Chapter 11
Authors Note: Here's the next chapter, please read, review and enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Disney, those rights belong to J.K Rowling and Walt Disney.
On Wednesday morning, Minerva finally received a letter from Gringotts regarding Remus and the ritual.
"Dear Minerva,
I hope this letter finds you well, last night we received word from Remus Lupin that he would be back in Britain later this afternoon and will be ready to perform the ritual later tonight. Unfortunately, the best time to do the cleansing ritual is midnight tonight, when the new moon has reached its peak. Hopefully this doesn't disrupt young Hendrick's sleep schedule too much, but we will have to give him a child's portion of draught of living death to keep him perfectly still during the ritual. Once the ritual is over, we will spell the antidote directly into his stomach and fill you in on the progress we have made regarding Dumbledore's case.
May your vaults overflow
Sincerely,
Axegut, McGonagall Account Manager
Minerva's relieved that they were able to get a hold of Remus, and that her son will soon be rid of Tom's soul before his playdate on Saturday. Minerva had agreed to host Neville and Susan while Amelia, Augusta, and Susan's parents were at the Wizengamont meeting.
Filius has also been keeping her abreast of the happenings in Hogwarts, from the Tonks' accepting to fulfill her roles, and the pranks that have been happening to Albus, her favourite memory so far was when his robes somehow got up and walked away, leaving Albus in front of all the students in his rainbow boxers, which were barely covered by his neon pink beard, which he still hasn't noticed and no one has had the heart to tell him about it.
'I should write to Filius and invite him over for tea tomorrow night, first to let him know how the ritual went, and to fill him in on what the goblins tell me about Albus.' Minerva makes a mental note of this while watching Harry play with his toys, glad that he has adjusted well to living with her and is no longer having nightmares of that night, thanks to Fawkes setting up his perch in his nursery.
Meanwhile- At the Ministry of Magic
Amelia is frustrated and slightly worried about this weekend, not only is she and Augusta trying to keep the Albus trial under wraps until Saturday, but she also just got word from her boss, Head Auror Justin Croppy, that Albus and the minister of magic wants to start the Death Eater trials on Saturday.
"The sooner we get the bad guys behind bars, the sooner we can put this war behind us, what do you say Amelia, are you ready for this weekend?" Justin asks.
"Behind bars? Just behind bars? Why not sentence them to the Dementor's Kiss, or throw them through the Veil of Death in the Department of mysteries?" Amelia asks, already not liking the answer she's going to hear from her boss.
"Death is forever, and there's a lot of purebloods going on trial. If we kill them all, what's that going to do to our population? I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, don't you Amelia?"
"There's a difference between stealing some candy bars and murdering people. I don't believe in second chances for murderers, haven't you ever heard the saying that a tiger never changes its stripes?"
"What does that have to do with anything? Haven't you heard the expression, 'there are two sides to every story?' Albus and I agree that we need to hear their side of the story before we decide on a punishment." Justin replies.
'So, Justin is also in Dumbledore's pockets, I wonder who else he has bribed in the Wizengamont.' Amelia thinks to herself, while also making a mental note to inform Augusta and Rockgrinder about this current development. "Well then Justin, shall we make a motion to use veritaserum on all the accused? If we need to hear their side of the story, we better make sure they are telling the truth."
"You know the law Amelia, the use of veritaserum on a member of the Sacred 28 is a violation of their rights. Since they are Lords of their houses, they have the same immunity as those of the Queen's Advisors. If we push for using veritaserum on them, there will be another war."
"Yes, I know the law, in my opinion that law is as outdated as the fashion around here." Amelia replies, while immediately finding a loophole in the law Justin just quoted. While it's true the law states that it's forbidden to use on purebloods, it says nothing about it being forbidden on the use of half bloods. "Anyways, who do you have lined up first on the trial list for Saturday? I assume you have identified several of the Death Eaters, since their attire sticks out like a sore thumb."
"First on the trial list is Severus Snape, following him will be Bellatrix LeStrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy and Igor Karkaroff."
"What about Sirius Black, when is his trial scheduled?"
"Never, he said he was guilty when he was arrested, saying it was his fault the Potters were killed, therefore his sentence is currently being carried out. Lifelong sentence in Azkaban for him."
"What?! You are giving his insane cousin a trial but not him?! What have you been smoking?"
"Nothing but the tobacco in my pipe. Besides, he's a Black, they are all black at heart."
"If he is as evil as you say, then surely your memory is worse than a goldfish. He was the first in his family in generations not to be sorted into Slytherin, he left his home at 16 and lived with James Potter, who was his best friend, and godfather to Harry if I remember correctly. Sirius refused to join You-Know-Who, he made sure everyone who would listen know that he would never join that maniac. Why would he stab his best friend in the back?" Amelia knows she's toeing the line arguing with her boss about this, but her patience working for him is running thin.
"Enough of this! I am your boss! Mr. Black has already been sentenced and paying for his crime! Now get back to work before I fire you!" With that, Justin lights his pipe, storming back to his office.
Amelia leans back in her chair, wishing she could drink something stronger than coffee at this point. 'Well, I better let Augusta and Minerva know about this, hopefully they can help me figure out a way to straighten out this mess.' With that thought, Amelia quickly pens out two letters to the women, and quietly calls her house elf to deliver the letters, knowing that all letters sent by owls out of the ministry are randomly scanned by security.
That afternoon, at the McGonagall house
Minerva had just finished putting Harry down for a nap, knowing that he will need it with what's happening tonight, not that he was happy about needing a nap.
Flashback to 20 minutes ago.
"No nap mama Minnie, I not sweepy, pway more!"
"Hendrick, you need a nap, you can play more after your nap."
"No nap, no nap!"
Minerva knew that Harry would throw a tantrum eventually, he's only a toddler after all. "Hendrick James Potter-McGonagall, it is nap time, not play time, now be a good boy and go to sleep or no sweets."
"I not tired mama Minnie, I wanna pway."
"You may have Prongs and Padfoot, but you must remain in your crib until I come and get you." Minerva states, and with that, picks up Harry and begins taking him to his room, with Prongs and Padfoot in tow. Halfway up the stairs, Minerva notices that Harry has stopped struggling and finally nodded off in her arms, cuddling his stuffed animals and a smile on his face.
End flashback
Curling up in her favourite armchair, intending on sitting down to watch her favourite TV show, but as everyone knows, every time you have a minute to sit down, fate throws a monkey wrench in your plans.
*pop* "Miss Kitty, I have a letter for you from Amelia Bones." The new house elf says.
"Thank you, and who might you be?" Minerva asks politely.
"I is Mary, Amelia's personal house elf, I bring you news from the Ministry. Amelia would have owled you but didn't want anyone else to see what's written in this."
"Thank you, Mary, is Amelia waiting for a response?"
"Amelia didn't say, but if you want to reply to it, I can wait."
"How about this, you may go back to your duties, and when I have a response for her, I will send it with one of my elves."
"Mary will let Amelia know that's your plan miss Kitty, have a good day now." With that, Mary pops away. Once Mary has left, Minerva opens the letter from Amelia, her show forgotten.
Dear Minerva,
I'm sorry to disturb you, but I have news from the ministry that may hinder our plans for Saturday. My boss just informed me that Death Eater trials will start this Saturday in front of the whole Wizengamont. While I'm glad they will be persecuted, I fear the punishment will not fit the crimes. Justin told me that he and Dumbledore agree that everyone deserves a second chance, and no matter how heinous the crime is, none will be sentenced to death.
I asked if we could dose the Death Eaters with veritaserum, but apparently there were quite a few purebloods behind the masks, so the law is against us on that. However, there is nothing in the lawbooks about dosing half-bloods, and Severus Snape is to be the 1st Death Eater on trial Saturday.
This may be a blessing in disguise for us, but I cannot write any more in a letter because I need to get back to work. Is there a way you, Augusta and I can meet with the goblins before Saturday?
Sincerely,
Amelia Bones
Minerva collapses into her chair, this latest bit of news worrying her greatly. 'If Albus has his way, nothing will change in Britain. I shall pen a letter to Rockgrinder and see if the three of us can meet with him tonight before Harry's cleansing ritual, and I may need Filius to babysit Harry and Neville for this meeting. If Filius can keep an eye on them and bring Harry to Gringotts when he's needed, it will take some pressure off us.' With that, Minerva sits down to reply to Amelia, and write a few more letters.
Twenty minutes and a minor hand cramp later, Minerva finally has her letters penned out. The first one is to Rockgrinder.
Dear Rockgrinder,
I am so sorry to bother you, but I request a meeting between you, Axegut, Augusta Longbottom, Amelia Bones, and myself tonight before my son's cleansing ritual. New information has risen that may hinder our take down of Albus Dumbledore, and we need to see if we can use this to our advantage, or if our train is derailed.
Please send a reply with Tilly as soon as you are able.
May your enemies cower at your feet.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Once she has sent Tilly off to Rockgrinder with the letter, she starts writing one to Filius,
"Dear Filius,
I know it hasn't been long since you were last over, but I need to ask a favour from you. Could you come over to my house tonight and babysit Harry and Neville, then when I call for you, bring Harry and Neville to Gringotts? Harry has his cleansing ritual tonight, but before that, I need to meet with the goblins, Amelia, and Augusta about a monkey wrench in our plans for Saturday.
Please send your response with Doc as soon as possible
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall."
By the time she has finished writing her letter to Filius, but not sent yet, Tilly has come back with a response from Rockgrinder.
Dear Minerva,
This sounds urgent, and we can schedule you for 8:00 tonight. Hopefully this will give us enough time before the ritual to review our plan and change it if necessary.
May your faith never waiver.
Sincerely,
Rockgrinder."
Once Minerva finishes reading this, she goes back to Filius' letter to let him know that he will need to be at her house by 7:45 to babysit the two youngsters.
"Doc," Minerva calls,
"Yes miss, what do you mead, I mean need?"
"I need you to deliver this letter to Filius Flitwick at Hogwarts, please make sure that he is alone when you give the letter to him, and that no one sees you."
"I will do it quick right, I mean right away." With that, Doc pops away. Minerva is glad that Harry is still sleeping right now, it would be a lot harder to write letters if Harry decided he would like to help her, and by help, mean doodle on her good parchment instead of in his colouring books. Shaking her hand out quickly, she grabs her quill and writes a letter to Augusta and Amelia, informing them of their meeting with Axegut and Rockgrinder tonight, along with having babysitting duties covered for the night. Once she sends Tilly off with these letters, Doc returns with Filius' response.
"Dear Minerva,
I would be honoured to babysit the two young tykes, and I shall gladly bring them both to Gringotts when the meeting is over. Would you like me to wait for you both until the ritual is over? Depending on how long it takes you two may need some help getting home.
Sincerely,
Filius Flitwick."
Minerva smiles as she reads his letter, thankful that she can trust Filius and that she now has a babysitter for young Harry.
"Mama Minnie, I done nap! We pway now?" Harry calls out.
Minerva goes to get Harry out of his room, glad that she has gotten all her letters sent and plans in place for tonight.
"I'm coming Harry, now, would you like to keep playing with your toys in the living room, or do you want to watch a movie?" Minerva asks once she gets up to his room.
"Movie!"
"Very well, lets go down and see what movie we can find." She has a feeling she will not be able to watch her shows until Harry grows out of his Disney phase.
End Authors Note: That's all I have for now, I will hopefully have a new chapter up tomorrow.