2038, 4 August: The Ministry of Magic, London
With a sigh, I looked at the massive pile of paper on my desk. These last few years, the action that had originally come with the job had declined to nothing more than paperwork.
Then again, maybe this was a good thing. For the past ten years, there had been no Deatheater attacks avenging the fall of the dark lord. No cursed objects hurting and killing wizards and muggles. Nothing.
Sitting down, I placed my wand on the desk and started playing with it while whistling tunelessly. Absentmindedly, I stared at the scar on my hand. The sentence carved into it had been disrupted by a Dragon's Claw mark. Yet it still brought back anger when thinking about its origins.
I must not tell lies.
Mumbling a few curses, I grabbed the first paper on the large stack, only to be disturbed by a knock on my door.
"Come in!" I called, and a multitude of familiar faces walked inside.
The moment I saw the first face, I muttered a "Minister." accompanied by a nod of my head out of sheer habit.
"Come on, Harry. Leave the Protocol for a bit!" She laughed, giving me a hug. "Happy Late Birthday." Hermione smiled.
Ron then walked up, holding a cake. It looked a bit wonky and was shaped like a brick, so of course, I knew who had helped in making it.
I shook Ron's hand, smiling, before taking the cake and putting it on the table.
Ginny was smiling in the doorway, and Albus was standing next to her.
"Hagrid and Neville wanted to visit too, but they're going through some pre-school year stuff, and couldn't make it. Everyone else who I wanted to invite couldn't manage to come." Ginny said.
"Ginny is a master of subterfuge. She managed to keep this behind your back after all." Hermione laughed.
"Thank you, Ginny." I smiled. She blew over a kiss.
"I'd not miss this occasion for anything! When was the last time we even got together? Three years ago?" Ron said.
"Something like that yeah. Christmas."
"That was it, yeah." He smiled, looking into my eyes, "Bloody hell, I think the office work is getting to you. You look like shit."
I snorted, while Hermione slapped his arm.
"The Weasley's Wheezes shop doing well?" I asked.
"Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes..." Ron Corrected, "And yeah. Students never change. A Firework here, a skiving snack box there. Sometimes a Love Potion, though I don't like selling them. You know, bad memories..."
"Oh yeah, that was an interesting situation. And frankly quite frightening." I told him.
"I can't believe I dated that loony Lavander either, now that you mention it." Ron laughed.
Hermione elbowed him, and Ron looked at her.
"What's your problem? I thought you didn't like her."
"Let's just say I'm not going to hold a grudge on someone that dated my husband forty years ago. Plus, she's dead, and it doesn't feel right." There was a short silence before I interrupted it.
"What about you Hermione? What's it like being the Minister?"
"Honestly? Pretty Boring Nowadays."
"You tell me..." I muttered, staring at the paperwork on my desk.
"The most annoying thing is, I'd happily come down here to talk with you, but I've got such a packed timetable that I can't make it. I'd happily spend time talking to you than sitting in a big chair, and listening to other people's problems."
"I can only imagine." I sighed.
"What about you mate? Ginny hardly told us anything when she got together this little meeting. How've you been?"
"Desk work. Boring as fuck, but someone has to do it I guess. Sometimes wish something would happen. Though that's not exactly a good thing, is it?" I smirked.
Hermione looked at me like an idea had struck her. I knew that look all too well. She hadn't changed a bit in that field.
"What is it?"
"Maybe I can get you to move out a bit? When was the last time you went around examining Azkaban?"
"Quite a few years ago, now that you mention it. After a while, the orders stopped coming from you guys up top. Thought you'd given the job to someone younger."
"Oh no. We decided there wasn't really a need, seeing as how there was no incident ever since... What? Like Eighteen?"
"Yeah, that was a messy situation," I said, remembering the chaos a single Deatheater had caused for us.
She smiled, "As Minister of Magic, I give you permission to go on an inspection. See if everything is still in order. Take whoever you need."
Ron got starry-eyed a bit.
"Boy do I miss being an Auror. I wouldn't change it out for the Shop, but still-"
"Right, then you're coming with me." I told him.
"What?" Hermione started, not expecting that from me.
Ron pumped his fist. "I knew I could count on you mate!" He slapped my shoulder.
"Harry? He- You- What?"
"Don't worry, Hermione. I'll be fine. You said so yourself! No incidents."
"But- You're not an Auror."
"Come on!" Ron cried, stamping his foot like a five-year-old, "Some adventure never hurts in my life."
"You're saying-"
"No, No, No. No." He immediately clarified, "Just that I need this. A bit of a thrill with Harry. Plus if someone was once an Auror, they're always an Auror."
"That's not how it works Ronald Weasley. You are not some goddamn Lanky Twenty Year old. If it comes to a duel-"
"It won't though."
"I'll also be there to protect him," I smirked, getting a small punch to my forearm as a response from Ron.
She looked at my growing beer-belly sceptically.
"I'll also take Albus. Never hurts to spend some time with my son."
His face lit up at the door, though he said nothing.
Hermione's will crumbled. "Fine, just don't cause trouble." She sighed.
I strode over to my wand and pocketed it.
Then I let everyone leave my office, before closing it behind me.
"Thank you for this little surprise," I muttered to Ginny, Kissing her.
"No Problem." She replied once we pulled apart. "Take care of my Brother."
I smirked once again and looked at Ron, who seemed to be practising spells with an imaginary wand.
When I touched his shoulder, he jumped a bit, before realizing that he was acting stupidly.
"Where're we going, Dad?" Albus asked while playing with the Hogwarts Prefects badge he had gotten when leaving. He seemed to cherish that thing. I didn't know they gave those out, but apparently it was something you could ask for.
"I guess Azkaban is a good place to start. There's a Floo Network straight there in the Auror's Lounge. That'll be the fastest way there."
"Wait, You have a lounge now?" Ron asked, switching between looking at me and Albus.
"Yeah, we got it around a few years after you left."
"Why didn't you mention it at any of our family get-togethers?"
"Didn't seem to be important, Why? You starting to regret leaving?"
"No..." He looked at his feet, "Maybe..." He muttered.
"Alright, well if we stay here and talk, we'll never be done."
It took five minutes to weave through corridors that seemed to be built randomly. Even after working here for years, I was still able to lose my way if I didn't look where I was going.
Finally, I found the lounge and entered through the doors.
"Dean, Seamus," I said, nodding towards them.
"Harry." They said, before noticing who else entered the room. "Weasley!" Both of them exclaimed at once.
"Dean, Seamus!" Ron exclaimed, and they exchanged a quick, manly hug.
"We haven't seen you in ages!" Dean said. "What's going on with you right now?"
"I'm Co-Owner of the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes Shop."
"Oh shit, they still sell stinkbombs?"
"You wouldn't believe what new ingredients George put in them. They smell absolutely Rancid now. One little prick decided to set off all two-dozen of them on display at the start of the year. We had to close for a week." Ron laughed.
"What did you do with him?" Seamus asked.
"Didn't really have to do anything. He came in during winter break, and we could still smell it in his hair."
I laughed along with everyone else.
"What about you guys? Aurors?" Ron asked the two of them.
"Yeah. We kinda started a private investigator's office. Stole it from the Muggles. After the Hundredth time where old ladies came in, asking us to save her cat, even though they had magic literally in their hands, you can guess how much we wanted to punch something."
"And then we became Aurors, yeah. With Harry Being the Boss, it was much easier to get hired."
I laughed, "Just don't go spreading that I hired you cause we're friends, or I'll have a line of pesky nobodies, telling me I'm their long lost friend, and they need a job."
"That's oddly specific," Ron said.
"There's a reason why," Dean said.
"Seems like an interesting story."
"I'll tell you later. Right now we're off to Azkaban." I said.
"What's Weasley done now?" Seamus asked.
"Piss off." Ron retorted.
"We're going to go for an inspection." Albus piped up.
"Haven't done one of those in a few years now, have we?" Seamus said, turning to Dean.
"I don't feel like doing one now, to be honest." He replied. "So good luck boys, and say hi to Anthony for me."
"Anthony Goldstein is there?"
"Yeah. He's not exactly become smarter of the years. Actually quite the opposite. Good thing you haven't really met him too much." Dean told me. "You'd lose your shit pretty quickly."
"Should I know him?" Ron asked.
"He was in the same year as us."
"Oh..."
"Well, thanks for the heads up guys." I walked towards the fireplace and waited for Ron to say goodbye to them.
Then without hesitation, I stepped inside the flames and felt them tickle my skin as I was transported far away. It was enchanted to not use Floo powder in the normal sense, where you grabbed a fistful and threw it. Less Mess, less chance of getting lost. Overall better in every sense.
In the blink of an eye, I was standing in the Arrival's Room of Azkaban. Or rather the Guard's Room of the place.
Ron followed me a few seconds later, and finally, Albus stepped through.
"Alright, where is he?"
"What do you want? Got another order from that idiot Po-"
A man stepped into the room from outside, and instantly his eyes widened, his sentence cut off at just the right moment.
"Hello, Anthony," I said. The years really hadn't been kind to him. His lanky frame and golden blonde hair were all gone. He was easily a hundred pounds larger, and his blonde hair was a dirty grey. There seemed to be half a sandwich's worth of crumbs in his beard, with the other half still in his hands.
"Mr Potter. I was not expecting a meeting."
"This isn't a meeting, Anthony. Rather an Inspection."
"What, Really? We haven't had one in years."
"Which is why it's perfect to have one now."
"Is that Ronald Weasley?"
"Hi," Ron said.
"Last time I checked, he wasn't an Auror."
"He's thinking of becoming one again, and I'm showing him around some of the areas he can go to."
Ron understood to shut up and nod along with what I said. The last thing I needed was to fill more paperwork.
Anthony nodded slowly.
Nothing happened for a good half a minute, as we just stared at each other.
Finally, I talked again, seeing if he really was as slow as Dean had said, or if he had gone into a mini-coma.
"Would you mind showing us around?"
"Oh shi- Yes, of course. Follow me."
As I went after him, I saw him put the sandwich on the table next to the enchanted door leading towards the main corridor of cells.
Ever since the Dementors had left, everything seemed much happier, though that was a hard thing to imagine for a prison.
We passed patrolling Aurors, some of who I recognized, though all of them recognized me.
The same could be said for the Prisoners.
We passed by Gregory Goyle, growing a nice bushy white beard. Convicted of the Cruciatus Curse. What a way to go. He was the same age as me, yet his life was ruined.
Alecto Carrow came next. A Death Eater. Her brother had been killed during the Hogwarts battle, like so many others.
Augustus Rookwood. Corban Yaxley. Oswell Jugson.
The Names of Voldemort's Followers could've gone on forever. Those that hadn't been killed during the Battle of Hogwarts, and during the subsequent Manhunt after those that had escaped, they were all here.
I reached the very end and peered inside.
It was who I had come to hate so many years ago. Though that hate had subsided, mainly because all interactions with her had ceased after her imprisonment, the feeling that I wanted to punch her in the gut was still there.
Dolores fucking Umbridge.
She was no longer plump and composed, rather extremely thin, and crouching on her bed. Her hair was missing the glow and sparkle that it had when she had enough time and tools to care for it. Now it was a mess of white, in some places there were even bald spots, where she had pulled out tufts of hair. Even without Dementors, it was still possible to go insane in these cages, and that is what had happened to her.
If she would've been willing to change her ways back then in Ninety-six, she would've suffered much less of a fate.
"Is that..." Ron started.
"Who comes to see me?" She croaked all of a sudden, standing up and walking up to us. She was hunched over.
"Bloody hell!"
"Potter..." She hissed. Suddenly, she crashed against the cage with a massive bang, shaking them. It hurt me to just watch her do that. The force was enough to break bones if she tried for long enough.
"Calm down Umbridge, or we'll have to calm you down," Anthony told her, showing her his wand.
It seemed to work, and she crawled back on her bed, but she continued to look at me like I was the devil. Technically, I didn't get her in here, but for some reason, she was blaming me.
I shook the cell bars and felt it move a bit.
"Once you get the chance, fix it so these don't move. I'll check back in a few days and if it's not done you'll have a write-up."
Anthony Gulped, "Alright."
"Was there anything these last few days? Anything that might be worrying?"
"Nope. I'm sure our reports are detailed enough, Sir."
"How many prisoners are there?"
"Altogether?"
I nodded.
He sighed and started counting in his head. "Maybe... Hundred and twenty?" He muttered after a few minutes.
"I want a report on my desk tomorrow. Even more detailed. Every little thing."
"Okay."
"Good, now I feel there's not much to look at here. I believe only from here can I go to the Dam."
"The- The Dam?"
"Yeah. It never hurts to check on it."
"I mean, for security purposes, we only have a portkey there."
I looked at him pointedly, and he understood after a bit.
"I'll lead you there. Come."
During our small walk there, Ron leaned over to me, so only Albus and I could hear.
"This place isn't exactly in the best of conditions. Feel pretty terrified in fact. If Umbridge, who looks like a bag of bones, has managed to get those bars so loose, what can the others do?"
"I wouldn't worry. There are around a hundred Aurors here, not to mention a few dozen MACUSA agents. Combine that with the protective charms surrounding this place, this is still very well protected, no matter what it looks like."
"Cool. That's reassuring." He muttered.
I looked at Albus, and we shared a brief smile.
"Alright, we're here."
A Massive safe door was at the end of the corridor. Anthony muttered a few words under his breath, and it swung open. In it was a Rubber duck, immediately managing to lighten the mood.
It had been my idea to have that as a Portkey, for the exact purpose of getting a laugh out of everyone who saw it.
"Thank you, Anthony. We've got it from here."
He nodded and walked away.
We touched it, and I counted down from three.
Suddenly, it felt like I was being tugged up forcefully by a fishing hook.
It was a half a minute of just being swept from side to side. The last time I'd used a portkey was... I couldn't even recall. Too long. My stomach was rebelling against the sensation.
Finally, my feet touched the ground.
Without missing a beat, Ron ran to the side and started emptying his bowels on a nearby conifer.
"I haven't been here yet. Where are we exactly dad?" Albus asked, looking around.
"The Dam. A Secluded Island off of the Coast of Scotland. Guarded by a group of Aurors. Unplottable, and probably the second most well-protected place after Azkaban."
"What is it a Dam for?"
"You'll see. Ron, you good?"
He straightened out and wiped his mouth.
"Yeah." He burped.
The Path was well built, so I decided to follow it. The last time I had been here, that hadn't existed. The Guardians must've spent their spare time well.
There was little to see past the trees, so I just whistled tunelessly.
However, the familiar sight of the Dam soon came into view. A Massive Mountain, with a large cave carved into it.
"STOP!" Came a booming voice which I recognized instantly and smiled.
"Kingsley!" I said, holding up my hands.
"Harry? Why didn't you say you were coming?" He stepped out from behind a tree.
"Sudden change of plans for today. Just a Check-up."
"Hi, Kingsley," Ron said.
"Ronald Weasley? How are your parents?
"Mum's doing well, but Dad died a few years ago. It's a bit different with him gone."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Arthur was a good man."
"Thank you."
A bit of silence descended upon our group.
"I don't want to waste your time Harry. Come, I'll show you the Dam." Kingsley said.
"What even is this Dam?" Ron asked, "I never heard of it even when I was an Auror."
"It's a pretty well-kept secret, and for good reason," Kingsley said, "So let's just say you shouldn't mention this to anyone else, or you'll find a few Aurors in front of your house. That's goes to both of you."
Ron Gulped. Albus nodded.
We walked down the rest of the path. I saw a few Aurors looking at us, but averting their eyes when I returned their gaze.
The Large cave entrance was covered in a familiar wall of light.
"What is this?" Ron trailed off.
"The Dam." Was all I said.
A small bump appeared on the wall, where a cloaked figure was slightly visible before it retreated.
"Was that a-" Albus started.
"Dementor." Ron finished.
"After the use of Dementors as Prison Guards stopped, the Ministry never figured out how exactly to destroy them. It is probably impossible to do so. Instead, they were imprisoned here, in this cave. That is a wall of defensive magic." Kingsley explained
"And here I thought that you'd gone into retirement long ago."
"Originally that was the case, yes. It got boring pretty quick." He laughed.
We smiled along with him.
"But on a more serious note," He composed himself, "As you can see, there's been no problems. The Dam is holding out incredibly well. No Incidents, though my reports I feel are pretty detailed."
"Thank you Kingsley."
"What I don't understand is why the sudden inspection, after these many years?"
I looked around, then leaned closer to him. "Let's just say, it's a gift from Hermione. A chance to move out..."
"Gift?"
"Office Work is the death of me."
"Ah. Not one to sit still without grumbling. You never change now, do you?"
I chuckled with him.
"Well, Kingsley. I trust your experience enough to say that this inspection can end here."
"Thanks, Harry. You know boys, Hogwarts isn't far from here. Maybe you'd want to visit it?"
I thought about it for a while.
"I feel like we'd just get in the way."
"In that case, take care boys, I gotta go."
"Bye Kingsley." We all said at once.
Walking back down the path, Ron and I once again started talking, with Albus smiling along at our conversation.
"He's doing well for himself," Ron said.
"Yeah, I'm surprised how well he looks, what with his age."
"You know, that idea of visiting Hogwarts, it got me thinking..."
"You? Think?"
"Shut up." He chuckled, "Yes, I can have ideas too. Maybe we should visit it sometime. For the good memories."
"Not all memories are good there..." I muttered darkly.
Ron stayed silent for a few seconds, "Way to kill the mood, mate."
"Sorry."
"But maybe McGonagall would be happy to see us. Hopefully..."
"I'd say she would, but I've got a shitton of paperwork still back in the office. However much I hate it, I gotta do it. But you do have a point. I'll write a letter to her, see if she'll let us visit. We could get together the others and go as a massive group."
He slapped my back, laughing.
A Number of Portkeys stood on different pedestals, one with the sign saying: Ministry of Magic Auror's Lounge. CAUTION! One Way!
It was a mug.
"That was the end of our adventure, it would seem," I muttered, looking at my watch.
"How long was that? An Hour? Couldn't have been more than two."
"Yeah. At this age, this is all the adventure we can have sadly. Everyone Ready?"
Ron and Albus nodded, and I counted down from three. Once again, the sensation of being tugged around violently returned, but it felt much shorter this time.
We found ourselves standing back in the Lobby. And both me and Albus let go of the mug. Ron still held it, probably also trying to hold back from throwing up. The Mug disappeared with a pop the moment he let go.
"You okay?" I asked Ron. He nodded, though his face was pale.
Seamus and Dean had left some time since our meeting, and it was just us standing there.
"We'll go back to my office. We'll be able to talk a bit more if you want, though we could do a family get together sometime later this month."
"Sounds like a plan." He said, finally able to compose himself.
I guided them back through the corridors and entered the office. The Cake was still on the table, and I was looking forward to tasting it.
It also seemed that the stack of Paperwork had doubled itself. I sighed.
"Bloody hell, is it just me, or has it grown?" Ron asked, looking at the stack on my desk.
"I wish it would just be you," I muttered.
"Seems like a tough time Harry. I think I'll leave you here. It was good meeting you." He smiled, "The Shop won't take care of itself either. George has gotten lazy with old age."
"It was good seeing you too mate." I hugged him, and he left a few moments later.
Albus still stood there.
"You want to help me with some of this?" I asked him, pointing at the large stack of paper.
"Don't have much to do right now." He shrugged.
Conjuring a chair and a desk, he sat down and levitated half the pack over to him.
"Anything that you feel is important, you tell me, yeah?"
"Not the first time I've helped you, Dad." He muttered, taking the first envelope from the top and opening it.
I did the same before I remembered the cake.
"Want some?"
"Sure."
I conjured two plates, and placed one slice on each, before handing one of them to Albus.
It really was delicious.
"You talked to your brother sometime in the past?"
"Nope, he's having a jolly good time in America and forgets to send an Owl. That's my guess." He replied, reading a letter in one hand while chewing the cake.
He grabbed the next one from the pile, and his eyes widened.
"What is it?" I grunted.
He threw it over to me, and I just managed to catch it. Damn, my Seeker skills were rusty.
With big red letters, the words Classified were printed, followed by Important.
Huh, this seemed interesting. Not every day that I get one of these. Now that I think of it, I've never gotten one of these.
Opening it, I found a letter scrawled by someone in a hurry.
Muggles in Bristol, Stoke Gifford, have reported strange green lights in a nearby house. Said inhabitants haven't been seen since then. After looking around the area, it is clear that dark magic has been used or is in use. Suspected Killing Curse. Requesting a Unit of Aurors here by the Fourteenth. Extremely Dangerous, Caution is greatly advised. Wizard/Witch may still be in the area for many weeks.
-Tempest
So an Informant, or Wizard living close by. The fact that it was stamped by the Head of the Message Center meant that the info was probably correct.
"Albus. Gather up as many Aurors as you can for this job. Two dozen should work. As fast as possible. We'll be heading out at the end of the week." I threw him the letter, and his eyes scanned it.
"Dad?"
"I'll tell you the plan once everyone is here, so I don't have to repeat myself."
He left the room, and I reread it just to make sure I wasn't misinterpreting it.
Someone using the Killing Curse?
Now that was something out of the ordinary.
Very, Very Strange.