The actions in the hospital ward were clearly focused on a woman that suffered severe trauma. The knot in Harry's stomach tightened when he noticed a severed woman's hand lying on the floor. Ron, noticing it as well, held his friend's shoulder in an attempt to console him.
"Harry, she'll be fine," Ron said half heartedly. Turning to the other Aurors, his authority became clear. "Tonks, take the others and quietly check the area for who ever could have done this. Simmons, I want you to stand guard outside this room."
Harry pulled away and tried to get to her side, to see her. "Hermione!" he called from behind the row of nurses. "Hermione, I'm here, please hold on," he said, as he tried to strain to see over the doctor's shoulder.
"Please, you'll have to wait outside," the nurse next to the doctor said over her shoulder.
"Get that bleeder, we're loosing her." Harry heard the surgeon call out.
"She's lost too much blood; how can anyone do this much damage in such a short time?" a second surgeon said from the other side of the bed.
Harry closed his eyes and turned away and began to shake with fear and anger. He looked down to see the hand on the floor. Her wedding ring was missing. Harry knelt at the hand, almost afraid to touch it.
"Harry, let them work," Ron consoled, "Go to your daughter. She needs you now."
He nodded and stood to leave as the activity quickened around her, a steady beep from a monitor nearby slowed, and turned to a constant tone.
"That's it then, time of death, 2.54 pm , 1 May."
Harry froze in his track as he heard the pronouncement and turned to her side as the technicians began to abandon the effort. He looked at the bed where, only a couple hours earlier, he experienced one of the most wonderful moments of his life, sharing the joys of a child with her.
The last nurse had draped a sheet over her face. The outline of her face appeared quickly in blood as Harry looked on, a handless stump of her arm remained visible, still leaking blood.
Harry trembled at the image before him, "Hermione, I failed to keep you safe. I swear Annie will never be hurt," he cried, as he fell to his knees at the side of the blood stained bed.
"I love you," he yelled, as he started to reach for the sheet that covered her face.
"I love you too, Harry, and I'm glad to hear Annie will be cared for." He heard from the door.
Harry sprung to his feet and turned, to see her standing just behind Ron, holding their daughter in her arms. Fred and George stood in the hall behind her with Auror Simmons behind the Weasley Twins as she walked to his side.
"But, you were here, I watched you die," Harry stuttered , as he wrapped his arms around her.
"No, that was a nurse who was changing the sheets while I was with Annie; Fred and George never left my side. We heard a scream and returned to the room in time to see someone Disapparate. She must have been in the way and was murdered in my place."
He held her, refusing to let her go and kissed her gently on the cheek. "I thought I lost you, I was terrified."
"I know, I can still feel it, except it's different. I could tell you were angry and scared, I had the same sensations in my stomach, as if the central point of focus shifted within me."
She pulled away and with her free hand took his hand to lead them from the scene of death. "They moved me to another room, closer to Annie in the nursery," she said, as she took him in tow to a room a few doors away.
Still in mild shock, Harry refused to release her hand as she walked stiffly to the bed. She sat on the side and scooted into place still holding their baby. "Now, what happened at the Ministry?"
Harry shook his head, "It's not that important, you just had surgery only a few hours ago, how can you be up and about?"
"I closed the incision just after you left; I let the doctors think it was their skill. Now what happened?"
"He almost got sacked," Ron interrupted.
"For gross insubordination for letting you see the messages first. I've been demoted because of it," he said, pointing to his new badge.
"I'm afraid we'll both be looking for new jobs, if we don't recover whatever Dumbledore left with you," Ron said.
"We have no idea what you mean," Hermione started.
"He knows about the pouch and we do need to give Robards something to keep him at bay, while we find the Minister's murderer," Harry replied to her.
"Ron, can I have a moment with my husband alone, then you boys can go ransack the house if you wish?" she asked Ron. Nodding, he left the room and closed the door leaving the three Potters alone.
"Any chance you can let me see the papers first?" she asked.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "I don't think Robards would openly tolerate it, but he did mention you have covert authority in this matter."
"So he told you, did he? Have you told everything to Ron yet?"
"No, we came here directly, haven't had time to talk in private."
"Then I might be able to help there, tell Ron to leave the others here as security and the two of you go to the cottage. You know where the pouch is."
"Yes, and that will give me the time to tell Ron everything I know of this incident."
"Then be off, and Harry?"
"Yes?"
"I do love you, you know?"
"Yes, I know." He grinned, as he kissed her again, stood and left his family.
He silently left the hospital room to find Ron anxiously waiting in the corridor. Ron had a small notepad out, taking notes of the events. In the room where they had watched the unfortunate nurse die, a group of constables had been called in to investigate the death. Harry motioned to Ron for a closer look, but he shook his head.
"No, I want you here," he said to Harry and pointed for him to stand next to him.
Again bewildered, Harry complied and then noticed the unmistakable strands of Ron's Extendable Ears and the spare strand he held out to Harry. He put the end in his own ear and gave a listen to the activities at the murder scene.
"Gruesome work, this lot."
"Right, hard to imagine work this fancy could happen in less than fifteen seconds."
"Easy, Dwight, if you can't handle the sight, then you can wait outside."
"I… can do… my job," the constable named Dwight replied.
"If yeh're going to razz, go outside."
"Sod off, just take the bloody pictures."
"Down here, by 'er hand, there's some footprints in the blood."
"That's from the other bird's 'usband. He was here a bit ago."
"All right then, pull back the shroud."
"My God, who could do that to anyone?"
"Bloody hell, her face is gone."
"Skinned, from the looks of it, but there's no trace of a knife."
"Then explain this cut up her middle, like she was dressed out like wild game."
"Did anyone see any of this?" another voice asked.
"No sir, we was looking over the room and haven't interviewed anyone yet."
"I had an interesting chat with one of the day nurses, a friend of the deceased here," the newest voice added. "She indicated this man simply appeared without warning, tall bloke with long blond hair, almost white she mentioned. And he had a fair limp."
"Ron, I've heard enough; this was a deliberate attack from a dark wizard. I would almost say this was a warning to me," Harry whispered to Ron, as he began to retrieve the cord.
"You're right there, Harry, good thing we thought to leave the others here to protect Hermione," Ron said, as he retrieved his cord.
Harry rolled his eyes at Ron's remark, "Right, I'm off to my home, follow if you want." He snapped his fingers and vanished before Ron could utter a word.
"Bloody hell, I wish he wouldn't keep doing that," Ron muttered, as he also vanished with a pop.
Harry quickly ran through the house, through the hall past the lounge and dinning room, to the rear of the house. It was deceptively large inside, the benefit of being a wizard's home. The study was in the back, past the kitchen, and isolated from the daily activities of the household.
The walls were lined with leather-covered books, a testament to Hermione's influence. She had the Black Library moved here from Number Twelve Grimmauld Place many years earlier and after Sirius had returned, he had begged them to keep the collection. 'The most use they've seen in a hundred years,' he had said.
In a far corner, next to the only window in the room, they had a matched pair of overstuffed leather chairs , separated by a side table. One corner of that table had numerous stains from forgotten beverages and a perpetual stack of books being read. Harry's side of the reading nook seemed less worn.
In the corner opposite the chairs, and furthest from any prying eyes from the window, stood an antique roll top desk, one of the few possessions from Hermione's parents she took from her childhood home. That desk held many tiny nooks for storing notes and documents, and the desk also held a secret she added. Behind one tiny drawer she hid a key. Only she and Harry knew of the key.
He nearly ran through his home, to the study and that desk, opened the small drawer and removed the key. He turned and held the key flat in his hand.
"Seek," he commanded and the key floated from his hand to the volumes in the room. It passed from one to another, as if it were deciding which it wanted to read that day. Harry smiled as the book it selected was an old and worn favourite, 'Hogwarts, A History'.
"Clever girl," he muttered, as he looked at the numbers now visible on the key. He read the series of numbers and quickly flipped to the page listed as the first set of numbers, page 394. The second set of numbers listed what appeared to be a line number, 32. He counted down to that line and read up to the last number, 19.
…a smaller antechamber is connected to the Great Hall by a door behind the Head table, with a fireplace and many portraits…
"Fireplace," he repeated and turned his attention to the large fireplace in the study. "Bluebell flames," he said and waved a hand over the fire. The flames turned from the normal yellow to a periwinkle blue. The fireplace rose into the chimney revealing a strongbox. A quick tap on the lock with his finger popped the lid open. He picked up the pouch Hermione had placed in the vault six months earlier and the secret hiding place vanished as the fireplace lowered, the key floated back to the drawer and the book returned to its place on the shelves.
Harry held the pouch, and was about to released the latch, just as Ron entered the study.
"Bloody hell, Harry, the door wouldn't open while you had your vault open. You could have warned me."
"Sorry Ron, but this is what I needed to recover. Hermione put it there some months back, and I had to find the current location of the vault. Not sure where the thing went to this time."
"So, hand over the pouch and I'll bring it to Robards," Ron commanded.
Compelled by duty and orders, he handed the pouch to Ron, and as Ron's hand touched the pouch, a surge of energy pulsed through his hand, knocking him to the floor.
"Looks like Dumbledore meant for certain people to handle this. He must have known she'd be in hospital and unable to handle it," Harry said, as he reached a hand to help his mate to his feet.
"So only you or Hermione can touch the thing?"
"Seems that's the case," he said, as he released the latch that held the leather bag closed, but the latch held fast.
"Looks to me like you've been made a delivery boy and she's the only one to read whatever is in there."
"Won't Robards be upset if we bring her in this?" Harry inquired. He knew the answer; she was authorized, but needed to determine the extent of Ron's personal briefing.
"Come off it, we both know Dumbledore left her as part of this operation. Robards hasn't any choice."
"Right, then to the hospital and we'll see what's in this." With that, the two old friends vanished with a pair of pops, to reappear in a broom cupboard near Hermione's room.
"That was bloody fun," Ron said, as they left the cupboard. A constable stationed outside the room, where they were still investigating the murder of the nurse, listened and watched the two men leave the small room and shook his head. A couple of nurses standing nearby also witnessed them, sending the two wizards murderous glares as they passed by. One whispered something in the other's ear and Ron distinctively heard one whispering, "Disgusting and a new father at that..."
"Hey, mate, what d'you think they've thought us up to in that cupboard?"
"Dunno..." But Harry's face had gone red.
They crossed the hall, past Fred and George, into her room; a smaller bed stood next to her bed, she quickly raised a finger to her lips and pointed to the sleeping child. Harry smiled at the sight of the two most important witches in his life and raised the pouch, making it visible.
"Over there." She pointed to a rather comfortable chair by the window. She stood over Annie, gently kissed her daughter and crossed the room to the chair.
"Have you opened it yet?" she asked.
"No, it's charmed, only you or I can hold it, but I can't open it," Harry replied.
"Then hand it here," she ordered and placed it across her lap. Taking a deep breath, she popped the latch and the flap fell open. Inside she retrieved a number of sealed envelopes, each bearing a different name. She thumbed through the stack and read the names.
"Harry and Hermione, Ronald Weasley. Rufus Scrimgeour, Tom the barman, Annie Potter," she said, as she went through each envelope. She held each; the one for the barman at the Leaky Cauldron seemed to have substantial weight, as if there were several galleons meant to pay a debt. The most unusual of the lot was the one she held for their daughter, not yet eight hours old.
Hermione handed Ron his letter and then opened the one addressed to them. She pulled the single sheet of parchment and stared at the message.
"What's it say?" Harry asked, as she handed the sheet to him. He held it and also stared. "This has to be some joke on his part; it's only a hoof print."
"No, not just any print, notice the cut on the side? That has to be Firenze . Dumbledore meant for us to seek him out. Ron, what does your message say?" she asked.
"All he said was 'Stay true to your friends, and your convictions'," he said, turning the sheet over.
"Open Annie's letter," Harry said to Hermione.
She tried to slide a finger into the gap, but found it quite impossible. Thinking only Annie could open it; she put the envelope in the baby's hand and used the infant's finger to open it. Under her name, the words 'To be opened on your fifteenth birthday' appeared.
"Guess he wanted to leave her a message for when she's old enough to read it herself," Ron commented. He took the remaining two envelopes from Hermione, "I'll have them delivered for you, since there's no way for anyone else to open them. Harry, you stay here with them until I return, and I'll send a report to Robards."
"Right, thanks Ron," Harry said with a warm pat on Ron's shoulder. In a wink of an eye, Ron left the room.
Now that they were alone, Harry turned to the crib holding their future. He gently lifted her, being careful not to wake her.
"Hi, sweetheart, daddy had to run an errand, but I'm back now."
She made a tiny squeak in reply and opened her eyes.
"You have your mum's eyes," he whispered to his little girl. "If you grow up to be half the beauty your mum is, I'm going to have my hands full keeping you out of mischief."
"I'm not a beauty, Harry, but that's a nice sentiment."
He walked to Hermione and knelt in front of her. "You are beautiful, both of you. Now, I think I know what that last line meant."
"'And the three shall wield the ultimate force as one.' It had to mean the three of us. I've never been as happy in my life. You filled what was missing in my life, eleven years ago, on Privet Drive, remember that day?"
"Um-hum," she hummed.
"I was happy then, I never regretted being with you, but I do regret what happened to you in those months that followed. When we finally did marry, that was the happiest moment in my life. I never thought that could be topped."
Her smile begged him to continue.
"But now I have two women in my life I can say I will love forever," he said, as he leaned forwards and she met him with the child between them. They hugged as a family, the warmth and love they felt at that moment was more magical than any spell or charm.
"I never regretted a moment we've had together, Harry. I couldn't imagine being with anyone else."
That moment lasted as they embraced and created a lifetime memory Harry knew he would take to the grave; he was with his own family.
That moment was not to last forever, as all memory moments seem to do; this one was interrupted as the door opened. Instinctively, Harry pushed Annie into Hermione's waiting arms and stood and turned to face the intruder.
His abrupt action startled the nurse that had come to check on Hermione and Annie. The tray of fresh dressings for the surgical incision fell with a clank of the tray.
"Bloody hell, you could have knocked," Harry said, as he stepped forwards to help retrieve the medical supplies.
"I'm sorry, sir, I was merely following directions; shall I come back later then?"
"Just leave those here; I can tend to my own dressing, thank you," Hermione addressed the nurse, who complied and left the tray on a side table.
"Jumpy, darling?" she asked.
"A bit, that business in the other room has me concerned and, with Dumbledore's murder, this could turn into a difficult time for our world."
Now, alone for the first time since the attack, she let the day's events take hold as she sat back in the chair, still holding Annie as tightly as she could without crushing her.
"Any ideas who could have done either deed?" she asked tentatively.
"No, the woman's assailant wasn't seen, but for a brief moment. Ron and I did overhear one of the detectives mention she was attacked by a tall bloke with and a fair limp. It sounds like the same man Remus described, he was there with Dumbledore when he was shot."
"He was shot? You didn't mention that. Is there a description?"
"No, I didn't. And I expect you are aware that you had been covertly assigned to this case?"
"Yes, it was something the Professor insisted on with Head Auror Robards. Now how was he shot?" she asked.
"A crossbow's bolt in the neck. He fell into an embankment into a ravine. Last I heard a team had gone to recover his body. What is disturbing is I only know one person to own and use a crossbow."
"Hagrid? But he would never willingly hurt anyone, beside he worshiped the ground Dumbledore walked," Hermione commented.
"That's the irony, I'm positive Hagrid is being framed for the murder."
"But, by who?" Hermione's rhetorical question would remain unanswered when a light knock on the door interrupted them
"Harry, Hermione? Sorry to bother you, I wanted to let you know I sent one of my men off with detailed instructions for Robards."
"Good, that should give us some time to sort this out. Harry, you and Ron must find Firenze immediately, find out what he knows," Hermione said.
"Ron, is there any way we can delay reporting back to Chief Robards until we find Firenze ?"
"I sent word that we had to follow up a lead or it would have been lost, yes I believe we can spare a couple hours."
"Brilliant, then to Hogwarts with you both, last I heard he still taught Divination," Hermione instructed.
With a nod and a kiss to her forehead, Harry stepped back, snapped his fingers and vanished. Ron followed a split second behind.
They reappeared at the gate to the wizard school, and walked across the threshold onto the grounds. The activity of the students studying for end of year exams hardly allowed any to notice the two wizards as they approached the castle.
"We'll try his classroom first," Harry commanded, to a sour look on Ron's face. "Oh, sorry, sir shall we check his office first, commander?" Harry added sarcastically.
"Yes, that would be the logical place to start," he replied with a grin.
Harry replied with a mock punch to the shoulder, with Ron feigning sever injury. Their playful banter continued until they reached the great doors to the castle, and were greeted by the Assistant Headmaster.
"Jake, good to see you again," Harry started with a welcoming handshake.
"Congratulations to you and Hermione, papa, I understand you have a daughter," Jake said.
"She's perfect," Harry replied.
"We're here to see Firenze , it may be of importance," Ron said changing the subject quickly.
"He's not been here in a few days; he received an owl and then asked for a few days leave. He never did say where he was going," Jake replied to Ron.
"Can we see his office? Maybe there's a message of note that might help," Harry asked.
"Certainly, you both know the way, let me know if you need anything else."
After the pleasantries, the two Aurors entered into the Divination Professor's classroom. It was still enchanted to appear as if they were in a field near an ancient oak tree. The table against a fence obviously served as his desk, student's essays and assignments sat in neat stacks based on year. The orderly appearance of the Centaur's office reflected his attention to detail.
"Nothing seems out of place, as if he plans on returning this afternoon," Ron commented as they examined the table.
"Hallo, what's this?" Harry exclaimed as he looked to the other side of the fence. An open field seemed to stretch on into the horizon; they both knew it was an illusion. Harry paused at the gate and found two objects, a party noisemaker fitting of a muggle child and a jar of overfed slugs.
"What do you make of it? The jar has a label, Ελληνική , It may be some form of Centaur writing."
"Ron, it's Greek or possibly Latin. We need to have it translated." Harry produced a valise and placed the two objects into a small compartment.
They continued to examine the room, but found nothing else out of place or unusual.
"We need to go into the Forest and see if he's gone back to his people, or if they have any idea where he has gone," Ron finally said as they stared at the table.
"Yes, that is the next logical step. I got on with them well enough in the past, I'm certain we can at least find out if he's contacted them," Harry said as they left the classroom.
The journey into the Forbidden Forest brought back memories of early years with Hagrid. Harry thought about his first meeting with Firenze , in his first year when he was saved from Quirrell who when he was influenced by Voldemort.
The Centaur's village was impossible to Apparate to, and almost as difficult to walk to. An invisible barrier stopped unwelcome visits. They both knew a sentry would be waiting to either escort them or repel them.
From the mist of the barrier, hoof sounds announced the sentry's presence. The hazy form of a man peered out, the rest of the Centaur emerged from the mist. His long red hair and mane quickly identified him to Harry.
"Greetings Ronan, it's good to see you again," Harry said with his hand stretched out.
Ronan stood defiantly, refusing the friendly greeting. "Humans, what reason do you have to trespass on our holy ground?"
"We are here looking for Firenze , Albus Dumbledore left me a message to seek him for a message." Harry replied.
"He cannot be disturbed."
From the mist of the barrier, another figure appeared, another Centaur armed with their traditional weapon. The crossbow was aimed at Harry, as he was the perceived leader of the pair.
"Leave now, or prepare to die. Your conflicts are of your own doing, we have no part in them," Bane insisted.
"Stay your bolt, Bane," a third voice commanded from the mist.
"Sire, they have intruded upon our grounds," Bane replied, as he maintained his aim.
"Neither of these two wizards is the one responsible for Firenze 's attack. He was able to hide himself from us, and the stars were unable to forewarn of the attack."
Harry stepped forward ignoring the blot aimed at him. " Magorian, we are seeking information, if Firenze was attacked as you said, then we have a common goal. If we work together we can solve this mystery."
"Nay, it was a wizard of the old magiks that charmed his mind into the future; only with time can we understand who the assailant was. There is nothing more to say. Now leave," Magorian, the Centaur leader insisted.
"Aye, leave Harry Potter, and remember this day. We shall not meet again without loss of life."
The pair complied with the demand, and backed away from the barrier to the Centaur's village. They continued to back away carefully until the three also backed away into the mist. Neither Harry nor Ron heard the tale-tale sound of hoofs galloping away.
"They're still watching us, Harry, be careful," Ron whispered to his friend as they both continued the cautious retreat back to the castle. The two artifacts found in the abandoned office were safely tucked in a secure place in Harry's home before proceeding to the Ministry.