With Good Intentions

That same week, only days after her visit to its offices, the Ministry announced its most recent initiative: housing for the displaced through public-private partnerships. 

Harry Potter found himself assigned long-term to the security of the a project that forced him to deal with broken relationships on both sides of the protest that occurred. The ambivalent auror witnessed the repeated selection of each family (from a long line of desperate families living hand to mouth in the meadows and woods throughout magical Britain), the delivery of basic furnishings (donated by the Zabinis) and the wizard pic (placed over each mantle) of the happy homeowners flanked by their benefactors — Lord and Lady Granger-Malfoy. 

Harry noted Lucius’ acquisition of a muggle surname for his new-blood dynasty. The Quibbler reported that this choice reflected the lack of males heirs in his bride’s family. The Prophet reported the choice as a shrewd political and legal move for the last Death Eater on trial. This further reminded the public that the scheduled destruction of the Dementors, fey beings retained for executions, had been delayed until the end of the last Death Eater’s trial: the revelation doubled circulation for that edition.

“Restoration Village”, now chock full of formerly under-housed, under-employed and underfed families, sang the Ministry’s praises…

…and sang Lord and Lady Granger-Malfoy’s praises even louder.

Molly’s attendance at the protest of homes going to war victims— and Harry’s legal obligation to arrest those violating property laws — meant that very soon only Ginny and James Potter were welcome at the Burrow. Within days, the village enacted local rules banning anyone from picketing on village property against the village or the Granger-Malfoys, Ministry laws be damned.

Not a single M.A.D.E. member or sympathizer remained in Restoration Village a fortnight after the arrests. Only two of the 500 homes had to be “reassigned” by the Council of Homeowners.

Shortly after the village’s grand opening, the trial of Lucius Malfoy got delayed to allow the completion of his “partnership” with the Ministry. 

Molly Weasley filed suit, naming the Minister as a co-conspirator to perverting the course of justice.