It was the worst imaginable thing and the least thing that had been on Nate's mind. After the first wave of children were kidnapped, Nate had the wards on his house tightened - they were a prime couple, after all, if the DMLE was right and the Death Eaters were targeting Muggleborn and pureblood marriages. But Bree wasn't a pureblood, even if she had a history with the Mulcibers. With the wards and the extra security, they should have been safe. They were safe.

Except they weren't. Nate looked over at Bree, who was being interviewed by Frank Longbottom and Nate wanted nothing more to go over there and console her, but he was currently being 'briefed' by Moody. Only Nate wasn't listening, there was nothing to listen to. He had been tricked, of course. A 'fake' alarm and call to duty - everyone was on duty these days, even though Nate had a primarily desk and training job. With so many aurors taken off this case because it was their child involved; and now Nate was too. He wasn't listening to the words Moody was saying, he couldn't listen when his wife was so distraught. Nate knew that was what Moody was saying. With a nod and without waiting to be dismissed, Nate crossed the living room quickly and wrapped Bree in a tight hug, effectively cutting Longbottom off mid-sentence.

The investigating crew, feeling for one of their own, took the cue and moved about them quietly, not wanting to interrupt the preoccupied couple. Nate was pretty sure what they would find - the wards had been ripped open (Nate had felt this on the call-out and realized the diversion) and his wife had been roughed up and knocked unconscious and their children were missing. Their children were missing.

Nate hugged Bree tighter at that thought, unable to speak or say anything.