Chapter 53 - The House of Order and Disorder
Hermione furiously watched from an observation room as Bellow and Hush, the Canadian and British Head Unspeakables, worked on taking the potion apart. Having just acquired more magical potion for them to experiment with, the pressure to use as little of it as possible had been lifted and they thought it best to make a sport of things. Decency immediately went out the window and competitive spirit replaced it. It amazed her that they could fit in the now divided Level Five Potion Lab experiment room considering they both had gigantic egos.
The contest rules were simple enough. Each would have the luxury of five phials to burn. The winner would be whoever got to break down the contents first or whoever got the closest to doing it with the least amount of potion. She was not supposed to help other than to express her opinion if she thought what they were proposing to do would necessitate evacuation of the premises. Hermione didn't think either was stupid to do something that would cause that, which begged the question, why did she have to witness the disgraceful act that was about to happen?
Her comment about what a waste of magical being life it was had been ignored. The Ministers okayed it and left to deal with other more important matters. Even Healer Hama, the Headmistress of the Potions Registry, stayed out of it because she knew better, excusing herself from the proceedings too. Of the others in the room with her only Ecruminus Brown thought what they were doing was a bad idea.
Hermione bit her lower lip and kept mum as the contest began, hoping each of them would get what they deserved. A couple of senior techies were present to document everything and so was a Mediwizard, just in case. Off the bat both lost half a phial to the atmosphere and both tried Scarpin's Revelaspell without success. As she had, they reached for the amplifying solution and she stepped away from the window grinning to herself.
She certainly could have made better use of her time. As much as she told Harry she did not want him telling her about the case she was dying to hear progress on it. Thinking about what Harry told her over breakfast, she wondered if her decision to not be as involved was the right thing to do.
An explosion rocked the entire floor and everyone but her cowered from the perceived danger. She peeked in; too bad. They both got up.
What was it that Harry said? That she was missing the 'bigger picture'?
Admittedly, she was too close and maybe she wasn't seeing the forest for the trees, but there was nothing she could do about that. She understood where Harry was coming from. His immediate assumption that Draco was dating her for some nefarious motive was borne from the same distrust that made her and Ginny investigate Draco's past before the Magorian trial. That led to Harry's discovery that Draco not only represented Waterman in many criminal cases, they were relatives. With Lestrange involved, their suspicion that he was the Potion Master had merit and when he was seen with Waterman last night, any competent Auror, even one without prejudice, would have concluded as Harry did.
While in the past she would have arrived at the same reasoning without second thought, she couldn't anymore, not after spending time with him and not after reading the Healer's notes about what he went through. It was a difficult leap for her to believe that someone like him who had gone through so much and turned his life around could go back to what he had successfully escaped from. Draco was up against prejudice and skepticism, and she always had a soft spot for underdogs.
Hermione was open to the idea that there was a perfectly good explanation why Draco was with Waterman last night. Being related to Waterman was not a crime. In fact, she suspected it was Tommy Waterman who beat him up when he first came to the States, the one he would not tell authorities about. With Waterman's history of violence that made sense.
Boom!
Smoke filled the Brit half of the other room and got immediately sucked out. Hush reappeared and swore under her breath.
Reminding herself why she decided to stay in Toronto, she was torn. She intended to help Harry with the case but the direction where the investigation was going precluded her from effectively doing so. Now that Draco was a prime suspect the fact that she did not think him guilty would make her involvement bring more harm than good. There was great likelihood that she would be obstructive and considering who was running the inquiry that was the last thing she wanted to do. If they were right about Draco and something went amiss, everyone would blame Harry if he got her involved. The integrity of the inquiry would be questioned. She did not want to put Harry in a compromising position.
It was unlikely that Harry would ever agree to that logic much less to the notion of Draco being innocent. He meant well and she appreciated that he wanted to be truthful about everything despite the caution from Andy but it would be pointless to tell him why she thought Draco was clean. Considering herself an expert in arguments, she recognized that this was something they would not come to an agreement about.
The concept that Draco was using her was absurd. She never detected a hint of it when she was with him and she trusted herself to be able to see through something like that. She also dismissed the added danger Harry and Ginny perceived her to be in. Potion Master or not she did not find Draco threatening in any way. But as much as the evidence was circumstantial she was not totally blind to it. She knew it was possible. However, if Draco turned out to be the Potion Master it would be tragic on so many levels. She refused to see it until there wasn't a shadow of a doubt it was him and to her that meant Draco telling her himself.
As odd as it was, although she had only known this new version of Draco for a short period of time, she felt it was the right thing, the decent thing, to give him the benefit of the doubt even if that meant going against the grain and against Harry. Hermione hoped Harry would back off and do his job as he normally would. She really did not want to have the same conversations about Draco she had with Ginny all over again; most definitely not with him.
Hermione glanced over to see how the competition was progressing. Hush was using a replicating spell and her counterpart, Bellow, was preparing shields as she was about to perform what she announced was a novel revealing spell. They weren't getting it.
Ecruminus Brown stood right beside the observation window watching with animation, rooting for the potion openly. Being the anti potion Bruin that he was that was understandable. She walked over thinking how dangerous it was to do what she was about to do but she had to ask one of them about Dennis.
"Are they close?" he inquired.
"No, they aren't."
"Good," he responded, "In my opinion these potions should be destroyed."
Seeing that the Unspeakables were getting set for the next round of attempts, she motioned to the corner farthest from the observation window, and advised, "We should step all the way back."
Brown guffawed and then walked with her to the spot she indicated just as the glass shook from another explosive reaction. They watched silently for a couple of minutes until she could not hold on anymore.
"My research assistant, Dennis Creevey, is missing."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"I hope he's alright."
Brown merely nodded. She sensed his growing discomfort.
"Can I be forward?"
"Go ahead."
"Are you a descendant of the Hufflepuff Squib, Sophie Bruin?"
He nervously laughed, "You weren't kidding when you said you were going to be forward."
"Well are you?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I need help to find my Assistant."
"And you think I can? I'm a Squib, a mere figurehead. You are asking the wrong man."
"Who should I ask then?"
There was another discharge. They had not seen Bellow since the last blast. The Mediwizard ran through the entrance that connected into the potions lab and yelled out, "Healer Granger, I need your assistance in here!"
"You should go. Save those foolish witches from themselves," Brown had found a way out of their conversation, "I'll alert the Ministers that the potion confirmation will have to wait."
"Healer Granger, come quick!" the Mediwizard repeated with more urgency but she couldn't leave Brown until she got something more concrete.
"Please. Who should I ask?"
"You shouldn't. I suggest that you let the matter go."
Brown's response was so serious and dismissive it sent a chill up her spine. Hermione knew then that she would never see Dennis again.
XXXXXXXXXX
Meanwhile, a few floors down, the three Aurors were discussing what to do next.
Andy frowned and said, "He looks like he slept in his clothes and spent the night in a dumpster."
"That's because Mr. Malfoy did sleep in his clothes and was found in a dumpster," Jack replied as puzzled as Harry was how she came up with that.
"It was a lucky guess," Andy shrugged their baffled expressions off. "No wonder he looks pissed."
"We got to his hotel about half an hour ago and he wasn't there. Bed wasn't slept in, nothing suspicious," their boss recounted, "Then we intercepted a 911 Muggle call. Garbage men found him unconscious and called it in. They got his name from his wallet."
Harry noticed the lack of shackles and guards and exclaimed incredulously, "Why aren't we arresting him?"
"Legal wants more evidence. He's a suspect; he's being treated like one. If you want him arrested, you have to do some work. Question him and make him crack."
"And his lame story?" Andy asked.
"That he was put there by a man he knew to be dead and he wants to help bring him into custody," Jack answered, slapped the Malfoy file against Harry's chest and then instructed, "Legal should be here in five and he has waived his right to representation. Sort it out while I padlock the House of Magic. Smuggling the potion in right under my nose straight into my house...the gall...when I catch the ass who made me look like one he's going to wish he wasn't born!"
Harry took the folder, opened and read it. After the first page he had enough of the drivel. He looked over to his partner who was staring at their suspect with an inexplicable smile on her face.
"So that's Draco Malfoy," Andy said knowingly, more to herself.
"What is so amusing?" he asked, annoyed.
"I didn't imagine him to be..."
"What?"
"Not repulsive."
Harry rolled his eyes. Andy could have picked a better way to say what she meant.
She added, "You've always painted him to be hideous."
"Well, he's not my type and don't let appearances fool you. Ferret on the outside, monster on the inside."
"I can see what Hermione sees in him," Andy continued, making him wish she would stop talking, "He does have an air about him, of understated vulnerability and an edge that can go either way. Actually, it's probably the very same thing she sees in you."
"Gee, thanks for pointing that out," he answered with sarcasm.
"Don't mention it. Always happy to enlighten. So, how do you want this?"
"There's just the two of us. Let's have some fun."
"Are you sure? Jack said Legal would be here in five," Andy warned.
"Don't you think the situation calls for it? Besides, Jack said Legal was on their way, not that we HAD to wait for them."
"True," she agreed with his faulty logic, she was up to having fun too.
"I'll be bad cop."
"A no-brainer. I can't imagine you being good in this one. By the way, it's your turn to make sure we're documenting."
He replied, handing her the Malfoy file, "Weird. I could have sworn it was yours."
Andy opened the door into the interrogation room and Harry followed her in. She took the seat across from Malfoy, opening the chart on the small square table before her as he stood back, crossed his arms across his chest and leaned against the mirror that faced their suspect. Harry looked up and met Malfoy's indifferent stare. He had not seen Malfoy face to face in a long time, the last time was on the tower that night Snape killed Professor Dumbledore. All the memories of the event brought the taste of disgust in his mouth.
"Potter. Why am I not surprised?" Malfoy said to him, his tone smug and contemptuous.
He did not answer and took a moment to divert his anger, to try to channel it into something more productive.
"I'm Auror Marsh."
"Am I under arrest?"
"No."
"Not yet," Harry added.
"Shouldn't someone from Legal be here?" Draco raised the point astutely.
"Sure, we can wait," Harry anticipated it, "I guess you need them to protect your ass. Only proves you have lots to hide."
Malfoy drew out a long breath, his jaw clenched, his eyes angry. Harry's ploy worked as Malfoy waived his right to have the Legal department present in the interest of expediting the process.
"Before we start, would you like anything?" Andy offered.
"Actually, yes. I'd like to go back to my hotel," Malfoy said bitterly, testing their nerves.
"Don't hold your breath. You'll be here all day," Harry retorted.
"Breakfast? A change of clothes?" Andy offered.
"What else do you people want from me?!"
Malfoy's frustration was boiling over. Harry walked closer to the table, a sense of urgency filling him. This moment was an opportunity and he would loose it once the quill pushing asses showed up.
"Your confession."
"I've done nothing wrong!"
"You're busted, Malfoy."
"What are you talking about? I was abducted!"
"Witnesses say you had a few drinks with him," Andy read matter-of-factly from the file.
"I did. You don't say 'no' to Tommy Waterman. What your witnesses didn't see was what happened after he took me outside into the alley. Or maybe someone did see but someone here wants to make me look bad."
"You were always a pathetic liar."
"He attacked me..."
"That explains all the injuries you don't have."
"…and left me in a dumpster to die!"
"If Waterman wanted you dead you'd be dead already," Harry said, believing that to be the truth. "You had a wand. You knew he was dangerous and on the run. Why didn't you use it on him?"
"We were in a Muggle public place. I thought I could handle him diplomatically without compromising the Statute of Secrecy and he blindsided me."
"Right. You expect us to believe this shit?"
"I didn't expect it!"
"You knew his history of violence. Why didn't you?" Andy redirected.
"Because I'm his lawyer," Malfoy explained, "I'm the only one he can trust not to sell him out to prosecutors. I didn't think he would turn on me."
"Why did he see you?" Andy continued.
"He heard I was in town and fancied a chat."
"What did you chat about?" she pressed on.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you. He has me on an indefinite retainer. It's privileged information."
"And he says he wants to help. Book him for obstruction of justice," Harry was dead serious. "Let's see how privileged this information really is."
Andy pulled him back a bit, "He doesn't have a choice. He has rules to follow."
"Yeah. Rules that protect criminals from getting what they deserve."
"Innocent until proven guilty," Malfoy spoke, his voice grating in his ear unpleasantly.
"Waterman's guilty! There's no need for more proof! But there are people like you who take advantage of our flawed system so people like him get off the hook! I've had it with this sham!"
Harry shoved the table forcefully off to the side sending the Malfoy file off it and in the air as it crashed against the concrete wall, startling both Andy and Malfoy. He grabbed Malfoy by the collar and forced him to stand up, "What do want from her?!"
"Who in Merlin's name are you talking about?!" Malfoy faked confusion, "Get off me!"
"Give him space, Harry!"
"We both know you're the same malicious bigot you were and that you're up to no good. What do you want with Hermione!?"
Malfoy laughed derisively, taunting him, "Is this what this is about? Drumming up bogus charges because she's going out with me? What's the matter? Frustrated you can't convince her I'm the bastard I was at Hogwarts? It must hurt realizing that she believes me more than she believes you. I'm guessing this is payback."
He felt an infinite number knots tighten within him as Malfoy's mocking laughter dissolved the restraints he put on his temper.
"That's enough!" Andy intervened firmly, seriously this time, sensing he wasn't acting the part anymore.
Harry heard what she said but it barely registered. There was only darkness in the room and Malfoy's annoying laughter echoing within.
He answered in a low voice, "No, this isn't payback for using her."
Loosening his grip on Malfoy's shirt, Andy relaxed and as soon as she stepped away, Harry's balled up fist connected with Malfoy's face. His blond head snapped back complementing the satisfying sound of breaking bone.
"But that one is."
It was difficult to fully express just how great he felt at that moment. The genuine surprise on Andy's face was also amusing to watch.
"Harry! Stand back! Now!"
"Screw you, Potter!" Malfoy managed to say while both his hands reflexively held his injured nose.
The git slumped back on his chair as blood trickled down his face. Andy immediately fixed the break and conjured an ice pack to help with the swelling.
She turned 180 degrees away from Malfoy to face him, her shocked expression incongruent with the harsh reprimanding tone of her voice.
"You've definitely crossed the line! Let me take it from here!"
That was his cue to exit. He left the room feeling good, certain that he played his role extremely well. Arriving back at the adjacent quarters he turned the recorders back on and was rejoined by Muller.
"Legal is stuck with Floyd's men," he informed Harry, then saw Andy in the room with Malfoy, "What the hell is she doing? She's supposed to wait for them."
"Malfoy waived all that. He said he's in a rush to get out of here."
On cue, Andy repeated that for documentation and Malfoy's confirmation.
"Did I miss anything?" Jack asked.
"Nope," he lied, "Andy's just getting started."
"Shouldn't you be in there?"
"Too much bad history."
Andy had put the strewn parchments of the Malfoy file together in time and thanks to her skill, the damage he caused on Malfoy's face was not noticeable. She had also successfully convinced Malfoy to accept coffee and a change of clothes.
"There is one more thing," Harry heard Malfoy say to her.
"What is it?"
"I changed my mind. I'd like to call someone to come and be present for the rest of the inquiry."
"Your lawyer?"
Malfoy looked up and once again spoke to Harry as if he could sense where Harry was. Harry instantly knew who he meant.
"Not quite."
"Name and number?"
"Her number was on the phone I lost in the dumpster last night but Potter should be able to find her for me."
XXXXXXXXXX
Back in London, Dean was on the phone waiting for someone to answer. It was ringing seemingly forever. Acting on information he had taken from Snape's book, he joined Kingsley and a team of Aurors attempt to take into custody a person of interest for questioning.
"Hullo," Ginny answered, "Are you okay?"
"Not quite," he replied, "You won't believe where I am right now and what I'm seeing."
He told her.
"No. It can't be!" she echoed his disbelief.
"It's all here. Notes, potions ingredients, potions, weird plants. It's like he has an alter ego, another life. Kingsley is beside himself. The Order meets in the very same house."
"But why? It doesn't make sense."
"I'll be sure to ask him when we find him. He's not at Hogwarts and he's not here either."
"Of course he isn't," Ginny answered as if it was something he should have known.
"You know where he is?"
"He's been planning this trip for months. He's where he's been telling everyone he knows he would be."
Dean guessed no one was really listening. He had the knack of being invisible.
"Neville is in Toronto. He left yesterday."