Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

Reviews welcome. Any advice to help me improve would be brilliant. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 4 - An Old Friend

Harry ducked under the police tape barring the doorway of the manor house in Reading. There had been another unfathomable death, well at least for the muggle authorities.

The victim was a middle-aged woman called Julie Guldridge, she was the widow of a business man who had died in a car accident three years ago. As far as anyone could tell, Julie was in the prime of her life, yet here she lay dead with no apparent cause.

Showing his badge to the on-duty officer, Harry told them to clear the scene, the officer grudgingly obliged after a quick lecture on not tampering with anything. Once the forensics team had cleared the building, Harry made his way to the bedroom, holding his nose as he went.

It had been three days since she had died before a work colleague had found her, after she hadn't reporting in for a couple of days, the young apprentice decided to go looking for her. When no one answered the door, he called the police, who found the corpse earlier that morning.

There was no indication of injury or substance abuse on the body, it was like the other officers said, Julie appeared to have dropped dead of her own accord. Of course, the post-mortem may reveal something sinister lying under the surface, however Harry was certain there was nothing there.

After sweeping the house and checking the evidence already gathered from the scene. Harry confirmed there were no drugs or containers found, no medical prescriptions, not even a packet of fags or bottle of wine.

The gas and electrics were all up to scratch, working perfectly. There wasn't a trace of Carbon Monoxide and to top things off the intruder alarm hadn't been set off.

It all pointed to one thing, murder. More accurately, murder conducted by a witch or wizard.

Certain of his conclusion, Harry felt a build up of dread in the pit of his stomach. These people were going to be tough to catch, he was being forced back into a world he had long left behind, a world where he no longer belonged.

Later that afternoon Harry walked through the streets of London, coming to a stop before an old rundown building. It was painted black on the outside and there was an old rickety sign swaying the wind. It's been years since I've been in this place.

After pocketing his glasses, he placed a grey coloured contact lens in each eye. Taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and entered the Leaky Cauldron.

It hadn't changed, the low hung beams caused him to duck slightly as he weaved around the marked wooden furniture. Pleasant aromas from the kitchen filled the air and numerous fires spread light around the room.

Not even the clientele was all that different, witches and wizards were scattered around, along with a being that looked suspiciously like a banshee.

In fact the only real difference was that it wasn't a wizard polishing a pint glass, who watched him walk through the door. In actual fact it was a young blonde woman, although by stance alone Harry would guess she was related to Tom in some way.

'Good Afternoon sir. Can I get you anything?' She asked with a smile.

Thirst got the better of him, the goblins could wait. 'Sure, can I have a butterbeer please?' He asked as he plonked himself down on a stool at the bar.

She nodded and started to pour a pint from the tap, 'I've not seen you in here before, new in the city?' She asked conversationally.

'I've been away for a few years, to be honest I can't remember the last time I came in here, is Tom still running it?'

The woman's smile vanished. 'No, he died after the war and left the place to me. I'm his niece Hannah.'

Harry grimaced 'I'm sorry, I didn't know. From what I remember he was always a kind man.'

'That's OK, yeah he was. He loved this place.' She said gesturing around the bar. 'Keeping it going is like having a piece of him still here.'

Harry gave her a small smile. 'I'm sure he would have been proud.'

'I dunno, we can't get the pea soup right.' Hannah said as she slid the butterbeer in front of him, Harry chuckled appreciatively. '1 sickle please.'

'Oh, sorry, do you take muggle money?'

'Course we do, £1.90 then please.'

Harry handed over the money at the same time as a fresh group of customers walked in from the rear entrance. As soon as Hannah was busy serving them, the tip of a wand prodded into his back. Bugger.

'No sudden movements. Upstairs now.' Growled a voice from behind him. Cautiously, Harry stood and headed for the stairs, taking his drink from the counter. The man watched carefully, making sure to stay right behind him.

They were halfway along the corridor on the first floor when the man jabbed Harry in the back again. 'In here, quickly!'

Harry opened the door to the room and walked to stand in the centre of it. There was an old rickety bed in the corner next to an antique desk. 'So, the great Harry Potter has finally crawled out of the woodwork. What do we owe the pleasure?' Asked the man sarcastically.

Harry turned around slowly to face his capture. 'I have business with the goblins.'

'Oh really, well you'll just have to cancel won't you. I reckon I'll get a pretty sum of Galleons for handing you over to the Aurors.'

'Come now, do you really want me to miss my appointment? The goblins are grumpy at the best of times.'

'That's not my problem, I need my pension topping up.'

'Maybe you should have worked harder.'

'I worked hard enough catching scumbags like you.' Growled the man.

They glared menacingly at each other in silence for a minute, before Harry broke into a wide grin. 'It's good to see you Mad-Eye.'

'Good to see you too, although you could have disguised yourself better. Did I teach you nothing about CONSTANT VIGILANCE!' He barked.

Harry laughed 'Come on, we both know only you and Tonks would know who I am, and you can only tell because of that fake eye of yours.'

Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody is a now retired Auror, he was one for the few tasked with teaching Harry as he grew up. The nickname "Mad-Eye" comes from the electric blue fake eye he has worn ever since he lost his real one capturing rogue Death Eaters after the first time Voldemort fell. The eye whizzed around its socket of its own accord, allowing him to even see out the back of his head, it was a rather unnerving sight.

He's a wizarding hero, responsible for the capture of hundreds of Death Eaters. One of the main reasons he was so revered though is because he refused to kill unless absolutely necessary. It was a trait not many Aurors shared during that time and it almost cost him his job.

Mad-Eye sat down heavily on the bed. 'Bloody leg's killing me' He grunted, as he unclasped his fake leg and set it on the floor next to the bed.

Harry shook his head as he watched from the chair he had sat himself in. 'I'll never get used to you taking your leg off like that.'

'Just thank your lucky stars you don't have to take your own leg off.' Said Mad-Eye with a crooked grin. 'So, come on Potter what are you really doing here? I thought you had left the wizarding world behind you.'

'I had.' Sighed Harry. 'I'm working on a case, it looks as if someone is killing off wealthy muggles.'

'Isn't that a job for the Aurors?'

'They killed one of our own.'

'I see, who are you working for?' Asked the old Auror intrigued.

'A branch of the muggle government. We're sort of like Aurors, we focus on terrorists and other criminals that are a threat on a national and international level.'

'And this counts?'

'No, it would normally have flown under the radar. You see there's no proof of a crime in the muggle world, they can't explain the effects of the killing curse. It looks to them like healthy people are just dropping dead naturally.' Explained Harry.

'So how did you get roped in then?'

'My boss knows I'm a wizard, once she heard about the strange deaths, she asked me to investigate.'

'I see.' Mad-Eye tapped his chin. 'Why are they killing muggles?' He wondered out loud.

'To claim their inheritance, the only link between the victims is that they are all rich with no next of kin. They all changed their will just before their deaths too, guess what bank the sort code was under.'

'Gringotts.' Mad-Eye Growled.

'Exactly, hence the meeting with the Goblins.'

'They won't give you anything.'

'I know, I'm hoping they might give me a name, even if they won't give me any activity on the accounts.'

Mad-Eye thought for a moment. 'You would do worse than asking for Bill's help on this.'

Harry let out an exasperated sigh as he ran his hands through his hair in agitation 'Come on, I can't risk him recognising me.'

'Would it be that bad?' Challenged Mad-Eye. 'Not everyone thinks you're evil, I think you'd find Bill is one of the few that's on your side.'

'Maybe, I still don't want to get him involved. It's not fair if he got caught, from what Tonks says, I'm being blamed for a recent series of attacks across the wizarding world.'

Mad-Eye nodded solemnly. 'They have no proof of course, the Wizengamot just want to make it so you never return. If it was ever proven that you're not as evil as they say, it would leave them in a precarious position politically.

'They've left the door wide open for these attacks to happen and blaming it on you is the perfect smokescreen for the real criminals.'

'Who are they?'

'I don't know but they're dangerous, we've even restarted the Order of the Phoenix. Be careful Potter, the closer you follow your own case, the more you will get dragged back into our world. Not everyone will be as pleased to see you, as I am.'

With Mad-Eye's warning in mind Harry stepped out of the back entrance of the pub into a small courtyard, bordered by a brick wall. Using his knuckles, Harry tapped on a series of Bricks in a set order. Once the sequence was complete a gap in the wall opened up, revealing Diagon Alley, one of the few all wizarding haunts in Britain.

The alley was teaming with an array of different shops where you could buy an all manner of things from wands to broomsticks and spell books to frogs spawn. It was bustling with a large crowd of people going about their everyday business.

As he walked along, he garnered the attention of a fare few, he should have known he would look out of pace in a suit. Everyone else was in robes or more casual muggle dress.

Harry was halfway towards the bank when he suddenly stopped to read a poster on a notice board. It read:

Harry Potter

Undesirable No.1

Wanted For Crimes Including Murder, Grievous Bodily Harm and Resisting Arrest

Current Whereabouts Unknown

Armed, Extremely Dangerous

Reward 20,000 Galleons

The rewards gone up. Harry amusedly thought to himself. The picture on the photo, was a gaunt younger version of himself taken just after he had killed Voldemort. There were heavy bags under his eyes, his skin was sallow, and he was wearing glasses. The most noticeable feature was the lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead.

So engrossed in his own wanted poster, he didn't notice someone stand next to him. 'Horrible sight isn't he.' Drawled a voice.

'I bet he's seen better days.' Said Harry evenly, turning to see a young blonde-haired man. He was tall, sleek, expensively dressed and carried a cane.

'Well that's what the dark arts does to you. I for one can't wait for the day he's found and rots away in Azkaban.' He said gleefully.

Harry raised his eyebrows. 'What makes you think he'll be found?'

'Me and my family have been funding the investigation. With our resources it won't be long before this criminal is found and left to the mercy of the dementors.'

'Is that so.' Muttered Harry.

'The names Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.' He offered his hand. Harry didn't take it, his blood boiled at the sound of the name, he recognised it as one of Voldemort's lieutenants. This must be Lucius Malfoy's son.

'Malfoy, I know that name. Weren't you all supporters of Voldemort?'

Malfoy's face contorted in rage. 'If you listened to a word I said, you would know that we helped take down the Death Eaters.' He snarled.

'Only after Voldemort fell though. How many pockets did you line with gold to stay out of Azkaban?' Harry shot back angrily.

Malfoy whipped his wand out of the holster in his cane and pointed it at Harry's neck. 'You best be careful stranger, an all manner of people have been disappearing lately. I would hate for you to be one of them.' He turned on the spot and dissaparated.