Order of the Hidden Dragon

"Well, what do you want to do?" Mary asked.

"What?"

"You said you probably can track the computer again, but that it would cause Albus to be in danger again but also make him come back faster. To me the question is whether your wish to help Albus is stronger than your wish to not help the Ministry, after how they behaved last time."

"I don't know what I want to do. That's why I'm so torn."

"Well, it sounds like Albus didn't even ask for your help in the first place, you offered. Don't you want to finish what you started?"

Sophia sighed. It always came back to that.

"Yes, I do. But what if it leads Albus into danger?"

"What if you not helping lead him into more danger? If he follows clues or falls into a trap like that other Auror did. I would think you would feel better doing what you can to help to avoid any more casualties."

As usual, Mary knew exactly what to say. Sophia gave her a hug, before quickly booting up her computer. Just the sound of it reminded her of the hours Albus and her had spent looking over those ads. That had only been two weeks ago, yet it felt like she had known him for much longer. Why did everything she did remind her of him? Her fingers raced over the keyboard, she barely even noticed Mary next to her anymore. 

It didn't take her long. The computer was inside a magically untraceable place. She wasn't able to pinpoint it on a map, but she could write down the address. Then she saw Albus' owl still sitting on its perch. Sophia had to chuckle, then fastened the letter to it and opened a path to the outside for it.

"I take it you found him?"

"Yes. He is still there. You were right, it's better if he is prepared for it."

The two hugged before each going home. Sophia didn't usually spend the night here at the base; she had her own little apartment near her parent's home. It really was the best of both worlds. Her family thought she left for work each morning, she hadn't wanted to tell them about her failure. Only her two aunts, the only witches in the family, knew what had happened when she had tried to apply to work for the Ministry.

***

Albus was surprised when he found a letter waiting for him before breakfast. He was even more surprised when all it said was an address. An address in Marquise, which was a small town in north-east France. He looked it up on a map, and it was right where they had lost the signal. He thought he knew who had sent him the note now.

"Thank you, Sophia," he whispered before downing the rest of his tea and getting ready to go.

French Aurors were waiting for them in Marquise. Harry had briefed them on who they were after, and they had no objections to their plan. Aurors from different countries usually cooperated well together, when it came to situations like this. One of their own was in danger, everyone was ready for action. Scorpius acted as a translator, but most of the French Aurors knew at least a little English.

It turned out, the address Albus had been given was a series of warehouses. It didn't take long to see which one of them didn't show up on a map. It also showed signs of magic having been used, but if they cast the Human-Revealing Spell correctly, it was also empty. Albus had a bad feeling about this. One of the French Aurors stayed behind to prevent any civilians, Muggle or magical, from being caught in the potential crossfire, as they checked the entire outside of the building for potential traps. Just in case, they made a hole through the wall, to avoid using any doors which could be jinxed.

The place was empty. Albus had expected that, yet it was disappointing at the same time. Rose quickly went over to the desk in the corner.

"Another notebook," she said. "Let's see what he's left for us this time."

Just one page, somewhere in the middle, had any writing.

"Nice try. You won't get your Auror back so easily." it said. Albus growled.

"Well, at least we know he still has Yang," Rose said.

"Do we? Or is this yet another diversion, like the list about the Order?"

"Look at this," Scorpius said from the other side of the building. They all ran over to him. He pointed to a fairly large cage that could fit a large number of beasts. Yet Scorpius pointed to a specific item in one corner. A shoe. A shoe Albus had last seen on Yang, though it was now very dirty.

"Careful with that," Rose warned as Scorpius leaned down to pick it up. He rolled his eyes but did stop and check it for curses first. It wasn't jinxed. Was it also left here on purpose, or had Yang just lost it?

"Well, now we know that Yang was here. The question is, where are they now?"

"Clearly not here," Albus said with another growl. "But I don't see his computer here either."

Rose knew what he meant by that, but the French were confused. Albus didn't stop to explain, he went outside where he could pace. This was somehow even worse than when they almost caught the man when Yang was first taken. He was here yesterday, now he was gone. How had he known they were coming?

Rose also came outside. She saw his annoyance and sighed.

"Don't let him get to you, Al. He can't run forever."

"I don't see why he can't. We haven't got a clue where he will go next!"

"We don't, but I think I see an owl there who might," she said with a smile. Albus was just able to turn around and see his own owl, again delivering a small note, with an address and nothing more. Belgium. They could go there without notifying anyone. Albus quickly gathered the British Aurors, Scorpius hastened to thank and briefly explain the situation to the French, and they were off.

They almost caught him in Belgium. He clearly wasn't anticipating them to find him again so quickly. He left most of the cages with beasts behind, he had just begun to set up shop. From what they could gather, he only took the smaller beasts, those he could easily transport, and Yang.

"Why does he keep Yang?" Rose pondered. "Why take him instead of another one of these? He has little value to him, since he can't sell him. Why sacrifice all of these, just to keep Yang?"

"I don't think he is thinking of profit anymore," Scorpius said. "Now he just wants to play with us." Albus suspected he was right. The Knocker was playing with them. Did he know what had happened back in Britain, with the Order? He didn't think he would be able to know, but he had to have some connections.

Before long, Sophia sent another note, this time via a nearby Muggle advertisement board. How she did that, he had no idea. But he doubted anyone other than them could see it, since the Muggles around them didn't look up at the board. A new address in the Netherlands.

They went to five different countries that day. Each time, the Knocker left them a little clue. He was clearly enjoying this.

"We can't keep doing this," Rose said after they found yet another empty warehouse in Germany. "Let's go home and report to Harry."

"You do that. I'll go and talk to Sophia," Albus said.

"Go to the Ministry first. Explain what happened, maybe you'll be authorised to take her with us. That will make it more efficient." Rose pointed out. Albus nodded. He hadn't thought of that. That would make it easier.