Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter Franchise or its characters. All characters used are the property of their respective owners.

This story is rated M for violence, language, & sexual themes.

A Special Thanks to my Alpha on this story Sakubato.

This story is a Horcrux free zone.

If you don't like the story, don't read it.

Note: I am drawing inspiration for the function of the potion from RobSt's story Banking on Her. I claim no rights to the idea.

Note 2: Patricia Rakepick is the DADA Professor during the fifth year of the Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Mystery mobile game. I won't say anything more as it would be a spoiler.

Warning: Manipulative Dumbledore & Weasley Bashing (Ron, Molly, & Ginny.)

Where the Wild Roses Grow 13

Somewhere in Paris…

25 July 1995

It had been over an hour since Harry had escaped the hospital, his goal was to reach Calais and then sneak onto one of the Cross-Channel Ferries. Harry planned to take the Knight Bus from Dover to London and seek out the Minister. If Harry couldn't convince Fudge, he planned to use any money he had in his trust vault to bribe the man into rescuing the Weasley's, Dumbledore, Moony and Snape.

Harry raised his hand to his face and groaned, he still felt very weak from dehydration brought on by the purging potion induced vomiting. He'd bought himself a bottle of water with some of the money he'd lifted from the Auror's wallet, but it wasn't much, and the rest was needed for the Bus or Train that would take him from Paris to Calais.

Harry paused, it was still early there were many people on the streets on their way to work but Ginny Weasley's vibrant red hair was unmistakeable. Harry pushed through the crowd desperate to reach his true love. Harry didn't want to attract attention to himself but at the same time he couldn't deny the urge to be with her immediately. "Ginny!"

The young woman turned around and gave him a dazzling smile as she crossed the short distance between them. "Harry! I'm so glad I found you!"

Harry wrapped her in a hug before pulling away and studying her suspiciously. "How can you be here? Didn't the Aurors take you in?"

"Of course, they did, but Professor Dumbledore is the…" Ginny paused glancing at the crowd around them. "We can't talk about this here, come on."

Ginny grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him forward into the crowd, a minute or two later they slipped into an alley and Ginny pulled Harry towards her as she leant against a wall. "Harry, Professor Dumbledore is the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, it was dumb for them to think they could hold him for long."

Harry nodded. "I guess, but how did you know that?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Granger is good for something, occasionally."

Harry struggled but eventually returned Ginny's smile. "Only occasionally."

Ginny grinned as she tugged him down towards her. "We're spending far too much time talking when we should be snogging."

Harry's smile turned into a grin. "You're right."

As Harry lent down to capture Ginny's lips, he fell limp against her and the woman posing as Ginny Weasley transformed into Nymphadora Tonks and returned her wand to its holster. "Sorry, lover boy, your lips are only meant for Fleur and Hermione."

Apolline Delacour appeared in the alley as she cancelled the disillusionment spell on herself. "Excellent work Auror Tonks, my department could use a good young Auror like yourself."

Tonks grinned. "Sorry Ma'am, I think Madam Bones would be upset if I started working for you."

Apolline shrugged. "She'd get over it."

Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France

Magical Treatment Wing

When Harry woke up, he found himself back in the hospital he'd escaped only hours before. Harry tried to move but found his wrists and ankles tied down in restraints, he pulled against them uselessly until a voice from the end of the bed attracted his attention. "There is no point fighting them, they're mundane restraints modified with magical suppressing runes. I had them add an extra layer of runes given how powerful you are." Apolline Delacour explained.

"You have no right to keep me here!" Harry yelled.

"Oh? You attacked one of my Aurors as you made your escape, I think that entitles me to keep you here until you've been properly examined."

"Examined for what? I'm fine." Harry bit back.

"The evidence says otherwise."

"Please, just let me go, I want to go back to Ginny… I love her." Harry pleaded.

"Arry, you would not have said that a few days ago… Dumbledore…"

"Professor Dumbledore," Harry growled. "Helped open my eyes, he made me realise the lies that your daughter and Granger had been feeding me. They poison me against my best friend and my true love."

"Why would they do that Arry?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm the Boy-Who-Lived, even a Veela can recognise what a boon having me on her arm would be. As for Granger, no one likes her, she's a walking homework helper, nothing more. They're nothing compared to my Ginny, they were clearly jealous and needed to keep us apart so they could milk me dry. They did a good job of making me believe they hated each other, I was completely fooled. But then they brainwashed me into believing a lot of things."

Apolline sighed. "I see. Well, you are entitled to your opinion Mister Potter, but I have a responsibility to my Aurors to defend them from unwarranted attacks. You may be the Boy-Who-Lived but you are also a guest in my country and subject to French Law. You will be notified in due time whether we will be pressing charges, good day."

As Apolline exited the room she allowed an Auror in to sit with Harry. Apolline had made an error of not having an Auror sit with Harry after they liberated him from Dumbledore, she would not make that mistake a second time. Another Auror was sat outside Harry's room and a further two were posted in the lobby. Their orders were to put Harry down hard if he made it that far. Apolline didn't like the idea of hurting the man her daughter loved, but in his current condition and given the earlier error in judgement she knew the precaution was necessary.

Apolline walked down the corridor, passing Harry's family, Fleur and Auror Tonks as she went. At the other end she found her injured Auror who sat up in bed. "Good afternoon Auror."

"Good Afternoon, Ma'am."

"How is your head?"

"Sore, Ma'am, but I will be up and ready for duty tomorrow."

Apolline smiled to herself, she greatly admired the Aurors who served under her and hoped she repaid that respect with her leadership. "I appreciate your eagerness to return to duty, but I must ask a favour."

"Anything for you Ma'am." Her Auror replied eagerly.

"You have relatives in Switzerland, correct?"

"Oui, my parents retired to Bern once my sister and I moved out."

"Good, for reasons I cannot divulge I need you to take a trip to see them, expect to be away for at least a month. It will be paid, of course."

The Auror raised an eyebrow. "Does this have anything to do with Mister Potter?"

Apolline frowned but remained silent as the Auror raised his hand to his head. "I'm sorry Ma'am, I don't think I'll be able to return to duty as quickly as I thought. I think I'll need to take some time and visit my parents."

"Thank you Auror."

Apolline left the room and walked back towards her daughter, Hermione, mother and daughter Tonks and Emma. Apolline gave Emma a small smile as she turned her attention to the two girls, Fleur was cradling Hermione in her arms, stroking her back soothingly. "It will be ok, cherie, we will figure out what they did and fix it."

"I should go talk to Harry. I can reach him, I know I can."

Apolline sighed and tapped Hermione on the shoulder. "I think that's a bad idea, Arry has been indoctrinated into believing everything Dumbledore says. Arry will not listen, he will deliberately upset you."

"I…" Hermione paused and finally nodded. "You're right… If I go in there that thing with Harry's face is going to yell at me and try to upset me. It won't just hurt me it'll hurt Harry too, he shoulders the blame for things that aren't his fault all the time, I won't let this be another one."

Fleur smiled and nodded. "You're right, for now we need to go home and start researching for a cure. We will not lose Arry to that red-headed… salope."

Apolline rolled her eyes. "Language, Flower."

"I am not wrong," Fleur replied.

Office of the Bureau de la Justice Magique, Paris, France

26 July 1995

Dumbledore rose from his seat and smiled as Cornelius Fudge entered his holding cell. The younger man looked annoyed as he removed his bowler hat and began running his fingers over the rim nervously. "What do you want Dumbledore? I don't have time for your games today."

"Would you like to sit down Cornelius?"

Fudge's eyes widened sharply. "No, I would not like to sit down, you've dropped us both into a metric tonne of Dragon shit Albus. You kidnapped the Boy-Who-Lived, the ICW is holding an emergency session as we speak to remove you Supreme Mugwump. I am getting howlers by the hour demanding you be removed from your post both as the Headmaster of Hogwarts and Chief Wizard and yet I am here at your request. Tell me what you want so I can leave."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you let word of my… activities in France reach the press."

Fudge pulled a newspaper from his coat and threw it onto the table Dumbledore was sitting at. "It was in the International Press. Nothing has been reported in the Daily Prophet, but enough people subscribe that I'm getting a headache."

Dumbledore sighed and turned the paper over to hide the shot of him being led away in Magic Suppressing Handcuffs. "I can only say that I did what I did for the Greater Good."

"I don't care why, you are not my problem anymore Dumbledore, by the end of the hour you will have been removed from your positions of power. After that you will be brought before the ICW to answer for what you've done. The only reason I came here was to tell you, you will not be receiving any assistance from my administration."

"You would abandon me in my hour of need, Cornelius?"

Fudge let out a huff. "You did this to yourself Dumbledore, you made the rod for your back, not me."

As Fudge turned to leave Dumbledore spoke again. "You would abandon me, knowing what I know about you?"

Fudge paused and turned around again, deciding to indulge Dumbledore one final time. "What do you think you know, Albus?"

Dumbledore grinned. "I know about the bribes you've taken…"

Fudge laughed as he spoke. "I have taken no such thing, any campaign contributions made by certain disgraced members of our society were registered with the Ministry at the time they were made. Any suggestions to the contrary are slander."

"But what became of those… contributions after they were made? They were never deposited at Gringotts. You see, on one of my many trips to the Hague for ICW business I happened to detour through Switzerland on my way back. I've always had a good relationship with the Gnomes, and when I happened to mention you, they let slip that you're a valued customer of theirs," Dumbledore explained, omitting that he'd gotten this particular Gnome quite drunk on elf wine before enquiring about Fudge. "Of course, you are aware that the Gnomes and Goblins have been in a state of detente for hundreds of years, it would be unfortunate if Gringotts found out the Minister of Magic was secretly funnelling Goblin gold to their enemies."

Fudge paled considerably. "Y-you wouldn't…"

"No, of course not my good man, but I would feel… compelled to inform Madame Delacour of any malfeasance I was aware of before being presented to the ICW. To lighten the burden on my soul, you understand."

"You can't prove anything," Fudge spat angrily.

Dumbledore raised his hands. "No, no of course not, but we have to consider what the Goblins will think. They may have their own ways of discovering whether this is true or not."

Fudge sat down in the chair opposite Dumbledore, ashen-faced if the Goblins could prove he was moving money to Switzerland it would be the end of him. Fudge knew that he couldn't hide behind Wizengamot, the Goblins had Wizards held by the purse strings. One night he would go to bed and the next day he would be gone. If he were lucky, he would spend his days shovelling Dragon shit; if he were unlucky, he would end up being Dragon shit. "What do you want?"

Dumbledore smiled. "I would think that would be obvious, of course I will need the Weasley's, Remus Lupin and Severus Snape released as well."

Fudge glared at Dumbledore incredulously. "You think I have that power?"

"I believe if you speak to Mister Potter you will find he is most cooperative. If there is no complaining witness, there is no crime."

"Are you sure Albus? From what I've been told, Mister Potter has made his contempt for you clear on several occasions."

"Yes, but I suspect that is the influence of Miss Granger and her Veela accomplice, they've been trying to poison Young Harry against his real friends for some time. The kidnapping charge was filed my Miss Delacour's mother, in Harry they see a golden opportunity to advance the Veela agenda in the ICW. Whether Miss Granger is a willing participant or simply a lovesick teenager is up for debate. Although I hope that if Miss Granger follows Young Harry back to Hogwarts and without the influence of Miss Delacour, she will see that this is best for both of them."

"If I go along with this, I want something from you as well, Albus."

"And what would that be, Cornelius?"

"I want a Ministry employee appointed as Hogwarts Defence Against Dark Arts teacher, for too long I've allowed you to hire teachers on a whim, and they've all failed to stay more than a year. You've also hired some people wholly unsuitable for the role; Patricia Rakepick, Remus Lupin, and Alastor Moody immediately spring to mind. I want someone I can trust in the position, someone who will not deviate from the Ministry approved curriculum like so many of her predecessors. You will agree to this Albus, or I will not help you."

Dumbledore leaned back in his seat and frowned. "I assume you have someone in mind?"

"Dolores Umbridge, my Senior Undersecretary, she will do a find job."

Dumbledore frowned, he was well aware of the unabashed bigot that was Dolores Umbridge and he was reticent to allow her near the castle, let alone the position of DADA Professor, but he didn't have a choice. "Very well, once I am free have Madam Umbridge report to the castle, I will personally show her the Professor's quarters."

"I also want you to support my candidate for Chief Wizard."

Dumbledore blanched at the thought. "Surely there is no need…"

"You are finished as Chief Wizard, Dumbledore; both the light and dark are moving to replace you. They see weakness and they're moving to remove you. They don't care what you actually did, the only care that there is an opening they can exploit."

"An opening you can exploit…" Dumbledore replied bitterly.

Fudge smiled and shrugged. "I don't deny it, I wouldn't be where I am if I didn't recognise an opportunity to get ahead. So, will you support my candidate?"

"Who did you have in mind?" Dumbledore asked apprehensively.

"Cyril Parkinson, he is a close personal friend and I feel he will make an excellent Chief Wizard," Fudge explained, Dumbledore knew Parkinson was a close personal friend of Fudge's the same way Malfoy had been, but let it pass without comment, instead simply nodding.

Fudge nodded. "Good, there is one last thing. While Mister Potter may not be the complaining witness to this kidnapping, I have no power to release Severus Snape. Snape assisted in the plot to attack Mister Potter at his relatives' home, an attack that resulted in Lucius Malfoy attempting to cast an Unforgivable curse at the head of this department. Snape is wanted for questioning on that matter and other matters related to his time as a Death Eater. No amount of horse-trading will secure his release."

Dumbledore frowned and nodded. "I see, perhaps a quiet word in the right ear would make them see Severus in a more sympathetic light."

Fudge sighed and looked away. "Dumbledore, your influence only reaches so far and regardless of the truth of the matter some people will consider what you did, kidnapping. Many of those people are members of the ICW, you are done as Supreme Mugwump. Your only course of action is to return to the embrace of Mother England."

"As you say Cornelius…" Dumbledore replied dejectedly.

"I will speak with Mister Potter and then arrange for your release. It should not take more than a day or so," Fudge explained collecting his Bowler hat. Fudge smiled to himself as he moved towards the door, if he managed to get Dumbledore released this would be a good bargaining chip to use when next needed his help with a piece of legislation that came through the Wizengamot. Even if Dumbledore was removed as Chief Wizard, he still had enough friends to call on to make it worthwhile.

"Thank you, Cornelius, I will see you soon."

Once Fudge was gone Dumbledore sat in silent contemplation. Dumbledore had faith his hold on Harry Potter would not waiver, the only danger to his control was if Andromeda Tonks or Sirius Black got involved. Dumbledore knew he needed a way to wrest Guardianship from the Blacks. Once that was done Dumbledore would send Harry to the Weasley's for the remainder of Summer. There, without the influence of Granger or the Veela, Harry would realise his feelings for Ginny and further cement himself with a family Dumbledore approved of.

Dumbledore knew it was only a matter of time before Tom made another attempt to return, one of his followers was sure to have a Horcrux in their possession. The time was approaching to have Harry begin hunting for Tom's Horcruxes, Dumbledore had been relying on Granger to lead Harry through the process if he couldn't be there, but Dumbledore was now worried about how reliable she would be. If Severus wasn't available, then it would be up to Horace to devise a potion to keep Granger in line. Dumbledore needed them both for the same and different reasons, he could use a different Witch, but no one would be a match for Granger in terms of power and intelligence. It had to be Granger, no one else would do.

Elsewhere…

Harry sat against a wall, glaring at the man wearing his face. The man in question was sat on the other side of the featureless room Harry had found himself in since Dumbledore poured that potion down his throat. Harry had deduced that he was trapped inside his own mind, he could see out and he could hear what was going on, but he couldn't act. The man with his face sitting across the room was in control, a simpering wimp who swallowed everything Dumbledore fed him, someone who adored Ginny Weasley beyond reason and thought of Molly Weasley as a mother figure and Ron as a friend. It made Harry angry, but what made Harry angrier was the way he talked about Hermione and Fleur. Harry wanted to walk over and beat the ever-loving shit out of the man wearing his face, but he was worried about unforeseen damage to his psyche. Harry didn't know enough about how the brain worked to make any kind of guess about what attacking himself inside his mind would do.

So instead Harry chose to wait, he had faith in Fleur and Hermione to figure out a way to remove this parasite from his mind. Then Harry would take his time destroying the people who'd tried to hurt him: Snape, Lupin, the Weasley's and finally Dumbledore. Harry felt sort of bad for Bill, Charlie, the Twins and Arthur, but they'd done nothing to curtail Ron, Ginny, and Molly, so they would suffer the consequences as well. Harry held no love for Remus Lupin; at one time he did, at one time he admired the man, but now he was just another one of Dumbledore's misguided lackeys, a man to be pitied but not spared.

Snape, Harry would leave to the tender mercies of the ICW, they'd already locked up his good friend Lucius Malfoy so Harry decided he wouldn't take the direct approach to deal with him. Harry would wait and monitor the situation, but if he ever got a hint Snape was planning to hurt Harry or his family again, well, he wouldn't get the chance.

That just left Dumbledore, the source of all Harry's woes. Harry knew he'd need everyone's help to take on Dumbledore, it wouldn't be quick or easy to ruin a reputation that took a lifetime to build, but he still owed Rita Skeeter an interview, that would be a good first step.

Harry looked up when fake Harry sighed contently, he almost rolled his eyes, the fake was looking at a conjured picture of Ginny Weasley. It made him want to throw up, again. He'd liked Ginny before all of this, she was a sweet girl if a bit smitten, but after everything that had happened, the potions and assisting Malfoy with the attempted rape of Fleur and Hermione he'd never forgive her. Molly and Ginny were the main subject of his ire, Ron was just a stupid walking stomach, he was an asshole to be sure, but if Ron left him alone he would leave Ron alone, but Harry was almost sure that wouldn't happen.

"There has to be another way out of this, I just have to figure out what it is. Think Potter, what would Hermione do?" Harry asked himself, he knew the answer, she'd go to the library, sadly there were no libraries inside his mind so he'd have to do what he did best, think on his feet.

Office of the Bureau de la Justice Magique, Paris, France

Snape was led into an interrogation room by Nymphadora Tonks and forced to sit down in the chair near the door. Once Snape was seated he was shackled to the chair but neither Auror that had accompanied him from his cell put away their wands as Apolline Delacour and Andromeda Tonks entered. "What is she doing here?"

Apolline glanced at Andi and then back to Snape as she sat down at the table which was positioned at least six feet away from Snape. "Medi-Witch Tonks is here as an expect on potions, she will fill in the gaps in my knowledge."

Snape snorted a laugh. "You expect me to tell you anything?"

"I would think, Mister Snape, that helping me now is preferable to a lifetime in an ICW prison in a cell next to your friend Lucius Malfoy. Once you are dosed with Vertiaserum there will be no hope of you avoiding a lifetime prison sentence."

Snape sneered at the French Veela. "Dumbledore wouldn't let that happen."

A small smile appeared on Apolline's face. "Mister Dumbledore isn't in a position to help, even if he manages to escape punishment for what he's done he's already been removed as Supreme Mugwump of the ICW. There are moves afoot in Great Britain to replace Dumbledore as Chief Wizard as well I understand. I am your only friend here Mister Snape, co-operate with me and we can negotiate for a better deal for you with the ICW."

Snape scowled and looked down at the floor, he weighed his options silently, Voldemort was dead, killed moments after his resurrection by the Potter brat and Dumbledore's grip on power was being stripped from him. Snape had no desire to spend the rest of his life in an ICW prison, but he also resisted against the idea of helping Potter in any way. In the end, self-preservation won out. "Very well, I will tell you what I know."

"We will be using Vertiaserum to verify the truth of your words," Apolline advised him.

"I understand," Snape replied, tipping his head back and opening his mouth, a few seconds later the younger Tonks poured three drops of Vertiaserum into Snape's mouth and he swallowed.

"Is your name Severus Snape?"

"Yes."

"Are you a Professor at Hogwarts?"

"Yes."

"Are you a Death Eater?"

"Yes."

"Did you give Lucius Malfoy Arry Potter's mundane address?"

"Yes."

"How did you find that information?"

"I looked up Petunia Evans information in the Registry of Birth Death's and Marriages in London…"

"Who is Petunia Evans?"

"Lily's sister."

"Lily Potter?"

"Lily Evans."

"Lily Evans was Lily Potter's maiden name?"

"Yes."

"Continue."

"Petunia married a man named Vernon Dursley, the Dursley's lived at Number 4 Privet Drive in Surrey. I knew Potter went back to his muggles relatives every summer, so it wasn't hard to figure out these were the relatives in question."

"What was in the potion that you gave to Harry Potter?" Apolline asked.

Snape listed off the ingredients which Andromeda took note of, she frowned as she stared at the list. "Why didn't the purging potion clear it from Harry's system?"

Snape grinned, even through the Vertiaserum. "The potion poisons the mind, and strips them of freewill, even after a purging potion is administered the potion is still being absorbed into the body. It's fast-acting, triply so in Potter's case."

"You gave Arry a triple strength dose of the potion, why?"

"The first dose didn't work, Lupin suggested it was because Potter's magic was fighting the control. Dumbledore dismissed that notion but still ordered me to triple the strength of the next dose."

"You poisoned him!" Andromeda spat angrily.

Snape's grin widened. "I would not complain if that had been the case."

"How did you know about this potion?" Apolline asked, cutting into the argument between Snape and Andi.

"I created the recipe for Lord Voldemort, he wanted a more permanent solution to the Imperious Curse. After the Dark Lord fell, I continued to work on it in secret, refining the potion and making it more effective."

Apolline frowned. "Did you test it on anyone?"

"Muggles, no one of consequence."

"What did you make them do?" Apolline asked as a shudder ran through her.

"They performed for me, or killed for me, it depended on my mood," Snape replied.

Apolline's hands curled into fists as she shook with anger. "Is there a cure?"

Snape almost laughed. "No, Potter is permanently changed, he will never listen to Granger or his Veela whore again. The potion has permanently re-written his mind so he will only listen to Dumbledore, there is no going back."

"The potion was only in his system a few hours…" Andromeda spat.

"I told you already…" Snape began but Apolline waved him away. "Yes, we heard you, Auror, stay here and get a list of all the mundane people he harmed testing this potion. I'm sure the mundane authorities in England will find that list most enlightening."

"Yes, Madame Delacour."

Apolline gave a small nod to the Auror and then summoned Andi and Nym to follow her. Once they were out of the room and down the corridor, Nymphadora spoke. "Are you going to tell Hermione and Fleur?"

"I don't have a choice, they need to know there might not be any way to save Arry."

Department of Magical Law Enforcement, London, GB

Office of Amelia Bones

Bones looked up when she heard a knock on her door and her lips became a thin line when it opened to reveal Arthur Weasley. "Good afternoon Amelia, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes Arthur, please sit down."

Arthur complied and Bones took a deep breath. "I am saddened to report that your wife and two youngest children were arrested yesterday in France…"

"What?! Why were they in France, I thought they were helping Dumbledore with something…" Arthur exclaimed as he rose out of his seat.

"They were Arthur, you've heard of course that Harry Potter was kidnapped?"

Arthur blinked owlishly. "N-no, I hadn't…"

Amelia sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "The Daily Prophet once again making a hash of things, here, look at this."

Amelia presented Arthur with one of the international wizarding newspapers that had gone out that morning, half the front page was filled with a photo of Albus Dumbledore being led out of a house in handcuffs. Above the picture was the headline:

POTTER KIDNAPPING SOLVED

Albus Dumbledore and accomplices implicated

Arthur leaned back in his chair, with a pale shocked expression on his face. "Molly, Ginny, and Ron…?"

Amelia nodded. "They along with Severus Snape and Remus Lupin assisted Dumbledore in kidnapping Harry and potioning him."

"B-but, why, to what end?"

"I don't know the reasons for Dumbledore's pursuit of Harry, apart from controlling all aspects of his life, but I am led to believe Ginny is worryingly obsessed with becoming Harry's wife and Molly has fed that idea. As for Ron… I can only guess."

Arthur ran a hand over his face, to Bones he looked scared and listless, like a man adrift at sea. "Arthur, your wife and Ron are being held by the French Ministry, but Ginny is being held for mental observation."

"Mental…? Why?"

Amelia sighed. "Arthur, your daughter fixated on Harry Potter to the exclusion of all else. It is normal to have a crush, it's not normal to force a boy to swallow a lust potion in the hopes he'll have sex with you."

"Don't be ridiculous! My daughter would never do that!" Arthur bellowed, finally finding his fire.

"The French Aurors searched Ginny's belongings with the assistance of Auror Tonks, they found several bottles of Lust potion and an empty vial. Tests on Harry taken after he was rescued confirmed the lingering traces of a lust potion in his system. We haven't been able to question Ginny about her intentions or what she did to help Dumbledore, but her reaction upon being brought in raised red-flags."

"Red flags?"

"Arthur, she scratched, bit, kicked and clawed at the Aurors who tried to cuff her, all the while screaming for Harry. All Ginny has talked about since being detained is how Harry will save her. Ginny hasn't asked about the well being of her mother or whether she can see Molly. Ginny needs help Arthur, she needs to go somewhere otherwise she may end up committed."

Arthur's eyes widened. "You can't do that!"

"No, I can't, but the French authorities can if they feel that Ginny is a danger to herself and others and given the facts in evidence, I would say its highly likely it will go that way."

"I can't… I mean I want to get Ginny help, but we can't afford it. I can't help my daughter…" Arthur moaned as he buried his head in his hands.

Amelia wanted to feel bad for Arthur, but he'd spent years letting Molly walk all over him instead of instilling discipline in his children. Amelia pressed a button on her desk and an Auror entered. "Please take Mister Weasley somewhere quiet and make him a cup of tea."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France

Magical Treatment Wing

Cornelius Fudge glanced around worriedly as he made his way through the Hospital towards the Magical Treatment Wing, he was eager to speak to Harry and then the French Minister of Magic and then return home. Fudge didn't like being away from home and away from the comforts he'd become accustomed to. Fudge stopped in front of the reception desk and gave a short nod to the pretty receptionist. "I am looking for Harry Potter, I am the British Minister for Magic and I wanted to check on him."

Fudge showed his credentials and the receptionist nodded. "Room 302 Minister."

Fudge nodded and walked away, as he did one of the Aurors stationed in the reception room conjured a messenger Patronus. "Madame Delacour, the English Minister just arrived to see Harry Potter…"

Harry smiled when Fudge entered his room, Cornelius nervously returned the smile as he walked to Harry's bed. "Ah, young Harry, it's good to see you, are you well?"

Harry glanced at the Auror sitting at the end of his bed and then back to Fudge. "I'm ok Minister, although I'd be happier if I weren't restrained."

Fudge glanced down at the cuffs on Harry's wrists and ankles and turned to the Auror. "Are they necessary?"

"Minister Fudge, after we brought Mister Potter in from where he was being detained, he attacked one of my fellow Aurors and escaped. Madame Apolline believes its best that Mister Potter be restrained while under the hospital's care," The Auror explained.

"Yes, well, we'll soon have that figured out," Fudge replied dismissively turning back to Harry. "I am of the understanding you don't want to press charges again Headmaster Dumbledore, the Weasley family and Mister Lupin?"

"That's right, and Professor Snape as well," Harry added.

"Unfortunately, I can't help in his case…" Fudge replied mentally adding, 'nor would I want to'. "But if you give me a written statement of events as you believe them to be true, I will petition the French Minister of Magic to get them released."

"After that can we go home?" Harry asked hopefully.

"That is the intention, yes," Fudge replied.

"That may be your intention Minister, but that is not how things work in France," A voice from the door replied, the two men looked up to see Apolline Delacour enter the room.

"I was under the impression if there was no complaining witness there was no crime, Madame Delacour. If that's the case then Headmaster Dumbledore, the Weasley family, and Remus Lupin should be released."

"You are correct, if Mister Potter does not wish to press charges, we have no choice but to release them. Mister Potter on the other hand still has charges pending related to his assault on my Auror. He is to be held under observation until a court date can be arranged."

"I'm sure if I speak to the Auror in question we'll have the sorted out quickly enough…" Fudge began.

Apolline's lip twitched slightly as she fought off a grin. "Unfortunately, the Auror in question has left the country for an unspecified amount of time to recuperate. Without him, we will be unable to proceed."

"That's outrageous, you can't just hold this young man indefinitely!" Fudge protested.

"I have no intention of holding him indefinitely. But he has been assessed as a threat to himself and others, we have no choice to hold him here. I will not risk my Aurors or other French Citizens by allowing Mister Potter to roam free when we don't know if he will attack someone. You may speak to the Minister, but I have already explained the situation and she has agreed with my assessment."

Fudge scowled at Apolline as he worried the brim of his hat. "Yes, well, I will take this up with the ICW as soon as possible," Fudge replied putting a piece of parchment and a quill in front of Harry. "Please write out your statement for me Mister Potter and I will make sure the Headmaster and the others are released by day's end. And then the Headmaster and I will work on returning you home."

Harry nodded as he glared at Apolline and took the quill from Fudge. "Thank you, Minister."

Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

Hermione sat staring down at the potions book she'd been studying before Apolline came to visit, she worked over the information in her mind as tears threatened to run down her cheeks. "So, Pr… Mister Snape thinks there is no cure?"

"That was what he told us, yes," Apolline replied.

Hermione scowled looking up and wiping the tears away with her sleeve. "That's rubbish, no potion is infallible, he may be a potions master, but he doesn't know everything. I…" Hermione paused and looked over at Fleur who was sitting beside her. "We will find a way to get Harry back."

Apolline smiled at the younger girl, she had faith in them, but Snape's confidence worried her, not that she'd tell Fleur or Hermione. "I know you will, but we have a short window to find and develop a cure. Harry wants to return to England and Minister Fudge is petitioning the French Ministry to release him. We've bought some time because the Auror Arry assaulted has left the country to recuperate, but we can't hold him forever. I need you to find a cure soon."

Hermione gave a determined nod and returned to her book, scribbling down some notes on a piece of paper. Fleur gave her mother a small smile before returning to her work. When Apolline stepped outside she found Emma waiting for her. "Do you think they'll find it in time?"

Apolline closed the door as she replied. "If there even is an it, I hope so."

Emma let her fingers drift up Apolline's arm. "Do you have to return to the office right away?"

Apolline grinned. "I can take a long lunch."

Emma grinned grabbing Apolline's hand and leading her towards the master bedroom. "Good."

28 July 1995

St-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, France

Fleur let out a huff as she walked past a group of men who stopped and stared despite wearing her allure suppressing pendant. Regardless of whether Fleur was wearing it her beauty still drew stares. Fleur had spent the last two days in the library with Hermione researching, even now Hermione still had her head buried in a book and Fleur didn't think she'd come up for air for some time. Fleur wanted to save Harry as much as Hermione, but she needed a break a chance to clear her head and re-evaluate the situation. Something had brought her to St-Germain-des-Prés and her favourite bookstore Rue Saint-Andre des Arts. Fleur gave a smile and a nod to the owner as she entered, Fleur spent a few minutes browsing the isles before she stopped cold.

In the isle, Fleur had just passed there was a woman who had worked in the store for as long she'd visited to buy books. They'd exchanged the odd word and a mutual smile from time to time, Fleur thought the older woman with long flame-red hair was pretty but never thought about her beyond that. Today was different, she recognised the woman from Harry's photo album but hadn't made the connection until she was standing in front of her.

The woman looked up and smiled at Fleur. "Bonjour, may I help you?'

Fleur stared at her wide-eyed for a moment before shaking her head to regain her senses. "Are you… excuse me, is your name Lily?"

To Be Continued…

To be clear, there are no Horcruxes, but that doesn't mean as previously mentioned, that Riddle didn't try or that Dumbledore believes there aren't any.

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