"Why do you think we have a double agent?" Harry's brow furrowed at Scorpius and Walt who sat across his desk. "What evidence do you have?"
"It's not in the Auror department," Walter said quickly.
"Nor do we think it's in the Minister's office," Scorpius added.
"Because they've all been vetted," Harry nodded. "Thoroughly," he sighed. "But others on the task force?"
"The task force is too large," Scorpius's voice was low but firm in his conviction. "There's too many people and we can't account for everyone."
"Your evidence?" Harry pressed again. "I can't run this up the flagpole without -"
"We don't want you to run it up," Scorpius shook his head. "We don't think this conversation should leave this room until later."
Harry's bright green eyes narrowed slightly, "If you're asking me to keep this from the Minister of Magic, I'm going to need some evidence."
"Sir," Walter said, leaning forward in his seat. "All of our intel has made it to someone in Zhuk's camp." He hesitated a moment before he continued, "They knew we were coming -"
"That was weeks ago," Harry interrupted him. "Before the Task Force -"
"It's the only explanation for why there were so many," Walter pressed on. "For there to be 50 men -"
"And women," Scorpius corrected him.
"50 people for the pair of us," Walter nodded. "They either didn't want us to make it back, or -"
"They thought there'd be more of you," Harry's voice was soft as he ran a hand through his hair, clearly irritated. "There was talk, at one point, of sending more than you two," Harry's brow furrowed again. "But we didn't want to engage yet."
"And whoever heard that, didn't hear that only we were going," Walter jerked his thumb between him and Scorpius.
"And now," Scorpius leaned forward in his chair, "Zhuk's camp moves to a new, secure location every time we can pinpoint where he's holed up." Harry tilted his head slightly, and Scorpius saw the uncertainty in his superior's eyes. "McDonald has tracked it," Scorpius continued. "Two days after intel comes to us from on the ground, Zhuk leaves. He moves to another village, another mountain, far from where we can find him. And once can track him down again and the Task Force is made aware?" Scorpius asked.
"Gone in two days," Walter answered and put a folder on Harry's desk. "It's happened three times."
"That could be a coincidence," Harry frowned, his eyes scanning the page.
"We don't think it is," Scorpius disagreed.
"No," Harry nodded. "There are very rarely coincidences in this sort of thing." He closed the folder, his face drawn. "What do you propose?"
"We need to get to Zhuk before he goes to a mountain range to hide out," Scorpius produced another folder, this one with a map of Europe. "The last few times we've been able to track him, he's gone from village to mountain to village again."
"And he's in a mountain range now?"
"He was two days ago," Walter nodded. "So he should be arriving to his next village -"
"Today," Harry ran a hand over his face. "We're not prepared to send a team."
"We can't send a full team," Scorpius shook his head. "This intel can't leave this room or we run the risk -"
"I won't send the pair of you out there without backup," Harry's bright green eyes blazed. "Not after what happened -"
"We're prepared now," Scorpius put his hand up to stop him. "We know what to expect."
"And what to not expect," Walter added. "We can end this now."
"If we can take out Zhuk, we'll have time to send in a team to extract his bigger supporters," Scorpius said confidently. "But we need to stop Zhuk before this gets too big. Before it goes too far."
Harry slumped in his chair, clearly exhausted and defeated. "You have to do this quickly. I can sniff out the double agent while you're here, but it'll have to be quick." He glanced up at his two best Aurors, "You can do this, just the two of you?"
"We can," Scorpius nodded.
"I should really tell the Minister," Harry rubbed his chin. "Alone, privately."
Scorpius and Walter exchanged a glance, "As long as no one on her staff knows. It could risk the operation -"
"Only the Minister," Harry agreed. "Only she'll know."
"And Zhuk?" Scorpius asked hesitantly. "Do we have permission to," he trailed off.
"Do what is necessary," Harry's eyes narrowed. "The Minister will agree." He stood up, "You'll leave tonight. No Portkey."
"If we're not back in two days' time," Scorpius stood up as well, but didn't finish.
"You have a Portkey back," Harry shook both of their hands. "You'll be back."
Scorpius and Walter nodded at Harry and left the office together. "I'll meet you in an hour," Scorpius whispered to Walter and he nodded, as they walked separately to their desks. Scorpius clenched his fist next to his side and let out a slow, long breath, clearing his mind of everything as he gathered his things to head home early, hoping Albus wasn't there.
0808080808080808
Harry expected Hermione would be furious that he let two of his Aurors go back to Europe, alone, to take down a dark wizard on the rise; what Harry was not expecting was Hermione to sit down at her kitchen table with a resigned sigh. "They're right," Hermione waved her wand for the kettle to start. "That's the logical explanation for what happened before and why Zhuk has been on the run so early in his career."
Harry snorted, "Not much of a career."
Hermione looked at him sharply before she stood up to pour them both a cuppa. "And when they're back, we'll weed out the spy," she sat down again. "How did we not see that?" She frowned at her best friend and colleague, "I mean, Harry, how did we not know there was a spy? After everything -"
"Because it's too early in all of this for a spy," Harry shrugged. "It's nothing to do with anything other than money, I expect."
Hermione's eyebrows raised, "You think so?"
Harry snorted, "Considering none of his teachings have reached many people here. It's got to be money."
Hermione's shoulders relaxed, "I couldn't bear for another -"
"It won't happen again, Hermione. We're seeing to that," Harry said firmly and put his hand over hers.
"And you think Scorpius and Walter can do this alone?" Hermione's voice was soft and scared.
"I do," Harry nodded. "They're the best Aurors I've seen."
"Better than you, even?" Hermione's lips twitched and Harry let out a surprised laugh, but he didn't get to respond because the Floo sounded and Rose called out, "Hullo to the house!"
"In the kitchen, darling," Hermione called and patted Harry's cheek with a wink before standing up and pulling Rose in for a hug. "How are you, darling?"
Rose tried to keep her face in check, caught off guard by the hug and by her uncle's presence. "I'm fine, mum, thought I'd stop by and see if you were free for a cuppa, but I didn't meant to interrupt if -"
"We're done talking business," Harry winked at her and leaned back in his chair as Hermione poured a cup of tea for Rose. "I heard you threw James for a loop setting him up with a coworker of yours?"
Rose fidgeted slightly, "Who spilled the beans already?" She smirked before answering her own question, "Fred?"
"He may have let it slip," Harry shrugged but couldn't help his grin.
"They went on a date last night," Rose sat down. "I haven't gotten the rundown yet."
"Fred said, what was her name? She was the one who asked James out on the date?" Harry's eyes twinkled. "I wish I could have seen his face."
Rose let out her deep throated laugh, "It was pretty priceless. Her name is Aisling Walsh," Rose grinned. "A MediWitch, one of the ones you vetted," she turned to her mother. "Muggleborn. She's a wonderful match for our James."
"Well it's about time someone put him in his place," Harry grinned and stood up. "I'll see you tomorrow, Hermione," something flashed in his eyes but Rose was unsure what passed between her mother and her uncle. "Say, Rose," Harry stood in the doorway of the kitchen. "You working tomorrow?"
Rose's dark blue eyes narrowed as she stared at her uncle, "Why?"
Harry shrugged, running one hand through his hair and shoving the other in the pocket of his trousers, "Just curious. Have a good day." He left through the Floo before Rose could demand he answer her truthfully.
She turned back to her mother, "What was -"
"If you're asking me what was going through Harry Potter's mind," Hermione sighed heavily. "I'm afraid after all these years I'm still not entirely certain." She picked up her cup of tea, "Now, tell me, Rose, how's the hospital?"
0808080808080808
Rose could not shake the feeling that her mother and her uncle were hiding something from her, and when she met Dominique, Lily, and Roxanne for a quick drink later that evening, her nerves thrummed when Lily casually mentioned that Scorpius had left a note for Albus that he'd be gone for a few days on a mission in Wales. "Said something about how damp it was going to be," Lily drawled. "Hopefully he packed more than one set of wellies."
"Not for the dragon ring again?" Dominique asked, her voice low in the Muggle bistro. "That's done, isn't it?"
Lily shrugged and took a sip of her wine, as she glanced around the room, "You know how all of this works. Can't tell us anything until it's all over." She sighed, "And even then, my dad didn't tell me any -"
"You were a kid when he was going on missions," Roxanne snorted. "I doubt he'd tell a six-year-old any particulars." Lily stuck her tongue out but didn't respond.
"Did anyone hear how James and Aisling's date went?" Dominique wriggled her eyebrows, "I want to hear every sordid -"
"No," Lily grimaced. "Not every sordid detail, please. Spare me."
"I did like her immensely," Roxanne turned to Rose. "Well done setting them up."
Rose's eyes widened; she had not been paying attention to anything they had been speaking about, her mind racing about Scorpius's note and her uncle asking her if she was working. She had a very bad feeling she'd be called in at an obscene hour -
"Hullo, Rose?" Dominique nudged Rose slightly. "You all right?"
"Oh, sorry," Rose forced a smile on her face. "Drifted off there, for a mo. But yea, Aisling's great."
"How did you know they'd hit it off?" Lily rested her chin on her hand.
Rose shrugged and took a sip of her red wine, "She's a good sort. Doesn't take shite from anyone. She's exhausting in a way that's complimentary to James." She felt her stomach drop as she repeated what Scorpius had said to her the other night at the pub.
"That's a nice way to put it," Lily smiled dreamily.
"What, exhausting?" Roxanne let out a loud laugh, her dark brown eyes wide.
"In a complimentary way," Lily huffed. "I think that's lovely. They compliment each other. That's what you want, innit? Someone who doesn't get stressed or worked up about the same things as you."
"I don't get stressed," Roxanne leaned back in her chair, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes, Roxy, you're a very calming presence," Lily rolled her eyes. "That's what we're always saying, innit? Roxy could really calm everyone down here -"
"I never said I'd calm people down," Roxy's devilish grin made even Rose bite back a smile. "I said I don't get stressed."
"I think Rose means romantic relationships are different, eh?" Dominique interrupted before the younger women started to hurl insults at each other.
"Yes," Rose agreed. "And not everyone, but I thought," she shrugged. "Why not give it a go."
"Exactly," Dominique leaned back in her chair, flipping her long strawberry blonde hair behind her shoulders. "Why not just give it a go?" Her light blue eyes stared directly at Rose who squirmed slightly under the scrutiny.
Lily missed the intentional way Dominique was staring at Rose and with a smirk said, "See, I don't think that'll work for you, Dom, I think you need someone like Uncle Charlie -"
"Oh, a dragonkeeper, yes!" Roxanne's voice was low in excitement, nearly purring. "Someone very rugged, very masculine, very outdoorsy -"
"Not complimentary, but -"
"Double of what I am?" Dominique arched an eyebrow and rolled her eyes at her younger cousins, "That what you're insinuating?" They burst into a fit of giggles and Dominique turned her head to Rose, "Know someone like that for me, Weasley?"
"No, Weasley, 'fraid I don't," Rose rolled her eyes and took a sip of her wine again. "But I'll keep my ears out -"
"Like a farmer," Lily was giggling.
"Someone who cuts down trees," Roxanne added. "Like in that Muggle movie -"
"You two are impossible," Dominique sighed before ignoring them. "And what sort of person would best suit Rose, do we think?"
"Oh, I'm not," Rose struggled to say, glad they couldn't see the flush on her cheeks but fearful they could see the horror in her eyes.
"Looking?" Dominique finished for her. "And why ever not?"
"Yea, why not look, Rosie?" Lily tilted her head slightly.
"Now that you're settled in," Roxy flashed her a toothy smile.
"What's holding you back?" Dominique's lips twitched and Rose blanched.
"Nothing, I just -"
"Busy?" Roxanne finished. "That's not a very good excuse anymore, Weasley."
"But I am -"
"We're all busy," Lily rolled her eyes. "And we all still find time -"
"Don't want to date," Rose tried again, sipping her wine.
"And why ever not?" Dominique asked in a voice that meant to be carefree but Rose narrowed her eyes, knowing she was leading to a point.
"Minister's daughter," Rose ground out.
"Don't think that's a good enough excuse," Lily rolled her eyes.
"And she can say that," Roxanne pointed at Lily. "She's the bloody daughter of -"
"I know," Rose mumbled.
"And both your parents," Lily leaned in her chair with a huff. "We know."
"Albus and James are both bloody dating," Roxanne chuckled into her wine glass.
"Is it because there's someone you've set your eyes on?" Dominique asked with such a light and cheery voice that Rose's mouth dropped open in shock at the insinuation.
"Ooh," Lily clapped her hands. "Is there?"
"No," Rose forced out. "Of course there's not -"
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks," Roxanne waggled her eyebrows as she leaned against the table.
"Where did you learn," Rose started but waved her hand. "I don't have my eye on anyone -"
"That Muggle movie," Lily answered Rose's first question. "With the guy who talked to a skull?" She wrinkled her nose, "Bloody odd."
"But handsome," Roxanne inclined her head. "Even I could admit that -"
"Our little Rosie's got a crush, I think," Dominique interrupted Roxanne before she started going off about Muggle movies and the very few men she could admit were attractive.
"I do not," Rose groaned and slumped in her chair. "But I know nothing I say will stop you. Bloody impossible."
Dominique glanced at Lily and Roxanne, "I think this will be fun, don't you girls? Waiting for Rose to figure out who she -"
Rose pushed her chair to stand up, "If this is all we're going to discuss now, I'll be off -"
"Don't be a prat," Roxanne tugged on her sleeve and pulled her back down to her chair. "We can talk about whatever you want, just as long as you know -"
"That we'll be only thinking about who you've got a wee little crush on," Lily clapped her hands again cheerfully before waving the waiter over. "Another round, please!"
"I should get home -"
"No," Roxanne shook her head at Rose and put a hand on her shoulder. "You're going to tell me what bloody beauty salon you went to because these twists are bloody perfect."
080808080808080808
Rose did not sleep that night after drinks with her cousins at the small, Muggle bistro; she took a Sober Up potion as soon as she returned to her flat in case she was summoned by Floo in the middle of the night again.
She wasn't summoned, but she slept fitfully and kicked her covers away when the sun finally peeked through her windows later that morning. Maybe she was worked up over nothing and Scorpius truly was just on a simple mission in Wales. Maybe her Uncle Harry really was just curious if she was working on a Sunday.
She sighed heavily as she sat up; she wasn't supposed to be in St. Mungo's until later that afternoon when she was helping out with rounds around the different wards, something she was expected to do once a month. She had plenty of time to make tea and go pick up breakfast somewhere.
She was just getting dressed for the day after her cup of tea when her Floo sounded and Rose's heart stopped.
"Healer Weasley?" A soft voice called from the fireplace in her small living room. "Healer Weasley, are you there?"
Rose ran to the fireplace, pulling her shirt over her head as she ran, "Yes!" She shouted, "I'm here!"
'Can you come to St. Mungo's early -"
"Yes," Rose interrupted the MediWitch. "Is it an emergency? I can come right now."
The MediWitch tilted her head slightly, "If you can come now, that'd be fine, yea -"
"I'll be there in a minute," Rose stood up. "Thanks," she called and waved her wand to Accio her belongings before she stepped through the Floo, her heart pounding in her chest.
0808080808080808080808
A/N: Please review! :)