Brother's Keeper (wtm)

Fudge

Harry and Ron, under the Invisibility Cloak, approach Hagrid's cabin at night. They knock at the door; Fang looks up, Hagrid puts the lid on his teapot and readies his crossbow. "Who's there? [walking to his front door and gently kicking it open] Hello? Hello?" Harry and Ron remove the cloak, Hagrid lowers it at the sight of them.

Many jump not expecting Hagrid to open the door with a crossbow. James looked at Hagrid worriedly "Why would you open the door with a weapon?"

Hagrid looks just as confused and surprised and just shrugs his shoulders in response not knowing why he would do that.

"What's that for?" Harry says in shock seeing the weapon pointed near them. Hagrid sighs before telling them "Oh, nothing, I was expecting, uh... it doesn't matter. Come on in, I just made a pot of tea." Hagrid pours the tea into a cup all the way to the brim Harry noticing asks "Hagrid, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm all right." Hagrid says as he puts the teapot down. Harry becoming slightly emotional stutters out "Di-did you hear about Iris?"

Hagrid looks softly at Harry before nodding and saying in a sad tone "Oh yeah. I heard about that all right."

Lily being reminded of her daughter's condition starts stifling again James rubs her shoulder in response whispering softly in her ear that she will be ok soon. Lily trying to pull herself together nods but still looks worriedly at her daughter needing the reassurance. She smiles and chuckles when she sees her daughter's husband wrapped around her, protectively glaring at anyone who looks at Iris. Lily laughs louder when Kol makes direct eye contact with her and realizing it's her immediately gives her a sheepish smile and goes back to glaring at a group of boys he hears complimenting his wife's appearance.

Harry quickly wiping his eyes needing to stay on topic for Iris's sake asks "Look, we have to ask you something. Do you know who's opened the Chamber of Secrets?"

Hagrid takes a deep breath before saying "What you have to understand about that is... [there is another knock at the door; Harry and Ron turn towards the door as Fang barks] [whispering] Quick. Under the cloak. Don't say a word, be quiet, both of you. [Harry and Ron go into a corner, where Ron throws the cloak back over them; Hagrid pushes open the door, to find Dumbledore at the door, accompanied by another older gentleman, ] Oh, Professor Dumbledore, sir."

Professor Dumbledore as Fudge gives Hagrid a slight greeting smile "Good evening, Hagrid. I wonder, could we...?"

Hagrid nods saying "Of course. [beckons them] Come in, come in."

Ron recognizes Fudge as he enters and whispers "That's dad's boss, Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic."

"Bad business, Hagrid. Very bad business. Had to come. Three attacks on Muggle-borns. Things have gone far enough. The Ministry's got to act." Fudge says.

Hagrid hearing this starts stuttering "But I never... you know I never, Professor!"

Many wizards and witches realizing Hagrid is being accused stand up in defense of him shouting their protest. Hagrid seeing all the support becomes emotional wiping under his eyes quickly.

Professor Dumbledore trying to help says "I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence."

Fudge looks less than impressed "Albus, look, Hagrid's record is against him. I've got to take him." 

Hagrid starting to get upset says "Take me? Take me where? Not Azkaban Prison?" Fudge sighs hoping to have avoided all the dramatics says "I'm afraid we have no choice, Hagrid."

The door opens again, revealing Lucius Malfoy. "Already here, Fudge? Good." Hagrid already upset says in anger "What are you doing here? Get out of my house!"