Knowing the Longbottom regent was going to fly off the broom handle when she found out she'd be closing the case and why, Bones wanted that discussion to be where she could retreat from when she wanted to.
She went back to her office, took her notes with her she'd taken during the 'discussion', not interview, with the young Lord Potter and collated the lot into the 'Longbottom Kidnapping' file - which she'd now have to name the 'Longbottom Disappearance' file, damn it.
'He was damned right about that, too,' she sulked to herself. 'We leapt to a conclusion because no other conclusion was thought to exist. That was wrong.'
With a sigh, she grabbed both Shacklebolt and Tonks and two other aurors to go with her to Longbottom Hall. She wanted the back-up in case the Longbottom regent got 'wand happy'. Before they left she told them to spread out in the room once they were inside and she was talking with the woman.
"Don't forget," she firmly stated. "While Augusta Longbottom is in her seventies, this is the woman who handily defeated Bellatrix LeStrange, her husband, her brother-in-bond and Barty Crouch Junior all at the same time. She is not to be underestimated.
"If she draws her wand and even appears about to attack, she is to be put down... hard. Am I clear?"
Four 'Yes, Ma'am's were her answers.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After Bones and company left, Hermione almost bounced out of her seat like a jack-in-the-box.
"That was..." she started. "That was... scary and brilliant all at the same time!"
"That was me being a smart-alek, Hermione," he said. "I... basically, belittled her. And I did it to put her on the back foot right from the start. I did it to take the wind out of her sails before she could get going and ask questions I really didn't want to answer. It was incredibly impolite when she's been nothing but supportive of me. It was similar to what I did to you on the day of and the first few days immediately following the First Task."
"You were also right in saying she was being rude when she came in here and almost immediately started to interrogate you," she shot back. "No, she started it. You were just defending yourself by going offensive."
He sighed and said, "Tomorrow, after the Wizengamot meeting, I send her a gift by way of apology. Hell; I want to actually go and apologise to her in person."
"Well," she said, "For the time being, I need to call Mum and Daddy and let them know you weren't taken away in handcuffs."
And she immediately skipped over to the phone.
"And I'd better contact Sirius and let him know, too," he said, rising to go and get his mirror.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Arriving at Longbottom Hall by way of apparation and walking up to the door, Bones and her four escorts were shown into the welcoming hall. Longbottom was already up and pacing.
Neville saw who it was and quietly left the room. However, he only went as far as just outside the door.
"Well?" snapped Longbottom. "He has my boy... and daughter-in-bond, doesn't he!"
"He had them removed and taken to other Healers," replied Bones. "He claims―"
"I don't care what he claims!" she shrilled. "Where are they? I'm want them back in their beds in Saint Mungo's before lunch!"
Bones sighed. This was going to take a while.
"If you stop interrupting me I'll be able to tell you what's going on, Regent Longbottom," she firmly said back.
"No! I... will tell you... what's going on," snapped Longbottom. "You will take me... right now... to where my son is! And I will personally escort him and his wife back to their beds!"
"I cannot take you to where they are because I do not know!" said Bones, getting irritated. 'Now I know why he wouldn't tell me,' she thought. "Now, if you'll―"
"Why, in Merlin's name, not?!" barked Longbottom.
That was it for Bones. "You... Augusta Longbottom... do not get to interrogate me... I am trying to give you information you want and you demanding information piecemeal will not get you it!
"Now, be quiet, hear me out, then ask your questions. Understand?"
"You will answer my bloody questions as I bloody want them answered!" By then, Longbottom was almost screaming, again enraged.
But, Bones held her ground. Every time Longbottom screamed at her she simply shut up, waited for the woman to stop yelling and started back to what she was saying before Longbottom interrupted her.
It took ten minutes before Longbottom realised she was doing it and finally shut up to hear her out. All the time, she stared daggers back.
Finally, Bones asked, "Now, what questions do you have for me?"
"I take it the Potter boy has been arrested?" she demanded.
"As I've already explained, he has not because―"
"Why the bloody hell not?" she yelled.
"As I have already explained, he has not because he has used the auspices of the alliance Charter to act. As such I―"
"I want him arrested and Veritaserum poured down his throat until he tells me everything I want to know!"
"As I have already explained, he has not because he has used the auspices of the alliance Charter to act. As such, I cannot arrest him. The Charter is clear in that he has the right as an alliance Charter member to come to the aid of another House―"
Arrest him! Arrest him NOW!"
"As I was saying, The Charter is clear in that he has the right to come to the aid of another House when it is seen and proven that a House requires such aid. Lord and Lady Longbottom were not being treated at Saint Mungo's, because the hospital had already given up on them.
"As such, he states he has family magics that can aid them towards their recovery―"
"I don't care what he says! I want my son back!"
Amelia sighed and tried again... and again... and again.
Finally, Longbottom demanded, "Where's the Potter boy now? If you won't get the information I want out of him, then I will!"
"Lord Potter is under protection under very strong wards that will do you harm if you try to get to him. You are not getting anywhere near him!" snapped Amelia. "And, if you try, my aurors will stop you, you will be arrested on the spot and you will spend the next twenty four hours in one of my holding cells."
"Get out!" Longbottom finally screamed. "Get out, NOW!"
'Thank you,' Bones thought to herself, grateful for the opportunity to leave.
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