Chapter 26

Harry froze at the same time Susan did as someone who was not either of them spoke up. Slowly, the two turned around to see Madam Bones, who looked like she had just finished reviewing Harry's memory and was now looking at Harry with a very contemplative and... appreciative expression on her face.

"I don't think I've ever met someone who was so intelligent at such a young age," Madam Bones continued, her lips quirking upwards in a semi-smile.

"Ah... um..." for perhaps the first time in a good while, Harry found himself well and truly embarrassed. It was not the kind of mortification he felt when dealing with Katrina's teasing, or something equally bothersome. No, this was the kind of embarrassment that came from having someone listening in on a conversation you were having with someone else that you got so caught up in you didn't even realize said other person was listening. That the conversation just so happened to be giving a pep talk to Susan Bones, and the one listening in was her aunt only made him that much more flustered. "T-Thank you."

Madam Bones offered the boy a slight smile, before addressing her niece. "Susan, I suggest you listen to this boys advice. You will go very far if you do."

"Yes, aunty," Susan replied dutifully. She was not embarrassed like Harry was, a surprising change of events. Then again, she knew the woman before them much better than Harry ever would. She was probably used to Madam Bones' antics.

"I take it you reviewed the memory?" asked Harry, coughing into his hand in order to get back on track. He wanted to forget this particular moment of weakness, even if he would never actually be able to forget it. At the very least he wanted to move this along so he could reign in his chagrin.

"I did," Madam Bones leaned back in her chair and frowned. "And I am very... disturbed with what I saw." She shook her head, a look of incredulity crossing over her face. "To think that the Dark Lord really is still alive and was at Hogwarts, and riding on the back of a professors head like some kind of parasite to boot."

"It's probably how he was able to get passed the wards," Harry rubbed his chin. "By masking his magical signature with another magical signature, he was able to remain hidden from the wards and protections surrounding Hogwarts. There is also the fact that right now Voldemort is extremely weak. At the moment he's nothing but a wraith, a shadow of his former self. Physically speaking, he is powerless unless he's leaching off someone else. And even then, because he's practically sucking all the magic out of the person he's possessing, that person also becomes significantly weaker than he or she normally would be."

"Which would explain why you were able to match him during your fight," Madam Bones nodded approvingly at the young boy. "Nice fight by the way. Your idea of getting up close was good. Very few wizards actually know how to fight without a wand. Take it away and they're useless."

Madam Bones paused for a moment to adjust her monocle.

"What I want to know is, what was the Philosopher's Stone doing there in the first place?"

"I couldn't tell you," Harry shrugged helplessly. "I only discovered the stones existence through carefully crafted research and observation. And it's not like I could look into the mind of Nicolas Flamel and Dumbledore to see what they were thinking when they decided to bring the Philosopher's Stone to Hogwarts. Besides, what's done is done. The stone won't be bothering anyone now." He fixed Madam Bones with a look. "I think the real question we should be asking is what should we do about the dark lord?"

"Yes, that is the question, isn't it?" Madam Bones spoke rhetorically before falling silent. "I would like to inform Minister Fudge about this event," Harry bit his lip when she said this to keep from disputing her, "but because Minister Fudge is in Lucius Malfoy's back pocket, I don't think it would do any good."

"It would also incite panic even if Minister Fudge were inclined to believe you, which I doubt he would be," Harry added. "Even now, nearly twelve years after his defeat, people still fear Voldemort to the point where they can't even say his name. If you went and told Minister Fudge about Voldemort still being alive and trying to find a body again, he would probably do everything in his power to discredit you."

"That's very insightful thinking," Madam Bones complimented. "And very true." She placed her hands on the table, gazing at Harry with a curious look. "What do you think should be done in this situation then?"

Harry frowned, wondering for a moment why this woman was asking his opinion when she likely had much more experience than he did. Was she truly curious about his thoughts? Was she testing him?

Those thoughts didn't last long. He dispelled each of them with a subtle shake of the head and focused on the woman before him.

"I would keep this information to myself while preparing what I can in secret," Harry paused, tilting his head in thought for a moment. "Is there anyone within the Ministry of Magic that you would trust to not let this information slip?"

"There's Alastor Moody, though he's retired from auror work," Madam Bones said. "But he's friends with Albus Dumbledore, so chances are good that he already knows. I do know of another person who may be able to help us. He's an Unspeakable, but I am not sure if I trust him with this information."

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