Prologue: Shattered

It was the first sunny day of the month bathing the world in a peaceful hum. This was the perfect day to just sit back and go out with Ginny, but he couldn't. Harry was, instead, sitting in an important meeting at the office. It was his first case and he wasn't about to screw it up no matter how much Ginny whined for him to take the day off. He was so close to finding the most wanted man and today hopefully he will put an end to that man's cruelty. Harry winced as he remembered Ginny storming out of the room when he refused making him almost regret not staying, almost. Then again saving lives is more important to Harry then going out on a date with Ginny when the sun decided to stop being shy and show itself to the world.

"Well Auror Potter we think we have a lead to the whereabouts of the mass murder Jenkins," Robert Reyans the head of the Auror Department said not raising his head from his note papers, "it is important to do this correctly or someone will get hurt do you understand?"

"Yes sir," Harry puffed a little annoyed at the Head's tone; he wasn't a child and he didn't like being underestimated.

"Look Harry, this is your first mission and I want to make sure nothing happens to you or anyone I am always like this to every Auror who walks in this office to get briefed," Auror Reyans looks Harry in the eyes making Harry feel bad for getting annoyed in the first place.

"Sorry...I just...I know I can do this Head Auror Reyans and I just didn't like that you made it sound like I already failed before I began," Harry said honestly.

"I am glad you are honest Auror Potter but believe me when I say if I didn't think you were ready I would not have given you this assignment," He assured him before continuing with his briefing. They were going to send Harry with a group of Auror to check out the place and if it is the right place they will send the full force. As the Head Auror read out the instructions Harry thought what it would be like to sit in that man's chair. The young Auror wanted that so bad and he knew if he worked hard and showed what he could do he would get the position. Unknowingly Harry smiled at the thought making the other man stop mid-sentence.

"Sorry sir I didn't think there was anything to smile about what you said," Harry said quickly making the Head laugh.

"Don't worry Auror Potter excitement gets to everyone and I was about done anyways so you may go," The Head waved Harry away still chuckling at Harry's youthful short attention span. Harry blushed before rushing out the door. Ron stood outside holding two cups of coffee making Harry smile. His best friend always knew what he needed. They walked together to their shared office silently. It was some kind of agreement they came too long ago that needed no words. With one look they have come to understand one another fully. Of course they just hit nineteen but a lot can happen in a year and within it Ron and Harry's relationship went up a whole new level. It was different somehow, after the war, like they connected in a way that even they could not understand.

"So you going into the field today Harry?" Ron asked as they sat down.

"Yeah, but I wish you could come with me I need my partner," Harry said sitting down as well. The both began to take a sip of their coffee.

"You would think destroying a horcrox would make you 'qualified' to enter the field," Ron joked as he went to filling paper work.

"Well I defeated Voldemort and that got me waiting for a year and a half," Harry continued on making them both laugh. It was true though. Even after Kingsley allowed Ron and Harry to join the Auror Department right after the war the adult Aurors always treated them as if they were inexperienced and were not ready to enter the field.

"At least they put you on a big case as your first one Harry must mean they think you are good," Ron said as he began to write down notes on a case file.

"Ron you know you are my partner so when they finally let you on the field we will do wonders that no society has ever seen," Harry said trying to cheer Ron up and it worked.

"Nice touch Harry makes me forget how funny you can be when you want to be, guess it is the Weasley in you," Ron smiled at him. Harry smiled back as he got to work as well.

"Time to get lunch you two," Hermione walked into Ron and Harry's office. The two were so immersed in their work Hermione had to repeat herself three times before one of them looked up.

"Oh, hey 'Mione," Ron said as his girlfriend stepped up to him and gave him a peck on the lips. Harry grunted in fake disgust before laughing and giving Hermione a hug.

"I swear if I don't come to get you I bet you both would skip lunch and dinner," she joked pulling them both out of the office. They moved together towards a muggle cafe near the entrance of the ministry. It was a small shop that many wizards visited during lunch time when they wanted something different then ministry cafes. Once they placed their orders and took their seats the place seemed to have flooded with people.

"Nice day out don't you think Ronald?" Hermione asked taking a sip of water.

"Yeah sure," Ron shrugged earning him a playful punch in the arm by Hermione.

"So I hear today is your first field case, Harry," Hermione smiled at her best friend. He smiled back.

"Yup and it is the Jenkins case," Harry said barely containing his excitement. This is what was going to be the true turning point in his Auror career.

"That is wonderful Harry just don't do anything irrational," she advised as she watched the waiter put the hot plate of food in front of her.

"But Hermione irrational is my middle name," Harry joked before he dug into his food making both his best friends laugh.


"You are early Auror Potter," Auror Johnson says hitting Harry's back in encouragement, "too excited, eh?"

"Yes sir," Harry pipped up and got dressed in his gear. The clothes looked like black marching band clothes with golden seams. Harry panicked a bit when he felt the fabric move when he realized that the clothes were forming to fit him.

"First time for everything don't you think Auror Potter?" Auror Johnson laughed seeing Harry jump at when the clothes began to reshape on him.

"I should learn the spell for that it will make me not have to worry about the right size," Harry commented back.

"That would take away the point of seamstresses," the older man laughed making Harry blush.

"Come of it Johnson leave the poor boy alone," Head Auror Reyans says walking into the meeting room.

"Sorry Captain," Auror Johnson shrugs as he continues to gear up.

"Why are there so many things to put on," Harry mumbled as he struggled to apply one of the small armors.

"Precautions Auror Potter they protect areas that most people attack first," Auror Johnson answers as he eases into more gear.

Harry struggled so much that in the end everyone was dressed and helping him into the gear. They all lightheartedly teased him but later assured him that they too struggled with it all at first. "With time you will be able to do it with your eyes closed," one of them said messing up Harry's untamed hair.

After another briefing the group of Aurors were off. They all apparated to different specified sections near the wanted location. It was important to time everything correctly as they surrounded the abandoned building. The building was old and most of the windows were broken. Its brick walls were covered in graffiti. There was no light in the building making Harry shudder at the eeriness of the building.

Harry spotted Auror Johnson hold up his hand and wave for Harry to rush into the building through the first broken window. Now was his time to shine and he wasn't going to let it go to waste. As he approached the building Harry instantly knew no one was there. They had the wrong place. No one has stepped into this building in years. Harry turned to look at Auror Johnson. His face looked urgent and annoyed as he kept hand signaling Harry to enter. With a sigh Harry climbed in.

If he thought the outside of the building looked creepy it was nothing compared to the inside. Most of the paint on the walls was gone and the ground was covered in dirt, grime, broken glass and even thing Harry couldn't pin point. Taking a deep breath of a stench, he also couldn't place, Harry continued to scavenge through the building. He went up a floor and still there was nothing. With every floor he passed proved Harry was right no one was here. And no one ever was here.

"What did you find Auror Potter?" Auror Johnson asked as Harry walked out of the building.

"Absolutely nothing sir," Harry answered, "no one has been in that building in years."

"Damn, well you did well though going in alone," Auror Johnson compliments Harry making Harry laugh.

"He walked into the forbidden forest to face the Dark Lord by himself I assure you a building like this isn't scary," one other Auror commented making them all laugh.

"Alright guys since this was a total failure we shall regroup at the office for a quick report and discussion of future action, do I make myself clear?" Auror Johnson asked. After everyone shouted 'yes sir' they apparated away allowing whatever was lurking in the shadows to smirk triumphantly.


It has been a week since the abandoned building incident and Harry was growing restless. All he wanted was to figure out how to find Jenkins and throw him in Azkaban for good. He wanted to save people not sit still waiting-

"Harry," Ginny shook his shoulder. Harry blinked and blushed as he realized that he completely ignored his girlfriend.

"Sorry Gin," Harry said apologetically.

"What is wrong Harry you have been dozing off for days," Ginny said in a whiny voice making Harry flinched.

"I am just restless Ginny I am on an important case and I am no closer to solving it then I was last week," Harry sighed getting rid of his annoyance in his tone.

"You're here with me now Harry so can you, just for an hour at least, focus on me and not the case?" Ginny asked.

"I will," Harry said but knowing too well that he won't.

"Good," she smiled and went back to telling him the story of when she fell off her broom during on of her practices.


Harry was back at the abandoned building. He did not know why he was there but it was a good place to start thinking. Once his feet landed at the front door of the building he noticed something different about it. He took a step inside and once he was in the door slammed shut behind him. Now he was on edge making him draw his wand. With precaution he moved through the building climbing all the way to the third floor before he found anything. It was in the center room. A small red box sat in there looking too new to be a part of the building. Harry looked at it curiously as he took slow steps towards the small red box. As he reached down to pick it up he felt something hit him hard in the head and everything went black.

There was light.

It was florescent light. His eyes cringed shut.

He was kicked. He opened his eyes to see a man standing over him.

The man smirks. Harry blinks his vision is blurry without his glasses.

"Hello there Harry Potter," the man said. Harry knew that voice. It was Jenkins. He had found him or more like he was caught by him.

"What do you want with me?" Harry asked calmly.

"Nothing really...just to make an example of you," Jenkins answers.

"Killing me won't work Jenkins," Harry warns.

"Oh, my dear boy, I don't plan on killing you at all," Jenkins smiles at him, "I plan on doing something much worse."

Curcio.

Harry's last thought was:

I am sorry.