When Tonks attempted to sit up even straighter than she already did, Amelia had to bury her desire to smirk back. She knew the promising young auror before her knew it was a compliment.
"You and I, Auror Tonks, are going to go through all these memories, one by one," she explained. "Then, after each memory is completed, we're going to come out of the pensieve and write down everything we saw of note; especially all the crimes that have been committed. Understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Tonks instantly replied. "It's similar to one of the exercises we did in the Academy, when memories were taken of crime scenes." Amelia had forgotten they did that. And that they did that just for this sort of thing. But, she wasn't going to let the young auror sitting before her know that.
Nodding, she said, "Yes; this is going to be just like that. And you also need to know that some of these are going to include incidences of child abuse, including vicious beatings. Do you think you have the stomach for that?"
With a firm and resolute countenance, Tonks immediately replied, "Yes, Ma'am."
"If you need a break at any time, let me know," instructed Amelia. "I won't think any less of you if you do. I daresay I'll be looking for breaks, too. And I've been at this a lot longer than you." Tonks stayed resolute and replied, "Yes, Ma'am."
Nodding once in recognition she'd heard her, Amelia started with the vials that began one month before the start of the school year in 1991. She thought she'd get to all the beatings and the like once she and her young auror became comfortable working so close to each other and within the pensieve.
She had no idea there were also beatings betweenHogwarts' years. That would come as a shock.
As soon as Hermione found the abandoned classroom they'd been using to ready Harry for the first task - or, at least that's what she thought they were doing - she almost forcefully shoved Harry into a chair before beginning to pace in front of it while ranting away.
She never noticed the two aurors followed them in and, again, stood either side of the door.
"I can't believe those two...
two... witches!" she snarled. Spinning about to stare at Harry she asked, "Do you know what they did and said to me as soon as they caught up with me in our room?"
"Of course not, Hermione," he calmly replied. "I was―"
"You weren't there!" she interrupted. "That cow, Brown, had the audacity... the sheer gall... to demand I tell her everything about you and what you'd done.
"When I refused, she and Patil drew their wands on me and...
and... threatened me!"
As soon as the senior auror heard that he glanced to his junior female partner, who was now looking back, and flicked his chin in the direction of the door. The junior auror gave a curt nod and ducked back out of the room.
Hermione didn't notice, but Harry did. He just didn't let on he did as he knew what that suddenly disappearing auror was about to do. He felt Hermione might react very badly if she heard about it before it was all over and done.
That afternoon the staff of Hogwarts who had been taken away by aurors of the DMLE, began to return. First back was Filius Flitwick, soon followed by Pomona Sprout and Minerva McGonagall together, with a very morose Rubeus Hagrid following not too far behind.
Those who did not return were Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Barty Crouch Junior, the real Alastor Moody and Poppy Pomfrey. The first three were being held in cells within the DMLE while Alastor Moody and Poppy Pomfrey were sent to Saint Mungo's.
At dinner that evening, those who'd returned except Minerva McGonagall, joined the student body and other staff in the Great Hall for their evening meal.
Just before the meal commenced, however, Filius Flitwick rose to stand on his chair and called for silence to make an announcement. The aurors who stood at the wall seemed unable to make a decision on whether or not to stop him; but, in the end, did not interfere.
"Students," he quietly began. When the noise dropped right down he continued to quietly speak. The nature of the magics of the Hall ensured his voice flowed right to the other end.
"I have an apology to make to you all," he said. "For those of you who were at the first task, specifically Lord Potter's task, you witnessed a great deal of his memories played in that projector pensieve he used. To the best of my own memory and irrespective of his own oath to its truth, it was the truth.
"I... currently face charges relating to my part in setting up those so-called traps in the third floor corridor back in 1991; that is, from the memory Lord Potter played where he and his two friends had to get past them to save the Stone from being stolen by a possessed Professor Quirrell."
That had a few students, especially in Ravenclaw, gasp in surprise and begin muttering between themselves.
"I'm also facing charges for not protecting students, as I'm required to do as a professor, from the dangers and treatment they faced or underwent," he continued, "To that end... I have learned that young Miss Lovegood of my own House - or, what was my House as I do not believe I'll ever have the honour of being the Head of it again - has been horribly mistreated by, especially, her own housemates. That ends right now.
"One thousand points from Ravenclaw for the bullying behaviour of the entire House!" he firmly declared.
That caused the House, as a whole, to gasp in shock. The same surprised gasps were coming from many others. Those blue gems that had somewhat filled the Ravenclaw House point counter immediately emptied out, leaving it completely bereft of points.
"Any and all things that have been taken without authorisation from Miss Lovegood - and, indeed, any other student - are to be returned by no later than 8.00am tomorrow morning. If Miss Lovegood does not report to me that all... all... of her personal possessions have been returned to her, then the DMLE will begin their own investigations. This is the decision of the current Acting Headmistress and Director of the DMLE, Madam Director Amelia Bones.
"Once that happens I have been informed the thieves will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Anyone then caught having stolen anything from anyone will be immediately suspended. If they are then found guilty of thievery, they will also be immediately expelled on the spot. They will not be permitted to return to Hogwarts - ever. You have been warned."
Then, without allowing the matter to be discussed, he called for the house elves to serve the meal.
Hearing the professor specifically ask the house elves to serve, Harry wondered, 'How long will it be until―'
"What did he mean by 'house elves'?" Hermione suddenly asked.