A/N: Thanks for the favorites and follows. Super appreciative thanks to polka. You're reviews are really motivating to keep posting each week. Hermione is going to get it together eventually. Some of the mysteries should be worked out in a few chapters! So there should be some payoff for you patience soon.

Chapter 8: In Plain Sight

Monday, June 29, 1998 | Auror Department

Tonks was leaning heavily on Harry's desk, trying to get a look inside Williamson's office. The minister had come down himself for an impromptu meeting. "Why don't we have any of those extendable ears of Fred and George on hand?" she asked. A hand gestured wilding in front of the small window on the door. "That can't be good. What do you think happened?"

"I don't think we'll have to wait long to find out." Harry tried to pull a file out from underneath her hand. "Do you mind?"

Tonks lifted her hand and gave her partner a look of annoyance. She walked around to sit at her desk and leaned over to whisper at him. "Look. I know you're hurt. It's been two weeks of you avoiding talking about it all. I'll let you sulk but you need to lighten up."

He scowled at her. He wasn't sulking. Even if he was, two weeks wasn't enough time to just get over his feelings of loss and hurt. In fact, the longer he spent alone in Godric's Hollow the worse the situation felt. The absence of Hermione in his life was becoming unbearable. She left him. This was her choice. They'd gone over all the reasons to stay together several times since the end of the war. There was nothing new for him to say. The only way to fix the situation was for Hermione to come to her senses. He couldn't make her do that. Tonks couldn't help her do that. There was no reason to talk about it. Saying it all out loud would just make it that much more real and terrible. The only thing that made him feel better about the situation was knowing Hermione was safe at 12 Grimmauld Place.

Williamson's door opened. All heads in the bullpen turned toward the sound. They watched the Minister calmly make his way out of the offices. He wasn't rushed. A drastic change in demeanor from when he arrived. That meant whatever was happening was now firmly in Williamson's court.

"Tonks! Potter!" Henry called out from his open door.

The partners hustled into the small office. "What's the trouble, boss?" Tonks asked.

Williamson looked at her sternly. "Two troubles. Both at Azkaban. Rowle is dead."

"How?" Harry asked. He had been on edge for days. He finally had a reason.

"The healers are still working that out. It was that sickness that's been spreading." Henry handed the file to Harry. "We need to get to the bottom of this. They're in our custody. They're our responsibility."

Flipping through the parchment, it felt like the issue was outside of their expertise. "It could be a new magical virus. Or even something left over on the island from the dementors. We need researchers not aurors looking into this."

"They'll get both. If there's dark magic involved we have to know. You'll go over this morning."

Harry looked up from the file. "Hermione's deposition is today." In the months since joining the department, Harry had never turned down an assignment.

Williamson looked sympathetic. "I know. I'll be there. As will Ophelia and Balin. It isn't a hostile questioning. An audience might make it harder on the director." He stopped short of suggesting Hermione might be more comfortable if Harry wasn't there.

Silence lingered. Tonks studied her partner and spoke up. "What's the other trouble?" she asked, pulling her wand out, ready for action.

Henry rolled his eyes. "You've got an escort assignment. It seems Tom has granted a Daily Prophet interview and the Minister has approved it. You're taking the reporter over with you."

"No," Harry started and realized it sounded like he was now openly disobeying the order and softened his tone. "This is a terrible idea. Not just allowing Tom access to the paper. We can't bring a civilian over to Azkaban when there could be a contagious virus that could kill people."

Williamson held up his hands. "The other option is to transport Tom here. I'd prefer not to mobilize a task force just to let him answer some questions."

"Why can't they just send him their questions?" Tonks complained. "Do it all by owl."

"It's over my head. I've made all those arguments to the Minister. This is what we're doing. Kingsley is adamant that we're now for transparency. Tom wants to talk… he gets to talk. The reporter is waiting for you in the atrium."

It was clear the discussion was over. Harry turned on his heel and headed for the assignment's board, not even waiting for Tonks. His mind was occupied, thinking about the dangers of giving Tom a platform. He hadn't agreed with the ministry's efforts to hide Voldemort's return after killing Cedric. This level of transparency didn't sit right either.

"The director will be fine," Tonks said from behind him.

He appreciated her effort to distance the situation. "I know."

"She wouldn't want the deposition to get in the way of getting to the bottom of the sickness at the prison."

"I know."

They walked side by side to the atrium. "What do you think you could do if you were there?"

He stopped so quickly, a witch bumped into his back. It took his partner a few steps to register he wasn't at her side anymore. Tonks turned and stepped up to him, sensing his conflict. "I could be there for her," he said simply. "I know she's strong enough to do it alone. That doesn't mean she has to."

Tonk's face softened. "Listen. Remus and Hermione are two sides of the same coin. They think pushing those away who love them is for their own good. It's bloody infuriating. But you know what I learned? They do this because they really love us and that kind of love can soften their hard heads. You just need to give her some space to come around."

He found himself grateful she understood his situation. "How do you do it?" he asked with an edge of desperation.

At that question, she let out a small sigh, "Because I love him and his hard head. You can't reason with a logical person who is overwhelmed by emotions. Just… be there when they're ready to talk and understand they're just as confused as you are."

It wasn't a very satisfying answer. It was the first time his situation finally made a bit of sense. Harry took a deep breath and nodded. "Thanks."

Tonks stepped aside to give them room to head for the registration desk. The reporter recognized them immediately and approached them.

He stuck out his hand, "Benny Biggs, Daily Prophet."

Neither Tonks, nor Harry shook the offered hand. Harry shifted on his feet. "An interview with Tom Gaunt will get you on the front page. We don't have to pretend there's anything else to this." He walked forward toward the floo network.

Tonks followed, causing Benny to rush to catch up. "You don't think the claims he's making are newsworthy?"

"No." Harry was firm in his answer, leaving no room for further discussion. "I hope you don't get seasick."

~~/~~

A timeline of events burned into the air. Each node branching out from the day Bellatrix created her paradox. Tom wasn't there. Hermione knew he wouldn't be. Action Bellatrix took directly stemming from the paradox would never be recorded. Indirect outcomes could be. The deaths of her gemino test subjects were there. Cassandra's prophecy was there. Broderick Bode. The longer she looked the more she realized intervention would have been impossible. It weaved in and out of time. There would have been no way to anticipate the steps Bellatrix had made through that time. The frustration bubbled up. Just feet away from her in the secured cabinet were two functioning time turners. One only she had the power to weld. And neither did her any good. Yet.

The sound behind her announced the arrival of something passing through the event horizon. She didn't bother to turn. All the Unspeakables charged with protecting time had grown accustomed to finding her inside the time chamber. It was unorthodox. No one could argue there wasn't another person better equipped to understand the risks of time travel than herself.

"It's my turn," Fiona said to the Unspeakable taking the current watch inside the protections.

Edsel muttered some acknowledgement and was gone before Hermione could turn around. Her eyes grew wide, Fiona was holding familiar material in her arms. The unmistakable shimmer of Swooping Shadow scales had hope grow within her. "Newt did it? He made the suit?"

"It appears so," Fiona answered, held up a sleek skin suit. "It appears tailor made for you."

She didn't know what to say to that. That hadn't been her request. "For me? No. For whoever is in here when time breaks."

Fiona held it up to herself. "I might be able to squeeze into this, but it's not really Humphrey's size."

"I suppose not," Hermione said with some humor. "Is it a prototype? He's working on more."

Moving to the cabinet, the older witch hung the suit up. Then she slipped a bag from off her shoulder that was made from the same material and then motioned for Hermione to join her in a set of chairs. "I think we both know there is only one person who has the need for a suit that would physically protect them from changes to their body resulting in changes to the timeline."

This had Hermione sitting up straighter. It was a different matter to have her own dark thoughts voiced aloud by someone else. "It is safe to assume that if Tom goes back in time, my past self would be better off if she was killed than to survive."

Fiona shook her head against the thought. Shock at the brutal assessment gave way to acceptance. "We've tested the suit the best we can. It can provide limited protections to you, physically. New injuries or scars won't be able to suddenly appear. We can't know what would happen though if you left this event horizon and entered a timeline where you no longer existed."

Hermione offered a smile that didn't touch her eyes. "I'm not sure that's a scenario we have to worry about."

"Hermione. This isn't healthy. You shouldn't spend so much time in here. Staring at that those timelines… I'm not sure there's anything new to learn."

Concerned her access to the time chamber might be taken away, Hermione's mouth went dry. "It's not about finding something in the events as they stand today. It's about being here when there's something new to learn."

"I'm not going to tell you to stop coming here. It's just… you shouldn't live your life waiting for the world to fall apart."

Looking at the chronometer, she knew she had to face the current reality. The cabinet next to them was still open. Memory protection potions were neatly stocked. The time turners were firmly in place. And now the suit was there, ready for her. "Newt made a bag too?"

"Yes. It's similar to the safe Severus has at the school for the potions he's stocked. You could put potions inside and they should continue to exist as long as they're in that protection. We can't know how long once they're removed that they'd continue. Theoretically, it's big enough for a Tempus Semita. I gave him the precise dimensions."

Knowing others were taking her concerns seriously was a relief. Hermione stood. "Thanks. For everything." Stepping up to the event horizon, the waterfall door was an experience she was starting to dread. The darker thoughts that consumed her as of late were influencing the memories that seemed to creep to the top.

Hermione's hands gripped his biceps, a desperate attempt to keep herself upright. She hated leaned on him, depending on him. Just touching him was distasteful. When she was feeling steady, she tried to step back. His hand gripped her own arm tightly, his other wrapped around the back of her neck, squeezing and stopping her from retreating.

"See. I'm not so bad," Tom said, pushing a stray hair behind her ear. She felt his breath on her face. It was an oddly intimate moment.

Breaking through the other side of the event horizon, she took several seconds to let the memories of that day in Tom's secret hideaway fade back into the past. It would be easier to use her ring to apparate into the room. It felt like an exploitation of a responsibility that had been entrusted to her. Straightening her suit coat, she walked toward the exit of the department of mysteries. The chief warlock's chambers were on the same floor. There was no reason to rush. A familiar form was pacing at the end of the long hallway toward the Wizengamot courtrooms. The only real surprise was that Albus was alone. "Is this really how you'd like to spend your day?" she asked.

He stopped his pacing and turned toward her, shrugged. "It's the summer. There's not much for a headmaster to do."

She considered turning him away for his own sake. It would require her to rehash the deposition with him after the fact. It would be easier to let him witness it for himself. "Come on then," she relented, motioning to the ornate door. It was the first time she was inside the cavernous room. The floor to ceiling marble seemed to radiate a chill. Perhaps it wasn't such a harsh environment when the court was in session and filled with witches and wizards.

"Director Granger," a young wizard called her toward a side door. "We're in the magistrate's chambers. The solicitors and head Auror are already here. Should we expect anyone else?"

Hermione looked behind her toward the exit, expected to see Harry appear. She hadn't given him a reason to. "No. Just us. It's alright if Professor Dumbledore attends the questioning?"

"Of course. His standing as a member of the Wizengamot would give him the privilege. We also understand he's a personal friend. This is a non-adversarial interview," he said, leading them to a long conference table. Ophelia was already in a large chair, surrounded by files. Balin and Williamson sat behind her. "Have a seat. The Chief Warlock will be here shortly."

Ophelia looked up and offered a short nod. "Director. Professor."

Hermione settled into a chair with a nameplate indicating it was assigned to her. Directly across from the judge's more ornate chair.

"Just relax and wait until the judge rules on my objections. If I'm overruled, answer just the question that the defense team asked and no more," Ophelia instructed.

Clasping her hands in front of her, Hermione tried to relax. She knew the questions which had been challenged. Ophelia challenged them for a reason. It had taken them several days to fully answer all the questions an then to determine which required an objection. There was a game to be played. Objecting to some questions to make them seem more important than they were. Objecting to others to protect the case against Tom's defense. As hard as the process had been, Hermione knew her actual testimony in court would be that much harder. The defense was looking for information to impeach her. Information to use against her.

"I was surprised you didn't resume your role as the Chief Warlock when you were exonerated," Ophelia said to Albus. It sounded like small talk, but carried some air of curiosity.

Dumbledore looked at the large, comfortable chair. "It does come with certain perks. I think the court is in good hands. No need to upset the balance."

Hermione hated how much his life was disrupted by her actions. It wasn't just the terrible experience being held in Azkaban. He had suffered damage to his reputation and his professional life. Further discussion was halted when the Chief Warlock entered, everyone stood.

"Have a seat. Director, we'll try to get you out of here in a timely manner," he said. "We haven't officially met, Sebastian Runkle." Sebastian produced a thick folder and pulled out several sections of parchment. "I see you've thoroughly answered most of the defense questions in your written deposition. We're only here to resolve the questions your solicitor has objected to. I'd like to hear the grounds for each objection. In some cases, I'll need to hear your answer. Information deemed necessary for the defense team will be recorded verbally and transposed for the official record."

"I understand," Hermione answered and then waited. She knew the problematic questions. She wasn't thrilled with the idea of answering many of them. They were clearly designed to rattle her and deflect Tom's guilt. A glass of water floated in front of her. Nodding her thanks to Albus, she took a small sip and set it down.

"It seems the first objection is to the defense's first question. Miss Sideris, explain why the details of how the director and the defendant met aren't relevant to these proceedings in which he's being accused of kidnapping and torture her. One would think the circumstances of all their interactions are important."

Ophelia leaned forward, excited to answer the challenge. "It's simple, your honor. The defendant is claiming he's been resurrected and was that person who pulled Director Granger back to 1944. This is a disingenuous question, designed to force my client to verify Mister Gaunt's false statement. If she answers honestly, they will claim she's lying under oath. I won't allow her to be put in that position on the stand."

"You plan to prove to the court that the defendant is in fact a different person than the Hogwarts student who took these actions in 1944?" Sebastian asked.

"We have a witness who will testify to the date and time in which she used the gemino charm on Tom Riddle. Before the original Tom Riddle kidnapped Hermione Granger."

"When did the director meet this clone?"

Hermione was about to answer when Ophelia stopped her with a look. "That's an irrelevant question, respectfully. It would imply that Hermione meeting Tom was somehow to blame for his actions."

The chief warlock rubbed his forehead. Hermione knew that feeling well. He leaned over and used his wand to stop the recording. "I will be sustaining the objection. You won't have to answer on the record. But for my edification and understanding, can you please explain the circumstances of the first time you met both the original Tom Riddle and the doubled Tom Riddle?"

Checking with Ophelia with a look, Hermione decided to trust the process. The lawyer motioned to the judge. Taking another sip of water, her eyes flicked to Albus. He looked apprehensive but not concerned. "I wouldn't use the term "met" to describe my first encounters with either wizard."

"Noted."

"On January third of last year, I was sleeping in my bed at Hogwarts. Waking from a dream, I felt something pulling me down. Before I could make sense of what was happening, I was blinded and immobilized. I was branded with a rune and a curse that would permanently disfigure me. My mind was invaded and I was tortured with the cruciatus curse. That was my first encounter with the original Tom Riddle."

The chief warlock shifted in his seat. "It's hard to imagine a worse introduction. I assume you can enlighten me."

At that, Hermione let out a small laugh, glad for the release. "Unfortunately yes, your honor. On May twenty-second, I inadvertently stumbled upon the clone outside Knockturn Alley. He kidnapped me, cursed me multiple times, tortured me with a static spell designed to induce sleep deprivation, and used a consuming curse with the intention of allowing it to kill me while he watched."

"Okay," he said, started the recording. "Objection sustained."

Not for the first time, she was doubting the legal strategy to separate Voldemort from Tom Gaunt. It might be the truth, but if he was going to claim he was Lord Voldemort, there was an endless amount of evidence that could be used against him. Truth, in this case, was overrated as far as she was concerned. She also knew the unintended consequences of allowing Tom's claims to go unchallenged could be disastrous. They could only make the best choices they could, and erring on the side of truth was likely the best of their options.

"The defense has raised an argument that the director made an active decision to allow Tom Riddle to take her back to his time."

Ophelia put her quill down forcefully. "Your honor. The law is clear that coercion is not consent. Not only had Tom verbally threatened the students of Hogwarts if Hermione didn't return to the school, he kidnapped and injured another student to prove his threats. This question is designed to confuse the court by raising outrageous accusations."

"Sustained. Now. The matter of violating the statute of time travel intervention."

"The director is not on trial. She didn't choose to travel back to 1944 and her efforts to maintain the timeline, despite the events thrust upon her, is admirable," Ophelia objected.

Sebastian tapped his fingers. "It can go to witness credibility. Let's take the questions one at a time. What were the years and the amount of time spent in the past?"

"May I refer to my notes?" Hermione asked. It was information that required her to work out on paper. So much of her early days in the past had been a blur. When she was given permission, she pulled out a scroll of paper and read out loud the dates.

"Where did you stay during that time?"

The line of questioning was terrifying for Hermione. A cold sweat started to radiate across her forehead. If Tom got his hands on a time turner, he would have a blueprint to finding her.

"Your honor. We believe this line of questioning is designed to expose the location and whereabouts of Hermione in the past," Ophelia interrupted.

"How would this damage the past?" Sebastian asked.

The young lawyer didn't flinch. "Voldemort went to great efforts to try and find her so he could learn how she was able to travel into the future. This information could be catastrophic in the wrong hands. There is currently one time turner unaccounted for. If there is a record of Hermione's locations in the past, it could be future knowledge used to change the past and in turn the future. This is highly classified information the ministry has sworn to protect."

"Sustained. Who did you interact with in the past?"

"Albus Dumbledore, Lord Voldemort, Newt Scamander, Fiona Fielding, Gilford Gower, Minerva McGonagall, Poppy Pomfrey, Rubeus Hagrid, James Potter, and Sirius Black." The list was uncomfortably long. The look on the judge's face indicated he had the same thoughts.

"Were these all intentional encounters?"

"My intentions?" Hermione asked, not trying to be argumentative. He nodded and didn't look put out. "When I decided to strand myself in the past, the only person I planned to reveal myself to was Albus Dumbledore. I needed his help to keep me hidden."

"Overruled. The answer will remain in the public record. Please describe the nature of each of these interactions."

"Albus Dumbledore kept me hidden to avoid as much contamination as possible. Lord Voldemort tortured me and nearly killed me. Professor McGonagal and the Matron helped heal me after that violent encounter with Lord Voldemort. Newt Scamander, Fiona Fielding, and Gilford Gower assisted with difficulties encountered during my travels. Rubeus Hagrid needed to be shielded from muggles after Voldemort attempted to change the past. And James and Sirius accidentally found my hiding place. None of the last three people knew who I was or that I was from the future."

"Modified. The last three may be stricken from the record. Did you intentionally try to change the past?"

Ophelia interjected again, "Your honor, this is complicated. There was an incident where Voldemort had future knowledge and tried to change his past. The director intervened to preserve the past. The Unspeakables have evidence that her invention was necessary."

"Conditionally sustained. Submit the evidence to the court. Aside from that event, are there others where you intervened with the direct intention of changing the past?"

Hermione could not keep herself from looking at Albus. Her actions were already public record. She had no regrets and would do it again. "Yes."

The chief warlock's eyes narrowed, indicating that even though yes was technically an answer to his question, it wasn't a satisfactory one.

"I would like to clarify that I wasn't trying to change the past when I saved Albus Dumbledore. I was attempting to change my future. The summer of 1996, Albus suffered a curse that was assumed it would kill him. I didn't know that we wouldn't find a solution. My reason for ensuring he was never cursed to begin with may have had a personal component; however, I was also operating under the understanding that Voldemort had future knowledge and had demonstrated a willingness to use that knowledge to change the past. I was terrified we wouldn't be able to stop him. And the only person I thought could counter that threat was Albus Dumbledore."

"Overruled. I'll allow the testimony. Was Tom Gaunt under the influence of an imperius curse by Bellatrix Lestrange?"

"Chief Warlock. The ministry has been searching for a device or a spell that could detect an active imperius curse. Is the defense counsel suggesting Hermione Granger has the ability to know when someone is under the influence of this unforgivable curse?" Ophelia didn't try to hide her sarcasm.

"I don't think it's unreasonable for someone who is intimately familiar with an individual to know if they are imperiused."

"We object to the chief warlock's characterization of the director's relationship with the man who has pursued her through time and has tortured her on multiple occasions—"

"—I chose my words poorly," Sebastian interrupted the lawyer's indignation. "Director. Do you believe you know the defendant well enough to say whether or not they were being controlled by someone else?"

"Yes." Hermione was grateful for Ophelia's passionate defense on her behalf. The truth was Hermione was likely the only person who knew Tom well enough to make the assessment. There was a reason why the defense team was asking. It was worrying. They weren't looking for Hermione to confirm he wasn't imperiused. They had another reason for asking. They'd have to wait until the trial to understand the motivation.

"And do you think he was ever controlled by someone else while in your presence?"

"Absolutely not. Bellatrix Lestrange was visibly afraid of him. And there was never a moment where Tom behaved in a manner that was out of character for him."

"Overruled. One last objection to resolve. Did Tom Gaunt cast the killing curse at Harry Potter?"

Ophelia was ready for this fight. It was in the prosecution's best interests to keep the information regarding Hermione's impossible spell a secret until Tom made a claim on the stand that he did not use the killing curse. It was impeachment evidence. "We've shown that the director was not in a position to know what spells were cast or at who they were directed towards. She was taking cover and only had a clear line of sight on the entrance. Even if she heard him cast the curse, she couldn't know who the target was."

Hermione knew her role. Answer honestly if she had to, but avoid divulging the reason Harry wasn't killed by the killing curse. That information was intended to be revealed in rebuttal if Tom attempted to deny using the curse.

"Did you hear him invoke the incantation?" Sebastian modified his question.

"Your honor. That wasn't the defense's question."

"Hm. Sustained," Sebastian said after deliberation. Hermione sat back in her chair. "Director, thank you for your time. We'll notify your solicitor when the trial schedule is published. Counselor, submit the report from the Unspeakables by the end of the week. Albus, a pleasure. We understand you've recused yourself from this case."

"I have."

"We appreciate not making us ask. Good day," the chief warlock said, gathered up the record, and left from the door he entered.

"Well, that wasn't terrible," Ophelia said, gathering up her own files. "You did well. We'll reach out when it's time for witness prep. I think we can anticipate the argument Tom's team will try to make."

Hermione hoped that was true.

~~/~~

Harry sunk into his couch, drink in hand. Gerty was trying to convince him to eat. He wasn't much in the mood for food. He hadn't been for a few weeks. After watching Rowle's autopsy, it was even less of a priority. Something had drained the life right out of the Death Eater. At first he was convinced it was the killing curse until the triage spell proved not a single spell had been cast on him. It was looking more like a new magical illness. Or really, considering how old the fortress was, likely an ancient illness. Something that might force them to clear out the entire prison. For now, they've settled on moving all non-violent prisoners to Stonegate, a massive operation to carry out in a single day. The rest of the prisoners were moved to the highest levels possible. Assuming the disease was limited to lower levels where those who fell ill had been housed. They moved Bellatrix too. That was perhaps the most unsettling. She certainly wasn't nonviolent. She was cooperating. And they needed to complete her deposition. They also needed her healthy and alive for the trial.

At the thought of the legal proceedings he looked in the direction of his owl. He wanted to send Hermione a note. His heart might be broken, but he still cared about her. The doorbell shook him from his thoughts. Assuming it was Ron, he called out to the house elf, "I've got it! Might as well set the table," he said, knowing his friend could always eat. He worked his ass off too and deserved a healthy meal. Harry was growing to rely on Ron despite his rookie status. He trusted him and knew Ron was taking his training more serious than anything he'd ever seen. Swinging the door open, Harry took several beats to realize it was his former headmaster calling and not his oldest friend.

"May I come in?" Albus asked, not assuming he was invited.

Harry jumped aside, "Oh. Yeah. Please. Are you hungry? Gerty would like it if someone would eat."

"Perhaps a to-go container," he said in the direction of the house elf who was peaking around the corner. Gerty disappeared, presumably getting busy on the request. "I don't want to take up much of your time. I understand it was an eventful day."

Leading Dumbledore to the sitting area, Harry sat heavily. "I'll say. Earned every galleon today. Drink?"

The older wizard helped himself to the bar and joined Harry near the fireplace. "This possible sickness is concerning."

"We'll see if our measures today are successful. The healers and researchers appear stumped. We might have to shut down the entire prison."

"Well. That wouldn't be the worst thing," Albus said with some seriousness. Spending anytime at the prison as a prisoner while it was controlled by dementors left a mark.

Harry held up his hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't think."

"A distant memory."

"Would you mind if I asked you a question about it?" Harry started, not sure if he was going to bring up bad memories no matter how distant they were. With a nod from Albus, he continued. "Did you ever get the sense that there was something lurking in the fortress?"

"Besides the dementors?"

"Yeah," Harry said with a laugh. "Besides them."

Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm afraid not. If there was something there it either didn't venture into my cell or went unnoticed in the despair of it all."

It had been worth a shot. Realizing this wasn't likely the reason Dumbledore had come to visit, Harry took another drink and pressed on. "Hermione's staying at 12 Grimmauld Place. She's keeping her things there anyway. All her spare time is spent in the department of mysteries."

"I had heard from Fiona that was a concern. I can speak from experience that it's easy to get lost down there. Looking for answers. I was looking for you though. I went to the deposition."

This had Harry sitting up a little straighter. "Is that right? She did okay? I was planning on going but got assigned to the Azkaban situation."

"She was good. The chief warlock sustained most of the objections. I think the defense is going to have a tough case."

"She's going to have to testify."

"She is," Albus acknowledged.

"Tom is going to use his lawyers to re-victimize her all over again. At a public trial." Harry wanted to figure out a way to spare Hermione the trauma. He didn't think she'd take it if he found it.

Dumbledore's face softened, concern was evident. The concern wasn't just for Hermione. It was for Harry too. "Ophelia is a force to be reckoned with. She fought today to protect Hermione. It won't just be about putting Tom away for good, it will be about getting justice for her. I didn't think that was the case until I saw Miss Sideris at work."

Staring into the bottom of his glass, he felt a small measure better. "Thanks for going today. For being there for her. I still don't know how to navigate this."

It looked like Dumbledore was contemplating something. Harry stayed silent while the thoughts warred with the older man. Finally, a decision was made. "I don't say this to make you feel guilty about missing the deposition. Hermione looked like she was expecting you to attend. You need to know she still wants you in her life. She still needs you. She can be… recalcitrant when forced to confront dangers to those she loves."

For the first time since discovering her engagement ring in an empty bedroom, Harry felt hope. He filed the observation away. Giving her space might not be what she wanted after all. At least not all she wanted. A part of her wanted him involved. "Thanks. It's been hard to know what to do that wouldn't make the situation worse."

A box appeared on the coffee table, a wonderful smell of fresh bread wafted up from it. "It wouldn't hurt to let Gerty give you some extra attention. Take your mind off things here at home."

"Tomorrow. I'll start tomorrow. After the work today… I spent a lot of time in the morgue. Lost my appetite."

A grimace transformed Dumbledore's face. "That is unfortunate. There was no evidence found, how the prisoner died?"

Shaking his head, Harry was frustrated. An invisible sickness wasn't really an enemy he was equipped to fight. "The healers said it looked like the life was siphoned out of him. No spells were used." Harry's words seemed to touch a nerve within Dumbledore. "You've seen that before?" an excited laced his words.

"I have. You have too."

Harry was shaking his head. The closest thing to it had been Hermione's state after absorbing the killing curse with her shield. There was definitely a mark left behind and a record of the spell. He also couldn't imagine Rowle was capable of such magic, much less the unconditional love needed.

"In your first year. The unicorn you stumbled upon."

"No. That was Voldemort. He killed it intentionally. To feed on its blood." Harry was already moving on, having dismissed the connection.

Albus stood suddenly. "No. Listen. The unicorn had been possessed by him. It couldn't sustain him. We think he was jumping between Quirrell and animals in the Forbidden Forest to ensure his possession didn't kill the man."

The ramifications of the information was sinking in. "How do you know this?"

"Severus. He and I have recently spent some time witnessing the memories Tom refused to absorb. He just recently uncovered this memory. They're fragmented and disjointed. Voldemort spent his time without a body using up the life of creatures in order to have a physical body. No matter how fleeting it was. He tried to possess witches and wizards. It required submission from the person and even then, they didn't last much longer than magical creatures."

Getting to his feet, Harry was energized and terrified. "Voldemort has been inside Azkaban this whole time. Possessing Death Eaters to survive."

Both men were heading for the floo. The food forgotten. In seconds they were in the ministry atrium. "How did he get there? It wasn't Sadie. She may have freed him, but she was cleared," Dumbledore processed out loud as they headed to the auror department.

"It wasn't Tom either. He wasn't inside the ministry when Voldemort disappeared." Harry had already worked out who Voldemort possessed and he was furious at himself for missing the obvious. He pressed the elevator button aggressively. "There was no evidence he breached the holding cells. Clearly that was wrong. He got to Bellatrix." The doors weren't even open all the way when Harry pushed through and rushed to the bullpen. Williamson's lights were still on. "Boss," he yelled.

Henry was out of his office in seconds, responding to the urgency in Harry's voice. "What happened?" His voice was calm despite the clear concern.

Harry motioned to Dumbledore. "We know how Voldemort got away. We know where he went."

"Where?"

"He possessed Bellatrix. He's the reason so many have been sick. He's been using up his Death Eaters. Rowle just had the unfortunate luck to pay for his service with his life."

The head auror didn't need additional information, he was able to see the immediate actions required. With his wand, he recalled every auror. Used a nearby assignment board to organize the needed operation. "As soon as Tonks is here, you two go immediately to Stonegate. We may already be too late."

It was why Bellatrix had been so cooperative. She was desperate to get off the island. Voldemort couldn't traverse the water and he was running out of Death Eaters to possess. The fact that Bellatrix had shown no signs of sickness was either a testament to her magical reserves or the dedication Voldemort had to protecting his most loyal follower from the effects of his presence. Turning on his heel, he looked for Dumbledore. He was already gone. Harry knew where he went. To Hermione. As much as he wanted to be the one to ensure she was safe, he knew he'd be more useful actively trying to find the remnants of the wizard who refused to die.