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More Changes (Euphemia Smythe-Jones)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 02-11-08 07:00
Euphemia looks on as the first of the morning shift Nons begin arriving, surprised to find a Department of Half-blood, Muggleborn, and Half-breed Registration and Regulation kiosk set up for daily wand registering. Usually they have to go to the department itself before continuing on to their various destinations within the Ministry. Dolores Umbridge is overseeing the kiosk, a smug, gloating expression greeting each of the Nons queuing to turn in their wands.
Dolores asks the first in line, "Department and name?"
"Department of Magical Games and Sports. Bryony Perkins."
Dolores takes the woman's wand, looks up the name on a list then says, "Report to exit Floo 2. Destination 485."
"Excuse me, Ms. Umbridge, but why do I need to do that?"
"You've a departmental meeting off-site."
"I do? There wasn't a memo."
"This has come up over the weekend, now move along. You're holding up the line."
"Sorry."
Bryony Perkins moves off at the same time some of Dolores's minions begin helping with the wand registry. Dolores had wanted to handle the first person herself and now that it's done, she and her people quickly divy up the line by department, expediting matters greatly.
Satisfied things are going smoothly, Euphemia rides a lift to a meeting with newstaff assigned to the Ministry by a wide range of publiciations as well as the WWN. She has a few new policies to announce before taking care of something she's been relishing since Saturday morning. She could have taken care of it then but has greatly enjoyed savoring the drawn out moment.
Euphemia doesn't waste any time with pleasanties. She walks behind the podium and glances at her notecards. In that short time the room has grown quiet. Flashing a smile Euphemia announces, "There are three new policies. The first is that Pures are encouraged to have children. For each child in a Pure family, rewards are available. Also, for each Pure pregnancy there is a reward.
The second is that each Non child is subject to a yearly tax of 50 galleons.
And third, effective immediately, that is today, March 11, 2002, no Non pregnancies are allowed. Any Non having a child will have the child taken into Ministry custody. Those infants who are deemed Pures, according to bloodline evidence, will be placed in Pure homes. Those infants that are Nons will become wards of the Ministry."
Euphemia pauses to see if any reporter needs her to repeat what she's said. When none do she says, "That is all. Official press releases will be available to you each within the half hour."
Euphemia steps out from behind the podium, ignoring the reporters who are now asking about that upstart Potter.
"Is it true Harry Potter has been arrested?"
"What is Potter charged with?"
"When's the trial?"
They will know soon enough the story about Potter. Now though, it's time for Euphemia to let that horrid brat of a vigilante know what his fate is.
Isolation
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 02-12-08 08:51
At one point sitting in the holding cell at the Ministry, Harry had wondered if it wasn't a bit overkill that his ankles were snugly shackled and that the wrist restraints had been left on. From Saturday morning until Monday morning, since being put in the cell, the only people Harry saw were two men with purple ribbons at their hems and ID badges that also indicated pureblood status by their purple borders. Working on alternate shifts, these two brought Harry the occassional food and drink. Harry figured it's a good thing the holding cell has a small lavatory or else he'd probably be left for hours on end with an aching bladder.
At some point fairly early Monday morning, or so Harry thought it was Monday given that he was brought breakfast for the second time since being arrested, Minister Smythe-Jones herself waltzed into the cell. Without preamble she informed Harry, "Thee is a isolation chamber at Azkaban with your name on the door. If you're lucky, you'll see another face once every few years."
"I take it then you are judge and jury, have already reached a verdict and are now well past the sentencing phase."
"In a nutshell."
"What are the charges against me? Don't I at least get to know that much?"
Smythe-Jones gave an indelicate shrug. "Vigilantism. Destruction of property. Assault. Murder. Those are the ones that immediately come to mind."
"Murder?"
"Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort, might have been a sociopath with delusions of grandeur and, as we now know, a filthy Non, but you had no authority to kill him."
"It was self-defense," Harry had reminded her through gritted teeth.
"Do you know the statistics on murderers who claim self-defense?" the Minister had countered. She'd then dismissively waved a hand. "There will be a Wizengamot proceeding so that there is an official record of what became of the famous Harry Potter. I shall look in on it so that I might bid you farewell to your new home. I might even drop in from time to time to see how you are getting on in long term isolation... if you live long enough for me to think about paying you a visit that is."
The Minister then left the holding cell, leaving Harry once more to try and figure a way out. He'd done it before, escaped from situations from which there did not appear to be any hope. It would certainly help if he could talk to at least one of his friends to know what they are planning - if anything. The only thing Harry knew for certain at that point was that he isn't going without some sort of effort to escape, without some sort of fight. Even if it killed him this time.
A Brief Visit
Author: Janine Fox
Date: 02-12-08 16:13
Janine sat quietly at the kitchen table in Sirius and Drucilla’s home cradling a cup of hot cocoa. Beside her sat Rocko and next to the dog stood Pinky.
Drucilla placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and murmured softly, “You gave us quite a scare yesterday. When I went to Harry’s cottage, the entire place looked as if it had been torn apart. I was worried about you.”
“I’m sorry,” whispered Janine all the while thinking that Harry had been right in telling her to leave the cottage so quickly.
“Where have you gone?”
“My parents.”
Drucilla stared at her, but tactfully didn’t say more on the matter.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get in touch with you sooner. My Dad…” Janine stopped to take a steadying breath. “My Dad, he’s a bit protective. He didn’t think it would be smart to send owls or make any contact outside the house. I practically had to beg him to leave today. He only let me go because I have Pinky and Rocko with me. Dad says they’re good protectors.”
Rocko grunted a reply while Pinky blushed slightly.
“I’m not going back to St. Emery’s.”
Drucilla frowned. “Sirius will be there. He would watch over you, you know that.”
“I know, but…” Janine swallowed hard as tears started to burn her eyes. “I’ve completed all my courses. I was only staying ‘til the end of term for the pay from my on campus work. I think it’s better for everyone involved if I don’t return.”
Drucilla gave her a shrewd look. “Is that why you’re staying with your parents and not here? Because you know Harry would want you here, right?”
Janine wasn’t sure he would. Janine didn’t think Harry would want her putting his friends and family in danger. Because knowing Harry, he wouldn’t want to be responsible for such either.
“It’s better this way, Drucilla. And it’ll take people a while to track me down there. With the recent estrangement with my parents, people won’t expect me to go there.”
Drucilla nodded, but she didn’t look convinced.
Placing the cup on the table, Janine stood up feeling uneasy. “I should go. My dad will be getting worried. So will Mum.”
Drucilla stood up and walked with her to the door, Rocko and Pinky close at hand. Before opening the door for her, Drucilla pulled Janine into a motherly hug, smoothing her hair away from her face and wiping away the tears that had started to fall. “We’re going to get him out. Don’t you doubt it. Harry is a fighter. He’s been through worse situations than this. He’s going to be okay.”
Unable to speak, Janine just nodded, but somehow the words that were spoken to comfort her just left her feeling more doubtful and alone.
Unbelievable
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 02-13-08 15:39
As her class of sixth years comes to an end Kissy reminds, "Thursday's exam is postponed. We'll do it next week. Your only homework is to practice. Continue studying for the written portion of the exam as well."
The sixth years leave quietly, more subdued than usual. Kissy starts to follow them out, thinking she'd try to eat a little soup or a bite of sandwich then remembers she needs to put a note on her office door about where she'll be from 2 until 3:30. Normally on Tuesdays Kissy has office hours from 1 to 4; however, today she's covering Evan Lancaster's fifth year class.
Kissy makes short work of making the notice and spellotaping it to her door. Stepping into the corridor, Kissy curses her bad luck of timing when Yaxley, exiting his own classroom, spots her.
"Escort you to lunch, Kissy," he states.
"What happened to asking?"
"Consider it a request if it makes you happier. You aren't wearing your purple."
Kissy sighs, the puff of breath enough to make her bangs go whispy. "No. I forgot."
"Should be permanently sewn on by now."
Kissy shrugs and walks on, as though done talking.
"Why are you giving me even more of a cold shoulder lately?"
Kissy stops, turns, and gapes at the man. "You have to ask?"
Yaxley's face crinkles up as he thinks. Kissy has an urge to make an obvious show of tapping her foot impatiently. The bigger urge is to just turn back around and walk off. She starts to do that when he blurts, "What? You're angry with me for Saturday?"
Kissy says nothing, letting her frosty glare speak volumes.
"Accident."
"You've shown not a single speck of remorse. A woman died and her baby was injured."
"Not my fault so I have nothing to show remorse over."
"Mary died. D-I-E-D. You caused it. Where is there no fault?"
"She shouldn't have gotten in the way of my disciplining a student."
"The use of an Unforgivable Curse is discipline? The boy caused you to spill a drink. That deserves a Cruciatus? What's next? Using the Imperius when they don't jump when you tell them to?"
"I am Deputy Headmaster. I will use whatever means I think best to discipline students. What's more, the student in question is a Non. Stricter measures are necessary with the lot of them."
Kissy has the sudden, violent urge to hurt the man. Spinning on her heels and walking away, something Yaxley finds amusing enough that he's actually laughing at her departure, Kissy thinks it's a bloody good think she has the sense to walk away before she acts on the urge to inflict pain on that unbelievable jackass.
(Urania) Goen Bren
Author: Illyria
Date: 02-13-08 17:31
Yesterday morning, Urania arrived at the Ministry of Magic as she did every weekday to begin her shift in the Department of Mysteries. In recent weeks, her tasks had gone from interesting to menial, but still she came to work everyday with the wishful thought that one day, everything would stabilize. Unlike normal, Urania found herself in a long queue with the other Nons. She submitted her wand as was custom these days and simultaneously learned she had a meeting offsite.
After entering the floo and calling out "Goen Bren!", Urania discovered something quite different. She arrived in a dusty, rather unattractive building, where several fierce-looking individuals took her name and then shunted her off to "Building A." Extremely confused but not yet ready to question what was happening, Urania stepped outside and drew her cloak tighter around her neck. The ground was hard and cold, with patches of snow here and there and bits of bracken and stone in other parts. She didn't want to linger too long, because somehow she knew that it would be foolish for her to do so, but she did take a moment to take in her surroundings.
Next to the door she'd just exited was a sloppily painted X. Not too far away were other similar buildings of varying sizes. None were particularly large, and all were the same, drab brown color. She could see other sloppy letters next to the only doors the buildings appeared to have. Urania spotted A in the distance and walked towards it, the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach only growing worse.
Far out, fog stretched over miles and miles of barren land. Farther still was a body of water. The land sloped up and down, until it fell into the murky water.
"Do you know what's going on here?" somebody asked Urania.
Urania shook her head. "I don't know, but I'm fairly certain we aren't here to attend any meetings."
She reached Building A, the other person having earlier ventured off the path for another building. Cautiously, Urania entered Building A and found herself in what appeared to be a large dormitory room. Twenty cots were lined up, each with a flattened pillow and a thin, scratchy blanket situated on one end. Across the room was a small WC.
One other individual was already in the room, sitting on one of the cots and looking as white as a sheet. "What is this place?" she asked, frightfully.
Urania crossed the room and sat beside her. "Hell. This is Hell."
Now it was a full day and a half later. More individuals had been assigned to Building A during the course of yesterday and today, but the room wasn't filled to capacity yet.
In the beginning, Urania had longed to stretch her legs and explore Goen Bren, whatever it was, but she'd started feeling down early on, and the feeling had only gotten worse with time. All the other witches and wizards felt the same way. They were scared, unsure, and depressed.
"Will they keep us here long?" "What do they plan on doing with us?" "Will we ever see our families again?" were just some of the questions Urania heard and asked herself over and over again. Urania had little idea that one of her sisters was going through the exact same thing somewhere else and that one day, the other three would as well.
Packing For Muggle Life
Author: Majandra
Date: 02-13-08 18:15
Eliza Fine opens a drawer and after a half-second of contemplation, scoops up everything in the drawer and deposits it in a suitcase. Methodically working her way through Miranda's things, Eliza gets her granddaughter's belongings packed for an indefinate stay in the Muggle world. The entire time she works, Eliza can hear sobs coming from the master bedroom. Majandra is trying not to cry loudly but even as quiet as she's trying to be, the sound is still carrying.
George took Miranda to Hogsmeade to let be part of her class at Blossom's and also so that Miranda wouldn't be underfoot while the packing's going on. Hearing a sound, Eliza turns, thinking it's George or Molly. She's surprised to see Paul.
"You look feverish. Go back to your parents and rest."
Paul shakes his head, wincing at the stabbing pain in his head. "I tried resting but couldn't thinking about how I could be useful here."
Eliza smiles at the man she'll always consider to be her husband, the Ministry and its policies be damned. "Oh so useful you shall be with a pounding head and fever." Eliza then adds, "But I perfectly understand your desire. Here, you can help me take these suitcases and boxes to your parents."
In her bedroom, Majandra keeps walking over today's paper. She'd dropped it to the floor after reading in print what the WWN had carried in newscasts starting yesterday afternoon. She randomly picks clothings out of her closet, sniffling more loudly than she means to. George comes in with a trunk he'd gone over to his parents to borrow. He drops the trunk and comes over to Maj, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"I don't want to go," she sniffles more.
"I know but what else can we do for now?"
"First they tell us we aren't married. Now they're going to take our baby if I stay where they can get it? And I'm not even allowed to legally be guardian to the child we already have? I thought all this was behind us when You-Know-Who died."
"We all did," George sighs. "I hate that you and Miranda are going but with the new Ministry policy and with what your father's friend said, I would rather you two be safe in the Muggle world."
"I wish we knew for how long," Maj says, turning to put her head on George's shoulder. "I wish Dad's friend knew more."
Muggle-born Paul Fine works at the Ministry. Yesterday he'd been too ill to go into work. Monday afternoon one of his good friends and co-workers had checked on Paul, telling him that a huge number of Nons had arrived at work only to be sent off to meetings after they'd turned their wands in for the day. None came back. This morning, that same friend popped in at the Fines during a work break to tell Paul he should plan on staying sick for a long time. More Nons were shunted off to meetings this morning and none of the ones who were sent off yesterday had returned. Anyone at the Ministry who knows what's going on isn't yet talking about what's going on with the Non employees.
Eliza had insisted that Paul go to his parents just in case those doing the sending away of Ministry Nons came looking for him. She'd then rushed to Majandra's to tell what little she knew and to urge Maj, in light of Ministry policy released yesterday about Nons not being allowed to have children, to join Paul at his parents.
George has been in and out doing things like telling the rest of the Weasleys what Paul's friend had told them, telling them that Maj is going to live with her Muggle grandparents so that the Ministry can't take their baby, and also checking in with those planning on breaking Harry free.
Maj adds items to the trunk George just brought in then requests, "Would you get Killer's kibble and pillow?"
George, looking more worried than Maj has ever seen, even more than on the morning of the raid on Voldemort's headquarters, gives Maj a kiss on the cheek then leaves to get the little dog and his things. At least once Maj and Miranda are out of here, much as George hates their leaving, he can give full attention to the plan on helping Harry, which is already well in motion.
Having To Walk Away
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 02-14-08 12:06
Ron peers around the corner, looking at one of the entrances Ministry workers use if arriving off the street. Pulling back he asks one of the others, "You have the cloak?"
Lee Jordan pats his waist, around which the invisibility cloak has been wrapped. "Yes, here."
A large, black dog trots around the corner and sits when it reaches them, wiping a massive paw across its snout. It gives them a hard stare then abruptly gets up and lopes off at a near run. Charlie says, "Don't mind him. He's just ticked that he has to go make himself seen at St. Emrys."
Ron checks his watch. "I need to get going too. My break's almost over."
Charlie starts to say something but stops, nodding instead at a man who's coming into view. They knew he was coming because of the signal Sirius gave - the wiping of his paw on his nose. Ron grumbles about having to miss out on things and from the expression of a few of the others knows they feel as he does. But what can they do?
They're sure those closest to Harry are being watched. If they are going to pull off this jail break successfully and still be able to freely move around, they have to be where they would normally be when the break-out takes place. For Ron that means being in a meeting at Whizzhard Books. Charlie and Sirius have classes to teach at St. Emrys. George had mostly spent the morning getting Maj and Miranda moved to her Muggle grandparents but had also been in and out of the Hosgmeade store. George had also made a point of letting Fleur and Bill know what his father-in-law's friend had let them know about the Ministry, something Kingsley Shacklebolt, Elphias Doge, and a few others had let the Weasleys and others know as the morning wore on.
Everyone who might be watched is doing what they normally would be doing today. Those gathered around the corner from the Ministry are taking a huge risk even if they were careful to sneak away, suck as Ron did on a work break. Inside the Ministry, not looking a bit like herself, Hestia Jones is already in place. The man Sirius signaled them about will momentarily be subdued with a sleeping charm and then Lee Jordan, who thanks to polyjuice potion, looks like the man who's about to take a nap.
Ron silently grumbles again then with a pat on Lee's back, he steps into an alleyway and walks briskly away. Walking away now is one of the hardest things Ron has ever done in his life.