A/N: This is a story for the FlowerPot anniversary collection. Here is the link to their Discord Server; discord . gg / gS9EMw3N4P (without the spaces).

Shoutouts: A big thank you to Astro Hawthorne, Arty Words and x102reddragon for their excellent beta works.

A/N: First off, thank you for your helpful reviews. There is a reason the story is tagged as mystery. If you feel like you don't see the plot, perhaps it's because you're not meant to see it yet. That said, I have launched my patreo/n page where early access to my fanfiction works and full access to my original work will be available for patrons. Also recorded sessions of Fanfiction trivia will be posted as a podcast with free access for all.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This is a work of Fanfiction.

The Devil You Know.

Chapter Two: Seven Death Alone

"Welcome to the final of the English Quidditch League." Lee Jordan's voice boomed from the megaphone. "Join me in welcoming the amazing Puddlemere United."

A whirl of blue zoomed into the pitch. It swerved around to the right and flew apart to different positions in the stadium, the players doing fancy aerobatics to the swoons and cheers of the crowd. It reminded Dennis of Hogwarts' Ravenclaw Quidditch team.

"We have Kirke, Caddawaller, Moran, Davies, MacMillan, Wilson, aaaand —Wood!"

"They say he's been captain for eight years now." The wizard beside Dennis chattered, looking in Wood's direction. "Heard he joined the team straight out of Hogwarts, Gryffindor you know."

"I know," said Dennis. "He graduated the year before I started at Hogwarts. My brother knew him well though."

"Really?" The excited wizard asked, "Your brother must be an important person now. All his friends are. What does your brother do again?"

Ice coiled deep within Dennis' veins as his heart pounded. His knuckles were white against the omniculars. "He's dead."

"Oh."

"Yeah," Dennis muttered, contempt filling his tone. Lee Jordan's voice saved the awkward atmosphere.

"Put it together for the fantastic ladies of Holyhead Harpies." Displays of fireworks lit the stadium as a large fiery Harpy formed.

"We have Withershins, Robbins, Jordan— my gorgeous wife, Alicia, if that wasn't clear enough." Laughter echoed around the stands.

"Bell, Davies— would you look at that? We have both husband and wife going against each other today. It promises to be an exciting game. It will be interesting to see if Roger Davies can get the better of his wife today. I wouldn't bet on it though." More laughter filled the air at those words.

"Then Davis, and finally the Holyhead Harpies captain and World Champion Gwenog Jones!"

The crowd went ballistic at Jones' name. A good population of the stands were on their feet cheering her on as she raced across the stadium.

The players were in position now. Leaning forward, Dennis adjusted his omniculars. He watched as the referee glided towards the pitch on his shiny Nimbus 2030, a rectangular box gripped in one hand. The box was opened and Dennis saw, for a second, the distinct glint of glimmer of the golden snitch, before it disappeared, fluttering away like a tiny dragonfly.

"And they're off." Jordan roared. "The Quaffle has been taken by Moran, then MacMillan, and Moran again. Bloody hell, this is one hell of a synchronized movement !"

Dennis, like everyone else, was watching the duo movement of Moran and MacMillan, in awe and not just a bit of jealousy. It was like they knew each other's brains. He had never seen harmony between two people at such a level since the Weasley twins.

A pit settled in his stomach. He and Colin used to do everything together, sometimes they just knew what the other was thinking without speaking.

"Moran is off toward the goals." Jordan shouted. "He's thrown the Quaffle, Withershins dives for it, can she make it?"

Dennis watched, intent. The Quaffle was soaring towards the left hoop. He watched as Wilda Withershids shifted her broom to make the save, holding out an expectant hand. It never came. MacMillan flew in from the side, just as the Quaffle was descending, and punched it towards the hoop to the far right side.

"And MacMillan scores." Jordan announced. "What a brilliant move that was. And the Quaffle has been repossessed. Moran is on a race, there is no stopping him today! He passes to MacMillan and back to Moran, then to MacMillan again. Merlin's beard, what a classic manoeuvre."

Katie Bell gripped the edge of her broom, in an effort to remain in control. She must have put her all into that tackle. It was all in vain. Macmillan soared past her, releasing the Quaffle in a steep dive.

"The Quaffle is intercepted by Davies," said Jordan. "Cho Davies to be clear, not her less good-looking husband. Good job from the Harpies seeker for breaking the flow."

"Johnson is with the Quaffle now." Jordan said. "She's headed towards Wood." Dennis spied the Puddlemere beaters hitting bludgers towards Johnson and watched as she swerved around to avoid them.

"Merlin's beard, Cho Davies is flying downwards." Jordan exclaimed. "Is this a feint? Or has she seen the snitch?"

Dennis adjusted his omniculars in time to see Davies diving, Wilson tailing her. Davies inverted her broom in a barrel roll, catching a taste of the grass on her face before pulling the handle upwards. The snitch flew into her waiting palm to the loud cheers and applause of the crowd.

"Can you believe that?" Jordan yelled. "Cho Davies caught the snitch after that mind-blowing dive! This marks her first league cup for the Harpies following her transfer from the Chudley Cannons last season."

Dennis placed his omnioculars in the pocket of his robes, careful not to twiddle around with the dials, lest he lose any moment of the match. The pitch had been taken over by the crowds, as the Harpies fans swooped on to congratulate the champions who had just dismounted from their brooms. Ministry guards were rushing to control the excited crowd.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Ludo Bagman to present the trophy to our league Champions." Jordan announced.

The crowd grew in applause. Fireworks painted the sky.

A grey-haired, muscled, broad-shouldered man stepped towards the center of the pitch at the raised dais. Two ministry guards fell in step behind him holding something, cloaked in a black fabric, between them as they walked. They reached the dais and placed their possession atop a round table at the centre of the stage. The man, Bagman, shook hands with Gwenog Jones.

He waved his wand without speaking, banishing the black fabric. The golden cup gleamed in the sunlight. Bagman lifted it and placed it on Jones hands to tumultuous applause, before stepping away. The rest of the Harpies gathered around their captain, each placing their palms on the golden trophy.

A loud blast, like the sound of a cannon, rent the air. A flash of white light consumed the dais. Dennis averted his eyes from the incandescent illumination, blinking out spots. His neck turned back towards the centre of the pitch to meet an empty dais save the confused-looking Ludo Bagman kneeling beside an empty round table.

*(BREAK)*

James slid his hand into the pockets of his robe in a casual manner. He turned the corner again, baiting. The wizard turned. James faced his head straight, but focused the corner of his left eye to the glass reflecting his assailant's position.

The wizard had been following him for a while, possibly since he left Hogsmeade. He had noticed him after his third apparition to Glasgow's to get new ink quills. James had kept the façade of an ignorant, unassuming man still. He made sure every apparition was not without destination or purpose. From getting measurements at Malkin's, to a brief stop at Gringotts to withdraw some money, and even spending about half an hour eating ice-cream at Fortescue's.

James was at the end of his patience now. He was going to find out what the pesky wizard wanted from him. He gripped his wand in his pocket. He was currently in a deserted alley. The sound of footsteps grew nearer. James flicked his wand and a beam of blue light splashed against the body of the wizard, binding his limbs and legs to his body. Tight ropes snaked around the wizard with another wave of his wand.

He walked towards the fallen wizard, pointing his wand at his head, concentrating. The body bind spell eased from the wizard's head and neck, leaving the rest of the body still glued together. He stepped back

The dark skinned face drew together in a glare. "What is the meaning of this? What did I do to deserve this?"

"Why have you been following me?" James asked. The wizard shot him a nasty look.

"Is this how you go about attacking innocent citizens Potter?" The man asked. "Just because your father is the freakin' chosen one doesn't give you the right to do anyhow."

James clenched his palm in a fist. He inhaled, fighting the deep desire to slash a knife across the wizard's throat.

"You know you are right." James said in a faux pleasant voice. "I'm my father's son and I will use brutal means to get the truth from you." He paused for affected effect.

"Thing is, I've always wanted to try Legilimency myself. I learnt Occlumency from my godfather, you see, cause my father was rather absent. Anyways I'm not complaining because it's a privilege to even know of the skill, and only a Legilimens can teach you how to be one. Neville taught me how to close my mind away from intrusions but he never taught me Legilimency. I didn't ask of course, but I was curious you see, being a Ravenclaw and all that. You know, I always find a practical approach much more fruitful and until now I've not found the perfect candidate."

Fear bulged in dark eyes. The wizard struggled against James' hold.

"Tell me why you were following me and I'd let you go." James said. The wizard did not seem to have heard him. He continued pulling against James' until, in a sudden moment, he was still. James frowned as the expression of the wizard changed from fearful to speculative and then triumphant.

"Activate." A blast sounded. A whirl of blue light clogged his eyes. James realised in a split second what was happening, and twisted on the spot, appearing three feet away from where he had been standing. The blue light cleared with a flash to reveal the deserted alleyway with no sign of a dark skinned wizard anywhere.

* (BREAK)*

They both appeared with a loud crack. Harry and Teddy stepped through the threshold gates of shining silver and emerald. He could feel the wards, shimmering, coating around his skin like a fine layer of ice, testing.

A flock of animals littered the land mass. The skies were coloured brown and black by the numerous Hippogriffs and Threstrals.

A hike around the perimeter took them to the office area. Workers roamed about the building, seeing to one business or the other.

"Great of you to finally grace us with your presence. I sent the owl three hours ago." A voice said from the entrance of an open office. Harry sidestepped the lanky man, entering the office with Teddy at his heels.

"I came as soon as I was able to." Harry replied, sitting down against one of the stiff-back chairs that was facing towards a main table. "What's the situation?"

The door closed with an abrupt snap. Harry felt the silencing wards shimmer over the room. It stretched over every nook, almost claustrophobic in its execution.

"We were robbed last night." The man stated without preamble. "By a masked intruder."

Harry rubbed his temple as he contemplated a course of action.

"Any ideas as to whom it might be, Mr Greengrass?" Teddy asked.

Cyrus shook his head. Harry was out of his depth. There was no solid connection to anyone of conflict. Almost anyone would have loved to lay their hands on a piece of the Greengrass' coffers..

"Do you think any of your staff might have leaked the position of your company's temporary safe?" Harry asked.

"It wasn't money they stole." Cyrus replied. "The intruder took seven of our Unicorns. He must have had inside help, because they knew our special formula for sedating them. By the time we got to him, he had portkeyed away."

A handful of ice clenched around Harry's heart. He looked at Cyrus, meeting the older man's blue irises with his.

"Did you say seven Unicorns?" He asked. "Please tell me you didn't say seven Unicorns."

Cyrus was silent for a moment. A look passed between them. Thoughts flitted through his head faster than he could encrypt them.

"I am more concerned by the fact that the intruder thought Unicorns were of more worth than our safe of Galleons." Cyrus said. "There has always been a rumour about the magical properties of a Unicorn's blood, but I have never known anyone who had dared try to confirm."

Tingles rose up Harry's arm. His stomach twisted in a knot as he found himself back in the body of his eleven year old self, watching as the pathetic form of Voldemort was licking, through Quirrell's body, a silvery substance from the corpse of a Unicorn.

"It is not a myth." Harry announced, his voice sounded weak to his ears. "It's real. I've seen it done before."

The silence was deafening. Patterns were forming in Harry's mind.

'Seven Wizards.' He had hoped he was wrong the first time he saw the pattern when James came with news of his missing friend.

'Seven Goblins.' He had tried to rule out Bill's words as coincidence. Something had kept nagging his mind about it.

'Seven Dwarf Chiefs.' The conversation with Terry Boot seemed a million years ago, yet it was only a few months. Harry would have wanted nothing more than to be able to rule the Dwarves' actions as destructive and provocative for no reasonable cause.

'Seven Quidditch finalists disappeared yesterday afternoon, all were witches.' The pattern was stretching into a terrible thing. Harry did not like to consider what this was evolving to be.

'Seven Unicorns.' Seven was the most powerful magical number, Dumbledore once told him. He could feel the elder wand pressed against his right fore-arm. He needed Dumbledore now. He needed his guidance and there was only one way he could get it now.

*(BREAK)*

A/N: If you like any of my works and want to discuss. You can join my Discord server by using this link; discord . gg / wnyWEsSBwB (without the spaces). Also, I occasionally host weekly Fanfiction Trivia Tournaments, based on many popular fanfictions and fan pairings, every sunday 2 pm (UTC) prompt. It will be a pleasure to have you on board, thank you.