Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!
Chapter Twenty Seven - Handling the Fallout
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―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Knowing the Longbottom regent was going to fly off the broom handle when she found out she'd be closing the case and why, Bones wanted that discussion to be where she could retreat from when she wanted to.
She went back to her office, took her notes with her she'd taken during the 'discussion', not interview, with the young Lord Potter and collated the lot into the 'Longbottom Kidnapping' file - which she'd now have to name the 'Longbottom Disappearance' file, damn it.
'He was damned right about that, too,' she sulked to herself. 'We leapt to a conclusion because no other conclusion was thought to exist. That was wrong.'
With a sigh, she grabbed both Shacklebolt and Tonks and two other aurors to go with her to Longbottom Hall. She wanted the back-up in case the Longbottom regent got 'wand happy'. Before they left she told them to spread out in the room once they were inside and she was talking with the woman.
"Don't forget," she firmly stated. "While Augusta Longbottom is in her seventies, this is the woman who handily defeated Bellatrix LeStrange, her husband, her brother-in-bond and Barty Crouch Junior all at the same time. She is not to be underestimated.
"If she draws her wand and even appears about to attack, she is to be put down... hard. Am I clear?"
Four 'Yes, Ma'am's were her answers.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After Bones and company left, Hermione almost bounced out of her seat like a jack-in-the-box.
"That was..." she started. "That was... scary and brilliant all at the same time!"
"That was me being a smart-alek, Hermione," he said. "I... basically, belittled her. And I did it to put her on the back foot right from the start. I did it to take the wind out of her sails before she could get going and ask questions I really didn't want to answer. It was incredibly impolite when she's been nothing but supportive of me. It was similar to what I did to you on the day of and the first few days immediately following the First Task."
"You were also right in saying she was being rude when she came in here and almost immediately started to interrogate you," she shot back. "No, she started it. You were just defending yourself by going offensive."
He sighed and said, "Tomorrow, after the Wizengamot meeting, I send her a gift by way of apology. Hell; I want to actually go and apologise to her in person."
"Well," she said, "For the time being, I need to call Mum and Daddy and let them know you weren't taken away in handcuffs."
And she immediately skipped over to the phone.
"And I'd better contact Sirius and let him know, too," he said, rising to go and get his mirror.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Arriving at Longbottom Hall by way of apparation and walking up to the door, Bones and her four escorts were shown into the welcoming hall. Longbottom was already up and pacing.
Neville saw who it was and quietly left the room. However, he only went as far as just outside the door.
"Well?" snapped Longbottom. "He has my boy... and daughter-in-bond, doesn't he!"
"He had them removed and taken to other Healers," replied Bones. "He claims―"
"I don't care what he claims!" she shrilled. "Where are they? I'm want them back in their beds in Saint Mungo's before lunch!"
Bones sighed. This was going to take a while.
"If you stop interrupting me I'll be able to tell you what's going on, Regent Longbottom," she firmly said back.
"No! I... will tell you... what's going on," snapped Longbottom. "You will take me... right now... to where my son is! And I will personally escort him and his wife back to their beds!"
"I cannot take you to where they are because I do not know!" said Bones, getting irritated. 'Now I know why he wouldn't tell me,' she thought. "Now, if you'll―"
"Why, in Merlin's name, not?!" barked Longbottom.
That was it for Bones. "You... Augusta Longbottom... do not get to interrogate me... I am trying to give you information you want and you demanding information piecemeal will not get you it!
"Now, be quiet, hear me out, then ask your questions. Understand?"
"You will answer my bloody questions as I bloody want them answered!" By then, Longbottom was almost screaming, again enraged.
But, Bones held her ground. Every time Longbottom screamed at her she simply shut up, waited for the woman to stop yelling and started back to what she was saying before Longbottom interrupted her.
It took ten minutes before Longbottom realised she was doing it and finally shut up to hear her out. All the time, she stared daggers back.
Finally, Bones asked, "Now, what questions do you have for me?"
"I take it the Potter boy has been arrested?" she demanded.
"As I've already explained, he has not because―"
"Why the bloody hell not?" she yelled.
"As I have already explained, he has not because he has used the auspices of the alliance Charter to act. As such I―"
"I want him arrested and Veritaserum poured down his throat until he tells me everything I want to know!"
"As I have already explained, he has not because he has used the auspices of the alliance Charter to act. As such, I cannot arrest him. The Charter is clear in that he has the right as an alliance Charter member to come to the aid of another House―"
Arrest him! Arrest him NOW!"
"As I was saying, The Charter is clear in that he has the right to come to the aid of another House when it is seen and proven that a House requires such aid. Lord and Lady Longbottom were not being treated at Saint Mungo's, because the hospital had already given up on them.
"As such, he states he has family magics that can aid them towards their recovery―"
"I don't care what he says! I want my son back!"
Amelia sighed and tried again... and again... and again.
Finally, Longbottom demanded, "Where's the Potter boy now? If you won't get the information I want out of him, then I will!"
"Lord Potter is under protection under very strong wards that will do you harm if you try to get to him. You are not getting anywhere near him!" snapped Amelia. "And, if you try, my aurors will stop you, you will be arrested on the spot and you will spend the next twenty four hours in one of my holding cells."
"Get out!" Longbottom finally screamed. "Get out, NOW!"
'Thank you,' Bones thought to herself, grateful for the opportunity to leave.
Without another word, she immediately signalled her aurors, spun on her heel and walked out. The aurors waited for her to walk out of the room before following her, one at a time.
From behind the door frame, Neville quietly walked away, heading upstairs to his room. He needed to think.
He'd barely reached the door when Fluxy popped in next to him and said, "Mistress 'Gusta wants you to see her in the welcoming hall." The little elf was clearly terrified
Neville nodded and said, "Thank you, Fluxy. I'm on my way."
'Damn,' he quietly thought.
As soon as he stepped in through the door, before he even had a chance to ask his grandmother what she wanted, she spoke first.
"Neville," she snapped. "Where would I find the Potter boy, at this moment?"
"I do not know," he replied. "He no longer lives with his Aunt and Uncle."
Both true statements, in and of themselves. But, quite misleading.
'There's no way I'm telling her he's staying with Hermione,' he thought. 'Harry's already told me about those wards there and I don't want to see her get hurt.'
"You've been writing to him," she glared. "Where do you send those letters?"
"I send them via Hermione Granger, a House- and year-mate. And, no, I do not actually know where she lives. I just know it is in an area somewhere just south of London."
"That's useless to me!" snapped Longbottom. As she spun away again, she snapped, "You can go."
Shaking his head, Neville walked back out.
He had a letter to write.
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―==(oIo)==―
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Monday morning's 'fire-side' within the Department of Mysteries was a slightly more raucous affair than normal - for Unspeakables, that is. Instead of the quiet murmurings of people speaking quietly to one another, voices were at almost normal volume. That is, until Unspeakable Croaker walked into the room. Then it was almost instant silence.
"I'm jumping in first concerning a major happening," he said. "As some of you know, the young knight engineered the taking of the near-comatose Longbottoms from Mungo's. They were taken to Gringotts and placed within their time dilation chamber, together with a team of Healers. One of them, the team leader, is an expert on curse damage; his second is an expert on physiotherapy for the long-term bedridden.
"We are aware that, before they were taken into the chamber, both Longbottoms were discovered to have actually been under the effects of a mind-related curse; not long-term Cruciatus damage, as previously thought. The curse had been lifted off both before they were taken into the chamber.
"We also now know the chamber was set for a one to twelve ratio. That is, for every two hours outside time, a full day will pass inside. The time dilation is expected to begin to terminate at or about 4.30am on Tuesday morning. It is expected to take half an hour for the time dilation effect to completely terminate.
"The young knight will have the dog standing by as they come out. They are now expected to be completely healed and healthy."
That had a few mutterings from the Unspeakables, making it the equivalent of shouts of outrage or jubilation.
"The timing with regards to the meeting of the fuddy-duddies is not coincidental, either. Our analysts agree it has been timed so that the Longbottom two, now known as Leo and Lisa, will have a couple hours to be brought up to date with what has been going on while they have been in seclusion before the start of the second trial of the dog.
"We also know that the young knight has been often sending them letters passing them via the VC magics the goblins employ. We have not been able to sight them, but believe he is sending them updates. He's been sending them in via house-elf.
"Just this morning we have learned the young knight informed Leo's heir he was responsible. The old dragon now knows and is likely to be on the warpath. We know she cannot get to him at Bookworm's, but he intends to go shopping for new robes today in Diagon.
"We will have agents on sight in case the old dragon finds out before his shopping is complete. If she does and makes it there before the young knight leaves, she is to be incapacitated and warned off.
"Next?"
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
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Harry knew Neville had to be quite guilt-ridden about telling his grandmother about his letter. That was not something that he would allow to continue. He hadn't been working on the boy as hard as he had to get him to stand tall and proud for all that work to be wasted.
So, he'd send a very short note to let his friend know he wasn't upset with him.
Then he snorted at the simplicity of it and pulled a small off-cut of parchment to himself.
~ # ~
Nev,
I know and it's okay. You did the right thing. I'm actually proud of you for making the decision you did. Remember first year, when you stood up to us for the first time?
However you can, even if your grandmother tells you 'No', be at the Wizengamot on Tuesday morning. You're going to love it.
If your floo's blocked, the Knight Bus is a wild ride. At the tall red box, go inside. Lift the handset and hold it to your ear. The telephone number is 'magic' (62442).
No code, this time.
Harry
~ # ~
"Dobby," he called.
"Yes, Master Harry?" asked the elf.
'Damn,' thought Harry. 'His elf-popping is getting almost silent.'
"Letter for Neville, Dobby," he replied, handing over the letter. "Again, give it to him only when he's alone."
"Yes, Master Harry," replied Dobby, before he popped away again.
With that letter sent, he began to make a start on his next update letter to Frank and Alice.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
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Harry was only just making a start on his letter to Frank and Alice when Sirius turned up.
As he walked into the dinette, he said, "Morning, Pup! Ready to do some shopping?"
Harry sighed and said, "As ready as I'm going to be, I suppose. Let me call Hermione―"
"No need," she called as she walked in behind Sirius. "I'm here."
She was excited.
Sirius turned to her with a wide grin. "Hello, my little darling," he cheerily said before opening his arms wide for a cuddle.
Hermione was quick to duck in and accept.
"Oi!" said Harry. "Hands off my betrothed, Black!"
As Sirius chuckled back, Hermione blew a raspberry at him. That just had Sirius laughing even more.
"No respect," Harry mock-grumbled. "That's what I get. No respect, at all."
Ignoring him, Hermione pulled away from Sirius and said, "I'll get the aurors."
"As you said, Miss Granger," said 'Henrietta', walking in. "We're here and ready, too."
Rising, Harry sighed again and said, "Alright. Let's get this torture over and done with."
"In a tick," said Flamebright. "First, we're putting a glamour over you."
"No need," said Sirius. "I brought my necklace." And held up the rune-stone-on-cord necklace he'd used leading up to his trial.
He slipped it over Harry's head, as Harry guided it under his shirt. He never felt the change but Hermione's gasp of surprise told him it was working.
"How do I look?" he asked.
"Different, but not too different," she replied. "Dark brown hair, rather than black; blue eyes with green fleck, rather than startling green; your scar's gone; but just about everything else is the same."
"That's deliberate," said Sirius, looking at Harry. "I tuned it to only change just enough so you no longer looked like a close relative of 'Harry Potter'. Everything else needed to be the same so, when you're getting fitted for robes in Madam Malkin's, the measurements will be right."
Flamebright muttered, "Those should be illegal."
"It's a family heirloom," said Sirius. "Therefore, outside the scope of any law that would be against it."
Flamebright just gave a harrumph and left it.
Turning back to Harry, Sirius said, "For the duration of this excursion, your name is 'Hadrian'. Got it?"
"Yeah, got it," replied Harry.
"Clever," said Hermione. "Close enough to his true name without people wondering."
Surprising Harry, who expected side-along apparation, they were portkeyed from just inside the front gate to the top of the Alley.
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―==(oIo)==―
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Neville was sitting in his room at his personal desk drafting a letter to Harry to apologise, trying to find the right words, when Dobby popped in and quietly handed him a letter.
"From Harry?" Neville asked.
"Yes, Mister Neville, Sir."
Dobby popped away again before Neville could even thank him.
As quick as Neville read it he almost slumped back in his seat in relief. Harry knew how he must've felt and wrote him to say he was okay with it.
'Thank Merlin!' he thought.
Then he started to think about Harry's suggestion he go to the Wizengamot meeting in the morning. He'd already planned to, no matter what his grandmother said, but he'd also given him another way he could get there without using the floo - just in case his grandmother had blocked it.
'He remembers me telling him she used to do that when I was younger,' he mused. 'Thankfully, she no longer does it. But, damn, Harry! That you remembered something I told you back in first year...'
At that moment he knew his grandmother was at the Ministry. She'd said something about going to the offices of the Wizengamot Administration Services to change something on the next day's 'docket' - whatever that was. And Neville was quite happy to see her go.
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―==(oIo)==―
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In Madam Malkin's, Harry was going through the 'indignity' of being measured-up for new robes with Hermione and the young female auror watching. At least he wasn't alone, though. Sirius was standing on his own measuring pedestal, right alongside, going through his own uncomfortable moment.
'At least the two male-aurors are outside,' he thought with a sigh. 'Then again, maybe they have the same aversion to clothes shops that I do.'
Hermione and Henrietta were almost negligently bickering over what colours he should wear. He thought the young auror was just doing it to rile Hermione a bit, because she liked to tease.
"One set in black with green trim," said Hermione. "It's the colour that best suits him."
"And one in deep, deep red with gold piping," added Henrietta.
"Hadrian is not a Gryffindor, Henri'," Hermione firmly stated.
"Just for contrast, dear," said the auror.
Harry was thankful all three aurors were not wearing their auror robes for this trip, because they'd have definitely stood out. It would be a sign saying, 'Hey, look here! It's Harry Potter wearing a disguise!'
It was also what he'd told them before they agreed to take the damned robes off and transfigure them to something 'civilian'. That was when they finally understood. Morons.
Harry asked, "And what colours should Lord Black have, ladies." Anything to change the subject from him. His godfather could look after himself.
"Black with silver highlights for the more formal," said Henrietta, right away.
"Agreed," said Hermione. "And a mid grey to dark grey with black trim for the more... 'businessy'... occasions. Add some nice fine black filigree to match the piping."
"Damn, girl!" exclaimed Henrietta. "That would look fan-tas-tic!"
Of course, Sirius was all for that; especially if it was a young and hot looking witch who thought it - Henrietta, of course; not Hermione. That would be wrong. He was happy to buy both. And, because he did, he also bought what the girls recommended for Harry, too."
Finally free of the measuring pedestal, Harry was told by Madam Malkin the clothes would be ready in a few hours.
Sirius spoke up and said, "I'll send a house elf along to collect them in four hours then; in case you come across a problem or two."
"That would be fine, Lord Black," she replied with a nod.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
At the same time and at the Ministry, Longbottom was just walking out of the WAS offices. She'd been in there to add an addendum to the next day's proceedings. She fully intended to have the first item of business, even before Black's ridiculous trial, the Wizengamot forcing the Potter boy to release the information regarding the location of her son and his wife.
She'd no sooner reached the lifts to head back out when an inter-office memo in the form of a flying parchment aeroplane flew by. She never noticed the parchment aeroplane as there were constantly hundreds of the things during Ministry office hours, flying throughout the building. People experienced with the place no longer paid them any attention unless one landed on their desk, which meant it was for them. However, this one was a memo from the witch responsible for writing up the agenda for the Wizengamot, to 'Acting Madam Minister Amelia Bones' informing her of the change. As such and as the WAS was on the same floor as the DMLE, it never even had to enter the lift with Rosier.
As soon as Bones received it, noticed who it was from, she immediately read it. With the Meeting the next day, WAS memos had priority. And, as soon as she read it, she was out of the office and heading to the WAS to talk to the Agenda Secretary, in person.
'Not a chance, Longbottom,' she thought, somewhat furious at the audacity of the woman. 'Not a snowball's chance in Hades.'
Before Longbottom had even passed through the security gate and into the atrium proper, the agenda was already being changed back; with no mention of the Longbottom Regent's intent to have Lord Potter questioned remaining anywhere on the agenda, let alone as the first item.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
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Once the two teens and their 'entourage' returned to the Granger residence, Sirius was about to leave again without even walking inside when Hermione asked him to stop by for a few minutes.
Once they were inside, she rounded on both 'menfolk' and said, "Sirius, tomorrow you will wear the grey. It will look good on you and make you appear as if you were a businessman and not the hooligan you try so hard and so often to portray yourself to be."
Before Sirius even had a chance to say anything other than simply blink in surprise, she had already rounded on Harry.
"And you will be wearing the Black with green trim," she declared. "It will show you to be the Lord you are and contrast nicely with what Sirius will be wearing. On top of that, the green trim will hint at your cunning and intelligence and resonate with most of those stuffed robes, who attended Slytherin while at Hogwarts."
Harry blinked back while Sirius snickered in amusement. "As my lady commands," he said before he deeply bowed.
She ruined it by smacking him on the top of the head.
That had Sirius laughing at him until she glared at him. He immediately shut up.
When she headed off with the stack of new stationery, Sirius quietly said, "Damn, Pup! She's turning out to be as scary as your mother was!"
Changing the subject, Harry asked, "What time is Ted getting here?"
"As soon as I get back. We then come back, together."
Sirius had told him earlier Ted would be coming over to discuss final changes, if any, for the strategy for the trial the next morning. Harry thought they were all set, though. However, if Ted wanted to discuss it, he wouldn't quibble about it.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry had only just returned to writing his letter to Frank and Alice when one of the aurors, Senior Auror Flamebright, informed him that Madam Bones was coming to pay a 'friendly' visit. She had news.
"Please don't go making her look like a... daft moron, this time?" the man almost whined.
"I won't,' smiled Harry. "This morning was just to 'wrong-foot' her. She needed to be knocked off her wonky-headed thinking, so I could actually talk to her."
She arrived only fifteen minutes later. This time she only came with one auror in tow; one Harry didn't recognise.
"Lord Potter," she greeted him.
"Madam Bones," he smiled. "Or, am I again speaking with Regent Bones, this time."
"The former," she said, taking a seat at the dinette opposite him.
Her easy manner and the fact she immediately took seat told Harry she wasn't angry with him, this time.
"How can I help?" he asked.
"I'm just here to inform you that Regent Longbottom had just visited the WAS about an hour and a half ago - the Wizengamot Administration Services. She attempted to have the agenda for tomorrow's meeting of the Wizengamot changed so that the first agenda item to come up, even before Lord Black's trial, was her demanding of the Wizengamot to demand off you the location of her son and daughter-in-bond.
Harry gave a snort of amusement and said, "They don't have the authority."
"I'm aware," she drolly replied. "However, it's just a 'heads up'. If she tried that, once she sees the actual agenda, she's going to demand an emergency motion be immediately heard."
"As she has not the grounds for it, I hope you'll be immediately calling a Point of Order and calling her to task for it."
"Of course," she replied. "However, it will get the members talking about it. The other allied Houses won't want to get into the middle of this."
"They won't have to," he replied. "I have this strong feeling... you could call it a premonition... this will be resolved well before we even break for lunch."
That had her suddenly freeze in place and stare intently at him for a good five seconds.
"How do you know that?" she asked in a flattened voice. "What aren't you telling me?"
"In reverse order," he replied. "There's a lot I'm not telling you. I am the Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House, after all.
"And, as I said, you could call it a premonition. If you don't believe in that sort of thing, you might even consider calling it a hunch."
"And this... hunch... of yours," she said. "It tells you this matter for which she's angry with you will be resolved before lunch tomorrow?"
"I'm sure of it," he replied. "However, I do not want her to know that."
"Why not?" she demanded.
He smirked and said, "Because I do not want her to run and hide from justice - lawful justice. And, before you get worried, I do not mean someone's going to deal with her in a way you, for instance, would not approve of.
"As a matter of fact, this will be a joyful occasion for everyone - except, possibly, a few Death Eaters. Even her... for about a minute. Then she is going to feel both elated and terrified at the same time. Her behaviour towards her grandson is coming home to roost."
She stared at him in shock for over ten seconds before she quietly breathed, "Merlin! You've cured them!"
"Cured them, Madam Bones?" he innocently asked. "To use a Dumbledore expression, 'I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Amelia'."
"Bloody hell!"
"Now, do you know if she is going to try to install someone into the Longbottom Seat as Proxy?" he asked. "And, if so, who?"
"Sorry? What?" she asked, still shaking off her shock. "A... proxy?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Then, no," she replied. "There was, until recently, a line item in the agenda she was going to install her brother, Algernon Rosier, into the seat. But, that's since been removed."
"Good," he said. "There's a couple... of people, that is... who will want to talk to you about him, when they get the time and the chance. Just... get ready to charge that bastard with two attempted murder charges for attempted murder of an Heir Apparent of a Noble and Most Ancient House."
"What do you know about some attempted murders?" she demanded.
"Legally, I don't know anything," he replied. "All that could be considered what I know is hearsay. And, as such, it isn't evidentiary. It's only what I've heard has happened from someone else.
"I've been trying to encourage that person to speak out about it, as he's also the alleged victim. However, I can foresee there's a couple of people who will talking to him about that, too.
"I'm sure they'll convince him to speak out about it with you within very short order. Then, you will have your case. It could have something to do with the Heir... allegedly... being tossed off Blackpool pier when he was a toddler and... allegedly... dropped from a third floor window, head first, only a couple of years later."
"And just why did you not tell me this, this morning?" she asked, with an ominous hint of danger showing.
"Because your next stop was going to be at Longbottom Hall," he replied. "As I said, I do not want that woman to know what is going on until it is time for her to know what is going on."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After Bones left, Harry was finally able to return to his letter to Frank and Alice.
He knew this might even be the last chance he had to write to them, so he was going to make sure they knew everything right up to the point he'd be sending them the letter.
Again, he'd just pulled it before him when Sirius returned with Ted in tow.
Not wanting to show them he was disappointed they were here, he again slid the letter to the side.
"Sirius, Ted," he smiled.
"Pup," said Sirius.
"Lord Potter," said Ted.
"Teh-ed," he whined. "It's 'Harry' for my friends, remember?"
"This is official law-wizard business, Lord Potter," Ted immediately and easily countered.
As Sirius and Ted moved to the dinette, Harry was just about to go and get Hermione when she walked in.
"Just in time," Sirius smiled at her.
"Shall we get started?" asked Ted.
Harry gave a nod and pulled out his stack of defence arguments for Sirius's case the next morning.
"You know all this depends on the behaviour of Regent Longbottom, don't you?" he asked.
"Only on when it gets started," said Ted. "If necessary, you leave her to me." And grinned a shark-like grin.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Once Ted and Sirius left again, Harry returned to his letter. This time Hermione stayed to help.
However, her first 'help' came in the form of asking Dobby to make some sandwiches for Harry.
When he was about to ask her how she knew, she smiled and said, "Your stomach's growling again, Harry."
Then she seemed to have a bright idea and ordered him, "Harry, go stand by the door again. Today marks the end of the first full week you've been on those potions."
After he was measured he came in at just over five foot ten.
She gave a nod and said, "Mum was right. Five inches for the week."
He gave a sigh and replied, "Then, if I haven't stopped growing in height already, I should be stopping soon."
"That's a good thing," she agreed. "However, we don't know what else the potions have still got to do. For all we know, your height will be only the first thing to have reached your proper potential. We don't know how much more work it has to do on your internals."
"Way to kill the mood, Love," he grumbled.
She was about to add some encouraging comments when she realised what he'd just said to her. And she stopped. He'd called her, 'Love'.
Now she was a feeling all 'gooshy' inside.
Harry was shocked when Hermione suddenly grabbed him and hugged him in a 'Hermi-hug' of old, before she then backed off a little and planted a big, tonsil-searing kiss on him.
When she backed off due a lack of air and need to breathe, he gasped, "Wow! I like those sort of congratulations!
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Amelia Bones had returned to her office and thought long and hard about what the young Potter Lord had told her when she paid him her second visit.
The more she thought about it, the more she was sure the young man had actually managed to accomplish it. That is, he had found someone who could cure the Longbottoms of their permanent near-comas that had resulted from their being tortured for so long under the Cruciatus curse. And they'd done it.
That's why he had them grabbed from Saint Mungo's. There was no way the staff at the hospital would have let anyone but their own staff treat one of their patients. It was policy! Therefore, he had to get them out of the hospital to get them treatment.
The Longbottom regent would never have gone along with that. Her own behaviour over the past couple of days was proof enough of that. Even when she was informed they'd been removed to receive treatment, she flatly refused to allow it go on and demanded someone take her to go and immediately get them.
As such, his action in taking them and hiding them while they got that treatment was the only logical way he could get them help. It was the only way he could do it without the Longbottom regent blocking it.
He also believed the Longbottom regent was completely unwilling to release the Seat. She liked the power too much to willingly let it go. That's why he claimed the Longbottom regent was deliberately blocking them receiving treatment.
According to him it was a way to commit temporary Line Theft; and it was upon a Noble and Most Ancient House. The bugger of a thing it was, it was completely legal. She'd checked.
As Regent, the Longbottom regent had the right to block any medical treatment a member of her House could receive if that member was either under-aged with her as guardian, or unable to voice their own wishes; such as the case of the Longbottom Lord and Lady. When she'd contacted the hospital to get a report on what treatment the Lord and Lady were receiving up until they were taken, she was informed that information had been restricted to Head of House only on the orders of the regent. Which made Lord Potter's claim that much more likely to be the truth.
And there wasn't a damned thing she could do about it.
However, Lord Potter used the Charter to do so. And it, she strongly suspected, would all come crashing down on the head of the Regent sometime just before lunch during the Wizengamot meeting the next day.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
It was mid to late afternoon before Harry was finally able to write what he now knew to be his final letter to Frank and Alice.
So he would time it to arrive with them at around their thirty-second or thirty-third day, leaving them three to four days before the time dilation chamber had completed its course.
~ # ~
Frank and Alice,
Well it's been quite the interesting morning and early afternoon 'out' here. I also estimate you'll be receiving this letter somewhere around day thirty-two or thirty-three in the chamber. Not long to go now, folks!
Firstly, Neville cracked the code in the letter I sent him, as I thought he would. My first indication of that was having Amelia Bones turn up at Hermione's place with a couple of aurors in tow. She's now the Director of the DMLE, if I haven't already told you that.
She was there to interrogate me about your disappearance - or, as she put it, your kidnapping. She got quite confused when she asked me, "Did you kidnap the Longbottoms?" When I, of course, replied, "No."
Once I was able to get her to calm down and sit down, I told her I would only talk to her as Regent Bones of the Noble and Ancient House of Bones. She agreed.
Once she did, I told her I did remove you, not kidnap you, from Saint Mungo's and why. I did not, however, tell her you were in Gringotts. All she knows, even now, is that I had you taken somewhere where healing you was the priority; whereas all Saint Mungo's were doing was keeping you sedated and not doing a damn other thing.
I also pointed out to her where in the alliance Charter I had the right to do it. And she admitted she'd read it and could see I was right. Which meant she then couldn't arrest me as no crime had been committed. That had her frustrated, no end.
[...]
I knew Neville would worry that he had somehow let me down; or that he had turned his back on our friendship; or that he had just given up his only real friendship for a 'guess' that might not have even be right... so I wrote him a short note and had it delivered directly to him by house elf this morning. That note told him I thought he'd done the right thing and that I backed him in his decision.
I also told him that, no matter what his 'Gran' told him, he should be at the Wizengamot session tomorrow. It would prove most interesting for him. I hope he keeps up with the backbone I know he's developed of late and does it. I want to see your reunion with him.
[...]
So, now Madam Bones is 'fairly certain' I've miraculously cured you and it's 'possible' you'll be turning up at the Wizengamot before lunch. Well, "first thing" is "before lunch", is it not? Heh heh!
Now, you're going to need to prove you actually are Lord Franklin and Lady Alice Longbottom. Otherwise, no one's going to believe you. So, I've been coming up with ways for you to do so. After all, you could be wearing a rune-based glamour like Sirius had been wearing while on-the-run from the law, you could be wearing a simple glamour or you could have taken Polyjuice potion.
All of which, except the first, would be just silly. But, hey, we're talking about the witches and wizards of the Wizengamot. And you already know what I think of most witches and wizards.
So, here's some ways:
1. If you have a known Patronus, cast it. Patronus forms are known to only change after a severe traumatic experience, therefore yours might have changed. If it hasn't, that's good evidence.
2. Houses elves know who their masters and mistresses are, even if they're wearing glamours, hiding under invisibility cloaks, or whatever. And they are certainly not fooled by such magics. Call your house elf or elves and have them identify you.
3. Magical oaths and vows can do it; but, do you really want to go down that path?
4. Take a goblin with you to perform and inheritance test right in front of them.
5. Call your Head of House ring to yourself right in front of them.
As you can see, it's easy to prove who you really are with a bit of thought put into it. And it's the sort of proof none of those old fogies can counter.
[...]
Ted's happy with my plan for Sirius's trial, tomorrow morning. He thinks it'll be fun watching all those old stuffed robes get force-fed the stupidity of how their own laws are daft, the one's they were supposed to have drafted. He wants to watch me clearly demonstrate to them how pathetic this law, at least, was in its design.
He hopes it will lead to a review of all other laws. More work for him, more fun using common sense and logic to destroy wizarding laws for me. I think that counts as a win-win situation.
[...]
Anyway, time to sign off. I need to spend time with my betrothed and just relax for a little while. Today was quite the tiring day.
See you in a few days (your time).
Harry and Hermione
~ # ~
After he'd finished, he looked to Hermione and asked, "Think it's ready?"
"Definitely," she replied. "And, checking the time, your guesstimate about it arriving there somewhere about their thirty-second or thirty-third day is going to be darn close if you sign it and send it with Dobby right now."
That's exactly what he did.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Dumbledore had tried to 'obtain' permission to spend a day in Diagon the next day to, as he claimed, rebuild his wardrobe back up. He claimed he had lost four sets of robes in the last couple of weeks, alone, due to his treatment at the hands of the DMLE and from losing Fawkes.
Marchbanks immediately denied him.
"You don't want to go shopping for a new selection of your wardrobe tomorrow, Albus," she said. "You want to go to the Wizengamot meeting, you expect to see the young Lord Potter there and you want to take the opportunity to talk to the boy.
"I don't like being lied to by my supposed staff, Albus. Therefore, the answer is a resounding no; you do not have my permission to leave the school tomorrow."
Frustrated Dumbledore spun about to storm from the office, yet again, when she said, "However, Albus..."
When he turned back she said, "Your garish wardrobe has been making me consider bringing in, or re-establishing, a dress code for the staff.
"Back even as shortly ago as when Headmaster Dippet was the headmaster, all staff had a dress code of base black. Certain... liberties... were allowed among the staff with the Headmaster's blessing. However, those liberties were restricted to styling, not colour.
"When I do grant you leave to leave the castle for the day, you might want to think about purchasing new robes that would meet those requirements.
"Thank you, Albus. You may go."
Horrified, Dumbledore didn't finish storming from the office, leaving the door wide open as he'd done each other time. Instead, he quietly made his way out and even closed the door behind himself when he did.
When she was sure he'd descended the staircase, she gave short cackle of laughter.
The portrait of Eupraxia Mole also openly laughed.
The other portraits then discussed dress codes and when the one for the staff had last been in effect.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When Andi arrived home that evening she was 'dead tired'. Ted was beginning to really worry.
After dinner, he sat her down in her favourite chair while he sat in his own and said, "Alright, Andi. Talk to me. What's got you working all hours beyond your normal shifts?"
"Research," she replied. "I'm doing research into curse scars."
"Curse scars," he replied. "You mean, like Harry's?"
"Yep," she replied. "Just like Harry's."
"Why is it such a big deal for you now?" he asked. "I mean, considering Harry's, he's only bothered with it because it's the thing everyone stares at for a moment when they realise it's the 'Boy-Who-Lived' standing in front of them."
She was quick to reply, "It's because there's more to it than that in a lot of cases. For instance, when it's caused by dark magic, why does the area continue to emit a dark magical aura. The spells used are not supposed to do that. So, what causes it?
"If we can discover that, if we can find out what causes it and can reverse it, we are well on our way to removing the scar itself."
She hated lying to her husband this way. But, if she didn't, he'd keep pushing for more information trying to help her. And she simply couldn't tell him.
He gave a shrug and said, "I know magical healers are not ones to try muggle techniques, but have you considered a non-magical operation and excising the tissue out? Once you have the tissue that's causing the dark magical aura out, you should then be able to employ normal magical means to heal the resulting, though a little larger, wound."
Andi froze. Her husband may have very well just hit upon the answer. Could that be the way?
Turning her gaze on Ted she quietly but emotionally said, "Have I told you how much I love you, lately?"
With his boyish grin he reserved just for her, he said, "Yep; but I can always hear it more often. I take it I might have given you a possible solution?"
"Merlin, yes!" she replied before she leapt at him across the short distance between them and proceeded to snog him.
Typically, Dora chose that moment to pay them a visit by walking in through the front door without even knocking.
She took one look at them and exclaimed, "Eeeeewwww!"
As the two older Tonkses pulled apart, her dad pouted at her.
"Your timing could do with improvement," he drolly said.
"Do I need to remind you two that you currently have a live-in guest staying here at the moment?" she asked.
When both just shrugged back she gave a huff and said, "I'm hungry." Then went into the kitchen to raid the cold box.
Ted just chuckled. 'Kids,' he thought.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
On their thirty-second day under time dilation both Longbottoms thought they'd not likely receive a letter from young Harry before they got out. However, and surprising both of them, they did.
As it was handed to Frank he read it first.
The two were using the break from training, brought on by the letter, to cool down. They'd been going at team duelling a magical target for quite a bit and needed the rest.
After replenishing her fluids and towelling her self down, Frank handed Alice the letter without a word. Then he towelled himself down and drank plenty of water himself.
When she finished she looked to her husband and asked, "Harry's belief your mother deliberately withheld treatment of us after the first couple months?"
"I don't know," he sadly replied. "I don't want to believe it, but... it makes a lot of sense."
"I know," she replied. "But he might also be wrong."
"He could," he nodded. "And I certainly hope he is. But, I think we need to keep an open mind about this."
"Agreed," she said. "That was nice, what he did for Neville."
Recognising his wife was deliberately changing the topic he wasn't averse to it.
"Yes," he replied. "He took a great risk, doing that; just so Neville wouldn't worry any more. He's clearly a good friend to our boy."
"He cares," she sighed. "These letters we've been receiving from him and his lady are proof enough of that."
"Three and half days left," he sighed.
"They'll be over before we know it," she returned.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After a last snack, Harry was earlier to bed than his usual. He knew he had a very busy day the next day and wanted to be as rested as he could be.
Before going to bed herself, Hermione was pulled aside by her mother.
"Harry's going to have a very full and busy day tomorrow," she explained. "Even more full and stressful than what today turned out to be. He will likely need your support."
"He'll have it as he always does, Mum," Hermione replied. "And he's prepared. You wouldn't believe all the variables he's taken into consideration of his plans.
"But, I will be there with him and for him. I made that decision soon after he rescued me from that troll on Hallowe'en in first year."
As she walked down the stairs from the top floor, Monica was wearing a self-satisfied smirk. 'Yep. My daughter's utterly smitten.'
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ