"Let's see... erm... two of the tikka masala, a tandoori chicken, a chicken vindaloo, and a vegetable biryani," James said, reading off the menu, "Oh and two orders of the laddu."

The man behind the counter at the curry shop nodded and smiled, "The usual order then."

"Yeah, I s'pose it is," James laughed.

The man nodded and turned away from the counter, disappearing into the back, whistling a tune that James didn't know. He went and sat down in the booth near the window, falling into the seat with a gigantic sigh. He closed his eyes, exhausted, sure if he wasn't careful he could fall asleep right there in the bench at the curry shop.

He'd barely slept in days. Lily had been a right mess for both nights that Sirius was gone, and if Lily was up and a wreck then he, James, was too. Not that he wouldn't have been on his own. - he was just as worried about Sirius as she was - especially when she started going on about the claustrophobia. James had been ready to go down to the Ministry himself and break every wall down until he got Sirius out of there.

 It was frustrating to no end that his biggest move of defense in Sirius's honor had been that morning, putting on the auror uniform, buckling that Ministry-issued belt about his waist and polishing that shiny silver badge until it showed a reflection in it. He'd wanted to throw up with every knot of the boots he'd laced up to his mid-shins, every button on the oxford shirt, with the tightening of the holster suspender's leather straps...

He wanted nothing more than to go home, plant his face in the pillows, and take a nap.

"James Potter."

James opened his eyes.

The shimmering form of a patronus stood before him.

Jasper Odair's fox.

The door of the flat in East London popped open. "Hey, no time to explain, here's the food. I'll be back in a couple hours. Unexpected Ministry stuff." He rushed to put down the bags of food and grabbed his vest from the chair, tugging it on and doing up the buttons quickly.

"What's going on?" Lily asked, concerned. 

"I'm not entirely positive just yet, but I've got to go look into this and I'll be back. I promise. Save me some of the tikka." He kissed Lily's forehead and rushed back out the door, swinging his grey auror's coat over his shoulders as he went down the steps. He checked that his wand was still in his holster - it was - and turned on the spot, mid-walk so that he came out the other side at a trot as he went from the alley way behind the curry shop and turned up in the gap between two row houses in the middle of suburban West London. He turned about and found Jasper Odair standing in the alley, pacing nervously and nipping at one of his fingernails.

"Oh you've come, you've come!" Jasper's voice rattled with relief. "I was starting to worry, I --"

"Sorry it took a mo', I was in the middle of picking up dinner, I had to drop it off for Lily and Sirius before I came," James explained. "I got here as quick as I could." He was still doing up the double breasted buttons on his uniform. "You alright? What's going on?"

Jasper shook his head, "I'm alright, it's not me that's in trouble. It's Oliver Kent."

"What? What's the matter with Oliver Kent?" James asked, looking up as his fingers finished the last of the twenty-eight buttons.

"I think he's being abused," Jasper said it flat-out. "He showed up at the parlor earlier today with a shiner what took up half his face, James." He held a palm up to indicate the full cheekbone area. "Somebody hit him really hard. It would be one thing if he was the type that was really rough-and-tumble, you know, but he's not... he's such a gentle kid, you know that... On top of it, he told me a story about playing ball and getting hit with it in the eye..."

"You're sure he was lying? I mean, I once spent a whole morning at Mungo's getting my teeth and jaw reconstructed because my Dad clocked me in the mouth with a quaffle when I was six..." 

Jasper shook his head, "No because he told Wally and Dexter a different story. About falling down stairs and hitting it on something. Two different stories for one bruise. But see, thing is, even if he had only told one, it would still be suspicious. I know those lies, James. I know them all. I've used them all at one time or another. You know what my Dad was like. I could feel the energy coming off Oliver, mate. He's going through it. He's going through it and I can't just stand about and let it happen."

James recognized the solemnity of Jasper's tone and he nodded, then said, "Alright. Well - well that's not acceptable. Nobody should have to go through that. Nobody."

"Sirius told me you were back at the Ministry. I know you've only just begun back again a day or two --"

"Today was my first official day and I worked all of fifteen minutes it took me to walk to the office and back out - my boss sent me to fetch Sirius and take him home."

"Sounds like a very Underhill thing to do."

"You know Underhill?"

"Oh yeah, I know Underhill," Jasper nodded, "But that's neither here nor there really, I just - I knew of everyone Oliver Kent looks up to you most and I thought - since you're an auror and all --"

"I'm an assistant, really, but training on being an auror, I suppose."

"-- regardless, being a Ministry employee, at the very least, you offered a bit of... officialness to it, I guess."

"Officialness to what, exactly?"

"I want to get him out of there. Him and the other boys that live there."

James stared at Jasper. "What, like... literally just go pick'em up and take them home?"

"Basically."

"Then what?"

"Dunno. I've only worked out getting them out of that cesspool," Jasper replied.

"Alright..." James looked about. "You know where the home is?"

"Yeah," Jasper replied. "I've dropped ice cream off a few times there... It's just 'round the bend."

"Lead the way."

Honestly, Jasper had half expected James to try to talk him out of taking brash action, to suggest they go and get other aurors or even muggle policemen to help with getting Oliver out of there, but honestly that all took more paperwork than they had time for. Jasper couldn't stand the idea of Oliver being in that place even a few minutes more - he had visions of some of the horrible things his father used to do to him and pictured them happening to Oliver.

He was glad that he'd gotten James.

Jasper walked with purpose, and James followed him, matching pace.

The house was nothing extraordinary, in fact it was a wee bit rundown, but not exceptionally more than the other houses on the row. A small sign hung upon the door declaring it to be Jenning's Home for Orphaned Boys. A dirty pair of small boys' trainers sat on the stoop beside the welcome mat. Jasper stared at the trainers, flashbacks playing in his mind...

James balled his fist and banged on the door with three forceful knocks, took a step back, and brought his chin up. 

Jasper glanced over and his eyes swept over James's face and the uniform and thought what a good auror James Potter would be when he'd finished training. He had the face for it and the boldness and Jasper found himself sort of glad that James had ended up back on the Ministry's force. As much as James Potter had wanted to leave the task force, it was clear that he was rather made for it.

The Ministry needed more aurors that would be like James - like Frank, like Gideon and Fabian, like Moody.

It took a ridiculous amount of time for the door to be opened and there stood in the frame a small boy with nervous eyes, that stared up at them, searching their faces.

"Hullo," James said, and he knelt down to be on the boy's level. "My name is James Potter."

The boy nodded.

"What's your name?"

"Eli," the boy answered quietly.

"It's very nice to meet you Eli. Is your house mum at home? Mrs. Jennings?"

"Yes sir."

"May I speak with her? I'd very much like to speak with her."

Eli nodded, then turned and ran off, closing the door behind him, leaving James and Jasper on the stoop.

"Did you notice the chipped tooth?" Jasper asked.

James stood up, nodding. "I did."

The door opened again and a woman stood in the frame this time, Eli hovering about her waist. "Good afternoon gentlemen," Mrs. Jennings said. She paused, recognizing Jasper. "Mr. Fortescue!"

Jasper nodded a greeting. 

"And you are...?" she looked at James.

"James Potter. I am an auror with the Ministry for Magic."

"Auror?" Mrs. Jennings demanded, eyeing him, "Ministry for Magic? What is this rubbish?" She was suddenly more defensive, her eyes swept the height of James, taking in the official looking uniform and the especially shiny badge. 

"I'm a magical law enforcement officer," James said, "I believe you've spoken to liaisons from the school board at Hogwarts in the past about the wizarding world, in special regards to your tenant Oliver Kent. Is that correct?"

Mrs. Jennings's eyes narrowed. "Yes. What of it?" She paused, then, "What's the boy done? Is he in trouble?" She had no idea where Oliver was, of course, she'd been looking for him all day.

"May we come inside, Ma'am? We'd like to speak to you about Oliver."

Mrs. Jennings hesitated.

"Mrs. Jennings, it's very important."

She stepped back, nearly stepping on Eli, who scrambled away as she looked down at him, and opened the door to let the men inside.

Another, teenaged boy was on the stairs and came to a stop midway down, seeing the two men enter, and stared at them with wide-eyes, taking in the uniform on James with a very nervous expression.

"What is it that you wish to speak about?" Mrs. Jennings asked coldly, not bringing them further than the foyer.

"Mr. Fortescue approached the Ministry this afternoon regarding your tenant Oliver Kent. The boy visited Mr. Fortescue's ice cream parlor at Diagon Alley in London with obvious physical injury and we had a few questions about what might have happened."

The boy on the stairs turned and ran up them, disappearing from view.

Mrs. Jennings frowned, "He's injured?" she asked, and a look of concern crossed her face. "He's - he's been off with friends all day today, I haven't seen him, I've been trying like crazy to ring about and find out where he's been but he's such a little rebellious child... Told me he was going just next door! I find out he's been all the way to Diagon Alley now - in it that in the City proper?" she shook her head, "And now to find out he's got a blacked eye? Please tell me you were able to help him, Mr. Fortescue! That he's alright?" She looked anxiously to Jasper.

Jasper's face was red. "Don't you dare. Don't you dare. Don't - you - dare!"

James held up his hand to stop Jasper talking. He was quiet a moment. "Ma'm. Neither of us said it was a black eye, what Oliver's got."

Mrs. Jennings's face turned red.

"What are you saying? What are you accusing me of?"

"We're here to collect Oliver from your care," James replied coolly. 

Eli looked out at him from behind a large potted plant he'd hidden behind.

"And the other kids, too," James added.

Mrs. Jennings's face ran through a contortion of emotions - offense, concern, fear, - and finally settled on a defensive sneer. "You can't. You aren't the agency. You don't have any paperwork. For alls I know you're both kidnappers - pedophiles, trying to steal my boys!" She puffed herself up, "Don't you bloody come in here, accusin' me - a trusted house mum of nearly twenty years been working for the royal welfare system and you think you can just walk in here with your little badge you probably got out of a costume shop and act like you can steal my children from me!"

"STEAL YOUR CHILDREN?" Jasper shouted, "As though you give a bleedin' damn about these kids!"

James reached out and put a palm on Jasper's arm. "Jazz, deep breath," James said calmly. He looked at Mrs. Jennings. "I told you, I am an auror from the Ministry of Magic's Law Enforcement Department. We're the same as a policeman in the muggle world and --"

"And you don't think there ain't corrupt coppers? Even if you are what you say you are, I don't have to surrender them to you without the paperwork. You bleeding get the paperwork proper-like or I'll bloody call the real police and hand both of you over to be jailed for impersonating an officer and attempted abduction!" 

"Go ahead and call them you great trout! Good luck explainin' why they've got marks and scars, why Oliver's face looks like it does! Look at what you've done to him, what do you even care that he's taken away? What do you care? Because you'll have nothing to take your frustrations out on? No punching bag? Well that's not what children are for!" Jasper laughed bitterly, "Does the royal welfare system pay you handsomely? Is that what it is? You lose a pretty bit of quid if these boys aren't in your care?"

"It's none of your business what the system pays me to care for them!" Mrs. Jennings snapped. "None of this is any of your business. What happens in my house is my business and mine alone and you sir are stepping out of line - OUT OF LINE."

"No you're out of bloody line!" Jasper yelled, and though James shook his head and reached for Jasper's elbow, he continued on shaking James off, "It is my business what you're doing to those kids. It's my business because unlike you I give a shite whether they're alright or not and it's clear they aren't! I never had anyone who gave a flying cack about what me and my brothers went through, but I sure and bloody hell wished every day that someone might turn up that gave a ruddy damn - and I'm not leaving without being that for Oliver!" 

"Jaz, we really do have to go, though. She's right, we do have to have the paperwork," James whispered.

"No - No, I don't care if I go back to jail --"

"BACK to jail?" shouted Mrs. Jennings, laughing.

"-- I don't care if I stay there and rot on the rest of my bloody life!"

"Jasper, c'mon, we'll go to the Ministry and get some back-up." James grabbed onto Jasper's arm.

"No! I can't leave him here - just look at her, look at her smiling - look at her! You bloody demon."

Mrs. Jennings was smiling. She was. A wicked smile. Triumphant.

"Come on." James pulled Jasper back, "Come on. We'll do this right. It'll take just a moment to pop off to the Ministry and get the paperwork."

James looked up and saw Oliver standing on the second step up on the stairs. The red mark had darkened into a yellow-blue bruise and James saw Jasper had not exaggerated at all about the size of the bruise - Oliver's entire right browbone, temple, and cheekbone were all included in the area affected and swollen. 

"We'll be back," James said, directly to Oliver, making a promise.