Harry Potter and the Thief of Magic

Hello everyone,
I previously shared this story some time ago but had to stop due to an overwhelming workload at university. Now that summer has arrived, I hope to resume and complete it. I've reworked the first chapter, and my plan is to publish one chapter per week, likely on Sundays. Please feel free to provide feedback, whether positive or negative, as long as it's constructive. Happy reading,
Arthur

Sometimes, life has surprises in store that no one could anticipate. And Harry Potter, even after the war and Voldemort, despite being special in the eyes of much of the magical world, wasn't so different from any other mortal.

As he sat at a corner table sipping a glass of Firewhisky, he found himself reflecting on the events of his life over the past seven years.

After the war, while Hermione returned to Hogwarts to finish her N.E.W.T.s, Ron and Harry immediately joined the Ministry of Magic's Auror Department. Though they occasionally worked with other Aurors, they mostly operated as a duo. Together with a few trusted colleagues, they became renowned as some of the most effective Aurors in the Ministry's history. They were so successful that the sheer number of arrests they made after the war might have made Alastor Moody jealous.

Moreover, following a long and arduous visit to Gringotts, Harry gained full knowledge—and control—of his lordship, which included overseeing the Potter and Black family estates and assets, as well as reclaiming a seat on the Wizengamot. Thanks to his post-war reputation, this was easily accomplished.

Ron and Hermione wasted no time in getting engaged. While Harry occasionally doubted their compatibility, he could never deny the deep love they shared or the lengths they would go for one another. Harry, however, wasn't as fortunate.

With Ginny, he soon realized that life after Hogwarts would never be the same. They tried to make their relationship work, but something between them had fundamentally changed. It was no surprise, then, when they broke up a few months after the Victory. At first, seeing each other again was so awkward that they could barely make eye contact, let alone speak. But over time, they managed to build a genuinely platonic and unambiguous friendship.

As the years went by, more things in Harry's life shifted. Ron and Hermione married, and Ron left the Auror Department to work alongside his brother at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Despite a few attempts to maintain their close friendship, the demands of their respective lives pulled them apart. Ironically, Harry grew closer to Ginny than to his former best friends.

Four years later, after a particularly harrowing case, Harry resigned from the Auror Department for good to dedicate himself fully to managing the Potter and Black estates.

The last time Harry saw Ron and Hermione was six months ago, when they surprised him during a meal with Ginny. They were oblivious to the tension of the situation. It was then Harry realized how fractured his life had become—that the people he valued most had gradually drifted away. In that moment, he resolved to mend things between them. After all, he had time now.

Harry took another sip of Firewhisky, prepared to let his thoughts wander further, when his attention snapped to a familiar face he hadn't seen in months—not since he'd left the Auror Department. The last person he expected to encounter at a bar at two in the morning was the newly appointed and youngest-ever head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement (DMLE): Susan Bones.

She had been appointed recently by the Minister of Magic himself, following the death of her predecessor. Despite a slew of senior Aurors vying for the position, Kingsley Shacklebolt had placed his full confidence in her. Like Harry, Susan was one of the few students from the Battle of Hogwarts to join the Auror Department afterward. She had even been his partner after Ron's departure until Harry's resignation.

Susan was an exceptionally skilled Auror, often seen as a reflection of her late aunt Amelia Bones, who had also led the DMLE before her untimely death. While some Aurors were suspected of corruption, Susan was renowned for her unwavering loyalty and integrity—qualities that had earned her this promotion. But she was a Hufflepuff, wasn't she?

Harry's surprise deepened as she made her way toward him, smiling. All he could do was furrow his brow, a habit he had mastered in recent years. When she sat across from him, Harry finally broke his silence for the evening.

"Susan?" he exclaimed, his tone full of surprise. "How did you find me?"

In recent weeks, Harry had done everything in his power to limit his encounters to only those people he wanted to see. That was one reason he frequented this particular bar. Besides being three-quarters empty most of the time, its patrons couldn't care less about The Boy Who Lived, which was precisely the anonymity he'd craved for years.

"Hello to you too, Harry," Susan replied cheerfully. "You know, you're not the easiest man to track down. It's taken me a week just to—"

"Maybe that's why I prefer to be alone," Harry interrupted with a condescending tone, his furrowed brow giving way to a scowl. Lowering his voice, he added, "So please, it would be very kind of you to explain why you're here when you know I don't want to be disturbed."

Susan looked down, momentarily flustered, before regaining her composure. She was, after all, the new head of the DMLE. She couldn't afford to lose her nerve, even in front of a friend.

"I came to talk about a case—"

"I'm not interested," Harry cut in, his tone neutral. "I'm not an Auror anymore. You should know that."

He gestured to the bartender for another drink before draining his current glass of Firewhisky. When the bartender returned with his order, Susan persisted.

"Please, Harry, this is important," she said, her voice firm. Harry sighed and motioned for her to continue.

"There's been a robbery at the Parkinson estate. And before you interrupt—this isn't just any burglary. Lord Parkinson was attacked. I thought it might interest you."

"And why would I care?" Harry asked flatly. "I know he's a Lord, but isn't he supposed to be rotting in Azkaban like the others? So no, I couldn't care less that he was attacked. Good night, Susan."

He downed the rest of his drink in one gulp and grabbed his coat. Indeed, Lord Parkinson had been a Death Eater during the war. However, after the war, he continued to carry out attacks on Muggle-borns, perpetuating the terror created by Lord Voldemort. One day, as they were about to lock him up for good, they discovered that all the evidence had been destroyed by someone on the inside, and they had to release him. This fueled Harry's extreme aversion to the man.

"What happened to you?" the young woman exclaimed. "Harry, I know that..."

"You know what happened that night! So don't pretend you don't understand. How would you have reacted if, because of you, your entire squad lost their lives? You have no idea."

"You're right," she replied softly, her voice barely audible to her friend. "But you can't stay alone. There are people in this world who love you, and you know it. Don't forget that there are still people who need you—not just the Boy Who Lived, but Harry. Let me help you."

He looked at her for a few seconds, those brief moments feeling endless. "Good evening, Susan. It was a pleasure seeing you again," he finished sarcastically.

He left a few Galleons on the table and stood up to head for the door, almost stumbling after a few steps as the effects of the alcohol began to take hold. Once he stepped out of the bar, he heard the same voice that had called him out earlier.

"Harry! Please listen to me," Susan called after him. She followed him as he walked toward his home. "If you'd let me finish, you'd realize this wasn't just one of those typical attacks during a robbery. It's a Squib!"

Harry stopped in his tracks, suddenly intrigued, wondering if his mind was playing tricks on him.

"What do you mean?" the wizard asked, his tone questioning. "What do you mean it's a Squib? I know he's not the most powerful wizard, but he's not as weak as you're making him out to be."

"According to our Aurors, he can't even cast a simple Lumos—a first-year spell. My Aurors think he's just magically exhausted, but I believe they're taking the easy way out. It wouldn't be the first time something unthinkable happened in magical Britain, would it? Besides, he's been Obliviated."

She handed him a folder containing documents, which he took and placed in his bag. "Here's the case file. You're still the best asset we have. We need your help. Maybe they're right, and he's just exhausted. But imagine if we're witnessing something much bigger. I can't stay ignorant like Fudge was when we were at Hogwarts," she said, looking him straight in the eyes before continuing in a softer tone. "Please, listen to me."

Then she disappeared into the darkness before Apparating away, leaving him alone in the black night with only the moon's beauty for light.

When he got home, he fell asleep in his day clothes, his bag tossed on the floor. But the next morning, after taking a hangover potion brought to him by his house-elf, he reflected on the conversation he'd had with Susan the night before.

Though brief, that conversation had been enough to disturb him. He'd be lying if he said he didn't miss his former job as an Auror. Every time he worked on a case, he felt that unique thrill he only experienced during those moments—not to mention the satisfaction of putting a criminal behind bars, a feeling he missed deeply. However, he wouldn't have left without good reason. Even if his heart screamed at him to accept her offer, his mind simply couldn't allow it. It was too soon.

I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. Feel free to share your thoughts. See you next week!