Chapter 13

Harry reclined in his lounge chair, eyeing an expensive villa on a cliff overlooking the ocean. He can just see Amelia Bones' office through a high- up veranda window. He scanned the area around the house. A memorial service for Susan was being held on the front lawn. He could spot a few familiar faces – Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, Colin and Dennis Creevy, John MacCleary, and the trade-mark red-hair of several Weasleys.

The Auror pulled his sunglasses over his eyes and laid back. He lit a cigarette.

Amelia Bones leaned on the window pane, looking wearier than ever. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.

"Hello Amelia," Severus said coldly.

"Severus! What a pleasant surprise! What's going on?"

"Not much. Want to tell me about it?"

"Tell you about wh-what?"

"Don't bullshit me. That's over. Your niece wasn't killed because of something she was into. She was killed because of something you are into. Stop me if I'm wrong."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Severus took a threatening step forward. "Take it easy ... "

"Fuck easy! When you called me the other day, you were going to blow the whistle, weren't you?"

"Blow the whistle on what?

"You tell me. You were going to spill your guts. So they killed Susan." Amelia swallowed hard. "Talk to me."

"I can't – I can't do that ... "

"They killed her."

"I – "

"They paid off a hooker to poison your niece. Talk to me!"

"Dammit, Severus! I've got a daughter!"

"She'll be protected. It's over."

"Protected," said Amelia bitterly. "That's a laugh. You don't know these people."

"Acquaint me."

Amelia started pacing back and forth. "It goes all the way back to war. I ended up working with a group called the Syndicate. It was a subterfuge division that ran everything, both sides of the war, from behind the scenes in cooperation with the Phoenix Project. You have heard of that. I'm sure of it. What with Harry being your partner – "

"I'm familiar with the basics."

"Then you know they were mercenaries. Trained killers." She shook her head wryly. "Anyway, about a year before the Dark Lord was killed, some of his inner circle came up with the bright idea of shipping Sacarna in from South America. Our outfit went in and burned the whole thing down. The Phoenix's killed everyone. But ... some of us formed a plan."

"Keep going."

"Five years ago, we got together again. We still had a list of the cartels contacts. And we've been bringing it in ever since."

"Bringing what in?"

"Think real hard."

"Sacarna."

Amelia nodded. "Two shipments a year. And no one knows. Until now, that is."

Severus' eyes flashed. "If you were getting cold feet, why'd they kill Amanda? Why not just kill you?"

"They can't. They need me. My bank is the front. This is big business, Severus."

"Not anymore. I'm taking it down."

"You can't. It's too big. These guys are trained murderers."

"So is my partner," Severus smirked. "Tell me about the next shipment."

"No. No way."

Severus picked up a picture of Susan from the desk and slammed it down. The glass shattered. "Tell me!"

Amelia gained a dreamy look in her eyes. "There's nothing wrong with kids nowadays. We're the fucked up ones. We're the ones who are killing everything ... "She reached into the drawer behind her and pulled out a gun and pointed it at Severus. "Back off."

"Oh, swell. Good move."

"I'm not kidding. I'm in too far now." She cocked the hammer. "This gun is silenced."

"What's it going to be," he growled. "You saved my life just so you could snuff me later?"

"Things are different now."

"I guess." They stared each other down. "If you can do it, then do it. If this is how the world is going be, I don't fucking care anymore."

Amelia blinked and lowered the gun. "What do you want to know?"

Severus relaxed visibly. Then the window shattered. Amelia fell to the floor, hand clutching her stomach. Blood seeped out, spattering the floor.

"Severus – "With her dying breath, she pulled him down, taking the bullet that was speeding toward the captain's head. More bullets riddled the room as Severus screamed.

"Harry!"

Harry, hearing Severus pleas, jumped up from his chair. His eyes widened as he took in the broken window glass. He hadn't heard the shots.

He skimmed the yard for the shooter and quickly spotted a lone man striding past the crowd. Harry's eyes narrowed.

"Nott," he snarled.

Noticing Harry's gaze, Nott broke into a run. He undid the silencer on the gun and started firing.

Harry took off after him, aiming his own piece. The mourners were screaming now.

"Get down!" Harry yelled. "Get down now!"

Severus exited the house, following them. Nott neared the edge of the bluff and jumped ...

... landing in the door of a helicopter waiting there. He leans out the door, still shooting back at an approaching Harry.

Harry dived at the edge of the cliff, nearly flinging himself over the end. The gun was like an extension of his arm and shot after shot is hurtling after the chopper, taking of bits of paint and fiberglass. But it was still flying away.

Harry dumped his magazine and loaded a new one, still firing.

Severus caught up to him and stood there, gun hanging limply by his side. Finally, Harry ran out of bullets. His eyes were following the retreating helicopter.

His hands unclenched the barrel of the gun and shut his eyes.

"You through?" asked Severus, quietly.

Harry looked up at him, cold fire in his eyes. "I haven't even started yet."

Various Auror personnel were strewn across the lawn, interviewing the panicking witnesses. Severus and Harry stood off to the side, watching.

"How bad is this?" asked Severus.

Harry rubbed his temples. "It was Nott. He knows us, Sev."

"And just what would he do with this information?"

There was silence.

Theodore Nott picked up a headset in the helicopter and addressed his boss.

"Yes, sir ... Bones is dead. I'm afraid, however, that another problem exists."

Draco Malfoy's voice came through the wires. "Define."

"She spoke to the Aurors, sir."

"Are they dead?"

"No, I missed."

"That's very disappointing. They may know everything. The whole operation, yes?"

"Yes. Awaiting orders, sir."

"I think it's time to turn up the heat."

"Meaning?"

"First things first, find out who they are."

"I already know, sir."

"Care to enlighten me, Nott?"

Theodore smirked. "Snape and Potter, sir."