*The Auror Department*

Ministry of Magic

London

Wanted

Aries Hemming

Wanted for Torture and Murder

50,000 Galleons

Wanted

Julius Jackson

For Torture and Murder

25,000 Galleons

It had been two months since Teddy and the Aurors attempted to arrest Aries Hemming and Julius Jackson. Christmas had passed quickly, for Teddy, without much to note other than James, Albus, Scorpius, and Lily staying at Hogwarts for Christmas. Much to Teddy's frustration, Aries was right. The laws, rules, and regulations that had been put in place after the war by Hermione, Arthur Weasley, and Susan Finnigan had kept Teddy, Alfred, Lazlo Lanod and Dennis Creevey, who were in charge of the manhunt for Aries Hemming and Julius Jackson, from doing certain things that would've been of vital help on the search for Aries Hemming. They weren't able to go to the relatives of Hemming or Jackson due to there not being any proof that they were harboring the Rogue Aurors, nor were they able to search and seize their vaults at Gringott's due to Hermione's law giving goblins full control and authority over the bank. The Aurors had received word of several witches and wizards working for Aries but there wasn't any proof, they were merely rumors. Arthur Weasley's law on the administration of Verituserum prohibited the use of Verituserum unless all clues and proof pointed towards the guilt of the witch or wizard. Since all these were rumors no Verituserum was administered.

Due to the Aurors being unable to capture their rogue comrades, Teddy buried himself in training. Teddy began immersing himself in training to become a better Auror. In the two months alone he'd managed to learn many new lethal, yet legal, curses. He'd also learned to alternate into many different styles of defensive dueling. Due to his excessive study and training, he'd finally excelled in every tracking charm known to wizards but all the tracking spells didn't help Teddy track Aries Hemming.

Ever since Teddy had been assigned to his first case his relationship with Victoire had become very strained each day. Their family and friends had quickly caught on to this fact. The more Teddy buried himself in work and in training the further Victoire drew away from him. To Teddy, ensuring the safety of the witches and wizards of the country was more important than dinner's with Heads of Departments and Ministry Charity parties.

Teddy snapped out of his thoughts as he noticed Selene, Stojanick, and Prothero walking by his cubicle and into the Assignment Room. "Hey Selene!" Teddy called out.

A quick moment passed before Selene, Stojanick, and Prothero were inside the cubicle Teddy, shared with Alfred, Cedric, and Megan. "What can I do for you Ted?" Selene asked smiling.

"Er-um. I was just wondering if you'd signed off on my request to administer Verituserum to those we've brought in for questions on suspected illicit activities with Death's Ally? I was hoping you'd bend the rules, I mean you are the Head Auror," Teddy said timidly.

The Head Auror looked down at her friend's godson with disappointment, "Teddy, it's not that simple. Those laws were made to make the Ministry incorrupt. These laws actually make our Ministry as whole look better and promote justice. Don't worry Ted, the suspects are being tailed," Selene said reassuringly.

"To hell with looking justified! The lot of us knows they're all guilty! These criminals are getting away with their crimes and we good damn bloody well know they are committing more crimes once the Auror tailing them goes off duty!" Teddy yelled outraged.

Selene now looked annoyed, "Ted, I'm sorry. You want someone to tail them every hour on the hour then I suggest you do it on your own time or become a vigilante. The laws are absolute. Be professional Ted," Selene spat, "stop yelling, and grow up kid," Selene added before leaving Teddy's cubicle.

Whatever, Teddy thought. If Selene wasn't going to have them tailed or arrested Teddy would do it himself. Selene wants a vigilante so she's going to get one, Teddy thought angrily. I'll tail them, I'll catch them, and I'll bring them in. Teddy had angrily decided to do it all himself and become a vigilante, if he had to, just like his boss suggested. If there wasn't anyone willing to bend the rules to capture these criminals then Teddy felt that he, as an Auror and son of an Auror, should take matters into his own hands.

An Interdepartmental Memo landed on his desk had caused Teddy to snap out of his angry thoughts and decisions. Snatching the memo quickly, he grimaced as soon as he saw that it was from Victoire.

Ted,

Would you like to meet Ravoche and I for lunch? Alistair is working us pretty hard. Lunch at the Hog's Head? I'm sure Aberforth would be delighted to see us, you especially.

Victoire

Teddy reread Victoire's letter twice. No 'love Victoire' just simply 'Victoire'. Teddy quickly scribbled his response with a short and simple 'No thank you. Busy'. Teddy was going to have to hurry home and prepare if he were to start capturing and tailing criminals illegally. Upon gathering his belongings, Victoire's response to his rejection flew into his cubicle.

Fine Edward Lupin! Your loss! You're honestly pushing me further and further away. Have it your way then.

Teddy hastily tossed Victoire memo in the rubbish bin but then felt his stomach grumble. He spun in his chair to see his three best friends, Cedric, Alfred and Megan, were all at their desks working on some paper work given to them by Stojanick, "Oiy, you lot! Lunch?" Teddy asked his friends. Better to go to lunch with them than with Vic, Teddy thought.

The soon to be married couple looked at Teddy and smiled, "We're in Ted. I'll go get Belladona and see if Eon wants to go. What about you Ced?" Megan said cheerfully.

Cedric Macmillan looked at his friends uncertainly before hastily stashing a note in his cloak, "No, erm- I got to meet someone," Cedric said as he practically ran out of the cubicle.

Belladona entered the cubicle smiling, "What's with him?" she asked jerking her thumb in the direction Cedric had just dashed off towards.

The three best friends shrugged, "Where we going to eat?" Alfred asked slipping a hand around Megan's waist.

Teddy looked to Belladona and Megan and smirked, "The Leaky Cauldron," they said in unison.

*Number 12 Grimmauld Place*

Teddy's House

London

Teddy had gone to lunch with Alfred, Megan, and Belladona before he called it a day and went home while they returned to work. He paced around the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, which had been given to him as a gift from Harry, thinking of where he can obtain a disguise to wear for his illegal activities. Teddy immediately thought of wearing spell deflecting armor. It obviously needed to be goblin made armor for it deflected many spells and was practically indestructible. But goblins hate wizards, where could he go to ask a goblin to make his armor, Teddy thought. There was Eargit's Palace in Kent under the White Cliffs, then there was Urg's Goblin Sanctuary in Worcs deep in the Malvern Hills. Teddy thought hard on which settlement had a better chance of making his armor till the answer came to him. The goblins of Worcs stood on the side of the Progressionists, which include Andromeda and many other family members, in the Senate while the goblins of Kent stood on the side of the Traditionalists, who's party leader was Zacharias Smith, which meant the goblins of Kent opposed war or war prevention, like factions like the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army, hence they'd refuse to give any assistance to Teddy. Teddy had decided he'd press his luck in Worcs and pay a goblin to make him his armour if one agreed to.

The young Auror had taken Sirius' old room upon moving in once he'd graduated from Hogwarts. He had managed to get all the photographs off the wall but he had left the ones containing his father still stuck to the wall. He had also stuck photographs of himself with his friends up on the wall along with some of his mother and her friends, Charlie Weasley and Oakden Gudgeon. In addition to the many photographs of himself on the wall, he had many of him and his grandmother, the Weasleys', and Potters' framed and hung up on the wall, in the center of all the photographs that covered the wall. He liked to think of it as a family collage.

Teddy smirked as he grabbed the framed photo on his nightstand of Albus, James, Lily, Scorpius, and himself. The picture was taken the day before he had graduated from the Auror Academy. Albus and Scorpius were nudging one another, both attempting to stand next to Teddy, while Lily and James were on Teddy's left side calm and smiling mischievously. Those four teenagers were the closest thing he had to younger siblings. He loved each of them dearly. Teddy smiled once more at the photograph as he put it back on his nightstand.

Whipping out his wand, "Expecto Patronum!" Teddy yelled. The ragdoll cat landed next Teddy, "Go to Oakden Gudgeon and ask him to come to Grimmauld Place," Teddy instructed his patronus, hoping his former Head of House, who was also a friend of his mother's, a retired Auror and retired professor leading a quiet life, would answer.

The former Auror didn't even reply. He just arrived mere moments later swiftly to Teddy's and walked straight into Teddy's kitchen, "What's wrong Ted?" Oakden asked as Teddy walked into the kitchen.

Oakden Gudgeon, a retired Auror, a retired Professor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the former Warden of Azkaban, and dear friend of Nymphadora Lupin and Charlie Weasley, was a dear friend and a strong and formidable man. He had graying dirty blonde hair that grew to his shoulders and a scar on his left cheek that ran from his ear to his chin. Teddy quickly recalled the day he had plucked up the courage to ask Oakden how he'd gotten the scar and how horrified he was to learn that his father, Remus, had given it to him by accident during the war due to Oakden being under a powerful Imperius Curse. Teddy hadn't asked how he'd thrown of the control of the Imperius Curse or about the Curse's castor.

Teddy sighed, "My job. My morals. How are we supposed to catch Aries if all these bloody laws hold me back?" Teddy asked clearly frustrated.

The former professor went on about how the laws were put in place to make Kingsley's reformed Ministry fair, true and morally right just as Selene had done, much to Teddy's annoyance. "In order to be right, we must do it right Ted," Oakden concluded.

"Selene flat out said if I wanted to get those in league with Aries or Aries himself, I'd have to do it on my own time or become a vigilante," Teddy blurted out.

Laughter rung throughout the kitchen, "I'm sure Selene didn't mean that-" Oakden abruptly stopped laughing, "Wait, is this why you've called me here? To tell me you're going to actually do it?" Oakden asked worriedly.

The silence hung in the air for what seemed like a life time. The silence alone gave Oakden Gudgeon his answer.

"If you need my help, you've got it son," Oakden murmured.

Teddy looked up in utter shock. Did his former professor just offer his assistance in capturing the criminals illegally?

"Yes, I've just said I'd give you my knowledge and assistance," Oakden said chuckling, as if he had just read Teddy's mind.

A smiled forced its way on Teddy's face, "Thank you professor."

Oakden raised his brows, "What are you going to do first?" he asked.

"I'm going to Urg's Goblin Sanctuary in Worcs to search for a blacksmith who'll agree to make some armor for me that'll repel curses and jinxes," Teddy said confidently.

The retired professor nodded in approval, "You know, they may actually do it for you. But when you go, I must implore you to use your ability to alter your features. Just in case," Oakden said rising to his feet and throwing on his cloak, "We both best be getting on our way Ted. I'll get some of my belongings from my house that I think may assist you," he added before heading up the stairs to leave.

*Urg's Goblin Sanctuary*

Gullet Quarry

Worcestershire

Teddy carefully made his way towards Urg's Goblin Sanctuary which lay deep in the Gullet Quarry. Urg's Sanctuary had been there for ages ever since the Goblin Rebellion in the 18th Century. Many muggles had died while swimming in the Quarry and each death had always been investigated by the Ministry to ensure that the goblins had no part in any of the muggles' death. The entrance was on the edge of a small ledge so it'd be impossible for any muggle to enter or even reach the entrance.

The young Auror had his back pressed against the tall rocky ledge as he slowly edged his way towards the entrance to Urg's Sanctuary. Only a few more steps and he'd be there. As he made the final steps towards the entrance he glanced downward at the water, Teddy sighed in relief, he had made to the entrance. He turned quickly to face the door.

The door to Urg's Sanctuary was clearly mahogany. It was covered with leaves and moss to hide the fact that it was actually a door. Before knocking, Teddy morphed his face into the face of Vincent Parkinson, the face of his Hogwarts nemesis and son of Pansy Parkinson and the late Vincent Crabbe. Twice he knocked on the door with his wand held firmly in his other hand.

An answer came rapidly, "State your purpose," a voice said.

"I am a wizard of England, and I am in need of a goblin blacksmith," Teddy stated loudly.

The mahogany door opened inward revealing Auror Elizabeth Diggle-Lanod the niece of Dedalus Diggle and wife of Senior Auror Lazlo Lanod. Teddy had forgotten how each dwelling of House Elves, Centaurs, and Goblins were protected by one Auror for twelve hours a day. Teddy was relieved that he'd had his ability to alter his appearance, Auror Diggle-Lanod wouldn't know who was really beneath the face Teddy sported as if it were his own.

"And who are you?" Elizabeth Diggle asked.

Time to shine, Teddy thought.

Teddy thrust his chin up and nose higher in the air, "Vincent Parkinson. What's it to you?" Teddy sneered.

The Auror on duty was taken aback, "Look young man, I am the Auror in charge of security here today. I am just doing the standard procedures. Give me grief and you'll be forced to leave," Elizabeth said crossly.

Teddy snorted. He was doing his best to mimic his Hogwarts nemesis' behavior. "Look Auror, I'm just looking for a bloody blacksmith," Teddy snarled.

"You may pass, just get the hell out of my sight and mind your attitude," Elizabeth Diggle-Lanod spat as she moved aside revealing a dark narrow tunnel.

While following the narrow pathway it suddenly got intensely hot. As Teddy pressed forward, he'd noticed drawings on the wall, goblin armies fighting wizards. One drawing struck Teddy most, it was a drawing that looked as if it were recently added, and it depicted a room consisting of wizards, elves, centaurs, and goblins. It must be the Magical Senate of England, Teddy thought.

An opening was coming up just a mere five steps away. Teddy gasped in surprise as he exited the tunnel. A clear blue lake lay before him flanked by a hundred foot wall with watch towers atop of it with boulders made of gold and silver protruding from the walls. There was a gate in the middle of the wall with a gravel pathway leading up from the shore and to the middle of the wall where the gate lay guarded by two goblins wielding goblin made swords and axes.

Teddy walked up the pathway to enter Urg's Sanctuary. Teddy closely examined the exterior of the goblin dwelling as he walked. He'd never been to any goblin dwelling before, or one belonging to centaurs or the house elves for that matter. Here, he was the minority, Teddy thought. He'd have to tread softly whilst here.

"Wizard, what is it you shall be requiring here at Urg's Sanctuary?" a goblin asked as he and his companion crossed their swords blocking Teddy's way.

"I am here to seek out a blacksmith to make some armor for me," Teddy said politely.

The two goblins looked to one another and nodded, "Good luck on that boy," the second goblin said as they raised their swords.

Teddy crossed through the gates quickly. He immediately noticed that while the exterior looked grand and luxurious the inside was not what Teddy was expecting. He expected buildings made of prestige stone or gold but it was not what lay before him. Shabby huts dangerously leaned against one another. Many goblin women and children, dressed in rags or torn clothes, crowded the tight streets of Urg's Sanctuary.

"Excuse me; do you happen to know where I may be able to find a blacksmith?" Teddy asked what he assumed was a female goblin and her child.

His assumption proved to be correct, "Yes, the blacksmiths are all on the far east side of the Sanctuary, near King Ragrock's palace," goblin said in feminine voice as she held her child's hand.

Nodding curtly, Teddy smiled. "Thank you madam."

"It's not a problem at all, although I'm afraid it's almost a thirty minute walk to that side of the Sanctuary," the goblin said before disappearing into the crowd of goblins going about their daily lives.

The walk to just ask long as Teddy was told it would take. Teddy passed the market where many mothers and children shopped for food and clothes. The hospital was one of the few stone made buildings in Urg's Sanctuary as was the Senator's house and the Goblin King's house. Once Teddy passed the main square he came across the businesses such as jewelers, clothing makers, tailors, restaurants and the reason for Teddy's visit, blacksmiths.

Teddy approached the first blacksmith stall he saw. Two goblins worked there by the looks of things for one was at the front of the stall waiting for customers while the other hammered away at a gold cuirass. "Hello sir, I am in need-"

"We don't work for unknown wizards," the goblin spat angrily. "None here do except one. Knifetongue will help you he still works as a blacksmith every now and then when he isn't required to be at the Ministry. He's four stalls down wizard," he added.

"Thank you," Teddy said sincerely.

The future vigilante walked down three stalls till he came to a lone stall, whose embers on the fire pit had long since gone out, and smiled, "Hello Mr. Knifetongue, I was told you'd be the only blacksmith to make some pieces of armor for me," Teddy stated truthfully.

The goblin looked up at Teddy with a genuine smile. The goblin, named Knifetongue, had typical pointed ears, graying black hair, and a zucchini like nose. "Ah a customer! Yes, yes, you've heard right my good sir. What is it you'd like?" Knifetongue boomed merrily.

Smiling at the goblin's personality, Teddy sighed in relief. "Yes. I'm in need of pauldrons in silver, vambraces in blue, a cuirass in red with diamonds along the edges, abdomen, and chest area. Greaves in red, sabatons in blue, and cuisses in silver," Teddy said as he counted the things on his fingers making mental notes on what would make him a memorable to all the suspects.

Knifetongue sported a gigantic toothy grin, "Great! Absolutely splendid! I haven't had this much to do in one request in such a long time sir. It's going to cost 400 Galleons, two Sickles, and two Knuts. I hope payment won't be an issue sir," Knifetongue said happily as he lit the fire pit.

"Oh no my good goblin, payment won't be an issue," Teddy said parroting the goblin's polite attitude.

Keeping Vincent Parkinson's face hadn't been a strain on Teddy in the slightest. He'd managed to fool the goblins and Auror Elizabeth Diggle-Lanod into believing he was another wizard. It had taken Knifetongue several hours to make and paint the pieces of armor for it was long, hard, grueling work. Teddy was relieved he'd left work early to get this done for if he'd gone after work he'd have been at Knifetongue's stall into all the hours of the night.

"Well, sir it is finished. All of it," Knifetongue said jovially.

Teddy hastily cast an Undetectable Extension Charm on the pockets of his robes and carefully placed each wrapped piece in his pockets, "You have my deepest gratitude for all this Knifetongue. Thank you! You've no idea how much I appreciate it," Teddy said handing him the required amount of money that had been stated earlier.

Smiling widely once more, Knifetongue shook Teddy's hand, "Not a problem at all sir, may I ask your name or what the armor is for?" Knifetongue asked.

Teddy grinned mischievously, "I am... the Avenging Warlock, and you shall see the use your work will be put to soon enough."