The Witch, the Vixen, and the Philosopher's Stone
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Sega of America, Team Sonic, MGM nor anything else associated with any franchise mentioned within. The only thing that I own is the name Kerra. It is mine and if anyone steals it I will not hesitate to get creative on the torture. Also I do not own the original idea for the Mjolnir armor, which belongs to Microsoft and Bungie. That's how Kerra got the idea for her own version of it.
Chapter 1
Investigations Begin
Artemis and Kerra approached an unassuming red telephone box that was indicative of London.
"So, this is seriously the visitor's entrance?" Artemis asked.
"I know, right? One would figure that something less vibrant, but after the thing we saw in Diagon Alley, still can't get over that name by the way, I don't think that magicals over here really know how to blend in with mundanes." Kerra replied before entering the phone box.
Closing the door, Kerra picked up the receiver and dialed 6-2-4-4-2 and was immediately connected to a woman with a very nasally voice.
"Please state your name and business."
"Kerra and Artemis Prower to see the Head of DMLE." She replied.
After some discussion before coming back to Britain, Kerra and Artemis decided that until Artemis started at Hogwarts, they would refrain from using the name Potter to give her anonymity for just a little while longer.
The phone spit out two badges that the pair affixed to their dusters, having decided to eschew robes for as long as possible, and then the booth began to descend. Soon the pair were exiting it in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic.
Looking around the pair headed for the security desk where Kerra handed over her wand and received a check ticket, before heading to the lifts. Entering one, Kerra said to the operator,
"DMLE please."
After a ride that would have done Willy Wonka proud, the pair stepped out into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Looking around they saw a multitude of red robed Aurors milling about, escorting suspects and witnesses, sorting case files and the like. They were quickly able to locate the most likely office of the department head at the rear of the room, thought they had a maze of cubicles to navigate.
Twenty minutes later, the pair finally reached the door to the office.
"I swear that the walls were moving trying to slow us down." Artemis grumbled.
"They probably were kit." Kerra replied as she knocked on the door.
"Enter!"
Kerra opened the door and entered first, her eyes sweeping over the interior quickly before settling on the lone occupant of the room, a prematurely aging woman sitting behind the desk. A gesture to Artemis had her entering the room and closing the door as she did the same scan of her surroundings.
Not many things could surprise Amelia Bones after nearly two decades moving up the ranks of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but seeing the precision that the two females moved definitely captured her attention. Even more so after getting a missive from Gringotts requesting a meeting on behalf of one of their more prominent clients on the condition of anonymity.
"So, I presume that you are the ones that Gringotts contacted me about." She said gesturing for the pair to take a seat.
"You would be correct Madam Bones. Our account manager, once the irregularities were discovered, informed us that you were the most reliable person at the Ministry that would be able to assist us with our issues." Kerra replied.
Amelia's eyes widened slightly at this.
"What kind of irregularities?" She inquired.
"The subversion of a will of a Most Ancient and Most Noble house, the false imprisonment of the heir to another house of the same standing, and illegal placement of the heir of the first house with someone that they should not have been placed with." Kerra replied. "Oh, and the possibility of line theft if our suspicions pan out. An audit is currently being done by Gringotts to check for anything else."
Amelia closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose. This was going to be a long day.
"We are sorry to be dumping this on you ma'am." Artemis said, speaking up for the first time since entering the office. "But from what the goblins have said, you have a reputation for being fair and incorruptible, which given how far things will probably go, is just the kind of person we need."
Amelia nodded. "Thank you for the compliments young lady. May I ask what Houses are involved?"
"Yes, Potter and Black." Kerra responded.
Amelia jerked upright at this. Her eyes immediately went to Artemis, who nodded and showed her right hand, which bore the Heir ring for House Potter.
"I was thinking that this was going to be a long day. I can say that this is going to be a long few months. It is good to see you again Miss Potter. I just wish that it was under better circumstances." Amelia said.
"We've met before?" Artemis asked.
"Yes, your father was an Auror during the war. He was over the moon when you were born. Both of your parents were truthfully. Though Lilly did want to hex your father six ways from Sunday because of how over-protective he got during her pregnancy. I saw them both at St Mungo's after you were born and periodically when they would have dinners at Potter Manor. Though thinking back, I can see where some things about what happened back then don't add up." Amelia replied.
"Such as?" Kerra inquired.
"Sirius Black. He and James Potter were thick as thieves in Hogwarts from the stories they told. Practically brothers in all but blood. Both of them were Aurors, made one heck of a team. Then there was his well-known falling out with his parents that lead to him being thrown out of the house. But whatever happened, he was sent to Azkaban for betraying you and your parents." Amelia replied sadly.
"Actually, considering the fact he is still alive, he didn't betray them. Plus, if the will had been read, he would have been exonerated." Artemis replied.
"What do you mean?"
"He made an oath when he was named my godfather." Artemis replied.
Amelia's eyes widened at the information. Oaths for godparents were rarely done anymore in the magical world, but they were fully binding. If someone broke their oath, their magic, and consequently their life, were forfeit.
"Well, that certainly changes things. I will have to look at the trial transcript to see if it was mentioned." Amelia said finally.
"I'm afraid you won't find one." Kerra replied. "The goblins keep close watch over things that would cause an heir to become ineligible to become Head of House. Such as being convicted of murder. There was no such conviction. There wasn't even a trial by the records here at the Ministry. Just a 'everyone thinks he did it, so he must have done it' mentality."
Amelia was stunned once again. As someone who tried her very best to ensure that justice was served in a corrupt organization like the Ministry and Wizengamot, not even giving a farce of a trial was beyond anything she could have imagined.
"I understand that this is shocking, but we would like for you to carefully and quietly investigate the matter. I can imagine that it will take some time, but while Artemis is at Hogwarts, Black can recover in one of the available Potter houses." Kerra said after giving Amelia time to absorb what she had been told.
Amelia nodded. "That would probably be best. He will need to see mind healers at the very least if he is to have a chance of being remotely functional after nearly ten years in Azkaban. I am going to assume that you will be taking the House Potter seat on the Wizengamot as her proxy?" She asked.
"I will, as much as I am loath to deal with politicians, especially ones that are in the relative dark ages compared to the mundane world. But sweeping changes must be made, and as someone who was knighted by Her Majesty for services rendered to the Crown, I can tug on her ear if necessary to get things into order." Kerra said, a slightly feral smirk on her lips.
Amelia's head snapped up at that. While nominally able to govern themselves, the magically community in the United Kingdom still fell under the control of the crown. If the Queen were to be brought into the mix, the entire Ministry and Wizengamot would be brought down.
"I can assure you that would be the last resort. Her Majesty has more pressing things on her plate at the moment, especially with everything going on in the Middle East. I would prefer to do things without involving the Crown if I can avoid it. One should hold those markers for when they are really needed." Kerra replied. "Also, I will be taking the seat that the Potters hold in the House of Lords as well. I have already filed the paperwork for it with the appropriate departments. Gringotts will be handling the proxy paperwork for the Wizengamot. The goblins are nothing if not efficient."
Amelia nodded with a tight smile. "Indeed, they are. I will begin the process of digging up the necessary evidence. Keep in mind that those were very confusing times after the Dark Lord's fall. I wouldn't be surprised if there are more people who fell through the cracks unfortunately." She said.
"Like the ones who bought their freedom by bribing the Minister?" Kerra said with a raised eyebrow.
Amelia nodded with a grimace. "Sadly that is the case with some of the richer families." She replied.
"Well, if you can present the evidence before the Wizengamot, that will shake things up a bit." Artemis said. "I can imagine most of the titled houses will be worried that being thrown into Azkaban without a trial would cause quite an uproar considering the House of Black is one of the oldest families out there."
Amelia nodded. "Indeed it would." She replied. "Now, unless you ladies have any more world shaking revelations, I will need to begin gathering information."
"There is one more thing." Kerra said as she flicked her wrist, producing a folder. "This is the report concerning Artemis's scar." She said, handing over the folder.
Amelia took the folder and began reading it. Her eyebrows raised as she read the report and her face became pale.
"The healers are certain about this?" She asked, her voice shaking.
Kerra nodded. "They are. I was present when they removed the fragment. Not exactly something to forget."
"I can imagine. So he really isn't gone, is he?" Amelia asked.
"No. Given that a living host is never used for those abominations, it is likely that his soul was unstable and the backlash from whatever Lady Potter did caused it to split again. Conservative estimate is six." Kerra replied. "This could also be confirmed by checking the Hall of Prophecies. There is one concerning Artemis and Voldemort. If it is still active then you have your proof." Kerra replied.
Amelia sighed. "I will speak to the Head Unspeakable about it discreetly. No need for this to get out." She said.
Kerra and Artemis nodded.
As they stood to go, Amelia spoke up.
"Miss Potter, I understand that you will be starting at Hogwarts this term?"
"Yes ma'am." Artemis replied.
Amelia smiled. "My niece, Susan, will be starting this term as well. If I may be so bold, I think that she would appreciate a letter and a chance to get to know the real you, rather than the legend you have." She said.
Artemis smiled. "I think I can manage that. We are going to Diagon Alley today to get a few things, such as an owl. I will be writing my godbrother when we get home. It won't be any trouble to write one to her."
Amelia smiled and bid the two a good day as they stood and left.
Later that evening, Artemis was sitting on her bed having just sent two letters off with her new owl, a beautiful Snowy Owl that she had named Hedwig.
"Someday, huh Kit?" Kerra asked as she entered the room.
Artemis nodded. "So much went wrong back then. I know it is selfish, but is it bad that I wish none of it had happened?" She said, looking at her adoptive mother guiltily.
Kerra pulled the girl into a hug. "No, we always wish for the bad things to never have happened. I always think about what life could have been like if I hadn't been abandoned at the orphanage, if I hadn't been assaulted and if the war with Robotnik had never happened. But if it hadn't I would never have come to Earth, and I most certainly never would have met you." Kerra said quietly.
Artemis nodded as she hugged her mother. The pair stayed like this until they both fell asleep, taking comfort in each other's presence.