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 8 - By Muggle Means

The tension in the kitchen the next morning could be cut with the proverbial knife. Harry walked in, with slightly damp hair after his morning shower, to find Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Kreacher all sitting at the table in silence.

No one said anything as he entered the room, so he joined them at the table quietly. Eventually, he caught Ginny's eye, finding a definite gleam there and it was evident she was barely supressing her laughter at the situation.

Not being able to take much more and realising that if Ginny started laughing, he wouldn't be far behind, he asked the inevitable. 'What's up?'

Hermione glared daggers at him, if looks could kill, Voldemort would have had nothing on her. 'Slavery is wrong, that's what's up.' She snapped waspishly.

'O. K.' Harry said slowly, 'I completely agree, it is wrong.'

'Then why do you have a house elf?' She snarled.

Harry groaned as he turned to Kreacher 'Is this why you were in a bad mood Yesterday?'

'Yes.'

He turned back to Hermione, to find she was still glaring scarily. 'Well for a start he lives here rent free.' Ginny snorted.

Hermione spared her a quick glower before responding. 'Yes, but he's also forced to do anything you ask him, or punish himself.'

'I tried telling her.' Muttered Kreacher.

'Tried telling me what?' She demanded.

'Well what did he say? Therein lies what he was trying to tell you.' Stated Harry, Ginny's shoulders were definitely shaking now.

'He just told me the same crap all the other house elves have told me.'

'Look, what you're getting at is a worthy cause.' Admitted Harry. 'A lot of house elves are treated poorly, however,' He said sharply as she looked like she was about to interrupt 'you need to make sure whatever changes you make keep them happy and they are happy working.'

'That's because that's what they're told by wizards.'

'No, it's not.' Said Kreacher 'We do like to work, I've never been asked to do anything around this house yet I still do.'

'Exactly, sometimes you need evolution not revolution. You could hurt house elves more than help them if you set them all free. They will never get work they enjoy and run the risk of losing their magic.' Explained Harry.

'They should still be paid.' Said Hermione stubbornly.

'He eats, sleeps and does whatever else he wants here free, I'm not paying him as well.' Said Harry, trying to lighten the mood again. 'I keep waiting for the day he leaves his key at reception.'

'Not likely Evans, and from what Miss Ginny said you did Yesterday, my inheritance won't be far along.' Said Kreacher dryly.

Harry grinned at him 'Well I'm sorry you missed out, I'll do better next time.'

'You still want the granite headstone?'

'Yeah in the corner of the graveyard where there's no sun please.'

'I'll see that it's done.'

There was a distinctive growling sound leaving Ron looking rather sheepish. 'How long have you been down here for?' Asked Harry amused.

'Over an hour.' Grumbled Ron, 'Hermione and Kreacher had an argument, then he wouldn't cook breakfast.'

Hermione smacked him on the arm 'He's not a servant Ron.'

'I know Hermione, but until you pissed him off there was a chance he would of cooked us something.'

Harry laughed, standing up 'You're half right Ron.' At the questioning glance he received from the red headed man he clarified, 'Hermione did piss him off, although he still wouldn't have cooked, it's my turn.'

Ginny chuckled at the looks on Ron and Hermione's faces. 'I think you've broken them.' She said grinning as she stood up, 'I'll help you with breakfast.'

The day dawdled by for Harry as he whiled away the time before he had to leave to stop the attack on Mad-Eye's home. Tonks got a message to him saying that the Order meeting had been arranged and Mad-Eye was going to be there.

There was also good news on her recovery, the healers were letting her go the next day with a clean bill of health. She was going to move into Grimmauld Place for the short term along with everyone else, it was the only safe place they had left.

Satisfied that everyone was out of the way, Harry left Grimmauld Place, under the guise that he wanted nothing to do with the meeting. The roads were satisfactorily quiet as he left before the rush and he was already parked a few streets down the road before the usual rush hour madness.

He waited until 6 O'Clock (the time the meeting was starting) before walking to the house. It was detached with two alleyways leading down the sides and was situated in a heavily built up area. They'll have to attack from inside or they run the risk of being caught.

With the sun quickly setting, he had placed cameras around the house in strategic intervals, so that he could record the incoming attack from the outside. The cameras gave him a view of all windows and doors, so when he replayed the footage it will hopefully show him something. He then settled in the shadows, waiting for the attack.

As soon as the sun set over the horizon, unnaturally dark clouds gathered in the sky, followed by rolling thunder. The flashes of lightening in the sky almost distracted him from the sudden appearance of robed figures in front of the house. Steeling his nerves, he watched as they stood there, waiting for some kind of signal.

They must have received it because they struck as one, the windows to the property were shattered, as doors were blown off their hinges. They rushed into the building, firing spells wildly.

Springing into action with his Glock in hand, Harry followed. His first target didn't make it over the threshold before falling dead to the floor, taking the opportunity, Harry jumped through the window landing amongst the chaos.

Chunks of platers were already coming off the wall, there were also loud explosions running through the house, which shook with every impact. Taking in his surroundings, Harry noted he was in a dining room with two doors either side.

The door to his left was blasted apart and a man walked through the debris, without hesitating, Harry raised his gun and shot the man between the eyes. Having surveyed the house from the outside and having a mental image of the layout from Tonks' description, he moved to the other door hoping to find the others. Keenly aware he would need at least one alive.

Weapon at the ready, he kicked the door open, entering a corridor where the ceiling was already caving under the onslaught. Two men turned at the sound of the door crashing open, the first didn't get chance to raise his wand before Harry shot him, he fell limp against the wall.

'There's one here!' Shouted the other as a sickly green light flashed from the end of his wand. Harry dodged the killing curse by throwing himself against the side of the stairs to his right. Answering the call, a door at the end of the corridor flew open, as someone came running down from the floor above.

The jarring impact effected Harry's aim, so his next shot hit the man in the shoulder, luckily disarming him. Before the two newcomers could react, he leapt forward and grabbed the injured man, using him as a shield.

It was no use, a second later there was a flash of green light and the man's limp form was thrown from his grasp. Spun around from the force of the spell, Harry didn't see the next attack coming, He groaned in pain as his side split open. The two advanced quickly as their next spell sent the gun flying from Harry's hand, without thinking, he withdrew the knife from his belt and hurled it at the man closest to him.

His eyes widened in surprise as it buried itself in his chest before he keeled over to the floor. Not having seen the knife, the second man tripped over his ally, not having expected him to stop so suddenly. Capitalising upon his advantage Harry struck, his foot connected with his adversary's chin as he fell, leaving the man sprawled unconscious.

Without a second glance Harry unceremoniously retrieved his dagger from the other man's chest and listened intently. The house was mercifully silent. I should still check there isn't anymore.

He searched the rooms leading off the corridor, finding nothing but destruction, then quietly walked up the stairs. There was a loud creaking noise from the floor as he stepped onto the open landing, causing him to wince. A quick study of the rooms told him that there was little damage up here, he had obviously interrupted them before they deal too much damage.

When he returned to the ground floor, the man he had knocked out was starting to stir again. Before he could act, Harry kicked his wand away, retrieved the gun and slammed him up against the wall. He slapped him on each cheek, as he loomed over him, bringing him roughly back to awareness.

'Whereami?' The man groused groggily.

'In the house of one Alastor Moody. Why are you here?'

'We're. Here. To. Kill. Him.' The man said coughing.

'Who sent you?'

He smiled maniacally 'Harry Potter.'

'Bullshit!' Exclaimed Harry, as the man bit down on something in his mouth. 'Shit' swore Harry as the man's body convulsed and foam leaked from his mouth. Within seconds he was dead at Harry's feet.

Sighing, Harry stood back up, only to groan in pain as his side protested against the movement. He placed his hand over the wound, realising for the first time how bad it truly was. Looking down, he noticed that his side was covered in warm blood.

Fighting against the wooziness, now that the adrenaline had left, he ripped off his jacket and tied it around his waste as a makeshift bandage. Gingerly, he made his way out of the house, back to the car.

It was a long drive home, Harry struggled to keep his eyes open, and on more than one occasion his injury threatened to overcome him. Sweating and panting, Harry eventually made it home. He walked through the doorway to be welcomed by the darkness of the entry hall.

Without stopping he dragged himself up the first flight of stairs to the bathroom where he fumbled in the cupboards. In his haste he knocked various medicines, toothpastes and other packages to the floor before finally coming upon a red box. With shaking hands, he ripped off his shirt and meek bandage before opening the box to take out a small sponge pad.

He rinsed it under the tap then proceeded to clean the cut. He gasped in pain when the sponge made contact with the injury, forcing him to sit with his back against the bath. Satisfied that it was clean, Harry took a needle from the box and some sterilised thread.

He was clumsily trying to pass the thread through the eye of the needle when Ginny threw the door open. She almost threw up at the sight and smell of so much blood. 'Harry!' She exclaimed kneeling next to him. 'Let me help.' She said taking out her wand.

He weakly grabbed her wrist. 'No magic.'

'But Harry I don't know how else to stop it.'

'Please.' He begged.

'Ok.' She promised, putting her wand away. She stood up to the sink and filled the cup that was left next to it with water. 'Here drink this.' She offered the cup to his mouth. He willingly drank it then cried out again as Ginny placed her hand over the wound to apply pressure.

'I'm sorry Harry.' She apologised as his eyes began drooping, his head lolled to the side landing on her shoulder, and he got the smell of a pleasant flowery aroma as he succumbed to unconsciousness.

Groaning, Harry fluttered his eyes open, it was dark in his room and his vision was foggy. He reached out a hand to his nightstand, blindly searching for his glasses, eventually finding the handle he placed them on his nose.

Subconsciously he rubbed the area where his injury had been, wondering how it will scar. When his hands stroked smooth skin where the stitches should have been, he jolted and pulled back the covers of the bed revealing his side to be perfectly healed.

Magic. He grumbled to himself. Before he could remember exactly what happened the door was opened gently, spreading a warm orange light from the landing into the room.

'Harry? Are you awake?' Whispered Tonks.

'Yeah, I'm awake, they let you out ok then?' He croaked.

'Yeah all healed. Although, imagine my surprise when instead of finding you waiting for me in the kitchen like a good little brother, I find a hysterical Ginny and you half dead up here.' She said airily, stepping to the side of his bed.

Harry chuckled. 'I doubt she was hysterical.'

'Maybe that is an overstatement. She is worried about you though, you're lucky she found you.'

Harry merely grunted in response.

'You give her a hard time for healing you with magic I'll stick my wand so far up your arse, when I say Lumos your face will light up like a Jack-O'-Lantern, capeesh?' She growled sternly.

'Capeesh.' Sighed Harry quietly. 'How's Mad-Eye?'

'Pissed off there are six dead bodies in his house, luckily he's got an alibi. I think he's guessed your involved, he's the only one though.'

'He'll get over it, least it hasn't been destroyed.' Said Harry.

'I think he's more annoyed they got past his wards, did any get away?'

'I don't think so.' Grumbled Harry 'I tried to question one but the committed suicide.'

'How?'

'They had a false tooth filled with cyanide, he bit down on it under questioning.'

'Damn, what are you going to do now?'

'Tell Ginny everything I know and see what she thinks.'

'Seriously?' Asked Tonks surprised. 'You're actually going to let her help?'

'I think last night proves I can't go up against these on my own.' He admitted. 'I need help from the wizarding side to this so I can join it up with the attacks in the Muggle world. You want in?'

'I take it this stays out of the order and the ministry?'

'Yes, I don't trust anyone else to get involved.' He insisted.

'Fine by me, you'll have to make sure Ginny is comfortable with this though before you tell her.'

'I will. What time is it?'

'Bout time you got yourself up.' She said picking up a shirt from the floor and chucking it at him. 'Kreacher's grumbling about it being your turn to cook.'

Harry grimaced 'Fancy a takeout?'

'You're paying.' She said gamely. 'Come on get dressed.'

Gingerly Harry dressed himself and ambled out of the bedroom, leaning heavily on the banister he followed Tonks to the kitchen. They entered to a house full, all the Weasleys were there along with Andy, Teddy and Hermione. They all turned to face him as he entered, Ginny stood hesitantly. 'Harry?'

He smiled at her grimly. 'Suppose I owe you one.'

She crossed the distance between them and threw her arms around him. 'I didn't think I was going to be able to save you.' She whispered in his ear.

'I'm sorry you had to.' He mumbled back.

'We need to talk.'

'After dinner.'

She pulled back to stare him in the eye, silently telling him that she would hold him to that promise.

'Are you ok uncle Harry?' Asked Teddy worriedly from the table.

'I'm fine thanks Teddy, just ran into some trouble.'

'What were you doing?' Asked Teddy with a child's curiosity.

'The same thing I do every night Teddy…' Said Harry, pausing for effect. 'Trying to take over the world.'

The boy just shook his head at his godfather 'That was awful.' He then grinned wickedly, it was a look so much like his mother's that the room almost did a double take. 'Besides you're more like Pinky?'

Harry snorted. 'Go on, why's that?'

'Because you're insane.' He deadpanned.

'Too right Teddy.' Agreed Tonks as she took her seat next to Bill.

'Don't you start, you're definitely Pinky!' Exclaimed Harry, heading towards the draws he kept the takeaway menu's in.

The Weasleys and Hermione continued listening to the exchange in no small amount of confusion, whilst Andromeda shook her head at their antics.

After they had all eaten, Harry escorted Ginny to his study. The room had a large desk covered in paperwork and two comfortable chairs, they were the kind that spun around and had wheels on the bottom.

Harry settled into the chair nearest the desk and move some paperwork around revealing a laptop buried within it all. He gently lifted the lid and pressed the power button. As he waited for it to boot he glanced at Ginny who was eying him nervously.

Sighing, he broke the silence. 'What's wrong?'

She jumped slightly. 'Er…' She started, avoiding eye contact, whilst fiddling with the hem of her shirt. 'Why…' She stopped herself, closing her eyes.

'Why did you try to stop me from healing you with magic?' She asked tentatively.

Harry's stomach dropped. He ruffled the hair on the back of his head so that it stuck up messily. 'Magic, has never been' He hesitated slightly. 'Kind to me.'

'What do you mean?' Asked Ginny, trying to meet his eyes, which was difficult as he resolutely stared at the floor.

He sighed heavily. 'One day I might tell you.' He whispered almost inaudibly.

Frowning at the avoidance to her question, Ginny decided not to push the subject. 'So, what happened at Mad-Eye's?'

'Who says I was there?' Asked Harry, looking up at her again with a slight smile.

She rolled her eyes 'Let's just say Bill told me it was imperative Mad-Eye was at the meeting last night. You'd already told me you knew something about the next attack, so when we saw the aftermath, I came back here. Guess what I found.' She said sarcastically.

'Why did you have to come back here?' Asked Harry. 'I thought the meeting was already here.'

'Mad-Eye alerted us and the Aurors, we had to give a statement on Mad-Eye's behalf. You're lucky I was first otherwise I might not have gotten to you on time. Now are you going to tell me what's going on?'

'Under two conditions.'

She made a growling noise in the back of her throat that would have made anyone else back down immediately. 'I don't like conditions or ultimatums Evans.' She warned.

'I know, but I don't trust your Ministry.' He said meeting her eyes defiantly 'Or the order.'

The last part took her aback, she had guessed he wouldn't want the Ministry to know, but the order as well? Who is this guy? She asked herself. 'What if I said I would haul you in front of the Wizengamot for the murder of the people at Mad-Eye's home?'

His eyes took on a steely resolve, it almost made her flinch. For the first time since she had met him, she was fully aware of being in the same room as a killer. 'The charges wouldn't stand.' He said with such confidence it left little room for argument.

'Why should I trust you?'

'Because I've got closer to these bastards in two weeks than the whole Auror department has in months.'

That's true. She conceded to herself. 'That's not a reason.'

'I don't need you to trust me all that much, you don't need to share any information from your Ministry with me, all I need is someone to help me connect the pieces from the muggle world to the wizarding world.'

She considered his words carefully. 'I want to bring Bill in as well.' Before he could protest, she cut him off 'You've given me your demands, this is mine.'

'As long as he agrees to not telling anyone, then I guess that's ok.'

She stood up. 'Ok, I'll go and get him.'

'You might as well tell Tonks to come up as well.'

She nodded curtly and left the room. While she was gone Harry grabbed a couple more chairs out of a spare room and put them around the computer. He was just pulling up the file on his case when they filed into the room.

Bill eyed Harry curiously as the three of them sat in the remaining chairs, when they were all settled, he spoke first. 'So, what do you know?'

'Not very much.' Admitted Harry. 'However, we'll start with this.' Harry pulled up the black and white image showing the back of the assassin as he used the killing curse. 'This photo is of an assassin as he uses the killing curse to kill a Muggle Government agent.'

He then flicked to the next slide 'This is the agent dead on the floor with no one around. Before this still and the one before there is around 5 seconds where we lost the imagery before the film started recording properly.'

'Because of the magical distortion?' Asked Ginny.

'Yes, however, this normally would have gone unnoticed in the Muggle world. It would have been put down to some explosion or EMP device.'

'What's that?' Asked Bill.

'It distorts electrical fields, a bit like how magic does.'

Bill nodded in understanding. 'So how was this found then, how did you come upon it?'

'My boss knows I'm a wizard and showed me the photograph. She's asked me to take a look into it, mainly because no one else can.' Explained Harry.

'What do you mean she knows you're a wizard?' Asked Ginny.

He shared an uneasy glance with Tonks. 'In for a knut Harry.'

'I work for the Muggle government, my boss found out I'm a wizard because I used magic to save myself and a fellow agent a couple of years ago.'

'Umm, Teddy told me you were like an Auror.' Mused Ginny.

'Something like that.' Muttered Harry to himself. Ginny quirked an eyebrow at him, which he ignored.

'So, what do you know Harry?' Asked Tonks.

He proceeded to tell them everything he knew so far about the muggle victims and their connection. He also explained what happened at the Burrow after he had tricked Ginny into leaving him behind.

'Was the guy you recognised at Mad-Eye's?' Asked Ginny.

'I don't think so, however, maybe this will help.' Answered Harry. He turned back to the computer and brought up the video feed from the attack.

'That storm is like the one at the Burrow!' Exclaimed Ginny as she watched the tape.

The storm brewed quickly on the video and they watched as the cloaked figures apparated around the building. One of the men dropped to the floor before a window as the others entered the building.

'I didn't even see you before you moved.' Said Bill, there was a flash of recognition in his voice which Harry missed.

'That was the idea.' Said Harry wryly.

Ginny looked uncomfortable, it was obvious he had killed, she knew that from visiting the house. To watch it though sent a chill through her, seeing him looking so nonchalant about it made her realise it wasn't the first time.

Various flashes could be seen from the windows, as the assailants wreaked their particular brand of destruction. 'Shit.' Swore Harry a couple of minutes after they had watched him enter the building. A robed man had escaped using a window on the top floor.

Tonks grimaced. 'Do you reckon he saw you?'

'No idea.' Admitted Harry dully. 'I didn't see anyone upstairs so he must have left while I was still fighting.'

It wasn't long after when an injured Harry emerged out of the broken front door covered in blood and holding his side. 'How were you still moving?' Gasped Bill.

Harry smiled grimly. 'Practice.'

'Did you find out anything?' asked Tonks.

Harry sighed 'I found who they were working for.'

When he didn't continue, Tonks prompted him impatiently. 'Who?'

He looked her right into the eyes. 'Harry Potter.'

She froze. Of all the things in the world, she wasn't prepared for that. It was lucky she was so shocked otherwise she might have blurted out something as to the real identity of her brother.

'So, the Ministries right, Potter is involved.' Said Ginny, her own shock was evident in her voice. For some reason that made Harry breathe slightly easier, she believed Harry Potter was innocent, well at least she did before.

Tonks pulled herself back together just enough to answer 'No, that's not possible.'

'But he just said…'

Harry cut Ginny off. 'Tonks is right, I don't think Potter is working for them.' Ginny didn't look convinced. 'The man I questioned told me that and then committed suicide, if he was prepared to commit suicide, why give their leader up first.'

'Maybe he just wants the credit.' She spat.

'You didn't know Potter Ginny.' Said Bill. 'There was one thing he didn't like and that was the limelight. He was brilliant at hiding in plain sight, you wouldn't even know he was there.'

Bollocks. Thought Harry. He knows.

'He might have changed.' Said Ginny gently. 'The Ministry said that he changed after the war, that he wouldn't help track down the remaining Death Eaters.'

Harry went pale, he really didn't want to be discussing this, luckily the others were so busy talking they didn't notice.

'Can you blame him.' Whispered Tonks with a pain lidden voice. 'He lost almost everyone during the war. He was a seventeen year old kid who never went to Hogwarts and was treated like a weapon by pretty much everyone.'

She glanced quickly at Harry before adding. 'He had the right to a break, the Aurors were more than equipped to take down the straggling Death Eaters without him.'

'Still, losing everyone must have been hard, who could he turn to? I heard whenever an Auror got close to him he attacked them.' That's news. 'Then he disappeared after killing two Aurors.'

'What?!' Asked Tonks incredulously, obviously it was news to her too. 'Who?'

'Landogan and Cartwright.'

Tonks blanched. 'I don't know those names. Where did you find out about this?'

'I asked for the file linking to Potter, there wasn't much apart from that though.' Said Ginny.

'Who gave you the file?' Asked Harry.

'Malfoy.' Said Ginny.

'That slimy git.' Snarled Tonks.

Ginny eyed the others in the room warily, it was clear none of them believed Potter was guilty. 'What am I missing?' She asked.

Tonks and Harry shared a look which wasn't missed by Ginny 'It's not our secret to tell.' Said Tonks finally.

'No, if you want me to help, I deserve to know everything.' She said, getting quite worked up now.

'Ginny we can't'

'No Bill.' She snapped. 'I deserve to know, I'm sticking my neck out here.'

When no one said anything she stood up glaring at them. 'Fine.' She growled, before stomping out the door, slamming it shut behind her.

Bill sighed 'She deserves the truth Potter.'

'I know.' Harry admitted sadly.