"I simply find it hard to believe that The-Boy-Who-Lived's family dislikes him."
"They are not my family," Harry snarled. "They are my relatives. Bathsheda Babbling is far more family than they ever were." Shiva sniffled a bit at that but Harry barged on. "And just because reality isn't what you find believable doesn't make it untrue, ma'am."
"Please continue with your explanation, Mr. Potter," Amelia said before Hopkirk could say anything else.
"I spent most of the dinner being berated and insulted. Eventually Aunt Marge got around to saying that it was good my parents were dead and that with any luck me and Ms. Babbling would be joining them soon. I started yelling back at that point and then Aunt Marge insinuated that I was intimate with Ms. Babbling." Amelia's eyebrows rose at that statement while Hopkirk just snorted again. "I had a burst of accidental magic after that which destroy many of the windows in the room and knocked the table over in addition to sending my Aunt careening into the wall. Her dog moved to attack me and I defended myself by using a rune stone which creates a very loud noise. After it cut out I had to retrieve my things with the use of an unlocking rune and left the house."
"And that's when you went to Ms. Babbling's home?" Amelia clarified.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Ms. Babbling, can you corroborate any aspects?" Amelia's quill was scratching along as she turned to look at Shiva.
"Harry showed up at my door last night around 1 am. He had just gotten off the Knight Bus but was still visibly upset and some clothes were half sticking out of his trunk. It looked like he had left in a hurry. When I asked what happened he told me the same thing you just heard." Shiva sighed. "I was coming to pick him up today anyway. His relatives have a history of this sort of thing, Ma'am."
"Really?" Amelia's quill stopped moving and she turned her full gaze upon Shiva. "And why am I just hearing about this now?"
"Simple, Madame Bones," Harry said. "Nobody cared before Ms. Babbling found out." He shrugged. "Very few people care now."
"Mr. Potter, it is not normal for relatives to behave in such a manner."
"Again, that doesn't change the fact that nobody cared before, Ma'am. I'm done with them now. I don't plan on ever seeing them again."
"You don't actually believe this, Madam?" Hopkirk asked sounding incredulous. "He's the Boy-Who-Lived! No one in their right mind would say such things to him. He's obviously making the entire thing up to get away with breaking the law like a spoiled little child."
Shiva glared at the woman and Harry's eyes narrowed. Amelia just rubbed her forehead and picked up the quill. "Mafalda, I placed you on probation last year because you refused to listen or investigate. You are doing the exact same thing right now. I advise you to stop speaking before I fire you."
"Madam Umbridge would never – "
"I don't care what the Senior Undersecretary thinks or threatens, Mafalda. I run this department. And I don't take being given ultimatums well. Pack your things and get out."
"You can't do this to me!"
"I already have. Out. Now." Amelia pointed towards the door with a scowl on her features. Hopkirk glared at the Director but stiffly stood and walked out of the room. "Damn, now I need to find yet another clerk. Mr. Potter," Amelia said switching gears and turning back to the others in the room, "I believe your story and cannot fault the accidental magic. It's termed accidental for a reason. I can also understand the use of the noise and lockpicking spells though I feel at that point the situation could have been handled better. You are however still only twelve years old so that must be taken into account. Consider this an official warning. No charges or fines will be levied but it will be entered into your record. If there is another incident than you will be likely find yourself fined." She paused and set the quill down. "On a more personal note, I apologize for the conditions leading to this. Am I safe in assuming that Ms. Babbling is looking after you from this point forward?" Both nodded at that. "Okay then. Do you have the paperwork to make that official?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Shiva handed over the papers she'd picked up that morning.
"Hmm…" Amelia quickly scanned the documents. "This looks to be in order for the Muggle side of things. What about the magical side?"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, Madam Bones…" Shiva said trailing off with a confused look.
"The Muggle paperwork handles official guardianship. The magical side deals with the magical guardian."
"Doesn't that just implicitly follow if the legal guardian is a magical as well?" Shiva asked. Harry could feel his stomach knotting. Of course it was too good to be true.
"Honestly I'm not sure. That's not my field. I never had any issues with my ward, my niece Susan, but...it's always better to be sure. Ask Gringotts. They'd be able to tell you faster than dealing with the bureaucracy here."
"We were headed there next anyway…" Shiva scowled. "Thanks for the heads up."
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