Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

A/N: Inspired by the TV series, 24, I wanted to write a post-Hogwarts Harry Potter fanfiction where Harry is the Jack Bauer character and has to race against time to stop Dark Wizard attacks. Should be interesting, at any rate.

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The following takes place between 12:00 AM and 1:00 AM on March 7, 2000

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12:00:00... 12:00:01... 12:00:02... 12:00:03...

A single man stepped out of a cab in front of Oxford University. Being so late at night as it was, there were few students around, but civilian casualty wasn't what he was going for. He counted out the Muggle money he needed to pay his driver and handed it over wordlessly.

As the cab pulled away, the man pulled his coat (a raincoat, although the sky was clear), closer for warmth and to keep himself hidden from what individuals were about.

He reached Mansfeld College and cast a look around. There was no one about to witness him. He opened the doors and ghosted through the threshold. He removed his wand and uttered in a low voice, "Maledic loco" . A dark tremor swept throughout the building and it was still. He waved his wand over his head slowly repeating the incantation and the tremor swept through like the ghost of a shadow each time he called it. Finishing his work, he left the building through the same door he entered.

The wizard crossed the lawn away from Mansfeld and found a suitable place for him to wait. He counted the seconds in his head... three... two... one.

The building erupted in a shadowy explosion; what few students were still in the building screamed as the darkness overpowered them and the building caved in on itself. The curse was over in a matter of minutes and the night was suddenly still. What remained of the building was nothing more than a ruin of stone and wood.

The wizard grinned with malice at his work. It was only a matter of time before the Ministry got wind of the attack and then they would surely send Aurors to investigate.

12:04:52... 12:04:53... 12:04:54... 12:04:55...

The Muggle Awareness alarm was going off in the Improper Use of Magic Office and the one worker there that night, a young witch named Sasha Fort, hastily waved her wand to silence it and then checked the Magical Quill that wrote down on a sheet of parchment what kind of magic was detected where.

She watched as the quill scribbled, "Unidentifiable Dark Magic used on Mansfeld College on University of Oxford campus, perpetrator unknown, no known witch or wizard residing in the area,"

Sasha had to clamp her hand over her ears as the alarm went off again, she silenced it as the quill began writing again, just beneath the last notice;

"Unidentifiable Dark Magic used in downtown London, perpetrator unknown, no known witch or wizard residing in the area,"

Sasha felt her stomach drop; two curses in Muggle-only locations? Her bad feeling only worsened when the alarm went off for the third time and the quill, which had only just finished the last notice began scribbling furiously again.

"Unidentifiable Dark Magic used in Muggle suburb in Wales, perpetrator unknown, no known witch or wizard residing in the area."

No sooner had the quill finished when the alarm rang again; Sasha, half expecting it, silenced it quickly and read as the quill wrote, "Unidentifiable dark magic used in town center of Kildare, perpetrator unknown, no known witch or wizard residing in the area."

Sasha was relieved that the alarm did not go off again, but her relief was short-lived. Four dark magic curses in the time span of about two minutes? And all in areas populated solely by Muggles? This was out of her jurisdiction. She took the parchment and ran out of her office.

Down the hall, towards the lift, was the Auror office. Her heart sank as she saw how empty it was; few Aurors were on duty this late at night.

"Excuse me," she said to the nearest wizard sitting at his desk, reading a report. "I need to show you this."

The nameplate on the desk read V. Gough, and he was a younger looking wizard, clearly new to the program, possibly only recently passing his qualifications. He took the report and read over it. "When did these happen?" he asked.

"Just now," she said, "each one just after the other."

Gough rubbed his forehead. "This is big..." He stood up and crossed the office. "Potter," he called out.

Sasha's tongue seemed to swell in her mouth as she saw the man V. Gough was addressing.

He was sitting at his desk, also reading over a report. She saw his untidy, long black hair and even seated, she could tell he was quite tall. As he turned, she saw his thin but hard features and the rounded spectacles over his bright green eyes, and though his bangs nearly hid it, the lightning shaped scar on his forehead.

Harry Potter.

"What is it, Vance?" he asked, and his voice, while young, irradiated power and confidence. Sasha, nursing a small affection for the man, tried to hide it. Stop acting like a giddy schoolgirl, she chided herself.

"Take a look at this," Gough said, and Potter took the parchment and read over it, his eyes narrowed.

"She said they all happened at almost exactly the same time," Gough said. Sasha nodded as Potter glanced over her.

"I've got to call everyone in," said Potter, "this is a big deal. Who else is in this late?"

Gough checked the cubicles around them, "Hele is, sir."

"You two, get to the nearest one, and find out what kind of curse it is, and how many Muggles have been killed or injured. Take some Obliviators with you."

"Mr. Robarbs should be notified," Gough said, and Potter nodded. "I'll do that. You should go now."

"Yes, sir," said Gough as he went to fetch Hele, another young Auror, and Sasha, not wishing to be awkward, quickly left Potter's presence.

Harry took a pinch of floo powder and threw it into his personal fireplace to call Gawain Robarbs, head of the Auror Office. He got the feeling that this was going to be a later night than usual.

12:15:36... 12:15:37... 12:15:38... 12:15:39...

Hermione sat up in the bed, refastening her bra. She felt the mattress shift under the weight of someone moving closer to her and she smiled a little.

Ron's fingers met hers and took the bra strap, fastening it for her. She closed her eyes as he kissed her shoulder and she couldn't resist making a little sound of pleasure.

"Don't know how you can be so relaxed," murmured Ron against her neck. "I know if I had a presentation like yours tomorrow, I wouldn't be."

Hermione turned to face him and kissed him softly. "I have faith in our Wizengamot. Some of them may still be a bit misguided, but I wholeheartedly believe that my presentation will make them see reason."

"I have faith in you," said Ron brushing her hair back, "and your... persuasive skills..." He gestured at his nude state on the bed and Hermione had to laugh. She kissed him again. "I love you."

"Love you, too," he said, tenderly.

Their lovely moment was interrupted by a rapping coming from the downstairs kitchen window.

"Sounds like we've got a letter," Ron said, as he sat up and pulled his pants on. "I'll get it. You stay here," he smiled seductively and left the room.

He stepped down the stairs quickly and entered the kitchen. Outside the window was a long-eared barn owl whom Ron immediately recognized as Colombe, Percy's new owl.

Ron opened the window and allowed Colombe to hop onto the counter and he took the letter clamped in her beak.

He dug a butter knife out of one of the kitchen drawers (his wand was upstairs) and slit it open. There was Percy's neat scrawl.

Ron,

Meet me as soon as you can. This is about Hermione's presentation tomorrow. It's a very sensitive issue. Don't tell her where you're going. I'm at the office. Hurry, please.

Percy

Ron frowned down on the letter. Requesting a secret meeting at midnight was very unlike Percy, but the way he was speaking sounded urgent. And perhaps he was right, he ought to keep this from Hermione for now.

He stuffed the letter in his pocket and sent Colombe back out the window, only to be met with another letter, this time a Ministry leaflet that must've flown to the house very quickly.

Ron ripped it open without the butter knife this time. It was Harry's handwriting.

Crisis. All Auror Office staff report to the office immediately. Curses in four Muggle-inhabited areas. Aurors are investigating scene of one in Downtown Muggle London. Robarbs has been informed.

Harry Potter

Oh, good, Ron thought. An excuse.

He ran back up the stairs two at a time. "I've got to go in to the office," he said, hastily to the half naked woman lying in the bed before him. He reached into his closet and pulled his dark Auror robes over his head.

"At this hour?" Hermione asked, supporting herself on her elbows.

"We have a crisis," he said. "Can't imagine what. I'll try to be home soon."

She bit her lip in an unsure kind of way as Ron pulled on his boots and pocketed his wand and his badge.

"Stay safe," she said as he left through the door.

12:24:43... 12:24:44... 12:24:45... 12:24:46...

The Aurors Apparated a safe distance away from the Muggle emergency vehicles that had arrived on the scene, along with their team of obliviators. They could see and hear the sirens. The curse had been placed on an almost empty office building in the downtown London area. The firemen were searching the wreckage at a complete loss as to what had happened to the building. It appeared to have burned down without a fire.

"You two," said one Auror, "check the surrounding area for any Muggle witnesses." To the third, "You come with us."

The two Aurors and the Obliviator reached the scene and the Obliviator immediately set to work reconstructing the building, much to the first responder's bewilderment, when the other two Obliviators arrived and began to erase their memories.

As they worked, they were being watched. Several Dark Wizards, including the man who'd set the curse on Oxford University were waiting for them, having been tipped off which site the Ministry would first investigate. One of the wizards twirled his wand testily as he watched the Aurors. "Should we take them?"

Another man said, "No, let them repair the building and Obliviate the Muggles first."

They watched in silence as the Aurors reconfigured the building to the way it once was and the Obliviators finished the last of the Muggles.

"Wait," the wizard commanded and the Aurors and the Oblivators started making their way back to the spot where it would be safe to Apparate, unknowingly closer to the Dark Wizard's hiding spot.

"Kill the Obliviators," he whispered, "but we want the Aurors alive."

The three others raised their wands.

"Now."

"Avada Kedavra!" all three wizards shouted and each curse hit an Obliviator who dropped as easily as a discarded piece of trash.

The Aurors reacted at once, shooting Stuns in the direction of the wizards, who easily deflected them.

The Dark Wizards swooped upon them and disarmed them at once.

The man who placed the curse on the office building spoke. "Aurors, what are your names?"

The two young men glanced at each other, unable to hide the fear in their eyes. Finally, one spoke up. "My name is Gough, and my partner is Hele."

"Luckily for you, Officers Gough and Hele," the man said, leaning over them, "My instructions are to capture not kill."

He raised his wand and shot a whip of rope to bind them together.

"Let's go," he said. He pulled out a silver medallion, the chain of which the other three took hold of. It acted as a Portkey as the Aurors were whisked away with their captors.

12:31:37... 12:31:38... 12:31:39... 12:31:40...

Ron had Flooed into the atrium to avoid getting caught up with everything going on in the Auror Office just now. He really needed to talk to Percy first. The lift let him off on the lowest level, Minister for Magic and Support Staff. Percy was no longer Special Assistant to the Minister, but he was a high-ranking advisor and sat in on the Wizengamot, which may have been why Percy wanted to speak with Ron the night before Hermione's presentation.

He knocked on Percy's office door and waited a few seconds before it opened and Ron's elder brother hurried him through, muttering soft greetings.

"Perce, what's this all about?" Ron asked, bewildered.

Percy looked flustered, glancing around his office as though he wasn't sure they weren't alone. Then, he looked Ron dead in the eye and said, "You've got to convince Hermione to cancel her presentation."

Ron blinked. "You can't be serious."

"On the contrary, I can't joke."

Ron stared, mouth somewhat open. "How can you expect her to just drop it? She's spent months working on it, not to mention weeks trying to schedule her appointment in."

Percy sat down and indicated Ron do as well. "Ron," he spoke, as if his brother was dumb, "you know as well as I do that her ideas aren't going to fly with the current Wizengamot."

Ron's adam's apple seemed to catch in his throat and he didn't say anything for a moment. Then, slowly, "Maybe Hermione's presentation will convince some of them..." but Percy was shaking his head before Ron finished the sentence.

"Ron, you remember how people treated her back in school when she started this spew business don't you?"

"It's not spew!" Ron said, angrily (ironically). "It's the Society for the Protection of Elfish Welfare!"

"Good God, she's won you over," Percy said, disheartened.

"Well I sleep with her," said Ron, offhandedly. "But Perce, you know how Hermione gets. Nothing I can say will persuade her not to try and establish a House-Elf Liaison Office, even if I wanted to."

Percy removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes, wearily. "You're probably right. But after her presentation, we're going to discuss it and I can't stand up for her just because she's dating my brother."

Ron locked eyes with the older man. "You can stand up for her because it's the right thing to do."

"All the same," said Perce. "I just hope to God she isn't laughed out of that courtroom."

Ron grimaced. "I do too. But, who knows? Maybe she won't be."

Percy said nothing.

"Listen," said Ron, standing up. "I've got to get to the Auror office. There's a crisis going on. I can't be bothered with this until the crisis is over."

He started walking toward the door. "Don't tell Hermione we spoke, okay?"

Percy nodded. "Of course."

Ron nodded his gratitude and left the office. Percy waited until he couldn't hear Ron's footsteps, then pulled out a quill and parchment, and he began to write a letter.

Dear Ursula

12:40:09... 12:40:10... 12:40:11... 12:40:12...

Harry remained standing as the rest of the Auror office dispersed to their assigned duties. The Head of the Office, Gawain Robarbs had filled everyone in once they were all in- Harry had no clue why Ron wasn't there. Maybe he'd missed his Ministry memo.

Harry noticed the lift moving and several more Auror office workers filed in, but Ron was not among them. Harry decided to fill them in on the situation and walked toward them. As he did, he noticed Hele's empty desk. Gough and Hele should've checked in by now, he thought.

He reached the latecomers and told them everything he knew. They thanked him and made their way to their desks. Harry watched them go, his eyes sweeping the office.

As they did, he made eye-contact with Robarbs, the only Auror important enough to have his own private office. Robarbs subtly nodded his head, indicating he wanted Harry to meet him in his office in private.

Harry nodded and made his way past the building. As he did so, he turned and saw the lift opening once again to admit Ron. He considered going back to him and filling him in, but thought better of it. Robarbs was not a man to put on hold.

He entered the office and shut the door behind him. Robarbs was standing, so Harry decided he would too. Robarbs was a tall black man with a thin mustache and a serious expression. He had a bit of a hunch and always looked like he was about to tip over forward.

"I've just been contacted by my source at the Muggle fire department," Robarbs said. "Apparently, after our Aurors investigated the curse and the Obliviators wiped the memories of the first responders, they found the Obliviators a hundred yards away, dead."

Harry let out an involuntary gasp. Three Obliviators dead. And only yesterday, they'd lost two Aurors and their entire families; their deaths were still being investigated. "It looks like they were ambushed," said Robarbs.

Harry cleared his throat. "There were four curses set off at once. And there were men waiting for the Aurors and Obliviators to show up at the one we send them too?"

"I know what you're thinking. Sounds like someone had inside information," Robarbs growled. The amount of corruption within the Ministry, even two years into the new administration, was still daunting.

"Potter, I know I've been hard on you the last couple of years. When the Minister came to me and demanded I bring you in without even testing you, I was doubtful, but you've proven yourself more than capable, reliable, efficient." Robarbs paused here, as if too much praise was bad for him. "In short, you're the only one in this office I trust with this information."

Harry nodded. "I understand."

Robarbs sat down, wearily. "I want your opinion. What do you think we should do?"

Harry bit his lip thoughtfully and glanced away, thinking hard. "Our priorities have to be Gough and Hele. We need to find out where they've been taken, and arrange a rescue."

"We already know," said Robarbs, handing Harry a piece of parchment. "The girl from Inappropriate Use of Magic ran up this notice ten minutes ago, reporting an unauthorized Portkey from the site of the curse our boys were investigating to a small village outside Southhampton."

"Didn't they know Portkeys can be tracked?" asked Harry, reading over the Unauthorized Portkey notice.

"Possibly not," said Robarbs, "it's not common knowledge."

"Or maybe they had someone in Department of Magical Transportation who didn't fall through for them?" Harry suggested.

"I'll make some inquiries," Robarbs said. "Harry, this may be asking too much, but..." he trailed off and Harry glanced up.

"I want you to go after Gough and Hele alone. As I said, you're the only one I trust, and I can't risk sending a team with you who could just as easily turn against you."

"Sir, with respect," Harry said, "you can trust Ron Weasley."

Robarbs made a skeptical face and Harry realized that it wasn't worth the risk. "I think I can handle them," he admitted.

"Good," said Robarbs. "Here's the address. You okay apparating on that alone?"

"I'll be fine," said Harry.

He focused determinedly on the address and in an instant he was gone. He was some forty meters from the nearest building and the road was empty. A light rainfall blurred his vision and he had to draw his robes tighter for warmth. He drew his wand, imperturbed his glasses the better to see through the rain, and skulked forward.

12:52:01... 12:52:02... 12:52:03... 12:52:04...

As Albus Dumbledore had told him years before, magic always leaves traces. He scanned the first building he came to with a handy spell (Magia Revelio) and came up with nothing.

He started to make his way for the next building when the headlights of a car passed and Harry quickly hid himself in the shadows. He crept to the next house and used Magia Revelio this time to better effect.

He used Alohomora on the door and opened. He lit his wand and cast the light around the dark building. He saw into the room further in and immediately recognized the sight of blood.

Against his better judgement, he rushed forward without clearing the rest of the house. He found himself in a kind of study and Gough and Hele were both on the floor, bleeding profusely. Hele was already dead and Harry could tell Gough was nearly so.

"Harry," Gough gasped, through the blood in his mouth. "It's a trap sir... they wanted... you..."

Harry's eyes widened in fear. "Where are they now?"

Gough didn't answer as his eyes rolled back into his head and Harry knew he was lost. Harry looked at the wall and saw a Daily Prophet pinned to it. The picture on the cover was himself, nearly a year ago, along with Ron, Neville and two other Aurors... Harry's heart stopped for an instant.

The two Aurors who were murdered mere hours ago. The five of them were being targetted because of an assignment.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry shouted and a silvery stag burst from the end of his wand. "Warn Ron!" Harry ordered, and the stag stamped its hoof and soared away.

Harry readied his wand and turned to run outside when the house was blown apart around him. He was knocked off his feet and when he landed, he landed on hard, wet earth. His glasses were askew and as he straightened them, he felt someone grab him roughly.

"We've got Potter," he heard a voice say.

"Good," another replied. "We use him as bait for Weasley and Longbottom."

12:59:57... 12:59:58... 12:59:59... 1:00:00