April 21, 2008
Half an hour after Theodora Kingstreet's release

The CRACK that accompanied Jason MacDonell's appearance in Hogsmeade was much louder than usual, but then, he rarely took more than himself with him.  This time, however, he had his right arm constrictingly around Aurora's shoulders, and Jack held in his left.  He withdrew his hand from Aurora almost immediately after they appeared, sending her a mutinous look before he deposited his only daughter on the ground between them.

The departure from the Ministry had been uncomfortable, silence hanging oppressively between the two MacDonell parents, Jack asking what was wrong repeatedly without answer.  Part of Jason had hoped they would leave without him, and he had stayed behind to grumble with Belisario and Raynor to facilitate that departure.  But no, there they had stood outside the courtroom; for all Jason knew, Kingstreet might have had the audacity to speak to his daughter!  His own flesh and blood, polluted by contact with that wretched...

Forcing the thought down for a moment, Jason rummaged in the pocket of his robes for a purse, withdrawing a few silver Sickles.  He deposited them in Jack's hands, forcing a smile he was sure even the young girl could see through.  "Run off to Honeydukes, lass.  Your mother and I'll be just up the road for a few."

She took the coins, but her normal glee at visiting the sweet shop was tempered by her discomfort at the unease between her parents.

"Thanks, daddy...are ye okay?"

"Fine, lass, fine," Jason said in a voice that was clearly less than fine.

"But why are ye and mommy--"

"Now, Jacquelynne," Jason said, his tone hardening a bit, and she skipped off with only a single backward glance.  The former Auror strode in the opposite direction, walking quickly enough that pain lanced up through his right leg and he winced, bypassing the Three Broomsticks in favor of the Hog's Head.  He and Aurora rarely shouted, especially at one another, but it was best to be prepared.  And if it came to a matter of wands -- Aurora's temper was just as fierce as Jason's when her blood was up -- well, Aberforth would be more understanding.

Brushing open the door with a push of his gloved left hand -- a push that left the door rattling on its hinges -- Jason gave the room a cursory glance.  Two hooded warlocks in the corner, a hag at the bar.  Nodding once to Aberforth, MacDonell strode to the opposite corner of the warlocks, rounded to face Aurora, and snapped without preamble, "Are ye mad, Aurora?!  Jacquelynne at a Wizengamot hearing for a convicted traitor?!"

Aurora could feel the anger rolling off of her husband. She could even tell he was trying to avoid her. As Jack had tugged on her hand at the Ministry, eager to see her father, Aurora knew Jason was angry at her.  The tension was so noticeable that even Jack could sense it and commented on it. Aurora couldn’t help but be proud of how observant her little girl was. She briefly wondered if Jason noticed in his anger.

Aurora nearly sighed as Jason removed his arm from around her almost as soon as they reached Hogsmeade. Aurora wondered why he brought them here. Wouldn’t Bannochdaen be better for such a potentially volatile confrontation? She looked around as Jason bribed Jack with Honeyduke’s. Aurora turned just as her redheaded daughter bounced toward the sweet shoppe.  She smiled gently as she watched her go.

Aurora glanced at Jason to see him starting down the street. Sighing again, Aurora began to follow. She was hoping to have a nice day with Jason and Jack. With Alex on Avalon and Thalia on a date, she figured the three of them could spend some time together before she retrieved Alex from Serena and Mackenzie. However, Jason’s temper seem to have other ideas.  Shaking her head, Aurora entered Hog’s Head behind him.

Tossing a charming smile at Aberforth who nodded, she rolled her shoulders and stopped. She had the door at her back. It was the safer option. If Jason pushed her enough, she could storm away. It was a safer option than starting a duel in the middle of the pub. Jason might be ready for a fight, but this wasn’t the venue.  After all, he was a member of the Wizengamot now. It wouldn’t do for him to be caught brawling now. Maybe when they were younger…

"Are ye mad, Aurora?!  Jacquelynne at a Wizengamot hearing for a convicted traitor?!"

Aurora barely suppressed rolling her eyes at him, “It’s wonderful to see ye as well, love.”

Sarcasm was her old defense mechanism.  One she was sure Jason would see through and not appreciate. It was hard not to point out how he was acting. Aurora supposed he would have asked here Alex was first before snapping. Of course this was Jason and he never did what one would expect. Gathering her thoughts, she leveled Jason a look.  She wasn’t pleased with him right now either.

“Would you rather I had brought Alex?” Aurora snapped back, “Aren’t you the least bit interested as why she was with me? Or are you looking for a fight over Kingstreet getting away again?”

"It’s wonderful to see ye as well, love."

Jason did roll his eyes.  "Yes, yes, I love ye too.  That doesn't make ye less insane!"

On some level -- and it was a very different level from the one on which Jason was consciously operating -- the veteran Auror had a deep appreciation for Aurora's ability to take jokes or sarcasm about anything, including love, without batting an eye.  He had met a great many witches without that sense of humor; it was one of the many reasons he loved her, and one of several reasons they were best off enriching each other's lives instead of inflicting themselves on others.

"Would you rather I had brought Alex?"

"Och, what a brilliant idea that would have been!  We could let Kingstreet take a family picture, give her our address, maybe put her on our Christmas card list."  Jason's eyes were blazing so intensely someone might have set his brain on fire behind them.

"Aren’t you the least bit interested as why she was with me? Or are you looking for a fight over Kingstreet getting away again?”

She was trying to divert him, in a manner so conspicuous and heavy-handed that he might have laughed disdainfully.

It worked anyway.

"That is nay your fault, it's Marcus's," Jason growled, glancing over Aurora's shoulder at the other patrons of the bar and lowering his tone.  "Minister for Magic, and he didn't twist any arms to swing the vote the right way.  Even with Belisario actually twisting arms."

In truth, Jason was amazed that the vote had been as close as it was.  He wondered what Belisario had done to the others, doubting that his own voiced testimony had been of any impact.  MacDonell had the gift of eloquence when the mood struck him, but it was not as if his fellow Wizengamot members had not known his feelings before the trial.

"Yes, yes, I love ye too.  That doesn't make ye less insane!"

No, but it felt good to watch his eyes roll and his tone get lower. It was probably what he needed to hear to realize that he was being a bit too loud. Of course, none of the patrons in the pub so much as batted an eye at the couple. They were probably use to it. That was good.  At least there wasn’t a gaping audience.

"Och, what a brilliant idea that would have been!  We could let Kingstreet take a family picture, give her our address, maybe put her on our Christmas card list." 

“Oh bloody hell. You act like she is a homicidal maniac. Kingstreet isn’t about to burst on us and try to take hostages. She knows how fast she’ll die and your reputation is well earned, MacDonell.” Aurora pointed out, “I could have just stayed at home and left you there.”

Now her temper was starting to flare. He wasn’t interested in hearing her side of a story. She had a sneaking suspicion that he needed to vent about the trial. Perhaps it was a good thing that Jack was at Honeyduke’s plotting the different ways to spend Jason’s money.  It would serve him right if she left him with a hyper Jack who ate too much sugar.

"That is nay your fault, it's Marcus's. Minister for Magic, and he didn't twist any arms to swing the vote the right way.  Even with Belisario actually twisting arms."

“I doubt Alex twisted too many arms.” Aurora shrugged, “Marcus is bound by the law. I think your speech had a bigger impact than you think. Everyone lost something to Voldemort. Kingstreet in many minds is just as bad as a Death Eater.”

Aurora took a deep breath and she tried to take advantage of the truce that seem to between them. She understood that it could change just as quickly with a single word. She probably shouldn’t say anything that could risk it, but she wanted to tell him before their temper started back up and it would be shoved to the side.

“I was so proud of you, Jason.” Aurora stated, “You didn’t curse her with magic, but you got her with words. I think it might be the first time anyone had ever upstaged her with words.”

"She knows how fast she’ll die and your reputation is well earned, MacDonell.  I could have just stayed at home and left you there.”

Jason growled, but said nothing.  His reputation for fascination and mastery of the Dark Arts was well-earned -- he was more an expert in the discipline than half the Death Eaters -- but it was increasingly not a fact he was proud of.  Should she ever raise a wand to his children, of course, Jason would make sure that Kingstreet knew precisely why those curses were Unforgivable...

"I doubt Alex twisted too many arms.  Marcus is bound by the law. I think your speech had a bigger impact than you think. Everyone lost something to Voldemort. Kingstreet in many minds is just as bad as a Death Eater."

Waving this off dismissively, the former Auror shook his head.  "'Early release'!  It should never have gotten to trial, but the Wizengamot is full of spineless legalists.  Three Aurors on the entire body."

"I was so proud of you, Jason.  You didn’t curse her with magic, but you got her with words. I think it might be the first time anyone had ever upstaged her with words."

A smile flickered across Jason's face, then died as quickly.  "Touched as I am, darling," he began, his brogue so thick from temper that it put a long 'a' in 'darling', "that does nay change the fact that our daughter was there for that sham of a proceeding.  What possible reason could ye have had?!"

Aurora suppressed her smirk at his growl. It was good to know they were of the same mind. As much as Jason was versed in Dark Arts, Aurora was no slouch in the area herself. However while she never cast an Unforgivable, she was sure that if anyone tried to harm her family, she could very easily do it. It was another reason why she loved Jason. He was capable but he was very much in control of his abilities.

“'Early release'!  It should never have gotten to trial, but the Wizengamot is full of spineless legalists.  Three Aurors on the entire body."

Yet his temper was not something he was in control of. She decided to let him rant and rave about the trial. Aye, she agreed with him about the trial. It didn’t matter that Kingstreet didn’t help with the Uprising. In fact, Aurora had a feeling Kingstreet knew that if she did try to help, she wouldn’t have stood a chance. Kingstreet’s weapon was a pen, not a wand. However, there was a strange lacking of Aurors on the Wizengamot.  Aurora began to ponder that fact for a possible article.

”Touched as I am, darling, that does nay change the fact that our daughter was there for that sham of a proceeding.  What possible reason could ye have had?!"

It was about time he got around to the right question. She was getting tired of dancing with him around the subject until he was reasonable enough to ask. She knew telling before he was ready would have either resulted in a new round of yelling or him not hearing her. At least now, he was showing a willingness to entertain her side of the story despite his temper.

“Thalia had a date and Alex came down with a fever. “ Aurora stated in a matter of fact tone, “Serena has him on Avalon. However, with Mac in one of his experimental moods, she would have her plate full. It was easier to bring Jack with me and make sure she stayed out of trouble. Or do you want her to try and ride her horseys again?”

"Thalia had a date and Alex came down with a fever."

For a moment blank surprise wiped out everything else from Jason's expression.  He was of a mind similar to Hermione Weasley, that house-elves were every bit as much beings as wizards, but it was still so odd to hear such a thing, a house-elf on a date.  Unable to think ill of his father for the way he had tried to raise Jason -- Colin MacDonell was himself a casualty of the Second War, slain by Death Eaters while sealing Bannochdaen against them -- Jason was left to simply marvel.

A twinge of guilt stole over him for a moment -- he hadn't know Alexander was sick.  For the past five days, MacDonell had lived in their flat in London, helping prepare for Kingstreet's trial all day every day.  But he trusted Aurora to contact him if it was anything serious, and her coolly collected expression reminded him that her Legilimency skills were finely attuned, and so he smoothed over his own face, burying emotion along with it.

"It was easier to bring Jack with me and make sure she stayed out of trouble. Or do you want her to try and ride her horseys again?”

Almost suggesting that she could have stayed with Jack and Bannochdaen before he squelched the idea unspoken -- they were both fast on the draw, and Jason wasn't sure he'd be able to repel the curse she'd surely fire at him for that suggestion -- he instead decided to stick to the question at hand.  "And Neville was busy?  And Ginny?  Even Robin?  Have we no friends at all anymore?"

Under guise of shifting his grip on his cane so he held it further below the eagle's head device, Jason slid his real hand into his pocket, drew his wand, and swished it surreptitiously past Aurora in a single smooth motion, thinking Muffliato.  Catching his wife's eyes and giving her a significant look, he went on in a voice of perfectly normal volume, if abnormally tight.

"Ye don't know Kingstreet like I do, Aurora.  Forgive me, love, but I think ye underestimate her."  He pondered how best to phrase it, frowning.  "We spent so long fighting -- all of us, you and me and Robin and what's left of the Order -- that if someone isn't a Death Eater we consider them less of a threat.  The fact that she can't raise a wand to us doesn't mean she isn't dangerous."

He turned away, staring out the window, as much as the grime would allow.  "The danger from Kingstreet is of a much more insidious kind, Aurora.  The more information that woman has, the greater threat she is."  His voice darkened.  "The only thing that wretch needs to know about me is what a curse looks like coming from my wand."

Aurora nearly started laughing at Jason’s moment of surprise. She supposed it was natural for him to forget that Thalia did have a social life. She might be a house elf, but she was freed one and still fairly young. She was only a few years old when Aurora took her in.  Aurora raised Thalia and gave her an education. She supposed it was the Le Fey side of her personality that insisted on not letting a mind go to waste.  In many ways that made Aurora different, since Thalia had been more of a little sister than a servant.

Aurora watched as the surprise began to wear off of Jason’s face. Eventually she figured Jason would want to know who exactly was courting Thalia. Sometime Jason could be more protective than Rory was when it came to their family. It was a good thing she was thinking on that, because she might have went for her wand. Instead she rolled her eyes as he began to give suggestions.

"And Neville was busy?  And Ginny?  Even Robin?  Have we no friends at all anymore?"

“Neville is teaching. Ginny is on assignment for the Prophet. Robin is off on a case. Tristian is with his current girlfriend. Harry, Ron, and Analiza are working. Marcus and Fauna are on vacation.” Aurora ticked off every possible babysitter they knew, “And Knox is busy at Hogwarts. Did I forget any one?”

"Ye don't know Kingstreet like I do, Aurora.  Forgive me, love, but I think ye underestimate her. We spent so long fighting -- all of us, you and me and Robin and what's left of the Order -- that if someone isn't a Death Eater we consider them less of a threat.  The fact that she can't raise a wand to us doesn't mean she isn't dangerous."

Aurora fought for calm. It took a few moments or minutes. She wasn’t sure how much time had past after Jason casted the spell and began on Kingstreet.  Aurora might not have been an Auror but her old career brought into contact with a great deal of information.  Perhaps it was an old habit, but she hated it when Jason would tell she was underestimating an enemy. It didn’t matter if he had a point it was just annoying.

"The danger from Kingstreet is of a much more insidious kind, Aurora.  The more information that woman has, the greater threat she is. The only thing that wretch needs to know about me is what a curse looks like coming from my wand."

“I know you want to think that secrecy is the best form of defense.” Aurora started before pausing.  She needed to address that from the view point of strategy. Emotions and arguing wouldn’t get the point of across. Walking up to his side, Aurora gently put her hand on his left arm, hoping her would look at her.

“Jason, if she wanted information on us, she can very easily get it. You are a public figure as a member of the Wizengamot. It’s not like we are in hiding.” Aurora pointed out softly, “She would know about Jack and Alex. Plus I wanted to be there to support you and to make sure you behaved.  Besides if you are so afraid of Kingstreet getting to Jack, why did you send her to Honeydukes alone?”

"And Knox is busy at Hogwarts. Did I forget any one?”

"Greyfriar?" Jason asked incredulously, staring at his wife as if she had grown a third eye.  He had been irritably counting along with Aurora as she ruled out, and had been about to mention how he had deliberately not brought up the Ministry officers -- having seen them all at the hearing -- but the notion of trusting the Headmaster with his own flesh and blood had struck him momentarily dumb.

It was not that he disliked the Headmaster; indeed, the two men had worked well when Greyfriar was writing his history.  But Knox radiated an unconvincing air, as if he was perpetually keeping a secret.

"I know you want to think that secrecy is the best form of defense. Jason, if she wanted information on us, she can very easily get it. You are a public figure as a member of the Wizengamot. It’s not like we are in hiding."

Jason growled in acknowledgement of the truth in her words, but said nothing coherent.

"Plus I wanted to be there to support you and to make sure you behaved.  Besides if you are so afraid of Kingstreet getting to Jack, why did you send her to Honeydukes alone?"

"Still convinced ye can outdraw me?" Jason asked, the corners of his mouth twitching up slightly.  Duels between the MacDonells were a surreal experience; having fought for half a year together on Avalon, and trained together since, each knew the other's style almost as well as his own.  Aurora was infinitely more agile, given her lack of a debilitating leg injury, but Jason had a slightly faster quickdraw.

"And like I said," he went on, tone returning to its cool emotionlessness, "Kingstreet herself isn't a physical threat.  She could nay have done anything yet, and besides, the shopkeepers love Jack.  I just wish there was something I could do about her."

Part of Jason's subconscious, a sleeping dragon brought to a groggy semiconscious by the day's events and his unpleasant brooding, reminded him that of course he could do something about it.  The Dark wizard in Bulgaria had been a threat too, and he had certainly done something about that.  What was one Killing Curse, more or less?

A shiver ran up Jason's magical left arm, and he clenched that fist so tightly that the leather of his glove squeaked in protest.  He closed his eyes, and saw only the bright green blaze that was every Boggart he had seen in twenty-six years.  Slowly, he shook his head.  To kill in battle was one thing, in cold blood quite another.  Bad enough that his very body was polluted, contaminated as much as every Death Eater with a Dark Mark.  Bad enough that he held his children in that arm.

He was bad enough already.  He would not become worse.  Never again.

Once his emotions were perfectly back under control, fear and loathing safely locked behind the walls in his mind, he opened his eyes again and faced Aurora at last.  "She's planning something.  Escaping Azkaban is only a first step, it's far too small for Kingstreet.  She has a broader plan," and he gritted his teeth in frustration, "but I can nay see what!"

Aurora turned a deaf ear to her husband’s exclamation of surprise. Aurora had included the head of Hogwarts more to illustrate a point than any serious consideration on her part. She had an idea that Knox’s past was shadier than he had ever revealed. Aurora also found that whatever past he might have had, he seems to be trying to redeem herself. It was quest Aurora understood quite well. She had been seeking her own redemption when she was younger. It took the man in front of her to show her the way.

So when they returned to her point at hand, Aurora barely kept the smirk off her face when she heard the growl. She enjoyed Jason’s reaction when she made her point in an argument.  In fact, she wanted to kiss his cheek just to be a snot. Perhaps later, knowing how their fight can be, Aurora would have another chance.

"Still convinced ye can outdraw me?"

Feeling mischievous, Aurora gave him a once over and winked, “Think Aberforth would mind?”

"And like I said, Kingstreet herself isn't a physical threat.  She could nay have done anything yet, and besides, the shopkeepers love Jack.  I just wish there was something I could do about her."

Aurora was about to reply when she saw the shiver. In fact with her hand still touching his arm, she even felt it. She didn’t miss his fist clenching in response. Aurora glanced at Jason’s eyes, to see an unholy fire behind the emerald gaze. It was something she hadn’t seen since the Second War. In fact, it was shortly after he had left Avalon and returned with his arm. She knew in her heart that something had happened on his mission. Yet she also knew that he wouldn’t tell her until he ready.

Aurora couldn’t help but wonder what had happened all those years ago. She never pushed but then Jason never confided in her. It left her with a mystery she wasn’t sure she could solve.  Instead, she moved her hand over his closed fist. Feeling the cool smooth surface of the leather,  she place her fingers gently over his.

“Jason? What’s wrong?”

"She's planning something.  Escaping Azkaban is only a first step, it's far too small for Kingstreet.  She has a broader plan, but I can nay see what!"

“If you are so sure that she is planning something, then maybe we can do something about it.” Aurora started as she began to ponder the point, “Perhaps we can pay a few of my old informants a little visit. I’m sure they’ll be cooperative. If nothing else, it will let Kingstreet know that she is being watched from more than one venue.”

"Think Aberforth would mind?"

Jason flexed his fingers, considering.  Not whether Aberforth would mind -- he would, of course, but it would not be the first brawl in which MacDonell had participated (or started) in the Hog's Head, and Jason's coin was solid and extensive enough that the gruff barman would only growl and shake his head -- but whether it was worth it at the moment.  Midday, with only three other patrons, it would certainly be remarked upon.  The Prophet would undoubtedly be making mention of his impassioned polemic against Kingstreet, and Jason did not trust a reporter to consider a duel between spouses friendly.

So he shook his head, but smirked slightly.  "Save it for Bannochdaen, the dueling pitch must be missing us."

"Perhaps we can pay a few of my old informants a little visit. I’m sure they’ll be cooperative. If nothing else, it will let Kingstreet know that she is being watched from more than one venue."

Now drawn down from the murky stormclouds of wrath to the slippery, muddy ground below by a concrete idea, Jason considered it, frowning contemplatively.  "We'd need to do it carefully.  It would be good to keep an eye -- or several -- on her, but I do nay want her knowing that it's being done, if we can at all help it.  She's too clever to let knowledge like that go to waste."

The MacDonells had a strange way of flirting. Friendly feuds or duels were their stock and trade. Aurora didn’t mind though. She loved the fact that they trusted each other enough to not seriously hurt each other. Plus, Jason was a warrior through and through. Their duels allowed him to express that side of his nature. That and it was one of the many things about him that set Aurora’s blood on fire.


"Save it for Bannochdaen, the dueling pitch must be missing us."

“I’m sure the grass has started growing again.” Aurora remarked with a shrug and a gleam in her gray eyes, “You are right. This isn’t the time. Merlin only knows where Skeeter is hiding.”

Aurora watched her husband as he considered the idea. It was a solid one and while It would be drawing her back into the Underground world that she had left to be with him, Aurora felt it was their best option. After all, the Ministry can’t keep direct tabs on Kingstreet without scrutiny. However, Aurora and Robin could. Or at least Robin could. He was still in the business of tracking people. Aurora grinned as Jason spoke up.

"We'd need to do it carefully.  It would be good to keep an eye -- or several -- on her, but I do nay want her knowing that it's being done, if we can at all help it.  She's too clever to let knowledge like that go to waste."

“Which is why we can use Robin as a cover. Plus, you know how scared my informants are of you. Just scowl at them and they’ll do anything you ask. You have such a charming way with them.” Aurora teased as she kissed him quickly, “And since you were so well behaved and gave a well thought out speech, I’ll help save you from Jack trying to drag you to Madame Puddlefoot’s.”