When Harry woke up the next morning, he stretched lazily, his mind already racing with thoughts of the day ahead. But first, he had a pressing matter to address.
"Sirius?" he called out tentatively.
A familiar voice echoed in his mind almost immediately. "What's up, pup?"
Harry hesitated for a moment, then cleared his throat. "Is there a way to… I don't know, turn this link between us off? It's not that I'm not glad you're here to help, but it's just a little weird sometimes. Like, you know…" He trailed off, his face flushing as he remembered the previous day. "When I'm, um, kissing Amelia," he mumbled quickly.
There was a pause, followed by Sirius's boisterous laugh. "Ah, wanting some alone time with your witch, eh? Say no more, Harry."
"Something like that," Harry muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "It just feels… creepy sometimes. You're always there. I never know if you're watching or not, and—ugh." He groaned, unable to articulate how awkward it felt.
Sirius chuckled again. "I get it, pup. Don't worry, I can give you some space. I'll go hang out with your parents for a while. Just call for me if you need anything, and I'll pop back in."
Harry blinked, suddenly intrigued. "Wait—you can talk to my parents?"
"Not exactly," Sirius admitted, his tone softening. "It's more like… my own creations of them. This in-between place I'm stuck in is basically just the deepest recesses of my imagination. I recreated them to keep me company. It's not much, but it helps. And I know I'll see them for real when I finally cross over."
Harry nodded slowly, feeling a pang of sadness for Sirius. "That's… actually kind of nice."
Sirius chuckled, but it was gentler this time. "Yeah, it is. Anyway, I'm off. Enjoy your privacy, pup. I'll catch you later."
And just like that, the ever-present voice in Harry's head was gone. Harry laced up his trainers and headed out for his morning run, his mind feeling oddly quiet without Sirius's usual commentary. Several times, he found himself deliberately stumbling—something Sirius would usually tease him about—but when no quip came, he couldn't help but smile in relief.
"Finally, some peace and quiet," he muttered under his breath, picking up his pace.
After his run, he grabbed a quick breakfast in the kitchen and then showered, letting the warm water wash away the lingering tension from his body. Once he was dressed, he checked the time.
"Tempus," he thought, and glowing numbers appeared in front of him. He still had an hour before he needed to leave for Diagon Alley. Deciding to make the most of his time, he headed to the library.
The room smelled of old parchment and leather, a comforting scent that always put him at ease. He retrieved his grandfather's book on battle magic from the desk, where he had left it the night before. Harry was nearly finished with it, and each chapter seemed to unlock more of the potential he'd always known was within him but hadn't been able to fully access.
As he read, he encountered a particularly complex spell that left him scratching his head. Without thinking, he called out, "Sirius?"
The voice reappeared immediately. "Miss me already?"
"Not really," Harry replied with a smirk. "I just need your help with something."
"Let's hear it," Sirius said, his tone easy and light.
They worked through the spell together, Sirius offering insights Harry hadn't considered. Once he had his answer, Harry thanked him and sent him off again, grateful for the balance they were starting to strike.
At precisely 8:50, Harry stepped out of the Floo at Diagon Alley and made his way to the meeting spot outside the Leaky Cauldron. He stood there, scanning the bustling street, when he spotted Amelia walking toward him. Her presence drew his gaze immediately—confident, composed, and effortlessly elegant.
He couldn't help but smile as he walked to meet her. When they reached each other, Harry pulled her into a quick but passionate kiss, earning a small, contented sigh from her.
"Good morning, Amelia," he said, his voice soft but warm.
"Good morning, Harry," she replied, returning the gesture with a kiss of her own.
Harry took her hand, interlacing their fingers. "So, where are we off to today?"
Amelia gave him a thoughtful look. "I was thinking we could take a stroll through Muggle London and then head back to Bones Manor for lunch."
Harry nodded in agreement, but Amelia hesitated, biting her lip slightly—a rare sign of nervousness.
"Before that," she began cautiously, "there's something I think you should do."
Harry raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "What's that?"
Amelia took a deep breath. "I think you should invest in some new robes," she said firmly. "You're a Lord now, Harry. People will expect you to dress the part if you want their respect. I recommend replacing your Hogwarts robes with ones of finer quality. You'll also need casual robes for everyday wear, formal dress robes for special occasions, and all of them should bear the Potter and Black crests."
Harry blinked, overwhelmed by the thought of overhauling his entire wardrobe. He sighed heavily, letting go of her hand to rake his fingers through his hair as he considered her suggestion.
"You're probably right," he admitted. "But… I've never done anything like this before. Other than the jeans and T-shirts I bought last summer, I've never even picked out my own clothes. Until Hogwarts, I didn't even wear new clothes. I just—" He trailed off, shaking his head. "I wouldn't know where to start, Amelia. It's… a lot."
Amelia smiled gently and stepped closer, taking his hand again. "Harry, I'm not trying to take control of your life, I promise. But if you'll let me, I can help. Shopping isn't my favourite thing either, but I know what you'll need, and I have a few tricks to make it quick and painless." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned in, her lips brushing his ear. "Besides, I can think of a few ways to repay you for spending our first date shopping for robes."
Her lips grazed his earlobe, and Harry felt a rush of heat coursing through him. He moaned softly, gripping her hand tightly.
"Oh, Merlin, what is she doing to me?" he thought, feeling his trousers tighten uncomfortably. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "I think I'm going to like the perks of being engaged."
Amelia pulled back, laughing melodiously, and Harry's face turned scarlet as realisation dawned. "Oh no. Did I just say that out loud?"
He groaned, trying to recover his composure, and took a few deep breaths.
"Amelia," he said finally, his voice steady again. "I would very much appreciate your help. In fact, I'd be happy to give you full control over shopping for the rest of our lives."
Amelia smirked. "Be careful what you wish for, Harry," she teased, pulling him toward Madam Malkin's.
Once inside the shop, Amelia took charge immediately.
"Madam Malkin," she greeted, her tone professional and commanding. "Lord Potter-Black needs robes that reflect his new station. I'll need an order form and your fabric catalogue, please."
Madam Malkin's eyes lit up at the prospect of such a lucrative order. "Right away, Madam Bones!" With a flick of her wand, a thick book of fabric swatches and an order form appeared on the counter.
Amelia turned to Harry. "Go with Madam Malkin for your measurements while I take care of the rest."
Harry stifled a groan, watching as Amelia pulled out a monocle and began studying the fabric catalogue intently. He couldn't help but stare at her as he walked away.
Ten minutes later, he emerged from the fitting room, and Amelia was already finalising the order.
"I hope you don't mind, but I added a few things I needed as well," she said with a sly smile.
Harry nodded, still fixated on the monocle.
"The order will be ready next week," Madam Malkin said. "Would you like to collect it in person, Lord Potter-Black, or have it delivered by owl for a small fee?"
"Owl delivery, please," Harry replied.
"Very well. That will be 200 Galleons."
Harry reached for his Gringotts pouch, but Amelia stopped him. "May I?" she asked, her smile surprisingly shy.
"Be my guest," he said, watching as she paid with the Potter family's account.
As they walked out of the shop, Harry gave her a wry smile. "You seem to enjoy spending my money, Amelia. Should I be worried?"
She laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Perhaps. Maybe I'm just enjoying the perks of being engaged," she teased, winking.
Harry groaned Oh no, she definitely heard me earlier.
As they strolled through Diagon Alley, Harry decided it was time to share some news.
"Amelia, Tonks knows about us. I thought you should know."
Amelia stopped, her gaze questioning. Harry quickly explained. "She saw us kiss yesterday outside the Leaky Cauldron."
Amelia sighed. "Well, we can't hide it forever. I have no plans to announce it to the Daily Prophet just yet, but I also won't hide you. Let people form their own conclusions for now. If gossip gets out of hand, we'll deal with it together."
Harry nodded, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I can live with that."
A few minutes later, he hesitated before speaking again. "Amelia?"
She stopped and looked up at him. "Yes, Harry?"
"Can I ask you a favour?"
"Of course. Anything within my power."
"Will you teach me Occlumency?"
Amelia exhaled, clearly relieved. "Absolutely. Let's stop by Flourish and Blotts for some books to get you started. Once you've read through them, we can begin."
Amelia paused just outside the bookstore, noticing Harry's hesitation as he fidgeted with the cuff of his sleeve. The movement brought to mind the nervous way he'd handled the blood quill earlier, and a surge of concern swept over her. Before they could be overheard, she decided to press him on it.
"Harry," she said gently, her voice low and calm, "about earlier—when you used the blood quill. You seemed…nervous. Has something like that been used on you before?"
Harry froze, his shoulders stiffening. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer. But then, in a halting voice, he told her about Dolores Umbridge's detentions during the previous school year. He explained how she forced students to write lines with a cursed quill that carved the words into the back of their hands, drawing blood with every stroke.
Amelia listened in silence, her hands clenched so tightly at her sides that her nails bit into her palms. Fury boiled within her, a storm threatening to break loose, but she knew better than to let it show. If she erupted now, Harry might never feel comfortable confiding in her again.
Instead, she kept her expression carefully neutral, though it took every ounce of self-control she possessed. When he finished speaking, she nodded thoughtfully, forcing her voice to remain steady.
"Thank you for telling me," she said, her tone deliberately even. "Susan had mentioned that Dolores was a terrible teacher, but I didn't realize it was this bad. I'm so sorry you went through that."
Harry shrugged, trying to downplay the abuse. "It's fine. It's over now."
Amelia's chest tightened at his words, the casual way he brushed off such cruelty. She wanted to reassure him that it wasn't fine, that it was unacceptable and would never happen again—but now wasn't the time.
Instead, she placed a steadying hand on his shoulder and offered a small, reassuring smile. "Let's head inside."
As they walked into the bookstore, Amelia's thoughts burned with icy resolve.
Tomorrow, she promised, Dolores and I will be having a very serious conversation.
Two hours later, they left the bookshop with shrunken bags of books in their pockets. Harry had been surprised by how much Amelia enjoyed reading, and they had spent the time discussing their favourite works, both magical and Muggle. Harry had shared a bit about his childhood, recounting how books had been his only solace in a lonely life.
Amelia's expression had darkened at the mention of his cupboard. Taking books out of the bin? Did he just say he slept in a cupboard?" thought Amelia.
To say she was livid was an understatement. "I have to control myself. If I lose it right now, he'll never trust me." She thought to herself. After a few deep breathes she was able to calm herself down, but she vowed that the Dursley's were also going to be dealt with and soon. My to do list keeps growing.
Outside the shop, she turned to Harry. "Do you mind if we skip Muggle London and head back to Bones Manor for an early lunch?"
Before Harry could respond, his stomach growled loudly.
Amelia chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes. Do you know how to Apparate?"
"Yes," Harry admitted, "but I've only done it once."
"Show me you can do it, and I'll take care of the paperwork to get you licensed."
"Alright," he said, nerves bubbling in his stomach.
"See you at Bones Manor," she said with a smile, disappearing with a pop.
Harry closed his eyes, focused on his destination, and felt the familiar spinning sensation. Moments later, he opened his eyes to find himself standing outside Bones Manor, grinning in triumph.
"Well done Harry," said Amelia with a bright smile as she walked down the steps of the manor. "When we get inside, I will add you to the wards so from now on you can just apparate to my private study."
Harry felt his face flush at the way she said "private" and just nodded.
Amelia grabbed his hand and pulled him into the manor. Once the door shut behind her, she immediately spun around and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and pulled him into a searing kiss. Her tongue reached out and gently traced the outline of his lips, but before she could take the kiss any further, they were interrupted by an owl flying in and landing on Amelia's shoulder with a soft hoot.
Amelia left Harry standing against the door panting and retrieved the letter, sending the owl off. She put her monocle in place, read the letter, and then frowned slightly as she put it in her pocket. "Another death eater attack, and in broad daylight. They are getting bolder. I need a new strategy," she thought
She turned around to apologise to Harry for the intrusion when she noticed a hungry but uncertain look in his eyes. He looked like was trying to decide on something, so she just gave him a minute.
For his part, Harry was standing against the door shuffling his feet awkwardly trying to decide what to do next. "Just do it Harry, you know you want to," he thought.
"Harry? Is something wr-," but before she could finish her question Harry had pushed off the door and stalked towards her grabbing her around the waist and crashing their lips together while he turned her and guided her body back to the door. Harry moulded his body into Amelia as his tongue desperately requested entrance into her mouth. Amelia parted her lips with a moan as Harry moved his hands from her waist, and gently started trailing his fingers up her arms. He continued his caress, using his thumb to rub gentle circles on her neck until his fingers finally threaded into her hair, pulling them even closer together. Their tongues duelled for a while until there was a loud shriek from the stairs causing them to jump apart. A pale but smirking Susan was staring at them as she came down the stairs.
"I really hope this isn't going to become an everyday occurrence Harry," said Susan with mirth in her eyes. "Seeing you with your tongue down my aunt's throat is really not the image I want in my head before lunch." Susan laughed as she watched them both blush deeply.
"Come have some lunch Harry, and then you should probably go home before you cause any more trouble," said Susan as she giggled and left the room. Amelia was the first to compose herself.
"Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?" Asked Amelia as she pulled Harry back into her body. Harry hesitated for a moment but then confessed.
"It's your monocle, it drives me crazy when you wear it. First at Gringotts, then in Madam Malkins, then just now..." Harry paused for a moment then continued. "I just couldn't help myself," Harry said with a shy shrug. "I really hope that was okay," he thought.
He closed his eyes when Amelia started sucking on his earlobe again. "I'll have to remember that for later," she whispered. Harry moaned and lost any coherent sense of his surroundings till Amelia pulled away again.
"Come on, let me go add you to the wards and then we should probably go join Susan for lunch before she comes looking for us."
Amelia, Susan, and Harry had a lovely lunch together, joking and telling stories. Harry thought it was nice to spend time getting to know them better. It felt great having these lovely ladies in his life. He went from being mostly alone to having a wonderful sense of belonging. "This, this is worth fighting for," he thought, and for the first time he thanked his great-great-great grandfather instead of cursing him.
When lunch was over Harry kissed Susan on the cheek and said goodbye then he walked over to Amelia's chair, softly grabbed her cheek and pulled her face up into a intense embrace, their tongues lost in an intimate tango for a few minutes before he pulled away.
"Are you free tomorrow Amelia? I'd like a chance to take you on a date, if you're willing."
"Of course." She whispered, her head still spinning from the kiss.
"I'll pick you up at 10," he said before leaning down for one last kiss. Then he stood and straightened his robes before turning towards the door. When he got to the door, he heard Susan yell to him.
"Goodbye Uncle Harry!" He groaned in embarrassment and quickly left the room, smiling at the sound of Amelia's harmonious laughter echoing in his ears, even if it was at his expense "Today was a pretty great day," he said with a sigh of contentment and then with a small pop he apparated back to Potter Manor.
O – o – o – o
Harry was determined to make their next date special. After their shopping trip yesterday, he wanted to give Amelia a day where they could simply enjoy each other's company, away from the pressures of titles, politics, or their responsibilities. He spent the evening planning, carefully considering everything she had mentioned liking during their conversations.
When morning arrived, Harry dressed in one of his new casual outfits—simple but high-quality robes in deep emerald green, trimmed in black. He hoped it made him look as confident as he felt nervous.
At 9:30 a.m., he apparated to Bones Manor, appearing just outside the gates. Amelia greeted him moments later, walking down the stone path with a soft smile that made his heart race. She wore a set of understated but elegant lavender robes that complemented her auburn hair perfectly.
"Good morning, Harry," she said, her tone light and curious. "You're early. What's the plan for today?"
Harry grinned and offered her his hand. "Good morning, Amelia. Today, I thought we'd do something a little different—no shopping, no politics, no expectations. Just you, me, and a chance to enjoy ourselves. Trust me?"
Her smile widened, and she took his hand. "Always."
Harry took her to a secluded, magical glade he had discovered during one of his long walks near Hogwarts. The area was hidden by dense trees, but as they stepped through the canopy, it opened up to reveal a serene lake, its surface shimmering under the morning sunlight. Flowers of every colour dotted the soft grass, and the sound of birdsong filled the air.
Amelia looked around, her eyes wide with surprise. "Harry, this is… stunning."
"I'm glad you like it," he said, leading her to a soft blanket he had laid out near the water's edge. A picnic basket waited for them, filled with an assortment of food and drinks he'd prepared with the help of Alice, who had been overly enthusiastic about the task, mumbling about little ones soon.
They sat together, and Harry poured two glasses of sparkling elderflower juice. "I figured we could talk, relax, and maybe even take a swim if it gets warm enough."
Amelia laughed softly. "You planned all this yourself?"
"Well, I had a bit of help with the food," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "But the rest was all me."
She took a sip of her drink, her eyes meeting his over the rim of the glass. "You're full of surprises, Harry."
As they ate, their conversation flowed easily. Harry asked her about her childhood, and Amelia shared stories of growing up in a family of powerful witches and wizards, balancing the expectations placed on her with her own dreams.
"Did you always want to be an Auror?" Harry asked, genuinely curious.
"Not always," she admitted, twirling a blade of grass between her fingers. "When I was little, I wanted to be a Curse-Breaker like my uncle. But as I grew older, I realized that what I really wanted was to protect people, to make a difference in their lives. Being an Auror felt like the best way to do that."
Harry nodded, impressed. "And you've done an incredible job. You're one of the strongest people I know, Amelia."
She blushed faintly, looking down. "Thank you, Harry. That means a lot coming from you."
"And what about you?" she asked, her tone turning playful. "What did you want to be when you were little?"
Harry hesitated, his smile faltering for a moment. "I didn't really think about it much back then. Growing up with the Dursleys… well, dreams weren't exactly encouraged."
Amelia's expression hardened momentarily, and she reached out to take his hand. "But now? What do you want for your future?"
He looked into her eyes, the emerald depths holding a quiet determination. "I want a life where I can be happy. Where I can protect the people I love and live without constantly looking over my shoulder. And I want to build that life with you."
Amelia's breath hitched, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other. Then she leaned in and kissed him, her lips warm and soft against his.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the heat grew more intense. Amelia tilted her head toward the lake. "So, about that swim you mentioned…"
Harry grinned. "You're on. But I should warn you—I'm an excellent swimmer."
She arched an eyebrow, smirking. "We'll see about that."
A few minutes later, they were both in the water, their laughter echoing across the glade as they splashed and playfully tried to dunk each other. Harry couldn't remember the last time he had felt so carefree.
At one point, Amelia swam up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "You weren't lying about being a good swimmer," she admitted. "But I'm still faster."
Harry turned his head to look at her, his grin mischievous. "Care to race to the other side and back?"
"You're on," she said, releasing him and swimming into position.
The race was close, but Amelia narrowly won, raising her arms in victory as she reached the shore. "Told you!" she called, laughing.
Harry emerged from the water, shaking his head and grinning. "Alright, you win this round. But next time, I'll be ready."
After drying off with a flick of Amelia's wand, they lay side by side on the blanket, watching the clouds drift across the sky.
"Thank you for today," Amelia said softly. "It's been perfect."
Harry turned his head to look at her, his expression tender. "I wanted to give you a day where you didn't have to think about anything but yourself. You deserve that, Amelia."
She smiled, brushing her fingers against his. "You're amazing, Harry. You know that, right?"
"I'm just trying to keep up with you," he replied with a wink.
As the afternoon faded into evening, they reluctantly packed up and apparated back to Bones Manor. Before parting, Amelia pulled Harry into a lingering kiss.
"Same time next weekend?" she asked, her voice teasing but hopeful.
Harry smiled. "I'll think of something even better."
O – o – o – o
The next morning Amelia was back in her office, fully immersed in paperwork. The first task on her agenda was filing for Harry's Apparition license, which she completed swiftly. She then moved on to reviewing case files and preparing for her upcoming meeting with Tonks.
A firm knock interrupted her concentration. Without looking up, she called out, "Enter."
Her new secretary stepped inside, looking slightly nervous. "Auror Tonks is here for your meeting, ma'am."
"Send her in," Amelia said curtly, her attention still focused on the parchment in front of her.
A moment later, Tonks entered, her usual easygoing demeanor evident in the slight smirk on her face. "Director Bones," she greeted, taking a seat across from Amelia. "Or should I call you Potter-Black already?"
Amelia finally looked up, fixing Tonks with a piercing glare that wiped the smirk clean off her face. The Auror visibly gulped and shifted in her chair.
"I trust your discretion regarding my relationship with Lord Potter-Black," Amelia began, her tone sharp. "You've shown yourself to be one of the few people in his life who genuinely cares for him without ulterior motives. I'm not concerned about you knowing, but since you do, I have a special assignment for you."
Tonks raised her eyebrows but wisely remained silent, waiting for Amelia to continue.
"This assignment shouldn't interfere with your current duties or your tasks for the Order. It can be handled in your free time, but I would consider it a personal favour if you agreed to assist me."
"If I can help, I will," Tonks said earnestly.
Amelia gave a curt nod, her expression softening slightly. "What do you know of Harry's childhood?"
Tonks hesitated, her playful demeanor replaced by unease.
"I'm not asking you to betray his confidence," Amelia clarified. "Just your impressions—based on your observations and interactions with him over the years. What's your sense of how he grew up?"
Tonks exhaled slowly, her brow furrowed as she thought.
"I know he showed up at Hogwarts his first year completely alone, with no idea how to find the platform. He wore clothes that were ten sizes too big and looked more like nine than eleven." Her voice grew quieter. "Every year, it's the same. He comes back malnourished, in oversized hand-me-downs, and with dark circles under his eyes, like he hasn't slept all summer."
Amelia's grip tightened on the quill in her hand, the edges of her anger beginning to show. "I see," she said, carefully controlling her tone.
"Have you mentioned any of this to anyone?"
Tonks nodded. "Dumbledore."
Amelia's expression darkened, her scowl unmistakable. "Of course."
She had learned that until Harry had taken up his Lordships, Dumbledore had been his magical guardian. The knowledge only deepened her mistrust of the old wizard.
"I need you to gather as much information as possible about the Dursleys and how they treated Harry," Amelia said firmly. "I imagine we've reached the same conclusions based on your observations."
Tonks nodded, her jaw tightening.
"I need confirmation before I can take any action," Amelia continued. "That's your task: to get the proof. Do whatever is necessary to uncover the truth." She leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Passive Legilimency might be required if you can get close enough."
Tonks raised an eyebrow at the suggestion, clearly aware of the legal and ethical gray area they were entering. But she didn't protest.
"You really care about him, don't you?" Tonks asked after a pause, her voice softer.
"I do," Amelia admitted with a small, genuine smile.
Tonks returned the smile. "I'll do what I can."
"Thank you," Amelia said simply, already turning her attention back to her paperwork.
Tonks stood, giving a respectful nod before leaving the office, the weight of her new assignment clear on her face.
As the door closed behind her, Amelia allowed herself a brief moment of reflection. Harry's past had left shadows that even he couldn't fully hide, and she was determined to uncover the truth—and ensure he never faced that kind of suffering again.
With a steadying breath, she refocused on the stack of parchments before her, the determination in her heart burning brighter than ever.
An hour later, Amelia peeked her head out of her office door.
"Could you ask Dolores Umbridge to come up and see me as soon as possible, please?" Amelia said, her tone clipped with clear distaste. "It's a matter of some urgency."
Her secretary nodded and promptly left to carry out the request.
About twenty minutes later, Umbridge marched into Amelia's office without so much as a knock, her trademark saccharine smile plastered on her face.
"Ah, Madam Bones, I'm glad you've finally decided to take my complaints seriously. It is about time something was done!" she declared, her voice a grating mixture of smugness and indignation.
"And which complaints would those be, Dolores?" Amelia asked evenly, though her patience was already thin. She had long since stopped reading Umbridge's endless stream of written grievances, most of which were absurd and petty.
"The hooligans who desecrated the Department of Mysteries and the Atrium last week!" Umbridge shrieked, her face pink with manufactured outrage. "Surely you plan to punish them? Did you know they left me in the hands of those beasts—the centaurs!—before creating such a mess here? All for their own amusement, no doubt!"
Amelia's gaze hardened, her voice cold. "Well, Dolores, I imagine that was only what you deserved."
"Excuse me?" Umbridge shrieked again, her outrage rising to new heights.
Amelia held up a hand, her expression sharp and controlled. "Tell me, Dolores, what is Ministry Decree 214.2?"
Umbridge froze mid-rant, her eyes darting around as her face paled slightly. "That's the decree regulating the possession and use of—of—blood quills," she stammered, realization dawning on her.
"Ah, so you are aware of the law," Amelia said icily, pulling a small sealed envelope from her desk. "Good. That will make this much simpler."
Dolores shifted nervously. "What is that?"
"This is your letter of resignation," Amelia replied calmly, her words like a blade slicing through the air. "You have 24 hours to sign it. After that, I don't care where you go or what you do, but you will not remain in the Ministry, and you will never come within 100 yards of an underage wizard again."
Umbridge straightened, her expression hardening. "What makes you think I will resign?" she hissed, a sneer curling her lips.
Amelia leaned forward, her voice dropping to a deadly calm. "You have two options, Dolores. You can resign quietly and retain whatever shred of reputation you have left, or I will bring this matter before the full Wizengamot and rip you to pieces in front of them. And believe me, I will enjoy it."
Umbridge opened her mouth to protest, but Amelia cut her off, her tone suddenly venomous. "How do you think the Wizengamot will react when I show them evidence that you've been torturing children—one of whom is the head of two ancient and noble houses—with illegal blood quills?"
At this, Umbridge's pale complexion turned ghostly white, her bravado faltering.
"I never tortured anyone of importance," she muttered weakly.
Amelia's lips curled into a mirthless smile. "You tortured Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom, among others. I assure you, Dolores, that they are of great importance. I don't think I need to remind you what the penalty is for harming the heirs of ancient and noble houses."
Dolores finally deflated, her shoulders slumping as she realised there was no way out.
"You have 24 hours," Amelia repeated, her voice sharp and unyielding. "Take the resignation route, or I'll personally escort you to the Wizengamot myself."
Umbridge didn't respond as she shuffled out of the office, her steps heavy with defeat. Amelia watched her go, her lips pressed into a thin line. As the door clicked shut, she exhaled slowly, the fiery anger in her chest finally beginning to subside.
That's one problem taken care of, she thought, onto the next.