A couple of days later found Harry settling in at the DMLE. It had been quiet on his shift the day before, but he'd just started an afternoon shift, and the team earlier had been busy. Diggory and Potts, the number one team on earlier had been called to Gringott's. Someone had been in the Lestrange vaults, and the goblins were furious. The bank had been on full alert ever since the battle, when it became known that there were still three key Death Eaters unaccounted for. Supposedly, the highest security surrounded the vaults of those three, yet somehow, someone had got in. And then, got out.
Harry had made himself a cup of coffee, and was heading back to his office to read Diggory's report from the morning. He looked up and saw someone leave Kingsley's office. He found himself staring at the tightest, cutest ass he'd ever seen. Lovingly encased in well worn denim jeans, her legs were tucked in knee high boots and she also wore a lemon coloured cardigan. Harry watched her walk away, her butt swaying hypnotically.
She stopped to talk to Susan, who was coming down the hall towards her. They spoke briefly, laughing together. Then they parted; Perfect Butt Woman walking away from him, Susan coming toward him.
She smirked at the look on his face. "Like what you see, Evans? Well, join the queue. She's got admirers and fans like you wouldn't believe. Is it a red-haired thing?" she asked, flicking her red hair over her shoulder.
Harry's eyes went back to the woman, as she rounded the corner. He looked at her hair this time; a quick glance. It was red, but when the light hit it, it was reds and golds. It was gorgeous, just like her butt.
"Drool much, Evans?" sighed Susan.
She could tell he really wasn't interested in her, yet it peeved her that Ginny Weasley could just walk past and gain his interest. Merlin, they hadn't met, or talked or anything.
Harry ignored her, and went into his office. To his surprise, a tall red-haired man was sitting at the desk opposite, reading through some files. He looked up as Harry entered.
"Hi. James, right? I'm Ron. Ron Weasley, your new partner." He stood up to shake Harry's hand.
Weasley. There was that name again. He had remembered where he knew it from. Remus and Sirius had entertained Harry with tales of his parents, and that included when they were in the Order of the Phoenix. They had mentioned the Weasleys and the Longbottoms often.
"Hi. Yes, I'm James, James Evans. Good to meet you. So, you're back today?" asked Harry, hopefully.
Ron shook his head. "No, back tomorrow. I just popped over to check in with Robards, and get my work schedule. Thought I'd see what I've missed this week. I couldn't believe it when I saw the names Dolohov and LeStrange in the reports."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," said Harry. "I wondered if you and your fam-"
"Knock, knock," called a male voice.
Harry looked up to see an older wizard with reddish-greying hair in the door way. "Hi, can I help you?" he asked politely.
Ron looked amused. "What's up, Dad?" he asked.
'Dad!' thought Harry, gulping. This was the Weasley patriarch.
"Well, we did a raid last week and we're just going through the last items we confiscated. We came across this one, and we really have no idea what it is, or what it's used for," said Arthur, scratching his head.
"Dad works in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office, has done for years," confided Ron. His pride in his father was evident, and Harry felt a pang. He had never known his father, and the closest thing he had was Sirius, and he lost him on that night, ten years ago.
"Your sister popped up to see me, and she told me there was a new Auror, who just happened to be Muggleborn," said Arthur to Ron. He then turned to Harry. "Do you know what this is?"
He held up a round pink plastic colored disc.
Harry tried to stifle a laugh. "Um, yeah, it's a frisbee."
Ron and Arthur looked blankly at him. "A frizz bee," repeated Arthur, slowly.
Ron just shrugged.
"A frisbee, one word," corrected Harry."
"And what is the purpose of this frizz bee?" asked Arthur, turning it over and over.
Harry smiled at him. "You throw it to someone. It kind of glides easily. You play catch."
"Like a quaffle?" asked Ron.
"Why don't you both come with me to the training room, there's more room there than in here," said Harry, getting up.
"How did your daughter know about me?" asked Harry, as they made their way out of the office and headed to the training room.
"She had a meeting with Kingsley. He probably had to tell her about the recent sightings of Dolohov and LeStrange," said Ron.
"Ron," warned Arthur, looking between Ron and Harry.
"Right then. Mr Weasley, if you could stand there, and I'll go over here," directed Harry, wanting to break the tension his queries had caused.
Harry threw the frisbee, and it glided in the air towards Arthur. Delighted he caught it, and threw it back to Harry. He deftly caught it behind his back.
"Oh, jolly good," cheered Arthur.
Ron and Harry exchanged a smile, as Arthur's delight was abundant.
After a couple of throws, the excitement faded a bit. "So, that's all it does," said a disappointed Arthur.
"Afraid so, Mr Weasley. No dark magic, no magic at all," said Harry.
"Ah well, I'll go back and tell the others. We'll have a bit of fun for a while. Ron, you heading home soon? Will you both be at the Burrow for tea?" asked Arthur.
"Not sure, Dad, it depends how she's feeling," said Ron, softly.
Arthur looked at his youngest son and nodded. "Of course. Well, it was nice to meet you, ah..."
"James. James Evans, sir. Tell me, I heard that you and your family were quite involved in the Order of the Phoenix, and fought during the Battle of Hogwarts. Is that true, sir?" asked Harry.
Arthur stiffened. "It's no secret that my family fought for the Light during the Battle. Like many others, might I add."
"And the Order?" asked Harry.
"Where did you hear that?" asked Arthur, sharply.
"Maybe we could discuss this another time," suggested Harry. He didn't want to mention Sirius or Remus just yet.
"I need to get back to work. Ron, I'll see you later. Evans, thanks for your help with the frisbee."
And with that, Arthur walked out.
"What was that all about?" asked Ron.
"What?" asked Harry.
"All the questions about the Order. If, and I do mean if, my parents and family were involved in it, do you really think we're going to sit around and talk about it. Especially to someone we don't know," said Ron, angrily.
"I just thought-"
"No, you didn't. Do you have any idea of the media that surrounded my family after the battle? We just wanted to be left alone, to grieve for our brother, and our fallen friends, but do you think they'd leave us alone? No! You'd think we were hiding Harry-bleeding-Potter, or something."
"I'm sorry, I had no idea things got so rough for you," said Harry, deciding to leave his questioning for another day.
"Yeah, well, my sister had it the worst. Still has it, to this day. They keep hounding her, over and over. I don't know how she keeps sane. Well, actually I do. She flies like a demon," chuckled Ron.
"Good idea. I've been known to do the same," said Harry, making a mental note that Ron was quick to anger, but was also quick to calm down.
"Look, I'll see you tomorrow, okay? I know with these sightings of Dolohov and LeStrange, it's bringing this shit back up again, but I'd prefer if we didn't talk about that time, unless it's about the case. Okay?" asked Ron.
Harry felt disappointed. "Okay," he agreed.
"Good. See you tomorrow," said Ron, patting him on the back as he left.
HGHGHG
The next afternoon, Ali brought Rose home with her. Despite both their best intentions, Harry and Ginny kept missing each other, and Harry ended up sending an owl. It was only thanks to Andromeda's support that Harry okayed Rose going to Ali's house.
Ginny greeted the girls with milk and fresh baked choc chip biscuits.
"I thought your Mum couldn't cook?" whispered Lily to Ali.
"She's so-so. But she's pretty good with cakes and biscuits, and other good stuff," mumbled Ali, with her mouth full.
"Alice Weasley! Did you tell your new friend I couldn't cook?" exclaimed Ginny.
Lily froze, but saw Ali's mum's eyes twinkling. She knew then that she wasn't really mad.
"No Mum, but Monday I got to school late, and I had to tell Auntie Audrey why. She wasn't surprised, either," said Ali.
Ginny burst out laughing. She took a biscuit. "Mmm. So good. At least I can bake the important stuff, right sweety?" she asked her daughter, who nodded.
"I can't bake anything," said Rose. "I've never tried."
"Well, if you come over another day, the three of us can do some baking. Ali is learning how to bake bread from her grandmother. Didn't your Mum or Grandmother ever teach you?" asked Ginny, gently.
"I don't have any Grandmothers, and my Mum doesn't even like me," said Lily, loudly.
"Oh, sweety, I'm sure that's not true," said Ginny, shocked.
"It is. She's just worried about her career. She never wanted me. I was an accident. I heard her tell my Dad," blurted Lily, trying not to cry.
"Oh, sweety," said Ginny, gathering the girl in her arms. She held her as she cried, rocking her gently, and rubbing her back. Lily thought it felt quite nice.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, after she had calmed down.
"It's fine, Rose. It sounds like you had all that bottled up inside. I bet it feels good to get it out, doesn't it?" asked Ginny.
Rose considered it. Yes, she did feel a bit better. She had heard her mum and dad talking, arguing really. She had heard her mum say she'd been an accident, and her dad had responded angrily. Lily had never told her parents she had heard them that day. A week later, her dad had moved them out of the house they'd shared with her mum.
"Why don't you go with Ali to the bathroom and wash your face, it might make you feel better. Then, I guess you girls better get a start on your project," said Ginny.
"Mum, can Rose stay for tea?" asked Ali.
"No, I'm sorry Ali, but I couldn't get hold of Rose's dad to ask him. You're welcome to come over another day and stay for tea," said Ginny, turning to Lily.
Lily smiled at her. "Thank you, I'd like that. Dad's been pretty busy, but I know he's tried to fire-call you a couple of times, too."
"Mum's started doing some light training again, haven't you Mum. She goes jogging, sometimes twice a day," said Ali, proudly.
"My Dad jogs too. He's trying to find a good path near our home. We live in Ottery St Mary," said Lily.
"Oh, that's just the other side of Luna's home, near Stoatshead Hill," cried Ginny.
"We met a lady named Luna. Luna Lovegood. Do you know her?" asked Lily.
"She's Mum's best friend," said Ali. "Isn't she so pretty?"
Lily nodded, but privately thought that Ali's mum was prettier.
They were interrupted by Arthur's head in the fire. Ginny shooed the girls into the dining room, to get a start on their project while she went to talk to her dad.
"Your Mum's really nice," said Lily, wistfully.
Ali nodded, as she began to unpack her school bag.
"Where's your Dad?" she asked Ali.
"He died a long time ago, before I was even born. There was this big battle at Hogwarts, that's our wizard boarding school. Anyway, all Mum's family fought in it. Mum's brother Fred died, and so did my Dad," said Ali, sadly.
"That's so sad," said Lily.
Ali nodded. "At least I know my Dad was a hero. He killed this really big snake, you see. I don't know why, but it was a really big deal that he did that. But then a Death Eater, that's a really bad wizard, used the Killing Curse on him."
Lily came up to Ali and put her arms around her. "I'm so sorry, Ali. You're right, he was a hero."
"I just wish I could have known him. Mum has a scrapbook, and sometimes, she lets me look at her memories of him, in a Pensieve. He seems really nice," said Ali.
"That sounds nice. I like your Mum."
"Did you really mean what you said, about your Mum. Did she really say that you were an accident?" asked Ali.
Lily nodded, and Ali looked shocked. "That's a mean thing to say. She doesn't – I'm sorry, but she doesn't sound like a nice person, and you're so great," said Ali.
Lily smiled. "That's cos of my Dad. He's the best. He's looked after me all my life. He got injured pretty bad just before I was born, so he ended up looking after me while he was getting better. That way, Mum could go back to work as soon as she could. He did work part-time as an Auror in Sydney, but not until I went to school when I was five. He was always there to pick me up, and we always had such fun."
"He sounds nice," said Ali, wistfully.
Lily nodded again. "Yep. Now, it's just me and Dad, the two of us. It's better like this. We don't need Mum. She didn't want us, anyway."
As Ginny brought in more biscuits and milk, and checked on their progress, or lack of it, on their project, Lily watched as she brushed her hand over Ali's head. Ali looked up and smiled at her mum, who smiled back. It was like it was just the two of them in the room.
Suddenly Lily felt a pang. She may not need her mum, but for a minute, she wished she shared Ali's mum.
