Snape's expression turned towards Penelope, who stood, defiant against the man.
"Miss Clearwater, what are you doing back at Hogwarts?" Snape asked.
"Harry invited me," Penelope said.
"Yes, I did," Harry said.
"Potter didn't have anyone's permission to invite you," Snape said in his usual nasty demeanor. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to escort you out of this school…."
"Article A3, Subsection 8," Harry said. "The final member of an ancient and noble house is allowed a personal assistant to help protect their interests. And I intend to hire Penelope to be mine."
Snape's gaze fell at him.
"I'm the last Potter," Harry told Snape. "And you had business with me, Professor. What did you want to talk to me about?"
"I want to speak to you about your last Potions essay," Snape said. "Alone."
Harry stood.
"No."
Snape stepped forward, but Harry stood his ground.
"You dare tell me, no, Potter," Snape said. "Ten points from Gryffindor for your disrespect and your arrogance."
"Contested," Harry said.
"What are you blathering about?" Snape asked.
"I'm contesting your points," Harry said. "Even the most dense dunderhead would have figured that out."
"I will not be referred to in such a matter, Porter," Snape said. "Ten points from Gryffindor."
Snape looked at the hour glass, but it did not budge an inch.
"I said, ten points from Gryffindor," Snape said.
There was still nothing.
"I, Severus Snape, Potions Master of this School, Head of the Slytherin house, deduct ten points from Harry Potter for disrespecting a teacher," Snape said.
There was still nothing. Although Snape's outburst caught the attention of several students and more than a few staff.
"What did you do Potter?" Snape demanded of him.
"I merely contested your ability to take points from me, because you're biased against me," Harry said.
"Just because I don't worship the ground you walk on, does not make me biased, Potter," Snape said.
"Severus, is there a problem here?"
McGonagall turned up. Harry doubted very much that she would do him much good right now.
"Potter did something to the hourglasses," Snape said.
"Oooh, that's funny," Harry said. "Hey, everyone, Professor Snape thinks I'm brilliant enough to affect magic that's a thousand years old."
"Professor McGonagall," Penelope remarked. "Professor Snape confronted Harry and…."
She told the entire store to McGonagall, and the Head of Gryffindor just frowned. By that point, a couple other teachers moved over, with Flitwick being among them, along with Professors Sinistra and Vector, and Harry noticed Charity walking over, and behind her was the Head Girl. And then there was Moody.
"Perhaps you could tell me, why you wanted to see me, Professor?" Harry asked.
"It's this Potions essay," Snape told him.
"What about it?"
Harry thought he did some good work on it, put in a lot of good research, and made some good points. While Daphne pointed him towards a couple of good books, everything.
"It's higher than your usual standards," Snape said.
"Well, that's good, isn't it?" Vector asked. "Mr. Potter is striving to improve his schoolwork. Shouldn't such a thing be commended?"
"I would want one less dunderhead to teach if I were him," Harry added.
"Mr. Potter, no one is calling any students a dunderhead," McGonagall said.
"Professor Snape did, during our first day of class," Harry said.
"Severus!" McGonagall snapped.
"Merely a means to motivate them, although it seldom works," Snape said. "You are all overlooking the fact that Potter cheated…."
"Let me see that," Moody growled. "I don't know, his work is all properly sourced and cited…he made some good points. All of these antidotes would work for these potions…although a bezoar would work better. Providing you could trust that the bezoar was not a counterfeit."
All of the teachers looked at Harry's essay and passed it around before it returned to Snape.
"I don't see the problem," Charity concluded.
"Potter isn't that brilliant in Potions," Snape said. "He must have asked someone to do it for him."
"Are you referring to Miss Granger?" McGonagall asked. "This is not her style."
"It most certainly isn't," Flitwick said.
"Not Granger…but…he must have plagiarized it from someone," Snape said.
"Did you run it through the standard charms?" Moody asked. "Compared it to the other students? Used a potion to detect whether or not it has been recently copied from any other source?"
"Yes, I did all of those things but he…he must have…he couldn't be….Potter is useless at Potions," Snape grumbled. "And I will find out what he did…."
"But, by your own methods, he didn't do anything," Moody said. "That level of paranoia is unhealthy."
'Is there a problem here?"
Dumbledore appeared and Harry had no idea how this situation was going to go. Harry put his guard up around Dumbledore, even more so than Snape.
"Potter….his essay, he asked another student to do it, I knew he did it," Snape said. "Perhaps it was Miss Clearwater here…."
"Excuse me?" Penelope asked. "I would help someone but I would never…do an essay for him."
"Watch it, Snape," Harry said.
"Professor Snape, and that's ten more points from Gryffindor," Snape said.
Only ten points were not taken from Harry.
"Detention for the next week," Snape said.
"Sorry, Mr. Potter's nights are occupied by detention with me," Charity said.
"Well, with all due respect, Professor Burbage, I am of higher seniority than you, therefore you will have to reschedule those detentions," Snape said.
"For the record, I'm contesting the detentions as well," Harry said.
"Harry, I'm afraid you can't do that," Dumbledore said. "It would greatly undermine Professor Snape's authority."
Harry just groaned. Here it comes.
"I would like to ask you to restore Professor Snape's ability to properly punish you for your transgressions and to accept the points being taken away," Dumbledore said. "And then…."
"No, Professor Dumbledore," Harry said. "For too long, Snape's been allowed to…."
"Professor Snape, Harry," Dumbledore corrected him.
Harry longed to bang his head into the wall. Penelope squeezing his hand calmed him down.
"I understand your concerns, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said. "And while these procedures have been put in face by the Founders, they will upset the power balance at Hogwarts. And they aren't….well they aren't well known, for a reason."
Harry knew, he found out through Lyra, during one of their sessions, that he could actually contest Snape, citing Snape's biases against him, thanks to his past with both of Harry's parents.
"Because they let people with an agenda bully their students," Harry said. "From the moment I've met Snape…."
'Professor Snape, Harry."
Harry literally thought Dumbledore was missing the point of what he was trying to talk about.
"He has been biased against me," Harry said. "He singled me out, called me the new celebrity, before I even said a single word for him. He gave me questions that were far beyond the first year text book, because he got off on humiliating the son of James Potter."
"You deserved to be taken down a peg," Snape said nastily.
"Severus," Dumbledore said. "I'm sorry you feel this way Harry, but when you're old enough, you will understand that you have to work together with people who you might not get along with. Therefore, I have to ask you to drop your contesting of Professor Snape's ability to punish you. While I agree his accusations hold no merit, you were still out of line."
Dumbledore gave Harry that grandfatherly smile and that twinkle.
"No."
At that one word, Dumbledore's twinkle extinguished. There was a bit of discord from the teachers. Moody just grinned.
"Twenty points to Gryffindor for standing up for your principles, Potter," Moody said.
"Alastor, this type of…well you shouldn't encourage him," Dumbledore said.
Well, Moody's real name wasn't Mad-Eye. Harry was kind of disappointed about that.
"I'm afraid I must insist," Dumbledore said.
"No," Harry repeated firmly.
"Mr. Potter, while Professor Snape was out of line, this isn't the answer," McGonagall said. "We must remain united with the Triwizard Tournament coming up in coming days. Please, don't…."
"Oh, I see, Professor, we have to maintain appearances," Harry said. "Because, that's what it's all about. That's what it's always been about, isn't it? With the adults in my life."
"Harry."
Penelope grabbed him by the shoulder and also the members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, minus the graduated Wood, walked over, along with Ron following them.
"That's all that's important, appearances," Harry said. "Because, looking the part of being respectful is more important than actually being respectful."
"Harry, you're upset," Dumbledore said.
"Yes, I'm upset," Harry said. "And you know something, everyone talks about how Albus Dumbledore must know everything. Well, if you knew everything, then how could you miss where my first Hogwarts letter was addressed to, mmmm. Either you don't know everything, or you didn't care?"
"And he's making another scene again, a spectacle out of it," Snape said. "Just like his father…."
"Yes, we can discuss all of this in my office," Dumbledore said. "Now, I'm going to have to ask you to restore Professor Snape's abilities to take points from you and give detention."
"Once he apologizes," Harry said. "Once he apologizes for everything he's said about me, and swears to never do it again."
Harry never saw a nastier look from Snape.
'I won't do that, Potter," Snape said.
"Then, I guess your…authority remains undermined," Harry said. "I believe there will be a tribunal, ran by the Head Boy and Head Girl, with help from the Hogwarts prefects, who will be taking evidence regarding Snape's conduct over the next week."
"Mr. Potter, I told you it was Professor Snape," Dumbledore said. "Twenty points from Gryffindor."
"Maybe not for much longer, Professor," Harry said with a smile.
"Mr. Potter, he's the only Potion master we have," McGonagall said.
"That's not my problem, is it?" Harry asked. "And I remember how you told us our house would be like family, well some family, given our Head of House never backs us up. But, given what you lot left me with, I have some pretty low expectations of family."
Harry just spent a second looking at them all.
"You are a failure as our Head of House," Harry said to McGonagall.
There was a moment where McGonagall had been gobsmacked.
"We'll discuss this matter after you head to class, Harry," Dumbledore said.
"I have Snape," Harry said. "Hard pass on that….Penny, would you like to come with me to Gringotts?"
"It would be an honor," Penelope said.
She took Harry's arm and the two walked off. The teachers would have stopped him, if several Gryffindors, along with a some Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Slytherins had not chosen that moment to walk into the pathway.
"Alright, everyone should clear off," Beatrice Haywood, the Head Girl said, conveniently right after Harry was gone from the grounds. "Show's over….I've got a tribunal to help set up to investigate Snape's conduct…all of you get to class. Don't make me hex you."
One might think that Beatrice Haywood was one of the most curious appointments to the Head Girl position since Bellatrix Black.
Snape was beyond furious.
"You're just going to let him leave, and get away with this," Snape demanded.
"He is his mother's son," Sinistra said with a smile. "You dug your own grave."
With one more year over Snape, Sinistra had seniority over him. Snape just scowled.
Obviously, Sinistra was well aware of how much of a nerve she struck, comparing Harry to Lily.
Hermione Granger did what she did when not being able to handle the pressures of the world. She retreated into the library.
Penelope Clearwater returned upon Harry's invitation. There were a few facts that Hermione went over in her head.
Penelope Clearwater was a Muggleborn witch, just like her.
Penelope Clearwater was petrified by the Basilisk, just like her.
Penelope Clearwater was one of the top students in her year, just like her.
Penelope Clearwater was brunette, just like her.
Penelope Clearwater was an extremely beautiful witch, who was very personable and got along with most people, unlike her.
Hermione just let out a very agitated sigh. She wanted to convince Harry that he was out of line with what he was doing. The fact Harry was not listening to anything she said, well it made Hermione frustrated.
Also, Penelope Clearwater had more going on in her life, other than being best friends with Harry Potter, unlike her.
Hermione was looking through the books, reading them. She kept flipping back to the Beautification Potion, and she frowned.
She wondered if her outer appearance reflected how she was feeling on the inside. Ugly and useless. Something reinforced by the fact Hermione had numerous attractive and more successful cousins who made her feel inferior. While her mother tried to be supportive of her, Hermione wondered if she was secretly a disappointment to her as well.
"That's not going to help you, Granger."
And Hermione turned around to see Blaise Zabini, casually sipping a drink.
"Madam Prince is going to throw you out if she catches you drinking, you know," Hermione said.
"Oh, I know, and it wouldn't be the first time," Zabini said with a casual drink. "Kind of salty…kind of like you're being right now."
Hermione just scowled. She was not about to be judged by the scion of a murderess, who was responsible for the death of seven men and profited for it.
"You missed quite the show," Zabini said. "I'm sure Lavender and Parvati will fill you in later, if you bother to pull your head out of a book for five minutes to listen to them."
Hermione grew more progressively annoyed.
"What do you want, Zabini?" Hermione asked.
"What do you want, Granger?" Zabini asked. "Because, I think this is one question that all of those books have failed in aiding you to answer, and it's eating you up on the inside."
Hermione had been gobsmacked at the fact he talked to her like that.
"Every time a teacher asks you a question, you're the first to jump to answer," Zabini said. "Why is that Granger?"
"Because…I know the answer," Hermione said.
"And so do many others, even when Snape ridicules you, you still jump to be the first in line to answer," Zabini said. "You answer the question because you're a junkie. You crave the attention. You need the valdification. Without that small hit of dopamine that you get for being the first in line to answer the teacher's question and get ten insignificant points to Gryffindor, you really don't have much of anything going on."
Hermione scowled.
"Does Potter know who really found the book that told everyone what was in the Chamber of Secrets?" Zabini asked. "Was it you or was it Penelope Clearwater?"
There was a small second where Hermione went pale.
"I overheard Clearwater talking to Farley…but she didn't have the heart to tell Potter otherwise," Zabini said. "It made you feel good. It made you feel special, that you took the credit, that you were the one to help solve the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets. When it was Penelope Clearwater who found the book."
"I….well Harry wouldn't have found out, if the page hadn't been in my hand," Hermione said.
"After Clearwater showed you, and then she made sure to save both of your lives by taking out her mirror," Zabini said. "I wonder what would happen if Potter found out that his friend lied to him. Then again, I think you're on thin-ice, after the Firebolt incident. Potter was furious. Did you once talk to him about your concerns?"
"I told him I didn't think anyone should ride that broom, and then Ron got on me because Crookshanks…went after the rat," Hermione said.
"Oh, but you didn't go to McGonagall until that evening, so there was plenty of other opportunities to sit Potter aside, and voice your concerns," Zabini said. "But, you decided to go behind his back to McGonagall. Potter is a more forgiving person than I would be. And after he saved your life, countless times."
Hermione tried to keep her temper in check.
"I saved his life though, first year," Hermione said.
"Oh yes, the Quidditch game, and through sheer dumb luck," Zabini said. "You set Snape on fire. But you also knocked Quirrell over, didn't you?"
Hermione just had been hit by a realization. She just happened to knock into Quirrell and break his eye contact, when she went to set Snape on fire.
What would happen if she did not bump into Quirrell?
"Potter would be dead, if you hadn't been so lucky," Zabini said. "Maybe he thinks differently. But, I think you're damn lucky to be right as often as you are."
Hermione just tried not to flinch.
"You're very lucky that Potter decided to be your friend," Zabini said. "And the minute he wakes up, you won't be at Hogwarts for much longer."
"No, you're…you're…I belong here at Hogwarts," Hermione said.
"Students who set teachers on fire do not last long, unless they have a very powerful friend," Zabini told her. "You better thank Potter on a bended knee every time he decides to tolerate you. Although, what amuses me is, you and Malfoy are a lot alike."
Hermione wondered how anyone could think about it.
"You both think you are entitled to be the number one witch in Potter's life," Zabini said. "And once Clearwater showed up, Malfoy was about as salty as you were. Because, it's an open secret she was his first. And that holds a special place in his heart."
"Is there a point to what you're saying?" Hermione asked.
Zabini tapped his wand at the Beautification Potion.
"You can put a pretty coat of paint on an infested house, but it's still an infested house," Zabini said. "And as long as the problems are on the inside, it doesn't matter how quickly the problems are. And the problems are, I think you are a completely disgusting person Granger, and potentially a sociopath."
Zabini's bluntness caught Hermione off guard.
"That's rich considering who your mother is," Hermione snapped back.
"Think about this Granger, and think why my mother has about as much luck keeping a husband that won't die, as Hogwarts does keeping a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for a year," Zabini said. "Powerful dark magic is afoot."
"Your mother is vile, everyone knows she's a black widow," Hermione said.
"I'll overlook your ignorance and your arrogance, but only because I know you're hurting because you can't hope to compare to Clearwater in Potter's eyes," Zabini said. "You are second rate to her. And without Potter, you'd be like Sally-Anne Perks, a girl who disappears one day, and barely anyone notices or cares."
Hermione's temper rose to the surface. She had not been this mad since the time turner related stress got to her and she punched Lyra Malfoy in the face and broke her nose.
"You are a junkie, Granger. And you're becoming a liability to Potter. Worthless, and insignificant."
Hermione lost it. She set Zabini's bag on fire and hit him with a hex that caused him to break out in nasty boils filled with almost acidic pus.
"MISS GRANGER!"
Hermione bolted from the library, and she heard Zabini's screams. Her heart raced faster and faster.
In an instant, Hermione stopped outside of the bathroom, the same one where Harry and Ron saved her from a troll during her first year.
It took about a minute for Hermione to cool down and the realization hit her.
She hexed the son of a woman who was capable of murder and more importantly capable of getting away with it, with people who were held in much higher regard thanks to their blood.
Hermione collapsed on the ground, in terror induced shock.
Rosmerta gladly allowed Harry and Penelope to use her Floo, to head up to Gringotts. Harry filled Penelope on the events since they last spoke, along with what happened at the Quidditch World Cup.
"I'm not sure why something always happens to you," Penelope said.
"I've wondered that myself," Harry said. "Hello, I'm Harry Potter."
Harry showed the goblin at the front desk his key and the goblin looked at it for a second.
"Just one moment, Mr. Potter."
The goblin walked off and apparently was talking to his superior in the back. Penelope looked at Harry for a second, and Harry just frowned.
"Mr. Potter, yourself and your companion are to be escorted upstairs," the goblin answered. "Your accounts have gone a tier above my authorization and there are some matters you need to be advised upon. This way, if you will."
The goblin escorted the duo towards what appeared to be an elevator. Harry had no idea what this was about. The elevator ride was shot. Penelope leaned up against him and frowned.
"This is as far as I'm allowed to go," the goblin informed him. "Down the hallway, third door down. Fair fortune to you both."
Harry and Penelope walked down and made their way into the door which it opened for them.
"Harry Potter," a soft and smooth female voice said. "And might I ask who your companion is."
"Penelope Clearwater, I've recently taken her on as my advisor," Harry said. "And I was hoping to arrange a vault to be opened for her, for her payments."
"That can be arranged," the voice said. "Take a seat and I will be with you within an hour. I was about to arrange to have you contacted, given a recent and troubling inquiry brought certain anomalies regarding activity in your vaults."
"If it's about Molly Weasley, she was authorized to take money from my vault," Harry said.
"Trust me, we know that Mrs. Weasley accounted for every galleon she withdrew and sent us full receipts, proving her purchases, her eldest son made sure she did so," the voice said. "Please, sit and enjoy the refreshments."
Trays full of food had been provided. Penelope fixed herself and Harry a cup of tea.
"Well, I am your assistant," Penelope said. "So, what do you think this is all about?"
"I don't know," Harry said. "But, I think we're going to find out."
They enjoyed the cakes that had been put out, along with some sandwiches and they talked lightly, while waiting.
"I missed you," Penelope said suddenly.
"I did too."
Harry leaned in and gently kissed Penelope on the lips, who returned the favor.
"So, did you finally let Percy down gently?" Harry asked.
"I…well, he decided that he would want to focus on the Ministry, and I just let him think he was breaking it off," Penelope said. "Mum always told me I was too giving for my own good."
"You are a good soul, Penny," Harry said. "Sometimes too good with how messed up the world is."
Harry knew Penelope was the one who solved the Chamber of Secrets mess. He appreciated her making Hermione feel a bit better about herself, although Harry wished that Hermione would respect him by being bit more honest with him. But, then again, Hermione going behind his back with the Firebolt, without trying to talk to Harry outside of one feeble attempt was not appreciated.
And the fact she was so smug about being right because Sirius did buy him the Firebolt. That was Hermione's biggest flaw. She had to be right and she had to have the last word.
Penelope scooted closer to Harry and she wrapped her arms around him. The two kissed each other deeply, making up for some lost time.
"I'm more angry about Snape accusing you of helping me cheat for the record," Harry said. "He should know better."
"So," Penelope said, gasping as Harry ran a hand up her leg. "If he apologized….would you have…"
"He would never apologize," Harry told her firmly. "Snape thrives on being the victim. If he admitted wrong doing, then he can't get that. He's a petty, small man who takes out his frustrations on people who cannot fight back."
Harry wondered how far they should take this. However the sound of footsteps caused the two break up.
"We should pick up our reunion later," Harry replied.
"Agreed," Penelope said.
"Harry Potter."
Harry's eyes fell on a short, green-skinned woman with pointed ears, and cute little fangs. She was a little bit taller than a house elf. She wore a uniform which fit around her ample chest and round posterior. And Harry swore most of her body had been leg, lots of leg. She was short and extremely stacked. Her eyes, green, albeit a different shade of Harry, locked onto him.
"Is there a problem?" she asked.
"I've never seen a female goblin before," Harry said.
"Well, few have," she admitted. "Only the most elite account holders have, and you've fallen into that bracket due to recent events. Namely, your advocate has taken back control over your vaults and agreed to give you full access to the Potter vaults, along with the Black vaults."
Penelope just looked in awe.
"Sirius," Harry murmured.
"Right, of course," Penelope said.
She had been one of the very few people that Harry trusted with that.
"Who was my advocate before Sirius took back over?" Harry asked.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," the goblin said. "And I'm sorry, I must have forgotten my manners. My name is Vera, I am the Chief Officer of Elite Accounts at Gringotts."
"A pleasure to meet you," Harry said.
"The pleasure is mine," she told him. "Albus Dumbledore did not take money personally, he authorized numerous deposits to the National Westminster Bank, of around two hundred and fifty Galleons per month."
"Vernon and Petunia's bank," Harry said. "My aunt and uncle…why would Dumbledore be given them…money?"
"Maybe it was supposed to be for your upkeep," Penelope told him.
"They didn't spend anything on me, other than the bare minimum," Harry said. "Most certainly not….are the payments still happening?"
"They stopped when you went to Hogwarts," Vera informed him. "So, nine years, and ten months worth of payments."
Harry did not do the math, but he was pretty sure a lot of money went to the Dursleys, that got spent on their extravagant purchases and Dudley to be spoiled rotten.
"They didn't spend any of that on you," Penelope said. "Harry, I'm so sorry."
"Not as sorry as they will be," Vera replied.
Harry was very glad not to be on the goblin's bad side.
"Can we prove they didn't spend it?" Harry asked.
"They have to prove they used it for its intended purpose," Vera said. "I will trigger an audit, and we will look into it. Along with how Dumbledore became the advocate for your accounts and acquired your key in the first place. If one of my goblins decided to cut a deal…they may not be around for much longer."
Again, Harry was very glad not to be on the goblin's bad side.
"And you also have been granted authorization to Lyra Malfoy's trust vault," Vera said. "And also, Vault 1058 has been set up…with a fairly significant amount of gold and jewels within."
"By whom?" Harry asked.
"Well, whoever it is, it's all yours," Vera said. "There are some documents that I want to sign."
"I want someone to look over them before I do," Harry said. "No offense."
"Trust me, Mr. Potter, I'm far from offended," Vera said. "I do not like doing business with fools. And a fool and his gold are soon parted, which is bad for business for Gringotts. I will keep the documents ready and we can meet back here once you have found someone."
Their next stop would be the law office of Black, Brocklehurst, and Macdonald, just across the street from Gringotts.
"Malfoy gave you access to her trust vault?" Penelope asked. "Why?"
"I asked her very nicely," Harry said.
While under the Imperius Curse, but that was a small detail. Of course, given she gave Harry the authorization, everything was legal in the eyes of the goblins. It was not their fault this human was too weak-willed.
The door of Amelia's office opened up and Arthur Weasley stepped inside.
"You wanted to see me, Amelia?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, Arthur, have a seat," Amelia said. "Would you like a cup of tea? Perhaps a biscuit?"
"Yes, please," Arthur said.
Arthur tooked the offered drink and snack.
"How are you holding up?" Amelia asked.
"I'm fine," Arthur said.
"You were in the thick of that mess at the World Cup," Amelia said. "How is Molly? I'm sure she must have had kittens when she found out what happened."
"She was displeased," Arthur said. "But, I think we're…well hopefully nothing like that happens again."
Amelia just sipped her tea.
"Arthur, I did not attend the World Cup, but, I also could not call for a proper investigation due to how all of the evidence was mishandled," Amelia said. "And I find out when I get back into the office, that Crouch pinned the entire blame on his house elf and everyone went along with it. And the woods had been cleaned up, before I could get anyone there to take a closer look."
Arthur just shrunk in his chair.
"Crouch insisted leading the clean up effort," Arthur said. "We didn't want any Muggles…well we wanted to make sure everything was as we left it."
"And thus all traces of magical involvement from that weekend disappeared," Amelia said. "Including evidence from a crime scene."
This had been the quickest that magical evidence disappeared since the Sirius Black incident. And Amelia wanted to take a closer look at Crouch due to more red-flags being raised.
"Is this why you called me in your office, Amelia?" Arthur asked. "Because, I take full responsibility and I think I could have done a better job…but I was more worried about the kids, so I just went along with Crouch. He's always been efficient about doing things, you see."
Well, that was one thing Amelia and Arthur were on the same page on. However, Amelia wished she could talk to that house elf, but unfortunately that was way outside of her jurisdiction and after Winky had been freed, that had been that. Most house elves did not last a few months after serving that long as well. They could not adjust.
"That, I understand, Arthur," Amelia said. "But, I want to talk about a young man who was with your family during the World Cup. Harry Potter."
This caused Arthurt to raise an eyebrow.
"Harry Potter?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, Arthur, Harry Potter," Amelia said. "Tell me, when did you first meet him?"
Amelia knew precisely when Harry Potter first spent time at the Burrow, but she needed to hear this from Arthur.
"Well, it was the summer after my youngest son Ron's first year," Arthur remarked. "Ron had been so excited about making a friend, and I was happy for him, because Ron…well he can be a bit sensitive about our family's situation and he doesn't have…but that really has nothing to do with this, does it?"
Amelia waved for Arthur to continue.
"Molly was…well, my twins, Fred and George, and Ron, they left to collect Harry in…well, they took a car that…I was curious about," Arthur said.
"Arthur, you and I both know what you do in your shed, and as long as it doesn't harm any Muggles, I quite frankly don't give a damn," Amelia said shortly. "I've known you since Hogwarts, and I know you were tinkering with every Muggle thing you got your hands even back then."
Arthur had gone red in the face after being called out by his supervisor.
"They left to collect Harry in a flying car, Ron was concerned that Harry was not writing back," Arthur said. "And Molly and I…we had our concerns. We intended to collect Harry at the end of the week, if Ron had not heard back."
Amelia could tell Arthur was struggling with a very uncomfortable topic.
"This was after Potter was accused of performing a Hover charm," Amelia said. "Three days after."
Amelia had serious concerns about that incident and even more the one that happened a year later. Once was an accident, but two cases of magic like that, it raised a red flag, but Amelia's attempts to even start an investigation had been blocked by Albus Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge.
"My twin sons said something that I didn't….well I didn't really think about until months later, and neither did Molly," Arthur said. "I found bars that would fit a window hidden in my shed. And I remembered what Molly mentioned them saying. She claimed that Fred and George, you know how they are…but they had some kind of wild story about there being bars on the window. They did say they were starving Harry, and Molly thought he looked underfed."
"And Arthur, please tell me you had a good reason why you did not report this," Amelia said. "Please tell me a man with seven children of his own, did not ignore such an obvious sign that something was wrong."
"I….I contacted Dumbledore," Arthur said. "He told me that he would ensure that nothing like that would never happen again. And Molly and I trusted that nothing would."
Amelia calmly took a drink of her tea and wished for something stronger. It would be unprofessional to pound her head against her desk.
"If you can't trust Dumbledore, who can you trust?" Arthur asked.
Amelia said nothing. That was a serious problem. Everyone trusted Dumbledore to have the right answer, do the right thing, for a very long time, that no one questioned what would happen if he was seriously wrong.
Her brother, Edgar, thought the world of Dumbledore, and would do anything, if Dumbledore simply asked. And Amelia bitterly remembered where that got him in the end. Along with Fabian, Gideon, Dorcas, Marlene, and many others, most famously Lily and James Potter.
"Who indeed," Amelia murmured. "Arthur, I want to assure you that nothing leaves this room….but I want to ask you a question about the end of that year at Hogwarts. Regarding the attacks that happened that year."
Arthur squirmed a little bit and he told Amelia what happened. About Ginny, about the diary, about who was involved. Amelia drained a cup and a half of tea as she patiently waited for Arthur's story.
"Harry saved her," Arthur said. "And it was Lucius Malfoy who slipped her the diary. To get back at me for the Muggle Protection act."
Amelia recalled something instantly. She knew Arthur would never willingly do anything corrupt, but good men and women got duped all of the time. Lucius Malfoy was kicked off the Board of Governors, but that was a slap on the wrist for someone like him. He was replaced by a man who would have done all of the same things Lucius did.
Weeks after the first year, Arthur Weasley won the Daily Prophet Prize draw which allowed himself and his family to take a trip to Egypt they wanted to.
Lucius Malfoy owned majority shares of the Daily Prophet.
Amelia Bones thought herself to be a damn good Auror in her day and she put two and two together. Lucius purposely ensured Arthur was distracted by the promise of a long overdue family vacation. Thus, the entire Chamber of Secrets mess was memory-holed as Arthur was too busy enjoying some quality time with his family.
Sirius Black's Azkaban escape further made the attacks on Hogwarts ancient history.
Lucius Malfoy duped Arthur Weasley. Bless his heart, but Arthur never had a chance. Seven hundred galleons was spare change for someone like Lucius Malfoy.
Unfortunately, Amelia did not have anywhere near the political capital to go after a big fish like Lucius Malfoy. Not yet anyway.
"Have you met Mr. Potter's aunt and uncle?" Amelia asked. "In person?"
"Once, this past summer," Arthur said.
"And what is your assessment of them?"
Arthur just sighed.
"They were not too friendly," Arthur admitted. "And Harry's uncle, well he was not pleased at all. There was an incident involving his son…."
"Fred and George?" Amelia asked.
Arthur sighed and nodded.
"Yes."
Arthur explained the situation. And Amelia was not impressed.
"Arthur, you need to have a serious talk with those two," Amelia said. "Because, once they become of age ,if they pull something out of line like that, it's not a matter of parental discipline. It becomes a criminal manner."
'I didn't…I didn't approve and neither did Molly," Arthur said. "Vernon Dursley was not upset. He was quick to anger and quick to throw things at me. And Petunia was hysterical, she almost smothered her own son and would have ripped his tongue out if I had not restrained her. She was petrified of the fact I had to use magic to reverse what my sons did."
Red flag, red flag, red flag. Quick to anger because of magic, along with a fear of magic. Now Amelia had another question and one which sent chills down her spine.
Harry Potter was not an Obscurial. How?
"Thank you, Arthur, you've been very helpful," Amelia said. "I'm sorry to keep you from your work. Have a nice day."
"You too, Amelia."
Amelia got a picture of what Harry Potter's home life could be like. And she liked it even less. She only intended to find the Sirius Black trial transcript, but this investigation had sent her down a rabbit hole.
The moment Arthur left, Zara stepped into the office.
"So, what's the deal?" Zara asked.
Amelia explained her findings, both from what Arthur said and what she read from his body language.
"Damn," Zara murmured. "What now?"
"Vernon and Petunia Dursley are next," Amelia said. "They will need to be questioned."
"Should I come along with you?" Zara asked.
"I can handle it," Amelia said.
"I've seen enough movies to know there needs to be a bad cop in a situation like this."
Amelia just sighed. She supposed a little backup could hurt. Although getting directly involved with Potter's relatives had been forbidden in the past."
She half expected Dumbledore to get wind of what she was doing and put a stop to it again.
Fudge being out of the country might have been a godsend for her.
Harry and Penelope arrive at the office of Black, Brocklehurst, and Macdonald at Diagon Alley. A dark haired woman with blue eyes and an olive complexion gazed up at him. She was extremely beautiful and looked somehow familiar.
"Hello, welcome to the office of Black, Brocklehurst, and Macdonald," the woman said. "My name is Miranda, how may I help you today?"
"Hello, Miranda, I'm looking for Andromeda Black-Tonks," Harry said. "I have some business to conduct with her. My name is Harry Potter."
Miranda's eyes widened for a second.
"Just one minute, I'll get her," Miranda said. "She told me that she wanted to handle you personally if you show up."
Harry watched Miranda leave and waited patiently for her to return. And then he noticed the door open up.
"Good afternoon everyone, thought I'd stop by to see…ooof!"
Harry caught her. A stunningly gorgeous and athletic woman with bubblegum pink hair. He held her up.
"Good reflexes," the woman murmured.
"I try," Harry told her.
Her chest heated through the top she was wearing.
"So, do you have a name to go with that gorgeous face?" Harry asked.
"Tonks," she said.
"Potter, Harry Potter."
"Shaken, not stirred?" Tonks asked.
Penelope viewed the scene play out before her in amusement. It appeared Tonks was going to drop to her knees in the office and thank Harry from preventing her falling on her face.
"Mr. Potter, I see you've met my daughter, Nymphadora."