When the Longbottoms arrived at the Ministry, people stopped and gawked. Neville felt distinctly uncomfortable about it.
"I think all this staring is what Harry has to go through all the time," he muttered to his mother. "I used to envy him that. Not any more."
His mother just smiled back and said, "It'll pass before too much longer. People just need to get it out of their systems."
"It's still uncomfortable, though," he firmly but softly stated.
He ended up glaring at anyone that gawked at them until they reached Madam Bones's office. At least it meant he wasn't fretting about the upcoming interview he had to give.
After a quick greeting with the Director of the DMLE. Neville and his parents were escorted down to an Interview Room. It was actually the same one Harry and Hermione were interviewed in only a couple of weeks earlier.
It was also the same auror interviewers, Constance Hammer and Beauregard Fleming; though Neville did not know that.
After being told about the mild calming slash truth enhancement potion that was available to him, though he didn't know the two teens accepted the offer, Neville wisely decided he'd prefer it, too.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The previous evening, after much bugging from Dumbledore about the subject, Marchbanks finally informed Dumbledore he could go to Diagon Alley, that day, to replace some items from his partially destroyed wardrobe. However, he was not to go anywhere else but the Alley.
"You're treating me like a child," he grumped.
She immediately and firmly cast back, "I'm treating you like someone who: 'A', I really don't want here; and 'B', has been behaving appallingly since I arrived here to be Headmistress. If you don't like it, quit! If you won't quit, then lift your game and behave as the professional educator and school representative you're supposed to be.
"You get to go to the Alley... only. You get to go there to buy clothes to replace items damaged beyond repair of your wardrobe... only. I also expect you to be purchasing your black Professor's Robes. Then you are to immediately return here to the school. If you do not meet those conditions, the likelihood you'll be allowed to leave the school during a school day ever again will go from being 'possible' to 'highly doubtful'.
"Now, will you meet the conditions set, will you quit or will you simply not go?"
"I'm going," he grumped. He really did want to replace his wardrobe of the damaged robes.
Dumbledore left about an hour after breakfast, so as to miss the first rush of crowds.
As soon as he was gone, Marchbanks sent a house elf off with a note to a Ward Mastery team currently waiting at the Three Broomsticks that they could now come to the school.
Under Madam Bones's recommendation while as Acting Madam Minister, she organised for an expert team of Ward Masters to go through the Hogwarts' wards to see what was there. And, if and where necessary, update them.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After arriving early in his office to collect what documents he needed to go forth and do battle with the bureaucrats of the Ministry, Ted was out through the floo at almost right on 9.00am.
With his mokeskin-lined briefcase in his offhand, he made his way up to the first floor and the Minister's Administration Office. He sought a copy of the building assets owned by the Ministry.
After a quick peruse through it, he smiled. The Potter Cottage wasn't listed either by name or by address; 77 Phoenix Avenue, Godric's Hollow, Devon, England. That meant even the Ministry truly recognised they did not own Potter Cottage. The fact many thought they did was just an erroneous 'guess'.
His next stop was the third floor and the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes and its sub-department the Obliviator Headquarters.
When he walked in, one of the admin personnel took one look at him and sighed.
Coming forward, he politely asked, "What can Obliviator Headquarters do for you today, Mister Tonks?" He already knew it was not wise to annoy the law-wizard.
"My client would like to know more information on the work done by your Office regarding Potter Cottage as of the night of Hallowe'en, 1981," Ted replied. "He is very concerned that the enchantments, after more than a decade of being in place, might be failing."
The administration clerk gave a nod, replied, "I'll pull out the records." And turned about to go and do exactly that.
Three minutes later he was back with the file.
Ted had a quick look through it - the admin clerk could see no wrongdoing by him doing that - and asked, "Mind if I have a copy of this?"
The clerk gave a shrug and replied, "I can't see any harm in that."
Ted was quick to create a legal copy of the entire file, slipped his copy into his brief case and bid the man a good morning.
His quick perusal showed that the Obliviators had moved in within an hour of the 'event'; cleared up the mess, memory-wise; and were back the next day to put up wards to protect the place. The orders came direct from the Minister's, Bagnold's, office.
And that meant he now had a complete timeline of events, as per the documented evidence, that led to the Ministry taking possession of the cottage.
'It was a mistake,' he thought. 'A simple one; but a mistake, nonetheless.'
Happy he had the records to back up what he knew Harry would immediately move to do, he made his way out again.
Back in his office, he contacted Sirius by floo. And Sirius was stepping through a few moments later.
"I was glad to see you were up," grinned Ted.
"Andi woke me," grumbled Sirius. "Now, you said you found out something about Potter Cottage?"
Ted stepped him through the parchment-trail and said, "As you can see, it was a simple mistake by a 'staffer' in the WAS. The Wizengamot ruled the cottage was to be 'acquired as a historic site of National significance'.
"The staffer mistakenly thought that meant simply claim it. I think the 'Mot seriously meant purchase it and he or she misunderstood.
"The Minister, Bagnold, was quick to move in case of souvenir hunters picking the site clean.
"That had the DMAC back at the site first thing the next morning, but the official parchmentwork had not reached them yet. There was a high level of urgency and they believed the proper parchmentwork would get to them, sooner or later.
"They went to work and soon had the place secure with wards, charms and the like.
"And that's all she wrote until now."
"So, Harry has the right to move in and simply take it back?" Sirius asked. He was now grinning from ear to ear. If he was in his animagus form his tail would have been wagging.
"That's exactly what it means," replied a similarly grinning Ted. "He doesn't even need to notify anyone, because he's the rightful owner."
"Ha!" laughed Sirius. "Someone screwed up, big time!"
Ted nodded.
Sirius, still grinning, asked, "What are Harry's instructions if it was discovered he rightfully still owns the property?"
"Send the goblins in and secure it on behalf of the House of Potter," Ted immediately replied.
"Do it!" laughed Sirius. "I'll let Harry know."
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