"True," Harry sighed. "But if we do end up in Azkaban, that eternity is going to be a long long time," He turned to Sirius and saw he was about to say something. He knew his godfather was about take the blame. "No Sirius," He said with a shake of his head. He looked at Neville and Luna as well. "We're going to tell her everything. How we know about Umbridge, what happened last week and Yaxley. It's the only way. "
"Are you sure?" Sirius asked.
Harry nodded and turned to Amelia Bones. "Ma'am, you might want the Pensieve, Veritaserum and a lot of time, because you're not going to believe us otherwise."
"Even then she might not," Hermione added under her breath.
Madam Bones looked questioningly at Harry for a few seconds before she got up and went to her door. "Auror Tonks please requisition Veritaserum immediately. When you return you are to secure this room. If anyone comes into my office before I'm ready and that means Dumbledore or the Minister himself you will be fired. Is that clear?"
"Yes Ma'am," Tonks replied. "Uh...Ma'am, I don't need to talk to anyone. All I've ever wanted to be is an Auror. I'd still like to be a part of the Order but I'm concerned that there might be a conflict where the Ministry is not acknowledging the truth like You-Know-Who and Sirius."
"Remember that Albus had the proof of both of those things. If he'd brought his pensieve and the memories to me, things might have been a lot different. I would hope anyway."
That gave Tonks pause and she nodded. "I'll not let you down again Ma'am."
"I'm sure you won't," Amelia replied then she sighed. "Tonks, no one is perfect. Looking back, I obviously failed somewhere this past year as well. Come to me if you find yourself in conflict. I value an honest opinion."
"Yes Ma'am," Tonks replied with a look of relief. "I appreciate that."
Amelia nodded then turned and disappeared into her office. It was less than ten minutes later when Tonks delivered the truth serum and disappeared back out the door.
Two hours later Amelia Bones ordered a platter of sandwiches to be delivered for lunch. She had been very skeptical when Harry and Hermione had told their story but given what had occurred she'd agreed to view the memories and conduct the questioning. Now, as she bit into her sandwich she knew she fully believed them. As outlandish as their claims had been, to have two different perspectives of the same events along with Veritaserum accounting from each of them with no disagreements would be nearly impossible to do.
"As you can see," Harry said as he nervously swallowed a bite of his cheese sandwich, "Dumbledore was dead, the Ministry had fallen and we did what we needed to do. Too many people died and when Miranda gave us the option, well I admit, it was mostly about Sirius and our friends but we took the offer," He hesitated before asking. "Are you going to arrest us? I mean about things we've done?"
"Arrest you?" Bones asked in surprise. "It would be a bit hypocritical of me to do that when I'm thankful I'm not going to be dead in a few days," One of the memories had been the Daily Prophet with the story of her death, both from Harry and Hermione reading it. She reached into her drawer and pulled out a planner. "Though you'd probably already have saved it this morning," She said as she opened it to her calendar. She pointed to the date three days in the future. The name Yaxley was written in the evening. "Yaxley wanted to speak to me about a rumor he'd heard. He said he might possibly know about another You-Know-Who supporter. He suggested my place that evening to be away from people who might listen in," She looked up. "To tell you the truth I thought it was a weak attempt on his part at a date."
"But the story said Voldemort did it," Harry said.
"Yaxley would just have brought down the wards. Much easier from inside them," Hermione explained. "Voldemort could easily apparate in then and the fight begins."
"Exactly," Amelia said. She sat back and looked at the two teens. "I understand why you didn't bring this to the Ministry earlier, but I am glad you are willing to trust me now. I should apologize that I didn't respond to your needs at the castle earlier this year."
Harry shrugged. "It's been two years since that really happened and ever since you did get involved you've been fair."
"Thank you. As far as Umbridge, she will get the Veil herself if I can help it," Madam Bones said. "What about You-Know-Who?"
"Ma'am why don't you say Voldemort? Or Tom Riddle?" Harry asked. "If the very person who is supposed to be leading the people who are fighting against the man can't say his name; how does that give the people confidence?"
"Social conditioning is a difficult thing to overcome," Bones replied honestly. She sighed and nodded. "But you're right."
"As for Voldemort, we don't know exactly what the final conflict will take, but as we told you, those things will be destroyed well ahead of time. If that snake can be killed it would help," Hermione said. "Maybe you can have someone check on Bathilda Bagshot, though that probably happened after Dumbledore died."
"As soon as my department is in order, I'll do that," Bones replied. She saw that each person's plate was now empty. "Well I guess we can finish this up. Show me everything you remember from the final battle that has Death Eaters in it. If I can see who they are, it might make my internal investigation a little easier."
"Wouldn't some of them be imperiused?" Neville asked.
"Definitely, but it would give me a place to start," Bones replied. "I just wish we had a way to find out if someone is currently under control."
Hermione's eyes flew wide as she remembered something from just over a month previous to her and Harry. "Goblins," she muttered.
"What?" Bones asked.
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