Yay! Happy birthday Amelia Bones! I've always felt she would be exceedingly protective of her family, not only because of the Hufflepuff loyalty and all that, but her poor brother, and his family :(
I like to think she and Susan were very close, too - the only niece!
30 June 1996
"You say he doesn't look familiar, but he's following you?" Emily's brows were furrowed in concentration.
"I can't be certain," Amelia shrugged. "I was told that an Auror detail would be watching my movements, and I signed off on that, but I thought it would be covert. I've genuinely only seen him a handful of times, though. He could be a new neighbor, for all I know."
"Hm," said her sister-in law. "Well, would you like to stay here for a few days, Amelia? You know we'd love to have you."
"You know I would never put you all in danger," Amelia said seriously, and Emily sighed, but nodded.
"Auntie!"
"There's my girl!" Amelia cried, embracing Susan as she ran in the sitting room doorway, plaits swinging wildly in every direction. "Oh, Susan—how are you?"
"I'm fine, I'm brilliant!" Susan said brightly, shedding her cloak; the mist that signaled the growing presence of dementors was particularly thick, today.
"Susie, you said you'd be home half an hour ago," Emily chided, rising from the sofa to hug her.
"I'm sorry, Hannah and I just got to talking, and—"
"Nothing will stop Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott from having a marvelous time," boomed Roger, Amelia's brother, who was coming into the room with hors d'oeuvres and drinks suspended before him on massive silver trays.
"Sorry, Dad," Susan said, going meekly to hug him. Then she looked right at Amelia. "But Hannah's mum Side-Alonged me right to the door, Auntie, I didn't walk from the Leaky Cauldron."
"Smart girl," Amelia said, tipping her a wink over her cocktail.
Susan shrugged and reached a hand into her pocket. "Anyway…happy birthday, Aunt Amelia." She blushed to the very roots of her dark red hair and held out a flat, wrapped box.
"Emily, dear—could you help me with dinner?" Roger asked, and Emily smiled.
"You two behave yourselves," she teased as she and her husband left the room.
"Well," said Amelia, sitting down in her chair once more, "This is a surprise."
Susan shrugged. "I'm almost sixteen now. I think I can get my aunt a gift on my own." She ruined her would-be casual tone by grinning hugely.
Amelia smiled and lifted the lid away. "Oh, Susan…" She withdrew from the velvet casing a brooch in the shape of a badger, studded with gems the topaz color of Hufflepuff House.
"I thought…since it was your Patronus," Susan said slowly, and Amelia silenced her in another huge hug. "And," said Susan against her shoulder, "That's not all, though—there's a second part to your present. Here—" And she pulled away from Amelia, stepping towards the fireplace, and raised her wand.
"Expecto Patronum!" she cried, and from the end of her wand erupted a cloudy silver badger, which scampered once around the room and vanished.
"Susan, that's amazing!"
Emily and Roger had returned to the sitting room; Emily was beaming with pride as she met Amelia's eyes. Amelia was in a state of shock, simply sitting and staring at her niece in utter bemusement.
"You—but you—"
"Harry taught me," Susan said proudly. "Harry Potter." When Amelia could say nothing more, Susan blushed again. "Well, you said I ought to learn to defend myself."
And at last, Amelia laughed. "Well—I never imagined that you might have been giving dear Dolores all that trouble, Susan Bones." Susan smiled and shrugged as if to say it was nothing.
"Going to turn her in, Amy?" Roger chuckled, settling down beside Amelia.
"Hardly!" Amelia laughed. "I can't think when I've been more proud."
And Susan rushed forward and hugged her.
