The Queer Sycamore

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Watchful Eyes:

A story by Caducee

People walked in and out, left and right, some looking rather preoccupied, others casual and looking rather sure of themselves. Lily walked onto the second level of the Ministry of Magic, rather preoccupied herself by the impromptu meeting that had been called by the highest brigade.

She followed a path down the hallway to the right, lined by the opened or closed doors of various Aurors serving various divisions and landed in front of her own door. The blinds and light were shut, just as she had left everything. Dictionaries and other books, as well as random leaflets commercialising new technologies in the wizarding law enforcement world lay atop her desk about the new Sneakoscope and a book about new theft techniques and ways to defy them.

Closing the bright red wooden door behind her, Lily immediately crossed the room towards a small closet and proceeded to slide the door open to reveal its contents: several black trousers and shirts, an emerald green dress shirt and a deep royal purple robe closed at the right shoulder by a thin golden chain which ended with an x-shaped pin. Two golden stripes and decorations on the shoulders showed her rank: she served as an officer. These were the formal agent robes worn only on special occasions, briefings and meetings.

A soft rapping sound came at the door, followed by a quiet creak. Lily knew whom it was without even needing to turn around.

"Hello, lieutenant," she greeted with an amused grin. "I trust you slept well."

A little peck on the cheek and neck followed her greeting. "Absolutely. Best night in literally weeks. Then the baby had to cry this morning and my wife left me to fend for myself. I had to Apparate outside because there was no time to lose."

Lily looked up at him, worry and sadness painting her features. "Sorry, James, but they said it was really urgent."

"We're two in this, darling. If it's important for you, then it's important for me too," he replied. "Look," he continued, "I'm not angry, but I was worried. Look what happened to the best of us..." He gestured towards a framed picture on the wall: Marlene McKinson, Benjy Fenwick, Edgar Bones, Caradoc Dearborn, Gideon and Fabian Prewett, Dorcas Meadowes; all the dead that stood out today on an Order photograph, happy and strong yet unconcerned.

She nodded understandingly and reached for his hand, squeezing it for comfort. "I can take care of myself, James," she murmured loud enough so he could hear. "That's why I'm an Auror and an Order member."

James attempted to smile then drew her in for a tight embrace. "I know, luv..." he murmured in her ear. "By the way, Officer Potter," he drawled before pulling away, "you look bright and beautiful today." He paused as she offered him a small smile as her face flushed a deep shade of red. "Anyhow, I have to go get ready. Briefing's in ten."

"All right. See you there, then."

She watched him leave, then turned to her desk, which was filled with rubbish, and attempted to clean it up a bit.

Ever since Harry, their eight-month old baby, was born, she strongly believed that she and James had both become much closer, yet gave each other a lot more privacy and peace than before. James was the lieutenant in her division, so obviously she received most orders from him. And most of those orders had been lifted when she had just come back to work after her pregnancy. All she had done was exercise and practice defensive magic all over again with another woman who'd come back from pregnancy a few weeks before. She was most thankful for James's support, because now he gradually became more and more demanding, which was a good challenge for Lily.

She sighed and looked back at her now cleaner desk - you could now see a bit more of the mahogany wood - and glanced at her muggle watch. There were still these small things that she had subconsciously decided wouldn't leave her household. The house she and James had acquired after their wedding still held a lot of Muggle reminders thanks to Lily: a few unmoving photographs, some Muggle non-magical books, enough Muggle clothes for the three of them - they had found out that working as Aurors demanded more than going into wizarding places, a telephone which Lily used to periodically call her family, and other small things that seemed insignificant but were very important to her eyes.

It was now about time to leave. Lily grabbed a quill and inkbottle and grasped a large parchpad. If the urgency was any indication, she'd more than need a large pad to take notes.

Conference room number five was down a narrow hallway with various paintings of famous Aurors from the past, which moved as she walked on. Lily walked into the fifth conference room where almost all of the chairs were already occupied. All the agents who had been on the latest case, the largest one as well, were seated and very obviously waiting for their chief. When she entered, most heads turned her way, but didn't say anything and turned back to whatever they were doing before. Obviously, the tension in the room was very palpable. She felt her face flush slightly.

She met James's eyes and started towards him and Sirius, who smiled amicably as she took a seat beside James, who proceeded to pat her knee in a soothing motion.

Finally, when it seemed the tension was too opaque, Chief Hackman, a tall man wearing a thick black moustache and eyebrows and steel-grey eyes that could dig into you at will walked into the room carrying a clipboard, followed by his assistant, Tom Brewsthorn, a bloke who wore his long dreadlocked hair in a low ponytail and wore dark-rimmed square glasses, which looked very odd when added to the formal agent robes.

"Good morning everyone," Chief Hackman started when he'd reached his seat. "I don't think I'll have to explain in much clearer terms what we are doing here today." He stopped and racked his throat loudly. "The Death Eaters have attacked enough people already. We now know pretty well how they attack: like wolves, in packs. How do they kill? Like cowards. Gideon Prewett gave me a list of names before he died and, I must say, it's very detailed." He crossed his fingers together. "So last week, I sent Frank and Alice Longbottom to find out where they hide out. I asked them to give me names of places where their 'packs' meet. Easily resolved: they came back with a long list of hideouts and such. However, one place was most frequented, it seems." He paused, looking up from his notes gravely. "The Queer Sycamore is a six star hotel for rich wizards that turns into a brothel at night."

A lot of the present agents nodded slowly as though already mildly understanding the mission they were now going to be thrown into.

Mad-Eye Moody, one of the veterans in this field and who could quickly prove it with his scarred and gnarled face, spoke up in a barklike tone that made everyone jump. "If I understand correctly, you want us to go fetch information at this hotel-brothel."

Hackman smiled appreciatively. Mad-Eye was not a chief, but he could sure be well higher than himself in the ranks if he wished. However, Mad-Eye preferred to be on the field where all the action unfolded.

"Precisely, Moody."

The electric blue magical eyeball rested on Hackman before coming to rest on Lily. She smiled; she had always been extremely fascinated with Mad-Eye's magical eyeball and, she remembered when she'd first arrived here and Moody had been the teacher for one of her classes in Auror Academy, she had loved him as a tutor.

"Officer Potter," Hackman suddenly called, startling Lily out of her reverie.

She straightened up on her seat. "Present, sir."

Malcolm Hackman smiled and nodded. "Officer Potter, you're the youngest Auror on our team, and you've already the experience to be taking main action in this mission. I've looked through information on the Queer Sycamore and they are currently looking for a new exotic dancer."

Lily's eyes widened in shock. James, beside her, gave a revolted, "What? That's out of the question!" as others offered their stunned comments. Only Moody seemed to be as calm as a rock; he took out a hipflask and gulped down the contents of it.

"Quiet down," Hackman yelled without much success.

Moody gave a grunt. "Hackman has got a point," he said. Immediately, the commotion around them died down and everyone watched Mad-Eye Moody inquiringly.

"Beg your pardon?" asked a voice further away.

Moody let his two eyes, magical and not, linger on every face before continuing. Even Hackman seemed at a loss for words.

"The plan is simple, really: Lily will appear as a prostitute at the Queer Sycamore disguised, so no one will be able to trace her background. From where she'll be standing, information will be pouring in cascades everywhere: from customers, from managers, everywhere. Basically," he growled, "she'll be closer to the source than they could ever manage to know." He paused. "That's my opinion. Anyone care to disagree with the plan now?"

There was a thick, almost palpable silence that followed Moody's explanation. Even Hackman seemed quite impressed with the man's unbeatable wits. Moody had nailed down every single point he'd been just about to explain, but in much clearer and shorter terms. He cleared his throat and gave a grunt of appreciation. No one wanted to argue with the best agent, because he was the eldest Auror agent in their division and thus had far more experience in this field than anyone else in the team.

"Thank you, Alastor. This was very enlightening."

Moody merely shrugged and crossed his hands over his stomach in a relaxing manner. "No problem."

James sat back and frowned. "I still don't think it's a good idea," he said bluntly.

Hackman nodded towards James. "Please share," he said neutrally.

James was silent for a few moments, then leaned on his elbows over the table. "I'm not discrediting Lily; she's a fabulous Auror and she's strong enough to support the concept of being the main asset in this mission. She does good work and doesn't rest until the job is done." He paused and looked around him; everyone was watching him now with interest. "The only thing you might have overlooked, Chief, is that Officer Potter is my wife and we have a young toddler waiting for both of us everyday at home."

Hackman nodded, crossing his hands on the long mahogany conference table. "I understand your position completely, Lieutenant." He glanced at his clipboard and shuffled through parchment leaves, frowning thoughtfully. "Harry's his name, correct?"

"Yes, sir," Lily and James both answered as one.

"Who are his godparents?" Hackman asked.

Sirius, who'd been silent until now, spoke up. "That would be me, Chief. I'm Harry's godfather."

Hackman nodded, taking notes with a long eagle feather quill. "All right. And his godmother is...?"

Lily looked down. "Deceased." She spoke no more about the subject.

"Harry's usually staying home with our friend Remus Lupin or our neighbours on the rare occasions when he can't be there," James answered after squeezing her knee once more.

"Right," Hackman said after jotting what James and Lily had said. "Here's the deal: Officer Potter won't be recogniseable at the brothel, meaning there is absolutely no danger that she might be discovered. I've just ordered new glamour talismans especially for her. She will have a completely different appearance. Your child will be in no danger whatsoever, if that's what you were worried for. He's going to be perfectly safe if everything goes according to plan." He paused. "Your new name, Officer, is Geraldine Blewett." And he deposited a small round object with strange inscriptions carved in the hard pewter on the table, close to Lily. "Your glamour talisman," he explained briefly. To everyone else in the room, he announced, "Dismissed."

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