Chapter 12
“This is… amazing.” Lucy was twirling in the middle of the Room of Requirement. “I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.” Victoire grinned at Teddy, glad she was impressing at least one of the Sinclairs. MJ still had a scowl fixed to her face, but she was civil most of the time.
“Our parents told us about it,” Jamie grinned. “Or, mine, Rose, and Hugo’s did. We just told the rest of them.”
“Well it’s fantastic.” Lucy glanced at Teddy. “And you said it changes, based on the needs of the people in the room?”
“Yeah,” Teddy said. “Ginny said that during the war Dumbledore’s Army hid out in here, it got more hammocks and everything the minute they thought of it.”
“Neat,” Lucy caught sight of her sister’s face. “Oh, MJ, take a break from being a sourpuss for just one evening, would you?”
“I’m not being a sourpuss,” MJ’s voice was stiff. Victoire frowned, her attitude had changed since breakfast. “Can we get started please? I’d rather not have aurors hunt us down.”
Lucy frowned, her mood changing quickly. “Right. Forgot about that.” She took a seat in one of the chairs around the table. Teddy had obviously set the room up in a way that was reminiscent of the Burrow and family dinners there, not that the Sinclairs knew that. “So, you want to know what we told Uncle Charlie, Harry, Ron, and Ginny?”
“If you’d please.” Victoire slid into the seat across from Lucy. MJ rolled her eyes, again, and took the seat next to her sister. Everyone else fell in around them. “Plus whatever else you’d think is helpful.”
MJ sighed. “I’ll start, then.” She said. She quickly went over the important details, where their parents met, what Department 14 was, what they did during the war. Towards the end of it she shrugged. “And before you ask, no, I don’t know who’d be after our parents after this long.”
Victoire furrowed her eyebrows in thought, but before she had the chance to speak Lucy cut in.
“That’s not exactly true,” Her voice was quiet, mostly to her sister, but the rest of them all heard it. “Look, I was thinking after our conversation with Uncle Charlie yesterday, about all the names Mum and Dad mentioned from the other side. One kept coming up.”
“Who?” MJ’s face was mirroring Victoire’s now.
“Yaxley,” MJ’s face changed as soon as Lucy said the name. “Come on, think about it-”
“It makes sense.” MJ drummed her fingers on the table. “His son was about Dad’s age, and came back from conveniently studying abroad after the war. Dad was the main cause of his dad going to prison, that at least was public.”
“But the ministry covered for Dad there, so Yaxley the younger couldn’t do anything about it. Maybe he went digging to find dirt on Dad and instead found D-14.”
“The idea has merit,” MJ stood to pace. “But where would he get the information about Department 14 from? Mum said they locked it down tight.”
“I have no idea,” Lucy replied. “Maybe he got into the ministry, did the same thing this lot wanted to do and dug into some records. Mum’s missing in them entirely, but he would’ve remembered her from Hogwarts. Dad’s records has major gaps, and his are not the only ones. And a lot of members fell out of contact with Mum and Dad. Maybe one of them broke.”
“Or betrayed them,” MJ muttered. Lucy looked distressed.
“Oh, don’t say that Emmie,” She stood and turned her sister towards her, clasping her hands. “You know that would break Mum and Dad’s heart.”
MJ looked like she wanted to say that it was true regardless of whether or not it broke their parents heart, but didn’t say anything for the sake of her sister. It was Victoire’s sister who spoke when neither of the Sinclairs said anything else.
“Okay, so Yaxley, I think I’ve heard the name before.” She glanced at Rose. “We can definitely look into it, but you should probably tell Uncle Charlie all that.”
“I will tonight,” Lucy promised. She glanced at her sister, who was still standing there look irritated. “M?”
“Nothing,” MJ sat down quickly. “Just, how could one guy nab and hold nine members of Department 14 for nearly three months?”
“Nine?” Rose frowned, doing the math in her head. “Oh, adding your parents in.”
MJ nodded. “I know you probably don’t believe me, but those people are skilled, they’re quick with spell work and the cleverest people I’ve ever met. They didn’t successfully get away with a secret group in the ministry for no reason.”
“You’re going to hate this-” Freddie said, and Victoire felt like she knew exactly what he was about to say. “-but there might’ve been a mole in your parents group. Or somebody who could be exploited by Yaxley. That would also explain how they were all caught, if they were thrown off guard by someone they trusted.”
Lucy’s face dropped, and MJ looked like she’d bitten into something sour. “Oh,” MJ glanced at her sister. "Any chance you remember anything from that day?"
"I told you," Lucy sounded the most irritated Victoire had ever heard her, but somehow she knew it wasn't directed at any of them. "I was knocked unconscious just after I realized someone was in the house."
"Right," MJ took a deep breath. "Lu, did anyone come to visit before the attack? Or did Mum and Dad talk about anyone coming to visit. I was out all that day and the night before but-"
"Oh, Merlin." Lucy said. "I can't believe I didn't put it together until now. Yes, there was."
"You were probably confunded," MJ comforted, and Victoire thought her priorities in this moment were not in the correct order. "Plus, it would've thrown you off guard too."
"I don't want to believe it, but it makes sense." Lucy paused, but didn't continue, so Victoire spoke.
"Do you know somebody who that might’ve been?”
“Yes,” Lucy sighed. “But, but I don’t think either one of us want to believe it. Our Aunt Annie.”
MJ’s face was stony now, but she pulling on one of her braids, betraying her discomfort. “She’s the only one, Lu.” She murmured. “Unless you think Uncle Marcus did it, he visited the day before."
“Uncle Marcus would never!” Lucy hotly declared. Her face fell. “But I don’t want to believe that about Aunt Annie.”
“Aunt Annie?” Rose asked. “Like Annie Foxx?”
“Nee Yaxley,” MJ replied. “A cousin.”
Victoire inhaled sharply. “That would do it.”
“I didn’t put the dots together,” Lucy said, “because you have to understand, Aunt Annie helped raise us. I don’t want to believe she’d hurt us, or our parents, but…”
“But she was one of the ones who drifted out in the last couple years, despite being an OG member.” MJ filled in for her sister. “Mum thought it was because the rest of them were having kids, and it was hard for the Foxx’s to be childless, but maybe it was something more. Mum started talking about her coming to visit about a month before they vanished. I never knew if she did, I was out with my friends a lot.”
"But I was home," Lucy filled in. "Ugh, I can't believe I didn't think of it until now!" She looked frustrated with herself, and MJ pulled her into a hug.
"S'not your fault Lucy-lou." She comforted. "It was a rough day for you too, and she probably blocked your memory of it enough that we had to push for you to remember."
“Right,” Victoire nodded after Lucy and MJ had been silent for a moment. “That’s a lot. I hate to ask but-”
“There’s nothing else,” MJ confirmed. “At least not that we’re aware of. We’ll let you know if we think of anything.”
“Okay,” Dominique said. “I guess you tell Uncle Charlie all of that, and we’ll work on it from our end. Meet here again tomorrow night?”
“I’ve got quidditch,” MJ shook her head. “And Charlie’s decided I’ve got to come home right after.”
“Night after then,” Victoire suggested. “Gives Dom more time to look.”
Lucy shrugged. “Alright with me.” There were nods of agreement around the table. “Out of curiosity, if we do end up finding stuff that makes us think it’s Yaxley, what is your plan after that? Go to the aurors?”
“I veto that,” MJ muttered. Victoire shook her head.
“They’d never listen. If we get proof, I say we hunt him down ourselves.”
“I take it back,” MJ glanced around the table where there were nods of agreement. “I don’t veto the aurors plan, it’s better than that.”
“Oh, come on,” Victoire grinned at her cousin, who scowled. “Where’s your sense of adventure, Head Girl Gryffindor?”
“It went missing when my parents did,” MJ said flatly. “Can I list how many things are bad with that plan now, or would you like me to wait for later?”
“We don’t even know if we’re doing it yet,” Rose rolled her eyes. “Wait until later.”
“Fine, I’ll alphabetize it.”
“No you won’t,” Lucy cut in. “You’re too busy with NEWTs.” She stood. “Come on, it’s 8, they’re going to get here soon.”
MJ stood quickly, following her sister to the door. “I’ll take time out of my schedule to alphabetize that list, Luce.” She told her. “Bye you lot.”
“Bye!” Dominique spoke before Victoire could. “Don’t forget to talk to Uncle Charlie!”
MJ waved in a way that could either be agreement or dismissal, but Victoire had chosen to believe the best in her, so she was going with agreement. The door quickly slipped shut, and Teddy leaned over.
“Sorry, Vic.” He said. “But there’s no way I’m being implicated in a break-in. Leave me out of this from now on.”
“Understandable,” Victoire replied. “And hey, we haven’t decided on that yet.”
“Yeah, but you all looked entirely too excited at the idea of leaving Hogwarts grounds and breaking into someone’s house on no more than a hunch, without ever involving law enforcement.” Teddy shook his head. “It’s happening, whether I like it or not, and I’d really rather not get arrested. You know how to contact me if you need me.” He stood.
“Thanks, Ted.” Victoire told him. “For being here, even if you don’t want to be involved in the Weasley drama.”
“It’s the last thing I want, but it’s my burden to bear, what with dating you.” Teddy grabbed a roll. “I just wish you lot trusted the authorities more, or were less keen for an adventure.”
“It’s genetic,” Rose grinned. “And besides, why did our parents get to have all the fun?”
“Because they had adults who wouldn’t kill them, or notice, when they did something stupid?” Teddy suggested. Georgie snorted from the end of the table, where he’d generally kept quiet.
“Have you met Grandmum?” He asked cynically. Teddy tilted his head in his direction.
“Fair enough, but my point still stands. Jamie, I highly suggest you also stay out of this, if only because your Mum will skin me if she finds out I let you get involved.” Jamie shrugged and Teddy sighed. “Your head, I suppose. I’m out, I’ve got studying to do.” He kissed Victoire’s head again. “Please don’t do anything too illegal.”
“We haven’t even decided if we’re going to do it yet, calm down.” Victoire replied peevishly, as if she wasn’t already scheming on how to get them out of the castle subtly. “I am going to have you cover for us if we do, though.”
Teddy sighed. “As long as I remain in the castle, I’m good.” He cast his eyes to the ceiling. “Why do I feel like I’m going to regret agreeing to that?”
“Probably because the last time Victoire had a plan that involved someone covering for her, every single Weasley at Hogwarts got an owl,” Dominique replied, making Victoire wince as she thought of the previous night. “On that note, I didn’t sleep last night, so I’m also off.”
“Me too,” Victoire rose. “Don’t stay too late,” She told the rest of them. They all shrugged. “Or at least don’t get caught.”
“That, we can do.” Eli grinned. “Night Vic, Dom, Teddy.”
“Night,” Victoire followed her boyfriend and sister out, her mind racing. Teddy nudged her shoulder.
“You’re already scheming, aren’t you?”
“Come on Teddy, you can’t tell me you’re not at least a little bit eager for an adventure? Especially after growing up hearing about Uncle Harry’s?” Victoire raised an eyebrow. Teddy sighed.
“No,” He said. “Because I don’t know my parents because of what may be classified as an “adventure”.”
“That was a war,”
“Started with an adventure didn’t it?” Teddy stopped. “Just… please be careful. I don’t want to lose my girlfriend too,”
“You won’t,” Victoire promised, stepping close to hug Teddy. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Dominique keep walking to give them privacy. “First sign of death and I’ll call you, and our parents, and pull the kids out.”
“Any way we can add injury to that?” Teddy asked. Victoire laughed. “Hey, serious question there.”
“What’s life without a little risk?” Victoire kissed the corner of Teddy’s mouth. “Night Teddy.”
“Night, Vic.” He sighed again, seeming put-out. “Please don’t die, or get maimed.”
“I won’t!” Victoire called as she hurried away. “Again, we haven’t even decided if we’re doing it yet!”
“You will,” Teddy yelled at her back. Victoire grinned, but only because she knew he couldn’t see her, and then insufferably be proved right. They probably would.