When the Going Gets Tough
Chapter 35
When the Going Gets Tough
Harry's bodyguard showed up for duty the next morning. Harry spent a great deal of time showing him, Edgar, around and getting to know him. Edgar seemed pleased by the opportunity and consistently had to be reminded not to gush. The strapping young man was definitely star struck.
"Edgar, please," Harry begged, "I can use the loo by myself. You can wait outside."
"But Boss, there may be DE's in there! Let me check it out first at least."
Harry motioned Edgar forward. "Be my guest."
After a few minutes, Edgar came out. "All clear, Boss" he said.
"Thank you," Harry responded with a weary tone.
Harry returned to his office to find his fiancée in a strangle-hold by his new bodyguard. "Edgar!" he shouted. "Let Hermione go! She's going to be my wife soon. I'm sure if she wanted to kill me, she'd have done it long ago at home."
"It could be Polyjuice, Boss. Ask her something only she would know."
"What did I have for pudding last night?" He asked her with a wicked grin.
"Not much of anything, luv," she answered with a matching smirk. "You were too busy smearing it all over my…"
"It's her. Release her, please," Harry directed.
Edgar released the struggling Healer, his face a deep red. Hermione harrumphed her displeasure.
"Wait outside, please, Edgar," Harry instructed. Edgar bowed his head and ducked out of the office.
"I can't deal with this," Harry complained. "I don't like having a bodyguard, always skulking about, mumbling about DE's, following me into the loo... I can take care of myself."
Hermione got over her anger and went to Harry's side. "I think you need one to at the very least save you from yourself," she said in a business-like tone. "Anyway, he's good at what he does. You can't fire him. He'll be crushed."
"I won't fire him," Harry agreed more to please her than himself. "We've still got posts to fill in the department. He's a good Auror, maybe I'll assign him to Ron or Tonks, even."
Harry made a mental note to check to see if there was another spot for Edgar, however he had a more pressing problem. He had to convince the Minister that Malfoy was somehow mixed up in the Death Eater plot. He knew that if he were wrong, he'd be a laughingstock. He'd certainly been there before. They needed more evidence. The Minister would never accept that his dead former professor, who by the way always hated him, talked to him in a dream. He needed to talk to Malfoy. That was sure to be pleasant, he thought sarcastically.
"Boss?" Tonks called from the doorway, shortly after Hermione had left. Harry motioned her in. "I've been thinking…" she began, "What if you talked to Malfoy? He won't respond to me. I was the arresting Auror. If what I hear about your rivalry in school is true, then he might be persuaded to boast a bit, if you goad him quite right."
"Unfortunately, I had the same thought." said Harry. "That's the only way I can see to get the evidence we need. I hate this waiting around waiting for them to make a move. If I taunt him a bit, he might tell us what we want to know."
"Oh!" said Ron, sticking his head in. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
"We were just talking. Come on in." said Harry.
"I've a thought on why Snape came to you. Care to hear it?" stated Ron casually in order to bait his colleagues a bit.
"I'd love to know," replied Harry.
"Malfoy has always been Snape's pet, right?" Ron began. Harry nodded. "Well, what if the 'event' were to place Malfoy in danger. That would explain the 'Malfoy will be joining us soon' comment. He wants to continue to protect the prat. He'd rather see Malfoy rot in Azkaban than whatever the Death Eaters have planned. What do you think?"
"It's better than anything else we've got," offered Tonks.
"O-kay," Harry sighed. "The plan, as it sits, is I will go and talk to Malfoy…see what I can find out. We'll convene and talk about it, then plan our next move. For now, could someone, please, find Edgar something to do other than follow me around?" He'd thought a "Constant Vigilance" sort of bodyguard was what he needed, however the reality was that he found it annoying. He should've remembered from his youth his distaste for being followed and watched.
Harry took the lift down to the lowest level it would go. From there he had to pass by Courtroom 10 where he had been held hostage by Malfoy. He shuddered as he passed it. Finally he arrived at the holding cells. Malfoy's trial had been over for months. It didn't bode well that the sentencing was delayed this long. He'd been found guilty of all charges. How hard could it be to pass sentence? Harry knew there must be someone working against them on the inside. What he didn't know is who it is and how it ties in with the rest.
He arrived at the appointed doorway and flashed his credentials. He was shown immediately to a small room to wait for the prisoner to arrive. He remained standing, rather than sit at the small table. He knew it was a power play, yet didn't care. If he was going to goad Malfoy, he'd best start off correctly.
"Potter," spat Malfoy, "come to see your handiwork of Ministry incompetence?"
"My incompetence?" Harry snarled. "Forgive me for stating the obvious, but I'm not the one in shackles, am I?"
Malfoy ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair. "You've no idea what you've done. You can't lock me up…"
"See previous statement…" Harry interrupted. He was almost there. He could feel it. "What have I done? Well, besides killing your mate Voldemort, removing loads of Death Eater scum from society, saving the wizarding world from…"
"You just don't get it, do you?" shrieked Malfoy.
"Suppose you tell me what I don't get. But speak slowly; I am a mere half-blood after all," Harry sarcastically replied.
"You and your merry band of do-gooders, you have no idea who you are dealing with. You think locking me up will stop them?"
"It's done fairly well so far…" Harry stated casually.
"You just wait," snarled Malfoy. "I'm still here for my protection. They don't want anything to happen to me until…" Malfoy broke off.
"Until? Until after you've been given the kiss? After you've got your cell in Azkaban all sorted?"
"YOU IMBECILE!" Malfoy roared. "You haven't got a clue! Rabastan is…"
"What is Rabastan planning?" Harry asked with a wicked grin.
"I'm…" Malfoy sputtered. "I'm not telling you anything," he continued with a marked lack of conviction.
"You listen to me, Malfoy and listen well. I am your only hope out of this alive," Harry sneered.
"Why would I listen to you?" Malfoy returned with a sneer of his own.
"Because you are scared to die. You are too much of a coward to partake of this little ritual…"
"What do you know about the ritual?" Malfoy asked in surprise.
"I know enough," said Harry. "I want to know more, that's where you come in."
"I'll tell you NOTHING!" Malfoy spat.
Harry had had enough of his posturing. He grabbed Malfoy by the collar and leaned down until his face was only inches from the frightened blonde's. "Suit yourself. However, before deciding, keep these facts in mind and I don't wish to repeat myself. You will either be going to Azkaban or get the kiss, if you stay here. Either way, you are dead in a month. Another option is to tell me what you know. I am sufficiently connected to be able to help you. The final option is to keep to the plan. The ritual is designed to kill you. I don't have all of the details, but I know the final outcome…you are dead and Rabastan is still here. I will get him, make no mistake about that, but you'll still be dead. I've never known you to be the magnanimous sort..." Harry released him and walked to the farthest corner, keeping his back to Malfoy.
"My father…" Malfoy sneered in his former arrogant tone.
"IS DEAD!" Harry turned and shouted back. "He can't help you with this. I am the only hope you've got to survive. I'm not going to make it easy for you, but I can help you for a price."
"How much?" asked Malfoy. "I never knew you to be the sort to stoop to blackmail, but I'll play your game. How much of my family's wealth are you after? The mansion? Galleons? Name your price."
Harry stared at him in amazement. "You think this is about money??? I've plenty of that, more than I need really. Mansion? Got one, thanks."
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" screamed Malfoy.
"I want information. I want to stop Rastaban and prevent this ritual from taking place. The quality of the information will determine what I will offer in return. If you help me, I will spare your life. Cross me and I will kill you myself."
"Saint Potter is issuing a threat? Don't make me laugh." snarled Malfoy.
"I don't threaten. I am making a promise and I WILL deliver on it." Harry growled.
"You're too confident in your abilities. You wouldn't last five seconds against me in a duel."
"Oh yeah?" smiled Harry. "Your mate Voldemort thought that as well. Funny thing, though, he isn't around to say it anymore. Curious thing, that, don't you think?"
"Are you referring to the Final Battle? I was there, remember?" sneered Malfoy in contempt.
"Oh yeah, I remember everything." stated Harry coldly. "I remember him firing the Killing Curse at me," he said, his voice gradually increasing in volume. "Bill Weasley was killed when I ducked the curse. I remember that you ran screaming like a banshee at the sight of Voldemort. I remember what it felt like to fire the curse at him. I remember what it felt like as his spirit left his body and filled the orb I held. AND I REMEMBER DESTROYING THAT ORB AND SHATTERING VOLDEMORT'S SPIRIT INTO A MILLION PIECES, THEN VANISHING THEM FROM EXISTENCE WITH A SPELL OLDER THAN MALFOY BLOOD!" Harry lowered his voice as Malfoy visibly shrank away from him in fear. Harry continued, "So let me state this in a different way, you help me and I'll help you. Screw me and you are a dead man." Harry strode from the room with Malfoy calling after him.
Harry arrived back at his office, his head fit to burst. He locked himself in his office, hiding from the world. He struggled with his barely contained control. "Calm down" he told himself. "Don't let him get to you." He figured out he was in for another nightmare tonight and wondered if Hermione would be there or Lupin. He was torn between who he preferred to be there. It was fine if neither were there as well. Hermione made him feel better by running her fingers through his hair which woke him up in the most pleasant way. Lupin left him alone, yet stayed close in case he was needed.
Later that evening, Tonks stopped by Harry's to see Lupin, who had gone to his own flat for a bit. She could tell by the look in Harry's eyes that he was in a bad way. While he was getting them drinks from the bar, she beckoned his snowy owl to the loo for a private chat.
"Where's Hedwig?" asked Harry. "She was just here a minute ago."
"I let her out to hunt. You know I can't deny her when she looks at me like she does," Tonks lied.
"You spoil her, you mean," smiled Harry. "That's fine. Shall we see what's for dinner?"
"I can't stay, boss. I wanted to catch up to Remus, remember?" she said.
"Alright," Harry said wearily. He mentally berated himself for his weakness. He could handle this alone.
"Hey, Boss," she said gently. "Are you going to be alright?"
"I'm fine," he said with more conviction than he felt. Tonks gave him a look of pity, which he found irritating. She laid her hand on his cheek and murmured her goodbyes.
Harry poured himself a large tankard of mulled mead and took a long swallow. He quickly found that the alcoholic drink wasn't helping the aching, so he dumped the rest and climbed the stairs to bed.
He'd just entered his bedroom, when he heard a pop. Hermione had arrived. He was torn between pleasure at her company and embarrassment that she was there. She gave him a concerned look. Shame won the battle, as Harry ducked his head and prepared to charm his conjured bindings.
"Bad?" Hermione asked gently.
Harry nodded, his face flaming. Hermione came to him and drew him into her arms, she held him as she would a sick child until she felt his body relax. Leading him to the bed, she helped him lie down, never releasing him from her touch. She vanished his shirt and jeans to the laundry, then rubbed his temples. While softly humming to him a lullaby, she stroked his skin up and down his body as he drifted off to sleep.
The long night was finally over. Harry's nightmare was one of the worst he'd ever experienced. Hermione had made it survivable. She ran her fingers through his hair as he writhed in the hell of his dreams. Sometime in the early morning he had broken the bindings he'd placed on his arms. His face bore scratches and bruises. Hermione gave him a calming draught to help him through the worst of it.
Harry opened his eyes to see his fiancée smiling at him. "What?" he asked self-consciously.
"You look like Remus after the full moon..." she snickered. "It's kind of sexy in a way, those scratches. It makes you look like some sort of lion tamer or something."
"You are mental," he replied, reaching for her. "Want to heal them for me or leave them?"
"Let's leave them for now, I think," she said in a husky voice, leaving him no doubts about what she had in mind. "If you are alright, that is…"
"We can leave them…for now," he responded while removing the bindings on his legs. "Thank you for last night. You really helped."
"I wish we could find a cure for them." she said. "I'll see what Healer Strankford says. He'd love to get his name in more magi-medical journals."
Harry made a revolted face and went back to nibbling her neck below her ear. A faint popping sound drew his attention away. He looked at the bedside table and was pleased to notice his house elves had sent a variety of fruit and cream cakes for breakfast.
He dragged his finger through the creamy filling of a cake and spread the fluffy cream onto Hermione's neck. "My house elves need an increase in pay," he said before laving the filling with his tongue.
Hermione whimpered in appreciation of his efforts and mumbled, "A large increase…" She spread the fruit filling along his abdomen and returned the favor.
Harry arrived at work exhausted from lack of sleep, yet alert due to his other pursuits of the morning. He was almost late to the meeting he had called.
"Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen," he called with more confidence than he felt, as he strode through the door. The conversations among the group immediately halted as all attention turned to Harry's arrival. "Thank you for coming." Harry took his place behind his desk and faced the assembled group of Department Heads who dealt with security, as well as his own staff. He cast a strong Imperturbable Charm on the area. "What I'm about to tell you cannot leave this room. I need your input as to the validity of the threat and any substantiating or conflicting evidence you may have run across."
Ron looked aghast that Harry was going to the Ministry with this. Harry gave him a quick wink to let him know that he knew what he was doing. Harry told the assembled witches and wizards what he knew about the ritual and the plans for the remaining Death Eaters to regain power. He kept his visit to Malfoy to himself, until he finished what he had started. He knew it would only be a matter of time before Malfoy would see things his way.
"That makes sense," stated Shacklebolt. "We've heard mumblings about a new rising. You are number one on the hit list, Potter."
"When haven't I been?" Harry returned. "Anyone else?"
The frumpy witch who leads the Unspeakables spoke up. "My sources state that the old graveyard where You-know-who…"
"His name is Voldemort. He is dead. Use his name, please, or Tom Marvolo Riddle, that was his given name. We are the cream of the crop in Ministry security. If we are afraid to say a name then we don't belong here. Please continue." Harry finished his speech never looking up from his stack of parchments. He didn't want the witch to think he was reprimanding her.
"Yes, sir," she replied. "Our sources are saying that something is planned at the graveyard where V-v-v-oldemort's father is buried."
"Excellent work." Harry said as he gave her a wink and a smile. "We need a small, high profile team stationed there. We need people who can spot an event before it starts. Mr. Shacklebolt, do you have a team available?" Harry was still unused to being Kingsley Shacklebolt's superior when for so many years it was the other way around.
"Not a problem, Mr. Potter," Shacklebolt said with a smile. "I can have a team stationed in one hour."
"Brilliant," praised Harry. "Make sure they know it is a preventative step and to make sure they are seen. If we can stop this before it starts, we'll have a better chance of taking down the Death Eaters before they can cause any harm. Does anyone have anything else to add?"
When Harry looked around the room and made eye contact with each person to make sure everyone had a chance to speak, if they chose. Tonks gave him a saucy wink and Ron was trying to signal to Harry that he wanted to talk to him after the meeting.
"I guess that's it, then," Harry said. "Let's make this a weekly meeting, at least until we get a handle on this. Same time, same day?" No one responded to his question, so he took it as consent. He was reminded of when he was at school and a professor was asking a question as the bell rang; everyone was too busy packing away their quills and parchment to answer. "Great. I'll see you next week, if not before. Thank you for coming."
The group filed out of the office. Harry watched as each one who left gave a shiver as they crossed his wards. Ron and Tonks remained behind to speak to him. As soon as the last person files out, Harry cast a strong Imperturbable Charm.
"You are brilliant, mate." stated Ron. "You've got your departments thinking along the same lines and gave away nothing. Absolutely brilliant." Harry grinned at him.
"I hate to interrupt, Boss, but I got word that Malfoy is demanding to talk to you. What did you say to him? He's causing quite a ruckus..." said Tonks with suspicion.
"Let's just say I gave him an offer he couldn't refuse." Harry replied.
"You didn't!" exclaimed Ron. "Please tell me you aren't letting that ferret go free."
"I didn't say that," Harry said coolly. "He knows that we know about the ritual, so we know the ritual is real. We know that the ritual is going to kill him. What we didn't know was who was behind it and he so kindly filled me in on that. It's Rabastan."
"You're going back in the field, aren't you?" asked Tonks.
"I don't have a choice." said Harry, his voice getting gradually louder. "We have to make a statement. We have to show them that we won't tolerate another uprising. We have to show them what it means to go up against us."
Ron shook his head at him. "Hermione isn't going to like it, mate. I don't want to be in your shoes when she finds out."
"She'll understand. I can't live my life with a target on my back. I want a normal life and a family. I can't have what I want until this is over. She has to understand. She just has to."