A Glimpse of Normalty
Early at the next morning Harry arrived at the Burrow to pick up Ron for their first day at work. However, when he stood at the fence, he hesitated unwillingly. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would surely be up already and he just didn't know how to manage to look at them so shortly after Fred's death. The funeral had been different, it would've been impossible not to come and there had been a bunch of people aside from him, but this? He would be alone with Ron and his parents and he suddenly thought that he couldn't do that right now. But in that moment Mrs. Weasley spotted him standing there and waved from the kitchen window, so he had no other choice than staying. Harry straightened his shoulders under his new auror's robes which he had found waiting for him at Grimmauld Place yesterday evening, pressed his suitcase against his chest and walked towards the kitchen door. When he entered Mrs. Weasley hugged him before going back to the hearth where she was preparing baked potatoes and smashed eggs with bacon. Ron and his father were sitting at the table. Mr. Weasley wa reading the Prophet while Ron picked at his auror's robes.
''Hey, mate'', he said weakly.
''Sit, Harry, dear'', Mrs. Weasley said. ''Did you have breakfast?''
- ''I'm not very hungry, Mrs. Weasley'', he answered, but she shook her head decisively.
''Nonsense, you two have a long day ahead of you. I remember Arthur's first day at the ministry, it was hell.''
She put smashed eggs, baked potatoes and bacon on three plates and sent them to the table with a wave of her wand.
''Thanks, Mrs. Weasley'', Harry said.
''That looks good, Mum'', Ron said who focused on his breakfast immediately. Apparently even his fear of his first day at work couldn't defeat his eternal hunger for food. Casually, Mr. Weasley put the Prophet aside with a deep sigh, but Harry managed to spot his own big, self-satisified face at the front page nonetheless.
''What does it say?'', he asked casually while he tried to keep Ron's pace at eating.
''The usual Skeeter-nonsense. The conviction in a single paragraph and the rest is about...well, it's more about that you used the Cruciatus against them than about the Carrows, Harry.''
Harry looked over to Mrs. Weasley, wondering how she would react to that piece of information, but then he realised that she had recently used an Unforgivable herself.
''The Prophet is only damaging its own reputation'', she said contemptfully. ''To attack Harry, after all he's done, people won't like that.''
-''Yeah mate'', Ron added. ''Right now, everybody believes that the sun is shining out of your- ehm, you're quite popular, I mean.''
Mr. Weasley moaned and rose from his chair. ''Whatever, I have to go now. Are you boys sure that you don't want to accompany me?''
Ron shook his head. ''Yes, Dad. We only have to be there in half an hour. And, well...''
-''You don't want to turn up at work with your old man, of course. Have a good first day, boys.''
He kissed his wife's cheek and left, while Harry used the opportunity to grab the newspaper.
''What does she write?'', Ron asked.
-''Your Dad's right'', Harry said. ''The usual crap. Not everybody is equal in the eyes of the law. It seems that the Ministry lets Potter get away with everything...Death Eater methods...shame for the ministry...I wonder what she'll be writing once she finds out that we actually work at the place now.''
Ron leaned over to him so that his mother couldn't listern to them.
''Don't you reckon that Hermione should just tell people about her?''
Harry shook his head grimly. ''That's over, mate. She registrated officially last year, so we have nothing on her any more.''
- ''So she's having her revenge now? What's she doing, starting a crusade against you?''
- ''And against Hermione, for sure'', Harry said.
Ron rapped his knuckles. ''She'd better leave her alone, that old, evil-''
- ''Ron!'', his mother hissed who had come over to take their empty plates.
''Sorry, Mum!''
Harry looked over to the Weasley's clock and felt a sharp pain in his chest: Fred's hand was missing. He cleared his throat and glimpsed at his own watch: they would have to leave soon.
''Why was Dad's first day hell, Mum?'', Ron asked suddenly.
Mrs. Weasley smiled nostalgically. ''Well, Perkins had always been the only one in the office. Arthur was his first trainee, and the old chap was quite overstrained with that. Even putting a second desk into the office was a problem for him. What's more, they got a new complicated case in a kindergarten down in Elephant and Castle that day.''
-''What happened in Elephant and Castle?''
-''Singing toy buckets.''
- ''Sounds quite practically, actually.''
- ''Not with the sings they were singing'', Mrs. Weasley said darkly.
Harry emptied his tea cup. ''Come on, Ron, let's move.''
- ''Okay.''
They stood up and Mrs. Weasley started to pick at Ron's robes.
''The first Weasley in ages who becomes an auror'', she said proudly and Ron went as red as his hair. ''Well, I wish both of you a nice first day at work.''
- ''Thanks, Mum.''
- ''Thanks a lot, Mrs. Weasley.''
They left the kitchen and climbed over the fence.
''When will you stop calling her 'Mrs. Weasley', anyway?'', Ron asked. ''You've known her for seven years.''
Harry shrugged. He had never thought about it. ''I'm just used to it, I guess. Ready to go?''
Ron grabbed his elbow and Harry focused on the entrance to the ministry, turned at the spot and vanished into nothing, pulling Ron with him.
They entered the ministry through the main entrance and crossed the entrance hall with long steps. Like at his last visit, Harry felt dozens of people staring at him although he had hoped that his auror's robes would let him disapperar within the masses of ministry workers. Instead, they seemed to attract even more attention.
''Good that that bloody statue is gone'', Ron grunted, scratching his nose. They took the lift up to the Auror's Office where everybody was already busy at work.
''Proudfoot?'', Harry asked the witch in the first cabin who didn't even look at them but pointed to the right. Ron straightened his tie nervously. Finally, they found the head of the Auror's Office in the biggest cabin with transparent walls in the middle of the room. Proudfoot, a small, red-faced, stodgy man, sat at his desk and was busy screaming at a letter, yet they didn't hear a word for the cabin seemed to be sound-proof.
''Potter and Weasley?'', a bored elder witch asked who seemed to be his assistant. ''Wait a moment, he has to finish that howler. Some half-wit forgot to hand in his report on time- look and be warned!''
Proudfoot finished his rant, sealed the letter with a swing of his wand and then pulled open his door.
''Send that to Upton, Ursula. Potter, Weasley, inside.''
They entered Proudfoots cabin and he slammed the door shut behind them before sitting down in his comfortable looking chair. He didn't offer them a chair.
''So. First thing first: the Auror Office is the pride and the heart of the ministry. This means that there are high expectations to its members, even if they are only trainees.''
He held up one of his thick, sausagy stubby fingers.
''Firstly: PUNCTUALITY. Be on time, otherwise you won't be here long.''
A second stubby finger shot upwards.
''Secondly: REPORTS. Everything you do, everything you see, write it down. Even if you think it's not relevant, because a more experienced auror may yet find an important detail which you oversaw in your notes and they may finally solve a case. Here, too: punctuality! Before you haven't handed in your daily report you shouldn't even think of going home!''
A third stubby finger accompanied its twins.
''Thirdly: NO SOLO ATTEMPTS! No auror attends field trips without his partner, especially no trainee!''
Proudfoot hammered his massive fist on the table.
''And finally: NEVER TALK TO THE PRESS! These vultures only get to know what I tell them and nothing else!''
He shot a glance sideways at this morning's Prophet.
''I don't think I'll need to explain why to you, Potter. Welcome at the ministry.''
Proudfoot stood up and pulled the door open again.
''WILLIAMSON!''
Williamson, the auror with the ponytail whom Harry had spotted at Mr. Weasley's office yesterday, came over from his cabin at the end of the corridor.
''Take care of these two, show them everything. And watch out that they don't stand around in everybody's way, for Merlin's sake!''
Harry bit his teeth together. He didn't intend to stand in anyones way.
''Yes, sir. Follow me'', Williamson told Harry and Ron and they shambled after him to his cabin where an auror with short, blond hair dictated a report to his quill while making a paper lane fly around with his wand.
''That's Savage, my partner. Savage, this are Potter and Weasley.''
- ''My pleasure'', Savage said, jumping from his chair and shaking their hands while the paper plane sailed to the ground behind him. Harry looked around in the cabin: the walls were plastered with pictures of the wanted Death Eaters, and houses and maps.
''Well, then'', Williamson said, leaning against the wall. ''You've been assigned to assist us in our search for Avery.'' He pointed at the respective face at the wall. ''I guess Mr. Proudfoot already explained the basic rules to you?''
- ''Punctuality, no solo trips, reports, and, ehm...'', Ron finished lamely.
''Forget about that stuff'', Williamson said grinning. ''The most important rule here is: only talk bad about your supervisors while you are on a field trip. Especially about our new master and commander.''
- ''What happened to Gawain Robards?'', Harry asked for the former head of the office.
''Dead'', Savage said darkly. ''Fallen when he defended Scrimgeour and that's a bloody shame.''
He showed them to the cabin next to them which was only half the size and included a single desk and two chairs. There was a massive hill of blue files on top of the desk.
''Cozy'', Ron said dully.
Savage shrugged. ''Proudfoot's decision, not ours. At least you've got your own cabin.''
- ''What exactly are we supposed to do here?'', Harry asked wearily.
''To start off, you just accompany us. If you've got an idea, don't hesitate to say something. You've already done more than other aurors in their entire life.''
Ron's face took the colour of his hair again.
''Proudfoot doesn't seem to agree with that'', Harry said.
''Proudfoot's Proudfoot. Besides, Moody always spoke good about you, Potter.''
- ''Did you know him well?''
- ''He trained me'', Savage said grimly. ''He was even on my wedding last summer - and a week later he was dead.'' He pointed at the files. ''Well, as sorry as I am, lads, you've got to read all of these. That's everything we have on Avery. Read it, learn it until you can recite it by heart and if you know more than the ministry: add it. That's all you need to do for today. Any questions?''
- ''Yeah'', Ron said, scratching his nose. ''When do we get lunch?''
Savage laughed. ''You have half an hour of lunchtime whenever you want. If something comes up, we're next door.''
While the two aurors left, Ron stared at the files somberly. ''That looks more like the kind of work Hermione would love to do.''
He was right: fighting through the files turned out to be a task both boring and long. The main facts about Avery were all on the first page: aged just over sixty (''stone old'', Ron said), from Essex (''Anyone living there has to get nuts''), no children (''better this way'') and never married (''no surprise if you look at that nose!''). The rest were all kinds of details about his relatives, about places where he had been seen during the last years, about crimes which he had committed.
''What do we know about this guy after all?'', Ron finally asked hoarsely. ''Blimey, I can't even speak properly any more because of all that reading.''
- ''He was on the graveyard when Voldemort returned'', Harry said absently while reading through the file on Avery's aunt Gertrude who had worked as a gardener in Hicksville, Sussex before dying of dragon pox forty years ago. ''And he was responsible for the search for the prophecy before Rookwood got out of Azkaban. He failed and Voldemort punsihed him for that.''
- ''How?''
Harry shrugged. ''I didn't see. However, he seems to have survived, because he's been working at the Department of Mysteries last year. What exactly he did isn't in the files, of course, because everything that happens down there is top secret.''
- ''Yes, the unspeakables have unspeakably many liberties'', Williamson said who suddenly stood next to them. ''Savage and me want to have lunch now, do you want to come?''
- ''Definitely'', Ron said over the loud grumble of his stomach. ''Where's the cantine?''
Williamson snorted loudly. ''On the third floor, but you might poison yourself as well. Never mind the cantine, we're eating outside.''
They marked the files they were reading at the moment and followed the elder aurors to the lifts.
''What dou mean, we eat outside?'', Harry asked. ''In the muggle world?''
- ''Yes and no'', Williamsoin said. ''The restaurant is in the muggle world, but the owners of the place belong to us. We go there every tuesday.''
They crossed the entrance hall and went over to the fireplaces at the other side of it where Savage took a pinch of floo powder and threw it into the flames.
''To the Red Elephant!'', he called, stepping into the green flames and disappeared. The others followed him one by one and when Harry was catapulted out of the flames and managed to land on his feet for the first time in his life, he found himself in a dark, windowless cellar.
''Cozy'', Ron said dryly.
Williamson shrugged. ''The entrance hall isn't anything special, but the food is.''
He led them out of the room on a dimly lit corridor and then up the groaning wooden stairs before they reached a door which he tapped with his wand. The door opened immediately and revealed a small boy who smiled at them brightly.
''Welcome to the Red Elephant, sirs. And you brought guests...''
He stopped and stared at Harry with big eyes.
''Thanks, Dev'', Savage said curtly. ''Is our usual table free?''
- ''Of course, Mr. Auror, sir'', the boy said, slowly recovering from the fact that the famous Harry Potter had just walked in. ''Follow me, please.''
Dev showed them to another door behind which they found the actual restaurant. It was a long, narrow room with around a dozen tables grouped along the huge windows and the smell of curry was in the air.
''Indian'', Ron said, stating the obvious.
- ''Ever tried Indian food?''', Harry asked slightly nervous.
Ron nodded grimly. ''Once. Take care, it's...spicy.''
''Have you never eaten Indian food, Potter?'', Savage asked while they sat down. ''I thought muggles have itg more often.''
- ''Not the ones I grew up with'', Harry said darkly. In Uncle Vernons opinion neither the Indian people nor their food and their spices were welcome in Britain and like anything else, Dudley had adapted this opinion. Every time he and his gang weren't able to catch Harry at school, they had focused on the Indian children instead.
''I'm muggle-born'', Williamson said, ''and my parents have neighbours from India, so I've practically grown up with it.''
- ''What did you do last year, sir?'', Ron asked.
The elder aurors grinned at each other. ''Stop being so formal, boys'', Williamson said. ''We're your colleagues and not even ten years older than you.''
- ''Okay'', Ron said, getting red again.
''I hopped off to the Orkneys with my parents'', Williamson confessed, ''and waited there for the coast to be clear again.''
- ''I was very lucky'', Savage said, sipping from this tea cup. ''I was on a diplomatic mission in the States with Tudgeberry when they sacked the ministry. My wife followed me over there and I spent the year working for the Americans.''
While they waited for their food they told them more about their last year. Ron and Harry themselves told them some of their own experiences but took care not to reveal anything important and the others didn't bother. During the conversation, Harry looked around the room and recognised a couple of guests who were also working at the ministry, including Mrs. Singh who waved over friendlyly.
''Do any muggles come here at all?'', he asked.
Savage shook his head. ''They're all downstairs in the basement, strictly separated from us. You should still keep your wands away, just in case someone decides to sneak a peek from outside.''
At last, a waitress brought their food and for a while nobody said a word because they were busy eating. Harry felt how he started to sweat because Ron hadn't promised too much: the food was very spicy, but also tasty.
''What else do we do today?'', Ron asked who had of course finished his food first.
''Yaxley's and Macnair's trials are this afternoon. We'll question them on Avery before, maybe they know something. Especially Yaxley.''
Harry nodded pensively. ''Yeah, Macnair was more like the hatchet man, nobody from the inner circle. Yaxley is quite another calibre.''
He cleared his throat and took a sip of water which didn't help to extinguish the fire in his throat at all.
''I'm supposed to testify at the processes, although I don't know that much about them.''
- ''We know'', Williamson said. ''In the meantime, you can do your apparition test, Weasley.''
Ron scratched his nose nervously. ''Ehr, yeah, I guess...''
- ''You'll manage'', Harry said, backslapping him.
Williamson sighed and pushed his plate away. ''Well then, let's get back.''
They paid and flooed back to the ministry where they continued to browse through the files until Savage entered their cabin.
''Anything new?''
- ''I've written down everything I know about Avery here'', Harry said rubbing his eyes. ''And we've finished the files.''
- ''Good, let's make a little excursion.''
The questioning of Yaxley was to be held in the little adjoining room next to courtroom ten where the accused had to wait for their trials. Savage and Ron took Macnair with them next door while Harry and Williamson stayed there.
''I'll ask the questions'', Williamson whispered before they started. ''When I'm done, it's your turn.''
Harry nodded and they sat down at the table facing Yaxley. Behind the blond Death Eater, two more aurors stood guard.
''Potter'', Yaxley spat. ''It seems to be easy to become an auror these days.''
- ''I doubt that he will be such a shame to the office like you are'', Williamson said coolly.
Yaxley rattled with his chains. ''Be that as it may. What do you want?''
- ''Information on the wanted Death Eaters'', Williamson said and placed the four pictures on the table. Avery, Jugson, Nott, and Selwyn stared grimly up at Yaxley who laughed quietly.
''You want me to rat on them? What is in it for me? I doubt it will spare me Azkaban.''
- ''It won't'', Williamson said. ''You'll spend the rest of your life there. But we could grant you certain facilities of your stay there.''
- ''What is that supposed to mean, Williamson?''
- ''Well, we would allow your wife and children to visit you every month, for instance.''
Yaxley stared down at his chains, but then he shook his head decisively.
''Forget about that, Williamson. They should not see me like this. They will carry on the noble name of Yaxley, but they will never see me again. Besides, I know nothing anyway.''
He looked at the pictures. ''Avery, Jugson, Nott... they won't even make any problems. All they want is run away as far as possible.''
- ''What about Selwyn?'', Williamson asked and knocked on the picture of the pale young man with the Roman nose.
Yaxley shrugged. ''What about him? What can he do? He is on his own, and the Dark Lord is no more.''
He stared at Harry. ''I will never understand how you could beat him, Potter. You are only a boy, mediocre giftet at best, and yet you sit here and talk to me while the greatest wizard of our time is dead.''
Harry didn't bother to answer and Williamson pulled a little flask with a transparent liquid inside out of his robes which he recognised immediately.
''As you don't want to talk, Yaxley, we'll make you talk.''
The Death Eater merely shrugged. ''Do you think I did not know this was coming? I have conducted countless questionings, Williamson. I cannot help you, but go on. Waste your time.''
The other two aurors held Yaxley while Williamson dripped three drips of veritaserum in his mouth. He didn't fight them.
''What's your name?'', Williamson asked calmly.
- ''Charles Ironius Yaxley'', Yaxley said, his face blank.
''What do you know about possible hideouts of James Avery?''
- ''There is his parents' house at the East End'', Yaxley said. ''And he's been at Malfoy Manor quite often.''
- ''That's all?'', Williamson asked with a furrowed face.
''Yes'', Yaxley said.
Williamson questioned him about the other Death Eaters, but Yaxley didn't seem to be helpful.
''He's all yours, Potter.''
Harry leaned forwards. ''Why do you believe that Yaxley won't run away like the others?''
- ''Because he is a Selwyn'', Yaxley said calmly. ''The Selwyns can track themselves back to Slytherin himself. Selwyn is the heir of the Dark Lord, the only one of us who is able to speak parseltongue. The Dark Lord relied on him like only on very few others.''
- ''So Selwyn might try to follow in Voldemort's footsteps?'', Harry asked spellbound.
''He might'', Yaxley said.
''I don't like that at all, Potter. I really don't like that at all'', Williamson said after they had left Yaxley.
''Neither do I, believe me'', Harry said.
''Have you ever met Selwyn?''
Harry nodded and felt shivers running downs his spine as he remembered Voldemort screaming in outrage in his head: Your wand, Selwyn, give me your wand!
''He was with Voldemort when I left Privet Drive last year. The night when Moody died.''
- ''Learned anything new?'', Savage asked who came over with Ron in that moment.
''Yaxley thinks that Selwyn may think he's You-know-Who's heir, but nothing helpful at all. What about you?''
- ''Pretty much the same'', Savage said.
While the two discussed the questionings, Ron leaned over to Harry. ''What's he mean, Selwyn wants to step in You-know-Who's footsteps?''
- ''He's descended from Slytherin.''
- ''I thought You-know-Who's grandfather said he and his breed were the last of that line.''
Harry shrugged. ''Dunno. Maybe that's only what he wanted to believe. Anyway, Selwyn can talk to snakes and that could very well mean that he's related to Voldemort.''
Ron scratched his nose again.
''And how are we supposed to find out if he is?''
- ''Kreacher's book'', Harry asked. He had already thought about that.
''Pardon- Kreacher wrote a book?''
- ''Haha. No, the book he kept in his room. Nature's Nobility, remember? The one with all these family trees. Maybe Selwyn is even on that tapestry at Grimmauld Place.''
- ''What are you talking about?'', Savage asked and Harry had to fight the impulse to say 'Nothing'.
''Just wondering if Selwyn is really related to Voldemort or not.''
Both of them winced slightly when he said the name.
''That doesn't matter'', Savage said finally. ''We have to find him either way.''
- ''All in all, it was a flop'', Williamson said grumpily. ''Avery's parents' house has already been searched twice, there's nothing to find.'' He looked at his watch. ''The trials are about to start, Potter. The two of you are hereby dismissed for today. Weasley, good luck with your test. See you tomorrow - on time, remember!''
- ''What about our reports?''
Savage shrugged. ''We'll take care of that. I mean, we didn't even show you how to write those. See you tomorrow.''
Harry and Ron looked after them.
''They're okay, aren't they'', Ron said.
Harry nodded. ''Yeah, it could have been worse, I guess.''
Ron looked around nervously, but the corridor was still empty. ''It matters whether he's related to You-know-Who, doesn't it?''
- ''If they have any more similarities than parseltongue, definitely'', Harry said grimly. ''And be it only because the other Death Eaters will follow him now- maybe. We'd better catch Avery soon so that we can focus on Selwyn.''
- ''D'you reckon he's after you?''
- ''After us, you mean. I think they all are. no matter what Yaxley said.''
The lift at the end of the corridor opened and the first judges stepped out.
''I should go'', Ron said. ''I don't want to get in trouble at my first day here.''
- ''Good luck with your test, mate.''
Ron nodded weakly, left and smiled at his father as he passed him. Mr. Weasley came over.
''How is your first day going, Harry?'', he asked.
Alarming would have been an accurate description, but Harry merely decided to say ''Okay, Mr. Weasley'' and went over to his seat at the witnesses' bench.
Yaxley was first. Today, there were fewer people among the audience than at the Carrows' trial, but the judge's bench fuller: Slughorn, Flitwick, Sprout and McGonagall sat in their plum robes with Kingsley and the others. It turned out to be a short trial, as Yaxley himself pleaded on guilty.
''You have won for now'', he said grimly, ''but you did not catch all of us. It is not over.''
When the aurors led him past Harry, he spat on the floor in front of him and Rita Skeeter's photograper shot a hasty picture.
''We will meet again, Potter.''
- ''Only when I come for a visit in Azkaban'', Harry said coolly, ''to deliver the rest of your pals.''
He didn't have to testify at Macnair's trial but he stayed nonetheless and watched as Hagrid and Madame Maxime testified against him and told the judges about their mission with the giants. Like Yaxley, Macnair was unanimously declared guilty. After they had removed him from the courtroom with a lot of screaming and shouting, the people moved towards the entrance. Harry took his suitcase and looked at his watch, it was already after eight pm. He hoped that his overtime was well paid.
''Harry!''
- ''Hey, Hagrid.''
Hagrid pattet his shoulder so that Harry's knees started to wobble. Madam Maxime stood next to him.
'''Ello, Miester Potter'', she said and shook his hand. ''I 'ope you are well?''
- ''Very well, thank you, Madame'', he said.
''I've 'eard zat Madame Deacour, pardon, Wiezzly fought alongside you, is zat true?''
- ''Fleur has been an amazing help'', Harry answered.
''Please give 'er my best wishes, non? Tell her zat we are all very proud of her.''
- ''I will, Madame. Thank you.''
She left after that, followed by Hagrid who hastily waved him goodbye.
''See ya, Harry!''
Harry apparated back to Grimmauld Place, barred the door behind him and shuffled tiredly down to the kitchen.
''Welcome home, Master Harry!'', Kreacher croaked. ''What does master want to eat?''
- ''Somethin warm that isn't too spicy, if that's possible'', Harry said weakly and threw his suitcase on the kitchen table. He sat down and moaned loudly.
''Kreacher?''
- ''Yes, Master Harry?''
- ''Have you still got that book somewhere? Nature's Nobility?''
- ''Just one moment, master!''
Kreacher made a fire in the fireplace and then shuffled over to his tiny room.
''Kreacher found it, master.''
He balanced the heavy book on the table.
''Thanks, Kreacher.''
Harry found the Averys on the first pages and saw that they were closely related to the Lestranges and the Blacks, feeling a sharp pain somewhere in his stomach as he looked down on Andromeda Tonks' name. He decided to visit her the next day. It seemed that Avery did not have any living relatives where he could hide, for the Malfoys were in Azkaban themselves and the Lestranges and Blacks were all dead, apart from Tonks' mother who wouldn't help him. But maybe it would still be a good idea to look closely at the Lestranges' houses.
''Dinner is ready, Master Harry!''
Kreacher placed a full plate of damping chicken soup in front of him.
''Thank you, Kreacher. You can go to bed now, if you want to. I can clean this myself.''
- ''Kreacher can do it, master. Kreacher is not tired.''
- ''Then at least sit down.''
The old house elf climbed on one of the other chairs without protesting. He started to get used to the strange views of his master.
''How was master's first day at work?''
- ''Alarming'', Harry said while eating the soup greedily. ''Kreacher, is Arius Selwyn's name on the tapestry in the salon?''
- ''No, Master Harry, sir'', Kreacher said. ''There has not been a marriage between the Houses of Black and Selwyn for nearly 200 years.''
Shyly, he looked at Harry. ''Why does master ask about the young Selwyn?''
Harry emptied his plate. ''Because I have to put him into Azkaban. Thanks, Kreacher, that was delicious.''
- ''There is more, if master is still hungry.''
Harry shook is head tiredly. ''No, but tomorrow morning I'll take more. I really need to go to bed now.''
- ''Good night, master.''
- ''Good night, Kreacher.''
Harry took the book and his suitcase and went upstairs. Before he went to sleep, he thumbed through up to the Selwyns. It didn't take him long to find out that it was true. Gregory Gaunt had married the elder daughter of the last Slytherin while Obadiah Selwyn had married her younger sister. This truly meant that Arius Selwyn who was also a distinct cousin of Dolores Umbridge, was indeed descended from Slytherin. Harry unwillingly had to look at the scar on his hand. Slytherin and Umbridge in one: it seemed that Selwyn never really stood a chance. The heir of Voldemort and Slytherin, Harry thought while turning off his bedside lamp. What an idiot I've been to think this was all over.
At the next morning, they searched Rabastan Lestrange's house. Bellatrix' husband Rodolphus had been killed during Harrys escape from Privet Drive and then Voldemort's most passionate minion had moved in at Malfoy Manor, therefore the old estate of the Lestranges had only been home to her brother-in-law, Rabastan, last year. Like Bellatrix, Rabastan Lestrange had dies during the battle. It was an old, majestic manor built from red brick, by far not as impressive as Malfoy Manor, but still an imposing view. However, the gardens were feral and the hedges and bushes grew exuberantly-
''Why hasn't it been searched yet?'', Harry asked Williamson while they walked over the overgrown gravel walk towards the main entrance.
''It was searched'', the elder auror answered, ''immediately after the battle, but it could be possible that Avery arrived only after we left.''
They talked quietly and had used desillusion charms, but Harry still felt dangerously vulnerable while they went towards the house. Savage seemed to have read his thoughts.
''We have the morning sun in ourr backs, Potter. If someone's in there, they don't see us coming, believe me.''
- ''Well then'', Wiliamson said when they finally reached the white entrance door. ''We'll separate like yesterday. And stay behind us, alright? No heroic deeds.''
- ''What if he disapparates?'', Harry asked.
''This is an old wizard's home, Potter. Nobody can apparate in or out, otherwise we'd just have done that. Silence, now'', Savage said.
He opened the door with his wand and they stepped in the huge entrance hall from which a wide staircase led to the higher floors. Two doors at both sides of the hall led to the side wings.
''Colloportus'', Savage mumbled, sealing the door behind them.
''Homenum Revelio'', Harry said tensely, but the spell didn't show him anyone but the three men next to him. ''We're alone'', he said both relieved and disappointed.
Williamson and Savage stared at him with big eyes.
''Who taught you that, Potter?''
- ''My girlfriend'', Ron said quite smugly. ''What now?''
''There's no harm in looking around'', Savage said. ''So we can demonstrate you what you have to focus on.''
He and Ron went to the left while Harry and Williamson moved through the right door. They found themselves in a large room which seemed to serve as a salon. On the long table in his middle stood countless candles in their silver candleholders wich were full of spider's webs.
''No one's been here for a while'', Harry said.
''At least that's what it looks like'', Williamsoin replied. ''It could also be possible that someone made it llok like it.''
Unwillingly, Harry remembered the evening of his first encounter with Professor Slughorn who had transformed the house in which he had lived at that time into battlefield. They searched through the other rooms at this side of the building- kitchen, storeroom and wine cellar- but didn't find anything.
''He would hide upstairs anyway, wouldn't he?'', Harry asked.
''Yes, but a full storeroom can tell you a lot. What doesn't apply to this one, I'm afraid'', Williamson said, looking at a pair of rotten apples. ''Come on, let's move upstairs.''
Savage and Ron were already upstairs and busy searching through the bedrooms.
''Charming spot, isn't it?'', Ron said.
He stood in Bellatrix' and Rodolphus' old room. The walls were plastered with silver-green tapestries, everywhere was the silver serpent of Slytherin. A couple of pictures showed long-dead Lestranges. One of them caught Harry's eye immediately, because it showed three Hogwarts students in the Slytherin common room sitting in the throne-like chairs, all with pitch-black hair.
''What is it, Potter?'', Williamson asked, stepping neext to him.
''That's Voldemort as student'', Harry said.
Williamson squinted his eyes curiously. ''The right one's old Lestrange. Left...wait, that's Avery. They knew each other from school?''
Harry nodded. ''They were among the first Death Eaters...Avery is the oldest living Death Eater, I think.''
He tried to take the picture off the wall, but it wouldn't move. Like he had expected, it had been fixed with a permanent sticking charm. Williamson pointed his wand at the picture, said ''Gemino'' and put the copy in his pocket.
''We should burn the bloody place down'', Ron grumbled who was searching through the bedside table.
''Have you found anything?''
- ''A couple of newspaper articles about Voldemort, like at Sirius brother's room. Besides...nothing.''
- ''Another flop'', Williamson stated.
''I'm sorry'', Harry said sheepishly. ''I thought, maybe...''
- ''It's fine, Potter'', Williamson said. ''It was a good idea to look at the house again, and it's not like we'd have another lead at the moment.''
- ''Let's get out of here, boys'', Savage said. ''It's time for lunch anyway. Do you want to join us again?''
- ''Sure'', Ron said. ''Where do you go on Wednesdays?''
- ''Leaky Cauldron'', Williamson said. ''In fact, we go there every day except for Tuesday. There's no better place to hear some rumours - though I doubt we'll find out anything about Avery there.''
They apparated to the little courtyard behind the pub where the entrance to Diagon Alley was and went inside with Ron promptly ruinning into a passerby.
''George!''
- ''Watch out where you're going, for Merlin's sake'', his brother grumbled, holding his head. ''Aren't aurors supposed to have better eyes?''
- ''Do you want to check the shop?'', Ron asked while Harry tried very hard not to look at George.
''No, I'm, ehr, well. Drink a cup of tea. With Angelina. See you.''
George squeezed through them and left the pub.
''One of your brothers?'', Williamson guessed after they had sat down at a table in the corner so that they couldn't be spotted too easily. Harry had succesfully managed to manoeuvre through the pub without being recognised by pushing his hair over his scar with one hand while scratching his nose with the other.
''Yeah'', Ron said. ''One of the twi-'' He cleared his throat. ''One of my brothers, yeah.''
- ''We heard about it'', Savage said quietly. ''We just didn't know whether you want to talk about it. My condolences.''
- ''I really don't want to talk about it'', Ron said even more quietly. ''But thank you.''
''Harry! Ron!''
- ''Hannah! What're you doing here?''
It was Hannah Abbott, member of the DA and Hufflepuff from their year.
''Live and work'', she said and threw her long tail over her shoulder. ''Tom is my great-uncle. Everything that's left of the Abbots'', she said. ''So I moved in here. Maybe I'll take over the pub one day.''
- ''Cool'', Ron said.
''So you're not going back to Hogwarts?'', Harry asked.
She shook her head. ''No, I don't think so. Tom can use my help here and I don't need to do any NEWTs for this. Neville wants to go, though.''
- ''Neville?''
- ''Neville Longbottom? Big guy, a little clumsy? Slept in the same room with you for six years?'', she asked, rolling her eyes. ''We've been together since last year. Didn't Ginny mention it?''
Harry felt Ron's glance on him. ''There...wasn't time to talk about it yet'', he said slightly embarassed.
''Whatever...what may I offer you?''
- ''She's changed, hasn't she?'', Harry asked Ron after Hannah had returned to the bar.
''Who hasn't?'', Ron said. ''I don't think her last year was much more fun than ours.''
After lunch they once again separated: Ron stayed with Williamson and Savage whereas Harry went to courtroom ten again. Today was the trial he anticipated the most apart from the Malfoys'. As two aurors led in Antonin Dolohov, his hand cramped around the handle of his wand while the other one brushed over Fabian Prewett's watch at his wrist. Dolohov's proccess was unnecessary because he had already been convicted of the murders of Fabian and Gideon Prewett, Mrs. Weasley's brothers, and had been given a life-long sentence for it, but Kingsley had insisted on having every Death Eater in court again. This time, Dolohov was also accused because of the murders of Remus Lupin and Padma Patil. Mrs. Tonks hadn't come to see the trial, but Harry saw Parvati and her parents sitting in the front row next to Lavender Brown who held her best friend's hand. Lavender wore a thick scarf to hide the wounds from Greyback's assault. When Dolohov was chained to his chair, Parvati stopped crying immediately and straightened her back. Harry was sure that she would have killed her twin's murderer right on the spot if she'd had her wand with her, but like all other visitors, she had handed it over in the entrance hall.
This time Kingsley, Mr. Weasley, and McGonagall were not sitting with the other judges but next to Harry and the other witnesses.
''Remus was a close friend'', Kingsley had said to him when he sat down. ''I can't talk to this piece of filth.''
Instead, Tudgeberry led the trial. When she asked Dolohov of he wanted to plead guilty or not, the Death Eater only laughed. He didn't speak a single word through all of it, but he stared at every witness who testified against him from his black, blood-shot eyes as if he wanted to murder them on the spot. Harry was one of the last to testify. He told them about the fight at the ministry when Dolohov had nearly killed Hermione, and about his encounter with him at Tottenham Court Road after Bill's and Fleur's wedding. He couldn't say anything about the murders of Lupin and Padma. Luckily, he hadn't seen it. Everything he new about it was that he had seen their dead bodies in the Great Hall.
''Thank you, Mr. Potter'', Miss Tudgeberry said. ''Mr. Dolohov, do you have questions for the witness?''
Harry thought Dolohov would keep his silence, but instead the Death Eater licked his chapped lips and said: ''Are you afraid, Potter?''
Harry shot a contemptful glance at him. ''Of you scum? Certainly not.''
- ''You'd better be'', Dolohov spat out. ''One day I'll come and get you, Potter, just like I got the filthy werewolf.''
For one moment Harry was so outraged that he already saw himself rise his wand and finish Dolohov, but then he pressed his teeth together and pulled his hand out of his pocket again.
''Try. If you want to end like your master.''
He looked up to Tudgeberry.
''That's all, Mr. Potter.''
When they led Dolohov out of the courtroom, he tried to break free right in front of Harry, but the aurors stunned him before he managed it and dragged him out.
''You'd have liked him to make it, wouldn't you?'', Kingsley asked quietly.
- ''Wouldn't you?''
The minister nodded grimly. ''Sometimes, justice just isn't enough.'' He scratched his bald head. ''How are things going with Avery?''
- ''Bad'', Harry said. ''We searched Lestrange Manor again this morning, but didn't find anything.''
- ''Have patience'', Kingsley said. ''A case like that isn't solved from one day to another. Avery could be practically everywhere.''
With that sad statement, he took his leave and went over to the judges while Harry plucked up his courage and went over to Parvati who was staring at the floor while her parents were talking to Miss Tudgeberry. Rita Skeeter stood nearby and tried to eavesdrop on them, her Quick-Quotes Quill ready at hand. Harry pointed his wand inobtrusively at the reporter and murmured ''Muffliato''.
''Hey'', he said weakly as he reached Parvati and Lavender.
''Hey, Harry'', Lavender said tired.
He hugged both of them.
''I'm so sorry, Parvati.''
- ''Me too'', she said. ''Professor Lupin, he- he was your friend, wasn't he?''
Harry nodded, though friend sounded so meaningless because Lupin had been much more to him: fiend, father figure, the last person who had truly known his parents.
''His son is my godson'', he said. ''How are you, Lavender?''
She shrugged and winced slightly, the wound seemed to hurt when she moved too much. ''I've been out of St. Mungo's for two days. They think I won't be a werewolf, but I have to come back there at the next full moon to make sure.''
- ''Why didn't you kill him?'', Parvati suddenly asked.
Harry swallowed. ''What?''
- ''Dolohov. You had your hand at your wand, I saw it. Why didn't you do it?''
He leaned over so that only Parvati and Lavender could hear him. ''I wanted to'', he confessed. ''When he talked about Lupin, I really wanted to do it. But then I stopped. I've never killed somebody and it wouldn't have made anything better, only worse. It seems that I'm finally managing to control my temper.''
- ''You killed You-know-Who'', Parvati said.
Harry shrugged again. ''Actually, he sort of finished himself, Parvati. His killing curse rebounded. I...I think I just don't have that in me.''
She rubbed her eyes. ''Yes...maybe it's better this way. But I tell you, I would kill him. My sister, Harry...my twin. There hasn't been a day we didn't see each other, and now...''
- ''I'm so sorry'', he said, his voice breaking. ''It's all my fault. If I had just-'''
She looked at him with her beautiful, big, brown eyes. ''Are you mental? Nothing of this is your fault, Harry. Without you we'd maybe all be dead now. Don't blame yourself for anything. Padma didn't- she didn't die for you, Harry. No one did. They died because they fought for something that's worth fighting for- something that's more important than all of us.''
He nodded weakly, not convinced.
''Will you come back to Hogwarts, Harry? Or do you work here now?''
- ''I'm working here for now'', he said, glad that she had changed the subject. ''I don't know yet if I'll come back. I can really do something important here, you know. And Hogwarts...well.''
- ''We're both returning'', Lavender said. ''And you should do the same, Harry. Believe me, we have even worse memories of it than you. We we were in that battle, too, and we've been through the worst year that place has ever seen.''
- ''Still, we're going back'', Parvati said, rubbing her last tears away energically. ''So many died fighting for it, it would be terribly wrong not to go.''
- ''It'll never be like it used to be again'', Harry said. ''But I get what you mean.''
He turned to Parvati's parents, but then he had an idea.
''Parvati? Maybe you should talk to George. He...he feels just like you, I guess.''
She nodded hesitantly. ''Maybe I'll do that. Thanks, Harry. See you.''
Harry gave his condolences to her parents and then left the courtroom. Mr. Weasley was waiting for him there. ''Are you joining us for dinner, Harry?''
He shook his head. ''Not today, Mr. Weasley. I- I want to visit Tonks' mother.''
Mr. Weasley nodded sympathetically. ''That won't be an easy visit, I think.''
- ''Do such things still exist?''
- ''Soon, Harry. Some time, it will get better. For all of us.''
The door of Tonks' parents' house was locked and nobody reacted to his knocking, but when Harry wanted to knock for the third time, he heard a chuckled laugh from the garden. He looked around the corner and his heart sank into his boots at what he saw: Mrs. Tonks was kneeling on a blanket in front of two grey stones and the chuckle was coming from the small bundle next to her. Harry stepped around the corner, not sure whether he should approch them or escape when Mrs. Tonks turned around. Her eyes widened in surprise.
''Harry!''
He nervously put his hands in his pockets. ''I wanted to visit you, if it doesn't cause too much trouble.''
- ''Of course not, come here. I have been thinking that you would turn up here soon.''
Harry sat down on the blanket next to Teddy. His godson examined with big eyes.
''You still seem to be surprised to see me.''
- ''I did not recognise you in these robes'', she said. ''I thought you were one of Dora's colleagues.''
Harry looked at the tombstones: one was for Tonks and Lupin, one for Tonks' father.
''I have no idea where he rests'', she said quietly. ''But we thought it is important to rise a stone for him.''
She put Teddy on her lap. ''At least, I still have him.''
- ''I'm his godfather.''
Mrs. Tonks gave him a sharp look. ''What do you know about children, Harry?! You are barely of age!''
He raised his hands quickly. ''I don't want to take him away! You're right, I don't know anything about children! I would spoil him completely! I only meant to say that, well, I'm responsible for him, too.'' He cleared his throat. ''I want to help you as good as I can. That's all.''
She nodded, slightly embarassed. ''Excuse me. It is only - well, as I said, he is everything I have left of my family.''
She held Teddy up. ''Do you want to take him?''
Harry nodded nervously and took him. It was a terrible feeling: Teddy felt alarmingly light and he was suddenly afraid that he might break him.
''May I offer you a cup of tea?''
- ''Ehr, yes. Thanks.''
Andromeda went into the house and left him alone with Teddy who was still examining him from big eyes. One of them was blue, the other one grey and his hair was black, but while Harry looked at him, it changed to a brilliant red.
''Hello'', he said sheepishly. ''Ehr, I'm Harry.''
Teddy didn't introduce himself and merely sucked on his thumb, still eyeing him curiously. Mrs. Tonks came back and placed the tea next to him.
''Is he always this quiet?'', Harry asked.
''Yes, it is incredible. Dora was such a wild child, even at that age- he must have that from Remus.''
Harry looked at the tombstone and saw that the same rising phoenix like on Fred's stone was under both names. Kingsley seemed to have been here.
''I am sorry that you could not be there'', Mrs. Tonks said. ''I buried them alone. It...had to be like this.''
Harry nodded in silence.
''Do you know how they died?''
He swallowed and handed Teddy back to her. He had feared that she would ask him that question.
''Bellatrix killed Dora'', he said quietly. ''She's always been after her. And Dolohov murdered Remus.'' He remained silent for a moment. ''I'm coming from Dolohov's trial. He'll rot in Azkaban for the rest of his life.''
- ''That will not give Teddy his parents back'', she said curtly.
''No, no, of course not-''
- ''I understood that Remus had to go'', she said sharply. ''But Dora? That was irresponsible. Beyond measure. A mother should not leave her child.''
Harry swallowed again. He had said something similar to Ron and Hermione last year when Lupin had wanted join them.
''They died so that he can grow up in a better world than the one we had when he was born.''
- ''How can a child feel that it grows up in a better world if it has no parents?'', she asked bitterly and looked down at Teddy.
''He has you'', Harry said with more confidence than he felt. ''And me. I'd also prefer it wasn't like this, but it is. And he will have a good life. I grew up without my parents and that was hell, but you'll care for him more than my uncle and aunt did for me- and that has to suffice.''
- ''So it seems'', she said after a while. ''Bella is dead, too?''
Harry merely nodded.
''Good. She hasn't been my sister for ages. Just like Cissy.''
- ''Narcissa saved my life'', Harry said quietly.
''It does not matter'', Mrs. Tonks said roughly. ''I am done with them. I have been for long.''
They remained silent again while the sun disappeared at the horizon.
''What are your plans now, Harry? Are you an auror?''
''For the time being, yes. Until September. Then...I don't know. Maybe I'll stay at the ministry, maybe I'll go back to Hogwarts, or maybe I'll do something else.''
- ''You are always welcome here'', she said. ''They made you his godfather, so that is only fair.''
- ''I hope I won't disappoint them.''
- ''I can't imagine that'', Mrs. Tonks said and stood up, holding Teddy. ''There are definitely worse godfathers than the famous Harry Potter.''