A Little Help from a Snake // Tomarry

Part 52

Reposted: December 20, 2021

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Oh, look. 'Tis I, Onyxjay the Procrastinator, with a new update that is most definitely RIDDLED with errors *loud groan in distance*

Summary: Rita's first article is published; the Death Eaters finally reunite with their lord... who is now younger than them. Talk about awkward

Diagon Alley had been relatively quiet one morning. But then the few wizards and witches that were out early began reading the Daily Prophet. And all hell broke loose.

"There's no way," one elderly wizard said in a daze. "It's just not possible. You know how unreliable Skeeter is."

A witch jabbed a finger at the pictures. "Do these look unreliable to you?"

Whatever the wizard said in response was drowned out as more and more people raised their voices to be heard.

"Look," a young man spoke suddenly, pointing.

Albus Dumbledore was making his way from the Ministry. Either he was that good at remaining calm or he had not seen the article yet, which wouldn't be surprising considering what happened with Harry.

"You knew!" the witch shouted, pointing at him angrily.

"Pardon?" Dumbledore looked shocked. "May I see what has caused such turmoil before you jump to conclusions?" He was giving the witch a disappointed look that did nothing as she shoved the papers in his face.

Dumbledore blanched when he saw the headline.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE AND GELLERT GRINDELWALD: A HISTORY OF LOVE AND BETRAYAL

"Well?" the witch demanded when he didn't say anything immediately.

"I'm sure it's a slight misunderstanding," Dumbledore said feebly.

"That's what you said about the abuse of Harry Potter," the elderly wizard snapped.

"What else have you been hiding?" someone cried.

"What really happened to Grindelwald?"

Instead of answering, Dumbledore did what he did best: avoided the questions by Apparating away. And in doing so, eradicated any lingering doubts of Rita's findings.

The next morning, he was bombarded with Howlers, which all screamed hateful words over each other. Dumbledore eventually adjusted the wards to deactivate them and was finally able to relax.

But Hogwarts was a magical school and sentient to a certain degree, although most wizards didn't know this. She was not happy with Dumbledore and dismantled the anti-Howler wards, allowing another hoard of red envelopes to release their anger.

Fawkes had left just before the first Howlers and didn't return when Dumbledore called for him. Instead, he just hung out around Anathasia down in the Chamber of Secrets, singing merrily as she told him about her Tomling.

Draco shifted from one foot to the other, making sure none of his anticipation showed on his face. That morning, he had come down to a very tense atmosphere. The Dark Lord had sent a letter to several Death Eaters, and to the bemusement of Lucius and Narcissa, Draco was to go with them.