A/N: This story has the longest chapters I've ever written, though I've read longer, but I just couldn't seem to break them into shorter ones. It's still a work in progress though I do have several chapters written. There will be no Harry and anyone else relationships in this story, but I am planning an advent story to follow this which will go there. This is compliant through the end of Deathly Hallows ignoring the epilogue bc I can. Hope you enjoy. Comments are always appreciated.
WARNING: child abuse will be mentioned with some specifics starting in chapter two.
Harry stepped out of the Floo into the Ministry atrium and was immediately grabbed by the arm and pulled along through the crowd, nearly tripping over his feet as they moved.
"This is it," Ron said. "We're officially Aurors now. No more training, just cases, actual cases. We could be sent out into the field today. We could be on a stakeout, or interviewing suspects, or who knows."
"And paperwork," Harry groaned. "Don't forget the paperwork."
"Oh that'll be easy," Ron replied, pulling Harry into a lift. "Third floor."
Neither said anything as they stood there crammed in among the throng in the lift and ignoring the myriad of memos floating above them with the practice of three years. Harry looked down at his burgundy Auror robes and grimaced. He'd been so excited to get rid of the brown robes of trainees, and he was determined to keep the burgundy ones in better shape. He'd resorted to using an iron to rid them of wrinkles as he couldn't get a handle on the charm that would accomplish the same thing. He'd tried it out time and again, and had asked Hermione for help. When that hadn't worked he'd gone to Molly and asked her. She'd tried to help him with charms and finally suggested the iron, a good old-fashioned heavy actually iron, iron that would be heated in the fire. Now, crushed in the lift, he was sure he'd step out looking like he'd slept in them. He really didn't want to make a bad impression on his first day.
When the lift stopped, Harry and Ron took part in the mass exodus onto the floor that was the home of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement., DMLE for those in the know.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked, just now noticing that she wasn't with them as she was most mornings.
"She came in an hour ago," Ron shook his head.
The two had moved in together just a month ago and were still adjusting to life in the same flat. Her fastidiousness and his messiness often led to Ron desperately scrambling to find things; he was used to just dropping things on the floor and them still being there or put away in the same place every time, as Molly had a system. Hermione also had a system. Hers was just different than Molly's, and Ron hadn't learned it yet. He also hadn't learned to pick things up or put them away properly himself.
Their natural sleep habits seemed to be at odds as well. While they had all put in late nights during their Hogwarts days, and sleep while on the horcrux hunt had been all over the place as they rotated watch. Hermione, it turned out was a natural early riser and early to bed, whereas Ron and Harry both preferred to sleep in and stay up late. Still, Hermione had made an effort to come to work at the same time as the boys had for the past month, leaving the flat later than she preferred. She'd wanted to spend time with them as they'd had so little to spare during training. Their crazy hours and shift changes had started in the second year of training as well so help them acclimate to the schedule.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"I have absolutely no idea," Ron said as they entered the Auror office. "She was muttering something about house-elves and goblins and, well, I couldn't catch it all. All I know is she was up and out the door before I was even out of bed. I'm pretty sure she said goodbye but I was half asleep."
"Ron, you get out of bed about five minutes before we have to be here, and you're stuffing toast in your mouth as you head to the apparition point. I don't know how you even manage to get dressed as late as you sleep, especially without Hemione dressing you," Harry remarked.
Ron had stayed with Harry at Grimmauld Place three or four days a week when training kicked in and became more intense. He had wanted to be able to relax at the end of the day and that wasn't always possible when he went home to the Burrow with Molly fussing over him. He found it easier to crash in an extra room at Harry's and just do nothing with him other than rehash the day's training.
Harry knew just how messy Ron could be, though after all the years together in the Gryffindor dorms he was used to it. The biggest problem with them staying in the same house as adults had been not having Hermione or someone else telling them to go to bed. Nearly missing training once should have been enough to fix the issue, but it took a second time and threats of being dropped no matter who they were and what they'd done for wizarding kind before they caught on and saved the late nights for the weekends. After that, they had kept much closer track of the time. Still, every time he stayed Harry had had to yell up the stairs for Ron as he was ready to head out the door. Ron would come clattering down the steps, pulling on his robes, and taking the breakfast Kreacher shoved in his hand.
"I just grab my nearest set of robes and put them on."
"Ah, so that's why you always look like you've slept in your clothes, Auror Weasley," said a voice behind them.
"Auror Robards," Ron startled and said quickly.
Harry bit his lip and looked at his robes again, then looked at Ron's. Yes, he was wrinkled but Ron's robes were much worse. Ron actually did look like he'd slept in his robes. Clearly Hermione hadn't spelled that set to straighten, or maybe she had but the charm simply couldn't stand up to Ron.
"Oh relax, Weasley. No one cares how your robes look unless you're speaking in front of the Wiznegamot," Robards said with a chuckle.
"And sometimes not even then," piped in a voice from the corner of the room.
"Thank you, Stevenson," Robards said wryly. "Weasley, Potter, and Terrence, I have a case for you."
"All rookies, sir?" Stevenson asked. "Is that really a good idea?"
"I'm sure they can handle this. Of course-" Robards turned to the corner with a wry smile. "If you're concerned you can always accompany them."
"No, no," came the rapid response accompanied by a nervous laugh. "I wouldn't want to step on their toes or insinuate that I don't trust your judgment, sir."
"Well then, get back to whatever you're supposed to be doing so I can fill them in. Paperwork on the case you closed two weeks ago hasn't yet crossed my desk, unless it's been put there since I stepped away a minute ago."
"Yes sir," Stevenson replied contritely.
Ron was biting his lip not to laugh. Harry was craning his head to try and see Stevenson the stupid, as he would now forever refer to the man. Adeline Terrence had joined them, and like Ron was fighting not to laugh out loud.
Robards took a look at the three of them and sighed. "Oh, go ahead and laugh. May as well get it out of your system."
"Sorry sir," Harry said as giggles escaped from either side of him. He maintained his composure, but just barely. His bottom lip hurt from biting it. It didn't matter that they'd been given permission to laugh, he wasn't going to. For all he knew this was just another test.
"No need to apologize, Potter. Now as I said, I have a case for the three of you. This was passed to us by the Muggle police. They've had multiple reports of an unspecified number of men entering an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of northern London. The same man has been seen entering the place multiple times but never leaving. Others have also been seen. So, with only that information where are your first thoughts?"
"It could be the same person entering, but they leave by a different route," Ron said.
"They could be leaving by Portkey or apparating out, or using Polyjuice," Adeline added.
"Is it possible to set a ward you can apparate out of but not into?" Harry asked. "It's not something we've ever discussed, but is it possible? Or could it be possible?"
Robards nodded, "All good thoughts. Yes, Mr. Potter, I believe it could be possible, though we've never seen one. We all know however that new spells and wards are created, if not every day or week, at least every year. It could also be a simpler explanation such as leaving by a different route."
"They could also be leaving when no one is looking," Ron said.
"Unless there are surveillance cameras," Harry suggested. "Many wizards aren't familiar with electronics, and depending on where they're set up magic use might not interfere with their function."
"Do we have photographs or drawings of the men?" Adeline asked.
"We do have drawings," Robards held out a folder. "They didn't match anyone in the Muggle files, but we haven't checked ours yet. That should be one of your first steps, though if it's witches or wizards using Polyjuice, photos may not do us any good. There are security cameras on the corner of the building but they no longer function. We don't know if that's due to the building being abandoned, or if it's something that the men did. The reports from the Muggle police state that there is no electricity in the building according to the utility company, which means it's likely the cameras have no electricity."
"You don't think this is anything out of the ordinary or you don't think it's wizards" Harry observed. "That's why you're sending us. What did the Muggle police find?"
"Nothing of interest, but they did report a compunction to leave the area, which is how it wound up with us. It wasn't anything that really caught their attention, but enough officers reported the feeling that our liaison in the office passed the file to us. I do think wizards may be there, but it may be for completely non-nefarious purposes. That is an area that was looked into for a new wizarding nightclub a few months ago, though I don't know if it was that particular business district. The developers may still be investigating it or actually building it."
"Have any permit requests been filed with Wizarding Business Affairs?" Adeline asked.
"Has the building recently been purchased?" Harry asked.
"Both questions you will need to find the answers to. The address is in the file. You can get started right away and get preliminary reports into me by the end of the day please."
"Yes, sir." All three responded.
As Robards left, the three moved to an unoccupied conference room. They hadn't yet been assigned an office. It had something to do with tradition and not getting a desk until after completing the first case, or at least that's what they'd been told.
Many others in the office, particularly the other rookies shook their heads to see the three of them together. Adeline had joined Ron and Harry during training for any exercises requiring more than two people. She had filled a hole left by Hermione choosing to return to school and take a different career path. Addie, as she preferred to be called, had her own personality, however. A Hufflepuff who had been a year ahead of them, she was part of their training class because she had taken extra time to study and take her NEWTS a second time to improve her scores and her application to the Auror department. She unlike others didn't seem to be bothered by them being accepted to the program without meeting all of the academic requirements. She was nearly as tall as Harry. Her dark blonde wavy hair hung to her shoulders; it was occasionally tucked behind her ears but never restrained in any other manner. She was quick to laugh, slow to anger, willing to make suggestions when asked for them or just listen. Her green eyes were the barometer of her emotions, beware when they started sparking and not sparkling.
They all got along so well that Harry had invited her to join them at the pub on a rare Friday night off. She and Hermione hit it off, eventually. Hermione had seemed a bit put out at first that she was being "replaced." It had taken a few weeks before Addie wore her down and Hermione apologized to all of them. From then on whenever there was a free Friday they all four went out or back to one of theirs for fish and chips and beer. Addie missed a few, then showed up again suddenly with her girlfriend in tow. Now they were five on a Friday night.
"Harry," Ron started once they were all seated, "you have the most experience in the Muggle world. You should see if there's anything in their real estate records. I'll check wizarding records, and Addie you can go deal with WBA."
"Who made you boss and why do I have to deal with WBA?" She asked.
"No one made me boss. That just made the most sense. You brought up the business permit aspect so I thought you might know more about it. If you'd rather I can do that and you can do wizarding real estate."
She cringed. "Neither of those is really a good option, but you're right I do know some people in WBA. I'll go see what I can find out. Meet back here in two hours?"
"Sounds good," Ron replied.
Harry just nodded.
Two hours later, Ron and Addie sat in the conference room, and after waiting for ten minutes for Harry to show up they began sharing information.
It was thirty minutes later that Harry rushed in, stuffing his arms through his robe sleeves.
"Sorry, sorry," he said. "That took longer than I thought it would. I may have been raised in the Muggle world but I've never had to deal with their bureaucracy. I had to do some digging online - don't ask, I'm not going to be able to explain that quickly - to find answers. Long story short, the building has not recently been purchased. It's been sitting abandoned for five years. Multiple people have looked at it, but no one has even made an offer."
Adeline nodded, "As I already told Ron, no one has applied for a permit for that building or any in that area."
"And no wizards or witches have purchased the building either," Ron said.
"So now we go there, and see what we see, right?" Harry asked. "We do some onsite investigation?"
The other two nodded.
"Wait," Harry said, stopping suddenly before they reached the door. "We still need to check the pictures with the files, don't we? Or was one of you able to do that before I got back?"
"Not me," Adeline said.
"Me either," Ron said.
"I'll go get the books then," Harry said.
He returned levitating a large stack of books filled with pictures of wizards previously arrested but not currently incarcerated. After he placed them on the table, each took one and began flipping through the pages referencing copies of the drawing that Addie had made for them so they wouldn't have to share the one.
"Isn't there a faster way to do this?" Ron complained after ten minutes.
"Probably," Addie replied, "but no one's taught us one."
"Having fun laughing at the rookies," Ron complained.
"Or just waiting for us to ask," Harry said.
Ron turned to look at him. "Like it's a test?"
"Maybe, or maybe it's both having fun at our expense, and waiting to see if we cave and ask for help," Addie answered.
"Well, I'm not asking," Ron grumbled and bent back over the book in front of him.
"Why the bloody hell not?" Harry asked. "You were the one wanting another way to do this."
The redhead blushed to match his hair but refused to respond. Adeline rolled her eyes. Harry shook his head.
"Fine, I'll do it."
Harry stalked out of the room. He returned several minutes later, mumbled something unintelligible, and swept his wand over the pictures then the books. Pages began to flip rapidly until they reached the end.
"Well that's it then," Harry said, dropping his wand to his side. "No matches."
"No surprise," Adeline said. "Whoever it is, isn't anyone to worry about, or they are but they're using polyjuice."
"Right, which doesn't help us." Harry replied, "So, let's go."
"Sure, after you teach us that spell," Ron replied.
"Nope. I might show Addie later, but you can ask someone else." Harry grinned as Ron grumbled it wasn't fair.
They walked to the nearest apparition point and after linking arms apparated to a spot several blocks from the warehouse in question. Each of them pulled off their robes, shrunk them, and stuck them in a pocket.
"Wait," Harry said before they could start walking. "Shouldn't we do something to make it look more natural for us to be here, look like friends or something?"
"We could pretend to be a couple," Addie suggested. "Ron could just be out with us and we're wandering having a good time not really paying attention to where we are."
"That works," Ron said, relieved to not be part of the couple and have to explain that to Hermione, even though she would understand.
"Ok then," Harry said and put an arm around Adeline's waist as she did the same to him. Ron walked along next to them, the three chatting as if they were just passing the time as they strolled down the sidewalk, turning three times before finally reaching the alley where the strange men had been spotted.
Harry and Adeline dropped their arms to their sides. All three held hands ready to draw wands if necessary.
They crept forward, looking around as they walked. Nothing seemed unusual about the alley. It ran between two abandoned buildings, former offices, though someone must have been using space for the original report to have been made. The warehouse they were looking for stood at the end of the alley. They slowed even further as they moved closer.
"Do you feel that?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Adeline said.
"There's definitely someone magical here, or they've been here recently. Someone able to cast some really strong magic," Harry said, pulling his wand from its holster inside his denims, then gesturing with his other hand. "Look, do you see it?"
"There's something hazy about the air here," Addie said.
"But not back behind us," Ron commented.
"That's a massive amount of magic. Maybe we should call Robards," Harry suggested as they continued to move slowly forward.
The next moment everything went black.
"Don't move," Ron said in a harsh whisper.
"Really, Weasley?" Adeline asked. "How dumb do you think we are?"
"Sorry," he replied, "I think I was telling myself as much as I was telling you guys."
Harry shook his head, and whispered, "Lumos."
Nothing changed.
"Lumos Maxima." He said, deciding to skip the middle-level light spell. Still nothing.
"Bloody hell," he muttered. "Ron, is George still selling that Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder?"
"Yes, and I'll be visiting him this evening."
"It might not be that," Adeline argued. "It might just be that someone has created a spell that does the same thing."
"Possible," Ron agreed.
"I'm calling for backup," Harry said.
"Patronus?" Adeline asked.
"Mirror," he replied, pulling the small communication mirror each Auror was assigned from his pocket.
"Robards," Harry called and waited. "Auror Robards."
"Auror Potter," Robards's voice boomed from the mirror in Harry's hand. "why can't I see you?"
Harry explained the situation.
"Stay exactly where you are. I'll be there with a team shortly. Don't do anything until then."
"Yes sir."
Seconds later the darkness dispersed.
"Now what?" Ron asked.
"Now we wait," Adeline said.
"But we can see now. Shouldn't we start investigating again?"
Harry shook his head, "Robards said to stay put and do nothing. That's what I'm doing."
"But he said that when it was still dark," Ron argued. "He didn't know we'd be able to continue investigating."
"He'll be here soon," Harry said.
"But I feel like we should be doing something."
"He's bringing more experienced people," Adeline said. "We can shadow them and learn more. Just because we finished training doesn't mean we're ready for every case out there. And this is obviously more than he expected since he's coming himself and not just sending a team."
"Very good, Auror Terrence," Robards said as he and two others strode down the alley. "You pair up with Romero please, Potter with Powers, and Weasley, you're with me. We're going to start by working the perimeter of the building. Then we'll work our way inside."
"Yes sir," the others all replied.
"Powers and Potter take the left, Terrence and Romero, the roof via the fire escape. Weasley, we'll go right. Red sparks if you find anything suspicious. Wands at the ready," he instructed.
"Um, sir-" Ron started.
"We cast Muggle Repelling charms as soon as we apparated in Weasley."
Ron nodded and fought not to grimace.
Harry and Marcus moved quietly to the left. Neither spoke. They stopped every few feet to look around and cast detection spells. Meeting Ron and Robards back where they started without finding anything, Robards directed Harry to open the door while the others covered his back.
The door was locked, so Harry cast an unlocking spell and thrust the door open, hoping to catch anyone left inside by surprise.
"Nothing," he said. Holding his wand aloft he cast a revealing charm. "It appears to be empty, no people."
They spread out through the empty warehouse and searched, after being joined by the other two. As they moved the cast a number of detection spells and revealing charms, looking for any clues as to who might have been using the location. They scrutinized the dust on the floor that had clearly been disturbed and the windows blackened or boarded up.
"Sir," called Adeline after several minutes of searching, "I think you should all come take a look at this."
She was standing in the doorway of a small windowless room near the back. Inside, the room glowed with multiple magical traces lit by her detection spell. From the variety of colors it was clear there had been several people in the room, each with their own magical signature. Those signatures were unique but if they hadn't been captured or investigated previously it would do the aurors no good other than to give them a number of people to look for.
"Definitely wizards or witches then," Robards said, "but what were they doing here? Why hide?"
"Something illegal." Ron insisted, "we just have to figure out what."
"Why do you say illegal?" Robards asked him.
"The use of Peruvian Instant Darkness powder or a similar spell is suspect," Ron insisted defensively, "not to mention the complete removal of all spells except for these tiny traces. There must have been an alarm ward set that tripped when we entered the area. Likely they were set up to only allow certain people in."
"Interesting. I don't disagree, but might I ask where you learned of such wards? I don't recall them being part of the standard syllabus for auror training, though they should be."
Harry answered, "I have them on my house, sir. It helps keep the reporters away. Ron and Hermione helped me research and set them. Mine aren't set to do anything other than warn me someone is there, and make the sound of a Muggle burglar alarm, however. It's basically a no trespassing alarm. I thought about adding more but wasn't sure what would be legal and didn't want to risk my position in the department."
"Honorable," Robards said. "I agree this was someone, or more than one person, trying to hide something. You are correct that there appears to have been a similar ward or spell that triggered the darkness and that is highly suspect Auror Weasley. Now to figure out what they were doing here, or what they were hiding."
"I can help you adjust the wards to discourage people without doing anything illegal," Romero whispered to Harry. "Just let me know when."
"Thanks, Luis, that would be good," Harry responded. His current wards hadn't done much of anything to stop the damned reporters. They still showed up on his doorstep, though now they were silencing earmuffs. If Romero couldn't help him, he'd have to think about reinstating the Fidelius Charm or make it Unplottable again. He could ask Hermione which she thought was better.
"S'no problem."
"Sir, it appears there were children here," Adeline pointed to drawings on the walls and floor. "Recently too, these pictures haven't faded and the ones on the ground don't have footprints on them from being stepped on. Some of these traces of magic are very weak, could that be from young children?"
"A child smuggling operation," Romero suggests.
"Possibly, but I don't want to make any determination yet. We'll need to do some further detection work to determine who left these traces. Potter, Terrence, Weasley, return to the office and write up your reports. We'll continue here with a documentation squad."
Ron stepped forward and opened his mouth as if to argue but then thought better of it and turned to leave with the other two.
The three left that evening hours after the end of their shift. Their reports were finished and on the head Auror's desk two hours before, but they had waited to see if Robards and his team returned. When they still weren't back, the three finally gave in and left.
The next day, each of the three was assigned to a different ongoing case. None of them went back to the warehouse, however. All three were curious, but none wanted to risk their career and ask why. That didn't keep them from asking other aurors if they knew what was going on and keeping their ears open for any discussions. They met daily for lunch, until their shifts were offset; then they'd snag a few minutes whenever they crossed paths.
It was looking like a child smuggling ring from what they could gather. Ron had talked to someone who said the magical traces showed at least two adults and three children. Adeline heard they'd tracked them to two other warehouses that also were abandoned but had the same magical traces left behind. George had handed over his list of customers that had purchased the darkness powder to Harry rather than Ron, after Ron had confronted him quite loudly and rudely in the middle of the shop. He'd then heard about it from Molly on Sunday at the weekly family dinner. The list had led nowhere. With the war over, very few people purchased the powder and all had checked out as uninvolved with the current case, though two had been brought in for questioning about a series of robberies in Hogsmeade.
Harry had spent a week in Diagon Alley working on a shoplifting case that wound up being merely items being misplaced by the 98-year-old owner. She refused to accept that was the reason however, and kept calling him back insisting Death Eaters were terrorizing her for being a halfblood by taking things. Every single time Harry managed to find the item in question she insisted that they were playing games with her. Finally, after he had helped her strengthen her wards and contacted her children he was able to close the case.
The next day Robards approached him as he entered the office, "Potter."
"Yes, sir."
"I need your assistance."
"Yes, sir."
"We are working on spells to counteract the darkness that was cast at the last location. I would also like to know if there are any Muggle devices that might assist us if we can't. As you know how to obtain information in the Muggle world, please do the research and prepare a report for me by this afternoon at three."
"Yes, sir."
Harry turned around and left the department, heading down to the Department of Magical Creatures.
Hermione was at her desk in her office that was nearly as small as his cupboard under the stairs at Petunia and Vernon's. Still, she never complained about lack of space, simply cast an Undetectable Extension Charm on her bottom desk drawer. There, she kept shrunken things to keep the room even neater. She sat at the desk with her hair up in a messy knot on the top of her bed, scribbling away on parchment while consulting several books.
He was loath to interrupt her but he knew she might have the answers or know best where to look, so he knocked on her door.
"Harry," she said, looking up from her work, smiling. "What are you doing here?"
"I need your help with something," he started.
"I'm not an auror or in the DMLE. You really shouldn't be asking me for advice."
"Don't worry," he said. "It's nothing that would get you in trouble. I wouldn't do that to you. I just need your help with a question. Say it's hypothetical."
She raised an eyebrow. "Hypothetical? Uh-huh, sure. Go ahead, what is it?"
"Can you think of any muggle technology that would allow you to see through Peruvian Instant Darkness powder? My first thought was night vision camera lenses or something like that. I saw it on the telly, but I don't know if that would actually work."
"I don't know. When wizards design things, they're not thinking of Muggles, and as most of them know little to nothing about Muggle technology I'd say it's possible. The darkness powder is designed, from what I understand, to absorb light, which is why lumos doesn't work."
"You've some research on it, haven't you?"
"Well, George and… Fred, George and Fred had. I asked them about it after Ginny told us about Malfoy using it to get the Death Eaters around Hogwarts."
"So night vision, whatever they are." Harry said.
"It's possible. I think maybe heat vision goggles if you could find them would be better. That might be the same thing as night vision, or not. I don't know. You'll have to look that up. If we knew, we might be able to create a spell to replicate the vision. You'd have to test them out."
"Yeah, I don't think I'll be able to get a hold of those today and test them before 3 p.m. So where can I get more information? The internet, right?"
"Yep."
"Well I don't have a computer at home, and you don't have one set up at your flat yet, do you?"
She shook her head.
"Better head to the library then."
"My parents are both working, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you went to their house and used their computer. I'll just give them a call, okay?"
"Thanks 'Mione. It would be a lot easier than trying to find the nearest library and get logged in and all of that. They have a limited amount of time you can use the computer, anyway."
She made the call to her parents and sent him on his way.
Harry spent the next several hours researching, finally typing up a report and printing it out, and wondering just what Robards would think when he saw the print and paper, so different from Wizarding books.
"Auror Potter," Robards said from the door of the Auror's office, holding Harry's report in his hand. "Please come with me."
"Yes, sir," Harry said and followed the head of the department into the hallway and to the lift, wondering the whole time what he'd done wrong or right, or just what he'd done and where they were going.
Finally, he broke down and said, "Might I ask where we're going, sir?"
"We're meeting with the minister."
"The minister?" Harry fought to keep his voice even and his face calm. It was one think to talk to Kingsley outside of the Ministry but as a part of his job was a whole other thing. That had never happened. His stomach turned over.
"Yes, Potter. I believe you know him. We'll be sharing your report."
"Yes, sir. I know Minister Shacklebolt. I just didn't expect to be presenting that report to him." I would have worked even harder, been more thorough, had Hermione proofread it, something. He thought to himself.
The lift doors opened and they both stepped in.
Robards turned to Harry, "I don't take credit when I haven't done the work. Your report here is surprisingly thorough with some excellent suggestions. To utilize them, however, we have to speak to the Minister. I feel you would do the best job presenting the information and answering any follow-up questions he might have."
Harry wanted to protest but simply nodded. "Thank you, sir."
Neither man said anything else until they were shown into the Minister's office. Harry hadn't been here for a few months. Kingsley had invited Ron and him to lunch about once a month during their training period. He had wanted to check in with them and see how training was going. Harry also thought maybe Kings missed the Auror department though he seemed to be flourishing as Minister.
It seemed that once again the minister had redecorated, or perhaps his wife had done it. She seemed to relish changing the look of the office and had done so almost seasonally over the past three years. The wall to the left when entering was now covered in small portraits of each of the previous ministers. Much like the head's office at Hogwarts, the portraits were in a variety of states, some awake, some asleep, some seemed to be reading, and still other frames were empty. In front of the portraits sat a long oak conference table surrounded by at least ten chairs. The fireplace to the right was lit but the flame was low. Harry knew this became the Floo that connected directly to the Muggle prime minister's office, the only one that did so and the portrait that communicated with the prime minister was directly above it much as Kingsley had told him it was in his Muggle counterpart's office.
"Gawain, good to see you," Kingsley said as he came around the desk for a handshake. "How's Shirl?"
"Good. She's as busy as ever at the shop."
"I really should stop sometime. Harry, how's it feel to finally be an Auror? It's been a long time coming."
Harry took the other man's hand and replied, "Good, I'm still settling in, but good so far."
"Harry's work is why we're here, Minister," Robards said.
"Gawain, really? No one else is here besides the three of us. We spent how many nights cramped together in that tiny bloody phone booth trying to catch those idiots that kept stealing from the Prophet?"
"Ah the good old days," Robards said. "We should have just let them, maybe they would have gone bankrupt and disappeared." Both men laughed. "Fine. I'll call you Kingsley, but only when no one else is around, no one who would disapprove that is."
"Same goes for you Harry," Shackelbolt said.
Harry just nodded and took a seat in one of the plush burgundy chairs in front of the Minister's large oak desk with the elaborate scrollwork, while Robards took the other Kingsley moved back around to sit in his own seat directly in front of the enchanted window on the wall behind his desk that was currently looking out over the coast near St. Andrews. The curtains around the window had been changed to match the visitors' chairs. The burgundy velvet brought out shades of red Harry had never noticed before in the walls of the room. It was then that he also noticed that the frames of all of the portraits had been spelled to appear a dark burnished gold.
"So what is it you gentlemen wanted to talk to me about?"
"The case you passed to us from the Muggles," Robards said simply.
"It did turn out to be something," Kingsley commented. "I had a feeling it might."
"It appears so," Robards went on to explain all they had found at the warehouse, much of it new information to Harry. They knew there were three men and at least a few children though they didn't know how many yet. The traces of spells they could find didn't show anything of harm to the children but there was still a fear of child abuse. "Now we think we know where they are, but after their use of the darkness powder we want to be prepared in case they have more. George Weasley may not have sold it to them, but it's not impossible that they've obtained it from another source. So to be better prepared, I've had Auror Potter look into Muggle means. He's here to share what he found."
"Well first, you should be aware that a Hand of Glory can be used to see through the powder or so we believe. Second, there are two options from the Muggle world that might work, however, they would need testing. One option is night vision goggles, they are frequently used by military personnel. They allow the wearer to see light in a sort of green fashion. However, that requires some light to be in the area. The darkness powder seems to remove or absorb all light, so it's less likely to work than the second option. I included it in my report, as I think there may be a chance that the light from a Lumos spell could be seen with it and light the area around. The other option is heat vision goggles. They sense the heat put off by objects and so are more likely to work in total darkness. The images should also allow us to see people by their shape and color. I would recommend trying them if we can get a hold of a pair or two."
"So," Kingsley said, "you're here to ask for funding to get these goggles."
"And darkness powder," Robards said. "I know I'm bypassing channels by asking you directly but as you passed this case to us I felt it was prudent.
"Consider it done. I'll contact the Muggle Prime Minister and get the goggles and Harry, if you could visit George? Just tell him to charge it to the Ministry, care of me. If Gringotts has a question they can contact me."
"Yes, sir."
Kingsley smiled and shook his head, "Harry."
"Sure, Kings. I can do that."
"Let me know how the testing goes, keep me updated, and if you need anything else, just ask."
"Will do," Robards replied. "Thank you."
"All of the cases that go through your department are important, some more than others. To me, cases involving children are at the top of the list. Find these people, find the children they're harboring or smuggling, whatever it is they're doing, and take care of it."
"Yes, sir."
As they walked back down the hall Harry asked, "Sir, why didn't you tell us the case came from the Minister when you assigned it to us?"
"I know both you and Weasley know the Minister personally, but Ms. Terrence doesn't. I didn't want her to be intimidated or overwhelmed, and I didn't want any of you to feel any added pressure. Especially as I truly didn't believe it would turn out to be anything. I should have known better. Shacklebot's instincts are usually dead on, not sure I thought he was off this time. It just goes to show you just how wrong even the most experienced auror can be at times, and that it can be good to listen to intuition."
Harry nodded.
"Now as you've done the research, I believe you should do the follow-up testing. As soon as it's available, I'll have the equipment sent to you. I expect a full report within two days of receipt."
"Yes, sir."
Three days later Harry was sitting at his desk in the auror office when a box floated in and dropped onto the desktop.
"This is from Robards," Stevenson said. "Don't know why I have to be the errand boy."
"Thank you," Harry called as the other mad strode away.
Stevenson simply waved over his shoulder as he kept walking.
On top of the box he found a note.
Potter,
Here is the equipment. I trust you have the powder or can acquire it today. You have my permission to use one of the practice rooms for testing and you may utilize the assistance of a fellow Auror of your choice. I expect your report in two days.
Robards.
Harry grabbed the box, tossed in the smaller box George had sent to him, and took off to find help. His first stop was to check if Ron was available. When he couldn't find him, Harry then went to find Adeline. She was sitting at her own desk across the office, head down over a large stack of parchment.
"Addie, are you busy?"
"No, as a matter of fact, I'm so completely bored I'm reading old case files that are equally as boring, but if you tell anyone that I'll have to hex you."
"No worries, and I have a solution for your boredom." He held up the box and handed her the note. "Come with me."
"Ok then," she said with a raised eyebrow after reading the note.
On their way to the training room, he explained to her exactly what they were going to be doing.
"Oo playing with Muggle technology, this should be fun. Will it even work here with the magic?" she asked.
"I have no idea," he replied. "That's our first test."
"And what do we do if it doesn't?"
"Then we find a Muggle location to use as a testing place."
"Ok then, let's get started," she said as they entered the training room. "Does it have to be dark for these to work?"
"I think the night vision ones need it to be dark, otherwise the light could be blinding through them, but I think we can start by just making the room dark. I don't think we have to use the powder yet. If we close the door and snuff out all the lights, that should be dark enough."
Harry opened the box and pulled out the goggles labeled: Night Vision - image enhancement.
"Here - there are two pairs. We should both try them to see if they work." He said and handed a pair to Adeline before sliding the other pair around his neck. "You get the lamps."
"Got it," she acknowledged, raised her wand, then dropped it back to her side and asked, "Wait, do these need to be turned on, or are they automatic?"
"I have no idea," Harry answered, chagrined. "Guess I should read the directions."
"Probably a good idea," she said and chuckled.
He dug through the box again and found a sheet. "Oh yeah, here it is, on the left side is a small switch."
"So let's turn them on before we put them on, and then I'll get the lamps."
When it was dark they each slid the goggles over their eyes.
"See anything?" Harry asked.
"No, you?"
"No. Let's try the thermal imaging ones."
After relighting the lamps, changing goggles, reading directions, and dousing the lamps again they tried the second set but could still see nothing.
"Well then to Muggle property we go," Harry said.
"But where?" Addie asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Let's go ask Robards."
Doing just that led to them returning to the abandoned warehouse. This time they were able to apparate directly into the building, as it was under the watch of an Auror team in case the wizards in question returned. Robards had let them know Harry and Adeline were coming so they wouldn't find themselves on the receiving end of an Incarcerous. There were currently no active spells, charms, or wards to interfere with the technology, just a well-guarded empty building.
They followed the same steps to try each set of goggles, both now worked.
"Too much magic in the Ministry," Harry commented. "Really not a surprise."
"Now we use the powder?" Addie asked, her eyes shining.
"Why do you sound so excited?"
"I've been curious about this stuff since we came here. I'd never even heard of it before. It wasn't like I was shopping in the private room at Weasley's. Does it matter how much we use? Like, will it last longer if we use more, or is it an amount to size of area ratio?"
"George wasn't sure when I asked him."
"Really?" Addie asked. "He sells it but doesn't know basic information like that?"
"I know, I know," Harry said. "Believe me I pointed that out as well.
"He tests all the other things he sells, right?"
"Yes. Everything he creates he first tests on himself, then on family and friends. Lunch on Sundays at the Weasleys can be an interesting experience if he's decided to test a new product," Harry replied and laughed while shaking his head.
"He prefers unsuspecting test cases, I presume."
"More often than not. I think with this they thought it would be helpful in the war and didn't ask as many questions as they might normally. Since the war, well he's not sold much of it so he hasn't worried about it. He thinks larger amounts will last longer in a small area. If the area is open, however, and it's allowed to spread further it will last less time but cover a larger area."
"Well, that's specific."
"I know." Harry held up his hands.
"I suppose we start with a single handful then and go from there," Addie suggested.
"Let's do it then."
Seven weeks after their initial exploration of the abandoned warehouse, Robards called the three of them and at least half of the other Aurors to a meeting.
"We have the newest location of the group of child smugglers. They've been moving rapidly around the UK. Fortunately, we got a hit on one of the abandoned buildings we've been watching. They appear to prefer large cities, most likely due to the fact that they can hide amongst Muggles while still being able to access wizarding areas as needed easily. They are currently in another abandoned warehouse, this time on the outskirts of Edinburgh. In three hours we're going to take them. We need every one of you with us. Stevenson is passing out your coordinates. We will each apparate into our precise location for the ambush. As soon as you land, begin putting up anti-apparition wards, anti-portkey wards, and Muggle-repelling charms if your instructions say to do so. We don't need everyone to put up the charms, and some areas need to be charm-free. Do not, and I repeat, do NOT move in any closer. We do not want to trip their sensors before we're ready to move in. Obviously, they know they are being watched, so we've widened our observation distance. We need to know exactly where they are and make sure they can't get out before we close on them.."
Harry looked at the parchment in front of him, memorizing the coordinates, and noting that he apparently would be in a charm-free area.
"Thanks to Aurors Potter and Terrence, we can utilize Muggle technology to locate exactly where the people are in the warehouse. This technology can not be used in magical areas but can see through wards and the darkness powder if it is used, which it will be as they've used it every time we've come close to catching them so far, and as it has worked for them to escape every time they will logically assume it will work again."
"Sir," Melonson said with a slight hand raise.
"Yes?"
"Who are we capturing?"
Robards sighed, "We're not completely sure, but from the magical traces we've found at the scenes we believe it is Rodolphus Lestrange, Maurice Avery, and Aloysius Mulciber. All three are Death Eaters who have served time in Azkaban previously as I'm sure you know. They have at least three children with them, possibly more. We've been unable to identify any of the children, but as there have been no births reported with any of them men listed as fathers we are proceeding under the assumption that they kidnapped the kids. The goal is to take the men alive and rescue the children."
While everyone processed this information Robards sent small boxes to Adeline and Harry with a flick of his wand.
"Terrence and Potter will be stationed above the rest of us utilizing the Muggle tech, heat vision goggles. They'll use the mirrors to keep the rest of us updated on the location of all occupants of the building as we move in. They will continue to update us when the darkness powder has been used. We were also able to get two Hands of Glory. I will have one and Auror Stenton will have the other. We will each lead a small team into the building."
"Any questions?"
No one said anything.
"Right then, in three hours be in position."
"Not fair, mate," Ron said after he and Harry had settled at their desks. Once they both had desks they had slid them together in a corner of the larger office shared by newer members of the department.
"Sorry, you were out when I needed someone to help test. Besides this means you're part of the strike team, actually going in while I'm basically stuck on surveillance."
"There is that."
"So what do we do until then?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, but just sitting here is going to make me nervous.
"You wanna see how the goggles work?" Harry offered.
"Yes," Ron said and jumped out of his chair.
Harry stood on a rooftop across the alley from the warehouse under surveillance. Adeline was posted on a building on the other side. At the signal from Robards, they each put on their goggles and activated them.
"I've got five small forms in the very rear of the warehouse," Harry reported. "There appears to be one adult with them."
"There are two more adults in the building," Adeline added. "One is near the front windows, the other is about halfway back I'd estimate."
"All teams converge on the building. Move slowly until they've employed the powder, then stay close because we're moving in fast with the Hand of Glory and under the direction of Potter and Terrence."
Harry felt frustrated watching his colleagues move in, though he knew his and Addie's assignment was crucial to the success of the mission. They were the only ones that could see the men through the walls and the darkness after all.
Suddenly the alleys surrounding the warehouse went dark.
"Both adults are moving rapidly to the back of the building," Addie called out.
"Adult in the back appears to be circling the children into one area," Harry said. "Two adults have entered the room. They're all huddled together."
"Auror teams entering the left door."
"Right door as well."
"All three adults have left the children and are moving towards the front of the building."
"Potter and Terrence, that's enough. Get down here and join us."
Harry wasted no time. Dropping the goggles around his neck, and grabbing his wand, he turned in the spot to apparate into the building. He landed and made it two steps before he tripped over a fellow Auror who had been hit by a curse. He couldn't quite catch himself and hit his head on something on the floor. He stumbled to his feet but crouched down and crept forward towards the room in the back where a host of burgundy robes blocked the doorway. He couldn't really see but it appeared that the men had been captured.
Adeline came up next to Harry. "Looks like it's all over," she said. "Guess we're too late to be of any help."
"On the contrary Ms. Terrence," Robards boomed as he came through the door in front of them. "We couldn't have done this without you. Mr. Potter, what has happened to you? Go outside right now and find a healer. They should be set up just down the street."
Harry grimaced and nodded. He stood but swayed. When he reached up to touch his head, his hand came away red.
"All right," Adeline said. "Let's go. I'll take you."
"Thanks, Addie. We should grab whoever that was I tripped over on the way."
"We can do that."
"Please sit still Auror Potter. I can heal that much faster and cleaner if you do," the healer said through gritted teeth as Harry attempted to peer around him to take stock of the scene, leaning this way and that, but only able to see bits and pieces of what was happening. Aurors were coming and going from the building, He thought he'd seen at least one prisoner taken away. Addie had gone back inside to help, but he hadn't seen Ron yet. He only knew it was Merritt he'd tripped over, and the man had already been apparated to St. Mungo's.
"Sorry," he replied automatically without changing what he was doing. Blood still dripped down his face and into his eyes from the jagged cut on his forehead.
"Nevermind," the healer said in a huff, dropping his wand to his side, "I'll come back to you later or someone else can do this. Just keep that bandage on it."
Harry nodded holding the bandage to his head and stood as the healer moved on to see who else needed his assistance.
"Where's Ron?" Harry asked Stenton, the team leader as she walked past.
"Potter, why is your head still bleeding?"
"I don't- ma'am, is Ron ok?"
Stenton took a deep breath, "He's fine. He's with Stephenson processing the items found in the warehouse."
"What about the children?" Harry asked anxiously.
"The children are being looked after by healers as you should be," Stenton replied.
"But the children are more important ma'am. This is just a cut. The healers say I don't have a concussion, but we don't know about the children," Harry argued. "Their parents must be crazy with worry not knowing where they are. Do we even know if they're magical or Muggle?"
"There are many who would argue you are more important. However, as I can see you won't be dissuaded, as soon as you are healed you may go work with Turner to identify them, as we know nothing about them, and begin contacting families."
Harry nodded and went in search of the healer. This time he stood still until the cut was sealed, then made his way into the warehouse to the corner room where they had found five children during the raid.
"Turner," he acknowledged the senior Auror, "Stenton sent me in to help. She said they were being looked at by healers. Why are they still sitting there alone?"
"The wards are keeping all of us from reaching them. We're trying to ascertain exactly what magic it is. Nothing we've tried so far has been able to break them. An Unspeakable is on their way now. Until they get here and we can get to the kids, there's not much we can do. We checked the prior spells on all three wands taken from the prisoners but nothing like this came from them recently."
"Can we talk to them?' Harry gestured to the children. "Can they hear us?"
"Yes," said a healer reentering the room. "We've been able to get ages on three of them or at least how old they say they are, but no names or anything else."
"How old are they?"
"Two said they're five, and one held up three fingers. The other two didn't respond," Turner said.
"Do they match the descriptions of any missing children we have in our records?" Harry asked.
"Not any recent missing children, meaning not within the past six months. That list is short thank goodness," Robards said as he joined them. "It's possible they are children that have been missing for much longer, even back to the war considering we captured exactly who we expected to, three Death Eaters not seen since before the battle at Hogwarts.
"Or they could be Muggle children," Stenton said. "Though the magical traces found at the other scenes make that unlikely, so perhaps they're Muggleborn magical children.
Harry stepped forward towards the children until he could go no further, stopped by a force he could feel but not see. Three little boys and two little girls, he thought. None were babies but one was still quite small and sucking on his thumb. One of the little girls was crying and three of the other children had tear tracks on their faces.
"It's ok," Harry said softly. "You'll all be alright. We're here to help you."
One of the boys, the small thumb-sucker, stepped just a bit closer and tilted his head to the side watching Harry. They stood like that for a few moments, just watching each other before Harry got down on his knees. When he did he thought suddenly that the boy looked familiar, something about him was familiar but he couldn't place it. Harry hadn't looked over missing children's lists in months since they'd discussed it in training. He couldn't stop staring at the boy. Then he saw the child's hair changing color.
"It can't be," he whispered. "It can't be."
The hair that had been blonde was now the same brown as Harry's. The eyes were a very familiar brown as well.
"You said one of the kids was three?" Harry turned and asked the healer.
"Yes," the healer replied. "That's what he showed us."
"Was it this boy?"
The healer stepped a bit closer and looked over his shoulder. "Ye…I…he doesn't…" She looked at the other children and then back to the boy. "It has to be him, but I thought… I could have sworn his hair was lighter."
Harry turned back and looked again. It couldn't be, could it? He was dead, or so they had thought. Dead like his grandmother, but they hadn't found his body like they had hers. She had died trying to protect him. Just like his parents had died protecting all witches and wizards. His father with those brown eyes. His mother with the metamorphic genetics.
Harry's breath caught in his throat and his eyes stung. Finally, he whispered, "Teddy?"
The boy didn't reply but stood staring at him. Harry's mouth went dry. He began to shake. He reached for his wand to cast a Patronus and send a message, but fumbled and dropped it. Instead, he turned and bellowed, "RON!"
"Auror Potter, what-" Robards began and stopped as he watched Harry crawl closer to the boy and the boy walk closer to him until the very air shimmered and dissipated and the boy was in Harry's arms.
Harry held him tight and rocked him back and forth, tears now streaming down his own face.
Ron ran into the room and right up to Harry.
"What is it, mate?"
Harry looked up at him, pulled back from the boy just enough for Ron to see him, and rasped, "Teddy. It's Teddy."
Ron dropped to his knees next to Harry and stared at the child. Wide-eyed he looked at Harry, but couldn't speak. He collapsed all the way down to sit on the floor, placed a hand on the boy's back, looked at Harry, and nodded.
