As their evenings together became more frequent, Amelia focused on truly getting to know Harry. She shared memories of her childhood, often speaking about her brother, who had been her best friend growing up. When she tried to ask about Harry's childhood, though, he was evasive, deftly changing the subject.
Still, she managed to learn bits and pieces. Dudley's favorite game, apparently, had been something called Harry hunting. Harry also casually mentioned that he was responsible for all the chores at the Dursleys'. Though she didn't fully understand the weight of it yet, her instincts told her there was more to uncover. Patiently, she waited, hoping that someday he would trust her enough to share the rest. In the meantime, she made a mental note to ask Tonks what exactly a "chore" was.
Then one night, the answers came more suddenly than she expected.
Her fingers had brushed over thick, jagged flesh, a lattice of scars she couldn't ignore.
"Harry," she whispered, her voice trembling, "where did you get these scars on your back?"
He went still. For a long moment, his gaze locked with hers, searching her expression. Finally, as if he had made a decision, Harry turned around, giving her an unimpeded view of his back.
With surprising calm, he began pointing to each scar, recounting how he'd gotten them.
"This one," he said, tracing a line near his shoulder blade, "was from the time I ended up on the school roof during a game of Harry hunting." His tone was detached, almost clinical.
"This one here? Got caught sneaking food from the kitchen at night."
Amelia listened silently as he continued, describing each scar with a mix of hazy memory and resigned acceptance.
When he finally turned back to face her, her cheeks were streaked with tears. Harry's expression softened. He kissed away the tears, then pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if to shield her from the pain of his past.
They will pay for this, she vowed silently, rage simmering beneath her calm exterior. I will make sure they suffer.
She stayed nestled against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. But her mind was already racing with plans.
That night, as soon as she returned home, Amelia wrote a letter to Tonks. It was short and to the point:
You have one week to gather the information we discussed. After that, we take action.
Sealing the letter with her personal crest, she sent it off and fell into a restless sleep.
o - o - o -o
The morning after their night together in France, Amelia awoke early, showered, and headed to the Ministry. Her first meeting had taken longer than expected, and by the time she entered the Auror bullpen, it was well past midday.
She smirked at the surprised expressions on her colleagues' faces.
Is it really that shocking to see me arrive six hours late? she thought, stifling a smirk, maybe it is, oh if only they knew why…
Tonks caught her eye and smiled knowingly. Amelia's smirk vanished, replaced by a sharp glare.
"Back to work, everyone!" she barked, striding toward her office.
Her second meeting dragged on endlessly, and just as she was preparing to leave, Moody appeared with urgent news about Death Eater activity. By the time she left the Ministry, it was late, and she realized with a wince that she had missed dinner entirely. Worse, she hadn't even sent Harry an owl to let him know.
When she arrived at Bones Manor, the house was dark, and she assumed Harry had gone home. But when she opened the door to her bedroom, her breath caught.
Harry was there, sitting naked in her bed, casually reading a book.
Relief and delight surged through her as she quickly shed her own clothes and joined him.
"I'm so sorry I missed dinner," Amelia said after pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "I got caught up at the Ministry."
Harry returned her kiss, his tone understanding but firm. "I understand, Amelia. But in the future, I'd appreciate it if you let me know when you're not coming. As it happens, Susan and I had a lovely dinner together."
"I know, and I'm sorry," she said sincerely. "I'm not used to having someone waiting for me—it's a bit of an adjustment. But I'll work on it." She paused, her expression softening. "I'm glad you stayed, Harry."
"I wanted to see you," he replied, kissing her again.
Later, as they lay together, Harry spoke of sharing their relationship openly with others. Amelia was initially nervous at the thought of involving his friends or her colleagues—especially people like Moody or Shacklebolt. But when Harry admitted he wanted to "scream it from the rooftops," her heart swelled.
Let him tell the world, she thought. I don't care. I'm proud of us too.
The next day, Amelia was in a meeting with Moody, discussing plans to assemble a trusted team to track down Peter Pettigrew. Their conversation was interrupted by a note from Harry, detailing the date and time of an upcoming meeting with Dumbledore.
Without hesitation, Amelia grabbed her quill and penned her reply, her mind already turning to the next step in their shared journey.
Harry,
I won't be able to make it for dinner tonight, but I will be there for lunch tomorrow.
If we get this thing with Dumbledore done quickly maybe we'll have time for a little fun. You've gotten to taste me so it's only fair I get to taste you.
Yours,
Amelia
"There, that should make him blush," she thought with a final nod as she read it over. Amelia was sure Alastor noticed her unusual smile as she wrote her note, but he didn't say anything.
After that, time flew by in a whirlwind of events, including the harrowing ordeal of dealing with the basilisk. The night before their engagement announcement marked the first evening Amelia and Harry had been able to spend together in awhile. Amelia wasn't surprised to realise just how much she had missed him.
That night, they talked about their plans for the upcoming dinner, their conversation easing the tension that had built up from their recent busyness. As the evening wore on, Amelia knew she had to broach a more serious topic, Dumbledore.
Harry listened as she laid out her intentions, his expression thoughtful. To her surprise, he took it better than she had anticipated, though he did make one request. She sighed, knowing she'd have to rein in her more aggressive instincts. "Fine," she agreed reluctantly. "I'll be diplomatic."
Then just when she thought the evening had settled, Harry had surprised her again—this time by proposing. It was perfect, understated yet heartfelt, and she couldn't imagine a more fitting moment.
o - o - o - o
The next evening, Amelia and Susan arrived fifteen minutes late as planned. As they entered, Amelia led Susan out of the main room, giving Harry and Neville the space to talk privately.
At the door, Susan hesitated, glancing back. "Auntie, shouldn't we—"
Amelia cut her off gently but firmly. "No eavesdropping, Susan. Trust them. If you need to know, Neville will tell you."
"Yes, Auntie," Susan replied with a sigh, reluctantly stepping into the dining room. Spotting Hermione and Ginny in the corner, she quickly veered toward them, leaving Amelia momentarily adrift.
Amelia glanced around before gathering her courage and approaching Arthur Weasley and Tonks, who were deep in conversation.
"Madam Bones!" Arthur greeted her warmly, though surprise coloured his tone. "I wasn't expecting to see you here this evening. Have you joined the Order?"
"No," Amelia replied smoothly. "Harry invited us. He mentioned he had big news to share and wanted us here."
Arthur raised his eyebrows, clearly intrigued, but refrained from asking further questions. Tonks, however, looked ready to tease, and Amelia braced herself.
"So," Tonks began with a mischievous grin, "did Harry hand-deliver that invite—"
Thankfully, Harry chose that moment to enter the room, Neville trailing behind with a slightly queasy look on his face. Amelia smirked as she watched them approach.
What on earth did he say to poor Neville?
Dinner was delicious, and the atmosphere was surprisingly light. Though Amelia had been nervous about the announcement, Harry's playful, lighthearted delivery put everyone at ease. It only made her love him more.
Predictably, Molly Weasley had a dramatic outburst, but it was Ginny's reaction that caught Amelia off guard.
Was this Molly's influence, she wondered, or did Ginny genuinely have feelings for Harry?
As Harry escorted Ron outside to bid the Weasleys farewell, Amelia waited a few moments before following. She paused in the doorway, watching Harry quietly.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Susan's voice, carrying through from the dining room. She laughed softly, her heart swelling as she listened. Harry was gradually stepping into a more parental role with Susan, and though the situation was unusual, they were adjusting better than she could have hoped.
Later, she poured herself a glass of firewhiskey and sipped it slowly, letting the others' conversations flow around her. Her mind, however, was elsewhere—focused on the confrontation she was about to have with Dumbledore.
Finally, she thought, downing the last of her drink. I'm going to get some answers.
As Harry showed the last of the guests out, Amelia intercepted Dumbledore. "Follow me," she said curtly, her tone brooking no argument.
She led him to the office Harry had set aside for her, motioning for him to enter first. He stepped toward the chair in front of the desk, but before he could sit, Amelia struck.
With a sharp motion of her wand, Dumbledore was slammed against the wall, his arms and legs bound by conjured ropes.
"SILENCIO!" she barked, silencing him before he could protest.
"You will listen to everything I have to say," she began, her voice low and fierce, "and then you will answer every question I ask. There is no other option for you, Albus Dumbledore. Do you understand me?"
The lights flickered ominously as her magic radiated through the room. Dumbledore's eyes widened in shock, and for the first time in a long while, there was genuine fear in them.
"Nod if you understand," Amelia said, her voice cold and unnervingly calm.
Paralysed by the fire in her gaze, Dumbledore nodded, his usual composure shattered.
Amelia took a deep breath, her grip on her wand unwavering. Tonight, she would get her answers, no matter the cost. She glared at Dumbledore for a moment longer before striding to the desk. From the bottom drawer, she retrieved a thick file and threw it at his feet.
"I may not have enough to see you in a cell in Azkaban, but there's more than enough here to ruin your reputation as the so-called leader of the light. Not that it would take much. Fudge has already done half the work with his ridiculous rantings this past year. You've let your obsession with the greater good cloud your judgment, Albus, and it stops now."
Dumbledore's shocked silence gave Amelia pause, but she pressed on. "The only reason I'm not tearing strips off you this very moment is that I promised that young man outside this room I wouldn't hurt you. Despite everything you've allowed him to endure, he still cares for you. He's forgiven you already, but I cannot. Too many of your decisions defy logic or compassion, and tonight, I expect answers. Spare me manipulations and half-truths, Albus. You will not like the consequences if you test me."
She flicked her wand to release the silencing charm. "Finite."
Dumbledore shifted uncomfortably but remained composed. "I'm not sure what you mean, Amelia. I've always cared for Harry, and every decision I've made has been with his best interests in mind."
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions, Dumbledore," Amelia snapped, her voice laced with disdain. "You know that better than anyone. Intentions aren't enough."
Her magic began to swirl around her, but Amelia inhaled deeply to rein in her temper. She fixed Dumbledore with a piercing look. "Why was he left with the Dursleys?"
Dumbledore sighed. "James and Lily's will stated that Harry should be left with his godparents if something happened to them. But at the time of the will reading, Sirius was in Azkaban, and Alice was... incapacitated at St. Mungo's. That left Harry's only other blood relatives, the Dursleys. I placed blood wards around their home to protect him. I wanted him to have a normal childhood, far from the fame and burdens of our world."
"Normal?" Amelia's voice was incredulous. "You knew the kind of people they were! Minerva warned you."
"Minerva and I spoke often, yes, and I heard her concerns. But I truly believed Petunia would come to care for Harry. He was her sister's child, after all. I hoped she would see him as a connection to Lily."
Amelia shook her head, her face pale with anger. "Did you evencheckon him, Albus? Did you wonder why he came to Hogwarts malnourished, wearing rags? Did you ask yourself why he was smaller than his peers or why he seemed so hesitant to trust adults?"
Tears welled in Dumbledore's eyes. "I... I never knew. I failed to see—"
"You should have known! It was your responsibility!" Amelia surged forward, wand raised, but stopped just short of his chest. Her breath came in sharp bursts, and after a moment, she stepped back, lowering her wand.
"You failed him," she said, her voice trembling with restrained fury. "You had a duty to protect him, and you failed."
Dumbledore's hands shook as he removed his glasses. "You're right, Amelia. I have no excuses. I saw a boy who was kind, brave, and quick to make friends. I let myself believe he was happy. I am so deeply sorry."
Amelia stared at him, her anger still simmering but held in check. "In a moment, Harry is going to walk in here, and you're going to tell him everything—about the prophecy, Voldemort, and the Horcruxes. You will also swear an unbreakable vow to him to be truthful and transparent from now on."
Dumbledore looked up sharply. "An unbreakable vow?"
"To Harry," Amelia clarified. "He deserves nothing less. Will you do it?"
After a long silence, Dumbledore nodded. "Very well Amelia," said Dumbledore as he stood up, looking every year his age. The twinkle in his eyes was completely gone. Dumbledore made his vow, and when he finished a flash of golden light surrounded him and then left the room in search of Harry.
"Have a seat Albus, I imagine we will be here for a while. Would you like tea or coffee?" asked Amelia as politely as she could while she conjured a small table and three comfortable chairs near the fire.
"Tea would be lovely Amelia, thank you." Said Albus as we walked over to the chair closest to the fire rubbing his neck.
"Alice," called Amelia as she sat down in the chair opposite Dumbledore.
"Yes, mistress Bones." Said the elf appearing with a bow.
"Could you bring tea for three please, and tell Harry he can stop pacing in front of the door and join us." Said Amelia with a smirk.
"Yes ma'am," said Alice as she disappeared. A moment later Harry walked into the room with a cheeky grin.
"You know me too well Amelia," he said as he came over and kissed her on the cheek.
"Professor." He said turning to Dumbledore. "I felt a pulse of your magic a few moments ago. Someone want to tell me what's going on?" He said looking back and forth between the two of them as he took the seat in the middle.
"Albus has made a magical vow to be completely honest with you from now on," explained Amelia. Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise, but didn't say anything. "I'm not sure I want to know how she got that out of him," he thought.
"So," said Amelia. "Let's start with this prophecy that Voldemort was so determined to get his hands on. Why are you convinced it involves Harry?"
"When I was first told the prophecy I believed that it could have applied to either Harry or Neville due to when they were born. It is the fact that Voldemort choose Harry that makes it about him. Voldemort heard the first part of the prophecy and decided it applied to the new Potter child, so he went to Godric's Hollow that night to kill Harry to stop the prophecy from coming true," stated Dumbledore sadly. Both Amelia and Harry paled a little at this, grateful for the tea and biscuits that just appeared so they could process this for a moment.
"What is the power that he knows not?" Asked Amelia stirring milk into her tea.
"I believe it is love." Said Albus simply.
"What?" Screamed Amelia getting angry again. "Are you delusional? It could be anything? It could be the Black family magic or the Potter family magic he is learning, it could be some crazy device he and Hermione come up with. What is it you are expecting him to do? Go up to Voldemort and give him a big hug? And then what?" Albus chuckled slightly at the thought of Harry giving Voldemort a hug but grew serious again knowing what he had to say next.
"There is a reason why I think that Amelia. Harry has an enormous capacity to love and I believed- well believe - that capacity to care for others, the fierce desire he has to protect others will allow him to make the ultimate sacrifice when -um - it becomes necessary," he explained. The room fell into complete silence. Amelia desperately hoping she had heard him wrong while she clenched the handle of her cup.
"How would me sacrificing myself defeat Voldemort?" Asked Harry speaking up for the first time.
"That night in Godric's Hollow, when Voldemort failed to kill you, I believe that the spell rebounded, and a piece of his soul was broken off and attached itself to the only living thing in the room." Said Dumbledore with pain in his eyes as he looked at Harry's scar. Harry noticed where his gaze had travelled to and brought his fingers to his forehead.
"My scar." He whispered.
"Wait, you mean a piece of Voldemort's soul is in Harry?" Asked Amelia in disbelief as she put down her cup. "Is that why Harry can see into his mind sometimes?"
"Yes, I believe it is the reason for the connection. We know that Voldemort is aware of the connection, but I do not think he is aware of how it came into existence or what it means. He was successful in creating a Horcrux that night, though I do believe it was unintentional."
"What is a Horcrux?" asked Harry looking to Amelia for an answer.
"It is a very dark magical artifact that holds a piece of someone's soul. The ritual for creating a Horcrux allows a wizard to place a portion of their soul into another vessel to grant them a sort of immortality. As long as the Horcrux exists they cannot fully die. It is why you vanquished his body that night, but he was able to come back with the ritual Pettigrew did in the graveyard." Said Amelia as tears started to well in her eyes.
"So as long as I live, he cannot be killed?" asked Harry.
"That is my interpretation, but I promise you Harry I have been trying to find another way. So far, I have been unsuccessful, but..."
"I will find a way," said Amelia with finality. They sat in silence for a long time before Amelia spoke again. "The diary." She said in a whisper.
"What?" Said Harry looking over at her.
"The diary you destroyed in your second year. It was a Horcrux. It's the only thing that can explain what you said it was capable of," said Amelia while she stared at Dumbledore to see if he knew.
"That was my conclusion as well," Said Dumbledore with a heavy sigh.
"So he has made others than, intentionally." Said Amelia solemnly, feeling a bit sick. "How many?"
"That I do not know, I'm afraid," said Dumbledore. "Through my research into Tom's life, I believe I know the location of two others, but beyond that I have no idea how many more there could be or where to begin looking for them."
"We should check Gringotts, or ask the goblins too," chimed in Harry. "When Hagrid took me to Gringotts he told me that it was the safest place in the world, except Hogwarts. It's very possible Voldemort gave a Horcrux to one of his followers and they put it in their vault for safe keeping." Both Amelia and Dumbledore looked at him with a mix of awe and curiosity.
"I hadn't thought of that," said Amelia to herself. "See Dumbledore, this is why we include him. He is good at finding things others miss." she thought with a smirk.
"I think that is a great idea Harry, perhaps you should send them a letter tomorrow. You are a friend of the nation after all." Said Amelia with a proud smile.
"Really?" Asked Dumbledore. "That's very commendable Harry, I don't think a wizard has been a friend of the goblin nation for a century, at least." Harry looked down at his cup uncomfortably. he still didn't like receiving praise.
"I have never been a fan of prophecies," said Amelia, changing the subject to bring the attention away from Harry. "But whether or not I believe this one has any value; Voldemort clearly believes in it and that is what concerns me. I imagine he will be doing whatever is necessary to ensure his success. You have put Harry at a severe disadvantage Albus, by keeping all of this from him. Voldemort is going to keep trying to kill Harry until he succeeds, and you have not even given him the knowledge and training he needs to be able to defend himself. You are naïve if you do not think it will come to a battle between them at least once," said Amelia in an eerily calm voice as she rubbed her eyes.
"For what it is worth Harry, I am sorry. I only wanted you to have a normal childhood for as long as possible. I am not infallible; Amelia is right, I have made many mistakes when it comes to you. I only hope that you can forgive me," said Albus in exhaustion.
"I already have Professor," said Harry with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Amelia is the one that is struggling."
"I don't know if I can ever forgive you for not fulfilling your duty to him as his guardian or for setting him up to fail against Voldemort because of a Prophecy, but Harry is constantly telling me that the past is in the past and that's where it should remain. So, if you help end this war and you continue to honour the vow you made tonight, I will do my best to let the past lie, for Harry's sake. But, if you do wrong by him again, I will destroy you," said Amelia fiercely. Albus nodded knowing that was likely the best he was going to get from Amelia.
"Going forward, I think it is time we start fighting fire with fire. We need to train Harry to defeat him at any cost. I will get the Aurors involved. I'll setup a sort of internship with Moody or something so it is legitimate. We can focus on..." but she was pulled out of her train of thought by the disapproving look in Dumbledore's eyes.
"Don't look at me like that Albus. I know you are the spokesperson for stunners and rehabilitation, but this is Harry's life at stake and his life is more important to me than even my own. I will not lose him. I will not allow it. We must strike back if we hope to win this, and Harry must be prepared because his victory is the only outcome I am willing to accept. You may be willing to sacrifice his life for the greater good, but I am not." Exclaimed Amelia as her eyes filled with fire again and the end of the wand she was now gripping sparked fiercely.
"Perhaps you are right Amelia. I will not get in your way." Said Dumbledore in defeat.
"I would like to meet with you next week to discuss where you think the Horcruxes you mentioned are hidden, and I also have some questions about Sirius' conviction, but I think we have discussed enough for one night." Amelia said with a sigh.
Albus nodded his head and stood, wanting to get out of there as quickly as he could. "I will make myself available to you Amelia, just send me an owl."
"I'll see you out sir," said Harry as he followed him out of the room. Once they left Amelia put her head on the table and started to cry. She would do everything she could, but she knew it was a very real possibility that she could lose him.
"I know him, if I cannot find another way, he will sacrifice himself and he will make sure I can't stop him." She thought with a sob. Several minutes later Harry came back into the study and walked over and pulled her up into his arms, gently kissing away her tears.
"Please ask me to stay," Amelia thought as he held her close. "I don't want to be alone tonight."
"Thank you for not maiming him," Harry whispered into her hair. Amelia looked up at him.
"We will be very busy dealing with everything we have learned tonight," she said changing the subject.
"I know." Said Harry as he kissed her forehead. "Stay with me tonight?" Amelia laughed gently.
"I would have demanded you let me if you hadn't asked," she replied with a smile.
"Susan?" Harry asked.
"It may not be one of my best parenting decisions thus far, but I let her stay the night at Neville's."
"Ah, that's why they were awkwardly waiting for me to leave the room when I was seeing everyone out." Said Harry. "They didn't want me to see them leaving together. I just assumed they wanted to snog or something." Finished Harry as he shrugged his shoulders. Amelia glared at him and he pulled her in for a kiss.
"Don't worry 'Melia, I'm sure Madam Longbottom is keeping an eye on them. Come on, let's go upstairs." Amelia nodded and took his hand in hers as they left the study.
As soon as they got to the master bedroom, they shed their clothes and crawled into bed, legs and arms automatically entwining. Harry gently ran his fingers through Amelia's hair while she held on to him tightly, trying to convince herself it wouldn't be the last time.
"No it won't be, it can't be. I have lost too much in this war. I will not lose Harry as well." She thought.
"Amelia?" She heard Harry whisper so quietly she barely caught it.
"Hmm?" She said contently.
"How would you feel if I asked you and Susan to move in here? Or I guess I could move into Bones Manor if you prefer, I just..." said Harry into the silence. Amelia could hear his heart racing and knew he was trying to find the right words, so she just waited. After a moment she heard him take a deep breath and continue.
"I will do my best to defeat Voldemort without dying but if I don't -"
"No Harry!" Amelia interrupted as she lifted her head up to look in his eyes. "There is no but if I don't. We will defeat him together and then we will have a long happy life, with at least one messy haired little boy running around. I wasn't lying when I said it was the only future I was willing to accept."
"I believe you Amelia, but despite how hard we will try something could happen, to either of us, and if it does I want to know that I got to spend every moment with you that I could, that I got to hold you on my arms every night and wake up with you every morning. I don't want to waste a moment of whatever time we have together." Said Harry gently. Amelia sighed and leaned forward and kissed him desperately trying to express all of the emotions she was feeling in that moment.
"How about we talk to Susan about it in the morning, and decide together which house we live in?" Harry smiled at her so brightly it lit up the room and then he nodded. Amelia laid her head back down on his chest.
"Good night 'Melia."
"Good night my love."