Chapter 6: Rob Marsden

"When was the last time you saw him?" Khyana asked, and James shrugged.

"I haven't seen him in a long time actually…"

"What about the others? Sirius? Remus? Has anyone seen him?"

James shrugged again. "I don't know. You'll have to ask them."

Kelria was a little confused. "Whom are we talking about here?" she asked, raising her hand slightly.

Khyana shook her head. "No one. Doesn't matter. Hey!" she added, glaring around at everyone in the cubicle. "Did anyone here know that the Malfoys have a kid?"

Everyone began talking at once, and James called for silence.

"What do you mean, Khyana?" he asked.

Khyana rolled her eyes at him. "You know, a baby? Like the one Lily's going to have in a month? The Malfoys have one. Since March. Which means she'd been pregnant since last June. That's a year ago, people!"

James shook his head in disbelief. "They have a kid?"

Kelria nodded. "Yep. A son. Draco. What a name, eh?"

Khyana shrugged. "It's better than one he could have been given. I bet his son gets Abraxas again."

"Okay, so the Malfoys have a kid," James repeated. "That doesn't affect our investigation."

"It might," Harvey spoke up. "If Narcissa's been pregnant, it'll affect what she can or can't do for the Ring. Lucius wouldn't have wanted to risk hurting his heir. He would have limited her actions majorly."

Frank nodded. "Harvey's right. I don't think she's been majorly involved lately. And I don't think she will be in the near future."

"Maybe not lately," Emily-Hope agreed, "But this investigation has been going on for years! She probably had a major part a few years ago."

"That's true," Aaron agreed. "You know who we really need to talk to about this whole thing?"

"Rob Marsden," Khyana replied, nodding.

"Who's Rob Marsden?" Kelria asked, confused.

"He's the auror who worked this case before us," James explained. "He disappeared about a year ago."

"So how are we going to talk to him?"

Khyana sighed. "We're not. We were just saying that it would be convenient to talk to him."

"Oh." Kelria replied, still a little lost. "What do you mean, he disappeared?"

Frank took up the story. "He worked this case for six years. It was his baby, his first assignment straight out of Auror School. We know he got really close to some crucial information, and then all of a sudden he was gone. Dropped off the map. No one knows what happened to him. Some say the Death Eaters got him, but I have my doubts. If they had him, they'd let us know. I think he got scared."

"No way!" Emily-Hope cried.

"Not a chance," Aaron agreed.

"Not likely," Kennedy agreed softly.

"I have my doubts about both theories," Lily replied.

"Alright then," Frank bristled, getting defensive. "Let's hear your theories!"

"Stop, all of you!" James cried. "I, too, have my doubts about Rob Marsden getting scared. If it had been anyone else, I'd agree, but not Rob. I think he realised that he could do better work if he wasn't officially on the case. I just wish we could contact him."

Khyana nodded. "I agree with that."

Kelria raised her hand. "I'm still confused. How do you all know this guy?"

Khyana turned to face her friend. "Rob was six years older than us. Everyone knew him; he was the most popular kid in school. We were only first years when he graduated, but even Slytherins looked up to him, and that said something. After he'd graduated, he kept contact with a lot of people at the school. He'd started going out with Marlene McKinnon when she was in her fourth year, when he was in his seventh. A little odd, I know, but they liked each other a lot. Marlene was only three years older than we were, so we sort of got to know her better than we did Rob, but through her we got to know Rob. I doubt that he disappeared because he was afraid. It just doesn't seem like him. I know Marlene was devastated when he disappeared. They were engaged, you know. It just didn't make sense that he'd disappear without telling her unless the Death Eaters got him, which is why so many people think he's dead. But if he needed to work anonymously, then it makes sense that he wouldn't tell her, since she's an auror too."

The others in the cubicle nodded.

James stood from his chair. "Okay. So we need to work on finding Rob Marsden, but in the meantime we need to continue with this assignment. This case is now completely confidential. You are not allowed to tell anyone about what you do, not even wives," he added, giving Aaron, Frank and Harvey pointed looks. They nodded. "And Kel and Yana, no telling Remus or Sirius, either, got it?"

Both girls nodded, and everyone left the cramped cubicle.

Kelria followed Khyana back to her cubicle, a million questions running through her head.

"Who were you and James talking about?" she asked.

Khyana sighed. "Think, Kelria. Who do we know who looks like a rat?"

Kelria shook her head, a confused look still on her face.

Khyana gave another sigh, this one exasperated. "Come on Kel! You can't have been in this circle of friends for four years and not know this! The Rat, Kel!"

A look of comprehension dawned on Kelria's face. "You don't think?" she asked.

Khyana shrugged and sat down at the desk. "It's the only thing I can think of."

Kelria shook her head. "There's no way. I don't believe it. He might not fit in very well with us, but I don't think he'd go over to the Dark Side, either."

Khyana shot her a look. "Well, you can think what you want, Kel, and I'll think what I want."

Kelria put her hands on her hips. "You just want him to be guilty because you don't like him!"

Khyana shrugged again. "May be."

Kelria turned and left the cubicle in a huff, calling back over her shoulder, "That Malfoy pride of yours is going to get you killed someday, Khyana."

When she arrived home that evening, Khyana was furious. How dare she? How dare Kelria make a comment like that? Malfoy pride. As if.

Sirius was waiting for her in the kitchen, his feet on the table, a bottle of firewhiskey in his hand.

"Get your feet off my table, Sirius Black," Khyana snapped angrily.

Sirius removed his feet languidly, and looked at her curiously.

"Tough day at the office?" he asked teasingly.

"So not in the mood, Black," she answered, throwing her bag at him.

He caught it deftly, and the teasing look left his face. "What happened?"

Khyana shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it."

He raised his eyebrows sceptically. "That means you really want to talk about it," he replied.

Khyana shook her head. Why did he have to know her so well? She decided to change the subject.

"I saw your cousin today," she said, pulling out some pans for dinner.

"My cousin?" Sirius asked, confused.

Khyana nodded. "Andromeda?"

"Oh! Oh, that cousin. What'd she have to say?"

Khyana shrugged. "I went to see her about Bella and Narcissa."

"And?"

"Well, I'm an aunt," Khyana replied lightly.

"What?"

"Yup. Narcissa and Lucius have a kid. A son. Draco."

Sirius stared at her, shocked. "For how long?"

"Since March," Khyana replied lightly.

"And this doesn't bother you?"

"Of course it bothers me! Lucius has a kid! EW!"

Sirius grinned. This was more his Khyana.

"Question."

"Answer."

Khyana rolled her eyes and Sirius laughed.

"What's your question?"

"You are in my house why?"

Sirius shrugged. "I don't like my house."

Khyana rolled her eyes again. "Then get a new one!"

Sirius shook his head. "Nah. Don't need a new one."

"Well then stay out of mine!" she cried, turning back to the counter.

Sirius came over and put his arms around her waist, putting his mouth near her ear. "But see, darling, I don't need a new house because whenever I get bored of mine, I can come to yours. So if I can't come to yours, where will I go?"

Khyana stopped chopping peppers long enough to say, "You have three best friends, who all have houses. Go bother one of them."

Sirius threw back his head and laughed. "You're funny, Na, you know that?"

"I've been told that," Khyana replied darkly.

Sirius kissed the back of her neck. "Well, it's true," he murmured.

A/N: It wasn't all about Yana. Just a little bit. I had to put it in. Kelria's back in full swing in the next one, though. These past few have focussed on everyone. So there you go. And don't be surprised if chapter 7 is up pretty soon too...And now I'm off to work! I hate work...