Unlike a Sister (Harmione)

Chapter 40: The Doctor

Alex and Simone were at their Whitechapel flat and they came quietly. Commissioner Hewett offered the Auror Department the services of his digital forensics unit, which quickly confiscated the Muggle couple's mobiles, cameras, computers, and external hard drives.

"We've wiped everything," Alex said, watching Harry with a sardonic smile. "We're not idiots."

"Does that mean nothing else will be released?" Harry asked the Muggle forensics expert lowly as Alex and Simone were led outside in golden manacles.

"No," she said, holding her mobile out to him. "Another video dropped five minutes ago. They've likely used some sort of automated web service. We'll have to sort out which one and suspend their account or it'll keep going."

None of this quite made sense to Harry, but he stared down at the bright pane of glass in her hand. It clearly showed Walter Cameron disappearing and reappearing under Harry's Invisibility Cloak in this very sitting room...when Hermione brought the Muggle to Alex's flat for that very first blood transfusion.

That was three years ago now. Three years of footage...

Alex and Simone were placed in separate interrogation rooms at the Auror Department. Harry had it done quietly, but the word was out. Passing down the aisle of Auror cubicles, he heard the commentators on the Wireless shouting for the complete suspension of all wizard-Muggle exchange programmes. Even the more liberal pundits were suggesting enhanced vetting measures and restricting candidates to those with immediate magical family members.

"Has Warburton assigned a case officer?" Harry growled, charging into his office.

"Yes," said Gwen, trailing after. "He should be here any minute. They'll bring the Muggle liaison too."

"Fine. Have someone bring in Drs. Elena and Thomas Puckle. I don't think they're involved, but we'll need to-"

Before Harry could finish his thought, Kingsley Shacklebolt's patronus materialized before him. The lynx's eyes burned like molten silver.

"My office. Now."

Harry and Gwen shared a look.

"No one talks to them until I get back," he grumbled, throwing off his Muggle coat. "Listen for my telephone. Matt's with the Met team. Have him wait here when he gets back."

In the lift down to the Minister of Magic Front Office, Harry pressed the back of his palm against his burning face.

How had they done it? He'd never seen Alex or Simone film or photograph them. And didn't those sleek rectangles malfunction in magical environments?

Not always, said a voice in his ear that sounded eerily like Hermione Granger. The Law of Seventy-Seven has never been properly studied. There are loads of exceptions based on location and type of technology...

Fucking Christ.

The Minister of Magic's chief of staff, Leonard Hogarth, was waiting for him when the lift opened.

"What did the Muggle say? Is there more coming?" he demanded.

"We only just brought him in," Harry said coolly.

Hogarth grunted and jerked his head, indicating he should follow. Astera gave him a sympathetic look from behind the reception desk. Passing through several corridors and waiting areas, they came to the inner sanctum, Kingsley's handsome office spreading out before him lined with books and gifts from foreign dignitaries and the great seal of the Ministry of Magic on the carpeted floor.

Harry wasn't the only one who had been summoned. Gloriana Warburton, Director of the Wizard-Muggle Exchange Office was there, looking distinctly crestfallen. John Lakey sat in one of the armchairs, pinching the bridge of his nose. Then there was Constance Fagan, Director of the Improper Use of Magic Office, his partner on the wizard-on-Muggle crime report. Finally, standing in the shadows and examining an enchanted golok knife on a velvet cushion, Gareth Ramsay-Head of the Office of Misinformation in the Department of Mysteries. Lakey, Harry, and Fagan eyed him somewhat distastefully. DMLE and the Department of Mysteries did not get on.