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 16 - Preparation

Early the next morning, much earlier than would be socially acceptable by any means, Harry and Ginny were stood outside of a block of flats in a small half wizarding community in London. It was a nice area on the edge of a public park.

After her first ring of the bell was ignored, Ginny kept her finger on the buzzer so it buzzed continually. As such, it wasn't long before a tired, angry voice answer.

'What do you want?' Demanded a female voice, evidently through gritted teeth.

'Hermione let us in.' Answered Ginny urgently.

'Ginny? It's 6 O'Clock in the morning.'

'It's important.'

'What mess has Harry got himself into now?' Exasperated Hermione.

Harry raised his eyebrows at Ginny questioningly. She resolutely ignored him, despite her ears turning slightly pink. 'Nothing he's here with me, it's to do with the muggleborn event you're running.'

'What about it?'

Ginny rolled her eyes. 'Let us in and we'll tell you.'

'Right, sorry.' With a soft click the front door unlocked itself for them. Without another word, the two of them entered the building towards Hermione and Ron's flat. They stomped up the spiral staircase to the second floor, where they entered a flat through a brown door on their right.

'Make yourselves at home.' Shouted Hermione from the bedroom, at the rear of the flat.

The living room was spacious with two comfy settees, one of which appeared to be a sofa bed. There was a kitchen, with a small four-seater table, completing the open plan environment.

The two settled down at the table to wait for their hosts to emerge. Unsurprisingly Hermione was the first one to leave the sanctuary of the bedroom. She wore her robes ready for work and her hair had been moderately tamed as far as it ever would be.

'Drink?' She asked as she walked over to them.

'Please. Two coffees.' Answered Ginny automatically.

As the kettle came close to boiling, Ron appeared looking more dishevelled than ever. He had roughly thrown on a vest and loose fitting trousers, leaving his feet bare. He grunted a greeting, before slumping into a chair next to his sister.

'So, what have you found out?' Asked Hermione.

Harry and Ginny shared a quick look, silently deciding who would explain the situation. With a grimace Harry nodded his head slightly. 'We believe there is going to be an attack on the Ministry during your muggleborn event.' He told her.

Her face paled. 'There can't be. No one is stupid enough to attack the Ministry. I know these people are powerful but they're not Voldemort.'

Harry smiled slightly at the use of the name most still feared. 'You're right but they're not attacking the Ministry they're attacking your event.'

'They still wouldn't get in.' Insisted Hermione.

'They could with inside help.' Said Ginny suggestively.

'Malfoy.' Spat Ron.

'And others.' Nodded Harry. 'The Minister was in Voldemort's pocket too.'

'Impossible, everyone was clear, they all turned against the Death Eaters towards the end of the war.'

'Don't read everything you hear.' Said Harry darkly. 'They only turned after Voldemort had been defeated to save their own hides. They still carry his ideals.'

'But.. but.' Stuttered Hermione.

'But nothing.' Interrupted Ginny. 'It's happening and we need to stop before they get to the muggleborns.'

'You've got to cancel.' Said Ron, waking up to the danger.

'We can't. it was the Ministers idea.' Hermione answered morbidly.

'So?'

'He'll pass the security as good enough regardless.' Said Harry.

'Then what do we do?' Asked Hermione.

'Could we replace the children with Polyjuiced Aurors?' Asked Ron.

'It would take too much to organise and there aren't enough Aurors I trust.' Said Ginny.

'Are parents allowed?' Harry asked Hermione.

'Yeah, although there's no register.'

'What about if the kid isn't with them.'

A spark went off in Hermione's eye. 'Yeah, that could work, we could just say they want to make sure it's safe before deciding to let their children into our world.' Said Hermione thoughtfully.

Harry grinned. 'Sign me and Tonks up under false names.'

'What else?' Asked Hermione.

'We need to change up the tour.' Said Ginny. 'We think they will attack towards the end, when everyone starts losing focus and there are less people in the Atrium.'

'Makes sense, they are all arriving at 9 O'Clock.' Said Hermione thoughtfully. 'When they get there, they will all be scattered and ushered straight towards my office, it wouldn't be a good time to plan if they want to attack all of them.'

'I take it the tour of the atrium will be towards the end?' Ginny asked.

'Yeah, so how do we stop that?'

'Is there any other way out of the Ministry?'

'No.'

'How about emergency portkeys?' Asked Harry.

'You can't portkey in or out.' Said Hermione in an exasperated voice. 'How many people don't know that?'

'Not everyone's an annoying know-it-all.' Soothed Ron, as if explaining the rest of the population were stupid. Hermione scowled at him.

The scowl reminded Harry of the argument they had when they first met about house elves. An idea formed in his brain. 'House elves.'

'So, where are we?' Asked Clarke. She was seated in her office with Harry just the other side of the desk to her. After waking up Ron and Hermione, Harry had gone straight there whilst Ginny went back to the Auror office to try and get the people she trusted involved.

'We're getting closer.' Admitted Harry. 'There's an attack next week and we are preparing for it. it makes a change to know this much in advance.'

'Looks like you've caught up.' Observed Clarke.

'Not yet but we're not chasing shadows either.'

Clarke nodded. 'Sounds good, but you could have told me this over the phone.'

'I know, I wanted to speak to you about this.' Harry leaned across the desk pushing a piece of paper towards her.

Clarke unfolded it with a frame and read the contents. 'You need us to track the reg?'

'Yes, this person has been impersonating me in the wizarding world. I would like to know who they really are.'

'Is it connected to the attacks?'

'I believe so, I think he may be one of the people leading it.'

'I'll get our people on to it.' She paused, eyeing the man before her carefully. There was something different about him. Being the leader she was, Clarke liked to think she had a good grasp of who all the people she worked with were. Giving her a unique insight into their decisions and mannerisms.

Potter was always closed off from those around him, never becoming overly friendly with anyone. He was sharp, quick witted and in most people's eyes undoubtably brave. It was this where she felt she knew him more than most, when he would recklessly put himself in danger to save as many people as possible in any situation everyone automatically assumed him to be brave.

There was bravery yes, however, with Potter there was something else. To her he was looking for a way to die, and hurling himself into the next dangerous situation was a good place for him to start. If he hadn't felt duty bound to save the other agent in the fire he got caught, Clarke was sure he would have perished in the flames. When they were found there was a disappointment and despondency in his eyes.

That Potter was a man who had made peace with his death and was accepting of it. It seemed on many occasions that it was more effort to stay alive than die, yet he somehow clung to life. Time and time again, he came back surviving whatever danger he was in. It was almost as if he had no choice but to win, it had been ingrained in him.

The man in front of her though, was not the same man looking to die. He'd found something, something he shouldn't give up. Potter's time at the agency was coming to a close in her opinion, even if he didn't know it. She almost smiled at the thought of the man in front of her getting the opportunity not many of her agents do. Walking away from this profession was seldom done.

'Is there anything else you need me for?' Asked Harry, interrupting her silent visual.

'No that's all Potter.'

Harry nodded in farewell. As he reached for the handle, Clarke's humanity got the better of her. 'Oh Potter.' He looked over his shoulder at her. 'Whatever it is you've found… Don't lose it.' She stated cryptically, his soft smile confirming he had understood her meaning.

The Ministry of Magic had not changed much since Harry's last visit, much to his disgust. After entering through the visitor's entrance, an old abandoned phone box in London, which acted as a lift down to atrium. Harry quickly noticed that the only thing that had really changed was the fountain.

Gone was the hideous statue of wizards standing on the backs of Muggles, with the phrase "Magic is Might" embossed on the golden base. In its stead was a much more subtle, yet equally disgusting monument.

Instead of standing on top of those that Purebloods thought they were superior than, a witch and wizard stood arms aloft as if waving to a crowd. They were circled by a man and woman (undoubtably muggle), a House Elf, Centaur, werewolf and Mermaid. Each figure was on their knees bowing down to the witch and wizard, it could have been that they were thanking the two tall figures in their midst, yet there was also an air of subordination to them.

Harry felt sick at the sight of such blatant bias, the wizarding world hadn't changed, it just hid its agendas better. He stepped out of the phone box after it finished its decent to the floor and strode over to the security desk. The young man there was flicking through what looked like a quidditch magazine with a bored demeanour.

'Wand.' Demanded the man, holding out his hand without even looking up.

'Don't have one.' Said Harry flatly. 'I have a meeting with Mr Shacklebolt.'

The man looked up, eyeing Harry shrewdly. 'Wha choo got no wand for? You a squib or sumfin?'

'Or something.' Growled Harry. The man was obviously an idiot, he didn't flinch, not recognising the warning in Harry's words.

'Well I'll haf to surch ya won't I.' He said standing up. As he pulled himself to full height he looked Harry in the eye for the first time. It was almost amusing the way he quailed under Harry's stern glare. 'Neva mind' he gulped. 'Use the lift ova there,' he said pointing past the fountain. 'Shacklebolt is on the first floor.'

'Thanks.' Not sparing a backwards glance, Harry swept away towards the lifts. At the moment the atrium was quite quiet with it being after the 9 O'Clock rush, so he managed to get into a lift relatively easily.

He stepped inside the first one with a man that was holding a box rather precariously. He spotted Harry eyeing it warily and sighed. 'It's not really dangerous.' The man informed him. 'The poor creature just lets off the most awful smell when startled.'

'What is it?' Asked Harry.

'We're not sure. We think it may be some kind of hybrid between a niffler and what the muggles call a skunk. If it is it will be quite the discovery.' The lift stopped and a voice announced the floor they were on. 'This is me, have a nice day.' Called the man kindly as he stepped out of the lift.

Another three floors down and Harry was finally on the first floor, he had never been here before. He had only ever been in the courtrooms on the lower levels and other parts of the Department of Mysteries.

Stepping out of the lift he felt much trepidation about his meeting with Shacklebolt, he knew it was necessary, Harry just hoped that everything he'd heard about the man was correct. Otherwise he was buying a one way ticket to Azkaban. Not really the kind of place he wanted to go for a holiday.

The walls lining the corridor were painted in a dark Slytherin green with traces of silver running through it. Harry hated it, it reminded him too much of Grimmauld Place before he had redecorated.

The corridor he was following wound its way to the right before opening into a large space with different cubicles, one for each of the Aurors, and a small desk with a wiry witch sat behind it. Her spectacles reflected off the light as she watched him approach.

'How may I help?' She asked in a curt voice.

'I have meeting with Mr Shacklebolt. Mr Evans.' He answered formally.

She stood and turned away from her desk. 'Follow me.'

She led him past the cubicles, most of which were full of curious eyes watching him. He had to repress the urge to panic when he spotted his own wanted poster on some of their walls. Talk about walking into the Dragon's Nest.

At the back of the room there was an office which was glass walled with timber framing. The blinds behind the glass were closed so no one could see in or out. The receptionist walked up to the door, knocked once and entered without waiting for a response. 'Your 10 O'Clock sir.' She said once the door was open.

'Thank you Deborah, show him in.' Came a deep booming voice in response.

Wordlessly, she gestured for Harry to enter and softly closed the door behind him. The office was fairly large with posters on the wall depicting the departments biggest achievements over the time Shacklebolt had been in charge.

The man himself, Harry recognised from the Order of the Phoenix, they had met a couple of times, without ever really working with each other. Smiling slightly, Harry walked over to the desk Shacklebolt was seated behind and stretched out his hand.

'Thanks for seeing me Auror Shacklebolt.'

Shacklebolt smiled and leaned forward out his seat slightly to take the offered hand. 'It's a pleasure, please take a seat and call me Kingsley.'

'Thanks.' Said Harry taking the seat offered, it was a comfortable chair with a backrest that stopped halfway up his back.

'So how can I help?' Asked the wizened Auror.

'I have information on Harry Potter.' Shacklebolt's eyebrows shot up. 'However, before I reveal them I need certain assurances.'

There was no doubting Shacklebolt's curiosity had been intrigued as he leaned forward across the table. 'Such as?' He prompted.

'I am willing to testify only to you under veritaserum but this information can't come out until after the 31st July…'

'Why the date?' Interrupted Kingsley.

'It could interfere with a case I'm working on.'

'Indeed.' Said Kingsley.

Harry grinned. 'Sorry I work for the Muggle government.'

'You're the man who punched Malfoy after the attack on the Weasley twins' shop.' Said Kingsley with a wry smile of his own.

He's fast. 'Yes I am.'

'Anything else I need to know?'

'I don't want Greengrass, the Malfoys or any former Death Eater to look into the case or have a verdict on the jury.'

Shacklebolt thrummed his fingers on the desk. 'I can't promise that.'

'At least promise you will try.' Said Harry desperately. 'I have reason to believe they are still clinging to Voldemort's ideals, and they won't take kindly to what I have to say.'

'Those are serious accusations Mr Evans.'

'I know.'

They stared at each other long and hard. Keen not to break away Harry waited for whatever judgement the man before him would bestow.

Shacklebolt let out a long sigh. 'Very well.' He pulled open a draw on his right-hand side and pulled out a vial with a clear liquid inside. He moved to pass the vial to Harry. 'Two drops will do it. That gives us half an hour, if we don't need that long I have the antidote in the draw to my left.'

Nodding Harry accepted the vial, uncorked it slowly and held it over his mouth careful not to spill too much. When he felt to drops against his tongue, he closed his mouth, swallowing the thankfully tasteless liquid.

'First things first then.' Said Kingsley. He pointed his wand at the quill and parchment next to him, which sprang into the air. 'This will record everything we say for future references, I may also request your memory. Understood?'

'Yes.' Answered Harry.

'Ok then we'll start with something easy. What's your name?'

'Harry James Potter.'

Silence. You could have heard a pin drop as Shacklebolt stared at him, mouth agape.

'Wha, What?' He eventually stuttered.

'You asked me my name. It's Harry James Potter. Son of James and Lily Potter who were murdered on Halloween 1981.'

Kingsley stood drawing himself to his full height levelling his wand at Harry's eyes. 'Give me a good reason why I shouldn't just cart you off to Azkaban?' He snarled.

'If you let me I'll give you several.' Said Harry calmly, raising his hands in a show of surrender. 'I don't have a weapon, I'm not here to attack the Ministry only to clear my name.'

'You best get started then.' Shacklebolt told him evenly, as he sat back down. His wand didn't lower though.

'I'm accused of leading the attacks against old members of the Order of the Phoenix.'

'That's not all.' Grumbled Kingsley.

'Well that's what I'm starting with.' Spat Harry, his temper starting to get the better of him. 'I don't have anything to do with them and only heard about them after one of the agents at work was killed whilst following a lead on the muggle side of all this.'

'You found the connection?' Asked Kingsley.

'Yes, they were targeting wealthy Muggles with no close friends or family. There is surprisingly quite a few of them. It's lucky I work for the muggle government otherwise neither side would have caught on.

'On the victims we found I recognised the effects of the killing curse when everyone else thought it was natural causes. Then on the day the Burrow was burnt down I recognised one of the men from a picture I was shown when one of our agents was killed, depicting the killer. It was this that tipped me off.'

'Why were you at the Burrow in the first place?'

'Tonks got hurt in the attack on the previous night, she and Teddy are the only family I have left so I went to investigate.'

'Was there anyone with you?' Asked Shacklebolt.

'Ginny Weasley.'

'Really?' Shacklebolt sounded surprised.

'Yes.'

'Does she know who you are?'

'Yes, it's one of the reasons I'm here. I can't ask her to keep my secrets anymore. Same goes for Tonks. It's not their fault, I take full responsibility for them keeping my identity a secret.' Said Harry earnestly.

'We'll come back to that.' Said Shacklebolt.

'Very well.' Sighed Harry with an accepting nod. 'That day I heard them talking about another attack they were planning, which had Mad-Eye as the target.'

'You know him too?' Not wanting to be too hopeful, Harry tried not to read too much into the slight softening in Shacklebolt's voice.

'Yeah I do. I arranged it so Mad-Eye wasn't home and tried to take down the people who ambushed the house. I was injured in the attack which was why my blood was at the scene.' Harry continued monotonously, as the potion continued to affect him.

'So that was why that meeting was scheduled.' Mused Shacklebolt. 'I must admit I did think it had been a waste of time, which wasn't like Bill. You're who interrupted our meeting at Grimmauld Place around a month ago aren't you.' It wasn't a question, so Harry just continued to sit rigidly. 'What of the Aurors and civilians you have been blamed for killing since the war?'

'I had no idea I had even been accused of those murders until Ginny told me about them.' Harry said sadly. 'I'm sorry but I don't know who they were. As I'm sure you know I've been away from the wizarding world a long time. I wouldn't even ask Tonks what was going on.'

'So why are you willing to come back? You could stay away.'

'I'm sick of hiding. I shouldn't have left after the war but I couldn't deal with it. If Tonks hadn't found me, I wouldn't be here today.' Harry took a deep breath. 'Things are different now, after being thrown back into the Wizarding world with everything that is going on, I've found a reason to fight for it again.'

'Hmmm.' Hummed Shacklebolt. He leaned back on his chair, placing both hands on the back of his bald head as he stared at the ceiling. The chair gave a slight groan as it moved.

A rasping at the door cut through the silence in the office. 'Enter.' Said Kingsley distractedly.

The door opened to reveal the marred face of Alastor Moody. He awkwardly limped into the room, shutting the door behind him with a slight bang. 'You can trust him.' Barked Mad-Eye.

'How did you know he was here?'

'I didn't, I spotted him whilst visiting Longbottom.'

'Hot date?' Smirked Harry.

'Shut it.' Glared Mad-Eye. 'Now what are you going to do Kingsley?'

Shacklebolt didn't remove his gaze from the ceiling. 'I need as many members of the Wizengamot on our side as possible, only then can we make sure you're cleared Harry.'

'You think I'm innocent?' Exclaimed Harry.

Shacklebolt nodded slowly. 'Yes I do, I'm sorry about the way I acted but I needed to put a show on if anyone requests the memories, I had to make it look like I thought you were a criminal.'

Harry's brow furrowed. 'You never thought I was guilty?'

Grinning, Shacklebolt looked back down to meet Harry's eyes. 'Not all of us have forgotten what you did and who you were Harry. And as you have already identified the people at the top of the Ministry can't be trusted.'

Harry cast a quick glance at Mad-Eye. 'Don't look so surprised kid.' He groused. 'The order's not stupid you know.'

Harry tilted his head as a gesture of acceptance before turning back too Kingsley. 'How can I help?'

'Just carry on with what you are planning for the 31st, after that we'll talk about how we stop them once and for all.'

After everything they had discussed, Harry wasn't surprised the man knew about the attack. 'Fine. I'll get word to you if anything changes.'

'Very well, thanks for coming in.'

'Thanks for seeing me.' Said Harry gratefully standing up. He shook Kingsley's hand and Moody's before leaving the office. As he walked down the hall towards the lift Harry couldn't help but feel like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Soon there would be no more hiding. No more looking over his shoulder hoping no one had recognised him. He wasn't sure that he would fully integrate back into wizarding society, at least now he could tell Ginny how he felt. As long as he didn't bottle it.

Distracted, with a satisfied smile plastered on his face, Harry didn't pay attention as someone joined him in the lift. He didn't notice the wand being pointed at him so was blissfully unaware of the danger before he lost consciousness.