I'm neither famous nor a multi-millionaire therefore I have no rights to Harry Potter. However, I do thank J.K. Rowling for allowing others to play in her sandbox. Please read and review.
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Amelia was fuming! James and Lily Potter had been close friends of hers and her brother. Harry had been a playmate of her niece, Susan. She had often taken her niece to playdates with Harry as well as Neville Longbottom, another son of a close set of friends and fellow Aurors, Frank and Alice Longbottom.
Storming through Diagon Alley into The Leaky Cauldron, she took the floo to her office at the DMLE. Opening her office door she shouted for Kingsley Shacklebolt and Alastor Moody. Slamming the door she went behind her desk and sat down, and called for Mimsy. Asking for a tray with Firewhiskey and three glasses, she then had a quick shot to calm down.
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Meanwhile, Auror Moody and Auror Shacklebolt had jumped up when Director Bones shouted their name. They immediately started for her office while looking at each other wondering what in the hell had happened to piss her off. Knocking on her door, they heard a curt "enter", so they walked into her office.
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Amelia immediately set up the strongest privacy wards she could cast. She also scanned her office for listening spells and removed three of them and another one each from her Aurors. Once that was done she swore her Aurors to secrecy.
"Okay you two, this is serious, and I mean the height of the Blood War serious. One of our own has been wronged in more ways than one. Pulling out all the evidence she began to explain what everything all meant. She also stated she was under contract and oath, so there were some things that she couldn't share so she would be investigating those on her own.
"What I want you two to do, deals with this." Amelia said as she slid forward the Will of James and Lily Potter. Pointing to the sections that involved Sirius. "I want the two of you to secretly go to Azkaban and retrieve him. Nobody is to know you are going, when you are there, who you are there for, and that you are leaving with an extra person. I want you to bring him to this secure safe house." Here she handed them a slip of paper that said Hunter's Rest is at 12 Willowbrough Lane, Powerstock, Dorset. "Do not lose that paper and as soon as Sirius has read it, incinerate it. I am the secret keeper and nobody else knows of it. I want you to clean him up and make him as presentable as possible by tomorrow morning. Healer Abasi will be on standby and has been let in on the secret. Just give him a floo call to let him know you are ready for him once you arrive at the safe house. Don't worry, he is under contract and I reminded him of his Healer's Oath as well. Now, I will pick Sirius up just before 6 a.m. and floo with him here to my office. We will then go to Wizengamot. I want you two in the chambers on guard duty at either side of him once he is presented. Be extra vigilant, I have a suspicion that his immediate incarceration was not an accident and wasn't just a one man job. Following the Wizengamot, he is to be taken directly to Gringotts where there will be a meeting. I would like you two to escort him there until he is in the private room." Looking the two Aurors right in the eyes, she asked, "Any questions?"
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"No, ma'am!" They both answered. Then they stood as one and prepared to leave her office. Auror Moody pocketed the slip of paper with the safe house location in an inner robe pocket Then, they both disillusioned themselves and headed towards the room which kept the Azkaban equipment. They each took a medallion to ward off the dementors and Auror Shaklebolt took a portkey which would take them to the ferry. Before taking the portkey, they headed to another room and grabbed an invisibility cloak each along with a spare. Donning the cloaks, Shaklebolt held out the portkey and waited until he felt a tug.
"Three…Two….One! Gangway!"
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After the men had left, Amelia drafted a notice for an emergency session of the Wizengamot. She then duplicated it and magically added the names and proper title to each individual one. Calling Mimsy, she then asked the elf to send out all the notices. It didn't take long for her to have the minister invading her office.
She could hear angry yelling outside her office and then the door flew open and a scarlet faced Minister Fudge stormed into her office and slammed the notice down on her desk. "What is the meaning of this, Amelia?"
"Well, perhaps if you would explain what you are so upset about instead of yelling and slamming things around we could have a civilized conversation like two grown adults, Cornelius." Amelia said while calmly sitting at her desk sipping at some tea.
"That's Minister Fudge to you!" He said, turning even more scarlet with his hands scrunched into fists at his sides. "I want to know why you scheduled a Wizengamot session without coming to me and informing me what it was about or getting my permission, Amelia."
"I will address you as Minister Fudge when you address me properly as Director Bones! As for informing you of the Wizengamot session, I did. It's right there on the desk. I have no need to seek your authorization to schedule a session nor do I have to inform you prior to sending out the official notice. As per my duties to the DMLE, I am obligated to schedule a session when there is new evidence involving a case that casts reasonable doubt or calls for the action of the Wizengamot."
"Which case is it?" He asked through clenched teeth.
She could just see him thinking of how badly this was going to affect his popularity among his voters. Anything that made the ministry look bad was a cause for concern for him. He would much rather push everything under the rug and have a pristine looking reputation.
"I am not at liberty to say. As you know, I cannot reveal details of an ongoing investigation. All will be revealed tomorrow during the trial. Now, if you don't mind, I have work to get done." She said as she pulled a pile of parchmentwork towards her and began reading, giving him a clear sign of dismissal.
Fuming, Minister Fudge turned around and left the office. However, just at that moment, Albus Dumbledore came running right past him into the office. He slammed the door and yelled "Amelia, surely there is no need for a Wizengamont session. Whatever is going on can be worked out quietly."
"Albust too-many-names Dumbledore! You will not just barge your way in here and tell me how to do my job!" Amelia said as she rose to her feet, slammed her palms down on her desk, and leaned over while giving a stern stare at the so-called Leader of the "Light".
"Now, now…"
"Don't you "Now, Now" me! I am the Head of the DMLE! I have worked my way up from a trainee Auror to get to this position and I know the laws of Magical Britain like the back of my hand." She stated as she stared at him. "Don't you dare try to tell me how to do my job. You don't even know what this session is about! And no! I'm not going to tell you because that's not something you need to know!"
"But I am the Chief Warlock, I should know what is going on." He stated as he sat down in the chair in front of her desk.
"No, I am not obligated to tell you what is going on. And if you try to legilimise me again, I will be arresting you and trying you tomorrow during the session along with what else I need to do. Just try me!" Amelia said coldly while raising an eyebrow. "Now, if you have nothing further to discuss, I have other business to attend to." She sat down pulling the parchment work back towards her and watched over the rim of her glasses while Dumbledore got up and left her office. She knew he would make his way to Minister Fudge's office but that didn't bother her in the least.
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Aurors Kingsley and Moody landed at a shabby little dock. Walking down to the end there was a rowboat that looked able to seat about eight people in the water. They carefully boarded it and waited. Up on shore, just inside the tree line there was a small cabin. After a few minutes, a small man came out and made his way down the dock. He looked a bit confused when he saw the seemingly empty skiff but then just shrugged and hopped in. Lighting the lamp that was on a pole at the back of the skiff using a match from a booklet of them in his pocket, he then set the oars into place and began rowing his way across the North Sea to Azkaban.
"I'm not sure who's all here, but I shan't say a word of this here trip te nobody." He grunted out as he continued rowing.
After that it was quiet until they gently bumped into the dingy dock at Azkaban.
"Just wait here. We won't be long. And remember, 'Hippogriff Dung'" Auror Moody said to the man after he used a charm to disguise his voice.
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The man immediately stiffened in his seat and his eyes got wide. He knew exactly what that code word meant. It changed on a weekly basis and came directly from the top. He was told it by the Head of the DMLE herself. If it was ever used, he knew the people who passed it on were sanctioned by her to do whatever they came to do and he was not to interfere in any way. He was also to keep everything confidential no matter what happened. Even if someone was killed. If he ever told anyone, he would forfeit his own life. He decided he was just going to sit here and not make a sound.
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Meanwhile, Aurors Moody and Shaklebolt had already entered the prison and were making their way down to the lowest levels. On the lowest level, were the highest security inmates. As soon as they cracked the door open, and they cast silencing charms on themselves. Down the hall of the inmates they cast a notice-me-not charm, silencing ward, and a few other charms so that the other inmates would not notice that anything out of the ordinary was going on. They found Sirius Black across from Bellatrix Lestrange and in between Rabastian and Rodolphus Lestrange. Auror Shaklebolt opened Black's cell, removed his disillusionment charm and cloak, asked for and received the fidelius from Moody, then went in to talk to the man. Sirius Black was found huddled on the bed against the wall with the tattered blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
"Sirius Black" Auror Shaklebolt said as he walked in. "I'm Auror Kingsley Shakelbolt, and I'm going to get you out of here. You're going to finally get that long overdue trial that most of us never knew you were denied."
The man's head whipped around so fast Kingsley was afraid he would get whiplash. There was still a spark of intelligence in his eyes along with a haunted look. "You mean I can leave here? I'm no longer dementor food?"
Kingsley chuckled a bit at that description. "Yes, stand up. You're coming with us. Just read and think about what's on this paper before we go. My partner is just outside the door still under concealment. This is a completely classified mission and only four people, well five now with you, know about it. Tomorrow morning at the Wizengamot everything will be revealed."
"Haha! I love it! It's about time somebody got their act together! I can't wait to see the outcome of this!" Sirius said with a bit of his old self back. He read and thought about what was on the paper. Then he handed it back (Kingsley immediately set it aflame), stood up, and made his unsteady way towards Kingsley who put him under the disillusionment charm and put an invisibility cloak over him.
"I want you to grab a hold of my partner, Auror Moody's arm." Here Moody reached out and nudged him a bit with his arm.
"Hey there Rookie. Sorry I ever doubted you. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive an old man." Alastor said with a sad voice.
Sirius grabbed his arm and said "Forgiven, Boss. Those were dark days, Boss. Friends doubting friends and family doubting family. You never knew who you could really trust. Horrible times. I'm glad they're behind us."
Kingsley had closed the door, reapplied his charm and cloak, and grabbed Sirius's other arm in the meantime. "Time to head back. Complete silence from here on out." He started walking towards the door, gently pulling Sirius along behind him. Once they reached the door, he stopped a little ways inside so that Moody could take down all the spells they had set up. From there it didn't take long to work their way back out of the prison, into the boat, and back to the dingy little dock.
Kingsley apparated Sirius to the safe house while Moody followed behind. Once there, Kingsely immediately removed the cloaks and disillusionment charms. He then laid Sirius on the couch. Moody immediately called Healer Abasi who came over right away. Moody then went to return all the items, secretly, that they had borrowed from the DMLE before they would be noticed. After that, it was just a matter of waiting for the Healer to finish.
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Remus Lupin was tired. He was tired of living the way he had been the past ten years. He was tired of living without his pack. He was tired of bumbling along from job to job. He was tired of going through the werewolf transformations. Most of all, he was just plain tired of life. Yet, he knew his cub was out there and he just could not give up yet. There was still hope that he could see him some day and help him. So, he got out of bed and got ready for another day.
Entering the kitchen of the small cottage he rented out in a forest in Germany, he heard a tapping on the window. Looking towards it he saw an owl bearing a harness with the Gringotts crest. He immediately let the owl in and relieved it of its burden. Quickly opening the missive he read the letter.
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Mr. Remus Lupin,
The Will reading for the late Lord James and Lady Lily Potter will occur on Friday, 31 May, 1991. As per the wishes of the late Lady Potter, we require you to be back in Gringotts by no later than 6a.m. Thursday 30 May, 1991.
We are aware that you suffer from Lycanthropy and thus have seen fit to provide you with a portkey. It will transport you to a secure room with a goblin named Axelrod. He will take you to a guest room which you may use during your stay. We will provide you with the goblin form of the potion Wolfsbane (unlike the wizard-form, ours does not poison your body while allowing you to keep your mind. If you would like to talk more about this, ask for me during your stay).
Now, here are your options. You can either use this portkey (your letter) which will allow you to use the wolfsbane and the room all already paid for. Or, you can use this portkey to come tomorrow.
Hoping to see you on Tuesday.
Gravelcrunch of Clan Skullcrusher
Head of Creature Relations
Gringotts Branch, London
PS The keyword is "Ragnuk"
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'Well, what to do, what to do.' I could go today and try out that wolfsbane. However, It would be nice to have the rest of the day to get everything in order without feeling rushed. On the other hand, knowing how tired I get after a shift, I'll need tomorrow to sleep. I don't want to chance not making it there on time. If I really do wait until tomorrow, I'm not likely to get any more done than I am today with the full moon and sleeping it off. Might as well just go today.'
Having decided that, Remus ate a quick breakfast and began packing everything and putting his affairs in order to move back to Britain. He really didn't feel like coming back to Germany now that it was the year his cub was starting his first year at Hogwarts.
Using some charms, the werewolf quickly got the rented cabin packed up. He pulled out a piece of parchment, a self-inking quill, and wrote out a quick letter to his landlord. Putting it in an envelope, he made sure all the lights were out, and everything was tidy in the cabin. Then, he left, closed, locked the door, called to an owl that was sitting in a tree, dropped the key in the envelope, and tied it to the owl.
"Hey there, Halia" he said while scratching the Eagle Owl on the head. "This goes to Mira. Take your time flying back as I'll be in London. Enjoy the flight!" The barn owl gave a small hoot and took off towards the east.
Remus reached down and picked up his trunk with his left hand and grabbed his briefcase with his right. Also, gripping his letter in his right hand he said "Ragnuk". After what felt like an eternity of spinning, he began slowly walking and landed upright in a small room facing a goblin.
"Axelrod I presume?" He inquired.
"Mr. Remus Lupin." The goblin said with a nod. "Allow me to lead you to your quarters while you are here. With that the goblin turned around, opened the door, and took off further down the passage.
Remus left the room at a steady pace to keep up with him. Not too long afterwards he was shown into a guest room complete with a bed, nightstand, desk, chair, enchanted window, large fireplace, rug, comfortable looking chair, door to the facilities, and wardrobe. On the nightstand there was a steaming goblet.
"Your wolfsbane is on the nightstand. I'll be back to take you to where you'll spend the night. Tizzy will be by with your supper and feel free to call here if there is anything else that you need." Axelrod nodded briefly then left.
Remus set his trunk at the foot of the bed and his briefcase on the desk. He then drank down the wolfsbane and was surprised when it actually had a pleasant taste. Laying on the bed he decided to rest until it was time for the transformation.
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AN: I know, I know, I'm horrible. You're all waiting for the Will reading and here I am just leaving cliffhangers that seem to be further and further away from the Will reading. We'll get there. I promise!