Amelia was desperate to see Professor Dumbledore.
Harry and the others certainly had the means to bring her directly into Hogwarts through the secret passages that went through the castle.
But unless they were completely insane, they would never use those secret passages to sneak a stranger of questionable identity and unclear purpose into the school, someone they'd only just met minutes ago on a desolate hilltop.
However, because Amelia claimed to be well acquainted with Professor Watson and Remus, and because this trip was supposedly at Remus's direct behest, they ultimately decided to help her.
The three of them basically escorted Amelia down the mountain like wardens guarding a prisoner, though a cooperative one.
Their formation was cautious: Harry and Hermione placed themselves adjoining her on both sides to keep constant watch. Ron, meanwhile, used the secret passage behind Honeydukes' cellar to slip into Hogwarts and deliver the urgent message to Dumbledore.
They couldn't all leave their mysterious visitor unguarded, and Ron had volunteered immediately, eager to be useful.
Dusk was approaching, and the temperature was dropping noticeably. Amelia could feel the chill seeping through her robes, raising goosebumps on her arms.
Wisps of cloud and mist drifted through the mountain valleys, bathed in crimson twilight that turned everything in colors of red and gold.
The scene was breathtakingly beautiful, almost unreal.
The green peaks appeared and disappeared like phantoms behind the shifting veils of mist, playing hide-and-seek with the observer's eye. The dark green Forbidden Forest swayed in the evening glow, its countless trees producing sounds like ocean waves.
The surface of the Black Lake resembled countless shattered silver mirrors scattered across dark silk, its scattered brilliance still looking dazzling to observe even as the sun descended.
From the fields stretching beyond the village to the cobblestone entrance of Hogsmeade, villagers who had finished their day's labor trudged wearily their home in a long, straggling parade. Their voices were heard on the evening air, calling goodbyes and making plans for tomorrow.
Amelia, concealed by a Disillusionment Charm that made her blend seamlessly with her surroundings like a chameleon, followed these villagers with her gaze. Her eyes tracked the zigzagging path until it reached the black castle on the cliff, and her heart suddenly stirred with an emotion she couldn't quite name.
Compared to bustling New York with its high buildings and constant noise, its endless energy and conveniences, this place was undoubtedly primitive and underdeveloped. There were no electric lights, no cars, no skyscrapers piercing the clouds.
Yet this primitive scene, this scene of medieval simplicity, possessed an extraordinary power that touched her soul in ways the city never had.
But suddenly, unexpectedly, a sense of melancholy came over her like a cold wave, stealing her breath.
If her parents hadn't left London all those years ago, she would undoubtedly have been a Hogwarts student herself.
Though perhaps not, as a thought struck her like lightning.
If those sad events hadn't occurred, she might never have been born into this world at all.
Though she was invisible, Harry's keen intuition sensed something different in the air beside him. His eyes glanced in the mysterious messengers general direction, and after a moment's thought, he said, "Er... why didn't Remus come back himself instead of having you deliver a message for him? Couldn't he have just sent an owl? Don't you use owls over there in America?"
"Owls? Oh—"
Lost in thought, Amelia snapped back to attention. She blinked rapidly, reorienting herself to the present moment.
"Of course, we use owls to send letters too, it's standard practice everywhere. But Remus thought using an owl would be too slow, would take days to cross the Atlantic. The message couldn't wait that long, so he asked me to make the trip. As for why he didn't come himself, you know—"
"Yesterday was the full moon, Harry."
Hermione also glanced quickly at where she estimated Amelia's location to be, drew a sharp breath of understanding, and said to Harry with certainty, "I'm guessing Remus is currently in a weakened state, recovering from his transformation, which is why he had—"
"Amelia Depp."
Amelia interjected, deciding it was time for proper introductions now that they'd moved past suspicion. "You can call me Amelia. Just Amelia is fine."
"Hermione Granger—"
Hermione quickly gave her own name. She hesitated, her mind already working through implications, looking somewhat uneasy as worry creased her forehead. "Professor Watson has run into trouble, hasn't he? Something serious."
Harry was startled, his head whirled around instinctively to look at Hermione with surprise and confusion, wanting to ask how she'd reached that conclusion.
But Amelia was quicker, her voice turned sharp with alarm as she asked, "Why? Why would you ask that, Miss Granger? What makes you think something's wrong?"
After a long hesitation, during which Hermione's expression grew increasingly grave, she finally said, "Under normal circumstances, if Remus encountered some trouble, he'd go to Professor Watson for help. They left for America together, didn't they?"
She paused, letting the logic sink in. "Unless... unless it's Professor Watson himself who's run into some kind of situation. Unless he's the one who needs help."
It was a very simple deduction when laid out plainly, following clear logical steps. But few people would actually think of it like that.
Amelia herself had often been praised for her intelligence and analytical abilities during her time at Ilvermorny, had graduated top of her year, and precisely because of that because she knew what true brilliance looked like, she recognized just how exceptional this Hermione Granger was.
However, she didn't answer Hermione's question directly, didn't confirm or deny. She only responded with silence that stretched uncomfortably, and she deliberately looked away. But that silence, that avoidance, was enough for Hermione to confirm her guess.
Harry and Hermione didn't wait around idly for Ron to return with news, instead, Professor McGonagall herself arrived.
She appeared in an intense burst of flames that erupted from nowhere, the sudden fire nearly made everyone jump.
Fawkes was perched on her shoulder. The sudden appearance startled the nearby villagers who'd been passing by, causing them to stumble and cry out in surprise, as well as the trio who'd been standing watch.
Professor McGonagall's lips were pressed tightly together in a severe line. Her sharp gaze fell on Harry and Hermione with an expression that combined reproach and bitter disappointment.
Harry and Hermione immediately straightened up like soldiers called to attention, their expressions were sheepish and guilty as schoolchildren caught breaking rules.
They both knew exactly what Professor McGonagall was unhappy about, wandering off alone to an isolated location when danger lurked everywhere, when Voldemort had returned and Death Eaters could be anywhere.
It was reckless, stupid, exactly what they'd been warned against.
"You should count yourselves lucky, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger—"
Professor McGonagall said sternly with displeasure. "Lucky that you didn't run into a... Dark wizard lurking in wait."
She couldn't quite bring herself to say Voldemort's name, and went to the synonym. "I hope this is the last time you engage in such foolishness, otherwise, this will be your final Hogsmeade visit this term. I will revoke your privileges personally and inform your guardians."
Harry and Hermione nodded vigorously, their heads bobbing like car dashboard decorations looking embarrassed and apologetic.
"Now then, where is the lady in question?"
Professor McGonagall adjusted her spectacles on her nose with one finger, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Oh, I'm right here, Professor."
Amelia's voice was soft, almost meek. This stern professor with her rigid posture and intimidating presence made her unconsciously slip into the role of a nervous student again, despite being years out of school.
Professor McGonagall looked with some surprise tinged with appreciation at the seemingly empty space between Harry and Hermione, where only a slight shimmer showed someone's presence.
"A very good Disillusionment Charm, excellent technique and control. You may keep it active for now and remove it once you're in Albus's office. Now then—"
Professor McGonagall extended the back of her hand.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a quick glance and immediately placed their hands on it. After looking at Fawkes's ruby like eyes, Amelia also reached out carefully and placed her invisible hand on the professor's.
Then, with a sound like a thunderclap, a dazzling burst of flames exploded around them in a pillar of fire, and they vanished from the onlookers' sight.
Several villagers screamed or gasped, and one dropped their shopping bag.
Even with her eyes squeezed tightly closed, Amelia couldn't block out the dazzling brilliance that flashed in front of her. The phoenix fire seemed able to burn away the space between locations.
The sensation was completely unlike Apparition, as it felt warmer, and gentler. When her vision suddenly darkened and the heat dissipated, when she dared to open her eyes and blink away the afterimages, she found herself standing in a spacious circular office.
There were many interesting and noteworthy things scattered throughout this office: strange silver instruments spinning and puffing smoke, portraits of previous headmasters dozing or watching with interest.
But none of them were as eye-catching, as attracting of her attention, as the silver-haired, silver-bearded old wizard standing behind the lanky desk few feet away. His face had an expression of gentle smile, a smile that seemed to release warmth like spring sunshine breaking through winter clouds.
Albus Dumbledore hailed as the greatest wizard of the age, defeater of Grindelwald, Winner of numerous Wizarding Wars, a true living legend.
Amelia's spirit swayed, her knees felt suddenly weak, and she could barely control her excited emotions that seemed ready to overwhelm her composure.
Every book about modern wizards that she'd read during her school years, without exception, chronicled this remarkable wizard and his outstanding achievements. His duel with Grindelwald, his groundbreaking work in alchemy with Nicolas Flamel, his countless contributions to magical theory. He was history made flesh, standing in front of her.
"Please don't worry, madam—"
Though Amelia still wore her Disillusionment Charm, invisible to most eyes, Dumbledore's eyes behind his half-moon spectacles focused precisely on her face as though he could see her perfectly. Perhaps he could.
He said good-naturedly, and his voice was gentle, "I can assure you that in my office, you will not be attacked. You are quite safe here, I promise you."
"Oh, sorry, Mr. Dumbledore, I—I forgot—"
Amelia said breathlessly, her words tumbling over each other, hurriedly removing the Disillusionment Charm with a flick of her wand.
"Please, sit—"
Dumbledore waved his wand in an elegant motion, and several chairs spiraled into existence from thin air with a soft whoosh, appearing particle by particle until they stood solid.
Harry was delighted to discover that Dumbledore had prepared chairs for all three of them as well, not just for Amelia, which meant Professor Dumbledore had no intention of dismissing them from this conversation. They would be allowed to hear whatever news she brought.
"Mr. Weasley told me—"
Dumbledore nodded toward Ron, who was standing near the door looking windswept and slightly out of breath from his sprint through the castle, which made Ron fidget nervously for a moment under that piercing blue gaze.
Fortunately, Dumbledore immediately shifted his attention away, his blue eyes focusing on Amelia's face as he said with a warm smile, "Remus has a message for you to deliver. Oh, of course, I imagine you must have had an exhausting journey, traveling so far so quickly. If you're not in such a hurry, we could share dinner here in my office. I can have the house-elves send up something hot and filling."
"Oh, no need, Mr. Dumbledore—"
Despite Dumbledore's kindly demeanor, his gentle smile and welcoming words, Amelia still felt tremendous pressure scorching from him like heat from a furnace. This was power, real power that couldn't be hidden. "The situation is urgent, Professor Dumbledore."
After several quick breaths to steady herself, after forcing her racing heart to slow, Amelia steadied herself. She straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, and delivered the news she'd crossed an ocean to bring: "Bryan... I mean, your Professor Watson, has been detained by the MACUSA Security Department!"
A heavy silence fell over the office.
Even the former headmasters on the office walls, who had been pointing and whispering at this unfamiliar young American witch, stopped their energetic discussions. Their faces froze mid-gesture, mid-word.
Everyone, alive and in painting was working to digest the shocking news this American witch had brought.
Finally, after a few seconds, at a certain moment when the silence became unbearable—
Clang!
Hermione suddenly stood up with explosive force, her face draining of color until she was pale as parchment. The violent motion sent her chair toppling back with a crash that echoed through the room.
Seeing this reaction, Harry and Ron also quickly stood, their own faces as grim as Hermione's, their hands clenching into fists at their sides.
Dumbledore said nothing immediately, only his previously clear gentle eyes became deep and unreadable.
Professor McGonagall rose after her three students, her thin body swayed slightly as if the news had physically punched her. She gripped the back of her chair with one hand for support.
"You're saying Bryan has been detained by the MACUSA?"
Professor McGonagall stared dumbfounded at Amelia. Her face showed an expression of utter shock and disbelief. "On what grounds?"
"Because the MACUSA suspects—"
Amelia exhaled heavily. Her own anger and indignation tinged her voice as she said, "They suspect Bryan is responsible for a murder that just occurred inside the MACUSA building!"
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