A Million Things {Hamilton/Harry Potter Universe}

Chapter 22

It was chaos. After they reached a safe place, the Schuyler Mansion, Alexander sent a Patronus message to Dumbledore. The old wizard called an emergancy Order meeting and all the members gathered at the Mansion.

It was a tad overwhelming as his friends kept asking him if he and Eliza were okay. Mr. Schuyler's patience ran out and said. "Albus, can we start this meeting? I want to know exactly what happened to my daughter and her husband."

Alexander explained the incident. "The Death Eaters knew who we were," he said, wrapping up. "It wasn't a random attack."

"And how do you know?" a wizard accused, looking very grumpy to be woken at three in the morning. He wasn't the only one. Many of them and their families had been attacked so everyone wanted to know why a meeting was necessary. Alexander wished he knew, but Dumbledore would have to be the one to tell.

Alexander glared at him. "They called me a Mudblood, so they knew of my status. And when the woman Death Eater was thrown back, I saw her face. I don't think Voldemort sends Bellatrix Lestrange to attack any old family."

The members of the Order began buzzing like a swarm of bees at this news.

Dumbledore raised his hand and the essembly grew quiet. "This is a very serious matter," he began. "George Washington kept quiet about the full identity his assistant for a reason, you know. A muggle-born wizard in such a position would surely be a target for Death Eaters."

"Its true," Hamilton confirmed. "I wasn't allowed to tell anyone outside the Aurors or the Order what my job was." He looked at the wizards and witches around him. They got the message.

Sirius Black spoke up loudly. "Are you accusing someone of betraying you, Hamilton?"

"As it would seem, Black," he countered, cocking his head. The two men glared at eachother. "Anything you'd like to conf-?"

Black lunged across the table. His friends, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, held him back. "ARE YOU-?!?"

"Silence!" Dumbledore roared, standing up. Lowering his voice, he said, "I would love to believe that everyone in the Order is completely loyal to the cause. That thay all have honest and true hearts. It is a naive notion in this harsh world and we must all be wary, especailly now." He gravely looked at all the faces gathered there. "Even though it pains me to say so, we have a traitor in our midst. But do not accuse oneanother. It will only tear us apart."

He eyed Alexander, who nodded dutifully.

"Constant vigilance," Mad-Eye Moody growled, breaking the silence. "That's what we need."

After the meeting ajourned, Benedict went up to Alexander. "Hey," the wizard said, patting him on the back. "I panicked when I heard of the attack. Thank Merlin you're okay."

Hamilton smiled. It had been awhile since he had seen his childhood friend. "Thanks Benny." His smile crumbled as the full weight of the events hit him hard. He staggered to a chair and put his head in his hands. "If something had happened to Eliza and our baby...I can't stop thinking about it."

Benedict put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "But its fine. You're all safe. Consider yourself lucky."

There was a silence and Alexander knew what Benedict was implying. "You're talking about what happened to your father. Oh Benny, I'm an idiot." He felt worse than before.

"Hey, its okay," Benedict said, blinking hard. "He was a brave man. Hopefully we can find an end to this war without anymore death." He looked around the room and saw that most of the Order members had already left. Lowering his voice he said, "So who do you think the traitor is? The one that sold you out?"

That was almost the last thing Alexander wanted to think about. "I don't know. Everyone seems so dedicated."

"You don't think its Black?"

"Nah," Alexander said, shaking his head. "He's James Potter's best mate and cut himself off from his prejudiced family." He let out a sort laugh. "Man, Potter would have murdered me if he heard what I said about Sirius. At least he's safe, in hiding."

Benedict was quiet, thinking. "Some think its me," he said softly.

"WHAT?!"

"I heard a couple talking before I came up to you. Its because I was in Slytherin and I'm quiet and in the spy network."

Alexander felt a stab of anger. "In case anyone's forgotten, I was in Slytherin too. And you just lost your father to the Death Eaters. If anyone's a traitor, its those who accuse without reason."

"Tell me about it," Benedict sighed. "I have to leave. I'm helping my mother get out of the country. I want to keep her safe. Goodnight."

After saying goodnight to his in-laws, Alexander went up to the guest room and found that Eliza was still awake, rubbing her stomach with an uncomfortable look on her face.

"What's the matter?" he asked, kissing her forehead.

"The baby is kicking," Eliza sighed. "I think all the excitement startled him and now he won't let me sleep."

Though his wife wasn't comfortable, Alexander found it incredibly sweet she refered to the baby as a he, as they had discussed how he so wanted it to be a son. "Well, we can't have that," he said, getting up and rummaging through drawers. "I guess I could sing, and I would be fantastic at it, as you know, but its too late for that kind of strain." He found what he was looking for and pulled out a sad, little radio. "Ah ha. I believe the Wizarding Wireless Network shall solve our problems."

Eliza chuckled as he tapped the box with his wand and the dials lit up and spun feebly, before dying again.

"Oops." A second try and the radio tuned into a talk show. He tapped and he heard the opening bars to 'A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love' and quickly changed it again. He smiled as he found a station playing soft piano music. He settled into bed and pulled Eliza into his arms.

"I think he likes this," Eliza murmured, closing her eyes.

"Of course he does," Alexander said. "His father has great taste and he knows it." As Eliza fell asleep, he stayed awake a little longer, worrying about what had taken place. They had survived the attack but how quickly would their luck run out? Alexander had been escaping death all his life and the constant worry of how long it would last was maddening. But as he looked at his sleeping wife, he smiled.

It seemed their fortune was very good and he would let it continue as long as they could live it together.