A/N: Moving right along...
Chapter XXXIX: The Limits of the Human Condition
Bellatrix Lestrange attacks demonstrators, Gaius Black among dead! Ministry in shambles, mass panic!
With no casualties to Prophet staff, our reporters covering the protest against our failing government yesterday morning, also witnessed and documented the surprising and vicious attack of Bellatrix Lestrange's Death Eaters. Disappearing as quickly as they had arrived, they left destruction and panic in their wake. As many as 112 wizards and witches are reported dead. In the background is the government's inability to guarantee the safety of its citizens, and that puts in direct question of legitimacy in Hermione Potter's ghostly cabinet to run public affairs.
For further details about the deadly attack, and an interview with our political correspondent, please see page two.
For once, Harry did not slam down the prophet in indignation. Its opposition to Hermione was clear, but it wasn't that which bothered him right now, as she was not Minister any more...
They had talked about this the previous night. Ron and Hermione had agreed to deposit their resignations the next day, and they were away doing just that at the moment. He flipped the page to read the aforementioned interview.
Mr. Pufflehuff, do you believe Black's death leaves no alternative to the Potter cabinet?
I don't think so. A popular leader can always be found. It is a matter of him being strong and knowledgeable enough to challenge and overturn the government.
Do you have any idea who may take Black's place?
No, sadly I do not. However, I am sure a probable candidate will emerge in time.
What of Bellatrix Lestrange's proposal of radical social change? She made a direct appeal with uncertain results, when people generally accepted that she was in hiding ever since You-Know-Who's death.
I don't think it will materialize. To me, it is an act of desperation. It is also a public secret that former Death Eaters are the prime threat to the stability of our institutions. If Potter's government has been seemingly idle, but no attempt at a takeover has been made, and they returned yesterday to meet the crowds, I can only draw one conclusion.
And what may that be?
They have deemed Bellatrix Lestrange as the most serious threat to stability and peace, and thus taken it directly upon themselves to combat her. You have to realize this oligarchic model of government is rarely working in the public interest, but this is one of the times when it does. Potter has allies in key departments behind the scenes to assure her stability, even as a Minister of Magic in leave. This is the reason Gaius Black could do little more than practice his fiery rhetoric. May he rest in peace, it was indeed sad he was killed.
Do you have any last words to add?
No, I don't think so. Except that my support lies with Potter. They defeated You-Know-Who. Lestrange will not pose even half the threat he did years ago.
Thank you for your time.
My pleasure.
Harry couldn't believe he had finished reading an entire article without being angered at the published words. He took another sip of his coffee and skimmed the interview again - finally someone with more than compressed air between the ears.
The biting commentary of the interviewer below the interview he skipped entirely, and with that, put down that copy of the Prophet. He hoped the announcement of the power change would be made the same day.
A clear plan in regards to Lestrange was beginning to form in his mind. She had lost her most trusted and capable servants. As a result, she reverted to the old tactics of mass intimidation and killing in her attempt to provoke nothing less than a rebellion and move to fill the power vacuum in the confusion that would ensue. From yesterday, he knew her losses were not light either. Of the three or four dozen Death Eaters that attacked, at least half were dead. The rest would be brought to justice in due time, he was sure of it.
He wondered if it would not be possible to incur another spy in the ranks of the Death Eaters. Just to have a small window into what direction the madwoman was taking in what were hopefully the last steps she would undertake in a final bid for victory.
No, that would be too complex and time consuming. Maybe she had set her plan in motion already, and this attack was part of a more elaborate scheme to infiltrate and steal the spells she needed to make her nearly invincible, back in Vodlemort's company.
For this reason, another idea occurred to him. What if the Order turned public?
The secrecy was necessary, and it has remained a secret society for a very long time. Its activities would still remain clandestine, but if the people knew about its existence and its cause, then it could also help Luna, Ginny and Draco in maintain control while showing a tougher resistance to Lestrange.
He would have to talk to Ron and Hermione about this when they returned, but for now, he thought he might tell James, Lily, and the rest of the Marauders about it. So, he put down the paper, drank the last of the coffee, and went on a search for them.
It did not take long. Sitting in the living room, James and Lily were talking among themselves, while Sirius slept on the other couch, and Remus sat in the comfortable armchair, staring lost in the flames. Tonks was nowhere to be seen - she was probably still sleeping.
"Mom? Dad?"
James and Lily looked up. "Harry," James acknowledged him. "What's on your mind?"
"I have to talk to you about something," he said.
Sirius had stirred from the sounds of Harry's footsteps. "Wuzzigionon?" At that, Remus also turned around in the armchair.
"Well, I think all of you can hear what I have to say," Harry re-considered. "Come on over."
He sat down on the free armchair between the two couches. "What is this about?" Sirius rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Remus joined his friend. "This about the Ministry?"
"Yeah," Harry confirmed. "Rather, an idea."
"Go on," James prompted him.
"I want to make the Order's presence public. Just to give a challenge to Lestrange."
"Are you sure about this?"
"No," Harry said, smiling slightly. "What the consequences will be, I don't know, but I hope it will be enough to both assure stability, and let us focus more on defeating her for good."
"Maybe, James considered the idea thoughtfully. "Where do you guys stand?"
"I say, go for it," Sirius was unreserved. "The Order has always been secret, and we could always `disband' it when this is all over." He was intending it would restore its secrecy, and keep its own vigil on the Dark side...
"I think we should reconsider," said the ever cautious Remus. "The people might be opposed."
"Who cares about the people?" Lily was strangely impatient with the whole affair. "The point here is to kill Lestrange. Worry about the people after."
"She has a point," James agreed, and then turned to Harry. "I think it's unanimous among us, son. The Order of the Phoenix becomes a public enterprise!"
"Great! Knowing you agree should convince Ron and Hermione easily."
"Convince us about what?"
Ron's voice startled the assembled company, as the redhead entered the living room, tailed by Hermione.
"Hey, Ron," Harry greeted him. "How'd the resignations go?"
"Oh, don't let me start!" Hermione burst out. "Most frustrating experience ever! They wouldn't accept them for at least an hour. We almost told them we belonged to a secret society that occupied most of our time!"
"Well," Harry found this to be much easier than he expected. "That is what we're going to tell the Ministry. The Order is going public."
"Say what?" Ron was dumbfounded for a second.
"The Marauders agree," Harry motioned to his parents, Remus and Sirius. "Be good support for Luna, Ginny and Draco, while we take on Bella full time."
Ron opened his mouth to object, but paused, and reconsidered. "This be a good idea."
Hermione was surprised that for once Ron did not say the first words that came to his mind. "I agree with Ron, believe it or not."
It was a sealed deal. As Minister, Luna would have to make the introduction and associate the Order's cause with the Ministry's efforts.
**
"Is she mad?" was the question circling among the uneasy Death Eaters.
In groups of twos and threes, the main topic of conversation was the most recent attack.
"Do you know how many were lost?"
"I heard Dahlgen was killed. Have you seen him? He was moving up quick."
"I saw him," another survivor commented. "Potter killed him. Blew his arm right off and he crashed in the side of the building. Dead on the spot."
"What do you think she's going to do next?" a third joined the discussion.
"Do you think I'm a prophet? The word is, Antonin is dead and Snape bailed out."
"Who else is there?"
"You and me? I don't know. It's not as if I'm told what goes on around here."
"Yes, but you still didn't answer my question."
"Look, I don't want an argument with you. I reckon we're going to have more suicide attacks on mass rallies. Apparently we have some recruits out of it at least."
"Recruits? Who would join after this?"
"The Ministry is in shambles. Haven't you been reading the Prophet? Black was killed by his own supporters apparently, and there is no one to take his place right now. Potter's gone, so what's left?"
"Us?"
"Us?" the other asked him mockingly.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you understand? These are the tactics of someone desperate. The Mistress is losing her mind."
"She's losing her mind? How do you know?"
"Oh, right! You didn't hear her while we were still there."
"What did she say?"
"Kind of pathetic, actually," another Death Eater replied. "She's calling for peace and security. All we've ever known is conflict and insecurity."
"Are you serious?"
"She's lost her best people. What do you expect her to do?"
"Surrender and die?"
"I wish," the other shook his head. "You know we're as good as dead if we go against her."
"Well, we can't run away. Thanks to these marks, we're in her service until she or we die."
"So are you suggesting we screw up the missions?"
"Of course not! That road ends with death too. If we're lucky, we could be killed by some Auror."
"You're hilarious," the second one said mirthlessly. "We ought to tough it out until the end."
"Yeah, whenever that end comes."
**
She was angry - very angry. Pacing around in her chambers, Bella could not formulate what to do next. Without Snape, Antonin, even Nott and Avery, who had infiltrated the Order of the Phoenix, she was helpless. Her entire mission had been to obtain the spells the Order was guarding. Her mind control schemes had failed completely. They were all alive, which meant another caster among them had been found that was as, if not more powerfully than Ginny Weasley...or Malfoy? She could not be certain. The traitor's father had been a loyal and just man, but he was a bad egg. She would make him pay with his life for the betrayal to his father, Voldemort, and the Dark ideals themselves...
But no time to brood on that for now. She needed a way to infiltrate the Order once again, bring it down from the inside.
Her determination was fiery, but she was exhausted. Tired - and of what? The constant failures. Her ultimate goal was to bring Voldemort back and exact revenge on the Order of the Phoenix, and specifically Harry Potter and his friends, for the troubles and dangers she had been forced to endure.
People were easily swayed. If she could take advantage of the confusion in the Minstry, she would take over, and then the circumstances would be different. No more Mudbloods, no more toleration of the inferior pests. She could take down the Order with one final blow to the Ministry. March right in with her loyal followers, and kill everybody - erase the old regime.
She could revolutionize society - the very thought gave her zeal and renewed vigour. What did it matter if she had been betrayed. She was still alive and fighting.
For a while now, she could feel her mind slipping. Recently, she had begun to think about the decades she spent in Voldemort's service. Her youth - that time seemed a distant memory, as if it was the life of another person. What had happened? Labouring to an idea, a cause that always seemed beyond her, just out of reach. What had she accomplished in this life? Had it all been worth the sacrifice? What was she leading?
The question did not have a clear answer, but the thoughts themselves threatened to drive her off the edge. Her entire
life she had been determined to remain strong. Was this madness in itself?
Was she the one going mad, instead of the world around her? Is that which had compelled Dolohov's murder and the flight of Demetris Snape?
What was Voldemort's cause? It was a society, free of inferior blood, but based in the proud pure-blooded tradition of wizard families. She had served that cause for over forty years. Death, destruction and it was still so close, yet so far.
It was her cause now. The only legitimate goal her mind recognized, and was willing to work towards. All her schemes so far had failed. This left out all, but one option - an assault on the Ministry. Only with taking power could she transform society in Voldemort's perfect vision. Something told her it was a possible venture that existed outside of fantasy, and she would prove it.
This had been the purpose of her life - carry out the ideal she had worked for during all these years. Failure, it was not a viable alternative. Success was her only option.
**
An urgent press conference had been arranged to address the matters of the power change. Somehow the news had leaked out that Harry, Ron and Hermione had quit their posts, and handed them over to their respective deputies, who now were the face of the Magical community's leadership.
Hermione had agreed to answer the questions, as she was the former Minister, and Harry and Ron very enthusiastically chose not to be confronted by the annoying reporters. Luna, Draco and Ginny, however, could not escape from being there.
The reporters had eagerly assembled in anticipation for the appearance of the disappointing leaders. As soon as Draco, Ginny and Luna walked on the podium to take their seats, Hermione followed, imagining the biting headlines tomorrow's issue would have of the event...
The chatter and shouting picked up with their presence. Once the reporters quietened down enough for the new trio to make itself heard, Ginny gave the word to one particularly insistent reporter.
"Is it true that you three are taking over the duties of the so-termed Golden Trio?"
"It is," Ginny confirmed, and before the same reporter could blurt out another question, she pointed out a different one.
"This is a question for Hermione Potter," he looked down on his pad of parchment. "Mrs. Potter, what motivated you to give up your duties as Minister of Magic to your deputy without apparent reason?"
Hermione spent a few seconds thinking of a response before she replied. "There is a reason, actually. It is the same reason, for which I did not do a good job as Minister of Magic to begin with. I feel Luna Lovegood will be able to devote her time and resources this post deserves, whereas I'm not able to do so."
"You still did not specify what the reason was," the reporter pointed out.
"You will receive you answer soon, enough," Hermione told him. "Next question."
"What changes do you plan to implement to prevent overthrow of your government? The public is still outraged at this neglect of government affairs, leaving society to run itself without guidance, and thus permitting yesterday's tragic events."
She was looking squarely at Luna, who did not betray any sign of uneasiness at the intense stare of this reporter.
"The changes," Ron's significant other began, "will range from improving communication between departments, regular reports and transparency in dealings, as well as increased emphasis on intelligence and catching Bellatrix Lestrange. All other civil services will continue to run as normal."
"How will you regain the people's trust in this government?"
Luna was unperturbed. "Through showing them that our government is able to address the issues of the people and devote resources to the cause."
"What about Lestrange?" yet another reporter asked, this time directing the question at Hermione.
"This will be our job," Hermione explained, "that is, Harry, Ron and I. We will lead the concentrated effort to combat Bellatrix Lestrange."
"What are you saying?" a voice asked.
Hermione knew this was the instance, where she had to explain about the existence of the Order of the Phoenix. "You see," she said, "there is an organization to which Ron, Harry and I belong, which is devoted to the fight against the Dark forces. Namely against Lestrange."
"Are you talking about a secret society?" the same reporter inquired deeper.
"In essence, yes," Hermione conceded. "It goes by the name of the Order of the Phoenix. It was founded by Albus Dumbledore during the times of Voldemort's reign, and the founding members included James and Lily Potter. Harry Potter, their son, is the current leader of the organization."
"Why has nobody told us about this before?" an outraged reporter asked out of the blue. "Have we not had a right to know about this!"
"There was a purpose to the secrecy," Hermione explained. "It allows for actions to be taken without external interference or pressure. What you have to know, however, is that the Order always works with the Ministry on its projects. That was the case during Voldemort's time, and it is now. Certain people, primarily Aurors, are members as well, and they devote time to both the Order and their jobs, so as to be able to keep dangerous wizards at bay."
"Will this Order of the Phoenix be incorporated within the Ministry?"
"No," Hermione shook her head. "It is to be disbanded upon Bellatrix Lestrange's defeat."
"Is it possible to know the names of other Order members?"
"I'm afraid not," Hermione answered in the negative once again. "For their security, their identities will remain known only to those directly involved."
"So, we are to take that aside from the Golden Trio, the other members of the Order of the Phoenix will remain a mystery to the general public."
"Yes," Hermione nodded. "Now, as we are running out of time, I think we can take only one final question."
This time, an aged gentleman in the back row raised a frail hand. "Yes sir?"
The old man stood up slowly, cleared his throat, and looked up. "This is a question for all of you. Government changes aside, what do you hope to gain by revealing the existence of the Order of the Phoenix?"
Draco made a gesture at the other three that he wanted to handle the response.
"My dear man, the Order's sole purpose is to eliminate Bellatrix Lestrange. Since her bold attack and the many unfortunate casualties, among which was Gaius Black, we think it may be wise to integrate the Order closer into our efforts, as it would show Lestrange stiffer resistance and hopefully discourage her from taking additional innocent lives."
"Well said," Ginny complimented him in an undertone.
That was the extent to which Hermione was willing to allow public know about the Order and the work it did.
"And that would be all the time we have for today," she called out, and the reaction was immediate. Voices picked up, shouting over one another various other questions, which were doubtlessly good, but pried too deep...
The four of them walked off the podium and into the back, where Harry and Ron had arrived to await the end of the press-conference.
"How did it go?" were Harry's first words.
"Decent enough," Hermione answered. "We said what we meant to tell."
"They know about us?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Luna answered this time. "About us taking over, the slew of political changes we'll make, and introducing the Order."
"So overall it went as planned," Harry stated.
"Yeah, pretty much," Hermione told him. "Meet our new cabinet, Harry."
He smiled. "I'm sure you guys will do a fine job."
"Right, and you three better catch Lestrange sooner than later," Ginny said.
"We'll need to coordinate with the Aurors on their case into the attacks and murders from before," Ron pointed out.
"That can be easily arranged," Ginny assured him. "I'll make sure of it."
"And the MLE," Harry said, "you'll investigate any possible involvement of persons of interest. I did that on a few occasions, so keep in mind, Knockturn and Diagon alley...a lot can turn up there."
"I'm not an amateur," Draco objected. "I know all about this."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm only saying."
They had taken on more responsibility, and the tension was already beginning to surface. More manpower was available for missions, but with the uncertainty around Lestrange's next move, worry about the stability of their government, and the possible disagreements within the Order, made the whole ordeal even more difficult than it already was.
Without another word, the six of them apparated back to Grimmauld Place. It had been a long day, and for a while at least, time was needed to think everything over and consider what to do next...
A/N: Talk about a long chapter...next few are planned out, and the story ends with them...
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