HPF191-200

Chapter 191

"That's one unresolved issue being

investigated," said Daphne as she turned

back from watching Hedwig leave. "What

others are there?"

"My list I wrote up when we first got back is

already complete," said Harry. "Well, all

except for getting Dumbledore to go after the

ring."

"Do we have to wait until the summer break

to let him go after it, then?" asked Hermione.

"Can we send him earlier?"

"How do we get him to go after it?" asked

Harry.

"Tell him you had a vision?" she asked back.

Shaking his head, he said, "No. I don't want

him thinking about my scar being a horcrux

anymore."

"Actually, yes, you do," said Daphne. "He's

not going to be around when all this comes

to a head, anyway. Let him think the soul

fragment is still there. At least, for now. Tell

him it's not after he gets the ring."

"Tell him you had a dream about some old

shack with a dead snake nailed to the door,"

explained Hermione. "And that, somewhere

within the dream, you saw a large ring with a

big dark green stone affixed to it. And make

special mention of how the stone is engraved

with the triangle-circle-line symbols you read

somewhere was the Mark of Grindelwald."

"The Mark of Grindelwald?" asked Daphne.

"Actually it's the Mark of the Deathly

Hallows," explained Harry. "But, Grindelwald

also used it."

"Ah!" said Daphne, understanding. "And the

stone is the Resurrection Stone. Got it."

"If the ring is destroyed before Voldemort's

resurrection, will that stop the resurrection?"

asked Hermione.

"No," he replied, shaking his head. "Nagini's

already a horcrux. That'll keep his soul

anchored enough to allow the resurrection to

go ahead."

All three sat for a few moments with their

own thoughts, before Daphne asked, "What

else?"

"Hmm?" asked Harry. "Oh, outstanding

issues?"

When she nodded back, he thought about it

and said, "Getting Madam Bones to dig that

tunnel under the Bones Mansion."

"Just as with Madam Longbottom, we'll send

her a note and ask her to come pay us a

visit," said Daphne. "This time, though, we'll

bring her up here."

"That's the easy part," sighed Harry. "The

hard part is convincing her to do it, and for

her to not let anyone else know she's doing

or done it, not even her guards."

"Explain how you believe the Death Eaters

will soon be active, again," explained Daphne.

"Don't worry about mentioning Riddle when

you do. We'll tell her how our research into

the activities of the Death Eaters in the

previous war showed that their modus

operandi was to throw up both

anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards over

the top of the existing wards, then attack."

"Use the attack at the Quidditch World Cup

as an example," added Hermione.

"And what do we tell her when she asks

why?" asked Harry.

"Tell her you cannot tell her; with emphasis

on the 'cannot'," suggested Daphne. "Let her

come to the conclusion it's because of a

Wizard's Oath."

"She also needs to get it done fast," said

Hermione. "She was killed in early July."

"Next year, love," corrected Harry. "I can't

remember anyone we know who was killed

before about June next year. And Scrimgeour

was killed about a month later."

"The 1st of August," added Daphne. "That

was about a month after Fudge resigned in

disgrace and was killed a few days later."

"And Mister Fortescue was dragged off by

Death Eaters about that same time, too,"

said Harry. "So was Garrick Ollivander."

"Yes, but that was because no one would

believe Riddle was resurrected until the

Battle of the Ministry in June next year; and

he didn't want anyone to know, either," said

Hermione as if she hadn't heard Daphne and

Harry mention the other three wizards. "I

take it you plan on everyone knowing Riddle

is alive earlier? Such as, immediately after

the third task?"

Harry sat back and thought about that.

"Actually, why would I?" he mused.

"I mean, he really didn't do anything until

the Battle of the Ministry except build up his

forces... Of course," he sighed. "That was

most of the problem, wasn't it? The year

gave him the time to build up his forces."

"There were attacks on muggles," corrected

Hermione.

"That was Death Eaters - partying," said

Harry. "I doubt, very much, they did so under

Riddle's orders."

"Yes, but that was because he was mainly

focussed on how to get the prophecy from

the Department of Mysteries," she replied.

"Wasn't there an Unspeakable who

was Imperiused and sent in to get it?"

"Bode," he replied. "When was that? April

next year?"

"Earlier, I think," she replied. "Someone then

placed a Venomous Tentacula or a Devil's

Snare or something in his room at Saint

Mungo's while he was recovering. It killed

him."

"So, do we force the issue to 'out' Riddle

earlier, or not?" asked Daphne, bring things

back on track.

"Earlier," her bondmates replied together.

"Then, Madam Bones is going to need to get

that tunnel built as quickly as she can," she

firmly said.

"Owl her," Harry firmly instructed. "We need

to see her as soon as possible."

"Anyone else we can save we know of

already?" asked Hermione.

"Let's see," he mused. "Mad-Eye... the real

one... was killed during the movement of me

from Privett Drive to the Burrow a couple of

days before my birthday."

"Well, that event won't happen this time, so

there's no need to warn him," mused

Hermione. "Hedwig, too," she said with a

worried glance at Harry.

"Yeah," he softly said.

She didn't know if he realised he'd verbalised

that.

"Most people we're close with or know were

killed at the Battle of Hogwarts," she said.

"Of course, there're also those who

disappeared through the Voldemort-ruled

Ministry sanctioned pogrom against

muggleborns. Neither of which will occur this

time around."

"Umbridge," he half-growled. "That bitch

goes down, first chance I get."

"So," said Daphne, breaking both out of their

maudlin reveries. "On the 'To-Do' list is: Get

Madam Longbottom to find out what's

happening about the Order of Merlin; get

Madam Bones to dig her tunnel; send

Dumbledore after the ring. Do we save Fudge,

Scrimgeour, Fortescue, Ollivander, et

cetera?"

Chapter 192

In reverse order," Harry mused. "Ollivander

and Fortescue are definite. I think the only

thing we can really do for both of them is

inform them, through an anonymous note,

they're being targeted by the Death Eaters.

We'll even tell Ollivander why.

"Scrimgeour was almost as bad as Fudge. He

even arrested Stan Shunpike, the conductor

on the Knight Bus, just because

he thought he might be a Death Eater. Then

again, if we save Bones, he'll be a non-issue.

I'll kill Fudge myself, just to get rid of him, if I

have to. Just as I'll do with Umbridge."

"That's cold, Harry," Hermione quietly said.

With a sigh, he said, "I know you think I have

this 'saving people thing', Hermione. But

even I realise people are going to die if we

can't end this thing quickly. Fudge gets in the

way of that, as does Umbridge. However, she

then becomes an active, even eager,

participant in killing muggleborns.

"She might not be guilty of those crimes in

this timeline yet, but we know she will be.

The woman is a vile mass

murderess-in-waiting. I won't allow her to do

that again."

With a sad little sigh, Hermione dropped her

head and nodded.

"Saving Fortescue and Ollivander are added

to the list," said Daphne. "We'll ignore

Scrimgeour and let whatever happens,

happen. We don't warn Fudge but, if

necessary, we kill him ourselves; and

we definitely kill Umbridge.

"Now, do we go after the marked Death

Eaters? The ones we know go back to their

old ways? Or, leave them be."

"I won't turn into an assassin and hunt them

down," said Harry. "However, if we come

across each other and they wear the mask,

I'm not casting stunners. I aim to put them

down for good."

Both his wives firmly nodded back.

"What about the Azkaban breakout in

January next year?" asked Daphne.

"It might not happen, this time," said

Hermione.

"Maybe," sighed Harry. "But, we can't leave

things up to 'Maybes'. How do we stop it

happening this time around?"

All three thought about that for a while

before Daphne said, "We'll put that on the

still-to-be-resolved list. On the old timeline

there's still almost a year before that

happens. But, I think it's something else we

need to talk to Madam Bones about."

Both her spouses nodded back.

Daphne quickly pulled another sheet of

parchment towards her and set to writing

the 'invitation' to Madam Bones.

While she was writing Hermione said, "So;

homework?"

Harry grinned and nodded back.

"Homework," he softly replied.

Once the letter to Madam Bones was written

and agreed to, Daphne took it up to the

owlery to send out with a school owl. Harry

and Hermione continued with homework.

Daphne returned a little while later.

"Done!" she said, walking in and getting to

work on her own assignments.

Hedwig returned later the same evening

without a package. However, a reply arrived

with a Eurasian Tawny Owl. It took perch on

the owl perch next to Hedwig, who then

decided to promptly ignore it.

Harry freed the bird of it's letter and carried

it back to the couch as the bird took to wing

again and flew out the window; after first

'pinching' an owl treat.

Opening and reading it, he said, "Madam

Longbottom sends her regards. She's

appalled with herself she forgot about the

Order of Merlin... and will 'leave no stone

unturned' to get to the bottom of why it

hasn't been awarded yet. Thanks me for my

kind words concerning Neville, and is proud

he is a good friend. Thanks me for... 'alerting

her to the problems Neville was having with

his wand'. And will keep us updated with her

investigations."

"Nice," said Daphne, glancing up from

writing on the parchment before her.

The owl from Madam Bones arrived not long

afterwards. "My turn," said Hermione. She

collected its load and brought it back to the

couch.

"Let's see..." she muttered, opening the

letter. "Madam Bones thanks us for accepting

Susan's apology. And for not asking too much,

even though you were well within your rights

to do so. And wonders if this Saturday

morning at 9:00am will be a good time for us.

If not, owl her back. Else, she'll see us then,

in the Entrance Hall."

"I don't have a problem with this Saturday,"

said Harry. "Ladies?" he asked.

Both shook their heads.

"Saturday morning, it is!" he said.

With the next morning's owl mail delivery,

Harry received one of his regular updates

from Ackerman and Co from Margaret

Pentridge.

Opening it, he scanned through it before

turning to his wives. "I've just become the

part owner of Nimbus brooms," he said.

"How'd that happen?" asked Daphne.

"It was an agreement between me, through

Margaret, and Nimbus," he replied. "Back

quite a few years ago, before I started at

Hogwarts, they'd been stating in their sales

literature that I rode and approved of

Nimbus brooms. They didn't have permission

to do that.

"Instead of worrying about a protracted legal

battle, where the public would find out they

lied, they settled. I now own twenty percent

of the company. Margaret says it's worth

more than I'd have won but Nimbus was

eager to reach agreement as they believed

they'd have lost far more if it went to court."

"Nice," said Daphne. "But, don't you prefer

your Firebolt?"

"Of course," he replied. "It's still nice to own

part of the company that produces

my second favourite broom, though."

After a bit more reading he said, "Margaret

says I need to start thinking about who I

want to be Bursar; the person who manages

the fund I've set aside for muggleborn

scholarships, because..." He suddenly gave a

low whistle.

"What?" asked Hermione, now trying to read

over his shoulder, and eager to snatch the

document out of his hands.

"Hermione," Daphne lowly growled.

"Sorry," Hermione softly replied, physically

shrinking back. Her demands for information

was another matter Daphne was trying to

'cure' the girl of making.

Chapter 193

Harry had also received from Daphne a stern

talking to about how much he should let

Hermione get away with, with her demands.

Harry gave her a light smile to show he

wasn't upset with her. "The scholarship fund?

The bursary, as Margaret put's it? It's now

worth quite a lot... A lot!

"And may we know how much?" asked

Daphne, demonstrating to Hermione how to

ask.

Harry showed her the financial statement

that came in as part of the report. Her eyes

widened in shock. He then held it out for

Hermione to see, who practically mimicked

Daphne's reaction.

"That's a lot!" she softly said.

"Yes, and that's after she's subtracted the

funds to pay for the services of Ackerman

and Co," he said.

"Any ideas on who you want to manage it?"

asked Daphne.

"Yeah," he replied. "Every time I've thought

about it since Christmas the same name

keeps popping into my head... Remus Lupin."

"That's brilliant!" said Hermione. "I

mean... he's brilliant. He'd do a wonderful

job. And you can pay him a decent salary.

You can get him to stop wearing those tatty

old robes and he won't think of it as charity."

"You'll need to ask him in a way where he

won't think the job offer's charity," mused

Daphne.

"If I ask him to do it, he'll try to fob me off,"

said Harry.

"Have Miss Pentridge interview him for the

position," suggested Daphne. "That way, she

can tell him his name was suggested for the

position."

"She also asks I name it," said Harry, reading

further through the document. "That way

they can set it up as a registered charity. And,

here, she suggests I nominate a member of

Hogwarts' staff to sit on the Board that

decides who the lucky scholarship winners

are. That'll take some thinking.

"Oh, she also suggests all those who sit on

the Board receive a... honorarium... and how

much that should be. Plus, whoever is the

Bursar should receive... Nice!... Let's see...

Employees... for now, two full time

secretarial staff... and how much to pay

them... a part-time independent financial

advisor... a goblin? Oh... good idea."

Looking to his wives he said, "We'll write to

her requesting she... that is, Ackerman and

Co... interview Remus for the position of

Bursar and that she not tell him he, basically,

has the job already. My choice for faculty

advisor would be Filius, of course. If he turns

it down, it'd then be Professor Babbling."

Both girls were nodding along.

"Let her and Remus then interview the rest

of the staff," suggested Daphne. "After all,

Remus will have to work with them."

"Good idea," said Hermione.

"A name... a name..." he muttered.

"How about..." mused Hermione. "If it's okay

with you; 'The Lily Evans Memorial

Scholarship Fund'?"

Harry turned and stared at her for a moment

before his face softened into a bright smile.

"Nice!" he softly replied.

Daphne also smiled and nodded.

Clearing away the little choked up feeling he

had in his throat, Harry said, "That's

everything I need to do except let her know.

Once she has that information Ackerman and

Co will draw up the required papers and send

the forms to me for signing."

"If you'd like, I'll write the letter to her with

those instructions while we're sitting in

History of Magic," offered Daphne.

"Thank you, yes," he nodded.

"Anything else of interest she's written you'd

care to share?" asked Hermione, who then

received a smile and nod from Daphne in

approval.

"Well, there've been a few more companies

who've replied to the 'cease and desist'

orders with promises they'll cease. She's

listed here all those who've now agreed to

that.

"Next is the updated list of those companies

who've, so far, settled out of court. And,

finally, is the list of those companies that've

refused, so far, to settle; and have decided to

take the matter to court. Thankfully, that list

is rather short.

"One of those is Obscurus Books," he said, a

little surprised. Turning to look at both wives

he said, "That's the publisher of most of the

books written about me. They publish the

'Harry Potter and the...' series of books.

Dumbledore, supposedly, sold them the

rights to my name for those. Now they're

refusing to acknowledge he had no right to

do that claiming they entered the contract in

good faith.

"They've already been informed Dumbledore,

however, did not; rendering the contract void.

Margaret sent them a 'cease and desist' order,

with a requirement to hand over the nett

profits of the books and never print any

more. They're refusing both and clearly

believe they'll successfully defend the claim

in court. Margaret says they've no chance

and wants to know if I have any specific

demands to place on them when we've

successfully prosecuted the case."

"Your thoughts?" asked Daphne.

"This is definitely one where I want them to

bleed," he firmly replied. "Let's see... all such

books to be immediately pulled from further

publication; all such books already printed

and remaining unsold to be immediately

pulled from the shelves; a public notice of

apology from the publisher... no, the

individuals responsible within that publisher

for making such a decision... with a request

all such books be returned to the publisher

for a full refund of the purchase price

irrespective of the condition of the book."

"Ouch!" said Hermione. "That'll hurt.

Depending on who owns the company, and

how much of a loss they're willing to swallow,

that'll bankrupt them."

"In which case, Margaret swoops in on my

behalf and claims the company in lieu of the

debt," he said. "Then, I'll put the notice in

the paper making the request for people to

return the books for a full purchase price

refund."

With a sigh he said, "I want those lies off the

shelves; whether they're in bookshops or in

people's personal libraries."

On the Saturday morning, the three were

waiting in the Entrance Hall for the arrival of

Madam Bones. She arrived, promptly, with a

few minutes to spare.

"Mister Potter," she said, as Harry stepped

forward with a smile to shake her hand.

"Madam Bones," he replied before stepping

back to introduce his two wives. "May I

introduce Missus Daphne Anna

Greengrass-Potter and Missus Hermione Jean

Granger-Potter; my wives."

With her only outward sign of surprise being

a slight widening of her eyes, Madam Bones

stepped forward to shake both their hands.

Chapter 194

"Clearly, you've recently sealed the bonds,"

she said.

"Yes, Ma'am," both girls replied.

"And I'm also surprised it isn't public yet,"

she added.

"As are we, Ma'am," said Harry. Turning, he

gestured to the stairs. "Shall we?" he asked.

With a nod and smile, she said, "Yes, please."

Walking up the stairs to the apartment, Harry

and Madam Bones walked side-by-side while

Hermione and Daphne did the same just

behind.

"Again, Mister Potter, I want to thank you for

being so... lenient with my Susan," the older

witch replied. "And to apologise for not

ensuring she was aware her actions, even at

such a young age, could lead to dire

consequences."

"You're welcome, Ma'am," he replied. "I also

suspected she was the victim of severe peer

pressure. And I know what that can do to

someone so young."

"That is not an excuse, Mister Potter," she

replied.

"No; but, it is a reason," he said back, to

which she only nodded in acknowledgement.

Once inside the apartment, Winky

immediately popped in and laid out a serving

of tea and coffee. Harry already knew the

stern woman much preferred coffee to tea,

so ensured it was available to her.

Looking down at the small percolator carafe

of coffee, Madam Bones said, "I see you've

done your homework. There's not many who

know I prefer coffee to tea."

"I asked Susan," he smiled.

As they sat sipping their beverages for a

while, Madam Bones leant back in her -

Crookshanks was out hunting mice -

armchair.

"Perhaps we should begin with why you

asked for me to visit, Mister Potter," she said.

"I have become a lot more observant of

late..." he replied. "... Since I'm no longer

being dosed with loyalty and what-not

potions. And, I have seen and heard some

worrying things.

"First, I... that is, we... witnessed Headmaster

Karkaroff, in a quite agitated state, confront

Professor Snape about the Dark Mark he

bears. He said to our so-called beloved

Potions Master that his Dark Mark is

apparently getting darker. Professor Snape,

trying to get the man to be quiet, confirmed

that his, too, is also getting darker."

That got the woman sitting opposite to sit up

straighter and stare fixedly on Harry. "It's

getting darker?" she asked.

"Yes, Ma'am," he confirmed. "As you know, I

faced the shade of Riddle in the form of a

possessed Quirinus Quirrell in my first year;

and as a shade, again, a year later in the

Chamber of Secrets. So, we know his soul has

not passed on, I believe the phrase is.

"My... research... tells me that the Mark

getting darker means Riddle is making a

comeback. That is, that he has a body now,

or soon will. Karkaroff getting all panicky

confirms he believes it, too. The man, after

all, named names during his trial and would

consider his life forfeit if Riddle returned."

Stunned, Madam Bones sat there for a few

moments quite perturbed. "I see..." she

muttered. From the look on her face, Harry

could see she wanted to believe him.

"Further research into how the Death Eaters

operated in the first war... yes, I believe

there'll be another... led me to make some

further enquiries about one of their modus

operandis?" he offered. "Yes, that's it;

their modus operandi."

"And?" she asked.

"One of the things they did was to attack the

families of those they considered enemies in

their own homes. It made me ask further

questions," he replied. "For a start, how did

they keep the families in their homes while

they attacked? How did they stop them from

leaving, through magical means, before they

brought that family's wards down, or even

straight afterwards?

"What I discovered was that they threw up

temporary anti-apparition and anti-portkey

wards or jinxes over the existing wards," he

said. "But, why did the family not then use

the Floo to make their escape?

"A check of public records shows that, each

time an attack took place on a home, the

Floo connection for that home was also

temporarily down. The records state,

in every instance, it was for the purpose of

temporary maintenance. To me, logic

dictates this makes no sense.

"Maintenance on an individual Floo

connection is extremely rare. And is never at

night, when the attacks apparently all

occurred. So, that leaves the only scenario

that someone on the inside of the Floo

Authority was either a sympathiser of Riddle

and his minions, was a Death Eater

themselves, or was bribed. No other

likelihood makes sense."

With a sigh she said, "Yes; we've always

suspected; but, we've never been able to

prove anything."

"Yes, well," muttered Harry. "Something

further. As Bones is an allied House, and with

my responsibility to that alliance in mind, I

need to tell you a couple of things in

confidence."

"Yes?" she asked.

"I must also ask you, ally-to-ally, not to pass

on a suggestion I have for you to anyone else

without my prior approval."

"I understand," she nodded, clearly eager to

hear what Harry had to say.

With his own nod in recognition of her

agreement, he flatly said, "I know, for a fact,

you're a high priority target. And that the

Death Eaters want you out of the way for

their master."

"Yes, but I've always known I'd be a target if

the Death Eaters got up to their tricks again,"

she said.

"They already have," said Harry. "The attack

on the Quidditch World Cup was clearly their

first... outing... in the recommencement of

the war; or the opening salvo in the second

war."

Madam Bones just sat there, silently musing

over what Harry had said.

"Now for what I want you to do, and keep

silent about doing," he said.

When he had her attention again, he

instructed, "I want you to excavate a tunnel

from the basement in Bones Manor, out to

well beyond your ward boundary. The

direction is irrelevant to me and I do not

need to know. It also does not need to have

an end that opens above ground. It only

needs to reach a spot far enough beyond

your wards where you'll be able to use an

emergency portkey, or apparate, to get the

Hell out of there.

Chapter 195

"You also need to build it in complete secrecy.

Not even your auror guards, when you have

them, can know about it; except, of course,

for Susan. If more than one person knows a

secret; it won't stay a secret for long. Plus,

my research tells me you have Death Eaters

within your Auror Corps."

She thought about that for a few moments

before she sat back and muttered,

"Interesting."

"I beg of you, Madam Bones, to have that

tunnel built and ready to use by June," he

said.

Snapping her head at him to give him a very

direct look, she asked, "Why?"

With a sigh, he replied, "I'm... unable to tell

you."

"A Wizard's Oath?" she immediately asked.

"Again, I'm unable to tell you," he replied.

"But, please, do not doubt my knowledge of

this."

"I see," she said, taking another sip of her

coffee while she was clearly collecting her

thoughts. "Then, I shall take your...

suggestion under advisement."

"That's all I can ask," he said.

"Anything else?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied with a nod. "My wife,

Daphne, remembered I've yet to be awarded

an Order of Merlin, as recommended by

Chief Interrogator Fitzwilliam. She has

written to Madam Longbottom asking her to

investigate what is going on there."

Madam Bones snorted a little and said, "I'm

aware of that. Or, rather, I'm aware Madam

Longbottom is investigating. I was not aware

it was at the behest of Miss...

sorry... Missus Greengrass-Potter. Though,

now it makes more sense."

Smirking at Daphne, she said, "You should be

aware Gus... Madam Longbottom... is bent

on rampaging through the Minister's office

with demands to know why the award has

not been given yet; and when it will. She's

pushing things through.

"Rest assured, it will happen soon. Augusta

Longbottom is used to getting her way when

she's feeling so passionate about

something."

"Their excuse for... acting so slow?" asked

Daphne.

"They claim, among other things, difficulty in

finding supporting evidence," replied Madam

Bones. "And yes, before you say anything,

I'm well aware the pensieve memory and

supporting testimony was enough."

"Hmmph!" Daphne harrumphed, still

offended, which made the older witch smile.

Turning back to Harry she asked, "But, are

you ready to take seat within the

Wizengamot?"

"The Wizengamot?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied. "As a holder of an Order

of Merlin, you're automatically eligible for a

seat on the Wizengamot. Actually, we think

it's you automatically getting that seat that is

what's making Fudge baulk at awarding you

the Order."

"If it comes to pass," he said. "I can bet many

galleons Dumbledore will try to block that."

"He can try," she said. "However, we'll just

remind him that he only sits on the

Wizengamot as a holder of the Order of

Merlin. If he tries to block you taking seat,

we'll call him a hypocrite for holding a seat as

an Order holder, himself."

"Clever," he smirked. "But... as you asked...

yes, I believe I'm ready."

Sitting back, he said, "Besides, I'm married to

the two smartest witches in the

world. They'll keep me on the straight and

narrow. And Daphne and her father will

make sure I know what I'm doing while the

Wizengamot sits."

"You better believe it," said Daphne.

After a bit of a snicker Madam Bones asked,

"Any other business?"

Looking to his wives, Harry saw both of them

shake their heads before he turned back to

Madam Bones. "No, Ma'am," he firmly

replied.

"Good," she said, sitting forward and placing

her coffee cup on the coffee table. "Thank

you for that most enlightening talk, Mister

Potter," she said while rising. "And your

hospitality."

Harry and his wives also stood. Harry offered

his hand to the older witch and said, "And,

thank you for coming to hear me out."

With a nod while shaking his hand, she said,

"Don't bother to escort me out. I know the

way."

Harry smiled and nodded in return.

When the older witch left, he sat down again

and asked his wives, "Well?"

"Well handled," said Daphne. "But, you

forgot to mention the Dementors and the

risk of escape at Azkaban."

"Next time," he firmly replied. "I didn't want

to give her too much, too soon."

"Homework?" asked Hermione.

"Sex," replied Harry.

"Homework," she firmly retorted. "You had

sex last night and this morning."

"So?" he asked. "Is there a law that states I'm

only allowed sex a certain amount of times a

week or a month or something?"

"Yes," she said back, but there was no heat in

it. "My poor pussy needs time to heal. I'm

surprised you don't feel rubbed raw!"

"I do, a little," he sulkily replied. With a smirk

he asked, "Would you mind kissing it better

for me?"

Daphne giggled and said, "I'll kiss it better for

you."

And with that she sauntered over to Harry,

who had leant back in his chair and lifted his

bum, trying to undo his pants, and fumbling

it.

Her eyes widening Hermione sat there.

"What? In here?" she gasped. "But...

someone might come in!"

"Let them," Harry gasped, as Daphne pulled

his pants and underwear down. "The risk

adds to the thrill."

The next morning Daphne received her

weekly letter from her parents during the

breakfast mail drop. While she was untying

the letter from her owl's leg, a rather aloof

Northern Hawk Owl named Stupid, Harry

was trying to offer the bird some bacon.

He'd asked why the bird's name was Stupid

soon after they got together; and Daphne

replied it was because Astoria, when they

first got the bird and she heard its ululula call,

pointed at it and said, "That's stupid!" And

the name stuck.

Once the letter was untied, the bird ignored

the bacon and flew over to Astoria, to drop

off her letter.

Chapter 196

Opening her own, Daphne quickly scanned

through it. Soon after she began to read she

gave a little gasp of surprise and turned to

her bondmates. "Mother says father already

has the tunnel dug and constructed," she

said, soft enough only they could hear what

she said.

Surprised, Hermione said, "That was fast."

Nodding, Daphne explained, "He contracted

with the dwarves. They had it dug in a matter

of weeks. He'll show us when we go there at

Easter.

"Ah!" she suddenly said. "They're building a

similar one at Hermione's home moving in

and out under cover of darkness."

"What are they doing with the tailings?"

asked Hermione. "The earth they remove

while digging?"

"They vanish it," replied Daphne. "Its how

they're able to dig so fast. They don't need to

worry about what to do with the dirt and

rock they remove. The harder part is bringing

in material to line the tunnel walls and floor;

and to stop it collapsing."

"I'd think they'd portkey it in," suggested

Harry.

"Well, however they did it, mother says

they'll show it to us so we know where it is

when we get there for the Easter break," said

Daphne, indicating somewhere on the page

before her. "She also says it has hidden

external entrances. The one at Ant and Cele's

will be similar but not as extensive, as they

only have to worry about one dwelling

there."

On the Monday morning Madam Bones

walked into her office and took a seat. The

first thing she then did was call her two top

Aurors, Scrimgeour and Robards, one at a

time.

When Scrimgeour walked in she ordered him

to sit in the chair opposite her desk. As soon

as he did, she stunned him and immediately

bound him to the chair.

Walking around her desk, she first checked

his arm for the Mark, using every detection

spell she could think of that would make it

show if it was magically hidden. Seeing

nothing, she pulled a phial of Veritaserum

from her robes and, gently pulling his head

back by his reddish somewhat long locks,

dropped three drops onto his tongue.

Once she was done she walked back to her

desk and sat in her chair. Then she revived

him and immediately vanished the ropes.

As the man woke up again she started asking

questions. "Are you now, or have you ever

been, a Death Eater? Did you then, or do you

now, support the policies of the wizard

known as Lord Voldemort? Do you believe

that muggleborns should not be allowed to

live in our world? Do you carry out spying for

anyone? Do you accept bribes?"

With five quite succinct negative responses

from her senior most Auror, she

administered the antidote.

When Scrimgeour came around enough to

realise what was going on, he frowned and

angrily asked, "What the Hell, Boss?"

"Sorry, Rufus," she replied, not sorry at all. "I

needed to make sure."

Scrimgeour sat there for a few moments as

Amelia shifted slightly in her seat.

"What's going on?" he asked, a lot more

calmly after thinking about it.

"I have intelligence we... that is, the Auror

department... have been infiltrated with

Death Eaters," she replied. "I need to find

out who they are."

"And what do you want to do with them if

you find them?" he asked, curious.

"I only want to know who they are for the

moment," she said. "I'll Obliviate them as

soon as I... we... find them."

"Then I'd best help," he firmly said.

With a smirk, Madam Bones reached into her

hidden bottom drawer on her desk and drew

out a large invisibility cloak.

"Go stand in the corner," she instructed her

Head Auror. "When they sit, stun and bind

them." Before he could do more than stand,

she handed him her two phials. "Veritaserum

and the antidote," she said.

While Scrimgeour made himself ready in the

corner, Madam Bones called for her next

candidate.

"Robards? I need you," she said into her

wizarding intercom. The man walked in a

minute later.

When Robards had proven to be no Death

Eater, unmarked follower of Riddle, spy,

hater of muggleborn or accepter of bribes he

was sworn to secrecy and sent out again. It

was his job to start sending people in. He was

to do it as subtly as he could.

That's how it went for the rest of the

morning, and then again into the latter part

of the day after a break for lunch.

Master Aurors were questioned and sworn to

secrecy. Senior Aurors, Aurors and Trainee

Aurors were questioned, Obliviated and told

they were interviewed with the possibility of

promotion.

As well as finding a few bigots, they found

their first 'wannabe' Death Eater among the

Senior Aurors. Then they found their

first actual Death Eater.

"Senior Auror Jugson," said Madam Bones

after she answered the knock to her office

door. "Take a seat," she said to him,

indicating the chair before her desk.

Again, as soon as the man sat, Scrimgeour

stunned him and bound him from behind.

Doffing the cloak, he forced the man's head

back and dosed him with Veritaserum before

checking his arm. There was no Mark.

As the man was enervated and woke up

again, from where she remained sitting

behind her desk, Madam Bones began asking

her questions. "Are you now, or have you

ever been, a Death Eater?"

"Yes," replied Jugson.

Surprised, but knowing she shouldn't be,

Madam Bones glanced at Scrimgeour.

"You were a Death Eater?" she asked.

"No."

"You are a Death Eater?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe the Dark Lord will return?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"My master made great strides in the darkest

of magic to ensure his immortality. He will

return. My Dark Mark getting darker

confirms it."

Again, Madam Bones looked to Scrimgeour.

Turning back, she asked, "How is it your Dark

Mark cannot be seen?"

The Dark Lord showed his inner circle how to

mask the Mark from normal detection

charms. Lucius Malfoy taught it to me."

"How do you remove the mask when you

want to?"

"A counter-charm removes it."

Chapter 197

"What is the incantation and wand

movement for the counter-charm?"

"Revelo Mortem. And it requires pressing the

tip of the wand into the Mark while speaking

the incantation."

"How do you hide the Mark, again?"

"Abscondere Mortem. And pressing the tip

of the wand into the Mark while speaking

the incantation."

Madam Bones walked around her desk and

slipped Jugson's sleeve up his arm. Pressing

the tip of her wand into where she knew the

Mark would be, she spoke the Incantation.

"Revelo Mortem."

When the Dark Mark appeared she waited a

moment before pressing her wand tip back

into the middle of the Mark. She muttered,

"Abscondere Mortem." The Dark Mark, again,

disappeared.

She then slid the sleeve of the man's robes

back down again.

Returning to her chair, she sat down and

resumed her some position. She asked, "Do

you know when the Dark Lord will return?"

"No; but he will soon."

"Besides the Dark Lord, do you carry out

spying for anyone?"

"Yes."

"Who do you carry out spying activities for?"

"The Dark Lord and Lucius Malfoy."

"Anyone else?"

"No."

"Do you accept bribes?"

"Yes."

"From whom do you accept bribes?"

"Lucius Malfoy."

With a sigh, she looked to Scrimgeour and

nodded her head.

Scrimgeour administered the Veritaserum

antidote before stepping back to the corner

and redonning the cloak.

Madam Bones waited until Jugson was

clear-headed. When his face morphed into

surprised shock, she hit him with the

memory charm before removing the ropes.

"You were invited in to speak with me as I'm

looking to see who's ready for promotion,"

she firmly said. "We had an enjoyable chat.

You have a chance to be promoted if you

continue to keep your nose clean."

She waited a few moments to allow the

memory alteration to take hold before she

smiled at the man and said, "Thank you for

your time, Senior Auror Jugson. You may go."

"Thank you, Ma'am," replied Jugson. "I look

forward to your decision."

Jugson rose from the chair, gave her a short

bow and left the office.

"Bloody Hell!" she said with a most heartfelt

sigh, after the door had closed behind

Jugson.

The questioning continued through the

afternoon and early evening, with a break for

dinner, and into the night. Scrimgeour

changed out with Robards under the

invisibility cloak after each break.

The questioning began again the next

morning. By lunch, all the ranks including the

Trainee Aurors had been questioned. After

lunch they went after the Cadet Aurors.

On the third day they sent for the out-posted

aurors, including the ones out at Azkaban -

with them being spelled with replacements

while they were in London.

After the out-posted aurors, next came the

Hit Wizards. However, they were stunned as

soon as they entered the door. Bones and

Scrimgeour both knew some of them could

easily see through cloaks and Notice-me-not

charms.

Once she'd finished she called the Head of

the Unspeakables, Algernon Croaker, to pay

her a visit.

A quick explanation, with Scrimgeour as

witness providing his own testimony, and

Unspeakable Croaker was a man on a mission,

nearly storming out of her office.

Then, a couple of days later, the Unspeakable

suddenly popped into existence in Bones's

office, behind the chair before her desk,

startling the Hell out of the witch.

"Damn it, Algernon!" she barked. "Use the

bloody door in future!"

Without even a word of greeting or

recognition of Madam Bones's comments,

Croaker said, "I found one among my people.

Rookwood. He's been dealt with."

With a sigh, Amelia asked, "I take it he's

dead?"

Croaker simply nodded once.

"I'll receive a report of his death sometime in

the coming days?"

"Yes. It will show he died in a horrible, but

classified, accident. He was the only fatality."

"Any you suspect may become one if Riddle

returns?"

"Classified," replied Croaker. "If there are any,

they too will be dealt with."

"Understood," said Madam Bones.

Croaker suddenly disappeared again.

Now that they had a way to reveal the Dark

Mark if it was hidden, they'd bide their time

until she - with Croaker's help - could plan for

and execute a massive clean sweep of the

entire Ministry. They'd plan it; but, they'd

just hold off on execution until a time when

they knew the Minister couldn't interfere.

'Perhaps when he next attends one of his

conferences?' she thought. With what some

would call an evil grin, she began to plan.

Chapter 198

Harry received the papers from Margaret

Pentridge regarding the setting up of the Lily

Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund, and read

through them to make sure everything was

still as he wanted.

Along with them was a note informing him

Ackerman and Co were happy to interview

the staff for the Board and employee

positions. Remus would be thoroughly

interviewed, told he'd been recommended

for the opportunity of winning the position,

and then given it a couple of days later.

First chance he got he signed the papers and

sent them back.

It was time for classes before they headed to

the Room of Requirement to practice his

silent and minimal wand casting once classes

ended. Then they'd be returning to the

apartment to, again, plan.

At least, since Dumbledore had come down

hard on the behaviour of his pet Death Eater,

Potions was now a much nicer class. Harry

even found that he enjoyed it as it gave him

time to think.

What surprised Snape were the major

improvements in all the other classes, bar

Slytherin. He was even giving consideration

to realigning the bars for what earned an

Outstanding, Exceed Expectations and down.

Students across the board and across the

ages were now doing much better in the

subject.

While Madam Bones was in the process of

finding Death Eaters, wannabes and blood

bigots within the ranks of the Aurors and Hit

Wizards, Madam Longbottom was keeping

the Minister and his staff hopping. This was

something Madam Bones deeply appreciated,

as it kept the Minister and his flunkies from

finding out what she was up to.

While Madam Longbottom was berating a

flunky, the one who wasn't quick enough to

run for other parts of the Ministry building,

the Minister was holed up in his office with

his Senior Under-Secretary. Even Dolores

Umbridge was unwilling to face the wrath of

Augusta Longbottom when the woman had

the support of the majority of the

Wizengamot behind her; and seeing the

Potter-brat receive the Order was definitely

something the majority of the Wizengamot

wanted to see happen.

"What do we do, Dolores?" the Minister

practically whined. "Lucius and Dumbledore,

both, are adamant Potter not receive the

Order of Merlin. However, both the

Wizengamot and the public want to see him

receive it. If she goes public that I'm seen to

be blocking it..."

"We need to find something else to concern

her, Minister," Umbridge simpered.

"Something that will take all her attention."

"But, what?" he begged.

Umbridge practically paced in the expansive

office; thinking hard.

She suddenly stopped and looked to the

Minister. "Her son and daughter-in-law," she

said, an idea coming to her. "That's her

weakness."

"What about them?" he asked.

"They're in the permanent spell damage

ward at Saint Mungo's," she said.

"Yes, yes; I know that," he said, a little

exasperated. "Get to the point."

"If either of them shows an improvement..."

she said, "The old hag will dash over there to

be at their bedsides."

"And how are we supposed to

accomplish that miraculous feat?" he asked,

going from worried to irritated.

"One of those little tidbits of information I've

discovered is that both are being regularly

dosed with a senility-inducing potion," she

smiled.

Stunned, the Minister sat there for a few

moments, still confused, he asked,

"But, why?"

"Dumbledore wanted them out of the way,

for some reason," she replied. "And he

wasn't up to just killing them, or having them

killed."

"He's both providing the potion, and bribing

a healer, to see to it the Longbottom couple

is kept in a near-comatose state."

"But, why?" asked Fudge again, completely

forgetting he'd just asked that same

question.

"Unknown," replied Umbridge. "But, does it

matter to us? You?"

While Fudge tried to figure that one out, she

continued. "If we... discover... the healer has

been dosing the Longbottoms with the

senility-inducing potion, we can see him

arrested. I don't know if it's possible or not...

not being a healer myself, of course," she

simpered. "But they may soon thereafter

'wake up'. Of course, after so long under the

effects of the potion, both are going to need

long term care to help them regain their

faculties..."

"... And our Madam Longbottom will

dedicate her time to providing that care!"

exclaimed Fudge, finally understanding. "I'll

be her hero for discovering the truth!"

"Of course you will, Minister," simpered the

Pink Toad. "At the same time, it'll get the

woman to stop pushing for the Potter brat to

receive the Order; and she'll feel beholden to

you."

"Yes!" said Fudge, quite gleefully. "Get it

done, Dolores. It's time the Longbottoms

received justice."

Umbridge detested having to give up one of

her little known secrets, as it rendered the

knowing of the secret useless as a tool for

blackmail. One as big as this may have

eventually been used to bring the Great

Dumbledore to heel. But, sometimes, it was

unavoidable. This was one of those times.

Back at Hogwarts, the three were putting

final touches on their plan to have

Dumbledore find out about the ring horcrux.

"It's going to take very good acting on the

part of all three of us to pull it off," said

Hermione. Looking at Harry, she said, "You,

to show confusion and a little fear. Not too

much, mind. And us, to show worry and

concern for you."

"It has to be enough to show a reason for

actually talking to the old fool," said Daphne.

"He has to believe it worries you, and us, so

much that you're willing to... overcome...

how much we detest the man to actually tell

him something we might consider personal."

Harry nodded. "We'll need to practice that,"

he said. "I don't think I can pull it off without

us role-playing it a fair bit."

"Agreed," replied Daphne, while Hermione

nodded.

"In the meantime," said Hermione. "How

goes your practice at maintaining and

controlling the Aguamenti Charm?"

"As much as I don't like to blow my own

trumpet," he replied. "I think I've mastered it.

That is, mastered it enough to make it quite

effective as a form of propulsion for the

second task."

"It actually propels you through the water?"

asked Daphne.

"It does," he replied. "I practiced it in the

Prefects' bathroom. Even I was surprised by

how well it works."

"And minimalist wand motion and incantless

casting?" asked Hermione.

Chapter 199

"Quite good, I think," he replied. "I've almost

got it so slight it could somewhat pass as

'point' casting. And I now incantless cast...

let's see... Aguamenti of course, the

bubblehead charm, the severing charm, the

summoning and banishing charms and the

Confundus charm for in the water. I've also

got down the jelly-fingers curse, the

tongue-locking hex, the silencing charm, the

impediment curse, the blasting hex, the

cutting curse, and the reductor curse.

"I've figured those last few will come in very

handy for when I'm in the graveyard. I've also

been practicing batting hexes and curses

aside rather than just shielding or dodging.

And I've been practicing rapid conjuring and

hovering charms to place objects between

me and the magically unshieldable curses."

"Sticking with the second task, for the

moment," she said, "The rescue plan?"

"Again?" he near whined.

"Again," she said.

With almost a sigh he said, "We're fairly

certain it will be one of the two of you. If you

get summoned late in the afternoon, the day

before the task, it'll be you. I'll take your

primary wand and you'll carry a conjured

copy of it when you leave.

"I'll also tag you with a tracking charm..."

"We'll need to tell Dobby and Winky not to

remove that charm," Daphne quickly cut in.

"Good point," he agreed. "I'll tag you with a

tracking charm."

"Now the morning of the task?" asked

Hermione.

"On the morning of the task I'll dress in that

thermal swimwear you had your mum pick

up and send. Good idea, that, by the way. I'll

have my primary wand in my right holster

and yours in my left under a Notice-me-not

charm. I'll also have that diving knife and

scabbard you organised for me strapped to

my left thigh, also under a Notice-me-not

charm. I'll warn Delacour to stay out of the

kelp beds because of the grindylows, just in

case.

"Just as they're about to send us into the

water, I quickly swallow the gillyweed I'll

have on me. I dive in, draw my wand and...

using the power of my new flippers and the

modified Aguamenti charm... I power my

way to the merpeople village. If necessary, I

stop every now and then to check I have the

right direction from the tracking charm using

the point me charm.

"Once in the village, I quickly go to you and

use my knife to cut you free. Once you're free

I cast the bubblehead charm on you. If you

wake up, I hand you back your wand. If you

do not, I'll tuck it in your sock on your right

lower leg. That way, as soon as you reach the

surface, you'll have access to it. The

bubblehead charm, if it doesn't wake you up,

will create sufficient positive buoyancy to see

you reach the surface pretty quick smart.

"If the bubblehead charm does wake you up,

you'll remain with me but about twenty feet

above to ensure the other hostages are

rescued; especially little Miss Delacour.

When we see the last of the Champions

approach and are going to be okay, we two

head to the surface, together.

"You then conjure a small boat and lie on it;

and cast a warming charm on yourself. I then

push you back to the jetty. I come out of the

water once the gillyweed wears off."

"Then?" asked Daphne, with a small smirk.

"Then, if you weren't asked to participate in

the task this time around, I do my nut at

Dumbledore using the Sonorus charm."

"Good," said Daphne, giving a little sigh of

satisfaction. "You're ready. Now, what about

what you're going to do in the third task and

graveyard?"

Harry ran through his main and contingency

plans. Both still needed a light tweaking.

However, he was much further along than he

thought.

With the reduction in the amount of wand

movement Harry was now using, he was also

finding his speed of casting increasing. This

now meant he could no longer just think of a

Curse or Hex off the top of his head. Now he

had to start creating what he read in Combat

Magic, a book he found in the Room of

Requirement when asking for help in training

for combat, as spell chains.

However, he couldn't rely on the example

spell chains that were in the book. He

needed to create his own. After all, it was

highly likely Riddle had also read that book,

and knew the chains. Therefore, if he could

figure out what spell chain Harry was using,

he would know what Harry was going to cast

and when.

After having decided he wasn't going to

make the mistake of simply stunning his

opponents, this time through, Harry was

making the chains as lethal as possible.

He knew they also had to be quite creative.

So, remembering Luna had devised some

very creative uses of Charms within duelling

during the days of the DA, Harry called on

and asked her for her help. Help she was very

willing to provide.

Once Harry then mentioned he had no

interest in casting to incapacitate; and was,

instead, aiming to kill; Luna became

positively gleeful - and vicious.

Harry and she had just returned from one of

their sessions in the Room of Requirement

when a very excited Hermione grabbed Harry

and dragged him over to a couch.

Luna simply smiled and went into

Hermione's old room, where she now kept at

least one full change of clothes and a second

set of personal hygiene products. This was

not because bullying of her had started back

up again. This was because she'd simply

taken to spending more time with the three.

And she much preferred to shower in the

ensuite in Hermione's old room after one of

their sessions, than have to trudge back to

her dorm before almost always returning

again.

"Hermione, I'm all sweaty!" he exclaimed, as

he was forced to sit on a couch.

"Shower in a minute," she rapidly said.

"Neville was sent through the Floo in

McGonagall's office to Saint Mungo's about

an hour ago."

Shocked, Harry asked, "Why? What's wrong

with him? It's not his grandmother, is it?"

Rapidly shaking her head while wearing a big

grin, she said, "No. His parents have woken

up."

Stunned, Harry sat there gaping in shock.

"How the Hell did that happen?" he asked.

"They never woke up in the old timeline.

Nothing we did could have triggered a

change to them."

"Unknown," said Daphne, who was sitting

opposite. "All we know, so far, is that his

parents have woken up, and he's been sent

to Saint Mungo's because they're demanding

to see him."

"He was originally supposed to have been

taken to the Headmaster's office to be

Floo'ed, but the Headmaster had already left.

Apparently, he raced there as soon as he

could. I met Neville as he was hurrying from

the Headmaster's office entrance to

Professor McGonagall's office with her. And

he told me."