Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 13: The Troll Slayer
Pop! The familiar sound echoed from outside.
After everything that happened yesterday, the sound was now easily recognized, even by Petunia and Vernon, who had come to learn about Apparition.
Dudley, Susan, and Harry stepped outside to see who had arrived.
"Aunt, why didn't you come yesterday?" Susan Bones asked, looking like she was about to cry.
"I'm so sorry, Susan. So many things happened yesterday," Amelia apologized, feeling guilty toward her niece.
Yesterday had been extremely hectic for Amelia. After gathering all the evidence and testimonies, she had only managed to sleep for two hours before remembering that her niece was still at Dudley's house. Because of this, she decided to come pick her up and also get to the bottom of what had really happened to Harry Potter.
"I forgive you, Aunt," Susan said, understanding her situation.
"So, Madam Bones, are you ready to hear the real story of Voldemort's return?" Dudley asked.
Susan and Amelia both flinched at hearing Dudley say Voldemort's name.
"Yes, please. Tell me everything," Madam Bones replied.
"Well then, you'll need to come inside. I'll go get something first."
Dudley led Susan and Amelia into his home and invited them to sit while he headed upstairs to retrieve something.
After about five minutes, he returned with a Pensieve.
"Where did you get that Pensieve?" Amelia Bones asked, surprised. "That item is extremely rare, and only a few have ever been made."
"Oh, it's a trade secret. I'm not going to tell you," Dudley smirked at Amelia.
"You... Never mind. So, Mr. Potter will show us the memory?" Amelia asked again.
"Definitely, but we won't be the ones extracting the memory—you will," Dudley pointed at Amelia. Before she could rebuke him, he added, "Because of underage magic restrictions, we can't use magic, remember?"
"Oh, right. So, Mr. Potter, come here," Amelia directed Harry to come closer.
"Harry, show all your memories from your first year," Dudley instructed, then turned to Susan. "Do you want to join the great adventures of Harry Potter?"
When Dudley said this, Harry glared at him.
"What, my dear cousin? People write stories about you fighting trolls, dragons, and more. Just show them the dangers you've faced since you were young," Dudley said to Harry.
"Sigh... okay."
"Try to remember the events clearly. I will extract the memory," Amelia said to Harry.
One Hour Later...
"That third corridor was actually a trap for the Dark Lord?" asked Susan Bones.
"Yeah, that's the great Albus Dumbledore's plan. He wanted to test the great Harry Potter's magical love protection," Dudley replied, looking at Harry again.
"Albus... troll... Dark Lord... there were students there!" Amelia said in disbelief.
"Harry, looking back at your adventures, I think he set it all up for you," Dudley said to Harry.
"Why do you say that?" asked Harry.
"Come on, Mr. Pottah Don't you see? All the points given, the lack of attention—it was all to push you into action," Dudley tried to sound like Draco Malfoy "Luckily, we have an answer. Privet Drive is the safest place on Earth, except Dementors can get in."
"You said there's a ward here?" asked Amelia.
"Come on, Mrs. Amelia, didn't you notice why Harry is always sent back to the Muggle world?" said Dudley. "Part of the reason is because we're family, but the biggest reason is the Blood Ward."
"Blood Ward? Isn't that illegal?" asked Susan.
"I don't think love rituals plus Blood Wards are illegal," Dudley answered.
"It's not illegal. Only blood rituals like cursing people with Maledictus are illegal. What Lily Potter did in the past isn't illegal," Amelia clarified. "But I don't understand. That love ritual can't be achieved by love alone. Lily needed to make a choice to sacrifice herself. Begging alone wouldn't activate that ritual."
"Does that mean my mother was given a choice?" asked Harry.
"Yes, Mr. Potter. Lily was given a choice—to live or to sacrifice herself," Amelia Bones confirmed.
"I remember hearing my mother begging Voldemort to kill her instead of me," Harry recalled.
"When was this?" Amelia asked curiously.
Harry then recounted his experience during the Dementor attack, where he heard a woman's voice being given the choice to live or die. After finishing his story, Amelia stumbled back in shock.
"Impossible! You-Know-Who never gave his victims a choice, especially not your mother, a Muggle-born," Amelia said in disbelief.
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