The next morning, Julian woke at dawn, got dressed, and headed out after wishing Ollivander a good morning. As it happened, the old wandmaker was even more of an early riser than Julian, since he was already awake and moving about before Julian had even gotten out of bed. Today I need to track down that lawyer, and the best way I can think to do it is through the Ministry, he thought as he walked past Gringotts and toward the large building in the distance, which was already busy despite how early it still was.
Julian soon reached the British Ministry of Magic and stepped through the doors into the atrium, taking in the sight with open interest. Unlike during the Yule Ball, the atrium had been returned to its usual layout, with multiple floos active and wizards in suits hurrying back and forth over the polished marble floor. Fortunately, the Ministry had signs pointing toward all the important departments, so Julian found his way to communications without much trouble. Once there, he approached one of the tellers at a desk with a friendly smile. "Excuse me, but I was wondering if you might be able to help me?" he asked evenly.
The teller, a thin plain faced woman with brown hair, looked up from her paperwork and blinked several times in surprise. "Where are your parents? Do they know you're here?" she asked, clearly not expecting a child his age to have arrived on his own.
Julian could not really blame her, since his body was only twelve and had only reached that age on March second, which was to say the day after Beltane. He held up his lord ring for her to see. "I don't have parents, and I've come here regarding a matter of business," he said, and the woman immediately went pale at the sight of the signet.
Not long ago, Minister Fudge had instructed the staff to keep an eye out for a boy wearing that ring, as he was someone important.
"I apologize for the misunderstanding, sir. How may I assist you?" the teller asked, shifting into a professional tone almost instantly.
Julian dismissed the apology with a small motion. "I need to contact someone, but I don't know their full name," he explained, and the teller nodded with understanding.
"Can you give me a name and occupation, if you know them?" she asked. Julian provided the information, and she typed it into an old fashioned typewriter before pressing enter. A moment later, the sheet of paper folded itself into a paper airplane and flew away.
"It usually takes a few minutes," the teller said.
Julian nodded and waited without complaint. About five minutes later, another paper airplane flew back to the desk and landed neatly in front of the woman. She unfolded it, checked the contents, then nodded and handed it over to him.
Written on the paper was the name Theodore Ryan Tonks, along with an address and place of employment.
Julian gave a small nod at the information before storing the note away. "Thank you for your help. Have a good day," he said, leaving a galleon on the desk before walking off.
...
As luck would have it, the address listed on the paper was in Diagon Alley and not far away. The fact that Diagon Alley was not just a shopping district but also had homes was something most muggleborns did not really learn until after graduation, since while at school they only ever saw the commercial portion of it.
Julian eventually reached the address and calmly walked up to the front door, which bore a large metal knocker. He raised it and knocked. A few minutes later, a tall healthy blond haired man answered, wearing a confused expression as he looked down at Julian.
"Theodore Tonks, I assume?" Julian asked, and the man nodded.
"I've come to speak with you regarding the unlawful imprisonment of a member of your extended family in Azkaban," Julian said bluntly.
Ted's expression changed at once, turning stern and serious. "Which family member, and in what way unlawful?" he asked sharply.
Julian only smiled and gestured lightly at their surroundings. "Would you mind if we discussed that somewhere a bit more private?" he said.
Ted nodded, then pulled the door fully open. Julian walked into the house without hurry and carefully wiped his shoes on the mat first. The place was small but comfortable, with two floors and an open dining area where two women were seated at the table, one of them a girl with bubblegum pink hair, both staring at Julian in confusion.
"Now then, explain yourself, stranger," Ted said, leaving no room for argument.