"Eight aurors... two at a time... will now be permanently stationed, right here, to make sure you don't go anywhere until you are permitted otherwise by direct order of Director Hammer. If you do, you're to be found, captured and dumped into a holding cell at the DMLE. If you attempt to use your phoenix to escape, you will be caught, your phoenix will be bound and you'll be charged with escaping lawful custody."
"I'm afraid I cannot allow that," said Dumbledore.
Snarkily, Proudfoot shot back, "I'm afraid I don't give-a-shit what you will or will not allow. This is ordered from Director Hammer's own hand. Therefore, it's going to happen."
As he was about to turn away, he hesitated, turned back and said, "Oh! And, if you do escape. The law that orders anyone who escapes lawful custody is to be put to death is still on the books."
Then he spun about and walked out. Two aurors, a Senior and an Auror Second Class, remained behind and each side of the doors leading back out into the castle proper.
The latest school medi-wizard, who'd heard the aurors come in and came out of his office to investigate, watched the whole thing in silence. When all of them, bar two, left again he looked at Dumbledore, sitting propped up on his bed, and shook his head.
'I'm beginning to understand why the last three all quit,' he thought.
He'd only been there three months.
He was the first of his colleagues to be informed Dumbledore was still trying to engineer the situation by putting the medi-witches and -wizards in a position where they'd have to quit, then demanding he have Pomfrey back, 'since she never had a problem with the position'. And he was already alerted to be on the lookout for such attempts by the old man.
He knew it would never work anyway, but Dumbledore had apparently adopted a strategy he felt would lead to him not being denied. He would simply keep pushing until there were no medi-witches or -wizards left to take the role exceptPomfrey. And that was never going to happen.
Once Harry showed he'd somewhat recovered some of his magical reserves, the healers allowed him to leave. However, he had to 'faithfully promise' he was heading directly home and remaining there for at least a full day.
To make sure of it and that he didn't get into any more trouble between here and there; he was 'allowed', for no cost, to use a Gringotts internal floo to floo home. Luna still had to pay a sickle though.
Popping out of the floo at Grimmauld Place and after passwords were exchanged, Sirius demanded to know what had happened to make Harry look so haggard.
Luna explained, while Harry slumped into the nearest armchair. When done, she said that someone needed to let Remus and Tonks know what was going on, but not to send a Messenger Patronus.
"Why not?" asked Sirius.
"They're still at the DMLE getting questioned about this morning," she replied. "But, don't worry, they aren't in trouble. They used the excuse they were doing their own shopping and were 'in the wrong place at the right time'."
Then she looked off into space for a moment and said, "Don't worry about sending them a message. They'll be here almost direct from there, anyway."
They were, too; stepping out the floo only half an hour later, having flooed from the Ministry atrium.
Harry was asleep on the couch with a light blanket over him. He'd only drowsily looked at who'd stepped out of the fireplace before ignoring them and dropping back off to sleep again.
Before they could ask questions and demand answers, Sirius directly hustled them both down to the kitchen; where Luna was eating a lunch. Harry had already begged off.
From the infirmary, Proudfoot took his other four aurors and went up to McGonagall's office along the Transfigurations corridor. Knocking, he let himself in.
Minerva McGonagall looked up in surprise at her uninvited 'guests'. After a hesitation, she irritably asked, "Is there something I can do for you?"
Proudfoot, standing not far inside the door, replied, "Albus Dumbledore is currently under house arrest in the infirmary. As such he cannot carry out the role of Headmaster. As such he is also suspended as Headmaster. You are now Acting Headmistress." "Oh?" she asked.
Ignoring the implied question, he continued, "If Albus Dumbledore leaves that infirmary...
for any reason... and you know of it, until you are informed otherwise directly by an authorised officer of the DMLE you are to send a Messenger Patronus direct to Director Hammer informing her of that. Do you understand?"
"I... don't think I appreciate―" she started with a huff.
"I asked you a question!" he snapped over her. "If Albus Dumbledore leaves that infirmary... for any reason... and you know of it, until you are informed otherwise directly by an authorised officer of the DMLE you are to send a Messenger Patronus direct to Director Hammer informing her of that. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she gritted out. "I accept you have informed me you understand your DMLE orders concerning Albus Dumbledore," he said. "You are also ordered to inform the other denizens of this castle of the same. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she grumbled.
"I accept you have informed me you understand your DMLE orders concerning informing the rest of the denizens of this castle of the first order," he said. "That's all I need. Should you fail to comply with either order you will be arrested and charged with failing to comply with a DMLE order. You have been warned."
Then he spun about and stormed out again.
As she sat staring at the door, she suddenly slumped back in her chair and sighed. "Bloody Hell, Albus," she muttered. "Whathave you done, now?"
Her epithet reflected her half-blood status and being raised by a muggle church leader. From finishing his call from General Hammond, not happy with the decision reached, Jack approached the group from SG-1 and BSIS.
"Problem, Colonel?" asked Sam.
"We've been ordered back to the SGC," he promptly returned before turning a dirty look at Steed.
The Brit just gave him a bland look back.
"Apparently, the higher-ups have come to an arrangement with the Brits' higher ups," he continued. "They're now taking over the full investigation and search for our Mister Potter."
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