Bill's Bill
Chapter 14: A Good Lay
To those who asked for more of Charlie, this one is for you! I have a more empty schedule this month so I was able to write several chapters and get ahead. We've got about four or five chapters left to this story, so expect weekly updates. Also 75 followers?! You guys are the best! -Chefke
PSA: All characters and HP story belong to JK Rowling because the woman is the bomb dot com.
Wizengamot Courtroom 13 Tuesday, 3:00 PM
They returned from break to an extremely irate solicitor Travers. Not only had he failed in producing proof regarding the alleged charges from Auror Flint, but Flint's supervising officer Senior Auror Charles Snaphorn was officially missing according to the Ministry. Head Auror Ian had personally taken on the case with the assistance of six different Aurors and the Wizengamot was all very much aware of this.
Senior Auror Snaphorn had been one of the only Aurors that Flint had stated was a witness to Bill's 'treasonous' acts with Greyback. The fact that Snaphorn was missing looked very bad for Travers's case. Bill couldn't even be happy about it because it was also bad for the Ministry. They already looked like a mess and having one of their Senior Aurors going AWOL did not help their already fragile image.
According to Hermione, the official report stated that the two Senior Aurors on duty during the Saint Mungos debacle were Gabriella Torren and Charles Snaphorn. If the Ministry wanted to detangle where the lines had gotten blurred that morning, they needed both Senior Aurors to untangle the mess. Especially given Gabriella's past history with Charlie, both testimonies were needed.
Hermione was currently speaking calmly to an infuriated Travers while the Wizengamot murmured amongst one another. She was waving a bit of parchment in a threatening manner, that would have been nondescript if it hadn't been for the bright red Saint Mungos seal on it. After an impressive display of profanity, Travers signed it. He threw the quill on the floor and march up to the front of the Wizengamot.
"Opposition calls for Mrs. Molly Weasley to come to the stand. I have been made aware that she is in fact within the Ministry, en route to a checkup in Saint Mungo's. She will be stopping here for questioning before she is released to the care," he sneered. "Of the Saint Mungos staff."
"Is it... wise, given her condition?" Asked the court reporter, Karyn Umbridge.
"Who are you again?" Travers snapped.
Miss Macmillan eyes went wide as she snapped, "Mr. Travers, watch your tone when speaking to people within this court. Mr. Travers, is Mrs. Weasley well enough to be questioned?"
"I have had a more... senior Healer from Saint Mungos look her over and she is well enough." Travers eyes flicked over to where Hermione was holding the signed parchment in her hand. "In addition, I have signed paperwork that limits the questioning of the subject, due to her sensitive nature."
Hermione stood. "If the Wizengamot will please note that the Healer that has been looking after her since she was running with amnesia and PTSD in the halls of Saint Mungos has not cleared a court hearing. On the contrary, she has strongly advised against it. She, as well as fourteen of her esteemed colleagues, are of the professional opinion that premature questioning could cause a major relapse. They are also of the opinion that given her age and major stress factors in her life, the relapse could be permanent."
Travers scoffed. "Major stresses?"
Hermione didn't bother looking at Travers, instead, she addressed the Wizengamot. "Mrs. Weasley not only fought in both wizarding wars against the dark wizard known as Voldemort, but she also lost her parents, aunt and uncles, brothers, and her son, Fred." Walking closer to the Wizengamot, she started handing out parchments. "These are only some of the stress factors that are part of the report I am giving out."
Travers rolled his eyes as he perused the document Hermione was in the middle of passing out to the room. "Yes, one Healer with barely any experience under her belt and a group of her friends. Honestly, I think I will take the opinion of the Head of the-"
"Enough," interrupted Ms. Macmillan. "Since Mrs. Weasley is here anyway, please have her sent in along with the Healer. At the first sign of distress, I want her sent back to Saint Mungo's. Mr. Travers, she is ill and you are to treat her as such."
Travers bowed. "Ma'am we are unsure as to whether or not she is aware she has children, at the current time. It may confuse her to see her sons staring at her. This will, of course, impact her testimony."
"Please clear the courtroom. Necessary personnel and Wizengamot members only."
Bill shuffled out with George and Charlie. It was a tense morning. Dad sent a Patronus that mum had a relapse over breakfast. Her memory was getting steadily better and she was able to hold onto memories for longer periods of time than her previous checkups, but that also meant she had no idea who dad was.
They had also spent so much time worrying about her mental injuries, the brothers completely forgot about her physical ones. Apparently, no one administered her potions last night and the pain triggered a mental relapse.
The Healer was taking a break and left specific instructions for the potions with dad. According to Charlie, Lucius Malfoy had arrived and requested to speak to Dad about an hour before the potions were supposed to be administered. The two had stepped out and the two spoke so long, that their conversation lasted until the wee hours of the morning and mum's medications were forgotten about. One of the Aurors attempted to administer the potions based on her memory but ended up botching the potion up. A new order had to be called in and by the time it came mum had relapsed.
George had gone over immediately, while everyone else waited. George returned twenty minutes later, pale and wide-eyed. When he arrived the Healers, as well as the Auror, s were attempting to sedate her. Dad wasn't helpful as he was trying to help mum. Bill was glad he hadn't been there.
When George finally spoke he said that Dad was crying and it hadn't been the first time. George said he looked almost as bad as Mum. Fleur took this as a prompt to Floo over to Kingsley's and force her father in law to eat, whilst holding his beloved granddaughter. The conversation continued on even after she departed with the happy tot.
According to George, Lucius was furious with his father for taking his son from him. Bill wasn't sure how he felt about that information if he was being honest. He found it hard to believe that the man who spent his life dealing in information had no idea he had an illegitimate son. It was even harder to believe that not only did Lucius Malfoy have no idea, but his wife, his estranged sister in law and her husband, Arthur, and Molly Weasley knew about it. It was too big a deal, with too many people knowing the explosive secret for Lucius Malfoy to have been ignorant about it.
Since Fleur was at Kingsley's, Bill didn't get a chance to talk to Fleur about it before he left for the Ministry. He was hoping to talk it over with Fleur when he got home tonight if they had time that is. Having Fleur back in bed with him had been heaven sent, the weeks prior had been a bit of a mess as Victoire was not happy with having to sleep in her own room. Despite their firm regiment, one of the exhausted parents usually ended up in the smug tots cot before morning.
Last night the two snuggled closely during the night listening to Victoire mumble in her sleep about Drakee and yum-yums most of the night. While not entirely happy about her new sugar addiction, he was glad that Draco and Victoire were getting on so well. Fleur smiled at her little girl and held Bill close, as she whispered her love and devotion to him until he fell asleep in her comforting arms.
Well, there had been a bit of mommy and daddy play time before-
"Bill. Hello? Can you hear me?" George was waving his hands in front of his face. Charlie was gone and George looked impatient. "Did you hear anything I just said?"
"Nope. I was thinking about Fleur."
"Eew. I don't want to know. Actually, maybe I do. You know Fred…" George faltered, the excited light in his eyes dying instantly. Bill smiled warmly before nodded encouragingly at his struggling brother.
"Fred-" George croaked. George was attempting to fix a smile on his face. He failed but the effort was there and that was what counted. "Fred and I… Fred and I used to take bets who was on top…"
Under normal circumstances, Bill would have hexed his brother for making sexual innuendos about his wife. Right now, however, he was indefinitely proud at his progress. George's miserable attempt at a smile was faltering, as he tried to keep the mood light. Keeping his face and voice as straight as possible, Bill spoke.
"I'll have you know, we like to change it up quite a bit. Though, I would warn you against eating off of any surfaces in my house." George stared at Bill as if had grown an extra head.
It took a moment or two for what Bill said to register in George's overactive brain and then George spluttered and burst into loud guffaws complete with tears and doubled over side clenching. Charlie emerged, from what Bill assumed was a lavatory, to a bent over George in middle of a bout of hysterical laughter.
"I'm really not that much of a prude, you know," Bill growled petulantly.
George wiped several tears away from his eyes. "It's… always… quiet.. ones…"
"Oh! Are we talking about Bill's sex life? Did Draco tell you he sat outside waiting for them to finish for over an hour? That's my brother people! He's Triwizard Sex Champion!" Charlie announced to the hallway. Bill's face turned bright red as several passersby turned around in alarm. Charlie joined George in laughing at his expense. Brothers, he loved that he had them but sometimes, a good hex-
"NO!"
"Get the Healer!"
"MOVE, YOU IDIOT!"
Their laughter halted as loud shouts came from within the Wizengamot's Chambers. Without a thought, the three brother's rushed inside to see their mother being pulled through the Wizengamot's personal Chambers room. Tracey looked back nervously as the doors were being closed and met Charlie's eyes with concern.
"I don't understand. This woman was very clearly sick. Why was she summoned here? I thought you said that she would be okay to handle a couple of questions?" Ms. Macmillan raged at Travers and Hermione. Macmillan was standing on her feet, her robes askew. She was wearing a light purple shirt that looked oddly familiar, but Bill couldn't place it.
Hermione was staring furiously at Travers her hands tightly gripping her wand. "Mr. Travers was told to be patient and to go easy with Mrs. Weasley. He completely disregarded-"
"Mr. Travers, you are aware if Mrs. Weasley suffers any permanent damage or the remote possibility of death YOU will be not only investigated but eligible for at least a year in Azkaban and that is for MINIMAL damage?" Macmillan was shouting over the upset members of the Wizengamot. Travers didn't look affected at all. It was as if he hadn't been just threatened with prison.
"She is essential to the case, ma'am. While I am aware that Mrs. Fleur Weasley, Miss Victoire Weasley, Miss Ginevra Weasley, and Mr. Draco Malfoy have rejoined the UK this morning, they have yet to answer my court summons. That leaves only Mrs. Weasley for questioning, had they answered our summons this questioning, that has not been completed might I add, would not have been necessary."
"Are you accusing them of evading a court summons?" Ms. Macmillan demanded as she attempted to right her robes. The noise around her was getting louder and her patience thinner.
"No, ma'am. The owls are returning unopened."
"Then how could you possibly know that they are avoiding a court summons, also how do you know they are back in the country at all?" Mrs. Longbottom called out from the Wizengamot stands.
"Thank you Augusta, well said." Chimed in Mrs. Bones. Despite the severity of the situation, the two women made Bill laugh. They clearly enjoyed their time on the Wizengamot and they especially enjoyed heckling Travers. They had been poking at him all day yesterday. Specifically whenever he asked questions on anyone's testimonies. Mrs. Bones referred to him as the 'Butterball' and Mrs. Longbottom argued he resembled a 'heavy set garden gnome.' For obvious reasons, Travers wasn't a fan of the two older women.
"I have spoken to the Prophet reporters and have confirmed that they are in fact back in the UK. As for the returned owls, I believe they are staying in a home under the fidelius charm. If a listing of all Black, Malfoy, Prewitt, and Weasley homes could be given-"
"Absolutely not. They are not to be involved in this case unless the Wizengamot decides to include them. As for Mrs. Molly Weasley, she is to be returned to her a Ministry safe house with three Healers present. Saint Mungos can't handle the press right now and she doesn't need any more stress. Her husband, Arthur Weasley may be allowed to accompany her. And before I forget Mr. Travers, since when have we, the government worked off of information from the newspapers? It is supposed to be the other way around!"
"Ma'am with all due respect Arthur Weasley has a department that relies solely on his area of exp-"
"Mr. Travers we are in a building filled with able Wizarding bodies. Mr. Weasley is, fortunately, not the only employee in his department. As I know for a fact that there are no raids scheduled for the duration of the week, he will be fine taking the rest of the week off to care for his ill wife."
Travers huffed before returning to his seat and scribbling in his notes. Kingsley, who had not been present since Bill returned to the room, came in through the doors his mum had been taken out of.
Miss Macmillan turned her head towards the Minister of Magic. "Minister?"
"Mrs. Weasley is resting but I would beg of the Wizengamot to deter any further questioning. Mrs. Weasley's mental and physical health is at stake." The overall murmurs from the Wizengamot were in approval of Kingsley's statement and Bill let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
As Kingsley passed Bill and his brothers he mouthed, "She's okay."
Behind Kingsley, Miss Macmillan was tired and ready to go home. "Is there anything else for today Mr. Travers?"
"Yes, I would like to continue my line of questioning that I was unable to complete with Mrs. Weasley, with Healer Davis."
"Healer Davis is currently working to tirelessly to heal Mrs. Weasley after you knowingly poked at her condition! She will be preoccupied for the remained of the day." The not so subtle too bad was left out of her words, but definitely not her tone.
"The poor girl looked exhausted," muttered Mrs. Bones.
Mrs. Longbottom nodded sympathetically. "Poor thing could use sleep."
"What young person actually sleeps?" Replied Mrs. Bones. Travers cleared his voice and began talking before the two elderly women could start polling the room for their nightly sleeping habits.
"Then I would like to call to the stand Mr. Charlie Weasley." Members of the Wizengamot audibly groaned. Bill gave Charlie an encouraging look as his younger brother hurried up to the assigned seat he was getting very familiar with.
Bill was glad that Charlie had the chance to calm down overnight. Bill hadn't asked what he had done, but he suspected it had something to do with bringing Tracey Davis dinner and not returning until the next morning in a much calmer and clear-headed state.
"Mr. Weasley state your name and occupation for-"
"We've already done this, Mr. Travers. Let the record show that Mr. Travers is questioning Mr. Charlie Weasley a Dragon Tamer on leave from his work in Romania. Everyone in this courtroom is more familiar than they ever planned on being with Mister Weasley." Ms. Macmillan cut in leaving Travers annoyed and put out. Augusta and Cordelia laughed amongst themselves eyeing Charlie appreciatively.
"Mr. Weasley. Do you make it a habit of sleeping with all the witnesses in your brother's case?" What little-amused chattering had been going on in the background ceased immediately. August Longbottom and Cordelia Bones looked so excited Bill worried about their hearts stopping at their age.
"I beg your-"
"Oh, there's no need to be proper Mr. Weasley. We all know the true nature of your character. Did you or did you not have sexual intercourse with Miss Davis within the last two days?" Charlie was stunned into silence. Despite the lengthy speech Kingsley made when they returned in session, Bill very much doubted that they caught whatever spy was collecting information from them.
"A yes or no will suffice." Charlie's eyes were wide and he was stunned, much like everyone else in the room. Bill nodded at his brother encouragingly.
"Umm… yes… I guess..." Excited whispers erupted within the Wizengamot.
"How many times did you have intercourse with Healer Davis over the last two days Mr. Weasley?" Charlie's ears were red but he looked at straight at Travers.
"eight or umm nine, no... umm-"
"Did you have any type of sexual relationship with Miss. Davis prior to this week?"
"Umm… no seeing how we hadn't actually met. She lives here and I live in Romania..."
"And would you like to explain to the court why you were having sexual intercourse with Healer Davis this week and not prior-"
"Because apparently, she's damn good at it!" barked George. A combination of laughter and indignation rang through the room. Bill tried his very hardest to keep a straight face, though he was pretty sure he slipped.
"Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Weasley. Other Mr. Weasley, answer the question." Travers sneered.
"I like her. I met her when she was healing an injury I sustained from Auror Flint. She's really sweet and she's been trying to relocate to Romania to be closer to her brother who is doing research there." Charlie had a far-off goofy smile on his face. It was a look Bill recognized from the mirror back when he first started dating Fleur.
"Do you not think it best to keep your trousers on whilst being hea-"
"Mr. Travers! That is enough! You have made your point and-" Scolded Ms. Macmillan.
"It is making me increasingly uncomfortable to witness Mr. Travers obsession with Mr. Weasley's extracurricular activities. One has to wonder if Mister Travers is a bit envious of Mister Weasley. I mean goodness, if I looked like him I would also be very busy in the evenings!" Snorted Cordelia Bones. The three snickered like school girls and Bill had to resist rolling his eyes.
"Thank you, Cordelia and Augustus, if we could return to the issue at hand…" Ms. Macmillan sighed. Despite her annoyance, Bill had seen her clearly fighting off a smirk during Cordelia Bone's rather short-lived speech. "Mr. Travers, let's just assume Mr. Charlie Weasley is a healthy young male with healthy nighttime activities. Shall we?
"In addition, Mr. Charlie Weasley's character is not in question right now. As a matter of fact, no one is. Your only job is to establish whether or not Mr. Bill Weasley was actually involved in Death Eater activity during the war. Something you have not only, not been able to prove but have been dragging this session through hoops. You have until the end of tomorrow to bring forth a reliable witness to further your case. If you have no proof this case will be tossed out. We are dismissed for the day."
"Mr. Weasley." The brothers all turned toward Ms. Macmillan. Members were getting up and leaving around her.
"No, merlins sakes, there really are a lot of you. I am talking to, Mr. Bill Weasley. Please make sure you eat when you leave. Mr. Charlie and George Weasley, I am holding you responsible to ensure he takes care of himself." she said sternly. Her stern demeanor cracked for just a moment, exhibiting a warm smile. It was gone so quickly the brothers were quite sure they imagined it. They didn't think about Ms. Macmillan's odd behavior as they were anxious to leave the courtroom and check on their mother.
Wizarding Building in Mantucky, England 2 PM
Head Auror Ian Proudfoot hurried into his office, closing the door behind him. Every time he thought something couldn't get worse, it did. It made staying positive near impossible to the point where it was the theme of his life at this point.
While Granger was right in her theory and her pursuant to the law, the young activist was definitely not helping. Ian had more paperwork to sort through in one morning than he had in the last two years. It most certainly didn't help that he was out a secretary. Bartley was on temporary leave to take care of his kids while his wife was in the maternity ward, so Ian was winging it without his secretary. It hadn't been a problem until the blowup Sunday morning. Ian hadn't even been in the damn country and somehow the Wizengamot was blaming him for the whole damn thing.
Ian had gone to France to his Adelaide's grave. His wife had always wanted to be buried in her home country, so after the war, he had taken several days off and went to bury his wife and daughter. He went back to visit for their wedding anniversary, each of their birthdays, and the day of their deaths. Sunday would have been Adalene's thirtieth birthday. She had been complaining about the day for several years prior to her death. Addy had a deep-rooted fear of being old and unaccomplished. It was the basis for many fights between the couple.
Ian sighed, popping his knuckles in aggravation. He would easily trade his own life so that she could be lying in their old broken bed complaining about everything she wished she could have done before a milestone she never got to reach.
He rubbed his eyes and pulled out his employee files from behind his desk. He summoned Charles's from the back of the pile and signed off his name and the reason for retrieving the file. He opened the file and sat down behind his desk. Personal information was always at the end of the folder, after their cases and training seminars. Ian perused his list of successfully closed case files reminiscing in the ones he had taken part of.
After the closed cases were the open cases, Ian made note of some of these. It was important to not allow cold cases to sit and the real killers to go free. He was at the last missing case before the wizard's personal living information when he paused looking at the last open case recorded.
Ministry of Magic Homicide Case Files: 1997-383 and 1997-384.
He would know those numbers anywhere. They were etched in his eyelids and carved in his brain. The seemingly innocuous numbers kept him up at night. What if he had gone home?
Why wasn't he home?!
The short description of the case detailed the tortures and murders of the Proudfoot family and destruction of personal property. The case was never solved but it was closed in their system. No one was going to question Death Eaters already rotting in Azkaban about the specific families they murdered. No one cared.
Even though he knew the names and their faces, he read over the list of confirmed Death Eaters present and suspected Death Eaters that were never proven. Lucius Malfoy's name sat under the suspects' column, mocking him.
Closing his eyes he prayed for the calm, he so desperately needed. He shuffled passed the distressing pages willing his mind to stay on topic.
The Head Auror retrieved his subordinate's address and put the file back in the drawer. He stared at the distinctive grey drawer for several seconds. He was about to reach back and take it out when someone hammered on his office door.
"Head Auror Proudfoot? Are you in there?"
"Yes, come on in. Is that Thompson?" he called back.
The door opened to admit Teddy Toothless Thompson. He had lost the majority of his teeth in a Muggle sporting game and never bothered to have them replaced. That was the story he stuck with, anyway. Hermione had actually known the man the first time she met and said he was a patient of her parents. She scolded Ian for bugging Toothless Teddy about his teeth, which had led the seasoned Auror to believe there was more to the story.
"Yup. I rounded up Stewart, Campbell, Anderson, and Brown. Reckon, we need any more lads?"
"A couple of rookies couldn't hurt. If it's nothing it's a good experience and if it's something it will be good to have extra wands watching our backs." Toothless Teddy nodded and disappeared back out of the door again.
Ian hurried after him into the bullpen. Teddy was scowling over a group of terrified rookies. Ian almost wanted to laugh. Teddy had a scone weakness. Give the bloke a blueberry scone and he'd take any shift you offered him. The trick was to get the muggle ones, the blueberries were moist and there was a hint of salt that the Wizards never really caught on in their pastries. "Alright. I got one rookie per Auror. You ready?"
"Authorization papers are signed. I just have to let the Minister know we're leaving." Thompson turned around and shouted for the 'lazy gits' to 'ready-up.' They were apparently 'blowing this joint' in five.
"I'll walk you up there, sir."
They walked in silence until they reached the lifts. They were empty, for once and Ian decided it was probably the only time he'd ever get to ask about his teeth."
"Teddy?"
"Mmmm…"
"How is it you can speak properly with no teeth?" Toothless Teddy smiled hugely at him.
"And I'm the Muggleborn in this lift. Magic, sir." Ian chuckled.
"Why didn't you use magic to fix them after the… what did you say it was?"
"Rugby match. It wasn't really a rugby match. I had a Muggle disease in my gums. They had to do surgery to remove them. It's how I met the Granger girl. Her parents are dentists that my family has been using to for years. It was really hard to lose them."
Ian nodded sadly. He knew Granger was struggling with the loss of her parents. "What is surgery?"
"They put you to sleep and then cut open your gums. Not as barbaric as it sounds but it was definitely a life-saving operation. They wanted to put in dentures, it's like removable teeth, but my gums were too irritated. They asked if magic could help it. I was kind of surprised they knew anything, to be honest. They said their daughter was a witch and that she was currently attending Hogwarts. Damn proud those two were. Granger tried to help me with my teeth but nothing can be done, magic or Muggle. It's okay, though. It's not that bad."
"Wow. I'm sorry Teddy. I didn't know."
"I didn't want to make a big deal about it. Cadmus doesn't care. Honestly, he's also a Muggle-born and as soon as he heard cancer he freaked out. I think he's just happy I survived."
Ian was happy for the lift opening, as he was trying to remember who Cadmus was. The only Cadmus that was a muggle born that he knew was Cadmus Podwell from the Sports and Recreation division. But wasn't Cadmus Podwell gay? Oh….
The Minister of Magic's office door was closed but his secretary was in.
"Hi, Pam. Can you hand these form to the Minister?"
"Sure," Pamela glanced over the forms. "Be careful you guys. Ian, bring every one of those boys home," Pam ordered sternly.
"Always, ma'am." Ian nodded his head and the two men returned to the lift. "Think they got the portkey setup?"
Teddy shoved his hands in his pockets. "Hopefully. You know who would make a great couple?"
Ian almost laughed. He had been talking about this with Potter the other day.
"Pam and Kingsley? Yeah, I think he really likes her but he's scared to say anything because he's her boss and doesn't want it to come off creepy. I asked her about it last week."
"Well, she's friends with Cadmus's mate's sister and Priscilla says that Pam talks about him non stop. It's not even work related anymore. She apparently simply adores the way he takes his tea and scones in the morning."
The two were chuckling when they emerged from the lift. Gathering the Aurors while Teddy retrieved the portkey, they all readied to leave. When Teddy returned the group was standing armed and ready.
After a quick surveillance, that proved Charles flat was empty, the Aurors approached the building. They moved up the stairs swiftly and silently, Teddy vanished the door and they entered the flat in pairs.
Ian stood at the door as his Aurors worked. It took less than ten minutes to survey the entire flat by wandlight, it was that small. There was no sign of life, but Ian knew that would be the case before he left the Ministry.
The team was murmuring amongst themselves as Ian paced around the small landing in wizarding Mantucky. The area was residential, filled with growing families and small children. It was an area Adelaide would have adored. It was also an area not meant for a single bachelor, but a bustling family. He reassigned Stewart and two of the rookies to the door. The rest were aiding in surveillance, while Ian took over.
There was barely any furniture in what should have been called a home. The most extravagant part of the house was the fact that there was a Floo, but that wasn't surprising given the neighborhood. The main room boasted one leather recliner with a pile of Prophets on one side and a tower of empty coffee cups on the other. There were crumbs around the recliner that suggested he ate his nightly meals on the one chair in the flat.
The walls were lined with rickety bookshelves that covered even the few windows in the room. The shelves were lined with typical books you would find in an Auror's home. Defensive and offensive magic, memoirs, and journals. There was also one shelf dedicated to every single Prophet from the last fifteen years. It was obsessive. Flipping through them he noted that there were colored tags on some of the pristine copies.
The sparsity and obsessiveness of his old workmate's home was not what worried him. As he approached the Floo to test the powder, he noticed a distinct pattern on the greying rug in front of it. There were imprints of two sets of feet on either side of a large lump. Someone had been stunned and bodily dragged through the Floo.
Drawing his wand in alarm, he surveyed the room once more. Opposite the Floo was an empty wall with a single hook. There had clearly been a picture there once, but his wife probably took it with her when she left. Underneath the hook was an indentation right above the floor's molding that something heavy being thrown into it.
Ian motioned to the remaining Aurors. Wands were drawn and senses heightened. The rookies were writing their field notes meticulously and Ian couldn't help but admire the new generation of Aurors. They were much more serious and devoted to their craft than Ian remembered being at their age. Truth is, most of these kids had more experience coming into Auror training than he had within his first five years of being a full-fledged Auror.
Ignoring field regulation of speaking through hand motions during a hostage situation, one of the rookies spoke up. "We should probably do another scan of the bedroom."
Ian nodded at the rookie, motioning for him to lead the way. Ian followed directly behind the rookie whose name was evading him, Cobalt maybe? Ian had yet to do an in-depth search in the man's private quarters. It felt wrong as if he was violating someone's space. It was odd because he had to violate countless wizards, witches, and Muggles homes in the name of the law. It felt different now because it was a colleague and he was rightly squeamish about entering the room.
Swallowing hard, he entered through the doorway. A bed covered by a threadbare blanket was the only furniture in the room. There was a walk-in closet that was open and held several pairs of identical work issued robes. The room was depressing by anyone's standards.
They had both become single within a year of each other. Ian had lost his fiance and Charles's wife left him. The difference was that Ian kept everything of his fiance still in his house, while Charlies seemed to have purged everything from his. The only reason anyone knew he was ever married was he still wore his wedding ring. Stubborn arse the wizard would keep the same muddy boots under his desk even though he never wore them.
Instinct drove Ian to get onto his knees. Dust went up into his nose and he fought the urge to sneeze repeatedly in front of his rookies. His dusty adventure was rewarded when he caught sight of a shining object under the bed. He reached out and snatched the wedding band a faint rustling to be heard over the murmurs of the rookies. When he straightened, his face pale and his hands clammy the trainees were oohing and aahing. Ian wasn't listening. The training lesson was over. The rookies' awe was replaced immediately with fear when they heard their Head Auror calling for immediate backup in the form of every single available Auror in the DMLE.
A sticking charm had been applied to the wedding band. It was a Daily Prophet clipping for the Azkaban Breakout. Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange's faces were circled.
"Oh, Charles. What did you get yourself into?" he murmured just as the building swarmed with every on-duty and off-duty Auror in the UK.