[A/N: Migraines are no fun. Sorry for the delay in getting this out.]
Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Interview Room 1…
Minerva sat in the chair she'd be directed to and wondered if this…terror… is what her students felt when they were sent to her for discipline. 'If I get out of this with my job intact, I vow to make sure that I become more approachable.'
She along with the rest of the senior staff of Hogwarts had been pulled in for a 'discussion' by Amelia Bones in regards to their involvement with the events and obstacle course up on the forbidden third floor of the school. Her own contribution, the life-sized wizarding chessboard, was going to be…discussed.
The door opened to allow Amelia and another Auror to enter. The look on both of their faces revealed nothing. The Auror set up another smaller table then took out a Dicta-quill in preparation to take notes. Amelia set up her notes on the table facing Minerva and just sat there observing the reactions of the older witch.
Glancing over to the Auror who gave a return nod, Amelia began to speak, "The date is Friday December 27, 1991. My name is Director Amelia Bones of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. In the room with me today is Senior Auror Constance Heglemann who is operating the Dicta-quill and Professor Minerva McGonagall. Professor McGonagall is a material witness and suspect in the recent events at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
After getting the nod from the Senior Auror that the quill was working properly, Amelia continued, "Professor McGonagall, please tell us in your own words, of the events that led up to the DMLE's involvement; specifically in regards to the rumor that the castle was playing host to Nicholas Flamel's Philosopher's Stone."
Gathering up her Gryffindor courage, Minerva leaned forward and began to explain, "Well, it started back in August of last year. Albus had mentioned during a private meeting that You-Know-Who had heard that Flamel's Stone was going to be on display here in England and would be making a move for it. Albus had said that he contacted his old friend about moving it to a more secure location."
"Safer than Gringott's?" Amelia inquired.
"Yes, it was felt by Albus that the Stone would be too much of a target to be held in a 'mere bank vault.'"
Amelia made a couple of notes before turning back, "Why did you not refuse to assist?"
Minerva's face looked like she was grumbling to herself, "I tried. I complained on a regular basis but every time the subject would come up, I'd get distracted by another problem within the school and nothing would ever change."
'Sounds like a Compulsion Charm, I should have the staff checked out by a Healer to be sure.' Amelia quietly mused as Minerva continued her explanation for the school to house the Stone.
"So why did you use a transfigured chessboard as opposed to something else? You are a Mistress of Transfiguration, surely you could've come up with something more rigorous?"
Minerva harrumphed at that, "I had wanted to put in something more strenuous. Albus overrode me. He said that my original plan of transfiguring the floor and walls to change shape based on the intruder's intent was too violent and needed to be toned down. It was he who suggested that I go with a chess game. Said something that he wished to test the intruder's thought processes or some sort of malarkey like that."
When they were done, Amelia warned Minerva once again to not share what they'd discussed here today until the matter was closed. By that it was implied that until the trial for Dumbledore (or even perhaps all of them), Minerva was on probation.
When Amelia interviewed Pomona, she discovered that the Devil's Snare wasn't the professor's idea nor did the woman even know about the trap. She said that Albus had requested her help with securing a room but when pressed as to why, Albus gave his usual 'Greater Good' nonsense. She then refused to assist until a proper explanation was given.
"How difficult would've it been to steal a sampling of the Snare from your greenhouses?" Amelia asked.
Pomona shrugged, "Not too difficult if you know what you're doing. If you're asking if I thought Albus stole a sampling, then the answer would be 'not likely.' Getting anywhere near the plants that I have in my greenhouses is tricky as it is but with that mass of hair he's got? Nope, I just don't see it happening."
Amelia merely nodded and wrote down another note.
Filius was in the same category as Pomona. He too, had refused to help until a more logical reason was given for his help in securing the Stone. He had told the headmaster point blank that insulting the quality of security of Gringott's was inflammatory at best and he'd best hope they never heard about it.
"So you would've done something different than charmed flying keys and a broom?"
Filius growled at the implication, "You're damned right I would've! I see why people would've thought I'd be involved with that…trap. Charmed keys? Laughable! I would've done something that appealed to my Ravenclaw senses. A true logic trap perhaps or even a series of riddles that one would've had to solve in order to progress. Flying keys indeed!"
Amelia took a break before questioning the final two professors involved, Severus Snape and Quirnius Quirrel. She sat at her desk and stretched her neck muscles before reaching for the ceiling with her arms, working out the kinks in her shoulders and back. She growled at the thought that the professors would've been so idiotic to attempt to hide the Stone within the castle when the children were present!
There was a knock on the door and before she could even give leave for the person to enter, Director Croaker strode in. His hood was already down and a look of bemusement danced on his face.
Leaning back in her chair, Amelia spread her arms in greeting, "So what brings the Director of the Department of Mysteries to my humble office?" Croaker snorted.
"Cute. I'm just here to give you the report regarding the Mirror of Erised and the nature of the item that was supposedly placed within."
Amelia quirked an eyebrow up, "You couldn't have had a flunky bring it?"
A growing smirk grew on the man's face, "Ahh, but I wanted to see the look on your face when you read the report." He handed it over and waited.
It only took a few moments but he was able to tell when she reached the relevant section. Amelia's eyes bugged out and her mouth dropped open before her head snapped up to face him.
"IT WAS A FAKE? THE STONE WAS A FAKE? HOW?"
Croaker settled back in his chair with a smug smile and crossed his legs, "We received word that Albus had been sniffing around trying to get access to the Stone for months now. I contacted Flamel himself and inquired about the Stone's safety and he assured me that it was just fine where it was and that the one that everyone assumed was in the Goblin's vault was merely a hunk of rock that was charmed to give off a similar magical signature."
Amelia's mouth was still hanging open slack-jawed. Croaker took pity on her, "Come now, Amelia. Do you really think that a man who has lived for over six hundred years wouldn't have better security than a simple vault or to just hand it off to another who is the age equivalent of a child?" He mutely shook his head in bemused derision.
Amelia finally got her brain back into gear and snapped her mouth shut before letting out a low growl, "I'm going to kill that old goat buggerer! All that effort to keep a fake safe and in a school full of children, including my niece!"
Croaker chuckled, "Nicholas was laughing about the so-called 'traps' when I spoke with him last. He recalled that Albus was always blinded to his own 'brilliance' and always refused to accept that there might be others with more knowledge than he. Nick always said that he'd always said that he'd taught Albus everything Albus knew."
Amelia rolled her eyes, "But that doesn't mean that Albus knew everything that Flamel knew."
Deciding to interview Snape first, Amelia strode into the room and laid down the same sort of questions she'd been asking the others. To the man's credit, he never showed any signs of stress even under the threat of imprisonment. He replied honestly and clearly to all of her questions regarding the trap and that the 'poisons' mentioned in the riddle were merely draughts designed to give severe stomach cramps, nothing more.
"I'd argued with Albus regarding the security flames by saying that anyone with an ounce of skill would've just frozen them and walked through but he felt that the situation wasn't dramatic enough." He sneered at the memory.
Amelia leant back in her chair as she contemplated her witness. Sitting upright again she asked him, "If you were given another chance to do that trap right; what would've you done differently?"
Severus quirked an eyebrow in thought and pursed his lips, "I believe I would've gone for a more subtle approach. I'd keep the potion riddle as a distraction but infuse the air with an aerosolized version of the Draught of Living Death."
Amelia was impressed, "So while the intruder was figuring out the puzzle, he or she would've been incapacitated before they realized what was happening. Clever."
Her final interviewee was Professor Quirrel and there was something off about the man. His constant twitching and nervousness coupled with that awful stench coming from the turban was tripping off her danger senses. She called for Croaker for his assessment before heading in. When Croaker arrived, he took one look at the man and immediately hit him with a powerful stunner. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a medallion and portkeyed the professor off to who knew where.
Amelia whirled on the Unspeakable, "Croaker? What the Hell was that about?"
Croaker gave her the most serious look he'd ever displayed, "That man was in the final stages of a spectral possession. He will be examined and though it's not likely to be possible, removed of said possession. I doubt he'd survive one way or the other."
She was puzzled and the look showed on her face so he explained further, "The twitching, the stench and the overall demeanor of the man suggested spectral possession. Better to be safe than sorry. If you'll excuse me?" He turned and vanished.
With that, Amelia just huffed in shock and headed back to her office. She had to prepare for her interview with Dumbledore.
Later that evening in Amelia's office…
She was tired. Tired to her proverbial bones. Dumbledore's interview (or interrogation) lasted for several hours and she still felt like she'd not gotten any decent answers from the old goat. Every angle she'd tried, he'd counter with hiding behind the Secrecy of the Realm mandate or prevaricate until the thread was lost. Amelia was beginning to understand just how the old fart managed to acquire all of those titles he held. He just kept redirecting until his opponent gave up in frustration.
She flopped down on the couch in her office and closed her eyes with a sigh. She'd warned him with the same thing she'd told the rest of his staff about being on probation but she knew that he'd ignore it if it suited his purpose. 'What I wouldn't give to pour enough Veritiserum down his throat until it leaked out his ears!'
In the Headmaster's office…
Albus wanted to hold a staff meeting to cover what had gone on during their 'interview' but he knew that the others wouldn't show up because of the admonition from Director Bones. He shook his head at her self-importance and delusions that he, Albus Dumbledore, would've done anything to harm the students within his castle! 'I would love to have found out who it was that informed her of the traps set up on the third floor. Then I'd obliviate the hell out of them! All that work and effort wasted! Then to not have the Potter brat to not fall for his compulsions to go investigate? He needs to be tested to prove my theories about that night.'
When the other students returned to the castle at the start of the new term, Harry was kept busy with his class work as well as getting caught up with what everyone had done during their vacation. He laughed uproariously at Hermione's accounting of the disaster that had occurred at her parents' annual dental Christmas party when one of their colleagues got drunk and tried to 'get frisky' with the hired Santa before puking in the punchbowl.
Neville told of how his relatives were still trying to console his grandmother over the supposed belief that he would never be the wizard his father was and that maybe he ought to be sent out to make his way in the muggle world. Both Harry and Hermione were rightly incensed at that before tapering off when they both spotted the sly smirk growing on Neville's face.
"What my doddering, out-of-touch relatives didn't know was that I had taken it upon myself to go down to Ollivander's and get fitted for my own wand. Not even my grandmother knew about my adventure until it was all over."
"I'm impressed, Neville. Was this newfound attitude because you're a Gryffindor?" Harry asked in wide-eyed wonder.
Neville shrugged, "Sort of. Mostly it was because of my friendship with you two. You both inspired me to not cower under the shadow of my father's legacy and to stand up for myself, especially you, Harry."
"Me? What did I do?"
"Everyone expected you to follow in your parents' footsteps and go into Gryffindor as well. Instead, you forged your own path and went into Hufflepuff."
Harry looked a bit perplexed, "Huh, I didn't know it was all that inspiring."
"Well whatever it was, it helped guide me when I made the decision to go to Diagon Alley and get my own wand. It's 13 inch long cherry wood wand with a unicorn tail hair and feels wonderful!" Neville replied.
In an effort to change the subject, Harry told them about his discovery of the mirror in one of the abandoned rooms.
"Wow, do you mind telling us what you saw?" Hermione queried.
"Saw my parents. Now I understand why Professor Snape was so hostile to me in the beginning. I look like a near identical copy of my father but with my mother's eyes."
"Is it still there?"
Shrugging and shaking his head, "Dunno. I didn't have the desire to seek it out now that I know that Dumbledore is keeping track of who goes near it."
"Why is that a problem?" Hermione asked.
Harry described the Invisibility Cloak that had been retrieved by the Goblins from wherever Dumbledore had hidden it after stealing it from the Potter Family vaults. Hermione was shocked and Neville even started growling a bit.
"Right? The supposed 'Leader of the Light' stealing from 'The-Boy-Who-Lived'? Something was fishy with the whole thing so I had my account manager send the cloak to their Tailor's Guild for inspection and they found enchantments that had Dumbledore's magical signature on them."
"It also begs the question as to why this powerful and enchanted mirror was even in that room in the first place. Something of that nature should've been under lock and key not in a classroom where anyone could've stumbled over it like you did." Neville commented with a suspicious look on his face.
Harry then mentioned he'd written a letter to Director Amelia Bones over at the DMLE outlining some of the unusual instances that had happened the prior semester as well as what it felt like when he gazed into the mirror.
"I heard later from a couple of the portraits that she showed up later that day with an army of ministry workers and Aurors. Then I heard they had dragged the headmaster from his office and headed towards the third floor corridor."
"Really?" Hermione squeaked in shock.
Harry kind of smirked, "Yup, I heard she was right furious about whatever it was that had replaced that three-headed dog from earlier."
Hermione's face darkened as her voice grew to a shriek, "You mean to tell me that this school was housing a Cerberus here! With the other children nearby?!"
Harry pulled back a bit and nodded while Neville looked confused at Hermione's reaction.
"I don't get it. Why is that a problem that there's a Cerberus? What is a Cerberus anyhow?"
Hermione had jumped up and launched into one of her rants so it fell to Harry to explain what the mythology and reality behind the three-headed hellhound was all about. Neville's eyes grew wide as he began to understand the complications if the beast had broken out and was rampaging through the halls.
"Whoa…" he breathed out, "It would've been worse than that troll that somehow got into the castle back on Halloween!" Harry tipped his hand at him.
"Then I heard a creature known as a 'matagot' was put in the dog's place and from what little I read, it's even worse of a choice than the dog."
"Why?"
"Because it can multiply every time it gets injured or attacked. They're incredibly dangerous to be around and exemplify the attributes of a cat when angered." Hermione paused in her rant to explain, "They're listed in our Fantastic Beasts textbook."
Harry snorted, "Well, that makes me really glad I didn't fall to the urge to go investigate that hallway when I got trapped on the landing a month ago. I think I'd rather it have been a snake."
"Why?" Neville was curious.
"Because as a snake, it can communicate in Parseltongue, which I'm led to believe is a rare trait to inherit. I have no idea if there's anyone here in the castle that can speak it though. At least with the dog, you could play a bit of music and it would go to sleep." Hermione explained as she'd obviously finished her personal rant against idiotic old people and rejoined their conversation.
"I can speak to snakes," Harry supplied. Both Hermione and Neville groaned, "We know that joke, Harry."
Harry just chuckled and gave his trademarked lop-sided grin, "No, I'm serious. I didn't want anyone to know about it and spread it around but I trust you two not to gossip about it. I really can speak to snakes! I found out back when I turned seven years old. It's handy when I'm working in the garden and come across a nest. We'll have a nice chat every now and then before I recommend they move to a space under my pottery shed that's more secure and defendable than what they currently have."
Hermione was flabbergasted and a bit intrigued, "That's really impressive, Harry but you're right that the knowledge of you being able to speak it shouldn't be spread around." She paused in thought before starting up again, "Do you think I could learn it? I've always wanted to be able to speak another language."
Harry shrugged, "Dunno, I guess we could try later. How about you, Neville? Interested in trying something new?"
Neville tilted his head in thought before pursing his lips and agreeing, "Might be fun. I know there is the occasional snake that manages to get into the greenhouses at home. Might be a good idea to at least know what it's saying."
Harry caught up with Draco and the others later on the weekend and asked them how they enjoyed their holidays. Draco was practically bouncing in excitement in his efforts to tell Harry about his parents' reactions to the Monopoly game.
"You should've been there, Harry! I thought my father was going to have a coronary at first because of the fact I'd received a muggle item for a present and was debating to find out who sent it to me so he could hex them for sending such 'trash' into his home."
Harry merely shook his head and lifted and eyebrow in exasperation.
Draco continued, "I managed to get him to calm down and at the very least examine the gift before unleashing his wrath. Short story is, he's now obsessed with the game and is trying to figure out how to charm the pieces so that they move like in wizard's chess. My mother was impressed that muggles could've come up with…what did she call it? 'A ruthlessly fun distraction.'
Tracy asked Harry how his holidays were and he gave them a description of what the feast was like as well as describing the gifts he'd received.
"I'll show them to you the next time we get together. I got some fun things from Draco, Hermione, Neville and a few others as well as the teachers."
"Neat. What else happened up here?"
"Well, let's see. I got a ton of great presents, nearly ate myself sick, found a really cool mirror in an abandoned classroom and witnessed Director Bones arrive with an army of people."
"WHAT?" Daphne near shrieked. Tracy winced since the other girl was practically yelling it in her ear. She swatted her friend on the shoulder.
Daphne looked chagrinned and quickly apologized, "Seriously, what happened that brought the DMLE to the school?"
Harry glanced around at the surprised and intensively curious faces around him, "Boy, do I have a story to tell you. Here's what happened…"
The Hogwarts Rumor Mill being what it was soon had the gossipmongers whispering that the senior staff had been pulled from the school and interrogated for reasons unknown. In addition, several large teams from the Ministry were seen entering the third floor corridor as well as a couple of grey-cloaked Unspeakables. When the school got underway again, it was noted that Professor Quirrel was no longer in attendance…
It had been mutually decided at the start of a weeklong blizzard that hit the area, the denizens of Artist's Row should hold a meeting to discuss various topics like what was new, what was needed, plans for the future and anything in between. The Great Hall was clamoring with the chatter of excited students and staff as they floated amongst one another.
Harry was busy discussing some details for a deal in the works for some repairs and additions he'd wanted to include to his studio. In return for what he needed or wanted, he agreed to make a set of paintbrush and pencil holders stylized to look like hands or claws, or in one case, to look like a skull with openings in the top to stick the writing tools. Other deals that were made, as in the case for Vincent for example, he needed some more crucibles made. So in exchange, Harry was getting an Art Deco inspired window frame that featured tiny translucent stones that would catch the light.
Pomona was overseeing the meeting and eventually got the attendees to settle down.
"Thank you everyone for attending the first meeting for the Artist's Council. I hope that it will become an example of what can be accomplished for future generations to come!" This led to loud cheering and applause. "First thing on the agenda for today is to hear from the candidates for the various positions that need to be filled. One by one and by artist category, we will listen to the candidate's qualifications and preferred choice for position. Are there any questions?"
A few hands went up to ask which positions were being applied for. They were directed to the flyer that had been posted on the bulletin board that was located at the entrance to the Great Hall. Other questions included things like, 'if a person does manage to get said position, what are the options available if they suddenly decide that they don't want it anymore?'
Round and round they went as the candidates vied for the positions of Council Chief, Secretary, Finance, et cetera before they finally broke for the evening. Several wanted Harry to take up the position of President but he turned it down.
"I thank you for the nomination but I feel that at this time, my leadership skills need some more polishing before I even think of attempting it. I'm fine with giving ideas and suggestions but I'm not ready for the responsibility." He got a round of applause and a nod in approval from Professor Sprout. She complimented him on knowing his limits.
Harry met up with Hermione and Neville later the next morning at breakfast to discuss what had gone on the prior evening.
"It went pretty well, in my opinion. I got the approvals and deals made for the projects to my shop done with. They should be completed hopefully by spring at the latest. I, in turn, have a ton of things I need to accomplish in order to satisfy everyone. I'm still in shock with how far things have gone as compared to the first of September."
"Why's that, Harry?" Neville asked as he dipped his toast into his scrambled eggs and took a bite.
"Well, in the beginning I was hoping for just a simple hut to house my wheel and kiln. I never expected to find a school so starved for a creative outlet that I'd inspire a revolution of sorts to bring art back to the school." Harry replied before taking a sip of his tea. He then gestured around with his cup, "I mean, look around you. Before the Row got started, there were plenty of students here that merely went from class to class, doing homework and despite the happy looks on their faces; you could tell that something was missing."
The other two just nodded in agreement.
Hermione was in a quandary, not something she was used to. She wanted to contribute to the artist revolution that was underway within the school but for the life of her, she couldn't decide on what. So, she decided to enlist Harry's help in coming up with an idea. She hunted him down and found him relaxing on his couch in his trunk.
"Harry, I need help!"
Harry glanced up from the book he was reading and saw the exasperation on her face, "It's not a girly issue is it? I know nothing about that sort of thing."
She growled in response, "It's not that. I would never come to you for help with that. No, my problem is that I want to contribute to the artist revolution going on here but I'm at a loss for what! Help me, Harry! You're my only hope!"
Harry threw back his head and started laughing! "That has to be the lamest usage of Star Wars I'd ever been part of!"
Hermione tilted her head in thought as she reviewed what she'd said to get that reaction. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in shock before she stammered, "R-right, that was completely unintentional. I can't believe I said that." She dropped in an empty chair and covered her face with her hands.
"Hermione? You're not going to cry because of that, are you?" Harry asked nervously. Crying girls was not something he had an easy way of dealing with.
She picked her head up and it was clear that she wasn't crying but it was a close thing, "No, just embarrassed at myself for using such a cheesy line."
Harry chewed on his cheek for a moment, "Still, you might have something there."
Hermione glanced at him with a puzzled expression.
He rose to his feet and paced back and forth before stopping and facing her, "Movies!" He threw his arms out wide, "That's what you can contribute! You can bring the film and theater arts to the school. Well, maybe not the theater arts as we already have that but if you can figure out how to play movies in Hogwarts, that'd be something for the next edition of Hogwarts, A History."
"But Harry, muggle technology doesn't work within Hogwarts. Too much magic in the air or something."
He tilted his head and nodded in acceptance but gestured, "True, but that should be enough of a project to tempt that brilliant mind of yours to find a solution."
Hermione rose to her feet and gave Harry a strong hug and a kiss on his cheek, "Thanks, Harry." She left before anything else could be said.
Harry was stunned at what she'd done. He slowly reached up and gingerly touched his cheek where she'd kissed him.