Twilight

Chapter Two: Funerals and Old Ghosts

Tuesday, August 10, 2010. 9:30am.

Alex frowned as he looked at his reflection in the mirror, looking for any imperfections in his appearance one last time after making certain the kids were dressed in their good clothes. He picked off a nearly invisible piece of lint off his left sleeve and flicked it away. It was an old habit ingrained in him from early childhood by his father, who insisted his son look his best at all times, and then made worse by inspections at West Point and in the Army.

“It isn’t fair Alex, but it is true: people judge you and your family by how you look,” Joe Mackenzie would say any time he found his son’s appearance wanting, before sending him back to his room to change. It was one of many quotes Alex worked hard to restrain himself from saying to his children. His father had been a strict and overbearing man, and certain family traditions would die with Alex if he could help it.

He gave his Auror uniform of brown robes, pale khaki shirt, and trousers one final check before he ran a cloth lightly over his boots to take any dust off the high polish shine he’d worked into the leather yesterday evening. Satisfied, he put a neutral expression on his face, and walked out of the bedroom.

Alex hated funerals. The first one he remembered attending was his grandfather’s, almost twenty-five years ago. It had been a trying day. Everyone had been crying and upset and even his father- whom Alex would only see cry three times in his life- had wept that day. Alex hadn’t really understood what was going on then, he knew only that everyone was sad, and that he’d never see his grandfather again. He’d liked his grandfather, but didn’t know him well, and rarely saw him due to the frequent moves to far away places that were part of every army brat’s existence.

Then there had been his parent’s funeral…Alex shook his head to dispel the train of thought. I’m not going to go down that road again. Today would be hard enough without revisiting that Pandora’s box of emotional baggage. Leo had become almost a surrogate father to him, and had been a loving ‘uncle’ to his children. Burying him today would be an ordeal to be endured.

John was squirming in his mother’s arms as Alex entered the hall “Down, Momma! Down!” he screeched. Bridge was wearing her best set of black business robes that she normally reserved for meeting with perspective clients. Cut conservatively but superbly tailored, he remembered that they had put quite a dent in their cash flow at the time.

Katie was right next to her mother and looked at her little brother with contempt. “You gotta wai’ ‘till we’re downstairs stupid.” She was like a miniature version of her mother, with the same red hair and green eyes, while John resembled Alex. Dressed in an outfit bought recently for formal occasions, she looked more like an angel than the mischievous imp he knew her to be.

“It isn’t very nice to call someone stupid, Katie,” Alex said as he came to the stairway. Bridge smiled at him as she started down, but his daughter frowned.

“But he is stupid Daddy! He’s sucha baby!” Katie protested to her father as they started downstairs.

“You were the same way two years ago, imp,” he told her. “He’s just younger than you. It’s your job to watch out for him as his big sister, he looks up to you and tries to do what you do.” Alex had been trying to convince his daughter of that for the past several months, with limited success. He figured that if he stuck with the idea long enough, it would sink in with her, but he was beginning to wonder how long it would take.

Katie sighed, as if he was asking her to do the impossible. “Oh, all righ’,” she said, and Alex had to stifle a laugh: her mannerisms were identical to Bridge’s when she agreed to do something she didn’t want to. He’d been noticing that trend more and more in her lately. Katie looked up at him worshipfully, green eyes wide. “Since you wan’, Daddy.”

“That’s my girl.” Alex gave his daughter a quick hug as they finished the stairs and started down the hall towards the living room fireplace. He caught Bridge staring back at them and smiling, then returned his attention to Katie. “Now I want you to be on your best behavior at the ceremony. I know it’ll be hard, but it’s important to Momma and me.”

“When is Uncle Leo comin’ home?” Katie asked suddenly.

Alex closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. How do you make a four year old understand the concept of death? “He’s not coming home, Katie. I told you before that he’s gone to Heaven like your grandpa and grandma Mackenzie.”

“Oh…so we won’ see ‘im again, ever?”

“That’s right.”

Alex watched her intently as she thought about it. He could feel Bridge’s mild concern as she observed them from in front of the fireplace, and reassured her through their bond. John was still fussing about wanting to be set down and was shushed by Bridge.

They’d stopped at the entrance to the living room and Katie was quiet a moment longer before smiling back up at her father. “I think I understan’ Daddy,” she told him seriously. “Uncle Leo hadta go ta Heaven to help the ‘roars up there.”

Alex stared at his daughter and wondered just where that idea had come from. It did make sense, he realized, from a child’s point of view. Katie knew how much he respected and liked (and even loved, he admitted to himself) her Uncle Leo, and how valued an Auror he had been. His face slowly shaped itself into the first real smile he’d felt since he’d heard of Leo’s death. “That’s right, honey. They needed him and called him home.”

Her face took on an even more solemn expression. “Daddy? You won’ be goin’ too, righ’?” She looked like she was almost about to cry.

Alex knelt down and hugged her fiercely. His throat felt so choked up that he could barely speak. “Katie, I love you, your brother and your Momma very, very much, and I would never, ever, want to leave any of you.” He paused for a moment and wondered if he should lie, but rejected the idea immediately. Now how to explain it so she would understand? “I won’t lie to you sweetie, as an Auror I have to protect people from bad wizards and beasties. I can’t promise that I won’t end up with Uncle Leo, but I can promise you that I’ll try very hard to make sure I stay with all of you.”

Her little arms had gone around his neck and she was returning the hug. “Okay, Daddy. I love you.”

“I love you too, Katie.” He heard sniffling behind him and scooped his daughter up in his arms since she seemed unwilling to let go of his neck. She buried her head in his shoulder and Alex turned around to see Bridge with a shiny look in her eyes. She pulled a tissue out of her robes and wiped her eyes as he smiled reassuringly at her, knowing his own eyes were a little watery.

“We’re going to be late if we don’t leave now,” Bridge told him, still sniffling a little.

“I know.” Alex walked over to the fireplace, where the small magical fire they used for firetalking and Floo travel burned. He took a pinch of Floo Powder from the jar they kept on the mantle and tossed it into the flames. “Arlington Station!” he said forcefully as he strode into the roaring flames holding his daughter.

***

Arlington Station was a large rectangular building whose interior resembled the great central train stations built in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. It was the Floo transport hub for the magical visitors to Washington D.C., offering easy access to most of the major monuments and connections to other locations in the city and surrounding areas outside the beltway (the various offices in the Department of Magic, for example). It was also connected to similar hubs across the country and in the world’s major cities.

The huge central chamber was lined with fireplaces along the two longer walls. One side was devoted to local use, the opposite to national and international connections. On that side, the name of the departure/destination city was engraved into the stone mantelpiece above each fireplace, while those on the local side were engraved with “Arlington Station.” The information/security desk was at the center of the room, manned by a team of law enforcement wizards and a pair of local sheriff’s deputies.

Alex stepped away from the fireplace and set Katie down with the warning “stay right there.” He pulled out his wand and cast cleaning charms on himself and his daughter to get rid of any soot from the Floo travel, then turned to see Bridge coming out of the fireplace with John and did the same to them.

The station was full of people wearing all kinds of clothing. Some were wearing robes, others Muggle clothing, and several different languages could be heard in the overall buzz the crowd created. Looking around Alex spotted several other Aurors appear through the fireplaces with their families.

Bridge’s eyes immediately went to the clock over the security desk. “He’ll be here any minute Alex.”

“Right, let’s move.” He looked down at his daughter, who was watching the crowd in fascination. “Take my hand Katie.”

They walked across the chamber to the waiting area by the fireplace marked “London Station.” Not more than a minute after they arrived, the flames roared up in the fireplace and a tall man dressed in black and dark green dress robes walked out.

“Uncle Harry! Uncle Harry!” Katie shrieked in the high-pitched tone that only a young girl could produce, jumping up and down and waving. “We’re over here!”

“Hullo Katie!” Harry Potter greeted his goddaughter with a smile and a kiss on the cheek. He straightened and gave John a quick pat on the head while smiling a greeting at Bridge.

“Hi Harry. It’s good to see you again, even like this,” Bridge told him, returning the smile. They hadn’t seen him since his 30^th birthday party a few weeks before.

“Yes, I was shocked to hear about Leo. Attending his service is the least I could do to pay my respects. I don’t know much about American customs, but even I know it is an honor to be buried in the National Cemetery here,” Harry said with a sad smile as he turned to Alex with a hand outstretched.

“Hermione couldn’t make it?” Alex asked as he shook the other man’s hand warmly.

Harry shook his head, grimacing slightly. “She wanted to, but she’s the keynote speaker at the conference today and there was no one to take her place. She sends her love and her condolences, and said that she hoped to make it over tonight or tomorrow if she can get away later. We all know how close you were to him.”

Alex nodded, not trusting himself to speak about that. He shook himself slightly and looked at his friend. “It’s good that you’re here Harry.” It was strange how chance encounters could lead to a deep and lasting friendship. In many ways, Harry Potter was the brother he never had, and the beginning of it all could be traced back to the shared experience in Colombia.

“I know.” Harry put his hand on Alex’s shoulder in sympathy.

***

They Apparated to the cemetery grounds, and walked in silence towards the crowd clustered around a gravesite about fifty yards away, passing row upon row of identically shaped white marble headstones.

This part of the cemetery was almost completely filled, and Alex could see the Memorial Amphitheatre off in the distance, with the Tomb of the Unknowns on the plaza in front. There were a few Muggle tourists snapping pictures of the Tomb and the silent sentinel who guarded it from all harm, and Alex found himself automatically inspecting the guard’s appearance and demeanor. Old habits die hard, he thought to himself with a mental sigh. From what he could see from a distance, the soldier’s dress uniform was perfect and the bearing could not be faulted even with the distractions of the Muggle photographers. Alex nodded slightly in satisfaction and turned his attention to the crowd as they neared Leo’s gravesite.

About half wore the same uniform he did; almost the entire complement of Aurors for the district area (consisting of D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and part of West Virginia.) were on hand with their families, and he could see a few others approaching out of the corner of his eye. There were also a few regular Bureau investigators present along with Muggle law enforcement officers, Squibs mostly, who worked liaison duty between the Bureau and Muggle police.

Alex had always known Leo had served in the Marines before joining the Bureau, but had never known the details. Going through Leo’s papers as his official next of kin, Alex had been surprised to discover that Leo was Muggle-Born and had enlisted in the Corps in 1939 with his brother. He’d served throughout World War II with the First Marine Division, including its incredible ordeal in late 1942 on the island of Guadalcanal, and had been decorated for valor with the Bronze Star. Leo had requested to be buried next to his brother, who had been killed in action during the war, and made certain the plot was reserved many years ago. His son was buried nearby as well, having fallen in the Vietnam War.

He also had requested that he be given a military funeral, and it had been arranged for the Corps to honor Gunnery Sgt. Finster’s request. A detachment of eight Marines, consisting of a burial party, firing party, and a bugler, was standing off to the side.

The entire cemetery was under a spell to cause Muggles to see wizard robes as perfectly normal Muggle clothing; it had been carefully crafted at the cemetery’s creation after the Civil War. The wizarding community had lost its own share of sons in that horrible War Between the States a century and a half before, and many were buried here with their Muggle brethren.

There had been no mention of Anna or where she was buried in Leo’s papers. That had also been a surprise to Alex, who had expected that the older man would have wanted to be placed with his wife. It troubled him, but Leo’s wishes were clear. Even after more than twenty years exposure to the wizarding world, Alex still found it hard to believe that life spans for his kind were twice that of ordinary humans, and Leo had been a living example. The man had been more than ninety years old, but hadn’t looked a day older than fifty.

As Alex and his family reached the gravesite, the Director of the Bureau, Archibald Yoman, came over to them along with Tom White, who was Auror in Command over the district office. Yoman was dressed in Muggle clothes, an expensive black pinstripe suit, and looked like he spent all his time indoors away from the sun, his skin a pasty white. His expression was one of sadness and regret, but Alex knew the man was here only out of obligation as Director, and was uncomfortable around Aurors because of what they represented.

Tom, on the other hand, was genuinely mourning Leo’s death. The two men had known each other for over thirty years and Alex knew that Tom had greatly respected the older Agent. Looking every inch the District Commander in his Auror uniform, the big man walked respectfully a half step behind and to the left of his superior.

Yoman came up in front of Alex, and his eyes briefly widened as he recognized Harry. He stared for a moment before coming back to himself after Tom cleared his throat loudly. “Alex, you have my sympathies. Leo’s death was a shock to us all,” he said smoothly, reaching over to shake his hand.

“Thank you, sir.” Alex shook the Director’s hand. “I’m still a little bit in shock myself, I think. It would be easier if I understood why he was attacked in the first place, sir, and felt it necessary to cast the final strike.” Once he visited the site where the body had been discovered, Alex realized immediately that Leo had been the person whose eyes he had been seeing out of in the vision. The mountains were identical, as the blast pattern and the charred remains of the bodies consumed by the strike had been.

He was still confused over how he had seen the attack, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Leo had done something after dinner earlier that evening, as if knowing that he was about to die, that would have caused it to happen. He had told no one, not even Bridge, of the strange vision, and alarms were still ringing in his head over the whole thing.

The Director nodded politely. “Yes indeed. I’ve ordered a full investigation into Leo’s death, and I’m supposed to brief the Secretary and the President at the White House later this afternoon on the initial findings.”

“So soon, sir?” Alex was visibly surprised.

Tom White cut in as he saw the Director’s face go carefully blank “There isn’t that much to go on, Alex,” he told him. “Nobody saw him alive again after he left your home that evening, and there wasn’t anything in his apartment that looks like it will lead us anywhere.” He paused, and glanced over at Harry, then returned his attention to Alex. “I’ll talk to you about it later, if you want. This isn’t the time or place.”

Alex was about to argue otherwise, but felt Bridge touch his arm. He looked to her and she shook her head slightly, motioning towards Katie, who was watching all the adults closely. He’s right Alex, he heard his wife telepathically through their bond. This isn’t the place. We’re here to honor Leo’s life, not worry about how he died. There’ll be plenty of time for that later.

He sighed, nodded reluctantly, and turned his attention back to the two men in front of him. “I’m sorry gentlemen, it’s been a trying couple of days for myself and my family. You’re right, we can discuss this later.”

“Agent Mackenzie?” The funeral director came up to the group and gestured towards the gravesite. “If you’re ready, we can begin.”

***

The funeral ceremony was rough, but not as bad as the one for his parents had been. They were buried in Arlington as well, several hundred yards away from where Leo’s remains now rested. As a Two-Star General, his father had been given a funeral much more elaborate than one given for a “mere” Gunnery Sergeant. The Army Band had marched in front of the caisson with his father’s coffin along with a full platoon of the Old Guard as escort, the riderless horse with the boots turned backwards in the stirrups, the cannon salute, he’d been given the whole nine yards. A third year Cadet at West Point back then, Alex had sleepwalked through the ceremony, still numbed at his parent’s murder and knowing he was the reason behind it.

Today he’d been angry and sad, but not numb. Someone had cornered his friend and brother Auror, and had killed him just as surely as if they had cast the killing curse. He’d had to stand there while the Director gave his speech about how good a man Leo had been, and how valued he’d been as an Auror, while in reality the man had probably never met or heard of Leo Finster until he was already dead.

At least Tom’s short speech had been real. The District Commander had talked about how he’d first met Leo, and how Leo had supported Tom as he rose up the Bureau hierarchy, and how Tom had liked and respected the older agent. “Leo’s death will not go unanswered,” Tom told the assembled crowd, speaking really to the Aurors and other law enforcement personnel there rather than to their families. “We will find those responsible and they will face the justice of the law for their crime. The death penalty is the maximum sentence for someone found guilty of causing the death of a federal law enforcement officer, Muggle or magical. I have been assured by the District Attorney’s Office that it will be sought when we catch them.”

Tom could give a good speech, and Alex wouldn’t be at all surprised if he decided to run for office someday.

After the funeral service had ended, and he’d accepted the condolences of the others, Alex handed the now-folded flag that had draped Leo’s coffin to his wife. “I’m going to take a walk, Bridge. I need to think.” He didn’t worry about the kids: Harry, who was telling some story about a giant dog that had them absolutely enthralled, was keeping John and Katie busy.

Bridge stroked his arm for a moment and looked into his eyes before nodding. “Go ahead and visit them. We’ll be fine here for a little while.”

“Thanks, babe.” He kissed her forehead and walked off across the cemetery until he stood in front of his parents’ grave. Alex stood there silently for several minutes looking down at the headstone, then briefly glanced about to make certain no one was in earshot before speaking.

“Momma, …Sir.” He paused for a moment, and ran a hand along the cool marble before continuing, his accent thickening from strong emotion. “It’s been awhile since I’ve visited, hasn’t it? I’m sorry about that, I shoulda come more often, but it’s so damn hard…” The hand balled up into a fist, then slowly relaxed. “I’ve got two kids now, a little girl and boy. I married that girl I told you about the last time I was here, Bridgette D’Chevalier. I’m an Auror nowadays, it’s kinda like a magical version of a detective, ‘cept we hunt dark wizards instead of ordinary murderers.”

“A good friend o’ mine died the other day, we just had his funeral a little while ago. He was cornered by six dark wizards and called in a final strike, but only got five o’ the scum. I dunno where the other one went. Since then I’ve been tryin’ to figure out exactly what happened, but Leo’s note didn’t tell much, and there wasn’t anything at his place. I reckon the vault he mentioned will have a few clues, I hope so anyway.”

“I still haven’t found the bastards that did this to you. The trail was cold long before I joined the Aurors, and the case is sitting in the unsolved section.” His eyes began to tear and he choked up a little. “My wife and kids have first priority right now, you understand, but if new information comes along, I’ll follow up like I promised. Sooner or later I’ll find ‘em, and when I do, they’ll wish they were never born.”

He sensed Harry approaching and looked up in his direction.

“Bridge sent me,” Harry told him. “She’s worried about you.” He noticed the tear tracks down his friend’s cheeks and stopped a few yards away. “Am I intruding? I can go back…”

“She shouldn’t be worried, and no, you aren’t intruding. You of all people would understand, Harry, so I don’t mind, though I was pretty much finished anyway.” Alex walked over and put a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Thanks again, my friend.”

“Any time, chum.”

“Come and meet my parents,” he said, putting a smile on his face that he really didn’t feel. “I know it’s morbid, but it feels like they’re here somehow.”

“I understand completely,” Harry told him. “I feel the same way when I visit my parents’ grave. I would be honored to meet the parents of the great Alexander Mackenzie.”

Alex chuckled and walked back to the grave with Harry in tow. “Sir, Momma, this here’s Harry Potter, a good friend o’ mine I met when I was still in the Army. He’s the one the wizarding press always was going on about those last few years I was at Green Mountain: The Boy Who Lived, and all that. He’s a Sassenach, but don’ hold it against him, he’s a good sort.”

Harry groaned at the ‘Sassenach’ reference. “Only in America.” He moved in front of the grave. “General Mackenzie, Mrs. Mackenzie, you have a fine son in Alex. He’s a good Auror, loving husband and father, and a true friend. It is my honor to know him and call him friend.” He stood up and put his fist over his heart “Tulach Art!” he said softly before stepping back and allowing Alex a few more moments alone with them.

Alex knelt down and put a hand on the warm grass, and was quiet for several heartbeats with his eyes closed, then he opened his eyes and touched the names on the headstone. “I promise I’ll visit more often, Momma. I love you both.” He stood and made his way over to Harry. “Let’s move.”

The two men walked slowly back towards Alex’s family, briefly stopping out of respect when they neared the Tomb of the Unknowns during the Changing of the Guard, then continued once the ceremony was over. Alex hugged Bridge and the kids to him. “I’m done with this place, let’s get out of here.”

“Alex.” He looked up to see Tom White waiting nearby. “I need you to come into the office with me for a bit.”

Alex let go of his family and gave White a hard look. “Not now, Tom. I’m on bereavement leave for the rest of the week, but I’ll come in tomorrow morning and we can go over the investigation then.”

Tom’s expression was grim. “Internal Affairs wants to see you, Agent Mackenzie, now.” His tone suggested that it was not negotiable.

“Alex, what’s going on?” Bridge asked, and he didn’t need his telepathic ability to sense her alarm.

“Nothing, Bridge. It sounds like there are a few questions IA wants answered. You head on home with Harry and wait for me there, I doubt it will take all that long.”

She looked at him doubtfully. “I think you ought to have counsel present, Alex.”

“You’re letting your lawyer instincts run wild here, Bridge,” he chided gently. “It’ll be okay, they’ll grill me for a few hours and it will all be over.”

“He’ll be home by dinnertime, Bridge,” Tom promised.

“If anything happens to him, I’ll be coming after you Thomas White,” she warned, somewhat mollified.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

***

Alex Apparated onto his front lawn, weary after being questioned at length for several hours by Internal Affairs. The two agents who conducted the session had been thorough, reviewing every encounter he’d had with Leo for the past six months. In the end, he was more confused than before and he wasn’t sure that they’d gotten anything useful out of what he knew.

Light shone out of every window on the first floor into the growing darkness of late evening, the last fiery rays of the setting sun already disappearing behind the ridge top. Bridge must have turned on all the lights once it got dark; I hope she put the kids to bed already. He reached out with his telepathic abilities and gently touched the minds of his wife and children, too light for them to detect. Katie was already asleep, and Bridge was putting a reluctant John to bed. All seemed well.

The sounds of his boots stepping heavily up the wooden porch steps gave his arrival away, and the door opened before him to reveal Harry just inside. “Bridge is putting John to bed after his bath,” his friend told him needlessly. “We expected you back hours ago.”

Alex didn’t speak, and gestured for Harry to get out of the way. He brushed past his friend without a word and went into the family room, collapsing on the couch with a sigh. Then he pulled out his wand and summoned a butterbeer from the kitchen refrigerator. After opening it and taking a long swig, he set it aside and looked up at his friend, who was leaning against the opposite wall with his arms crossed while he waited.

“Things got a little more intense than either Tom or I thought they would,” Alex finally said.

“How bad is it?” Harry asked, moving to a nearby armchair as his friend pulled off his boots and gave a groan of relief.

“I don’t know,” Alex replied. “I’ve cleared myself as a suspect at least, but there’s something more going on here than just Leo’s death. I just haven’t figured out what that is.” He explained about the note Leo had sent the night of his death, and the key. “What Order is he talking about, Harry?”

Harry Potter’s expression was one of shock. “How the bloody hell did he find out about the Order?” he exclaimed, not really paying attention to Alex.

Alex stared at him, and something inside his mind went click. A piece of the puzzle had just fallen into place. “Harry, look at me,” he ordered, and waited for his friend to focus on his face. “What Order?”

Harry swallowed, “The Order of the Phoenix. It’s primarily a British group, but we do have a few contacts here and there. In many ways it could be considered an intelligence organization, Dumbledore resurrected it during the last war with Voldermort and now my Godfather is First Wizard. We are dedicated to the fight against the darkness.”

“I see.” Alex leaned back and digested this new information. “I guess this organization is secret?”

“To the general wizarding public, yes. Our enemies know of us, and they certainly know I am a member, but they have been able to identify only a very few who happened to stand out, like Ron.” The last two words were spoken flatly: Ron Weasley had been killed in the final hours of the Second Voldermort War, defending a group of Muggle-born students from a Death Eater assault on Hogwarts. He had succeeded, but was mortally wounded in the process.

Alex knew that the death of Harry’s brother in all but blood still haunted the younger wizard, and would to some degree for the rest of his life. If he didn’t have Hermione I don’t know if he’d still be around. Harry’s other best friend from school, now his wife, Hermione Granger, had pulled Harry out of a deep depression in the months after Ron’s death. After hearing stories of those days he wondered if Harry might have been suicidal at the time. Alex had had the structure and discipline of the military to fall back on during his own tragedy, and the camaraderie of the Cadet corps as well. West Point had kept him so busy he’d barely had time to dwell on it. If it hadn’t been for those factors, he might very well have eaten a bullet in those first few months after his parents’ murder.

“Then how would Leo know about the Order?” Alex asked, shaking off the pointless musing and bringing Harry back to the present as well.

“I have no idea. We don’t have any operatives in the United States, you yanks have been a touchy lot in recent years about foreign groups operating inside your borders.” Harry shook his head. “And what’s this business about not telling anyone in your Aurors about the Gringotts key? He suspects they’re infiltrated somehow?”

Alex nodded. “That’s the only explanation I can come up with and it doesn’t make any sense to me. I know these people, Harry;” he insisted vehemently, “none of them could be a dark wizard!”

“They could be under the Imperious Curse.”

“Point taken,” Alex shrugged. “But I doubt it, we’re screened pretty carefully for any sign of magical tampering whenever we go to the office.”

“It would seem I’m staying for a bit, then. Until we find out what’s in this vault, at the very least. Then I’ll talk to Sirius and see what he wants me to do.” Harry yawned deeply, putting a hand up to cover his mouth. “Well, then, I was up at six in the morning London time, so I’m more than ready for sleep. Now that you’re home safe and sound, I think I’ll reacquaint myself with your guest bedroom.” He stood up. “Good night.”

Alex took another sip from his beer and nodded at his friend. “’Night, Harry. I’ll see you in the morning. We’ll try and keep the kids from waking you up too early.”

Harry snorted. “It isn’t the children I’m concerned with, Alex. You two are rather loud you know.”

Bridge entered the room before Alex had a chance to respond. “I remember a certain newlywed couple on a honeymoon trip around the world that stopped by our house a few years back,” she said with a broad smile. “I was eight months pregnant with Katie at the time, and wasn’t sleeping well anyway, but you and Hermione kept me up all night with the way you two were acting, couldn’t get enough of each other could you?”

Harry turned bright red and Alex choked on the swig of beer he had taken as she’d started to speak. Bridge made a checkmark in the air, as if marking score, and grinned at Harry. “Don’t play holier than thou with me, Harry Potter, I’m a lawyer. I play in the big leagues.”

Harry mumbled something unintelligible and walked out of the room shaking his head. The sounds of him quickly going upstairs were heard a few seconds later.

Alex managed to swallow his beer and then looked at his wife. She had moved to sit down in the armchair Harry had just left a few moments before, and the smile was gone.

“So, what’s this about a Gringotts vault?”

Alex gulped. He was so tired and had been so intent on the conversation with Harry, he hadn’t even felt his wife’s presence and she’d obviously overheard part of the conversation. “How much did you hear?” he asked.

“Enough.” She folded her arms across her chest and stared at him. “I knew you were hiding something from me, Alex. I didn’t even need the bond to figure that out, the way you were acting.”

“I don’t want you getting involved in this Bridge,” Alex said firmly.

“Don’t you tell me not to get involved Alexander Mackenzie!” she flared. “You’re my husband and partner in life! Whatever affects you also affects the children and myself. I’m already involved!” Her voice got louder towards the end and he deliberately waited until she’d calmed down a bit before he responded.

“That’s not what I meant, Bridge, and you know it. You can’t tell me about everything you do at work because that would be violating the law and your sense of ethics, and it’s the same thing with me, except if I told you everything it would put you in danger. I don’t know what’s going on yet, Bridge, and I don’t want you or the kids getting hurt because I said something I shouldn’t.”

“I understand that, Alex,” Bridge told him patiently, “but I still need to be informed about something like this. I don’t want something happening to you because I didn’t know where to send in the cavalry to save you.”

“Okay, Okay.” Alex held up his hands in surrender. “I’ll fill you in tomorrow on the whole thing. But after this, it’s Need to Know only, and I decide if you need to know. All right?”

“All right.” Her smile was pleasant, but he knew from experience that the battle was not over, only postponed.