Unbroken

Friday, Week 0

Harry POV:

I stiffen my posture as the doors swing open to grant me entrance to Auror Department of the Ministry. There, I see my team waiting for me, each of them with the same smug grin on their face. Immediately, I know I'm in trouble. My own smirk graces my face, shocking them momentarily, before my second in command steps forward.

"Best wipe that look off your face, Harry," Lyla Roberts, my second in command and occasional friend with fringe benefits, comments. "Minister's been waiting for you all morning." She touches my arm momentarily and gives me a saucy wink while I shake my head at her.

"Best not keep the Right Honourable Kingsley Shacklebolt waiting." I push past her and nod at my teammates in greeting before entering my office.

I immediately notice Kingsley standing there, tense as ever. I put my arms behind my back and stand up straight as if I'm at parade rest and wait. I'm not new to being chewed out by the minister and he knows it. He doesn't expect me to respect his orders or decisions but he does expect to make an example out of me.

"Blatantly disregarding the rules of engagement, abandoning your team, breaking and entering without just cause, and subverting my direct order to minimize collateral damage. My oh my how we're overachieving today." Kingsley turns to me and he's positively fuming despite his calm voice. I prepare myself for the worst but not before I sarcastically answer just for the fun of it.

"You know me Sir, I like to surpass expectations." I keep my voice stony and plant my feet, making me immovable even as the minister levels a piercing glare towards me. Nothing intimidates me and he knows it. That's why he's so pissed.

"Watch it, Potter. There's no denying that you're the best of us, that you're our best Auror. But do not get it misconstrued, you are not above the law. No matter what you have done, THE RULES STILL NEED TO BE FOLLOWED. If not for yourself, then for your teammates."

I inwardly scoff at that and he notices my defiant look. I do my job and I do it well. Close to fifty death eaters have been imprisoned or executed because of my efforts and, yet, I'm being criticized for being ruthlessly efficient at my job. Bullshit.

"With all due respect Sir, Rudolphus Lestrange won't be a problem anymore. I count that as a success."

Kingsley slams his large fist down on the desk, my desk, and stares at me in barely contained frustration. Truthfully I could have taken my dressing down like any other man and sucked it up but I liked to have fun. This was funny to me. I keep my face remarkably neutral, however.

"Success isn't just defined by results, it is also defined by the method in which we took to get those results. Yours is a hollow victory, Harry." He turns away from me and stares out my window, deep in thought. I wait a beat for him to speak again and he doesn't disappoint. "You endangered your teammates' lives and risked the lives of civilians in your haste to catch Lestrange. If it weren't for sheer dumb luck, that could have gone a lot worse."

What he calls dumb luck, I call skill. My teammates were never in danger because I know they could handle themselves. As for the civilians, Lestrange never would have gotten the chance to hurt them. I keep these thoughts to myself, not wanting to seem arrogant to my beloved Minister.

"Given that this is your seventh time disregarding my direct orders, I have no choice but to warn you that the next such occurrence will result in suspension. Quite frankly, Harry, for all you do, you are not above anyone else in this department. An example will be made so I suggest you walk a thin line," Kingsley bit out through gritted teeth.

I nod my head robotically even though this was decidedly unexpected, I was used to being lectured, berated, even, for my exploits in the field but I never once expected to be teetering close to suspension. Part of me wants to argue but I know it's a lost cause and my rope is wearing thin as it is.