[a/n]idea credit:Kairan1979 P.S. How about a one-shot about Lockhart and his OoM? After all, not a lot of people knew he was a memory-erasing liar.

Harry Does Different CCCXII

Amelia Bones & The Prisoner of St Mungos

"Think it's time to put a stop to this." Harry ripped rather savagely into an orange and stood, giving the Hufflepuff table a hostile look "And I think I just figured out how to best go about it."

Ron was filling his plate with a full second helping of breakfast and making an effort to read the first chapter of his Potions text.

"Don't do anything stupid Harry." Hermione recognized that glint in her friend's eye.

He merely smirked "You know me." And making his way around, he was chewing on a bite when he sat across from Susan Bones, ignoring even the almost friendly Hannah Abbott. His introduction was blunt "I'm sure you heard about my little farce of a trial. I encountered your Aunt, bit of a hard ass."

"How dare you!" the quiet redhead flushed angrily.

Seemingly oblivious to the angry looks surrounding him, Harry smiled and dropped the husk of his orange on the table "But fair, for which I thank you…and her. Now I notice some nasty looks coming my way from this direction and can guess why."

"Don't bet it's going to stop anytime soon Potter." Snarled Justin.

Harry grinned unaffectedly and patted his shoulder "Best not tangle with me or I'll sic a snake on you. Right. For a number of reasons, you Susan are best suited to…call it an exchange of favors. Perhaps you'd be amenable to getting even with good old Gilderoy for not quite being the hero you thought he was? Among other things."

"Don't threaten my Housemates, Harry. We don't like it." Susan glared at him "Auntie might be inclined to hear something about Lockhart, but you'd need a bit more." She was offended at the unmitigated gall!

He winked at the redhead and touched the back of her hand with his middle finger and promised "Can do. Saturday's Hogsmeade, right? You and me and Auntie in Madam Puddifoot's? My treat of course." He picked up her hand, kissed her palm, then grabbed a fresh orange, juggled it from hand to hand as he whistled back to Gryffindor territory.

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"My niece was quite infuriated with you, Mr. Potter." Amelia Bones said coldly once formal introductions concluded and the party was enclosed in privacy wards in the most secluded booth. "Her letter was lengthy."

Susan put in "I'll say Auntie that he's been nothing but a gentleman today."

"Noted." The woman's expression softened infinitesimally "So? You mentioned quote a number of things? And you are here alone. Quite brave."

Harry shrugged indifferently "Several topics on my mind. It would mean a great deal to me if you would look into the matter of Sirius Black, while not having your department so aggressively hunting him. You'll find at least three will be quite agreeable, Don't-Call-Me-Nymphadora Tonks, Alastair Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt."

"Curiously well informed." She frowned "Why those three? And why would you not want your parents' murderer found? And brought to justice?"

This elicited another indifferent shrug, his response evasive "Credit my Boy-Who-Lived status, Ma'am. And, with all due respect, knowledge you find for yourself is knowledge that sticks. May I suggest starting with Black's trial transcripts. Moving on, the cause of Cedric Diggory's death was curiously suppressed. I wonder if we have a mutual interest in seeing that more public."

"Why?" asked the senior Bones.

Harry's response went to his classmate "Are the Hufflepuffs happy with what's being said about his death? Do they believe it?"

"That's a House- -" she began petulantly, then "Auntie, you never liked Minister Fudge. Professor Umbridge saying a tragic accident like he had some bad apparation. It rings hollow. And she hands out detentions to anyone disagreeing. If there was PROOF."

Amelia nodded confidently "There is. One of two ways, which we can go into further detail later. Veratiserum, or truth drops if you like. The other, drawing the memory directly from your mind. Now, tell me about former Professor Lockhart."

"Twit!" scoffed Harry, while Susan blushed uncomfortably "My friend Hermione Granger went on a tear on the subject. I think she's got seven feet on it but just one example. On page 73 of Wanderings with Werewolves he claims to've cured lycanthropy on December 23 1986. That wasn't even a full moon. Now why don't the packs have the cure? Been almost ten years? And I know we can apparate and all, but how could he also have spent exactly that same year in Year with the Yeti?"

Amelia took the scroll as she readjusted her monocle and only briefly perused it "And what, Mr. Potter, would you suggest as a remedy here?"

"I would find out who really did those things he claimed he did." This was more than a suggestion "And give them his Order of Merlin and the money to go with it. I know it comes with quite the cartload."

It was almost a reflex for Susan "Kind of harsh Harry."

"All those books from Second Year?" added Harry, giving her a look "Maybe some good fiction, but not really textbooks. Seriously ma'am, take a look at my friend Ron. His parents had to buy five sets of those books. And all at once. Now Mrs. Weasley fancied him, so she might've bought the set…maybe over a year or so. BUT ONLY ONE SET."

Madam Bones studied the boy across from her, again twisting her monocle, ultimately deciding "It will probably not be popular. In fact, none of what you presented me with this morning will be. But this is often a fact of life. Personally, I will benefit from taking down that toad woman a notch, not that I wouldn't support the truth about Cedric in any case. How about a short answer how did he die?"

"The TriWizard Cup in the maze was a portkey." Harry gave the oft-repeated narrative "Took me and Ced to a cemetery. We barely had the chance to get our bearings when Peter Pettigrew, carrying a homunculus form of Voldemort appeared and was ordered to quote Kill the spare. That sick green light and it was done."

Susan buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

After a few minutes Amelia spoke softly "You have my full support. Not least of which because of the compassion you just showed my niece."

"And mine, Harry" said Susan clutching his bicep as she wiped away the last tear "Auntie's right, toadie needs to go. Lying about Cedric is as unforgivable as …well…an Unforgivable. Professor Sprout will support us too. As for Professor Lockhart, what can I say? I was twelve."

Harry snorted, waving somewhat dismissively "Your desk partner was just as bad …as I remember… so I guess I can forgive you too. But hell, Ron, Seamus, Malfoy, even his Twin Towers had more brains than to be sucked in by Lockhart."

"I shall leave you to your date." Amelia ignored the protestations "Harry, tell your friends Hermione and Ron to expect correspondence from me. And you may see something in The Daily Prophet from me shortly."

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"All time for debate in the matter of Wizengamot Bill 1996/1701GL having expired" Speaker Longbottom called for the vote "Ayes, indicating a stripping of Mr. Lockhart's Order of Merlin, will illuminate your wand green. Nays, indicating a retention, of Mr. Lockhart's Order of Merlin will illuminate your wand red. This will be fifteen minute vote."

The clock ran down to zero.

Neville's grandmother flashed her wand and allowed it a ceremonious burst of sound "Has everyone voted?" she queried formally then "Does anyone wish to change their vote?" and finally "Very well. With two abstentions, there are 108 Ayes and eight Nays, the Legislation is Passed. Mr. Lockhart's Order of Merlin is hereby stricken and recalled."

Up in the observers' balcony, a young dark-haired wizard grabbed a redhead witch and snogged her to within an inch of her life. When then separated both sets of lips were quite thoroughly bruised. Bozo the Photographer was there with his camera.