Author's Note- Thank you to GinnyPotter6891 for your comments.

HPHPHP

Carrots, Sticks, and Rats

Ted Tonks was unusual. He liked boring. It fit him. He thrived on it. He did his job by consuming all the fine print that others were too busy to read and understand. Facing those layers of details made his legal clients happy. They paid him. Life was good.

He was using a magnifying charm to read the third page of the goblin's contract provisions. That was when a glowing shape came through the wall of his house. Now that will make you take notice no matter how much the client is paying you each hour.

Tonks didn't recognize the Patronis. His clients usually sent him owls. He set down his quill and studied the luminous shape. The creature was so languid and composed that Ted wondered if he should offer the magical creature an owl-treat or a bowl of milk. At first the glowing shape looked like a Kneazle. On second examination, it had a more prominent nose and dark spots on its glowing tan coat. The magical creature then sat on his desk, licked its paw, and waited for him to lean forward.

Be the Oracle again. Join us in the Crown Prosecutor's office.

Tonks thought he recognized the voice, but it was also a process of elimination. Nymphadora's Patronis was a wild rabbit. This Patronis had to be from Amelia Bones if everyone was playing by the rules. If it was a ruse to lure him away from his home, then his wife would be at their house by herself and he would find an empty conference room at the ministry. He and his wife had recently hired a goblin for part time security when either of them were home alone. He pressed the runes that notified the security service and stood up from his desk.

Mere solicitors must answer when the Director of Magical Law Enforcement calls. That statement made the relationship sound one-sided. It wasn't. Amelia Bones had helped his client, Sirius Black, so Tonks was eager to reciprocate. All he had to do was pack his bag and change into a clean cloak. He sent an owl to his latest client asking for a days delay. Tonk's wife, Andromeda, was with a patient so he left her a note that he would be out of the house for a few hours. The runes on her desk already showed that he'd activated their security service. The goblins thought of so many things.
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The trip to the ministry was unremarkable. Tonks recognized some of the people in the prosecutor's office. Some he knew by name and a few more only by appearance. He recognized the two barristers who were standing in front of the room. Ted started to sit behind Director Bones but she waved him forward to sit next to her.

"They know what they're going to do. They'll feel better about it if they hash it out first," she said. Bones tipped her head toward the two lawyers who were arguing back and forth.

Tonks listened to the two wizards argue. "Are we here to keep score, or do we simply applaud when they stop?" he whispered.

She laughed, mostly to herself.

In all truth, the verdict was not known, at least not to him. Sirius Black had never been charged and brought to trial. Now, the legal machinery in the judicial branch of the ministry of magic had to unwind the wrong they'd done to his client. He didn't mind them discussing their options so long as they reached the right conclusions. He recognized Robbins and Greer who had defended and prosecuted the tournament judges. He listened to the two barristers. They seemed to be more interested in talking than listening, at least for the moment.

"You said that before and no one cares. Except for the people in this room, nobody cares that Black wasn't charged with a crime. They don't care that Voldemort wasn't charged either. They simply want them gone."

"I agree. Black was an ass in school. So were you, but that isn't an excuse to throw you into Azkaban for a few years until your wife wants to see you again."

Tonks was offended at the accusations flying between the two men, but Prosecutor Greer smiled. He had acted as the prosecutor for the tournament judges. He bowed to Robbins as if they were fencing and the defense counsel had scored a touch.

Greer, however, was equally quick to answer. "I'll write up the release papers myself. How long until Minister Fudge storms into my office and gives me hell? He'll have Black re-arrested on made up charges in a heartbeat. Then where will we be?"

Judge Gonson finally spoke up. "It's our job to give the minister the benefit of our judgement. Don't pass the responsibility. Let's confine the discussion to holding or releasing Lord Black."

The defense counsel spoke up again. "The only evidence against Black came from the muggles who heard Pettigrew accuse him. Now we know that Pettigrew is a Death Eater. We also know that Pettigrew was really the Secret Keeper for the Potters."

The prosecution responded that Black confessed. The reply was that his confession wasn't conclusive and that the confession was later repudiated.

Tonks listened to them debate. It was no surprise that he felt more sympathy with the defense than with the prosecution. It came as a surprise that Pettigrew was confirmed as a Death Eater. Tonks also had Sirius's word that Pettigrew was the Secret Keeper. Robbins said they now had proof, so something had changed.

The evidence against Sirius was circumstantial at best. Now, a decade after the event, they could establish that Sirius was not the Secret Keeper and was Harry's Godfather. That should be enough to release Black, but that was only a solicitor's opinion. Given the ferocity of the debate, there had to be a second problem preventing them from releasing Black this afternoon. The problem was most likely political or personal rather than strictly a legal issue. Tonks lost interest in the discussion in front of him.

Ted Tonks couldn't prove that Minister Fudge was causing a problem, but it couldn't hurt his client if Fudge had something personal to gain by Lord Black's release. Tonks was a schoolboy when he first learned that you could politely ask some people to step back, but they were often eager to move away once you'd were standing heavily on their toes. His wife, Andromeda, felt the same way. That was one of her features that first attracted him.

He pressed his shoulder against Madam Bones. He waited until she inclined her head towards him. "Would it help if I sued the Minister?" he whispered.

She sat up straight and listened to the two barristers testing different ideas. She was testing ideas of her own given Tonk's suggestion. She turned her head part way towards him. "Perhaps," she said.

It was Barrister Robbins who woke him up. "Minister Fudge can adopt stray dogs if he wants to look the hero. How about he does the right thing and releases a man from prison who should never have been there in the first place."

Perhaps that was the real problem. Fudge had been indifferent or even hostile towards Sirius Black a few years ago when the minister saw him briefly in Azkaban. Did the minister expect retribution once Black assumed his seat in the Wizengamot? Freeing Black would certainly put a new piece on the political chessboard. Maybe Fudge wanted to control that piece, or perhaps Fudge was afraid of others who wanted to control it. Tonks had some sympathy for that position. Everyone is afraid of an angry dragon even if they weren't the one who slapped the dragon's tail.

He leaned to touch Amelia's shoulder again. "Should I try to influence their decision or is this business as usual?" he asked. He nodded toward the two barristers and their debate.

"What do you have in mind?" she whispered in reply.

He looked toward the back corner of the room and got up out of his chair. The sound of the lawyers' arguments gave them a chance at a private conversation.

He said, "The legal issues seem to be settled. We could offer Minister Fudge a carrot and a stick. Sirius could thank him publicly for releasing him. That public praise constrains Black's behavior, at least for a while. After Black is released, there will be some period after Black assumes the family magics but before he is ready to vote in the Wizengamot. Fudge could help appoint the temporary steward who exercises the Black vote. I can also sue Fudge as minister, and sue him personally, for wrongful imprisonment and ask that he be jailed immediately.

"Is this the place to make that proposal?" Ted asked.

"No, not here. Let me talk to Judge Gonson and then we'll take your ideas upstairs," Amelia said.

It took her a while. Ted had grabbed his bag and stood waiting by the door. It seemed there were a number of misunderstandings before both the judge and the director were satisfied. Tonks fell in step as Bones walked out of the room.

"Augusta Longbottom is upstairs. She is an honest broker when it comes to Minister Fudge. There are some people who are closer to him, but they'd write themselves into the middle of this. Augusta won't do that."
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"So this time we meet," she said. Augusta Longbottom had the reputation of being both sever and abrupt.

The way she said it, it was almost an accusation that Ted had been avoiding her. The three of them were standing in a small and neatly kept office in the ministry. There wasn't a name plate on the door. He didn't know if this was Augusta Longbottom's office or if they were borrowing someone's room.

"I'm Edward Tonks. Thank you for letting me use your home and now your office," he said. She didn't extend her hand and he didn't reach for hers.

"Hmm. Next time plan to stay long enough to say hello. What is this idea to finally help Sirius? I read that he turned himself in," she said. Madam Longbottom directed her question to Ted and Amelia stood back so he would answer.

"I think the Barristers can solve the legal issues downstairs. I wanted to make sure the legal team has Minister Fudge's full support. I want to sue Fudge, both as minister and personally, for imprisoning a pureblood peer since Sirius was never tried and sentenced. I'd ask that the minister be jailed immediately. At the same time, I'd like you to ask Fudge to suggest a temporary steward who would vote the Black Wizengamot seat until Sirius takes it. Sirius is also willing to publicly express his appreciation that Fudge corrected this outrage and released him from Azkaban. This could coincide with the trial of Peter Pettigrew."

"So Pettigrew is alive. That is a surprise. I never liked him. Young men who won't stand up for themselves can't be trusted to tell the truth," Augusta Longbottom said.

"Then you must have loved Sirius," he answered.

Augusta Longbottom gave a small cough and almost smiled. "You're that lawyer that Andy married. You'd sue your own mother, wouldn't you," she said.

Ted Tonks grinned from ear to ear. "Yes, Madam. I'd even sue you if you were keeping Lord Black in prison."

Longbottom laughed for a moment, and again schooled her features. She'd let a smile escape, though she might deny it if asked. "Write up your ideas. I'll bring them to Fudge and make him like it. I might submit a motion to remove the minister from office for holding Sirius in prison. That would be fun."

"Madam, would you like me to include that in my notes, or would you like to craft your own resolution?" Tonks asked.

"I can do my own writing, thank you," Longbottom said.

Ted set out his notes. As he copied them, Madam Augusta Longbottom shrank them, and then she slipped them into her bag. She looked him up and down when they were done. Ted wondered if his shoes were properly shined and if his tie was straight.

"Good day to you," she said. The older woman turned to Amelia. "I'll let you know how much Fudge complains." Then, she turned her back and walked toward the lifts.

Evidently, he had fulfilled his purpose and been dismissed. Madam Longbottom had left them in her office. That seemed rather trusting even though he was there with Amelia Bones, the D.M.L.E.

"Gus is an acquired taste," Amelia said.

"Maybe in small doses. You certainly don't wonder where she stands," he said.

Amelia closed and sealed the room. "No, you don't. She'll warm up to you. You should see how she handles the minister."

Tonks thought about that. He didn't know if he'd learn much more about Madam Longbottom but he would learn a lot about Minister Fudge by watching him try to deal with her.

"What are the odds?" he asked.

"Never bet against Gus. She might not be able to get something done, but if she says she'll try, then she will do all she can."

"Should I submit the charges against Minister Fudge?" he asked.

"Not yet. Let's see what Augusta does first. That way your charges will match hers. I'd rather not sue the minister if we don't have to."

Tonks thought about that. In fact, it was relatively straightforward to file the legal claims or to drop them. It was impossible to undo the personal reaction they would cause. The courts were a last resort when simpler solutions failed.

Ted knew that Lord Black's friends would cheer him on if he sued the Minister for Magic. The minister's friends would hate him. As a solicitor, he didn't need unnecessary enemies but he couldn't appear afraid to make them either. When viewed that way, he had a new appreciation for Augusta Longbottom.

"I'd like to hear who Longbottom would recommend as Sirius's steward."

Director Bones only grunted in reply. They walked on in silence for at least a minute. They were waiting for a lift to go back down to the prosecutor's office.

"Tell me that you have security at your home. Things could get exciting," she said.

That sparked an idea. "Why don't you and Sirius inspect our wards the next time you visit."

Both Amelia and Sirius had been Aurors. The goblins had already looked at his home, but he'd appreciate a second opinion about his security if that helped protect his wife.

Amelia said, "I'll tell Sirius. Do you think Sirius is ready to appear in court?"

That was a strange question. He was a solicitor. She was the D.M.L.E. and had more experience with high-profile cases than he did. Then again, he saw Sirius about twice a day while she saw him for one morning every fortnight. Sirius had his good days and bad. Unfortunately, he couldn't afford a bad day as he stood before a judge.

"No, not yet, but soon." Andy and the other Healers could give her a better estimate.

Amelia stopped them in the hallway. "Oh, Sirius asked you to do him a favor. He needs a dozen rats. Preferably white or brown. Fresh or live, but not frozen."

There were countless stories about what convicts asked for when they were imprisoned. Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs were the most common requests. Books were a surprising second. Amusements, some legal and some illegal, rounded out the list. This was the first time he'd heard of someone who was confined by court order requesting a dozen rats, frozen or otherwise.

As soon as they returned to the conference room, he made a note about the rats. He had thought Sirius was making steady progress. Now, he was not so sure.

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Author's Notes- Feedback is appreciated. Feedback is essential if you want more stories like this.

This came into my head but I never found a place where it fit in this story. I've wondered who will fix Miss Senior Undersecretary Umbridge.

HPHP

Minister Fudge had called his senior staff together. He didn't like the press he was getting after the latest attack from the Death Eaters. After venting his displeasure, they were dismissed as Fudge was called out of one meeting so he could attend another. Senior Undersecretary Umbridge was getting up to leave when Amelia Bones sat down next to her.

"Madam Umbridge, do you have a moment?" They were the last to leave.

"I'm quite busy."

"I'm sure you are. This won't take but a moment," Director Bones said.

"Fine. Come to the point," Umbridge said.

"I want you to know how much I respect your position since you are in control of the Dementors."

"Why thank you. It is quite the responsibility," Deloris Umbridge said.

"I thought the very same thing. If your Dementors have an accident, so will you."

Umbridge smiled, "Why Director Bones, it sounds like you're threatening a member of the cabinet."

Amelia smiled. "Oh, that isn't a threat, Madam. Consider it a guarantee." Amelia patted Deloris Umbridge's hand as she stood.

Amelia walked away. She had things to do.

Deloris Umbridge sat for several minutes. It took some time before the Senior Undersecretary was steady on her feet.

Deloris Jane Umbridge had just been exposed to an important and uncomfortable truth. Adults can delegate authority, but despite what the law might say, they can never delegate responsibility. She would have to be very careful to avoid any "accidents".