Note: Set 32 years after book seven, this fic accepts HP books 1-7. It does not, however, take into account subequent post-book statments by the author.
The Master Auror
By MySoapBox
I The Master Auror
Forty-nine year old Harry Potter walked determinedly up the white stone steps to Gringotts bank, his lips pressed into a fine line. He yanked open the large bronze door, not waiting for the goblins that stood guard there. There was something about the middle aged man in billowing black robes, something about the way the magic eddied around him, that seemed to warn them to keep their distance.
As Harry entered the spacious lobby, a man looked up from where he stood conversing with a small group of wizards and witches. "Potter?" the man called out, offering his apologies to the group, and offering his hand to Harry in greeting. "I didn't know you were coming. Or are you here just to check up on me?" he asked, a small hint of worry in his voice.
"Not at all, Morton," Harry replied shortly. "It seems the Minister promised the President of Gringotts that he would have his "top man" on the job and I guess that means me." Harry raised and lowered his arms in a frustrated gesture.
"Honestly Harry, I'm not sure that my team needs to be in on this at all. It seems like a simple case for Magical Law Enforcement."
"An attempted break-in at Gringotts is never a 'simple case', Harry replied. Especially when everything having to do with Gringotts is hip deep in politics, he silently added.
"So true," said a young man in scarlet and gold robes who approached them, a little edge to his voice. "I believe the last successful break-in here was over 30 years ago. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, it was you, Mr. Potter, who committed that break-in." He stopped in front of the two older men, his lips showing no expression but there was a little darkness in his green eyes as he looked at Harry.
Harry noticed that the young man seemed taller than he remembered. His red hair clashed with the Gringotts scarlet. And for a moment the sight of him took Harry's breath away. He looked so much like Ron. Harry saw the resemblance when he was just a boy, but now that he was a man, the similarities were uncanny.
Morton shot the younger man a warning look and then with an excusing smile said, "Mr. Potter, this is Hugo Weasley, a vault-charmer here at Gringotts and one of the most gifted young wizards at charms I've ever seen."
"So I hear - every time I see his mother," Harry replied extending his hand to Hugo. Hugo did not move to take it. So that's how it's going to be, Harry thought.
Morton looked back and forth between Harry and the stone faced Weasley.
"Hugo and I go way back," Harry explained dropping his hand. "So Hugo, what do you think of this attempted break-in?" Harry asked.
"I've done every revealing spell I know of, and I've found no traces of dark magic. In fact I've found no traces of magic at all, other than what you would normally expect. How they ever penetrated that deeply into the underground passageways is a mystery. It was only the new charms on the vault doors that seemed to be their undoing. "
"And there are no other obvious signs of break-in, no large holes in the wall, no missing dragons?"
If Hugo got the joke he didn't let on. "None. All employees have been questioned under veritaserum," Harry's eyes widened in surprise, "per Gringotts policy and their employment contracts," Hugo offered in explanation, "and no one seems to know anything."
"Amazing," Harry said, mostly to himself. "And what was held in the vaults they were trying to access?"
Hugo turned to look past the tables to the tunnel entrance that led down to the vaults and Harry couldn't help himself but to follow Hugo's gaze. "Gold, Mr. Potter. Only gold. And lots of it."
* * *
Later that afternoon, behind a door marked "Master Auror" Harry sat behind a highly polished oak desk staring down at a pile of parchment while absently rubbing the bridge of his nose. Although he hadn't had to wear glasses in over twenty years, he still had never given up the gesture that expressed itself when he was deep in thought. Behind him, outside his enchanted window, the forest trees play in the autumn breeze.
When the Minister had given him the job of Master Auror, the highest position an Auror could achieve, Harry could have chosen any scene out his ministry window. The view of this forest had always brought him the most comfort. Sometimes he even thought he could see a little yellow light in the distance or a little trail of smoke wafting above the trees signaling that Hagrid was at home.
It had been thirty-three years since his days at Hogwarts. But it seemed only yesterday he was seeing that impressive castle rising for the first time from the bow of the small first years boat. Some nights when the nightmares returned, when he woke screaming and sweating, he was surprised not to see the heavy curtains that surrounded that old four poster bed that was his school home for six years.
On nights like those, when the night terrors returned, which was less now but still occasionally, he was glad that he had Ginny there, talking softly to him, soothing him with her gentle touch, pulling him back down beside her, cupping herself to him. Harry would feel her warmth, smells the soft scent of her hair and relax. Memories of Voldemort, silver death eater masks and the faces of dyng friends would all fade away as he held this amazing woman that was his wife through the darkest nights.
Ginny. Harry ran his hand through his graying hair. Ginny had been ill for over a year now. She was always putting a smile on her face. Always wanting to do more than the healers said she should explaining that she felt fine, that there was work to do. But they had been married too long for Harry not to notice that she was worsening. Every passing week she was thinner, weaker. Every day she took a little longer to rouse and she retired a little earlier.
Harry forced these thoughts to the back of his mind. Dwelling on the inevitable would only drive him mad.
With his back to the window he focused again on the parchment on his desk. They were a collection of recent reports of odd happenings from all over Great Britain over the past few months. Harry had added this morning's report from Gringotts to the top of the pile.
Various groups calling themselves Death Eaters had risen and fallen over the years. There always seemed to be another power-hungry witch or wizard and a few eager followers willing to ride their coat tails for gain. But this time seemed different. The attacks seemed more organized. The targets more challenging, the spoils increasing, and now with the attempt at Gringotts…. Harry shook his head. They were either very arrogant or very foolish. Either attitude could spell a lot of trouble. Only Harry and his top staff knew that the offenders never left a trace, never left a mark or anything out of place. The crimes were clean, so clean that it was a calling card of sorts. It was the thing that got the Auror's attention in the first place. There was a lot more to this than just a random rise in crime.
Think! He commanded himself. There is something here, I know it.
The words on the pages waltzed before him, mocking his lack of concentration.
Before Harry could work out any theories, a head popped into the fire on the other side of the room. A young woman with flaming red hair and intelligent green eyes looked around quickly, searching.
"Dad?" the woman urgently called.
"Lily?" Oh dear God. Harry jumped up ran to the fireplace "Is everything okay?"
"Dad! It's Mom. Come quickly! "Forgetting the parchment, forgetting everything, Harry grabbed a hand full of floo powder, stepped into the flames and yelled, "Home!"
Authors Notes: This story was my first attempt at fanfiction but 25,000 words into the story I felt overwhelmed and the document has sat unpublished on my hard drive for over a year. After having some sucess posting other stores I've decided to come back to this story. Now replotted and updated, I'm ready to post this adventure for the first time. The first 8 chapters are written, and will only need polishing and I'm starting work on the final five chapters. It is my goal to post a new chapter aprox. every week. This may be somewhat delayed as I move into the unwritten chapters. Many thanks to my beta reader Angelinthecrowd that saves me from many embarassing mistakes. All mistakes are mine.