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

Hello everyone. I was going to post Side Dishes today, but given the response to yesterday's update, I thought it would be kinder to do a back to back post of Stone, and I will post Side tomorrow as an extra treat. Been a while since I updated so much. Reminder, no posts next week, but I will be doing 25 straight posts starting December 1st as my personal advent calendar to you all. See you tomorrow, enjoy.

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Harry Potter and the Stone's Heart

Chapter 5 – Twisting

The next few days were a blur to Harry.

He threw himself into his work as well as ensuring all of McGonagall's last wishes were taken care of. Luckily, her solicitor was very good at his job and while he was also very upset at her passing, he did his job to the letter and was uncompromising in doing it.

Much like she did in many things.

Also luckily, he was not entirely alone in doing everything. Hermione, while also deeply affected by it, helped him in organizing her things and helping with the other affairs that the solicitor was not dealing with. The other professors helped him with putting her possessions in storage to be held at Hogwarts when he had the time and heart to go through them. His fellow year mates: Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan, and Dean Thomas along with Hermione and Ron helped set up the funeral with him and other Gryffindors from years above and below came to help however they could.

As per her last wishes, she wanted to be buried in a cemetery that was significant to her immediate family, who had passed long before she did. Also, as part of a family tradition, there was either a close family member or someone who was assigned the role of Watcher, to watch over the deceased as they lay in state before being buried. She had asked Harry to fulfill that role and he did not hesitate.

Hogwarts was where her last visitation would take place. She had been a professor there for many years and a headmistress that helped provide some form of security and stability in the chaos following the end of the Second War and the reopening of the school. It was only right that she would be honored where she loved and was loved by many.

People came throughout the day, saying their final farewells to her. Harry stood beside the casket, holding an ancient family claymore in his hands as he stood in his vigil. It was a ginormous sword, the blade was 42 inches in length with the whole sword being 55 inches from tip to pommel. It was a family weapon, having been in the clan for many many years. When Harry first saw it, he remarked that she did not use it during the battle and had not been shocked when she said the only reason she did not was that it was in storage for safe-keeping. Since then, however, she had it cleaned and restored and had it hung in her office 'should the need for it arose and she needed it at hand'.

He really was going to miss her.

The day was one of the longest in his life. Not because he stood there from the early morning to the evening, not because he held the very heavy weapon all day, but from seeing everyone come in with differing levels of grief and how they mourned. He absorbed it all, watching them, joining them, as well as trying to come to terms with his own.

Everyone was different. He and Seamus and Dean talked about one of the detentions she had given Seamus for trying to transform water into alcohol in their dorm and was caught, the three of them unable to keep from grinning at how angry she was at him. Not just because of the attempt, but at the poor quality of the results. He and Neville talked about how kind she was and helped Neville grow into the professor he was now. He shared tears with Lavender and Parvati as they spoke of how she had protected them during their first seventh year, when the castle was a perilous place for everyone. He and his former Quidditch teammates: Oliver Wood, Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Weasley when she was Johnson, and George talked about their incredible game and winning the championship his third year, reminiscing fondly and warmly.

Which made Fred Weasley's absence all the harder for them all, especially George.

Then at one point, when there were no others, Dennis Creevy walked into the room. He looked at Harry for a very long moment before he approached the casket. "Hello, Harry," he said softly.

Harry nodded back. "Hello Dennis." For a moment, Harry thought of another person that he had not for a while and felt guilty about. Someone that looked very much like Dennis. Roughly the same height and build, the same hair, save Dennis had dark circles around his eyes. Other than that and some small minor differences, he looked just like the other person.

Another person that had passed far too soon and was another name on the List of the Lost, of those that stood up for what they believed in.

"I can't believe it," Dennis said, breaking through Harry's thoughts. He looked down at McGonagall, his eyes heavy and shocked. "I didn't want to believe it."

"Me neither," Harry said softly.

"I saw her only a few days before…we were talking about a new project and I was taking some pictures for her. She looked and sounded fine, better than," Dennis continued, still staring at her body.

"It comes suddenly, sometimes," Harry said sadly.

"Was it natural?" Dennis asked, looking at Harry.

"As far as the healers can tell, yes," Harry said. He desperately wished it was not, because it meant it was something he could do about it. However, with copious testing and examination of the spells, it really did look like a natural death. Her heart had slowed and then stopped. For her age, it was not an uncommon thing.

Dennis looked back down at McGonagall and he suddenly looked much older than his years. He shook his head and sighed. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Without another word, he turned and left, his footsteps heavy.

Harry sighed softly after the other man had left. Another apology. Another expression of grief.

Another who had lost someone dear to them.

-0-

They buried her at sundown.

The mourners gathered at the cemetery, after Harry had brought her there from the castle. There was a priest that watched over the small church and graveyard and he solemnly did his duty, intoning a prayer and speaking briefly over her. He was familiar with her family and with her and was also visibly distraught.

Finally, Harry stood beside her closed casket. He had dreaded this moment, but was determined to see it through the best way he could. He turned to the assembled guests and smiled as best he could. "Minerva McGonagall was an amazing woman, and an incredible witch. We all know that. She's given so much of herself to all of us and we're the better for it. I could stand here and talk about all of her achievements, all of her accomplishments, about all the ways she touched our lives but we'd be here for a long time and more importantly, she wouldn't want it."

He took out a piece of parchment from his robes as the others chuckled at that, a whisper of levity in the solemnity. "She actually had prepared for this, much like she did for literally everything. Much like when she assigned us homework." Another field of smiles and small laughter greeted his words. He opened it and coughed, clearing his throat.

"'Do not weep for me overmuch,'" he read and the others leaned in to listen. "'Time stops for no one, and death comes for us all. Much like my mentor and friend who passed before me said, it is better to greet Death as a friend instead of fearing it. I always thought he was a bit odd for saying that, but the older I get, the more I understand it.'"

He coughed again. "'I do not want my last moments on Earth to be one of misery. I want to leave you all how I saw you best, with smiles. Smiling because of the times we shared, smiling for the bright future to come, and I can go to my rest with a heart at ease knowing that my job was done and I leave behind a legacy of pride and happiness.'

"'Unless those bastards are in attendance,'" he read and there were bouts of startled laughter. "'You know who you are! I didn't give you the satisfaction in life and over my dead body will you have any now! Potter! There better not be any here now and I will haunt you if there is!'" Now everyone laughed through the tears, especially as they heard the emotion in the reading.

Harry wiped tears of mourning and merriment away. "'Goodbye for now, my loves, until we meet again in the after.'"

They watched silently as her casket was lowered into the earth, when the soil and dirt was put over her slowly and carefully. As music played, and people drifted away, Harry stayed there until the sun had fully set and everything was still.

Only then did he leave with his heart that was heavier than the sword he still carried for her.

-0-

"Hey, how're you feeling?"

Harry looked up, smiling wanly at Ron standing in the doorway to his office. "I'm alright," Harry said and mostly meant it. "You?"

"More or less the same," Ron said somberly. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I have something that might cheer us up a bit though."

"Please," Harry said.

"So I followed up on that tip about a second site and it was a temporary drop site, where they kept things in reserve or in between locations. When I poked around some though it looked like it was still in use. So I left a few charmed objects and this morning I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the boxes I put the charmed things in have been moved."

"Oh?" Harry looked interested. "Taken by the second smuggler team?"

"Think so. Sent Shaw out to trace them and it led him to a warehouse in London. He's there now observing them and says he's seen people go in but not out."

"If we hurry, we can catch them," Harry said, rising to his feet.

"That's what I'm hoping for. Come on, let's go grab some more illicitly obtained materials and smugglers and hope they fight back and we can smack them around a little to feel better." Ron grinned at Harry's snort and look of amusement.

"Your operation, you take point," Harry said with a smile, his first in days.

"Thanks! I need an intrusion team and a perimeter team!" Ron shouted as they entered the open part of the office. "And get the Hit Team that's on stand-by for some extra muscle. Let's go people! There're things to take back and bad guys to catch and we're the people to do it!"

He pointed to the rush of activity around them. "I can't help but notice that they listen to me faster than you. I mean look at how they jumped into action. With you, they're more lethargic about it. Probably because they like me more."

"I'm sure," Harry grinned.

-0-

In a short time, the teams arrived where Shaw was waiting. He gave them his position based on the charm in the communication mirrors they used, and they congregated there. It was far away from where they found the other smugglers, another part of the very large city that housed goods and material for shipping.

"No one's gone out yet," Shaw reported. "At least from these exits. I also did a bit of spellcasting and there's more magic stuff in there, I'm sure of it."

"Good work," Ron said. "Perimeter team, do your thing. Hit team, one half on over-watch position. Rest of you, set up at the major exits. Half there, half there." He waved his wand and aimed it at the mirror on his left wrist and frowned at it slightly.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked as he checked Ron's gear.

"The tracking charms are still there."

"Why are you mad about it?"

"Not mad, confused. One of them was super obvious," Ron said. "As in even a firstie at school should be able to feel it. Well, maybe a third year."

"A diversion? Letting them catch it so they don't think to check for others that are harder?"

Ron nodded.

"That is strange," Harry mused. He stood still as Ron tugged on his battle gear. "We're also deep in Muggle London. Any magical neighborhoods or businesses near?"

"None I can think of," Ron said.

"Not a bad idea to hide out here, but still, kinda fishy." Harry and Ron joined the officers and Hit magicals waiting at the main door. "Sound off," Harry said and waited for the teams to report ready. "You want to count down?"

"No, let's hit it hard and give them the option to surrender," Ron said, aiming with his wand. At Harry's nod and when the others showed ready, he hit the doors with a Ram Hex and the doors flew inwards. "Aurors! Hands up or be put down!"

Shouts of surprise were heard as individuals within the warehouse looked at the doors with alarmed expressions. More than a few stopped and stared at them, shock and surprise turning into abject confusion which gave the Aurors and Hit magicals pause too. Others went for things around their waists or behind their backs and the magicals did not hesitate. A flurry of stunning spells and impediment spells hit the people inside the warehouse and they all fell one after the other.

"That was weirdly easy," Shaw said, looking at the fallen smugglers with confusion. "Not that I'm complaining," he added hurriedly.

"No, I agree," Ron said. His frown was back and deeper. "Good work everyone. Perimeter team?"

"No breaks out here, no one even made it out of the building," the Perimeter Team Leader reported.

"Come in and start processing. Intrusion, start gathering the smugglers. Hit Squad, check the rest of the warehouse." He walked towards a line of open crates with Harry following as the others left on their duties. Stopping at an open crate, he reached into it and pulled out a slim coin. "Here's the decoy tracker. Not even touched and I made sure it was kinda obvious and sloppy."

Harry took a look at the crates and boxes. "More money. Mostly gold. A lot of it actually. Some more silver items." He pushed one lid off and looked at the contents. "Potions. Lots of vials in here."

"Slow-Go?" Ron asked.

"No." Harry took one out and shook it, examining the thick contents and casting a spell. "Pepper Up."

"That stuff isn't illegal," Ron said, confused.

"And some headache potions, sobriety potions, it's…these are mostly normal potions," Harry said, sharing Ron's confusion.

"Captain! Lieutenant! You better come over here!" an officer called urgently.

Hearing the officer's concern, the pair walked over promptly. "What is it, Knight?" Harry asked.

"Wait, is that a gun?" Ron gasped, seeing the object Knight was holding.

"Yes Sir," Knight said, clearly bothered. "They all have a gun of some kind. And no wands."

"Say that again?" Ron asked, staring at Knight.

"None of them have a wand," Knight repeated, his own eyes wide. "So I cast a diagnostic spell on them and they don't have any magic!"

Harry stared at Knight for a moment before down at the man they were standing over. He was still stunned and deeply so, his body limp and just barely breathing. Harry cast a spell, and cast it again. "You're right," Harry said, taking a deep breath. "I'm not getting any responses."

"Even Squibs give off a specific response, right?" Ron asked, looking deeply disturbed.

"Usually. We're going to have to test their blood to be sure," Harry said.

"And if that's negative, then what the hell are Muggles doing with our money and potions?" Ron gasped.

"We need to find out and fast," Harry said, brain racing. "Ron, take them to the cells, in a separate wing. Post a couple guards and then call St. Mungo's. Ask for Pads, Padma. Tell her to come over with all the blood testing stuff. We need to keep this under wraps." He turned to look at the other officers and magicals. "Don't talk about this to anyone, do you hear me? We're in danger territory now and if this gets out, it's going to be chaos."

"Yes Sir," the Aurors and Hit Magicals said crisply, saluting him.

"Right, I'll get on it," Ron said. "What about you?"

"I'm going to help get everything here packed and our presence erased as cleanly as possible, then I'll meet you at the department. Let's go everyone!"

-0-

"Please tell me you're joking," Kingsley said, staring at Harry.

"Wish I could," Harry said and he did look and sound like he wished that.

After getting all the evidence away and cleaning the crime scene, Harry had returned to the Auror Offices. By then, Ron had the Muggle prisoners put in cells and Knight and Shaw were standing guard. Padma had finished her first round of testing and she confirmed their fears. None of the criminals had any magical ability or magical blood and they were not squibs either. She started a second test as Harry compiled what they knew and had called for an emergency meeting with his Director and the Minister. Now he stood in Kingsley's office and had just finished his report.

"Muggles, with our things," Gawain said slowly. "Galleons and magical gold, goblin forged silver, potion ingredients and potions. Run of the mill normal day to day potions, but potions nonetheless. Any Slow-Go?"

"Yes Sir, but incredibly diluted," Harry said. "Much weaker than what we found before."

"So they were even designed for Muggle use?" Percy gasped.

"It looks that way," Harry said, wincing a little at the thought.

"Then it's unlikely they just found all of this and are just smuggling it or selling it for the hell of it," Kingsley said, staring out of the windows of his office, looking out over the rest of the Ministry. "Or they could have been hired to move the materials, hired by a magical."

"I can't think of any magical that would hire Muggles to move magical things," Gawain protested. "Not to mention that would be very illegal and breaking the fundamental laws of the Statute of Secrecy."

"That's what's bothering me and I bet that was your first thought too," Kingsley said, looking at Harry.

"Yes Sir. It's highly unlikely they are moving these things without any knowledge that they're magical in nature," Harry said. "Even if they were told that the potions were some kind of chemical. They could be operating under the idea that the potions are drugs, which some are actually, but still. Smugglers I've come to contact with typically have an idea of what they're smuggling. Not to mention the potion ingredients. There were sopophorous beans which have no Muggle analogues. I've heard of wormwood tea, but there was that among other questionable ingredients."

He took another breath. "And they all had Galleons in their pockets too. Now is it because they're skimming off the top or if they were paid with them, I don't know yet."

"Galleons are still gold. While they cannot just spend them like we do, I am sure there would be Muggle places that would accept them and buy them as gold," Percy said uneasily.

"We need to know how far this has gotten and how deep it has," Kingsley said. "You haven't questioned them yet, right?"

"No Sir," Harry said. "I wanted to brief you on this first before we started."

"Thank you," Kingsley said with Gawain nodding. "You're probably one of the best we have right now with interrogating and questioning Muggles right now, given your status as our inter-Departmental liaison."

"Probably," Harry said. "Question though, what is our policy regarding questioning them like this?"

"I can't remember the last time we had to," Gawain said, thinking hard. "Before, and I do mean before, the usual procedure was to question them, then obliviate them, and then return them to where we found them or if need be, to the Muggle law enforcement. But things have changed the last few years."

"Can you even use things like Legilimency or veritaserum?" Percy asked. "Are they legal to use with Muggles? How do they even work on them?"

"Quite well, actually. More efficacious than against Magicals oddly enough."

Everyone turned to stare at the person who had let themselves into the office without being asked. They were dressed in long grey robes that completely covered them from head to foot. The person pulled back their cowl, revealing an older woman with braided blonde hair and light blue eyes. She turned to them and smiled slightly.

"Veritaserum and Legilimency typically uses the magic within an individual to provide their desired effects. That's why some are very resilient to Legilimency, or can become so with training through Occlumency, because they combat it with their magic. A strong occlumencer uses their magic to defend their mind. While veritaserum is a potion, it still uses the ingestee's magic to make them more amenable to the questioner and thus, more open to sharing their secrets. Which is also why it is not completely perfect because a person who truly believes in a truth will report it as the truth."

"As edifying as that was, this is a private meeting," Percy said, standing tall and confronting the witch directly. "Was," he amended with reddening ears as the woman smiled pleasantly back.

"Oh, I am terribly sorry," the woman said and oddly enough, looked and sounded like it. "But I heard the question as I was walking in and I could not help myself to answer."

"I beg your pardon, but you should not have walked in like that," Percy said, smiling professionally.

"Oh, forgive me. This was my scheduled time to meet with the Minister so I let myself in, unaware of the privacy of the meeting before it," she said, still quite pleasant.

"Sorry," Kingsley said. "Everyone, this is Saltina Croatia, Senior Unspeakable from the Department of Mysteries."

"A pleasure to meet all of you," she said cheerily, not at all discouraged by Percy's very polite look of indignation, Kingsley's weariness, Gawain's glare of disapproval, and Harry's slight confusion. His confusion became trepidation when she turned to him and her smile widened. "Oh and I have been meaning to meet you properly as well, Captain Potter! Your work in the Department is legendary and I have also been dissecting the Slow-Go potion lately, as well as divining the metal weakening coin curse. You have provided me so much new things to ponder and explore as of late and it is so very wonderful!"

Harry hid a wince and smiled weakly. His work in the Department of Mysteries could only refer to when he came in his fifth year in a disastrous attempt to save his godfather's life which resulted in the opposite, something he still deeply regretted to this day. "You're welcome, and it's a pleasure to meet you." He offered his hand and was surprised by her very firm and unhesitatingly strong handshake.

"So we have Muggles in the building then?" she asked, looking like a researcher with a new topic and subject at hand.

"Apparently," Kingsley said.

"I would very much like to sit in on the questioning," Saltina said. "In fact, I would be happy to assist. I am an accomplished Legilimens and am fairly certain I can perform the spells with little to no side-effects or negative consequences."

"Don't we need a majority of approval?" Harry asked.

"As a Senior Unspeakable, I possess the ability to vote," Saltina said with utter confidence. "And if I need to converse with the Director, then I will. Which is to say I am for it. I am so curious to see if it can be done actually."

Gawain looked at Kingsley who palmed his eyes. "As much as I don't love those spells and the ethical quandaries about using them on Muggles, we can't risk the Statute," Kingsley said heavily. "I vote yes."

"You have my authority on this," Gawain said to Harry. "Do what you need to."

"Yes Sir," Harry said, recognizing the implicit trust in Gawain's words and gesture. "Do you need me to wait for you to finish your meeting with the Minister?"

"Oh we were just going over some findings that I already have written out." Saltina gave Kingsley a roll of parchment. "This will be much more fascinating and it seems time is an issue? Then lead on Captain Potter and if the Minister does not understand what is written, we can send another Unspeakable to explain it or I can come by later."

Harry looked at the Minister who waved his hand and with bemusement, left the office with Saltina right behind him.

-0-

"Oh what is this?" Saltina asked when Harry gave her a wristband.

"It's an identification strap showing that you're allowed to be in the Auror offices and that you're doing work with us," Harry said. He and the Senior Unspeakable had returned to the Auror area and he walked towards the sequestered cells where the Muggles were. "Please don't take it off when you're here."

"I see, how fun." She strapped it around her left wrist securely and she watched with interest as Harry waved his wand and transfigured his Auror uniform into a Muggle style long sleeved button shirt and slacks.

"I've learned sometimes it's better to look like Muggle law enforcement when questioning and interrogating Muggle criminals," Harry explained. "Sometimes magic unnerves them to the degree of uselessness or they take it less seriously and it's a lot harder than it has to be." He watched with surprise and appreciation as she transformed her robes into the same style, complete with suit jacket.

"Makes sense," she said brightly, tugging on her jacket to straighten it.

Harry nodded and he looked at the still stunned Muggle criminals, all resting on beds in cells. He pointed at one of them. "We'll start with him." He flicked his wand and the unconscious man floated out of the cell and into a room with a desk and two chairs opposite each other. More flicks of the wand settled the man in one chair and conjured handcuffs appeared and secured his hands to the table.

"Why him?" she asked.

"Everyone else has tattoos of some kind, and look rougher around the edges. He's dressed better and has no obvious tattoos. Also when we caught them, he had the least obvious gun," Harry said. "So he's probably the one in charge and I don't think we have the time to work bottom up."

"Well reasoned," Saltina said admiringly. "Were you a Ravenclaw?"

"No, but one of my best friends is and one of my other ones is incredibly smart and she's rubbed off on me," Harry said. He conjured another chair and Saltina sat in it primly. He incanted and gently tapped the other man with his wand before tucking it away in a hidden holster. After a few moments, the other man woke, groaning softly and shaking his head, obviously disoriented.

He looked around, eyes widening as he realized that he was handcuffed to the table. His eyes then narrowed when he saw Harry sitting opposite of him before he looked suspiciously at Saltina. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice low and tone belligerent.

"You're being detained for smuggling illicit substances, stolen valuable objects, and large amounts of unmarked gold," Harry said pleasantly. "As you know, you have the right to remain silent, but with all that we found and where we found you in relation to it, I wouldn't recommend it."

"Who are you?" the man asked, looking remarkably calm.

"Chief Inspector Potter, of a special branch of the NCA," Harry said and he watched as the man paled slightly. "That is my partner, Inspector Croatia."

"Charmed," Croatia said, smiling as per usual but her smile had a hungrier note to it than before.

"I want my solicitor," the man said, pressing his lips together tightly.

"Of course you may speak to them," Harry said. "But allow me a moment to go over your options." He opened a file he brought in and laid out a series of pictures. "These were the gentlemen you were arrested with and their guns that they had which are also very illegal to have, not to mention yours. We're checking with the local police forces for applications, but it's not looking too good.

"Now these are the objects that you and your fellows were found to be moving and well, again, not looking good for you. A lot of this gold has been marked as foreign assets and you really need to have a good reason to have it in your possession. And don't get me even started on these." Harry shook his head with mock wariness as he tapped the pictures of the potion vials. "These are all filled with illegal substances including a very new drug that has been on the rise."

Harry sat back. "Cooperation means very different consequences for you…Mister Leonard." Harry held up the man's identification card.

"What did you even do to me?" Leonard asked, looking at Harry balefully. "One second I was awake, next second I'm here with a headache."

"Stunning projectiles, courtesy of Special Branch," Harry said mildly. "For swift de-escalation."

"I remember something else," Leonard said, "funny clothing and things." He shook his head, his movements slowing.

Harry frowned and looked to the side. Saltina was staring directly at Leonard, her eyes glowing ever so slightly. Leonard was looking slightly at her but not with direct eye contact and he continued to sway slightly. "Head feels funny," he mumbled.

"After-effects of the stunning projectiles," Harry said smoothly. "Better than being hit with lethal ones though, I'm sure." He noticed Saltina blink a few times, her eyes no longer glowing. "But if you rather just talk to your solicitor, I understand. Would you like a cup of water-" Leonard's head fell back and he started to snore. "Well that's just rude," Harry sighed, half-joking.

"Don't take it personally," Saltina said brightly. "He did go through a somewhat rigorous and mostly thorough brain inspection."

Harry walked out of the interrogation room with Saltina. "Well? Did it work?"

"Yes and no," Saltina said. "Entering his mind was rather easy, no opposition. That said, it seems that a Legilimency uses the magic of the recipient to help go through their thoughts and emotions. The user's magic essentially uses the other person's magic to aid in the search. Which makes sense if they use their magic to oppose you. So while going in was simple, trying to parse through his memories was not."

"Huh, that is interesting," Harry said thoughtfully. "Were you able to find anything?"

"He's not a magical, absolutely no memories of any exposure to magic except for the smuggled items. Another discovery. It seems magical exposure is a type of…bookmark as it were. I could find those moments very easily and in much greater detail and focus." She smiled widely at him. "Thank you so much Captain Potter for this opportunity! It's really going to further our understanding of the mental magics!"

"You're welcome," Harry said, bemused once more. "Any hope that he met the one who hired them?"

"His boss who has had contact with magic if I am right about the bookmark theory," she said. "But I don't believe he's a magical either. Also there was a strong moment where the boss showed off Galleons and that was readily evident."

"Of course there's another," Harry sighed. "Legilimency isn't going to have any permanent effects on him, will it?"

"I don't think so, but it's hard to say. I'll have to do some research later to see if there have been any recorded instances of it being used on Muggles." She looked around the cells. "Of course, we are lucky to have a big enough group here to conduct personal tests right now."

"Right, lucky," Harry said.

"Don't worry, Captain Potter," she said, noticing his tone and look. "I will take the utmost care to preserve their health and sanity. I always do with all my experimental subjects!"

"Thank you," Harry said, sighing even more deeply.

-0-

It was late into the night after all the initial questioning and interrogations were finished. Harry complied all they discovered with a very jubilant Saltina and had gone back to meet with Kingsley. "So in conclusion," Harry said wearily, drinking his cup of tea, "Legilimency can be used on Muggles with differing levels of success and they don't seem to have any lasting complications from it save for a headache. As long as the caster is being kind about it and is good at it and it was really something to see her refine her approach in real time."

"Unspeakables are masters at magic," Gawain said. "And you need to do a lot to be considered a senior."

"But yes, all of these smugglers are Muggles and they aren't squibs and they aren't related, even distantly, to any known families," Harry said. "As far as the blood tests can discover. None of them knew anything about who employed them save for their boss, who in turn answers to his own boss who Saltina believes is not a magical but is somewhat aware of magic seeing how he handled the Galleons and other inferences she had from the spell."

"That's good and bad. Good that at least none of these seem to be aware of magic," Kingsley said tiredly. "Bad because there's someone else even higher and they might know things."

"We made copies of their memories, which is another thing we discovered that works much to Saltina's delight," Harry said and Gawain and Kingsley snorted, "and saved them. I know standard procedure is to obliviate them and put them back at the initial site, but I have an alternative solution if I may."

"Go ahead," Gawain said.

"I suggest we obliviate their memories of being here, erase any overt signs of magic in them, and then I return them to my counterpart on the Muggle side. The majority of them have matching tattoos that look like gang symbols. I'm sure they will want them for many reasons. I'll also tell them what we know, to an extent, and maybe they can help us find the upper boss," Harry said. "As well as be aware if there's any of our stuff showing up on their side too."

"Do it," Kingsley said after a moment's thought. "It's part of the new agreement with the Muggle Government and Authorities anyways, the more communication between us. Things have been better between us anyways since we started doing that."

He shook his head. "We need to be as proactive as we can to make sure our society isn't exposed and that we can keep the Statute up."

"I'll call her tomorrow and arrange the transfer," Harry said. "Question, uh, Saltina requested I keep her up to date on what's going on and our investigations. Can she do that?"

"Yes," Gawain said sourly. "Ever since the War, and slightly before it, the Department of Mysteries have taken a greater role in the general affairs of the Ministry. They used to be more sequestered but during the reign of the Puppet Minister, they were broken into and used for all sorts of things and they were not happy about it, understandably so."

"Part of the restructuring of the government meant they had a bigger presence in everything but are also at our disposal for things," Kingsley said. "While she can't demand you or force you to do anything, it's in everyone's best interests to listen to them within reason."

"Yes Sir," Harry nodded. "I don't have a problem, I don't think. She's a bit odd."

"They all are," Gawain said wryly.

"Nice though, anyways." Harry stifled a yawn.

"Go home, Harry," Kingsley said kindly. "Good work. I'd like to offer you some time off, if you need it."

"No thank you," Harry said, shaking his head. "It's better I have this to focus on right now."

"Okay, just let me know." Kingsley watched as Harry left his office and sat back in his chair. "Are you as worried as I am?"

"Think so," Gawain said, blowing his breath out with enough force to puff his cheeks. "Things are coming back-to-back. And nothing good. But nothing to do about it but hit it head on."

Kingsley nodded. "And hope for the best," he added softly.

"While preparing for the worst," Gawain snorted and Kingsley could not disagree.

-0-0-0-

Arnie1701 - Do not want Vader style. Look it up on youtube. It's funny.

alix33 - Some people really feel like they will go on forever, and will at least in heart and memory.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - A lot of mystery and things are going to get a little more mysterious. Thanks for reading.

odonnellzoo99 - And the list will only continue to grow.

TheSphynx - Yup, someone will be paying, but what and how much? Find out next time, on Harry Potter and the Stone's Heart.

61394 - At least one particular lion. Thank you.

poka - I hope by the end, people will want to look back and see how things tied in and hopefully people enjoy the journey. I always like stories with McGonagall being like that and not fitting in with misconceptions and doing her thing. Makes sense with Harry that way too.

TonyGabagool - You'll find out more about all your points in good time, hopefully.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - There might be more connections. As in there should be. You know I like to tie up loose ends when possible.