, this much at least would need to be accomplished.

Walking into the hospital ward he spotted Madam Pomfrey, who was fussing over the three present champions before he called out, “Poppy.”

Madam Pomfrey gave the three a stern look before she bustled over to Snape and asked impatiently, “What is it Severus?”

Snape sighed, “If Potter is dealing with the unsavory sort that we all expect he is; I assume you would like some cruciatus restorative potion, and perhaps some nerve dampening draught as well for any lengthy exposure to the curse.”

Madam Pomfrey paled before she nodded and replied, “Yes that would be best Severus.  Thank you for the offer.”

Snape nodded as he turned on his heel and marched out of the hospital wing with his cloak billowing behind.  He had a task to complete and for once he idly hoped that Potter’s stretch of luck would continue or the war would be over before it even started.

At the ministry of magic Moody had already gotten a full confession out of Peter Pettigrew and officially reopened the file of Sirius Black.  A hearing was scheduled with Madam Bones’ help although the talk throughout the entire building was the disappearance of the boy-who-lived.

Moody stumped over to the Ministry’s FLOO connections and called Hogwarts, “Minerva, this is Moody.  Tell Albus that I did as was requested.  The paperwork for the puppy has been filled out and approved.”

Professor McGonagall’s stern face appeared in the fireplace as she replied, “I’ve sent a messenger spell informing him.  Was there anything else?”

Moody grunted, “Has Potter made it back yet?”

Minerva frowned, “No, and at last check Albus informed me that Fawkes is having difficulties reaching him.  I only pray that it isn’t too late.”

Moody nodded, “Aye lass, but have some faith in the boy he’s something special.”

Minerva managed a tiny smile, “That he is Alastor.  Call back in about thirty minutes; hopefully we will have word by then.”

Fawkes was having difficulties getting close to Harry because of the vast concentrations of dark magic near Harry’s location.  Dark magic served to weaken a phoenix’s sense of orientation.  It would take more time to reach the green eyed boy as his wizard had asked of him.

Voldemort started his little speech, Harry was certain the dark wizard had been practicing it for quite some time.  “It all started on Halloween over 13 years ago.  Even in all of my greatness I overlooked some ancient magic when I attacked the Potters.  As all of you know I did try to recruit both of them to our side, but was ultimately rebuffed and when other information became available the path was set.  I killed James Potter, and while he fought well he is still quite dead.”

Voldemort smirked as Harry flinched at the mention of his father’s death, before he continued, “The mudblood could have saved herself, but she tried my patience and I killed her as well.  Unfortunately, in the process I unlocked ancient sacrificial magic within our friend the boy-who-lived here.  The spell I cast on the brat rebounded and I was reduced to a lowly spirit, forced to roam the world seeking magical sustenance when I could.  Only the most faithful of my followers know the lengths to which I went guaranteeing my immortality.”  If Harry had been doing more than frantically trying to find a way out of this hell, he would have noticed Lucius Malfoy pale at Voldemort’s mention.

Harry was slowly growing numb both emotionally and physically as Voldemort continued his rant about his greatness and the folly of his followers to ever believe him dead.  After several cruciatus were handed out the evil wizard turned back to Harry and with a sneer and none of the earlier candor they had shared, “Now Potter, it is time I end your meddlesome life.”

Harry was having a difficult time grasping reality at this point; the nearly blinding aftereffects of the cruciatus were weighing down on his nervous system and emotionally he was rubbed as raw as he had ever been before.  Here stood his parent’s murderer casually discussing the details of how he had killed them, and all Harry could do was stare.

Harry walked through the steps and bowed to begin the duel as was demanded of him by Voldemort.  At this point arguing over such a minor thing seemed wasteful, and it was giving him time to hopefully reboot his brain and focus on the task at hand.

His body still felt sluggish as Voldemort almost lovingly cast, “Crucio” and Harry felt the ripples of agony taking over again.  Unlike the first time he focused on something aside from the pain as he tried to think of a way to survive and fight another day.  His thoughts grayed for a moment as the pain fought his focus before he focused once again and felt the curse being removed.  Crawling to his feet more quickly this time he stood and returned with the same spell he had used to success earlier, “Perfringo” and the spell lashed against Voldemort’s hastily constructed shield, pushing the surprised dark lord back a few feet.

Voldemort turned to his deatheaters, “The Potter boy has some talent.  But, alas talent goes for naught if it isn’t fully utilized.  Such a pity that it goes to waste.”

Voldemort waved his wand and incanted, “Avada Kedavra” and a familiar green bolt shot through the air towards Harry’s chest.

Harry rolled out of the spell’s path when he heard Voldemort begin the incantation and returned, “Abrumpo” as the blood red bolt was returned.  The spells met in the middle, but instead of the usual spell backlash they connected before the magic was fed back the remaining feet into their wands.  Harry was on one knee as he struggled with his wand, Voldemort had taken two hands to grip his wand, appearing quite perturbed with the turn of events.

The golden strands connecting the wands began to slowly spread upward as a golden cage of pure magic eventually enclosed the two combatants.  Voldemort sneered, “What magic is this Potter?”

Harry slowly rose to his feet, “I imagine this has something to do with my wand being a brother wand to yours.”

Voldemort’s eyes narrowed, “While that is a very interesting fact to know, it only forestalls the inevitable Potter.  You will die tonight, and then you may join your parents as you should have 13 years ago.”

Harry was about to form a response when a most unusual thing happened, an ethereal form floated from Voldemort’s wand.  Harry immediately recognized the man as Frank Bryce and he turned to Harry and said, “Aye lad this one’s an evil bastard.  Old Frank will help ya when the time is right.”

Voldemort looked slightly paler than even his pasty white complexion as Harry asked, “So Tom, have you ever heard of a muggle television show called ‘this is your life’?”

Voldemort blinked in surprise until he felt the same tingle before Bryce had exited the wand.  Next out of the wand was Bertha Jorkins.  She turned to Harry and said, “You must hold on young man, your parents are coming.”  The spectral shadow joined Bryce as they circled Voldemort whispering inflammatory things on the dark lord’s ear.

The beads of magic were pooling as the deatheaters would occasionally try to aid their master only to be repelled.  Harry was slowly forcing the beads towards Voldemort, as the dark lord began to perspire as he tried to force the beads back at the teenager.  With another tingle Lily Potter floated out of Tom Marvolo Riddle’s wand.  She immediately flew to Harry side, and like a pepper-up potion he felt revived as she frantically whispered, “Harry love, you need to hold on for your father.  Once he arrives we can distract Voldemort as you break the connection.  Fawkes is coming and he can get you to safety.”

Harry’s concentration slipped as the beads began to move back towards Harry.  Voldemort cackled, “You see Potter, foolish emotions like love hold no sway in the face of power as great as mine.”

Harry gritted his teeth and the beads stopped near the center before his eyes flicked to his mother and he asked, “Mum?”

Lily sadly replied, “No Harry, I am merely an echo of my former self.  Your father and I have moved on to the next adventure as we should have.”

Voldemort’s arms began to tremble as the echo of James Potter exited the wand, and the beads of magic surged towards the dark wizard.  He turned to Harry with messy hair, shorter than Harry’s but clearly hard to manage.  With tears in his voice he said, “Harry?”

Harry could only nod, his Occlumency becoming useless as his emotions were worn plainly on his sleeves as tears ran down his cheeks.  James floated close and said, “Alright son, we don’t have long before we dissipate.  Just promise me one thing.”  Harry nodded, “Don’t stop living your life because this bastard decided to attack you as a baby.”

Harry thickly replied, “I promise dad.”  James nodded proudly as Lily wrapped an ethereal arm around Harry and gave him the closest thing to a hug she could.  James and Lily locked gazes before they spoke in tandem, “You need to break the connection after we attack Riddle son.  Remember, we’ll always love you.”

The four echoes joined and began to envelope Voldemort as Harry broke the connection with a quick downward slash of his wand.  Fawkes flashed into existence next to Harry and grasped the stunned teen’s shoulder.  Voldemort fought through the echoes just in time to watch Harry vanish in a flash of fire.  Enraged he turned to his deatheaters and said, “Now, it is time you pay for your sins.”

At Hogwarts Cornelius Fudge finally managed to work his way down to the Quidditch pitch following a very unpleasant dressing down from the Bulgarian and French Ministers of Magic for organizing and running such a poorly done tournament.  Approaching the small group remaining he bellowed, “Dumbledore, what is the meaning of this.  I demand to see Potter right now.”

Dumbledore turned to Fudge and calmly replied, “I would like to see Harry for much purer reasons that whatever you propose Cornelius.  His final fate is firmly out our hands, but I have sent Fawkes to retrieve him hopefully in one piece.”

Fudge scowled as he looked at the others before his eyes locked on Remus, “You werewolf, you had something to do with this didn’t you?”

Michael Granger finally stepped into the conversation, “Now see here Minister, you surely can’t blame any of us when it is someone from your ministry who placed this tri-wizard cup in its final place, can you?”

Fudge blustered, “I’d remind you that I am the minister of magic Mr.?”

Michael Granger replied, “Mr. Granger, Hermione is my daughter and Harry is her boyfriend.”

Fudge furrowed his brow, “Ms. Granger is a muggleborn so that means you are a muggle?”

Michael nodded, “Yes sir that’s correct.”

With a dismissive wave of his hand Fudge said, “Whatever tenuous grasp you have on the situation tonight Mr. Granger, I assure you it is quite incorrect.  There is no way that a muggle could grasp such things.”  Bianca was about to step in and defend her husband before Hermione placed a calming hand on her mother’s shoulder, it wouldn’t benefit anyone for her parents to be obliviated by a ministry auror.

Before another word could be spoken Fawkes and Harry arrived in a flash of fire.  Based upon the first look Harry was still conscious, but had seen far better days.  His eyes were haunted, his body was tensed in an attempt to diminish the pain from the multiple cruciatus, and the pain relief spell that Voldemort had cast on his ribs was beginning to fade as Harry protectively cradled his free arm around his chest.

Fudge made a move to speak to Harry but was stopped as Remus and the Grangers blocked his clear path to the distraught teen.  Dumbledore took one look at Harry before he asked, “Harry?”

Harry blinked once before he vomited onto Dumbledore’s robes.  With a frown Dumbledore said, “Fawkes pleas take Harry to Madam Pomfrey at once.”  Fawkes trilled as the pair vanished once more, en route to the hospital wing.

Those remaining on the pitch took of at a near sprint, Fudge sending the aurors ahead in an attempt to block Dumbledore from Harry.  Dumbledore was already quite confident that Madam Pomfrey could handle a pair of aurors.  Hermione and her parents just wanted to know that Harry would be fine.  Ron really only had one directive, get to Harry first.  Remus and Snuffles led the way as they needed to comfort Harry, the tri-wizard champion, in any way they could. 

Little did any of them know that what awaited them in the hospital wing was nothing they ever would have expected.

A/N:  There it is my graveyard scene.  Take notice that Voldemort wasn’t so dismissive of Harry this time.  Also, remember all of the little things that were mentioned.  Most of them will have relevance in the coming years.

Next chapter we have the night in the hospital wing, the fall out elsewhere in the wizarding world, the ministry’s response, and ultimately Harry’s response.  Dumbledore already promised to tell Harry the prophecy, so remember that will come before they leave the school.  Figure they will be leaving for summer break in about a week.  As they exit the train this story will end, and the sequel will begin.

Open Your Eyes: The Order of the

Now, for the question of the chapter I have a canon specific question. 

What factors do you think allowed the ministry to so effectively deny Voldemort’s return for an entire year? 

Is it because Dumbledore wasn’t forceful enough?  Is it because the ministry had the media in their pocket?  Or is it another reason completely unrelated?

Thanks to all of you that have read and reviewed.  I hope you all enjoyed the graveyard scene, and the quick glimpses elsewhere.  Thanks for reading and reviewing.