"This is a most unusual way to open a door," Hermione huffed as she walked in behind Shiva. "I understand the need to protect one's clandestine meeting room but it still seems silly."
"I would agree, Miss Granger," Amelia Bones said with a small chuckle as she opened the door. "You know, when Susan said to use this area I thought she was mistaken. When I was in school I was sure this was a hidden bedroom not a meeting room."
"Oh?" Tonks said with a grin stepping in behind her superior. "And just why were you looking for a hidden bedroom, Madam Bones?"
Amelia shrugged and looked at Tonks with an unreadable expression. "Well, Auror Tonks, if you must ask I don't think you are old enough to know."
Tonks' hair flashed to purple and she burst out laughing. "See this is why I love you, Boss! Wotcher, Harry, Hermione, Shiva, girl I haven't met."
"Hey, Tonks," Harry said waving. "This is Daphne Greengrass. Daph this is She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Tonks."
Tonks frowned. "Yeah, let's go with a different moniker shall we? How about Thy-Forbidden-One Tonks?"
"You need at least four words for a hyphenated name, Tonks. Everyone knows that," Harry laughed.
"So says the great, Boy-Who-Lived?" Tonks snorted waggling her eyebrows at him.
"Nope. So says the great, The-Boy-Who-Lived. Can't forget the article."
"Alright people, I actually do have things to discuss you know." Amelia moved to sit at the table and Tonks sat next her shaking her head and laughing with Harry. Her hair stayed purple.
"What can we help you with, Madam Bones?" Shiva asked trying to get the others back on track.
"Before we start," Amelia said bringing out her wand, "may I check everyone for listening charms?" Receiving head nods all around she quickly cast several charms and nodded happily at the results.
"Well it looks like we're clean. Though, Harry, I detect some residue of a listening charm on you. It seems like it was stripped as you walked in here though so there's that."
Everyone's face on Harry's side of the table darkened. Hermione scowled, Daphne frowned, Harry growled and Shiva looked ready to hit something. "I don't suppose you could tell whose signature it was?" Shiva asked through clenched teeth.
"Unfortunately, no," Amelia apologized. Shiva nodded and waved the woman to continue. "Alright, let's begin. Harry, Professor Babbling, you both trust Miss Granger and Miss Greengrass?"
"We do," Harry said.
"Very well. I asked to meet you in person because Tonks has brought something to my attention that apparently not only affects you, but that you were instrumental in discovering to begin with."
Hermione frowned. "You mean, Sirius Black? All we truly have is character testimony, logic and circumstantial evidence. It's not enough to overturn a conviction even if it is enough to reopen the case. I really think we need to see the trial files in order to actively move forward."
"That's exactly the problem, Miss Granger." Amelia sighed and leaned forward to meet the eyes of each of them in turn. "There was no trial for Sirius Black."
Harry's eyes widened while Shiva cursed under her breath. Hermione just hung her head and muttered, "This really shouldn't surprise me I suppose."
Daphne had the most marked reaction of any of them. She jumped to her feet and slammed her hands on the desk glaring at Amelia. "Do you mean to tell me, Director Bones, that the Heir Black was sent to Azkaban without even the semblance of a trial?"
"That is exactly what I mean to tell you, Miss Greengrass."
"That's-that's-I can't even-how did such a thing happen!?"
"Daphne?" Harry asked turning to look at the girl.
Shiva shook her head and laid a hand on Harry's shoulder. "House Black is a very old family, Harry. That their Heir was imprisoned without a trial is a huge offense to the House and would set a dangerous precedent for all the other older families."
"And what of the less important families?" Hermione asked with narrowed eyes. "Or of Muggle-borns? Would imprisoning people like me without trial cause any fuss all?"
Daphne gasped and immediately twisted to Hermione and wrapped her in a hug. Harry's eyebrows rose at the display from the normally reserved Slytherin but remained quiet. "Hermione, I am so sorry. That's not what I meant! I just – this type of thing only happened centuries ago! It's not supposed to happen anymore! If they could do that to the Heir Black imagine what they could do to the rest of us!"
"If it's any consolation guys," Tonks said her hair having shifted to a more muted blue, "we think it only happened because everybody was so certain that my cousin was guilty. Coupled with the attitude of the war just ending and wanting to have the remaining horror show over and done with…well, nobody really wanted to look too closely at things."
"Well it obviously wasn't very cut and dry was it?" Harry said with a scowl. "We tore apart the entire thing by just asking a few questions!"
"Questions that no one cared to ask before, Mr. Potter." Amelia removed her monocle and sighed. "Investigations in the magical world do not always proceed the same way as in the Muggle world. I have been trying to change that since I've taken up the mantle, but there are only so many changes our society will accept at once."
Harry's scowl deepened. 'Then I'll drag this world into the 20th century kicking and screaming if I have to.' Out loud he said, "So you believe that Sirius Black is innocent as well then, Madam Bones?"
She nodded. "I do. Though apart from Tonks and myself we are rather lacking in support for that opinion."
"But – "
Shiva held up a hand and Harry stopped. She continued instead. "Is that why we are having a secret meeting? Do you feel like any efforts we make to prove his innocence could be sabotaged?"
Amelia sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Honestly I'm not sure. I don't think sabotage is truly likely, but obstruction? That I would place good money on."
Tonks snorted and her hair flickered to red. "It's already being obstructed. Before I went to Madam Bones I tried to talk to my first boss, Head Auror Scrimgeour. I was laughed out of the office and politely told to drop it or I could be fired for any minor complaint."
Harry's eyes widened. "What the bloody hell are you still doing working with people like that, Tonks?"
"Harry," Shiva coughed and looked at him sheepishly. "Don't forget that Dumbledore threatened me with the same thing regarding you."
"He did?" Amelia frowned at Shiva. "Regarding Mr. Potter's guardians I assume?" Shiva nodded. "What is that man playing at…?"
"Do you think Dumbledore is behind Black not receiving a trial?" Daphne asked finally somewhat calm again.
"Not that I know of, no. Why? What makes you suspect him?
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