Neither Here Nor There: Chapter Two

[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

Chapter One

ETA: Sorry guys, somehow the first part of this chapter never made it. Fixed now. Also fixed some of the formatting.

There should have been something romantic about being woken up by seawater. In the summer, there was.

But in the late fall, it made for a very chilly morning. Every morning.

"Brr," Hestia mumbled as she threw on her robes. She looked outside the window; even the waves seemed to shudder.

Hestia had moved to Shell Cottage with Charlie several months ago, joining Bill and Fleur; she'd initially stayed in the village that had been a sanctuary, but there were too many painful memories. She'd first come to hide with the Dursleys, but Tonks and her family had followed suit, and over time many people had come and gone, many of whom who were gone now. Hestia hoped that she could return someday. It would be a nice place to raise a family...


Hestia made her way down the steps; she could hear Bill and Fleur in the kitchen.

"You're finally awake," Fleur said as Hestia sat. "Good. We 'ave to get to work and I didn't want to leave the food out."

"Morning, Hestia," Bill added.

Hestia smiled at him. "Morning, Bill."

"Good night," Charlie yawned as he walked through the door, looking exhausted. Fleur quickly made him a plate as well.

"I thought the reserve was going to get you day shifts?" Hestia asked. Charlie was working for the Welsh Dragon Reserve now; after his younger brother's death, he'd decided it would be best to stay home for a while.

"I gave it to a man with a wife and young child," Charlie explained.

Hestia rolled her eyes. "You're such a Gryffindor."

"You're a Hufflepuff, you'd do the same for a friend."

"Yeah, but because I wanted to help a friend, not because I thought I was morally obligated to save the world from... dragon keeping."

Everyone laughed. Hestia and Charlie had fought about their houses since they met; this was just one of many, many rounds. In fact,
Charlie's utter Gryffindorishness was one of Hestia's favourite things about him, and she knew he felt the same way.

"So how is Gringotts?" Charlie asked Bill.

Bill sighed. "They still hate us, but things are improving. They trust Fleur, at least. She's more of their liaison than the Ministry one, really."

Fleur didn't look pleased. "Zey trust me because zey zink of me as a Veela. I am not a Veela, I am one quarter Veela."

"Oh, let it go," Hestia muttered.

She really wanted to like Fleur more than she did; Fleur was Bill's wife, and according to Tonks, she'd given a very moving speech when Bill was attacked by Greyback. And she had worked closely with Fleur during the war, given that they were both at their respective havens. But things were almost normal again, and so Hestia was back to not really knowing what to make of Fleur Fleur was one of those people who had a very good heart, but it was underneath things Hestia didn't always want to touch.

Of course, Fleur had also opened her house to Charlie and Hestia after having already used it as a refuge; Hestia knew perfectly well that Fleur could have told Bill that no, they would not let his brother and his Hogwarts friend live with them when they'd finally gotten their lives back. Sure, they got rent money out of it, but the advantage of having an old family home was that the mortgage had been paid off centuries ago. Literally. Most of Hestia and Charlie's money went towards the added expense of two people. So Hestia tried to be grateful.

"How about you, Hestia?" Charlie asked. "Is the Muggle Liaison Office fully reformed yet?"

"The Obliviators still aren't keen on us," Hestia said. "We've tried to push for obliviation to be limited to emergencies... some of them are fine with it, others seem to like the idea of obliviating when they see fit."

"In France," Fleur began, "we do not obliviate freely."

Hestia checked her watch. "We'd best get going."

They quickly finished their breakfast and started cleaning up. Hestia considered mentioning her run-in with Andromeda Tonks, but thought better of it; bringing that up would be a reminder that things really weren't normal, and there was a time and place for such reminders. A relatively pleasant morning before work wasn't one of them.

Hestia was glad, at least, that she wouldn't have to stay at the office this morning. Instead, she got to go to Hogwarts.

Hestia said a polite hello to Arnold Peasegood, her boss, and collected some items off of her desk. She'd just reached the main floor when a familiar voice said, "Kingsley?"

Hestia turned around. Kingsley was behind her, holding a coffee mug.

"Minister!" Hestia said excitedly, and she extended her hand.

Kingsley raised his eyebrows. "I'm still Kingsley to you, I hope."

"Oh, I know," Hestia said, "but it's fun to tease you. Although I have a bone to pick with you, too."

"And that would be?"

"Where have you been? You haven't shown up to any of the Order meetings.

"Oh." Kingsley sounded surprised. "I thought I made it clear that I-"

"-I know, I know, you're Minister now and want the Order to be separate from the Ministry, et cetera. Doesn't mean you can't come back and visit. I think you're still our leader, you know. "

"What? I recommended Harry or Minerva. And Sturgis, although even he feels he's almost as mad as Moody now so I gave him a pass..."

Hestia smiled at the bittersweet memory. The mention hadn't been intentional, she knew he'd spoken without thinking, but it was easier to do that now, at least with some people. Other names still stung a bit.  "He'd be proud of your slogan, y'know. Constant vigilance."

"Constant vigilance. But what about Harry, then?"

"You know Harry has quite enough on his plate, and anyway... he was never really in the Order,  was he? He has his own people."

"Right... well... perhaps it's best. Not everything has to be led. How are your meetings, then?"

"They're... going. Audrey Buggleswab is new, we work together... she's been helping me with the Clearwater case."

"I didn't know you'd taken it on."

"We were all assigned something. I've been working with the Auror Department, too. My official job is to maintain contact with her family, of course, and report back to the Aurors, but..."

"You can't resist getting more involved than that?"

"No," Hestia said. "I was in the Order before I was in the Muggle Liaison Office, striving to better understand and help muggles. Why should it end now?"

Kingsley smiled. "I still remember when you found a potato peeler hilarious."

"Sod off," Hestia laughed, swatting him playfully.

Hestia realized how much she'd missed Kingsley. They'd been growing closer; all of them had been, even Mundungus had been something, but Kingsley was different. He wasn't as aloof as some of the others, which Hestia liked. But when she'd gone into hiding with the Dursleys, contact had been infrequent, and didn't always last long. It wasn't like before, when they would sometimes prolong meetings for the sake of socializing. Hestia had hoped perhaps their sense of companionship would return once the war ended, but  they'd just drifted from one another even more. They maintained the Order more to prevent the same mistakes being made than anything else.

"Really, though," she said softly, "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," Kingsley said.

He looked like he was about to say something else, but they were interrupted by Audrey hurrying towards them.

"Sorry," she panted. "I got into an argument with Percy Weasley and lost track of time."

"About Penelope?" Hestia asked. Percy occasionally got touchy about her.

"No, about a book," Audrey replied, as though arguments about literature were typical of her.

Audrey finally noticed Kingsley, and straightened her shoulders. "Minister Shacklebot! I didn't even notice you. Audrey Bugglesworth." She extended a hand.

"That's quite all right; it's a pleasure to meet you. Well, I will let you two be on your way."

"Don't be a stranger," Hestia said.

"Nor you."

Hestia wished she could follow Kingsley, that their conversation hadn't had to end. She wracked her brains for an excuse, but remembered she and Audrey ought to have left by now and quickly led the way.

Hogwarts was still not the same, Hestia thought as she walked into the entrance with Audrey.

It had improved since the last time she'd been there - the statues were intact again, and the students didn't look as shell-shocked as  they had before. Still, Hestia couldn't notice that a few eyed her suspiciously. Could she blame them?

Something caught Hestia's eye by a stain-glass window, but she didn't look at it. There was no time for that.

"My favourite course at Hogwarts was History of Magic," Audrey was saying, and Hestia realized they were talking about their Hogwarts days. "Binns was dreadful, but the subject was fascinating, and some of the poems we had to read! Did you know Wulfric was either based on a muggle epic, or the other way around?"

"I... don't remember that one," Hestia admitted. She thought for a minute. "Unless it's the really long one written in the middle ages? I think my friend Bill's notes got me through it, he was a year ahead."

Audrey looked disappointed, so Hestia added, "I read the whole thing before looking at his notes, of course." This was a lie, but it was a safe lie.

"You have to read the whole thing - again, that is. When you look at it in the context of the battles and wars we've had..."

"Uh-huh," Hestia said absently. It was trying to come back, and she was fighting it. Eager to change the subject, Hestia asked, "what House were you in?"

"I'm yammering about books at you. D'you really have to ask?"

Hestia laughed. "Ravenclaw?"

"Yes. I can't figure out what you should be - a Gryffindor or Hufflepuff."

"I'm a Hufflepuff. Left in 1991."

"I left in '95... yes, the year of the Tournament."

Hestia winced. "That must have been difficult."

Audrey shrugged. "I focus on the good things. I met international students, watched two enthralling games... Cedric's death was horrible, it cast a shadow on everything, but otherwise it was our best yet, really. The year before we had those dreadful Dementors, the year before that everyone was attacked by... you know, I don't think we were ever told what exactly happened. Something about a Basilisk in the water pipes."

"I remember Megan writing about that. Mum and Dad almost pulled her out when a girl in her year was Petrified."

"Penelope Clearwater was only a year below us... it was awful. I don't think she was quite the same after that."

"Were you friends?"

Audrey hesitated. "Sort of, but... she was one of those people who had a lot of friendly acquaintances, but she didn't keep many close. After she was attacked, she grew more aloof. At first we thought it was her boyfriend Percy, but... even when she wasn't with him, she kept more quiet than usual. Sometimes I wish we'd pushed more, maybe it would've kept her safe."

"You couldn't have known what would happen," Hestia said softly.

"I know."

"Well, this is the room," Hestia told Audrey. "You're inspecting the Ravenclaw Common Room, right?"

"Right. Seeing if there's any clues, interviewing Flitwick and a few students who knew of her."

"Good luck," Hestia said.

She walked into the Muggle Studies Classroom, which contained posters of muggle television shows, telephones, and ironing boards. She sat in the chair next to Robert McGonagall's desk.  He was McGonagall's nephew, a muggleborn like his aunt.

As everyone walked in, they all stared at Hestia.

"She's not... inspecting us, is she?" A boy in the front asked.

"She isn't here to do what Umbridge did, if that's your concern. She merely wants to observe, and talk about some of her own experience living with muggles. My own knowledge base isn't as current, after all."

"You lived with muggles?" The boy asked incredulously.

"Yes," Robert said. "But before we get to that..."

Hestia listened as they went through the previous lesson and subsequent  homework.

After some time, it was Hestia's turn to speak; she stood up and walked to the centre of the desk.

""Last year," she began, "I protected a muggle couple..."

Hestia detailed some of her experience, while trying to keep everything vague. It was true they hadn't actually been in the outside world, so their actual access to muggle things was limited; however, they had had a telly, so Hestia had seen multiple soaps thanks to Petunia (whom she called "Daisy"), and "Doug" had watched Rugby. She'd also learned a lot about their society, some things more pleasant than others.

"Soaps," a girl snickered. "No wonder muggles are mad, if they watch soap all day."

There was an uncomfortable silence in the room.

Hestia looked at her. "May I ask your name?"

"Athena Robbins."

"Well, Athena," Hestia said, "they would consider the sport of Quidditch rather silly."

"Professor Carrow said they have sports where they shoot each other with metal wands that have bullets." The boy in the front nodded in agreement, and while most students were glaring, a few looked as though they were considering Athena's points.

"Alecto Carrow is currently in Azkaban, among other things for the murder of an entire muggle family - including children," Hestia said.

"But they really do have games like that, don't they?"

"There is a game called Russian Roulette," Robert interrupted. "However, usually shooting another person is a sort of unforgivable, committed only to harm."

"My parents are muggles, they'd never shoot anyone," a boy in the middle row said quietly.

"Well of course they wouldn't, Dennis, your Dad's a postman," Athena sneered.

"That's enough," Robert said firmly. "Does anyone have any questions about Hestia's time with muggles?"

"Yeah, can you explain soaps again?" Another girl asked.

Hestia paused. "Well, they are sort of... serial stories about  men and women having various problems. Usually se- romantic scandals. They're  not very plausible problems, but they're fun to watch."

"So they're stupid," another boy blurted.

"Not everything muggleborns watch are soaps," Hestia added. "There's a very funny show, Mr. Bean-"

"What kind of name is Mr. Bean?"

Before Hestia could answer, the bell rang.  Everyone left, nobody talking.

"I'm sorry about that," Robert said. "For what it's worth, I think everyone learned more than it seemed. But you see now why this course is so critical."

"I do," Hestia said. "Are they really so brainwashed, even now?"

"They're better; we required students who expressed volatile attitudes to take the course, and Athena did appear to believe the things she was told - although it's uncertain how much she learned at  home. I imagine they're also afraid of the chance that they're still around. They took this class - that says they're willing to try changing. I'm more worried about those who aren't."

"Can the Ministry help in any way?"

"If I need help or input, I will ask, as I did today. Do you have any advice?"

"Perhaps show them a television show - there's ways to work around the charms here," Hestia suggested. "Or  better yet, give them a muggle book, my coworker Audrey likes this one about lions and wardrobes or something..."

Robert smiled. "I will consider it. Well, thank you, Hestia."

"You are so welcome."

Hestia left the room and headed towards Flitwick's office, where she'd agreed to meet Audrey. Audrey was just coming out.

"Not much," Audrey said with a sigh before Hestia could ask. "Didn't get much at all. However, Flitwick did tell me she always wanted to visit Egypt. Could she have gone there?"

"Maybe... my friend Bill knows people there, they may be able to look into it," Hestia replied. "Although if she is just hiding, maybe she doesn't want to be found."

"On the other hand, she could be at a hospital there. Or worse - we know Death Eaters had 'jobs' overseas."

"Exactly. That's what makes this so hard. Did she leave out of her own volition, is she harmed or..."

Hestia froze; they'd passed the window again. The window Hestia had tried not to look at. Except it was too late now; her eyes were glued, and she couldn't look away.

Hestia froze; they'd passed the window again. The window Hestia had tried not to look at. Except it was too late now; her eyes were glued, and she couldn't look away. Horrible sounds filled her ears, screams that sounded like hers but couldn't be, because it wasn't true... she felt Bill  pulling her upwards...

"Hestia?"

Audrey was staring at her; Hestia realized her eyes had filled with tears, and she'd actually held her wand out to the floor, as if to remove something.

"Sorry, I thought I saw a spider," Hestia lied.

"Are you okay...?"

"I told you, I thought I saw a spider!" Hestia snapped.

Audrey looked surprised, and Hestia forced herself to laugh. "Sorry, I hate them."

She knew Audrey didn't believe her, but fortunately no further questions were asked.

Comments

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

This is really great :D

[thekaiserchief.livejournal.com]

"But things were almost normal again, and so Hestia was back to not really knowing what to make of Fleur Fleur was one of those people who had a very good heart, but it was underneath things Hestia didn't always want to touch."

Minor nitpick but there should be a period at the end of the sentence I bolded. Other than that, good chapter.

[mollywheezy.livejournal.com]

I love seeing the different renditions of Audrey! "Buggleswab" is an awesome last name, but when she introduces herself to Kingsley, she's "Bugglesworth". I prefer the former, but as long as you're consistent. Names are always so hard to come up with!

The Muggle Studies class was disturbing . . . *shudder* that anyone could believe the Carrows.

I really want to know what Hestia sees in the window . . .

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Oops! I need to fix that. She's definitely Audrey Buggleswab.

Glad you liked the chapter. :)