COUP ďÉtat

Proving innocence

It was the day of wizengmot.

Dumbledore merrily walked into the ministry. After all the Dark Lord was finally vanquished. Today, all those death eaters who had supported the evil dark wizard would finally be caught. After all, they all were also dark wizards and all dark wizards were evil. Even though he had to sacrifice a few people of the light. But it wasn't his fault that they believed the old ways. After all only dark wizards practiced it. The Potters, Prewetts, Lonbottoms all needed to be eliminated. Potters and Prewetts gone. Now only Longbottoms were left. He was sure the Lestranges, to whom he had the secret delivered would do the task. All was well.

He did not that his nightmare would shortly begin.

Five men entered the ministry regally. Lucius Malfoy, newly christened Regulus Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Severus Snape Prince and Barty Crouch Jr. walked into the ministry as if they owned it.

People had already heard the rumors of Lestrange, Black and Malfoy being death eaters. Even with the dark lord gone, the name of death eaters struck a fear in people's hearts. So they all moved away from the five.

They entered the Wizengmot without any hassle. They looked towards Dumbledore. He appeared to be shocked to see all of them here. He had thought that they would stay away and hide from people because they were death eaters.

Finally the minister of magic entered the hall with Barty Crouch Sr. in tow. They both took their seats. The other members too went to their own seats.

Barty Crouch Sr. banged his gavel and said- "This Wizengmot is now brought into session. Please present your issues."

Lord Abbot stood up and said- "We need to apprehend the death eaters now that You know who is dead. And Chief Warlock should explain why is it being said that a mere one year old baby has put an end to the most feared dark lord in history."

Dumbledore stood up and smiled genially. "Lilith Potter was saved because the shield of love that was made because of Lily Potter giving up her life for her daughter. Thus the killing curse rebounded when Voldemort (many jumped at the name) tried to kill her. Lilith Potter is the girl who lived."
The supporters of the dark lord sneered at the reason. Many were looking Malfoy and Lestrange. They did not understand why they had told them to come today. They had thought of fleeing the country as soon as they saw their marks fading. But when the message came to them, they decided to trust them.

Regulus stood and spoke loudly- "That is all and well, but where is the Potter heiress?" Frank shouted- "Yes. Where is she? We are her godparents. She should live with us or the Blacks."

Lord Diggory scoffed and said- "The Blacks? Are you in your right mind, Lord Longbottom? The secret keeper of the Potters was Sirius Black and he betrayed then."

"No. you are lying. Sirius would never put the Potters in danger. And how do you know that he was the secret keeper?" Frank questioned.

All those in the 'secret' waited with bathed breathes because if answered as they wanted could be the first step of the downfall of Dumbledore.

"Yes he was the secret keeper of the Potters. I know that for a fact because it was I who had put the Fidelus charm on their house."

Regulus shook his head. "I refuse to believe that my brother would something like that. James Potter was his life. He ran away from home to be with him."
"You mean to spy on the good people." Diggory retorted.

Before anyone else could say anything else, Malfoy stood up and said- "I know the topic of the Potter heiress is quite important, but first and foremost we need to fish out the death eaters so that people can resume their lives without fear." Rodolphus nodded.

Other death eaters were looking at them as if they had lost their minds and the rest of the wizengmot shared incredulous expressions, they had thought that they were the death eaters.

Dumbledore was going mad. 'Why would Lucius Malfoy of all people tell the wizengmot to act against the death eaters? Wasn't he one?'

Then it clicked his mind 'He is trying to act innocent so people trust him. I will have to do something.'

He said- "Excellent suggestion my boy. But how are we going to decide how to do it? After all there may be death eaters sitting with us right now."

Lucius sneered and said- "It's Lord Malfoy to you Dumbledore. And as for finding death eaters in midst of us, well, we can use the Veritaserum after everyone has been checked for antidote. What do you say, Chief Warlock?" He turned slightly towards his comrades and gave a slight nod, barely noticeable. The other death eaters saw it and were a bit relieved to know that there was some kind of plan operating. And also realized that if the Malfoy and Lestrange were so confident of it working there was nothing to worry. They even started smirking a bit. Afterall no one could be able to come after them now if the plan worked.

Dumbledore really looked as if he was having a coronary just now. Before he could say anything, a small piece of paper suddenly made way to his hand. He stealthy looked at it. It was Severus's handwriting. He looked at him. Severus nodded a little. Dumbledore understood that whatever had made Lucius so confident was something big and uncounterable. So he decided to go on with it. Afterall, he had the ace with him, Lilith Potter.

"Lord Malfoy is correct. We should so just that. Let's conduct the tests today itself. I am sure that the DOM can provide us with everything?" he asked the DOM representative. The person in cloak nodded.

Soon everything was set up. Dumbledore stood up and asked for volunteers. Before anyone else could say anything, Lucius stood up and said- "I know that since a long a time, many people have considered many of the dark faction and me as possible death eaters, so to put an end to the rumors, I would like to present myself for testing first on behalf of the dark faction. This statement again made a lot of people look at him in surprise, because indeed he was thought to be a death eater and a high ranking one at that.

Lucius came down to the center of the wizengmot and sat on the assigned chair.
The experts of DOM gave him two potions and cleared him of having any anti truth serum potions. He was then given veritaserum.
Now, Crouch Sr. came forward and started asking questions.
"Do you have any relations with the terrorist organization named death eater?"
"No."
"Do you hate the muggleborns?"
"No."
"Give him the antidote. Lucius Malfoy, you are cleared all suspicions of being a death eater."

Lucius Malfoy walked back to his seats proudly. One by one every other member of the dark faction tested themselves and were proven innocent.
Dumbledore was internally going mad. 'How could they have accomplished this?' His only consolation was the note in his pocket by Severus.
Soon everyone was tested.

Lucius again stood up and announced- "We, of the dark faction also want our spouses to be checked. We don't want any confusion."

The wizengmot agreed. Soon, everyone's spouses came into the hall. They too were checked, but as earlier, no one was confirmed to be a death eater.

Barty Crouch Sr. announced- "The wizengmot find all the people of the body and their spouses as not guilt of any crime during the recent times. Also I want to announce that I am quite tired of all the violence and responsibilities. So, after all the court proceedings are over, my wife and I will leaving the magical Britain and live peacefully. please respect our decision. Thank you."

Barty Jr. smirked at those in the know.

As everyone was leaving the hall, Lucius slowly told the inner circle and elite that they would be having a dinner next week to discus current political scenario. All agreed, understanding the real cause of the meeting.

All returned to the Peverall castle.

Cassiopeia was seated on her throne. She welcomed them. Regulus stepped forward and said- "It was done just as you had wanted."

She gave a pleased grin and said- "Soon Dumbledore will begin to understand that he is not needed by our world. Severus, next step is yours. I want you in the castle when all the children go to Hogwarts. Make sure that he let's you. Go."
Severus nodded and left.