AN: And what do you know, I go MIA for another month. This story is turning out to be a lot harder than I thought…
Harry stretched out on his cot, one arm over his eyes. It's been almost a month since they had arrived at the outskirts of Sofia, Bulgaria, and he had come to loathe and despise when the time was due for the daily report. Nothing ever happens, he thought hazily, and immediately bashed himself. He couldn't afford to let his guard down now, especially on a mission as dangerous as this. Of course, the word 'danger' was only theoretical.
Groaning, he got up and lumbered towards his desk in the small, stuffy tent. Out of habit, he glanced out towards Ginny's tent. The window latch was closed shut. Grunting, he set to work on the tedious report, but his mind drifted to his aloof and venomous wife.
"For the love of Merlin, Harry!" she yelled. "I know how to set up a damn tent!"
"But you need to place protective spells around it—" he protested.
"I went through two and a half bloody years of Auror training, Harry. I know, all right?"
"All right," he muttered, retreating into his own tent. "Well, carry on with your own business!" he snapped at the others, who had grouped around him and Ginny.
And that was only the first day. Harry cursed as he blotted a spot on the parchment. Rubbing his unshaven chin, he set down the quill and mentally reviewed what Hermione had told him, moments before departing. Ginny was pregnant, he was sure, from both Hermione's counsel and from his wife's own impressive display of hormone-ridden behavior. But she hadn't talked to him since the row on the first day, and whenever Harry approached her, she would swerve away and strike up conversation with Dean Thomas. It didn't help that Dean was one of her ex-boyfriends. In fact, Harry was sure that Dean had never really forgiven him for taking Ginny away, no matter how he acts. Heaving a weary sigh, he ran his hands through his hair, and rubbed his bloodshot eyes, resting his head on the desk.
"Hey, Harry," Dennis entered the tent, taking a hearty swig from his waterskin. "I've got news for you."
"Yeah?" Harry sat upright again. "What is it?"
"Tonight's the full moon," he began. "I think we should make a move."
"How?" Harry asked dubiously. "We don't know whether the cubs would return to the forest where you first sighted them again."
"I'm pretty sure their home, whatever that may be, is in the forest,"
"You're pretty sure."
"Yes. I think we should post a patrol outside of the forest tonight, and wait for the cubs to show up."
Harry considered this, brow furrowed. "Will you be there?"
Dennis looked apologetic. "Sorry, no. My Muggle workplace is hosting a summer party, for my boss's daughter, I believe."
"I understand. You do have a cover to uphold, after all. Right, gather together the others and we'll discuss this. I'll get Ginny myself," he added, to Dennis's terrified expression.
"Ah, thanks, Harry! Good luck!" He clapped Harry on the back.
"I'll need it," he muttered to himself. "Well, in case I don't make it back alive, make sure to send Hermione and Ron and my kids my love, yeah? And thank Mrs. Weasley for so kind to me over the years as well."
"You got it," Dennis winked.
"Ginny?" Harry called, sticking his head hesitantly in, raising the flap. "Gin? You there?"
"'Course I'm here, Harry," he heard a voice grumble. "What do you want?"
"Can't I have a little time with my wife?" he entered.
"No," she snarled. "Just kidding, love. What do you need?"
"You're in a better mood today," Harry remarked, and immediately wished he hadn't.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, a dark edge to her sweet tone.
"Nothing. So how're you feeling lately?" Harry hurriedly changed the topic.
Ginny sighed. "Hermione told you, huh?"
"Well, sort of. I figured out the actual part by myself," Harry confessed.
"You figured out that I have an insensitive arsehole for a husband whose emotional range is even smaller than Ron Weasley's?"
"Yeh—what?" Harry was bewildered. "You're pregnant, aren't you?"
"And whose fault is that?" she nearly screamed at him.
"M-mine," Harry stuttered. "Ginny, look. That isn't something I can control—!"
"Sorry, Harry," she said, and suddenly all her wrath was gone. "What did you come here for again?"
Not sure if his wife was going to explode again, Harry ventured cautiously, "We've got a meeting to discuss tactics. Let's go."
Ginny groaned as she slowly got up, and Harry could see that the area around her bed was littered with chocolate wrappers. He kept the thought to himself, being the wiser thing to do. Instead, he said, "Why didn't you share some chocolate with me?"
Ginny laughed lightly; Harry had almost forgotten what that sounded like. "You're not the pregnant one," she elbowed him. "Are you?"
"Harry!" Seamus called as they approached. "You survived!"
Ginny gave him a vehement glare. "Keep talking and you won't."
"Sorry." Seamus shot back into the tent. Ginny leaned her head on Harry's shoulder, then jerked back.
"What?" Harry asked.
She wrinkled her nose. "You need to shave."
"See ya, Dennis!" Lee called. Harry waved to him, and a second later, he was gone. Turning back to Seamus, Dean, Lee, and Ginny, he took a deep breath.
"Right. I'll lead the patrol, of course. Dean, Seamus, you come with me. Lee and Ginny, you hold down the fort here."
"Yes, sir!" Lee said. "Although it's not like they know we're here anyway."
Ginny looked at him. "All right, Harry."
"See you later," Harry said, and the three of them Disapparated. A moment of sucking darkness later, they were standing in front of the dark forest.
"So you two made up, have you?" Dean didn't sound particularly excited about it.
"Yes, we have. Right. Seamus, to the left side. Dean, to the right. I'll take the center. Remember, we are only here to confirm that the cubs' lair is indeed here. Do not attempt to take it on alone, and even if you happen to bump into each other, don't try it either. When you see them, return to me. Understood?"
"Understood!" Seamus and Dean positioned themselves under Harry's command. Harry himself pulled his cloak tighter about himself and prepared to stand vigil for the rest of the night.
At around midnight, a pair of dark figures came into view. Harry cursed and mentally cast a Disillusion Charm, and prayed to Merlin that Dean and Seamus had the sense to do so as well. Holding his breath, he watched through narrowed eyes as the two prowled forward, clearly still human. A moment later, they disappeared into the wild foliage of the forest, and Harry released his breath. Their job here was done.
Meanwhile, the real Dennis Creevey was chained in the dank cellar of the mansion. Hearing the heavy bolt on the door groan, he lifted his head up defiantly and watched himself walk in. At least, the person looked like himself before the Polyjuice Potion wore off and he changed back into a tall, human girl.
"Hello, Dennis," she smiled. Dennis glared back.
"What're you up to? Why are you keeping me here?" he asked yet again. The girl made a small noise with her tongue.
"So many questions," she hissed. "Well, I'm afraid I can't answer them."
"Tell where you were before you came here, and why you needed my hair for the Polyjuice."
"Oh, that," she cackled delightfully. "Hmm. I was at the Auror camp—such a windblown, dusty place—and I needed your hair for the potion because obvious I needed to look like you, and no matter how good-looking you are, that isn't a feat that can be accomplished without the aid of magic."
"Auror camp?" Dennis asked, a horrible suspicious dawning on him.
"Yep," the girl said offhandedly. "Harry Potter and four others, one of them a pregnant woman that's his wife, here to investigate Romulus and Remina."
"Harry Potter's here?" Dennis breathed. "Dammit!"
"Yes, rather unfortunate, isn't it? The Boy Who Lived would be a good candidate for one of our number, but since he's come to meddle, Mother's going to kill him instead."
"Who's your mother? Is she a werewolf as well?"
"She's only my mother in name," the girl's pretty face hardened. "And yes, she is a werewolf. And I'm human, living in a nest full of wolves."
"Why do you help them then?" Dennis shot back. "They can turn and attack you anytime!"
"I am aware of that." she stood and smiled cruelly. "Well, until we meet again, Dennis. But if you'll forgive me…" she yanked a fistful of dark hair from his head, causing his eyes to water in pain. "Sorry again," she apologized emotionlessly and walked out of the cellar, the thick door closing with a loud bang.
"Well, that was productive," Harry yawned as they headed back into the camp. "We need to investigate again next month, and only then can we actually attack."
"You got it, boss," Seamus mumbled sleepily. Harry sighed.
"Go get some sleep, Seamus. And when you wake up, don't call me boss."
"Right, boss," Dean joked. Harry raised his wand threateningly and they both dashed—figuratively speaking—for their tents.
"How did it go, boss?" Dennis called.
"I see you're back," Harry grumbled. "It went fine, but I'd to ruin the mission by killing two of my Aurors and my spy."
"Then don't," Ginny came out of her tent, wincing. "I'd hate for my husband to land himself in Azkaban when he's needed at home," she gave him a meaningful look.
"Of course not," Harry agreed. "But if only the two Aurors and spy behave themselves accordingly."
"Oh all right. Bosses, no sense of humor at all," he added under his breath.
"Oi, watch it," Harry warned.
"Better go write your report now, boss!" Dennis called, running away.
AN: I swear I won't leave it for a month again. Maybe a week, or two weeks, but not a month. Instead, I'll leave it for two months! Haha, just joking. Have a safe and happy New Year's! Don't get pregnant and don't do drugs! Bye!
~Gella
