Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

Chapter 12 - A Breakthrough

'Hey Harry!'

'Hi Neville, how's your first few weeks going?' Neville had been the only one to join the Aurors after Harry owled several members of the DA. Harry couldn't say he was surprised. Neville wasn't yet working on the kidnapping case so with the night shifts he was pulling Harry barely got to speak to him.

'Yeah not too bad that thanks. Nancy and Billy have been brilliant.' Neville too was an auror after passing a similar test Robards was planning for Harry. Luckily that didn't turn out into an actual attack.

'That's good what have you been working on?'

'There was a break in at Diagon Alley. Some people got pretty badly hurt and we're looking for the thieves.'

'Thanks for being here Neville we really appreciate the help.'

'It's no problem, I was thinking of joining the academy anyway and when I got your owl it was just something I had to do.'

Harry quickly glanced at his watch 'Sorry Neville I've got to run or I'll be late for a meeting. How about we catch up at lunch yeah? I'm here all day filling out reports.'

'Yeah sure thing Harry I'll meet you about 1ish.'

'Sounds good I'll come and grab you.' With that he shot down towards the meeting hall and was in his seat just in time.

'Nice of you to join us Potter.' Drawled Dawlish, Harry scowled at him. 'Now that we're all here, we'll begin. Next week on Wednesday night is the full moon where the people of Hogsmeade are expected to have paid the ransom.

'Now I know no-one there has paid because we told them not to. It is now our job to protect them, although I don't think anything will happen as they already know we are watching.' Please tell me he's not going with a skeleton crew.

'Which is why we will go with a skeleton crew.' Harry rubbed his forehead 'Something wrong Potter.'

He looked Dawlish right in the eye 'The last time we dealt with this group they almost wiped out the entire department.'

'What you think we should get everyone involved?' He continued in his droning voice.

'Yes, we're going to need all the help we can get. We should have a full crew on this, we've got the foreign aid to help with the daily stuff on Thursday.'

'And what if they don't show?'

Harry raised his eyes 'Well then we'll have a nice chat round a campfire.' He said sarcastically. 'If no-one shows that's about the best result we could hope for, least there will be no danger to life.'

'Well I would rather keep our Aurors fresh for dealing with threats as they occur not on whims. I don't believe they will show when they know we are watching. A skeleton and stand by crew will suffice.'

Harry looked like he was going to argue when Robards interrupted 'That's enough Potter, Dawlish is in charge of this. If that's how he wants to run it then that's how it goes.' Dawlish smiled triumphantly. Merlin.

'You're really not happy with this are you?' asked Ginny, it was later that night, she and Harry were talking through their mirrors. It wasn't the same as being next to each other, but it was a good replacement.

'No, I'm not, something's going to go wrong.'

'Who's on the skeleton crew?'

'Me, Leanne, Dave, Joanne and Manny.'

Her face paled 'Only five of you.'

'I told you it was only a skeleton crew' he said with a grimace.

'Why isn't Dawlish on the crew?' she asked aghast.

'Because he's leading the mission.' He said with as much contempt he could muster. 'He's on the backup crew.'

'That's not good enough, if you were leading it you would be the first one there, and the last bloody one out for that matter.' She said angrily.

'I know Gin, that's how it is.'

'Make sure you take your mirror and call me when you finish.'

'I will, don't stay up all night worrying though.'

'I can't promise that Harry. Just make sure you call or I'm going to find a way to jinx you.'

He smiled at her 'I promise, so how's the Quidditch team shaping up?'

'Oh, it's great. Me, Dean and Demelza are flying well together.' When Harry heard that Dean was back on the team, after Ginny had told him about try-outs, he did feel a pang of jealousy. He knew he had nothing to worry about, he was just envious at the time Ginny would be spending with her ex rather than him.

'That's good, the three of you always did fly well, what about your new seeker?'

'Riley's good, he just lacks confidence and is a bit timid of the bludgers. He'll be alright though, well at least I hope he will.'

A couple of days before the full moon the five Aurors preparing for their vigil.

'So how are we going to run this?' Asked Timbrook.

'I think Jo, that we're going to have to split up and take different parts of Hogsmeade.' Answered O'Manda.

'I really, don't like splitting up.' Muttered Owens in a thick northern accent. Manny Owens was one of the older Aurors in the office and he had a scarred face to rival Made Eye Moody's. Luckily he still had both eyes and legs.

'Well if Dawlish had given us enough Aurors we wouldn't have to.' Exasperated Harry.

Timbrook shot him a glare at him 'Stop whinging Potter, we just have to get on with it.'

'The kids gotta point though.' Said Manny.

'We'd best hope your face scares them off then Manny.' She shot at him. Her voice was icy, lacking any humour. She along with Dawlish was one of the few Aurors Harry hadn't gotten along with so far.

'Alright enough' commanded Trott taking control of the situation. 'We've got to get this settled today.' She took out a map of Hogsmeade and waved her wand. Instantly there were border lines around five different sections of the town.

'We each get a segment, if you get whiff of trouble you instantly alert the rest of us. Then you will alert the backup crew. It is their job to support you, we don't leave our zones unless it's absolutely necessary.'

'Are we putting up anti apparation wards?' Asked O'Manda.

'I wouldn't, we need the backup crew to get in and be able to get people away if we start getting over run.' Said Harry.

'Yeah but that also allows the enemy to come and go.' Argued Timbrook.

'After last time I think we need to worry about getting away. Also, I think the attack will be made by werewolves so they won't be able to apparate anyway.'

'Bloody hell Potter, just because Greyback led them last time doesn't mean the town will be attacked by werewolves.'

Harry was seriously losing his temper now 'I know that, look at what the ransom was for. It was for getting bitten or kissed. If they were going to kidnap them they would have done it last time. Not just paraded them around in that square.' He was starting to shout now.

'Werewolves and dementors are the things I would be worried about. Not wizards, most of those houses have their own apparation barriers anyway so they should only be able to appear in the street. We need a way for people to get out if this goes wrong.'

'Stop being so bloody negative.' Timbrook screamed back at him.

'That's Enough you two.' said Owens standing up, his voice suddenly commanding. 'For your information Joanne Harry is right to be cautious here. You don't seem to realize the danger we could be walking into. Now, we'll keep the barrier down so we can apparate out and our people can apparate in.

'We each get a zone and stick to it. If there's trouble we warn each other first and then call for back up. If there are too many sound the alarm. We have already evacuated a lot of the people from Hogsmeade and the others should be able to escape via floo.

'If you notice anyone or anything breaking into a house, regardless of if you are overrun, you sound the alarm. Are we clear?'

'What sort of alarm were you thinking there Manny?' asked O'Manda.

'I reckon a Patronus will do.'

So that's how it was. Harry and the others were all separated across Hogsmeade on the night of the full moon. Harry was in the same area that he apparated into last time. The air was chilly from the rooftop he was stood on to get a good vantage point, fortunately he didn't feel it as the gold chain Ginny gave him kept him warm.

That was when he heard it. The unmistakable sound of a werewolf, It was more worrying when there were multiple replies. They've sent a pack of them. It seemed as if the calls had come from all around the village.

Harry watched the streets carefully and then he saw it, the werewolf crawled along sniffing the pavement, obviously looking for something. It had a short thin snout, a stubbed tail and the moonlight glistened off its bared teeth.

Harry was about to send the warning when four Patronus' appeared each telling him what he was about to tell them. He sent his Patronus' off anyway to the team and back up crew hoping they would arrive quickly.

He turned on the spot and apparated to a point in front of the werewolf, the loud crack startled the wolf slightly, he recovered and emanated a low deep growl, then howled. Too late Harry cast the silencing charm, the damage had been done and two more came sauntering out of the darkness. Each with their teeth bared and they pounced.

'STUPEFY' Yelled Harry at the first one, the spell bounced off as Harry rolled to avoid the incoming bite, when he regained his feet he was sent flying by a flailing arm from the second.

He landed heavily on his side and rolled away before they could get on top of him. Reacting as quickly as he could he pointed his wand at the nearest to him and shouted 'Incarcerous' ropes appeared around the werewolf's frame which he immediately ripped apart. Bugger.

Distracted by his failure he almost got bit by the other two who had jumped him. He quickly apparated behind them and tried again this time aiming only for the mouth. The temporary muzzle seemed to work, for now. It at least distracted one of them. Two should be easier to deal with.

He sprinted at the one which was charging him and slid under them as the wolf leapt at him. He cut its legs as he was underneath, it hit the ground with a whimper, struggling to get back up. Harry didn't have chance to admire his handy work and threw up a shield as the first wolf tried to bite him.

The wolf bounced off but Harry gave a strangled cry of pain as the muzzled wolf clawed his back. Instead of biting it seems he was content to now claw to death. Harry fell to the floor and just about rolled out the way when the wolf swiped at him again.

Panting for breath Harry backed away from the two of them as they started to crawl towards him. Their injured packmate had scampered out of the village. Sensing weakness the unmuzzled wolf launched at him, fortunately, Harry was ready. He cast a Conjunctivitus Curse and the wolf fell, blind in one eye, to the floor.

Squealing in panic he too left the town howling as he went, to alert the others of the retreat. When the last wolf went to leave, Harry noticed a scar under his chin and Harry was sure he has seen it before. Instantly taking action Harry whipped a rope around the Wolfs ankle and apparated him to the shrieking shack.

Harry's back screamed in protest, even the wolf seemed disorientated by the action, before he could recover Harry stunned him in the eye. This time the spell held. Harry conjured thick metal chains to hold him in place if he woke up, then blacked out before he could call the others to tell them where he was.

Harry woke to an agonising scream, he jolted, and his back exploded in pain. Wincing he pointed his wand at the noise to see a werewolf transform back into a man with curly blonde hair. Revealing the man that Harry met at Remus and Tonk's wake. I knew it.

The man watched Harry curiously as he vanished the chains and conjured some clothes. 'Here you go, sorry about the chains I couldn't risk you attacking me if you woke up.' The man nodded and took the clothes. 'Look I don't know if you remember'

'I remember' the man interrupted quietly 'we met at Remus' wake.' Then quickly stepped into the clothes provided.

Harry smiled 'That we did.' He took a deep breath 'Come on you must be starving.' He held out his hand to the man. The man looked at the hand wondering whether to trust or not 'If I was going to arrest you I would have done that earlier.' Said Harry with a wry smile.

The man took his hand and they apparated to a street in muggle London. Harry winced with pain again when they arrived. They walked down the street to an old block of flats, which had been maintained in good order despite still needing a lick of paint. Harry led the man to the top floor and entered his flat.

It had two bedrooms with an open kitchen and living area. The place wasn't as clean or tidy as Aunt Petunia would have liked it, neither was it messy. The walls were a cream colour with one feature wall in the living room being Gryffindor Red.

There were various photographs on the walls of himself, Ron and Hermione as they went through school, as well as more recent ones of himself and Ginny. On the mantlepiece above the fire sat the photo of his parents dancing at their wedding.

Harry gestured to the breakfast bar 'Take a seat.'

'Master Harry, breakfast?' bowed Kreacher.

'Yes please Kreacher for two unless you would like to join us yourself.'

The house elf bowed 'Thankyou for the offer sir, I have already eaten.' and with that he took to the stove. Kreacher didn't do everything for Harry but when he had guests Harry couldn't deny the house elf was rather useful.

Harry waved his wand quickly and sent a Patronus to work, to explain why he wouldn't be in today. He still needed a trip to St Mungo's.

'What was that?' asked the man speaking for the first time since they arrived.

'A message to work telling them I won't be in.' Harry's voice was raspy and lidden with pain.

The man looked like he was struggling with something 'Can I ask you something?'

'Sure, fire away.'

'Why the hospitality? Normally I would have just been kicked out onto the street. I could understand if you were going to arrest me, but this?'

'Well first of all any friend of Remus' is a friend of mine. Secondly, I like to think I don't hold the same prejudices as the rest of the wizarding world. Thirdly I think you're in over your head with something and I need to know what, so I can stop it.'

Just then Kreacher served breakfast. They ate in silence for a while before the man spoke up 'What makes you think I'm in over my head?'

Harry shrugged 'You don't seem the kind of guy that would want to hurt someone. I know Greyback's a nasty bastard so whoever he is really working for must be worse.'

'Why would I help you? The ministry has done nothing but villainise me since I was bitten.'

'Well I would like to offer you a job. If I can swing it as an Auror, I will have to talk to Robards about that. If not though as a private investigator where I would personally pay you to help with this case.'

The man looked shocked 'Why would you want to offer me a job? I'm only useful three weeks out of a month!'

'Is that your fault?'

'Of course not!'

'Exactly, look you don't have to be an Auror but I do need your help. This is bigger than what a lot of people in my office believe, I can feel it. I don't want any more kids to live in fear of being bitten by an organised crime ring of werewolves and vampires.'

'You know about the vampires?' he asked in shock.

'I was on a smaller case in the summer and a vampire showed up. It was too much of a similar threat to be coincidence.'

'I don't think they thought you would piece that together.' He said.

Harry grinned at him 'I've spent my entire life since I was eleven putting things together that I wasn't supposed to. Unfortunately, now I need evidence not just gut instinct in order to act on it.'

'So how can I help?'

'You have inside knowledge. I know Remus went to ground during the war to spy on Greyback. Him and Dumbledore didn't leave anything behind for me to go on.'

'You want me to spy?'

'No, I just need to the location for the hideouts, number of people there, an idea of the layout and what we are walking into. I don't need any new information. We can get that from the people we catch.'

'Not all of them are criminals.' He said sharply.

It took a lot of effort for Harry not to roll his eyes 'I know that or you would be in a cell.'

The man seemed to consider this and then smiled 'I want paying well.'

Harry laughed 'Well then why don't you come by the office tomorrow at noon and we'll talk about it.'

'Sure, by the way the names Sam, Sam Bollinger.'

'It's a pleasure to meet you Sam. Do you need a place to stay? There's a spare room.'

'No, I'm good thanks.' Having finished his breakfast he stood. 'Thankyou Harry I'll see you tomorrow.'

Harry nodded and shook his hand. Once he heard the door close a massive smile spread across his face. That went well now I just need to convince Robards.

He pulled out a mirror from his pocket and called 'Ginny!'

Almost instantly she came into focus 'Harry, are you OK? Did the mission go alright? Where are you?'

'Alright Gin one at a time.' he said with a smile. 'The mission went fine I think we actually have a good lead.'

'That's great!'

'Mm mm, I'm at home, but I have been hurt so I'm going to St Mungos now to get my back patched up.'

'What happened?' She asked with a worried expression plastered across her face.

'I got clawed by a werewolf.' She gasped 'It hurts like hell to be honest.'

'Why didn't you go straight to the hospital?' She demanded.

'I had to finish the mission.'

'What at the flat?'

'Yeah I managed to corner one of the werewolves in the Shrieking Shack. I stayed with him all night and then brought him back here for breakfast.'

'Why?'

'I needed to talk to him. You see it was the man I met at Remus and Tonk's wake.'

'Only you would get attacked by a werewolf and ask him for breakfast.' She said jokingly 'I best let you get to the hospital, Bill's scarred bad so I guess they'll be added to your collection. I mean most people just get tattoos.'

Harry put on a mock frown 'Yeah well scars have more character.'

'Keep telling yourself that Potter. I'll speak to you later or tomorrow. Love you.'

'Love you too.' They ended the chat and Harry went immediately to St Mungo's.

Annoyingly the doctors wanted to keep him over night. Even though there was no chance that he was going to become a werewolf, they still wanted time to make sure he would make a full recovery. As he had been on duty, the office and the Weasley's had all been informed.

Ron was sitting with him and they were talking about the shop when Trott and O'Manda burst into the private ward.

'What happened Potter? Where did you go?' Demanded O'Manda as they both stood at the end of his bed with their arms crossed.

'Take a seat and I'll explain. This is Ron, Ron these are my two partners Leanne and Dave.' The three of them greeted each other as Trott and O'Manda sat down. 'Right well I got attacked by three werewolves on my end.

'I managed to wound one and muzzle another with ropes, the wounded one ran back. That was when I got hurt. I thought the one I muzzled was distracted with trying to get it off but it turns out he had given up and came at me from behind.' The three of them winced.

'I managed to get the other one to run away after I hit it with a Conjunctivitus Curse. As he ran though he howled and the last one went to follow him. That's when I wrapped a rope around his ankle and apparated him to the shrieking shack.'

'That explains why they all left then, they followed the howl. Why did you go to the Shrieking Shack?' Asked Trott.

'Coz he's mental.' Snorted Ron. Trott and O'Manda laughed.

'I did it because I recognised him.'

'How?' asked Trott.

'He had a scar under his chin I recognised. I was pretty sure he was a man that I met at Remus' wake. So, I apparated us in and then stunned and chained the wolf before blacking out.'

'You blacked out!' Shouted Trott.

'Yeah.'

'Did you know you were about to black out with a transformed werewolf in the room?'

'I had a feeling yeah.'

'You're mad Potter!'.

'I've been telling him that for years' Interjected Ron.

'I'm not mad' he said indignantly as the others snorted 'we need an in and I got one. He woke me up when he transformed back with his screaming. I summoned him some clothes and then gave him breakfast. He's agreed to help us if we give him a job, he's coming in for a meeting tomorrow.'

'Have you ran this passed Robards?' asked O'Manda.

'Not yet, I'm not that worried about it.' Said Harry with a shrug.

'You just offered this guy a job with us without consulting Robards? You are mad.' chuckled O'Manda.

'I'm not I'm just getting pissed off with getting nowhere. We need help and this guy can. If Robards doesn't want to employ him, I'll employ him as a private investigator.'

'Sheesh Potter you don't like rules do you?' said Trott, there was a little bit of awe in her voice.

Harry and Ron grinned at each other 'Nah their overrated. So how did the rest of you get on? I checked no one else is here.'

'Well we all got attacked, we were lucky in that we all got one each. Apart from Manny who got two, he was the one who the backup crew got too first, so he was fine.' Answered Trott

'What do you mean first? Didn't they split up to help as many of us as possible?'

'No and Dawlish didn't show. Said that he would be the third wave if we needed it.'

'Jesus, that wasn't the plan! I thought the whole crew was engaged when I warned them. If I knew there was more to come I would have asked for help!' Raged Harry. 'And what's he playing at sending them both to the same person. There were five of us, we all could have used some help. We might have got it done quicker if they had helped more than one at a time!'

'We know Harry.' Said O'Manda calmly 'We've already told Dawlish his plan was a bag of crap. He just dismissed it as everything turned out ok.'

'Yeah just about, I take it he felt justified with the skeleton crew as well.' O'Manda nodded.

'How many of you were there?' Asked Ron.

'There were five us, with a three man back up crew. Although only two of them got sent out.' Said Trott

'Jesus seven of you!' exclaimed Ron 'After last time at Hogsmeade surely you chuck everything at it!'

'That's what I said.' said Harry glumly.

'No wonder you're pissed off mate.' He said sympathetically 'Anyway, I've got to go get Hermione a birthday present. Do you want me to write to Ginny for you?'

'Nah Ginny already knows I'm here.'

'How?'

'Remember the two-way mirror Sirius gave me?' Ron nodded 'I made a new set.'

Ron punched him in the arm 'Git! Why didn't you tell me?'

'Why do you need to know?'

'I could have used a pair for me and Hermione!'

'Well now you've got the perfect birthday present.' Said Harry rolling his eyes.

Ron's face lit up 'Brilliant, where did you get em?'

'I didn't I made them myself', the book with the spell is in my old room at the Burrow.'

'OK I'll take a look.'

'I'd be careful in there though.'

'Why?'

'You might find a pair of your sisters knickers.' Ron punched him in the arm again. 'I'm joking, I'm joking.' Harry said as he rubbed his arm laughing 'I cleared them out before I moved.' Ron went to punch him again, as Trott and O'Manda roared laughing, Harry blocked him. 'Go on, you've got to go and sort out that present.'

'Yeah alright I'll see you later Harry. It was nice to meet you both.'

'Bye Ron.' They all said.