CHAPTER 15: Placing a Trust, Forming a Team.

Madam Amelia Bones had been signing off cases, progressing papers to be sent off for Wizengamot proceedings, and all the other bits of paperwork that was the standard operational stuff of the day. But her thoughts were really only on one thing. Well, several 'one things'. The Privet Drive investigation and how this had opened up a can of worms that had links to high up in the Ministry and Hogwarts School. A pile of 'one things' that led onto loads of others with the connection being Harry Potter.

She needed to be seen to be allowing her Investigating Aurors to do their job and for her to be not interfering. However, with her Master of Auror's, Robards, off ill and unlikely to return, she was keeping a closer than normal eye on things with unsolicited advice to her Captain being much more frequent. Her role as the Head of the DMLE was to assess the evidence presented to her in the case files, advise officers if more investigation was required, collate the final reports and make judgement as to the validity of any possible prosecutions and chances of conviction or acquittal. Then, in politically sensitive or highly controversial cases, where necessary, to report her findings to the Minister of Magic, currently Cornelius Fudge. This last bit, the reporting to Fudge, was to give the Minister the opportunity to 'advise and recommend advancement or changes to the enquiry's direction.'

'To stick his bloody nose into my departments business' thought Bones, 'and not get his or his supporters nose's put out of joint by anything that implicates them in criminality or negligence.'

But, to progress all these enquiries, she had to make the decision she did not want to make; Shacklebolt. She trusted the renowned Auror in his integrity, his efficiency, his ability to get the job done, but he had an unshakeable faith in Albus Dumbledore. She looked across the main floor to the office of her Captain. He was there talking with Dora Tonks ('Does that girl never go home!') and Christina Johnson, her second youngest Auror and, like Tonks, not long qualified as an A.I.

'Hmm! 'Tina Johnson. Now there's a thought. I wanted some new, fresh thinking on this job; 'Tina has shown to be innovative and thinks a bit out of the box like 'Dora. She has been a bit down since that cock-up on the Malfoy job and that wasn't really her fault. She made a sound decision based on the information she had but it was the information that was wrong. And that bloody information came from outside the Auror office, on purpose! Hmm. 'Dora and 'Tina. With a bit of close supervision, that could work."

Her mind made up, Madam Bones walked the twenty paces or so to Shacklebolt's office.

"Morning Shack. Dora, 'Tina . Shack, I need a word. As for you two, one hour's time, my office, OK?"

"Yes, Boss" came from both the young Aurors.

"Shack, with me."

Thirty seconds later, in the quiet and secure confines of her office, Bones spoke with her, up till now, most trusted and highly efficient Captain.

"Any updates on the Little Winging case, Shack?"

"Very little, Ami. The Muggles are back at the scene doing their bit. Forensic department are in taking samples and pictures. Local authorities are also there with gas and electrical suppliers checking out for causes of the explosion. No results, as yet, from our lot about any of the magical samples taken. I was hoping we might find a bit more as to who, exactly, the magical was that was living there. That a witch or wizard was there is beyond doubt, but that is it. The word from the Ministers department is that it is a young wizard, but where or how they have that information they are not telling us. My thoughts are that if they are so adamant that it is a case of underage magic gone wrong, or done deliberately, they must know as there will be the trace still on the magical concerned. If they are not sure, contact Hogwarts. Dumbledore or McGonnagle will surely have the details of every student there, name, address, the works. That would sort this out and get the suspect identified and soon apprehended. But, for some reason, my enquiries and requests are being blocked at every turn. I cannot go straight to Hogwarts myself, it's against regulations. I must go through the Ministry. The Ministry are making the excuse that it is the summer break for the school and its staff so no one will be there. It's weird."

Bones nodded. "Shack, what are your senses telling you? Any ideas?"

"Yeah, plenty, but all conflicting. The suspect could be somebody very well connected to a ministry official, maybe a son, nephew, maybe not a wizard at all; could be a witch and the hierarchy are trying to through us off the scent with all the 'arrest the young wizard' nonsense. And why the instruction to lock him up away from our normal detention rooms. The Wizengamot court dungeons? Why? Because, again, another angle to look at, it may be Sirius Black that did this. No bugger has known where he is since he got out of Azkaban. He has disappeared. So, where better than living in a muggle area, but somehow, it's all went wrong and he has murdered them. I mean, Black has got previous for killing muggles. Or, my third angle, it is someone else that is so high profile that the whole enquiry is being kept under wraps, so who? I joked back at the scene that it was Voldemort's son, but maybe I am not so far off. I haven't heard Harry Potter's name mentioned yet, but it probably will be. That poor kid is getting the blame for everything at the moment; the Diggory lad's death at that Tri-wizard Tournament at Hogwarts; the fact that he says that the Dark Lord has returned; you name it, Potter gets the blame. I don't know, Ami. This is a strange one. Someone, somewhere, with a lot of clout is pulling strings and I don't like it."

Bones nodded. "I agree Shack. A lot of 'pulling strings', as you put it. Thanks for your thoughts. ….. Right. What I am going to tell you is as a result of Dora Tonks good work at the scene and her muggle contact and me being able to talk to someone at Hogwarts." …. (A look of surprise came from her Captains face) …. "Yes, there is someone available at the school if you know how to contact them. I do and it is within my authority to do so as a Minister for the DMLE. As it is, I was actually asked to contact someone there. That person's request, not mine. That request came through Tonks."

"Tonks! Who the hell gave her that authority, to speak to a Hogwarts representative? That is way above her pay grade."

"Hold on, Shack. Dora is ok with this. She didn't make the contact, a certain person made contact with Dora and requested her, well, more like instructed her, to contact me. I then had a meeting with this certain person, who's name I will hold back for the moment. Dora has gone by the book, reporting the contact to me, what was said between them, the works. Anyway, as a result of … a conversation, let's call it, I have information to progress the Privet Drive case. But this information is highly sensitive and I do mean 'highly'. Anything that is found out by you and the team I am going to put on this comes to me and me only. No one else … and that includes the Minister, other Ministerial department heads ….. and others. So, I need a promise …, a binding promise, made on your own magic, Kingsley. The oath you made when joining the Auror department and the subsequent one on each of your promotions are not enough, not for this case. So, I must insist on the binding magical promise. No promise, you will not lead this enquiry, or be a party to it in any way. Simple as that."

Auror Captain Kingsley Shacklebolt was shocked to his core. He could not believe what was being demanded of him.

"Ami, … Boss, what is this? Don't you trust me or something? What have I done to be scrutinised so.?"

"This is probably thee most important case you or I will ever work on Shacks. It is a case that has the potential to ruin a number of very important figures in the Ministry, the Wizengamot and beyond. It is Azkaban territory for some. It will cause major ramifications for both of us, the Auror department, the DMLE. I need that oath from you now or you are out of the enquiry. Yes or no?"

"Woah! This is fast Boss, way fast. I need to make a decision now, right this minute?"

"Yes! Now, or I will take it as a refusal anyway and you are out the door."

There was a pause of a few seconds with both the very senior Auror and DMLE head staring each other out.

"What's it to be, Captain Shacklebolt? I need your decision."

A glare and a grunt came her way.

"Fine, I'll take it. But I want it noted that I am not fucking happy about this. I have a fine record of trust throughout my twenty odd years in the Auror Core. I have been loyal to you throughout. When this is over, I will want, I'll demand, an explanation and an apology. …. You can have your fucking magical oath but you and I, Ami … something has just changed between us."

"Captain Shacklebolt, right now I do not give a flying fuck what you think has changed. I am your boss, I make the rules. You are the best lead on a case this department has had in many a long year and that is what I need from you now. Your leadership. And it is Madam Bones until I say different. Now, wand out, and say the oath."

Kingsley Shacklebolt was angry but knew when to back down. He would comply with 'Madam Bones' demands, but a reckoning would come. He drew his wand then asked '

"What is the oath?"

Bones, with a quick flick of her own wand, presented the words shimmering in the air.

"I have it prepared. Read off the words."

Putting his wand point to his heart, he read the words aloud.

"I, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Captain of Aurors, swear by my magic that I will entrust all my or my team's findings in the Privet Drive, Little Winging case to Madam Amelia Bones and her alone. Any attempt to pass on any information to other parties will result in my immediate expulsion from the Auror Core, and loss of my magic. So mote it be!"

A silver blush of magic was seen to leave Shacklebolt's wand, swirl around his body and then enter both his chest and his head.

"You have got your fucking oath, 'MADAM BONES'! I hope your satisfied."

A deep sigh came from the Head of the DMLE.

"I'm sorry, Shack. Truly sorry I had to put you through that, you deserve so much better. But now you will know why. Sit back down and pin your ears back. This is one hell of a story and I don't even know half of it yet."

And she told him everything she knew on the case of an abused, neglected, orphaned child and his involvement in the two mysterious deaths by magic at #4 Privet Drive, Little Winging, Surrey.

HJP & HJG

A stunned Kingsley Shacklebolt sat in the chair, saying nothing, for close to a minute, a look of pure astonishment on his face.

"Now you know why I needed that oath from you, Kingsley. Under these circumstances with this information I had no choice."

"Merlin! ….. I was only taking the dragon piss when I said his name! .. Harry Potter! ….. Fuck! ….. Dumbledore! What by Merlin's name was he thinking? ….. Ami .., .. Madam Bones, apology and explanation accepted. …. My turn to say 'sorry' this time. … The dragon dung has really hit the wand with this case. Shit!"

"And Shack, it's still Ami when we are talking alone, Boss at any other time. You have placed unswerving belief in Dumbledore and his methods all your life pretty much. With your father's connections to the International Wizengamot, you have known the old coot since you were 5yrs old. Your father opted to have you educated at Hogworts instead of wizarding school in Jamaica. I am sorry I have blown apart your faith in him, but every word I have told you has come from Harry via my source, who is impeccable. Dumbledore, the Ministry and some others have a lot to answer for and I need you to lead the enquiry."

"Ami, your source. Who is it? Can you tell me?"

"I will Shacks, just not now. I made a promise …. Give me a couple of days. I need the OK from …. that person. I am not hiding any information from you, Shacks, you have everything that I have."

A nod of the head. Her Captain was back in play.

"Are we good, Kingsley? You OK, now?"

Shacklebolts beaming smile was all she needed.

"One question, Boss. Do you not think I am a bit high profile for the enquiries? I mean, I don't want to sound big-headed, but my reputation is a bit good. I get results."

"Shack, I said you will lead the enquiry, but you will be very much in the background; the two doing the probing are not 'high-profile' at all. In fact, they are outside waiting to come in here very shortly." And she nodded towards the window.

A quick look and the Auror Captain saw who she meant.

"You sligh old fox! I agree. They are good, Boss. For two inexperienced youngsters, they are really good. Haa! The Ministry will think we are giving a token effort to this. Put them off their guard."

"My thoughts as well. Let me give them a briefing. Then it is down to you how you want to run it. Get them in here, Captain!"

HJP & HJG