17th of August 1995, New York, USA

It was one of the hottest summers in history. The streets which were known to be crowded all the time now seemed to be strangely abandoned - people tried to hide in their houses or in the shelter of shops and coffee bars from the heat wave coming from both the sky and the asphalt. But there was no escape. It reached everywhere, including the third floor of that old building on Fulton Street, Manhattan.

The tall man was standing next to the window, holding a wand in his hand. He pointed at the curtains, pulling them together with a spell, leaving only a thin slit.

„We use a freezing charm at home.” he said, still looking outside. „But I like the spell which was used here. The windows are reflecting the heat and filtering some of the light… Practical.”

There was a quiet laugh as an answer, soft voice of an older woman.

„It was Per’s idea. Please take a seat.”

The tall man looked at them, the two elderly people sitting at the table. They were elegant, calm and wise-looking, a man and a woman with a discrete but strong, strange aura he felt around them every time they met.

The tall man sat down, leaning on his forearms on the table.

„Thank you for coming here so quickly, Titus.” Grandmother smiled at him. She tried to seem careless but the tall man saw in her eyes that she’s trying to hold back something which made him alerted. Grandmother was always cheerful like a young girl. Titus knew her and Grandfather well and he could say without any doubt that there was a concrete reason of this meeting.

„The last time you were looking at me with that serious expression -especially you, Grandfather- was when some kind of a really important and serious situation came up.”

There was a long silence. Then Percival Graves, the Auror legend, famous leader of MACUSA rose a bit, leaning closer and nodded slowly.

„Rowan and I have something to tell you… something to ask.” he looked at her wife with an unspoken question in his eyes. Rowan Graves continued in a quiet voice.

„I know this is so sudden. It was for all of us.” she said. „A few days ago we had a visitor, someone we haven’t seen for years. John Dawlish. I think you know who he is… He brought some news, news that made him worried, and me and Percival too. News about his daughter, Lucy.”

The tall man called Titus Graves frowned.

„I remember that girl, Lucy Dawlish quite well.”

„After a long absence she appeared in London in July, with strange explanations and strange companions.” Rowan continued. „Something is not right with her, Dawlish said. And I believe him… it’s possible that she’s in trouble or worse.”

„And you want me to follow her like I did a few years ago, after that incident with MACUSA, right?” Titus looked a little gloomy. „You’re so concerned about that girl, Grandmother.”

„And I have a reason to be.” Rowan said. „She’s family.”

„Yes I know that. I was there when Wizengamot sent that monster to Azkaban. The one who killed her mother.” Titus crossed his arms before his chest and made a serious look. „But I also remember the things she had done as a teenager, which made you to ask me spying on her for the first time… running away from home, coming to the States illegally and all. Do you think she deserves this, your concern? She’s not a child anymore.”

Grandmother rose her hand and shook her head in a way Grandfather used to do when he didn’t want to pay attention on excuses.

„Don’t say a word more. You’re the man who raised Merton and I’m sure it was a challenge. Still, you are a good father to him, someone who understands his rebellious personality. And Lucy is not worse. Actually… she reminds me of myself a little, when I was young.” a small, almost unnoticable smile was playing on Rowan’s face and Percival made a quiet, discrete cough in the background. „But I’ve had my brother that time… Reynard was always by my side. She has noone to trust, like, you see, a family member.”

Titus were watching them, the two elderly people, with a thoughtful gaze. He knew they were extremely powerful persons, highly respected, famous members of the Wizarding community. Percival Graves was a living legend in the USA, strongest wizard of his time, descendant of one of the Original Twelve Aurors. He led the MACUSA for decades and he even was a Minister for Magic once. And Grandmother… Rowan Graves was a mystery. She was a wandlore specialist. And adept at No-Maj studies. An inventor and enchanter, a relic hunter, expert of magical artefacts… agent and spy and researcher… Titus has never known what she really was long time ago when she and Grandfather had become an important part of the Wizarding World. Maybe some of these… maybe all. For him it didn’t matter. For him, they also were his Grandparents. Family.

And it was the only thing he really cared about, the fact which brought unquestionable trust, loyalty and acceptance toward them. And toward those strange missions they shared with him sometimes.

Titus Graves found Grandmother’s gaze and after a few moments his pose finally became less tense and he let out a sigh.

„All right then.” he agreed. „I’ll look after the girl. And she won’t know about it.”

Grandmother was full of relief and even Grandfather’s concentrated, gloomy expression has softened a bit.

„Thank you, Titus. You know I would do it myself if I had the opportunity.” Rowan seemed to be really thoughtful and somehow sad. „But I won’t go to Great-Britain. I can’t.”

Titus nodded. He sensed the difference in Rowan’s voice. Grandmother left England many years ago and she hasn’t returned ever since. She never told why. It was the only thing she never spoke about, not to him, to anyone. Grandfather was the only person who knew.

„And you have to be extremely careful.” Percival added with a stern, warning tone. „Something is not right at your Ministry. It is possible that you will be in danger too.”

Titus raised his eyebrow.

„What do you mean by this, Grandfather?”

„We’ve found some sinister signs… Do you know that woman, Dolores Umbridge?”

„Yes, I do.” Titus made a nearly unseen grimace. „She is also member of Wizengamot. Agent of Fudge. Why?”

Percival rose his arm and a paper flown at him. He handled it to Titus who started reading its content with a focused and surprised face.

Subject’s name: Titus Graves
 - Age: 39 (b. 12th of October, 1956, New York, USA)
 - Address: Downing Street 03, London
 - Only grandchild of Percival Graves (former auror commander, former Minister for Magic in USA, head of MACUSA since 1920) and Rowan Graves (née Corbitt - member of a famous and ancient British wizarding family; Corbitts are not pure-blood family since 1932). Both of his grandparents had an important role in defeating G.G. (Note: the subject has a regular connection with them.)
 - Other family members: wife - Joanna Graves (née Bones, potion inventor), son - Merton Graves (spends his 7th year at Hogwarts, House Slytherin, member of rock band Weird Sisters).
 - Schools: Ilvermorny, USA (Horned Serpent house, 1967-1974). Spent a few months in Hogwarts as an exchange student in 1973. Finished studies with top grades.
 - Moved to Great-Britain in 1974.
 - Member of Wizengamot since 1981. Well-known and successful figure of wizarding law. (Note: he has a habit to investigate personally in his cases - possible connection to unwanted persons and the underworld?)
 - Closely connected: Amelia Bones, Kinsley Shacklebolt. (Note: possibly A.D.)
 - Skills: far beyond average. No accurate data. (Note: might be dangerous.)
 - Wand: cedar with dragon heartsting, 12 ¾ inches. From Ollivanders.
 - Patronus: sphinx - especially rare and unique, only known person with this kind of patronus. (Note: threatening sign.)

And so on. It was a document about him, containing his datas and others, details of his job in the Ministry, his previous cases. Titus stared at the paper and read it again. It was a typed text except the notes which were written by hand and that familiar signature at the bottom. Titus snorted.

„So someone was spying on me like the way I’m going to spy on Lucy Dawlish. Well, these are easily searchable datas, anyone can find them at the archives… Wait a minute.” he hold the paper closer. „Wow. It seems they actually managed to collect some infos which are harder to know about… Heck, they even know about that hiking tent I, ahem, ’lost’ during the last year’s Quidditch World Cup.”

„What hiking tent?” Percival asked and he really looked like as he was trying to pretend he hasn’t heard the inproper word said by his grandson. „We were there together. You had no tent.”

Titus waved away the question with a little embarrassment.

„It’s not important… How did you get this?”

„I asked our Minister to require a copy of it for security reasons.” Percival answered. „So the British Ministry handled this to me.”

„Then I bet the notes were written with pink on the original one.” Titus read the paper again with a thoughtful, serious expression on his face. „Umbridge doesn’t like me I think… She is an inspector at Hogwarts this year, you know, and Merton makes her life miserable. She can’t do anything to discipline the boy. Maybe that’s why she started invertigating. Or maybe becouse I disagreed on removing Dumbledore from Wizengamot.” he looked up as he felt Rowan’s sudden tension. „I know you don’t like him Grandmother. But he is a clever man.”

Rowan Graves sighed. She was a beautiful woman in her youth and she still had some of her charm. Her long, white hair fell onto her shoulder in a braid and her green eyes were shining like those fairy-light spells Titus used to see floating in the air during the balls of Ilvermorny when he was a student there.

„Oh I know he is.” she said in a funny voice. Percival put an arm around her calmingly. Titus was watching them with a thoughtful gaze.

„I think he’s up to something. Dumbledore. I had that feeling when he showed up at the Potter boy’s trial at summer.” Titus was staring into nowhere before himself, thinking hardly on something with a careworn expression. „He said the Dark Lord has returned and he’s not a fool, I know it. But almost noone believes him… Things are not easy today at the Ministry. Fudge wants to silence everyone who shares Dumbledore’s concern, pretending everything is all right. He’s afraid and fear can manipulate easily. We have no chance, no time to prepare…” He stopped, looking away, trying to hide his feelings. Grandmother reached for his hand, touching it gently.

„If you worry for your family, we can help.” she said in a kind, soft voice. „You’re not alone, Titus. Your wife and son are always welcome here just like you.”

The tall man sighed.

„Thank you, Grandmother.”

Rowan laughed quietly.

„You have your Grandfather’s discreetness and habit of not expressing any deeper feelig.”

Finally, a small smile appeared on Titus’s face, changing the man’s features spectacularly. He was quite a handsome man with dark hair and incredibly blue eyes, which made the feeling he can look into people, read in them.

„I have to go.” he stood up then, putting his long, black cloak on. „I promised Joanna I’ll be home for dinner.” then he stopped, thinking on something and turned back to his Grandparents. „About my mission… What should I do if there’s something urgent and I can’t come? It’s not a good idea to send an owl, it’s slow and risky. And I can’t attract more attention than that I can’t prevent.”

Rowan was thinking for a minute then a smile come up her face.

„Give me your watch. I will enchant it with a spell or two. You’ll be able to send short messages using it.”

„And one more thing.” Percival gave a letter to his grandson who put it into a hidden pocket of his cloak. „Please give this to Dawlish. At least you’ll get to know him personally. He’s a good man.”

Titus nodded then turned away. The two elderly people was watching as he stepped into the flames of the fireplace and disappeared with a green flash.

There was a long silence which was broken by Percival’s voice.

„Do you think he will succeed? Dawlish tried to follow her and failed.” he was thinking for a few moments then continued quietly, looking at her wife with a discrete concern. „And what if Titus finds out that the girl is in danger?”

Rowan Graves took a deep breath. She stared away, into nowhere and she looked really tired, someone who carries a heavy, sorrowful memory. Percival took her hand, holding it softly, caring. After another long silence, the woman answered.

„It that happens… If she’s really in a great need then there’ll be no other choice.” she sighed, looking back at his husband with sudden determination shining in her green eyes. „Then I will return Great-Britain for once more.”

Author’s Notes:

 - Lucy Dawlish is the OC of my friend, Laerthel. She is the granddaughter of Rowan’s brother, Reynard. Due to this fact this story and Laerthel’s fanfic (especially her new series, Cat Among the Pigeons) are connected and I will reflect on its happenings often.

 - Titus had been already spying on Lucy once. It happened years before this scene, when Lucy disappeared from home and went to USA secretly, without having any papers. If was the first time Rowan met Lucy and she decided to look after her (without Lucy knowing it) so she asked his grandson, Titus to follow the girl for some time.

 - Titus is member of the Wizengamot (and also a judge of wizarding law). He mentions two trials in this scene: the trial of Bellatrix Lestrange (for torturing the Longbottoms) and the disciplinary hearing of Harry Potter (for conjuring a patronus to protect himself and Dudley Dursley from Dementors).

 - Merton Graves is a canon character, chellist of the Weird Sisters. In this story, he is the son of Titus and great-grandson of Percival Graves.

 - About that missing hiking tent… it has a story behind :) Titus will mention it in the future.