Disclaimer: my thanks to Conan Doyle, Hiromu Arakawa and of course J.K for the central ideas and influences in this story.

Notes: chapter was rewritten, this was going to be the end of the first chapter, but as I re-wrote it set in a car it seemed better suited to the second, this also leaves the unfortunate events for Samuel up to the readers imagination, reviews and criticism would be helpful to know what you think of the story. Anyway enjoy…

It was raining, sheets of it pelting the front window of Ron's car. An old 68 mustang dark green, very shabby and worn, but a prized gift from the twin brothers Fred and George, gained on his parsing from Hogwarts.

Being a wizard's car trips seemed, even on crowded streets to go smoothly. Ron of course almost always complained about his car, at that moment the failing windscreen wipers where under his scrutiny, but the radio had always worked, and as the now restored Harry sat back it was playing a slow jazz like tune.

Harry's apprentice now was one that he'd always pretty much had, thick untidy black hair just covering a trademark scar. His thin face now had a bit of untidy stubble about it, and was the picture of unkempt. His old glasses, reduced to ash on a case two months ago were replaced by a similar round pair but with a dark green tint that worked quite well in hiding his bright green eyes.

He was quiet, listening to the music. It was a good reflection of his mood gazing out a beaten window, to see the back streets of London whiz by. Street lams and the occasional neon sine casting their glows on his face.

"Well, that was interesting." Ron suddenly piped up casting a sideways glance at his friend

"What, the part where I was Tonks dad and husband? Or where that tattooed guy broke his bonds at the platform and nearly killed that newbee, Samuel?"

"Oh…I wasn't spific" Ron grinned turning his attention back to the road. Thinking about the 'regulars' experiences he expounded with relish "still they have to learn sometime."

Harry broke out in slight laugher; he wasn't sure if Ron hadn't held back from saving Samuel for a second after the vampires surviving accomplice made a brake for freedom. But Harry should off guessed. Ron's thoughts on the 'regular' office would put him in better sprits.

Ron didn't show it but he was glad Harry was finally recovering, and thinking back the change in his best friend since Harry had taken the job was remarkable, a year ago…

Ron chose not to dwell on that, it held too much for all of them. Casting around for a happier topic, which with Harry was never easy, Ron asked "how's your head, you seemed a little zoned out after you changed back."

Harry had stopped laughing and a calm expression crept back to his face as he fell back in the passenger's seat "when I was Lupin it helped cover my mind, but I need to get back home, I left my medication there."

"Medication? Harry those drugs are damaging! I can't count how many times we begged you to stop…"

"I fine Ron" was the only response as Harry closed his eyes, the conversation was over it was best not to argue with Harry when he was like this Harry knew that Ron and the others had his best interests at hart, but he needed it, the single escape. From the voices…

From her.

About twenty mints later the rain had dimmed a little as they quickly left the city and with a sudden blast of what Ron had always happily described as 'the cannon' they were speeding away in a experience Harry unhappily could repeat on the wizards night bus.

Trees, hedges a house or two all speed by or 'jumped clear' until the destination. Out side Godric's Hollow, this was where Harry now lived the comfy house looked welcoming, with well-lit windows and some smoke from the chimney.

"Why is it still not unpotable? The should be more security." said Ron gazing at the house.

Dimly Harry wandered why indeed he still stayed in a place that held so much pain; the answer came as always, pushing all else aside in his head.

Harry sighed, and opened the door to get out, "she wanted it no other way…" the was a pause at this between the friends, then "thanks for the ride Ron."

Ron winked "anytime, you two take care now" and with this the was a bang and the Mustang was off into the rain. Harry turned and walked down the front garden. To rap quietly on the door.

At this the was a sudden running and the door opened, at first a person might of thought it was a child that opened the door but a second glance made would show it to be a house elf, with big orb like eyes and long ears, upon his entry it slightly bowed with "master Potter, Sir."

"Morning Dobby how's the house?"

"All well sir, Tulip was a little difficult to go to rest but Mary Ann was a good as gold"

Harry relaxed at this, and went for the stairs, "then ill leave the house in your care Dobby, I'm up to bed." As an after thought he added "and thanks for staying up, the was no need,"

"Think nothing off it Sir, Goodnight sir" the happy elf said wondering off to put the lights out. Harry continued his ascent up the staircase and at the top pushed open a door to his right. The room inside resembled that of a nursery, at one stage this was Harry's room, now another's.

Harry went over to a cot in the corner, where the lay a small bundle a girl no more than 2 with short dark red curled hair with a thin face and a strange paten on her arms and hands. Although it was could not be seen with her asleep she had dazzling bright green eyes.

Harry starred at her for a few minutes, noticing the pattern had grown more distinct over the last few days. Wearing a small smile then with a light kiss to her forehead turned to leave, at the door he cast one last look back 'sleep well Mary.'

Harry left that door and moved up the darkened landing to the bathroom when there he went to the sink and turned one of the brass taps hot water poured out. Removing his glasses, Harry washed his weary face and then looked at the refection in the cold mirror above the sink.

Looking in to his own green eyes Harry allowed his mind to wonder, casting back to memory's that seemed as though from another's life;

Mary Ann Potter hadn't always had those black marks on her arms and hands, she was born two years ago in February, a year after Harry had married Ginny. The year after this had been the happiest in the couple's lives as they were content.

But Harry was away at the ministry on that fateful night in November, where in at Godrics Hollow the mother sacrificed her self for the child a second time.

He could see himself walking up to the house on the thunderous night; the lights were out, something was wrong he speed up started running, saw the dark red front door broken splinted baring entrance, braking through to run in…

What he saw as he entered was a seen of devastation, broken bodies were scattered over broken furniture the scarlet blood slashed over the walls dribbling down to end in a pool on the stained and scorched wood floor.

He remembered that he wasn't thinking strait, wasn't being careful, he just barged up the stairs tripping over another corpse, steadying himself on the landing. The silence, which was what scared him most as he went towards the only room on this floor with the door still ajar, their bedroom.

He reached for the handle his own tattooed hand shaking. He paused, drew his wand trying to steady himself then through the door open, darkness…

The lightning flashed, and he fell to his knees, in the corner the mother was propped against the wall, her blood running down the end of the spike that had hit her in the chest.

Cradling the sleeping form of Mary in her alms. Her expression was still a grin of triumph.

Next to the collapsed Harry a burnt body lay, in the inquest after the attack on the Potters it was shown that she had cast her protection on her daughter. This had caused the black weaving tattoo like markings, like vines, on her arms and hands. It was this sudden magical force of emotion that incinerated the final attackers.

Drip…

The still dripping tap brought Harry back to the cold reality, he looked down at his left hand the round symbol, with a star inside marked upon it that had been there since his 7th year. The hand was shaking.

He had been thinking too much he needed his medicine… Harry lurched to the side clipping the bathroom entrance; he was tired and shaking, as flashes of memory were running by. Propping himself up against the wall as if drunk to his room.

Once there he made for a chest of draws that stood in the corner, opposite the door. A candle perched on its top was the only soothing source of light. The walls were painted; dark green and a double bed stood centre, against one wall its end closer to Harry as he entered kicking his shoes off at the doorway.

Reaching the large oak dark chest, he went for the top draw. It was there, always there.

In the candle light a box could be made out it was a thin neat morocco case. With long, nervous fingers, he opened the lid and withdrew a vile of dull red liquid, then a cold un-detailed steel syringe.

He adjusted the delicate needle and moved back to sit on the bed, rolling back his left shirt cuff. For a few seconds time slowed as his tired green eyes rested thoughtfully, sadly, on the sinewy forearm and wrist, all doted and scarred with the innumerable puncture-marks, ending in the rune marked hand.

Finally, he thrust the sharp point home, pressed down on the small piston,

Withdrew.

And sank back on the white velvet sheets of the bed. His eyes empty of all thought as his mind sealed its self off, from the horrors of the world…

It was the smell of eggs that woke him; he blinked sunlight streaming through the large window, its blinds left open. He blinked and moved his eyes languidly from staring at the ceiling has his mind seemed to slowly start gears and move…Eggs…and bacon, he needed these.

He stirred groaning coming around, looking at the room, the box had been packed up, no doubt by Dobby, and he had a visitor downstairs.

He didn't need his abilities to figure out who the 'intruder' would be, this had happened bout 3 times a week for the last 5 months, and he mealy hoped shed left another portion of breakfast.

'Just when I deserve a lie in' thought Harry as he got up.

Ten minutes later, dressed and washed Harry walked downstairs and made for the large kitchen, it had a fairly old apprentice a feather-duster was making its way over the mantle piece of a large lit fire place, across from this a large stone sink filled with some plates washing themselves. In the centre of the actively sat at the thick pine table was Tonks kicking back a large mug of tea.

Tonks spoke as Harry moved for the teapot "Morning, sleep well?" this was a rhetorical question, as she knew Harry didn't choose to dream unless he had to.

"Guess I'm ok," muttered Harry who seemed unconcerned, "are there more eggs?"

"Yep just there on the corner of the table" Tonks pointed out "Dobby seems thoughtful as usual"

"Don't know how id manage with out him," admitted Harry

"I would eat fast…" Tonks stated as Harry sat down, Harry looked up, he was taken aback "I assumed you were just here for the debrief"

He starred at her calmly eating toast, her hair brown this morning unrevealing, shinning in the bright summer light flooding through the windows.

The stillness was broken when a dog, apparently a Jack Russell spotting twin waging tails bolted in through the doorway; it ran through nearly reaching the half-open back door when with a crack Dobby apparated, in between dog and door.

The dog skidded, madly dashing about-face to take off the way it came, Dobby gave chase yelling, "Tulip needs a bath, could Miss Tulip please come baaaaaaack!" and could be herd dashing about the front room.

'Miss' Tulip was a crup, a magical creature and a excitable one at that. The arch enemy of Dobby's ordered household, she had been Ginny's was fiercely loyal, loud energetic but this had sat just fine with Harry, who had now made Tulip, Mary's adoring pet and bodyguard.

The two Aouor's sat at the breakfast table had ignored the commotion, and continued to eat. With the creatures departure and sudden lull Harry rounded on Tonks. "A new assignment?"

"Indeed" Tonks answered not taking her eyes away from gazing loosely out the window, "so I'm fooing ahead, I expect you at the ministry in ten minutes." This was final and she stood up, moving towards the fireplace "thanks for breakfast" she said gratefully

Harry mealy waved his tattooed hand, dismissive, as he tried to imagine the danger she was going to put her student through that day, Tonks yelled for the ministry and with a green flash of fire she was gone.