Reminder:
Martin Doyle = Harry's Auror's team leader
Cornelius Zanal = Head Auror
Elladora Black = Interrogator; friend of Tom
"My Lord," Walburga greeted her newly arrived guests and Tom kissed the back of her hand. Harry received an acknowledging nod before the woman let them enter the ballroom where the party was going on. As they entered Orion immediately showed up beside them and offered his own greetings.
"I'm glad you could make it," he shook both of their hands.
"And where's the little one?" Harry had to ask. He was so excited to see Sirius in the flesh again as that was one privilege he had given up years ago when the man had fallen through the Veil.
"He's sleeping. We'll wake him up in an hour," Orion answered as a house-elf offered them something to drink. The Black picked up a glass and Tom quickly followed his example, handing the youngster one before serving himself.
"Who did you get as nanny?" the Dark Lord surprised the Auror with his question.
"Miss Shulz, she did Orphedia," Orion answered enthusiastic and Harry was completely lost.
'Who's Orphedia?' he wondered and started looking around as the two men continued their conversation. The moment he met Lysandra's eyes, she signalled him to come over.
"If you'll excuse me," the youngster quickly announced his departure and Tom's eyes made a quick sweep to see who was asking for the Auror's attention. Abraxas' wife smiled at him and the Dark Lord laid his hand on the small of Harry's back.
"I'll be joining you soon," he promised before his attention moved back to the host. The Auror could only smile at his behaviour and with a grin walked towards Lysandra.
"Marvolo, how pleasant to see you!" Abraxas called out when he noted his cousin and immediately started introducing him to the couple his wife and he were entertaining.
"So this is the Auror we've been hearing so much about," Mr Toralm shook his hand with a firm grip. Harry liked it that he was addressed at the Auror and not Tom's boyfriend. They hadn't announced their engagement yet to the public – only their friends knew – so boyfriend still was the correct label.
"It's a pleasure." His wife held out her hand, clearly for a kiss to the back. The youngster silently complied before addressing Lysandra again.
"You look stunning," he said as his eyes eyed the necklace she was wearing, "as beautiful as always." She smirked as she petted her Swarovski diamonds. They shared another look before Mr Toralm cleared his throat. Clearly he wanted to say something and Harry gave him his full attention again, but clamour behind him interrupted their conversation.
"Oh, they've brought the baby out!" Mrs Toralm informed them with a smile on her face. Green eyes searched for a moment until his eyes fell on a small middle aged woman carrying a bundle in her arms. Orion bowed down a little to be able to take his son from her and his face softened as he stared down at the baby while he straightened again.
"Family!" His eyes turned to Walburga for a moment to share the parental fondness before addressing their guests again. "Friends! Let me introduce, Sirius Black!" Cheers erupted around them and a splitting grin plastered on Harry's face as he took in his Godfather's figure.
"You were correct," Tom's voice sounded in his ear and he smirked at him.
"Naturally," the youngster chuckled as he entwined their fingers. As Walburga's oldest brother got introduced as the godfather, green eyes took in how the little bundle squirmed in his father's arms and Miss Shulz reached her hand up to help Orion. If the Auror hadn't been looking at her hand he wouldn't have seen the purple beam touch her skin before the middle aged woman had suddenly completely been vaporized. It seemed to take a minute before everyone understood what had happened as Orion looked in shock at the bundle of clothes by his feet. Next, panic broke out as Harry was sprinting to his godfather. Reaching them he produced a protection barrier before them in the direction the beam had come from. Tom was close behind him and followed his example.
"Are you all right?" the youngster asked as he glanced backwards and the Blacks nodded in shock. Next he pointed his wand at his throat and his voice bellowed through the room, ordering everyone to calm down. Enough people gave him their attention for him to continue. "Everyone gather at the walls away from the windows and cast Protegos as protection!" he ordered and the ones who listened started ushering the others to the walls where they casted the spell.
"I've contacted Zanal," the Minister stated from beside him and Harry gave him a short nod.
"Stay near the Blacks. I'm going to secure the windows," the Auror informed the Dark Lord and they shared a last look before the youngster darted out of the protection of his barrier. Plastering himself against the wall beside the first window, Protego Totalum started falling from his lips. When he covered the entire wall the first of his colleagues started arriving. Some immediately started scouting the grounds while others joined him inside.
"I've covered the windows," he informed them and quickly the following jobs got divided between them. Two continued casting the Protego Totalum spell to all the walls so they were boxed in while others started calming down the mass and Harry got joined by his own team at the remains of Miss Shulz.
"This is that new weapon, isn't it?" Harold stated, clearly not wanting to believe it.
"Yes," Tom joined them and Harry's eyes immediately swept to the Blacks. Walburga was now carrying Sirius while wildly saying something to her husband who was trying to calm her down. His eyes got automatically drawn to Elladora standing a little behind his cousin and annoyed he shook his head.
'Of course she's here. She's family.' The green orbs moved back to Orion who had started to walk over to them.
"Sirius was the target," Orion stated as he joined them. "Miss Shulz had only just put her hand on his leg when it got hit." He glanced backwards at his little family as Harry's heart seemed to be squeezed harshly. The realization that he had been this close to losing his godfather again, made him panic and his anger rise.
"A warning and example," the Minister concluded as he watched Doyle move his wand over Miss Shulz's clothes.
"It's radiating slightly," Martin said to Harold who nodded and started casting the right spells to protect them from it. They continued their research ignoring all the noise around them until their wands suddenly starting shooting sparks in the air. Shocked the Aurors looked at each other and Harry blinked up at Tom who darkly frowned at his own wand.
"I'm immediately returning to the Ministry with half of the Aurors," the Dark Lord ordered and Doyle didn't wait a second to bark out who was staying and who was leaving.
"Marvolo, you join them too. We'll join once we're done here," Martin addressed his own team and got understanding nods from the Potters. Quickly joining Tom, Harry Apparated them both to the emergency gathering place to get bounced off when they almost reached it. Instead they ended up a level lower with more confused Aurors surrounding them.
"The Headquarters' blocked!" someone yelled from inside the lift.
"Heat is radiating from the ceiling!" another joined in and the Dark Lord's eyes suddenly widened.
"There has been an explosion in the Aurors' Headquarters!" he declared and green eyes turned to him in shock.
'They made it blow up now!'
"The fire emergency procedure has been disabled!" a voice informed them. "Starting manual process," he continued and all of the Aurors pointed their wands at the ceiling.
"More Aurors are on the upper level! They're also starting the manual process!" another voice called out and Harry casted the spell that would remove all the oxygen in the room above them. It took them four hours to lessen the flames enough for the security program to let itself be overwritten and they could enter the ruined level. In shock the Aurors took in what was left of their Headquarters, but they didn't get time to dwell on it as the Minister ordered them to continue extinguishing the last of the fire while looking for victims.
"Most were at the Blacks," Harry mumbled in a plea as he walked towards what was left of his desk while Tom moved behind two Aurors towards Zanal's office. The doorway to the Head Auror's office was completely blocked with rubble and they needed at least twenty minutes to clear a big enough opening to crawl through. The youngster had joined Tom and his colleagues again and was the first one through the hole. Immediately a wave of burned flesh reached his nostrils and he had to suppress the urge to vomit. Making room for the other three, he formed a magical mouth mask on his face and noted the others making the same expression at the smell before copying his spell. They didn't need to confirm with each other to know that there was a victim. Carefully they stepped through the rubble until they reached the spot where Cornelius' desk used to stand and with dread Harry took in the open circle with burn marks.
"This was the origin," one of the Auror's said and slowly green eyes moved to the opposite wall to see the remains of a human laying crumbled against it.
"Check the room," the Dark Lord ordered before turning around. "The forensic team will be here shortly." The Aurors nodded and started their investigation without a word. Harry had to admit it helped that he could just concentrate on the job instead of the body laying only a couple of meters further. They cleared the room of any more hidden explosions and secured dangerous parts before changing places with the forensic team. They didn't say one word as they moved to the upper level where a temporarily headquarters had been created. The Minister stood in the middle of the hallway directing everything from the centre. When brown eyes landed on them they also got appointed extra jobs.
"Marvolo go back to the Blacks and start transporting their guests to the auditoriums on the twentieth level! Doyle and Potter are already there!" The youngster simply nodded and pulled out his wand as the other two got ordered to prepare the questionings. With a last look at Tom, Harry met his eyes and for a short moment a flash of relief passed through them before the politician's poker face had returned. The Auror could understand the feeling. He was actually very relieved that both of them had been at the Black's when the explosion had taken place.
'But they must have planned it!' his mind supplied. 'Together with Dern, they must have!'
-THTH-
As Harry walked into the ballroom again, he couldn't help but remember how different it had been at the start of the evening. The cheerful party atmosphere had completely disappeared to be replaced by fear, panic and distrust. Quickly he found his team standing in the middle of a group purebloods and walked over to them. Martin noted him before he reached them and turned half towards him.
"Can we start the transportation?" he questioned and the youngster nodded.
"To the auditoriums on the twentieth level." The team leader clearly had to suppress a sigh of relief before turning to the mass again. With his wand pointed towards his throat he addressed them.
"We'll be Apparating you all to the Ministry for your statements. Please line up as called!" Harold handed him the papers with the names and information they had collected and Martin started calling out the names.
"What's happening?" Abraxas suddenly appeared beside Harry and his cousin blinked at him, wondering if he was allowed to share information. The blond did work for the Minister, but not for the Aurors.
"You'll be updated after you've given your statement," Doyle came to his rescue and Malfoy frowned at him before turning his attention on the youngster again.
"He's right, go give your statement," Harry agreed before addressing his team leader again. "But the Minister will be needing his help." Martin gave him a searching look before he sighed in defeat.
"Fine, your next, but your family will have to wait!" Abraxas gave his cousin a thankful nod before walking over to Harold, who had just Apparated back to pick up the next family.
"Marvolo, please keep an eye on Lysandra," Malfoy asked glancing backwards before letting Harold transport him. Doing as he was told, the youngster informed the blond's wife before continuing to help his team. By the time the last of the guests had been transported Orion walked over to them.
"Can we give our statements here? Sirius isn't calming down and clearly we don't have a babysitter any longer." Martin took a moment to study the Black before agreeing.
"The two of you go with him," he said to his team, who nodded and quietly followed Black to the nursery. Sirius' wails could be heard in the corridor and a frowning pacing Walburga with a baby in her arms greeted them.
"Aurors Remus and Potter will be taking our statements," Orion told his wife, who scowled at him. Clearly she didn't like crying babies, even if they were her own.
"The statements will have to be taken separately. Is there another room we can use?" Harold asked as his eyes kept moving to Sirius. It was clear he pitied the little one.
"Yes of course," Orion was already walking to the door and the two Potters looked at each other. Harold didn't seem to want Sirius alone with his mother and was hesitating.
"Marvolo, you'll do me!" Walburga decided for them as she glared at the former Gryffindor. Harry patted his grandfather on the shoulder as he stepped towards the woman and Harold gave him a nod. Walburga kept glaring at Potter until her husband and he had left the room to turn the glare at the youngster. All too quick to Harry's liking the glare moved to her son. "Sirius be quiet!" she hissed angry and the cries only increased. The Auror immediately stepped closer to stop her from doing any bodily harm to the baby.
"Why don't I take him, so you can concentrate on your statement," Harry quickly suggested and Sirius immediately got dumped in his arms. The baby's cries increased with the sudden movement, but the Auror could only stare at him in shock. The baby's mother started talking about preparing herself and preformed some odd breathing techniques, which had Harry wondering what the hell she was doing. Slowly he started rocking the baby in his arms and gently told him he was safe and everything would be all right. Warmth spread in his chest when he noted it actually work as Sirius' wails changed into hiccups. Slowly, the baby raised his face and stared at Harry in wonder while releasing the lasts of his hicks.
"Thank Merlin, I don't know how you did it, but thank Merlin!" Walburga yelped relieved. The youngster choose to ignore her, instead was happy with having a staring competition with Sirius. Eventually he had to pull his eyes from the baby as his mother was ready to give her statement. Balancing Sirius on one arm, he pulled out a small packet from his pocket and revealed a small feather and scroll. With his wand he enlarged the feather and once it reached its full length it jumped alive. Next he did the same with the scroll.
"Please tell me what happened," the Auror said as friendly as he could while rearranging the baby back into his two arms. He really didn't want to drop the little one.
"As you know, we were showing Sirius to the public when suddenly Miss Shulz disappeared! Only her clothes were left behind!"
"You didn't notice anything strange?" Harry continued his interrogation as Sirius was suddenly leaning his head backwards as far as it allowed. The youngster tried to reposition him, but then the baby's hand shot up and tried to grab the wrist hovering beside his face.
"That you're actually good with children!" Walburga announced like she had discovered his biggest secret and green eyes shot up in disbelieve. "It's sad that you can't give birth to our Lord's children," she just had to say it.
"We can always adopt," he shot back and Black sneered.
"Raising someone else's blood."
"You mean half-bloods, don't you?" the youngster couldn't stop himself. Walburga gave him a half glare, but admitted it to his surprise.
"I could never raise a half blood." Green eyes glanced at Sirius.
"You would prefer a Gryffindor?" Black blinked surprised at him before gathering her wits again.
"Yes, rather a Gryffindor pureblood than a Slytherin half-blood."
'If the half-blood dared not to be a Slytherin he probably landed on the street.'
"Not that a Gryffindor would be born in the Black family," she huffed and looked at her son. "I don't mean offence," Walburga suddenly seemed to remember who she was talking to. "It's the Black way."
"There's always a first," Harry reasoned. "But let's get back to the topic. Did you see anything odd tonight?" The woman shook her head.
"Orion did a security check this morning and didn't notice anything. I was inside checking the decorations, the food and so on," she summed.
"Could you give a schedule of the arrivals and departures today?" Walburga took a moment before starting to list everything. The arrivals she was clear on, but the departures could diverge. The Auror nodded in understanding as there must have been a lot of people running around for the preparations. "What can you tell me about the victim?"
"Miss Shulz wasn't the target! My son was!" the woman called out outraged and Sirius let out a yelp like to agree with her.
"It's just standard questioning," Harry quickly explained and the woman calmed down a little.
"She was in her fifties - I'm certain Orion can give you a copy of her CV – she has only gotten positive reviews from her previous employers. No enemies I know about. Parents both deceased. No siblings," the woman summed with a thoughtful look. "A stern but just woman," she ended and Sirius clamped down on his little finger.
"All right, thank you for the cooperation." The youngster balanced his future godfather back on one arm and took the scroll from the magical feather. He let it float in front of him as he read what had been written down. With his wand he quickly removed their conversation about children before eyeing it once more and approving it. As on cue a knock announced the return of Harold with Orion. His grandfather popped his head in first, only to enter if they were done and seeing that they were, they made their way over to them. Orion was quick to take Sirius from Harry, who was glad he didn't have to give him back to Walburga.
"The house is completely secure. You're safe here," Harold stated for good measure before signalling his grandson to follow him. With a nod the Aurors said their goodbyes and left the family alone. In silence they walked through the corridor. "You're good with kids," Harold broke it and his grandson gave him an uncertain smile.
"Thanks, I guess." Walburga's opinion on this subject still fresh in his mind.
"Maybe you can give me some pointers." The youngster briskly turned his head and looked at his grandfather with a hopeful expression. Harold nodded while a smile broke through on his lips. "Marian's pregnant."
"That's wonderful news! How far along is she?" Harry wanted to jump up and down in happiness, but held back.
"Three months, we wanted to wait with telling everyone." That was understandable. He was technically the last Potter alive and the family line would end with him if he didn't have any children.
"You're going to be a wonderful father." Harry was certain of this and got a thankful look from his grandfather. Their moods turned serious once more when they entered the ballroom again.
"Great, you're done," Doyle walked over to them and the youngster couldn't deny that his team leader looked tired. "We're being expected back at the Ministry." Martin held out his arm for them to grab on to before Apparating them to the temporarily Headquarters. Once there Harry immediately looked around for Tom, but didn't see him anywhere.
"The Minister has called for a meeting," an Auror working at one of the desks supplied as she gave him a knowing look.
"Ah, thanks." A blush coloured the youngster's cheeks a little and he looked away to see Tom striding back into the room. The warmth on his face quickly cooled down as he noted Elladora walking beside him. It took a moment but it finally hit him they weren't alone but surrounded by more wizards and witches, high placed wizards and witched and interrogators. 'What's going on?' he wondered as the Dark Lord moved to the centre and pointed his wand at his neck.
"A new interrogation team has been approved. They will be allowed to use approved curses on only the worse criminals!" Green eyes widened.
'There's no way he only came up with this now!' Harry knew Tom well enough and was certain this was something Miss Black and he had been working on. Brown eyes suddenly met his and they widened a little. 'Hoped to announce this while I wasn't here, were you?'
"Please continue!" the Minister ended his short speech and immediately walked over to the youngster. "Are there any traces at the Blacks?" he questioned.
"There were samples of magic residues near the border with your home," Doyle answered and green eyes turned in shock at him. "The wards to you domain weren't disturbed," Martin quickly added to reassure his teammate and his Minister.
"They must have entered at the same time as us," Tom mumbled thoughtful and Doyle nodded.
"To the second, whoever did this, was prepared."
"They've planned it well. A distraction that's a show of power and the destruction of the Headquarters of their enemies' main force," Harold stated and gave the Dark Lord a look. "Well played." Tom smirked at him and waved his wand around them, making certain nobody would eavesdrop.
"It was the perfect timing, everyone was out."
"And Zanal?" Harry immediately asked.
"Alive and well," the Minister assured him.
"The body will be identified as him and I'll appoint a temporarily Head," he continued before facing Doyle. "A job I wanted to ask you to take?" it wasn't a question. Martin's eyes widened in surprise and he quickly agreed when he gathered his wits again.
"It would be an honour."
"Great," Tom charmingly smiled as he dropped the charms around them. "Now as you all were off duty when this happened, I want you to go home and be back here around six." The three Aurors nodded in understanding. The nightshift would need replacement in the morning.
"Marvolo!" Abraxas appeared beside Tom with a hard expression on his face. "Could you stay with Lysandra and Lucius?" Harry nodded without thinking. "Thank you, I'll inform them immediately." And the blond disappeared again.
"We'll see you in the morning," Martin said and signalled Harold to follow his example, leaving their teammate alone with the Minister.
"What was that about a new interrogation team?" the youngster directed his question to Tom, who blinked at him.
"We're dealing with a dangerous Dark Organization, which is clearly more dangerous than what we've dealt with in the past. I'm certain that they have been trained by Duchestry on how to endure our interrogation sessions, but to beat them we need information," the Dark Lord conveyed his train of thought and Harry pressed his lips together. He could understand the reasoning, but still didn't like it. It felt like taking a step in the Dark direction.
"Which are the approved curses?" A flash of something the youngster couldn't identify passed through the other's brown eyes.
"We're still composing the list. The Unforgivable Curses are naturally forbidden," the Dark Lord stated and the Auror slowly nodded. He knew he couldn't go into detail about this as they were in public, but he couldn't shake the dread he was feeling. "Now," Tom suddenly stepped in his personal bubble and slowly caressed his cheek, "go home and get some sleep. I'll be needing you in the morning." Harry reluctantly nodded and the Minister gently kissed him on the lips. "Ask Dopper if he noticed anything odd tonight before going over to the Malfoys," the Dark Lord suddenly requested and the look on his face told the youngster he had only just thought of it.
"Will do, see you in the morning," the Auror agreed before stepping away and moving to the lift.
-THTH-
"Dopper," Harry called once he entered his home and the elf immediately appeared in the hallway. "Have you heard what happened tonight?" the youngster asked and the house-elf gave him an odd look. 'Of course, house-elves aren't used to such questions,' the Auror realized and signalled Dopper to follow him to the living room. "During the party there's been a murder at the Blacks," he informed the elf, whose large eyes widened.
"Masters aren't hurt, are you Master?"
"No, we're both fine," Harry shook his head and it warmth him that the house-elf was sincerely worried about them. "The target was the baby, Sirius, but his nanny got hit instead," he continued and Dopper seemed scandalized that someone tried to murder a little baby. "Traces have been found near our domain, so we were wondering if you maybe saw something." The house-elf took a thoughtful expression before nodding fiercely.
"There was a gardener in the Fawley's domain, Master. One I've never seen before, no never Master and they always have the same, Master." The Auror's brain started working in overdrive.
'Someone posing as a gardener could easily move around without suspicion.'
"Thanks Dopper, that's really helpful." The house-elf beamed and started saying it was nothing with deep bows. "Still, it is," Harry smiled as he lightly patted the elf on its head before walking over to the cupboard on the side. He grabbed the block note on top of it and scribbled down the new information. "Could you deliver this to Tom, immediately?" he questioned as he ripped the upper paper from the block.
"Of course, Master! With pleasure, Master," Dopper bowed his head a couple more times.
"Great, I'm going to grab an overnight bag and will be staying over at the Malfoys for tonight." The Auror handed over the paper and with a last nod the house-elf was gone. Moving to the bedroom, the youngster made a quick bag before walking back to the fireplace.
He called out the nearby address of Abraxas' residence, not wanting to end up at the blond's parents and the fire flashed green. Stepping in the flames, he entered Malfoy's home to see Lysandra waiting on him in her night robe.
"Marvolo! I'm so glad you're here!" she called out while stepping towards him. She seemed to be floating to his tired eyes. "Is Abraxas all right? Is there any news?" her voice didn't hide her worry.
"Abraxas' fine and everyone is still working on it," Harry answered and laid his hand on the woman's back guiding her back to the master bedroom. "You should be getting some sleep. Abraxas and Lucius are going to need you tomorrow." His feet stopped in front of the door.
"You're right," Lysandra sighed and gave his arm a quick squeeze.
"I've prepared the room next to Lucius'."
"Thanks, I'll check in on him first." The woman gave him a grateful smile before gracefully disappearing into the room.
'Even in a crisis she'll keep up her ladylike appearance,' the Auror smiled a little and continued his way. He sneaked a quick peek inside his godson's room and saw the boy sleeping tightly with his sheets wrapped around him like a cocoon. 'It's like he's hiding,' the youngster chuckled before quietly closing the door again. His feet carried him to his own appointed room and as he opened the door a feeling of lonesome sneaked up to him. The queens' size bed looked too big and too cold for him alone as he knew there wouldn't be a second body to warm him up. With a sigh he closed the door behind him and dropped his bag on the way to the bed. Too tired to change he used his wand to undo himself of his clothes, minus his underwear - it would be odd to sleep naked in someone else's house – and crawled under the covers. Sadly it didn't matter how tired he was, his mind didn't stop going over every detail that had happened tonight. It must have been another hour before exhaustion finally made him drift off, to be waken again two hours later when cold feet pressed against his side.
Sleepy he turned his head and frowned at the blond head poking out from the sheets beside him. Blinking he watched how a little nose moved into his view as the small body breathed in and out and a warm feeling settled in Harry's chest. Carefully he tucked the sheets closer around Lucius' body before snuggling deeper underneath them himself. Sleep claimed him quickly and when he woke again because of his alarm the boy was also slowly waking up.
"Go back to sleep," he caressed the blond head and dazed greyish eyes blinked at him. When he moved to the edge of the bed away from the boy a small hand shot out and grabbed his thumb. Sounds left Lucius' mouth in an unrecognizable question, but his godfather could recognize the fear and worry in his eyes. "We're all fine," he mumbled in a low tone, "and nothing can touch you or your mother here." The reassuring tone seem to work as he was certain the one year old didn't understand all of the words. His body rolled over facing the little one again and he pretended to go back to sleep. Lucius relax again and closed his eyes in good faith. Once the Auror was certain his godson had fallen asleep again he slowly crawled out of the bed and grabbed his clothes. With a last look at the sleeping little one he made his way to the bathroom. Quickly he washed and dressed himself before moving to the fireplace in the hallway. There a house-elf was waiting on him with a piece of chicken breast on top a slice of bread as breakfast. Thankfully the youngster accepted it and asked if the elf could put Lucius into his own bed. He knew Abraxas and Lysandra would probably freak out when they found their son's bed empty. After the house-elf assured him he would comply, Harry threw Floo powder in the flames and was on his way to the Ministry.
R&R