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Harry Potter and The Story In The Runes by IHateSnakes
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Format: Novel
Chapters: 47
Word Count: 240,414
Status: COMPLETED

Rating: 15+
Warnings: Mild Language, Scenes of a Mild Sexual Nature, Sensitive Topic/Issue/Theme,

Genres: Mystery, Action/Adventure
Characters: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Lupin, Sirius, Tonks, Neville, Ginny, OC
Pairings: Harry/Ginny, Remus/Tonks, Ron/Hermione

First Published: 08/17/2005
Last Chapter: 11/08/2005
Last Updated: 03/10/2006

Summary:
Lord Voldemort is no more, but the victors paid a high price. This story begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione's seventh year comes to an end and Ginny's starts. While delving into the ancient story of Merlin, Percy Weasly brings attention to what appears to be the complete collapse of magic. Can he, or anyone stop the changes before it's too late? A/N: This story ignores Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

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Chapter 1: Chapter 1 - Damage Assessments
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Harry Potter and The Story In The Runes
Based on the Harry Potter Series By J. K. Rowling
Chapter 1 - Damage Assessments



Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling, and various other affiliates. No profit is intended in the publication of this story.

April 23, 1998: Seven days after the final battle and the destruction of Lord Voldemort.

He stood silently in the door of his hut looking toward the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; a faint pall of fog or smoke, he could not tell which, clung to the ground and gave the buildings a ghostlike appearance in the evening twilight. The Great Hall and other remaining buildings looked out of place and not at all like the survivors of a battle; most of the collapsed structures had fallen into the vast cavern which had once been known as the Chamber of Secrets. The gaping emptiness that had once held the east and west wings made the entire school look more like a incomplete medieval cathedral than the ruins of the finest wizarding school ever known.

This man's face bore the look of a father who had just seen his dead beloved son. However, this time he would not weep. Tonight he would retire for the day, safe in the knowledge that the magnificent devastation before him was nothing and meant nothing; he had just learned that, once again, his friend would live.

"C'mon Fang, let's go an' see what's troublin' Fluffy."

* * *

Cornelius Fudge sat at his new desk, in his new office, in a new job, and thought about old things. Now the Assistant Secretary for Muggle Relations - a position of questionable importance in a world that discouraged any contact with Muggles - Fudge had the distinct impression that this was one of those jobs that would soon have its budget cut and its employees released, including himself. What a fall it was, from Minister of Magic to Assistant Secretary, still Fudge thought he should be grateful for being alive and having a job; many of his friends could boast neither.

* * *

The new Prime Minister had seen little of the real world over the past few weeks, and little of what he saw made him think of the campaign and the slim victory he thought he had earned. In short, his world was crashing down around him and, of course, it was his fault. Well, not really his fault, more the fault of the office itself that required a shallow and rickety foundation to make it appear that he, or anyone in the office, could perform miracles. His predecessor had proven that with his totally inadequate handling of the murderous rampages over the past six months.

Prime Minister Brian Thompson knew and respected his predecessor, but God in heaven, how could he just sit there saying that it would all work out? Hundreds and hundreds dead, others...he shuddered when he remembered the pictures and stories. Absolute lunacy!

However, tonight, for the seventh consecutive day in twenty-five weeks, the countryside was silent, though not yet calm - that would have been asking too much. So for a celebration of sorts Thompson called his predecessor to thank him again for a good campaign and, again, have a go at setting up a transition meeting. With the events of the past weeks it had simply been impossible to arrange and schedule, but tonight, he would make the gesture and get on with the business of running the country.