Chapter 2

"I haven't seen those girls in years!"

Ceres Carrow, a plump witch in her fifties, looked terrified. "I'm the last of the Carrows and I had nothing to do with the others! I supported Harry Potter!"

It was all Harry could do to stay silent. He was tempted to drop his disguise, but figured he might give Ceres a heart attack if he did."

He turned to follow Daphne from the shop when he heard a noise.

"What was that? Sounds like it came from the back?"

"Oh, there's a sort of porch back there." Ceres explained.

Harry opened the back door…and stopped in his tracks.

At his feet lay the dead body of a female cat and three tiny kittens.

"Oh, they've finally died," Ceres remarked. "The mother cat crawled in there last night and died, but the kittens were still living until this morning."

Harry rounded on her. "You didn't help them?"

"I can't go caring for stray cats. I'd lose my job and it's hard enough for purebloods to get jobs as it is."

Harry was shaking with rage; he was about to hex her when the tiny cry came again. One of the kittens was stirring.

"This one is still alive." Harry scooped up the little black kitten.

"You can't bring it in the shop," Ceres protested. "We only carry the finest breeds of cats."

"Shut up." Harry didn't apologize for his words. "Winky!"

The house elf appeared immediately. "Master called Winky?"

Daphne cleared her throat. "That elf had a withered arm?"

Harry nodded. "She was injured during the Battle of Hogwarts. When Kreacher returned home, he asked permission to bring her with him, and I agreed."

"Not many would want a maimed house elf."

He didn't bother to respond to that. "Winky will care for the kitten splendidly."

Daphne said no more, but eyed him thoughtfully.

"Have some coffee, Leo," Padma was worried. "You look like you haven't slept at all."

"I did," he protested.

"Was it nightmares?"

"No!"

"It was the kitten." Daphne nodded, satisfied. "You stayed up to play with that kitten!"

"What kitten?" Marcus was bewildered.

"I didn't play!" Harry objected hotly. "He needed to be bottle-fed and it wasn't fair to leave all the work to the elves! I brought him home so he's my responsibility."

Padma poured more coffee for everyone. "The case?"

"Wait!" Daphne leaned forward. "I want to know what you named the kitten?"

"Macavity." Harry grinned. "After Macavity the Mystery Cat."

The girls looked blank.

"Is it a muggle thing?" Padma asked.

"It's from a book of poems that were later made into a musical," Harry informed them. "I figured it's an appropriate name since I work in the Department of Mysteries."

"The case?" Marcus repeated, just as Daphne opened her mouth to ask Harry what a musical was. She subsided, grudgingly.

"There was nothing in the Carrow twins' flat. It was just a bed-sitter above a cauldron shop in Knockturn Alley. Lots of clothes, probably pre-war. Not much jewellery, most likely pawned. Nothing incriminating."

"Did either have a marriage contract?" Harry looked at Daphne, but it was Padma who answered.

"Hestia had one, with a Norwegian wizard who was much older, but he died before it could be activated."

"So what were they living on?" Marcus wondered. "You don't suppose…Knockturn Alley…"

"No, Taurus!" Daphne's blue eyes were blazing. "They weren't prostituting themselves! They got a little money from the Malfoys."

"I'm surprised the Malfoys had any to spare," Padma said idly. "After reparations."

"Narcissa had a special fund in France," Daphne confided. "Just in case."

She gave Harry a slanted look. "The Blacks always thought about 'just in case.'"

"The Malfoys no longer have any connection with the House of Black." Harry glared at her. "I made certain of that right after the war!"

"And they've never forgiven you." Daphne sounded amused rather than angry.

"Back to the case…"Padma prompted.

Harry nodded. "Let's check with some of their friends. Gemini, why not ask your sister? Was she closer to the twins than you were?"

Daphne shrugged gracefully. "Of course, but that wouldn't be hard. I really had no close friends at all. I found it easier that way."

"Maybe check with Pisces too?" Padma suggested.

"I'll pay a visit to the Goblins, and see what they'll tell me about potential inheritances." Marcus offered.

"I'll talk to some of the Aurors." In truth, Harry was a bit reluctant to do this, since the Aurors resented the fact he'd joined the Unspeakables instead. Still, Neville might offer some insights.

The team all headed out, but didn't get very far. They'd reached the atrium when they heard a scream.

A blonde young woman was running towards them. Harry, who could cast a shield as quickly as he could take a breath, dropped it when he recognized Astoria Greengrass Malfoy.

"Daphne!"Astoria shrieked, disregarding all the rules of anonymity.

"It's Draco! He…he's dead!"