Capítulo 375: hpml81-90
Chapter 081
Draco's face had gone from superiority to confusion to rage but he managed to
hold himself back while his father was there. Lucius on the other hand looked
dumbstruck. "What?"
"It seems just like the last time you were here," Harry nodded at Tracey who gave
the man a predatory grin, "you are operating on horribly mistaken information. I
noticed that Buckbeak had reared back and looked likely to fall forward in Draco's
direction so I used this," he pulled out a Fishing Line rune stone, "to jerk him out of
the way of any danger."
"You did what, Potter?!" Draco exclaimed. His father quickly shushed him though
his own face was twisted into a snarl as well.
"Be that as it may, boy, the animal is still dangerous and – "
"Technically a flobberworm is dangerous too, Mr. Malfoy. You could choke on one
at least if you tried to eat it." Tracey snorted at that and Lavender looked slightly ill.
Harry just smiled and continued, "All students were warned extensively not to
approach a hippogriff without receiving a bow. All these people behind me will
testify that Draco ignored this warning and proceeded towards Buckbeak – not
only without receiving a bow, but also while insulting the animal."
Daphne raised her eyebrows and said, "The equivalent behavior in Potions class
would be throwing in several ingredients at once and then tossing spells at the
hissing concoction. Neither Buckbeak nor Hagrid did anything wrong. Draco did.
Harry Potter saved him from his own stupidity. You should be thanking him."
Lucius' expression settled into one of acquiesce though the corner of his mouth
kept twitching as it tried to scowl. "It appears I did not have the full story. Very well
then. Good day, Headmaster." He started to turn back towards the doors but Harry
got in one last call.
"Should I toss out another glove, Mr. Malfoy?" His only response was the slapping
of shoes on the stone.
"Potter," Snape snarled, "detention tonight for assaulting a fellow student!" Harry
looked to Dumbledore with raised eyebrows but the old man didn't make any
expression.
"Actually, Professor Snape, seein' as Harry was protectin' yehng Draco I think he
deserves to be rewarded not punished. 10 points to Gryffindor!" Hagrid said with a
large smile.
"I agree, Hagrid," McGonagall said. "You will not be serving detention, Mr. Potter."
"Hey don't forget the others," Shiva threw in, grinning. "All of you guys who came
forward as witnesses take five points each. Good show of support and doing the
right thing!"
As Harry turned to head back to his seat with the others, he could practically hear
the grinding of Snape's teeth behind him.
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"Alright, class, in honor of the holiday today we will be going over how to deal with
a boggart. After all, it is rather appropriate to be frightened on Halloween is it
not?" Remus Lupin said with a soft chuckle as he stood in front of his classroom of
Third Year students. Filch had discovered a boggart in one of the wardrobes the
other day and rather than getting rid of it Remus had decided to use the
opportunity for a teaching exercise. It did fit ever so nicely into the spirit of things
after all.
Harry for his part just sighed and shook his head standing with his friends. Of them
the group's reactions were mixed. Tracey seemed rather indifferent while Neville
was exceedingly pale. Hermione rubbed a quick circle on Harry's back, knowing
exactly what her best friend thought of on this day every year. Daphne also stood
beside Harry flashing him a small smile of reassurance when no one was looking
and leaning in. "Hey, at the very least you'll be able to laugh up a storm when we
get to my turn."
Harry peered at her with interest but before he could ask anything Neville had his
hand in the air. "Professor, when the boggart shifts…it doesn't umm, have the exact
same powers as its new form does it?"
Remus shook his head in response. "The abilities are an echo at best. For example,
if you were to fear a specific wizard," he paused and his eyes flicked towards Harry,
"the boggart would not be able to launch actual spells at you, merely a fancy light
show. If you were to fear a nundu, it's possible the breath would make you ill but it
would not kill the entire population of the school." The classroom filled with the
nervous laughter of the students at that. "A boggart does not aim to kill people
who stumble across it. It merely wishes to frighten them into running for the hills,
so to speak. Now if everyone will get in line please, we can get started. Remember,
the incantation is riddikulus."
The class queued up and Harry's group slotted in. Neville got in line first followed
by Tracey, Daphne, Hermione and finally Harry. Harry was still scowling slightly as
the students started cycling through. He hoped that Professor Lupin would actually
let him have his turn instead of cutting him off for fear that Voldemort would pop
up in class. Voldy was frightening sure, but he was most certainly not Harry's
deepest fear. Harry was honestly a little curious just how the boggart would choose
to personify empty, abandoned, loneliness.
Busy trying to puzzle out how his fears might manifest, Harry almost missed Ron
Weasley's gigantic spider; though when said spider started tap dancing he did
finally start to pay attention. Ron moved off looking rather green as Neville
stepped forward already pale. The tap dancing spider disappeared and was
replaced by a basilisk filling up half the classroom. Neville has already brought his
wand forward before the boggart had even finished forming and shouted,
"Riddikulus!" The faux-basilisk hadn't even been able to start opening its eyes
before it became a weaving paper construct of the type seen in parades with
people walking underneath. Breathing a sigh of relief Neville stepped back. Harry
slapped him on the back as he walked past giving him a thumbs up as well.
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Chapter 082
Tracey moved up and the parade basilisk twisted itself into a small ratty looking
diary. Most of the class murmured, obviously curious, but her friends narrowed
their eyes and watched her with concern. Tracey took a deep breath, gave out the
incantation and the old, brown diary was suddenly bedazzled in addition to being
covered in ribbons and hearts and pink paint. A smirk lit up the girl's face and she
moved to the back of the classroom, Daphne giving her hand a soft squeeze on the
way.
Harry was initially somewhat confused by Daphne's boggart. Why was Arnold
Schwarzenegger her worst fear? Harry cocked his head as the muscle bound man
took out his sunglasses and dropped them into place. Suddenly understanding
Harry grinned and muttered, "Somebody didn't enjoy Terminator apparently."
Hermione swatted his shoulder for that. Daphne shouted out her spell and in place
of leather the T-800 was instead clothed in a frilly, pink ballerina outfit. Bursting
out in laughter Harry found himself in complete agreement with Daphne's earlier
statement about him enjoying her turn immensely.
Moving back with a satisfied smirk, Daphne made room for Hermione to step up.
His friend was already moving very slowly and with a great sigh. Harry's laughter
quieted and he eyed Hermione, ready to support her if she needed it. The boggart
noticed Hermione and shifted. Laying in front of the ground crumpled into an
unmoving heap, was a broken, bloody form. A body so beaten it wasn't even
recognizable beyond having short, messy black hair and Hogwarts robes. Harry
tried to see the face but Hermione, with tears streaming down her cheeks, shouted,
"Riddikulus!" The dead body vanished before Harry could figure out just who it had
been and was replaced by a blow up doll. He blushed looking at the – at least
somewhat – anatomically correct plastic doll before Hermione shuffled back wiping
at her eyes. Harry tried to catch her hand but she moved too fast for him to do
anything beyond smile softly at her.
As Harry started to move forward he noticed the Defense teacher also start to jump
forward. Surprisingly enough the older man stumbled and Harry caught a brief nod
from Daphne as he walked close enough for the boggart to focus on him. Lupin
regained his balance but before he could stop it, the boggart had shifted. As the
form resolved into Shiva, Lupin frowned and held his place. Harry peered at his
guardian curiously wondering just how this…was…
Shiva was laughing at him. "You thought I cared? Idiot, Freak!" Harry froze, shaking
his wand only half raised. "It's called a long con, Boy! Doesn't it just hurt soo much
more this way? Vernon and I are getting together tonight to share a drink over it.
I've been waiting so long for this," the apparition cooed.
"Harry!" A dim shout penetrated the fog that had descended over Harry's brain. He
ground his teeth. He'd faced the murderer of his parents twice and killed a 60 foot
basilisk with a sword! He could beat a single boggart! Harry cast the riddikulus…
And Hermione was suddenly looking at him, smirking. "Did you really think I'd stick
around, Harry? After I nearly died three times? Did you think that I – " Harry
dropped to the floor like a puppet with cut strings. Four riddikulus spells crashed
into the faux-Hermione and the boggart vanished in a puff of smoke. Professor
Lupin and the rest of the class were left staring dumbfounded between the traces
of the boggart and Harry.
The boy in question was sitting on the floor with his knees to his chest and arms
wrapped around them, his head buried firmly between them. Anyone asked later
would swear they never even saw Hermione move but suddenly she was wrapping
Harry in her arms instead of standing on the back wall. "It's okay Harry. She would
never say that and I would never leave you either. It's okay. It's okay. We're not
leaving you." Daphne, Tracey and Neville came behind the two and put their hands
on Harry's back as well murmuring their own reassurances.
"Class dismissed," Remus said finally jerking into motion. "Nothing to see here,
people. Boggarts are dangerous for a reason after all. Out with you." He managed
to wrangle the majority of the class outside leaving just the small group of five still
clustered in the middle of the floor. "Harry," Remus said softly as pulled out a
calming potion from his robe pocket. "Harry," Remus froze as four sets of eyes
turned on him with venom and promised pain held in each gaze. His inner wolf
gave a soft whimper meeting the eyes of the bushy haired girl still curled around
Harry.
"What is that potion, Professor?" Daphne asked taking charge.
"A calming draught. I had several prepared just in case anyone had a strong
reaction to the boggart," he said trailing off. "I…hadn't quite expected something
this strong though…"
"Yes, well, Harry Potter is never quite able to have a normal experience in
practically anything now is he?" The question was far more of a statement of fact
and dismissal than anything else. Daphne plucked the potion from his hands and
handed it off to Hermione. The brunette subtly coaxed Harry to lift his head and
poured the potion into his throat.
A few moments later, Harry gave a shuddering gasp and his eyes cleared somewhat.
He shook his head then gazed back at the ground. "Bugger. Sorry guys…"
"Language, Harry," Hermione chastised without any actual rebuke in her voice. She
was rewarded with an ever so slight upturn at the corners of her friend's lips. "You
have nothing to apologize for. As Professor Lupin told the rest of the class: boggarts
are somewhat dangerous for a reason. They are evolved to do exactly what they
did to you."
"I faced Voldemort," Harry said. Beyond Hermione he dimly registered Professor
Lupin flinch at the word. "I ran right at a basilisk. I shouldn't collapse at…a
boggart." He sighed.
"Harry, you weren't afraid of the boggart," Remus said softly. "You were afraid of
something far worse and it used that against you, as is its nature. It is very good at
what it does."
"Riddle is someone you fight against," Neville commented. "A basilisk is something
you can kill. You can't really fight against an idea. I would've crumbled to that too if
it had become my parents."
"Some things you can't make funny," Tracey said with a shrug.
"Come on, Harry." Hermione stood and levered him to his feet. "Let's get you some
food. The Feast will be starting soon. You'll feel better afterwards." Harry nodded
and let her maneuver him towards the door.
Remus stopped Neville as he started to follow the others. "If Harry needs anything
further have him stop by Madam Pomfrey." Neville nodded and headed off after
his friends.
Shiva was concerned. It was Halloween Feast so by the simple law of probability
she'd be a little on edge throughout the day. Harry wasn't the only one who had
noticed that things tended to fall apart on that day. Plus the fact that Harry was
usually a little grim – for good reason yes, but still – on this day and she'd of course
be watching out for him. To make her even more worried, Harry was...off...at the
moment. He may be laughing and smiling but the smile didn't reach his eyes. And
he was sticking very close to his friends and them to him. Not even a minute had
gone by when one of them wasn't in physical contact with him which by itself was
more than strange enough. Usually only she or Hermione could get away with that
level of contact. He was even letting Luna bump up against him without flinching.
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Chapter 083
Shiva finally managed to catch his eye and raised her eyebrows a bit shooting him a
questioning glance. Harry smiled gave a small shrug and turned back to chatting
with his group. He did seem to perk up slightly though and it was at least enough
for her to stop feeling like she needed to rush over there and interrogate him.
Remus Lupin leaned over from the seat beside her and spoke softly, "Good evening,
Bathsheda."
"Evening, Remus," she replied.
"You seem a little on edge. Expecting trouble?" he asked with a bit of a half
chuckle.
"It's Halloween. Two of the three years I've been teaching there's been a disaster
today. I'm just staying on my toes in case it's three out of four," she said sighing.
"Ah. Yes, I can understand that sentiment then." He paused seeming to consider
before coming to a decision. "If I may...You are more to young Harry Potter than a
simple mentor, are you not?"
Shiva very deliberately took a bite of her food before fixing him with piercing glare.
"Whatever I am to that boy is none of your concern, Professor Lupin."
"My apologies. I did not mean to accuse you of anything," Remus said shaking his
head. "I just wished to inform you that there was...an incident in my class earlier."
Her mind ran a mile a minute. Harry hadn't been looking bad at breakfast or lunch
and Defense was right before the Feast...'Shite.' She took a deep breath and
centered herself before replying out loud, "What sort of incident?"
"A boggart was discovered the other day. I had decided it would make an excellent
lesson for the holiday so many of my classes were working on dispelling the
boggart," Remus explained as Shiva's stomach dropped. This was not going to be
good at all. "Harry's class was doing fine with relatively normal fears until his group.
I had heard some rumors about the past two years but I hadn't truly believed them
until that point I think. One of his friends' boggart was a basilisk – thankfully the
boy in question was able to hit it with a riddikulus quickly enough for it to change.
Boggarts don't take on many of their form's abilities, but I do worry about what
could have happened had it managed to gaze at someone. Another was a simple
diary though judging by the looks on those five it was anything but simple.
Hermione Granger's fear was someone close to her dead. I don't know who. The
body was nearly unrecognizable for the abuse her fears had had it suffer. Harry's..."
Remus paused. Had he been paying attention he would have noticed her hands
clenched around the silverware and her teeth grinding together.
"Harry's boggart was you initially, Bathsheda," he said. That threw Shiva for a loop.
Why would Harry be afraid of her? "It said several rather awful things to him.
Mostly centered on you only having pretended to care for him and being in league
with his uncle to make his suffering worse." Shiva was suddenly very thankful that
the silverware was metal and not something weaker. There was far less likelihood
of metal breaking under her grip. "He managed to cast the spell after Hermione
shouted to him but...the boggart then switched into a version of her which also
proceeded to verbally attack him. Harry collapsed right about the same time that
each of his friends let loose an extremely powerful riddikulus. I admit, I have never
seen a boggart simply...disintegrated before."
"And where were you during this episode, Professor Lupin?" she managed to
growl.
Remus' eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. For the first time he focused fully on
Shiva and noticed just how enraged she had become. He shifted back slightly
before responding, "I was unprepared for such an episode especially from one so
young. I've heard of existential boggarts from adults far older but never realized
one could result from a child. I was fully expecting to see You-Know-Who – "
"Voldemort," she cut in, lip twitching.
Remus flinched but continued, "Yes. Him. When the boggart turned into you I was
stunned and did not move to act until after his friends reacted."
"No wonder why the kid is freaking out. Do you have any idea how bad that
could've been?"
"I was prepared for You-Know – "
"I don't give a rat's arse about Voldy you arsehole," she hissed. "I care about Harry.
You have no idea the shite that boy has been through and to have him faced with a
version of me telling him something like that? After the summer he just had? Do
you even have a clue about the potential psychological damage you have done to
my ward?"
Remus' mouth narrowed into a line. Ward? He hadn't been around much yet at
Albus' suggestion but he was here now and he had a duty to James and Lily to
watch out for Harry. "What do you mean your ward?"
Shiva full on snarled at him then. "What the bloody hell does it sound like?"
"You have no relation to him whatsoever. What possible reason do you have for
attempting to claim custody of – "
"I may not be related by blood but that boy over there is as much my family as my
mother and father are. I have been there far more than you, you sonofabitch!"
Remus flinched back at the venom in her voice. "You were his parents' friend and
you never did anything to contact him. No phone call. No letter. No visit. Nothing!
You left him with his relatives – with those horrible excuses for human beings! How
dare you say I have no reason for looking out for him when you so obviously didn't
give a wiff yourself! I have been working my arse off since I first met that kid to
help him out. Where were you for the past 12 years Remus Lupin?"
"How could you possibly know that?" Remus asked his eyes wide.
"The past two Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers have tried to kill Harry," she
sneered. "Sirius Black just escaped recently. As I just said; I watch out for the kid.
As soon as I found out who Dumbledore had hired to teach DADA this year I did my
homework. I know all about you, Professor Lupin."
Remus could only stare into his plate of mostly untouched food. "Why did you not
say anything earlier in that case?"
"I was curious to see how long it would take you before you approached him on
your own. Obviously that isn't going to happen anytime soon!" She took a deep
breath and let it out slowly. "If you want to talk about Harry more then do it in my
office later where I can scream at you as loud as I want first." Shiva turned back to
her plate and speared the little potato resolving to ignore Remus Lupin for the rest
of meal.
Remus for his part closed his eyes and sighed. He had a lot of apologizing to do it
seemed.
By the time the Gryffindors made their way back up to the tower Harry was feeling
much better. He would talk to Shiva in the morning after this day was over and
done with but his friends had perked him quite a lot. He was mostly just frustrated
with himself at this point.
And annoyed, that yet again, the universe had decided to call his bluff for tempting
fate. Harry really had to start watching how he thought since Fate apparently liked
to have a bit of fun with him.
No sooner had he finished that thought, he turned the corner to see a gaggle of his
fellow Housemates staring in shock up at the portrait of the Fat Lady. Groaning and
slapping a hand over his face, Harry started muttering about Fate being an evil little
prankster.
"Who would do this…?" Lavender quietly asked. The Fat Lady's portrait had three
large slashes down the center and the frame behind her canvas had marks of
spellfire.
"Someone who wanted in," Neville said glaring at the portrait.
"Sirius Black! It was Sirius Black! Sirius Black tried to kiiiillllll meeeeee!" The Fat
Lady gave a keening wail from one of the portraits a ways down the corridor. With
a hitched sob the painted woman took off, leaping from portrait to portrait
retreating from the slashed canvas.
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Chapter 084
"Err…" Ginny said looking around in confusion. "How do we get into the Common
Room now?"
This Quidditch game was miserable. The rain was awful, his Reflector Lenses had
the unfortunate side effect of repelling water-wicking charms so he could barely
see, it was cold, and the stupid Dementors were making things even worse as they
got closer.
'Wait. Dementors? Closer?'
Harry's broom careened to a halt as his conscious thoughts finally caught up to his
unconscious grumblings. The storm had blanketed the grounds and masked the fog
and cold of the Dementors. Harry had only seen them massing thanks to his height
and continued circling for the Snitch. Flipping around, Harry peered into the
darkness a short ways away only to see it moving. The horrible creatures were
assembled and pushing towards the pitch in the middle of the game. Harry's eyes
widened and he turned his Nimbus seeking out the box with McGonagall. He
had…to…tell…
Not Harry! Please, not Harry!
"Well, bugger…" Harry muttered as the screams filled his head and he slid off the
broom's side. As the wind whipped past his ears, Harry heard a dim roar of panic
rise from the crowd. Harry slipped into unconsciousness thanking god that at least
the people had noticed the Dementors.
Harry woke to a bland white ceiling hanging over him. A very familiar bland white
ceiling. And a weight pressed against his side, trapping his arm.
Turning, Harry squinted and could make out brown hair splayed over the bed next
to him. He smiled slightly and said, "Hey, Hermione. Any idea where my glasses
are?"
The head leaning beside him shifted slightly. A dull murmur of protest rose before
she twisted towards him. Hermione's blurry face centered on Harry's and suddenly
she was a lot clearer as she jerked upright and leaned over him. "Harry! You're
awake! Hang on, I have your glasses right here." Reaching off to the side, Hermione
grabbed his glasses from the table and slipped them onto his face.
"Jeez, Harry, can't you even play a game like normal people?" Daphne snarked
from the other side of his bed.
"I don't think 'normal' really means the same thing in Harry's personal dictionary,
Daph," Tracey commented with a smirk.
"Perhaps 'normal' is another synonym for 'danger' or 'risking death' for Harry?"
Luna asked in an airy voice, a faint smile on her lips.
"Hey, I've said it before and I'll say it again: worst good luck ever," Neville
pronounced with a laugh from near Hermione.
"Nobody got hurt from the Dementors did they?" Harry asked looking between his
five friends. He saw Shiva slumped across a bed across the way. "And is Shiva
okay?"
Hermione smiled. "You're the one waking up in the hospital wing. Again. And the
first thing you ask is if everyone else is okay." She shook her head. "What are we
going to do with you, Harry."
"Technically, Hermione, the first thing he asked was where his glasses were. The
nobility actually came second this time," Daphne said. "I think we're making
progress even if it is incremental."
"Nah," Neville waved of her judgment. "He's got to be able to see to run off and
save everyone. Doesn't really count."
"Is anyone going to answer my question?" Harry grumbled.
"No, no one was hurt besides you, Harry," Tracey said shaking her head. "Shiva is
over there sleeping because she and a lot of the other Professors were busy casting
Patroni to get the Dementors to back off. Hers was…a little more powerful than
most of the others. Madam Pomfrey told her to rest to recover some of her
stamina."
"Why was hers…"
Hermione shook her head. "We all saw you fall, Harry. You were very lucky.
Professor Flitwick was close to you as you slipped off the broom and his quick
relaxes let him hit you with an arresto momentum before you had picked up
enough speed to receive more than bruises." Harry nodded and she continued,
"Shiva was quite perturbed at the Dementors for nearly causing your death. Again.
She was very enthusiastic with pushing them back. Professor Dumbledore told us
all afterwards that they were likely drawn by the large crowd at the game."
"Oh," Harry said. "So is it rescheduled then?"
The group sadly shook their heads. "Sorry, Harry," Neville said mournfully. "Just
before you fell, Cedric caught the Snitch. He didn't even realize something was
wrong until the Professors starting jumping over the stands to get at the
Dementors. He's been apologizing to everyone he could find about it. Even Oliver
told him to shut up and that he doesn't blame him. You might want to talk to him
later."
"Yeah. Guess I should." Harry sighed. While it sucked losing, he really couldn't
complain considering how miserable the game had been anyway.
"Harry…" Hermione said. Harry turned back to her and saw her expression pinched
and she was wringing her hands. His insides clenched. "Everybody was so focused
on the Dementors that…well nobody really thought about your broom." His eyes
widened and his breath hitched. "We tried to save it but…the winds pushed it into
the Whomping Willow and by the time we realized it…I'm sorry Harry…"
Harry flopped back down into the bed. 'Bugger.' Careful to make sure his voice was
steady, he asked, "Does anyone think I could sue the Ministry to pay for a new
broom?" His friends gave the sad little laughs he had been hoping for. It may not be
much, but it was something.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry asked knocking on the door to Remus' office. The man
waved him inside and Harry sat down in the chair across from him.
"How can I help you, Harry?"
"Well, I could use some help, Sir…Also, I talked with Shiva about Halloween the
other day. She…mentioned that you two got into a bit of a fight and that I should
ask you about it first."
Remus sighed and pulled out a tea set. "Would you like some?" Harry shook his
head. Remus poured a bit for himself and leaned back into the chair. "Did
Bathsheda tell you the general subject of our disagreement?"
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Chapter 085
"No, but it's not too hard to figure out that it was about me."
"It was, but probably not in the way you are thinking, Harry. I…have not made the
best of choices in the past decade. Your guardian drilled that into me rather
effectively the other night. First allow me to apologize for the boggart incident. I
should not have frozen like that. I simply never expected to see a student's boggart
manifest as a teacher. Especially not one they are known to like."
"It's fine, Professor," Harry said waving that off. "I wanted to face the boggart. One
of my friends actually tripped you up to make sure I could."
Remus' eyebrows rose. "Really?" he chuckled. "No wonder I tripped. Well whoever
it was, congratulate them for me would you? That was a delightfully subtle little
prank."
"I will. Anyway, it wasn't your fault. I figured my boggart would be weird and I'm a
little embarrassed about how poorly I handled it. I do think I'm going to let others
stick to dealing with them in the future though."
"There is certainly no shame in that, Harry," Remus said nodding to the boy. "Now,
as to what Bathsheda and I argued about….I knew your parents, Harry." Harry's
gaze jerked up and a lot of the humor in his expression visibly drained away. "I was
quite close to your father actually. We were best friends during the majority of our
schooling."
"Like with Sirius Black?" Harry asked.
Remus flinched. "I deserved that. Yes. While James and Sirius were always
exceptionally close, I was almost as good of friends with them. I have
a…problem…a disease. It has caused many complications in my life. Your father and
Sirius discovered my little problem but instead of shying away from me it instead
drew them both closer. A fourth joined our little group – "
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Yes, poor Peter," Remus sighed. "The four of us grew quite close and when James
started to date your mother, Lily, she shortly became a fifth member of our circle.
After we graduated we all remained somewhat close though I drifted apart. Again
largely due to my shame. After James' and Lily's deaths I blamed myself. I realize
that was foolish, but I did. I felt that if I had let them in more than perhaps I could
have helped. Or at least died with them."
"While this is interesting, Professor, I don't see what this has to do with why Shiva
would yell at you and as she put it 'come within a hair's breadth of beating the
stuffing out of you'. It takes a lot to rile her up like that. Generally I'm the only one
who can do it and that's just because I tend to almost die on her a lot." Harry
shrugged. People knowing his parents was no longer as interesting as it used to be.
"It relates because the context is important." Remus sipped his tea and grimaced.
"After I sobered up I attempted to find you. I felt it was my duty as the last
remaining Marauder to at least look in on you from time to time. Albus however,
informed me that you were safe with your relatives and I took his word for it. He
was Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard since Merlin himself. Who was I to
question what he said?" Remus sighed again and closed his eyes. "I never bothered
to consider that your relatives were Petunia and her family. Lily had…complained
about her sister often enough that I should have taken action. Bathsheda would
not tell me what Petunia did and I don't expect nor ask you tell me yourself. But, I
know it was not pleasant and I know that it was persistent. I can only imagine what
you endured because I was a fool more interested in my own self pity than in you."
Remus spread his hands in supplication. "Even now, I have been a fool. We have
seen each other for over two months and I never once mentioned that I knew you
as a baby or that I knew your parents. I have failed you in many ways, Harry. I
humbly request the chance to attempt to rebuild the bridge I burned so many years
ago."
Harry frowned at the teacher and considered. On the one hand, here was a man
who was at least partially responsible for his neglect at the hands of the Dursleys.
On the other, like McGonagall he did seem to be genuinely sorry for the past.
"What did Shiva say to this?" Harry eventually asked.
"She said," Remus gave a small, sad smile, "that she did not have the right to do
anything more than berate and threaten me. That the decision of how to proceed
in the future would be left completely up to you. Though she did threaten to
remove my bits should I do anything untoward in the future. That is quite a fiery
young woman you've chosen as a protector."
"I think she kinda chose me, more than the other way around," Harry muttered. He
sat thinking for a few minutes. "Will you tell me what your problem was that didn't
scare my dad away?" It would be a good test to see just how far Professor Lupin
was willing to go for his forgiveness.
"…Will you agree in turn to keep this between us?"
"And Shiva. That's non-negotiable." Harry countered.
Remus gave a slow nod. "Very well. As a young child I was bitten by Fenrir
Greyback during a full moon. I…am a werewolf." Remus closed his eyes and braced
for the explosion. For the look of disgust in the eyes of his best friends' son.
"Seriously? That's it?" Remus' eyes snapped open and instead of disgust or pity in
Harry's eyes he instead saw confusion. "I thought you were going to say you'd
killed someone or something. A werewolf, that's the secret? That's nothing."
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Chapter 086
"Harry…I don't think you quite understand the stigma associated with
my…condition…"
Harry snorted. "So you're a super big wolf that likes to rip things apart one or two
days a month. Hell Shiva is worse than that for longer." Remus opened his mouth
to protest again completely confused at this reaction but Harry waved him quiet.
"Whatever, I'm not going to argue about this. Look you want another chance? Okay,
fine. But we start over from square one. Professor McGonagall has proven that
she's pretty cool and I avoided her like the plague for a while. I can at least give you
the same chance. But I don't give out third chances."
"Fair enough." Remus nodded at the boy. "I truly appreciate this, Harry."
"Okay. Now that that's out of the way. I need help."
"With what?"
Harry sighed. "I got to thinking about Dementors the other day. It's hard not to
what with them surrounding the school and all," he said and growled. "Especially
after falling off my broom thanks to them. Things like that and the train incident
can't happen again. I can't afford to collapse like that in a bad situation. I need to
be able to defend myself."
"Well," Remus said rubbing his chin, "I could attempt to teach you the Patronus
charm. However it is quite complicated. And I am certainly not willing to bring you
out to the grounds to practice in on an actual Dementor. There is quite a large
difference between performing it in the middle of a classroom and against the
creatures themselves."
Harry shrugged. "Being taught the charm is all I'm looking for, Sir. Once I know the
basic underlying principles of it I can try to make a rune cluster to replicate the
effects. Whether I can perform the charm under pressure would be moot at that
point."
Remus' eyebrows rose into his hairline. "A rune stone to reproduce a Patronus?
That…I don't believe that is possible, Harry…"
Harry laughed. "I've invented at least five different clusters that are supposedly
impossible and I'm pretty close to figuring out another three. Hell this should be
simple really. I'm not making anything new, just a rune to perform a spell. Three of
my primary combat runes do exactly that with reducto, confringo, and diffindo. I'll
probably try to supercharge it or something in case I'm ever swarmed and I should
be able to do the spell itself at least somewhat proficiently to make sure that I get
credit for it when it comes time for OWLs and NEWTs but the rune itself shouldn't
be too hard."
Remus's jaw snapped closed. He started laughing. "You have your father's
confidence and your mother's brilliance, Harry. Let's get started then, shall we?"
Breakfast the next morning was…unusual. Harry and company had just laid into
their food when a bevy of owls showed up carrying a long, rectangular,
paper-wrapped package. Immediately after dropping it in front of Harry, the owls
all left.
"That's new." Harry blinked at the bow. Hedwig swooped into the Hall and landed
on his shoulder with an indignant hoot glaring at the package. "Hey, don't look at
me, girl. I didn't order anything." She hooted again and twisted towards him. "Yes,
of course if I had ordered something I would have told you so you could pick it up
yourself." She hooted again and ruffled her feathers apparently satisfied. Harry
reached over to his plate and held a slice up bacon up for her. "Peace offering?"
Hedwig happily gobbled the snack and flew back out of the hall. "What?" he asked
looking at his friends who all had varying degrees on incredulity on their faces.
All except for Luna at least who merely looked amused. "I think they are surprised
that you were told off by your owl, Harry."
"Not the giant package somebody sent to me then?" Harry asked with a smirk at
the blonde.
"That probably has something to do with it as well though I think Hedwig was the
larger part." She tapped her finger on her chin and asked nonchalantly, "You don't
suppose she might actually be a Mayan Wind Chatterer do you?"
"I admit, Luna, while I'm not familiar with the Mayan Wind Chatterer I really don't
think Hedwig is anything more than a really smart owl," he said laughing.
"Shame. I've always been curious whether the Mayan Wind Chatterer truly existed
or not." Luna shrugged and went back to her food.
Hermione ground her teeth and was about to say something before Ron cut in.
"Well? Are you going to open the thing or what?!"
Harry rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Why not. Might as well see what it is." He
opened the card that had come with it. " 'Sorry about your last match. Consider
this a repayment for missing so many birthdays and Christmases.' Huh." Tearing the
wrappings off Harry was presented with a brand new, mint-in-box Firebolt. The
fastest, most maneuverable, best broom currently on the market. A broom worth a
thousand galleons. "Urg," Harry couldn't do anything more than croak upon seeing
it.
"Wow…" The sentiment was expressed by many of the surrounding people. Ron
looked like he was going to faint and Oliver Wood looked torn between joining the
redhead and drooling.
Harry reached out a hand to caress the broom but found his arm locked in place by
Hermione's iron grip. "Harry, you can't touch that. You can't use that. Not yet!"
"But – but it's a Firebolt, Hermione!" Harry whined.
"Yes and you have at least one person out for your blood. Plus whatever the heck is
going on with the Sirius Black situation. There is no indication of who sent you that
broom beyond a vague reference to the problems from the match meaning they
had to have heard yours was destroyed and have enough money to get you a new
broom in very short order. That implies power which implies dangerous. You are
going to have that broom thoroughly checked for traps or sabotage before laying a
hand on it."
Harry's expression fell and he looked with longing at the broom. He turned back to
Hermione's stormy expression. He glanced at Shiva who just looked pained. Harry
turned back to the beautiful broom sitting before him and drew his hand back
sighing. "I hate when you make sense like that."
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Chapter 087
This was too much for Ron apparently. "You can't be serious! That's a FIREBOLT!
What if they dismantle it?! What if they break it?! What if they can't put it back
together?! Do you know how expensive those are?! Who cares who sent it?! It's a
Firebolt!"
"We prefer Harry alive, Ronald," Luna commented not even bothering to look up
from her pudding. "This is very good. You should have some pudding."
"Nobody asked you what you think Loo – " Ron was hit by a silencing spell before
he could finish the sentence.
Ginny lowered her wand, stood up and cuffed her brother on the back of the head.
"Do you ever learn? Sorry about that, Harry, Luna. I'll take the git upstairs so you
don't have to hurt him."
McGonagall and Flitwick who had wandered up behind during Ron's episode
nodded approvingly. "Miss Weasley," McGonagall said, "very good foresight. Five
points to Gryffindor."
"I assure you, Mr. Potter," Flitwick said, "we will be exceedingly careful not to
damage or degrade your gift in any fashion. I would expect you to have it back in a
week assuming no complications. Two tops."
Harry just nodded glumly. The professors levitated the box with the broom out of
the room with Harry staring after it. Shiva clapped him on the shoulder. "Cheer up,
kid. Best case scenario, you get it back in a week and can lord your epic broom over
your rivals. Worst case scenario, it's trapped meaning you can properly thank
Hermione for saving your life. I can point you to a few unused broom closets on the
fourth floor or if you need more light for the expressions of gratitude there are
some excellent empty classrooms up on the sixth." Shiva smirked down at her ward
as she walked back to the staff table.
Harry and Hermione on the other hand were both blazing red. Luna happily
hummed away, glad that Professor Babbling had managed to firmly get Harry's
mind off the broom.
The Firebolt examination was completed in five days. Flitwick had apparently fallen
in love with the broom and between him and McGonagall's efforts, they worked
round the clock to lovingly check over every inch of the beautiful thing. No
unsavory charms, runes, traps, enchants or potions were found. It was entirely
mundane.
If a thousand galleon present from a mysterious benefactor could be considered
mundane.
Harry and his friends had gathered to discuss this and the Sirius Black problem.
There had been frustratingly little actual progress on that front. So far the only
thing that they had confirmed was that literally everyone was amazed that Sirius
Black had betrayed the Potters. Hagrid, McGonagall, Flitwick, Tonks, Andromeda
Tonks, Amelia Bones, Augusta Longbottom, Xenophilius Lovegood, the late Pandora
Lovegood (according to Xenophilius), Celeste Greengrass (Daphne's mother),
Madam Rosemerta, the owner of Zonko's Joke Shop…Even Filch had admitted to
being surprised when the news had first broken.
"And we're sure he couldn't have been under an Imperius curse?" Harry asked after
they had checked everything again.
Daphne shook her head. "The Blacks specialized in mind magics. There is no way
any child of House Black would fall to Imperius."
"And even if he had," Tracey said banging her head on the table, "laughing
afterward wouldn't have happened."
"We're going around in circles." Neville shook his head and leaned back staring at
the ceiling of the library.
"Let's focus on something else," Hermione said. "Instead of looking at why, let's
look at how and backtrack. Does anyone know of any charms or curses that could
cause an explosion like was described?"
"I could make a feedback cluster that could do that. It'd be really dangerous
though," Harry commented with a shrug. The group ignored him.
"I…" Daphne tapped the table for a bit before shaking her head. "Father has
knowledge of many borderline spells but as far as I know there is nothing that
could do quite the amount of damage all at once as was discovered. At least,
nothing that would still leave Black and the rest of the street alive and somewhat
intact."
"Why was Peter Pettigrew's finger recovered?" Luna asked her eyes narrowing in
what Harry was quickly coming to find meant the girl was following an idea down
the rabbit hole. She might reach different conclusions than the rest of them but she
was startlingly insightful when her threads panned out.
"Well obviously if the street exploded centered on him there wouldn't be much
left," Tracey said with a snort.
"But there should be something." Luna twisted her gaze from Tracey onto
Hermione.
"There was. There was a finger," Tracey replied. Hermione's eyes though had
narrowed in thought and she nodded at Luna.
The little blonde continued, "Was the finger mangled? Bloody? Was the base clean
or ragged?"
Harry perked up starting to see where his friend was going with this line and not at
all liking the conclusions that were starting to form in his head. He shuffled through
their notes until he found the initial report from one of the first Auror responders.
"According to this, Peter Pettigrew's finger was nearly entirely unmarred with a
clean cut at the base…"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------
Chapter 088
Hermione slowly nodded. "Which shouldn't be possible. Not in an explosion. And
even if by some miraculous coincidence it had happened, where were more pieces
of his body? I think you're right Luna…god, do you know what this means?"
"You guys have lost me," Neville glanced over at Tracey and Daphne who were
looking just as confused. "Help a friend out?"
"One moment, Neville," Hermione said waving him off. "Daphne, Tracey, you two
conducted many of the interviews. Did anyone mention anything about Peter
Pettigrew's character? Specifically their reactions to finding out he had gone after
Sirius."
"Yeah, to a man they were incredibly surprised by it," Daphne said. "Everyone said
he was generally the squirrely one. The first to run or cower if things got tough. The
first to look for help. The last to agree to the insane schemes of his friends. They
were extraordinarily impressed that he had…gone after…oh Merlin…you don't
think…?" Daphne's face morphed into a horrified grimace.
"Why do I get the feeling we're the only two not invited to the party, Nev?" Tracey
asked glaring between her other friends. Neville just nodded along with her.
"Sirius Black did not kill anybody that day, Tracey, Neville," Luna said, all traces of
airiness and levity having dissolved from her voice. "The facts do not fit. One of the
two wizards present fired some curse that damaged the street – "
"Probably a blasting or incendiary curse that hit a gas main," Hermione cut in.
Luna nodded and continued, "Then in the confusion, Peter Pettigrew used a
severing charm on his finger and escaped. Sirius Black was likely surprised at the
deviousness of his former friend or the resulting carnage and was not fully lucid
when the Aurors arrived so shortly after the event. By the time he would have
been coherent he was already in custody."
Neville frowned. "Okay but why would Pettigrew keep hiding then? If he was alive
and Black had been caught then shouldn't he have come forward?"
Harry shook his head. "Not if he had been the traitor…" Neville and Tracey fixed
him with a wide eyed stare but Hermione, Daphne and Luna just nodded in
agreement.
"Everyone says that Black was basically my father's brother and a good friend to
my mother. On the other hand, everyone also says that Pettigrew was more or less
an outsider hanging out on the fringes of the group." Harry looked from face to
face. "Of the two, who would you put money on betraying my parents and who
would you guess would hunt that traitor down for revenge?"
"Merlin's balls…" Neville whispered. "Why wouldn't anyone else have thought of
this though?"
"It was right as the war ended," Daphne said sadly. "Don't underestimate people's
desire to just want horrible things to be over and done with. They probably just
accepted the easiest explanation and didn't bother to look too closely. There was a
lot of secrecy at that point too and secrets are double edged swords."
"So then why would Sirius Black be hunting you, Harry?" Tracey asked. "That part
still doesn't fit."
Luna cocked her head at the older girl. "What makes you so certain that he is
hunting Harry? Or even if he is hunting, who says he is hunting Harry?"
The others turned to her wide eyed. "You think he found out Pettigrew's here?"
Luna shrugged. "It is possible I suppose. It also possible that someone finally
mentioned that you were at Hogwarts to him and he thought to protect the last
Potter as he could not do with your parents. Either way, we need to find and speak
to the man himself to ascertain his true intentions."
"I agree," Hermione said nodding. "This entire investigation was bungled. The
means makes no sense and the motive makes even less sense. I find it highly likely
that Sirius Black was framed for this but I don't think running off to find the man to
ask him personally is the best plan. Not just yet at least. Let's get the trial records
first and then perhaps we could ask Susan's aunt to reopen the original
investigation and have him come to us."
"I'll just ask, Tonks," Harry said shrugging. "Give me a second."
Harry walked a bit away from the group to have a modicum of privacy before
activating his Comm Stone. "Comm on, contact Tonks. Tonks? Are you busy, do you
have a minute to talk?"
"Harry?" the metamorphmagus' voice came through from the stone. "Is there an
emergency? Are you alright? Is anyone hurt?"
"We're fine, Tonks. If this isn't a good time I can call back later."
"No it's fine, I'm on break." There was a short pause where Harry heard muffled
scuffling sounds as well as a dull bang and soft curse. "They move these desks on
purpose, I swear…alright I can talk. Have I mentioned how awesome these things
are by the way? I mean really, if you can mass produce this, Harry, you're going to
be richer than Merlin."
"I don't know about richer than Merlin...but definitely richer than the Queen,"
Harry said smiling.
"Nah, she's got her crown jewels and all. Merlin had crown jewels but his were
dangly instead of shiny." Harry gagged as he caught the pun. Before he could say
anything Tonks kept going just making it worse, "Though I suppose his crown
jewels were shiny at times. I mean it's only natural and you've got to keep things
fun and – "
"Seriously woman stop! I give, I give! You win!" Harry hurriedly babbled wishing he
could clamp his hands over his ears. It would just make it worse though by bringing
the rune stone closer to his ear.
Tonks laughed over the line. "And that's what you get for using my name, Harry.
Don't forget it. Next time I won't be so niiiccceee," she taunted. "Now, seriously,
what's going on?"
Harry sighed. "My friends and I have been investigating the Sirius Black case – "
"Harry, that is really dangerous! You guys are just kids, you can't – "
"Tonks, stop," Harry cut her off. "For one thing we weren't going out looking for
him or anything, we were just interviewing people mostly. Secondly, we are not
kids. Tracey was basically mind raped for months. Neville's been grown up since he
was told what happened to his parents when he was eight. I'm half convinced
Hermione was born an adult. Luna watched her mother die two years ago right in
front of her. Daphne faced down a thousand year old basilisk with me. And I not
only faced the basilisk but my parent's murderer the year before that. We may be
young, Tonks, but we're not kids."
Harry could practically see his friend rubbing her forehead. "Fine. I'm sorry for
calling you kids. Shiva does it you know. I've noticed."
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Chapter 089
"Shiva is a special case. And she only calls me kid," Harry shrugged. "I think it's her
term of endearment or something. Better than Freak or Boy and she doesn't mean
it in a demeaning way or anything so I don't mind. And we're getting sidetracked!"
Tonks laughed. "Yes, we are. I'm guessing you think you guys found something?"
"We think," Harry paused and then rushed ahead, "we think that Sirius Black was
actually innocent. We think he was hunting Peter Pettigrew down instead of the
other way around. We think that Pettigrew was the real traitor and that he escaped
in the confusion, using the opportunity to frame Black. We're not entirely sure why
he's here now but this makes a lot more sense because none of the facts seem to
fit the official story. Can you get us copies of the trial records? If we knew what he
said at the trial then maybe we can get the case reopened and instead of a
manhunt for a murdering psycho we can get justice for an innocent."
Tonks was quiet for a long time. Long enough that Harry was beginning to worry
something had happened to the Comm Stone. Finally she said slowly, "You think
we are hunting an innocent man? How sure are you?"
"Between 80-90%. It all fits a hell of a lot better, Tonks."
"Merlin's balls…Look I'm not exactly popular here at the moment with how I
reacted to Hagrid's arrest plus later proving to be right about it. Not to mention a
bunch of other little things." A note of bitterness had leaked into Tonks voice. "I
doubt I'll be able to influence anything on the manhunt itself. I should be able to
get you copies of the trial records though assuming they aren't sealed. If they are
you might have to have Susan ask her aunt to get you a copy. Harry, I need you to
write up why you guys suspect this in a letter and send me what you have. This
manhunt is being personally pushed by Fudge to a scary degree. That fact
alone…well it probably means someone is whispering in his ear. I'm going to need a
lot of actual evidence to get the Kiss On Sight order removed from Sirius Black."
"I understand, Tonks. I'll send Hedwig off with what we have by dinner," Harry said.
"Tonks…thanks."
"I want to see justice done as much as you do, Harry." She paused. "And I owe you
for making me laugh with that letter. Get me that info, and don't go looking for
trouble, Harry. Even if my cousin was innocent he's still been in Azkaban for 12
years. He might not be entirely sane at this point."
"We'll be careful, Tonks. Keep some color in your hair, Nymphadora."
"Why you little – "
"Disconnect," Harry said smiling.
As Harry hung up on her Tonks shook her yellow hair in exasperation. "I'm going to
have to contact the Weasley twins. That boy is asking for it." She sighed as her
shifted from yellow to black and back again. "I'm not sure what's worse. If Harry's
right and Sirius was imprisoned over a decade for something he didn't do or if
Harry's wrong and the man really was that much of a bastard to betray his
surrogate family."
Casting a quick tempus Tonks saw she still had nearly an hour before her shift
started again. Steeling herself she headed for the lift down to Records. She didn't
think she'd managed to piss anyone off down there yet so she should be able to
walk away with the trial data copies assuming they weren't sealed. Unless Norman
was there. If that arse was around she'd walk back out and come in again with a
different face.
Tonks' hair flashed a quick red than a longer red as she noticed the shift. Her
powers were getting even more frustrating lately with the flak her coworkers were
heaping on her. Her abilities were always tied with emotions – her hair in particular
– but usually she was able to lock it down better than this. Maybe she should take
her mother up on those Occlumency lessons. It was supposed to be able to help
metamorphs lock in a form without having to keep the concentration going.
She scowled again thinking about her fellow Aurors. It wasn't bad enough that she
was a rookie who had been proven right; no, she had to have a mind of her own as
well. Something that apparently didn't sit well with current leadership. Scrimgeour
was against her from Day 1 thanks to her powers, her attitude and her competence.
He took every opportunity to pair her with Dawlish who only saw her as a piece of
arse rather than someone who could do the job. Her hair turned darker as she
thought about that idiot. She'd been with the Aurors barely more than a year and a
half and she did the job better than he had for a decade!
The lift stopped and Tonks walked out stubbing her toe on the garbage can outside
the records hall. Biting down on her tongue, Tonks ignored the typical pain and
went up to the desk, breathing a sigh of relief at the lack of Norman.
"Wotcher. Auror Tonks. I'm looking for trial records," she smiled at the clerk and
made sure to keep a tight leash on her yellow hair.
"Name of the defendant, Auror?" the clerk asked completely uninterested.
"Sirius Black." That got a reaction. The man dropped his quill and turned a wide
eyed gaze onto her. Tonks just smiled back. "It's important so the faster the better."
"Right away, Auror. Please wait here. It should only be a moment." The clerk
turned to his rolodex and started flipping cards. That never ceased to amuse her.
Muggles used it for contacts and phone numbers while wizards had appropriated it
to assist in filing. It wasn't too far off, but she pitied the poor fool who tried to
explain the difference to a pureblood.
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Chapter 090
Ten minutes later Tonks was starting to worry she'd have to come back later when
the clerk finally looked up at her with an expression of worry on his features. Tonks
frowned and had to concentrate hard to prevent her hair from shifting. "Problem?"
"It's the records, Auror…"
"Well yeah, I gathered that, buddy." Tonks rolled her eyes. "Guess they are sealed
then, huh?"
"No, Auror…they don't exist…"
Tonks coughed incredulously and just stared at the man. "What do you mean 'they
don't exist'?"
"An index for all records, whether sealed or open, for criminal trials are kept here.
The spells involved don't allow for misplacement or incorrect filing. If there was a
trial conducted, the index is updated. There is no index annotation for a Sirius
Black," the man was sweating now.
"Are you sure?" Tonks frowned not at all liking what this was starting to look like. A
lack of trial records coupled with Harry's suspicions…she really needed his
information as soon as possible. "It would have been 12 years ago. November
1981."
"I know when Sirius Black was caught, ma'am. I'm telling you there is no record of a
criminal trial."
"What about a special Wizengamot session or something? Or a tribunal? Or…"
The clerk just kept shaking his head. "They are all considered criminal proceedings
and so they'd all be recorded here. There is nothing for Sirius Black at all beyond
the arrest record. There isn't even a transfer order."
"Merlin…" Tonks clamped down on her roiling emotions and used her powers to
put on a stone cold, iron hard face. "Alright, I'll handle this. Keep this quiet for the
moment, understand?" The clerk nodded. "Good. You're not in trouble by the way.
Thanks for your assistance."
Turning Tonks strode from the room, her mind running a mile a minute. If her
cousin had been delivered straight to Azkaban without a trial or sentencing of any
kind…this case just got a whole lot more complicated.
Now the real question was whether to tell Rufus Scrimgeour or jump over him to
Amelia Bones.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------
"Yes, sir," Tonks intoned, voice completely flat. It was taking everything she had to
keep her hair unresponsive. The logical inconsistencies and deductions that Harry
and his group had come up with were crunched in her fist, completely ignored by
her boss. "I understand, Sir."
"I don't think you do Auror Tonks," Scrimgeour said leaning back in his chair with
her fingers steepled in front of him. "You have been with us what? A year?"
"Year and a half, Sir," Tonks ground out.
"Yes, a year and a half." He waved a hand dismissively. "And did you check with
Auror Dawlish before bringing this to me?"
"This seemed rather important, Sir. Something to be brought up immediately."
"Yes. And yet you haven't followed procedure at all. You are supposed to be
working to find Sirius Black not dredge up old filing errors."
"Sir, the magic involved with Wizengamot proceedings and the Hall of Records
prevents filing errors like that. If they don't have – "
"Auror Tonks," Scrimgeour said cutting her off, "I assure you, a filing error is the
only explanation. The Ministry of Magic is not in the habit of sending prominent
members of the pureblood elite to Azkaban without a trial. The implications of
something like that could bring ruin upon this administration and our way of life. It
is simply not possible that such an event would have taken place."
"But, Sir – "
"Allow me to be perfectly clear, Auror." Scrimgeour scowled. "Drop this. Trying to
find loopholes for your cousin is foolish and idiotic. If you want to drag your
reputation down even further by all means go ahead. It gives me a legitimate
excuse to drop you when more complaints against you are brought to me. But if
you wish to maintain your position here I suggest you stop acting on your own
initiative and fall in line." He sighed and shook his head. "Why do you have so
many issues with this, Auror? Following orders is not that difficult. Look at Auror
Shacklebolt! He voices his dissent once and then immediately does as told when
shot down. You should learn from his example."
"Sir, this is – " Tonks' control slipped and her hair flashed a brief red as Scrimgeour
again cut her off. It had been a mistake to come to her boss first. She should've
listened to her gut.
"You are dismissed, Auror." Scrimgeour waved a hand towards the door. "I don't
want to hear about this error again. I have far more important things to occupy my
time. Like catching and killing a murderous madman."
Tonks walked out of the Head Auror's office and stormed past the desks of her
colleagues. "Hey, Nymphie, your idea get shot down again?" Savage called with a
grin. "What was it this time? Hanging around the pub looking like the latest heister
in order to catch his buddies when they showed? Or maybe you wanted to
implement those polyjuice screening attempts again?" The rest of them laughed as
Tonks scowled and kept walking. As she stormed out of the main room towards she
hesitated, leaning against the wall and taking a deep breath.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder