October 12, 1995

Persephone POV

Wedding Planning

I sit in Luna's room, surrounded by the girls I call family. The aforementioned girl is flipping through a floral catalog, circling ones with suitable meaning. She asked to be in charge of the bouquets and boutonnieres. I agreed on the condition of having only two roses centered in the arrangement, one black and the other green.

Hermione and Pansy are working together on a guest list, Narcissa on a mirror call to help with societal invites, such as important Family Heads. Having scorned them with my brothal choice, it's best to have a 'High Class' expert assist.

Ginny is currently interrogating me on dress preferences, with a list provided by the soon-to-be Weasley: Fleur Delacour. Who knew there were so many details needed for a dress: long/short, color palettes, sleeves/sleeveless, materials to craft it, add-ons and design patterns, associated accessories. I swear she's been questioning me for an hour. Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to let Fleur and Dora help with the dress, after all.

Scratch that, Dora's excitement and Fleur's craftsmanship is too wonderful to turn down.

A knock sounds at the door. Could it be one of the boys? Getting up, I open the door to see Sam and The Baron waiting. I usher her in, confused, and thank Baron before he goes."I wanted to contribute something to the wedding, as well," she says, nervously. Stretching her hand out to me, I see a card.

Looking it over, I realize it's a mock up of an invitation, our names proudly stated in the middle. The card itself is a pale green with silver trim depicting a snake slithering through a garden in silver tones. The words themselves are black and curly, handwritten in calligraphy. "You made this," I whisper the question. Seeing my face, she gives a satisfied nod. "It's perfect! Thank you so much, Sam. You're amazing."

My outburst gathers the girls, and mirror Cissa. As they examine the card, they too are delighted by the craftsmanship. "Miss Sampson, this is rather impressive. If you ever want, I could always use an extra designer for Charity Events and the occasional Ball. It wouldn't have to be a career necessarily, just a side project for extra galleons."

"That's very generous, Lady Malfoy. Thank you for the opportunity. Are you hosting the annual Christmas Ball this year?"

"No, not this year. My husband has... unexplainable matters to tend to. Lord Black has graciously agreed to it instead. I, personally, think he could use any help he can get," Cissa tells her, silently laughing.

"Yeah, Padfoot's a menace!" Luna shouts, giggling. "I enjoy his chaos." The room of people collective roll our eyes. We all enjoy his antics.

Sam decides to bounce around the room, watching everyone return to their tasks. Since Ginny was already done with her interrogation, she left to send the answers off to Fleur. Sam leaves shortly after.

"Hey, girls. I want you three as my bridesmaids. Dora and Remus are going to be Best Man and Maid of Honor, we don't plan on using a flower girl or ring bearer, and Reggie's asking Draco, Theo and Harry to be groomsmen. Would you ladies honor me by being my wedding party?"

They all three nod, but Hermione has a question. "Why isn't Sirius Best Man? Surely, Regulus has a better relationship with his brother versus brother in law."

"I'm an adoptee, Mina. It was Regulus who suggested Sirius walk me down the aisle," I assure her. "You should have seen Siri's outraged look when Reg asked Remus to stand with him, instead of Sirius. He cried when I told him our full intentions, though."

"I didn't think of that. It's a wonderful idea. You have to admit that it's a strange situation you're in, isn't it?" Hermione says, curious on my feelings.

A familiar voice answers from the doorway, "I wouldn't have it any other way." Regulus walks over to wrap his arms around my waist from behind. "She may be my niece on paper, but she's not blood. Nor could I ever see her as such."

"Yeah, but the necrophilia is even weirder," Draco remarks from behind Regulus, adding a wink. This causes the three girls and the newly arrived boys to laugh.


October 29, 1995

It's a quarter to midnight when I sneak off to the kitchen. Umbridge has been monitoring the outgoing letters recently, so I'm having to use a different method. Tickling the fruit, I walk inside.

"Hello, my name is Sef. I have a request to make, if someone is willing," I tell the elves. "I need a letter and box delivered to Madam Amelia Bones. It's highly important, and will greatly protect the students."

A tiny elf, no older than a year or two, steps forward. "Nixie too small for heavy works. If Missy Sef accepts, Nixie will go."

"Thank you, Nixie. Here," I say, handing her the envelope, a box and a small scarf. "I didn't want to give you clothes, but I want to show my appreciation. Keep the scarf and stay warm." Tears well up in wide eyes, before Nixie nods, popping out. "Please, let me know when she comes back. I don't want her getting hurt." The oldest elf nods his head in agreement, before I depart.


October 30, 1995

Amelia Bones POV

One of my house elves, Annie, wakes me up at dawn, before disappearing to cook breakfast. Quickly showering, I head down to join her and her life mate, Mink.

The two elves are sitting patiently at the table. It took years for my parents to convince them to join the table for meals, but I'm glad they did. It gets lonely when Susan's at school, and they are good creatures, good people.

"Missy Amy, a Hoggywarts elf gives Monks a letter. Nixie says very important." The male elf tells me after we finish the eggs and toast Annie made.

"The food was wonderful, Annie. Thank you. Monk, did Nixie say anything about who sent it?" I ask, doubtful that Nixie would say who. I'm bewildered when he answers.

"She says Missy Sef, Hoggywarts Lady, needs help. Should Monks have asked more?"

"No, you did well. Can I see the letter?"

Madame Bones,

My name is Persephone Gaunt. You may not remember me, but you helped me, and their mother, when I adopted the Creevey boys last year.

Unfortunately, I need your help with something more dire. Inside the box is proof that Dolores Umbridge is using illegal magical artifacts on students of Hogwarts, blood quills to be exact.

If you haven't apprehended her by lunch tomorrow, the Four Founders Heirs will be forced to act in the students' best interests.

I apologize if this comes off rude, but she must be stopped immediately.

Signed: Persephone Gaunt

Lady of House Slytherin

Future Lady of House Black

Founder and Caretaker of the House of Sanctuary.

"Monk, when was this letter delivered?" He answers that it was just after midnight. "I'll need you to come to the Ministry with me. Annie, go to Susan and tell her no one is to attend their Defense classes, under any circumstances." She bows and pops away. Grabbing Monks hand, we do the same.

Landing straight into my office, I immediately send Monk to find Rufus Scrimgeour. As my Department Deputy, Rufus will be needed for this unfortunate task. I send an airplane off to Madame Hopkins, the lesion for crimes involving underage wizards.

The two investigators show up simultaneously. I usher them into my office to explain. "This morning I received a letter claiming extensive child abuse inside Hogwarts. The person also claims that blood quills are being used for writing lines in detentions. I haven't opened the photos, knowing you two would need to see them as well."

Rufus grabs the box I point to on my desk. Opening it, he let's out an enraged hiss. He pulls a small stack out, spreading them out for us to see. On the back of ever photo is a name, year level, date and reason for detention.

Several of the detentions were for muggleborns interrupting class with things like sneezing or coughing. Several more are from being late to class, with a professor's note stating the reason. One girl was even accused of ruining property because her monthly came early.

Rufus is shaking in rage, while Mafalda looks horrified. "I'll gather a group of Aurors, while you write the warrant," Rufus says, leaving quickly.

It takes Mafalda and I several moments to collect ourselves. After a few minutes, she jumps up from her chair, and by the look on her face, neither Dolores nor Cornelius are safe. I truly hope she'll hold off her anger until we have the Criminal in custody. It would be irresponsible to give her a chance to runaway.

Mafalda and I meet again while walking up to the Minister's Office. The anger still burns in her eyes, but she also holds a look triumph and determination. In her hands, she holds a large stack of papers I can barely catch Dolores's signature on.

Entering the office, I hand the warrant straight to Cornelius for signing. "You can't arrest my Undersecretary!"

"I have plenty of evidence to throw you both in Azkaban, Fudge. Sign for her arrest or the Wizengamot will sign for yours," Mafalda says in a no nonsense tone, reminiscent of one Minerva McGonagall. Tossing the papers down for the Minister ro browse through. "Do what is right by the children, and we won't involve you farther."

Cornelius stares at the documents wided eyed and horrified, agreeing and signing quickly. "I never approved torture. She was supposed to be monitoring the other professors for education evaluations. Auror numbers have been dropping in the last fifteen years or more, mostly due to not having the Potion requirements needed. Umbridge was supposed to help the students, not harm them. I never expected this of her." I could almost believe him, had he not attempted to cover up the Barty Crouch incident back in June.


October 31, 1995

Breakfast

Persephone POV

Last night, a house elf named Annie dropped off a letter from Madame Bones. The note was better than I expected.

Lady Slytherin,

We have the warrant prepared, and will be arresting her at high noon.

If for some unforseen reason we do not show up, the Heirs have full Ministry backing to deal with the woman in whatever way you deem necessary.

Enclosed is also a document exempting the Heirs of any criminal activity used against her.

Signed: Madame Amelia Bones

Lady of House Bones

Director of Department of Magical Law Enforcement

and

Cornelius Fudge

British Minister of Magic

Damn, looks like the law prevails this time. Quickly passing the letter around the different house tables gets word out quickly to be at lunch, no matter what.

I signal my family to meet out by the Lake. They file out when the rest of the school does, but Regulus and Harry stay behind while I 'Geminio' three more copies. Jackson and Sam follow us out.

"Bones gave some of us immunity to attack the Toad, but we only have until noon. Let's make the memory of her departure from Hogwarts long lasting. Jackie, Sam, you don't have to do this unless you want to." Jackson Abbott and Zacharias Smith are the only two of Helga's bloodline currently in Hogwarts, and even though Smith is the direct line, Jackson is older, more skilled and overall discreet in his spellwork. "I can't walk away from something like this. Let's take her down."

The Ravenclaw heir is actually up for debate, though. Rowena's only child was Helena, and ran away because she was pregnant with the Baron's son, an illegitimate baby in medieval times. The baby survived and was adopted by a muggle couple, but the boy was a 'bastard born' and raised outside the wizarding world. No pureblood would accept such an heir, but magic knows that the Sampson family is a founder's bloodline.

If they want to argue against Sam, Luna is the magical heir of Rowena. She has her intelligence, open-mindedness and creative, as well as being a gifted seer from birth. "I'm in," Samantha says, a smirk playing on her lips. "That Bitch won't know what hit her."

"Good, but don't act before lunch. I want her to experience everything all at once," I tell them. "If we act one by one, she might figure out something is happening before the Aurors get here. Now, let's get to class," I tell them.

Lunchtime

It's a few minutes before noon, when the population of Hogwarts gathers for the afternoon meal. The house tables are all exchanging looks, waiting to see what will happen. It seems the older students arranged themselves between the younger years and the staff table. Food quickly fills the table as the minutes tick by.

With two minutes to spare, I stand up, causing a small chain reaction. Every seventh year stands, effectively blocking the smaller students from any harm.

Four wands train themselves towards Dolores Umbridge.

"Reducto!" Sam's spell hits the dish in front of the Toad, shattering it, and part of the table. "Depulso!" Jackson sents the broken pieces straight at her.

I pause, mildly impressed. Since both have a sketchy claim for the exemption, neither is using magic directly on her.

Harry's voice sounds across the room, in English, "Levicorpus, Crinus Muto!" Umbridge flies into the air, where she now displays bright pink hair styled similar to Filch's comb over.

The spell leaves the tip of my wand, as Hagrid opens the Great Hall door for the gathered Aurors. "Calidum sanguinem patiens!"*

Aurors run forward, some to arrest Umbridge, and others to try and arrest we spell castors. There is nothing anyone can do, when the minister himself signs the pardon.

As Umbridge is being lead out, Madame Bones stops by my table. "We appreciate the report, but will need to ask you and your companions a few questions. I would like to hold a meeting with everyone involved in the documenting and retaliation of Dolores's criminal activity. Would dinner this evening be acceptable?"

"Yes, ma'am. If you would like, we can meet in the conference room outside the Great Hall. Invite Susan, as well. I'm sure she would appreciate dining with you," I agree to Amelia's request. She nods her approval, before saying a quick word to Susan and following her Aurors.

A Hufflepuff first year, and obviously a muggleborn by his antics, stands on the bench, shouting, "Ding Dong, the witch is gone!" Quoting the Wizard of Oz is a wonderful way to end the dramatic event.


calidum sanguinem patiens is translated as 'slow hot blood' based on the Canon spell Ferventi Sanguine, the blood boiling curse.