Tempus Magia

Part Four

Chapter 42: Saint Mungos

Hermione Granger made a grave error during the final battle that resulted in Remus' death. Working as an unspeakable she spends two years working on a spell using powder from time turners to go back to Remus's greatest hour of need. What if Remus's greatest time of need wasn't in *this* war?

Harry tossed the copy of the Thursday morning Daily Prophet onto the bedside table whilst draining the last of his cold coffee. It had been a long night and Hermione's boss had been out for the count for most of it. The few times he had been awake, he had been so delirious the mediwitches had to forcibly restrain him.

Hermione revered her boss and while Harry would have usually have left the witch or wizard in the capable hands of the Saint Mungos staffers, he knew that Unspeakable Croaker had no family. If Harry was being honest, the well-dressed wizard reminded Harry a bit too much of Hermione. He worried constantly that Hermione would get to Saul's age and be without close friends and family.

Harry had already sent her an owl asking if she had seen the article on the front page of the Prophet as well as a cautionary note that her boss was in Saint Mungos. The flashing title had caught Harry's attention in the waiting room earlier and a kind elderly woman gave him the paper as she was done with it.

Personally, Harry couldn't care less who Hermione's boss had a relationship with but he wondered idly what her reaction would be. Hermione liked her information neat and orderly and this was anything but. The article itself was mostly factual with bits of opinions that were clearly stated as opinion.

So, good reporting in Harry's book.

In his limited experience, Parvati was an honest reporter. Last year the Ministry began negotiations for another TriWizard tournament and Parvati owled Harry to ask permission to use their Yule Ball picture. Honestly, he had been so focused on Cho he hadn't remembered taking one with her. Weighed down with guilt, he spent half of the night rummaging through old school photos and owling old school mates.

The next day he went down to the Prophet with as many pictures as he was able to gather and an apology for being such a terrible date. Parvati barely batted a heavily painted eyelid. Instead she invited him to breakfast while they rummaged through the pictures reminiscing their times at Hogwarts. He was surprised that not only had she noticed what he liked to eat at Hogwarts but had remembered it as well.

Ginny didn't appreciate it as much as he did. Sighing at the memory of his blunder, Harry picked up the article again reading several lines at the end of the article.

Head Unspeakable Croaker spoke passionately as he outlined his plan for safer workspaces for all. Just the fact that he managed to secure not only the Minister's and Head Auror backing, but a session with the Wizengamot is inspiring. During our talks about his program the dashingly handsome Unspeakable mentioned his partner and the prejudices he himself had to overcome just to attain his position.

Though it was originally a slip up, Unspeakable Croaker confirmed that he has been in a long term monogamous relationship with a wizard he met at Hogwarts. In an effort to give the couple privacy, I will only say that they were in very different houses and that they are currently in the process of becoming magical guardians to two orphaned students at Hogwarts.

According to an announcement made by the Magical Family Services department last February displaced children have reached a country high in the last five years and show no signs of stopping. The Ministry as well as the administration of all of the magical schools are urging magical couples to consider adopting or fostering children up to or including the start of their schooling. Our very own Headmistress McGonagall has been running a summer school for students, in addition to her already busy headmistress duties.

While interviewing the Headmistresses about not only her summer camp but her new literacy program, I was fortunate enough to have been told by the Headmistress herself that she was aiding Unspeakable Croaker in his guardianship. She spoke fondly of her former pupils and commented that both boys were kind hearted and would make good guardians for these two specific students. Both students were heroically saved and transported to safety by the Unspeakable and his partner during the Battle of Hogwarts. The students have revered the power couple ever since.

The current Headmistress wishes her former pupils well and hopes their public relationship will encourage students and adults to be more accepting towards couples of the same-sex. Here at the Daily Prophet, we applaud the Ministry and Hogwarts and wish only the best for Unspeakable Croaker and his ever growing family.

Growing up Parvati had always been shy. Reading her articles was like seeing an entirely different person. A groan captured his attention and he found Saul Croaker tossing in his bed. Concerned that he was having another attack, he summoned a mediwizard. The broad shouldered mediwizard on-call came hustling into the room. He signalled to the door and Harry removed himself from the room to give the waking wizard some privacy.

The door closed behind him and Harry leaned his head back against the door and closed his eyes. There was not enough coffee in the world to keep him up for much longer. Head Auror Robards was currently with the inmate, but Harry could convince him to switch so he could have a quick kip. Opening his eyes, he checked his watch and noted that it was after ten. Odd that Hermione hadn't owled back yet.

"Auror Potter?"

Harry turned and wearily greeted three witches in bright red cursebreaker robes. They were all sporting eerily matching curly hair but in varying shades of color. One of the lighter brunettes had her head buried in parchment while her friend steered her by her elbow. Harry almost chuckled. He had done the same thing for Hermione before O.W.L's in fifth year. "Good morning. Have we got anything on the origin of the curse?"

"It's definitely blood magic, sir." The blonde witch holding onto her friend's elbow piped up. "We believe if we have a sample from one of the victims, we will be able to pinpoint exactly who cast the curse."

Harry plucked off his glasses and began cleaning them with the hem of his maroon Weasley Christmas jumper. "Victims?"

"Yes, we believe that the Unspeakable was affected because he heard whatever secret was spoken to him."

Harry felt a migraine begin in his temples. "What kind of blood curse are we talking about?"

The witch pulled the parchments from beneath her nose, "It's a primitive spell. From what I am able to guess, it looks like the curse that the Unbreakable Vow was based off of, however we've never been able to get access to a book that contained the spell. It's restricted. The only known copy is with the Department of Mysteries."

Primitive. That usually meant a blood sacrifice was made under a full moon. Harry never had a good case when people started saying "primitive spells." He sighed and wondered if they had energy drinks on this floor. "So, you're saying it's most likely from a dark arts collector or an old Pureblood family?"

"Most likely."

Harry nodded and sent a patronus to the main office requesting a full backup team. "The other patient is too fragile. If this patient is well enough we will have to ask him. He is to be addressed as Unspeakable Croaker and try to speak softly as loud noises make him jumpy."

Three sets of eyes brightened immediately.

" The Unspeakable Croaker?"

"-From the Prophet?"

"My cousin said the new chaser on the Hogwarts quidditch team is being adopted by him. He's being scouted by Puddlemere!"

"Who cares about Puddlemere? So romantic! I mean, rumor is he was married to a Death Eater!"

"Who cares if-"

Harry rubbed his temples tiredly. "I know it's exciting but he's been through a very traumatic ordeal. If you lot could tone it down that would be great, yah?"

They murmured their agreement and silently followed Harry into the room. Saul Croaker was leaning up against the bed looking worse for wear but awake while the Mediwizard busied himself around his patient. Harry drew his notebook and confirmed Saul's vitals were up for questions. Before he had a chance to ask any questions, the wizard spoke.

"Good morning, Harry. Is there any news on Auggie?" Harry returned the wizard's smile, ignoring the collective aww from behind him. Saul raised his eyebrows in alarm but said nothing about the gaggle of witches behind Harry.

"He's in the intensive spell ward. I'd like to take your statement and then I have some professional curse breakers who would like to ask you several questions."

"Ah, regrettably I can't answer any questions."

"Sir-"

"I was in Azkaban on Unspeakable business. I'm afraid you're going to have to wake Kingsley or Gawain."

Harry returned his notebook to his pocket. "They've been here since you were admitted. Gawain's currently following Mister Rookwood through the Spell Damage Ward. The Curse Breakers here believe they can pinpoint who cursed Augustus if they have a sample of your blood."

"My blood?"

"Yes, you were both affected by the curse. We would rather not have to take blood from Augustus given his condition." Saul nodded his approval and allowed the mediwizard to take his blood and hand it over to the overly excited witches.

Saul yawned and leaned his head back against his pillows. "Would you please send Kingsley in? I do apologize for the inconvenience but I am an Unspeakable."

"I understand. Thank you for all of your help. Please rest while I get the Minister." Harry nodded to the resting wizard before rushing the lingering witches out. Once the door was firmly closed behind Harry, they hurried off down the hallway, all whispering excitedly to each other. Once the hospital door was warded, he turned to the tall wizard snoozing on the waiting bench directly outside the room. As it was a private ward, the hallway was empty beside the sleeping wizard, two bodyguards and two Hogwarts students clutching each other's hands tightly. Harry nodded to the two Aurors standing guard over the sleeping Minister of Magic.

"Kings?" When the older wizard didn't respond Harry prodded him gently. "Kings? Saul is awake and asking to see you."

The former Auror sprang to his feet immediately, the Aurors moving with him in an impressive show of fluidity. "Thank you, Harry. Have you been home yet?"

"No, I owled Ginny that I was staying late and she said she was going to stay at Ron's. Haven't made it home yet and I still have paperwork to file." Kingsley nodded and brushed off his robes, falling into step with Harry.

"Have you decided on a pram yet? Heard there's a new muggle one that has shocks on the wheels to stop the baby from waking. I mean we have a spell for that but still…."

Shelving the burning curiosity as to why Kingsley knew so much about muggle prams, Harry addressed the real problem. "How did you… we were so careful…"

Kingsley walked besides Harry his long legs matching the soon to be Father's. "I go round to Molly's once a month for dinner. She is very excited. Arthur was going on and on about his 'litter' of grandchildren."

Harry ran a frustrated hand through his hair. They were hoping to not have it splashed across every tabloid until as late as necessary. He would have to talk to Ginny. He loved his mother-in-law but sometimes Molly Weasley got a bit too excited about things and jumped the gun.

"I'll have Ginny talk to her mother. We're trying to keep it out of the press. We don't want any additional stress."

Harry shivered at the memory of what happened to Fleur. Despite being fairly ordinary in England, Fleur was anything but in France. As a TriWizard tournament entree she was already a minor celebrity. Fighting in the war alongside Harry Potter turned her into a model turned warrior turned hero. She barely went home anymore out of fear of being mobbed by the magical community. During her younger sister's graduation a reporter had actually tripped her while she was pregnant with baby Vicky. She was put on bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy and according to the Healers will most likely not be able to have any more children.

"Kingsley, the press is a nightmare. Ginny's already sitting out of Quidditch to protect the baby. I'm concerned about aggressive reporters."

Kingsley pushes the door open to Saul's room. Motioning for his Aurors to stay outside, he stepped into the room, "We have very strict laws on reporters here, Harry. I'm not saying not to be worried but what happened to Fleur wouldn't happen here. A reporter wouldn't be allowed that close."

Harry shuffled his feet in the doorway, a tick left over from the Dursleys. "Yeah, I guess. I'm still worried though. I'm going to head out. If you need anything just send me a patronus. I'll stop by Hermione's office on my way back to the Ministry to let her know you're alright."

Harry left the room quietly wondering about just how tired he must have been because he could have sworn the ever-cool Saul Croaker looked very nervous. Muttering to himself, he set off down the hallway towards the Floo directly connected to the Ministry. Hermione was probably beside herself with worry and Harry had time to spare before Ginny woke up for the day.

Kingsley sat next to Saul on the chair next to his bed. "You look like shite, mate."

Saul coughed. "Thanks. Remind me never to take you shopping with me."

"You should. Your clothes are hideous."

"A three piece suit is not hideous."

"You've been wearing the same design since the seventies, Saul. Join the modern age."

"Yes, well your dresses look like the extra material from Albus's wardrobe."

Kingsley laughed. "We had the same tailor."

"Oh merlin, please tell me you're joking."

"Nope. Old Bart died in the war. No more tailor for me." Kingsley gripped Saul's shoulder tightly. "You gave us all a scare, Saul."

Saul rubbed his arms nervously. "Auggie?"

"He's stable, but we need to find the exact curse. I know they were sending in Curse Breakers-"

"Yes, they asked for a sample of my blood. I think we need to be ready for the very real situation of having to invade Malfoy Manor."

Kingsley gripped his wand. "Auggie mentioned the Malfoy family?"

"Yes, we barely know what happened there during the war."

Kingsley cursed under his breath summoning his patronus. "Can you tell me what Auggie told you?"

Saul shifted uncomfortably in his hospital robes, "If it's the blood curse I think it is, the more people that are told the worse it will be for Auggie. The only person that can remove the curse is the wizard or witch that cast it. We would need the specific incantation from the caster's library. It would likely be somewhere locked up where no one can find it."

Saul felt his breath hitch. They had to find it. Auggie's life could very well depend on it. He also couldn't explicitly tell them it was Lucius Malfoy or he could jeopardize Auggie's life.

"Can you tell me details that pertained to the case we were working on but not anything that will worsen Augustus's condition?" Saul went over verbatim what Auggie had been able to share up to his seizure.

Kingsley swore colorfully. "Merlin, what the bloody hell were they doing? We need to find Lucius."

"I agree," Saul looked to the door to see an exhausted but energized looking Gawain walking through, his Head Auror batch shining as bright as a phoenix on burning day. "Not only does Lucius need to be brought in but the original curse needs to be found and the mediwitches inform me we're on a clock. The ruddy gossiping Curse Breakers finally finished their analysis."

Gawain held out a black sealed parchment to Kingsley. "Head Minister, I require your signature for an emergency op."

Kingsley's eyebrows rose as he tore open the seal and began reading. Gawain turned to Saul. "Until they find the curse, there's nothing they can do for Augustus besides make him comfortable. Your Mediwizard requests you to be on bedrest until the situation is resolved or moves to the next phase. I have requested you to be moved into his room. Since neither of you are contagious, we have also granted you access to two very worried visitors that are just outside."

Saul began to scramble out of the bed. "Charlotte and Orion are here? Why aren't they in school? What the bloody hell was Minerva-"

"She was thinking," Kingsley cut in. "That they were both in danger of losing their parental figures again. The school guidance counsellor thought it prudent to send them here so they feel as if they have some modicum of control over the situation."

"How did they even find out?"

"A secretary on the third floor has a niece in Charlotte's house. She sent an owl right after you were admitted and Charlotte snuck into Orion's dorm. It caused quite a commotion when their head boy found them." Kingsley chuckled as an afterthought.

"Why would it have caused a commotion?" asked Gawain, looking as if he already regretted asking.

Saul smiled at the unraveling scandal. "Because Charlotte is in Slytherin and Orion is in Ravenclaw. Also, it sounds like they caught two fifth years in their four-poster together after curfew."

Gawain cracked a grin and Kingsley chuckled again, "Minerva, Horace, and Filius were both called. When they explained the situation they were taken to Minerva's office and after a short meeting brought here."

Saul transfigured his hospital robes into plain black casual robe and swung his legs over the bed. He stumbled and leaned back into the bed tiredly.

Kingsely signed the parchment and handed it back to Gawain. "I'll keep an eye on Saul. You've got a raid to get started."

Auror Offices:

Harry tapped the 'Jane Austen' name plate thoughtfully. Hermione hated being stared at by strangers. Figures, she'd have changed her nameplate for the Hogwarts tour. Knocking as a courtesy, he walked into the office only to trip on a pile of memos and letters on the floor. Harry's wand was drawn as soon as he realized that her office was not only empty but the lights were off. It was past noon and Hermione was never ever late.

Turning around, he slammed into Travis Scott, the director of the Research of Time department. "Something the matter, Auror Potter?"

"Yes, did Hermione not come in today?"

"I haven't seen her yet. I assumed she came in early." Harry scratched his scar absentmindedly, ignoring the concerned looks of witches and wizards coming out of their offices. With Unspeakable Scott at his heels, he hurried to Saul's secretary's desk. "Mary, did Hermione call in sick?"

Mary, who had overheard their conversation, was already nose deep in memos. "I don't see anything. Oh, merlin. Unspeakable Croaker was attacked last night…" she whispered in horror. Harry sent out a patronus to Ginny, Ron, and Head Auror Robards. Harry turned to Travis, "Where is the closest Floo?"

"Next to Amalaya's office. Follow me." They walked through the floor quickly, amidst hushed whispers and concerned stares. When they reached a tall door and stern woman came out.

"I Flooed ahead, no one is answering and the Floo is blocked to outgoing visitors."

Harry nodded and swept passed the woman and directly into the office.

"I'm keyed to her wards, so I can override a blocked Floo. Please stand back." Travis stood in front of Amalaya protectively. Harry waved his wand expertly and watched as the Floo changed from a vibrant red to a regular green. Behind him, he heard four Auror's standard-issued boots pounding down the hallway.

"Wands raised boys!"

Without looking back, he raised his wand and went through the Floo praying to every deity known and unknown that his best friend was okay.