A Million Things {Hamilton/Harry Potter Universe}

Chapter 26

November 1st. It was a a day of sorrow and relief for the wizarding world. Everyone was reeling from last night's events. Alexander couldn't wrap his head around it. Around one in the morning, he returned home to visit Eliza after a long day of searching for Death Eaters with the rest of the Aurors.

He was just pulling off his shoes when a loud shriek from the kitchen sent him stumbling from the room in a mad panic, wand drawn, still one shoe on. "What is it?!" he yelled, nearly tripping due to his lopsided gait.

Eliza didn't speak but pointed to a white-blue orb of light on the table that, as they watched, took the form of a phoenix. The patronus-message spoke with Dumbledore's voice: "Voldemort has been defeated. Lily and James Potter are dead. Do not respond to this message. Wait for further information."

Similar messages were sent to all Order members around the country as the world was turned upside down. The war was over, at last.

A few hours later, Alexander and Eliza were with the Schuyler family at their mansion, waiting to hear more. Everyone was sitting in the parlor. No one had slept. Catherine, Mrs. Schuyler, was beside herself.

"Oh those poor Potters," she sniffed. "So young! Barely older than our own children. And the Potter boy, Harry! What is to become of him?"

Peggy and Eliza tried to console her. "He will be taken care of, I'm sure, mama. Would he go live with some of James' relatives?" Eliza asked.

The question was directed at Philip Schuyler, who was pacing the room, waiting for the owl to bring the Daily Prophet. He shook his head. "Potter was an only child and his parents passed away years ago. I bet Dumbledore has come up with somewhere secret for him to hide."

"But where?" Alexander broke in. "I think he should be placed under one of the Order's care. Who better?"

"That's too obvious," Philip argued. "The Death Eaters would think to look there first."

"But they don't have their leader anymore. They are nothing without Voldemort. Just a bunch of cowards without their protective bully to hide behind. Even so, the Ministry will track them down and send them to Azkaban."

Before anyone could continue, the front door burst open and Angelica swept in, her cloak flying wildly behind her.

Philip froze from his pacing and Catherine jumped to her feet. "What's going on? I thought you were at work-?"

"The Prophet can wait. I'm going to tell you what they're going to post anyway" Angelica's eyes were bright and she looked around at all of them. "Good, you're all here."

"What is it?" Peggy gasped. "I'm about to have a heart attack over here!"

Angelica took a deep breath. "Did you know that the Potter's were under the Fidelius Charm? It was how they were able to be hidden without being found."

"But they were found," Eliza said, wrinkling her brow. "How could-?" Then she gasped and went pale. "They were betrayed?!"

Angelica nodded. "Their Secret Keeper was Sirius Black."

They all stared at her in stunned silence. Alexander rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, Angelica. You expect me to believe that James' best friend would betray him to Voldemort? Just because he was Secret Keeper? There must have been something else that gave them away."

Now Angelica looked grave. "No its not just that. Just an hour ago, Sirius Black was arrested by Hit Wizards. He had been corned by Peter Pettigrew, remember him?"

Hamilton felt cold all over. "Yeah, they were both in the Order."

"Muggle witnesses, before their memory was wiped, say that Pettigrew said, "James and Lily? How could you?" before the street was suddenly blown up by Black. He killed twelve muggles along with Pettigrew."

"I can't believe it," Peggy mumbled, looking numb. "I thought Sirius was alright. He was here at Alex and Eliza's wedding! He was in the Order!"

"Yeah, neither can I," Alexander spat, stalking out of the room. He was striding toward the back door when he heard someone following him.

"Wait!" Eliza panted, holding her pregnant stomach as she jogged after him.

Alexander stopped. "You shouldn't run right now."

Eliza ignored his statement. "Are you okay? I know you and James weren't very close but-."

"No, I'm not okay," he interrupted. "I thought I knew Black. I thought I knew where he stood in all this." He knew Eliza wouldn't understand. Her and the others could sit and shake their heads in sorrow, but for him it was different. Hamilton thought he knew him! He had defended him so many times to those who suspected him a traitor. Was Black the one who leaked to the Lestranges his identity? He sure must have been surprised when he showed received word he and Eliza survived. He curled his hands into fists. The betrayal made him feel he was boiling inside.

"Where's Black now?" he asked. "I want to punch his face off." Alexander suddenly walked back into the parlor with Eliza stumbling after him. He saw Philip reading the recently arrived Prophet with the others right where he left them. "What's the point of reading that?" he asked. "We know everything important."

"Not everything," Philip said. "Says here Barty Crouch is going to waive trails for most of the captured Death Eaters, starting with Sirius Black. They're going to go straight to Azkaban."

"Good," Alexander said, surprising himself. The others stared at him. "He deserves it."

"Alexander!" Eliza gasped.

"He's a monster, Eliza! You heard what he did to the Potters, Pettigrew, and those muggles!"

"But does he deserve to not face justice?" Philip mused, folding the paper and looking pensive.

"It is justice!" Alexander said. Peggy nodded in agreement.

"I feel that other wizards of the Wizengamot, myself included, would say it is a sign of bad things to come if we waive rights from criminals. You know why? Because where would we draw the line? Who gets rights and who doesn't? One day it could be a Death Eater, the next, one of us."

"That won't happen," Alexander argued. "There will still be trials for underage magic and the like."

"Exactly," Peggy said. "You are sometimes too paranoid, papa."

"Come off it, " Angelica said. "People like you are too trusting in the system. That's why you need reporters to expose the truth."

"Yeah, like Rita Skeeter?" Eliza snapped, startling everyone. "I still haven't forgotten what she said about my husband."

Angelica flushed. "I didn't know about that article!"

"Girls, enough," Philip said sternly. "I trust you, Angelica, to bring report the truth. For the others, that remains to be said. Many articles about the Ministry's doings are placed in a more positive light than I'd prefer otherwise but I don't believe they are completely influenced. Yet."

"They are if they allow that Skeeter cow to hold a quill," Hamilton muttered. "I canceled our subscription to that trash months ago."

Angelica smirked. "You're going to eat your words Alexander. They also just sacked George King. Guess who's the new Minister?"