Finally, the new chapter. Sorry for the long wait. It was longer than I initially planned. You can finally find out what happened in the last chapter.

AMELIA VII

Morgues in the wizarding world were esthetically different from those of the Muggle world. They had no technology in place to preserve the bodies. Instead, it was magic that maintained them in the state they were found in. There were also no instrument to carve out the bodies. Again, they used magic to inspect the body, and they only opened it in the rare cases where magic could not reveal what they needed to know. Surfaces were also made of different materials, marble, bricks and stones dominating the floor, walls and ceiling. It was lit by candles rather than electric bulbs. But the atmosphere was no less chilling or dark. And when someone found himself in front of a relative whose body was covered in white linen, it was no less terrifying.

This wasn't the first time Amelia found herself in such a situation. She had been there, nearly twenty years ago, when she was asked to identify the bodies of her parents, her elder brother, his wife and their children. Although there were not eight bodies to identify today, this was no less difficult for her as she stood there, staring at the white linen covering the body on the stone table.

"Are you ready?" the Healer asked her.

"Yes," she replied. As assured as her voice might sound, it was begging to die out.

The Healer removed the linen to reveal the body underneath.

Amelia closed her eyes for a moment at the sight. The sight was horrible and unbearable. The body was all blackened and burned. Traits were barely recognizable. But there were some details that didn't lie. The general shape of the body, the height… and especially the long red hair that had been spared from damage. Despite her moment of hesitation, there was no doubt.

She nodded and uttered the words she wished were false. "It's her."

The examiner covered the body back.

"When will the autopsy be completed?" Amelia asked.

"We're almost done," he replied. "Only a few more tests to be done. Nothing invasive. Then we can prepare the body for burying."

Amelia nodded again, a ball in her throat like it seldom happened to her. It was hard for her to maintain her composure.

"Keep me informed of everything you find," she ordered.

"Yes, Madam," the Healer replied with respect.

She turned her back on the body she just identified. This identification was more symbolic than anything else. Examinations had already proven the identity beyond reasonable doubt. But they had always maintained this, as a right for the family and relatives to confirm the body was that their loved ones one last time.

Amelia followed the empty corridor, the sound of her feet hitting the floor echoing against the walls. The morgue was located apart from the rest of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. This wasn't a place most people liked to visit, and they didn't like the idea of being close to it either. A long, empty, dark corridor, not dissimilar to the one leading to the Department of Mysteries, separated the morgue from the rest of the floor.

The Ministry of Magic was not that different from all other magical locations in Great Britain and around the world. It had its own share of shortcuts, secret passages and apparently incongruous sections. And like a seventh year student at Hogwarts, she knew ways to go from one place to another without being seen by anybody. She only used those itineraries in extreme circumstances, wanting her employees to know about her presence, but tonight she needed to avoid them. As a result, the only person she met on her way back to her office was Mafalda, who stood ready in front of it. She opened her mouth, but closed it with one severe glance from Amelia. She didn't need condolences right now. All she needed were silence and solitude.

She closed and locked the door behind her once inside her office. She slowly walked to her chair and carefully sat down. On her desk, there were photos. The armor she built around herself following her parents' and Edgar's deaths threatened to crack. A tear was about to leave her eyes.

She closed her eyelids. Holding the arms of her chair very hard, she steeled herself. She couldn't let emotions submerge her. Not now. There were people who needed her, who relied on her. Not all her family was gone. She had to be strong. But for that, her next decisions would be crucial. She called for her assistant. Mafalda showed up immediately.

"Yes, Madam. What can I do for you?" she asked.

"Summon Scrimgeour," she ordered dryly. Mafalda obeyed on the spot and left to fetch the Head of the Auror Office.

Rufus Scrimgeour arrived a minute later. They didn't lose time.

"Madam Bones," he said, respectfully but straight.

"Rufus," she stated, struggling but managing to keep her composure, "you probably already suspect, but given the circumstances, I cannot supervise this investigation. So it will be under your direct and complete control."

"I understand," Scrimgeour replied.

"However, I expect to be informed of any progress made by this investigation. Is that understood?"

She conveyed with her eyes that this was not up for discussion. Rufus nodded respectfully again, with a hint of compassion behind. "I'll keep you informed myself. And I'll tell everyone to share with you all the information we gather."

"Thank you," she said, sincerely. "I will need to be absent for a while. I am not in a position to fulfill my duties right now. You will assume my responsibilities until my return."

"If I may, when can we expect it?" He sighed. "I don't wish to encourage you to take less time than you need, but if I must assume your position in the long-term…"

"That won't be necessary," Amelia cut him. "I'll be back soon. Probably sooner than you expect. And I expect you to have progressed in your criminal investigation."

Her voice cut through the air like a knife through thick butter. She didn't have time to mourn her family properly twenty years ago. She couldn't afford it today either. They were at war, whether Cornelius and his allies wanted it or not. She wouldn't give rest to the enemy.

"Count on me," Rufus assured.

"You may leave," she retorted.

The Head of the Auror Office turned his back. But before he left, he turned to her one last time, with a truly apologetic expression. "I'm truly sorry, Amelia."

Alone in her office, Amelia needed some time to get a hold of herself. Her eyes drifted away to her niece's picture on her desk. She had a new one taken every year before she went back to Hogwarts. Susan had grown up on this desk over time. And now…

Amelia put her hands over her eyes. What was she going to do now?

She straightened up. She couldn't let go now. There were things to do. Even though she temporarily abdicated her responsibilities at the Ministry, she had other responsibilities, towards her family. She first thought about going to Aurelius' and Rosa's apartment. This was where she should go first. But she knew that her responsibilities dictated that she goes elsewhere. So set, she stood up and sent a message through her fireplace. She then made it to the door of her office. Outside, Mafalda was still there. She stood up the moment Amelia came out.

"Madam Bones, is there anything I can do?" her assistant asked her.

"Have you cancelled all my meetings?" Amelia asked her.

"Yes, it's already done."

"Thank you. Just make sure things keep running smoothly in my absence. I will be back soon."

Without a look behind, Amelia left. She avoided everyone on the floor as she made her way to the lifts and the atrium. She knew they were feverishly working to find out the culprit or culprits, but right now, although she had no greater wish than going after the monsters who did this, she had other priorities. She left the Ministry without anyone noticing.

A few minutes later, Amelia stood in front of a large gateway at the end of a long graveled path in the woods. Only a few moments were required before a massive shape approached her, holding a huge lantern with his right hand. The gates opened.

"Professor Dumbledore is waiting for you, Madam Bones," the half-giant said.

"Thank you, Hagrid," she replied, following him.

They remained silent for a time, until Hagrid could obviously not hold it.

"Is it true? What I heard?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"It is, Hagrid," she confirmed, her throat tightening once more. "It is."

Hagrid made a plaintive moan. "I can't believe it. When I think that I was looking at Susan skating on the lake earlier tonight… I would never have thought…"

"Hagrid, please," Amelia interrupted. "I would rather not talk about my niece right now."

Hagrid made one of his failed attempts at recomposing himself. "Sorry, Madam Bones."

Amelia smiled fondly at the half-giant. "You can call me Amelia, Hagrid. You always used to, remember?"

He nodded fondly. "Yeah, I remember. You and Edgar were far from the most turbulent students in your time, but you had your share of troubles."

"Like everyone at this age," she muttered.

If they had not been so close to the Entrance Hall, Amelia would have ordered Hagrid to not further talk about her long-deceased brother. This was especially hard to think about him right now.

Hagrid opened the heavy oak doors. "Dumbledore is waiting for you in his office," he informed her.

"I know the way," she replied shortly. "Thank you, Hagrid."

"Good luck, Amelia," he said. "And…"

He gulped, obviously finding it hard to say it. Amelia returned a simple nod to acknowledge she understood what he was trying to say. Then she went forward.

The castle was empty at this hour. All students had gone to bed, and those professors who were still awake were surely working in their office behind locked doors. So Amelia didn't come across anyone until she faced the gargoyle hiding the passage to the headmaster's office.

"Fizzing Whizzbee," she announced.

She moved on the first step of the moving stairway which brought her directly to Dumbledore's office. She didn't knock before opening the door. She walked in directly.

To his credit, Dumbledore didn't seem bothered by the fact she entered his office without asking or announcing herself. Quite the opposite, he was already standing, as if he was waiting for her. His face clearly showed how sorry he felt. However, Amelia didn't have time for sentimentality with Hogwarts' headmaster.

"We both know it is useless to tell you why I'm here," she stated.

"Indeed," he nodded solemnly. Of course, he knew why she was there. "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

"Yes. You could tell me who did this."

She had even less time to lose than usual right now. Dumbledore remained calm. His eyes betrayed his answer before it came out. "I suspect, Amelia, much like you must, that it is Voldemort and his supporters who are behind this. But if you want names, I'm afraid that at this time, I am just as ignorant as you are."

"Can I expect to know it if you get names?"

"You will," he assured her.

"Can I expect to know it the moment you get the information? Or will you keep it for yourself for a few weeks before telling me?"

She stared straight at him. Dumbledore remained calm and looked at her with sympathy, which to a certain extent frustrated and even slightly enraged Amelia. "You have my word."

"Sometimes, I wonder what your word is worth," she shot.

Dumbledore remained calm, and a few seconds went on while neither of them said anything. Dumbledore then spoke. "Amelia… If there is anything you wish to blame me for, then say it if it is short. I'm ready to hear it. But given the reason of your visit…"

Someone knocked at the door on this very moment. Dumbledore seemed apologetic.

"We will continue this discussion later," she said hardly.

"As you wish," Dumbledore respectfully said. "I suppose you will want to be alone?"

"You suppose well," she shot back.

Dumbledore nodded gently and walked away. Amelia kept her back on him as he headed for the door. He opened it.

"Thank you, Professor Sprout. We will leave them," Hogwarts' headmaster said.

A moment later, the door quietly closed behind them. Amelia resolutely kept her back to the door.

"Auntie."

These were the words that came out from the voice Amelia dreaded the most to hear. That was why she wanted to go to her brother's apartment first, even though it would have been empty. It would have delayed the inevitable moment when she would face the most difficult task in her life. Closing her eyes to gather strength, she slowly turned to face the origin of the voice.

Amelia didn't say a thing. She only looked at her niece. At this age, Susan looked so much like her mother now that Amelia had wondered for a moment in the morgue whose body it was.

"What's going on?" her niece asked, sounding worried. She must have noticed that something was very different on Amelia's face.

"Susan, I have something very important to tell you. You better sit down," Amelia told her very calmly.

Her niece didn't look reassured. Why would she be? She nonetheless came to sit in a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. Amelia sat down on another chair, facing her niece.

Susan faced her, apprehension clear on her face. She knew her aunt had come to tell her bad news. Only, she had no idea how bad the news really were.

Amelia cleared her throat. "Susan, something terrible has happened."

Her niece didn't say a thing. She kept looking at Amelia, her eyes glued on her aunt. Amelia crossed her fingers. She usually planned most of what she said. In her line of work, it was such a requirement that it became second nature. But this time, she had not planned how to present things to Susan. How could she plan telling something like this?

"Your parents had…" she began, but stopped immediately. She cursed herself internally, knowing this would only cause Susan to ask herself more questions. But she was about to tell her niece that her parents had an accident, which wasn't true. So she reformulated, trying to stay truthful while not giving more details than necessary. "They have found themselves in an explosion."

Susan looked astounded. "An… explosion? What… What do you mean?"

"A tanker truck. It's one of those vehicles the Muggles use to move gasoline…"

"Yes, I know what it is," Susan said fast. "But… what happened?"

"The tank exploded. Your parents were very close. They were hit very hard."

Amelia regretted not stating the plain truth right away. She knew she was only delaying the inevitable.

"You mean… They are injured? They are at St Mungo's?"

Amelia was confronted with one of the worst sights she could expect to see. Her niece was pleading her with her eyes to lie. Or at least, she was pleading Amelia for the truth to be different. But it wouldn't do any good to lie. And Amelia didn't have the power to change the truth.

"Susan…" she began, gulping before speaking the words. "They were right next to the tanker when it exploded." She then paused, closed her eyes and reopened them to finally tell the whole truth. "They died on the spot."

Dumbledore's office turned so silent that you could hear a fly. Susan kept staring blankly at her aunt. Amelia sustained her gaze as much as she could. She needed Susan to truly grasp what had just happened. But her niece looked like she was frozen in time, as if her brain was still processing the information Amelia just provided.

Finally, Susan opened her mouth, but it trembled so much she could not utter a word. When it came out, it was strangled. "What do you mean?"

Amelia sighed. She had to further explain, but without providing details Susan was not ready to hear yet. "I just came back from the morgue. According to the examiner, they died instantly. They didn't suffer."

Susan looked away. She didn't seem to realize it yet. But that shouldn't surprise Amelia. After all, how could you react to being told your parents were dead?

"Susan, you must be asking yourself a lot of questions right now… And I promise that I will respond to any you may have… For now, I believe…"

"I want to see them," Susan blurted out.

Amelia looked at her niece. "I'm not sure this is a good idea…" she said.

"I want to se them," Susan repeated, her voice quivering. Her face gave away despair and pleading.

Amelia took a deep breath. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

Susan nodded.

Amelia noticed the ball forming in her niece's throat. She wasn't persuaded that this was a good idea. But although Susan was still a child from a legal standpoint, she was sixteen and more than old enough to take that kind of decision. Amelia had wanted to see the bodies of Edgar, her parents and all the others when they were murdered many years ago. She didn't see a good reason to refuse Susan the right to see her parents' bodies. They were her parents, after all.

Amelia left a message on Dumbledore's desk, saying she was taking Susan away from Hogwarts for an unspecified time. She was already planning this, but with Susan's wishes to see her parents' bodies very clear, Amelia couldn't let her come back to the castle for some time.

They didn't meet anyone on their way out. At this hour, the corridors of the school were empty. Amelia led Susan to the outskirts of the school grounds, where she performed Side-Along Apparition to bring her niece to the Ministry of Magic.

The entire journey was spent in silence. Neither of them said a single word. Amelia quickly led Susan to the lifts, avoiding the gazes from the few people in the atrium. She ensured that they were alone in the lift they took, and once they arrived at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she used the same intricate path of secret passages to reach the morgue without being noticed.

Within minutes, Amelia found herself facing the two white cloths that covered the bodies of her brother and his wife again. Only this time, she was with her niece. Amelia put a comforting hand on her shoulder as Susan stared at the two figures. The Healer responsible for autopsies was standing next to the linen Amelia knew was hiding her brother's calcined body. He seemed quite uncomfortable.

"You must know, Miss Bones," he said, addressing Susan, "that we do not require all family members to identify the bodies. Only one suffices. And since your aunt has already identified them, you are not required in any way to…"

"I want to see them," Susan said, staring at the Healer, her voice quivering almost uncontrollably.

"Are you sure?" the Healer.

Susan nodded her head vigorously, or shakily depending on who you asked. The examiner looked at Amelia, as if silently asking for permission or wondering if he should remove the linen. Amelia quietly nodded. The examiner looked back at Susan, uncertain.

"I must warn you, this is going to be a shock."

Carefully, he removed the white sheet, revealing the blackened body and short hair partially burnt out. Amelia closed her eyes. She had already seen it, but looking at it a second time was no easier. She instead watched over Susan as her niece stared at her father's lifeless body.

Susan didn't move. She didn't seem to react as she looked at the body. But before long, a loud gulp was heard, and Amelia saw the first tears streaming from her niece's eyes. She then brought her right hand to her mouth, muffling a yelp.

Amelia tried to resist the urge to order the examiner to cover back the body, especially since he was intently looking at her, waiting for a signal to cover it. Instead, against her own will, Amelia directed him to uncover Rosa's body as well. Unwillingly, the Healer moved to the other body, inquired once more with a gaze, and after Amelia nodded, he uncovered it too.

Susan's yelp could not be contained this time. She leaned forward a little. This time, Amelia saw tears falling to the ground as her niece stared at her dead parents. Something retained Amelia from ordering the bodies to be covered back, perhaps because she had been angry herself twenty years ago when the examiners hid the bodies of her parents, her brother, her sister-in-law and her nephews and her nieces before she gave her authorization. However, when Amelia noticed that Susan's eyes were closed, she instantly made a sign to the examiner, who put back the white sheets over Aurelius' and Rosa's bodies. Susan could no longer see them.

Amelia let Susan cry for a few moments, but she knew it would do no good if she remained there any longer.

"Come," Amelia finally said, very softly. "It's time to leave."

Without a word, her eyes still closed, crying profusely, Susan followed her aunt, who held her by the shoulder and the arm to make sure she was heading in the right direction. Susan's sobbing reverberated against the walls of the empty corridor.

A few steps before they reached the end of it, the door opened to reveal the Minister himself. He seemed shocked for an instant to see them, then looked at Amelia.

"Amelia… I was just told… I'm really…"

"Not now, Cornelius," Amelia replied curtly. She shot him a glare that meant clearly this was not the time. For a very rare time, the Minister didn't insist and let them go without a word, even stepping aside to let them walk.

A few minutes later, Amelia was guiding Susan inside her apartment. Amelia was living close to Whitehall, which allowed her to walk every day to work. But she Apparated this time, knowing this would bring Susan home earlier even if only by a few minutes.

Amelia's apartment was quite austere. She only had the bare minimum, the result of living alone and spending very little time there, outside the hours to sleep. However, there was a room for her niece there. Amelia had arranged it early after the last war ended. Sometimes, when Aurelius and Rosa had to stay away, Susan would come to live here when she was a child. Amelia never thought it would be used for such an occasion.

Susan was still crying with her eyes closed when Amelia helped her to sit on her bed. She noticed it had become too small. It had been too long since her niece slept in it for the last time. After she went to Hogwarts, occasions when she needed to come here had been very few, and as she grew up, her parents had trusted her to take care of herself when they were away from home. Amelia supposed she might have to take care of that.

She patted her niece's back.

"Look, you will spend the night here. We will see what we are going to do tomorrow. For now, try to get some sleep," she instructed.

Susan nodded, but she said nothing.

"I'll be outside if you need anything," Amelia added before leaving the room. For now, Susan needed to be alone. She knew it because that's what she had needed so many years ago, when half her family was murdered.

As Amelia sat down in an armchair, in the living room that was also used as a dining room, a kitchen and an office, she remembered that fateful day when her parents, her brother, his wife and their children were slaughtered. She had gone to the crime scene to find them all dead, their bodies contorted into unnatural positions due either to their fall after they were struck by a Killing Curse, or because they were tortured before being killed. Amelia had needed three people to make her leave the scene back then. But the images remained printed in her mind, much like she knew that she would never forget the images of Aurelius' and Rosa's calcined bodies.

Amelia had hoped against all odds that Aurelius and Rosa, and Susan by extension could never suffer the same fate as the rest of her family, that they were safe. The two had wanted to stay away from anything related to Lord Voldemort after Susan's birth. But they hadn't really succeeded. The wizarding government Rosa worked for had ended up tacitly supporting Dumbledore and even protecting people who fought against Voldemort. It even proclaimed its return. And the manager of the broomstick manufacturer Aurelius worked for, who had lost his wife because of Voldemort in the previous war, had put pressure through his relations at the Departments of Magical Games and Sports and Magical Transportation for the Ministry to acknowledge his return and take action against him. Not to mention their ties to Amelia, who was in first line to confront Voldemort and his supporters.

Amelia was no idiot. In her mind, it was impossible that the deaths of her brother and his wife were not related to Lord Voldemort. They already knew the explosion was no accident. In any other circumstance, Amelia would have maintained a limited dose of uncertainty until they had all the proofs, but this time, it was about her family who got murdered. She wasn't going to let the required dose of skepticism for any law enforcement officer cloud her judgment. Aurelius and Rosa were murdered, and Lord Voldemort had a hand in this.

She remembered the last discussion she had with Aurelius and Rosa. She almost ordered them to leave the country. Now, a part of her wished she did so before, and another part regretted that her last words for Aurelius and his wife had been to literally kick them out of Great Britain. She would forever regret that these were the last words she had with them.

Amelia cast a glance at Susan's chamber. From where she sat, she could see that her niece lied down on the bed, and she didn't change clothes. Of course, Amelia didn't think about asking her to bring a few things with her when they left Hogwarts. She should take care of that. She almost stood up, but she realized this wasn't an hour for this. Not to mention she couldn't let Susan alone in her apartment right now. Amelia couldn't even be sure that her niece was asleep. Amelia leaned back in her armchair and kept her eyes on Susan, watching over her.

Maybe it was more for herself than for Susan's sake that Amelia brought her niece back home. She could have let Susan sleep peacefully before announcing the tragic deaths of her parents in the morning. As long as she would have been asleep, her parents would still have been alive for her. But this would only have delayed the news. And Amelia didn't want to take the risk that Susan may learn of her parents' fate through the newspapers. Even though Amelia gave strict orders before she left that no information be leaked to the press that it was Aurelius and Rosa who died in the explosion, she knew fully well that the newspapers would eventually get the information, and although some might hold it back for a time, they would eventually reveal it.

Whatever, Amelia was glad that Susan was there. Watching her, keeping an eye on her, making sure her niece was fine gave her something to do. She was afraid of how she might feel if she had nothing to do. She was used to always being occupied. And right now, being occupied helped her to cope with the loss. She may not be in a state to fulfill her official duties, but she needed something else to do, and taking care of her niece was one of the few things she could do right now.

Susan didn't move in her bed. She had her back turned on Amelia, so she couldn't see if Susan was truly sleeping or even had her eyes closed. All Amelia could tell was that her niece was unmoving and silent. Not a single sound came out of her bedroom. If she was crying, she was doing so silently. Still, Amelia kept an eye on her… until her own eyes began to close and she dozed off.

When Amelia woke up, it was barely dawn. Years of habit conditioned her to waking up before the sun appeared on the horizon. In her apartment, all was quiet. For a moment, she headed to prepare her breakfast before going to work… before reminding herself that she wasn't working today and the reasons for this.

Amelia turned to look at Susan. She didn't seem to have moved in her sleep since last night. Carefully, without making a sound, Amelia approached her. She went around the bed to look at her niece's face. Her eyes were closed. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Though Amelia didn't miss the pool of dried tears next to her pillow. She used a nonverbal Drought Charm to remove what was left.

Susan didn't react to the magic that was practiced next to her. She didn't wake up. At least, she managed to sleep. Amelia left the bedroom, leaving Susan to sleep. She envied her to some degree.

Amelia sighed, standing in the middle of her apartment. She closed her eyes, thinking about her brother. But she knew what Aurelius would want her to do. He would want Amelia to take care of his daughter. Right now though, the best she could do was to let her sleep. There wasn't much more she could do to help Susan. Though… She remembered that Susan could use some personal belongings. After casting another glance at Susan to make sure she was still sleeping, Amelia wrote a note and left, locking the door behind her.

Amelia apparated into the entrance hall of the Abandoned Tower. She could have used a walk, but she didn't want to take the risk of being spotted by journalists or Ministry's employees who were still investigating the nearby crime scene. Amelia climbed the stairs to Aurelius' apartment, and she stopped in front of it. She sighed heavily after waiting a few seconds, and she opened the door. Her brother had cast a spell ensuring she could enter whenever she wanted. Death had not removed it.

Inside the apartment, everything was as it always was. Amelia's own apartment was very orderly, a consequence of her own preferences and the fact she didn't move many things around. But it was also a little dusty sometimes, a result of her not spending lots of time at home. Aurelius and Rosa's was a mix of order and disorder. Books neatly placed on shelves cohabited with magazines piled on the corner of tables. Dirty dishes, probably from their last dinner, were waiting next to the sink. Cushions were neatly arranged on the sofa.

Without thinking, Amelia was attracted to the main bedroom. This was where Aurelius and Rosa slept. On the way, she noticed their respective offices. Aurelius had plans of what looked like a new broom prototype stuck on the wall. Rosa's had three little flags on her own desk. One was the green, white and orange flag of Ireland. The other was the white and blue with four fleur-de-lis from Quebec. Amelia took an instant to recognize the third one. It was white and red, so she initially assumed it was Canada's flag. Only, the maple leaf was missing. She stopped. Looking more closely, she noticed the flag was a red cross dividing it into four white squares. In the middle of each white square, there was a different flower. There was a blue fleur-de-lis, a red rose, a green shamrock and a purple thistle. After a moment pondering, and remembering where Rosa was actually born, Amelia deduced the flag's origin. The four flowers that respectively indicated French, English, Irish and Scottish origins betrayed that this was the flag of Montreal. This reminded Amelia that only a day ago, Aurelius and his wife had still been planning to move there. Amelia closed her eyes and walked away, finally getting to the master bedroom.

Inside, everything was neatly organized. And the room was a testament to the two people who slept there for nearly fifteen years. Their diplomas were set on the wall to the left of their bed, Aurelius' from Hogwarts, Rosa's from the Université. An article from the Daily Prophet was framed, announcing the new Firebolt. Another article next to it announced Ireland's victory at the last Quidditch World Cup. And another announced the first international competition of the Chasse-Galerie, the race of flying canoes organized in Quebec.

Looking away, Amelia's eyes set on a trophy with a small model of the Firebolt in bronze. It was a reward Aurelius received when the Firebolt was released. Next to it, a larger model, that a Muggle ship, had obviously been unpacked recently. It was brand new. Looking at it, despite not being able to see its name, she knew enough to guess that this ship was about a century old. And then there was a model of a space shuttle.

Amelia smiled sadly. Aurelius had always been passionate about means of transportation, ever since his childhood. All his young years had been about broomsticks, flying carpets, flying canoes… This passion had extended to Muggle means of transportation. However, unlike many wizards who were passionate about cars and motorcycles, Aurelius had become the most passionate about biggest means of transportation: trains, ships, planes, and especially rockets and space shuttles.

It was to visit a wizarding museum on flying canoes that Aurelius had gone on a trip to Canada one day. He came back from this journey with a young woman who would become his wife.

Amelia's eyes set on a photo showing Aurelius and Rosa, younger, holding Susan in their arms when she was still a baby. It was during her christening. And next to it, another photo showed them with a much older Susan. It was probably taken last Christmas.

Amelia felt the tears coming, and this time, she didn't repress them. She had to let them come out. So she closed her eyes and let them go quietly.

Aurelius and Rosa were dead. Her last brother and his wife were gone for good. The objects that surrounded Amelia were all that remained of their lives. She couldn't believe that this actually happened.

Amelia wasn't really sure how, but somehow she ended up spending the entire morning there. She simply didn't see time go on. When she finally recovered her spirits, she did what she came here for, taking some clothes and personal belongings Susan could use. She looked around at the whole apartment, knowing she would need to decide what to do about it eventually. But this was a matter and a decision for another day. Amelia also took Aurelius' owl, the one his whole family used. It had no master now. She couldn't let him here.

Somewhat unconsciously, Amelia apparated back to her apartment. Looking at her watch, she saw that it was already close to two in the afternoon. Did she really spend that much time in the Abandoned Tower?

She found her apartment in a state similar to how she left it. Nothing had been moved. Looking inside Susan's room, she saw that her niece was no longer asleep. She was sitting on her bed, her back turned on Amelia. Again, Susan was silent. Amelia wondered if she even heard her aunt come in. Carefully, Amelia entered Susan's bedroom and walked around her bed. She didn't want to make her jump by speaking behind her back.

Susan didn't react when Amelia almost stood right in front of her. She kept looking straight ahead, her hands holding a piece of parchment. Her hair not only covered her forehead but also her eyes from the angle where Amelia stood. She decided to sit down next to her. Susan didn't react again. Amelia suspected now that Susan knew she was back from the beginning.

"Did you manage to sleep?" Amelia asked her.

"Yes, a little." Her voice came out hoarse, maybe even gargling. "I only managed to fall asleep very late."

So she hadn't been sleeping most of the time Amelia watched over her. "I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up."

"I saw your message." She looked at Amelia. Her eyes were red. She obviously cried a lot. "You needed time there?"

Amelia gulped slightly. "Yes." She looked away for a moment before gazing again at her niece. "I brought you some clothes, your toothbrush, a few books and discs, so you wouldn't get bored doing nothing."

"Thanks, auntie. But I don't feel like doing much right now."

"I understand."

"Auntie… What happened? What truly happened?"

From her gaze, Amelia understood that Susan wanted the whole truth. Amelia gathered her courage and spoke out. "The investigation is not over, Susan, but… We already know this is not an accident. The tanker was destroyed because an explosive spell was used." She paused, looking straight into the eyes of her niece. "I'm sorry, Susan, but your parents were murdered."

Susan looked into her aunt's eyes for a time before looking at the wall in front of her again. "It's him?"

Susan didn't need to specify who she was referring to as him. "I think so." In fact, Amelia was sure it was Voldemort, but she didn't say it aloud. "I swear you are safe here, Susan."

Her niece looked back at her. "Are we really safe anywhere?"

Amelia sighed. "Probably not," she answered honestly.

They remained sitting there for a moment. Then Susan stood up. "Can I take a shower?"

"Of course," Amelia ensured. "There are fresh towels and clothes for you."

"Thanks," she replied weakly.

Susan headed to a small desk in her bedroom, placing the parchment she held in her hands the whole time on it. That was when Amelia realized the two of them had not been alone this whole time.

"Thank you, Hedwig," Susan told the snowy owl on the roost with a small voice.

"I didn't know you had your own owl," Amelia said, genuinely surprised.

"It's not mine," Susan explained. "It's Harry's. He already knows."

She walked away to the bathroom, leaving Amelia alone in her room. Amelia stood up and carefully approached the owl, who stared at her with its amber eyes. Amelia looked closely at the parchment Susan just put on her desk. It was a very short letter. The parchment was smooth, so Amelia had no trouble reading it without touching the paper.

Susan,

My mother told me what happened. I'm really sorry for what happened to your parents. I wish I knew what to say to comfort you.

I hope to see you again soon. Take your time.

I love you.

Harry

A smile crept on Amelia's lips. She looked at the owl. "Your master is very kind," she awkwardly said.

The owl made a flap of wings that may indicate she agreed. Amelia hoped that Susan would get the support from her friends at school when she would go back. There was still so much Amelia could do, but she was limited.

Amelia noticed that there was another parchment, crumpled, next to this one. Another friend of Susan must have written to her. However, Amelia frowned when she noticed the name at the bottom of the massage.

Percy.

I hope some are relieved by the turn of events, although deaths are never a cause for joy (except for Voldemort's death).

Please review.

Next chapter: Lily