https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-493-The-Last-Night-of-the-School-Year/13461337/
Chapter 492: Amelia Bones
Chapter 492: Amelia Bones
Felix awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and energetic, with no trace of fatigue. The potion's side effects seemed to have been neutralized by the changes in his body. He stared at the gray ceiling, listening to the unconscious smacking sounds coming from Valen, who was lying in the cradle.
Felix grinned and climbed out of bed, stretching lazily.
"Bang!"
The metal alarm clock on the dresser exploded, and Felix looked down at the broken pieces, frowning. He waved his hand, and the clock repaired itself.
"I still need to get used to this", he mused, turning to the drowsy Valen. "It's fine, go back to sleep." With that, he walked out of the bedroom.
Valen waved sleepily at him, turned over on the soft velvet, and curled up to continue sleeping. Last night had been another late one, waiting for the Dark Lord's return.
From the office window, he could see the lush Forbidden Forest and the rolling mountains. The sky was clear and bright, like a wash of blue ink, and a gentle breeze tickled his face.
A brownish-yellow owl flew toward him, carrying a newspaper in its beak. It folded its wings as it approached the windowsill and landed in front of him.
Felix unfolded the newspaper, and Fudge's large face was the first thing he saw. "Indeed, it's worthy of a journalism award", Felix muttered. The owl chirped at him, and he handed it five Knuts.
The owl took off, flapping its wings.
He spent the entire day in the office, training with his new powers and was surprised to find that his magic had also significantly increased. He estimated that this improvement might continue for some time.
In the afternoon, he took a break to visit the Hospital Wing. As he approached the door, he heard Mr. Weasley's voice. He pushed the door open.
"... Fudge has locked himself in his office, refusing to see anyone", Mr. Weasley said. "I suspect he's trying to enjoy the last bit of time in the Minister of Magic's chair..." Realizing he might have been too harsh, he shrugged and changed the subject. "Regardless, Fudge did one good thing before going on 'leave.' He appointed Ms. Bones to handle the department's affairs temporarily."
"Thank you, Arthur", Ms. Bones said, looking exhausted.
The room was crowded. Besides Harry, Ron, and Hermione lying in their beds, and Mr. Weasley, Sirius, Lupin, Professor Mcgonagall, and Dumbledore, there was an unfamiliar woman—Amelia Bones.
"Can I come in?" Felix asked from the doorway.
"Of course, Mr. Hep", the woman said. "There are many issues that can't be resolved without you."
Felix took a moment to observe her, then chose a chair by the wall and sat down.
Ms. Bones spoke solemnly. "There are no outsiders here, so I'll speak candidly. The Ministry is in turmoil, and the news from the Aurors has left everyone disheartened. With today's newspaper, panic has spread throughout the wizarding community. We must stabilize the situation as quickly as possible... Headmaster Dumbledore, I need your help."
Dumbledore nodded slightly. "Before the darkness fully emerges, we cannot allow ourselves to lose our composure."
"Exactly", Ms. Bones agreed. She pulled out a document, put on her monocle, and examined its contents. "First, I need to confirm whether the Dark Lord has truly returned." Her thick eyebrows raised high. "This is not a lack of trust—I have heard your account, and the fact that you thought to use the Ouroboros Ring for aid is remarkable... but I need to be absolutely certain to implement wartime policies confidently."
"A reasonable request", Dumbledore said with a smile. "Amelia, I believe what you need most is definitive evidence?"
Ms. Bones nodded seriously.
Dumbledore looked at Felix.
"Alright, but I must warn you, you won't see the full picture..." Felix said, snapping his fingers and calling softly, "Dobby."
The house-elf Dobby appeared in the room.
"Great Mr. Hep, you—oh my, what is Dobby seeing?" Dobby blinked, startled by the familiar faces. "Mr. Lupin, Mr. Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione, Mr. Black, and—Mr. Dumbledore!" He let out a shriek.
"Hello, Dobby", Harry and Hermione whispered in greeting.
"Dobby", Ron couldn't help but say. Dobby immediately looked at him with bright eyes. "Actually, my name is pronounced a bit differently—uh, I'll explain it to you later." He lacked the courage to discuss the distinction between the proper pronunciation of his surname and the Chinese characters used to represent it in front of everyone.
"Alright, Dobby, I'll help you get their signatures later", Felix said. "For now, could you fetch me the item I entrusted to you?"
"At your service!" Dobby exclaimed, and his figure suddenly disappeared.
Ms. Bones turned to Mr. Weasley. "Shouldn't we be wary of the young one's magic? They aren't restricted by anti-Apparition charms—"
"Oh, Ms. Bones, I think—" Hermione clutched the sheet nervously and said in a shrill voice, "You shouldn't doubt Dobby or the house-elves in the kitchen. They have always worked diligently and without complaint."
"Yes, you're right", Ms. Bones said, lowering her gaze to Hermione for a moment. "But we all know that the Dark Lord has rallied a large number of Pureblood Families, and they certainly don't lack for house-elves to serve them."
Hermione fell silent.
At that moment, Felix rummaged through a nearby cabinet, pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill. He began to write and draw on it. "Could you all please sign this?" Dumbledore readily agreed, and from the length of his signature, it was clear he had written his full name.
One by one, the others signed their names. When the parchment reached Harry, he stared at the words written on it: "To the brave Dobby, who retrieved the crucial evidence right under Voldemort's nose." Below it was a row of signatures.
Harry signed his name as well.
A few minutes later, Dobby reappeared in the Hospital Wing, carrying a large bag on his back.
"Here they are, Mr. Hep."
The few people present watched curiously as Felix rummaged through the bag, pulling out a strange, square device and pressing buttons on it. After fiddling with it for a while, he handed it to Ms. Bones. "You can get closer to the glowing part, yes, that's right..."
In reality, he had done two things: avoid the camera footage showing Hermione using the Time-Turner and adjust the playback to start after his appearance. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain why he had been watching for so long in advance, and he didn't want to reveal Lucius's presence.
Ms. Bones followed his instructions. She frowned at the poor quality of the footage at first, but then her mouth dropped open. She watched quietly for a few minutes, then put the camera down with a complex expression.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is a Muggle device?" Ms. Bones asked in a low voice.
"That's correct. You'll find that there is not a single trace of magic on it, which is how it can avoid the attention of Voldemort and the Death Eaters", Felix said as he took the camera back. "You can consult an expert in this field. Due to technical limitations, the footage cannot be edited, making it very convincing."
"Can I take it with me—" Ms. Bones asked tentatively.
"Oh, not yet", Felix replied without hesitation. "I trust you, which is why I showed you this. With anyone else, I would have to take precautions."
"But you just said it can't be edited—" Ms. Bones asked, puzzled.
"Madam, it indeed cannot be edited, but it can be overwritten", Felix emphasized. "For example, if I cast a Permanent Sticking Charm on the writing on a wall, you can't erase it, but you can paint over it with a new layer of paint to cover the writing."
"I see. I'll arrange for someone to verify it", Ms. Bones said calmly, though her mind was already in turmoil. The dead had come back to life... She fully understood why Felix didn't want to reveal the complete footage.
And this was precisely the illusion Felix had created for her—using one secret to cover another. Let the Time-Turner remain buried in history, for it had already buried countless secrets.
"Then—uh—" Ms. Bones tried to rephrase her question. "The second matter, confirming the Dark Lord's appearance to the public. I think it's best to delay this for a few days."
"Why? What's the difference from what Fudge is doing?" Harry asked loudly.
"Completely different. At least the Ministry is aware of this, and I won't deliberately prevent the news from spreading. However, formal acknowledgment means the war has begun. Delaying it a few days might give the other side a false sense of security, buying us some time." Ms. Bones said calmly. "The Ministry is urgently printing wartime survival guides, and I need time to convince influential people, as I mentioned before, to reach a consensus... Additionally", she hesitated, "I hope Cornelius will step forward to announce it."
"That wimp?" Sirius grumbled.
Ms. Bones gave him a stern look. "Watch your words, Sirius. He is still the Minister of Magic."
"Alright, Prefect Amelia", Sirius said lazily.
Harry looked at his godfather in amazement, suddenly remembering that Sirius had admitted to making a girl cry during his school days. His gaze was now rather peculiar.
Ms. Bones glared at him but calmly explained, "Cornelius... Fudge might not stay in office. I hope the last impression he leaves on the public is standing bravely to announce the Dark Lord's return, rather than fleeing before the war and disappearing into obscurity."
"You still want to keep him around?" Sirius exclaimed, "Look at all the rotten things he's done!"
Ms. Bones ignored him, continuing to review the documents in front of her.
"Despite his flaws, Cornelius is still very capable and would make an excellent advisor."
Sirius grumbled discontentedly, sounding a bit like he was complaining about women.
The several ladies present glared at him simultaneously, and Sirius shrank back, "It's my fault, I said too much."
"Since we're talking about advisors", Ms. Bones's fingers moved over the documents, "there's another important matter, Dumbledore. Have you restarted the Phoenix Order?"
The atmosphere in the hospital room became odd, and everyone looked at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore nodded slightly, "You're right, Amelia." He patiently explained, "You should know that once the war begins, Voldemort will frantically plant spies in the Ministry of Magic. I must ensure there is a resistance force independent of the Ministry."
"I think", Ms. Bones pursed her lips, "we should cooperate."
"What do you have in mind?" Dumbledore looked at her curiously.
"The Ministry of Magic will not interfere with the Phoenix Order's operations, but at the very least, we should share information. This would benefit both sides", Ms. Bones said fluently, as if she had prepared her speech in advance. "And in the short term—until the situation stabilizes—there must be a liaison stationed on each side."
"You mean... a two-way exchange? Trading personnel?" Dumbledore asked.
"Exactly", Ms. Bones replied, "I cannot and will not order you, but at this crucial moment, forming a relationship with the 'greatest white wizard' is the best way to stabilize morale."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared with wide eyes, finding it hard to imagine this woman speaking so openly about Dumbledore's reputation.
"I've already consulted with the Aurors in my department, and there are many volunteers", Ms. Bones said with a helpless expression. "If you agree, I will provide a list for you to choose from."
"I have no objections", Dumbledore agreed.
"Your candidate is—" Ms. Bones sighed with relief, asking.
Dumbledore thought for a moment, then looked at someone.
Sirius was leisurely watching the scene, even crossing his legs, planning his summer vacation, until Dumbledore's gaze landed on him. He immediately became alert.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, you can't be serious about sending me to the Ministry of Magic!" He jumped up, "You promised me the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor position for the new school year! I've prepared for so long, outsmarting those mischievous students in Muggle schools..."
"This is just temporary", Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "you only need to stay for one or two months, and it won't affect your work in the new school year."
"What about the others? Hagrid? Remus? And—"
"They all have their own commitments", Dumbledore said.
"That's right, Headmaster is correct. You're the only one with free time", Felix couldn't resist adding, the thought of the carefree Sirius joining the Ministry of Magic making him feel a strange sense of amusement.
Sirius glared at him fiercely, looking around to see everyone wearing expressions of anticipation, even his godson looking at him with hopeful eyes. Sirius felt his teeth grinding in frustration.
"Then—hey, Amelia, I want an advisor title too, one that's at least as good as... um... as good as Felix and Fudge!"
"…It's just temporary."
Ms. Bones reluctantly agreed.
She had a strong opinion about Sirius, stemming from unforgettable memories from their school days.
"One last thing", she said, taking a large bag from Mr. Weasley and placing it by Harry's feet. It jingled as it hit the ground. She said succinctly, "The Triwizard Tournament prize was originally one thousand Galleons. I've added five hundred Galleons as compensation—"
"These are far from enough", Sirius Black couldn't help but nitpick, "They've suffered so much and shown such fearless courage, escaping from Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic should award them a medal."
Amelia Bones' chest began to heave violently as she spoke each word deliberately, "I was just about to say that!"
She took a deep breath, regaining her composure, and looked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "The department will discuss awarding you the Order of Merlin, Second Class, to recognize your bravery and unwavering spirit in the face of the Dark Lord—and Mr. Hep, we are considering awarding you the First Class Order of Merlin."
Felix smiled and shook his head.
"You deserve it", Amelia Bones immediately said, "In times of war, we need to set a few examples. If I survive until the end of the war, there will be a lot of medals to hand out."
Harry was once again stunned by Amelia Bones' "frankness" and "bluntness", but he thought it was a good approach.
"I'll be going now", Amelia Bones said, "Arthur, I'll give you a few days off to spend with your children, but don't take too long. The department will be very busy in the coming days..." She walked to the door of the ward, stopped, and snorted heavily.
Everyone looked at her in confusion.
"Sirius Black! Follow me!" She shouted angrily at Sirius, who was slumped in a chair, looking dejected.
Sirius pointed at himself in disbelief, "Now?" After receiving a confirming nod, he stood up dejectedly, muttering, "Alright, Amelia Prefect is in charge now, giving orders..." His grumbling continued until the door closed behind him.
The people in the ward exchanged glances.
"Is it really okay to send Sirius over? I'm not doubting his abilities, but his temperament—" Professor Mcgonagall asked, her expression serious, "I'm worried he'll make a mess of things."
"Don't worry, Professor Mcgonagall", Lupin said with a smile, "Sirius learned how to deal with this Minister back in school. Perhaps we have a chance to recruit her into the Phoenix Order..."
Professor Mcgonagall didn't look entirely convinced.
At that moment, Mr. Weasley, unable to contain his intense interest, pointed at the camera in Felix's hand and asked, "Can it record images without any magic?" After receiving a positive response, he said in amazement, "It's incredible... truly amazing."
The more he looked at it, the more he liked it. Finally, he couldn't resist asking Felix, "Mr. Hep, could I ask where you bought this? I'd like to get one for myself."
Felix gave him an address and reminded him, "It's best not to keep this at home; it will be affected by magic—oh, and you know Muggle addresses, right?"
"I can call a taxi, I know how to do it!" Mr. Weasley said happily, as if he had been looking forward to this for a long time, "I have a garage at home where I keep many of my treasures... Have you heard of a padlock? I have several..."
"Have I ever told you that my dad is crazy about Muggle stuff?" Ron said, covering his face.
Harry and Hermione nodded slightly.
Harry reminded him, "Mr. Weasley even showed me his garage, remember? It was a few weeks before the start of second year..." He couldn't help but glance at Dobby, who had kindly "advised" him, leading to the Ministry of Magic mistakenly thinking he had cast a spell outside school, resulting in a written warning.
Worse, Uncle Vernon had seen the letter.
After a year at Hogwarts, the Dursleys' attitude toward Harry had been cautious and indifferent—mainly because they feared being turned into a pig with a tail. But the warning letter from the Ministry of Magic shattered this false balance. Harry was locked in his bedroom with the windows boarded up.
That period was a nightmare. He was worried about missing the train to school and being expelled, and about starving to death or Hedwig starving to death. Because of this, he was always grateful to Ron and the Weasley Twins for coming to his rescue.
But that was a long time ago. He was doing much better now, "Dobby", he whispered.
The house-elf perked up his bat-like ears, looking at Harry with adoration.
"This is your autograph, Professor got it for you."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
