ᵖʳᵒᵘᵈ ᵖᵃʳᵉⁿᵗˢ ; ʰᵃʳᵐⁱᵒⁿᵉ ✓

Chapter Ninteen

Chapter 19 - Comeuppance

Dolores was grinning at the headline in the Prophet. It wasn't a grin that contained so much as a gain of happiness though, rather one of twisted anticipation for a well worked plan of hers that was finally coming to fruition. The newspaper was obviously very pleased to have an exclusive interview with Lord Black on their front page, posted on his even more famous godson's birthday, but Dolores was confident this would have little to no effect on what she'd been meticulously plotting.

The Senior Undersecretary had been beavering away behind the scenes for the last couple of weeks, ensuring the right people understood the dangers Sirius Black taking control of the orphanage posed to their way of life. These particular people had far too much to lose so no chances would be getting taken today. They wanted a stop put to this - immediately and permanently.

While Dolores could certainly appreciate this exclusive interview as a shrewd tactical move on Black's part, a move that was sure to set Cornelius off in a spin, she was supremely confident today's Wizengamot meeting would result in blood being spilled on the floor. This article might result in Black and company actually lowering their guard, thinking their job of convincing the Wizengamot was already done.

With it being the Potter brat's birthday too, Dolores felt sure he would accompany his summonsed godfather to today's session. Whether it was Black or Potter blood that ended up on the floor didn't bother Dolores in the slightest, she was actually hoping to see both.

-oOoOo-

Harry and Hermione were heading for the Ministry of Magic, mob handed was the expression that came to mind. Sirius had Francesca on his arm, her drawings and work schedule for the new orphanage shrunk and in his pocket. Since they were on the orphanage committee, Dan, Emma and Neville had demanded to accompany them too. Barchoke thought his presence today might prove more of a hindrance than help so was rather diplomatically unavailable to attend. Since only Sirius had been summonsed to face the Wizengamot, none of them thought Barchoke's absence would be even noticed.

As Harry held Hermione's hand, there was a very real sense that something was missing between them - or rather someone. For the last couple of weeks, that someone was Joan. She never walked anywhere without at least holding one of their hands and seemed happiest when it was both of them. They had of course realised that they were both growing incredibly fond of the little girl. Joan not being with them today just emphasised how far that relationship had progressed.

A beaming Joan had presented Harry with a hug and a card she'd made when they met this morning. Only her being roped in by Remus to help prepare Harry's 'surprise' birthday party allowed them to escape her company for this visit.

All the orphans and orphanage staff were still in Italy and having the time of their lives. With the amount of hard work going on to get the Institute up and running for September, these children were not only helping relieve any stress the daily problems that enterprise turned up caused - they were a constant reminder of why everyone was working so hard. These were children who would never catch a break in Magical Britain, due to their undetermined blood status, yet each and every one of these children already had their names down to attend the Institute when they were eleven. Everyone involved with the Institute were working hard to ensure that experience would be as positive as possible for every student, regardless of birth or blood status, who entered the new school.

With work on the orphanage now progressing at an amazing pace too, Harry and Hermione were well aware the clock was ticking on any decision they wanted to make on the little girl who had wormed her way into their hearts.

Joan's absence today however clearly emphasised just how much of a hole would be left in their lives without this special little girl being part of those lives. Neither wanted to think what returning to the orphanage would do to Joan, who Jillian continually remarked on never having seen the young girl so happy.