When Vernon didn't miss - Sahits

"No, Headmaster," Snape answered shakily. He withdrew, with the realization that there actuallywere beings more dangerous than the Dark Lord."What is it, Harry?" Jason asked quietly, steering Harry away from the hovering Headmaster."Something occurred to me on the train," Harry said."What's that?""Ron's rat, Scabbers . . . it matches the description Black gave you of Pettigrew."That managed to surprise Jason. "Really?""Really. Percy Weasley found it near his father's office at the Ministry back in December, 1981. Itwas missing a toe on the same forepaw Black claims Pettigrew cut his finger from." Harryfrowned."Or do I mean hand?"Jason considered the information and then nodded. "It doesn't matter, I know what you mean. We'lllook into it, so you ignore the rat. Now, scamper off to bed. Don't forget to get up early to do yourexercises.""Yes, sir."*Needless to say, two days later, Ron complained that his rat had gone missing. Scabbers was neverheard from again, but in mid-September, the Ministry was rocked when Sirius Black was declaredinnocent. Fudge, who had been the lead official in the case, and Crouch, who had sent Sirius toAzkaban without a trial, fought atough political fight of blame and counter-blame. Backed byLucius Malfoy's money and some ruthless operators, like Dolores Umbridge, Fudge nearly won.However, Umbridge went too far when she tried to blackmail one powerful member of theWizengamot, who admitted having a Muggle mistress, but proved she did not know about magic.("If I want aMuggle for a pet, what business is it of that cow-frog?" he had demanded at the end ofhis impassioned speech to the Wizengamot, after denouncing Umbridge, Fudge, and even Malfoy.)When another scandal blew up after the Equinox, Fudge was dismissed and Madam Bones wasnamed Minister, leaping over several more senior people, as she had been the highest person in theMinistry not touched by the scandals. Crouch kept his position, but was seen to be very haggard,apparently from the stress of the political infighting.In truth, it was because the stress and time involved in the fight had made him to forget to reapplythe Imperius on his son, who had escaped.In all this, Ron often bemoaned his lost rat, and Percy berated him for being careless.As for Harry, Snape was, for the moment, content to growl and snarl but nothing more. That leftHarry with three other irritations the first month of classes.The smallest of the three, in every way, was also the most constant. First year Colin Creevey wasstalking Harry, camera in hand, the first two weeks of term. In the end, Harry, Hermione, and (totheir surprise) Luna came up with a plan which made everyone happy.