It had already been a few days since getting home on summer holiday, and Harry had been spending time with Susan, playing various games, and riding brooms and Pegasus - Susan's pet flying horse. While he was enjoying the time that he spent with just her, he found himself already missing the other two girls, but he also recognized that they both needed to spend at least a little time with their families, even if neither of them were particularly keen on it, and it would be incredibly short, perhaps only a week before they had been invited by Madame Bones to stay with them for the rest of the summer to both Harry and Susan's gratitude.
One day, however, Susan suggested that they go swimming, to which he readily agreed, even though he had to confess that he didn't actually know how to swim, the Dursleys having never taught him.
After learning that Susan immediately volunteered to teach him.
Putting on a pair of shorts that would just have to serve as his swim trunks, he went out to the pool to find Susan already out there.
It was at this moment that he was suddenly cognizant of something and began feel things that he hadn't entirely felt before as he gazed at Susan, clad only in a red bikini.
He had always known that Susan was rather pretty but it was only now that it was brought even more home.
When he had met Susan she really had no curves to speak of, being still just a young girl, and during school most of the time she was wearing robes which tended to cover up a lot.
Now however he couldn't help but notice how much Susan had grown, not just in height as he couldn't help but stare at her growing chest. They weren't exactly very big yet but enough to get his attention.
Susan however did not immediately notice him staring at her as she was still busy putting on sunscreen but when she looked over at him he was quick to look away.
"Could you help me with my back?" She asked.
"All right." He hastily said, grabbing the bottle and squirting some into his hand before putting it onto her back, entirely aware of just how close he was to her and her rear end that also ended up garnering his attention.
Once he was done, however, he put some on himself and then joined her in the pool allowing Susan to teach him how to swim, being careful not to stare too much, even if it was hard at times.
Over the next few days he practiced swimming with her until the other girls got there and joined them, also doing his best not to stare as the other girls also bared a lot more skin than he was accustomed to seeing on them. While neither of them were anywhere near as developed as other older girls he had seen or even Susan, he also couldn't help but notice how attractive they were becoming.
After swimming one day he noticed Su brushing her hair, and couldn't help but stare at the sight as she brushed out her incredibly long shiny black hair.
She noticed him staring and giggled a bit, before asking, "You want to help brush it for me?"
He nodded, taking the brush from her and brushing it out, once again getting those particular feelings and aware of just how close both he and Su were.
Nevertheless, Su nodded at him when he had finished as he left to go do something else.
"Harry. can I talk to you a moment?" Madame Bones asked him.
"Yes?" He agreed, hurrying over to where the woman was standing.
"I think we need to have a little talk about a few things." She admitted.
"Okay, what about?" He asked.
"I'd like to talk to you about how you are expected to treat my niece, Pansy, Su, and any other girls that you might notice." She told him, "I couldn't help but notice how you've been staring at them."
"I'm sorry-" Harry tried to say.
"It's all right, and to be expected. In fact I think each of them are rather flattered by the attention." Madame Bones explained, "You're a growing boy and right around the age that you start getting certain feelings, particularly towards the opposite gender. That's also why I need to explain a few things so that nothing gets out of hand, as each of the girls are going to be going through similar changes."
Harry fearfully nodded.
"There's nothing to be afraid of Harry, eventually you're going to quite enjoy such changes but if you don't know how to handle them then it becomes a problem." She continued.
She then began explaining things that made him feel a bit uncomfortable to talk about, but he also realized he needed to know. It was informative to say the least, and Madame Bones did a rather good job at explaining, even though he mostly just stood there in silence listening to her.
At the end of it, however he finally asked, "How do I avoid not staring at their... well you know."
"I'm assuming that you mean either their butt or their chest?" Madame Bones concluded.
He nodded.
"Well many young men find that difficult not to do, and some staring is expected just try to keep it from not going too far beyond that as it's important to treat girls with respect. As you may have noticed," Madame Bones said, gesturing at her own admittedly very large chest to demonstrate, "women in the Bones family tend to be rather large in this category and I suspect that Susan will be the same. Just try to remember that Susan is still a person and a friend and that she will need to be properly respected. Just remember, appreciation of their beauty is okay, but outright staring, or leering, is largely not."
She then launched into a few other things, leaving him dazed even after she finally let him go.
As he walked away, Susan, Pansy, and Su were all gathered together eating ice cream cones, and Su giggled, seeming to guess what the conversation had been about.
"It looks like Harry was just given The Talk." She stated.
"How was it?" Susan asked noticing his expression before confessing, "She gave me the talk yesterday."
"It wasn't the best experience of my life, but I'll live." Harry admitted.
"Well you're free to stare at my chest anytime." Susan couldn't resist quipping.
This left him completely without a response with the look of a gaping fish, causing all 3 girls to laugh.
"It's not like I haven't noticed you staring, particularly when we're in the pool." Susan commented, "Its not like you did a very good job hiding it."
"I apparently wasn't that subtle." He confessed, worrying how they would react.
"Don't worry, its okay Harry, we understand." Su told him, grinning mischievously. "Its not like any of us haven't checked you out before too."
"You mean you don't mind?" He asked.
"Actually I'm kind of flattered." Su said, "Why do you think I let you brush my hair? I knew you were attracted to it and I wanted some attention at the time. By the way, you're perfectly free to do so again. You know your way around a hairbrush." She teased.
"It's like my aunt told me, and probably told you," Susan explained, "each of us are going to end up marrying you and doing far more than just staring, but even though that's the case we're still young and still lack experience. We really shouldn't go that far, we're all still young. We should take it slow and one step at a time, but where we're at right now is to be expected and natural and actually in our case good as it is a good thing to be attracted to your future spouse."
"That sounds good to me," Harry replied, "but I still won't be able to help myself looking sometimes."
"For us that's perfectly fine, and I believe I can speak for all of use when I say that we want you to keep looking." Susan responded, "Just don't be expecting anything more from us for awhile."
He nodded, and Pansy decided to save him from further awkward conversation by asking, "Do you want any ice cream Harry?"
DUELDUELDUEL
Over the course of the next week or so he did his best not to stare or feel so awkward around the girls despite their talk with him but it was kind of hard not to as he realized that not only was he currently around 3 very attractive girls, but he would one day be marrying them as well. He still just wasn't sure how to act, yet fortunately or unfortunately, he was given a not so welcome distraction as Madame Bones informed him that the trial with his relatives was coming up in order to ascertain what should be done about the abuse suffered from them. It was... quite the mood killer.
"Are you going to be okay testifying?" Madame Bones asked, sounding worried for him.
"Yes." He answered trying to sound brave, even though he didn't really feel like that. He was honestly terrified of facing his relatives again and explaining right in front of them the abuse that he had suffered at their hands.
"I wouldn't ask you to testify if I could find another way around it," Madame Bones explained, "but since in cases like this where abuse has been suffered and few actual witnesses, the testimony by the victim is important. You have my word however that they will be unable to harm you, and if necessary they will temporarily lose the ability to speak or even if really necessary be removed from the courtroom until the end of the trial."
"I'll do it." He gravely agreed, comforted but still nervous, despite her claim.
"Thank you Harry, I know this is hard on you." she said, giving him a hug to comfort him.
"Thank you for helping me Madame Bones, I don't know how to express all the things that you've done for me." He told her.
When they both drew away from the hug, she told him, "I've actually been thinking that, since I now have custody of you, that it would be nice for you to just call me Amelia."
"Okay, Amelia." Harry answered, testing out the new name.
DUELDUELDUEL
When the trial date finally arrived they all traveled to the Ministry and went into one of the court rooms and sat down, the girls sitting up in the stands on one side of him for moral support while Amelia, who's name he was only just getting used to, sat on his right at a table in the middle of the room to explain the court proceedings to him as they unfolded.
"Minister Fudge actually agreed to judge the proceedings." She explained while everyone began to enter, pointing at the man himself as he went up to sit in the judge's chair at the front, "Since I'm the one filing the case it's required someone with more authority in the Ministry than I do to oversee the trial and pass sentencing, which meant I had to get him to do it. I've gotten him to swear a wizard's oath to keep the news of the trial away from the public. Only those who are required to be here will be present and they are also sworn to secrecy."
Harry watched as a few people entered, which appeared to consist of their attorney Becky Fawcett, who he had a met a few days ago to explain the case a bit to him. She would be trying to case for them as Amelia felt that as she had a personal interest in him as the one now taking custody that it would be better for someone else to actually be the attorney on record even though she had helped a great deal with building the actual case. Mrs. Fawcett gave him a warm handshake and a smile as she took a seat on the other side of him and began opening up her briefcase for her files.
The only other people were Dumbledore, who also sat in the stands, and a man that sat at the other table who Amelia explained was the court appointed lawyer for the defendants, in this case the Dursleys.
After it appeared everyone who needed to be there was there, Fudge began the proceedings.
"Court is now in session." He informed them, "The bailiff will now bring in the accused."
Harry watched as all of the Dursleys entered, first Petunia and Vernon, then followed by Dudley.
As soon as they saw him, Petunia screamed at him, "You little freak, how dare you say such things about us to these other freaks?" She made a lunge at him, but fortunately the bailiff stopped her by hitting her with a spell from his wand that immediately froze her.
"How dare you work your freak work on my wife," Vernon roared attempting to hit the bailiff.
The bailiff immediately froze him as well.
"That will be enough," Fudge declared as both of them began to come to, looking slightly dazed, "otherwise I will be forced to take further actions unless you can behave yourselves."
Both of them still looked upset, but nodded.
"Bailiff Shacklebolt, you have the right to take any preventative actions should they be necessary." Fudge told the large black man serving as the bailiff.
"I have them in handcuffs but should they attempt to start any further problems I'm prepared to act." Shacklebolt informed the Minister.
Shacklebolt then glared at each of the Dursleys to make sure they understood he was not bluffing before escorting them to their seats at a table a distance away from where he and Amelia were sitting.
"Let's get started then..." Fudge began, "We are here today to settle the matter of child abuse rendered to Mr. Harry James Potter, formerly of 4 Privet Drive, by the hands of both Vernon and Petunia Dursley. How do the defendants plead?"
"Not guilty." Petunia declared, "We only rendered punishment that was necessary to make sure he learned proper discipline."
It appeared that the Dursleys and their lawyer had managed to come up with some kind of defense, even though they hadn't been able to help their sudden outburst upon arriving in the courtroom which would certainly weaken their position.
"Mrs. Fawcett, if you would begin." Fudge asked of their own lawyer, who stood up to hand Fudge a document.
"We hereby present a case against the defendants Mr. and Mrs. Dursley and accuse them of willful wrongful child abuse and neglect which went beyond that of ordinary discipline and left permanent physical, emotional, and mental damage upon my client that could have easily resulted in his possible death. Let the record show that they are Muggles but are still subject to punishment in accordance with our laws as a result of their actions against a wizard. Over the course of the trial I will be delivering incontrovertible proof that such abuse and neglect did take place, and that maximum sentencing in this case is warranted."
"Mr. Smith, if you would please give your opening statement." Fudge then asked the man serving as the Dursleys' lawyer.
Harry noted that the man obviously was not happy to be here, or have to work the case, but he did his best to do an adequate job nevertheless.
"The Dursleys do not deny that punishment did occur but was well within the bounds of ordinary punishment that any parent or guardian might render to a child." He began.
At this Amelia scoffed silently, just loud enough for Harry to hear.
"Therefore they should be exempt from any punishment that they might stand accused of receiving." Smith concluded.
"Mrs. Fawcett if you would please call your first witness?" Fudge asked of their attorney.
"We would first like to call Madame Amelia Bones to the stand." She declared.
Amelia got up from her chair, placing her hand on his shoulder for a brief moment before going and sitting in the chair in front near Fudge, taking a wizard's oath to tell the truth before hand.
"Please explain in your own words what happened on the night of December 16th." Becky asked.
"I had invited Harry Potter and two of his friends to accompany my niece Susan and spend the Christmas holidays with us at our house." Amelia began, "While there I became aware that Harry had been injured and, acting according, went to assess the damage and in so doing discovered evidence of many older injuries that had been done upon his person, primarily in places that would normally be covered up and so would not normally be so easily discovered. In questioning Harry he was reluctant to admit the causes of such scars but finally admitted that they had been suffered at the hands of the Dursleys, including one Dudley Dursley, who is however a minor and therefore is not automatically linked into an adult case."
"I'd like to now move to have one Dudley Dursley also simultaneously stand trial for his participation in these events." Becky explained to Fudge, producing yet another document.
"Granted." Fudge declared, before allowing her to continue.
"As evidence for such scars I'd like to present exhibit A." Becky said, pulling out a weird little black device that, with a click, illuminated a large picture of his back, followed by his legs, and front torso.
"These have been authenticated and proven to belong to one Harry James Potter." She declared to all of them, with several of them, including Fudge and Mr. Smith, looking at the pictures with revulsion on their faces."
"Let it also be known that Harry James Potter confessed to the witness that such abuse was rendered by the hands of his relatives." Becky then continued again, "Many of the scars after these pictures were scrutinized by a trained medi-wizard and found to date back many years, as early as 5 years old. I have a sworn affidavit by him proving such, but he has also agreed to testify if necessary."
The case began to draw on, and Harry began to grow bored as Becky produced even more witnesses and Mr. Smith doing his best to rebut them, insisting that the scars could have come from anywhere, although even he seemed to know that his argument was flimsy at best even if it was the best one that could be offered as more and more evidence began to mount against him.
Finally Harry was called to the stand, as he explained in great detail the abuse that he had suffered even though haltingly. Yet when he got to one particular story about being hit over the head with a hot frying pan by Aunt Petunia back when he was 5 when he had accidentally burned the dinner he was supposed to be cooking, it caused Aunt Petunia who had been able to maintain composure until then to have another outburst.
"You little freak, how dare you say such lies!" She yelled, trying desperately to get up and get him again.
She didn't even manage to get fully out of her chair however before she was hit again by Shacklebolt.
"Please escort the witness out of the court room until sentencing." Fudge demanded.
"You aren't taking my wife anywhere!" Vernon yelled before also getting hit.
Shacklebolt was then forced to take them out, followed by Dudley, while they waited for them to leave before resuming.
His various experiences shared evidently were rather powerful as it left nearly everyone in tears, including Fudge and Mr. Smith who was to his credit doing his best to keep them in so as to still maintain himself as a fair lawyer to the Dursleys.
"Harry," Becky gently explained as she noticed just what kind of a fragile state he was in at the moment, "its okay if you'd like to leave now, we'll call you back in during sentencing, its going to be awhile."
Harry nodded, and got up and left the courtroom, followed by the 3 girls.
"Are you okay Harry?" Susan gently asked, giving him a hug, and allowing him to continue crying on her shoulder.
"I just didn't realize it would be so hard, explaining all of that, in front of other people. It was especially hard in front of my relatives. If the bailiff hadn't held them back I'm sure they would have done something." He answered quietly.
"Shhh, its okay, Harry, its okay." Susan gently soothed him, "They can't hurt you anymore."
"What if the trial goes bad?" Harry said, venting that part of him that still somehow believed that his fate was inescapable and that he would have to go back to them.
"No way that's ever going to happen, my Aunt's spent countless hours helping Mrs. Fawcett build a case for you." Susan told him with absolute confidence, "They wouldn't let you down and neither would we. My aunt would break the law and bust you out of there if we somehow lost and you were forced to go back with them."
The idea that she would break the law was rather comical as she was usually so law-abiding but realized that she probably would if she felt she had to.
"No one is going to get you, we're all in this together." Su stated, lending her support.
"Come on let's go check out the magic fountain." Pansy suggested, referring to the huge fountain they had passed on their way to the courtroom.
"Yeah that's a great idea," Susan agreed, "we should be back before they get done."
Harry chose to accompany the girls to the fountain, and silently watch the water spout from various locations from the wizard, the witch, the goblin, and the house elf.
As he was doing, so standing there, someone accidentally bumped into him, knocking him over.
"Wotcher!" The 17 year old looking young witch said with an upbeat smile, "Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." She bent down to help him up.
"Thanks." He said.
"Its my fault, I was a bit preoccupied. I have a job interview in an hour, I'm a bit nervous." She confessed.
He looked at her for a second and noticing her appearance, with bubblegum pink hair yet wearing some nice black dress robes, obviously for her interview.
"I'm Tonks by the way." She continued.
"I'm-" Harry began to introduce himself.
"Harry Potter, I know, I've seen all of you around at school last year." Tonks said, seeming unaffected by his fame status earning immediate respect for her, "How do I look? Do you think I look okay?"
"The hair doesn't seem to work." Su confessed.
"Ooh right, better fix that." She answered, suddenly causing her hair to change to a light brown.
"How did you do that?" Susan asked.
"I'm a Metamorphagus," Tonks confessed, "I can change any part of my body at will."
"Any part of your body?" Su asked.
"Sure!" Tonks replied, suddenly causing her mouth to form into a duck's bill momentarily before changing it back again.
"That's wicked cool," Su stated, "I don't think I've ever met a Metamorphagus before, it must be such a useful talent."
"They're pretty rare, and it has come in handy many times." Tonks confirmed, "I'm hoping that it helps me for my interview, I'm applying to be an Auror."
"I was wanting to be an Auror too." Harry confessed, "In fact me and Su are planning to be in the young auror program."
"I was in that for the last 4 years." Tonks admitted, "Its hard work, but definitely useful, and I already know a lot of the Aurors from it and they tend to look at if you've gone through that program on your resume so I'm hoping that gives me an edge to get the job."
"I'm sure you'll do fine." Harry said.
"I'm actually surprised you got into the program though at such young ages, I'm betting you have to be either really good or you know someone?" Tonks replied.
"I'd say both, they are both exceptional duelists," Susan told her, " but my aunt is the head of magical law enforcement and she's the one who got them in."
"You're Madame Bones niece?" Tonks asked with surprise.
Susan smiled, used to this look of surprise by now, although Tonks was surprised for a different reason.
"I'm just a bit shocked I ran into my potential future boss of my boss' niece." Tonks confessed.
"Don't worry, I'll put in a good word for you if I see her." Susan grinned again.
"Put in a good word for whom?" Amelia asked coming up behind Tonks, causing her to jump a few inches off the floor.
"Nymphadora Tonks, pleased to make your acquaintance." Tonks said now sounding even more nervous.
"Tonks is applying for a job as an Auror." Susan explained.
"Are you now?" Amelia asked of Tonks.
"Yes Ma'am." Tonks replied.
"We could always use more Aurors, we're currently losing more than we can replace them with, too many retirements and quitting, it can be a stressful dangerous job, but I always enjoyed it back when I was an Auror." Amelia reminisced, "Is Robards doing the interviewing?"
"Yes, Ma'ame." Tonks politely replied again.
Turning back to them, Amelia then said, "I was just coming to check on you and see how you were doing, when I didn't see you outside the courtroom I guessed you'd come here."
"How is the trial going?" Susan asked.
"Pretty good, in my experience with court cases I'd say we pretty much have it in the bag, its merely a formality at this point, the evidence is too strong. Smith is doing his best to provide a decent defense, but I think even he knows its a lost cause."
Tonks had been standing to the side and listening in, even though she had no idea what they were talking about, but then chose to take her leave.
"I think I'd better get to my interview now." Tonks said as she walked off with each of them wishing their goodbyes to her.
After she had left Harry asked, "How much longer do you think they'll be?"
"I'd guess another hour, with closing remarks and time for Fudge to make his deliberations." Susasn's Aunt deduced, "How about I take you all to see where I work and also just where Harry and Su will be doing their young Auror program while we wait?"
She led them to her office, allowing them to view the vast mahogany table loaded down with paperwork as it was, and introduce them to her secretary, Winter Summers.
The Auror training room where they would be doing much of the program was far more interesting however, as it was set up in an obstacle course type setting, full of various walls to climb over, netting to climb under, and various training dummies to hit along the way.
"Pretty cool huh?" Madame Bones asked them.
They all nodded, and Madame Bones decided it was now time for them to get back so they did so, arriving to find that Fudge had just left to make deliberations.
However, they only needed to wait a few minutes before Fudge came back with his decision, and all of the Dursleys were allowed back in to hear the ruling.
"After deliberation I have decided to side against the defendants and therefore charge them with willful child abuse and neglect, and have opted to go with the maximum sentence of 7 years for both Vernon and Petunia Dursley in Azkaban in minimum security."
Both of them opened their mouths to speak, but Kingsley pointed his wand in their faces forcing them to be silent.
"I further find that as a condition their son Dudley Dursley be placed into the care of his closest adult living relative willing to take him, and also be required to go to anger management counseling. As there is also some concern over his general health. He will also be required over the summer to attend a muggle health camp to help him lose weight by the name of Weight Losers."
"That's a fat camp!" Dudley yelled angrily, "I'm not going to no fat camp or no counseling."
Fudge grinned and said, "Very well the other option is to enroll you in St. Brutus' School for Incurably Criminal Boys."
That immediately clammed up Dudley, earning a small laugh from Harry.
"As for Harry Potter, he shall be remanded into the custody of one Amelia Bones, but as per request this information will be stricken from court records. I remind you all that you are under oath not to reveal it. Court is now adjourned," Fudge announced, now watching the completely distraught looking Dursleys be led away by Kingsley.
"So its over?" Harry asked, still hardly able to believe it.
"Yes." Amelia said, giving him a hug, "Welcome to the family, Harry, you'll never have to be with the Dursleys again."
Harry gave her a hug back, grateful to finally be free of his relatives.