Author's Note: A guest reviewer a while back, noted that "it's not that freaking cold in Canada in the middle of July! Even in Churchill!" This is true. To an extent. Generally it is not that cold in the middle of July. But two things of note in response to that. A) We do occasionally have freak summer snow storms here in Canada, not often, but they happen, and B) These are two people who are used to the weather the UK is favoured with during that season, they're not going to be happy campers that far north during a freak snow storm. Just figured I'd note that, seeing as it is a fair comment, and I'd explain my reasoning a little.
ALSO: I'm still doing the edit dance. No major changes. And if you want to know what the edit dance looks like it involves a lot of Russian polka on my keyboard.
Hermione awoke slowly, her rise to consciousness hampered somewhat by the feeling of something warm draped across her body. At first she assumed Crookshanks had once again taken to sleeping on top of her, as he was want to do when it was a bit cold. But as she shifted she found that the feeling was actually coming from the copious number of quilts and comforters covering her.
It was enough, that when she went to sit up and look around, in the hopes of figuring out just where she was, that the extra weight required her to fall back and try again before sitting upright.
It took a minute for her eyes to properly adjust to the dim light, however once they did it soon became clear from the spartan decor and layout of her surroundings that she was once again sleeping in a hotel room. Which was confusing to the still sleep befuddled teenager as for the life of her she could not recall actually arriving at a hotel.
The room around her lay in a quiet hush, empty and cold. The bed across from her own showed signs of having been slept in but she couldn't see hide nor hair of Harry. Nor could she hear the sounds of anyone puttering about in the bathroom.
She struggled to sit up a little further and the blankets which had thus far clung stubbornly to her fell to lay about her waist. She blinked down at herself for a moment, she was still wearing what she had yesterday, despite being in bed. This was not something which Hermione usually allowed to happen, so she was able to hypothesize that she must have been truly exhausted before clambering into bed last night.
She grimaced at the pile of blankets on her lap before shoving it about trying to extricate herself, only to be surprised when a ginger streak of fur launched itself out of them and rocketed across the room with a startled yowl. She winced and apologized in a hush as Crookshanks gave her a particularly filthy look before settling on one of the cabinets.
Sliding out of bed now and placing her feet on the cold hardwood floor of the room she examined her surroundings again. The room, such as it was, was cramped, even with only two beds and a bathroom. She shivered slightly and rubbed idly at her shoulders, she hadn't realized it before, covered as she had been, but it was really cold here, even indoors it seemed.
She gave a start at a scrabbling noise followed by some clicking from the door, she turned just in time to see Harry push the door open and step inside. He noted her presence absently before laying the things he was carrying down on his bed, turning briefly to hold open the door allowing Hedwig to swoop through.
She took in his rosy cheeks and slightly laboured breath as he undid an unfamiliar coat he had donned. He glanced at her for a moment before hanging the coat on a hook by the door. "Sorry for leaving you alone like that, I didn't expect you up quite yet."
"What time is it?" she asked curiously, looking about for a clock and coming up empty.
Harry checked his watch, she vaguely recalled him changing the time on his watch when they arrived at the airport last night. "Nearly ten, but you were up pretty late last night…" He trailed off uncertainly taking in her still somewhat ruffled appearance. "I brought you some things."
She looked over at the pile of goods he had deposited on the bed. A jacket just like the one he had been wearing, and a tray with several dishes under plastic covers.
Hermione nodded, smiling thinly and waving a hand at his notably lightly covered bed. "Thanks for lending me your blankets."
He smiled a touch roguishly. "Well, when I woke up this morning you were shivering, I could hear your teeth chattering. I tried turning the heater up, but the thing doesn't seem to like me." He scowled pointedly at the small machine affixed to the wall beneath the window.
"Thank you, but you know Harry, you could have just used a warming charm," she pointed out.
He slapped his forehead in exasperation. "Right, I keep forgetting, we're free and clear out here. Silly of me really…"
She just smiled fondly pacing towards the food on the bed, waving to indicate it. "Anything good this morning?"
He shrugged slightly setting himself down on the edge of the bed. "It's not bad, just breakfast food really. Though the cook tried to sell me on going over to his brother's butcher shop and buying some seal meat."
"Seal?" she asked surprised.
He nodded steadily, untying his shoes. "Apparently…it's some kind of staple around here according to him." He paused to uncover the plates and pushed the lot over to her. Without a table in the room she had to settle for setting the tray on her lap before tucking in. Harry was right, it was just breakfast food of the sort she'd find easily enough back home. There was a steaming cup of hot chocolate, and a plate laden with bacon, eggs and fried potatoes.
She picked at her food for a while before catching his eye again and waving to the room around them. "So, I take it you didn't know the address to your family's place?"
He shook his head. "No, sorry. Luckily the room wasn't too expensive, things are dead cheap around here."
She snorted in amusement. "I bet, the Canadian Dollar is worth a fraction of what the Pound is." She shrugged philosophically. "It may be just as well actually, I don't know if the taxi would have service reaching out that far beyond town." At his quizzical look she continued. "From what I saw on that map back in England it's located a few kilometres out of town as I recall."
Harry hummed softly in acknowledgement as she returned to her food. A few minutes later she spoke again. "So, what do you want to do first? Go to your place, get a start on tracking down that car's maker, or maybe see the sights?"
Her friend couldn't help but chuckle. "Already seen the sights, what few there are in this town anyways. Place is smaller than most neighbourhoods are back home." She nodded agreement, the map had indeed indicated the place was fairly small. Harry shrugged settling back on his hands. "Besides. I don't think this is somewhere we want to stay too long."
She looked up to him sharply, concerned. "Oh, why's that?"
Harry's chuckle alleviated much of her concern right then. "Well, besides the bitter cold, and the lack of anything to do, the place is apparently close to infested with polar bears. While I was waiting on your food I watched some police chasing one off of a dumpster it was trying to turn over."
She blinked in surprise, then leaned forward eagerly. "You saw a polar bear?" she asked enviously. Such animals were unheard of in the British Isles, and were pretty spectacular creatures from what she'd seen on the teli.
He nodded, amused by her enthusiasm. "Yes, big sucker too. Never seen regular animals that big before."
She considered that. Despite her admiration for the animals in general, she understood just how dangerous they were; a good reason not to stick around indeed. "Alright, what about the locals though, are they friendly?"
Harry nodded. "Sure, very actually."
She huffed a sigh. "Well that's something right? Why do you think your parents had a property all the way out here?"
"Haven't the faintest," Harry said with a snort. "Not sure why anyone has a place out here to be honest. All I know for sure is that it's left over from my dad's parents…"
She nodded, remaining silent until she'd swallowed the last bite of her meal. She then turned her attention to finishing her drink. "Do you know what the vehicle we're looking for looks like then? Perhaps we could ask around and see if anyone saw it?"
He nodded, a slight smirk twisting his lips. "I don't have a picture or anything, but apparently it was a bit of an eyesore. Big black escalade with a pink dragon painted on the side."
Hermione had to stifle a snort of amusement. Such vehicles were not terribly common in England anyways, but add the paint job? "Some people have no taste I suppose. Though I guess that'll make it a bit easier to find, I can't imagine there are many of those around here."
She finished off her hot chocolate. Harry stood and indicated the bathroom. "If you're wanting a shower, the water is actually hot, though it's still a bit of a rude shock when you get out again."
She considered that, if it had been anyone but Harry talking she would assume they were giving a subtle hint that she was in bad need of a wash. Still, it had been a while longer between showers than she normally went, and if they really had some proper hot water? "Yeah I'd better, you don't mind waiting around?" she asked.
Harry shook his head and then flopped onto his back on the bed. "Not at all, take as long as you want."
A few minutes later, and true to Harry's assertion, it was indeed a very rude shock getting out from under the water. The cold just seemed to permeate everything right now…
She received another shock, though of a different sort while she was getting dressed, the small window in the bathroom looked down over the vacant lot out back. It was then that she spotted a distinctive, and very large, white bear sneaking—in as much a hulking beast like that could sneak—towards an unsuspecting dumpster.
She shook her head as she pulled her sweater on over top. "Welcome to the great white north…" she muttered.
Halfway around the world, Tonks was enjoying her day off. The first she'd had in a long while, honestly. What with the usually busy schedule of Aurors, and the fallout from the battle at the Department of Mysteries, she'd done without for far too long. Madam Bones had been kind enough to offer her today off as a reward for her work on the Umbridge/Carrow case.
She'd actually been enjoying it, reading and resting for the most part, and likely would have continued to do so had it not been for the hesitant knock at the door.
She got up slowly, grumbling slightly under her breath. It just figured, hardly ever did anyone bother coming round her place, so of course they had to roll on by the one day she had to herself.
She padded to the front door and peered through the hole, before murmuring a heartfelt curse, and pulling the door open. There standing on the landing outside her apartment door was Remus John Lupin, perhaps the third to last man on the planet she wished to see, eking out a position just behind Snape and Voldemort.
Tonks stared at him, admittedly a touch more frostily than perhaps he deserved, "Please tell me you're not here looking to bring me back to the Order?"
He looked a touch chagrined, his eyes casting downwards. "No…"
"Then why are you here Mr Lupin?" she requested stiffly.
He sighed, rubbing nervously at the back of his head. "We were just wondering if you had perhaps heard anything about Harry's whereabouts—"
She had to restrain the urge to snarl. "And just how do you think I would have heard anything?" she snapped irritably.
He shrugged helplessly. "I don't know, I just hoped that maybe you had heard something we hadn't."
She snorted derisively, shaking her head in disbelief at the man's gall. "You know damn well the only way I might come by a clue about Harry's whereabouts is via Madam Bones." She pointed out angrily and he looked embarrassed. "So, let me see if I've got this straight. You aren't here looking to get me to come back to the Order. Instead you are here in the hopes I'd spy on my boss for you instead?"
Remus actually looked startled at that, and fervently shook his head. "No, Tonks I swear it's not like that…"
She cocked her head at him, analyzing his expression and tone, before nodding sagely. He seemed sincere enough which led to a more likely conclusion. "Mr Lupin…Remus," she sighed tiredly rubbing at her eyes with her fingers. "Did you even want to come here in the first place?" She took in his expression and nodded at the answer shown there. "So, this would be Dumbledore's idea then eh?"
"He's just worried about Harry, Tonks—" Remus defended a touch reproachfully, and she had to fight down the urge to visibly display her disdain for the old codger in question, Remus practically worshipped the ground Dumbledore walked on, it would do no good to fight over the matter.
"Just—get out of here, Remus. If you're seen here I might very well get fired," she pointed out coldly.
"There's no reason to believe…" Remus protested.
She cut him off with a gesture. "It doesn't matter if I'm being watched or not, as it is I'll have to report this just in case."
"Aren't you worried about Harry?" the werewolf asked sounding a bit upset.
She nodded easily. "Yes, however that doesn't mean I'll be reporting anything to Dumbledore."
Remus sighed settling back on his heels. "Look—Tonks, I didn't mean to…"
"Mean to what?" She asked tiredly, her mind running through the possible answers. Didn't mean to hurt you, to push you away?
"Put you in a difficult position," he finished to the disappointment of the woman across from him.
She shook her head grabbing the door, preparing to close it. "Far too late for that Mr Lupin," she said wearily before closing the door in his face. She waited until she heard the footsteps departing before turning away.
It was too bad, it hadn't been that bad a day up until then.
Hermione leaned slightly on the counter of the gas station looking intently at the attendant. "So, you've actually seen a vehicle matching this description?"
The man behind the till, Donny according to his name tag, nodded sagely. "Yup, came through town on its way somewhere last spring, hard to forget a butt ugly monstrosity like that honestly," he said scratching at his beard idly, before shrugging. "Appeared again a week later and got loaded onto one of the cargo ships that come through occasionally as I recall."
He shot her an apologetic look. "Don't know much more really, Jeff Heinz'd probably be able to tell you more."
She cocked her head at him expectantly, oblivious to Harry wandering the store behind her. "And he'd be who exactly?"
Donny nodded understandingly, "He runs one of the local tourist traps, you know one of them lot that run those big armoured buses for the polar bear tours?" She nodded agreement, there had been advertisements everywhere for the things, and they'd even seen one trundling it's way along the edge of town on the way to the little gas station. He continued, "The place is right on the edge of town, you can't miss it. You know, I vaguely recall he was telling me something about the thing a while back…Can't remember that part too well, something about knowing the mechanic who worked on it?"
He chuckled in amusement, "Though who knows what kinda loon would ship someone a ride like that all the way up here just for a mechanic. Rich folks are nuts I tell you."
Harry, who had wandered back over to listen privately reflected that it was likely because whoever this "mechanic" was, they were likely magical and could make modifications others couldn't. The kind a friend of his family might have been able to make?
Hermione nodded, paying for the hot chocolates they'd purchased in addition to the information. "Thank you, you've been very helpful."
Donny just nodded amiably. "No problem, have a nice day you two."
They stepped outside a minute later and Harry spoke up after taking a sip. "So…I realize this place is pretty darn small, but I think we're going to want transportation, unless you fancy walking everywhere in this?" he asked indicating the snow around their feet.
She grimaced. "Yeah, I know what you mean. How about we see about that once we talk to this Jeff Heinz he was talking about?"
They looked back and forth up the road at the slightly snowy landscape about them. They'd placed warming charms on themselves in addition to donning the winter jackets Harry had purchased, but it did surprisingly little to help. "Blimey it's cold," Harry muttered as they started off down the road. His grandparents had to have been insane to purchase a place out here.
Tonks grumbled incoherently to herself as she stepped off the elevator into the headquarters of the DMLE. Mostly what she was doing was alternately cursing both Remus Lupin and the Order of the Phoenix as a whole. She had been hoping to just relax this evening but she'd meant it when she'd told Remus that she'd be reporting their meeting.
So, like a good little copper she'd trotted into the office on her day off to make a report in person. Once getting permission from the Director's secretary she knocked hesitantly at the door. There was a muffled murmur beyond the door before a voice called out to her. "Come in?"
She entered cautiously peeking around the door, there sitting at the Director's desk eating dinner were both Amelia and Susan Bones. It did not however escape her notice that it was not a utensil in Madam bones hand, but a wand. Thankfully when her boss saw who it was she lowered the wand to the desk again.
"Ah, Auror Tonks, care to join us?" the woman asked indicating an open chair across from her.
Tonks cringed slightly at having interrupted her boss' evening meal. "No thank you ma'am. I've already eaten." She shot the woman an apologetic glance.
Her boss didn't seem particularly perturbed. "Alright, so what brings you in on your day off Auror?"
"Uh, I had a bit of an incident earlier this evening ma'am and I thought you'd want to hear about it." The pink haired woman explained, at the Directors gesture to proceeded she hurried onward. "The uh—the Order showed up at my apartment. Well, one of them at least."
Madam Bones nodded understandingly. "Ah, I assume they wanted you back then?"
Tonks shot a look at Susan before clearing her throat uncomfortably. "Uh…no offence intended to your niece Director, but are you sure you want me talking about this in front of her?"
"Susan is aware of the Order in general terms Tonks, after all her parents and uncle were in it. As for anything else…perhaps refrain from actually naming any others you know to have been associated with the group in question?" the older woman suggested, picking at her food.
"Ah, okay then. Um—One of the Order members showed up and was asking questions. They claimed they weren't looking to bring me back, but they were asking if I knew anything about Harry's whereabouts…"
The reactions were subtle but interesting to observe, Susan's eyes flicked to her aunt's, before she returned pointedly to her meal, and Tonks' boss set down her utensils again, her movements a bit stiff.
Tonks carried on as if she hadn't noticed. "I told them I didn't know anything, then told them to get lost. They must have known that the only way I'd know anything would be through you ma'am—"
Amelia smiled thinly and shook her head. "Ah, so it's spying they want then?"
The younger adult nodded quickly. "That's the way I read it too ma'am. I told them to beat it and mentioned I'd be reporting it, so here I am…"
The Director considered her for a time, her hands clasped before her, eventually she nodded, her smile becoming a touch warmer. "Thank you Tonks, I appreciate your honesty. Truly I do, I know nothing about this situation could have been easy. Leaving the Order then coming to me?
"The Order, if it's anything like it was back in the day, is likely made up of good people. People who were and are probably your friends. I'm sorry they've put you in a tough situation," the Director said sympathetically.
Tonks smiled a bit wanly. "I've made my choice ma'am. Being an Auror and serving the people is what I always wanted. I thought I was helping when I was with them…"
Amelia surprised her by waving that off with a mild smile. "You were doing what no one else dared to in a time when it was badly needed, but things changed." She paused, contemplating the younger woman. "You've been doing good work Tonks, especially since you left the Order. And I want you to know something, something which I'll deny should anyone ask—" She paused here to grin knowingly at Tonks. "But I'm telling you now, you are one of my best agents. You are thoughtful and idealistic, something which is in very short supply these days. Keep on like you have been, and one day I could see you sitting behind this desk."
Tonks couldn't help but feel a bit happier in response to the praise. It wasn't often Tonks got to feel proud of herself. "Thank you ma'am, that means a lot coming from you."
The answering smile was soft and understanding. "I'm just telling the truth Auror." The Director leaned back in her chair looking her over before nodding her head in satisfaction. "You know Harry too don't you?"
Tonks wobbled her head noncommittally. "I-little bit ma'am. We've met a few times now. Nice enough kid from what I've seen, smart enough as well."
Amelia nodded agreement, "Yes, he is. I imagine you are also among those concerned for his wellbeing?"
Tonks nodded, but held up a hand in her defence. "Of course ma'am, but I understand that you—"
The Director cut across her. "I'll tell you this then, if nothing else. Harry is currently beyond the reach of the Order and the Death Eaters both. Even I am unaware of their current location. He is, last I spoke with him at least, happy, healthy and has a reasonable plan for his life. Nor is he alone. He is fine."
Tonks' smile widened somewhat at that. "Thank you ma'am, it is a weight off my mind." She paused, sobering slightly. "Ma'am I hate to ask, as it might come across sounding a little…bitter, but was Harry the one who told you about me and the Order?"
Amelia considered her seriously for a time, Susan giving her aunt a questioning look. Finally the Director nodded stoically. "Yes, and I imagine you are wondering why he would tell me such a thing?"
Tonks shifted uncomfortably, brushing her hand through her hair, failing to notice it had shifted in tone slightly. "Yes ma'am I do."
Madam Bones smiled thinly. "I can only tell you what I observed. Not what was actually in his mind at the time. I will tell you that Harry didn't come here intending to tell me. I noticed he got exceedingly uncomfortable when I noted many Aurors would likely be in the Order." She shrugged. "I pressured him, I admit. I explained my concerns on the issue, and he compromised with me. He told me, yes, but it was on a couple conditions. First he only agreed to tell me the names of the Aurors in the Order, no one else. Second, he ensured that only me and Susan would know who these people are and that there would be no lists or records. Just whatever was floating around our heads."
She looked at Tonks intently. "And finally, he made one request. That we use our connections with Gringotts to ward the Granger residence as he put it, 'Six ways to sunday'. He felt badly telling me what he did, but I left him little choice and allowed him a chance to protect someone he worries about."
Tonks nodded sagely, if there was one thing that would sway Harry Potter it was the question of his friends safety. Hermione would be at the very top of that list. All in all, considering his conditions and what reasons he'd supplied to the Director it was hard to fault his logic. She decided she could accept that. "Thank you ma'am, I had wondered…" She paused and cocked her head considering. "If I may ma'am, how are you and Susan holding up?"
Amelia sighed tiredly. "Well enough I suppose. It is undoubtedly a blow that our home was so badly damaged. We have had to live here since the attack as the wards on the apartment are shattered and those on the Ossuary are far out of date. But…neither of us are injured and that's what is important. We, wouldn't have known or reacted in time if not for Harry."
Tonks, couldn't help her curiosity. "Can—sorry, can you tell me about it ma'am? I mean, I swear I won't spread it around."
The Director accepted that. "He came to me for help, he had…concerns about Dumbledore, concerns which I will not share at this time. Regardless, he was hopeful that I could help him, it was while he was with me that the wards reacted to intruders. And—he sensed You-Know-Who."
Tonks nodded hurriedly understanding what Madam Bones meant, she explained. "I know that he can sense him. Though Dumbledore always played the why of it close to the vest."
Amelia nodded comprehension. "He also helped me gain Emmeline Vance's help, he knew she was outside. He then stayed and fought, despite my urgings to leave if things got too hot."
Susan spoke up then, surprising both of the adults. "I was captured by the Death Eaters. It was Harry who got me free and helped me fight. Then he tried to distract You-Know-Who to buy Aunty time."
The Director nodded. "It's likely that he saved my life at least once, if not more…"
Tonks sighed slightly chagrined. "He was there wasn't he ma'am, when I arrived I mean?"
Amelia tilted her head confirming her guess. "Yes, he was, but he was gone soon after."
Tonks felt guilty. "I'm sorry ma'am, that I ever gave you cause to doubt me."
The other woman shrugged. "As I said Auror, you were doing what you believed was right at the time. And, now that things have changed you are trying to do so again by coming back into the fold. Now, Tonks, why don't you go home and get some rest? You still have a shift tomorrow don't you?"
Tonks nodded, shifting back a step. "Yes ma'am. One thing before I go? If—If I can help in all of this, will you let me know?"
Amelia cocked her head considering. "You mean with Harry? I'll consider it," she agreed eventually. "But I would not compromise his situation without his permission, and he'd need to get in contact with me before I could get that…"
The younger woman nodded. "Of course ma'am. Again sorry for disturbing your supper. Have a good evening you two." And with that she turned to leave. There was a bed beckoning back at home, and it had her name all over it.
The little bell over the door for the Polar Bear Tours office tinkled merrily as a young couple stepped through the door, causing Kate Bevans to look up from her computer where she was working on some paperwork.
Kate smiled slightly at the somewhat shell-shocked look of tourists who were experiencing real cold for the first time. It was a dead give away to someone who'd seen it enough. She brushed a lock of black hair out of her face and smiled more fully as the couple's eyes fell on her.
"Hello, are you here for a tour?" she asked as was expected, then frowned slightly. "I'm sorry but you just missed the most recent one, they set out about twenty minutes ago…"
The boy, who looked to be about her own age smiled ruefully at his companion who was busily stamping her feet and blowing on her hands trying to warm up. "Sorry we're not, we're here looking for someone actually. Besides we've both seen already polar bears digging through the trash by the hotel. That was more than close enough for us…"
She laughed in understanding, sometimes you got people like these, foreigners obviously, considering his accent, coming up here for work or a school trip, but who weren't so keen to get close to the world's largest land predator, even if in an armoured vehicle at the time. "Oh, well can you give me a name, if they work here I'll page them for you?" She offered.
"Jeff Heinz?" he offered after squinting while he called up the memory.
She smiled thinking of her slightly tubby, but amiable day shift manager. "Ah of course. Just a moment!" She turned her head leaning back to peer down the hall into the offices. "Jeff!" She smiled when he stuck his head out the door of his office and raised an inquisitive brow. Something about that expression always struck her like watching a gopher popping its head up out of a hole. She motioned him over.
The couple across the counter took Jeff's bulk with relative equanimity, briefly shooting each other an indecipherable look before turning back to them as Jeff came to a stop beside her. "Hello, can I help you?" He asked.
"Um, hi. I'm Harry, and this is Hermione, we uh…We were told you might be able to help us find someone we're looking for." Harry explained. Kate thought to herself that the girl's name was interesting if a little odd, and she wondered why her parents had chosen it.
"Oh really, who are you lookin' for then?" Jeff asked tilting his head slightly looking down at them.
Harry appeared sheepish. "We don't know that precisely, just that they worked on a vehicle you should recognize, a Cadillac escalade with…"
She had to stifle a snort, what were the chances? Jeff apparently thought it was amusing too. "An obnoxious pink dragon painted on the side of it, yes. I remember it. Kate I think you might be the one to help these two don't you?" Jeff stated looking at her, amusement sparking in his eyes.
She nodded easily enough, there was after all only one person in town who had worked on that monstrosity. "So you're looking for Rose?" She asked the pair across from her as Jeff turned and trundled off again.
"Rose?" Hermione asked, speaking for the first time.
"Yeah, that'd be my mom, she runs a mechanics shop outside of town. No idea why in the heck she decided to build it all the way out there. Get's work now and then from the locals, some industrial stuff too. But every once in awhile something weird comes in on one of the ships and she'll fix that up too…" She had to stifle her amusement at that. Weird would be an understatement for the stuff her mom had to work on sometimes.
The girl across from her tilted her head looking at her speculatively, her eyes flicking to her…boyfriend? It was really hard to tell just what these two's relationship was, their body language was all jumbled to her eyes. "This mechanic's shop, would it happen to be about three kilometres north of town? Maybe has a…what did the bank note call it? A log cabin?" Hermione asked her friend, who just nodded agreeably.
Kate nodded, even more curious now. "That's the place, bit of a compound actually the way mom has it set up. She works out of the warehouses, we mostly live in the office building attached to the workshop. The lot has a log cabin near the back I believe, which was there when she built everything…" She snorted. "I'd have told her she should rent it out, but I don't know anybody who would want a place way out there except her. You looking to speak with her about something?" She asked plainly.
Harry nodded. "Er—yeah actually."
She considered, the pair across from her didn't look like a pair of psychos, and had been pleasant enough all things considered. "Well then, that might work out fine. I'm actually headed back home with the groceries as soon as my shift's done. If you want I could give you a lift?"
Harry sagged in relief. "That'd be really appreciated actually, we didn't get a car…when does your shift end?"
"Actually in just about half an hour, if you want to wait around…" she offered.
"Would you mind picking us up from that hotel on main street? We've got a couple pets with us we should really feed before we head out there…" Hermione asked sounding apologetic.
"That won't be a problem," she assured them.
"Uh—sorry but I meant to ask, what is your name?" Hermione asked.
She slapped her forehead lightly chastising herself for being rude. "Oh, right sorry. I'm Kate! Kate Bevans. My mom is Rose Bevans."
Harry smiled and offered his hand. "Well it's very nice to meet you Kate, we'll see you soon then." Neither of them noticed the worried expression on Hermione's face as they parted.
Luna, sighed gustily as she lay back on her bed spread, tossing the letter from Susan to the side before rubbing her eyes in exhaustion. She had been very busy the last couple days, constantly sending and receiving messages with Harry's friends and acquaintances.
Unfortunately, most of their responses were dishearteningly short of details that Luna was as yet unaware of. Ronald had barely noted his best friend's absence, giving the written equivalent of a shrug. He'd also referred to her as Loony in his letter. She'd burned that one, after tearing it into pieces in frustration.
Only her letter to Susan had received any information she had not already known. Luna had been very, very delicate in her proddings for information, hiding behind her Loony persona so as not to alarm her best lead. Especially as she was virtually certain that Susan had been asked not to divulge any information she may have had about Harry's whereabouts.
Still, while apologizing for not being able to tell her much, she had as a result of not wanting Harry's friends to worry overmuch unintentionally let slip more than she had realized.
She had mentioned that yes Harry had indeed met with them, but that they were sworn not to speak of it without his permission. However she had also mentioned that Luna was not alone in expressing concern for Harry's well-being.
Auror Nymphadora Tonks, not that Susan had gotten so specific as to actually use the woman's, apparently dreaded, first name. The Auror was someone Luna had heard mentioned in passing in the past, she was if she remembered correctly, Sirius' favourite cousin and was one of Harry's few relatives, albeit very distant on that scale.
Now, this information wasn't much to someone who wasn't used to puzzling away with the scantest of evidence in search of clues. One of the more useful side effects of working for the Quibbler.
However, to her, it was just the information she needed. Why? Because it told her a number of things. First that Harry in fact had family beyond the muggles he had grudgingly cohabited with. Second and more significantly was this person's connection to Sirius Black, Harry's now late Godfather.
Sirius Black, by all accounts had hated his relatives with a passion, something she could not really blame him for considering what most of them were like. As such, any will he was therefore likely to write would almost certainly go to great lengths to deny them any inheritance upon his death.
His godson, and his favourite cousin would doubtless receive something in such proceedings.
Luna for her part, had never had the opportunity to actually meet and speak with Sirius Black, so she could not predict for certain just what he was leaving Harry or Tonks. She could however extrapolate a couple of likely outcomes.
First, was that Sirius Black could name Tonks as his heir, an uncommon practice considering she was female, but still possible under current wizarding law. Why? Because the law and its writers were aware of the infighting which regularly occurred within pureblood families, and were well acquainted with the notion of spiting one's relatives out of their inheritance. If Sirius had named Tonks as such, there was a reasonable chance that she would inherit the title of Godmother to Harry.
The second possibility was that he would name Harry as his heir, which was certainly more plausible in terms of inheritance rights. The likely backwash would be that he would likely see to reinstating Tonks and her family as members of the Blacks.
Either course would likely put Tonks on a path which would, at some point in the hopefully near future, lead to Harry. Thus, her best lead now, was one Nymphadora Tonks.
The question therefore was how to best approach the woman, and how to ensure that she did indeed try to make contact with Harry?
Voldemort, Dark Lord of Great Britain sat in the chair at Malfoy Manor which had become his de facto throne. He considered it a great irony, that even during his greatest and deepest state of denial that idiot Fudge had actually been in the same building as him on numerous occasions while courting the favour of the Malfoys, all the while unaware of who was just upstairs.
Sadly that time had passed with Lucius being incarcerated at Azkaban, the enchantments guarding this place from the Ministry's attention had doubled with his imprisonment. It was thanks to that and a small number of favours called in to the right people that resulted in Malfoy manor remaining a Death Eater stronghold. Though that wouldn't last much longer should Amelia Bones be elected to the Minister's seat.
He tapped his fingers irritably on the armrest of the chair as he considered this and the man struggling to his feet in front of him. "I really am most displeased Severus," he stated simply.
"Yes…my lord," The man wheezed slightly, the after effects of cruciatus.
Voldemort fought the urge to roll his eyes. "You see, a boy of such—limited talents—as you are so careful to remind me, should not be able to disappear without a trace as he has. Would you care to explain this to me?"
Snape blanched as something twinged in his side. "I know only a little my lord." He waited for the Dark Lord to wave him to continue. "I know he has vanished, I know not even Dumbledore has been able to find him. I know that the last person he was seen by aside from yourself was Madam Bones. We must, on the basis of this assume that it was she who aided him in disappearing."
Voldemort considered this then conceded the point. "You may very well be right. However while Amelia Bones hides in the heart of the Ministry she is mostly beyond our reach…Very well, do we know why the boy has disappeared?" He paused and Snape opened his mouth to respond but the Dark Lord cut across him speculating on his own. "Perhaps he has finally come to understand he is no match for us?"
Snape was most certainly not inclined to argue in his current condition. "I am, uncertain my Lord. It was stated by Amelia Bones to the Headmaster that he had done it to get out from under his thumb…"
Voldemort leaned forward slightly intrigued. "Indeed? Curious…I had assumed the boy to be utterly enthralled by the old fool."
"As had I my lord," Snape agreed.
Voldemort paused before waving his hand airily. "Very well, the boy is of little consequence while he flees or hides. However we shall remain watchful, and we shall prepare for the next phase of our plans."
Snape seemed to fight a mental battle with himself before cursing himself and addressing his Lord once more. "If I may my Lord, just what are our plans? I merely wonder what part I will be to play in them…"
Voldemort chuckled, a not at all comforting sound. "Your part is the same as ever Severus, infiltration and subversion. As for our plans, you shall see soon enough. Everyone, will see soon enough."
Kate fiddled with the thermostat on her dash as she pulled up in front of the hotel. Strictly speaking, there were several small "Inns" around town—mostly bed and breakfast type arrangements—catering to the town's disproportionate number of tourists and ecological visitors. But there was really only one on main street. Sure enough as her battered old Toyota 4runner crunched to a stop in the snow out front of the building she saw Harry and Hermione standing on the curb waiting.
What she also saw was the Snowy Owl on the railing above them watching them all curiously, and she snickered to herself. She unlocked the door and motioned for them to get in. She watched both closely as they climbed in, spotting what she was looking for when Harry helped Hermione up into the back seat.
"So…" she said as they started off down the road again. "I don't know how else to say this so I'll just come out and say it. I noticed your wand Harry, you two are Magicals then?" she asked eagerly. She'd only ever met one or two others like her before these two, not counting her mom that was. Mostly it was old lady Winter, a slightly ironic nickname for the elderly Inuit medicine woman whose name nobody except other Inuit could really pronounce.
Harry and Hermione blinked at her owlishly for a moment. "Come on," she chided. "As I said I saw the wand sticking out of your pocket Harry, and besides the Owl on the porch and the cat in the window watching you kinda gave me a clue too. Add to that the fact that you're looking for mom and it's a reasonable guess."
Harry sighed. "Yeah, we are, though we'd appreciate it if you don't mention that to anybody else you meet."
She cocked her head curiously looking at him in the mirror. "Oh? Running away from something? Don't worry about it, ain't none of my business," she assured him.
"Er—Not to interrupt but, uh…how old are you Kate?" Hermione asked.
She glanced at the brunette, "Just turned Fifteen, why?" Returning her eyes to the road as they exited town, she missed the frown which crossed the other girl's face.
"You're allowed to drive that young around here?" Hermione asked skeptically.
"Well…strictly speaking, no," Kate agreed. "But the local police know me and mom well enough, and actually did some of the testing for my learners, so…as long as I only drive around town and back home, they don't seem to mind."
Hermione nodded her understanding. Harry looked to her curiously, he'd cottoned on to the fact that something was bothering his friend, she just shook her head. Not now.
They rounded a short bend and the complex came into sight. It looked basically like any other warehouse complex in any big city around the world, a pair of large, sloped-roofed buildings with attached offices surrounded by plenty of open space and a big chain link fence. What Kate knew, that most others didn't, was that the fence was enhanced with durability runes and charged with enough electricity to send a polar bear running should he get any ideas.
She spotted the lights coming from the windows of the nearest warehouse and chuckled. "Well it looks like you're in luck, mom's working in the workshop right now. If you don't mind helping me with bringing in these groceries I can go get her after everything's inside. She's probably just about finished up with her current project by now anyway." She paused and considered the two teenagers unable to shake the feeling that the boy looked extremely familiar. "Hey what are your last names by the way? I hope you don't mind me asking."
Harry and Hermione glanced at each other hesitantly, "You uh…not a word to anyone else right?" Harry ventured.
She smiled, finding his hesitance was amusing. "Cross my heart," she joked miming just that.
He chuckled weakly and gestured to Hermione. "This is Hermione Granger, and my name's Harry Potter."
Kate blinked at him for a moment, a thousand thoughts screaming through her head, and settled back on her heels, cocking her head at him seriously as she memorized his face. "Wow. You know we've heard about some of your 'adventures' even across the pond over here. Well I have. Mom was never too interested. She's not a big fan of Britain. Harry Potter eh? Must be why you look familiar...I guess I've seen your face in some papers or something," she ventured timidly.
"Oh, just the papers?" Hermione asked quickly.
"Well unless you've been here before, I can't see when else we'd have met. You two are like the third and fourth magicals I've talked to. We don't get out much. So...groceries?" she asked pointing to the bags in the back. "It's just right through that door, just put them on the front table…"
Harry nodded easily enough, Hermione stared at her a minute longer before nodding. "Sure, the sooner we get these inside the sooner can meet...Rose," Hermione said looking even more worried than before.
"Great, thanks," Kate nodded plastering a huge smile on her face. "I can't wait to hear what brought Harry Potter to our door."
Amelia was frustrated, this was often the case after a conversation with Minister Fudge. The man was an utterly ineffectual leader, which unfortunately made him highly pliable and easy to manipulate by those who dealt in such things.
She'd just spent a good half hour being harangued by the man as he attempted to force her to divulge any information she had on the whereabouts of Harry Potter. While she was certain he was doing so for his own ridiculous purposes his efforts had Dumbledore's wrinkled fingerprints all over them. A pretty blatant attempt to circumvent her protection of the boy.
She had of course refused, much to the Minister's combined horror and consternation. She'd then been forced to pull out every law she could think of protecting confidential informants and such to stop him.
He'd then changed directions, trying to get her to begin hunts for "rogue vigilantes" undoubtedly playing for favours from the opposite side of the field.
When she'd again refused him, he'd thrown the political equivalent of a temper tantrum, she'd been required to challenge him to find enough supporters in the Wizengamot to force her compliance.
He, just like she, had known full well he likely couldn't drum up the kind of support he needed if it was required to save his life if he were on fire, and the committee needed to decide whether or not to pour water on his flaming arse.
Despite managing to put off the man in both cases, Amelia Bones headed to bed with a nasty headache and a burning desire to castrate a certain nosy old man.
The last of the groceries were deposited onto the counter with an oomph. Kate smiled at her guests and clapped her hands together. "Thanks again. Do you two want to wait here while I go and grab my mom?"
Hermione and Harry nodded and moved to sit on the stools near the kitchen's island. Kate headed out the service door and into the primary maintenance bay where her mom did most of her work. Hurriedly closing it behind her so as not to let out all the warm air provided by the enormous space heaters affixed to the ceiling.
She was a little nervous, after all not only was one magical celebrity in her kitchen but he also happened to be someone she really admired. And he was very clearly British. Even after 15 years, her mother was still prickly when it came to Brits. Kate knew her father and baby brother had died there before she was even born, but sometimes she hated how her mother could get so annoyed with the entire country for the actions of a few terrorists. Granted the terrorists seemed to be making a comeback...but it still seemed a bit out of character for Rose Bevans. Kate hoped she wouldn't be too hard on their guests.
Her mother was as ever clad in her working outfit. A pair of coveralls rolled down and tied off at her waist, a dirty T-shirt overtop and a bandana keeping her hair out of her eyes while she worked in the guts of some poor schlub's battered 4x4. Currently she was below that 4x4, standing in the depression in the floor with the vehicle jacked up on the platform allowing her to reach its underbelly. Music was pumping from an old boom box that her mother had fixed up and sitting on the cement a few feet away.
Kate crossed the 'workshop' floor and turned down the music causing her mother to jump in surprise before extracting herself somewhat from the machine's guts. Rose took in her daughter's expression and rolled her eyes. "Alright, what's his name?"
Kate's brow furrowed before smoothing as she figured out what her mother was saying. She couldn't help but smile a bit. "Very funny, Mom. Though there is actually a guy, and he's actually what I have to talk to you about. It's not like that. Er...Definitely not like that. In fact he already seems a little bit taken."
Rose considered her before completely extracting her arms from around the axle. "Alright, hit me," she said as she took a seat on the edge of the depression.
"Right, so here's the deal, I met this guy and a girl from out of town. And something about them seemed kinda odd," Kate explained. Her mother hummed understanding and gestured for her to continue. "Well it turns out that they're looking for whoever worked on that hideous escalade which came through last spring. Naturally, I knew that was you and offered to show them to you. But talking with them and spotting a couple things while I was driving over, I noticed some more odd stuff. What clinched it for me was seeing the wand the guy had on him."
Rose's eyebrows rose. "A wizard? Not too many magicals come up to this area."
Kate shrugged. "Well like I said, they were tracking down whoever fixed up the escalade. That's not really the important bit anyway..."
"Alright, hun, stop beating around the bush," Rose sighed. "What's going on?"
Kate cringed a bit. "Well, I kinda recognize the guy...he's um...he's Harry Potter."
Rose frowned. "Oh." She leaned back against her workbench. "So you're worried that I'm going to bite a teenager and his friend's head off just because he had the misfortune of being born in a country I despise?"
"Pretty much yeah." Kate looked up and clasped her hands in prayer. "Please be nice, Mom! Both of them are really nice! You totally wouldn't even realize he was a celebrity! Please be nice!"
"Wow, I must have gotten really bad if you think I'd be mean just because of that," Rose said shaking her head and grinning ruefully. "Come on, let's go see these two and find out why they're so interested in that horrible looking car."
Author's Note: So that happened! As ever, where would I be without my Betas? Temporal Knight and Bearmauls.
OLD Pseudo AN's: Temporal Knight here. This chapter has undergone some large changes from the original plan but we think it's turned out much better overall. The story behind Kate and Rose Bevans will be revealed as things move along. What could've possibly happened in her past to make her so despise the UK and everything related to it? And just what does Hermione suspect? Granted, people will probably be guessing the answers to these long before the next chapter is out, but hey, a bit of mystery is fun right!
Recommendation(s): Let's see, we've got...Sympathetic Properties by Mr Norrell, a take on what would happen if Harry were a little less of a jerk to Dobby from the get go. And Heart and Soul by Sillimaure. A take on a Harry/Hermione/Fleur story which is quite good.