Terence sprang straight out of his seat when the words finally sank in. "My father… attacked?" sputtered Terence stumbling forward towards Thomas.
"Yes my boy, I'm afraid so." came his reply his face deep with concern. "I don't know the full details but we have someone from the Ministry on the train right now who wants to talk to you about it."
"But how is my father, is he alive?" Terence placed a hand on the man's shoulder and tried to read a reply from his expression. Thomas simply averted his gaze but softly placed his hand on top of Terence's. "I'm so sorry my boy, I honestly don't have a clue. I've just been sent as the messenger… but I'm sure he's just fine. Not one to just give up without a fight your father." And with this Thomas moved away from Terence's grasp and quietly opened the carriage door and motioned for Terence to follow him. Terence still had so many questions flying about his head but knew that this man honestly didn't have the answers. So slightly unsteady on his feet he proceeded to follow the professor out of the door and down the hall of the train. He was being led toward the back end which was only a further 10 carriages down but it felt like it took them ages to arrive as he followed the teacher oblivious to the laughter and chatter going on around him. He just couldn't focus properly with all the images of his father in his mind and all the questions he so badly needed answers for.
Finally Thomas came to a stop at the last carriage at the end of the train. It had no windows and just an old brown door with the words "Private" etched just above the middle of the frame, next to it was a simple wooden chair bolted to the floor of the train, a soft red cushion on the seat. Thomas motioned toward the chair. "Here we are lad, the man you've come to see will call you in when he's ready. Trust me everything will be explained when you get in there." After taking a seat Thomas then squatted down in front of him and looked into his eyes. "Look I know your father from back when I used to work at the Ministry. He's a tough nut to crack, so don't go in there assuming the worst, it'll do you no good. I've heard stories about your Dad that you wouldn't believe, probably the most famous Death Eater hunter of them all. Have faith in him alright." And with a pat on the shoulder Thomas smiled and then wandered back down the hall reprimanding two young students spitting out the train window.
Terence just sat there in silence with his arms crossed deep in thought. Now he had been given the chance to calm down what Professor Flutewell had said made sense. Even though he never really discussed his father's job with him he did know that it was part of the Ministry's Department that dealt with the handling of known Death Eaters, his father was an Auror. On more than one occasion he could remember being shown newspaper clippings, with his father proudly beaming out from the pictures with numerous known Death Eaters bound at his feet with headlines such as "5 against 1 not a problem for the Ministry", "Simon Petalsnout does it again" and "The Ministry's grip around the Dark Lords throat tightens" his father was well known for being one of the Ministry's best men at apprehending Death Eaters and dark wizards, a master of defence against the dark arts and equipped with a sharp mind his old man was revered as a person not to be messed with.
But what was taking them so long? He couldn't understand why he was now being made to wait around like a patient at the dentist when his Dad could be critically injured or even worse dead. A bead of sweat rolled down his brow as he contemplated what he may be about to find out, when he suddenly heard a faint noise from the carraige behind him. It sounded like people arguing but he couldn't be sure. He slowly got down in front of the door and pressed his ear up to the wooden panel. Listening intently he could make out two people's voices. The first sounded familiar, if he was not mistaken it was the voice of Hogwarts Headmaster Professor Dumbledore. "Robert my good man, surely you can see sense on this matter. The truth must be told for the good of the boy, we can't just send him out there none the wiser after what has happened." The other voice which he assumed was Robert sharply replied,
"Albus I understand that you are concerned for the well being of your students, it's a natural stance to take but you know full well that I have been put in charge of this matter by the Minister since the boy's birth and my decision is final. It is not the right time to disclose that information to him, not just because of the repercussions it could have to his safety but in all honesty it's not certain the boy can be trusted yet. Maybe when he's older yes but the boy's mind can still be shaped if he manages to find out the truth himself. The fewer people who know about the situation the better and I hope you'll respect my decision."
"Of course, I understand it is of course a delicate matter but the fact remains that things will need to be explained clearly to the boy, you can't leave him with questions un-answered when Simon is in the state he is."
"Yes… yes you're right. I will handle this matter but I will only divulge as much as I feel is needed for now, so if you please."
"Certainly, I would appreciate it if you could contact me later so we can discuss this matter in greater detail."
"Of course Albus, you have my word."
And with that a cracking sound came from within the carriage and then silence. In Terence's confusion he almost didn't hear the heavy footsteps approaching the door his ear was placed against and quickly sprang back to his feet and smoved back towards the train window behind him.
The carriage door opened and he was greeted by a short tubby man in his 40's. Dressed in a grey suit and grey hair slicked back, a long grey moustache curled at the edges and perched on his nose was a pair of tiny black round spectacles. The man had a hardened face and looked like your typical stern business man. Terence vaguely recognised the man from somewhere but he couldn't place exactly where. As the man's eyes landed on Terence leaning against the window his expression softened and his thin lips cracked into a greeting smile, his eyes full of concern and worry. "Ah Terence, I see Thomas managed to find you, thank goodness." then the rounded man strode forward and clasped a hand on his shoulder. He softly pushed him towards the carriage door. "Please come in boy, I'm sure you're full of concern right now."
Terence slowly nodded and started towards the doorway, as soon as he entered the carriage he stopped still in awe. From the outside the carriage could be no more the size of a tiny room but now inside his eye's were meet with a grand old office at least 10 times the size it appeared to be from the outside. He slowly entered and looked around the room. Despite the size it was rather stuffy probably due to having no windows. The walls where a dark brown wooden panel and the floor a lush crème marble dotted with gold Hogwarts school crests, each one representing a different house. Towards the back was a massive bookcase at least 9ft high and the ceiling even higher was dotted with candle chandeliers. In the middle of the room sat an old but grand wooden desk its panels rich in detail with carvings of many types of mythical creatures. A sizeable chair was behind it with a soft padded back which also had the school's four house crests stitched onto it this time in red. On the desk lay just a small lamp, a blank piece of parchment and an ink well.
"As you can see the school has always made sure that there was a place on the train where matters could be discussed privately." came the man's voice behind him. He then walked around Terence and stood in front of him with his hand outstretched. "My name is Robert Burtleton head of the Ministry's Department of "Dark Arts Offences" we basically deal with all reported acts of spell violation related to the dark arts, then since the supposed reappearance of he who should not be named we have also been dealing with known reformed death eaters. I'm your father's boss."
"My… my father?" was all Terence could blurt out as he took hold of the man's hand and shook it. Still trying to come to terms with where he was and the situation at hand he must have look a little overwhelmed. Clearly sensing this Robert instantly motioned for Terence to take a seat on the chair in front of the desk. "I understand you are deeply concerned my boy so I'll tell you straight away that your father is still alive but he has been very badly hurt." explained Robert as he made his way around the desk and sat himself down on the other chair.
Terence wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or concerned but did feel a slight weight of worry lift off him with the mention that his father was not dead. "How did it happen?" inquired Terence sitting up straight in his chair.
"Well…" started Robert perching his elbows on the table and interlinking his fingers. "Your father was sent out to asses a situation involving possible Death Eaters on behalf of the Ministry." suddenly upon mention of this a look of guilt came to the old mans eyes, "I admit it was my decision to send your father out there alone but I assure you at the time it was considered a very low risk affair and if I'd know the extent of the danger which it turned out to be I would have never have chose to do so."
Terence just silently nodded to this as he did understand that his father's job was always a high risk position and he wasn't looking to lay the blame at anyone's door. Nodding back the man continued. "We had received word from an reliable informant that reported cases of missing people within the area could have possible links to Death Eater activity, it was very thin at the time but we didn't want to take any chance so we sent your father to investigate and report back with any findings." Robert then paused as if reliving the situation as it unfolded. "But after two weeks we didn't receive any word back from your father or any updates on the case, it was as if he had just disappeared. We sent a further two more to investigate into his disappearance, they had received information that your father was last seen meeting with our informant in a local inn in the middle of town. The Inn keeper said that your father left at two in the morning the following day with the same man but had left his bill unpaid so he assumed he would be coming back… but he never did. Your father was found two days later in the ditch of a field outside town badly beaten and completely paralysed from some sort of curse. It looks as if they wanted your father to suffer so they left him to die out there from his wounds but never planned on him being found so quickly. It was lucky we did to tell the truth, it was only after an old lady walking her dog came across your father early Tuesday morning, I dare not think of "what if" we'd never found him. Your father is being cared for by specialists within the Ministry I can assure you he is being given the best treatment available but… so far we are unable to undo the curse, it is something no one has ever come across I'm afraid and without knowing the method it's proving awfully hard to put right but we will, don't you fret lad, if it takes us all we've got we will get your father back with us again." The man smiled and placed his hand on Terence's across the table, Terence just sat there in total stunned silence letting it all sink in, it gave him a sick feeling to think of what pain his father must have gone through and the fact he had been left to die like a dog in some gutter in the middle of nowhere. "Can I see him?" were the only words he could muster as he looked back across the table at Robert.
"I'm afraid… and I know you'll hate me for this but you can't."
Suddenly jolting back to life and removing his hand away from the table Terence shot back, "Why not, he's my father he could still…." he couldn't manage to finish the last part of his sentence and instead looked down at his feet trying his best to stay calm. "I know, I know it really isn't fair Terence I understand that but you must realise that we do have reasons and these reasons concern you." came back the man's reply staring straight at Terence.
"Me?" replied Terence looking straight back at him, "What have I done, you can't expect me to just let you keep me from seeing my father with no good reason?"
"No you don't understand Terence the reason is purely based on your safety my boy… we have reason to believe that you may also be in danger from the same group that attacked your father."
"What do you mean, why would I be in any danger? I have nothing to do with my fathers work." Terence had started to lose his cool and became restless sitting back listening to this man giving him half baked answers that came in drips and drabs. The man also sat back in his chair and remained silent it was as if he was struggling on how to handle what to tell him next. "The thing is Terence… We have reason to believe that the attack on your father may have had something to do with you."
Terence stood straight up and banged his hands on the table, "What do you mean, how could I possibly be involved. I'm just a normal student for heavens sake I'm hardly worth beating my father to a pulp over… this is making no sense." Terence leaned forward and peered at the mans face as if willing the answer to come forth but the man simply sighed and took off his glasses. "You'd better sit down Terrence because what I'm about to tell you next is probably going to come as quite a shock." The man rose to his feet and paced back and forth behind the desk. Terence uncertain of what to do just sat back down and stared silently at Robert waiting for him to continue. "I'll tell you now boy that I have orders that must be followed and there are things that I simply cannot tell you at this present time… no if or buts that's just fact, you can't squeeze blood from a stone but what I will tell you is more a show of good faith as I am asking you to trust me." Robert then turned to look at Terence as if waiting on an answer but receiving nothing sighed once again and continued "What do you know about your mother Terence?" he stopped pacing and looked at the boy.
"My mother… not much…. hardly anything. My father doesn't like talking about her… it's as if the thought brings him too much pain… I didn't like seeing him like that so after a few years I just stop asking. All I do know is that her name was Margaret and that she died giving birth to me." Terence then sadly laughed at himself in realisation. "Heck she's practically a stranger, weird isn't it… it's hardly normal. I've spent the past 16 years of my life knowing absolutely nothing about the woman that gave birth to me… sure I've been curious, I've always wanted to know more… but… when I see that look on my old mans face it's as if it's tearing him up inside as if he's reliving the memory over and over again…" Terence sighed heavily, "what right do I have to put him through all that for information that has no use anyway. I'll still never know what she was really like, a few facts here and there aren't going to make a blind bit of difference… Why do you ask?" replied Terence coming to from the depths of his memories.
Robert looked away and turned to face the book shelf, he seemed deep in thought but eventually spoke up. "Terence… your mother… your mother was a Death Eater."