Chapter Fifteen - Ward Testing

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!

Chapter Fifteen - Ward Testing

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―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Noticing the time was getting on to lunch, Harry re-entered the house and went into the kitchen. He didn't know if Wendell had eaten yet and was very sure no one else had, either. So, set to making lunch.

Cooking helped him think. It's what he used to do while at the Dursleys. The Dursleys left him alone while he was cooking, so he could use that time just to figure things out.

He found himself standing there for a few moments trying to clear his mind of what Wendell had told him so couldn't think of what to make.

"Dobby!" he softly called.

"Yes, Master Harry?" asked the elf.

"Help us out, Dobs," he replied. "I can't think of anything to make for lunch. Wendell's got me all confuzzled over something."

Dobby took a long look at his master and said, "Dobby will cook. Master Harry Potter, Sir, be in no fit state to be cookings now."

"Master Harry Potter, Sir, be needing... damn it. I need to be cooking at the moment, because I need to think about something. And cooking helps me do that," explained Harry. "I tell you what; how about you be head chef and I help? That way you can teach me something."

"Dobby cannot be havings Master Harry Potter, Sir, helping Dobby," the elf firmly replied. "Wizards not be helping house elveses; house elveses be helping wizards. It be not right, other way 'round."

Harry sighed, stood there and massaged the bridge of his nose. Taking his hand away he said, "Fine! You cook or make lunch and I'll go find something else to do."

"Thank you, Master Harry!" declared the elf, happy he wouldn't have his master in the way when he was trying to do his job. Then got right to it as Harry walked back out of the kitchen trying to think of something else to do.

As he walked out and into the main part of the house he almost collided with the senior male auror currently stationed there. "Sorry!" he blurted.

"No, My Lord," replied the auror. "My fault."

Harry was about to disagree when he just shook it off and asked, "Where is everyone?" And negligently gestured.

The auror looked off into the distance for a moment before he looked back and replied, "Mister Granger is in his office, Madam and Miss Granger are up in Miss Granger's room on the top floor."

"Hunh!" said Harry, giving a verbal nod. "Thank you."

The auror gave a small smile and a nod before he moved off downstairs towards the servants' quarters, while Harry headed for the stairs heading up.

He'd go see the two ladies and hoped he wasn't interrupting something important.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Hermione and her mother were chatting and had been catching up with what was going on with the wider Granger and Puckle families - Puckle was Monica's maiden name. However, that's only what Hermione thought was going on. Monica was subtly trying to work out just how in love her daughter was with the 'messy, raven-haired boy with those enchanting green eyes' who was their current guest.

To that end, she also had her daughter telling her stories about the boy. She was using the words and terms her daughter used about him, together with her expressions, to gauge that.

She'd finally developed a very good idea when there was knock on the door.

"Come in!" Hermione called. It was, after all, her room.

The door gently opened to see Harry standing there. To Hermione he looked a little confused. Then, when he looked at her, he appeared slightly more confused.

"Harry?" she asked. "What's wrong?"

He gave himself a little shake, smiled at her and said, "Nothing, really. It's just something I need to figure out for myself.

"I just thought I would come up to see if you ladies had anything interesting to do."

"Don't you usually cook when at home and fly when at Hogwarts when you need to figure something out?" she asked.

He gave a nod and replied, "Yes, but I can't fly here and I just let Dobby toss me out of the kitchen. He's cooking lunch, by the way."

"You could always study," she suggested.

Harry looked back in shock for a moment before he suddenly grinned, snapped his fingers and said, "I knew there was something I needed to do! I'll be right back!"

He suddenly spun about and ran across the landing from the doorway and down the stairs.

Hermione looked at her mother and was about to say something when she heard Harry come running back up the stairs again.

He burst in through the still open doorway, holding a book. Excitedly, he walked across the room and handed it to her.

Taking it she read the cover, 'Occlumency for Beginners'

"Occlumency?" she asked. "What's that?"

"Occlumency is the magical mind art of sorting out your thoughts and memories, as well as protecting your mind from a Legilimencer," he replied. "As well as improving your ability to retain memory of what you read, see, hear or experience it gives you significant protection from someone using Legilimency against you."

"What's Legilimency?" she asked.

"Legilimency is the magical mind art that grants you the ability to... enter someone's mind to view their memories, scan their surface thoughts and, in extreme cases, interfere with their ability to think," he replied. "Severus Snape was a master at it. And Dumbledore used to use him to spy on the minds of people, especially those around me; including you."

Both women appeared horrified.

"He could do that?" squeaked Hermione.

"That would be an invasion of privacy," said an offended Monica.

Harry nodded back to both with a serious expression on his face.

"What about Dumbledore?" Hermione hesitantly asked.

"From all the experience I had of the man, it's not something he ever did to me," he replied. "I think he couldn't. Being able to become a Legilimencer is not something anyone or everyone can do. And I have no idea how Snape was able to develop it.

"I only know Snape can do it because he tried it on me, right from the start - in that first potions class we had with him in First Year. That's why he was staring at me so much.

"Every time I felt him trying it would cause my scar to hurt; and he tried quite a few times, especially when he was with Dumbledore in Dumbledore's office with just me. But, when I was in Dumbledore's office without Snape there, or when I met Dumbledore anywhere else, I never felt that pain.

"I think it's part of my mother's blood protection she placed on me that's blocking it. And why I think I'm immune to the Obliviate and Killing curses."

"Which is why you think Dumbledore can't do it," she added.

He grinned and nodded back before he said, "Snape's ability as a Legilimencer is one of the reasons why I think Dumbledore kept him around."

Looking down at the book and brushing her hand in a caress across the cover, she asked, "Have you read this?"

"I've read it, yes," he replied. "However, I can't do it. Again, I think it has to do with my mother's blood protection. As I said, it's another form of mind magic."

"And you're immune," she added.

Again, he nodded.

"Thank you," she quietly replied, looking back to him.

He grinned and said, "You're welcome."

"Thank you, Harry," said Monica. "I don't like the idea one of these... Legilimencers... could read my daughter's mind."

Setting the book on her bedside table, Hermione turned back and said, "Now, you wanted something to do. How about, after lunch, we go for a walk around the neighbourhood a little, so you get a feel for the place?"

Surprised by the idea, Harry replied, "That would be nice, thank you."

Stepping back he said, "In that case, I'll leave you ladies to your chat. I have something I need to ask Sirius."

"You forgot to ask this morning?" asked Hermione.

"You could say that," he smiled.

He'd only just made it out the door when Dobby popped in beside him.

"Lunch is served, Master Harry," he said.

"Thank you, Dobby," he replied before turning back to the door.

"Ladies, I don't know if you noticed but Dobby just popped up to let us know lunch is ready."

"Excellent," said Monica. "I'm starved!"

Hermione just rolled her eyes.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Walking into the Great Hall in a new set of robes due to the damage to the set he wore to the Clan Stewart village - stalking in, really - Dumbledore ignored everyone and made his way directly to his chair at the head table. However, on arriving there he realised his chair was now no longer 'his' chair. And it had been removed, anyway.

Marchbanks was now sitting at what used to be his place on a chair with a more comfortable-shaped back, with no armrests; not one that was straight-backed like his own. And was showing a weakness of fortitude by sitting on a large cushion, to boot!

He had been a little delayed as he had stopped a couple of Gryffindor students to find out if they knew where young Harry had gone when he left the school. One of them had told him they thought the boy had gone to stay with Miss Granger, as the two had been inseparable since the First Task - and they'd also heard Neville Longbottom tell someone else, but didn't mention who.

As he looked at Marchbanks, she noticed and said, "Good afternoon, Albus." Then indicated a chair quite a few away from her own. "As Professor of Transfiguration, your seat is down there."

Moving to a chair only two separated from hers, he said, "I can sit here."

"Can, yes," she replied. But, as he began to reach for it to pull it out and away from the table so he could sit on it, she added, "However, that is the seat for the Head of Ravenclaw. And you, Professor Dumbledore, are not that person.

"You may sit on any seat that is not my own or the three either side of me, so long as no one has already chosen that seat for themselves. The closest either side of me, for the time being, are reserved respectively for the Headmistress and Highmaster of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. The next two either side of me are for the four Heads of Houses. Left to right, they are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin; the same current order as the four house tables.

"Oh! And Hagrid, due to his size and weight, has the special chair on the end on my left. Same as he did when you were Headmaster; and Professor Flitwick has the special chair two to the right of Professor Sprout, due to his diminutive stature.

"Now, please do go and sit down. I wish to return to my lunch and being brought up to date as to the happenings of the school by Professor Sprout." Then she turned away from him to her right to return to her lunch and discussion with Sprout.

Angered by the rebuke and brush-off, Dumbledore had little choice but to stomp off towards her left down near Hagrid's chair. He sat in the one next to the half-giant's. However, Hagrid was not currently there.

No one was currently sitting near where he chose to sit.

Finally turning his attention towards the house tables, he was shocked to see just how few students actually remained. More than three quarters of the Slytherin students were missing, half of the Hufflepuffs, about a third of the Ravenclaws and about two thirds of the Gryffindors. Looking along the Gryffindor table he even saw that the Weasley children were missing. However, even more annoying for him, was that Harry Potter was missing. A second quick check and he saw that Miss Granger was not there, either.

He thought, 'That was right before I foolishly allowed my temper to escape my normally tight rein.' And frowned to himself.

'Everything was humming along exactly as planned,' he thought as he began to build a lunch plate for himself. 'Right up until the point young Harry entered the arena for the first task. Then everything turned into dragon dung.

'How had I missed it?' he wondered. 'How had Severus missed it?' And then remembered that Severus had told him the boy seemed to have natural Occlumency barriers.

'Not Occlumency barriers,' he thought, 'Barriers that existed because of the soul fragment of young Tom that resides in the boy's head.' He'd already figured out that it was the soul fragment that was blocking any Legilimency attempt on the boy, similar to how a werewolf's mind was protected by the inner wolf.

That's how they both came up with the idea of using Legilimency on young Ronald and the Granger girl. If they couldn't get Harry's thoughts and memories from him, they'd get them second-hand from the youngest Weasley boy or the girl.

It was not until the First Task he realised the boy was also keeping secrets from the both of them. He suspected that part of that was because he'd figured out that Molly, the foolish woman, had set in place her own plans for the boy. She too, it seems, was after the Potter fortune. That was something else he'd missed; but the boy, it also seemed, hadn't.

After finishing his meal he quietly left the Hall to return to his apartment in the Transfiguration corridor. Now that his new office and apartment had been set up and, as he had no classes to teach or assignments to mark, he was left with nothing to do within the school for the moment.

'Time to go talk to young Harry,' he thought. 'He needs to see reason and return to the safety of the school.'

He quickly checked his effects and found his private notebook, charmed so only he could open it. He flicked through it to the back where he had the addresses of certain people. One was the muggle address and apparation co-ordinates of the Granger girl. He quickly refreshed his memory of them both.

Using the floo in the office after first setting his password for it, he flooed out to the Leaky Cauldron. And, as soon as he stepped out of the floo at the other end, apparated away.

Moments later and for the second time that day, he found himself smacking hard into an anti-apparation barrier. Then everything went black.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Harry and Hermione were both checking to make sure they had everything they needed for a walk around the neighbourhood when there was a deep, reverberating two-tone sound of two gongs being struck.

The male auror who was with them snapped out an order. "Go into the servants' quarter's parlour and stay there! Do not come out until you're told to!"

Then, with his wand already drawn, he headed for the front door. The other auror, the female, had already reached it.

Seeing the stunned look on Hermione's face, Harry immediately grabbed her by her upper arm, to drag her along if necessary, and charged through the parlour into the transverse rear hallway, down the stairs and through to the servants' quarters as directed.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, as she was being dragged.

Ignoring her, he didn't let her go until they entered the quarters.

As soon as they were inside he released her arm and drew his wand, ready to defend the both of them, if necessary.

"Harry, you didn't have to drag me," she complained.

Both Granger parents, hustling in not a few moments later, looked to both teens and gave relieved expressions.

"Maybe not," he replied to the girl. "However, you were just standing there looking shocked and surprised. We might not have had time for you to snap yourself out of it. I wasn't prepared to gamble with your safety like that."

"I take it that was one of the wards," said Wendell, before Hermione could retort.

"Yep," replied Harry. "Someone just tried to apparate onto the property. By the dual tone we heard, I think it was Dumbledore."

"If it was, wouldn't he have been stunned?" asked Monica. She had moved to stand with her daughter. Because he was looking at the door he didn't see her hold a finger to her daughter's lips when it looked like she was going to get angry with Harry.

"He should have been stunned," replied Harry, still looking at the door. "However, we've not been able to test them yet to make sure. I think you can consider this a... 'test in the field'."

"I think you mean 'field test under actual conditions'," muttered Monica. But Harry could see she was only voicing her thoughts because she was a little worried.

Three minutes later, which felt like over an hour, one of the aurors announced themselves outside the door before they opened it and walked in. It was the young male and he had a smug smirk on his face.

"Dumbledore?" asked Harry.

"Dumbledore," he nodded. "We found the old man laying on the footpath just inside the front gate. He was, as you'd expect, knocked out cold.

"It also appears he managed to bang himself up a bit when he landed. He's got a dislocated shoulder - his left shoulder. Your house elf was standing over him looking ready and willing to hex him into next week."

"He's a little protective," muttered Harry.

"After we sent a message off to Madam Bones about it, my partner portkeyed with him direct to the DMLE," continued the auror. "She'll be back after Dumbledore's been handed over and she's given a report of the incident. In the meantime, we can expect a replacement for her to arrive within a minute or two."

The auror suddenly stiffened and looked off into the distance, as did Harry. He, too, felt the alert. Coming back to himself the auror smiled and said, "That was quick. They're here."

As the four followed him out of the servants' quarters, now the auror detail temporary break rooms, there was a knock on the front door.

He spun to them and said, "For a moment or two, please wait here. As I'm on my own I want to take that extra precaution."

"We'll wait," said Wendell.

The auror opened the door with his wand at the ready while using the door frame as a protective barrier, saw who it was, smiled and invited them in. Harry immediately recognised Master Auror Robards.

"Folks," smiled the Master Auror.

Coming around Robards, the young auror, Auror Cassidy, made the quick introductions. "Master Auror, this is Doctors Wendell and Monica Granger and their daughter, Hermione; together with Lord Potter.

"Doctors Granger, Miss Granger and Lord Potter, this is―"

"Master Auror Robards," finished Harry. "Nice to see you again, auror."

"And you, Lord Potter, Miss Granger," he replied before looking to Wendell and Monica. "Nice to meet you, folks. My first name is Gawain."

"So, Brian was telling us..." started Monica.

'Brian!' thought Harry. 'That's the young auror's name!'

"... That Mister Dumbledore was injured in his... collision?... with the wards." she continued.

"Collision is a pretty good word for it. He dislocated his shoulder," nodded Robards. "Our Healer had him to rights with that in only a moment. Popped it back while he was still stunned; then healed the bruising."

"I certainly hope they're not going to just wake him up and release him," said Harry.

"Not happening, Lord Potter," said Robards. "You can expect an important visit, very soon, so arrangements can be made or changed."

"Well, after all this excitement, I think I'll put the kettle on," said Monica, turning and heading for the kitchen.

"Hermione and I were just about to head out for a walk around the neighbourhood," said Harry.

"I'd rather you not do that, at the moment," said Cassidy.

"As would I," added Robards. "As I said, I believe you'll be receiving visitors soon."

Harry gave a sigh and muttered, "Fiiiine!"

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Just as suddenly as the previous time that day, Dumbledore woke with a start to notice he was lying flat on his back with a healer or medi-wizard leaning over him with wand drawn.

"He's awake," said the healer, pulling away.

"Of course, I'm awake, you blithering idiot," muttered the old man, trying to sit up.

"I'll thank you not to abuse my staff, Mister Dumbledore," snapped a voice Dumbledore immediately recognised and hated - Bones.

"Ah, Amelia," said the old man, swallowing his desire to snarl at the woman.

"Pris-on-er Dumbledore," she shot right back, deliberately drawing out and emphasising his 'title'.

As Dumbledore swung his legs to sit on the edge of the bed he realised he wasn't on a bed, after all; it was a bunk. He was, yet again, in a cell within the DMLE. And, again, he was missing his wand, glasses and portkeys.

With a sigh he quietly asked, "Why am I back here?"

"Criminal Trespass," she replied.

"You are in error, Amelia," he said.

"Am I, Prisoner Dumbledore?" she asked back. "That's peculiar, Prisoner Dumbledore, because you were found stunned unconscious at the scene of the crime."

"Then someone has been playing games, Madam Bones," he declared. "I was on my way to visit the family of a magical ward of mine when it seems some foul chicanery has been involved."

"And what foul chicanery would that be, Mister Dumbledore?" she politely asked.

"Someone has erected an illegal anti-apparation jinx or ward around her home," he replied. "It will need to be investigated, at once."

"Very well," she said. "And what is the name of this magical ward of yours, around whose home you believe an illegal anti-apparation jinx or ward has been erected?"

"Her name is Miss Hermione Granger, muggleborn," he replied. "A student of mine."

"Well, that's surprising," said Bones. "On a multiple number of levels."

He frowned at her and asked, "Oh? Because someone would erect an anti-apparation ward around the home of a muggleborn under-aged student?"

"Nope," she said. "It's surprising for the following reasons: One; there is no record of you being the current magical guardian of anyone, any longer, Professor of Transfigurations, Albus Dumbledore. Two; Miss Hermione Granger's magical guardian is Madam Minerva McGonagall. Three; according to the first two points, you had no business being there. Four; there is an anti-apparation ward on the home of Miss Hermione Granger, but it is not illegal; it is there with the permission of the owner occupiers of the home. Five; your arrival point for your apparation was... rudely... well within the property boundary. And, six; and this is the one which changes your charge from simple Trespass to Criminal Trespass, Lord Potter was also on the property at the time and you were warned during your very recent trial what would likely happen should you bother Lord Potter. You, crashing into the wards on a property in which he was in, setting off alarms all over the place, means he was bothered.

"In the short time you've been back in custody, I've already heard from Lord Black, who had a monitor on the wards. He's pressing charges against you. I also have an appointment with Lord Potter; who, I've no doubt, is also pressing charges against you. And I'll be speaking with Doctor and Doctor Wendell and Monica Granger who, as owners of the property, I've no doubt will also wish to press charges against you.

"Oh, and just so you know, I'm always looking to the safety of our Lords and Ladies as it's part of my job description. To that end I made enquiries into the backgrounds of both Doctors Granger.

"Doctor Wendell Granger is what the muggles call a Justice of the Peace; or 'JP', for short. That gives him the authority, in the Queen's name, to issue what is commonly referred to as a 'bench warrant'. That is, he has the authority to issue things such as a Warrant of Arrest. He can have people arrested with the weight of the crown backing him. Theoretically, he can order Master Auror Scrimgeour, for instance, to go to Parkinson House, enter without permission to do so from the Parkinsons and arrest Lady Parkinson. Not even myself or the Minister has that right. However, because his authority comes direct from the crown, he does! He also has the authority of Low Justice and can sit in judicial review any case or matter that can have a criminal conviction with a punishment of up to six months in gaol.

"In other words, since the crime is Trespass, Magistrate Granger can have you arrested, charged and brought before him; where he can then convict you and have you tossed in prison for six months. And it's all completely legal and above board... you twit!

"And Doctor Monica Granger is what is known as a Commissioner of Declarations; or 'CD', for short. That's a title Doctor Wendell Granger automatically has as a Justice of the Peace. That means, in both their cases, any legal document they sign is automatically seen as a sworn statement.

"You, Albus Dumbledore, in one foolish move, have managed to not just kick over the legal version of a doxie nest, but have then proceeded to stomp all over it.

"So, make yourself comfortable," she smirked at him. "You're going to be here for a while. If Magistrate Granger... not Doctor Granger... is of a mind, he has the legal authority under the crown to have you tossed in Azkaban for six months."

Then stood to leave.

As she walked out, while accompanied by her people and blatantly chuckling to herself, Dumbledore closed his eyes, leaned back against the wall to which the bunk was bolted and sighed as if in pain.

Dumbledore knew the Grangers were well-to-do as their daughter never needed access to the Hogwarts Muggleborn Assistance Fund. But he had no idea they had such legal authority, as well.

The background that was developed on each student included the student's parent's names, muggle nobility titles (if they had one), addresses, ages, occupations and whether or not there were other children, together with their ages and schooling.

Reviewing her file in his mind he recalled seeing the letters 'JP' after Doctor Wendell Granger's and 'CD' after Doctor Monica Granger's names, but thought they were related to academic qualifications or professional associations, as such letters usually were. It was never thought to include what other qualifications they had, as it had never occurred to anyone that it might be important. Well, it clearly was, as in this case.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

A short while later Auror Cassidy again stiffened and stared off into space. Then he smiled and looked back at the Grangers and Robards. He said, "The Boss and troops are here."

Robards had been using the 'opportunity' to begin to familiarise himself with improvements in modern muggle homes, by asking questions of the Grangers. It had been a while since his last refresher course on moving in the muggle world and he believed 'a wasted opportunity was wasted time'.

Cassidy immediately moved to the door and opened it before using the wall and frame to peek around it and out with his wand in his hand and ready. It would not do to mess up procedure when a Master Auror was watching you, no matter how secure you felt in your protections.

Once he'd satisfied himself as to the identity of those outside he swung the door open and stepped out.

When he returned he was leading two more aurors, then Madam Bones, then another three aurors - six, in total.

"We're going to need seats," said Harry.

"No need, thank you," said Bones, gesturing to him with a wave off. "Aurors, Ward Masters, you know what you need to do."

All but two of the aurors that accompanied her all quietly said, "Yes, Ma'am." And went back outside.

Before he had a chance to ask, she explained to Harry, "They're checking the wards again to make sure they're all in good working order. Dumbledore's quite the powerful wizard and he hit them with significant force."

He nodded back.

She then turned to Wendell and Monica and said, "Magistrate Granger, Commissioner Granger..."

That had both Granger parents give a start of shock.

"Officially, I am Lady Regent Amelia Susan Bones of the Noble and Ancient House of Bones, Director of the DMLE. As Director of the DMLE my title is simply 'Madam Bones', but you may call me Amelia."

"Wendell and Monica," said Wendell, gesturing between himself and Monica. "May I ask how you come to know those titles? I didn't think magicals paid all that much attention to the muggle world."

"I wouldn't have known if I hadn't looked into your background," she said. "Part of my remit is the safety of our world's Lords and Ladies, even if I'm theoretically one of those. And I looked into your backgrounds when I learned Lord Potter was going to be staying here for a while."

"I see," nodded Wendell. "But, you should know, that title only applies on the very rare occasions I sit the Bench. And, even then, I sit with at least one but usually two others. In such situations, I'm addressed as 'Your Worship'. Every other time I'm simply and informally, Doctor Granger."

"And I'm never addressed as 'Commissioner'," Monica smoothly continued. "It's a title that's appended in writing. That is, in writing or signing specific documents; in such situations, I'm Doctor Monica Granger, Commissioner of Declarations. And Wendell is Doctor Wendell Granger, Justice of the Peace."

"Justice of the Peace?" Harry suddenly asked. "Vernon applied for that once. He felt it would raise his standing in the community to be able to append JP to his name. He was knocked back because he failed the psychological testing he had to undergo as part of the training for it."

Turning to Madam Bones, he continued, "For about half of the cases that the professors and those others who sat to be tried before the Wizengamot, in the muggle world they would have sat before a Bench of two or three JPs. Wendell may well have been one of those two or three."

Wendell clarified, "As long as none of them deserved a conviction that included a stay in prison over six months for any one charge, or multiple convictions for any two or more charges that exceeded one year total, then yes. Any cases that we find deserves greater punishment, we're required to pass up to the Crown Court. In your case, I believe, that would be the Wizengamot sitting in judicial review."

Seeking clarification, or simply trying to press Wendell to act, Bones asked, "So, you can sit your Bench for Dumbledore and have him serve up to six months prison at Azkaban for trespass?"

"No, for two reasons," he replied. "One; it's against me. I'd have to recuse myself. And, two; sitting such a Bench would have to be with at least two magistrates - the Chairman and one or two Wingers. You'd need at least one more JP to join me."

When Bones looked disappointed, he grinned and said, "However, I can issue a Warrant of Arrest. I don't know how it would apply in your world since your Wizengamot and Ministry don't seem to care one whit about the Laws of the Crown in the muggle world, but it will still be a valid legal document. Under our law you can then hold him for seventy-two hours while you and your people investigate."

She gave a shark-like grin back. "I think I can make that stick. Your authority comes direct from the Queen, does it not?"

"Not quite," he smiled. "My authority as Justice of the Peace comes by way of the Lord Chancellor in the name of the Sovereign. And, yes, she eventually signs off on it. He's also the only one who can take it away again; but only once he's sought advice from the Chief Justice and has the Queen, again, sign off on it."

"Close enough," nodded Bones.

"What would also interest you to know is that Justices of the Peace were created pursuant to a proclamation by then King Richard the First in the Twelfth Century," explained Wendell. "The first official Act determining the positions of Justices of the Peace was the Justices of the Peace Act of 1361 almost two centuries later. Therefore, it predates your Statute of Secrecy of 1689... which has effectively and illegally seceded your world from ours... by over three hundred years. As such, unless it has been specifically stripped away, it should still be a law on your books."

Madam Bones gave a pained expression, let her monocle fall the length of its chain and brought her off hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose to massage it with her eyes winced closed.

Wendell looked at Harry with a grin. While nothing was said between them, Harry knew the man was thinking, 'You're not the only one who can make magicals look like daft morons with hardly any effort.'

With a sigh, Madam Bones said, "A simple 'yes' would have sufficed."

Harry was quietly chuckling, almost giggling really.

With a second sigh, she dropped her hand, opened her eyes, looked to Harry and quietly said, "That's quite enough out of you, Lord Potter."

"Sorry," he grinned. And belied he wasn't by laughing.

"Back to the point," she said, looking back to Wendell and choosing to ignore Harry. "If you issue a Warrant of Arrest for Dumbledore's attempt to breach your wards, can it include that requirement that allows me to hold him for seventy-two hours while I 'investigate'? I may not be able to get the Wizengamot to otherwise properly punish him, but I think sitting another seventy-two hours in one of my holding cells could be considered punishment enough for this particular occasion."

"That, I can do," he said, rising with a wide grin. "As I said; while I can't try his case, I can issue the Warrant. Come with me to my office."

By the time she left about thirty minutes later, Madam Bones had her signed arrest warrant together with a signed complaint of Trespass against the old man, had her aurors make sure the wards were still stable and undamaged and left behind a third auror to raise their standing auror complement from two to three.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After lunch, when she informed the staff she would be holding a staff meeting an hour later in the faculty 'break' room immediately behind the Great Hall, Marchbanks left the Hall to return to her office to collect her notes for the meeting.

"I expect to see everyone there," she'd declared. "Even Argus Filch."

She'd just turned away and had taken a few steps from the table when she turned back and said, "And someone please tell Albus if they see him. He's 'bolted' again." Then turned back to continue on her way.

Back in her office she had collected her notes and made a few more about what she wanted to talk to the entire staff about when the flames in her fireplace turned green with a whoosh. A moment later she saw the face of her friend, Amelia Bones, in the flames.

"Gris?" asked Bones.

"Amelia, dear," she called back. "Do you wish to come through?"

"Yes, please."

She gestured with her wand towards the fireplace and said, "It's open!"

Barely a couple of seconds later Bones stepped through and turned to her.

"Gris," she said.

"What brings you to be visiting an old lady with a look of such seriousness on your face?" asked Marchbanks.

"Dumbledore's currently, once again, in one of my holding cells," replied Bones.

Marchbanks sighed, put down her quill from where she was holding it while writing her list of topics, sat back and said, "Tell me."

"Almost an hour ago, he tried to apparate into a property that's the home of one of your muggleborn students - Hermione Granger," explained Bones. "He has a pretty fair idea that's where Lord Potter is currently staying. He's right.

"What he didn't know was that Lord Potter caused to have set up wards on the property. And those of my aurors, who I've detailed off to bodyguard him for the moment, have added temporary and further alert wards to those."

"That would have come as a shock," smirked Marchbanks.

"Dumbledore tried to apparate right into the property and smacked into the wards pretty hard," Bones grinned back. "He dislocated his left shoulder in the process."

Marchbanks cackled and said, "That's the second time, today, he's smacked into a set of wards while trying to apparate in."

"Second time?" asked Bones.

"He tried to apparate directly into the castle from wherever he got to this morning; very soon after he must have felt the wards shift from him to me and tried to apparate back," she explained. "It left him bruised and battered. Our medi-wizard had to heal him up."

Bones laughed.

When she calmed down again she said, "Well, Lord Potter was being quite clever with having those wards erected on the Granger residence. He had the wards erected one yard in from the property boundary."

"That's different," said Marchbanks. "What made it clever?"

"One of the problems we've always had about charging people with trespass who've tried that sort of stunt before, is that we can't charge them because the wards blocked them from actually trespassing. It's not illegal to attempt to trespass.

"By setting the wards up one yard in Dumbledore actually had to cross that one yard before he hit the ward. Therefore, he actually trespassed."

Again, Marchbanks cackled. "My!" she wheezed. "That is actually clever.

"Do you think Lord Potter realised that you would be able to charge someone with trespass if he set the ward up one yard in?"

"There is no doubt in my mind that he knew," grinned Bones. "That boy has been spending the past almost two weeks making the rest of us look like idiots."

"So I hear," she smirked.

"Anyways," said Bones. "Taking a leaf out of Lord Potter's book, I'm here to ask you to do something for me."

"Oh?"

With a grin Bones said, "I need you to tell me, to tell Albus, you're not happy with him and you'll be having words with him about his behaviour, together with the fact he's not at the school where he should be, once I release him on Monday after lunch."

"Amelia, dear, what a dastardly thing to do," grinned Marchbanks. "Very well. Madam Bones, when you next talk to Albus, please tell him I'll be wanting to have words with him, immediately after he's released by you on Monday afternoon, about his behaviour. I'm not happy he won't be here in the school, come that morning, where he's required to be."

"Thanks, Gris," said a happy Amelia Bones.

"Now, perhaps you can tell this old lady how it is you're going to manage to hold him until Monday afternoon?" asked the older witch. "If I recall, you're supposed to release him within twenty four hours for such a trivial offence."

"Ah!" said Bones. "Well, you see, Miss Granger's father, Doctor Wendell Granger, is also what's known as a Justice of the Peace. In the muggle world he has the authority by the Queen to dispense low justice. But, more importantly to this issue, he has the authority to issue Warrants of Arrest.

"As part of asking if he wouldn't mind giving me one related to Albus, he included in that warrant the authority for me to hold Albus for up to seventy-two hours while I investigate matters. He was happy to comply."

"And you were able to use that because the Granger residence is in the muggle world," said Marchbanks. "Very clever, dear."

"Thank you," smirked Bones. She never said anything about how it was covered under a Thirteenth Century law because that could draw things out too long to explain. And she was busy.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Back at the DMLE a little later, Madam Bones walked into Dumbledore's cell and grinned at him.

As he rose, he said, "Finally here to release me, are you? It's about time."

"Nope!" she happily replied.

Unrolling the 'scroll' he didn't see in her hand until then, she glanced at it and said, "I have here a Warrant of Arrest for one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, signed by a duly appointed and authorised officer of Her Majesty's courts. It also grants me the authority to hold you for seventy-two hours, while I carry out and complete my investigations into your actions relating to your alleged Trespass of the property of one Wendell Marcade Granger and Monica Temperance Granger.

"Further, I also have here a formal sworn affidavit from Doctor Wendell Marcade Granger stipulating a formal complaint against you for trespass of property. Lord Potter, acting as magical guardian, has co-signed it."

While rolling both back up together again she grinned and said, "Take a load off, Albus. You're going to be here for a while."

"I bounced off the wards!" he snapped back. "Therefore, I did not trespass!"

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong," she retorted. "You see; in setting up the wards, whoever did it was being very clever. They set the wards you bounced off one yard in from the property boundary. And, since you just confessed to bouncing off the wards, that means you had to have entered the property. Thank you for that, Albus."

The wide grin Bones was now directing at him had Dumbledore sigh and drop back down to sit on the edge of the bunk. 'Who, before, had ever thought to set their wards well inside their property boundary? Everyone always set them out at the boundary or slightly beyond,' he thought. 'That's bloody clever... bugger it.'

"And, just so you know, Dumbledore," she said. "I've also informed your boss, Headmistress Marchbanks, that you're currently my guest and will not be returning to Hogwarts until Monday afternoon after lunch, at the earliest.

"She is not happy with you, at the moment. She's told me she'll be having words with you come Monday afternoon."

'Which means she has grounds to... reprimand me for not being present for this afternoon and half the day Monday,' he thought with another mental sigh.

He barely even noticed Bones leaving again.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Marchbanks walked into the faculty break room 'fashionably' late; not as long as Dumbledore's usual ten to fifteen minutes, but just under five.

She walked directly to the head of the table, conjured a cushion for her seat, and carefully sat down.

Once sitting, she placed the card file she had filled with her notes for the meeting before her, pulled out of it blank parchment and ever-full quill and set both aside.

After readying herself she finally looked to her staff. Looking around the table she mentally checked off the names that she had on a list before her. Four were missing. Of course, one of them was Dumbledore.

"Where are Sybill Trelawney, Rubeus Hagrid, and Argus Filch?" she asked.

"Hagrid has locked himself in his hut and won't come out," said Sprout.

"I tried to talk to Argus," Charity Burbage, the current Muggle Studies Professor, finally replied. "He said... ummm..."

"Out with it, dear," said Marchbanks.

"He said he has no time for such nonsense," she finished.

"I see," Marchbanks nodded. "And, Professor Trelawney?"

"Passed out drunk in her rooms," huffed Sprout.

"You're sure she is drunk?" asked Marchbanks.

"I am," said Sprout. "The rest of the staff can back me on this; the witch is an alcoholic who can polish of around three bottles of sherry a day. When awake, she is is rarely, if ever, sober."

The rest of the staff nodded.

Marchbanks gave a nod and said, "Then we shall excuse her from the meeting. If what you say is true then she will be out of the castle by the end of the day. I will not have a drunken sot teaching classes. I have enough other positions I need to fill; one more won't hurt."

Picking up her quill she then wrote two quick notes on a sheet of parchment before tearing it in half between them.

"May I have an elf, please," she quietly said.

With a slight pop of displaced air one appeared next to her left. "Yes, Lady Headmistress?"

Handing the elf the first note she said, "Please give this to Rubeus Hagrid, down in his hut." Then handed the second note over. "And please give this one to Argus Filch."

The elf gave a nod, said, "Yes, Lady Headmistress." Before it gave a bob and popped away again.

She then wrote a third note, tore the bottom half off it, folded the top note and called for another elf.

When it popped in she said, "Please deliver this to Sybill Trelawney. If she's asleep, wake her by any means necessary and make sure she reads it. I find tossing one out of bed and dousing them with cold water to be a good way to wake someone who's been drinking too heavily."

"Yes, Lady Headmistress," the elf replied before it popped away again.

Looking down the length of the table at the staff who were present, she said, "As you heard, each of those notes went to Rubeus Hagrid, Argus Filch and Sybill Trelawney. When I call a staff meeting for a specific time and state that all staff are to attend, I mean it.

"The only people that are excused from such meetings are Medi-wizard Robinson - but only when he has a sick patient in his Infirmary that requires constant care - you, when you are patient under bedridden medical care, or when people are away from the castle on authorised leave.

"Both Mister Hagrid and Mister Filch have just been informed, in writing, that if they are not here within five minutes of those notes being sent then their employment will be terminated, effective immediately, on the completion of that five minutes. They are to then be out of the castle by the end of the day.

"Sybill Trelawney has just been informed she will present herself to me in my office in two hours or she will have been fired, effectively immediately, and is to be out of the castle by the end of the day."

That had a few of the staff gawking back in shock.

"We will now wait for that five minutes for Misters Hagrid and Filch to arrive before that time expires before we start the meeting," she declared.

"While we wait for them "said Flitwick. "May I point out we are also missing Albus Dumbledore?"

"Albus Dumbledore left the grounds without my authorisation," she said. "He then went to the property of a muggleborn student. As he is not Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster, Head of the student's House or was even invited there he attempted to trespass the property.

"He was arrested and taken to the DMLE, where he currently sits in a cell. I have been informed by Madam Bones that he will abide there until Monday afternoon while they investigate the criminal complaint that was filed against him by the owner residents."

While some staff seemed shocked, Flitwick wasn't one of them.

"Good," he said, quite emphatically.

Sprout had a pleased smile on her face.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Three minutes later, Filch came stomping in with Hagrid on his heels. Filch appeared angry while Hagrid was quite morose.

Filch stepped up to the table and, before sitting down at one of the vacant seats, demanded, "What is the meaning of this?" And waved the note in his hand. "I've never been to a staff meeting before! Why are you making me attend now?"

"Mister Filch," Marchbanks sternly but calmly replied. "You will watch your tone with me, or I will fire you; right here, right now."

After a few moments of him visibly calming himself, she added, "When I order all staff to attend a meeting, I expect all staff to attend unless otherwise instructed by me. You are, for now, a member of this staff.

"However, if you address me like you just did ever again, I will fire you on the spot. I am not just the Headmistress of this school, I am also your direct boss and employer. Show me respect, or I'll show you the door."

When she saw he got it and understood, she said, "Now, sit down."

As both he and Hagrid sat, with Hagrid sitting in the oversized chair that was at the table specifically for him, she turned her attention to him. "What I just told Mister Filch also applies to you, Mister Hagrid. Understood?"

"Yes, 'Eadmistress," he mumbled. Luckily for Hagrid, one of his mumbles could easily carry the length of the table.

Once everyone was settled she pulled another sheet of parchment in front of her, glanced down at it for a moment and said, "Now that all of us who could be here are here, I'll open this meeting with an introduction of myself for those who do not know me very well.

"I am Lady Griselda Marchbanks. As well as being the Head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority - a position from which I've taken a leave of absence - I am the new Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

She then went on to explain her background, with a focus on academia and her past as a Professor of Charms and Deputy Headmistress at this very school. It was Flitwick who replaced her as Professor of Charms.

"Next," she said, "We are currently short a number of staff positions. Most of these need to be filled before we can return to providing our students proper tuition.

"We are currently in need of Professors for the core subjects of Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic. And a professor for the elective of Care of Magical Creatures. I may be adding a Professor in the elective subject of Divination to that list by the end of the day. I intend to reintroduce, as soon as possible, the class Introduction to the Wizarding World for our muggle-raised students. So, we need a Professor for that subject, too.

"If you have any suggestions of candidates that I or the School Board could approach, I would welcome them. The floor is yours."

Hesitantly at first, but gaining traction, names and reasons were given to her. Horace Slughorn was one ('He may be convinced to come out of retirement. He also made an excellent Head of House for Slytherin while he was here.') and on it went.

For the next half hour they submitted, discussed and argued candidates.

When the names started to slow down, Marchbanks said, "Thank you. I expect each of you to spend some thought on who else might be suitable to be approached over the coming days. If you can think of someone, please do not hesitate to let me know.

"Next issue is the positions of Deputy Headmaster or -mistress and the Heads of the Four Houses. Currently, we only have one of those positions filled - Pomona Sprout for Hufflepuff. I know many of you may or may not have coveted the role of one of those positions; so, if you wish to submit your name for consideration, now is the chance.

"I'll also inform you that length of service as a Professor will play no part in whether or not I would consider you worthy of the post. The post will also be in an 'Acting' capacity until I consider you have proven yourself in that role. Anyone not willing to publicly submit their name now, I will consider unworthy."

It did not surprise her when Bathsheba Babbling spoke up, first.

"I would like to be considered for the role of Head of Gryffindor," she firmly stated.

"Noted," said Marchbanks. "Next?"

Septima Vector gave a nod and said, "I would be honoured to be considered for the post of Head of House Slytherin."

"Noted," said Marchbanks, adding Vector's name to her new list, with Slytherin in brackets after it."

"Though it will mean four female Heads of House," said Aurora Sinistra, "I'd like to submit my name for Head of Ravenclaw House."

"Noted," said Marchbanks. "Anyone else? Just because I've received three names of one each for the three Houses does not presuppose I'll not consider anyone else for those positions or others."

"What about if Dumbledore wishes to be considered for one of those posts?" asked Babbling.

"Albus Dumbledore has already been considered unsuitable for any role. He currently holds the role as Professor of Transfigurations because he is the last staff member to have tenure and I've got nowhere else to put him."

"In that case, I'd like to also be considered for the post of Deputy Headmistress," said Babbling.

"Noted," smirked Marchbanks. "Anyone else?"

When no one else seemed willing to put their name forward she said, "Thank you to those who applied for Acting positions as Heads of House and Deputy. You will have my decision by the middle of next week.

"Next..."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ