Chapter 1

"You can't seriously be suggesting, that I have some live-in body guard! Merlin's beard! I have been fighting Voldemort all through my school days! And you seriously think, that I can't take care of myself? That's insane!"

Hermione Granger was past angry. She was livid. Only because some kids thought it to be hip to pretend to be Death Eaters, the ministry was now checking the security arrangements of all witches and wizards, that were living in the Muggle community. If a few broken windows, mild hexes and the occasional teenage prank was all, there was to it, she couldn't understand, why she was supposed to suddenly share her cosy house with a stranger.

She looked at the Minister of Magic. He returned her stare without comment. Finally she turned away, sat back on the chair in front of his desk and sighed. Why did she have the inkling, that there was something, he didn't tell her? Why had he asked her here on the pretense of her work with the Muggle Liaison Office? She thought for a moment and remembered some rumours she had been hearing in the past weeks. Though she hadn't really paid any attention, there had been something about the pranks becoming more serious. So, how serious was the situation really?

"I'll only consent to these arrangements, when I know, what is really going on. Otherwise I'm..."

"Miss Granger, please!"

He looked at her.

"The truth!"

He sighed. He could see, that she was clearly not going to give in. Not without knowing the whole story. He sighed again. He muttered a few words, which she recognised as an advanced guarding spell and then slowly started to explain the situation.

"It started about three month ago. Round about the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. First there where only a few broken windows. Stones had been used, no magic. Therefore it was assumed, that the culprits would be Muggles and the attacks being random, as they clearly couldn't know, that the inhabitants of the targeted houses where members of the magical community. But then houses were broken into, seemingly again by Muggles. Though questions were starting to be asked. We couldn't really find anything untoward. And then your friend Harry Potter spotted something odd: In two of the houses he inspected he found small black stones. At first he didn't really notice them, but one of the persons burgled mentioned, that one had been left on the kitchen table. When he went back and asked all people, that had reported these incidences so far, every single one of them had found such a stone!"

"Black stones?"

"Yes. And then there was the burglary in Hogsmead."

"In Hogsmead? I thought, the were targeting only wizards and witches living in the Muggle community?"

"Except for this one time."

"Strange."

Shacklebolt nodded.

"But then two days ago, two elderly witches living together in an affluent area in Bristol were found dead in there home."

Hermione didn't say anything. This seemed to be more serious, than the ministry had everybody let to believe.

"So, you see, Miss Granger, we have not decided to just imposed this on you, because we think, you can't handle some teenage pranksters. We don't know, who exactly is behind this. Or why. The Magical Law Enforcement Office has been working flat out for weeks now and even so, we have some assistance from the Aurors Office, there is no real clue as yet, as to what this is really all about."

She thought about this new information. Should she maybe ask Harry and Ginny, if she could stay with them for a while? Then again, they were in the middle of arranging their wedding in the summer. Which also meant, that the Burrow, the Weasley family home, was not an option, as Mrs. Weasley was far to frantic to make sure, that the wedding of her only daughter would be the occasion of the year. And Ron... She smiled to herself. Ron was in Newcastle at the moment and she didn't really wanted to leave her home. Not after having to look for it for more than six month.

"Miss Granger?"

"Yes, Minister. I see now, that it might be easier to just have somebody staying with me as a precaution. Even so I still think, that it isn't really necessary."

"Thank you, Miss Granger. It will help us greatly, knowing, that we do not have to worry about you. Should a war hero like yourself be killed... The effect on the entire magical world would be..."

They looked at each other. Both knew, what kind of shock waves something like that would create.

"And whom have you chosen for my added protection? I wouldn't mind, if it is a witch."

The minister cleared his throat. She looked at him. Why did this simple question seem to make him so considerably uncomfortable?

"Minister?"

"That is the only draw back..."

"Why?"

"The Law Enforcement and the Auror Office are so stretched in regards to their presonel, that we still have to find your assigned..."

"You don't have enough personel to cover all the vulnerable witches and wizards? Then why are you wasting your time with me? I have enough magic to my beg and call, as that I can't live on my own for some time longer."

"I knew, you would say that. But, Miss Granger, as a symbol of our world it is extra important to make sure, that you are save!"

In a way, she understood his reasoning, but that didn't mean, it made her any keener having some stranger living with her.

"I will let you know, as soon, as I have found somebody."

She nearly said "Thank you.", but refrained from it.

When she was back in her own office, she sat for a long while in her comfy high backed chair staring in front of her. Lost deep in thought.

"Mister Weasley? There is somebody to see you. He says, he has an appointment, but I can't find him in the diary."

"What is his name?"

"Wilson."

Percy Weasley had finally managed to become the head of his own department: He was in charge of the recruitment of the additional staff needed for the protection of as living-in-vulnerable- circumstances classed witches and wizards. His office was not really big, but it was his pride and joy. His office.

For a moment he tried to remember and then he nodded.

"He has an appointment, Claire. Show him in."

Claire smiled and called into the ante-chamber, that the head of department would see Mr. Wilson now.

The person, that entered was about 6", slender, but not thin. His dark shirt, trousers and cloak were not really expensive, but spoke of good quality. His shoes were showing the only evidence, that he must have walked quiet a distance in the rainy streets of London recently. His hood was up and his face hidden within the shadows of it. His hands ended in long fingers, which were holding the front of his cloak together.

Percy sat behind his desk, going through the papers his secretary had given him in regard to this latest applicant.

"Please sit down."

Silence.

"I see, that you have been traveling the last years? Italy, Spain, Brasil, Cambodia?"

A non-commital sound was the only answer.

"You have also written down, that you are interested in Auror work. I'm afraid, that the Auror office is too busy to train up staff in the moment..."

An eyebrow was raised unbeseen to the third Weasley son.

"But we are looking for body guards. The ministry is running a special scheme to train Law Enforcement wizards and witches in the field. Would that be of interest to you?"

"It would." said a soft, melodic voice from behind the hood.

"Fantast..."

Persy looked up and saw a black hooded figure in his visitors chair. He screamed. In headless panic he sported his wand against the stranger.; but his hand shook violently. His secretary burst into the office.

"Mr. Weasley!"

She saw a most bizarre scene before her. Her boss standing with a mortified expression on his face, wand in hand, pressed against the wall behind his desk. The visitor sat quietly in his chair.

"Mr. Weasley!" Claire shouted.

He finally snapped out of his stupor.

"I am sorry, Mr. Wilson. For a moment I thought you were a Demetor. Sorry"

He waved his secretary to leave.

His visitor didn't say anything. Percy looked intently at him.

"Would you mind, lowering your hood?"

"I prefer not to show my face. The war..."

The other man kept on staring for another moment and then nodded. It was not unusual, that people had kept horrible scars from the war against Voldemort. For the most part, the healers had been working miracles. But there were exceptions and these poor fellows tended to hide their disfigurement from their surrounding.

"I will forward your application the the respective person in charge and we will contact you."

"How long is that going to take?"

"It shouldn't take longer than a few days."

"I see. I am residing in the Leaky Cauldron. Room 12."

He got up, bowed and left the room without a further word.

'What an odd person!'

"Claire!"

The secretary come in.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley?"

"Could you please bring this file to the Minister. It is important, that he gets it straight away."

"Of course. I'll do it myself."

The small short eared owl was hooting at Hermione's bedroom window. It took a while until she managed to attract the attention of the peacefully sleeping witch. When Hermione finally opened the window and let her in she hopped gracefully onto the back of the chair next to it. The message was carefully removed from the leg of the owl and it got an extra owl tread for having had to hoot so long to get the intended addressee to wake up. Then she ruffled her feathers and swooped gracefully outside.

The still sleepy witch hopped back into her warm and comfy bed and unrolled the note, she had received.

Dear Miss Granger,

I am glad to have found the perfect candidate for the assignment as your body guard. He has traveled the last years, is speaking several languages and has gained his N.E.W.T.s from Hogwarts in the same year you did. So I would think, that you should be quite comfortable with each other.

He will be arriving this afternoon. The password is cats.

Shaklebolt

Minister for Magic

P.S.: He has seemingly been heavily scarred during the war and is hiding his face for this reason.