Piece By Piece

Chapter Nine: Lost and Found

      Harry nearly fell over after apparating past security again, which earned him a concerned look from Remus as he caught him.

      "I'm fine," Harry assured him, standing up straight. "Apparating past a security checkpoint with three people on my back is a bit of work, that's all."

      "Isn't security pointless, then?" Dora asked.

      Harry shook his head. "Only a few of us have permission. A special bypassing spell is laced into my badge." He held up his Head Auror's badge for them to see. 

      "Alright, so what is this place?" Asked Remus.

      Harry checked his watch, it was barely 11am; the meeting he'd left was probably still in session. "I can tell you as we walk," He said. "But I should try and get back to a meeting that's going on now."

      "That's fine," Remus said.

      "Don't you need to call Hermione?" George asked Harry. "I can start filling them in while you do."

      Harry smiled. "Yeah, I'd forgotten about that. Thanks, man."

      The group began to walk with George in the lead, Harry holding up the rear, and Remus and Dora in between them. While George led the tour, Harry pulled out his cell phone and dialed Hermione's number, as was the protocol for these missions. He realized as the phone rang that he'd forgotten to call the day before when he brought his parents back and Hermione hadn't called him out on it, for which he was thankful. He made a mental note to apologize later just as Hermione answered.

      "Hello?" Her voice called through the phone.

      "Hey," Harry said quietly so as not to disturb George. "Just wanted to say we're back in one piece."

      "Oh! That's good!"

      "Yeah. Am I interrupting a meeting?"

      "No, actually. We just finished."

      Harry lowered his voice even more. "Could you keep my parents in there?"

      Hermione paused. "Sure, hold on." Her next sentence was muffled, but Harry could hear her call out to his parents. "They'll stay."

      "Thanks, 'Mione. We'll be right there."

     "See you in a minute."

     "See ya," Harry said. He hung up and put his phone away. At this point they were passing through the common area and George was explaining what each hallway led to. Harry offered to take over, but George was having fun. 

      "His commentary is really helping," Remus chuckled.

      Harry smiled and continued to walk at the back of the group. A few minutes later they arrived at the door to the conference room and George made a few closing remarks as if he was representing a tour company. Harry laughed as he moved to the front and opened the door wide enough to peek inside. Only Hermione, his parents, and Regulus remained in the room. When Harry opened the door wider and stepped in, his parents rushed towards him 

      James nearly smothered him in a hug; Lily quickly followed suit. Harry did his best to wrap his arms around both of them. A minute later James pulled back and took Harry's face in his hands. "Everything go alright?" He asked.

      Harry took a moment to take in his parent's concerned looks. "Yeah, mostly," he said, smiling so they wouldnt worry. 

      "Mostly?" Lily asked, the concern in her voice rising.