But What If

by Yavanna and SunStar

It's the summer of 2002 when Non Llewellyn, an anxiety riddled PTSD suffering auror, is just struggling to get through the days. Hot on the case of dark wizards who evaded capture after the war, she doesn't have time for any additional stress but when a new Ministry of Magic law gets put into place her world will never be the same again. *AU as FW lives*

16. Chapter 16

Disclaimer: I own nothing from the Harry Potter universe, that all belongs to J.K. Rowling. Non Llewellyn however is mine.

Chapter 16

I'd made sure to get up before Hermione the next day and I was just finishing up making scrambled egg to go with grilled tomatoes on toast for breakfast when she made her way into the kitchen yawning.

"Morning Non, god that smells good."

"Can't beat a good breakfast after drinking the night before."

Hermione hummed her agreement as she set about making us some tea and I started to plate everything up at the table. I left Hermione in peace as she ate but I was itching with curiosity to find out what had upset her the day before. After she'd finished eating and had absentmindedly rubbed at her scarred arm again I couldn't restrain myself any more.

"So c'mon then 'Mione, spill. Why were you so upset and why didn't you want Fred to know the reason? It's not about Ron, right?"

I'd seen Ron the day before and it was always obvious when he and Hermione had had a fight and he'd been actually almost cheerful, so I really didn't think he was the reason.

"No it's not Ron. In fact we've actually managed a few proper conversations this last week which is progress I guess."

Hermione fought a grimace as her thoughts strayed to Ron before she shook her head slightly and sighed.

"It was something to do with work actually but I'm not sure if I should tell you. It's a bit…delicate?"

It was very strange to see Hermione Granger so flummoxed. But she was rubbing at her arm again, at her mudblood scar, and that only got my mind working one way. I still remembered the overheard conversation of the aurors at Azkaban.

"Is it something to do with anti muggle born sentiment at the Ministry?"

Hermione snatched her hand back from her arm but it was more the shock on her face that made me know I'd guessed right.

"I've overheard some of it myself 'Mione," I explained with a gentle smile, "So why not just go ahead and tell me?"

"Well it's…it's a bit more complicated than that. You know I was in the same school year as Malfoy so I can normally brush off petty insults but I was…threatened. Which of course I handled myself but there was someone else who tried to…comfort me. Well, it was more a proposition really."

I'd been biting back a smirk when Hermione had said she'd handled it herself – because of course she would have. She was one witch I'd never want to mess with. But the second half of her recounting made me feel very uneasy.

"Who were they Hermione?"

She wouldn't meet my gaze as she took a slurp of her tea.

"Were they aurors?"

As she choked on her tea I could feel my mouth settle into a grim smile. I'd thought it over quickly but I couldn't see that it could have been anyone else than someone from the auror department. Her hesitance to tell me just didn't make sense otherwise. I didn't come into regular contact with all that many other Ministry employees so there would have been no problem with her telling me otherwise.

"Which aurors Hermione?"

I was making sure to ask all my questions gently. Hermione was prone to being stubborn and if she felt I was badgering her or demanding an answer I knew she'd be less likely to tell me anything.

"I don't know the name of the one who threatened me but the other…"

There was both concern and pleading in her dark eyes and my mind raced furiously. Were there any aurors I had heard about that had an unsavoury reputation? My heart froze momentarily before it picked up again at a frantic pace. I mean there was one, and he was high up enough in the auror department that Hermione would know his name. There'd always been rumours, unsubstantiated, of him propositioning young witches who started work at the Ministry with promises of help and promotion in return of…sexual favours. I felt a bit queasy that I might be about to find out it was all true.

"Was it Stent?"

I didn't think I was ever going to be able to shake the picture of a scared looking Hermione Granger, hands grasping her mug of tea to her chest as she nodded silently. I pushed back my chair with a curse as I started to pace. I mean, fuck this was bad. Stent was joint head of department, he was nigh on untouchable. But then Hermione was one of the golden trio… I shook my head. That hadn't even worked in her favour over the marriage law and if the rumours were right about Stent he'd been doing this for years and getting away with it. And I mean who could stop it, the aurors? He controlled most of them.

"There's always been rumours about him Hermione. I mean when I started my training Tobin told me to steer clear from him but she never told me why." I cursed again. "Tell me what happened."

"There's not a lot to tell, not really. An auror threatened me and I handled it but then Stent called me into a room. He said he could protect me, see that I'd be left alone if I…gave him something back in return. He meant sex. Of course I refused him and that's when he turned nasty. Said I'd have to watch my back, that I'd only been safe all these years because of him."

"He's a pig."

I hissed the words out, trying to control the surge of anger that was now coursing through me.

"I mean he's talking rubbish right Non, there's not actually been a threat?"

I sat back down at the table and took a gulp of tea as I decided how best to approach this. No I didn't think there had been a threat to her in the past, but now? If there were aurors now feeling brave enough to voice out loud anti muggle born sentiment and to even act on it…perhaps there was a risk to her.

"In the past? Definitely not. But you need to know Hermione that things are pretty fucked up in the auror department right now. Did Harry tell you what happened with the new recruits?"

I waited for the nod of her head and was relieved I didn't have to delve into that.

"Well there's politics at play and Stent and Proctor, he's in charge of Azkaban, are the ones that seem to be taking control. So there's a real chance that Stent is bullshitting 'Mione, hell it wouldn't surprise me if he set up the threat from the other auror just to have a chance of propositioning you but there is a risk that the threat is real. I'm sorry."

Hermione let out a weary sigh and when she looked at me she just looked tired. So, so tired.

"I never thought I'd have to go through this again Non. Always having to look over my shoulder."

"Well look I reckon it's just a case of a few precautions, just until we can see if there's anything more sinister. So for now don't work late so there's a chance you'll be caught on your own. I mean you're allowed to take work home with you right? And this place is secure so…"

I trailed off but Hermione was nodding her head, albeit reluctantly.

"I guess. I just always get so much more done staying late at the office without anyone to interrupt me. I hate I have to change my own behaviour just because there are some people who are bigots."

Well I could understand that completely. And whilst I'd told Hermione here was safe I hadn't, I remembered, double checked over my wards. That was definitely a job I had to do this morning.

"Why didn't you tell Fred?"

"Well he's not…I mean, Fred tends to act without thinking about the consequences sometimes. I mean it's normally George that tempers most of their pranks. I'm a bit worried about what he'd do really. But that's not it I…he noticed Non. He noticed I wasn't alright, even when I tried to brush it off."

"And you think Ron wouldn't have?"

I asked her quietly and she just nodded guiltily.

"I know I shouldn't compare them, and really I think it's my fault. With Ron. I've always tried to seem so put together I never liked him to see me weak. Not even about my parents. Ron used to try you know? After Bellatrix got me, what she did to me, Ron tried so hard to comfort me he really did but I just pushed him away. I couldn't afford to give in to what I'd gone through then, I thought we'd have time after to talk through it but it just never happened."

I shifted a bit uncomfortably. What Hermione was saying about dealing with things later was pretty much my motto for all of the things that had happened to me.

"If-if you think your pushing Ron away was part of what made your relationship so hard then-"

"-maybe I shouldn't do the same with Fred?"

Hermione finished off the question and I quirked an eyebrow at her as she groaned in annoyance.

"Urgh I know Non, I know I should just tell him. It's just…difficult."

I nodded sympathetically even as I stood to start clearing up the breakfast dishes.

"Well look I'll see if I can get Harry to get his hands on Stent's teams work rota. There's no chance I'll be able to have access to it myself. I'm working with him later…"

I trailed off. Was I working with him at two o'clock or four? I scanned the kitchen table for my planner so I could double check and I frowned when I couldn't see it.

"Hey Hermione have you seen my planner?"

We both spent the next few minutes searching for it when I sucked in a strangled breathe.

"Oh shit, George had it yesterday."

I'd been trying to get it off him when Fred had broken the piano and distracted me. Shit shit shit.

"Do you think he's still got it?"

"I'd say definitely. Look just come with me to the twins. I'm going to go and see Fred anyway, get it all over with and you can just ask George then."

I pulled a face.

"What, don't you want to see George?"

Not really.

"Oh it's not that Hermione, I just don't want to have to go to their shop when it's busy."

"Well look it's still only eight thirty so if we go right now we'll catch them before the shop opens."

I let out a sigh but reluctantly agreed with her. I mean I really did need that planner. I raced back upstairs to get dressed all the while chewing on my lip. Merlin why did George take it? I mean if he did take it that is. Shit, what if it was just missing?

Before long we were both stood outside the door to the twins flat, Hermione nervously biting on one of her curls as I was going through my normal routine of trying to keep my breathing calm. I didn't feel so bad to be here this time, not with Hermione with me, but I was seriously worried about George having my planner. Hermione let out an impatient sigh and she raised her hand to knock again only for the door to be jerked open and her fist almost collide with Fred's face.

"Hermione."

I had to stifle a laugh as Hermione blushed furiously but whether it was through embarrassment at nearly smacking Fred in the face, the fact that Fred was clad only in a pair of jeans or it was the way he'd just said her name I wasn't sure.

"Oh yes, morning Fred. Can I have a word?"

Ah bless her, trying to sound all business like. Fred's smile showed he was as amused as me and he stepped back before gesturing with his head for us to enter.

"Morning Non, George is in the kitchen."

He didn't even give me a chance to respond before he was hurrying after Hermione to the living room. I shut the door quietly behind me before making my way to the kitchen and swinging the door open, to be confronted with George in the same state of undress as his twin with his back to me as he leant over the kitchen table, wand in hand as he tapped at a piece of parchment. By Helga, he had nice shoulders.

I blinked stupidly for a moment trying to banish that thought before my eyes zoned in on the parchment again. If I wasn't very much mistaken…

"I'd quite like my planner back please George."

George jumped at the sound of my voice but what really topped it off was his almost girlish shriek of surprise. I couldn't stop myself from laughing and I had to lean on the door frame for support as I tried to catch my breath. His face had gone from surprised, to outraged, to embarrassed then finally to amused as he turned to face me fully, propping himself up against the table as he crossed his arms and waited for me to stop laughing. With a final half giggle I finally straightened up.

"Non."

For some absurd reason I found myself fighting a blush so I quickly held out my hand.

"My planner?"

"Of course. I took it, quite by mistake you know."

I pretended to nod my agreement with his quite frankly obvious lie as he scooped up the parchment from the table and handed it to me. Despite the days of the week being written on it is was in all other respect blank. What the…

"What the fuck George, where's my rota?"

"Language." He tweaked at my hair. "I just made some improvements that's all."

"What, you got rid of all my work?"

"I wish." He snorted, only in half amusement before he fixed me with a cheeky grin. "You just have to say the magic words Non."

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion as I pocketed the planner, giving an inner cheer as George had to fight against a pout. No way was I going to entertain him by trying to figure it out in front of him.

"You know I'm quite glad you called round this morning. I have a gift for you."

I raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Hmm."

"Always so suspicious."

I managed to duck out of the way before he tweaked my hair this time and he huffed slightly in annoyance before he pulled a package wrapped in blue paper from his back pocket and handed it to me.

I hesitantly opened it, half expecting it to explode with confetti or shoot something at me but when the packaging fell away all that was in my hand was a small notebook with a quill fixed in place to the spine. I glanced up at George in confusion.

"This is something Fred and I designed last year. We actually got the idea from muggles. They've got these portable telephones you know, but instead of speaking to each other they can send messages, like we do with owls but its instant. It's amazing really."

"Oh, you mean text messages?"

"Yeah that's right. So we thought, why on earth don't we have something like that? So that's what these notebooks do. They come in pairs that are linked to each other so we can send an instant message instead of having to deal with the hassle of an owl or a floo call or whatever."

"Wow George that's…that's exceptional magic."

It was also potentially really, really dangerous. How were we supposed to monitor criminals if they had something like this to use? Our surveillance work or interception of owls would be useless if they could communicate this way.

"I don't remember seeing these in your shop?"

I cast George a quick look as I asked just in time to see him try and hide a grin before he scratched at the back of his neck.

"Well uh, Harry pretty much told us we couldn't put a product like this on general sale, too much scope for them to be misused by dark wizards. There is talk of us maybe providing the auror department with some though. What, you don't think that's a good idea?"

"Oh no I-I-" shit I didn't know how to answer and I must have been pulling a face. Ordinarily I'd have said yes, it's a bloody brilliant idea but with the way the auror department was at the moment allowing us means of secretly communicating didn't seem a great idea. "I mean, it's just how would you monitor it? I'm sure our bosses would like to know we were actually using it for work. I can name quite a few in our department that would probably abuse it."

George nodded his understanding before ducking his head.

"Exceptional magic though?"

I had to swallow down my nerves as he looked at me.

"Uh well yes. It really is. How come you guys never seemed this clever at school?"

Oh god, I can't believe I just asked that. George's eyebrows shot up before he snorted with laughter.

"Non, was that a very unsubtle way of saying we seemed a bit stupid?"

If it was possible for a whole body to turn red with embarrassment I think mine just did.

"N-no just not very, erm, scholarly?"

"Well I can't argue with that," George chuckled before he tweaked my hair again and I lightly scowled at him. "Here let me show you how it works."

He took out a matching pad from his other pocket.

"See here the quill doesn't need ink, and the pad page works more like an imprint. You just use the quill to write directly on it here…"

George quickly scribbled a message on his notepad and I felt mine heat up and I flipped it open.

{Hello Non Non}

I rolled my eyes before I hesitantly wrote a message back.

{Hi, Um}

George grinned at me.

"See, it's as easy as that. Easier for us to keep in touch too what with your crazy work schedule. You know, you should have a word with your boss about that."

It was my turn to snort a laugh. I could just imagine Beckett's face if I asked him to cut back my hours.

"Yeah okay George, I'm not that brave."

I glanced a bit nervously at the notepad in my hands too. I was a bit apprehensive about it all really, I mean it was a bit weird that George would be so instantly contactable. Not really in a bad way but I quite liked it when I had a few days break from him just so I could well recover my nerves really. And now not only did he have access to my home he could also write to my instantly. Which I supposed seeing as we were trying to be friends and this law was forcing us to be together wasn't a bad thing as such, but it was also…a bit much. And I mean, there was another reason too.

"Um, George? I-I'm not a very good speller."

"So?"

"It's just, if I write you there'll probably be a lot of mistakes. I always use a spellcheck spell on my work but I'm guessing this notepad doesn't allow for that as the imprints get sent straight away?"

"Yeah that's right you can't use spells on the words but what does it matter? No one spells everything perfectly, I know I don't."

"No it's just…well, I don't like making mistakes."

I bit my lip. God I sounded a bit lame really didn't I? But honestly, I was a terrible speller.

"Why Non Llewellyn I believe you're a perfectionist."

"I – well no, I mean, I just like to do things well." I frowned at him. "That's not a bad thing you know."

"Not at all, everyone likes to do things well but perfectionists, they tend to put too much pressure on themselves you know? Setting unrealistic expectations. Or am I wrong and you don't do that at all?"

I found it very difficult to look George in the face and I shrugged before I froze and shot him a nervous look to see him raise an eyebrow in response. Shit he'd said no more shrugging the other day hadn't he?

"Maybe sometimes? I dunno, you'd have to ask the girls I guess."

Oh god I shouldn't have said that, I didn't want him asking the girls anything about me. I was quite surprised he hadn't already done that given he'd already quizzed Ernie. Or shit, what if he had and they just hadn't told me?

"Oh I'll do that."

Anxiety surged though me at that but he just grinned cheekily at me before checking the clock on the kitchen wall.

"I'm afraid Non I'm going to have to make a move, shop opens in ten minutes and I still need to finish getting dressed. And you, if I recall your planner, have the morning off."

Merlin, I'd nearly forgotten he was shirtless. To hide my embarrassment I narrowed my eyes at him at the mention of my planner but he just chuckled as he made to walk me to the door, where he looped one arm around me in an easy hug goodbye. He'd done it so naturally I hardly even had time to tense like I normally did.

"Let me know when you figure out the magic words."

"Oh I will. Bye George."

He waved me a goodbye and I quickly hurried to the Leaky so I could apparate home. I hadn't heard Hermione leave the flat but I guessed she would soon be making her own way to work. As soon as I got back to my place I quickly set about making a cup of tea as I unfolded my planner on the table in front of me and tapped at it experimentally with my wand.

What the….?

I gaped open mouthed in outrage at the message that had appeared on the parchment.

'You'll have to try harder than that Non'

I let out a string of curses letting it know exactly what I thought of it.

'Such a foul mouth for such a pretty witch.'

What. The. Fuck.

I spent the next ten minutes trying a whole host of spells and charms but the stupid parchment never revealed my planner and in my annoyance I grabbed the notebook George had gifted to me and pushing my worry about my spelling to one side I scribbled a quick message.

{Two qwestions. One, what have you done to my planer? Two, why is it flirting with me?}

Because it was. Nearly every message had some stupid compliment. I didn't have long to wait at all for a reply.

{Well I'd say it was showing impeccable taste.}

{O ha ha. What are the magic words please?}

{Well seeing as you said please I shall give you a clue. It's two words.}

{Go on?}

{That was the clue.}

I sat back and blinked at the notepad. That was all he was going to tell me? Two words? I picked up the quill again.

{You have a very differant idea to me as what makes a clue.}

"Stupid fucking George Weasley."

I muttered grumpily to myself as I took a gulp of tea and nearly choked as when I glanced down there was my planner all filled in before me. A quick glance told me I didn't start work until two o'clock. I folded up my planner before smoothing it open again and sure enough it was blank.

Two words, why the little shit hadn't…

"George Weasley."

He fucking had.

He'd made his name the magic words. Because there nice and clearly after I'd said his name again was my complete planner. I snatched up the notepad.

{You George Weasley are an attention seeker.}

I mean he really was. His bloody name. I couldn't say his name every time I needed to access this it was absurd. How in the hell had he done it? I hadn't come across any spell work like this before but then again I mused, charm work wasn't my forte and my knowledge was based mainly on defence against the dark arts. I supposed George came across many different types of spells for his job.

{I was worried you would forget me with the amount you have to work.}

{That's a bit bloody difficult.}

{Oh? Memorable am I?}

{That's not quite the word I'd use.}

{Ah of course, you prefer words like marvellous or exceptional.}

Merlin I could practically see him nodding sagely at me even as he was obviously joking and I couldn't help a grin even as I rolled me eyes.

{You keep telling yourself that.}

{Oh, I will.}

I scoffed lightly before I flipped the notepad shut. That was more than enough George Weasley for one day and I had plenty I needed to be getting on with this morning.

My first job was to read through my old Welsh text books to check on my wards. It had been complicated magic and something Audrey and Percy hadn't been able to help me with and my brow furrowed as I read through the pages. It didn't help that it was in medieval Welsh either and whilst the language hadn't changed that much it was still a bit difficult to follow. After an hour of studying though I was pretty happy that my wards were still working like they should and I felt a small knot of tension release from my shoulders that I hadn't even realised was there. It would give me peace of mind at least.

My next job was to do a quick review of the books Bill had sent to me via George. I curled up in the arm chair in my living room as I summoned the books to me, with a parchment and quill resting on the arm of the chair in case I needed to make any notes. Disappointingly only one of the books seemed to contain anything anywhere near what I was looking for but the books themselves would probably be useful for me to read through. Being an auror was all about continuing to improve and wards and shields were something I seemed to have a natural talent for so I was looking forward to learning more.

My morning was ticking by but even as I read through one of the books my eyes kept getting drawn towards the piano. I had managed to completely ignore even the thought of it when I was playing the game last night and even during my conversation this morning with Hermione I'd only given it a fleeting thought but now it was like it was looking directly at me, demanding my attention. After another five minutes of trying to concentrate I snapped my book with a huff and made my way over to it, hesitantly running my hand across the closed lid that was hiding the keys.

As my eyes traced over the piano it certainly seemed the twins had done a good job of repairing it, it didn't seem damaged at all. I drew out the piano stool and sat slowly before I eased the lid open. The keys all seemed fixed too although whether the twins had put them back correctly…

I softly pressed down on the middle C and it rang out quite clearly. It was still in tune. I'd charmed it some four years ago, an old spell my father had taught me but I hadn't known it would still be working. I figured the charm would have worn off given my lack of playing the piano. My fingers hovered slightly before I pressed a few more keys.

I could almost feel the notes move through the air, it was like I could feel the strings hidden on the piano's insides vibrating, like I could almost see the notes as they disturbed the silence of the room. My house was usually very quiet. The only noise really when I was there was from the far off musical cry of a dragon, I didn't even put the radio on anymore. In my defence that was because I found it hugely difficult not to sing along and when you knew you couldn't sing anymore…well it was easier just to remove the temptation.

My right hand moved again, picking out notes to an old tune I used to play and as my left hand moved to join in I let my eyes fall shut. It was almost like I'd never stopped playing. Could my fingers just really remember? Was that even possible? Then again I'd played so much when I was younger perhaps there was part of me that would always remember. As I finished my eyes opened and I glared slightly at my hands on the keys. I'd made a lot of mistakes.

["Cariad why do you always focus on what little you got wrong, instead of the lot you got right?"]

I snapped my head around at the sound of a voice but the room was empty and I shivered even as my vision blurred. It had sounded just like my mam, she always would try and get me to focus on the positives. If I tried hard enough I could even feel her hand running through my hair like she always used to as she walked by when I was playing before she'd murmur some encouragement or advice and leave me to it. I rubbed a rough hand across my eyes as I closed the piano lid and made my way out to the back garden where I sniffled, trying to fight the tears back.

See this is why I didn't bloody play the piano any more. This always happened. I'd hear my mam only to remember she was no longer here. I closed my eyes almost in physical pain as I waited for the pang of loss to pass, for the weight to shift off my chest so I could breathe freely again. I didn't go back inside for the rest of the morning.

By the time I arrived at the Ministry about half hour before my surveillance shift was due to start I'd finally started to feel a bit better. I was also very pleased to see that Harry had turned up early too and I sidled up to his desk quietly.

"Boo."

I sniggered into my hand as Harry jumped, his quill puncturing through the parchment he had been writing on. He let out a slightly exasperated sigh when he saw me.

"Has anyone ever told you you're quite childish?"

"Being grown up is boring Harry, how do you not know this?"

"Are you going to be like this all day?"

"Possibly." My grin widened as Harry rolled his eyes dramatically. "Say Harry, you're a pretty high profile kind of guy," understatement of the year, "and have access to all sorts of information right?"

"Er…yes?"

I didn't blame him for looking suspicious.

"You wouldn't by any chance be able to let me know who was working on Stent's rotas on Thursday, could you?"

I'd made sure to check that neither Stent or any of his workers were in the room but I'd still lowered my voice when asking. Harry narrowed his eyes at me.

"I'm guessing I don't want to know why. Just Thursday though? I think I can do that."

"Oh good, thanks Harry."

I bustled back over to my desk to start reviewing my urgent memos before the surveillance shift started even as my mind was racing. I'd figured just asking for one day was better than trying to ask for a whole week or month of rotas, I knew that would flag up a warning to Stent. It was of course the reason I'd put in an anonymous request for the information on Proctor's team. But for one day though I knew Harry had the means of getting that, and that one day would give me a large number of the names on Stent's team although annoyingly not all, but more importantly I could go through the list with Hermione to see if we could pick out who her assailant had been. I'd be able to find out which Ministry officials he normally guarded then so as to help Hermione be more prepared should she encounter him again.

Before long both Harry and I were making our way to the warehouse where we took over from Tobin and Hopkiss. I had to stifle a groan as Tobin paused to whisper her latest sexual adventure to me. I swear she only did this for my reaction as I had to fight off a blush. By the time she'd finished Harry had already gotten himself settled in a seat and I hurried over and flung myself into mine.

"What did Tobin want?"

"Oh just telling me all about HD."

"HD? Who's that?"

"Oh" I faltered. It was her partners whose name she wouldn't tell me so I'd started to refer to him as HD in my head. There was no way I was telling Harry it stood for huge dick. "Her partner, you know the one she's going to have to marry."

"I thought he was called Rodney?"

Rodney? Rodney?! Ha, no wonder she hadn't told me his name. I coughed to cover up a laugh.

"Yeah it's just an erm, nick name."

"Right."

Harry didn't sound convinced but he was soon distracted as I summoned my flask of tea and a tin of cupcakes from my bag. I checked to see he was still keeping one eye on the warehouse as I settled myself into a more comfortable position. I shifted awkwardly before pulling an offending item from the back pocket of my jeans. Of course, it was the stupid notebook George had given me. I was in the process of stuffing it in my back when my eyes caught on some faint lettering stamped down the spine half hidden by the quill.

N.A.G.A.S.S.S.

Of course, our awkward silence society!

"What are you smiling at?"

I hastily shoved the notebook into my bag.

"Oh nothing. And I wasn't smiling."

"If you say so."

I cast a slightly irritated glance at Harry but he was now busy chewing on a cup cake, both eyes trained on the warehouse in front of us. This part of the job was boring but I supposed there were worse people to share a shift with.

As the hours passed Harry and I mused over the problem with the smuggling of illegal goods. He was of the same opinion as me that there must be some inside help but no matter how I asked he didn't seem to have access to any further information than me and I huffed lightly even as I stretched in my seat. It was now coming up to nine o'clock so we had about an hour left and I was starting to get really uncomfortable. I needed a distraction.

"Say Harry, have you proposed to Ginny yet?"

I knew he hadn't, and subtle hints never worked with Harry so I figured the direct approach couldn't hurt.

"What?" He gave a cough of surprise. "Er I mean well no. I didn't think I'd have to?"

I cast him a scandalised look.

"Of course you have to Harry!"

"But, I mean with this law we are going to be getting married anyway so why ask?"

The dull lamp light we had in the room flashed lightly on his glasses as he turned to face me, confusion clear on his face. I let out an exasperated sigh.

"Oh Harry. You still need to ask. I mean ideally you only propose once in your life. Or were you waiting for Ginny to propose to you?"

"No! I'd want to do the asking. I mean I did have a plan I just-well I-."

He trailed off , stuttering adorably and I had to clasp my hands together to stop myself giving a delighted clap.

"A plan? Oh Harry, if you had one then you have to ask her. Trust me, I think she'd appreciate it. It'll make it seem more like you want to marry her rather than you have to."

"Well of course I want to marry her!"

I practically cooed at that and I bounced happily in my seat.

"Urgh Non honestly, sometimes I forget you're such a girl."

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. So, what's your plan? Actually no wait, don't tell me! I want to be genuinely surprised when Ginny lets me know."

"So-so you really think I should ask?"

Bashful Harry was adorable.

"Definitely Harry. And you said you had a plan, be a shame to waste it right?"

Harry grinned at me in response and I felt an answering smile on my face before we both froze. If we were looking at each other it meant no one was looking at the warehouse and whilst for the past three weeks there'd been the square root of fuck all happening…

I snapped my eyes forward and let out a curse. There were red sparks dancing across the warehouse's cracked windows.

"Shit."

"Fuck."

I scrambled with my bag to summon my ominoculors, noticing Harry had already fished his own pair out of the pockets of his robe and I cursed myself for not being more prepared. I slammed them up against my eyes a bit too forcefully as I zoomed the focus in on the warehouse. The door was slightly ajar but there was no sign of human activity on the outside. The next half hour passed in strained silence as we waited for the sparks and flashing lights to stop. Then sure enough a robed figure made its way outside. It was a tall figure that moved confidently. It didn't appear that it was aware it was being watched which was a good thing, it meant we were still undetected. As the robed figure turned to secure the door a thin strand of moonlight appeared from behind a cloud and I sucked in a breath. They were wearing a mask. A perfectly white, expressionless mask.

It was Creepy Mask Guy from the warehouse raid all those weeks ago. The one that had gotten away even after we'd captured the rest of the smugglers. This was bad, this was oh so very bad. This meant that there was a connection between the illegal smuggling and the experimental magic. This meant that CMG was not only wanted for smuggling he was a prime suspect in the murder of Mr Task too.

"You recognise him right Harry?"

"Yes."

The grim annoyance in Harry's voice told me all I needed to know. We waited for a very strained ten minutes after he'd left (we'd had strict instructions to monitor only and not make arrests if we saw anything) before we both eased ourselves out of our seats to head to the warehouse.

It was slow going. We had to make sure there had been no trip wards erected or hexes placed on the doorway that would let the CMG know we had been there. As we finally eased the door open Harry muttered a quick lumos . I didn't add mine to it, we didn't want to draw too much attention and I stayed near the door to keep watch as Harry made his way further inside. It was eerily silent, just the occasional lap and splash of the sea as it hit the land but other than that – nothing. Not even a whisper of wind.

Harry finally made his way back over to me, where he handed me an evidence jar that contained just one inside out fish.

"There's a sort of well or shoot near the back wall that drops right down into the sea I'm guessing there were a bunch of these but just the one left behind. C'mon let's see if we can see how he got to and from here, he didn't seem to apparate."

I nodded silently as we split up to comb the walkway and surrounding area. There was just a sheer drop down to the sea and as I muttered a few detection spells but there wasn't a trace of magic from this side, CMG hadn't gone this way. I frowned. He'd not apparated but he'd been hard for our eyes to follow as he left and I was guessing he'd put some sort of disillusionment charm on himself. So he was clearly trying to hide his activity but that didn't really make much sense given how confidently he'd exited the warehouse.

A low whistle from Harry had me hurrying over to him and there, almost hidden by a half fallen down stone wall and a scraggily gorse bush was the start of a very faint path.

"C'mon then Llewellyn."

I followed Harry silently, straining my ears for any other sounds as I felt my body thrumming with adrenaline. For once though this was good adrenaline, this was an adrenaline that made my hyper focused. I mean it would probably also leave me feeling exhausted later but for now, being out in the dark, tracking a criminal and having to rely on my senses I actually revelled in it. I'd forgotten what it felt like, it was almost like excitement although I could never call it that, not when there was a hint of danger. There was an edge though, but one that wasn't so strong as to overwhelm me with anxiety and I paused momentarily to glance behind me as I took that in.

Yes it was adrenaline, yes I was a bit nervous but for the first time in a very long time I felt more or less in control. Was this what Beckett meant when he said I was ready for this again? I mean that had been early two months ago now and I hadn't believed him at all. But this was work, it was something that I knew how to do and how to do well. I squared my shoulders as I turned back to follow Harry. I had to try and remember this feeling for when I had my bad days. Because this feeling made all the stresses worth it.

By the time I got home that night it was nearing three in the morning. Harry and I had traced the track for miles up to an abandoned stone building that looked like an old farm labourers cottage but we hadn't dared get closer. If this was CMG's base we didn't want to alert him to the fact we had found it. After returning to the Ministry we'd had to write up our reports and it was as the pleasant buzz of adrenaline left me to be hit by a more sickening swirl of anxiety that my exhaustion hit.

Because if CMG linked the experimental magic to the smuggling then it meant he was also linked to Azkaban. After all, there'd been experimental magic there too if Morris was to be believed. I felt the pressure of Beckett's task weighing on me. I still hadn't had the information I needed to analyse the staffing at Azkaban and I hadn't really turned my full attention to the smuggling issue as yet but that was going to have to change.

I'd spent the next hour pouring over the smuggling reports to try and see if I'd missed anything before Harry had grunted at me to go home.

My jaw cracked as I yawned as I made my way up the stairs to my room. God I was tired but my brain was still racing with too many thoughts. As I got changed for bed I thought hard again about the smuggling and who could possibly be influencing things from in the Ministry. It had to be someone with influence at least so that would help me narrow it down. Likely to be wealthy too if they had to find means of arranging purchase and disposing of the goods. I'd have to make a list of employees that fell in that criteria.

As I crawled in to bed I snagged my bag to fish out my rota and absently took the notebook out too.

I glared at the parchment of my planner.

"George Weasley."

I whispered it as quietly as I could out of spite but thankfully a whisper seemed enough as my planner appeared and my eyes looked for my work rota. I started again at eight in the morning with Ron. I blinked sleepily at the parchment. What the…

'Surveillance with Revolting Ronnikins'

I had most definitely not written that. Not at all. There was only one possible person who could have done it. I snatched up the notebook and flipped it open, snatching up the quill and paused just as I was about to scribble a message to see there were some already waiting for me.

{So it's my friend Lee Jordan's birthday in a couple of days and we're going out for food for it. Do you want to come?}

{There'll be no more than eight of us. And it'll be in muggle London so no magical press.}

{We can do it on Tuesday evening when you're free.}

{What do you say?}

I bit my lip. He had to have copied my rota there's no way his memory was that good. I could feel anxiety start to churn in my stomach and I honestly felt a bit sick. I was so tired and I had so much to think about with work I really didn't want to have to deal with this.

{Can I let you no in the morning?}

I chucked the notepad on my lap as I sunk back into the pillows trying to calm myself down. I mean it was just dinner. And if there were seven other people I could probably get away with not talking much… I felt the notepad heat up and I frowned, surely he couldn't have replied.

{Technically Non Non it is morning.}

I pulled a face even though I knew he couldn't see it.

{I've only just got home. It'll only be morning after I sleep.}

{What did you do, hit the pub after work?}

{Ha I wish. My shift over ran.}

{I hereby order you to get some sleep.}

I felt my lips quirk into a smile even as my eyes started to feel heavy. As busy as my mind was it looked like my body was ready to crash. He didn't need to tell me twice. The notepad heated up again.

{And don't worry about answering in the morning, we've got until Sunday to make the reservation. There's no rush.}

{Alright. Nos da George.}

I flipped it closed and placed the notebook on my nightstand and after carefully setting my alarm I mumbled a sleepy nox. It was only as the room turned dark I remembered I hadn't told him off for tampering with my planner but my pillow was so comfy and my eyes so heavy I couldn't be bothered to move. With only just over four hours until my alarm went off I needed as much sleep as possible and with a last heavy sigh I blissfully sank to sleep.

A/N: Welcome to all of my new followers it's great to have you on board.

Thank you so much if you've taken the time to review. I've tried to reply via PM where I could. I absolutely love getting reviews so please keep them coming.

Cariad – this is a Welsh term of endearment which basically means calling someone love. Cariad can also be another word for your partner/lover.

Nos da – this is Welsh for good night.

With regards to formatting for how Non and George message each other can you let me know if it's clear enough which one is writing or do I need to change it up a bit more? I've got one in normal bold and the other in italic bold. Just let me know if it's confusing.

Hope you liked this chapter anyway

Diolch, Yav