The Innocence Of Guilt

by ENSIGN

Harry Potter was sentenced to Azkaban prison. However he never went there. Who is James Pathertrory and what has he got against the Death Eaters. Unspeakable, Confident and Cocky Harry. Post OOTP, HBP ccomplient. No DH relation.

4. May I Introduce Miss Mary Sue

Title: The Innocence Of Guilt

Author: ENSIGN

Chapter 03 – May I Introduce Miss Mary Sue

Ministry Of Magic – Level Nine: Department Of Mysteries – Head Unspeakable Office

"So what'd I get?" Harry asked smiling at the older man.

"Get?" Nicholas asked incredulously.

"The mission, you gave me a week, and I did it in six days."

"And you will then explain what you did and how your handy work got plastered on the front page of the Daily Prophet five days in a row?"

"Probably not." Harry shrugged.

"Then no cookie for you. The Italians are still trying to clear up the mess you caused there."

"It was subtle, no one knew it was me. Besides, it was only four manors."

"Four very large, expensive and heavily insured mansions. The insurance companies are having a week of hell thanks to you. Also when I say subtle, I meant quietly, without drawing attention to anything, we are Unspeakables you know?"

Harry huffed at the lack of appreciation for his work. Nicholas just ignored him.

"Then there was a small minor disturbance of the peace all the way in France."

"I had nothing to do with that." Harry answered innocently. Probably a bit to innocently that resulted in the old man staring him down.

"Alright fine. Jeeze… I did it." Harry admitted grumpily. "But I had a good reason, the idiot was a poncy git."

"That still doesn't give you the right to beat up civilians." Nicholas scolded.

"Whatever." Harry waved him off. "Besides they don't have any evidence on me. No one knew I was there. Malfeay on the other hand isn't doing so well."

"No one knew or no one would report on you." Nicholas corrected.

Harry didn't answer but bent over and picked up the folder from Nicholas's desk instead.

"Hmm… Let's see. Disturbance of the peace, resisting arrest, assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and association with wanted criminals. Damn." Harry whistled. "The French must really hate this guy."

"Unlike the British Ministry here they aren't so susceptible to corruption. People like Malfeay have been walking the border line between illegal and legit. The authorities have been trying for years to hook him for something."

"So they're going to pin him with these charges? Doesn't seem like much." Harry said as he rolled his eyes.

"Take note that Al Capone was sentenced for life on the charge of tax evasion and not organized crime." Nicholas reminded him.

"Too bad we couldn't do that to the Malfoys." Harry said offhandedly.

"Unfortunately the Malfoys have been very upstanding citizens in the public's view. They have made countless donations to various magical charitable organizations." Seeing Harry's scowl Nicholas added. "And yes they do pay their taxes."

"Just wondering, has the Department Of Misuse Of Muggle Artefacts been to Malfoy Manor lately?" Harry asked.

"Of course. The Ministry has conducted several raids on the Malfoy's residence due to accusation of dark activity. Every case ended completely clean, no dark objects were ever found. There were a couple of spell books in the family library but every Pureblooded family has those sort of books."

"So your people never thought to check beneath the drawing room floor?"

"Firstly, the Unspeakables have never carried out a search of Malfoy Manor. To do so would require a warrant from the Department Of Magical Law Enforcement and the Wizengamot and the inspection is done by Aurors and Officials from the Department Of Misuse Of Muggle Artefacts. Secondly, what do you mean by beneath the Drawing Room floor."

Harry smacked his palm on his forehead. "You mean to tell me that no one has ever conducted a surprised raid on Malfoy Manor before?"

"Haven't you been listening, The Aurors have pulled off several."

Harry rolled his eyes. "The Aurors have pulled off several. Lucius would definitely have people in Law Enforcement and in the Wizengamot notifying him every time a warrant is issued for a raid. All he had to do is stuff all the dark junk into his little hidey hole and seeing that no one ever found it. I can assume only he can open it up."

"So what do you plan to do? Bypass the Wizengamot and raid the place without a warrant?"

"Do we even need one? We are Unspeakables, that and we have good reason to raid the place now. Lucius and Draco are both wanted by the law and Narcissa might be providing them shelter." Harry said as threw the folder back onto the desk. "All we have to do is raid the place and I guarantee you we'll catch both Malfoys with their pants down."

"I'll think about it." Nicholas mentally filed that thought away.

Seeing that that particular thread of conversation was now dead, Harry decided on a new one.

"So chief, what's my new task?"

"Task?"

"Fine, what do you recommend and suggest I do that would be beneficial to both the Ministry and I and the general good of Wizarding and Muggle kind. As well as wrecking absolute havoc, disorder, mayhem and all round bad stuff for snake face."

Nicholas gave the young man a raised eyebrow.

"You do realize that with all your concealing charms, the only one able to see that would be me, right?" Harry voiced.

"Yes and did you really have to stretch out your request that long."

"Absolutely, positively, definitely, certainly, unquestionably, undeniably, categorically and without a doubt."

The man sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Harry smirked at the man. "I live to annoy."

"That may be the case The-Boy-Who-Is-Too-Cheeky. However turnabout is fair play."

"Really? I'll love to see what you'll give me that can irritate me as much as I can you."

"We'll see Mr. Potter." Nicholas got up and went to the filing cabinet.

He flipped through some folders before extracting one. It had the words "Classified" stamped across the yellow thick parchment in bold red letters. Nicholas slid it across the desk to Harry who decided to take a seat.

Harry picked it up and browsed through it. His brows furrowed. The file before him wasn't the usual location, details and target file.

"What's this?"

"Personal information regarding a person I believe."

"I kind of noticed that as it is plastered across the first page. What's this? Assassination? And where's her picture and name for identification."

"Perhaps your powers of forethought and analysis are not as powerful as I was let to believe, Harry."

"Big deal, I'm dense, so what? It's something I've always let Hermione handle. Most of the time I work things on the fly. Now the file."

"As you know Mr. Potter, the Unspeakables perform their recruitment and evaluation of individuals of outstanding achievements years before they are even approached."

"Yes, yes, yes. You stalk them like the stalkers that you are for a number of years. Check up their background, yadda yadda yadda."

Nicholas ignored the interruption. "We've had our eye on this person for a while now."

"You want me to go recruit her? Are you sure?"

"No. She's already been recruited by one of our other agents, you'll be glad to know that she has undergone a three year Auror course prior us approaching her."

"So why… HELL NO!!! ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!" Harry figured out Nicholas's new assignment. The old codger was right, this would definitely annoy him.

"Think of it as a challenge."

"Go to hell old man."

"Think of it as an experience."

"I'll give you experience you old goat."

"Think of meeting new faces."

"You're just trying to set me up aren't you?"

"She's outside waiting to enter."

Harry growled and gave the man the universally recognized one fingered gesture.

Flamel, as usual, ignored it. "Come in."

Harry felt the wards shift slightly as the newcomer was allowed entrance. A figure no taller than Harry stepped into the room cloaked completely in the standard blue Unspeakable robes.

Focusing, he pierced her concealment charms. The lady's face was of Asian decent with shoulder length black hair. She was particularly okay looking, but Harry didn't bother really, he had no interest in relations till Voldemort was six feet under.

"James, meet your new apprentice, Griffin 08, Miss Mary Sue."

"What?"

"It's her code name, just like yours is James Pathertrory."

The woman gave a gasp at the revelation of Harry's fake identity.

"You did that on purpose, old man." Harry replied annoyed, almost every law enforcement personnel knew that name now.

The woman gave another gasp at Harry's blatant disregard of procedure.

"Permission to speak freely Sir." The Unspeakable requested.

"Permission granted."

Harry snorted at the formality.

"No offence Sir, but can he do that?" She asked.

"Do what?" Harry raised his eyebrow in query, not that she could see it.

"If you're referring to Mr. Pathertrory's lack of respect, then yes. While he's cranky, sarcastic, rude, hasty, hot tempered and generally unpleasant, he's also very trustworthy, dedicated and reliable. Not to mention he's one of the best Unspeakables this Department has seen in a while. Besides, he wouldn't hurt a fly."

Harry cleared his throat.

"Technically you are still under this department James. The bloody registry just doesn't seem to respond anymore."

Harry smirked. The conflicting identities that he was under were probably the cause of that. Having registered himself under "06" and "00", the registry probably didn't know which section to record him under.

"Miss Sue." The Unspeakable snapped to attention. "Mr. Pathertrory is to be your new instructor and partner till he deems your training complete. While under him, your clearance level will be under his jurisdiction"

"I'll just excuse myself then Sir,if you don't mind." Harry turned and addressed his new apprentice.

"Meet me outside when he's done with you." With that Harry left Nicholas to brief the girl, while mumbling about irritating old men. He didn't really care for procedure, he just got the job done. The girl better be good.

XXXXX

Ministry Of Magic – Level Nine: Department Of Mysteries – Armory

Harry walked down a corridor within the Department Of Mysteries. His new partner Mary Sue followed closely behind.

Harry was currently contemplating the old man's sanity. 'Just what kind of a code name was Mary Sue anyway?' Harry thought. At least it wasn't her real one. Imagine if someone were to really name their kid Mary Sue.

Harry shuddered.

He finally reached a check point that was guarded by a single Unspeakable behind a desk.

"Identification." The Unspeakable guard called out in a disembodied voice.

Harry paused and withdrew his identification card from within his robes.

"And your companion?" He questioned waiting for Mary's card.

"Never mind. She's with me." Harry spoke.

The man or what he sounded like pressed his card to an identification register.

The parchment glowed green for a moment.

"Everything is in order sir."

"Thanks." Harry replied. Turning around he called Mary to follow him.

"Why didn't I need my card, Sir?" She enquired curiously.

"Firstly, drop the Sir, its James. And you didn't need to register because someone with a level seven or higher has the authority to sponsor another Unspeakable entrance." Harry explained.

They found themselves in an empty unfurnished room. At one end was what looked like a counter protected behind a glass screen.

An Unspeakable was behind it filling out forms. Harry approached it and motioned Mary to follow.

"Unicorn Seven." Harry greeted.

"Ah! Griffin." The man replied recognizing the unique name tag. "More field gear?"

"Not for me." Harry jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the newbie.

"I see the boss finally got you suited up with a field partner."

"Whatever." Harry waved off his comment. "I need you to suit her up. Advanced gear." He slid his card through a slot where the man pressed it to a piece of parchment like before.

A buzzing sound echoed in the empty room and a door popped open from one of the walls.

"Follow me."

The room that both had entered was filled with rows and rows of equipment along the walls. Along one section was a variety of dark blue cloaks, the other a number of small chests and finally at the back of the room a couple of swords, daggers and various other weapons.

"We're here to outfit you." Harry told his partner.

"I already got outfitted when I was initiated."

"And so was I." Harry snapped. "However you weren't equipped with anything like this. Only those ranked five and above get to come in here. Wait a second." He paused realizing something.

"Just how long have you been in the Unspeakables?" He asked suspiciously.

"Less than a week Sir." Was the quick reply.

"Awe crap." Harry began cursing his luck. "The old codger lands me with a bloody FNG."

His partner actually looked slightly insulted with his choice of words.

"Nothing against you, really, but that old man probably did this to annoy me further." Harry tapped his chin. "Actually this might go over better. Haven't let the stupid "by the book" rules get ingrained into your head yet."

"Er… No Sir."

"Excellent, then let's get your introduction done. Welcome to the Unspeakables, more importantly Griffin division, we're the brave idiotic unit of idiots that go charging into bad guys' homes and getting ourselves killed. You know the rest, join the Army meet interesting people, except we get to beat them up and get away with it. It pretty good, no one bothers you, you get tons of leeway and best of all, the Ministry hold no real control over our department. Too bad the paperwork is shit though." Harry announced this all in one breath.

His partner looked taken aback at his introduction.

He then pointed over to the rack of cloaks. "Now make yourself useful and go over there and pick out three to your size." He himself moved on to acquire a chest.

"Now the cloaks that you are looking through differ from the standard issue because they come equipped with an extra layer of dragon hide interwoven between the materials. I'm sure you're educated on the benefits of dragon hide." Turning around he saw her nod.

"Good. The cloak also comes with a few more protective charms built in that I can't remember. However what I do remember is two of the more useful charms, the disillusionment charm that can be easily activated with a spoken "Hide" and "Reveal", as well as a nifty Portkey charm that allows you to port out of trouble by saying "Return" and tapping it twice with your wand." Harry said this as he inspected the contents of each chest. Some of them were missing stuff.

Giving up he decided to nick pieces from all of them to make one complete set. One password protected notebook, ten crystal phials for potions, a hip flask and one shrunken magical tent.

"Here." He passed the small chest to the girl. "It shrinks and expands with the words, "Shrink" and "Expand", just tap your wand to it twice. Even a bloody FNG can't mess this up."

The girl's face scowled at him from under the hood. Harry saw this despite the concealment charms.

He led her to the back of the room. "Now we have one of my favorite sections." He reached up and pulled a wicked looking saber down.

"This is the standard issue melee weapon given to higher leveled Unspeakables. Since you going to be my partner, I expect you to be able to wield one competently." Harry proceeded to dump a few more daggers and throwing knives onto the girl.

"Your robes have slots and pockets that allow you to carry and conceal them, toss the extra stuff into your trunk." She followed his instructions.

"Now come, follow me."

They both continued to walk towards the lift when a stray thought caught Harry's attention.

"You haven't by any chance been shown around the place have you?" He asked offhandedly.

"Er… No Sir…" She spoke as if she had done something wrong.

The girl had most definitely not done something wrong. Nicholas on the other hand did. Harry wanted nothing more than to wring the old man's neck. The girl had been in the Department for almost a week and yet it was left to him to show her around. He wasn't some tour guide for Merlin's sakes.

Harry glared at the girl but the effect was lost when she couldn't actually see through his cloak's concealment charms.

Realizing how stupid he looked he continued towards the lift.

"Alright seeing how that old codger has decided to leave your complete introduction to me. I believe I would have to show you around. So therefore I take it you have no idea where to go if I were to scream directions to you." Harry asked her once they got to the rotating room.

She shook her head.

"OK then. This is the main chamber, we simply call it The Chamber. Every single door that you see in this room leads to a room in the Department Of Mysteries. They are quite a brilliant piece of magic that allows a person to move from area to area despite the distance. For example, I could step through a door leading to the Room Of Time, when in actual fact the room is nowhere near the Chamber." Harry yelled over the grinding cacophony of the room.

"So it's like a portal?"

"In a way. Its main purpose it to prevent someone from Portkeying or Apparating directly into a department. Apparation is impossible in the Ministry due to the wards unless you target specific Apparation points. The Department Of Mysteries has its own wards that are much more superior than the crap the other places have."

"What about Portkeys, you said our cloaks had them." Mary stated.

"Your cloaks will deposit you at the exit, right by the main desk that leads into this room."

She nodded in understanding.

"So this is how the Chamber works. You call out your assigned identification code and the location you wish to go to. If your rank is sufficient the door would nicely pop open. Watch." Harry turned away from her.

"Griffin. Research And Development." Harry spoke clearly and one of the many doors swung open. Go ahead you try." He offered as the door swung shut and the room began revolving again.

"Griffin 08. Research And Development." She spoke clearly, even with the voice obscuring charm her voice still sounded feminine.

To Mary's surprise nothing happened.

"It would seem that the system is working." Harry stated.

"But nothing opened." Mary pointed out.

"And it shouldn't have. Your rank doesn't allow you access to that area. Try Tactical Operations. now."

"Griffin 08. Tactical Operations." She called out again. This time a door swung open.

Moments later an Unspeakable stuck his head out and looked around. He saw the Unspeakable and his new partner and tilted his head in question.

"Breaking in the newbie." Harry explained.

The Unspeakable nodded and shut the door. The room began spinning again.

"Now there are two ways that you can get around the Department Of Mysteries. One is by the use of the Chamber and the other is to really know your way around. Every single room that is accessible by the Chamber is connected to another room. All you need is your identification card to get past the doors. Come follow me. Griffin. Unspeakable Offices." He called out.

A door popped open.

"This is the main room where everyone gets their introduction to the Department. It is accessible to all Unspeakables so you shouldn't have any problems finding it." Harry moved into it followed by Mary.

Various Unspeakables weaved throughout the many desks that were arranged orderly. Post it notes flew overhead as workers moved about doing their assigned tasks.

The some desks were cluttered with bits of parchment, others were neat and ordered. It depended on the owner of said desk. What stood out was that all of them were lacking personal artifacts that would finger towards the identity of said Unspeakable.

"This is a sort of common ground for all the Unspeakables." Harry explained. "Every single one of us is assigned a desk here. Mine is somewhere over there." Harry waved in a non specific direction. "Doesn't really matter as I am hardly around and I don't use it."

"Where's mine then." The girl asked.

"You're still a newbie and thus you are under my watch. Once I deem you ready for the grading tests you'll receive a new rank other than level one and be assigned a desk for work to be done."

Harry waved at a few doors that were isolated in a section of the room.

"Those doors are the offices for the higher ranked Unspeakables. One of them is the old man's office."

"Why don't you have an office then?"

"Because even if I had one I wouldn't use it, the old codger knows this and has given me a desk instead, not like I use it too."

"How many divisions are there in this place?" She asked changing the subject.

"Excellent question, same one I would have asked when I joined. Well both you and I are in the Griffin Division. Like I said earlier on, we are the one who go on dangerous missions and raids. We are also known as Hit Wizards or Operatives."

"After that we have Unicorn Division, they are bloody lab rats that prod into the unknown, bunch of madmen I think. The chances of an unknown potion or charm blowing up in their faces are highly likely. They handle the Research And Development Department in this place."

"Then there's the Serpent Division. They plan out our missions for us and advice us on the best way to carry it out. Brilliant minds they have, so they're in charge of analysis and tactical situations."

"Now we have the stalkers, better known as Phoenix Division, they're in charge of field surveillance and obtain the details that we need before going on a mission."

"That brings us to the final division, Raven Division. They go undercover as spies and get us information that the Phoenixes can't get from simple surveillance."

"Each department has a head that oversees what's happening and finally there's The Dragon, who's the main head of the Unspeakables. He's also referred to by me as the old man, old coot, old bastard and senile git."

Mary choked at what he said. "So what are you? You don't seem like you fall under any of the Divisions despite your badge. It seems like you answer directly to the Dragon."

"Good observation." Harry complimented. "I'm what you would call a freelance agent. I'm the only one currently and it would seem that you're the next. Hence you getting paired up with me."

"Oh!" She said surprised.

"Ok now follow me. The tour continues." Harry said sarcastically swishing his cloak and making it flare.

He walked up to a large set of doors with a small metallic panel at its side. He pulled out his pass card and slid it over the panel. The door popped open and he pushed Mary inside.

They were now in a small hallway with many rooms lining the walls. Each door had a small number over it. There was no identification as to where they were.

"As you have no doubt noticed, the Unspeakables aren't very fond of providing directions to visitors. This hallway here is the Tactical Operations. Department, each of the rooms you see before you is an individual briefing room. You'll be briefed and debriefed in this area before and after a mission. If you were a normal Operative you would be notified of future missions by a mail bird post it note. However since you're with me, you don't have to worry about that. Our missions come from the head honcho himself."

Harry turned and left the hallway. Moving to another door in the main office he slid his card over the panel. The door popped open and both Unspeakables went in. Unlike the hallway before, this room was more or less like the office they had just left. Unspeakables bustled around carrying notes and giving orders.

"The Intelligence Department." Harry explained. "Not an area that you'll be interested in. Us Operatives never come here often, the Phoenix and Raven Division share this department and they usually bring the information to us in the briefing rooms."

Mary nodded and both of them left the room.

"Now this is my favorite area." Harry announced as he opened another door. "Welcome to the Danger Room."

It was a large room with benches along the sides, some of them were currently occupied by some Unspeakables chatting and resting.

"Despite its name, it's just a boring old dueling chamber. All Unspeakables are allowed access to this area but it's mainly the Griffin and Raven Operatives that frequent." Harry gestured to a pair of Unspeakables dueling at a corner. "There are smaller rooms off to the side if you and a partner wish to duel in different terrains. Each room spots a different layout from desert to woodland. I myself prefer the urban design." Harry pulled open one of the doors to reveal an empty street setting much like Diagon Alley. "All you have to do is imagine the layout when you open the door."

He shut the door and gestured for his partner to give it a go.

Mary stepped forwards and opened the door. Curious, Harry leaned over and got a good view of a lush jungle terrain.

"A rainforest?" He said surprised.

"Just something I saw once in a magazine." Mary answered.

"Nice, but I doubt we would be dueling in that sort of terrain anytime soon, unless the old man decides to send us off to Brazil." Harry shrugged.

"Or Vietnam." Mary added.

Harry filed the country's name away mentally. It might have something to do with her origins.

After staying to watch a short duel between two Unspeakables they left when the victor nailed his opponent with a vicious bone breaker to his thigh.

Mary had visibly winced when the loud snap was heard.

Harry himself declined having to duel when a random Unspeakable approached him. He had pointed at his new partner and mouthed "Noob". The guy got the idea and left to find someone else.

Back in the main office Harry pointed to another room. "That one leads to Research And Development and we're going to skip it as I don't wish to lose a limb should an explosion occur in there."

Mary looked taken aback that such a thing could happen in such a secured environment.

"Believe me when I say that explosions are a frequent thing in that department." Harry said seeing her reaction.

He pointed to another door. "That one leads to the Room Of Memories. It's filled with tens of floating brain like things with tentacles. Unspeakables who wish to retire go there to get a complete memory wipe. Their knowledge is stored away and they are free to go. Don't ask if we are going in there because we are not. I have no wish to get near any of those things."

Harry opened the door just so that Mary could get a look inside. Like he said, the room was filled with numerous floating brain like creatures with tentacles.

"Where's that door lead?" Mary pointed to a door on the other side of the room.

"That leads to a small hallway. No point going there, all the doors are locked. It's the Room Of Unknown Magic. The Unicorn Division is in charge of that area, which says a lot." He nodded to her and shut the door. "Anything that they can't find the answer to, they shut away in one of those small rooms. I can only imagine what goes on in there."

"But you do have access to them right?" Mary asked.

"That doesn't mean that I wish to indulge in the unknown. My curiosity has a limit and it draws the line at the dangerous unknown things."

"You sound like you've been in there, Sir." Mary said carefully.

"Of course. Like I said, my curiosity drew the line the day I went in there. The first door I opened blew up in my face and tossed me ten feet out the hallway and into this office area." Harry snapped.

"Ouch." Mary said unsympathetically.

"Yes ouch." Harry deadpanned.

"My advice to you is to stay away from any rooms that are solely operated by the lovable Unicorn Division, which brings us to the next room." Harry pulled open the last door.

"Welcome to the Room Of Time." Harry entered the room with Mary.

The room was just like the last time Harry himself had visited. His ears were immediately assaulted by the tick tocks of watch gears clicking. All around the room were clocks of every fashion, the walls were completely covered in them. Unspeakables sat behind the many closely packed desk fiddling and tweaking with the fabric of time. Off to a corner an Unspeakable twisted a small hourglass and promptly vanished.

"Time Turner." Harry explained when Mary tapped his shoulder.

Harry moved towards the center of the room.

"Hmm… Relocated the main hourglass." Harry mumbled as he looked around. He hadn't been into this room for some time now.

"Pardon?"

"The hourglass." Harry gestured to the large towering crystal bell jar that took up the middle of the room. It was the only source of light in the place as it emitted a dazzling array of light. The beams had been directed upwards onto the ceiling so as to not blind those nearby.

"The jar used to be at that corner." Harry pointed to the previous location of the giant hourglass.

His apprentice move closer and marveled at the small bird within the bell jar.

"Beautiful isn't it." Harry commented also watching the humming bird go from birth, hatching from its egg to a full adult before turning back into an egg.

"Come now." Harry placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her away from the device.

Harry held both her shoulders and pierced her concealment charms, he stared into her eyes. "Be careful at what you look at Miss Sue. That Hourglass has an ancient enchantment that captivates its audience. It's the security measure of this room." Harry said as he led her to a door at the other end. "It had a way of enticing people into reaching out to touch it. The glass itself is permeable to touch and your hand would go through."

"What happens if you do enter it?" She glanced at the jar again.

"Let's just say I've seen a person stick his head into that thing and had it deaged. The guy ended up with a baby's head on a grown up's body." Harry chuckled.

Mary gave him a weird look as he moved on.

"Now this room has an interesting history." Harry said solemnly as he entered the next connecting room.

Mary shrank away but Harry grabbed her. The room had a dark threatening presence.

"The Room Of Death, also known as the Death Chamber." Harry said staring at the veil. He still had visions of Sirius falling through it whenever he entered this particular room.

The archway was supported upon a raised pedestal. Stone benches surrounded the room at a raised level. It was very much like a courtroom.

Harry cleared his throat. "I did some research on this room. Did you know that it was once used as an execution chamber?" He pointed at the raised benches and the door behind them. "That door leads to courtroom ten. It's hidden so you can't find it, it has to be opened from this end. Criminals sentenced to death would be pushed into the veil as the members of the Court and Wizengamot watched on."

"Now come on." Harry pulled Mary who was staring at the veil.

He opened the next door and pushed her in.

He shook her out of her silence.

"You heard the voices didn't you?" Harry asked.

Mary nodded slowly.

"It means that you've lost someone close to you. All the more reason that you should stay away from that archway. It has ways of drawing its victims in. Do you understand me?" Harry ordered.

"Yes Sir." Mary squeaked out.

"Good."

It was then that she noticed that they were in a new room. Rows and rows of shelves lined the room. It was extremely dark, the blue flame torches failed to illuminate the room correctly as their light was lost to the high ceiling above. What light that managed to illuminate the room was reflected off the smooth glass surfaces of the hundreds of glass spheres that occupied the shelves.

"Welcome to the Room Of Prophecies." Harry held out both his hands. "You'll probably never come into this room again unless you're the unfortunate target of a prophecy." Harry said bitterly.

"And don't even think about touching them." Harry grabbed Mary's hand as she reached out to inspect a glass ball. "They're enchanted so that only their keeper or the person spoken of can remove them."

"Sorry." Mary kept her hands by her hands firmly by her side.

"However since you are so curious, I'll let you view one." Harry offered and led her to a shelf far at the back of the room.

He bent down at ground level and scanned the shelf for what he was looking for.

"There, the first one you can pick it up." He indicated to a small glass sphere.

12th December 1212

A.B.N to A.T.H

Prophecy Beginning

Mary looked at him as if he were mad.

"Go on." He offered. "This just happens to be the only Prophecy Sphere in the whole room that can be lifted by anyone."

Seeing that she was still doubtful, Harry lifted the sphere and passed it to her.

"Go on, shake it." She did and a deep throaty voice started playing itself.

A riddle I am, a riddle I be,

Given freely, for all to see.

Just a rhyme this be, in time you'll see,

Indeed I am, a Prophecy.

Some will believe, some will not,

It doesn't matter, I can't be forgot.

Many will follow the first of its kind,

Prophecies these are, those that find.

The future we tell, fate we write,

Given only, by those with sight.

A riddle I am, a riddle I be,

Given freely, for all to see.

"This isn't what I think it is, is it?" Mary said holding the sphere in slight reverence.

"Yup, the first ever recorded prophecy. Stupid thing is a prophecy about more prophecies." Harry rolled his eye at the irony of a prophecy being prophesized.

Mary nodded her understanding and replaced the glass globe.

"And that concludes our tour." Harry said. He turned around and moved to the door. "Exit." He called out clearly. The door swung open to reveal the rotating chamber.

"Useful isn't it." Harry smiled at Mary's surprised look. "The rotating chamber works both ways."

They both exited the Department Of Mysteries and headed for the lift.

As soon as they stepped out Harry reached within his robes and withdrew a bright yellow rubber duck.

"Portkey." He explained seeing his partner's enquiring look.

The rubber duck had always been a small inside joke for him since Mr. Weasley had asked him what the Muggles did with one. At least now he had a new use for one.

Harry chuckled and tapped the duck once with his wand and muttered. "Voldemort."

Both Unspeakables vanished leaving those two nearby Unspeakables flinching at the use of the Dark Lord's assumed name.

XXXXX

Location Unknown – Unspeakable Safe House

Both appeared in the middle of what looked like an ordinary family's living room. Nothing at all seemed magical about the place.

His new partner and apprentice stumbled from the sudden jerk crashing to the floor. Harry himself lost balance but with what looked like practiced ease reached out and grabbed hold of a couch backrest preventing himself from tipping over.

"Hate those ruddy things." He muttered and pulled his partner to her feet. "I see you're not a fan of this method of transportation as well."

"Stupid things always make me trip." She mumbled.

"Good to know. It just mean's that you have more than the average level of power found in a Witch. It's a good thing." He smiled.

"But Dumble…" She started but he interrupted her.

"Dumbledore uses numerous stability charms to keep himself in place whenever he's in transit within the Floo or Portkey. It wouldn't do to have the Chief Warlock Of The Wizenwhatsit fall flat on his ass every time he appears in public." Harry spoke.

"You don't seem to use them Sir." She stated.

Harry assumed it was both a question and statement. "I don't know them. Beside I find it useful that I trip whenever I Portkey on an assignment. It helps throw certain individuals off."

"I don't see how that will help Sir." She looked around the room, taking into mind the lack of pictures in the dwelling.

The room was simply decorated. What she assumed was the main entrance doorway led straight into the living room. And through an archway she could make out a small kitchen. The stairs also in the room, no doubt led to the bedrooms upstairs.

"Most opponents laying an ambush for Portkey arrival aim at chest height. My tripping has the fortunate advantage of putting me below that level of sight. The Cushioning Charm I constantly apply on my robes helps as well." Harry explained as he waved his wand at the fireplace. A small blaze manifested and crackled away at the logs.

"Pardon the lack of a Warming Charm on this place, but I see no point to announce to the world this house is magical." Harry spoke and moved into the kitchen. Mary followed him.

"Drink?"

"What? Oh… Butterbeer."

"Catch." He tossed a bottle awkwardly at her. She caught it none the less. "Good reaction." He complimented.

"I played Quidditch briefly Sir."

She stared at the definitely magical drink and brought up his earlier statement.

"Things like drinks the Muggles pass off easily. A levitating pillow they would not."

She could somewhat see the logic in that. "I understand Sir."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"I will not repeat myself again. This isn't the army or the law enforcement. Drop the Sir and all that other formality. You have no doubt seen that I hate authority."

"Yet you still order me around as an authority figure." She answered surprisingly quickly.

Harry raised an eyebrow that she never saw due to the Concealment Charms. "So you can stand up to your superiors, I like that."

"Once in a while Sir."

Harry snorted. "I believe you were reprimanded for situation where you once punched out your commanding officer."

"The man was an idiot Sir."

"Drop the Sir."

"Not if it annoys you Sir."

'She has balls' He thought. He would let that slide. He wanted someone who could think for themselves and not an ass kissing lackey. She definitely was opening up to him. He passed off her earlier timidity as cautiousness due to the presence of Nicholas Flamel.

Now Harry didn't really mind ass kisses that much. A bit of it here and there was alright. After all people needed motivation, however, someone on the butt licking level such as Percy Weasley was just disgusting.

"Very well, your mouth seems rather good at smart remarks. Let's see if your wand fares as well. Follow me."

He swept out of the room.

XXXXX

Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry – Headmaster's Office

"Headmaster." Severus Snape barged into the office but silenced himself when he saw the man had a guest.

"Ah. Severus, What a pleasant surprise." The Leader of the light drew up an armchair for him. "Take a seat."

"I'd rather I stand Headmaster."

"Very well." Dumbledore left the chair there nonetheless. The other person in the room was also standing.

The man was dressed in what Snape could only describe as formal Muggle wear. It had thin grey stripes running down the rich black material. The man was tall but average looking, He had a long face with distinct bone structures that made him look of Mediterranean origin. His hair was as black and combed back like his own, but lacked the oily appearance that standing over Potions and collecting their fumes would give. Overall, he didn't really seem a threat despite the fact that he was no doubt magical.

"Who might you be?" He sneered.

The man didn't look so harmless anymore when he turned an eye to the Potions Master.

"You'll have to forgive my Potions Professor, Mr. Pegios. His devotion to his art has left him short of certain people skills."

The man accepted the apology and returned his look to the Headmaster. He still kept an eye on the other dark haired man every once in a while out of the corner of his eye.

Snape was surprised. Year of practice allowed him to not show it but he was surprised nonetheless. The Headmaster, THE Albus Dumbledore was sucking up to someone. This was definitely someone special.

"Headmaster I have news regarding a certain individual that you no doubt wish to hear." Snape stared at the man.

"Whatever you wish to inform me Severus can be done so in the presence of our guest."

Snape looked at the man again contemplating his thoughts. The spy suddenly put it together.

"I believe my information is now old news Headmaster. Mr. Pegios here is an Italian who would have already told you whatever news I have. Good day Headmaster." Snape swept out of the room, his robes billowing.

Dumbledore gave an amused smile at the retreating figure.

"Now Mr. Pegios. Where were we?"

"As I was saying Headmaster Dumbledore the Italian families wish to inform your institution of certain current events in our country for an educational purpose."

"And what might these current events be?"

"The main Italian families have declared an all out feud against the Dark Lord Voldemort for his recent attacks. We will not form an alliance of any sort with other resistance groups, and we will take care of this matter on our own. We will not interfere with any situations regarding this Dark Lord outside of our country, what happens within is another matter entirely."

Dumbledore smiled. At least they were against Voldemort.

XXXXX

Location Unknown – Unspeakable Safe House – Dueling room

"Is that all you've got?" Harry lazily deflected a stunner.

"Stupefy!" That to, was easily deflected.

"Shouting doesn't make the spell stronger. It's intent." Harry snapped.

"STUPEFY!!!"

"Protego." Harry lazily spoke and bounced the spell back at his new apprentice.

She dove out of the way.

"Stop shouting, you're starting to give me a migraine. Shouting not only gives away what spell you cast, it attracts attention. Now curse silently." A bright red beam erupted from Harry's wand.

"Protego." A bright white shield came into being before his partner.

The stunner paid it no mind and shattered it. The impact sent the girl hurling backwards. She landed and flipped backwards while sending off three silent stunners.

Harry literally batted them off with his hands. For him they were extremely weak but at least they were silent.

"Good. Now we duel."

Five beams of light came at him immediately.

'At least she can use silent spells.'

Harry batted the two stunners off and ignored the silencing and confusion charm. The mild exploding curse, which he identified was the last he dodged by twisting his head.

"Aqua." He spoke clearly.

Mary paused in surprise that her silencing spell was useless and that her opponent was watering the floor.

"Glacius."

Harry saw the understanding on her face as she slipped and skidded across the room from the ice forming beneath her feet.

Harry who was not moving summoned a wood shard from behind him and transfigured it into a circular piece of metal. He easily jumped onto it and levitated himself towards his partner who was groaning.

"That was pathetic." He said calmly. "A Death Eater would be wiping the floor with you by now."

He quickly tilted his head when a dagger went zipping by.

"That was much better." He commented. "Now get up." He waved his wand dispelling the ice.

Mary sighed and readied herself.

"Now there are three ways to duel, it's either my way or your way. It's your choice. Mine involve two base techniques. The short duel or the long one."

"The short one involves throwing everything including the kitchen sink at your opponent at the beginning. Excellent if you want to take the person down fast. Disadvantage is that, you'll tire quickly and would make easy pickings for a new incoming opponent."

"The other is excellent if you wish to determine your opponent's abilities by dragging out the duel. This way you can determine their weaknesses, strengths and techniques."

"However the main thing in a magical duel is to USE YOUR BRAINS!!! Always, and I mean always, stay a step ahead of your opponent. Do not underestimate them. Also it helps if you respond to their attacks in kind. They throw a Stupefy, you return a Reducto. They throw a Reducto, you give them back an Explodra."

"What if they cast an Unforgivable?" She asked.

It was an honestly good question and Harry had the perfect answer.

"There are four things you can do. Stand like an idiot and die. Run like Forest Gump. Start casting them back. Or you could just throw everything else you have at them." Harry ticked off his fingers. "I very much advise not trying out the first one. You dying would mean a lot of red tape and shit for me. Understood?"

She nodded.

"Now, begin."

The spell casting began again and five minutes later Mary had yet again ended up on the floor.

"That enough for today. I want you to sort through all your stuff within the next hour. Your room on the first floor has its own bathroom and is properly warded against scrying and spying charms. You can safely take off your concealment charms and cloak when you are in the room. It's the one with an open door." He informed her.

Just as she was climbing up the ladder from the basement he informed her dinner would be at seven. She indicated her acknowledgement with another "Yes Sir" before disappearing.

Harry sighed and massaged his temples. This was definitely going to be a long month.

XXXXX

One Week Later

Location Unknown – Unspeakable Safe House – Dueling room

"Begin." Harry had barely finished saying the word when he had to duck a nasty bone breaker.

Two more nearly caught his head this time but he had tilted backwards into a backwards roll. Using his hands he sprung back up.

"Reducto." The minor exploding curse flew from his Phoenix wand. The resulting explosion was not expected. It was many times more powerful than the norm and threw his dueling partner across the room.

In mid flight she had started spraying water with her wand across the room at him.

Harry snorted. He had shown her this trick before and knew what was coming next. He conjured and levitated his floating disc. It was short lived when he had to sacrifice it to a Piercing Curse that came his way. The disc flew to intercept it and Harry jumped off.

"Fulger Fulmen."

A powerful bolt of lightning was unleashed at the watery section of the floor.

Harry was impressed. She had managed to accomplish the powerful spell with almost no sound.

He saw the wave of current approaching and lazily waved his wand.

"Glacius." The wave of ice met the electric charge. Losing its conductor the electricity dissipated.

"Explodra."

"Ancile Clipeatus." It was his strongest shield spell and the curse was completely absorbed.

"Aim for the ground Sue. You want to catch with the explosion, not the curse."

His comment was taken to heart when the next one impacted near his feet.

"Leucuspis." A physical shield protected him from the debris.

A Bludgeoning curse came at him and Harry conjured a brick wall that stopped it.

Harry pointed his wand at the wall. "Reducto. Waddiwasi." The wall was shattered and he hurled the pieces at his apprentice.

She imitated his choice of a physical shield. The bricks struck and weakened it till the final piece broke through and impacted her shoulder.

She yelped and fell.

"You're going to have to do better than that girl."

"STUPEFY!!!"

Harry's eyes widened. "Protego." The force of the spell was considerable and it made him stumble backwards.

'Finally.' He rolled his eyes. It took longer than he had expected for her to show her true potential.

Another stunner hit his shield. Harry braced himself. This one was stronger than the last.

"STUPEFY!!!"

He was again forced another step back. The girl was stubborn he had to admit. She refused to back down from a challenge and was attempting to shatter his shield charm.

"If you're done with your repetitiveness." He drawled, imitating the many times he had heard Malfoy done.

"STUPEFY!!!"

He forced forwards and blocked the shot. This was the strongest so far.

"You're gonna have to do better than that sugar britches. The attempt was just pathetic. I've seen fourth years do better."

That apparently did it. As soon as those words left his mouth a visible nimbus of power enveloped her.

'Finally.' Harry internally smiled and prepared for the strongest stunner he would even receive.

Her eyes narrowed. "Stupefy."

It was almost silent but the power coming for it made Harry's skin tingle.

"Hell no." He dove out of the way as the spell blew his shield apart and narrowly missed him. He rolled and bounced back up.

Mary who had no doubt put everything she had into the last stunner looked pale and wobbly on her feet.

"Duel's over." Harry moved towards her in concern. She was definitely suffering from magical depletion. When he got close enough she collapsed into his arms.

"Lie down. Rest." He withdrew a phial of Pepper Up Potion and made her drink it. Some of her normal color returned to her cheeks.

"You're looking better." He commented.

She gave him a funny look.

"I can see through your charms." He explained.

"What happened?" She said weakly.

"That would be your Aura. I take it this is the first time you have done it."

"I'm sorry. I don't know what happened, I felt so angry and suddenly I couldn't control myself."

"Congratulations then Miss Sue." Harry smiled. "That was the entire objective of my dueling lessons with you. To tap into one's true power was the goal, the dueling techniques that you may have picked up were just extra."

"That was it?"

"Yup. I needed you pissed so that you could do it the first time. Now we'll work on control. Not controlling your magical output can result in magical depletion."

"That's why I'm felling so dead."

"Correct. The next duel will be on technique and control. The real lessons begin now. My extra advice for today would be to aim at waist level when using direct spells. Your opponent may duck a head or chest shot, but they will never be able to duck or jump above or below a waist level spell. They'll either get smacked in the noggin or hit in the legs."

She groaned and he handed her another phial. "Drink it and go rest. You're dismissed."

She weakly saluted him and staggered out the dueling chamber.

Harry watched her leave as he rubbed his chin in thought. The girl was progressing at an alarming rate. She had potential. Despite what he told her, she was catching on to this faster than he ever did.

Harry smiled and left for the study. He had a report to send to the old Alchemist. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.

XXXXX

2 Weeks Later

Location Unknown – Unspeakable Safe House – Dueling room

"Be…" Harry never got to finish the word when a Bone Shattering Curse narrowly missed his head.

The girl was getting a bit too trigger happy for his tastes within the last few days.

Three more dangerously fatal curses nearly hit him. Harry dodged and jumped out of the way. The curses leaving small blast craters upon the walls and floor of the dueling room.

"Aqua." She muttered one word but three spells came forth.

A ball of water shot from her wand tip, a Lightning Charm charged it and a Reducto Curse blew it throughout the room as tiny small rain drops.

Harry's eyes widened. 'Good sweet Merlin.'

'Leucuspis.' He mentally spoke, he didn't even have time to call out the spells for her benefit anymore. The bright physical shield enveloped him and catching the droplets of water.

The electric charge however made its way through and gave him a nasty shock. Harry was thrown backwards and landed painfully on his back. The Cushioning Charm barely softening him on impact.

He rolled over and once again throwing up the physical shield he blocked the earth shrapnel that resulted from an Exploding Hex.

'Stupefy En Multiplicus.' His mass Stunning Curse exploded as soon as it left his wand.

Mary blocked it but stumbled backwards from the sheer power Harry put into spell.

'Explodra.' Harry's curse impacted the ground between both of the duelers. A small cloud of dust was stirred up obscuring their view of each other.

Through the haze, five various spells flew at him headed in random directions. Harry sent his own into them and placed his Rebounding Charm on the walls. 'Contego.'

His wand jerked trice and the three balls of red light exploded.

'Ancile Clipeatus' His powerful shield surrounded himself, rebounding the stunners off in a new direction.

As the dust cleared and he got his first sight of his partner, Harry sent off his strongest shield breaker he had followed closely by a Disarming Charm.

Mary who had also summoned the same protection as him was startled when her protections fell. The Disarming Charm caught her unprepared and she was lifted off her feet and thrown into the wall.

A brown wand flew at Harry who tilted his head allowing it to soar past.

'Stupefy.' The stunner struck Mary who was still dazed right in the chest. Her body gave a jerk, but she remained conscious, the Unspeakable cloak had seen to that.

Harry threw another but she had rolled out of the way and Harry had to dive from a Full Body Bind.

He hit the floor as ropes flew from his wand.

Groaning in frustration as the ropes promptly burst into flames, Harry decided to try a new technique. Instead of spell casting, his foot lashed out hitting Mary's shin in its path.

"Ow." She shrieked dropping her second wand in favor for her leg.

'Stupefy.' Harry got her right in the face and she slumped onto her back unconscious.

He released a contented sigh as he too rolled onto his back nursing his bruises. He was going to have to send her on that grading course soon.

XXXXX

1 Week Later

Location Unknown – Unspeakable Safe House – Dueling room

"Enough!" Harry called out. As he deflected a Piercing Curse.

"Vitiositas." Mary shot another curse ignoring the command.

"For god's sake woman! Enough already!" Harry dodged the rotting spell.

"Tabes." His apprentice continued to curse him.

"Lumos Solarium En Maxima." Harry cast nonverbally and his wand exploded with the intensity of a flash bang grenade.

Sue shrieked and started releasing waves of flame in her blinded state.

Harry erected a shield and pushed through.

Shoulder ramming her with his heavier weight he easily toppled her. A quick kick to her ribs and another at her wand arm, she was disarmed.

Harry huffed in exhaustion at their duel.

"I'm pretty sure I said to stop." Harry said as he hunched over, resting his hands on his thighs.

Sue continued to cough and splutter as she grasped her chest and rubbed her eyes. Harry took pity on the girl and cast a localized numbing charm.

"Better? Now why didn't you stop?" He demanded.

"I thought it was another of your tricks." She said rolling onto her back, rubbing her side.

"Hmm… Good excuse." Harry commented.

"Excuse my arse, Sir. It wouldn't be the first time you pulled something like that." Mary snapped at him.

Harry chuckled. "You aren't going to forgive me for that fly thing aren't you."

"No." was the immediate reply.

Harry smiled at the memory. He had opened the duel with a simple Disarming Hex before calling out that Mary's fly was open. Despite her wearing robes and being female she couldn't resist the urge to look downwards. He had nailed her in the noggin with a stunner after that.

"So why are we stopping, certainly not for you to make anymore sarcastic comments at me." They had exited into the living room where Mary took the initiative and flopped into one of the couches to better tend to her aching side.

Over the few weeks of training Mary had developed a stronger backbone to Harry's snappish attitude. It was either that or she just became immune over time like Nicholas did. Harry hoped that it was the former, if not she would still be kowtowing to authoritative figures.

"We, are stopping because yesterday was the day I was meant to report to old man Dragon." Harry said without much care.

"Pardon me James, but I thought you said yesterday." Sue asked.

"Like I said, yesterday." Harry confirmed.

"Oh ho, Dragon is so going to chew you out."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"It's not the first time I've entered his office unannounced. I've yet to walk in on him getting a lap dance from some random female Unspeakable hoping to garner promotion."

"You're not serious are you?" She said disbelievingly.

"Of course not. No female would be in their right mind to lap dance that old geezer. Urgh…" Harry mock shuddered at the mental image.

Sue rolled her eyes. "Men." She mumbled.

"Yes men." Harry had overheard her. "The male species of the human race that have been confirmed as perverts. Just be glad that I'm opened about these things, it's the silent ones you have to be careful with."

"And why am I listening to this?"

"I'm your adviser and mentor, therefore you should listen to all that I say without question." Harry suggested.

"Hardly." Mary deadpanned. "Besides your training was meant to have ended yesterday, as you said so yourself."

Harry shrugged. "The old man gives me leeway for these missed deadlines. My other speedy assignments more than make up for the occasional lateness. Besides I always take my time if the assignment isn't a life or death thing."

"You're really full of yourself aren't you." Mary commented.

"Definitely." Harry nodded. "It's either that or be grumpy, brooding and a general asshole."

"Aren't you those as well?"

Harry once again shrugged.

"Here." He held out a Portkey in the form of a brassier.

Mary, understandingly spluttered in indignation.

"Don't worry it isn't yours. I am not that big a pervert."

The girl just glared at the offending piece of women wear hoping that it would burst into flames.

"Get rid of that." She hissed snatching it and tossing it at the fireplace.

Ironically enough, the flames chose that moment to go green indicating the arrival of someone via Floo.

"Reducto!" Harry quickly fired the spell at the flames and dived behind a couch.

Nicholas stepped out and calmly absorbed the curse with a shield. He wasn't prepared however for the piece of garment to smack him in the face. The Unspeakable head stumbled backwards back into the still green flames that were slowly turning orange.

"Interesting greeting James. I must admit that I've never been greeting in this fashion before. Can I keep it?" Nicholas inspected the piece of cloth. "Oh dear. It isn't yours is it?" He asked Mary who had jumped up when Harry attacked. The girl now just looked shocked and horrified.

Seeing her look of horror, the man assumed the worst. "It is yours then. Seeing as you two need some more time, I think I'll come back later."

"Drop dead you old pervert" Harry curse as he propped himself up with the couch's back.

"Aren't you going to ask me a question that only I would know?" Flamel asked.

"No need. No one could fake that kind of response." Harry glared at the man and flopped into a chair as he massaged the shoulder he had landed upon in his sudden dive. "And for your information those aren't Mary's."

"Of course they aren't." Flamel said knowingly.

"Arrgh…" Harry gave up, throwing his hands in the air.

"How did you get the Floo connected? I specifically layered the wards myself."

"Can I keep it?" Flamel asked again eagerly.

Harry mental process stumbled for a moment, they obviously weren't on the same line of thought.

"Yes, yes. Keep the blasted thing." He snarled. "Now the Floo." He demanded.

"It was always there. I just hid it from detection charms. Did it not occur to you that I wouldn't leave a back door to one of my safe houses?" Flamel explained.

Harry accepted the explanation. "I just thought that there were ways to hook up a Floo connection that bypassed my wards.

"No there isn't. Not that I know of that is." Nicholas said as he looked at Mary. "Are you alright dear?"

"Er… Yes. Just surprised that's all." The female Unspeakable sat down.

"Now what's this about. You don't generally go making house calls. Unless it's something important." Harry questioned as he moved towards the kitchen. "Tea?"

"Yes please." Nicholas called out.

He now shifted his attention to the other occupant of the house.

"So Mary, tell me, how's life with the great James Pathertrory?"

"Interesting, Sir. He's very knowledgeable in dueling techniques. He thinks out of the box and uses unique methods." Mary replied truthfully.

"Good. Mr. Pathertrory has a knack for imagination and creativeness. His isn't very educated in spell theory and variety, but he does make up in technique." Nicholas commented.

"I've noticed he rarely uses complicated spells but instead sticks to simple but powerful ones. Most of his dueling methods would be frowned upon by an official dueling committee."

Flamel threw back his head and laughed. "Taught you the 'Squirrel Move' then has he?"

"Squirrel Move?" Mary frowned.

"Surely you know what it is." Flamel said surprised.

"Yeah I know what it is. It's just that he's never shown it to me." She said raking her memory if he had indeed shown it to her.

"Probably because you're a woman and not a guy. He doesn't think it's appropriate to hit women. James's like that, he's too much of a gentleman."

"Gentleman?" She said in disbelief as she rubbed her side unconsciously. If that was the way her partner thought being soft was, she was glad that she wasn't male.

"Be thankful that you aren't." Nicholas apparently had the same thought. "In his early days of training he left a handful of my best men limping for weeks."

Mary couldn't resist the laugh she felt coming.

Harry chose this time to appear, tea set in hand. He neatly arranged the cups and poured the steaming brown liquid.

Nicholas frowned at his plastic cup.

"What? No Bone China for me?" He asked in mock hurt.

"If you're going to act like a child, I'll treat you like one." Harry replied.

Mary held her tongue that James was being a hypocrite and deserved no less than a plastic cup himself.

"Demoted to a child now am I?"

"That and I don't like you." Harry said as he reached for the sugar pot. "One or two."

"Three." Nicholas said apparently unaffected by Harry's rudeness.

Mary just rolled her eyes are the men's childish byplay. If she had know this was what she was going to end up with she probably should have stayed at her old job. Not even the Aurors were this immature.

As soon as the sugar cube hit the tea, Nicholas's tea cup returned to its original Bone China cup.

"Knew you couldn't stay mad at me James."

"You just keep saying that old man."

"But you need me."

"Yeah right." Harry retorted.

"How else would you get all the juicy assignments then." Nicholas thought he had won this argument.

"You call newbie training, a juicy assignment?" Harry somehow had a comeback for that.

"Excuse me people. I'm still here." Mary snapped. "Now you shut up and behave." She prodded Harry's arm.

Flamel smirked and mouth 'whipped.' Harry scowled and gave him the finger.

"And you, don't provoke him." She rounded on her boss.

Harry mouth 'Whipped' from behind her back. Nicholas chose to return the earlier gesture.

"That goes for you too James." Mary punched Harry on the arm.

"Egads woman. You're being brave today." Harry said. "Hit him too then why don't you."

"I agree James. Most of my Unspeakables don't dare to tell me off. I must say that your attitude is rubbing off on her. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. One of you is bad enough."

"Arrgh. Fine see if I care." Mary stomped off to the kitchen.

"She's just making snacks." Harry said, not too concerned.

"So you aren't sleeping with her then?"

"What?!?" Harry said loudly.

"Speak a little louder I don't think she heard you in the next room." Nicholas said.

"WE AREN'T SLEEPING TOGETHER!!!" Harry shouted out loudly just for the heck of it.

Nicholas looked taken aback and twisted his head left and right. When no Mary Sue came back he glared at Harry.

"You have a silencing charm in place don't you?"

Harry smirked.

"Tell me why I would be sleeping with her?" Harry asked curious all of a sudden.

"What? A young man and woman stuck in the same house for a month. No one around to chaperone should you two get frisky." Nicholas waggled his eyebrows.

"Young? You make it sound like we're sixth years at Hogwarts." Harry said.

Flamel just gave him a look that said 'Aren't you?'. Harry ignored him.

"My relation with my partner is simply that. P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S." Harry spelt it out for him.

"Truthfully he's right. I've never once considered sleeping with him." Mary entered the room.

Seeing both men's surprised looks, she held up a small flesh colored ear attached to a string.

Harry groaned and banged his head on the table.

Nicholas just laugh at the superior smirk that Mary had on.

"This is why I like you so much James. You bring mirth to my old bones." Flamel joked.

Harry gave him the finger as he continued to bang his bead on the table.

"Pardon my interruption Sir, but why are you here. James was just about to bring me over." Sue asked.

"So that's what this is for." Nicholas said inspecting the bra. "Size thirty two C a very good Portkey idea too. Captors wouldn't think to remove a person's undergarments for Portkey charms. Most people use medallions." He commented and Mary blushed beneath her concealment charms.

"I'm curious James, just where did you get these?" Nicholas asked in curiosity. From the looks of his partner, she too wanted to know.

"I conjured it. Wasn't that hard when your house mate insists on doing the laundry the old fashioned way."

"Ha! You admit it. You are a pervert, you looked at my washings."

"I never denied it." Was Harry's comeback.

"Ahem!" Nicholas cleared his throat. "Enough small talk for now."

Immediately the two of them became serious.

"I came because James didn't turn up and was worried something had happened. Although it isn't the first time he's been late, so I wasn't that worried. However, I do have to tell you that Mary's evaluation test has been scheduled for tomorrow. I believe James here can explain what might be expected of you." Nicholas nodded to Harry.

"I understand Sir." They both replied.

"Good day then." He drained his cup and tapped his cloak. "Return." He said clearly before vanishing.

"Hmm…" Harry stroked his chin in thought. "Pack your stuff Mary and meet me in my office." Harry stood to clear up the tea set.

XXXXX

Location Unknown – Unspeakable Safe House – Outside Harry's Office

"James?" Mary asked as she knocked on the dark brown wood of her mentor's office door.

It hadn't taken her that long to pack all her belongings. She hadn't brought much with her except the clothes on her back when she was first bought here. James had of course realized this and after much embarrassment on his part, allowed her to return and fetch more clothing.

Anyhow, everything was now nicely packed away and shrunk back into her Unspeakable trunk.

James himself wouldn't know if they would shift location after her grading test. It was best to be prepared anyway.

"Come in." His muffled voice called out and a click was heard.

She entered one of the two rooms she had never been in since her arrival. The first was the office she now stood in. James had specifically told her it was off limits unless it was an emergency. He would lock himself in the room for hours on end when ever they weren't dueling or eating. She now understood what he meant when he mentioned no need for a desk at the Department Of Mysteries.

It was weird how he never showed up to work like most Unspeakables she knew would. Instead he was provided a safe house and reported only to the Dragon.

The last place she had never been to was his bedroom of course. She had no doubt been curious as to what it looked like. James had never been into her room despite the fact that she knew he could if he wanted to. If he respected her privacy, she would respect his.

That still didn't stop her from guessing though.

From the look of the entire house. James was a neat, well organized person who made sure the living room and rest of the house was presentable despite them having no visitors. He wasn't a neat freak who went hunting for dust bunnies, but she had seen him a few times tossing the odd household charm here and there.

Mary always had a theory that worked. The living room and rest of a person's house would always be neat. It would always be if you wanted people to view you as a neat person. The bedroom on the other hand would explain your true character.

She had always wondered what it would look like. Would it be messy like hers with worn clothes thrown on the floor, waiting for the next laundry day. Or clean and tidy like the rest of the house?

She looked around the room she had entered. Wooden tiles paved the floor and the walls had forgone their usual plaster like the rest of the house for a wooden finish.

The shelves, cupboard and desk complimented the room's interior design by mimicking the color scheme which was wood and brown.

It wasn't a large room like she imagined it would be. It was the same size as the Head Unspeakable's. A recliner and shelf of books were positioned beside the door on her right. Opposite it stood a liquor cabinet with a few opened bottles inside it.

She instantly recognized a bottle of Ogden's Firewhiskey among the many Muggle names.

Directly in front of the door was a desk with James sitting behind it. A filing cabinet stood behind on his right and a large mirror on his left. Sunlight filtered in through a charmed window which currently displayed a field of wild flowers.

"When you're done observing my office and satiating your curiosity, you can help yourself to a drink." James looked up from the paperwork he was doing and waved at the liquor cabinet.

"The meeting wouldn't be that bad would it?" She asked nervously.

James looked up. "Heavens no. I was just being polite."

Mary never could tell if he was being sarcastic or truthful sometimes. This was one of those times. The voice distortion charm gave her no hint to the tone of his voice, unless he was being blatantly obvious. His facial features too were hidden by that damned concealment charm.

She was extremely interested as to what his real age was. She had garnered that Dragon himself was very old, if James's nick names of 'The Old Man', 'Old Coot' and 'Ancient Relic' were anything to go by. He was probably as old as the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore. She still had trouble imagining someone as old as Dumbledore himself. The man was well over a century in age.

James himself was a puzzle. His dueling experience and Unspeakable rank suggested he was old, maybe fifty. However his attitude and earlier conversation practically screamed five year old.

Then there was the point about his spell work as well.

He seemed to favor simple low leveled but effective spells during a duel. He never used the more destructive curses that she was taught in Auror training. Instead he chose to overpower the spell for a bigger result.

She had seen the result of one of his juiced up Reducto Curses. The dueling target he was aiming at had been completely obliterated together with the wall behind it.

He had power, of that she had no doubt. Perhaps he avoided the flashier spells for they required too many wand movements and was prone to failure. He did mention that simple spells were always the best. It made your opponent underestimate your abilities.

His favorite quote was, "Dueling is ten percent spell work, thirty percent technique and fifty percent luck.".

When asked about the remaining ten percent, he just grinned and said "Foul play.".

"I know the wide selection of choice may make it difficult to choose, but do hurry up and get me a shot of Bailey's on ice while you're at it." James's voice broke her out of the thoughts.

He was definitely being sarcastic this time, there was no mistaking it.

She found the necessary ice and glasses in the cabinet. Grabbing a Butterbeer and preparing his drink, she inspected the opened bottles.

Apparently only the Bailey's had been half empty and recently poured from, if the coating of soft pre hardened liquid on the brim was any indication. The others looked full. It meant that James had tried them but stayed loyal to the chocolaty Irish milk. The remaining liquor was for his guest's selection.

'Not that he has many.' She thought.

She sat in the chair opposite him and passed him his glass.

He thanked her, took a sip and went back to the form filling.

Mary leaned over to get a better view of what he was doing.

The form looked like a standard report form that she used to fill out when she was back in the Aurors.

"The old man decided that since I'm not in the field destroying property, I should better utilize my free time by updating the reports on all my past missions." He spoke suddenly.

Mary jerked back. 'How did he know she had been looking?'

"One of my unique skills is natural Legilimency Miss Sue. I restrain myself from reading people's minds but currently your curiosity is overflowing.

She slammed as much of her brief Occlumency training into use.

"Much better." He said without looking up.

Knowing what he was doing didn't make it so interesting anymore. She shifted her attention to the large mirror.

It was odd that a man would have a mirror in his office. That was until she realized that while reflective it didn't show James in it.

She briefly assumed he was a vampire until she noticed that it was slightly cloudy.

She had seen the device before. It was a foe glass. James was probably paranoid enough to warrant one of them. She had only met one other that kept such a large foe glass.

"Finally." He called out in relief as he pressed his card to the parchment and tossed it into the 'Out' tray where it vanished.

"Six more to go." He glared at the 'In' tray in disgust.

Mary smiled beneath her hood. She knew he could see her face and had asked why she still wore the cloak. James had told her she needed to get used to it.

"Now back to the present. Your evaluation test is tomorrow and seeing as how I am so popular and that you're my first student, there's bound to be a lot of money changing hands." He said sipping his drink.

Mary made to ask but he interrupted her.

"You have my full confidence that you will pass this test with full marks. After what I've seen in these three weeks you should be more than ready. Just don't trip when you Portkey in. You know one of the stabilizing charms?"

She nodded in affirmation.

"Now the layout would be like a general mission. You'll be sent a mail bird notification at anytime tomorrow. So we'll have to be at the Ministry the whole day. You'll then be briefed on what to do and the specifics of the mission. Mine was to extract a target individual from a hostage situation."

"What happened."

"The judges who were monitoring the whole thing, compliments of Phoenix Division, didn't know whether to award me full marks on stealth as I wasn't seen, or none as I crashed a Muggle milk van into their observation post nearby to create a diversion." He smirked.

"They were none too pleased I'll tell you that. I got full marks in the end for the record." He added.

Mary rolled her eyes. Causing a large disturbance was something that James was likely to do.

"Anything else?"

"Yes. They were sneaky buggers too. The guy I was to extract turned out to be a hostile and tried to get the jump on me. Had to break both his arms and a leg before I brought him in. Turns out he was a new recruit from Raven Division getting his evaluation as well. To him the extraction was a trap and he was meant to ambush me when I rescued him."

"So did he pass?" She asked.

James shrugged.

"You don't tell a person that and then leave out the ending." She scowled at him.

James chuckled. "It's so easy to get a reaction out from you."

"I know you know. Tell me." She insisted.

"Fine. He passed but spent a day in the infirmary doped up on Skelegrow Potion. Turns out I shattered his knee caps and both shoulder joints when I broke them."

Mary of that moment was glad she was a female. James had definitely gone easy on her. A few bruised ribs felt tolerable when compared to shattered joints. She knew injuries like that in the Muggle world usually resulted in permanent damage and loss of some movement.

"Now, am I forgetting anything?" He tapped his quill to his chin.

"I not sure Sir." Mary said uncertainly.

"Oh yes, I'll be accompanying you till you set off on the mission. That and I have a small gift for you." He reached into a drawer and handed her a parcel wrapped in brown paper.

"Go ahead you can open it here. Just promise me you'll wear it always."

Mary tore open the wrapping and silvery piece of cloth fell out. She took one look at it and her mouth promptly fell open.

"I can't accept this." She stammered holding the vest back at him.

"Your training is officially over and as my apprentice, it's my gift to you." He pushed it back.

"Do you have any idea of what this is?" She asked admiring the vest's craftsmanship.

"Of course, seeing as to how I had it made for you. I myself wear one constantly.

"But it's Mithril. This stuffs probably worth a million Galleons."

"Two point two four actually." He supplied, producing a receipt which had the Gringotts seal on it. The makers were obviously Goblins.

"I can't accept this. It's too valuable, and it's your money." She refused.

"Listen, I have enough gold as it is already. I get paid close to a hundred thousand Galleons each week for every suicide mission I go on."

"That much?" Mary asked taken aback by the outrageous amount.

"Just me because I produce results that no one else can at the moment. Anyhow that Mithril vest was made specifically for you so it's useless to me. I can't wear it for I already have one. I would rather be poorer a couple million than see my only partner and apprentice K.I.A. because she wasn't protected."

"Fine." She relented to his reasoning.

"I can guarantee that most Purebloods who are rich enough have one of these as well. So if you are going to nail a Pureblooded opponent, either go for the head or crotch." He informed.

"Er… Sir." She said weakly, still shocked that she now owned a two point two four million Galleon piece of armor.

"Look Mary." He offered. "You can make it a family heirloom if you want. Pass it on to your kids or future generations when you don't need it anymore. The Goblins at Gringotts will resize it for no charge."

Her head snapped up at his last words. "I thought you said it couldn't be resized and only I could wear it?"

"Did I?" He said slyly. "Guess I lied."

"I hate you. You know that don't you." Mary said fingering the chain link.

"Of course you do." He waved. "You can go now. I have forms to fill." He pointed at the tray of waiting blank forms.

"Thank you." She wanted to hug him but didn't think he would appreciate it much.

James grunted in reply without looking up from his work.

Mary hugged the vest close to her chest and left the room.

Author's Note:

I have had a lot of reviews asking me just where I got the name James Pathertrory from for Harry. If you would read my other story, you would find out that it's actually an anagram of Harry James Potter. There are a few in that story that I spent a fair bit of time cracking my head over.

Since we are on the subject of anagrams. Read up 'nonjon' story on 'Birth Of A Name'. It's a good humorous one shot about how Voldemort came into possession of his enigmatic anagram. You'll never believe the things that Tom Marvolo Riddle can spell, not to mention Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

Also the next update wouldn't be for a while as I'm going for a holiday in Japan followed by a trip to the states. Hence I wouldn't be around to update at all. Don't worry I'll continue writing while I'm flying around. Therefore I have made this chapter a big longer than the rest.

ENSIGN

Nunquam Lamiae Morde "Me Ictus"

Review Replies:

Potter and the Weasley: One very glad Werewolf was left in the shrieking shack on discovering that Harry was alive but slightly disgruntled that he was stood up.

Athenakitty: Harry's innocence is already widely known, as stated by Nicholas Flamel in the prologue. It is also true that Nick never told Harry to be subtle but being Unspeakables we should assume it as a general rule. Don't worry, the Death Eaters will get what's coming to them.

MiFo71: Seriously I think there is a running contest to see who can make a reader drop dead. The winner and forerunner at the moment would definitely be 'nonjon'. Silver gifts to the Werewolves would be a great idea but I'm not sure I would be using it. I might change my mind and mention it offhandedly during a Nicholas – Harry byplay.

M. R. Moore: There aren't many Harry Unspeakable fics out there. The ones I know of are 'Harry Potter and the Summer of Change', 'The Hammer Falls', 'The way of the Warlock' and mine. If you know a few more do tell me.

Rabid Reader 2: Only Ron, Hermione and Remus know that Harry is very much alive at the moment. Harry was tutored for half a year and if you notice he isn't that good at spell work. He relies on simple and unique spells as well a technique, something that a person could pick up easily in six months unlike complicated spell theory. Regarding Harry's abilities in battles, I am just using what was stated in canon. In the fifth book, Harry displays amazing calm and quick thinking the Department of Mysteries. I believe that if cultivated his talent would be what it is in my story. That and he has the advantage of a open mind unlike many of the wizards we see in JK's books. They simply aren't open to new ways of thinking.

Veronik: You're taking Latin? Just to warn you, it's an extremely confusing subject and the grammar is completely reversed to English. An example is the Hogwarts Motto of 'Draco Dormeins Nunquam Titilandus.' It means 'never tickle a sleeping dragon'. But translated directly its actually 'dragon sleeping never tickle.' Get my point? Overall you'll discover a few words in Latin that many European language are based on. I mainly took it out of interest sakes but not I find it useful in my anatomy classes for my course on Medicine.

Due to passing a new rule stating that Authors are not to reply to reviews in their story. Since this may affect the length of the story itself. Therefore I'll be no longer answering reviews unless I receive enough of the same questions. The answers can be found in my Author's Notes.