Messer Moony is up to no good, and so is Emma when it comes to Regina and Sidney.

***

It was a pleasant enough night for a stroll through the town, and that was what Remus would say he was doing if anyone asked what he was doing. He whistled to himself as he strode towards Town Hall, his head on a swivel as he watched for any bystanders. He didn't see anyone, and that made it perfectly easy for him to walk towards the building. He examined it curiously and checked the messages Emma had sent him again.

Sidney says she has a state-of-the-art security system and alarm. Be careful.

Remus snorted softly and pocketed his phone, pulling out his wand instead. "Magic is a wonderful thing," he mumbled to himself, aiming his wand at the door. "Alohomora."

"Remus?"

Remus whirled around, quickly sliding his wand up his sleeve. "Victor? Ruby?" he asked in surprise, seeing the pair hurrying towards him. "What are you doing here?"

"We were on our way back from the Rabbit Hole," Ruby frowned, looking up at Town Hall. "What are you doing here?"

As if on cue, the door creaked quietly open, and Remus gritted his teeth, looking around. "You didn't see anyone else, did you?"

"No," Victor frowned. "It's quiet this time of night."

"Good," Remus nodded and stepped into the building, sliding his wand back down into his hand.

"Remus!" Ruby protested, letting go of Victor's hand and hurrying to grab Remus's. "Are you breaking in? Seriously?"

"I'm investigating something for Emma," Remus corrected, aiming his wand at the security system behind his back and silently casting.

"In the middle of the night?" Victor asked dubiously.

"It's time sensitive." The security system beeped and deactivated, and Remus strode further into the building. "Are you coming or leaving?" he asked over his shoulder.

He was halfway up the stairs when he heard the clatter of Ruby's heels, and he glanced behind him to see the waitress and doctor join him. "If we get caught, I'm going to kill you," Victor threatened.

"And he's a doctor, so he knows how," Ruby added.

Remus chuckled. "Deal."

Ruby turned on her phone's flashlight and checked down the hall, aiming her light around the offices. "Where are you heading?" she asked.

"Which office is Regina's?" Remus countered.

He got two surprised looks, then Ruby grinned and laughed. "You should've said you were investigating the mayor!" she exclaimed, pointing to the end of the hall. "Come on. This way."

"You are playing with fire, Remus," Victor shook his head, but there was a note of admiration in his voice.

Remus shrugged. "Call it my Gryffindor tendencies."

Ruby tried the doorknob of Regina's office, and she grinned when it opened. "Here we go."

"What are you looking for?" Victor asked, pulling out his own phone to look around.

"Sidney Glass told Emma and David that fifty thousand was withdrawn by the mayor and missing from the town's budget," Remus explained, opening Regina's laptop and fishing out the drive Emma had given him. "According to Mr. Gold, she used that money to buy some of his land."

"What for?" Ruby frowned.

Remus smirked, plugging in the drive and typing into Regina's laptop. "That's what we're finding out." He glanced around with a frown. "You remember what Henry's storybook looks like, right?"

"Yeah," Ruby nodded. "I saw him reading it at the diner several times."

"Can you check and see if it's here?"

"Why would it be here?" Victor asked, even as he moved around to check in drawers. "It's his book, not his mom's."

"Yes, but the good mayor ordered the demolition of Henry's favorite playground, and he buried his storybook under it," Remus said, starting to print the files he found. "When Henry tried to find it, he found it missing."

Ruby scowled. "Bitch," she muttered, walking around to check herself.

The printer activated by Victor, and the doctor turned to check the cabinet. "You found what you were looking for?" he asked.

"Everything that references the land she bought," Remus nodded.

"Good," Victor nodded, then he did a double take. "What the hell?"

"What?" Ruby's head poked up from behind a table.

In response, Victor held up a ring with several keys emblazoned with skulls. "Bloody hell," Remus blinked, walking over to take a look. "What are these supposed to open?"

"Do we have time to check?" Victor countered.

"No," Remus admitted with a sigh, taking the papers from the printer. "We need to go."

"What about Henry's book?" Ruby asked.

"We'll figure that out later."

The trio headed for the door, but the sound of heels clicking made them pause. "Is that the mayor?" Victor hissed.

"Damnit," Ruby looked around wildly. "How do we get out of here?"

"We hide?" Remus suggested, tucking the papers into his coat.

"Where?" Victor exaggerated looking around the office.

Remus grimaced. That left only one option. "Close the door."

"What?" Victor gawked at him.

"Close the door!" Remus insisted, sliding his wand down his sleeve.

"She can't see us here!" Ruby protested.

"She won't," Remus assured her. "Grab onto my arm."

"Why?" Victor frowned.

"Do you trust me?" At their surprised looks, Remus swallowed hard. "Look, I'll explain," he promised. "Do you trust me?"

"Yeah," Ruby was the first to nod. "I do."

"Me, too," Victor nodded.

"Then grab my arm." Both did, and Remus aimed his wand at the door. "Colloportus."

The lock loudly clicked into place, and Ruby's jaw dropped. "What the - ?!"

"Hang on tight," Remus warned. "And apologies in advance if this causes an upset stomach."

Before either could ask what he meant, Remus turned on his heel and Disapparated with a crack. The trio landed in Emma and Harry's empty room at the inn, and Ruby doubled over with a groan, her eyes screwing shut as she fought nausea. "What the hell?" she croaked.

Victor somehow looked both pale and green at the same time, a grimace on his face as he leaned on the chair next to him. "Oh, God," he seethed. "A little more warning next time, Remus!"

"Sorry," Remus winced, watching the pair recover. "I didn't think I would take passengers with me."

The door to the room burst open, and Remus whirled around, raising his wand. Newt aimed his in response, Queenie at his shoulder, her own wand in his hand. "Oh," Newt sighed, lowering his wand. "Remus." He paused, taking in the other occupants of the room. "And Ruby and Whale."

"Hi," Ruby waved weakly. "Sorry. Can't stand up completely."

"No, I imagine not," Queenie shook her head, giving Remus a frown as she stepped around Newt to reach the waitress. "Side-Along Apparition?"

"Is that what that's called?" Victor muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Remus," Newt began.

"I said I would explain, but they found me when I was getting to Town Hall," Remus said, watching Queenie rummage through a drawstring bag. "And Emma needed whatever I would find."

"Here," Queenie handed a crystal bottle to Ruby. "Drink this. It'll settle your stomach."

Ruby eyed the bottle suspiciously then huffed and uncorked it. "What the hell. Why not?" She downed the potion in one go. "Magic apparently is a thing. Why not potions?"

Queenie giggled. "Wait until you hear what Newt really does for a living."

Victor frowned uneasily at Newt. "So earlier when she joked about not needing to unleash your creatures . . . "

"It wasn't a joke," Newt nodded.

Victor sighed and took the potion Queenie handed him. "Wonderful."

Newt walked up to Remus, his expression serious. "What did you find?"

***

"Henry, we can always ask David for help," Harry said, watching Henry furiously scribble on papers in the diner.

"What he remembers, he can," Henry shook his head. "The rest of it is up to me."

"Whatcha working on?"

Harry looked up sharply and frowned when he saw the stranger watching them curiously. "No time to talk," Henry replied, not looking up from his work. "I got to write it all down before I forget."

"Yeah," the stranger nodded. "I hate it when great ideas slip away from me."

"They're not my ideas," Henry said. "They're stories from a book that I lost."

The stranger sat on Henry's other side, ignoring Harry's suspicious look. "Must be a hell of a book. What's it about?"

"Stuff."

The stranger smirked. "Sounds exciting."

Henry finally realized the stranger was craning his neck to peer at his work, and he narrowed his eyes at the man. "You seem awfully interested in me and my book."

"No," the stranger shook his head. "I'm just being neighborly."

"Then be neighborly and tell us what you're doing in Storybrooke," Harry folded his arms.

"I'm a writer," he shrugged.

"You can write anywhere," Henry frowned. "What are you really doing here?"

The stranger smirked. "Stuff." Henry blinked when he heard his own words parroted, and the stranger chuckled, standing from his stool. "Good luck with the stories!"

The brothers watched the stranger leave the diner, and Harry turned to Henry with a frown. "I don't know if I should like him or not."

"Me, neither," Henry agreed.

***

"Blueprints," David listed as he looked through the documents. "Bank statements."

"What is she building out there?" Emma frowned, putting the blueprint papers together. "A mansion?"

"Well, whatever it is, it doesn't matter," Sidney grinned viciously, showing Emma and David the papers he held. "Because these escrow statements have her name all over it. You were right - personal use. She's done. We got her." A flash of victory curled in Emma's stomach, but it was just as quickly turned into frustration, and she slumped back in her seat. "What's wrong?" Sidney frowned at her. "Didn't you hear me?"

"We stooped to her level," Emma muttered. "That's exactly what I promised Henry I wouldn't do."

"Emma, we got her!" Sidney insisted.

"Fruit of the poisonous tree," Emma argued. "Illegally obtained evidence. It'll get thrown out in court in a heartbeat."

"No," Sidney shook his head. "We don't need her to go to jail."

"Then what was the point of all this?" David huffed.

"What you wished for," Sidney answered. "Get everyone to see who she is. What she did to Henry she does to everyone. She destroys what people love." Emma gave him a dubious look, and Sidney sighed. "Let me show you something." He pulled out a box from under his chair, and he gestured for Emma to look through its contents. The first thing she pulled out was a photograph with her, Henry, and Harry at Henry's castle, and she paled in shock. "She made me follow you," Sidney admitted. "She made me tell her everything. She knew about your secret place weeks ago. She just waited to destroy it until it would hurt you and Henry the most. It's all my fault. If you don't do this, I have to."

David looked warily at Sidney, and Emma sighed. "OK."

The flash of satisfaction in Sidney's eyes made David narrow his, but he didn't say a word as the journalist departed from the station. It was silent for several seconds, then Emma dropped the photographs into the box and buried her head in her arms. "This screams trap," she complained.

"I don't think it could be more obvious," Remus agreed, removing Harry's Invisibility Cloak and stepping away from the corner of the room.

"Not unless a Cerberus was guarding something," Newt countered cheerily as he canceled his Disillusionment Charm. "It's clearly a set-up."

"But the transaction is real," Emma said, folding her hands and staring at the blueprints. "She's clearly building something."

"Are we sure it's a mansion?" David asked, taking a closer look at the blueprints.

Remus shrugged as he joined them. "The blueprints were labeled 'castle' on her computer."

Emma stilled as she reached for the blueprints. "You're sure?" she demanded. "It was labeled 'castle?'"

"I saw it," Remus nodded. "Why?"

"A castle for an Evil Queen?" David suggested.

"No," Emma said slowly. "No, that's not what I think it is." She shook her head and laughed incredulously. "Son of a bitch. I think I know what the plan was."

***

Regina banged her gavel on the table, and the audience in attendance for the council meeting quieted. "This session of the Storybrooke City Council will come to order," she announced. "We will begin by reading the minutes from our last meeting."

"Uh, excuse me, Madam Mayor," Sidney stood, a perfect expression of anxiety on his face as he fiddled with the package in his hands. "I have something I'd like to bring to the council's attention."

Regina narrowed her eyes. "This is not an open forum, Sidney," she said. "And no one on this council is interested in hearing the boozy complaints of a disgraced reporter. Now sit down."

"But those complaints reached me, Madam Mayor." Emma stood from the back row and walked forward, plucking the package from Sidney's hands. "And as the sheriff, I'm sworn to look into any concerns the people of Storybrooke may have. Where better to seek answers than here?"

Regina gritted her teeth. "Miss Swan, this meeting is to discuss issues facing Storybrooke."

"But this issue directly concerns you, Madam Mayor," Emma smiled sweetly. "And a discrepancy in the town budget. Is that enough to bring up in this meeting?"

Murmurs spread through the audience, and Regina banged her gavel with a scowl. "Miss Swan, you will sit down immediately, or so help me - "

"Sheriff Swan!" David sharply called from his seat.

"What's this about a discrepancy in the budget?" Victor asked, swiftly standing from his seat. "What does it affect? The hospital?"

"Or any other businesses in the town?" Ruby demanded from her seat, the perfect image of a distressed young woman.

Murmurs grew louder, and Regina flushed angrily. "Very well, Sheriff," she ground out. "What do you have to say?"

"A few days ago, Mr. Glass came to me with a concern that arose when he was doing a piece on the mayor's office," Emma explained, walking up and down the aisle. She had every eye in the building on her, and she kept her face professional. "He found fifty thousand dollars missing from Storybrooke's budget, and you, Madam Mayor, are the one who removed it. It's a lot of money, and he wanted to know why you took it. As the sheriff of this town, I'm supposed to investigate every angle to get to the truth. So, here's what I would like to know." She walked forward and removed the blueprints from the package, showing it around to the audience. "What are these blueprints for, Madam Mayor?" she asked. "Is this construction going to be for your personal use? Or will this be something that will benefit the good people of Storybrooke?" She gestured to Sidney, who stood frozen with his mouth open. "Put this reporter at ease, will you?"

All eyes turned to Regina expectantly, who slowly rose to her feet. "I would be happy to," she said through clenched teeth, and she clicked a button on her remote to turn the presentation behind her to the next slide. Displayed on the screen was a recognizable structure, and Emma was very glad she had listened to Remus. "I am building a playhouse," Regina explained. "I did take city funds. I wanted to build a playground so my son, Henry, and all the children of Storybrooke could have a special place to play, safely."

"A castle," Emma nodded, slipping the papers back into the package. "Just like the one Henry had that was destroyed in the storm."

"Exactly," Regina nodded, pasting a smile on her face. "As for the sketch in your hands . . . it was inspired by a drawing in one of my son's books."

"Well," Emma smiled pleasantly and turned on her heel, handing the package back to Sidney. "There we have it. My investigation is closed, Mr. Glass. I hope that satisfies your questions."

Sidney was now the recipient of several stares, and the reporter clenched his jaw. "Indeed, it does, Sheriff," he said. "I thank you for your . . . assistance."

"I'm the sheriff," Emma smirked. "I'm just looking out for everyone in my jurisdiction."

She returned to her seat, leaving Sidney in the middle of the aisle. "Nicely done," David whispered, smothering a grin as Regina returned to her seat.

"Thank Remus," Emma replied, dusting off her pants and crossing her legs, watching Sidney sink back into his seat. "Best prank ever."

***

"Impressive, Miss Swan."

Emma turned and raised an eyebrow as Mr. Gold walked up to her, a glint of respect in his eyes. "What was?" she asked. "Sidney had questions. I helped him get answers. Simple as that."

Mr. Gold smirked. "And you avoided your own downfall in the process when you realized you couldn't bring her down. Commendable. Should you seek that goal again, you're going to need a strong ally."

"Like yourself?" Emma guessed. Mr. Gold nodded, and Emma chuckled. "Thanks, but I'm still not interested."

"Oh, one can wish," Mr. Gold smirked.

He walked away, and the click of heels approached. "Miss Swan," Regina greeted, a cold look on her face. "I don't know what you were hoping to accomplish in there."

"Accomplish?" Emma tilted her head. "I don't know what you're talking about. Sidney raised a valid concern with the sheriff's office, and I looked into it."

"Then uphold the law!" Regina snapped. "Don't break it. You don't think I know you broke into my office?"

"Me?" Emma pointed to herself with an incredulous look. "You told me to be responsible, Madam Mayor. I was nowhere near your office last night. Besides, if someone broke into your office, wouldn't the security system have summoned the police? I didn't hear anything. Otherwise, I would've been there to make sure you were safe."

Regina's eyebrow ticked. "The system was disarmed," she ground out. "But I know I set it behind me and locked all the doors."

Emma hummed doubtfully. "You're sure?"

Regina's cheeks flushed angrily. "Sheriff, unless you have something more substantial than disdain to throw my way, you're going to stay away from me. And, more importantly, from Henry."

"Why?" Emma frowned. "I didn't do anything to your office last night, and I didn't accuse you of anything. I asked a question about the town's funds and its usage at a city council meeting, using evidence provided by an investigative reporter. He was looking into you before he was fired, Madam Mayor. If there's anyone you should worry about, I'd say it's him. What judge in the world would listen to you when I never committed a crime?" Regina stared at her, unable to speak, and Emma checked her watch. "Is there anything else you need, Madam Mayor?" she asked. "My son's tutor is waiting to update me on Harry's progress before his next year."

"No," Regina finally seethed. "Thank you, Sheriff."

Emma politely nodded and walked away, smothering a grin when she saw the citizens who had seen their interactions. She reached Remus, who was waiting for her by the street, and the werewolf looked at her expectantly. "Well?" he asked.

Emma smirked. "Have I earned my Marauder badge, Messer Moony?"

Remus's laughter echoed back to Regina as she walked to her car, and the mayor watched them go with fury in her eyes.

***

"I thought you wanted everyone to see the mayor for who she is, Emma."

Emma looked up from her laptop at Sidney's voice, and she leaned back in her chair when she saw his angry face. "I do," she nodded. "But I don't want to look like a fool in the process. This would've made me look like a fool."

"You made me look like a fool!" Sidney exclaimed.

"You found the funds missing," Emma ticked off on her hand. "You asked me to get to the bottom of it. You pressed the idea of using shady means to find the information. Yeah, Sidney, you really do look like a fool."

Sidney's mouth opened and shut like a fish. "I thought we were on the same page!" he sputtered.

"You hurt my son," Emma reminded him coldly, her eyes narrowing to slits. "I haven't been on the same page as you since that night. I had every reason to arrest you, but you were in Regina's pocket. If I had been bullheaded enough to accuse her in front of the town of using funds for her own gain, she would've made sure all the blame would fall on me. Give me one reason why I should believe you didn't lure me into a trap."

Sidney swallowed hard. "You know what she's capable of, Emma. She needs to be stopped."

Emma stared long and hard at him. "That's not good enough." She stood from her desk and planted her hands on the surface. "I'm at odds with Regina already, Sidney. I won't compromise my position as sheriff when she has the power to limit me if I put one foot out of line."

"You sent Newt to her office!" Sidney protested.

Emma smirked. "No, I didn't." Sidney gawked at her, and she chuckled, gesturing for him to leave. "I'm not a fool, Sidney. I like to keep my best cards close to my chest. Now, leave before I decide you would look much better in a cell."

Sidney looked like he had swallowed a sour lemon, but he held up his hands in defeat and backed away. "Well played, Miss Swan."

Emma folded her arms and watched in satisfaction as Sidney left with his tail between his legs. "And don't you forget it."

***

"You told me you could paint her as the enemy!" Regina raged, and Sidney winced as the mayor unleashed her anger on him. "You told me she took every piece of bait you laid, and you even cut the brakes of her car so she wouldn't think straight! How did she turn this around, Sidney? How?!"

"I don't know," Sidney shook his head miserably. "I thought for sure she sent Scamander to your office."

"And how the hell did my security get dismantled?" Regina fumed. "The locks weren't tampered with. It's like someone had a key!"

"Do you have any spares?"

"No," Regina seethed, sitting on the edge of her desk and drumming her fingers on the surface. "I just . . . I don't understand, Sidney. We laid the perfect trap, and she slithered out of it like a damn snake. How?"

"I'm telling you, Madam Mayor, I do not know," Sidney insisted. "It's almost like magic."

Regina flinched violently. "There's no such thing," she murmured faintly.

"Besides," Sidney brushed imaginary dust off his suit. "I've discovered hell hath no fury like a mother looking out for her child."

Regina's jaw clenched. "You don't say."

***

Regina's new playground was a hit with the children. Ava and Nicholas chased Henry and Harry around the structure, the four's laughter mingling with fellow students and younger children. All four were flushed with delight.

"It's good to see Harry getting the chance to be a kid," Queenie smiled fondly.

"I know," Emma nodded, smiling fondly when she saw Harry without a hint of worry on his face. "It's hard to believe his only childhood companions were . . . "

She trailed off, and Remus chuckled. "No one can hear us, Emma."

"Right," Victor pinched the bridge of his nose. "Because we're basically encased in a magic bubble so we can talk privately. Because magic exists, and you four are wizards."

"Witches," Queenie gestured between herself and Emma.

Victor snorted. "Right."

"And Harry's parents were murdered by a psychopath of a Dark Lord, and his headmaster has a weird obsession with him that led to you and Harry ending up with Newt and Queenie," Ruby said slowly, fiddling with the tassels hanging off her leather jacket. "Do I have that right?"

"That's the gist of it," Newt confirmed.

Ruby sighed and leaned back on the bench. "Damn. Poor Harry." She shook her head and smiled at Emma. "I admire you a hell of a lot more now, you know?"

Emma laughed. "I'm just trying to do right by my kid."

"You're a noble," Victor said in disbelief. "Do you even need to be the sheriff?"

"No," Emma admitted. "But I don't like sitting around and doing nothing when I could be doing something to help those around me. Something is up with Regina, and I want to do everything in my power to protect Henry. Being the sheriff helps me do that."

Victor glanced at Newt and Queenie. "And the two of you?"

"We're Harry's guardians in the event something happens to Emma," Newt answered. "Where Emma and Harry go, so do we."

Queenie nodded, and Remus sat on the bench with Victor and Ruby. "We know all about people in power using their position to appear good when they're truly anything but," he said. "Dumbledore always claims he acts in pursuit of the greater good, and at this point, he's probably deluded himself into believing that's true. Regina, though . . . she has no such qualms. She's happy to use whatever power plays she must to stay in her position, and you've seen how the town people fall in line with her."

"Except the four of you," Ruby whispered.

Newt smirked. "We don't like bullies."

"We can't do anything about Dumbledore right now, as much as I wish we could," Emma said. "But we can do something about Regina. We just need to play our cards correctly."

"What do you think?" Remus tilted his head. "Want to help ruin the good mayor's career?"

Victor and Ruby exchanged looks, appearing to have a silent conversation with each other. Victor finally raised an eyebrow, and Ruby grinned wolfishly in return. They turned to Emma at the same time and spoke in unison a sentence that made Remus laugh loudly.

"We solemnly swear that we're up to no good."

***

Emma has her partners in crime, and now Remus has his. So, Victor and Ruby are in the know about the Wizarding World . . . except for one teeny tiny detail. Y'all can probably guess what it might be. Spoiler: it concerns our dear Moony, and it'll come up later in the book.

We're halfway through the season, guys! Next up: let's see what makes Mr. Gold tick!

***

Aaaaaand that's all for now, Folks! Thank you sticking with us as we continue working on our figurative (but also kind of literal) love child of a book! Can't wait to get to my favorite episode in just a few episodes! Can you guess which one?

As always, stay warm, stay safe, and stay reading! Xx