Thanks to all of you for sticking with the story. Please review. I'd love to hear your feedback. And again, thanks to JKR.

Twenty minutes after Minister Urquart's appearance at the party, the four Aurors found themselves in the stifling heat of a small alley between two row houses in a seedy part of London. The heat lightening was flashing across the sky to the west. Tully was hoping it would move in and drop the temperature.

Against the faded brick wall of one of the row houses was the dead body of a young woman. She had light brown hair and was wearing a blue muggle dress. Her eyes were frozen open. There were no visible signs of trauma or violence on her body.

"Noreen Watts," Amelia said as she glanced over notes from one of the law enforcement wizards. "She worked in the Department of Magical Education."

"It was the killing curse alright," Minerva said as she examined the eyes.

"She was found about an hour ago," the Magical Law Enforcement officer explained.

"But why call us?" Moody asked, "And how was she found so quickly?"

The officer was at a loss for words. The tip had been anonymous. There were no witnesses present when the officers arrived. Moody worked on questioning the officers about the tip. Amelia was looking into Noreen's information. Minerva was studying the body. Tully was focused on something on the wall. There was little light in the alley. It was a heavily muggle populated area so wands were kept hidden. Tully could see a design on the wall above the body.

As he drew closer, Tully could make out what appeared to be a skull with a snake stretching out of the mouth. It was a bizarre symbol and Tully was unsure of the meaning. Organised crime sometimes left symbols near their crimes to take credit for the deeds committed, but this particular symbol was unfamiliar.

"McGonagall," Minerva said softy, "It is on her wrist."

Minerva held out the wrist of the girl and Tully noticed the same dark symbol on the small wrist of the dead woman. Tully pulled out a small sketch book that he kept and quickly sketched a picture of the image.

"Do you think it is a new organised crime group?" Moody questioned.

"No," Tully said as he shook his head. "But maybe could be. I'm not sure. Perhaps it is a symbol? A ritual killing maybe?"

As Tully and Moody theorised about the meaning of the symbol, a small brown owl swept in and dropped a letter for Minerva. They were finished with the crime scene and exhausted from the heat of the day. The temperature had taken a recent dip and rain would be moving in soon. Moody excused himself from the group. However, Amelia was unable to sleep and decided to join the officers back at the Ministry to process the paperwork.

As Tully said his goodnights, Minerva caught his arm and handed him a note. The note instructed Tully to meet her "Three south, left and up the stairs." Tully started walking north and then doubled back. There were kids scrambling into a row house to avoid the oncoming rain. He pulled his jacket tighter around his body as he rounded the corner. There was a small joint on the second floor above a cafe.

Inside, the place was dark and crowded. There were many young couples huddled around small tables. There was a large woman on a small stage belting out old tunes in a rusty voice accompanied by a shifty looking young man on a slightly out of tune piano. Next to the window was a small table where Tully spotted his partner sitting with Corban Yaxley and Potter.

"I thought we weren't supposed to meet outside of the office?" Tully said quietly as he sat down next to his partner.

"I'm sorry but I felt the circumstances warranted a meeting," Yaxley explained. His eyes bore into Tully's. "I was Miss Watt's anonymous tip." Tully's eyebrows went higher. "She was an informant for my division."

"Miss Watts was also a witness to the original case against Salvador Pinelli," Potter added ominously. "Minister Urquart has already been informed."

"How did you find her so quickly?" Tully said, ignoring Potter and turning to Yaxley.

Yaxley ran his hand through his blonde hair. The lightning flashed again and rain began to wash against the window pane. Yaxley waited for the cocktail waitress to leave the drinks and then began informing the others of the details of the evening. Noreen Watts had contacted Yaxley on Friday that she had information to pass along regarding Salvador Pinelli. Watts had failed to show at the designated meeting spot.

"Earlier today she had asked if we could change the location," Yaxley explained. "She was afraid she was being tailed." Yaxley was unsure of the nature of the information she wished to share. He explained that there had been no recent changes in Pinelli's visitors or routines at Azkaban prison. The two were originally slated to meet at 9:00 p.m. at a bookstore several blocks away.

"She would drop the information in a copy of a book – a different book each time. It was supposed to be in Great Expectations this week," Yaxley said as he stirred his cocktail. "I've already looked. This was inside."

Yaxley tossed a small crumpled note on the table. Minerva unfolded it carefully. Her brow was furrowed with anticipation for the contents contained within.

"Quit while you are alive," she read, "or six more will die. Let us not waste magical blood."

The four sets of eyes met as they tried to determine the meaning of the note. Pinelli had never been known to hold feelings regarding magical blood status. His second wife was a muggle-born witch. Pinelli had not been a supporter of Grindelwald's activities. In fact, a large part of his success in establishing his criminal empire had been because the Ministry had turned a blind eye during the war. Pinelli had cooperated with the Ministry during the war. During the time he'd been left alone, Pinelli had been able to grow unchecked.

"I suggest we think on this," Potter said to the group, "And reschedule our meeting. I'll be in touch." He placed his hat on his head and with a quick nod was off.

"We shouldn't all leave together," Yaxley warned, "I'll see if that blonde on the end of the bar needs an escort."

"You haven't changed have you," Minerva said with a raised eyebrow.

"And I never will," he said with a wink as he left the table.

Tully and Minerva found themselves sitting next to each other alone in the corner of the pub. Outside the wind and rain slapped hard against the windows. It was a downpour that had been building all day. The cocktail waitress brought them each another round which they drank in silence.

After neither of them said anything for some time, Tully found his voice.

"So you and Potter-" Tully started to ask but was cut off by his partner.

"Given your choice in fiancee, I hardly find you fit to critic any of my private affairs," she said sharply. "She broke a man's broom. She's crazy, McGonagall."

"She felt-" Tully said in defence of his woman.

"She's a social climber," Minerva continued.

"Who is very well respected-" Tully stared as his partner continued on her rant.

"Who is not with you because you are attractive, or likeable, or entertaining," Minerva said with increasing agitation.

"Oh I'm attractive?" Tully said with a mocking tone but Minerva wasn't even listening.

"She's only with you because she thinks you are going places in the Ministry," Minerva said. "And you like nice in a suit."

A tense silence fell over the pair. They paid the waitress for the drinks and quickly exited the pub.

Outside, the rain continued to pour. As they descended the stairs, they could feel that the wind had picked up. It was close to midnight. A dim streetlamp and neon signs were the only lights on the abandoned street. It was now cold and a drastic change from the heat earlier in the day.

"I'm sorry," Minerva said softly.

They had walked about half a block before the downpour returned. They were sandwiched in the doorway of a dry cleaners waiting for the rain to lighten up.

"But I think you deserve better." she added honestly as she turned to look at him.

Her hair was drenched and sticking to her face. Her eye makeup had started to smear. Tully began to laugh. Minerva swatted his arm.

"You look funny with your makeup all over your face," Tully said with a grin.

"Well, we all can't be as perfect as Dolores," Minerva said sighed as she watched the rain bounce off the pavement.

They waited a moment in silence before they left the doorway. Minerva had a small townhouse to the north. Tully's flat was to the west. The pair continued walking east together without saying a word to one another. After another block Minerva stopped and confronted Tully.

"You live that way," she snapped as she held out her arm.

"I'm going to the office," Tully retorted, "I can't sleep."

"But I'm going to the office," Minerva said with ferocity.

"Fine," Tully said with more force than he wanted to.

"Fine!" Minerva said in response.

The two continued walking as the wind picked up.

Twenty minutes later they arrived with cold, soaked bodies. The rain had chilled their bodies, but not their tempers. Once inside their small office, the partners were still not speaking.

Minerva was deeply disturbed by the symbol found on the body. She was certain there was an important symbolic meaning behind the image. In symbolism, serpents could represent the battle between good and evil, medicine, vengeance, and death. Skulls represented mortality and death. There were no currently active serial killers or organised crime units using serpents or skulls in their symbols or messages.

"What's the Malfoy family crest?" Tully suddenly asked.

"A peacock," Minerva answered without taking her eyes away from her case notes.

She was following his train of thought. The Malfoy family had strong ties to the Pinelli's and their opinions on blood status certainly fit the profile. But there was nothing connecting the Malfoy family to the note at the scene. The pair fell silent again. Tully was flipping through a small sketchbook he kept on symbolism.

"Fancy a trip to Hogwarts?" He asked as he tossed the book down on the desk. Minerva looked up from her notes but remained silent. "I remember seeing something from my house history project research," he added.

"You think this is related to her Hogwarts house?" Minerva said with a sceptical glance at her partner.

"No," Tully said, "But I know there's a book in the Hogwarts library with that symbol."

"I'll write to Professor Dumbledore to inform him of our impending arrival," Minerva said as she penned a short note to her former Professor. "What time is it?"

Tully glanced at the small clock on the wall. It was almost two thirty in the morning. He knew exactly what she was thinking. This late in the evening it wouldn't make sense to go to sleep. During a complex investigation they expected nights like this.

"If we leave now we can make it before breakfast," he said. She smiled and offered to arrange transport. Tully quickly packed a small bag with case notes, his symbolism book, and a sketch book.

Fifteen minutes later, they met on top of the Ministry on a landing platform. The platform carried powerful disillusionment charms to allow for unseen entrances and takeoffs in and out of the Ministry. Minerva had only been able to secure brooms for the trip. It would be a long broom ride to Hogwarts but Tully didn't want to wait for better transportation. If his memory was right, then this could lead them to the new head of the Pinelli family.

After securing their personal belongings and casting a quick gripping charm, the pair launched off into the night sky. It was still raining and without the gripping charm they risked falling. As the glided above the London skyline the wind increased. Within minutes the lights of city grew smaller and smaller as the rode north.

Occasionally, they would pass over a bundle of small lights below. Mostly it was dark, like riding over the ocean. During the war with Grindelwald, Tully had flown several missions over the Channel. The cold, black water below was mesmerising. Now the fields and small villages below were beginning to make him sleepy.

"Snap out of it," Minerva said as she did a barrel roll with her broom. "Don't get the dead in the eyes."

'Dead in the eyes' was a broom rider's worst fear. When flying, a person could travel great distances and not remember the trip. It was known as flying hypnosis and could prove fatal.

They only stopped once for the duration of the trip. They landed gracefully near a field shortly before the border. Tully's legs were aching. He hadn't ridden that fast or that long in nearly four years. The pair walked around for a moment and stretched.

When they resumed their flight, the cold air felt refreshing. It wasn't long before the castle towers appeared over the landscape just as the sun was rising.

"Let's land by lake and hike from there," Tully shouted at his partner. With a nod, she concurred and they began their descent.

Professor Dumbledore was surprised by the late night note from his former student. It was concise, but obviously important.

"Did she say why?" Galatea Merrythought asked as she buttered a piece of toast.

Minerva Black had been a well-liked student during her time at Hogwarts. Albus had informed the Headmaster of her request and news of her approaching arrival had spread quickly.

"She is working in the Auror Division," Albus explained. "All she said was that she and her partner requested access to the Hogwarts library to aid in an ongoing investigation."

The lives of the Hogwarts staff were mostly uneventful. Visits from former students and colleagues caused quite a stir.

"Who's the partner?" The inquiry had come from Filius Flitwick, a newer addition to the Hogwarts staff. Filius had joined three years earlier.

"Tully McGonagall," Dumbledore answered.

"Tully McGonagall you say?" said Horace Slughorn as he entered the staff room. "His mother says he's engaged. Was quite an exceptional student. I would place money that he'll run for Minister of Magic someday."

"He's coming to seek some information in the library for an investigation," Dumbledore explained to Horace.

"Splendid!" Horace said as he grabbed a roll from the table. "We shall have to invite him to breakfast."

There were audible grumbles from the staff. Dumbledore was certain the pair would be hungry after a long flight, but a casual breakfast with Horace was probably not on the agenda.

"I'll need the elves to prepare something special," Horace went on as he planned the breakfast. "They'll be hungry; I'm sure, and in need of some food to stimulate the mind. Nothing gets your brain power going like a Hogwarts breakfast."

"Who's Tully McGonagall?" Filius asked.

"I believe he was too young to have attended school with you and too old for you to have taught," Albus mused.

A quick knock on the staff room door pulled Albus from his thoughts. The door swung open of its own accord. Minerva Black and Tully McGonagall stood at the doorway accompanied by the groundskeeper, Ogg.

"Hello! Hello!" Slughorn cried as he rushed to great the pair. "Come in. I've got breakfast waiting in my quarters. We can catch up. I'd love to hear about your adventure."

Despite Minerva's insistence on the importance of their visit, Slughorn's breakfast won out in the end. Tully had tried to explain that there was just no telling the man no. Tully's family had been friends with the Professor for years and, in truth, Tully did enjoy the Professor.

Once down in the dungeons, Tully and Minerva carried on polite conversation with Slughorn over a big breakfast. Slughorn had spared nothing in laying out enough food to feed an army. There were pastries, egg dishes, bacon and sausages, beans, and even Swedish crepes.

"So how long have you been together?" Slughorn inquired as his eyes grew larger.

"Three years now is it?" Minerva answered.

"Yes dear," Tully smiled sarcastically.

Their partnership had started off rocky. Minerva was much younger than he was. Tully felt uncomfortable being paired with new blood- especially a Black. He was a department veteran hardened by the war. But, in time, she proved to be a valuable asset. Now he wouldn't want to be with anyone else in the field.

After an hour, Tully was out of conversation topics and felt like his belt needed to be expanded. Slughorn offered to escort the pair to the library. Once inside, Slughorn brought Tully to the history section while Minerva searched the section on symbolism.

"She's something you know," Slughorn said as he pointed to Minerva. She was a few stacks away. Dust from the shelves played in the early morning light coming through a large glass window. "I had her brother, but I'd have preferred the set."

"Thank you for your help today," Tully said turning back to Slughorn. "And thank you for breakfast."

"It was nothing my boy," Slughorn said as he smiled. "It was so nice to see you two. I'm sure you'll be very happy. I look forward to the wedding."

"Yes," Tully agreed. "Dolores is preparing to send the invitations soon."

"Who's Dolores?" Slughorn asked softly as he looked at the taller man.

"My fiancee," Tully answered. "Dolores Umbridge. I'm sure you'd remember her."

"But Miss Black-" Slughorn struggled to find words to express his thoughts. "I thought. This whole time-"

"I'm sorry, Sluggie," Tully said with a grin realising Slughorn's confusion. "Minerva and I are partners in the Auror Division. We are not romantically involved."

"You could have fooled me," Slughorn said with a wink, still looking slightly befuddled before adding "You're sure? She's quite lovely."

It was nearly noon before Tully found what he'd been searching for. In an aged book in the history section Tully found the answer to his question.

"Knights of the Order of the Eglė," Tully said as he read aloud to Minerva, "The Queen of Serpents. Their mission was to protect the sanctity of pureblood mothers. Formed in 1033 by Tannis Slytherin, granddaughter of Salazar Slytherin. Disbanded in 1071."

He turned the book over so Minerva could see the image. The skull with a serpent coming through the mouth was exactly the same symbol seen on the informant's body. The symbol found on her body was black but the symbol in the book was green and silver.

"We should check if Watts was pregnant," Minerva suggested. "But I still don't see how this relates to the Pinelli's."

Once they had exhausted the information on the symbol and the organisation, they packed up and headed for the castle grounds. They would be able to take a train back to London and Tully was planning on sleeping the whole way. They had spent the entire day at the library and it was nearing sundown.

On their way out the door, Professor Dumbledore caught Minerva's arm.

"The symbol you are investigating," he said in a hushed tone glancing around, "Is dangerous. Be very careful."

"Professor how did you know-" Minerva started to say but Dumbledore's eyes told her to stop talking.

"I'm not at liberty to say," Dumbledore said quietly. "Not here. Look for my owl."

The train ride back was pleasant enough. Tully and Minerva had a private car. Tully bunched up his overcoat and used it as a pillow to catch some sleep on the ride back to London. Fields, streams, and farms whizzed by as the train rumbled along the tracks. Just an hour or so in to the trip and both Tully and Minerva had fallen fast asleep.

Shortly after the sun went down, there was a small rapping on the window. Tully awoke to see a haggard looking owl slip in quickly bearing an awful-looking red note. Tully gently roused his partner but she refused to open her eyes. He cast a quick silencing spell on the car and then opened the howler.

"HOW DARE YOU SKIP OUT ON THIS DINNER! IT IS NEARLY HALF PAST SIX AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SO MUCH AS OWLED TO SAY YOU'LL BE LATE. YOU HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WORK IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME. IF YOU WISH TO APOLOGISE I WILL ACCEPT BUT WE WILL NEED TO RENEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP."

Dolores was never pleased by tardiness. Tully had completely forgotten the dinner scheduled for this evening. Tully was supposed to be meeting Dolores's Aunt Tillie. Family dinners weren't really Tully's forte. Growing up in London's pureblood society had given Tully a fill of dinner parties, soirees, and seasons.

"She sounds happy," Minerva said as she wiped the dust from her eyes. "You might want to send in a trained negotiator first to talk her down before she kills any hostages."

Tully started laughing and Minerva joined him. Her eyes were sleepy. They were both tired. Minerva bought a bottle of wine from the dining car and they spent the rest of the ride home discussing memories of Hogwarts.

When the train lurched to a stop, Tully was reluctant to get off. The past few hours had been a relief. As he walked home from the station he realised he'd have to face Dolores in the morning. She insisted on eating their meals together whenever possible. Dolores preferred the upscale Giada's, a local hotspot for Ministry officials to hobnob. It was pricey and showy and guaranteed a run-in with the Ministry higher ups. It was everything Dolores wanted.

When he arrived home, it was late. He hung his overcoat on the coat rack near the door. After brushing his teeth and laying out a suit for the morning, he went into the sitting room for a nightcap.

"You could have fooled me," Slughorn's words echoed in his head.

As he drifted off to sleep, he dreamed that he was back at Hogwarts. His old four poster bed seemed small and his trunk seemed out of place. He was wearing smart looking black dress robes.

As he walked along the familiar hallways of the school, he realised he was heading to the Great Hall. There was music playing in the background. As soon as he entered, he saw Dolores. She looked smart and polished just as she always did. She was pulling him onto the dance floor to join the waltz. Tully was reluctant to join, but he gave in and the twirled endlessly around the floor.

As he passed the crowd, he realised Minerva was standing near the dance floor watching him. He wanted to speak to her but Dolores was pulling him to the centre of the floor. Each time they passed their eyes met.

"Why won't you dance with me?" he yelled across the floor to her.

"You haven't asked." she replied.

"You weren't here," he said as he turned Dolores.

"I've been here the whole time," she said.

He was trying to the leave the floor. He wasn't comfortable being the centre of attention, but Dolores was pushing him harder to the middle.

"Minerva!" He cried as he sat up in bed.

"Yes," she replied from a chair near the window.

Tully looked around the room. Light was coming through the window. Minerva was sitting in a small chair near the window. He was in his bedroom. He looked at his hands. They were clear. He wasn't dreaming.

"How long have you been here?" he asked as he ran his hand through his hair.

"I've been here the whole-" she started to say but his head snapped in her direction and she stopped speaking.

She had just said that to him in his dream. It felt so surreal.

"I've been waiting here for you to wake up. You didn't report to work this morning. It is nearly two," she said, finishing her explanation.

"Why didn't anyone wake me?" Tully asked frantically. He wanted to get out of bed but he wasn't wearing any clothes. He would have to ask Minerva to leave. "What happened?"

"Having a good dream were you?" she asked with a smirk.

"I was dancing," he said as he strained to remember the details.

"Legilimency," Moody said as he walked through the doorway into the bedroom. He was carrying a strange device in his hands. It was metallic and approximately the size of a small paperback book. It had two small knobs on the end.

"It is a Unfamiliar Magical Output Tracer. Someone was in your house - in your head." Moody concluded.