Okay, finally done with this chapter. Sorry it's been so long. I really haven't had that much time to type a lot lately - work kind of takes up most of my time. Plus, it didn't help that I hit writer's block with it as well. Still, I finally finished this chapter, though I'm still not exactly happy with the way it came out fully. However, I've rewritten it several times already, and this was the best, so...

News and Introductions

Sirius couldn't help but raise his eye brow upon seeing the daze that Kingsley was in upon entering Grimmauld Place. It was rather unlike the Auror to be like this, for he was usually pretty alert, almost always aware of his surroundings and who was there. It was a strange enough even to see him that way that Sirius, who normally didn't bother with most of the others due to the fact that he really was considered useless due to his criminal status, couldn't help but want to satisfy his curiosity. He started to walk after him, following him to the empty kitchen and seeing the man having sank down into one of the chairs. He waited for a few moments, before realizing that Kingsley wasn't going to just knock himself out of his own trance. He reached forward, giving Kingsley a little shake on the shoulder. Kingsley started, his head twisting towards Sirius.

"What's up?" Sirius asked. "You haven't been here in almost three days. Has something big happened?"

"You could say that," Kingsley said, sounding very tired. He looked over to Sirius. "Fudge screw up badly by defending Umbridge. The ICW has decided to involve themselves due to his attempts to keep Madam Bones from investigating the accusations against Umbridge. It seemed to have been considered to be a sort of, I believe the Muggles call it 'last' straw deal concerning how things have been going here in Britain."

"Really?" Sirius said. "How have they involved themselves? And what has Fudge's screw up caused?"

"He's been fired," Kingsley said. "The ICW have enacted one of their lesser known but most powerful acts, the Act of 1112, which allows them to place someone on their team as Minister here. Actually, from what I understand, the person placed is more like a dictator until ICW removes them, simply because of just what they have to do is fix everything that the ICW has asked them to fix. People can't even complain about it, either, because this is brought about outside of Britain."

"Wow," Sirius said, looking impressed.

"Yeah," Kingsley said. "And this new Minister has already proven to be good, or great, rather."

"Who are they?" Sirius asked. "And what is it that they've done to prove this fact?"

"Well, her name is Tristelianna Haliwell," Kingsley said. "As for what she did that has me saying this is, after locking down the building and calling all employees there, she had all of them interviewed with a different, more powerful truth potion that isn't affected by the counter-potion for Veritaserum, and has cleaned the Ministry out."

Sirius's eyes practically popped out of his head upon hearing that.

"So, the Ministry is cleaned of Death Eaters?" he said.

"And bribe takers, and sympathizers, and any one who has done crime in general that never paid for it and doesn't regret having done what they did," Kingsley said. "I was one of the few Auror's Madam Bones personally picked out to join up with the people of the Minister's team, and, well, even then, I went through an interview process just like they did. All that's really left to do is to evaluate what punishment the Minister will give them – as in, just how many years in Azkaban they're going to get, among other things."

"Well, if she's smart and as good as you're saying she is, I can't see any reason why she wouldn't give the Kiss to all the Death Eaters," Sirius said.

"Agreed," Kingsley said, nodded his head as he did so. He was unable to help but agree with Sirius on that, despite knowing that Dumbledore most likely wouldn't. While before, he would have agreed with Dumbledore about believing everyone being able to be redeemed, he found himself unable to do so due to the fact that he'd just spent the last three days having to listen to several of the Death Eaters tell about their crimes, and with a relish that they seemed to gained upon realization that they couldn't lie about their crimes. It was a strange fact that they'd done this, as it showed some sort of awareness of what they were talking about and a lack of care for how they acted when not able to stop from speaking about it, which the truth potion he was used to didn't have happen. He had discovered, though, that in addition to showing things that they themselves might not actually know, it also showed the truth of how they viewed said memory they were telling about.

The fact that every one whom were forced to show their true feelings with the memories of their darkest crimes and spoke with the relish as they had done, showed him the truth about them – despite what Dumbledore repeatedly kept attempting to convince them all of, those whom had the dark mark and had become Death Eaters weren't redeemable, and, though it hadn't been asked straight up, based on the way they really were, he had the feeling that they hadn't let Voldemort's disappearance stop them from committing crime. They just probably showed a slightly smarter side of them by not marking the place where they'd killed with the Dark Mark as they had done during Voldemort's reign. Of course, the fact that they didn't have Voldemort himself to hide behind at the time might have something to do with it.

"There is something of other interest, though," he said, coming out of his thoughts about those they'd arrested within the last couple days as he remembered what had happened just before he'd been allowed to leave. He looked straight at Sirius when he spoke. "Apparently, at some point in the last two days, while we were interviewing everyone, the new Minister was looking through past crime reports, and, since yours was one of the most recent report viewed in the past few years, it was one of the ones she definitely looked at. I mean, I think it is – I don't actually know for sure. All I know is that Madam Bones has inform me that I am to try and convince you to come in for a trial."

Sirius, who had begun slouching, immediately straightened up, looking more alert than he had in months.

"A trial?" he said, a mix of disbelief and wary hope in his voice.

"Yes," Kingsley stated. "Amelia, when she told me this, mentioned that the Minister actually said that she didn't actually believe you were guilty, but that, whether her thoughts about that are true or not, no one will actually believe you're innocent unless there is a trial, one where a truth potion used."

Sirius took in a deep breath.

"So, she's offering to give me a trial?" Sirius said. It was something that he was just having a lot of trouble processing. While he would preferred just being free in general, he knew that she was right in saying that a trial was needed, especially one with truth potion. Even if people wanted to still believe him guilty after the trial, they would have to accept him innocent, since they would probably publicly show off the fact that he didn't have the counter-agent to the truth potion running through him – which was pretty true right now. Not allowed to leave the house on Dumbledore's orders, he really didn't see a reason take the counter-agent as many of the others in the Order of the Pheonix did, and, therefore, didn't.

"Yes," Kingsley said. "It's your choice, if you want to do it. I would, though, as this is your best chance at being a free man."

"How long would it take for the trial to take place?" Sirius asked. "I don't want to turn myself in, and end up spending time with the Dementors while waiting for it to come. I couldn't stand it if that ended up happening, and, since Fudge said they could Kiss me, they probably would immediately do that, even if she recinded the order from them."

"I'll inquire about it – say the thought came to my mind while wondering the best way to convince you to come in willingly, to lessen the chances of a huge duel that can gain Muggle attention happening," Kingsley said, grinning slightly at the fact that such wouldn't actually happen. While Sirius would defend himself if need be, he was pretty non-violent unless provoked, which, considering how many people were like that, wasn't just a sole trait of his.

"So long as I don't end up waiting forever, I have no problem doing it," Sirius told him. Kingsley nodded, making a note to bring it up when he returned to the Ministry in a few hours.

"So, tell me more about what's been going on in the Ministry," Sirius said. "And about this new Minister."

"So, this is really how you want to do this?" Amelia asked as she led the way up to the gates of Hogwarts. It was just nearing the end of lunch, so she knew that the students most likely weren't going to be in the great hall, but, on the Minister's instructions, she had sent Dumbledore a message, letting it be known that she would be heading up to the school to make an announcement to the students. Since she had made it clear that she needed all the students to hear the announcements she needed to give, and that it was on the Minister's orders that they hear, she was pretty sure that he would have had the heads of houses gather all the students up and into the Great Hall by the time she arrived. After all, with the fact that he'd become persona non grata for the Minister after the events of the Triwizard Tournament, she knew that he would be willing to do practically anything to get back on the Minister's good side at the moment.

He most likely didn't realize that it was going to be even harder for him to do that, though not because of what it was that he was trying to convince people of, but because of the fact that there was a new minister now, one whom had made no secret of her dislike of Dumbledore, though what reasons she had for that remained unknown to Amelia.

"It's the funnest way of doing it, especially considering that Dumbledore won't react to visibly with everyone watching him, so I don't have to listen to him complain as he most likely would if told in a different way, and this way the students become aware of this change themselves," Tristelianna answered, walking through the gates as Amelia led their party of twelve up to the castle – for she had told Dumbledore not to worry about sending an escort for her, as she could make it on her own. "Pus, with how often Dumbledore shot down any attempts to have this happen, to see his face up discovering that those attempts have been to no avail..."

Amelia, upon hearing her answer, just shook her head, continuing walking up to the castle, through the entrance hall towards the doors of the Great Hall. The party of twelve followed her all the way to the Great Hall entrance, staying out of sight of those in that hall – which were closed at the moment – while Amelia walked through them with one of the Aurors that had come with their party, making sure to close the doors behind her as she walk through them, so that Tristelianna could make a grand entrance. Hey, if Tristelianna wanted to have fun doing her introduction, then Amelia would help her out on that end.

Though small in stature, Tristelianna could be quite intimidating if need be – Amelia had seen that earlier that day, when they'd told the ministry employees that weren't arrested about the change in administration. She had made it clear that she wasn't to be messed with when speaking, and Amelia knew that, while they might not be happy at the moment, none of them would really go up against her, and some would probably come to really like her – after all, the clear sign that certain people whom many of them had suspected to not being what they pretended to be not being there anymore showed an effectiveness that Fudge – and probably several other ministers prior to Fudge as well, considering that several of the now missing people had been hired by the minister before him – had been missing.

Amelia was well aware that her arrival had garner attention, but ignored it until she was up in front of the teacher's table. Once there, she turned to face the students, who, she saw, were most curious as to why she was there again, though a few of them had looks as if they didn't care. She wondered, with what she was about to say, how long they'd continue to look disinterested, as Dumbledore stood up and introduced her to them.

"Hello, students of Hogwarts," Amelia said, speaking in a loud, clear voice. "I am sure that you are all wondering why I am here. Well, I am here because there have been a major change in the ministry, particularly of the administration. After the events concerning Umbridge and Fudge's defense of her, the ICW stepped in, enacting one of their lesser known acts."

She heard a gasp from behind her, and she had to work hard to resist looking behind her, for she knew exactly who it was that had gasped, and the reason for it as well.

"The Act of 1112 is the act enacted, and it basically allows the ICW to replace an incompetent Minister with someone of their choice, whom is also basically given complete control of everything in country, until the ICW decide they are no longer needed," Amelia said. She noted, upon mentioning what Act was enacted, as well as what it did, being told to everyone, that she immediately had the students attention, noting that several looked curious, while other – particularly those she just knew were related to some of the people whom had been arrested, as well as some of those she suspected to have criminals in the family – seemed a bit horrified. She had the feeling that she knew why that was already. What really amused her, though, was the fact that Malfoy's son, Draco, didn't particularly seem to be disturbed by this news, even going so far as to whisper something to the girl beside him, who immediately calmed from her horrified position. Amelia just knew that he was assuming that nothing would actually change for his family, that his father would be able to 'buy' Tristelianna's good will. She wondered if she could figure out a way to spy on his reaction when he learned otherwise.

"So, basically, for those who didn't listen, we officially have a new Minister, who has personally come to introduce herself," she continued. She pointed towards the doors to the great hall, and, almost as one, every head swivled to them, while Amelia took the time to take a quick glance at the teachers, the majority of which were shocked over knowing that such an act existed, and that it had been enacted as well.

What she loved seeing, though, was Dumbledore's reaction, which was horrified. As she recently learned, the only reason this hadn't happened before was because he had been using his position as the Supreme Mugwump to keep this from happening for years, after it had been suggested the first time after the war with Grindelwald and discovering that many of his supporters had come from England, were, upon a bigger review of the area, showed to be in need of this act being brought about at that point. Perhaps, if it had, Voldemort might not have managed to do so much damage, but, for some reason, Dumbledore, having just received his promotion, was therefore able to vote against it, despite being from England himself, and thus, it wasn't able to happen.

She found it quite satisfying to watch as all of his attempts blow up after learning about this fact, because, after hearing that, she realized that it was very possible that Voldemort could have been stopped before he'd even started.

"May I introduce the new Minister of Magic, Minister Tristelianna Haliwell," Amelia finally announced, just as the door opened. Eyes widened as they finally caught their first glimpse of the Minister, who walked with purpose down the middle of the hall with two men on either side of her. She came to a stop next to Amelia while the two men (one of which several people recognized as Percy Weasley) paused just a few steps before her, and then turned around. She was kind of on the small side, but despite her small stature, the cold, icy look on her face told them that she was the last person they should want to screw with, though it still didn't stop the ones whom thought they were better than others because of inbreeding from assuming that nothing would actually be changing all that much, especially concerning them and what they believed was their rightful spot at the top in the world.

"Hello, students of Hogwarts," Tristelianna said. "As Madam Bones has just told you, I am the new Minister for Britain. Now, I came for a few reasons, one of which was to introduce myself. Another is to inform you that Delores Umbridge's trial will take place soon, and, while I know that quite a few of you have a major grievance against her, not all of you will be able to see her trial. The invites to it will be delivered to those who will be allowed to see her trial will arrive soon for you, so be on the look out for them.

"And now for the main reason I'm here," she continued. "With Miss Umbridge gone, you have no defense teacher. Knowing this, I decided to provide one for you. However, due to the...irregular teaching schedule for the class, I decided that, instead of one teacher being responsible for seven years, there will be three teachers. The first will focus on N.E.W.T. students, as in sixth and seventh years. He will work with you to bring you up to the actual standard you should be at, but have been unable to due to the cycle of teacher's you've had to deal with. May I introduce Professor Christopher Scuito."

Much like Amelia had done when she introduced, so did she in holding out her hand towards the doors. Almost immediately, a male walked into the room, and the older girl's in the room couldn't help but begin to drool as the rather handsome man walked towards the new minister – it was almost like three years ago, when Lockhart had been there to teach, but there were actually more females admiring him than there had been for Lockhart. He looked a bit like her, having the same shade of blond hair and blue eyes. He wore what was clearly Muggle clothing, which consisted of dark wash jeans held up with a black belt, and a tight black T-shirt underneath a red button up. He didn't have any sort of robes on, which seemed to offend some people, particularly those sitting at a table with green on their uniforms as well as those at the teacher's table, something that kind of amused him, if the head tilt towards them and smile he flashed towards the Minister was any indication. Tristelianna couldn't help but roll her eyes when she saw that, having the feeling that he would be enjoying himself in annoying the people from that table with his dress sense.

A light smattering of applause entered the room upon him reaching the top table, most of those clapping being female. He gave a smile towards the students, and went behind the teacher's table, making a nice chair appear for him near where Umbridge had sat when she was there.

"The next professor," Tristelianna continued, once the first new professor had sat down, "will focus on O.W.L. and pre-O.W.L. students, meaning those of fifth and fourth years. Much like Professor Scuito, she will be bringing you up to the standard you should be while also preparing you for these important tests. May I introduce Professor Abigail Snow."

She directed everyone's attention back to the doors. The next person to walk in was another girl, and her clothes and general look had many people blinking after seeing it, for she wore an outfit that not many had seen even Muggles wear. Black pants with wide legs and a red stripe from hip to hem with a tight black button down collar shirt, a loose dark red tie around her neck and black boots with some sort of platform to them, was definitely a new style for those wizard born whom had the least contact with Muggles. She too had chosen to forgo wearing robes of any sort, again seeming to offend the same people the first professor had.

With her black hair, light blue eyes, and dark painted lips, she proposed an interesting mix of strange to the students of Hogwarts. Still, many of the males in the room couldn't help but notice that, though strange looking, she was still pretty as well. In fact, the tightness of her blouse caught the attention of many of them, and, by the time she had reached the front of the hall, a third of the males had convinced themselves that they were in love, while another third wished to see what she looked like without the blouse.

Like with Scuito, a light smattering of applause filled the room as she turned and waved for a second before going and making a chair appear next to him. He immediately leaned into her, and said something she clearly didn't like, considering that everyone saw her arm move before a look of slight pain appeared on Scuito's face.

"And, finally, for years three to one, I have asked a professor whom actually worked here several years ago if they will come back. After some...serious negotiation, they finally agree. Now, from what I've heard from several parents who work at the Ministry, this previous professor apparently has done very well in making sure that their students know what they need to know, and proved to be very effective in doing so. Also, from what I'd heard, they were a favorite of several students, most who are still here. May I introduce, for those who haven't met him, and reintroduce, for those who have, Professor Remus Lupin."

Stunned silence premeaded the room as every head in there turned to the doors, some more quickly than others. Tristelianna noticed that, on some people's faces, they had slight hope; others, particularly at a table where students had green and silver ties, were looking at the doors with sneering dislike. She also noticed that a good number of those who were third year and up had slight wariness on their faces as well, showing that they did remember him, and were ones who remembered what he was. Still, as the man in question actually began walking to the teacher's table, a rather thunderous applause rose, showing that his popularity from before was still there. The loud cheers from one of the tables, which had students wearing red and gold ties, definitely showed that they were glad he was back.

Tristelianna watched as he walked over to the table, giving a small smile to the headmaster and deputy headmistress before going around and taking a seat next to one of the other defense professors. Looking at the other teachers, she let her eyes sweep over them, making note that, as the shock of all that had just been announced was absorbed and they realized just whom she had placed as another professor, most of them seemed okay with it. Indeed, several of them gave greeting waves towards him. There was really only one person who seemed less than pleased – in fact, based on the cold glare they were giving him, which they then transferred to her before realizing that she was watching them, which actually caused them to pale, she would say they hated the Lupin.

She leaned over to Amelia.

"Who is that?" she quietly asked her, making a small motion with her head towards him. Amelia turned to look over at whom she was speaking to, though she had a pretty good idea of who it was, something that proved to be right when she saw whom Tristelianna was asking about.

"Severus Snape, Dumbledore's pet," Amelia said, a clear sign of dislike and hate in. "He was a Death Eater who supposedly turned and gave some information that Dumbledore was then able to use to stop several DE attacks, though nothing really big came of it – all the of the Death Eaters got away, pretty much every time. The only good that came was that innocent lives were spared."

"I take it that Dumbledore vouched for him, and so he was pretty much free to do whatever he wanted after wards. And it's probably too much to hope for him having at least had a preliminary trial so we can be sure his change of heart wasn't a trick," Tristelianna said. "What's he doing here, though?"

"He's the potion professor," Amelia said. Tristelianna looked startled at that, then got a slight upset look on her face, for, mostly because of her suspicious about a lack of trial for him, she didn't believe it a good idea for him to be around kids, especially after hearing Amelia's voice upon telling her about him. Clearly, she didn't like him, and Tristelianna knew that she'd have to ask about more information about him from her later, because she had the feeling that there was actually more than what she'd mentioned about him to be told

"Another thing to speak to Dumbledore about," Tristelianna said. After all, she really didn't think it was a good idea for a Death Eater to be working at the school if he hadn't had a trial showing that he'd truly turned away from Voldemort's path. With a slight pointing towards Dumbledore, and a tilt of her head, Tristelianna walked away from the podium, heading through the small side room that was there. She did a quick wave of her wand, making sure that no portraits could see or hear what was going on as she did so, smirking as she heard the annoyed and irritated mutterings from the occupants. She then turned as she saw Demitri, Percy, Amelia and her 'guard' walk through, with Dumbledore following behind, two others – a woman and the Snape guy – following him.

Waving her wand, Tristelianna made several chairs appear, the most comfortable ones being for her group. Motioning for the others to sit, she sat in the middle, Demitri on one side, Percy on the other, the others taking places behind them. Dumbledore took out his own wand, waving it to change the rather uncomfortable chairs that had been summoned into more comfortable ones, only to become surprised when nothing happened.

"I made sure to use a special spell summoning those," Tristelianna said. "Please sit. We've got some things to talk about, and not a lot of time at the moment. I'm going to be having a few very busy weeks."

"No doubt about it," Dumbledore said, looking a bit displeased over the lack of being able to change the chairs given to him and his people. Still, he took a seat, knowing that starting off badly with the new minister, particularly considering that she would be able to do whatever she wanted to do, even to him, was not a wise decision. Hopefully, he could convince her to leave the school alone – it wouldn't do good for her to be looking too much into the matters at school. He knew that many in the ICW considered Hogwarts to be pretty low in standards, but it just wasn't true. The school had the highest standards. They just didn't seem to get that.

"Now, before I begin, is there any questions about the new Defense teachers I have put into place?" Tristelianna asked.

"Neither Mr. Sciuto or Ms. Snow are Hogwarts alumni," Professor McGonagall stated, her tone of voice sounding as if it was a bad thing to have at the school.

"No, they are not," Tristelianna said. "Which is a good thing, for that means means that they will be able to teach what the ICW itself expects the students to be learning for what year they are, and they don't have the disadvantage of multiple teachers with different teaching styles and different focuses on what they should teach having been taught to them. I couldn't in good thought put in a Hogwarts Alumni for every position because most of them have had to deal with choppy teaching in Defense, which has left very few with the ability to gain a mastery in defense itself.

"The few who haven't had to deal with that obviously refuse to take the job in the past, so I wasn't going to be pushing to try and get them to take it now – plus, considering that the Dark Arts themselves are always changing, the Defense to them needs to do the same, meaning newer masters to the subject are better to have than older ones. As for Professor Lupin having been put in, considering that he's got an idea of what years one through three need to know, it made sense to have him come back to teach those years."

"I do not think that you are aware of this, but Lupin is a werewolf," Snape said, his tone suggesting that she was an idiot for not finding out beforehand. It seemed that he couldn't see how something like that wouldn't bug her, something that he was about to become very surprised to learn didn't, for she was used to working with werewolves, and, because she wasn't prejudiced against them, was actually considered friend to many were clans.

"I am very aware of it," Tristelianna said. "He was appointed due to the fact that, of the past twenty Defense teachers the school has had, he is the only one whom has come close to having some idea of what he needs to do in order to teach the students. While he would have been perfect for doing the job alone, the O.W.L. And N.E.W.T. students have a lot of catching up to be able to come close to passing their exams, as they will be taking the ICW version of them, as the students will for all subjects they are taking, and it would have been very unfair to put it all on his shoulders, especially since he didn't take the ICW versions of O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s himself. As for him being a were, considering that I don't do discrimination, and as it's not something that will stop him from being able to do his job, it doesn't matter."

"And precautions so that he won't cause harm to anyone? I refuse to provide him with the potion this time around, so what is it that you plan on doing to ensure that doesn't happen?" Snape said venomously, forgetting whom he was speaking to. It seemed that the fact that Lupin being a werewolf didn't bugging her angered him. She raised an eyebrow at that.

"Considering that I didn't ask it of you, it's surprisingly egotistical of you to assume you are the only one with the ability and resources to make the wolfsbane potion, as you seem to be acting," Tristelianna said coldly, and he swallowed at that, her tone having surprised him, while also reminding him of whom she was, and what she could do to him if she so chose, especially considering that he knew about the act in question as well. "My good friend and potion mistress Amarante Kwon will be the one making the potion for him, as she had done for any were I've placed in any working position.

"There is also the fact that both Christopher and Abigail are very well equipped to making sure that Lupin is in safe quarters on the nights of the full moon, to doubly ensure there are no accidents to any of the students. In fact, if one does happen, well, based on your reaction, I have the feeling that I'll know just whom to look at first if something does go wrong, because, with the precautions we're going to be putting into place among a few other things, well, the only way an accident will occur is if someone does something to sabotage the precautions."

"I can assure you that Professor Snape won't do anything of what you're implying he might," Dumbledore said, finally speaking up in defense of Snape, as – though she didn't actually know this – he tended to do when someone spoke about Snape in a way that he not only disliked, but hinted that he was anything but a good person.

"I do hope that you are right, for I will not tolerate it if he does," Tristelianna said. Dumbledore nodded his head, knowing that she wasn't kidding about that, and that, just based on her tone, there would be nothing that he could do to stop her.

"Is there anything else you feel the need to say about the Defense teachers, or can I get onto the next part of the business which I need to speak to you about," Tristelianna inquired.

"Just one: how is it that you manged to get Lupin to come back?" Dumbledore asked. "I was hoping that he would take the position this year, but I had no luck in convincing him to take it."

"Are you saying that the Ministry wouldn't have blocked you from letting him take the position?" Demitri asked, speaking for the first time. Dumbledore waved his hand carelessly.

"I would have been able to convince them to let him have the position," Dumbledore said. Amelia raised her eyebrow, finding what Dumbledore said to be rather pompous, especially concerning his influence. Fudge would have never been convinced – in fact, Amelia had the feeling that Fudge would have had Dumbledore removed as headmaster if he had tried to do something like that.

"It took quite a bit of negotiation, but I was able to get him to agree to take the position once again," Tristelianna said, remembering to just that morning, when her meeting with Mr. Lupin had been held. He hadn't exactly been willing to take the position, his condition having been a major concern of his. Thankfully, upon learning that the two other teachers being hired with him would not only be keeping an eye on him, but that he would be given a monthly dose of the Wolfsbane potion, as well as having a place that had triple the security needed to go to transform within his quarters that no one human would be able to come within twenty feet of the nights of the full moon, he finally conceded and agreed. In truth, he did seem glad to have been offered the job again, though there was a bit of worry on his face as well.

"Anyways," Tristelianna said, turning away from the subject, as she did have other things to discuss and do – she knew that Kingsley wished to speak to her and Amelia when they got back, having tried to set up a meeting before they'd left. She was curious to know what it was that he wanted to ask, particularly since she'd discovered that he was the person in charge of looking for Sirius Black, and had been since Fudge's attempt to have Black kissed when he'd been caught at Hogwarts by one of the professors. She could only assume that what he wanted to talk about had to do with that task.

"Due to certain things, there are going to be a lot of changes here at Hogwarts. Next week, another one of my people will be coming here, where they will evaluate each and every teacher here at the school to insure that they are doing what it is that they're supposed to be doing. They will be doing observations of all classes for every year and house, to check that no one is being treated differently than they are supposed to be. For these observations, you will be informed of the day and time period they'll be observing at least two days in advance of the lesson in question. This is being done because of certain...factors of the past few years; we wish to discover why these factors exists.

"Also, we will be revamping certain other classes to actually teach what they're supposed to teach. A few other things might happen, depending on what's discovered during observations, but those are the main things that will be done."

Once she was finished speaking, she stood up, ignoring the wide eyed way she was being looked at by Dumbledore and the other two teachers within the room, vanishing the chairs for that she and her companions had used as they got ready to leave. She paused, going through her mind to insure that she'd said everything she needed, only to remember something else she needed to say.

"Oh, and every teacher will be subject to an interview with truth potion during these evaluations, save for the Defense teachers, as they've already gone through it. This includes you, Dumbledore, and anyone who fights this will be treated like a criminal. We are serious about insuring that all students are safe here, and, with the rumors of the last few years, I have a vested interest to insure that they were just that, rumors."

Done with that warning, she swept from the room, her people following her, while Dumbledore and the others stared at her, looking horrified over what she'd just said, though for different reasons. McGonagall was horrified to learn about the fact that, even with a different minister, they were still going to interfere with Hogwarts. Dumbledore was horrified to learn about the change in certain classes that was to happen, for he didn't like the idea of that happening.. As for Snape, well, he was horrified to learn about the interviews, at least, until he realized that he was quite safe from the truth potion deal – he took the counter agent to Veritaserum daily, so as to be able to hide his secrets from those whom he had no need to have know them. With that coursing through him, well, he knew that his secrets would be safe.

"Nicely done," muttered Demitri as the group left the Great Hall, speaking lowly due to the fact that many of the students were clearly watching them, and those closest to them had quieted down to where they could hear them. The Aurors that had come with but stayed out of the great hall and private meeting formed a circle around the Minister upon them entering the entrance hall.

"Thank you," Tristelianna said, letting out a breath. "Now, lets get going. I want to speak to Kingsley before the end of the day."

"Why?" Amelia asked. "You were looking forward to resting after you'd finished here at the school."

"Oh, I still am. But, well, after Kingsley asking to have a meeting earlier, I'm kind of wondering what it is about," Tristelianna told her. "Especially considering what task he was given as well."

Amelia thought about it for a moment before saying, "Yeah, I suppose, with that in your mind, I can see why it is that you'd really want to speak to Kingsley sooner rather than later. I do find myself kind of curious to know just what Kingsley wished to speak to us about as well, especially since, while he has been on this case for over a year now, it's only recent that he's received the notice to find Black for a trial. I kind of expected him to take a day or two to think about things before asking certain questions to you."

They sped up their walk once out of the castle, heading straight to the gates, where they immediately disapparated after passing through them, going straight to the Ministry, arriving at the lobby outside of Tristelianna's office. Kingsley was already there, having been waiting for them to come back as he'd decided to do after having to wait for them to finish their business, and, with a motion of her head, Tristelianna led the way into her office.

"Okay, Kingsley, what is it that you wished to speak about," Tristelianna asked, taking a seat behind the desk once again as Amelia and Demitri sat down in chairs of the side of the room.

"I was trying to think about ways to possibly gain Black's trust to convince him to come in for a trial, assuming that he is willing to have one, and I thought of something that he might wonder about himself that could end up being what convinces him to come, or keeps him from doing so," Kingsley stated.

"Which is what, exactly?" Tristelianna asked.

"Well, I am assuming that he won't be immediately given his trial if he turns himself in," Kingsley stated.

"He won't, since I plan on having as many people there in the trial as well, which is something that could take time, while also having to deal with everything else," Tristelianna said. "That said, truthfully, I didn't want to mention this before, but I am kind of hoping that you can find and bring him in before Umbridge's trial."

"May I ask as to why that is?" Kingsley asked.

"Because of the fact that one of the charges against him has to do with Harry Potter and his family," Tristelianna stated. "I believe – and it might just be me that does – that, if anyone in the world deserves to have answers, it's him. And, being that he had the most detention with her, he is one of the people who are invited to Umbridge's trial, though he will not be on the stand. I figured that it would be easier to have him at the Black's trial if he was already here where the trials will be taking place, rather than have him come here again, interrupting a day of schooling or time he could be using for his schooling."

"So, if I were to convince him to come in before the trial..." Kingsley asked.

"He'll be placed in a holding cell here in the Ministry just like everyone else that's awaiting trials have been," Tristelianna told him. "While I know most of those in holding cells right now are guilty of some crime, I want people to use the cells here to hold anyone suspected of a crime but hasn't been proven to have done it, something that people seemed to have forgotten to do, like several years ago. I was very concerned upon learning that the Minister chose to hold a Rubeus Hagrid in Azkaban for some odd reason. From what I can see, even after being freed, he was never apologized to, or even compensated for having to have been placed there when he was discovered to have been innocent."

"So, he'd basically wait in a holding cell here in the Ministry if I can bring him in?" Kingsley asked, bringing her attention to Black before she could say anything else that didn't concern him. He didn't think he should know more about things outside of what his main case.

"Yes," Tristelianna said. "Was that all you wanted to know?"

"Just wondering now what my time frame is if I'm to even attempt to get Black here in time for Madam Umbridge's trial," Kingsley said.

"Her trial is going to be in two weeks," Tristelianna said. "I want to mostly get the school things out of the way, as well as give the students whom are to come time to get ready for it."

"Understood," Kingsley said, leaving the room after that. Amelia went to follow him, when she suddenly had a thought.

"I just realized something," Amelia said, turning towards Tristelianna. "Dumbledore tends to be a bit...controlling over Mr. Potter concerning, well, everything. How is it that you're going to be getting him here for the trial?"

"It's going to be mandatory for him to be here, for all those whom are to come to be here," Tristelianna said. "And, even if Dumbledore wishes otherwise, he is not invited to attend the trial himself, so he will not be able to come himself, as I happen to know that, when it comes to punishment, he'll be super opinionated against anything that will leave an impression concerning actually doing a fitting punishment for any crime. I will be sending people to escort those who are to come, and, if Dumbledore wishes to interfere or keep any student from attending, he will be given the message that those who wish to interfere will be placed a ministry cell themselves on criminal charges."

"That should at least give him pause," Amelia admitted. "I do not know if it will have any other effect, though."

"If we're lucky, he'll realize that he has too few rights at the moment to be attempting anything that goes against me at the moment," Tristelianna said. "It all depends on if he realizes that me and my staff are not like most of the people he's used to dealing with – we don't believe him to be Merlin reincarnated. He's completely human to us, fully capable of making mistakes without being surprised if a mistake by him is discovered."

"Somehow, I have the feeling that, even if he does realize that, he's not going to actually be bothered by it," Amelia stated, remembering what he'd said earlier when he'd been asked about whether or not the Ministry would have blocked his attempts to hire Lupin himself. Dumbledore did appear to have a bit of an overstated opinion of himself, after all.

"Well, if he does attempt to get in my way or stop what I'm here to do – whether by himself or through others – he's going to find out rather quickly just why I was the one that the ICW chose for this position," Tristelianna said.

"I'm surprised that he doesn't already realize why you were chosen," Amelia stated. While she knew very little about the woman whom she was speaking to, she had no doubt that whatever it was she did outside of working for the ICW was something big in of itself.

"Oh, he doesn't really know me all that well," Tristelianna said. "Or about me either. While he has voted for this act to be instated in quite a few other countries, he actually left the choosing of whom it is that's to be the Minister to someone else, and rarely ever even looked on to see if progress was being made. No, the one whom chose me for most of those things is someone who knows me well enough to know that I'll do whats needed to get what they want done, no matter what I have to do to do it. I also get a pretty good deal out of it, as well."

"Oh?" Amelia sounded.

"Yeah," Tristelianna said. She chose not to elaborate on that, though, not feeling a need to share what, exactly, the deal she got out of doing anything for the ICW was. It was her business, after all. "Anyway, since our agenda for today is done, you are free to go. I shouldn't require you for anything tomorrow, so you can go ahead and get started on finding out the answer to Mr. Potter's question when you come in tomorrow. If we're lucky, we'll have an answer for him come Umbridge's trial."

"I will do my best to see that it happens, though if there isn't any will," Amelia said, stopping there, for she knew that she didn't have to add ti it.

"At least he'll have an answer concerning it if there isn't one," Tristelianna said, going to her desk as Amelia left the room. She sighed, her eyes looking over to the stack of papers of the interviews from the Ministry that she still needed to deal with. While she had gone through them and placed the interviews in piles of those whom were straight up arrested over whom hadn't, she did still need to do more than that, such reviewing the files of those whom had been straight up arrested in order to know the level of punishment needed to be doled out for them. She also needed to continue with her review of past criminals, to make sure that Black's wasn't the only one whom was wrongfully imprisoned without trial or real evidence of guilt. Plus, knowing just whom some of the prisoners in Azkaban at the moment were, she had to figure something else out as well – how to get them out without problem so that they could be properly disposed of. She didn't believe it right to leave animals such as many of them still alive, especially considering that they now knew that Azkaban wasn't as escape proof as previously believed.

With the fact that it was possible to escape having become known after the events of Black escaping, it wouldn't do for one of the more dangerous criminals, such as Bellatrix Lestrange or Augustus Rookwood to be able to do the same thing. It would leave the world safer if they were just disposed of as they already should have been, especially if the rumors about Voldemort being back were indeed true. And, even if he wasn't and someone else had caused the problems that had happened at the end of the tournament, then it would be best not to allow them the possibility of having any support from the Death Eaters in Azkaban at the moment.

With that thought in mind, she reached for the pile of parchment concerning all criminals in Azkaban at the moment, believing it best that she go through them first before anything else.

So, what do you think about the the people chosen to be the defense teachers? Did anyone of you guess about Lupin being brought back? What about the deal with Sirius? And what do you think about Kingsley's thought after having to interview everyone as he did and learning a bit more about how many of the Death Eaters - in this story, at least - think?

I do not know when the next chapter will be up, though I will be working on it as much as I possibly can. Hopefully, I don't suffer another long bout of writer's block again.

Please Review, I really want to know what you thought about this chapter, and what your answers to the questions mentioned above were.

Strange Hearts