Chapter Twenty - Letters and Albie

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 Twenty - Letters and Albie

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Dumbledore was just about to rise from his desk to head to the Great Hall, after he'd heavily warded his new office to stop Harry Potter from being able to leave again when he turned up, when the portkey began to arrive five feet in front of his desk.

With a pleased little start he quickly sat back on his office chair and adopted a mien of pleasant but firm statesmanship. 'Perfect timing,' he thought.

With a massive twirl the portkey finished arriving. But, instead of Harry Potter standing there, there was the owl he sent and a house elf holding the letter, who'd just released the owl.

As he jumped forward to his feet in shock from his chair, the house elf glared at him, snapped its fingers and he found himself flung back into the wall behind his desk as if banished.

By the time he managed to climb back to his feet from where he landed sprawled on his side against the wall, the house elf was gone. Only the owl remained as it flew about the ceiling of the room, looking for a way to get out.

"Nooo!" he cried.

Yet another plan for that boy suddenly going up in smoke. This time, interfered with by a house elf, of all beings!

With a cry of rage he snatched his wand out of his belt and sent a blasting curse at one of the few armchairs he'd managed to get into the small room. It shattered into bits as splinters of wood and wire bounced off the walls and bookcase, with stuffing flung into the air of the room. It was his favourite chair, other than his now gone 'throne' from the Great Hall.

Glaring back at it and slamming his Occlumency barriers closed he had to take a few moments to get his breathing back under control before he called for an elf.

"Clean that up!" he snapped, viciously gesturing to the now pile of scrap.

As the elf banished the remains of the chair, he stormed out of the room. The owl used the opportunity of the open door to fly out after him.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Back at the Grangers, as those around the dinette were calming down, there was a crack of displaced air as Dobby appeared back on the table. He was still holding the letter.

"Dobby!" Harry exclaimed in relief.

As everyone whirled on him he was a moment before he held out the letter to Harry. "Dobby be sorry, Great Master Harry Potter, Sir," he quietly said. "Dobby did yell at Master Harry Potter, Sir, when Dobby sees Master Harry reach for magicked letter. Dobby had to stop Master Harry from touching bad magicked letter."

"Dobby, it's fine!" said Harry. "You did a very good job!"

"Dobby, I take it you rode the portkey all the way to its destination?" asked the senior auror, jumping in.

"Yes, Miss Auror Watkinsy," replied Dobby. "Dobby be taken by magics to old Perfesser Whiskerses new office in Hoggywarts. Dobby not stay, though."

"No, that's fine," the auror was quick to assure him. "By old Professor Whiskers I take it you mean Professor Albus Dumbledore?"

"Yes, Miss Auror Watkinsy," replied Dobby.

"Thank you!" she happily replied. "Gotcha!" she then quietly but firmly exclaimed.

"Dumbledore caused this?" asked Wendell.

"Yes," replied Watkins. "Dobby's confirmation as to the destination confirms our identification of the magical signature on the portkey trace.

"I'll need to notify Madam Bones, immediately. Well, as soon as she gets into her office. That'll be in about―"

"Thirty five minutes," Dawkins immediately added.

Watkins used a levitation charm of some form to take the letter from Dobby's hand before dropping it into an evidence bag Patterson was holding out and open.

"And that's the physical evidence," said Watkins.

She then turned to Dobby, who was still standing and looking dejected on the table, before she said, "Dobby, don't look so sad. You did a very, very good job."

"Dobby did yell at Master Harry Potter, Sir," the elf firmly replied. "Dobby must be punished."

"No," Harry firmly replied back. "Dobby did his job. Dobby protected his master. Dobby will not be punished for that, ever."

With hope, Dobby looked up and said, "Thank you, Master Harry."

"There is no need to thank me for doing what is right, Dobby. It is I, who should be thanking you. So, thank you."

Dobby looked stunned before he said, "No, no! Master never need to thank Dobby―"

"And, as I told you before, if you did something I would thank another person for, I'll be thanking you as well."

Monica smoothly cut in and asked, "I take it the excitement's over?"

"Yes," replied Watkins. Turning to Harry she said, "I think we'll be checking all mail heading for you, from now on."

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied. "And I think I'll go back to using detection charms on everything again."

"If you know them, you should be using them," she sternly told him.

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied. "But, what I want to know is how he managed to get a portkey to activate within here. That should not have been poss... oh, wait."

"Wait?" asked Watkins.

Harry sighed and looked a little pained before he replied, "I asked the goblins to set up anti-portkey wards that would stop a portkey getting into here. I didn't ask them to set up a ward that stopped them going out."

"It should have still stopped that," she frowned. "However, Dumbledore is powerful enough... and the portkey trace certainly appeared powerful enough... Dumbledore might have suspected an anti-portkey ward and overpowered it."

Dawkins said, "We'll need to check the wards." Then left to go and do exactly that.

"That done, we need to head for work," said Monica.

Turing to Harry she said, "Harry, can I speak with you a moment before we go?"

"Yes, Ma'am," and blushed again.

As they stepped into the kitchen and before Harry could say a word she said, "Listen to me, Harry."

When he nodded back, she quietly said, "I know what you saw when you first saw Hermione come into the dinette."

Harry immediately deeply blushed again and tried to speak around his suddenly dry throat.

"Shh!" she firmly said.

When he stopped trying to talk, he looked away.

"What happened was an accident," she firmly said. "Hermione forgot we had guests, or forgot how she was dressed. Either way, it doesn't matter.

"Then, when she crashed into the auror, your attention was immediately drawn to her. You then got an 'eyeful'."

"U-ummm―" he stammered.

"Hermione knows what happened and doesn't blame you for it," she explained. "She knows she was at fault and I know she's already accepted blame. Expect her to apologise to you for it."

"Sh-she really doesn't need to do that," he tried. "I... umm... I know it was an accident, too. She heard trouble and came down with her wand ready to help. I-it would just embarrass us both."

"You're a good boy, Harry," she gently said. "You saw there was a problem with her dress and you immediately averted your eyes. That shows you have respect for her."

"Can we... not talk about this any more?" he almost whined.

She grinned and said, "Now that I've said what needed to be said, yes."

When Harry seemed to sag in relief she said, "Have a good day. But, when Hermione apologises to you, let her. She'll feel she needs to. Then, once she does, you can both drop it. Alright?

"Yes, Ma'... errr... Monica."

"Good," she firmly stated. "Time for Wendell and I to go to work. We'll be back home about the same time as last night."

Then she left.

With a sigh, thankful she'd left, he leaned back against the kitchen counter and thought about what he'd seen. And then tried not to.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Wendell awaited Monica near the door to the garage downstairs, holding her coat for her. As soon as he saw her, he readied the coat before helping her into it, then held the door open for her, not saying a word.

As soon as they stepped in, Wendell closed the door behind them and turned to her. She was already turned about to look at him with a firm look on her face.

"'Dell; calm down!" she firmly said, before he had a chance to say anything.

"He ogled our daughter's―" he tried.

"He bloody well did not!" she snapped over the top of him. "Hermione rushed downstairs and charged into the room. Her crashing into the auror drew his eyes to her to check and make sure she was alright.

"As soon as he saw that her top was translucent - not transparent - he immediately... and I'm talking quicker than I thought his reflexes should be... averted his eyes to the point he spun completely about so his back was to her," she firmly stated. "He did everything he could to make sure he wasn't looking at what he felt he shouldn't be looking at. He did nothing wrong and everything right."

"But that still means he had to look down to see―" he tried.

''Dell; your daughter is a pale-skinned Caucasian. She doesn't topless sunbathe, so the skin of her breasts is as pale as it gets. She also has dark areolae―"

When Wendell gave a start and tried to back off, she immediately snapped. "No; you need to listen."

When he calmed down, still fuming a little but also uncomfortable, he gave a little nod. But he wouldn't say a word.

Seeing it, she continued, "She has dark areolae about the size of double florins with almost too tiny to be useful nipples, also dark. But that last has to do with her age, as you well know.

"When she came charging into the dinette her breasts were also bouncing a little because, like me, she doesn't wear a bra to bed. So, whether it was just adrenalin or the fact her nipples were rubbing on the inside of the material, they had hardened. And were, therefore, jutting out."

"Mo-on!" he whined. "This is my daughter you're describing to me!"

"Just a sec," she shot back. "So, Harry caught the flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye, caught sight of your daughter crashing into the auror - who was otherwise busy and never visually noticed a thing - and movement under her translucent top drew his eyes to follow it. That was purely instinctive on his part.

"And, I remind you, as soon as he realised what happened and what he was looking at, in less than a second he was already spinning away. As I said, that's bloody quick reflexes.

"Harry did not 'ogle' Hermione, as you put it. If anything, he proved to be incredibly chivalrous. Can you possibly tell me, at his age, you'd have done better?"

Slumping against the door-frame, Wendell quietly replied, "No."

"Then, stop with the nonsense!" she demanded. "I'll also point out that Henrietta also immediately saw the problem and conjured a robe for her."

Grumbling a bit, he said, "You make it hard to be a righteous father when you keep getting so bloody logical on me."

"I know, dear," she smiled. "That's because, all too often, being a righteous father is illogical."

He sighed and said, "How about we travel in one car, today? We're both leaving work at the same time and, on the drive, we can talk more about this... Betrothal Agreement."

"I'd like that," she replied with a nod.

"But, this evening," he declared, stopping as he was about to head for the driver's side door of his car. "You will talk to our daughter about what she wears to bed."

"I intend to," she replied. '... not,' she thought.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

As the Grangers pulled out of the driveway, Hermione was watching from the window of the parlour. When she saw they were both in the same car she didn't bother to wait for the other to also pull out.

She wondered what the delay was all about but thought it would be her mother laying down the law with her father. She knew he'd been upset. While her mother was talking with Harry in low voices in the kitchen, her father had glared at her and told her in one single clipped sentence she and her mother would be talking about her state of dress, that night.

Knowing she needed to apologise to Harry she went looking for him. He wasn't in the kitchen and suspected he'd gone back up to his room.

Quietly, she made her way up there.

Finding the door open and seeing him sitting at the desk side-on to her, she could see he was holding his communication mirror and staring at it. She could also see it wasn't active.

Standing in the doorway she quietly said, "Harry?"

When she saw him immediately snap his head around and saw her, then immediately blush before turning to look away again, she knew she had to get through this or it would become an issue between them.

"Harry; please look at me," she quietly said.

She watched him stiffen and give a little firm nod that he probably didn't even realise he made before he turned to look at her. "Good morning, Hermione," he quietly greeted her.

"Good morning," she returned. Then gave a small smile back.

"I..." he tried, before looking down at the ground. "I'm... I saw―"

"I know what you saw, Harry," she quietly returned. "And I'm sorry I embarrassed you."

When his eyes snapped up to hers he looked shocked. "I... ummm―"

"I shouldn't have come down dressed like that," she said. "I heard the aurors shouting and thought something had happened. Well, it did, but I didn't need to come down without being properly attired, first."

"No," he disagreed. "I mean... you heard danger and you reacted. That's a good thing. Sometimes, it may mean your life taking time to make yourself presentable. Your instincts were good. Don't apologise for that.

"Yes, if you have time, then you need to appropriately dress. But, sometimes you may not have a choice."

He hesitated a moment, sighed and said, "Your mother told me you'd apologise to me for... what happened. And that I was to let you. But, I'm sorry, too. I looked at your..." Then he blushed, looked away and waved his hand at her.

As Harry talked she'd managed to get her own blush under control. He was being sweet. But that didn't mean she couldn't tease him a little to get him to relax.

"My what, Harry?" she smirked and asked. "You can say it."

"Your..." Blushing further, he muttered, "Lady parts."

'Lady parts?' she thought. 'This will not do.'

"My breasts, Harry," she firmly returned. "But you see them covered all the time. Just as you see the breasts on other girls.

"You'll have to be more specific," she pressed.

"Damn it!" he muttered. "Alright. I saw your... nnn-darker bits."

"Darker bits?" she asked. "Do you mean my areolae?"

Confused he asked, "Arri-what?"

Surprised he didn't know, she replied, "Ar-e-o-lae. It's the plural form of ar-e-ol-a."

Carefully, she walked slowly forward until she was well inside the room and only about five feet from him. Though he didn't shy away she could see her close distance was now making him just a little uncomfortable. He still couldn't keep his eyes on her. She stopped.

"The areola is the dark circle of skin that surrounds the nipple," she explained, causing him to give just a little jump at her word use. "It can come in all different colours from normal skin tone, which makes it almost unnoticeable, to the darkest of browns.

"The skin tone can also change when it's cold, or overly warm, usually does when you're pregnant... or when you're aroused."

As she was talking she could feel herself flush a little and her nipples harden.

"Mine, when I compare them to other girls, are a tad darker than the medium. That is, of course, when I'm talking about other Caucasian girls. Parvati's are significantly darker than mine; but, that's because she's Indian and has swarthier skin. Sophie's and Fay's are a little lighter while Lavender's are lot lighter."

She gave that a moment before she continued, "In the centre of that area, but sometimes a little lower than centre, sits the nipple."

That had Harry give a silent start again.

"Nipple, Harry," she said. "Nip-ple."

When he still appeared to be a little uncomfortable she said, "Harry, the nipple is an important part of a woman's body. We latch our babies onto them. It's through them that they draw milk from the mammary gland within the breast. Try thinking of them as a function and you might be more comfortable thinking about them, at all."

He blushed again, but at least kept trying to look at her instead of looking away. That made it look like his eyes were darting about the place, but she knew he was trying.

Getting a little frustrated she demanded, "Harry, look me in the eyes for a minute."

She saw him take a deep breath, clench up a little and firmly turn his eyes to stare directly into hers.

"Do you trust me, Harry?" she directly asked.

He nodded back.

"And I trust you, Harry," she said. "It's because of that trust we have in each other that I trust you will not do anything inappropriate with or to me; understand?"

"Yes," he firmly said.

"Good, because I'm going to do something you are not to stop me doing," she said. "You are just going to sit there and I know you won't do anything inappropriate. Do you understand?"

"Yes," he repeated.

She turned to look at the doorway for a second to make sure there wasn't anyone there. There wasn't. And turned back. As she turned back she made sure to catch Harry's eyes with her own.

Giving a nod she reached up and untied the sash around her waist of the conjured robe.

When it looked like Harry realised what she was doing, his eyes suddenly widened.

Just as his eyes started to dart away she quickly snapped, "Look... me in the eyes, Harry. Hold the gaze."

As the sash dropped away she raised both hands and slipped the shoulders off, letting the robe drop to the floor.

Harry now looked as if he might be hyperventilating, but his gaze into her eyes held firm.

"Alright Harry, this is the important part," she said with earnest seriousness.

With her own heart hammering in her chest in excited fear she let her arms cross her torso to grab opposite sides down low of the material of the baby doll nightie short top. And paused.

'Yes, I'm nervous, damn it,' she thought. 'However, this should help get him through this. But, that's really only an excuse I'm using... I've thought about showing a boy my tits for so long... especially, Harry...'

Suddenly, she yanked upwards with both crossed arms crossing her face at the forearms, as the bottom of the baby doll nightie top came with them. Barely a second later, she was lowering her arms out either side with the top dangling in her left hand.

'Gods!' she thought. 'I'm bare-chested in front of a boy!'

A moment later, 'Why isn't he staring at my tits?'

'Oh! I told him to lock his eyes with mine and he's doing it through sheer willpower!'

Screwing up her courage she smiled and said, "Well done, Harry. I thought, for sure, you'd look." Then she softly said, "Now, look at them, Harry. But, no touching!"

When she left about fifteen minutes later, she had used her own breasts to show Harry all the relevant parts. Even going so far as to press her left breast out flat to show the slight ridge that denoted the edge of the internal mammary gland.

When he started to relax and began asking questions back she was happy to answer them. He even said he thought the nipple would be bigger.

"It will get bigger; they will get bigger," she replied. "Every girls' breasts develop differently. Some girls' breasts even develop differently from each other. For some, it seems their nipples develop first and then the rest of the breast seems to follow along. That means they can have decent-sized nipples and areolae before they're past an 'A' cup. For me, it's my nipples that are the slowest. A year ago they were still the same as a little girls. I was worried I was going to develop breasts with no real nipples, until they finally started to grow."

"What size..." he tried.

"At the moment, I'm an average 'B' cup but, if genetics hold true, I'll end up an average to slightly large 'C' cup."

"How big would that be?" he asked.

She thought about it for a moment before she replied, "Henrietta's size."

"Henrietta?" he asked.

"She's the younger of the two female aurors currently watching over you."

"Oh," he replied. "Sorry, I'll have to see if I can figure that out when I see her next. I wouldn't have a clue how big she is, at the moment. I've not noticed."

Hermione gave a little laugh and said, "Anyway. I'd better get up to my room to get dressed before the aurors come looking for us." Then asked, "Understand better now?"

"Yes, thank you," he brightly said and smiled.

She quickly pulled her baby doll nightie back over her head and slipped the arms through the armless sleeve holes. Then picked the robe up off the side of the bed. She'd moved it there earlier when she became a little worried he might make a grab at her. She didn't want it tangling her feet if she had to hurriedly back off.

He didn't, though. He kept his hands to himself, as she knew he would.

Slipping the robe back on and re-belting the sash she leaned forward, placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed him on the cheek.

"You have a call to your godfather to make," she said, standing up. "But, not a word of this to anyone, including him."

"No, this was private," he firmly agreed.

She gave him a smile and walked to the door. Just as she passed through she smelled the scent of a perfume, looked to the thick carpet, looked up and smiled.

As she closed the door a bit she quietly whispered, "Come up to my room." And poked with a finger into the midriff of the person she knew to be standing there.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Harry sat at his desk again, again with the mirror in his hand.

He felt deeply honoured that Hermione would show him her breasts like that; and even went over, for him, how they worked and developed.

But, now he needed to make a mirror call. He needed to tell Sirius what happened at breakfast.

When Sirius answered it looked like Harry'd just woken him. "Wha?"

"Sorry, I just woke you, didn't I?" said Harry.

Sirius gave his head a shake and said, "If it's important, you're forgiven."

"Dumbledore just tried to abduct me using a mail owl delivered auto-portkey," he immediately said.

Sirius was a moment before his eyes widened in shock. And a few moments later his face morphed into fury. "Yeah. That's important enough. Tell me what happened."

Harry described what happened, how Dobby intercepted the letter, which was then when he realised it was a portkey by it activating as Dobby was portkeyed away instead; and how the aurors were very quickly right there.

Then he went over their investigations into the trace of the portkey signature, Dobby popping back, he handing over the letter that was the auto-portkey to the aurors and Dobby telling them where the portkey took him.

"The aurors now have a copy of the outgoing portkey trace, the actual portkey used and Dobby's verbal statement," he concluded. "Then, Madam Bones was also informed."

"Right, anything you missed?" asked Sirius.

"Nope," he replied.

Sirius nodded and said, "Leave this with me. I'm going to see Bonesy and have this dealt with! You know, trying to kidnap one of the Seven is an offence of such magnitude it can easily see the culpable party tossed through the Veil."

"I've got no problems with that," said Harry.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Up in her room Hermione had waited only a moment after spinning around and staring at the door until a now visible Henrietta Patterson walk in.

"How did you know?" asked the auror.

"While you were using a disillusionment charm, you forgot about the scent of your perfume," explained Hermione. "That alerted me to the fact you had very recently been there, or that you were still there. The second clue and the one that alerted me to you actually still being there was the impression your boots made in the carpet."

Patterson sighed and said, "If my bosses heard I'd forgotten about those two details―"

"They won't from me," smiled Hermione. "But, I need to know, what are you going to tell anyone else about what you saw?"

"Nothing," Patterson immediately replied. "It's not our job to stop either of you from even deciding to 'bonk like bunnies' on the table in the dinette. We'd only step in if either of you was non-consenting to what was going on. And it's not our job to tell your parents anything, either.

"If you thought us a risk of telling your parents when you get up to something you felt they might not approve of, you might decide to give us the slip. That's a security issue. Therefore, we don't discuss it and we don't tell anyone about it."

"Thank you," sighed Hermione.

Patterson gave her a nod and smiled before she said, "What surprised me the most was that Potter did not get up and try and fondle your girls. That showed a lot of willpower."

"Harry's too much the gentleman to do that," she immediately replied. "Though, I admit, I had worried about it."

Patterson gave another smile and a nod before she said, "I'll leave you to getting dressed." Then turned and left the room.

Turning to her bureau, Hermione began to pull clothes out she'd be wearing after her shower. She never closed the door.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

When Harry returned downstairs he looked to the senior auror and asked, "Can you make a copy of the letter Dumbledore sent me?"

The auror frowned but warily replied, "I... can..."

"Can I have one, please," he said. "If the old man's actually written something, I'd like to know what it says."

The auror gave nod and pulled the evidence bag out of her pocket. She then simply created a copy of the entire thing and handed the copy to Harry.

Harry was quick to remove the letter and vanish the bag. He didn't need or want that.

Carrying it into the dinette, he sat at the table and read it. It only took him a couple of minutes.

~ # ~

Mister Harry Potter

c/- Doctor and Doctor Granger

Granger Residence

Wimbledon

Harry my boy,

This letter should have been a portkey that would have brought you directly to my secure care. If you're currently reading this it means it, somehow, failed.

Harry, it is very important you immediately return to the safety of our wonderful school. Outside of the blood wards I painstakingly placed on the home of your loving aunt and uncle you are at risk of serious harm unless you're under the wards of Hogwarts.

I cannot stress this enough with you. You must return to dear Hogwarts immediately.

With you staying at the parents of Miss Granger, you have placed her and them in extreme danger. Those who wish to do you harm will not hesitate in harming them in trying to get to you. Please do not be so careless of their well-being by remaining there.

I know you may not think well of me at the moment, but I have always had your safety at the forefront of my mind. The wizarding world owes you so much and I feel it is my duty to ensure your safety.

On a second matter, as a champion in the Tri-Wizard Tournament your attendance is mandatory at the Yule Ball. This event will be held, as the name suggests, on Christmas night.

There is now only a little over two weeks until that night and you need to be prepared for your role in it. As a representative of the school, you will be upholding the honour of Hogwarts. A poor performance on your part, not only will be widely published in the wizarding press and on radio, but will also reflect on Hogwarts.

For both your own urgent safety and the honour of Hogwarts, as your true friend I must urge you most strongly to come home to the castle with all due haste.

Yours,

Professor Albus Dumbledore

~ # ~

As he finished, Harry was at first stunned by the man's audacity, before then laughing to himself to the point he was almost crying.

'Oh, Gods!' he thought. 'This is just tooooo funny!'

When Hermione came down carrying her bookbag, ready to learn more about wizarding British society, he grinned and handed her the letter.

"Read this, if you would," he smirked as she sat at the table and took it. "Then take note of the words he used - especially his choice to use and what he used as adverbs and adjectives."

As Hermione read through it, she began to frown. Once she was done she scanned back through it and began to mutter, "That... manipulative... old... so-and-so!"

He nodded back with a grin and said, "He can't seem to get it through his head that his little tricks of phrasing and the like, whether written or verbal, just don't work on me."

"So, what are you going to do?" she asked.

He gave a grin and replied, "Retaliate in like manner, of course!"

"You're going to send him an auto-portkey?" she asked.

"No, but thank you for the idea," he said. "A portkey made by anyone but the Headmistress won't work through the Hogwarts wards."

"Then, how did Dumbledore manage it?" she asked.

"I'd say the portkey was already made," he said. "But, that's just me. No, my idea is to respond to his letter using the same word-trickery he tried to employ. However, I intend to go way over the top."

She laughed and said, "You're incorrigible, you know that?" Then she smirked and pulled her bookbag across the table top towards herself. "I'll get parchment, ink and quill out."

However, she'd no sooner readied the stationery when the auror with them at the time, Cassidy, gave a start and did that peering off into the distance thing. "Visitors," she muttered.

Already knowing not to follow her, both teens waited in the dinette.

As the auror walked to the front door they heard the knock.

Less than fifteen seconds later she walked in leading Madam Bones and two more aurors.

'Her bodyguard,' thought Harry.

Hermione immediately rose from her side of the dinette opposite Harry and moved around to his side. Harry slid across to the next chair to give her room.

Madam Bones smoothly slid into the seat Hermione had just vacated.

"Lord Potter, Miss Granger," she said.

"Good morning, Madam Bones," Hermione politely replied for them both. "I take it you're here because of the portkey incident, this morning?"

"Indeed," said the woman. "Because there was an auror present in the room at the time, I don't need to ask either of you for a copy of your own memories of the event. I'm just here to let you know I'm already investigating."

"Lord Black contact you yet?" asked Harry.

"He has," she nodded. "He's... quite upset."

"It's alright to say he was ready to blow his top," smiled Harry. "He was right ropable when I finished my call with him."

"As your godfather, he wishes to press charges against the culprit," she said. "As you're now an adult in your own right―"

"I wish to also make a formal complaint," replied Harry. "And, yes, I'm aware of the possible result of a successful prosecution against him."

"Whether or not I have a chance at a successful prosecution, as you put it, is not for you to worry about," she said. "That's my concern."

When Harry gave a short nod back, she said, "I'll take the complaint now; but, I've already begun my investigation. The complaint just makes it official."

Again a Dicta-quill was produced and Harry verbally gave his complaint. He never mentioned Dumbledore by name as the one he was making a complaint about, but did mention that his bonded house elf reported directly to him that the portkey deposited him into Dumbledore's presence at Hogwarts.

When he was done, the Dicta-quill was packed away and the now completed statement was properly signed by Harry and witnessed by her and Senior Auror Charlotte Cassidy.

'That's her name!' thought Harry of the current senior female auror currently overseeing them.

With that aside she then flat-out asked, in the presence of the aurors concerned no less, "Do you have any issue with how the aurors on-site at the time handled the situation?"

"No, Ma'am," he immediately replied. "I was an idiot. Since I've been staying with the Grangers over the past few days I've felt so safe that I forgot to take some basic safety precautions. The first being, I didn't cast detection charms over the letter, as I should have. That won't happen again."

"An auto-portkey is not something you should have to worry about, either," she said. "However, there are other possible attacks that can come by way of mail owl. For that reason, a mail owl redirection charm is being placed on you.

"That charm will have the mail redirected to the on-site senior auror. And the on-site auror will scan it to ensure it safe before handing it to you."

Harry frowned and said, "I don't like mail redirection charms. Dumbledore had a damned strong one on me from the time he had me grabbed from Godric's Hollow right up until I had it timed to be removed immediately following the First Task.

"That's why I never received any mail from people who just wanted to send a letter to 'The-Boy-Who-Lived'."

"Oh, Gods!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed. "Why did I not think of that?"

"Why didn't anyone think of that, Hermione," replied Harry, "Would be the better question.

"Think about all those students and staff at the school," he suggested. "And not one of them made mention of how little mail I received? No. I think Dumbledore probably added something like a confusion ward concerning the issue of my mail into Hogwarts's wards... among other things."

Bones immediately slid the still blank sheet of parchment Hermione had pulled out earlier and slid it over in front of herself. Then picked up the quill, also sitting there ready, and dipped it into the pot. "You don't mind if I borrow this, do you?" she distractedly asked.

"Not at all," replied Hermione.

As Bones wrote she asked, "What else do you think Dumbledore might have done to the wards?"

"How is it that no one asked, nor told their parents about, how Quirrell suddenly disappeared?

"How is it no one told their parents about the danger on the third floor corridor in first year, that students were warned right from Dumbledore's own mouth in a public statement at the end of the Welcoming Feast, would lead to their dying a most horrible death if they went there?

"How is it that no one told their parents about the Chamber of Secrets issue - the message daubed in blood on the wall, the petrifying of Filch's Cat, Nearly-Headless Nick, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Colin Creevey, Hermione and Penny Clearwater that occurred at various times through that year?

"With all these dangerous events that have occurred at the school over the past three plus years... at least... why weren't there parents or guardians coming to the school, writing letters to the Daily Prophet, reporters coming and demanding information, that sort of thing?

"Four hundred students and not one of them, or a member of staff, said a word about it outside of the castle walls? I smell something fishy going on and we're not near the sea.

"Madam Bones, did your ward and niece - the rightful Heiress Apparent of your House - not tell you about any of this? Or, at least write to you about any of this while she was there?

"If she didn't, why not? Does she not know what your duty is as Director of the DMLE? But, if she did, why did you not act on it? Think about it."

Harry paced his 'questions' so he wasn't hitting her with too much, too fast. But could also see her frown more and more as she quickly wrote."

"I'm stupid, stupid, stupid!" said Hermione as she leaned her head on Harry's shoulder to hide her face. Sitting up straighter, she firmly declared. "I have been so blind! How am I supposed to hold the so-called title of the 'Smartest Witch of Her Generation' when I didn't even suspect any of this?"

"Ea-sy, Hermione," said Harry, putting his arm around her and drawing her back to his side. "No one else, apparently, thought anything of it, either."

After she finished and set the quill aside, Bones sat back and massaged the bridge of her nose. Then sighed. "All very good questions, Lord Potter."

He replied, "It's because of those points, I can only deduce... extrapolate... that the only thing it could be is a ward on Hogwarts."

A moment later, he gave a slight start and exclaimed, "Oh! Another point."

She was quick to take up the quill again.

"'Harry Potter' is supposed to be this great hero to many. He's also the last of his line and would be One of the Seven when he reached of-age; if he lived that long - a Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House.

"If all that is the case, then he... me... should have had all the birds looking to snag a future Lord, let alone the supposed hero of the wizarding world, fawning all over him; especially from the magical-raised purebloods and halfbloods. That kinda happened on the Hogwarts Express when they 'womaned-up' and hunted me down. But, at the castle? Not a one. I know they didn't do it with Neville Longbottom, either; with him being a pureblood Heir Apparent over me being a halfblood. What gives?"

"Not one?" she asked.

"Not. One," he replied. "Now, at first I suspected the Weasleys of going around me and blocking anyone who even looked like wanting to get to know me better. But it would have meant Ronald had to be co-ordinating it. However, it didn't take me long to realise he's just not that smart; and he's lazy, anyway.

"His trying to steer me away from anyone wearing green was illogical bigotry, rather than keeping possible friends from me. And he didn't take long to be accepting of Hermione being around me.

"The only conclusion I can reach is potions, charms and wards; or a combination of those. Then again, I only have a third year wizarding education boosted with self-study."

"Yes; it's for me to investigate," she firmly said. "And, believe me, I will!"

"With Dumbledore no longer in control of the wards of the school - and it now being Madam Marchbanks - you shouldn't have that much difficulty convincing her to have experts give the wards a 'once-over'," he suggested. "I honestly shudder to think what might be in them; and also what should be, but isn't."

"And I was thinking I was going to have such an easy day, today, when I got up," she muttered. "All the trials were out of the way and a week past... things were calming down... a week until the next meeting of the Wizengamot..."

"I'd apologise," said Harry, wryly. "But, I'm not responsible."

"No," she sighed. "No, you're not. They just all seem centred on you."

"They also seem centred on Dumbledore," he returned.

She smiled and said, "Point."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After Madam Bones left with her two aurors the other three spread out again. Harry, by now, was certain they were moving about under disillusionment charms. He knew he'd smelled that young female auror's perfume a couple of times when he was sure she hadn't been in the room for quite some time. But, so long as the males weren't spying on Hermione in the nude or something, he'd not press the issue. He didn't care one way or the other if the females were spying on him.

It was about an hour after Madam Bones left, while Harry and Hermione were writing drafts of letters to Dumbledore in reply to his 'portkey letter' to Harry, that Sirius dropped by.

He found the pair of them laughing themselves half-silly in the dinette.

Happy to see his godson not freaked out about the 'kidnapping attempt', as he called it, he smirked and asked, "What's so amusing?"

Hermione replied, "Harry's drafting a letter back to Dumbledore, using Dumbledore's own word tricks, to reply."

Concerned, he asked, "Is that wise? Writing back, I mean. The man did try to kidnap you."

"Your 'kidnap' is his 'getting under the protection of the wards of the castle'," replied Harry. "You know that's what he's going to argue."

"And 'kidnap' also implies 'ransom demands'," added Hermione. "Think about it; if there was no ransom demand, can it be successfully argued that he attempted to kidnap?"

Shocked, he asked, "You don't think he tried to kidnap you?"

"Oh, he did!" replied Harry. "But, it's easy to see what his defence strategy will be."

"Even with all the evidence gathered," said Hermione. "Madam Bones is still going to need to prove his attempt was more than his 'My only concern is the safety of our newest Lord'. And, 'He's currently residing in a muggle home. Just how safe do you think it could possibly be?' Understand?

"He doesn't need to prove innocence; he only needs to provide doubt. If it cannot be proven, beyond doubt, his intent was to kidnap; then you're not going to be able to secure a conviction."

Standing in the doorway, Sirius sagged against the door-frame and sighed.

"Damn!" he vehemently muttered.

Noticing Harry writing again, he asked, "So, what have you got so far?"

Harry grinned and handed it to him.

~ # ~

Albus Dumbledore

Tenured No-Longer-Respected Professor

Manipulator-at-Large

ex-Headmaster of Hogwarts

ex-Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot

ex-Supreme Mugwump of the ICW

ex-Leader of the Light

ex-Whatever else you wanna throw in there

(Hidden) Dark Lord

Albie-old-boy!

Many thanks for the disappointing and surprisingly rude attempt to kidnap me, this morning. It made for an interesting start to the day. I hope you thoroughly and in good humour enjoyed the visit from my house elf. He, though, thought your hospitality was dreadful.

Not even the offer of a nice cup of tea? Really, Albie? Such poor manners! You should be ashamed of yourself. You need to work on that.

I must say, though, the aurors were less than impressed. But, at least you were kind enough to give them a chance to put their investigation skills to the test. That was nice of you.

I think they would have preferred it if you'd at least asked first, though. They might have made other plans and your interfering with their day ruined those for them. That was rude of you. Tch! I'm so disappointed in you, Albie.

And you did it while wearing your title as 'Professor', too. How will the honour of dear old Hogwarts survive such a besmirching? But, to be fair, it's not as if you have any other title you could use, is there? Of course, there's still 'Mister'. Maybe you should try that one the next time you come up with one of your Troll-brained schemes.

Or, maybe we'll soon all be lucky and the title will become 'The Late'.

Well, lucky for everyone else, I suppose. The rest of us will all be singing and dancing in joyful celebration in the street on that wonderful night. My, the Obliviators will probably be even busier than the night my parents took care of Tommy-boy for you. With all your experience at it - Obliviating staff, Obliviating my relatives, attempting to Obliviate me - you could probably give them plenty of pointers.

Oh, wait! You won't be there. Oops! My bad.

On to your error of belief I have to attend some cockamamie Yule Ball in Hogwarts on Christmas Night.

Pftftftftftft! (That's as close as I can come in writing the sound of a big raspberry being blown in your direction.)

Really, Albie? Is that the best you've got? Have you really reached such a low point of written cognitive discourse you now resort to poorly concealed threats couched within the adverbs and adjectives of admonitions?

Oh, Albie! I am, again, so disappointed in you! Tch, Tch, Tch! You need to learn to accept, Albie! It's For the Greater Good!

Alas! I have other plans for the evening of Christmas.

I'm actually going to be spending Christmas with the people I now consider my true family. It would be rude of me to hare off to 'Good Ol' Hoggy Hoggy Hogwarts' to be at an event I really have no desire to even think about, let alone attend. And you don't actually want me to be rude, do you Albie? What sort of message would that send?

But, do not despair. I shall advise Hogwarts's new Headmistress, Lady Griselda Marchbanks (and isn't that such wonderful news, Albie?), that I shall not be attending for her to have plenty of time to make other arrangements. I'm sure she'll be able to weather any criticism that comes her way. After all, she's currently managing to weather through the criticism that she has a manipulative, conceited, up-himself, Dark Lord for a Professor soon to begin teaching there. That Lord Harrison James Potter, Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, has sent his apologies should be a bit of a doddle for her.

However, with all your worldly wisdom and experience, perhaps you can actually be of assistance rather than the minor annoyance you've been. Perhaps you can help me with advice regarding a well-earned Christmas present I've been considering for my house elf friend. I'm thinking of giving him a pillowcase with the following motto on it:

Yay though Dobby be walkings thru the office of bad 'Perfesser Whiskers'; Dobby be not afraid.

For Dobby be the biggest, baddest 'female parental figure' fornicator in the room!

What do you think?

Looking forward to your next communication only via owl post, I am,

.

Harrison J. Potter

Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter

Heir Tertiary of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black

Godson of 'Padfoot' of the Marauders

Boyfriend of Hermione J Granger

All-Round Wonderful Bloke

"It's so great to be me!"

~ # ~

By the time he'd finished reading it, Sirius was laughing so hard he was sitting on the floor trying to hold himself up from falling over. His face was red from lack of air and he had tears in his eyes.

He finally managed to get enough air into his lungs to gasp, "Oh, Merlin!" before he lost it again.

Harry was smirking at him. "Dobby," he called.

"Yes, Master Harry?"

"Would you mind getting a Calming Potion for Lord Black?" he asked. "He appears to need one."

After the Calming Potion from who-knows-where, Sirius grinned at his godson and said, "For the love of Merlin; don't change a thing! It's perfect! Sign it and I'll send it using my new owl, Sable."

"Sable?" asked Hermione.

"Yep," he replied. "She's a dark-feathered Spotted Eagle Owl. She looks mean as all get-up, but she's a softy.

"It should be enough for Albus not to think about using her in some way to get to Harry. Besides, he's not seen her before."

"I know it's funny," said Harry. "But, do you really think it's perfect? I thought I could make some improvements on it yet."

"No!" Sirius was quick to reply. "Leave it, just as it is! Perfection cannot be improved upon, Pup."

Harry gave a shrug and gestured for it back. He simply signed it, 'Harry P.' Then included a triple of 'X's' after it as kisses so Dumbledore couldn't fiddle with it.

Sirius took one look at the signature, gave another bark of laughter and said, "Alright! I was wrong! Perfection can be improved upon!"

"Now," said Harry. "I've got a job for you; or, probably, Ted to do..."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ