Chapter 2 – Accomplice

Ginny woke the next morning in a room she'd taken at the Leaky Cauldron. She stretched before getting up thoughts of what she needed to do swimming through her mind. After getting dressed and strapping on her battle gear Ginny cast a spell on herself to prepare for the day ahead.

"Temero Macula Aura Conspectus" she said pointing her wand towards her eyes.

The spell was one that she and Harry had created together. It allowed her to see the magical aura given off by the dark mark. If Voldemort was dead the mark would not be visible but the magic would still be there and any marked Death Eaters would be easily identifiable by the sickly greenish black light surrounding their left forearm.

As Ginny left her room for the day she cast a powerful locking charm and a series of security charms to let her know if anyone attempted to enter before walking down the stairs to the bar. There weren't many people here this time of day but she still scanned the area for any signs of the dark mark. Finding none she selected a corner booth and sat facing the rest of the pub.

Ginny ate her breakfast slowly watching the wizards and witches come and go scanning each one for the telltale aura. She was almost done eating when a young man entered from muggle London and passed quickly through the pub his left forearm surrounded with a green and black light.

Dropping a few galleons on the table Ginny raised the hood of her cloak and followed the man to the back alleyway. As she rounded the corner she found him alone drawing his wand in preparation of opening the archway.

"Stupefy!" she said raising a hand toward the young man. "Incarcerous!"

With a quick flash of light the man slumped to the ground unconscious and was bound with ropes.

"Stupid Death Eaters." Ginny mumbled.

Waving her hand she cast a charm to reveal any magical objects the man might be carrying and found none. Reaching in her robes she withdrew a small bottle of clear liquid and placed three drops on his tongue. After replacing the bottle she picked up the wand the man had dropped and waved her hand saying "Ennervate!"

His eyes opened and he seemed surprised to find himself lying on the ground. His surprise changed to fear as he realized he was bound with ropes and looking up at a dark hooded figure that was holding his wand.

"What's your name?" Ginny asked.

"Joseph Compton." he replied without thinking.

"Are you a Death Eater?"

"Yes." What the hell am I saying he thought, his worry growing with each question.

"Where is Voldemort now?"

"I don't know."

"When was the last time you were aware of his location?"

"He was at the Battle of Hogwarts."

"Where is Harry Potter?" Ginny asked with a bit of hope in her voice.

"I don't know."

"Who do you report too?"

"Antonin Dolohov." oh god, I'm a dead man Joseph thought.

"What are the names of the other Death Eaters?"

"Marcus Flint, Boyd Stallhaft, Gregory Goyle and Steven Grendich are the only ones I know by name."

Damnit, Ginny thought to herself, they're all dead.

Removing another bottle from her pocket she placed a few drops in his mouth. A moment later the glazed look left his eyes as the effects of the Veritiserum she had given him passed. Joseph's eyes opened wide as he realized what had happened and what information he had given to the person interrogating him.

Before he had much time to think two more spells rang out from Ginny. "Obliviate! Stupefy!"

With a quick motion Ginny snapped Joseph's wand over her knee placing the broken pieces in his shirt pocket. She then unbound the man, ripped off his left sleeve and cast a spell to reveal the ugly black tattoo that marred the pale skin of his forearm. After tying him up again being careful to keep the dark mark visible through the ropes she concentrated on the atrium at the Ministry of Magic and waved her hand over the sleeve she now held "Portus!" She then dropped the sleeve on Joseph's head and as it touched his skin he disappeared.

Ginny took a deep breath and slowly let it out before returning to her room to send a letter to Dumbledore.


Glenn Davis sat behind his desk tipping his chair back in the entrance hall at the Ministry of Magic. He'd been assigned this post three months earlier and could honestly say he had never been more bored in his life. He would greet familiar wizards and witches as they walked by and check the wands of visitors but not much else ever happened to intrude on his solitude.

He was staring at the Fountain of Magical Brethren when a bound figure appeared on the floor next to it. A crash echoed through the atrium as Glenn fell backwards in his chair the shock of the arrival momentarily causing him to forget he had been balancing the chair on two legs.

"Bugger." he said rubbing the back of his head as he stood up.

Drawing his wand he carefully approached the man lying on the ground. A loud gasp escaped Glenn's mouth as he noticed the dark mark on the stunned mans arm. He quickly ran back to his desk and pressed a button that would alert the aurors that he required assistance. A moment later three wizards appeared with their wands drawn including Head Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Report." Kingsley ordered as he scanned the area and spotted the stunned and bound man.

The two aurors who arrived with Shacklebolt went to examine the man lying by the fountain as Glenn gave his report.

"He appeared a minute ago. I approached with my wand drawn and noticed he bears the dark mark." Glenn said.

Kingsley nodded and approached his aurors and the downed man.

"Sir, it appears he is a Death Eater. The sleeve that was removed from his shirt was charmed to be a portkey. I remember him from school, his names Joseph Compton." one of the aurors stated.

"Trace the portkey to determine its origin." Kingsley began, "Book him on charges of possession of Death Eater Paraphernalia, list the item as the dark mark. We'll decide what additional charges we need to file during his interrogation."

The two aurors nodded and a quick Mobilicorpus later led the Death Eater away."

Well that's an interesting way to start the day thought Kingsley as he watched the man being taken away. Being a member of the Order of the Phoenix Kingsley knew more than most about what was going on with the Death Eaters and the war and his intuition told him this would not be an isolated incident. After pondering the events of the morning for several minutes Kingsley left the atrium to return to his office and send a letter to Dumbledore.


Albus Dumbledore sat in the quiet of his office starring off into space. He had been trying all morning to get some work done but his mind kept wandering off. Unable to focus he finally gave up and let the thoughts that had been plaguing him for the last several days and particularly since Ginny left yesterday take over.

Harry and Ginny were like family to him. They were the grandchildren he had never had but always wanted. A piece of him had died the day he lost Harry and he was worried that if things continued down their current path he would loose Ginny as well.

He wanted so much to believe Ginny was right, that Voldemort was the one who had died at the battle that day and Harry was still alive even if he was in the hands of rouge Death Eaters. But the proof wasn't there and as the leader of the light side he had no choice but to continue the fight.

As his mind wandered among memories of happier days spent in the castle with his two favorite students a large grey owl flew in the window dropping a letter on the desk in front of him. He immediately recognized the feminine script of Ginny Potter.

Professor,

The dark mark is invisible.

Potter

Albus sat up straight in his chair feeling a surge of hope flare up within his heart. The message was short and simple but the meaning behind it was clear to him. If the mark was no longer visible the Voldemort was dead or at the very least reduced to less than spirit once again. Damn he thought if only Severus were still alive I would have known this at the end of the battle.

It took him less than a second to choose a course of action. Picking up a quill he penned a letter to his new Deputy Headmistress Professor Vector. He had just released the owl with his note when another owl arrived with a letter bearing the seal of the Ministry of Magic.

Professor Dumbledore,

An incident occurred this morning that I felt you should be made aware of.

A Death Eater arrived by portkey to the Ministry Atrium bound and stunned. His left sleeve had been removed and used for the portkey leaving the dark mark visible on his arm. The man's name is Joseph Compton.

Though this is the first time this has happened my experience tells me that this will not be an isolated incident and is more then likely the first of many. I will let you know if my assumptions prove to be correct.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

As Dumbledore began reading a smile graced his lips, this was Ginny's doing he thought. The dark mark was visible? That must be Ginny's doing as well. He had watched from the sidelines as Ginny and Harry snuck around to train them selves. There dedication and progress had been amazing and he would occasionally lead them to a book or point them in a direction without their knowing he was helping them. He thought he knew everything they had done but if Ginny knew how to manipulate the dark mark like this then he was mistaken in his assumption.

After sending a reply to Kingsley Dumbledore stepped into his fireplace and disappeared. Anyone who had been watching would have been heartened by the smile on his face and the twinkle which had returned full force to his eyes.


Ginny left her room at the Leaky Cauldron after sending a quick note to Dumbledore. She'd only written one quick line mentioning what she had discovered about the dark mark in hopes that he would now believe her. She knew he wanted too but also knew his position as the leader of the light required him to have a certain amount of skepticism regardless of his personal feelings.

She wandered back out to where she had apprehended the Death Eater and opened the archway to Diagon Alley. Ginny walked around the alley for several hours scanning everyone she came across for the dark mark. She had spent a lot of time using Harry's pensive looking at her memory of the final moments of the battle when the remaining Death Eaters had disappeared and knew there had to be at least forty or fifty of them running around free. She was surprised she hadn't found more than one so far in the busy shopping district.

Frustrated at the lack of Death Eaters in the alley she was about to head back to the Leaky Cauldron for a late lunch when she sighted the aura around someone's arm. Checking to make sure she was well hidden within her hood she carefully began following the individual through the alley.

As she neared her subject he turned into the entrance of Knockturn Alley and she caught a glimpse of his profile. Anger coursed through her as she realized it was Harry and her hated school rival Draco Malfoy. She hadn't known he'd taken the dark mark, but it didn't surprise her either.

She was itching to curse him but decided it might be wise to see where he was going. Carefully sticking to the shadows and staying out of sight she followed him into the depths of the alley long famed for being filled with shops catering to dark wizards and witches.

After a while he turned down a small side street named Death Turn Lane and into a dingy pub. Rather than follow him into an unknown establishment she first walked past the front of the bar glancing in the small window on the door. She was shocked at what she saw, there had to be at least ten Death Eaters in there. Turning around and walking back past the Dirty Dog Pub she left Knockturn Alley. Even with her power this would take some planning.

Ginny returned to her room at the Leaky Cauldron to work out a course of action. She was about to enter when she realized her security spells had been tripped. Someone was in her room.

In a very quick and fluid motion she burst through the door with her wand in her hand. Immediately assessing the situation she found the person responsible and aimed her wand at his heart.

"Hello Mrs. Potter."

Ginny was shocked as she realized the person sitting in the chair in her room was none other than Albus Dumbledore and he was smiling his eyes twinkling brightly.

"P...professor?" she said slowly lowering her wand.

"It's good to see you too Ginny. Thank you for your letter by the way."

The reason for his twinkle was now apparent to Ginny, he believed her. Putting her wand away she hugged her grandfather figure.

"I'm sorry I couldn't believe you before Ginny. I wanted to so badly but didn't have a choice. But now I can and I've come to help you."

Pulling back from the hug Ginny smiled up at Albus with tears in her eyes. He believed her. "What do you mean you've come to help?" she asked.

"I mean I've given the Deputy Mistress control of Hogwarts and taken a leave of absence. I'm here to help you find Harry."

Tears ran down her face as she gave the old wizard another hug Molly Weasley would be proud of. After a minute they separated again and Ginny took a moment to wipe away her tears of joy and compose herself.

"I don't suppose you would know anything about a Death Eater who appeared in the Ministry bound and stunned earlier today would you?" Albus asked with a look of mirth on his face.

Ginny smiled innocently. "Maybe."

"Were you able to find out anything?"

"No." Ginny said letting out a sigh of frustration. "He knew nothing about Harry and the Death Eaters he named are all dead."

"I see. Veritiserum?" he guessed.

"Yes."

Albus nodded. "Does he know who was questioning him?"

"No. I Obliviated him before I stunned, bound and sent him off to the Ministry." Ginny said hoping Dumbledore wouldn't be upset about the methods she was using. She was surprised at his answer.

"Excellent. The longer we can keep our actions secret the better off we'll be. If the Death Eaters discover we're searching for Harry, well I don't even want to think about that, not to mention the possible legal ramifications. What do you have planned next?"

"I found another Death Eater and followed him to the Dirty Dog Pub just off Knockturn Alley. There were ten plus Death Eaters in there so I returned here to plan my next move."

Dumbledore nodded. "I think between the two of us we should have little trouble as long as their numbers haven't increased drastically during your absence. Shall we?"

Ginny nodded with a large grin firmly in place. She watched as Dumbledore transfigured his robes into a simple black set that matched her own. After raising his hood he cast another spell and his face was bathed in shadow.

"That's a nice trick. Would you mind Professor?" Ginny said motioning to her own hood.

"Not at all Ginny." he said casting the spell on the hood of her cloak. "But only if you call me Albus."

"I'll try Professor." she replied with a mischievous grin.

Albus shook his head. "Why is it that my former students all seem to have a problem calling me by my first name?"

Ginny just laughed as they left her room heading for Death Turn Lane and the Dirty Dog Pub.


Professor Vector was sitting in her office when one of the school owls flew in dropping a letter on her desk written in the familiar loopy scrawl of Headmaster Dumbledore.

Deputy Headmistress Vector,

A personal matter of great urgency has just come to my attention and I will be taking a leave of absence until such time as the matter is resolved to my satisfaction. I apologize for dropping this on you with such short notice but I will need you to take over as temporary Headmistress of Hogwarts. I have instructed Fawkes to remain at the school. Should you require my assistance he will be able to find me.

I have every confidence in your ability to run the school.

Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster (on leave) Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The Arithmancy Professor sighed and shook her head wondering what would prompt Albus to leave on a moments notice like that. Not having much of a choice she went to the Headmasters office to begin her tenure as the Headmistress of Hogwarts hoping all the while that he wouldn't be gone very long.


Kingsley Shacklebolt approached the secretary for the Head of Magical Law Enforcement Amelia Bones.

"I need to see Madam Bones."

"One moment sir." the young witch said before leaving her desk. A moment later she returned. "She can see you now."

Kingsley entered her office and took a seat in front of Amelia's desk.

"What can I help you with Kingsley?" she asked.

"You've read the booking report for the Death Eater that appeared in the Atrium this morning?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Well I've just come from his interrogation. The last thing he remembered before we enervated him in the holding cell was preparing to open the archway from the Leaky Cauldron to Diagon Alley."

Amelia looked curiously at the head auror as he relayed this new information on the puzzling Death Eater appearance.

"Further testing indicates that he has been given Veritiserum recently and was Obliviated before being sent to us."

Amelia looked thoughtful for a few minutes. "What are your thoughts?"

"Well, when I saw him in the atrium I had a feeling he was only the first one we'd be seeing so I sent a message to Dumbledore."

Amelia nodded. She was aware of Dumbledore's Order and while she wasn't a member she did cooperate with him and his group.

"I received this reply back." Kingsley finished as he handed Amelia a piece of parchment.

Kingsley,

I agree with your assessment this is undoubtedly the first of many Death Eaters who will be arriving in this manner. I would suggest you station a group of aurors in the area to receive further arrivals.

On a related note I will be taking a leave of absence from my position as Headmaster of Hogwarts for an unknown period of time. Please let Amelia know that I will be out of contact for awhile however in an emergency I can be reached through acting Headmistress Vector.

Albus Dumbledore

"Hmm, this is interesting." Amelia mumbled as she read the letter. "It would appear that Albus knows who is responsible and might even be joining them."

Kingsley nodded in agreement as Amelia continued to ponder the situation.

"Kingsley, maintain a presence of four aurors in the atrium round the clock and put two of your most trusted people in charge of finding the party responsible for sending us the Death Eater. Make sure they understand that the individual's apprehension is of the lowest priority. I also believe that we should keep this letter to ourselves."

Kingsley nodded in understanding wearing a smirk on his face as he left his bosses office.


Ginny and Albus turned on Death Turn Lane to find it all but deserted. As they left the main thoroughfare of Knockturn Alley Ginny surreptitiously cast a repelling charm to keep anyone from entering the side street while they were there.

Peeking in the pubs window Ginny noted that the number of Death Eaters was about the same as it had been earlier and nodded to Albus.

Receiving Ginny's approval of the situation, Albus cast anti-apparition and portkey wards around the establishment. As soon as he was done he entered the pub and began making his way to the back receiving looks of curiosity and distrust from the bars patrons.

"Hey." a man said as he approached Albus who continued to ignore him.

Two more men stood taking positions behind the man who had approached him. All three now had their wands drawn.

"Hey, I'm talking to you."

Albus continued to ignore the man a small smile playing on his lips within the shadow of his robes.

As Ginny entered the bar she saw the men approaching Albus with their wands out. After taking a quick look around the bar she slammed the door loudly and began throwing stunning spells all around.

The men approaching Albus turned as the door slammed briefly drawing their attention away from the old man. A second later their worlds faded into darkness as they were hit by Dumbledore's stunners.

The battle was over in a matter of seconds the Death Eaters having only gotten off two spells, neither of which hit their mark.

"Ginny, check behind the bar I'll search the back rooms." Albus said as he left the main part of the bar. Ginny searched the area carefully finding no other occupants. Albus returned a minute later with a stunned Draco Malfoy floating in front of him.

They levitated the men they had stunned into a line and found they had captured fourteen individuals.

"That one doesn't have the mark." Ginny said pointing to the bartender.

"How can you tell?"

"Oh, I should have told you. Here." Ginny said as she pointed her wand at Albus eyes. "Temero Macula Aura Conspectus"

Albus blinked a couple times as the spell took effect. When he returned his gaze to the stunned Death Eaters he could see the evil green and black aura around their arms.

"Very clever Mrs. Potter, very clever indeed." he said grinning at his partner.

"It lasts about a day, I'll teach it to you later." she replied. "We should still give him Veritiserum to see if he knows anything."

"I agree." Albus said shocking Ginny when he removed a vial of the clear liquid from within his robes.

The pair systematically interrogated each of the Death Eaters. As they finished questioning each one, they would Obliviate and stun him. They then removed his sleeve, cast a revealing charm on the dark mark, bound and portkeyed each one to the Ministry of Magic just as Ginny had done with Joseph Compton that morning. The bartender knew surprisingly little and since he was not a Death Eater and had never been involved in any of their meetings or raids they decided not to send him to the ministry.

When the last Death Eater was gone Ginny Obliviated the bartender and the pair left. Once outside the pub Albus brought down the wards he had raised earlier while Ginny removed her repelling charm from the streets entrance.

With their task complete they returned to the Leaky Cauldron to examine the information they had obtained.


Amelia Bones was about to go home for the day when Kingsley Shacklebolt entered her office.

"Amelia, I'm glad I caught you. Do you have a minute?"

"Yes, have a seat." she said gesturing to the seat across the desk from her.

"I think we should expedite the interrogation and trails of the Death Eaters we're currently holding down stairs."

Amelia was curious where he was going with this. "And why would you think that?"

"I think that because we're running out of places to put new prisoners."

"Explain." she said beginning to loose her patience with the head auror.

Kingsley smirked at his boss's growing agitation. "The aurors we stationed in the Atrium had to call for additional help. We've just received another thirteen bound and stunned Death Eaters."

"What!" she exclaimed.

"Yes," Kingsley said with a smile, "they showed up one at a time several minutes apart."

Amelia took a deep breath. "Well, I guess that answers our question about whether or not Albus was joining whoever sent us the first Death Eater."

"That's my belief as well."

"Very well, bring in whoever you need to speed up the interrogations and call an emergency court session for tomorrow."

"Yes ma'am." Kingsley said as he stood to leave. "Have a nice evening Amelia."

"You too Kingsley."


Ginny and Albus sat in her room at the Leaky Cauldron going over the notes they had taken during their interrogations of the Death Eaters they captured at the Dirty Dog Pub earlier. Most of the names they had received belonged to Death Eaters who had died at the Battle of Hogwarts but a few were still out there.

"At least we have a few leads to work with." Ginny stated.

"Yes." replied Albus. "I'll go to the Ministry in the morning and see if I can find addresses for these names. I'll also make sure the Death Eaters we've sent them are being prosecuted."

Ginny sat staring off into space as she pondered the interview of Draco Malfoy. "I think we should go to Malfoy Manor first."

"Why do you think that?"

"I'm not really sure," Ginny said as she rubbed the bridge of her nose, "It was just something in his eyes. I don't think we asked him the right questions. He told us the coordinates to apperate into the manor and about the entrance to their dungeons and I think we should check it out."

Albus nodded in agreement. He hadn't listened to her instincts when she wanted to go to Harry's side while he lay in the crater at the end of the battle and he hadn't again when she left Hogwarts to begin her search. Albus had learned his lesson and would definitely listen to her from now on.

"If that's what you believe then I agree. Let's eat a quick meal then go to Malfoy Manor."