Disclaimer: I own the plot, I apologize if it's been done before. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
AN: Hi! Real AN at the end! Enjoy!
Consanguina
By Jess S
Chapter 15: Idiots, Graves, More Idiots and Grave News
"I can't believe I'm agreeing with Snivellus…" Sirius Black shook his head, "but he's right. We have been idiots…"
Snape snorted, "It shouldn't be a new sensation to you, Black."
"Now, now," the Headmaster cut in before the debate could escalate, "none of that." He waited until both had reluctantly returned to their earlier status of ignoring the others existence, before continuing. "Severus does have a point. For whatever reason, whether it was the spell or purely human deficiency, we overlooked a name that we should not have. But I do believe that the spell was that cause of this, it's fading reach seemed to extend long enough to make us overlook her in this regard. We know this, because we connected her to Harry's disappearance twice. The first time, we accused her of kidnapping him. The second time, once the spell snapped, it was pointed out that Harry's sister might be his kidnapper."
The others nodded in thoughtful agreement.
After a moment Alastor Moody spoke up, "It certainly explains how she rose through the Ministry so quickly without obvious recognition from the Wizarding World. Everyone connected to her department, working with it or in similar fields, knows her as Vivien Poiter, but the rest of the world knows next to nothing about her."
"Bloody hell!"
"Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley snapped instinctively as she turned to her husband in shocked outrage.
"S-Sorry, dear," the head of the Weasley family apologized immediately, offering her a sheepish grin, "I-I just realized…s-something. I--"
"What is it, Arthur?" Dumbledore interrupted curiously, watching the younger wizard closely as the redhead turned, his ears almost redder than his hair.
"Umm… do you r-remember when we went to Vera Hecates for lunch a few weeks ago?"
"Yes, it was wonderful," his wife smiled, then stopped, her eyes widening with shock. "Vivian was there…"
"Having lunch with the Malfoys…" Arthur nodded.
"And her never-before-seen-in-the-public-eye younger brother," Moody finished, shaking his head, his scarred face not betraying any of the amusement his tone did.
"Harry Potter…having lunch with Draco Malfoy…and enjoying it…" Professor McGonagall shook her head, "I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself."
Sirius shook his head, frowning, "But why would she risk him like that?" he shook his head, "I mean, I know that you rationalized then that she might be investigating Malfoy, seeing if he had anything to do with Harry's disappearance, but…She would have known that he wasn't involved! The investigation was all a fraud anyhow, so--"
"So we don't know why she might have been eating with the Malfoy family, or why she might have brought Harry willingly." Dumbledore cut in, shaking his head. "However, we must keep in mind that Harry Potter's older sister or not, Vivien Poiter is a highly acclaimed Auror, a powerful witch and a very influential ministry officer. Why she would have brought Harry, I don't know, but the congregation may have had nothing to do with Harry himself."
"Yes," Moody agreed, nodding as he looked around at them, his mad-eye acting strangely normal as it focused on each and every one of them at the same time as his regular eye. "Potter is an Auror General, and she certainly deserves the rank. I saw hundreds of Novice and Junior Aurors in my time at the Ministry, but few of them could even begin to compare to her. Those that could, like Willow, were following her example."
"She's a hard, dedicated worker," Arabella offered softly, her dark eyes considering as she turned memories over in her head, "My old colleagues were all in awe of her from the start. According to them, she's always been a 'workaholic'. She's always working, giving everything she has to offer and overcome impossible obstacles…" Suddenly her eyes widened and gasped, "Merlin! I can't believe we didn't see it!"
"What?"
Arabella shook her head, "Vivien Potier was 'raised' and educated by Inés d'Arc and several tutors. When d'Arc died, she willed guardianship to Headmistress Maxime."
"So?" Sirius asked, clearly confused.
But Dumbledore apparently saw what she was talking about. For his eyes had darkened, loosing their almost-ever-present twinkle in order to compensate for the sudden wave of sadness. "Inés d'Arc was a member of the Order, remember?" he pointed out quietly, while Arabella nodded, struggling to hold back tears. "She and Lily were our experts in Ancient Magic and Research."
The other members of the Order were quite clearly mortified by this. Their reactions ranged from paling features, to tears and sobs, to pained trembles. All were pulled into the solid grasp of the grief that this realization brought.
"She died, still performing the last task we set to her... Living that as her own life, while for over a decade we did as we wished, completely free." Mrs. Weasley shook her head, a single tear slipping down one of her cheeks, a cheek that was so obviously more accustom to bearing smiles. "She was never free of it... She died years after the Potters... still serving the Order... And we didn't attend her funeral, or pay her any respects..."
"I do believe it is time we did that," Dumbledore broke the silence that had descended upon them after the redheaded witch's words. He rose to his feet, turning towards the nearby fireplace, the other witches and wizards present only a few steps behind at most. He walked over to the fireplace and opened one of the jars there, taking out a handful of dark blue powder. It wasn't Floo powder, though it was obviously meant for a similar purpose, as he threw it in the fire the same way one would use its cousin, calling out, "The resting place of Inés d'Arc!"
The flames rose to the full height the fireplace would allow, before expanding to fill it, then continuing to stretch until a portal the color of an ordinary flames heart; deep, burning blue; lined with silver, lie before them.
Without a moment's hesitation, Dumbledore walked into the portal, the other members of the Order of the Phoenix only a few steps behind as they went to pay their long-over-due respects to a fallen comrade.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Harry glanced over at his elder sibling once again; questions relatively clear in his eyes as he watched her gazing into the fire.
"And you don't have to worry about anyone overhearing," she reassured him. "I already checked. All of your housemates are already abed. And McGonagall's long gone."
The Boy-Who-Lived was silent for some time, he didn't even look at his sister, but he didn't have to look to know that she was concerned... How could she be, though? Why should she be? It was his fault...
"Talk to me, Harry," Vivian urged, not turning her gaze away from the flames that burned in the Common Room's hearth, which he'd also been unconsciously watching for the last few minutes. "Don't shut me out, please. We're family..."
At that, he did look at her, searchingly. Meeting her, moving into the Potter Manor and finding out that his real aunt didn't hate him at all, had made this past summer the best one he'd ever had, especially since he knew that there were many more to come.
...But he never talked to anyone about his visions. He always avoided it, ignored the concerned looks of those around him and told what needed to be told, and no more...
Life at number four Privet Drive had made it difficult for Harry to trust anyone at all.
But...
But Vivian was his sister.
Family.
Just like the four unfortunate Muggles whose deaths he'd witnessed a short time before.
And she'd been alone longer then he had...
And she loved him.
Just like that man loved his wife, and his son, and his daughter. Enough to put himself in harms way, and die, for them. Just like the mother that had screamed for her son to come back...
The tears came then; slowly building up in his sad, green eyes, then rolling down his cheeks, which were still too pale. He'd cried before, a few times, certainly.
No one had ever bothered to comfort him before. No one had taken them into their arms, and rubbed his back. No one had ever been there to whisper reassurances...
But Vivian was there now, and that was what she did.
"Shh...shh..." she soothed, rubbing comforting circles on his back while she held him close, almost like she was shielding him from the world and all its perils. "It's all right, little brother... It's over..." and she continued on for some time, Harry didn't know how long and his sister probably didn't either, it was just however long it took him to calm down and relax in her protective embrace. A few minutes after his sobs had died off and he'd almost managed to stop shaking, Vivian pulled away slightly, and then pulled a soft, plain white handkerchief out of one of her many pockets, to dry his tears with.
"Th-there was a f-family..." Harry began still shaking slightly even as his sister gently wiped the drying tears off of his face; he closed his eyes before continuing. "A man...h-he was their f-father..."
"Whose father, Harry?"
"Th-theirs... the t-two little kids... Th-there was a l-little girl, w-with b-blonde hair...and a b-boy...a b-baby boy...H-his mother was c-carrying him..." Harry felt his sister stop using the handkerchief, but didn't open his eyes to see her put it away, though he did feel her shift slightly in order to do so as he continued. "Th-their were g-going back to their ho-hotel when...when..."
"When they met the Death Eaters?"
Harry nodded, shaking violently as he fought back the urge to heave.
Vivian's arms tightened around him slightly, soothingly. "I am sorry you had to see that, Harry... But you must understand, there was nothing you could have done. Nothing. It has already happened, and the past cannot be undone, no matter how much we might like to attempt it... Where did this happen?"
"In-in L-London...I think..."
"London is hundreds of miles away from here. And you don't know how to apparate, nor could you -- or anyone else, for that matter -- learn how in a short period of time. You don't know how to make a portkey, either, so you would have no way of getting there in time to help them. Even if you had known about it beforehand, which you did not."
"I-I know..." Harry nodded to show his understanding, "But...I..."
"You can't help but feel guilty, I know. You saw something horrifically terrible, and came out of it with no physical wounds of your own to show, bar for whatever damage your own magic has wreaked on your body."
"Wh-what?"
"The pain you feel during your visions. That's the only thing it could be, in my opinion. Unless Voldemort is capable of magically attacking you through your link, which I don't think he is, otherwise he probably would have already done it. The only other possibility is that your magic is reacting to your guilty subconscious, harming you to ease your torment... Do you have any trouble casting spells after receiving visions? Trouble concentrating?"
"Y-yes...sometimes..."
"That's probably when your magic's exhausted itself to do your subconscious bidding."
"But...why..." Harry frowned, and shook his head. "Why aren't I tired all the time after, after every vision? I'm usually sore...and often sick, but rarely weak like that...magically..."
Vivian laughed, "You've grown complacent, little brother. You're obviously used to thinking of people like Dumbledore and other elders as great wizards and witches, but you are in fact, in your own right, a very powerful wizard by birth. The children of the Potter line always have been. It would take quite a bit of work to exhaust yourself."
"But...I'm not..."
"But you are," the Auror General shook her head, a faint smile tracing its way across her lips. "Have you ever had that same kind of difficulty without the visions? In your first and second year did you ever have any trouble summoning the magic for your spell after Ollivander handed you the proper wand?"
"No..." Harry frowned again, trying to think of a time when he hadn't felt his magic flowing through him, ready to be called. "I-I don't think so..." then he shook his head. "Wait... Yes, I did!"
"You did?" Vivian inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes! At the end of first year; after the Sorcerer's Stone. I felt weak and sore for weeks and I could barely manage the simplest spells... all of the Professors didn't mind though, they just told me to keep it up, that it'd come to me..."
Vivian smiled, "That was probably from mother's last spell."
"Huh?"
"The protection she placed around you, the ancient magic. Her magic created the shield around you and probably held it up against the killing curse Voldemort sent at you as a baby, but after that it was probably drawing from your own magic."
"So when I used it against Quirrell...?"
"It drained your magic very quickly. That's why it almost killed you. Raw magic is dangerous for anyone to handle, as it's so intrinsically connect with its casters soul and energy, to their very life. That's why all witches and wizards are trained with wands; they serve as a control to ensure that we don't over reach our selves. And few ever really try to master the Old magicks for the same reason."
"Oh..."
"I am truly sorry you had to see those people die, Harry." Vivian shook her head, "They were right under our noses, the arrogant bastards..."
"What'd you mean?" Harry asked, confused.
The Auror sighed, "The attack took place just outside of downtown London. Our monitors picked up the dark activity, but the teams that were dispatched got there too late to save the father and the baby...the mother's in bad shape, but she'll live, as will the little girl."
"You mean...you knew about the attack?"
"It happened a few hours ago, Harry." His sister replied, nodding to the clock, which read 4:30 A.M. "Around midnight... It looks like you not only see present and future, but past as well..."
"Yeah, I g-guess..." Harry sighed, bringing his hand up to message his still aching forehead, stopping and blinking in confusion when his sister grabbed his wrist, "Wh--?"
"What is this?" Vivian demanded in an oddly impassive voice, her face just as void of emotion.
It was then that Harry realized which hand he'd raised; his right hand, the one he wrote with.
"It-it's nothing..." he tried, stopping when he saw her gaze harden. He sighed, and shook his head. "It's from detention..."
"...With Umbridge?"
"Yes..." he replied, trying to gage her reaction. But her face was completely masked and he couldn't read anything in her eyes.
After a few moments her expression softened somewhat, and pulled another blanket off of the chair nearest to them, quickly settling it over him. "You should get some sleep now, Harry. Unless you want Madam Pomfrey to hold you in the Hospital Wing all day?"
Harry yawned, "Not really, no, but..."
"Don't worry, you're quite safe here." She assured him, before pulling another potion's vial out of her robes, uncorking it before holding it out to him. "This will help you get to sleep."
Without a moment's he accepted the vial and brought it up to his mouth taking in the contents in two swift gulps. Almost immediately he felt a wave of calmness spread through his body, warming his limbs, and he felt his eyelids grow heavy. "'Night, Vivi..."
"Goodnight, Harry," the General smiled at the childhood nickname, watching carefully as he fell into a deep slumber. A few moment's later, she nodded, rising to her feet with a sigh, before drawing her wand and waiving it around, muttering various spells to take care of the mess around them. "Eric?"
"Yes, General?" the other Auror inquired as he appeared a few feet away from her.
"I assume Ria explained everything to you all ready?"
The blonde nodded, smiling faintly. "That your mysterious little brother happens to be the most famous wizard of his generation, if not all generations? She told me that, yes."
Vivian returned the smile softly, a hint of amusement in her deep green eyes. "I suppose that's one way of putting it... You will continue to watch over him?"
"Of course, General. I'll guard him with my life, if the need should arise." He assured, and she knew he wasn't joking.
She shook her head, still smiling softly. "Thank you."
The Captain shrugged, "Hey, it'd be a chance to repay some of the life-debts I owe you."
"You owe me nothing, Eric."
"I'd hardly call my life nothing, General. Though others might disagree, I'm sure." He shook his head and went on before she could reply. "I'll look after him. It's my current assignment after all. This just makes it more important then usual." After a moment he shook his head and nodded towards the sleeping teen. "What about the incidi?"
The General's face instantly hardened, as a deep frown quickly took the place of the half-smile that had graced her lips only moments before. "That's really all it could be... And if Umbridge really is using an incidi plectri, then she must be brought to justice. There's no way Fudge can justify that."
Bonham shook his head, "What about the defensive conventions?"
"She's not an Auror. She's not an enforcer of any kind. She's just psychotic secretary playing the part of a mystery writer's version of one; and a corrupt one at that."
"Those are usually more popular."
"Unfortunately." Vivian sighed, shaking her head. She spared another quick glance in her brother's direction, pleased to see him sleeping peacefully, and quickly bent over to readjust the blanket that had slip a little. She then raised her wand, explaining the reason over her shoulder before she began chanting. "I'm going to place a few wards around him, notice-me-nots and silencers, so that he'll be left alone until he's ready to wake." With that she finished the spells with a few quick flicks of her wrist, before returning her wand to its holder. She turned back to the Captain; "You'll remove them when he wakes?"
He nodded, "You might want to throw a dream-catcher in there, too."
"Good idea..." she nodded, turning back and drawing her wand to add the final touch. She re-sheathed it in her sleeve easily, before turning and making her way over to the exit. "Good day, to you, Eric. I do hope the rest of your shift goes well."
"And I hope you manage to get some sleep soon, General."
Her amused chuckle echoed in through the portrait hole from the hallway even as said portrait slid shut.
The family gravesite on the Potter Estate was as regal as any other part of the property. Majestic mausoleums of differing kinds of stone rose up from the ground where ancestors were buried, each bearing a name, dates and commemorations.
Not all the family members were buried here, of course. In a family such as this once, which seemed to have a tradition for producing heroes every few generations, if not more often. Therefore, some of the tombs were left empty. They were still marked and honored, even though the person they stood for rested many hundreds of miles away in one of the gravesites for wizarding heroes.
The plentiful magical torches that lined the walls around the graves were always lit. Because the flame was magical there was no danger of it starting a fire, and the warm, golden light they provided often served to sooth the aching hearts of those who visited the departed here.
Although, it was fairly rare for someone to come by any way other then the front gate; the only physical entrance to the cemetery, but this was part of the wizarding world; so it would be foolish to be surprised. Even if you were standing near the grave that the silver-lined, blue flames bloomed in front of, before blooming and allowing several people to walk through.
And so the Order of the Phoenix came to stand in front of the tomb of one of their newly remembered, departed comrades. They took in the graveyard somewhat morosely, looking around for any sign of other visitors.
After a moment, Sirius spoke up, "This is the Potter Family Cemetery..."
"It is?" Molly Weasley inquired softly, looking around at the other graves more closely, while other Order members did the same. And indeed, most of the graves bore the name Potter. The only exception she could see was the one they were standing in front of.
INES D'ARC
1906-1984
Courageous soldier
Consummate mentor
Loving friend
"Very appropriate..." Professor McGonagall offered after a moment's silence.
Dumbledore and the others all nodded or gave an analogous indication of concurrence, "Indeed..." Then he raised his wand, pointing it at the headstone, muttering charms under his breath before waving his magical conduit.
An explosion of red and gold magic shot out of the tip in the form of the fiery phoenix, which shot over to the tombstone before exploding in an array of lights upon impact. When the light show had ended, a red and golden emblem; a phoenix rising triumphantly from the flames, had appeared in the upper right hand corner.
That done, Hogwarts' Headmaster flicked his wand again, conjuring a flower, a single, yellow-tinged white rose dropped down before the stone, to be joined by similar tokens the other Order members had conjured, before following the Headmaster in also raising their wands before themselves and bowing respectfully.
As they were turning to leave, Tonk's confused, but nonetheless quiet, call stopped them. "Wait..." The other Order Members turned to look at her.
"What is it, Nymphadora?" Dumbledore asked, even as his eyes followed hers to a pair of regal tombstones a short distance away.
"I thought the Potters, Lily and James at least, were buried in London? In the National Heroes Cemetery? If the Ministry knew about this place they probably would have been buried here, but..."
"Yes, they were buried in London." Remus nodded, walking over towards the regal marble markers that had caught their attention. "I was there."
"Are we sure they were there... they were A.K. victims, so their funerals would have been closed casket, right?"
"They were." Dumbledore confirmed, while several others nodded. "But Ms. Potter was only a child at the time, she didn't have the influence then that she does now. And the members of the Order that were guarding her would not be willing to risk it, I'm sure."
McGonagall and several others nodded, "Not with so many Death Eaters still on the loose." She sighed, "So these must just be honorary markers? Where they should have been buried?"
"And where their daughter might be able to pay her respects and find some sense of closure..." Dumbledore replied sadly. When the others looked at him again he sighed and shook his head. "The spell was very powerful then. It wouldn't have allowed her anywhere near her parent's funeral or graves for some years to come..."
Moody nodded in agreement, "Too much risk of exposure."
"So this would be a sign of respect for Lily and James," Remus nodded, "and a chance for Vivian...and the other Order Members, I presume, to pay their respects?"
"Undoubtedly..."
After several moments of respectful silence Tonks spoke again. "I like these ones more."
Everyone looked at her again as McGonagall asked, "I beg your pardon?"
"I've just always found the graves in N.H.C. really rather gaudy, and since they had no relations to intervene..." Tonks shrugged. "I just thinks this is more regal; elegant...peaceful..."
"And respectful." Dumbledore agreed.
"And it receives the important visitors." Moody nodded to the base of the tombstones, where fifteen pairs of enchantedly eternal pink roses rested.
"One for each parent, for each year." McGonagall nodded, then shook her head. "The poor child..."
"Shouldn't we tell her?" Sirius demanded looking towards the Manor's Mansion, which was a good half-mile away from the family burial ground.
McGonagall sighed, "She's probably still at school...with Harry..."
"Whether she is or not doesn't matter, I've no doubt she's very busy and is probably in need of sleep as much as we are." Dumbledore decreed, "Therefore, we shall have to postpone our talk for another time... I will invite her to dine in the staff lounge tomorrow night, if it is convenient for her. Then we shall see."
"But—"
Remus cut his old friend off, "We all want to really see her, Padfoot. But we don't want to hurt her... it's better this way."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement as he flicked his wand to reopen the temporary portal back to his office, which had been hovering nearby waiting for his call. "Let us hope so..."
Vivian smiled as she entered her office to find all but one of her 'secretaries' and their seconds present. She had expected it, as she called these meetings rarely enough that it would not do for anyone to be late, so anyone who was supposed to be there showed up early. "Good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming."
Several "good evenings" and few "it's hardly evenings" echoed around the room and response as everyone followed her lead and took their customary seats before her desk as she took the one behind it.
"Now, as there are more many reasons I've called you all here, and as you happen to be among the Wizarding World's best and brightest, I'm sure all of you know at least one of the reasons, most of you probably know more, and some may have at least guessed at all of them..." Vivian smiled gently, before sighing and shaking her head. "It's been an interesting summer, no?"
Several Aurors nodded, while one, Captain Vindictus spoke up. "Yes it has...particularly the parts concerning your brother."
Vivian offered a small smirk, nodding in agreement at the Slytherin alumni's evaluation. "Yes, Janna. My brother's part in all of this is rather complicated, and did require at least some intrigue..." She looked around the room to see that while all of her direct assistants were either hiding their confusion or not confused at all, some of their seconds were. "For those of you that have not already guessed, my name, by birth was not exactly Vivien Potier. I was born Vivian Potter, here in England. Harry Potter is my brother, and his supposed kidnapping was a necessary rouse to ensure his continuing safety."
"Not quite necessary," General Dearborn corrected, shaking her head lightly. "But certainly preferable."
"Yes," the eldest Potter agreed, with a sigh. "I had intended to simply check in on my only living blood relations, and introduce myself to Harry for the first time that he is likely to remember with any clarity. However, when they asked to come with me it seemed like a much safer course of action then placing a guard on their house, as the initial reason for their visit was the presence of a dark practitioner."
"A Death Eater." Vindicutus clarified.
Vivian nodded again. "Yes... for what it is worth I apologize for wasting all of your time with the investigation, but—"
"Until the Wizarding World remembered your true identity's existence as the elder Potter child, you could not explain your taking him to live with you," Master Sergeant Volkov cut in with a nod. "We understand, General. And what's more, all of us owe you too much, towards our own lives and well-being and the continuing well-being of those we love to question this. You believed it to be necessary. It was necessary. We accept this."
Vivian looked around the room, smiling slightly when she received several firm nods in return. "Very well...thank you." She looked down at her desk for a moment and sighed before shaking her head and looking back towards them again. "Now, onto business... As some of you undoubtedly already know, there was a confirmed Death Eater attack yesterday evening, in London, around nine o'clock. They wore the customary robes, masks, and attitudes, and left an innocent American Muggle man and his infant son dead. His wife and eight-year-old daughter survived," she nodded to Vindictus and Lufkin, "thanks to the timely arrival of one of Major Lufkin's units and several of Captain Vindictus's soldiers, who thankfully brought a pair of healers with them." She sighed, shaking her head. "How are they, Janna? I haven't had a chance to ask after them."
Vindictus shook her head, dark hair swinging back and forth with the movement. "Still in shock... I should point out that we don't really have any proof that they were Death Eaters. They apparated out as soon as they heard our soldiers arrive, and they were too far away to confirm. So—"
"Some of you may have noted that although Rita Skeeter has a penchant for stretching the truth as far as she possibly can," Vivian cut in with a smile, "She rarely lies, and there is always at least some foundation of truth to her stories... The ones she wrote concerning my brother's link to the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters through his scar were true enough. And Harry witnessed the entire attack in his visions, which I'm sure he will be willing to submit to a review by penseive for us."
"So Fudge will have no choice but to admit that Voldemort has returned," Vindictus nodded, apparently quite satisfied with the notion. "Good."
Vivian smirked again, "He already has. He has also agreed to reevaluate Umbridge's ability to teach Defense at Hogwarts. And all of the Hogwarts Inquistorial details will be turned over to us."
"How in Merlin's name did you manage all that?"
Vivian and Colonel Vasser exchanged smirks, before the Frenchman spoke up. "Monsieur Fudge had the audacity to command her presence, and when she didn't come he and his less than intelligent and even less modest guards showed up at Headquarters." He glanced at his commanding officer and shook his head, "You know they were there for over an hour before you arrived."
"I pity you." Vivian offered a hearth felt gin. "How much trouble did they cause?"
The Colonel shrugged, "They behaved better after the lovely Captain had a few words with them... I wasn't able to hear what they said. But I think that might have been why they tried to stuff themselves us when you arrived."
"To regain face?" Vivian wasn't the only one grinning now as she raised an eyebrow and met Captain Vindictus's steady gaze. "What did you say to them, Janna?"
"Oh, nothing much," Vindictus shrugged, although she was smirking. "I just asked them a few questions...wondered why they weren't working in our department."
"Because they're idiots!" Sergeant Volkoc scoffed, shaking his head.
"And they admitted to as much," the former Slytherin's smirk was even more pronounced, "...eventually."
After a moment of stunned silence everyone burst out laughing.
Colonel Vasser shook his head, "You know, if you weren't one of my subordinates and I wasn't already married I might ask you to marry me."
Vindictus raised an eyebrow at him, "And if you weren't one of my commanding officers and already married I'd still say no."
"Ye—Hey!" Vasser glared at her, while everyone else laughed again.
Vivian was smiling again as she cut in, "I will be paying the Minister a surprise visit in the morning. Janna, Eileen, I hope you will be able to attend?"
"Of course," Major Lufkin replied while Captain Vindictus just nodded, still smirking at the glowering Colonel Vasser.
"Good," Vivian smiled. "I will be leaving the Inquistorial details in your hands. I believe you have enough mastery's between you to adequately judge the Professor's teaching abilities. Try not to show to much favoritism—"
"Or the opposite, I presume?" Vindictus cut in, to receive a confirming nod.
"Yes, I want Umbridge out of the school as soon as possible. But try to handle it...impartially, or at least with the appearance of impartiality."
"Has she done anything yet?"
"Pardon?" Vivian met Vindictus' gaze again.
"That woman defines the muggle term 'wickid witch,' General. And she's had several classes already. She must have done something by now."
Vivian was quiet for several moments before she nodded. "Yes, as Ria can attest to witnessing the act itself and Captain Bonham and myself can confirm the wounds, she forced Harry to write lines with an incidi plectri for nearly an hour—"
"What!" came from several mouths around the room, while others remained silent, their faces grave.
General Dearborn, who's eldest daughter had become a Gryffindor only the year before, shook her head. "That is a registered dark item. It has been since it was first created during the war with Grindelwald."
"I know," Vivian nodded. "And as soon as Madam Pomphrey sees it in the morning – which she will. Harry's agreed to have breakfast in the infirmary, so she can run a check up after his vision last night. As soon as we have her confirmation on the injury I will—"
"You can't arrest her," Vindictus cut in, and continued before Vivian could object not flinching under her glare. "You're too close. It's too personal."
"I'll arrest her," Dearborn volunteered. "I'll be waiting General Willow's call."
Vivian sighed, "Very well..."
Harry sighed, shaking his head as he searched through the Daily Prophet under Madam Pomphrey's attentive gaze. Nothing. No mention of the attack whatsoever. "How could they not cover it?" he asked, frowning as he met the nurse's concerned gaze.
Before the nurse could speak, however, someone else did. "They will, Mr. Potter. Don't you worry about that."
Both turned to see a witch old enough to have children attending the school as students enter the Healers Ward. Both noted the elegant uniform she wore and the stars that marked her high rank.
"I'm General Catherine Dearborn," the witch bowed, her perfect blonde braids staying behind her head as she bowed slightly. "General Potier has entrusted me with your case."
"Case?" Madam Pomphrey asked, frowning.
"Yes," the Auror raised an eyebrow at the nurse. "Did you really think we'd overlook the use incidi plectri within the school?"
Harry glanced down at his right hand, which Madam Pomphrey had been frowning over the entire time she rubbed salves onto it and wrapped it in bandages. "During detention, you mean?"
"Yes," the General nodded, "Your shadow filed an official complaint on it this morning, though General Potier noticed it when she visited you last night."
Harry looked down guiltily, "Yeah, she did..."
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, young man. You did absolutely nothing wrong."
Harry looked up, still frowning, but after a few moments of silence nodded, meeting the General's gaze. "What'd you going to do to her?"
"Why, I'm going to arrest her, of course..." Dearborn smirked, "right after my colleague and I make her recognize at least some of her own idiocy."
"I'm sorry, General—"
Vivian didn't know how, but somehow Fudge had found another secretary to fill in for Umbridge that annoyed her just as much as the one that was now the Defense Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft of Wizardry, and would soon be just another convict.
"But Minister Fudge is quite busy this morning... If you could make an appointment—"
"I did, and you're holding the confirmation notice I received." Vivian cut in, holding the older witch's gaze steadily until the other looked away.
"Yes, well, there must have been a misunderstanding with one of the nightshift clerks. And some importan—"
The Auror General snorted, "I'm sure whatever meeting he's holding right now is nowhere near important enough to reschedule mine. Who is he meeting with?"
"Many important pe—"
"Who?"
"Uh...um... Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Macnair are there... and some reporters from the Prophet, an—"
"And no one who's responsible for the nation's safety." Vivian spun on her heel and walked through the door to the Minister's outer office towards the guarded inner door, Colonel Vasser, Major Lufkin, Captain Vindictus and Master Seargen Volkov right behind her.
"Wait! You can't go in there! The Minister—"
"Agreed to see me." She informed the two guards outside his office, who happened to be the ones that had refused her admittance to her own office not too long before. "Move."
"General—"
Vivian didn't even bother saying the word, just raised her wand and sent a torrent of red light at both guards, throwing them back against the door before immediately dropping them to the floor, while Vindictus quickly summoned their wands and slipped them into her pocket. Then she waived her wand at the doors themselves, forcing them to swing open. As she strode into the inner office Vasser followed her while Lufkin, Vindictus and Volkov stood guard outside the door, waiting for the Aurors that the secretary had undoubtedly called.
"Good morning, Minister." Vivian greeted the wizard; nodding to the people he was meeting with, most of whom stood when she entered. "I apologize for the interruption, but you seem to have forgotten our appointment."
"A-Appointment?" Fudge shook his head, looking decidedly confused. "I don't believe—"
"I scheduled one when you visited my office, don't you remember, Minister?" Vivian inquired, smiling for his guests, specifically the reporters and photographers that would undoubtedly consider writing something about the Minister forgetting meetings with important Ministry officials, and perhaps more.
Fudge seemed to realize that this was a possibility too, for he quickly replied, while shaking his head. "Yes! Yes! I apologize. I thought you meant a great deal later... we didn't really agree on a time."
"I believe I said first thing," Vivian shrugged, still smiling for the reporters, "But I could be mistaken... you might want to tell your guards to just ask next time. It will keep medical expenses lower."
"My guards? I'm sorry, what—?"
"They're only stunned and disarmed. Some of my officers will be filling in for them until suitable replacements arrive... But I digress." She smiled winningly for the guests again, "For those of you who do not know me, I am known Auror General Vivien Potier, five stars and Order of Merlin First Class. I'm in charge of the First Sector of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. And I hope you don't mind the interruption, this should only take a few more minutes of the Minister's time."
"Uh – yes," Fudge agreed, standing to make his way around the desk as he waived towards the door, "Perhaps we could—?"
"Oh, no, please sit down. All of you." Vivian smiled, "We aren't after all discussing National Secrets, Minister. Or we shouldn't be."
"But—"
"I just need you to sign the final papers for the Inquisitorial Squad's formation and duties." She tossed the papers in the air and waived her wand to bring them all safely, and neatly to the Minister's desk before she re-sheathed it. As he hurriedly sat down and grabbed a nearby quill, Vivian continued, again talking to the guests. "The Inquisitorial Squad will be made up of several masters of different fields, sent to Hogwarts to review the teaching staff and ensuring that the students are receiving an adequate education, or better, we hope. We've had some trouble, with new Auror's, at least, being less than fully educated over the last few years. Hopefully this will curb that problem."
"Yes," Fudge agreed hurriedly, signing all of the papers as quickly as he possibly could. He also, obviously wasn't reading the documents. He quickly tapped each with his wand to dry the ink, before gathering them into a neat pile again and holding them out to her. "Is there anything el—"
Vivian quickly cut in again, "Yes. I'm afraid there is." She was intentionally quiet for a moment, which obviously made the Minister nervous. "What direction and limitations was Ms. Umbridge given about her appointment at Hogwarts?"
"What?"
"Was she permitted to use tools that have been marked dark objects and illegal for nearly half a century to punish students who displeased her?"
"Wha--? No!" Fudge sputtered, shaking his head. "No, of course not. Why?"
"Good. Then Captain Vindictus," she nodded to the Captain who was already on her way out. "Will meet with General Dearborn at Hogwarts to arrest her." Vivian quickly went forwards to collect the papers he'd signed and smiled at the guests again, "Good day, Minister. Ladies and gentlemen." Then she turned on her heal to leave, the other Aurors right behind her.
"Wait! What did she do?" One of the reporters call.
"Even with reason, the use of an incidi plectri is illegal. And forcing a minor to write lines with it will earn her at least a few years in prison."
The Great Hall was filled with the quiet chatter that generally accompanied breakfast. Though the Gryffindor table was a little more quiet than usual, several members frequently glancing towards the doors, waiting for their missing housemate to arrive.
"You think he's all right, right, Ron?" Hermione asked worriedly, glancing towards the doors again before she looked back at her other best friend.
"I don' know, 'Mione." Ron shook his head, "I hope s—"
He was interrupted by the sound of both of the Great Hall's doors swinging open, to admit to witches in formal Auror robes. One of which several of the Gryffindor's recognize, though one of the second years apparently knew the other quite well, as she was frowning at the oldest Auror.
"Isn't that Captain Vindictus?" Ron asked.
Hermione nodded, even as all of them turned their attention towards the teacher's table, where the professors were watching the two Aurors approach.
"Ah," Dumbledore smiled, holding his arms out slightly in welcome, and bowing slightly. "Captain Vindictus, a pleasure to see you again... And Mrs. Dearborn, I believe?"
"General Dearborn," the older Auror nodded, "yes."
"General, Captain," Dumbledore nodded, still smilingly slightly. "Welcome to Hogwarts. What may we do for you?"
"The Minister believes that Ministry officials should formally review your staff here, for their abilities as teachers and experts in their field." Dearborn handed him a scroll, which he quickly unrolled and began reading through. After several moments he nodded, but he was frowning slight. "Captain Vindictus and I will be serving in this capacity for the time being."
"Hem, hem," A quiet cough from a short distance away drew their attention, though many students rolled their eyes. "Excuse me, General."
"Yes, Mrs. Umbridge?"
"It's Miss, thank you, or Professor. I'm not married." If she heard Lee Jordan's snickered comment of, 'no kidding, who'd marry her?' she gave no indication of it. "May we speak out—"
"No. But you may of course speak here, if you wish."
"Yes, hem, hem," Umbridge nodding, beginning to glare at the Aurors. "You see I have discussed the idea with the Minister and we believe a High Inquisitor—"
"In order for that to work we would have to find someone with a mastery in every field taught at Hogwarts, Ms. Umbridge." The General told her, shaking her head. "And if such a person exists, they may not be willing to serve. Therefore having a Squad of several people with mastery's in different field makes a great deal more sense."
Umbridge was obviously ignoring the nods from the other teachers at the table. "Hem, hem, yes, but I volunteered, an—"
"You do not have a Masters Degree in any field, Ms. Umbridge." Dearborn pointed out, with a raised eyebrow. "You are a secretary. And as you're posing as a Professor yourself you could hardly evaluate yourself. And you're not likely to be impartial. There's a conflict of interests, you see."
"Yes, indeed," Dumbledore agreed, his eyes twinkling. "We're happy to oblige you, ladies. Is there anything else?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Dearborn nodded, turning towards Umbridge. "And I believe we should step outside for this, Ms. Umbridge."
"Hem, hem, why, may I ask?" Umbridge more demanded then asked, glaring at the general, before jumping slightly in her seat as she noticed that the other Auror, Captain Vindictus, had at some point come around behind her.
"Or not," Dearborn shrugged, raising her wand to point it as the other witch, muttering a spell that sent a wave of golden light at her. She immediately began to glow a bright green. "You are now under an honesty monitoring spell, which will continue to glow green as you speak truthfully, and switch to pink or red if you lie. You may choose not to answer."
"What is—"
"Now, do you own an incidi plectri?" The General demanded, gaining several shocked looks from the other professors and some of the older students.
"N-no, of course not." Umbridge stammered, still glowing green.
Dearborn frowned. "Have you owned an incidi plectri?"
"No!" She was still green.
"Do you know someone who does own a incidi plectri?"
"...No." Now she turned pink.
"Careful, Ms. Umbridge. Juries and judges don't like dishonestly." Dearborn warned her. "Have you forced a student to write with one?"
Even as Umbridge was protesting, glowing a bright pink, several of the older students and the teachers were looking pale or green, most completely aghast.
Dearborn was silent for a moment, before she nodded to Vindictus. "Please rise, Ms. Umbridge."
"No!"
"Delores Jane Umbridge, you are under arrest for use of an illegal, dark object and abuse of a minor. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say or do many be used against you in a Court of Law—"
Umbridge flew to her feet, trying to push pack Captain Vindictus, who side stepped her. "NO! You can't! I'm—" she was cut off by a waive of red light from the captain's wand.
After several moments of silence, during which Vindictus levitated the accused from the room, Dearborn sighed, shaking her head as she turned back to the Headmaster. "We'll be in touch about the evaluations soon. And someone will be over, with documentation of course, later today, to fill in for the Defense class until a suitable replacement can be found." She bowed slightly, "We apologize for the interruption. Good day."
"And to you," Dumbledore nodded, smiling as the doors to the Great Hall swung shut behind the general and the morning chatter returned much louder than before, with cheers. Though none of the Professors seemed to mind.
End of Chapter 15.
Translations:
Consanguina - related by blood (Latin)
Incidi - to cut into; to inscribe, engrave an inscription; to make by cutting
Plectri - a quill
Direct Response to Reviewers – Is no longer allowed, therefore I will try to respond directly when you review...but the current ones are bit out of date, aren't they?
To everyone who did review, thank you. And sorry for leaving you hanging.
I would also like to add that no reviews would probably mean another two years before the next update. Reviews keep ME interested. So if you do want me to stay interested and keep updated, review. I will try to respond. I will try to keep writing. But I do need some help, considering how long it's been since I really tried to keep going with this story.
AN: Sorry for the LONG wait. I kind of lost interest in the story... Hopefully I'll be able to update much sooner this time.
However, Finals are coming up and I leave for Greece not too long after that. So I don't know when I'll be able to update. Probably not any sooner than late June or early July.
To those who asked, yes, I love being an aunt. My niece turned two just a little while ago. She can be a handful when I do get to see her, but it's still great. And everyone, of course, loves her.
And, of course, I am glad everyone likes the story so far... though if anyone who was reading it before came back, I might be amazed.
To those who noticed it, yes, I was sticking more to the (American) Miranda Rights then anything else, because I really don't know how it works in Great Britain. If someone wants to explain it to me, preferably with sources, I might be willing to change it. But I honestly didn't think it was that important...
Thanks for reading!
Bye (for now)!
Jess S