Petunia Dursley knew, even before she opened the door, that the woman on her doorstep was a witch. She had looked through the peephole- and while wizardkind did understand what ‘muggle clothing’ was supposed to look like, they didn’t really understand what normal muggles wore… and certainly didn’t act like muggles, either.
This woman was doing far better than most in the clothing and behavior department… though the tip of her wand was visible, sticking out of her pocket.
“Good afternoon,” she greeted the woman. “Are you also here for pictures of Harry’s glasses?”
The woman blinked at the evidently unexpected question. “Uh, no, actually. Have a lot of people been coming for that…?”
She nodded. “Journalists all up and down the street, yes. One of them was even wearing robes!”
The woman blinked again. “Really? Who was it?”
She shrugged. “No idea, they all got turned away anyways. Why ask?”
“Ahh. And that would be because I’m Amelia Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.”
“Law enforcement? What brings you out here?”
“About that. A couple weeks ago, a powerful magic surge blinded the spells we use to track illegal magic use. I came because I have reason to believe that Harry- and Hailey- may have been involved in it.”
Petunia stiffened at Hailey’s name. She and Vernon had been spending a lot of effort to keep it from the various journalists that Hailey lived in their house at all. “Involved how?”
“Like, affected by it. Nobody is in trouble, I’m just trying to figure out how it affected everyone… and make sure she- and you, of course- are aware of the changes our self-updating paperwork was able to detect.”
“... You are aware that Harry died, right?”
Amelia nodded. “Yes- that’s one of the things the paperwork noticed, though there were a few peculiarities about the way it noticed it, that I wanted to discuss with you.”
Petunia sighed. “Come in, then. The porch is no place to talk about magic, in these parts.” She pulled the door open, and gestured Amelia in- and into the sitting room.
“Agreed, and thank you,” Amelia bowed, entering and following Petunia into the sitting room.
On her way over, Petunia stopped by the base of the stairs, calling up. “Hailey!” She didn’t wait for a response.
“So then,” Petunia began, as she and Amelia sat down. “Are you aware your wand is sticking out of your pocket?”
Amelia winced, glancing down at it. “Yes, actually. These pockets really aren’t deep enough for it- I also constantly worry I’ll break it when I sit down.”
“So wear a jacket,” Hailey suggested, walking into the room. As she had been doing every day since she’d gotten them, she was wearing her Hogwarts uniform, all except for the robe and hat.
Amelia looked up. “A jacket?”
“Yeah,” Hailey answered, pausing only a few steps into the room. “Do wizards not have those?”
“... No,” Amelia answered slowly. “They’re something muggles use to stay warm, right?”
Hailey shrugged. “Yeah. A lot of them have inside pockets.” She then walked briskly forwards and sat smoothly on the couch, facing the two women. “So, you called?”
Petunia looked at Amelia.
“Ahh, yes,” Amelia nodded. “I’m Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.”
Hailey raised an eyebrow. “Law enforcement? What brings you here?”
Amelia smiled. “A week and a half ago-!”
“I heard that part,” Hailey interrupted. “Open window. And the part about Harry. So…”
She blinked. “Okay then. First of all, was there some kind of vision, related to receiving power from someone?”
Petunia stiffened. That almost perfectly matched what Hailey had described to her so long ago.
Hailey, however, raised an eyebrow, face impassive. “Before I answer that, can you prove who you are?”
Petunia must have forgotten to tell Hailey that wizards weren’t sneaky like that.
Amelia seemed confused. “Prove…. who I am?”
Hailey nodded. “Yes. Because just anyone can walk in that door and say ‘yes I’m Amelia Bones from the DMLE at the Ministry of Magic and yes Fudge is the prime minister and yes I’ve been in office for ten years and yes stuff blows up from time to time now spill your deepest secrets’, but how can I be sure you’re not that ‘just anyone’, that you actually are who you say you are?”
Amelia’s hand twitched towards her wand, but stopped. “You don’t… know the wand verification method, do you?”
Hailey shook her head. “It’d be illegal for me to cast it anyways.”
Amelia winced. “Then…” She trailed off, thinking.
Petunia looked at Hailey. “Why…?” She began, trailing off at Hailey’s look.
“If some stranger were to walk up to the front door and say ‘hey I’m what’s-his-face the head of the Ministry of Defense’, and not present any badge or papers, would you believe him?”
She blinked. “Absolutely not.”
“That’s essentially what she’s done so far.”
“So you’re asking for her badge?”
Hailey shrugged. “In a manner of speaking. Wizards don’t carry badges- and even if they did, magic could duplicate them very easily.”
“Meaning,” Amelia nodded, “all verification must be magical in nature, or through a trusted third party.” She sighed. “Which means…. what, Tom, at the Leaky Cauldron?”
Hailey simply shook her head.
“The goblins at Gringotts?”
“They do that?”
She nodded. “Once upon a time, they were the only way to truly, officially verify the identity of a witch or wizard. They still do that, from time to time.”
Hailey nodded. “Particularly when wand verification is not available, I imagine,” she chuckled. “And yeah, that’d work.”
Petunia looked between the two witches, and made a decision. “So,” she began. “Shall I get the car keys?”
Amelia was a little worried about Hailey, as she rode to the Leaky Cauldron in the back seat of Mrs. Dursley’s car. The girl definitely had trust issues; when she’d mentioned Tom, Hailey had only shaken her head- but her body language, which had- aside from that point- only ever agreed with what she was saying, informed her that it wasn’t because he was unfamiliar, it was that she didn’t trust him… or like him at all.
At least she had been willing, unlike Silversong, to come out and tell her she didn’t trust her… and, in so doing, present a way by which she could earn at least a little trust. Hailey was clearly willing to defer to her… as soon as she knew she actually was the authority figure she claimed to be.
She was really curious how Hailey was going to react whenever she found out she was a Princess.
So far, Ariel and Ginny were both overly cheerful, largely careless personalities, still fully dependent on their parents. Silversong… was clearly a force of her own, though of what kind, she had no idea. Hermione evidently had a talent for magic- it was very rare indeed for someone to develop wandless magic before going to school!
And finally, Hailey was very much the most… mature of the bunch, somehow. Unlike the others, Amelia got the feeling that Hailey was actually fully ready for the revelation of her legal power.
She had told the Grangers and Weasleys that their Princesses had senior seats in the Wizengamot if they but asked… which was technically true. After all, their every word had the force of law, if they so desired- even on the wizards of the Wizengamot.
Everyone on the Wizengamot knew about that, and several Ministry employees, mostly in the law enforcement division- but most nobles, which included the Malfoys, were not aware.
And so far, Hailey seemed to be the one that was most ready to learn about the incredible power she wielded with every breath- and thus, probably the one she would tell about it. She’d leave it to the girl to tell the others; they had, judging from Hermione’s comment, already met and made at least tentative friends with each other.
On the other hand, Amelia had to admit, riding in a muggle car was a fairly novel experience. Not one she was very fond of- for one, Hailey had seemed so amused when she told her how to use the ‘seat belt’- but it beat apparition when speed wasn’t of the essence.
To be fair, though, it didn’t take much to beat apparition. And it was nice to be able to relax in the vehicle- she had judged that any further conversation about the records would need to wait until after Hailey had been satisfied as to her identity, and so rode quietly.
It didn’t last very long, of course. Before long, she helped Mrs. Dursley into the Leaky Cauldron- the physical contact rule was a pain- and Hailey followed behind them.
“It sure has been a while since I last set foot in here,” Petunia sighed, looking around the Leaky Cauldron.
Amelia nodded. “I can imagine. It was your sister, right?”
Petunia nodded, and sighed. “A shame she died.”
“Anyways,” Amelia continued, glancing at Hailey, who was eyeing the bar uneasily. “Shall we be on our way?”
“Lead the way,” Petunia smiled.
“Hailey?”
Petunia looked. It looked like a young girl had spoken, about Hailey’s age, wearing royal blue robes, her hair gleaming silver- except only two stripes, splitting it evenly into thirds.
Hailey looked too- and smiled. “Silversong,” she greeted. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“No, fancy seeing you here,” the girl- Silversong- answered. “After you told us you probably wouldn’t be here again this year?” She paused, very briefly. “Besides, it’s rare to see anyone walking down Diagon Alley with the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement during work hours. And…” She looked up at Petunia. “Who might you be?”
“Petunia Dursley,” Hailey answered her promptly. “My… mom.”
Silver blinked at Hailey. “Mom…? Oh, right. Yeah.” She smiled and bowed to Petunia, hands held firmly at her sides. “Nice to meet you.”
Petunia recognized the reluctance to shake hands- Hailey had adopted something similar ever since that attacker had flown three blocks- and returned the bow instead. “Nice to meet you too,” she greeted.
“So,” Silver looked at Hailey. “What gives?”
Hailey shrugged. “Well, when high-ranking government officials that you don’t recognize randomly show up on your doorstep, name themselves, and ask you to spill secrets without offering proof of their identity, what do you do?”
“Mail them to the Crystal Empire,” Silver answered, so quickly it might have been instinctive.
Hailey blinked. “... Well, that would work, in a world where establishing credibility is a legal requirement. Too bad it’s not in Britain, I looked.”
Silver blinked. “That should be changed.”
Hailey nodded. “Agreed. Wizarding Britain sure could afford to take a few pages from Twilight’s book, couldn’t it?”
“Not if they want to keep their arms attached to their bodies,” Silver mused.
“You know what I mean.”
“I do, and I agree.”
“If they want to-?” Amelia began, cutting herself off.
“Twilight’s a librarian,” Hailey informed her, by way of an explanation, before turning back to Silver. “So what brings you to the Alley?”
Silver shrugged. “Mostly just picking up the next set of finished robes,” she answered. “Then doing a bit of shopping around. It’s a shame first-years aren’t allowed their own brooms, isn’t it?”
Hailey blinked. “Brooms? You… You don’t mean the classic flying broom, do you?”
Silver blinked as well. “You don’t…? Whatever. And yes, actually, I do- they’re real. I never did tell you about Quidditch, did I?”
“No, I think we were interrupted,” Hailey mused, rubbing her chin. “We’ll have to rectify that sometime. Anyways.” She looked up at Amelia. “Is it okay if she hears it too?”
Amelia blinked. “Ahh… Some of it probably, but the rest…” She shrugged.
“Okay then.” Hailey turned to Silver. “I’ll meet you on the train, then?”
Silver smiled. “Yup, meet you there!”
Hailey giggled, and hugged her- earning a startled squeak. “Bye then!”
Silver returned the hug, and when they separated, waved. “Yup, see you then too.” She ran off again.
Hailey watched her go, then turned back to Amelia and Petunia. “Okay, I’m satisfied.”
Amelia stared at her. “You’re… satisfied.”
Hailey shrugged. “Well yeah. I trust Silver, and she recognized you.”
“Even though she’s got the perfect poker face?” Amelia asked.
“She does? Huh. I wonder why she distrusts you…?” She tilted her head curiously at Amelia.
Amelia shrugged. “Probably because she lives among the nobles- and rule number one in the nobility is to distrust everyone.” She sighed. “She’s just got that one down pat.”
As she followed Petunia Dursley back to her car, Amelia considered the conversation she had just witnessed between the two Princesses. They both obviously knew more about the strange world Hermione had said Celestia was from- and had agreed on a change to wizarding law. Neither of the two could be truly aware of their legal powers, so their agreement didn’t have the force of law.
That didn’t mean it wasn’t prudent to do it anyways, of course. Not that it wasn’t even a good suggestion- Amelia was actually pushing such a law already, though gently. It was evidently a prime time to make it a priority- along with finding an alternative to the wand verification method as well.
The two witches were once again silent, save only for Hailey asking Amelia if she needed any help with her seat belt, until they were back in Petunia’s sitting room. Amelia entered first, and sat down once again; Hailey flopped herself down on the couch opposite, where she had sat when she’d first entered the room.
“So,” Hailey said simply. “To answer your question, no.” She looked at Amelia.
Amelia blinked. “My question…?”
Petunia tried for a second to remember what Amelia’s question had been, but couldn’t. She only remembered that Hailey had asked Amelia to do the wizarding equivalent of showing a badge… and evidently, since she had done that, Hailey had decided to treat it as if it had taken as long as actually showing a badge would have.
And remembered the question.
Hailey only smiled.
Amelia stared at Hailey, wracking her brain as she tried to figure out what she had asked the girl before they spent nearly two hours going to Diagon Alley to have a brief chat with Silversong.
However, for as much as Hailey clearly remembered what it was, and had declined to remind her, all she remembered about it was that it was meant to be an icebreaker.
“Uh, okay,” she eventually muttered.
“So,” Hailey began again. “What’s this I hear about paperwork?”
“Right,” Amelia muttered. “The paperwork, then.” She took a deep breath, and looked up at Hailey. “Any idea how you got a power rating of infinity?”
“Inf-!?” Petunia gasped.
Hailey, on the other hand, scowled. “Well that can’t be right,” she muttered. “For one, nothing is infinite- and for two, if I was that powerful, I would have been successful in saving Harry.”
Which reminded her. “About that. Are you and Harry siblings, or…?”
She shrugged. “Who knows. I lived in an orphanage- no papers- before the Dursleys adopted me, and Harry lived with his parents.” She wrinkled her nose. “He wouldn’t let anyone forget about that. Nor about how he vanquished Voldemort- he kept trying to use his past to get extra privileges, or to get out of work.”
Amelia flinched. That didn’t sound like the Harry she knew- but then again, she had never met the boy, only heard stories… all told by Dumbledore, who Amelia knew was the sort to spread misinformation if he thought it would further the cause of the Light.
Thus, it was propaganda… versus Hailey’s word, which would be the first time she’d ever heard a genuine opinion of the boy.
Then, she noticed the complete lack of scar on Hailey’s forehead.
“Alright,” she accepted. “So… The paperwork is showing you and Harry as having the same parents, but no relationship between the two.” She nodded. “And yes, I checked their files, you’re both marked down as their children.”
Hailey scowled. “No idea. Maybe the doctor stole me away from them? Or somebody else did?”
She clasped her hands together. “The photo on your file showed a scar on your forehead to match Harry’s,” she informed them. “Do you know why?”
She winced. “Did the magic seriously take that photo during one of those times when Harry clubbed me unconscious and used my makeup kit to draw his scar on my forehead?”
Amelia winced as well. “It’s supposed to capture a natural-appearance photo with no makeup or anything… it must’ve glitched.”
“Just like with the power rating thing.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I guess. So… it said you’re a metamorph magus. What do you say to that?”
“What is a metawhatever?”
“That’s… a witch or wizard that can change certain aspects of their own appearance at will.”
She frowned, and shook her head. “I’mma have to say no, then.”
“... And it said you’re a Princess?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you have the right person?”
“Very sure.”
“Because that’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Not surprised,” she answered. “That title makes you part of the Wizarding Royal Family- which hasn’t existed for five hundred years.”
Hailey folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. “And now you’re about to tell me that my every word has the force of law, aren’t you?”
Amelia watched Hailey calmly for a second, trying to judge the girl’s reaction, before she spoke. And when she spoke, whereas Hailey had spoken jokingly, she spoke seriously.
“Yes, I am.”
Hailey raised one eyebrow. “You’re serious.”
She nodded. “I’m serious.”
Hailey put her head in her hands. “And here I thought we were rid of the popular figures,” she groaned.
“Well,” Amelia began. “I have taken steps to keep it quiet. It won’t last forever, but it should last long enough for you to get through Hogwarts… in theory.”
“Well good,” Hailey declared, straightening up again. “Because if anyone comes to ask me for orders, the only order they’re going to get is to clear off and leave me alone. I didn’t ask for that power- and in any case, I’m not ready for it, either.” She looked up. “So who all knows?”
“For the ones that know what power a Princess possesses, you’ve got the entire Wizengamot and a few scattered Ministry workers…” She trailed off, watching Hailey for signs of confusion- and, finding none, assumed she had already at least heard about the Wizengamot. “And anyone that reads the full text of the laws in the Ministry of Magic, which is free for all to read.
“For the ones that know that you are a Princess, you’ve got everyone in this room, the other four, at least some of their parents, and the records clerk, who I swore to secrecy.
“For those who fall into both categories… You, me, and Mrs. Dursley here.” She gestured towards Petunia, who had maintained a stunned silence for much of the conversation.
Hailey raised an eyebrow. “The other four?”
She nodded. “Princesses Silversong, Hermione, Ginnerva, and Ariel.”
“And you haven’t told them?”
“Ah, no, I haven’t. You seemed… the most ready.”
She snorted. “That’d be Silversong, by a long shot, but whatever.”
She took a deep breath. “I was going to let you decide when to tell them, unless…?”
Hailey rolled her eyes. “Thanks, I guess.” She took a deep breath. “So, if my word is law… what happens if I, say, break the law?”
She shrugged. “Wizarding law actually doesn’t apply to you, technically speaking. The Trace will automatically ignore any magic you do, without any human intervention- though Statute of Secrecy violations are monitored by a less sophisticated piece of spellwork, so if you do magic in front of a muggle that wasn’t already aware, you’ll still be in the clear… but the world will know.”
“Meaning…”
“Meaning that your family, and those of the other four, are fine, but anyone else…” She shrugged.
It was ten minutes later, when she was walking back down the Dursley’s front walk to return to the Ministry, when Amelia suddenly stopped walking, and facepalmed. “Oh, I’m so stupid,” she told herself.
Hailey had obviously trusted Silversong, who didn’t trust her. Then, she had straight-up told the girl not to trust her, by explaining why Silversong didn’t trust her! As such, it was quite likely Hailey had been acting for much of it, and made up anything she told her- and of course, the girl was easy to read… crisply easy to read. Her body language, expression, and so on, all said exactly what the girl wanted them to- meaning she was harder to read accurately than even Silversong.
As she continued on her way, she idly wondered how Dumbledore would react if she told him she’d met eleven-year-old girls that were harder to read than he was.
Petunia watched Amelia walk down the front walk, before she flicked the lock closed and turned to Hailey. “So… how did you do that?”
Hailey looked at her. “Do what?”
“You were so… Well, mature all of the sudden. And I think you single-handedly sold the Harry story, too.”
“Oh, that.” Hailey shrugged. “Well, when Queen Chrysalis gave me her power, I didn’t realize that her kind’s minds are intertwined with their magic, to a degree at the very least. As a result, once my magic had enough time to adjust to actually read it, it turns out she didn’t only give me her magic when that happened, but her memories and experiences as well.”
“And Queen Chrysalis… was just that good, I guess.”
Hailey shrugged again. “You could say that, or you could say she had about two thousand years of experience as the Queen of the Changelings- a race of shapeshifters whose only real strength is deception.”