The Brightest Sun

Chapter 41

May 3rd

He sat there calmly, magic singing beneath his skin as he regained control over it, not needed and yet not fully hidden, feeling his friend shift slightly in his seat.

Harry saw it in their eyes; they had moved too quickly, given their hand away too early in the game, and he was eager to see it through to the end. Uncle Charlus had cautioned him, knowing the lengths the Unspeakables would go to, but Harry was quite done playing their game.

The Minister’s assistant kept glancing at him, eyes dropping to his papers whenever he noticed Harry’s green gaze. It had been well over an hour since he had come to the Ministry, the Auror captain – and Harry had been pleasantly surprised to realize it was Nigel Wolpert– insisting he hear Harry’s side of the story, and the case had been pushed to the upper levels almost immediately.

“Try not to blow things over too badly,” Neville muttered. “Nigel’s already sticking his neck out.”

“I wouldn’t do that to him,” Harry replied, mouth twisting in distaste as he thought on his experiences with the Auror corps. That little Nigel, the boy who had flown ten feet backward each time he attempted to disarm someone in their DA meetings, was now an Auror Captain was slightly surprising, but Harry remembered the boy had been one of the first to believe him about Voldemort and eager to do his part in the war.

The door opened as Nigel popped his head out, gesturing for Harry and Neville to join him.

Showtime, he thought, straightening his robes and checking to see his wand remained in the holster.

Kingsley’s office was large, spacious, with the Minister’s desk angled at the back next to the view of the Atrium. There was a small seating area closer to the front, but they were directed to the seats in front of the desk, the shadowed figure of an Unspeakable stood at the Minister’s shoulder as the Director of the DMLE leaned against the wall, dark eyes scrutinizing them. He was older than Kingsley, Harry guessed – not knowing Hinds well enough to tell whether his brown hair was balding due to stress or age – and one of the Aurors who had helped retake the Ministry.

“Lord Potter-Black, Lord Longbottom,” Kingsley greeted, slight surprise flashing through his eyes at the sight of Neville.

“Minister,” Neville answered, shaking Shacklebolt’s hand firmly. “I hope things are well?”

He gestured for them to sit as Director Hinds ordered Nigel out, face grim as he answered Neville’s question. “Not the best, at the moment,” he admitted. “I had expected you would be at Hogwarts dealing with the aftermath of the fire, Lord Longbottom.”

“I was,” Neville said truthfully, “however I made it to Potter Hall in time to see the aftereffects of the attack as I was checking on the well-being of my students. Maia is my goddaughter, so imagine my surprise at learning her home had been attacked.”

“It was an unfortunate situation, but not one I would consider an attack,” Kingsley denied.

“And what, Minister,” Harry drawled, “Would you consider a dozen Unspeakables attempting to break through the wards of an ancestral home?”

“We were merely there to ascertain the safety of your family, Lord Potter-Black,” the Unspeakable chimed in, voice neutral and masked beneath the cowl. “Fiendfyre burns are a rather dangerous thing to deal with and must be handled carefully.”

Harry’s eyes flashed in angry disdain, feeling Neville’s sharp warning glance.

“As it stands,” Director Hinds cut in, his voice deep and booming. “We have a dead Auror, four fatally wounded Unspeakables, and three more who might not see active duty for the next month.”