Ferinus Consanguinitas

A/N Sorry about the late update, but I made up for it, I think this chapter is over 6000 words. Thank you for everyone's support on that last chapter, it made me so happy. Some of you wrote that you thought that they jumped in the sack a bit fast, I think in a normal situation it probably would have been to quick, but with Draco coming from what he saw as a near death situation (his time with his dear auntie) and Harry believing that he won't make it through the war, I think it would press people faster into situations they would normally take their time with. (and plus I was really aching for some non-dream man on man action) And as far as Ginny and Blaise, it defiantly not love right now, more like a convenient hole for Blaise and a nice release for the red headed whore. (sorry I always hated Ginny, I'll try my hardest to keep her in character, but I hate her so damn much its kinda hard). Anyway, on with the show.

Beta's by Night the Storyteller



"Harry you need to look at this." Hermione grabbed Harry's hand as soon as he walked out of his bedroom the next morning and pulled him to the couch, shoving the newspaper under his nose. A picture of a toad-like woman graced the front page.

Dolores Umbridge Named Acting Minister of Magic
By Rita Skeeter

In light of last night's shocking discovery of the Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour's naked body in Muggle alleyway, the ministry has voted to make Dolores Umbridge, former Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, the new acting Minister. Minister Scrimgeour was found (dead???) late last night in a trash ridden alley in Muggle London. Sources said he was attempting to purchase favors of a sexual nature when he was brutally attacked by a gang of muggle street thugs. It is unknown yet as to why he did not use his wand to fight them off. Our current muggle expert has confirmed that the muggle device known as a GUN was used to kill the minister, "It was a shot to the head, not even our best healers could have saved him, those muggles are barbarians."

Our new acting Minister Dolores Umbridge is who most well known for passing the widely claimed ‘Werewolf Registration Act’ and was a favored teacher at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. She had this to say on the former Minister's death, "It is quite sad. Yes to be killed in an alleyway full of male muggle tarts, Rufus could have been a great Minister, but he just wasn't disciplined enough to control his own unnatural lusts."

Our new acting Minister is dedicated to rid this world of the dark wizards currently threatening our way of life and has already begun passing new laws that will help end their dark reign.

"These new laws are dedicated to help better regulate the muggleborns and half breeds that have found their way into our society, and will provide a way for them to adapt to a world that has no place for weak blood. I look forward to serving the magical community as your minister and I hope we can all come together as one to rescue our pure society from all outside threats" Acting Minister Umbridge's full acceptance speech and exclusive interview on page 7.


"Scrimgeour was dead and they made Umbridge Minister of Magic? Has the ministry gone round the bend? Weak blood? It sounds like they are going to kill them, not going to help them adapt!!" Harry threw the paper down and began pacing around the room, wincing a bit at the pain in his backside. Hermione huffed, picking the paper back up and shoving it into Harry's face. She pushed him back onto the couch before sitting down beside him.

"Look Harry, around her neck." She pointed at a golden locket resting on the new minister's squat neck, and Harry tore the paper from her grasp.

"That's...that's Slytherin’s locket, how the hell did she get it?" The door to the room slammed open, Ron stood there for a moment, catching his breath.

"You guys... need downstairs.... right now, Remus..... Remus has been arrested!" Both Harry and Hermione jumped up from the couch and ran over to Ron.

"Why? What happened?" Ron took a deep breath and started walking fast towards the staircase, Harry and Hermione walking with him as he spoke.

"The classes were a setup, the ones that Tonks had to take so they could get their marriage license. Well it required the soon-to-be spouse to be present as well, the aurors stunned both of them as they walked into the room and accused Remus of using the imperious curse on Tonks so she would marry him. They sent her to St. Mungo’s and Remus is still at the ministry awaiting trial." The three friends made it to the dining hall as Ron spoke, everyone in the manor was sitting around the table and even with the dire situation, Harry couldn't help but notice how good Draco looked. Draco flashed him a sexy smile as he sat down before turning back to the discussion.

"Lyra you can get Remus out of Azkaban right?" Lyra looked up at Ron, giving him a look like he was mentally handicapped

"What? No! I have to actually have been to a place before I can go there through the shadows." Ron looked crestfallen, but his suggestion gave Harry an idea.

"Well what if we get you sent to Azkaban, then you can find Remus and get out of there?" Harry looked a bit desperate as he spoke and the rest of the table exploded into conversation. Lyra stayed quiet, her black eyes never leaving Harry's green ones. She gave a small nod before looking away.

"Quiet!! That is a good plan and it will be the safest way to get Lupin out, one of the Aurors in the Order can bring me in and say I cast an Unforgivable or something like that, then I go to Azkaban, find Lupin and get out. Simple, straightforward and only one person is at risk." Many at the table were nodding, but Mad-Eye was once again glaring at the young woman.

“We still can’t trust you Lyra, and I refuse to let you go on any more missions until you tell us how you got into the death eater hideout.” Lyra returned his glare in full.

“You are going to let one of your own rot in Azkaban when I could get him out?" She looked around the table, most looked like they were alright with her leaving, but a few narrowed their eyes at her.

"Fine! It was a portkey, happy now?” The table as a whole looked unhappy and Lyra crossed her arms in defiance and insecurity.

"Who did you get the portkey from? Was it Snape?" Lyra rolled her eyes at Mad-Eye before answering.

"No it was not, and that is all the information I am willing to give." Her voice was final, and the scowl on her face rivaled the one McGonagall was sporting.

"It doesn’t matter anyway Lyra, you are my responsibility and I will not have you going to Azkaban."

"You are not going Lyra." Everyone at the table looked to Lucius, it was the first time any of the Malfoys had spoken that morning and even he looked surprised that he had said anything.

"And since when were you my keeper, Lucius? And don't you all think that if I was working for Voldemort, if so Harry would be dead already. I had plenty of opportunities to kill or capture him when I was with him at Surrey. Sorry Minnie, it is the best way, I'll be fine, you guys just work on getting Tonks out of St. Mungo’s." Minerva gave her a look that clearly said the argument was not over, but didn't say another word. Charlie put his hand over Lyra's on the table and gave it a light squeeze, she turned to him and gave a shy smile.

"We are going to the ministry too." Harry spoke up.

"Who is we and why would you need to go Harry?" Harry knew it was going to be a hard fight to get others allowing the Golden Trio out of the safety of the manor, and Molly Weasley was going to be his hardest obstacle.

"Ron, Hermione and I, we can't tell you why, Dumbledore gave us a mission that we have to complete and we need to go to the ministry to do it." The members of the Order nodded, strangely accepting this situation, perhaps they knew of his mission, or at least that he had one to accomplish.

"And how do you plan on getting in? There are death eater spy's all throughout the ministry!" Once again all eyes turned to the Malfoys as Draco spoke this time.

"Percy can help, he contacted us this morning by owl, said that the report in the Prophet was a lie and that the Minister was killed in his home, probably by death eaters. It was set up to raise the hatred of muggles in the wizarding community and put a bad light on the Scrimgeour." These were Ginny's first words of the meeting as well. She had looked decisively uncomfortable ever since Harry came in, the blush that splashed across her face every time Harry looked in her direction made her freckles stand out even more. And Blaise was sitting a few seats down beside Draco, he was looking entirely too smug. Hermione leaned around Ron to ask Ginny a question.

"How does he know all these?"

"He said he was there around midnight, that he had gone to the bathroom, he saw the flash of green light under the door. He ran back into the bedroom, but there was no one there and the minister was gone." Everyone stopped moving for a moment, processing the new information before Charlie broke the silence.

"Do I want to hazard a guess as to why Percy was using a bathroom adjacent to the Minister's bedroom at twelve o'clock at night?

*-------*

The rest of the Order had begun to show up as the morning wore on and were filled in on the situation and plans to rescue Remus. Three hours, four table wide fights and a delightful lunch later, the Golden Trio were walking up the stairs to their rooms.

"Hurry up guys, I want to talk to Lyra about Remus." Harry walked down the hall to Lyra's door and raised his hand to knock, but heard muffled voices coming from inside the room.

"Extendible ears Ron, hurry." The redhead pulled the flesh colored string from his pocket, he always had a set with him lately, as there were many conversations to eavesdrop on in the manor. Harry slipped them under the door and the three retreated to a small alcove close to his and Ron's room. All three huddled around to listen.

"As your Godmother I refuse to let you do this Lyra!! You were left in my care and I will not allow this madness to go on. What if the glamours don't hold, what if you can't get out?" The Golden Trio would know the voice of their head of house any day. Hermione looked at the other two and mouthed the word "Glamours" as she gave them questioning looks, both boys shrugged their shoulders.

"The glamours will hold Auntie Minnie, they are nearly undetectable. You are worrying over nothing, I'll be in and out before I even have a chance to meet a dementor, and there are plenty of shadows from what I hear."

"And I suppose you won't listen to your Godfather on this either?"

"No, but at least you two finally agree on something." Her voice was filled with laughter.

"And your dad, what of him? Do you really think..." She was cut off mid-sentence

"Don't... talk about him, he lost the right to have a say in my life a long time ago." There was silence in the extendable ears. Hermione spoke in hushed tones.

"Harry I thought you said her father was dead?" The extendable ears were no longer allowing them to hear into the room and Ron's began to pull them back to see what was wrong with them

"That's what she told me, that he died when she was little." They heard footsteps coming down the hall and Ron was pulling the flesh colored string as fast as he could back to the alcove. The footsteps stopped beside the alcove.

"What are you lot doing?" Draco was looking down to where they were hunched over, Lyra's cat Dragonfly was in his arms chewing on the other end of the extendable ears.

"What is it to you ferret?" Ron reached out to the cat to retrieve his possession, but the cat hissed at him, curling his claws around the flesh colored ear.

"Ron, stop it. Why don't you and Mione finish looking over the plans in our room? I need to talk to Draco." Ron and Hermione gave Harry a strange look and Draco walked towards his door mumbling something to Dragonfly that sounded suspiciously like "Good kitty, fighting that nasty Weasel."

"Sure mate, but I'm telling you, watch your arse around him." Harry had to turn away to hold back the laugh trying to escape him with that comment, he regained his composure with a few deep breaths.

"Don't worry about that Ron, I think I can manage." He walked towards Draco, following him into the blonde's room before breaking down in laughter. Draco was looking at him as if he had lost a few screws, so Harry let him in on what Ron said.

"Ahh you didn't tell him that I already got your arse?" Draco put Dragonfly onto a large comfy looking seat, then pulled Harry into a loose embrace, running his hands over Harry's back. The darker haired boy had his thumbs hooked in the waistband of Draco's pants, caressing and squeezing his fabric-covered butt.

"Did you want me to tell them? I mean…do you want other people to know about this?" Harry leaned in close, his breath mingling with Draco's and he ran his tongue over the blonde's lips. Draco groaned and pressed his mouth fully on the other’s, bringing his hands up to the back of Harry's head to deepen the kiss. Harry had to break away first, his breath already heavy, he rested his forehead against Draco's.

"We haven't really defined what is this between us Harry, and I think until we do, it should stay between us." The blond's mouth was moving down Harry's neck, biting and licking the flesh there, he finally reached Harry's collarbone, pulling Harry's shirt away to suck on the bruised skin he had left there the day before.

"Draco....I can't stay, we....we have.....need to plan for tomorrow." Harry's words didn't match his actions, his arms were pulling Draco's body against him, thrusting his hips against the blonde's. Both were moaning at the friction and Draco's hands reached down between them, undoing both of their pants and pulling their lengths out of their confines. Draco placed his hands as far as he could around them both, spreading their precome to help sliding more smoothly. Draco growled, it was too difficult with both of them standing and he pushed Harry over to couch, forcing him to sit on the armrest as Draco rutted against him. Harry kept one hand on Draco's arse, pulling him close to get more friction and pressure on his cock, his other hand moved to Draco's crack and began sliding between the cheeks. He rubbed at Draco's entrance, the blonde's breath hitched and he caught Harry's lips in a desperate kiss. Draco whimpered as Harry began pushing his finger into the tight dry hole, Harry brought the hand between them, gathering up precome that had dripped onto his stomach, and slicked his fingers before reaching behind Draco once again and pushing his middle finger past the tight ring of muscle.

"Not now Harry...I can't." Draco moaned as Harry wiggled his finger around and pressed in a second, trying in vain to find Draco's spot.

"There Harry...oh...yes." Draco began thrusting wildly, pushing back on Harry's fingers, then thrusting his own hips forward. Harry felt his fingers being pressed together painfully as Draco's body tensed and come splashed over his shirt. His fingers slipped from the blonde as Draco collapsed on the floor and Harry fisted himself to completion as he stared at Draco's beautifully flushed face. Harry's cum joined Draco's, the dark haired boy slowly milked his wasted cock before crawling down beside the blonde and taking him in his arms. Draco cringed as Harry spread their now cooling release on both of them, but was too tired and wonderfully sated to voice his complaints.

"Meow." Harry was startled and looked over the seat beside the couch, Dragonfly was staring at them, his tail twitching and haunch up, looking ready to attack.

"Shoo Dragon, go back to Lyra." The cat gave Draco a bored look and ran off to a side door in Draco's room, disappearing through a cat flap.

"That cat freaks me out, are you sure it isn't an animagus?" Draco laughed at Harry, a real laugh, one he had never heard from the normally reserved blonde. It made Harry's heart feel like it was firmly lodged in his throat.

"No Dragonfly is just a cat, an exceptionally smart cat, but a cat none the less." Draco stood up, pulling up his pants in the process and took out his wand, cleaning them both of most of the mess they made, but Harry’s shirt was still a bit stained.

"I have to go, Ron and Hermione will probably be barging in here any minute to see if you have killed me." Draco reached out his hand to help Harry up from the ground, pulling him close as he stood and placing a soft kiss on his already abused lips.

"It is stupid for you to go, can't someone else do the mission?" Draco let Harry go and walked over to the fireplace to look in the mirror above the mantel. Harry followed him, wrapped his arms around Draco's waist, hunching a bit to lay his head between the blonde's shoulder blades.

"No, I have to do it, I made a promise and I'm not going to break it. I want to see you tonight, can I come back?" He accentuated his words with soft kiss to Draco's shoulders, the silky fabric of the blonde's shirt felt wonderful against his cheeks.

"No." Harry pulled back, Draco's voice wasn't harsh, but Harry still felt hurt by the rejection.

"What? Why not?" He gently turned Draco to face him, never letting his hand left the blonde's waist and stared into those deeply beautiful gray eyes. Draco leaned in close to Harry's ear, his breath teasing the black unruly locks as he spoke.

"Cause I won't be able to resist pounding you into the mattress again, and you will need your strength for tomorrow." Draco licked Harry's ear before softly sucking the lobe into his mouth.

"But don't expect me to be so nice when you get back, you won't be walking straight for days." Harry felt his cock twitch at Draco's words.

*------*

"Okay Harry, Percy was only able to get us two samples of hair for the polyjuice potion, so you are going to be under the invisibility cloak. I am going to be Malfalda Hopkirk. Percy said she will be taking the official record of the trials tomorrow, so we will be close to Umbridge. Ron is going to be Reg Cattermole of Magical Maintenance, so he should be able to go almost anywhere in the building." Hermione kept one file for herself and handed the other to Ron, it had a picture of a middle aged man on it, he was small and a bit ferrety-looking.

"What’s about the real Reg and Malfalda?" The three had been going over the plan for three hours now. Ron and Hermione hadn't even noticed Harry's rumpled state when he returned to the room. They were in an equally rumpled state and were too worried about fixing themselves to see him.

"They unfortunately are the special prized winners of a free sample box of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, and will be unable to work tomorrow." Ron was sporting a wicked gleam in his eye as Hermione spoke, that only meant trouble.

"What if they call into work that they are sick, or simply don't open the box?" Harry asked and apparently this was something Ron and Hermione had already gone over when he was with Draco as the evil red head answered his question.

"Already taken care of mate, as soon as they touch the box, it will open and knock them out almost right away. Hopkirk lives alone so no one to worry about with her. But Reg has a family, luckily though the family is moving away. Smart of them if you ask me, sounds like the ministry is about to declare war on muggleborns, his wife is one so she took the kids and is already gone." Ron bit the head off the chocolate frog he was holding, it struggled causing the red head to acquire a brown mustache.

"So we get in, go to the lower levels, find Umbridge, get the locket and get out." Harry was trying hard not to laugh at Ron, but the chocolate was having a different effect on Hermione. Her eyes were glazing over, and she looked like she was about to lean over and lick the chocolate off. Harry quickly asked a question to avoid the awkward situation about to present itself.

"I have a question, Remus' trial is tomorrow right? Why can't Lyra just take him from the trial instead of waiting for Azkaban?"

"She can't go through the shadows underground and the courtrooms are about forty feet under ground level. She would probably end up buried alive if she tried to go to the Shadow Realm from there, that is why she had to go back upstairs to leave when she rescued Draco. And there is also the fact that she doesn't want to be seen, who knows what the ministry or worse You-Know-Who could do with that kind of ability, better that they don't even know about it." Both Harry and Ron nodded their heads. The rest of the planning went quickly and by the time they collapsed into their beds that night, all three were certain they could get the Horcrux and get out without getting caught.

*------*

The next morning was hectic, Percy arrived early, his eyes were bloodshot from crying. He handed a handful of hairs over to Hermione and Ron, wishing them good luck, then was led away by Mrs. Weasley to his new bedroom. Lyra had already been taken to the ministry the night before, she used the Imperius curse on Hermione's dad as a precaution in case they used Veritaserum on her. But the spell was released as soon as it took hold. Most of the house was still asleep as the Golden Trio apparated out of the house, arriving in front of the Ministry, Harry under the cloak and Ron and Hermione both polyjuiced. Each of them had a few extra vials of the potion just in case, if it took longer than planned to retrieve the locket. Hermione had also transfigured three spoons into replicas of the locket, again each had one just in case. They made it into the building easily, it was practically deserted this early in the morning and in no time they found themselves in the hall leading to the courtrooms. A couple of guards stood in the hall, prisoners were shackled to benches awaiting the start of their trials. Harry saw Remus, eyes downcast sitting at the far end of the bench. Harry wanted to rush over, threw off the shackles and got him out from there, but he reigned in his desires and tried to keep alert. Lyra was sitting one down from the end closest to Harry, a guard with dirty blonde hair was leaning in close to her, stroking her arm.

"Well isn't that a pretty little necklace? I'm sure my wife would love such a trinket." The sandy haired guard reached for the golden crest that Lyra had been wearing in the pensieve when she rescued Draco. Harry tried to look closer at it, the symbols on it had looked familiar before, but he didn't think much on it at the time – two dogs, two stars and a sword. The man clasped his hand around the medallion but began to scream, the smell of burning flesh filled the narrow hallway. He pulled his hand back, the symbol now etched into his palm.

"It can't be taken off by magic, nor touched by unworthy hands." Lyra was almost growling at the guard, he pulled out his wand and cast a healing spell on the burn and smirked at her as he spoke.

"No matter then, it won't be much use to you where you are going." The other guards had gathered around Lyra when the man screamed and were now blocking Harry's view. He had to jump to the side of the Hall as a man with a brutish face came charging down the hallway.

"We are in courtroom five today."

"Come on Harry, Lyra will get Remus, we need to go find Umbridge before the polyjuice wears off."

"Right, let’s go." Lyra was still arguing with her guards as Harry arranged his invisibility cloak, making sure he was completely covered before following Ron and Hermione down the hall and towards the courtroom. They came to a stop at an empty corridor.

"Okay Ron we need you to go to the Minister's Office and search there while Harry and I go to see if she is still wearing the locket."

"I know the plan Hermione." Then Ron rushed off the way they had come, his stride was a bit awkward seeing as he had lost around six inches in height when he changed.

"Come on Harry, courtroom five is this way." He followed Hermione as she walked loudly down the hall, her footfalls efficiently drowning out Harry's soft ones. Courtroom five was much like the one that he had been in for his original trial, but this time only two occupants were in the room. The new minister and the golden locket was resting on her ample bosom, while to her side was one of the death eaters that had been present on the tower the night Dumbledore died. Harry never found out his name, but he had a square looking face and today was wearing emasculated robes, silver stitching throughout.

"Ahh Malfalda, punctual as always, I do hope you are well rested, we have six to go throughout today." Hermione walked over to the small area setup for her, Harry sunk in quietly behind her, trying to see the locket around the minister's squat neck.

"Of course Minister." Hermione pulled out her ink and quill, placing them beside a stack of six manila folders.

"Please Malfalda, you may call me Dolores." She smiled at Hermione, it made Harry want to cringe.

"Of course Mini...I mean Dolores." She handed the Minister the first of the six folders and picked up her parchment to take notes.

"Bring in the first prisoner please!" A middle-aged man was led in by two guards and strapped to the central chair, Harry thought that he had seen the man before, but he couldn't place him.

"State your name."

"Emeric Jugson." Jugson, he was one of the death eaters caught when Voldemort was trying to get the Prophecy. He must have escaped from Azkaban.

"It is true that you carry the Dark Mark?"

"Yes." The man looked defeated, perhaps he let himself get caught.

"Guilty, send in the next prisoner." Jugson was led out of the room and Lyra was led in, then strapped to the chair. Her guard seemed to be touching her as much as he could as he tightened the bindings.

"State your name."

"No" Lyra was glaring at Umbridge, a look that seemed to be on her face a lot lately.

"What? I demand that you state your name child."

"Sorry, I was told never to talk to people with bad fashion sense." Hermione, Harry and the man sitting next to Umbridge all snorted at Lyra's comment, but thankfully it was not heard over the Minister's screech.

"Why you American swine!!......No matter then… Nomino Revelio." The spell which would normally cause a person's name to shine above their head, revealed only a murky fog.

"What kind of spell do you have on you child, which blocks me from seeing your name? Specialis Revelio." This time the spell worked, a parchment appeared in Umbridge's hand detailing the enchantments on Lyra.

"Two glamours and a charm to block out light to your eyes, well that won't do Finite Incantatem." Lyra closed her eyes quickly, but not before letting out a hiss of pain, the lights were low in the rest of the room, but the chair had a rather bright spotlight on it.

"Hmm, sensitivity to light?" The guard came back around the front of the chair, grabbing handful of Lyra's hair and forcing her face up where he could see it.

"I see no change in her appearance minister, perhaps she is hiding something under her clothes?" He reached down to her shirt, pulling on the collar to see underneath the fabric, she snapped at his arm, barely missing the skin. Her canine teeth now showed as long and sharp, giving her a feral look.

"NO, Don't touch me you foul smelling bastard."

"Minister she has teeth like a vampire, she didn't have them in the hall, that is probably what one of the glamours was hiding."

"A half breed then? Things do not look good for you when you don't tell us the truth child, now if you will please state your name and parentage for the court."

"Fuck you." The minister acquired a pinched look as she pursed her lips.

"Guard please bring in a vial of Veritaserum."

"Of course minister." The guard returned shortly, casting a full body bind on Lyra, before pouring half the bottle down her throat, massaging her throat to help her swallow but moving his hands so low with each swipe that he brushed the top of her chest. He then released the body bind and returned to his place behind the chair. Lyra's head lolled on her shoulders, her eyelids fighting to stay open, Harry guessed the man gave her at least triple the recommended dosage.

"There, isn't that better? State your name" Umbridge was talking kindly now.

"Lyra" Her voice came out as no more than a drunken whisper.

"Your full name please" Hermione was scribbling her notes, but seemed to have a worried expression on her face, Harry didn't know what the effects of an overdose were, but apparently Hermione did.

"Lyra Rayner" Again a quite voice, if possible even more so than her first answer.

"Good, now did you cast the Imperius curse on a muggle man last night?"

"Yes." Lyra tried to nod her head as she answered but the movement was too much and her head fell to the side, her eyes opening and blinking in pain.

"One last questions Miss. Rayner, do you have the Dark Mark?"

"Yes." Hermione gasped, Umbridge smiled, moving to the edge of her seat and almost wiggling like a cat ready for the kill, she continued talking in her sickly sweet tones.

"Where is it my dear?"

"My stomach." The sandy haired guard moved to the front of the chair, blocking the view from where Harry sat. The ripping sound of fabric was heard, then the man resumed his place behind the chair. The Dark Mark stood out darkly on Lyra's pale stomach, the mouth of the skull around her naval making it seem as if the snake was emerging from her bellybutton. Harry heard Hermione gasp again, but he only felt numb. He trusted her, even with all the secrets she kept, he still trusted that she wasn't the enemy.

"Guilty, take her away. Next!!" the guard gripped her roughly as he undid the binds from the chair and roped her hands behind her back, the man sitting beside the minister watched her closely before turning to Umbridge.

"If you will excuse me Minister." She looked at him and nodded.

"Of course dear." The man Harry knew to be a death eater moved from his seat and Harry tried to follow, but was cut off by the new prisoner being brought in, he returned to his spot by Hermione, who was discreetly taking another swallow of her polyjuice potion.

Three more prisoners and three more guilty verdicts later a distinguished looking wizard in obviously expensive dress robes entered the courtroom. He had dark black hair and blue eyes, and Harry guessed he was around fifty years of age, but with wizards it was always hard to tell. Behind the immaculately dressed man came a very sedated Remus Lupin, his eyes were unfocused and he was being held up between two guards. He was walked over to the chair and strapped in, the distinguished wizard standing to his right as the guards went to stand by the door.

"And who might you be Sir?" Umbridge's tone was seemingly polite but her face showed irritation.

"Minister, I am Olive Hornby, Mr. Lupin's counsel for this trial." The toad woman looked unimpressed.

"You are the Malfoy family's personal counsel, are you not?" The man with the brutish face asked as he re-entered the room and took his seat.

"Correct...Mr.?

"Yaxley. And why would a high priced solicitor such as yourself be working for an obviously poor werewolf?" Mr. Hornby chuckled giving Yaxley a knowing look.

"Ahh yes Mr. Yaxley. I have served as counsel for the Malfoys in the past, this is true, but I also dabble in charity work. I have been asked by this man, hopefully soon to be father-in-law to assist in winning his freedom. He as well as his wife are convinced that Mr. Lupin is innocent of all charges and both will attest to that as soon as they can get their daughter out of St. Mungo’s." Mr. Hornby voice was very compelling, it would have to be to get Lucius Malfoy out of prison so many times.

"I am afraid Mr. Hornby that their opinions matter not, it simply makes it more clear of this beast's infatuation with a young and impressionable Auror, that he would imperio not only her, but her parents as well." The counsel man looked calm, but his eyes told a different story, he knew he stood no chance in this case.

"With all due respect Minister, this man is due his trial with representation and an impartial judge and jury.

"That creature is not a man, Mr. Hornby, he is a delinquent beast. And I declare him guilty on all charges, sentencing to be carried out as soon as the rest of the trials ends today, please guards take both Mr. Remus and his counsel out of my Courtroom." Both men were escorted out of the room and Harry nudged Hermione to get on with it.

"Oh Dolores that is quite a beautiful necklace, may I look a bit closer at it?" Umbridge looked down at the locket, fingering the "S" a bit before unclasping it from her squat neck and holding it out to the polyjuiced Hermione.

"I suppose Malfalda, do be careful though, it is a family heirloom." Hermione took the locket from Umbridge's grasp, a shudder running through her body as she touched the dark object. Harry aimed his wand at the clasp of the necklace and severed it so it could not be worn.

"Oh I am so sorry Minister, I didn't mean to break it." Hermione put her hands over her mouth in mock sympathy.

"Hmm....no matter, I will send it to get fixed later, don't worry yourself Mafalda." Umbridge placed the locket on the table beside her before asking for the next prisoner to be brought in.

"That was the last prisoner for the day Minister." The sandy haired guard was standing by the door, a wide and evil looking smile across his face.

"When do the prisoners leave for Azkaban Minister?" Hermione asked, trying to make conversation to distract her ex professor as Harry replaced the locket sitting on the table with the one Hermione had transfigured for him.

"Leave Mafalda? Oh no no no, the prisoners that were tried this morning will not be sent to Azkaban, as of yesterday anyone convicted of using an Unforgivable or found to be a marked death eater is to be put to death immediately after trial. Really dear, they are lucky they get trials at all, scum all of them." Umbridge's voice was giddy and Hermione quickly masked her look of horror before the toad woman looked back up from her paperwork.

"Yes of course, wouldn't do to send them to Azkaban with all the breakouts lately, how are they to be put to death?" Hermione spoke a bit quickly and Umbridge looked at her strangely for a few seconds before giggling.

"Why the veil of course, all that dementor business was too complicated and we can't very well have our loyal ministry wizards using the killing curse." Harry quickly stifled his gasp and switched out the lockets. One hand wrapped tightly around the Horcrux while the other trying desperately to keep hold of his cloak. Harry silently ran as fast as he could out of the room and towards the Department of Mysteries. He thankfully made it to the door without being caught, and stepped over the threshold into the black circular room he remembered from his fifth year. He closed the door behind him and like before the doors began spinning around him, the blue torches on the wall making everything glowed eerily. The doors finally came to a stop and Harry began inspecting each one, finally he found what looked to be scorch marks in the shape of an "X" on one of the doors. The same door that Hermione had marked that night with her Flagrate spell, so that meant three doors to the right was the room that led to the veil. Harry hurried to the door and eased it open, looking down at the place that had been the venue for so many of his nightmares. Twelve people were standing at the bottom of the pit-like room, four were dressed in auror robes, their wands were out and they were directing the six restrained prisoners towards the raised dias that held the stone archway. Standing next to the archway was a hooded man, whom Harry guessed was the one who gave them the final heave-ho into the afterlife, the last person in the room was standing off to the side of the dias, reading off the charges to the strangely calm prisoners. Harry ran towards the stone dias in the middle of the sunken room, Remus was first in line and already standing beside the ragged veil, his eyes still were unfocused, hands roped behind his back.

"No!! Stop he is innocent!!" The man in the black hood looked up to where Harry's voice had come from, only to see disembodied feet running down the stone stairs of the room. The executioner placed his hand on the werewolf's back and began to push him forward closer to the stone archway. Harry jumped onto the dias and with a still invisible hand grabbed Remus' arm, but his balance wasn't centered and the dark haired boy fell as the hooded man pushed his prisoner hard causing both Harry and Remus to tumble into the veil.