In Harmony : A Second Chance

Turbulence

Chapter 17
Turbulence
Words 2358

Amelia Bones sat behind her desk, the flickering light from her fireplace casting long shadows across the Ministry office. Despite the warmth of the room, a chill seemed to hang in the air between her and Kingsley Shacklebolt. The last few weeks had been tense, filled with whispers and uncertainties, but it was the conversation they were about to have that made everything feel all the more pressing.

Kingsley stood by the window, his tall frame barely moving as he stared into the darkening sky. The silence between them was heavy, as if both were reluctant to address the elephant in the room. Finally, it was Amelia who broke the quiet.

"Six years," she began, her voice low but steady. "For six years, Dumbledore has been asking for a trial. And every time, Cornelius has pushed it aside."

Kingsley turned to face her, his expression serious. "You know as well as I do that Fudge is afraid of the backlash. Reopening Sirius Black's case now... it would cause a stir like nothing else."

Amelia sighed, leaning back in her chair. "It's not just about politics. There's something more. Why is Dumbledore so insistent? What does he know that we don't?"

"Or what does he suspect?" Kingsley added quietly, his deep voice resonating in the small room. "I've known Albus for years, and he's never been one to chase shadows. If he's still pushing for a trial, there must be something he's keeping close to the chest."

Amelia's brow furrowed as she reached for a piece of parchment on her desk, scanning the familiar ink marks that represented Dumbledore's repeated appeals. "It's troubling, Kingsley. The man convicted for betraying the Potters has rotted in Azkaban without as much as a formal hearing. And yet, Dumbledore has never let the issue rest. Why now, after all these years, does he press so hard?"

Kingsley moved toward her desk, his footsteps heavy against the stone floor. "Perhaps it's time someone listened. I'll dig into the records, see if there's anything we've missed regarding Black's arrest. The details have always been... scant, to say the least."

Amelia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You think there's something hidden in the old records?"

"I think," Kingsley said carefully, "that in cases like these, what we don't see is often more telling than what we do. If Dumbledore is right—and there's been a mistake or a miscarriage of justice—then we need to know. And quickly."

Amelia stared into the crackling fire for a long moment, the weight of her responsibility pressing on her shoulders. "Do it discreetly," she finally said, her voice firm. "I don't want Fudge catching wind of this before we have something concrete. Last thing we need is more rumours."

Kingsley nodded, his expression serious but determined. "I'll see what I can find. But whatever it is, we need to be prepared for a storm."

With that, he turned to leave, his dark cloak swirling behind him as the door closed softly. Amelia sat back in her chair, her thoughts swirling with unanswered questions. Six years of silence from the Ministry. Six years of Dumbledore's persistence.

She glanced down at the parchment once more, the ink blurring slightly in the firelight. Whatever Dumbledore was pushing for, whatever truth lay buried in Sirius Black's case, they would have to uncover it soon. 

The room fell silent once more, but the tension hung thick in the air.

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The Gryffindor common room was warm and filled with the sound of laughter. It was one of those rare, lazy afternoons when classes were over and no one was in a rush to do anything remotely serious. A fire crackled merrily in the hearth, and the room was bathed in the cosy glow of its flames. The armchairs were filled with students chatting, playing games, and generally enjoying the lull before the inevitable avalanche of homework.