Hunting and Gathering
*****
Kingsley was not having a good summer. At all. With Dumbledore reactivating the Order of the Phoenix, reaching out to have him join again, his subsequent missions to determine any corruption in his department, the side investigation into Harry Potter’s home life, and the various meetings and cases he had to undertake for his actual job on top of it all, he’d barely been able to breathe, let alone talk with his mentor Sirius Black or even adequately look into the Dursleys like he’d hoped to have done already. He spent many a day wondering how exactly he was meant to get everything done and sorely wishing time turners weren’t so regulated they may as well have been forbidden. So, it was hardly worth mentioning that he would prefer no new tasks be added. And yet, here was a legend in the Ministry and specifically the Auror Department, one of the most famous former Heads in recent memory, storming through the halls of the Ministry with a rat cage and a thunderous expression. And orders from Amelia Bones herself to investigate what had Theseus Scamander back in Britain and so royally pissed.
“Mr. Scamander,” he greeted, intercepting the wizard before he could storm the Chief’s office. The last thing Scrimgeour needed was a visit from the irate wizard when he was trying to contain the incident in Diagon just days ago. “Something I can assist you with?”
“Yes,” the man snapped, brandishing the cage and garnering the attention of the entire open space filled with curious Aurors who had no compunctions about eavesdropping. “If someone could please explain to me why exactly this unregistered Animagus was sneaking around my vacation home, snooping through my important papers, and who is, as I’ve been assured by multiple people, distinctly declared dead, I’d appreciate it!”
Kingsley took a moment to stare at the man in shock before venturing a quiet question. “And who exactly is that?”
“I’ve been told he goes by Peter Pettigrew,” Scamander said with a snarl. “Care to explain why that man is reported dead at the hands of one Sirius Black but when I decided to check the trial transcripts before I handed him over, I discovered there aren’t any?”
Kingsley paled, gaze finding Bones where she stood at the entrance to her own office and startling when she was ashen white, hand covering her mouth in horror and frozen to the spot.
“I see I’ll just have to see the man I’d originally planned on,” Scamander snapped, pushing roughly past the stunned Auror and making his way towards the office again. Only for Bones to rally and intercept him.
“Mr. Scamander,” she said promptly, gesturing to her own office and sending a glare at the rest of the room to keep silent. “There’s no need to disturb the Chief until we clarify some things. It is possible, as Head of the DMLE, I’d most likely be able to help you better anyway. Shall we retire to my office for a few minutes? Shaklebolt, please join us. Wallace! If you could please tell the house elves we’d like a tea service?”
The Auror nodded brusquely, making his way to the break room and the pair of house elves charged with keeping the notoriously stubborn Department of Magical Law Enforcement relatively healthy. A monumental task for anyone, especially in the Auror department. He truly pitied those poor things. Even he wasn’t immune to rash decisions when it came to his own health when on a particularly grueling case or stake-out and his favorite elf, a small she-elf by the name of Blinky, was often not amused with her Master Shacky.
Kingsley followed the irate wizard into Bones’ office, afforded as the Head of the DMLE. She kept her office in the Auror Department out of sheer stubbornness, foregoing the ornate suite usually occupied by the Head in favor of the more familiar, but smaller and infinitely better protected, position in the middle of at least a hundred well trained Aurors. Sticking to her roots in the place and earning the devotion of a number of the Aurors for not abandoning all in favor of getting ahead in the Ministry. Her assistant, required of her position, even occupied a desk just outside her door, in the midst of the other Aurors with little complaint. Shelly even seemed to enjoy the loud, open space and had no qualms about throwing things when they all got too rowdy for her admittedly lenient tastes. Kingsley himself was in awe of the woman and her boss and often wondered why Dumbledore didn’t include either in the Order at any point. But he’d have to come back to that. Scamander didn’t seem inclined to wait and he was showing signs of quite a temper so the sooner they could close a door between them and the hundreds of suddenly interested ears, not all of which he could trust, the better.
And it was a sound decision, as it turned out. As they spent the next few hours discussing Scamander’s findings, questioning the rat Pettigrew under Veritaserum that Bones just happened to have in her office, and discussing strategies for dealing with the fiasco after transforming the man back to rat to wait in his temporary cage.
“Wasn’t Lady Tonks asking after her cousin a few weeks ago?” Kingsley finally asked.
“Yes, but Brown brushed her off as mistaken. Something about having seen the records himself,” Amelia said dismissively.
“Seeing as I’ve looked over every piece of parchment relating to the man,” Scamander said with a slight sneer, “I doubt this Brown’s word. I even asked the record keeper, a position I instituted when I worked here, and she knew nothing and could find nothing. Not even an arrest warrant. And seeing as the man is obviously using magic when he has been spotted on occasion, he didn’t undergo the usual magical binding prisoners are required to have before being placed in Azkaban.”
Kingsley and Amelia stared at him in shock. “Binding?” Kingsley finally asked.
Scamander looked about ready to explode before explaining in a barely contained shout about the bindings the law required for fully processed prisoners confined to that horrible place. A place that was meant only for the worst of the worst, as the bindings required were permanent and no prisoners sent there were supposed to have a sentence less than life. All others were meant to be kept in the less hash prison in the bowels of the ministry or the separate prison in the wilds of the marshes to the west.
Kingsley sighed as he started taking notes after the first few minutes. And then Andromeda Tonks joined them, per Amelia’s request. And Kingsley resigned himself to even more on his plate… But if he could help free Sirius Black, he’d do it.
*****
Arianna was going over the partial inventory Ragnok had delivered just that morning, making note of the numerous books, scrolls, and other such writings the goblins were finding in the Aiaia vault. Charlie practically gushed in his portion of the report, citing a number of texts they’d found in a small library area of the creature section that dealt specifically with the creatures he and Newt were cataloguing. Many of which Newt had only heard of and never been able to find live specimens of. It would not surprise her much if the man were to publish a new book with Charlie’s help in the near future.
She was also studiously ignoring Sirius, who’d noticed the portion the second oldest Weasley had written was at the top of her pile and had a distinctly fond tone to it, as if the man was describing everything to a lover or intended and not a friend. And the man was getting his revenge on her for her own teasing earlier about his obvious flirting with his oldest friend.
“I demand to know what in the bloody name of Merlin’s pants is going on!” a familiar voice shouted, announcing the arrival of their guests finally. Arianna exchanged a glance with her godfather before sighing and starting to rise from her seat. Sirius waved her off and made his way to the door, sticking his head out and calling down the hall.
“If the lot of you could come here, like you’re supposed to, you’ll be told what the bloody Hel is going on instead of making a racket when Harry’s trying to concentrate!” he shouted, his voice echoing down the long hall and causing Arianna to roll her eyes.
“As if that racket isn’t going to spark his curiosity all on its own,” she admonished as she settled back into her comfortable chair and called one of the elves she shared with her brother to explain the situation. Once the elf was off to relate the tale to Harry, allowed in the room as she was already bonded and able to come and go as needed, she turned to her godfather. “The boy’s curious enough as it is. Must you always fan the flame? It’s bad enough he had a million and one questions about my intentions with his friend before he allowed us to schedule this meeting.”
Sirius, instead of being chastised, just smirked and made his way to his favorite chair by the fire. It was wingbacked and black leather, insanely comfortable, and close to the only other exit from the room, as it was connected to the floo network by her request. He looked like an avenging king once he settled in it, with his battle robes fashioned similar to hers, his hair tied from his face securely, his eyes a steely grey that were more haunted than she remembered, and his wand idly twirling, prepared at a moment’s notice to wield it. Combined, it made an intimidating portrait of the normally cheerful man. Which was something her guards found worthy of respect and the only reason she was allowed to wander the Den with only her godfather for protection. Overprotective ponses, the lot of them.
Finally, a trail of redheads made their way into her large study, followed by a bushy tangle of brown that stood out all the more when you considered her own unique shade of red. The dye had washed out with a quick potion to positively gleam in the bright light of the sunny room. Fred and George, having delivered their intended charges, took up position on either side of her chair, arms crossed and showing the rarely seen seriousness they were often accused of being unable to have. Ron wasn’t much better, taking up position next to Sirius and watching his brother and best friend closely. Then another redhead joined them and Arianna had to sigh as the Potter luck showed its sense of humor…. She had just had to mention it earlier…
Ginny was hesitantly poised in the door, eying the room warily and taking note of her brothers.
“In you go, Gin,” Bill muttered, urging his little sister into the room fully with a gentle push to her shoulders, then closing the door and positioning himself in front of it.
He’d agreed to take a break from the vaults for this, as both the eldest brother and the most likely Heir Weasley. He could take on any of them if needed and invoke family magics as a last resort. And he had been needed to get them all from Grimmauld, as, while Percy could apparate, the wards around the Den wouldn’t let him pass without one of her trusted in charge of the trip.
“This isn’t intimidating at all,” Hermione snarled. “Have you come to set yourself up as a rival to You-Know-Who, then? Pressure us into joining you and obviously Imperiusing anyone that goes against you? Is that why these men are helping you?”
Arianna raised an eyebrow at the venom in the girl’s voice and turned her attention to Ron for a moment.
“Is she always this distrusting and cruel?” she asked.
“Sometimes,” Ron admitted, to Hermione’s irritated huff. “She means well, but our experiences haven’t exactly led to an overabundance of trust in adults.”
Hermione seemed shocked at his eloquence and defense of her, even as he basically agreed she was cruel.
“Well, I knew this was going to be hard,” she admitted, turning her attention back to the three teens with a sigh. “Let’s start out with, what do you know of how Harry’s summer’s been going? Or his life at the Dursleys?”
Hermione seemed taken aback, but it was Percy that started.
“I’m fairly sure he’s being abused,” he said softly, startling Ginny even as Hermione flinched. That explained those two then. “Fred and George basically confirmed it when they convinced me to come.”
“And why didn’t you say anything?” Arianna asked just as softly.
“I did,” Percy admitted. “But when McGonagall didn’t say anything the next day, I figured she was handling it.”
Arianna looked to Sirius in concern. This was not the first time evidence was given for the goings on at the school and she itched to test the professors…. The Heads of House were at the top of her list once they figured out a method that didn’t immediately alert the Headmaster.
“Well, you’re not wrong,” she muttered. “I have no doubt that woman would burn the world down to protect one of her lions. But as far as we can tell, she did nothing.” Hermione immediately jumped to defend her favorite teacher, but Arianna held up a hand to forestall any arguments. “We’re also fairly certain she isn’t aware of the issue. She’s probably been Obliviated.”
That caused the brunette to pause and Arianna could see her mind whirling. Then she spoke, obviously putting several things together as the words came. “He’s always been too skinny, but incredibly strong, as if he worked out excessively though I never saw him do so at school, beyond Quidditch practice. He’s not a fan of shouting, but there’s never been an excessive amount at school. I think the school’s reaction to his name coming out of the Goblet of Fire was the most extreme example and he looked about ready to run for that. He never wants to go home or speak about his family. There’s been a few other small signs so I suspected, but he was always so closed-off about it, I decided to leave it alone until he was ready to talk. I was going to try again this year.”
Arianna nodded and turned to the youngest Weasley with as much understanding and Hufflepuff patience as she could muster. “And you?”
“I had no idea how he spent his time at his relatives,” she muttered. “The papers and Mum always said he had the best tutors and I figured they’d know best.”
Arianna sighed heavily, having feared that answer. She’d have to figure out exactly why the witch was here at all…. Especially when each of her brothers had expressed a concern with her loyalties.
“And this summer?” she pushed on.
The agreed upon chorus of ‘not much’ was saddening.
“This is going to take longer than I’d thought,” she muttered. “Olive, dear?” she called, smiling when the elf was immediately standing on her desk and asking for a hug with open arms and pleading eyes. Her smile widened and she easily hugged the small thing, ignoring the gasps from the three new magicals. She’d easily agreed to hugs when the small group had asked and since then, the news was spreading through the elves like fiendfyre. She’d already had a number drop by her office today and she’d only just bonded a majority of the elves. Once the cook elf pulled away, now sporting a blinding smile, she asked softly for some lunch and tea.
“Yes, Missy!” the elf chirped, popping away immediately.
“You support slavery!?” Hermione cried, appalled. Ron rolled his eyes.
“No, I support protecting creatures that literally cannot survive without a bond to a magical family for the most part,” she said instantly, unconsciously repeating some of the speech Sirius had given her brother all those weeks ago. “The house elf magical core is too small to support the level of magic many use, so they bond to magical families to balance them out. It’s the rare elf that doesn’t need it. For the most part, they love serving and I would never force one to bond to me. I actually just took on many of the ones I have, and a good number decided to wait until I proved myself worthy of their loyalty. I even had a few request freedoms, which I happily gave. Ask them at some point if you’d like.”
Hermione looked as though she didn’t believe the Lady, but Arianna ignored the furious witch and turned her gaze to the pair of Weasleys. Both of whom looked a little envious and Arianna put a silent call to the elves to offer placement with the Weasleys if desired. At least she could help with that. Even if only with the ones she trusted, the family was capable of providing a loving environment for some of the elves.
“Why are you both here?” she asked bluntly. Percy seemed startled, but explained about the twins cornering him after Ron defended the pair from their mother. Arianna turned a knowing glance to the twins and they shrugged, unrepentant at making their mother angry. Ginny admitted with a blazing blush to grabbing Bill when he went to apparate away with Ron, curious as to why the twins were basically abducting their brother and Hermione.
“You ok, Bill?” she asked after a minute, worry evident about a possible splinch. Surprise additions to apparation could be deadly. Especially when already doing a Side-Along.
“Fine, milady,” he said with a smile and small bow. “Not the first time a sibling has grabbed me when I’ve apparated and won’t be the last.”
She could only shake her head in exasperation…. Then she pushed three blank parchments across the desk to the trio, glad they had a hearty supply from the goblins. Otherwise, the addition of the youngest Weasley would be a problem.
“These are inheritance tests the goblins generally provide,” she explained to the trio of cautious pair of eyes. “They are often used as a means to verify a suspected heir of a title-”
“I’m not to inherit anything,” Ginny bemoaned.
“And I’m muggleborn. I couldn’t have anything to inherit,” Hermione added.
Arianna huffed in annoyance. “And if you’d let me finish, I’d explain more,” she snapped. “They are usually used to verify an heir but can also be used to test for family connections, possible soulbonds, vaults, bequeathments, and blood-related skills one might inherit, as those usually tie into titles. And before you go on about being muggleborn, Ms. Granger, I’d like to tell you that most muggleborns are actually squibborn and you could very well have inheritances to claim,” she said with a pointed glare at the brunette witch.
“And I’m just supposed to trust you? You still haven’t even told us your name or why Sirius Black is sitting over there as if none of this is new or surprising to him and yet the Dursleys are still free and he’s not angry at the treatment you’re alluding to his godson suffering from at their hands,” Hermione argued.
Arianna indulged her exasperation just enough to bang her head on the desk a few times before glaring at the witch and then Ron.
“Hey, don’t look at me,” he demanded, arms up and a small smirk on his face. “Harry and I both tried to warn you.”
“Oi!” Hermione shouted, affronted and glaring at the redhead with enough venom to make him flinch.
“And I’ll try to remember not to doubt you in the future,” she assured the boy before focusing on the three again. “Ms. Granger,” she said sharply, drawing the muggleborn’s attention away from the shrinking redhead. “I have a lot of explanation to give, but unfortunately, due to the secrets involved, I cannot until I am assured of your trustworthiness.” She pushed on before the witch could snarl at the wording. “Now, Harry and Ron have assured me they both trust you and want you involved, but I have learned the hard way that even a friend as good as they say you are can be a danger to our plans and I’d rather be safe than sorry. I’d really like the three of you involved, as it will give Harry a larger base of support and keep your family together, but I will not risk our plans for your pride. So, please, indulge me as I try to explain as much as I can before you decide. Just know that everyone we are including in this will be required to take one of these and you should see why afterwards.”
“You demand we prove we are trustworthy, but even your name is too important?” Hermione demanded.
“Yes,” she said simply, leaning back into her chair and gazing at the witch curiously. The boys had warned her Hermione was hard to understand, but she’d not been expecting such a fight. Not even Snape had fought this hard and the man hated Potters almost on principle.
Hermione seem taken aback by the admission, but Percy was studying her intently. Then reached for one of the parchments.
“What do I need to do?” he asked.
“It’s not just an inheritance test anymore,” she warned. She cut Hermione’s question off before she could start and made plans to do so moving forward, as the witch was obviously unable to wait for an explanation before demanding answers. “The goblins added an extension of the test usually only utilized to provide proof of a clear mind before bonding ceremonies. It will also show any potions, blocks, spells, or compulsions you may be under,” she said.
Percy looked alarmed but Hermione and Ginny just looked skeptical.
Then Percy repeated his request for how to proceed. She smiled and was glad to know that at least the one Weasley would be joining them, if she didn’t miss her guess. While his test was working, Ginny was studying her other brothers, seeming to sense the severity of the possible test. Then she joined her brother in taking it, slicing her finger in a deft movement that showed just how familiar the pureblood witch was to such requirements of blood, and settled down to wait for the tests to finish. Hermione was the hold-out, not that anyone was really surprised. She’d given these witches and wizard the least amount of information of anyone yet, both in a test of their process for adding people and as a final test of the possible allies. With the number of people included at the moment and the sheer number they wanted to include for various reasons, she was seriously considering doing away with the Fidelius for anything but the most crucial of information, so no untrustworthy ears could hear before they were ready, but she still needed to trust the people they shared information with. If the chosen people couldn’t even trust them in return, just to take a test that would do no harm to them, then she doubted they would trust the suspicions about the widespread manipulation of the wizarding world.
Finally, Hermione nodded and took the dagger from Ginny gently, adding her blood to the parchment. Then she settled in a chair and glared at Arianna pointedly. Arianna smirked but waited. Olive arrived not seconds later with the requested lunch and tea, balancing the trays easily with a bit of elf magic and a beaming smile. Once everyone was settled with a plate of sandwiches and tea, Arianna handed out copies of the tests of those in the room, aside from hers. Percy cursed at his brothers’ tests, even Bill’s original one. To a degree that had the twins snickering behind her and whispering in her ear that they’d figured the perfect prefect wasn’t able to curse. While he processed, Hermione read Sirius’ and then stared in horror at the suppressed soulbond.
“Soulbonds are so rare!” Hermione exclaimed. “I read that they were thought to be a once in a generation thing and the bond they created was so strong participants could often hear each other’s thoughts and share magic. Do you know who it is?”
Sirius blushed and Arianna tried not to cackle. Then she took pity on the man before he could burst into embarrassed flames.
“Yes, he does,” she said smugly, distinctly remembering that little discovery. “And it’s by no means a once in generation type thing,” she added. “I know of four such bonds alone. And I suspect it is much more common than currently believed. Especially if what I fear is happening to the pairings proves true.” Like a certain bastard deliberately suppressing them and removing them from the collective societal memory so he could manipulate the population better and make his own matches through marriage contracts, since soulbonds automatically overrode any contracts if completed.
Hermione seemed to consider that for a moment, then noticed her test was done. She quickly scanned it and Arianna grew concerned when the witch’s face paled. Then she was handing the test off eagerly, practically snatching Ginny’s from the poor girl’s hand almost before she had a chance to read it herself. Arianna would have to do something about that. She would not have her brother having to deal with so pushy a witch if at all possible. Even if said witch was a close friend. There was a difference between eager and rude and that had been distinctly rude.
Percy looked green and Arianna quickly pointed him the direction of the nearest water closet. He fled and the sounds of retching easily reached back to them from the room across the hall. Bill sighed before following after his brother. A quick look at his test had her boiling in rage, glaring at the line for a moment before her magic started roiling.
The twins quickly tried to snatch the parchment, but she batted their hands away and turned the page over until Percy could come back. It was his decision if anyone else saw and the only reason she’d looked was that the poor man had thrust it at her in desperation before rushing off to empty his stomach. Abortion potion. When he’d just hit his majority. And a completed but suppressed soulbond.
Merlin, the Headmaster had no shame…
*****
Gideon groaned as he sat on the chair the goblins had installed in the ward they were still keeping the majority of the rescues in. This was grueling work and he would forever curse the redhead that had suggested this was a good use of their time in the shadows while they rebuilt their health and magic.
“And I will say it again, they mean absolutely no harm, Sewlyn,” his twin grumbled. “If it wasn’t for them, you’d still be in a coma and your family declared extinct in the Wizengamot.”
“I still refuse to trust anyone that refuses to meet with us and you cannot honestly tell me Aiaia is their name. That vault and family is a myth.”
“Are you really going to tell the goblins that Aiaia is a myth?” Marlene asked dryly, eying the guards at the entrance to the healing hall they were in. Sewlyn immediately launched into a rant and Gideon sighed.
Gideon had been told the hall was a gift to the eldest Potter, in thanks for something. He wasn’t entirely sure what, but it had to be impressive if it warranted a full hall for the witch. Goblins weren’t known for their generosity.
And the goblins at the entrance were even less enlightening. Actual guards to protect them, instead of protecting the gold they normally guarded.
Goblins hated wizards…
He would have to ask more questions when they saw the Potters again. As it was, they’d only gotten very brief explanation staying at the Den. He knew they were all under Fidelius, but it was increasingly obvious there were few in this room, rescued with them, that were likely to be added as well. They were all wary. Gideon would never fault them for that, as they definitely had the right to be, but it was making his head hurt with the sheer stubborn will of many of them.
It did not help that they were all taken at different points of the war and some even afterwards.
Which did not narrow down who would be responsible for their capture. After all, they were from light and dark families. Gideon would honestly not be surprised if it was discovered that one side had started the practice of hiding prisoners in St. Mungos and the other had continued it.
That thought, though, didn’t make their jobs any easier. A sentiment his brother seemed to share if the look he was getting was any indication.
“Maybe we should get Romulus to help?” Fabian asked quietly as the other rescues continued to debate whether they trusted their benefactor or not. Like they’d been doing for weeks now, despite the Prewett brothers’ best efforts to assuage fears without giving details.
“If we can pry him away from Remus,” Marlene muttered. “For a pair of twins separated for so long, they certainly have the inseparable part of twindom down.”
Gideon couldn’t agree more and sniggered at the memory of the pair when they’d started switching places like he and his brother often did. And their nephews were almost constantly accused of doing.
He was looking forwards to the day the three pairs of twins were all in the same place with Dumbledore.