Author's Note: Ahem...I like big edits and I cannot lie, you other brothers can't deny...
Reviews: Just want to say thanks for the reviews, they help keep me going.
Old Lady Winter gave Lily Potter, as she was now known, a firm hug before pulling back to survey her long time friend at arms length. "Well, Lily, I'll say this much, you certainly look more lively than I've seen you in a long time. I think all this has actually been good for you in it's own strange manner."
Harry watched his mother quirk a rueful smile. "Yeah, I'm pretty happy about it all told. Not that I wouldn't be glad to be free of the headaches." His mother agreed readily enough.
"Headaches?" The old healer asked concerned, but his mother just laughed.
"Nothing to do with the ritual or the charm I promise, my son's life has been an adventure to say the least, the actions of some of the supposed 'responsible' adults in his life have been...frustrating."
Winter nodded, chuckling knowingly. "Ah, so it's like that is it? Well, I'm not sure I can be of any help there."
Harry turned his attention away from the conversation as it began to head back towards generalities. Old Lady Winter had come by the house early, the morning of their planned departure. Kate and Lily in particular were happy to see her, though he was careful to voice his own gratitude for her assistance as well. They each had taken turns getting washed and fed for their trip this morning, in the hopes of giving everyone a fair shot at speaking with the old medicine woman.
Hermione was the last to go. For a time Lily, Kate and Winter had reminisced and spoken of plans to see each other again. Then talk had turned to the ritual and the healer's part in it.
Harry was stirred from his reflections on the morning's events by Hermione padding into the room, her arms up behind her head as she worked to force her hair into a rough ponytail. Harry couldn't help but stare a little, her hair wet and smooth from the shower, her face still slightly flushed from the heat of the water. It all managed to catch him a bit flat footed.
He didn't often think of it intentionally as these things increased in incidence, but his best friend was not so plain as she seemed to think herself. He was not unfamiliar with finding members of the opposite gender attractive, however something about thinking of his best friend that way always tweaked his conscience. His mind telling him that it wasn't respectful for him to dwell on her physical attributes as much as he might sometimes wish.
It wasn't easy however, he spent most days, even before this venture, in her company. And Hermione possessed many qualities, not merely physical in nature that appealed to him. She was smart, kind and generous, and despite the incident the summer previous he tended to think of her as utterly loyal. The aforementioned...failure in communication, merely being the consequence of her well meaning obedience to an elder she should have been able to trust implicitly.
Harry may not have been sorted into Hufflepuff, but on a personal level loyalty and honesty were attributes he admired and appreciated greatly. His best friend had both.
Two days previous when his mother had questioned Hermione on planned sleeping arrangements he had not been so far out of earshot as the two women had supposed. He was reluctant to admit it even to himself, but there was no small appeal to the thought of being intimate with Hermione.
He shook off the momentary pause his friend's arrival had caused, doing his best to hide his blush. "Morning, Mione." He greeted happily. "Have a good lie in?"
She smirked fondly at him. "Well enough. You know me, I prefer to be up and doing generally but the last few days have been...stressful."
He frowned slightly, "Sorry about all-"
She waved off his apology. "Honestly Harry, we've been over this, I won't pretend it's been easy, but I don't mind all things considered. Now, why don't you quit your worrying, and tell me what's for breakfast?" She said pointedly diverting them away from any guilty consciences.
He smiled in gratitude, knowing precisely her intent. "Pancakes, yours are on the counter, I put a warming charm on them. Mum's got maple syrup if you want to try some?"
She cocked an eyebrow at that pacing towards the meal in question. Syrup was not uncommon in the UK, especially at Hogwarts, however it was seldom the variety so often associated with the nation they were currently in. She'd never had occasion to have this particular variety before. After pouring a small portion she took an exploratory bite and made a small happy sound before digging in.
Harry watched her idly for a time before his attention was once again diverted by the arrival of Kate at the table the other two had sat themselves at. "You two ready to go?" She asked.
He nodded, "Our stuff was basically still packed from before, just waiting on you guys and for Hermione to finish her meal." He assured her and she bobbed her head in agreement.
They were silent for a moment before Kate smiled broadly. "So, Hawaii…" She said savouring the word. "I've always wanted to leave Churchill, but I didn't expect my first trip away from the homestead to be to paradise."
He chuckled. "I've heard it's nice, but that's about it. My relatives didn't travel abroad, and even if they had they wouldn't take me with them."
She nodded, "That's about what I hear too. Surprised to find out we have a place out there. Sounds like mom was surprised too."
Harry just nodded agreement. "From what I've heard of him, it suited Dad right down to the ground him wrapping the property up as a secret like that — a gift and a prank in one package."
"What was he like? Me and mom haven't really had a chance to talk about him since her memory came back." She noted a touch sadly.
"I don't know as much as I'd like…" he admitted, thinking about it. "A prankster, and although I hate to admit it, if what I've heard is correct a bit of a bully back in school, though mum broke him of that." He paused grimacing slightly as he recalled Snape's memories. "Had a group of friends called the marauders, pranksters all of them. The two I've spoken with about him said he was basically in love with mum from the moment he set eyes on her. You already knew he was good at transfiguration, so that's not news, but he and two of his friends became Animagi as well."
Her eyebrows rose in surprise as Hermione rose to carry her dishes to the washer. "Really, I've heard that's fairly hard, why'd they do that?"
"Because, your father was nothing if not loyal, and his friend needed help." Lily said pacing over as Old Lady Winter let herself out.
Harry nodded agreement. "One of his friends, Remus Lupin, was a werewolf and they wanted to keep him company while he was changed."
Kate barked a laugh. "Really his name was Remus Lupin?"
Harry quirked an eyebrow at her, "Yeah, why?"
"Remus and Romulus? The wolf raised children who founded Rome? Lupin, kind of like Lupine? Was he always a werewolf? His parents basically named him Wolfy Mcwolf Face."
Harry chuckled, as that clicked in his head. "As far as I know, no he wasn't always a werewolf. Though his name is somewhat ironic now you point it out."
Lily shook her head in amusement. "I pointed it out to him once me and your father got involved, apparently it caused him a great deal of consternation. Now, you guys get your stuff out to the truck, me and Winter are going to walk the ward line and make sure it's solid before we go."
Harry and the others gathered their belongings and familiars in relative silence, their minds largely elsewhere. It was only as they were preparing to climb into the SUV that Harry couldn't help but chuckle again, he shot his sister a look. "Wolfy McWolf Face? Really?"
"Hey, it was off the top of my head, you try coming up with gold under those conditions!"
Cassandra Anders, ex-auror, and now, full time vampire, stood uncertainly on the front step of the Bones family manor outside of Lands End. The Ossuary, as it was known, was the ancestral home of clan Bones. For a long time it had laid dormant and abandoned, ever since Amelia's parents had been killed, she and her siblings splitting up among the remaining Bones properties in the British Isles. With the destruction of the rest of the Bones family estates in the last war, and the deaths of their inhabitants, Amelia had taken to living in her South Kensington apartment until that fateful attack a few nights ago.
That house was still undergoing repair, the spell damage being far too extensive to repair quickly, not to mention the costs associated with so many destroyed keepsakes and heirlooms as well as having to recast the wards.
The Ossuary however was undamaged, and thanks to some recently commissioned upgrades, its wards were now back up to date with the current standard for an abode of its size and standing. Cass could attest to that, despite being allowed through them by the head of the family, the wards still detected her new differently alive state, and has given her a good suntan for her first passage through them.
The strongholds of ancient and noble houses were often protected far beyond the norm for a wizarding household. Cassandra was glad that she had permission to pass within.
The previous day, Amelia had taken her and Susan aside at her office and made an official offer of employment to her. Something which had surprised the fledgling Vampire greatly. Amelia had explained her reasoning seriously once Susan had gotten over her excitement at the prospect. "Look, Cass, you've shown you're not just another blood drinker. You managed to find your way home in your newborn state and managed to refrain from feeding on the people you found there. That was despite the feeding frenzy all fledgling Vampires experience. In addition, prior to your...change, you showed a great deal of loyalty to my niece, fighting to protect her in a hopeless battle. The Ministry might forbid me employing you as an Auror, but they can't forbid me from employing you as a bodyguard."
Cass had still possessed her doubts, however it had been Susan and her sincere pleas to her which had finally made her accept. Which was why she was here now.
Waiting as the doorbell rang its long chiming tune before the door cracked open and a bleary eyed elf stared up at her. "You'd be the Vampire Mistress Bones told us to expect then? Coffin or bed?" He demanded brusquely and she blinked in surprise.
"Er-what?"
He sighed in a put upon manner. "Coffin or bed, we can provide either to accommodate your sleeping needs. It's just we need to know so we can dig-"
"Oscar! How many times have I told you to let someone else answer the door?" A high pitched female voice exclaimed as another elf, padded up alongside the wrinkled old elf at the door. "And what a thing to ask right from the start, honestly! Have you forgotten all the manners you learned at your mother's knee?"
He itched his head considering. "No, I just don't see the point any more, 'cept for Mistresses Bones that is."
The second elf shooed him away irately before turning her attention back to the very confused Vampire standing at the door. "Sorry Mistress, he's a little set in his ways. Just step inside and we'll get you situated."
"Er right, thanks...I uh-bed, I think." She offered a little concerned by the use of the term 'dig' Oscar had used in reference to finding one.
"Very good Mistress, we'll have your room ready in a moment, may I take your bags? Mistress Amelia is in the kitchen I believe?"
She agreed readily, a little unused to dealing with any sort of organized personal wait staff. The second elf who identified herself as Jiffy, soon led her, minus her luggage, through the manor into the kitchens.
It was there that they found the Director seated at an island surrounded by hurrying bands of elves offering treats and inquiring about chores they were involved in. Cass had seen elves prior to today, it was hard not to having gone to Hogwarts, but she'd never seen so many in one place before. Then again, she'd never had occasion to visit the castle's kitchens herself.
Amelia looked up from where she was addressing a particularly bouncy elf as she approached. "Ah, Cass, there you are. Sorry about the...excitement," She said smiling ruefully gesturing at the excitable swarm of elves around her. "It turns out you can't just return a manor to full working order at a moment's notice. Add to that Oscar got in an argument with the Goblins when they came to install the wards and well…things are taking longer than expected."
"It's a very nice place ma'am." The Vampire assured her.
Amelia surprised her with a toothy smile. "I know, I love this house, I grew up here, haven't seen it in years though. Sorry Susan isn't here to meet you though, she's still asleep, won't be up for another hour or so."
Cassandra waved that off. "It's not a problem ma'am."
Amelia nodded considering a small clipboard an Elf held up to her, bouncing slightly on its heels. "How about I walk you through the defences, so you know what you'll have to manage while I'm on duty?"
"I'm game boss, if you are?"
Amelia nodded and pushed to her feet before leading her from the room. "There's not actually that much to tell really. The defences for a house of this type are fairly standard, the perimeter wall keeps the average citizen from wandering the grounds, and it's spelled to be more durable than it would be normally. The wards are the best Gringotts offers and include a few of the house's originals to boot. However, I mostly feel I should mention the more...eccentric defences my ancestors included."
"Eccentric ma'am?" Cass asked curious at the tone her boss adopted thinking of them.
Amelia sighed. "Beyond the obvious joke associated with my family name there is a reason the family estate is known as the Ossuary. Hector Bones, Lord of this estate some five hundred years ago was a necromancer and the family estate's defences reflected that. While we've long since cleared away the worst of the things he left behind a small number of...defenders linger and can be called upon in extremis to defend the house." She explained as delicately as she could.
Cass smiled at her weakly, "Please tell me it's not zombies ma'am, that might be a little too weird even for me…" Necromancy had a strongly negative reputation, even in the wizarding world, one which was well deserved. Even at the height of the last wizarding war fifteen years ago, You-Know-Who had only skimmed the surface of what necromancy was capable of. Inferi, were the least of what that black art could achieve and she strongly wished to avoid having to interact with anything too foul.
Amelia smiled sympathetically. "Zombies? Oh, you mean inferi right, animated corpses? No, nothing like that thank the heavens. No, we have a bone giant which can be raised to guard the grounds if needs be, though I don't recall matters ever became so severe here that it was needed. I was actually referring to the watchmen. You see a few of those sworn into our families service in those days agreed to bind their souls to this place until either they were released or the family became extinct so that the Ossuary might always have those who watched over it." She explained soberly. "We have a total of six watchmen ghosts who patrol the grounds and the forest outside the wall. They simply watch for intruders and will inform you should trouble arise."
That sounded more promising and Cassandra nodded. "I'm also considering hiring additional staff and guards, however, that comes with risks all it's own, of course." Amelia grumbled.
Cassandra understood, it was difficult to find those seeking employment these days who'd be willing to subject themselves to the level of scrutiny and security which would be required to prevent infiltrators, or subversion via imperius curse.
Amelia stopped and her smile returned. "You'll be glad to know the elves have taken your condition into account. The windows of the estate are enchanted to prevent any sunlight which passes through them from burning you. We also have the larder stocked with enough animal blood to keep you going and we bought out Diagon Alley's current stock of blood replenishment potions as well. I have also arranged for Susan to practice brewing the potion herself just in case. Either she or myself should be able to provide it at need."
Cassandra blinked in surprise. "Thank you ma'am, I-I haven't needed to feed on human blood yet and I'm not eager to start."
"That's what I thought." Amelia agreed before becoming more sober again, sighing gustily. "I admit, as much effort as we've put into protecting this place, and as impressive as its defences are, I still find myself worried Cass."
"Yes Director?" The vampire asked curiously.
Amelia smiled wanly at her. "This estate is far too well known to hide under fidelius, and no defence is perfect, I have taken precautions to ensure we do not become trapped here should the worst happened but…"
"But you still worry." Cassandra finished.
Amelia nodded. "We've struck blows against the enemy's efforts recently, and he will not let that go unanswered for long. My hope is that this place will deter him enough to make him go elsewhere instead. Still I wonder…" She sighed. "Maybe it'd be better to get Susan away from all this?"
Cassandra considered her employer. "I think ma'am that I don't know enough to make a recommendation in that matter." She hedged.
Amelia gave a start, refocusing on her. "Of course, sorry, I was merely considering my options. I know some are already leaving these shores, just as they did in the last war. It was not something I had considered for Susan until recently." She shook her head. "Come on, enough of that, let me familiarize you with the grounds. By then Susan should be up."
Narcissa and Draco had a less pleasant start to their day, once again waking up bound together in their own home, as they waited to die. However, to their great relief this state of affairs soon improved when, a family elf, originally forbidden on pain of death from assisting its masters had finally worked up the courage to defy the Dark Lord.
In times past the elf would have been fortunate to avoid being berated by the youngest Malfoy for not assisting in a timely fashion, however matters had changed somewhat. Draco and his mother had possessed a truly excessive amount of time to reflect on their past convictions and indeed to simply languish in captivity. And so it was that, due to a great deal of relief at being freed, Draco Malfoy did something greatly out of character for himself and patted the elf affectionately on the back before hurrying off in search of a bathroom.
Narcissa had been in a similar need to use the facilities after so long bound up, but she too had stopped long enough to display her gratitude for the elf's actions before hurrying off. Tipsy, was greatly confused by this sudden change in character and so stood there blinking in confusion for a great deal of time before returning to work.
Upon the return of her masters Tipsy waited with a tray of food and drink, standing patiently as they began to discuss the matter of import. "Well, that's a bloody relief," Draco grumbled tiredly as he flopped onto the couch in the living room. "I was starting to get really sore…"
Narcissa sipped as delicately as her shaking hands would allow at a cup of water, more powerful beverage being foregone in favour of the basic, life giving liquid. "I too feel as you do Draco, thank you again Tipsy for your intervention."
The little elf bobbed a hesitant curtsy, "Tipsy bees glad to serves Mistress."
Narcissa nodded and took another sip, "All that being said, I must confess I now find myself at a loss as to what to do next…"
Draco opened his mouth, before closing it again with a grimace, nodding sour agreement. "We cannot seek father's assistance...as that would be as good as once again turning ourselves over to-his mercies. I can't believe he did that to us!"
His mother chuckled darkly, "I do not think the Dark Lord cares over much for protocol darling. Except when it serves his purposes. The Dark Lord wished to make an example of your father and used us to do so."
Her son grimaced again. "I do not know what to do mother...after what has happened I no longer feel safe within my own home. He knows this place as well as we do and has tampered extensively with the wards I am sure-"
Narcissa snorted dark amusement, "Indeed he did, it was among the first things he did upon setting foot upon the grounds. Right after he conjured himself a new throne…" She paused considering. "But your point has merit. Our options are limited. The Dark Lord and his followers now wish as an object lesson to impress upon your father when he eventually escapes prison. Any who support that faction would not be safe harbour for us."
She shook her head. "Our family lines were devastated in the last war. The only relations with close connection to our family are dead, abroad or in league with the Dark Lord. The only other options available to us are...difficult."
Her son cocked his head at her in curiosity. "I don't understand, surely our funds are more than enough to-"
His mother sighed, cutting him off. "With the Dark Lord's return your father restricted our access to the family vaults to a mere stipend. And our remaining options will be only limitedly affected by monetary wealth anyways. The first option is also the most likely to fail, fleeing the country would provide a modicum of safety until the Dark Lord learned of our survival. He has hunted traitors and enemies alike across the globe, should he prioritize our deaths highly enough no amount of distance would protect us…" She took another sip. "Until recently we could have attempted to approach the head of house Black for protection. However as you know your aunt saw to the end of that possibility."
Her son grimaced, but nodded his understanding. He did not relish the idea of approaching Sirius Black or any of the other side on bended knee, but there was no denying that he would have been a viable solution to their problems.
"Which really only leave two additional options, neither very good. The first would be to find and approach Harry Potter as he is most likely to inherit the position of head of house." Here Draco scowled again, he knew full well that so long as it had been Sirius Black at the reins his chances of inheriting that title had been nil. "Unfortunately as of the last discussion I heard regarding his whereabouts Potter appears to have gone to ground and none on either side can find him. Which leaves us with one final option."
Her son considered that before sighing and setting down his own drink, rubbing tiredly at his eyes. "You mean her, your sister, I assume?"
"Andromeda, yes. I think it is time I see about contacting my sister at long last. Let us hope she is in a forgiving mood. Title or no, Andromeda is still a Black by birth, and vengeance always was our part and parcel."
The first in a series of short stopovers on their journey found the newly expanded Potter clan at Winnipeg International airport. The delay in their journey came as a result of their being no scheduled series of flights from Churchill Manitoba to Honolulu Hawaii. Thus they found themselves waiting patiently in the airport for the next connecting flight to their destination which would take them first to Vancouver then on to Hawaii.
It being around the lunch hour Harry and Hermione had ventured off in search of food while they waited, the brunette murmuring something about checking one of the concourse book stores along the way. Something told Lily they would not be back soon if that look in the girl's eye was anything to go by.
This was actually a fortunate turn of events as Lily was looking to speak in relative privacy with her daughter whom she had not had a proper opportunity to touch base with in some time.
"How are you doing Katie? You holding up okay with all this?" Her mother asked gently, happy to see her daughter was smiling to herself.
Kate nodded eagerly. "Yup, it was a bit stressful there for a while I'll admit." She allowed referring of course to her mother's struggle against the memory charm. "But all in all I'm great. Long lost baby brother? Getting away from Churchill? I'm good!" She noted her mother's amused expression and calmed slightly. "How about you, how are you doing?"
Lily sighed. "It's complicated, on the one hand I am beyond ecstatic that your brother is alive. On the other hand our lives just got a whole lot more complicated. It would be one thing if I could still trust some of the people back home to help us but…"
"Yeah, it sounds like most of the good guys are following that Dumbledore guy. Bastard-" Kate hissed under her breath. "Where does he get off thinking he can mess with people's lives like this?"
Lily nodded. "Not all of them are following Dumbledore, but yes enough of them are to make the situation complicated. In times past I would have sought out one of your father's friends...But Sirius is dead, and Remus seems to be enamoured of Dumbledore's lead from what I've heard. The only one of the old crowd I feel certain we can trust is Amelia, but she's got her own concerns right now."
"Well, it could be worse, we could be forced to head back there, instead we get to go out in search of people to help Harry. Stopping in Hawaii of all places along the way." Her daughter noted, a mischievous grin on her face as she poked her mother in the side with her elbow.
Her mother couldn't help but laugh a bit at that. "Yes it could be worse, although I do wish we didn't have to fly coach." She said shifting in her seat with a theatrical wince.
It was her daughter's turn to chuckle. "Yeah, as exciting as all this is I'm not enjoying sitting cramped in an airplane. There has to be a better way to travel."
Lily nodded. "Usually we'd portkey, but your brother is rightly concerned about people monitoring that method, even out here. And nobody wants to fly that far by broom." She noted casting her eyes about cautiously for any mundane who might wander by and overhear. "A few of our creations over the years were able to fly though none of them were really intended for long distances except…" She shook that memory off. That pipedream had been absurd to say the least. Even James had not been able to conjure a good reason to pursue that dream.
Then again, back then they hadn't been intending to travel the world.
Kate was nodding. "Harry was telling me on the flight about the old Ford Anglia. Did he mention that to you?"
Lily shook her head and Kate laughed. "Guess it kinda paled in comparison to the rest of the mess he lives with? Apparently back in his second year he and one of his friends had to borrow the vehicle from Mr Weasley in order to get to Hogwarts on time, ended up crashing the thing. He told me the thing saved his bacon a few months later though, came riding to the rescue when he was being chased by an acromantula or some such?"
Her mother sighed in exasperation, there were far too many life threatening situations in her son's life for her liking. "I'm going to have a very serious talk with some of the so called adults back in England. Dumbledore first, then my dear sister and her husband. I might have a few choice words for the others though."
Kate nodded. "So long as you don't mind me tagging along, I'd like to ask them why they thought they could get away with doing some of that crap too."
"Deal," Her mother shook her head. "But enough of that, you are on your first adventure away from home, we shouldn't be so fixated on the bad things in our lives. Tell me, what do you want to do when we get to Hawaii?"
Kate lit up again, "Well, I was thinking we should start with some surfing and then-"
Cornelius Oswald Fudge, was quite possibly the biggest horse's arse Amelia Bones had the great misfortune of encountering. No, worse than that, he was the metaphorical "Bloody Arse Monkey" that had hauled itself, clawing, kicking, screaming and spitting, out of Dumbledore's hairy wrinkled old backside.
No man, could possibly be so stupid and yet live could they? In theory any natural born man—who was not a magical or scientific abomination—who was so excruciatingly hopeless when not receiving carefully dispensed directions from on high, should have died early on through sheer failure to breath due to lack of brain power.
This was what a severely irate Director of the DMLE was thinking as the man in question tucked tail and ran after yet another verbal thrashing delivered by herself. He had come in here because someone in her department had blabbed the details on Cassandra Anders new state of unlife and had the audacity to complain about her being even allowed in the building. When she found out just which idiot had spoken out of turn she was going to hang them by their intestines.
Apparently whoever the idiot had blabbed to had complained in turn to Fudge, likely adding a huge incentive in galleons to the bargain judging by the greedy desperation in his piggy little eyes when he confronted her.
The verbal spanking she had delivered had basically centred around her need to be able to bring in and detain whomever she wanted and that, once again, if he had a problem with the way she ran her department, he could have her sacked. Assuming he could rustle up the votes to do so. Naturally both she and he had known, that as before when they had these confrontations, he was in no position to have her ousted.
Still it was incredibly frustrating to consider that she was forced to take any sort of orders from a man who was so utterly without a modicum of backbone, loyalty or the base level of cunning typically inherent in a politician.*
She managed to calm herself down a bit, Fudge, was on his way out. There was no denying it now. With every passing meeting of the Wizengamot more and more of its sitting members were calling for an accelerated vote of non-confidence. The question was no longer would Fudge be ousted, but when he would be forced out.
It was an event she both looked forward to and dreaded at the same time. She knew, quite well, that despite the efforts of Fudge, Dumbledore and those Death Eaters on the council, she was on the short list to succeed him as Minister for Magic.
On the one hand they would, one way or the other, be free of the bumbling fool, and even the Ministry of Magic would be hard pressed to find someone as corrupt, incompetent or blatantly stupid to replace him.
On the other hand, the monumental task of reversing the damage done by that idiot would be an almost insurmountable task, particularly during wartime. Many a leader had led ignoble and under-appreciated careers because they were hobbled by their predecessors mistakes. She hoped she would not be joining those ranks any time soon.
She even knew the likely candidate. Steven Rosier was the current favourite among the Death Eaters who pretended to be civilized human beings. While Adaras Macnair was the favourite among those who thought that attempting to maintain the illusion of civilization was the province of children and charlatans.
Dumbledore's faction favoured Elphias Doge, while much of what remained favoured her. Though there was a certain, strange underground faction which supported an entirely unwilling Arthur Weasley for the position. He had apparently quite loudly experienced a panic attack upon being nominated by some unknown individual. Still, even so he'd likely be a step up from most of the others running, to say nothing of Fudge.
Unfortunately as Fudge's reign of stupidity came to a sudden cataclysmic, squelching end, she found herself needing to make several considerations.
First and foremost of which was, who the bloody hell is going to take my place here? It wasn't that she believed herself irreplaceable, so much as that not all were even willing to take up the position.
It was true what she'd said to Tonks not long ago, she could easily see the young Auror one day sitting behind this desk. However, as fond of the woman as she was, she was practical enough to know it was not this day. No, that time was a while off. A decade, if Amelia were to make a bet, considering Tonks' recent performance.
Hestia Jones, wasn't a bad sort, or even a bad copper. Though she lacked Tonks' particular zing, she still lacked the experience needed just as much as the metamorph did.
Proudfoot, was similar, not really a standout officer, but not bad at his job by any means. Still even with his more extensive experience he wasn't suited for this job.
And if he was out, so too was John Dawlish, not the least of which because she strongly suspected the buffoon was the idiot who had blabbed about Cass to the bigots.
Which really left two real options. Rufus Scrimgeour, had seniority it was true, and the political experience to be able to navigate the rapids. Unfortunately, he also lacked the moral fibre she wanted in her successor. Oh, Rufus definitely wasn't corrupt, at least in the traditional sense. But he was about the most hidebound, uptight, political old fool she had in the department. With just about as many years on the force as Alastor Moody, Rufus had survived by riding on the coattails of others, rather than by sheer guts and grit like Moody had.
And so she came to Kingsley. Prior to the reveal of Shacklebolt's involvement in the Order of the Phoenix, Amelia would have had no qualms about nominating him. Though Kingsley had indeed resigned from the Order at her request, it still irritated her that an otherwise, experienced, intelligent and thoughtful officer had erred so. Where she could forgive Tonks and Hestia for the same sin, it was harder to do so with Kingsley due to his greater experience and know how. Still, he wasn't a bad man, and if you could say anything about him he was honest.
She sighed, sitting back in her chair massaging her head in the hopes of ridding herself of her headache. There were, quite simply, too many things going on in her life right then.
And as she sat there, she couldn't help but fantasize about the notion of somehow physically removing the excess thoughts from her head and packing them away for later.
Ha! Hadn't Harry mentioned something about destroying a memory container belonging to Voldemort? She couldn't help but wonder just how such a thing worked. Did it work like she imagined, removing thoughts and memories from his mind and storing them somewhere else?
If so, she could just imagine how useful it would be to get her hands on some of the enemies own thoughts. Why just imagine the intelligence she could—
She brought herself up short and blinked in surprise. How in the name of Merlin's wrinkled buttocks had she forgotten about that? Harry had taunted the Dark Lord himself with the fact of such a devices destruction, and the Dark Lord had been furious.
Just what was such a device?
She sighed as she realized yet another bevy of thoughts and questions had joined the throng within her mind thanks to this and she made a notation on her parchment. She'd need to ask Croaker about that...
Around the world, on an aircraft streaking its way across the sky towards Vancouver British Columbia, Harry and Lily sat in the pair of seats they had acquired together in the airplane's first class cabin. Lily had applied a low level privacy rune to their particular portion of the cabin allowing the four of them to communicate in secret without the plane being affected by any excess magical energy.
They had enjoyed each other's company for much of the flight thus far, simply catching up on things, and discussing times gone by. Lily had shared a story which was equal parts terrifying and hilarious. Apparently at a young age, whilst on a walk Kate had broken from her mother's grasp and streaked off towards a large "Teddy Bear" she had spotted rooting through a dumpster.
The panicked Lily had stunned the unfortunate and curious bear, who found itself wondering just what the little creature running towards it was. This had required her to obliviate a watching tourist of that incident (something she found ironic and distasteful now) and which had resulted in the police putting out a request that whomever it was who possessed an unregistered Tranquilizer Gun to please show up and declare their weapon with the proper authorities. Apparently that bear had been quite dazed for a good three days following the overpowered stunner.
It was understandable of course, the bear, once it had regained it'd composure at being rushed by a small screaming creature would likely have responded as a bear was want to do. Something which would have, no doubt, been fatal for young Kate. Old Lady Winter had laughed quite a bit at that story Harry was told, and Kate received the longest grounding of her life.
Now it was his turn to share. "Alright, your turn, why don't you tell me about your friends?" Lily suggested, smiling still from her own story.
"Uh, alright, what would you like to know?" Harry asked uncertainly. It had been this way every time she'd asked a question of his this flight. He just wasn't used to speaking of himself with anyone beyond a select few yet. Hopefully that could change, Lily reflected.
"Well how about their names? A little bit about them?" She asked grinning slightly at his reticence.
Harry nodded absently as he considered that. "Well you already know Hermione...so I guess I should tell you about Ron?"
Lily nodded, a touch more seriously. "Ron Weasley correct? You've mentioned him before. I can't say it was all positive though…" She remarked a touch warily.
Harry sighed, nodding. "Yeah, I know. He's a good enough bloke most of the time, and he is probably the one I spend the most time with aside from Hermione. He just...well he's got a bit of a jealous streak and...he's not always stuck by me. Still, he tries, and sometimes that's what counts the most right?" Harry suggested weakly. He didn't like having to defend Ron to his mother, not the least of which because sometimes he honestly wondered if he should be defending the boy at all.
Lily bobbled her head noncommittally but didn't say anything further. Clearly her son valued Ron's friendship on some level, but he equally clearly harboured some doubts about him. She'd let him think on that on his own for the moment. "Okay, who else?"
Harry brightened slightly. "Well there's always Ginny I suppose? She is Ron's only sister. Nice enough, loyal, had a bit of a crush on me a few years back, but she seems to have gotten over it...Bit of a temper, thankfully that's never been directed at me. She's mean with a hex. I'm told she looks a bit like you actually..." He paused, considering that then shrugged before continuing.
"Then there's Neville of course, you know about him right? Neville Longbottom?" He asked, before continuing when she nodded agreement. "Loyal, just about the nicest guy you could ever meet. Braver than you'd think looking at him, bit of a self confidence issue." Harry admitted grudgingly. Then smirked in amusement. "We sometimes call him the "plant whisperer". He manages things in herbology that make Professor Sprout jealous."
Lily chuckled at that and motioned him to continue, and he paused as a small fond smile curved his lips. "Well I suppose that just leaves Luna really. Luna Lovegood, nicest girl you could ever meet, never has a bad thing to say about anyone. Has a bit of a hard time making real friends though. She's a bit...quirky, I guess is the word. Spends a lot of time reading her father's articles in the Quibbler if that tells you anything. Still, she's braver than most Gryffindors I know and I think she'd give Hermione a run for her money in the brains department."
Lily nodded, happier with these other friends mentioned. She had her concerns about the Weasley boy, but by all accounts the others were more certain friends to her son. She hoped to meet them some day.
They lapsed into silence after a while and she sat pondering what he'd told her. Eventually her thoughts coming to the friend who had accompanied her boy on his escape from England.
Hermione, was a bit of an enigma to her she had to be honest. Clearly the girl was intelligent, loyal and honest, which were always a bonus in her books. Had she not been told otherwise she would have assumed that her son and the brunette were together. Now, she had to admit that sometimes people just didn't see each other that way. However judging by the glances she'd seen pass between the two, she'd bet her last galleon that wasn't the problem in this case. Strange...Then again, perhaps not, considering how reserved her son was.
Still, it was clear that her son was not entirely lacking for good friends, something she was glad of. She'd had her own friends at Hogwarts, some as close as he apparently was with his own. Others...not so much.
For many years she'd considered James fortunate to have the marauders. Sirius who always had James' back, since even before his own family had cast him out. Remus who always watched out for them and kept them out of too much trouble… She couldn't help but feel more than a little anger at the last however. Wormtail. Peter Pettigrew, had you asked her before that night she would have assumed him as loyal as the others. A little more withdrawn a little less outgoing or courageous, but still loyal. Tragically that impression had proved incorrect.
She hoped her son had better luck in friends that James had.
*As we can see by observing our own politicians, this level of cunning lies just barely above that of that possessed by your average lemming or house plant...
Author's Note: Once again thank you to beta/pseudo-coauthor thingamajig Temporal Knight! If not for his efforts things would have gone off the rails a long time ago.
Recommendation(s): Hmmm good question…. "Escape" By Singularoddities. And as an added bonus this chapter, for the star wars fans out there who like cool art, check out Fractal Sponge's work. Some really good conceptual models I feel are worth talking about.