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This story is a collaboration work between Avoranger and Cal the Wandcrafter!
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As Daphne stirred from her slumber, she sensed a familiar quiver beneath her pillow. Her wand was vibrating, signalling the dawn of a new day and the beginning of her duties. Despite the warmth and softness of her bed, she resisted the temptation to return to the land of dreams and instead stretched her weary limbs, battling against the tide of exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm her.
It had been a gruelling week, with back-to-back double shifts at the Ministries Internal Affairs department. Her dearest friend Tracey had been struck down by a mysterious curse during the battle of Hogwarts, and every year on the anniversary of that fateful day, her condition worsened. Daphne had volunteered to cover for her workload, taking so she could get the intensive therapy and medication she required.
Her position as a member of the raiding team had demanded her attention as well, with the team captain, Mario Geto, insisting on sticking to the schedule no matter what. Tracey's absence had left a gap that needed to be filled, and Daphne, being her closest confidante, had been chosen to take on her responsibilities.
As she prepared herself for another day of gruelling work, Daphne couldn't help but feel a sense of weariness wash over her. Her part in the raid was largely centred on managing the evidence and preparing for any disciplinary hearings to follow while Tracey's role involved managing files and sorting the paperwork. But despite the differences in their responsibilities, the weight of the work was crushing, and Daphne longed for the comfort of her bed once more, instead of the week of triple shifts she was fixing to take on.
As Daphne stirred from her slumber, her eyelids still drooping with fatigue, she shifted to her right side and caught sight of her trusty calendar, perched atop the table beside her bed. With a blink of an eye, the calendar blinked back at her, reminding her of the appointment she had marked for today.
With a heavy heart, she hauled herself out of bed and wobbled unsteadily towards the washroom, her thoughts jumbled and disorganised from the weight of exhaustion. But as the cool water washed over her face, her mind cleared and the fog of sleepiness lifted. She remembered with a jolt that she had promised to have breakfast with Harry, her beloved fiancé.
Despite the weariness that clung to her like a heavy cloak, Daphne's heart lifted at the thought of seeing Harry. They had planned this breakfast date a week ago, and with both of them having the day off, there was no reason to cancel it. Though her work schedule had been gruelling, she had managed to finish all her tasks for the period, which meant that her holiday schedule remained unchanged. The only thing that had changed was her level of exhaustion.
A deep sigh escaped her lips as she realised how little time she had left. She cast her gaze towards the clock, her eyes widening with surprise at the time. Without further delay, she snatched up her bag from the previous day and hustled towards the fireplace, her father's amused headshake following her out the door.
With a swift motion, she tossed the floo powder into the flames and silently shouted her destination, eager to start her day with the man she loved.
Daphne hurried through the bustling streets of Diagon Alley, her eyes darting around frantically as she searched for Harry. Her heart raced with anxiety as she wondered if she would be able to find him amidst the sea of people. Finally, she spotted a strand of his messy hair disappearing through the door of the Leaky Cauldron. With renewed determination, she pushed her way through the throngs of visitors, apologising profusely as she bumped into them.
"Harry! Harry...wait!" she called out, gasping for breath as she caught up to him. She managed to grab onto his coat, using it as an anchor to steady herself. She could feel the exhaustion in her bones, a testament to the double shift she had worked the week before.
Harry turned to her with a grin, knowing full well the stress that Daphne had been under lately. He had witnessed her exhaustion firsthand when she had come to his department to do a raid. As Aurors, they were always under pressure to solve cases quickly and efficiently, and as such some people liked to cut corners and not follow proper procedure. Unfortunately for a team a few offices over from him, the Internal Affairs decided it was a great day for a visit the day after a detective on the team decided to 'misplace' some evidence that closed a case, and subsequently couldnt produce any records of it ever existing,
"Don't worry, I just got here too," he reassured her, sensing her guilt at being late.
Daphne narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?" she said bluntly.
Harry chuckled. "No, I promise. I had a late night too. Come on, let's get some breakfast."
Together, they stepped into the Leaky Cauldron, their spirits lifted by the prospect of a relaxing morning and some much-needed sustenance.
With a skip in their step, Harry and Daphne made their way through the bustling Diagon Alley. Harry's hand tapped rhythmically on the bricks, causing the gate to open to reveal their destination: Lily's Eatery. It was a quaint food stall that only served breakfast and lunch, but it held a special place in Harry's heart as it was named after his mother, Lily Evans.
As they approached the eatery, the tantalising aroma of fresh pastries and breakfast foods filled the air. Harry proudly informed Daphne that he had ordered their breakfast in advance, knowing her tastes perfectly. Daphne couldn't help but smile at Harry's thoughtfulness, despite feeling guilty for being late.
Once inside, they settled at a small table near the window, overlooking the bustling street. She could remember the first time she and Harry had eaten there together. As Harry had served the breakfast, he had told Daphne about the discovery of his mother's journal in the main Potter Family vault, and how it was something he had only gained access to after dealing with the bank in the aftermath of the war.
When he had first showed her the place, he had explained that his mother had not only been an expert in charms and potions, but she also had a passion for baking. He showed Daphne a page from the journal where Lily had written about her love for making cakes and desserts. Despite not having much formal training, Lily's talent and love for baking shone through in her creations.
Daphne couldn't help but be charmed by the story, imagining Lily Potter as a young girl baking with her mother during the holidays at Hogwarts. It was moments like these that made her grateful for Harry's company, and for the warmth and love that radiated from Lily's Eatery.
As they entered the eatery, they were greeted by the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries and the sound of chatter from the patrons. They chose to sit inside by the window, which offered a lovely view of the bustling Diagon Alley.
"I'm sorry for yesterday, Harry. I was just doing my job," Daphne said, her voice filled with remorse.
"You don't have to apologise, Daph. You're a professional, and I understand that," Harry replied, trying to reassure her. He knew that Daphne always felt bad when she had to raid the Auror's Department. It was a trait that he admired in her, but also one that he wished she didn't have.
"But still..."
"You did what you had to do. I won't get involved because it's not my place to do so," Harry said firmly. He had heard that the Head Auror was furious because the raid had resulted in the confiscation of a lot of evidence, which was going to be used in a disciplinary hearing.
"They deserve it. They're so lazy," Daphne said, her voice dripping with disgust. "I checked your room, by the way. It's clean. But you might want to check the offices next to you. It's really bad," she added, shuddering at the memory.
Harry just chuckled. "The Head Auror is also angry about it. The Aurors who work in that room are going to be punished."
"Good. They deserve it," Daphne said, as their food arrived. But her expression suddenly changed as she rummaged through her bag and found an item that she had confiscated during the raid.
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked, noticing the pained look on her face.
"Oh no, I seem to have forgotten my galleons," Daphne apologised, her face contorted with regret. Harry simply shook his head in response.
"Here at this establishment, we dine for free, my dear Daphne," he reminded her. "After all, I do own the place."
"Nevertheless, it still doesn't sit well with me that you are treating me, especially when we are not yet married," she protested.
"But soon enough, my dear, you will be my wife and this place will be yours as well," Harry assured her.
"Business is business, Harry. I still don't like cutting into your profits like this." Daphne retorted.
"Let us eat," Harry suggested, flashing a smile to ease the tension. He didn't want to argue about it any longer. Daphne pouted but relented, and they began to dine together.
Harry had chosen pancakes dusted with powdered sugar and maple syrup, along with ice cream and berries, for Daphne's meal, while he opted for a full English breakfast. They ate in silence for a while before Daphne brought up the topic they were supposed to discuss that morning.
"Have you reached out to the wedding organiser we decided to hire for our big day?" she inquired. Harry swallowed his food before responding.
"Aye, I have. They confirmed that our preferred date is available, and I have already paid the booking fee," he replied, shrugging. Daphne breathed a sigh of relief.
"My mother has been pestering me about it incessantly, and I wouldn't know what to say if you hadn't taken care of it. I am glad I won't have to evade her inquiries anymore," she said cheerfully. Harry chuckled at his fiancée's unique behaviour.
"Sometimes I wonder who is the one getting married, my mother seems to be the stressing and planning more than both of us," Daphne grumbled, rolling her eyes in frustration. Harry listened attentively, not daring to interrupt her. He knew that Daphne just wanted to be heard.
In the midst of Daphne's rant, Harry caught a suspicious movement from someone in his peripheral vision. He quickly diverted his attention to the figure and began tracking their movements, no longer listening to Daphne's tirade.
Noticing that Harry had stopped listening to her, Daphne followed his line of sight with a furrowed brow. However, she had forgotten her glasses and could not see what Harry was looking at clearly. Despite her attempts to focus her vision, she failed to discern anything.
"What did you see?" she demanded impatiently, but Harry only gave her a vague response that further irritated her.
"Harry!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry Daphne! I have to go!" Harry gave Daphne an apologetic glance before dashing outside to pursue the person he had been observing.
Daphne watched in stunned silence as Harry left, but she quickly regained her composure and chased after him.
"It's not so easy to shake me off, Harry!" she exclaimed irritably, causing Harry to wince. He should have known that once Daphne had set her mind to something, there was no stopping her. With a heavy heart, Harry reluctantly agreed to let her accompany him and instructed her to walk closely behind him.
"Focus and stick close to me," he ordered.
"Who are we after, and why?" Daphne asked, puzzled, as she hurried to keep up with Harry's brisk pace. They paused for a moment while Harry stared at her incredulously, but he quickly regained his composure and explained the person's distinguishing features in a concise manner, without divulging any extraneous details to Daphne.
'Harry seems to have forgotten what my job is,' she was still annoyed with Harry momentarily. She was in the DMLE as well, after all.
"Look over there. See that tall bloke with the green scarf and the crooked nose. Walking out of the cauldron shop," Harry whispered, subtly nodding his head in the direction of the man. "You know about the bombing case? I've seen him lurking around four of the crime scenes during the investigations, and now he's headed towards Olivanders with a large black sack. We've been trying to track him down for months."
She knew what the case he has dealing with. The day before he had bluntly told the entire IA team about what progress they had made so far during the inspection as he walked them through the evidence room and case files to demonstrate everything was where it should be. The Bombing Case… Daphne would have preferred that he was on the serial killer case over this one, at least it had some actual leads to follow.
The two cases seem endless. In the span of three months there have been five bombings with low intensity without causing any casualties and two large explosions which killed several witches and wizards including muggles. The serial killer case had started with the murder of a head of the department's son. Then it continued with the killing of two Hogwarts students who had just graduated, the murder of a shop owner in Hogsmeade. The pattern of killing was always the same - their throat was cut and every time the Aurors arrived and when the forensic team touched the victim's body the victim's body would begin to burn, and there would be nothing left to examine. Investigations always ended in dead ends. But at least there where connections being made between the victims, while the bombings seemed random and unconnected.
They continued onward down the alley, picking up their pace as they approached, wands drawn on the man. "Stop right there, sir," Harry said as he pointed his wand at the person they were chasing. The man just giggled and fixed the bag he was carrying on his shoulder. "Please raise your hands," he ordered.
"Ah, an Auror," He said mockingly, raising his hand. His posture was hunched over, yet still tall, while his hair was tied in an irregular ponytail and looked like it hadn't been washed for years. His teeth were yellow and crusty, his fingernails were long and black, and his clothes were tattered and looked like they had been sewn several times to keep them fit.
Daphne also took out her wand in anticipation and as a backup for Harry if this shabby man tried something.
"What's your name? And show me what you're carrying in the bag!" He said in typical Auror firmness. Daphne glanced at him, she always liked it when Harry was serious like this.
He chuckled again, but now he laughed kind of mockingly before saying his name, "It's Wibly, a squib," He said with a sneer when said squib. His tone made Harry tighten his wand. Daphne followed his suit. But finally, reluctantly he showed what he brought.
The foul stench emanating from the bag made Harry's nostrils flare. Dragon dung. He silently cursed his luck and tried to keep his temper in check, mindful of Daphne's warning grip on his wrist. Harry was painfully aware how frustrating this case had been so far, always hitting dead ends.
"Am I carrying something illegal? Last I checked, Squibs are allowed to buy a bag of shit from the Apothecary," He sneered, a mocking grin on his face as he slung the bag over his shoulder.
Daphne glared at him coldly, but there was little she could do. It was beyond her jurisdiction; she was merely Harry's backup.
"If you want to arrest me, you'll need proof, Harry Potter!" The man spat, casting a disdainful glance in their direction as he strode towards Knockturn Alley's shadowy depths. Harry halted in his tracks.
"We're not finished here; I haven't told you to leave," he said firmly.
"You lot are so stubborn! Just because you have magical powers!" The man raged, his anger palpable. Daphne felt a shiver run down her spine, on high alert.
"What do you know about the recent bombings?" Harry cut to the chase.
"Why are you asking me? I'm hardly capable of blowing up anything without magic," the man reasoned, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
As Harry approached the man, Daphne held her wand at the ready, her eyes darting back and forth between them.
"I know you know something," Harry said calmly, "I saw you at multiple crime scenes, and every time we try to question you, you always run off into muggle London."
The man's face twisted in a mixture of hate and fear. "You must be mistaken," he said evasively.
But Harry wasn't so easily deterred. As he drew closer, he noticed a strange tattoo on the man's wrist - a box-shaped design that seemed oddly familiar.
"Nice tattoo," Harry remarked, trying to keep his tone casual. "Where did you get a tattoo like that?"
The man immediately pulled his hand away, his eyes darting around nervously. "None of your business!" he spat.
Harry's heart raced as he realised the significance of the tattoo. He had seen it before - but where?
"It could be my business if you turn out to be the bomber," Harry replied firmly, his wand at the ready. "Now tell us what you know."
"I know nothing... I just purchased fertiliser," Wibly repeated, his voice trembling with fear. Harry's mind raced as he tried to recall a True Crime show he had watched with Daphne about a devastating bombing in America in the mid 90's. Something about Wibly's statement triggered a memory, but it remained just out of reach. Something else came to mind, a statement by a witness to one of the attacks… The air smelled foul, like burning sulphur and decaying flesh… the smell of dragon dung!
"Who instructed you to purchase the fertiliser and what was it for?!" Harry demanded, grabbing Wibly by his collar. Daphne intervened, attempting to calm the situation.
"Harry, please!"
"I won't tell you!" Wibly cackled madly. "You'll all perish! Britain will be purged of wizards and witches! Long live the Squibs! This is the price you'll pay!" Daphne's eyes widened in horror as Wibly's delirious ramblings grew more sinister. In a fit of rage, Harry shoved Wibly to the ground.
"Harry, let's bring him to the Ministry. We'll sort this out with a proper warrant," Daphne suggested, nodding with assurance.
"You'll come with us to the Ministry for further questioning," Harry declared firmly.
"I won't let you capture me!" Wibly scrambled to his feet, fumbling with something in his pocket. Despite Harry's efforts to apprehend him, Wibly managed to activate a small device and drop it into the bag of fertiliser. He grinned wickedly as Harry finally subdued him with a binding spell.
Daphne quickly cast a Patronus to report the arrest to the Ministry, but before the message could be sent, Wibly taunted them with a final threat. "This secret will remain with me until I die. I'll take you all down with me!" With a maniacal laugh, he detonated the device, triggering a massive explosion that rocked Diagon Alley. Harry instinctively shielded Daphne, but the blast was too close, and they were both thrown off their feet.
As the smoke cleared, the extent of the devastation became apparent. Nearly a dozen innocent bystanders lay dead or dying, and chaos reigned in the bustling wizarding thoroughfare. The culprit behind the heinous act remained unknown, but the lingering scent of dragon dung left a grim reminder of the day's events.
As the explosion rocked Diagon Alley, Harry and Daphne's bodies were torn apart. But something unexpected happened. Inside Daphne's purse, a half repaired time turner she had found illegally hidden in a Department of Mysteries employee's cubicle was forgotten in an evidence bag, after being overlooked when her week of exhaustion finally ended with her almost passing out before she made it to the floo. The impact of the shockwave burst the glass, sending the sands of time flying out as their souls, unbeknownst to anyone, were transported back in time to the year 1995, to the very moment when the tattoos on the bomber's wrist were first inked.
T.b.c.
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