"... Going to stay a secret until the potion," grinned Hermione. "You'll have to wait until they're revealed."
With a snort of amusement, Remus returned, "An answer worthy of a Marauder."
Though the three had explained to Ant and Cele what an animagus was, they were both very curious as to what the potion would do.
Remus was explaining its effects, and how it rapidly progressed the learning stages towards becoming an animagus and what those stages were, when Sirius returned. This time he apparated into the garage and came in through the interconnecting door.
"I'm back," he called before he walked into the sitting room.
Harry immediately popped out meditative state and stood up. happened?" he immediately asked.
of his "What "Lots!" grinned Sirius. He then explained what happened from the time he left until he returned.
"So, it was a murder attempt by Umbridge, and my hearing is now being replaced with a trial for her," said Harry. "What of Fudge's part in this?"
"He's not being asked any questions, yet," replied Sirius. "He'll be suddenly required to bear witness on the twelfth at Umbridge's trial. They want to try and keep him in the dark as much as possible. If they can keep him thinking the trial is actually a hearing for Harry, the less chance there is of interference.
"In the mean time, Umbridge is being held in the cells at the DMLE as a 'flight risk'. In reality it's so she can't run to Fudge and get him to try and get her out of it; or give him time to come up with a valid defence.
"However, Amelia has her dead to rights. As you 'suspected' it was her order that sent the dementors after you. However, she sent them here only on the off chance you would be here. However, if you weren't, the secondary order to the dementors was to take out Ant and Cele and, possibly, Hermione."
Cele gasped as Ant went white. Cele sat there for a moment before she mumbled, "Excuse me," and ran for the downstairs toilet.
Ant quickly followed her.
Looking to Hermione, Sirius looked abashed and apologised. "I'm sorry that sounded so blunt; but, there was really no way to soften that blow."
Hermione scowled back at him.
"It wasn't your finest moment," murmured Remus.
As they waited for Cele to finish revisiting her dinner, Hermione called Winky and asked her to prepare a peppermint tea for her mother and English breakfast tea for the rest of them.
With a look of concern on her face, Winky quietly said, "Yes, Mistress." And quickly set the makings up on the stove in the kitchen.
"Peppermint?" asked Sirius.
"It's a good herbal remedy for settling the stomach," explained Hermione. "Mum drank a fair bit of it while she was suffering from morning sickness. She'll want some when she and Dad return."
As Cele returned to the table, she muttered, "Sorry."
Winky immediately set before her a hot cup of peppermint tea before then setting cups of black tea before everyone else. The scent of peppermint immediately began to permeate the room.
Sirius immediately replied, "No, I'm the one who should be and is sorry. I should have found a better way to break that news to you."
Cele just waved him off as she sipped from her cup.
Ant said, "Sometimes, you can't be anything but blunt." With a nod back Sirius turned to the three and said, "Though it's no longer a hearing for Harry, the three of you will be called as witnesses. You can expect Amelia to get in touch with you some time tomorrow."
"With these three coming to visit my home on the weekend for the next couple of weeks, I'd like you to consider coming, as well. There's more than enough room."
With his own nod, Ant said, "We'll consider it."
"Good," said Sirius. "I know you have the tunnel and the portkeys; but, I think everyone will be happier if you're behind wards for at least the next couple of weeks."
"What about the wards that are here?" asked Cele. "They're an alert ward and an intent-based ward on the boundary of the property; and anti-fire and similar wards on the house itself," explained Sirius. "Mainly, they're designed to slow them down enough for you to be aware you're about to be attacked, and allow you enough time to get into the tunnel.
"That's all we can put up on a muggle home without breaking the law. Even then we're skirting it. But Harry, Amelia and Augusta our three sitting Wizengamot members - are trying to get laws through that'll allow us to put stronger wards up. It's yet another thing Fudge has been blocking; and another reason we need to get rid of him."
Harry nodded in agreement.
Four days later, Harry and the girls were up very early and dressed, ready to head to the Wizengamot. While Harry was dressed in Wizengamot robes, the girls dressed in their finest non-formal robes. All three wore a light cape with the disillusioned Potter crest on the breast, and a hood that could easily be hitched up and over their heads to help mask their faces as they travelled.
Walking downstairs they entered the kitchen where Winky had already prepared for them a light breakfast of pastries and small mixed fruit cooled compotes. None of them had the stomach for the usual fare for an English breakfast.
They learned Fudge had only remained unaware of the trial until late morning the day after the attack. He immediately headed for Madam Bones's office and demanded Umbridge's release. He was flatly denied.
However, the fact Fudge found out about it so fast demonstrated to Madam Bones that she had at least one 'tattletale' in among her aurors. That was yet another untrustworthy auror she needed to ferret out.
However, even though she denied Fudge the release of Umbridge then and there, the woman was still released that night after she went home for the evening. The Minister simply browbeat a lowly 'guard' auror to release her.
The Granger household received an apology letter from her the next morning, the Wednesday. Only about thirty seven hours after the attack.
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