The Leader

Chapter 67

"Enter," came the impassionate voice of Amelia Bones, as she beckoned her next appointment to enter her office. Knowing who it was, but rather tired, and having zero desire to endure his prattling and the pretending. It was exhausting, and on top of her already stressed and burdened shoulders, she just wanted to curl up in bed today and forget the world. Unfortunately, it wasn't something that could be done. Perhaps in the next few months she could take a week or two off an actually enjoy her holidays without being called in for an 'emergency' like murder would take a holiday for her.

"Ah, Amelia!" Dumbledore beamed, his eyes sparkling brightly as he took in his surroundings all the while keeping his joyful demeanour. "Thank you for taking time to see me!" taking a seat across from the witch without even having the courtesy of waiting to be offered to take a seat. He was Albus Dumbledore, he was far busier than she would ever be. He'd like anyone to be able to take on his jobs and find enough time to sleep.

Amelia struggled to keep her composure, but no outward reaction penetrated that hardened exterior she had built up. Her job was an extremely difficult one, she couldn't let emotions blindside her to the truth. If they did, she would step down, she vowed never to let her emotions get the better of her. "You asked to see me?" was all she offered up, praying this meeting wouldn't last too long.

"Yes, for an entire week now," Albus said, a frown marring his features as he gave her his patented look of grave disappointment. It had never really worked on her, but she was a Hufflepuff, pretty unremarkable at Hogwarts from what he could recall. He must confess, he hadn't expected her to raise through the ranks (especially as she was a witch) to become the DMLE.

Amelia remained impassive, unmoved by Dumbledore's words, in fact, she leaned over and scribbled her signature on another piece of parchment that had required her focus. The second she was done, it turned into a paper rat and moved itself on over to the outbox pile of filed documents. Her inbox was blessedly nearly empty, but she knew how quickly it could refill.

Albus' eyes twitched in irritation at the slight, detesting the idea that someone wouldn't give him their total undivided attention. He didn't even attempt to try and see it from her point of view, the Ministry was under immense strain with the war and stretched too thin due to their own prejudice and refusal to utilise every single magical creature to their own benefit.

"So, how can I help you, Albus? Is this regarding the Wizengamot?" Amelia ventured to ask, after signing the very last piece of parchment. She wanted him out of her office more than she wanted to make him wait.

"Alas, only secondarily so," Albus confessed, not the least bit dispirited, looking as if he was merely catching up with a friend.

Amelia rose one eyebrow, only barely keeping her monocle in place, which she plucked off and placed on the table. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, she wanted it ended now. "Speak," she stated a little more heavily handed than usual. She was tired, she just didn't want to deal with his cryptic ways and running around the truth just so she'd give in and give him what he wanted.

She glanced at the wall, the very area where she knew one of the cameras had gone into. She could practically hear Harry berating her for being foolish. For underestimating Dumbledore, Harry never underestimated his opponents, or tried not to at any rate. It helped centre her, calmed her down. She would not make mistakes; she wasn't about to leave her niece without any other family. she did smother her amusement upon seeing the look of utter shock on Dumbledore's face. She wasn't sure she'd ever seen that particular look on his face.

It took everything in Albus' power to keep himself genial, to keep his doddering Headmaster façade that everyone believed was him. "The new prison." He stated, "I wish to inspect it." his tone imperiously, demanding and expecting that he'd get his way.

"Looking to become a guard, Albus?" Amelia asked him, feigning innocence.

Albus' jaw clenched just a little, "I'm afraid I'm far too busy to add a skillset to my repertoire." Reminding her of whom she was speaking. He had more careers and skills than she'd ever manage to gain. A clerical position to DMLE. He had far higher positions than she'd ever dream of.

The fact most of his positions were gained because of his fight with Grindelwald and nothing to do with his ability well, naturally, such a thought didn't come into it.

"How are we to trust this? When we do not know where it is, if it exists at all, I mean have you even seen it?" Albus asked, expecting it to be a resounding no.

"Yes," Amelia immediately answered, her square features enhanced by the stubborn jut of her jaw which was aimed at Dumbledore.

"What?" Albus grappled to come to terms with that as swiftly as possible.

"Yes, I've been to see the new prison." Amelia enunciated it carefully, knowing full well Dumbledore had heard her correctly. "Is that all you wished to know?" glancing at her watch, not so subtly trying to move the meeting along.

"Of course not," Albus replied offended, as if he'd come all the way over and be placated by her measly statement. "As I have said, the Minister and I feel the need to see the prison and ensure all is well…after all…I do not believe anyone has met this Thorn character, how can we be sure he's trustworthy? My for all we know he's hit you with a powerful confundus to make you believe you have seen it!"

"Please do not offend me so," Amelia barely blinked, more amused than anything. "I do not just order tests done on my Aurors but on everyone who runs a department in the Ministry of magic. Even the Unspeakables must undergo the tests, for the safety of us all." naturally she didn't get to see the results of the Unspeakables tests, but the Head Unspeakable (HU) does, and he had given her an oath of truth when it comes to certain things.

"Those can be beaten," Albus admonished, "People need to know they are safe and that the Death Eaters aren't out and about."

"Rumours that you started?" Amelia pointed out, dryly. "I am aware of them. Warmongering is your biggest tactic to gain followers for that group of yours. I have ignored your attempts to interfere and I will not tolerate it much longer." Giving her one of her last warnings, if she had to start arresting them, she would. It was a horrible thought since quite a few of them were actually her Aurors. Although, it would seem they had come to their senses, and likely would not re-join Dumbledore's group. Not after what they'd found out about Dumbledore…people from his group had in the past. It had seen them tortured, killed and disposed of.

"Amelia, can't you understand people's concern? There's nothing to be found on this wizard at all," Dumbledore answered, except a vault, and somehow a comradery with the goblins from what he could find out. He wasn't about to tell her he knew information pertaining to a citizen's private vaults.

What he knew came from Bill. He'd like to keep the wizard where he was, he did obtain useful information.

Naturally Albus didn't realize that Bill only revealed what Harry gave permission to reveal.

"Haven't you wondered if perhaps there's a reason for that?" Amelia pointed out, leaning back, and placing her hands in her lap relaxing just a tad. Her finger brushing against the handle of her wand from where it sat in its holster, ready to be called into action at any given time. She would not underestimate Dumbledore.

"Meaning?" Albus straightened up caution written on every single wrinkled line on his face. Was Amelia implying what he thought she was?

Amelia just gave him a look, letting him make his own interpretations.

"Was he an Unspeakable?" Unspeakables had their identities removed entirely with magic, they still existed, just everything else was removed. Their magical signature record removed, OWL and NEWTS scores, pictures and everything that made them identifiable. When you leave the service (active service you never really leave the Unspeakables and their vows) a trail can be found, but most laid low. In fact, Albus only knew one, that was because he was in Tom's service.

When they were in the Ministry, they remained hooded and cloaked, almost reminiscent of a Dementors presence without the effects. They rarely ventured around, primarily getting back and forth with the use of trainee Unspeakables and the Floo network mostly.

"That would explain the lack of information regarding the wizard," Albus mused, and where he got the money, since he did not have a pureblood or even any male Half-blood's he knew. He could be using a different name now, but no wizard would give up pureblood name for one entirely unknown. And Bones inability to tell him outright actually. Not that she would have if she could, he knew Bones was too fair, it was entirely too meddlesome really.

Amelia's lips twitched, imagining the reaction he'd have if he knew the truth. He clearly hadn't dug around too much, otherwise he'd be far more concerned. Since Thorne (or one of his 'companies' had bought up everything in Knockturn and Diagon Alley) not all of it though, some were stubbornly not quite up to moving yet, but it was only a matter of time.

"Amelia, the wizengamot deserves to see this prison, you'll need to inform everyone when it's time for the Dementors to go to it anyway." Albus tried to coax her into letting him see the prison.

Amelia let out a short laugh, "I'm sorry, Albus, but the Dementors will not be housed in the new prison, after all, they wouldn't be able to find it, we cannot really communicate the need for a 'secret' to a Dementor now, can we?" she'd never been more amused really.

"That's the most preposterous thing I've ever heard," Dumbledore looked stunned to hear that, the Dementors kept control of the prisoners, stopped any of them from getting any ideas of breaking out and keeping them subdued enough to never be a danger to society. "We cannot in good conscience allow criminals a chance to enter society! Isn't once enough of an embarrassment upon the Ministry?" naturally he knew exactly how to strike or what to say to garner the best results.

"You let me worry about the Ministry's reputation," Amelia stated firmly, standing up indicating that the meeting was over. She was done playing his games or indulging him. It wasn't too out of character for her to be busy or worse brush him off.

The fact she was only brushing him off spoke volumes. After all she had piles upon piles of evidence of his breaking the law for Merlin's sake! He'd tried to have Auror Tonks and Auror Shacklebolt killed, and had successfully killed so many people that she shuddered to think. Perhaps he hadn't gotten his hands dirty on his own, and there was no real evidence except the Hitwizard Harry had caught. It wasn't enough for an arrest, she needed very real, and very strong case built. For without it, there was no telling how the trial would go.

"I will not cede!" Albus stood, exuding impatience and impertinence.

Amelia took an instinctive step back, wand already in hand, the chair scraping back as she moved.

Albus' demeanour immediately calmed, paling a little, as he stared at her, "I apologise," he murmured, exuding shame at his actions. He was ashamed of himself; it was one thing to lose his composure…but another entirely to lose it in front of Amelia Bones the Head of the Department of Law Enforcement of all things. "I…sleep has been very elusive as of late."

Amelia pretended to relax, her face softening, despite wanting to claw out his eyes and run. "I understand that problem all too well," she confessed, and she did, she got less sleep than she should, pushed herself to the max. She'd been doing it for years now, unfortunately though, she wasn't as young as she used to be. Her body just didn't want to continue its self-imposed sleep deprivation.

"It doesn't help that I fear we're all being duped by this Thorn character," Albus said, his posture one of relaxed relief. Exuding happiness that the whole unpleasantness from a few moments earlier was forgotten. "If I just knew whom he really is, what he does, his allegiance, and the prison, I will sleep better at night…" using his slip up to his advantage never one to stumble more than a single step before he corrects that misstep.

"Albus, even you are not above the law," Amelia sighed tiredly, "Those that need to know, know." and they couldn't reveal it to anyone, they were not the chosen Secret Keeper.

"We need…" Albus was cut off before he could continue further.

"Albus even if I wanted to let you, I cannot." Amelia declared, lying through her teeth, "Only the Secret Keeper can divulge where the prison is." Which was a House-elf, whom was bound to Harry Potter himself, the prison was the safest place in the world from this conflict at the moment.

"Something is going on," Dumbledore pointed his finger on the desk, almost looming over Amelia, and his true self began to peak through. "My friend of a friend claimed to have seen someone that should still be in Azkaban prison." Mundungus while untrustworthy, always had good information to be had, and that was as far as he trusted him.

"Is that all?" Amelia asked. "Do you see these files?" she asked, magically jerking the drawer open and letting it out fully. It was the entire length of the room, and still had more files inside of it. "These files are all claim people have made against another…and they have all proven to be false."

"He was very su…" Albus begun but was once again interrupted.

"They always are, Albus," Amelia said, eyes half-lidded, her exhaustion getting the better of her. Fortunately, it didn't last long, she knew better than to be anything less than on her full guard around Dumbledore. "Have your friends friend come in and report it, and I'll see the Aurors get right on it." she reassured him, friend of a friend, Dumbledore didn't have friends.

Dumbledore pressed his lips together in a tight line, unimpressed, his mind reeling on the best way to deal with it. His go to response wasn't going to get him anywhere, neither would be his other alternative. Clearly, she wasn't the Secret Keeper, which meant he still wouldn't have access to the prison – if it even existed which he suspected it didn't – there was too much unknown about Thorn.

"Would you like me to make an appointment for your friend's friend?" Amelia asked, already snatching her day planner from its spot and gazing expectantly. "I might be able to fit them in next week at the earliest?" looking once more she nodded before glancing up.

"I'll let you know," Dumbledore bit out, the sheer annoyance he felt could not be described. They'd take one look at Mundungus' 'friend' and no report would ever be taken seriously. There was just no point to even attempting to get them to listen to reason. Truth be told, Albus himself wasn't sure if he believed him, which was why he wanted to see the prison before making any judgements on that front.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?" Amelia asked once more, glancing at her watch making no attempt to be subtle. Luckily for her, time was going quickly enough, she'd have another knock on her door in less than five minutes.

"Do you know Mr. Thorn? As more than just a contributor?" a donator to a good cause if you will. Although, donating the land and property to be transformed into a prison was more than generous…it was suspicious to him. Still, Bones would never become a Death Eater, never work for the dark side, so he knew regardless of what was going on, she was doing good work. She was in the way for sure, but at least he could trust that she wasn't conspiring against him. Unlike the Minister, who would do whatever it took to keep his job or for a 'donation' which was placed directly into his vaults. By known Death Eaters no less! He told him and he continued on that destructive path.

"We've had a few conversations, I can vouch for his trustworthiness, he's a good man, one of the best," Amelia informed Dumbledore. Speaking nearly the full truth for the first time since she'd begun her conversation with Dumbledore.

Envy surged like a snake, wrapping itself around Dumbledore like a boa constructor. Ever since boyhood he'd always wanted to be the best, best everything. He hated people paying attention to someone else, yes, even his brother and sister. He so detested sharing, and hearing someone being told they were trustworthy and 'one of the best' made Dumbledore desire to monopolise everyone's attention. Again.

To do that Voldemort and Harry needed to die.

Unfortunately, they'd grown far more powerful than he'd anticipated.

He sourly regretted telling Harry he had to go back to the muggles despite how they treated him. He should have said something else, that he'd work on it, even if it ultimately, would have been a lie. The boy may well have shown up to Hogwarts for his second year if he had been a bit more delicate with the brat. Unfortunately, he'd expected Voldemort to get the better of the boy, to kill him, and the Horcrux in him, but no. It wasn't to be. Then he'd taken his mood out on the child, and lost him entirely.

"High praise indeed," Dumbledore replied, lips tight in a mimicry of a smile, that was a half grimace as he wasn't quite capable of showcasing being unoffended. "For you to sing your praises, I do sincerely hope to meet him." now here he was telling the truth, he did indeed want to meet him.

Amelia smiled, "I'm sure," she replied, honestly, Dumbledore hated variables he couldn't control. To be fair, what he couldn't control he considered 'dark', Death Eaters, or worse, Dark supporters. On Dumbledore's chessboard there was only two sides, even the neutrals weren't considered 'clean' or 'light' they were lost causes too. It had taken her a long time to realize it, its primarily why Harry approached her – she thought – but she couldn't be sure.

It wasn't as if she had been digging into information like an idiot – Tonks and Shacklebolt, Aurors at that – or anything remotely like that. Nothing that could have told or alluded to Harry that she was trustworthy or doubting the Ministry and Dumbledore. Not that her allegiance had ever been with Dumbledore, no, it was always the Ministry.

She worried about Tonks and Shacklebolt, they had both been through major trauma. They had revered Dumbledore, trusted him entirely, joined his order and believed in his cause. Now their entire world had been turned upside down. Not to mention Tonks injury, which added to the mental trauma of it all. When this was all said and done…she wasn't sure they would retain their jobs. It would be entirely down to the mind healer who would test their readiness to return to their job.

All because of Dumbledore. Well, that and Harry underestimating their Gryffindor traits to broadcast the truth out there in the world. Ironically enough neither of them was actually Gryffindors, but they were very brave, vastly intelligent.

What the real problem was, that Harry wasn't used to people disobeying him.

When he spoke, he expected people to adhere to the words of wisdom.

Albus waited for her to answer him, to tell him she'd set up a meeting, ensuring this wasn't for nothing. He'd not learned a single little thing. He did not like wasting his time. Not when there was other work to be done, including finding Harry, unfortunately, since his battle with Voldemort and the meeting there wasn't a single trace of him to be found.

Stealthily removing his wand, intending on casting a very strong compulsion charm on her. To make sure she would do as he desired, lead him to Thorn, one way or another he'd have it out with him.

A sudden knock at the door had Dumbledore immediately sliding his wand away, heart pounding in his chest.

"Enter!" Amelia called out, her hands hidden, but subtly shaking, she knew how close that had been.

"Your next appoint is here, Madam Bones," the rough voice of Shade – better known as Robert Selwyn here – as he swung the door open wide.

Nobody noticed the item in his ear, nor did they hear a single thing.

"Thank you," Madam Bones blurted out, "I'm sorry to cut the meeting short, Albus, but my next appointment is here."

"No problem!" Albus said joyfully, "Another time!" giving her a nod, he nodded to the newcomers as he passed them.

Only Shade knew just how seriously pissed off Dumbledore actually was. He'd been in the room with a vampire, and had been none the wiser. Which he should have been, Shade exuded coldness.

He went where he was told to go.

A/N – surprisingly the muse is wanting Dumbledore to survive in this one now 😊 I say surprising since it was always my intention, he die in this one…but survive in Embracing His True Self, even had the last scene envisioned in my mind but that's long gone now since Dumbledore is dead. It's not often the idea I begin a story with goes awry. It might be why that particular story gives me trouble lol 😉 and hey look at that! Still managed to get at least three updates out in a week despite having a tremendously busy week 😊 so, here we go another step closer to its end. I hate muses that change their mind LOL 😊