Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: The Other Tale

This is the tale of what happened to all the other characters while Harry, Hermione and Ron are away searching for the Horcruxes. It will feature The DA, The Order of the Phoenix and some chapters on the other minor character such as what Dean Thomas did on the run and how Percy Weasley survived at the Ministry and came around in the end. I have rated it T because it features killing, torture and violence.

Chapter 1- The Last Minister

Rufus Scrimgeour raised his glass shakily to his lips, the firelight failing to illuminate the shadows under his eyes and the dark foreboding on his heart. The rain that seemed to constantly pelt his window these days had become a solemn pounding in his head, a funeral march. The Shadows in his large office seemed to deepen by the minute. It was cold and plain, just how he liked it. When he had inherited it from Fudge it had been colourful and grandiose. Such things had never appealed to him. As he stalked around his desk he looked down at a huge pile of papers in waste basket.

They were applications for special ministerial decrees. For laws which only he would pass. No, he thought to himself, laws which only he could pass. They were not the kind of legislation he would ever associate with. He had never counted himself a muggle lover, nor had he ever campaigned for the rights of other magical creatures such as centaurs and house elves. However a lifetime of hunting Death Eaters had taught him the cruelty that was bred by such attitudes and had no sympathy for the fanaticism of lunatics like Umbridge and Yaxley. That women would probably be coming to see him soon, he thought to himself, another oh so sweetly put application to round up the centaurs or for the seizing of Gringotts from the Goblins most likely. He sighed as he strode over to the portrait of Grogan Stump, the most popular Minister for Magic ever, which hung on the wall. "I am going to die soon" he murmured half to himself and half to Grogan. "What makes you say that my boy" Grogan replied in posh but warm growl. "I feel it in my bones" replied the minister, "Well then you are most likely right poor man, if there was one thing I learnt when I was minister it was to always trust the bones of aurors". Rufus stared down into his firewhiskey as if hoping it would reveal a deadly secret in its deep red depths. 'Where did everything go wrong?' he thought to himself 'What else could I have done'. He turned his attention back to the portrait before him. "What would you have done Grogan? How would you have saved this situation?" he said in barely more than a whisper, "My dear boy" the old minister replied "I have been giving you advice for the past year and to your credit you listened to it far more than that cad Fudge, so what I would have done is very similar to what you have done, unfortunately there are some storms which we cannot weather". Rufus nodded slowly before adding "I know but I can't help feeling I could have done more."

A ringing sound behind him forced the minister out of his stupor. "What is it Elms?" he asked sharply to a portrait on the other side of the room. "I was just in my portrait on the third floor and saw Thicknesse, Umbridge and Yaxley on their way here………………..there were others with them…………cloaked and masked." Scrimgeour was back in Auror mode immediately. "Elms go to your portrait in the Muggle PM's office and tell him to poor the powder I gave him into his fireplace immediately, it should block it from the floo network," he turned to another portrait "Bones warn Kingsley, he should be in his guardroom, near the Prime Minister, tell him if I do not contact him personally in the next ten minutes he is to assume that situation A has occurred, he will understand". After this he turned to his cabinet and pulled out two folders, one entitled Harry Potter and the other The Order of the Phoenix. He threw these into the fire.

Addressing the portraits which were still present he said in a sure and steady voice "My illustrious predecessors I would like nothing more than to spend many years in office and try to at least equal your achievements, however it appears that I am about to meet you all in person." Drawing his wand he turned to face the door.