Partners?
A/N: Don't own a thing, especially not HP. I hope you enjoy chapter twenty eight. Italics denotes thoughts. Bold is for spells. Also, thank you for the great feedback.
Chapter Twenty Eight: Meeting Madam Bones
Narcissa turned back and walked to Harry. After taking quick stock of his health, she leaned in and kissed him soundly. "You are alright?"
Harry nodded, then noticed Fleur's wide eyes, "Let's go back to Grimmauld Place, Fleur I have some things to tell you."
Fleur took the news much better than Mum.. Tonks noted as she sat at the table with the rest of the group.
"So, you are all 'arry's wives? 'arry dueled your former 'usband?" She said, Narcissa nodded. "He risked his magic by promising me that he wouldn't kill my son if Draco wound up being called upon to act in Lucius's place."
"Mon Dieu, quelle vie...you never seem to 'ave it easy..'' Fleur sighed and then chuckled to herself, ''I feel as if I must apologize again for call you a little boy when we first met.''
Harry smiled, ''It's alright Fleur, unlike the rest of magical Britain, at least you see the difference now.''
Narcissa sat up a bit, ''Ms. Delacour, I have an idea..would you please send a message to your father. From what I know of France, Jean Luc Delacour is quite well connected,''
Narcissa turned to Harry, ''As your voice in the Wizengamot, I will start to build a coalition between the Neutral Houses, those voices, plus a man considered in the running to be the leader of Wizarding France will do a lot to sway members from the Light Houses and Dark Houses that have not yet sworn to Voldemorts side.''
Harry nodded, then Bellatrix spoke up, "Tonks, I have something I wanted to ask you. What do you think of the state of the current Order of the Phoenix?"
Tonks grimaced slightly, "I trust the members, for the most part, but Dumbledore is not the man I thought he was if he is aware of what Bill was doing. After all, he pushed Fleur and Bill together by forcing her to stop writing to Harry.."
Bellatrix nodded, "What would your boss at the DMLE do with a list of marked and unmarked Death Eaters, a list of their safehouses, and a list of locations where powerful dark objects might be found?"
Tonks thought, "Well, besides giving me a raise, I'd say she would be thrilled to be able to hit the bastards, why?"
"Would she be grateful enough to get a pardon signed for the person who gave her the information, considering that the person had been under a compulsion charm for the entire time they had been a Death Eater?" Bellatrix pressed. Tonks thought for a moment then smiled, "I believe Madam Bones would be able to sneak the pardon into a pile of papers so that Fudge would sign it without reading it first.."
Bellatrix smiled, "Feel like taking a message to your boss for me?"
SCENE BREAK
Amelia Bones scowled as she looked over the paperwork on her desk. There had been more attacks, all sudden hits, the kind that are nearly impossible to defend against. She was not in the best mood when her secretary appeared, "Madam Bones?"
"Yes Davis?"
Kristen Davis shrank a bit at the cold tone in her boss's voice, "Auror Tonks here for you Madam, she has something she believes is important enough that it is for your eyes only." The older witch scowled for a moment then nodded. "Send her in."
Tonks walked into the office, Bones is ticked about something big..."What do you have for me Auror?" Amelia motioned to the chair opposite her, Tonks sank into it and then offered her a parchment.
"What is this?" Amelia began to look at it, it was a series of names, names she knew of, beside them were the words marked or unmarked.
"A present from a source I cannot name at this time. This is a list of every Death Eater my source knows of. She is also willing to give you a list of known safehouses, as well as the possible locations of some of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's prize possessions." Tonks stated, watching as the monocle in her bosses left eye nearly pop out.
"This 'source' is a Death Eater herself isn't she?"
"She was under a compulsion charm that only recently broke. She is willing to undergo veritaserum and a pensieve if it will help." Tonks answered, now it was the critical moment, "Would all of that get her a pardon?"
"Can you bring her to this office in one hour?" Amelia looked at the paper before her, this information wasn't enough to put anyone into Azkaban, but it was a start, something she could work with, Put a few Aurors watching the marked ones, maybe have a few Aurors checking the owls from the unmarked ones.. "Bring her here. At the very least, if she'll go through that for me, I can promise her safe passage to my office and back to wherever she's at. You have my permission to directly apparate back from here and to return with your informant."
Tonks nodded and rose to leave, apparating back to Grimmauld Place. All I have to do is convince Bellatrix to come with me, that should be roughly as easy as getting Fleur and Bill in the same room and Fleur not burning his arse..
Harry and Bellatrix were sitting in the kitchen together. Bellatrix looked as terrified as she had the day Tonks and Narcissa had brought Harry back from the duel.
"Well?" Bellatrix asked her.
"Bones is definitely interested, she's offered you safe passage, as long as you're willing to take the serum and let her view your memories.." Tonks relayed the instructions she had been given by her boss.
"Alright, let's go." Bellatrix rose, but Tonks held out a hand, "We can't leave yet. She said to come back in an hour."
"Should I come with you?" Harry asked Bellatrix, "Would that help you feel more comfortable?"
Bellatrix smiled a little and took Harry's hand, squeezing it gently. "It would, but I doubt the invitation is for more than just me. Besides, if something goes wrong.." She looked lost for a moment.
Tonks looked to her, sometimes it was difficult to see Bellatrix as a former Death Eater, she supposed part of that is the fact that Bellatrix had been trapped inside her own mind for twenty years, "Madam Bones isn't going to slap you in irons as soon as you appear in her office Bellatrix. She's a good, honorable woman. She promised you safe passage in and out, she'll honor that."
Scene Break
Fleur finished the letter she had been writing, her parents were going to be furious, possibly demand that she return to France and never come back to Britain, but she owed it to Harry to stay and see this through.
Dear Maman and Papa,
I do not know how to explain what I have learned regarding my time in England. Bill Weasley was feeding me love potions. Thankfully, the Auror Nymphadora Tonks (If you meet her, please do not call her that, just Tonks), had suspicions and gave me a purging potion. I had no recourse, because, as a Veela, I was considered a magical creature rather than a woman. However, Harry Potter took me in as a Ward of his House (he is the Lord of Houses Potter and Black). He dueled Bill in my honor and defeated him. Bill was a coward and attacked Harry afterwards when his back was turned. I and Harry's wives (He has three due to unforeseen circumstances). I am writing you on behalf of Narcissa Potter-Black, the primary wife. She is Harry's voice on the Wizengamot and would like to ask you to join your voice to hers. While not a member of the Wizengamot, you are a member of the ICW and your name has weight here in Britain.
Your Loving Daughter,
Fleur
This letter had been hard to write. It had forced her to think about what Bill had done to her, the lack of remorse he'd shown. Tears didn't come this time thankfully. She sighed and folded the note, putting it into an envelope. She walked to Harry's room and found Hedwig sitting on top of her cage. "'edwig, will you take a letter for me? It's a long journey girl.." The snowy owl looked at her for a moment, then held out her leg. Fleur tied the letter to the owl then opened the window. Hedwig flapped her wings and took off.
Scene Break
Narcissa watched as Tonks and Bellatrix left for the Ministry. Harry had kissed Bellatrix and drew her into an embrace. Narcissa felt tear drops prick at her eyes, Good luck Sister...she thought, as the pair disappeared, leaving Harry in the kitchen. She cleared her throat and Harry turned.
"She'll be alright, won't she?" Harry's voice broke her heart, It's so easy to forget sometimes how young he is..She walked over, embracing Harry. "Nymphadora has faith in Madam Bones. I have faith in Nymphadora..." She said, hoping her voice sounded confident enough for both of them.
Harry was silent, his arms stayed around Narcissa. He looked up into her eyes, She really is beautiful, they all are..He smiled softly and kissed her. "Thank you Narcissa..." he said softly.
"When Bella and Dora come back, how about the two of us go to Muggle London? We'd be spotted in a minute if we went to a place in Diagon Alley..so let's go to a place in Muggle London, we haven't gotten a chance to spend time together.." Harry offered. Narcissa's eyes widened and then she smiled, a flush appearing on her cheeks.
"I would like that Harry..."
He kissed her again then. As the bond between Harry and his wives deepened, he found himself more comfortable kissing them. It helped that is wives were all extremely beautiful women. Each one had their place in his heart; Tonks was the voice of courage, always willing to do what is right. Bella was the heart, she held such enthusiasm for the things she'd missed out on. Then there was Narcissa, the woman he was currently kissing, she was the mind of the family.
When the kiss broke they stood there, each one breathing slightly harder than before. They didn't notice Fleur on the stairs watching them with sad and envious eyes.
Scene Break
Tonks and Bellatrix appeared in Amelia's office. Bellatrix had worn a hooded robe due to nerves. Madam Bones gestured to the pair, "Please sit. I've been going through these names...I want to say I can't believe some of them, but as I was reading on, I think it's that I don't want to.."
Bellatrix sat down slowly, as if expecting chains to appear around her. Tonks took the seat beside her, "Madam Bones, I am here to beg you for my freedom." Bellatrix began, removing the hood. This time the monocle did fall out, but Amelia was swift to catch it.
"Bellatrix LeStrange?"
"Bellatrix Black, Madam Bones. I was married under false pretenses and the Lord of my House saved me." Bellatrix said softly.
"You will submit to veritaserum?"
"Yes."
"The pensieve as well?"
"Yes."
"Then let's begin." Amelia said taking a small bottle and giving it to Tonks, "Four drops please, Auror Tonks."
The dose was administered, Bellatrix's eyes glazed over and the interrogation began, "Tell me everything about your time with the Dark Lord."
When it was over Tonks was trying her best to hold back tears. Amelia was thankful for her years in law enforcement. She needed the distance her job had taught her. "Very well. Ms. Black, I will begin working on your pardon. It will be hard to get it onto the Ministers desk, but I think if I put it in the middle of a large number of files for him to sign, he might overlook what he's signing."
Bellatrix smiled, feeling tears prick at her eyes. "Thank you...I..you don't know what this means..Harry will be so thrilled.."
"Harry? As in Harry Potter?"
"Yes, he is the Lord Potter-Black now. He annulled my marriage, he broke the compulsion..He saved me from madness..." She smiled softly.
Amelia noted the small band on her finger, flicking her eyes over to Tonk's hand she noticed a similar band, she didn't say anything, I get the feeling Harry Potter is more than just the Lord of your House...
Scene Break
The pair returned to Grimmauld Place to find Harry and Narcissa preparing for their date. Bellatrix smiled watching as her sister fixed her hair at the mirror in the foyer.
"You want to look your best I take it?"
Narcissa jumped slightly, then turned. "How did it go?"
Bellatrix grinned wider, "If everything goes the way Madam Bones thinks it will, I'll be a free woman in a few days. So, where is our husband taking you?"
"Muggle London, I'm going to take him to a cafe I used to go to when I wanted to get away from Lucius." Narcissa surprised herself when she let loose a small giggle, "I haven't been this excited since I was a girl.."
Bellatrix went to say something, but was stopped as an unfamiliar man walked down the stairs. He was taller than Narcissa with warm brown hair and eyes. He was dressed in a plain but good looking dress shirt and was fumbling with his tie, seeing Bellatrix he smiled and walked over, kissing her. When he spoke though, it was Harry's voice, "Hello Mrs. Potter-Black, what do you think of the glamour Narcissa cast on me?"
"You look very...nice, you look nice Harry, but I think I prefer my husband over a handsome stranger."
Harry grinned, "Narcissa did too, but this was my idea. If I went on a date in Muggle London with my normal features, they'd have her in jail for corrupting a minor.."
Harry took Narcissa's hand and the two prepared to leave, "We'll be back later tonight, unless it's too late, then we'll just find a hotel for the night."
With that, the pair apparated away, leaving a stunned Bellatrix and Tonks watching the spot they had been standing.
"Five galleons says they don't come back until tomorrow.." Tonks said to Bellatrix.
