Harry bit his lip as Sirius slipped into the hallways, "All right pup," Sirius said, "you asked me to get up early, what's going on?"
"I want to prank the twins," Harry said. "I need your help to get inside and make sure I don't wake anybody else up."
Sirius grinned, "Do you have a plan?"
"I'm going to sing the most obnoxious song I can think of that fits the moment," Harry replied.
"And you want me to get you in there and make sure you don't wake anyone else up," Sirius said.
"Yes sir," Harry said nervously.
"Don't call me sir," Sirius said. "That's all you need."
Harry hesitated, "Well," he said, "it depends. How good are you at howling?"
If anything, Sirius's grin got bigger.
…
Harry set his feet, glancing nervously at the transformed Sirius, who nodded. He rubbed the bracelet, took a proper breath and began to sing. (INSERT OPENING LYRICS TO CIRCLE OF LIFE FROM THE LION KING HERE. Removed because of the policy.)
Sirius howled along with him as Harry continued to sing, sending the twins jumping out of bed with their hands over their ears. Harry grinned as he stopped singing, "Good morning. Wouldn't Mrs. Weasley be surprised to see you up so early and eager to work on a summer day?" He opened the door, let Sirius slipped past him and closed it behind them.
Harry grinned at Sirius as his godfather shifted, "Thank you," he said, "that was awesome."
Sirius grinned back, "It really was."
Harry sighed, "I needed that, because I got the feeling that the rest of today will be a huge hassle. I do not want to do this."
"Sorry that you have to," Sirius said.
…
Harry smoothed his robes and strode to the front desk at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
"Excuse me," he said politely to the Wizard guarding the desk.
"Yes, how may I help..." the Wizard looked up from his magazine and gasped, "You're Harry Potter."
"Oidhre," Harry said softly, but firmly. He held up the letter, "I've received a summons for a meeting with Auror Carmen Franz about the Dementor attack in Little Whinging."
"I'll get Auror Franz," the man said and hurried back into an area filled with desks.
The wizard spoke with a tall, dark witch who frowned, then looked at Harry. Harry stared back, unwilling to be intimidated by this woman. Finally, she nodded slightly and strode to the desk.
"Oidhre Potter," she said when she was in hearing distance, "may I see the summons you received?"
Harry nodded and handed it over, "Yes ma'am."
The Auror skimmed the paper, and then she looked up at Harry, "I'm sorry, there must be some mistake. I didn't send you a summons."
"Then how do you explain it," Harry asked quietly, but firmly.
"I don't know," Franz said. "I think we should discuss this with Madame Bones, Oidhre. I'm sure there must be an explanation for this. If you would come with me."
"Of course," Harry said, "I want to get this settled as easily as possible." The smile felt fake as he added, "I have nothing but respect for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
Franz raised an eyebrow, and the wizard made an odd coughing noise. "We should wait for Amelia at her office, Oidhre." She turned and walked away, leaving Harry to hurry after. "And for the record, you should try that in the mirror a few times before trying it on one of us. You're spectacularly bad at lying."
Harry smiled, "Who said I was lying? When the Department does its job, it's worthy of respect. I know there aren't many of you still working from ten years ago after all."
Franz looked at him, "What happened ten years ago?"
"It was more like twelve," Harry said, "and someone, who's name sounds remarkably like couch, put an innocent man in Azkaban without a trial. Hypocritically, Mister Couch did give his son a trial some weeks after the innocent man was put away."
"Really," Franz said.
"Really, really," Harry replied. He shrugged, "I can't really say anything, but it's real interesting that with the number of articles painting me as a delusional madman, there hasn't been any real investigation into the two prominent incidents they're using for fuel."
"What incidents?" Franz asked.
"The escape of Sirius Black from Hogwarts and the death of Cedric Diggory," Harry replied. "I understand that calling in Professor Lupin is inadvisable seeing as his testimony is inadmissible in court, but there were three known witnesses to Sirius Black in addition to the Potions Master who were never questioned. Also, I would have thought, regardless of the circumstance, the fact that Cedric Diggory died from Avada Kedarva was strange enough to warrant investigation." He looked away from Franz, trying to remember the lessons that Sirius and Remus had given him all of yesterday to prepare. Remus had explained that his Gift allowed him to mimic people, and that seeing and hearing the lessons would help him as much as any lecture. He sighed and glanced up at her, "I miss the days when my worst nightmare was a flash of green light and a sharp pain in my forehead. I got a lot more sleep back then."
Whatever Auror Franz would have said in response was interrupted by the approach of two women, one of them wearing a monocle and the other with a pink cardigan and bow. Harry studied them for a moment, thinking that the woman with the monocle would have been a peer of Lady Longbottom and Professor McGonagall if her pursed lips and stern glare were any judge, despite the fact that he judged her several years younger than either woman. The second woman looked disgustingly like a simpering toad, but she gave Harry the same sense of disgust he felt around Voldemort and Wormtail. He paused for a moment before realizing he didn't get that same feeling from Professor Snape, a man he had interacted with regularly for years and who he disliked almost as much as the man hated him.
"Mister Potter," the monocle wearer began.
"Oidhre," Harry corrected her coldly. When she hesitated, Harry went on, "I am over the age of fifteen and not at Hogwarts. As this is a formal setting, by the bylaws of this very ministry, the proper title for myself is Oidhre."
"My apologies, Oidhre Potter," the woman said, "I am Madame Amelia Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I would very much like to know why you are up here, in my department when you were to have been in Courtroom Ten an hour ago."
"I was not informed that I was supposed to be in Courtroom Ten an hour ago," Harry replied. "The notice I received yesterday morning, barely making the twenty four hour mark, mind you, said to be here, in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, to meet with Auror Franz. A notice that Auror Franz said she never sent." He shifted his arm enough to free his wand, "Furthermore, I, Harry James Potter, Oidhre and rialóir of the Potter tuath, swear upon my magic that this is the only communication I have received from the Ministry since my departure on the Hogwarts Express. I have not seen, handled, smelled, tasted, or heard of any other communication directed to me by the Ministry of Magic." He lifted his wand and said in his strongest tone, "Lumos."
The light from his wand was brilliant and steady, making everyone blink and look away. "Nox." He muttered and lowered his wand.
"A brilliant play, Oidhre," Madame Bones said.
"I would have said it was enlightening," Harry offered, trying not to grin. "Why was I required to be in Courtroom Ten, Madame Bones?"
"There was a charge that you used underage sorcery this weekend," the unidentified woman replied. "There is report of a patronus charm being used in Little Whinging on Sunday."
"I don't know who cast that charm," Harry said, "but I was not in Little Whinging on Sunday. I was in London with some Muggle friends. I believe there are some shots of me by the Muggle press celebrating my friends' win in the National A Capella Under Sixteen Finals, and furthermore, I spent the afternoon under the eyes of one of your aurors, Madame Bones. I was given to understand that Auror Tonks was contracted as security and supervision during the surprise birthday party my friends hosted in my honor."
"It seems you have an answer for everything," the woman said with a nasty smile.
Harry sketched a slight bow, "Forgive me, I don't believe we've been introduced."
"Madame Delores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister," Madame Bones said.
"Madame Umbridge," Harry said, giving her a polite smile. "I would not say that I have an answer for everything, merely that I have fortunately had an answer for the questions I have been asked. However, if you feel that it is insufficient to hear the testimony of a single Auror in good standing as I believe Auror Tonks is, and a curse breaker for Gringotts in good standing as William Weasley is, I believe there is a spell that might be placed upon my wand to prove that I have not cast a patronus charm recently."
Harry had long been inured to looks of disgust, but there was an extra dose of hatred in the way Madame Umbridge regarded him. "That won't be necessary," she sniffed. "Clearly this was a misunderstanding in the Department, Madame Bones. I trust appropriate actions will be taken?"
Madame Bones nodded once, "I will begin the internal investigation immediately, Senior Undersecretary."
"I will leave you to it then," Madame Umbridge said and flounced away.
Harry raised his eyebrows for a moment, and then looked at Madame Bones, "Is there anything else I am needed for, Madame Bones?"
"No, Oidhre," Madame Bones said, "at the moment, there is nothing. I do apologize for these mix ups."
"It was no harm done," Harry said, "as I said before, I have nothing but respect for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. If there was anything I could have done for that poor man, I would do it in a heartbeat."
Madame Bones studied him for a long moment with a frown, "Agent Franz, please escort the Oidhre back to the floo access point, and see that he returns home safely."
"Yes, Director," Franz said.
Harry followed Franz back to the lifts, smiling a little when the one they entered was empty.
"Oidhre," Franz said, "I can't open an investigation on a whim. If you could give me something, anything."
"Actually," Harry said, "I have a thought. You can ask Percy Weasley this, as you know he is not fond of me."
"Yes?" Franz asked.
"Ask Percy how long he had his pet rat, Scabbers. Then ask Professor McGonagall about the story the Marauders and the animal ears." Harry smiled at Franz, "I'm sure you'll find both answers rather enlightening. If you need any other clues, feel free to owl me at Hogwarts."
"I will, Oidhre," Franz said.
The lift open and Harry followed her to the floo, "I can make my way from here," he told her as they waited.
"I'm required to see you safe," Franz said.
Harry glanced around, "Well, I'm not taking the floo, Auror. I have someone waiting to escort me." He smiled as Bill joined him. "We can make our way from here; Bill won't let me get lost."
"Take care, Oidhre," Franz said with a nod to Bill.
"Call me Harry," Harry said, "if you do what I think you're going to do, and then you'll have earned my friendship."
"I hope I live up to your expectations then," Franz said before walking away.
"Short trip," Bill said.
"Eh," Harry shrugged, "it was interesting though. Let's get back."
A/N: Harry's mannerisms here were copied from Sirius and Remus, it's part of his Bardic magic to be a mimic. There's a lot of thought behind his responses based on what he saw from Sirius and Remus as well as a few other influences in his life. (Up to and including the Dursleys.) That's why he's OOC but a somewhat sassy ooc. (I hope. That was my intent.)
Also, this site bans the use of lyrics in stories for reasons. Out of respect, I have removed the lyrics and indicated what should be there. Can you imagine being awaken by those particular lyrics sung through a megaphone with a dog howling backup?
