Author's Note: Many thanks go to LuthAn for her amazing beta of this story.

The Magical War Detective I: The New Protector Chapter Two: The Lady in Question

Part II

Back at the St Peter Port office of the D.M.L.E., Andrew and Moody warmed themselves with hot beverages as they discussed the Landry case. Unfortunately, there was not much to talk about. It was obvious that the family was targeted because their daughter Charlotte was a Muggle-born witch. The Ministry was tightening the information on the families of Muggle-born wizards but with so many cracks in the system there were bound to be leaks. Not to mention Muggle methods of locating people, which some of the Death Eaters whose blood was not as pure as they purported might be willing to employ to find their victims.

"I had hoped there would never be another Dark Mark in my territory," Andrew sighed. The memory of the murder on Alderney was still etched in his mind. At the time he had prayed it would be the only time the Dark Mark appeared over his jurisdiction. "It was probably too much to hope for."

"Luck only holds for so long." Moody looked past the open office door and through the windows into the streets. It was a clear November morning and every few minutes someone would walk past on their way to one of the shops on either side of the Magical Law Enforcement Office. "Any folk around here you think might be Death Eaters or sympathizers?"

"There are a half dozen old families on Herm," Andrew explained. "I'd be surprised if at least three or four of them aren't supporting the Death Eaters in some way. Information, gold, supplies... But I'm not so sure about risking their own necks; they don't have a great deal to do with other purebloods. They won't even send their children to Hogwarts. Too liberal, I suppose." Andrew frowned into his teacup. "Other than snobbery, I really can't give you more of an impression. I've only ever had official dealings with the St. Alban family." Andrew paused, uncertain whether to voice mere suspicion.

"You got a gut feeling about them?" Moody leaned in closer. He had heard of the Herm purebloods - an inclusive bunch that seldom permitted outsiders in their midst. It was rumoured the families fortunes had been derived from smuggling.

"I've always thought Olivia Baker's death odd," Andrew said. Then he remembered that Moody was not a local and would therefore be unaware of the meaning behind that statement. "Olivia Baker was Muggle-born and secretly involved with the son of one of the old families - I couldn't say which. Usually the old families use Memory Charms to put a stop to such affairs, especially if the other party is a Muggle, but apparently Olivia and her paramour took steps to prevent such a thing from ending their romance."

"But the affair ended when the girl was found dead. Suicide?" Moody guessed. Every so often a young pureblood or their lover would die in a purported accident or suicide to prevent them from betraying their blood. Such deaths had been unheard of for at least twenty years before He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named appeared on the scene.

Andrew gave a curt nod. "Officially, yes, it was suicide. Unofficially it reminded me of something I saw back in '41. I think several items in Olivia's potion kit were tampered with, turning the hangover remedy she made into something toxic. After her death, the original uncontaminated bottles were replaced in the kit. I can't prove any of this of course; the neighbour who found her called Muggle authorities and her flat was in shambles by the time I'd got there. But there were traces of foxglove in the potion and that isn't something kept by the average potion brewer. On the other hand, foxglove is a common plant and could be found almost anywhere in Europe without difficulty. It's even known to Muggles."

"If it was a murder, it was a clever one."

"Very clever."

"I hate to have to ask, but have there been any odd illnesses or injuries around the islands lately?"

Andrew shook his head. He knew why Moody was asking. Some of the Dark Arts were considered illegal for what they did, others for the items they required, and still others illegal because of the danger they caused to the spell's caster or those around him, for even a skilled Dark Wizard could die in the simple practice of a Dark spell or potion. This danger formed part of the allure of Black Magic.

"Well, keep an eye out. You-Know-Who encourages innovation and Dark Arts research is risky."

"I heard about some of the new curses the Death Eaters are using." He tried not to glance out at the street. What would it be like to see Guernsey gripped by fear the way London was? On the streets of Guernsey people still took their time walking and ventured out after dark. In London and Hogsmeade, however, steps were hasty and filled with frequent glances over the shoulder and night excursions were dangerous undertakings. Andrew hoped he would never witness the transformation of St Peters Port into a city of fear and dread.

"It's what you get when too much power and money is concentrated among people who think they're better than everyone else." Moody growled. "Most of these old families have things stashed in their attics and cellars that have been illegal since before the founding of Hogwarts."

"Well, as I told you, most of the old Herm families are secretive and few have criminal records. St. Alban is the only one with a conviction for Muggle-baiting," Andrew decided it was time to prevent himself from going into a diatribe on the evils of certain families. "Its twenty years old, but his kind don't stop. They just become more crafty."

Moody made a sound of agreement. "I had noticed there isn't much record for Muggle-baiting in these parts."

"Most of Guernsey is half-blood and accustomed to Muggles. Herm is where most of the other half lives and I cannot pay visits to the island on whim. The Wizarding part of the island is Unplottable and hazardous for Apparation, so my arrival by Floo or broom is never a surprise. And the village is rather... close-mouthed to say the least. There are a few, who come and go from the island, but they don't talk much and I lack the resources to keep a closer watch. Floo access to the island is through here and most supplies come from here rather than London, and I try to monitor what does come in and out but there are limits."

"And if they get entangled with the French things become messy rather quickly," Moody finished. He rubbed his head.

"France is only a few miles away," Andrew reminded him. "Much closer than Britain."

Moody nodded. "I've read your requests for another protector."

"The understaffing is more than a nuisance." Andrew replied. Ever since Lewis died, it was rare Andrew could complain to anyone who had the ability to do anything. He was written off as having been spoilt by his powerful brother and turned over to clerks and secretaries who filed his requests away, never to see the light of day. Never mind that Andrew and Lewis had always taken great care to keep their professional relationship aboveboard and that he had never asked for anything out of the ordinary. Now he had Alastor Moody sitting across from him, an Auror who had the ear of Barty Crouch and he decided to take advantage of the opportunity. "It would be downright dangerous if the Death Eaters realized how understaffed we are and decided to take full advantage."

"You're in luck today, then. Mr. Crouch filled the vacancy before I left London." Moody produced a sealed letter, which he handed to Andrew. "Part of the reason I was sent was to inform you."

Andrew raised an eyebrow as he read the letter. "A nineteen-year-old witch barely out of Hogwarts? No training whatsoever?" The complaint was more a matter of form than anything.

"Pevensey's training is your responsibility, just as Dupree's was" Moody informed him. He leaned in close, keeping his words for the Protector's ears alone. There was no one else in the office but habits of secrecy were best kept through practice. "Crouch told me to tell this to you and only you - the girl is suitable but there are questions about her loyalty. Her mother supports the other side, you see, and her late father might have signed up before he died. Crouch doesn't want to dismiss Pevensey outright but he needs to test her loyalty."

Andrew read between the lines. If London wanted tests, they would have to pay attention to his office and its needs. He would be able to have more of his concerns addressed. Even if Pevensey was an agent of You-Know-Who, how badly could she bungle things out here? Most of his cases were citations for drunken magic where Muggles might see and the occasional broom theft. Guernsey would be the perfect place for some rudimentary training...

"We've finally been assigned another protector," Andrew told Basil at the office after Moody returned to London. The Auror had, of course, left him to deal with the small mountain of paperwork the Landry case wrought. He had yet to interview Jakes' neighbour, but that was just a formality. Barring a miracle, this was another murder that was never to be solved. There were no leads to pursue, no suspects to interview, no evidence to examine. Three people dead and there was not even a boot print to mark the murderers passing. Nothing. Even the curse on the jewellery box was standard in the hand-copied spell books that circulated amongst students no matter how many the authorities confiscated. It was not even a difficult curse to perform, requiring only cruelty and magic at the Ordinary Wizard Level.

All Andrew could do was file the case away and hope a Death Eater would be captured and confess.

Basil's eyes widened at the mention of the new protector. It was something of a local joke to say something unlikely to occur would happen 'when we get another protector'.

"Who is it?" Basil asked, curious. He was looking forward to spreading this interesting bit of gossip at the Knarl and Griffin. Someone at the pub would buy him drinks in order to hear the news.

Andrew had to think only a moment to recall the name. "Pevensey, Alice Pevensey."

Basil scowled at the name.

"What is it?" Andrew asked. He was more familiar with Muggle royalty than pureblood wizards, excepting the families of the Channel Islands. Aside from his friends, the Martins and Harpers, he tried to have as little to do with purebloods as possible. He assumed Alice Pevensey was a pureblood if her family was suspect, but they had never come onto his mental radar. There were well over a hundred pureblood families in the British Isles alone.

Basil, however, followed pureblood society news as avidly as Andrew's mother had once followed the British royal family. "Is Alice Pevensey any relation to David Pevensey?"

Andrew decided to feign complete ignorance. "Crouch didn't mention her family in the letter."

Basil sniffed disdainfully. "Well if she is of the same family, her father died of a dodgy illness - from what I've heard he messed around too much in the Dark Arts and it killed him. Mother attends social functions with that crowd."

That crowd' was a euphemism for 'people everyone knows are Death Eaters or are as good as'.

"Keep an eye on her, indeed," Andrew muttered. He decided to send a request for the file on the Pevensey family.