It was about 10:30 when we all got inside, and I felt uncharacteristically tired.

"Tired?" Robert muttered, seemingly reading my mind. I nodded a little, and regretfully let out a yawn. He grinned, and placed Mabel on the floor, letting her run after Al.

Ginny had left for the stairs, stating that she needed to feed Lily, and so Harry, Oliver, Robert, and I were all left to make our way to the living room.

We all sat down, slightly further apart than we would have done this morning, and both Harry and Oliver were looking at Robert warily, probably unsure whether he was about to explode again.

"So," Robert grunted, and I glanced at him apprehensively, "Care to ex- "

"Robert," I groaned, "Can't you drop it?"

"We have a right to know!" Protested Robert, "Stuck in a house full of secrets? I don't- "

"Secret's to protect you," Harry muttered, "The more you know, the more you're a target. That's why I don't tell Ginny everything."

"People can't read minds," Robert grumbled, and I couldn't help noticing the identical glances Oliver and Harry shot each other.

"We're going at 11," Oliver said, "Try to keep your head on until then."
Robert scowled.

"And I suppose we can't go anywhere?" sneered Robert, making me wince, "What with a murderer on our tails, huh?"

"We caught the murderer," Harry reminded him quietly, "Just none of his associates, yet."

Robert fell back against the sofa with a soft thunk and resorted to glare at the two men opposite him. Harry looked away, but Oliver stared my husband dead in the eye, his dark eyes almost daring Robert to start up again.

"I don't get your problem," Oliver said finally, breaking the gaze, and a look of curiosity appearing on his features, "We've told you the problem with secrecy, and yet you're determined to break through it."

"Oliver," warned Harry, "Cut it out."

"Blooming head of department," Oliver muttered with a huff, making Harry grin a little.

"I reckon we should head in early," Harry suggested, and Oliver quickly agreed.

"I'll see you both later," Harry told us, inclining his head slightly, "Stay safe."

And those were his parting words.

I heard him share a farewell word with Ginny, and then the sound of the front door opening, and then, closing.

Ginny appeared at the doorway, looking concerned.

Her eyes darted over to Robert, who was lying back on the sofa, his hands held in his lap, looking irritated.

"They're both as stubborn as each other," Ginny sighed, falling back onto an armchair, "I'm sorry on their behalf, Robert, and you too, Katie."

"They're impressive when they're both on the same side, shutting me down," Robert grumbled, and Ginny lowered her eyes.

"Ron used to work with Harry, but he left when he found out Hermione was pregnant with Rosie. He wanted to be close by at all times. Harry was introduced to Oliver a couple of months later, and they got it off straight away. They're both amazing at their job, and it helps that they're only a couple of months apart. But yes, they can get intimidating, I agree."

"You get scared of your own husband?" Robert asked, his eyes wide, but Ginny shook her head abruptly.

"Not scared, no," she replied, looking deep in thought, "But when he's all dressed up and has his mind in the right place, he acts completely different than he does at home."

"D'you know what time he'll be back?" I asked apprehensively, but Ginny shook her head again.

"Maybe around 1, maybe 2," she shrugged, "It depends how long he can get through to the murderer."

"How long does it usually take?"

"It depends on the suspect," explained Ginny, "Some are dumb assholes, trying to get a bit of attention, whereas some have thought through their plans carefully. Those types of people have an aim at the end of their mission, and I'm afraid that's what Harry's dealing with today."


Once Harry and Oliver were outside the boundaries of The Hollies, they both turned on their heel, and apparated directly into the entrance of the ministry.

"Why've they blocked the Auror's entrance?" Oliver asked, noticing that they had ended up right in the atrium, behind the long line of ministry workers waiting to get to their departments.

"Press, I reckon," Harry groaned, trying to move through the bustle of people, "I bet they're waiting in the apperating spot."

Oliver rolled his eyes.

They both wriggled through, and people began to look, to stare, and then finally the yells began.

"Mr Potter," A short fat man working with the Prophet yelled, "Are the rumours true? Did a trainee find the murderer? Are we safe?"

"Can't have a moments peace can we?" Harry muttered, pulling his cloak over his head, trying to avoid the camera that began to flash, "Feel like a fucking monkey in a zoo."

"Was it true that it was right by your house?"

"Why did your trainee save you?"

"I heard one of your kids got caught!"

Harry narrowed his eyes and looked around at the orator of the previous statement. Oliver looked up too.

"Don't say anything," warned Oliver, "It's Plumley's job to report this stuff."

"I just wonder where they get their information, though," Harry muttered back, pushing through to the lifts, and hammering down the button to level 2, "Some of it's true."

"We still need to figure out who gave the news to muggles," Oliver added, looking relieved when a lift dragged itself forward, "I bet it was Fern. He's always doing stuff like that."

"Anything for a bit of attention," Harry agreed, stepping forward, and hastily closing the lift gates.

The two Auror's travelled in silence before the lift juddered to a halt, and the gate reeled back to reveal the cubicles and hubbuble of their department.

"Morning," Evan Nestor, part of the team tracking routes, said cheerfully, tipping his hat in greeting to Harry and Oliver, "Suspect's locked in Cell 61."

Harry nodded, and made his way round to his office, on the other side of the room.

"I'll see you in a bit, yeah?" Oliver said, and Harry nodded again.

"I've been told to be there by 10 to 11," Harry explained, "Are you coming?"
"No," Oliver said gloomily, "Arlen fucking Starcoff kindly asked me to fill out a report."

Harry grimaced sympathetically as he backed into his office, closing the door, and moving round to sit behind his desk.

He glanced at the clock and watched as the time painfully ticked on. The time leading up to interrogating a suspect – especially a murderer – were the ones Harry hated the most. You found out the harsh, and often brutal truth when questioning the accused, and even more so, said murderer would have no sympathy. None at all

He sighed, and swung back in his chair, regarding his paperwork thoughtfully, before deciding against doing it. Instead, he took a good look around his office.

After 3 years of being Head of the Auror Office, the room in which he worked had been made a sort of second living room. Pictures of the Weasley's, Ginny, and his children hung all over the walls, waving and smiling as they bustled about in their portraits. Books were stacked haphazardly on shelves, looking well-loved and used to breaking point. By a large window overlooking the atrium, 2 armchairs were positioned neatly next to each other, and Harry remembered fondly of the time when he had taken James and Al to work, and they both curled up identically on each one, distracting Harry greatly from his work, and giving Starcoff an excuse to tell him off.

He looked back over at the clock, and let out a breath, and stood up, straightening his cloak as he made his way to the door.

"Good luck," Elsie Doling muttered, "Apparently he's a tough one."

"How'd you know?"
Elsie grimaced.

"Starcoff stormed through here a few hours ago," she explained, "Johan was almost running to keep up."

"So Arlen's already been there?" Harry asked, and Elsie nodded, "Huh."

"Don't think he got any information," piped in Dawson Lloyden, leaning across from his cubicle, and his partner in the neighbouring cubicle – Anna Prowest – nodded her agreement.

"He's not down there, is he?" Harry asked them, but they all shrugged.

"I didn't see him come through here," Lloyden commented, "But he probably went through the back."

"Thanks," Harry nodded, "I've gotta go."

"Have fun." Prowest grinned, and Harry grimaced.

"Too close to home, this one," Harry said firmly, turning on his heel, and entering the doorway that led him to the interrogation rooms.

To his annoyance, Proudfoot was there, leaning against the wall, his wand twirling through his fingers.

"Just you?" Harry asked, and Proudfoot turned his head, before nodding slightly.

"I'm on duty for now," Proudfoot said, shifting his gaze back to the wall, "Matthews is next."
"61?"

"They haven't moved him," Proudfoot snorted, "Have fun trying to get through to the bastard."

"I heard Starcoff had trouble-"

"Almost got himself killed."

"He's unarmed, isn't he?" Harry said in alarm. Even after years of being in the Auror Corps, everyone knew to never interrogate a culprit when said culprit had any sort of weapon on him; whether it be a wand or a muggle gun.

"Course," Proudfoot grunted, "He's got hands, though."
"Why not cuff him?"

"Just go," Proudfoot said, glancing at Harry, "Better get it over and done with. Blake and Timpson are down by his cell."

Harry nodded and strode past Proudfoot, irritated at Proudfoot's lack of cooperation recently.

"Thanks for the help," Harry muttered under his breath, walking briskly along the corridor lined with cells, counting each one as he went.

Finally, he got to the 61st cell and saw Asia Blake and Ryland Timpson leaning lazily against the wall, talking in soft murmurs.

"Potter," Timpson said, tilting his hat in greeting, "We've decided the perpetrator is a 30-year-old male by the name of Yorick Fürsicka, but he's refusing to confirm nor deny this. If our suspicions are correct, Fürsicka had a history of dark magic, given that his father was a willing Death Eater during the Battle of Hogwarts, 1998."

"Who's his father?" Harry asked, glancing in the direction of the cell door, "Was he well known as a Deatheater?"

Blake shook her head, "Jacques Fürsicka was never important enough to be accepted by any dark powerful wizard, but we sourced evidence that he, with little support from his wife – Tina Bonwick – decided to go and seek You Know Who himself, which didn't do him any good."

"What happened to him?"

"He got mauled by a hippogriff," Blake said calmly, "During the second part of the battle. Tina fled to Merlin knows where, and Yorick, his youngest son, apparently wanted vengeance upon his Father's death."

"Hippogriff?" Harry said, and Blake nodded, checking her notes which had been tucked under her arm.

"A large grey one."

"Buckbeak," muttered Harry, "Did you say 'youngest' son?"

Timpson nodded.

"From our files," Blake said, indicating her clipboard, "Abel and Ophelia Fürsicka are still alive and well today, and have had no intent to join branches of dark magic."

"Have they been contacted?" Harry asked, and again, Timpson nodded.

"Abel lives in Norfolk with his son and his wife, and Ophelia lives in London with her husband and two daughters," Timpson explained, and Harry furrowed his brow.

"Did they have any idea what's been going on?"

"I don't think so," Blake shrugged, "They'll both be in tomorrow for questioning."

Harry nodded in satisfaction and asked if he was allowed to enter Yorick's cell.

"He's wandless, but as you probably heard, he seems to be a fan of physical brutality," Timpson said grimly, and Harry dipped his head in understanding.

"We'll be out here, recording what he says," Blake told Harry, as he reached for his wand, needing its magic to get into the cell, "But we're not allowed in."

Harry looked over at the door and signalled for Blake to open it.

The door creaked open, and Harry walked into the cell, instantly surrounded by blackness.

"Potter." The man growled, and Harry saw two white eyes glinting through the dark, the chains holding him back clinking together.

"Fürsicka," Harry greeted, quietly casting a Lumos. Fürsicka remained silent, only ducking away from the light that now blinded him, "I've come to find out a bit about you."

"You know enough about me," spat Fürsicka, "I could hear you."

"We got our facts right then?" Harry asked cooly, "Those were only things we thought were true, but not necessarily accurate."

Fürsicka didn't answer.

"Want to talk?"

"No, not really." Snarled Fürsicka, his head still kept low, his face concealed from view.

Harry sighed as he leaned up against the cell wall, his hand wrapped around his wand, which was deeply in his pocket.

"I don't want to use legilimency, you know," Harry said, "It's an invasion of your personal space, but at this rate, I might now have a choice."

"What do you want to know," snarled Fürsicka, his voice low and threatening.

"Facts." Harry said simply, "Associates, motifs, all that jazz."

"You know who I am." Yorick grunted, "What else is there to know?"

"Why did you murder all those people, then?" Harry said roughly, "Innocent people, muggles, you killed, and you seem to have no regret whatsoever!"

"Wizards are superior to Muggles," Fürsicka sneered, shifting, "The Dark Lord had his priorities right, but you went and murdered him, eh?"
"His curse rebounded on him," Harry said hotly, "I don't murder for fun."
"My siblings never understood." Fürsicka said, barking out a laugh, "They tried to persuade me not to follow my father, but they were brainwashed. My stupid sister married a muggle, for fuck's sake. Her children are not pure enough for this world."

"You don't get to determine who deserves to be in this world, Fürsicka," Harry snarled, "The Deatheater's are gone. People are smarter nowadays, and eventually, the only purebloods left will be direct relatives. You can't marry your cousin forever."

Fürsicka growled like an animal, eyes glinting in the light, as he slowly bought his face to view. Filthy blonde hair lay limp on his shoulders, ragged and knotted, and his pale eyes had nothing; no soul, nor life. His shoulder blades stuck out from his dirt-caked skin, his body almost skeletal in the dim, concentrated light. His teeth were bared as he turned to face Harry, his bony hand's twisting on the metal chains holding him back.

Harry realised then that this was a deranged man. A man that should have been sentenced to life in Azkaban the minute the war ended. But Yorick Fürsicka had managed to conceal himself from the reach of the ministry, allowing himself an extra 10 years of freedom.
"You're a madman, Yorick," Harry stated calmly, "I'm afraid you'll need to spend the next phase of your life in Azkaban."

Yorick's eyes widened, and his suddenly let out the most terrible wail, his hands coming up to his throat, squeezing tightly. Harry quickly stepped forwards, tugging on Fürsicka's hands, trying to ease his finger's off, before it was too late. However, Yorick began spluttering, his eyes popping out of his skull as his face began to turn blue.

Harry pulled his wand out of his pocket, and yelled 'RELASHIO', and almost instantly, Fürsicka's hands fell limp against his side.

"I'm gonna have to tie your hands," Harry panted, breathing heavily, twisting his wand, and making two Auror mittens appear out of thin air. He shoved them onto Fürsicka's hands and tied them tightly together.

"Let me do it," whispered Fürsicka, his pupil's dilating, a look of pure terror upon his pale face, "Let me kill myself."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," Harry sighed, putting his wand back in its holster, "Just tell me what's going on, and who you worked with."

"Sergio Metcalfe, Vladmirus Poole, Richenda Hammoth, and Lukias Colebat." Hissed Fürsicka, his eyes rolling around.

"Is that all?" Harry asked calmly, thankful that Fürsicka wasn't making this job too difficult.

"Yes," croaked Fürsicka, his hair falling in front of his face, "But Lukias betrayed me." He added in a raspy breath before he suddenly cried out again, his face pulled long in misery as Harry looked on in astonishment.

"Where is he now?" Harry asked quickly, but Yorick shook his head.

"I cannot say!" he cried, his eyes burning with hatred, "He's disappeared!"

"What?!"

"He vanished after I suggested to target your children." Fürsicka whispered, "He said he was done with all this murdering."
"You targeted my children?" Harry growled, anger bubbling up inside of him, and it took all of Harry's inner Auror strength to not destroy Fürsicka then and now.

Fürsicka sneered, "Of course. Destroy the Potter bloodline, and the whole country will be in despair. They'll put their guards down. Easy target's you see."
"You wouldn't have had an easy time getting into my house, Fürsicka," Harry snarled, and Fürsicka snickered.

"I knew that," he smirked, "that's why I targeted you when you weren't in the house."

"We've all got protection, and so does anyone close to us," Harry replied, feeling sick with worry.

"I saw that," said Fürsicka, "So I went for the child with the weakest shield."

Harry stood up, his heart pounding furiously against his chest, threatening to bound out.

"What have you done, Fürsicka," He spat, but Yorick didn't move.

"Nothing."

"Which child did you target!?" Harry cried, "Answer me!"

"The baby had the weakest protection," Fürsicka answered, sneering, just as Harry's mouth fell open, and he tugged his wand out his pocket, pointing it threateningly at the bedraggled man, "But it was still there."

"What?" breathed Harry, "What'd you mean, 'It was still there?'"

"The protection." Fürsicka said harshly, "I tried a hex, but she only started spluttering."

The cogs clicked, and Harry looked at Fürsicka in outrage.

"What hex?" He asked quickly, and Fürsicka smiled.

"Expulso," he said, "Not that the pressure built up enough to do any damage. The charms around her got the brunt of it."

"What were you intending to do if it had worked?"

"Go for the others," Fürsicka sneered, "Your attention wouldn't be on anything else."

"That doesn't – that won't – if anything, I'd be more alert!" Harry replied, "How do you even know where I live?"

"Spies," Fürsicka said simply.

Harry blinked.

"I got a couple of squibs," continued Fürsicka, "Ones accustomed to the ways of those filthy muggles."

"Did they do so willingly?" Asked Harry, and Fürsicka simpered.

"' Course not. But they didn't have a choice, now, did they?"

"Where are they now?"

"Dead," Fürsicka said bluntly, moving back into the shadows.

"What'd you do with the bodies?" Harry asked, his fingers curling back around his wand.

"None of your concern. They're dead." Fürsicka snickered, the chains rattling.

"Alright, fine," Harry replied, "Where are your allies?"

"We have a base," admitted Yorick, and Harry leant forwards, "A great base if you ask me."

"Where?" persisted Harry, making the most of Fürsicka's desire to be cooperative.

"My Father's house," whispered Yorick, "The house I inherited. The one thing that my stupid excuse of a brother didn't get."

"I assume the ministry don't have tabs on the house then," Harry said, and Fürsicka growled.

"It was my one safe place. The place I've been in the past 10 years. The elves assured my survival."

"We have tabs on elves working in houses, now," Harry commented, "Surely –"

"The elves of Fürsicka hall have been working there for centuries. They don't need tabs." Snapped Yorick.

"You're just giving me more and more reasons for your arrest, Fürsicka," Harry sighed, "You might as well give me the location of your base."

"My one safe place!" croaked Fürsicka, "I won't tell you!"

"You're going to Azkaban anyway," explained Harry, "You won't be going back."

"No," Fürsicka wailed, "You won't take this away from me."

Harry stayed silent, waiting for Fürsicka's wails to subside before he spoke again.

"You knew what you were doing when you did that first murder." He said quietly, "Anything from there was just added time to your sentence. Surely you didn't think you'd get away from all this. What, with all the Aurors, Muggle Policemen, and the DMLE hot on your tail?"

"I thought I had a chance," Fürsicka said miserably, "I was bored sitting up in that house alone."

"So that's what triggered all of this?" Harry said, dumbfounded, "You being bored?"

"I was alone in a manor house," Fürsicka spat, "What did you expect?"

"What happened to your Mother?"

"She fled to America when she heard of my Father's death. She never agreed with his choices, but she also loved him. And me." He said candidly, "But she left. So did my brother and sister. Haven't heard from them in over a decade. All I know is that my sister married a muggle, and ruined the Fürsicka's untouched pure blood."

"What about your brother?"

"Abel," snickered Yorick, "Oldest child. Got all he ever wanted from our parents but refused to accompany my Father on his journey to find the Dark Lord. I wanted to go, I begged my mother to let me, but I was underage, and still at school. Abel left after a couple of weeks, and we later discovered that he had fallen in love with a half-blood."

"My sister followed in his footsteps, and ran away with her inheritance, buying a house for herself, away from me and our Mother, after a year. So far, my Father's quest had been unsuccessful, but by now I was 17, and so I took to find him myself. I didn't have any luck, and after 3 years I went back home to my Mother. By this time, the search for you was on, and I still had heard no news of my Father, nor my brother or sister. So it was just me and my Mother. Alone in a house too big for two people. Then came the news of The Dark Lord's downfall, and the death of my Father. My mother cried for days, locked up in her chambers, until one day, she disappeared. I found out via the elves that she left for America, way out of reach of the Ministry of Magic. MACUSA wasn't keeping track of magical migrants back then, and so I never heard of her again."

"Have you spoken to anyone since?"

Fürsicka snarled.

"I don't wanna mix with people like that."

Harry blew out a breath.

"Just tell me where your associates are, Fürsicka," He said, "Then we're done here."

"Metcalfe, Poole and Hammoth are in the manor," Fürsicka growled, "But I have no idea where Colebat went."

"Did any of them do any of the murderings?" Harry asked, but Fürsicka shook his head.

"No," he responded, "It was only me and Lukias."

"Does Colebat have any relatives?" Harry asked, determined to find out where Fürsicka's counterpart went.

"A sister, a think," Fürsicka answered, "She probably works here."
"Right, thank you," Harry said, nodding in satisfaction, and turning away from Yorick.

"The Manor's on Lundy Island," Fürsicka whispered, and Harry's head turned sharply.

"In the Bristol channel?"

"Yes," Fürsicka said hoarsely, "Please don't destroy it. Leave it under my brother's name."

Harry nodded again, and with his wand, he slowly opened the cell door, leaving Yorick Fürsicka alone in the dark.

"I'm done with him," Harry announced to Blake and Timpson, who were looking at Harry dumbfoundedly.

"You got a lot out of him," Timpson commented, "He didn't say a thing to Starcoff."

"On the contrary," added Blake, "He tried to strangle him."

"He wasn't too hard to crack," Harry said, glancing at Blake's clipboard, which was now full of notes from her frantic scribbling.

"We've sent the recording up to Starcoff so he could listen for himself," Timpson told Harry, who nodded.

"It's a good job you keep protection on your family 24/7," Blake muttered darkly, "Certainly kept your daughter from being one of the murdered."

"Thank god," muttered Harry, "Ginny and I were going all over to try and find out what's the matter with her."

"Any idea who the squibs were?" Blake asked, but Harry shook his head.

"No," he audibly replied, "But we need to send a couple of Aurors to go obtain the rest of the murderers from Fürsicka Hall on Lundy Island before they get ideas to flee."

"Who are you thinking of sending?"

"Anyone who wants to go," Harry replied, "It won't be hard, I don't think," he added, "These 3 people – Poole, Metcalfe, and Hammoth – weren't the ones doing the murdering; we've got that one already."

"So you think they're not dangerous?" asked Blake in surprise, but Harry shook his head.

"No, I totally think they're dangerous," Harry said, "Just not the smart type of dangerous, you know?"
Both nodded, and Harry glanced at the cell containing Fürsicka.

"What happened with him?" Timpson asked, "There was a situation at the start; we could hear it." He glanced at Blake, and she nodded her confirmation.

"You mean when he tried to strange himself?" Harry asked, and looks of realisation swept across Blake and Timpson's faces.

"I'm surprised we hadn't caught him a long time ago," Blake commented, "He doesn't seem very discreet about himself."
"He really must have been in that house for 10 years," shrugged Timpson.

Harry glanced down at his watch and gave a start when he saw it was quarter to 12.

"I better go," Harry said, looking up again, "I've got to get the report done."

'Ah," grinned Timpson, "Have fun."

"Will do," replied Harry, bidding his farewell, and heading back up to the Auror Office, passing a loafing Proudfoot on the way.


For the past hour and a half, we had lounged in the living room, content to dwell on our thoughts, but willing to participate in any small conversation brought upon us.

We had had a small lunch at around 12, chatting comfortably until we had all finished, before migrating into the living room to await the return of Harry, and the imminent arrival of my parents.

"You alright, Katie?" Robert muttered from beside me, and in nodded, giving him a reassuring smile.

"I hope you both slept well," Ginny said, appearing at the doorway, with dozy Lily in her arms, "Or that Lily didn't wake you up."

"We all slept like logs," I smiled, and Robert nodded his head in agreement.

Ginny sighed in relief, before falling back into one of the vacant armchairs.

It was quiet again, until around ten to 1. The door was heard, and Ginny promptly jumped to her feet, leaving a sleeping Lily lying soundly on her back, pillows shoved up around her, hence if she fell.

"Harry," I heard Ginny mutter, obviously taking him in for a hug, given the sound of clothes ruffling against each other, "All good? How hard of a nut was he?"

"Pretty soft, actually," Harry commented, and I heard him take off his coat - his jacket - whatever, "I've learnt quite a bit about him."

"I suppose you can't tell me, huh?" Ginny responded, and I glanced over at my husband.

"Gin," Harry started, "You know the procedure."

She sighed, and a second later, the couple appeared at the doorway, Harry smiling when he saw me and my husband sitting there.

"Hey," He said, sitting down next to where Lily was lying, "No news from your parents, Katie?"

I shook my head, watching as Ginny sat down on the other side of him, placing a subtle hand round his waist.

"So?" Robert asked, and I looked around warily at him.

"I can't tell you much," Harry said at once, placing a hand on Lily's chest, making her look tiny, "But I can tell you this."

He lifted his gaze, and our eyes met.

"He surrendered. Gave his name, location, motif, associates, age, you know. He's locked up, and won't be let out."

He looked away again, and I felt a huge wave of relief wash over me.

"So it's over?" I asked hopefully.

Harry thought for a moment, before shaking his head.

"No." He said, "It won't be over until we have the rest of the suspects, and the reports have been filled out."

"Where are the suspects?" Robert asked.

"Uh, I can't tell you that." Harry replied, "But I assure you it's far enough away from here to not be worried."

"What about our house?"

"I asked my colleague to contact a building and repair team, so that's sorted," Harry said, and Robert nodded in satisfaction.

A thought must have come to Harry, for he glanced quickly at Ginny, then back down at Lily.

"I found out what happened to her," He said, and Ginny looked confused, yet concerned.

"What? What's wrong with her?" She asked.

"That day, in the woods," Harry explained, and Ginny's mouth opened to an O.

"When she starting coughing?"

Harry nodded.

"Well?"

"It was him," Harry frowned, "He tried to-" But he stopped mid-sentence, shaking his head dismissively.

"Never mind," He said, "I'll tell you later."

"Ok?" Ginny replied, looking slightly bemused.

Before the adults could get anymore talking done, a tiny voice screeched its way through the living room.

"Daddy!"

"Hey Al," Harry grinned, bending down to scoop up the toddler, "What've you been doing?"

"Playin'," Al said smartly, waving around a tiny doll's hairbrush, "Wif Mabel."

"We were playing with my dolls," grinned Mabel, "It's more funnier then blocks."

"I like blocks," Al said stubbornly, wriggling back onto the floor.

All of a sudden, a strange noise rang through the house, and both Harry and Ginny stood up.

"That'll probably be your parents," Ginny told me, and Harry nodded his agreement.

"At the gates?" I asked, and again, Harry nodded.

I got to my feet and followed Harry and Ginny out of the living room, and into the hallway.

"I'll go," offered Ginny, opening the door, and walking out into the driveway. I trailed behind her and watched as the gates drew back slowly, revealing my parent's grey car. I saw my Mum wave at me through the windscreen, and I waved back.

Ginny drew back to Harry's side, and let me go greet my parents first.

As the car drew to a stop, I noticed my Mum look at Harry and Ginny, her mouth open slightly, before she looked over, almost determinedly not catching their eyes.

"Mum," I smiled, dismissing the slightly odd behaviour, and drawing her in for a big hug when she got out the passenger door.

"Hey, love," my Mum smiled back, returning my hug happily, "I missed you."

"The kids miss you too," I told her, and her eyes crinkled in delight.

"I've missed them more than anything," she replied, "and they're both growing so much!"

"Hi, darling," my Dad said from the other side of the car, "It's been too long."

"I'm sorry, Dad," I said, going over to greet him too, "We just live so far away, and Liam and Mabel would never sit still for over 4 hours in a car."

"I know," my Mum answered, "But we like it up North."

I shrugged, and led them over to the door, helping them with their couple of suitcases.

"This is Harry and Ginny," I introduced, "They've let you stay at their house for a couple of days whilst we sort all this out."

My father held out his hand, and Harry took it, smiling.

"Thank you," my Dad said, "For being so accommodating for Kate, and us."

"No problem," Harry replied, "It's been great to have some company."

"Who am I?" Ginny asked sarcastically, and Harry grinned apologetically at her.

"Different company," Harry explained, "And don't pretend you haven't enjoyed it too." He added as Ginny opened her mouth to retaliate.

"Very nice to meet you," My Dad said, and Harry nodded in agreement.

The Potter's stood aside to let my Mum and Dad in, before slowly shutting the door behind them.

Robert's head appeared at the doorway and grinned when he saw his in-laws.

"Afternoon, Howard," He said, "You too, Anna."

"Robert," Smiled my Dad, looking at my husband approvingly, "Thank you for looking after Katie."

"No problem," Robert shrugged, coming to my side, "Like she's not independent enough to look after herself."

I grinned.

"Granma!" Mabel cried from the living room, darting out, "GRANPA!"

"Oh, she's grown so much!" My Mum sighed, apparently still not looking her hosts in the eyes.

"I'm three," giggled Mabel, hugging my Dad's legs.

"I know," My Dad said, "We were at your party remember?"

Mabel giggled again and nodded.

Harry offered to take my parent's bags up to their room, and Robert quickly proposed to help, the two men soon disappearing up the stairs.

"Living room?" Ginny suggested, and I nodded, gesturing for my Mum and Dad to follow.

Al was happily sitting on the floor, stacking his beloved blocks to make a tower, but he looked up when he heard everyone enter, I saw his eyes widen as he saw two strangers enter along with us. He scurried to his feet and clambered onto the sofa next to Lily, one block clasped tightly in his fist, staring intently at my parents.

"This is Al," Ginny said, smiling at her son, "And Lily's next to him."

My Dad sighed, "I assume she doesn't sleep through the night?"

Ginny shook her head, "She won't wake you; I promise."

My Dad looked quizzically at her but dismissed it.

I turned my gaze to my Mum, who had her eyes fixed on Al and Lily, seemingly in a trance.

"Mum?" I asked uncertainly.

"Oh, would people pay to see this." She said softly, making Ginny's eyes snap up to her, and both I and my Dad looked at her in confusion.

However, before any of us could probe her, Harry appeared at the doorway.

"What?" he said, apparently having just heard what my Mum had just said, "I-"

My Mum broke out of her stupor and turned to look at Harry in horror, interrupting him from talking anymore.

"Don't say anything," she whispered, making Harry's eyes narrow, "They don't know."

"We need to talk," Harry sighed, beckoning to Ginny, "If you're saying what I think you're saying, we need to talk."

"What're you all talking about?" My Dad said in exasperation, and I nodded my confused agreement.

"More secrets, huh." Robert commented, "When will all this stop! I'm so fucking sick of it!"

"Robert," I said reproachfully, glancing apologetically at Harry and Ginny.

"We'll be a few minutes," Harry told us, walking around us to gather Lily into his arms, "I'm sorry for leaving you on a limb like this, but this is important."

"Anna?" My Dad asked uncertainly, but my Mum smiled a little.

"It's fine, Howard," she reassured him, and I felt somewhat reassured too. First me, now my Mum too? What was going on?

Harry motioned to leave the room, and my Mum and Ginny followed, my Mum somewhat nervously. Al slid off the sofa, and toddled out the room after his parents, leaving just 4 of us behind.

We all turned to look at each other with identical blank looks on our faces.


Harry pushed open the door to his office, and after everyone was inside, he shut it carefully behind him.

"You're a witch?" Harry asked dumbfoundedly, rounding on Anna Grey. Her eyes widened, but the simple nod she gave was enough to make Harry stare at her intently.

"Do any of your family know?" Ginny asked, looking equally as shocked, but Anna shook her head, her eyes falling to the ground.

"I've been married to Howard for almost 45 years," she whispered in desperation, "I'm afraid he'll leave me if I tell him the truth."

"If he truly loves you, he won't care," Ginny said firmly, "How did you manage to hide it?"

"I try not to do magic that often," Anna explained quietly, "I had to hide away in '98, because of it, and I tried so hard to give Katie and Henry a normal childhood."

"How did you know they weren't going to magical themselves?" Harry asked, watching as Al curled up on the window seat, his eyes wide.

"I just, knew," Anna said miserably, playing with her fingers, "By the time they had both passed the age of 6, and neither of them had shown any signs of accidental magic, I knew it wasn't worth being a witch anymore."

"Where do you keep your wand?" Ginny asked questioningly.

"On me," Anna said softly, and she reached into her jumper, pulling out her wand, taking it out, and swirling it in her hand, "How could I not?"

"I assume you keep up with the Wizarding World though, yes?" Harry asked, and when Anna looked at him curiously, he explained, "You knew about Al and Lily, about me and Ginny, you must have been keeping up with the murders."
Anna nodded begrudgingly, and Ginny frowned.

"Do you get the prophet in?"

"At 3 am," she whispered, "My family are magical," she said desperately, "I needed to check from a magic perspective on everything that's happening, and I'm just as involved in it like everyone else."

"You need to tell your family," Harry said quietly, placing a calming hand on Anna's shaking fingers, "They deserve to know."

"They deserve everything," whispered Anna, tears beginning to pour down her face, "But imagine the look on Katie's face if I told her I could do magic for Merlin's sake!"

"We were going to tell Katie and Robert tonight," Ginny said gently, "But we might as well do it together."

Anna shook her head, tears now flowing freely from her eyes.

"They wouldn't believe me," Anna cried quietly, "None of them would."

"But what happens if Mabel or Liam end up being Magical," Harry told her calmly, "They'd believe it then. So why wouldn't they believe you?"

Anna's eyes widened.

"You don't think Liam or Mabel are magical, do you?" she asked in horror.

"You never know," Harry said, and Al smiled.

"Mabel magic like me?" he said, wriggling down, and looking at his parents happily.

"We don't know, Al," Harry sighed, handing Ginny Lily so he could pick him up, "But she doesn't know about magic yet, ok?"

Al nodded, looking at Anna warily.

"I've only ever seen a couple of photos of him before," she said, and Ginny nodded.

"We don't like them out in wizarding public, but when we do go out, James is the one who slips out of our grasp and starts waving to the cameras or whatever. He loves it." She smiled a bit, "Al, on the other hand, hates it. He'll hide behind our legs."

"You can see why the wizarding world is so interested, then," Anna commented.

"Let them be," Ginny shrugged, "It's not like we nosy into their lives."

"Congratulations, by the way," Anna smiled, gesturing Lily in her arms, "She's beautiful."

"Thank you," Harry said, his eyes glowing happily.

"We really shouldn't leave them waiting downstairs," Ginny sighed, and Anna looked down to the floor.

"I'm really doing this, aren't I?" She whispered, tucking her wand away, "I've been hiding it for 50 years, and it all comes down to this moment?"

"Let's go," Harry said, nodding gently, and leading Anna back downstairs, trying to ignore the woman's trembling body as she took each step.

"Trust us," Ginny said comfortingly, "You'll be fine; we promise."