Amelia's POV
After Mr. Lupin left, Amelia started making a mental list of who to recruit. She didn't want anything written down, and she had to be careful who she asked. She knew many of her men, and women, were in the pockets of important people. She had no idea what would happen if Fudge or You-Know-Who found out what she was doing. She was still sure that Dumbledore was needed, but the blasted man was in the wind. She might have to go outside of Britain to get the help she needed.
First, she had to get Potter to hear the prophecy, which she only found out about during the questioning of Snape. There might be something in there that would help this investigation, and he was the only one, besides the Dark Lord, who could get it. The You-Know-Who was the last person she wanted to hear the prophecy. Perhaps, she could get Potter to destroy it. So, she wrote him a quick letter, and then started on the huge pile of paperwork on her desk. The sooner she got her desk cleared, the sooner she could start on this latest task. Daunting though it is.
She was almost done when one of her men that had been assigned to Hogwarts came in. She couldn't tell if it was good new or not due to his poker face. He was one of her most trusted men, and she felt that maybe he could be one of the ones she could pull to help with this hunt. Asking him would have to wait until she had a full team together, in her head.
"Shacklebolt, what do you have to report?" she asked, putting her quill down and rubbing her aching hand.
"There's no sign of the Headmaster," the tall man stated, standing at attention. "We tried to infiltrate the castle, but only a few of us could get in. It's like the wards read our intention and then either let us in or left us standing outside. At least three of the officers couldn't get through the gates. This doesn't say anything good about them." He gave her a very concerned look. He always felt that some of his coworkers were on the wrong side of the law, but to have it pointed out so blatantly was shocking. He now knew who he couldn't trust, and who he could. He was very glad the those he had made friends with were on his side, so to speak.
Madam Bones sighed, removed her monocle, rubbed her the bridge of her nose and nodded. "I know, I know. Just… for now don't let those men near the school. Assign them to patrol Diagon Alley. Give me a list of who it was. We really don't know what the wards look for, so I can't just fire them. I'm hoping to… cleanse the department soon." If there was going to be a war soon, she really needed to get the sympathizers out of her department. The last thing she needed was infighting. However, she was hopeful that with the soul piece in her safe, they could stop it before it began. There had to be a way, and with the right knowledge and people it could work. Leaving those that were questionable on staff was risky, but with the Ministry cutting her budget, she had little recourse.
"Yes, ma'am," Kingsley said with a nod.
"Shacklebolt, do you support Dumbledore?" she asked shrewdly. She always liked this Auror. He was strong fast in his belief in the law. She wondered if she could recruit him in the horcrux hunting. He might also be an in to the Headmaster, depending on if he was agreeable.
He had to think about that for a moment. Right now, he was unaffiliated. While, he admired Dumbledore, the man had broken the law and fled, which made Kingsley's view of him less. "I cannot say for sure, ma'am. I am of the opinion that his is wrong to run. However, I was raised that he is a great man, who did great things. I cannot just shuck off that belief," he answered truthfully.
"Very well, I might have an assignment for you. However, it is high security. I need to know that I can rely on the people I give it to. Let's leave that off for the moment. Did anything else of interest happen?" she asked, really hoping not. She just got to the end of her paperwork and was not looking for more.
"The Shrieking Shack seems to have disappeared," he answered carefully, not sure if that was the kind of information she was looking for. However, it was a well-known landmark and he felt it should be noted. While he waited for her response to that, he was thinking about the secret assignment. Could he put his thoughts of Dumbledore aside? It was something he was going to have to ponder.
That bit of information gave her a moment's pause, then her quick mind figured out that it might be where Black was hiding, so he could be close to Potter. That only made sense, seeing as to how he man was still vilified in the public. There were still cries of foul play, paying off officials, and injustice. However, since he was a free man, she waved it away.
"Just keep an eye on the area and make sure that nothing nefarious is going on," she ordered, not telling him her thoughts. Sometimes it was better to let them figure it out for themselves. It made better Aurors.
"Yes, ma'am," he said with a curt nod.
"Thank you, Shacklebolt. That will be all," she stated, dismissing him with a wave.
He gave one more curt nod and then left to go and think over what she said. He wanted to get that assignment, so he was going to have to think hard on where his loyalties laid.
Amelia then went back to her paperwork, determined to finish what little she had left, before she tackled the problem of the horcrux(es). She had just completed the last page when a snowy owl delivered Potters response. She nodded at his agreement to come and listen to the prophecy, jotted down the time, and resumed work. She signed the last page with a flourish. Absolutely ecstatic that she was done, then she frowned at what was next. She looked to her safe, turned back to her desk, and played with her quill. All the while, making a list of people she thought would help.
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