A box lay on his desk. Only a few others were in the office, so he guessed someone just stepped in for a minute while he ran down to check on something with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Frank practically lived in his cubicle these days. He’d left the house an hour or so after Alice slipped in. They shared a hello and a good-bye kiss before he headed off to the Ministry. They lived and worked together, so folks assumed they spent their lives together. Frank looked in his backpack before he tossed it on the floor. Mad-Eye would be in by six-thirty, seven, at the latest, and he’d expect to see polished reports on his desk first thing.

“Good morning, sir,� Kingsley Shacklebolt said as he walked by and handed him two sealed rolls of parchment before he slipped into his cubicle across the way. “I wrote up the minutes from the qualification rounds.�

“Oh, yeah? Thanks.� Frank had forgotten about those. The brief time that he’d gone home, he’d stepped into the shower and helped his wife into the bed. Alice had caught some bug and, knowing his luck, she’d share it with him in a few days. He slit one of the rolls open with his wand tip, held a quill between his teeth and organized his thoughts before jotting down a critique. “Kingsley?�

“Yes, sir?�

“Don’t call me ‘sir’. You’re making me feel old and I don’t have grey hair yet.� Frank had told him this before, of course, but he guessed Kingsley fell into the habit. “Did you get your results back?�

Frank liked pretty much everyone on his team. He had handpicked Kingsley during the young man’s own qualification rounds, and he was particularly proud of that move. Not everyone wanted him at first. Perhaps it was the earring or something. Frank, who had been one of Mad-Eye’s success stories, had made it through his trials by the skin of his teeth. The senior officials scoffed when he’d walked through those heavy oak doors and immediately labeled him as the spoiled little rich boy. Mad-Eye didn’t make it easy for him either and gave him hell for three years. Frank didn’t deny it. The only son of a wealthy apothecary and a doting mother, he’d had everything at his fingertips. For him, the Auror Department wasn’t just a challenge; it was his long awaited wakeup call.

“It’s an earring.� He could tell by Kingsley’s look that he’d zeroed in on the problem. Frank held his hand out and read a scrawled comment at the bottom. “Robards? This is nothing. If he’d wanted you to change, Gawain would have ripped the thing out of your head on the first day.�

Kingsley started to take the thing out.

“Now you’re conforming, and they’ll take note of that,� said Frank, smiling when Kingsley dropped his hand. Kingsley opened his briefcase and got to work. He’d been with them for about six months now and was still testing the waters. Getting accepted into the department after three years of excruciating training was the easy part, and Kingsley may or may not consider landing on Frank’s team a lucky break. “If they don’t tell you off, especially Robards, you should worry.�

Frank took a different approach to these training exercises than many of his superiors. He’d learned from his own experiences that berating rants only sent trainees bolting for the doors. Folks made mistakes, yes, and some were beyond help, but they shouldn’t be expected to perform at the level of the senior officials. He didn’t consider himself soft, either, because they simply couldn’t twiddle their thumbs in times like this. In reality, they were drowning under the sheer weight of all these deaths and missing people.

“Longbottom.� Mad-Eye invited himself inside the cubicle and dumped the records on his desk. “Yesterday, when you said Rodolphus Lestrange slipped up, where were you going with that?�

Mad-Eye had left round seven o’clock to get some sleep and get away from Rufus Scrimgeour. Frank guessed that he’d spend hours twisting cases this way and that even when he wasn’t at headquarters. They’d set up a room by interrogation with cots and mismatched chairs and things, but Mad-Eye did not want to risk someone slipping him something. A few months ago, he’d been slipped a tainted drink in a pub; Mad-Eye had purchased a hip flask and let nobody borrow so much as a quill since that day.

“Anything?� Mad-Eye prompted him.

“Why would he run if he had nothing to hide?� Frank asked, rubbing his hands together. “We’ve seen him before, haven’t we? Dawlish questioned him last March, and he just fired off information. We can’t say how much of it was true, mind you, because he sent us on a wide goose chase.�

“And wasted our time,� added Mad-Eye.

“Yes, I’ll give you that,� said Frank, glad Mad-Eye wasn’t snubbing him and dismissing his theory, “but I watched the questioning session this time.�

“Yeah?� Mad-Eye’s mouth twitched a little. “You paired those two together again?�

“He’s going to learn,� said Frank stubbornly.

“That’s why Dawlish is avoiding you? Fair enough. What’d we learn?� Mad-Eye took out his hip flask and took a swig. When Frank threw up his hands, he sighed, “Figured that much.�

“Lestrange just sat there and staring at wall licking his lips,� said Frank. He nodded when Mad-Eye wet his chapped lips. Oddly enough, it was more terrifying watching a scarred man mirror the behaviour. “Yeah. It’s either that or watching a man bite his nails, I guess. He’s nervous.�

“Get your things,� said Mad-Eye, walking through the maze of cubicles, “and that frilly stuff has no place here.�

“Good job, Frank,� he muttered to himself and smiled when Kingsley looked up.

Frank fingered the parcel and untied the ribbon. He knew this wasn’t from Alice because she treated him like any other colleague when they were on the job. This had become strangely complicated since they got married, but she liked playing these games. In any case, his birthday came right after the New Year, and she wouldn’t have given him an expensive gift. He shook the box and figured his mother probably picked up a little something for his birthday. He took off the lid, fished out a scratched lighter, and set it aside. Inside this, there was a smaller box. He opened this one and tossed it in the air. Frank pushed himself away from the desk and let out a scream. Seconds later, Aurors jumped up to see what was the matter so early in the morning.

Kingsley scooped the thing up and Mad-Eye demanded to see it. It was a severed hand with a lashed tongue resting in its palm. Mad-Eye slid two of his fingers inside and picked out a wrinkled slip of parchment.

He cleared his throat as he unfurled it and read, “‘Want to find the rest of him? Skim through the paper and find an interesting piece.’�

Frank reached in his briefcase and took out an edition of the Daily Prophet and flipped through its pages frantically. There were snippets of late-night celebrations and tales of Muggles spotting animated firework displays. He found it on page eleven. He’d been missing since Monday night. “Benjy.�

“What?� Kingsley asked.

“Move.� Mad-Eye snatched the paper from underneath his nose. If he was shocked, he didn’t show it.

“Damn it.� Frank locked his desk called over his shoulder. “You want an assignment, Kingsley?�

He didn’t need telling twice. Kingsley tossed a roll of parchment on his desk and followed them.

***

Frank waited for Mad-Eye’s assessment. It wasn’t an act of courtesy. Not really. It had more to do with the fact that he’d been told off enough times over the years that Mad-Eye conditioned him this way. Frank searched the place with Kingsley for a half an hour. He thought that they were going to pay the editor of the Prophet a visit, seeing as Benjy had last been spotted in their offices, but Mad-Eye just limped along and led them to a dead end. Kingsley had enough sense not to point this out and kept his mouth shut. They’d ended up scouring industrial rubbish bins behind a pub.

“I’ll do this one,� said Frank, climbing up and balancing his foot on the ledge.

Kingsley had searched the other one without complaint and reeked of ale. They did it the old-fashioned way since they had no idea what they were searching for. Frank had stepped in a soggy mess and ruined another pair of shoes. He landed on cracked bottles and plastic bags and sifted through the waste. He didn’t have to wait long. He’d worked in the field long enough to pick up that smell. If he needed more conviction, a sticky substance stuck to his robes. Trying not to think of a worst case scenario, Frank tossed the bag over the bin before he climbed out. He showed them his bloody hands and thanked Kingsley for the handkerchief.

“I reckon that’s not from rare beef,� Mad-Eye grunted. “Look, Longbottom, if this is too personal, I’ll move you over to the Fawcett case.�

“No.� He shook his head and looked at the trail, which glanced at the dried blood and sick, leading to the bin. He’d thought he’d seen just about everything. He felt the nausea creep up and covered his mouth with the handkerchief. “They dragged him.�

Kingsley looked as though he second guessed accompanying them to the scene. He didn’t sound too optimistic when he said, “I – I don’t think …�

“He’s a skinny man,� said Frank, shaking his head and retracing his steps. He walked along the path and pieced it together before he stopped at the rubbish bin, “and they would have taken their time.�

“He spoke out against the werewolves,� said Mad-Eye, thinking about the article, “and they wouldn’t have bitten him and left him in a ditch, especially if he pissed them off. This is right outside a Wizarding village, yeah?�

“Ottery St. Catchpole,� said Kingsley.

“The editor’s place isn’t far from here,� said Frank. He thought it odd that Barnabus Cuffe and Xenophilius Lovegood lived so close together. He could see a black towering establishment along the way. “You think they discuss things over a cup of tea? It’d be an interesting conversation.�

“I don’t read the papers,� said Mad-Eye. “Cuffe’s a thorn in my side.�

Benjy worked for the Daily Prophet . Benjy never discussed his work much, but Frank could tell that his loyalty with the press had steadily declined since he’d joined the Order. Benjy had attended a gala the other night. He might not support the stuff that filled its pages, but the paper put gold in his pocket. If anything, Benjy went against the grain, working tirelessly to offer the public another voice. The more he thought about it, Frank saw this whole thing as caked in random evidence.

“It’s not him,� he said softly.

“Kingsley, give me that lighter.� Mad-Eye snapped his fingers and held out his hand. Kingsley picked it out of the box. Frank’s heart sank. “Perhaps you didn’t look at it too closely before because you were looking for something else. Does this wrapped quill insignia look familiar to you? Walk with me.�

“What about him?� asked Frank, nodding at Kingsley. He knew by Mad-Eye’s look that he wished to discuss matters in private. He, Frank, tossed Kingsley the handkerchief. “Tell you what. I owe you, all right? I’ll meet you back at headquarters and I’ll buy you a drink and dinner; I’ll sit a night shift with you. The next time an investigation comes up, you’re with me. Why don’t you head back?�

“All right.� Kingsley didn’t expect an apology.

“You’re running yourself into the ground,� Mad-Eye said when they turned the corner, “and I expect you at the top of your game. Running a fifty hour shift on nothing is stupid.�

“I got some sleep,� Frank lied.

“Yeah, right.� Mad-Eye scoffed as he looked him up and down. “Tomorrow you’re off. In fact, don’t come in Saturday, as well. You’re taking the holidays, too, since you worked straight through them.�

“But I’ve a briefing on the fifth, and you know Scrimgeour hates press conferences,� Frank insisted.

“Do I look like I give a damn?� Mad-Eye leaned heavily on his walking stick. He hadn’t said anything about it, but Frank knew one of the Death Eaters hurt his good foot early last week. He walked ahead a few paces and growled, “Don’t think of weaselling out of this one, either, Frank, because I’m watching you. And, in case you were wondering, no, you can’t substitute the weekend as a holiday.�

“I wasn’t even going there.� Frank laughed it off. Mad-Eye wasn’t a Legilimens, so it always annoyed Frank when he hit the mark like this. “Nobody likes you.�

“I want Mouse back because I tire of you,� Mad-Eye countered him. He’d called Alice that since the beginning. She’d been the first woman to catch his vote in the years during qualifications, and he gave her relentless hell for it. “Go back to Scrimgeour.�

“Hell, no.� Frank considered that a respectful decline, and, apparently, Mad-Eye accepted it, because he laughed for the first time in weeks.

“Frank.� Mad-Eye cleared his throat and struggled with how to bring up what he was really trying to clear up here. “I don’t believe in this psychological assessment stuff, but maybe it’s good if you clear your head.�

“I’m fine,� Frank said flatly. Mad-Eye dodged out of those things with foolish excuses, and he annoyed the Healers time and time again. It kind of annoyed him that Mad-Eye suggested this because it wasn’t a subtle hint. “You want me at the top of my game? I’m there. It was sprung on me, that’s all. You’re questioning my sanity when some twisted bastard ...�

“Fair enough,� sighed Mad-Eye, though he still looked worried. “Get cleaned up and get some rest. See you.�

“Mad-Eye,� said Frank, pulling himself out of his thoughts. He turned round and the man had disappeared.

***

Frank told Kingsley he’d stay until nine o’clock because he had to do something with his mother. It was some stupid birthday thing, and he’d already turned her down over Christmas. On second thought, Frank might have done a little overkill, but Kingsley bought it and thanked him for a hot plate. So, Frank got out of the Ministry in time to catch some of the meeting and made it downtown as quickly as he could. When he reached the abandoned warehouse in Greenwich, he caught his breath before he stepped inside.

“Hey.� Frank slipped in behind Dedalus and tapped Alice on the shoulder. “Are you working tomorrow?�

“No. Not till Wednesday night,� she said, watching Mad-Eye wrap up his report. She leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. She wore one of his jumpers over a pair of ironed trousers and rolled up the sleeves. “Happy birthday. Thirty. You’re an old man now, Frank.�

“That’s me.� He swallowed, knowing there was little point in a delay. In the corner, he saw Marlene McKinnon dabbing her eyes with a napkin; her drink shook in her hand. “Did he bring up old Benjy yet?�

“Yes. He didn’t go into detail, though.� Like Frank, Alice experienced one of the downsides of a career like this one; death became a stale reality. It wasn’t that they didn’t care. They’d simply learned to hide their emotions behind a mask and focus on the next step. “Can you imagine?�

“Yeah, they’re upping their game. Things are going to change quick.� He thanked Alice when she handed him a drink. “He’s left handed.�

“Who?� Alice snapped an elastic band off of her wrist and tied her curly hair back. “It’s hot in here.�

“Kingsley.� Frank shrugged. “He holds a quill strangely when he writes, and that’s why.�


“Were you bored tonight?� she asked.

“No, it’s just been bugging me.� Frank sighed when she raised her eyebrows. “He did that, too.�

“Mouse!� Mad-Eye called and Alice jerked her head up. “Come here, please.�

Alice walked to the centre of the room and stood by Mad-Eye. She tapped her wand on her leg and looked round at the other members. Frank had forgotten that tonight’s meeting was to assess duelling skills. He knew why Mad-Eye hadn’t picked him for the demonstration; Frank opted to stay out of training sessions with first-year trainees because he waited for them to sharpen their skills. Dumbledore, who had finished his part before Frank arrived, sat beside his brother and Elphias Doge.

Mad-Eye immediately targeted the younger members. Sirius and James sat at a table with their other friends. Peter glanced at the wall and Remus, who had been minutes, dipped his quill into the ink bottle. Lily sat off to the side with Marlene McKinnon, and neither of them looked as though they would be Mad-Eye’s intended target. Emmeline Vance, who had actually been through this before, might be Mad-Eye’s pick, but Frank doubted it. Mad-Eye insisted that anyone who joined the Order needed to have basic duelling skills in case they had the misfortune of being caught in a tight spot. Arabella Figg, who rarely attended these meetings, seemed to be the only exception. No, he’d search out the weak, rusty link.

“Remus.� Mad-Eye beckoned him with a gnarled finger. As the young man walked past the burning candles, Frank thought he looked ill. “You’re next, Peter, so don’t get too comfortable.�

“Breathe,� Frank suggested. “When you stop, she uses it against you, so don’t think.�

“Scare him, why don’t you, love? Ever hit a girl, Remus?� Alice asked.

“No.�

“That’s all right,� she said, smiling when Sirius laughed. “I tell the trainees when you’re fighting for your life, gender no longer applies.�

“Okay.� He looked like he expected something more helpful, perhaps, but he took what he could get.


Remus nodded. He looked a little nervous, but he wasn’t crawling out of his skin, and Frank took that as a good sign. He knew, of course, that this was practice, so the odds of him overtaking her were slim. The others stood off to the side or sat at the table, so they were out of the way. Remus and Alice bowed low and drew their wands with the same fluid movement. Frank had no doubt that Remus had picked tricks up at school.

Remus made the first move, and Alice countered him easily. Whereas he switched his feet often, she looked at it like a dance, circling him and taking full advantage of her space. When he switched tactics, she’d throw out pointers as if they were discussing the matter over coffee. He’d nod, ask for clarification here and there, and give it another shot.

“Protego!� He blocked her curse and made her hit the table. He followed that with a Stinging Hex.

“Good,� she said, taken off guard, shaking her left hand when it started to swell. “No, don’t look at your friends. They won’t be there when it’s just you against a Death Eater. Locomotor Mortis !�

At first, Frank thought that something had gone wrong; perhaps her spell had backfired, causing her legs to shake. A second later, Remus shifted his lower body and swung his legs together. Alice reached out for something, and when that failed, she lost her balance and slammed onto the wooden floor, knocking the air out of her lungs. Remus, who had been hit by a Langlock Curse, hopped aside and balanced his weight. Alice waved her hand, giving up, and crawled across the floor. She got to her knees, holding the position for a few seconds and retched in a metal bin.

“Are you okay?� Marlene asked Alice. Remus collapsed in a chair and let Mad-Eye relinquish the jinx.

“Yes, I’m fine.� Alice wiped her mouth on a napkin and sat on the floor. “That was a smart move.�

“Thanks. Yeah, well, you could have been harder on me,� said Remus, glad she was all right.

“You should have aimed for her other hand,� Frank suggested as he walked over to release her from the strange sensation. “Finite. It would have made your game easier.�

“Hey.� Alice punched him playfully in the arm. “Whose side are you on?�

“You let a teenager handle you, Alice,� Mad-Eye pointed out. “I don’t know.�

“That? I thought we were taking respite. Five minutes?� She laughed at Remus’s surprise and waved her hand. “I’m kidding.�

“Work on being assertive, though, okay?� suggested Frank. “Your opponent, whether he’s a Death Eater or not, will seek out your doubt and use it against you. Peter? You’re next?�

Peter shook his head. “Next time.�

“No, no, come on,� Frank insisted, setting his glass on the floor. This quiet young man couldn’t hide behind his friends forever. “We’re not picking you out to be humiliated, Peter, and this’ll help anyone. I trained Alice through her qualifications, and we still practice with each other when we need to change up our routines. Change is a good thing. I bet you’re not half as bad as you think. From what I’ve learned, it’s the quiet ones you’ve got to worry about. Give it go and show us what you’ve got.�

“No.� Peter turned bright red and glanced at his friends. “I’m n-not ready. Next time?�

“Sure.� Frank gave up for the moment and sighed when Sirius opened a white pastry box and lit candles with a swish of his wand. “This really isn’t necessary.�

“Too bad,� said James, waving him over. “You’re old and we’re celebrating it. Unless you want to set the place on fire, get over here.�

Frank took Alice’s hand and walked over with the rest of the group. He took a deep breath and blew out the candles. Lily handed him a knife, and he dished out servings and thanked them. There was a colourful bag at the end of the table. Mad-Eye glanced at it, too, as he picked at his piece and sniffed it. He seemed to think it was okay and took a big bite.

“It’s a pocket watch and a bottle of wine. Pinot Noir, by the looks of it,� he growled, smirking at him. “I’d test it before you go snooping round in that bag, though. You never know.�

“Thanks, Mad-Eye.� Alice rolled her eyes at the ceiling. “It’s your dad’s. Sam says he sold it in 1930 off a jeweller in the consignment shop in Galway to start the apothecary.�

“Yeah. And you got it? That’s mad.� Frank slipped his hand in the bag, opened a black jewellery box, and read the inscription on the back: Sampson Francis. He kissed Alice and hugged her tightly. “Thank you. That’s it. You’re the best.�

“Are you broke now?� asked James.

“No. Well, it cost a pretty penny, yeah. Not a little, not a lot,� said Alice, shrugging, “but I hope this makes up for those Christmas chocolates.�

“You’re redeemed a thousand times over,� said Frank, examining it in the light. “Has Dad seen it?�

“I thought he was going to have a heart attack on the spot.� Alice polished off her piece. “Poor Sam.�

“And Mum?� Frank put it back in the box and poured himself another glass.

“Funny you should ask,� she said, helping herself to his piece. “We’ll talk about it later.�

Frank had heard this line enough times to catch its meaning without getting angry or sparking a row. Ever since they’d met at a dinner, Alice had never exactly hit it off with Frank’s mother. At one point, over a dress or something, Alice had threatened to call the wedding off. They bumped heads a lot, and Frank loved his mother, too, but he had asked her on a couple of occasions, nicely he’d hoped, to give them some space. He hated being put in a spot where he was forced to choose between them, and he usually said the wrong thing, so he treaded carefully.
“It can’t be that bad.� Alice started to walk away, and he tugged at her sleeve. “No, come on, tell me.�

“You’ll find out Sunday over dinner.�

She listened to Dumbledore close the meeting. They cleaned up and started walking outside. She stood by the Potters and wrapped her arms around her chest. Elphias, Marlene and a few others gave rushed good-byes and left. Dumbledore bid them all good night and walked down the alleyway with his brother. Mad-Eye double checked to make sure that he had locked the doors. He handed Frank the pastry box and the gift bag. Alice walked past then and didn’t say a word when Frank called out to her. He said her name gain, owing that mistake to the fact that she might not have heard him. Of course, she was only a few feet away, so the excuse didn’t fit. When she plain out ignored him and crossed her arms and breathed sharply through her nose, he recognised the signs.

Frank didn’t understand why she’d become so angry at the mention of his mother. Sure, she was a little overbearing at times, but she really meant well. They started down the alleyway, too, and Frank took note of Mad-Eye’s artificial leg hitting the pavement. There was a popping sound in the distance. Frank whipped around, but there was nothing there. They reached an old telephone box, and Frank offered her his arm.

“Are you crying?� he asked indignantly, taking a shot in the dark. He fell back on the usual problem. “You know my mother acts like this. She’ll get over it.�

“It’s not your mother,� she said, shaking her head. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and took in a few gulps of air. “I tried to tell you, but there’s no perfect time, you know, and Sam says I should just say it.�

Frank nodded, silently agreeing with his father.

“I’m ...� She bit her lip. “We’re having a baby.�

“Oh.�

“Oh?� She sounded a little put out.

Frank squeezed her arm and ducked out of the way as a streak of green light passed her ear. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his head as he turned on the spot. For a second, he thought it had worked. Alice gasped and her hands slipped out of his. Frank felt a searing sensation creep up his leg and a momentary free fall before he was ripped backwards.

On instinct, Frank swung his arm back. He fell hard on the sidewalk and jerked his head round so fast he thought he got whiplash. Alice got to her feet quicker than he did. The pastry box was empty and its contents were scattered everywhere. Frank fumbled round for his wand. He spotted it and reached out for it, but someone snatched it up and crushed his hand. Dazed, Frank squinted at the tall figure standing above him. Alice was caught solo in the middle of a duel, and Frank lay there, worthless. The pain increased slowly, and his bones finally gave way and cracked.

“And where were you going?� asked a tall man. As he came closer, Frank recognized him as Anton Dolohov. “It’s a lovely evening, and it seems we crashed your party. What’s the occasion?�

Someone slammed into the pavement and a car swerved out of the way. Frank took a quick look. Of course, on second thought, when a stabbing pain crept up his spine, he regretted it. It wasn’t Alice, though. The young man had blonde hair and had been knocked out cold. His walking stick flew out of his hand. Frank saw streaks of light out of the corner of his eye, flashes of green and red. Slowly, he slipped his other hand into his robes and withdrew a pocket knife and jammed it into Doholov’s calf.

Frank yanked it out and his wand zoomed into his hand. Dolohov yelled out. Frank got to his feet. He’d never used his wand that much with his left hand, so this could be disastrous with a delayed reaction time. Frank walked a few paces, backwards, not daring to turn his back on his opponent. He guessed it was the adrenaline pumping through this veins; he felt no pain. Death Eaters tried their best to drag Alice down, but she didn’t miss a beat with them. Frank aimed a curse at Doholov. If he struck the man down whilst he was off balance and hopping round on one foot, he wouldn’t be able to get back up. The curse was a simple one, but just as he thought of it, he aimed for the other target advancing on his wife. This Death Eater looked like a walking corpse whose dark eyes rolled in his skull. Frank missed. Next second, a hot flame whipped his neck.

“You there,� growled Mad-Eye, hitting Dolohov in the spine with a curse; the large man’s feet broke into an uncontrollable dance. It must have been painful indeed with that leg injury. “We don’t do that.�

Alice chased the fourth one on foot, a man with dark shoulder-length hair, but he slipped through her fingers and Apparated when she was a foot away.

“We can’t walk home anymore without these fools on our heels.�

Dolohov laughed madly and started getting up.

“Don’t play with me.� Alice kicked him when he reached out to grab her. “You’ve no idea what you’re doing here. Tracking three Aurors? You’re either extremely brave or extremely stupid.�

“Come on, you,� said Mad-Eye, yanking one by the one of them by the scruff of his robes and supporting the unconscious one, too. “Rosier and Dolohov. It’s been a while since you’ve visited my interrogation room. Let’s have a little chat. What say you? Who’s your partner?�

Neither of them said a word. Frank released Rosier from the curse and pulled him and the unconscious one to their feet. He didn’t want to drag them down to headquarters; it would only raise questions. “Speak.�

Barty Crouch had stepped into this mess the previous week. The public liked him. Frank thought it had more to do with the fact that the Ministry appeared to actually be getting on top of things. Crouch changed things up. He had more favour than the Minister, which wasn’t too surprising, so his ideas passed through with approval with flying colours. Nobody questioned him because it kindled some fire, and, somehow or another, the man became the driving force behind everything. One day, they walked into headquarters, and Aurors were given a waiver to do just about anything they wanted to get answers and gain control. Was it working? Frank didn’t know; he felt that some line had been crossed and consequences, although they didn’t show up at the moment, would end up costing them in the end.

“Go on.� Dolohov licked his lips, taunting him. “We all know things are different now. Think you’ll scare us? Go ahead. Here’s your chance.�

Frank hesitated. They started walking and reached the bridge. Alice walked over to the edge and glanced down into the murky Thames. If they happened to get anywhere, and they probably wouldn’t because these two were tough to crack; it was going to take a while. Frank wasn’t going to treat them like animals. They all knew Unforgivable Curses were free game, but he couldn’t imagine himself performing such a curse on any opponent because there were simply other ways. What separated them? Frank had been through a couple of practice sessions with Mad-Eye and showed that he lacked skill. Mad-Eye suggested that he wasn’t filled with the right passion; Frank wanted the Death Eaters off the streets, but he took his anger out by other means.

“You’re not worth it,� he said, lowering his wand.

“Weak.�Rosier broke his grip and took Alice by the arm and flipped her, holding her over the river. He ignored her screams and raised his voice. “Tell me. What’s the difference between us? This woman? This girl? How much does she really mean to you? Careful, now.�

He loosened his hold and Alice cried out. Mad-Eye pointed his wand at the man’s chest.

“A fair trade,� suggested Rosier, nodding at his partners. Frank looked to his superior for a decision. Surely, this cornered fool was bluffing. They had them. “Too late.�

Alice screamed. He let her go. Frank dropped the captured Death Eaters like dead weight before he rushed to the side and threw out his hand. She was falling fast. Dolohov fled, and another duel broke out between Mad-Eye and Evan Rosier.

Alice swung her arm, grabbing theipping a ledge with one hand, and grippinged his fingers with the other on the third try. They broke apart a second later. Panicked, Frank prepared himself to dive into the water. His right hand proved no good, so he used the other with little hope. Alice could swim, but it‘d be like treading through ice water. Desperate, Frank leaned over the side, nearly falling over himself, and she finally grasped his hand.

“Don’t let go.� Frank crushed her fingers. “No, you’re all right. Don’t look down. Look at me. Don’t let go, Alice.�

Mad-Eye yelled out in pain and slipped on the pavement. Rosier took off. Slowly, Frank pulled his wife up and she wrapped her cold arms round his neck. Frank lifted her over the ledge and set her on her feet. Frank wasn’t letting Rosierhim get away. Ropes shot out of the end of his wand and wrapped themselves round the Death Eater’s limbs. He called out for Mad-Eye but received no answer.

“Are you all right?� Frank asked her. “Don’t do that to me again. Ever.�

“I’m fine. Oh my God,� said Alice, clearly shaken. She rushed towards the old Auror. Mad-Eye lay face down on the bridge. Blood leaked from his face. Frank had never seen that much blood pour from a head wound, and he’d witnessed strange injuries, yetbut it was a direct hit. A driver in a black car honked his horn, but Alice paid him not heed. She tried to help Mad-Eye up, but he slapped her hand away. When he finally lifted his head, they saw that Rosier had carved a crater in his face. “Mad-Eye, Mad-Eye, let me look.�

“It’ll stop,� he said, slapping her hand away. “Where’s that idiot?�

“Get him off the damn bridge,� hissed Frank.

“No, it won’t heal . Not without pressure. Let me fix it.� Alice shook from head to toe, so she wasn’t holding her wand in a steady hand. “Episkey!�

The bleeding stopped, but the hole was still there.

“Well, stop looking at me like that. I’m not dead,� he growled, as they both took him underneath the arms and heaved him to his feet. He shrugged off his travelling cloak and handed it to her. “Take it. You’re freezing.�

“Mad-Eye.� Alice draped it over her shoulders.

“I’m fine. Here. I found this on the ground.� He handed her the jewellery box and heaved Rosier to his feet, careful to be none too gentle with neither him nor Malfoy His legs shook underneath the weight of the prisoners. “Get yourselves home.�

“Do you need me?� Frank asked automatically.

“I need you to go home,� said Mad-Eye. They didn’t speak again until they reached the telephone box. Mad-Eye turned round and wiped his bloody face on his sleeve. “And Mouse?�

�Yes?�

“Don’t think we’re done discussing this,� said Mad-Eye, rolling his eyes when Alice gave him a familiar look. “You were off? Not anymore, miss. See you at five.�

He turned on his heel and disappeared.

****

Months passed and, before Frank knew it, summer arrived. He worked his cases and ploughed through his struggles. Things didn’t always work out, and, sometimes, it was downright frustrating. He never left the office these days. Not really. He packed it into his briefcase and carried the mess home with him. His mother bragged of his success all the time. He hardly talked about his work with her. It wasn’t just because she filled him with vague optimism, either. There was a confidentiality vow, too, and he stuck to that like Stinksap. Augusta didn’t really listen to him because she countered him with advice and empty sayings. With everything piling up on him, Frank needed a change of scenery for a while, so he set up a lunch date with Alice.

He spotted her sitting by the security guard. Alice took a break round three o’clock in the afternoon for a snack. She wore a plain red dress and chatted away with two heavyset men. One was Eric, the security wizard. The other, dressed in emerald green robes, was Frank’s father. He had hazel eyes and walked with a limp. His walking stick was propped against the wall. When Frank sat down, his father handed him a glass of water and a wrapped parcel . Frank smiled at Alice’s large plate of eggs, toast and bacon.

“Breakfast for lunch? You’re going to eat all of this?� Frank helped himself to a strip of bacon and dipped it in the runny yolk. “Where’d you get all this?�

“I asked Tom to knock up special order before I left the shop,� said Frank’s dad, Sampson. . A novel lay in his lap. He was working his way through a sandwich and passed Frank a second one. “Your wife’s a stubborn one.�

“Yes, darling, start working on that before it’s too late.� Alice layered on the sarcasm and twirled her hair with her finger. “I think it’s a little far-fetched, that’s all.�

“Which one are you reading now?� Frank didn’t add much to their book discussions. He didn’t read, for one thing, so he’d only slow them down. He held his hand out for the book and read the copyright. “ Riddles of Neville St. Clair, Book IX by Benjamin Daniel Fenwick. Benjy? He wrote this series?�

“You know him?� asked Sampson, interested. “He passed away.�

“Yeah. Benjy?� asked Frank, glancing at Alice for approval. He took a bite of his sandwich and waved it round. “ You’re kidding me. He never said a word, that stinker.�

“Frank.� Alice squeezed his hand when Sampson frowned at him. She invented a white lie on the spot. “We met him during a case in Manchester, Sam. We all shared a compartment. Oh no, you might actually have to read a book, eh?�

“‘Shitty whores get nowhere and always head south,’� Frank read the first line aloud and burst out laughing. “Dirty, dirty quiet old man. Wonder if anyone washed his mouth out with soap. Who knew?�

“He writes nonfiction, too, though, I don’t know if he finished it,� said Sampson, flipping through another volume. “I haven’t skimmed through this one yet, and I’m wondering if it’s as good as the others. We can’t place the dedication. ‘We’ll meet on another train soon, you and me. We’re never alone. That’s all I really know. I keep waiting.’�

Alice thought it over as she polished off her plate. “Benjy would’ve made a cute husband for some lady.�

“He was a pain in the arse,� Frank snorted, catching a glance from his dad. “Sorry. You had to know him, I guess. Hilarious, cynical old fool, he was.�

“You got all this on a train ride?� Sampson asked, suspicious, fishing in the bag for something else.

“Eh? Oh, it was delayed,� Frank edited quickly. “Delayed for a long, long time. Benjy – Mr. Fenwick – talked my ear off. He signed Alice’s things.�


“Did he now?� Sampson asked. He handed Alice a chocolate biscuit; he’d picked up on her sweet tooth long ago because it was something they had in common.

“Yeah, every Neville St. Clair,� said Alice. Frank was glad that he landed on the truth with such a haphazard guess. Benjy had given her a cool gift. “Are you jealous, Sam?�

“No,� he sighed dramatically, mock angry. He clapped his hands together, changing the subject. “So, about naming this kid ...�

“Oh, look at the time, Dad,� said Frank, checking his pocket watch. “Got to go. See you.�

He hugged him and said good-bye. Alice walked with him after she pecked Sampson on the cheek and suggested breakfast for their Sunday dinner. They really were late, so he wasn’t just throwing out an excuse to dodge his father again. His mother made no secret that she wanted a grandson. Alice and Frank hadn’t planned this; and when they broke the news to her, Augusta had been furious because she hadn’t been told immediately and they kept it a secret for a few months, but, eventually, she’d calmed down. Frank suspected his dad had talked her down. Alice held one of the books and shuffled aside when they got in the lift. It was crowded with the lunch crowd rushing back last minute.

“I kind of like it,� she said, shrugging. “Ben. For a name, you know, Ben Longbottom.�

“No.� Frank stopped her right there. “Say that again. You really want to name a child after him?�

“Oh. Fair point.� She nodded. “Well, there is always Doug, Grace, or Sandy, or, you know, Harry.�

“You done yet?� Frank shook his head, chuckling. He put his arm round her shoulder as they walked down the corridor. He’d noticed that problem a long time ago and caught the butt of many jokes for it.

“If we’re in a bind, there’s always Francis,� she said, raising an eyebrow, “and it goes both ways.�

“No!� Frank put his foot down. “Let the name die out. No Samantha or Samuel, either, or we’ll never hear the end of it with Dad. I like Daniel or Patricia. Benjamin’s all right, too, I guess, if that’s what you want, but we’ll have to stick to just that. No nicknames. Spare the kid. Mum says Agnes.�

“Absolutely not.� Alice shot it down. Frank knew it wasn’t going to fly.

They walked into headquarters and greeted a few of the others. Kingsley smiled at Alice and offered her a chair. He’d been working at Frank’s station for a few days now. Frank sat on the top of his desk and flipped through a volume on defensive techniques. “You want this, Kingsley?

“He can’t read, Kingsley, so he’s passing it off,� said Alice.

“It wasn’t in the job description,� added Frank, “but we’re not sure I can read, so there you are.�

He skimmed through a briefing. Rosier was held in a cell, since the Wizengamot granted him an appeal and postponed his first trial. Malfoy never got that far and went on with his life. Frank didn’t know all the details, and he wasn’t too sure he wanted to be filled in. Had one of the Aurors ended up dead, the Death Eaters would have been rewarded with a spending life in jail cell without question. So, they cycled through the investigation and interrogation, which Rosier took as a treat. They caught up with Dolohov, too. The evidence against him proved less conclusive, though, and Frank suspected he’d paid his way out by passing gold under the table. Frank shuffled his notes and headed towards the training station with Alice in tow.

He wasn’t foolish enough to believe all officers did the right thing about this. It’d be quite easy to play with emotions and take advantage. That’s how some folks got ahead in the world. A job didn’t separate these folks from evil; it was their motivations that defined their character. Did Frank join to be the top of the crop? No. In fact, most days, he hoped he did the right thing. Three times a year, they held qualification rounds, which went hand in hand with weeding the garden. One of the hardest things Frank learned along the way was going back on his word and admitting a mistake. They went through the concealed entrance and took her time with the steep concentrate steps. Alice tapped the brick wall with her wand and handsome French doors swung open to admit them into the glass room.

“Are these finals?� asked Alice, taking a chair in the back by Rufus Scrimgeour.

“No.� Scrimgeour flipped through his notes. “Endurance and Disguise exercises.�

“Who’s that?� Frank tapped the glass window. “The one with the pointy ears and ponytail?�

“Kieran Williamson,� Scrimgeour read off a name. Williamson donned a fashionable ensemble with some dangerous heels. “He makes cross dressing an art.�

“Oh, yeah?� Frank saw now that the trainee was no woman. “He’s not bad. Might as well go all out. I think my mother totes that same pocketbook round.�

“You want him?� Scrimgeour tapped his clipboard. “You’re escorting a date to the Bagnold place?�

“You forgot the date? June twenty-first, seven-thirty, guarding the Minister?� Alice kept things straight for both of them. Frank felt like things blended together and slipped through the cracks. �Is Trevor flying solo tonight?�

It was easy to slip into roles in this field. Frank had picked up a couple of identities along the way. His favourite guise, the one that landed him this job, was Trevor Nesbitt. Trevor, a writer in his thirties with a weakness for women and drink, attended galas and got the inside story. Frank often carried an umbrella, writing things and a camera round with him. Frank had actually spotted the name in an edition of the Evening Propheta few times.

“No, Frank.� Alice handed him a rejection before he had a chance to string a proposal together. “Look at me. How’re you going to explain this with Trevor’s personality?�

Frank scratched his chin. “I don’t know. Give me a minute.�

“You’re not. Seriously?� Alice slapped him on the knee. “Frank.�

Frank fished a scrap of parchment out of his pocket and aimed for the dark-haired woman in the first row. Hestia looked round, confused. When their eyes met, Frank gave the slightest nod and gestured with his index finger. Hestia sat there for a few minutes, so Frank ripped off another piece, but she got to her feet and climbed up the steps. Annoyed, Scrimgeour got up and leaned against the wall. Like Kingsley, this was her first year with the department, so she pretty much did anything anyone asked of her. She was patient, too, which is why Frank liked her. They had never worked together on an assignment. At the moment, he guessed, she was logging observation hours.

“Are you free tonight?� asked Frank, cutting to the chase.

“Why?� Hestia gave Alice a fleeting look.

“Frank needs a partner to escort to Governor Square and he hasn’t the slightest idea about pick-up lines,� said Alice, fanning herself with a folder. “It’s like a sauna in here.�

“Come on, Hestia,� said Frank, opening the door for the women. He sealed the door and leaned against the wall. He waved his wand and caught a thick file. “Ever heard of Trevor Nesbitt?�

Hestia blushed.

“Guess who you’re standing next to?� Alice took the file from Frank and handed it over.

Frank cleared his throat when Hestia gaped at him. He put the rumours that were flying round in the papers to rest. “No, I’ve never spent the night with Rita Skeeter or anyone else, for that matter. By the way, you can’t share a word of this outside of Scrimgeour, Mad-Eye, Alice, Robards or me, all right? You know no Nesbitt, no rumours, no nothing outside these walls.�

Hestia nodded.

“Good.� Frank kissed Alice softly before he turned to leave with Hestia to brush her up on Trevor. “I’ll see you. Don’t wait up for me.�

“Behave, Trevor. Be careful.� Alice took his wedding band, said good-bye and headed towards the archives.

***

It’s amazing what one could pull off with a few trinkets. Frank hooked the pocket watch on the inside of his jacket and pulled it on over his vest. Donning a disguise allowed him a chance to experience life through another’s eyes. Trevor Nesbitt gave him a fictional cover, yes, but he switched from the hardcore investigator to a man who ensnared others by the very idea of him. The unexpected guest, the suave writer and the quiet philosopher wrapped themselves into this one individual. Frank hardly read for pleasure these days. He kept up with the swing of things to keep Trevor alive and ahead of the game.

When he spotted Hestia, who posed as his new girlfriend, Rosalyn, he raised his glass to her and helped himself to another from one of the house-elves. The Minister threw these garden parties to mask the rhetoric. Of course, she was a politician at heart, so she lived and breathed for discourse.

Frank wore a three-piece suit and had polished his shoes until they shined. Kingsley had dropped a few hints, so Frank felt well dressed indeed for the evening. White tables were scattered around the place, and a raised platform stood in the middle by the colourful water feature. He offered Hestia a chair and pecked her on the cheek. She wore her finest robes and had wrapped her hair in some braided twist. They sat through some boring speech about budget proposals before they sat down to the first course.

“You think she’d be jealous?� she whispered . Hestia put her napkin in her lap and took a bite of her salad. They sat with a Junior Minister, his wife, and Rita Skeeter. When Frank glanced at her, she added, “Your sister?�

“My sister?� Frank had adopted a deep voice, a tone reminiscent of Kingsley. Frank didn’t want to think of his sister as his wife. He had no sister, but, still, it was a little strange. He stabbed a cherry tomato and made a quick recovery. He preferred not to think of Alice when she wasn’t there because it kept his mind focused. His opposite, Trevor, would claw his eyes out at the very thought of tying himself to one woman for the rest of life. “No, she doesn’t like dinner parties. Especially the dancing. She has two left feet.�

“You dance Trevor?� Rita asked. She set her fork down and nodded at the guests slowly venturing on the dance floor. Most of them stood clustered in small groups, wrapped in their conversation. She held out her bony hand. Hestia raised her eyebrows and waited for Frank to make a move.

Hestia didn’t help; she just grinned. He couldn’t refuse. After all, Rita had seen him dance at another get-together with Alice. His wife had posed as a good friend that evening, and Frank glided her across the floor whilst Alice basically shuffled her feet. He took Rita’s hand and led her onto the floor.

“So, where have you been?� Rita linked their fingers together and went straight for the kill.

Good question, he thought, flipping through his options. He glanced at a young blonde woman in shimmering robes. She stood next to a man leaning on a walking stick and whispered to another guest.. “Galway.�

“You didn’t answer my letters.�

Alice had burned them after having a good laugh and sharing them with him one night.

“Rita,� he said, hoping he sounded courteous. He nodded at Hestia. “I’m with Rosalyn now. I – I love her. We can’t do this. I invited you to lunch. That’s all. There is no you and me. We don’t exist.�

He dropped her hand and left her standing there. Frustrated, thinking she’d never get off his back, Frank pulled Hestia aside and whispered a request in her ear.

“What?� Hestia took a step back.

Frank could feel Rita’s glare boring into him. He stroked Hestia’s cheek and kissed her. She stood as still as a statue, and he took her hand, thinking she was about to strike him. He took a breath and kissed her again, keeping his eyes on the tall, blonde man. Lucius Malfoy walked along the sidelines keeping his wife close. There was another slender woman with them; dark tresses fell down her back. Malfoy kept glancing at the Minister’s table, taking timid steps to approach her without causing a scene. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say.

“What was all that about?� Hestia gasped when they broke apart.

“Nothing.� Frank weaved through the tables and knelt at Millicent Bagnold’s side. She knew the secret behind Trevor Nesbitt’s guise and had requested Frank on her permanent service. “Madam, come with me.�

“Why?� She knew better than to ask questions, but she did it anyway, and Frank found it infuriating. “Is something wrong?�

“Oh, you’re that writer,� Lucius Malfoy drawled, staring down at him. “Madam, if you’ll pardon me for interrupting your private discussion with your ... friend, I’d like to introduce my wife, Narcissa. We can’t stay all night because we’ve left Draco with the nanny ...�

“Madam, please,� said Frank, holding out his hand. He scanned the skies and saw something out of the corner of his eye.

“Oh, Lucius,� said Bagnold, waving a hand between them. “Have you met Mr. Nesbitt?�

“No.� Malfoy sneered nastily and crushed Frank’s fingers, locking him in a handshake.

Frank had a split second’s warning. Next moment, he pulled Bagnold out of her chair and forced her to the ground. People shrieked and scattered. The podium exploded and was reduced to pieces. Frank deflected a spell as the candles fell and lit the silk tablecloth aflame. He locked his finger’s round the woman’s wrist and shouted after her to keep up with him. The house-elves looked as though they had been Petrified; they were scared stiff. Hestia jumped in between the two party crashers and fought them both. The scuffle ended as quickly as it started. Hestia had Stunned Malfoy and pinned Bellatrix in the damp grass. It didn’t hold long. Frank finally slammed Bellatrix into a wall with a swish of his wand.

“How dare you?� Narcissa Malfoy cried.

“Going after a government official – the Minister of Magic, no less – lands you in Azkaban without question,� Frank challenged her. “You want to jump on your defence or hold your tongue, Madam?�

“Now, now, Trevor. Temper, temper,� Bellatrix said hoarsely, laughing when Frank turned pale.

“We weren’t after her. Where’s dear Alice?�