Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

If This Is How You Treat Your Heroes...	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Lucius Views: 96985 -:- Recommendations : 12 -:- Currently Reading : 15
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no form of profit off this story

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Chapter 15

Beta'd by the most wonderful, amazing and stupendous Tenchi. Woman, you are the best and love you for all you do for me!

Knocking on Madam Bones' office door, Arthur was tense. With all that was going on, not to mention his relationship with Harry and what he knew happened to several people already, he didn't know what to expect here. All he knew was he had been summoned, something that he knew he couldn't refuse. Once he heard Madam Bones tell him to enter, he opened the door and stepped in, shutting it behind him. Looking around, he blinked, stunned. Madam Bones was there, of course, but so was Rufus Scrimgeour as well as Aries Rynethorpe from the Muggle Liaison Office. This was beyond bizarre. Stepping closer to the desk, he asked, “You wanted to see me, Madam Bones?”

Gesturing for the man to take a seat, Amelia leaned back and sighed, “We have a problem, Arthur, one we hope you can help us with.” Seeing the man nod, she pressed on, “I'm sure you've seen what is in the paper today.” After another nod from the Weasley patriarch, she said, “We're looking into charges against the Dursley's for abuse. However, we're at a loss as to how to proceed here and just what we can do.” Gesturing to Aries, she said, “This is the only office close to what we need to help the DMLE in dealing with the charges that may come and the Dursley's themselves. However, it's not right on point either. We just don't have anything suitable to handle such issues. Your name was brought up because you've actually dealt with Mr. Potter's family in the past. We've talked to the Accidental Magical Reversal Squad, the members that dealt with them before, but they weren't much help to us. We were hoping you had some more information as you've had some interaction with the family and have been around Mr. Potter enough that he might have said something to you. Any tidbit you can give us will be a huge help.” Stopping, she waited. Going in, she knew that Arthur was a part of Albus' Order, but as his department wasn't one of the sections that she needed to worry about, she was going to ignore that. So far, the Weasley's, though close to Mr. Potter, hadn't done anything she could tell that would warrant charges like others she knew. That meant, until something did come up, she wasn't going to look in that direction too hard.

“I'm not sure how much help I can be, Madam Bones. What interaction I had with Harry's family is limited. The rest of what I know is second hand information or just small bits Harry and my family have told me,” Arthur admitted quietly.

“Whatever you have will be most helpful,” Madam Bones told him pointedly.

Nodding, Arthur then talked about the one meeting with Harry's family before imparting some of what he had heard or seen over the years. Shaking his head, he admitted, “We keep hearing that they aren't the most loving of families, something I'm well aware of, but I don't like what I see from them. I just don't know enough and haven't seen sufficient interaction to give you more than what I have. I'm sorry.”

Taking in what was said, Madam Bones sighed and shook her head. It wasn't much, but shored up what was in the memories and was talked about that day in the paper. “Do you know of anyone else that might have more information, aside from your children? We're going to level charges, no doubt there, but we want as much information as we can get before we do that. As it is, we're not even sure how to go about this as we'll be prosecuting Muggles for a crime against a Wizard.”

Looking down at the floor, Arthur thought over what was being asked of him. He did know people that could help, but it would involve dragging them into this mess, something he was reluctant to do. However, thinking over what Remus said and what was going on, he knew he had to make a choice. It wasn't one he wanted to, that's for sure, but he needed to. After several moments of quiet contemplation, he asked, softly, “Can you ensure that my name doesn't appear anywhere as the person that gave you the information?” Stopping, he waited to see what was said.

Leaning forward, elbows resting on the edge of her desk, hands clasped, Amelia was now very intrigued. Giving the man a firm nod, she said, “I'll protect you from anyone finding out. We can always say we came up with the information another way. What do you have?”

Sighing, rubbing his eyes under his glasses, Arthur said, “Arabella Figg. She's a squib. She was sent to live in Little Whinging to keep an eye on Harry from the time he was taken there. Albus also knows just what is going on as she reports directly to him. What both of them know, I'm clueless about, but I do know she's kept a close eye on Harry since he was left there. Hagrid had some interaction with them when he went to make sure Harry got his Hogwarts letter, but I don't think it was much beyond what kind of contact I've had.”

Not liking that Albus' name was once more tossed into this and that he apparently knew what was going on, doing nothing like he had when it came to other areas, she was pleased to learn that she had another avenue to look. This Arabella, someone she vaguely remembered from Mr. Potter's trial for the use of underage magic, was going to be answering some tough questions, that was for sure. She also thought that she might be able to lean fairly heavily on the woman and get her to spill what she knew. Squibs had a very strange relationship with the Magical world, one she could use. It was just going to be an odd was to go about was all.

Clearing his throat, Aries waited until Arthur looked at him then said, “When it comes time for us to do something, can you come along? We are at a loss about many things in this area and how to go about it. Though you've only had limited interaction, it'll help get the point across that this is something the Dursley's need to take seriously. We aren't sure how they will react to some of us just showing up and announcing where we are from. Honestly, we aren't sure how aware they are of anything to do with our judicial system.”

“Anything you need,” Arthur said with a nod, leaning back.

“I would like to ask your permission to talk to your children about what they know,” Amelia inquired softly. “Your youngest son is someone Mr. Potter was close to. He may know some things you don't that can help us here. We won't call him at trial, of course, but he can give up some information that can help in a big way. The same with your other offspring.”

“Whatever you need,” Arthur told her with a firm nod, making a mental note to get with Molly and the others to warn them what was coming.

Having stayed out of the situation so far, just listening, Rufus now asked, “Can we discuss the bit with Sirius Black with you?”

Though wary about that topic since he had interacted with Sirius since he had escaped, Arthur nodded, wondering what this was going to be about.

“It's about Pettigrew and how he was a rat. From what we saw in the memories, he was a pet of two of your sons. Is that correct?” Rufus asked.

Sighing once more, looking down, Arthur said, “Yes, that's my understanding. We had no idea it was an animagus. Percy found him in the garden and kept him. That's all we knew, nothing more. We assumed that he was a magical rat considering how long he lived, but didn't think anything of it. I mean, a rat is a rat!”

“Completely understandable,” Amelia told him with a dismissive wave. “I wouldn't have thought it odd either. However, after you found out, why didn't someone come to us?”

“We were told that because it was Harry, Ron and Hermione involved, you weren't apt to listen to them. That it was best to let it play out. Looking back, I think that--” trailing off, Arthur shook his head and sighed, not sure he wanted to say anything aloud as what he was pondering wasn't pleasant.

“Why wouldn't we have listened?” Rufus asked, brow furrowed, confused. “We take children's word for it when it comes to criminal matters all the time. We have ways to tell if they are making up a story as you well know. How would something like this be any different? And Mr. Potter—ye gods, it was his parents that died! We would have listened to him if he said the person in prison didn't kill them! We could have verified it plenty of ways. This makes no sense!”

Not having thought about it that way at the time, Arthur rubbed a hand over his face, shaking his head. He didn't like what he was thinking here. Averting his eyes, he sighed then said, “I don't know, I'm sorry!”

“Who told you this? Was it Albus?” Amelia asked, trying to keep the bite out of her voice as she did.

Looking down at the floor, hand over his face, Arthur just gave a brief nod, feeling slightly ill.

Rolling his eyes, huffing, Rufus pinched the bridge of his nose then shook his head. The more he heard about Albus' manipulations, the more he was beginning to despise the man. “Merlin bounding over the breakers, Dumbledore was on the Wizengamot and other bodies at the time. All he had to do was say something and an investigation would have been launched! This is madness! Complete and utter madness!”

Sighing, looking at Arthur who was staring at the floor, looking less than pleased, Amelia said his name softly. When he looked at her, she told him, “This isn't a formal order from me or by any means an act of intimidation, Arthur. It's a friendly suggestion. I know you and Molly. You are both good people that have done your best to do the right thing. You are both honest, hardworking and are good parents. As a suggestion from me, nothing more than that, I would back away from Albus. Quickly. What is coming will not be pretty. Things you just heard and said are only a very small part of what we are uncovering here. And when it hits, the mess is going to splatter. You don't want it coming in the direction of you and your family. I've seen nothing so far that warrants us looking in your direction. You're a member of his Order, this we know. That's not illegal. However, some of what Albus has done, and is doing, is. You don't need to be pulled into that. Your son Percy is going to be. There is no way to stave that off with his attachment to Fudge right now. Arthur, back away and stay away. You don't need this.”

Taking that for what it was, Arthur nodded, “I will. I don't think—well, we—no, we haven’t thought about it the way you've phrased things. We've rather had blinders on and went by his reputation. He's one we've always looked up to for reasons I'm sure you know. This and some other things that have been brought up have me wondering just what is going on here.” Sighing, he looked at the floor, shaking his head.

“I understand completely,” Amelia empathized with a nod. “Take the blinders off, Arthur and press on. That's just my suggestion. Don't let you or your family get drawn in here. There are plenty of other ways you and Molly can help. Look into those.”

“I will,” Arthur said firmly with a nod.

Giving the man a small smile, Amelia told him, “I think that is all we have for now. If we need more, we'll get in touch with you. When it comes time to deal with the Dursley's, we'll contact you through official channels and I'll let your superior know what is happening.”

Standing, Arthur nodded to all of them then departed. Walking back to his office, shaking slightly, he hoped they didn't have much to do this morning because he wanted to take the rest of the day off so he could talk with Molly. There was plenty here the two needed to discuss before they were contacted by Albus the next time.

After Arthur and Aries left, then the privacy wards slipped into place, Rufus flopped in a chair and scrubbed a hand over his face. Shaking his head, he asked, “Why would Dumbledore not come to us with some of this? I don't understand! It makes no bloody sense! He doesn't think we would believe the three about Black, but then invokes Harry's name in saying he knows You-Know-Who is back and expects us to believe him then even though only a couple years have passed? He believes Black is innocent but doesn't take the steps to prove it even though he has the power and influence to get people to listen? He knows something is wrong with Potter's home life and has someone watching, but does nothing even though as headmaster of the school he is required to report it. What is wrong with this picture?”

“Don't ask me what is going on in that man's head right now because I don't have the first clue what it might be,” Amelia told him sourly. “I agree, it makes no form of sense. What I am getting is that there is something very rotten here and Mr. Potter is the focus of it. What it is, I don't know, but it's going to be huge. I'd also bet my wand it's part of the reason Albus is protecting Snape. The man must know something of what it is to warrant this kind of personal protection. Which tells me we need to talk to him and get him to give it up. Making a deal with this kind of pervert rubs me the wrong way, but we may have to because I'm certain that whatever he can give us is going to be big.”

Looking sour at that thought, Rufus gave a slow nod. He didn't like the idea either, but it may be something they had to do to break some things loose. “This is a nightmare and we aren't even forty-eight hours into it. I shudder to think how much worse this is going to get before it's over.”

“Even more disturbing is the fact that it's gone on for years and no one, anywhere, has bothered to say a damned word,” Amelia groused, looking at the man. Leaning forward, resting her cheek against her fist, she sighed. “Alright, let's press onwards. You work with the Dursley's, I'll keep sorting through this mess with Albus and see what else I can find. And let's hope that nothing else drops into our laps before the day is out.”

Nodding firmly, Rufus stood. Excusing himself, he headed back to the DMLE and the mound of work waiting for him.

Looking at the pile of parchments on her desk after Rufus left, Amelia sighed, not sure where to start with the nightmare. There was so much here that was so complicated that it was going to take weeks, if not months, to sort through and deal with. With a sigh, she straightened up then went to work sorting through what was there, categorizing it into some form of order so that she could take on what seemed like the most important items first then press on to the other bits.

Flopping down in a chair that was near where the Pensieve was on the table, Albus was trembling intensely. Rubbing a shaking hand over his face then smoothing down his beard, he looked at the stone bowl, feeling violently ill. Oh, this was bad. Very, very bad. Nor did he know what to do. His first instinct was to give Severus up, turn him over and show the man his back. This was a vile crime, something that turned his stomach. He couldn't though and knew it. Severus wasn't a man to be trifled with. He knew that some saw him as his pet spy and that the man was under his thumb, but Severus was tricky to work with. And like most that would find themselves in a situation that involved a serious crime, he would give up plenty to save his own skin or cut down on the time he would have to serve. As Severus knew plans that no one else did, something that would get him in plenty of trouble and facing a sentence in Azkaban himself, he couldn't do that. No, he had to protect the man even though it involved shielding a child molester. That was a sickening thought, one that rubbed him the wrong way. There was no way around it, though. This situation was bigger than a small handful of children being molested and some things that were wrong. Lives would depend on it. That was what he had to keep in mind. The greater good had to be looked at here and dealt with, despite how distasteful it might be.

After a bracing sip of tea and a sad shake of his head, he sighed. Rubbing his eyes, he decided to press on. Standing, he bottled the memories once more and put them somewhere safe, making sure they were warded against someone finding them. Making his way to his small study, he sat down and pulled out a blank sheet of parchment. Quickly, he began to make a list of what needed to be done. Once that was finished, he started to categorize it with what needed to be dealt with first. There was much here to do and many people that he needed to contact. Then there were issues that would be spawned from some of it, like Grimmauld Place. No, he had to get to work and focus away from the awful memories that he had just viewed. Along with that, he had to find a way to not only protect himself, but find Harry.

He knew the young man was probably quite angry by now and wouldn't want to see him, but he needed to talk to him. Of course, he would have to ride out a fit of teenage temper and deal with anger, but he would manage. After all, he had done that plenty of times. Once Harry calmed down, he could reason with him, make him see sense then get him to come back. None of this could come to the right end if Harry wasn't around. That was what he had to keep in mind. If worst came to worst, he could dangle the carrot of living with the Weasley's in front of the young man. Harry would jump at that chance, of that he was certain. If he didn't, he could work with Sirius and send him in that direction. That one was something he was certain would draw him back. However, the rub came in that he didn't know who was helping Harry right now.

Even he knew that to pull this off, let alone get Harry in to see the French Minister meant that the young man had someone helping him. And Albus had no idea where to begin to look for who it might be. The normal ones he would think of wouldn't have thought of such an idea, let alone have the pull to manage to get him an appointment so quickly. That left him at a loss as to who to even consider there. Very few in the UK would have the clout to manage something like that. The only ones he could think of he was discounting, knowing Harry either hated them or wanted nothing to do with them. That left him fumbling as to where to start looking.

Shaking his head, he focused back on the main point here; finding Harry. Though the normal routes of how to do this were closed or not worth the risk of trying as high on alert as some places in the Ministry were, that didn't mean he couldn't manage this. It just meant he had to go about it another way. That he could do. Over his long life, he had made many friends, not all of them in the UK either. It was time to start contacting them about the situation to see what he could do or work with. After all, many of them were high placed enough that they might be able to find something for him.

Finishing off his list, or at least what he could think of right off the top of his head, Albus then set it aside before starting a letter to Madam Maxine. Though she wasn't high placed in the Ministry and didn't have the kind of pull he did, she had enough that she might be able to find out some hints as to where the young man was. That's all he needed, honestly. Once he had those, he knew how to pursue them then could trace Harry. After he found him, he could work with the lad, no doubt there.

Putting quill to parchment, he explained the best he could how urgent this was and what it could mean for all of them. He knew that would work and he would get the help he needed.

Sitting in his office after tending to the most pressing work that needed to be done, Minister Jacques picked up a parchment that was just sent to him by his own DMLE. Opening it, he looked at the header then down at the names scrawled there, face going stony. It was a list of those that had viewed or copied the memories they had sent from Mr. Potter. Most on the list were ones that had every right to view such things, such as members of the DMLE, Hogwarts Board of Governors and the like. Those were highlighted and a notation made by them. However, there were several names here that had no need or authorization to view such a thing. Calling in Jean-Pierre, he had his assistant go fetch the British Liaison. Oh yes, the man was going to be going to Britain as quickly as possible and raising a form of hell there over this! No, there was no excuse for this laxity when it came to something like this. And he fully planned to ensure that he made that clear. Not only that, once that matter was attended to, he was getting hold of the Seer. They would be running a statement from him about this matter! Not to mention the names!

Perusing the list, he had a furious look on his face. Albus Dumbledore he expected this from and the man's name didn't surprise him in the least at showing up. However, there were more than that. On here was a retired Auror named Moody, the reporter Rita Skeeter, another Prophet reporter named Armid Winchell, two people he didn't know who they were or what they did, then an Unspeakable. It wasn't a long list, he knew that, but it was enough to make him angry. No, this was going to stop.

France didn't hold a lot of cards when it came to leverage with things in Britain, that he knew. He was also aware that their close relations had more to do with proximity than anything else. The British viewed them with suspicion and always had. The French viewed the UK with disdain a great many times. However, if France pulled back, with the problems in the UK right now, it would have an effect. A big one. Most of all, it would cut off a flow of Galleons that the British desperately needed. That was about the biggest trump card he could play. Nor was it one he was willing to do lightly. However, he thought, maybe, it was time to do just that. Their legislative branch would need to give approval, of course, but he thought he could manage it. After all, from what he was hearing with talk and in their press, this move by him was looked upon very favorably. Keeping that in mind, he thought pushing this would be as well. Not only that, it was the right thing to do! It was time the British got the kick in the pants they needed to clean up their act and move in the right direction, tossing out the waste and useless people then putting those in office that would do the right thing because it was right, not for the love of power. If he had pulled stunts like these, he would have been shown the door long ago, then have been met with pitchforks and torches. No, it was time the British stepped up here and quit relying on the fact that they gave birth to Merlin as a part of their reputation. In fact, he was sure the famed Wizard would be disgusted with what was going on in his homeland now.

Galvanized by that, he pulled out a parchment and went to work on the draft of what he wanted to do. He was sure he could be before the governing body in the afternoon and get it pushed through. That would work well. If he held off long enough with sending someone to Britain, they would have plenty of leverage besides his disapproval to work off of. This was a good plan and he was going to go for it!

Please review!
- 14
- 15
- 16
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

If This Is How You Treat Your Heroes...