If We Ever Leave a Legacy

The sun had long since slipped past the horizon by the time I finished my paperwork. I leaned back in the stiff kitchen chair, stretching my arms above my head and pushing away from the table. I wandered over to the small table beside the window where a large brown owl sat, studying me with her stern gaze.

"Hello Quinn," I murmured, stroking the top of her head, and quickly pulling my hand away before she nipped me.

I untied the letter that dangled from her leg, careful to avoid her beak; Quinn always was a biter. I flopped into my armchair, stretching my legs out onto the footrest.

"Dear Naupilus," I sighed, reading out loud to the empty room. "I've informed Quinn not to leave your flat until you have replied to my letter...so don't bother putting it off unless you want to take care of her," I shot a glare at the temperamental owl before continuing. "I'm starting to worry about you...I haven't heard from you in over a week, and you know how much I worry, how can you do this to your mother, the woman who is responsible for your very existence, who raised you practically on her own after your father died, the woman who..." it went on like that for a good two pages, until she broke from her guilt trip. "How is work going? You must be terribly busy which is why, I am assuming, you have not written to me this week. Well, not much has been happening around here, Mrs. Fleming accused Mrs. Cranes of pillaging her tomato garden, but of course it turned out to be gnomes."

It went on some more about local gossip and how her plants were doing. "I miss you terribly and hopefully we'll see each other soon. All my love, Mum. P.S. Keep your wand close to you at all times, those city-types can't be trusted. P.P.S. Your brother's team won their game yesterday, 210 to 0. Perhaps you should send him an owl in congratulations." I sighed, folding up the letter and setting it carefully on the end table beside me.

It never ceased to amaze me how every single owl I received from my mother had to mention, in one way or another, just how damn wonderful my older brother was. Eurydamus is four years older than me, and is named after my father. He can do no wrong in my mother's eyes. He was a Gryffindor, just like my father, and although he was never the best student, a fact which my mother seems to have glossed over, he was an excellent Quidditch player; also, just like my father. Now he's a chaser for the Wigtown Wanderers, and my mother couldn't be prouder, dad had always wanted a professional quidditch player in the family.

I, however, was never the biggest fan of the game. When I first went to Hogwarts everyone assumed that I would be great at it, just like my brother and father. The Ravenclaw captain even asked me to try out. Of course imagine his disappointment when I fell from my broom at my first practice and broke both of my legs; I never was one for flying.

With a sigh, I pulled myself up to my feet, to go in search of a clean sheet of parchment and my quill. I passed by my mirror, which hung on the back wall, and glanced briefly, at my frowning reflection.

"Come on now, cheer up mate," my reflection prodded, flashing me a smile.

I frowned. "I'm not really in a cheerful mood thanks," I replied bitterly.

He pouted back at me, crossing his arms defiantly. "Well then snap out of it ya slug. Nobody likes a bring down. Here..." He flashed an exaggerated frown, shrugging his shoulders forward. "Ya just...straighten up your back," he did so. "And tug up the corners of your mouth," he grinned ridiculously back at me. "There, now you try."

I sighed, waving him off and continuing on into the kitchen.

"I was just trying to help!" He called after me.

I sat down at the table, pushing my work scrolls aside, and pulling out a fresh sheet of parchment. "Dear Mum," I wrote neatly. "I'm really quite sorry I haven't written to you yet this week," I paused, tapping the top of the quill on my temple, before continuing. "Like you suspected I have been terribly busy at work, and most nights just come home and go straight to sleep. I miss you as well and will be sure to visit as soon as I can. Love, Naupilus," I smirked, adding. "P.S. I wouldn't congratulate Eurydamus if he had won the world cup...his head is big enough without another person adding to his all ready over-inflated ego," I folded up the letter and went to the window, tying it snugly on Quinn's leg; she glared at me before taking off into the night.

I yawned, making my way towards my small bedroom, passing the mirror as I went. "You look exhausted mate, better get yourself to bed," he called out after me.

Which is exactly what I did.

"Naupilus! Get up! If you're late you'll get demoted to a sub-sub-division!" My head snapped up quickly from where it had been resting, and quickly fell down once again when I realized the shrill voice had just been my alarm clock.

"Time for work! Get up! Get up!"

I groaned pitifully, pushing myself away from the warm comfort of my bed, and swinging my bare feet to the icy cold floor. "All right, all right, I'm up," I muttered, yawning widely.

The shrill voice faded away to the Wizarding Wireless Network, where a pleasant sounding witch began to report the morning news. "It is now 6 o'clock and time for our morning Quidditch report," I frowned as I made my way to the bathroom.

"Do you ever smile?!" The mirror exclaimed.

I splashed cold water onto my face and attempted to comb my hair, which was sticking up in various directions; I scowled at my reflection. Not only did Eurydamus inherit my father's quidditch skills, but he was also practically his clone when it came to looks. They were both tall and athletic, with blond hair and blue eyes. I, on the other hand, had messy dark brown hair, which I kept quite short, but it still manages to spike out all over my head. I'm rather tall, but not nearly as built as my brother, and my eyes are a deep brown. Supposedly I look quite like some great uncle that I've never met. At least that's what my older relatives always say when they see me.

"...Eurydamus Stelliger of the Wigtown Wanderers scored five of the six goals at yesterdays game against the Cannons, once again helping his team to another victory; oh, and for all those single witches out there this one is still unattached," the witch giggled.

I pulled on my muggle clothes, chancing a quick look in the mirror.

"Ya look quite ridiculous mate," my reflection said matter-of-factly.

I sighed. "I know, I know," I tucked my briefcase under my arm, made sure my wand was safe, and Apparated to the office.

"Well good morning Naupilus," Matera Maenads greeted me cheerfully from behind her desk as I walked into the building.

Matera was the head receptionist of our sub-division; she handles every single case that comes through the doors; no wonder she drinks.

"Good morning to you too Ms. Maenads," I replied, offering a small smile. "Did Barbatus all ready pick up our cases?" Barbatus was a chronic early-riser, he was usually into the office by 5:30.

Matera shook her head, a few strands of her dishwater blonde hair falling loose from her ponytail. "Nope, haven't seen him this morning actually," she leaned over, rummaging in a large filing cabinet. "But you can take them," she slammed a stack of scrolls on top of her desk. "There ya go."

I piled them into my arms, thanking her as I did so, and started off towards my office. Something didn't seem right. Barbatus was always here before I was; I hoped everything was all right."

"Naupilus!" I jumped, startled, dropping scrolls all over the floor. Lethe came running up to me as I squatted down to pick them up.

"Naupilus!" She called again, her voice sounding urgent.

I looked up, frowning at the worried expression on her face. "What's wrong?"

"You haven't seen Barbatus this morning have you?"

I swallowed, a heavy feeling of dread starting to settle in the pit of my stomach. "No... Matera said he wasn't in yet." I stood up. "The last time I saw him was last night."

She bit her lip, her eyes darting quickly over the crowded foyer. "Come with me," she hissed, grabbing onto my arm and pulling me off into an empty corridor.

My insides had suddenly turned into a block of ice. Something was terribly wrong, Barbatus was always here, and Lethe, although she was usually worried about something, never was afraid to say what that something was.

"Peg just sent me an owl," she explained quietly, her eyes darting from my face back to the foyer. "Barbatus didn't come home last night, and she hasn't heard from him since they talked yesterday afternoon," she frowned deeply, biting nervously on her fingernails. "Something terrible must have happened I know it," she muttered, sounding as miserable as I felt.

I bit my lip. "Well...maybe...maybe he just got lost. You know how he gets sometimes, maybe he just apparated himself to the wrong place and has been looking for a way home?" As soon as I suggested it I knew it wasn't a likely scenario.

"But why wouldn't he send Peg an owl? No...there's something else going on here," her thoughtful look quickly melted away into utter disbelief. "You...you don't think it was Torpeo, do you?" She asked in a whisper.

I frowned. "Lethe, Barbatus was just making that up."

"Just think about it Naupilus," she insisted. "Yesterday afternoon Barbatus just happens to realize that Torpeo is a death eater, and he tells us, and now he's gone missing. What if Torpeo had been listening? What if he heard everything Barbatus said and saw him as a liability?"

"Come on Lethe, he's the head of our department, they wouldn't let him work here if he was..."

"Ah, Mr. Stelliger," I think my heart may have just stopped beating.

Torpeo stood at the entrance of the corridor, his arms folded neatly over his chest, a sick little smirk etched on his face. "Just the young man I was looking for."

Lethe and I must have looked terrified because he gave us a quizzical look. "Unless you're too busy with your little secret meeting here to join me in my office," the smile he flashed would have looked friendly on anyone else, but instead only appeared forced.

"N-no, of course not sir," I stammered quickly, trying to regain my composure.

"All right then, follow me," he nodded curtly to Lethe before turning towards the foyer.

"Be careful," Lethe hissed, all the color now drained from her face.

"I'll be fine," I replied quietly, offering a small smile, despite the fear that was rising inside me, and followed Torpeo down the long hallway towards his office.