Erklings

That evening Ron joined Harry in a tatty flat in Knockturn Alley. When he arrived, Taylor and Brown, who had been covering the previous shift were also there. The four chatted for a couple of minutes about the case before Taylor and Basra made to leave.

"Good luck," Basra said.

"You'll mostly need it to stay awake," Taylor clarified. "It's dead boring."

"I'll take boring over exciting any day," Ron said.

"Smart man," Basra said before pulling his wand and Disapparating. Taylor was right behind him.

Ron set a bag of Cornish pasties on the table next to the window and took a seat. Harry was already looking out on the alley below through a pair of Omnioculars. Ron handed him pasty. "I figured dinner was in order."

Harry took the flaky pastry. "Thanks. Not just for this, but for coming out. Taylor's right. Surveillance is dead boring."

Ron nodded and took a bite of pasty. "That's all right. I know you lot are short staffed." He picked up another pair of Omnioculars and trained them on a door across the alley. "Has there been any movement at all?"

"Not much, most of the comings and goings are after dark, so we're more likely to see something than Basra and Taylor were. At this point, we're just recording who goes in and out."

"Right," Ron said, trying not sound as bored as he felt. He'd always hated this part of being an Auror. The watching and waiting made him crazy, but the takedowns and dueling gave him nightmares. He chuckled to himself. Sitting there made him firmly aware that he'd made the right decision to be well shot of his old career.

"What?" Harry took a bite of pasty.

"Nothing, just thinking I don't miss this bit."

"I can certainly understand that. I could do with a bit of action myself."

Ron shook his head. "I was promised unending boredom."

Harry chuckled. "Then we're well on our way."

xXx

Harry wished Ron could come on all his stakeouts. They took turns watching the door across the alley and making note of any comings and goings, not that there were many. The cast of characters that went into and out of that building were, with a few exceptions, well known to the Aurors. Other than the occasional pause to record a name, they chatted amicably about Quidditch, cases Harry was working on, new products Ron was developing for the shop, and other miscellany of daily life. It was well after midnight, when they were both tired, and trying to stay awake that the conversation took a more serious turn.

"I'm thinking about rebuilding the house in Godric's Hollow," Harry said as he looked through the Omnioculars at the scarred green door across the street.

Ron was eating a bag of crisps. "What's that?"

"The Godric's Hollow house, I'm thinking of rebuilding it."

"Why?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. I thought it might be a nice place to weekend occasionally. Get out of the city where it's quieter, you know?"

"I guess. I thought you liked London."

"I do, but a change is nice sometimes."

"Seems like a lot of work when you could just book a weekend away someplace."

"I don't know. It might be fun to learn some constructions spells and have a project. I was talking to your dad about it, and he said he'd have a look and tell me what he thought it would take."

Ron scratched the late day stubble on his cheek. "He would know."

"Yeah, he did a great job on the attic bathroom at your place, and he and your Mum fixed the foundations of the Rook and look how that turned out."

Ron chuckled. "Funny isn't it that the Burrow is so lopsided?"

"I guess you have to practice to get good."

"Yeah, and I reckon it's easier to do that sort of spell if you don't have a mob of kids underfoot."

"I should think so. You want to stare at this door for a while? I need to hit the head."

Ron reached for the other pair of Omnioculars. "Yeah, go on then."

When Harry returned, he yawned and stretched before sitting back down. He picked up his pair of Omnioculars. "Anything happen?"

"Oh, yeah, loads of stuff: a bird flew by, think it was a crow but it's hard to tell in the dark, I heard some shouting down the alley, but then it stopped, and uh, I think the paint is starting to peel on that bloody door."

Harry snorted his amusement. "Sounds about right."

They sat in silence for a few moments. "I could help, you know," Ron said.

"With what?"

"Godric's Hollow. I've learned a few things here and there around the house."

Harry smiled. "Thanks, mate, that'd be great."

xXx

The next morning, Taylor and Basra returned. Ron felt bleary-eyed and sleepy from a night spent staring at the alley with nothing to show for it but a few passersby that didn't go anywhere near the door.

"How did it go? Any luck?" Basra asked as Taylor took Harry's place at the table and looked through the Omnioculars.

"No," Harry said. "Worse night yet, not a single entrance or exit."

"Bloody hell," Basra said. "How're the other teams doing?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm going into the Ministry for a report now, I'll stop by and let you know if there's any news before I go home."

"Thanks." Basra shook his head. "I hope this isn't a complete waste of time."

"Oh, shit," Taylor said. "Are those Erklings?"

Harry grabbed the other pair of Omnioculars and looked at the alley. "Yes. We've got to go. We can't risk them getting out."

They all pulled their wands and Disapparated to the Alley below. "Halt!" They all shouted as they cast stunning spells at the three men, carrying the bundled elves. Two of them dropped immediately, causing the elves to fall from their arms. One was out of his binding immediately and began to run. "I'm on him," Taylor shouted and gave pursuit. The other elf was struggling to get free. Ron stunned him. Harry and Basra were chasing after the third man, who dropped his elf. Basra stopped to deal with the hissing creature while Harry continued after the escaping wizard who was able to draw his wand now that his arms were free. Harry easily dodged the stunning spell that came spinning his way. He hit the fleeing wizard with a color spell just as he Disapparated.

Ron cast Incarcerous on the two Erklings and dragged them over to the alley. Harry walked toward him. "Disapparated?"

"I think I hit him with a color charm before he got away." Harry hit the brick wall with the side of his fist. "Dammit."

"We got the other two. Taylor's guy tripped and lost his wand."

Harry smiled. "Perfect. Let's get this lot to the Ministry." They rejoined Basra and Taylor, who were waiting with the stunned wizards and the other Erkling. Basra had three deep scratches across his face.

"That doesn't look good," Harry said.

Basra grimaced. "I'm fine. Let's just get this lot back to the Ministry."

"I can help Harry do that," Ron said.

"Come on," Taylor said to Basra. "I'll take you to Saint Mungo's, you're not looking too good, and I don't know what an Erkling scratch is likely to do."

Ron and Harry agreed and Basra gave in.

Moments later, Ron arrived in the Auror department. Proudfoot was drinking a cup of tea and talking to Savage when they walked in. "What the hell is this?"

"Things went awry on our stakeout this morning," Harry said.

Proudfoot and Savage looked at the stunned group. "Are those Erklings? What are they doing with bloody Erklings?"

"Don't know," Harry said. "But I intend to find out."

Ron and Harry put the two wizards in separate holding cells and put the Erklings in a special cell for magical creatures. When they were done, they went to talk to one of the wizards who had started to come around.

As they walked down the hall to the holding cell, Harry said, "Hermione's going to kill me. You weren't meant to be involved in an arrest."

Ron shrugged. "It went smoothly, so we don't have to mention it. Ignorance is bliss and all that."

As he always did before an interview, Harry ran his fingers through his hair so his lightening shaped scar was on full display. He we still fairly short and slight of frame, but the scar gave him the intimidation factor of a much larger man. "Let's see what this git has to say for himself."

Ron followed him and stood in the corner trying to look menacing while Harry took a seat opposite the wizard who was now fully awake. He looked from Harry to Ron and then back to Harry. He visibly paled. "What you want with me? I ain't done nothing."

"Are you serious?" Harry said. "You were literally caught with Erklings."

"I got a permit!"

"No one has a permit for Erklings," Ron said grimly. "They're on the dangerous creatures list. They attack children."

"Bah, they's elves. I got a permit to capture wild elves, and that's what I did."

"Erklings aren't house elves."

"Permit says elves. Don't specify what kind."

Harry glanced at Ron. "Let's see this permit then."

The wizard dug around in the pocket of his robes while Ron and Harry held their wands on him. He'd been searched at the scene, but it wasn't wise to be careless.

The wizard produced a yellowed scroll that appeared hundreds of years old. He unrolled it. Ron and Harry read the ancient text and looked at each other before glaring at the wide-eyed wizard in front of them. "What's your name?" Harry asked.

"Tim, Tim MacBlayne."

"Well, Tim, I'm going to take your permit to my supervisor, because I've got to say, it seems bloody vague to me, and I don't see any mention of Erklings."

"Erklings is elves and that permit says me and me ancestors can hunt wild elves in perpetuity, which as you might know, means forever."

"We'll see about that. Sit tight."

As Harry stood to leave, Ron reached to open the door, but it opened before turned the knob and Hermione walked in with Proudfoot.

Ron smiled awkwardly at his wife. "Hello, luv, what brings you out?"

"So much for ignorance." Harry muttered behind him.

"I sent for her," Proudfoot said. "With this many Erklings we need someone who speaks elfish. Purdy is talking to them now, but I thought Hermione could look at that permit."

"Wait a minute!" MacBlayne shouted. "I'm not bloody Lord Voldemort. There's no reason to bring in all three of them. I ain't done nothing!"

"Calm down," Harry said. "Or I'll hit you with a silencing charm."

"Why is Purdy talking to the elves? Where are the Ministry elves?" Ron asked.

"None of the Ministry elves were willing to speak to the Erklings," Proudfoot said.

"Why not?" Harry asked.

Proudfoot shook his head. "They said Erklings are rude."

"Purdy's not bothered by rudeness," Hermione said.

Ron's brow furrowed with concern. "Is that safe?"

"Yes," Hermione said. "We just have to wait."

"Shouldn't we go watch through the observation window, just in case?" Ron asked.

"If you like," Hermione said, but Elfish is exceedingly difficult to listen to, so you should muffle the room.

Harry stood. "We're done with him for the time being anyway."

They left Proudfoot with MacBlayne and went into the observation room next to where the Erklings were being kept. The high-pitched whine coming from the elves was difficult to stand, so Ron cast the spell to muffle the room while Harry gave Hermione the MacBlayne permit.

She frowned as she read it. "This is ridiculous. It's impossibly vague. Yet another reason we need the Ministry to issue a whole cloth cancellation of all of these ancient contracts. This is the second time we've dealt with someone using this type of document for inexcusable behavior."

"I take it you don't think it's valid."

"Hardly, but I suppose he could argue it before the Wizengamot if he could convince them to hear his case, but good luck trying to convince them that an Erkling is the same as wild house elf."

"How long do you think Purdy will be?" Harry asked as they looked through the two way mirror into the other room. Purdy was standing on the table and the Erklings were crowded together in the corner. As they cowered away from Purdy, their expressions and hand gestures seemed liked false bravado.

"Quite a while, I should think. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of conversation happening yet. She'll probably just have to wait them out a bit. Have you two eaten? I haven't had breakfast," Hermione said.

"I'm famished," Ron said.

"You two go ahead. I've got loads of paperwork," Harry said.

"You want me to bring you something back?" Hermione asked.

Harry smiled. "That'd be grand."

"We'll see you then, mate." Ron tucked his hands into his pockets and glanced back at Harry as he followed Hermione out. Harry gave him a sympathetic smile. Ron shook his head. Hermione hadn't said anything in front of Harry and the others, but he expected she'd have plenty to say when they were on their own, which is why it surprised him when she went down to the Ministry canteen rather than suggesting a restaurant or going home.

They sat at one of the small tables already set with a plates, cups and flatware. They both turned over their teacups and a large kettle came zooming through the air and poured tea for them. Ron spoke his order of a full English to his plate and moments later his plate was filled with a fried egg, bacon, sausage, beans, toast and a grilled tomato. He smiled and tucked in.

Hermione asked her plate for a bacon sandwich and took a sip of tea.

Ron looked at her, waiting for her to say "I told you so," but she took a bite of her sandwich and looked around at the other witches and wizards coming in and going out of the canteen. "Busy in here this morning."

Ron looked at his watch. "I reckon it's that time of day, we got up and out pretty early."

"I suppose." She took another sip of tea.

Ron set down his fork. "Well, go on then."

"What?"

"Say it. I know you're dying to."

"Say what?"

"That you knew something would happen. That I shouldn't have gone. That I should say no to Harry when I don't want to do something."

Hermione sighed. "So, you didn't enjoy it then? I thought maybe with the arrest—"

"No. Of course not. I'm not like Harry. I don't enjoy arresting people even when they need arresting. I mean, I had to help, obviously, we can't have Erklings running around feeding on the children of London, but believe me, I would rather have spent the night in my own bed with you rather than sitting around some tatty flat with Harry."

She smiled at him and rested her hand on his. "I missed you, and I admit, I was worried. Not because you can't handle yourself, because I know you can, but you just never know what might happen."

He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. "I love working at the shop with George. Designing the products is really interesting, and I like talking to the customers. Even the paperwork is better than the Auror paperwork. I can't tell you how happy I am not to be filling that lot out with Harry right now. Give me an invoice or an inventory sheet any day over a warrant or an arrest report."

Hermione smiled at him. "Good. I'm glad you're happy at the shop. I mean, you seem happy, but then when you said yes to this I thought—"

"I told you, it was just a favor to Harry, and I know, I know I need to say no when I don't want to do something."

"But it's hard, believe me, I know."

"You reckon we'll always be like this?"

She shrugged. "I don't know." A piece of parchment appeared on the table between them. Hermione picked it up. "Purdy's done." She ordered another bacon sandwich to go and a sandwich wrapped in wax paper appeared on the plate. She picked it up and they returned to the Auror office.