560Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
-oOo-
Chapter 23
04 July 2024
Repost to adjust dates: 07 July 2024
-oOo-
September 3, 1995
London, England
Amelia stepped into the room. It still smelled of medicines, but the burnt flesh had dissipated. Healer Justice didn't look incredibly pleased but was allowing this. Three other Aurors and a solicitor were in the room.
"Today is September Third, nineteen-ninety-six. Interrogator will be Senior Auror William Herch. Witnesses to be Aurors Gawain Robards and Auror Eric Langton. Solicitor representing the suspect is Solicitor Xavier Longshore. Observers will be Director Amelia Bones and Senior Healer Justin Justice," Hersh spoke to the dictaquill that was scratching away on the parchment.
"This is an interrogation of the suspect Charles Weasley under truth serum. Healer Justice has administered three drops of veritaserum and validated that Mister Weasley is under its effect. The sworn affidavit will be in the files.
Mister Weasley, will you explain why your brother, Percival Weasley, and you were in Diagon Alley the night of August twenty-seventh?"
Charles was sitting up in the bed. Bandages covered the left side of his face, the sheet was pulled up to hide the bandages that still covered most of his body. Looking down, he spoke in a monotone tone.
"Percy and I were told to go to the alley and kill Black," the man said.
She shared a look with Hersh.
"What do you mean you were told to go Diagon Alley and kill Black?" Hersh questioned.
"We were told to go to Diagon Alley. We had been waiting," Charles told them.
"You were told. By whom?" Hersh asked.
"The man."
"Who is the man?"
"A man approached Percy and I. I remember talking with him. He wanted to hire us for a job," Charles said.
"Do you know when the man approached you?"
"I had
just come back from Romania. Percy wanted to meet. He had just been fired," Charles stated.
Amelia frowned. She had read the file gathered on them. Percy had been let go from the ministry three weeks before the attack on Sirius.
"Do you know what date it was?" Hersh asked.
"I took a portkey on August second," Charles replied.
Hersh shared another look with her.
"Do you remember anything between when you talked with this man and when you attacked Black?" Hersh questioned.
"The man told us to go to the alley and attack Black," Charles repeated.
"Do you know why you were to kill Black?" Hersh changed the line of questioning.
"Harry Potter," Charles stated.
"Why would you want to kill Black because of Harry Potter?"
"My brothers. The man."
"Your brother Percival?"
"Ron, Fred and George."
"What about Ron, Fred and George?"
"Harry Potter ruined their lives over a prank gone wrong. Black is Potter's godfather. The man said by killing Black we could hurt Harry Potter, and then get to kill him later," Charles stated.
It had a logic that made sense. It made too much sense. As much as she hated the Weasley's right now, her gut was telling her this was too good. She signalled for Hersh to end the interview.
"Interrogation number one of Charles Weasley is at an end. Healer Justice, will you administer the antidote?" Hersh requested, tapping the dictaquill with his wand to end its automatic recording.
They left a few minutes later. She made sure every privacy charm she knew was up in the office down the hall before asking, "What are your thoughts?"
Hersh was reading through the transcript again.
Robards said, "Weasley did take a portkey on August second. He was supposed to return to work on August seventh. He never reported. His parents said they never saw him and the last time they got a letter from him was the end of July, but a month or more between letters isn't uncommon."
"No one has seen Percival for weeks. We questioned his parents, his younger brothers and sister. None of them have seen Percival since mid-July. His co-workers are saying he was let go by Fudge to make good with Black," Longshore added.
"There are signs of obliviation or the Imperious curse in his answers," Hersh stated. "There is cause and motive. I don't like it though."
She didn't either. "Why?"
"It's too clean. It's obvious they knew he was there. They were waiting in ambush. But something like that usually implies premeditative intent. I don't see that," Hersh analysed.
That is what was sitting uneasily with her as well. "I agree. Next steps?"
Her three Aurors sat for a few, thinking. She was trying to be patient with them. They needed to learn. "We get a mind healer," Hersh said, making a note in a pad.
"We track down where he was. We found a few odd things on Percival that didn't make sense, but it is possible he was trying to leave clues," Robards pointed out.
"Like what?" she asked, racking her mind for what Robards was thinking.
"There was a broken quill with some blood on it, but it wasn't either Percival's or Charles's. There was a candy wrapper, but we didn't find any others in either man's effects in Percival's apartment. That may not mean anything, but I know the brand. It's sold in Hogsmeade at Honeydukes in big bags. Then there were his severance papers. If I was fired, my first instinct would be to throw the papers away, not carry them around on me," Robards stated.
That was odd but provided excellent motive.
"I need answers, not observations and assumptions. Find me those answers," she told them.
As she thought about it, the more she was convincing herself this was a different enemy that had used a convenient scape goat to get away with murder.
-oOo-
September 6, 1995
Hogwarts Express, On the way to Hogwarts.
September 6, 1995
Hogwarts Express, On the way to Hogwarts.
Hermione had met Cedric on the platform. The handsome blonde boy gave her a smirk that had started to make her all melty inside every time he saw her. In the last month, they had spent many days together. He had helped her understand the ministry and the Wizengamot, while she brought him up to speed on Muggle mathematics and the Muggle world.
Her mother gave her a knowing wink after hugging her and letting Cedric walk her through the barrier and towards the train. As they re-entered the wizarding world, her first thought had been to her friends, then she had frowned, before thinking of Harry, Luna and Sue. She hadn't seen Harry since the trials. He had always been busy every time she had contacted him. Since that attack at the Bones manor, she had been frantic to see him, but he had always been too busy.
Now that she was stalking towards the train, Cedric gave a small chuckle, unsure if he should feel sorry or not about the poor sod that had earned her ire.
"I should see you to a compartment," the blonde head boy said.
"You have to be in the Prefects' car to greet the new prefects," she reminded him.
"True. I could at least help with your trunk, then catchup with you later," he suggested.
She looked at the trunk and the cage with Crookshank in it. "I couldn't ask you…"
He gave her that lopsided grin she knew would be the death of her at some point. Each time he did that, she wanted waning to not snog him senseless.
"It's not an imposition," he told her.
She nodded, and with a smirk, his wand was out. He handed Crookshanks cage to her, then tapped her trunk. Her eyes narrowed as her trunk shrunk. He put it into his pocket, then did the same with his. "There, I think I can handle this."
"Prat," she said, playfully punching his arm. Cedric laughed.
They found Harry about halfway down the train. Sue was sitting across from him, while an impossibly beautiful girl with silvery blonde hair, the deepest blue eyes, a narrow waist and a larger bust that screamed femineity with a smile that lit her whole face, was sitting next to Harry. She didn't like Harry, not that way, but she felt a bit of jealousy flush over her. They were talking when she poked her head in.
"Harry Potter!" she stated.
Stopping their hushed conversation, he looked up, a small smile coming over his face. Getting up, he held out a hand for her. "Miss Dagworth-Granger, it is a pleasure to see you again."
She rushed past his hand to hug him. "Oh, I've read all the papers, and you are horrible at replying to my letters," she scolded him, hugging him tight. They may not have been the closest of friends, but he was probably the best one she had left in Hogwarts.
"It's been busy," he said a little lamely.
She backed up. "Busy? You call what you did just busy? Merlin, Harry! You killed Fenrir Greyback!"
"And won the Zurich U16," the girl said in a musical voice with a French lilt. Hermione knew this girl but couldn't place her.
She looked to Harry. He shrugged. "I've been busy. I hear you have too?"
"I'll admit that I've been monopolizing as much of her time as I can," Cedric said from behind her. "She's been worried about you though, mate."
"Hey, Cedric. Have a good summer?"
"It was a lot quieter than yours," he said.
"A quiet summer would have been nice," Harry wistfully replied.
"Miss Delacour, it is a pleasure to see you again," Cedric said to the girl.
Hermione knew who this was. She had thought Fleur's little sister a looker last February, but she was stunning now. Cedric took Gabrielle's hand and kissed the back of it. Her jealousy just about shot out of her in sparks.
"Thank you, Monsieur Diggory," Gabrielle said.
"Cedric, please. Miss Li, also a pleasure," Cedirc said, kissing the back of her hand as well. Even though the Asian girl was pretty, she didn't feel jealous like she did towards Gabrielle. "Hermione, would you like your trunk unshrunk or not?"
"I can unshrink it when we get to Hogwarts. Thank you," she said, pushing up on her toes to kiss his cheek. She could give him a more appropriate kiss later.
Cedric gave her a winning smile before leaving them.
"Going well with Diggory?" Sue asked as she took a seat.
She couldn't keep the beaming smile from her face. "Yes, actually."
"And it has nothing to do with how fit he is?" Gabrielle said, then giggled at Hermione's slight colouring of her cheeks, partly because the girl was right and partly because she wanted to keep the girl away from him.
"He is rather handsome," she admitted.
Sue gave her a wink. "Have a good summer?"
"It turned out genuinely nice. I was kept busy, though. Helping Cedric with his maths, keeping up with some of my more mundane studies and learning about the Wizengamot and my family filled all my time," she told them.
"Are you sure it was just maths you were helping him with?" Gabrielle teased.
Her cheeks went even brighter. "Mostly," she admitted.
Harry chuckled. "Some biology?"
They all laughed as her cheeks flamed. The last two weeks had had some rather heavy snogging sessions and not much studying…
"I read about your win in Zurich," she said to Harry. "Congratulations."
"Thanks," he said sheepishly.
Sue snorted. "Did the papers say that Harry tried to put Smith through the wall?"
Hermione looked to him. "Only that there was an accident at the end, but it was a clean win. Are you alright, Gabrielle? I saw you were hurt."
Gabrielle snuck an arm around Harry's. "Oui. It was an accident while duelling."
Sue and Harry both looked disgruntled. "It was a stupid move that you did after letting that arse get you all riled," Harry angrily stated.
Gabrielle looked chastised. "I was only doing what you have done."
Harry ran his hand over the back of his neck. "Gabrielle, controlling the elements is not an easy thing. You know that. What I do… well, it's part of my family's magic."
"You shouldn't mess around with elemental magic," Sue added. The train gave a lurch as it started its journey to Hogwarts.
Hermione looked between them. She had only come across references to this before. Gabrielle stuck her nose up. "My heritage is that of fire. I will be more careful with others for now on."
"Is elemental magic that dangerous? I've only ever found refences to it," Hermione put to them.
Sue was glaring at Gabrielle. "It can be extremely dangerous. Like nature, it can be wild and untamed, not to mention as unboundless as nature herself. Most that learn to use it have a family history and knowledge. Most schools will not teach it because of its capricious nature. It can also be extremely dangerous because much of it is linked to emotions. My father says that it is rarely taught to younger people because of this. He says he won't teach me what he knows until I am closer to twenty."
Gabrielle sniffed. "It is part of me. I have been taught how to use it since I was young. I made a mistake to think I could control something that was not my fire."
"Master Flitwick has talked with her. She knows we are upset about it. I think we should drop this. I need to go to the loo. I'll be back," Harry said, getting up.
As he did, she didn't miss the way Gabrielle watched him, or that she didn't really move so that Harry's legs had to brush against hers. Hermione looked at her curiously. As soon as the door closed, Sue focused on Gabrielle.
"You need to back off of him," Sue told Gabrielle. It had the feel that this wasn't the first time Sue had warned her.
The buxom blonde threw her head back, her chin up. "I am not bothering Harry."
Sue's eyes narrowed. "Bloody hell you aren't. You've just about been sitting in his lap all day and haven't let him be since we got back from the tournament. I know you like him, but he isn't ready for you or anyone."
Gabrielle sniffed. "I am not bothering him. He would let me know."
"Harry won't say a thing. He thinks he's protecting you and me. If you don't back off, I'll make sure you do, Gabrielle. If it was anyone else, I would tell you go after them and shag their brains out, but not Harry. He's close to the edge. He almost killed Smith because of you. I'm telling you to back off," Sue demanded, her wand coming to her hand.
Hermione looked at the two girls. Gabrielle's wand had slipped into her hand as well. "So, you and Harry saying that you would have my back was just nonsense? Or are you jealous that he is paying more attention to me than you? That is it, isn't it? You like him, don't you?" Gabrielle accused.
Sue huffed irritably. "It doesn't matter if I do or not. Harry doesn't see me that way and I'm happy just being his best friend. He's already suffered enough. But if anyone threatens to hurt him, I swear I will end them."
Hermione was looking wide eyed between the two girls. She pulled her own wand out of her pocket, unsure if she could do anything to stop them from fighting. She wasn't even sure if she could do anything against them, knowing they were already good duellists.
"I would never hurt him. He has saved my life twice. I will be what he needs me to be," Gabrielle hotly replied.
"He just needs friends, not someone trying to jump his bones," Sue shot back.
"Are you saying that because he isn't jumping you with is bones?" Gabrielle angrily accused.
Sue shot up, reacting faster than Hermione could imagine doing ending with her wand pointing at Gabrielle. Gabrielle moved, her hand diverting the wand as a red spell shot out. Sue swiped her other arm down to divert Gabrielle's wand. A white spell ripped the seat.
Hermione shot up as Sue's fist connected with Gabrielle's face. The girl took it before clawing at Sue. Hermione brought her wand up to send a cannon blast sound in the car to prevent this from becoming a dangerous brawl. The two girls stopped. Hermione took a step back at the angry gleam in their eyes.
She swallowed before straightening her back. "What is going on? You two are acting like total twats! Do you think Harry would want that?"
Sue took in a deep breath before calming and taking on her more placid look. She had a few angry welts on her left cheek. Gabrielle was still upset with a red mark next to her right eye. Sue turned to Gabrielle. She moved her hand and her wand slid up her sleeve. Hermione thought she would need to investigate that.
"Leave. Harry. Alone. If you push, we will all lose him and I swear I will end you if that happens," Sue warned.
Gabrielle huffed. "I will not hurt him."
The two glared at each other for a long moment before sitting. Hermione's mouth was open. She had seen girls fight before, but never had she feared the ones fighting. Her jealousy had gone to hide under a rock. If they were fighting over Harry, Cedric was safe. It was just worrying the way they were glaring at each other.
The coach jolted as it went over a rough piece of rail. Hermione sat hard on the seat next to Sue. Gabrielle kept her balance. After a moment, her wand slipped up the sleeve of the dress she was wearing before sitting down.
She didn't know what to bring up. It was only the door slamming open a few minutes later to a fuming Harry that broke the tension. Sue looked up to him before rolling her eyes. "Who are we killing this time?"
Harry let out a darkly amused snort. "Malfoy."
-oOo-
A few minutes earlier…
On the train…
Harry was heading back to the compartment after going to the loo. He caught site of Luna talking with a few people from Hufflepuff in her year. She waved to him, and he waved back, feeling comforted that she looked happy. He would have to look into that later, since he hadn't seen her be that comfortable with people outside of him and his friends.
A compartment door sliding open two down as he walked by had him twirling to see who it was. His eyes narrowed as he took a step back to give him enough room to react. The usual mass of Slytherins were behind the Malfoy heir as he stepped out, closing the door behind him.
The prat hadn't said a word to him since what had happened over Easter. He still wanted his father to go to Azkaban but would have to be contented until Sirius could take whatever revenge he had planned. Given how scared Draco had looked that day, and the fact that he hadn't said a word to Harry or any of his friends since then, had him feeling neutral towards the boy.
"Potter," Malfoy greeted.
"Malfoy," he evenly replied.
"On behalf of my mother and I, I wanted to pass along our condolences for your loss and to congratulate you on your defeat of Fenrir Greyback this summer," Malfoy told him.
Harry took on a disgruntled look. "And your father?" he said bitterly.
Malfoy kept an even mask. "My father is celebrating the downfall of the Longbottoms, but still hates you."
Harry snorted. "The feeling is mutual. What do you want, Malfoy?"
He reached for a pocket in his robes. Harry's wand came out of his holster with a flick of his wrist. Malfoy raised a blond eyebrow but made no move to look threatening. "I am only reaching for a letter," Malfoy told him.
Harry didn't relax. "And how do I know it's not a portkey or cursed?"
Malfoy gave a wry grin. "It could be, but I was always taught there were wards on the train preventing students from getting off unless at the platforms at King's Cross or Hogsmeade."
Harry gave Malfoy a sidelong look. He waited for Malfoy to take a large envelope out of his pocket.
"My mother has requested that this be delivered to Lord Black. You can test it if you want, but there should be nothing except my mother's signature," he said.
Harry still felt rather dubious. "And why should I, or why didn't she deliver to him herself?"
Malfoy's face was still rather passive. "You are a Ravenclaw. Ponder it yourself. Are you going to take it or not?"
Harry ran his wand over the offending envelope. He didn't detect anything dangerous, but there were ways to hide certain curses or other harmful magics. After a moment, he finally took the envelope, having a clever idea why his mother couldn't directly communicate with Sirius.
"If this is a trick, I'll be coming for you," Harry threatened.
Malfoy snorted. "I am protected by powerful people, Potter. It would be unwise to challenge them."
"You mean the Dark Lord?" he said.
There was a quick flash of fear across the boy's features. "He is more powerful than you can imagine, Potter. My father is still terribly upset with you and Lord Black. If you want to live, do not cause any more trouble."
Harry's eyes narrowed.
Malfoy slightly bowed his head in a recognition of Pureblood civility and respect. As much as Harry didn't want to, he returned the gesture. He wasn't sure if the boy was threatening him or warning him.
After watching Malfoy close the door behind him, he made his way back to the carriage room. Stepping inside, he vented his frustration before realizing that there was a tension in the room that wasn't here before.
"What did Malfoy say?" Sue asked.
"I'm not sure if it's a threat or warning, but he confirmed the Malfoy's are still with the Dark Lord and his father is still right pissy at me. I'll have to tell Sirius to speed up his plans," Harry said, moving to take the seat nearest the door and next to Gabrielle.
"What plans are those?" Hermione asked.
"I don't fully know, but he's been waiting for the Wizengamot meet later this month," Harry told them. He eyed Sue's cheek. Before he could say anything, Hermione spoke up.
"I can't wait to go. Mister Diggory and Ted said I would have to be there to present myself and then I can stay to see what the Wizengamot is like. Next year, once we have our OWL's, I can take my seat, but I think I will have Cedric's father represent me until I get out Hogwarts. That must have been so interesting to see it at the summer solstice, Harry?" Hermione enthused.
Sue met his eyes, telling him not to ask.
"I didn't go," he reminded her. Sirius had thought it too dangerous and he wasn't in a right place of mind or body to attend. He looked down, frowning. He would have to go this time. Now that he was fifteen, he would need to be present to at least confirm Andi as his representative. It would also be where Sirius declared their decisions about the House of Croaker, Crouch and Marsten. Hermione would also get a huge surprise. One that couldn't be announced until the moot.
"Oh, I wasn't thinking about…" she trailed off, looking uncertain to bring up Hannah. Harry was thankful she didn't.
Gabrielle reached to squeeze his hand. He didn't respond, not noticing the glare that passed between the blonde French girl and the dark hair Asian girl.
-oOo-
That evening…
Hogwarts, Scotland
Gabrielle was still feeling a little put out at Sue. She had suspected for a bit that she liked Harry as more than just a friend. If anyone was going to give her competition, it would probably be the girl that had been at Harry's side since going to Hogwarts. She was just lucky that Harry didn't see her that way… of course, she didn't think Harry saw anyone that way at present.
It was with these thoughts that she didn't like to separate from Harry.
That, and the way many of the boys were staring at her was making her uncomfortable. She had seen it with Fleur last year. When last here, the looks of lust and want towards herself had not been that noticeable, but since then, she had grown more into her own looks and her allure was greater. Harry was keeping most away. There was a dangerous presence about him that was alluring to her, and many girls, that either made boys shirk away or want to challenge him. She saw a few that wanted to challenge Harry, but she doubted anyone would. None but some of the professors could really give him a challenge.
Harry thought Master Flitwick was still way ahead of him, but she could see that Harry was starting to make the man work. It was only his decades of experience that was allowing him to win most times still.
She was interested to see what a duel between Harry and papa would be like. He was just as skilled as Master Flitwick. The only reason she wasn't training under him was that he was busy being a politician and she wanted to go to school. That was going to change, as he was taking a much more active role in her training again. Every two or three weeks he and maman would be around. She was looking forward to it.
"Miss Delacour, Miss Dagwoth-Granger, if you just step in here, we can do your sorting before the first years arrive," a tall man with shoulder length, greasy black hair and a large, hooked nose guided them to a side room after picking them out from the crowd.
"Yes, Professor Snape," Hermione said, though she didn't look all to happy. Harry had said Professor Snape was fair, but a hard disciplinarian.
The antechamber was a large room full of awards, plaques and mementos. It was hundreds of years' worth of history for the ancient school. Hogwarts was a few hundred years older than Beauxbatons.
"Professor, why are you doing the sorting ceremony? Where you named the Deputy Headmaster?" Hermione questioned.
"I have been offered the post as Deputy Head pro-temp as another will be taking over as Head of House for Slytherin," he informed them. This surprised Hermione. Gabrielle didn't know enough to understand the significance. "Miss Dagworth-Grainger, I was informed that the Governors approved your petition to change houses. Do you accept what the hat chooses, even if it is back to Gryffindor?" Professor Snape asked.
Hermione straightened her back. "I will never go back there, professor," Hermione stated.
The man looked approving of her decision. "Please sit."
Professor Snape took a ratty looking hat from a table next to a stiff, wooden high back chair. Gabrielle tried not to crinkle her nose at the obviously ill kept thing. Though, even growing up in the magical world, she was still a little surprised when it suddenly came to life when dropped onto Hermione's head.
Hermione nodded her head or shook it a few times before the hat proclaimed, "Ravenclaw!"
With a big smile, she took the hat off and handed it to Professor Snape. "Thank you, Professor."
The man nodded his head. "Go out and join your table. Your new house colours will be available for your uniform in the morning. Miss Delacour, if you will?"
She sniffed before sitting down. She was pleased that her parents had allowed her to get the better-quality cloth than the standard Hogwarts uniforms. The thick woollen skirts and shirts would have been rather uncomfortable compared to the satin that Beauxbatons preferred, but, as Fleur had pointed out, it would have been much warmer in the winter. The thinner, nicer cloth of these uniforms had Australian possum fur woven into them, making them warmer.
Eyeing the hat rather dubiously, she crinkled her nose as the professor placed it over her head. He had a slight uptick to the side of his mouth at her disdain.
Unsure what to expect, she was shocked when a voice spoke through her occlumency shields as though they didn't exist.
Ah, another unusual person. You are much older than the standard student I sort, the thing spoke into her head. What surprised her more was that it was in perfect French.
How are you doing that? She demanded back. I can't even feel that you touched my occlumency shield at all.
There was a mirthful laugh in his head. The preconceptions of youth are always amusing. There are other ways to communicate without using mind magic… ah, I see you trying to figure that out. I would be rather curious to know if you do. I have met very few in my almost thousand years of life to figure it out, and fewer still capable of replicating the feet that my makers put into me.
I don't understand how… I know of nothing except legillimency that would be able to intrude on someone else's mind, she told the hat. Well, nothing that is normal to a wizard.
The hat chuckled. I look forward to seeing this very analytical and curious mind. But that is not all you are. There is a deep-seated desire to prove yourself. You feel that most look down on you, your sister and your mother for what you are. Do you?
She sat straighter in the chair. I am proud of who I am and what I am. If they do not like it, it is not my fault.
There was the sound like a tongue making a clicking noise. But you still hear what they say. You fear that all they will see is the monster you harbour in you.
She was feeling rather uncomfortable to have her inner fears and desires so easily found out. I tire of this. Place me in Ravenclaw.
The hat chuckled again in her mind. Ah, yes, there is that fire and bravery I suspected in you. I see what you can do, how you lose your temper, how you protect those you love. Are you sure you wouldn't be more suited for Gryffindor? They wouldn't fear your heritage.
She huffed. I will be placed where Harry is.
I still say your fearlessness to keep ploughing ahead is a considerable influence on you. More than your curiosity and ambition. What would you do if I chose to put you in Gryffindor?
She growled deep in her throat. I would burn you to ashes.
The hat seemed amused. You may try, but none have achieved it yet. Again, more a Gryffindor trait than a Ravenclaw. Hmm….
She started to curse the hat in some rather creative ways. It chuckled again. It took a long moment to say anything else, as though it was still digging deep into her head and soul…
Was this soul magic?
I see your desire and quick mind, Gabrielle Delacour. I think you most suited for the founder that preferred the fire, but if you prefer the one that would rather play with water, then who am I to stop you? Just be warned, water can be far trickier than any fire. It can be calming, or fierce. Flowing or hard as rock. Usually the more you fight it, the more water will win. Often in rather unpredictable ways. I wish you luck in, "Ravenclaw!"
She stood, taking the hat off. Her blue eyes were full of a desire to spread the ashes of the hat all over the damned grounds. Why was everyone trying to keep her from Harry?
Professor Snape was appraisingly looking at her as she jammed the hat into his hands. "Do not damage the sorting hat, Miss Delacour. It is almost as old as the castle." He nodded his head. "The Ravenclaw table is the second from the left in the hall. Go find a seat while I greet the first years."
"Yes, professor," she said.
Striding out into the great hall, she didn't miss many eyes turning towards her. Harry, Sue, Luna and Hermione were sitting towards the centre of the table. She was forced to go down the left side as Luna and Sue were taking up spots on either side of Harry.
Harry gave her a winning smirk. "Glad to see you join us, though you don't look pleased."
She huffed. "It was just the hat."
"Where else did it want to put you?" Luna asked. Her voice was rather eery and far away, but she had the sense the girl saw so much more than people thought.
"Gryffindor," she replied.
Hermione grimaced. "It considered putting me back there, but I told it I would never step into that viper den again."
Sue snorted in mirth. "I like that, though most consider Slytherin the viper den."
"I belong here," Gabrielle told them, her eyes meeting Sue's, who was back to the easier way they had been the last month. She didn't miss the hardness to her eyes though.
"Here comes all the midgets," a boy said from next to her.
"They aren't that small, Goldstein," the bushy hair girl admonished.
"They are rather small," Harry pipped up.
"Do they even come up to my chest?" Sue questioned.
"Even if they did, it's not like it would matter," Harry snarked.
"I swear, Harry, one more quip like that and I'll wipe you arse all over the duelling floor," Sue growled.
She looked at the pretty Asian girl with a little bit of jealousy. Sue wasn't voluptuous. Her chest was slightly on the smaller side, but it fit her overall petit frame and she had the right curves to her hips and waist. Gabrielle hated to admit Sue was incredibly attractive. What unnerved her was the most about the girl, was the effortless way Harry and her got along, and that Harry turned to her as his best friend, with Luna not far behind. She didn't feel threatened by the younger girl though.
If only she knew that many girls were feeling that way towards her as she sat with one of the most desirable boys in the school, she might have been a little more comforted, and alarmed.
"I'm more interested in the new professors at the table," Hermione commented. She looked to the front of the hall. She counted twenty seats at a table that was larger than she remembered from last year with many fresh faces.
Harry looked up to the table too. "Sirius and Andi said there would be changes, but he refused to tell me what. It's why they delayed the start of school."
"Are there more courses?" Hermione questioned.
"I don't know," Harry told them.
"What good are you, Potter? You have people on the Board of Governors and you can't tell us?" Sue questioned.
He shot her a two-finger salute and she grinned.
The talking died down to let the first years in. They would hopefully find out soon.
-oOo-
September 7, 1995
London, England
Andi was walking her ward. It had been years since she had felt this sorrow to see one of her children go back to Hogwarts. It had hit her every year when Nymphadora would leave. The noises, activity and life the house took on whenever she was around, was always missed when she left. It wasn't that Andi was disappointed in her life with Ted. Far from it, as this morning showed with their first love making in the kitchen in months, but it still felt different.
In the last few months, Harry had filled that spot more than she had realized.
She had gotten an extra plate out. Gotten an extra muffin ready with his preferred lime marmalade and his stronger tea before she remembered he was back at school.
Thinking of Harry, she felt concerned to know how he did his first night back. His nightmares were very worrisome, as was his temper at times. She was hoping not to get any calls to come to the school this year, though she would be there more often anyways.
As she was pondering her adopted son, she noticed the Aurors down the hall. She had to clamp down on her emotions to not scowl. Head Healer Justice had been firm in keeping her away from the Weasley boy. That was probably a good thing as she wasn't sure if she would have killed him, healer oaths or not. The blood feud would have allowed her to circumvent those oaths in this case.
The investigations around him and his brother were still going on. Amelia was being tight lipped about it. Sirius and her wanted to know if Arthur had sanctioned the attack. If he had, Sirius was going to demand a duel. If not, he would still get his duel once the Healer said Charles was good enough. The neutrality of St Mungo's was supposed to be as sacrosanct as that of the ministry and Hogwarts.
Turning away, she stepped into one of her patient's rooms.
When she made it back to the duty station at the end of the ward, she greeted Clara, the Mediwitch on duty this morning. "Morning, Clara, how are you?"
The woman yawned. "A little tired. Still trying to get used to be in on days now," the middling years woman with auburn hair replied. "How about you, Andi?"
"You know. Things were quiet this morning after having a teen in the house the last few months," she said back.
Clara nodded. "My last just started yesterday. It was sad seeing Julius off."
She smiled at the woman who had three kids. He oldest, Michelle, had just graduated last year, while her middle daughter, Emely, was a fifth year.
"I cried the first time Nymphadora pulled away from the platform," she commiserated with her. Spying the Daily Prophet, she nodded towards it, interested to know if there were any headlines since she had left before the paper had arrived. "Any important news?"
"Seems rather slow today," Clara said, handing her the paper.
"Thanks. I'll just be in my office for a bit having a tea and getting some paperwork done."
"Sure, Andi. I'll notify you if anyone comes in."
Sitting in the office, she was going through the paper. Clara had been right. There wasn't much to really pay attention to. Sipping at her tea, she stopped on the second to last page where the public notices were.
Perhaps if she hadn't seen the effects on Harry, Sirius almost being killed or the Aurors outside of Weasley's room, she might not have had the reaction she did seeing the notice.
-o-
Notice of Trial:
Per Wizengamot law, notice of delay of trial for Mrs Minerva McGonagall from September 16, 1996 to October 11, 1996 is hereby given. Delay approved per motion of Defence Solicitor. All parties of interest will receive official notice by September 8, 1996.
-o-
Her left hand started to shake with supressed rage. Her right hand grabbed the paper and crumpled it up.
McGonagall was supposed to go on trial last month. The bint's solicitor had managed to delay it. The arse had done it again. She was positive this was somehow Dumbledore still pulling strings since she had been one of his largest supports. Since he had been sacked from Hogwarts, the man had become a snake in the grass. She suspected some of the sentimentality turning against them from the more Light sided houses had to be from him.
If the man kept pulling the strings and delaying this trial, she was thinking the anger over what the woman had done would subside and she might get off or have a reduced sentence.
The newspaper in her hands started to emit tendrils of smoke.
Throughout the day, her anger simmered at the injustices that had been heaped on Harry, Sirius, her family, those affected by an uncaring man that manipulated people for decades and let the worst of their society get away with literal murder.
As her anger simmered, her hold over the bloodlust of the Black madness was slipping. She felt it, and for once, didn't try to fight her loss of control. When younger, she had done that a few times. She could remember the look of fear on her sister's faces when that had happened. Ted had been her salvation and grounding force since she had started to date him their sixth year.
By the time her shift was over, she had a tenuous hold on her emotions.
"Have a good night, Andi," Clara said as she got her own stuff out of her locker.
"Thanks, Clara. You too," she told the Mediwitch.
Walking out into the main lobby, she took up a handful of floo powder. Looking at it, the name of 'Titmouse Field' on her tongue, she was only mildly surprised when she instead said, "The Three Broomsticks."
Coming out, the resolve that she had been slowly building towards all day was finally solidifying. She understood what she needed to do to protect her family.
Wasn't that the reason the Black madness had developed?
According to family legends, the House of Black wasn't a very martial house. It was known for its political and economic power. But in fourteen seventy-three, the house was facing near annihilation in a blood feud with the Weasley clan. Lord Scorpius Black the second created a ritual to grant members of the house magically enhanced skills to defend the house. The blood feud turned and over the next thirty years, the House of Weasley was brought to its knees. Then the unforgivable thing happened.
Using three children of the House of Black, the Weasley's cursed the family lines to pervert those that took up the family defence of their line. It was a blood curse that became the Black madness. For their dark sacrifice of the three children, the blood feud was taken to Wizards' Council. It was what labelled the clan Blood Traitors, stripped them of their titles and bankrupted the clan.
To hide the cause of the Black Madness, the family buried all knowledge of it and had kept a keen eye out for those that were affected. Unfortunately, with the threats to the family in the last few generations, more than usual were affected, and the Weasley's intent to see the line of Blacks destroyed was closer to being achieved than ever before.
The only way to avoid it was to find someone to anchor yourself too. The old fool's talk about love held more truth than Dumbledore knew.
The problem was, now that her family was endangered, she had been fighting this urge down for months. She had seen it awaken in Sirius, but he seemed to use it to channel his revenge. She had been supressing it, not wanting to lose herself like Bella had or become a shell of a person like Narcissa.
For this once, she knew she had to give into it.
If she didn't, their enemies would think them weak.
Coming out of the green flames, she briskly made her way out of the tavern, then to the apparition point nearby.
She had only been to the old Ross cottage once when she had been approached to join the Order of the Pheonix during the last war. She could still remember the highlands around the place and quickly latched onto that image before twisting on the spot.
When she appeared, it didn't take long to find the old lane. It was in some disrepair and becoming overgrown. The old farming village in the valley below had been abandoned for years. She quickly eyed the place. The old stone church still had a sharp pointed roof on the steeple. It was the only place in town that still looked in decent repair, except for a single house on an outlying farm.
Eyeing the old cottage, she set off down the path. She was surprised that the wards allowed her to approach. The woman would know she was coming, so wasn't surprised when the door opened as she approached the stone wall around the house.
The woman that stepped out of the house was not the same. Her usually immaculate bun was loose and down. She was in a night coat that looked to have been worn the last few days by its rumpled state. Her eyes were bloodshot. The usually stern woman looked broken.
"What are you doing here?" the old Scots woman demanded.
Andromeda stared her down. "I come to make sure you see justice."
The woman snorted in disgust. "If you come to see me to the afterlife, come in."
She regarded the woman to see if there was any trick in this. After a moment, she followed the woman into her house.
"Shut the door. Take a seat."
The house wasn't large. The great room was as much kitchen and dining room as it was sitting room. Through two other doors she could see a water closet and a bedroom. A third door was closed.
McGonagall moved over to the open hearth. A tea kettle was hanging from a hook. "This is my grandparents old farm. It's all I have left after near eighty years at Hogwarts."
The woman's brogue was the thickest she had ever heard it.
McGonagall took the kettle, placed it onto a wrought iron rest on the table, then moved to get two teacups. After placing the cups on the table, she went back to the mantle to gather up a tin of tea leaves.
She didn't say a word as the old woman moved around. She wasn't moving very quickly. Many of her emotions were stilted, as though old age was catching up with a woman that had an indomitable personality.
If only that had been so. If she had been so indomitable then she never would have followed Dumbledore or allowed all those lives to be destroyed under her watch.
"This is a fusion from the East Indies," McGonagall told her.
Andromeda waited for the tea to start steeping before asking, "What are you doing?"
"Enjoyin' my last meal. Ye come to seek vengeance, lass. I see it. I see that madness. It will not rest until satisfied," the older woman casually said pouring hot water into her own cup.
Andromeda looked at the teacups dubiously.
"There's no poison, if you are worried."
For some reason she believed the old biddy. Reaching for the milk and sugar, she could easily admit this was the weirdest conversation of her life. "You know I'm here to kill you?"
"I've been expecting it for a bit. I saw that gleam in your eye the morning after that poor girl died. No Black has ever rested when that gleam is seen," she calmly stated, reaching for the milk when Andromeda put in into the middle of the table.
Looking at her, she felt no pity or remorse for what she wanted to do. The woman wasn't asking for any recompense, nor was she looking for forgiveness. There was only the certainty that she wasn't long for this earth in her eyes.
Unsure what to say, Andromeda sipped at the tea. It was a nice blend. Putting it down, she said, "At one time I respected you. I thought you the type of woman I wanted to be. I saw a woman that spoke up for those that were oppressed. You punished those that needed it. You stopped three boys from raping my sister. Did you do that because you wanted too, or because Dumbledore told you too?"
McGonagall closed her eyes. "There were many things that happened while I was at Hogwarts. It was my home. My life. I love that school and all the students that went through its halls." She let out a long sigh. There was a rattling quality to it. Her Healer instincts was saying McGonagall wasn't well. "I did the best of what I thought I should do. I fought Albus every time he wanted to hide something. He always had a fancy excuse as to why. I followed him like a lap dog."
Andromeda couldn't deny that. The woman had followed the man like a lapdog. Many had.
"To answer you, lass, I didn't save Narcissa because I was told. It was the right thing to do."
Andromeda just watched the old woman. "And what about the Potters?"
Pain passed her face. "Ye hae to understand. Frank was my godson. Gus is one of my oldest friends. I saw signs of the madness in Sirius. James was rejecting everything to do with his heritage. I thought they were going dark. They were killing as many Death Eaters as they were killing us. Albus said they needed to be taken in and to see justice…"
"So, like a lapdog, you just did as told and let the bastards go as soon as gold exchanged hands in the ministry!" she accused.
McGonagall swallowed hard. "I thought I was doin' the right thing."
"Well, you weren't. How much blood to do you have on your hands? How many innocents… how many children, suffered for your morals? You were supposed to protect, guide and raise them when they were away from home. What type of monster are you?" Andromeda coldly questioned.
A tear fell from the old woman's eyes as she opened them. The grief in them was undeniable. She swallowed a few times before responding, "I will be judged. God will find me lacking and I will suffer in the pits of Hell for my sins. I cannae say anything to repair the damage I have done."
Andromeda's anger peaked. She drew her wand out, slowly standing while pointing it at the woman's chest. McGonagall closed her eyes, knowing the inevitable had come to claim her.
A red spell with white and black wisped bridged the distance between the two women. McGonagall gasped, her eyes opening wide. She made a silent scream as her lungs hardened as her blood congealed. It was a spell from her family, from her dark past.
The sight of Cissa's and Bella's scared face as she had used the same spell on a rabbit when she was only twelve flashed before her face. She had sworn after that to never let it get to her. It was why she had turned to Healing. It was her way of cleansing her soul of the sins of her family.
As she watched the woman slump over, the blood lust in her called out from a dark place.
McGonagall hit the table with a soft thud.
Satisfied that her family would be safe from this threat, she turned and left the house.
It would only be later that night that the Black madness would subside, and she would break down in her husband's arms. Ted would be clueless as to what was going on.
-oOo-
The same morning…
Hogwarts, Scotland
The talk around them was about waiting for Headmistress Sprout to let them into the changes for this year. She had introduced the new teachers last night but had said the house meetings in the morning would go over all the details.
Knowing the whole house would be back up from breakfast, Harry had left early. His friends had come along with him. Originally, they had claimed the best seats towards the statue, where Professor Flitwick always stood for house meetings, but he had given up his spot to some first years when everyone had come back. Gabrielle, Hermione and Sue had joined him. A rather surprised Luna was talking with a few third years, who were treating her well.
The nearly hundred students of the house all quieted as Professor Flitwick cleared his throat. Fleur was standing off to the side, attracting many looks, as was the new Professor Fawley, and less to his liking, Gabrielle.
Professor Fawley was a young woman in her early twenties with thick, dark hair, striking hazel eyes and a figure that Harry could appreciate. Most of the sixth and seventh year boys were making lustful eyes at her.
"Quiet please," Flitwick called out. He had to repeat himself a few times, but the house respected him enough to stop talking rather quickly.
"Thank you. Let me say that I am happy to see all our newest arrivals and those that have come back," Flitwick said. "For those keen in observations, I'm sure you have seen there are some changes this year."
There was a murmur of noise and a few chuckles. You wouldn't be in Ravenclaw if you didn't know something was going on.
"After a review by the Board of Governors this summer, it was determined that Hogwarts has fallen behind the international standards of some of the other major schools around the world. To remedy this issue, new staff has been hired, doubling most of our core subjects, and changing our curriculum standards," he said. Flitwick's wand came out and stacks of booklets and pamphlets materialized on tables on the side of the room.
"New student handbooks are available, as well as the change in courses. For those in your fourth year and up, the core courses will not change, but you will be able to elect to stay in astronomy, as that is now an elective that is recommended if you are going to do any courses in rituals or arithmancy."
The excited murmurs were all around them. Harry was eyeing the pamphlets. He wanted to understand all the changes.
"You will be given the weekend to review the changes. Monday there will be another house meeting after breakfast to settle your class decisions. If anyone wishes to add any OWL or NEWTs that were not preciously available or because of the changes, a schedule can be worked out for you earn them either late or over the summer if you are due to graduate.
All the changes are in the pamphlets and the booklets. Some of the other changes you should be aware of is that there will be assistant House heads now. Professor Fawley will be the assistant head of Ravenclaw. She was a Ravenclaw herself and graduated in nineteen-ninety. She comes back to us after earning her mastery in transfiguration from Ilvermorny. Office hours will be posted on her office in the transfiguration wing and her quarters will be in the fourth-floor corridor below, if you need to get her or me in the night," he told them.
Harry clapped with many of the others.
"Lastly, I wanted to introduce Associate Professor Delacour. She is here to earn her mastery in charms and will be teaching the second years. Like Professor Fawley, she will be available to any student here and should be reached should Professor Fawley or I not be available. Her office will be next to my own and she will share quarters next to Professor Fawley and myself," they were informed.
"I will be here for the next hour or so to answer all your questions."
With that, everyone wandered towards the tables. When Harry got there, he grabbed what they needed for Sue, Hermione, Gabi and himself. Sue took the offered stuff.
Gabrielle enquired, "This is a large change, non?"
"Yeah. I've never heard of anything like this," Harry said.
"One of the old handbooks in the library said that there used to be three professors for most subjects when the school used to have more than eight hundred students a year," Sue commented.
"Wait, there are records of how many students were in the school?" Hermione demanded.
"Used to be in the main library, but I think only the Ravenclaw library still has them," Sue commented.
"I found those too dry to read," Harry said.
Hermione eyed the library with hundreds of books by the statue. She had just looked at all the titles for over an hour before she had been dragged to bed by Sue and Gabrielle last night. "When were there so many students? Are there even four hundred now?" Hermione questioned.
"The last time there were that many students was before the Great War on the continent started," Sue said.
"Why are there so few now?" Gabrielle asked concerned.
"The Blood Wars. Muggleborn keep leaving after graduation. Many have moved to find better opportunities," Sue said. "I don't know if I want to stay once we graduate. The duelling circuit doesn't come to Great Britain. My parents have talked about moving to China to work with some of my relatives, but I don't want to leave Master Flitwick. If the Death Eaters make too much fuss though, we may."
Harry could tell she wasn't happy about that. He put an arm around his best mate. "I won't let anything happen to you," he promised her.
He missed the glare from Gabrielle to Sue, or the way Sue seemed a little flustered. Hermione ignored it as she dug into the pamphlets.
Letting go of Sue, he started to look at the pamphlets too, happy that he could drop Astronomy. He would have to see if he could test out of the Wizarding World introduction course. It was going to be required for all Muggleborn or raised. He had a good grasp on their world, he thought. His brow rose to see Andi's name on a new Healing course for NEWT students. There was even an offering for independent studies, which he knew he would be using for his duelling training and to visit Sirius to study his family's magic.
The year was going to be different.
-oOo-
The next time on Duel of Fate: The changes, investigations and the Wizengamot.
-oOo-
A/N: Scheduling and my muse is conspiring to uphold a 2-3 week update schedule for the foreseeable future.