Disclaimer: I Don't Own Anything to Do With Harry Potter.
Chapter 4: Home At Last
Thursday, August 3rd, 1989
The Ministry of Magic
After a long hug and goodbye with Susan, Harry and Amelia flooed to the Ministry after breakfast. Amelia had Harry leave his things in case he got to stay with them and promised that if he ended up with a different family they'd send his things to him. She also told him that since she was petitioning to be his guardian that she wouldn't be allowed in the room while he was being interviewed. Harry was a little nervous about that, but just nodded.
When they entered the Department of Child Services they were greeted immediately by the receptionist.
"How may I help you?" she said.
"This is Harry Potter and he has an appointment to be interviewed. Also I need to fill out the paperwork to put my name down as a possible guardian for him." said Amelia.
"Do you have time to be interviewed now?" asked the receptionist.
"Yes." said Amelia.
"Very well, please have a seat over there and the case worker will be out to get you." said the receptionist.
Amelia sat down with Harry and started filling out her forms for a few minutes before an unpleasant looking man came into the lobby.
"Harry Potter." said the man.
"I'm Harry." said Harry staying seated by Amelia.
"My name is Stan Sauder and I'll be your case worker. Will you please come with me?" asked Stan.
Harry looked at Amelia and she smiled and said,
"It'll be ok, Harry. Mr. Sauder is just going to ask you some questions to confirm our reports and he'll need to ask you questions about me and Susan for your placement."
"You're petitioning for guardianship?" asked Stan looking nervous.
"Yes. Is there a problem?" asked Amelia.
"No, of course not, please come with me, Harry." said Stan.
Harry got up and hugged Amelia before going with Stan.
Amelia spent the time finishing the forms for her petition when all of the sudden there was a bang and the door to Stan's office flew open and Harry came running out of Stan's office.
"I want to stay with you, but he says I have to go with some other family." Harry cried while hugging Amelia.
"There, there, Harry. Shhh. It'll be ok." said Amelia while rubbing Harry's back. "There's another petition already in for his custody?"
"Yes, the Malfoy family filed for custody yesterday." said Stan.
"Yesterday? You hadn't even interviewed Harry yet. Doesn't his choice matter in this instance? He's gone his whole life to this point having nobody care about what he wants let alone needs." said Amelia.
"What a nine year old thinks he needs is irrelevant." said Stan.
"The needs of the child are irrelevant? I would think that the needs of the child are the number one concern." said Amelia.
"Th-that's what I meant and the finances that the Malfoy's have available to them will make sure that the boy's needs are well taken care of." said Stan.
Amelia had finally gotten to the point. Money. Without opening a case she would be hard pressed to get the Goblin's to provide proof that Malfoy bribed the case worker and since Minister Fudge was in Malfoy's pocket she'd never get the case open so she had only one option to pursue.
"Miss, I need to see Madam Craft please." said Amelia to the receptionist.
"I see no reason to bother the head of the department. I assure you that the decision will stand in this case." said Stan.
What's going on here?" asked a woman who just came out of one of the other offices.
"Madam Craft, I am sorry to bother you, but I need to formerly dispute the decision of Mr. Sauder and request you to take charge of a custody hearing." said Amelia.
Madam Craft was a no nonsense woman and one who Amelia knew could not be bought by anyone.
"Amelia, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Agatha? Stan what is your take on this issue?" asked Agatha.
"I informed Madam Bones here that the Malfoy family would be taking custody of Mr. Potter and that apparently was against what she wanted so she decided to throw a fit and involve you. I apologize." said Stan.
"How is it that you have already made that decision? Mr. Potter's case was only opened this morning and I don't recall the Malfoy's coming in today." said Agatha.
"Lord Malfoy filed the petition yesterday." said Stan.
"Did you interview the whole family?" asked Agatha.
"Lord Malfoy said…" started Stan.
"Lord Malfoy doesn't make the rules and for a decision to be made all parties and their family have to be interviewed. I've heard enough. You are off this case. Amelia, your request for a hearing is denied, but Stan's decision on the custody of Mr. Potter is revoked. I will interview the Malfoy's tomorrow morning and I will interview you and Susan after lunch tomorrow. I know you have some work to get done, Amelia so I'll interview Mr. Potter and take him to the cafeteria for some lunch and then I'll be by your office. Mr. Potter, come to my office and we'll have a chat." said Agatha.
Harry looked at Amelia and she nodded so he hugged her and followed Agatha to her office. As Amelia left she gave Stan a look.
"You better get that bribe money back to Lucius. I wouldn't want to have to waste my Aurors to investigate your death." said Amelia.
Amelia's Office
With missing work yesterday morning Amelia had some paperwork piled up for her to do so she ended up working through lunch. She had just finished signing on a request for two Aurors to be added to the detail at Azkaban when her secretary peaked in.
"Madam Bones, Madam Craft and Harry Potter are here to see you." said the secretary.
"Thank you, Penelope. Let them in." said Amelia.
Agatha came in by herself.
"I figured that we should talk by ourselves before Mr. Potter comes in with us. Are you sure you are prepared for what you're getting yourself into should you win custody tomorrow?" asked Agatha.
"I don't see it as winning anything. What's best for Harry is all that matters." said Amelia.
"I know, but he has years of emotional baggage and he's held it all in and I'm afraid that when it all comes out it could put whoever is in custody of him in danger." said Agatha.
"I will do everything to make sure nothing happens. If he needs it I have a good friend who is a Healer with a specialty in Mind Healing. I'm sure you remember Andromeda Tonks?" asked Amelia.
"The one with the daughter who bugged you with a thousand questions about becoming an Auror?" asked Agatha.
"The same." said Amelia.
"She's good. I take it you have no problems keeping Mr. Potter for one more night? I'll have my decision made before you leave from work tomorrow." said Agatha.
"No problems at all." said Amelia.
"I'll send Mr. Potter in and I'll see the three of you tomorrow after lunch." said Agatha.
"Thank you, Agatha." said Amelia.
Just a second after Agatha left Harry came into her office.
"Did you have a good lunch?" asked Amelia.
Harry just nodded.
"It's hard having to go through everything over and over again, isn't it?" asked Amelia.
"Yes. I just want to be over and done with it." said Harry.
"Unfortunately you might never be done with it, Harry." said Amelia.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"You went through so much, Harry. Physical, mental and emotional abuse yet you are the nicest boy I've seen in a long time. But I can see that you hold a lot in. If I get custody of you tomorrow would you be willing to speak with a friend of mine who can help you work through your past issues?" asked Amelia.
"Will I have to tell them everything?" asked Harry.
"Eventually, but she'll let you choose the pace you want." said Amelia.
"Ok." said Harry.
"Now I don't think you want to be bored here while I work so why don't we drop you back off with Susan and you can spend some time with her for the rest of the day." said Amelia and Harry smiled at that.
Bones Manor
As soon as they came through the floo Susan was there waiting and she grabbed Harry in a hug.
"He gets to stay!" yelled Susan happily.
Uhm, Susan you should let him breathe. There was another family who put in for his guardianship and we have to go and be interviewed tomorrow after lunch." said Amelia.
"What will they ask me? What should I say?" asked Susan.
"Just be honest with Agatha and you'll be fine." said Amelia.
"Agatha's scary." said Susan and Harry nodded agreeing with her making Amelia laugh.
"I have to get back to work. Do you mind keeping Harry company, Susan?" asked Amelia.
"Pool?" asked Susan.
"Pool." said Harry.
As the two of them ran upstairs to change Amelia yelled,
"Be good!"
Friday, August 4th, 1989
Ministry of Magic
Amelia went home for a quick lunch with Susan and Harry before they had to head back to the Ministry for their interviews. When they arrived they were told to sit and Madam Craft would be with them shortly. It wasn't long before she came out and asked for Susan to follow her to the office. Susan looked nervous as she followed the older woman.
Thirty minutes later Susan came running out and it was Amelia's turn to be interviewed.
"I'll be back. You two wait out here and be good. Ok?" asked Amelia.
"We will." said Susan.
Amelia followed Agatha into the office and sat down.
"Are you aware that your niece is absolutely in love with that boy?" asked Agatha.
"Is that going to be a problem?" asked Amelia.
"Not in itself, but how are you going to handle their growing relationship, if it happens with Mr. Potter living with you and your niece?" asked Agatha.
"I figure that we'll take it as it goes. They're both just nine years old and right now I'm not worried about any relationship stuff with them. When they're older I'll of course have to give them the talk, but I want to let them be kids for as long as they can be." said Amelia.
"With the past that Harry has had he might not be a child anymore." said Agatha.
"I won't believe that. Saying something like that is writing him off and giving him up on him and I won't do that. I can't believe that you would say something like that." said Amelia.
"Calm down, Amelia. Part of this interview is to gauge your emotions in your responses. Of course I don't think Mr. Potter is beyond saving. Now my only real issue with you is your work hours. Susan has coped well with them, but in her interview it was brought up that she wished that you did have more time for her. Do you have any thoughts on how to give Harry the time he'll need?" asked Agatha.
"I'm not ready to leave my position. I've worked hard to get where I am. At the same time though there is more delegation I could do. You're right that I don't get to spend half the time with Susan that I'd like and Harry deserves and will need time with me as much as he'll need Susan's friendship. I don't have a plan in place right now, but I can think about it and have something figured out by Monday." said Amelia.
"Ok, one more thing. Harry hasn't had a good father figure…" started Agatha.
"Agatha, if you're going to try and hook me up with someone again I'm going to stop you right there." said Amelia.
"Can't blame an old woman for trying." said Agatha.
Amelia's Office
After her interview Agatha let Harry go back to the manor with Susan and Amelia returned to work.
In the hope that she would get custody Amelia spoke with Head Auror Scrimgeour about taking over some of the paperwork and taking on some more responsibilities. Rufus had an eye for her position so he took it as an opportunity to show what he was capable of.
It was getting close to time to head home when there was a knock on the door from Penelope.
"Madame Craft is here to see you." said Penelope.
"Show her in, please." said Amelia.
Penelope stepped to the side and Agatha stepped in.
"What are you still doing here, Amelia?" asked Agatha.
"Why wouldn't I be here?" asked Amelia.
"Well, I think you'd rather be at home spending time with your new nephew or son. I don't know what you'll…" said Agatha, but couldn't finish because she was crushed in a hug by Amelia. "Amelia, let me go! I'm an old woman and I can't take excitement like that."
"Harry gets to stay with me and Susan?" asked Amelia.
"Yes, congratulations." said Agatha.
"I'm sorry to rush out of here, Agatha, but I have to go home and tell them." said Amelia.
"Yes you do. Now go." said Agatha.
Bones Manor
"Harry, Susan!" yelled Amelia as soon as she came out of the floo. "Damn it, the pool."
Amelia ran outside to the pool in time to see Harry dunk Susan under the water after which Susan came up sputtering.
"Harry, come here." said Amelia.
Harry looked at Amelia and came out of the water looking like he was in trouble.
"Harry, you're not in trouble. I just wanted to tell you the good news." said Amelia as a redheaded missile hit Harry tackling him.
"Harry gets to stay!" yelled Susan happily.
"Yes, Harry gets to stay. Now let's go have dinner and tomorrow we'll go to Diagon Alley for some celebratory ice cream at Fortescue's." said Amelia.
Before they could head to the dining room Harry pulled Amelia into a hug which Susan joined in on.
"Thank you for giving me a home." said Harry.
Further north on a shelf in an office a silver trinket sputtered, popped and blew apart. It wouldn't be seen till the next day when an old man woke up.
Author's Note: Chapter done. I hope everyone continues to like this story. I haven't decided fully if Dumbledore will be manipulative or just an old man who made mistakes. I also don't know anything about child services so please give me creative license on how I portrayed the Wizarding Child Services. Please review, favorite and follow and thank you to those who already have.
