The charity ball was a rousing success, patrons and guests were generous as they emptied their purses not only into the donation jar but also at the auction tables. Prizes were won by those in gowns and suits, happy smiles all around though if that was from winning or the abundance of free alcohol no one could tell.
Despite the Lestrange manor being full of contentious enemies and those on opposite sides of a stinging conflict nothing went wrong. There were no fights, no fists thrown or wands drawn and though some rooms were used beyond their intended purpose nothing unsavory went down. The Prophet reported all the events from the arrivals to the possible arguments, they speculated on fighting and the amount to be raised and finished the reporting with how much was given, Close to seven hundred thousand galleons, an incredible amount of money for the victims, the survivors and the memorial to be built.
The morning following the Charity ball Rodolphus Lestrange arrived at the ministry to give the Undersecretary the money raised. He had a proud smile on his regal face as he passed the large white sack to Helena Rosier, all smiles and a room full of clapping officials and victims family members. However shock and anger rang through the room as the sack was opened and found empty of the donations, empty of galleons, full of nothing but pieces of parchment written with the names of the dead.
Rodolphus Lestrange and the Opposition were immediately questioned and though the candidate for minister denied any knowledge of the robbery or wrong doing he was quickly attacked by the media that seemed to adore him just hours earlier, calling him a thief and playing with people’s sympathies. Some called for him to remove himself from the running but more agreed that he had no reason to take the funds intended for those in need. Still, the damage was done and though his candidacy was intact the Opposition was in trouble, public opinion had taken an incredible hit and the Uprising was quickly regaining the traction they’d lost after the Massacre.
Remus Lupin was being hailed as a silent hero, one that had been criticized only weeks before was now being exalted and new members flocked to the Uprising. Some others chose to support the Opposition in their darker moment. Both sides had taken hits and both were now growing for very different reasons. With the election just around the corner it was impossible to tell who was now in the lead, Marlene Mckinnon still a dark horse.
As the days after the ball unfolded no culprit was found but many hoped the funds would be located and given as they had been intended to be distributed. Only one person knew what had really happened to it all and that was Evan Rosier.