AN:/ Rewrite is still ongoing, but you all deserve a treat for being so patient. Happy Holidays!
A few hours later, Harry is brushing soot off of his robes and waiting for Nymphadora to come through the floo. Ted came before him and was the one to help him out of the fireplace. Harry has gotten better at flooing- the advice to fight the spinning and stay still did wonders to keep him facing the right direction and orientation. He was landing facing out of the fireplace and mostly right side up every time now. He had trouble keeping his feet from the sudden jarring stop, but he was improving.
Nymphadora came through the floo already walking, and the trio advanced to the line waiting to be cleared into the building proper. Harry looked around while they waited, noting a ugly golden statue. A wizard stands, wand aloft, followed by a witch. Under their feet lay a fallen goblin and a house elf. The more Harry looks, the more detail he picks up, what is clearly a centaur's bow broken, the cracked horn of some magical creature, how the witch has a subtle collar on, the wizard's aristocratic looks and the ring on his finger. "Pureblood," Harry realizes, "He's a pureblood."
The line moves, and the statue falls behind. Soon enough they're at the inspection station.
"All wizards must register their wands." The clerk announces, Tonks passing over her badge instead and Ted handing his wand over. Harry also passes his forwards. The clerk nods at Tonks and examines Ted and Harry's wands before passing Harry's back.
"You're cleared." He says, and waves them on.
"But-" Harry starts to protest, but Ted guides him through the checkpoint.
He leans down and whispers, "Non-purebloods can't carry inside the ministry," before straightening up and guiding Harry forward. They proceed down the hall and into an elevator. Tonks hits the button for the fourth floor, and the elevator lurches before descending.
It stops twice, once on the second floor to let out a witch carrying a covered cage and on the third floor to let a trio of men with orange robes on. One of them catches Harrys look of curiosity and explains, "Department of Magical Catastrophes. Some poor sot turned his house to pudding. Be careful out there."
Tonks ushers them out on the fourth floor, and Harry gets his first look at the auror bullpen. He wasn't sure what to expect, but the row of desks doesn't surprise him. There are a few training dummies in the corner or leaned against a column. A few boards containing some diagrams and materials. When one of the Aurors catches him looking, they wave their wand and the board blurs. Tonks is leading them toward the back set of offices when one of the other Aurors calls her over.
"Tonks, glad you're here. I need you to check the records department for these people- I think one of them was responsible." He says.
"Corner, I'm-" she tries to protest, but he shoves the file in her hands and walks away.
"by four, Tonks." He tells her. She looks at harry and her dad helplessly.
"Da, you know where Madame Bones is, right?" Tonks says weakly, "I apparently have things to do."
"I can watch over Harry." Ted promises, but he's unable to hide the concern in his eyes. Tonks walks back toward the elevators, leaving them behind.
"Amelia is in the corner office." Ted tells Harry, stepping in that direction. They continue through the bullpen, Harry eyeing the desks of the Aurors as they pass by. A lot of the desks look used, files piled up to be taken care of. Other desks, usually the ones with people are clear and the occupants are talking and joking, legs thrown up. Just outside of the office is a wizard at a desk.
"Here to see the commandant?" he asks. When Ted nods, he continues, "go on inside. Amelia stepped away for a moment, but she'll be back." Ted opens the door, but before Harry can step inside, the secretary passes a warning, "Hands to yourself, lad. The spells on the office don't take lightly to visitors being nosy. Just have a seat and you'll be alright."
Harry and Ted both take a seat in one of the visitor chairs. Across the cluttered desk is a leather chair, comfortable and strong looking.
"You alright, Harry?" Ted asks.
"Yes, sir." Harry replies.
"Nervous?"
"A bit. Andromeda told me some about her history with the department."
"Andy's had some run ins, but they hired Nymphadora and she's been treated well, so I wouldn't worry about it. Plus, you're Harry Potter. Special treatment is assured for one of your stature." He jokes.
"It'll be the first time my fame helps me." Harry says with a wistful grin.
"I'm sure everything will be fine." Ted says only for the door to be burst in by four Aurors. Ted is seized and dragged out of the room before Harry can do anything. The door locks behind them, and no matter how hard Harry beats on it, it refuses to budge.
He's just about pulled his wand when Amelia speaks, "Mr. Potter, have a seat. We have a lot to discuss."
"What is going on? What happened to Ted?" Harry demands, taking his seat.
"Mr. Tonks is being questioned about a few things. I'm afraid I can't disclose information about an active investigation." Amelia says, opening a folder on her desk.
"What are you-"
"You are a hard man to get alone, Mr. Potter." Amelia says, cutting him off and flipping through the pages. "Quite a record already, despite being so young. Of course, given your history that's to be expected." She leans forward,
"Did you know that you hold the record for most blood status changes in one's life?"
"I- what?" Harry asks.
"You were born a half-blood, of course. Muggleborn mother, pureblood father: half-blood. But, after He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named you were granted special dispensation to be considered pureblood. One of seven wizards to receive such an acclaim. But then, when you attended Hogwarts, you were filed as half-blood. Naturally, this caused a pile of confusion, and it was eventually decided that if you wanted to be a half-blood you could be a half-blood. Thankfully for both of us, when you took up your houses you automatically became a pureblood. After all, were you not, this meeting could never have happened." She explains.
"Thank you for the history lesson, but what does my blood status have to do with anything?" Harry asks.
"The Office of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is responsible for the execution, protection, and welfare of the regulations and people of magical Britain. Naturally, anyone of noble birth is a person of magical Britain. So too, are those who determine our laws and their families. Lastly, anyone defined as a citizen under the compact of 1412 is under our protections as well." Amelia says carefully.
"I know that document: Andromeda," Harry glances at Amelia and amends his words, "my tutor had me read it as one of the first binding international magical agreements. But wait, it only applies to those of pure birth."
"That is correct." Amelia says with a small nod, "Your tutor is wise to have you start at the beginning and learn the guidelines of magical society longitudinally, rather than piecemeal by section. Greater understanding of the world can be achieved from seeing how things evolve over time."
"Regarding a case you were involved in, you should be pleased to know we have identified three of the men under those masks at the Quidditch World Cup. We are currently building a case against them for the damages they caused to you."
"What about the damages they caused to the event, the muggles they tortured, the other people they cursed?" Harry asks, "or can you not tell me those details as they are part of another case?"
"No one else has come forward about damages done during the Quidditch World Cup. If you know a person of Magical Britain who has suffered harm, please urge them to come forward and press charges. The stronger our case, the more likely we are to achieve restitution. There are currently no other cases from the Quidditch World Cup." Madame Bones says with a thin, pained smile.
"Wait, no cases stemming from actions taken at the QWC. Operations preceding the events at the QWC may have progressed during that time frame." She recovers, "Now, Mr. Potter you contacted us to have this meeting. Is this about the late Professor Quirrell? Or perhaps Mr. Lockhart? If you were reaching about concerning Mr. Hagrid, I would refer you to the Department of the Regulation of Magical Creatures, subsection transport and illegal breeding."
Harry sits shocked for a moment while Madame Bones looks pleased in her seat.
"You have a daughter in my year, do you not?" Harry finally asks.
"No, Mr. Potter. But, my brother's daughter, Susan is in your year. She has some great stories about her times each year. Some of them sound so crazy, it's like the marauders returned to the halls. Or perhaps their children." She muses pointedly.
"Um, right." Harry says, "I actually requested this meeting about what happened during the train ride home this past year."
"You are referring to the Dementor attack on the Hogwarts express, are you not?" she asks, digging out a file from her desk.
"I am." Harry says, gripping his robes to steady his hands. Amelia has demonstrated that she knows everything going on, and admitting he's apparently dangerous just by being doesn't sound appealing.
"Event report," she hums, "lets see- two dementors, initially went for the conductor. When he passed out, control over the speed of the train was lost, subsequent turns were taken above recommended safety guidelines. The train was eventually derailed in the Scottish Highlands. Derailment process ejected the dementors from the carriage. Responding squad arrived on the scene to the smell of ozone, students protected largely by the inbuilt charms. No sign of dementors, localized tracing spells failed. Incident was immediately escalated due to danger of dementor's learning to break tracing methods. Second wave response spread out, identified the dementors as still being present. Detection methods failing, students waking up. Triage of injuries, response submitted for another three waves of Aurors to handle the situation. Ministerial override activated and protection detail accompanying." She reads aloud, surreptitiously glancing to make sure Harry is paying attention.
"Ah, after action addendum from Ministerial protective detail, ID: Tonks, grade 1 Auror. Upon questioning, Harry Potter did admit to vanquishing both dementors via," she pauses and looks at him with an eyebrow raised, "via fisticuffs."
"That is correct." Harry says nervously.
"You killed two dementors by punching them." She asks.
"Ye- I guess the second one was technically beheading. I reached into it's cloak and pulled it's skull out." Harry admits.
"I see. Yes, there is a memo that one of the pieces of evidence from the scene was remanded to the Unspeakables for study." Amelia says. "If you are here to attempt to claim it, I'm afraid Unspeakables usurp traditional rights of conquest under the Heritage act."
"That's alright. They're welcome to have it." Harry says with a shudder, "thing was nasty feeling."
When Amelia doesn't says anything, Harry does, "Aren't you going to ask how I managed to do that?"
"If you would like to volunteer, I am curious. But since the only crime you committed then was destruction of ministerial property and that was waived by the minister, I have no grounds to ask."
"When I punched the first one, there was a loud zap and a flash of light. The second one I didn't even touch before something arced into it and it started convulsing. The first one was coming back around and I remember when I reached into its cloak my hand was sparking." Harry confesses.
Amelia closes the folder and leans back in her chair. "You cast no spell, no family technique or rune structure, carried no protective charms or talismans?"
"Correct. As far as I am aware, I had no protections besides, well, me." Harry says.
"That event alone is not enough to convict you, but in light of the events at the QWC, I have the grounds to accuse you, Harry Potter, of being an unregistered elemental." Amelia Bones says, suddenly holding her wand at his throat.
"What happens now?" Harry asks, slowly and carefully.
"Now, you've tossed the erumpent horn in the cauldron. Let me think." She grumbles, wand not wavering a millimeter.
"Our case for the QWC is moot. Elementals are a tricky legality and no doubt they'll squeeze out of it. Especially you being unregistered at the time. Elementals have to be registered by the time they turn four, as their powers will always manifest by then. It is understandable that your parents did not register you before their untimely demise. Likewise, your relatives have had no contact with our world. Surely- But, wait- No." she mutters, drawing her wand back a few inches, "How long have you been able to manifest lightning?"
"The train was the first time I can recall." Harry says.
"Not facing the professor your first year, defending the philosophers stone?"
"Not that I remember."
"Nor the basilisk your second year?"
"No."
"I'm shocked you got struck by-" she pauses, "that quidditch game where you fell from our broom, you weren't struck by lightning, were you?"
"No ma'am. I passed out due to the dementors." Harry answers.
"We had no report of the dementors going rogue." She says, paging through some files, "No, nothing. Who was on duty that day…"
"Mr. Potter, you have my word we will get to the bottom of this and you will be compensated for your broom. Nothing we can do about the game, but due to someone's negligence your broom was destroyed."
"Thank you?" Harry says, confused. After she's jotted down a few notes, Amelia leans back in her chair.
"You are unique case, Mr. Potter. Surviving the killing curse no doubt came with repercussions, one of which was probably delaying or mutating your elemental connection, as well as your-Scar that shouldn't exist because the killing curse leaves no marks! That's what it is! The point where you entered another domain. Oh, the Unspeakables are going to love this." She says triumphantly.
"Mr. Potter, coming here today was the right thing to do. I have here the proper registration for status as an elemental. You will have to submit to an assessment of your abilities before you can return to school, and return here annually for a reassessment. Given the high profile nature of your case, that will be done with the Unspeakables. They will reach out to you shortly for the foundational measurement. Knowing the circumstances of your situation, particularly the initial manifestation, I have waived the penalty for being an unregistered elemental. Any other surprises you want to confess to? If it comes out that you became an Animagus and failed to register, the penalty will be much higher than standard, and there will no zero leniency from me."
"I have no plans become an Animagus at this time, so unless it is something I could do by accident, no." Harry says.
"I see." She says. Harry swears he heard her mutter, "Damn shame." But he had to be hearing things, right?
"Now then, Mr. Potter. You have been registered as an elemental, foundational read pending. You must complete your baseline tests before returning to Hogwarts in the fall. Beyond that, the Ministry has no gripes with you. You are free to go. I will have Ted Tonks released as you leave."
"Thank you, Madame Bones." Harry says, despite not feeling thankful at all.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter. Every Auror joins because they want to serve and protect. We don't see a lot of people doing the right thing in our line of work."
Harry and Ted, who looks disheveled and slightly limping, exit the ministry, Ted collecting his wand as they leave.
"Not a bad visit, eh Harry?" He says with a smile as they climb into the lift.