All Things Come Together

"Gentlemen, I am happy to have you all here," Magnus said, looking around the table. "As promised, we will be discussing our extraction plan for Daisy Wood."

"You've found a way around the aurors?" a man asked, leaning towards him. "We've been going over various scenarios since the raid on the Ministry and haven't managed to come up with a plausible plan." Magnus glanced over at him.

"It would appear that our associate with the Ministry and… another associate… have come up with a scenario. It will require extensive planning, but they assure me that it is workable," he said, appearing slightly annoyed. "They will be here soon."

There was a knock on the door, Magnus motioned to Tobias to let the guests in. Tobias stepped over quickly and opened the door, stepping back to allow Hardwick and his partner to walk in.

"Good to see you again Hardwick, Martins," Magnus said. "Please… sit." The quidditch player and the MACUSA auror walked over and sat in two empty chairs, Hardwick nervously looking over at Magnus while Martins smiled warmly.

"Love what you've done with the place," he said, motioning around the room. Magnus frowned.

"What can you tell us?" he said. "Is your cover still safe?"

"Of course!" Martins said. "They're all fixated on Witt and Richards. And it's not like those two idiots are helping themselves. No one suspects the friendly, jolly Martins." Magnus nodded.

"Good," he said. He turned his cold stare to Hardwick. "So what is this plan?"

"I have to credit Hardwick. It's a ballsy plan, but I think it could work," Martins said before he could speak. Magnus continued staring at the player. Hardwick cleared his throat.

"We take her at a large, public place… at a time when no one is expecting it," he said. Magnus frowned.

"Public? Have you seen the security that surrounds them?" Magnus asked. "In public it'll only be worse."

"Just hear us out… he's got a good plan that could work," Martins said. "They'll never know what hit them. It'll be someplace they would least expect at a time they least expect."

Magnus stared at them a bit before pushing the meeting forward, asking Hardwick and Martins about details and then asking various others about the feasibility. After about 40 minutes, Magnus dismissed everyone, telling Hardwick and Martins to go with his team to start work on specifics. After they had all left the room, he looked at Tobias.

"How are our plans going with the ministries?" Magnus asked.

"We're progressing steadily. By the time we've extracted Daisy Wood, they will be in place and ready to move quickly," Tobias said. Magnus nodded slowly.

"Keep me updated," he said, clearly dismissing Tobias.

"Yes, sir."


Daisy glanced back at the two aurors following her and huffed.

"They here for your protection," Toby said reasonably.

"I know, but they're bloody annoying," she said, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear. She was now about the same height as Toby and looked nothing like her normal self. Granted the aurors following them would likely give her away to anyone who cared to follow them.

"Relax. This is supposed to be a fun night out," he said. "You said you were getting stir-crazy being locked up in Wills and your brothers' flats."

"I know. I'll try not to complain," she said, rolling her eyes. Toby laughed softly. "So, how are things with Tessa?" He smiled warmly.

"Well, enough. She wants to stay," he replied. "At least until this whole thing blows over." Daisy nodded and smiled.

"Dare say, it's more than that. I'm happy for you," she said, looping her arm through his. "Truly."

"I have to admit, I'm quite happy as well. Not sure where this'll go, but it's nice to finally have feelings for someone who returns them," he said. Daisy grimaced.

"Yea…" she said. Toby laughed softly.

"Pix, relax. You weren't the only one," he said. Daisy's eyes widened.

"Do tell," she replied.

"Not worth it," he replied. "It's all over and done with." Daisy sighed and looked forward as they continued down the sidewalk.

"So, where are we going?" she asked, glancing over at him. "I know you told the aurors and they likely already have a few there."

"I know how much you like that speakeasy," he said. "Thought we'd have a few drinks there." Daisy grinned and nodded. She looked around the street and took a deep breath.

"It feels good to walk around outside. I feel like I'm in prison half the time," she said. Toby glanced over at her.

"That bad, eh?" he asked.

"You've no idea. I have to go straight to the stadium. Straight home. I had to give them a week's notice for this little outing," she grumbled. "Remus and Alan can get away with a day or so. Even Jamie can get by with a couple days. But me? Oh, I have to tell them a week in advance and plot out every second I'm out of the house."

"You know it's for your own safety," he said with a sigh.

"I know," she said. "Just wish it didn't have to be so bloody annoying. I'm tempted to sneak out most of the time."

"Please tell me you're not serious, Pix. I work in the auror's office now," he said with a groan. "I'll have to report it."

"I'm not going to do it," she nearly shouted.

"Pix…"

"I won't," she said. They stopped in front of an alley and turned to go down it, Toby leading them down a staircase to a basement entry. After rapping on the door, they were let in, the aurors following behind them.

Once they were settled and drinks in front of them, Daisy looked around the room, taking in the live band playing jazz in the corner. On the weekends it was livelier, usually with many on the dance floor. For a weeknight, it was relatively calm. She propped her chin on her hand.

"I miss going out whenever I want," she said, looking back at Toby.

"I know you do, Pix. But this'll be over soon," he said.

"You don't know that, Toby," she said, reaching for her cocktail.

"I have to think it will be," he said. Daisy stared at her glass.

"And who knows what's to come," she said dryly, turning the glass in her fingers.

"Come on, Pix. What's all this doom and gloom?" he asked.

"Just… getting to me a bit, I suppose," she said, taking another drink.

"Sure can't tell watching you on the pitch," he replied.

"It's the one place I can clear my head," Daisy said. "Thank Merlin for that."

"How are things with Kingfisher?" Toby asked.

"Better," she said. "We're getting on. Granted we don't have much time to talk."

"Thought he was at the triplets' place more often than not," Toby said.

"He is. Not like we can have a heart to heart in front of Jamie, Remus and Alan. Or Wills, for that matter. He's turned into my bloody shadow. Wanted to come tonight," she said, huffing slightly. Toby chuckled.

"Can you blame him?" he asked.

"No. But doesn't mean he's got to go all Big Brother on me. I'm capable of taking care of myself," she said.

"We all know that. But… just don't want Magnus to get to you again," Toby said, turning serious. Daisy shook her head and stared at her glass again.

"Just… it burns me that he got the one-up," she said. She looked up at Toby, her eyes flashing red. "I won't let him get me again," she said, her voice full of steel. Toby nodded.

"I know, Pix. We're all doing what we can to prevent that," he said. She looked down at her glass.

"Just wish we could end this," she said, sounding weary. "Find them and… get rid of them."

"We'll get them, Pix," he said. She stared him down in the eye.

"You get them… but I want Magnus," she said. Toby shook his head.

"Pix, that's mad," he said. "Let us handle it."

"No, Toby. He came after me and my family. I want to take him down," she said.

"Daisy… are you ready for that?" he asked softly. "You're talking about… you can't possibly want to do that." He couldn't bring himself to say the word. Daisy swallowed and looked down at her glass again.

"I'm not sure if I can, to be honest. But…" she looked up at him, determination coming into her bright green eyes. "If it comes down to me or him, or him or my family or friends, I won't shy away from doing what needs to be done."

"And neither will we, Pix. But he needs to be brought to justice. Let us do our job and promise me that you'll not do anything mad," he said, sighing heavily. Daisy frowned.

"I'm not about to go running out trying to find him," she scoffed.

"I know. But I also know you, Pix," he said, frowning himself. "You'll go running off with half an idea in your head as soon as you get the chance." Daisy took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"This isn't like before," she said.

"But isn't it? You could've died," he said, leaning towards her. "You could die trying to take out Magnus or anyone in the Network."

"I didn't die. I couldn't die. And I won't die this time. Christ, you sound like Dad," she said, emptying her glass and waving for the server.

"For good reason, Pix," Toby said.

"Don't start, Toby. You of all people," she muttered before ordering a shot and another cocktail.

"Daisy…"

"No, seriously, Toby. I know what I'm doing. I'm the one who was given this gift. I'm the one going beyond the veil. I'm the one talking to dead relatives and bringing dead people back. I'm the one who loses part of her soul every time I have to bring someone back," she whispered furiously. Toby was silent, looking down at his glass.

"Is that what you found out? On the island?" he asked softly. Daisy nodded, reaching for the shot glass as it appeared.

"I'll still do it," she said before downing it. "I'll gladly do it. But I hope to Merlin I don't have to." Toby looked up at her.

"I hope so too, Pix," he said. Daisy met his eyes.

"But you know… as long as Magnus is out there… there's a chance," she said. "If this comes to war or battle or… whatever… we may lose people."

"We're doing everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen," Toby said.

"I know," Daisy said. "Just can't help thinking there's more I should be doing."

"Relax, Pix. You're doing all that you can. And we are as well. Let us do our job," Toby said, reaching across the table and grabbing her hand. He squeezed. "And promise me you won't do something stupid." Daisy stared at their hands and then up at Toby.

"I won't. Just make sure you get that bastard," she replied.

"We will."


Tori kept her eyes forward as she and Chris walked down the sidewalk, once again following Witt and Richards. They had taken to rotating with Toby and Dominique, making sure the duo was covered every day when they weren't in the office. So far, no one had uncovered anything that gave them definitive information on what they were up to.

And when they weren't following the Americans, they were off attempting to follow Hardwick, now that the suspicions had been raised at the Halloween party. Chris hadn't taken them seriously, but Dominique seemed to think there could be something there. So far it appeared the only thing he did was go to practice then either go to the pub with his teammates or home. On the weekends when he wasn't going out, he went over to his grandparents' house.

All rather boring.

"What do you think they'll talk about tonight? More baseball?" Tori asked with a sigh. She glanced over at Chris, barely recognizing him with his blonde hair now long and brown.

"Likely," he said. "Dom said they went on about something called the World Series for hours last night." Tori frowned slightly as she continued to watch the two.

"I just can't figure out why we haven't seen anything. I know they're up to something, just… you'd think that we'd see them contacting someone or meeting someone," she said, slightly exasperated.

"Or we may have to face the fact that they really aren't up to something, as big a letdown as that may be," he said with a heavy sigh.

"Uh-uh. I refuse to believe that. They are up to something - I can feel it in my bones," she said. "That skulking around. Following us to the club. Their obsession with the Woods. There's something there."

"We don't know for sure that they followed you to the club," Chris said. "They did mention that they happened to be there." Tori snorted slightly, her disbelief apparent.

"I don't believe that for a second," she said.

"How did they know then?" Chris asked.

"I don't know. How do they know anything? They're aurors. They found out," Tori said. "I just… I get a feeling about them. They are up to something."

"Hold on," Chris said, stopping suddenly and pulling Tori with him into the alcove of a building. Her eyes went wide and her heartbeat picked up at his sudden nearness.

"What is it?" she asked, shaking her head to clear it.

"They stopped," he said, leaning out of the alcove slightly, his eyes trained ahead. "They're going into this dodgy inn. Come on." He stepped out, pulling Tori with him. She cleared her throat and focused. Witt and Richards had just disappeared through the doors of a dark and dingy building in a seedier part of Diagon Alley. "Surprised they're not in Knockturn Alley."

"Too obvious," Tori muttered as they slipped in the entrance and looked around. The first floor was a dark pub with a roaring fireplace along one wall while a bar ran along the back. To the left was a creaky staircase that went up with a small desk nearby where a grizzled old man sat in front of a wall of cubbies and keys.

"They must have gone upstairs. I don't see them," Chris muttered, scanning the occupants.

"How do we get upstairs?" Tori asked, glancing up the stairs. Chris smiled down at her.

"We get a room," he said brightly as he started towards the old man. Tori followed him, glancing around the room. "Yes, I need one room for the night." The old man put down a copy of the Prophet and glanced back and forth between the two. A conspiratorial smile broke out as he spun around on his stool and looked through the cubbies before grabbing a key out of one and holding it out.

"10 Galleons and it's room 203," he said. Chris reached into his pocket and pulled out the coins before taking the key and nodding to the man. The couple then walked up the stairs, Tori wrinkling her nose at the layers of dust on the banister.

"Who would choose to stay here?" she asked as they cleared the first landing.

"Likely someone who didn't want anyone else to know they were here," he said, looking around.

"I don't even want to think about what sort of infestation the beds have," Tori said, pulling her wand out as they reached a corridor on the second floor.

"Good thing you don't actually have to sleep on it," Chris said with a chuckle, pulling out his own wand. Tori glanced at him.

"How do you want to do this? We don't know which room they're in," she said softly. "And there's another floor above this. Should we split up?" Chris shook his head.

"Room by room. Pretend to be housekeeping," he said. Tori looked a bit dubious.

"And that's supposed to work?" she asked.

"Gets them to open the door. Granted, I'm sure we could listen in first and that should tell us right away whether it's worth seeing inside," he said, walking up to the first door and putting his ear to it.

"What the-" Tori stopped as it hit her what he was talking about.

"Not that one," Chris said, stepping away and moving to the next door, Tori following. She pressed her ear up to the next one, hearing moaning.

"Not that one either," she said. "Definitely glad I don't actually have to sleep here." Chris chuckled as they moved to the next door. Tori pressed her ear to the door.

"Again-"

"Shh!" Tori said, putting her hand up. She looked over at him and pointed to the door. "It's them."

Chris leaned in, listening. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but he could clearly hear Witt and Richards talking. He nodded. The two stepped away and backed up a few steps looking at the door.

"What do we do?" she asked, glancing over at him. "Blast the door and charge in? We don't know that they're doing anything." Chris studied the door and sighed.

"Let's just get to the bottom of this," he said. Tori nodded and pointed her wand at the door, uttering a charm. The door flew open and she and Chris charged in, wands at the ready. Both Witt and Richards froze, though Richards didn't look that surprised to see them there.

"What are you doing here?" Witt shouted. Chris looked around the room, shocked to see the walls covered in photos and articles about the Woods - some dating back to right after the second war.

"What is this?" he asked, stepping towards the wall, catching sight of an article about Daisy winning the house cup her seventh year. Next to it was a recent photo of her on the pitch at Appleby. He looked over at the two.

"What are you doing?" Tori shouted as she stomped to Richards, her wand pointed at his chest. "Are you working with the Network?"

"God, Rollins! No!" Richards shouted. "Put your damn wands down!"

"No! How do I know you won't stupefy me and run off," she shouted back.

"We're not working with the Network! We're trying to protect the Woods," Witt said. Tori flicked her eyes over to him.

"I don't believe you," she said.

"Neither do I," Chris said, his wand up. "We're taking you back to the Ministry."

"Look, can you just put your wands down and we'll explain everything," Richards said, this time a bit more softly. "And then we'll go back to the Ministry and you can contact the President. She'll back me up."

"No!" Tori shouted. "I don't believe you!"

"For god's sake, Rollins! Look around!" Richards said. Tori glanced around the room.

"You've been following and researching the Woods," she said. "What are you doing with the information?!" Richards sighed heavily and walked over to one of the walls, pulling off a parchment and handing it over to her.

"Someone is leaking information to the Network. About the Woods. About the investigation. We've been looking into the Woods to see if it's anyone close to them as well as others in the Ministry," Richards said.

"We let you guys think it was us to throw off whoever it actually is," Witt added.

"You knew we were investigating you?" Chris asked, confused. Richards chuckled.

"You don't spend as long in MACUSA as I have without picking up a few tricks, kid," he replied. "Why do you think we've been giving you the run around for so long?"

"But… tonight… did you know we were following you?" Chris asked.

"We did. But weren't expecting you to come barging in," Witt said. "Granted it was about time you figured it out."

"So, this is why you wanted me to spy on the Woods?" Tori asked, her wand dropping slightly.

"The Ministry wasn't letting me near them, I needed someone to get in with them so I could learn more about them - their daily habits, who was close to them, who could be using this information for the Network," Richards said.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Tori asked. "I would have helped if I had known this was why. Why did you make me think you were suspicious of them and the Prostatis?" Witt and Richards shared a look.

"We still don't know who it is - we couldn't let anyone on our team know in case it's one of them," Richards said. "We've also been looking into the League, seeing if anyone there could be involved."

"Hardwick," Chris said immediately. "He's seeker on the Falcons. There's been bad blood with him and Daisy for years. She thinks he's involved. Not the first time, actually."

"We're looking into him as well because of that," Witt said, walking over to the other side of the room and picking up a file. He walked back and handed it to Chris. He opened it and looked through it, stopping at an old photo of two distinguished couples. They gazed solemnly at the camera, none even cracking a smile. "That's Hardwick's grandparents. And that's Gladys Orphington and her husband."

"Old friends from Hogwarts," Richards said. "You stopped looking into her, so we picked up where you left off. But that's fine. You guys were busy recovering memories."

Chris glanced over at Tori and then put his wand up. He walked over and sat down, shaking his head.

"I still don't understand why you wouldn't at least share this with Teddy or Pace," Chris said. "Or the Minister."

"Like I said, we - along with the President - think there's a mole. We didn't want to chance any of you slipping any information to them accidentally," Richards said.

"So, you were at the bachelorette party on purpose?" Tori asked.

"Yes," Witt said. "We thought the mole would be there as well. Not mention there should have been aurors watching the Woods at all times before then."

"Did you get any leads?" Chris asked. Richards shook his head.

"Not while we were there. Not to mention, Witt here blew our cover," Richards said, glancing over at him. "He wasn't supposed to engage so we could watch and only step in if needed."

"And we've been wasting our time following you," Chris said. "We could have been using that time trying to find whoever this is."

"And then you could have alerted Magnus," Richards said. "He got the one-up on you before, he can do it again."

"You think he's been following us?" Chris asked. "Keeping tabs?"

"He's obviously got someone following your investigation. Who's to say he doesn't have someone following you guys?" Witt said. Chris studied the two a moment and then nodded.

"Regardless, I think we should take all this to the Minister, Harry and Teddy. We can come up with a plan to throw off the mole, but we need to combine forces," he said, fixing the two in an intense gaze. "We don't have to do this at the Ministry if you're worried that will alert the mole. But this information… it's important and they should be let in on it."

Richards and Witt looked at each other and then Richards nodded.

"Fine. Bring them here. Now," he said. Chris stood and nodded.

"I'll get them," he said before apparating. Tori sighed and looked at her team leader.

"Seriously, you couldn't let me in on this?" she asked.

"We did what we thought we needed to do," Richards said. Tori just shook her head.

"We've wasted so much time looking into the wrong thing," she murmured. "We could have been using that time to find the actual mole. Or the Network."

"I'm sorry that we couldn't bring you in on this," Richards said. Tori laughed haggardly.

"Sure," she replied.

"I'm serious, Rollins. I know you're good. Just like your father was good. But this… this is bigger than me or you," Richards said. Tori looked up at him, not quite believing the words coming out of his mouth.

"Like I believe that," she said, looking around the room again.

"I mean it. That's why I requested you for my team," he said. She looked back at him, frowning.

"But you were so hard on me. Always have been," she said. Richards smiled slightly.

"I'm not an easy person to get along with, I get that. But I pushed you because I knew you had the potential to be one of the best aurors in MACUSA," he said. Tori nodded slowly as she looked down at the floor.

"Well…"

"From here out, I won't leave you out. But we have got to keep this under wraps," he said urgently.

"I know," Tori said vehemently, looking back up at him. "I'm not going to say anything."

"I know you won't," he said. Tori nodded.

"I just… this is way bigger than anything I've ever seen," she said. "And now that I've gotten to know them… the Woods. Daisy, Jamie, Alan and Remus. Even Mr. and Mrs. Wood…"

"Don't worry, kid. We'll get the bad guy. We always do," Richards said warmly. Tori stared at him a moment, still not quite believing the change in personality.

"Alright."


Good things come to those that wait... promised you some Network action, and then I dropped two big bombshells in this one. And then showed Daisy entertaining some dark thoughts...

There's more into the investigation in the next few chapters and then some more warm, fuzzies (seriously... there's another Woods' Christmas - the first with Wills - how could I not write that?). I got stuck a bit on the ball chapter, but now I'm passed that and hoping to get some more done. Work has started picking up, so I haven't had much time to focus on this. Not to mention Comic Con in a month with costume commission and whatnot. I'll try to write more and update more...

As always, thanks for reading, following and reviewing! Special welcome to new follower Marshymello!