Chapter Twenty –

Kingsley Shacklebolt began his third day of being detained with another series of rousing questions he could not answer or risk violating the statute of secrecy. Key members of the order were in trouble with the Ministry and the Muggle authorities. It was inconvenient for him to be here when Potter was in danger. He hoped that Albus was working on getting them all freed soon, he needed to call all his political favors to get the order members out of the muggle detainment facility.

They kept asking a lot of questions about what caused the explosions. He knew a little of course because he had reasoned that it was not a real explosion because they were not dead. Kingsley asked to see photos of the room and they refused, he had shut his mouth and leaned back in his chair refusing to talk anymore.

This morning the inspector had come in and screamed at him "Why won't you answer questions?"

Kingsley finally looked at him "Because I don't know the answers. It is always best to keep your mouth shut if you don't know something." Kingsley gave a deep sigh "I asked for the photos to see if I recognized anything in there that would cause that and you refused."

The man was very irate "I am the inspector here and your job is to provide answers when asked."

Kingsley smiled "So you want me to make them up?"

The man stopped suddenly "No! I want you to tell me what you know." The man then pointed his finger at him "My gut tells me you know plenty!"

Kingsley chuckled out loud "Oh I almost assuredly do sir but I am afraid I know very little about what happened or what caused the events three days ago."

The Inspector was outraged "You and the others were caught in a building that didn't exist four days ago where an explosion went off in the airport."

Kingsley then with a twinkle in his eye replied back "Ah, so because we were in that building we must be guilty of something." Kingsley flicked his fingers and shut the lights off in the room. When the Inspector was searching for the switch Kingsley suddenly flicked it back on.

"Tell me good sir why did the lights go out just then?" Kingsley asked.

The inspector answered "Well how should I bloody know the answer to that."

Kingsley chuckled "By your own standards I should lock you in a room for days because you were in the room when it happened so you must know something?"

The inspector very exasperated "The electricity went out for a moment."

Kingsley smiled "You know this for sure?" Kingsley flicked his fingers and the lights went out again. He waited five seconds and then flicked them back on. "Perhaps, it is for an entirely different reason and where you choose to guess, I choose not to guess."

Kingsley crossed his arms "I could say that your anger directed toward me overloaded the electrical circuit and caused the light failure but it doesn't make it true, does it?"

The door opened and another gentleman came in the door. "Ned take a break." He told the inspector who then walked out the door. The man sat down across from him "You are curious group of people. You dress differently, act differently but your reasoning is sound."

The man sighed "We had a major incident in the airport three days ago and a building suddenly appears out of nowhere. Everything I know tells me you are involved or you know something about all of that but I also realize I have no proof of this or that you are going to tell me about it." The man leaned forward and clasped his hands "The question becomes what do I do about that and you? Do I release you or do I hold you?"

Kingsley leaned forward "I do understand your dilemma. When I and the people who I arrived with entered the room you found us in, all I know is there was a very large flash and bang before I woke up sometime later."

The man looked at him and then pointed his finger "That is another thing because no video captured you going in the build, so how did you get there?"

The man then pulled Kinsley's wand from his pocket "All of you had something like this on you. What is it?"

Kingsley looked at him and didn't answer. This unsettled the man. "That is the exact same answer the others gave and is the reason why we are all suspicious."

Kingsley did not smile "Never the less the feeling of suspicion does not bring truth or knowledge to your situation nor does it prove my guilt of any crime, it is just that, a suspicion."

The man looked at him for many seconds before Kingsley stated with firmness "I had nothing to do with the explosions or that building suddenly appearing of that I know."

The man latched on "But you do know the people or person who are responsible."

Kingsley shook his head "No, I really don't know as I don't have enough information to know that. I would have to investigate just as you are doing now."

The man turned his head "Helen bring me the file please with the pictures."

A woman walked in and handed a file folder to him. He opened it and then turned a picture of the room towards Kingsley. Kingsley studied the picture for a moment and pointed to five stones with funny writing on them. "Do you have one of these I could look at?"

The man looked at him with a funny expression. Kingsley looked at him "I believe the writing is closely related to Phoenician or san skrit and I am as curious as you are."

The man asked quickly "Are you a professor of ancient writing?"

Kingsley smiled "No, not at all but I have dabbled in ancient writing as a hobby only and it does look familiar to me."

The man called out "Thomas bring me one of the stones and a spy glass."

A man came in holding a stone and set it on the table. Kingsley took the magnifier and looked it over. It appears to be Phoenician and if I am correct it says 'Quick light and thunder or perhaps bang.'

Kingsley looked up "May I try an experiment to see if this does what I think?"

The man looked unsure but also curious. Kingsley smiled "Suspicion is a good thing but sometimes to get answers you have to try things. I am only seeking answers here." Kingsley sighed "Had anybody recognized this as ancient writing from your people?"

"No and it bothers me that you knew what it was, it is too convenient." The man told him.

Kingsley sat back "I see." Kingsley looked in thought "Well, then I suggest we are done here then."

The man looked stunned "That is it? You quit."

Kingsley laughed "I didn't say that but if you can't get over this, then what purpose would it serve? You gave me information and when I looked at it I shared what I knew. What do you want from me?"

The man did not look happy "What do you think this experiment will prove?"

Kingsley answered quickly "An excellent question as I believe it will activate this stone so that we can see what it does."

The man shook his head "My boss will think I am crazy but after three days I am willing to try other methods."

Kingsley smiled and stood up before placing the stone on the floor He pressed his finger on the top and it began to glow blue. Kingsley stood back and then walked back over to the man. We might want to turn away because I believe a flash of light will come when it activates. Both turned and Kingsley shot a low level stunning spell at it, wand less.

When the spell hit there was a flash of bright light and then a very loud bang that shook the room slightly. Kingsley turned and looked at the stone "That was most curious."

The man stated "I swear that had the same effect as a flash bang grenade our swat teams and military use." The man continued "They are used to stun a person and disorient them so they can be taken down."

Kingsley picked up the stone and handed it to them "Or stun a group of people when they enter a room. How many did you find in the room we were found in?"

The man looked at him and then studied the stone "We found five of them." He hesitated for many seconds "If all five went off…"

Kingsley finished for him "at the same time then the people in the room at the time…"

The man finished as he looked at him "they would be knocked unconscious."

Kingsley smiled "I believe those were left for me and the people with me. A most ingenious method to stun someone, don't you think?"

The man looked at him "But why?"

Kingsley smiled "Of that I don't have the knowledge of so I cannot answer."

The man grinned "But I can tell you do have suspicions."

Kingsley sighed "Indeed I do but I lack proof so will keep my mouth shut."

Diagon Alley – The next day.

Kingsley and his group had spent another day in detention before they had to be released or charges brought against them. The police inspectors were not happy but had to let them go without evidence. Kingsley went to the Ministry to check on something before he headed to two twins shop to find some answers.

Kingsley entered the Weasley twin's shop and found lee Jordan and one of the Weasley's manning the store."

Fred or George looked up surprised "Auror Kingsley? Welcome to Weasley's wizard wheezes." The twin seemed dejected "Please tell me you aren't here to figure out what to ban from Hogwarts."

Kingsley smiled and then chuckled "No, that would be Mr. Filch's job. I believe I encountered a device of yours a few days ago. It seems it causes a bright flash and then a loud bang."

Kingsley walked up to a bin and handled the exact stone he was talking about. George looked worried "Kingsley we don't have an item like that."

Kingsley only smiled as he charged the rune and then sat it on the floor before pulling his wand and pointing at it "Then you won't mind that I activate this one." George cringed before placing his hands over his ears and shutting his eyes. Kingsley sent a low level stunner to make it go off."

George looked up at the Kingsley and smiled "A magic activated flash bang grenade. A very ingenious device if I say so myself. I will tell the DMLE to come and see you as these could come in handy under certain situations for the Aurors to subdue persons."

George smiled at him "Quite right sir."

Kingsley put his wand away "You and your brother George are very creative but have no formal runes training. However, I know of two women that did receive training in Phoenician runes that did and could figure the runic array to do this." George's smile dropped.

Kingsley left for the door "Please tell your silent partner that I wish to contact him."

Albus's hospital room outside of London -

"Auror Shacklebolt stated it was Harry Potter who left us a present at the Port key office in Heathrow." Moody dropped a letter on Albus's table "I just received this to let me know he is already left England and warns us to keep our nose out of his business."

Shacklebolt read the note "Tonks resigned the morning she had duty there and it looks like she left with Potter and helped to set us up. She might have pulled the wards down as well so we were found by the muggles."

Albus chuckled "No, I think this was all Mr. Potter and it has kept us so busy that we have not had time to look for him and he managed to slip through our net. I believe he used a muggle method to do so. It was a very good plan if I say so myself."

Shacklebolt seemed mad "You admire the kid for doing this."

Albus smiled "I admire that a fourteen year old outfoxed us because he has knowledge he should not have and he does not have the bias of muggles that our society does. He embraces it and you have to admit it was effective."

Minerva had a little smirk on her face "Mr. Potter is not stupid by any means and the women he has around him are the best students we have had in a long time. I would not underestimate him."

Albus frowned "Yes, that much is clear now. For the summer at least he is out of our reach and I hope protected. He has shown more knowledge and training than was provided at Hogwarts. The question is who provided it to him?"

Minerva now frowned "Albus does it really matter? He has done nothing this year but attack those that have attacked and manipulated him or his family. One would think the smartest wizard in the world would listen to what he is saying. Don't mess with me or else!"

Albus turned to her "What do you know?"

Minerva smiled "I know that I trust Mr. Potter more than I trust others I have known for years and that the Ministry and its corruptness better stop or Mr. Potter will drop the hammer on them." Minerva's eyes became stern "As for Hogwarts, I am fixing things he has shown we are lacking." She walked to the door and opened it "Albus he doesn't have to come back here at all, especially if you keep your little secrets from him and he can't trust you. Time for a new tact I think." With that she left.

Albus thought for an hour and then began to pen a note before he was about to call Fawkes to deliver it a note fluttered down into his hands. "Look up." It read.

Albus did so and found Hedwig sitting and looking down on him. She flew to his desk and held out her leg. He smiled and attached the note before she leapt up and flew towards the upper window. He shot a tracking charm that the bird dodged before hooting loudly before shooting out the window.