Under Certain Condtions
Ron cleared his throat, as it was his turn to speak to the group. “Number five.” He stated as the group glanced towards Sirius. “Though Hermione hasn’t been able to come up with an idea for how to clear his name, I have.” The teens all shared a confused glance as they looked over to Ron. He pulled out a large binder that landed on the table with a ‘thud’. “In this binder contains all of my research on the trials during the original wizarding war. Every death eater and every caseworker is in this book.”
Hermione gasped lightly to herself as Ron arched an eyebrow. He smiled to himself as he pulled out a highlighted folder. “In this folder contains exactly who we will need.”
Remus grabbed the folder quickly as he flipped it open. “Amelia Bones?”
Harry glanced at Alsephina who shrunk into her seat. She had hoped to wait to get her other friends involved, preferably avoided completely.
“Yes,” Ron continued. “She is one of the strictest ministry members–” he paused as the group whispered to themselves. “But she believes the law must always be followed. What they did to you- to Sirius, was far beyond illegal. If we bring this to her, with help of course, she may dismiss your case fully.”
“That’s brilliant, Ron.” Hermione mumbled as she scribbled in her notebook.
“Are you sure that would work?” Sirius asked as he glanced over to Harry, who had a hopeful look in his eyes.
“With the help of Mrs. Longbottom–” Alsephina paused as she glanced towards the older woman. “It could work.”
“You don’t have to–” Remus interrupted his friend with a clap on his shoulder.
“Let them try, Sirius. Imagine being a free man–fully. Once again.” Sirius shoved his hand off his shoulder with a smirk.
“I’ll be at the Bones’ residence the 8th of August into the 9th. We could discuss it then?” Alsephina asked Madame Longbottom, who raised an eyebrow in response.
“Why do you need me, Alsephina?” she asked as she sipped on her tea. Alsephina gulped nervously as her eyes shifted to Harry.
“Honestly? She trusts your judgement, as do we –”
“I mean this kindly, but what makes you think I support Sirius being released?” She asked as she shared a look with Mcgonagall.
“To be fair, you didn’t leave when you saw him–” Ron started.
“And Frank and Alice were friends with–” Hermione began as Augusta held up her hand.
“You do not need to tell me details about my son and my daughter in law. I will assist you with Amelia, but under one condition.” The table stiffened at her words. “You all-” she looked around the group, “Will help me figure out a way to heal my son and his wife.”
“How the bloody he–”
“Ron!” Hermione shushed him with a slap to his shoulder.
Augusta gave him a stern glance as Mcgonagall said, “I suppose that shall be left to me, dear Augusta.” She clamped her hands over her friend’s with a small smile.
“Luckily, I will be around this school year, so I will do my best to help in the research as well.” Remus smiled to Mrs. Longbottom who nodded stiffly in his direction.
The chatter paused as Sirius stood abruptly. He ran to the door and yanked it open as Leon fell to the floor. Sirius glanced up with an arched eyebrow as he said, “‘Suppose we need to work on our silencing and muffling charms, kids.” Sirius yanked him up to his feet by the collar of his shirt and shoved him into the room. He closed the door quietly as Kingsley placed a few more wards on the surrounding walls. “
“I should have known you’d be too curious for your own good.” Alsephina muttered as Leon was forced to stand at the head of the table.
Leon looked to the floor as each party member studied his every move. He was taller away from the bar, Nymphadora noted with a swig of her coffee. He had changed into a jumper, which took ten years off of him. Though not many could tell, he had only been two years older than Nymphadora. His brown hair was curled to his shoulders and his eyes were a bright green. Nymphadora blushed deeply at the notion that Leon was truly an attractive man, once out of the lighting of the Leaky Cauldron.
Remus perked an eyebrow but said nothing as he watched the young witch’s face deepen into a crimson. He glanced over at the man in front of them and held back an eye roll. Sirius nudged him with a knowing look as Remus gripped his mug tightly. He had always had a jealous streak, though he wasn’t sure why he was having a fit over this young man. Remus’ eyes shot over to the younger Tonks as she cleared her throat.
He watched her curiously as she pulled an extra chair from the wall and had him sit down. Remus smiled to himself as he was proud of the woman she was becoming.
“Are you going to plead your case or are you going to sit there like an idiot?” Hermione huffed as Leon glared in her direction.
With a sigh he said. “I apologize for the intrusion, but I was deeply curious about this meeting you kept discussing-” Nymphadora and Alsephina shared a glance. “And I wanted to know more.”
“Well, you sure know it now, don’t you.” Ron muttered as the teens looked at one another.
“Members,” Kingsely paused as the group glanced at his direction. “This may give us an advantage, if we were to have him help us.”
“How can we trust him?” Arthur asked as he sneaked a glance at the young man.
Alsephina buried her head into the palms of her hands as the adults bickered back and forth over what to do with the man now sitting next to her. She peaked through her fingers to look at him. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, his hair was disheveled as he had been constantly running his hands through it. Alsephina shook her head, but stopped as Harry abruptly clapped. The room was silenced as Harry stood once again.
“It is late. Though we still have things to discuss–” He glanced down at Leon. “I believe we should dismiss, but before we all leave,” Harry reached into his bag and pulled out a smaller one. He opened the contents onto the large table and said, “Everyone is to take a token and a notebook. Each has been charmed for communication purposes. Within the notebook is a written explanation and how-to guide that will self-destruct after reading.”
“Shouldn’t we-” Molly began, but paused as Harry arched an eyebrow. Though it hadn’t been fully discussed, the elder’s would follow his lead – begrudgingly for some. Ron hugged his parents as they pulled him aside, arguing in hushed tones. Hermione hovered just out of ear shot.
“We can’t let you continue with this-this,” Molly motioned harshly towards Harry. She paused as Harry squinted in her direction from across the room. “Ron, what you are planning is dangerous.”
Aurthur clapped his right hand onto her shoulder, token and notebook cinched in his left hand as he sighed, “This could get you killed-”
Hermione sputtered angrily as she whipped around, “Are you seriously worried JUST about Ron? Not your other children? Like you haven’t partly helped raise Harry? You have got-”
Alsephina covered Hermione’s mouth with her hand as Molly’s cheeks turned a deep crimson. “Listen here-” Arthur grabbed Molly and disappeared with a ‘pop’ before she could finish her sentence.
“I’m sorry, Ron.” Hermione huffed as she leaned against the table. Ron shrugged to himself as he leaned next to her.
Each member took a notebook and a token that had a stag engraved. As the members began to apparate or said their goodbyes, Kingsely paused and pointed towards Leon and asked, “What are you going to do with him?”
Alsephina smiled wickedly and said, “Don’t worry, we’ve got it handled.”
With an arched eyebrow and nod, Kingsley apparated out of the room. Harry hugged Sirius and Remus tightly as they said their farewells. It would be months before they would see each other again. Alsephina hugged Remus tightly from behind, catching the werewolf by surprise.
“You can always meet me for coffee, you know.” Remus smiled at the teens as Alsephina clung to his sweater like a five year old.
“You better be punctual.” Alsephina let go slowly as Remus raised an eyebrow.
“You’re the one who was late to three of my classes.”
Alsephina stuck her tongue out at him as Sirius snickered at his side. With a nod Sirius and Remus apparated out of the room.
The only members left in the room were the elder Tonks’. Andromeda rubbed the temples of her forehead with her fingertips as Ted wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
“This is a lot to process, kids.” Ted sighed as his eyes caught on his daughter’s hands holding Harry’s “Although, at least some things don’t change.”
“What do you plan on doing with him?” Andromeda pointed towards Leon who hovered by the exit.
“I could turn him into a cockroach-” Nymphadora glared at Hermione who shrugged in response. It was just a suggestion.
“Let me talk to him, I’m sure we could somehow use him for intel.” Nymphadora watched him carefully out the corner of her eye as he perked up slightly at her words.
“Fine, do what you must, but I’m going to leave.” Harry huffed as he rubbed the lightning bolt across his forehead. Alsephina scrunched her eyebrows in thought as he walked out the door, palm to his forehead.
“It’s starting again, isn’t it?” Hermione whispered as they all watched the door shut behind him.
Nymphadora studied her sister’s solemn expression, but a green seal caught her eye that poked out of her bag. Nymphadora slowly snatched the letter and hid it behind her back as her mother hugged her younger sister tightly.
What could she be discussing with Malfoy? Better question, why was she communicating with him in the first place?
They each said their goodbyes and as Alsephina watched each of her family members leave, she couldn’t help but sigh deeply in relief. Her anxiety had been at an all-time high and now her energy was plummeting towards the ground. She leaned on the table as she rubbed her hands over her eyes. Hermione patted her back as she guided her out of the room. The moon lit the hallway just enough for them to find their footing. Ron lit candle after candle until each of the girls had entered their designated rooms.
“Blow those candles out, damn it!” A painting of an old man yelled as Ron closed his door with a smirk.
Alsephina collapsed onto the bed next to a sleeping Harry with a small smile. They were going to do it. They were going to save everyone they could.
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Cousin? He calls her cousin now? Nymphadora gagged at the thought as she continued reading the finely written letter. He had been taught well, she refused to admit. Her eyes skimmed the letter as she rolled her eyes. She tossed the letter onto her bedside table with a scoff. What the hell had her little sister gotten into?
Alsephina woke drenched in sweat, gasping for breath. Harry stirred slightly but never woke as she reached for her bag. Where the fuck is it? She emptied the contents of her purse all over the floor as she went through each letter searching for the emerald seal.
“‘Phina?” Harry mumbled as he placed his glasses over his eyes. “What’s going on?”
“It’s gone!” She screeched. Harry rushed to her side, but took his time avoiding the contents on the ground.
“What’s gone?” He asked as he slowly organized the items on the ground into piles.
“Draco’s letter-’ Harry stiffened at his name. “I had it all day, but now it’s gone. What if-”
Harry twirled a small piece of her hair between his fingers, “We will look for it more in the morning, alright?” Her eyes stayed on the floor as he lightly grabbed her chin. “I’m sure it’s just in the meeting room.”
She nodded curtly and dismissed herself to bed.
“Alsephina-” She turned harshly away from him and stared at the far wall. He dragged his hands down his face as he turned away from her as well. “Goodnight.” He whispered into the covers.
Sleep never came to her that night as she imagined every possible scenario as to what happened to his letter. Lives were at stake if it was put into the wrong hands. The witching hour came and went as she watched the sun rise. She ran out of the room, down the hall to the meeting room. Everything was as they left it, but his letter was nowhere to be found.
As she turned back towards the doorway, a figure stepped into the room. “Lose something?” Alsephina gasped as her older sister held out the missing letter. Nymphadora rolled her eyes with a snort as she tossed the letter onto the table.
“Where’d you find it?”
“Your bag,” Nymphadora shrugged as Alsephina gripped the letter tightly.
“You-”
Nymphadora held up her hand as she said, “I’ll help. With certain conditions.”
“Excuse me?” Alsephina snapped.
“Do I need to spell it out for you, kiddo?”