NOTE: So a number of commenters have asked which Bond I have in mind; they've looked at M being female to narrow it down, and while that's a great place to start, nobody has looked at Moneypenny. To my mind, there's only one Moneypenny that fits as an Evans sister: Samantha Bond. I have her and Pierce Brosnan in mind as I write, but clearly you can cast your favorites in the role, too. GRIN
12 November 2001
With assistance from Crispian Paddington's wife, Jane spent the first couple of days since she returned from France interviewing magical nannies and, of all things, house elves. That latter had been at James' suggestion.
"The elf at the Ministry was quite helpful," he'd told her. "And it's my understanding that their services are quite reasonably priced, especially if they have a family to care for. I would never doubt your capability, Moneypenny, but even you might find yourself stretched a bit thin with a job, a flat to care for, and a growing magical toddler."
In the end, Jane hired an elf named Kiki and arranged for Harry to join a magical day care especially set up for MI-13 agents and their families - many of whom also worked for Her Majesty's government. She'd get to see Harry every day at lunch - barring emergencies, of course - and with Kiki's help around the flat, she felt confident that Harry would have the best care and homelife possible under the circumstance.
So Jane returned to the office ready to dig out from under whatever had accumulated in her absence. She accepted M's congratulations and gift of a hundred pounds "for the necessaries," and set to work reviewing the most recent reports for anything urgent.
By 10:00, she had reviewed reports from the last few days, and felt that she might finish them all by lunchtime.
She rose from her desk, stretched and twisted a bit to loosen her muscles and get the blood flowing again, then grabbed her coffee cup and headed for the refreshment station down the hall to refill her cup.
When she returned to her desk, a man with brown hair and green eyes was waiting for her. She frowned briefly; she wasn't aware that M had any appointments today, so what could this man be doing here? There was only one way to find out.
"May I help you?" she asked as she resumed her place behind her desk and settled her coffee cup on the warmer she kept near her keyboard.
"Ms. Moneypenny, I presume?" the man asked. At her nod, he smiled gently. "I'm Crispian Paddington. May I have a few minutes to talk?"
"About Harry?" she asked.
"Indirectly," Paddington replied. "I wanted to let you know we've completed our review of the Ministry's files as pertaining to the terrorist Tom Marvolo Riddle."
"Please, sit." Jane waved to a chair along the far wall and rose from her desk to join him. "What did you find?"
"All the evidence suggests that Riddle was…disembodied, at least, as a result of whatever happened that night."
"You don't know?" Jane asked.
Paddington gave an aristocratic sniff. "The cottage has been trampled over by so many people, even the best forensic magicologist would have difficulty determining more than that. However, there were still faint traces of runes placed around the nursery."
"Lily was almost as good with runes as she was with charms," Jane murmured.
"We've recorded what we found and will consult with masters to try to determine whether the runes were, in fact, placed by Lily Potter, or someone else, and their purpose," Paddington finished. "The traces were quite faint, however, so I caution you that we may not be able to determine much of anything at all."
"I understand, and will be grateful for anything you do find."
Paddington smiled briefly at that before continuing, "The PM has impressed upon the Minister for Magic that no one bearing Riddle's Dark Mark will be tolerated in the Wizengamot or any high-level position in the Ministry itself."
Jane felt her eyebrows climbing. "I understood several of them were put under the Imperius Curse to take the Dark Mark."
"So they claim," Paddington said by way of agreement. "Regardless, they have that mark, and certainly Riddle isn't the only one who could ever figure out how to use it - or them - against the Ministry and, by extension, the realm or even Her Majesty personally. The Minister protested, but the PM reminded her of what happened in America a couple of months ago and suggested some extra caution on everyone's part would not go amiss. Besides, allowing them to remain could be considered seditious."
"I'm surprised the Minister knew," Jane murmured. "About America, I mean. I understand the British magical community can be…somewhat insular."
"I expect every Muggle-born was talking about it, and she couldn't help but know," Paddington said and stood. Jane stood with him, and he continued, "That's where things stand. Investigations are still ongoing, and trials and such will occur in due course."
Jane nodded. "Thank you, Agent Paddington. I appreciate you taking time from your normal duties to look into this matter."
"I've no doubt it would've been required of me, eventually," Paddington said. "I'm glad to have a leg up, so to speak - and to reassure you and help the only one we know is truly innocent in all this."
"Harry."
"Harry," Paddington agreed. "My wife tells me your flat is set up, and you've an elf to help out as well?"
"I'm most grateful for her assistance," Jane said, and she didn't have to fake the sincerity in her tone. "I doubt I'd have gotten even a quarter as much done without it."
Paddington took his leave, and Jane returned to her work with her usual efficiency, if not her usual good cheer.
Intellectually, she knew Paddington was correct; the wheels of justice sometimes ground more slowly than anyone would like - even in the magical world. Still, she had hoped for some closure. The thought made her chuckle softly and shake her head at her own naivety
No one could give her closure; she'd have to make her own, especially for Harry's sake.
*BREAK*
21 December 2001
Jane didn't know whether or not Petunia realized today was the Winter Solstice - Yule - when she'd invited her sister to bring Dudley for tea, but Petunia had agreed gamely enough and now Harry and Dudley sat stacking blocks of varying sizes and colors while Jane and Petunia sat on the sofa.
For once, Kiki had agreed to remain invisible and let Jane handle the tea, though not happily. Only Jane's explanation that Petunia wasn't comfortable around magic convinced the elf, and Jane figured she'd need to invite the entire cohort of MI-13 agents over for a formal dinner at some point to make up for it.
On the whole, Jane was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable, for lack of a better word, the day was. She'd invited Petunia because she was family, and while neither one of them wanted to spend Christmas with the other, Yule and Christmas was a time for family, even if in small doses.
"The tea is excellent," Petunia murmured. "I don't recall tasting anything like it before - is that vanilla?"
"It's a rooibos blend with vanilla overtones," Jane said. "Aunt Marine sent it for my birthday. I can ask her to order some for you."
"Don't go to any trouble," Petunia protested.
"Then I'll add a tin when I order more for myself," Jane said dryly, and Petunia laughed.
It was as good a time as any to offer her present, so Jane rose from the sofa and crossed to the tree she'd set up on a table in the corner. The tree itself was barely a meter tall and came from a special farm that raised small trees for those without much room - or with inquisitive small children.
Jane retrieved a package about thirty centimeters by twenty by fifteen and brought it back to the sofa before retaking her seat.
"I - didn't bring you anything," Petunia said, her gaze averted.
"It's not necessary, Tuney," Jane said gently. "If it hadn't been for our discussion last month, I wouldn't have got you anything, either."
That startled a laugh, however small, from her sister, and Jane counted it a win. Petunia set her cup aside and took the package. Moments later, the wrapping paper had been cast aside, revealing the two books inside.
"Goshawk's Guide to Herbology and Healing at Home with Herbs." Petunia looked up at Jane with an inquiring expression, and Jane smiled.
"I thought you might find them interesting," Jane said. "And it's possible they may help you with your own talents."
Petunia hmed under her breath and flipped through Goshawk's Guide. "At least the pictures are pretty," she said lightly, and Jane chuckled. Petunia looked up at her again. "But - Vernon only barely knows about magic."
"And how much interest has he shown in your garden?" Jane countered.
"He's always proud when I do well in the garden shows."
"Then tell him the Guide will help with that," Jane said. "And the healing book…well, it's always better to try natural remedies for things first, isn't it? I know there are recipes in it for teething and similar childhood issues. He won't notice any pictures moving if he ever opens one - non-magicals never see that kind of magic."
"Thank you." Petunia sounded sincere, and she reached for the diaper bag she'd brought to stow the books away. Then she picked up the wrapping paper and began to smooth it in her lap.
Jane sat patiently, and it wasn't long before Petunia said, "Have you looked in the trunk? Lily's trunk?"
"No," Jane admitted. "I had it checked, confirmed that the charms on it were tied to her blood and only enough of a compulsion that we would seek it out if we found it." She blew out a breath. "I think…perhaps I was waiting for us to open it together. If you want."
"I think-" It was Petunia's turn to exhale sharply. "Yes. Whether she meant it for us or for Harry, we should know."
Jane agreed, so she rose and went down the hallway to her bedroom. She'd put the trunk, still shrunken, in a shielded box on the upper shelf of her wardrobe, and then cast a Disillusionment Charm on it before putting a pair of handbags she never used in front of it. She'd hoped that would be enough to keep Harry from finding it until they were ready to look at it together.
Now, though….
Now she retrieved the trunk and brought it back to the lounge. She cast a very mild, silent Compulsion Charm on the blocks the boys were playing with, to ensure the blocks kept their attention and the sudden resizing of the trunk didn't startle them.
Jane shoved the coffee table aside and put the trunk on the floor before them. A tap with her wand, and the trunk regained its full size. Then she turned to Petunia.
"Your hand, please, Tuney. I just need a little blood to pass the wards on it."
"But - you're her sister, too," Petunia blurted.
"Half," Jane said. "Half-sister. In this instance, I'd prefer both our blood be used."
Petunia hesitated only briefly before thrusting her hand toward Jane. With a murmur of thanks, Jane drew a drop of blood and added a drop of her own to it, then smeared the mixture on the hasp.
The lock popped open.
Jane glanced at Petunia. "Together?"
Mutely, Petunia reached out one hand to help her lift the lid, then sat back.
Jane took the hint, shifting so she could look inside the trunk - and blinked. There were three compartments inside, which wasn't unusual. What was unusual, though, was what each contained.
The first compartment was full almost to overflowing with books and papers. Knowing Lily, they were all arranged by library section, then alphabetically by author.
Jane smiled at the thought, but her humor faded at the contents of the second compartment - food and bottled water. Lots of both, bathed in a gentle glow of magic that Jane assumed meant stasis or preservation charms.
The third and final compartment was appointed as a studio flat, with a kitchenette along one wall, a dinette, a pair of comfortable-looking armchairs, and a bed…and a child's cot.
"There's a note," Petunia said quietly. "Taped to the lid."
Jane started, briefly, and then glanced up, irritated that she'd missed the white envelope against the dark wood - walnut, she thought - of the trunk. Carefully, she pulled the envelope off the lid and removed the note it contained.
She swallowed hard and read the note aloud.
To Harry's Guardian,
I know it's supposed to be you, Sirius, but I've been feeling fey, as Grandma Iris called it, and we're at war, and anything can happen. So - to whomever is watching over Harry.
The trunk is charmed to remain near Harry and reveal itself once he's safe, because his safety is paramount. There's a prophecy about him and an unnamed "Dark Lord," that everyone assumes means Voldemort, and how neither of them can live while the other survives. There's more, of course, but the point is, the prophecy has painted a target on Harry's back, and therefore on mine and James', so we're taking steps to protect Harry.
I don't agree with all those steps - going into hiding? Still in Britain? Why not seek asylum somewhere else? - but James is insistent, and even if I took Harry and ran…well. I don't know that I'd succeed on my own, and I won't risk Harry.
So. Hiding. In Britain. Under a Fidelius Charm. James and Sirius think it's a great prank to switch Secret Keepers, secretly, but it was during that discussion that my fey feeling started. I argued against it, but was overruled when Peter agreed to be our Secret Keeper. So we've told everyone it's Sirius, but it's really Peter.
Why did they want to do this switch? Because, they say, Sirius is better capable of defending himself if anyone tries to force him to reveal the Secret, so it's better if they do come after him, rather than Peter.
That's another way of saying that Peter is weak - and that's why I'm afraid of this plan. I might have eventually persuaded James that it's a bad idea, but Professor Dumbledore agrees with James and Sirius, and I've never been able to persuade James to a different point of view than Dumbledore's.
So, Sirius, if you're reading this - I TOLD YOU SO.
Right. About this trunk. I've supplied it with enough food for a year, based on two adults and one growing child. I've also stocked it with books, both reference and pleasure. There's a homeschooling plan for Harry, combined with my notes from Hogwarts and some additional reading I've done since I graduated.
In other words, I've done everything I can think of to make a safe retreat for Harry in case the worst happens. If it does - take Harry and run. Find a country that will offer asylum and take Harry there.
Where? I suggest France, as I have distant relations there. Australia or New Zealand offer distance, but are still subject to the Crown. Ditto Canada. The United States, perhaps? Belize? There are many choices, and maybe it's best if you don't pick one from this list.
Whatever you choose, wherever you go, I wish you the best, and ask you to tell Harry every night that his parents love him very much.
Lily Potter
Carefully, Jane re-folded the note and tucked it back into the envelope. The contents - or more accurately, the implications of the contents - were staggering.
"S0 why didn't the trunk appear when he arrived?" Petunia asked. "It would've been nice to have had some bloody clue beyond the letter Dumbledore wrote."
"Because-" Jane began, then cut herself off. There was no need to lay out in black and white that whatever charms Lily had used, they hadn't felt that Harry was safe at Petunia's home. Instead, she said simply, "I'm not sure. It's possible that the notes she left explain more."
Petunia simply shrugged and returned to her tea, leaving Jane to her troubled thoughts.
The revelation that Sirius Black - now in Azkaban for conspiracy to murder James and Lily - might be innocent had shocked her. She could only hope it would shock Agent Paddington, too - enough to take action and right the wrongs had been done to Sirius Black.