It would get worse before it got better.
With the removal of Dumbledore as Headmistress an opportunity had arisen for multiple individuals and groups to try and seize authority and power over Hogwarts, all claiming to do so for the best interest of the students of course.
None of the staff believed such lies but were powerless to stop them.
Snape was appointed Head of Slytherin, although deep down she wondered if this was due to her own skills and achievements or because of her ousting the former administration. Defense Against the Dark Arts was split between multiple instructors until a permanent replacement could be found. Serena, naturally, had put in her own application but the fact remained that her skill with Potions exceeded that of defense.
As for the administration side of the school, well that had become a mess in and of its own rights. At first it seemed as though the Minister of Magic would take it upon herself to fill the role, but none expected it to last long.
Running the Ministry was far more important, and time consuming, than Hogwarts.
Rumors had also emerged that the Undersecretary might take up the position.
Finally, there had been numerous members of the school board and other interested parties, both parents and those without children, vying for the title.
Nothing had been confirmed though, and the rank of Headmistress went without a permanent replacement.
****
"Wotcher, you must be Harry, how's school been?"
The boy stared at her, currently prone, form before snorting and helping her up. Watching the 'trained Auror' enter the room then promptly trip and fall on her face was both warmly reminiscent and a bit painful to see. "It's… been a year."
Giving a nod of understanding, the witch managed to sit before having another accident and waited as he took one on the opposite side of the desk. "I heard, so the Aurors are talking to all the students, making sure you feel safe and all that. You got stuck with me since we're practically family, I'm Andromeda's daughter by the way, and the DMLE figured it would make the talk a bit easier."
"Okay"
The frown was noticeable on her face, probably expecting more of a reaction but she said nothing, instead pulling out some paper and a quill. "I guess you are a bit upset about Professor Riddle being removed."
"And Dumbledore's dismissal," he added with a nod and a blank expression.
Now there was discomfort in her posture, and she shifted a bit in place, "Yeah… so uh you were pretty close to the professor, right?"
That earned a full reaction and the way Harry focused in on her made the discomfort even more obvious. Seconds, or was it hours, passed with the boy staring and the grown woman trying to find anywhere but him to look at.
"This wasn't my idea…" she finally muttered, knowing fully well when she was beaten.
"And what wasn't your idea?"
Tonks flinched slightly at the accusation, at the bite of anger in his voice. She had never been scolded by a twelve-year-old before but in that moment, she swore the roles were reversed, that Harry was the adult Auror, and she was the timid young student. "My boss, Amelia Bones, she wanted me to ask you about Riddle. Rumor is she was mentoring you."
More staring, more uncomfortable silence until Harry let out a sigh. If it had been anyone else, he likely would have told them where to shove their questions, but this was Tonks. He trusted her just as he had before, just as Sirius did.
She was family.
"Yeah, she met with me and my parents last summer to talk about that. We thought it would be good to get a head start on lessons."
The quill went to paper but made no motion after that. Nymphadora bit her lip, eyes moving between it and the boy seated across from her.
She was debating.
"Do you think she was involved?"
Harry shook his head, "No".
"It all points towards her."
"I know"
Another moment passes and the woman lets out an overly dramatic sigh before tossing the quill onto the table, the parchment still blank. "Any reasoning why?"
What could he say? 'I've met an evil version of her and was tortured by him, so I know how evil sociopathic monsters look and act, but she isn't one of them'? Instead, he shrugged, "Slytherin gut instinct, I guess. It's too obvious, too perfect that it has to be her."
The Auror nodded, "Honestly, I don't think it's her either. I mean she has no motive. She's been an established teacher here for decades, takes on an apprentice, then starts attacking students? Why?" Tonks let out a groan, tilting back in her seat until she stared straight up at the ceiling. "The problem is that you two are the only ones connected to the attacks."
"Right"
Slowly, almost painfully, she corrected her posture, "Any chance your 'Slytherin gut' has a suspect in mind?"
His eyes darted back and forth for a few moments, "I had some, but nothing more than coincidence and bad feelings. Pandora Malfoy is… well sort of stalking me."
"She's what!?"
Harry shrugged, "You know, sending me love letters, taking creepy pictures of me, that kind of stuff. No threats though and when I asked her, she didn't seem to have any answers either. I think she would've at least hinted she had been behind it all."
Nymphadora Tonks stared at him, both concerned and fearful, before almost deflating before his eyes, "Buggering shite, have you told anyone? Your parents, a teacher, bloody Dumbledore?"
"I don't exactly have a good history with adults taking care of problems." At least he hadn't needed to lie about that one, even if she looked at his history in the new world it would have been enough evidence.
Tonks ended up writing nothing down from their interview, and when asked later by her boss she would shrug and say that Harry hadn't given her any information they didn't already know.
_____________________
A/N- Use Code 200BB [ New code ] for 30% Discount on
"All in one Tier"
Read 50+ Advance Chapters-
patr*on.com/rary01