Slides back into the room after 2+years and looks around and mumbles, "I don't wanna talk about it."
So, here's chapter 2. Thank you to anyone who is still reading this story and getting notifications for it. This chapter is a good bit shorter than the first chapter, but I've edited and rewritten this so many times and I'm still not happy with it. I'll probably making minor edits to this at some point. I have no idea when I will have the next chapter posted. Read and review if you'd like. Please note that criticism is welcome, but not always taken as I know where this story is going.
Wednesday, August 22, 2029
Ministry of Magic, London, England
Auror Department
Tossing the report her had been trying to read for the last half hour Harry James Potter, Head Auror, the Chosen One, leaned back in his brown leather rolling chair and stared up at the ceiling tiles of his office and sighed loudly as his thoughts turned to his youngest child and only daughter.
It had been almost a month since her family or friends had last seen Lily. No one knew where she was and he was beginning to worry about his daughter's wellbeing. He knew that it was likely the shock of Rose and Scorpius finally getting married that had set her off after all Lily had been in love with Scorpius since she was nine. Nevertheless, that was beside the point and yes, Lily had vanished for long periods before, but he and Ginny had never gone this long without hearing from her at least twice. No something was defiantly wrong this time, that annoying nagging voice (that always sounded like Hermione) hadn't given him a moments peace since Lucy had told them that Lily's suitcase was missing from the hall closet.
The knock on his office door jolted him from his thoughts. "Come in," he called. Rolling his head to the left he watched as Nicolas McNary walked in.
"Sorry to bother you Auror Potter, but I have the updated Velasquez Report." Nicolas told him holding up a plain manila folder.
"Give it here," Harry, said holding out his hand for the report. "Have a seat McNary this will only take a few minutes," he added waving his hand at one of the wing-backed armchairs across from his desk.
Taking his seat Nicolas took in the worn and tired bottle green eyes of his boss. "Are you alright sir?"
"I'm fine," Harry, told the young man with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, as he continued reading the report.
"How's Lily? I haven't seen her around here in a while." Nicolas murmured after a few minutes of silence.
"That makes two of us," Harry muttered darkly as he crossed out an offending line.
"Is she away for work or on holiday?"
"No clue."
"What do you mean sir?" McNary asked confusion lacing his voice. Beck hadn't mentioned sending Lily on an assignment the last time they had spoken.
"I mean I haven't seen or spoken to my daughter in almost month." Harry replied darkly as he fixed his famous glower on the man.
"Would you like me to look into it sir?" Nicolas asked frowning.
"No, no I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," Harry assured him as he crossed out yet another line.
"I really don't mind sir," Nicolas stated quietly. "I'd be very discreet if you wanted me to look into it sir.
Sighing Harry looked up from the report again. He took in the man sitting across from him. Nicolas McNary had been one of Shaughnessy's men until an injury to the leg and knee had benched him for good. Now he acted as a go between for Shaughnessy and himself. "Oh, alright. Just don't let anyone know." Holding the report out he told him, "Here tell Shaughnessy to make these changes and I'll approve the report."
"Of course sir," McNary said as he left Harry's office.
- Lis Mon Amour -
It took McNary just shy of three weeks to weasel out of Riley O'Brian that Lily had resigned from her position in the S00A program and vanished. That information alone had nearly killed him. He had been one of the agents to recommend her for the program after he had seen her OWL and NEWT results, that she had sat during her fifth year at Hogwarts, on which she'd received the highest marks in the history of the school.
Sighing he knocked on Auror Potter's office door and waited for the calm reply before opening the door. Upon entering, he found Auror Potter and Weasley leaning over the table by the window studying what appeared to be a map. Glancing up from the map Harry smiled and motioned Nicolas in before flicking his wrist and closing his office door once more.
"What have you found?" Harry asked as Ron touched the tip of his wand to the map spelling it to roll itself up.
"Is it alright to speak freely in front of Auror Weasley?" McNary questioned.
"Yes, Ron's family. He'll find out sooner or later anyway," Harry said as he leaned against his desk and motioned for Nicolas and Ron to take a seat in one of the two vacant armchairs.
Taking a seat Nicolas steeled himself for what he was about to say. "Sir, please be aware that some of the information wasn't obtained in the most," he paused for a moment searching for the right wording, "law abiding way." At Harry's nod he continued, "Your daughter quit her job via a letter delivered to her boss about a week after she first disappeared. In addition, all of her personal belongings have vanished from her bedroom at the flat she shared with two of your nieces. Given the evidence, I strongly believe that Lily has vanished of her own will and will only return when she wishes to." Nicolas finished as he took in the hope that had fled from Potter's eyes and the disbelieving looking that had appeared on Weasley's face.
"Thank you for looking into this for me McNary. You may go now." Harry said in a defeated voice.
As he reached the door Nicolas looked back at the younger man, "Sir, I've asked my contacts to let me know if they hear anything regarding her movements in the future."
Nodding Harry muttered a quiet, "Thank you," as Nicolas finally left his office.
Lifting his head he found Ron regarding him with a look of pity on his face, "Mate," he asked quietly as he watched his long time best friend and brother-in-law sink to his office floor.
"What the bloody hell am I supposed to do Ron?" Harry asked brokenly. "I never thought she would have truly vanished for good. I thought she was just taking a break to let the news of their marriage sink in."
"I know mate. I honestly thought the same too." After a few minutes Ron voiced the one thing Harry was dreading more than anything else, "We'll have to tell Ginny and Mione sooner rather than later."
"Yeah we will. Only them though. I don't really feel like fielding questions about my daughter's whereabouts at my niece's wedding." Harry muttered darkly.
"You won't have to worry about that mate. Victoire said the reason Lily gave for not being part the wedding party was because she was going on holiday in September, and she wasn't willing to postpone for a bloody wedding that was going to end in a failed marriage."
"Merlin's beard! She actually said that to Rose?!" Harry demanded in surprise.
"I doubt it." Ron said with a nonchalant shrug. "Lily's a bit more tactful than that, but if she did I can't say I blame her. I'd love to know the real reason they're getting married because I don't for one bloody second believe that it's because they realized how perfect they are for each other."
Laughing Harry shock his head in disbelief, "Good to know the two of us actually agree with Draco on something."
"On second thought maybe I do believe it." Ron muttered under his breath as he turned back to the rolled up map they had been pouring over before McNary had interrupted them.
- Lis Mon Amour -
Earls Court Road, Kensington, London, UK
The Potter Home
"Gin," Harry called as he entered their home and closed and charmed the door behind him.
"In the kitchen love," Ginny called to her husband. Smiling Harry made is way into the kitchen and watched as wife prepared dinner. "Ron and Hermione are coming for dinner and should be here in a few." Ginny said smiling as Harry kissed her on the cheek in greeting.
"Just the four of us?" Harry questioned as he began chopping tomatoes for the salad.
"Yes." Glancing up from the dinner she was preparing a small crease appeared between her eyes as she took in the crestfallen look on her husband's face. "Harry, is everything alright?"
Opening his mouth Harry started to tell his wife that yes everything was fine, that there was absolutely nothing to worry about, but staring into his wife's worried cognac gaze, he felt his voice leave him. Shaking his head, he sunk onto one of the kitchen stools. "No, Gin, everything's not alright. I had someone look into Lily's disappearance."
Sighing Ginny shook her head in exasperation at her husband. "Harry, I told you Lily's likely on holiday again." Ginny told him firmly as she turned back to the lamb she was preparing. Muttering to herself, "Though how that child is able to take holidays so often and still have a job is beyond me."
"Gin, I had McNary look into it." He told her solemnly, knowing the effect his top UCA's name would have on her. The clang of the pan of lamb hitting the floor told Harry that his words had registered with his wife.
"What the bloody hell do you mean you had McNary look into our daughter's disappearance Harry James Potter!" She snarled turning to face her husband with her hands on her hips, before shaking her head and quickly demanding, "Never mind that question! What did McNary find out about Lily's supposed disappearance?"
Raising his head, he met his wife's angry gaze. "She resigned from her job via letter about a week after she left. All, Ginny, all of her personal belongings are gone from the flat she was sharing with Rose and Lucy. McNary strongly believes that Lily vanished of her own will and is likely only to return when she wishes to."
"What the bloody hell is going through that girl's head?!" Ginny snapped eyes shooting skyward, as if the answers lay there. "First, she tells Rose she won't stand in her wedding because she isn't willing to postpone her holiday for a bloody wedding that's going to end in a failed marriage, and now she just decides to leave with out word to anyone her family?" Turning back to the stove Ginny began to busy herself with salvaging the lamb for dinner. "We didn't raise her to be like this Harry. I swear we didn't raise such a self-absorbed daughter." Ginny sobbed turning to her husband for comfort.
Pulling his wife to him Harry wrapped her in his arms as her tears began flowing freely. Stroking her hair, he pressed his lips to her temple and softly muttered, "I know we didn't Gin. I know we didn't."
- Lis Mon Amour -
The soft knock at the front door several hours later alerted Harry and Ginny to the arrival of Ron and Hermione. Looking over at Ginny Harry gave her a tight smile as he moved to answer the door.
"Does Ron know?" Ginny questioned as her husband moved passed her.
"Yes, he was in the room when McNary came in. We both agreed that only you and Mione should be told for now."
"Did you want to tell Mione tonight," Ginny wondered as another soft knock came from the front door.
"Only if you wish to my love." Harry told her quietly.
"I think it would be best if we told her now." Ginny mumbled as she sunk back down to her seat in the oversize leather arm chair.
Nodding his head Harry moved towards the front door and opened it to smiling Hermione and solemn Ron. Ushering them in he guided them to the sitting room.
"What's the matter," Hermione asked after she had taken her seat next to Ron on the sofa.
Harry shot a quizzical glance at Ron in surprise who just shrugged as if to say it's not my place to tell her mate. Noticing the exchange between the two Hermione quickly turned to her bother-in-law and said, "Ron wouldn't tell me anything. Said it was best if I heard it from you Harry."
Taking a deep breath Harry turned to look at his longtime friend. "It's about Lily Mione. I had McNary look into her whereabouts since it'd been a month since anyone had seen or heard from her. He got back to me today with what her had uncovered." Taking a shaky breath Harry pushed his glasses atop his head and quickly wiped at his eyes that were starting to water again. "He found that she had sent a letter to boss resigning a week after she left town and that all of her things are gone from the flat, she was sharing with Rose and Lucy. He thinks she left on her own and likely won't come back until she's good and ready to."
Staring between her husband, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law Hermione took a deep breath. Mulling over the information she had gained Hermione sighed rubbing at her forehead. "She must have a reason for doing this Harry, Ginny. She has to have a reason. Lily doesn't do anything without a reason."
Snorting Ginny rolled her eyes at her sister-in-law. "Oh, I'm sure she has a vailed reason a very selfish vailed reason."
"Ginny you can't possibly mean that," Hermione said gently as she took in the hurt in her sister-in-law's cognac eyes.
"Of course, I mean it!" Ginny snapped turning to glare at Hermione. "That girl is one of the most selfish people on the face of the planet. Don't you remember the shower tile or the car upholstery incident? Not to mention the whole refusal of going in the broom shed or the back store room because there might be rats?!"
"Oh, Ginny, Lily is one of the kindest hearted people I've ever had the pleasure to meet." Hermione whispered as she stood and enveloped Ginny in a hug.
"Not to mention her telling Rose she wouldn't be in the wedding because she didn't want to postpone the holiday, she'd been planning for September to stand in a bloody wedding that was only going to end in a failed marriage." Ginny snarled as ignoring Hermione's kind words about her daughter, as she began sobbing into Hermione's shoulder.
"Ginny, Rose lied. I was standing by the back door when Rose asked her to be her maid of honor. Originally, Lily only told her that she couldn't be her maid of honor. It wasn't until Rose insulated that the real reason Lily was truing her down was because she's still nursing that silly girlhood crush on Scorpius, to quote my daughter, that Lily came up with the excuse of going on holiday in September. And I say excuse because Fleur overheard Scorpius ask Lily if she was really going on holiday and Lily told him that she just might. Fleur also overheard Scorpius tell Lily he didn't want her congratulations because this marriage wasn't something that deserved congratulations. Which is why Dominque asked why they were going through with a wedding that would likely end in a failed marriage."
"Merlin," Harry muttered as he rubbed at his eyes. "This is a right mess, isn't it?"
"Yes, I suppose it is." Hermione whispered as she held Ginny tighter as a fresh wave of tears flowed down her tear stained cheeks.
Ron's snort broke the other three out of their wallowing. "What's so funny Ronald." Ginny demanded of her brother.
"I told you Lily's a bit more tactful than to come right out and say that to Rose. I love my daughter, but I do wonder how she managed sink her claws back into Scorp if his first response is to tell others that this marriage doesn't deserve congratulations."
"RON!" Hermione and Ginny both gasped in shock before bursting out in laughter.
When the laughter subsided the four of them sat in silence for a while when Harry finally broke the quiet peace that had settled over them. "But, why would she suddenly quit her job and leave Mione?"
"I don't know Harry, but whatever the reason I'm sure the decision was made only after she had considered everyone else's feelings first and her own second."
Translations
None for this chapter.