Peverell Ascendant Chapter 7 (Patreon)

“What just happened?”

He turned back to his Auror bodyguard, who now stared at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. In response to her question he merely raised a brow, playing off the whole situation casually. “Do you really need to ask?”

“R-Right. We need to get out of here.” Was Dora’s logical conclusion, deciding to ignore his new ability to influence dark creatures in favor of finding safety. “I’ll apparate us out.”

“Where?”

“To-” She stopped, mouth unwilling to work as if she was under a spell. “Somewhere safe, that’s all I can say. Just hold on.”

She didn’t ask permission, instead stepping forward and grasping his arm. The next moment they twisted as if going through a tube, apparating across the country until they arrived somewhere other than Privet Drive.

Harry looked around and immediately realized they were in London, standing in one of the city’s rundown residential areas. Tall buildings surrounded them on all sides, their windows cracked and bricks dirty from age.

“Wait here.” She stepped away, not bothering to explain anything. “I’ll go and get some of the others.”

The buildings around them looked abandoned or unused, so he didn’t understand where she would even go. “Go where though?”

“You’ll understand in a moment.” She told him, moving away towards one of the houses. “I can’t really explain it-”

“Tonks!” A sudden voice barked, and Harry looked to the side to see Mad-Eye Moody heading their way, wand raised cautiously.

“Sir!” The pink Auror stiffened. “I brought Harry-”

“I see that.” The man cut her off. “If there was an emergency, you should’ve contacted us, not apparated straight here.”

“There were dementors, we had to-”

“Save it.” Before she could speak again, he sent spells at both of them. Harry tensed, but found they were harmless scanning spells, coming back negative, which seemed to soothe Moody’s worries. “Polyjuice and Transfiguration detection. You’re both legit. Here, Potter, read this.”

In the next moment Moody levitated a piece of paper over to him, letting him read the words before burning it.

The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London

“Huh?” He frowned at the sentence, before something seemed to click into place. When he looked up again, there was suddenly a new building in front of him that hadn’t been there before. It was like a new townhome had pushed the others aside to sandwich itself between them. “What? Where did that building come from?”

“No time.” Moody said gruffly, practically dragging the two of them towards the now-visible building. “Our apparition detectors caught you, so be grateful I had Dumbledore’s message on hand. Otherwise you would be sitting ducks out here.”

The old Auror opened the front door and walked through the entryway to enter a damp and dusty home, the decorations outrageously outdated and falling apart at the seams from age. He instantly knew it was a wizard’s home, as some of the portraits on the walls moved, and there were taxidermied magical creatures hung on the walls as prizes.

That note said it was the Headquarters of Dumbledore’s Order. He remembered the parchment Moody had briefly shown him. So why does this place look like it belongs to a dark wizard?

“Harry!” Exclaimed a feminine voice then, as he turned to see who had called out to him.

What the fuck.

It was weird how he didn’t expect any of this. He knew the Order had a base from Dora’s information, just not where or what it was due to the charm it was placed under. Seeing the building magically appear after Moody shared the secret was a surprise, and now he was even more surprised by the person approaching him.

It was Hermione who had excitedly called out his name, rushing over to him in a blur of long brown hair. Yet instead of the bushy hair and the unkempt appearance he was used to, he was instead greeted by a hot brunette.

Hermione looked good. She wore makeup in a way that was hard to spot, cheeks blushing and lips pink in a way that was striking. Her hair wasn’t messy, instead styled to be intermittently straight and curly, shining brown in a manner that made him want to pull on it.

Then there was her body, hugged by her clothes in a way that signaled the brunette had either undergone a miraculous growth spurt or had surgery. Either that, or feminine clothing was much better at emphasizing one’s assets than Harry previously thought.

“Hermione.” His voice felt parched, as the girl practically barreled into him. It wasn’t a quick hug they shared, and he could feel her hand roam over his hardened chest as it went on, her warm breaths against his chin.

Behind him, he heard Dora snort in amusement, but Hermione didn’t care, soon pulling back with shortened breaths and an even heavier blush as she looked over him. “H-Harry, you’re diff-”

She didn’t finish, as the cry of an owl made all of them turn towards the still-open front door. A gray bird cried out from behind them while the front door was still open, swooping towards the entryway before dropping a letter off. It fell down at an angle to land right in his hands, and he saw his name addressed on the front along with a Ministry seal.

“What’s this about?” He frowned.

“Better open it, boy.” Moody ground out, finally closing the door as Harry unsealed the letter.

-

Dear Mr. Potter,

We have received intelligence that you performed the -#$%^*!=? at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.

As you have already received an official warning for a previous offense under section 13 of the Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic on August 12th. The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery may result in a possible expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as the destruction of your wand.

Hoping you are well,

Ministry Improper Use of Magic Office

-

“It says I performed a spell outside of Hogwarts and have to attend a disciplinary hearing because of it.” He frowned. “That said, it never specified what spell I supposedly used.”

“What?!” Tonks exclaimed. “I was with him the whole time, and Harry never cast any spells!”

“Were you now?” Moody’s suspicious eye locked on to Dora, who froze in place. “Your orders were to remain out of sight, and to prevent anything like this from happening. You have a lot to answer for, Nymphadora.”

Harry’s lover floundered in place, looking equal parts humiliated and outraged in that moment. He was about to speak up in her defense, only for a new voice to suddenly join in.

“Lay off my niece, will you, Mad-Eye?” Sirius Black walked out into the hall suddenly.

“Black.” Moody turned to face him.

“Sirius!”

“Hey, Harry.” His godfather gave him a quick hug, separating and then patting his back. “Welcome to my family home. And also, apologies for having to endure this place - as it sucks.”

“I’ve had worse.” Just looking around showed Sirius’ home did indeed suck, but it was better than being cramped up at the Dursleys.

“Hah!” Sirius threw an arm around his shoulder and led him deeper into the townhome. “Fair warning, most of the portraits want our kind dead, and half the artifacts are cursed. It’s certainly not fit for us to stay here, and certainly not a place you’d want to take a certain French Veela back to.”

His tone turned teasing at the end, trying to get a reaction, but Harry stayed composed. That wasn’t the case for the others however, as Hermione’s face became one ginormous blush while Dora’s cheek twitched.

“Sirius Black, what is all this racket!” Of all people, Ron’s Mother saved him the embarrassment. Molly Weasley stormed in like a thunderstorm, with the Weasley brood following diligently behind her. “And is that Harry with you?!”

“Indeed, it is.” His godfather smirked, moving him forward and metaphorically handing him over to the wolves. He shot the man a look of betrayal, before Mrs. Weasley’s large and overweight form smothered him in a hug.

“Harry, dear, it’s so good to see you!” The woman said.

“Hey, mate!” Ron followed his Mother, with Fred and George not far behind.

“Harry!” The twins greeted. “You’ve got so much to tell us-”

“You all can wait till later.” Moody ruined the greeting. “Potter’s got an impending execution we need to take care of.”

“E-Execution?” Mrs. Weasley stuttered out in horror.

“I got a letter from the Ministry.” He elaborated, sending their old Defense Professor a dry look. “I have a hearing for doing underage magic, and they’ll decide whether to destroy my wand or not. It’s odd though, because I never cast any spells, and the letter never specified what spell I even used.”

“If you never cast a spell, then why the letter?” Arthur Weasley asked.

“That’s what I was wondering.” Dora muttered.

“Because it’s a setup.” Harry deduced, as the room’s occupants looked at him in surprise.

“Indeed, young Harry is correct.” A sudden voice interjected.

All of them turned to see Albus Dumbledore entering the room, having just come in through the home’s floo. The Headmaster looked more tired than usual in Harry’s eyes, but also colder, his expression tense as if trying to keep up an outward appearance of indifference.

“Dumbledore!” Mrs. Weasley exclaimed in surprise. “Why is this happening?”

“I believe Harry has deduced all of it, Molly.” The Headmaster looked at her, and then over at him. “Tell me, what prompted the Ministry to send this letter, Harry?”

“The Dementors.” His answer prompted sharp intakes of breath. “Two of them appeared at my home less than an hour ago, and then Tonks apparated me here right after that. I never cast the patronus charm - or anything else for that matter - yet received the letter anyways.”

“Yes, for that is why the letter never specifies the spell you used.” Dumbledore gave him a genuine nod of encouragement for deducing that.

“Which means someone at the Ministry sent the dementors after him, then had this letter sent out as well.” Sirius growled out. “It was a damn setup.”

“Correct.” Dumbledore agreed. “It’s likely a ploy to intimidate Harry into silence, with further schemes surrounding this upcoming hearing.”

“Who would do this?” Hermione’s eyes were wide. “I-It has to be against the law to send dementors after someone like that!”

“Alas, we can only have our suspicions.” The Headmaster sighed. “Whether it be someone in the Minister’s office, an intruder who tricked the dementors, or whether Voldemort himself has gained influence over the dementors - I do not know.”

The rest nodded grimly at that, but not Harry. Instead he felt off, annoyed that this farce would go on for any longer. “Why not look into it? If we can find the person-”

“We simply don’t have the resources for such an investigation.” Dumbledore held out a hand, giving him an apologetic look. “Our numbers are already few, and it will be easier if I help you at your hearing.”

“Then I’ll figure it out.” He said simply, not thinking twice about it. “Someone inside the Ministry must have sent the Dementors after all, so I just have to find them.”

He doubted it was Voldemort who had gained full control over the dementors. If that were the case, the two back at Privet Drive would’ve gone straight for the kill, and not bowed their heads in subservience. It likely meant someone at the Ministry had given them the orders, and Harry’s power had cowed them - rather than Voldemort gaining their allegiance beforehand.

To go along with it all, the letter about his misuse of magic reeked of foul play, almost like it was sent in advance of the dementor attack to ensure he would be put on trial at the Ministry. In his mind, it was likely a desperate scheme by Fudge or one of his underlings, trying to frighten and silence him.

“I’m afraid such an investigation will be futile.” Dumbledore sighed. “You would have to look through the Ministry’s internal documents, accessible to only a handful of individuals. I’m sorry, Harry, we don’t have anyone with the resources to help with such an endeavor at this time.”

Only a handful of individuals. While Dumbledore outright dismissed that avenue of inquiry, Harry did not. Instead he began thinking over who would be able to get those types of documents for him. In his mind, it was better to put an end to this whole fiasco before it even began rather than drag it out.

/////

It was early the next morning when Harry dressed himself, with one of the Order members having gone back to the Dursleys’ home to get his things the prior day. He put on one of his nicer outfits, which he had paid a substantial sum for on a previous visit to Diagon Alley.

After that he basically snuck out of Sirius’ old home, being careful not to make a sound as the Order members slept. However, there was one person who spotted him, sitting in a chair while sipping on her morning tea.

Dora practically spat out her drink at the sight of him, immediately being able to tell he was up to no good.

“Where are you going?” She whispered loudly, looking around as if to make sure no one would see them.

“Relax.” He said casually. “Just going to the Ministry to get answers.”

“What?”

He tried and failed to hide a smile. After all, he just admitted he was heading into enemy territory. The place ruled by Fudge and heavily surveilled by Voldemort’s followers. And not only that, but he was leaving the Order’s headquarters when he was effectively under house arrest.

He grabbed some floo powder and turned back to her. “Are you coming or not?”

The pinkette grimaced, looking ready to argue, before eventually thinking better of it and following. A dusting of floo powder and a mutter of ‘Ministry of Magic’ had him landing in a large dark hall filled with other fireplaces.

He had never been to the British Ministry before, and found it to be as uninspiring as it was boring. He had expected something better than an underground brick office complex, and found himself thoroughly disappointed.

“Now that we’re here.” Tonks soon came walking out of the same fireplace, moving to walk at his side. “Mind telling me what you’re planning?”

“I’m going to meet with the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.”

“What?!” She stumbled and barely managed to catch herself in her surprised state. “You’re shitting me, right? My boss. You’re going to meet with my boss?”

“Yep.”

“Do you even have an appointment?”

“I’m sure she can make time for me.”

Not to be arrogant, but he was Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, and one of Fudge’s biggest political enemies at the moment. If the DMLE Director refused to meet with him, then it meant she was either on Fudge or Voldemort’s side, and thus his opponent.

“Harry, wait.” Dora pulled him aside and into a private alcove, behind a pillar not far away from the gigantic fountain that led up to the various elevators. “You need to think this through, and not hope it all works out from sheer luck.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Amelia Bones isn’t someone to be messed with. If you’re not careful she’ll chew you up and spit you out in pieces.” Dora had a frantic look. “You might’ve been fine with my aunt, or that Greengrass woman, or even in France, but Bones is something else entirely. Her balls might not be as big as yours, but that doesn’t mean you can take her lightly. The woman terrifies Malfoy and his faction so much that the man passes laws through the Wizengamot just so she can’t investigate him.”

“Is that all?” He asked, one brow raised in amusement.

“…Yes.” She wilted, seeing he wouldn’t budge, but had one last parting comment. “Just don’t get distracted ogling her tits.”

That was not what he was expecting. “Huh?”

“She has very large breasts.” Dora rolled her eyes. “Honestly, for how smart you are, you men can be so daft sometimes.”

Harry didn’t dignify that with an answer, instead stepping back into the atrium and continuing on. He had a sense the Ministry was typically more crowded than it was now, but it was the weekend. It meant he didn’t have to deal with bustling clerks or petitioners, instead passing by a bored security guard who barely looked up from his crossword puzzle as they got their name tags.

“You’re lucky it’s Saturday.” His companion muttered as they entered the lift. “On a weekday you’d have caused a riot by showing your face here.”

“Maybe you should stop blaming luck for my success and realize it’s all intentional on my part.”

She only snorted in disbelief, the lift carrying them to the floor that held the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Simply walking inside showed it was mostly empty, a handful of aurors gossiping in a far-off corner as he and Dora skirted by.

“You should know something before you go in there.” She whispered as they walked, taking a turn down the long hall that led straight to the Director’s office. “Amelia Bones is the reason Bellatrix Lestrange is in Azkaban. She’s the one who bested and disarmed You-Know-Who’s most powerful follower in a duel, and will never lose her influence because of that feat.”

Interesting. He had wondered how Madam Bones became the DMLE Director when the likes of Fudge and Malfoy ruled the Ministry. Now he had his answer, in that the woman was given her position in the same way that Dumbledore was given his position of Headmaster of Hogwarts. Dumbledore beat Grindelwald to become Headmaster, in the same way that Amelia Bones beat Bellatrix to become Director of the DMLE.

She’s definitely a heavyweight then. He internally mused, finally arriving at the secretary’s desk outside the Director’s office.

“I’m afraid the Director is extremely busy this morning.”

“Tell her I’m here anyway, and that it would mean a lot if she could meet with us.” Harry replied.

The secretary’s quill froze, and she glanced at Tonks for help. For her part, Dora only offered a useless shrug. After a moment the woman stood, knocked once, and slipped inside. Half a minute later the Director’s door opened again. “She’ll see you both.”

Without a word, Harry walked in, finding a large and functional office fit for a Ministry department head. Filing cabinets filled one entire wall, with the opposing wall covered by an enchanted map that showed Britain as well as an enlarged Azkaban off the northern coast. The Director’s desk sat in front of rounded windows that looked over the Ministry atrium, with chairs and a separate seating area in front of it.

The woman behind the desk didn’t bother standing, not looking surprised whatsoever at their entrance.

She was a few years shy of forty and looked half her age while also being gorgeously mature. Tall for a witch with perfect posture, her auburn hair pulled back in a bun that looked intricate enough for an aristocrat of her status, with a few strands loose on the sides of her face. Her eyes were sharp, one of which was hidden behind an enchanted monocle, which rested on high cheekbones above firm lips.

Even if she was sitting, he could see the way her auror robes hugged her form, outlining how they curved up from that thin waist. And it was on her chest that he finally saw what Tonks warned him about, being the heavy, full breasts that visibly strained the fabric of her uniform with each breath. Harry’s gaze had dropped before he could stop it, drawn to the largest tits he had ever seen.

Upon finally dragging his eyes back to her face, he realized too late she had noticed. But Madam Bones did not call him out, likely used to such looks, as her face maintained its neutrality.

Harry took the chair across from her, while his companion stayed by the wall and found a sudden interest in a crack in the plaster.

“Mr. Potter.” Her voice was even. “We’ve never met before, and I’m indulging this meeting because of that fact. And because walking into my department without an appointment takes a particular kind of nerve. But don’t mistake my courtesy for kindness, if If you waste my time then I will have you thrown in a holding cell faster than you can draw your wand.”

Harry felt himself smile, small and genuine. “I’d expect nothing less.”

That earned the faintest twitch at the corner of her mouth. It wasn’t outright approval, but he could work with it.

Disclaimer: All Characters are over the Age of 18