A/N: *releases a big sigh* It's been long, long time. My sincerest apologies to everyone for essentially abandoning this story. It was very difficult. I knew where I needed to end up, but I was having trouble getting there. I forced myself to write. However, I felt that it was sub par and didn't feel right using it.
But that was then.
Now, this story has an update! I hope you enjoy. Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, and followed. Your feedback has kept me going. And, as always, thank you to JKR for creating the HP Universe.
Word had spread quickly that they were bringing in a suspect that had allegedly attacked a Ministry employee. Hit wizards, Aurors, Patrol Officers and the like lined the corridor as they led Riddle to the interrogation room. They poked their heads out of their offices and some waited along the walls.
They stared him down. It was an intimidation factor used to scare suspects. It was quite nerve-racking to have all the eyes of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement on you. As they wound through the corridor, Tully felt a sense of pride.
"Nice work," Bob Ogden said as he patted Moody's shoulder as he passed.
"He won't last a night in Azkaban," Oliver Wilkes said with a menacing smile.
Riddle didn't seem to mind their comments. In fact, he seemed to relish in the attention. He was grinning and made no attempt to hide it. There was something about his smile that unnerved Tully.
When they reached the interrogation room, Minerva pushed Riddle down into a chair. It wasn't forceful, but it certainly wasn't done softly. She secured his hands to the chair and handed his wand over to someone from intake as it was procedure.
Bones, Moody, Black, and McGonagall waited outside of the room. Commissioner Urquart was standing with them, staring into the room and watching Riddle. Commissioner Urquart had his arms crossed and he looked sour. His mustache seemed to twitch ever so slightly.
"Wait until Potter gets here before any questioning," Urquart ordered.
"He's marked," Moody said. "We've got him."
"I'd still prefer we do this under the supervision of an Advocate," Urquart explained. "I don't want to give this snake any reason to get away."
As eager as they were, they recognised that Commissioner Urquart was right. They wanted to ensure Riddle would be going to Azkaban. They couldn't afford to give him any room to slip away. Given that this case had become personal, it was important to have the oversight of an Advocate.
Potter arrived about twenty minutes later. He was carrying a small briefcase and his face was darkened with disdain. To Tully's chagrin, he placed his arm on Minerva's shoulders.
"How are you taking this?" Potter asked with concern.
"I'm fine," she replied with determination. "Let's do this."
"We'll put him away," Potter reassured her.
They had agreed to allow Moody and Bones the first crack at questioning Riddle. Minerva, Tully, and Potter watched the interrogation from outside of the room. They were accompanied by Minister Urquart.
Potter was leaning against the magical one-way glass. From the other side, it appeared to be just an ordinary brick wall. Minerva was taking notes. Tully stood with his arms crossed, watching Riddle closely. He was observing the man's movements. Since entering the interrogation room, Riddle had sat perfectly still with his hands on the table. He didn't appear to be upset about the arrest.
Moody had also made this observation and was working on a way to use it.
"Please state your full name for the record," Bones asked.
"I was born Tom Marvolo Riddle," he said, showing disdain for the first time since they'd brought him in.
"And your occupation?" Bones questioned.
"I am an employee of Borgin and Burkes," Riddle replied.
"And your primary place of residence?" Bones asked as she continued down a list of standard questions.
"Number 17B Knockturn Alley," Riddle said as he was beginning to look bored.
"And your whereabouts on September 23rd?" Bones inquired.
"The whole day or at a specific time?" Riddle responded with a grin.
"You seem to be amused by this," Moody said as he seized the opportunity
"You're the one who seems to be amused," Riddle retorted.
Riddle's eyes met Tully's and Tully wondered if he could sense his presence on the other side of the wall.
"Where were you on September 23rd?" Bones inquired. "Please walk us through your day."
Riddle began to mundanely recount the details of his day but he maintained eye contact with Tully the entire time.
"And where did you go after you closed the shop?" Amelia asked Riddle as she at him over her notepad.
"To the Serpent's Folly," Riddle stated.
"Can anyone confirm your whereabouts?" Amelia pressed.
"I'm not sure I'd trust anyone at that establishment," Moody retorted.
"You don't have to," Riddle smiled as he turned to Moody.
"Oh and we're just supposed to take your word for it then?" Moody questioned.
"Not at all, sir," Riddle said. He turned his gaze back and locked eyes with Tully. "Miss Black can verify my whereabouts. She was there with her date."
Tully realised that Bilius Weasley had been right. Minerva had lied to him.
Minerva felt the colour drain from her face as she avoided the eyes of her colleagues.
Neither Moody nor Amelia responded. They were trained better than that.
But outside the interrogation room, Riddle's comments had caused quite a reaction.
Minister Urquart and Potter had given Minerva a shocked look and continued looking at her waiting for an explanation.
The Serpent's Folly was a well-known social club for the who's who of pureblood society. It held a reputation as being an exclusive club where members held prejudiced ideals about wizarding-muggle relations.
"Is it true?" Urquart asked.
"I was at the club around 7:30," Minerva said in a soft voice. "But only for a few minutes. Mr. Riddle was present at the bar at that time but I was only there for a moment."
"May I speak with you in my office?" Potter said as he looked at her.
Minerva nodded.
"Please pull Bones and Moody from the interrogation," Potter said to Minister Urquart. "Tell Riddle we are verifying his alibi."
"He was with Abraxas Malfoy and my brother Robert," Minerva said. "John Alton was at the bar."
"Have Moody and Bones start with Alton," Potter said to Urquart.
Tully stayed frozen, staring into the interrogation room. He didn't have to words to describe what he was feeling. He'd had some serious concerns about working with Black when he and Minerva were first assigned as partners. The Black family wasn't lacking in its pureblood ideology and had made quite a reputation for itself. But Minerva had proven herself to be anything but a blood purist.
Yet, she had never lied to him. She had never been secretive. And over the past few months it had seemed like their partnership had changed. Minerva had been moodier and more secretive. His mind was racing with memories of her ducking out early from Friday night drinks and skipping a handful of brunches at Moody's.
Tully snapped out of his thoughts as he suddenly felt aware that Riddle was still staring at him.
Feeling betrayed? Tully heard Riddle say. But Riddle's mouth had never opened.
Moody and Bones being called out broke his concentration on Riddle and Tully used the opportunity to sit down on a small bench outside of the room. He didn't want to look at Tom Riddle right now. In fact, he didn't want to look at anyone.
"Why were you at the Serpent's Folly?" Potter asked as he threw his briefcase onto his desk more forcefully than he'd intended.
"Seamus-" Minerva started to say as she shut the door to his office. Seamus Xavier Potters' position as a Ministry Advocate afforded him a much nicer office than the offices of the Auror department. Potter's office had a fine, large desk. Most importantly, his office was private, unlike most of the aurors that had to share.
Minerva didn't answer and instead focused on the pictures that lined the shelves.
"Who were you there to see?" Potter demanded as pushed open the latches on his briefcase and sorted through the contents.
"Am I being interrogated?" Minerva demanded as her Scottish brogue began show. Potter knew that Minerva worked desperately hard to hide it - but it would show whenever she got truly upset. After her mother had died, Minerva had spent most of childhood with her Scottish Aunt Matilde and it certainly showed whenever Minerva was deeply frustrated.
He looked down and then away from her.
"What were you doing there?" He questioned. "I have to ask." He added as he turned back to look at her with hazel eyes full of pain.
"I had to get a message to Yaxley," Minerva replied. "I was only there for a moment."
"About the case?" Potter said in disbelief. "You know you aren't supposed to be engaging in any kind of out-of-character behaviour. It could blow the whole case."
"I was only there for a moment," she reiterated. "I couldn't trust sending a Patronus or message."
"It doesn't matter!" Potter said raising his voice. "It definitely qualifies as unusual."
Potter turned away from her. He ruffled his black hair and removed his suit jacket, hanging it over the back of his chair.
"Seamus-" Minerva began to say but stopped talking when he turned back toward her.
Potter walked toward her and put his hands on her shoulders. He kissed her forehead gently and pulled her in an embrace.
"This case is very dangerous and I don't want anything to happen to you," he said. "But we also have obligation to the Ministry and the public."
"Promise me you won't do that again," Potter asked.
"I can't promise you that," Minerva said as she pulled away from his embrace.
"Were you ordered to take the message to Yaxley? We'll get someone else in the future," Potter replied.
"No," Minerva responded. "I was not ordered. Can we please drop this and get on with verifying Riddle's whereabouts the rest of the evening?"
"Hopefully Alton can pinpoint when Riddle left," Potter replied. "But promise me you won't go back to that club."
"I can't promise you that so don't ask again," Minerva responded.
"Is this why you cancelled our plans that evening?" Seamus asked as he sat down at his desk.
"I'm sorry," Minerva said unable to meet his gaze.
Things had been increasingly tense between Minerva and Seamus lately. Amelia and Moody had suspected that there was something between the two. Minerva and Seamus had been friends since childhood and had dated during their Hogwarts days. They'd had a fling during the war but had drifted apart after Minerva's formal disowning by the Black family. Three years earlier, the friends had found themselves drifting together again.
They weren't a couple, but that had been exclusively and secretly seeing each other and no one else for several months. Both of their jobs within the Ministry made it challenging to have any kind of normal relationship. In addition, Minerva's status within pureblood society meant that if Potter and her were to go public with their relationship (or marry) that he would be disinherited from the entirety of his fortune. His mother, Mrs Helena Potter was still alive and not showing any signs of changing that. She had strictly forbidden a relationship between Seamus and Minerva and had written a clause into her will that would disinherit Seamus unless he married a pureblood woman of good social standing.
Seamus didn't care about the money. He was his mother's primary caretaker and he didn't want to abandon her. Minerva understood and they'd kept their relationship secret for that reason alone.
"Minerva, if someone has ordered you to keep this a secret that's a violation of half a dozen laws," Potter said as he gently tipped her chin up so she was looking at him.
"I was not ordered," she replied sternly. "It was my choice to go."
"Promise me you will never go back there," Seamus said softly. Minerva could see in his eyes that he was pleading with her.
"I can't promise you that," she replied as she broke eye contact with him. "I'm sorry. But I cannot promise you that."
"Let's talk this evening," he said as they broke apart. His voice was strained as he tried to mask his feelings of betrayal.
A small rap at the door interrupted their moment. Amelia cleared her throat before entering.
"There's been a development," she said avoiding their gaze.
Potter nodded and slipped out of the office with Minerva and Amelia behind him.
Amelia caught Minerva's arm as the exited the office.
Minerva turned to face her friend.
"He's gone," the redhead said sensing her friend's frustration. "You alright?"
Minerva nodded and tried to turn away to follow Potter. At the moment, she wanted to talk to no one.
"Anything you want to tell me?" Amelia said as she implored her friend for information.
"No," Minerva said with a look that she hoped Amelia would understand.
Down in interrogation the team wasn't faring well. John Alton would not admit nor deny that he had been in the Serpent's Folly on the night in question. Alton had requested that any further questions be referred to the Ministry Advocate that handled internal affairs.
"Like I said," Minerva repeated, "I was only there for a moment. I cannot account for what happened before or after that time."
"Is there a chance he followed you home from Serpent's Folly?" Moody asked. "What route did you take home?"
"I left and apparated as soon as I was in the apparition point outside of the Leaky Cauldron," Minerva replied.
"Did you see anyone on the way out? Speak to anyone? Stop anywhere?" Moody pressed.
"No," Minerva responded. Tully felt his stomach drop. He knew she was lying. He leaned his head back against the glass.
"Did we have undercover officers in the area that evening?" Tully asked suddenly and unsure of what had possessed him. "Maybe one of them saw something."
"That's good thinking McGonagall," Urquart said.
"Check with Shacklebolt," Moody suggested.
"Check with the hit wizards too," Tully added. "They usually have a contingent in the area."
Tully wasn't sure what made him suggest the hit wizards. He knew Bilius Weasley had seen Minerva that night and he felt a little guilty about suggesting a witness that he knew would out his partner's lie.
But he also knew Weasley may have seen Riddle and that mattered more than anything right now. As he stared into Riddle's cold eyes he could sense there was a great darkness that lie behind them.
"So you were came out of the Sea Witch about half past seven and then watched the street until eleven?" Urquart asked.
Commissioner Urquart, Potter, McGonagall, and Bones were in an interrogation room. Urquart was taking no chances with this. He wanted an Advocate present and he would oversee any questioning personally. It disturbed him that Acton had refused to cooperate in the questioning. He had a suspicion that this would be the first real test of their secret task force.
Running his hand through his gray hair he thought carefully about how to proceed.
"At any point in time did you see this man enter or exit the Serpent's Folly?" Amelia Bones asked as they tried to blow a hole through Riddle's weak alibi.
She showed Weasley a photograph of Riddle.
"Yeah," Weasley confirmed. He explained that he'd seen the Riddle chap leaving the exclusive club with Abraxas Malfoy and very intoxicated Robert Black. Malfoy and Black had been met by Malfoy's valet but Riddle had not joined the pair. It had been close to ten when the trio had emerged from the club. Weasley was certain of the time. He was waiting for a suspect that started work at ten. The suspect Weasley had been waiting for arrived only moments later.
"I think we're done here then," Urquart said as he more than ready to get back to questioning Riddle.
"Weasley, did you see any Ministry employees entering or exiting the Serpent's Folly that night?" Potter asked. He had to know if Minerva was telling the truth.
"Several," Weasley replied. "And I'll say it unnerved me to see two members of our little team come out together from that place. I thought we were all agreed on stopping the kind of crime that walks about that place.
"Thank you, Weasley. We are aware there were team members present but it is not pertinent to this investigation," Urquart stated quickly.
"Respectfully I disagree, sir," Weasley said. "We know what's going on in that club. And as far as I'm concerned-"
"It's not relevant to this investigation," Urquart said with a sense of finality.
Down the corridor, Tom Riddle sat coolly in the interrogation room. After he'd been advised that his alibi didn't add up, Riddle had smiled broadly and told the aurors that he had all the time in the world to wait. He'd refused to cooperate with questioning. The aurors had decided to let him sit alone for a time while they reevaluated their strategy.
Outside the team was regrouping. Bones and Moody had gone back to their office. They were pouring back through the case files tying the fake Holver identity to Mr Riddle. Minerva was combing through the reports from Knockturn Alley that night trying to see if there had been any recent arrests they could leverage for information about Riddle. Urquart had excused himself for a meeting and left Tully and Potter standing together.
"Well Urquart was sure quick to shut down Weasley," Potter commented.
"Indeed," Tully replied. He didn't like where this line of questioning was going.
"Was Minerva ordered to meet Yaxley that night?" Potter said as he turned to Tully.
"I don't know," Tully replied. "She didn't tell me. It was Weasley that told me he'd seen them snogging outside that club."
Potter said nothing and Tully instantly regretted what he'd said.
"Oh dear," Tully said in earnest. "I fear I've-"
"Don't think twice about it," Potter replied quickly.
Moody and Bones were returning from their office. Having regrouped they were hoping to try a new line of questioning with Mr Riddle.
"Ready?" Bones said as she looked at her partner.
"After you," Moody said as he opened the door.
Potter and Tully waited outside and watched the interrogation with interest. Bones had an uncanny knack for interrogation. She truly was the best of the best when it came to getting information from a suspect. Amelia had been studying him and she had a suspicion that he craved attention and understanding. She had a feeling he had a desire for his work to be recognized.
"You're clearly very cunning, Mr Riddle. Breaking into an auror's home. Posing as Master Declan Holver," Amelia said. "But can you explain why?"
Mr Riddle said nothing in response. He just tilted his head and grinned.
"You were offered a position in the Department of International Magical Cooperation and yet you turned it down to be a shop boy?" Amelia said as she read from an old application she'd found while digging through his files.
Riddle remained silent.
"What I can't understand is how someone as clever as you got caught," Amelia said as she noticed Riddle's eyes flash with anger.
"C'mon Bones," Moody said gruffly. "He's nothing more than a common thief. And he isn't worth our time."
"I am not a common thief," Riddle said angrily.
"I see Amelia's plan has worked," Minerva said as she joined Potter and Tully watching the interrogation.
"Why should we believe any different?" Moody asked. "You got caught. And it won't make a bit of difference once yer in Azkanban, lad."
"Oh I won't be going to Azkaban," Riddle said with a smirk.
Outside the interrogation room, the three were not alone.
"Please release Mr Riddle at once," a voice said from behind the three.
Remy Lestrange was a gifted advocate. They'd trained together and Potter knew he was on retainer for some of pureblood society's biggest names. Potter had always felt that Remy was a relic from an era long gone by. Like Abraxas Malfoy, Remy dressed flamboyantly, gambled on hippogriff races, and was rumored to keep more than one mistress. He'd once told Potter the only reason he became an advocate was out of boredom. Remy enjoyed the thrill of a good case and he lived for satisfaction a victory in the courtroom.
"I'm Mr Riddle's advocate," Remy explained as removed a pair of dragonskin gloves. "And it's time you released him."
"Your client was found marked after breaking into the home of and assaulting a law enforcement officer," Potter said.
"Your tart didn't mark my client," Remy said as he pulled a document from his briefcase and handed it to Potter.
"Watch your mouth, Lestrange," Tully said angrily.
"Release Mr Riddle," Potter said as he read the parchment.
Minerva turned and knocked twice on the interrogation room window. Bones and Moody nodded and emerged from the interrogation room. Potter explained that another law enforcement agent had signed a deposition that he'd marked Mr Riddle in Knockturn Alley on the same night.
"Why are we just learning of this now?" Minerva asked. "Why wasn't this mark filed before?"
Whenever an auror marked a suspect they were required to log in in the registrar's office. At the present, Minerva's was the only mark that had been registered that night.
"I was waylaid," Antonin Dolohov said as he joined the group. He was holding a cold rag up on his broken and bleeding nose.
"Moody please escort Dolohov to the infirmary," Minister Urquart said as he joined the group. No doubt he'd been informed of the events that were transpiring. "Please release Mr Riddle. McGonagall please escort Mr Lestrange to the Registrar's office to reclaim his wand."
"And don't bring your boys in blue sniffing around my client again," Remy warned as he handed a parchment to Minister Urquart. It was a order signed by three members of the Wizengamot requiring that the Aurors maintain a 100 foot distance from Mr Riddle at all times.
Tully was thankful the walk to the Registrar's office had been silent. He could feel the eyes of his fellow officers on them as Mr Riddle strolled out as a free man.
After returning his wand Mr Riddle had smiled and nodded.
Sweet dreams, McGonagall. Tully heard Riddle's voice in his head as they made eye contact. A chill overcame his body as he watched Riddle and Lestrange leave the office. The small bell at the end of the door rang as the door clicked closed.
Something didn't sit right about Dolohov's timing and Tully was determined to find out why.
He smiled at the clerk behind the desk. With a little conversation, a flash of his smile, and a wink from his blue eyes the clerk been more than pleased to let McGonagall take the file on the promise he would bring it back the next day.
He'd left with a little wave and thanked her. This was exactly what he needed to get Riddle.
The rest of the day had been rather depressing for the office. The Aurors had poured themselves back into their work. Potter was seeking to have the protective order removed. Inside his office, Tully could feel the anger radiating from his partner. Their wasn't much space in their shared office to begin with. Whenever she got angry he could sense the magic crackle in the air around them.
"We have a meeting at six," Minerva said. "Task force."
Tully glanced up at the picture of Salvator Pinelli that was pinned to his wall. He had a suspicion that whoever was behind the new leadership in the Pinelli crime family was also linked to Riddle. It was odd that he kept turning up in their investigation. It was even more strange that he had seemingly disappeared for years before reemerging in the country as a shop boy.
"Do you think Riddle's salary pays for the services of someone like Remy Lestrange?" Tully wondered aloud.
"Obviously not, but he's got friends in high places," Minerva replied as she combed through her report from the arrest.
"And you would know," Tully said as he set down the file.
There was a moment of silence. Tully turned around and looked at his partner.
"We've always been honest with one another, Black. And now you've got all these secrets," he said.
"I do not have all these secrets," she snapped.
"How long have we known each other? Yet you've never once mentioned or introduced me to Potter before this investigation," Tully explained. "And then Weasley sees you snogging Yaxley outside of a known Dark Arts worshiping club!"
"Snogging is a gross exaggeration," Minerva countered.
"Well Potter wasn't too keen to hear about it," Tully replied as he raised his eyebrows. "Asked me if you were under orders."
"We need to focus on this investigation," Minerva said as she began marking the file with points of interest.
"I think I may have something," Tully said seriously. "But I don't trust bringing it to the group."
He cast a quick soundproofing charm on the door before locking it.
"And right now you're the only person I trust," he said quietly.
"What's so important you can't bring it to the group?" Minerva asked in hushed tone.
Tully held out the file he'd taken from the Registrar's office and held it in front of her. The moment she reached for it, he pulled it back.
"Ah," he said. "First I need to know what exactly happened at the Serpent's Folly and why were snogging Yaxley outside of it?"
"Why do you think?" She replied angrily. "And no I wasn't ordered if that's what you're thinking."
Tully thought back to the meeting where the task force had discussed the Malfoy annual Halloween Gala.
"Oh they can't possibly think that you - I mean - you of all people-" Tully sputtered as he laughed uncomfortably.
"Who else then? Hmm?" She waited for his response.
He realised it had to be her. There was no other alternative. It wouldn't be any sell.
"Well you won't be going alone," Tully replied. "Dolores has been begging me to take her. I've refused for obvious reasons. But you'll need the backup. And I suppose it will smooth things over the with the fiancee."
"You can't tell Urquart," Minerva said in a low voice.
"I don't intend to," Tully said as he grinned and handed her the file. Her eyes grew wide as she came to the same realisation that Tully had. Antonin Dolohov had not filed his report yet about marking Riddle. There was nothing in the file expect a copy of Minerva's report.
"So how does Remy Lestrange get a sworn deposition from Dolohov before the report is even filed?" Tully asked.
"And why did Dolohov contact Remy Lestrange before he contacted the Ministry," Minerva replied. "You're right not to trust anyone with this."
"I have to bring the file back tomorrow," Tully explained.
Minerva pulled out a camera and snapped several photographs of the file. After she set down her camera she crossed her arms and bit her lip in thought. After a moment, she proposed that they tell Urquart and Urquart alone. Tully left to fetch the Commissioner while Minerva guarded the file.
Urquart had been intrigued by Tully's discovery. After a dark warning about trusting no one, Urquart warned the partners that it was vital they keep this a secret. In addition, Urquart gave permission to replace the file with a duplicate. He would retain the original file in a secure location. The duplicate would provide a tamper-proof way to time stamp Dolohov's report. They were concerned he may back date the paperwork at submit it. The duplicate would be magically enchanted with a Diem Mendacium spell. It would allow a back dated file to be added, but it would time stamp the date and keep a record of it hidden within the file itself. The record could then be revealed by the use of a simple spell.
Tully had replaced the file and then joined the group downstairs for their latest meeting. He noticed Dolohov was looking quite beat up. His nose had been broken and he looked like he hadn't slept the night before. At the very least the bleeding had stopped.
Tully stared at the board on the wall. It had been months and they were no closer to solving the mystery of who had taken over the Pinelli crime family. The task force had hit a stalemate and the frustration begin to impact all of the members. Moody had poured himself into his work. Word in the department was that Amelia had been increasingly hard on the new recruits during her weekly training sessions.
"And may I remind everyone that this task force is of the upmost secrecy," Urquart said before he let the group out for the evening.
An hour later Bones, Moody, McGonagall, and Black found themselves at their usual pub night. It was a slow night at the pub. Many of the tables sat empty and there were only a handful of patrons sitting at the bar.
"Something doesn't sit right," Moody said as he took a swig of beer.
"I told you not to eat them cold meat sandwiches," Amelia said. "They didn't smell right."
"Not my stomach, Bonesy," Moody replied. "With Dolohov."
Neither Minerva nor Tully said anything.
"Said he was ambushed by Niall Parker's boys and got pinned down in Ilford," Moody said as he leaned in closely.
"Why is that suspicious?" Amelia questioned.
"Because I've had a trace on Parker. And I've had two boys from patrol watching his boys since last month," Moody elaborated. "And they haven't left Colchester since we nicked Roberts and Left-Hand Louie at that bathhouse raid."
About a month prior the Department had caught two of Niall Parker's associates during a raid on the Anuket Bathhouse. Parker ran a smuggling gang and Moody had been after him for some time. They were positive he'd been involved in threats made against alchemist Virginia Vesper and her shop. Most importantly, Parker was working for the Pinelli family. Moody was hoping the trace would lead them to the new head of the family.
"You have to tell Urquart," Minerva said plainly.
Moody explained he had already clued in the Commissioner after the meeting. Minerva and Tully exchanged a glance. They were relieved to know that Urquart had been looped in. However, it cast doubt on Dolohov's motives.
"Let's talk about something else, eh?" Amelia suggested.
She was right. The four of them had been such good friends and this investigation was taking its toll. Their banter had grown darker. It wasn't just the weather that was growing colder. There was darkness growing. They could feel it in their bones. Aurors were uniquely trained to detect dark magic and they could sense it was on the rise.
Amelia made a valiant effort at taking their minds off the present situation. Her brother Edgar was expecting again. Amelia was thrilled. The group celebrated with another round.
"And what you toasting tonight, Moody?" Amelia asked her partner as he paid the barmaid for the round.
Moody gave her wink as she passed him his drink. After she'd stepped away Moody held up a small piece of parchment the barmaid had given him.
It was an address at which Moody could owl her.
"That these blue eyes have still got it," Moody said beaming.
"Alright, alright. You're still a tosser even if you are nice to look at," Amelia said.
Minerva raised an eyebrow at Amelia. Her comment had been openly flirty.
"How about you, McGonagall?" Amelia asked as she turned to Tully.
"I'm going to look at a house tomorrow," Tully confessed. "The Greengrass estate."
Minerva raised her glass.
"Cheers mate," she said with a smile. Tully knew it was feigned happiness.
"How's your new place coming along then?" Amelia asked Minerva.
"Actually all moved in," Minerva replied. "It was easy when all I had to do was buy a new everything."
She laughed before looking down at her Gillywater.
"Seamus's mother came back from Spain tonight," Minerva said. "So I'm staying at my new place now."
The group hadn't discussed it openly but they all could sense her unease. Despite the best protective charms and security enchantments, there was reason to be fearful. A home invasion was a traumatic event and no one expected her to get over it easily. Tully certainly hadn't since his own home had been invaded.
The pub was starting to empty out. There was an early Quidditch match tomorrow between the Arrows and Magpies and Tully suspected that was part of the reason there had been so few patrons out. Amelia had left hours earlier. She had her Saturday morning class with the new recruits and needed to be well rested.
Moody had sauntered off with the barmaid from earlier. He'd given a cheeky wave to the team before departing.
Minerva and Tully both wondered how much longer Moody and Bones would play this runaround game pretending they didn't have feelings for each other. She knew that was real reason Amelia had left early. And she knew it was precisely why Amelia was careful not to drink too much when they were around each other. She was terrified of saying something that might give it away.
Black lit a muggle cigarette. They pub didn't close for another hour and it was obvious she no intention of going home.
"You don't have to stay," she said as she tapped the ash on edge of glass ashtray.
"It's OK to be afraid," Tully replied. "I was scared too. But the Ministry's watching your new place. Just like they watched mine until I was ready."
"I got a really nice bottle of aged Ogden's as a housewarming present today," Minerva said as she sucked another drag from cigarette. "Fancy a nightcap?"
Minerva's new flat could only be described as spartan. There was little in the way of personal effects. Tully reminded himself that she'd lost all her photographs during the fire. There were several boxes waiting to be unpacked. He knew it would take her time and he didn't blame her.
It was hard to make a new place feel like home. Tully was dreading his own impending move.
Minerva pulled two tumblers out a box and cleaned them under the faucet in the small kitchen. She pulled a pristine bottle of aged Ogden's Firewhiskey from a neatly wrapped package on table.
"It was a gift from Professor Dumbledore," Minerva explained. "Along with these."
She threw down a series of letters explaining the research Dumbledore had compiled on blood cults. Much to her relief, Dumbledore had been careful to make copies before turning over the information to Minerva.
She poured two glasses of whiskey and set about explaining to Tully what she'd managed to piece together thus far. He absorbed the information greedily. This was a treasure trove of detail about the worst of pureblood society over the last fifty years.
After another glass, Tully needed to digest what he was reading.
"It's just like that mark we found on Noreen Watts," Tully said as he held up the letter explaining the Tannis Slytherin Blood Cult that had operated under Gellert Grindelwald.
"Indeed," Minerva said as she sipped her whiskey. "I really hate to think about the possibility that my siblings and I are the product of some cult orgy."
"Well it does appear your family's pretty heavily involved in this kind of thing," Tully said.
"And your fiancee - does she know this is where it all leads when you mix with the crowd that will be at Malfoys?" Minerva questioned.
"Dolores likes the money and the status," Tully said. "But she's not wrapped into this whole blood purity malarkey."
"Oh please!" Minerva scoffed. "She doesn't approve of your muggle habits or your open minded friends. She runs around with Delphine Rosier and Marie Nott."
Tully leaned back in his chair and ruffled his hair. It was still dark but had started to grey at the edges. Minerva said a silent thank you to any deity that was listening for the fact that he hadn't given up wearing his muggle suits.
He knew Minerva was right.
"And yet you find your way to the Serpent's Folly," he said.
"Why are you marrying her?" Minerva asked as she poured another drink.
"Why are you in a relationship that's going nowhere? With a man who's scared to tell his mummy he had a girl over?" Tully countered.
He wasn't sure how she was going to take it.
A beat passed and then she began to laugh. It had been a very long time since she'd laughed that hard. Tully laughed too and after a moment a comfortable silence fell on the pair. Tully took a sip of his whiskey and smiled. He was going to miss this. Dolores had requested that he apply for a transfer to an administrative role within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Tully had explained he was on case and couldn't transfer until he'd seen it through but Dolores was starting to grow antsy. It was difficult because he couldn't explain the details.
At 46, Tully as one of the oldest Auror's left in the field. Most aurors died or moved to desk jobs (largely due to mental or physical injuries) by the time they were 50. He was fast-approaching that age and even old Urquart had suggested he apply for the position of Deputy Commissioner once Thomas retired at the end of the year.
"I'm going to miss this," Tully said absentmindedly as he circled the records of receipts from the Ministry owl post service that Noreen Watts had purchased in the weeks leading up to her death.
"What do you mean?" Minerva asked seriously. "Are you being transferred? Is someone trying to stop our task force?"
"Gods no," Tully replied trying to calm her down. "Dolores has asked that I look into transferring to a desk job. I suppose I'm nearing that phase of my career. Don't mention anything to anyone just yet. I told her I'd need to finish the case first."
A dark look flashed across Minerva's face.
"She doesn't know any details," Tully added quickly in an attempt to reassure her the task for was still top secret. "She only knows it is an important case to me and I have to see it through."
He looked at his partner and waited for her to speak. But she said nothing. Her face was hard to read. It wasn't sadness or anger. Minerva didn't want to explain why this news stung. But it did. It felt like betrayal. It was a blessing to find a partner you could trust in a tight spot. And in a career as dangerous as the Auror Corp the right partner was the difference between life and death.
"Say something," he asked.
"So what did you have in mind?" Minerva replied as she resumed looking at the case file.
"I should go-" Tully said suddenly as he stood to leave. It was late and this their friendly late-night case study had suddenly become awkward.
"Please don't go," Minerva said quickly. She looked as shocked as Tully felt.
"Are you nervous about being alone?" Tully asked her. They had always been honest with one another. Until recently, Tully thought to himself. But in the past, their working relationship had largely relied on honesty. She knew that cases with kids bothered him - his first case had been the murder of a child that remained unsolved. And he knew that domestic cases involving loveless pureblood women were hard on her. He suspected it had something to do with her leaving her family but had never really pressed the issue.
"I mean the department," Minerva said but he wasn't buying it. "You love being an Auror and you're damn good at it. Besides, you're dead awful at paperwork. A desk job wouldn't suit you. I know we all think it's a grave or desk job after 50 but you haven't lost an eye or a limb yet. Aside from your back you're in great shape."
"Well thank you for that cheery pep talk," Tully replied.
"Look, Seamus was supposed to stay with me here the next few days," Minerva explained as she bit her lip. "Amelia can't and I don't really have anyone else I'd trust."
"Oh?" Tully said as he raised his eyebrow. "How lovely to learn I'm the third and last option you have."
"I was going to offer my bed," Minerva responded. "I know your back bothers you. I can sleep down here on the sofa."
Her bedroom was small and equally as sparse as the first floor. There was a simple bed and a nightstand with a few candles for light. A large book called Advanced Theories on Gamp's Laws Part VII was on the nightstand. He knew she was brilliant but he didn't realise she was still reading so many textbooks outside of work hours. Minerva had always had a knack for transfiguration.
Tully had been struggling to sleep since climbing into bed. He'd been in and out of sleep and he couldn't pinpoint why. It certainly hadn't been the whiskey. He'd usually pass out for the night before waking up with a dry mouth and headache the next morning.
Downstairs, Minerva was having no trouble sleeping. The thought of sleeping alone in her home after the attack had made her quite nervous. Unfortunately, Seamus's mother had returned early and it wasn't possible for him to get away from Godric's Hollow.
An urgent pounding on her door was enough to wake her from her slumber.
Minerva quickly pulled on a dressing gown and reached for her wand. Whoever was pounding at her door was doing so loud enough to wake the whole block. She panicked momentarily when she felt a hand over her mouth. Adjusting her eyes to the darkness she saw it was her partner who had drawn a finger up to his lips to signify the sign for silence. She nodded and he stepped back.
Minerva glanced out the peep hole. There was one cloaked figure standing at the doorway. She motioned to her partner there was only one person outside.
Tully nodded and slipped behind the corner that led to the stairs. He'd hide and wait to stun any intruder if necessary. Minerva would open the door. It was a routine they'd become accustomed to over the course of their partnership. Her animagi form met she could hide easily and slip away faster. Tully was more vulnerable but he had wickedly deadly aim with his spellwork.
There was another urgent knock at the door. After taking a deep breathe, Minerva swung the door open. The cloaked figure swept in and grabbed Minerva.
"Darling," he said as she found herself encompassed in a familiar embrace. Minerva recognised Potter's voice.
"I slipped away as quickly as I could," he said as he placed a chaste peck on her cheek.
"What about your mum?" Minerva asked.
Potter undid his cloak and threw it on the table.
"Seamus I should-" Minerva tried to say but Potter cut her off with a kiss.
"Told her I've got an early start," Potter said as he kissed along her neck. "She thinks I've gone to bed."
"Well I'm glad you've come but I should warn-" Minerva tried again as she made uncomfortable eye contact with her partner.
For his part, Tully had remained hidden. He shot Minerva a toothy grin and wink. She rolled her eyes in response.
"But I have no intention of going to bed," Seamus said he snaked a hand up her leg to her hip.
Minerva mouthed 'go' angrily as her face implored him to leave and spare her the embarrassment of the present situation.
Tully chuckled silently as he shrugged and pointed upstairs. For the first time she realised he was wearing nothing but an undershirt and his shorts. He lifted his head and looked up. His clothes were upstairs. She understood. Part of working together as aurors meant communicating nonverbally.
He understood every raised eyebrow, pursed lip, and eyeroll. She understood each of his cheeky grins, shrugs, and his furrowed brow.
Seamus had planted kisses down her collarbone but when his hand moved for the tie on her dressing gown she grabbed his wrist.
"I'm sorry darling," Potter said as he suddenly stopped and stepped back. "Are you alright? Would you like me to stop?"
"Momentarily," she said plainly. "Long enough for McGonagall to get out."
Seamus turned around to see Tully standing in the sitting room. Tully gave a small, awkward wave and Seamus nodded stiffly and looked to Minerva for an explanation.
"I wasn't expecting you," Minerva explained before quickly adding "that didn't come out right."
"I'll just fetch me trousers," Tully said as he quickly made his way upstairs.
When he returned downstairs he found Potter was laughing. Tully was relieved he hadn't gotten the wrong impression.
"Well, have a quiet evening," Tully said mischievously as nodded before departing. He knew it would irk her but supposed that would be all the better for Potter.
As Tully stepped outside, he pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders. A damp cold hung in the air as a gust of wind whipped down the street. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, Tully realised he was not alone. Directly across the street stood none other than Tom Riddle wearing a smirk and black cloak.
Tully raised his wand and pointed it directly at Riddle. He aimed a stunner in the direction of the shady shop boy but with a flick of his wrist, Riddle apparated with a crack and was gone.
Quickly, Tully reached behind him and began to pound on the door. He kept his wand out in his left hand as he scanned across the dark.
After a moment, the door swung open and Tully pushed his way inside.
"Riddle," Tully said as he quickly shut the door and used the peep hole to look out at the street.
"What?" Minerva said as she raised her wand.
"Riddle was just standing across the street," Tully said as he continued to scan the street through the small peep hole on the door. "Smirking at me. Apparated away."
"You aren't safe here," Potter replied as he pulled on his cloak.
Minerva's fireplace was not yet set up on the floo network but she knew Potter was right. They couldn't stay in her new place. Somehow Riddle had found it. Had Riddle followed her and Tully? Had he followed Potter? Was there a leak in the Ministry? Her mind was raced with possibilities.
"I'll watch the door," Tully said. "Get dressed and lets get to the office."
"Is it safe there?" Potter asked aloud.
They were all thinking it.
Moments later the three were walking into the Ministry. A feeling of security washed over them as they made their way past the fountain and toward the lift that led to their floor. Despite being typically deserted this time of night they'd passed six patrol officers in the entrance and Pete Wyatt and Antonin Dolohov from the hit wizard squad on their way to the office.
As they rounded the corner to the corridor they ran into Commissioner Urquart. He looked older than usual. His face showed a look of exhaustion - the kind of exhaustion that all Aurors faced when an investigation began to take a mental toll. Urquart's blue eyes looked grey and distant.
"Well you three got here quick," Urquart said looking at the trio.
"Sir, we've just left my new flat," Minerva explained. "Tom Riddle was standing outside of it."
"We've got a problem," Tully added. "If there's a leak within-"
Urquart held out his hand to signal Tully should stop.
"I dispatched patrol officers to collect you two a few minutes ago," Urquart explained as he motioned to his aurors. "Deputy Commissioner Thomas was found dead an hour ago. McGonagall, I am naming you acting Deputy Commissioner for the time being and I need you in the briefing room now."