A/N: Thanks for the new favs and follows. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Harry Potter and the Wizards of Malta

Chapter 8.

Avoiding the Hard Rock and the rooftops, Harry quickly retraced his steps back to the Paradiso. Trotting up the street, he could feel his heart in his throat. There was this overriding fear he'd been duped with a decoy until he heard the bombastic pounding of Elysium's drummer, Ace Varney, long before he got to the building.

Racing in through the side entrance and through the small foyer, he strained to get a glimpse of the stage. His anxieties ratcheted up a notch when he realized this was the instrumental break and Penny was nowhere in sight. Plowing through the crowd, he made his way to the hall leading to Penny's dressing room. Standing outside the door, with the satisfied look of a Cheshire cat, was his friend Jimbo.

"Is Penny alright?" he asked the big bodyguard.

"Yeah sure – she's just changing. And she don't need your help," he said with a laugh.

"Sure," Harry replied and wondered how long he could restrain himself with this arsehole.

"So... beat it then," Jimbo ordered.

Harry froze in his tracks.

"You remember our little deal don't you?"

"Yeah, now get on out."

"Before we leave Amsterdam. I'll settle up with you," Harry said and turned to leave.

"Are you threatening..." Jimbo said and cut it short when Penny's door swung open.

"Who's threatening who?" Penny asked innocently and walked on, ignoring the two.

Harry was still angry but tried to find solace in the discovery his pretty client was unharmed. Jimbo glared back with a hard smirk. Penny had changed again into a silvery costume that was just as tight as the first one.

Penny took the stage for the last phase of the evening and Harry resumed his position atop the balcony and at the end of the long yellow spotlight. Now that he knew she was okay he began to grow angry over the whole mess. There was another dead wizard and he'd bet a weeks pay there was certainly more to this story than Penny had told him. If she didn't offer up a better explanation, he'd call it even and head back to London.

The rest of the evening went by so smooth it was boring. Harry stayed on the balcony until the show was just a few minutes from closing. He got down in time to see Penny to her dressing room and then did a short inspection around the perimeter of the building. As he waited in the car park, Penny came out followed by Harley and Jimbo. Penny got in the backseat between the two bodyguards while Harry watched them drive off. He had a place in mind back at the hotel where he could safely apparate into. Waving goodbye to the coach, he lingered in the car park for a few minutes.

With the noises and din of the evening gone, the street took on a calm and peaceful look. The air was cool and fragrant with a blend of green growing things and the sweet smell of the canal. For a moment, memories took him back to the Burrow and at the outdoor table behind the Weasley's house.

‡‡‡‡‡

Harry knocked on Penny's door but no one answered. He rang the doorbell and knocked again. Shuffling feet were slowly making their way toward the door. The latch unlocked and Harley opened the door with a blank expression. He looked like he needed coffee really bad, but it was ten thirty in the morning.

"Oh Potter," he said, looking back through dreary eyes. "What's up?"

"I need to see Penny," Harry said firmly. "Is she up?"

Harley looked puzzled, like he had been asked a tough question in quantum physics.

"I don't know Potter. I think she's still asleep," He said with a shrug.

Harry paused a moment to consider the time. "What time does she normally get up after a concert?"

Harley reflected again and looked at his watch.

"Bout now, I suppose," he finally managed.

"Well good, then I'll wait," Harry said with a curt nod and pushed his way around Harley.

Once inside the smell of coffee was wafting toward his nose.

"So, you do have coffee?" Harry asked.

"Huh, oh yeah over there," Harley said and pointed to the oversized breakfast nook.

As Harry entered the room he saw the door to Harley and and Jimbo's adjoining suite was cracked open. He dug around in the cupboard and found a clean coffee cup. He poured a cup of straight black coffee and turned toward Harley, who was sitting on the couch with his head leaned back, looking at the ceiling.

He wondered how much of the story he should tell her. She might not be too keen on his use of the Cruciatus curse. Aurors had long used the 'unforgivable' curses in the line of duty, but many in the wizarding world were still offended by their use under any conditions. It was regrettable the wizard had chose to end his life the way he did, and Harry felt bad about having to use the Cruciatus curse to get information, but there was a job to do. If the incident had happened in the U.K. a review board might have been called in to evaluate his actions. But under the present situation, with one Auror dead and another severely injured, he didn't expect many questions. A few years ago he couldn't have felt the way he did now. He'd been in a war and didn't really understand until the war was over. He had opted to erase Dolohov's memory when Ron was tempted to kill him. He'd also allowed Bellatrix Lestrange to live that night at Malfoy manor. She went on to kill Dobby and Tonks before Molly Weasley ended her terrible existence. Dolohov went on to kill Remus and now poor Teddy Lupin had to grow up parent-less, just as he had done. What he could not have known until he joined the Auror service was that the war still going on. Going on every day. He glanced at his watch and decided he'd waited long enough, and now it was time for serious questions and answers.

"Well, do you want to get her up or should I?" Harry asked.

Harley never answered but pointed to the corner door to Penny's bedroom. Harry nodded and stepped toward the door. He rapped it gently three times without an answer.

"Penny," he called out. With still no answer he gently turned the latch and entered the room. The room had that smell like someone had slept in it all night. Raven colored hair was tossed about the pillow.

"Penny," he called, a little louder then the first.

"Huh?" she answered in a muffled voice, without moving.

"Hey, it's me, Harry. We need to talk," he said and the raven haired head turned to face him. With barely any light in the room, he went to the windows and opened the blinds.

"Oh God..." she said and pulled the covers over her head.

"Wake up Penny – we need to talk," he said and made his way back to the door to leave.

"Please – let me shower first," she said and pulled herself up to her feet and reached for a dressing gown on bedside table. Naked and with her back to him, she pulled on the gown and headed for the shower. He marveled for only a moment at the rear view of her firm physique.

"I'll be outside," he said and left the room.

Harley was still leaning back on the couch and staring at the ceiling like it was the Sistine Chapel. Harry finished off the pot of coffee and started another.

"You carry a gun Potter?" Harley finally managed to say. Amused by the question and thinking Jimbo put him up to asking, Harry dug for an answer.

"No – something better," he said. "You need some more coffee?"

"Na, I'm good," he said and closed his eyes.

The pot was almost full of coffee and the peculator was sputtering it's last breaths of hot water when Penny opened her door and entered the room. Her black hair was rolled up and clipped in a knot and her lower body musculature was arrogantly straining the taunt fabric of the jeans. Her old crumpled Tee shirt looked comfy, partially tucked into the waistband of the snug jeans.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"Almost eleven," Harry replied. "You're ready for coffee?"

"Sure. And thanks – I needed to get up anyway."

Harry nodded and found another mug sized cup for Penny. She looked at him quizzically as he filled her cup from the fresh pot.

"So what's this you needed to talk about?" she asked.

Harry didn't answer but pointed to Harley who was still leaning back on the couch.

"Harley, give us a minute – will you?" she asked and Harley struggled to his feet, shrugged and left the room. Harry took his cup and found a seat at the breakfast nook table. Penny, pattering over with bare feet, pulled up the opposite chair She gave him one of those well now are you going to tell me looks and then blew the steam off the top of the coffee mug.

"I ran into a cloaked wizard in the Paradiso last night," he said and took a sip of coffee.

"Well, I told you I saw him. What happened?" she said, rather nonchalantly.

"He's dead," Harry said as flatly as the breakfast table.

Her expression sagged immediately. She stared back like a poker player and he had no clue as to what card she might play next.

"Did you... kill him?" she asked as if the question caused her real pain.

"No, " he answered. "I had him trapped with an Incarcerous curse when he pulled an arm loose, and he... well, he killed himself to avoid more questions."

"It wasn't the wizard you saw in London?" she asked with an even more worried look.

"No – not the same," he said, and Penny sighed and stared into the coffee. He took out the wizard's wand from his pocket and placed it on the table with a hard click.

She looked at the evidence, sitting very still, for a long moment of silence. She still had not touched the coffee.

"He said he was part of an Order. And he mentioned another wizard called Lasaurus," he said and Penny sat there, unmoving.

"I see," she said.

"Well I don't," he replied and gave her a firm look. "And I think there's more to your story."

Her head shot up and the light reentered her eyes. "More to the story?" she asked, shaking her head.

"Yes, I do. And if you can't help me out here. Well... I think I'll be off for London."

Penny shook her head and stretched her arms out wide. "Harry look at me." The wrinkles in the Tee shirt smoothed out as she began to stretch. "Look at me, and tell me what do you see?"

Harry pondered the question. "A Muggle rock star."

"Exactly – a Muggle rock star. And what would a Muggle rock star have in common with guys dressed in antique cloaks and claiming to be an Order?"

"I don't know," he said. "You tell me."

"Look Harry, the magical part of my life is almost entirely behind me now. I don't even carry a wand. And you know that's true don't you," she said and curled the corner of her mouth into a wry grin.

"Yeah, but I still don't know what to make of this," he said at length.

"Harry... neither do I. The world is full of weirdos. Look, I'm sure I've done something to offend these guys, but I'll be damned if I know what it is," she said and reached for the coffee.

Harry sat there, quiet and unmoving.

She sat the cup down before continuing. "And that's why I've asked for your help Harry. To help me figure this out," she repeated. "Not to kill a wizard – then call it even and leave."

"That's not what I was doing," he said firmly.

"No?"

"No!"

"Well then stay. This is a magical problem and I need your help to deal with it," she said and canted her head to look deeply eye to eye. She looked like a lost puppy on a rainy night.

"Will you stay?" she asked again.

Harry nodded and then stared into the blackness of his coffee cup.

"Thanks," she said and rose from the chair to lean over to kiss Harry on the forehead. "I got to go, and thanks for getting me up," she said with a smile and swished away to take a little bit of sunshine with her.

‡‡‡‡‡

For the next two nights Harry waited at the Paradiso for a wizard that never came. He had worried the 'Order' might send two since sending just one had failed. And he worried he might not be strong enough to hold off two, but they never came. He had the light technician fix the troubling spotlight and all had been very quiet except for one disagreement between two male patrons they led to fists and cuffs. Jimbo continued to give him hard looks and glares but nothing else was exchanged between the two.

He had met Mary Ann again for breakfast and she agreed to play the part of tour guide on the band's first day off. Penny was happy to hear of his plans, and assured him his services would not be needed as she planned to spend the whole day poolside. He and Mary Ann agreed to go into town and check out some of Amsterdam's more conservative attractions. She explained that most of the sightseeing spots listed in the regular tour guides were bogus. Today, they would check out a few museums, since Amsterdam had more museums per capita than any other major city in Europe. There was a convenient canal hopping tour that stopped at most of the major museums.

"Have you heard of the Maritime museum?" she asked.

"I have now."

"It's pretty cool if you're into sailing and old ships," she said and Harry didn't care one way or the other. He was glad to be away from his bodyguard duties, and canal hopping from one museum to the next was fine with him. There was a light breeze blowing Mary Ann's curly hair.

"That sounds fine," he said, watching her hair. Curly hair moved entirely different than straight or wavy hair, he postulated. The canal boat was making a slow one hundred and eighty degree turn to put itself in position to dock alongside the museum, which was entirely surrounded by water. As they queued up to get off the boat, Harry noticed about one in three were tinkering with a mobile phone or taking pictures. He had a mobile, but it was still in his baggage back at the hotel. For a security person, the phone's absence was a glaring detraction from his persona.

"Watch your step," warned a deckhand, assisting women and children from the boat. It was a calm day in general but a northern breeze was creating a little chop on the water this day and the boat rocked heavily against the dock. Dressing down, Harry wore a lightweight windcheater outfitted with the pockets he needed to carry both wands. With a cotton knit shirt, comfortable jeans, and a pair of Top-siders, he thought his appearance was as touristy as any Muggle.

The museum was housed in a centuries old building that once served as the Amsterdam Admiralty arsenal. The castle-like building encircled a huge courtyard that had been in modern times covered with a glass top. Anchored next to the museum and an eye-catching part of the museum tour was the 'Amsterdam', a three-masted sailing ship from the seventeenth century. The whole thing should be a pleasant diversion for an hour or so at least. The perfume Mary Ann was wearing would occasionally drift his way as a reminder that this was holiday and to treat it as such.

After an hour or so, the crowd had drifted through the old sailing ship and most of the museum. Harry felt he had earned a genuine appreciation for hundreds of years of Dutch maritime history when most of the crowd began to break for lunch. Grabbing a light sandwich, bottled water, and a bag of crisps, he followed Mary Ann to a nice little terrace that was part of the museum restaurant. The sun was up and the windcheater was getting a little warm.

"Are you hot in that," she asked.

"No, I'm okay," he said, trying to brush off the question.

"Well, if you need to take it off I have room in the bag," she said, pointing to a large macrame shoulder bag.

It was a simple but touching act of kindness. She had always been polite and friendly but never a nurturing comment until now.

"Well, thanks but that's okay," he said while noticing an unusual bug crawling up the side of the table.

Mary Ann nodded and studied his expression. With a satisfied smile she chuckled slightly.

Her question came out of nowhere. "Are you carrying a gun?" she asked and stretched open her bag of crisps.

Harry continued to study the bug who was testing the table surface with a long pair of feelers.

"Just rest assured you're safe," he said, now looking out over the water and twisting off the top of the bottled water.

She smiled and searched his face. "Oh, I see," she said, unwrapping the clingfilm off the sandwich.

Mary Ann was what Harry would refer to as 'cute'. She had curly hair that reminded him slightly of Hermione in her younger years before she took to magically straightening it to the pageboy she wore now. She was wearing a large pair of sunglasses, which appeared to be barely supported by a small pug nose. He guessed she was mostly an indoor type and wasn't particularly firm or muscular but neither did she appear overly soft or sagging. She was wearing mid length khaki shorts, a button cotton top with a light weight cardigan, now tied around her waist. A very proper and somewhat conservative outfit for anyone working in a rock band. But it looked good to Harry's eye and was smart for the changing weather conditions normally found in coastal conditions.

"Do I look too odd in a windcheater?" he asked playfully.

"No, not so much. Just thought you might be getting warm," she said and bit off the end of a crisp.

"So how does Amsterdam rate as a tour stop?" he asked.

"Better than most. It's kind of expensive though."

Harry nodded but didn't comment.

"So how long are you with the band – do you know?" she asked him with squinted eyes.

Harry shook his head. "Not really sure," he said and looked at the bug making for his sandwich.

"Through the summer?"

"Maybe," he said. He knew he'd probably told a lie but couldn't easily explain why he had no idea.

She smiled as if swept by a realization. "Is this your first time out of the U.K.?"

He laughed. "Does it show?"

"No. Well maybe a little," she added and looked away.

"I work locally for the most part, but I've been to America and also to Romania – the Carpathians to be exact."

"Oh my – so you have traveled a bit."

"A bit," he said and smiled.

"Romania and the Carpathians – how on earth did you end up there?"

"It's a long story."

Mary Ann shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose we have time," she said and took a bite of sandwich.

Getting too close to his sandwich, Harry swiped the bug off the table.

"We had to hunt a chap down. Pretty dirty work actually."

"Did you find him?" she asked and smiled as if the process resembled an Easter egg hunt.

Harry nodded solemnly. "Yes," he said and looked away.

Mary Ann sensed the story didn't have a happy ending and ate quietly for a few minutes and Harry used to the time to do the same. Another whiff of Mary Ann's perfume tickled the end of his nose. It set a familiar pattern of male thoughts in motion. Was it designed as such or merely a habit, he wondered. She had been almost teasing in her comments. It was like the door was cracked open a little. At the end of the day would they have a drink? Would he walk her to her door at the end of the day? Would she...

No. No, these thoughts were all wrong, he concluded and did his best to switch-off the dream-like scenario. He had a job to do. A very difficult job to do and these self indulging visions could serve no purpose. Whatever happened before this job was done, he simply could not let nature blindly take it's course. Maybe he could make the girl understand without having to go into what he was really doing on this assignment. That would help. He took a drink of the bottled water and sighed. Why did he always have to explain his predicaments to women and try and make them understand?

A few began to board the canal boat and the engines were starting up again.

"Where's our next port of call?" he asked, bundling the paper and trash.

Mary Ann dug around in the large shoulder bag and pulled out a brochure. She studied it for a few moments.

"Are you a fan of the arts – paintings and the like?"

"Certainly," he said and grinned.

"Well, the Rembrandt House Museum is next up."

After a few twists and turns the canal boat was making another stop at the Rembrandt House inside of twenty minutes. The museum was smaller than Harry had imagined and somewhat quaint. Once inside, he tried to appear interested but doubted if he was very convincing.

"Don't you just love Rembrandt?" Mary Ann asked rhetorically.

"Definitely," replied Harry.

There had been some art appreciation books in his Muggle Studies classes but, sadly, it was mostly forgotten. Fortunately the museum was small and the canal boat had to leave to make time for the other stops.

"I just hate that we couldn't stay a little longer," Mary Ann fussed.

"I know exactly what you mean."

The next stop was colorful and a pleasant diversion. The floating Flower Market seemed like acres of flowers in bloom. The market wasn't exactly floating but greenhouses lined the canal for nearly a kilometer. Every imaginable kind of flower, including seeds and bulbs were available for purchase. After Mary Ann found a few more things to throw into her bottomless bag, they hurried on to catch the boat for the next stop.

The canal boat's next port of call, at the Museum Quarter, proved to be the major museum stop for the day. Several museums including the Van Gogh were within walking distance of this stop, but Harry and Mary Ann agreed to make the Rijksmuseum the first visit and neither one regretted it. They made their way through the crowd to see Rembrandt's The Night Watch, which is breathtaking and probably the biggest exhibit of the museum.

Tearing themselves away after a long stay at the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh would be their last museum visit of the day. They were walking along the square, minutes away from the Van Gogh, when Harry spotted a sight that was more than a little surprising. It appeared Penny had given up her day at the pool and was taking in some museums of her own. She had Jimbo on one side and Harley on the other. She was looking around and lifting her Ray-Bans to verify something in a brown leather journal. Jimbo was looking like a touresty oaf in a straw hat, long oversized flower print shirt, and khaki shorts to the knee. A narrow band of pink flesh was all that showing between the end of the shorts and the top of his socks that ran to mid calf. Harley, in a tennis shirt and jeans, appeared to be feeling real physical pain as the two groups eventually met.

They all stopped and grappled for words.

"Love your outfit," Harry quipped while he gave Jimbo the obvious once over.

"Sod off Potter."

"And what happened with your day at the pool?" Harry asked Penny.

"It was a total bore. The paparazzi showed up to take pictures," she said and dismissed the whole thing with a wave of her hand.

"Those creeps," Mary Ann added and shook her head.

"Well, if she wouldn't insist on going topless," Harley added, to draw a grunt and chuckle from Jimbo.

"So what are you two been up two today?" Penny quickly injected.

"We took the museum tour," said Mary Ann.

"Was that nice?" asked Penny.

"Very nice," Many Ann said and looked at Harry for confirmation.

"Hey, maybe we all ought to check out the red light district," Jimbo said and guffawed.

"I think I'll take it in soon," Harry said and looked Penny in the eye. "Never know who you'll find on the streets at night," he added wryly.

"Potter you're a pussy," scowled Jimbo.

"Well hey – you guys enjoy the rest of your tour," Penny said politely and nudged Jimbo to trudge on.

"See ya later," Harry said and Mary Ann waved.

Harry followed Mary Ann on to the Van Gogh museum but he had trouble shaking off the thought of Penny and her two sidekicks. He had hoped, after their little talk this morning that she would be a little more dutiful and trustworthy. Had she not understood that a wizard had died last night?

Dragging Mary Ann out of the Van Gogh, Harry found a water taxi to get them back to walking distance to the hotel. An orange sun was getting lower by the minute as Harry and Mary Ann milled about uneasily in the lobby for a minute or two. Harry was thinking it would be best to thank Mary Ann for a nice day and shove off to make sure Penny and the two bodyguards stayed out of trouble.

"Well, it was a nice day... maybe I should be..."

"Hey, you feel like a beer on the terrace?" she asked and canted her head in the direction of the outdoor cafe.

"Uh... sure," he said, remembering the promise he made to himself to enjoy the holiday.

They found a table out back and Mary Ann lost the large sunglasses to reveal light green eyes. Harry waved at a waiter but they sat for a few uncomfortable moments before the young man finally showed up at their table.

"We'll have a couple of beers," Harry said idly.

"Anything in particular?" the waiter asked politely.

"Not really," Harry said and then looked at Mary Ann questionably. "Do you?" he asked her and she shook her head. "What do you recommend?"

"Well, we have some local microbreweries that are very good and we have those on special tonight?"

"That sounds great – make it two please."

"Very good," the man said and turned to leave.

"Oh, would you have any hors d'oeuvres back there?" Harry asked.

The young man smiled. "I'll try and find some!"

Harry's mood began to lighten after completing their order.

"So – how long have you been singing?" he asked.

"All my life – but I think you mean professionally, right?" she asked playfully.

Harry nodded. "Yes."

"Well, I sang in school plays and read music at University. There were a few small jobs before I found a regular position," she said and brushed some hair away from her forehead. "It's been about four years after that," she said and smiled.

Harry nodded. "I see. So how would you classify your voice?"

The waiter appeared out of thin air from behind one of the ornamental trees.

"You're going to love these, I'm sure," the waiter announced and sat down the two beers. "There wasn't much food left at the bar tonight – hope these will do," he added and sat down a small tray with what looked like fish chunks on crackers.

"They'll be fine – thanks," Harry added quickly and turned to look toward Mary Ann.

"Are you a student of voice?" she asked, still playing.

"Of course not," Harry said. "But I read a report about Penny before I took this job. She's a mezzo..."

"Mezzo soprano, yes – so am I," she said and sampled the beer. "Very good," she added and raised her brows.

"So you're classified the same then."

Mary Ann chuckled. "Hardly," she said at length. "Her vocal range is much wider – very strong."

"Is that something you can work on?"

"Sure. You can work on it," she said with a touch of indifference.

"You think you might be like Penny one day – with your own band and all?"

"Are you kidding Harry. Penny is all legs and boobs. I'm not so well endowed there."

Harry took a slow pull from the beer and made an obvious attempt to eye Mary Ann closely over the top of the mug.

"Oh, I don't know about that," he said with a grin.

"Oh, for heavens sakes. Let's stop about me – what about you," she asked with a glint of light in the green eyes. Her perfume had faded but still moved his way with a soft breeze. He was thinking her mouth was somewhat small for a singer. "How long have you been in this security business?"

"About a year – maybe a little less actually."

"And before that?"

"Training – a lot of training," he added.

"You're a mysterious gent Harry Potter."

"Not to change the subject – but where is the band's next stop?"

"You're kidding. You don't know?"

Harry shook his head.

"Rome – we're headed to Rome," she said and reached for a fish-cracker. "I would have thought Penny would have told you that."

"Well..." Harry paused and shook his head. "You know – what I said earlier – about the summer. I lied."

"Don't follow," she said and cracked an uneven smile.

"I'm kind of working on a 'here today gone tomorrow' basis."

"What do mean? You're not following the band?"

"Yes, I am, but the job could end at any time," he said, reaching for an hors d'oeuvre.

"I don't suppose it would do any good for me to ask you why?" she said and took a pull from the beer mug.

Harry chuckled. "So don't ask."

"Just gone in the night huh? Yeah, you are mysterious," she said and laughed.. "Is it dangerous too – your job?"

Harry rolled the question over in his mind. He'd given Mary Ann a fair picture of the situation. If he found the wizard he was looking for, then of course, he'd be back in London the next day. But then, who knew how long that would take. Oh well, it hardly mattered. He'd been fair with the girl and now she could gauge her emotions accordingly. He'd give her a little time to chew on it. She might decide to spit it out.

"Yes. Very," he said and watched Mary Ann's green eyes grow wide with his reply. "And speaking of my job, I'd better go check on Penny and those two goons with her. It's getting dark and they should be back now."

"Oh I see," she said and looked bothered and a little perturbed.

"But, I really enjoyed today," he said and tried to smile warmly.

"Me too," Mary Ann said nodded.

Harry rang the doorbell and knocked on Penny's door, but no one answered. He repeated the process but the door just stood there mocking him, still and unmoving.

He went to his room and changed his light colored windcheater for a dark brown zip jacket. He carefully placed the correct wand in each pocket. The black wand, to be drawn from the right liner pocket and the Holly wand from the left. He fastened the zip-fastener only an inch or two up and surveyed the results in the mirror. It looked okay and neither wand could be seen. He tried a few practice draws with each wand and found the Holly wand handle was catching under the loose zip-fastener. He rolled the fabric anti-clockwise until the wand could be extracted with no catching. He double checked in the mirror until he felt satisfied with the result.

He raced upstairs to a small door leading to the roof. He found it only a day earlier when he noticed a few sun-bathers were using it to get on the roof. It would probably be locked at night, he thought, and when he tried the knob it didn't budge an inch.

"Alohomora."

Something clicked inside the latch. He swung the door open and tentatively eased out into the night air. It was going to be a fair evening with a slight breeze and a moonlit sky.

In the course of his day with Mary Ann he had found several spots along the city tour that should be safe to apparate into. In particular, he remembered a series of steps leading to a platform under a canal bridge in the Museum Quarter. It had been over an hour ago, but that had been the last place he had seen Penny and the two bodyguards. It would be his first place to check.

Drawing a deep breath of night air and then making sure he let it all back out, he concentrated on the platform under the bridge.

With a swoosh followed with a little snap, he was off like a thief in the night.