Harry entered the Ministry of Magic early, greeting fellow wizards with the usual 'hello'. He quickened his pace, seeing the time on his watch, and walked through to the Auror Department.

"Morning Harry" said Nadia, who worked at the Auror Office desk.

"Hi, have I missed anything important?" He asked urgently, sensing the tense atmosphere coming from the Auror Office employees.

Nadia nodded grimly, and let him through. As soon as Harry stepped through the doors, hushed voices were heard from all around. Harry's face fell as he spotted papers and photos scattered all over.

"There's been another murder" Proudfoot said in a low voice. Harry was instantly alert, and silently asked for information.

"It was only one this time, though just as obvious that it was a witch or wizard that killed her." Dawlish said, handing Harry photos of the victim.

"Who is she?" Harry asked, flipping the photos in his fingers.

"We think she's called Reagan Scots, witch, through we're not entirely sure"

"What do you mean?"

"She was supposed dead already" The new Auror Silvia Olson said, gazing at her superiors with admiration. Harry turned to face her, then back at Dawlish.

"How?"

"She ran away during the war, she never returned, so her family said she was dead. No one had seen her until now" Proudfoot told Harry, taking the photos back.

"Was it in the same place, or-" Harry started, before another Auror, Eduardo Ramos, shook his head, and explained further.

"No, ve fink ze murderer is moving furver down south"

"Oh" said Harry, walking over to inspect the papers, "any idea why?"

All the Aurors present shook their heads in unison.

"The owl announcing the murder turned up only 15 minutes ago, so we haven't had much investigation time" Dawlish said, joining Harry in inspecting the information. Harry rustled through the pile and finally pulled out the one he was looking for.

"Look, here, 'Parents fled to America during 1998'" Harry quoted, handing the paper to Dawlish.

"And what's supposed to mean?" Silvia asked, appearing at Harry's side.

"It means that we need to bring in…" Dawlish peered at the names of Reagan's parents, "…Josie and Timothy Scots"

"They could be anywhere!" Exclaimed Silvia.

"They could even be dead" Ramos added, unhelpfully.

"Shut it, the lot of you, it says here that they moved back to England 5 years ago" Dawlish snapped, not looking up from the paper.

"Anywhere local?" Proudfoot asked, but Dawlish shook his head.

"Sheffield" He said, still looking carefully at the writing.

"Oh" Proudfoot said, peering over Dawlish's shoulder.

"We'll have to go an investigate then" Harry said, still rifling through the scattered paper.

"We still having that meeting at yours on Wednesday?" Dawlish said, finally looking up.

Harry nodded absent mindedly, "Sure. My neighbour has offered to look after my 2 sons, so we won't have to worry about being too late"

Proudfoot looked up, surprised. "You've settled in then, what's this neighbour called?"

Harry grinned, and turned to face the Auror clan. "We've grown close to the parents of James' friend's Mum, Katie Williams. Had her over for dinner on Saturday"

"Muggles?" Dawlish asked.

"Yes. Don't have a clue about magic, don't worry." Harry assured them.

"What about your eldest son, surely he's showing signs of magic?"

"He knows about the Statue of Secrecy, he won't do anything on purpose" Harry said quietly, going back to the papers, "In the meantime, Ramos, do you mind contacting Josie and Timothy Scots?"

Ramos nodded, and walked out the room.


Today was a great day to relax. I had my feet up, and was sipping on orange juice, watching the Telly. Mabel had conked out whilst playing, so she was sleeping soundly upstairs. I flickered through the channels (quickly skipping through 'Antiques Roadshow', which always seemed to be on), before finally landing on the 1pm news. I yawned, thinking I should probably go to sleep too, but a sentence the reporter on the TV said, made me quickly forget any ideas of sleep, and instantly listen close.

'-murder moving closer south than the last two. Victim seemed to be alone, and showed signs of being murdered by the same murderer as Windsworth and Lopez'

A photo of the victim appeared on the screen, and I noticed that she had the same expression her face as the last two; unmistakeable fear. I was slightly creeped out by it to be honest, and I put a hand over my eyes.

I shuddered, and felt extremely sorry for Ginny, whose Husband had to go through this frequently.

'On a slightly happier note, the weather will be getting brighter, causing temperatures of about 2-' The reporter continued, causing me to doze of into sleep again.

I awoke horribly to a little face right next to mine. I jumped, and nearly fell off the sofa.

Mabel giggled, and held out her hand, to show me a little plait she had made of rubber bands.

"Very nice, sweetheart, but was that really worth waking Mummy up?" I asked, shutting my eyes again.

"Yes. An Li needs to come home now" she said. At once, I snapped my eyes opened again, and located the clock in the living room.

"Oh my! He does!" I yelped, jumping off the sofa, and grabbing my handbag.

"Come on Mabel!" I cried, tugging on my shoes, and watching as Mabel came plodding into the hallway.

"See? I helped" Mabel said proudly.

"Yes, you did, but now I need you to get your shoes on" I said, impatiently.

She pulled on her own shoes, and I gathered her into the car.

"ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM, WE'RE GOING TO THE MOON! ZOOM, ZOOM-" Mabel sang at the top of her voice, and making me cringe every time she tried to sing a top note.

"Mabel, please?" I said, after enduring 10 minutes of 'Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, we're going to the moon'.

"I like that song" she protested, proceeding with her ear retching notes.

After what seemed like forever, I pulled up at the school gates, and got out the car, pulling Mabel with me. (Mercifully she had stopped singing)

I walked into the school, and waited for someone to talk to me. I don't why I assumed this, but I did anyway. Of course, no one was giving the slightest notice, but all either waiting silently, or else talking to someone else.

I looked around, hoping to see Ginny, but I didn't. I even looked around for Harry, but I didn't think he would come because of what I had heard on the news earlier this morning.

A couple of minutes past, before I saw the unmistakable hair of Ginny, walk through the crowds, pushing Lily in a pram, and holding Al's hand. It took me a second to notice that she looked utterly made up. Her eyes weren't shining like they were this morning, and the way she was walking made me think she had heard some terrible news.

I rushed up to her, and offered to take Al. She nodded, and attempted to pass her son over, but he hid behind her legs.

"I stay" he squeaked.

"Is everything ok, Ginny?" I asked quietly, leading us all away to a quieter place in the playground. She shook her head miserably.

"What happened, if you mind me asking?" I said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"No, its fine. I suppose you heard about the murder this morning?" she asked grimly, and quietly, so Al's sharp ears wouldn't hear. I nodded, and she continued,

"Harry's case has just got 10 times harder, making it more dangerous, and even less likely for him to come home." She said in an undertone. I consciously felt my eyes widen, and at that moment, I was glad that Robert worked at Tesco.

"Don't think like that, Ginny, he'll be ok" I assured her, though not entirely meaning it. I didn't know anyone who worked in the police, and had no experience with anything to do with it.

"I hope so. James is at an age where he's starting to understand where his Daddy goes, and Al's quick at understanding. I'm afraid he probably knows too by now. And Lily, well, I just hope Harry comes home" she murmured, looking me right in the eye, and passing on her worries too me. A shocking, and horrible image floated into my mind, of seeing Harry's shocked face on the TV screen, and the reporter announcing that he was dead, and the murderer was coming down south… I shook it quickly out my mind, not wanting to worry Ginny anymore.

"Look, Ginny, I'm still up for looking after James and Al on Wednesday, and any other day I reckon I could take them too" I offered, trying to console her.

"I would take that any day, but the more Harry is away, the clingier James and Al get" she said.

"Daddy away" whispered Al. Ginny sighed, and spoke softly to him.

"Just for a little bit, he'll be back, you know that" she said, but Al's green eyes filled with tears.

"Daddy come home now" he said, hugging Ginny's legs.

A rush of children suddenly erupted from the classrooms, and Liam and James ran up to us. James caught on the mood instantly, and looked up at his Mum, eyes round.

Liam, however, was obviously oblivious. He was laughing, and telling me how he finished all his lunch today.

"Daddy's gone again, hasn't he" I heard James whisper. Ginny nodded slightly, and a tear leaked from James' eye.

"Why you crying, James?" asked Liam, concern in his own eyes.

James wiped away the tear, and muttered, "'m not" Ginny smiled slightly at this, and reached down to hug James.

"Want him home" I heard James murmur into Ginny's shoulder.

"We all go James, but I know Daddy won't stop until he finds a way to come back to us, I promise" she replied, stroking his hair.

Lily's whimpers rang through the air, and Ginny got up to tend the baby.

"You can tell Daddy's not here, can't you?" Ginny said to the baby, rocking her back and forth in the pram.

"Will Daddy come back tonight?" James asked, peeking over the side of the pram.

"Not whilst your awake, but maybe when you're asleep" Ginny said, carefully adjusting Lily's blanket, as she attempted to kick it away.

"Tell him to kiss me goodnight" James said firmly, putting his finger in the palm of his sisters. Lily's fingers wrapped around his, and she clung on tight.

"Me too!" Albus said quietly.

"I will" Ginny nodded, turning back to me.

"Will my Daddy come home?" Liam asked nervously.

"Of course" I said, a bit taken aback.

"Promise?"

"Yes"

It was only then that I noticed the people looking at us. Helen was eyeing me suspiciously, and looking on at Ginny, disgust in her eyes.

"Hey, Ginny, let's move away from here, get back to the cars" I suggested. She followed my gaze, and noticed Helen too. She wrinkled her nose in dislike, and nodded in agreement.

We reached the carpark, and the children got into their own cars. Just when Ginny got in herself, she turned around and hugged me. To tell the truth, I was extremely surprised, but I was also touched. I hugged her awkwardly hugged her back, and she pulled out a second later.

"Thank you. You don't have a clue how welcoming and helpful you've been to me – us –, we're so grateful for someone like you" she said, smiling sadly at me.

"No, I should be thanking you for turning up in Liam's life and making it that much happier. You're a great friend, Ginny. Don't stress about Harry, he seems the type that fights through difficult situations"

"You're telling me! Thanks, Katie. I owe you." And with that, she was gone, leaving me in the car park, stunned and feeling guilty that there wasn't anything I could do.