Chapter 12 – How They Work in the Colonies

"It's Miquel and Anarosa. Those… Mortífagos… ¿Cómo se dice?…Death Eaters from Britain attacked them."

Harry's breath caught in his throat and he vaguely heard a roaring sound in his ears. "Not Anarosa", he thought desperately, "please Merlin, not Anarosa! She didn't do anything except help me!"

He heard Sirius' voice in the distance, a soothing counterpoint to the horrified silent screaming in his own mind. "Is there anyone coming for you, Elias?" At the boy's frozen nod the older man gently asked, "Can you tell us what happened?"

"My older brother Dante always looks out for me and keeps me informed on what's happening in the family. His letter said that those cobardes attacked Miguel and Anarosa at home as they sat outside enjoying a drink before dinner. The neighbors saw the attack, but it happened too quickly for them to do anything. I don't know how bad it is yet. All I know is that my father is coming to take me home."

The roaring was louder in Harry's ears and he realized his vision had started to blacken a bit. He sat down heavily and took a deep breath. "Not Anarosa!" he begged silently. He glanced up to realize that Sirius was now seated beside the grieving boy and gently rubbing his back. "Would you like Harry to pack a bag for you, Elias?"

Elias gazed at the older man for a few moments as if trying to focus on and translate his words and then shook his head. "I have everything I need at home. I just need to bring Xolotl's cage with me. But thank you," he added mechanically.

Sirius continued to rub the distraught boy's back as he looked at Harry crouched at his roommate's feet. His godson looked in shock as guilt traced itself over his features.

A knock sounded and the door immediately opened to show a 40-something black-haired man, his face tight with grief. Behind the man, Harry could see Christine Sadler. "Papa!" yelled Elias and was across the room and enveloped in a fierce hug in seconds. Within seconds, the boy had begun heaving deep sobs into his father's chest who simply murmured to him and held him tightly.

Harry and Sirius moved to the other side of the room, and the older man place a gentle arm around his godson's trembling shoulders. He wanted to murmur "It will be all right, Harry", but how could he do that when he didn't know if the attorney Harry respected and cherished was alive or dead? So he held him close and attempted to let his presence comfort the boy.

Eventually Elias' sobs slowed and ended with small hiccups. The elder Guerrera finally looked at the other two in the room. "I have no news," he said sadly. "Anarosa was hit with a Diffindo to her neck while Miguel was cursed with an Entrail Exploding hex. They were taken to Eastlake Hospital just before I came to get Elias."

Harry found his voice and rasped "I'm so sorry, Mr. Guerrera!"

Dark brown eyes examined the guilt-stricken teen and a slight widening showed that he realized who the boy was. The older man's voice was reserved as he nodded and said "Thank you. It is a difficult time for the family."

He withdrew his wand and flicked it over the glass cage holding Xolotl to levitate it. "Come, Elias. Let's go home." In a few moments, they were gone.

Sirius looked at the dark-haired Healing instructor who was still in the room. "I'll be taking Harry home, Ms. Sadler," he said quietly. "Would you ask his teachers for any assignments?"

"Of course Mr. Black," she said gently. "I'll take care of it." She looked at Harry with concerned eyes and glanced at Sirius, who nodded. She slipped out the door and closed it quietly.

"Harry," he began.

"It's my fault," the teen responded in a harsh whisper. "It's all my fault. They wouldn't have been attacked if it weren't for me."

Sirius moved quickly and embraced his godson. "No Harry, you didn't order the attack, did you? You didn't hold the wands and you didn't cast the curses. The blame rests purely on Voldemort and his cowardly sycophants."

"But if I hadn't hired Anarosa, she would never have been targeted!"

Sirius put his hands on the teen's cheeks and tipped his head to meet his eyes. "Prongslet, listen to me. Anarosa is a very smart woman and a responsible adult. She evaluated your situation before she ever took you on as a client. When Voldemort rose again, she knew you were a target and she chose to keep you as a client."

The emerald eyes shimmered with tears that overflowed and ran down his cheeks over Sirius's fingers. "It's not fair! She's so good and it's just not fair!" He buried his head in his godfather's shoulder and let the grief and guilt tear out of his chest as racking sobs.

Sirius held him close and rocked him gently. "No, it's not fair. No one deserves to be targeted by that lunatic." As he comforted his godson, his thoughts turned to James and Lily. "What do I do now, Prongs?" he wondered. "How do I help your son through this?"

It was another hour before the two returned home.

A curt "Enter!" answered Kinglsey Shacklebolt's sharp rap on Amelia Bones office door, and he and Senior Auror Lawrence Palmer entered briskly. Shacklebolt was a middle-aged tall black wizard, who kept his head clean-shaven and wore a gold earring while Palmer was in his early thirties, average height, sandy blonde hair and flinty brown eyes. She waved them to the two seats in front of her desk and then inspected them both as if judging and validating their worth. Both men kept from squirming under the intense scrutiny, used to their Head's examinations.

"I want you two to take all files you have on Voldemort and his Death Eaters and then pack for a long-term overseas assignment. I'm delegating you to work with…" she looked down at a file on her desk, "…Special Agent James Sheppard of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States. Harry Potter has been targeted three times now that we know of. First when someone used the Imperius curse on his roommate, then when he was poisoned by an unknown assailant. The most recent assault however was against his attorney and her husband when they were attacked at their home by four assailants dressed as Death Eaters."

Shacklebolt kept his emotions from showing on his face only through years of training. They hadn't stopped the Dark Lord within their own borders and now his violence had spread to other countries. It was a slur against the DMLE and an embarrassment to all Aurors. To his chagrin, the Order of the Phoenix had done little but react either. He realized his boss was speaking again and paid strict attention.

"The American couple attacked were Anarosa and Miguel Diaz. Both are attorneys, but the woman is Mr. Potter's personal solicitor. She was hit with a Diffindo to the throat and barely survived. It is unknown whether she'll ever be able to speak again. Her husband was hit with an Exploding Entrail curse, but fortunately the healers arrived in time to save him."

Palmer frowned as he tried to recall details and then asked, "What can you tell us about the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Madame Bones?"

The gray-haired woman picked up a pamphlet from the folder in front of her. "You can read through this, but basically the FBI is the principal investigative arm of both the magical and non-magical branches of the U.S. Department of Justice. Their mission is to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats and to enforce the criminal laws of their country. With the recent attack on their citizens, their interest in Voldemort has intensified considerably."

She leaned forward and pinned both men with a fierce glare. "Details on your travel arrangements and accommodations are in the file. You will offer all possible support to this agency as well as gather any new information that you can. You represent the DMLE and I expect you to do so in a professional and efficient manner. I expect an update every 48 hours. Are we clear?"

Both men stood, their backs rigid and their eyes looking over her head. "Clear ma'am".

She nodded crisply. "Dismissed then. I'll expect your first report in 48 hours."

Harry glanced hesitantly over his shoulder at Sirius, who just nodded encouragement to him. Gathering his courage, he knocked lightly on the door. After a few muffled footsteps, the door opened to show Miguel Diaz, dressed in non-standard pajamas covered by a black silk robe and wearing soft leather slippers. His brown eyes widened slightly in surprise at the young teen and older man, but when he took in the fearful and guilt-ridden face before him, his face warmed and he offered the two a smile.

"Cara mia, we have guests," he called over his shoulder. "Come in, gentleman", he continued.

"How…how are you feeling Mr. Diaz? Is your stomach all right now?" In a slightly softer voice Harry added, "Are..are you sure you want me to come in?"

"I am doing very well, thank you Harry. The healers cleared me to go home tomorrow." He grinned at a peremptory banging was heard coming from behind a fabric privacy screen that blocked the beds from the hallway. "And based on that thumping, I believe Anarosa is rather insistent that you come in." Another bang could be heard as if in agreement.

Miguel waved the two visitors into the room, and Harry hesitantly approached the privacy screen and the bed it hid. Anarosa sat in the bed, propped up with several pillows. The teen's eyes were drawn to the white gauze that covered her throat and he blinked quickly as tears filled his eyes. A sharp rap brought his attention to a pad of paper that Anarosa had used to hit the bed table beside her. She offered the teen a warm smile and opened her arms to him. With a sob, he ran into her arms and wrapped his own around her, being careful to only touch her gently.

"I'm so sorry," he sobbed, "it's all my fault. If you hadn't taken me as a client, this would never have happened. Voldemort only knows about you because of me. I'm so sorry you were hurt!"

The woman looked up at Sirius with concerned eyes even as she stroked the teens back softly. Sirius smiled sadly at her, but said matter-of-factly, "Harry understands intellectually that Voldemort and his terrorist band are responsible for their own actions, but emotionally, seeing someone he cares about hurt is something else."

"S'my fault," Harry mumbled as he shut his eyes tightly and tried to stop the tears. Merlin, Anarosa would think he was five years old with his behavior! When he thought he had control of his emotions, he pulled back a little to look into his attorney's face, and was surprised at the affection he saw. She stroked his cheek gently for a moment and then he yelped when the same hand delivered a smack to the back of his head.

She picked up the pad of paper and a pen and turned to a new sheet of paper. With quick strokes she wrote for a minute and then turned the pad to face him. "Silly boy! Are you questioning my intelligence? Do you think I fail to think situations through before making decisions?"

Harry looked up from the pad in shock. "What? No! But.."

She scribbled again. "But nothing. If you agree that I think my decisions through, then you agree that I understood the risks and accepted them – which I did."

Harry tried again to express his culpability in a way she would understand. "But you wouldn't be here with your throat sliced and having to write instead of talk if it weren't for me!"

Anarosa rolled her eyes and again wrote on the pad with sharp and almost angry strokes. "Ah, so you think you're my only client? Or the only client with enemies? Nonsense! While you're a special young man, your circumstances are not that unusual. Now stop the self-reproach and tell me if the FBI approached you yet. I had an agent come see me this morning."

"The FBI? No, we haven't heard from them." He looked over his shoulder at Sirius, who shook his head in confirmation.

Anarosa looked at Miguel and shook her hand to indicate she was tired of writing. Her husband moved to the other side of the bed and caressed her cheek for a moment before looking at their visitors. "Special Agents James Sheppard and Lora Peterson came to see us this morning. Ever since the World Trade Center bombing last year, the FBI has been on heightened alert towards acts of terrorism, whether non-magical or magical. The fact that a British terrorist is willing to cross international borders and attack on U.S. soil put Voldemort near the top of their Most Wanted list; at least on the Magical front."

He paused as Anarosa scribbled two words on her pad and smiled. "She said to tell you this is a 'good thing'. By that, she means the FBI has considerable resources to bring to the effort. The two Special Agents we spoke with said that two Aurors are coming over from the British Ministry of Magic to assist with the investigation and help with plans to thwart any future attacks. When they do approach you, please share anything you can with them so that they can prepare a profile and make appropriate plans."

Sirius spoke up out of curiosity, "A profile?"

Miguel nodded as he explained, "Agents collect the general facts about a perpetrator and are able to make educated guesses about what the next target could be, when it will occur, how it will take place, et cetera. We already know who the mastermind is, so we need to make proactive plans to prevent any of his schemes from being successful. The FBI has a history of quietly foiling some major attempts."

Anarosa wrote again and turned the pad towards Harry. "In or out of school?"

"I'm at home right now. I didn't want to risk anyone else getting hurt and Sirius says the Black wards are among the best."

The other adults looked at Sirius with a question. "Black Family wards are blood-based. They've never been breached. I've pretty much shut down the property to everyone but Harry, Remus and me. Anyone else would be bounced off the wards and anyone foolish enough to subsequently attempt to penetrate them receives progressively violent reactions."

Harry looked a bit embarrassed as he added, "Sirius overreacts a bit. He's making me carry two emergency portkeys at all times." He was surprised to see the other adults nod approvingly.

"We're still having fun though," Sirius objected. "Didn't I teach you how to turn water into rum? Your father and I didn't learn that until our Sixth Year at Hogwarts!" He chuckled at Anarosa's rolling eyes and Miguel covering his eyes as he muttered, "I didn't hear that."

The two visitors stayed several more minutes, but Sirius was relieved to see that the overwhelming guilt his godson had been bearing had lessened considerably by the time they took their leave.

Kingsley Shacklebolt finished his first report to DMLE Head Amelia Bones after arriving in the United States. Special Agent James Sheppard turned out to be a lean man with salt-and-pepper hair and tired eyes. Very straightforward, he had the tendency to be more blunt than tactful. However as his file revealed, he had a long string of successfully closed cases.

Lora Peterson had been assigned as his partner only a year ago, but the two had begun developing a good working relationship. In her late thirties, she had close-cropped brown hair that began to curl in the humid weather, making her appear much younger. She had a background in biostatistics and psychology that left Shacklebolt wondering about U.S. occupations and methods.

Special Agent Peterson was able to share the latest about the investigation into Harry Potter's poisoning. She opened one of the files she carried and gave them copies of a multi-page report. "To summarize this, our investigators validated that he had no letters with poisons, his books were clean as were his other school supplies. His dorm room had nothing unexpected and nothing that could be combined with other components to form the poison he had. We also checked the seats in his classrooms and in the cafeteria, but they were clean as well. The heating and cooling systems were thoroughly inspected, but nothing suspicious was found. Our current theory is that someone bumped into him and transferred it directly to his skin that way, but we have no firm suspects."

Shacklebolt opened his own files and retrieved pictures of Lucius Malfoy which he gave to his counterparts. "We learned that this man, Lucius Malfoy, was given the assignment to destroy Harry Potter's supporters and kidnap the boy if at all possible."

"Riddle's obsession with Mr. Potter is interesting" said Sheppard. "It implies that his ego is more important than his goals. Obviously, a 15-month old child didn't deliberately defeat him, so it was either a protection given by his parents, something inherent in the boy's magic, or something Riddle himself did wrong. Regardless, he is unable to move forward because his ego can't seem to resolve having been defeated by Mr. Potter." He looked back at the Aurors and asked, "What can you tell us about why he didn't die in 1981?"

The revelation about the horcruxes caused duplicate expressions of revulsion on the FBI agent's faces, which Shacklebolt found vaguely relieving. At the end of their first four hour discussion, Special Agent Sheppard had leaned back in his chair as he looked out in the distance with hooded eyes. "So basically we're dealing with an obsessive-compulsive with Daddy abandonment issues who had to create a new identify to find his self-worth and who is terrified of death. The horcruxes may actually be an advantage for us," he continued as he thought out loud, ignoring the surprise on the Aurors faces. "After splitting his soul so many times, Riddle is likely incapable of thinking logically, meaning that his judgment will be compromised. We'll be able to use that against him."

Both Aurors noticed that the American agents tended to call You-Know-Who by his birth surname of Riddle. That was certainly easier than saying the "V" word and they thought it might be useful to adopt the practice.

Special Agent Peterson leaned forward to say, "I assume the Aurors have a Special Task Force assigned to find and destroy the horcruxes? What is the status of that effort?"

Palmer and Shacklebolt exchanged quick glances. The Ministry was trying to keep the existence of such loathsome creations secret, and Palmer had only been informed of them at Shacklebolt's insistence. He tugged on his earring in embarrassment as he admitted, "Only two people are assigned to searching for them. The knowledge that something like that can be created is not something the Ministry wants published, so it is a 'need to know' basis." He didn't add that the two were Order of the Phoenix members and not Ministry Aurors.

He couldn't help but see the fleeting look the two Special Agents shot one another and understood. He would prefer to have a team of six or more dedicated to finding and destroying the vile things. The female agent finally said "I suppose since it took over a dozen years for him to be 'reborn', your DMLE's approach is to destroy him now regardless and clean up the horcruxes afterwards?"

The dark-skinned Auror ignored the slight twitch from Palmer. How could they admit that as a department they had become reactive rather than proactive towards He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or that he was nearly impossible to defeat?

As the seconds dragged on, Sheppard changed the subject to the Aurors relief. "How deeply have you been able to infiltrate his organization?"

"We have one agent in his so-called Inner Circle, but He doesn't share every detail with every Inner Circle member, so our visibility is somewhat limited." Shacklebolt didn't mention that their agent was not part of the DMLE. "That's how we knew who had the assignment against Harry Potter here in the States."

Sheppard picked up the pictures of Lucius Malfoy. "We'll circulate these among our agents and confirm whether he entered the country legally or illegally. With any luck, he bypassed Customs and we'll be able to hold him for that."

He considered the information about their agent. "Perhaps our R & D will have something we can pass to your infiltrator to incapacitate Riddle. We might have something, whether magical or not, for which he and his minions don't have a counter."

Palmer asked cautiously, "Are and Dee?"

Again, the two Americans exchanged glances again before Sheppard said easily, "Our Research and Development department. They are constantly creating new products or spells for agent use. Perhaps we can schedule a visit in the next few days."

As Shacklebolt completed his report, he couldn't help but suggest that a review of FBI departments and procedures could potentially offer assistance in helping the DMLE operate more efficiently and meet their Ministry objectives. He poured himself a drink from the en suite bar after spending ten minutes trying to phrase that single sentence and shook his head. This was definitely an eye-opening trip.

STATUS REPORT #2
TO: Madame Amelia Bones, Department Head, Magical Law Enforcement
FROM: Senior Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt

Interview with Harry Potter with Special Agents Sheppard and Peterson

Also attending were Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Mr. Potter is currently residing at a Black property in the town of Stillwater, State of Minnesota, U.S.A. He is being home-schooled for the immediate future. The property is warded by Black Family blood wards. Mr. Black is considering the Fidelius Charm on the property.

The fourteen year old witness described his numerous encounters with Tom Riddle and shared pensieve memories. These are being transcripted per FBI policy. A copy will be sent when complete.

Encounter #1 was during his first year. Discussed the pain he had in his curse scar when around Quirinius Quirrel. Reviewed the attempted murder attempt during a Quidditch game when his broom was hexed (saved by the counter curse cast by Severus Snape). Analyzed the confrontation in the Forbidden Forest where Quirrel killed unicorns and drank their blood to keep Riddle's spirit alive as well as his own deteriorating body. Finally examined the confrontation where Riddle was revealed as possessing Quirrel, the impact of Potter touching Quirrel and Quirrel's death and Riddle's subsequent flight, again as a incorporeal spirit.

Encounter #2 was during his second year. Riddle created his first horcrux at sixteen and sealed an imprint of himself inside a journal. The journal possessed and began to drain the life of eleven-year old Ginevra Weasley. The girl was able to open the Chamber of Secrets and release a 20 meter basilisk. Because the victims didn't see the basilisk's eyes directly, they were petrified rather than killed.

Mr. Potter, Mr. Ron Weasley and Professor Gilderoy Lockhart found the entrance to the Chamber (a second floor girl's lavatory). Professor Lockhart attempted to obliviate the students, but a cracked wand caused the spell to backfire, obliviating the instructor instead. Mr. Potter was separated from the other two by a rockfall and ventured on alone. He found a nearly corporeal teenaged Tom Riddle and a nearly dead Ginevra Weasley. He was able to kill the basilisk when the phoenix Fawkes brought him the Sorting Hat which provided Gryffindor's sword. He plunged the sword through the snake's mouth into the brain, killing it, but was bitten. He used a broken fang to destroy the horcrux, which destroyed Riddle's imprint before it could complete draining the young Weasley's life. Fawkes cured the poison through tears and then helped the two escape the Chamber. It was later assumed that Lucius Malfoy had planted the journal among other books Miss Wealsey's purchased for the year. See Potter's pensieve memories for additional details.

Reports regarding the other assaults on Mr. Potter after leaving Hogwarts, including an Imperius'd roommate and a poison attempt are attached as an addendum. Transcripts of the FBI interview with Miguel and Anarosa Diaz are also attached.

Review of the tour of the FBI's Research and Development Department - Spelled for Madame Amelia Bones eyes only!

The FBI has a large staff devoted to investigating and producing both spells and items that can be used by field agents. I estimate that we saw over one hundred and fifty staff members during our three-hour tour. The spells and items are categorized under the broad categories of "Crowd Control", "Interview Aids", and "Offensive and Defensive".

Crowd control included both Muggle and Magical gases and potions that can be delivered through air, water or food. One such gas was designed to affect the emotions of a rioting crowd, changing the participants from violent to disinterested. It should be noted that the FBI uses both Muggle and Magical means based on the situation.

Interview aids included various Veritaserum potions and substitutes. Some of these potions can be absorbed through the skin or lungs rather than ingested through the mouth. They continue to develop new methods due to concerns about perpetrators developing a resistance or a time-released antidote to existing techniques.

Offensive and Defensive tools were sub-categorized into group and individual requirements. Defensive tools included armor, battle robes, protection charms as well as everyday items that prevent Legilmens or compulsion charms. All of their agents have a variety of these protections, as well as multiple healing potions and items that cast a one-time healing or protection charm if the caster is either magically exhausted or non-magical. Multiple communication tools were also under development, including two-way, or group tools. One tool permitted Agents to have a receiver implanted under the skin in the ear to receive communication and a transmitter to be implanted in the agent's throat, making both invisible to the naked eye. We were told that they drew heavily on Muggle technology of radio waves, telephones and something called satellite communication to create magical counterparts.

The Offensive aids were devastating in their number and ingenuity. We saw items, potions and spells that converted blood into other components, including crystallizing it, turning it to sand, or what one agent called the "base components" of water, iron and minerals. We saw multiple methods of stopping an opponent's heart and lungs as well as more neutral ways to incapacitate large crowds as if an area-wide sleep or confundus spell was cast.

An item they called Clingfire appears to be similar to Fiendfire, but its objective is to only burn the first object it touches, leaving anything else alone. This item's weakness was described as still being subject to a vacuum; in other words without air, the fire cannot be supported.

Speaking of suppressing a fire, they are working on a broad-range spell to push all air away from a location for up to ten seconds. They believe this would eliminate a fire, but would allow victims time to escape when the air returns. This is still in the developmental stages.

We saw one team working on a method to negate all magical effects in an area, whether it is a magical item or spell. The problem they were struggling with was that Magical beings as well as adult witches and wizards cannot live with their magic being fully suppressed. Of course, that could be a benefit if one knew Riddle had called all of his Death Eaters together and then this was released into that area.

Their Muggle tools used a broad range of methods that have never occurred to me. For example, they could use high pitched sound capable of causing pain and unconsciousness, similar to a Banshee's cry. We witnessed chemical compounds similar to potions could heal or destroy. They seemed to have a wide range of toxic chemicals at their disposal.

I will provide pensieve memories of the entire tour when possible.

Attested and Witnessed,
Kingley Shacklebolt

Amelia Bones read through the report three times before leaning back in her chair and turning her eyes to the ceiling. Shacklebolt's report was disturbing, very disturbing on multiple levels. She ran her hand over her face and wondered whether she would be able to sleep that night at all.