Beta: AriArlene [real life friend who loves fanfiction]
Original Release Date: 9/13/15
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe.
Chapter Thirty Two – Announcements and Questions
Everyone else joins them during the teary union, before the aurors leave with Amelia heading back to the ministry, with the rest returning to the Great Hall. Having everyone seated, Dumbledore begins at the podium, "Most excellent of news! The Marauders Emporium has pledged the funds to immediately purchase of the restorative to get our petrified students out of the Hospital Wing. And for the second piece of news, I pass the stage to Mr. Black, and Mr. Lupin."
Standing at the podium, Remus begins calmly, "We have made some advances regarding our tech lately, and would like to pass them on to everyone. If you have purchased an Omni Play, it should be getting an optional update to allow it to display images and videos in 3D. To our largest bit of news, the Headmaster and we have agreed to-"
"TO BROADCAST ALL QUIDDITCH MATCHES TO THE FAMILIES, VIA AN OMNI PLAY! This means all it will take is your family to buy a unit, and as long as you are a student here, or have someone in the family at Hogwarts, you will be able to watch the games almost in real time! With Lee Jordan commentating of course. Now those of you who play Quidditch, non-magical family or not, plays can watch your matches at home! Free of charge! There is, however, a small charge of a single galleon per match to be purchased to replay at any time, as long as you are connected to our network!"
Cheers go up from the students, many of whom had purchased the Marauder Emporium tech already. Getting back to the vacated podium, Dumbledore raises his hands into the air, waiting for silence to fall before speaking, "One final announcement to all. No longer must you stay in the common room immediately after dinner. Curfew has been reverted to its original time", eliciting loud roars of approval from all across the Great Hall.
Finally able to return to their dormitories hours after their final meal, the students fall asleep, excited to have freedom back.
At the ministry, Amelia sits back in her chair, rubbing her eyes as she notes the time as half past midnight, before looking back at the pile of paperwork that has to be completed. Shaking her head, she begins anew. Multiple hours later, Amelia signs the last bit of paperwork, finally done with that portion of the work. Looking at the time once more, she sighs before exiting and locking her office door, informing Hestia that she'll be busy for the morning but will be back around midday.
Taking the most direct route possible, Amelia soon arrives at Hogwarts, not eager to conduct interviews, but knowing that it was important. Sending a Patronus off to inform Dumbledore of her presence and intent, Amelia quietly enters the Hospital Wing, speaking briefly with Madam Pomfrey about questioning Fay, before getting permission to.
Walking to the bed that Fay is using, Amelia just looks at Fay as her expression turns from curiosity, to surprise, to embarrassment.
"Miss Dunbar, I'd like to ask you some questions about your involvement with the Chamber of Secrets, the basilisk, and the likes. Are you willing to answer any and all questions with honesty?" asks Amelia quietly, but not unkindly.
Sitting up, Fay nods her head, eyes not quite meeting Amelia's.
Conjuring a chair, Amelia sits down with a roll of parchment and a non-magical pen, finding it easier and faster to write with than the standard quill.
"Miss Dunbar, how were you able to open the Chamber of Secrets?"
Pausing to think, Fay answers, "The diary."
"The diary? What about the diary made you open the Chamber of Secrets?"
"I just wrote in it, and, and it wrote back. Told me things."
"What kind of things did it write back to you about?"
"Personal things. About who he was, what he did, stuff like that."
"Where did you get the diary?"
Eyes no longer meeting Amelia's, Fay answers quietly, "I found it."
Eyebrows rising, Amelia asks, "Where did you find the diary?"
Silence falls between the two with Fay still not meeting Amelia's eyes.
"Miss Dunbar, please answer the question. Where did you find the diary?"
Shaking her head, Fay finally answers, "Ginny had it. I became jealous of the little black diary she had, snuck into her room when she was out, and stole it."
Scribbling down some notes, Amelia continues, "Stealing isn't allowed in our society. However, I think we can overlook it this time, if you promise not to do so again?"
"I promise" whispers Fay.
Giving Fay a small smile, Amelia says, "I suggest getting her a normal diary, but just leave it somewhere with her name on it, as to not let her know that it was you. No one needs to know about this diary stealing however. Now, what made you continue writing in the diary, even when it wrote back to you?"
"I-it just…seemed rude not to."
"It seemed…rude not to? Young lady, you were messing with a dark artifact, whether or not you knew. Now, we won't hold that against you, but if you ever run into something like that ever again, you must report it to the authorities immediately" states Amelia.
Getting a confirmation from Fay, Amelia resumes the questioning for another five minutes before thanking Fay, wishing her well, before exiting the Hospital Wing. Making her way into the Great Hall where she suspects most of the students are still, Amelia is content when her hunch is correct. Making her way through the room, Amelia stops beside of Dumbledore, whispering for a few moments before going to the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables respectfully, collecting a few students before biding them to follow her out of the room and into a nearby deserted classroom.
Looking at the handful of students, Amelia begins, "As you know, we need to investigate the going ons when something serious like this happens. I have collected information already, and to more easily do so I have gathered you all here. However, to ensure that you all don't share information or mix up your recollections, you each will be placed in a separate portion of the room and not allowed to talk to one another. Now, Miss Lovegood, if you will please join me," before erecting a privacy barrier around the two of them.
"Miss Lovegood, you were taken alongside Miss Weasley by Miss Dunbar into the Chamber of Secrets, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Can you please recount the details about the situation, such as just before you were taken and what happened until aurors appeared and revived you?"
Roughly twenty minutes later Luna gets up from the chair she had been sitting and exits the classroom bag in hand, just as the bell to go to class rings.
"You all are being excused from classes until we are done. Now, Miss Weasley, it is your turn" announces Amelia from the corner of the room.
Being asked very similar questions to what Luna had been asked, Ginny answers very similarly Luna. Handed a slip with an excuse and Amelia's signature, Ginny also leaves the room, leaving Harry and Neville left in the room.
Sighing, Amelia calls out, "Mr. Longbottom, it is your turn."
Sitting down across from Amelia, Neville waits patiently as Amelia starts a new roll of parchment.
"Now Neville, is it true that once you and Harry had discovered that Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood were in danger that you two took off running to save them, despite having a link to myself or your parents, who are aurors? Why would you do such a thing without alerting us first?"
Smiling, Neville answers, "It is true. We wanted to save them before they got pulled into the Chamber of Secrets, not knowing what exactly it held. It just didn't occur to us to communicate with you all first, which was a mistake."
Suppressing a grin, Amelia continues, "You two then entered a restricted area without permission, followed by jumping or the likes to arrive in the area under Hogwarts where the large sensor was, is that correct?"
"Correct."
"At that point, did you all rush head long into the chamber, or did you take your time and pay attention to where you were going?"
"We didn't go as fast as we had before, looking around, staying aware of our surroundings."
"What did you do upon entering the chamber?"
"Harry confronted Tom or Voldemort, and I checked the statues of the girls before we began to fight the basilisk."
Not wanting to lose any of the details possible, Amelia keeps on asking questions, making feet of notes. Finally dismissing Neville, Amelia gets Harry to sit down, ready to go.
"I'd like you to begin at the start of all this. Sirius mentioned a house elf appearing, giving you a warning, so let's start there."
Taking a deep breath, Harry jumps into the story of how Dobby had appeared one night, warned him against coming back to Hogwarts, how as soon as Dobby had gone to pet the shaggy black dog that had entered his room, that Dobby had fled in what appeared to be terror, the voices that only he could hear apparently, all the way down to the Chamber of Secrets, determined to save the girls, even if it meant his death.
Nearly two hours later, Harry stops and takes a drink from a conjured pitcher of water, waiting quietly as Amelia finishes up her notes. Summoning Dobby, Amelia begins with, "Dobby, I'd like you to answer if you can without hurting yourself. If not, then staying quiet is fine with me. Did you enter our property one night and tell Harry that he would be better off not coming to Hogwarts?"
Quivering, Dobby nods his head.
"Did you tamper with a bludger that forced Harry off of his broom?"
Nodding once more, Dobby stands there quietly, eyes not meeting the others.
"Can you tell me why?" asks Amelia kindly.
"So that Harry Potter would go home away from the danger" answers Dobby quietly.
"Are you aware that Harry charged in and stopped the basilisk that you were trying to warn him about?"
Shaking his head vigorously, Dobby turns to Harry and asks, "Why did Harry Potter do that?"
"To save my friends."
"Brave and noble Harry Potter is, to risk his life to save his friends" replies Dobby, before bursting into tears.
Grabbing Dobby in a hug, Harry and Amelia crouch by Dobby for multiple moments until Dobby finally calmed down enough. Straightening the rolls of parchment that had been used, Amelia asks into the air, "Jack", with a resounding pop as Jack the house elf appears in the room. Leaning over to whisper to Jack, Amelia sits back up shortly there after.
"Well, I'm afraid that is all I have for you at this time, Harry. It looks like I'll be needing a chat with Dumbledore and possibly others. Stay safe and work hard" states Amelia, ruffling Harry's hair before handing him a piece of parchment with an excuse for missing his classes, finally exiting the room.
Knocking on the set of double doors to Dumbledore's office, Amelia doesn't have to wait long before the doors silently open, letting her in.
"Headmaster, I believe that we have an issue. I have testimony that a house elf gained entrance to Hogwarts and tampered with a bludger some months ago. Based on that, I believe that you should have to erect a barrier or ward system to keep house elves that are not employed at Hogwarts out, at least from accessing the castle, the Quidditch field, and the greenhouses" states Amelia sitting down across from Dumbledore.
"I see. How badly injured was the student?" inquiries Dumbledore calmly.
"The student had minor injuries. Without the use of the equipment available to them from the Marauders Emporium, I fear that their life would have been at stake. It's that there stands the possibility of other house elves being able to gain unauthorized access to the grounds. It's a security issue, and potentially quite a large one at that. If you do not promise to do something and very soon, I'm afraid that I will have to raise the issue with Fudge."
Leaning forward, Dumbledore inquiries, "Is this really necessary, Amelia?"
Also leaning forward, Amelia replies in a deadly cold voice, "Two years now there has been some form of Voldemort here at Hogwarts. Neville and Harry have faced him both times. Either you're being lax with the security, or it was never here to begin with. My point is, we ought not to have Voldemort be able to enter the castle whatsoever. If tightening security is what we must do to ensure the survival of the students, then so be it. This additional security measure will not affect the students in anything other than a positive manner."
"I see. I will consider it. Have a nice day, Director Black" answers Dumbledore, no twinkle in his eyes.
Hearing the dismissal in his voice, Amelia stands and nods before exiting the office. Striding away from the castle, Amelia makes it halfway to the gate before activating her PRT, returning her to her office at the Ministry of Magic. Pulling out a quill, a roll of parchment, and an inkwell, Amelia begins drafting a letter in her best handwriting.
An hour later, Amelia takes one last look over the parchment before duplicating it and striding out of her office, towards Cornelius Fudge's office. Finding him still at his neatly tidied desk, Amelia knocks before entering and beginning, "We need to talk."
Looking up from a paper he had been reading, Fudge asks, "Why Amelia, it's so nice to see you here. What can I do for you?"
Placing the parchment on Fudge's desk, Amelia conjures herself a chair before sitting and answering, "I've been investigating a few things at Hogwarts. Did you know that there was a basilisk under the school for and estimated fifty years or more? And that a house elf had managed to gain access and cause a bit of harm to students? The parchment I just put on your desk is my proposal, which requires your signature to be passed, allows a ward system to be placed around Hogwarts, keeping house elves who are not employed at Hogwarts, out of Hogwarts."
Skimming over the parchment, Fudge finally asks, "And why should we do this? Paying someone to erect this ward would be very expensive, very expensive indeed. And for what purpose? Just to keep a few measly house elves out?"
"It would be to increase the security of Hogwarts and to have the safety of the students there, Britain's Wizarding future, safer from harm. And think about it, you who, if you sign that, will have put some necessary safeguards around our kids. Think about how the parents and the community would feel about it. They'd be pretty happy that you helped achieve this for them."
"But the price Amelia, think about the money. The cost alone is prohibitive, so no." states Fudge.
"What if I told you that a private donor would cover all of the cost of installing the system?" states Amelia.
Eyes opening wide, Fudge asks, "A private donor you say? Hmm, a private donor so there's no cost to the ministry, and good publicity, I think I can sign off on this", before signing the parchment and handing it back to Amelia.
"You are aware Cornelius, that there will be public event this coming Monday regarding the bravery that was shown by two young men to save three young women from the Chamber of Secrets, alongside a viewing of the basilisk that they killed, correct?"
"Am I expected to go to this…event?" inquiries Fudge somewhat rudely.
"I daresay you aren't required, but appearances are appearances, even if you don't make one."
Sighing, Fudge asks in a defeated tone, "What time and where is it?"
"Hogwarts, ten in the morning. I'll be there if that matters to you, minister."
"Very well then, I'll be there."
/*a few days later on Monday*/
At ten on the dot, Amelia stands up and places her hands on the podium.
"I welcome you all to today's event. Despite the warming charms, I'll try to keep this brief. I would like to recognize the bravery shown by Mister Harry Potter and Mister Neville Longbottom in their crucial role in slaying a basilisk, no mere feat at their age, to rescue three fellow classmates. As promised, the Marauders Emporium has purchased and brought in the cure for Messrs Creevey and Malfoy," with great applause as everyone looks to the front where a beaming Colin jumps to his feet, with Draco uncertainly getting to his feet before sitting back down quickly. "To show everyone the basilisk, we have managed to pull it out of its previous home and brought it up for everyone to see", before indicating with her hands to the doors leading into the castle, where a levitating basilisk quickly makes its way out of the castle and in front of the makeshift stage, but well before any of the seated spectators.
"Having no need for a basilisk under Hogwarts, we looked for a reputable buyer or group of buyers, of which we have found. Old legislation gives both Harry and Neville the monies earned from the basilisk, in accordance to the 1823 legislation that was passed. The next portion of this presentation are a few quick talks from Harry and Neville that they'd like to give" announces Amelia.
Standing up at the podium, Harry clears his throat before saying, "Having earned five hundred thousand galleons apiece, both Neville and I were surprised at the amount given for a such a creature. But we don't want to keep the money for ourselves, and would rather put it to good use serving the magic community. I am pledging twenty five thousand galleons for a newer and improved Quidditch pitch, which will provide more warmth, more seating, and overall safety for spectators. New Nimbus 2001 brooms will cost fifty three thousand galleons, for Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor, seeing as Slytherin just got their own similar modeled broom in September. Another five thousand is for replacement books and for more books alongside bookshelves in the library. Twenty thousand is for updates to the greenhouses and new ones if Professor Sprout agrees. One hundred and fifty thousand for a scholarship for students to come to Hogwarts and get their magical education. And of course the remaining two hundred and fifty thousand is for St. Mungoes for upgrades, repairs, additions, stock replenishment, and anything else St. Mungoes declares is needed. I believe Neville wanted to speak next", before vacating the podium for Neville to step up.
"Similarly to Harry, I would rather have the money benefit the community than just myself. I will put seventy five thousand galleons for land acquisition and development for strictly auror training and practice. Five thousand to improve the warding scheme for better security here at Hogwarts, ten thousand galleons for various Hogwarts supplies like inkwells, parchment, and the likes for all to use, in an emergency. One hundred and fifty thousand galleons for scholarships into Hogwarts, two hundred and fifty thousand galleons for similar use to Harry's for St. Mungoes, and the remaining ten thousand is for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for new gear, staffing costs, and overall improvements" announces Neville.
A shell shocked director of St. Mungoes sits in the front row, unable to form any coherent words with the generosity of Harry and Neville.
"The Marauders Emporium would like to add something as well. We want to provide a usable transport method to allow those who are injured and need immediate medical attention, but are unable to apparate, go by broom, etc, to be taken straight to St. Mungoes. We will also provide this same technology to be accessible in Hogwarts for any critically injured student, although we hope it will rarely be used" announces Sirius.
"Come Director Smith, you should get in a picture with the boys" chides a female voice as the sound of a camera shutter closing and opening sounds.
Turning around, Rita Skeeter and her cameraman stand in the middle of the aisle, surround by students, professors, and members of the public as well.
"Well done, well done boys" commends Fudge, shaking both Harry and Neville's hands in turn as the camera snaps photos of them.
"I approve whole heartedly of your generosity and desire to make the community a better place" states Fudge with his arms around Harry and Neville as the cameraman keeps stating different poses for them to take.
"At this time this event is officially over. We thank you for your time joining us today" announces Amelia to everyone.
Finally coming to his senses, the director of St. Mungoes joins is, a smile coming easily to his face. After the taking of many photos, Harry and Neville make their way to Ginny, Fay, and Luna and start talking.
"Are you three alright about this all?" inquiries Harry, concern laced through his voice.
All three acknowledge and confirm they are alright, before turning to more light hearted conversation.
Author note: I hope you all like what I've done. It makes some sense to get just Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor new brooms, but not Slytherin, at least to me. I only came up with the arbitrary one million galleons for the basilisk as I took a stab and said that a basilisk hasn't been seen on the market for quite some time, and then never one this big/mature before. Hopefully no one has any issues with that. And thank you all for helping make this fanfic such a success. Over 100k views in under two years of being released. And I'm sure that number will grow much higher once this chapter is out for 24 hours. :D