PROLOGE
July 19th 1996
It had crossed Hermione Granger's mind that the Hogwarts Express ride at the end of year had never been as quiet or as uncomfortable as it had done, even second year heading to school wasn't that bad. As with every train ride at the end of the Hogwarts school year, Hermione sat in the end train carriage with her best friends and fellow Gryffindors Ronald Weasley and Azalea Potter the notorious Girl-Who-Lived not that she liked the hyphenated nickname or the connections that came with it. To be fair Hermione didn't blame her with her history and the public's reaction, especially with what happened this past year with both the ministries denial over Voldemort's return, Umbridge at Hogwarts causing much chaos their OWL year and the death of her Godfather at Voldemort's public reveal at the Ministry.
In the two weeks since the trio and their friends Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom and Ronald's sister Ginevera Weasley stormed the ministry to save Sirius Black and were returned to Hogwarts separately much to Hermione's Chagrin, The fifteen year old had been standoffish, near silent and almost completely absent. After all the primal scream of pain Azalea had emitted when Sirius died was more than enough to wake the dead and whatever had been said between her and their Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, was certainly a lot more mind boggling and private than could be said to them at that time. Hermione, despite the Headmasters requests for her and Ron to keep Azalea talking, decided it was wise to let Azalea come to them with the information instead of demanding it. For the whole train ride back to London Azalea had remained closed mouthed and aloof, near eight hours in near silence and close contact hadn't helped, and neither did Ronald's anger issues and Hermione's mutinous curiosity either.
It was now over two months later and having spent some quality time with her dentist parents Hermione felt it was close enough to the school year where she would join her friends in spending time together mainly with the Weasleys at their home before gathering their school supplies and heading off to school on the train together. However something sat wrong with the near seventeen year old witch, the painfully few letters Azalea sent had become fewer in number and those that had been sent had deepened and darkened in meaning. All news Hermione could gather both magically and muggle didn't help soothe her nerves. Something was wrong, very wrong and no doubt, Azalea was in the middle of it. Making a decision and grabbing both parchment and a quill, Hermione wrote a short and to the point note then handing it to Pig, Ron's Owl who'd delivered a worried letter from Ron not ten minutes before.
"Could you task this to Dumbledore please before heading home?" Hermione asked "Both your master and I would appreciate it"
Pig bobbed his head before whirring himself out the window and flying off to Hogwarts.
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Chaos complete and utter chaos greeted Albus Dumbledore and the order members he could gather at short notice. The moment he'd received Miss Granger's note, he'd gone straight into combat mode and summoned as many people as he could, those tied to the ministry hadn't replied but seeing the magical damage slowly being dealt with amongst the muggle response units had him positive they were still here.
"Spread out" Dumbledore ordered the order members "Go look for more damage and see if theres any Death Eaters still around, the ministry will need them in custody"
Deluges Diggle and Vera Montgomery the order members behind him nodded and left, taking the others with them and leaving the headmaster to his thoughts as he walked down Privet Drive. Dumbledore's mind drifted to the letter from Miss Granger.
'Dear, Headmaster,
I apologise for this note but something is seriously wrong with Azalea Potter, she needs help and only you can help her, Please.
Hermione Granger'
Dumbledore hadn't felt the twisting of his stomach since before his battle with Grindlewald back in the 1940's, and seeing the damage done to Little whinging with Privet Drive as the epicentre of the chaos, Dumbledore had a reason for the stomach twisting Outside No 4, Dumbledore was surprised to see Amelia Bones standing alongside Shacklebolt and talking with a Policeman. As the policeman turned to talk with another who'd stepped out of No4, Amelia Bones saw his approach
"Headmaster, you heard" she said in way of greeting before she saw his damaged hand "Did you have an accident headmaster?"
"Of a sort Amelia" Dumbledore replied as honestly as he'd allow, shifting his hand out of view "Miss Hermione Granger, one of Miss Potters friends sent me word via owl distressing genuine concern for Miss Potters safety a mere twenty minutes ago, I felt it was of great importance to come ensure Miss Potter was safe and I see the worry was much needed"
"That it was" Amelia said with a nod of her head after casting a blurring spell them "It has been noted by several neighbours that a group of Death Eaters arrived at No4 and began causing trouble when Miss Potters Aunt Mrs Dursley answered the door, it wasnt even five minutes later they were witnessing Miss Potter running out the door and down the roan with most of them following, there are three dead Death Eaters in No4 Caradacas Crabble, Gordon Goyle and Zephyr Nott to be specific all three bearing the mark of Voldemort"
"What of Mrs Dursley Miss Potters aunt?" Dumbledore asked genuinely concerned "and that of her uncle and cousin?"
The three were met by the sight of a car pulling up and the bloated figure of Vernon Dursley exiting the car followed by a worried looking Dudley. Amelia dissolved the spell just as the policeman came back out alongside Petunia Dursley on a Gurney being taken to an ambulance by the ambulance techs.
"Mr Dursley" the policeman called out allowing the muggle man to see his wife.
"As you can see Mrs Dursley has several injuries and her uncle and cousin are completely fine" Kingsley said as Vernon having been talking to the policeman saw Dumbledore and his face turned purple
"WHAT DID YOU DO?" he roared storming up to Dumbledore "WHAT DID YOU AND THAT SNAKE OF A GIRL CALLED MY NIECE DO TO MY WIFE?"
"Mr Dursley calm down, Madam Bones comes from a security Department your niece called mere moments after the attack occurred..." the policeman began distracting Vernon enough from causing a full blown fist fight.
"Is that true?" Dumbledore asked in surprise as Dudley Dursley approached them
"I received a note for help to which I was inclined to help" Amelia replied "Are you alright young man?"
"I know its to do with magic" Dudley began "Weird things happened magically last summer too,but I wanted you to know...it looks like a magical fights happening over by the old playground on the outskirts of Little Whinging...that way"
The three adults looked towards where Dudley was pointing in time to see Diggle running up to them looking both terrified and harassed.
"Come...Come quickly" he wheezed "Potter's fighting seven Death Eaters and Voldemort himself at the park...HURRY!"
The three wizards joined Diggle in running back to the park the policeman Bones had been talking to followed them along with Dudley, Vernon and four other Policemen. Both Diggle and Dudley had been right, right there at the park were seven Death eaters dressed in black alongside Voldemort the most terrifying wizard since Grindlewald battling several order members and Azalea Potter herself. Several Death Eaters both living and dead littered the ground, those living bound and gagged with thorned ropes. Dumbledore pulled out his wand just as Amelia, Kingsley and Diggle did and began firing giving aid to their fellow magicals. Dumbledore wondered if The order helped fell the Death Eaters on the ground or if Azalea was that good magically under pressure, part of him was positive it was the latter and others would most likely agree with that statement.
Then by some random Chance, Divine Intervention or sheer Dumb Luck Azalea fired off three spells in quick succession, the wands of all magicals were instantly pulled out of their hands by force including Dumbledore's, those closest to the fight of Azalea and Voldemort crumpled to the ground like used firecrackers and Voldemort the second Dark Lord of this century died having been struck by both Azaleas second spell and his own which had struck and absorbed Azaleas third spell after rebounding off it. Lord Voldemort...was dead.
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July 26th 1996
'It was astonishing how much could change in a week' Dumbledore thought as he arrived in the Ministry Atrium and was met with the new security measures Madam Bones had put in place as Interim Minister. 'Especially when I'm not asked my much needed opinion on it'
Dumbledore passed through security without a thought or noise, A lot had happened in that week, from the moment Azalea realised Madam Bones AND Dumbledore had turned up everything had become chaos, Potter had crumpled into an unconscious heap due to magical exhaustion, according to the healer Bones had called. Dumbledore mentally scolded himself once again for not securing Azalea under his care at Hogwarts, but in the aftermath of the battle of Little Whinging, numerous things, many of which needed his specific attention, happened all at once. The Ministry's Obliviators spent three days searching for and editing every muggle who was there of their memory of that day ensuring the agreed upon trauma...a rouge attack of home invaders gone wrong was to blame.
In the wizarding world every Death Eater with a tattoo collapsed into strange coma's, resulting in near half of the Wizgenmort and up to a third of the Ministry being out of action, including Severus Snape. Many Death Eaters had died after entering St Mungo's leaving jobs and Wizgenmort seats to be filled until their children were legally adults. Even at Hogwarts three of Dumbledore's Staff, Severus Snape and surprisingly Arthimancy teacher Septima Vector and Librarian Irma Prince had Death Eater Tattoos and all three were fired after coming out of their respective coma's prompting another three positions to be filled. Amelia was voted in as Intern minister until such a time the Wizgenmort was full again and could vote a more permanent replacement to Fudge. Cornelius and his under secretary Deloris Umbridge both had fresh Tattoos and were found two hours after the battle in very compromising positions in Fudge's office. Out of the two, Fudge had died, but Umbridge hadn't and was now amongst those she truly despised and had been sent to a muggle asylum under several heavy duty spells due to the ranting and raving she'd done. Amelia had not only put in several new security measures but had taken some unknown advice to heart and promptly hired several of the Muggleborns and half-bloods straight out of the past three years of Hogwarts Alumni to fulfil positions otherwise filled by pure bloods, this had angered several pure bloods especially those of the old guard, Dumbledore despite being an advocate for Muggleborns found himself agreeing with the old guard on this issue.
Dumbledore strode through several corridors of the ministry, having decided to avoid the elevators partially due to new hires learning the ropes. He hoped he would be in time to discuss not only several laws with Amelia but the guardianship of Azalea Potter as well, Amelia having taken charge of Azaleas guardianship thanks to quick work with the Goblins, had squirrelled Azalea away hidden under several wards, protective spells and more. The Dursleys were another thing too, however the Dursleys had near disappeared after the battle, even Tonks with her knowledge of the muggle world couldn't find them. Dumbledore hoped that whatever Amelia had done to and for Azalea he could reverse and place back under his control. Turning his thoughts to the laws, Dumbledore hoped to push through several questionable laws on Muggleborns and magical creatures again without much censure. Whilst be believed Muggleborns belonged in the wizarding world he also believed pure bloods were the future. Such changes were too much in one go and could end up destroying wizarding Britain for years if not for good.
Squashing his dangerous thoughts for now, Dumbledore arrived at Amelia's new office and the desk of her new Secretary Alma Beauregarde. Dumbledore cleared his throat attracting the former Hufflepuffs attention and smiled brightly
"Good Day Miss Beauregarde, May I be put through for my meeting with the intern Minister please?" he asked in his trademark grandfather tone
"Good day to you too, Headmaster and of course Madame Bones is waiting for you" Alma replied with a smile "Please go in she's waiting for you"
"Why, Thank you Miss Beauregarde" Dumbledore said still smiling as he entered Amelia's new office.
Dumbledore was surprised by the bland newness of the office as he greeted and was greeted by Amelia before being offered to sit down opposite her as she finished an office notice to several department heads for a meeting later that day. The office however plain, had an organisation to it, where everything had a place in the bigger harmony of the room. No doubt due to Amelia being a government official.
"So" Amelia began sending the notice off to the department heads "what is this meeting about Headmaster, need some time for hiring purposes?"
"No, No, I have a few people lined up for interviews and hopefully they'll be in position by the start of the school year" Dumbledore answered honestly "I'm here to ask about Miss Potter, Ive received a letter or two from her stating she's alright of course, but as her headmaster with an invested concern I'd really like to see how she is in person"
"I felt this was coming on" Amelia replied tiredly resting back in her chair "Even Miss Potter saw it coming however I believe she has concerns for a different reason"
"Is she under house arrest due to underage magic?" Dumbledore asked in concern "If she is I'm more than happy to offer Hogwarts as an alternative and have her under the watchful eyes of my staff"
"No she's not under house arrest Headmaster" Amelia snapped back surprising Dumbledore "She's under protective custody until the school year starts, however she was worried you would cause her more harm both magically and mentally and with what she's haltingly told me about her time at Hogwarts I'm concerned too"
"There have been many things that have happened around Miss Potter at Hogwarts which are not of her doing" Dumbledore replied placatingly "And she was never punished for those not of her doing, in fact she was often rewarded for her help"
"Really?" Amelia questioned a strange look in her eyes as if she didn't believe him "I'll believe it when I see it Dumbledore, I have a request for a copy of ALL her school files UNEDITED"
Dumbledore flinched at the implication, for years rumours of students files being edited by him and several heads of houses both for work purposes and for avoidance of the law. Dumbledore had no doubt she would question that rumour especially since one or two students in particularly from Slytherin and Gryffindor respectively gained work outside of Hogwarts having been thrown out of school early. Dumbledore sighed and shook his head.
"Do not worry Amelia, her file will be sent to you" Dumbledore replied with a tired smile of his own "I'll personally ensure its passage to you"
"Thank you" Amelia replied relaxing a little "I understand you wish well for Miss Potter but I think she has gained the chance to her own voice dont you think?"
"Certainly" Dumbledore agreed as noise echoed from outside "I think its best we allow her this time until the school year to just be...what is that noise?"
The door to the office banged open as a furious Mad-Eye Moody pulled in Auror Dawlish by his ear into the room and threw him into the other chair as Kingsley and Alma followed them in.
"What the Hell" Amelia cried as Dumbledore cried out "Alester"
"I am so sorry Minister" Alma began weepily looking on the verge of tears
"Its alright Alma please go back to your desk" Amelia soothed before turning to the three newcomers "Alester Kingsley what the hell is going on?"
"Guard change on Miss Potter" Moody replied "Didn't go so well, we found all her guards unconscious beaten and bruised...all of them bar Dawlish here are now in St Mungo's"
"Her things are missing too" Kingsley replied calmly looking to calm for the situation "Wand, clothes, trunk...everything, left a letter for you though ma'am"
Kingsley handed over an envelope with Amelia Bones written in Azaleas hand on the front of it. Amelia opened it and began reading, the look on her face turned furious as her skin tone turned pale, she looked up with saddened fury in her eyes as she glared at Dawlish
"Dawlish...how long was miss Potter gone before help arrived?" she asked in a strangely calm tone
"Minister Bones," Dawlish began trembling slightly his bruised visage paling slightly "Miss Potter was missing for over half an hour before Moody and Shacklebolt turned up"
Silence reigned over the office for several uncomfortable seconds before Dumbledore's rage exploded.
"WHAT!"
