I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

Harry Potter and the Stone's Heart

Chapter 2 – Deepening

Despite all the times he visited Diagon Alley for various reasons, Harry still had that tiny flutter of wonder in his chest.

He could still remember the very first time he saw the mercantile district, when Hagrid brought him all those years ago when he was a child. Seeing the main street open up before him when the bricks shifted out of his way, seeing the buildings clustered around and the riot of colors from the people and the storefronts, the sounds, all of it was a precious memory to him that lasted to this day.

He still remembered how the Alley was in the years since, how dismal and dark things felt right before his sixth year at Hogwarts when Voldemort was finally accepted to have fully returned. The outright feelings of fear and oppression during the time that he, Hermione, and Ron snuck back under disguise and magic to infiltrate Gringotts. The Alley also had been damaged in many ways leading up to the Battle of Hogwarts and the end of the Second War. Many of the side streets had been choked with destruction and debris, stores burned and boarded up.

In the years since, a lot of work had been done and the Alley was better than ever. New stores had come up, more side streets and alleys added and filled. Plenty of people came to shop daily and while the new life was welcome, it did not completely erase the scars of the past. There had been moments of fighting when the last of the Death Eaters had been found or tried to cause some last moments of chaos but thankfully, Diagon Alley had recovered and thrived.

Harry looked up at Gringotts with a wry smile as he approached the building. He still felt a vague sense of guilt and anticipation whenever he visited after they broke into the bank and subsequently broke out of it. He fully knew the consequences of his actions, both positive and negative, and had done his best to own up to both.

Thankfully, the bank had more or less forgiven him and his friends for their actions. It did require substantial negotiations to soothe tempers, as well as paying back certain things that went both ways, but things were mostly cordial now. There were still many goblins that did not like Harry and gave him ugly looks but others treated him professionally, which he was grateful for. He was even friendly with a few, with a generous definition of the word friendly of course.

Harry stepped into the bank and waited to the side of the main entrance. He smiled politely as the goblins noticed him and ignored the looks of hate and anger from some and waved back to the few that nodded to him in a friendly way. He took no offense when two goblins came up and stood at his side, watching him carefully with guarded expressions, hands resting lightly on weapons at their waists. "Afternoon Ember, Kartwell."

"Afternoon," Ember replied, nodding professionally back while Kartwell grunted. "Personal business or professional?"

"Professional," Harry replied.

Ember raised an eyebrow before nodding. She spoke in Gobbledegook to Kartwell who walked off without hesitation. After a few moments, Kartwell returned and whispered something back to Ember. "Right, follow us Captain." She and Kartwell led Harry to the side of the bank and led him to a private room. It was one of their official ones, well furnished and comfortable with rugs on the stone floor and a fire crackling in the hearth that was carved into the stone wall.

Harry sat on one of the low chairs and waited only a few minutes before the door opened and a very well-dressed goblin walked in. "Hello Captain Potter," the goblin said officiously, smiling at Harry.

"Hello Doran," Harry said, smiling back. He shook Doran's hand. "How are things?"

"Well, thank you. Gold comes and goes, and the stone is sound. Would you like something to drink?"

"Water please, thank you." Harry took the bottle of cold water from Doran and sipped it appreciatively. It was a type of mineral water the goblins favored and it had a very bitter note that was still surprisingly refreshing. It had surprised him the first time he had it.

"So, professional business, is it?" Doran asked, politely getting to the point.

Harry smiled and nodded, not being insulted in the slightest. Doran was the khabor, the personal assistant and axe bearer to the Director of Gringotts. His time was very valuable and it was both an honor, and a small insult, that he was the one that routinely dealt with Harry. It showed that they took him seriously while also showing that Harry was still someone that was not completely trusted.

Luckily Doran was nice to Harry. He had once admitted to Harry, very privately, that he was impressed that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had managed to break in and leave the bank, something that was incredibly rare to happen at any branch of Gringotts around the world, much less done by young magicals. The audacity and the success of it made Doran like him more than hate him and Harry was thankful for that.

"Professional yes," Harry said. He put the large leather case in front of Doran and undid the locks, opening it for Doran to peer within.

"Goblin products, obviously," Doran said, looking at the items with interest. He took one out, a candelabra that glimmered in the firelight. "Well made, of course. One of the finer forging and crafting clans. Wait. This is unmarked!" Doran put it to one side and took out the others, inspecting them critically. "As is this one! No mark of ownership, save for the crafting clan's mark! And this is…this was made for the Rowles! This is…Rosier!"

He looked at Harry, eyes wide with astonishment. "How did you get these?!"

"Earlier today there was an operation where we arrested a smuggling group and confiscated the materials," Harry said. "These were among the things we found."

"This is very troubling," Doran said, looking at the objects with a deep frown. He walked to the door and opened it, speaking to one of the guards. The guard left and returned with a large book that Doran took and brought back into the room. He opened it, flipping through the pages swiftly and made notes on spare paper. "We will have to double check against our records, but some of these items were not part of the lists of seized assets for the detained and stripped families."

"Which means they were hidden from the records and put elsewhere," Harry said.

Doran nodded. "Our records room here suffered damage during the…occupation during the war. But we have back-ups sequestered away and as you know, we are meticulous in record keeping. We should be able to find when the items were made by the records of the crafters and then go from there for verification."

"Not to mention the unmarked items too, right?" Harry asked.

Doran nodded again. "Yes. Again, as you know, any item crafted for another by commission has the recipient's crest or mark put on it. We of course have plenty of items that are not made by order but they are not as carefully made or are made by other clans. The ones that made these," he gestured to the items on the table, "will never sell something without marking it for the recipient. They will occasionally make something that was not a direct order, but when the sale is made, will etch or inscribe the mark. Items made for general sale have a different mark upon them and these lack them."

"So they were stolen," Harry concluded.

"Yes," Doran said darkly. "Even if they were purchased legitimately through other ways, it was obtained illegitimately." He gave Harry a look. "And the Ministry is returning these to us?"

"Yes," Harry said. "We have the records of them and if we need them again for an investigation, we can come and ask you to let us examine them again. Frankly we have a lot of other things too if need be, but in the continued interests of mutual cooperation, we are happy to return these to their rightful owners."

Doran smiled toothily. "Thank you, Captain Potter, for the return of our goods. It is greatly appreciated."

"And in the interest of transparency, we found some items that belong to the relieved families and I am returning some of them to them," Harry said.

"Very well, and again, your transparency is appreciated," Doran said. "I do not suppose you can share where or how the smugglers obtained these?"

"Still working on that," Harry said. "I'll let you know what I know and what I can when I can."

"Thank you." Doran carefully put the items in special boxes that the guards brought and watched them leave with them. "I trust the operation was a success and no harm befell you and your compatriots?"

"It was, thank you, and just a few light injuries. We think we managed to catch one of the higher ups in the ring."

"Very good," Doran smiled. "It would be very difficult to work with another after you have learned how to work with us."

Harry grinned back, raising his bottle in toast.

"What was the major smuggled product, if I may ask? You made it sound that the goblin items were an undiscovered vein in the stone."

"We heard a tip that this group was responsible for a large amount of Slow-Go, the drug that's all over the place right now," Harry said.

Doran frowned. "I wish you all the best. Not even Gringotts has been immune to that."

"People in the bank have been under the influence of it?" Harry asked, surprised.

"Yes," Doran said shortly. "Human and goblin employees. A very ugly thing, that." He looked up at Harry. "I will speak with the Director about providing you with what information we have gathered about its use and prevalence here."

"I'd really appreciate that," Harry said sincerely. "Thank you."

"Of course. I will do what I can when I can," he said and smiled at Harry's chuckle. "Well, I now have a lot more to do with re-examining and cataloging these items, which I am not complaining about at all of course. Is there anything else I can do for you, Captain?"

"Not right now, thank you Doran," Harry said, rising to his feet and shaking Doran's hand.

"Would you like for me to escort you out?" Doran asked.

"Please, I know you won't lead me the long way or the wrong way because you have a lot to do," Harry said.

"It only happened twice," Doran said and he and Harry laughed together as they left the meeting room.

-0-

"Welcome home, Master Harry."

"Thanks, Kreacher." Harry vanished the soot and ash from himself, having just stepped through the Floo to return home from the Auror Corps offices. By now, the act was second nature and he could cast the spell wandlessly without effort.

Kreacher, the house elf, looked up at the clock after taking Harry's cloak. "It is late," he said, giving Harry a look.

"I had business at Gringotts and then had to go back to the office to talk to Robards about some new information," Harry said defensively. "Then I got caught up in looking at the collected evidence," he added weakly as Kreacher continued to look at him.

Kreacher grunted. "Of course Master Harry did," he said, his voice equal parts exasperated and fond. "Did Master Harry eat dinner? Of course not," he added, sighing at Harry's head shake. "Go clean up while Kreacher makes dinner."

"Thanks Kreacher," Harry said, smiling at the grumpy house elf. "Nothing too fancy please. You're the best, I appreciate you."

"Kreacher knows," Kreacher said sourly.

"I don't know what I'd do without you."

"So Master Harry has said."

"Seriously, Kreacher, I just wanted you to know that I'm glad you're here and appreciate all you do for me and the home."

"Master Harry is especially annoying tonight," Kreacher snorted as he left the sitting room, shaking his head and grumbling.

Harry did not bother stifling his smile as he went to his room. To him, Kreacher grumbling was a necessary part of the ambiance that was Grimmauld Place. After all the years living there, he and Kreacher got along surprisingly well, given how things were years ago. While the cantankerous old house elf was still verbally abusive and incredibly stubborn, he saw Harry as a genuine member of the family and served him willingly and happily.

Happily for him of course.

Harry had tried to get Kreacher to stop referring to him as master, but that was a battle that was lost no matter what. Through the years, Harry and Kreacher had reached several compromises on many things but that one was not one of them. Time had softened the rougher edges around the house elf's personality and Harry did genuinely like him.

That was not the only change. Grimmuald had changed a lot over the years as well. After one particularly gloomy stint of time early on after moving in and trying to adjust to the post-War life, Harry had done some redecorating with others and a lot of the house felt more home-like. The dodgier and darker things were removed and taken care of, the wallpaper refreshed, the rooms redone, breathing new life into the building. They even managed to move Walburga Black's magical painting and put it in a room with other paintings they found and only Kreacher regularly visited the room. Hermione had been very proud when they figured out the combination of spells and potions to weaken the painting's frame and with some help from Andromeda Tonks nee Black who provided some family knowledge to spells, they managed to move the painting and things were much quieter and more comfortable.

Much like whenever Harry visited Diagon Alley, he also had lingering emotions as he moved about the building. Every so often, he expected to see Sirius sitting at the table in the kitchen, or seeing someone that has passed on around the corner. Not to mention the time of fear they spent there during the Horcrux Hunt. At seeing those observing them silently from across the way, at the nervous energy as they prepared for their infiltration of the Ministry. There was always something: a whiff of acrid smoke, a laugh, a certain sound, a specific scent, they would always come back to him when he least expected it.

A place did not need to have ghosts to be haunted after all.

Still, time also softened the painful parts of Number 12 Grimmauld Place and it was a fine home to live in and Harry was grateful for it.

After showering and changing, Harry walked into the kitchen and sat at the long wooden table there. Most of the time, he ate there unless there were guests that needed to use the dining room. Most of those that visited and spent time with him were perfectly fine eating at the more comfortable table.

Harry raised an eyebrow as Kreacher set a plate and a bowl in front of him, laying out silverware. A large steak sat on the plate and it was accompanied by crisp golden chips and a small salad. The bowl held a French onion soup, smelling deeply savory with the bit of a baguette and gruyere cheese melted upon it floating on the surface. Half of the baguette was placed on another plate with butter. He blinked as Kreacher poured pale-gold liquid into a goblet and arranged it just within arm's length. "Uh, Kreacher?"

"Master Harry said nothing too fancy, not nothing fancy at all," Kreacher said creakily.

"True, thank you. How strong is the wine?"

"No wine, butterbeer," Kreacher said, making Harry laugh.

"Appreciate it," Harry said and dug into the food. It was as delicious as it looked and Harry ate hungrily, tucking in without reservation. Kreacher nodded with self-satisfied approval and cleaned up the rest of the kitchen, muttering to himself softly. After a few moments, a buzz filled the air and Kreacher turned his head and frowned. "Kreacher will answer."

"I'm fine," Harry said, summoning a small mirror to him. He smiled widely at Kreacher's deepening frown and continued to eat. "Hello? Oh hey Hermione."

Hermione Granger's image looked out from the mirror and she smiled up at Harry before frowning a little. "A bit late for dinner, isn't it?"

"I just got home," Harry said, taking care to swallow before answering and then going back to eating. He smiled as she frowned more. "Hey, at least I'm eating a proper dinner."

"Yes, thank you Kreacher," Hermione said, pitching her voice.

"Miss Hermione is welcome," Kreacher replied shortly, going back to his work.

"Everything okay?" Harry asked.

"Everything's fine," Hermione said. "My schedule opened up spontaneously. My last appointment for the day tomorrow cancelled. So I wanted to see if you wanted to have dinner and hang out."

"Oh definitely, I should be home on time if nothing comes up," Harry said eagerly.

Hermione's smile was broad and cheery. "Good! I already asked Ron and he said he has a date so he can't this time."

"Wow, our boy's having some fun. That's three in as many days," Harry snorted.

Hermione shook her head. "I wonder if it's with the same person."

"Couldn't tell you, I haven't asked," Harry said. "He tried to get me to come out tonight and make it a double date. Wasn't interested as you see, for many reasons," he smiled at her snort, "and just as well since I had some work to catch up on."

"When was the last time you went out on a date?" Hermione asked, looking at him.

"Not you too," Harry groaned.

"Yes me too. Well, come on then."

"Just last week, I'll have you know," Harry sniffed. "We had a lovely time and I'm seeing her again this week."

"That was me," Hermione said, amused.

"So tomorrow night isn't a date?" Harry gasped, looking wounded.

Hermione laughed. "A friend date, yes. When was your last not-friend and not family-related date?"

"Hermione, a gentleman doesn't tell!" Harry gasped, scandalized.

"Two months ago," Kreacher said as he walked up to the table and refilled Harry's butterbeer goblet and added a cup of tea to the meal. "And Master Harry returned home alone and has not gone out on any similar occasions since."

"Kreacher! That wasn't a gentlemanly thing to do!" Harry said, glaring at the house elf who glared right back.

"Thank you Kreacher!" Hermione said, smiling at him and then raising her eyebrows at Harry.

"Some people keep their private lives private, you know," Harry said, munching on some chips.

"I do," Hermione said. "We'll talk about this tomorrow night."

"Sure of that are you?" Harry sniffed.

"Yes, I am," Hermione said. "Pizza or Chinese?"

"Chinese please. Extra spring rolls and an extra-large fried rice for Kreacher," Harry said, returning the elf's scowl.

"You got it. See you tomorrow!" Hermione waved and the surface of the mirror shimmered, showing Harry once more.

"I thought you didn't like Hermione," Harry said jokingly, returning to his meal.

"Miss Hermione is tolerable now," Kreacher grunted, taking away the bare plate. "More tolerable than the Weasley."

"Which Weasley," Harry asked innocently as he sipped his soup.

"All of them," Kreacher said as he walked away. "Summon Kreacher when Master Harry is ready for pudding."

"Thank you, Kreacher. And I'll do the dishes after." Harry smiled into his cup as Kreacher growled and his muttering was louder and more venomous to the ears.

-0-

"Oh hello Captain Harry!"

"Hello Tulip," Harry smiled back.

"Come in come in!" The small house elf squeaked happily and practically pushed Harry deeper into the home. "Captain Harry came at a good time! Tulip just finished baking."

"Oh brilliant. Here is some tea for you," Harry said, handing Tulip a wrapped package.

"Captain Harry is so sweet! Come come. Sit and relax and Tulip will get Mistress and bring you some nibbles and tea." She pushed Harry into the comfortable sitting room and popped away with a pleasant sound.

Harry chuckled to himself and set the carrying case on the floor beside him. The sitting room was a comfortable room, possessing couches that faced each other over a polished low table between them. The carpet was thick and soft, the walls gleaming with usual cleaning and care. He sat there for a few minutes before the door opened and a woman his age walked in. She had long dark hair swept up in a bun and a slightly upturned nose that she looked down on him over.

"Captain Potter," she said coolly, "making yourself comfortable I see."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Madam Parkinson," Harry said, smiling back. "Tulip made me comfortable."

Pansy snorted lightly. "Of course she did," Pansy Parkinson wryly, her amusement softening her features. "Why wouldn't she?"

"Captain Harry is very nice," Tulip said, appearing in the room while holding a tray. She poured a cup of pleasantly fragrant tea for Harry and put a smile pile of scones and muffins on the plate before him and she then served Pansy who shook her head a little as she watched.

"I bribe her with tea," Harry smiled. "That's why she's nicer to me."

"That and Captain Harry is nice," Tulip tutted before leaving.

"She treats you the best out of all my acquaintances and friends," Pansy sighed. "It would be frustrating if it wasn't so amusing."

"Tulip's great," Harry said, smiling wider as another scone appeared on his plate.

"She is," Pansy said, smiling a little before she sipped her own tea and bit into a piece of scone with genteel grace. "I take it this is not a social call?"

"Sadly not, I'm afraid." Harry gave Pansy the carrying case and watched as she opened it.

Pansy looked in questioningly before her eyes opened wide. She reached in and took out the large decanter, holding the precious object with undisguised surprise and pleasure. "Oh, this was mother's favorite piece," she breathed. "I thought it would be gone forever." She looked into the case and gasped as she pulled out a few more pieces.

"I take it you didn't know about the other pieces," Harry said carefully, noticing her evident surprise.

"No, well, yes and no," Pansy said softly, eyes staring at the items before her. "I knew the decanter was being held by another. It was…'rented' to another family. The others however, well I knew they were missing obviously but did not know where they were. I always suspected they were stolen during the war."

"Rented?" Harry asked.

Pansy nodded. "Some Society families will allow another family to hold temporary ownership over certain things as a form of repayment, or to generate income, or as a favor of sorts."

"But you said it was your mother's favorite?"

Pansy looked at the decanter, eyes misting slightly. "She…she allowed it to be rented out of assurances," she said at last, voice thick. "She sacrificed much for her family."

"I'm sorry," Harry said gently.

"As am I," Pansy said. She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and put the decanter on her lap, holding it to her. She looked at him and the sorrow was gone, replaced with suspicion. "Where did you find this?"

"It was found with smuggled material," Harry said. "We raided a warehouse yesterday and found it with a lot of other things."

Pansy scowled before her expression became pensive.

"To whom did your family rent the item?" Harry asked.

"The Yaxleys," Pansy said without reservation. She flinched as Harry's expression changed. His professional kindness was replaced with something else, something harder, something hungry.

"Yaxley," Harry said slowly. "Corban Yaxley."

"Yes," Pansy nodded. "The Yaxleys are, were, a prominent family in Society and were a large part of everything that happened during the Wars."

Harry nodded, thinking hard. He also knew that Yaxley was a particularly terrible person and Dark Wizard in many ways, a proud Death Eater. He had followed Voldemort from the very beginning, claiming to be a victim of the Imperius Curse during the first War. By the time of the second, he had ingratiate himself as a prominent Ministry official and was rewarded for it by Voldemort when he returned and they claimed the Ministry of Magic. The man was instrumental in the crimes the then government did against Muggles and Muggleborns, delighting in his bigotry and cruelty. He had fought for his lord until Voldemort fell and managed to escape the country during the chaos of the aftermath, avoiding capture and punishment while his compatriots were caught.

Since becoming an Auror, Harry had made it a personal goal to bring every last Death Eater to justice and Yaxley was widely seen as the last Death Eater.

Harry looked up and noticed Pansy staring at him and he coughed awkwardly, taking a fortifying sip of tea. "So if it ended up in the smugglers' possession, they either took it or it was given to them to take and sell elsewhere. Or even take it to Yaxley since we don't know where he is right now, officially anyways."

"I cannot think he would sell it willingly," Pansy said slowly. "Possessing it would have given him considerable leverage and it would be worth a fortune if he sold it any other way. Also, I thought his family holdings were seized by the Ministry."

"They were," Harry confirmed. "And no, it wasn't a part of them."

"Then he hid them elsewhere and while it is possible for the smugglers to have somehow found it and stolen it," Pansy said, "that is less believable somehow."

"Agreed," Harry said as he ate thoughtfully, chewing slowly. "It might also mean he's back in the country," he said after he finished the scone.

"Also a possibility," Pansy said. "I have not heard of anything, but I will ask my friends to keep an open ear for any errant words."

"I'd appreciate that," Harry said. "How's Aster doing?"

Pansy smiled sincerely. "Well, thank you. She's still working hard with Healer training and schooling and is very happy with it."

"Glad to hear it," Harry said sincerely. He finished his tea. "I'm sorry to leave so abruptly, but you've given me something to think about and I want to report it. May I-thanks, Tulip." He smiled when Tulip appeared and put the rest of the pastry on his plate in a napkin, and after adding more to it, tied it up neatly and gave it to him with a big smile.

"Thank you for returning these, especially this," Pansy said, still sitting and holding the decanter.

"Of course, they belong to you," Harry said. He nodded and turned to leave.

"Harry."

He stopped and turned to look at her, hearing the serious tone in her voice.

She looked up at him and aside from the usual coolness she had in her gaze when she looked at him, there was something else. "Be careful." She colored at his clear surprise. "The Malfoy's were the face of them," she said hurriedly. "To give him legitimacy, the polite façade with influence behind it. And the Lestranges were his weapons, the ones that did not care for appearances and cared only about using power and strength, being ruthless and dangerous."

Pansy took a deep breath. "Corban Yaxley was desperate to supplant them both. He had just enough political savvy and ability but was outclassed by the Malfoys while not being as strong and ruthless as the Lestranges. But that shows how dangerous he is, being the mix of them. There is a reason he survived this long."

Harry looked at her soberly. "How do you know all of that?"

"Because I remember listening to mother and father talk when they thought I wasn't listening," she replied, looking down at the decanter. "Before they were killed."

Harry sighed softly, giving her a sympathetic look. "I appreciate you telling me," he said sincerely.

"Don't look too deeply into it," Pansy said, looking up and her eyes were cool once more. "This is purely for self-preservation. If you are killed by him, then who would be helping Aster and I as well as the other of the so-called relieved families?"

Harry snorted and smiled at that. "That's exactly how I saw it. Don't worry, though." Pansy and Tulip blinked at Harry's shifting expression, how hard his eyes turned and how sharp his features became. "The only reason Corban Yaxley is the last Death Eater is because he's the last one to be caught. His fellows didn't kill me, and he won't either. I'll be the one to put him down, not the other way around."

He paused for a moment before his expression changed, looking professional and genial once more. "Besides, who else will get Tulip her tea and I'll never not want more of her baking."

Tulip snorted and waggled a finger at him. "Captain Harry better stay safe now."

"Yes Ma'am," he replied seriously. "Madam Parkinson."

"Captain Potter," she replied, feeling oddly relieved. She watched Tulip escort Harry out and waited for the house elf to return. "Tulip, warn Millie, Daphne, Tracey, and Blaise that Yaxley is possibly back in the country," she said urgently.

"Yes Mistress," Tulip said, looking very serious.

"And I will make sure Aster knows now." Pansy hugged the decanter hard before setting it on the table carefully. Her eyes drifted to a picture on the wall, of an older man and woman lovingly hugging two younger girls. With a resolute nod, Pansy left the sitting room with purpose in her stride.

-0-

"So, Yaxley might be back?" Gawain looked positively eager at the prospect. "How interesting."

Harry had returned to the Ministry and told his superior that he had a tip. Gawain had pulled in the senior Aurors, including Ron and Susan, and they had listened to what Harry said from his meetings with Gringotts and Pansy.

"Last we heard, he was on the continent," Ron said slowly. "Maybe even as far out as the Middle East."

"And now he's come home," Simon Shroud said, a tall man with dark eyes. "Isn't that nice?"

"Why now?" Hestia Jones asked, rubbing the back of her neck thoughtfully. "And how'd his things end up with the smugglers?"

"We finished all the interrogations for them," Susan said, "including the first session with Peters. No one mentioned anything about a Yaxley but that doesn't mean anything. He could be working through a proxy or was disguised."

"I have to agree with your contact," Gawain said. "Old Society families never give up belongings if they don't have to or for incredibly large amounts of gold and power. There is a distinct chance that he hid them somewhere and they accidently found them. But they also said everything they were moving was given to them to move."

"There's a chance that his things and the drugs aren't actually related," Simon said slowly.

"It's possible," Gawain said. "Coincidences are rare but possible. Let's approach this as two distinct things right now. Let's continue with the current state of things and cases. Bones, you're still point on interrogations with the smugglers. There might be another branch of the ring out there so we're going to focus on that and try to get more evidence. Jones, continue hitting the drug trail. Shroud, keep up with the day-to-day and watch the incoming trainees. Weasley, you said you got a break on the cursed coins? Follow up on that. Potter, keep looking into the possibility that Yaxley's back."

Gawain finished the meaning, returning salutes but gestured for Harry to stay. "Good job on the meetings," he said when the others left.

"Thank you, Sir," Harry said.

"Guess returning those things got us the goodwill we needed," Gawain continued.

"Sure looks it," Harry nodded. He stiffened slightly when Gawain looked at him sternly.

"Harry, I want you to show good judgement out there," Gawain warned.

"Don't I usually?" Harry replied, feeling slightly nettled.

Gawain smiled a little at the tone and expression. "Yes, you do, but I know you. You tend to go a bit hard when it comes to the Death Eaters and I'm not saying you don't have a reason to, but I am saying I know you and don't want you doing anything stupid."

Harry relaxed slightly. "I'll do my best," he said, smiling slightly at Gawain's snort.

"You going to follow up with your other contact?" Gawain asked.

"Yes Sir, see what I hear," Harry replied.

"Keep me in the loop."

"Yes Sir." Harry saluted crisply and left the office.

Gawain watched him leave and then shook his head slowly. "Things are getting really complicated," he said softly with the smallest sense of unease building deep within him.

-0-0-0-

Hufflepuffzd96 - Thank you for the kind words. Hope you enjoy this one too.

AshokaTheGreat - Thank you. I'm trying some slightly different things here with some elements that I personally like to keep when I can. But still different where it doesn't feel the same to my other stories.

geetac - Thank you

TheSphynx - Thank you, hope you like the new one.

Arnie1701 - Yup, something different this time.

TonyGabagool - Thank you very much.

odonnellzoo99 - I also liked the Kreacher line about Ron. I want to let Ron shine more a bit in this story so hopefully people like it too and it carries through well. I also prefer a kinder Percy that still feels like him.

ChunkyLover584 - Thank you. Hoping this feels like a good pulpy mystery story and is enjoyed that way.

iamchaos98 - Always good to see you.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - A different take on their relationships but hopefully still feels like proper ones. Thanks for reading.

tumshie - Thank you.

poka - Hope you enjoy this one too.

DOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - If you want me to, I will try to remember. Yes. This will be my attempt at having Harry be an Auror and to do a mystery/crime story that is hopefully entertaining.