Chapter 9
No Title

Author's Note: Couldn't figure out a proper title for this chapter. My apologies. I'm no good at describing presents, so I am only going to write out a couple of them.

(Harry's PoV)

"So," Ron said, with an air of one discussing the weather, "not one of your better birthdays, Harry, is it?."

"Don't let Hermione hear a comment like that," Ginny said, looking up from the baby-carrier where Teddy was asleep after a big meal, "She's smack you on the back of your head."

"Exactly why I said it," Ron said, "because she can't hear me. She's upstairs in the bathroom trying to wash cake out of Matthew's shirt."

"Ah, that explains the shirtless baby," Ginny said, then smiled at Matthew.

Matthew giggled from his own baby-carrier, and this only caused Harry to chuckle. It felt good to chuckle, because he hadn't done so in half-an-hour. It had been that long since Harry's party had turned to almost a standstill, owing to the news of the attack on Luna's father. Harry could still see Luna's dazed face, tears sparkling in her eyes, as she stood up from the table and walked toward the start of the Burrow's driveway with Auror Bones.

Even though this wasn't the time to celebrate, Mrs. Weasley had brought out her homemade cake and almost everyone had a piece of it, so Mrs. Weasley's cooking wouldn't go to waste. There was no birthday song for Harry; he didn't want one after all of this. In fact he hadn't opened any of his presents either, although they were currently sitting on the coffee table in front of him in the living room.

"At least open my present, Harry," Ginny said.

"Yours?" Ron asked, "What about mine?"

"Girlfriend before best mate," Ginny said, "Besides, I want to see his reaction."

"Oh, right," Ron said, sarcastically, "I forgot he's going somewhere. He bloody lives here, for Merlin's sake!"

"Ronald," Hermione said, appearing on the stairwell, "That better not be harsh language I hear, especially when my impressionable little brother is right next to you."

"No, dear," Ron said, grinning at Harry, "Not at all."

"I didn't think so," Hermione said.

She kneeled in front of Matthew and gently put the shirt on him.

"All clean and proper again," Hermione said, "Just like my brother should be."

Matthew babbled and giggled.

"Oh, Merlin," Hermione sighed, as she stole a spot on the couch between Ron and her brother, "Why did I let him have that piece of cake?"

"If I remember," Ron said, "it was so he could sleep off the night and allow us to have another special moment tonight."

"Special moment?" Ginny asked, then her face turned up in disgust as Harry snickered, "Thanks, Ron for that nice little picture in my head."

"I swear, Ronald," Hermione said, "If Matthew wasn't here in the room, I'd smack you upside the head for that comment."

"Did you hear that, Matthew?" Ron said, "You have a very violent-prone sissy."

"Sissy," Matthew said.

Harry's eyes widened as did Ginny's, Ron and Hermione's as they looked at Matthew.

"His first word!" Hermione said, before kissing Matthew on the forehead, "Oh, Matthew, that was wonderful."

"Hey, what about me?" Ron asked, "He echoed me – that is how he said his first word."

"Mmhmm, you're right he echoed you," Hermione said, "So I better not hear any rude words from your mouth, you hear me? "

Harry snickered and Ron rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Matthew, can you say it again?" Hermione asked, "Say 'sissy'."

Matthew babbled indistinctly.

"One word for now, it seems," Harry said.

"That's okay," Hermione said, "That was very good."

"Brilliant," Ron said, "Soon, I'll have another mouthy Granger to deal with."

"Mouthy?" Hermione asked, "If I remember right, you love my mouth."

"Ugh, Hermione, not you too," Ginny said, "I'm going to have nightmares."

"I meant kissing!" Hermione said, blush crossing her face.

Harry sighed and picked up the smallest box on the stack of presents. He looked at Ginny, and she nodded, indicating it was from her. He slowly unwrapped it, and found that it was a small, white box. He opened the box and found a silver ring with a ruby on top.

"It is a promise ring," Ginny said, "Though I wanted it to be different so I wouldn't copy Ron and Hermione's."

Harry picked up the ring so Ron and Hermione could see it.

"Another ruby?" Hermione asked, "Ginny -"

"I swear, it is not enchanted like that," Ginny said, grinning, "It is a ruby because it is Harry's birthstone. Also – I know this isn't traditional, Harry, but -"

She dug into her pocket and pulled out another ring. It had a green stone on top of it.

"This one is for me," Ginny said, looking at Harry, "Technically it could be your birthday present to me, but you already gave me the tickets for the match. The gem is something called peridot, my birthstone, I guess."

"I love it," Harry said, leaning toward Ginny and kissing her briefly. "Thank you."

Harry placed the ring on his finger.

"It is my promise to you," Ginny said. "I am yours forever."

"Oh, please," Ron said, "Harry, open ours. You'll love it."

"Actually I think your Dad will love it more, Ron," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

Ron nudged one of the bigger presents toward Harry and he took it and opened it. He found a couple of baby-oriented walkie-talkies. Harry raised his eyebrows as he looked at Ron.

"It is so you can hear Teddy," Ron said, "Where ever you are."

"Not where ever you are," Hermione said, "It has a limit in distance. I just hope it works with magical interference."

"Ours does," Ron said.

"Yeah, but this house has a lot more magic around it," Hermione said, "Anyway, whenever Teddy is here, and he is asleep in his crib during the day, just have one on his crib, and carry the other around with you or Ginny. You'll be able to hear him if he cries."

"Thanks," Harry said, grinning.

"I kept telling Ron we should get something for you," Hermione said, "Instead of you and Teddy, but he wouldn't listen. He is obsessed with ours."

"I am not obsessed," Ron said, "But you're welcome, Harry."

"No, actually I love this," Harry said, "This means Ginny can stay in her room with Teddy at night and I can have this in my room and listen for him."

"But I like your bed," Ginny said, pouting.

"Ahem," Ron said, "I hope you remember that was my bed."

"Very comfortable too," Ginny said, grinning.

Harry heard a sound of someone clearing their throat, and he looked up to see Auror Bones and Mrs. Weasley there.

"Just thought you would like to know," Bones said, "Xenophilius Lovegood is now in St. Mungo's in the Janus Thickey Ward.

"But," Harry said, looking at Hermione, "Isn't that the ward for Permanent and Long-Lasting Curses? The one Neville's parents are in?"

"Yes," Bones said, "Unfortunately magic cannot wake patients in a coma. The Healers have to let it run its course. They are sure he'll wake up, but they do not know how long that will be. He has other injures, external and internal, which can be healed while he is in a coma."

"But – what about Luna?" Ginny asked.

"We've offered to let her stay here at the Burrow for the month of August," Mrs. Weasley said, "Until either her father wakes up or until she goes back to Hogwarts."

"I'm sure she'll like that," Hermione said.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

"Until Xenophilius wakes up," Bones said, "We cannot know exactly. But what I can say is this. Two of the top floors of the house collapsed into the bottom. Pieces of an Erumpent horn was found -"

Hermione gasped. "Those are highly combustible!"

"Correct," Bones said, "Because Xenophilius was found on top of some debris, it is believed that he was on the second floor. Whoever attacked him had to be inside the building. Because the Erumpent horn exploded, it is believe that in the last act of his life, Auror Willows cast a spell at which caused the floors to collapse. If the attacker was believed to be up on the same floor as Xenophilius when the floor collapsed, they must have escaped, because there are no signs of them anywhere.

"So... basically Auror Willows saved Mr. Lovegood's life while taking his own?" Ron asked.

"Sadly, yes," Bones said.

"Did he have any family?" Harry asked.

"A wife and young daughter," Bones said.

"Give them my sympathies," Harry said, "Use my name if it will mean anything to them."

"Of course," Bones said, then walked back out of the room.

"I will go set up George's room for Luna," Mrs. Weasley said, and disappeared up the steps. Percy walked in from the kitchen.

"Ron, Hermione," Percy said, "If you want to talk to Kingsley today, instead of tomorrow, I am on my way to the Ministry to get caught up on the attack. I'm sure Kingsley will allow a few moments of your time."

"What do you think Hermione?" Ron asked, "Is Matthew up for a meeting with Kingsley?"

"He seems wide awake for now," Hermione said, "And he is very calm. And it is probably a good idea to go tonight. Then we don't have to do it tomorrow."

"We'll only be a minute, Percy," Ron said.

"I'll be outside," Percy said.

Ron and Hermione stood up. Harry stood up and Hermione hugged him.

"Happy birthday again, Harry," she said. "I hope you had a good time at least?"

"Good enough," Harry said, smiling, "Thank you."

"Happy birthday, mate," Ron said, and gave Harry a one-armed hug.

Harry smiled.

"Tell us if Matthew says anything else," Ginny said.

"I'm sure after a bit of encouragement, he'll say a few more words," Hermione said.

"Perhaps one or two more by the time I go into work on Monday," Ron said.

"See you soon, Matty," Ginny said, gently taking one of his hands in her, "Can you say Ginny?"

Matthew babbled and giggled.

"Aw well," Ginny said.

Ginny hugged Hermione and Ron. Hermione picked up Matthew's baby-carrier, and Ron took the bag, and they made their way out of the Burrow. Harry turned back to Ginny. She picked up the walkie-talkie box and looked at it.

"You know," Ginny said, "We both could sleep in your room, and still be able to listen for Teddy."

"Maybe soon," Harry said.

"As in my birthday?" Ginny asked.

Harry rolled his eyes and looked at his new promise ring.

"Thank you for this," he said, "Means a lot to me."

"I thought it might," Ginny said, grinning.

She kissed him softly and he returned the kiss. Before he could lose himself in it, however, Teddy woke up and started crying.

"Oh," Ginny said, turning up her nose, "I think his meal went through him already."

Harry picked Teddy up and rubbed his hand gently along Teddy's backside.

"You're right," Harry said, "My turn?"

"Definitely, birthday boy," Ginny said.

"I thought as much," Harry said, and started off up toward Ginny's bedroom.

-
(Hermione's PoV – fifteen minutes later)

"Level One," a cool voice said, "Minster of Magic and Support Staff."

Matthew looked around from his baby-carrier in Hermione's arms, curiously, for the invisible voice as the golden grilles opened. Hermione and Ron followed Percy out of the lifts and down the hallway.

It had been almost a year since Hermione had been on this level of the Ministry of Magic. She remembered it as if it was written on the back of her hand. She and Ron had gone into, what was then, Dolores Umbridge's office, looking for the locket Horcrux. Harry had been in, what was then, Rufus Scrimgeour's office and had found him dead on the floor and Harry right by his body with the locket in his hand.

Hermione looked at Ron, who was looking around nervously, and knew he must have been thinking about the same thing. When they walked into the large waiting room outside the Minister's Office and the two offices where Percy and Senior Undersecretary Runcorn worked. Two Aurors were standing guard outside Kingsley's office.

"Junior Undersecretary Percy Weasley requesting a meeting with Minister Shacklebolt," Percy said to the Aurors, "Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Matthew Granger will be my guests. I can vouch for them."

"I can only allow you a few minutes, Undersecretary," one of the Aurors said, "He has urgent meetings with Gawain Robards and Senior Undersecretary Runcorn shortly."

Percy nodded. Hermione noticed the Auror's eyes went toward Matthew's baby carrier and baby bag.

"We aren't hiding anything," Ron muttered, "If that is what you're thinking. It is just a baby carrier and his things."

"Ron, be polite," Percy said, "As I said, I can vouch for them."

"Just being vigilant," the Auror said.

He opened the door and Hermione followed Percy and Ron inside. Kingsley was sitting at his desk writing something on a piece of paper. He looked up at them and stood up.

"Minister," Percy said, "I was hoping we could have a few minutes of your time, if it is not any bother."

"No bother at all!" Kingsley said, "I need a break. Have a seat."

He waved his wand and three chairs appeared in front of his desk. Hermione's eyes traveled to the portion of the floor where Rufus Scrimgeour had laid dead almost a year ago.

It has been quite a while since I've met young Matthew. He's getting quite big."

"Yes," Hermione said, wrenching her eyes back toward Kingsley.

He just said his first word not an hour ago," Ron said, as he sat down in one of the chairs.

"Ron, I'm sure the Minister doesn't want to hear about that," Hermione said, as she sat down in the one next to him, and set Matthew's baby-carrier in her lap.

"On the contrary," Kingsley said, "That is wonderful news. May I ask what the first word was?"

"Sissy," Hermione said, "Short for sister?"

"Mmm, yes," Kingsley said, "Brilliant. We need some news like this after such a troubling day."

"Have you heard any more about a possible culprit, Minister?" Percy asked, "I was going to talk to the Auror Office as soon as we finished here."

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Kingsley said. "Though a clerk in the marketplace in Ottery St. Catchpole did come across a young man earlier in the day that had never been there before. In fact, reports say he may have been as young as you two."

He motioned to Ron and Hermione when he said it.

"We heard you had a theory," Hermione said, "that the stalker that eavesdropped on our anniversary dinner may have been someone who knew us?"

"Yes," Kingsley said.

"We think it might be a fellow student from Hogwarts," Hermione said.

"And if this stranger in the marketplace," Ron said, "was Xenophilius' attacker –"

"We could be talking about the same person," Kingsley said, "Yes."

"But if the attacker knew Ron and Hermione," Percy said, "Why did they choose to attack Xenophilius. His daughter is one of the reported targets. Luna, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry were all at the Burrow. Five reported targets. Why attack Xenophilius?"

"Maybe he thought Luna was there," Ron said.

"The sign of the Deathly Hallows," Hermione said, and Kingsley nodded, "Xenophilius wears the sign around his neck.

"Xenophilius is a Quester," Kingsley said. "This is the fourth reported Quester attacked, though the previous three were all murdered more than three months ago."

"I thought that was a simple theory, sir," Percy said, "After the first three murders, the trail went cold."

"Seems like it is warm again," Ron said.

"Yes," Kingsley said. "Is this why you wished to talk to me?"

"No, sir," Hermione said, "Er – I was hoping we could request a different Auror to protect us, other than Markus."

"Is something wrong with Markus?" Kingsley asked.

Hermione looked at Ron, and he motioned for her to continue.

"I don't know if it was your order or not," Hermione said, looking back at the Minister, "But I think Markus was withholding information from myself and Ron. He knew more information about the eavesdropping incident, and he was keeping it from us. Auror Bones gave the information to Harry, and I feel like Markus should have given it to us too. We had to find out from Harry. I just feel that because this was something that concerned the safety of myself, Ron and my brother that we should have known these things."

"I asked him to tell you this morning," Kingsley said, "And yet you say Harry had to tell you?"

"Yes, sir," Hermione said. "Sir, I do not think Markus is untrustworthy, or a traitor or anything like that. I just feel like I need someone more trustworthy if they are going to be protecting my brother. Even though Markus has been guarding us this long, I just feel -"

"Say no more, Miss Granger," Kingsley said, "I will have a replacement as soon as possible. In fact – Percy?"

"Yes, sir?" Percy asked.

"You say you were headed to the Auror Office shortly," Kingsley said, "Could you do a thorough search of the Aurors and find – oh, let's say three Aurors you feel are good enough. Send them my way and I will ask them my own questions."

"Of course, sir," Percy said, "I can do that right now."

Kingsley nodded and Percy stood up and left the office.

"I will send a message to Phillip and Markus," Kingsley said, "I won't let Markus know what is going on. I will just tell him his duties are needed elsewhere."

"Thank you, sir," Hermione said, "I'm sorry if this is any inconvenience."

"No inconvenience at all," Kingsley said, "You are targets of the new threat in the wizarding world. I do not take your safety with a grain of salt. You already have enough on your hands without having to deal with someone you do not completely trust."

"Yes, sir," Hermione said.

"If memory serves me correctly," Kingsley said, "The Hogwarts letters will be sent out tomorrow. Of course, you two will be getting your NEWT exam invitations. Have thought about taking them?"

"We've put some thought into it," Ron said, "I fancy becoming an Auror and I need NEWTs for it."

"You would make an outstanding Auror, Mr. Weasley," Kingsley said, "Any thoughts about the training camps you want to go to?"

"Brighton, perhaps," Ron said, "Harry wanted to go there too."

"My old stomping grounds," Kingsley said, "Excellent choice. If you take your NEWTs and do well enough on it, I will send a letter of recommendation myself to Brighton. I don't think they will say 'no'."

"I couldn't ask you to do that," Ron said, blushing.

"You've done a great service to the wizarding world," Kingsley said, "It would be no burden of mine. Besides, I could use someone like you and Harry in our Auror department in the future."

"Yes, sir," Ron said.

"And you?" Kingsley asked Hermione.

"I'm deciding on either the Magical Creature department," Hermione said, "Or perhaps being a part of the Law division. But I've also decided to wait a while to do that. I still haven't decided if I could stand being away from Matthew for the two weeks needed to take the NEWTs."

"Mum could watch him, Hermione," Ron said, "How many times have I said that?"

"I know," Hermione said.

She looked down at Matthew and saw that he was falling asleep.

"I think we better get going," Hermione said, standing up, "I don't want to apparate with Matty if he is asleep. Thank you for your time, Minister."

"Not at all," Kingsley said. "If you need anything else, do not hesitate to request a meeting."

"Thank you, Minister," Ron said, "Have a good day."

Kingsley bowed his goodbye and Hermione followed Ron out of the office.

-
(Shadow's PoV)

Shadow paced back and forth in the rundown motel room he had made his temporary hiding spot. It was the late hours of the evening – or perhaps it was past midnight, he did not know – and his head was pounding from the three bottles of firewhiskey he had downed in two hours. Shadow knew he couldn't send a letter to Agent 314 until he knew if Xenophilius Lovegood was dead or not. If Lovegood wasn't dead, Shadow would be unless he ran away or did something that would make him better in Agent 314's eyes. What that was – he did not know. He didn't know what other choice he had.

He could not return home yet – and if Lovegood wasn't dead – he couldn't return at all. Not that he had much to return home to. Nobody else lived at the house besides him. His father had been killed in the Battle of Hogwarts and his mother had left the family after the Dark Lord's return. She had been afraid for her life after she had found out her husband was a Death Eater. He had kept that a secret from her and Shadow, as he tried to stay out of Azkaban.

The selfish woman had left Shadow at home with his father. Last time he heard from his mother, she was living in America with a new husband and Shadow had found out he had a baby step-sister. Divorce was a rare concept in the wizarding world. Wizards were usually bonded for life. Shadow's parents were the exception.

A sharp sound was heard in the room, and Shadow turned around pointing his wand toward the sound. He saw an owl sitting there on the windowsill. Shadow used his wand to open the door and the owl flew in and dropped an edition of the Evening Prophet. Shadow looked down at the newspaper and started skimming through it. His eyes then widened when he saw a small article. The title read:

Quibbler Owner/Editor Xenophilius Lovegood
Attacked! Auror Killed, Lovegood In Coma

Shadow slammed down the newspaper and growled.. Lovegood had survived the fall and cave-in? Impossible! He looked back at the paper. A coma... meaning he might not wake up for a long time. Or at all. Lovegood had seen Shadow's face. If he did wake up, he could describe Shadow's face.

Shadow paced back and forth again. He looked down at the paper. Xenophilius Lovegood was in the Janus Thickey ward at St. Mungo's. The same ward Broderick Bode had been in when he was killed by a Death Eater, and it had been made to look like an accident. Could the same thing be done again?

The owl hooted, breaking Shadow out of his thoughts. He growled, and pointed his wand at the owl. Two words, and a green beam of energy later, the owl lay dead on the floor.

Shadow scoffed and sat down on the bed. He could kill an owl, but he couldn't kill his target...

No... it had to be done. Before Agent 314, he would have to find a way to get his mission done. No second chances... Kill or be killed...

And Shadow was not ready to die.

-
Got some good things coming up soon... including Quidditch! Which might happen next chapter. Going to be tough to write. Quidditch from an audience's PoV is extremely difficult for me to write.

Also, I think Matthew's old enough to say at least one word. Almost ten months old sounds good enough for that milestone.