Hey everyone,
We're back at Hogwarts for this chapter and it's going to be the final one to cover the current date. I am going to make one chapter about breakfast on the 28th after this and then probably summarize things that happen on that and the 29th, then move onto the 30th, the weekend, and cover Umbridge and Sirius' trial. After that Lea will arrive, though I do think I will do an intermission chapter between the summarizing chapter and the trial one. This to describe certain events from Lea's POV and explain why he decides to come to Earth.
I have plans for him, plans that concern shipping, his power as a Keyblade wielder, his bond with Harry, him and Axel and his friendship with Isa, Roxas, Sora and everyone else. Also YES, Lea and the others will travel to Earth and Lea will settle there, for Harry and the baby, but Harry will also travel to Lea's world and other worlds from time to time.
As a holiday,
Venquine1990
Chapter 08
The News Spreads
27th of September 1995
Private Chambers, Hogwarts
Harry's POV
Professor Dumbledore left shortly after he got a call from Mr. Weasley through a communication method that actually made him invisible and Madam Pomfrey promised to return later for dinner and said she'd be in her wing preparing a potions regiment for me. Sirius, Lupin and Mrs. Weasley stayed behind and, with my friends, helped me catch up on all of the advanced studies that I could have had were it not for McGonagall's spell.
We also discussed possible retribution plans and the twins actually got Mrs. Weasley's approval to brew me any potions she might be short on through my pregnancy. I wasn't really sure or aware I would need any, but Mrs. Weasley smiled at me and said: "Trust me, dear. You're going to need them. Especially in a few weeks from now when you start experiencing your morning sickness. It's one of the stages that make most people aware that they're expecting."
This made most of us cringe and Ron asked: "Isn't there a way around that?" To which his mother shook her head and said: "Trust me, I tried when pregnant of these two. I went to bed on nothing but a glass of water for a week and still nothing changed. Only going to bed hungry is a potential solution, but that's not good for your health, so that's a no-go." And I had nodded in agreement to this, fearing for my child if I did that.
Then dinner time approaches and while Ron seems to contemplate on whether or not we should head down to the Great Hall, the kitchens or back to London with Sirius and his mum, does the woman suddenly vanish. Yet the time is very short and she reappears as she asks: "Harry, does Arthur have your permission to take Amelia here? She has news for me and wants to discuss trial strategy with Sirius. Also she has a few questions for him."
I nod at this, smiling as I think the idea of the Head of the DMLE seeing my godfather interact with me will be good for his trial later and the woman vanishes for another few minutes. "That's – not really a subtle way to communicate." Lee mutters and Lupin smiles as he says: "It's specifically charmed. If we want to talk and strangers are around, they get distracted and look away from us before we start our communications."
"Like a Notice-Me-Not charm." Hermione mutters and Lee states: "I stand thoroughly corrected." Just as the fireplace lights up, the same one that Unspeakable Pomfrey enchanted to only activate if the call is with my permission, regardless from which side the call is coming, and both the short, balding man and the woman with the monocle step out. And the sight of her actually reminds me of the mistake Dumbledore made earlier today.
The woman also spots me, her eyebrow raising as she sees how everyone is still just either seated or standing around me, Sirius seated on the arm rest of my chair as he talks with me. Yet she turns to Mrs. Weasley and says: "Molly, Arthur and I have news for you, concerning Percy." And instantly I notice Ron tensing as the anger he must have felt for his brother when he was shouting at him probably hasn't lessened yet.
Yet Mrs. Weasley doesn't seem to share in her son's emotional state as she excitedly asks: "What about him? Has he finally seen the light? Is he ready to come back? Is he coming with you?" And while I hear Ron hiss: "Not likely." Does Madam Bones indeed shake her head and say: "I'm afraid not. Quite the opposite even. Molly, Percy has been arrested alongside Dolores Umbridge. He has been found guilty."
"GUILTY? OF WHAT? MY PERCY WOULD NEVER –!" But before the woman can continue, does Angelina actually shock us all as she silences the woman and snarl: "Mrs. Weasley! Remember the rules! No shouting around Harry!" And the woman winces, nodding in guilty acceptance as my fellow player undoes her magic. And while Madam Bones turns to gaze at me in intrigue for a small moment, does she turn her focus back on Mrs. Weasley.
"I'm afraid that you are quite wrong, Molly. Poppy was the one to press the charges and I was there when she did. I also saw the evidence and even had Percy admit to it all. And worst of it all, Molly, is that, even though his crime isn't all that bad, he himself doesn't even think it's a crime that he committed. And if you want to know, he knowingly bought a High-Classed Dark Object for Dolores – two days before she started working here at Hogwarts.
Now I will say that it was beyond obvious that Dolores made him do that to use him as a scapegoat, but it's not just the fact that he did this, knowingly did this, but it's also his attitude that he is being punished for. Molly, that boy of yours has a horrible ego and he just doesn't think he can do anything wrong. I questioned him for 20 minutes and he used his title against me, to intimidate me and make me drop the charges, for 12 of those."
At this I can't help but hide my face with my hand and I know that the other Weasleys are doing something similar to express their own embarrassment over their brother's behavior. Mrs. Weasley then opens her mouth, but her expression says it all and Madam Bones says: "No, I won't hear it, Molly. That boy thinks himself some kind of god and he needs a reality check. Because of that, he has been punished and put on paid leave, for indefinite time.
Now onto the reason I am telling you all this, here." She hands the red-haired woman a small compact box that has a bit of fluffy fabric on top. Mrs. Weasley looks at this confused and Madam Bones says: "This is a Wizarding Pager. If you press the fabric here, I will know and Floo straight over – or Apparate if I am in an area where this is possible. I want you to have this – for when Percy comes to your house.
No Molly, I do not think Percy will come to you to apologize. He is on paid leave and I believe there is a chance, because he thinks so high of himself, that he will indulge himself on his salary and make himself go broke before his next paycheck. When that happens, he will try to come to you to ask you for money. I must ask you – and if you refuse, it will become an Official Ministerial Order – to refuse him and call me instead.
When you do, I will come and I will question him again, to see if he has gotten his reality check and if he is worthy of coming back to work. If not, if he keeps his attitude, if he keeps blaming others for his own mistakes, I will, by protocol, be forced to put him on unpaid leave. If that doesn't work and he keeps up his behavior, he'll be fired. And Molly, I know you, so I must insist that you help him with this – the right way.
Do not encourage him, but be firm and teach him that he is the one in the wrong. He needs to learn that if he ever wants to come back to his job. And before you ask, Arthur hardly ever has any contact with the Higher Ups, even I only see him once a month if not less. He doesn't know what the people on Cornelius and my floor think of your son."
"What do they think of him?" Angelina asks and the woman sighs as she says: "You know how your brother was blessed with the Johnson's gift of Saint's Patience? Even he's done with Percy's attitude." This astounds the girl and she says: "What? That's – wow! I mean, I remember my youth and our parents were at work a lot and I was a nightmare to babysit. And Andrew never lost his patience with me. Even his bullies at Hogwarts never got to him."
This really impresses me as I have noticed myself having trouble with my own raging temper these past few months and while I wonder if this will affect my pregnancy does Ron ask: "What about the fact that I shouted at him? That I told him how the others and I think of him?" To which the woman sighs and mutters: "He came back to the Ministry and pretended it never happened. Had the gall to ask me what are you talking about, Madam?"
This obviously infuriates the boy and Madam Bones goes on as she says: "Andrew also quoted something that Percy apparently says all the time when talking about you and Arthur, Molly. And I can honestly say, both as an Auror, Head of the DMLE and friend of yours, he has no rights to say that about you, to plan that. He seems to think lower of the both of you than Lucius and Draco Malfoy do – together. And that is just not right."
At this Mrs. Weasley looks close to tears and she hides her teary eyes with a hand as she whimpers: "Why? Where did –?" But then Hermione snaps: "Mrs. Weasley, don't! Do not think you were the one in the wrong. You're not! This is just a classical case of nature versus nurture and nature is winning out, even if Percy's nature is that of a horrible person. Percy is the one in the wrong; he chose his own nature over your nurturing and that's where he's wrong."
We all nod at this and Mrs. Weasley bursts out crying, her husband instantly coming over to give her a comforting hug as he says: "Thank you all. And thank you for that pager, Amelia. I am grateful for it. And with Molly's clock, she will know that Percy is heading home even before he gets there, so she will be able to make sure you both arrive at the same time, you and Percy. That will make things much easier for her when that happens."
The woman nods and says: "That is good, I will look forward to that. I also don't think it will happen anytime soon, not for the upcoming month or for November. There is, however, a chance that he will get in trouble sometime between December and January. Like I said, he might indulge himself for Christmas as a way to cheer himself up when he realizes that is still being denied his rights, as I am sure he will see it."
"So there's a chance that Percy will have a change of heart before New Year's?" Mrs. Weasley asks hopefully, but Madam Bones shakes her head and says: "I have little doubt that Percy will indulge himself most on Christmas, making him have very little left to provide for himself until his January paycheck. From there, I believe, it might go from bad to worse, making it so that he might be broke and unable to buy food somewhere between March at the earliest and June at the latest. Expect him somewhere between then."
Mrs. Weasley does look a little downtrodden at this, but her husband whispers: "At least it's something. And he really does need it. I heard what Andrew quoted. Molly, both your mother and my father would have disowned him just on that quote alone. We have no choice. He is disgracing our family more than Lucius says we are." This makes the woman wince and Madam Bones seems to decide that a change of subject is necessary.
She turns from the parents to my godfather, who is still seated at the arm rest of my chair and she asks: "Lord Black, I made sure to make the deal with Lord Malfoy. He is aware of the conditions and was even quite willing to go along with them all. He will definitely be voting for your innocence come your trial, which I plan to hold this weekend. Though we do both wonder one thing; why would Draco be Third in Line and not second?"
This confuses me as well and yet Sirius starts to beam and says: "That's quite easy, Amelia. And I'm going to guess that petty little Umbridge didn't know about this when you arrested her, but – my precious and powerful godson – is expecting the Heir of his own line. And as he is my Heir as well that makes his child Second in line to inherit the title." This news astounds me and Madam Bones also seems quite shocked, which confuses me.
"Wait, that's not right. Umbridge called on Fudge and the Aurors because she accused Harry of having used Dark Magic to steal the unborn child of another family. So how could Madam Bones not know that Harry's pregnant?" Hermione asks and the woman answers: "That is quite simple, young Miss. I believed the entire accusation to be one big lie, including the pregnancy. Though I have to say, Mr. Potter, you don't really strike me for someone who – well, bottoms." And at this I turn a horrible shade of red, while my friends chortle.
"It – ahem – it wasn't really my choice, Ma'am. Apparently I have a soul mate, though I still don't entirely get how that works." The woman nods and Sirius answers: "It has to do with distance, kiddo. Because you and your mate are so far apart, just your own soul's magic isn't strong enough to call out to him, thus you grew your womb and became pregnant. You'll probably start sensing your baby's magic calling out to him sometime tomorrow."
At this I happily lie my hands across my stomach yet again, the idea that I might be able to feel actual evidence of my baby being inside me so soon making me feel light in the head with giddiness and then Mrs. Weasley asks: "That reminds me, did Poppy ever check to see how far away the mate is? If she has a location, someone at London might be able to go collect them." Yet at this Ron shakes his head and says: "I don't think that's possible, mum."
We all look at him curiously, except Hermione, and he says: "Madam Pomfrey did check; she did so after knocking Harry out to make sure he wouldn't suffer from the pain of growing his womb and all. And to be honest, I didn't believe it at first, but – his mate is up there; he's from another world. I know, it sounds crazy, but Hermione said that Muggles have been traveling space for thirty years now." And both Katie and I nod to emphasize this.
Yet while I do, do I also feel amazed and overwhelmed by the fact that my mate might be from another world. Instantly fear grips at my heart and I ask: "Wait, doesn't that mean that my mate might not come? That he might not be able to reach me?" But to this Sirius instantly hugs me and says: "No pup, Destiny would not set you two up if your mate didn't have that ability. There is only a 1 in 140 chance that he might not come.
And even then your little one is going to continue calling out to his daddy for the next several months. Babies of mates that are far apart do this up to five months after their birth." This reassures me and Sirius starts to beam with excitement as he says: "And besides, considering the incredible distance, you might not just be expecting one little bundle of joy, if you catch my drift." And my eyes widen as I do get what the man is saying.
"He might be expecting twins, really?" Fred and George chorus, sounding just as excited and Sirius shrugs as he says: "Who knows, maybe even more, like triplets. We are talking about thousands of miles of distance, after all, not just the distance between – say – England and Australia or something." This seems to worry Mrs. Weasley, but I just smile down at my own stomach, wishing it would start growing already, and mutter:
"I spent the last four years hanging with Fred and George. I can definitely handle twins." At which the twins chorus: "Aw, thanks mate." And their giddy, grateful tones make us all laugh before Neville speaks: "And besides, remember what the Unspeakable said? Harry's at his strongest, using his power, when he's got us around. And he might be the main parent, but that doesn't mean we can't help him, right? You know, like babysitting if he needs it."
At which I smile and mutter: "I'd like that, especially if my mate takes until the final month to show up. Not to mention that I am definitely going to need the help of both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as Lupin and Sirius. They all experienced what it's like to expect a child, whether directly like Mrs. Weasley or indirectly like Sirius and Lupin with my parents and I'm sure I can learn from both sources. And my new Regent, Madam Pomfrey, of course."
At which everyone smiles and then suddenly a huge round table appears in front of the chair I'm in with plates, platters, bowls and caskets of food as well as goblets and jugs of water and pumpkin juice. There is also a note in front of me and I take it, softly reading: "Poppy recommended that I let you all have a private dinner to celebrate young Harry's pregnancy. The staff and I will be expecting you all for breakfast tomorrow. The Headmaster."
This makes me smile and I look up as I ask: "Would you like to join us, Madam Bones?" At which the woman answers: "I would like that, yes, Heir Potter. I would also like to discuss trial tactics with your godfather, so I can be fully aware of what I can expect, especially since I hope it will take place this weekend." This really makes me smile and Sirius nods at this as he says: "That would be nice, Amelia, though I must insist on one thing."
We both look at him and he says: "Let the trial be at Hogwarts. I don't care where Umbridge's trial will take place, though I would prefer it not to be at Hogwarts, all things considered, but I'd rather mine not be at the Ministry. No offense to you and I am glad that Lucius is on our side, for now, but the same can't be said for others, like supporters of either the late Crouch or even him. And with my godson now expecting, I just can't take that risk."
The woman nods and says: "I will have to think up an excuse, but I think I can see this arranged." Yet to this I roll my eyes and say: "Sirius never left Hogwarts after he escaped because, during his time traveling, he heard a few rumors about the Tournament and spotted signs that old followers of Voldemort were after me and decided that he didn't want to risk it. There, done." And while I take a bite of my cauliflower, do I notice the others gaping at me.
"Nice one, mate." Ron mutters and Madam Bones nods as she says: "Yes, I can definitely use that. It will explain why the trial will take place at Hogwarts and it will be something I can use in your defense, to further paint you in a positive light." Sirius nods and says: "Heck, you could even say that I've just been staying hidden in one of these; the private chambers. That is how I kept myself from being caught both times I snuck in, after all."
"Wait, you what?" Everyone asks shocked and startled and the man shrugs as he says: "I just went for James and Lily's old rooms. Not entirely sure why they let me in when the whole castle thought me a criminal and whatnot, but no one ever used them after those two left, so the password was still the same. I remembered it, used it and they let me in. I just made sure to stay a few days, waited for you lot to stop looking for me and then snuck out."
Some of those around me are gaping at the man, yet Madam Bones just snorts and says: "That will definitely work, especially if you make sure to stay here for the rest of the week." Yet while this makes Mrs. Weasley want to object, do I quickly say: "That's a great idea. Sirius is perfectly safe here, especially because I am the only one who actually knows the password to get in. The others do know the emergency password, but still.
And there aren't any portraits with people in them in here, so we don't have to worry about one of them sneakily gossiping with other portraits or something. And I plan to make sure that the emergency password can only be used alongside the magical signature of those using them, making it so that they have to put their hand on the portrait or frame if they want to get in. It's basically safer than anywhere else right now in my opinion."
This makes Mrs. Weasley gape at me while Madam Bones nods and says: "Definitely. Now Sirius, is there anything else I should know? Anything along the lines of James' Final Will and Testament – oh, that reminds me, I have it here for you, Harry." And she actually hands me a scroll of parchment, my eyes tearing up as I take it from her. Yet while I feel my mind screaming at me to open and read it, do I just lie it down next to my plate.
"I – I don't think I can take it, not tonight. Not after – everything." I whisper as I notice the others looking at me and they all nod before Sirius says: "Just one thing, really Amelia. James, Pettigrew and I are all Animagus. We trained to be so during our years here at Hogwarts and managed it in our Fifth. It's where our nicknames come from." The woman nods, yet doesn't look shocked and she says: "James had a line referencing that in his will." Explaining herself.
I then suddenly find myself having an epiphany and I say: "There is one other thing. Something that Umbridge kept from becoming public knowledge months ago. Pettigrew is Cedric Diggory's killer. It just never became public, because Umbridge blackmailed Mr. Diggory from running a test to check Cedric for a magical signature. It will prove that Pettigrew is still alive and make it more believable that he was the traitor; the murderer of the Muggles."
Madam Bones looks at me in shock, but then says: "And with Dolores in custody and facing trial before Sirius, Amos himself will only be too happy to confirm this. Thank you, Heir Potter, I will be sure to discuss this with him when I meet him for work tomorrow." I nod at the woman and then Sirius says: "Also, one other thing, Amelia. Something that, I think, will make a lot of those in the Wizengamot more willing to declare me innocent."
And while I can hardly believe that the man feels he should have to use anything other than his actual innocence to regain his freedom, does Madam Bones nod and Sirius says: "I don't need any monetary compensation. All I desire is a total of 12 meetings with the Wizengamot and all those involved in the whole Making my Godson the Famous Boy-Who-Lived. I just want to make sure that the only ones who will have any influential role in his life from now on are those who actually care for him as a person, not him as a title."
This makes all of us beam at the man and Madam Bones says: "Sirius, if I make that my opening statement, you will have guaranteed yourself your freedom even before we begin any sort of questioning. I will happily ensure that the Wizengamot is made aware of this, probably sometime between Umbridge's trial and your own."
Sirius nods and we happily just commence with our dinner, making small-talk and nothing more. A little while later Madam Pomfrey comes back in, runs a bit of a scan to see how my womb is faring and handing me another Pain-Relief potion, recommending me to drink it the minute I wake up. I nod at her and the woman wishes me a goodnight. Hermione then asks: "Mrs. Weasley, would you mind conjuring sleeping bags? We'd rather stay here for the night."
The woman nods and happily complies, while I beam at my friends, loving the fact that I actually get to have a sort of unofficial sleep-over with those closest to me. And as Mrs. Weasley conjures the sleeping bags, soft reddish in color this time, do we suddenly spot all of our trunks appearing against the back wall.
Having already found the bathroom as we did a quick bit of exploring after McGonagall left, do we all make use of it one at a time to get changed into night cloths. And that night, as I fall asleep in the only bed in the set of rooms – as urged on by everyone else – do I again, subconsciously, wrap an arm around my stomach, happily awaiting the moment where I get to feel his, her or their magic and dreaming of what he/she/they might come to look like.
Sweet dreams, Harry,
So I am going to be honest with you all, I am not entirely happy with this ending. I planned that last line, but feel like the way I got there was a bit clunky and not entirely worthy of the rest of the story. Still, this IS going to be the final chapter covering the 27th of September. And to be honest, the next chapter is going to be LOOONG! It is going to cover three different characters: Harry, Percy and Lea. YES, I am bringing Lea into the picture.
Get excited,
Venquine1990
