Monday, 2nd August
Director Amelia Bones considered her next destination, by rights her next stop should be the Granger residence, but it was nearing lunch and she thought to herself, 'Mr. Potter doesn't need his trunk immediately.'
And after a morning with the Dursleys, she really could use a drink. So with that thought, the head of the DMLE spun on the spot, disappearing from the secluded alley she occupied and reappearing in the public receiving room at the Leaky Cauldron. She left the room as soon as she appeared, just in case someone apparated in on top of her. She made her way over to the bar and looked up at the food board to check today's menu, then waited until Tom the Barman was free.
"Afternoon, Director Bones, you here on business or you looking for lunch?" Tom, having finished with his previous customer asked as he strolled over to where she was sitting.
"Afternoon, Tom. I'll take a B.L.T and a pint of hobgoblin." He nodded and started pouring the drink, "tough morning then?" Director Bones took a drink from her pint, considering what she should say, "Difficult case with a trio of headcases..." Tom listened sympathetically, "Sound's tough. You back at work after this, or do I have the pleasure of your company for a few drinks today?" Amelia translated in her head; 'do I need to worry about cutting you off'. "For me it's back to work. I need to do the paperwork for the Azkaban rotation. Need my head clear for that." Amelia's B.L.T. appeared next to her. She handed the barman some money then took her lunch to one of the booths to eat.
As she ate she thought over the morning's events. The Dursley's where guilty of a lot, there was no question on that. Bones wished nothing more than to drag them in front of the Warlocks of the Wizengamot and have them thrown to the dementors. But as they were muggles she couldn't do that. And there was no way to take it to a muggle court without risking the Statute of Secrecy. This whole case was one big clusterfuck. Amelia took another drink from her pint. She would need to get creative to solve this one.
She started breaking down the case in her head;
Petunia Dursley: child neglect, child abuse, reckless endangerment of a child.
Motive: hates magic, possibly jealous of her sister?
Not much to go on there...
Vernon Dursley: child neglect, child abuse, reckless endangerment of a child, assault and battery of a minor.
Motive: hates magic. No other clear motives.
Guilty as sin but can't touch him for it.
Dudley Dursley [minor]: bullying and assault.
Motive: encouraged by parents, taught to isolate and abuse Potter.
Want to add another charge of abuse there, the way he's been raised will make life hard on the boy.
Marge Dursley: assault and battery of a minor, animal abuse.
Motive: Unknown, doesn't know about magic.
Director Bones thought over that last bit, just what was that woman's motive? Miss Dursley was unaware of the magical world or that Mr. Potter had a place in it. Just why did the woman hate the young boy enough to do those things to him? And if she didn't need a reason, was Mr. Potter the only child she had done this to? That needed investigating, maybe if she could build a case around other muggle children, then the muggle authorities could handle the case without Mr. Potter being involved.
It would preserve the Statute and protect Mr. Potter. It was worth looking at. She may even take a closer look at Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, if they could get away with treating a child like that because of a technicality, it didn't mean they could get away with anything else.
Director bones finished her meal and got up to leave.
--- ϟϟϟ ---
The same day
Harry had grown up in the suburbs and had not spent much time in London. As such, his opinion of the city was one of lifeless, grey buildings. Hermione had decided that the best way to change Harry's view of the city was to show him. Hermione and her parents lived in a part of London called Hampstead, and that was right next to Hampstead Heath, one of the largest parks in London.
So that's how Harry and Hermione spent their morning. Hermione showing Harry around the park, the two of them enjoying the fresh air and some time together. "Hermione how hard is it to get to Diagon Alley from your place?" Hermione looked at Harry for a few seconds before answering, "Two buses and about forty-five minutes each way. Why?"
Harry shrugged, "I was thinking of visiting Gringotts. I am out of gold and regular cash and...well...I want clothes that...fit." Harry looked away, a mix of embarrassment and shame on his face.
Hermione, who really didn't care what Harry looked like or how he dressed, thought it was still a good idea for Harry to get some new clothes. Even now, with Harry in her dad's clothes rather than his own, he looked better. And Hermione knew that lots of people judge others by their clothes. She took Harry's hand, leading him to a path that would start them back to her home, "we can do that easily Harry, Gringotts can exchange gold for pounds and I know where we can do some shopping for you."
"Thanks Hermione. I would be totally lost if it weren't for you." The smile Hermione had been wearing most of the morning brightened. She didn't think Harry had meant it like that, but it was nice to hear nevertheless, "It's no problem Harry, plus, while we are at Diagon Alley we can look in at Flourish and Blotts. Maybe buy a few new books." Harry's smile became a little forced, he liked books and he liked Hermione, but Hermione in a bookshop meant at least the very least, one new book and then carrying them all around the rest of the day. The two of them started meandering through the park, slowly heading in the direction of Hermione's home.
--- ϟϟϟ ---
Later that day
Harry and Hermione haven't been back at the house long and were just contemplating lunch when there was a knock at the door. Hermione answered it and found Director Bones waiting. After a quick exchange of pleasantries, she invited the ministry official in. After they were seated and Hermione had offered the Director a cup of tea, which she declined, Director Bones explained why she was there first and what was expected. She pulled Harry's trunk and Hedwig's birdcage out of her handbag then returned them to normal with a wave of her wand.
"Also Mr. Potter, I wanted to ask you a question, If that's okay with you?" Harry was a little surprised, but he guessed during investigations new questions come up all the time, "Ask way."
Amelia sat in silent thought for a few seconds, before speaking again, "Okay. Remember, you don't have to answer if you don't want to. Do you know why Marge Dursley dislikes you so much?"
Harry answered straight away, "None of the Dursley's like magic." The director shook her head, "No Harry, I confirmed it myself, until the aftermath of her setting her dog on your owl she knew nothing of magic."
Harry was stunned. He started remembering every time aunt Marge was horable to him. And how he felt like some kind of worthless freak. Then he discovered his magic and his place in the magical world. He was a wizard. It was wrong for the Dursley's to treat him the way they did, but it made sense, they hated magic and that's what Harry was to them. But if aunt Marge never knew about magic, why had she done all that?
"But if it wasn't because of my magic, t...then why?" The distress Harry's voice was in was evident, and on his face as well. Hermione moved to sit next to him and pulled him against her. Director Bones replied, "I'm sorry Mr. Potter, I don't know. That's why I wanted to ask you. It looks like it will be one of the next parts of my investigations."
After that, there were a few bits of procedure and Director Bones left some paperwork for Mr. and Mrs. Granger to sign. Then the Director pleaded work and left.
--- ϟϟϟ ---
Immediately afterwards
Amelia Bones felt like shit as she left the Grangers. She hated that she had to ask Mr. Potter that question. She suspected that Harry had no clue why his second aunt had behaved the way she had, but Director Bones couldn't justify the man-hours for the investigation without exacting the simple option first.
She made her way to one of the overgrown side alleys that were all over London, looking for a spot to disapparate. She needed to get back to the Ministry. She had put off the Azkaban report as long as she could, any longer and she risked a hiccup in the operations there. She was just about to apparate to work when a voice sounded behind her, "Amelia! What a pleasant surprise to see you here."
Director Bones, spun around to see who had called her. She saw who it was, smiled, and relaxed, "Well well, it's been a while, how have you been?" The newcomer smiled, "Oh, you know how it is, overworked, underpaid and not getting any younger." Amelia started walking into the narrow walkway that allowed access to the backs of the houses, "I have been meaning to..."
"Obliviate!" The newcomer walked into the alley a little way and disapparated, leaving a dazed and confused Amelia Bones in his wake.
Director Bones' mind was muddled for a few moments as she fruitlessly tried to remember what she was doing, then a wave of fatigue jogged her memory. She had been up to her eyes in paperwork all day and she was off home for a well deserved early night. She apparated home, said goodnight to her niece and her friend Hannah, then got herself some well-deserved sleep.