Doyle looked down at the two, sheet covered, bodies lying on the mortuary slab before glancing up at his partner who nodded back at him in silent agreement.
"Why CI5, Sir?" he asked of the third man in the room, George Cowley, wanting to clarify why this particular double murder should require their specialist skills.
But before Doyle could finish asking the question the door swung open and a man entered tall, dark haired and wearing the obligatory white coat, with his glasses perched on the end of his nose.
"I believe I may be the man to answer that," he said, striding between the two agents and directly towards the older man, his hand extended in greeting. "Arthurs," he said, grasping Cowley's hand and shaking it vigorously. "George Arthurs. Forensic Pathologist."
"Cowley," replied the head of CI5, shaking the man's hand in return. "How can we help you?"
"Well." With a theatrical swirl of fabric Dr Arthurs threw back the covers to reveal the two bodies, one a man and the other a woman. He then pulled a chocolate muffin from his lab coat pocket and started to eat it. "I assume you're not squeamish, not in jobs like yours, eh?"
Bodie stood to something not unlike attention and Doyle moved across to the filing cabinet, leaning against it and crossing his arms over his chest in his customary fashion.
"What has happened to these people?" asked Mr Cowley.
"That is the very crux of the problem," replied Dr Arthurs as, still eating the muffin, he moved across to the body of the man and pointed. "The cause of death still eludes me and, I can assure you, I have many years of experience in my field. This body contained a large PH scale of acidic residue which points towards burning and extreme temperatures."
"Are you talking spontaneous combustion?" asked Doyle.
"Very good!" replied Dr Arthurs, looking delighted. "Very good, indeed. But there are no outward burn marks."
"So what are you suggesting?" asked Cowley.
"To be honest, I wouldn't rule anything out at this stage."
"Chemical weapons?" asked Bodie.
"Oh, Mr Cowley," Dr Arthurs looked like he was about to explode in glee. "May I congratulate you on the quality of your staff? Very good indeed, yes, I am concerned about chemical weaponry being used here."
"In other words you haven't got the slightest idea," muttered Bodie.
"What was that?" snapped Cowley.
"Nothing, Sir."
Doyle moved from his leaning post and slowly, respectfully, covered the bodies with the sheets once more. "What were their names?" he asked.
"James and Lily Potter," replied Dr Arthurs.
"Husband and wife," muttered Doyle.
Bodie moved, imperceptibly, and Doyle went to stand beside him.
"There was a baby too, but he survived," added Dr Arthurs. "I believe he is now being looked after by relatives of the deceased."
"Where exactly was the scene of the murders?" asked Cowley.
"Godric's Hollow," replied Dr Arthurs.
"And who is in charge of the case?"
"Well, I believe that considering all my doubts and concerns, that now falls to your department, Mr Cowley. I have asked the Police to get their forensic files together and deliver them to your offices because I believe CI5 are the only department who can get to the bottom of this, for the safety of the Nation."
"And that," said Cowley, as he looked over his glasses at Bodie and Doyle, "is why this is a CI5 case."
James loved these days, the days when he could just spend time with his family and Jack and not have to worry about the war or the fact that Voldemort wanted them dead.
Jack was on the floor playing with Harry and Leo making 'snow-works', as he called them, to keep the boys amused. Amy and Lily were sitting on the sofa in the corner, watching and laughing at the pair. It was already getting dark before Leo started yawning and Amy decided to take her little boy home. She picked up the sleepy child and smiled at her brothers and sister-in-law.
"I guess I'll take this little one home, then. I'll see you all tomorrow."
"If you see the Kangaroo tell him to cheer up, the grump," Jack told her with a mischievous grin, making the girl laugh.
"Will do, don't you worry. In fact, if you like, I'll pop by the warren tomorrow and turn his fur pink."
This suggestion caused Jack to laugh, less at the suggestion and more at the mental image that accompanied it. Amy flashed him a sisterly smile before leaving, setting off home to get Leo to bed.
Another ten minutes of playing resulted in a very tired Harry as well. Lily scooped him up to take him upstairs to bed when the front door exploded. It took a moment for anybody to be able to react but when they did James immediately pushed his wife up the stairs.
"Lily, take Harry and go!" he shouted. "It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off-!"
James pleaded with her, standing at the bottom of the stairs between his wife and the monster that had dared to invade their home. Tears started streaming down Lily's face as she realised this would probably be the last time she saw her husband alive. She gave him one last kiss before taking the frightened one year old upstairs, not daring to look back when a flash of green filled the staircase.
For once Jack was pleased to not be believed in. It meant that not only could he follow Lily and Harry without being seen but it also meant that as Voldemort was stood in the doorway he could walk straight through him without being noticed.
He carefully stepped over James' dead body on the staircase, pausing only to close the unseeing eyes that stared blankly upwards. This pause was a decision he would come to regret, however, because the next thing he heard made his heart break. He heard Lily scream.
He ran up the stairs and into the nursery where Lily and Harry had taken refuge, but by the time he got there Voldemort had claimed yet another life - Lily Potter had joined her husband in another world, far from fear and pain. And two of the only three adults able to see Jack and know of his existence were now dead.
He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of Harry starting to cry. Voldemort had raised his wand at the infant and Jack reacted purely on impulse, creating a barrier of thick ice between Harry and the Dark Lord. As the killing curse hit the frozen barrier the curse rebounded and the blockade shattered, shards of ice flying in all directions, and one leaving a lightning bolt shaped cut on the small boy's head.
Unfortunately it wasn't over yet as the ceiling started to cave in above them. Jack snatched up the child and flew out of the window, just as the house crumbled around them leaving only shattered remains.