Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling and do not own Harry Potter. I make no money from the writing of this fan fiction. Only this particular storyline and any original characters belong to me. Everything else belongs to JK Rowling.

A/N: I would like to thank everyone, not only for their support of this story, but their patience over the delay in writing and posting of this chapter, as well as their well wishes for my continued improvement as I go through chemotherapy and radiation. That support means the world to me, and gives me an extra incentive to fight to get better.

Chapter Twenty Nine

Calum Macintosh was not having a good week. First, he'd been suspended from the Auror Corps, then, while cleaning out his desk, the originals of the reports he'd copied to send to his aunt about Hermione Granger's assaults had been found where he'd hidden them under a Notice-Me-Not, and now, he'd just been called into the office of Madam Bones. So much had happened that week he hadn't had a chance to contact his aunt to tell her what was currently going on.

One thing was certain: he wasn't going to go down alone.

He walked into the office of Amelia Bones and stood just inside the office in a relaxed but wary stance.

"You wanted to see me, Madam Bones?"

"Yes, Macintosh, I did. I have a few questions for you. If you would like to call a solicitor to attend the questioning, I can wait until he or she arrives. Do you wish to call, or do you already have a solicitor?"

"I don't believe a solicitor is required for a few simple questions, Madam Bones."

"I see. Macintosh, you are aware you're under investigation for concealing evidence, correct?"

"Yes Madam Bones, I am."

"And you don't choose to use the services of a solicitor during questioning?"

"That's right, Madam Bones. I don't believe I need a solicitor."

After looking in her desk, Amelia pulled out a parchment, and handed it to Calum along with a quill and ink bottle.

"Before I begin the questioning, Macintosh, I would like for you to sign this parchment. If you'll read it, it states that you were offered the opportunity to have a solicitor represent you during questioning regarding an investigation and declined. After you've signed, I'll begin the questioning."

Calum signed the parchment, and handed it back to Amelia. Once she had placed it in a folio, she asked him to take a wand oath to tell the truth during questioning, and after that was done, took a self-inking Dicta-Quill out and placed them on the desk. After verifying that the quill was working, she looked at Calum.

"Whose idea was it to remove the reports made by Hermione Granger from the case folios?"

"It was my idea."

"And why did you want to remove those reports?"

"With those reports, my cousin would have likely been found guilty of assault. My aunt didn't want that to happen, so I removed them from the case folios."

"Had your aunt spoken to you about the assault case being brought by the Wizengamot on behalf of Hermione Granger at any time before the first court hearing?"

"Yes, she did. She was very upset about the case. It was being brought against my cousin Ronald, and he's her youngest son. She has always protected him a little more fiercely than his siblings; I don't know why that is, but she does."

"And what is your aunt's opinion-if she has shared it with you-of Hermione Granger?"

"My aunt has called her a 'tart', as well as said that she feels Miss Granger thinks too highly of herself, as though someone like my cousin would need to improve somehow to be worth her time."

"Are you aware that there was evidence beyond the reports that could have convicted Ronald Weasley of assault?"

"Yes, Madam Bones, but since I don't have access to the records in St Mungo's, trying to make those disappear as well would have been impossible."

"You also wanted to remove the hospital records? Why?"

"My aunt wanted-and I quote-'anything and everything that little bitch might have said about Ron to anyone who might believe her'. I was only trying to help my family, Madam Bones."

"Have you done anything beyond copying and removing the reports in regard to this case?"

"No, ma'am."

Stopping the Dicta-Quill, Amelia looked at Calum Macintosh. Disappointment was etched in every line of her face.

"Would you be willing to testify in front of the Wizengamot against your aunt, should there be enough evidence through investigation to bring a case against her? I can tell you now; you're already going to face a charge of obstruction because of your actions. While I can't predict what you would receive as a sentence, I can say I would recommend some leniency if you agree."

"Madam Bones, she is still family. I don't like putting my family in jeopardy like this. Would my aunt's charge be the same?"

"It's likely that your aunt would face other charges in addition to obstruction. We're still investigating the matter of what your aunt has done."

"May I think it over? If she has done more than simply trying to make the case against my cousin go away, I'll testify on what I know, but I'm not comfortable with the idea of bringing harm to my family."

"You're not sure if you can testify in an obstruction case against your aunt?"

"No, because ultimately, my aunt allegedly obstructing an investigation wasn't a matter of her being violent to someone. It's a less harmful charge."

"I see. For the record, Macintosh, and in the interest of clarification, please tell me the name of the aunt we have been discussing. I'd like to add it to the interview before I have you escorted to a holding cell to wait for your hearing."

"My aunt's name is Molly Weasley nee' Prewett."

"What bothers me the most about this Macintosh is an Auror from this department was willing to break the law. The excuse that it was to help your family is just that-an excuse. You were on the list to receive a promotion soon, were you aware of that? In addition to that, I had been speaking to Headmistress McGonagall about having someone come in and speak to Fifth Year students at Hogwarts about a possible career as an Auror and you were one of the possible candidates to do so. You had a bright and promising future in this department. Now because of choices you made, it's all gone."

Amelia walked to the door and opened it, then motioned for an Auror to come in the office. After closing the door once the Auror had entered the office, Amelia got to the point.

"Auror Fleming, please escort Mister Macintosh to a holding cell. He's being charged with obstruction regarding the Weasley case, thank you. I'll be contacting scheduling to get his hearing set up and a docket for his case made."

"Yes ma'am. Are cuffs necessary, ma'am, or is Mr. Macintosh deemed able to be escorted without them?"

"He's a former Auror, Auror Fleming. I want every procedure followed to the letter. Clear?"

"Crystal, Madam Bones."

Removing magic suppressing cuffs from his belt, the Auror snapped them around Calum Macintosh's wrists, and then read him his rights before removing him from the office to take him to a holding cell. If there was one thing most Aurors couldn't stand, it was one of their own giving the department a black eye by breaking the law.

OoOoOoO

Hermione was about to sit down to breakfast when an owl flew to the window and pecked. Curious, since no one was supposed to know she was here, she walked to the window to let the little owl inside, and then recognized the owl. Stepping back a bit, she conjured her Patronus, and bent to tell the little otter what to say in the message before sending it off.

She didn't want to accept the owl into the little cottage without Draco there, just in case.

Five minutes later, Draco Flooed in to the safe house, his expression curious.

"I assume it's something important for you to send me a Patronus, so I'll forego the chewing out anyone else would have heard for interrupting my breakfast. So what's wrong?"

Pointing to the window where the owl still waited, Hermione looked halfway between annoyed and afraid.

"That's Errol, the owl that the Weasley family, Molly in particular, uses, with the exception of Ronald. Ronald has a Scops owl that was given to him by Sirius Black that's named Pigwidgeon."

"I'll see what it's carrying, and we can decide what to do from there."

"Ronald's sentencing is tomorrow, you don't think Molly…"

"Right now the only Weasley I trust is Potter's wife."

"I understand."

Walking over to the window, Draco opened it just enough to remove the small package tied to the owl's leg. Seeing it was indeed, addressed to Hermione, he held up a hand in warning.

"Before this is opened, I want to have Madam Bones here, just in case. We can't be sure of anything right now until the Weasel is sentenced, and the reports of your complaints against him did disappear until Madam Bones was able to get them back. So I'd like to treat anything sent to you as suspicious until we can determine it's safe. Is that okay with you?

"That's fine with me. Set the package on the table. I won't even try to touch it until she's here."

Draco walked to the Floo and called Amelia Bones, explaining what was going on and that he would open the Floo to grant her access to the safe house. A few moments later, Amelia stepped through.

"All right, Mr. Malfoy, where's this package that Miss Granger received?" Amelia asked, dusting off her cloak.

"It's over here on the table. Hermione recognized the owl as belonging to the Weasleys. I thought you should be here to see what she was sent before it was opened, just in case."

"I see. Miss Granger, do I have your permission to examine the package?"

"Of course. With everything Ronald put me through, I'm not sure I would want to open something from anyone in the Weasley family other than Ginny or Harry right now," Hermione said.

"Ordinarily, a suspicious package is placed in a containment bubble, and then opened, in case there is anything which could be harmful to a large number of people. Unfortunately, that type of protective shield is too large for this area. I'd like to place you both behind a shield while I open the package. Do either of you have any objections to this?"

Draco glanced at Hermione, and then answered for them both.

"No objections, Madam Bones."

After placing the shield, Amelia pulled on a pair of protective dragon hide gloves, and reached for the paper on the package. She needed to open it with as little damage to the paper as possible. Hermione's name clearly written on the front could make the paper evidence in her investigations of both Molly and Ron Weasley.

After removing the paper, Amelia placed it in an evidence pouch, sealing it with a touch of her wand. She then slowly opened the box, and frowned a bit as she pulled out a small plate of fudge and a potion phial. Seeing a note included, she pulled it out to read aloud.

Hermione,

I know you didn't mean to say those horrible things about Ron, so to show there are no hard feelings, I made you some fudge, as well as some potion for when you get those tremors you still have from time to time.

We will always be here anytime you want to apologize to us.

Mrs. Weasley

Draco was the first to speak.

"Madam Bones, if Mrs. Weasley actually sent those things to Hermione as a 'let's make up' gift, then I'll eat my Firebolt. Is there any way you can test the items for curses, jinxes, or anything else? I would have included potions in the list, but the phial makes that a bit redundant."

"That's exactly what I plan to do, Mr. Malfoy, and will take care of it as soon as I'm back in the office," she said, placing each item in a separate pouch. As she was about to place the phial in a pouch to seal as evidence, it tilted a bit, showing the color; a deep blood red.

"Madam Bones, stop!" Draco demanded, staring at the color of the potion.

"Mr. Malfoy, why are you shouting?"

"Apologies, Madam Bones, but as you are aware, Severus Snape was one of the top Potions Masters in his lifetime. He was also my godfather, and taught me from the time I was able to see over a potions table what he knew about brewing, including some of the more dangerous potions. There are only a few potions he taught me about that have that particular shade of red. One of them is volatile enough that it can dissolve the phial it contains if jostled too much, and is even more highly corrosive when mixed with other potions. If you'll give me a moment, I'll give you a list of the potions, and what the most active ingredients are."

"Lessening the time the potion masters at the Ministry have to spend breaking down the potions, thank you Mr. Malfoy, that would be most appreciated."

A few minutes later, Draco handed over a short list. Looking it over, Amelia saw he had also written the known effects of the potions in addition to the active ingredients.

Dragon's Death-a liquid form of the organ liquefying curse developed by Antonin Dolohov; most active ingredient is Oleander stalk

Sleeping Beauty-used to send the victim into a deep sleep without waking, only known cure is 'True Love's First Kiss'; active ingredient is dragon's blood, specifically a Chinese Fireball

Nights of Hell-used to heat the organs of the body with excruciating pain, and similar to the Cruciatus Curse; active ingredient is bat's wings

Foe's Defeat-explosive when jostled, highly corrosive, used to act as an acid and slowly dissolve the victim, either ingested or topical, seeps into the skin within moments; active ingredient is arsenic combined with foxglove

"I'll make sure they have this list so they can look for these potions specifically. Are any of them able to be hidden in food or drink, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Yes, this is why I'd like you to also test the fudge that was sent in the package."

Nodding in agreement, Amelia conjured a box, and she placed all of the pouches inside.

"If you don't mind, Mr. Malfoy, I'd like to use the Floo here to avoid any further jostling of these items. I hope to have the results of those tests in a couple of days at most."

"Certainly, Madam Bones. I'll set the Ministry as the destination for you. This Floo isn't typical in use; the destination has to be preset, as the primary destination, being a safe house Floo, is my suite in Malfoy Manor."

"Thank you. Miss Granger, I'll see both you and Mr. Malfoy for the sentencing hearing tomorrow. Come to my office when you come to the Ministry and I'll escort you to the hearing."

With a short nod to Draco, Amelia stepped into the Floo and spun away.