The Final Lesson
by Jardyn39
Chapter 17 - Camp Auror
The next morning, Lupin and Harry Disapparated away for their morning appointment. When Lupin released his arm, Harry was surprised to see that they were standing at the very top of a hill. Next to them was an Ordnance Survey triangulation point, they could see little else through the cold low clouds.
"I'm to return here in exactly one hour," said Lupin looking around warily.
"Where are we?" asked Harry.
"Somewhere in the north of Wales, Harry. I was supposed to just leave you here, but I am a little reluctant to go without knowing that you are safely on your way."
"He'll be fine," said a familiar voice.
"Kingsley?"
"Go," the voice said insistently. "We'll meet you back here as arranged."
Lupin looked uncertainly at Harry, clearly wondering why Kingsley hadn't just revealed himself.
Harry nodded and Lupin Disapparated away.
"I'm going to take your arm, Harry. We'll use side along Apparition. Don't resist."
Harry felt his arm being grabbed and then the familiar sensation of Disapparating.
*
Kingsley threw off his invisibility cloak and grinned, holding out his hand to Harry.
"I'm sorry about all the secrecy," he said. "Come in and get warmed up. Perhaps next time I'll remember Wales can be cold and wet this time of year."
Harry laughed and followed Kingsley into the large tent.
"I didn't want to show myself in case the hill top was being monitored, although the low cloud levels probably made that impossible."
Kingsley pointed his wand at the large stone circle in the middle of the enormous tent interior and the dwindling flame in the middle sprang to life. Harry gratefully warmed himself.
"I tried to visit you in your cubicle at the Ministry in London," said Harry with a slight shiver in his voice.
Kingsley grinned as he looked into the dancing flames.
"How is Delores these days?" he asked, warming his hands alongside Harry.
"Same as ever, I suppose. You should know, though, shouldn't you? I mean, she is still your boss, isn't she?" asked Harry.
"She's certainly entitled to give me orders," Kingsley replied with a smile.
Harry frowned, wondering what Kingsley was up to.
"Harry, at this moment you are at our principal mobile headquarters. We have others dotted around the country, but this is our main base of operations. We move the entire camp every two days or so, in order to avoid detection. It's a pain, frankly, but at least we are secure."
Harry nodded and turned to face Kingsley.
"I see you're wearing some of Fred and George's under-robes."
"Absolutely!" Kingsley replied with half a laugh. "These are standard issue out here, Harry. Mind you, I was rather pleased to get one of the few waistcoats that doesn't light up in the dark or play marching band music at random times."
Harry smiled and nodded.
"We even have a travelling court that comes with us."
"The Wizengamot?"
"Not exactly, Harry. All we have is a lower court that can remand suspects to Azkaban if we need it."
"Well," said Harry, "your new set-up certainly seems to be working. Umbridge had loads of reports she was giving as press releases."
"Those are mostly old reports, Harry. Speaking of reports," he added seriously, "we've been getting a number of reports that Ron Weasley has been seen with a number of undesirable individuals. Some are suspected to have Death Eater links."
Harry looked down and said quietly, "I know."
"I heard Arthur threw him out. Is that true?"
Again, Harry nodded.
"Mm," said Kingsley. "Well, talk to him if you get a chance, will you? He's not been reported doing anything illegal yet, but frankly it is only a matter of time. The people he's been associating with won't trust anyone not prepared to break the law himself. He'll be pushed into something, you mark my words."
Harry didn't know what to say. There really wasn't any point in him voicing his suspicions that Ron might actually be a willing participant.
"Are there any direct connections between the people Ron's seeing and Voldemort?"
"There are loose associations with some suspected sympathisers, but nothing direct. To be honest, I would say they were simple criminals and thieves rather than followers."
"I see," said Harry, wondering why he felt a little relieved at this news.
"Alright. So, what did you want to see me about?"
"Right. I wanted to ask how permanent John Bateman's memory modification is?"
"I performed it myself," confirmed Kingsley with a slight frown. "Are you worried he'll remember something?"
"Quite the opposite, actually. I think he erased knowledge of who the traitor might be."
"We've had reports that both Bateman and Miss Alice could be the traitors. I was advised not to contact them again by the Prime Minister until it could be established that they were in the clear."
"Well, they are both working together now to try and expose the traitor."
"Really? We didn't know that."
"Did Bear say anything when he was preparing the report he gave you? Both Miss Alice and Hermione agree that he probably knew something that might identify the traitor."
"The traitor that Falcon identified?"
"Yes. Hermione thought he might have said something that was a clue. She is sure he would have hidden the true meaning, although obviously we don't know why yet."
Kingsley frowned.
"He certainly didn't say anything while I was present, although," he added, trailing off.
"Yes?" asked Harry expectantly.
"Bateman did seem a little preoccupied. I just put it down to him worrying about the memory modification charm. We'd agreed to do it right after he'd finished."
Harry sighed deeply.
"Is there any way to reverse the charm without causing harm to Bear?"
"Yes, Harry," said Kingsley. "Actually, I should say the charm can be reversed without any long term adverse effects. What we need to consider very carefully, though, are the possible consequences of his memory returning.
"I think that Bear did know something that he recognised would do our cause a significant amount of damage if it was revealed at the time.
"I never did entirely buy the reasons he gave; I'd have trusted him to know something about you."
"Yes, so would I," agreed Harry. "Besides, he didn't want Miss Alice or the Prime Minister to have their memories modified. I've always wondered why that was."
"So, they didn't know whatever it is," said Kingsley, thinking aloud.
"How much did the Prime Minister know?" asked Harry.
"He knew everything the others knew. He got copies of all the reports even if he wasn't able to attend all the briefing meetings."
"Could anyone have seen his copies of the reports?"
"No. I kept them and was present at all times when he read them. They were never mixed up with his Despatch Box papers."
"It's just that the number of suspects is quite small."
"Tell me about it!" said Kingsley with half a laugh. "I honestly can't see who the traitor is, if it isn't Bateman or Miss Alice. The only others with the same level of clearance was the Prime Minister and myself. It was the Prime Minister who started all of this, so why on earth would he betray his own people? He could have closed us down instantly. Minister Scrimgeour would have been delighted, I can assure you."
"I just can't believe it could be Bear or Miss Alice, either," admitted Harry.
Kingsley handed Harry a small bottle with a red wax seal. He held it up to the firelight to see a red liquid inside.
"When Bateman smells the fragrance of the liquid in that bottle, Harry, his memory will return over the next few hours. He'll be a little dazed for a while, and sometimes people get bad headaches shortly after. The fragrance is unique and cannot be replicated, so don't lose it."
"Thanks."
"He'll need to get a long night's sleep in order for the process to work permanently, but make sure he doesn't take anything to actually induce sleep. I should warn you, that he'll suffer some vivid nightmares while his mind copes with all the changes. Make sure he's in a safe, secure place. It would be best if someone watches over him too. I'd volunteer myself, of course, but I'm needed here."
Harry smiled and shook his head.
"No, it's alright. You've done more than enough already. Tell me, did Bear know his memories could be returned?"
"I told him at the time that it was possible, but that most people with broken memory charms could no longer function mentally. When I realised it was his intention to martyr himself in revealing the information, I modified the memory charm so it could be easily removed later. I didn't actually see the need to tell him his memories could be restored without damaging his mind.
"I must admit, when all the stories of him possibly being the traitor came to light, I wondered if I had done the right thing. I didn't act because it seemed to me the damage was done. I suppose you'll find out shortly if I did the right thing."
"Hermione and Miss Alice both agree that if his memories hadn't been modified, the real traitor would have killed to protect themselves."
*
Harry closed the door to the drawing room and sat down with the three others at the table.
He carefully placed the tiny bottle that Kingsley had given him in the middle of the white cotton tablecloth.
"Is it a restorative potion, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Kind of," he answered. "It's the smell of the fragrance that triggers the lifting of the memory charm."
"How interesting," said Mary smiling. "Smells are one of the most evocative things for provoking memories of long forgotten events from childhood."
Bateman frowned and said, "Shacklebolt should have known better. A simple smell isn't very secure. What if I'd smelled it somewhere?"
"He said the fragrance was unique and could not be replicated, even using magic."
"Oh."
"There must be literally millions of different scents that we can detect, John. I think Kingsley made rather a good choice, actually."
Bateman coughed uncomfortably.
"So, should we really do this?"
"You mean, can you be trusted?" corrected Mary.
"Exactly."
"Kingsley told me that you were prepared to suffer permanent brain damage to reveal your hidden memories," said Harry. "You knew you could not function or benefit from the information being revealed."
"But what if I didn't intend for those memories to be revealed?"
"Wouldn't you have taken steps to avoid that?" suggested Hermione.
"That's right!" exclaimed Mary. "Remember the gold coin that Harry gave you? You only knew that you mustn't lose it, but with no idea where it came from. You would have got Kingsley to warn you of the consequences, I'm sure of it."
"I'm still not sure," admitted Bateman seriously.
"Y- You mean, losing your recent memories?" asked Harry hesitantly.
Mary reached over and took Bateman's massive hand in hers.
"We've talked everything through, and we decided it wasn't a good enough reason not to proceed. I'll accept the consequences, whatever they are."
"Well, I suppose that puts you in the clear then," said Hermione with a smile. "As the traitor, you'd be motivated to keep John's memories forgotten."
"Actually, it doesn't," said Mary.
"If Bear knew Miss Alice was the traitor, he'd have had time to arrest her or something right after the raid on the Archive," said Harry. "Kingsley said he thought you were protecting more than just me," he added, turning back to Bateman.
Harry picked up the bottle and placed it a few inches closer to Bateman.
"Take it," he ordered. "It takes a few hours to work and you'll feel dazed. Oh, and we're to stay with you for the first night. You might have nightmares, apparently."
*
"Dobby, just tell me, will you?" pleaded Harry.
"Dobby does not like to, for he knows that Harry Potter will be disappointed in him," said the house elf.
"Please, Dobby. I know something has been bothering you."
"It has, Harry Potter," admitted the elf miserably.
Harry waited patiently, having knelt on the cold kitchen floor for some time trying to get Dobby to talk to him.
"Dobby was enjoying visiting Winky at Hogwarts, Sir, but he did not think he would stay so long as he did."
Harry smiled and nodded.
"There is much work for the house elves at Hogwarts, Sir, especially now that more and more students are returning to school."
"You want to go and work at Hogwarts again?" Harry asked gently.
Dobby nodded, his ears drooping.
"There isn't much work for Dobby here, Sir. Not that Dobby is complaining!" he added quickly.
"Dobby, it's been great having you here, but I wouldn't want you to stay if you'd be happier at Hogwarts. We'll all miss your company, mind you."
The house elf smiled and wiped his eyes.
"Have you spoken to Professor McGonagall?"
"Yes, Sir. She said Dobby would be welcome to go back. Dobby could always come back here on his days off and clean, Harry Potter!" he added hopefully.
Harry laughed and said, "Hermione would kill me if I agreed to that!"
Dobby shrugged.
"Okay, so how much gold do I owe you?"
"Dobby is owed nothing, Sir! Harry Potter made Dobby take a year's salary in advance."
"No, when we couldn't agree how much, didn't we agree that I would pay a lump sum in the event you left my employment? Of course, I know you only agreed because neither of us dreamt it would ever happen."
"Well," said the elf slowly. "Dobby isn't leaving, is he, Sir?"
Harry laughed and asked, "How do you work that out?"
"Dobby will be pleased to continue in Sir's employment, once he has a little more work for Dobby to do."
"So would I, Dobby, but in the meantime you are going to have to accept some gold. That reminds me, I should really have another discussion with Kreacher about his wages."
*
The bedroom door opened silently and threw a narrow shaft of soft lamplight into the dark room.
Harry got up at once and went to the door. He quickly opened it and went out onto the landing.
Light briefly shone into the room revealing a sleeping Bateman with Mary sitting beside him next to the bed.
"How is he?" whispered Hermione as Harry closed the door behind him.
"He seems to be resting peacefully now. I think the nightmare phase is over, thank goodness."
"I thought I heard a struggle earlier."
"I'm not sure what it was he thought he was fighting. I had to restrain him at one point."
"Did I hear shouting too?"
"Yeah," said Harry tiredly.
Hermione wrapped her arms around him and said gently, "I keep worrying about what he'll be like when he wakes."
"I'm sure he isn't the traitor, Hermione."
"I wish I was so confident. I feel awful for even considering it, but he could be the traitor. Poor Mary. What must be going through her head?"
There was the sound of a soft murmur from the bedroom.
"I'll watch over them," said Hermione. "Try to get a couple hours sleep, Harry."
Harry nodded and gently kissed her forehead before they parted.
*
The next morning, Bateman looked a terrible state. His hands shook slightly and he could barely open his eyes.
Hermione prepared a headache remedy for him before breakfast, but it seemed to do little good. He also refused anything to eat and drank only water.
Bateman excused himself and climbed the basement stairs leaving the others to worry and wonder of the potion had worked at all.
After a few minutes Harry went looking for him and found him in the drawing room clutching onto the table as if afraid of falling.
"I wish this damned room would stop rotating around me."
Harry snorted and went over to help him into a seat before sitting down opposite.
"I've had hangovers that were nothing compared to this," Bateman complained.
Harry realised that his report was lying open in front of him.
"Do you remember anything significant about the report?"
"I can barely read, to be honest."
"Why don't you go back to bed and rest properly?" suggested Harry. "There's no hurry, is there?"
"Really? I think we've waited long enough, actually."
"We can go while you rest."
"No," said Bateman flatly, and then looked up with a slightly confused look on his face.
"What is it?"
"I felt I wanted to say something to you, only it's gone now. I can't remember."
"Something about the address from the journal?"
"Actually, more like something about what might happen if you go in alone and unprepared."
Bateman stood again and wavered slightly.
"What I need is some fresh air," he announced. "Go and get ready. I want to check the area around that address in the Journal."