At least it eliminated the Slytherin Quidditch team from his list of suspects, and Lord Malfoy, since the man may be a killer, but he wasn't fat.
...
During his internal debate, Madam Bones arrived. "Mr. Potter, it's nice to et you again," the Head of Magical Law Enforcent said with a smile. "So, shall we get down to business? It's already an awfully late hour," taking command of the situation with practiced ease.
"Sure, I'd like to get this sorted. I'm sure the whole of Ravenclaw dorm has heard of this by now, so this isn't the only interrogation I'll be facing before I'll be able to get so sleep," he said, getting a chuckle from the stern lady. "I'll also have an irate cousin I'll have to help calm down, as well as pay a visit to our resident healer for another inspection, despite the fact I'm fine," he said, making it clear the prospect of another visit to the Hospital Wing was the last thing he wanted.
Taking one of the free armchairs as the staff gathered around as witnesses, Madam Bones opened a box, pulling out an unusual quill, different from any he'd ever seen. Catching his curious look, she answered his unasked question, "This, Mr. Potter, is an official law enforcent quill, used to record statents, and shall be used to record this eting. It's similar to a blood quill used for financial docunts, commonly used by goblins."
Looking over at his aunt, who just nodded and said, "It's fine, standard procedure."
"My aunt here is acting as my guardian in place of Sirius Black, since he's on holiday overseas. She's also my legal representation in case it's required," he stated for the record, making sure the whole room knew, and reminding the Headmaster that he couldn't play either role as his magical guardian or legal consult.
"Lieutenant Moor, note that down," Madam Bones ordered, before activating the recording quill, giving the standard information to head the transcript.
"Interview of Harry Jas Potter, Heir to Potter Family, and Black family, survivor of a possible assassination attempt on the 17th October 1997. Witnesses present at interview: myself, Madam Bones, Head of Ministry Law Enforcent... the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore; Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall; and Professor Flitwick; Mr. Potter's legal consult and acting magical guardian, Mrs. Tonks, in place of Harry's godfather, Lord Black, Sirius Orion Black, who is out of the country." She proceeded to list everyone in the room and any positions they held.
Watching as the Head of Law Enforcent checked the docunts and quill before turning her attention to him, "Mr. Potter, can you give us a statent of what happened tonight?" Madam Bones requested in a stern tone.
Pulling up the mory, he started talking. "I was returning from one of the private potion labs, which had been given to for personal use by the school so I can self-study potions. However, during my return journey to the Ravenclaw Common Room I saw a flicker in the shadows. I thought it could possibly be a prankster, since I know the Slytherin Quidditch team is still bitter from earlier in the week and has taken to pranking ."
"Or I thought it could have been Draco Malfoy, since he's taken to following . I expect he'd been spying on by orders of his father after the events of the sumr. Naturally, Draco is rather bitter with at the mont and has been looking for an excuse to get into so trouble, either from his own making or my own. Either way, I saw no one, no signs of a Disillusionnt Charm, nothing. I thought I was getting paranoid from the pranksters."
"Why were you returning from a private potions lab? Surely you would study under the resident Potions Master's supervision?" Madam Bones inquired, already knowing the answer from sumr, but asking for the sake of the record, and probably trying to gain so additional leverage over the Headmaster.
"Madam Bones, I don't believe that is necessary," the Headmaster intervened, or at least tried to.
"I would like to remind you, Headmaster, that I am the trained law enforcent officer, not you," giving the aged wizard a stern look. "And I am the one leading this investigation and questioning," Madam Bones stated forcefully before turning her attention back to him. "Mr. Potter, please answer the question, and ignore the Headmaster's remarks."
Deciding to walk the middle ground, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire, "There's a bit of bad blood between myself and Professor Snape, due to his behavior last year. As such, I'm self-studying for my OWLs and possibly my NEWTs, if I decide to take potions. Professor Snape's predecessor, the retired Professor Slughorn, is currently marking my work by mail," he offered, deciding it would be better for the foreseeable future to play nice with the Headmaster, rather than causing trouble by telling of Professor Snape's illegal activities.
Watching as Madam Bones checked the quill again, clearly wanting the last comnt on record.
"Please continue with your recounting of tonight's events," the Head of Magical Law Enforcent instructed.
Harry nodded. "As I continued walking, I continued to feel like I was being watched, but I was unable to spot anyone. Like I said, I thought it was the pranks getting to . After all, there are quite a few pranksters in this school, but the Slytherin Quidditch team has taken to trying to jinx . Less than a minute later, I heard the incantation for the Killing Curse. On instinct, I ducked and rolled; I've been dueling since first year, so it was an automatic reaction that I'm now very thankful for. The Killing Curse hit the wall behind my forr position.
I dodged again and got behind a suit of armour, avoiding a second curse which I did not recognize at the ti. After that, I was in a good defensive position behind armour, with a classroom behind ready to retreat into if need be, so I stayed in place and surveyed the area, looking for my attacker."
"It was for nothing, though, because my attacker disappeared into a passageway I've never seen before. After that, I decided to stay put, since I didn't know the passageway or its layout, and could have easily walked into an ambush. Naturally, by this point, the paintings were screaming and going for help, so I just waited. Eventually, the staff started to arrive; the Deputy Headmistress was first on the scene," gesturing with a flick of his hand in her direction. "I am willing to provide a mory of the event for your examination, if it helps catch my attacker," he offered.
"You said it was a man. Can you give us a description of the attacker?" Susan's aunt inquired.
"Average height, not short or tall, just under 6 feet, a bit overweight; likely middle-aged, if I had to guess," he listed, rembering the hood falling as the attacker fled the scene. "Appeared to be balding on top, but it was hard to tell due to the nature of the attack. I only really saw him flee, so I can't give a description of his face, sorry," he said to the Aurors, feeling his description was lacking.
"That's more than sufficient, Mr. Potter. We're glad to have that much," Madam Bones assured him, knowing it wasn't much to go on, but wanting to stay positive. "Now, the final question: do you have any ideas on who would want to have you killed?"
Harry snorted, easily able to think of several people. "Literally anyone who's lost money from Sirius Black being released from jail. I know for a fact Lord Malfoy was hit the hardest, as well as several ministry officials, past and present, who are already under an investigation led by you." He didn't have to ntion that the Chief Warlock was amongst them, but his significant glance was telling for everyone in the room.
"Then of course there's the Slytherin Quidditch team, but I doubt any of them are involved; they would prank , maybe beat up, like they did to Katie Bell last year." This got a curious look from Madam Bones, but she remained silent and let him continue. "I don't believe they would kill . Plus, none of their players are going bald on the top yet," he joked.
"However," he said seriously, composing a more realistic ntal list of people who wanted him dead, "There's one person who fits all this, now I think about it: Peter Pettigrew."
His answer stunned the room, and Harry continued before anyone could exclaim anything. "I exposed him. He'd disappeared, and now he's on the run with a bounty on his head. He would be the sa age as the attacker in question, and would be capable of casting that curse," he explained absently as his mind latched onto the theory and ran with it.
"He's also an illegal rat Animagus, so naturally it would be in his nature to flee after his ambush failed. I find it hard to believe that this was the work of a hired professional killer; it's too crude, too primitive," he said to the room, letting them judge and process his analysis.
"It would also explain why you couldn't find him; if he changed into a rat, he could have easily disappeared and been out of the castle without detection. Mice and rats are rather common around the castle grounds; no one would question seeing one within the school walls, since so students even have them as pets. It would also explain him being familiar with the passageway, because Peter was a 'Marauder' during his ti at Hogwarts."
"Marauder?" Madam Bones inquired, clearly not familiar with the legendary group. Not that it was all that surprising, since it must have been after her ti at Hogwarts.
"A group of Gryffindor students led by Jas Potter. They were pranksters that caused chaos throughout the school," the Deputy Headmistress answered with a hint of affection and pride at her forr students.
"They pranked teachers and students alike on an almost daily basis, but it doesn't explain how Peter beca an Animagus. It's a very difficult ability to achieve, I assure you. It took several long years to master, even with another Animagus helping through it. Maybe he found a ritual of so kind?" She looked at the Headmaster for answers.
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