Gobbledygook

Here is the current poll for the Muggleborns name:

Morgan (or Morganna)- 3

Allegra (Italian for Joyous)- 3

Rosetta- 2

Lydia- 2

Lydia Rose

Dumbledore sat in his office, thinking.

He had to get the Potter boy back under control somehow. The question was, how to do it. Now that his godfather was back in the picture, and no doubt suspicious of him since he had no doubt that some of his spell work was discovered (although he was confident that they had no idea who cast it, they would probably assume that vile woman Walburga Black cast it), he couldn't do anything openly.

He had the boy dosed with loyalty and other controlling potions, and he'd hit the boy with more spells, just to be safe. So, he was good there... but the boy being back with Black would severely limit how much contact he could have with him, how much of an eye he could keep on things. Especially since, according to the medical records his man had managed to steal, Black should be waking up soon.

He would have to find another way of keeping an eye out... one that would still let him keep up the 'obedient' image with the Board. They should forget everything soon enough, his man was already working on it, but he seemed to have hit a bit of a snag in catching them in memory and behavioral modifiers. He would sort it out soon enough.

That's when it hit him.

Of course, the Weasleys!

Potter had been seen hanging out with all of the Weasley children, even young Ginevra despite her behavior. He really hoped she shaped up soon. If he was going to push the two of them together, then the last thing he wanted was her attitude towards him pushing him away. He couldn't get a marriage contract between the two, so he was just going to have to force them together however he could. He really wished that Gringotts didn't run tests to ensure that both parties of a marriage contract signing were signing under their own free will and neither one was being forced through magical means. They even used Veritaserum to ensure that neither party was forcing the other through non-magical means, like blackmail.

It had happened in the past. A poorer family wanted to marry into a rich family so they wouldn't be poor anymore, so they blackmailed or used magic and potions to force the richer party into a marriage contract between the two, one that benefited them the most. The children got married, and the poorer family systematically stole everything the rich family owned through their child.

The Goblins went to great lengths to ensure that didn't happen anymore.

And, when it came to people who were the last of their lines, like Potter, they ran extensive tests to check for love potions and the like. Which meant that, unless he could get another Goblin to replace the last one, he couldn't go that route either. Well, there were actually several options to go that route, but the potions he needed were extremely rare. Not to mention, they were easily the most controlled substances in the entire world, not just magical UK. Potions like those being illegal were one thing the rest of the world and the UK actually agreed on. Otherwise, the ingredients to make it were so rare... not even Potions Masters like Severus would be able to get ahold of them without much difficulty. And he was among the top five Masters in the world.

For one thing, it required powdered basilisk skin, and phoenix tears. Well, the tears were in easy reach, but the basilisk... there hadn't been one seen in over fifty years. If he could just find and get into the blasted Chamber, he didn't think that would be a problem anymore either, but the fact remained. There hadn't been one seen in over fifty years, and there hadn't been one harvested in 200.

And then, even after getting the ingredients, there were very few Masters with the skill to actually brew it. It was highly complicated, required almost constant supervision for the two months it took to brew. It was certainly nothing he would be able to brew himself, if he could get ahold of the ingredients. Well, he supposed that if he did get ahold of the ingredients, he could always force Severus. He would have to Obliviate the man afterwards of course, but...

Oh, but his mind was wandering. The Weasleys, yes...

Perhaps it was time to pay Molly a visit. He got up to do just that when the Wizengamot ring on his finger suddenly warmed, causing him to look down at it in surprise.

Who on earth was calling an emergency meeting right now?

Severus sat down in his seat with a sigh. He wished they hadn't called this session when they did, he had a potion brewing and he really couldn't be gone too long... the ingredients for it weren't cheap, and it was rather delicate. Luckily he had just reached the stage where it needed to simmer for five hours before adding more ingredients. As long as he was back by the five hour mark, he would be fine. Well, he supposed that Poppy knew he was brewing and she did have a Secondary Potions Mastery, but... still.

He looked up when Daniel Greengrass stopped beside his chair and gracefully sat on the edge of a conjured seat. "How's Harry doing?" Was the first thing out of his mouth.

Severus' lip quirked. "He's good. He should be at Quidditch practice right now, or soon anyway."

"Ah, yes. Daphne told me in her letters that the Gryffindor team is practicing an... what did she say... ah, an unholy amount of time that not even Merlin could ever dream of. She said the captain was insane." He said, amused. Severus just smirked.

"Minerva had to forbid him from having his team out there all day every day. The boy seems to be under the impression that they are at school to play Quidditch, not learn magic. She had to force him to give his team at least two nights a week of no Quidditch so they can get homework done and have some time to themselves and their friends." Severus explained, exasperated. Just thinking about it made him question Minerva's sanity in making the boy captain. But, the boy was the most senior member of the team, he was certainly the most Quidditch-crazed, that was for sure...

Daniel huffed a laugh. "It almost makes me glad that Flint boy didn't allow girls on the team... I didn't have to worry about my girls playing dangerous games like Quidditch." He eyed Severus. "I hear the new team is made and has already started practice." And, was he glad his daughter decided to wait another year before trying out. Her playing Quidditch was going to give him premature grey hairs, that was for sure. Just the thought of it made him think his head should already be white.

"Yes, Mr. Higgs is determined to outdo Mr. Wood in time spent on the Pitch. There have been complaints from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw teams that they can't get any practice time in themselves." He knew the boy just wanted to get the new team up to speed so they could at least make a good showing and didn't embarrass themselves too badly at the first game. He wasn't holding out hope for a win, not against Gryffindor. Who hadn't needed to replace a single person this year, and had been feared for their teamwork the year before.

He wasn't even holding out hope on winning the others, not when his team was brand-new and still so inexperienced. Next year, he would be going more for the win and less for getting his team up to scratch. They were all good players... they just didn't have any experience playing together, or in a game with an audience larger than their family at their manors.

Daniel shook his head and went to say something else, but the gong went off, calling all members and Heirs to their seats. Severus was pleased to see Bill and Charlie Weasley up there, sitting in the very back corner where they wouldn't be easily seen. Severus himself had decided to give his proxy this session off, and sit in himself. Despite his potion that he had brewing.

"I call this emergency session on this date, 22 of September, 1992, to order." Dumbledore said, letting out a bang from his wand. He looked disgruntled, like he always did when somebody else called a session that wasn't him. He'd tried to get the policy changed so that only he could call a session, that was one of the few he'd been unable to implement. "Lord Nott, you have the floor." He said, identifying the one that called the session.

"Thank you, Chief Warlock." The elderly Nott practically sneered, but he still said it with an air of politeness. Severus watched carefully. This was the former Right-Hand to the Dark Lord, probably the only person in the world that the Dark Lord genuinely considered a friend and close confidant. Rumor had it that he was the first one to be Marked, after being the one to help design the Mark in the first place. He'd retired from active service as a Death Eater not long after Severus joined, for reasons known only to him and the Dark Lord himself. He was the only one to do so, once the Mark was taken, the only way anybody was getting out of service was death. But, the Dark Lord allowed it for him, for some reason.

"I called us together, to discuss the... disturbing accusations being thrown about. In the papers, from the reports I am getting out of the DMLE, and from what was said at our last scheduled session." He said. "Also..." He pulled out the issue of the Daily Prophet from the day before. "Punishment for one Michael O'Connell. The only names we have so far is that of Charlus and Dorea Potter, but there are implications in here that he is also responsible for the deaths of more of our closest friends and colleagues." He glanced at Amelia as he said it, silently asking if she could at least release those details to them.

Everyone shifted in their seats and murmured to each other. Amelia had a peeved look on her face when he mentioned getting reports from the DMLE. Severus knew she was keeping the investigation as quiet as possible until the end of it. That way, less chance of Dumbledore blindsiding them with something and getting away with it. She also looked accepting of filling them in on at least the names they had so far from Michael O'Connell's interrogation. He was still being held at Gringotts, less chance of his employer trying to break him out and help him escape. Plus, he was a former Hit-Wizard, he knew all the secrets of the Ministry Holding Cells that might help him escape.

Even though there had been changes made over the years since he was a Hit-Wizard, there was still the chance. And they weren't taking chances.

She stood slowly after thinking for a moment. "I can release the names of those Lords and Lady's who were targeted by him... but only if you agree to Oaths of Silence on the matter. It is, after all, still an ongoing investigation and not all families have been informed yet. I think everyone in this room has been..." She said slowly, glancing around and trying to remember which families she'd sent an Auror to already. "But there are also some that aren't here today that I know have not yet been informed privately." She looked around.

"This happened several weeks ago, what more investigating is there to do? Surely you have all the names by now?" Madam Longbottom asked in disbelief. She was relieved that she hadn't gotten one of those visits, although there were several in her family that she wouldn't be heartbroken over if she had gotten that visit. Especially after she found out about how her family had been treating her grandson. Most of them had been her own blood relations. She wished she hadn't listened to her brother, and that she let her husbands side of the family have more contact with her Neville.

"Yes. Unfortunately, every time we go in to question him some more about other matters or names he had already given us, he drops more names. We are also having to deal with ambassador's and representative's from other nations whose citizens he is responsible for killing. They all want a say in his punishment, or for him to be extradited to their countries to face punishment there. I have been working with both the Goblins and Director Crouch with negotiations with all the nations. At the moment... it looks more like we are going to hand him over to the ICW. Let the international courts deal with him, because there are so many other nations involved in this. He took out some highly influential and well-respected people in their countries, they are not going to be happy with just letting us handle this, even though he is a British citizen." She said, honestly tired.

"Who cares about them? It's not their decision, who cares about their opinion?" The Minister asked dismissively. Everyone turned to look at him in disbelief. Although a few looked like they agreed. Umbridge especially.

"Um, how about the fact that we have trade agreements with those nations, and they can set prices and taxes on all of our imported goods? Driving prices sky high and basically driving our economy into the ground if we alienate them like that? How about the fact that a couple of the more belligerent nations can and have threatened war over this? The fact that one of our citizens is responsible for the deaths of their most important political figures in the past two decades?" Amelia asked the Minister rhetorically. He just dismissed her.

"Just try him already. The public needs to see him being punished. We need to be seen doing our jobs." He said.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Minister. You have no authority in this matter. This is an Auror investigation. We will investigate all the facts, and we discuss with the right people. I think it is clear that you are not the right people. No wonder relations with other countries is almost non-existent right now. This is not a time to 'be seen doing something'." She dismissed him just as he dismissed her. She noticed Crouch sneering at him from the side. Which made sense, Fudge did not make jobs in the Department of International Affairs easy. He blustered, but everyone dismissed him too, turning to more important matters.

"The Oaths of Silence on the matter?" She prompted.

Minerva hurried along the corridor, thankful that she had a free period right now, she could take care of this and wouldn't have to end up waiting. "Excuse me, might I borrow Mr. Potter?" She asked, stepping into Filius' room. "Bring your things." She instructed when Harry got up after glancing towards the half-goblin and getting the ok.

Harry blinked in surprise, and Hermione quickly whispered that he could borrow her notes. As if there was any doubt about that one happening anyway, whether he wanted it or not... He smiled at her in thanks anyway and went to join Minerva while everyone else whispered about what was going on. He knew rumors would be flying everywhere within minutes of this class period ending. If not seconds.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, worried, as soon as the door closed behind them.

She gave a small smile, relieving some of his worry, but not his confusion. Students didn't normally get pulled out of class unless something had happened. It was rarely anything good. Just last week, a first year was pulled out of class and was sent home to be with her father because he had a breakdown on the anniversary of her mother's death, they had him admitted to St. Mungoes for a couple of days due to the severity of it. She wasn't due to come back until next week. He only knew about it because apparently she lived near the Weasleys and grew up with Ginny. From what Fred and George said, losing Luna's mom had been hard on both of them, but they still had each other, and this was the first anniversary where they weren't together. So...

In that context, his breakdown was actually understandable. The first time being alone since his wife died...

"I got a message from Gringotts." She started, happy with her news. "He's awake." She'd seen how worried the boy was, even if he tried to hide it, tried to still be his usual happy self.

It took him a moment to process, but when he did, his face lit up and he jumped forward, pulling her into a happy hug. That she was very startled by, but after a moment he let go and started jumping around in excitement. After a moment of watching in amusement, she cleared her throat, making him suddenly realize what he was doing and stop, looking at her sheepishly with his face red from embarrassment.

"Can I go see him?" He asked hopefully, coming to stand in front of her again. She suppressed another grin and looked thoughtful.

"Well, I did ask you to bring your stuff..." She said, lightly teasing. "And I suppose this was your last class for the day..." She grinned at the dumbstruck look on his face. What did he expect though, when she had James Potter for both a godson and a student? Add his group, plus the Twins... she let them get away with a lot more than they thought she did. Wait, did Harry even know she was James godmother? Hmm, question for another time.

"Come on, you can Floo to the bank from my office, somebody will be waiting for you." She said, gesturing before walking away, Harry following along eagerly. She wasn't sure how much of his excitement was relief and how much of it was an honest desire to see Sirius again.

Harry practically bounced all the way into the Floo, despite his dislike of it. He was going to see Sirius, Sirius was alright! He supposed he should find it strange to be so eager to see a man he'd only spoken with a handful of times (he was closer to Severus right now in terms of relationship), but Sirius was hurt because of him. Whether Sirius was the actual target or not, Harry was the one to shove them both down the stairs. He'd been going over it in his head for the past few weeks, thinking of ways he should have done something differently.

Maybe if he'd said something instead of pushing this wouldn't have happened?

Also, he knew that Sirius (and Severus) were the first two adults to really try and be a parent. To really care in a familial capacity. Madam Longbottom didn't count because she took him in as part of an arrangement with Gringotts. That, and she was so old.

Don't tell her he said that. He quite liked living.

No, she wasn't the parental figure, she was the strict grandparent.

When he got to the other end of the Floo, he found Sharptooth waiting for him. "Hello, Sharptooth, its been a while!" He greeted cheerfully. The Goblin blinked in surprise, along with the other two in the Flooing room, but otherwise didn't react beyond bowing slightly in greeting of his own.

"Indeed. This way Heir Potter-Black." He moved off, leading the way. "Lord Black has been quite... vocal and insistent in his need to see you. He's been assured of your swift recovery, but he will not calm down until he sees you, we fear. Not even the Calming Draughts are proving effective with him in this state." And that only happened when the person was really worked up. Either that, or it outright knocked them out. It depended on the person in question. Harry looked at the Goblin in concern before he sped up his pace a little. Sharptooth chose not to mention it, instead just lengthening his own stride.

When they reached Sirius' room, they were greeted with the sound of arguing coming through the open door.

"I just want to see Harry. I need to see my son! Just let me up already, you little..." Whatever else was said, Harry didn't catch, because he rushed through the door and launched himself at the figure bound to the bed.

Sirius stopped his ranting at his entrance, and it was only the fact he couldn't move coupled with the glimpse of emerald green and black that kept him from lashing out in surprise. He gripped Harry tight, not wanting to let him go, and started whispering reassurances. "It's alright, pup, it's alright. I'm ok." Harry just gripped tighter.

All the excitement he'd felt had disappeared, replaced by desperation to just hold and be held. He pulled back after a minute and asked, "You're alright now?"

"I am now, pup." Sirius smiled reassuringly, and turned the boy around in his arms so they could both face the Goblins in the room. Garnock didn't look too please, but was relieved that the presence of his son was enough to calm the man down.

"Are you willing to listen now?" She asked sarcastically. Sirius didn't even have the decency to look ashamed, he just watched her expectantly. She barely resisted rolling her eyes. "Good. You've been in a coma for a little over three weeks now. The both of you sustained some damage from the fall. Lord Black, your Heir had three broken ribs, a broken arm, a concussion, and some bruising. Your quick action in wrapping around him like you did saved him from worse. He was medically cleared two weeks ago by Madam Pomfrey at Hogwarts." She said, summarizing what she'd read in Harry's medical file, stored away in Sharpaxe's office.

Sirius looked at Harry, worried and guilty. He'd tried to protect his pup, but he still got hurt. Harry just smiled at him in reassurance.

"Oh, and his Familiar sustained a broken wing that has since been healed as well. She'd cleared for Postal duty, again." She added as an afterthought. Then she turned her attention to Sirius' medical sheet.

"Now, as I said, you were in a coma for three weeks. During the fall, you sustained a severe concussion, you shattered several bones in your wrist, a broken leg, and broke several ribs. Again, severe bruising, cuts and scrapes." The bones that were broken wouldn't even have been that bad if he weren't still recovering from Azkaban. His muscular and skeletal structure were still weak from sitting in that cell, with minimal movement for eleven years. She reached over and gently pushed aside the top of his hospital pajamas. "You were clipped with the curse, and it will leave scarring, but as it missed the intended area, you've survived to make a full recovery." Harry stared at the white bandage, stitched with various runes, still covering Sirius' right shoulder.

Sirius just calmly moved the shirt back, covering it from Harry's view, and nodded at the Healer in thanks. "How much is this going to set back my recovery from Azkaban?" He asked, mentally cursing. He'd hoped to be able to take Harry home and give him a proper Christmas. He could introduce him to Yule next year, when they were both more comfortable with each other. But, this would have set back his physical therapy at the very least.

Garnock looked down at her notes. "Well, you are certainly not being released before your Heir gets out of school for Yule holidays." She said, slightly sympathetic. She knew how much Lord Black had wanted to take Harry home with him for the holidays, she knew how much she enjoyed time spent with her children. And holidays were a time for family, after all. Therefore, she sighed and cursed her soft heart. "We'll discuss possibilities when the time comes." She muttered while organizing some Potions in his bedside cabinet. If he was in his Animagus form, his tail would be wagging at full speed. She shook her head and went back to running the scans she'd been trying to run when Sirius started demanding to go to his boy.

She nodded in satisfaction. "All your bones have healed nicely, and so has the concussion. There doesn't appear to be any lingering problems... however I would like to ask you a few questions to check your memory." She said. A spark of fear entered both males eyes before Sirius nodded his agreement.

She checked his short-term memory by asking about a conversation they had in private, then tested his long-term by asking about a few things Severus had told her about when she asked so she could check his memory and recall. Amelia helped by asking a few things from his time in the Academy and afterward. Several of his answers were hilarious because because she deliberately asked about embarrassing moments she'd heard about.

The kind of events and memories that most tried to deliberately forget?

Finally, she was satisfied. "Alright, it doesn't appear that your memory has been affected, discounting lingering effects from the Dementors." The brain was such a delicate thing... and his Mind-Healer had already mentioned something about the Dementors in his file, but time away from them was already helping with that problem. "Alright then, we will leave you two alone. Don't get him worked up." She warned Harry with a stern glare. He nodded his head with wide eyes.

After a few moments of just sitting with each other, Sirius sighed. "I know what your thinking, Harry. And it wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done differently." Harry turned his wide eyes towards him and he huffed a laugh. "I've been in your position before, Pup. Something goes wrong, and then the constant doubts and asking yourself what you could have done different." He said, tightening his hold.

For a second, Harry marveled at how similar that had been to the conversation he had with Severus not long after arriving at Longbottom Manor. He ducked his head and wrapped his arms tighter around Sirius, being careful with his arm.

After a few moments of silence, "Hey, Sirius?" The man hummed. "What did you want to talk about? When we were leaving the courthouse?"

Sirius was silent for a moment before he sighed and gently moved Harry to sit beside him. "I wanted to ask how you felt about me gaining custody of your cousin." He said slowly, watching Harry carefully. Harry stiffened. "He will in no way replace you, you will always be my pup." He was quick to reassure. "But, well... I know what it's like to be raised thinking a certain way. I managed to escape it, with my parents, but... he's still just a kid, and I don't want to make him suffer for his parents poor parenting. And unless somebody teaches him differently, he will always be a hateful bully. The system is a good system... in theory. Not always in practice."

Harry was silent for a few moments, thinking. He could understand what Sirius was talking about, but... he didn't want to share his new home with Dudley. He was terrified that Dudley would destroy everything he had just gained. But at the same time... he agreed that Dudley had just been doing what he was taught. "Did you already apply for custody?" He asked.

"Yeah. The custody hearing is scheduled for the middle of October. I will withdraw my application if you want." He said quietly.

Harry looked down for a few more moments. "No, your right. He shouldn't suffer for what Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon taught him. I'm just..." He cut himself off.

"Worried about him coming in and ruining our chances of being a family?" Sirius asked quietly. Harry blushed slightly and nodded, still looking down at his lap. "Oh, pup." He muttered, holding Harry closer again. "That's not going to happen. Things are going to be difficult with him for a while, especially in the beginning while he adjusts and until he gets it in his head that his previous behavior is no longer happening, but we will always be a family." Harry smiled slightly and burrowed himself into Sirius' side.

"Alright. I don't mind." He frowned then. "Is he going to still be at Smeltings? Because they carry these sticks, and Dudley said that they are for hitting each other. Not to mention he has Piers there, too... he's always encouraged Dudley and egged him on."

Sirius smiled slightly at the concern. "No, I was going to transfer him out to another school. I know all about Smeltings reputation, it's a good school, academically speaking. The discipline I've read about from their students on the other hand..." He shook his head. "No, there are several schools, that are run by Squibs or Muggleborns, where the Pureblood families send Squib children. I was going to send him to one of those. Since the Headmasters have connections with magic, along with several of the staff, there will be somebody for him to talk to about having a magical relative. And all the Squib children will be good to help him as well. Well, those who aren't bitter, anyway." He frowned, thinking of the Pureblood practice of abandoning children who didn't have magic.

He supposed it was better than it used to be, they used to kill them. There were still some that were abandoned to the streets with nothing but the clothes on their backs, but it was becoming more and more the practice to set them up in a good Muggle school so they could make a living for themselves in the Muggle world. That practice was gaining even more popularity ever since a couple of Muggleborns decided to get degrees to go into the Muggle education field, and then started advertising within the wizarding world that Purebloods could send their Squibs to them, and they would make sure they were taken care of. When the Ministry heard of it, they started actively encouraging it. Several of the Squibs in every generation since then made it a point to go into the education field themselves to help Squibs like themselves.

What would surprise everybody, was to learn that the Black family had been the first to start sending Squib children to Muggle school. They were one of the few that never killed their children, and always tried to set them up for success in the Muggle world. And with those Muggleborn advertising that they were in a position to make the transition even easier, well... of course, that didn't mean the Black family had anything to do with those Squibs once they were dropped off, but they never just left them on the streets.

They may be one of the blackest, more staunchest pureblood families in Wizarding Britain history, but family was important. Family was to be taken care of and protected at all costs... at least that was the way most of them saw it. His mother and Bellatrix... enough said.

He was drawn out of his thoughts by Harry yawning against his side. Hiding his grin, he gently maneuvered so they were laying side-by-side. Harry offered some protest, but fell asleep quickly enough when Sirius started humming. He shook his head. That was one thing that never changed... Harry never failed to protest going to sleep as a baby, and Sirius humming or singing never failed to send him to sleep, either.

He would protect his Pup.

He had to.

Bill was exhausted when he finally dragged himself, along with his partner, towards his supervisor's office to report the success of the job. One lake full of Inferi destroyed, and the remains of one Regulus Black recovered. He was honestly surprised about that last fact, he would have thought the remains would have been long gone, considering the then Black Heir was killed by Inferi of all things. They were known for eating their kills, after all.

Unless it was part of the trap...? That was the only explanation he could think of.

That the Dark Lord twisted the magic in the Inferi so that they would leave the victim's body intact, and the preservation charms in the lake would ensure the body was still recognizable. That way, when the Dark Lord went to investigate the disturbance, or check on it (whichever happened first), he would know who it was and who's family to go after.

Regardless... it only took five days to get through all the traps and wards guarding the cave, without triggering other traps and wards. (They had visited the local village to purchase food once they realized they were going to be a while. They always had a sleeping bag on them, and a few other camping supplies). And then there was the careful disposal of the Inferi themselves. Then, once they got rid of them, they had gone out to the island to investigate what was there... needless to say, they had been unable to get rid of that potion, or take some of it for further study, until his partner revealed himself to be a Parseltongue from India. Temporarily assigned to the London branch of Gringotts for reasons he refused to share.

(Bill privately wondered if he had been temporarily reassigned for the same reasons as Bill. Because he was a Parseltongue and they were dealing with Horcruxes left behind by a Dark Lord who also happened to be a known Parseltongue. He had a feeling they were going to be partnering up a lot until this Horcrux hunt was done and they were sure that every last bit of magic left behind by the Dark Lord was gone.)

He identified the wards as being Parselmagic, Bill was frustrated to learn that Parselmagic could only be undone by other Parselmagic. Either that, or a ridiculous amount of power.

(He also wondered if his partner hadn't been brought in to act as a tutor for Harry. To get him used to his abilities as a Parseltongue and to teach him the magic that was possible with the snake language.)

"Sir, I am happy to report one cave free of Inferi. Also, the successful retrieval of the body of one Regulus Black." Bill said once they were in the office after knocking and hearing the invite to come in.

"Ah, good, good." The Goblin said, absently finishing with his report. "The body?" He asked, looking up.

Bill nodded and pulled the black bead out of an inside pocket sewn into his uniform robes just for the purpose of not losing small objects like that before they had a chance to hand it off or put it in something else. He carefully handed it over, and it was placed in a decorated, black bag made out of silk.

It would be presented to the Lord Black, and he would make arrangements for the funeral rites. The body would be transfigured back for preparation once those arrangements were made. He also handed over the locket they found and the potion sample they took. Both handed over a copy of the memory of the raid.

Rather than filing a report, Goblins found it easier (and less costly on parchment) for the Curse-Breakers to make a copy of their memory pertaining to the event. That way, actions could be studied in further detail, and they wouldn't have to worry about whether or not they missed anything relevant or important in the report. It was also for the purpose of making sure the employee didn't try to cheat them of anything found in the tombs. (They did get to keep a small share of the treasure found, but not much. The more of the treasure they kept, the less they were paid, too, so it evened out.) The date, and what the memory was of would be written out on a tag, and they would be stored away. Sometimes, they were brought out and used to teach new recruits when they were still in the training phase of their employment.

"Hmm... I will give this to Lord Black as well." The supervisor said, frowning at the locket. Then he held up the potion. "This will go to the labs for testing, of course." He set it aside before reaching into his desk and pulling out the tags for the memory vials, passing them over for the Curse-Breakers to fill them out. Taking them and tying them to the respective vial when they were done. "Alright, boys. To the Infirmary to get checked out, and I will see you tomorrow." He said, leaning back in his chair and looking at them.

They nodded, but before Bill left, he asked, "Sir, about what we discussed before this job?" He asked.

The Goblin blinked for a moment. "Oh! Yes, I spoke with King Ragnok, he said to just proceed as we have been. The Nation will be on the alert." He shrugged. Bill frowned, but nodded and left. Intent on going to the Infirmary and then going straight to his bed at the Burrow.

Kingsley had just returned from a meeting with the Goblins regarding the files he'd been pouring over, and the files that kept coming the more they investigated themselves.

(He'd also had another meeting with his account manager about his own vault security. For the duration of the investigations, his vault could only be accessed with blood, magical signature, key, and presence of the account manager and one other Goblin. They had discussed similar security measures for the other Aurors also working this case. His account manager also had a security Goblin with him at all times. He'd already had the wards around his home checked, and Amelia had assigned an Auror or two for his wife's safety.)

"Alright, everyone, listen up!" Amelia called when she stepped out of her office, still wearing her Wizengamot robes. "I just got word, England has been selected to host the 1994 Quidditch World Cup! The search for where to build the stadium has already started, and I have the sign-up sheet for those of you who want to work the event. Know this now, if there are not enough volunteers at the time of said event, then I will just assign people to it, anyway, regardless of whether or not you have tickets to be a spectator. If you do get tickets, let me know, that way I know who is already there should an emergency arise." She looked around for a moment. "I know we still have a couple of years, but with an event like this, it's best to start early so you can start making plans. Which is why I am calling for volunteers rather than just assigning Aurors, I know some of you will want to attend with your families." She looked around again before sticking the sheets to the wall outside her door with a sticking charm and going back into her office.

She was already unbuttoning her Wizengamot robes as she went, so she could take them off and get back into her (much more comfortable and fashionable) Auror robes.

Kingsley leaned back in his chair and started thinking. His wife would probably want to go, she loved Quidditch. Well, he would see what she said when he got home and heard what the Healer said. She'd been sick the last few days, so he made her an appointment and made her promise to go, while making sure Gawain Robards (one of the Aurors on her detail) knew to make sure she got there. He thought he knew, but he wasn't going to get his hopes up. He would wait for what the Healer said.

He sighed and glanced at the files on his desk again. He was going out to interview Bathilda Bagshot today, she should have something for him. From all accounts Dumbledore grew up in Godric's Hollow near where she lived after his father was sent to Azkaban for assaulting three Muggle boys... and refused to say why. He also made a mental note to visit with Aberforth Dumbledore later on. Those financial reports took forever to get through, he was just now starting on everything else. And a couple more financial reports landed on his desk everyday.

From what he gathered, the reason it was taking so long for the Goblins to uncover it all, was because whatever Goblin (it could have only been a Goblin helping him) was helping Dumbledore, he'd been good at covering their tracks. They were being led on wild goose chases trying to follow parchment trails, some of those trails led to a dead-end, some didn't. They had to backtrack so many times and try to unravel so much parchmentwork... it was taking them a while. And, the fact that they were having to go back at least fifty years, into the records. That was taking a while, as well.

Not only that, but because of the leak Amelia had discovered after learning about several reports Arthur left on her desk, that she never saw, he had started carrying all his files for this case with him at all times. His account manager had given him a money pouch, the ones they only handed out for their wealthiest clients, to keep the files in. They didn't just hold money, after all. He wasn't taking the chance of any of these files disappearing on him, this case was too important.

He sighed and got up to head back out. On his way out, he stopped by the front desk and filled out a request form for vacation time, leaving the space for the dates he wanted blank for now, putting off the side that as soon as the current case was done. The men assigned to the desk just gave him sympathetic smiles.

Everyone knew he was on the Dumbledore case.

Bill quietly walked into the Burrow, aiming straight for his room. He was trying to be quiet so he didn't alert his mother that he was there before he had a chance to clean up and take care of his small injuries. He'd of course been checked over for anything more severe before leaving the bank, but these were just cuts and bruises. Per the Goblins warrior tradition, they would just be cleaned up so the cuts didn't get infected, and left to heal on their own. As a way of showing off that you were a fighter and survivor.

That Muggle saying 'you should see the other guy?' Yeah, Bill was pretty sure that was stolen from the Goblins somehow.

He cringed when he was going past the living room and heard his parents talking. He cringed even more when the first stair he stepped on decided to creak. He felt like crying. That stair hadn't creaked when he was younger and sneaking down to the kitchen for a midnight snack, or sneaking outside with Charlie to fly!

"Bill, is that you?" Molly called after a moment. Clearly she'd glanced at the clock to see who it could have been. He sighed.

"Yes, mom." He called back, directing his feet towards the living room instead. When he stepped in and heard her gasp, he cursed in Egyptian.