A/N: and here i am again with another chapter with the help form HowInMadeHowie. He helped me once again to improve my first draft of this chapter, as it was rather ruth at first.
Thanks to you readers once again for liking this story so far. Have fun and be safe
Dumbledore sat in his office, preparing himself for the next Wizengamot session, when he thought back the day before and what all the reports from Cortana and Madam Pomfrey told him. He stroked his beard as he thought back to the debriefing from the day before.
Flashback
In Dumbledore's office, Harry explained how he had defeated the basilisk down in the Chamber of Secrets and what they had found in the hidden room behind Slytherin's statue. Dumbledore listened carefully and asked questions if he thought that Harry had more information that he had to think about again. "Well Harry, it seems that we all had underestimated the basilisk's size even after we had found the shed skin. I will ask a friend of mine that is very knowledgeable about magical creatures, maybe he could explain why we had thought that the basilisk was just three quarters from its actual size. Luckily, you survived, and the school is now safe from it. Now I hope you will enjoy the rest of your day, but would like to ask you to remove your armor before returning to your common room. I am afraid that the rumor mill will run rampant if you were seen wearing it. After that, I would suggest that you also go to Madame Pomfrey and let her check you for any injuries. I think that would be the best course of action. You students know the way, but I will wish to talk with Chief Wulf and Professor Merigold about something else so I will ask you to be on your way." Harry nodded understanding of what the headmaster needed to talk about with the girls out of his office since he did not ask about the diary; Harry thanked the headmaster for the dismissal and asked Hermione and Daphne, who had also come to the office as they really wanted to know how much Harry had risked his life, if they came with him to John's office where he could remove his armor. All they had to do was walk to the Chief Wulf's office as he pulled his cloak over his body before he opened the door.
John turned around after the door was closed behind Daphne, asking the headmaster what he wanted to talk with them about. Dumbledore asked John if he had the diary now, as Harry would have given it to him knowing that the girls should not know about the horcrux existing and who made them. John took it out from a compartment on his shoulder, showing the hole that the sword of Gryffindor had put in it. "I see, so it worked after all. You know, even if the goblins always tell us that their weapons absorb anything that strengthens them and would never dull, we still do not know how they do it or what they define as strengthening the weapon's power. It could also have been that the sword had not absorbed the venom from the basilisk as it could be seen as dangerous to the wielder when he would cut himself on the blade afterwards, but that was a worry that was not necessary. Now that we have something that would destroy a horcrux reliably, we can search for the others and gather them so Harry can destroy them. Chief, please tell me if you know if Captain Lasky and his people had a breakthrough in their studies to find them with your technology." Dumbledore folded his hands together, looking at John with great interest.
John stood a bit straighter, explaining that he could not tell Dumbledore anything new as they still had to overcome the dormant magic on the planet to find anyone specifically or something that he had produced from space. And with boots on the ground, it would take more time to find some hints to where Voldemort could have hidden his horcruxes. Dumbledore then thanked him and told them that they could go now, as they would have to wait and see what would happen next.
Flashback end
Dumbledore shook his head and sighed and returned to what he was looking over at some other notes he would need; he glanced at the letter Ms Yennefer had sent to him about the motion Lucius wanted to push through with the help from Cornelius. This was the reason why Dumbledore prepared so much for the upcoming political backlash, but he was also glad as the letter also told him that ONI, the intelligence agency from Captain Lasky, will contact Amelia Bones in that matter. That was at least some relief for Dumbledore, as he knew that Amelia would fight for what is right. He really would need to ask Captain Lasky if he could visit ONI at their headquarters, he would even make an unbreakable vow if asked. Dumbledore was sure that after all those years, this ONI already knows what such a vow entails.
That same day, Amelia sat in her office in the Ministry, looking over some paperwork that her youngest Auror in training had brought her. Said Auror cadet was standing before her desk, her stance rigid enough to make it look as if she was disciplined and waited for further orders. "Ms. Tonks, you are dismissed. Return to your desk and look if someone would need your assistance." Tonks nodded thankfully and left the office, letting Amelia think why there were no more Aurors like this young woman in the force while she looked over an envelope that had no sender on it, but her name was written neatly in the corner. Recognizing the writing, she opened it and began to read the letter.
Good day Madam Bones.
You do not know me, but we have conversed through multiple letters in the past, and I am sure that my information helped you investigate and apprehend some individuals that were members in an organization called Death Eaters. I also heard that you would like to meet me in person, but this is out of the question as my safety could be in jeopardy. But to satisfy your curiosity about my person, I ordered a subordinate to meet with you next weekend, so please see to it that you are in the French café in the King's Cross train station on Saturday just after lunch at one o'clock. My man will see you and invite you over to his table for a small drink. You will recognize him because he will have a pin on his chest that will show a shield with an eye on it.
I hope for you to stay safe and healthy, as being an Auror could shorten your life or the ones you love rather abruptly. And seeing young Susan Bones becoming friends with Harry Potter is nice to see, don't you think?
Kind regards
Mr. L
Amelia read through the letter one more time, before she noticed that one corner began to smoke and catch fire. Amelia threw it into the fireplace in her office that she normally would use to travel with the floo network. Now she was sure that out there was someone that wanted to help her, but not being connected to anything that she was doing. Going through her mind, she looked over a mental list with names that she had suspected being the one who sent her all the previous information, including something that she found really interesting. If the information really was true, she could get her associate and one of the best Auror they had back in the last war out of Azkaban. She never had believed that Sirius Black was guilty, even if they had so many witnesses for him killing all those muggles and Pettigrew. But when she looked over the reports back then, she found it odd that all they had found from the other wizard was a finger and nothing else, not even some torn clothes. To Amelia's analytical mind the lack of any other evidence was more telling than anything else.
In Malfoy Manor, Lucius was sitting in his study and looked over the letter from his son. That there were no attacks over the holidays was understandable, as there were almost no other students in the castle except his son with his friends and the Weasleys, so Lucius was just hoping that whatever his master's diary could do, it had at least the common sense to not attack any pureblood in the castle. But there was just too much time gone since the last attack, so he began to worry. He was sure that if the girl was found with it and convicted, it would have made the news at least in the board of governors. But even there was no sign that there were any more attacks on those mudblood's, so whatever was going on, it was not according to Lucius's plan. But the information about the Witcher in the school had the potential to become something advantageous, even if the name of that Witcher was not a mistake from his son. As far as Lucius knew, Letho of Gulet was dead, killed by Geralt of Rivia himself. Lucius would need to investigate it, but if Letho really was alive and kicking Lucius would have to watch his back in case the Witcher came for him. He would write his son to lay low for a while, just in case. Now he would prepare for the meeting with the board so they could ask Dumbledore why he did not ask them before he would hire a Witcher.
Harry was sitting in the Great Hall, in his hand a letter from Yen that Sarina hat brought him this morning. Of course Yen and Doctor Halsey already knew what had happened, thanks to the reports from Callie and the other AI, so in that regard he was not surprised for the congratulation for a job well done. In the letter was also a message about their talk in Gringotts with his account manager and the chief of the goblin nation. It was written in code, but he understood it without any issue. According to this, he could expect a team from Gringotts would go to the Chamber of Secrets to assess the basilisk carcass to determine its value and make an offer, either way Harry should expect a large payout. And that he should not worry himself about the whole heir business that Fudge wanted to push,Yen and Catherine assured him they would take care of it. Yen also told him that they would invite Amelia Bones to their home over the summer, so he was now tasked with inviting Susan. That caused him to remember what happened yesterday.
Flashback
As Harry opened the door to John's office with the hidden biometric scanner, he walked in and pulled the cloak off after Hermione had closed the door after making sure that no one had seen them. After placing his weapons on a seperate table and also placing his wand right next to his sword, he walked towards the apparatus that would remove his armor more efficiently in contrast if he would have to take it off by himself. Standing in the middle, he grabbed the handles with his hands while Callie activated the machine with a wireless connection.
As the machine began its movement and grabbed the different parts from Harry's armor, Hermione and Daphne stood before it and gawked at it in wonder. Turning towards Hermione, Daphne asked her if this was something the muggles really were capable of. It looked just like Harry was caught in a levitating charm as the machine turned him around and removed another piece of his armor. As the girls looked back at Harry, they saw Harry wearing a tight shirt that did show his muscles growing on his body. Blushing slightly, both noticed how the machine stood still while something was hovering over Harry, emitting light that did flow over him. Hermione noticed how a screen showed a human body that had to be Harry, as some small red dots appeared on it. Harry frowned as Callie had told him what they had found.
Harry commented absently as he read the results. "It seems that I got some bruises and broken ribs. I was thinking why it hurt so much when you hugged me, Hermione, now that is the answer." The machine then brought a syringe to Harry's flank and injected something into his body, causing Harry to take a deep breath. He would need to go to the hospital wing to ask Madam Pomfrey if she could mend the ribs later, but for now he could almost feel that the girls wanted to ask him why he fought the basilisk in the first place. Even if the headmaster had told them that he was the only logical person that could have fought the monster in a reasonable timeframe. Harry had noticed that Dumbledore had not told them that the basilisk could not have attacked any time soon, as the diary was put under a stasis charm so it could not possess any one around him. Harry saw the hidden meaning behind keeping this information a secret.
Hermione told him that they could talk on their way to the hospital wing, as she had heard him about his broken ribs; she wondered if the reason they had broken was the basilisk. Harry answered this question with a yes, before he opened the door to the office and led the girls out. He had some change of clothes in the office already, so except for some pureblooded purist that would see his muggle clothes as a heresy, no one would even bat an eye on a Sunday that he walked around in some muggle clothes. Even Daphne wore some casual clothes according to the temperature outside.
As they talked with each other, they met Susan alone in the corridor. As she had looked like she was alone, Harry asked her what was wrong.
Susan huffed, obviously angry at someone. "I can't believe these stupid boys in my house. I mean, it is obvious that you have nothing to do with the attacks on Mrs. Norris or the first year Colin Creevey. But some of my house still talks about your ability to speak with snakes being enough evidence that you are the heir of Slytherin and ordered his monster to attack them. But even with me and Cedric Diggory telling them that we should not judge without any definitive proof in this matter, but the boys in our year are headstrong about this matter. Even the fact that there were no attacks since the one on Colin, they still talk about who you would attack next. I had to get out for a while, or I would have hexed that stupid Zacharia Smith into next week." Susan scowled at the mention of that boy's name.
Harry and the two other girls listened with patience. Soon after, Susan huffed again and looked much calmer than before. Susan gave Harry an apologetic look, "Sorry about that Harry, but I am thankful that you, Hermione and Daphne had listened to me. But now I am curious, why do you look paler than usual." Harry looked at his hands while asking Callie if his vitals would show something strange.
Callie was quick to report on Harry's current health. "Yes, your blood pressure is a bit low, but there should not be any noticeable change in skin color from that alone. So either she has a keen eye, or she just guessed to talk with you more. Either way, we should go to the hospital wing and ask Madame Pomfrey to heal your ribs." Harry thanked Callie and began to walk again, causing the other three girls to follow him, while Susan became her answer to the question why Harry was paler when they arrived in front of the hospital wing. She thought that he was just feeling sick and wanted to be checked over to be safe.
Harry opened the door and looked around for Madame Pomfrey, hoping that he would be healed quick enough so he could get out again.
Pomfrey stepped out from a privacy screen that surrounded a bed to see who entered her domain. "Mr. Potter, I see you have returned. I really must reserve a bed for you, as often you seem to find your way into this room. Please sit down, I am with you shortly after I give another patient some potion." Pomfrey walked back behind the privacy screen that was around another bed to return to her current patient.
Harry thanked her as he walked to a vacant bed while Hermione and Daphne talked with Susan outside the hospital wing to give him some privacy. Hermione and Daphne used privacy as a convenient excuse to shield Susan from finding out why exactly Harry was in the hospital wing to begin with. Harry had the sneaking suspicion that Susan was not going to let her observations go and decided to enhance his hearing so he could listen in to the girls outside the hospital wing's door.
"So, Susan, how was your year until now?" Hermione tried to make some small talk, but it soon proved unsuccessful as Susan was still looking at the door to the hospital wing. Hermione was getting nervous, as she had noticed how much Susan could notice from even the smallest hints that caught her eye.
"Are you now going to explain to me how he had broken his ribs? He walked just normal enough so no one else would see it with just a glance. But I saw that he was just a bit off center, and his breathing was just a tad too shallow, so I would guess at least one rib is completely broken and another one is cracked." Looking at Hermione and Daphne, she saw with how much surprise they looked at her. Susan explained that her aunt had taught her what to look out for even the minute details in someone's body language, as this could show you if he or she is lying.
Luke and Sissi recorded this and decided to send a report to Cortana and Callie, just so they would know how much this girl could find out just by observing someone. And as Amelia Bones had taught her everything about this skill, the head of the DMLE had to be even better.
Daphne and Susan gave each other a questioning look on who was best to answer this probing question and Daphne volunteered to take this pressing issue. Daphne cleared her throat to get Susan's attention. "Susan, please understand, we can't really answer that without violating Harry's trust. You know how Slytherins are viewed and I really want Harry to trust me. If I revealed this It would hurt me more than Harry." Susan winced as she didn't realize that was a valid concern. She did not want to ask them to break Harry's confidence in them.
Hermione nodded her agreement with Daphne. "I wish we could tell you the whole truth Susan, but you would have to ask Harry as this is something only he can explain." Susan sighed and nodded her understanding.
Inside the hospital wing, Harry sighed in relief that the situation was somewhat defused. Harry asked Callie to pass this latest development up because he was not sure how to answer Susan's question without giving away he's a Witcher. Callie assured him that she will flag this as priority and it should be resolved soon.
Flashback end
Harry sat back and put the letter in his pocket, looking over to the Hufflepuff table. Susan was sitting with Hannah, laughing about something. According to the blush from Hannah, Harry thought that Neville may have something to do with that. Not thinking about that, Harry was thinking how he could get Susan alone without raising any suspicion from the other students. This requires some planning and he thought best to set this meeting up on the weekend. But now, classes started soon and he needed to get a move on, so he stood back up as Callie told him that Potions was first today.
That following Saturday in London, Amelia Bones walked out of the fireplace in the King's Cross station where she Flooed in, she used her wand to remove the leftover ash on her clothes, also to change her robes to a business suit before she stepped down to the muggle side from the station.
After a while, she arrived in the French café that was mentioned in the note as the meeting place, looking around for the contact with the pin on his chest. She did not have to look for long, when she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around. Before her stood a man with blond hair and wearing sunglasses. This man bowed his head a little to show his respect. He then led her to a table in the back of the café and offered her a seat. He then sat himself down and began to talk.
"Good afternoon Madam Bones, an honor to make your acquaintance. Now, my boss told me that you were looking deeper into things as we had anticipated when we sent you the information that we were sure would be sufficient. Before you ask any questions, I am sure that the letter you received at the beginning of the week looked like we would be threatening your niece but be assured that we would do nothing to her. She is innocent in any accounts of any law, well if you overlook some pranks she had pulled when she was younger, but it showed you that we know things about people that those want to forget. As for the purpose of this meeting between us, I have more information that would be beneficial to you in the next Wizengamot session, but I think you have the right to get some answers to your questions. Please understand that I cannot answer every question you have, but I will try to tell you what you want to know." The man that sat opposite Amelia at the table leaned back, telling Amelia that he was confident enough that she could not touch him.
Using her senses, she was looking if some other occupants in the café were working with the man in front of her. She did not even believe a second that someone like him would meet her without some backup just in case, as this was something she had done too. Kingsley Shackelbolt was already sitting on another table and watched them with a side glance while sipping on his tea.
Then the man that sat opposite Amelia smiled, showing her that he knew what she was doing and told her that there was someone else from his organization to look out for his own safety. He then pointed at a dark skinned man giving them side glances. "You know Madam Bones, Mr. Shacklebolt is a good Auror, but please tell him that he should work over his camouflage in the, as you call it, muggle world. His sense of fashion is too old fashioned. He looks like a character from a Dickens novel to be honest. This way, he is more suspicious than that man over there with his obviously touristic behavior." Amelia was surprised that this man seemed to know every auror in the force, but she would tell Kingsley what was talked about later. Maybe she even gets him to walk through the mall from the muggle world to study the current fashion for the future.
"Well, if you allow me those questions, here is the first one. Who are you exactly?" Amelia looked him in the eyes, that he had hidden behind his sunglasses and noticed him grinning.
He then placed his hands back on the table as their drinks and sandwiches arrived. After the waitress walked back behind the counter, he answered the question. "Ah, but you should know this already Madam Bones. My boss Mr. L did write to you that I am just a lowly subordinate that was tasked to talk with you. But I see why you asked this question first, but I cannot answer it. Next question?" Amelia watched the man in front of her for any kind of melice, but he was sincere in his answer. She had to admit that this intrigued her even more, but she understood the man for following direct orders.
"Alright then, can you explain why you are helping me? If You have all this information and used it for yourself, you could make a decent amount of gold if you would sell it. So, I wonder why you give it to me for free." That was the biggest question Amelia had for the man sitting with her. She really hoped to get an answer, when the man pulled out another folder full of papers and placed it in front of her.
"We are greatly interested in true justice for all the people living in this. That also means punishing those who thinks themselves above the law or trying to terrorize civilians just for the fun of it. But that also means that we cannot just go to those responsible and do it ourselves, I can only tell you that we also have our own rules to follow. Back in the past, our organization used similar methods as Mr. Crouch Senior, but we learned that this did not make us popular with our people. Not that they even knew what we had done in every detail, as it was a hard time for us. But we changed, and we acknowledge your beliefs are similar to our new order. To show you even further that you can trust us, we have some more information that you could use in the folder you will receive when I leave. Now this is all the time we can give you today, but I will give you a way to contact me. Just ask Geralt of Rivia to deliver your message, Ms. Yennfer handles his owlpost after all." The man handed Amelia a small device that was not bigger than the pin he wore on his chest. He also explained that she would only have to press the eye with her index finger and asked her to place it right now so it could be registered. She noted that it worked similar to her own Auror badge and placed it right next to it before pressing her left index finger on it. There was a small prick on her finger and when she looked at it, she saw that there was just a small amount of blood coming from it.
The man explained that this was just a safety measure so no one else then her could call them by pressing their finger on it, like their badges did. He then looked to his side and nodded to another man, who nodded back. Amelia guessed that it was a sign if this small pin worked well enough as the man stood back up and said his farewell. "Until we meet again Madam Bones, so if fate wills it." Amelia wanted to ask for a name, but the man was leaving quickly with three other men right behind him, all wearing the same black clothes and sunglasses. Amelia waited until they all had left the small French café before she also signaled Shackelbolt to come over to her table.
After the younger man sat back down at the table opposite from Amelia, his surprise that he had also been watched from another table was obvious. Amelia then asked him what he thought about those people they had just met, after telling him that he should go over his wardrobe for the muggle world and make it less outlandish.
After clearing his throat, he began to explain his thoughts about his observations. "I have to say, whoever they are, they behave like a military from the muggle world. I do not know any organization in our community that would behave like that or would even be capable of recruiting without us noticing, so I think they come from another country. Thinking about it, this Chief Wulf who teaches this P.E. classes our younger Aurors told us about, I guess it would make sense that they are in the same organization, don't you think?"
Amelia followed the thoughts of her best Auror, if you did not count in Mad Eye Moody that is. If the old man would have been in this cafe today, he would have surely used a stunning charm on the man sitting between her and him, so she was glad that Shacklebolt had the common sense to not cause a scene.
After the waitress had brought Amelia a refill for her tea she had ordered, she pulled out the folder she had received and looked at the first page while Shacklebolt sipped his own tea. He had to hold it back in his mouth as he saw how angry his boss looked now. "Oh no, Lucius did not try to do that and thought that someone would not find out when Fudge would take this motion before the Wizengamot. I will make sure that this will be abolished even before the first vote is cast." She showed Shacklebolt just the title that was on this report.
"Motion to get information about Heirs from Gringotts."