Chapter IX
A small bit of acceptance
The sun filtered into the Bones household as Amelia prepared for her day ahead. The investigation into Sirius Black's escape was proving to be difficult and straining on her department. The public was afraid of going out and feared that Black would just show up and kill them. The notion was utterly ridiculous, but people would always jump to terrifying possibilities.
Sadly, the strain was not simply at work but at home as well. Two days ago, they had returned from Gringotts and the pre-will reading. The official reading would take place in another week, although her daughter would not need to attend, having already signed any documents that needed her signature.
Since their return, the young teen had remained in her room, only coming out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She did not speak much, only mumbled thank yous. Amelia felt helpless in getting to know the girl and knew that it was partly her fault.
Then came everything she had learned during that meeting at Gringotts. How did her daughter get so close to the Goblin Nation? Yes it could be explained off by the Potter relation with the Goblin nation, they always did have strong ties with them but it couldn't just be that. She would have had to impress them in some sort of way, in some manner that would gather the interest of higher up Goblins.
The entire subject of extra classes was also a concern. According to Susan Harry Potter had been classified as a top twenty-five student and the low end of it as well. What sort of extra classes would her daughter be taking and was it possible these extra classes were interfering with her Hogwarts classes?
"Morning," came a soft whisper that had her turning away from her morning tea and thoughts to find said teen standing in the archway of the kitchen.
She was still dressed in pyjamas, a pair of pyjama pants with an oversized t-shirt. Hair pulled back into a messy bun, some strands falling out here and there while she rubbed her eyes to get rid of the sleep.
"Good morning Kinsley," she greeted earning only a small wince from the teen before she moved over to get something from the pantry.
They had - she had decided that it would be best if Kinsley got used to her name so they had begun calling her by her birth name. The motion was slow considering her response to it, but she never spoke out against it.
"You shouldn't stay cooped up in your room all day, why don't you enjoy the gardens or - the library?" she remarked and for a moment the teen stood, back to her holding a muffin in her hands before she turned and gave her a hesitant look.
"May I fly in the gardens?" the girl questioned and although Amelia wanted to say no, considering she was quite certain her daughter was still recovering she did not want the animosity between them to grow.
"Certainly, there are wards in place to stop the muggles from seeing you as long as you stay within the property and don't fly too far up." The smile that blossomed on the girl's face had Amelia's heart fluttering. It did not last long though, as the teen swiftly looked away.
"Thank you, um - have a nice day." the teen mumbled before grabbing a glass of milk and hurrying off back to her room.
"Well, that was better than before." Came the soft voice of her niece, as the young redhead made her appearance in the kitchen.
"Have a nice day aunty, come back safe." the teen chirped while skipping over to place a kiss upon her cheek before grabbing her own breakfast and heading out into the garden to eat it.
...
Hurrying up the stairs, Harry stayed quiet. The last two days had been relatively tense in the Bones Household. It was odd living in a house so different from the Dursleys. Add on the gender change and the fact that her body still hurt at times from the gun wound she had received courtesy of Vernon Dursley.
His birth mother was also - very different and it was taking longer than he would have liked to adjust to a parental figure in his life.
Entering his bedroom, he shut and subconsciously locked the door before moving over to the small sitting area. Books covered the small coffee table with notes, quills, and ink. Photographs also peaked out from parchment in various areas.
After their return from Gringotts, his mother informed him that she would be arranging a meeting with Dumbledore concerning his or her enrolment. The Headmaster would know nothing of whom he used to be, nothing. He had lost the battle and now would have to hide himself from his friends and becoming a new student with almost no affiliation with Harry Potter bar the fact that his father was Harry Potter's godfather.
Slumping into one of the sofas, he drew a sigh before pulling a piece of the muffin and nibbling on it. A day ago, he had received a package from a very surprising person - his Aunt Cassiopeia. The woman seemed to have been in contact with his biological mother and was aware of the plan for him to become Kinsley Black.
With the letter came, an invitation to spend a weekend at the woman's home and his mother had already given permission.
Apparently, both women believed it would be best if he knew about both sides of his family, and to be honest, he was excited and nervous.
After learning about his father - which something in the back of his mind did not sit well with him - he had looked the Black Family up. Surprisingly the book he had purchased the summer before about Pureblood families had paid off.
The Black family was a very old family; it had once been one of the largest, oldest, and wealthiest pureblooded wizarding families in Britain, and one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. This meant being one of the largest, that many of the other families had married into the Blacks leaving Kinsley to be related to many people he rather not call family.
Learning he was rather closely related to Draco Malfoy had not been informed he enjoyed.
Apparently, there were not many members of the Family still alive, so he did not have many relatives left. A fact that made it more worrisome was the fact that many believed the Black Family one of the Dark Families associated with Death Eaters and followers of Voldemort.
He was nervous, knowing so many people related to him had caused such harm and implanted such fear in people's hearts and mind. Then came the realization that people would look at him differently because he was a Black. Yes, he might have been a Bones as well, but most people would only see the Black Family name and because the Black Family outranked the Bones Family, he would have to represent the Black Family more than the Bones.
"Oh bloody hell my head hurts," he moaned before slumping back.
Slumping though only made it obvious what else was playing on his mind and with a tired moan, he turned and flopped face first onto the sofa.
"A bloody girl, I'm a bloody girl." he whined, "I have boobs, I have a - a - ugh I don't have a dick. I have long hair - long RED hair and I don't have my green eyes anymore. No, instead I have MINT!" He sneered before turning to look at his table.
Susan had tried to be helpful, bringing magazines to his room. She slipped them through the cracks of his door. Various issues of Witchweekly. He hadn't touched them.
This summer was turning into one of the most confusing he had ever, had not to mention the most painful. Shot, almost dying, beaten, starved, then emotional and physical changes, learning he actually had parents, but that his father had been responsible for the death of his adoptive parents and almost his own death.
Screwed up, that was his life. He needed better control of it, he had some, but he needed to get a hold of his own body. He needed to figure out what he was going to do.
Being a girl - it was different then, being a guy. Yet – he was realizing - it did not have to be completely different. He liked sports, some girls liked sports look at the Gryffindor Chasers. He didn't have to stop playing Quidditch just because he was suddenly a - a she.
He didn't really know what girls liked but really - if he liked something he wasn't going to change that. He liked what he liked and if others did not accept that then they would go away because they were not the ones that turned from a boy to a girl in the middle of puberty.
"I'm - stuck this way so I guess I better make the best of it," he mumbled before pushing himself up.
Eyeing the magazine on the table, he hesitated before huffing and pulling one over. Opening it, he began to look and after a few minutes tossed it back on the table and stood from the sofa.
"That was total crap," he grunted before considering his options.
If he was going to be a girl, he would need to learn some stuff. Maybe there was a book in the library. Grabbing his muffin, he left his room, taking a bite as he went.
The library in the house was not very large and was entirely possible it did not contain what he needed, but it would be a good idea see if it was there.
Arriving at the open doors of the library, he walked in and swiftly began to look through the various bookcases. Going through transfiguration, charms, and Herbology sections, he was happy when he finally spotted a home section.
Cooking books, cleaning books, appearance books, some home healing books and suddenly - Miss Trumpet's Book on being a witch.
Plucking it from the shelf, he turned only to freeze. There standing in the doorway, looking curious was Susan.
"I'll get out of your way," he mumbled before walking briskly past the other girl.
"Kin - Harry!" Susan cried out making him freeze. "I'm sorry, for last year. What happened - it was not right and we just made it worse. You couldn't speak out, and if you did, nobody believed you. We had no proof that you were the one doing the attacks and yet we blamed you. Even after you saved the school, we never - nobody ever apologised. I cannot apologise for everybody else Harry but I want to tell you that I am sorry. I am so so so sorry."
Slowly, Kinsley turned his eyes wide as he gazed at the girl who was his new cousin. She stood there, arms wrapped around herself, tears falling from her amber eyes. It made him feel uncomfortable. Comforting girls was never his strong suit especially when they cried, hell even as a girl he did not know what the hell to do.
"I - know where cousins," he began, unsure how to comfort the girl. "I've never had the best relationship with family, I just, - maybe we can start by being friends?" he offered, feeling foolish especially when he spotted wide-eyed look Susan gave him. "I mean - I just - stupid I guess."
"You'd want to be friends with me?" Susan hiccupped while brushing tears from the corner of her eyes.
"Well if you - don't mind being friends with a Black, I doubt I'm going to be overly liked at Hogwarts considering who my father and in retrospect the family I'll be representing," he mumbled weakly before looking away.
"You said it though, we're cousins, and I - I would really like to be your friend to Harry," Susan whispered, causing Kinsley to look at her with startled mint eyes before a smile formed.
"Maybe - Kinsley would be best from now on," he whispered hesitantly. "and please, no more Witchweekly until I'm ready."
"I - I can do that," Susan agreed before hesitating a moment.
Then, before Kinsley could even think about what the other girl was going to do, he found himself encased in a tight hug that had his eyes widening in shock.
Slowly relaxing into the hug, he hesitantly wrapped one arm around the other girl's waist until finally Susan pulled away and gave him a watery smile.
The Ministry was a hive of activity as Amelia and Kingsley entered the Minister's floor. The Ministry requested both Amelia and Kingsley be present for a meeting in his office. This meant the man wanted to speak about Kinsley's case, or at least that was what they both believed.
"Ah Amelia," the man greeted warmly as they entered his office. "Kinsley old chap good to see you as well,"
He hurried to shake both their hands before leading them to the sitting area where tea had been set up.
"I've called you to discuss two different items," he declared before sitting. "I would like to speak to you concerning the - case from a little while ago but I also wish to speak to you about another matter first." Here the man pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket and handed it to Amelia.
Frowning she accepted it before looking down and reading its message.
(I believe my office has been breached, please secure the office,)
Eyes widening in surprise before she frowned. Grasping her wand, she muttered a quick spell and as the office began to ring, she growled and hurried to her feet. Kingsley was swift to follow and when they worked together, they identified the various objects that were enchanted before defusing the spells.
"I think Cornelius we have a breach in your staff," Amelia grunted while placing a snow globe on the desk and turning to the man whose shoulders were slumped.
"I feared for this," he muttered soberly. "I saw one of my employees in my office when I wasn't present, as you well know that isn't approved as there are sensitive documents in the room."
"Who?" Kingsley questioned.
"Dolores Umbridge,"
"The undersecretary, we'll look into her Minister, we also noticed some - altering wards on your desk. Seems somebody might have been trying to manipulate your thoughts. We'll need a list of whoever was in your office that you know of for the last month as that ward needs to be reapplied every month." Kinglsey remarked calmly.
"I can have that assembled; the question is what can be done?"
Re-taking her seat, Amelia took a deep breath before pulling a cup of tea towards her. As she brought it to her lips to take a sip, she froze and slowly lowered it. Grasping her wand once more, she waved it over the cup. The moment the contents glowed, she placed the cup back down.
"Don't drink the tea," she ordered quickly noticing the Minister was preparing to take a sip. "I think it would be best to bring Alastor into the situation. Somebody is not only attempting to manipulate you Cornelius but also poison you."
The admission made the man pale considerably before he slumped against the back of the sofa.
"Amelia I - yes I believe that would be for the best," he agreed disbanded.
Rising to her feet, Amelia moved to the fireplace and grabbed some floo powder before throwing it into the flames.
"Stone Heaven!" She called, her head appearing in the hearth of a fireplace she knew all too well. "Alastor!" She called out, and no sooner did she do so did the door open and a man walked stiffly walked in.
"Amelia," he grunted, his one good eye narrowed at her as the other swivelled around in its socket. "You're lucky, my leg was bothering me, what you want and why the hell are you contacting me through the Minister's fireplace."
"How the hell - never mind, I need you to come through, something urgent has come up," she ordered and although the man let a tired sigh leave him, he gave a nod.
"I'll be through," he grumbled while motioning for Amelia to get out of the way.
Pulling her head out of the flames, she stood and stepped aside. Moments later the flames turned green once more and the man known as Mad-eye Moody entered the office. His swivelling eye observed the room at a whole before one eye focused on them.
"What seems to be the trouble?"
"Somebody is spying on the Minister, attempting to manipulate his decision making as well as poisoning the man," Kingsley explained just as calm as always while extending a hand to the scared ex-auror. "Good to see you Alastor."
"Shacklebolt," the man grunted while accepting the hand before turning to Fudge who had risen to his feet to greet the old war hawk.
"Alastor Moody," he began but Mad-eye brushed him off.
"You have a bit of a problem, I'm assuming Amelia suggested I be involved, I don't mind been boring but I do have one demand," he grunted making Amelia sigh.
"Now see here man, this is -" "What Auror this time?" Amelia questioned interrupting the Minister who looked angry at first before he realized that the man did not want payment in monetary value.
"I hear you have a unique one in your kiddies" Moody remarked making Amelia tense. "Nymphadora Tonks, daughter of Andromeda Tonks nee Black. She's a Metamorphmagus isn't she?"
"You want to personally have training sessions with the last 'Black' in our forces?" Amelia questioned curiously, as to why Moody would want to train another Black.
"I trained Sirius Black Amelia; I know how to push a Black to be their best even if that Black defected to the other side. I have done my research on this one, Hufflepuff of all houses. I doubt any Black or their descendent had been in the house of the badger. This means she has more loyalty in her then he did. Her ability to change appearances needs to be harnessed to the best of her ability and I've seen her grades in Defence against the Dark Arts. Top marks and I doubt it's because of the seven Professors in the subject she had. Let me have some part in her training and I'll help in any way I can."
"Agreed – on one correction," Amelia declared turning the tide on her own mentor. "but we can discuss that later."
Silence filled the office as Moody concentrated both his eyes on the Head of the DMLE before he gave a grunting nod of the head.
"You need new wards," he barked towards the Minister startling the man. "Constant Vigilance! Wards to stop access to the office unless allowed by yourself, this will stop people from entering the office when you are not here."
As the man walked around, his artificial eye swivelled all around taking note of everything in the room before continuing to talk.
"Contact one elf per employee in your office to spy on them until you discern who is against you. Amelia can teach you that detection spells for poisons and toxins. The Goblins would be a good team to bring in to secure the office, make sure it's at night when nobody is here bar a trusted auror to keep watch."
"Have the wards bring anybody who attempts to break in, to a holding cell. They will alert us and from there we can question them. Attempted espionage is grounds for Veritaserum." Amelia jumped in earning an approving nod from Alastor.
"If they've infiltrated into your department Minister, they may have infiltrated into the rest of the Ministry or become benefactors of sorts." The ex-auror grunted not bothering to mention certain names as he knew the man would not believe him.
"You cannot believe that –""Cornelius, it is possible, very possible." Amelia hurried to jump in. "I think it would be to the public's safety if the Ministry is a safe place to work would you not. This would prevent any future – takeovers even if they are slim."
"Cleaning the Ministry, you'd be rather famous," Kingsley dropped earning an approving nod from Amelia while the Minister looked thoughtful.
"How – how do we go about doing such a thing?" Fudge questioned, sound hesitant and looking pale.
"Bring in the Heads of Departments, questioning them before moving onto their subordinates. We can actually do some change and if some members mean harm to the safety and integrity of this institute we would know." Moody grunted before looking at Amelia who looked thoughtful.
"It's our right to do the questioning. Every Ministry worker sighed a document stating as much. If sufficient proof has been given, three Heads of Department approving the action would mean official inquisition into the actions of Ministry staff." She remarked before considering options for two other Department heads. "I believe Hubert Greengrass, the Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes would a good man to ask, he has always done the right thing and we are on friendly terms, there is also Amos Diggory, Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and Thomas Abbott, Head of the Department of Magical Transportation."
"I believe all three would be good candidates but Amos – good man yes – loud mouth," Moody grunted earning a nod of approval from Kingsley while Amelia hummed in agreement.
"Seems we have a plan in place but before we commence the plan, you wished to speak to us about the case Kingsley is lead on," the sudden turn of the subject had Cornelius shaking his head before nodding.
"I wished to speak about the personal matter and the level of secrecy directed towards it." He remarked before shooting a look to Moody.
"He'll be involved," Amelia, declared quickly surprising everybody. "The person I want him to train is her,"
"You think it wise –" "If you aren't going to inform me of what the hell case you're talking about there is no point in me being here," Moody grunted annoyed at not knowing just what the three were speaking about.
"Right, I think Amelia should explain," Kingsley remarked while looking to his boss who drew a deep breath.
"We found Kinsley," she declared causing the ex-auror's head to swivel towards them so rapidly Amelia thought the man might have received a kink.
…
Arriving home, Amelia drew a sigh. The day had been long and things at work only seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. She was just glad that Kingsley's investigation into the Dursleys' was almost over and that the two would be sent to prison. For the purpose of secrecy, they would be placed in muggle prisons. Harry Potter's name would not be published because of age.
On their end, they would seal the file, storing it in the classified storage area that only certain people had access too. No mention of the case was going to reach the Daily Prophet. They would need to come up with a believable story for the disappearance of Harry Potter but for now, they would work with what they had.
With the case wrapped up, they would be able to concentrate on the cleanup they were about to embark on. Questioning every single employee of the Ministry would run the departments ragged, especially if they wanted to do it as swiftly as possible.
"So the lass has been in her room since she arrived here?" Moody questioned making her look back at the man who had accompanied her home.
"Yes, I think – she's just trying to get used to it all," Amelia remarked while closing the door behind the man.
Leading the way into the house, Amelia chose to check the main floor before looking outside in the backyard. The moment she did a shocking sight met her eyes. Both girls stood, wand in hand and Kinsley seemed to be showing Susan something.
"Wait," Alastor grunted while placing a hand on her shoulder stopping her from moving to question the girls. "Watch,"
Frowning in displeasure, Amelia turned to look at her niece and daughter. Slowly they moved through the motions, Kinsley correcting Susan a bit here and there before they did it again this time the all clear shielding spell appeared around them both.
"That's a fourth-year spell," Alastor grunted in appreciation. "The girl seems to have talent and patients if she's teaching your niece how to perform it. It looks strong as well. Seems she got over her shyness,"
"Looks like it," Amelia remarked startled by the show before opening the door and stepping out.
Instantly the girls turned their attention to her, Susan's shield dropped but Kinsley's stayed strong, not even wavering, which got an appreciative grunt from Alastor.
"Aunty!" Susan exclaimed, happy to see her while Kingsley gave a nervous smile before lowering her arm smoothly allowing the shield to fall.
"That's a good shield you got there lass," Alastor grunted surprising both Susan and Kinsley.
Susan knew who Alastor was, she was used to seeing him, but it was clear Kinsley knew nothing about the man, especially as she continued to hold her wand in her hand while Susan put hers away.
"Good reflexes too," he muttered before Amelia cleared her throat.
"I'm glad to see you out of your room Kinsley; did you girls have a good day?" She asked earning smiles from both girls even if Kinsley's was a bit weaker.
"Yes Aunty, I've been helping Kinsley and in turn, she's helped me with my Defence. You know it is not my best subject. She is brilliant! Knows so much and there's a reason she's the best in our year." Susan babbled making Amelia smile while Kinsley blushed and looked down with embarrassment.
"I'm glad you girls are getting along, Susan you know Alastor but Kinsley. Allow me to introduce you to Alastor Moody, he used to be Head Auror and fought during the war. He's talented and a bit paranoid." Amelia introduced.
"It's only paranoia" "if somebodies out to get you," Alastor and Kinsley remarked at the same time before they looked to each other and Kinsley grinned while Alastor chuckled before his face turned serious.
"I trained your father lass, both of them." He grunted making Amelia tense while Kinsley looked more serious. "He was a great duellist, too bad he went dark. Amelia here asked if I could give you a few pointers over the course of the summer what with your horrible teachers up to date apparently. She suspects that your father might try to come after you. So she wants you prepared."
"You'll teach me?" the teen asked sounding surprised and a bit thrilled at the idea.
"Yes lass, during the summer but only a few pointers, Alastor grunted before looking her over.
"It won't be on weekends," Amelia added in before drawing a sigh. "I agreed to send you to Cassiopeia's for weekends to learn from her what you need for the Black Family."
"What?! Bloody hell Amelia you are agreeing to send her into that –" They are her family Alastor, and not all the Blacks are evil. Although I am not fond of many of them, Cassiopeia held strong and never associated with anything to do with the war. She will be teaching Kinsley about the Black Family, and although I do not like Cassiopeia, I can trust she will not harm the heir to the Black Family. If there is one thing, there is loyalty within the Black's, most times. She is the Heiress of the Black Family after all and needs to be able to act like it." Amelia countered before giving Kinsley and Susan smiles.
"Susan, your own lessons will be growing as well. The Bones and Black Families have not held very close ties in the past but you hold bloody ties. I suspect that may change the tide of things in the Wizengamot's future. Susan, you need to be prepared."
"Yes Aunty," Susan mumbled while shooting Kinsley a grimace that had her smothering a snicker.