Chapter 24

A Matter of Arranging Affairs

Completely unaware of the drama that had just played out below them in Courtroom Ten, the rest of the Ministry personnel and visitors went about their own business. No one paid any attention to a man accompanied by two teenage girls, except, perhaps, to wonder why the girls were not in school.

No one stopped to watch as they exited the lift on the second level, approached a door labeled Magical Law Enforcement—Family Services Division and entered. David found himself in a rather small office that had only one occupant at the moment. An older woman with a kindly face looked up at their entrance and broke into a smile, "Amelia! How wonderful to see you."

Amelia smiled a genuinely happy smile and said "Eileen, how are you doing?"

"Wonderful, dear. And you?"

"Great. Thank you for the Christmas gift."

"Oh, you're welcome. Now what brings you here at this time of year?"

"What are the exact terms of my status as a ward of Hogwarts? I mean, if I wanted someone else as a guardian?"

"Well, technically, you are a ward of the Headmaster of Hogwarts," she opened a drawer as she spoke, "anyone can apply to be your guardian, but they have to be approved by both the Hogwarts Headmaster and our division. Your summer guardianships have always been pre-arranged with professors from the school so it has never been a problem."

"What about permanent adoption, not just temporary guardianship?" David asked.

Eileen who had been flicking through some files, presumably finding Amelia's, stopped and looked up at David. "There are many different kinds of adoption in the wizarding world," she stated slowly, "and all of them are very complicated. As well, it would require the approval of Amelia's birth parents."

"What?" Amelia exclaimed in surprise, "What do they have to do with anything?"

Eileen sighed, "According to the wizarding world you are under the legal guardianship of the Headmaster of Hogwarts, however according to muggle law you are still under the guardianship of your parents. The system of setting you up with a temporary guardian every summer has avoided the problems of the muggle legal technicalities, but an adoption of any sort would require following muggle laws as well as wizarding laws. Since Hogwarts, its headmaster, and Professor Dumbledore all do not exist to the muggle world and you are most definitely recorded as existing in the muggle world we can't remove you from their records nor can we put on record that you are the ward of a nonexistent entities. So to the muggle world you are still under guardianship of the Dursleys."

Amelia wore a scowl on her face. She had thought that she would never have to deal with the Dursleys again, but it did make sense in a twisted way. Everything with her situation would appear normal to the muggles and normalcy was always her parents' number one goal. Still though, she did not want to have to deal with them.

"Amelia, the Dursleys would give me permission to adopt you, I have no doubt of that. Even if they are not too happy with it, Dudley wouldn't cross me. I want to adopt you and so I will do what is necessary. The only question is, are you sure you want this too?"

Eileen watched silently as the fourteen year old thought about it. Courtney, who remained silent standing near the door, was looking hopefully at Amelia. Finally Amelia let out a small sigh, "I want this David, I do want a family again."

David turned to Eileen, "I wish to adopt Amelia."

"Of course Amelia is of age to have a say in her guardianship, but this is highly irregular. I will need to speak with Headmaster Dumbledore and there are certain papers that must be filed, interviews conducted, background checks, and many other things."

"As I said, I will do what is necessary. Amelia deserves a family and I can give her that. Albus won't stand in my way, in fact I think he would be very happy by this turn of events."

Eileen knew there was something bigger going on here but she doubted she would get the full story. So instead she decided to turn this one over to her superior.

"Well then, if you would like to answer a few questions right now we can get this started. Let me go find the director of our department so you can speak to him." She stood from her desk and moved around them to go out the door. A few minutes later she returned with someone Harry recognized from his own Hogwarts days, Ernie McMillan.

"This is Ernie McMillan, director of Family Services. He can start you in the adoption process." Eileen said briskly, suddenly glad to be turning this over to someone else, she had a feeling that this would get complicated.

Ernie nodded, grateful to have been pulled away from what he had been doing. When the Family Services division was slow (which it often was) he was often called upon to help in the Family Records Division, something he detested. So he quickly retrieved Amelia's file from Eileen and took some additional files from another drawer. "Please, come with me. We'll go to a meeting room to take care of this preliminary interview. How much time do you have?"

"About two hours, then I have a meeting with the Minister," David answered as he and the two girls followed the former Hufflepuff to a nearby room with a table and a number of chairs. They all sat down and Ernie started scrounging around for the right parchment. He then took a quill out of a pocket and started filling it in with Amelia's name and case number and file number. He then looked up at the other three occupants of the room.

"So, as I understand what Eileen told me, you want a formal adoption of Amelia Morgan Dursley?" he looked at David who nodded.

"Well, then first of all, I need your full name."

"David Alan Barnes."

"Date of birth?"

David hesitated a moment and then answered, "August 25th, 1980." He decided that he would continue as David Barnes in his every day life. Harry Potter would re-emerge but only when he needed to wield that authority. Other than that he would keep the two separate, if not for his own sanity than for the protection of his children, which would soon include Amelia. He didn't want them to deal with the media circus that would no doubt tackle Harry Potter with vigor. The less people who know the truth the better.

"Occupation?"

"Pediatric Oncologist."

Ernie looked up in confusion at the unfamiliar words. David sighed, "I am a muggle doctor."

"A muggle doctor? Are you a muggle? I have all the wrong forms here. It is highly unusual for a muggle to adopt a fully introduced member of the wizarding world. Of course it has happened with infant adoptions, but those are then handled by muggle family service divisions as it is not yet under our jurisdiction. How did you come to be here then sir?" Ernie started jabbering.

David sighed, wondering how much he would need to reveal. "Mr. McMillan, I am a wizard, but I live in the muggle world."

Ernie's expression turned suspicious, "The only reason I can think of for a wizard to live like a muggle is if he is hiding. Tell me, Mr. Barnes, have you ever been convicted of a crime?"

David felt like banging his head on the table.

ooOOoo

Percy had immediately dismissed the Wizengamot, much to the members' confusion, and released the accused. He retreated to his office and took a large gulp of headache potion. Then he sat back in his chair and looked at an empty glass case that stood beside one of the bookshelves in his office. Not so long ago it had not been empty. It had held the Staff of Merlin. When Harry had not shown up at the awarding ceremony (as expected) he had accepted it in his place and had kept it on display ever since.

He didn't fully understand the power that had coursed through that courtroom, but he knew for sure that it was unlikely that the staff would ever again be shown in that office during his lifetime.

David Barnes was Harry Potter.

Percy cringed as he remembered some of the things he had said to Courtney earlier; he knew Harry would eventually hear them. He would also eventually hear or read some of the more interesting things Percy had said about Harry Potter in the past.

Percy suddenly understood with great alacrity the meaning of the muggle phrase "digging your own grave." For a few more minutes he sat in contemplation before pulling out parchment and quill to draft a letter of resignation.

ooOOoo

Ernie noticed the frustrated look on David's face and frowned even deeper. This was not looking promising. "Mr. Barnes there are certain criteria that have to be met by adoptive parents. Full disclosure is pertinent to our concerns for Amelia. If you are not prepared for that then you are not prepared to adopt her. Now I ask again, have you ever been convicted of a crime?"

"You know," David said turning to Amelia, "this would be much easier if we just went through the muggle legal system. Then we could bypass all of this. Going through Wizarding Family Services is going to make us do the same work twice."

"Now see here, you can't just do that!"

"Why not? Is it not true that if I adopted Amelia in the muggle world you would have to acknowledge it?"

"Well, yes," Ernie grudgingly conceded, "but that is not the point! All we have in mind is what is best for Amelia. And short of a proof of a blood connection you can't bypass these things."

"Blood kin can bypass some things?" David asked interestedly.

"Of course," Ernie snorted, "those types of adoptions are the easiest and most common. After the war there were plenty of family adoptions for the children most affected by losses."

"Well then that will make things much easier. I am blood kin of Amelia. That is exactly why I want to adopt her."

Ernie sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers, "I'm sure you are. If you are just here to waste my time, please leave. Amelia has only one magical relative as far as the family records division is concerned, I should know because I work down there often enough, and it is most certainly not David Barnes."

David rolled his eyes. "Fine then Ernie, you want Harry Potter, you'll get Harry Potter." He then retrieved his wand and waved it over himself, revealing for the first time in about sixteen years, his true looks.

Ernie's eyes were glued to the scar on his forehead and the famous green eyes, his jaw hanging open in surprise.

"Now you know exactly why this wizard has been living in the muggle world, and the fact that yes I have been convicted of murder, but that was overturned, and you also know that I am a relative of Amelia's. So once again, I would like to adopt Amelia."

ooOOoo

Sirius opened his eyes groggily, unsure of where he was or why indeed he had been unconscious. He groaned and immediately felt someone put a cold cloth to his head.

"Easy Sirius," murmured the voice.

Slowly his mind registered the voice as belonging to Albus and he managed to open his eyes. "Albus," he spoke, voice slurred, "wha…hhappened…"

"Have a glass of water," the headmaster held the cup to his lips and Sirius drank greedily. "Now what do you remember last?"

Sirius thought back and as the Headmaster looked on he knew that Sirius did remember what had happened. The younger man closed his eyes and breathed in deeply saying, in an almost detached voice, "I wondered, when he acted so strangely in my rooms when I spoke to him, I wondered where all the anger at me came from. I understand now, of course," he opened his eyes, laughing humorlessly, "I'm just amazed he didn't throw me out of his house when I showed up to tell Courtney about the wizarding world."

Both men were silent for a moment and then Sirius stared at the Headmaster, "How did it come to this? It should never have gotten to the point where he would have to come back to do these things for us all over again. Haven't we put enough responsibilities and burdens on his shoulders for a lifetime?"

Albus sighed and rubbed his head tiredly, "I don't know Sirius, we really are a bunch of cowards, aren't we."

Sirius sat up and realized for the first time that he was in the Hogwarts infirmary. "So what happened with the trial?"

"All of us were released, pending legal review, according to Minister Weasley who, as Muggles say, has seen the writing on the wall. I really have no idea what Harry's intentions towards us are. However, considering that now I do not have to worry about Draco Malfoy's ascension to Headmastership, I intend to retire at the end of the year."

Sirius blinked. While the Headmaster did not hold the record for longest Headmaster, he did hold the record for longest years on staff. Given that most wizards and witches alive in the United Kingdom had been student to him either as a Transfiguration professor or Headmaster, it was hard to imagine him not at the school. He vaguely remembered that Albus had served an apprenticeship with a Hogwarts Transfiguration Master in the late 1800s as well and acted as a teaching assistant.

The Headmaster let out a small chuckle at Sirius' silence. "I have been a part of Hogwarts continually in some capacity since 1918," Albus paused for a moment and then added, "with the exception of those few months in 1993 of course." 1

"It will be hard to imagine Hogwarts without you."

"Yes, well, I suppose after a few months of boredom I shall miss it too," the headmaster attempted to say in a light tone, but Sirius knew he really would miss the school dearly. "Now then, I suppose I should congregate the school and tell them that they won't be losing their professors after all."

ooOOoo

Silence filled the room for some minutes. The four Weasleys who had been released from the trial had congregated back at Hogwarts in the room off of the Great Hall. Hermione gazed into the fire, trying not to think where everything had gone so wrong. Unwelcomed memories pestered her—a passionate 14 year old determined to see justice for House-Elves, crusading in her years just after the war for werewolf rights. Where was that zeal and sense of right all these years with regards to Harry?

Fred and George seemed to be sharing a silent conversation and Ron was sitting alone in a corner farthest away from the others. Finally, after reviewing the scene from the courtroom a number of times, he sighed and walked over to his wife.

"Hermione, what happened in that courtroom? Why did Percy dismiss all the charges when Courtney's father came in? Muggles have no rights in a Wizengamot trial and Percy can't have known about Courtney's correspondence with Harry…what happened?"

Hermione looked at her husband and his two brothers warily—none of them had figured it out. "Don't you get it?" she said suddenly starting to laugh, "David Barnes isn't a muggle. Harry Potter didn't give one-third of a company to a random eleven year old muggleborn witch—he gave it to his daughter! Did you know," Hermione continued, her voice rising in pitch, "that Courtney Barnes, is a Parselmouth? Severus found that out. It was Harry that healed Albus after his heartattack—the reason he had it in the first place was because he figured out the truth about David Barnes and then tried to contact him breaking his oath." Tears were streaming down her face now as she broke into hysterical laughter. Ron, in shock could do nothing but stare. Fred finally cast a spell on Hermione to slow her breathing and she calmed down, though tears still leaked out of her eyes. In a softer voice she continued, "I figured it out just a few days ago. It was the only explanation that made any sense."

Ron sat down on the floor and reviewed the trial again, this time with the knowledge that David was Harry. He understood more about what had happened, but brought up many more, unanswerable, questions about what would happen in the future.

Fred thought back to the event that had brought David to Hogwarts in the first place—the death of Kathryn and cringed at the possible implications of Harry Potter's wife being the first ever recorded muggle death in Hogwarts castle. He felt a great need to speak to his wife, she had known both Kathryn and David better than he had.

George, not wanting to think about all the implications at the moment, instead, turned his mind to analyzing the power he had felt in that room. The Unspeakable in him wanted to find out more about how David had ordered the aurors to arrest Malfoy, what the limits of the power of Merlin's Staff were.

ooOOoo

After a full five minutes of silence Ernie managed a perfectly composed, "Right then. Family adoption forms."

"Ernie," Harry said, taking Ernie, who was still more flustered than he was trying to appear, by surprise and he actually dropped the quill to the floor. "Just…calm down, okay? We're not going to get anywhere if you are a nervous wreck. I want to adopt Amelia as David Barnes, not as Harry Potter. It is my legal identity in the Muggle world."

Ernie simply nodded.

"And I do want to do it all legally, following the laws. I may have the Staff of Merlin, but I will not place myself above the law. I may make a number of changes to the laws," a smirk worthy of a Slytherin in the house's heyday of power crossed his face, "but I will still be subject to them. Now why don't we continue where we left off?"

Ernie took a deep breath and said, "Right then, the Family Adoption Process is much easier than other types. However, the situation with the Dursley family does complicate things, you won't have any trouble with the Wizarding system, but the muggle system might have some questions as to why they are voluntarily relinquishing their rights as parents."

David nodded in understanding, but his mind was already following another line of thought, "What if the judge or lawyer handing the case in the muggle system were aware of the Magical world and could therefore help us with those difficulties?"

Ernie looked surprised, he had evidently never even considered going through muggles who knew about the wizarding world. "That would be brilliant," he paused for a moment and then said slowly, drudging up an old memory, "I think Orla Quirke's mother was a lawyer, she was a few years behind us at Hogwarts and I dated her briefly during the war. Even if she does not practice family law, she might know who we can get in contact with. According to Justin Finch-Fletchley many parents and family members of magical kids will get in contact with each other."

David nodded remembering that it had been Megan Weasley, a muggle spouse, who had contacted Kathryn to get to know her better and to show her more of the wizarding world. Of course the Dursleys raising him would never have been interested in meeting other people with magical family members, but he could certainly see how others might like to spend time with others with whom they could discuss the strange powers of their loved ones. Ernie picked up his quill again and commenced filling in the correct information on the adoption forms.

ooOOoo

Forty-five minutes later David (once again disguised) with Courtney and Amelia in tow exited the Magical Law Enforcement level of the Ministry and ascended to the Atrium. From there he and the girls used the fireplaces to floo to Hogsmeade and then walked up to Hogwarts. It was nearing lunch time and David, grudgingly, had decided he needed Dumbedore's help. Or rather, Dumbledore was the only one he trusted in the remotest since of the word to carry out his request.

David sent the two girls to the Great Hall and then went directly to Dumbledore's office. He rolled his eyes as he realized that he did not know the password. Quickly naming off a few sweets to no avail he felt his dignity slowly crumbling. That is probably why Dumbledore does it, he thought to himself.

"Translation Twists," came a voice from behind him as Albus approached. David raised an eyebrow. "New candy from Weasley Wizard Wheezes. Please, come in."

David followed Albus up the stairs and entered the familiar office with startling feelings of nostalgia. The portraits regarded him briefly, a few voicing condolences, remembering he had been the one summoned a few days previously.

Had it really been only a few days?

"I am surprised to find you here, Ha…David," Dumbledore quickly corrected at a sharp look from. "I did not expect you to return to Hogwarts any time before evening, much less to come to my office."

David nodded, "It wasn't really my plan, but I have to face reality. A number of major changes need to be made in the wizarding world and I am not so arrogant as to think I have the wisdom to make all these decisions."

Dumbledore instinctively knew David was not asking him personally to help and so he asked, "And what would you like me to do?"

"I want a list of muggles with wizarding knowledge and every squib, I want those who have legal knowledge, whether they are lawyers, judges, legislators, magistrates or even accountants, like Arthur Weasley's cousin. I want a list of every name you can come up with that fits the bill. I want them from everywhere, all around the world. I also want full details on what the leaders of the various countries of the world know in regards to magic and a summary of the wizard-muggle relations of each country and a roster of all the leaders of the wizarding world."

"Of course," Dumbledore nodded, his mind already thinking out a few dozen names he knew, "And when would you like this?"

"Just…as soon as possible. I would appreciate it if you could give me a summary tonight of the United Kingdom and the rest later."

"I can give you a few names right now if you like," Dumbledore offered.

David considered him for a minute and then nodded. Dumbledore pulled out a piece of parchment and started writing as he spoke, "The British Muggle Prime Minister is, of course, fully aware of the Wizarding World. The Muggle Liaison office works with a sub-department of the Internal Affairs Ministry. That sub-department is simply called the Committee for Cooperation and is comprised fully of muggles with wizarding knowledge. They would probably know more than I do about others who can help. They used to keep a roster of families who had wizarding relatives. Ten years ago the Ministry of Magic would send all muggle parents a pamphlet detailing where they could find more information about the wizarding world via muggle channels. I believe they stopped that, though I am not sure why." Albus paused a moment to think and then said, "Your greatest asset in this, I believe, is the one MP in the House of Commons who has wizarding knowledge. She is quite intelligent and not very easily intimidated at all. Though young, she has always had quite a bit to say about wizarding laws and customs." He jotted down what David supposed was her information, and then continued, "There are a number of people in legal professions that can help you. However, some of these people I am listing can be quite antagonistic towards wizards in general."

David quirked an eyebrow, he didn't see a problem with that, he was feeling pretty antagonistic towards the wizarding world himself.

"Percy Weasley has advocated an even more strict isolation policy that has been well received…"

Dumbledore continued on for some time until David interrupted him,

"Thank you for that, I will speak to you more this evening. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with the esteemed Minister of Magic." David rose to leave the room only to hear as he opened the door a soft question from Dumbledore.

"Why did you decide to," Dumbledore cringed at using the word trust because he knew full well David did not trust him, but it was the only word that would fit, "trust me with this assignment?"

David turned around fully and studied Albus for a minute. He sensed only an honest question, no manipulation. Dumbledore genuinely wondered this.

"Because you proved last night that you could tell the truth. You didn't have to tell me what you did. If you had not, I never would have known, but you did. I respect that honesty. Even if I still hate you, I can respect what you did. Do not prove that respect unfounded."

With that he turned and left the room.

ooOOoo

After speaking briefly with Amelia and Courtney, David returned to Hogsmeade and used the public floo to get back to the Ministry. He strode to the wand weighing station and presented his wand and then asked for directions to the Minister's office. He was told to go to Level one and present himself to the secretary. He did so and found himself ushered into the opulent offices of Minister Weasley.

Percy, he found, was seated and looking out his window. The Magical Maintenance department were currently showing a calm spring day as opposed to the real, cold, wet winter weather David had to look at through his window at the hospital. David stood there just looking at him for a moment and then said, "I always knew you were pompous in school, but I thought you had your heart in the right place. Attacking Ron the way you did after the Second Task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament…I thought there were things more important to you than your ambition." He left his words hanging in the air and waited for Percy to turn around.

When the minister did eventually turn his chair around he looked weary and David could see, at close range, that age had not been as kind to Percy as with most wizards.

Percy let out a sigh and rubbed his head, "What do you want me to say then? You're right? I'm a prick? Ok, you're right, I'm a prick."

David shook his head, "I want to know where the young man went who was honestly interested in civil service for the sake of helping people. During the war you were one of the strongest advocates for lawful capture of Death Eaters—it annoyed Voldemort a great deal because there were some Death Eaters who would turn themselves over to you because they knew you could be trusted to follow the law exactly. How could you let lies proliferate and appoint Draco Malfoy, of all people, to be in Ministry Intelligence? Have you become so blinded by your power now Percy?"

Once again Percy sighed, "I don't know. I don't know where I lost sight of …everything. As for Malfoy, there has never been any proof…."

David started laughing, "You mean he just intimidated those who could have testified against him. I know for a fact that Blaise Zabini could have given you plenty of evidence against him, but I have no doubt that Blaise saw it more beneficial, given the current state of affairs in the Ministry, to keep his mouth shut."

"How do you know…?"

David barely managed to keep from rolling his eyes, "My scar Percy, give me a Pensieve and I can give you plenty of evidence against Draco Malfoy, not to mention against Robert Davies and Julian Cromwell as well, both members of the Wizengamot, I noticed."

Percy's mouth dropped open.

"Given your track record so far, I would not be surprised to find even more former-Death Eaters free in society."

Percy simply picked up a piece of parchment and handed it to David. The younger man took it and read it.

I, Percy Ignatius Weasley, do hereby resign my post as Minister of Magic, effective January 9, 2022…

"Well," he said upon finishing, "at least you have some moral fiber in you. Congratulations, you are not as bad as Cornelius Fudge."

"And what will your plans be for the future of the Wizarding World?" Percy asked softly.

"Well, there will certainly be some changes in the laws and in the government structure and I intend to do the same for other countries as well. Wizards and witches are endowed with powers that muggles can merely dream of, and yet you have become stagnant and complacent, letting your world decay from within. You don't need Voldemort to destroy it for you, you're well on your way to doing it yourselves. But since my children, which will soon include Amelia Dursley, have chosen to be a part of the Wizarding World, it is my responsibility to ensure that it is worthy of them. I don't expect perfection—but is it too much to ask for people to make a stand? Even Voldemort had a stand, and he forced others to make a stand as well, but you just muddle along now.

"I do not intend to become once more a part of the wizarding world, too much has happened for me to want to. But I have realized that I have a responsibility to the Wizarding World, simply because I am a wizard. Muggles don't have the convenience of completely leaving their world if something bad happens and I should not have left you to your own devices," he said this almost to himself, but then looked sharply at Percy, "But even though I will not be rejoining this society, I will oversee a number of changes. You have too much freedom, too much power, too little control and too little morality."

Percy wasn't sure what his response should be to this tirade, and so after a pause, he said, "I have informed the press that I will hold a Press Conference in…an hour now. I intend to announce my resignation, what would you like me to say about the trial?"

David pursed his lips in thought and then said, with great reluctance, "Say what you will, but answer no questions, announce your resignation and then announce Harry Potter."

ooOOoo

Members of the Press, including some international wizarding media, were congregated in the Atrium of the United Kingdom Ministry of Magic. They were waiting rather impatiently for the Minister to show so they could find out the verdict of the Hogwarts Trial (as it was being called). Various stations on the WWN had taken up the whole morning broadcasting debates between various legal experts or ministry officials. If David had listened to any of them he would have laughed at the sheer absurdity of how they completely danced around the topic—never actually naming taboo subjects, but still managing to sound like they were all for free speech or on the side of Dumbledore.

When the Minister stepped up to the podium relative silence stole over the crowd as they all looked to him expectantly. After casting a sonorous charm, Percy spoke.

"Due to some…unusual circumstances, the trial of Albus Dumbledore, Ronald, Hermione, Fred, and George Weasley, and Sirius Black has been ended without rendering a verdict. All charges have been dropped pursuant to re-examination of our legal system and some laws."

Murmurs broke out all across the gathered witches and wizards, and many raised their voices in questions.

"Minister! What brought about this change in…"

"Which laws will be re-exam…"

"How will the legal system…"

"Percy, why this sudden change in policies regarding…"

Percy ignored them all and raised his voice slightly to drown out theirs and say his next piece, "And, effective immediately, I resign my post as Minister of Magic."

An even greater outcry came as a response but Percy still did not acknowledge them. "And here, today," his voice almost cracked, "to answer a few questions about the changes in the works, is Harry James Potter."

Total silence met this proclamation.

1 This is of course referring to his temporary removal in CoS.