A/N Thanks for your reviews and support.

DarkRavie: thanks for your review, my friend.

WhiteElfElder: thanks for your review, my friend. True but the Guilds have a few tricks of their own. We will just have to wait and see who gets the better of who.

Harrison's/Nice's POV

Coldly he said, "As much as I don't want to send someone to evaluate him we don't have much of a choice. A Dark Lord is something to be investigated. And we have no real reason to refuse him."

One of the master's sighed tiredly, "Nice, has a point. We have no reason to refuse him. At least not yet."

"Then we will have to activate the two we have in Hogwarts. Have them watch and report."

Master nodded. Neither he or Nice liked the idea but they didn't have much of a choice. Their duty was to consider all the possibilities. Investigate everything until they were sure of the best course of action.

The balance of the world was kept by them. Even if they didn't always agree with what it took to get there.

One of the assassins asked, "And the Dark Lord?"

Nice scrubbed a hand over his face as he said, "He's back. I have seen him for myself. He is my biological father but my loyalty is to the Guild first."

Master praised lightly, "Well said, Nice," then said to the others, "We cannot add another to the Dark Lord's ranks without arousing suspicion. I say as long as Nice's cover is not blown then we keep him as the only Guild member there."

The others nodded silently. There was no need for debate here. Every one of them knew their duty and how to uphold it.

Typically there would be at least two of the Hunter Guild to do a job like this. Hunters worked in pairs to gather information and keep their partners alive. If something happened to one the other would react appropriately.

They knew the moment they became full-fledged members their survival wasnt guaranteed. They knew that one day they wouldn't make it home. This was an eventuality they all accepted. It was part of the life they chose.

The Hamatora squad was the best suited for the mission. Even if Nice wasnt already in place he would have been called in for the mission. It was more important than recuperating. The balance was at stake and he swore to uphold it.

Another asked, "We are agreed then?"

All of them nodded. They had no choice. This was the path they had to walk down.

Without another word, Dumbledore was allowed to hear them again. Master stood drawing the old man's attention.

He said in a cold no-nonsense tone, "Albus Dumbledore we have made our decision. We will send an anonymous member of the Hunter Guild to inspect both sides. When we have reached our final decision you will be called back here. Until then unless it is absolutely dire do not contact the Guilds again. Any attempts to interfere with the investigation will be met with heavy opposition and consequences. This is your only warning."

One that Nice was sure the old man would not heed. He would try to figure out who the representatives were and to sway them to his side. They would have to be careful.

The wards forced the man out at their dismissal of him. Nice stood and went to the middle of the clearing.

Master said his eyes cold, "Nice before this was a mission assigned by myself. Now, this is an official mission of the Guild. You are to determine if the Dark Lord Voldemort is a threat to the balance of magic. Should he prove to be a threat you are to report back. If that is not possible your orders are to kill the Dark Lord. Do you accept your orders?"

"I do."

Master nodded. As it should be his orders were accepted. Soon after the meeting dispersed.

Nice said as he and Master began to walk towards the end of their clearing, "That went better than I thought it would. Dumbledore seemed unusually patient."

Carefully he glanced through the fringe of his bangs at the dark-skinned man. Brown eyes stared down at him for a moment before replying, "You are right in your observation. For Dumbledore that was too easy. I have little doubt that he will demand a decision from us during the Winter Solstice meeting. If not sooner. He could very well try to force our hands in this. Threaten war if we do not aid him."

They stepped out of the wards as Nice answered, "That would only bring us in as his enemies. Surely he isn't so stupid as to think he can face down the Guilds?"

"It's hard to tell. But your main job is to focus on the other," Master replied stiffly.

Nice noticed the change immediately. He would not avoid using a name unless they were being watched by unfriendly eyes. Unconsciously his hand touched his headphones. He Minimum didn't have a long activation but spells could be fired in the time it took him to put them on and snap.

Master, however, placed a hand on his arm and called out, "We know you are there. Might as well come out while you still can. My friend here can move much faster than you can."

Master wasn't bluffing. The speed of sound was nothing to scoff at. Even if it was only within a 15-foot radius.

Nice flinched as his father came out of the trees. It seemed his father had been waiting for them to come out. It should not have been possible for his father to follow him. Yet here the man was.

Red eyes were immediately upon him and dark magic wrapped around Nice. Any doubt that he had about why the Dark Lord was here evaporated. He knew exactly who Nice was even if he looked completely different.

The magic despite being dark in nature was warm to him. It wasnt the icy chill that he felt from others. Instead, a warmness that that should not belong to a Dark Lord.

As it was he could not escape his father. Magic being tied wrapped so tightly around him would stop his Minimum. Or at the very least make it harder for him to use it.

Slowly so as not to provoke his father or the magic surrounding him he moved his hand. Then he took off the ring allowing his features to return to normal.

His father asked with narrowed red eyes, "What is going on here, Harrison? Who is this?"

Lying to his father was never a good idea but it might be his only way out of this. Harrison responded green eyes looking over his father's shoulder, "This is Master. He takes in strays off the streets and teaches us how to be detectives. He is the owner of the bar my group run out of."

Master reprimanded, "Harrison."

He gave the man a small grin but never took his eyes off his father. If the man was going to make his move it would be then.

His father said coldly, "You will be coming home with me Harrison. It seems we have a lot to talk about."

Harrison didn't move. When it came between Master and his father. Master still had the strongest hold.

He had sworn loyalty to the Hunter Guild. That oath was not so easily broken. Nor did he want to break it after so many years of hard work. They had given him a home when his own family didn't want him.

One thing he learned in his father's absence. Blood didn't make family.