Dynasty

James Potter was having a good day. His hair had behaved itself, he had a good nights sleep and he had a cup of his favourite coffee in his hand. Maybe today will be the day that Lily finally noticed him. Maybe not. As James walked in he noticed that his team were all looking very serious huddled around a desk. Sirius’s desk. Suddenly James knew with that this was in fact not a good day.

“What happened?” James heard his voice say as the grave faces of the people he loved most in the world lifted towards him. Remus Lupin, his boss although Remus never did order him about, gestured wordlessly to a jet black card on the desk. The card looked like a business card except all that was on it was a white snake. James picked up the card and flipped it over but the other side was blank.

“Seriously Potter?” Marlene said, a bite in her voice. James stared at her confused. Marlene and him got on pretty well most of the time. He admired her no nonsense exterior, dry wit and how she sure as hell knew how to throw a punch. Marlene didn’t like him that much at first as she thought him too full of himself but she had mellowed over time and they had become friends. “What McKinnon?” James said, staring right back at her.

“Do you ever think-“ Marlene huffed before starting again. “Forensics?” James blushed, dropping the card as if he had been burnt. “Leave it.” Sirius spoke up for the first time. “There would have nothing on it anyway.” James glanced in worry at his best friends dull tone as he stared blankly at the card.

Lily turned to Sirius ignoring the look Remus sent her. “What does it mean? The snake?” Sirius let out a bitter chuckle. “It means, Evans, that a new leader has emerged since my parents. It means they want me- us to know that.”
“Can we find out who?” Lily pushed on determinedly. “No.” Sirius’s tone was sharp and cold. “Call signs are picked by the top table based on the traits they believe the leader possesses.”

“A snake?” Marlene said. “Cold? Cunning?”

“It’s a king cobra to be precise.” Remus said, examining the card clutched in his slender fingers. “One of the most poisonous on the planet.” Sirius huffed a laugh. “Figures.”

“Mate…” James began uncertainly. Sirius turned at looked at him with startling clarity. “What?” He snapped. “Worried about me?” “Well yeah. Your family- “ Sirius turned to him an unidentifiable look in his eyes. “They’re not my family.” Sirius pushed back his chair, making it sharply screech against the floor before storming off.

Remus gave James a sympathetic look before following after Sirius. “Nice one.” “Shut up Marlene.” Lily said unexpectedly coming to his defence. Marlene threw her hands up before stalking off towards the coffee room. Lily after giving a small smile to James walked away, leaving James standing alone cold coffee in his hand and the black card glinting up at him.

~

“Right, this is the first new lead in over a year so I want it used.” Remus stood at the head at the conference table his hands splayed across the cold surface. “Black, make a list of all possible new leaders. McKinnon, Evans check for recent activity in any of their circles, all known contacts. MacDonald, see if you can get anything from that stupid card. Potter and I will figure how the hell it got in here.” Remus said. The team nodded before quickly heading off to their assigned areas of work.

Remus and James were attempting to find CCTV footage of the incident but both knew they would turn up blank. “Sorry mate, the cameras all glitched last night. Electrician said possible damage from the power surge from the last blackout might have weakened them until they went completely. Freak accident.”
James could see how Remus’s lips tightened before replying. “Yeah, freak accident.”

“Whats next boss? Figure out how they got in?” “No need.” Remus turned to James, a dark look on his face. “Only authorised personnel are allowed in this building. And they are all cross checked to all federal databases. This means we have a rat.”

James stopped suddenly staring at his boss. If this was true then that meant that the Black family truly had reaches everywhere and that one the people he trusted and confided in was a traitor.

James swivelled around as he took him the people all around him. People he knew. People who now who could be spies. Mary gave him a bright wave as he made eye contact with her just before the lift doors closed in front of him.

James Potter leant back against the cool elevator wall next to his boss and for once in his life had nothing to say.