November 1st 2022: The Weasley/Granger Household
Hermione Granger
Hermione threw her bag on the kitchen table with a loud thud that was of course disproportionate to the size of the bag. That habit had been impossible to break.
The fact that Hermione Weasley, nee Granger, had thrown her bag to the table with such a loud noise would have raised eyebrows if someone was there to witness it. Nobody was, however. Which was perhaps the cause.
Ron was working late, again, and since it was already past ten when Hermione had left, that meant he was working very late indeed. It was a stressful time to work at the Ministry, especially for those in MLA like Hermione and Ron. As head of the department, Hermione was working 6 days a week and seemed to spend all of her time at home still working. The auror office was no different. So really, since the summer, Hermione and Ron had barely spent any time together in a non-working capacity. It bothered them both a lot. If Hermione had learnt anything from the last war, it was that one should never put their life on hold. After a string of nights spent alone, she'd decided that Ron had forgotten that. He was busy, almost as much as her, and he had the added fear of her receiving death threats weekly- some from within the ministry. Which was the most terrifying thing of all.
It wasn't that she wasn't scared because she was, she wasn't stupid. But she was busy, pissed off, and determined not to fail. And that's when she was usually bravest.
So when the wards detected someone breaching the boundary she wasn't scared, she was furious. Ron had always said there was nothing more terrifying than Hermione in one of her moods, but even he hadn't seen her in such a rage (and he'd done plenty of stupid stuff to warrant it). Her wand was drawn in seconds and with hands shaking in fury she peered into the garden. Sure enough, there was a stout man climbing over her garden fence and stepping on her flowers. Bastard.
The thought of contacting Ron crossed her mind but despite the danger it was only one man and while she wasn't to overestimate her abilities, she had the element of surprise. Plus Ron's wand was keyed into the wards which meant he must be aware of the breech.
While she dithered, the man saw her and sent a jinx flying towards her. Hermione ducked back behind the door wincing as the wood beside her face splintered and blackened. She let out a huff. She was really fond of that door: it was an original feature.
"Stupefy," Hermione yelled ducking back from behind the door, she missed him as he threw himself behind the blue, worn shed at the end of the garden. Stepping confidently onto the patio she threw out a blasting curse, smashing the shed to splinters and destroying the man's hiding place. Ha, that'll teach him, she couldn't help but think. He tried to escape the raining debris, but a heavy plank, painted cracked blue on one side, caught him in his midriff. He howled in pain and surprise as Hermione strode across the garden, wand aloft, eyes bright with anger.
"Expulso," he yelped, Hermione dodged to the side before realising that he hadn't been aiming at her. Instead he had aimed at the stone wall to her right that lay between her garden and the village field, she'd dodged towards it in her effort to get away, and the wall exploded out, colliding with her leg viciously her face making a little "O" of surprise as she heard the 'snap,' of the bone. She gasped in pain, landing on the floor in a lump. Her right side had been hit, and she knew she was covered in abrasions. She didn't give herself long to collect herself, knowing that seconds were the difference between life and death.
If she'd been angry before, she was furious now. She jumped to her feet, ignoring the pain in her leg and limped forward, disarming the man with obvious ease. His wand jumped into her battered right hand and he whimpered as the furious woman half stomped towards him.
"Who are you and why are you in my garden?" The man did not answer, he instead, quivered. Hermione was just about to tie the man up when several aurors ran out of the house and into the half destroyed back garden. Hermione jumped in surprise but smiled and waved when she saw Ron and Harry at the lead.
"Blimey," Ron said, grasping her good hand and murmuring a healing spell over her cut cheek. Hermione was distracted by Ron and his soft kiss on her lips so startled when Harry coughed awkwardly.
"Good work, Hermione," Harry said gesturing to the man behind her, "sorry we took so long, had to assemble." Hermione smiled at him and looked around the garden, it looked like half the aurors were in her garden.
"Tea?" She asked, smiling brilliantly around the garden. It had been years since she duelled and she once again understood why Ron loved it so, her heart was thumping, hands tingling- she felt alive.
November 2nd, 2am- Ministry, Auror headquarters.
Harry Potter
When people asked him about his job he said it was hard, but rewarding. If people asked what it was like to be friends with Ronald Weasley, he'd probably reply in the same way. Ron was renowned for his pacing. Harry didn't know any other man that could walk the same stretch of carpet for so many hours. But then Ron had always been full of surprises and wacky talents.
Ron was logical (which no one really seemed to realise), he was also intelligent, more so than Harry at times. There was no better logistical genius in the department, he could pick out weaknesses and plan an attack better than anyone. The issue was however that Ron lacked information to form an attack.
The man that had broken into Ron's house was a 28 year old, pure blood, called Reginald Atlas. He was, by all accounts, a bit of a shit. He had joined the Non-Conformites last year. He blamed his continued unemployment on muggle-borns and half bloods rather on that rather more likely cause of him having roughly the same intelligence as a Pygmy puff. Both Harry and Ron had had the pleasure of interviewing Atlas. From this they had gathered he was a small cog in the Non-Conformite machine. His task had been to booby trap the home, the target was Hermione, but in his own words his bosses didn't care if a blood traitor got in the way. Both Ron and Harry needed some air after the interview.
"They must've known there was no way they could overpower Hermione. Setting the house to blow makes sense, but not accounting for the wards? Shoddy." Ron muttered as he trod the carpet even flatter.
"If the Non-Conformities wanted Hermione then they would have sent their best, not Atlas. This feels wrong, they've been five steps ahead this whole time. There is no way they would send a guy that failed his owls."
"Atlas knows more, he has to, he's been there a year even he isn't thick enough to not learn anything in that time."
Harry paused, "It's times like this I wish we could use veritaserum."
"Are you sure we can't?"
"Pretty sure. Legislation states that it can only be used in cases of terrorism."," Harry said, "and even then it'll take us months to get permission. We have to go through Shacklebolt and the European Commission, it could take them months to give us permission- time we might not have," Harry said, shuddering remembering his other dealings with the politics attached to the European Commission, he hated politics with a passion.
"Harry, I'm pretty sure we could claim that, and at this point, anything is worth the shot."
Harry considered, "I don't want to wake the department, it can wait till morning, you need to get back to Hermione and I need to see my wife."
Ron stopped pacing and thrust his hands into his pockets, he looked up thinking, before smiling, "She's bloody good, isn't she?"
"Hermione? Yes, although I think she's a bit annoyed at the state of her garden."
Ron smiled, "She's been moaning at me for ages to do it up, wants a barbecue next summer, reckons it's about time we hosted."
"Hermione gets what Hermione wants," Harry chuckled, "get out of here Ron, go see your wife."
"Thanks, night mate."
Ron left in a hurry, Hermione had been seen to be a mediwitch at the scene and was declared to be fine, if a little bruised. She'd remained at home with her leg elevated. Harry had asked Teddy to stay as he could tick the friend and protection box, not that Harry thought they'd try again so soon. The events did make Harry wonder the size of the group if they could so easily send their sacrificial lamb to slaughter. Perhaps they were testing the waters, trying to see how they would respond to a threat, maybe they thought they'd get lucky. Harry wasn't sure of their motives and although they'd finally captured a member of the group he wasn't important enough to actually know anything. Harry felt that if they kept applying pressure Atlas would spill everything he knew, he'd already admitted how long he'd been part of the group. They just needed him to admit involvement in some of the other crimes attached to the non-conformities. Really, this was a brilliant breakthrough. Finally they had captured someone and the public would be somewhat appeased.
Same day, 8:30am: Great Hall
James Potter
James speared his sausage absently as he frowned over at Allie. She was sitting at the Slytherin table beside her brother. She was frowning into her cereal as her brother talked intently to the boy opposite, her face kept crinkling in distaste. James couldn't help but wonder what they were discussing to get her brother so fired up. For a guy that never smiled, he looked oddly happy and that made James' stomach roll in unease.
The post arrived with its unusual clatter, James took his opportunity to have some more toast. James was happily eating his toast blissfully aware of the commotion the post had caused.
"Jim," Dan hissed, slapping the paper in front of him. "Jimmy!" James looked up just in time to see Rose running out of the hall trailed by Albus. James frowned after her before directing his attention to whatever it was that got his friend so worked up. It was the Prophet and it was the headline that caused him to gasp. "Hermione Weasley savagely attacked in own home: thirty aurors respond to distress call."
James snatched the paper and scanned the page, his heart clenching as he looked at the photo of Rose and Hugo's destroyed back garden.
Yesterday at approximately 10:34pm Aurors responded to a disturbance at the Weasley residence. This reporter can confirm that two of those aurors were Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley (husband to Hermione), the head and deputy of the auror department. The scale of the response suggests that this incident was extreme- certainly Hermione Weasley would surely be on the hit list of any pure blood fanatic.
The Prophet is still waiting for a response from the Ministry as we go to print. A mediwitch was sent to the household so it can be assumed that someone was injured, perhaps severely. We contacted St. Mungos for comment, they had this to say, "I can not say who was injured, you know that. I can confirm that a highly trained mediwitch did attend to someone at the Weasley household but I cannot obviously comment on the extent of the treatment."
Ministry insiders have claimed that Mrs Weasley has been receiving death threats since September. It is worrying, however, that Mr Potter and Mr Weasley, both senior aurors and close with the victim, were unable to protect her. It does cast some doubt over the Aurors ability to protect the public.
Who is Hermione Weasley? More on page 8.
Our experts discuss the failings, page 2.
"Fuck," was all James could say, he looked up into the equally worried faces of Fred and Dan. His neck was prickling and almost without intending to he looked up, straight into the eyes of Patrick Higgs. He was smiling, big and wide, yellow teeth glowing. Alison was cowering next time, unable to make James eyes.
James sprung up, marching across the hall ignoring the hundreds of people tapping their friends and staring,waiting for the inevitable bust up. The hall was tense, the teachers watching closely.
"Something amusing you?" James snarled. Higgs smiled wider but didn't respond. "Didn't have you pegged for a coward, Higgy. Tell us what you're thinking, I'm dying to know."
"An article in the paper caught my interest," he said slowly.
"Did it now? One caught my interest too. Something about a group of cowards being beaten by a lone witch."
"I wouldn't bet on that."
"Got some inside information, have you?" Higgs turned a funny shade of grey and made to stand up. James knew then that he knew something about all of this, he was involved- how much he was involved James didn't know. But he'd bet his life that he knew the perpetrator. James caught a warning glance from Allie but ignored it. He was about to press forward when a hand clamped down on his shoulder, hard, biting into him, enough to make him since.
"Boys, boys," said the firm voice of Professor Cleese, "I think it's time we go to our lessons, don't you think." There was no question there, not really.
"Yes, Professor," James said, even though he wanted nothing more to ignore her. Even though Higgs had stopped smiling, he looked instead oddly worried. As Cleese walked away, Higgs smiled at James, pointing at him and then the paper. He made an exaggerated cut-throat sign that was almost enough to make James launch across the table and slap that stupid face silly. Deep breaths, he told himself.
He clenched his fist and walked away, the boy's eyes glaring a hole in the back of his head. James had the feeling that this meant there was more to come.
His panic over his aunt had left while he stormed to the other table, but as he returned to his own and the pale faces of his family, he grew concerned again. James looked up at the teachers table and caught Neville's eye, he gave them a subtle thumbs up. James wasn't sure if that was for his confrontation with Higgs or was in reference to Hermione, but he relaxed nonetheless. If it was serious Neville would have collected Rose and Hugo. So he knew Aunt Hermione had to be okay. He almost chided himself for thinking any differently, there was no way Hermione would allow herself to be bested in her own home, especially by a moronic wizard.
James looked up again at Alison, she was avoiding his eye. She knew something- that he was sure of. He just needed to find out what. He knew she wasn't bad despite Fred's continued worry, but he also knew that her family was involved. Especially her brother. He should tell his dad, but there was no evidence, no proof, just a feeling. He couldn't go to his dad with that. Plus, he thought looking into the hunched figure of Alison, he had another way.
The morning had dragged, Lily had assured him that Rose had written to her mother and had spoken to Neville. Although Aunt Hermione had not replied, their head of house had confirmed that she was absolutely fine.
It was lunch before he saw his family again. Usually, the family split up into different groups. Roxanne was normally with the Slytherins, Louis with the Hufflepuff and little Lucy with the other third year Ravenclaws. Fred and James were normally together, of course, and Albus and Rose sat with their friends and further along the table sat Hugo and Lily.
Today, however, they were all sat together in the centre of the Gryffindor table. James and Fred were the last to arrive as they'd just got out of Herbology. Rose and Hugo were sitting in the middle of the Weasley swarm but they appeared in good spirits. James and Fred squashed in across from them, Fred viciously elbowing Roxanne out of the way. She snarled at him while he patted her on the head.
"Any news?" He asked lightly, scanning their faces carefully. They seemed relaxed.
"Mum wrote back, she said she's fine," Rose said airily, waving her hand as though she'd never been concerned, "she's bruised, but at work."
"Although mum once went to work while puking her guts up, so I'm not sure that says much." Hugo said quietly. Hugo and James had never been too close because of the vast age difference between them. James had spent his youth playing with Louis, Fred and Molly as they were all much closer in age. But the Weasley's had always been close knit, so James knew that Hugo was much more shaken than he seemed.
"Yes, well she's fine, and she said Dad is finally going to build the summer house," Rose said with a small smile. "Maybe even do one of those outdoor cookers, although I fear for our safety if she lets dad near it," the family all shuddered. Their Uncle was a good cook, but him near muggle technology, especially the barbecue kind, was bound to end in tears.
"That's great," James said with a smile.
"We need not have worried, Mama always said that she was the brightest witch of her age," Louis said. He was sat at the end of the group, next to Lucy, who was looking rather squashed between the hulking Louis, who had taken after his dad in stature, and Lily, who took up more space than a girl her size should.
"Is it true?" Lucy asked, looking at James, "that Aunt Hermione is getting threats." James shrugged helplessly, sharing a frustrated look with Lily. They knew no more than the rest,
"Dad never mentions work when he writes," Albus said firmly, "never does."
"Dad writes to you?" James said, shocked, he never got letters from his dad. Albus flushed slightly.
"Well maybe he likes me more," Albus said hotly, the Weasley flush taking more of a hold.
"Now, now children," Fred said, eerily like Grandma Weasley.
"We all know Uncle Harry's favourite is little Lily-flower," Roxanne smirked. James lost track of the conversation as he frowned thoughtfully at his brother. Albus was obviously writing to their dad about something purposeful, something that couldn't go in a joint letter. Which meant it was either about mischief (in which case he'd message George) or girls. Girls James decided. Although he was pretty sure Albus would be better asking Teddy.
Teddy.
James felt instantly warm inside, that was it, good-old Teddy. James didn't want to bother his dad with his worries. But he could bother Ted. Ted would listen, he was a good guy and an awesome big brother- not to mention he was an auror. He'd know what to do.
James laughed his way through dinner, relaxing in the good company of his family, secure in the knowledge that soon he would know what to do.
James sidled up to Albus that very evening, a wicked smile on his lips, "So, you've been writing to Dad?" he asked nonchalantly. Albus squinted, adjusting his glasses in a way that James knew meant he was trying to work out what he was up to.
"Yeah, what's it to you?" he asked, almost edging away from his older brother.
"Let me guess," James said patronisingly, patting him softly on the arm. "Girl problems?"
Albus instantly flushed, "No!" Albus said harshly, "obviously not!"
"No," James agreed, "because then you would have come to me." James said in a matter-of-fact tone.
There was an awkward pause where they both considered the absurdity of that. Albus began to fiddle with his tie while he awkwardly tried to find an escape route. James took pity.
"Look, I know I'm not easy to talk to, but if you ever need anything- I'll be here."
Albus looked up with a small a small smile, "You'd make fun of me."
James reeled back in mock offence, "Of course I would!" He said, hand over heart. "I would still help though- always." Albus gulped slightly, whether it was at the seriousness of James promise or an attempt not to laugh, James wasn't sure.
"I know James," Albus said quietly, avoiding eye contact. "And I will ask, as long as you do the same with me."
"Of course," said James ruffling his brothers already messy hair. "Always."
James,
Yes I and Vic are very well thank you, just discovered an old muggle tv program about magic- worth a watch, I'll lend it you when you're home, if you fancy it.
I've put them on the watch list and I'll look into it on my end. Are you sure I can't tell your dad? Yes it's hearsay but to be honest we've got nothing really. The guy that broke into Ron and Hermione's has been charged and we are looking into his connections, Ron has a lead as well. It's the most progress we've made in months.
Keep an eye on the situation Jamie and talk to Alison- if she could come forward with any information it would be an excellent help, even if her family is not involved and her brother is just a pig it would mean we could tick them off the list.
On the girl front, you sure you don't have a crush? Seem awfully fond her...
Look after yourself James, don't go looking for trouble.
Ted.
(Vic says will you tell Louis to reply to his mother.)
The reply came within a day and James couldn't help but sigh in relief. Big brother Ted to the rescue. He would speak to Alison, and Ted, made it seem like it was unlikely that her brother was involved which he had to say was a bit of a relief. He considered what he could do now, he needed to speak to her- but say what? He needed help, I. These situations his dad always had Ron and Hermione. But Fred and Dan were suspicious of her and he didn't really want them involved...
But in the end, it was Alison that approached him. They'd continued their study sessions but their sessions that had once been quite chatty and relaxed were now formal and distant. James found himself on the verge of speaking every session, but he stopped himself every time.
"My brother is a- he's scum," she said violently, startling James who was trying to write his essay on 'the use of defensive spells'. James blinked at her stupidly, Alison was red and trembling with rage, "My father and him, they believe in blood purity and all that crap."
"Oh," James said, well, what could you say in response to that?
She looked hesitant but determined as she went on, "When they found out about...us they asked me to spy on you."
The truth sat between them like a glass sheet, cracked and splintered, and about to shatter.
"I love them, both of them, I didn't want to say no," she was whispering now. "You always seemed so confident, a bit of a prick. Sorry," she tacked an apology in the end but the guilt was written across her face. "I told them about how poor your defence was and they... They.. They thought it was a good thing. I didn't understand why." She suddenly looked at him, eyes blazing, "my dad's not a killer, but he's serious about wanting to change things, I don't think he has the guts to do it himself. I think he thought that you might be an easy target."
"Is your dad in this terrorist group?" It was then that she began to cry.
"I don't know."
"Why did you tell me?"
"James you're my friend," she paused, "I don't want to lie to you."
"So what do we do?" James asked.
"Please don't tell your dad, or your family. They'll hate me," she moaned.
"But what if your family is involved?"
Alison paused, she looked torn, hurt and small. "I'm a Slytherin James, I throw in my lot with you and I'm done for. Family, friends..." She trailed off, still thinking, "but if they are involved, if they want to hurt innocent people, then- then I want nothing to do with them."
James thought it all over, everything she'd said, everything he knew. "Do they still expect information on me?" She winced and nodded. "How about this, you be the Severus Snape to my Dumbledore. Pass information onto them, it'll have to be mostly true. We can decide what you say. You act pally-pally and get them to tell you everything. Then- we can pass information on. You know, anonymously. If we think it's important." Excitement bubbled up at the thought of it all.
James knew in his heart of hearts that he should just tell his dad, he needed to know. But at the same time, James didn't want to risk it. He'd tipped his brother off, they could keep this quiet.
"So what do I tell them?"
James didn't get back to the common room until after curfew that night. His mind was still buzzing with everything they had discussed, everything he had found out.
"James, finally," Fred said crossly, jumping up from his armchair like a cross parent, "we've been waiting, man."
"Sorry, mate," James said distractedly. Fred and Dan shared a look.
"We just wanted to talk about training, we were thinking that we need to work on our chaser formations . The other teams have seen all our moves," Dan said enthusiastically, brandishing his battered Quidditch book.
"Yeah," James said absentmindedly, not noticing the looks of annoyance they shared over his head, "sounds good."
Fred's lip began to curl. "Jim, this is your team- what do YOU think?"
"Whatever, it's up to you," James said flatly, shrugging, his mind still miles away, with Allie, and their scheme, and saving the world.
"No, James. You're the captain. It's up to you."
James startled, looking rough and biting his lip. It was obvious he had no idea what they were now talking about. "Yeah, sounds great- let's do it."
Fred was crackling in anger, his hair almost seeming to fizzle as he fought to control his rage, "Who's going to do it, hmm? James?" Fred asked mutinously, Dan placed a hand on his arm to stop his tirade, but Fred ignored him. "You? Don't make me laugh- you haven't scheduled a single quidditch training in, what? Four weeks?" Fred snarled. "You don't deserve that badge- you spent six years wanting nothing other than that shiny pin and now you are completely screwing us over, spending all your time mooning over that Higgs girl," Fred breathed heavily- Dan's hand tightened around his dark arm.
"Are you done?" James said lowly, "Of course I care about our team, but unlike other people- I also have other concerns. It's not all about quidditch, there are bigger things at stake."
"Oh here we go!" Fred cried, "Getting all holier-than-thou, acting like the great James Potter knows something we don't. Stop acting like you're saving the world when all you are really doing is making a complete embarrassment of yourself," Fred heaved, "You are not Harry Saint Potter, you haven't killed the Dark Lord, you're a kid, just like the rest of us! Stop thinking you're special!"
"You done?" James said tightly.
No one responded, Dan stepped between them, "Guys, come on, let's not-" but it was too late Fred stormed up to bed and James flung himself moodily in front of the fire, "fall out about this…" Dan said to himself, rolling his eyes skyward.
