Teddy responded with a noncommittal grunt and leaned over the balcony to watch someone with a briefcase. They didn't visit any of the shops they thought were associated with the smuggling business. He leaned back. "But I'm not doing this for power. I'm doing this to help someone."

Hasan looked away at the empty street. "How do you think they all started?"

"You are saying that all of them thought they were helping people when they bullied wizards or werewolves or whatever?"

Hasan turned to Teddy. "Say there is something dangerous out there. Everyone expects you to help protect them but you don't know how. You are angry and scared but nothing you do seems to make a difference."

"What I do makes a difference," Teddy said defensively.

"Imagine," Hasan said, ignoring him, "that you see someone who is part of the problem. Maybe it is those blood-purists that are beginning to sound like Voldemort. You'd nail them, wouldn't you? Maybe nudge things so they are punished a little more then is allowed?"

"But they are bad and the law is pretty lenient on those types."

Hasan gave him a very weary look. "Because you are above prejudice, unlike the other Aurors? Being Harry's godson makes you infallible?"

"You know what, sod off," Teddy snarled.

Hasan didn't say anything.

Teddy turned the previous conversation over in his mind. Hasan was basically saying that he was like those corrupt Aurors. Did he think so little of him? Teddy had thought they were friends. Did Hasan despise him instead? That stung. Really really stung. How had Teddy never noticed before this?

"Teddy," Hasan said with a sigh.

"What," Teddy said gruffly, resolutely staring at the street.

"You get why I'm telling you this, right?"

Teddy grunted.

"You see a friend on the ledge and you pull them back before they slide off, right?"

Teddy paused and regrouped. Friend? Did Hasan hate him or not? He rethought through their conversation. "You think I'm going to become like them?" he asked warily.

Hasan shrugged. "Can't you see how easy it would be to be like them?"

Maybe the reason Teddy had freaked out was because it hit too close to home. Maybe Hasan could see it too and was doing the best he could to make sure it didn't happen. He grasped Hasan's shoulder. "Er... thanks, man."

Hasan laughed awkwardly. "What are friends for?"

Feeling awkward himself, Teddy slapped Hasan's back, maybe a little harder than usual. "So what do I? Letter of law even if it hurts people?"

Hasan shook his head. "I didn't say I had all the answers. Just wanted you to stop and think for once."

"Oh, now you are calling me an idiot too?" Teddy said, only half feigning outrage this time around.

"Teddy," Hasan said with a deep sigh. "You know you are an idiot sometimes.

Teddy couldn't argue the point so he just sighed. "Just gotta kick me while I'm down, don't you? If I'm the idiot what does that make you?"

Hasan smirked. "The one that is going to let said idiot drag me along on his godfather's coat-tails."

Teddy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, good luck with that."

They passed the night camped out on the terrace of one of the buildings. All they saw were a few people with briefcases wandering through a few shady shops. Unfortunately, owning a briefcase was not enough for Teddy and Hasan to accost any of the patrons and so that night was essentially a bust.

The next following nights were also a bust and eventually Harry declared their smuggling case dead in the water. Since Teddy had also been pulled from Lilith's case, Teddy and Hasan got shunting into helping the other Aurors with their caseload. Teddy had royally screwed things up for both of them on both of their first independent cases.

Idiot indeed.