Chapter One

[author_by_night]

Title: Neither Here Nor There

Fandom: Harry Potter

Rating: PG-13

Summary: It's been six months since the war, and everyone's ready to try moving on. Lyall Lupin and Andromeda Tonks  are coming to terms with the death of their children, finding solace in one another - but will the case remain if Lyall learns about Andromeda's new alliance? Kingsley Shacklebot is trying to lead a country that has been left bitter by war, so distrustful many even doubt him. And Hestia Jones is trying to harbor all she holds dear, which is hard when there's secrets she's never had the heart to reveal. Meanwhile, people are still missing, and new threats are lurking, but nobody is sure exactly who is being threatened.

Ships: Hestia/Kingsley, the buildup of Percy/Audrey, presumed Harry/Ginny, Bill/Fleur, past Remus/Tonks, past Percy/Penny.

Prologue

How does one choose a leader, and how does he lead?

Kingsley wasn't sure why he had been chosen by the resistance; he didn't think he was any more qualified than anyone else. True, he was knowledgeable - his mother was a historian, and his father a journalist for a muggle history publication. He'd even published a book
three years prior, detailing the lives of war veterans. The timing had been bad, and Kingsley had no desire to read it.

But he was doing it now. It was far along enough that he was ready, close enough that he thought it might help.

Kingsley couldn't believe it had really been five months sometimes. Almost exactly - the anniversary was tomorrow.

Speaking of which...

"Minister Shacklebot?"

Shacklebot looked up from his book at his assistant. "Yes, Percy?"

Percy had been appointed assistant due to having had considerably poor role models to look up to - even Percy admitted this, although Kingsley did have to admit he'd done a wonderful job of pretending to be on the Ministry's side during the coup. But still, he had a lot to learn, and Kingsley also didn't think there was anything wrong than being an executive secretary - he had done it himself.

"Your twelve o'clock appointment is here."

"Oh, from The Daily Prophet?"

"Yes."

A young man walked in, looking very purposeful.

"Minister Shacklebot, thank you for meeting me today," he said, shaking Kingsley's hand. "My name is Roger Davies."

"It is very nice to meet you. Please have a seat."

Roger obliged. "I notice your office is in a quiet part of London. You must stroll often."

"I do, yes."

"Do you ever go to the muggle diner across the street?"

Kingsley nodded. "Often."

"Very well... so tell me, can you believe that in a week, it will have been six months?" Roger asked.

"No, I can't."

"Where do you think we are in comparison to where we should be?"

"I think about that every day," Kingsley admitted. "The truth is, we have come a long way. Hogwarts is almost entirely recovered, many of the missing have been accounted for, and Aurors are catching more and more Death Eaters and accomplices."

"What about Dementors? Will they ever be re-instated to Azkaban?"

"No," Kingsley said firmly. "As I said last month-"

"-but some would say they are necessary for our safety."

"They were once believed to be the most ideal guards," Kingsley said. "However, all they do is punish the innocent, and last time, they aligned with the most guilty. We cannot allow it anymore."

"What, then, will be done?"

"Azkaban will remain guarded by Aurors," Kingsley replied.

"That might be reasonable," Roger said thoughtfully. "So all in all, you think the wizarding world has returned to normal?"

"Of course not. Too many people are still unaccounted for, and obviously those  of us who have lost friends and loved ones are still in mourning. There's also a number of people still in St. Mungo's. Homes and buildings still must be rebuilt. But we're making strides, and after such a horrible war, I suppose we can only continue to... move forward together."

Roger nodded. "Perfect. I think we can work with that."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Now tell me about yourself," Roger said. "Is your father not a muggle?"

"Muggleborn, actually, although he works at a muggle publication. He and my Mum are both historians-"

"-of course, Lydia Shacklebot."

"That's right! My father is-"

"Did any of your father's family die in the war?" Roger interrupted.

Kingsley blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Well, they are muggles."

"No," Kingsley said. "They haven't. I would watch how you ask people that in the future."

"Do you know them well?"

Kingsley shook his head. "Not as well as I'd like... I knew my grandparents of course, but they're gone now."

Kingsley heard Roger mutter, "doesn't know muggle family..."

"I wouldn't say I don't know them at all," Kingsley said with a frown. Where was he going with this?

Roger glared at Kingsley impatiently. "Your job is to dictate. I'll take the notes."

"Unless you need anything else from me, I think we're done for today," Kingsley said.

Roger stood up. "Thank you again, Minister."

Kingsley stepped out of his door to see Roger out; he'd been so relieved that this wasn't Rita Skeeter, but this young man was no better. Kingsley just hoped none of his words were twisted around; he already had enough people concerned about his post.

Not that Kingsley could blame them in the slightest; they had been burdened with so many horrible Ministers and corrupt laws that it was natural for the public to be a little distrustful. His decree to abolish the use of Dementors had been particularly unpopular; many a wizard still deemed them a "necessary evil." His law that Dark Creatures could not be turned away from employment simply for their status was still being debated upon. Kingsley had hoped that the wizarding world would learn, but perhaps that had been idealistic.

Kingsley turned to Percy.  "What time is my Auror Office meeting? One o'clock, correct?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Thank you, Percy."

"Well, Teddy," Andromeda said as she pushed him in his pram, "So far, Diagon Alley's been better than ever."

It didn't look completely awful; there were only a few empty stores, and people were selling items on the street as they had before. It wouldn't have looked "better" a few years ago, but compared to the state it had been in a few years prior...

A few children passed, their Mum chasing hurriedly after them. Andromeda felt something she didn't like, so she looked away quickly and turned her attention to the baby boy.

Andromeda wasn't sure who Teddy looked more like now, his father or his mother; it didn't help that he would change his features every so often. His natural features seemed to be a perfect combination more so than partial to one or the other. That didn't stop Lyall Lupin from insisting he looked so much like Remus, or from people who had known Dora from claiming she resembled her. Harry had suggested they stick to "Teddy looking like Teddy"; he said that being compared to his father ("but having my Mum's eyes," he'd add) had put a lot of pressure on him in his youth, and it was best if Teddy live up to his own expectations.

Andromeda was glad that Teddy had Harry; he was something of an uncle to him, and the more family Teddy had, the better. It still wasn't quite enough, he just had his Granddad, Lyall, and Andromeda, and it would never replace the people who should have been there... but it was something.

Gringotts had been a grim experience; goblins were more distrustworthy of wizards than they had ever been. Andromeda suspected the only reason they'd been allowed to keep the bank was because it was one of their few major profits, and they needed wizard business. Besides, not all Goblins had blamed wizards, at least not according to rumor - some upheld that had Griphook simply given Harry what he needed, the tragedy may have been averted. Mostly, they did not want more conflict.

Teddy yawned, and Andromeda tickled his stomach. He giggled, and Andromeda was reminded of another baby's giggle.

Stop it, she thought to herself sharply. He's not her. He's him. Now don't let yourself go there or you'll start crying, and we can't have that, can we?

As though fate was less than inclined to be nice to Andromeda today, she saw another painful reminder - Hestia Jones stepping off a curb.

Hestia Jones had been Dora's best friend since they started Hogwarts; Andromeda and Ted had met Hestia's parents the following summer, and soon the two families were very close, even spending holidays together. Over the years they'd drifted somewhat - knowing the truth about Sirius had forced the Tonkses into secrecy, and while Hestia had joined the Order, Phyllis and Glynn Jones remained loyal to Fudge. They'd since renounced their loyalties, but moderate damage had still been done.

Yet they had still been dear friends to Andromeda - she missed them sorely, especially Phyllis, but could not bring herself to contact them. After all, they had been important to Ted and Dora too, and thus that was her association. She saw Glynn, she saw Ted; she saw Phyllis with Glynn, she saw herself with Ted; she saw Hestia and Phyllis or Megan and Phyllis, she saw herself and Dora. It was too much to handle.

Andromeda hoped Hestia hadn't seen her, but it was clear she had; she was already walking over with a look of trepidation on her face.

"Mrs. Tonks," Hestia said. Why wasn't she smiling like she used to? Was it hard for her too, seeing the mother of her best friend?

"I've told you many times now to call me Andromeda."

"Right. Andromeda. Hi."

"How are you?" Andromeda asked.

"I'm well, just taking my lunch. I work at the Muggle Liaison Office now, you know."

"Do you really?"

"Yeah, I got a lot of experience last year, hiding with the Dursleys and all..."

Andromeda smiled. "That's wonderful, dear."

Hestia bent over. "Oh, Teddy you've gotten so big!"

Teddy giggled in response.

"He knows it," Andromeda said with a laugh.

"He's just like his Mum that way, she always knew-"

Hestia stopped, and she suddenly looked very sad. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought-"

"-Dora was very proud of her strengths," Andromeda finished.

"Yeah, I guess she was," Hestia said. "How are... you, anyway?"

"Teddy's keeping me busy," Andromeda replied. Hestia understood; she was, after all, a clever girl.

"Good," Hestia said. "Well, I should be on my way back to the office, but...we should all have dinner soon, at my Mum and Dad's.
They miss you, you know."

"I know," Andromeda said.

Hestia stroked Teddy's cheek, and hugged Andromeda briefly before going on with her day.

She made it look so easy.

Meetings with the Auror Department were held monthly, co-presided by Kingsley and the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Humphrey Williamson.

The Auror Department was nothing like it had been before; it couldn't be. Many of the members had only just left Hogwarts, which was a break from tradition as excessive training was required - but desperate times called for desperate measures.

On the other end of the table was Niles Savage, head of the Auror Department. Next to him was Daphne Greengrass, who had spied on her fellow Slytherins during the war and slipped subtle messages to Kingsley. Kenneth Towler, originally a trainee, was eyeing her. Neville Longbottom, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter were discussing their friends at Hogwarts. Susan Bones was taking notes. Michael Corner was, as usual, giving everyone looks of distaste.

There were members who'd been trained as well, of course - Connor MacMillan, whose nephew had attended Hogwarts, was as ready to fight as ever, and Iona Proudfoot was whispering something to him. Percy Weasley, of course, took a seat next to Kingsley, prepared to take notes.

"Hello," Kingsley said. "I hope you are all well."

"I am, considering I usually work at night," Daphne said.

"How did you manage to spy on Slytherin with your level of honesty?" Ron asked.

"Because people are so used to me being honest, no one thought I might be lying," Daphne replied with a shrug.

"First order of business," Kingsley said. "Any more word on Rabastan Lestrange?"

"We almost got him cornered the other day," Neville said, "but he got away. I don't think he's so brave without his brother and sister-in-law." He said this almost too calmly; it clearly bothered him a great deal.

"One of these days," Harry said. He posed this as a general remark, but was looking at Neville.

The conversation turned more mundane, as it always did; statistics were shared, revenue was reported on, but then-

"Are there any leads on the missing?" Niles Savage asked.

"We finally found Mary and Reggie Cattermole," Iona said. "They're worse for wear, but alive. Their children were very pleased to be reunited with them."

"We're still looking for Penelope Clearwater," Daphne added. "We know her parents and other siblings are alive, though. But they really want answers too - they're terrified she was killed like her brother and his wife."

Percy was gripping into the quill very tightly; the back of his neck was red.

"Percy," Ron said, "I have to ask, when was the last time you... spoke?"

Percy hesitated. "Last year. When the Death Eaters took over. We hadn't dated in a while, I let her down in a horrible way and she'd never quite forgiven me, but... I knew what danger she'd be in. I tried to tell her to come with me, that I'd say she was a Weasley, or perhaps a Prewett - there's so few Prewetts left, nobody could argue against her - but she insisted she'd be safe with... her brother and his wife. They lived in the country, nobody would ever find them..." Percy trailed off.

"We're going to find her," Harry said. "She wasn't with her brother, so it's likely she fled somewhere."

"During the first war, a lot of witches and wizards fled voluntarily," Niles said thoughtfully.

More names were mentioned and unaccounted for. Too many; Kingsley could hardly stomach it, and he wondered briefly how Fudge had done it. He even understood, for a horrible moment, why Fudge had wanted to deny it was happening again.

But he wasn't Fudge. Fudge was why things had been as bad as they were; he'd allowed Death Eaters to kill under his nose, and his refusal to allow the Order to fight had delayed their chances of progress. With a second war came a second chance; they would do things right this time.

Comments

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

This was a great first chapter :D

(frozen)

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[thekaiserchief.livejournal.com]

Good chapter. I like your style of writing and can't wait for more!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[mollywheezy.livejournal.com]

I like the job you've given Percy. Poor Penny! Kingsley is great, too. I loved the comments about his relief over not getting Rita Skeeter that was short-lived when he met Roger Davies.

Poor Andromeda! Her situation really tears at my heart.

Excellent chapter! :)