Amelia Bones had been promoted to Department Head of Magical Law Enforcement after the fall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. She had been the head Auror during the end of the war. When her family had been targeted by the Death Eaters. Like the Potters and Longbottoms the once numerous Bones family had suffered losses. In fact, they were reduced to just Amelia and her niece. The witch was strong, intelligent, and most important willing to be proven wrong. So when she witnessed a flash of flame in the air over her desk before a phoenix appeared in her office Amelia knew that something was up. While she had not personally joined the Order of the Phoenix she had worked with Albus several times in the past and while she certainly believed in his good intentions she wondered if perhaps he couldn't use his influence a bit more productively. For instance, a former Death Eater being the Potions instructor was perhaps understandable. Giving that same former Death Eater greater authority by making him Head of Slytherin House was not something she personally agreed with.

The phoenix trilled softly as she accepted the letter it dropped from its talons with a faint smile. "Even if he is ostentatious, he does know how to get things done when he wants to." The phoenix seemed to trill laughter before with a spread of its wings it vanished again. Amelia shook her head but quickly had her monocle up and scanned it with her enchanted eyepiece. Finding no compulsion charms, illusions, nor any kind of hidden physical contaminants like some mail contained (one did not be in her position without a healthy dose of caution) so she carefully unrolled the letter and began to read. Immediately she looked down to see Dumbledore's signature as expected before returning to the top and reading the missive properly.

Madame Bones,

I know we have not spoken much beyond our respective duties, and I feel that is a potential weakness we should address. I wish to do something that I have done far too little in my long life- I wish to bring someone into my confidence. You and I have known of each other since you were but a student, and over the years I have seen you become a force of good in our world. First an Auror, then as the Head of Magical Law. I myself juggle many positions, and using those have sought to press the magical community to be more accepting of first generation magicals and those facing oppression. I hope that our mutual desire to improve the world can bring us together and allow you to hear me out.

I do not know if you share my belief that Voldemort did not die when attacked the Potters, but I have set into motion events designed to prove one way or another if it is true. I dare not put such delicate information into a letter, so forgive me but I do humbly request a meeting with you regarding my prospective idea and perhaps bridge the gap that exists between my efforts and yours. I must insist upon your discretion, Amelia. Destroy this letter once you have decided if you wish to meet with me.

I keep many secrets, Amelia. It is time to begin passing the torch as they say.

Albus Dumbledore

The woman leaned back in her chair as she considered the importance of this offer. Albus Dumbledore was well known as a leader in many ways. He ended the Grindelwald War by dueling Gellert Grindelwald and defeating him one on one. He was a progressive political force campaigning for muggleborn and muggle rights. He was a voice in the International wizarding community advocating for greater unity. He also was notoriously independent and tried to do everything alone. While he was a charismatic and powerful wizard, Dumbledore was over a century old. He had been Hogwarts Headmaster for over four decades. It was entirely possible that he was realizing a need for more allies able to affect greater direct changes? Her hand idly removed her monocle as she let out a breath. "You made the opening move Albus. I never thought I'd see the day you asked for help, let alone from the Ministry. Of course it isn't a direct request through official channels, but..." she trailed off, thinking.

Amelia pulled a piece of parchment closer and penned a short reply before vanishing Dumbledore's letter. She stretched and then moved to her family's owl. "You know where to go, be safe." She told the great horned owl, who bobbed its head in understanding before taking off and out the window. Amelia Bones considered just what this course of events would lead to, her sharp mind considering how this could affect the state of affairs.

~~~~~

Minerva McGonagall looked up at the tentative knock on her door. "Enter." She called, straightening the stack of essays she had been grading as the two first year students entered her office. Honestly she had no idea what to make of Harry Potter. He was generally a quiet and fairly bright child, but she could see glimpses of the man he could one day at times even this short time into the year. Unassuming unless provoked or seeing someone taking advantage of or bullying someone else, much like his mother. Talented on a broom like his father and with those same almost inhuman reflexes that had made James Potter a menace on the Quidditch Pitch and a dangerous duelist during the war. Not many people could say that they managed to face You-Know-Who three times before being slain, or that it took being betrayed by a friend. Only the Longbottom couple had managed as much, and the way the Death Eaters tortured poor Frank and Alice was a worse fate than death.

"We're here for our detention Professor."

Professor MvGonagall nodded stiffly at the two boys, turning her mind to Weasley next. Ronald seemed to be struggling with himself. He was using hand me downs from his three eldest brothers, his school work was passable but nothing exemplary, and he lacked motivation from that inferiority complex being the youngest brother had given him. She was not unsympathetic to the two before her as they fidgeted nervously by the door.

"Come sit here, boys. I'll discuss what your punishment is going to be." She waited for the boys to sit across from her and gave them both a stern gaze. "Normally I wouldn't have given you detention for saving a student," McGonagall began and the two boys blinked in surprise at her softer tone. She adjusted herself in her chair and explained. "What you two did was probably the most courageous course of action, but-" she emphasized the word by saying it more sharply, "you waited too long to call for help. I am not denying that you saved Miss Granger's life by acting how you did Mister Potter. What I am saying is that you two allowed yourselves to be overwhelmed by the danger of the moment." Good lord... she was explaining situational awareness to two first years. McGonagall ignored the painful memories of the last war when they had to do such things. Ten years and yet it haunted her; knowing that if a student didn't return from Christmas or Easter Holidays that they likely were murdered along with their entire family.

Maybe it was because he was Harry Potter she felt the need to do this. Minerva took a calming breath before she began. "Your detention will be spent with me trying to understand what happened to you both. How you felt. What you were thinking. When you began to feel afraid and how you handled that fear. I am not," she clarified gently, "going to admonish you for those thoughts or feelings. I am going to help you understand and get you through those feelings. As your Head of House it is my duty to help ensure your well-being. Including your mental and emotional well-being."

~~~~~

Ron looked uncomfortable, and Harry thought he understood why. He had been unable to do anything, and even when Harry and Hermione both explained they were both grateful he had gotten the teachers Ron seemed down on himself all day. So now that McGonagall wanted to talk about feelings Harry was a bit worried that Ron wouldn't want to. But it surprised him when he looked over at his friend there was a bit of uncertainty.

"Professor," Ron said in a low voice. He was still fidgeting a bit. "I appreciate it, but I didn't really help at all. Harry saved Hermione while I was a lump by the door-"

"That's not true Ron!" Harry interjected a bit more forcefully than he intended to. Ron looked up at him with surprise on his face, so he continued while the Professor watched keenly. "You were throwing things and tried to get it to turn away. You never stopped trying until I told you to go. You were just as brave as i was!"

Ron blinked at Harry, trying to understand that viewpoint when they both turned to McGonagall as she cleared her throat. "Mister Potter is correct Mister Weasley. You showed incredible loyalty and bravery by even following him into that bathroom. You tried to attack a troll even without any idea how just to try and help your friend." Their Professor tried to reason with Ron, help him see the good in what he did. Harry almost wished he could hug her for that. Ron was his first friend, and he had seen how everyone either lumped him in with his family or compared him to his elder siblings. "When it was clear you couldn't do anything else in the moment you were not too proud to get help. That is an incredibly rare and very important thing Mister Weasley. You could not help them by staying, and by leaving to get someone who could you made the best choice possible."

"I didn't do it because it was right!" Ron suddenly snapped angrily, causing Harry to lean away from him slightly in alarm. "I did it because I was scared! Because I didn't want to my best mate die in front of me! Because it was my fault they were even there in the first place!" Ron's anger seem to bleed from him as he slumped in his chair after admitting to his feelings. To Harry's surprise the professor didn't get angry. She simply stared at Rob with a look of understanding that made the small hairs on his neck stand up. That look told him that whatever Professor McGonagall had been through in the past she was not phased by this outburst.

"Ronald, that was not your fault. Having said that, please tell me why you seem to believe it was. We need to clear this up or you'll never feel right about what happened." Again, that unnerving calm from the strict professor was making Harry and Ron uncertain yet both seemed willing to accept it as she wasn't getting angry with them.

Ron took a deep breath and sighed, looking miserable. "Hermione only ran to the bathroom because I made fun of her not having any friends." He admitted, looking utterly ashamed of himself. "The only reason she was in that bathroom to begin with was because I said something that hurt her feelings." He explained in an almost defeated tone. His expression showed how disgusted he was with himself for the act.

"Yet when Mister Potter brought up how Miss Granger was in danger you did not hesitate to go with him to try and save her, did you?" McGonagall did not allow Ton to wallow, pressing him to think. Harry looked ready to interject, not liking how Ron was looking, but the professor held up one finger in his direction. "Please, Mister Potter, let me finish. I can see you want to save your friend from these feelings he's having, but some times we need to face ourselves to grow as people."

Harry reluctantly sat back again, trying to offer Ron silent support. "I... I went with him more because I felt guilty than anything else. We never planned to actually run into the thing..." Ron tried to explain, remembering the feelings that had swirled through him. His face was a bit more animated, if only because he was trying to find a way to say how he felt without losing face. "When we saw it go into the bathroom I just automatically followed Harry because I knew if Hermione got hurt it would be my fault."

Professor McGonagall nodded to him, giving him a very stern gaze. "I am not going to pretend you are wrong Ronald," Ron seemed to try and sink through his chair and into the floor, looking guilty. "However, what matters is how you take this moving forward. Will you ever treat someone like that again?" She was not raising her voice, just intently watching him work through his emotions.

Ron's expression twisted as if he tasted something sour and unpleasant. "No! After seeing how just saying something when I'm mad almost got someone killed? And that someone being my friend and my classmate? No way... I can't..." He trailed off as he seemed to try and find a way to express his denial. Professor McGonagall smiled at him, her expression suddenly far less severe.

"That is what I want you to remember when you think of this." She told him, opening a tin of ginger biscuits and setting them down for the boys. "You didn't just make a mistake in anger Mister Weasley, you tried very hard to make it right. You could have told your elder brother Percy, you could have done nothing. You showed your heart and bravery by trying to make it right. You were wrong to mock Miss Granger, but when she was in trouble you followed Mister Potter into danger to save her. You're still young, still children. It is better you understand that what you say and do can and sometimes will hurt others or put them in danger. My biggest recommendation for you Mister Weasley is to focus on controlling that temper. Things said in anger are still said, and they cannot be unsaid."

While Ron tried to think that through the professor turned to Harry who looked back a trepidatiously. "You did nothing wrong yourself. You noticed a danger to someone, saw the authority figure was too busy helping others, and tried to act on your own to rescue them. It does me incredibly proud to see that kind of streak in someone so young, but do not let that impulse rule you." McGonagall cautioned. "Just like Mister Weasley's temper your desire to protect others can cause you to act recklessly. Given what Madame Pomfrey told me of the injuries you sustained you should understand what I mean." She gave him a very pointed stare and he kind of wilted under it.

Harry wasn't trying to do anything wrong. He just had acted! "I'm sorry Professor," he tried to explain. "I just didn't think it would take long. We were on the staircase passing the floor where Hermione was hiding and just couldn't leave her in danger."

"And nobody will ever disagree with your actions Harry." Like when she was trying to impress upon Ron the seriousness of their talk, she used her student's given name. "You are truly a rare sort. You want to prevent others from getting hurt. You act like a much older wizard than your age, but that very lack of age is what causes you problems. You don't have the perspective yet to balance that noble streak you possess. You act without thinking in much the same as Ronald does. The main difference is his is done in anger, and yours is done when someone could be in danger." Both boys nibbled on the biscuits in their hands as she leaned back. This had not gone how she expected, but they were still so young. "What you both need to start doing is thinking carefully when you find those situations. That is all I can ask of you. You both have good hearts, but seem to be a bit hotheaded. For now, I think I'll leave with that. You both are dismissed, hurry back to the tower."