Relatively short chapter, yes, but I feel it's still got a lot to offer as far as building up coming Chapters. Enjoy. :)

RECOMMENDED STORIES BY KENTH VICTUS:

Mass Effect: Every Day After (Complete)

Mass Effect 4: Vindication (In-Progress)

Gates of Terabithia (Complete)

Star Wars: Jedi Wasteland (Complete)

Star Wars: New Order (In-Progress)

Chapter Nine: Change of Plans

[Sunday, 21 August 1994]

"Sickle for your thoughts?"

Sitting on a swing on the porch of the sprawling estate, Erika Evergreen had been so absorbed in her own thoughts that she had never heard her sister's footsteps as the other woman had approached. Had her life depended on that, she would now be dead.

"Just mulling a few things over, 'Rora, that's all."

"You look worried."

Erika smiled as the other woman sat down next to her, her face bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun. She should know better than to try and hide anything from Aurora.

"What gave me away?"

"You always scrunch your face up. It's a bit cute, actually."

"Oh, come off it." But she laughed all the same.

"So, what's got you worried?"

"We've got a witch missing."

"Missing?"

"Mhmm. Bertha Jorkins."

"Jorkins?" Aurora asked with a frown. "I think I remember her—sorta plump witch, spacy eyes."

"Yeah, that's her."

"I've heard she hasn't much in the way of brains, and that she does well enough at times to remember her own name, never you mind the time of day or even the day itself."

"It's true enough, I reckon, but still—something seems off. I dunno what; I can't place it."

"Well, if it's enough to trouble you, then let's take a look."

"Seriously?"

"Why not? Let's start from the basics; when was she last seen?"

"Just over a month or two ago."

"You're serious?"

Erika nodded. "Last I knew, she was preparing to go on holiday abroad, and she hasn't been seen or heard from since she left."

"Who's her Head o—of course; scratch that." Aurora murmured, a brief look of extreme distaste crossing her face. "I think I'd off myself if I had to work under him."

"Oi! Bagman's not the best, but he's not bad, either; still reckon he's one of the best Beaters to ever swing a club. Led the Wimbourne Wasps to three consecutive league championships, didn't he?"

"So? Just because you're good at Quidditch doesn't mean you're qualified to be the Head of Department within the Ministry, now does it?"

"Fair enough, but—"

"I mean, the man's reckless, Sis, and a bigger fool within the Ministry I've yet to see! I—"

"True enough, but he's still—"

"Still what?"

Erika shook her head. "I thought we were talking about Bertha Jorkins, not Ludo Bagman."

"Right then—where did she go for holiday?"

"Albania."

"I—" Aurora froze, her face instantly drained of its color. "Say that again?"

"What, Albania?"

"Yeah."

"I—'Rora, what is it?"

"You-Know-Who."

"I know—no."

Aurora nodded. "Oh yes."

"You mean to say He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

Again, Aurora nodded. "You know I was assigned to the task force searching for him, right?"

"Actually—no, you never mentioned—"

"Albania is one of the four countries we believe he may have fled to after he failed to kill the Potter boy."

"Why would he go there?"

"Dunno. However, Professor Dumbledore believed he was controlling Quirrell a few years ago when he tried to steal the Sorcerer's Stone from Hogwarts, and the last foreign trip Quirrell took—that we know of—was to Albania."

"Okay, but why would it matter? Bertha's no one important at the Ministry—even if she did get close to You-Know-Who, why would he take any real interest in her?"

"Dunno. It could be coincidence, true, but—"

"But what?"

"Part of my job has been to infiltrate the seedier side of our society—"

"Criminals, you mean."

"Yes, criminals. I'm hearing odd rumors, but nothing absolute."

"What's Scrimgeour say about it?"

"He agrees that there's something there, but he feels like the bulk of our efforts should be tracking down Sirius Black."

"Seriously?" Erika asked with a frown. "He thinks Black is more of a danger than—"

"I mean, to be fair, I do see it from his point-of-view. We don't know the full story behind You-Know-Who's downfall. Sure, no body was ever recovered, but that's our only evidence to suggest he's still alive. For all we know, he could well be dead. Black, meanwhile, is still out there, a clear and present threat we know is real. I expect that, soon enough, our task force will be merged into the one looking for Black."

"I—"

"Still, I find it odd that Bagman hasn't sent someone to find her."

"He's convinced she's just lost track of time, that she'll wander back into the Ministry in a month or so thinking it's still mid-summer."

"What do you think?"

"I—I really don't know. She's absolutely dreadful at remembering things, it's true, and yeah, she's disappeared before, but for days, not weeks or months. I—my gut tells me something's off."

"Then, I daresay something's off. Question is—what're you going to do about it?"

Erika shrugged dismissively. "Not much I can do, is there? I mean—unless Bagman decides to send me to find her, which is so improbable it's quite laughable—"

"Perhaps I could pass it on to Scrimgeour." Aurora mused thoughtfully. "He might think Black is the bigger threat, but I reckon he might still find it—"

Erika shook her head, cutting her sister off almost immediately. "It's just conjecture at this point, and aside from that—the Ministry's stretched thin enough as it is, what between the World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament."

Aurora opened her mouth as she made to respond, but any words upon the tip of her tongue fell silent as both women found their attention now shifting towards the pair of teenagers chasing a familiar black cat across the lawn, screaming and laughing.

"They do make quite the pair, don't they?" Erika laughed. Aurora, who so often seemed distant and uncaring in terms of her brother's best friend, returned with a slow nod of her—perhaps, Erika noted, the closest she'd ever come to giving the younger girl her approval.

Erika laughed. "Oh, come off it already, 'Rora; you just hate her because she's a Slytherin."

"Your point?"

"Does it matter what symbol she wears on her cloak?" Erika asked. "Have you seen how happy she makes the little git?"

"I have."

"Then—"

"And as I've learned the hard way—letting a Slytherin in that close only makes it easier for them to curse you in the back."

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Just because Yazmina—"

"Don't—"

"Just because Yazmina broke your heart doesn't mean Serena's going to do the same thing to Rowan."

Of course it does—she's a Slytherin—"

"Have you taken the time to actually get to know her, 'Rora?"

"Why would I? I—"

"She's a good one. Headstrong, certainly, and quite a cunning little fox when she wants to be; probably why she was sorted into Slytherin House to start. But have you seen the way she looks at Roe? She bloody loves the little fool."

Despite her hatred of it, Aurora allowed a small smile to grace her lips. "And the whelp's completely daft to it, isn't he?"

"Absolutely!" Erika laughed. "Reckon she'll make a move before he does?"

"Absolutely." Aurora answered, echoing her sister. "I've got five Galleons saying she does."

"I'll take that bet."

The two sisters had been so involved in their discussion that neither of them had heard their mother approaching. As the old witch sat down on the steps between them, she draped one arm over each daughter, pausing briefly to kiss them each on the cheek.

"Really?"

"Sure. I've got ten galleons saying he kisses her first."

"You're mental—"

"After they have a great, stupid row over him being such a thick arse about the feelings between them."

The women laughed as they continued watching the subjects of their conversation return towards them, still chasing the black cat.

"Listen, girls, I need a bit of a favor."

"Sure." The girls answered in unison.

"I need you to take Rowan and Serena to the Cup tomorrow."

Neither woman could hide the look of shock on their face; the World Cup had been—prior to Albus Dumbledore's visit—the one bright spot in Laurel's otherwise drab life.

"Mum, what—"

"As much as I want to go, I—I have other obligations, more important to me than even the Cup."

"Yeah, 'course we will, Mum, but—is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I reckon so—mostly."

"Mostly?" Aurora asked, arching a suspicious eyebrow.

"You kids aren't the only ones I've been neglecting."

"What?" Aurora asked again. "You got other—"

Laurel chuckled. "Not quite, 'Rora, but I do have other duties I've been letting go."

"So you're going to use the time we're gone to try and make things right?" Erika asked, to which Laurel offered a confirmation.

"I may make it there in time for the match itself, but if not—well, there've been worse losses."

"Don't reckon this has anything to do with all of these owls you've been exchanging?" Aurora asked. "That one poor thing needed the night to recover; mind you, he looked quite dreadful even before he arr—"

"It does, and that's as much you'll know for now." She answered sternly.

"Hey, Mum, you went to school with Bertha Jorkins, didn't you?" Erika asked, struck by sudden inspiration. Laurel, in turn, nodded.

"She was a couple of years ahead of me, but yeah, I remember her enough. She's with you in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, isn't she?"

"What was she like?"

"Nosy."

"Nosy?"

"Oh yes—quite the gossiper, she was." Laurel explained. "She never quite knew when to shut up and loved spreading rumors—even went before Dumbledore for it, once. And, unfortunately for her, she wasn't the brightest wand in the shop, either."

Erika and Aurora exchanged dark glances. This did not go unnoticed by their mother.

"Why'd you ask?"

"She's gone missing." Erika answered truthfully.

"Missing?"

"Mhmm. Went on holiday in Albania and is now almost a month late in returning."

"And Bagman's not sent anyone to look for her?"

Erika shook her head. "He reckons she's lost track of time; says it's quite normal for her to be forgetful."

"No."

"No?"

"Bertha wasn't exceptionally bright, granted, but I don't recall her being overly forgetful."

"Dunno, but 'Rora here thinks You-Know-Who might be involved."

Laurel turned to look at the oldest of her triplets with such a sharp, quick movement that Erika half-expected her neck to break.

"Voldemort?"

Both girls flinched at the mention of the name. "Yeah—Albania's on our shortlist for places he might be hiding, though we've yet to find anything solid."

"That makes no sense, though." Erika countered. "Bertha may be a Ministry Witch, but she wasn't assigned to anything overly sensitive; she'd have no value to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Why would he risk discovery to attack such a low-ranking employee?"

"Because he's a murderous, raving lunatic?" Aurora answered. Laurel, however, was the one to respond.

"I'm with Erika—Voldemort was a murderous, raving lunatic, but he always had a plan, always had a reason for everything he did. He wouldn't risk exposure on someone as lowly as Bertha. Unless—"

"Mum?"

"We still don't know how he lost his powers—provided he didn't die, of course. It may be that, if he is still alive, he's closer to death than we think. If he did attack Bertha, if he is responsible for her disappearance, then it may well be he didn't have a choice—"

"Or perhaps it's Sirius Black."

"What?"

"Perhaps it's Sirius Black." Aurora repeated. "After he escaped Hogwarts, Black's likely going to try to hide abroad, and it's likely he knows Albania is a possible refuge for his master. What are the chances that Black went to Albania to find his lost master, and while there he was discovered by a forgetful, none-too-bright Bertha Jorkins, and he killed her to maintain his hiding?"

"That—actually isn't too far out there, 'Rora."

"Perhaps." Laurel answered cautiously.

"You disagree, Mum?"

"Perhaps." She repeated. "Perhaps not."

"Whatddya mean?" Erika asked.

"Trying to capture or kill Voldemort is like trying to catch smoke." She explained. "Like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands."

I'm still torn between whether I want Erika to be assigned a mission to search for Bertha, but that may lead down a rabbit hole I don't wanna explore and even challenge established HP canon, so dunno there. I will say that I do believe everyone's going to love my plans for Laurel in her chapter(s) that cover what she's doing during the Quidditch World Cup.

So, thoughts?