"I apologize, Harry, but that's simply not possible."

Harry tilted his head. For a woman as polite and politically astute as Amelia Bones, a flat denial indicated that forces outside her hand were in play.

"Why not?"

"Well..." She took a sip of her Firewhisky, pondering how to answer his question. "The wizarding world has ways of solving the muggle world's toughest problems. Where muggles are constrained by the laws of conserving energy, we are not. Where they are locked into place by entropy and the flow of time, we have repairing charms and time turners.

If the muggles ever find out how powerful magic is and how versatile its uses are, their first instinct would be to enslave us and with their numbers, they have a fair chance of succeeding. That is why even the muggles cleared for knowledge about the magical world - especially their leaders - are not allowed more than the rudimentary knowledge of magic. This is also why muggle-born children are so strictly monitored for their magic use while outside school. A single magical child could be exploited to create an entire cottage industry - a repairing service where any item will be restored to a pristine condition, a shop that sells items transfigured from garbage... And before you think this is paranoia talking, let me assure you it's not. Out of respect for your youth, I've only scratched the surface of the disgusting and dark world of the exploitation of magicals. It's an everyday struggle for the Ministry's Obliviation Squad to uphold the Statute of Secrecy."

Amelia recovered from her digression and looked keenly at Harry.

"And that, Harry, is why you won't be able to meet with the Prime Minister - or for that matter, the Royal Family. One, their residences and offices are warded heavily. Once a magical even approaches the area, plainclothes Aurors are dispatched to keep an eye on, and if necessary, restrain them. Two, we simply can't afford to the let the muggle leaders know the true extent of the capabilities of magic. Your wish to ward Heathrow Airport holds much merit and would protect the muggle-born leaving the UK from reprisal. But taking the plan through the PM is not the way to go about it."

"That... makes a lot of sense," Harry confessed. "Sirius... uh... I mean, Michael... thought my plan was a bit naive too. Too clean, he said. But I had to try asking you anyway."

"I understand. Do you have any other alternatives?" Amelia asked.

"Of course we do! We aren't Marauders for nothing, you know."

"You really need to stop slipping up in front of me, you know. He is the most wanted man in Britain after all."

"Yeah," Harry said sheepishly. "Can't help it really. But... about the Plan B... It's actually underway right now. We'll be done soon, I believe. I hope you understand if can't tell you about it. Plausible deniability and all that. But suffice it to say, if caught, we'd be brought up on charges by pretty much every department of the Ministry. Wait... maybe not the Magical Creatures Department."

A muffled woof was heard from the direction of a bookcase in the study.

"Ah, never mind. They'd be after our asses too."

Amelia dropped her head into her hands and sighed.

"You're purposely out to torture me, aren't you? Absolutely no respect or fear for the Head of the DMLE. And... to the bookshelf that sounds like a dog, it's good to hear your voice. You know, it brings back memories of when I found this black grim licking its ba-" she was interrupted by frantic barking from the bookshelf.

"What's that? You apologize for being an idiot and rushing off to confront a murderer without alerting your girlfriend that anything was wrong?"

The bookshelf woofed cautiously.

"And you understand that the next time you do something that stupid, I'm going to lock you into your dog form and neuter you? No joke?"

A plaintive whine was the only reply this time.

"Good. I'm glad to hear it." Amelia stood up. "Now, the next time I come here, I had better see a person named Michael Evans. I have the insatiable urge to backhand that idiot and then hug the stuffing out of him."

A much cheerier woof emanated from the bookshelf.

"Damn Ministry oaths." she good-naturedly complained to Harry. "And let this be a lesson to you, Harry, to never depend on magical oaths. Even oaths that are carefully worded can be easily surpassed in a million ways. There are way too many variables in the real world for an oath to work in its intended manner."

Harry nodded. "Good point. Security through obscurity is a much better option if you ask me."

"Hmm, but remember, hoarding information gives you power. And the moment you start doing bad things for the 'greater good' is the very moment you must step down from that position of power."

Harry blinked and blurted the first thing that came to his mind.

"Why on earth did you date Sirius? You're so wise!" And promptly blushed at Amelia's smirk. An indignant bark was heard from the bookshelf.

"He's not so bad really. Well... unless he's licking his ba-"

Frantic barking cut off the rest of her sentence.

Amelia laughed. A happy laugh. Harry saw that she was clearly thrilled at being reunited with Sirius, even if it was in such an indirect fashion.

"Alright, you stubborn bookshelf. Take care of yourself. I'll see Michael in a couple of weeks"

Harry and Amelia headed downstairs to collect Susan from where she was chatting with the Grangers. During dinner earlier that evening with the Bones', the Grangers, and Harry, Amelia had almost immediately caved to Susan's pleas to leave with Hermione to Australia. Of course, Susan immediately withdrew her statement and made it conditional, saying she would leave, but only after Amelia promised not to do something monumentally patriotic - in other words, not to get herself killed.

Amelia promised, placating Susan by saying that she would bring every paranoid technique taught to her by Mad-Eye to the fore. In addition, when Susan left in a couple of weeks with the Grangers, Amelia would shift residences to Grimmauld Place, where she'd be extremely well protected by the wards and the Order. Incidentally, Harry had innocently let it slip that a muggle-born cousin of his mother - 'a regular mutt' - would be arriving in a couple of weeks, and would definitely enjoy Amelia's company. Her eyes had lit up at that.

The duo found Susan in the living room where Harry had first chatted with Sirius all those long weeks ago. Hermione was excitedly waving her arms around and explaining something to Susan, who also seemed equally excited. The two girls noticed the new occupants of the room.

"Auntie! The Melbourne School of Magic offers Enchanting as a course from our fifth year! I won't have to wait for my mastery to study it now!"

"Is that so? That's wonderful news, Susan. You know, I'm glad we're both taking this well. I was quite afraid we wouldn't be able to be parted."

"The only reason I even considered leaving in the first place was because of your ex-boyfriend, auntie. Harry visited me a few days ago when you were in the office and told me everything. I'm glad you've found him again." She took Amelia's hand and squeezed it gently.

"So am I, Susan. So am I." Amelia gave her niece a warm smile.

A few minutes later, Susan and her aunt bid farewell to the Grangers and Harry as they took the floo to Bones Manor with a promise from Susan that she would be back tomorrow. She'd be a regular visitor over the next two weeks leading up to the looming departure to Australia. Amelia had reluctantly demurred when invited to the planning, but on the condition that Harry would force Siri- Michael to go through their plans with a fine-toothed comb.


"So, bookshelf. I'm sorry our plans didn't work out too well, but it was a pleasant visit nonetheless, don't you agree?"

Sirius had the same soft, dopey smile on his face that he'd had ever since Amelia left a while ago. He sighed happily from his arm-chair.

"Harry, Harry, Harry. Sometimes they say that the presence of a messenger sends a greater message than even the message they carry. My beloved godson, this was very much one of those occasions. Think about it this way - the head of the DMLE willingly stepped foot into a house run by a vigilante group. She practically entrusted her only family into our care. She's going to shift here in a couple of weeks too. Contrary to you thinking our plans didn't work out well, I have to say I couldn't possibly think of our day going better than this! We gained a ridiculously powerful ally."

"Doesn't hurt that it's your girlfriend." Harry slyly added.

"Hey, don't blame the player." Sirius tried to say nonchalantly. But the sheer happiness that shone from his eyes betrayed his actions.

A comfortable silence descended between the two.

"How are our plans at the Park proceeding, Sirius?"

"Not bad at all. The goblins are being far more helpful than I'd expected. You really pulled a number on them you know."

"Not really," Harry said, with a thoughtful look on his face. "I did it without thinking about it. But now that I am, I see that I created a win-win situation. I offered the goblins a safe passage out of Britain should things go badly for them. Not to mention the fact that I'm paying them for the work anyway. Of course they agreed. To not agree would be against their very interests."

"When did you get so smart you little runt?"

"God pitied me for being stuck with you and blessed me with the intelligence to manage the both of us."

"Insolent brat. I'll have you know you used to fit in the palm of my hand. Talk back to me, will you?"

"Why Sirius, this reminds me of a story I heard about a Black Grim licking its own ba... Ahh! Stop it!"

Multi-coloured hexes slammed into Harry before he fled from the room post haste, a Black Grim snapping at his heels.


A.N: I'm going to be posting short chapters from now. It makes it easier for me to write them. Also, this story will definitely, most probably, maybe, quite possibly, likely, be Harry/Tonks. Or not. That pairing is my absolute favourite of all time. Make of that what you will, dear reader.

I have to add, I won't be making any character over-the-top powerful, evil or maniacal. HOW DARE YOU REFUSE ME I'M HARRY POTTER BLACK GRYFFINDOR SLYTHERIN RAVENCLAW HUFFLEPUFF LE-FEY PEVERELL PENDRAGON somehow just doesn't do it for me.

What's that? Oh, alright fine. I used to like stories like those and I certainly got a kick out an all-powerful Harry, but where's the excitement in that? Where's the despair or the danger? That's just wish-fulfilment. A noble pursuit, I agree, taken up by crusaders such as robst. But that shall not be my chosen path.

And finally, I have to confess something. And I'm sorry if I shock some of you... but... I'm not really Rowling... I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I'm sorry, alright? *pouts*

Hmm, never thought I'd be one of those authors to write long notes, just rambling on and on about anything and everything under the sun like they have no other job in the... Sorry, I'm doing what? Rambling? No, no, I'm writing about rambling. That's not covered under the official rambling laws. It is? But that makes no sense! This is a paradox! I object! Point of contention! Sacrilege, dishonour! Blood traitor! Wait, what are you doing with that pink hanky? Don't come near me! Mmmmphph! Mmmphh!

The other voice in my head: Sorry about that folks. Clearly, the author was too tightly wound up and needed a release for his pathetic sense of humour. A sense of humour that's also self-deprecating, apparently. You know, we're reaching levels of self-awareness hitherto unheard of. Anyway, this author has been plotting to use his author note to push this chapter over 2000 words, but we stopped him! What? Didn't we? What do you mean we pushed it over 2000? Bloody hell! This guy is a genius!

Why, thank you, beautiful.

*sighs* You can't hit on yourself, mate.

What? Why not! What about all those books I've read preaching self-love?

That's... you know what, never mind. That's all, folks! I do apologize for... myself? Hmm, a dual personality. Could be useful in the interrogation room. I could be both the good cop and the bad cop.