Somewhere in Northern Scotland, January 14th, 2023
Harry appeared with a pop on the scene and had a strange feeling of déjà vu cloud over him at what was floating in the sky.
A green skull with a snake winding its way through its mouth hung in the clouds above the remote house. The house itself had clearly been attacked. The door wasn't even on its hinges. It lay a few feet inside the front door. Every single window was shattered, not a piece of glass left in the pain. The furniture was broken and scattered across the room. And, in the middle of the kitchen floor laid the body of a man.
He had sandy colored hair and heavy stubble. Various cuts were scattered across his face and his chest were his shirt had been ripped open.
Harry felt sick in the stomach and turned to his counterpart and friend.
'It's Seamus,' He said.
'Bloody hell,' said Ron weakly.
'He's been here for some time. This place is so remote it would have been some time before someone passed to see it,' said Harry.
Ron began searching the house whilst Harry stayed with his old school mate. Seamus had been married. Seamus had a son. Seamus's son Aaron used to date Rose.
'Merlin, I hate this part.'
'What part,' Ron asked as he returned.
'The part where we have to tell people that their family is dead,' said Harry.
'Yeah, that sucks,' said Ron.
Harry stood up and produced a patronus.
"Kingsley,
Dark Mark found over residence in Scotland. House destroyed, one dead. Seamus Finnigan, 40, fought in the second war. Keep quiet until Ron and I return. Press report will be needed. Send Wizard Forensics. Cause of death = Killing curse, also symptoms of Cruciatus curse.
Harry"
The silvery stag galloped off into the trees surrounding the farm and not fifteen minutes later several forensic wizards arrived via portkey.
One of them was Dean Thomas, Seamus's best friend.
Dean walked up to Harry.
'The minister didn't say anything just that there was a murder with the dark mark. What happened here Harry?'
Harry took a deep breath.
'The deceased is Seamus.'
'No.'
Dean's simple, plain exclamation shook Harry deeply. Dean began to shake and he placed his hands over his face before putting them to his side. He had a strange look on his face. Along with the pain it looked almost like Dean wasn't surprised.
Harry put a hand on Dean's shoulder.
'Dean, did you know anything about this?'
Dean nodded.
'What do you know?' Harry demanded.
'Seamus mentioned he was being harassed and followed by a group of criminals. He didn't tell me there were Death Eaters! He went hiding two months ago and I hadn't heard from him since two weeks ago when he said that he'd sorted it all out. When he didn't return to his house straight away I figured he was just laying low for a while.' Dean face was a painting of pain and guilt.
'I told him to go to the ministry about this but he insisted that he didn't need the ministries help.'
Harry jotted down the talk between Dean and him, it was evidence and it needed to be taken note of.
Ron came up later and took a seat next to his friend.
'It's going to be a long day mate.'
'I know,' said Harry.
Head Auror's Department, Ministry of Magic, London, U.K, Jan 18th, 2023
Harry picked up the Daily Prophet. The Auror department had been in a buzz for days and Harry had been busy preparing a press release that gave birth to the front cover article of the day's prophet.
The Dark Mark arises by Marion Shaw
The dark mark has not been seen since the end of the second war, twenty-five years ago. But the ministry of magic is concerned at the recent appearance of the dark mark over a remote farm in northern Scotland. Upon investigation the body of Irish Wizard, Seamus Finnigan, was discovered bearing marks of the cruciatus curse. Head Auror, Harry Potter commented on the situation.
"We are currently investigating the exact circumstances of the death of one Mr Seamus Finnigan, 40, of Belfast. The Ministry of magic has feared a return of the death eater regiment since a mass break out of convicted death eaters in early October-
Harry slammed his hand down on the table and turned to the desk next to him.
'The bloody Wizengamot, if they'd passed the bill for better security at Azkaban we wouldn't have had that break out.'
'Mate, I agree and trust me Hermione was mighty pissed when it didn't get through. I don't know what the people were thinking,' said Ron Weasley.
'They were more interested in the capture of the rest of the death eaters than to heighten security at Azkaban. And yeah we caught the majority of Voldermort's inner circle but the ones we'd already caught escaped,' Harry replied.
Ron sighed and pulled his chair away from the desk.
'Come on lets go get some lunch, Hermione's meeting us at the Leaky Cauldron,' said Ron.
Harry glanced once at the picture of the swirling dark mark in the clouds that adorned the front cover of the Daily prophet, before tucking it inside his bag and following Ron out into the corridor.
'Whom was Seamus married to anyway,' Ron asked as they sat with their butterbeers inside a private parlor in the Leaky Cauldron.
Hermione sighed.
'Her maiden name was Eileen Donavan. She died ten years ago from an illness. She was two years below us at Hogwarts,' Hermione replied.
'Sounds like you've done your research,' said Ron.
'Yes well, I got interested. It was a quiet marriage they only had about a dozen people at the wedding, including the bride, groom and pastor. She gave birth to their son seven months later.'
'Aaron,' Ron asked.
'Yes. Harry you're remaining suspiciously quiet about all this.'
'Aaron dated Rose for a while. He's been annoying her and trying to win her back for a while,' said Harry.
'Isn't it strange how Harry, who is Rose's uncle, not her father knows more about her life than her own father,' Hermione muttered.
'I can't help it if she keeps to herself,'
'That and Lily tells me everything,' said Harry.
'Whatever,' said Hermione, 'I'm not arguing with you two.'
'Aaron's a git,' Ron stated.
'Yeah well, he's a whole sight better then Scorpius,' said Harry.
'I can't believe I agreed to her staying at his house,' said Ron bitterly.
'Too late to turn back now,' said Harry.
'Hermione-'
'No Ron, you're not changing it, she's going. I'm not too happy but I'm giving them a chance. Rose is sensible, she's not like her cousins,' Hermione glared at Harry.
Harry put his hands up as if surrendering.
'Can't help it, It's in their genes,' said Harry.
'You weren't like that Harry!' said Hermione.
'It's a… recessive gene, skipped my generation,' said Harry quickly.
'They were sort of doomed. Weasley genes mixed with Potter genes is obviously a dangerous combination,' said Ron.
Harry burst out laughing.
'Dad's probably laughing right now, wherever he is,' said Harry between fits of laughing.
The Golden trio smiled.
'Hermione-'
'No Ron, she's going, that's final.'
'Fine,'
'Fine,'
Crack!
Harry, out of old habit, jumped up, wand in hand as the sound of someone apparating right behind him.
'Ron, Hermione!'
Neville stood in the middle of the room with a flustered look upon his face that often came with apparition. His face was marred with concern.
Harry took one glance at his facial expression and placed a hand on each of his shoulders.
'What's wrong?'
'Rose has been kidnapped.'
Hermione's eyes widened and Ron's mouth dropped open.
'She was taken shortly after 11pm last night. We believe it was Aaron Finnegan who took her.'
'What happened to her,' Ron growled, 'all details, nothing omitted.'
'She was caught stealing from the potions room by Professor Slughorn-'
'Wait, stealing?' said Ron
'Shut up, shut up, she's missing it doesn't matter now!' Hermione cried as she slapped her husband in the shoulder.
Ron looked taken aback, Harry urged Neville to continue.
'She was brought to the headmistress's office but halfway through Aaron Finnegan burst in claiming he'd made her do it and that we should punish him instead. Hannah seemed to think that Aaron was being genuine so she punished him severely and only gave Rose a detention. They then left together and it was reported to me this morning by Lucy Dylan and Albus that Rose had never returned to the Gryffindor tower that night, and Albus also mentioned that Aaron hadn't returned either. Now according to miss Dylan, Aaron had been harassing Rose somewhat about rekindling their relationship but she'd turned him down every time.'
'So you don't know for sure, but you're pretty confident it was him?' Harry questioned.
'Yes, we're fairly confident. I went to the Auror department but they told me you're on lunch break and that they'd contact as soon as-'
Pop
Once again someone appeared out of thin air causing Ron to jump and Hermione to let out a small yelp.'
'Mr Potter sir, we have an urgent case at once, they need you to lead a search party for-'
'Rose Weasley, yes I know, thank you, Sampson. I'm returning at once.'
And with that, the golden trio along with Neville and Harry's assistant Sampson, apparrated out of sight. A few gold galleons and three half filled glasses were left lying on the table for the barkeeper to collect.
