Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Buddha

Chapter 1 The Assignment

As Misty walked down the desolate road she wondered why she had gotten this job so quickly. She was used to being barged with questions that had nothing to do with being an auror. There was no, "Wasn't your husband Sergio Zapata?", "What happened between you two, by the way?" and let's not forget the always popular "Why haven't you lived anywhere for more than six months at a time?" It's none of your damn business is what she would have liked to have said but she knew when to hold her tongue when necessary. Well, most of the time any way. No this time it was just too easy thought Misty uneasily. Just think of it as a vacation from unwanted personal questions. She tried to tell herself this many times as she reached the phone booth that would begin her new life in London and abroad.

Misty walked slowly into the red broken down phone booth and looked down at a piece of parchment with the numbers six, two, four, four, two. Why can't I just go the normal way thought Misty as she dialed the numbers on the broken phone feeling very foolish .Just then a woman's voice filled the booth.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."

"Um......Misty Lewis and I'm here as the new auror..........um.........I SHOULD be list there somewhere or another...............................................................................hello?

"Thank you, visitor please take the badge and pin it to your robes."

Immediately after a square silver badge came out of the coin chute and she pinned it to her velvet hunter green cloak. Misty stood there looking around outside of the booth to see if anyone was watching the small escapade that was going on in a broken phone booth. She cried out and jumped when she heard the rather creepy woman's voice again.

"Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk which is located at the far left of the Atrium."

The box gave a little shake as it lowered into the ground like an elevator. Misty leaned her arm against one of the glass panels and rested her head while the box continued going deeper into the ground.

" Oh God no, please Sergio don't!"

"You lied to me you little bitch...................................You said you would never leave me!"

Woman screaming.

"If you leave me I'll kill you..................................What are you back here!"

"I can't do this Sergio anymore. I...I'm leaving you for good, just get used to it."

"Crucio!"

Woman screaming.

A ray of golden light spread from her slightly large feet, up her hidden legs, her torso, and finally as the light hit Misty closed eyes her head snapped up. She was sweating profusely and breathing hard.

"The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day."

The woman that stepped out of the phone booth was a strange looking woman indeed. She wore a long green cloak with the hood over her head. Her large feet stuck out because she was only about 5'5 or 5'6. While she pulled whips of wavy blond hair out of her face you could see that she was surprisingly attractive. With Bora Bora blue eyes she looked around in wonderment at the sight before her. The polished floors, enchanted ceiling, and the occasionally popping of wizards and witches aparating all looked a tad daunting to Misty. I'll get used to it she told her self though not quite believing it. She walked quickly, with sound of her black boots clicking behind her, to the far left where a desk labeled Security was found.

"Wand." growled the scruffy old wizard as he passed a golden wand over her.

Misty pulled out her wand from inside her cloak and handed it to the wizard. He put it in a set of brass scales and read a parchment read out.

"Ten inches, unicorn hair core, mahogany, been in use twenty two years, correct?

"Yes." she replied with a smile of amusement.

"This isn't funny Lewis, there are serious matters that occur here you know." he said matter of factly when his eyes skimmed her badge.

"Oh I'm sure of it." Misty said still with a smile.

The wizard looked up into her face with disgust and shoved her wand back into her hand. "Go through the Golden Gates and the hallway to one of the elevators, go up to level two where you can find the Auror Headquarters, Kingsley should be there, think you can manage that?"

"I'll try." she said sarcastically.

Misty continued through the Golden Gates and to one of the many elevators while thinking about the last time she worked as an auror which was over twelve years ago. She sighed and walked into the elevator with a feeling of apprehension. Along with her were five middle aged witches who seemed excited about meeting a man called Ludo Bagman. As far as she could remember Ludo was no lady killer but he was always quite fit.

"I just can't wait Maggie, he's so handsome."

"I can't believe he agreed to see us. I mean he must be real busy right?"

"I think he could be the next Lockhart to be honest." There were nods of approval.

"I think anyone spouted as the next Gilderoy Lockhart should be pitied." Misty said under her breath.

"Level seven, Department of Magical Games and Sports, incorporating the British and Irish Quiditch League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club, and Ludicrous Patents Office."

As the doors opened a man out of shape with a belly wearing extremely old Quiditch robes welcomed the witches, "Ladies! Come this way for the grand tour!"

All the witches murmured excitedly as they got off the elevator. When the door closed Misty started hysterically laughing at the sight that had just occurred. She didn't stop laughing until the woman from the booth said, "Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services."

Misty stepped off the elevator into a corridor filled with doors. Which one is the Auror Headquarters? It could be anyone of them, thought Misty. She turned and looked at all the doors and was about to open a door to her left when she heard a small ding behind her. She spun around to see a tall black man rush forward and shake her hand gently.

"I'm glad I found you or you might have been forced to ask someone of the Enforcement Squad over there and they're real assholes." he told her laughing while pointing to the door she was about to open.

Misty smiled as she said, "Yes, I was a bit lost but I think I could have managed."

"I don't know, who knows what they might have done to a pretty girl like you," he said flirtingly.

"Let's get to business shall we, Kingsley is it?" She hated it when men called her pretty little girl. It made her feel like she was talking to her dad.

"Yes, Kingsley. Of course, this way please." he said slightly put out.

Misty followed Kingsley through a pair of doors to an office with many cubicles and flying airplanes. She followed him to the end of the row and into the last cubicle. She looked around and saw that all the walls were covered in pictures and articles about Sirius Black. She quickly deducted that he was in charge of the investigation of where Black was.

"Please let me take your cloak and make your self comfortable." Kingsley said politely.

Misty obliged and revealed a black silk dress just bellow her knees and a pair of knee-high black boots. She knew it was a bit too formal but she had wanted to make a good first impression. It certainly had because when Kingsley caught a look at her outfit it was obvious he liked it. Misty instantly regretted even thinking of wearing this wretched thing. She sunk down in a chair upholstered with wrinkled brown leather. Kingsley hung up her cloak and sat down behind his desk also littered with notes about Sirius Black. He sighed and placed his hands together on top of his papers.

"I assume you know of Sirius Black, am I correct?" he asked.

"Yes, of course. He murdered all those people in the muggle street."she replied.

"The Minister has asked me to employ an auror to find Black once and for all. You see all these problems with catching Black has made him lose faith in me." Kingsley said bitterly.

He continued, "So this is where you come in, Lewis. You will investigate where Black is and bring him back here to us. The Minister has instructed me to tell you to use any means necessary. Do you have any questions?"

"What exactly were these problems with getting Black?" she asked.

"What I am about to tell you is confidential. It must not leave this cubicle. We received information last year that Sirius Black had broken out of Askaban to kill Harry Potter. He was finally caught by a teacher at the school and the dementors kiss was scheduled to be administered. Sometime between 12:05 and 12:15 he escaped the school. The Minister felt it would be best not to let this out in the public." Kingsley stated.

Or it would ruin his career, thought Misty. This could be a conspiracy. I need to keep a look out. She nodded towards Kingsley and pulled out a quill and a piece of parchment and began to write. She asked, "What was this teachers name?"

"Severus Snape, though you shouldn't look into that because we have just received information that Black is in Tibet."

"Where exactly in Tibet was he spotted and who made this claim?" Misty said while still writing notes.

Kingsley began looking at a paper on his desk and finally said, "The city is Gertse and the claim was made by a man by the name of Manchu. Don't worry he is a wizard but he's a little hard to find. Here's a map of Tibet. I'm sorry but that's all I give you."

Misty stopped writing and took the map, folded it up and put it in her boot. "Is that all?" she asked.

"Yes that's it." he said.

She then folded up the piece of parchment and along with the quill placed it in her boot with the map. "Well, then I guess I better get to it, Kingsley. I'll be in contact with you. My name will be Gypsy in all correspondences, ok?"After she said this she got up and put on her cloak. She put up her hood and just before she walked out, Kingsley spoke up.

"Uh...Lewis?"

"Yes."

"Be careful."

"I'll get the job done," and that's all she said as she left Kingsley standing by his desk. While she strolled down the row she thought about Kingsley. Was he being perfectly honest? No, she continued, he's lying alright but not about everything. This Tibet shit isn't worth my time. I am not about to go to Tibet and not find a single thing, which is my hunch. Hogwarts is where that teacher Snape is and I have a feeling he has a key to this whole mystery.

Misty was so lost in her own thoughts she didn't notice a man with long white blond hair watching her with interest.