Ch. 43 Paper and Train

After that night, many families had misgivings about associating with the toad. Her hatred and racism were far too open, leaving her direct boss scrounging for support and some of the families with loose morals were there to do so. Of course none of this made it into the prophet, but luckily enough a certain reporter for the Herald was present at the dinner. He just so happened to have a voice recorder I had made. And just so happened to have been nearby at the time. And the event just so happened to have been published.

'RACIST MINISTRY?'

By Darius Stone

Being the the reporter selected to cover the ministry ball, hosted by Minister of Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge, I was present during the entire evening of the 24th of August. The dinner was a fairly standard affair, with many families of great importance in our wonderful country, coming together to hopefully help lead the ministry to a brighter future.

It was going well, until the Minister greeted one Amelia Bones, current Head of the department of Magical Law Enforcement, and she introduced her young nephew, Aedan Micheal Bones, currently recognized heir to Noble House Bones and student at our very own Hogwarts. This seemed to shock the Minister as he soon left with a distant look on his face.

I am sure, dear readers, that you do not need to be reminded of those dreadful years before The-Boy-Who-Lived defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Truly horrible times. But in my humble opinion, it would seem that the Minister was shocked that the son of the previous head of house Bones, Edgar Bones, a noted and respected man, acknowledge as one of the best in his generation, known resister of Death Eaters and their master, and who unfortunately fell along side almost all of the Bones family half a year before the celebrated fall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, lived.

Some time later, Madam Undersecretary of the Minister, Dolores Umbridge, approached Madam Bones about her families new and anticipated store, which has already been covered by both the celebrated Daily Prophet and this very paper, for the innovative products which will be revealed in a short time and their progressive hiring of people afflicted with Lycanthropy. Madam Umbridge seemed worried about the potential risks the afflicted employees could represent for many.

But shockingly, not even one such case has happened from the Bones family employees!

Even more shocking was the fact that 14 years old Aedan Bones, was publicly admitted to be the creator and head of the project known as BonesWorks and its products!

That's right! Such a young man is in fact the creator of the highly anticipated Vanishing Box and Deskwork Quill! Truly he shows that he shall have a bright future ahead.

Many people were shocked at the revelation, but the Madam Undersecretary seemed unsatisfied with the employment of those suffering from Lycanthropy. She first called such people Beasts and half-beasts, referring to witches and wizards who have never had the choice to do anything but to suffer under symptoms that anyone could be infected by, as less then human. This escalated further as Heir Bones was continuously trying to reassure Madam Umbridge that even if they weren't hiring 'true' witches and wizards as the Undersecretary stated, the currently known FIRM center was already doing so and that many without employment were finding it there. This seemed to irritate the Madam as she called those who were being helped Unworthies. And upon the adolescent Bones trying to understand who the Madam Umbridge was referring to she answered, if you will forgive the following language, that half-breed mongrels and mudbloods were undeserving of being allowed to use magic, much less be part of the magical community.

That's right. The direct subordinate of our representative, the Minister of Magic. A man who campaigned under the slogan 'A fair deal for wizards who deal fair with Muggles', was yelling at a child trying to improve the situation of suffering individuals, that anyone not of wizard descent or having partial non-human blood should not be allowed to be a true witch or wizard.

The Minister forced the Undersecretary away before the situation worsened even further, but I must ask you ladies and gentlemen. Is this what you truly want out of your representatives and officials? To have someone with so much reach and influence on our country with such extreme values. I for one am disillusioned by the current state of affairs and am starting to worry a bit.

Hopefully more initiatives like the FRIM center and the ones young heir Bones are working on will help stem the tide.'

"Well that went well. Hope this'll help sell some more papers and make some people question the Prophet a bit for not reporting on such a public event. I really want them to try and harass us over this, cause if they do I can release the recording we have through an interview on the Wizarding Wireless Network. That'll really fuck their reputation." I say to myself while musing on possible retaliations.

"Anyway, back to the task at hand." I say while getting up from my chair and putting the paper down.

I've been spending a lot of time in Diagon Alley to prepare for the opening of the store. I wanted to make sure everything was going to be ok once I left and that all employees knew how to sell the products, as well as the ins and outs of all the models and options.

Everything was moving along quite well. The store was going to be a lot cleaner and nicer than most wizarding stores. It would have the aesthetics of a muggle store, but made of wood. I even designed small runes that emitted light with a proper control system and power source. It was neatly organized and was set up to properly display the two current products. Only the first floor of the building was being used at the moment, leaving space for expansions later when I create more things to sell here.

As the last days of my summer slowly slipped away, Susan was getting nervous at her impending departure and I was still busy between the store, heir duties and Micheal shenanigans. Until the 31st of August snuck up on me and it was time to get ready for my own departure as well. With nothing left that I could do, I went home and relaxed for the evening.

The next day arrived and it was finally going to be the start of the canon for me. I know it should have started about a month ago for Harry, but I hope nothings been changed.

As we arrived at Kings Cross in style once again, Susan got even more nervous and clung to me as if she would get lost.

"It's alright Suz, you don't have to worry. All you have to do is find your friend Hannah and you'll be fine. You find an empty cabin. you'll hang out together for the ride and hopefully make some new friends. There are no reasons to be nervous. You are a smart, kind and courageous girl, the others will love you." I say with a calm voice and reassuring smile as I pat her head.

"You can't just cling to me or you'll never get to have the adventures awaiting for you at Hogwarts. You'll be able to see me almost every meal and you can always come and find me cause I always have time for my little sister. You can also come and get some help at my Exchange." I add to excite and reassure the girl of eleven.

"Ok. I'll try to find Hannah." She said after taking a deep breath. "Thanks big bro, and thank Aunt Amelia, I'll send you plenty of letters through the Box." She said as she hugged us both and ran off.

"Why does it feel like I'm giving her away?" I asked mostly to myself.

"Oh Aedan, aren't you a bit young yourself to be thinking that." Teased aunty as she heard this. "But you did spend a lot of time alone together. Sigh. Please continue to look after her, I know it must be hard on you since I can't always be there, but just make sure she's alright." She then said with a slightly sad look on her face.

"I've never thought of being there for Susan as a burden aunty, more like a sacred duty." I say with a smile. "But I'm wounded. How come you aren't worried about me?" I say with fake sadness.

"Because unlike you, Susan can't demolish trained Aurors, break metal with her bare hands, shrug off stunners or simply flay another's mind with a look." She answered with a smirk.

"You are so cruel aunty, making me sound like a monster. I'm still just an innocent teenager at heart." I reply with mock hurt.

"Yes yes. An innocent teenager with the name Bones-crusher." She then said offhandedly.

"Haha, ok you win." I then respond as I break out laughing in defeat. "But yeah, I'll make sure Susan is safe and sound." I reassure her as I give a hug.

I head off and try to find an empty cabin, but surprisingly I found Victoria. Usually I'm the first here due to my aunt getting us to the station ahead of time so she can go to work.

"Hello to you our snake matron." I greet with a grin as I came in.

"Good day to you as well o mighty Silver Raven." She replied with her own grin.

"How's your summer been? Any issues with that problem? You didn't mention anything or come over, but I still worried." I asked as I sat down, showing my concern for my good friend.

"It was ok. Your candles stopped him every time and you guys letting me use Tilly made it tolerable. I couldn't impose anymore on your aunt since things were a lot better than before." She said trying to look ok.

"We don't think of you as imposing on anyone Victoria. We just worry about you, plus Tilly has been really happy to have more to do, so we didn't really feel like we were doing anything." I say, trying to reassure and make her smile.

"Thanks Aedan." She said with a truly happy smile. "Thanks for caring so much."

"Anytime."

A few minutes later, our resident Hagrid showed up.

"Hey you two, having fun all to your lonesomes?" Burst in Christian with his usual energetic appearance. He looked wilder than usual as his messy hair grew to be almost shoulder length. Kinda reminded of Harry in his fourth year, but wilder. He also grew a few inches and he was starting to gain some muscle due to his parents almost forcing him to live in the wild.

"Very funny you little prat." Replied Victoria with a smile.

"Just checking up on our lovely snake princess." I say nonchalantly.

"Yeah sure. Anyway! I've got to tell you guys what I did this summer. It was great this time!" Christian then said excitedly.

"Wait for James first, don't want you to retell the thing just for him. He should be here soon, I feel him coming closer." I say as I used my other senses to feel for my other best friend.

"I still can't get over the fact that you can feel everything around. It's so unfair. No one can prank or sneak up on you!" Exclaimed Christian in admiration.

"Wait you can do what?!" Said the surprised Victoria. "How's that even possible? I know you're beyond a simple genius, but this is beyond even that!"

"Shit, I forgot you were there!" Said a panicking Christian as he looked at me with worry since I've never told Victoria about those rituals.

"What do you mean by that?" She asked. But the her eyes widened in the realization that he know something she didn't. "What are you guys hiding from me?" She then asked as she narrowed her eyes.

But at the moment James reached our cabin and opened.

"Hey guys, how were your... What going on in here?" He said as he noticed the atmosphere.

"Sigh. Christian opened his big mouth and Victoria wants to know. Should I?" I explain simply and ask my two friends.

"Christian, really? Couldn't keep it in?" Asked a slightly judgmental James.

"It was an accident! I just got used to her hanging out with us and forgot that she didn't know!" He tried to explain.

"Will you prats tell me what you're going on about already?!" Yelled an irritated Victoria.

"So yes or no?" I then ask the two.

"Although it's been a relatively short time, Victoria is loyal and trustworthy. We also know her situation and now she's heard too much to just ignore this. So I'm for it." Said the ever thoughtful James.

"This is my fault, and although she can have a venomous tongue, she is a good person. So yeah, i think she should know too." Agreed a sorry looking Christian.

"Alright then. Victoria, this has something to do with the Death Eaters, but know that you are my friend and I will never hold things your father or family have done against you ok?" I start off by saying to make sure the girl does not overthink. And with a determined nod I begin my tale once again.

"It all started when I was 4..."