Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling, I am just playing in her world
The War Marshal's first battle
The Wizengmot floor had finally calmed down after the morning spectacle that saw Narcissa almost squibbed. Madam Bones could have only wished that upon a few other witches or wizards, but otherwise wouldn't complain. Once all the murmuring had died down, and they had at last realized there was nothing they could do to find out about the new Prima Black and their lockdown wards the body had managed to actual get something done.
They had decided they needed and chosen a War Marshal, something that though on the laws had rarely been done before. Whether it was in hopes an extra Ministry official would enable the ability to find out anything on the lockdown wards or not she didn't know. A War Marshal once created could only be removed from position if both the Minister and Head of the Department of Mysteries agreed to dissolve the position. Madam Bones was not too happy on the result. On the good side the body had ensured that the person winning, if it could be called winning, was neither from you-know-who's camp or one that was as good as, nor one that was a political schemer, nor an ineffectual or easily mislead and corrupted buffoon like Fudge had been. The bad news was they had chosen her. As more than two thirds of this esteemed body was at least leaning into you-know-who's camp she knew she had placed herself and her niece into extreme risk.
One thing was sure she wouldn't be letting her niece return to Hogwarts next year. She could far too easily be blackmailed if the enemy got hold of the only member of her family left. For this reason she rudely blew off all the supposed meetings that one aspiring to political office knew were essential. She didn't care she didn't want the position and only accepted it because she couldn't trust any of the other choices presented. She also knew that where the august body would waste its time with rumors and posturing they wouldn't think of the possibly easiest way to find out how to get in contact with Prima Black.
With Dumbledore dead the Wizengmot members that were not supporters of you-know-who were a group of chickens without the head. Magic tended to swirl out from those blessed or cursed with an overabundance of its gift. It was the select minority with more power like the 'you-know-who's' and the Dumbledore's that made the waves causing their world to be pushed or pulled a given way. Unlike the stuffy fools that disregarded those younger until it was too late to ignore, magic did not. With the meeting over and rudely ignoring everyone Madam Bones left the floor for the trace office. There were six children that had stormed the ministry a year ago she needed to locate.
Though Croaker was not supposed to be on active duty he watched from his secure office deep within the department of mysteries the multiple views were from the charms on Bones in several locations and from his team that he had following the security detail protecting the new War Marshal. He had known that with her survival of the latest attack and the rumors of her fighting with her guards that she would be the winning candidate. The department had only supported the proposal to create a War Marshal as they knew Bones would get it. They had gambled years ago on not hiring her into their ranks with a few other choices that they kept watching over the years. These were the 'hands off sleeper agents' that were only kept on the books if the choices they made stayed in line with what the department expected and needed.
Unfortunately they had a low success rate because they couldn't directly coach their candidates as that would have precluded them from being able to accept the types of positions of power they hoped they would be beneficial serving in. Any agent or asset knowingly run by the department could not gain power within the Ministry. Magic ensured the separation of the two branches of magical government. Though most were barely aware of the Shadows, there were the two groups for balance and neither could extend their control into the other's bailiwick.
It was the two groups that ran magical Britain under treaty to the throne. The Shadows didn't operate in areas most of the magicals needed to know of. Though they didn't have power in the Ministry they could watch and help certain people within the Ministry more than others. If they tried to directly influence it would fail or not work the way they had expected. So mainly they watched and made the path easier for their 'hands off sleeper agents'. Then they just had to hope the ones helped would do what they expected them to do.
He had assigned a few single agents in various places that could be called as support at a moment's notice. He also already had a team protecting the living area being prepared for the new office holder. This was both to ensure nothing happened even when no one was there to be protected, and ensure that nothing was being added that was or would enable a security breach. When Bones was at her residence she would actually have two active teams plus her own security detail. It was imperative to wizard society's survival that he kept Bones alive. He could not think of any other person for the current job. Now where the heck was she going?
Bones had hoped for Harry or Hermione's location, she had expected better than only fifty percent of the traces to yield a location. Well at least three had active traces. She would see the two youngest Weasleys first. She left sweeping from the trace office with all seven self-updating with the only trace knowledge or at least knowledge or lack thereof knowledge on the six individuals and her niece in her hands, prevented any others from attempting to obtain it later. Not wanting to create a paper trail she headed into her current office. It would take time to be provided new offices and have this one taken from her and she should strike while the iron was hot.
Leaving her security detail outside and stating she didn't want to be disturbed for any reason for the next three hours she closed her office door. At gone four in the afternoon it was hopeful no one would think to look for her here rather than head home and hope to talk to her tomorrow when she would have to return to the Wizengmot and be sworn in.
Believing herself alone she used her private password and opened her floo connection to the Weasleys' asking Molly to let her come through. Forty minutes later she angrily returned. She knew that both children and Molly knew something. However, they refused her any information. All she gleaned was they seemed to dislike Prima Black. Now she had only one other potential source of information. Wasting no time she was asking Augusta to allow her to enter.
"Augusta, I thank you for receiving me on short notice. I will cut to the chase and I apologize for my abrupt departure from the Wizengmot earlier. I need to talk to your grandson, Neville, as I think he knows something about the new Prima Black."
"You want to know about Heather?" Madam Longbottom replied surprised.
Bones had never expected that response but now she knew Prima Black was a witch and apparently another source of information she hadn't expected. "You have met Heather Black?"
"Not yet but I am hoping to soon announce her betrothal to my grandson, Neville. You will of course be invited and of course also Susan, as your niece is the same age as them. It will be nice to have children their same age during the betrothal ball I intend to have on the thirtieth of July."
Amelia took a deep breath and analyzed what she was being told. The initial dichotomy of the fact Augusta had not met Heather Black jarring with the announcement of betrothal and a dance. Oh, that was what Augusta was doing. She obviously knew the witches name and information from Neville. Then was being an opportunist for access to the lockdown wards acting on her grandson's interest right away before someone else tried this way. She obviously felt the reward worth the risk her grandson's infatuation was not founded on a good choice. She was also through Bones, 'establishing notice' of the time her betrothal was initiated. Just in case another decided to act on their son's interest in the witch and the witch was enjoying tantalizing more than one target for affection.
"What can you tell me about Heather Black?"
"I will of course keep her middle name to myself." Augusta began and having got a nod continued. "Due to Sirius being a fugitive, incorrectly believed guilty…
"What do you mean incorrectly believed guilty?" Amelia demanded
"Well in our fear to not have a guilty Black get off we didn't provide a trial and actually imprisoned an innocent wizard. Pettigrew was the secret keeper and traitor. Black was the decoy. They told everyone he was the secret keeper not knowing that they chose a death eater as the secret keeper. Pettigrew is apparently alive. He is an unregistered rat animagus missing a toe from his front foot. He cut off his finger, blew up the street killing the twelve muggles, turned into a rat and escaped into the sewers leaving a hysterical Black for your aurors to capture."
"Didn't you think you should tell somebody this Augusta?"
"I only found that out from my grandson this morning. Potter told Fudge years ago but Fudge refused to listen. Anyway due to Black being a fugitive his daughter was kept out of Hogwarts but taught by several of Hogwarts professors in secret. She is best friends with Hermione. Obviously she is just as smart but there is no recognition for her scores due to her being in hiding. With Black being Potter's godfather during the two years he was a fugitive the two had frequent contact and Potter took to him as a father figure. This meant that Sirius' daughter and Potter during the holidays were raised together. According to my grandson she is, and I quote, 'as close to being Harry's sister as it is possible to be without actually being his true sister'.
"So Amelia is there anything else you need to know?" Augusta asked while trying to wrap up the conversation.
"Could I talk to your grandson?"
"He is busy in his greenhouse. Let me know the questions and I will get the answers back to you. I might know the answer and that would save you the bother. It will be approaching dinner soon and I am sure you have numerous things that are critical to do with fighting you-know-who in your new position as War Marshal. What are the questions?"
Amelia clearly heard the dismissal. Considering how she had willingly handed over numerous facts it seemed odd she didn't want her to speak to her grandson. Then again, she was rather overprotective when it came to her grandson. She was about to state the things she wanted to know. Primarily she wanted a means of contact for Miss Black. She was in the process of putting her thoughts together on the questions she needed answered when Croaker hobbled in.
"Algie what happened to you?" Augusta asked clearly worried.
"Nothing, nothing it looks worse than it is. Experiment from work got away from me. I was hoping we could discuss what we were talking about previously. I really think it is a good idea to have Neville talk with our new War Marshal. She will give him the confidence he heeds. Bones you remember where Neville's greenhouses are? Augusta when were you going to tell me about Neville having a fiancé?" Croaker grabbed his confused sister who was reeling from the bombardment of questions and took her toward the study leaving the guest alone. It was the height of bad manners.
It was also patently deliberate. Bones knew that the injuries were neither from an experiment nor were they 'nothing that looked worse than they were'. Further, he was not present for the reveal of the possible betrothal. He obviously wanted to enable her to talk to Neville. He also was clearly either spying on her or Augusta in order to have known to interrupt when he did. Most likely it was on her he had been spying. He had conveniently stepped in to save her life the other evening. She wondered how much of getting the new position was due to him. She also worried what the Department of Mysteries was after.
Well she might as well take advantage of the diversion Croaker was obviously giving her. She headed for Neville's greenhouses. She found him in the second she entered. "Good evening Neville, I was hoping you could talk to me about your fiancé."
Neville whirled around nearly dropping the pot he had been holding. "Forgive me Madam Bones I wasn't paying attention. What were you asking?" Neville carefully put the pot down. Calmed his breathing and hoped she would say something different from what he thought she had said. He rubbed his hands to get some of the soil off.
"I was asking about Heather Black. Your grandma had been discussing how much you wanted to formalize a betrothal with her. She is arranging a betrothal ball for your birthday" Amelia carefully watched Neville and though the betrothal was not unknown to him he was more resigned to it than actually wanting it. 'Thank you Croaker' she mentally thought.
"You do want to be betrothed to Heather, don't you Neville?"
"I met Heather for the first time a couple of days ago on the Hogwarts trip home, she is a nice witch." Neville frantically tried to think what to say.
"I thought Heather was Hermione's best friend?" Madam Bones stated giving Neville a reprieve, he evidently didn't want to be rude to the witch but didn't know what to say about her.
"Oh yes Hermione has known her for the longest. I just met her and I don't think she shares the same interests as Han…" Neville clamped down on what he was about to say. "Yes, she doesn't share my interest in herbology."
"Is there another witch in Gryffindor that does share your interest in herbology, Neville?" she had got it right as Neville started to blush.
"She isn't a Gryffindor." Then Neville realized what he had said.
"Does my niece Susan know the girl you like? I am sure she could help you. You are going to have to work quickly or your grandma will have you betrothed to Heather and that isn't very nice to both of you. Or is it my niece you like. You used to play with her and her best friend all the time. The three of you were inseparable."
"Your niece is a nice girl like Heather too, Madam Bones. Both of them are not keen on herbology though."
"Hanna is though." Amelia gloated seeing Neville blush bright red. So Susan's best friend, now she had an in to talk with Heather. "Neville, you need to talk with Hanna and the Abbott's to act fast enough or there could be the three of you hurt by your grandmother.
"Grandmother doesn't like herbology." Neville declared despondently.
"I am going to tell your grandmother that I would like you to come over to dinner with my niece. I will arrange Hanna and her parents to be there and we will see how the meal goes. Can you provide me a means to contact Heather so I can ensure she stalls the betrothal for you?"
"Professor Moody was going to provide security, I believe they are at Hermione's house. Oh, and the eldest Weasley, I think his name is Bill was going to put up wards."
Thanking Neville she left him in his green house. Well Moody was a better choice than another Weasley. She knew they were behind Black's lockdown wards not living at the Grangers but still she had another strong source of information. In leaving Croaker came through again when Augusta didn't want Neville to have dinner. Unfortunately, the help was only half good and half annoying. Where she had been planning to arrange the dinner in the future, Croaker had caused it to happen this evening. Now she couldn't search for Moody as she had planned, but must get a dinner organized and get the Abbot's and their daughter Hanna invited.
