Disclaimer: Prisecolinensinenciousol
Pipe
"Hey, boss." Tonks nervously stuck her head into the Director's office. "Got a minute?"
"Auror Tonks," Amelia said with a shark edged grin. "What a surprise to see you outside the property room. I could have sworn that I told you not to come out until the whole thing was cataloged unless you wanted to be crucified by the coffee machine as a warning to all about what happens when someone annoys me."
"You did, Boss," Tonks agreed. "I found something important."
"You'd better hope so," Amelia agreed flatly. "What is it?"
"I found the contents of James Potter's pockets," Tonks said quickly. "Coroner sent it to the property room after the autopsy."
"And you think that Harry would like to have them," Amelia sighed.
"Yes, boss," Tonks agreed. "Little guy always seems so happy when his parents are mentioned."
"You have the box with you?"
"Right here, boss." Tonks held up a standard cardboard evidence box.
"Put it on my desk and go back to the property room," Amelia ordered. "Forget the punishment and make sure nothing of Lily's is stuck in purgatory."
"Yes, boss. Thank you, boss." Tonks screwed up her courage. "About getting everything to Harry . . ."
"I'll take care of it myself," Amelia replied. "It's the least I can do for my partner's kid." Amelia glanced at the clock on the wall. "In fact, why don't we do that right now?"
"Just let me grab my coat, boss," Tonks agreed cheerfully.
IIIIIIIIII
Harry was in Transfigurations when the seventh year female Prefect arrived to escort him to a private meeting.
"Head of Magical Law Enforcement," the Prefect told him. "Demand Professor McGonagall be present as your Head of House if they ask you anything," she advised. "And no matter what be polite."
"Okay," Harry agreed.
"Call her Madame Bones, don't call her Ms. Bones or anything else, Madame. And, um . . ." she racked her mind trying to remember the etiquette lessons her parents had drilled into her head. "I think a bow would be too old fashion, just remember to be polite and to ask for Professor McGonagall if they start asking questions. Okay, Harry?"
"Okay," the boy agreed. "Thanks."
They came to an unmarked door in one of the less used halls which the Prefect rapped on three times.
The door was opened by a smiling Tonks who ushered Harry in and dismissed the Prefect.
"You wanted to see me, Madame Bones?" Harry asked wearily. Previous experience had taught him that just because someone hadn't tried to screw him over in the past, that didn't necessarily mean that they wouldn't make the attempt at some future date and that was leaving aside the level of trust he normally reserved for Ministry officials.
"I believe you know Auror Tonks?" Amelia asked.
"We've met," Harry agreed.
"I had her going through our property room and she came across some things that belonged to your father," Amelia explained. "We thought you'd like to have them.
"Yes," Harry said softly. "I would like that very much."
Amelia reached into the box and pulled out the inventory list. "Let's see. One three bladed pocket knife with ebony scales." She pulled it out and placed it on the table in front of Harry. "One chrome plated brass ball pen, three keys, one key chain, one silver money clip, five twenty pound notes, ten ten pound notes, twenty five pound notes, and one hundred one pound notes, along with five pounds in assorted change." Amelia looked up upon hearing Harry's gasp. "Is that a lot of money?"
"Four hundred pounds is enough to . . ." Harry looked lost for a moment, he had very little idea of what five hundred pounds would purchase. "A lot."
"It's part of the standard kit for survival in the muggle world," Amelia explained. "Along with an identification card, a map, and a phrase book. More extensive kits have more items, more basic have less."
"Oh." Harry's head was spinning at all the new information. "What else is in there?"
Amelia looked down at the list. "One picture of Lily Potter holding an infant, one leather pouch containing tobacco, one lighter, one pocket watch with chain, two handkerchiefs, one pipe tamp, one pocket comb, and one metal stemmed pipe with briar bowl." Amelia stopped and smiled. "That I can safely say is enchanted up the wazoo, one of your mother's projects."
"Why don't I give you a bit of time to yourself to go over all this?" Amelia suggested softly.
"Thank you for all this, Madame Bones," Harry said emotionally. "It means a lot to me."
"You're my partner's kid," Amelia said calmly. "It's the least I can do."
"You were dad's partner?" Harry asked curiously.
"I was Lily's," Amelia laughed. "What gave you the idea that James was an Auror?"
"He wasn't?" Harry asked in shock. He'd always just sort of assumed.
"He worked at St. Mungos reversing accidental transfigurations," Amelia said kindly. "Lily was the Auror, a good one too."
"Could you . . . Could you tell me about her?" Harry asked shyly.
"I'd love to," Amelia agreed.
Amelia spent the next hour sharing story after story about her old partner.
"And then," Amelia giggled. "Lily looks at me, blood dripping down her face, and asks." Amelia giggled again. "He didn't smear my makeup did he? I've got a date with James later and I want to look my best."
Harry laughed in appreciation, the grin on the boy's face looked as if it would need to be removed surgically.
Amelia checked her watch. "Hate to cut this short, but it's lunch time. What's say you eat and I get in a quick visit with my niece? We can continue this after we're done, work for you?"
"Works for me, Madame Bones," Harry agreed.
"Amelia," she corrected. "Or I guess you could use your mother's old nickname for me."
"What was that?"
"Sadistic Bitch," Amelia replied. "Sometimes she substituted 'Evil' for 'Sadistic' and other times she'd call me Melia, but only when things really sucked."
"I . . ."
"Come on." Amelia waved for the boy to fall into step with her. "It's been a couple years, but I think I still remember the way to the Great Hall."
The second they arrived, a familiar red-head jumped out of her seat at the Hufflepuff table and began running towards them.
The second they arrived, a familiar redhead jumped out of her seat at the Hufflepuff table. "Aunty Amelia!" Susan squealed. The girl ran completely across the Great Hall and wrapped her arms around the woman's waist.
"Susan," Amelia said fondly. "How's my favorite niece?"
"There's something I need to tell you, Aunty Amelia," Susan whispered.
"You don't mind if I have a bit of time with my niece, do you, Dolores?" Amelia asked sweetly.
"Not at all," the master of Hogwarts replied reluctantly. While sure of her position over the brats, Umbridge was not so sure about her chances against the Director of Magical Law Enforcement. "Take your time." She shot a glare at the brat in the other woman's arms.
"Stay with Mr. Potter, Auror Tonks," Amelia ordered.
"I'll keep a close eye on him, boss," Tonks agreed.
Amelia allowed her niece to take her to an unused classroom and then watched in pride as the girl cast several dozen detection charms followed by a dozen privacy charms.
"Aunt Amelia, I-"
"Wait!" she silenced the girl. "I know more spells then you do." She turned back to her niece after making her own check and raising her own wards. "What is it?"
"There are some bad things going on in this school, Aunty Amelia," Susan said nervously. "Really bad things."
"Like what?"
"Like Umbridge is torturing Harry and some of the other students," Susan said quickly.
"How?" Amelia asked, turning from concerned aunt to veteran Auror in an instant.
"She has a quill that cuts the back of your hand when you write with it and she uses it to force students to write in their own blood," Susan replied.
"You've seen proof of this?" Amelia demanded. "This is very important, Susan."
"I've seen the scars on the back of Harry's hand," Susan said.
"What else?" Amelia felt faint.
"I think she's also going through the mail and she's letting Malfoy and his goons run wild," Susan continued. "The quill was the main thing."
"Using the quill on children is enough to get her several decades in Azkaban," Amelia assured the girl.
"So you're going to stop her?"
"I'm going to have a hard time keeping myself from stomping her into a paste the moment I see her again," Amelia assured the girl. "Come on, let's get back and handle things."
"Okay, Aunt Amelia." Susan beamed up at the woman, knowing that everything was going to be alright from that moment on.
Amelia stepped out of the room and was immediately struck with the sense that something had gone very wrong as the school's wards seemed to vibrate with tension even she could feel.
"Stay behind me, Susan," Amelia ordered harshly.
"Yes, Aunt Amelia," the girl agreed, sensing the seriousness of the situation.
It had been years since she'd had to get her hands dirty, but one never forgets how to clear a building. The woman made her way to the Great Hall and into a scene of horror. Her Auror was facing the Minister's pet, blood dripping down her face, wand in her left hand as her right arm hung uselessly by her side. And in the toad's arms, wand at his throat was the savior of the wizarding world, Harry Potter, which kept everyone at bay.
"You harm so much as a hair on his head and I promise I'll dedicate the rest of my life to ending yours!" Tonks growled.
"Drop the wand and step away from the boy, Delores," Madame Bones commanded, announcing herself.
The toad like woman's grip tightened as she began whispering her next spell, "Av . . ."
Harry drove his elbow back into his captor's ribs and was rewarded by a gasp that interrupted her incantation. In a flash, he'd twisted out of Umbridge's grip and threw himself to the ground as the air above him glowed with spell fire.
"Clear!" Amelia called out, seeing no further hostels.
"Clear!" Tonks replied, signaling none in her sight as well.
"You okay, Harry?" Amelia asked.
"I think so," the boy replied.
"Good, don't move," she ordered. "Tonks, get Harry out of there. I'll cover you."
"You got it, Chief," the metamorph agreed. The woman took a step forward and kept going, hitting the floor with a sickening thud. A look of confusion adorned the woman's face as she tried to work out just why her legs had failed.
"Damn it!" Amelia cursed herself for not taking her Auror's injuries into account. It seemed she'd been behind a desk too long. "Minerva, see to your student. Poppy, see to my Auror. Filius, call my office and tell them I want Flint to bring ten here right bloody now!"
She watched as the Professors shook off their stupor and began to carry out their assigned duties.
"What a bloody mess," she cursed. Wand out, she approached the fallen form of Hogwarts' Headmistress. Looked as if the woman would make it if she were given prompt medical attention, pity the school nurse was busy with one of her Aurors. "Damn it," Amelia sighed, wand twitching as she cast every medical charm she knew in an attempt to save the odious toad's life. Sometimes, she really hated being one of the good guys.
Testament to the increased training budget Amelia had pushed through the assembly, the duty team arrived less than five minutes after the call had been received.
"Flint, to me!" Amelia ordered sharply.
"Yes, boss?" a svelte woman with dark hair and pale skin reported.
"Stabilize the toad and keep her under wraps, seal the scene till forensics gets here, and get statements from everyone in the castle," Amelia said. "Need I mention the political implications of grabbing the Minister's pet toad?"
"Reliable people only," Flint said. "Fudge's pets aren't permitted anywhere near this or anything connected to it."
"I don't care if you have to put the bloody Minister in chains, you will not permit this case to be compromised. Do we understand each other, Auror Flint?"
"Clear as crystal, boss," the woman agreed.
"Good, move!" Amelia sought out and found the boy. "Harry!"
"Yes, Madame Bones?"
"What did I tell you to call me?" she demanded.
"Amelia." Harry blushed.
"Good, we're going to go some place quiet with Professor McGonagall and I'm going to need you to tell me everything that happened and everything that led to this point. Okay?"
"Okay, Amelia," Harry agreed.
"Minerva!" Amelia barked.
"With you in a second, Amelia," the old woman replied, giving a few last minute instructions to her prefects. "Alright."
"I need a place we can have a quiet talk," Amelia told the Head of Gryffindor House.
"There's an empty office just down the hall," Minerva said after a moment of thought. "Come with me."
Amelia waited until they'd entered the classroom and the privacy charms were up to begin the interview. The boy across from her seemed too calm considering what had just happened. Making a mental note to investigate that later, she began the interview, "Interview number five seven four two, Harry James Potter to Amelia Bones, also present is Minerva McGonagall. Test test test." She checked her recorder and found it to be in working order. "Would you both please state your names and occupations for the record."
"Harry Potter, Hogwarts Student."
"Minerva McGonagall; transfiguration professor, Head of Gryffindor House, and deputy Headmistress."
"May I see the back of your hand, Harry," Amelia requested. She clenched her jaw when she saw the scars. "Let the record show that the words 'I must not tell lies' are scarred deeply into the flesh of the right hand. Harry, please tell me, in your own words, how you got those scars."
"Madame Umbridge would call us into her office for detentions and force us to use a quill to do lines in our own blood," Harry said.
"Harry, please don't take this question the wrong way. I'm not trying to blame you for anything, I just want to understand what happened and why, alright?"
"Okay," Harry agreed.
"Why didn't you tell anyone what was happening?" Amelia asked gently.
"I tried, but Professor McGonagall just told me to keep my head down," Harry admitted.
Amelia's eyes flicked to the rapidly paling woman in question. "Do you have anything you'd like to add, Minerva?" she asked flatly.
The Head of Gryffindor house looked as if she were about to vomit. "I never thought . . . I . . . Albus said that . . ."
"Why don't you wait outside, Minerva," Madame Bones commanded.
"Is there another adult you'd like to have here to look after your interests, Harry?"
"Could . . . Could Tonks do it?" Harry asked softly. "I know you can't because you're the one asking the questions, but I don't know anyone else I can trust."
Amelia squeezed the boy's shoulder. "Just keep it together for a bit longer, Harry."
The head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement got up and walked to the door, intent on asking Minerva to fetch her injured Auror from the hospital wing. What she found when she opened it did not fill her with joy.
"What are you doing here, Auror Tonks?" she asked in a deceptively calm voice.
"Making sure no one disturbs your interview, boss," the Auror replied innocently. "The others are too busy with the crime scene and the other interviews."
"And why, pray tell, are you out of the Hospital wing?"
"Just a bit of blood loss, boss, a couple potions and I'm feeling just fine," the Auror explained, getting a hint that she may have done something to displease her superior.
"How's your arm?" Amelia ground her teeth. "Bloody . . . Just get in here and have a seat."
"Yes, boss!" Tonks agreed, limping into the room.
"Well?" Amelia demanded.
"Madame Pomfrey said that the damage isn't so bad, would have been fine if I hadn't nicked my artery."
"Tonks got hurt pushing me out of the way of that spell," Harry said softly. "She saved my life."
"And the commendation I'm going to write will reflect her selfless courage and quick thinking. The private talking to I'm going to give will reflect my annoyance at the fact that she sprung out of bed while still injured," Amelia told the boy. "Alright with you, Mr. Potter?"
"Yes, Mada- Amelia," he quickly amended when she gave him a sharp look.
"Good." Amelia gave the boy a sharp nod before turning back to her Auror. "Auror Tonks, I've asked you here to represent Harry Potter's interests during the interview. For the next few minutes, you have no higher responsibility than his welfare. If at any time you think that I am going too far, you will do anything necessary to stop me. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Madame Bones."
"I mean it," Amelia warned. "If I think you weren't diligent in your duty to your charge, I will be most displeased with you, Auror Tonks. At the moment, I am slightly annoyed at you for escaping the Hospital wing. You do not wish to see me most displeased, do you, Auror Tonks?"
"I'm not sure I could beat you at my best, boss, know I can't beat you now. But I promise to mess you up enough that Harry can escape or take you himself if it comes to it," Tonks said solemnly.
"Good!" Amelia barked, hiding a satisfied grin. "Now, Mr. Potter, you were telling me about the blood quill," she prompted.
"Objection!" Tonks growled. "He's been through a lot today." She placed a protective arm around the boy's shoulders. "I won't have you badgering him and adding to the stress he's already experienced."
Amelia blinked once . . . twice . . . three times and a smile bloomed on her face. "Would you like a bit of time alone to discuss the matter?"
"Yes, thank you, boss," Tonks agreed.
Amelia stepped out of the room and spent five minutes staring at the sick looking McGonagall before the door opened again to show Harry Potter's smiling face.
"Can I come back?" Amelia asked.
"I told Tonks I didn't mind answering any questions you want to ask," Harry agreed. "I had to promise to go out for ice cream with her after though."
"I see."
"You're invited," Harry added. "And um . . ."
"Yes?" Amelia prompted.
Harry leaned in to whisper, "You have to promise not to let Tonks near Umbridge's cell."
"I promise," Amelia agreed, having a good idea what was behind the request. "Why?"
"I told her some of what happened and . . . she's not happy about it at all," Harry admitted.
"Neither am I," Amelia said tightly. "Shall we continue?"
Amelia walked in and regained her former seat.
"Harry made me promise not to get up till the end of the meeting or till we had a break," Tonks said, hoping to explain why she hadn't opened the door herself.
"Good," Amelia said, smiling at the boy. "I hope that's not all you made her promise to do."
"She has to go back to Madame Pomfrey to get checked out," Harry said. "But I have to go with her so Madame Pomfrey can check me and each of us has to do everything she wants us to do."
"After I take him out for ice cream," Tonks added. "And he's also going to wear my old vest from now on."
"Your old vest?" Amelia asked.
"I was thinking of getting a new one anyway, Madame Bones," Tonks said, refusing to meet the woman's eye.
"I have to wonder how an Auror in your pay grade can afford to buy two in the same year, Auror Tonks," Amelia said flatly.
"I've almost paid off the first one, boss," Tonks said defensively.
"I'm not going to wear it if it's that expensive," Harry said, "you need it more than I do."
"We had a deal," Tonks pointed out.
"The deal was-"
"Enough," Amelia said calmly, causing both to fall silent. "Auror Tonks, you will not be giving up your new vest to Harry. Harry, you will be going with Auror Tonks to get one fitted to yourself at Ministry expense. Are both of you satisfied?"
"How come the Ministry will pay for me but not for Tonks?" Harry asked.
"Don't push your luck, Harry," Amelia said. The boy just narrowed his eyes. "Fine," Amelia sighed. "Auror Tonks is to be reimbursed for the cost of her vest by the Ministry. Happy?"
"Yes, Madame Bones," Harry agreed.
AN: Wasn't doing anything else with this, figured I'd slap some paint on it and send it out into the world. People like to have James Potter as an Auror, I do it myself on a number of occasions, just thought I'd do something different here.
Beta by dogbertcarroll
Typos by: laros_deejay, Tommy King
Omake: Job Description
"What do you think Aurors do?" Amelia asked simply.
"They catch dark wizards," Harry answered.
"And?"
"Isn't that all?" Harry asked.
"It's a very small part of the job," Amelia replied. "Aurors are problem solvers. If you have a problem, any problem, you call the Aurors and they do their best to sort it out for you. For example, despite the easy availability of wards to keep homes safe from fire, one of the most common calls we get is to put out a fire in someone's kitchen."
The woman's face hardened.
"Aurors do a lot of things, hit wizards are the ones you call in when you want to break things." A cold smile appeared on Amelia's face. "I very much want to break things right now."