Chapter Eight
Harry followed Dumbledore quickly though the dark streets, holding his cloak closely to his skin to keep out the damp.
"Well done Harry." Dumbledore said, "You did very well."
Harry faught the urge to glare at him, "I felt really odd being in some poor random person's house, so I guess I'm glad we've stopped him doing that. I don't see why you want him back at school so desperately though." Harry had an uncomfortable feeling about Slughorn, most of all that he seemed to firmly be a Potions teacher rather than Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"Ah… you will see." Dumbledore smiled down at him, "What are your plans for your marvellous Defence club? The 'DA' wasn't it?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah… I was actually.. well, I was hoping I could keep it going. I mean, I know we'll have a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, one better than Umbridge, but I do feel that it was a benefit."
Dumbledore nodded, "I agree, I agree. Of course it will need to be made an official club and open to all. I will get a teacher to supervise it as well. I'm sure that Professor Slughorn will be more than willing to oblige."
"He seemed very taken with me." Harry said sarcastically, "I can't lie Professor, I don't like people like that. I never have; they never seem interested in me, just this." he pointed to his scar.
"I didn't think you would be very taken with him. Slughorn is a good enough person, of course, but he does like being close to power." Dumbledore told him, "However I also know that you having a relationship with him will be very important. I need you to promise me that you will try, Harry."
"But you wont tell me why?" Harry said, stopping walking and glaring at Dumbledore.
"Quite right Harry, we can leave from here." Dumbledore said, pretending Harry hadn't asked his last question, "We are far enough away now."
Harry begrudgingly held onto Dumbledore's arm and they landed back in the hallway of Grimmauld place.
"Harry!" Lily said, rushing out from the library and wrapping him in a tight hug. She had clearly been waiting for his return.
"I suggest Harry goes off to bed again, we have completed our task." Dumbledore told Lily, hanging up his cloak.
Lily eyed the clock, "It is late." she said, politely but pointedly, not wanting to let Harry from her sight.
"I need a quick word Lily? If that's all right?" Dumbledore said, not waiting for an answer but heading straight for the library.
"I'll come tuck you in once he's left." Lily promised, kissing Harry's forehead and pushing him towards the staircase.
Harry wandered slowly to his room. He paused to push open the door to Sirius's old room, it lay empty; none of them had been able to go in there for very long since it had happened. It felt like a ghost room.
Harry shook his head and went into his own warm, cosy room. He didn't bother to take his glasses off but changed back into his pyjamas and buried himself under his blanket. He knew he was probably a little old to be tucked into bed by his parents, but he like it; it made him feel loved and safe and he saw no reason that he should have to give it up just because he was 'too old'.
It wasn't long before his mother came into his room. She smiled at him and wandered over to sit on the edge of his bed.
"How was Dumbledore while you were out?" she asked, running her fingers through Harry's hair.
Harry shrugged, well, shrugged as well as he could lying down, "OK I guess? He mostly just wanted me to pretend I was going to be the perfect little student for Slughorn. You seem really cold towards Professor Dumbledore at the moment."
"Well, after last year," Lily said dismissively.
"This is more than just what happened last year." Harry said, sitting up and trying to find the words. "This is recent… what happened?"
Lily smiled, "You are so smart, I wish you weren't sometimes." she laughed, "OK. Well I suppose you're sixteen now, not my little baby any more…"
"Mum, just tell me." Harry pleaded.
"There are two things. One I'm not going to tell you, but let's just say he asked too much of someone. The second is… he's… he's finally given Severus the job as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." Lily said, forcing a smile.
"What?" Harry gasped, "But… but… I don't understand, he's been asking for years. And there has been no one who's lasted more than a year, it's like it's cursed or something!"
Lily nodded, "Yes but he has his reasons, so I'm told."
"What does he think is going to happen to Dad before next year?" Harry asked, the colour draining from his face as he began to panic, feeling suddenly very powerless.
Lily let out a sigh, "Nothing." she said, not meeting his eyes, "There has never been any proof of the position being cursed. Severus has wanted this for a lot of years, we should be happy for him."
Harry nodded, "And it's what he still wants?"
"Be careful this year Harry." Lily told him, "Promise me? And… and just remember, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. Even if it's Dumbledore who asks you."
Harry nodded, "I promise."
"You get some sleep, my love." Lily said, giving Harry a tight hug.
Harry took his glasses off and settled down into the bed, watching the blurry figure of his mother switch his light off and close his door before slipping into a fitful sleep.
The next morning, Harry awoke to a small knock on his door.
"Breakfasts is readys Master." Kreacher said, sticking his nose around the door, "Missy Nikka is goings to works..."
Harry sat up quickly and nodded. He'd forgotten it was Nikka's first day back today, "I'll be down in two minutes."
Kreacher nodded and flapped his ears for a moment before leaving Harry to pull some clothes on. By the time he'd gotten downstairs everyone was sat around the table already, even Severus had managed to get a few hours at home.
Harry slid into his seat and waited as Kreacher served him a large plate of pancakes before sitting down in his own seat.
"To Nikka, best of luck in the new Aurors' office." Severus said, raising his glass.
Nikka blushed and thanked them, "I can't pretend that I'm not a little nervous."
"Tonks will be there, won't she?" Lily pointed out.
"She will." Nikka smiled, "Although, she's all lovey dovey at the moment. Her and Remus."
Danica wrinkled her nose at the talk of romance and Harry smirked. He was just happy for them both, Remus and Tonks seemed so much happier at the moment.
"Right, I'd better get going." Nikka said, standing up and stretching.
"I mades you lunch." Kreacher said, handing over a lunch box.
"Thanks." Nikka smiled, taking the flowery pink box, "I'm going to pop in and see Sirius, during my lunch break."
Harry nodded, "Yeah… say… say hi from us."
"I will." Nikka said, giving him a big hug.
She walked into the hallway and took a deep breath before spinning on the spot and arriving at the Ministry entrance.
Nikka hated the stupid way to get into the Ministry. What sort of child thought it was funny to have to step into a toilet? The only good thing about it was standing behind the 'office girls' who moaned about having to get their over priced shoes wet.
Nikka walked almost blindly though the corridors, moving out of everyone's way, not even looking at their faces.
"Miss DeGere?" a pleasant voice asked.
Nikka forced a smile onto her face and turned to face her old boss, Scrimgeour. He'd always called her 'Miss' and seemed to think very little of titles. "Good morning sir."
"To you, too!" he smiled, "You are well?"
"As can be expected." Nikka shrugged, "Congratulations on becoming Minister."
"Thank you, DeGere." Scrimgeour rubbed his chin and nodded, "I'm very glad to have you back, very glad."
"Thank you." Nikka nodded, "I… I hope things can get back to normal around here."
"Well, I think 'normal' is a far way off." Scrimgeour sighed, "One of the reasons I'm so glad to have you back, you were a fine young Auror in the making before…"
"Before I got fired?" Nikka said helpfully.
"Wasn't my choice, Miss DeGere." Scrimgeour said quickly, "It was a bad situation."
"Well lets just say I'm much happier to have you in charge now." Nikka said frankly, mostly just wanting to get to her desk and start working.
"Well, let's hope I can move things in the right direction." Scrimgeour smiled, a little tensely, "I wanted to have a quick word with you about young Harry-"
"I'm actually running late, sir." Nikka said quickly, "I should get to the office."
"Maybe over lunch later today then?" Scrimgeour offered.
"I'm going to visit Sirius." Nikka said quietly, "And I think that's how I'll be spending most of my lunches here, until there is some change in his condition."
Scrimgeour looked rather guilty, "Ah… yes, yes of course… I do hope that he recovers."
"I really should be getting to work Sir; it wouldn't be a good impression to be late on my first day back." Nikka said.
She didn't wait for an answer but continued down the corridor, making a mental note to avoid Scrimgeour for a while. She really didn't want to talk to him about Harry, or anyone else for that matter. Harry was under enough pressure and none of them had any great love for the Ministry right now.
Nikka had only just stepped though the door when she heard a squeal of excitement as Tonks threw her arms around her, only slightly tripping over a chair on her way.
"It's so good to see you back at work!" Tonks said, finally letting go of Nikka, "I had an awful dream last night that you didn't show; I've missed you like crazy!"
Nikka felt herself smiling and gave her friend another hug, "I wouldn't leave you high and dry like that!"
"Nope, I'd always rather be low and wet." Tonks said with a wink and a rather cheeky grin.
"What was that, Miss Tonks?" Robards asked, thumping his heavy briefcase down on his desk and smirking to them.
"Nothing Sir." Tonks said seriously, sliding into her seat.
"Welcome back Miss DeGere." Robards said, quickly nodding to her before pulling out several rolls of parchment, "We have a lot to do today. There are two more missing persons, both of whom were strong advocates for strong push back against blood purity action."
Nikka looked over the thin file of the case and sighed; they had no information really, just yet another open case.
She raised her hand, "Is there any news on… on Bellatrix Lestrange? She escaped the Ministry and hasn't been seen since?"
Robards sighed and looked sympathetically at her, "No, sorry, there has been no word."
"Well she must be somewhere?" Nikka said, trying to keep her voice level.
"Her husband is in prison, so is his brother. Her only alive immediate family is firmly on our side, according to Dumbledore, and her kids are with said family under lock and key. How are we sure she's not skipped the country?" one of the other Aurors asked, brushing his long hair over his shoulder, "I mean, it's what I would do."
"She's still around, I'm sure of it." Nikka said, wishing she'd never asked.
"There has been no attempted contact with her children." Robards told them.
"None that we know of." Tonks pointed out.
"We have been keeping a very close eye on things, Miss Tonks." Robards said, almost insulted, "A very close eye. It would take magic far more powerful than that of Lady Lestrange to go undetected."
Nikka ignored him and focused on pretending to read the file on the latest missing persons.
"Any news from Dumbledore on the issue?" Tonks asked.
Robards was starting to get annoyed. Tonks and DeGere were some of his best agents, or at least they would be in a few years once they had a little more experience, but they needed to focus on their work, not personal issues.
"No, he has been rather quiet on the issue, but Dumbledore has his ways, and we have ours. We need to focus on our work, if that's all right with you?" Robards insisted.
Nikka found it good to be back at work, although it was nearly lunch time and she was still making her way though the pile of letters that had been sent to her in her absence.
"Miss DeGere, may I have a word before lunch?" Robards asked, tapping her on the shoulder.
Nikka nodded and followed him into his small office. She sat down across his desk from him and smiled, waiting for him to say something. Robards, placed his hands carefully on his desk and sighed.
"You are an excellent Auror, Miss DeGere," he said after a moment.
"Thank you sir." Nikka said, forcing herself to keep smiling. She glanced at the clock, she didn't want to waste a minute of her lunch break here- a minute not being with Sirius.
"But you have to let it go." Robards said softly.
"Let what go?" Nikka asked.
"You will come up against the bitch that hurt Sirius sooner or later." Robards smiled, "I have no doubt about that. But every moment you focus on Bellatrix rather than your job, or family or anything else, is a moment she is winning and you are better than that."
"I just wanted-"
"Do you not think I would tell you? That Scrimgeour wouldn't tell you the second we knew anything?" Robards pointed out.
Nikka nodded, "You're right, of course I'm sorry. I just wish…"
"You'd been a second faster, or slightly to the right or left or hadn't gone at all?" Robards stood up and patted her on the shoulder, "We all have moments like that."
"Really?" Nikka snapped, disbelievingly.
"My first proper job, after a nasty dark witch, she was… cold. Nothing she did was anything other than planned, and we were never able to quite get the plan. There were three of us, my first partner, my friend, he died. She killed him within the first thirty seconds of catching up to her. We weren't ready to be up against her really, but things were a little different back then."
"Did you get her?" Nikka asked.
Robards shook his head, "No. I wasn't ready to fight someone like her, really, and was barely staying alive myself let alone doing any damage back. The other Auror I was with took her out."
"So you never got to face her then?" Nikka said softly.
Robards shook his head, "No. Which is why I'm telling you to back off. You are brilliant, Nikka, but in honesty if Bellatrix was sitting in this room with us now, could you beat her?"
Nikka glared at him, willing herself not to cry before lowering her head, feeling utterly flat, "No. She's more powerful than me."
"She's more trained than you, not the same thing as being more powerful. She has twenty years on you." Robards pointed out.
"So what do you suggest?" Nikka asked.
"I'm transferring you and Tonks to specialist cases unit. You're the youngest who have ever been selected." Robards said, flicking his wand over two pieces of parchment and leaving a gleaming signature.
"Are you being serious?" Nikka asked in disbelief; it was a promotion skipping several levels, something she'd never heard of happening before.
"You won't be going out on cases, you'll be training. So when you come up against Bellatrix Lestrange you will be able to fight her, and you wont need to wonder 'what if I was just a little bit faster'."
Nikka smiled, she could of hugged him, "Thank you, sir."
Robards waved his hand like it was nothing, "You weren't treated well last year, the Minister and I both agreed that we should help you in anyway we can. Besides you were both heading there sooner or later. Both of you are far too smart for basic cases."
Nikka took the transfer papers and left the room to find Tonks, feeling better than she had in a long while.