SIYE Time:23:51 on 17th April 2024 SIYE Login: no | | |
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Category: Post-DH/AB
Characters:All, Harry/Ginny
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Fluff, Romance
Warnings: Death, Violence
Story is Complete
Rating: PG-13
Reviews: 53
Summary: All was well in the Wizarding World. When murders started occurring- seemingly at random, Auror Potter was given the job to solve it. How would he solve it with his new skills and a new life?Â
Hitcount: Story Total: 20269; Chapter Total: 976
Awards: View Trophy Room
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Harry fastened his holster to the dragon hide suit. Today was the day of the meeting. There had been no deaths, no notes, no indication of anything being wrong in the days following Azkaban's consumption, but to the Aurors, it felt like the quiet before a storm.
"Be back in time for dinner?" Ginny asked, repeating the lines she had said on his first mission.
"Keep a treacle tart ready," Harry said, grinning before turning to kiss her.
Ginny snorted as she handed him his Invisibility Cloak. "You know I can't bake."
"That, I do." He said simply. Chuckling, he ducked as a pillow flew past where his head had been a few seconds ago.
He summoned and threw it back at her, but Ginny had nothing to worry about; the pillow landed several feet away.
"Tsk. Tsk. Boyfriend of a professional Chaser, and that's your aim? You need to work on it a lot, Harry." Ginny said, picking the pillow and throwing it on the bed.
Harry stuck his tongue out and tied his belt.
"Try not to die, okay?" Ginny's voice came from behind him, soft, serious.
Harry looked at her back and smiled. "No promises. But, I'll try my best. I rather like you."
Ginny shrugged, but Harry saw her tense.
OoOo
The alley was dark and more than a little ominous. The Aurors crept silently in the shadows as Hermione walked ahead confidently, her shoes clacking on the pavement. Harry was wrapped in his Invisibility Cloak.
This was it, Ron thought. He took a deep breath as Cassandra moved beside him; the Disillusionment Charm made it hard to notice her movements. He was in an old Auror Invisibility Cloak, nowhere as comfortable as Harry's, but it did its job.
A lone door stood at the location they were meant to wait. It looked as if a simple gust of wind could break it stood. Hermione knocked gently, and the sound echoed in the silent alley.
"State your name and business, please," A man's voice called.
"Hermione Granger. I was invited to a meeting for the Muggleborn Welfare Society?" Hermione said, her voice betrayed anxiousness.
The door opened with a creak, and a man stood there, smiling. Harry sucked in a sharp but silent breath; it was the man from Azkaban.
"Welcome, Miss Granger, please this way," the man said, gesturing to the well-lit hallway. Harry and Ron slipped in silently, Cassandra and Sebastian were to wait outside. The man checked the alley on both sides before shutting the door.
"I apologise for the questioning outside, but these are still not safe times for Muggleborns, and we offer limited access to outsiders." He led her to a central room where many men and women were seated on a round table. The chair at the head of the table and the two on either side were empty. Hermione was made to sit on the left of the main chair while the man sat on the right. Harry and Ron stood on either side of the doorway. The only communication between them was by hand movements wearing an Auror glove which transmitted motion.
"The Helper will arrive shortly. He is just prepping a few things," the man said, at ease.
Hermione smiled and nodded, looking around at the people who all seemed rather friendly and not much like the scary people she imagined.
"But you haven't introduced yourself yet!" Hermione said as she turned her gaze back to the man.
"Oh, where are my manners. For now, you can call me Wiz- obviously short for Wizard. We cannot reveal our names until after the first meeting. It's a tradition that started to allow all the members to feel comfortable without revealing their identity. If anybody who joined was not interested in our community, they could simply declare it after the meeting and leave; however, this prevents them from spreading private information." The man said, and Hermione nodded.
"Pleasure to meet you, Wiz," she said and glanced at the doorway where her friends stood.
Harry waited patiently for 'The Helper' to arrive, he had a hunch of who it could be, but it was too early to conclude. He could hear what Hermione was saying. They had fitted a listening device in her earring. He motioned to Cassandra for updates.
And just as Cassandra had told him that everything outside was quiet, he heard someone walking down the corridor.
He looked very different from the last time Harry had seen the man. Dressed in a casual grey hoodie and dark jeans was Derek Williams. Harry clutched his motion sensor as Ron sent him a signal. He could also be one of the people invited. But something in his manner radiated authority, and Harry flattened himself against the wall as Derek passed in front of him.
"Hermione!" Derek's cheerful voice came, and for a moment, it sounded innocent again.
"Derek! Hello, are you invited to their meeting as well?" Hermione said, sounding relieved.
"Ah, you see, actually," Derek said, and Harry heard movement and a chair being scraped back.
"I kind of run it." He said, his voice smooth, playful. Harry peered into the room. Hermione's face had lost its colour.
"Oh, so you're 'The Helper'?" She asked, her voice unsure, but she sounded normal to people who didn't know her.
"Yeah, it's just what they like to call me," Derek said, shrugging.
"But I called you here, Hermione, to genuinely thank you for the work you're doing. I wanted you to meet these people and see just how much of an impact you will have when our Acts pass."
"So, here are a few people who'd like to talk to you," Derek said, and Harry heard him sit back down.
"Miss Granger, thank you so much for your help. I hope that if not me, coming generations grow in a safe environment. That they feel protected," Harry heard a woman's voice. She sounded old and weary.
He was starting to wonder whether he truly had overthought the situation. The club mentioned many things completely unrelated to the Auror's interest, and he knew that his team was getting impatient.
"Now, Hermione, you know just why I work so hard at the office. These people are scared but determined, and they need our help. I'm glad that I got to work alongside you. But I have something else to ask you as well, a favour." Derek's voice came, smooth.
"Of course, I would help in any way I can," Hermione said, who had relaxed considerably.
"I'd want you to swear your allegiance to our cause." Derek's voice came, and Harry stiffened; his voice felt cold, hard.
"I- I cannot do that, Derek, unless I know what the cause exactly is," Hermione stuttered.
"Very well, then I would like you to at least promise to not tell anyone what happens here today, and if you do, you would not only break our trust, but you might also anger some of the fellows here. And, that could perhaps put people you love or yourself in danger." The voice was one of authority, power.
"You can leave now if you want," he continues, more gentle.
"No, I'll stay. I want to help you," Hermione said, and Harry knew that it was only because the Aurors were here.
"I always knew you had a good heart," Derek said.
"We will train you, Hermione. We have people with many skills in this Society. But your job would primarily be communication. That includes talking to the ministry, which you already do, but also talking to the Aurors. You see, something we do, are better if not noticed by them, but they can be quite nosy."
"I- I don't understand," Hermione said, a quiver in her voice.
"We'll teach you, Hermione. You're a great person, and I'm certain that you would fight for justice. But, before we do that, we want you to pledge your allegiance." Derek said.
Harry motioned at Ron. His glove buzzed as Ron sent an agreement; they slipped into the room. The oval table was made of white marble, various 'normal'- looking people, women and men. At the centre stood Derek, confident, laid back. Hermione was sitting on the right side stiffly.
"Derek, I need to know what things you do that shouldn't be noticed by the Aurors. They mustn't be good things!" Hermione exclaimed.
Derek threw his head back and laughed, "Always been a law kind of person, haven't you, Hermione?"
"Well, I'm sorry now, but it seems that even if you understand our cause, you might not understand our actions. You're a great addition to the club, Hermione, but maybe it's better if we rewind your memory a bit." Derek said and pointed his wand at Hermione.
But the spell deflected, Ron and Harry's combined shield had saved Hermione. She stood up and gasped.
Derek looked around the room confused, and acting much faster this time, tied Hermione's hands behind her back.
"Which one of you did that? I'm not hurting her; she must not remember this!" Derek said, scanning everyone's faces. Unsatisfied, he looked around, at Hermione's stricken face, before stopping by the door.
"Ah," his face twisted into a sneer. The door shut with a bang, and Derek looked around the room once more.
"We have some guests, folks. Hermione, for someone who loves the rules, you sure broke ours." He said, sounding grave.
Harry swallowed; Hermione's eyes were wide as she tried in vain to search for them.
"Hmm, I wonder if they're in this room or outside," Derek said, twirling his wand.
"Homenum Revelio." Derek said, loud and clear.
"One more person, interesting. Who is it, Hermione? A friend? An Auror?" Derek's voice was unnaturally playful. Harry marvelled at his Cloak; it must have saved him from the charm.
He pointed his wand at Hermione and narrowed his eyes. As swift as a flash, he had a knife on Hermione's throat, the people in the room gasped.
"I mean no harm to Hermione, but if whoever is hidden does not reveal themselves, now, then I might have to erase more than just today's meeting's memory from her brain," Derek said, and his posture was stiff, and Harry had a flashback to Malfoy Manor.
"I am here." Ron said and removed his cloak. Harry tensed but stayed hidden. Derek looked surprised but smiled.
OoOoOoOo
Author's note: Two more chapters should do it! Once again, thank you to all the reviewers; you've always motivated me. Even when times are a little tough, a simple task can really make someone's day better. I apologise for the delay, but I hope you liked the latest chapter and that you would review it. I always try to reply as soon as I see one!
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