Part two of the Muggle and the Auror.
The Auror's Lament.
Chapter One.
The Wandmaker.
Science has not yet mastered prophecy. We predict too much for the next year and yet far too little for the next ten.
Neil Armstrong (Astronaut)
Auror Tony Garrett and DCI Adam Croft strolled down a busy Diagon Alley. The school year was about to start and the place was a mass with people scurrying from shop to shop, picking up last-minute items, children running between adults, screaming and shouting with excitement. Everyone seemed to have armfuls of goods, from broomsticks to cauldrons and everything in between. It puzzled Adam seeing everyone jostling and bumping into each other, at no time could he see anger or annoyance in any of these interactions, everyone seemed to have a great time, himself included.
Ahead of them stood two young women, both similar shades of blond, but one was straight, neat and to her waist, the other had a massive halo of hair, that seemed more explosion than hair. Both were dressed in the latest Muggle fashion, but somehow they looked out-of-place in between the most outlandish outfits on display.
Good morning Holly, Megan. "Adam said as he stopped next to them. Tony smiled at them, receiving a bright smile from Holly, the police constable from Brighton and squib, whose estranged mother was the Daily Prophet's lead reporter, and a sort of grimace from Megan, who was Sybil Trelawney's great niece, who was still unhappy at finding both Tony and Adam, also knowing what was about to happen next.
Tony led the way toward the end of the alley, stopping outside the Wanamaker's shop.
"Come on Holly, time to meet the maker of your new wand." Adam had walked straight past and was already in the shop being greeted by the Viking giant, Pinne Byquist, the Alley's wandmaker of some thirty years. Reluctantly Holly came next with Megan and Tony following.
"Tony, Miss Trelawney and, I know you. Why?" His voice had changed as he stared at her.
"I've never been here before today." She replied.
"How come I know you then?"
"I'm a squib." His eyebrows rose for a moment before he shook all of their hands, looking down at them expectantly. They all turned as one and looked at Holly, who was looking up at Pinne, her mouth open. She seemed to shake herself before pulling the wand out she had taken, then given back to her by Tony. She handed it to Pinne, which he took, rolling the barrel round in his hand. He then took his own enormous wand out and interrogated it.
"Blackthorn, dragon heartstring, ten and a half inches, very flexible. I made this wand around eight years ago and sold it to a young lad called Eric Clerkin, who as far as I can tell, is deceased." He looked at Tony, who nodded back. "The spells that were used…" Tony interrupted.
"I already know the spells, what I want to know is what is wrong with the wand now?"
"The wand has decided that it has a new owner which I assume is you, but." He stopped and looked down suspiciously at Holly. "How come this wand is in your possession?"
"I picked it up a couple of days ago. Why would a wand bond with me? I have no magic, I never went to Hogwarts."
Pinne's eyes brows rose up. "Are you from a magical family"?
"My mother is Stormy Fairweather."
"Hells teeth." He replied a horrified look had crept onto his face as he took a step back. "I thought I knew your face."
"I have two magical parents from a long line and three magical brothers and I am a squib." She said with resignation not enjoying this level of scrutiny.
"You're no squib. You have magical ability, but the type is unknown to me, which is unusual." He looked down on her from some height. "I find it hard to believe the Ministry missed you."
"Can I do magic?" She asked excitedly.
"I think your magic is weak. I'm fairly certain you can't use a wand in the usual fashion. I would say you need to talk to someone at the Ministry." He paused for a moment. "It will be your choice; I'll not say a word as long as you use the magic you have wisely when you find out what it is. Does your mother know about this?"
"No, and I intend to keep it that way." She said as he handed the wand back.
"I think that's a good idea."
He turned away to serve another couple and a group of children that had entered, making the little shop very crowded and quite noisy.
She thanked him and they all exited back into Diagon Alley. Adam looked back as they left and saw Pinne already in deep conversation with a young girl who was around a third of his height, staring up at him in awe.
Once in the street, Tony turned to Holly. "Do you want me to talk to someone at the Ministry?"
"I think it would be a good idea. I'm a little shocked at how much my Mother is disliked."
"It's the nature of her job I suppose."
"You think." She replied. "Can I keep the wand?"
"The wand has chosen the wizard, or in this case, the witch." He replied, receiving a bright smile from her.
"Let's have a walk down the street and do a bit of window shopping," Megan said to Holly eager to get away. They headed off towards Weasley's magic shop, leaving Adam and Tony alone.
"We'll see you in the Cauldron," Holly called without looking back.
Adam and Tony walked the opposite direction towards Knockturn Alley.
They settled themselves down in the upright chairs in the empty Aurors office in Knockturn Alley, careful not to push the piles of parchment over that covered most of the available desk and chair space, and a fair proportion of the floor. There was no sign of Edlyn Balsom, the quarter Veela that made Tony feel very uncomfortable while she was around, her absence suited Tony.
"Who is in charge of this Hall of Prophecies?" Adam asked.
"It's part of the Ministry of Mysteries, we need to get hold of Maldue Ledford," Tony said as he opened drawers, peering inside. Finding a small piece of parchment and a narrow red ribbon, he picked a quill up off the desk and wrote a short message. He walked back outside while rolling the parchment into a tight tube and tying it with the ribbon. He took his wand out and pointed it at the sky and said "Accio Freya."
"What the hell does that do?" Asked Adam, amazed that sparks did not appear from the end of the wand.
"I need Freya to send a message to the Ministry. She's already at the ministry, so she'll be here soon."
"Did you ever think of picking up a phone?"
"There are no phones in the Ministry." Tony laughed.
"If the Ministry is underground, how does the owl get in or out?" He gazed at him, waiting for an answer.
He thought for a moment. "I have absolutely no idea."
"It does seem strange to use an owl to get a message to someone."
"We were sent packing last time we went in and we still need to get hold of a pensieve. I could use another form of communication, but everything that goes in or out of the Ministry is monitored, the least watched messaging service will be the owls, purely because of the sheer number." Tony stopped for a moment. "Still doesn't mean it will not be monitored."
A shadow flickered over them as Freya circled the alley before landing on Tony's shoulder. He moved his head to one side as she rubbed her head against the side of his face. Tony took the small piece of rolled up parchment from his pocket and attached it to the bird's leg. He whispered to her. She leapt from his shoulder, flapping wildly, gaining height to clear the rooftops and was gone.
"What now?"
"We go back to the office and wait."