A/N As always, this is JKR's (and now, Jim Butcher's) reality, though my world. If it is familiar, that's them. If it is not canon, it's me.
Amelia sat in her office along with Croaker and Folkstone. While Josiah spoke quietly on his connection to his department, monitoring their progress in setting the nuts and bolts of the cases to be tried in the next week, Amelia tried not to fidget. Rowe and Mulciber haven't been collected in the sweep yet. If they got any inkling of the operation, they'd surely run to Voldemort. That could have indescribably bad consequences. We're depending on getting the trials done before he can fashion any counter-stroke. Alone, it'll take some time to settle on a response. But, with even two free DeathEaters, he could conceivably attack the Ministry during the trials, might even set some of them free.
Croaker murmured "You know, just as well as I, that we've had a major miracle in getting so far without a major fubar. And it still might work out."
"I know Algernon." A deep sigh. "It's as much adrenalin as anything. It feeds my angst that they're not all caught. Once that's done, we aren't home free, but this entire coup is certain to shackle Voldemort and give us breathing room. I want him to be back-footed for once!"
"Agreed, but it is too early to dread the worst yet."
Just then, Shacklebolt rushed in. "Boss, we've got them all now! Robards and I nabbed them in Diagon, with some surprising help. Here's the report."
It took her a moment to read through and grasp the report. She whistled, handed it to Croaker, indicating Folkstone should read it too. "OK, Shack, where's our friend from the States now?"
"He's down in the ready room, getting acquainted with our crew. He fits in like he'd been one of us all his career. It's kind of uncanny, I could tell after five-ten minutes that any of us would love to have him at their back on a case."
"He sounds like a one of a kind. Go back down and bring him up with you and Robards."
-WftF-
When they brought the Yank into the office, she saw immediately what they'd seen. This man was professional, from the way he took in everything in the office to his calm acceptance of his place there as a stranger cum guest. Amelia took his credentials, skimmed them and shook his hand.
"Welcome to Britain, Detective Sergeant Carmichael. You did us an enormous service this morning; the men you took down were deadly terrorists. They would have caused a lot of destruction and death without your intervention. Please, sit."
Carmichael sat and took a second look, liking what he saw. This woman was as professional as anyone he'd seen and was attractive too. A ginger version of his own lieutenant. "The pleasure is all mine, Madam Director. You have a great crew here. I'm proud to have helped you out.
"I ought to give you some information on my certifications. As I work for a non-magical police department, I am equipped with conventional arms in addition to my wand. You'll find in there a permit from New Scotland Yard, through Interpol, allowing me to carry my sidearm. If you wish, I will place it in your custody to prevent difficulties."
"Not at all! You've shown us you know what's what and I for one have no problem with this. I did wonder if you'd give me an idea how long you've been here and what you've done, beyond saving the day."
He gave her a grin and settled back. "I decided to come in by international Floo, to bypass the long stint in Customs I'd have had otherwise. I then Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron and booked a room for my two weeks here. Since I got here in the mid-evening, I decided that I'd sleep off the time difference.
"Next morning, I had breakfast about nine, then took a first stroll around Diagon Alley. I about had the general layout fixed in my mind, when your bad guys came out and started casting. The shock and upset gave me a chance to stun, disarm and cuff them. After I introduced myself to Kingsley and Gawain, they took me into your HQ. I hit it off with the boys and girls in the squad room, then came up here."
Madam Bones nodded. She hadn't needed more proof, but the casual, nonchalant manner of his account cemented their great fortune that this Yank was a top-drawer operative. "We'll hope you find the rest of your stay more restful."
"You'll have no argument from me!"
"We need to have a word with your people in Chicago. 1:00 pm here, so 7:00 am there?" Getting a nod, she tapped an intercom button. "Claire, connect me with the Special Investigations Unit, Chicago Police Department in the States."
After a few moments a husky-sounding man's voice came across "SIU, Detective Stallings."
"Detective, this is Inspector Amelia Bones, attached to New Scotland Yard in London. Is Lieutenant Murphy available?"
"Sorry, she won't be in until 11:00."
"That will be all right. Would you leave a message that I'll call back at 11:10? It's not an emergency, but it is rather important."
"Wilco, inspector. I'll see she gets that as soon as she gets in."
"Thank you, detective. Have a quiet day."
"That's the trick, isn't it? You too."
The call ended and Amelia looked at her guest. "He sounded like another good one."
"Yes, SIU are a good bunch of cops. Something you need to know is that I'm the only magical currently in CPD. The lieutenant knows about magic and I suspect others there might too, but if they do, they're not talking. We have a consultant, a wizard PI named Dresden who helps out.
"What you also need to know is that we handle the separation of the two worlds differently. I know on this side you tend to enforce the Statute by Obliviating non-magicals."
"You don't?!" Amelia (and she could tell, Algernon and Josiah) were vastly surprised and more than a bit shocked. What do you do then?"
"We explain it away. See, when the Statute was enacted, the New World was very sparsely populated. We found it easy to blame any magic or magical beings on overwork, drunkenness, mist, mirages and the like. Even as the country filled up and grew populated, we found it suited.
"Vampires or Ghouls? Psychotics with a pica disorder. Trolls? Big, rowdy, aggressive men. And so forth. Our experience is that non-magicals don't want to think magic is real, so they explain it away all by themselves. We hardly need to give them a nudge. Only in extreme cases do we need to resort to the methods you prefer."
"What about schooling?" Folkstone wondered.
"Works about like it does here, with a few modifications. Our schools, Salem, Chicago Magical, Voodoo Tech in N'awlins, Vancouver Mystic, all take kids from magical families. The magical governments in the States and Canada contact non-magical families at the first sign of accidental magic. They explain about magic and all the schools intake students at kindergarten and they get a two-world education. South of the Rio Grande is a whole different world."
Croaker mused. "That is a very interesting way of handling things. Maybe a talk for later. Amelia, you need to get a bit of rest and food before you call again. Shacklebolt, Robards, why don't you take Carmichael down to your squad room and keep him entertained until 5:00?"
-WftF-
By the time Amelia returned at 4:45, she found that Amos had been fully briefed and was anxious to meet their guest. When Carmichael got up, he was introduced to Diggory and they were soon in a discussion about the revelations he'd made about how things were done in the States. All too soon, it was time to call Chicago.
"SIU, Detective Stallings."
"Detective, this is Inspector Amelia Bones, calling again. Is Lieutenant Murphy available?"
"She is here, inspector. Please hold for a moment."
A minute later, a woman's voice came on the line. Another total professional. I guess a cop is a cop is an Auror. "Inspector Bones, this is Lieutenant Murphy. To what do I owe this call?"
"Lieutenant, I wanted you to know that your Sergeant Carmichael helped my officers this morning to apprehend two terrorists and ensured that none of the civilians were hurt. Just so you know, this operation was totally in line with the focus of your unit."
A long, slow whistle came over the air. "Indeed? So, I suppose you're the director of the DMLE then. May I speak to my sergeant?"
"Right here, Lieutenant. In short, I was sight-seeing and stumbled onto the situation and helped out."
"OK, Carmichael, I'll expect a complete written report when you're back. For now, consider yourself on loan until they don't need you and then take four weeks paid leave. I'll see you when you get back. Inspector, will this arrangement be suitable?"
Bones chuckled. "Perfectly. The sergeant is now seconded to the DMLE. Maybe, when things settle, we can meet in person. I'd look forward to meeting a peer and I think, perhaps a friend."
"Roger that, Amelia. And I'm Karrin. Ron, see you when you get back. Enjoy your vacation."
The line clicked off. "Sergeant—that is to say, Ron?" She got a nod. "For security's sake, you can't stay at the Cauldron. Mimsy." The elf appeared, to Carmichael's great interest. "Please take Sergeant Carmichael's things from the Cauldron, tell Tom he'll be paid. Take his luggage to the manor, let Reginald know he'll be staying for now and move him into a room. I hope this doesn't put you out Ron, but its safest."
Carmichael nodded as the elf vanished, knowing any argument would simply be ignored. Gonna be a more interesting break than I imagined!
Croaker then said, "Amelia, I think you should go home now. Merlin knows you're going to have at least a week in Hell, starting tomorrow. The three of us can manage things here until the Wizengamot meets. You need to rest and reconnect with your family. You go home now and prepare."
She nodded. "OK, until tomorrow. Ready, Ron?" At his nod, she called "Mimsy, please take us home." With that, they both left, with a faint pop.
-WftF-
When they got there, it was close to dinner, so the entire group, students, teachers and various parents were in the living room. Harry saw them first and went to greet them, having been forewarned by Reginald.
"Welcome back auntie!" Giving her a buss on the cheek, then turning to her companion, "Detective Sergeant Carmichael! Welcome to Potter Manor. I am your host, Harry James Potter, Lord of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Houses of Potter and Black. I've heard you helped us today and I'd like to hear more about that. But for now, you need to settle in. Jerome." An elf appeared. "Jerome, you will serve Mr. Carmichael anytime he's with us. Detective, Jerome will be your valet/majordomo. Please keep in mind that he is family and we all treat him and all Potter-Black elves as such. He'll now take you to your suite and you can freshen for dinner, in about a half an hour. I fancy we'll have much to share." Shaking Harry's hand, Carmichael was led away by his elf.
-WftF-
After Carmichael came down, Harry introduced him to his fiancées, the Grangers, the study group and their parents who were there and finally to Tonks and Lupin. The latter was a bit disconcerted at Carmichael's sharp, knowing look at him. By mutual understanding, Rose's nature was not elucidated.
The meal was a standard, usual meal. Ron took his first hints by sampling what Amelia ate then by trying dishes others were having. By the end, he'd had an excellent potpourri sort of meal. Then, they retreated to the living room.
-WftF-
"I hope you found dinner to your liking… Ron." Harry opened.
Carmichael heard his hesitation when Harry used his given name, wondered, but was sure he'd learn why eventually and let it pass. "It was a wonderful British smörgåsbord and I loved every bite, My Lord Potter-Black."
Harry laughed. "Please, Ron, let's leave that for formal settings. Here, I'm Harry."
"That's jake by me, Harry."
"Good. Jake's a nice name too. Maybe one of my sons with Hermione. Jake Potter has a ring to it."
"Yes love, about like a broken cowbell," interjected Hermione puckishly.
After the roar of laughter died down, a blushing Harry commented, "There's one thought shot down in flames! Ron, I understand you work in an otherwise non-magical police department. How does that work?"
For the next hour, Carmichael repeated what he'd told Amelia and her colleagues before, getting many of the same questions and comments. When he finished, he had a thought.
-WftF-
"Maybe what we do will make better sense if I tell you about a recent case. No oaths need be made, but please don't spread this around." When the rest confirmed they would keep it there, he continued. "Now Remus, I could tell at a glance that you are a werewolf and what type of werewolf you are at that." This statement caught everyone, particularly Lupin, off-guard.
"Ye—yes, I am, but how can you tell? And what do you mean by 'type of werewolf'?"
Carmichael nodded. "First, I've bumped into your sort a couple of times in the States. You're a werewolf due to having been bitten by another of your sort. You see," he overrode the murmurs from the others easily, "your condition is like having a magical virus. You were chomped upon and infected. That's why you and those like you are affected by the Wolfsbane potion and why you have a real chance to be cured someday."
They gestured, showing he was understood. "Now the case we had was a serial killer on the loose. In a large city like Chicago, that's not that unusual. What put it on SIU's radar was that one of victims was a witch, someone Dresden knew who'd asked him some disquieting questions about warding that triggered concerns in him. What advice he gave her was not enough; she was found ripped to shreds, the third victim we knew of. When we started investigating, we found that there were all different flavors of werewolves.
"I imagine all of you know that you could have an animagus who's form is a wolf."
Harry broke in. "Yes, my late godfather, Sirius Black took the form of a Grim, but I've not heard of any whose form is a true wolf, auntie?"
Amelia's shrug spoke volumes. "There are none listed, but then, Sirius, your dad and Pettigrew and Rita Skeeter never listed so..."
"So, it is a possibility you can imagine. Anyway, we ran across a… well, convocation, I suppose you could call them, of vigilante wolf animagi called the Alphas. All six of them could become wolves and they prowled the area where victims had been killed, trying to stop the killer. Their forms were wolves, but their minds were human. The odd thing was that they otherwise had no magic at all. We checked them and they hadn't enough magic to light a wand, unless you gave them a lighter."
When the chuckling died down, he continued. "We tripped into another type of werewolf. We found that someone magically powerful enough could bind the spirit of a wolf into an amulet of some sort. In this case, it was belts made from wolf pelts. There were four of them. They started out like the Alphas, but as the case went on, it was clear that their minds were going and the wolf was taking over. In the end, they were killed in self-defense." There was no more chuckling.
Carmichael drew a deep breath and sighed. "Another werewolf type we bumped into and really wished we hadn't, we called the Berserkers. This was actually a 30-odd member motorcycle gang. Somehow, they'd get taken over by a spirit of wolfish insanity. When that happened, they had hysterical strength and were hyper-aggressive. We barely escaped our encounters with our lives. Maybe we'll find a way to exorcise them someday."
"But the real cause of the killings was something else entirely. It was a Loup Garou."
Crickets, with the faces of the magicals paling almost into transparency.
"For the sake of us not in the know, what is a Loup Garou?" Dani requested.
"A Loup Garou" started Hermione in a trembling voice "was something thought to be only a legend. A person was cursed by another, hugely powerful person, someone as strong as Merlin or more. The cursed one turned into a wolf-like beast, unstoppable, a killing machine that wreaked havoc one night a month; the full moon of course. The curse wouldn't die out when the one cursed died. Another in that family would be afflicted and the condemnation would continue until the entire family died out. It is believed that the only way to kill one is for its heart to be pierced by silver that is an old family heirloom, though not necessarily of the family cursed."
"Excellent presentation, Miss Granger." Carmichael said softly, hauntedly. "We found out that in this case, that family was doomed by Saint Patrick." Horrified gasps. "Yeah, puts a different spin on 17 March, doesn't it? He was actually in our custody one night when he changed. I was there." His voice dropped and survivor's guilt dripped from each syllable. "I still don't know how or why I was the only one left alive."
He drooped and started shaking. Amelia leapt up and pulled him to his feet, catching him a hug that would do any Granger proud. The others could hear her whisper to him, but not the words. Long, long after that night, they learned she was talking, officer to officer, survivor to survivor, sharing her experiences, and her forays into those Hells. Slowly, he calmed and gave her a squeeze back, mouthing 'thanks'.
"We caught up with him in the end. We'd learned that he was the last of his family. We fought and we managed to kill him. We rejoiced in being alive, we wept for his soul. And so those are my werewolf encounters. Dresden maintains there's one more type of werewolf, but he isn't telling what it is. He just says that we'd figure it out, if we look hard. Typical for witches and wizards; keeping secrets is like cocaine for us." That last got a rueful/angry snort from the company.
"I think that it's time for us all to turn in on that note," Harry observed. "Auntie, when in the morning do we need to be at the Wizengamot?"
"The session will begin at 10:00, as you know. I, so the three of us need to be there an hour early, by 9:00."
"Very good. Breakfast then at 7:30 all. And a good night's rest"
-WftF-
The betrotheds went up and did their nightly routines. Before settling in for the night, Susan and Hermione sat facing Harry.
"Loves, what is the matter?"
"Harry," Susan said, "we have been thinking and talking together. This coming week is going to be as transfiguring for you and for us as when we became betrothed. We thought that starting next Saturday, we'd like to try the split night idea, on Saturdays and Wednesdays."
Harry swallowed hard, tried to speak, swallowed again. "That sounds brilliant, my loves, my ladies. Let it be thus." Then with a cheeky grin, he proclaimed, "I, Lord Potter-Black sanction it!" With a mock growl, he was thoroughly tickled, then thoroughly kissed into unconsciousness.
The next morning, all had a large, fortifying breakfast, particularly Ron, Amelia and Harry. Then, they dressed. Harry's dress robes made him look every bit the high nobility that he was. Dobby placed elven charms on the robes so they would remain crisp and cool.
When it was time, Amelia had the elves transport them to an antechamber in which Ted Tonks already was in wait. "The guard outside has his orders and you will hear everything. When the Chief Warlock calls for new business, you go through the door, announce yourself, and claim your seats." Harry nodded and Amelia and Ron popped away.
During their wait, Harry and Ted talked through what was to come. It took less than five minutes for the barrister to see that Harry had this part down cold.
Soon, they heard the voice of Albus Dumbledore intoning the ritual phrases. "The noble Wizengamot will now come to order for the August 1996 session. Is there any new business for the Wizengamot?"
At that, Harry strode through the door, Tonks trailing. In a Sonorus-amplified voice, he declared with full punctilio, "I, Harry James Potter, Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses of Potter and Black am come to claim my place and seats in the noble Wizengamot!"
A/N: Thanks again to texan-muggle for fantastic Beta work.
Yes, I plead guilty to leaving you on a cliffhanger! No grousing about it now, my Muse commands me to scribe the next chapter forthwith.
This is about the shortest chapter this story will have. The material covered is important for the overall plot. Had I continued with the next part though, the resulting chapter would be both too long and too confusing.
After consideration, this story will not be classified as a crossover. We will see Ron Carmichael, Harry Dresden and Karrin Murphy as characters and mention a few others and a few situations from Butcher's reality. However, the setting and actions will remain Harry Potter.
This chapter's story recommendation A Matter of Life and Death by Walter Sobchak. This is based on a movie that is a favorite of both Daniel Radcliffe and J. K. Rowling. Id: 11999798
Once more, thanks to all you who read my efforts. Visitors, hits, reviews, follows, favorites, C2s are my only payment. All of you readers are fabulous!
Posted: 07/02/2016
Words: 3,709