It Was Fine

The Class Was Fine, and It Proved Advantageous Since Several Students Expressed An Interest In Becoming Draconologists In The Future, But Lately Marvolo Felt Like He Was Being Scrutinised, and It Wasn't The Usual Sort Of Scrutiny. He'd Gotten Used To Journalists and Ambitious Ministry Politicians Looking For Dirt On The Enigmatic Power and Information Broker That Marvolo Had Become In The Last Few Years, But This Was Something Else, Something Darker. But His Auror Training Had Instilled A Keen Instinct To Suppress Urges To Confront Without Prior Preparation. His Time As An Auror Was Briefer Than He'd Anticipated, But He Was Still By Far The Best Duelist Since "Mad-Eye" Moody's **** and That Of Nymphadora Tonks. This All Said, Marvolo Did However Know He'd Need To Create Another Rising Star In The Ministry To Hopefully Take The Eyes Off His Back. Since Four Wizengamot Members and Six Wizengamot Aides Were In Marvolo's Pocket and Among His Network Of Contacts, It Would Be Relatively Simple To Initiate Yet Another Easily Bankrolled Riser.

Marvolo Had A Network Of Allies and Contacts, His Network Was Vaster Than Dumbledore's, Everybody Never Dealt With Marvolo Directly, Only Marvolo's Two Top Right and Left Hand's Dealt With Him Directly, and They Were Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini. Zabini Handled Financing, Information, and Administration, While Nott Handled People, Distribution, and Recruitment. Truthfully, Marvolo Was Grooming Nott To Takeover His Transfiguration Post, To Focus More Readily On Care Of Magical Creature's. Marvolo In Any Case Knew Of One Person Who Could Make Impressive and Large Waves In The Ministry, Hermione.

A Woman Of Controlled Passion Tempered By Powerful Logic and Self-Confidence, Hermione Was The Ministries Hottest Ministry Employee On The Current Payroll, Both In Looks and Wizard Press Releases. If Marvolo Bankrolled and Put His Resources Into Hermione's Career, She Could Make It Into The Minister For Magic Post, Perhaps Even Greater Heights Yet To Be Revealed Over Time. Marvolo Preferred To Make Power Plays Behind The Scenes, Keep Himself Clear Of Backlash and Controversy, But Maintaining An Image Of The Helpful, Yet Secretive Broker Of Information and Power. Everybody Who Was Anybody, Knew Who He Was, What He Could Do, and Not To Cross Him. Marvolo Was A Master Of Martial Magic, Potions, Transfiguration, and Alchemy, He'd Created A New Philosopher's Stone Just To Prove He Could, and Had Traveled The World Over In Search Of New Challenges.

Marvolo Was Writing A Letter To His Friends In The Ministry, Suggesting Hermione Granger For The Now Vacated Position Of Deputy Head Of The Department Of Magical Law Enforcement. Hermione's Skills Were Without Question, Her Disposition and Temperament Made Her A Good Leader, and Her Contributions To The Defeat Of The Dark Lord Was Well-Established. He Personally Knew Hermione Would Perform Very Well In Such A Position, But He Hadn't So Much As Signed It, When McGonagall Entered His Office. ''Professor Gaunt, You Have A Visitor.'' Says McGonagall. ''Who?'' Asks Marvolo. ''Someone Worth Meeting.'' Says McGonagall, Opening The Door To Reveal Harry. ''Harry Potter, Been Too Long My Friend.'' Says Marvolo As He Gets Up and Shakes Potters Hand.

''Hey Gaunt, Haven't Seen You For A While.'' Says Ron, Appearing Behind Harry. ''Weasley, Still Following Harry I See.'' Says Marvolo As Ron Scowls. ''Relax, I'm Just Kidding, How's Hermione?'' Asks Marvolo. ''She's Good, What Of Your Wives?'' Asks Ron. ''Same As Usual, Daph Is Still Her Inscrutable and Curious Self.'' Says Marvolo As A Niffler Appears On His Shoulder. ''That Yours?'' Asks Ron. ''Hmm, This Is Silver, An Albino Niffler, Found Him Abandoned By His Mother Niffler, Took Him In.'' Says Marvolo. ''Seems Like Hagrid Isn't The Only One To Adopt Strays.'' Says Harry. ''Yeah, Yeah, I Get It, I Like The Outcasts.'' Says Marvolo Casually, Before Turning Serious. ''What Do You Want?'' Asks Marvolo.

''A Flare Up In Dark Wizards Has Occurred In Scandinavia, Durmstrang Has Requested Aid, We Need You Marvolo, Will You Help Us?'' Asks Harry. ''No, My Place Is Here, I Can't Just Abandon My Students. I Can However Put You In Touch With A Friend Of Mine, He's An Expert Wizard Tracker, Goes By The Name Fallian, Your Find Him Generally At This Location Around Six 'O' Clock, Tell Him I Sent You.'' Says Marvolo Handing Harry A Slip Of Paper. ''Thanks, I Appreciate It.'' Says Harry. ''I Should Warn You, Fallian Is Something Of An Oddity, He Makes Hagrid, Myrtle, and Dumbledore Look Like Pale Imitations.'' Says Marvolo As Both Men Go To Leave.

Marvolo Was Assessing His NEWT Worthy Students When Peeves Arrived. "Yes Peeves?" Asks Marvolo. "Hehe." Said The Poltergeist Before Flickering Away. The Room Suddenly Lit Up However When Professor Flitwick Entered. "Professor Gaunt, Headmistress McGonagall Has Called An Emergency Meeting Of The Hogwarts Staff, I've Come To Get You." Says Flitwick. "Coming." Says Marvolo Getting Up From His Desk....