Chapter 216

All Harry heard for a moment was Sirius exclaiming, "Hey!"

The mirror had clearly been snatched out of his hand.

Then he saw the two faces he expected to see, side-by-side. But the changes were startling. Both were grinning in happiness.

"Lord Potter," said Frank. "It's so very good to see the architect behind our recovery."

"Oh, pshaw!" he blushed. "I just figured it out. Sirius and Ted were the real architects. And it's Harry, to you two."

"Not for this," said Frank. His face suddenly turned serious, though his eyes were still twinkling in amusement. "Lord Potter, the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom is in your debt. What is in our power to grant you, is yours."

Harry stared back for a moment in shock. Then he replied, "Lord Longbottom, the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom may consider its debt expunged if... it raises its Heir to be an outstanding young man and a credit to his House. As I have said, so must it be, so let it be written."

"So let it be written," said both Frank and Alice.

Frank immediately said, "We meant much more than that, Harry."

Harry shook his head and said, "There is to be no debt, Frank. I don't want you or your House beholden to me or the House of Potter in any regards. We need to be equals, with our own selves being so, for the Potter-Longbottom Alliance to be strong again."

"Very wise, Harry," said Alice.

Harry just shrugged.

Harry heard what sounded like Ted say something to the two before both looked back at him through the mirror.

"There's been a change in plans for this morning's schedule," said Frank. "We're bringing Amelia Bones into the information loop. We want her to know what's going on before it happens."

"Thought you might," he replied. "That's why I gave her all those clues yesterday afternoon. It wouldn't be fair to her, after all she's done for me, to hit her with this... cold."

"And we agree," Frank replied. "We're just waiting for when we think she's going to be up before flooing her - well, Ted's flooing her."

Harry checked his bedside clock and thought a moment.

Muttering out loud, he said, "It's a Wizengamot day... the trial starts at 8.00am... she'll most likely want to be in the office about an hour early... so, I'd guess she'd be rising about 6.00am and fixing to floo to her office at about six-thirty, quarter-to?"

Frank gave a snort of amusement and said, "Pretty much spot on. Do you want to be here for this?"

Shaking his head, he replied, "No. It's fine. I don't want to give my auror-shadows any indication you're up and awake. Have Sirius mirror-call me when I can meet you at the Ministry."

There were more voices off to the side at the other end and Frank said, "Ted will be coming by to pick you up at seven-fifteen. We'll arrange a rendezvous with him before then."

"Sounds like a plan!" he declared. "I'll see you then."

More murmuring, then Frank said, "Alice and I are very much looking forward to it. Mirror off."

Harry quietly gave a huff of amusement before he lobbed the mirror onto his bed and quickly stripped to take his shower.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Breakfast started off tense for Wendell and Monica, who both knew what sort of day it was going to be for the two teens. However, when they saw that Harry was quite stress-free and even a little excited about what the day would bring they, too, relaxed.

"Just remember, Harry, the basis of the Fog of War," said Wendell. "You do not know what your enemy is up to. You only have a guess, irrespective of how accurate it may be. And no plan survives first contact with the enemy."

"Wow, Wendell," he said. "I'm not going to war!" Then he thought a moment and said, "Actually, I see your point. It is a conflict. First, me defending Sirius against the Ministry; and second, me somewhat going toe-to-toe with the Longbottom regent."

"Exactly," said Wendell. "Two battles, with both battlefronts being the same - the field of law.

"I'd have loved to have had the time to come and watch this Wizengamot of yours in judicial session and then also see it in legislative session for the comparison."

"It's not that much different than muggle magistracies, Wendell," he said. "But, instead of a panel, there's a single magistrate referred to as Chief Adjudicator. Any member of the Wizengamot can also ask a question and expect it to be answered, so long as they're not declared out of order by the Chief Adjudicator.

"At the end of the trial phase and the beginning of the sentencing phase, the Chief Adjudicator then, usually under direction from the members, sets up the vote and what exactly will be voted upon by the Wizengamot in the passing of judgement."

"So you and Ted have explained," smiled Wendell. "I'd still like a chance, some day, to see it in action."

"Once this day is done, I'll see what I can do," said Harry. "I'll even make sure you get plenty of notice, so you can adjust your schedule.

"I'm pretty sure the next scheduled meeting of the Wizengamot is in February. But, we won't know if there'll be a judicial sitting before or after that, though; until closer to the day."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

About ten minutes after the Grangers left, Ted turned up.

Harry was going through his carded notes for the trial when the man walked in, led by one of the aurors.

"Good morning, Lord Potter," he greeted him.

"Morning, Ted," replied Harry.

"All set?" he asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," smiled Harry. He then called, "Hermione!"

"There's no need to shout, Harry," she said, walking in a minute later. "There's excellent acoustics on the stairs."

"Is that how you do it?" he asked, staring at what Hermione was wearing. "I thought you'd put up a monitoring charm, or something, on the front path!"

"She looks hot!' he thought. 'I am such a lucky man.'

She blinked at him for a minute and then let out a chuckle. "That's actually a clever idea. But, no. I tend to leave my door open so I can listen for anything happening down in the entrance foyer. Can you set one up for me later?"

"Yeah, if you want," he replied. "Wow, Hermione; you look great!"

Hermione looked down at her attire and gave a slow twirl on the spot. "Henrietta picked it up for me. I like the colours and I'm told it shows... well, it makes me look good." Then gave a little blush.

'Oh, no. I almost told Harry it makes my breasts and hips look fuller,' she thought. 'Better be more careful, in future.'

"A-and...," she stuttered. "I knew you'd look good in that black with green trim. I thought you'd have worn your green shirt underneath, but the white actually looks better."

"You two ready?" Ted cut in.

"Yep," replied Harry, while Hermione replied, "Yes."

"Where are the aurors?" asked Ted.

"Right here," said the senior auror of the contingent for the morning, walking in from back near the stairs leading down to the lower ground floor.

"Right!" said Ted. "Then, let us be off."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After a portkey deposited them in the portkey arrival point in the Ministry public atrium, the aurors made a sort of triangle around them - one in front and leading, the other two behind and a little out to each side - and led them up to the DMLE offices.

From there, they were led straight through to Madam Bones's office. All three of their 'contingent' aurors peeled away before Ted and the two teens entered the office.

As soon as he stepped within, being the last through, Harry saw Sirius, Frank and Alice were all already inside. Thankfully, the office was plenty big enough to hold them all quite comfortably. Bones was sitting behind her desk, facing them all.

"Welcome, Lord Potter... Mister Tonks... Miss Granger," she greeted them.

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