God Bless the Broken Road

"What?...No, no, I don't think that's the case....Yes, of course. Yes, thank you." Lieutenant Anita Van Buren hung up the telephone and turned to Detective Ed Green with a sigh. "Any word from James on when he's coming back?"

Ed shook his head. "Nothing yet. Hopefully soon." He gave a contemptuous glance at the kid working as his partner temporarily. "Is this the guy he was working with when I was in the hospital?"

"The very same."

"I understand why he kept telling me he hoped I got better soon then." Just then the telephone rang; Ed snatched it up. "Detective Green....Oh, hey, we were just talking about you." Anita looked up sharply. "Yeah, we just discussed him too....Thanks loads, buddy. You coming back any time soon?" His face remained impassive as he listened. "I see....Wait, you're kidding, right?...Oh. Well, let us know if there's anything we can do to help....All right, you too." He hung up the phone and turned to the lieutenant. "Guess who?"

"How long he planning on staying?" Anita sighed, already imagining the enthusiastic young detective faxing her his resignation.

Ed shook his head. "He's not sure. Says he's found his kid."

Anita frowned. "I thought the kid was dead."

"Yeah, me too, and so did he. Turns out there was a mix-up...everyone back there thinks that James is dead. The kid's alive." Ed sat down in his chair. "More than that, there's some sort of problem over there. It'll sort out. Meanwhile, he says he'll call when he's got definite plans."

~~~

Remus approached, Harry and Hermione in tow, as James hung up the phone. "Did you get through?"

James nodded. "I said I'd call when I had definite plans. I also told my partner I might just quit and let him deal with the temp on a permanent basis."

"Was that a serious comment?"

"Nah. I wouldn't do that to Ed. He's a good guy, and believe me, Nick drove me crazy enough when I had to work with him." James grimaced. "Besides, the kid hates blacks--and both Van Buren and Ed are black. I imagine many problems."

Hermione frowned. "Who are they?"

"Lieutenant Van Buren is my boss--the head of my department. Ed Green is my partner."

Remus shook his head. "Shall we hence?"

"Ah, yes, let us hence," James said with a straight face.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, let's not waste any time sitting on the 'hence'."

"Beatles to battle!" James said triumphantly, raising a finger into the air. Hermione started laughing. Even Harry's mouth briefly flickered upwards in a smile.

Remus shook his head. "Come on, folks. Molly's probably waiting...and, knowing Molly, cooking or cleaning up a storm."

"If she knows Harry's coming, my money's on cooking," Hermione muttered.

"Molly?" James repeated as they set off.

"Weasley."

"Arthur's wife?"

"That's the one."

"She's still around?"

Remus couldn't help but laugh at his friend's expression. "She's younger than your mother was, James."

"Yeah, but...how old's the oldest? Charlie is Tonks's age, and Bill's only a couple of years older...and Tonks is, what, twenty-five?"

"Twenty-nine. Bill's thirty-one. Believe me, Molly is still younger than your mother would have been when you were thirty. Matter of fact, I think Molly's younger than your mother was when you were seventeen."

James stuck out his tongue at Remus. "I'd resent that if I didn't know that Mum was sixty-one when I was born."

Hermione's eyebrows shot up. "That's kind of old, isn't it?"

"For a Muggle, maybe. Actually, for a witch too. She died when I was twenty...before you were born, Harry...I think it was two years after Catherine died, two months, maybe, before Mark did."

"Who were...uh..." Harry began slowly.

"Catherine and Mark? Lily's parents." James pushed his glasses up his nose. "While I'm thinking on it, wouldn't common decency dictate that we let Molly know I'm coming?"

"How?" Remus said practically. "Don't worry, James, it'll be fine. Molly doesn't usually mind extra people in her kitchen. Frankly, with as many kids as she has I'm surprised she notices...but the Weasleys always have someone visiting them."

"Ah, the Pickwells in the flesh, eh?"

Remus looked puzzled, but Hermione brightened. "You've read Maniac Magee?"

James grinned. "You kidding? It was my favourite book when I was younger."

The two fell into a discussion of the book. Remus cut them short as they reached a secluded clump of trees. "This is probably a good spot...Hermione, you have your license, correct?"

Hermione nodded. "I qualified back in April."

"Good." Remus looked questioningly at James. "How about you? Do you have an Apparation license or do you use Muggle transportation?"

"Both. Where are we going?"

"Ottery St. Cadgepole. Stoatshead's Hill. We'll walk from there." Remus turned to Harry. "You ready?"

Harry nodded and gripped Remus's arm. Noticing James frowning, he explained, "Side-Along Apparation. I don't have a licence...haven't had time to get one."

"Ready?" Remus said. "One...two...three!"

James, Hermione, and Remus with Harry Apparated together. A moment or two later, they reappeared at the top of a hill. Hermione staggered slightly as she landed. Harry just shook his head. "I still hate doing that," he muttered.

"What, Side-Along?" James inquired.

"Apparating, period. Long story." Harry turned towards one side of the hill, where James could see a peculiar house with smoke coming out of the chimney.

He smiled. "Is that--"

Hermione nodded. "That's it. They call it the Burrow."

"Come on." Remus put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Let's go."