… - …
Chapter 21 – Croaker's Assignment
Sunday 26 December
After breakfast, they took their portkeys to Ben's home and drove from there. Ben found a spot to park in the nearly empty lot and they walked in. They looked around. There were 18 lanes as well as an adjacent pub, which already had several tables filled.
Stan the attendant asked, "What would you like today?"
Ben replied, "We'll start with one game for six. Everyone needs shoes." He paid for everyone. Stan gave everyone their requested size of shoes and said, "Lane 8."
Dan went with a sixteen pound ball, while the others went looking for twelve pounders. Harry and the two teens all found balls on one rack with holes that fit. Ben and Amelia decided to go to one of the racks at the end where they quickly found ones that they were looking for. Ben put everyone's name in and said, "These lanes have automatic scoring systems."
They went in order of age, so Harry went first. Susan had quietly coached him the afternoon before when Auntie mentioned going. He walked up to the line, focused on the front pin and smoothly swung the ball back and released it, with his thumb pointing at the front pin. The ball hit the front pin dead-on, leaving a 7-10 split.
"Nice one, Harry. You got some." observed Hermione, with an innocent smile on her face. Bowling was probably the one activity in the world where she consistently beat him. There had been many times in the past where he'd rolled two gutter balls in a row. He rolled the next one in the exact same spot, missing both; giving him an 8.
Susie went next and knocked down all ten at once; a strike.
"Good one," smiled Harry, sincerely happy for his girlfriend. She smiled at the praise.
Hermione, using a short step, got all but the 7 pin on her first roll and picked up the spare on her second. The three teens smiled at each other.
Dan rolled the loudenboomer, swinging harder than needed and knocked down seven pins with a crash that might wake the dead. He knocked the other three down with his second ball.
Amelia smoothly rolled a slow ball and quietly got all ten. She surreptitiously winked at Ben.
With a well-practiced stride and an easy swing, Ben got his.
And so they went as they rolled through the game. Harry got all ten once, but usually left some standing. Susie and Hermione did better and were evenly matched. Dan made a lot of noise, occasionally connecting for a crashing strike, but frequently missed the pickups. Ben thought he threw too hard, but didn't say anything.
Amelia rolled a few strikes, but generally picked up the leftovers, as did Ben. He remarked, "I haven't had this much fun in years. Thank you both," referring to Hermione and Amelia. The two witches both smiled. One was delighted to be spending time with her Grandpa, the other, very happy for the company.
Hermione gave a last look at the scoreboard before it was reset. Harry 92, Susan 140, Hermione 140, Dan 136, Amelia 182, Ben 178. They returned the balls to the rack, gave their shoes back to Stan the attendant, washed up a bit, then stopped into the pub for a beverage and a bite. Harry observed, "Grandpa, you and Amelia did really well."
Ben smiled back and replied, "Amelia did really well. I got lucky on a few, but it's brilliant feeling good again."
Everyone agreed as they got back into Ben's old Land Rover.
"It's too bad that Hogwarts doesn't have a set of lanes." observed Hermione. There really aren't any physical activity options available if you're not on a quidditch team. Bowling would be an easy way to spend informal time with people from other houses."
Amelia noticed that Susie and Harry both agreed. He added, "Twenty-eight people play quidditch. No one else gets a chance."
Hermione added, "It's divisive. It's one thing to cheer for your own team, but there's no bonding between houses to offset it. Snape never let the people from his house even eat with anyone else and the other heads never encouraged it."
Susie agreed, saying, "The Slytherins collectively just got their arses handed to them. I'm not saying that they didn't start it and didn't deserve it, but Hermione and Harry are right; there's a shed load of collective anger against them. It's not just quidditch; it's a your parents killed my parents sort of thing." Harry was thinking about Cho and Theo.
The adults were absolutely quiet as they listened.
Susie continued, "Bowling would be good. They could have teams with one rule – there have to be people from at least two houses on it."
Curious, Harry asked, "How much does a bowling alley cost?"
"No Harry. You're not paying to have a bowling alley put up at Hogwarts." directed Amelia. I happen to think it's a good idea and will bring it up at the next board meeting. The school is not without resources."
He nodded in acceptance; the words to the Christmas song refrain kept going through his mind.
… - …
While Hermione was looking at the bowling scores, a witch matching the description entered the bank. Gumeye immediately contacted Sneerwell and directed Miss Chang to his counter. When she arrived, he said, "How may Gringotts assist you today, Miss Chang?"
She replied, "I'd like my parents' Will read please."
The old goblin, replied, "My name is Sneerwell. I can assist you. Step into the Bronze room over there and I'll be with you in two minutes. Gumeye will escort you." He pointed to the conference room at the other end of the spacious lobby, placed the next window placard in front of his counter window and went to get some documents.
Cho was led to the small conference room and gave a look at the same maps that Dan had previously studied. Sneerwell saw her looking at the Hogsmeade map as he walked in. He commented, "Your parents worked very hard to be able to afford to bring you here. I met with your mother twice, arranging business documentation for them. You have done well, attempting to avenge their deaths. We will not interfere with your actions. However, it is not a path that we would recommend that you continue."
Cho was stunned at the words, but said nothing, raising Sneerwell's opinion of the young witch. He continued, "The terms of their Will were very straightforward. You inherit all of their assets and liabilities. Is it your intent to resume operating the business, or would you have us dissolve it on their behalf?"
She knew that the question would be asked, and replied, "It's my intent to keep it, right now."
"There is a four percent estate tax and a four percent estate fee. Fortunately your parents had more than enough gold in their vault to cover both. You need to sign here, here, here and there and their home and business are yours. We'll file the appropriate paperwork with the Ministry."
She nodded at his words.
He added, "If I might make a suggestion, it would be to permanently dispose of anything that might link the four students with yourself, or the school. If we can be of additional assistance in the future, please stop in again, Miss Chang."
He stood while she gathered her papers and walked out of the conference room. She was pleased with the proceedings, but completely shaken that they'd tied the four deaths to her so easily.
… - …
Amelia made the various introductions as Croaker stood in the background, observing. "Harry, this is Michelle Wood, her husband Mike, and Minister Amos Diggory."
"Hello again. I'm pleased to meet you Mike. Good to see you again, Minister." Harry had spent a lifetime being annoyed when people would star at his scar, so he had an easy time, not focusing on the missing legs that Michelle and Amos had, or the crutches that they both were still getting used to. He didn't pity them, but wished that there was a way to help.
Harry added, "This is my sister, Hermione Granger."
They didn't stay long. Harry recalled that she'd been very efficient when she'd first met them after the attack at the Flying Horse. He did appreciate that none of them talked down to him because of his age.
… - …
Harry asked, "Have you always been in investigations?"
Connie replied, "After the first Voldemort war ended in late 1981, the DMLE was decimated. Barty Crouch, fifteen Aurors and one Hitwizard were all that remained. We literally sent the entire force when Alice Longbottom sent that distress message.
"We stormed their cottage. Alastor lost his leg that day. Seeing the blood on the floor, the anti-apparition wards up, and all of us there seemed to be enough for Bellatrix at that point. She, Rabastan, Rodolphus and Barty Junior neatly set their wands on the ground then put their hands in the air like they'd given up. They probably would have gotten away with the Imperius defense like those other stinkers if they'd turned themselves in a week earlier, like Lucius and his bunch."
Harry and the others sat there with rapt attention, nodding from time to time as she spoke.
"Minister Bagnold retired after the trials and that twat Fudge got in. Dumbledore would have figured a way to pardon the lot of them, if it hadn't been for those four. They and about fifty of his hired-help supporters went to Azkaban. Most of the others had been given ten-year sentences. The unmarked ones, they all died within a year or two. Something in the Mark must have kept them going. Greg Flint and his brother Tim – they made it two years. Qwen and John Thomas – they committed suicide after four."
Harry and Hermione both recalled that Sirius was stuck there for twelve years and wondered how he managed.
She continued, "It's difficult to play what-if, but Barty would have been a shoe-in for Bagnold's job if Junior hadn't gotten caught red-handed; really more his trial. He was done after that. Too bad, in hindsight. He stepped down from the DMLE Director job as he should have, but he also gave up his Wizengamot seat and went to International Cooperation. Lucius' trial was the next one after and Dumbledore presided.
"It should have been clear-cut. He'd been charged with three murders – Wizengamot seat holders. Some claimed he did it for the money that they looted from the homes, while others claimed that Riddle ordered it to get rid of opposing voices in their plans for a future government."
Connie continued, "In spite of all of the physical evidence, and there was a boat-load, that he'd done all of those dastardly deeds, he got off. By rights; he should have gotten the Kiss, but Albus didn't listen to reason and insist on using Veritaserum. Malfoy threw out the Imperious defense as a last-ditch defense on his own when his Solicitor had run out of ideas.
"In the end, you'd have sworn that it was Albus, who was his Solicitor. He argued that Lucius and Narcissa had never been previously arrested and that since they had a young child, they deserved a second chance. That started a big chain reaction. Lucius got his Wizengamot seat, since Abraxas had died during the war. Parkinson, Nott, and Goyle were next, followed by Crabbe a few weeks later. When they all got their seats back, they had an edge in the Wizengamot. First Lucius introduced his no proxy for Minors amendment to a budget bill. Then he passed his wealth-test amendment to the reparations act."
Even though she now had two pages of questions written down, Hermione remained silent.
"In the meantime, Malfoy had bought off Fudge and Archie Amslowe, which resulted in Sirius never getting a trial. Archie Obliviated all of the witnesses, leaving Fudge as the sole testimony that it had been Black who had killed the muggles. Archie had found the finger. He'd probably known how Pettigrew had gotten away. Six days later, Fudge was Minister, buoyed by his assisting in the capture of the man who had reportedly betrayed Lily and James. Pettigrew was smart enough to stay out of sight and Dumbledore completely protected Snape.
"Lucius passed an amendment here or another there and things just lined up for him. He removed the restrictions on what campaign contributions could be used for by stating that hardly anyone bothered to make contributions and the cost of oversight exceed the total contributed."
Amelia added, "When he said it, it actually sounded like a reasonable cost savings measure."
"It passed, and two years later, Fudge was living in a million galleon estate and two more years passed and the next we knew, he also had a home in Spain. He claimed that he'd made good investments.
"So in a hundred words or less, Dumbledore opened the floodgates which got those Stinkers let off, kept Sirius in a hellhole and kept the DMLE on a skeleton budget."
"He wanted Voldemort to return," replied Harry, as matter-of-factly as if he'd been discussing a sport score.
"What?" asked Connie, spilling her eggnog.
"He's right," added Croaker, who'd quietly been listening. "He'd heard a half-arsed prophecy which that drunk Trelawney had delivered, and set it in motion. He'd been interviewing her for a position and Snape had been listening in. Dumbledore let Snape go – a Marked Death Eater, mind you, and set the prophecy in motion. He allowed a situation to be set up where James and Lily would be attacked. In hindsight, it would have worked, except that Dumbledore didn't know about Riddle's horcruxes. If the prophecy was, in fact, real, it had been fulfilled in 1981. He was the one who placed the copy in the Hall of Prophecies. You know the rest."
Hermione sat and thought for a moment and replied, "That was far and away the best history of magic lesson that I've ever had. Thank you all." A moment later, she added, "I do have a question."
Croaker couldn't resist, "Just the one?"
She rolled her eyes and asked, "Why didn't Professor Dumbledore get some help to get rid of Harry's scar?"
He replied, "Putting the best possible shine on the subject, pride. He never asked anyone for their advice. He probably assumed that if he didn't know, it couldn't be done."
"No." interrupted Harry. "He believed that I needed to be killed by Voldemort himself. He told me himself a week or so before he disappeared. I'm sure that's why he allowed Sirius to be stuck in prison, why he set up the events of our first year. He made the decision that it was OK for Nicolas Flamel and his wife to die. He made the decision that I shouldn't live with Sirius. He placed me with those fecking turds. He set up first year."
The teen took a calming breath as the others listened in rapt attention. "Then second year happened. He was sincerely knocked-back when I showed him the diary that was seducing Ginny. I understand it now. Granted, he cost me ten million galleons, but the diary must have made him realize that he'd made more than one. The strange thing is, Sirius told me that that Slughorn guy probably knew how many that he'd made. I don't know the specifics, but Dumbledore didn't bother to ask him and didn't bother searching for the pieces until last summer. Two months ago, he told me that it was my job to go find them. I hope he got hit by a fecking bus."
"How do you really feel?" asked Connie, with a smirk on her face. "Anyway, to circle back to your original question, after the war and the department got back on its feet, I went back into investigations, full-time. Oh, look at the time. I'd best be on my way."
"It's a lot to think about." observed Susan.
Harry asked, "Professor Croaker, I didn't ask before, you wouldn't by chance be Neville Longbottom's uncle?"
Caught off-guard, he admitted, "Yes. Actually, he's my great-nephew."
"I remember in our first year, you'd given him his toad."
"I did. That's a good eye for detail. That's part of the reason that I'm here today. Harry, what do you know about feet?"
"Having two is a good thing, Professor. The arch and toes help us walk."
"Very good. Susie, if I could impose on you, please go put on a pair of summer shorts and come back."
"In the meanwhile, Hermione, how is your mother?"
"The skull fracture has completely healed. The brain swelling has subsided. Dad says that Dr. Krebbs, the neurosurgeon believes she'll wake up in a few months."
"How long has it been?
"Just over five and a half months, Professor."
"When Susie gets back, I'd like to go see her with you for a few minutes."
A minute later, Susan had returned and Croaker said, "Hermione and I need to go run an errand. Harry, with Susie's permission, I'd like you to spend an hour examining her feet. The toes, the arch, heel and ankle. We'll be right back."
It sounded fine to the two teens.
… - …
Monday 27 December
When the three teens got up the next day, Harry said, "OK. You go first."
Hermione explained, "We went to see Mum. Professor Croaker cast some complicated diagnostics on her. He confirmed that her skull had completely healed. He cast another charm and said that the brain swelling had almost completely subsided and would most likely wake up in a few months."
Harry was looking at her with obvious longing on his face.
"Finally, he said that if we'd tried to Enervate her before the swelling had subsided, she would have had brain damage complications that might not have been repairable."
"So Mum's going to wake up pretty soon?"
Hermione knew how much Harry needed her mum back in his life and didn't want to give him false hope, but Professor Croaker had sounded so positive. She replied, "He told me that he'd come back and look at her again next week and see how he could help her. What about your project?" She wiggled her eyes suggestively.
"He wanted me to study her feet and stuff."
"Study her feet?"
"He wanted me to study her toes, see how they help with balance, arch the heel, how the ankles worked; that sort of thing."
"What about the 'and stuff' part?"
Harry turned beet red and admitted, "I also studied a bit higher up."
"Calves?"
He nodded.
"And knees?"
He didn't have to answer. His face gave all the answer she needed.
"Higher?"
"It seemed like a pretty good assignment."
"Then what happened?"
"He came back and showed me how to conjure a metal foot. It was like Riddle did for Pettigrew in the graveyard, except it was a foot. He told me that I was to practice it for a week or two and then he'd show me the next steps. They're weird, like the metal in the Terminator 2 movie; remember?"
She did and asked, "Can you really do that – make a foot that moves?"
He nodded.
"Is it hard?"
"Yes, well, er, not any more. He's a pretty good teacher; a lot more like Flitwick than McGonagall. He's encouraging and that sort of thing. It's all about visualization. First he had me replicate Susan's left foot, using her left foot as a model. That was easier, because she could arch it, wiggle her toes and move her ankle from side to side, so I could see it. Then he had me make a left foot, using her right foot as the model. That was harder because everything was reversed."
Hermione didn't feel so smug with herself over the conjured water glasses anymore, but she kept an interested look on her face. She wasn't as transparent as she had been as an eleven year-old.
Harry said, "That's really good news about Mum. Have you told Dad?
"No, I wanted to wait a few days. Can I borrow Hedwig?"
"Sure. You know you don't have to ask."
"OK. I'll see you at lunch."
… - …
That evening, Headmaster John Damocles had been notified that the four students had apparently left the castle. Nott's withdrawal notice was genuine. One of the other Slytherin students had seen him talking with a year-mate; discussing leaving the school. The Board needed to be notified of transfers and withdrawals. The next meeting was in just over a week. The student records that were on his desk hadn't yet been updated with new guardians or emergency contacts. John did the right thing and notified the head of the Board via firecall.
Augusta Longbottom asked, "What are the circumstances?"
"We received a withdrawal notice from the Nott boy and their trunks were packed and gone."
She admitted, "Honestly, I can't say that I'm surprised that they chose to leave. If you receive a transfer request from another school, please let me know."
"Certainly Madam Longbottom. I may yet receive them by the January meeting. If I hear back from the others, I'll get withdrawal notices from them as well."
"Thank you, Professor."
In reality, neither the new headmaster not Augusta was honestly disappointed to learn that the four had left. It eliminated a ragged, loose-end in their mutual plans to move the school into the 21st century.
… - …
As Damocles was speaking with Augusta, Ben and Dan found Hermione perusing through the Bones family library. "Hermione, there's something your Dad and I need to talk about with you."
"What is it, Grandpa?"
"My mum, Patti Olifson held a Wizengamot seat. According to the rules, you'd be eligible to claim it when you turn seventeen."
"The studious teen sat down for a minute. All of the hundreds of taunts that she'd received at Hogwarts – mudblood and the like; only to find that they weren't true. For once, she didn't know what to say.
Dan continued. "Amelia suggested that you might want to check either at the bookstore or the Hogwarts library for a reference guide or two. In the meantime she suggested that you might wish to visit that gallery a few times. I'd remind you of two things to think about. You were given two ears and one mouth. You'll want to do a lot of learning. Second, you'll be working with these people for many years. First impressions will last a long time; you'll want them to be the right ones."
Ben added, "Amelia will come visit with you on a Saturday in February. She'll answer your questions and help you be successful with this."
Initially a bit shocked, both by the news and the unusual degree of bluntness by her dad, Hermione realized the intent and replied, "Thank you Grandpa, thanks Dad. I'll do my best."
"We know you will, lass. We know you will."
… - …
Friday 31 December
Augustus Rookwood found Venice to be a perfect, if risky, intermediate hiding place. The 60,000 visitors to the city each day brought anonymity, as well an indulgence for his beginning Italian. By any measure it was a happy time for the man who'd spent ten years in Azkaban. The sights, sounds and very accommodating women made it a paradise in comparison. However, the same number of visitors guaranteed that sooner or later, he would either be recognized, or, if lucky, see someone that he knew.
This morning, it had happened. One of Riddle's arms-length supporters, Tom Felsenthal and his wife, Patti were outside having breakfast at a little café in the San Marco division. While the former unspeakable was certain that neither the English financier nor his wife had seen him, he quickly left and made his way back to his home in the Givdecca division.
"Buongierno, Binks."
"Benvento, Master. Come stai?"
"Bene, e tu?
"Bien, grazie. Posso qiotari?
"No. Grazie."
Augustus remarked, "Very good. We'll stay here another month or so, improving our Italian before we move. I saw Tom Felsenthal this morning in San Marco. We both need to avoid being recognized by anyone. Our Italian is passable now for a tourist, but we'll need to be more proficient and have a larger vocabulary before we move to Polarmo."
"Yes, Master. Binks is trying very hard."
"I know. You're a good elf, Binks."
… - …
Ben poured them each a glass and gave Dan the one with the two ice cubes. After they had sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, he asked, "So when Emma wakes up, what are you going to tell her?"
Dan admitted, "I've been thinking about that since the night Sneerwell came over to talk about Hermione. Amelia knows, right?"
Ben nodded, but didn't say anything.
Dan added, "She probably made a vow never to talk about it and left it up to us to live with it or something close."
Ben nodded, allowing Dan to talk it out.
Dan rationalized, "Than we'd better stick with the newspaper version that Scrimgeour and crew eventually got all of them and let Harry and Hermione tell their side. Eventually, she'll hear of the morons' attack on Bones manor and most of the other details. We'd rented the space above the ice cream shop to do the planning for the new clinic and used it for a few weeks. It's a big omission, but it'll hold up."
Ben nodded.
Dan realized, "this is going to cost me dinner tonight, isn't it?"
Ben replied, "Now you're talking. Let's go, and get rid of that bottle of Hoppes. We're retired."
ooo ccc ooo
Real Author Note: More than a few people sent notes commenting that Harry was a fool to share the picture money with Ron and Ginny. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Mine is that he wouldn't exclude them. The question is - would Ron be responsible with his money? I'd happily include an omake of the best response or two.
Two recommendations this time. For non-writers, the reason I don't simply include a link is that the fanfiction website doesn't allow embedded links to be included in stories. If you don't know how to edit an address bar, you might simply look in my favorites list. Then again, it's a good skill to acquire.
10949411/1/We-Found-Wonderland (ESL story, but it has a very clever concept)
9495799/1/1 The Eight Futures of Harry Potter – I had a great fun time reading this.
Several other people commented that they couldn't figure out the continued reference to 1275 during the story. That was the year that the offenses against persons act was enacted. It was one of the origins of modern consent laws and worth keeping in mind. In this age of google everything, I'm surprised that 175 people didn't spot it and comment after chapter 3.
There are two or three more chapters, depending on how long one of the final scenes goes.
I'm going to Nevada for the stated purpose of going to a trade show. I'll be back in a week and a half.
The old scribe and McGonagall will be back again soon. They needed some time apart.
… - …