I'm glad everyone liked the last chapter. I personally enjoyed writing that chapter because for me, it was like a climax to an arc and now I can begin setting everything up for the next one. I promise that there will be more moments like that between Harry/Daphne but until then, let's continue on with the story.
"Thanks for coming in on such short notice Potter."
"You didn't exactly leave me with a lot of options." Harry dryly answered, "So what do you want?"
Matthew sighed and pressed a button on his desk, the silencing charms instantly going up in his office. "It's a shame that all that time off still hasn't fixed that personality of yours." He said, shaking his head in disappointment. "Is your goal to piss off the entire Auror force?"
"Is it working?"
"If it was, you wouldn't have been able to make it this far." Matthew pointed out. "Now sit down and shut up. I didn't call you back in here just to trade insults."
"Then what am I even doing here?" Harry asked, "In case you've forgotten, I'm still suspended."
"I know but there are powers beyond my control that requested you for this." Matthew said as he pulled out a folder from inside his desk drawer. "This mission comes directly from the top and they want it done quietly."
Harry stared at the file, his interest suddenly peaked. "Why me though? You have several dozen men outside this office that could complete this." He was about to start listing off names when Matthew held up his hand, interrupting his thought.
"Believe me, you weren't my first choice for this mission either but they insisted that this one goes to you... regardless of your official status." Matthew muttered. "Just take a look at the file." He then slid the folder across his desk towards Harry.
Harry picked up the file and saw that it was a dossier on two children from the Netherlands. A boy and a girl who barely looked over the age of ten. He tilted his head in confusion, wondering why they were even under surveillance in the first place. He continued to flip through the pages, not seeing anything that would make them a creditable threat. It didn't make sense to send one of their own overseas just to pick up two children. Why not just have the local Aurors pick them up?
"What are you not telling me?"
"What do you mean Potter?" Matthew asked, carefully studying Harry. "Everything you need to know is in that file. We want you to extract the targets and bring them back here for observation."
Harry shook his head. "If it was that simple, you could have sent anyone to do it. Hell, you could have called the Dutch Aurors to pick them up but instead, you asked for me. Something doesn't add up so unless you want me to walk right back out, you better tell me what's going on."
Matthew stifled his groaned and weighed his options. He knew that he couldn't force Potter to accept the mission but it was made explicitly clear to him about the risks involved if this wasn't done quickly and quietly. In the end, he reluctantly agreed. "We may have our differences and you might not agree with how I handled your suspension but this mission takes priority above all us." He interlocked his fingers and leaned forward, "What I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room." He saw Harry's nod and continued. "In the last twenty-four hours, we've intercepted a bunch of chatter and one of them were rumors that Voldemort might have sired two children. There's no way for us to actually verify this information but we're not taking any chances."
"Wait. Wait." Harry said, his eyes widening at the news. "Are you telling me that we have mini versions of Tom Riddle running around?"
"That's why we're sending you back into the field Potter. If they are indeed his children, we'll need to act fast before they decide to follow in their father's footsteps. We cannot afford to have another war on our hands."
"What are you really asking me to do Matthew?" Harry asked, looking his chief directly in the eye. "Because if it's what I think it is, I'm not going to do it. These are just children! They've done nothing wrong!"
"Nothing wrong? God damn it Potter. You need to open your eyes. If there's even a remote possibility that these kids might be related to that bastard, we need to contain them before it's too late." Matthew said, gritting his teeth. "I can understand your hesitation and I can even respect that but when it comes to Voldemort or anyone with his bloodline, we cannot be taking any chances. You of all people should remember what happened last time."
"I'm not trusting them on blind faith here Matthew but you have to understand that we're Aurors, not judge, jury and executioner." Harry argued. "We have rules and regulations in place that separates us from criminals and if I were to cross that line, I might as join them!"
"Enough Potter!" Matthew shouted. "You're a damn good Auror but in our line of work, that line is blurred. We have to examine each case independently and in this case, it was examined by the highest power so if you have a problem, you can tell it to me after you finish the mission."
Harry remained silent, trying to keep his anger in check. "What you're doing goes against the ICW and a violation of their human rights." His words came out slow and steady. "We're supposed to be better than this. We're supposed to be the people setting the damn example."
"Not when it comes to our survival Potter." Matthew shot back. "Not when it comes to our survival." He sighed and stared at Harry. "Let me put it this way. If I don't see those kids inside those holding cells of ours, the next person that I'm going to be sending in, is Reynolds and we both know he will get the job done because unlike you, he knows what's at stake."
"How long do I have?"
"Two days." Matthew answered as he watched Potter struggling to contain that anger of his. "I suggest you leave immediately." He pointed towards the door, dismissing him. He turned around in his chair and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself before his next meeting. It wasn't that he hated Potter, it was that their views were completely different. Potter was focused on each individual case but he was the chief. He had to look at the bigger picture, to ensure the safety of their people and if there was something that even threatened the peace and security of their country, they should be using everything they have to defend their home.
Even if it means getting their hands dirty.
Harry stomped out of the office, slamming the door harder than usual. He didn't care if everyone in the office was watching because right now, the only thing he cared about was making sure that Reynolds does not come anywhere near this case. He knew what type of man Josiah Reynolds was and why Matthew was so confident that one way or another, this case was going to be closed. The only difference is that if Josiah was involved, everyone knew that the targets wouldn't be making it out alive.
That's the kind of man Josiah is. His undying loyalty to the job. It was admirable if he didn't follow it blindly. Always willing to follow orders, never questioning them... that's the difference between them and one of the reasons why Matthew was fond of Josiah.
The perfect Auror.
Harry sighed and took another look at the file, staring at the picture once more. As much as he hated Voldemort for what he did, his children shouldn't pay for his crimes and he was going to make damn sure that Josiah doesn't get anywhere near them. Not until he sorted out what was truly going on. There was something else to this that they weren't telling him and he was going to find out.
He tucked the folder under his arm and apparated back home, mentally preparing a checklist. He knew it was a non-sanction mission because he was still suspended. The department wanted someone who they can blame in case this went south. Plausible deniability, he told himself and that was fine. If these kids are what the dossier say they are, he was going to need that one.
"Even from the grave, you're still not satisfy are you Tom..." Harry grumbled. "Let's hope for both of our sake that those kids of yours take after their mother."
"Daphne Greengrass, get your sweet ass out here right now!" The voice shouted, startling Daphne who jumped up from her seat.
She cautiously backed herself into the kitchen as quietly as she could, remembering that she left her wand next to a pot of tea. Once her wand was back in her hands, she cautiously peered through the archway, making sure that she wasn't exposing herself in anyway. Harry once told her that some of the causalities that he's seen in the field were from people who didn't use their surroundings effectively.
Well, she wasn't going to make that mistake.
"I'll start unpacking right here in your living room Daphne! You know I'll do it!"
It was then that she finally recognized the voice. She smiled to herself as she lowered her wand and shook her head. "You wouldn't dare Tracey!" Daphne said as she emerged from the kitchen with a cup of a tea. "Why do you insist of showing up unannounced every time?" She asked. "Could you once just show up like a normal witch?"
Tracey scowled and turned around, putting her hands on her hips. "This wasn't for you though. I thought Potter was here and I wanted to see if I could make him scream like a girl."
Daphne sighed and put her tea down on the table. "You do realize that Harry's an experienced Auror right? He's been in the field countless times and in case you've forgotten, he's the guy who defeated you-know-who. It would take a whole lot more than a surprised entrance to scare him."
"I still say I could've scared him." Tracey pouted, "Don't you dare tell him that's what I plan on doing."
"Tracey, please don't make me tell my new boyfriend just how crazy my best friend is. At least not this early into the relationship." Daphne pleaded. "He's just only getting used to Astoria's antics."
The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds before breaking out in giggles. Tracey was the first one to stop and pulled Daphne into a tight hug, feeling content in see her best friend again. She broke apart and smiled as she looked over Daphne. "The years have been good to you."
Daphne rolled her eyes, "I see America hasn't changed you one bit. I was afraid that you would come back fifteen pounds heavier, with all those cheeseburgers you keep talking about."
"And here I was afraid that you would have gained twenty pounds from your relationship with Potter."
"You take that back!" Daphne mocked-gasped. "How dare you imply that I've gained weight?!"
"I call them like I see them darling."
The giggles started up again and they moved over to the couch to catch up. "So now that the boring details are out of the way, I need to know Daphne. How is Potter?" Tracey asked, "Are all those rumors about him true? The ones from Hogwarts when he fought a troll and a giant basilisk? Did he use dark magic to enter the goblet of fire? Did he have a fling with the French champion? Is it true that he fought he-who-must-not-be-named four times and won?"
Daphne struggled to understand all those questions but in the end she gave in and just listened to her best friend rattle of question after question. She couldn't help but smile that this felt like old times when they were back in Hogwarts... When the only thing that stressed them out where boys and classes. Of course, there was the matter of an upcoming war but it never stopped her from hanging out with Tracey.
"Is he actually related to Sirius Black? That would make him the lord of two houses legitimately and not what everyone is saying. Oh my gosh, if you married Potter, you would be richer than Narcissa. Why, I bet you could stick it to Draco. Oh and what about that slut Weasley? Is it true that he got even with her?"
"Unfortunately not." Daphne dryly answered. "Not since Astoria embarrassed her."
"Do you want me to take care of that two-timing bitch?" Tracey asked, pulling out her wand. "Even though I swore an oath to do no harm, I'm positive that by getting rid of Weasley, I'm doing the world a favor. I bet I can even make it look like an accident, maybe an overdose or something." She paused and then shook her head. "Too easy but I know several types of poisons that would be undetectable on scans though. Just say the word Daphne and I can make her disappear." She leaned forward and whispered, "I know people."
Daphne stared at her friend for a few seconds, slowly blinking her eyes before shaking her head at the ridiculous notion. "Stop it Tracey. She isn't your problem and while I do appreciate you doing that for me, she's ultimately Harry's problem."
"And what if he doesn't do anything about it? I'm sorry Daphne but I don't know anything about Mister Sexypants Potter. What if he's still the same person from Hogwarts?"
"He's not." Daphne interrupted, trying to reassure her friend. "We've all grown up Tracey and besides, if you've let me known ahead of time that you were dropping by, I would have told him to come back sooner. I'm sure he would've loved to meet you."
Tracey tilted her head in confusion. "Come back sooner? You mean he's not even in London? Just where is lover boy anyway?"
"Somewhere over in the Netherlands." She shrugged her shoulders. "He said it was to collect a few things that he left behind from the war."
"Like what?"
"I didn't ask Tracey. I figured if it was important, he would tell me later." Daphne said. "Besides, he'll be back soon anyway. He has a wedding to attend."
"Oh that's right. For Granger and the other annoying Weasley." Tracey answered, making a face. "Isn't that going to be awkward?"
"Maybe." Daphne surmised. "But he can handle it."
"Wait, you're not going with him?" Tracey asked in surprised. "Aren't you afraid that they're going to talk about you behind your back?"
"Oh I know they will." Daphne coyly answered. "But you know what? Let them talk because at the end of the day, I'm going to be going home with someone that makes me smile, someone who puts my happiness above all else and if that's not winning, I don't know what is."
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