A normal day in the Department of Mysteries was pretty boring depending on your job or specialty as an Unspeakable. Mind Mages spent their days in the Brain Room and Archives deciphering half forgotten spell strings, potions specialists called the labs home where they tried to re-create esoteric and forgotten potions from the barest of hints & the list goes on. Today however was a decidedly not very normal day Amelia Bones thought with a grimace. Between her and the many, many, many dead or dying Unspeakable was one Harry James Potter surrounded on either side by two of Britains most hated magical villians. "Potter, you won't get away this" she said in warning.
"I haven't done a thing Director Bones. The Unspeakables at the behest of Albus Dumbledore on the other hand, that is something to be discussed in great detail. Crimes Against Humanity and Accessory to War Crimes that would see the Unspeakables executed by my Dementors. Executions that would ordered by the ICW and then have them seize control Englands magical government to tear it down to the core and rebuild it back up imprisoning or executing every turn coat, traitor or corrupt person they came across along the way. Trust me, they would all die since I refuse to house your criminals anymore in my prison" Harry said evenly. "Even if I did something you could not persecute me and send me back to Azkaban without me laughing at you. Before I stepped one foot into the Wizengamot chambers to listen to the desperate pleas for the master of Dementors to aid them in their ending Death Eater problem I was handed a very interesting document signed by your figure head Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. In small words for you, I have full unlimited diplomatic immunity to your laws Bones. You and your empty threats don't scare me."
"Young master... No disrespect but is being flippant with the woman who was key in putting you away during your original farce of a trial wise?" Bellatrix asked with measured words. While Harry was not like Voldemort or her former husband, the bastard had been granted death at her hands by Harrys benevolence after hearing of what the pig had done to her, Harry was dangerous in his own right that if he and her former master met in combat the snake faced freak should be worried. Not only was he dangerous magically or physically but he was a force unto himself. With the grace he carried himself with and the way he internalized the experience of being a prisoner in Azkaban prior to his rise as its Lord and Master she was often left in awe of the young wizard. He was a grueling task master but fair. He tried to not demand the impossible of his slaves, all the prisoners were his slaves after he rose as Lord Azkaban and magically beat those who resisted to fall into line, but if they did the absolute best of their assigned task with no fuss he wouldn't punish them for falling short of the assignments task if they could not complete it in time. What truly endeared Bellatrix to her new master was two-fold: first and foremost he had restored her back to her youthful pre-Death Eater branded state thanks to his converting her into his Chief Female Dementor. She was young and beautiful once more free of the charms & potions that had twisted her into the monster the wizarding world had known. The second reason was much more simple but like the first it was in its simplicity that proved Harry was a much better master than Voldemort was, he let Bellatrix live her life as she wished it as long as she played by the rules he gave her and did what she was told when she was told to do so. He didn't demand of her to do anything remotely demeaning, not like Voldemort who in her youth prior to becoming his most fearsome lieutenant was forced to be the Death Eaters relief whore against her will, and often his most direct order of her was to help Carlyle- his Chief Male Dementor- keep order within the walls of Azkaban with the other Dementors to order around at their disposal unless he said otherwise. It was these two primary reasons she traded one abusive master for another who saw the value she had not just as a witch but as a person with her own mind and one evil brand that stood for a horrible cause she had only embraced because of her insanity being taken advantage of for a brand with a just & truly noble cause she could stand fully behind. For the briefest moment her eyes drifted to said brand and almost smiled to herself. 'The Mark of Demense operates almost like the Dark Mark does. I hold the master key and those who bear my mark can be summoned to me if need be. Unlike the Dark Mark I refuse to abuse the magic of it to needlessly abuse my faithful like Voldemort does. If you earn my ire you will hear about it from me in person and be given a chance to plead your case but torture for the sake of torture is not something I will take part of.' The snippet of what she had been told briefly replayed as she took in the details of the mark. To her it had been explained that unlike Voldemorts Dark Mark, the Mark of Demense was not one particular branding image but coded in runes and spell work woven into the desired image of the bearer. Her Mark of Demense almost made her laugh when she looked at it but it was fitting for her. On her left forearm, where her former Death Eater brand was, with wings spread was the image of an angel fallen from grace. In one hand she clutched a bladed staff and the other bore a shield, an aegis bearing the seal of Azkaban; a not so subtle declaration of her seeking to redeem herself as her masters sword and shield.
"Probably not but we need to get through her to continue the search" Harry said after a moment of internal inspection and a glance at Bellatrix. He had noted her gaze flick to her Mark and the subtle twitch of muscles. In time the wings of her angels Mark would change, that he knew. Bellatrix would know when she earned her redemption. She was already so loyal and powerful but her intelligence & wit combined Carlyles rather impressive knowledge of spells that Bella had never even heard of or imagined to have existed put her already on the path to being redeemed in his eyes. She forsook all she had known, albeit she was being manipulated by torture violence potions and charms, for a chance to pay for her crimes; she subjected herself to his will knowing full well he could have killed her and did not hesistate in the slightest.
Amelias eyes switched between the three criminals, she heard of Harrys pardon but she still refused to believe him innocent of the crime he had been sent to Azkaban. "And just what or who are you searching for?" she asked bluntly.
"Albus Dumbledore admitted to the continued life of Lady Potter and giving her to the Unspeakables to study her body. From the information I took from his mind he had ordered one of your Unspeakables by the name of Croaker to aggressively dissect the magic that kept her alive. By all accounts he told the public both Lord and Lady Potter died that night my former master was given the location of where the young master & his family were hiding under fidelus by Peter Pettigrew" Bellatrix explained. "However because of our understanding of magic acting precisely why it does is flawed and incomplete the young masters mother survived the Killing Curse cast on her leaving her vegetative and linked her magic, and thusly her survival, to her sons. We know she lies in here within the Department of Mysteries not just because I stripped it from his mind bu-"
"Bella, quiet please" Harry said raising a finger in a manner similar to a teacher commanding a room full of children. He saw her mouth close at his request as he rewarded her with a light appreciative clap on the shoulder. "As the Lord Azkaban I was tried foolishly to be trapped to helping your backwards society. Dumbledore tried to hold the secret hostage but theres one particular fact about Dementor magic Director Bones. No one can shield their mind from any form of Dementor attack no matter how disciplined they are in mind magicks." He proceeded forward in lock step with the two Dementors keeping pace. "Just as I do not need to use Legimemcy to see you still believe me a criminal without a conscious and a murderer. It doesn't matter Director. I will find my mothers body. I will take her with me back to Azkaban Island to restore her and you won't stop me. If you do I will remove every limiter spell on my two companions here and I will let them murder every man woman & child in this building. I'll make them save you for last though, a nice public execution for aiding and abetting a criminal like Albus Dumbledore. With you gone I'm sure a person with far less scruples would love to take your position and then your niece..." He gave a quiet tsk tsk tsk "When she sees you executed for aiding and abetting, well I'm sure she'll end up tbe perfect trophy wife to an abusive wizard. The Ancient House of Bones will become a joke and if the wizard is truly cruel like most in England are by default he may just pass your beloved niece around like a two knut whore to all his buddies. Don't tempt me to inflict such a fate on a good girl like Susan, not when it means you siding with a man who destroyed my reputation and smeared the name of me and mine across the Prophet before & during my 'trial' as well as after my incarceration" he said icily.
Bellatrix and Carlyle shuddered as Harry finished. Neither knew their master to a cruel man but for him to so matter of factly threaten an innocent girl with a fate that they knew she was shielded from with Amelia alive it forced them to remind themselves that their master was just as capable of truly cruel and cold action as he was of being fair & just.
Amelias expression froze in a mix of outrage, worry and unhidden loathing. If she was to die Susan did lose all shielding from the British laws. Susan would be forced to take headship of House Bones and as smart as Susan was Amelia knew her niece wss not politically savy nor did Susan possess the political accumen to protect herself from the various laws targeting female Head of Houses. She also knew Harry was right and Susan would more than likely end up an abused trophy wife who got passed around more than the whores in Knockturn Alley; not just that but House Bones wealth would disappear and lose all credibility. "You wouldn't" she said slowly.
"I wouldn't have considered it before I was incarcerated but now" Harry grinned a nasty predatory smirk "I won't hesitate if you don't get out my way."
Carlyle shot Bellatrix a look and grabbed Harrys shoulder firmly, not demandingly or like he was trying to warn his young master from crossing a line, and turned him just slightly. "As factually correct as our master is Director Bones the situation is more dire for you, yours and everyone in this building. If we don't find the mistresses body not only do I know our master will allow us the leeway to end everyones lives in this building, we will follow his command to execute you last in a very public fashion and place leaving your niece to the grim fate he described. If you care about no one else, care for your niece only and tell us where we can the Lady Potters body or stand aside" he said in a flat commanding tone.
Harry glanced to Carlyle and did a mental count. Bellatrix and Carlyle were Chief among his Dementors but for the male to so subtly try to disuade him from wholesale slaughter would merit reflection for later. It was both smart but also presumptive of the man. He would never truly wish such a cruel fate on Susan, he and the redhead were friends before his incarceration & even she proclaimed his innoncence at trial. If he did have to kill Amelia Bones then Susan would still be protected under the aegis of the Potter, Azkaban and Slytherin names. "We'll speak about this later Carlyle." He saw the man shudder at the six words and nod. "Now are you going to tell me where I can find this Croaker character so I may retrieve my mothers body or do I unleash two very pent up Dementors on the innocent people of this building Amelia? Its your choice" he said evenly staring at the proxy Head of House Bones.
Amelia weighed the pros and cons before cursing Harry Potter to hell. "CROAKER GET YOUR ASS HERE FRONT AND CENTER BEFORE I HAVE A DEATH WARRANT PUT OUT ON YOUR PREGNANT WIFE!" she snarled viciously. The hatred she felt for the man right now in no way influenced her threat. Nope, none at all. Of course she would only succeed in fooling herself since she was not that cruel but desperate time and desperate measures she would later rationalize.
Once said man had materialized Bellatrix was on the man stripping his mind bare with the same magics she used on Dumbledore. The mad twinkling violet eyes noted the horror etched into Amelias face as blood streamed from the Unspeakables eyes, ears, nose and mouth before he slumped in her grasp dead. Her expression went grim before rage took over her features. "Young master there is grave news" she said making a motion for him and Carlyle to follow her quickly. "Experiment room Alpha Sigma 01-A3!" A door opened and the three went through where she murdered three male Unspeakables trying to force themselves on two unconscious and restrained women.
Harry saw red as he picked up the charts. The names set him off before he turned his furious gaze to his two Chief Dementors. "Kill everyone in this building, in this city if you must but I want the mutilated corpse of Albus Dumbledore at my feet by sunset. Go!" The order was barked with such venom and hatred he saw a moment of fear on Bellas face. She was probably having nasty flasbacks to Voldemort. Carlyle left instantly as he looked to Bella, his eyes still radiating fury but softening. "I'm not a monster like Voldemort Bella, you know this" he said handing her the second clipboard. The name on the clipboard initiated the same fury her eyes as it did his own moments before.
"Forgive my hesitation young master. Your will is my command" Bella said bowing deeply at the waist before disappearing. She would see the old man not just dead and mutilated like Harry ordered but she would enjoy doing it in the process. Just who was the second unconscious woman in the room with Harrys mother Lady Lily Potter? According to the paperwork and blood analysis it was another family member of Harrys. More specifically Harrys aunt once removed from the Irish Pureblood House of Evans- Pandora Liliana Lovegood nee Evans. Just like Lily, Pandora was claimed dead to the public at large and sent to the Department of Mysteries by Albus Dumbledore to have the magic keeping her alive after the accident that 'killed' her dissected for whatever nefarious purpose.
Left alone with both unconscious women Harry gently undid the restraints on both of them like they were fragile dolls. "Mom, auntie... You'll be ok. As soon as I get you two back to Azkaban I will restore you back to health, that is my promise as kin. And don't worry auntie" his gaze switched to Pandoras form "I'll make damn certain Luna knows you're still alive. Its ironic and funny now that I think about it." He chuckled softly threading a hand through the two womens hair lovingly like a child proving a simple fact of love to those they had known all their lives. "I always told Luna that I wished she was family like I considered Susan to be both my sister in all but blood and my best friend. Now I know shes my cousin, she'll be thrilled" he said leaning over to the blonde and kissed her cheek softly."But not nearly as thrilled and happy to have her mother she adores more than life itself back in her life. Just as I know your husband Xenophilius will be over the moon to have his 'Pandoras Box Of Fun and Chaos', yes Luna told me, he loved back in his arms. Welcome home Auntie Pandora." His eyes gleamed softly glancing between the pair. He wasn't sure how long he sat there talking to the pair but soon enough Bella and Carlyle returned.
"The corpse hangs in the gallows before your quarters on the island young master. None were too eager to come to his aid and unnecessary loss of life was minimal" Bella said.
"Duly noted. Bring them to the island and set their beds up in my chambers. Get the best medical minds in the world out there to the island, none of them from this backwards country preferable. Money is no obstacle" Harry said standing and clutched his cane in one hand, the other clutching both medical clipboards in the other, before beginning to walk away. His keen senses picked up the sound of the two Dementors delicately lifting the two women into their arms from the bed and the sounds of disapproval of no doubt how light they were.
"Where are you going young manster?"
Harry paused midstep and turned his gaze to look at Bella who had concern etched into her eyes, concern not just for the physical and magical health of the two women but no doubt his own mental health at the moment. "I have a cousin to inform that her mother is still alive and a promise to keep to a dear friend Bella. I will be back on the island before the full moon rises to its zenith. Please just... Do as I asked of you" he said after a moment. After a moment he exited the room and the Department of Mysteries flanked by his two Dementors carrying their precious cargo. A far off thought noted just how wide a berth they were given and found it appropriate. Poke the bear and it mauls you; once it mauls you a single time you forever more give the bear more than a healthy berth. The moment they were in the lobby of the Ministry of Magic Harry disapparated away to his destination at the same time his Dementors did back to Azkaban.
Bella conjured medical beds and summoned the prison doctors, some of the best out there hired after Harrys ascent to Lord Azkaban, set to doing every thorough examination on Pandora and Lily without invasive spells. "Siri, I'm worried about Harry" she said quietly leaning against her companion who wrapped his arms around her. The witch snuggled into the embrace and looked up with the worry etched far too vividly in her eyes. Bellatrix was a lot of things and did a lot of things well but dealing with worry or stress was not one of them. Add on when that stress or worry was centered around someone she loved, in this case her new master who just happened to be family, it doubly affected her. Ask her to kill, maim and tortutre- she can do that easy peasy. Ask her to sit idly by and wait while the people she loved or cared about OR in the case of Lily and Pandora- wait around watching and waiting to be told they were going to be ok so that she could pass it on to Harry all the while worrying about Harrys well being mentally & emotionally at the present time.. That she did very much less well. It made her fingers itch and fidget, it made her nervous. And she hates being nervous or fidgety.
Carlyles appearance shimmered and melted before a younger & healthier Sirius Orion Black was left in his place. It was decided upon his change between the three of them that Sirius take a public appearance of someone far more dangerous than himself and the convenience of Azkaban had that in spades given Carlyle Sebastian Bachetonne, the second most wanted villain after Bellatrix before her transformation into a Dementor, had been executed alongside the most dangerous criminals then currently incarcerated as Harrys first order of business to truly clean up his ancestral home of Azkaban in part. "I know you are Bell" Sirius said squeezing Bellatrix within his grasp to give her some comfort. They may have never seen eye to eye when she was older and insane but in their youth the pair had been thick as thieves and with their youth back it took no time for the estranged pair to be just as close again. "I know you are and so am I but just as soon as the pup returns and those two opens their eyes he'll be ok." He leaned down and kissed her forehead softly. "Trust me and trust Harry Bella. He won't lead us astray nor would he do anything truly reckless without reason."