The time traveler nodded his head and popped away to Diagon Alley. He made his way to the shop and saw Aurors milling about asking customers' questions. He went to find his manager and ask what happened. She was standing outside Fun For All Kids. She was leaning against the wall with a disgruntled look on her face, since the annex was taped off and she could assess the damage.
"What happened, Ellie?" Hydrus questioned as he sidled up to her side.
"Someone broke all the color balls," she answered as she turned to her boss. "We think it was a time delay spell. I've never seen anything like it." She shook her head in wonder. "One minute everything was fine, the next minute all the balls just exploded. No one got hurt," she added quickly at his concerned look. "It was like the spell waited until everyone was cleared and then went off."
"Well that's something. Was it just the color balls?" the immortal asked. Trying to think of anyone he knew that could pull off such a spell and coming up blank.
"Yep, even the ones in inventory," Ellie said, looking towards the store room. "Don't worry we're insured." She shrugged her shoulder and looked to the taped off room again.
"Let me guess, there is no clue as to who did it," he said, running a hand down his face.
"Nope, like I said, time delay and possible motion detector. It could have been put on the toys anytime in the last week, according to the Aurors."
It was about that time one of the red robed men came up to the two. "We found this hidden behind the destroyed toys, since it's addressed to you…" he said, handing over a smoking red envelope.
Heaving a deep sigh, Hydrus took the howler and dropped it in front of him. The letter exploded open and started shouting, "YOU TOOK MY SON, YOU BASTARD. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR YOUR STUPID BALLS, MY HUSBAND WOULD HAVE LET ME KEEP MY SON LONGER. YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS, YOU STINKING MUDBLOOD." And then it ripped itself to tiny pieces and fell to the floor.
"Do you have any idea who that was?" the still unnamed Auror asked the store owner.
"I've never heard that voice," Hydrus answered truthfully, he had no idea who this woman was. But now he had a direction to point his detectives towards. "Judging from the content, it must be someone whose son is in the orphanage," he offered the man.
The Auror nodded and scooped up the mess into an evidence bag and said, "We'll do our best to see who sent it. We'll keep in touch." He gave a quick nod and walked away.
Customers were milling about and looking at Hydrus with a bit of sympathy. They had all read about the wonderful things Barkley's was doing and most of the community was all for it.
The red robed men soon filed out of the store, with their evidence, and business resumed. Hydrus and Ellie went to the office. The immortal ran his hand down his face and sighed. "I knew this was going to happen. It was one of the reasons I made these balls work with squib magic. Barkley's must have found the child in St. Mungo's. I better warn them to be on the lookout. And I need to get the wards stronger, even though it looks like she is after me, I don't want the kids hurt." He started making notes on the things he needed to do.
"Well other than this, it's been a good day," his manager offered, hoping to make her boss relax.
"The sale was going well?" he asked, looking up from his scribbling.
"Yup, even better than last year," Ellie said with a huge smile at the job well done.
"That's great news, keep up the good work," he said, smiling back, though it didn't reach his eyes. He got up, grabbed his list and headed out the door, throwing over his shoulder, "I've got to go. I'll check back in tomorrow."
He went to Barkley's and asked Ms. Cartwright for a list of the parents of any males recently brought in.
"Why do you need that?" the matronly woman questioned as she looked through her files.
"Seems like one of the mothers isn't happy about losing her son," Hydrus answered, drumming his fingers on the desk. "Someone destroyed all the color balls at the shop and left a howler."
"On Boxing Day? How sad," Ms. Cartwright said, putting the short list on the desk and sliding it under the tapping fingers. "I've talked to all of these women and they all seemed quite content on leaving their child here. Of course they were a bit sad in the beginning, but now they are happy. Each and every one has visited at least once. They all sent presents for the children. There were even some donated for the others. With the gifts you and your family sent, everyone had a happy Christmas. Thank you so much for all you've done." She patted the now still hand.
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