Christmas came and went with great fanfare. The dinner at the flat was a success. Molly cried when Fleur and Bill announced they were trying for a baby, excited that she would finally have her first of what was sure to be many grandchildren on the way. More than that, three of her single sons had showed up with dates. Mrs. Wood gave Oliver and Iris a knowing look and asked if they had any upcoming plans for the new year. The two of them just smiled and said getting through the opening of Quidditch season.
Things at the shop slowed down a bit, enough that Iris could finally start working from home on potions rather than being in the shop all the time. She still came in three to four times a week to deliver potions, work or to cover a shift for one of the girls if they needed off. Oliver had a bit of a break from training for the holidays.
It was during this break that Iris and Oliver were sitting on the couch one night listening to music. It seemed as though something was always playing nowadays. Oliver was going over some plays in his book while Iris was reading the Prophet.
"Looks as though Harry and company have rounded up another bunch of Death Eaters," Iris said offhandedly, looking at the photo and wrinkling her nose in disdain at the mugshots.
"Good for him. Maybe he won't need to work so late nowadays," Oliver said, not taking his eyes off the book.
"That would be nice," Iris said. She suddenly felt a twinge in her chest. She dropped the paper and sat up. Oliver dropped the book.
"Is everything alright, Red?" he asked. Iris shook her head.
"It's Harry," she said. She closed her eyes. Immediately, she saw a fire fight. Harry was alone and cornered by two men in dark cloaks. She started breathing heavy as her instincts kicked in. Her eyes flew open. She met Oliver's eyes and then was gone.
Iris appeared in front of Harry. Despite the fact there was snow on the ground and she was there in just denims and a pullover, she didn't feel the cold for the adrenaline running through her. She raised her hands and the two men fell to the ground. Immediately another two shot out from a corner and sent curses at them. Iris raised a shield and blocked them, sending them flying back.
"Iris! I'm on a mission!" Harry shouted from behind her.
"Then get up here and do your bloody job!" she shouted, focusing on the first two men who were now pushing themselves off the ground. One had a particularly nasty smirk. Iris fixed her gaze on him. "I'll take that one, you take the other. The other two won't be waking anytime soon." Iris walked towards him and raised her hand, sending him flying back into a wall. He landed on his feet and set his sights on Iris, snarling.
"So you're the one they've been talking about," he said. "Potter's aunt. Here to save the day?"
"No. Just helping out," Iris said. He shot another curse at her and she deflected it by raising her hand slightly. She flicked her wrist and his wand flew out of his hand. He then charged her. Iris tried to move out of the way, but he tackled her to the ground. A grunt of pain escaped Iris' lips as she struggled to push the much larger man off her. She placed both of her hands on his shoulders and sent him flying back. Iris rolled over and pushed herself off the ground. She stood, staggering slightly, a pain in her side. She was sure she had bruised a couple ribs.
"Iris! Look out!" Harry shouted. Iris threw up a shield just as a green streak of light flew towards her. She then raised her hand and threw the other man against a wall. He groaned as he rolled on the ground and passed out.
"Wood's never gonna let me hear the end of this," Harry said as he stumbled towards her. Iris looked at the incapacitated men. The one who first attacked her was lightly coming around and had her fixed in a death glare. A slight shiver went down her spine as she turned to look at Harry.
"He'll get over it. He knows I can handle myself," she said. "Where's the rest of your team?"
"We got separated," he said.
"We need to take care of this lot," Iris said. Harry nodded. She turned to look back at the first man, catching him just as he reached for his wand. "No, you don't!" she yelled, raising her hand. Before she could do anything he grinned and disappeared. Harry had immediately stunned the other before he could follow suit.
"Dammit!" Harry shouted. "We've been tracking him for weeks!" Iris looked at him.
"Who is he?"
"Name's Marcus Flint," he said. "He's been able to evade us all this time. Apparently his head isn't full of sawdust like he let on at Hogwarts."
"You went to school with him?" she asked as she heard footsteps charging towards them. She tensed, preparing to throw up a shield if needed. She relaxed when she saw Ron and three other men she didn't know running into the alley.
"Harry!" Ron shouted. "And Iris? What are you doing here?"
"Sensed Harry needed help," she said weakly.
"Harry's aunt. Bloody hell, I missed the show," one said, he was younger - about Harry and Ron's age. Another looked a bit older - a few years older than Iris possibly. His face was a mixture of surprise and relief.
"Iris, this is our team leader, Jude Roberts," Harry said. "Jude, my aunt - Iris Evans." Iris nodded to him. "And this is Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom. They went to school with Ron and I." Dean, Neville and Ron set about to taking care of the three men left on the ground. Jude walked over to Iris.
"I'm not sure how I feel about civilians stepping in on cases," he said, frowning slightly as he looked at Harry.
"It's not his fault. I, I know when he's in trouble and sometimes I can't help myself," Iris explained. Jude looked at her, studying her.
"It's good that she did, sir. I was cornered by Flint and Warrington, then the others came. She took them out as soon as they showed up," Harry said quickly.
"That one - Flint - he got to his wand before I could stop him," Iris said. "I'm so sorry." Jude stayed silent a bit longer before answering her.
"We got these three at least. They have been evading us for awhile now," he said. "Good work… both of you." Ron, Neville and Dean had dragged the three from the ground. "We'll take care of them. Potter, you and Iris can go home. Take care of the report tomorrow." Harry nodded.
"Thank you, sir," he said. The three turned to walk away, dragging the Death Eaters with him. "You know Shacklebolt's going to double up his efforts now," Harry said once they were out of earshot. Iris rolled her eyes.
"Come on. Let's get home and get you fixed up before Oliver has a coronary," she said, holding her hand out.
"Merlin's beard! What happened to you?!" Oliver shouted as Iris and Harry appeared in the middle of the living room.
"We're fine," Iris said as she walked towards the stairs up to the library.
"Fine my ass. You're covered in bruises!" he shouted.
"I'm fine! It's just dirt," Iris said resolutely.
"Really. Flint barely touched her," Harry said, hoping to appease Oliver. "She hurt him a lot more than he hurt her."
"FLINT!" Oliver bellowed. "That good-for-nothing pureblood twat attacked Iris!?"
"Oliver, please!" Iris said as she reappeared, a potion bottle in hand. She held it to Harry. "Take this and then let me look after those cuts." Harry gulped down the potion as instructed and then sat on the couch. Iris stood in front of him and held her hands up.
"I could kill him," Oliver muttered as he began to pace.
"Seriously, Oliver. I'm fine," Iris said, as she focused on Harry.
"We almost had that prat this time," Harry said, obviously frustrated.
"For god's sake, not you too," Iris said, shaking her head. "Will someone please inform me as to why you both seem to harbor a particularly strong dislike for this Flint? Outside the fact he's a Death Eater." Harry leaned back into the sofa as he felt Iris' healing spells take effect.
"He was Oliver's rival at Hogwarts," he said, closing his eyes. "Captain of the Slytherin team."
"So it's some school rivalry?" Iris asked, putting her hands down.
"And he's a bloody Death Eater," Oliver said. "If only I had found him during the battle-"
"Will you stop pacing!" Iris shouted. Oliver stopped and looked at her then Harry. Iris was already suspicious. He was getting rather worked up over an old school rivalry.
"You didn't mention anything about me, did you?" he asked. Iris looked confused.
"Why would that matter?" she asked.
"I think I did," Harry said. Oliver set his sights on Harry.
"What is going on?!" Iris shouted. "You don't possibly think he would come after you over some silly school fight?" Oliver looked at Iris.
"He's a Death Eater. He's being hunted. He's desperate. He might," Oliver said. Iris laughed.
"Please. I highly doubt he would risk capture to come after you," she said.
"Iris is right. He's been underground since the battle. This is the first time in months we so much as heard a whisper of him. I don't think he would come after you," Harry said. What he didn't say is that he also agreed with Iris that it was ridiculous of Wood to think Flint would even come after him at all. They may have had a bitter feud at Hogwarts, but that was years ago.
At that moment, there was a flash of green light from the fireplace. All three turned to look as Shacklebolt stepped into the living room.
"Good evening," he said, looking at all of them.
"Minister," they all said, slightly in awe.
"Iris, I just wanted to thank you in person for your help tonight," he said, smiling. "We've been trying to get those three for quite some time."
"But, Flint got away," Iris said.
"We're closing in. We'll have him soon," he said.
"I take it you're not here to make sure we're safe," Iris said. Shacklebolt smiled and chuckled softly.
"No. I'm here to ask you to join the Auror department. Again," he asked. "It's obvious that you were born to be an auror. Your gifts… this is the best place to use them."
Iris took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, Minister, but I just don't think this is something I can do right now," she said.
"Just think about it. My offer still stands," he said. He looked at Harry. "Doing alright, Potter?" Harry nodded. "Good. I'll see you in the morning." With that, he took a handful of floo powder and threw it into the fireplace. "Ministry of Magic!" he boomed before he disappeared. Iris studied the flame a bit before she felt Oliver's gaze on her. She looked over at him, unable to decipher his look.
"I think I'm just going to head to bed," Harry said, standing and quickly making an exit.
"Oliver… I'm sorry I rushed off like that," Iris finally said. "I didn't mean to worry you." Oliver sighed and shook his head.
"It's a part of who you are, Iris. I'd be mad if I got angry every time you disappeared to rescue Harry… or someone else. Thankfully it doesn't happen often," he said, walking over and collapsing on the sofa. Iris walked over and sat down next to him. Oliver put his arm around her shoulder. "You're sure you're not hurt badly?"
"A little sore, but nothing that can't be fixed," she said.
"Iris… do you want to be an auror?" he asked after a few moments of silence. Iris sighed.
"I don't know," she answered truthfully. "I'll admit. It was a bit of a rush. Getting to use my magic the way it's meant to be used… but… I'm not sure I'm ready for it full time. Plus… It wouldn't feel right going off and having you worry about my safety all the time." Oliver sat up and put his hand to Iris' cheek, gently turning her face to look at him.
"Iris… don't let me hold you back. I know you are more than capable of taking care of yourself. I'll still worry, of course, but I don't want to be the reason you turn down something you were meant to do," he said solemnly. Iris nodded slightly.
"I'll… I don't know. I need to think about it," she said. "So… about this Flint?" Oliver sighed heavily.
"Nasty fellow," he said. Iris nodded.
"He did have a bit of a nasty snarl," she said.
"He and I had a bit of a feud in school," Oliver said.
"But that was years ago," Iris interjected.
"Rivalries between houses die hard. Especially between Slytherin and Gryffindor," Oliver said. "Why do you think Roger has such a hard time listening to me?"
"Do not tell me it's because of some silly school house rivalry," she said as she rolled her eyes.
"Yea, seems silly now, considering everything. Roger was at the Battle of Hogwarts, fighting against the Death Eaters," he said. "But Flint… he was… another level."
"Seemed like a nasty bloke. He was glaring as soon as I arrived. But he got a particularly nasty look once Harry mentioned you," Iris said. Oliver stared at her.
"Promise me you won't go looking for him, Red," Oliver said. Iris laughed.
"Why would I do that? You just saw me turn down an auror position - a second time - to the minister of magic," Iris retorted.
"Just… be careful," he said. "I couldn't live through losing you again." Iris smiled and looked over at Oliver.
"Oliver William Wood. You won't have to worry about losing me again," she said.