ivy! → james potter

viii. knockturn alley

⋆☆.* ✧✰ .✦⋆*☆

LUCY HELD HER BREATH in anticipation as she awaited a response from Kingsley, who was absorbed in his thoughts after she filled him in on the events of the night before. They stood together in the privacy of the training room, where she had nearly dragged him the moment he got into the office that morning. Now he looked equal parts concerned and thoughtful.

"Who else knows about this?" he asked finally.

"Just Remus, Sirius, and James."

"Good, let's keep it that way." That surprised her. Her brows furrowed, her head tilting ever so slightly to the side.

"You don't think we should alert the rest of the Order?" He shook his head.

"No. This is a personal matter, anyhow."

"I'm glad you agree." It was his turn to look surprised, and she elaborated. "I don't want everyone in the Order fussing over this. It's none of their concern, and there isn't much we can do about it. They already know the Death Eaters are getting bolder; this one threat in particular is not their fight." In spite of the situation, Kingsley let out a chuckle.

"You could have led with that," he teased, though he soon grew solemn once more. "Well, I suppose we can't do anything except wait for him to make a move—"

"Wait," she said, holding up both of her hands as she cut him off. "What do you mean 'we'?"

"You don't think I'm letting you handle this alone, do you?" She arched her brows, and when it seemed he wasn't going to back down, she sighed.

"Kingsley, I don't want you getting mixed up in all this—" He didn't let her finish.

"Too bad. You told me because I'm your partner, right? Well, as your partner, I'm going to help you see this through, whether you want me to or not." She opened her mouth to protest, but gave up and closed it again. The faintest of smiles danced across her lips.

"Thank you," she told him genuinely, and he too smiled.

"Don't mention it," was his modest reply. "As I was saying, we can't really move on this until he does something actionable. There was never any proof in your mother's case."

"I know," she murmured, her gaze flicking to the floor for a moment before she donned a smile and looked back at him. "I reckon I'll just be bait in the meantime." Her comment was meant to be lighthearted, but she quickly realized it hadn't been received that way.

"What you'll be is careful," he told her sternly. "We all will be, but you, perhaps, need to be even more aware than any of us."

"But we're all on this list one way or another, aren't we?"

"Yes, but you're the first one to receive a direct threat. Not only are you one of the best fighters in the Auror Office, but you're an Order member, and he thinks he can get under your skin with what happened to your mother." She appreciated him stepping delicately over that topic, at least. She thought about grinning and making some quip about him complimenting her, but the situation was too serious. Briefly, fleetingly Lucy thought of how the old James would have said something just like that, but the new James wasn't as likely to, especially when it came to the safety of people he cared about. Maybe if it was his own safety that was the issue he would make a joke, but—