Dolores Umbridge viewed the growing stack of parchment with satisfaction. In a few days, months of work would finally pay off. She would finally be getting ahead in the Ministry the way she had expected to by now. She had expected to become an aide to the Minister himself after her tireless work on the Werewolf legislation, but instead she'd been made a secretary to one of the Auror section chiefs. It probably had been due to her loud objections when she heard about Harry Potter becoming the ward of that scapegrace Severus Snape. The Minister had apparently heard and had been ... displeased. She hadn't known the Minister was friendly with that halfblood sneak.

She now felt it was a lucky break, as Rufus Scrimgeour was definitely someone with ambition - and she was sure with her assistance he would become the Minister within the decade. Rufus had been outraged that a former Death Eater - even if he had been a spy - was now the ‘Boy Who Lived's' guardian.

Dolores sniffed in disdain. She didn't understand what the fuss was about. The brat's father had been impeccably pureblooded - but his mother had been a jumped-up muggleborn, snatching the first pureblood she could attract the eye of - likely she'd been from some gutter or other.

None the less, the brat was seen as an important symbol to the ignorant masses - well, actually a symbol to most of the wizarding world she conceded. As such, he should be under the control of someone trustworthy in the ministry. Rufus agreed with her.

They'd been trying to find reasons to remove Harry Potter from Snape's custody, but had not found anything. They'd thought about it with the McNair incident, but Rufus said too many would say Harry was obviously safe on the Dragon Reserve after that idiot had gotten eaten.

Now, though, they felt they had grounds to make an attempt. Rufus had sneered at the report of Harry Potter's ‘accidental' transformation. It was obvious to him that Harry had to have been studying it and it couldn't have been his first transformation. That meant that his guardian was teaching him the animagus transformation which was clearly very irresponsible - or, if Harry Potter was doing it on his own he was indulging in very reckless behavior and his guardian wasn't keeping a proper eye on him.

When she and Rufus had read the report from St Mungo's Dolores had snuck the ‘inquiry' on the docket late enough on Friday so the Wizengamot wouldn't know of it until Monday. Since it was an ‘inquiry' she hadn't had to get permission from the Wizengamot, but once the truth came out it would quickly become a trial. Hopefully it would end in new guardians for Mr. Potter.

Dolores patted the other roll of parchment she had filed a copy of Friday - a request for the guardianship of one Harry Potter for Dolores Jane Umbridge. She and Rufus would ensure that Mr. Potter would do his duty in helping guide the wizarding world, since people seemed to listen when Harry's name was mentioned.

Yes, Monday would be a wonderful day.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Remus read about Harry's adventure as a bird with interest. He'd expected Harry to be a stag, like James. Animagus forms quite often ran in families. None the less, Harry seemed to be following family tradition and studying ahead to become a very young Animagi. He wondered what Harry would name his form.

He looked around the warehouse, which was swiftly turning into dozens of apartments. It was nice to be with werewolves - a pack again. He was close enough to his old pack to feel...not exactly content, but at least more comfortable. He was in contact with Harry, and he was able to visit James and Lily's grave. He could even feel that Sirius was not that far away - in Azkaban. Remus sighed - in spite of Sirius' betrayal; his wolf still considered him pack.

Remus frowned, shaking off bad memories; Harry needed to know more about the Marauders - their forms and the tradition of naming them. He sat and penned a lengthy letter about Moony, Padfoot, Prongs and Wormtail. As he finished he realized that Severus would be reading it first. He sighed - Harry's guardian would not be amused by tales of three illegal, unregistered Animagi running the forest with a werewolf.

He added a note in with the letter, insisting that Severus allow Harry to read it.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Severus firecalled Hugo Savage first, and Hugo stepped into the library with a laugh. "Harry can't have gotten into another fix, so soon?" he laughed, then became abruptly more serious as he viewed Severus' grimly furious face.

Severus wordlessly handed Hugo the ministry summons. Hugo looked at it in incredulity. "They have no case - it's ridiculous! And when did they file this - there was nothing on the docket when the Wizengamot left Friday?"

"It's an inquiry - so they didn't have to run it by you. They filed it after you left, so no one would know until Monday morning." Severus answered quietly. "They are hoping we view this with amusement - but they have a bigger plan in mind, I'm sure of it."

Hugo frowned and answered thoughtfully. "Rufus doesn't do anything without due thought, you are right that he must have a plan - and his secretary is known to have been very loud in her criticism of your guardianship of Harry."

"That's likely it, then. They plan to skew this to look negligent, somehow, and try for guardianship." Severus said flatly.

"You think they'll go that far?" Hugo asked skeptically, and then frowned, remembering Dolores' zeal. "You may be right."

"We should talk to Lucius." Severus said and received an emphatic nod from Hugo. The pair went to tell Tom to keep an eye on things and heard the Healer telling Harry he could get out of bed - but would need to keep his left arm swathed for another day.

"But I want a shower - I feel totally grubby." Harry whined. A low murmur was heard and then an answering yelp of horror from Harry. "You are NOT going to help me, Aunt Petunia ... I'll wait until tomorrow morning, then."

Severus and Hugo were still chuckling as they waved Tom out into the hall. Severus told him they were off to Malfoy Manor and Tom was shown the note. He reacted with pale, tight lipped fury. "We should just tell them to bugger off - We're on a Reserve - they've no jurisdiction."

Hugo lifted his eyebrows - he hadn't thought of that. Severus though, shook his head. "I'd rather save that ace up our sleeves for something more important. This can be beaten easily, I think, and if we retreat behind the Reserve borders at present there won't be any Hogwarts for either of you until all the legal tangle is unraveled - and if the Wizengamot is in an uproar, that may take awhile."

Tom grimaced and nodded. "Well, I'll hold the fort, here, and you see what Lucius' lawyers cook up, then."

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Lucius was creating piles of applicants for houses at the Spinner's End project - ‘yes', ‘no' and ‘we'll let you know when the next project starts'. It was obvious there was a need for homes of this sort, and Lucius was already scouting for more areas to make into gated communities. Many were muggleborns or half-bloods who didn't have wizarding family homes to live in - or couldn't afford to buy would of the huge old mansions that might be for sale. They were forced to live in the muggle world - and have to curtail their magic use, or put up with a ratty garret in Diagon Alley.

The Spinner's End community was perfect for them - especially the series of ‘condo's' that Petunia insisted he erect immediately down by the river. The occupants wouldn't have much of a yard and they were small - he hadn't understood who would want them, but after asking around, Petunia insisted that young unmarried wizards and witches would find them perfect - they had already sold all the ones built and a sizable stack of applicants for more.

Draco had shown up in his study just before lunch and was teaching a pair of young house elves how to play Chinese checkers. The Christmas gifts of toys and games had been welcomed, but they didn't understand some of the games. Draco certainly didn't mind trouncing them in the games, while teaching them the rules.

The elves were squeaking happily, apparently not caring if the marbles went where they were supposed to or not. Lucius grimaced and shook his head. Creatures who didn't care whether they won or lost were beyond his understanding.

Hugo and Severus arrived to his surprise and he was handed a Ministry summons. He read it with mounting anger and agreed that it was a pretext - likely for an attempt at wresting control of Harry away from Severus.

Angus Essex, Lucius' chief lawyer and his aide Roger Eastlake were soon there, writing up forms to present a legal tangle - if Dolores and Rufus succeeded in anything. Lucius sent for a ‘friend working in the ministry, who happened to also be on Lucius' payroll' for information on anything Dolores or Rufus may have filed recently. It was a vague command, but the little rabbit-like man scurried off.

"We need to be prepared to defend any and all aspects of Harry's life at Dragonsrest - everyone even vaguely involved with him needs to attend this, in case we need them." Angus was adamant. "We don't know where they'll strike, so we need to prepare for anything." Lists were soon made of people to invite to the Ministry on Monday.

The rabbity man scurried back in, looking energized. "I found something, Mr. Malfoy." The man was almost bouncing in his excitement. "I was at the section that deals with family records - including adoption, guardianships and the like. I saw an application being put on hold - the man was saying he didn't know what to do with it, as the boy already had a guardian and it hadn't been voided, so it would be put on hold until they could investigate next week - I saw one of the names was Harry Potter." The little man beamed happily.

Severus nodded to the others, "Just as we expected then."

"We need to get a copy of that application - it will prove that they intended this as an excuse to get guardianship - that they really have no reason for the inquiry about the animagus ability. The Wizengamot won't like being used as a cat's-paw to steal Harry from Severus." Angus stated emphatically.

"It won't be easy to get that application." The rabbity man muttered just before Lucius dismissed him with thanks and a promise that a pile of galleons would find their way to his vault.

"We need someone who can get that application undetected. I can get it, of course - but Umbridge and Rufus will hear of it within the hour." Hugo said with a sigh.

Hmmm. Someone who was trusted by all in the Ministry - but who would attract no attention. Lucius brightened as the thought hit him, causing the others to look at him in hope. Then Lucius scowled - he hated the thought of owing Arthur Weasley anything, even if the man was likely too Gryffindor to collect, since it would be for Harry.

Lucius rose and threw the floo powder in the fireplace with a tortured sigh and yelled, "Arthur Weasley - The Burrow." The others' faces lit with understanding and Severus smirked a little, knowing how unhappy Lucius was about this.

Arthur looked at the family's floo in astonishment. Lucius Malfoy was calling? Molly looked equally shocked; luckily all the children were outside. "Yes, Lucius?" Arthur finally managed to answer.

"Severus, Hugo Savage and I are in a bit of a muddle over Harry's latest escapade; could you come through and lend us a hand?" Lucius choked out with a clenched-teeth smile.

Arthur smiled back and resisted the urge to say ‘Wow, that must have hurt?' He reminded himself he intended to encourage Lucius to not throw dark hexes or plan murders. "Of course, Lucius." He answered and walked through to Malfoy Manor, Molly wringing her hands and hoping that wouldn't be the last she ever saw of Arthur.

Arthur sat at the table full of papers the group had been huddling around and Severus simply thrust the Ministry summons at him. Arthur read it and burst into laughter.

"Ridiculous! They'll make asses of themselves. It was an accidental transformation..." Arthur looked around. "...wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was, but we believe this is a ruse to get Harry to the Ministry and then try to grab him out from under us with some charge of negligence - there is an application on hold for guardianship for Harry that once my guardianship is ‘voided' will be enacted, most likely." Severus said grimly.

Arthur gaped in horror at the thought.

"We need you to retrieve a copy of the application, so we can prove the plot was in the works." Hugo said to the shocked man.

"Of course, but they'll notice - ‘on hold' applications tend to be tacked up on the wall, so they don't forget to inquire..." Arthur mused.

"You need a distraction...I can help you there." Draco's voice piped up behind them. Draco had been listening with increasing dismay. All jealousy of Harry's ability was gone after listening to this mad frenzy by others to try to grab Harry and control him. "I can create a ruckus that will keep everyone's attention on me. We can say that I heard my mum is trying for custody again and I will insist I need to see my paperwork." Draco smirked, "I do remember how to throw a tantrum."

Lucius grinned proudly - his son was becoming an admirable schemer. Severus grimaced - he recalled some of Draco's worst tantrums. Arthur looked impressed and said it might work, at that.

The unlikely trio of Draco, flanked by Arthur and Lucius was soon striding down the mostly empty hall of the Ministry. Draco chatted happily, once Arthur asked for detail of the animagus adventure. Lucius stayed silent, still uncertain of how to act with a friendly Weasley.

They got to the hallway outside the offices they needed and Arthur went in first. Lucius and Draco heard him greet the two wizards in attendance and say he needed to check on Martin and Mafalda Prewett's paperwork, as sometimes children of squibs were incorrectly filed as muggleborns. Lucius silently applauded the brilliant strategy, until he remembered it was Arthur Weasley, and then frowned - when had Arthur become clever?

He and Draco made their entrance, Draco transforming into a howling monster of preteen angst, shouting he ‘wasn't going to live with that soul-sucking harpy of a mother, and why wasn't Lucius doing something about her?' Lucius didn't have to feign dismayed annoyance and asked for help from the two attendants who were listening in rapt interest to the saga that Draco was shouting to the world.

"He just wants to see that his guardianship hasn't changed and make sure Narcissa hasn't filed any custody papers." Lucius said with an edge of desperation, as Draco continued his mortifyingly loud monologue.

"Theo said she'd going to try to get me - she wants my vault!!" Draco continued furiously. "Blaise has been gloating all week that she'll not let me go to Hogwarts!! - he say's she'll have me in Beauxbatons wearing a SKIRT!!" Draco ended in a wild - eyed shriek, leaving Lucius and the attendants in speechless shock.

"Now you're just being ridiculous, Draco. She can't do that." Lucius managed to strangle out past laughter. He noticed Arthur had managed to get the copy of the parchment, behind the attendants, who were watching Draco's tantrum with awe.

"She might try, and that would be just as bad." Draco hissed, narrow-eyed.

One of the attendants recovered enough to summon the relevant parchment and let Draco read that Lucius was still his guardian parent and reassured him that no custody paperwork had been filed that they knew of. Draco also noted that Arthur had escaped and Draco was immediately and miraculously calmed and smiling. "Oh, that's alright, then. Thank you so much." Draco beamed a spectacular smile at the men as the harried Lucius led him back out the door.

As they left Lucius could hear one of the attendants mutter that perhaps the Malfoy heir needed to be on some calming potions permanently. Lucius wasn't sure whether to be proud of Draco's acting ability or horrified at the rumors likely to spread over the ministry about Draco's obvious ‘issues'.

Arthur met them at the floos, wiping tears of laughter off his face and complimented a grinning Draco on his ploy. "Well done, Draco, well done."

Lucius muttered that St Mungo's closed ward was likely to be contacting him to see if he required their services, but Draco and Arthur just laughed harder.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Sunday was spent at Dragonsrest with the conspirators contacting people to be at the ‘Inquiry' Monday morning. Albus was notified and he came to Dragonsrest to see the paperwork, himself. He could barely believe the gall of Dolores and Rufus to attempt such a coup, but had to agree that they should be stopped.

Cornelius Fudge was also brought in, and he was actually speechless for several minutes, and then infuriated. He agreed to stay silent until the ‘inquiry', and would be behind them.

Draco was upstairs entertaining Dudley and Harry with the tale of the Ministry ‘paper raid'. Dudley had been confused by the Beauxbatons reference. "Oh, it's an all-girl school." Draco said, sending them into more gales of laughter.

Harry was feeling much better after a shower - without assistance. He still had a sling on, but the Healer said he could move the arm ‘a little bit'. Dudley was pronounced completely well, to Petunia's relief and Draco was also considered healed and could toss the sling away.

The conspirators finally felt their plans were in place and left to rest before battle in the morning.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ