Author Note:- I would apologise for the delay however I suspect that subsequent chapters will take about this long, the first three were fluke because I wrote them before I got accepted so could post all three very quickly. Still enjoying writing away and I hope you all enjoy reading.
Thanks go to Sweets, LegalAlien and JediYoda for beta-ing. Disclaimer is at the front of the story, if you haven't read it how did you get this far?
The next day Harry entered the Auror office at eight fifty five. He was still early but still had to assure half a dozen people he wasn't sick or a polyjuice impersonation. By time he sat down behind his desk he was already tired and frustrated. He gave Hermione a small smile and leaned back. The bushy brunette had been sitting in his office since the stroke of nine, but it had taken until quarter past for Harry to get there.
"What can I do for you today Mione?" he inquired, conjuring up his morning cup of coffee, "Thirsty?"
"Please," she smiled as Harry conjured up a cappuccino with sugar, cream and sprinkled chocolate, "Thanks, on to business, I came over so we can discuss the mission and practice our roles if you have time?"
"Meh, it's that or paperwork," Harry grinned as Hermione rolled her eyes, he pulled out the folder but didn't open it, "What's your undercover name and occupation?"
"Suzette Earning, or commonly known as Suze, I'm an ex-ministry employee, fired for stealing papers and selling them illegally." Hermione grinned, "Caught three nights ago and volunteered the information about Yaxley's meeting and offered an inch of hair in return for a reduced sentence. I questioned her yesterday morning to understand how she acts and who I might meet while disguised as her. I also have three meetings to offer papers to clients, Shacklebolt has already arranged for my customers to be caught swiftly."
"What about you? Same question and no opening the folder to check," she asked quickly.
"Paul Icewell, I'm new to the country from America, Suze's new boy toy and tough as I'm polyjuicing as one of our American Auror recruits, nice big lad apparently. I've got a criminal record the length of my forearm with everything from assault to handling stolen goods to apparating without a licence to my personal favourite drinking and flying." Harry grinned at her when she blushed bright red at the boy toy comment, "No known character in England so just got to keep up a foreign accent."
"I'm thinking I'll go with the strong silent type, if I seem like I'm an idiot then perhaps Yaxley won't mind me overhearing anything, like Draco did with Crabbe and Goyle." Harry mused.
"Possibly, but he might also consider you a liability, likely to stupidly mention something down the pub." Hermione added.
"Good point, but we don't know enough about Yaxley to make any conclusions, I figure it best if one of us plays dumb and the other smart, at least there's a chance he'll trust one of us. No offence intended but I don't think we could pass off ex-ministry employee Suze as a dumb blonde, especially if you're playing her." Harry commented earning another blush.
"We'll play up the tough aspect I think, I don't want to run into any trouble with people asking me to prove you're my toy boy," Hermione added, blushing to the tips of her ears.
"Aww, not embarrassed about me are you?" Harry teased, "Or just completely revolted by me and it makes your stomach crawl to imagine being thought of as my lover?"
"Harry!" Hermione threw her empty cup at him which he caught without a problem, his Seeker reflexes still present, "It's not that, well not just that," she added with a smirk, to which he responded by poking his tongue out at her, "But it's hard enough trying to convince Viktor to let me go on the mission with you as it is, without him having to worry about you being my pretend boyfriend. Not to mention how badly Ginny would hex me for stealing her fiancée, then she'd be the one treating me afterwards, no thanks!"
Harry had dissolved into chuckles at the look of horror on Hermione's face combined with her blushing and rapid excuses. Upon seeing his reaction she scowled at him which just made matters worse as Harry spotted the glare. It took him a minute or two to calm down before he leaned back on his chair and smiled at her.
"So, Viktor doesn't want you on the mission either?" he inquired merrily.
"No, he's worried about my ability to look after myself, it's driving me nuts to be honest. I helped face down the greatest threat of our time and countless other. I know he doesn't want me to get hurt, whose boyfriend doesn't? But surely by now I've proven I can look after myself? And I have Harry Potter looking after me, isn't that enough?" she sighed, "I've been thinking about splitting up with him you know, he's sweet and honest, but he's too over protective."
"I know how you feel, about people not believing you can handle yourself. Every other day I fight against some of the darkest wizards since Voldemort and I still get complaints about going solo. You know I've been through more partners in a year than most Aurors do in their whole careers. A dozen have died by my side when we've been attacked because someone wanted to prove they could defeat Harry Potter. Another three dozen or so injured to the point they retire or request a new partner. I've a flawless record for living, haven't died once you know."
"Sure I get injured, but at least I'm back on my feet after a week or two. I think I've proven I can work by myself but Shacklebolt always wants someone else there. Why?" Harry sighed.
"Because he's afraid that one day you won't make it back, everyone is Harry, even if they don't admit it." Hermione moved over to the window and sat on the wide ledge, "One day you'll find yourself in a situation where you can't come back and we'll lose our greatest defender. The evil in the world will see this and try and take advantage, a new Dark Lord will rise until we find the next Harry Potter to defeat him. You don't need to do anything, you just need to keep living and breathing and no-one will step up. That's why we do everything we can to make sure you don't fall, whether you like it or not. So we have someone else with you always, whether they have to die in your place or just drag you home when you can't do it yourself."
"The world shouldn't rely on one person Mione," Harry replied.
"I know, but we do," Hermione looked over at Harry and smiled, "But what the world doesn't know, is that when you fall, the world won't end. I'm ready to take the burden, Ron's ready, Neville's ready, Kingsley is ready. The world doesn't need Harry Potter to save it, but everyone rests a little easier knowing that he can without breaking a sweat."
"Isn't that the sort of speech you're supposed to give at the end of a story? We haven't even started the mission yet." Harry looked at her quizzically.
"Oh stop being argumentative and give me another question, I want to make sure I'm not thrown out in the field." Hermione scowled at him, though not angrily.
"I need an authorization form to bring in a couple of kneasles from Egypt, how much and how long will it take?" Harry inquired, bringing out a list Suzette had provided of her delivery time and price list.
"Three days and twenty galleons," Hermione replied without pause.
"Right, but slow down a little, Suze never had reflex reactions, she had to think about certain prices for a while. How about an apparition licence?"
"Fifty galleons," she replied after a pause and looked thoughtful, "Might take a while, two weeks at the most."
"Right, how about a permit to transport class b substances?" Harry asked.
"Five days … I can't remember how much though, let me see that list." Hermione looked positively outraged she missed one.
"That was a trick, Suze can't get those at all, you need Auror clearance level three minimum. It would take you five days to get one because you're level seven." Harry grinned.
"That's unfair!" Hermione snapped, grabbing the list and reading it over.
"Someone may asks, if you know an answer you tend to blurt it out, of course the client might not notice if it's something Suze couldn't get, but Shacklebolt might not be prepared for you to offer something you could get that isn't on her list." Harry explained, grabbing out another slip of paper, "Good thing I'm not doing it though, I'd be saying tomorrow all the time" he added at a mutter.
"What was that?" she asked, her attention suddenly piqued.
"Hmm?" Harry asked, bringing his attention from the paper.
"Why would you be saying tomorrow?" Hermione replied, "I know you're higher up than me, but you've only got level eight clearance, you still need to wait a few days surely?"
"Actually for form requests I'm level ten like Shacklebolt," Harry grinned, "I can thank Arthur for that, he knew what I'm like for paperwork so he authorized me to instantly claim anything I need in case I forgot to file a requisition or need something for later that day."
"That's hardly fair, it's encouraging you to be lazy and forgetful and undermining the system." Hermione huffed.
"Perhaps, but I've made enough arrests because of it to justify it I suppose. You know its only time holding us back from higher ranks. If it wasn't for the fact that there's only one head of Magical Law Enforcement me, you and Ron would all be level ten by now." Harry leaned back into the chair, "Back to the matter at hand, what family do you have?"
"Suppose debating over things already decided and enforced isn't too productive, not that it doesn't works, look at S.P.E.W." Hermione replied, but her bookworm nature kicked in, having to answer the question, "Mother and two younger brothers only."
"Mum works at St Phillipinas retirement home, younger brothers Luke and Brad. Luke is a squib and working in filing at the ministry and Brad is in his fifth year at Hogwarts, Ravenclaw house like I was." She replied smartly.
"Suzette was a Ravenclaw?" Harry inquired, "Doesn't seem a very intelligent thing to do really."
"Well it took her three years to be caught, so she must have been doing something right, she was only caught when one of our under covers caught wind of her operation and she was stung."
"Suppose, I'm going with single child and no living relatives approach. It's easier to remember, harder to find anything on me. I plan to be a ghost in the system, there's enough of those floating around the seedier areas for me to go unnoticed. We'll have to remember to keep our Occlumency shields up thought."
"Agreed" Hermione replied.
The pair continued quizzing each other for the rest of the morning. Hermione accepted that she had her role pretty good and Harry was happy enough just to wing it. He figured he could play it that any answers he got wrong would simply look like a dumb person forgetting their own cover story. Since he didn't have a proper cover story to work with it gave him a lot more flexibility. Hermione was frustrated by his lack of work but conceded that Harry worked better that way.
Harry and Hermione were headed for the lunch room when Harry paused mid step, grabbing for his pocket and pulling out the silver mirror. Kingsley Shacklebolt's face shimmered into view as Harry looked at the small object.
"Sir? Has Yaxley been sighted?" Harry asked quickly, worried that the call was an emergency summons.
"Not yet, no sign, he hasn't surfaced anywhere and the trackers haven't located where he's staying yet." Shacklebolt replied calmly, "This is just a check to make sure you're prepared."
"Aye, I'm with Mione now, we have our portkeys to the leaky cauldron room where our supplies are held. We've got the information memorized and we're ready to go at the call." Harry replied into the mirror.
"Good to hear," Kingsley nodded, "The stage is set, the Obliviators have rewritten the memories of everyone involved in the Earnings arrest. Luckily she confessed and has been sentenced already because we had to lose our witnesses so Hermione could pass for her safely."
"Are we certain that Yaxley is going to be at this meeting tomorrow?" Hermione inquired, "It's not just a prank call?"
"No, it was a reliable informant on this one, he'll be there, once he's left it's up to you, he'd drop the trackers fast so I'm not ordering any. Hopefully he'll think the lack of tracking charms means that he hasn't been spotted in London yet."
"Well we'll just have to hope he doesn't portkey or apparate the moment the meeting is done or we won't be able to follow him afterwards," Harry mused, "Suppose we'll have to try Legilimency hope he's got no skill at Occlumency, most of the old school death eaters never learnt, they thought it was futile against him."
"You do that, I'll try and use hearing spells to listen in. If that doesn't work we'll try a pensieve view afterwards." Hermione added, "Any other suggestions Kingsley?"
"Not many other options, you'll have to be careful he doesn't catch you immediately. We have nothing on him, so we can't even bring him in for littering." Shacklebolt replied, "Perhaps if you are quick you can visit Fred and George, see if they've developed anything new or pick up some of those extendable ears they kept using to spy on us."
"Good idea, haven't seen the twins in a while," Harry nodded, "Thanks Kingsley, we'll visit them this afternoon."
Kingsley's image vanished and the pair continued into the cafeteria to find Ron sitting with Neville and Lucy. Harry went to grab the food while Hermione sat down with the trio.
"No Derrick today?" she inquired.
"Got hit by a curse on patrol this morning, he's fine but he'll be in the infirmary for a few hours while they sort him out." Neville replied, "He's lucky though, if Moody were still with us he'd have finished Derrick off, definitely a good reminder of Constant Vigilence."
"We arrested three wizards on a class c deal, two wizards making the trade and one lookout right? Neville's reading the rights and I'm binding up the lookout when Derrick gets nailed with a bone breaker hex. He turned at the last moment and took it in the arm rather than the back luckily." Lucy explained, "He had his dragon hide on thanks to Harry so the curse only did a few fractures."
"Going to tell Harry that Derrick owes him another one?" Hermione asked with a smirk.
"Of course," Ron replied, "I don't want to be the only one who has to serve the almighty Harry through their next forty seven lives."
Lucy and Hermione giggled at the sour look on Ron's face as Harry sat down.
"What's the joke?" he asked with a smile, sliding Hermione's tray over to her.
"Just discovered that Derrick owes you a broken arm," Hermione replied, swatting Ron's hand as he tried to pinch her slice of pumpkin pie, "Dragon hide saved him apparently."
"Ah," Harry rolled his eyes, "So a guy lets off a curse when he's annoyed one time and half the Auror division starts wearing their Dragon hide full time."
"One time? I heard seven," Lucy replied.
"Seventeen that I'm aware of." Neville added.
"Twenty two by my count," Ron corrected, "They're still trying to cure Dawlish from those pink tentacles that sprouted from his face when you nailed him with Jelly-Legs and Furnunculus two weeks ago. Like on Crabbe on the train ride home after fourth year."
"My favorite was seeing the Minister of Sweden struck by the tickling charm when he was touring the building last year." Hermione added with a smirk. Harry blushed slightly as the whole table tried not to burst into laughter.
"I'm surprised that they allow you to wear it all the time, it's very expensive armor to be worn so much." Lucy noted.
"Nah, me, Harry, Neville and Hermy all wear the stuff Harry buys us," Ron answered, "So there are only a few Aurors wearing full suits provided by the ministry, Derrick for example, and he was given special permission by the Minister because he's stuck sitting next to Harry during lunch time. I'm sure we could get you similar permission if you like."
"Most other Aurors are just wearing their spell proofed robes or chest guards. It's never been required but most people just do it by habit these days and it does help out on the streets as Derrick proved today." Neville added.
"That's our Harry, keeping the world safe by threatening to hex you accidentally." Ron quipped resulting in the whole table bursting into laughter to the confusion of everyone else.
"Well, you'll be safe from 'accidental' hexes for a while at least. Harry and I are on code orange today." Hermione stated after she had calmed down, which helped bring the other back.
"Code Orange? What's the mission?" Ron asked.
"You know we can't tell you Ron," Hermione replied, "You remember what code orange means don't you? Should be the first one you remember since you teach the stuff."
"I know what code Orange means," Ron replied huffily, "I just also know that Harry has never been one to remember what it means."
"I'll get around to reading the handbook any day now, I swear," Harry grinned, and lowered his voice, "Mione's right though, definitely can't tell you we're going to be tracking a re-emerged DE who's suspected of joining the TLDEs to find out what they're up to."
"Harry!" Hermione whispered angrily.
"What? I said I couldn't tell them?" He replied innocently.
"Honestly Harry" she sighed.
"We're going to use our remaining time this afternoon to go visit Fred and George, any messages for the terror twins?" Harry asked.
"Aye, let them know Mum wants them to know she's rescheduling the family dinner to the 22nd, not the 29th, Bill and Fleur had to cancel so she's making it earlier." Ron said, "Same message for you and Ginny actually, sorry I forgot to mention yesterday. Not that it affects you much if you're on assignment. Hopefully dad has already told her that you'll be busy, I hate seeing her disappointment when you cancel because of work."
"Aye, and we have another set of badges we'd like them to shield charm when they have time," Neville replied, "Also tell them hi from Neville."
Harry first rolls his eyes at Ron's message passing skills, glad that Molly had owled him about it a week ago when she first told Ron. He then nods at Neville's request as he finishes off his lunch and starts on his slice of treacle tart. He and Hermione passed through lunch quietly, idly chatting with the other three before Flooing to the Leaky Cauldron.
Harry was still a silent partner of Fred and George since his opening investment in their store. He offered his aid on new tricks and casting original spells to be copied on rare occasions. Never as a test dummy though, he wasn't daft, he also rarely accepted any treats they offered. Being the defender of the wizarding world hadn't bought him immunity from their tricks. During the ceremony celebrating the fall of Voldemort, Harry not only received the Order of Merlin First Class he was turned into a giant canary when the twins slipped a trick into his desert.
He also took chance to take revenge whenever needed, for the prank at the ceremony he had bewitched the shop sign to read "Wheezie's Wonky Whizzes!" to any non Weasley. It took the twins a month to find out and fix it, they had responded by jinxing Harry's training wand. During a demonstration session his wand exploded in gold and red sparks and he grew a white beard on par with Dumbledore's. He got the twins back by jinxing the door to the manager's office with the same spell. All three kept their beards for a month because they could.
Harry might be feared around the office for his uncontrollable temper, but no-one could deny he was a good laugh when he was in a good mood. Currently the score was even between the pranking rivals but Harry wanted to give himself an advantage before he left so he spent the walk to the twin's shop deep in thought.
Before they walked into view of the shop he caught Mione by the arm and whispered into her ear. She scowled for a moment but his puppy dog emerald eyes broke her resistance and she reluctantly agreed, keeping her scowl present though. Harry pulled out a couple of the twin's toys and bewitched them before pulling his hood over his head. Shifting his appearance, with his metamorphmagus ability, to look like Kingsley Shacklebolt. Stepping into the shop he and Hermione walk to the counter to find one of the shop employees smiling happily.
"I need to speak to the twins," Harry spoke in Kingsley's deep voice, flashing his Auror badge, "Official business."
"Oh, of course sir, head upstairs, I'll let them know you're coming."
Harry nodded and headed for the elevator, looking around at the newest stock on his way over. As the store had grown in success it had grown literally. The twins' silent partner and ministry contacts had managed to speed through numerous requests to magically increase the size of their shop. The small shop had ballooned, though no larger from the outside, the inside was now five floors and each was huge. The shelves were constantly being filled by new ideas devised by the twins.
Harry and Hermione stepped into the Elevator, Harry checking which way around the buttons were today. One of his pranks two years back had been to bewitch the lift buttons to move when it was unoccupied. The twins admiring the genius of the idea had left it in, sharing a private chuckle with Harry as customers were sent to random floors before realising what was happening.
The order today was:-
1st floor "Potty Potions!",
Ground floor "Tricks and Treats!",
3th floor "Staff Sanctuary!"
Basement "Battle Lab!"
2nd floor "Research Ruckus!"
Pressing the third button they set off up to the top of the shop, the doors opening to reveal a grand and professional reception desk. Nodding to the girl behind the desk they walked through heading for the Twin's main office. Knocking twice and then walking in the twins looked up and smiled at them.
"Shacklebolt, what brings the big man down here today?" Fred asked with a smile, "Hey Hermione, don't see you here often either."
"Bad business I'm afraid boys, we're having trouble with your latest batch of Decoy Detonators," Harry took a few of the black hooter-type objects and set them on the desk, "Try setting them off."
"Something wrong" Fred started
"With the decoys?" George continued
"Impossible,"
"We always double check,"
"Any items"
"For the ministry"
Fred picked up one and tossed another to George and they dropped them at their feet. A loud explosion set off in the office and the room filled with pink smoke. After the bang Harry's voice echoed around "Got ya boys! Or should I say, girls?" as the smoke clears. The room becomes clear again as Hermione banishes the smoke away leaving Harry back to normal and the twins wearing bright pink dresses. Complete with sequinned handbags and high heels.
"Suits you Fred, not really your colour tho George" Harry commented with a big grin.
The twins appraised each other and laughed heartily. Displaying a big grin Fred started posing and preening at Hermione while George pouted.
"Nice trick Harry," George commented, "New spell for us?"
"Will be a good seller, no doubt" Fred adds
"But you never visit during work hours"
"Just to talk ideas"
"We assume there is"
"A more serious reason?"
"Observant as always," Harry replies, "We've got a mission and were hoping you could provide us with some spy gear, and maybe something new?"
"Just want a spy kit and a tour?" George asks critically.
"Sounds like goofing off to us"
"We should know,"
"During work hours,"
"And we pay their wages,"
"Very concerning development about our law enforcers."
"Oh cut it out you two, we have a code orange mission to deal with," Hermione buts in, exasperated.
"Why didn't you say so?" Fred says, smiling, "Lets head to R&D, got some things you will love."
He starts walking to the door, balancing poorly on the high heels.
"Aren't you going to fix your outfits?" Hermione asks, now trying to hide her smirk.
"Alas, Harry's pranks are usually a little harder to deal with than a simple fix" George chuckles as he also tries to shuffle to the door,
"He's probably protected it against any self cast fixing or transfiguration spells" Fred explains to which Harry whistles innocently.
"Nonsense, I'll fix it," Hermione takes out her wand but Harry grabs her wrist with a grin.
"I wouldn't Mione, unless you want to join them." Harry smirks and opens the door, "Ladies first."
"Very good Harry" Fred comments,
"How long do these last by the way?" George asks, "And do you have the spell formulae? We can drop it to the research guys when we get there."
"About thirty minutes," he flicks out a slip of paper and hands it to George, then follows them to the elevator and flicks out another slip, "Oh, and this is the counter curse, I'll hand this one over personally I think."