25

Chapter 25: Not This Time

Thanks for all the reviews.

Hphphp

It had been a week since they had talked to Amelia, and they were all waiting on pins and needles. She had been in touch enough to let them know that she was still investigating, but she was making little progress. She was greatly stymied by Albus and the other teachers. They all wanted to help, but they were a hindrance. Mad-eye Moody was the worst. He seemed to take it personally that she was taking over his investigation. She suspected his retirement made him more paranoid than he had been on the force. He dogged her steps every time he didn't have class.

Harry and Neville continued on like there wasn't a threat of the tournament hanging over Harry's head. Harry just pretended that life was normal and went on to try and pick up girls now that his mother wasn't lurking around the school. She said that he was now old enough to fend for himself enough to get away from anyone at that location. She still tended to follow him everywhere else, but at the school, he was all alone and could pursue the birds.

He was still writing to Susan and Daphne, but under the name Gary. He wondered if they were going to be angry at him and Neville when they found out the truth. He hoped they understood.

Lily and the other adults were on tenterhooks waiting for the Wizengamot to make its move. Lily decided to 'haunt' Sirius' office and was with him most days. She made sure to keep an invisibility cloak on hand. She technically wasn't supposed to be there and would hide under the cloak if anyone came into Sirius' office to chat with him over one law or another. She learned that they bickered over everything. There wasn't a thing they wouldn't fight over. The thickness of cauldron bottoms, really?

It was a good thing that she did take to hiding there, because today was the day that the Wizengamot made their first move. Sirius got his owl one hour before the meeting. He shot off a Patronus to Alex to get there as fast as he could. He then went about getting everything he needed for the meeting, which wasn't much, but he wanted to be prepared.

Alex was there in five minutes. He had had a forewarning from Amelia that they might try something in the next few days, so he had cleared his schedule for the week. "Don't worry," he said as he walked into the office, "I think I've got everything covered." He had his ever-present briefcase in his hand.

"I'm sure," Sirius said, donning his Wizengamot robes. Lily, who had been standing out of sight, put on the invisibility cloak. "I'm also sure they are going to pull something boneheaded out of their arse." He was upset that they were going to try something. Even if he knew it was coming.

"I have some good legal arguments to prevent them from forcing anyone to complete a contract they did not sign," Alex said, clapping him on the back and leaving the office. He was going to the public galley, where he would be able to stand and make his case.

"I hope he's right," Lily said in Sirius' ear as she put her hand on his shoulder letting him know she was ready to go. She made sure to keep close to him and not brush against anyone in the crowded hallway. It was hard to do, and uncomfortable for her and Sirius. She was sure he was feeling a chill on his back as close as she was pressed to it.

"Let's get this over with," the man said, going to his seat in Courtroom Ten. It is where the Wizengamot met when there was a full body. It was the only courtroom that could hold them all. The other courtrooms were for minor crimes and laws that didn't require a full body, only a quorum. Which he was sure they tried to do today, but more people said they would come than was planned.

Lily stood next to his chair and out of other peoples' way. She might be intangible, but the cloak was not. She kept her hand on Sirius' shoulder. She had a feeling that she was going to have to keep him seated more than once. That was if she could control her own temper. These busybodies just made her blood boil with how important they thought themselves to be.

The new Chief Warlock, Charles Stimpson, banged the gavel to get order. He did all the official things that was needed to get the meeting under way, roll call, the reading of the minutes, then finally got down to why they were there. "Albus Dumbledore, you asked for this meeting to be called. What is your case?"

"As you know," Albus began, standing from where the Order of Merlin recipients were seated, to which many could tell he was not happy being there, "Harry Potter's name came from the Goblet of Fire, and he is refusing to participate in the Triwizard Tournament. I am here to have this body enforce the Goblet's decree," he added, then just stood there like he had already won. Until he felt compelled to add when they didn't start arguing in his favor, "It is a magical artifact of old. It would not have drawn Harry's name if it did not think that he could performed the tasks put before him. Who are we to doubt the decree of such a magical implement?"

That got a few people talking, and many of his supporters were saying things that justified what he said. While others weren't so sure.

"Does anyone wish to speak for Mr. Potter?" Stimpson asked, banging his gavel, and looking around the courtroom. He really hoped someone did. He didn't think the boy should be forced to participate. It would make them look bad as a country.

"Alexander Preston, and I will speak for Harry Potter," Alex said as he stood.

"Sirius Black, and I will too," Sirius said, also standing.

"Very well, Mr. Preston, speak your case," Stimpson said, looking to the lawyer. He hoped the man had a good argument, because he'd love to see that smug look wiped off Dumbledore's face. He was one of the many that was glad to see the old man fall from so many positions, and if he had it his way, he'd make sure it stayed that way.

"Let me first say, that if this body passes any law that forces Harry Potter to complete a contract that he had no hand in, they will be setting a precedent that will make it easier for others to make contracts for you and make you follow them. That being said, Harry Potter has never set foot in Hogwarts. I have given Amelia Bones a sign affidavit saying this. He did not put his name in the Goblet and should not have to compete in any tournament," Alex lectured, moving to the middle of the courtroom to be seen and heard. He paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. "Not only is it wrong on so many levels, but it is also illegal," he added, standing still and looking at Albus Dumbledore.

"Surely, you don't think that having one boy compete in a tournament will affect the good people of the Wizengamot?" Dumbledore stated. "He is a minor," he added like that made a difference.

"Which only makes it a hundred times worse," Alex said, still staring at the old man. "You are setting a precedent that any minor can be entered into a contract without their parent or guardian. That that contract can be enforced because this body says it must. What if it were your children, or grandchildren, that were facing what young Harry is right now?" he said, whirling around and glaring at the old men and women of the Wizengamot. "You pass any law forcing Harry to compete, you are saying that Sirius Black has no say in his life. Then you are saying that parents and guardians have no say in their wards' lives. Why have them then, we'll just let the Wizengamot raise the children?" he said sarcastically.

"You've made your point, Mr. Preston," Stimpson stated, banging his gavel when the whispers became too loud.

"I agree with Mr. Preston," one witch said, standing to be seen. It was Augusta Longbottom. "If my Neville's name came out of the Goblet, we wouldn't even be here right now," she added, looking around at all the faces that were looking at her. "This has to do with the fact that Harry Potter is an icon," she said, folding her hands in front of her and letting them hang. "I don't think that Dumbledore should have even brought this before us. Harry Potter is a fourteen-year-old boy, who should only be worried about schoolwork, and possibly girls," she stated, then she sat back down.

"Harry Potter will bring us under scrutiny of other countries," Albus said, running his hand down his beard in a wise fashion. "It will make us look good having him compete in the Triwizard Tournament." His eyes were twinkling and he was smiling like it was the best thing they could possibly do to look good to those other countries.

"No. You are wrong. It will make us look like we are making a scared young man play gladiator games for the masses," Mr. Preston said, reeling around and pointing a finger at the old man. "It will be like enforced child labor," he added. "That is against the law," he stated, slamming his right fist into his left hand. "Unless you want to bring that back and I can tell you right now, that that will bring the Queen's wrath down on us, and we do what we can, not to let that happen," he said, reminding them that they needed to keep their laws at least somewhat to those of the muggles.

"Mr. Preston is correct," Amelia Bones said, standing from her seat. "We cannot force him to do this. It is against the law," she stated, her monocle glinting in the light of the room. "The muggles would come down on us if they found out," she added, nodding to the Chief Warlock in acknowledgement that what she said was true.

"We make the laws," one person shouted from the back.

"You make laws that are skirting bigotry, but so far you have only made them borderline legal. If you push this, you will bring the muggles into it. Harry Potter lives in the muggle world. They will notice if he suddenly turns up missing. This isn't a case of an eleven-year-old being sent off to a new and exciting school, which we have a backstory set up for. This will be kidnapping and child labor," Preston stated, making his case heard by them all.

The rest of the Wizengamot started talking over one another. There was shouting on all sides, both for and against Harry's participation.

"Let me say one thing," Sirius said as loudly as he could, making those around him quiet down. He felt Lily squeeze his shoulder in agreement. The room quieted down to hear what he had to say. "If you pass anything that says that Harry has to do this, we'll leave the UK. I'll pack us up, take every bit of money we have, and we'll go somewhere where you'll never find us. I'll let the press know why we left, and England will be the laughingstock of the entire wizarding world. I'll drag the Longbottoms with me," he added, nodding to Augusta.

"I agree," the older woman said, standing up again. She was more than happy to leave here. Perhaps a new place is what was needed for Frank and Alice to come more into themselves. Neville would go with the Potters, no matter what and his parents would want to go with him.

"Now, now, there's no need for threats," Stimpson said, banging his gavel again to get the Wizengamot to quiet down. "I am sure those drastic measures will not be necessary," he said when everyone was quiet again.

"Yet, it seems necessary to make them," Sirius said, noting that more people were paying attention now that he had made the threat. Money talked in more ways than one.

"Let's take a vote," the Chief Warlock said, raising his wand and making a green light appear. "For those who want Harry Potter to compete, light your wand green. Those opposed, red," he finished, lighting the wand's tip red.

A sea of colors lit the room, and it was overwhelmingly red. There were a few green lights, but a majority was the opposite. Sirius noted that the green lights were from the diehard Dumbledore supporters. Well, there were always going to be those that worshiped the grounds the man walked on no matter how far that man got knocked down.

"Harry Potter does not have to compete," Stimpson stated, banging his gavel, and then he looked at Dumbledore. "Do not bring it before us again," he warned. He took the lawyers words to heart. There was no way a precedent would be set on his watch. That and he didn't want to test Black on his threat. "I call this meeting to an end," he said, banging the gavel one last time.

Sirius got up and left the room without talking to anyone. He still felt Lily's hand on his shoulder, so he went straight to his office. There he closed the door. He felt her hand remove itself and removed his robes.

Lily took off her cloak and there was relief on her face. "We don't pay Alex enough," she said as she collapsed in a chair. Not that it did her any good, but she just felt like being dramatic.

"You're right, we should give him a raise," Sirius said, putting the robe on a hanger. "The way he handled that, I don't think they'll try anything again," he added, hanging the robe in the small wardrobe made for just that robe. It cleaned, pressed, and preserved the robe until the next time it was needed.

"Your threat is what swayed most of them, I think," she said, thoughtfully. She had watched the crowd the whole time she stood there, and noted the paling of many when he made his threat. They were all scared that he would make good on it, and they didn't want that.

"I meant every word," he said, already making plans for if they did have to bugout. The goblins had banks everywhere, so it would be simple enough to have the money transferred elsewhere. He and the Potters had other houses, and the boys would acclimate to a new school in Australia or America just as easy as here. Probably Australia, they were closer in culture. He did wonder if his girlfriend would come with him. He'd have to ask her. Mandy was a good sort.

"I know," she said, thinking along the same lines as him. Only she was thinking the muggle side of it.

"Well, I hope it doesn't come to that," he said, stretching to get the kinks out from sitting in a stress filled room. He heard his back and neck pop and sighed in relief.

"Now that that's done, let's go home," Lily said, more than ready to leave the ministry. She hated being here. The DoM was still a threat to her existence, and she was still wary of them.

"I can't, I have networking to do," Sirius said, reminding her that he was here as a politician. He went to the door and opened it.

She just sighed and snuggled further into her chair. It was too bad she didn't sleep; she could use a nap right now.

Hphphp

Another week went by, and Amelia came by the penthouse. Sirius had met her in the lobby, and he had given her the secret. She had read it off a piece of paper, since Lily was the keeper.

She was impressed with the Fidelius, and she was more impressed with the flat they had set themselves up in. She had never seen the likes before. The wizarding world didn't have apartment buildings. They only had some flats above stores, where there might be a few stories high. Never was there a lobby with a doorman.

"You have a really nice place," she said as she got off the lift. She looked around at the clean lines and luxury furniture. She knew what the muggle items were. She had to for her job, but she had never seen any so expensive before.

"Thank you," Lily said, ushering her to a chair. "Tea?" she asked, gesturing to the tea set that was already waiting.

"Please," Bones said, relief in her tone, like it had been a long day and she could use some fortification. "I hate to say it but all I have to report is that someone cast a strong Confundus Charm on the Goblet and put Harry's name in, under an unnamed school. As far as I can tell, he is not directly connected to the Goblet, so his magic is safe. I can't say the same for whomever put his name in. Though I can't be sure," she said, sipping her tea.

"Are you going to get the Unspeakables involved?" Sirius asked, picking up one of the small pastries and taking a bite.

"I might, or we can just let it play out," she said, looking at the pastries and regretting that she was on a diet. She simply sipped her tea.

"I think we should let it play out. If Harry's magic isn't tied to the Goblet, then whoever loses theirs deserves to," Lily said, vindictively. She wasn't above being spiteful.

"You didn't get a magical signature?" Sirius asked.

"No, we did. It's just that it was from a dead man," she said, carefully putting her cup down. She hadn't wanted to tell them this, but now that she thought about it, it seemed like a good idea. They really needed to know the truth. She didn't want to come off like Dumbledore.

"I don't understand," Lily said, looking confused.

"I shouldn't be telling you this, it's part of an ongoing investigation, but you have a right to know. The signature we got was from Bartemius Crouch Junior," Amelia said, taking out her notebook and flipping through it.

"Didn't Junior die in Azkaban?" Sirius asked confused. "I remember the day he died. I was there," he added, his brow furrowed.

"Yes, you are correct. I'll get to that in a moment," Amelia said, going through her notes and starting from the beginning. "When we questioned his father, he admitted he broke his son out of prison. Senior is in jail now, and Percy Weasley is taking his place as judge, but he has no idea where his son is. It seems sometime last summer, the boy up and disappeared," she finished reading from her notes.

"Why haven't we read about this in the Prophet?" Sirius asked, gesturing to the paper in question. He was sure that it would have made the front page.

"You will tomorrow," she admitted. She had held it off as long as she could, but it had gotten out and now it would be a man hunt. She hated those, too many 'sightings' and not enough real information.

"How did he break the boy out of prison?" Lily wanted to know. She had never heard of anyone escaping from Azkaban.

"He exchanged him with his dying wife. She took Polyjuice potion and died in prison. It was her dying wish," Amelia said with a great deal of sadness. She had been friends with the deceased woman. And it was just like Helen to give her life for her child. She was so devoted to the boy. She would not have wanted him to die in Azkaban. "Senior kept Junior in the house under the Imperius curse for years. He escaped during the Quidditch World Cup. He was sure he was the one who cast the Dark Mark," she concluded.

"I'm surprised Senior went along with it. That pompous bastard has no heart," Sirius said bitterly.

"I know you don't like the man, but he did love his wife," Amelia said, knowing that she was the only thing the man loved. He would have done anything for Helen.

"Still…" was all Sirius said.

"Anyway, we know that Junior is out and about somewhere, and that he put Harry's name in the goblet. However, we don't know how, where, or why," Amelia said, closing her notebook and putting it back in her pocket. "We have everyone scouring the Alleys and Hogsmeade keeping an eye out for him, but no one has even hinted at seeing him." she sighed and picked her cup back up.

"I think you should involve the Unspeakables. We have something they might be able to help with," Lily said, looking to Sirius. "The two things might be related," she added, folding her hands in her lap.

"Oh?" Amelia said, putting her cup down and pulling out her notebook again, this time with a pen.

"The goblins have discovered that Voldemort has made horcruxes," Sirius said, breaking the news swiftly.

"He didn't," Bones said, shocked. She noted it down quickly and underlined it twice. "Yes, this needs to go to the Unspeakables. They would be better able to handle it than the Aurors," she mumbled more to herself than to them. She wasn't going to risk her people to hunt for these abominations. The DoM can do it. They had the tools and the knowhow.

"The goblins are hunting them, but maybe they can coordinate," Lily suggested. It made sense to her. The more people hunting them the better. Sure, it might mean putting aside some pride on both sides, but if that meant being rid of Voldemort, then Merlin dammit, so be it. She would make sure to tell Steelclaw her opinion on the matter.

"It's never happened before, but I don't see how it could hurt to try," Amelia said, making another note. She would suggest it strongly to the DoM. Like Lily, she thought it would be best, pride be damned.

The lift dinged letting them know that the boys were home from school. Harry and Neville came in as boisterous as always. They were talking and shoving one another until they spotted that there was a strange woman in the room.

"Sorry, I didn't know we had company," Harry said, slowing down his walk. He put his bookbag on the couch and came to stand by his mum. Neville put his down next to Harry's and stood by his foster brother.

"Boys, this is Amelia Bones. The head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Lily said, waving in Amelia's direction. "Amelia, this is Harry, and Neville Longbottom," she said, indicating each boy as she said their name.

"Pleased to meet you," the boys said together with a short bow.

"The pleasure is mine," Bones said with a nod of her head. "Mr. Potter, you will be happy to know that the Goblet of Fire is not attached to you in anyway. You do not have to compete in the Triwizard Tournament," she said with a smile.

Harry sagged in relief. He had been living his life like it wasn't bothering him, but to hear it out loud from an official. Well, that was a relief. "Thank you," he said, taking her hand and shaking it. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that," he stated, releasing her hand and hugging his mother. "It's over," he said in her ear. His voice choked up with unreleased tears.

"Yes, baby, it's over," she said, hugging him back. This chapter was over. Now they just had to make sure that Voldemort was taken care of, and it will all be over.