Chapter 13

Lexi climbed awkwardly from one of the many gilded fireplaces that lined the Atrium. She straightened her pencil skirt and brushed soot from her red blouse, she very rarely dressed smartly for any occasion let alone for work, so many of colleagues eyed her with a large amount of curious suspicion as she walked through the employees entrance. It was very early, so only a small proportion of the work force inhabited the building as Lexi headed towards the Auror headquarters. She'd decided to meet with Scrimgeour, and then head down with Harry and Mr Weasley to the courtroom for the hearing.

Even though she was certain the Ministry did not have a case, nerves still jangled freely inside her. There was far too much unpredictability in the Ministry at the moment, particularly where Fudge was concerned, and especially if the rumours about the appointment of Umbridge as Defence professor were anything to go by. She'd never liked Fudge nor his tendency to blame his own shortcomings on others around him, he also never inspired much confidence in his cabinet mainly because of his constant owls asking advice he sent Dumbledore's way. No one at the Ministry would admit it, but very few people had any confidence in his abilities to lead them. Which was why, Lexi suspected, that he was so set upon denying Voldemort's existence. That and the fact he knew deep down he would not be able to govern a world besieged by war.

She stepped into the lift, gripping onto the railings as it clattered it downwards. 'Level Two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizengamot Administration Services'. She exited the lift and onto the corridor lined by doors. She pushed open the door to the chaotic Auror headquarters to find it almost empty, save for Scrimgeour who stood by an enchanted window through which sunlight streamed. He looked up as she crossed the threshold, stepping over an overflowing box of files.

"Good grief, Rufus! When will you get a cleaner in here?" She exclaimed, examining the distinct lack of organization before her. "Most of these files are of people who died hundreds of years ago!"

"One of these old files may contain a clue to a present-day case," he retorted matter-of-factly. "As I have told you many times."

"What this place needs is a woman's touch," she said, running her finger along her old desk and turning her nose up at the large amount of brown dust. "Or maybe you do?" She added with a defiant smirk.

Rufus scowled at her, pursing his lips in a disapproving matter. "State your business, McNaughton," he barked bluntly, closing the file and dropping it onto the desk beside him.

"I am here to assist Harry with his hearing," She said, drawing level to him. "I also thought it prudent to update you on the present situation."

"Which is?" He said, raising his eyebrows.

"It appears Voldemort has become very interested in me," she said nonchalantly, as though describing the weather. "One of the Order's spy's became privy to the information. He wishes to, when he's ready, use me to reveal himself."

"Excuse me?" Rufus said incredulously, folding his arms across his chest and frowning. "Voldemort – wishes to use you to reveal his return? How?"

"According to our spy, it is due to my relationship with Harry." She said, trying to keep her voice even. "He will attempt to kill me, publically, I expect."

"You speak very flippantly of your potential demise," said Rufus, eyeing her suspiciously.

"I've come to terms with it," Lexi lied. "I am working with Professor Dumbledore to come up with a viable solution. The situation is not likely to present itself in the immediate future, Voldemort is sure to capitalise on the Ministry's lack of action and stay under the radar for now."

Rufus frowned further. "I see," he said slowly. "You put a lot of faith in Dumbledore, don't you?"

"Why would I not?" She asked, baffled. "He has proven himself time and again against the dark forces, and I trust him implicitly."

"And what of the spy?" He pressed, his eyes burning into her as though he was physically trying to read her mind. "Can you trust his word?"

"Yes," she answered firmly, knowing that her trust and faith in Severus ran deep into the very depths of her being. "He has very personal reasons for wishing Voldemort defeated, and I would trust him with my life."

"Very well," he said suspiciously. "But be careful, Lexi. There are many snakes in the grass these days."

"I'll bear that in mind," She muttered.

Lexi heard footsteps in the corridor outside the office. She turned round to see Harry and Arthur Weasley hovering on the threshold. Harry looked pale and nervous. She could tell some attempt had been made to tame his messy hair, although, like Harry, his hair appeared to have a rebellious streak and refused to conform.

"Oh Harry, it's so good to see you," she said, crossing the room and hugging him tightly. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I'm about to spend the rest of my life helping Filch clear up dung bombs," Harry replied gloomily.

"That's the – err – spirit?" She chuckled, in spite of the situation. "Good morning Arthur." She nodded his direction.

"Morning, Lexi," he smiled warmly at her.

There was a timid knock at the door, and they all turned to see a stooped, frail looking enter the room panting as though he'd run a marathon.

"Oh, Arthur!" he said desperately, without looking at anyone else in the room. "Thank goodness, I didn't know what to do for the best, whether to wait in your office or not. I've sent an owl to your home but you've obviously missed it – an urgent message came ten minutes ago –"

"I know about the regurgitating toilet," said Mr Weasley, causing the others in the room to raise their eyebrows.

"No, no, it's not the toilet, it's the Potter boy's hearing – they've changed the time and the venue – it starts at eight o'clock now and it's in old Courtroom Ten –"

Lexi suddenly felt a led weight drop in her stomach. She heard Arthur let out a yelp and run from the room, Harry following closely at his heals. She bade a hasty goodbye to Rufus and sprinted as fast her heals would allow her. People flattened themselves against the narrow corridor walls as they streaked past, Harry looked as though he was going to be sick. They skidded down the hall and came to an abrupt halt beside the lifts, with Arthur jabbing impatiently at the 'down' button.

"Come ON!"

The life clattered into view and the three of them hurried inside. Every time it stopped Arthur cursed furiously and pummeled the number nine button.

"Those courtrooms haven't been used in years," Lexi said angrily. "Not since the last wave of Death Eater trials. Why would they be using them now?"

"No idea," Arthur replied resentfully. "Unless – but no –"

A plump witch carrying a smoking goblet entered and Arthur fell silent, daring not to elaborate in unfamiliar company. As they reached level of the Atrium, Broderick Bode entered, wearing a very mournful expression. He nodded a greeting in Lexi's direction.

"Morning, Lexi – Arthur," he said in a funereal tone. "Don't often see you two down here."

"Urgent business, Bode," answered Arthur, who was now bouncing on the balls of his feel anxiously.

"Ah, yes," Bode said, surveying Harry unblinkingly. 'Of course."

Bode's unfaltering gaze toward Harry made Lexi feel incredibly uncomfortable. She'd not had much to do with Bode, although their paths had crossed on a couple of occasions, but he seemed out of sorts.

"Department of Mysteries," stated the calm female voice.

"Quick," said Mr Weasley as the lift doors rattled open.

Lexi followed them as they sped up once more along the corridor. The Department of Mysteries always instilled within her an eerie sense of foreboding, there were no windows and the walls were bare. She'd had very little to do with any of the Unspeakables except Bode. He'd worked with her on some of the more classified Death Eater cases after Voldemort's downfall. While an elusive individual, she'd not recalled him being so vacant.

They reached the bottom of a large staircase and ran along yet another corridor, banging through heavy wooden doors. Lexi felt her toes numb as they were forced deeper into her pointed shoes, the sound of her heals clicking on the stone floor reverberated around them. They reached the grimy-looking door of Courtroom Ten, and Lexi skidded to a halt grabbing onto Arthur's to stop herself from toppling over.

"Come on," She panted, straightening Harry's t-shirt. "Let's get in there."

Harry nodded resolutely, turning to Arthur. "Aren't you coming with us?" He asked.

"No, no, I won't be allowed." He said, with a weak smile. "Lexi will be with you. Good luck!"

Lexi squeezed Harry's shoulder reassuringly and pushed open the door. A large dungeon beckoned them; it had been used to sentence Death Eaters after the first war. Lexi had sat amongst her fellow Aurors in the benches taking part in the sentencing the witches and wizards she'd apprehended. An ominous silence fell as they entered the room, the heavy door slamming behind them.

"You're late," Fudge's cold voice rang across the courtroom.

"Sorry," Harry said nervously. "I – I didn't know the time had been changed."

"That is not the Wizengamot's fault," he spat acidly. "An owl was sent to you this morning. Take your seat."

"Excuse me, Minister." Lexi said loudly. "This is quite an unorthodox arrangement, and your treatment of a child is questionable at best and barbaric at worst."

Fudge narrowed his furious eyes in her direction. "I was not aware that the Wizengamot had invited you to the proceedings, Miss McNaughton." He huffed. "This is an official Ministry disciplinary hearing, and as such –"

"I am Mr Potter's godmother," she said as though Fudge had to been talking. "Therefore, as his legal guardian, I have the same right to sit in on the trial of this minor."

Fudge looked as though someone had slapped him in the face. There was subversive muttering from the members of the Wizengamot, and they looked upon Lexi with disapproving incredulity. It was at that moment that it struck Lexi; Harry was being tried in front of a full court. Such gatherings were normally reserved for the trials of those awaiting a sentence in Azkaban. A defiant anger swelled in her, she glared at Fudge as though daring him to see what she'd do if he refused her.

"Very well," said Fudge evenly. "But you will sit and not interfere with the hearing. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir," she responded brightly, causing Fudge to swell like an inflating balloon.

She looked at Harry and winked, he smiled nervously and mouthed 'thank you' as she left his side and headed for one of the bottom benches. She caught the eye of Umbridge, a woman who looked like someone had dressed up a toad sickly pink doilies. Lexi fixed her with a defiant stare, determined not to let this woman get her claws into the outcome of the hearing. She flashed Umbridge a theatrical smile, causing the Undersecretary to puff up indignantly. Lexi held back laughter, and turned her attention back to her godson, her fingers secretly crossed on her lap.

"Those in favour of clearing the witness of all charges?" Came Amelia Bones' booming voice.

Lexi's heart beat like a tattoo against her chest as her eyes darting round the room, making a mental note of the amount of hands in the air. If she wasn't mistaken more than half the Wizengamot had their hands, but she didn't have time to count as Amelia announced, "And those in favour of conviction?"

Fudge's hand was the first in the air, closely followed by Umbridge; there were definitely fewer hands in the air now. She saw Fudge's expression fall like the melting wax of a lit candle, he slowly lowered his own hand while continuing to survey the room as though hoping more hands would shoot into the air at the last minute. Fudge took several deep breaths and then spoke in a voice that shook with rage. "Very well, very well … cleared of all charges."

Warm relief swept over Lexi so quickly she shook, she jumped over the bench and ran across the Courtroom to Harry. He turned and beamed at her as she pulled him into a tight hug.

"I knew they'd let you off," she said, holding him at arms length. "I mean, who could resist that face?"

"Excellent," she heard Dumbledore say briskly. "Well, I must be getting along. Good-day to you all."

"Albus –" She began, but Dumbledore swept past both her and Harry without looking at either of them.

Dumbledore's abrupt departure took her completely by surprise, a mixture of shock and relief kept Lexi rooted to the spot. After several seconds she suddenly remembered herself, she saw Harry gazing at the Courtroom seemingly going through the same confused emotions as she was.

"Come on," she said with an encouraging smile. "Let's go, Arthur will be having kittens."

Lexi steered Harry from the hall in a slow run, she wrenched open the door and narrowly avoided running headlong into Arthur. He looked pale and uncertain of what emotion to outwardly portray.

"Dumbledore didn't say –"

"Cleared," Harry said quickly. "Of all charges!"

Arthur glanced at Lexi as though to confirm, and beamed when she nodded. "Harry that's wonderful," he exclaimed happily. "Well, of course, they couldn't have found you guilty, not on the evidence, but even so, I can't pretend I wasn't –

Arthur broke off as the rest of Wizengamot began filling out of the courtroom.

"He was tried in front of a full court, Arthur." Lexi said from the corner of her mouth, eyeing the wizened masses distastefully.

"A full – for a case of misuse of underage magic?" Arthur exclaimed, not bothering to keep his voice down.

"Scrimgeour was right to urge caution," Lexi muttered as they began to walk towards the ninth-level corridor. "The Ministry has become a treacherous place."

Arthur gave her a dark look from the corner of his eye. She suddenly felt Harry tense next to her; she looked down and saw him staring ahead as though he'd seen a ghost. She frowned and followed gaze, and saw Fudge in a hushed conversation with Lucius Malfoy. Lexi reserved a special hatred for Malfoy. He turned to face them; his cold grey eyes narrowed and fixed on Lexi then flicked to Harry. She placed her hand on Harry's shoulder in a protective manner.

"Well, well, well … Patronus Potter," he said coolly.

"Intelligent as ever, Malfoy," Lexi said through gritted teeth. "Money doesn't buy brains, it seems."

"McNaughton, good to see you looking so well," he drawled, an evil smirk on his face. "I assume there have been no more cries for attention since your – ahh – incident?"

"You son-of-a –" She said loudly, making to push forward but Arthur held her back.

"The Minister was just telling me about your lucky escape, Potter," he said, ignoring Lexi's outburst. "Quite astonishing, the way you continue to wriggle out of very tight holes … snakelike, in fact."

"Yeah," said Harry knowingly. "I'm good at escaping."

Lexi gripped Harry's shoulder tighter; it was taking all her energy not to hex that smug expression from Malfoy's face.

"What are you doing here," Harry asked Malfoy, Lexi peered down at him curiously.

"I don't think private matters between myself and the Ministry are any concern of yours, Potter," Malfoy said, smoothing the front of his robes. "Really, just because you're Dumbledore's favourite boy, you must not expect the same indulgence from the rest of us … shall we go up to your office, then, Minister?"

"Certainly," Fudge said, turning his back on them without acknowledging any of them. "This way, Lucius."

Lexi's whole body shook from the encounter, her mind boiling with a scorching hatred for the man she almost sent to Azkaban. He had been less than two months after Voldemort's demise at the Potter's. She and her team of five Aurors had discovered a plot to attack a densely populated Muggle area. They didn't know the identity of the people involved, but they knew through a witness in the area that a large number of cloaked individuals gathered in the area where the intelligence suggested was to be attacked.

In the dead of night, Lexi and her team had snuck up on the group and ambushed them during one of their meetings. She had seen one of the group separate himself from the group and attempt to evade capture, Lexi had pursued him and during a particularly intense exchange had dislodged his mask and revealing his identity. Before Lexi could move in to arrest him, she had been hit in the back of the head with a stunning curse and he'd disapparated along with two others. She'd tried to make a case for his arrest, but there was too little evidence and it was her word against his. Of course, with the money and influential friends he had her case never stood a chance.

Lexi was silent, preoccupied by her thoughts, as she followed a rather chattier Harry and Arthur past the golden fountain. Her earlier jubilant mood at Harry acquittal had been replaced by an unnerving sense of dread.

"Are you coming back to the house?" Harry asked Lexi as they approached the row of fireplaces.

"For a short while, yes," she forced a smile. "I cannot stay long, I have business up at the castle."

"Excellent," Said Harry smiling broadly. "I'm sure Sirius would like to see you, he hasn't shut up about you all summer."

"Ha, well, when you're this fabulous who wouldn't?" She chuckled, feeling her lighter mood return. "I'll disaparate Arthur," she said to Mr Weasley. "See you both at the house."

"You should have seen Fudge's face!" Harry chortled to the room. "It was like you'd slapped him."

Lexi chuckled. "I wish to slap him with more than words," she said, half joking, half serious. "Although I don't think the Ministry would take too kindly to it."

"Oh I don't know, I think a fair few people would silently applaud you." Remus said with a smile.

It was just after midday, and they sat in the drawing room of Grimmauld Place having just consumed a vast celebratory lunch that Molly had prepared upon hearing the news of Harry's acquittal. The mood was jovial, the tension from her previous visits eradicated the moment Harry's face had broken into a smile when they walked through the door. Lexi sat with Sirius and Remus on one of the large red leather sofas, with Harry, Ron and Hermione cross-legged on the floor. Harry and Ron were talking sporadically while engrossed in a particularly violent game of wizard chess. Hermione had a rather large, leather-bound book perched on her knees and was scribbling furiously with a quill onto a large roll of parchment. Lexi was reminded of her and Lily's sessions in the library, with Lily pouring over a book and her scrambling to finish homework at the last minute.

"I still cannot believe you were tried in front of a full court, Harry," Remus voiced in disbelief. "A case as trivial as underage magic wouldn't have warranted that, surely?"

"I think Fudge was hoping to cause a public decry of Harry's character," Lexi mused, sipping her tea. "Harry is a witness to Voldemort's return, something Fudge is keen to deny. Putting doubt in Harry's story by branding him a reckless hooligan would have been the perfect way to prove him as a liar."

"'Reckless hooligan'," Sirius repeated while looking thoughtful. "Is that not the exact phrase old McGonagall used the night we were caught enchanting suits of armor to run after people who walked past them?"

"Oh yeah," Lexi recalled fondly, while Harry and Ron roared with laughter. "James ended up being hit on the head with a helmet. To this day I still don't know how that happened."

"I think we were running away from Filch," Sirius chuckled. "We gave him the run-around that night, the slimy git."

"How did you all meet?" Ron asked, moving the cracked chess pieces from the board.

Lexi smiled to herself as she remembered their first encounter. "Well, I met Lily on the train to Hogwarts," she said, catching Harry's eye. "We talked non-stop for the entire journey, she wanted to know everything about growing up in the wizarding world. What seemed normally to me was fantastical to her. It was as though we'd known each other for years."

Lexi's voice broke, and she felt Sirius' hand on her arm. He smiled comfortingly at her, and Lexi could see his own sadness in his eyes. "I remember the first night we were all together in the common room," Sirius said, squeezing her arm lightly. "We were sat by the fireplace, the biggest bunch of misfits Hogwarts had ever seen, yet we all clicked. Except Lily and James, it took seven years for them to get along."

"How did they get together?" Harry asked, abandoning his chess match and gazing intently at Sirius and Lexi.

Lexi and Sirius exchanged amused glances. "Well, Lily had never taken to James – to put it mildly," she said as Sirius nodded in agreement. "In fact, to use her phrase, she thought him 'up his own arse' – which he was really."

"I think it suddenly dawned on him that acting like a prat wasn't getting him anywhere," Sirius said. "He stopped the pranks and picking on people, he changed for her. I couldn't quite believe it, still can't really."

"I remember him asking her to the Leavers Ball," Lexi remembered with a smile. "It was so out of character, I think Lily was stunned into saying yes. I remember her coming to see me after it happened, she was all smitten and giggling."

Smitten and giggling?" Remus said, his mouth open in surprise. "I can't imagine Lily like that at all."

"I couldn't either," she said, images of Lily sitting on her bed blushing furiously came to mind. "James was a different person after that. Just shows what the love of a good woman does to a man."

Harry was watching Lexi intently, a wistful sadness played across his features. It was difficult to comprehend that her; Sirius and Remus had spent more time with Lily and James than their son. She listened as Sirius and Remus regaled the group with tales of their time at Hogwarts, a mixture of fond recollection and melancholic realisation that her best friend lived on in memory alone.

She watched Sirius as he spoke animatedly about his time at Hogwarts, as though he came alive at very recollection. She smiled as the boy she had known throughout her youth was back in the room with them. He had, since his escape from Azkaban, become a shadow of his former self. But now he seemed to have purpose and drive, as though Harry's presence kept James alive and thus enabling him to have – in part – his childhood friend in the room with him.

"He was the one who encouraged me to propose to Lexi," she heard Sirius say, tearing her from the recollections in her mind. "He told me that she was too good for me, and that I should snap her up before she ran away."

"Ran away?" Lexi said, pouting. "So my engagement ring was the equivalent of a ball and chain?"

"Well, yeah," Sirius said, as though the answer was obvious. "I was never going to get anyone better, so I thought I'd keep you."

"Sirius, how you are still single when you say such romantic things is beyond me," Lexi drawled.

"I'm unique, babe, what can I say," he shrugged.

Lexi caught Harry's eye and they both laughed openly. "You two are pretty much the same person," Harry said.

"Hmm, I'm sure that means the apocalypse is nigh," Lexi laughed, trying to avoid Sirius stare. "Right, I must once again depart prematurely, my occlumency lessons loom once again."

She stood, seeing Sirius jump up out of the corner of his eye. She pulled Harry into a hug, squeezing him tightly and feeling thankful that he'd allowed her into his life. "See you Harry, soon, I hope," she smiled.

"Yeah, and thanks, for coming with me," he said. "It was good to have you there."

She bade the others goodnight and headed into the narrow hallway with Sirius. His sudden gentlemanly urge to show her out of the house would take some getting used to.

"Thank you for going with Harry today," he said, placing her blazer over her shoulders. "I just wish I could have been there."

"I know," she sighed, patting his arm lightly. "And I know you miss James, but Harry belongs at Hogwarts."

Sirius looked affronted. "What makes you think I wanted Harry not to return to Hogwarts?" He said indignantly.

"Sirius, I know you," she said softly. "Having Harry here brings memories of James back. I know because I've had the same with Lily. It is easy to get lost in the past."

"Lex, please, don't," he sighed, averted his gaze from her. "I just hate feeling so useless, and –" He stopped abruptly, his words choking in his throat.

"Sirius, don't be like this," she said gently, taking his hand. "You're still an important part of Harry's life, of all our lives."

"Don't patronize me." He spat, causing Lexi to jump. "I am of no consequence. I could die tomorrow and it would affect no one."

Lexi felt tears well in her eyes. "Please don't say that," she choked. "I could not bare it if you …"

"Hey, hey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean –" Sirius said quickly, wiping her tears with his thumb.

"Do not forget that there are people who care for you," she sniffed. "Myself included, despite everything."

Sirius was silent for a moment, his head jerked as though he was wrestling his movements. "I – ahh – should probably let you go,' he whispered. "I may not be responsible for my actions otherwise."

"If you ever need me," she said, fixing gaze in earnest. "Promise me you'll come to me?"

"I will," he smiled weakly, pulling her towards him in an embrace. "I cannot seem to let you go."