Author's note: AWW SHIT! Double post motherfuckers! Enjoy.

Chapter 36

Penny followed Moody the rest of the time they were containing the scene and even hounded him once they arrived back at the ministry.

"Walker if they wanted you to know who they are they wouldn't be wearing a mask." Moody said and took another swig which was against the rules while on Ministry grounds but not even the Minister of Magic had the spine to tell the battle-hardened Auror that little fact.

"They know I have a daughter. That means they know where I live and know about my family… I just want to know if I should go into hiding. If my family is safe… You saw them and apparently know them.. Is the masked man a criminal?" Penny finally got to the point.

"Considering they've saved you twice now I say it's a safe bet that you, your family and your daughter aren't in any danger. I've dealt with that particular wizard before.. I didn't think I ever would again but I was wrong…" Moody said quietly.

"Is he a criminal?" Penny asked again.

"I don't know.." Moody said honestly, staring blankly at the wall ahead of him as he sat in a nearby chair and took another swig from his flask.

Penny saw that Moody was rattled, something she never thought she would see as nothing seemed to rattle that man. Penny sat next to the grizzled auror and took the flask from his hand and took a swig for herself.

"Go home Walker. You can sleep well knowing you've got one hell of a guardian angel lookin' out for you." Moody said as he took his flask back and downed the remainder of the contents before standing and heading to his office. He had some letters to write.

Albus Dumbledore was a bit surprised as he woke to find an owl waiting for him with a letter from Mad Eye.

Albus, what are the chances that someone could fake their own death to the point that two nations ministries are convinced they are dead? Well.. Whatever the chances were someone did it. I saw him Albus. I saw St. James… Maybe I'm finally going as mad as my eye..

-Alastor Moody

Albus read the note a couple more times as he tried to remember who Alastor was talking about, and then it hit him. The foul mouthed, ill-tempered Slytherin that Professor McGonagall had taken custody of at the end of his first year.. How had the boy faked his death so well? They had a body and everything. Dorian had always been smart, there was no denying that as much as Albus wanted to. He had kept a Fidelius Charm active on himself for years to avoid being found by normal magical detection and being found by owls but there was a certain trick Dumbledore had up his sleeve that he was fairly certain Dorian hadn't taken into account. Albus had a Phoenix as a familiar, their tears had fabulous healing abilities and could see through all but the most complex cloaking incantations.

"Fawkes. I need you to take me to Dorian St. James." Albus said and before the phoenix screeched, happy to have something to do for a change and latched onto Dumbledore's robe and flew them out of the window after he cast a notice-me-not charm on them. Dumbledore was a bit confused when Fawkes set down at Hadrian's Wall. At first Dumbledore didn't see anything, no sign that anyone was there until he noticed he couldn't get close to a certain section of the wall without walking in a different direction.

"Come now. I know you are there, won't you come out and speak with me?" Dumbledore said smugly.

Dorian stepped from the boundary of his magically hidden camp, breaking the illusion that nothing was there, revealing a tent and a firepit with a chair next to it.

"Fuck do you want?" Dorian asked before looking at Fawkes.

"So it's true. You're alive.." Dumbledore said, genuinely amazed.

"Any chance you can keep that secret?" Dorian asked.

"I believe I can, but I must ask something in return." Dumbledore said just as the wind picked up.

"Perhaps we can take this conversation inside and out of the wind." Dumbledore said, nodding his head towards Dorian's tent which Albus assumed was magical and had a sitting room. Dorian tilted his head to the sides, cracking his neck.

"I'm not gonna like what favor you have to ask am I?" Dorian asked rhetorrically as he stepped into his tent, Dumbledore following behind him.

Penny sat in the nursery and watched as her daughter slept in her crib, cuddling her favorite stuffed animal. A stuffed Erumpent, Penny smirked at the thought and wondered if she should take a vacation to take Ava to see real Erumpent's in Africa. The thought of which made her tear up a bit and head back to her room and grab her diary and she looked through the pages of all of her previous entries. Since late sixth year she had stopped documenting her days and started writing letters to Dorian, she hadn't wrote in her diary since before she became pregnant with Ava. When Penny got to the final entry she noticed it wasn't her hand writing, it was her ex's hand writing.

"Penny, I read your diary. I always assumed there was something going on due to the zeal in which you put into your work. Now I know it was to find out who murdered your ex boyfriend. How am I to compete with a ghost? I cannot and will not play second fiddle to someone who is no longer around.

-Pierre"

Penny read the entry from her ex and hung her head a bit as she sobbed quietly. Rosalind knocked on the door-frame of Penny's room softly before entering and sitting on the bed with Penny and casually read over the entry of the diary while waiting for Penny to speak.

"I still love him Mum.. I know he's dead, but…" Penny said softly.

"I know darling.. I miss that wild haired little Slytherin too. I miss the way he made you smile and laugh." Rosalind said as she wrapped Penny in a hug and let her daughter cry it out.

It was a month after finding Dorian camping at Hadrian's Wall and Albus Dumbledore was pacing outside of Amelia Bones' office, slightly nervous as to how this would play out, as much sway as he had, he didn't have nearly as much influence as he liked to pretend that he had, especially with Amelia Bones. When the clock showed it was time for their meeting Amelia's office door opened and the head of the DMLE greeted him and welcomed Dumbledore into her office.

"Thank you for meeting with me Madame Bones, this is going to seem strange and rather unorthodox but please hear me out." Dumbledore said as he sat in a chair across from Amelia.

"Strange and unorthodox? Should I expect anything less from you?" Amelia said with a smirk.

"I have recently found out something that only Alastor Moody knows and as such I would like this information to remain between the three of us before I continue." Dumbledore said.

"Well you had my attention but now you have my curiosity, Okay Albus; I'll bite. Whatever you tell me will remain secret unless it requires immediate legal action." Amelia Bones said, leaving herself enough wiggle room to get out of most anything Albus could tell her.

"Recently one of your aurors, Miss Penny Walker was saved twice by a man in a jade mask." Albus said before pausing, gauging Amelia Bones' interest in what he was saying.

"Alastor and I know the mans identity." Dumbledore added.

"Who is he? Is he a threat?" Amelia asked quickly.

"As for who he is, that is to be determined on if the information is shareable, as for him being a threat.. Yes and no. He is neither a threat to the Ministry nor is he a threat to Miss Walker. I know the man, watched him grow to a certain point and recently met with him and can honestly say that he scares me a bit. If he were so inclined he could become another dark wizard on par with He- Who- Must- Not- Be- Named. That said he has no motive to go dark though he isn't exactly light." Albus said before Amelia Bones held up her hand to cut him off.

"Albus, I respect you but you keep going back over what you have already said and contradicting yourself. Is the man a danger or not?" Amelia Bones asked bluntly.

"The man is a very magically talented blunt instrument.. Give him a provisional job as an auror, point him at your enemies and stand back. Yes he is dangerous but only to those he deems.. unfit to continue on in normal society." Dumbledore said.

"And what if I paired him with Miss Walker?" Amelia Bones asked curiously.

"Then Miss Walker would arguably be the safest person under ministry employ. Everyone around her however would need to mind their manners in regards to her." Dumbledore said honestly.

"Sounds like a stalker, why would I allow him a provisional anything let alone a provisional post as an auror? Do you have any idea the type of backlash I would face should this go wrong which it inevitably will?" Amelia said, just about done with the meeting.

"I have made the man promise that he would not lash out and cause unnecessary violence or harm and that anything that he did wrong would fall solely on his shoulders leaving you clear of any marks on your record. Oddly enough the man agreed without hesitation, something about he could handle just about anything the ministry threw at him." Dumbledore said curiously as he didn't know what it meant.

"And you, I will also let it be known that you used your position as Chief Warlock to push for the mans implementation.. Now who the hell is he?" Amelia Bones asked irritably.

The following Monday Amelia Bones met with a man who wore a pair of smart trousers and a best over a long sleeved shirt with a tie and a beaver felt Pork-Pie hat in her office and try as she might she couldn't take her eyes off of him.

"You are Dorian St. James?" Amelia Bones asked curiously.

"Yes ma'am." The man said in an American accent that sounded what others would call a 'Texas Accent'.

"It was my understanding that you had a fitted suit and from what little I saw from memories.. You looked.. different." Amelia said.

"Well naturally I transfigured my face a bit and got this suit because if I showed up looking like me in a fitted suit with my hair cut… All that's missing would be the jade mask and everyone would figure out that I was, well.. me and that it was me under the mask." Dorian said shrugging his shoulders.

"Right well Albus may have already told you but I'll say it again. Any trouble you cause lands at your feet with no protection from me or my department. This post is provisional and your clearance can be revoked at any time for any reason I see fit is that clear?" Amelia said.

"Yes ma'am." Dorian said simply.

"Good.. Now, why did you fake your death?" Amelia asked.

"Really? Just gonna jump into the deep end like that? Ok.. Everything that happened to Penny while we were in school happened because of me. Either because we were hanging out and others got jealous or she liked me and I liked her and I wasn't seen as worthy enough for her or some other shit so.. When they tried to kill me in Paris I figured it would be best if everyone simply thought I was dead, less bullshit for her to deal with." Dorian said.

"You realize that she became an auror because of that choice? To find out who killed you but they didn't actually kill you which makes prosecution for murder that much more difficult.. There was a body at the scene that they assumed was yours. Who was it?" Amelia said and asked as she recalled the specifics of the case.

"Never got wolfy's name. He got on top of me, I hit him point blank with the silver arrow charm, fiendfyre took care of the rest." Dorian said

"Silver arrows charm?" Amelia bones asked.

"I honestly don't remember the name of it, I had a bit of a drinking problem when I found it in the restricted section." Dorian said honestly.

"That would explain the holes in the body.. Wel you're in the clear there since it was a life or death situation. There are so many questions I want to ask but I fear that your answers will just leave me with more questions. Anyway, off to your meeting with Moody and Miss Walker. Here are the documents stating that you are an auror for MACUSA and are here provisionally and might be a permanent transfer." Amelia said as she handed Dorian his very real but ultimately fake documents.

"Penny?" Dorian asked.

"Oh, didn't Albus tell you? She is you be the liaison you'll be working with. I know I don't need to tell you this but make sure she stays safe." Amelia said before waving him out of her office. Dorian looked down at his paperwork and saw the name he was going to be called.

"John Smith? Really fucking original…" He said with a sigh before heading off to meet up with Moody and Penny.

Dorian walked up to Moody and waited to be addressed by the senior auror while he was preaching 'constant vigilance' to the younger aurors especially in light of the most recent switch that led to Thorne and Avery ambushing Penny.

After Moody was done addressing all the younger auror's his left eye flicked over to the new comer in clothes that didn't quite fit him.

"And who are you then?" Moody asked, turning to look at the newcomer fully, his left eye scanning him up and down.

"John Smith sir, Madame Bones said that I was to report to you." Dorian said in his fake Texas accent and handed over his paperwork that was promptly snatched from his hand and looked over by Moody before he looked back over the newcomer in the pork-pie hat.

"Walker! Come meet your new partner." Moody called out and Penny walked over slowly, eyeballing her new partner. He didn't seem very impressive, his clothes were ill fitted but easily fixed if he cast a couple of simple spells.

"I don't need a partner Moody." Penny said.

"After what has happened recently I'm certain you don't since you have a guardian angel, but this is a provisional transfer from MACUSA. You're to teach him how we do things. Got that cowboy? What Walker says goes." Moody said addressing them both.

"Yes sir." Penny and John Smith said at the same time before Moody left without another word.

"Come on then." Penny said annoyed, heading to her desk and sitting in her chair to go over the cases she was currently working on and handing a couple of files to her new partner who looked at the paperwork a bit confused.

"You do know how to work a case file don't you?" Penny asked.

"Yes ma'am." John said, lying through his teeth before opening the first file and looking over the information inside before waving his wand causing the papers to float in the air as if posted individually on a board so he could look over all the information at once.

Penny looked at her new partner and how he was looking at the information curiously.

"What's your name?" Penny asked.

"John Smith ma'am." John said.

"Enough of that ma'am stuff, we're the same age. What are you doing to the information?" Penny asked.

"Helps me see everything, notice any deviations in information." John said

"Elaborate." Penny said

"Stand next to me here." John said and Penny tentatively stood next to her new partner.

"You see there? Page four says that the shipments of knock off merchandise came in from the south end of the building but the diagram of the building doesn't have an entrance on the south end. Only way they could have come in there would be a hidden entrance and if that's the case then someone knows more than their saying." John said and Penny listened and went over everything her new partner said and looked at the other papers that were in the now splayed out file.

"Fucking Mundungus.." Penny said.

"Fuckin' what now?" John asked.

"Mundungus Fletcher, bottom feeding criminal that would sell his grandmother for a payday, big or small." Penny said.

"Poor bastard's got a horrible name." John said.

"Coming from the man whose name is slang for toilet?" Penny asked, trying to stare her new partner down.

"Hunnerd of you and I got a dollar." John said matching her gaze, not blinking, not flinching.

"Come on then." Penny said, shoulder checking her new partner as she passed him, heading towards the fireplaces so they could floo to Diagon Alley and then search Knockturn Alley for Mundungus Fletcher.

Penny was annoyed that she had a partner, she was annoyed that from what little she could tell he was good at his job, annoyed that he found something that she hadn't been able to figure out when there was such an obvious clue staring her right in the face, but mostly she was annoyed that there was something about him that reminded her of Dorian. It was probably just because they were both American.

After finding Mundungus Fletcher which was an easier task since John could approach the shady back alley salesman since he was a new face, and with an American accent Mundungus pegged John as an easy mark to sell some even more than usual useless junk. Penny stepped in and John let it be known that he was working with her and as usual Penny threatened to take him to Moody.

"I'll work with you mate, you seem reasonable." Mundungus said, looking at John who tilted his head to each side, cracking his neck.

"I'll let you know right now, I'm not." John said honestly.

"Can't be any worse than this bit-" Mundungus started to say before John's fist smashed into the side of his head with enough force to knock Mundungus off balance and therefore knock his head into the wall next to him.

"Mind your language in front of the lady. Next time won't be a warning shot." John said casually, his voice eerily calm and even. Mundungus looked at John in abject horror before turning to Penny.

"Alrigh' I'll tell ya what I know, just don't let this Psychopath hit me again." Mundungus said.

"I prefer the term Sociopath if you don't mind." John said with a smile.

Penny watched the entire exchange amused, wondering if the violence was just another trait American's shared. Penny didn't approve of John punching Mundungus in the face but would be lying if she said she wasn't thinking of doing the same thing and happy that someone else did it. She started to think that she wouldn't mind having the American as a partner, the results he produced certainly spoke for themselves.

Penny worked with John regularly for months, the months turned into year then two years before she invited him over for Ava's third birthday. He had been around long enough that she had gotten used to John, trusted him. The only time he seemed on edge and angry was when Sirius Black had escaped Azkaban the year prior and he used some sick time, presumably for a break but Penny honestly believed he went in search of the notorious mass murderer on his own without orders and therefore no guidelines on how to deal with the escaped convict. However when he returned after a week of being 'sick' he seemed much happier which was puzzling since Sirius Black was still at large. The day of Avalon Walker's third birthday party Penny was just stepping into the back yard to start setting up for the party when she saw John in his hat sitting at the table in the backyard.

"Um.. The party doesn't start for a couple more hours.." Penny said curiously.

"I figured I could come and help set up but if you want I can find somethin' to do for a couple hours." John said honestly just as Rosalind and Callum stepped outside carrying some more supplies for the party.

"Penny, who is your friend?" Callum asked curious as to who this stranger in his back garden was.

"Mum, Da'. This is John Smith, the American auror I've been working with. I invited him for Ava's party, he showed up early to help set up." Penny said.

"Oh isn't that sweet?" Rosalind said with a smile and a gentle nudge of her elbow into Penny's side which earned her a warning look from her daughter.

"Let me guess, 'come on then'?" John said with a smirk as he stood up and moved to grab some things from Rosalind so he could start setting up where he was directed.

Penny watched with her Mum at her side while Callum spoke to John and John pulled out a small figurine, it looked like a hot wheels car but Callum all but fawned over it which caused Rosalind and Penny to look at each other curiously and move a bit closer.

"Do you have any idea how special this car is to us?" Callum asked curiously.

"It is a very special car, it's one of the rarest." John said honestly before he looked at Rosalind and Penny who were trying to get a look at what Callum was holding.

"1971 Cuda." John said with a smile only to see that Penny and Rosalind looked at each other as if they had seen a ghost.

"Callum said it was special to you all." John said only for Penny to nod silently while Rosalind rubbed her back gently.

"Well.. How about we see how that beast looks in the driveway?" John said earning a look from all three of the Walkers.

"I got one, fixed her up and shrunk her down, never know when you need a car so I always carry a couple with me." John said pulling another small, hot wheels sized car from his pocket, this one however was a '67 Shelby GT 500.

"How many cars do you have?" Callum asked as he walked towards the driveway, carrying the shrunken down muscle car as carefully as he could.

"I find that the answer to that question just raises more questions so lets just say I have a problem." John said with a laugh as they got to the driveway and Callum set the Cuda down gently only for John to wave his wand over the car and it soon started to grow until it was back to its original size. Callum, Rosalind and Penny all gasped a bit when they saw it. Black Cherry paint job, original rims with some drag tires in the rear, seemingly brand new but original interior. The windows were down and the keys were in the ignition waiting for someone to sit in the driver seat and turn it over.

"Would you look at that?" John said with a smile earning a look from Rosalind as Penny was looking at the car with a bit of sadness mixed with awe while Callum practically ran around the car like an excited school boy, checking out everything he could.

"Look at what?" Rosalind asked.

"Looks better in your driveway than it did in my pocket. Why don't y'all keep it?" John said simply and earning a hug from Rosalind.

"If I could, why is this car so special to you guys?" John asked curiously.

"Penny.. She had a friend.. She had a boyfriend.. We all loved that boy but the last Christmas we got to spend together we got him a model of a '71 Cuda… He built it and painted it.. It looked almost exactly like this.." Rosalind said and John looked at Penny as she touched the car hesitantly.

"Oh.." John said before heading to the back to finish setting up for the birthday party.

Dorian worked in the backyard, waving his wand and his hand at things, causing them to assemble or put themselves up as needed since no one else was back there to see him preform wandless magic and then he heard the back gate open and turned to see Penny walk straight up to him. He thought he was about to get slapped or something but Penny did something even more unexpected. Penny hugged him tightly, the way she used to.

"She's hugging John.. Not you."

"Just let me enjoy this you ass."

"Thank you." Penny said softly as she hugged her American partner.

"Mummy!" John heard a little girl call out and saw Ava standing at the back door in a princess dress and a skewed tiara and some fairy wings looking out into the back yard confused but excited.

"Mummy what happened to the garden?!" Ava asked, holding the hand rail as she made her way down the back steps carefully before running to Penny and jumping into her arms.

"Its your birthday today baby." Penny said with a smile and kissed Ava on the cheek.

"Who's this Mummy?" Ava asked pointing at John.

"This is Mummy's friend from work." Penny said with a smile.

"You didn't tell me that I was meeting a Princess." John said to Penny over dramatically before dipping a low bow to the little girl which caused the three year old to giggle and Penny smiled.