Chapter four:
Minerva McGonagall came out the Floo at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic. She walked straight to the office of Amelia Bones, head of the department. She had teached Amelia at Hogwarts and remained friends with her afterwards. Amelia was known to be discreet. Minerva thought that she was the exact person whom she needed for this task. Minerva knocked at the door. "Good evening, who is there and how can I help you?" a voice sounded from the inside. "It's me, Minerva, Amelia, I think I need your help for some delicate situation." Madam Bones opened the door for her old friend. "Well Minerva, come inside and we can speak of this situation."
Minerva sat at a stool and started her story: "Well, this situation is about a child at Hogwarts. The boy has guardians who treated him horribly. He was abused and neglected. Last night he ran away. He was picked up by an old friend of his parents and is currently at said friend's house. The friend and I decided, together with the boy, to try and transfer guardianship to the friend." Madam Bones listened to her: "Well, I see, that is indeed something and I will do everything I can to help but, tell me. Why all the secrecy and why has it to go through me?" Minerva took a deep breath and answered: "Because the boy we are talking we are talking about is Harry Potter." Madam Bones gasped. "And Albus Dumbledore has placed him with his magic hating relatives. For some reason he placed Harry there. He ignored Harry's protests when he told him to return there in the summer. He takes an unhealthy interest in Harry, Amelia. Further is the friend I was talking about Remus Lupin, he is a werewolf and we would like to keep the transfer in guardianship silent for as long as possible to make sure no one can prevent it from happening." Amelia nodded and said she would help. The two women immediately set to work.
The next morning Harry awoke in a strange bed. At first he panicked but then he remembered the events of the night before. He smiled and decided he should get up. He found his trunk in a corner and quickly put on a shirt and a set of pants. He then ran to the kitchen. "Hello Harry, did you sleep well?'' Remus said. Harry nodded and sat down at the table. Remus put a plate with toast in front of him. Harry delved in. Remus sat down in front of him. "Harry, we have to go to the ministry today. Minerva has arranged a meeting for us with Amelia Bones, she is the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She will do the guardian transfer. Minerva has chosen her because she is trustworthy and she was a friend of your parents. She is going to ask for your memories." Harry was a bit confused: "How can she get my memories? And why are we going to the ministry in plain sight?" As an answer on your first question: a pensive is used to view memories from others, Madam Bones will teach you how to extract memories. As for your last question, I don't know. She and Minerva have thought out a plan. We just have to trust them. But they did say I had to put some glamours on you. Charms that change your appearance." He explained as he saw Harry's face. Remus and Harry quickly finished their breakfast and flooed to the ministry.
Harry wobbled a bit as it was the first time he had ever travelled by Floo. "This way." Remus said. Harry followed him inside the elevator. Harry was thinking about how his life had changed in just a couple of hours. He really hoped that this plan would work. "Harry, Harry." He heard. "We're there, are you coming?" Harry and Remus stepped out the elevator. For the elevator a strict looking woman stood waiting for them. "Hello Harry, I'm Madam Bones, we're going to my office now. There we can talk more freely." And with that she turned around and started walking. Harry quickly followed her with Remus a little more behind.
After a short moment they passed the offices of the Aurors. Harry looked fascinated at them. These people were trained to fight the bad guys! When they passed one of the offices, Harry became more fascinated. In the office sat a young woman. But that was not the most fascinating. No, her hair was changing colours. It was just blonde and now it was pink. That was pretty cool. Madam Bones walked further. "So, Remus," she started, but Harry interrupted her. "Eh Madam, I think he is a bit distracted." And it was true. The young woman and Remus were staring at each other. It looked like they were holding a staring contest. It didn't look like they would stop soon. Madam Bones turned around. "Oh, I see." She winked at Harry. "Well Harry, for your case we need at least one Auror." Harry looked a bit shocked. "Don't worry, we would only chose trustworthy ones. We were going to ask a more experienced one, but would you mind if it was auror Tonks?" Harry chuckled, "Well uncle Moony certainly wouldn't mind and if you say we need an auror and she is trustworthy, why not?" "Auror Tonks" Madam Bones said with a voice of authority "would you please follow us to my office." This seemed to shock Remus and auror Tonks out their staring contest. She quickly stood up to join them but she tripped over her desk and fell. Remus reacted quickly and caught her. "Well Uhm hi and uhm thank you." She said blushing furiously. "Nothing to thank for Miss Tonks." Remus said as he helped her to her feet. "Please leave the miss, Mr.?" Tonks asked "Lupin." Madam Bones interrupted their conversation "Well you can further meet in my office." And with that she and Harry walked to her office.
In madam Bones' office, she quickly conjured a couple of stools and mentioned for them to sit. "Well, Harry, this is Auror Nymphadora Tonks." At Tonks' glare she quickly added: "But she hates her first name so she always goes by just her surname. Auror Tonks, this is Harry Potter and Remus Lupin. We are here to transfer Mr. Potter's guardianship to Mr. Lupin. It is a delicate situation because no one may hear of it until it's done and even then rather not." Harry decided to ask the question he wanted to ask for a while now: "Madam Bones, why do we need an auror with us?" He saw that Tonks was staring at him and said: "Yes, I am the real Harry Potter." Tonks quickly looked away and Remus chuckled. "Well Harry, please call me Amelia when we are in private and to answer your question: it would be suspicious for me to handle this matter myself in the open, so auror Tonks helps us with the investigation and is a cover as well." Harry nodded. "Uncle Moony said that you were going to ask for my memories, how do I give them to you and which ones do you want?" At this moment Tonks decided to interrupt: "Madam Bones, why is this a delicate matter and why can no one know of it?" "Good question, Albus Dumbledore has sent Harry to live with his relatives when he didn't have a right to do so, he also sold Lily and James' Will. He sent Harry back when he knew Harry was abused there," Tonks gasped "He takes an interest in Harry which we believe is unhealthy and has ignored several wishes for Harry to be placed somewhere else. He further has wiped the memory of Minerva McGonagall so she wouldn't remember where Harry lived. We believe he may do everything in his power to stop the transfer if he knew of it." Tonks looked gobsmacked, she didn't know what she had expected but this not. Albus Dumbledore was the leader of the Light, she hadn't expected him to be like this. "I know" Remus said "I reacted the same. He was my hero, he had given me a place at his school when I thought no one would. I thought he couldn't do wrong. Until two weeks ago, when I learned what he had done to Harry." Madam Bones said: "I couldn't believe it either, but it is true, but I will let you see Harry's memories first and then we can talk further. Harry, I need memories from the worst what has happened to you, but I also want an expression of your daily life. You give the memories to me by thinking hard of them and then tap your wand against your head and will the memories inside your wand." Harry thought of it and then came up with four memories. One of the Saturday beatings, one of the list of chores he had to do, one of a night in the cupboard after a beating and his worst memory, when his uncle had thrown him of the stairs when he was four, because he had broken a vase. He gave the memories to Madam Bones and watched as she poured them in a bowl and as she, Tonks and Remus watched them.
When Madam Bones was done watching the memories, she was furious. How could these people do that to a child. She saw Harry sitting in the corner. She felt immensely sorry for him, but knew the best she could do was take him away from those people.
Tonks has similar feelings, she immediately wanted to go and hex Albus Dumbledore into oblivion. He was the one who was responsible for this. But she knew she couldn't, it would ruin everything.
Remus Lupin felt sad. He had known it was bad. He had even added his own memory of the night before, so that Madam Bones and auror Tonks could see that to. He walked over to Harry, who was sitting in a corner. He looked scared. He gave Harry a big hug.
Madam Bones walked over to the Floo and called Minerva McGonagall. She asked for her testimony that Remus Lupin would never hurt Harry and that he was a good men. Minerva gave it to her and left immediately. She had to meet Dumbledore for a cup of tea and it wouldn't do to be late.
Tonks was looking at Remus with curiosity. He was a werewolf, she had never thought of that, but she could she he was a good men. She could see it as he was hugging Harry, who was crying a bit. If someone else was needed to testify he was a good man, she would do it. She decided.
"We are going to the Dursleys" Madam Bones said. "I'm going to ask them to sign this paperwork and with that the transfer would be complete. After that you can wipe their memories Auror Tonks. All they need to know is that Harry is gone. They can't remember our visit." And so the four people left to visit the Dursleys.
The visit with the Dursleys went quick. Tonks had wanted to hex them, but madam Bones had stopped her. With reluctance she had just wiped their memories and they had left. Back at Madam Bones' office the last of the paperwork was filled in and now they had to give Harry a week the time to get to know Remus. It was standard procedure and after that week they could make the transfer legal and it only could be changed again with Harry's and Remus' permission. When they left Tonks gave Harry a small paper. "This is my address, if you ever need anything or just someone to talk to, you can come to me." Harry took the paper and surprised her with a hug. "Thank you and maybe I can bring uncle Moony." He said with a wink. After that he walked out the office and straight back to the Floo. Tonks was staring at his back with an open mouth. It was true she had watched Remus, but she was just admiring how he had won Harry's trust, right?"
A/N: I'm back home, so here is the next chapter. I wanted to go to Gringots here, but I liked this end better. My little sister has decided to bring ideas to me with her devilish mind. She has worked out a big part of the "distracted scene" as we have come to call it. Hope you liked it!
