Author's Note: Another month gone, another book released, and here we are with a burst of fanfiction releases that many of you no doubt were eagerly anticipating. Here we have Snape, the Flamels, and a few more hints about Madam Oussghym.
And we have our first look at the Queen's Mage a.k.a. Queen's Wizard.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling, as such all rights, royalties, characters, and settings belong to her.
One World
Part II: Alchemical Gold
Chapter 4: The Queen's Wizard
Lucius Malfoy swore as he tore off his cloak and hurled it onto the stand beside the door. As the heavy ebony door shut behind him, the small House Elf shuddered. His master huffed, and the elf stood silent terrified of drawing Lucius's attention.
"Bloody fools, the lot of them!" Lucius snapped before pushing through the door into the reception hall. When he stepped through, Lucius caught sight of his wife walking into the room followed by the short and rather twisted form of the old Black Family elf.
"Lucius..." She stopped, her eyes going wide. "Kreacher, quickly."
"Kreacher shall fetch the wine." The elf spoke before disappearing with a crack.
"What happened Lucius?" Narcissa asked as Lucius stormed through the double doors of the hall heading for his study. "Did the vote go against you?"
"Yes, but that was only the start of it!" Lucius said as he banged his cane in irritation. "Those fools! If I knew what those muggles were like, I never would have pushed for the issue to be brought to a vote. Now our old friends are asking if I've turned my back on the old ways? My old friends, Gibbon and MacNair went so far as to claim that I was turning into a muggle loving fool like Dumbledore!" He spat the name incensed. "Without me they'd all be rotting in Azkaban, the lot of them! Not one of them have a grasp on the subtlety of politics."
Narcissa arched an eyebrow, unable to follow her husband's train of thought as she followed him into the study. There she saw Kreacher setting a silver tray laden with a large bottle of drowish wine and two glasses. That brought her up short, the wine was one of the most expensive in the cellar thanks in part due to its non-human source, but also thanks to the sure level of alcohol content within it. That Kreacher had selected it suggested that the old elf had felt his Master's mood was extreme enough to warrant the strong drink.
"The muggles that Potter is living with were brought before the Wizengamot by Black. I attempted to object to that, but one of our ancestors saw fit to invite the Muggle crown, and Dumbledore used the precedent to overrule it." Lucius picked up the wine bottle and hastily poured some of the dark liquid into the glasses. Then he continued. "The muggles, well... they acted far more civilized then I expected. The debate quickly turned to whether they were suitable parents for a wizard that would end up in the Wizengamot." He took a sip of the wine and scowled. "They understood things better than most of the current members, in their muggle fashion. It quickly became clear to me that we wouldn't be able to honestly declare them unfit. Apparently, one of them told Black about the galleon valuation being skewed in the mud blood's favor."
Narcissa's eyes widened as her mind went to work on the problem. Then she bent down and picked up a glass. "You had no choice, if you remained against their guardianship..."
"Exactly, so now the Potter brat will go back home with that mudblood 'sister' of his, and I have to deal with my own supporters beginning turning against us." Lucius scowled before glancing at the various books that line the shelves of his study. A gleaming silver locket hung in the center of the library, an artifact that Narcissa had managed to buy off Black.
"You missed something else while in chambers and soothing your friends." Narcissa produced a copy of the Evening Prophet. "There was an attempted robbery on Gringotts while you were out."
Lucius stared before taking the prophet from his wife's hand, a puzzled expression slid across his face. Neither of them noticed their son standing beside the door with a confused expression on his face.
Harry lay asleep on the couch, leaning heavily against his sister. The television before them was turned down to a minimum and as Daniel slowly maneuvered a blanket over the pair he smirked at the screen. Then the screen turned off as Jean glanced over at the two wizards and lone witch that had joined them in the night's celebration of their victory, and Harry's birthday.
Sirius Black held a cup of coffee in his hands as he leaned over the table, on the way back from the Wizengamot he'd invited the lot of them to a nearby restaurant for supper. The second wizard had been one that Andromeda had called to help them home after Sirius had a few too many drinks to be making portkeys. Now Remus was wandering around the table picking up the bits of wrapping paper that lay scattered after the whirlwind of gift opening that had started after they'd gotten back.
Andromeda Tonks had been more of a spectator in the events, tagging along with them more to get to know the boy whom she was supposed to represent in the Wizengamot. They'd met earlier, but hadn't really gotten the chance to know each other until that night. She was still in shock at being selected for the Wizengamot, even as a proxy.
Harry's presents were largely forgotten. Sure he had been given gifts, but after the events of the afternoon they all seemed trivial, both to the giver and the boy. A stack of new books sat forgotten on the table, along with new clothes, and a couple VCR tapes. Only the tape of Star Trek IV had ended up being watched the night.
As Daniel turned off the light, he smiled slightly at Harry and sighed. He was theirs, and nothing could take that from him.
The next morning the Daily Prophet arrived with an article that brought a smile to their faces. Below the headline was a picture of the four of them standing before the Wizengamot, Daniel stood behind him with his hands on Harry's shoulders.
Wizengamot Learns a Lesson
By Rita Skeeter
In response to growing worry about the suitability of Harry Potter's guardians, the Wizengamot moved to bring the issue to debate. Both Mr. Potter and the Grangers were brought to the chambers by the dashing and enigmatic figure of Sirius Black. There the stage was set for one of the most unusual hearings that this reporter has ever witnessed.
At the center of the issue was Mr. Harry Potter, a small and rather runty looking boy with wild black hair and piercing green eyes. His most distinctive feature was a scar that ran just below the hairline shaped like lightning. His adoptive parents, the muggles Daniel and Jean Granger looked rather ill at ease in the chambers, but quickly proved to be both rather protective of the boy and shockingly intelligent.
Mr. Granger demonstrated a theoretical knowledge and understanding of potions, alchemy, business, and economics that have left the belief held by many in the chambers of muggle 'inferiority' a smoldering ruin. Questioned by Mr. Lucius Malfoy and Madam Longbottom, Mr. Granger forced the Wizengamot to reexamine their beliefs, especially when it was revealed that the Galleon Exchange bill was partly inspired by Mr. Granger.
Since its passage the Galleon Exchange bill has greatly reduced the economic burdens of...
It was little wonder that Daniel Granger framed the newspaper in his study.
Agent Kim Hunter stared down at the report she was working on, trying to figure out how she was going to explain her partner's demise at the hands of a dark wizard. She'd probably gone through a dozen different drafts already. As she put her pen to the legal pad to start again the door to the small office opened with a clack.
She jumped up in surprise and stared as a man clad in tan uniform of the Royal Army stepped into the room. Atop his head was a sand colored beret decorated with the insignia of a winged sword. In his hand was a riding whip, and on his shoulders he bore the insignia of a Lieutenant Colonel. His face was lined and a thin caterpillar mustache draped over his upper lip.
Behind him was a second man clad almost identically to the first, wearing the insignia of a lieutenant.
"Agent Hunter?" The colonel asked.
She nodded slightly.
"Colonel Edward Nimeuh, 22nd SAS." He answered before glancing around the room. "Your partner requested an interview with me for several years, I'm afraid that the request was a bit buried until news of his demise reached my office." He glanced over at the Lieutenant. "This is Lieutenant Jack Morgan, my batman."
Kim glanced between them wondering why Tom would have wanted to interview the two of them. Then she watched the Colonel pull out the horse whip and flick it toward the door. Instantly it shut and locked of its own accord. She froze, mentally cursing for putting her service weapon in the desk.
"Now that we're properly alone, let me reintroduce myself, Agent Hunter. My name is Sir Edward Nimeuh, the Queen's Mage, and we have a great deal to discuss."
Kim Hunter stared at the man as he set the horse whip atop the desk and stepped back from it. She starred at the elaborately decorated length of load and gasped. It was a wand, disguised as a horse whip, she was sure of it. Slowly she sat down and let out a long breath. "You... You're a wizard?"
"Indeed, as is the Lieutenant, I believe there aren't many others in the service, but there are a few. We have a disproportion number of first generation non-magical descendants of magicals in the military, as most of them have little in the way of education needed to have a more mundane job." He sat down across from her. "My job, Agent Hunter, is to advise and assist the crown with Magical Matters. It's a position which the Magical Government of the United Kingdom swears does not and should not exist. Sadly this means that all too often I do not have the information required to properly assist her Majesty."
Kim scowled. "That's why we didn't intervene in their bloody war, isn't it? The Wizarding War that spanned from 1970 to 1981."
He nodded. "I see that I've come to the right person then. We need information and a reliable means of getting it from within the wizarding world. All members of the muggle government are barred from receiving Ministry of Magic publications and all Magical publications, and the Ministry has been insuring that I received only the information that they wanted me to have."
"I see," Kim glanced down at her desk and the half-finished report. "Do you want to debrief me or..."
Nimeuh nodded. "That would be an excellent start." He snapped his fingers and the Lieutenant pulled what appeared to be a bronze lined clay bowl from a nap sack. He sat it on the desk and Kim noticed a set of runes and other symbols ran along its edge.
"This, Agent Hunter, is a pensieve. It is a magical means by which we can view memories." He picked up the wand from his desk and tapped it once. "Now, I want you to focus on what happened in your mind, and as you do so I will copy the memory and place it in the pensieve so that we may view your memory of the events."
Kim grimaced as she stared at the tip of his wand. "You're not about to wipe my memory are you?"
"No, though I am sure the Ministry of Magic would prefer it if I did." The Colonel said. "I will merely be drawing out a copy of the memory."
Agent Hunter took a deep breath and shut her eyes. "Do it."
She focused on the memory and felt a tingle in her mind for a moment. When she opened her eyes again she found the Colonel dropping a strand of some silvery liquid into the Pensieve. Then a moment later he bent over it. With a blur he was suddenly sucked inside the bowl and Hunter stumbled back into her chair, her eyes wide with shock.
"He'll be back in a moment." The Lieutenant said simply.
She sat at her desk for several minutes before the Colonel reappeared and dropped into the chair. Slowly he settled his gaze on Lieutenant Hunter. "I think a commendation is in order for the Agent, Lieutenant. She encountered a creature that has not been seen for hundreds of years and succeeded in besting it, armed only with a service pistol."
"Yes sir." The Lieutenant said before pulling out a notebook and scribbling a note.
"Are you still in contact with the Flamels?" The Colonel asked.
Kim frowned. "Of sorts, I can mail them easily enough and they don't have muggle repelling charms on their home. Unfortunately they have both taken up teaching positions at Hogwarts, so I won't be able to make contact for most of the year."
"You know of Hogwarts?" The Lieutenant burst out in surprise.
"Yes, the Flamels took it upon themselves to explain some things about the magical world after I helped defend their home. They also gave me a number of books full of general information on the magical world in the United Kingdom." Agent Hunter pursed her lips and glanced down. "They are not very fond of the separation between our worlds."
"They wouldn't be." Colonel Nimeuh said sternly. "They were among the few that benefited from joint Allied and Magical efforts during the Second World War. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen's Mother worked to coordinate efforts between the crown and those magicals that would welcome our help. You see, she had been born to the Bowes-Lyon noble family, a long line of squibs, and was the only public member of the nobility to have connections with that world."
Kim Hunter nodded.
"Now, I heard that Finch-Fletchley's youngest got a letter to Hogwarts." Colonel Nimeuh smiled faintly. "So there are some connections at least."
Kim shrugged, not familiar with the family but guessing they had to be either one of the noble families that were still around or one that had inherited a knighthood.
"Still, I haven't yet approached them for information, but I will. This creature and his master which you faced are certainly a sign that things are not right in their world." Colonel Nimeuh said.
Kim glanced down at her desk. "You need a source. I'm not sure how easy that will be... Just getting a magical newspaper would probably help."
"Can you do it?" He asked.
She leaned back and thought for a moment, uncertain if she could get what he needed. Her mind cast back over the vast array of information that she'd managed to gather, and the spotty knowledge she'd gotten from the Flamels. It was possible that she could contact them, but she wasn't sure just how much information they could give her.
Then an idea struck her, one that could well work considering that some of the wizards had 'muggle' parents. Surely some of them would see the value of keeping the Queen informed.
"I'll need some time." She said finally. "Give me three months and I should have something for you."
Nicolas Flamel stepped through the two huge double doors that dominated the entrance hall for Hogwarts, his luggage floating beside him. His wife was just a few steps further back with their phoenix perched upon her shoulder, glancing around the room as if curious. A woman who looked perhaps a couple years older than his wife (though had to be centuries younger) stood before them clad in a green tartan.
"Professors Flamel," She said before nodding in their direction. Like most whom they had met, the woman seemed a bit at a loss as to how to regard them. "My name is Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress. I'd like to welcome you to Hogwarts."
Nicolas nodded. "Minerva, Albus 'az told uz of you... 'E seemz to 'ave 'igh 'opes for you if 'e's made you 'is Deputy. Where iz my old apprentice?"
"He is currently speaking with the Board of Governors. They called him in about some of the other staffing choices he's made for the extra-curricular offerings," Minerva said. "There's no need to carry your luggage like this, if you set it down the House Elves will take it to your quarters."
"Very well, ze brownies would be insulted if we did not allow zem to assist." Perenelle said before setting her luggage on the ground. Their phoenix sat atop her shoulder still and gave a chirp of amusement.
"Before we see ze quarters, I was wondering if we may speak with ze potions master, to coordinate our teaching and research," Nicolas said.
"Severus is in the potions lab, checking some of the modifications that have been installed. I believe he is also working on some potions for Madam Pomfrey." Minerva waved her head toward a staircase. "I'll show you the way."
"I waz wondering, would you recommend coordinating with Professor Binnz?" Perenelle asked as they walked along the stairs down into the dungeons.
"Professor Binns is a creature of habit, he hasn't changed his syllabus since before his death, so I doubt he would make any adjustments to coordinate with you," Minerva said. "Perhaps it would be best to just focus on the more modern subjects. Binns rarely speaks of anything more recent then the 1800s."
Perenelle chuckled. "I would zink zat I would know all about zose timez, but I zink I can manage to be more recent zan zat. If 'e does not teach about more modern subjects, your studentz must not be very well informed of ze Grindelwald Warz, for one. Nor ze Wizarding War."
"No, I suppose not." Minerva admitted as they walked along a corridor in the dungeons and came to a door. "This is Professor Snape's lab, I will leave you here. Some contractors require supervision. They are working on the second floor corridor."
Nicolas nodded once. "Zank you for your assistance, Minerva. We should be fine from 'ere on." Then he knocked once and waited.
Beside him Perenelle scowled slightly. "Nicolas, ze aura?"
He nodded to her before the door opened and a man with beady black eyes, a sallow complexion, and a hooked shape nose peeked out at them. His hair was long, black, and oily.
Even so, Nicolas could sense the faint aura of taint and aggression that marked one who had used the Dark Arts. Despite this, Nicolas smiled slightly. "Professor Snape, I am Nicolas Flamel. I was 'oping to speak with you to coordinate our lessonz and research?"
The man arched an eyebrow before opening the door fully and waving him inside. "We can talk over a cauldron then. I was told that you were to teach alchemy, not potions."
"Albus asked me to act as ze faculty advisor for ze new Potion'z Club. 'E thought zat 'e didn't wish to stress your tolerance for 'dunderheads' by asking you to do it." Nicolas explained.
Snape snorted as he walked over to a cauldron and checked a muggle egg timer beside the pewter cauldron. "He is right about the dunderheads. I often find it hard to understand how students cannot simply follow instructions."
"Of course, a delay between steps can cause problemz as well." Flamel observed before glancing at the softly bubbling red liquid. "Pepper-Up Potion."
"Madam Pomfrey uses it by the gallon during the year. I always have to have a large supply ready for the start of term." Snape observed in a bored tone. "It is a bit trickier to make in large amounts."
"The mandrake root and bicorn horn must be more heavily powdered to interact properly in larger volumez. I 'ave found that a muggle coffee grinder or pepper grinder to be among ze better means of doing so. So long as zey are properly cleaned before use," Nicolas said as he glanced over the massive cauldron.
"Indeed." Snape said before producing a rather worn looking coffee grinder from the small pile of tools. "My mother used to use an electric one, but such devices do not work in the castle. The bicorn horn seems to be the more temperamental of the two ingredients."
Perenelle glanced between the two of them as Nicolas nodded. "I did read your mastery paper, and waz quite impressed. Ze mixing of muggle and magical methodz of preparation and use of ingredientz iz quite common elsewhere in ze world, but not 'ere in England."
Snape frowned slightly. "Many of those tricks were ones I learned with a friend during my first few years of schooling." He glanced down at the cauldron. "Let us just say that my professor encouraged the two of us to experiment."
"I believe it waz Slughorn zat would 'ave been ze one to teach you." Flamel said before glancing at the pot. "E spoke quite highly of you at ze last conference I attended of potioneers and alchemistz. Ziz friend, I gather it must 'ave been Miss Evans, as 'e only spoke of the two of you."
Snape paled dramatically before glancing down at the cauldron. "Evans was a close friend... I made a grave mistake and we found ourselves on the opposite sides of the war."
"Albus explained your circumstances to me yearz ago. Everyone makes mistakez, lord knows I 'ave made enough in my lifetime." Nicolas heard his wife chuckle at that and shook his head. "Nothing can bring back ze dead, but we can 'onor zem by 'ow we choose to live. Perhaps we can discover a potion worthy of 'er name."
Snape nodded slowly. "That, sounds like something worth pursuing."
In his new office, Quirrell paced as the snake which Voldemort inhabited draped itself over the gnarled bit of wood that he'd kept for his pet Iguana. The snake's skin was flaking and it looked far from healthy. Soon the serpent would like go the way the other creatures he had possessed had and die.
The stone is here, and so we shall focus our efforts here. Voldemort spoke in his mind.
"Dumbledore hopes to catch the thief. I've already been asked to create a defense for the stone, though the old fool insists that it be meant to delay, not stop the thief. Minerva has already made mention of other defenses, and the oaf Hagrid was muttering about a pet of his." Quirrell stopped and scowled. "I don't like this, Master."
Nor should you, we are right under the old fool's nose. Patience is what is required. All we will need to get the stone is a distraction that will keep the old fool busy long enough to slip through the defenses. Have you discovered why Hagrid has been building a paddock on the edge of the forest? Voldemort asked.
"He said that it's for one of the new Professors. Looking over the faculty roster, only Oussghym seems to be the sort to require anything unusual," He frowned. "I do not recall those creatures normally needing a paddock."
No, one of them would be happy enough living in the dungeons... Perhaps she requires transport to the castle. That race has domesticated a subspecies of the Hebridean Black. Voldemort fell silent for a moment. Hagrid seemed happy, didn't he?
"Yes, the oaf was whistling as he worked on that paddock. Would, would he use such a beast to guard the stone?" Quirrell suddenly asked before shuddering with fear.
Not even Dumbledore is fool enough to keep a dragon in a school. Voldemort assured him. When this host fails, there is one more thing I must ask of you.
The days quickly seemed to speed by for Harry Potter. One week he was fighting to be allowed to live with his adopted parents, the next he was helping Hermione through the vast list of things she was planning on packing.
Their tutoring time with Remus was quickly coming to an end. Instead of teaching them new information, Remus focused on reviewing those basic spells they'd begun their time learning and practice dueling. The return to basics was a bit annoying to Harry, but as Remus pointed out it had originally been what he was supposed to teach.
They'd bought their books for the classes along with some supplemental material that Remus and Sirius suggested. In addition to One Thousand Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore, Harry and Hermione had also bought copies of Potion Opuscule, Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger, and A Treatise on the Reactions of Magical Elements and Ingredients by Severus Snape.
The last book had been met with shock and outrage from Sirius when he'd found out, but Harry and Hermione hoped that at least having it would help them deal with their Professor. From its title Hermione guessed it had been the paper that had earned him his Mastery in the field.
Remus thought that The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection was a good choice by their professor, but he had a few other suggestions. As a result Harry and Hermione found themselves buying The Essential Defense Against the Dark Arts by Arsenius Jigger as well.
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot was their required text, but even Hermione found the book a bit outdated as it concentrated on the earlier years of the Ministry of Magic. Scouring the shelves at Flourish and Blotts revealed a number of far newer and more specific works by Bathilda Bagshot. Soon they added The Decline of Pagan Magic, The Oracle of Palombo, The Rise of a Muggle World, The Wars of Secrecy and Purity, and Omens, Oracles & the Goat. Hermione proved to be a bit of a fan of her as she read one of her works, Hogwarts: A History, over and over again.
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling proved to be a choice that Harry likened to reading Writing of Principia Mathematica by Sir Isaac Newton in order to learn calculus... They may have been the greatest practitioner of it, but there were tons of people that explained it better.
Most of the other books they had on their lists were quite a deal more practical. Their copies of The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1), Emeric Switch's A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, and Newt Scamander's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them were quickly well worn by curious skimming and feverish reading (in Hermione's case).
Finally, the book store had also posted a list of the published extra-curricular classes and clubs along with recommended reading materials for each of them. Harry and Hermione quickly bought books on Alchemy and Potions. In addition they found themselves being pushed to take music by their parents (whom reminded them about the lessons they'd received in the field time and again). Grudgingly Harry and Hermione agreed to consider it.
Now, their two trunks sat on the table being stuffed with books, clothes, and the various bits and bobs that Harry and Hermione had picked up at Diagon Alley at one time or another. Hedwig sat atop her cage watching them, cocking her head every few minutes as another item was packed away.
It was August 31st, the day before term would start. Already Harry had finished packing while Hermione double checked her list and made sure she was ready.
Flutters of nervous excitement filled his stomach as he thought about what the new day would bring. Would they make friends or once again find themselves relying on each other to protect themselves from bullies? Neither knew, and that fact seemed to compound the nervous excitement the two of them felt.
Once Hermione had checked her list for what must have been the tenth time, they went to bed, though neither fell to sleep easily. Both of them stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours. When they finally drifted off, it was well past midnight.
Their morning started fairly early, as the drive to London would take a few hours. Jean had made them a breakfast of toast and bacon that they quickly devoured before packing into the car. The two trunks filled the boot, and Hermione and Harry sat on either side of Hedwig's cage as they drove away.
Of course the two of them had grabbed books to read. Harry had his father's copy of The Hunt for Red October in his lap while Hermione curled up with a rather tattered copy of Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice.
They got to King's Cross easily an hour before the train was set to leave, and Daniel grabbed a trolley which they quickly loaded with the two trunks and Hedwig's cage. At the trolleys they found their two 'uncles' waiting for them with big grins on their faces.
Remus Lupin smirked as he followed along chatting idly with Jean while Sirius led them toward the barrier between platform's 9 and 10. He grinned as the two kids glanced at each other before looking back at their tickets and frowning.
"Platform 9 and 3/4? Sirius, is this some sort of joke?" Harry asked as Hermione stared at the barrier.
She suddenly smirked. "Maybe we have to tap it with a wand?"
"No!" Sirius said to stop Hermione from grabbing her wand. When she stopped and scowled Sirius sighed. "There's too many muggles around to use that sort of security. No, all you have to do is walk through the barrier. It's an illusion, you see. If you're magical you can just walk though... If you're not, well, you can get through if you hold the hand of someone that's magical."
"So... we just walk into the barrier?" Harry said before shrugging his shoulders.
Sirius nodded and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "The easiest way is just to walk through, though a lot of kids like to take it at a run, especially the first time."
Harry laughed. "I'm not quite that nervous, let's just do this."
The kids walked through the barrier and emerged in a separate platform dominated by a huge red steam engine. Behind it dozens of carriages stretched out connected to the first and Harry stared at the steaming engine.
"Cool..." He murmured as Remus pulled the two elder Grangers through the barrier behind them.
Harry and Hermione hurried over to the carriages and Harry looked over the colorful crowd of wizards. Some wore a hilarious mixture of muggle clothing that obviously weren't meant to be part of the same outfit. Others wore cloaks or robes that didn't look a bit like anything a muggle would wear. Finally there were a few clad in muggle clothes that actually seemed proper and fitting.
Beside the people, there were animals. Cats of every color and breed wound their way between legs while various owls hooted in their cages in a disgruntled fashion, barely audible over the babble and scrape of trunks.
The first few carriages were already packed, so Harry and Hermione made their way along the platform to one of the still empty carriages. As they walked they heard a round face boy say, "Gran, I've lost my toad again."
"Oh, Neville!" An older woman said and Harry blinked as he stared at the stuffed vulture that topped her hat.
A boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by a crowd of students with a cardboard box.
"Give us a look Lee." One of the kids asked and the grinning boy opened the box just enough for a furry looking leg to peak out. Several of the girls shrieked and leapt back while the boy burst into laughter.
Children hung out of windows talking to their parents and the constant chatter of friends who hadn't seen each other for months filled the air as the two of them stopped their trolley by the door to a carriage. With a grunt they lifted their trunks, one at a time and found an empty compartment at the end of the train. It took the two of them standing on the seats to manage to get their trunks into the luggage rack over the window, but they managed.
That done, the two quickly climbed back off the train and hugged their parents. Harry blushed furiously as Jean kissed his cheek and then squeezed him in a bone breaking hug. As they said goodbye a pair of redheads that looked to be twins did a double take at Harry before glancing at each other.
"Blimey, is that?" One asked the other.
The first nodded, "It is, did you see that scar? Wonder how he got it… Can't believe he stood up to Malfoy. Dad was talking about it."
"What?" Harry snapped in annoyance and the two twins jumped as if in surprise.
"You're Harry Potter, aren't you?" The first asked.
Harry sighed. "Yeah… That's me."
"You were in the paper!" One of them said. "Oh, sorry… Name's Fred."
"And I'm George." The second twin said.
Harry glanced between them and shrugged. "Harry Potter, and that's my sister Hermione." He jerked his head to Hermione who was being hugged by her mother.
"And those must be your parents—"
"Better not tell Dad. He'd never leave them alone."
Harry glanced between them and felt dizzy before shrugging.
"Well, see you at school." The two said before wandering over to a group of other redheads.
"Mum, geroff!" A tall boy around Harry's age said from down the line as a rather plump looking woman tried furiously to wipe something from her son's nose.
"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" said one of the twins. Harry's attention though was soon pulled back to his parents.
Daniel pulled Harry into a tight hug and slapped his back. "Have fun this term, all right Harry?"
"Yes Dad." Harry said with a wide grin.
"Take care of your brother." Jean told Hermione.
"I will." She said quietly and hugged her mother. A whistle sounded, "Mum, it's time."
Harry slipped from his father's grasp and glanced up just in time to see a pair of brown eyes studying him curiously. The youngest of a crowd of redheaded kids was staring at him, her red hair was tied back into a wild and rather messy looking ponytail and a dusting of freckles covered her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. As Harry's gaze met his she blushed faintly and looked at another of the redheads.
"Ahh… Gin Gin, it's not nice to stare." Fred said from her side in a teasing voice, causing the girl to stomp on his foot. The other twin burst into laughter as Fred hopped on one foot holding it as if in pain.
Harry shrugged and he and Hermione clambered onto the train as the other kids said their last goodbyes. Within moments they were in their compartment leaning out of the window talking with Remus and Sirius.
"Remember Harry, Hermione, pay attention to your professors, no matter how simple the lessons seem compared to what old Moony showed you, and don't let any of the Slytherins get you down!" Sirius said.
"What if we end up in Slytherin?" Hermione asked.
Remus and Sirius looked at each other then burst into laughter. "It'd never happen! You two are probably going to be Gryffindor's, I can feel it." Remus reassured them. "Though I could see you in Ravenclaw, or maybe even Hufflepuff, the hat has never put a muggleborn in Slytherin as far as I can remember. You'll be fine!"
"But what if I'm not a Gryffindor, and... What hat?" Harry suddenly smirked as the two older wizards seemed to panic at their slip up.
"Nevermind!" Sirius said quickly. "Let's just say there's no way you'll be in Slytherin."
The train jerked as it blew a whistle before starting to roll. Immediately they started to wave to their parents. The little redheaded girl from before was running after the train waving furiously with tear tracks running down her cheeks. Then the train turned and the platform disappeared behind them.
Agent Kim Hunter set her cup of tea down before glancing away from the concave mirror that sat behind the counter of the small stall she'd chosen just a stone's throw from Platform 9. It was almost child's play spotting the wizards as they hustled children to the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. It seemed that the local staff had spotted them as well, and she'd heard some muttering about the 'September 1st' crowd.
Mentally she'd made a list of possible candidates. Adults that were dressed far more like normal people then the rest, who looked nervous and confused as they led their children to the barrier. Any one of them was a possible recruit and source for information.
As it approached eleven o'clock she took another sip of tea before adjusting her business suit and checked her appearance in a pocket mirror. Then she spun around slowly and watched the barrier out of the corner of her eye, and waited. Soon people began to appear from the barrier and head off in various directions without their charges. Finally she saw a pair clad in proper muggle fair walk out from the barrier followed by two wizards. They spoke to each other for a moment before the wizards left. Then they walked toward the street.
Agent Hunter slipped off her seat leaving a five pound note on the table and followed them at a fair distance before they stopped beside a Saab. Just as the man was about to open the car's door she stepped behind him and cleared her throat.
The brown haired figure turned slowly to face her, his brown eyes widening slightly as he saw the id she held up before her. Then Kim smirked as she said. "Agent Hunter, MI-5, I'd like to talk to you about the magical world."
Tracey Davis smirked as she leaned back in her seat, twirling her wand idly. Across from her Daphne was grinning. Their trunks sat on the floor between them forming an improvised table of sorts on which sat a chess set. It was a muggle one, which ages earlier her father had charmed to allow the pieces to obey commands in the magical fashion. Sadly the charm had nearly worn off. Daphne assured her the ambient magic of the castle would recharge it.
It was also the only item she had from her father.
"Thank god it'll be two years before Astoria goes to Hogwarts." Daphne suddenly said as she prodded a chess piece to move with her wand. "She was whining about it all morning."
Tracey smirked. "Happy to get away from her?"
"YES!" Daphne said before taking a deep breath and composing herself. "Siblings can be so annoying."
"I wouldn't know." Tracey said sadly before she prodded a pawn.
At that moment the compartment door slid open and a rather weedy looking boy stumbled in, dragging his trunk behind him. His hands shook slightly as he glanced between the two of them. "Sorry, but most of the compartments are full... Could I join you?"
Tracey slid over slightly to make room, and Daphne rolled her eyes.
The weedy looking boy sighed in relief as he sat down. Then he seemed to flinch slightly before glancing between them. "Umm... My name is Theodore Nott."
Daphne's eyes narrowed slightly at that and she glanced at him. Then her gaze softened as the boy's push a shaking hand onto his knee. Tracey saw it too and swallowed a lump that had risen in her throat.
"Daphne, Daphne Greengrass. And that's my friend Tracey." Daphne said.
Tracey smiled faintly at the boy who seemed to look confused. "Uhh... what's your surname?"
"Davis." Tracey said and Theodore seemed to flinch. "What?"
"I'm sorry... I can't stay here, my father—" He started to stand but Daphne flicked her wand toward the compartment door and it shut and locked. Then he stopped.
"You won't see your father for months, Theodore. Just sit down. Tracey's a half-blood, but she's cool." Daphne said quietly.
Slowly Theodore turned to glance between them before he sat down. "Maybe I should have found Malfoy... I get along alright with him."
Tracey stared at the boy's hands noting that they shook again before he grabbed his knees. "What's wrong with you?"
"Father made sure I knew not to embarrass my family name before I left." He said quietly.
There were a few places that Daniel Granger was sure he'd never visit in his life. One of them was the Security Service, or at least it had been. Now he swallowed as he was lead through the security checkpoint for the Security Service's headquarters along with his wife. No sooner had they been waved through then Agent Hunter led them down a hall to an elevator.
There the agent pushed a key into the panel and hit a series of buttons. Then the elevator descended for what must have been three floors worth of movement before opening onto a rather dimly lit hallway. Agent Hunter led them down the hall to an unmarked door.
"You understand that even within the Security Service, knowledge of the magical world is highly compartmentalized, and we're not exactly that well regarded by the rest of the agency." She pulled open the door and directed them into an office. The shelves were laden down by books, a few of which had titles that the Grangers immediately recognized as magical in origin. "Occasionally the Security Service has worked in tandem with Wizards, though most of that history was buried immediately after the Second World War. I wasn't informed myself until just a few months ago."
"Agent Hunter, just what do you want with us?" Daniel asked as he followed the woman to a desk.
"What we want is information. The Ministry of Magic rarely admits to the criminal activities of wizards on the Isles. They went so far as to deny the Wizarding War until it ended. I take it you know of that conflict?"
Daniel nodded solemnly, he glanced at his wife. "I swore an oath to Queen and Crown, ages ago. I didn't expect it to come back now."
"You were a member of the armed forces then?" Agent Hunter observed.
"Royal Navy, I worked as a Dentist on the HMS Invincible." Daniel said before his wife let out a long sigh. "Considering we've already had the Ministry of Magic try and take away our adopted son..."
Agent Hunter's eyes widened slightly. "I see, so you'll help us?"
Jean Granger nodded. "Yes."
She pulled out a notebook and sat down. "Well then, why don't we start by finding out just what you know already?"
For the next six hours Daniel and Jean told the woman all they knew. By the time they had finished, the MI5 Agent had gone through three legal pads. Then she gave each of them contact information for her and someone named Colonel Nimeuh, as well as a request to forward any information they felt was important to the security of the Crown.
Daniel Granger shook his head, he was now a spy. Who knew it was so easy to get tangled up in such a web?