Call Me Nymphadora: Chapter 13, Treasure Hunting, Old Cat

Nymphadora walked through the winding corridors naturally made between the stacks of lost objects. As she went, she couldn't help but pocket the odd trinket or book. She even found a fully functional nimbus 2001, a sleek black racing broom that she stuffed into her moleskin bag.

One of her biggest finds was the iconic damaged vanishing cabinet, which she shrunk and packed away. It's not like she would make the damage worse with a little shrinking charm. She'd pick up its twin from Borgin and Burkes later.

While Draco wouldn't be given any mission pertaining to Dumbledore's assassination, Nymphadora still felt it best to remove a potential resource of her enemies. She had some ideas as to how she could use the mystical cabinets.

She didn't need to use a spell to locate the horcrux. She could sense its filthy presence trying to infect her mind and magic, even from a distance. If she wasn't looking for it, she wouldn't have noticed the subtle pressure against her occlumency barriers.

After meandering casually through the little-known room, she eventually came across a marble bust. Adorning its brow was the Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw.

The instant she locked eyes on the artifact the pressure against her mind shields doubled, then tripled. It crept in through the cracks in her defenses, finding any weakness and ruthlessly exploiting it. She could feel a compulsion trying to infect her, commanding her to pick up the diadem and place it upon her head.

Sinister whispers drifted around her, promising power and everlasting glory. Greed clawed its way through her chest as she fantasized about everything she could accomplish with such powerful, ancient magic at her disposal.

She was breathless as she saw a vision of herself standing triumphant above an endless crowd of magicals, all swearing fealty to her and her alone. All she had to do was put on the diadem...

"Shit," Nymphadora swore, shaking herself out of her stupor. The horcrux's intrusion was one of the vilest acts of magic she'd ever experienced. It was even worse than the imperius in certain ways because it was subtle. If she hadn't been prepared she would be halfway possessed already, without a doubt. She hadn't felt anything like this with the ring and wondered how much of it was the horcrux and how much of it was the diadem.

Before it could influence her further, she pulled a small lockbox out and levitated the cursed diadem inside. She slammed it shut and conjured chains, wrapping them around the horcruxes temporary prison. She stuffed it into her moleskin bag and made her way quickly to the exit. She had different plans for the rest of the horcruxes. First, she needed to do some experimentation.

As she exited the room, she was accosted by someone she really didn't want to see.

"Miss Tonks!" a voice rang out in a stern Scottish brogue. Minerva McGonagall was standing in the middle of the hallway, pinning Nymphadora with her best  what the fuck do you think you're doing stare.

Nymphadora tripped over her own feet, channeling her inner Tonks who hadn't been able to go more than half a day without some sort of clumsy mishap. How did Minerva know it was her? She still looked like Trelawny, right?

Her confusion must have shown on her face because Minerva scowled, "I am now the Headmistress of this school. I have full access to the wards and can sense any intruders."

Nymphadora knew she was caught red-handed, but she thought she could spin this in her favour. She was working under Amelia, after all. She might not even have to lie to secure Minerva's trust. She smiled contritely, returning to her base form in the process.

Minerva nodded. She had no doubt in the capabilities of the wards of Hogwarts. She was a little stunned to see that a fair portion of them were disabled when control transferred to her, but she quickly rectified that. She assumed that they still hadn't been reset from Umbridge's tenure as Headmistress.

"Might I ask what you're doing here, young lady? It was my understanding that you and-" Minerva paused to take a shaky breath, "That you and Albus were not on cordial terms after what happened to your parents." She hesitated for an instant before continuing, "While we're on the subject, you have my sincerest condolences. Andromeda and Ted were two of my favourite students."

It took a fair amount of willpower to not react in anger when Minerva brought up Albus and her parents at the same time. It evoked memories that stoked the flames of her wrath and her magic thrummed in her veins in response.

From her memories of the woman, Nymphadora knew Minerva McGonagall was an ardent supporter of Albus Dumbledore. She suspected that her old transfiguration teacher might too far down the Dumbledorean rabbit hole to crawl back out. She had pretty much been groomed by Dumbledore her entire life.

He was her favourite professor in school, and she apprenticed under him upon graduation. The instant she had her Mastery, Dumbledore picked her up to teach at Hogwarts, taking his old position which had changed hands a few times since he settled into the role of Headmaster.

For the entirety of Minerva's adult life, Dumbledore had been her closest confidant, not to mention the central figure leading the British Wizarding World. Between his job at Hogwarts and his political positions in the Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards, Albus pretty much ran things as he pleased.

To be honest, Nymphadora wouldn't ever expect Minerva to turn against Dumbledore. Minerva McGonagall would be loyal to Albus Dumbledore until her dying breath, unless her worldview was shattered and rebuilt. Nymphadora wasn't sure the old Scot would be able to survive such a thing unscathed.

Minerva was old and set in her ways. Her faith in Albus Dumbledore was a pillar of her very being and to break it would likely destroy her.

Nymphadora's plans involved trashing Albus' reputation until it was worth less than Filch's used underwear. She didn't want to fight Minerva, but she might not be able to avoid a confrontation forever. Best to play dumb for as long as possible.

She smiled sadly, "Thanks, professor," she said simply. Minerva would never be able to be a true ally of hers, but she could prevent her from becoming an enemy for as long as possible, maybe for the rest of her life.

"And, you're right. I have resented Albus intensely ever since I lost my family, but I'm channeling my grief into more productive matters these days. I'm working with Director Bones to fight back against Voldemort. I'm here in the castle to investigate the rumours of Albus' disappearance. The boss isn't sure who she can trust in her department, so she sent me!" she explained succinctly.

Minerva was wary at the hostility she sensed in Nymphadora's tone when she said Albus' name. "Amelia Bones?" she questioned, "The Daily Prophet reported that she'd been-"

"Yes, yes," Nymphadora cut in, "Her estate was burned to the ground, that's true. She is still alive, though. She should be making a grand entrance at the Wizengamot later on to catch those old tossers off guard, so mums the word."

Minerva let out a sigh of relief, "Thank Merlin. Amelia might be one of the only sane voices of reason left in the Ministry. Without her, I'm not sure who would lead us. And with Albus gone..." she trailed off, her eyes misting.

"I know the Ministry and the papers are saying he's missing, but the wards don't lie. Albus is dead and nobody has a clue where his body rests." Minerva struggled not to lose her composure. She'd already broken down a few times since Albus' death and wouldn't be doing so again in front of her former student.

Nymphadora had a burst of inspiration and turned to Minerva, looking at her eagerly.

"Well, now that I've got that info for the boss, but I don't have anything else to do until later tonight. Things are nuts at the Ministry right now. Amelia will need all hands on deck, even if she doesn't know I'm there," Nymphadora winked, "In the meantime, you wouldn't happen to be able to call for a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix, would you, Professor?"

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Later that night, halfway across the British Isles, the Wizengamot was in a heated debate. Voices were raised and papers were flung across the room in anger.

"This is outrageous!" An older woman in a vulture hat screamed, "You murderers won't get away with this!" The old battle-axe, Augusta Longbottom, was in a towering rage, her magic sparking at her fingertips. First Albus disappears, then Amelia is killed? It was almost too much for the woman to bear. She felt the wolves circling around her as her allies dwindled.

Lord Nott responded in equal anger, spittle flying from his mouth, "Careful, Longbottom. It was You-Know-Who that attacked Bones, not anyone in this room. Nobody else could have destroyed that family's ancient wards." he said confidently.

A chorus of agreement rose from many of the pureblood lords in attendence. Even the members who staunchly opposed Voldemort believed their wards impregnable to the common magical. In truth, they were right. Bones manor fell so quickly thanks to the treachery of those within.

Before Augusta or her few allies could respond, the doors to the chamber were wrenched open with a crash.

Amelia Bones walked in to the tumultuous near-battleground, her face stern and unforgiving. She wouldn't be taking anyone's shit today. Voldemort and his supporters attacked her in her home. They wanted to exterminate her bloodline. She had always been a proponent of law and order, but she knew that those same laws could become shackles when the wolves were beating down your door.

In times like this she knew that the law was often used as a shield and a weapon against those who sought to enforce it. She was done playing by the rules. She was going to win, by hook or by crook. It was time to start playing the game.