91

Amelia didn't know exactly what to feel when her secretary decided to flirt with her latest appointment rather than sending him inside. She felt angry at her for delaying the meeting … but also she felt glad that she gave her the time to control her guilt.

Especially since her guest was Harry Potter, and their last encounter had been memorable for her. For him, less so, as he had no idea Amelia had replaced her doppelganger halfway.

Amelia felt guilty … even more than the time she had accidentally replaced her niece in the bathroom, still wearing her invisibility cloak. At least, back then, she was just an accidental bystander who failed to react, not the one who actually initiated the subterfuge.

She had a lot of things to contextualize, so she wished that her secretary continued to flirt. Ignoring her jealousy was much easier than ignoring her guilt.

Unfortunately, Amelia had scared her staff too much for them to ignore their job in such a manner. Even the small slip her secretary made was about the intense — and growing — hero worship people had toward Harry Potter.

Amelia could never understand people just searching for saviors, especially a young man like that. To be fair, Amelia had similar expectations, but unlike the public, she knew he was capable enough to take down several Death Eaters, even the most dangerous ones as he proved by killing Snape.

That man might be a monster that had no idea what a shower was, but no one could claim he wasn't an inept dueler. Amelia had seen him fight before, and she would easily rate him at the top, equal to Dolohov before prison.

Only Bellatrix, she would have avoided more.

When Harry entered the room, Amelia decided to show her frustration, hoping that it would cover up her more complicated feelings. "You're late."

"Sorry about that, Minister. It was not my intention to delay our pleasurable meeting," he said.

Amelia couldn't help but blush at his word choice, especially since she knew very well it was just an accident. She hid her reaction with an eye roll, but she had to admit, he was not wrong. Their last meeting was pleasurable … far more than he realized.

He sat down, his robe stretching, but when she caught his gaze, her mind suddenly went back to their last time together, memories filling her mind even as she tried to keep them under control. She had been affected by her dry spell even worse than she expected if she couldn't keep her mind under control.

She tried, but it was hard when she could perfectly recall his incredibly attractive and well-built body, and the intimate knowledge of just how efficiently he could use those features didn't help any.

"No matter, I know my secretary could be a little excited," Amelia said. For a moment, Amelia considered arranging a date for them … and maybe replacing her secretary at the last second with polyjuice, a dream that she shook off with a shake of her head.

She was acting too ridiculous.

"So, how can I help you?" Amelia asked. "You said it's very important."

"Yes. Dumbledore had left me some kind of map that promises the secrets of Voldemort, but some of the clues required me to travel out of the country. I need international portkeys," he explained.

"I'm guessing you don't want any record of it," Amelia answered.

"Preferably on neither side," Harry replied. "We simply don't know how many contacts they have in other governments, and I'm sure we haven't cleaned even half of their spies."

Amelia hated to admit it, but he was right. "And, what about this map. Maybe I can arrange for one of the more reliable aurors to go in your stead. I'm not exactly comfortable sending you out there."

"Unfortunately, Dumbledore had the information locked with Fidelius and several others, and I have no idea who the secret keeper is. I can't share anything other than it exists, and I have no idea whether he had other security measures in different locations. He might have some kind of spell to erase information if I'm not alone."

"I hate to say that it makes sense," Amelia said, even though she hated admitting that. Dumbledore was obsessive as far as sharing information was concerned, which was the main reason Death Eaters had so much success in both wars. That, and his obsessiveness when it came to hiding information.

Even now, the only reason they were able to hold on easily was because of another Dark Lord's interference. A shameful defeat … but there was only so much she could do with a Ministry that had been gutted by Fudge's incompetence.

"What's your plan if I can arrange the portkeys," Amelia asked.

"I'll first travel to France and start exploring the location of his first clue. I just hope that he wasn't being his usual self when he set the clues, because I don't want to spend weeks camping in the wilderness, searching for information."

"It's a pity I can't come to help," Amelia admitted. She meant that because she was the Minister, but it would be a lie if she said her mind wasn't filled with the flashes of his body as they spent a few days camping together.

Pity that it was impossible … for more than one reason.

Amelia shook her head, abandoning those thoughts as she focused on saving the world, which was followed by a long, boring meeting about international magical traveling and the regulations, mostly to make sure he could avoid the potential pitfalls.

She tried to find a reason to shift the meeting to somewhere more comfortable … but came blank. It wasn't supposed to be the case, considering what they had done … twice, but since they were both under false pretenses, that didn't work.

Two hours later, the meeting was over. "By the way, Minister. Is Susan at home? I thought I might visit her for a while."

Amelia opened her mouth, ready to say that she was not, and she was currently in a training camp with her friend right here in the Auror office.

Her mouth had other ideas. "Yes. But just wait until you leave the ministry to apparate. We can't be too careful," Amelia said.

"Thanks, Amelia," Harry said, and with a naughty smirk that told her exactly what he was planning to do to her niece, left. She would have loved to admonish him about using her first name just because he was fucking her niece.

But considering everything, it might be a bit hypocritical.

Instead, she made sure Harry was gone before she opened the door. "Cancel my meetings for the rest of the day," she said, and apparated away. First, to her private potion stocks in her manor, one that had many emergency potions, including polyjuice that was already keyed with Susan's hair. Amelia prepared that as a last resort, in case she needed a diversion to save her niece in case of another attack…

She certainly didn't imagine her using it to steal her niece's boyfriend.

Borrow for a ride. Well, another ride.

Once she changed, Amelia apparated to Susan's room and opened her wardrobe to change into one of her sexier lingerie.

And met with a shocking selection. Many lingeries, ranging from just scandalous to positively whorish. Her niece was learning to be a woman far faster than Amelia did at her age. "Oh, Susan," Amelia gasped, which felt weird as it was Susan's voice that hit her ears.

Maybe Amelia shouldn't blame her. Maybe she was the one with the problem. If not, why would she be the one using magic just to get a chance with her boyfriend…

The combination of guilt and wide selection was enough to freeze Amelia in place, delaying her until she heard the crack of the apparition. Right behind her. She turned toward the voice, her hands reaching to her side in reflex … only to realize she had put her wand on the nearest desk while she browsed lingerie, and she was currently unarmed.

It took a while for her to realize she wasn't in any danger, and it was Harry that appeared. A second that was enough for her to find herself pressed against the wardrobe, with her hands forced above her head.

"Hi, Susan," Harry said and started kissing, cutting back her response. Which was good, as Amelia didn't exactly trust herself to perfectly imitate her niece. It was far better to just let him take control.

Though, as he pulled off his belt to wrap her hands without even asking for permission, she had a sinking feeling that she might be a touch above her head…