Bill's Bill
Chapter 20: The Yaxleys
Kent, Wednesday 8AM
Ian walked up the stairs of an assuming baby blue brick terraced townhouse, in an equally mixed magical and muggle neighborhood. Ian had heard of the area from an old colleague in the department that moved out here at the behest of his wife. It was a neighborhood for modern wizarding families and also one of the first places that Voldemort had attacked specifically because of what it represented.
Looking at the neighborhood with a community playground and garden dotted with tiny white flowers despite the cold, you would never be able to tell that a crazed homicidal lunatic had torched the place several years before. The muggles that had not died were obliviated and still living in their homes, unaware of the faint smell of fiendfyre that still lingered and would probably linger for several decades.
Clad in a grey suit and a dark blue button down he opted for ringing the doorbell over the large brass raven knocker. He was chuckling at the none-too-subtle nod at the resident's Hogwarts house when he caught a glance of a tiny blonde woman through the first floor window. She was dressed in blue muggle workout clothes and darting about her home unaware of the wizard watching her. She was wearing a startlingly small amount of clothing that was embarrassingly distracting. She was also yelling.
"I swear, Andy if you hit your little brother again you'll not have pudding for a month!" The woman had her head flung over her shoulder, shouting. She was about to turn around when a loud shattering noise echoed through the house followed by a cry.
Ian was down the stairs and through the open window before the mother had managed to sprint out of the room. The family was a target for death eaters and if one of them got into the house….
"Andrea! What part of don't… oh, for the love of shite! That was my grandmother's vase!" the witch crouched down until she was eye level of the small tearstained girl that was nearly identical to her father. "I know it's hard for you not to trip over your feet, my love but that's why we made the rule not to run inside the house."
"But I was running away from Cy. He was using magic to throw blocks at me," she whimpered. Ian looked over at the small tot in the corner of the room. The boy had his thumb in his mouth, his blonde hair swept back into a tidy ponytail.
"I think Cy needs a timeout," she said, shooting a look at a terrified boy in the corner of the room. "Cy, get over here and apologise to your sister."
The boy was staring at Ian with wide fearful eyes. He raised one chubby finger and pointed it over his mother's shoulder.
"Mumma," he whispered.
The young witch tossed her head over her shoulder in annoyance, freezing in surprise when their eyes met. Her surprise quickly morphed into fear, when she realized there was an intruder in her home. Flinging out her arm, she pulled the older of her two tots behind her, shielding them both from the intruder with her body. Ian was about to announce his presence as a member of the DMLE, when she whipped out her wand sending a bombarda towards him, a patronus out the window, and shield around herself and her children behind her.
In his years as an Auror, Ian always found it impressive how a parent with little to no experience could easily out-duel a fully trained Auror or Death Eater when their child was in danger. Harry Potter was living proof of the extent a mother's love could go and the wizarding world was still around because of it.
Luckily for Mrs. Yaxley, he hadn't been made Head Auror for no reason. Containing and then vanishing the explosion from the Bombarda, he reached into his pocket and withdrew the badge. "I apologise. I heard a shout and I assumed you were in danger. I hadn't thought it would just be children making trouble."
"Merlin, you're the Head Auror! I…" she said in obvious awe. The smile froze on her face and trembled in grief that Ian knew all too well. Her voice dropping to barely a whisper. "Where's my Mattey?"
"I was under the impression he was still home."
"He went to the corner store to get bagels. We were out of bread. I forgot to get bread. I forgot-"
"Ma'am, I'm sure everything is alright but I can have two Aurors check in on him, if you would like." Seeing her fearful look and the Daily Prophet lying on the sideboard, the moving picture of Death Eaters on the cover, he sent a patronus to two of the Aurors he had left to secure the perimeter.
"Thank you," she breathed. "I'm Allora Yaxley. I apologise for the state of my home. I'm a Healer and Mattey's generally home more often but with the Weasley case…"
"It's quite understandable, Mrs. Yaxley. I was wondering if we could talk in private?" Allora nodded.
Ian followed Allora as she ushered her children ahead of them into an adjoining parlor. The parlor was simple, extremely simple for a home that boasted a husband on the Wizengamot and a wife as a Healer. The room was muted with light shades of varying colors in the blue, purple, and coral families. Two couches, four bookshelves, and two armchairs surrounded a glass coffee table atop a simple white fur rug, with so many safety and anti-breaking charms the glass looked like it was swimming.
She distracted her children by giving them each a tray of chocolate pudding and a painting easel to play with. She also gave them snacks and drinks to keep them occupied once their fascination with the chocolate pudding ran its course. Summoning a long black cloak from somewhere in the house, she slipped it over her head, mumbling about him catching her during a morning workout. She tucked her blonde hair into a ponytail, her cheeks aflame.
Satisfied that the majority of her body was now covered, she sat down on a small couch opposite where he was standing and motioned for him to sit. He sat politely while she summoned tea and small ginger cookies. He helped himself to a small wizard-shaped cookie, while she cast several monitoring charms on her chocolate-covered children and a privacy charm, so they would not be overheard by the little inquisitive ears.
"So, what has my Hufflepuff of a husband done to warrant a house visit from the Head Auror?" Ian withdrew his quill and began taking her statement. She confirmed every detail from the war and that she knew Pam. It was clear she considered her a dear friend and that the loss of Pam's brother was a loss to her as well.
"If you don't mind me asking, how are you… okay with naming your son after-" he asked uneasily.
"My husband's former lover?" Ian nodded. "Cy was in love with Mattey and while Mattey loved Cy I don't think he was ever in love with him. I think it broke Mattey to stay together more than it did to stay apart. We met shortly after they broke up in a pub in muggle London. I was going through a similar situation and Mattey was a good friend in my time of need. He helped me get over my heartbreak and I helped him with his.
"When the war properly broke out we searched for Cy and Pam but it was so hectic…. It didn't help that they were on the registry and had Death Eaters and the Ministry hunting them. After we sent our kids away to Japan with my mother, I became more hands-on in the search but then I was injured and when I woke up Cy was gone and my husband was broken like I had never seen him before.
"After the battle of Hogwarts, we took in Pam and helped her heal. She was stuck in the same place for so long. Grieving, with no hope of ever seeing her brother again. Then Kingsley Shacklebolt's face was on the cover of the Prophet one day and suddenly it was like she was a new person."
"She recognized him?"
"Yes, as the wizard that saved her from that massacre. She started to get up and get dressed every day. I helped her find interviews and eventually get a job. She still comes over for tea. We talk about what's going on in her life and such," she paused touching her chin in consternation. "I really had no idea what Mattey was up to and believe you me, we will have words once he comes home. Of all the idiotic things that dunderheaded moronic..." she went off on a tangent that consisted mostly of impressive and inventive profanity about her husband to herself.
Ian stifled a chuckle. Allora Yaxley was a character, that was forsure. Ian pocketed his notes and withdrew a standard interview form. "Would you mind filling this out, so that I can clear Pam's name and have the charges officially dropped?"
Allora summoned a quill and began to fill out the paper muttering to herself about the 'absolute nutter' she married and the 'talking to' that Pam was going to get. Ian wondered if he should keep Pam in isolation so she would miss her next scheduled tea with the witch. It would be a mercy, surely.
The door opened before Ian could ask anymore questions. The two forgotten tots cheered happily at their father's return and rushed to greet him. Sticky hands and all. There were several shouts as Andy ran into the hallway wall and then when Cy tripped over Andy. They were sorted out by their father.
"Good lord, what happened to you two?"
"Mumma gave us chocolate!" chirped Andy.
"Up! Up!" Cy ordered. There was a shuffling noise and several cleaning spells cast. "Ca! Ca!"
"Absolutely not," Matthew groaned as he lifted the children. "Neither of you may have any more candy. No idea what your mother was thinking, giving you this much chocolate."
Moments later, a harried Matthew Yaxley walked into the living room with one child in each arm and a bag of bagels dangling from his fingertips.
"Allora? Why was the window open? Sweetie, it's not safe-" Matthew Yaxley's eyes grew wide when he took in Ian's presence sitting opposite his wife. His expression quickly turned sheepish when he saw his wife's thunderous features and the document she had just signed in her hands. Quite suddenly Ian was very happy to be going home shortly. "Now Lorrie, don't get mad-"
"Don't get mad?! You are not an Auror! Are you insane?! They're Death Eaters! You could have died! They could have come after us! Did you even think of your children or your wife?"
"Mumma! You're shouting too loud. It's hurting my ears," Andy pouted from within the safety of her father's arms.
"Well, if Daddy wasn't such a royal dunce than maybe your Mumma wouldn't have to shout," she retorted, though she did lower her voice.
"Before the two of you… er hash this out, I need your statement Mr. Yaxley." Matthew nodded and handed his children over to his fuming wife who busying herself preparing lunch.
They went over the details in half the time it took Ian to go over everything with Allora. The wizard was under the impression that the longer his wife had to stew the more trouble he was going to be in. Matthew Yaxley was anxious to get back into his wife's good graces. Given the outfit she was wearing when he first arrived, Ian couldn't say he blamed the man. Allora brought them sandwiches and drinks while they spoke and left to take the children to the park.
"Is there anything you would like to add?"
"Yes, it might be nothing but... the last time I eavesdropped on Travers and Skeeter, Skeeter mentioned she was being followed by another reporter. I didn't catch the first name but the last name was Patel. She said she didn't like that she was asking too many questions and Travers said he would handle it. I tried to reach out to this Patel witch but all my owls were returned unopened."
Ian furrowed his eyebrows in concern, that was not good. He did not need a higher missing body count. As it was he had two missing Aurors, two missing Death Eaters, and two illegal animagusai running around. He didn't need any additional problems.
"I believe Hermione was roommates with one of the twins at Hogwarts. I'll have her reach out." Ian gathered his things and as he was getting up to leave he hesitated. "Why Bill? Why protect someone you never even met?"
"The Death Eaters have destroyed so many lives. The Weasley's have always been a kind and good wizarding family. Their sons spread laughter and joy during the war, even after their joke shop was closed down. When I heard they lost a son, a twin, I… I thought of Cy and Pam. Losing a twin isn't the same as losing a sibling. It's more than losing a spouse, it's like losing a limb. I could see what Pam had gone through, what she is still going through. She turns sometimes and smiles at her left after a funny joke, as if she was checking to see he enjoyed it too. I don't think that will ever fade. The feeling of losing the closest thing you have to your soul.
"I bumped into the twin after the war and he looked so… so broken. When I heard what was happening with the eldest son I knew I had to intervene. I spoke to Pam and she agreed to help. We've been trying to stop Travers bugging but we could only do that with a bug of our own and it was already set up for his meeting with the Minister next week…"
Ian placed a comforting hand on the wizard's shoulder. "Thank you for everything you have provided us with. We can arrest Travers and send him to Azkaban for life. For now, let the professionals handle this one. Stay home with your wife and children."
Matthew looked like he was going to respond when an owl came through the window, dropping a Wizengamot stamped letter into his lap. Ian didn't bother to hide his groan, while Matthew smiled triumphantly.
"Finally!" Matthew gulped down the rest of his bagel and muttered to himself as he began looking for his shoes. "Bloody tykes. Why do they always hide my dress shoes?!"
"May I ask-?"
"Oh, I've been privately petitioning our Wizengamot group to investigate Rebecca Fawley and her seat on the Wizengamot. Due to her outburst the other day and a number of alarming decisions and requests of late, my request has been approved. There's a meeting at five, in conference room six. I have to go prepare all of my documents though."
Ian looked at the younger man speculatively. "What do you mean by alarming choices?"
Matthew abandoned his shoe search and transfigured the ones he was wearing. "She's been submitting and voting on extremely pro-pureblood prejudice matters. It's not like Rebecca. I mean, I know she lost her brother in the war, but…"
"She lost her brother?"
"Yes, her brother Sully. I don't know the specifics. Perhaps, Miss Granger does. All I know is that Miss Fawley has not been herself."
Ian nodded. Matthew was going to help clean up the Wizengamot. They needed more people like Granger, Potter, and Yaxley if they were going to pick themselves up from the destruction the last war created. "I will look into it. Thank you for your time, Mister Yaxley."
Ian walked to the Floo. He looked up at the family portrait hanging in front of the fireplace. Matthew stood behind him and followed his eyesight and smiled proudly at his family. Ian watched the children running out of the frame and their parents chasing after them. He could almost see his wife and child staring back at him and the future they should have had. "Cherish them, Mister Yaxley."
He stepped into the Floo and entered the Ministry amidst the hustle and bustle of witches and wizards rushing to get to work on time. He stood still watching each face as they rushed by, reminding himself why he stayed on as an Auror.
He imagined each person and their families happy and safe every night when they go to bed, their biggest worries about pestering in-laws and eavesdropping neighbors. Their happiness was what kept him going.
Minister of Magic's Office 9AM
Kingsley was exhausted having been up the entire night but Pam was fast asleep under his robes on the couch. A feat if there ever was one.
He was currently drafting a letter to Bartley asking him if he would like to work for him part time. It was the perfect situation really, he could hire Samantha to work in the mornings and have Bartley work in the afternoon and evenings. He would have to check the employee files but he was pretty sure they lived within several blocks of each other and could help each other out for daycare.
Pam twisted over in his sleep and Kingsley resisted the urge to hover over her protectively. If Pam was working for the Aurors office, Kingsley would have the go-ahead to ask her to dinner. Even though he already asked her on the way up to his office.
In true Pam fashion, she squeaked blushed and nodded her head yes so many times she got dizzy. After they returned to his office, he sat with her on the couch until she fell asleep. He was starting to doze off with her when a loud chorus of annoyed hoots woke him up. He groaned, realizing that if he didn't start answering all of the morning owls it would wake her up. Begrudgingly, he stood and returned to his desk and began responding to his many missives.
Due to the manhunt for two of his Aurors, the Wizengamot session was being postponed until tomorrow. Ian had sent out missives late last night and while Kingsley had not been for the idea at the time, he was beginning to see the merit. The downside was that they had no idea where Travers was and no way of contacting him outside work. His recorded place of residence was in Knockturn and had been abandoned for some time.
Kingsley looked over his schedule and noted that he had a budget meeting with Traver's on Monday at two. He thought about marking the appointment as cancelled but abstained. If he had an extra hour, he could take an extended lunch with Pam. As it was, their weekend date was going to involve a home cooked meal at his home Saturday night. If all went well, - and it would - it would be just enough time to have a Monday lunch date.
Kingsley smiled and finished off writing his correspondances. He was hoping that Pam would sleep at least until lunch. He sent off another owl to the Vietnamese place on Diagon that she mentioned she liked. Hopefully, they could grab a nice quiet lunch together.
Azkaban Transport 8AM
Gabriella Torren was exhausted. She was currently attached to Rabastan Lestrange with bloody runes. Everyone knew that hurt like a bitch on sunday morning. The sociopath was being transported him to Azkaban on an attempted murder charges of Frank and Alice Longbottom; for the second time. He had a laundry list of charges that the Wizengamot were holding a special session to sort out. Kingsley had assured her that they were hoping to have him tried and convicted within the day. Her job was to babysit the actual brother-in-law of Bellatrix Lestrange and make sure she didn't lose him. Personally, she thought the Ministry was trying to keep her out of the public eye until after the whole Weasley case blew over. The whole case was utter tosh and they knew it.
"You're the Torren witch, aren't you?" Of course he spoke. Of course. Because her day was apparently not going to be getting any better.
"Sir, I must advise you that anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law."
"Yeah, but you're the Torren witch. I know it. The one Little Travers said Weasley stole from him."
Despite her training to be impassive, Gabriella felt her eyebrows rise. "Pardon?"
"Travers wanted revenge on the Weasleys. Blood traitors scum the lot of them. They should have burned under the Dark Lord's wand. He wanted to cleanse the world. Cleanse the world of half-breed abominations-"
"Why does Solicitor Travers want revenge on the Weasleys?"
Lestrange looked at her as if she was the insane one in the carriage. "They're taking over the Ministry. Don't you see? One by one. One by one. One by one," he began to chant as his eyes glazed over and his skin began to descend into a ghostly luminescent white. Gabriella cast a recording charm, one that would automatically be recorded onto Ian Proudfoot's desk. Something felt very wrong.
"What do you mean Travers wanted revenge? How are the Weasleys taking over the Ministry?"
"Travers had a debt to be paid, he did. Joined us lot. Helped us out the first time, he did. The Dark Lord kept him quiet and hidden, when he wasn't at the Ministry. He helped us get old Pius. He was supposed to be rewarded for Pius but Charlie Weasley took his reward," he spat Charlie's name out like a curse causing her to flinch. He laughed at her reaction. "Still in love with the poor bastard? No worries. All the Weasleys will get it in the end. Percival, who took his job, Charlie, who took his girl, and the twin for taking his dignity."
Gabriella's skin began to itch and her very soul begged her to flee. "How will they get revenge?"
"Death. Death all around us. My brothers will come. They will come and they will spill the blood of our enemies, little Torren. The Dark Lord will revel among us once more." And with that he clamped his mouth shut and was silent the rest of the trip to Azkaban. He didn't speak, as the Azkaban guards chained him to a new cell or as she left her back hunched over in fear of whatever she had just witnessed.