I gave Kingsley the role of handling muggle crimes against magicals, mostly to fill out his history with muggle relations seeing as how he became a bodyguard for the Prime Minister soon after Voldemort returned.
I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, the undertones of JK Rowling's prejudices would not be present.
Albus Dumbledore led Harry Potter through the castle down to the fourth floor, and as Harry looked around, he recognized the direction they were heading. One of his most used shortcuts to and from Gryffindor Tower was further along the corridor, and it was only a few doors down from there that the Headmaster stopped and waved at a wall that housed a painting of a witch riding her broom towards a moonlit horizon.
"Here we are, Harry. The current password is 'Gushers'. You can change the password by speaking with the portrait inside the room. Once you take up the mantle of Lord, you will no longer need a password to enter."
Harry knew that password had Dumbledore's name written all over it, and nodded as the witch heard the password and successfully flew into the distance of the painting and out of sight. A moment later, the door behind the painting opened.
"Thank you Headmaster."
"Good night Harry."
Albus just nodded and turned back the way they came, leaving Harry to enter his new private room. Stepping through the portrait hole, he took in the sight before him.
These quarters were fit for a king, Harry thought. The bed was huge and there were several dressers and wardrobes around the room as well as multiple large closets, and also contained it's own kitchen and bathrooms. The colors were all red and gold which pleased Harry, and he found that the room had everything he could possibly need.
A house elf popped into the room with a 'crack' and pulled Harry from his observations of the room.
"Floofy is here to serve Mr. Harry Potter."
Harry struggled to hold back a frown as he didn't want the elf to think he was displeased with her when it was Kreacher he wanted to strangle. He forced a smile though, and greeted her.
"Hello Floofy, thanks for your help. If you don't mind, could you unpack my things while I get washed up?"
Floofy nodded and smiled.
"Of course Mr. Harry Potter, Floofy will do."
With a snap of her fingers, Floofy was gone.
Harry sighed and made his way to the bathroom to get himself a nice hot shower to help him think.
Amelia Bones sat in her office with a cup of hot tea, reading over a report that came in late that evening with a pained expression. The Auror in charge of handling muggle crimes against magicals was Kingsley Shacklebolt, and earlier that afternoon he'd received a case that turned out to be a ticking time bomb.
It wasn't all too rare, unfortunately, that cases where magical children were abused by muggle relatives came through their office.
That's why when Petunia, Vernon, and Dudley Dursley's cases arrived to be processed, the case went through half a dozen hands before reaching the head of the Department. Amelia seriously wished nobody else had seen the case once it came to her attention, however.
Kingsley, thankfully, had talked to those who knew and urged them to keep the case quiet until all of the information could be gathered. If it came to light that Harry Potter had been abused by muggles for almost 10 years, since the tragic death of his parents, and the Ministry had no idea how to answer the public's questions of how this could have happened, there would be a riot.
Amelia had immediately arranged for a transfer with the facility holding the Dursley family, and they should have been on the way to the Ministry as she sat there reading what little they knew.
The Dursley home had been searched and found a cupboard under the stairs with a lock on the outside and a piece of paper taped to the inside of the door reading "Harry's Room". Inside was a small cot, a filthy blanket with multiple spots of dried blood each having been there for longer and longer lengths of time, and little else.
They found evidence that he attended a public muggle school, but only because of an old test Harry had done well on that was kept as if it was a treasure, stuffed under his cot. He had no textbooks in sight, so it was clear the Dursley's were not only physically and emotionally abusive, but actively sabotaged his future by preventing him from properly learning.
Amelia was disgusted. Just looking at the case, she knew Petunia and Vernon Dursley would be sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss, if not simply thrown through the Veil. As for their child, he was likely to be sent to a muggle correctional institution.
Kingsley's report included testimony from the neighboring homes that said the Dursley's had told them, quite often, that they were considering sending Harry to 'St Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys', so it seemed as if the universe was now giving them their just deserts.
Amelia's office door opened, pulling her attention from the case on her desk. She looked up to see Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore smiling down at her with a tinge of sadness in his expression. It was not often he came to Amelia, but when he did he always needed something. She sighed and welcomed him in.
"Please sit, Chief Warlock. What can I do for you?"
Albus sat in a plain black chair on the other side of the desk from Amelia, and his sad smile fell into a faint frown.
"I have come to speak with you about the case involving Harry Potter."
Amelia's eyes narrowed at the old wizard, wondering which of her Aurors had let slip what had happened.
"You know that I cannot speak about an active investigation, especially one this sensitive. You better have a reason for asking, Albus."
Dumbledore sighed and stroked his beard.
"Mr. Potter is currently in the care of Hogwarts."
Amelia's eyes widened, and she looked like she wanted to leap across the desk and beat the Chief Warlock over the head before hexing him.
"And how exactly did he end up there, when my Aurors have been looking for him for hours?"
Albus coughed and looked apologetic, but quickly pushed everything aside.
"It was Minerva that discovered him and sent the muggle authorities the information they needed to make the arrests. She ensured Mr. Potter got what he needed from Diagon Alley and brought him to me, at his request."
Amelia settled for glaring at the Hogwarts Headmaster, tapping her finger on her desk in annoyance.
"Do you have any idea how many procedures you have broken? But never mind that for now. From what we found at the scene, that boy should be in St. Mungo's being checked out and put on just about every nutrient potion in the book. His testimony can wait a few days, but-"
Albus held up a hand to interrupt Amelia.
"Harry will be here tomorrow morning, Amelia. Unfortunately, this case is only a small part of a very rapidly unfolding situation. Aside from assisting you with this case, I have to speak with Cornelius about a few things, and have come to inform you that an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot will be held at first light."
Amelia's anger was overwritten by surprise.
"What is going on, Albus?"
The Chief Warlock frowned, and shook his head.
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you much, at the moment. I assure you everything will be made clear tomorrow morning. However, you and the Auror department will most definitely want to be on guard during the session and keep a very close eye on Lucius Malfoy and other Death Eater associates. For now… You may want to go looking through the records for the trial of Sirius Black. You might be surprised at what you find."
Amelia glared at Albus once again knowing he had a hand in that, and her fingers dug into her skin as she crossed her arms.
"If you are talking about the total lack of a trial, I am well aware. Fudge has ordered me to never bring up Sirius Black with him again unless I want to lose my job."
Albus frowned thoughtfully, but there was no way Cornelius could stop what was coming.
"I see. Then you would be glad to know you won't have to. Although, if you could silently arrange for a prisoner transfer… Lord Black will need to be here for this session of the Wizengamot."
Amelia sat still in blank shock for a moment, barely managing to regain her senses fast enough to form a response.
"Lord Black… What in Merlin's name is about to happen, Albus?"
Albus shook his head once again.
"I'm sorry, Amelia. All I can say is that young Mr. Potter will be stepping on quite a few toes and flipping a few tables tomorrow morning. The last thing I need you to do, is send a team of Aurors to the Weasleys but do so quietly. It has come to my attention that a dark wizard is posing as their pet rat. He is, of course, an animagus. If you lose him, Amelia, we lose Sirius Black. Do you understand what I am saying?"
Amelia sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"Loud and clear, Chief Warlock. I'll arrange the transfer, and the DMLE will be ready for anything tomorrow. Whatever the hell is going on, just make sure you fit the trial for the Dursley's in there somewhere. They should be here soon, and we will uncover every atrocity they subjected that boy to."
Dumbledore nodded, knowing that would probably be best addressed first. If they waited until after securing Harry's Lordships, it would be as good as murdering those muggles, since punishment for crimes against magicals got more harsh the more prominent the family, and especially where ending magical bloodlines is concerned.
"It will all be taken care of, Amelia. Now, I must take my leave. It is time to speak with Cornelius and remind him who his allies are. Dark things are stirring Amelia, and we cannot let them take hold."
Amelia frowned in contemplation, but didn't speak them aloud.
"Be careful Albus. As much as I want to bag the remaining Death Eaters running around, pissing them off won't do you any favors. The only ones left are those that were good enough not to leave proof or smart enough not to let the evidence trace back to them. Even you aren't invincible."
Dumbledore smiled as he stood up.
"I appreciate your concern Amelia, but alas, it is not me the Death Eaters will be angry with. Harry, however, may surprise you."
And with that the Chief Warlock left Amelia to send aurors to the Weasley home before dealing with Harry's relatives, and deal with them she would.
Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, sat in his office after having a splendid afternoon, and his evening was proving a bitter pill to swallow. Across from him sat the most powerful wizard in Britain, Albus Dumbledore.
"You must cut ties with Lucius, Minister. Of course I doubt Lucius will like it. Harry Potter has returned to the magical world, and will be attending Hogwarts this coming year."
Cornelius was sweating and stammering.
"N-No, Albus, you see it's not so-"
Albus cut him off with a sharp glare and a swirl of concentrated magic.
"It is simple, Minister. Harry Potter is not merely attending school this year, but tomorrow morning, he will be a Lord on the Wizengamot. If you are seen doing business with the dark families, Harry will never be your ally. He did not simply save us from Voldemort as a baby, he has a much larger role to play."
The Minister flinched at his name, and shook in fright before gathering himself to speak.
"What nonsense are you going on about Albus!?"
Albus merely stared him down.
"He intends to challenge Voldemort and all of his Death Eaters and I will certainly stand by him when he does. I give you only a week to decide Cornelius, but you will not interfere in tomorrow's events."
Fudge flinched again and groaned.
"You speak as if he is back! He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is dead, Albus!"
Dumbledore sighed.
"Unfortunately Cornelius, he is merely a spirit with no body of his own. We even have proof. You may not believe it now, but soon enough, you will. You must."
Cornelius gulped and struggled to form a response. The Dark Lord terrified Cornelius. He had come so close to controlling Magical Britain ten years ago. He still gave people nightmares.
"I refuse to believe it, Albus. It simply cannot be possible!"
Albus shook his head.
"Regardless, you will support Mr. Potter tomorrow. If you don't, the public will demand answers. And what will you tell them, Cornelius? Of your refusal to cooperate with the savior of our world?"
The Minister took deep steadying breaths. He did not like the way he was being spoken to, but there wasn't much he could say against it.
"I can sit and observe Albus, but if I see anything that I have an issue with, I will not do so idly. Don't you dare speak of You-Know-Who at the meeting Albus, I will not have you inciting panic over someone long dead!"
Albus frowned, but that was about the best he was going to get from Fudge until he had proof of Voldemort's return in order to confront his fear of the man.
"I can ask for nothing more, my friend. I trust you will do the right thing when the time comes."
Cornelius nodded stiffly but argued no further.
"If that will be all Albus, I need to begin sending out the notices for the coming session."
Albus nodded and swiftly stood and left the Minister behind, who was sure to agonize over standing with Lucius Malfoy or Harry Potter.
The Chief Warlock had one last thing to do for the night, before heading back home to Hogwarts to owl a few old friends.
Hermione Dagworth-Granger sat on the couch across the living room table from her parents, who each sat in a chair.
"There's just a few things I don't understand, dear. You and that boy seemed like the best of friends, but you've only just met him. Not only that, you knew about all this magic stuff before the Professor showed up. I can accept the rest, but something just isn't right here. Don't you agree, Emma?"
The Granger in question sighed into her hands as the talk of magic and everything they learned that day had become overwhelming. She composed herself though, and glanced at her husband.
"Maybe you're right, Dan. But if she doesn't want to tell us, she doesn't have to. I expect a lot of this magic not to make much sense. She can tell us when she's ready."
Hermione smiled appreciatively at her mother, but she wasn't sure she was ever going to tell them. After all, what difference would it make if they knew she was 15? All it would really do is put more stress on them, and they deserved to experience the childhood of their daughter without the image of a daughter they suddenly didn't know anymore.
"I'm not sure I can properly explain right now, but someday… someday I will."
Dan did not look happy, but he knew better than to continue pressing the issue.
"Fine. When she's ready. So… This meeting tomorrow morning, what's going on exactly?"
Hermione managed to keep a steady smile and explain what she could.
"Well, put simply, Harry and I will be entering Magical Politics tomorrow, and also getting an innocent man out of prison."
Dan frowned along with Emma, neither comfortable with their eleven year daughter being involved in politics. Muggle politics were bad enough, but the corruption of magical officials was sure to be worse.
"How can they expect a child to be part of the highest levels of government…?"
Hermione had managed to brush up on some of the finer workings of the laws regarding heirs and heiresses while her parents talked about things in private before finally coming to her, and so she could answer some of why that was allowed.
"Blood is very important to magical society, and especially its government. While my magical ancestors have made contributions, Harry's ancestors played large parts in establishing Magical Britain. Despite the difference in our social standing among wizards, my status as the sole magical heir means that not only will they accept me, but they will be encouraged to do so. It all really comes down to preserving the old magical families and none of them want to strip away their own rights."
Dan sighed in exasperation, hearing the words but wishing he hadn't.
"I don't like it, Hermione. Not one bit. If you get involved in something dangerous-"
Hermione frowned but had to interrupt her father.
"We are doing this to hopefully prevent the bulk of the violence, but it would have been dangerous either way. By doing this, we are able to prepare for the danger in advance."
Dan grumbled, not seeing a reason to let her get involved.
"It sounds like you expect danger to be coming. I cannot allow you to put yourself at risk like this!"
Hermione sighed.
"If there was another way I would take it, but there isn't. The danger is already there and hiding from it will accomplish nothing. I know this is a lot to take in, but please just trust me. Everything will make sense eventually."
Dan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, while Emma laid a hand in his arm comfortingly. It was clear he wouldn't be able to change his daughters mind, and that left three options.
One, he let her do as she planned and support her as best he could. Their family had their own share of wealth in just the muggle world, and Dan and Emma could help their daughter manage her finances.
Two, he could try and force her to attend another magical school out of the country. It would require learning a new language surely, so it wouldn't be an immediate answer. Even with the best of luck and their daughter's studious nature, a year would be needed to prepare.
And three, totally forbid the use or mention of magic. Three was out, he knew Hermione would never stop studying magic, he doubted even he would stop if he were in her shoes.
Dan ultimately decided to wait and see how things played out for a year, and would encourage his daughter to study another language 'for political reasons', which wasn't a bad idea to begin with, and if things got out of hand, they would move whether she could speak the language fluently or not. He would also need to research the other nearby schools before anything went forward.
Still, he didn't want to have to pull her away from Britain. Despite the roller coaster of a day, they'd never seen Hermione so happy. Just glancing at Emma, he knew she felt the same way.
"Alright dear, we do this your way… for now. My priority will always be your safety. It might be too late once something happens, but I can only pray that if the worst occurs, you let us protect you."
Hermione looked like she had a lot to say, but she looked sad as her lips twitched into a quivering frown.
"Thank you Dad, and Mum. We won't let it come to that, I promise. Actually, Dad… there is something I think you should do."
Dan raised a brow, but he wasn't planning on saying no at this point.
"Hmm?"
Hermione looked a bit unsure, but she felt it would show her father what she was fighting for.
"I want you to come to the Wizengamot meeting with me. I doubt they will directly address you since many of the Lords are not fond of muggles or squibs, but seeing the wizarding world up close might help you understand it all better."
Dan was shocked, to say the least, but he definitely was curious about the government of wizards. Of course, just seeing the playing field his daughter was stepping onto would clarify the dangers.
"I-I can try, Hermione. I'm really not a political person, so I hope they do ignore me."
That got a laugh out of his daughter, and she smiled brightly.
"You might get a few glares, but they wouldn't dare try anything in such a public setting. Not yet, at least."
Dan shrugged.
"Nothing I can't handle. I guess this means we're in for an early night, then."
Hermione nodded.
"Yes, and likely a long day tomorrow."
Emma stood and pulled Dan with her.
"Your father and I will take care of dinner, then. It won't be long."
Hermione smiled and nodded before pulling her parents into a big hug after she stood.
"Thank you."
Dan and Emma smiled warmly down at her and Dan ruffled her hair, earning himself a stern glare that he just laughed off. Emma just shook her head with a smirk.
"Of course dear, now go on and relax for a bit, Dan will get you when supper is ready."
"Okay. I have to get organized for tomorrow anyway."
Hermione nodded and released her parents, and made her ways upstairs to sort through what she brought home from Diagon Alley.
A knock at the door brought Arthur away from a 'fascinating muggle object that can't fall over when you spin it', and he looked through the muggle peep hole he had installed to see Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour. He was momentarily startled, but quickly opened the door for them.
"Aurors, please come in. We've got some tea-"
Amelia shook her head, and Arthur realized the two Aurors were already prepared for battle. Amelia and Rufus looked around nearby, and Rufus split off from Amelia with a mutual nod.
"Arthur, where is everyone?"
The man in question gulped but stammered a response.
"They- Molly took Ginny over to a friend's, the twins are away as well. I… It's only Ron and Percy upstairs right now."
Amelia nodded and her gaze sharpened like a knife as her eyes roamed the silent house.
Mr. Weasley stood silent and still, his mind racing. What the bloody hell was in his house? What, or who, were they hunting?
A few moments later, Rufus returned to Amelia and Arthur and spoke as softly as they could.
"Sorry to barge in like this Arthur. This'll sound odd, but where is your rat?"
Well, Arthur thought, that certainly didn't sound normal. He pushed past his confusion however.
"Scabbers? He'd be upstairs with Ron. What's going on, Amelia?"
Amelia and Rufus exchanged a look, and he quietly stepped away from them. Amelia stepped closer to Arthur.
"How long have you had the rat?"
Arthur had to think for a moment before coming up with the answer.
"Probably about nine years, I'd say. Going on ten."
Amelia nodded, and Arthur noticed she wasn't surprised.
"Did anything else happen around the time you got it, or after?"
Arthur thought back, but this time came up with nothing.
"No, not really. I mean, we did start going through food a little faster, and sometimes some would be missing, but that had to have been the kids."
Amelia sighed and shook her head. Arthur looked at her with confusion, and then the answer hit him and shocked him silent. Amelia spoke the answer aloud to confirm it.
"The rat is an animagus, Arthur."
Arthur felt his spine freeze and his entire body shivered in sheer terror. An animagus, surely a dark wizard, has been hidden within their home, alone with their children for years.
"This is… It can't possibly be… Amelia, who the bloody hell is upstairs with my son right now?"
Amelia closed her eyes and listened to her surroundings, she hadn't heard any signs of a struggle yet. She was about to answer Arthur, and then she heard a loud thud and a scramble, then shattering glass as a body fell just outside a window in the living room.
Amelia spun away from Arthur and towards the noise, blasting through the living room window and outside the Burrow. Her eyes caught sight of something small dive into the tall grass, and Rufus leapt down and landed beside her.
They both looked around for a moment hoping to see movement, but nothing happened.
"Stay here Rufus, I'm going in after him. We cannot let him get away!"
Scrimgeour nodded and Amelia was about to take off into the grass when she heard stunners flying from there different directions, followed by a cut off yelp and a wet thud of a body hitting the mud. Amelia rushed over to the source, and to her relief, Peter Pettigrew lay unconscious in the dirt.
Thankfully, she'd brought four other Aurors along who concealed themselves and surrounded the Burrow in case Peter slipped away from them inside, and they managed to prevent a disaster.
Scrimgeour arrived at the scene behind Arthur, who stared at the man who had apparently been living with them for almost a decade.
"Peter…? You're alive! But didn't… Oh, Merlin! Amelia-"
Amelia managed a faint smile to reassure Arthur.
"It's already being handled, Arthur. Sirius Black will be a free man soon."
"That's… That's good. I cannot thank you enough for this. I can't even begin to imagine how to explain this to the kids…"
Amelia nodded sadly. It was sure to be stressful if not traumatic.
"If they need help, if you need help, Arthur, don't put off seeing a mind healer. Merlin knows what Pettigrew did while he was here, but St. Mungo's will be open to you."
Arthur just nodded in appreciation, and it was clear he would be having his family see healers very shortly. Amelia returned the gesture and waved for her Aurors to follow as they left the ward line and apparated back to the DMLE, leaving Arthur a lot of explaining to do with his family once they returned home.
Amelia returned to the DMLE to see that the Dursley's had arrived and were already sitting in their own holding cells. Kingsley had been left in charge while Amelia was away and handled the transfer and booking. Auror Shacklebolt greeted his boss and quickly led her to the cells.
"Good work Kingsley. We've got one more prisoner to process."
Amelia pointed her thumb behind her, and Kingsley glanced over with a raised brow that quickly spread wide in shock.
"Isn't he-"
"Yep."
"Didn't he-"
"Faked his death."
"Then he-"
Amelia sighed and pointed to the Dark Mark sticking out of Peter's sleeve.
"Is a Death Eater, yes."
Shacklebolt blinked a few times and then sighed as well.
"The Minister isn't going to like this."
Amelia had to resist the snort that statement nearly provoked.
"Oh, I'm sure. The Daily Prophet is going to have a field day tomorrow."
Kingsley shuddered.
"That is something none of us are looking forward to."
Amelia sighed and nodded.
"You don't even know half of it… Merlin knows I don't either, at this point…"
Kingsley nearly cringed.
"I don't suppose I can call out tomorrow?"
Amelia chuckled and shook her head.
"Nope, sorry Shack. I have to deal with it, so do you. Speaking of, we still have work to do. Arrange for some veritaserum and meet me in Petunia Dursley's holding cell."
Kingsley sighed and nodded.
"Roger that, boss."
The Auror spun on his heel and made his way to the potions storeroom, leaving Amelia just down the hall from the cells.
She quickly led her team to an empty cell, promptly had them toss Pettigrew inside and securely lock the door, and ordered them to remain on guard outside the doors to all of the cells.
"I don't care if it's the Minister himself. Nobody is allowed into any of these cells without my direct permission. Kingsley will be here momentarily with veritaserum, and no one else may enter. Am I clear?"
Her aurors snapped to attention and nodded.
"Yes boss. Not an ant gets in."
"Good."
Amelia took a breath and entered the cell in front of her, startling a skinny shrieking muggle. Merlin, she was going to hate this. She took a seat across the table while ignoring the awful pain in her ears that kept screaming about freaks and demanding a lawyer.
"Oh would you shut up already? Do you know why you are here?"
Petunia huffed in offense but snapped back with venom in her tone.
"I most certainly will not! I have done absolutely nothing wrong and I demand that you release myself and my family!"
Amelia sighed.
"Petunia Hyacinth Dursley née Evans, you have been arrested on a currently unknown number of charges relating to the abuse of a magical child. Your guilt is known, but we intend to find out exactly what you have done to that boy."
Petunia glared at Amelia.
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
Amelia could only shake her head.
"Of course you don't."
Kingsley arrived at the perfect moment and Amelia just smirked as Petunia seemed to understand something was about to happen as fear began to show in her eyes.
"Good, you are here. Mrs. Dursley was just saying that she has no idea about the child her family abused for almost ten years, as evidenced by what was found at their home."
Amelia's forehead throbbed in anger just thinking about what she did, but she maintained her smirk while glaring at Petunia in a manner that was truly frightening.
"As it happens, Mrs. Dursley, we have ways of making people tell the truth. One drop, Kingsley. She will not have any resistance."
Shacklebolt nodded and administered the serum to a vigorously protesting Petunia Dursley. A few moments later, and she was silent and her eyes glossed over. Amelia spoke and Petunia's eyes gained a spark and looked right at her.
"For the record, please state your name."
Petunia complied without a moment of resistance.
"Petunia Hyacinth Dursley née Evans."
Amelia nodded.
"Director of the DMLE Amelia Bones and Liason for the Muggle Crimes Division Kingsley Shacklebolt presiding over the investigation into the case of Petunia Hyacinth Dursley née Evans."
Sparing a glance and a nod to Kingsley, Amelia began asking her questions.
"Mrs. Dursley, when did Harry Potter begin to reside in your household?"
"November 2nd, 1981."
Amelia used a notepad on the table to take notes.
"Did you physically harm Harry while he was in your care?"
"Yes."
Amelia's glare sharpened but Petunia was not capable of reacting to it so Amelia sighed and moved on.
"Why did you harm him?"
"The little freak deserved it. We never wanted him! All he ever did was cause us problems with his freakishness. Vernon hoped to beat the magic out of him, but I knew he'd always be a freak."
Amelia felt dirty as she quoted Petunia in her notes, but forced herself to do it.
"When did you begin harming Harry?"
"I smacked his hand with a frying pan in March of 1982."
Kingsley could hear the fury and force behind Amelia's pen as she wrote.
"How often did you harm him after that?"
"On a daily basis. That boy was always doing things that were unnatural."
Amelia took a deep breath and managed to keep herself from doing something she'd regret.
"Did you feed Harry as well as you fed yourselves and your son while he lived with you?"
"Heavens, no! He was only allowed scraps and leftovers."
Amelia slammed the notepad on the table and glared at the words written in it.
"Petunia Dursley, tell me everything you have ever done with the intent to physically or mentally harm Harry Potter, beginning from his taking up residence in your home."
Amelia sat with Kingsley and listened with horror as Petunia spent the next two hours dutifully recounting her crimes against Harry Potter, occasionally needing another drop of veritaserum.
After she finally finished listing her abuses, Petunia was given time to purge her system of the veritaserum before Amelia entered the cell and stood across from where she sat.
"Petunia Hyacinth Dursley née Evans, you are being charged with 493 cases of first degree through fourth degree child abuse ranging from assault and enslavement to willful criminal negligence and child endangerment. You will face trial tomorrow morning."
Petunia sat wide eyed with fear and began to protest with every fiber of her being.
"NO! You cannot do this! You freaks have no authority over good people like us!"
Amelia could only shake her head.
"I seem to recall your muggle justice system leaving you here with us. Goodbye, Mrs. Dursley. You may want to get your affairs in order."
The Director of the DMLE left Petunia alone in the cell, struggling to come to grips with the reality she now found herself in. Amelia nodded to the guards as she left the cell, and waved Kingsley over and into the next cell, Vernon Dursley's.
With Petunia's confessions they had enough to put Vernon away for good without even speaking to him, but Amelia wanted to be thorough even though she hated every moment of this case.
"HOW BLOODY LONG ARE YOU FREAKS GOING TO KEEP US HERE!? I DEMAND-"
Amelia silently silenced Vernon with a wave of her wand.
"Vernon Moore Dursley, your wife Petunia Hyacinth Dursley née Evans is being charged with 493 crimes against Harry James Potter. Kingsley, give him the veritaserum."
The auror nodded and did as asked, and like his wife he quickly fell under the effects. Amelia lifted her silencing charm.
"Please state your name for the record."
"Vernon Moore Dursley."
Amelia sighed nodded to Kingsley. It was already well into the night, and neither Auror expected to get any sleep before the Wizengamot meeting. Amelia made her way through the same set of questions they asked Petunia, and got much of the same answers.
Vernon had certainly been the most heinous of the Dursley's in their treatment of Harry, and his interrogation lasted five hours. Amelia had felt her heart break countless times over the last few hours, every abuse in the list only pouring fuel onto a fire she thought may never be put out.
1726 charges were being filed against Vernon Dursley by the end, and there was still their son to deal with. Amelia tiredly looked down at her pocket watch, knowing they only had two hours until the Wizengamot meeting.
During the lengthy interrogation, Alastor Moody and Auror Trainee Nymphadora Tonks arrived with Sirius Black, who had been disguised as another muggle prissoner with glamours.
Both Aurors had been filled in about Sirius' innocence and the capture of Peter Pettigrew. Moody stood guard outside Sirius' holding cell with Tonks, and Kingsley was placed in charge of Pettigrew's interrogation which was sure to progress beyond the start of the Wizengamot meeting.
Amelia sat across from a terrified muggle child, Dudley Dursley, after spending the last hour learning just how brainwashed the child was. It wasn't hard even without veritaserum and of course she would never force it on a child.
He could hardly be held responsible for his treatment of Harry Potter with examples like his parents, but Amelia knew they would have to do something with the boy. She was no longer confident a muggle correctional facility would be enough.
"Dudley Donovan Dursley. I'm going to be completely honest with you. I very much doubt you will ever see your parents again, after tomorrow's trial. That leaves you with very limited options."
Dudley shuffled silently in his seat, but couldn't bring himself to speak.
"You can stay with family, but your Aunt will not be available to take that role. She will have her own problems to deal with in the muggle courts since she has no knowledge of magic. If there is no family to take you in, the Ministry of Magic will be forced to place you in an orphanage. On top of that, you will almost certainly be placed within a correctional facility for minors with ties to the wizarding world."
Dudley stared with wide quivering eyes drowning in fear and uncertainty.
"Young man, I suggest you take what has happened very seriously. This is your only shot at a second chance, so you would be wise to learn from your mistakes because you will not be getting a third."
Dudley nodded and opened his mouth to respond, just when a knock came to the other side of the cell door. A muffled voice accompanied it.
"Boss, it's time."
Amelia sighed and stood up to begin preparing her aurors to protect the Wizengamot meeting, and Dudley was left to wonder how things ended up like this when he'd been stuffing his face with cake just that morning.
Lord Julius Greengrass sat in the dining room of his family's ancestral home, Greengrass Manor, after finding himself unable to fall asleep. With a glass of whiskey in his hand, he contemplated the information he learned from his daughter Astoria about having met Harry Potter in Diagon Alley earlier that afternoon.
No sooner than his youngest daughter walked through the door had she excitedly told him about speaking to the Potter heir, and Julius had been blown away by the revelations their meeting brought. His other daughter, Daphne, had not been pleased about the topic however.
Not only was Harry an heir to the Potters, but families far older and more powerful, families that had contributed vastly to forming the society they lived in today. On top of that, his families were all tied to others from all sides of wizarding morality.
The Potter and Gryffindor Houses were traditionally 'Light' families, the Peverells could be reasonably placed as Neutral as the family produced those that followed both the light and dark, or otherwise were so disassociated from the modern concepts of light and dark, and of course the Black and Slytherin Houses were planted firmly in the 'Dark'.
Julius could tell a storm was coming in the wake of Harry Potter, and he would not have himself or his family on the wrong side of such a political powerhouse if he could help it.
One of the things that had kept him up so late, however, was that he'd been informed that an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot was to be held the next morning.
Julius was no fool. The very day that Harry Potter returned to the wizarding world holding multiple potential lordships, their government called an unexpected meeting. Potter was going to be the center of attention, Lord Greengrass had no doubt.
The most important question had been on Julius' mind for the majority of his night, and that was how he planned on cementing himself as an ally to Harry Potter without drawing the ire of the dark families, with whom he did a fair share of dealings.
Julius was no Death Eater and he never was nor intended to be, however during the last war Voldemort had grown tired of his neutrality and that of other families, and would have been forced into submission sooner or later had he not been stopped.
That this was done by none other than Harry Potter, or at least his parents as many suspected, meant that the Noble and Most Ancient House of Greengrass owed Harry a debt, though one Magic did not officially recognize.
Julius considered using that debt as a way into Harry Potter's good graces, but it would not make a good excuse to any Death Eater affiliates. If Lord Greengrass was going to side with an enemy to the dark families and pureblood fanatics, he knew he was going to have to think like them.
Finally, an idea struck Julius like lightning. Harry was sure to be receiving betrothal contracts from across Britain and likely even further, but it was something Julius could use as well.
He could pledge his daughter Daphne to him and explain to any followers of Voldemort who questioned his decision that he could use his daughter to draw Harry away from the 'Light' and potentially even groom him into the next Dark Lord.
Lord Greengrass finally felt his eyelids begin to droop as he reached a decision that satisfied him, and he downed the last of the whiskey in his glass before turning in for the night. In just a few hours, the storm known as Harry Potter was going to sweep across Britain.