Cyrus galveled for Order. "When we arrived, we were expecting to be out within the Hour. Instead we spent the Afternoon dealing with only a third of Hammer's File. Runcorn. Shackle Dumbledore and Take him to the Cells. Vance, Handle Delores. Fudge, you are remanded. We will allow you to return to your office and Home. Shacklebolt will escort you. You Run… and Black will be the first to hunt you down." He turned his head to the Court. "Court will resume at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. Until then… Court is abjured." The Gavel fell again.
As the doors opened and the Aurors guided Albus and Delores into the passage to the Cells, the Bones Curse crashed.
Amelia stood and gave a sharp whistle, before moving to stand across from Connie.
"Now I see who got into you." The gray haired Witch smirked at the fading redhead.
"For only having a month to recover, he is quite vigorous." Amelia smiled back. "He is showing signs of instability but I have made arrangements for him to see a mind-healer, the day after tomorrow." Padfoot bumped her thigh, and she reached down to scratch his ears. "Heading to Hogwarts to see the Sorting and report Albus's condition. Will you be joining us?"
"Just let me lock up the File." Connie finished repacking the folder.
"No. Keep it on you." The Director cast her gaze over the Assembled masses as they attempted to appear to be leaving. "Leave a mock-up, but keep the original with you."
The two witches and the Grim exited the Courtroom and proceeded to the Auror Bullpen. Connie vanished into her office, before returning to Amelia's side.
"And away we go!" The three of them vanished in a blue swirl of a portkey.
POMP
As the train pulled into the station, Harry and the girls opened the door.
Ron was waiting.
Harry nodded. "Okay Ron. Go get your chess set and I will play you a game."
The Ginger perked up and ran off as fast as he could.
"Not Nice Harry." Hermione scowled at the lad. "I should scold you but …"
"You really want me to cash in your marker now, don't you? So that I can't use it later when I really screw up." Harry kissed her brow. "But I am keeping it for now."
Crookshanks rubbed along his legs. Harry Squatted down and the cat-beast jumped to his shoulders and made himself comfortable, kneading his claws into the lad's right shoulder
Standing slowly so as to not startle the Cat, he stepped off the train as it came to a stop. He then helped each witch down.
"Hannah. As the bestie of my fiance, and from your talks… should I trip Longbottom on you or under you?"
Three witches began to beat him as the blonde blushed.
Harry was pulled out of the beatdown by none other than Neville. Looking at the larger lad, mostly due to the malnutrition from living with the Dursleys, Harry smiled at the blonde witch. "Your answer Abbott?"
"What was the question?" Neville asked, confused.
Hannah just blushed and his her face in Susan's shoulder.
"Harry." Hermione had a look on her eye.
"Neville, Join us in the Carriage. I might need a meat shield for when they get slap happy again." Harry made a show of hiding behind Longbottom.
"I noticed that he said when, not if." Padma turned to Hermione.
"He is just having fun." Hermione led the way to the carriages, where Harry handed his three witches into the spacious interior. Crookshanks jumped from Harry's shoulder where he had managed to remain through the hassle and tussle, mostly by digging his claws into Harry's Robed Shoulder. He then bumped noses with the kitten in Susan's arms before he assumed his place in Hermione's lap.
Harry turned to Neville before he looked at Hannah, before raising an eyebrow at Neville.
Taking the hint, Neville handed her on, before following. Harry swung up and closed the door.
HPWQ
Amelia, Connie, and Padfoot arrived at the Gate just as Hagrid was letting the thestrals out with the carriages. The Witches nodded to the man as they waited for the carriage train pulled out and down to the Station.
Connie reached out and scratched the neck of a passing horse. They then headed to the Doors where Minerva was waiting for the return of the Carriages.
"Amelia, what brings you to Hogwarts?" The Deputy Headmistress asked. "Any word on Albus?"
"Albus has been remanded for the Night." Connie answered. "Too many questions and enough evidence that he is facing charges for crimes you can not imagine."
"We came to report to you and perhaps witness the Sorting." The Director quirked her eyebrow.
Arf
"There's a prank or two in play if you will allow." Amelia smirked.
"Can you promise that no harm will come to the Students?"
"The risk is minimal. Both of us will be there as well as Poppy." Connie grinned. "The main targets are your Divination Professor and Harry Potter. I can swear no Danger is coming to Harry Potter."
Minerva sighed. "Make it quick. And try not to cause the Weasley Twins to become excited."
The three of them made their way to the High Table.
Padfoot seeing a few teachers and smelling sherry on the 'wind' acted on advice from the Witch in the red leather bikini…
He jumped on the closest table and gave a Baleful Baying Howl…
The Witch wearing thick lensed glasses sipping a tea cup of Sherry snapped her head up and locked eyes on the 'Grim' and Screamed, her Sherry filled tea cup was flung high into the air, and landed on the Charm Master's Head… without spilling a drop.
"GRIM!"
She feinted into a boneless pile on the floor under the table.
Padfoot pranced to the head of the table he was on, head and tail held high.
Flitwick eased the teacup off his head and to the table, where an Elf removed it. "Amelia, where did you get a Grim?"
"He belongs to Potter." The Witch strolled up the main aisle. "I am just watching him until the Lad is out of school."
Padfoot jumped from the Ravenclaw table to the High Table and then to the Headmaster's throne. After turning about, he sat and looked at Amelia. He thumped his tail.
As Sybil and Fillius were the only ones in the Hall at this time, Amelia sighed. "How would you like to be a part of a prank, Professor? I can promise that it's all in good fun, and certain truths are going to be exposed tonight."
"No Harm to the Students." Connie Hammer promised, "Not from the prank itself. And for everything else we are standing by and Poppy should be here."
Padfoot blurred into Sirius Black. "Hey Professor, while Albus is out, can you glamor me to look like him… until after the Sorting." He grinned at the smaller wizard. "As you can tell, by me being in their presence, I am not Guilty of the crimes I was accused of."
"I noticed that you included the modifier 'accused off'. Does that mean you are guilty of other crimes?" The half goblin glared at the bigger man.
"Maybe." Sirius smiled sadly. "We would have to sit down over a bottle of whiskey and find out some night."
Filius Flitwick tightened his glare, before breaking into a goblin grin. "You are providing the bottle."
Sirius laughed. "Deal!"
Fillius whipped out his wand and wove a web of charms over the wizard in the throne. "When you stand after the Sorting to address the Hall, the charms will break. Wait as long as you can." He chuckled. "I even got your voice to sound like his."
The two witches disillusioned themselves and moved to stand behind the throne.
POMP
As the carriages rolled to a stop before the Castle, Harry and Neville stepped out to hand down their respective witches.
Crookshanks looked at the cold rocky ground, then at Harry, before jumping on his right shoulder.
Harry grunted at the impact. "You better leave the Left Shoulder open. Hedwig could get jealous."
They followed the group ahead of them into the Great Hall, and Sue and Padma each kissed Potter's cheek before floating off to their tables.
Hannah just patted Neville's arm before running to join Susan.
"What was that about?" Neville asked.
"Ron is being phased out." Harry frowned. "Somethings have come up and it's been proven that he has interfered in House Potter Business." Harry looked Neville in the eye. "I think he was doing it under orders, and so I will not cut him off completely, but by trying to block a House Contract he lost his 'Best Mate ' position. You were advised as my best option. I am going to need your advice on many Social Matters in the coming year."
"I would be honoured… Harry."
They say across from Hermione, who was reading again. They were quickly drawn into the breeding habits of the Venomous Dandy-lions not to be confused with the dandelions.
Shortly everyone was seated as Ron had the board up between him and Harry and was three pieces ahead of Potter…
A pounding on the Door leading to the Boat Docks boomed.
"So that's what it sounds like from this side." Harry laughed.
Neville raised an eyebrow.
"Hagrid announcing the arrival of the First Years." Harry explained. "Last year, Ron and I were dancing with the Willow, and the year before…"
"We were firsties." Neville nodded. "E3-F5." The red clay knight gilded forward and sent the white knight rolling across the board.
Harry smiled and nodded.
Ron was watching the board. "E1-C3." Ron's queen swooped across the board and massacred the red knight. "You know Harry, you should have gotten a set while you were in the Alley."
"Thinking about it." Harry traced the movements open to him with his eyes. "Didn't know where to go. Every minute I was there, I was with a witch. How much are they anyway?"
"A quality set goes for two to three Galleons." Ron looked up at him. "Are you going to move?"
"G4-F5." Harry smiled at Ron. "You are deadly with a Queen." The way he said it left the impression that he was making a muggle reference.
Dean and Seamus snorted loud enough to draw McGonagall's Eye as she led the Firsties past.
Then the Hat burst into its song. Harry lost himself in the rhymes. He barely recovered when McGonagall drew the scroll from her sleeve and called the first name.
"Aaronson, Aaron A."
"Gryffindor!"
The table welcomed him with a whooping cheer and applause.
The other forty seven were quickly sorted with the lion's share going… where else…
"Hufflepuff."
As the Firsty witch was folded into the black and yellow, Albus leaned forward into the blanket of silence.
"First, I welcome the First Years to Hogwarts as Hogwarts welcomes everybody else back. Your Home away from Home." He bridged his hands. "Some of you pay attention to the Prophet. Some of you are aware that as of this Morning, the Ministry was pursuing a certain Wizard… A Wizard thought to have committed the most Heinous of Crimes." He bowed his head. "There were Rumours of Demetors being sent to intercept the Express looking for Him. There was talk about stationing the Beasts around the school in case the Escaped Wizard tried to infiltrate the School."
"Oh Morgana, Please come, Black." Snape whispered. Only 'Albus' heard him.
"To this Fact, I have some bad news." Albus stood and stepped forward. "I am already here!"
Half the Hall screamed and dove under the Tables.
Snape roared in Rage as he drew his wand…
And was sidelined by an [Expelliarmus] From Harry.
"Just like your Father…"
"Defending an armed person from an attack from a person who has shown me, time and again, unreasonable aggression, a talent for casting spells second only to Master Flitwick, an encyclopedia of spells second only to Dumbledore, and a touch of the Dark that killed my Parents!" Harry roared the last. "Now… I have been attacked in these halls for the last two years… by Your House… by You! If Potions was not a core class… I would not take it… because of You!" His wand trembled but never wavered.
"Pup." Sirius barked. "Stand Down. You have witches to check on."
Four witches mobbed him… three had their wands in hand.
Three more watched from the shadows.
McGonagall had her Face in hand, shaking her head. Black heard her whisper, "...don't let the twins find out…"
Flitwick had drawn his wand and was trying to watch everything at once.
Hagrid loomed in the shadows, flexing his massive meaty mitts.
But a shadow arriving late to the Hall saw something that Angered him to the Core… someone who had done the unthinkable, the unforgivable, the unforgettable…
"Pack-Slayer!" Lupin shouldered past Snape, stepped on a chair, the Table and flung himself at Black. The Full Moon the night before allowing his talons to harden as his canines flashed in the candle light.
"Shit!" Black ducked under the table as the enraged Werewolf cleaved through the air he was just in…
[Petrificus Maximas]
[Incarceferus]
[Stupify]
The werewolf was hit by all three hexes almost as one. The poor man not only was hit and stiffened, his hair and skin took on a stone like hue. The steel cable entangled him from shoulder to ankle, just before the red bolt sent him to sleep.
"No, no, no… not you…" Sirius was at the man's side, hovering… afraid to touch him.
"Pup. Heel. Headmistress we will await you outside the Head's Office." A voice that expected obedience snapped out.
He stepped aside as the two Aurors appeared out of the shadows as their disillusionment charms fell. The gray haired witch flicked her wand and the bound wizard hovered at her knee, as the fading Redhead took Black's arm and led the way through the back door to the hall.
Harry and the four witches followed.
"Now you can see what happens when you try to pull a prank." McGonagall glared at the twins. "Quidditch tryouts weekend after next. Hogsmeade the first weekend in October and stay out of the Forbidden Forest. Please heed the listed prohibited items on Mr Fitch's Door. At Nine, the Perfects will escort the First Years to the forms and perform their duties." She was proper. "If I or the Head of your House need to be called, you will be going home. Flitwick, Sprout, I ask for you to watch the Hall. Poppy, Severus, join me."
HPWQ
TBC