Chapter Twenty Four - Tunnels and Marks

A/N: Many of you have commented in your reviews and PMs how it was Hannibal who crossed the Alps, not Alexander. I'll just state that it was Flitwick who picked the wrong general, not the author. I wrote it that way, as I've written of other characters getting facts wrong, to show that, as characters, they're just as prone to mistakes as anyone else. I happen to think it makes them more 'human'; and, therefore, relatable.

Chapter Twenty Four - Tunnels and Marks

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Knowing they needed to balance the work with their assignments, the three plus Luna planned on starting with setting up the ward outside the Ravenclaw entrance for a few days into the next week. All three wanted to clear as much of their assignments out of the way as possible. And his wives reminded Harry he still had to work at incantless and minimal movement casting for the second task. Plus, combat for his time at the graveyard.

"There's still six weeks until the second task," he grouched.

"Then train for your time in the graveyard!" Hermione berated him right back.

"She's right," added Daphne. "You can't just rely on the fact you managed to escape last run through. You need to make sure of it. Plus, didn't you say John told you that you were supposed to heavily injure him during your confrontation there? That's the time when he's at his weakest."

"The graveyard also gives you the opportunity to kill the snake and capture Pettigrew," said Hermione. "What you want to happen there... need to happen... is you need Voldemort to run away; not you! That way, he leaves the snake behind. If you've managed to stun Pettigrew, then Pettigrew'll get left behind, as well."

"Secondly," added Daphne. "By him running away, it weakens how his inner circle looks at him. They'll know he ran. That'll tell them that you're stronger than him. It's a major psychological advantage."

"I know," he grouched. "Alright. I'll train... we'll train. I have no doubt he already knows we're at least bonded. I also have no doubt we won't be able to keep the fact we're now married a secret until then. So, he'll know you're my wives."

"Good," said Daphne. "I don't want to keep it a secret. I want everyone to know."

Surprised, Harry looked to his wives. "You do?" he asked.

"Yes," both replied.

With a sigh, he said, "Then you'd best send a letter to your mothers to let them know they need to tell your fathers pretty soon, if they haven't done it already. Because, I don't like keeping it a secret, either."

Both girls grinned back, quite pleased.

"I want to tell Astoria and Tracey, at least," said Daphne. "Family and friends should find out from us; not from reading about it in the Prophet."

"Invite them up," said Harry. "Blaise and Horace too, if you trust them not to blab."

Turning to Hermione he said, "And Neville and Hannah."

"We'll invite them up for Friday night," said Daphne. "But, I want to talk to Astoria, at least, no later than Friday afternoon."

"She should be told as soon as possible," disagreed Hermione. "She's family; she should know."

"Hermione's right," said Harry. "We'll need to tell her as soon as possible in case the Prophet gets wind of our marriage earlier."

"Tonight, then," said Daphne. "Astoria still hasn't really forgiven me... us... for getting engaged and not letting her know straight away."

Her husband and sister-wife nodded back.

"Then let us not make the same mistake twice," said Hermione.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Astoria had missed seeing her sister in the Snake Pit. She knew she was happy with Potter and the Granger girl, but it still hurt a little how her sister now had two others more important to her in the school.

She was in the library with her friends working on an assignment for Herbology when a house elf suddenly popped in, handed her a note, and popped out again. The house elf looked familiar to her.

Opening the note, she saw it was from her sister.

Stori,

Please come to our apartment. We have important news to share with you.

I love you,

Daph. xo

Astoria stared at the note for a moment and frowned. The little secret clues meant it was a real note, not written under duress, and wasn't about bad news. Her name written with the period was one, the single 'x' and 'o' was another, the comma after her own shortened form name was a third.

Thinking about it, she knew that if her sister said it was important news then she wanted her to know of it as soon as possible, and not hear it from another source.

Turning to her friends working at the table with her, she said, "I have to go. I'll see you all at dinner, alright?"

"What's going on, Stori?" one of her friends asked.

"My sister wants to see me," she replied, while packing her books and school work away. "She says it's important."

With pleas to be careful in her ears, the young girl headed for the Ravenclaw tower.

As one of the few people outside of the three who knew the password, Astoria walked straight into the apartment. Daphne and her bondmates were sitting around the coffee table working on their own homework.

As soon as Astoria entered, Daphne pushed her work away and walked across the floor to give her sister a hug.

"Come; sit down," said Daphne.

Astoria, quite curious, could see from the expressions on the faces of the three that, whatever the news was, it was big. She dropped her bookbag next to the couch where her sister led her, and sat with her.

With her sister holding her hands between them, Astoria waited for her to start.

"You're aware of what the bond between us three means, right?" asked Daphne.

"Of course," replied Astoria.

"Well... Harry and Hermione are no longer your future brother- and sister-in-law," explained Daphne as she watched her sister's eyes widen in surprise. "We've sealed the bond."

"That means..." Astoria began before petering off.

"That means we're now married," finished Daphne. "I'm now Missus Daphne Potter... or Greengrass-Potter. We've not figured that out, yet."

Astoria gave a little squeal and immediately wrapped her sister in a hug. "I'm so happy for you!" she cried, as she pulled away again before holding her sisters hands up looking at the back of her fingers.

"No ring yet," said Daphne. "We'll have to go into Gringotts to get the Potter wedding rings, at some stage. But, we don't plan on wearing them until we actually hold a wedding in August."

"But, you're already married," Astoria said, a little confused. "Why a wedding?"

"Because Hermione's muggleborn and they believe you can only be married by a ceremony," explained Daphne.

Though they knew that wasn't true - there were registry weddings, after all - both Harry and Hermione knew it would only confuse the two pureblood witches sitting opposite if they mentioned it.

After Astoria spent some more time with them, the four then headed down to dinner, separating as they walked in through the doors to the Great Hall.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

By the time they were ready to set up the ward outside the Ravenclaw entrance, Professor Flitwick had properly introduced them to three of the seventh year 'Claws who were studying Ancient Runes.

"I'd like you to accept their assistance in carving the runes for you, as I know it takes you a while to accomplish that," explained the Professor.

He'd received no argument from the three and Luna; so, after showing them what they were going to do, the three older 'Claws were eagerly involved.

Instead of the project then taking a couple days to carve the runes spread across a couple hours each afternoon, they were all done in the one. Other 'Claws, wondering what they were up to, even offered to help to rest those who were working once it was explained to them.

The next morning, the wards were tested and found to be working just as well as the one they'd set up outside their apartment.

"That's just brilliant!" exclaimed one of the original seventh years when they were demonstrating its effectiveness. "I wonder what else we can add."

"Add?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah, this means our younger years are now protected," the older 'Claw explained. "In years past, we've had some of our younger years ambushed by Slytherins, even up here. I'm sure there's more that can be done to protect them."

"I don't think there's more we could add," said Daphne.

Though it was nice to set up something to keep the younger years safe, the main bonus of the project was that Luna, once word passed through all the other 'Claws about what had been designed and implemented, was now a fully accepted Ravenclaw.

Those who had been the main instigators of the bullying she'd received were now firmly on the outs with the other 'Claws, and Luna began making friends within her own House. She even had some of the older years approach her about her knowledge of runes and worked with her.

From those discussions they also discovered she was pretty close to being a prodigy in Arithmancy, just like her mother before her.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

On the Friday Tracey, Horace, Blaise, Neville and Hannah all eagerly attended the three's apartment. And the three then informed them about their magical marriage.

"I'm surprised it took you this long," drawled Horace.

"We knew not to rush it," explained Hermione. "It took as long as it did because it needed to."

"However, even though we're now married by magic, we still want to hold a wedding," said Harry. "That will take place during summer, in August."

"Oh, I love weddings," said Tracey.

"I'm glad," smirked Daphne. "Because I want you to stand with me as my Bridesmaid."

With squeal, Tracey almost dived on top of Daphne, enveloping her in a huge hug while pretty much insanely cackling.

"And Neville," said Harry, turning his amused expression on his ex-dorm mate. "Start thinking about what you need to do as Best Man. You'll be standing with me."

Shocked to his core, Neville sat gaping for a few moments before he finally said, "Errr... yes. I mean... thank you, Harry; I'm honoured."

"I'll be asking Luna to be mine," said Hermione. "As I haven't, yet, please don't talk to her about it until I've had a chance to ask her."

With grinning nods, the others agreed.

"How will you do it?" Tracey suddenly asked. "I mean, there're three of you..."

"Ah," said Harry. "Hermione's and Daphne's mothers are planning all that out. My idea is for the three of us to stand together, in a triangle, facing each other. The difficult part will be, where do we stand the Druid? And those who stand with us?"

"Let the mothers figure it out," said Blaise. "I'm sure they will."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

A few days later, Daphne asked, "Harry, have you heard anything more about that Order of Merlin Chief Interrogator Fitzwilliam ordered the Minister to award you? And forgot to tell us?"

"No," he replied. "I just thought these sorts of things took time."

"Not that much time," she half growled.

"You think the Minister is trying to block it?" asked Hermione.

"Someone is," replied Daphne.

"If someone is," said Harry. "My money would be on the Minister... or Umbridge... or Malfoy... or Dumbledore... Damn, there's just too many who would try to."

"I'll write my father..." began Daphne, before Hermione interrupted.

"No, write Madam Longbottom," she suggested. "It's time to put the alliance to work."

With a nod of her head, Daphne said to Hermione, "It would also be better to come from either mine or your hand. It would look... gauche... if it came direct from Harry. Coming from me, on the other hand, I'm simply a wife concerned my husband is being denied something that is rightfully his."

"You know it doesn't bother me..." tried Harry.

"It bothers me," Daphne shot back.

"And me," huffed Hermione.

Turning to Harry she said, "Mister Fitzwilliam was right. You deserve one, Harry. This is something you accomplished. So, it's something you can be proud of."

Looking from her to Daphne and back, he nodded in acceptance. "You're right," he said. "Alright, do it."

Daphne quickly pulled a spare sheet of parchment across and penned a letter to Madam Longbottom for the Wizengamot member to investigate on their behalf."

Hedwig left with the letter a short while later.

"That's one unresolved issue being investigated," said Daphne as she turned back from watching Hedwig leave. "What others are there?"

"My list I wrote up when we first got back is already complete," said Harry. "Well, all except for getting Dumbledore to go after the ring."

"Do we have to wait until the summer break to let him go after it, then?" asked Hermione. "Can we send him earlier?"

"How do we get him to go after it?" asked Harry.

"Tell him you had a vision?" she asked back.

Shaking his head, he said, "No. I don't want him thinking about my scar being a horcrux anymore."

"Actually, yes, you do," said Daphne. "He's not going to be around when all this comes to a head, anyway. Let him think the soul fragment is still there. At least, for now. Tell him it's not after he gets the ring."

"Tell him you had a dream about some old shack with a dead snake nailed to the door," explained Hermione. "And that, somewhere within the dream, you saw a large ring with a big dark green stone affixed to it. And make special mention of how the stone is engraved with the triangle-circle-line symbols you read somewhere was the Mark of Grindelwald."

"The Mark of Grindelwald?" asked Daphne.

"Actually it's the Mark of the Deathly Hallows," explained Harry. "But, Grindelwald also used it."

"Ah!" said Daphne, understanding. "And the stone is the Resurrection Stone. Got it."

"If the ring is destroyed before Voldemort's resurrection, will that stop the resurrection?" asked Hermione.

"No," he replied, shaking his head. "Nagini's already a horcrux. That'll keep his soul anchored enough to allow the resurrection to go ahead."

All three sat for a few moments with their own thoughts, before Daphne asked, "What else?"

"Hmm?" asked Harry. "Oh, outstanding issues?"

When she nodded back, he thought about it and said, "Getting Madam Bones to dig that tunnel under the Bones Mansion."

"Just as with Madam Longbottom, we'll send her a note and ask her to come pay us a visit," said Daphne. "This time, though, we'll bring her up here."

"That's the easy part," sighed Harry. "The hard part is convincing her to do it, and for her to not let anyone else know she's doing or done it, not even her guards."

"Explain how you believe the Death Eaters will soon be active, again," explained Daphne. "Don't worry about mentioning Riddle when you do. We'll tell her how our research into the activities of the Death Eaters in the previous war showed that their modus operandi was to throw up both anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards over the top of the existing wards, then attack."

"Use the attack at the Quidditch World Cup as an example," added Hermione.

"And what do we tell her when she asks why?" asked Harry.

"Tell her you cannot tell her; with emphasis on the 'cannot'," suggested Daphne. "Let her come to the conclusion it's because of a Wizard's Oath."

"She also needs to get it done fast," said Hermione. "She was killed in early July."

"Next year, love," corrected Harry. "I can't remember anyone we know who was killed before about June next year. And Scrimgeour was killed about a month later."

"The 1st of August," added Daphne. "That was about a month after Fudge resigned in disgrace and was killed a few days later."

"And Mister Fortescue was dragged off by Death Eaters about that same time, too," said Harry. "So was Garrick Ollivander."

"Yes, but that was because no one would believe Riddle was resurrected until the Battle of the Ministry in June next year; and he didn't want anyone to know, either," said Hermione as if she hadn't heard Daphne and Harry mention the other three wizards. "I take it you plan on everyone knowing Riddle is alive earlier? Such as, immediately after the third task?"

Harry sat back and thought about that. "Actually, why would I?" he mused.

"I mean, he really didn't do anything until the Battle of the Ministry except build up his forces... Of course," he sighed. "That was most of the problem, wasn't it? The year gave him the time to build up his forces."

"There were attacks on muggles," corrected Hermione.

"That was Death Eaters - partying," said Harry. "I doubt, very much, they did so under Riddle's orders."

"Yes, but that was because he was mainly focussed on how to get the prophecy from the Department of Mysteries," she replied. "Wasn't there an Unspeakable who was Imperiused and sent in to get it?"

"Bode," he replied. "When was that? April next year?"

"Earlier, I think," she replied. "Someone then placed a Venomous Tentacula or a Devil's Snare or something in his room at Saint Mungo's while he was recovering. It killed him."

"So, do we force the issue to 'out' Riddle earlier, or not?" asked Daphne, bring things back on track.

"Earlier," her bondmates replied together.

"Then, Madam Bones is going to need to get that tunnel built as quickly as she can," she firmly said.

"Owl her," Harry firmly instructed. "We need to see her as soon as possible."

"Anyone else we can save we know of already?" asked Hermione.

"Let's see," he mused. "Mad-Eye... the real one... was killed during the movement of me from Privett Drive to the Burrow a couple of days before my birthday."

"Well, that event won't happen this time, so there's no need to warn him," mused Hermione. "Hedwig, too," she said with a worried glance at Harry.

"Yeah," he softly said.

She didn't know if he realised he'd verbalised that.

"Most people we're close with or know were killed at the Battle of Hogwarts," she said. "Of course, there're also those who disappeared through the Voldemort-ruled Ministry sanctioned pogrom against muggleborns. Neither of which will occur this time around."

"Umbridge," he half-growled. "That bitch goes down, first chance I get."

"So," said Daphne, breaking both out of their maudlin reveries. "On the 'To-Do' list is: Get Madam Longbottom to find out what's happening about the Order of Merlin; get Madam Bones to dig her tunnel; send Dumbledore after the ring. Do we save Fudge, Scrimgeour, Fortescue, Ollivander, et cetera?"

In reverse order," Harry mused. "Ollivander and Fortescue are definite. I think the only thing we can really do for both of them is inform them, through an anonymous note, they're being targeted by the Death Eaters. We'll even tell Ollivander why.

"Scrimgeour was almost as bad as Fudge. He even arrested Stan Shunpike, the conductor on the Knight Bus, just because he thought he might be a Death Eater. Then again, if we save Bones, he'll be a non-issue. I'll kill Fudge myself, just to get rid of him, if I have to. Just as I'll do with Umbridge."

"That's cold, Harry," Hermione quietly said.

With a sigh, he said, "I know you think I have this 'saving people thing', Hermione. But even I realise people are going to die if we can't end this thing quickly. Fudge gets in the way of that, as does Umbridge. However, she then becomes an active, even eager, participant in killing muggleborns.

"She might not be guilty of those crimes in this timeline yet, but we know she will be. The woman is a vile mass murderess-in-waiting. I won't allow her to do that again."

With a sad little sigh, Hermione dropped her head and nodded.

"Saving Fortescue and Ollivander are added to the list," said Daphne. "We'll ignore Scrimgeour and let whatever happens, happen. We don't warn Fudge but, if necessary, we kill him ourselves; and we definitely kill Umbridge.

"Now, do we go after the marked Death Eaters? The ones we know go back to their old ways? Or, leave them be."

"I won't turn into an assassin and hunt them down," said Harry. "However, if we come across each other and they wear the mask, I'm not casting stunners. I aim to put them down for good."

Both his wives firmly nodded back.

"What about the Azkaban breakout in January next year?" asked Daphne.

"It might not happen, this time," said Hermione.

"Maybe," sighed Harry. "But, we can't leave things up to 'Maybes'. How do we stop it happening this time around?"

All three thought about that for a while before Daphne said, "We'll put that on the still-to-be-resolved list. On the old timeline there's still almost a year before that happens. But, I think it's something else we need to talk to Madam Bones about."

Both her spouses nodded back.

Daphne quickly pulled another sheet of parchment towards her and set to writing the 'invitation' to Madam Bones.

While she was writing Hermione said, "So; homework?"

Harry grinned and nodded back. "Homework," he softly replied.

Once the letter to Madam Bones was written and agreed to, Daphne took it up to the owlery to send out with a school owl. Harry and Hermione continued with homework. Daphne returned a little while later.

"Done!" she said, walking in and getting to work on her own assignments.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Hedwig returned later the same evening without a package. However, a reply arrived with a Eurasian Tawny Owl. It took perch on the owl perch next to Hedwig, who then decided to promptly ignore it.

Harry freed the bird of it's letter and carried it back to the couch as the bird took to wing again and flew out the window; after first 'pinching' an owl treat.

Opening and reading it, he said, "Madam Longbottom sends her regards. She's appalled with herself she forgot about the Order of Merlin... and will 'leave no stone unturned' to get to the bottom of why it hasn't been awarded yet. Thanks me for my kind words concerning Neville, and is proud he is a good friend. Thanks me for... 'alerting her to the problems Neville was having with his wand'. And will keep us updated with her investigations."

"Nice," said Daphne, glancing up from writing on the parchment before her.

The owl from Madam Bones arrived not long afterwards. "My turn," said Hermione. She collected its load and brought it back to the couch.

"Let's see..." she muttered, opening the letter. "Madam Bones thanks us for accepting Susan's apology. And for not asking too much, even though you were well within your rights to do so. And wonders if this Saturday morning at 9:00am will be a good time for us. If not, owl her back. Else, she'll see us then, in the Entrance Hall."

"I don't have a problem with this Saturday," said Harry. "Ladies?" he asked.

Both shook their heads.

"Saturday morning, it is!" he said.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

With the next morning's owl mail delivery, Harry received one of his regular updates from Ackerman and Co from Margaret Pentridge.

Opening it, he scanned through it before turning to his wives. "I've just become the part owner of Nimbus brooms," he said.

"How'd that happen?" asked Daphne.

"It was an agreement between me, through Margaret, and Nimbus," he replied. "Back quite a few years ago, before I started at Hogwarts, they'd been stating in their sales literature that I rode and approved of Nimbus brooms. They didn't have permission to do that.

"Instead of worrying about a protracted legal battle, where the public would find out they lied, they settled. I now own twenty percent of the company. Margaret says it's worth more than I'd have won but Nimbus was eager to reach agreement as they believed they'd have lost far more if it went to court."

"Nice," said Daphne. "But, don't you prefer your Firebolt?"

"Of course," he replied. "It's still nice to own part of the company that produces my second favourite broom, though."

After a bit more reading he said, "Margaret says I need to start thinking about who I want to be Bursar; the person who manages the fund I've set aside for muggleborn scholarships, because..." He suddenly gave a low whistle.

"What?" asked Hermione, now trying to read over his shoulder, and eager to snatch the document out of his hands.

"Hermione," Daphne lowly growled.

"Sorry," Hermione softly replied, physically shrinking back. Her demands for information was another matter Daphne was trying to 'cure' the girl of making.

Harry had also received from Daphne a stern talking to about how much he should let Hermione get away with, with her demands.

Harry gave her a light smile to show he wasn't upset with her. "The scholarship fund? The bursary, as Margaret put's it? It's now worth quite a lot... A lot!

"And may we know how much?" asked Daphne, demonstrating to Hermione how to ask.

Harry showed her the financial statement that came in as part of the report. Her eyes widened in shock. He then held it out for Hermione to see, who practically mimicked Daphne's reaction.

"That's a lot!" she softly said.

"Yes, and that's after she's subtracted the funds to pay for the services of Ackerman and Co," he said.

"Any ideas on who you want to manage it?" asked Daphne.

"Yeah," he replied. "Every time I've thought about it since Christmas the same name keeps popping into my head... Remus Lupin."

"That's brilliant!" said Hermione. "I mean... he's brilliant. He'd do a wonderful job. And you can pay him a decent salary. You can get him to stop wearing those tatty old robes and he won't think of it as charity."

"You'll need to ask him in a way where he won't think the job offer's charity," mused Daphne.

"If I ask him to do it, he'll try to fob me off," said Harry.

"Have Miss Pentridge interview him for the position," suggested Daphne. "That way, she can tell him his name was suggested for the position."

"She also asks I name it," said Harry, reading further through the document. "That way they can set it up as a registered charity. And, here, she suggests I nominate a member of Hogwarts' staff to sit on the Board that decides who the lucky scholarship winners are. That'll take some thinking.

"Oh, she also suggests all those who sit on the Board receive a... honorarium... and how much that should be. Plus, whoever is the Bursar should receive... Nice!... Let's see... Employees... for now, two full time secretarial staff... and how much to pay them... a part-time independent financial advisor... a goblin? Oh... good idea."

Looking to his wives he said, "We'll write to her requesting she... that is, Ackerman and Co... interview Remus for the position of Bursar and that she not tell him he, basically, has the job already. My choice for faculty advisor would be Filius, of course. If he turns it down, it'd then be Professor Babbling."

Both girls were nodding along.

"Let her and Remus then interview the rest of the staff," suggested Daphne. "After all, Remus will have to work with them."

"Good idea," said Hermione.

"A name... a name..." he muttered.

"How about..." mused Hermione. "If it's okay with you; 'The Lily Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund'?"

Harry turned and stared at her for a moment before his face softened into a bright smile. "Nice!" he softly replied.

Daphne also smiled and nodded.

Clearing away the little choked up feeling he had in his throat, Harry said, "That's everything I need to do except let her know. Once she has that information Ackerman and Co will draw up the required papers and send the forms to me for signing."

"If you'd like, I'll write the letter to her with those instructions while we're sitting in History of Magic," offered Daphne.

"Thank you, yes," he nodded.

"Anything else of interest she's written you'd care to share?" asked Hermione, who then received a smile and nod from Daphne in approval.

"Well, there've been a few more companies who've replied to the 'cease and desist' orders with promises they'll cease. She's listed here all those who've now agreed to that.

"Next is the updated list of those companies who've, so far, settled out of court. And, finally, is the list of those companies that've refused, so far, to settle; and have decided to take the matter to court. Thankfully, that list is rather short.

"One of those is Obscurus Books," he said, a little surprised. Turning to look at both wives he said, "That's the publisher of most of the books written about me. They publish the 'Harry Potter and the...' series of books. Dumbledore, supposedly, sold them the rights to my name for those. Now they're refusing to acknowledge he had no right to do that claiming they entered the contract in good faith.

"They've already been informed Dumbledore, however, did not; rendering the contract void. Margaret sent them a 'cease and desist' order, with a requirement to hand over the nett profits of the books and never print any more. They're refusing both and clearly believe they'll successfully defend the claim in court. Margaret says they've no chance and wants to know if I have any specific demands to place on them when we've successfully prosecuted the case."

"Your thoughts?" asked Daphne.

"This is definitely one where I want them to bleed," he firmly replied. "Let's see... all such books to be immediately pulled from further publication; all such books already printed and remaining unsold to be immediately pulled from the shelves; a public notice of apology from the publisher... no, the individuals responsible within that publisher for making such a decision... with a request all such books be returned to the publisher for a full refund of the purchase price irrespective of the condition of the book."

"Ouch!" said Hermione. "That'll hurt. Depending on who owns the company, and how much of a loss they're willing to swallow, that'll bankrupt them."

"In which case, Margaret swoops in on my behalf and claims the company in lieu of the debt," he said. "Then, I'll put the notice in the paper making the request for people to return the books for a full purchase price refund."

With a sigh he said, "I want those lies off the shelves; whether they're in bookshops or in people's personal libraries."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

On the Saturday morning, the three were waiting in the Entrance Hall for the arrival of Madam Bones. She arrived, promptly, with a few minutes to spare.

"Mister Potter," she said, as Harry stepped forward with a smile to shake her hand.

"Madam Bones," he replied before stepping back to introduce his two wives. "May I introduce Missus Daphne Anna Greengrass-Potter and Missus Hermione Jean Granger-Potter; my wives."

With her only outward sign of surprise being a slight widening of her eyes, Madam Bones stepped forward to shake both their hands.

"Clearly, you've recently sealed the bonds," she said.

"Yes, Ma'am," both girls replied.

"And I'm also surprised it isn't public yet," she added.

"As are we, Ma'am," said Harry. Turning, he gestured to the stairs. "Shall we?" he asked.

With a nod and smile, she said, "Yes, please."

Walking up the stairs to the apartment, Harry and Madam Bones walked side-by-side while Hermione and Daphne did the same just behind.

"Again, Mister Potter, I want to thank you for being so... lenient with my Susan," the older witch replied. "And to apologise for not ensuring she was aware her actions, even at such a young age, could lead to dire consequences."

"You're welcome, Ma'am," he replied. "I also suspected she was the victim of severe peer pressure. And I know what that can do to someone so young."

"That is not an excuse, Mister Potter," she replied.

"No; but, it is a reason," he said back, to which she only nodded in acknowledgement.

Once inside the apartment, Winky immediately popped in and laid out a serving of tea and coffee. Harry already knew the stern woman much preferred coffee to tea, so ensured it was available to her.

Looking down at the small percolator carafe of coffee, Madam Bones said, "I see you've done your homework. There's not many who know I prefer coffee to tea."

"I asked Susan," he smiled.

As they sat sipping their beverages for a while, Madam Bones leant back in her - Crookshanks was out hunting mice - armchair.

"Perhaps we should begin with why you asked for me to visit, Mister Potter," she said.

"I have become a lot more observant of late..." he replied. "... Since I'm no longer being dosed with loyalty and what-not potions. And, I have seen and heard some worrying things.

"First, I... that is, we... witnessed Headmaster Karkaroff, in a quite agitated state, confront Professor Snape about the Dark Mark he bears. He said to our so-called beloved Potions Master that his Dark Mark is apparently getting darker. Professor Snape, trying to get the man to be quiet, confirmed that his, too, is also getting darker."

That got the woman sitting opposite to sit up straighter and stare fixedly on Harry. "It's getting darker?" she asked.

"Yes, Ma'am," he confirmed. "As you know, I faced the shade of Riddle in the form of a possessed Quirinus Quirrell in my first year; and as a shade, again, a year later in the Chamber of Secrets. So, we know his soul has not passed on, I believe the phrase is.

"My... research... tells me that the Mark getting darker means Riddle is making a comeback. That is, that he has a body now, or soon will. Karkaroff getting all panicky confirms he believes it, too. The man, after all, named names during his trial and would consider his life forfeit if Riddle returned."

Stunned, Madam Bones sat there for a few moments quite perturbed. "I see..." she muttered. From the look on her face, Harry could see she wanted to believe him.

"Further research into how the Death Eaters operated in the first war... yes, I believe there'll be another... led me to make some further enquiries about one of their modus operandis?" he offered. "Yes, that's it; their modus operandi."

"And?" she asked.

"One of the things they did was to attack the families of those they considered enemies in their own homes. It made me ask further questions," he replied. "For a start, how did they keep the families in their homes while they attacked? How did they stop them from leaving, through magical means, before they brought that family's wards down, or even straight afterwards?

"What I discovered was that they threw up temporary anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards or jinxes over the existing wards," he said. "But, why did the family not then use the Floo to make their escape?

"A check of public records shows that, each time an attack took place on a home, the Floo connection for that home was also temporarily down. The records state, in every instance, it was for the purpose of temporary maintenance. To me, logic dictates this makes no sense.

"Maintenance on an individual Floo connection is extremely rare. And is never at night, when the attacks apparently all occurred. So, that leaves the only scenario that someone on the inside of the Floo Authority was either a sympathiser of Riddle and his minions, was a Death Eater themselves, or was bribed. No other likelihood makes sense."

With a sigh she said, "Yes; we've always suspected; but, we've never been able to prove anything."

"Yes, well," muttered Harry. "Something further. As Bones is an allied House, and with my responsibility to that alliance in mind, I need to tell you a couple of things in confidence."

"Yes?" she asked.

"I must also ask you, ally-to-ally, not to pass on a suggestion I have for you to anyone else without my prior approval."

"I understand," she nodded, clearly eager to hear what Harry had to say.

With his own nod in recognition of her agreement, he flatly said, "I know, for a fact, you're a high priority target. And that the Death Eaters want you out of the way for their master."

"Yes, but I've always known I'd be a target if the Death Eaters got up to their tricks again," she said.

"They already have," said Harry. "The attack on the Quidditch World Cup was clearly their first... outing... in the recommencement of the war; or the opening salvo in the second war."

Madam Bones just sat there, silently musing over what Harry had said.

"Now for what I want you to do, and keep silent about doing," he said.

When he had her attention again, he instructed, "I want you to excavate a tunnel from the basement in Bones Manor, out to well beyond your ward boundary. The direction is irrelevant to me and I do not need to know. It also does not need to have an end that opens above ground. It only needs to reach a spot far enough beyond your wards where you'll be able to use an emergency portkey, or apparate, to get the Hell out of there.

"You also need to build it in complete secrecy. Not even your auror guards, when you have them, can know about it; except, of course, for Susan. If more than one person knows a secret; it won't stay a secret for long. Plus, my research tells me you have Death Eaters within your Auror Corps."

She thought about that for a few moments before she sat back and muttered, "Interesting."

"I beg of you, Madam Bones, to have that tunnel built and ready to use by June," he said.

Snapping her head at him to give him a very direct look, she asked, "Why?"

With a sigh, he replied, "I'm... unable to tell you."

"A Wizard's Oath?" she immediately asked.

"Again, I'm unable to tell you," he replied. "But, please, do not doubt my knowledge of this."

"I see," she said, taking another sip of her coffee while she was clearly collecting her thoughts. "Then, I shall take your... suggestion under advisement."

"That's all I can ask," he said.

"Anything else?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied with a nod. "My wife, Daphne, remembered I've yet to be awarded an Order of Merlin, as recommended by Chief Interrogator Fitzwilliam. She has written to Madam Longbottom asking her to investigate what is going on there."

Madam Bones snorted a little and said, "I'm aware of that. Or, rather, I'm aware Madam Longbottom is investigating. I was not aware it was at the behest of Miss... sorry... Missus Greengrass-Potter. Though, now it makes more sense."

Smirking at Daphne, she said, "You should be aware Gus... Madam Longbottom... is bent on rampaging through the Minister's office with demands to know why the award has not been given yet; and when it will. She's pushing things through.

"Rest assured, it will happen soon. Augusta Longbottom is used to getting her way when she's feeling so passionate about something."

"Their excuse for... acting so slow?" asked Daphne.

"They claim, among other things, difficulty in finding supporting evidence," replied Madam Bones. "And yes, before you say anything, I'm well aware the pensieve memory and supporting testimony was enough."

"Hmmph!" Daphne harrumphed, still offended, which made the older witch smile.

Turning back to Harry she asked, "But, are you ready to take seat within the Wizengamot?"

"The Wizengamot?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied. "As a holder of an Order of Merlin, you're automatically eligible for a seat on the Wizengamot. Actually, we think it's you automatically getting that seat that is what's making Fudge baulk at awarding you the Order."

"If it comes to pass," he said. "I can bet many galleons Dumbledore will try to block that."

"He can try," she said. "However, we'll just remind him that he only sits on the Wizengamot as a holder of the Order of Merlin. If he tries to block you taking seat, we'll call him a hypocrite for holding a seat as an Order holder, himself."

"Clever," he smirked. "But... as you asked... yes, I believe I'm ready."

Sitting back, he said, "Besides, I'm married to the two smartest witches in the world. They'll keep me on the straight and narrow. And Daphne and her father will make sure I know what I'm doing while the Wizengamot sits."

"You better believe it," said Daphne.

After a bit of a snicker Madam Bones asked, "Any other business?"

Looking to his wives, Harry saw both of them shake their heads before he turned back to Madam Bones. "No, Ma'am," he firmly replied.

"Good," she said, sitting forward and placing her coffee cup on the coffee table. "Thank you for that most enlightening talk, Mister Potter," she said while rising. "And your hospitality."

Harry and his wives also stood. Harry offered his hand to the older witch and said, "And, thank you for coming to hear me out."

With a nod while shaking his hand, she said, "Don't bother to escort me out. I know the way."

Harry smiled and nodded in return.

When the older witch left, he sat down again and asked his wives, "Well?"

"Well handled," said Daphne. "But, you forgot to mention the Dementors and the risk of escape at Azkaban."

"Next time," he firmly replied. "I didn't want to give her too much, too soon."

"Homework?" asked Hermione.

"Sex," replied Harry.

"Homework," she firmly retorted. "You had sex last night and this morning."

"So?" he asked. "Is there a law that states I'm only allowed sex a certain amount of times a week or a month or something?"

"Yes," she said back, but there was no heat in it. "My poor pussy needs time to heal. I'm surprised you don't feel rubbed raw!"

"I do, a little," he sulkily replied. With a smirk he asked, "Would you mind kissing it better for me?"

Daphne giggled and said, "I'll kiss it better for you."

And with that she sauntered over to Harry, who had leant back in his chair and lifted his bum, trying to undo his pants, and fumbling it.

Her eyes widening Hermione sat there. "What? In here?" she gasped. "But... someone might come in!"

"Let them," Harry gasped, as Daphne pulled his pants and underwear down. "The risk adds to the thrill."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

The next morning Daphne received her weekly letter from her parents during the breakfast mail drop. While she was untying the letter from her owl's leg, a rather aloof Northern Hawk Owl named Stupid, Harry was trying to offer the bird some bacon.

He'd asked why the bird's name was Stupid soon after they got together; and Daphne replied it was because Astoria, when they first got the bird and she heard its ululula call, pointed at it and said, "That's stupid!" And the name stuck.

Once the letter was untied, the bird ignored the bacon and flew over to Astoria, to drop off her letter.

Opening her own, Daphne quickly scanned through it. Soon after she began to read she gave a little gasp of surprise and turned to her bondmates. "Mother says father already has the tunnel dug and constructed," she said, soft enough only they could hear what she said.

Surprised, Hermione said, "That was fast."

Nodding, Daphne explained, "He contracted with the dwarves. They had it dug in a matter of weeks. He'll show us when we go there at Easter.

"Ah!" she suddenly said. "They're building a similar one at Hermione's home moving in and out under cover of darkness."

"What are they doing with the tailings?" asked Hermione. "The earth they remove while digging?"

"They vanish it," replied Daphne. "Its how they're able to dig so fast. They don't need to worry about what to do with the dirt and rock they remove. The harder part is bringing in material to line the tunnel walls and floor; and to stop it collapsing."

"I'd think they'd portkey it in," suggested Harry.

"Well, however they did it, mother says they'll show it to us so we know where it is when we get there for the Easter break," said Daphne, indicating somewhere on the page before her. "She also says it has hidden external entrances. The one at Ant and Cele's will be similar but not as extensive, as they only have to worry about one dwelling there."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

On the Monday morning Madam Bones walked into her office and took a seat. The first thing she then did was call her two top Aurors, Scrimgeour and Robards, one at a time.

When Scrimgeour walked in she ordered him to sit in the chair opposite her desk. As soon as he did, she stunned him and immediately bound him to the chair.

Walking around her desk, she first checked his arm for the Mark, using every detection spell she could think of that would make it show if it was magically hidden. Seeing nothing, she pulled a phial of Veritaserum from her robes and, gently pulling his head back by his reddish somewhat long locks, dropped three drops onto his tongue.

Once she was done she walked back to her desk and sat in her chair. Then she revived him and immediately vanished the ropes.

As the man woke up again she started asking questions. "Are you now, or have you ever been, a Death Eater? Did you then, or do you now, support the policies of the wizard known as Lord Voldemort? Do you believe that muggleborns should not be allowed to live in our world? Do you carry out spying for anyone? Do you accept bribes?"

With five quite succinct negative responses from her senior most Auror, she administered the antidote.

When Scrimgeour came around enough to realise what was going on, he frowned and angrily asked, "What the Hell, Boss?"

"Sorry, Rufus," she replied, not sorry at all. "I needed to make sure."

Scrimgeour sat there for a few moments as Amelia shifted slightly in her seat.

"What's going on?" he asked, a lot more calmly after thinking about it.

"I have intelligence we... that is, the Auror department... have been infiltrated with Death Eaters," she replied. "I need to find out who they are."

"And what do you want to do with them if you find them?" he asked, curious.

"I only want to know who they are for the moment," she said. "I'll Obliviate them as soon as I... we... find them."

"Then I'd best help," he firmly said.

With a smirk, Madam Bones reached into her hidden bottom drawer on her desk and drew out a large invisibility cloak.

"Go stand in the corner," she instructed her Head Auror. "When they sit, stun and bind them." Before he could do more than stand, she handed him her two phials. "Veritaserum and the antidote," she said.

While Scrimgeour made himself ready in the corner, Madam Bones called for her next candidate.

"Robards? I need you," she said into her wizarding intercom. The man walked in a minute later.

When Robards had proven to be no Death Eater, unmarked follower of Riddle, spy, hater of muggleborn or accepter of bribes he was sworn to secrecy and sent out again. It was his job to start sending people in. He was to do it as subtly as he could.

That's how it went for the rest of the morning, and then again into the latter part of the day after a break for lunch.

Master Aurors were questioned and sworn to secrecy. Senior Aurors, Aurors and Trainee Aurors were questioned, Obliviated and told they were interviewed with the possibility of promotion.

As well as finding a few bigots, they found their first 'wannabe' Death Eater among the Senior Aurors. Then they found their first actual Death Eater.

"Senior Auror Jugson," said Madam Bones after she answered the knock to her office door. "Take a seat," she said to him, indicating the chair before her desk.

Again, as soon as the man sat, Scrimgeour stunned him and bound him from behind. Doffing the cloak, he forced the man's head back and dosed him with Veritaserum before checking his arm. There was no Mark.

As the man was enervated and woke up again, from where she remained sitting behind her desk, Madam Bones began asking her questions. "Are you now, or have you ever been, a Death Eater?"

"Yes," replied Jugson.

Surprised, but knowing she shouldn't be, Madam Bones glanced at Scrimgeour.

"You were a Death Eater?" she asked.

"No."

"You are a Death Eater?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe the Dark Lord will return?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"My master made great strides in the darkest of magic to ensure his immortality. He will return. My Dark Mark getting darker confirms it."

Again, Madam Bones looked to Scrimgeour.

Turning back, she asked, "How is it your Dark Mark cannot be seen?"

The Dark Lord showed his inner circle how to mask the Mark from normal detection charms. Lucius Malfoy taught it to me."

"How do you remove the mask when you want to?"

"A counter-charm removes it."

"What is the incantation and wand movement for the counter-charm?"

"Revelo Mortem. And it requires pressing the tip of the wand into the Mark while speaking the incantation."

"How do you hide the Mark, again?"

"Abscondere Mortem. And pressing the tip of the wand into the Mark while speaking the incantation."

Madam Bones walked around her desk and slipped Jugson's sleeve up his arm. Pressing the tip of her wand into where she knew the Mark would be, she spoke the Incantation. "Revelo Mortem."

When the Dark Mark appeared she waited a moment before pressing her wand tip back into the middle of the Mark. She muttered, "Abscondere Mortem." The Dark Mark, again, disappeared.

She then slid the sleeve of the man's robes back down again.

Returning to her chair, she sat down and resumed her some position. She asked, "Do you know when the Dark Lord will return?"

"No; but he will soon."

"Besides the Dark Lord, do you carry out spying for anyone?"

"Yes."

"Who do you carry out spying activities for?"

"The Dark Lord and Lucius Malfoy."

"Anyone else?"

"No."

"Do you accept bribes?"

"Yes."

"From whom do you accept bribes?"

"Lucius Malfoy."

With a sigh, she looked to Scrimgeour and nodded her head.

Scrimgeour administered the Veritaserum antidote before stepping back to the corner and redonning the cloak.

Madam Bones waited until Jugson was clear-headed. When his face morphed into surprised shock, she hit him with the memory charm before removing the ropes.

"You were invited in to speak with me as I'm looking to see who's ready for promotion," she firmly said. "We had an enjoyable chat. You have a chance to be promoted if you continue to keep your nose clean."

She waited a few moments to allow the memory alteration to take hold before she smiled at the man and said, "Thank you for your time, Senior Auror Jugson. You may go."

"Thank you, Ma'am," replied Jugson. "I look forward to your decision."

Jugson rose from the chair, gave her a short bow and left the office.

"Bloody Hell!" she said with a most heartfelt sigh, after the door had closed behind Jugson.

The questioning continued through the afternoon and early evening, with a break for dinner, and into the night. Scrimgeour changed out with Robards under the invisibility cloak after each break.

The questioning began again the next morning. By lunch, all the ranks including the Trainee Aurors had been questioned. After lunch they went after the Cadet Aurors.

On the third day they sent for the out-posted aurors, including the ones out at Azkaban - with them being spelled with replacements while they were in London.

After the out-posted aurors, next came the Hit Wizards. However, they were stunned as soon as they entered the door. Bones and Scrimgeour both knew some of them could easily see through cloaks and Notice-me-not charms.

Once she'd finished she called the Head of the Unspeakables, Algernon Croaker, to pay her a visit.

A quick explanation, with Scrimgeour as witness providing his own testimony, and Unspeakable Croaker was a man on a mission, nearly storming out of her office.

Then, a couple of days later, the Unspeakable suddenly popped into existence in Bones's office, behind the chair before her desk, startling the Hell out of the witch.

"Damn it, Algernon!" she barked. "Use the bloody door in future!"

Without even a word of greeting or recognition of Madam Bones's comments, Croaker said, "I found one among my people. Rookwood. He's been dealt with."

With a sigh, Amelia asked, "I take it he's dead?"

Croaker simply nodded once.

"I'll receive a report of his death sometime in the coming days?"

"Yes. It will show he died in a horrible, but classified, accident. He was the only fatality."

"Any you suspect may become one if Riddle returns?"

"Classified," replied Croaker. "If there are any, they too will be dealt with."

"Understood," said Madam Bones.

Croaker suddenly disappeared again.

Now that they had a way to reveal the Dark Mark if it was hidden, they'd bide their time until she - with Croaker's help - could plan for and execute a massive clean sweep of the entire Ministry. They'd plan it; but, they'd just hold off on execution until a time when they knew the Minister couldn't interfere.

'Perhaps when he next attends one of his conferences?' she thought. With what some would call an evil grin, she began to plan.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ