Chapter 39
The funeral of Albus Dumbledore was a massive affair. Witches and wizards came from all over the world to pay their respects. They gave glowing speeches about his accomplishments and the good he’d done for the world.
Harry hated it. He wanted to be angry. He wanted to rage at the unfairness of the old man leaving too soon.
Silently, he watched as they sealed the white marble tomb on the edge of the Hogwarts grounds. He continued to sit, unmoving, as the crowd dispersed, either leaving entirely or retreating to the castle for lunch. Tonks, Hermione, and Fleur watched him worriedly. He wanted to reassure them, but how could he when he couldn’t reassure himself?
Eventually, when no one else remained, he got to his feet and stepped towards the tomb. The girls moved to follow him, but he silently waved them back. They retook their seats as he slowly approached and gently rested his hands on the cool stone.
Tears leaked from his eyes as it finally hit him that Albus Dumbledore was gone. He didn’t know how long he stood there, mourning the loss of his friend and mentor. More than that, the one man who had stood between him and Voldemort was gone. Fear, unlike anything he’d ever felt, crept down his spine. Harry could practically feel the sword hanging over his head.
But as his fear grew, so too did his resolve. He wouldn’t give up. Voldemort had to be stopped.
His hands curled into tight fists until his knuckles turned white.
As much as he wanted to leave everyone he cared about behind and go it alone, he knew he couldn’t. Besides the fact that they would never allow it, he needed their help if he was going to win. In fact, he needed more help than he currently had. But would it be worth the risk of exposing his plans to Voldemort?
Dumbledore had cautioned against telling anyone else about the Horcruxes, but Dumbledore was gone. It wasn’t his decision anymore. Everything was down to him now.
Harry straightened up and turned away from the tomb. Hermione, Tonks, and Fleur were waiting a respectful distance away, and for the first time in a week, he managed a real, genuine smile.
“Let’s go home,” he said.
~
Amelia sat at her desk and glanced at Kingsley Shacklebolt over the latest Auror reports.
“Do we have any concerns of Death Eater activity with the recent increase in crime?” she asked.
“Nothing more than usual,” Kingsley said. “Most of what we’re seeing are fake protective amulets, unlicensed vendors, and minor violations of the Statute of Secrecy, like the Weasley twins’ attack doormats.”
“Have they submitted the proper paperwork yet?” Amelia asked.
“I believe so,” Kingsley said, rifling through his notes.
“Good. As soon as it gets approved, tell them I want two,” she said.
Kingsley looked up from his notes and smiled. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the building shook, accompanied by a dull rumble, like thunder.
“What in Merlin’s name was that!?” Amelia shouted as she and Kingsley jumped to their feet.
The door to her office burst open, and the young, acne-riddled intern skidded to an abrupt halt two steps into the room when he suddenly found himself staring down two glowing wands.
“Burke, what is it?” Amelia barked, lowering her wand.
“E-explosion,” Burke stammered, sweat gathering on his forehead, “in courtroom seven.”
“How bad? Are there any casualties?” she asked.
“I-I don’t know,” Burke said. “We just received the report-”
“I’ll go investigate,” Kingsley said.
“I’ll go with you,” Amelia said.
“No,” he told her firmly. “Amelia, if this is a Death Eater attack, you’ll be their first target. We need to keep you safe, Minister.”
Amelia glared at him for the use of her title.
“Fine, but I want to be kept up to date.”
Kingsley nodded and strode toward the door. Burke quickly got out of his way as the large Auror paused in the doorway.
“You two,” he said, pointing to the two Aurors that stood guard over the Minister’s office. “Seal this office. No one in or out until I give you the all clear.”
“Yes, sir,” one of them said.
As he stepped inside the elevator, Amelia sighed and sat back down at her desk.
“Burke, tell the staff to get comfortable. We might be stuck here for a while.”
Burke nodded and rushed out while Amelia pulled out a sheaf of parchment and wrote a quick note to the Auror Investigations team. With a tape of her wand, it folded itself into a paper airplane and zipped under the door.
For the next half an hour, she sat, impatiently waiting for any word from Kinglsey until there was a knock at her door.
“Enter,” she yelled.
The door swung open and Arthur Weasley stepped inside.
“Evening, Amelia,” he said heavily, his face worn and tired. “Kingsley sent me to tell you it’s safe to come down. He’s sent non-essential employees home early and posted Aurors throughout the Ministry. There’s going to be an emergency Wizengamot in an hour.”
“What’s happening?” Amelia asked, getting to her feet and shoving paperwork carelessly into the pocket of her robe. “How bad was the explosion?”
“Terrible,” Arthur said, shaking his head. “At least a dozen killed and just as many injured.”
“Any idea what caused the explosion?” she asked, marching toward the door.
“No,” he said, following her through the offices. “One of the investigators thought they might have used Muggle explosives, which is why I was called in. I didn’t find anything, and if the other investigators have, they haven’t told me anything.”
Amelia nodded as she stepped into the elevator. Arthur stood with her at the back while the two Aurors stepped inside at the front and one of them pushed the button for level ten. The gate slid closed, and they began to descend.
“Anything else you can tell me?” she asked.
Arthur sighed heavily.
“I overheard Kingsley say he thinks this was a political attack. Most of the dead we’ve identified were staunchly opposed to You-Know-Who. Elphias Doge, Tiberius Ogden, Augusta Longbottom-”
“Augusta?” Amelia asked, shocked.
Arthur nodded solemnly. Closing her eyes, Amelia felt a heavy weight settle in her stomach. As she reopened them, she saw the two Aurors glance at each other. It was fleeting, but something about it set her on edge. Given what was happening, she thought it was just paranoia, but that didn’t stop her from sliding her hand into the pocket of her robes and gripping her wand.
Amelia listened to Arthur with half an ear while she kept the rest of her attention of the two Aurors. As they passed the eighth floor, they glanced at each other again, and she knew something was wrong. Suddenly, they turned as one, wands drawn. Amelia fired a Cutting Curse that shredded the front of her robe and struck one of the Aurors in the chest. He slumped against the door, eyes wide.
“Avada-”
She turned her wand to the other Auror, but Arthur jumped forward. He grabbed the Aurors wrist and redirected his aim.
“Kedavra!”
The back of the blew open in a flash of green light and the sound of rending metal. The elevator bucked, and spun out of control. Amelia lost her footing and collided with Arthur. They both fell to the floor while the Aurors gripped the gate to keep his balance. He raised his wand and trained it on Amelia, a snarl on his lips as the tip glowed red.
Amelia hit him with a powerful Banishing Hex. She didn’t have time to cast anything complicated, and it did the trick. The Auror was thrown back and hit the gate which gave way. He screamed as he was hurled helplessly into the elevator shaft and hit the wall with a dull, sickening thud.
“Arresto Momentum!” Amelia shouted.
The elevator slowed, the spinning stopped, and then they hit the bottom of the elevator shaft with a crash. There was a moment of silence, and then something heavy landed on top of the elevator, leaving a roughly body-shaped dent in the roof.
“You alright, Arthur?” Amelia asked.
“I’m fine,” he said, sitting up with a wince and a knot growing on his forehead.
As they gingerly climbed to their feet, a smoky white lynx bounded down the elevator shaft and stopped in front of them.
“Pius Thicknesse has called for Amelia’s removal,” came Kingsley’s voice. “We suspect the Imperius Curse. We need to get her out. The Ministry is no longer safe.”
The Patronus dissipated like smoke in the wind until there was nothing left.
“We need to get out of here,” Arthur said.
He turned on the spot, looking around wildly, and then approached a grate set into one of the walls.
“It’ll be a bit of a squeeze, but this should take us straight into the London Underground,” he said.
Twirling his way, the grate popped free with a metallic clang.
“You go,” Amelia said, turning to look up the elevator shaft. “I have a meeting to attend.”
“What?” Arthur asked incredulously. “What on Earth for?”
“I’m not going to let the Ministry fall without a fight,” she said, her jaw set stubbornly.
“Didn’t you hear what Kingsley said? The Ministry has already fallen! If you go up there now, they’ll kill you the first chance they get. And what will you have accomplished? You-Know-Who will still control the Ministry.”
“We can’t just give up!” Amelia yelled. “I can have Thicknesse arrested and then-”
“You-Know-Who will use another puppet tomorrow,” Arthur interrupted firmly. “I understand your desire to fight, Amelia, really, I do, but now is not the time. We might’ve lost today, but this war is far from over.”
Amelia paced back and forth agitatedly and then lashed out with her foot, kicking the side of the ruined elevator.
“Feel better?” Arthur asked.
“Mildly, yes,” she replied.
Taking a deep breath to get herself under control, Amelia nodded.
“You’re right,” she sighed. “Lead the way.”
Arthur smiled in relief. Dropping to his knees, he lit his wand and crawled into the duct. Amelia made to follow him, but paused and turned to the wall. With a wave of her wand, letters began to etch themselves into the concrete.
I shall return
Nodding to herself, she turned, dropped down, and crawled into the shaft.
After a few minutes of crawling through a dust and rat-filled duct, they exited onto an underground platform. Several people gave them odd looks, but oddly, no one seemed too terribly bothered. Amelia and Arthur dusted themselves off and started making their way toward the exit.
“We should be able to find an alley to Disapparate in once we get out of here,” Arthur said. “I’ll let Kingsley know you’re alive.”
“You know it isn’t safe for you to go back to the Ministry, either, don’t you?” Amelia asked. “They’ll know you were with me.”
Arthur sighed, “I don’t have much choice.”
Amelia pursed her lips in thought.
“Why don’t you come work for me?” she asked.
“Work for you?” Arthur asked, arching an eyebrow. “Doing what?”
“You’re still a member of Dumbledore’s Order, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Ah, you know about that, do you?” he asked with a small smile. “I suppose I still am, but I’m not sure how much will be left with Dumbledore gone.”
“I guess we’ll find out,” Amelia said. “I want to hire you as a liaison. It appears we’ll both be operating outside the law, and I think it would be best if we worked together.”
“No offense, Amelia, but it doesn’t sound like I’d be doing much.”
“I can find more work for you, if you insist,” she said. “I’ll need to contact the Aurors I trust, gathering intelligence, organizing missions…”
“I think you know people who would be much better at that sort of thing than I am,” Arthur said.
Amelia turned to him and arched an eyebrow.
“Arthur, you’re by far the most efficient employee I’ve ever seen at the Ministry. You’ve led an entire department with just one other employee and on a shoestring budget. And yet, despite that, you’ve always accomplished every task given to you. I could desperately use a man of your talents. Besides, I’m sure Molly and the kids would be relieved if you didn’t return to the Ministry until this is all over.”
Arthur sighed and ran a hand through his thinning hair.
“I suppose they would,” he said. “Alright… and I’ll understand if I need to take a pay cut.”
“Oh, I’m sure we can work something out,” Amelia smiled. “Go let Molly know you’re alright. I’ll contact you in a few days.”
They stepped out onto the streets of London, found a small, out-of-the-way alley, and Disapparated with echoing pops.
Amelia appeared in the shed outside Fort Potter and quickly made her way up to the house. The moment she entered, she heard Pius Thickesse’s voice wafting from the wireless.
“…Despite the great loss we’ve experienced today, the Ministry remains resolute. As the newly elected Minister for Magic, I’m committed to protecting Wizarding Britain. This brings me to my first order as Minister. After this heinous attack, I’m declaring martial law until this threat can be suitably dealt with…”
Amelia snorted derisively as she stepped into the living room, and the reaction was immediate.
“Auntie!” Susan yelled.
Jumping from her chair, she ran to Amelia and hugged her tightly.
“They said you were killed,” she whimpered against her shoulder.
Amelia rubbed her back soothingly.
“They tried,” she smiled. “But Arthur and I managed to escape.”
“What happened?” Harry asked, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his eyes intensely focused.
Amelia sighed, led Susan over to the couch, and began to explain.
~
A sense of foreboding filled the house for the next few days. Amelia sent out letters to the Aurors she trusted, but only a few responded. She suspected that many of them thought it was a trap to root out those who weren’t loyal to the new Minister. Meanwhile, Arthur had called for an Order meeting to see who would show up, and she was still waiting for word. Just a week into Summer, Harry received a letter from Professor McGonagall asking for a meeting. The next day, Apolline brought her to Fort Potter.
She entered the house with a tight, worried expression.
“Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, it’s good to see you again,” she said. “Amelia, Arthur told us what happened, but I’m glad to see you’re alive and well.”
“It’s good to see you, too, Minerva, but I’m guessing you’re not here to congratulate Harry and Hermione on becoming Head Boy and Girl,” Amelia said.
McGonagall’s lips thinned.
“No, unfortunately not,” she said. “I’ve just come from a meeting with the board. Severus Snape has been elected the new Headmaster of Hogwarts.”
“What!?” Harry exclaimed. “How can they do that!? He killed Dumbledore!”
“Believe me, Mr. Potter, I understand your outrage,” McGonagall said. “But he was never formally charged, and even if he was, the board is too frightened to go against the darker families. I’m afraid Hogwarts is no longer safe for you.”
“With Snape as Headmaster, no one in that school is safe,” Harry said.
McGonagall pursed her lips unhappily.
“I will remain at the school to protect the returning students the best I can, but I fear you’re right,” she said.
“What about Dumbledore’s memories, Professor?” Hermione asked. “Will we be able to look at those?”
“I can do better than that, Ms. Granger.”
Professor McGonagall reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, rectangular box. Setting it on the table, she tapped it with her wand. It grew until it was the size of a briefcase. McGonagall popped open the clasp and lifted the lid, revealing hundreds of tiny vials, each filled with its own unique memory.
“I spoke with Albus’ brother, Aberforth, and he had no interest in them,” she said. “Unfortunately, the Pensieve belongs to Hogwarts, and they’re terribly expensive, but I can help you find one, if you’d like.”
“I’d appreciate it, Professor,” Harry said, lifting a couple of vials and reading the label.
“What do you want those for, anyway?” Amelia asked.
Hermione bit her lip and turned to Harry, who stared at Amelia and McGonagall thoughtfully for a long moment.
“Harry,” Hermione said cautiously.
“They need to know,” he said. “If something happens to us, they need to know. Have either of you heard of a Horcrux?”
Amelia and McGonagall shared a glance and then shook their heads.
Harry sighed and began to explain.
A/N Sorry about the short chapter. Really struggled with this one. More of this story and more smut coming soon!