To Cuthbert Mockridge, it only seemed like a matter of minutes between the time he arrived at the bank and the time that an agreement was decided upon with the chief goblin. As he mentally reviewed the negotiations, he realized that they were actually very simple. Then of course, the reason that the bank had closed in the first place was rather small and simple as well.
"On what date do you intend to reopen your doors?" Mockridge asked Lord Gold diplomatically as Harry watched on.
"Did you have a particular day in mind?" Gold replied idly as he reviewed a written copy of their negotiations and decisions.
Harry who had opted to remain apart from the negotiations decided to step in. "Might I suggest that you wait to reopen the bank until the Ministry settles down under the control of a new Minister of Magic?"
"That is an excellent suggestion, Lord Polairix." the goblin said, looking at Mockridge to see if he agreed with Harry's idea.
"It would be for the best, I think." Mockridge concurred.
Lord Gold smiled evilly has he returned the copy of the agreement to the table and began to add one last thing to it. "Someone has to decide when the Ministry is stable enough for the bank to reopen. I reckon that you're intelligent enough to make that decision, Mockridge. I'm putting down that the bank will reopen when you, Cuthbert Mockridge, formally sign a declaration that the Ministry is structurally stable."
A laugh of mirth burst from Harry's lips. "I could not have planned that any better myself, Lord Gold. Your little provision could quite possibly make Cuthbert's ascension to the top job ten times more likely."
"Let us hope so." Mockridge muttered. "We need to formally sign the agreement and have copies made." He looked at Harry. "Would you sign as a witness?"
"I'm not sure if the wizarding populace would appreciate what my signature would signify concerning my relations with you and Gringotts." Harry stated. "Their reaction could cause everything to backfire."
Mockridge grinned at Harry. "No one besides us will see the signed agreement. If I become Minister, I can't automatically declare or recognize you as innocent, but after the dust settles with this war, and or if there is an opportunity, your signature on this agreement will go a ways toward bringing you into favor."
"He is correct." Lord Gold stated, addressing Harry. "I'd even go as far as to have you sign as more than a witness- perhaps as the 'mediator' or 'judge.'"
"All right then." Harry acquiesced.
Lord Gold nodded and with a complicated gesture and bit of magic, summoned another goblin who was bearing a special ink and quill set into the office. The other goblin left and Lord Gold set up the quill and ink for use. "These are what we use to sign formal and binding treaties." he explained.
"I'm not sure if I can legally sign the agreement then. I don't really have the authority to sign treaties on behalf of the Ministry of Magic." Mockridge pointed out cautiously. "Our agreement would not be binding."
"I've already taken that into account." Lord Gold said, reassuring Mockridge. "Based on wizarding laws, both ancient and contemporary, you may sign the treaty so long as it is formally ratified by the Minister of Magic within a year of the signing or before its implementation."
"If you become Minister, that won't be a problem at all." Harry concluded as Lord Gold nodded. "If this falls through, whoever does become Minister would be crazy not to ratify."
With a nod, Mockridge took the quill which Lord Gold had offered him and scrawled his signature at the bottom of the document. The quill was returned to the goblin who made his mark and then to Harry who signed his name; Harry James Potter. As soon as the ink dried on Harry's name, more writing appeared beneath it. "Lord of Polairix, Earl of the North."
"That's all." Lord Gold declared, taking the parchment and setting it aside. "I'll have copies made and delivered to you two. I suggest that you return to the Ministry with your good news. On your way out, you may pick up a formal press statement that I took the liberty to have written up during our conference."
"We'll do that." Mockridge stated, standing up and shaking Lord Gold's hand.
When Professor Albus Dumbledore made his entrance in the Ministry Atrium, the immense crowd that had gathered in the big room immediately turned their attention to him and began shouting questions concerning the present situation. Apparently the Ministry officials had been attempting to keep them uninformed of the current situation.
Dumbledore chose to ignore the inquisitive crowd until he arrived at the security desk and had his wand appropriately checked in. He then turned and cast the Sonorus charm. "Quiet!" When the noise had died down he continued on in an informative voice. "Yes, it is true that Madame Bones has formally filed charges against Minister Fudge. He will either step down or be removed. His successor will be chosen by the common consent of present Ministry officials. Madame Bones and Arthur Weasley are currently being looked at as potential candidates."
"What about Cuthbert Mockridge?" shouted someone from the crowd.
This caused Dumbledore to frown with confusion. He had carefully advanced the possibility for Bones and Weasley to become Minister of Magic. It was a winner-take-all situation and in such, there were usually only two serious candidates. He supported both, so he and the Order could not lose. He had not planned on another possible candidate. "All worthy candidates will be considered." he said, not willing to admit that he did not know about situation that had brought Mockridge to public attention.
He then turned and made his way into the heart of the Ministry controversy which had moved from the Law Enforcement floor to the formal ballroom in which ceremonies were held due to the large amount of people wishing to be in on the action.
Arthur Weasley met him before he could arrive in the ballroom. "Fudge is basically done for. They haven't removed him yet, but he's being ignored and he and his staff are avoiding everyone else."
"What is this that I hear about Cuthbert Mockridge?" Dumbledore asked.
"Ah yes, him." Weasley said slowly. "A couple of hours ago, he received a hand delivered message from Gringotts. Apparently he made some overtures to the goblins and they answered him. A lot of people are talking about making him Minister if his meeting with them turns out for good. As we speak, he is at Gringotts discussing options to open the bank."
This news provided to be very disturbing to Dumbledore. As far as he knew, Mockridge was a good and competent man. There was nothing to indicate that he was a Death Eater either. The only problem with him in Dumbledore's book was that he had no ties to the Order. "How is it that he's risen in popularity so fast?" Dumbledore inquired. "He was practically unknown before today."
"The closing of Gringotts is the most blatant of Fudge's misdeeds from the point of view shared by the majority of people." Weasley explained. "It's also the one affecting everyone the most. The instant that it was leaked outside the Ministry that Mockridge was in negotiations, the news spread like wildfire. Mockridge's name is on everyone's lips."
The two wizards arrived in the ballroom to find the entire Ministry present and all discussing issues in small groups. A podium had been set up and various officials were making fiery speeches to those who cared to listen.
Seeing that everyone was present, Dumbledore came to a split-second decision. He announced it quietly to Mr. Weasley and then to Amelia Bones who had joined them as soon as she had spied them entering the room. "We need to have the new Minister put in immediately if it is to be one of you." Dumbledore said. "Mockridge could return at any moment."
"Let's do it then." Bones replied. "As the leader of the Wizengamot, I believe that you have the authority to take charge here, Professor."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement and without wasting any more time, made his way to the raised podium and took it from the witch who had just finished spouting off accusations about inadequacies in some sort of budget.
Making use of the Sonorus charm for a second time, Dumbledore spoke. "SILENCE!" Immediately, the ballroom quieted and turned their attention to the aged professor. "Cornelius Fudge has been formally accused by the appropriate authorities of several misdeeds. Speaking for the Wizengamot, I hereby declare this to be the equivalent of the first step to a vote of no confidence.
"Based on the No Confidence Act of 1650, the body convened here at this moment has the authority to hold a what is known as a 'Certiorari' vote and appoint a new Minister of Magic which would both complete the vote of no confidence and formally oust Fudge. Those present can also vote to have Fudge remain in office. So, all those in favor of holding a Certiorari vote say 'Aye.'"
The audience replied with a thunderous 'Aye.' The first step had been taken, now all Dumbledore needed was to get a majority behind either Weasley or Bones.
Before Dumbledore could continue his address, the doors to the ballroom burst open and Cuthbert Mockridge entered the room with all those who had been gathered in Atrium on his heels. With what Dumbledore recognized as forced confidence, Mockridge made his way to the podium and then respectfully spoke loudly to Dumbledore. Almost everyone could hear him.
"I've just returned from Gringotts, Professor. The witches and wizards who were waiting in the Atrium are eager to hear the results of my negotiations. However, the officials of the Ministry are entitled to hear them first as I informed those in the Atrium. They decided that they couldn't wait until I finished making the internal announcement."
It was then that Dumbledore could sense that neither Weasley nor Bones had a very good chance at becoming the Minister of Magic. The two were similar and would be considered the same when put in contrast with Mockridge. His plan for supporting both candidates had backfired drastically. He made one last-ditch attempt to save the outcome. "We are currently holding a Certiorari vote, Mr. Mockridge. Perhaps afterward we could hear your announcement."
Cuthbert Mockridge did not reply, mostly because he did not have to. As soon as the audience had heard Dumbledore's refusal to let him speak, they immediately all began to demand in loud voices that Mockridge be allowed to speak immediately.
Dumbledore had been able to harness the out-of-control crowd to his favor for a few minutes, but now it had slipped out of his control. There was nothing he could do about it. "The vote can wait then." Dumbledore graciously announced.
He would rather have Mockridge than Fudge as Minister. He had lost control of the vote's outcome, but he still wanted to ensure that the vote took place. "Witches and Wizards, I present to you the Head of the Goblin Liaison Office. Cuthbert Mockridge." Dumbledore announced.
Mockridge replaced Dumbledore at the podium and began to speak. "I have just concluded negotiations with Lord Gold who is the head goblin over at Gringotts." He then held up the piece of parchment that had been provided to him and Potter on their way out of the bank. "I hold here a copy of a public announcement that is to be sent out by Gringotts tomorrow. It states that as soon as I am able to declare the Ministry to be in a stable state, Gringotts will open its doors!"
With despair on the behalf of his well set plans and the Order, Dumbledore watched and listened as Mockridge's announcement was met with cheers and shouts from the financially burdened witches and wizards present. Abruptly, two chants broke out and took a firm hold. The verbal renditions of "VOTE NOW!" and "MOCK-RIDGE!" nearly brought the ceiling down.
Before anything else could be done, the doors to the ballroom abruptly burst open with a loud slam. Dumbledore watched with confusion as William Boggs, one of Fudge's under secretaries, led approximately one hundred and fifty Aurors into the room with their wands drawn. For some strange reason, Boggs, who was a bureaucrat, was also wearing Auror robes.
"None of those Aurors were Aurors the last time I checked." Amelia Bones, who had made her way up to the front, quickly whispered to Dumbledore.
"Not good." Dumbledore commented as he quickly tried to assess the situation.
With a booming and very arrogant voice, Boggs spoke. "As the newly appointed Supreme Commander of the Auror Corps and in the name of Minister Fudge, I am ordering this gathering to disband immediately! Force will be used if you do not comply!"
The crowd immediately began to protest, the most prevalent argument being that Fudge no longer had the power to act as Minister of Magic.
Boggs was not to be hindered though. "Fudge is still Minister until you vote a new one in!" he shouted. "However, I'm here to see that you can't vote."
Courageously, Amelia Bones stepped up to the podium and in the most commanding voice she could muster, spoke. "As the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I order you to stand down, Commander Boggs!"
"As Supreme Commander, my authority exceeds yours." Commander Boggs sneered from across the room.
An edgy silence descended over the room as crowd considered the danger of the Aurors, the Aurors observed the crowd, and the leaders tried to come up with a solution to the present situation.
The reverie was broken when Percy Weasley burst into the room. He was panting and it was apparent that he had been running. The crowd parted to allow him to make his way through and he stopped midway between Commander Boggs and the podium where Dumbledore, Bones, and Mockridge stood.
Dumbledore examined his former student with piercing eyes. Young Mr. Weasley was pale and quite obviously nervous. From the way that his eyes seemed to shift between Boggs, the crowd, and the podium, it was apparent that he was making a last-minute decision.
Finally, it could be seen by everyone watching close enough that Percy Weasley had made a decision. Little did anyone know that within a matter of seconds, his decision would forever make him a martyr.
"Those Aurors are Death Eaters!" Percy bellowed. "Fudge has signed a secret agreement with You-Know-Who!"
Commander Boggs snarled viciously at Percy and then in a startling move screamed the incantation for the killing curse. Dumbledore watched sadly as Percy Weasley was instantly hit and killed by the curse.
Everyone stood in shock and stared at the ambitious junior-under secretary's body. They were drawn from their shock when Mockridge, seizing the moment, stepped up to the podium and in a resounding voice issued spoke. "I refuse to allow Death Eaters to take over this Ministry or country! Get them now!"
William Boggs was not necessarily a stupid man and happened to be competent enough to fight and perhaps even lead the new Death Eater-Aurors to victory against the aggressive crowd. However, he was also a coward and was currently standing on the front line. He chose to retreat and gave the command for all those under his command to activate their Portkeys.
Dumbledore impatiently waited for the crowd to calm down as soon as the ballroom was void of the DE-Aurors. As soon as Percy had made his announcement, it had become perfectly clear to Dumbledore that more trouble was afoot than ever before. Time could no longer be wasted. If he quibbled about who was to become Minister of Magic, the Ministry could quite possibly dissolve. Mockridge was a competent person and now had enough popularity that he could make a tremendous difference against Voldemort.
With this in mind, Dumbledore threw his support behind Mockridge as he stepped up to the podium and managed to coerce the crowd to return to a sense of order. "The vote of certiorari will continue." he announced calmly. "Will all those in favor of making Cuthbert Mockridge the Minister of Magic please say 'Aye?'"
A reverberating 'Aye' came from the audience. When Dumbledore asked for 'Nays,' none responded. Dumbledore then finished the official formalities. "As leader of the Wizengamot, I hereby recognize the validity of this vote of certiorari and declare that by unanimous vote, Cuthbert Mockridge is the Minister of Magic."
After Mockridge had departed for the Ministry, Harry had opted to stay behind at Gringotts and discuss his finances and assets with the goblins. Now that supposedly Mockridge would become Minister, Harry's properties and other things would become accessible to him once again.
Once he had finished his business, Harry stepped out into Diagon Alley appropriately disguised and made his way to Florean Fortescue's ice cream shop to buy some ice cream and take it back to Nair'icaix to share with Bellatrix. He had noticed her eating large amounts of ice cream at random times lately.
An hour and a half after the negotiations had ended at Gringotts, Harry returned to Nair'icaix, ice cream in hand, to find a letter bearing the seal of the Ministry from Mockridge awaiting his pleasure on his desk.
Harry set the ice cream down, charmed it not to melt, and opened the letter and read the contents with surprise. He had not expected Mockridge to become the Minister so quickly. The details were sketchy as Mockridge had not had much time to write privately, but from them, Harry gathered with sadness that Percy Weasley had been killed and that there was a new nuisance to worry about in the form of one William Boggs.
Fudge's fall from power would not deter Boggs from carrying on with those who followed him. If Harry's suspicions were correct, the pseudo-Aurors would probably join Voldemort if they had not done so previously. The Death Eaters ranks had swelled.
Harry also feared that Boggs would lead a movement to overthrow Mockridge. Harry winced at his own cold-heartedness as he caught himself wishing that he could arrange for Fudge to be killed. Any such movement would certainly be led in Fudge's name.
All worries about the current situations were forgotten by Harry as his wife cheerfully entered his study. Bellatrix had apparently been able to detect his return. He smiled at her and pointed to the ice cream. "Hungry?"
"Always hungry for ice cream." Bellatrix said, grinning cheekily. She grabbed the ice cream package and made off with it.
"Hey!" Harry called after her in mock indignation, "You don't get it all!"
"I will if you don't come after me." Bellatrix yelled from the bedroom gleefully.
Harry made his way to the bedroom and found that Bellatrix had already served up the ice cream equally and was greedily digging in as she sat on the bed. Harry joined her and before they knew it, the treat was all gone.
The bowls, spoons, and empty carton automatically disappeared as Harry laid back on the bed. He looked up at Bellatrix and found her looking at him with a very satisfied smile from her sitting position next to him. "We should do that more often." he commented.
Bellatrix didn't answer as she shifted her position and laid down on her side next to Harry, propping her self up with her elbow. She reached out with her free hand lightly stroked Harry's chest. "There's something else we should do more often." she purred. Before he could answer, she brought her head down to his and initiated a long kiss.
The morning was nearly over before Harry woke up to find Bellatrix spooned against him, already awake, and lightly caressing one of the hands he had wrapped around her. She turned her head up to get a better view of his face from her position. "Good morning, sleepyhead."
"It's your fault that I was up so late." Harry whispered.
"You're the one who got the ice cream." Bellatrix murmured.
Harry unwrapped his arms from around her and the two sat up and stretched. They then proceeded to go through their morning routine and were soon enjoying their breakfast for lunch. Harry was idly wondering what to spend the rest of the day doing when Bellatrix spoke.
"I have some good news for you." Bellatrix said carefully.
"Oh?"
Bellatrix looked at him carefully before proceeding. "Hermione has managed to cling to her belief of your innocence."
"I'm glad of that." Harry said. "It shows that she is not so weak after all. Maybe she'll get some others to believe as well."
"That's not all."
"Oh?"
"She managed to get washed up onto the island. Captain Nailoff arrested her for trespassing and then Hiscophney identified her as a member of the Order. Nailoff then had her locked up in the dungeon."
This caused Harry to raise his eyebrows in surprise as he munched on a piece of toast. "Interesting. Why did she decide to seek me out?"
"I interviewed her yesterday while you were gone. She wants to talk to you, apologize, and all that stuff." Bellatrix informed Harry.
Harry's eyes grew slightly hard. "I don't think I want to talk to her. Tell her that I won't go and try to get revenge on her and to mind her own business in the future, then release her."
"You need to talk to her, Harry." Bellatrix said calmly and persuasively. "This isn't something that you can brush off."
This caused Harry to become rather grumpy. However, Bellatrix was his wife and he respected her and her sense about things. "All right, a small talk."
After lunch concluded, Bellatrix tracked down Nailoff and the three made their way down to the lower reaches of Nair'icaix's dungeons. They soon arrived at Hermione's cell to find that Nailoff had sent a guard ahead to prepare for the interview.
Harry stepped in the cell with Bellatrix on his heels to discover with surprise, a scantily-clad Hermione whose arms suspended above her by a hook connected to chains that shackled her wrists together. Hermione blushed slightly as she looked at Harry and squirmed uncomfortably.
Wishing to move along, Harry spoke. "Bellatrix says that you want to speak with me."
"I came to apologize." Hermione said weakly. "I'm sorry for believing that you were a murderer and I'm sorry for creating so much trouble for you. I'm also sorry for what I've said about you."
"Fine." Harry replied. "You apologized. Now leave me alone."
"I'm not finished." Hermione said bravely. "I w-want to make things up to you. I want to earn your forgiveness so that we can at least be friends again. I'll help you with your fight against V-voldemort."
An irrational anger suddenly coursed through Harry's veins. With a snarl he stepped forward and delivered a stinging slap to Hermione's face. Instead of crying out, she turned her other cheek toward him. This enraged Harry even more and he slapped her again.
Suddenly, Bellatrix's hand was on his shoulder. "Calm down, Harry." she whispered.
Breathing heavily from anger, Harry looked at Hermione who was now looking back at him with silent tears streaming down her face, both her cheeks bearing his hand-print. "You can't earn forgiveness! It's a gift that I must choose to give!" he growled.
"I realize that." Hermione said, now sobbing. "But I can't accept your gift of forgiveness without feeling that I'm worthy of it in some way. Please, either punish me for my betrayal or allow me to do something that will make make things up."
Harry was not in a mood to keep talking so he made a valiant attempt to end the confrontation. "I'll see to it that you return home safely. I've accepted your apology and will not seek vengeance against you. Just leave me alone!"
"I'll come back." Hermione declared with resolve. "I'm determined."
"You want to feel worthy of my forgiveness." Harry stated. "What makes you think that I'll ever give it you?"
Hermione looked Harry in the eye for a moment before letting her head hang and then spoke despondently. "Please consider forgiving me, Harry. If you do, not only will I accept whatever task or punishment you set, I'll promise to serve you for the rest of my life. If you don't want to forgive me, then please- take my life. I can't bear to live without your forgiveness. You can even send for your count and have him chop of my head." At this point her voice trembled. "If you kill me, at least tell my parents that I loved them."
Harry didn't want to forgive Hermione, but neither did he want to kill or have her killed. The very idea repulsed him to no end. There were so many emotions running through Harry's mind that he was unable to think. Letting out a noise that was somewhere between a snarl and a sob, he bolted from the cell.
Bellatrix immediately exited the cell and found Captain Nailoff. "Which way did my husband go?"
Nailoff pointed back toward the way they had come. "That way, milady."
"Would you and your guards please go look after him until I come up? Don't get in his face, just keep an eye on him."
"Of course, milady." Nailoff replied. "Do you need our help with the prisoner?"
"She is completely harmless. If she was a danger, Harry would have remained." Bellatrix stated firmly. "I'll look after her."
"Very good." Nailoff said before quickly making his way with the other guard up to the main level of Nair'icaix.
Bellatrix returned to the cell and had the hook holding Hermione's arms up disappear. The teenage girl then sank to the floor slowly. The tears were still streaming down her face but she had stopped making crying sounds.
"It's okay." Bellatrix said in what she hoped was a soothing voice. "Don't worry too much."
"When is he going to do it?"
"Do what?"
"Have Count Trazkaban cut off my head." Hermione replied in a resigned voice.
Bellatrix regarded Hermione with a cool stare before following Harry's example and slapping the girl. "My husband is not a murderer." Bellatrix declared with gritted teeth. "I thought that you had just established that fact in your mind." Hermione took one look at Bellatrix and burst out into sobs again.
"I'm sorry." Hermione said as soon as she gained control of herself.
"Good." Bellatrix said. "Now, I know that Harry will eventually come around. It's only a matter of time. What is it that you want to do in order to make yourself 'feel worthy' of his forgiveness?"
Hermione considered this for several long moments. "I said that if he forgave me, I would serve him for the rest of my life in addition to my earning his forgiveness. Therefore, it'll have to be punishment."
"My husband doesn't administer punishment either." Bellatrix informed Hermione gently. "It'll have to be some sort of penance that you carry out yourself. I'll try to find some ideas. As soon as Harry calms down and has time to rationalize, I'll try to work on his feelings. Meanwhile, don't let yourself get too low."
Hermione nodded at the encouragement from Bellatrix. "Thank you."
"I'd better find Harry." Bellatrix announced. "I'll try to keep you updated."
"Okay."
Bellatrix then left the cell, making plans as how to best comfort Harry and calm the confusion that must be raging in his mind. He was obviously repulsed by the idea of killing Hermione and angry about her asking for forgiveness. Then of course, his initial reaction of slapping her twice would prey upon his feelings and cause a large amount of guilt. Despite the obstacles, Bellatrix was confidant that Harry would eventually forgive Hermione. For that, she revered him.