Chapter 15: - Cornelius Fudge
The Easter holidays came all too soon, and leading up to it, Harry and Yugi often wished they hadn't worked out the secrets of the diary. The gang were all too aware of Hagrid's liking for large and monstrous creatures, however they were equally certain that Hagrid wouldn't have tried to kill someone.
It was the first day of the holidays and the gang were sat in their usual seats by the lake, there were three major changes, one was that Yami wasn't there, another was that Kaiba and Mokuba had joined their little group, and had been told about the diary and what Yugi and Harry had found out, and the third was that that Kari was sat next to Joey, and the pair kept looking at each other and blushing and looking away whenever their eyes made contact.
Kaiba hadn't been happy about the fact his 'VR Department Head' was going out with the mutt but her work standard had increased since she'd been dating Wheeler, so he was willing to tolerate it. However this was just embarrassing. Kaiba scowled at the mutt, who put his arm around his girlfriend and smirked at Kaiba as Kari leant into him.
Yugi looked over to Ombre, who was watching the pair through narrowed eyes. The Princess spotted Yugi watching her and smiled at him, her expression changing instantly, and Yugi wondered what was going through her mind; he was sure that he'd seen envy on the Princess's face. Yami would know, He thought, then a wave of depression washed over him and he retreated into his shell again.
"Riddle might have gotten the wrong person," Kari said, thinking.
"Maybe it was some other monster that was attacking people." Hermione agreed.
"How many monsters do you think this place can hold?" Ron asked dully.
"We always knew Hagrid had been expelled," Harry said miserably, "And the attacks must've stopped right after Hagrid was kicked out otherwise Riddle wouldn't have gotten his reward." He was still wondering who the other person that would have done well in Slytherin but had asked not to be sorted into that house was.
Joey tried a different tack, "Riddle does sound like Percy, who asked him to grass on Hagrid anyway?"
"But the monster had killed someone, what would we have done?" Kari said, closing her eyes.
"And Riddle was going back to some muggle orphanage, if they closed Hogwarts," Kaiba said, speaking for the first time, "I don't blame him for wanting to stay here."
Silence fell at that remark, it was common knowledge within the group that Kaiba and Mokuba had been adopted by Gosabora Kaiba, and most of what Yugi and the others knew about the way they had been treated had been told to Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Has anyone thought about the new choices for our classes next year?" Joey asked, changing the subject, "I'm not taking Divination or Muggle Studies."
"I'm taking everything." Hermione said, smiling, Kari opened her eyes.
"And that's supposed to surprise me?" The choices for classes was difficult, Hermione was the only one who wanted to take Muggle Studies, since the others were all either Muggle Born other then Ron, and though Yugi was a pure blood wizard he'd been raised as a muggle.
Harry and Joey were half tempted to ask if they could dump Potions. Unfortunately they weren't allowed to dump subjects, they had to keep all their old subjects. Yugi and Kari wanted to dump something on top of Lockheart.
Joey and Kari were matching up all their subjects, and no one, not even Kaiba, dared ask what would happen if they ended up in a fight, while Harry and Ron took the same subjects, feeling that if they were bad at them, at least they'd be bad at the lessons together.
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Friday evening, Yugi and Harry were retuning from the last Quidditch practise before their match tomorrow, Yugi wasn't due to play but he had to practise in case someone became too injured to continue.
Neither of them were unsure of their chances of victory in the next days match. But were shocked when they returned to the dorms, Harry and Yugi's stuff had been strewn all over the floor, their cloaks lay ripped on the floor and their bed coverings were pulled off. Joey was fuming. "We don't know who did it, we just found…" Harry dashed in and searched frantically, "Someone must have been looking for something."
"And they found it," Harry groaned, "Riddle's diary is gone."
"What?" Ron growled. Harry and Yugi tidied up then they went down to where the three girls were reading. They looked aghast at the news.
"But only a Gryffindor could have stolen… no one else knows our password, not even Ryou." Ombre said, shocked.
"Exactly." Harry replied.
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They force fed Yugi and Harry breakfast the next day, before heading out to the Quidditch pitch, Kaiba and Mokuba joined them at the Great Hall's doors. Joey, Ombre and Kaiba's heads shot up as their dragons gave them a warning, and Harry heard the voice again.
"It was the voice again." Hermione, Kari and Kaiba looked at each other and then shot off, leaving Ombre with the Millennium Orb, just in case something happened at the match. "Where are they going?"
Joey shrugged, then Kari dashed back down, kissed Joey and dashed off again. Joey melted on the spot and the others grinned. The two players collected their brooms and headed off to the match. Harry couldn't take his mind off the voice, his only comfort was that everyone was outside, watching the match.
Joey watched as Professor McGonagall ran out onto the Quidditch pitch but was distracted by his Red Eyes Black Dragon's roar and he looked up in time to see Mana, Kari's Dark Magician Girl, collapse on the dragon's back. Kisara fell out of the sky, and was caught gently by Shadowfae, Ombre's face had gone pale and drawn. "No…" Joey murmured as he got up, Joey and the rest of the gang rushed onto the pitch as McGonagall was talking to Harry.
"Yes, I think it would be best if the entire group came too, especially you three." She said, pointing out Joey, Ombre and Mokuba. The gang followed her to the Hospital wing, and she stopped before she opened the door. "I must warn you this may come as a shock, there's been another attack, another triple attack."
The gang gulped as Professor McGonagall opened the door. Mokuba looked around and rushed in. "Nooooooooooooo, Seto! Seto, wake up!" The small boy shouted.
"Kari!" Ombre rushed over, Joey not that far behind, "Kari please…" Ombre knelt by her light's bed, and put the rope tied to the Millennium Orb over Kari's head and closed her eyes, arriving in the corridor between their soul rooms. Ombre tired to budge Kari's door open, but the once wooden carved door, was as solid as stone, and as grey as slate. Ombre only gave up when she bounced off Kari's door and hit her own.
Ombre returned to her own body, and took the Orb off of Kari. Her eyes had hardened as she saw the other victim, Harry and Ron were gathered around Hermione's bed. Three of their friends attacked on one day, someone was out to get them, that much was obvious.
"Miss Granger and Miss Ironhide were carrying mirrors and Mr Kaiba was reaching for his Duelling deck, have you any idea why?" The gang shook their heads and Professor McGonagall led them back to the Common Room.
"All students will return to their house common rooms by six o'clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch practise and matches are postponed, and there will be no more activities."
The gang were sat near the window in stunned silence, four of their number had fallen now, it was obvious someone was targeting them, but that had to make it someone who hated them. Harry had shared his conversation with the sorting hat that there was someone in the year who would have done well in Slytherin, and his suspicions that this unknown student could be the heir of Slytherin. He omitted the fact that the hat wanted to put him there too.
Professor McGonagall left and Lee Jordan, the Weasley twins best friend, stood up, "That's four Gryffindors down, not including a Gryffindor ghost, two Ravenclaws and one Hufflepuff." He counted on his fingers, "Haven't any of the teachers noticed that the Slytherins are safe? The heir of Slytherin, the monster of Slytherin, why don't they chuck all the Slytherins out, starting with the Malfoys?" He was answered with cheers from all around the Common Room.
Harry was only half listening, he could get the image of his friends in the hospital wing out of his head, and if the attacks didn't stop soon, he'd be forced to live with the Dursleys for the rest of his life. Tom Riddle had turned Hagrid in because he was faced with the prospect of returning to a muggle orphanage, Harry now knew how he felt.
"What're we going to do?" Ron asked, he was leaning on the back of Yugi's chair, and looking at the ceiling. No one could look at Joey, Ombre or Mokuba, who were sat apart from the group, not really paying attention to anyone. Yugi was pale but spoke up.
"They might suspect Hagrid, we have to talk to him now." Yugi said firmly, "Before someone gets him to leave the grounds."
Harry nodded, "I don't think it's him this time," He said, looking over at his friends, "But if he set the monster loose last time he'll know how to get inside the Chamber of Secrets, and that's a start."
"But McGonagall said we've got to stay in Gryffindor tower unless we're in class." Ron said, looking around the Common Room.
"I think," Yugi said, even more quietly, "It's time to get your Dad's old cloak out again, Harry." Harry nodded.
Only Harry and Yugi snuck out after everyone had gone to sleep. Joey had gone up to the dorm almost straight away, while Ombre and Mokuba had fallen asleep by the fire after everyone else had gone up to the dorms. They used Harry's father's old Invisibility Cloak, which was the only thing Harry had inherited from his father.
The journey wasn't comfortable, Harry and Yugi, who had both been sneaking out to see the Mirror of Erised last school year, had never seen the halls so crowed after nightfall. It was a clear starry night and they could easily make their way down to Hagrid's lighted windows.
They pulled off the cloak, and knocked on the door, Hagrid flung it open and they found themselves face to face with a crossbow.
"Harry? Yugi? What are you two doing down here?" Hagrid asked, lowering the weapon.
"What's that for?" Yugi asked, as he and Harry stepped inside.
"Nothin'… Nothin'," Hagrid muttered, "I've bin expectin'… doesn't matter… sit down… I'll make tea."
Hagrid didn't seem to know what he was doing. He nearly extinguished the fire when he spilt water from the kettle on it, Yugi grabbed the kettle off of him, wincing slightly against the heat of the metal handle, while Harry looked for a seat that wasn't occupied by a silver dragon. Unfortunately that wasn't easy with it draping over three.
"Are you ok, Hagrid?" Harry asked, as Yugi put the kettle down and examined the red mark on his hand. "Did you hear about Hermione, Kari and Kaiba?"
"Oh, I heard, all righ'," Hagrid said, a tremor in his voice. Yugi poured them all a cup of tea, and Hagrid was just putting a slab of fruitcake on a plate when there was load knock at the door.
Yugi and Harry panicked, Hagrid dropped the fruitcake, "My dragon…" He hissed. Yugi and Harry pulled the dragon under the Invisibility Cloak and made it join them in a retreat into the corner, the dragon settled down to sleep again and Yugi and Harry ducked low so they could cover it. Once Hagrid was certain the three were sufficiently covered, he grabbed his crossbow and flung open the door.
"Good evening Hagrid." It was Professor Dumbledore, he entered, looking deadly serious and was followed by a short, odd looking man. The stranger was a short, portly man with rumpled grey hair and an anxious expression, he was looking around, as if expecting some sort of monster to jump out at him.
The dragon's tail slammed down on Yugi's foot and Harry had to clamp a hand over the boy's mouth to make sure he didn't cry out.
"Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic." The man introduced himself. "I'm sorry it's come to this, but this is very bad business, very bad, had to come. Three attacks, seven students petrified, it's gone far enough, the Ministry's got to act."
"I never…" Hagrid looked at Dumbledore imploringly, "You know I never, Professor Dumbledore… Sir…"
"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence." Said Dumbledore, who was frowning at Fudge.
"Look, Albus," said Fudge uncomfortably, "Hagrid's record stands against him, Ministry's got to do something, there's even rumours flying around about dragons at Hogwarts. The school governors have been in touch."
"Yet again Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest." His blue eyes were filled with the same sort of fire that scared the yamis, but much stronger then Harry or Yugi had ever seen before.
"Look at it from my point of view." Said Fudge, fidgeting with his bowler hat. "I'm under a lot of pressure, the Japanese Wizarding community have found out that the transfer students are being victimised, as are Muggle-borns, I've got to be seen doing something. If it turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said. But I've got to take him, got to. Wouldn't be doing my duty…"
"Take me?" said Hagrid, who was trembling, "Take me where?"
"For a short stretch only," said Fudge, who refused to meet Hagrid's eyes, "Not a punishment, more of a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be let out with a full apology…"
"Not Azkaban?" Croaked Hagrid. Yugi's eyes widened, his Grandpa had told him about Azkaban, the most feared wizarding prison in the world. Harry took his hand away from Yugi's mouth as there was a knock at the door. This time it was Yugi who clamped a hand over Harry's mouth, stopping Harry's audiable gasp, Lucius Malfoy was at the door. Fang started to growl and but fortunately the dragon was not waking up.
"Already here Fudge," He said approvingly, "Good, Good."
"What're you doing here?" said Hagrid furiously, "Get outta my house!"
"My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all in being inside your… did you call it a house?" Malfoy sneered. "I was told the Headmaster was here by the school."
"And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?" Dumbledore said politely, though the fire was still burning in his eyes, Yugi wondered if Dumbledore knew he was radiating magic, though no one else seemed to feel it.
"Dreadful thing, Dumbledore," said Malfoy Sr., taking out a roll of parchment, "but the Governors feel it's time you step aside, this is an Order of Suspension – you'll find 12 signatures on it. How many attacks has it been now? Three more this afternoon, wasn't it?" Malfoy looked like he'd eaten a particularly gorgeous piece of chocolate cake, "The appointment or suspension of the Headmaster, is a matter for the Governors, Fudge." Lucius said as Fudge tried to say something. "And since Dumbledore has failed to stop these attacks… and you'll find all 12 signatures on the parchment."
Hagrid leapt to his feet, "An' since you can't blackmail them anymore, how many did you have to threaten before they agreed? Eh, Malfoy?"
"Dear, dear…" Lucius said, "That temper of yours will get you into trouble someday, Hagrid, I would advise you not to yell at the Azkaban guards like that. They won't like it at all."
"Yeh' can't take Dumbledore away!" yelled Hagrid, waking the dragon and causing Fang to wimper, "Take him away and the Muggle borns or the remaining transfer students won't stand a chance, there'll be killings next!"
"Calm yourself Hagrid." Dumbledore said sharply, "If the Goveners want my suspension then so be it," He hadn't taken his eyes off of Malfoy, "However," Dumbledore spoke slowly so no one would miss it, "You will find that I am only truly gone when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that Hogwarts will always give help to those who ask for it."
Yugi was convinced that Dumbledore had looked at them as they tried to get the dragon to stay still. Malfoy made a derogatory comment and then bowed Dumbledore out, following after the great wizard. Fudge waited for Hagrid to go, but he stood his ground. "If anyone wanted to find out some stuff, all they'd have to do would be ter follow the spiders. That'd lead them right! That's all I'm saying." Fudge stared at him in amazement.
"All right, I'm coming." Hagrid said, pulling on his mole skin coat, he stopped by the door, "An' someone'll need to feed Fang and Gale while I'm away." He said loudly.
The door banged shut and Yugi pulled off the invisibility cloak, "We're in trouble now." Harry said hoarsely, "No Dumbledore, they might as well close the school. There'll be an attack a day with him gone."
Yugi nodded, he didn't like the sheer volume of dark magic he'd been sensing from Lucius Malfoy, Fang had started to howl and scratch at the closed door. Yugi couldn't blame him.
It was the first day of the holidays and the gang were sat in their usual seats by the lake, there were three major changes, one was that Yami wasn't there, another was that Kaiba and Mokuba had joined their little group, and had been told about the diary and what Yugi and Harry had found out, and the third was that that Kari was sat next to Joey, and the pair kept looking at each other and blushing and looking away whenever their eyes made contact.
Kaiba hadn't been happy about the fact his 'VR Department Head' was going out with the mutt but her work standard had increased since she'd been dating Wheeler, so he was willing to tolerate it. However this was just embarrassing. Kaiba scowled at the mutt, who put his arm around his girlfriend and smirked at Kaiba as Kari leant into him.
Yugi looked over to Ombre, who was watching the pair through narrowed eyes. The Princess spotted Yugi watching her and smiled at him, her expression changing instantly, and Yugi wondered what was going through her mind; he was sure that he'd seen envy on the Princess's face. Yami would know, He thought, then a wave of depression washed over him and he retreated into his shell again.
"Riddle might have gotten the wrong person," Kari said, thinking.
"Maybe it was some other monster that was attacking people." Hermione agreed.
"How many monsters do you think this place can hold?" Ron asked dully.
"We always knew Hagrid had been expelled," Harry said miserably, "And the attacks must've stopped right after Hagrid was kicked out otherwise Riddle wouldn't have gotten his reward." He was still wondering who the other person that would have done well in Slytherin but had asked not to be sorted into that house was.
Joey tried a different tack, "Riddle does sound like Percy, who asked him to grass on Hagrid anyway?"
"But the monster had killed someone, what would we have done?" Kari said, closing her eyes.
"And Riddle was going back to some muggle orphanage, if they closed Hogwarts," Kaiba said, speaking for the first time, "I don't blame him for wanting to stay here."
Silence fell at that remark, it was common knowledge within the group that Kaiba and Mokuba had been adopted by Gosabora Kaiba, and most of what Yugi and the others knew about the way they had been treated had been told to Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Has anyone thought about the new choices for our classes next year?" Joey asked, changing the subject, "I'm not taking Divination or Muggle Studies."
"I'm taking everything." Hermione said, smiling, Kari opened her eyes.
"And that's supposed to surprise me?" The choices for classes was difficult, Hermione was the only one who wanted to take Muggle Studies, since the others were all either Muggle Born other then Ron, and though Yugi was a pure blood wizard he'd been raised as a muggle.
Harry and Joey were half tempted to ask if they could dump Potions. Unfortunately they weren't allowed to dump subjects, they had to keep all their old subjects. Yugi and Kari wanted to dump something on top of Lockheart.
Joey and Kari were matching up all their subjects, and no one, not even Kaiba, dared ask what would happen if they ended up in a fight, while Harry and Ron took the same subjects, feeling that if they were bad at them, at least they'd be bad at the lessons together.
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Friday evening, Yugi and Harry were retuning from the last Quidditch practise before their match tomorrow, Yugi wasn't due to play but he had to practise in case someone became too injured to continue.
Neither of them were unsure of their chances of victory in the next days match. But were shocked when they returned to the dorms, Harry and Yugi's stuff had been strewn all over the floor, their cloaks lay ripped on the floor and their bed coverings were pulled off. Joey was fuming. "We don't know who did it, we just found…" Harry dashed in and searched frantically, "Someone must have been looking for something."
"And they found it," Harry groaned, "Riddle's diary is gone."
"What?" Ron growled. Harry and Yugi tidied up then they went down to where the three girls were reading. They looked aghast at the news.
"But only a Gryffindor could have stolen… no one else knows our password, not even Ryou." Ombre said, shocked.
"Exactly." Harry replied.
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They force fed Yugi and Harry breakfast the next day, before heading out to the Quidditch pitch, Kaiba and Mokuba joined them at the Great Hall's doors. Joey, Ombre and Kaiba's heads shot up as their dragons gave them a warning, and Harry heard the voice again.
"It was the voice again." Hermione, Kari and Kaiba looked at each other and then shot off, leaving Ombre with the Millennium Orb, just in case something happened at the match. "Where are they going?"
Joey shrugged, then Kari dashed back down, kissed Joey and dashed off again. Joey melted on the spot and the others grinned. The two players collected their brooms and headed off to the match. Harry couldn't take his mind off the voice, his only comfort was that everyone was outside, watching the match.
Joey watched as Professor McGonagall ran out onto the Quidditch pitch but was distracted by his Red Eyes Black Dragon's roar and he looked up in time to see Mana, Kari's Dark Magician Girl, collapse on the dragon's back. Kisara fell out of the sky, and was caught gently by Shadowfae, Ombre's face had gone pale and drawn. "No…" Joey murmured as he got up, Joey and the rest of the gang rushed onto the pitch as McGonagall was talking to Harry.
"Yes, I think it would be best if the entire group came too, especially you three." She said, pointing out Joey, Ombre and Mokuba. The gang followed her to the Hospital wing, and she stopped before she opened the door. "I must warn you this may come as a shock, there's been another attack, another triple attack."
The gang gulped as Professor McGonagall opened the door. Mokuba looked around and rushed in. "Nooooooooooooo, Seto! Seto, wake up!" The small boy shouted.
"Kari!" Ombre rushed over, Joey not that far behind, "Kari please…" Ombre knelt by her light's bed, and put the rope tied to the Millennium Orb over Kari's head and closed her eyes, arriving in the corridor between their soul rooms. Ombre tired to budge Kari's door open, but the once wooden carved door, was as solid as stone, and as grey as slate. Ombre only gave up when she bounced off Kari's door and hit her own.
Ombre returned to her own body, and took the Orb off of Kari. Her eyes had hardened as she saw the other victim, Harry and Ron were gathered around Hermione's bed. Three of their friends attacked on one day, someone was out to get them, that much was obvious.
"Miss Granger and Miss Ironhide were carrying mirrors and Mr Kaiba was reaching for his Duelling deck, have you any idea why?" The gang shook their heads and Professor McGonagall led them back to the Common Room.
"All students will return to their house common rooms by six o'clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch practise and matches are postponed, and there will be no more activities."
The gang were sat near the window in stunned silence, four of their number had fallen now, it was obvious someone was targeting them, but that had to make it someone who hated them. Harry had shared his conversation with the sorting hat that there was someone in the year who would have done well in Slytherin, and his suspicions that this unknown student could be the heir of Slytherin. He omitted the fact that the hat wanted to put him there too.
Professor McGonagall left and Lee Jordan, the Weasley twins best friend, stood up, "That's four Gryffindors down, not including a Gryffindor ghost, two Ravenclaws and one Hufflepuff." He counted on his fingers, "Haven't any of the teachers noticed that the Slytherins are safe? The heir of Slytherin, the monster of Slytherin, why don't they chuck all the Slytherins out, starting with the Malfoys?" He was answered with cheers from all around the Common Room.
Harry was only half listening, he could get the image of his friends in the hospital wing out of his head, and if the attacks didn't stop soon, he'd be forced to live with the Dursleys for the rest of his life. Tom Riddle had turned Hagrid in because he was faced with the prospect of returning to a muggle orphanage, Harry now knew how he felt.
"What're we going to do?" Ron asked, he was leaning on the back of Yugi's chair, and looking at the ceiling. No one could look at Joey, Ombre or Mokuba, who were sat apart from the group, not really paying attention to anyone. Yugi was pale but spoke up.
"They might suspect Hagrid, we have to talk to him now." Yugi said firmly, "Before someone gets him to leave the grounds."
Harry nodded, "I don't think it's him this time," He said, looking over at his friends, "But if he set the monster loose last time he'll know how to get inside the Chamber of Secrets, and that's a start."
"But McGonagall said we've got to stay in Gryffindor tower unless we're in class." Ron said, looking around the Common Room.
"I think," Yugi said, even more quietly, "It's time to get your Dad's old cloak out again, Harry." Harry nodded.
Only Harry and Yugi snuck out after everyone had gone to sleep. Joey had gone up to the dorm almost straight away, while Ombre and Mokuba had fallen asleep by the fire after everyone else had gone up to the dorms. They used Harry's father's old Invisibility Cloak, which was the only thing Harry had inherited from his father.
The journey wasn't comfortable, Harry and Yugi, who had both been sneaking out to see the Mirror of Erised last school year, had never seen the halls so crowed after nightfall. It was a clear starry night and they could easily make their way down to Hagrid's lighted windows.
They pulled off the cloak, and knocked on the door, Hagrid flung it open and they found themselves face to face with a crossbow.
"Harry? Yugi? What are you two doing down here?" Hagrid asked, lowering the weapon.
"What's that for?" Yugi asked, as he and Harry stepped inside.
"Nothin'… Nothin'," Hagrid muttered, "I've bin expectin'… doesn't matter… sit down… I'll make tea."
Hagrid didn't seem to know what he was doing. He nearly extinguished the fire when he spilt water from the kettle on it, Yugi grabbed the kettle off of him, wincing slightly against the heat of the metal handle, while Harry looked for a seat that wasn't occupied by a silver dragon. Unfortunately that wasn't easy with it draping over three.
"Are you ok, Hagrid?" Harry asked, as Yugi put the kettle down and examined the red mark on his hand. "Did you hear about Hermione, Kari and Kaiba?"
"Oh, I heard, all righ'," Hagrid said, a tremor in his voice. Yugi poured them all a cup of tea, and Hagrid was just putting a slab of fruitcake on a plate when there was load knock at the door.
Yugi and Harry panicked, Hagrid dropped the fruitcake, "My dragon…" He hissed. Yugi and Harry pulled the dragon under the Invisibility Cloak and made it join them in a retreat into the corner, the dragon settled down to sleep again and Yugi and Harry ducked low so they could cover it. Once Hagrid was certain the three were sufficiently covered, he grabbed his crossbow and flung open the door.
"Good evening Hagrid." It was Professor Dumbledore, he entered, looking deadly serious and was followed by a short, odd looking man. The stranger was a short, portly man with rumpled grey hair and an anxious expression, he was looking around, as if expecting some sort of monster to jump out at him.
The dragon's tail slammed down on Yugi's foot and Harry had to clamp a hand over the boy's mouth to make sure he didn't cry out.
"Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic." The man introduced himself. "I'm sorry it's come to this, but this is very bad business, very bad, had to come. Three attacks, seven students petrified, it's gone far enough, the Ministry's got to act."
"I never…" Hagrid looked at Dumbledore imploringly, "You know I never, Professor Dumbledore… Sir…"
"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence." Said Dumbledore, who was frowning at Fudge.
"Look, Albus," said Fudge uncomfortably, "Hagrid's record stands against him, Ministry's got to do something, there's even rumours flying around about dragons at Hogwarts. The school governors have been in touch."
"Yet again Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest." His blue eyes were filled with the same sort of fire that scared the yamis, but much stronger then Harry or Yugi had ever seen before.
"Look at it from my point of view." Said Fudge, fidgeting with his bowler hat. "I'm under a lot of pressure, the Japanese Wizarding community have found out that the transfer students are being victimised, as are Muggle-borns, I've got to be seen doing something. If it turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said. But I've got to take him, got to. Wouldn't be doing my duty…"
"Take me?" said Hagrid, who was trembling, "Take me where?"
"For a short stretch only," said Fudge, who refused to meet Hagrid's eyes, "Not a punishment, more of a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be let out with a full apology…"
"Not Azkaban?" Croaked Hagrid. Yugi's eyes widened, his Grandpa had told him about Azkaban, the most feared wizarding prison in the world. Harry took his hand away from Yugi's mouth as there was a knock at the door. This time it was Yugi who clamped a hand over Harry's mouth, stopping Harry's audiable gasp, Lucius Malfoy was at the door. Fang started to growl and but fortunately the dragon was not waking up.
"Already here Fudge," He said approvingly, "Good, Good."
"What're you doing here?" said Hagrid furiously, "Get outta my house!"
"My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all in being inside your… did you call it a house?" Malfoy sneered. "I was told the Headmaster was here by the school."
"And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?" Dumbledore said politely, though the fire was still burning in his eyes, Yugi wondered if Dumbledore knew he was radiating magic, though no one else seemed to feel it.
"Dreadful thing, Dumbledore," said Malfoy Sr., taking out a roll of parchment, "but the Governors feel it's time you step aside, this is an Order of Suspension – you'll find 12 signatures on it. How many attacks has it been now? Three more this afternoon, wasn't it?" Malfoy looked like he'd eaten a particularly gorgeous piece of chocolate cake, "The appointment or suspension of the Headmaster, is a matter for the Governors, Fudge." Lucius said as Fudge tried to say something. "And since Dumbledore has failed to stop these attacks… and you'll find all 12 signatures on the parchment."
Hagrid leapt to his feet, "An' since you can't blackmail them anymore, how many did you have to threaten before they agreed? Eh, Malfoy?"
"Dear, dear…" Lucius said, "That temper of yours will get you into trouble someday, Hagrid, I would advise you not to yell at the Azkaban guards like that. They won't like it at all."
"Yeh' can't take Dumbledore away!" yelled Hagrid, waking the dragon and causing Fang to wimper, "Take him away and the Muggle borns or the remaining transfer students won't stand a chance, there'll be killings next!"
"Calm yourself Hagrid." Dumbledore said sharply, "If the Goveners want my suspension then so be it," He hadn't taken his eyes off of Malfoy, "However," Dumbledore spoke slowly so no one would miss it, "You will find that I am only truly gone when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that Hogwarts will always give help to those who ask for it."
Yugi was convinced that Dumbledore had looked at them as they tried to get the dragon to stay still. Malfoy made a derogatory comment and then bowed Dumbledore out, following after the great wizard. Fudge waited for Hagrid to go, but he stood his ground. "If anyone wanted to find out some stuff, all they'd have to do would be ter follow the spiders. That'd lead them right! That's all I'm saying." Fudge stared at him in amazement.
"All right, I'm coming." Hagrid said, pulling on his mole skin coat, he stopped by the door, "An' someone'll need to feed Fang and Gale while I'm away." He said loudly.
The door banged shut and Yugi pulled off the invisibility cloak, "We're in trouble now." Harry said hoarsely, "No Dumbledore, they might as well close the school. There'll be an attack a day with him gone."
Yugi nodded, he didn't like the sheer volume of dark magic he'd been sensing from Lucius Malfoy, Fang had started to howl and scratch at the closed door. Yugi couldn't blame him.