The AMC
Adam stepped one into of the many rooms in the ministry. The two Aurors who were going through Huxley's belongings were staring at something out of sight. They looked uncomfortable. Inside, he found the smiling face of Talib looking back at him. Dressed in his work clothing of pinstriped suit, with no shield or spear that made him look menacing, not that pinstriped suit didn't look threatening.
"You're a long way from home, Talib." He said gesturing for the Auror's to leave, which they did, at speed. "Are you frightening my Auror's?"
"You're Auror's. You are going up in the world?"
"I train them, so by extension, they become mine."
"I understand, although they seem to listen to everything you say. Who is in charge of them?"
"I don't know." He lied. He knew who was in charge, but she gave him a lot of leeway. "I assume your visit is about Huxley and the photographs?"
"Yes, but I have heard something on the grapevine that involves my granddaughter."
"Would that have something to do with a small dragon?"
"The rumours suggest the dragon was as big as a house."
"About half that size."
"So it's true?"
"It is. Messi informs us it's a woodland dragon, which is now being installed at Hogwarts for study."
"What on earth would a woodland dragon be doing in Diagon Alley?"
"It was in Gringotts vaults. Messi, Tony, and Magrathea went in and, as they would say, rescued it."
"Magrathea?"
"Tony's niece." He nodded and pulled the photographs from his jacket pocket.
"The only person in the photographs we know is this man." He tapped on the top picture. "He was an Auror and a good friend of someone we both know. Arcadius Darnell."
"I met him; or rather saw him some time ago."
"The others are unknown to the Ministry. You know what we're like for records. They could all be legitimate and be in the extensions somewhere."
"Monty, someone," Adam said, tapping the same picture. "He was sacked from the Ministry if I remember correctly. Botilda will know the details."
"Seems your coming over for a visit."
"Am I?" Asked Adam, surprised.
"You need to find out who these other people are and what Huxley had been doing for the last five years."
"As much as I would like it, I've no idea how to get there. And if I did, I couldn't do anything when I got there."
"You are the investigator; I will supply you with everything else. I have two young Voog I almost trust. I have tasked them with your good health."
"Good to hear, when do we leave?"
He gave him a hound dog expression. "After I have seen my granddaughter."
They all stood together in Diagon Alley. The Lunds introduced to Talib.
"So it is your daughter that is causing all the fuss?" He asked of Lucas.
"Apparently so."
"I assume the dragon was friendly?"
"It was, although I'd say of was, more a large lizard, rather than a dragon."
"Large lizards to not spit fire when angry." They all ducked as a shadow flew over them, causing a wind. At just above head height, a rider, on a broomstick, came to a halt. Someone on the broom screamed in delight. The broom and rider turned and landed. It was Tony, with Magrathea in front of him, clutching to him.
She dropped to the floor and ran to her father. "That was brilliant." She screamed at him.
Tony held the broom out to Madalyn.
"I'm not getting on that thing." She said backing away.
"This is the last item on Magrathea's list for school. Actually, it's not on her list at all." He turned to Magrathea, who was beaming at him. "I never use it, and anyway, I stole it years ago."
Beside Lucas was Madalyn, her hands releasing the iron grip she had on Adam's arm. "I told you she'd be safe." He whispered to her.
"You stole it?" She asked.
"Long story, the owner would never use it again."
"Talib, this is Magrathea. Magrathea, this is Messi's grandfather, Talib." Said Tony as he hooked the broom over his shoulder.
She headed straight up to him. They thought she would hug him, but something in his bearing stopped her. "Messi taught me so many things when we were underground. I can use a wand now." He knelt down before her.
"What else did she teach you?" The reticence she had at first evaporated when he spoke. All the others moved off, leaving Talib and her together. The detective in Adam understood that Magrathea would tell him everything, whereas Messi and Tony would miss out on certain details.
Sometime later, Talib got Adam alone again, as they wandered down the Ally.
"Adam, you seem preoccupied."
"I have a lot on my mind at the moment."
"Yes, I would agree, but I have seen you in grave danger, and I have never seen you in this state."
His shoulders sagged, and he leaned against the doorframe of a closed shop. "Botilda gave me some news that I am having trouble coming to terms with."
"What would that be?"
"I'm not sure I should tell you. You'll tell Messi and she has the second biggest mouth I have ever come across."
"Who had a bigger mouth than Messi?" Talib asked laughing.
"Tony." He nodded and braced himself. "Botilda's pregnant." He said it. Now it seemed real. Talibs laughter grew, making most of the alley stop and stare. The look of joy on his face was a wonder to see, thought Adam, starting to laugh himself. "What the hell are people going to say when they find out? Botilda doesn't seem to care."
"She doesn't care, because it is no one's business but hers and yours." Said Talib, the laughter dying away.
"She will become the Minister for Magic in a few years. People won't be happy when they find out she's pregnant with a muggles baby."
"You talk as if people do not already know." Adam's head shot around to look at him. "You must know how hard it is to keep information secret in our world. I suspect most of those people who consider you a problem, already know. I'm certain the people at St Mungo's know." They both looked around as someone coughed behind them. It was Madelyn.
"He's right, Adam."
"How the hell would you know?" He asked in amazement.
She grinned at him. "She told me the other day, at the same time she told me Morton will be back here again in eleven years. She said not to worry because he would go to Hogwarts with her daughter."
"So she's going to be a witch." He exclaimed a moment later. "She?" He added as the information sank in.
"Adam," said Talib, "if you were not already part of our world, this news would cement it. I'll let Luthor Crabbe know, although I suspect he already knows."
"Of course, Amanda." He replied as Lucas, Tony and Magrathea came over.
"Bit of a secret meeting going on here." Said Tony.
"Go on, you might as well tell him." Said Talib.
"Tell me what?" He asked his eyes fixed on Adam, who looked embarrassed.
"Botilda is pregnant."
"Who's the father?" He asked. A moment later Madelyn had smacked him over the head. Dawning realisation spread across his face. "Was this planned?"
"Of course it... wasn't." He said looking down at Magrathea, just avoiding the swear word he had planned.
"Not by you anyway." Said Talib. "I have people to talk to. When you see my granddaughter, tell her she is due back in a week for a caravan." He apparated before anyone could speak.
"Will I be able to do that on my own?" Asked Magrathea.
"Not for a few years, It's something you learn at Hogwarts." Replied Tony, his eyes not leaving Adam.
Messi arrived back in the early evening. She looked tired and held many bags in her hand as she stepped into the sunroom on Aunt Matilda. Tony was lounging across the nearest couch with a drink in his hand.
"I have some news for you." He said as she dropped the bags on the other couch. She took his drink, had a swallow and handed it back.
"What news?"
"Brace yourself." She stopped and gave him her full attention. "Botilda is pregnant." He watched her eyes grow larger.
"No. Is it true? Who told you?"
"Adam."
"It's true then."
"She'll be going to Hogwarts with Morton."
"A girl." Her voice had risen. "Best news I heard all year. Is Adam happy?"
"He looked shell shocked." He held his hand up. "Morton will be at least a year older than Botilda and Adam's daughter. They can't be in the same year."
"Perhaps you heard wrong? No surprises there."
He gave her a scowl. "You know he has a son."
Messi dropped into the seat, crushing all the bags she had thrown on the couch.
"I didn't know that."
"He mentioned it when we first met, or at least around then. He would have been around twenty-one, so he's around twenty-six now."
"Does he see him?"
"He told me he saw him until he was around six months old. His wife walked out, took the child with her. Never saw him again. He might have done so by now. And before you ask, I'm not asking him."
"He's married?" He nodded. "Why haven't you mentioned this before?"
"It's not important and I doubt he's still married now."
"Information like this is always important."
"Only to a nosy cow." He replied her head spun around, so he grabbed a cushion and held it over his head, waiting for the rain of blows.
"Who else knows?"
He lowered the cushion. "Everyone I expect. You know what the ministry is like for keeping secrets."
She nodded, stood up, and started emptying the many bags she had brought. He watched her pull different cloths from the bags, lots of bags.
She noticed him staring. "My mother took me shopping. I have never changed clothes so often in my life. I much prefer a wand, so much easier. Do you know," she continued without seeming to breathe, "having a big bust and curves is in vogue at the moment?" The sound of her voice told him she was unhappy at this.
"What wrong with changing clothes the muggle way." He asked, hoping to move her away from what was annoying her.
"It takes too long. My mother knows all these great shops, hidden away in alleyways."
"Like the alley below?"
"Yes. You can't buy much these days without going online, but there is a thriving market for clothing that's hand made locally." She flicked her wand, and her clothing changed.
"What was the point of buying clothes if you can do that?" He said enjoying the view of her slim legs. The new skirt and top she wore were typical Messi. White, very short skirt and white skin-tight top, with her narrow waist on display.
"This is an outfit my mother brought me today. Do you like it?" She raised her arms up, showing even more of her long legs. She saw the smile on his face, leaned over and kissed him. "Perhaps the oldies are showing us the way forward." His mouth dropped open. "Coming to bed."
Adam sat in his, now overgrown, garden in North Wales, enjoying the morning sun on his back. Botilda hadn't surfaced as yet, enjoying a lie in before another hectic day at the Ministry.
She appeared from the house, wearing a loose wrap that seemed to use magic to stay on her, her shoulders being bare. The dress seemed to make her float across the grass.
"Thank you for allowing me to sleep in." She said taking a seat.
"You caused a bit of a stir in the Coch last night."
"Did I?" She asked, looking confused. "I was wearing trousers."
"Trousers that looked as if you'd sprayed them on. Your top looked the same. You looked good though."
"Thank you." She smiled in her usual way as she looked down.
"There wasn't a man in the place who could take his eyes off you. Most of the women wanted you to die. That was a hell of an outfit."
"I've not been able to dress that way since I was twenty. It was fun, but I'm a little surprised at the reception I got."
"Haf just stared and said, no way are you Botilda, luckily her mother knew you."
"I remember arguing with Haf. Every year she objected to having her memories taken. She wasn't the worst though."
"I wonder who the worst was. Do you remember?"
"I do, and you know her." It was his turn to look confused. "Megan Trelawney. She used to run away and hide, so I'd have to go after her."
"Do you know she's living with Holly Fairweather?"
"Really. That may have had something to do with her reticence to having her memories taken."
"Even Holly's mother is happy."
"Stormy Fairweather, happy, be serious." They laughed together as she made a new set of hot drinks appear.
"What's your plan for today then?" He asked taking the drink.
"Deal with a myriad of minor problems, that people were more than capable of sorting for themselves. What about you?"
He looked at her, trying to smile and failing. She saw his face and looked at him, waiting. "Talib had suggested I go to the AMC and have a look at Huxley's home and talk to her friends."
"So that's why he was here yesterday."
"Do you remember an Auror named Monty something? He was friends with…"
"Arcadius. He was sacked as an Auror for the bringing the post into disrepute. He moved to the AMC."
"I knew you'd know."
"His name was Maxton Nithercott, Monty to his friends. Was well-liked for many years and then went a little funny. Did his job for the most part, but seemed to lose interest in it. Then there was the trouble with Arcadius and the trial, and he was sacked."
"Never heard of anyone in the Ministry being sacked before."
"It is very rare. It's believed that he went to the AMC to be with Arcadius, who, you know, now lives there."
"I did. Any idea of the relationship between Nithercott and Huxley."
"I need to do some checking of memories first."
"Can't you get one of your many staff to do it, you are a Minister now."
"Old habits and all that. So you're off on a jolly then?" She asked just as he thought he'd got away with it.
"I wouldn't say it was a jolly. I will be working. Why don't you come along?"
"I would, but with Percy away, I have to stay."
"That's what I assumed."
"I was just getting used to sharing my bed. Never mind. When are you going?"
"Tomorrow with Talib. He's visiting his daughter tonight. Apparently, this always ends in fireworks."