The Aftermath

Some semblance of peace and quiet was only now beginning to fall on the arena. As soon as the incident happened, the emergency system had been activated which instated wards that did not let anyone apparate into or disapparate from the hall. The standby security forces had sealed the area around the crime even as extra aurors had been called in on an emergency basis. Now it was several hours later, and the scene had been combed and sealed. The names and photographs of all in attendance at the hall had been taken after checking for the use of polyjuice and any appearance altering charms and spells. Finally guests were being allowed to disapparate home.

Harry was standing with his arm around an exhausted Hermione, who was holding Molly's hand as she sobbed. Molly had not stopped crying all through the night and Arthur was in no better shape. Fred and Bill had informed their brothers who had all wanted to come but outsiders were not allowed into the arena for now, and the Weasleys could not leave until the formalities were done. Harry felt dreadful about it. Sometimes aurors had to be heartless.

Draco Malfoy, his second in command, was taking Arthur's statement on how Ginny had been over the last few days.

"She really hadn't spent much time with us recently - she had such busy shooting schedule. She returned from the US just day before yesterday. She didn't stay at the Burrow anymore because she had so many meetings in London, she was staying at a hotel there," Arthur said.

"Gin was the same way as always, she loved her work and she was having the time of her life. I can't imagine anyone hating her enough to..do...this to her," added Bill, while Fred wiped away a tear from his eye.

Draco had to ask Molly a question directly because he had been at the table and knew that Molly was the last person Ginny spoke to. He sat down on his haunches so that he was face to face with Molly in her chair, and put his hand on her arm.

"Molly - I know this is really hard for you, but the more information we have the better it would help us catch the killer. Whoever did this to Ginny, we will catch that person. Please, I need to know what it was you and Ginny spoke about just before the awards."

Molly hiccupped and rubbed her hands over her face. This was the woman who had stood down Bellatrix in the Second War, but her current condition suggested that being a mother made you not just the strongest but also the weakest you could possibly be.

"It was about Ron. I was thinking, all day I was thinking, he should have been here tonight to see his sister get this award. He would have been so proud. I couldn't help but cry when I thought of my little boy, how he died in front of me with his food allergy and we couldn't do a thing. I was telling Ginny tonight that I wish Ron was here and she said she wished he was here too. Now my baby girl is gone as well. I've lost them both," and a fresh bout of crying racked her frame.

Draco patted her arm as Harry tapped his shoulder and asked him to step back, and he went and sat next to Molly instead. "Molly, I miss Ron like my own brother. I lost him and I couldn't do anything about it. But I want to catch Ginny's killer Molly. Please think and let me know if there was anything else over the past few days or weeks that was odd about Ginny."

Molly's sobs slowly quieted down and then in a broken voice she said, "Ginny wanted to talk to me about something earlier today. She stuck her head in the floo but I had Bill's kids over and they were breaking down the house so I told her I would see her at the awards. Then tonight when we talked she said she had something important to tell me afterwards."

Harry felt Draco's back stiffen. He asked, "Did she say what this was about? Did she give you any hint or look upset?"

Molly thought for a few moments. "No - she just said it as we talked about Ron tonight, I said I wish he hadn't died so he could see you here, and she said she had something to tell me after the awards. She didn't say about what."

Harry finally stood back up and exchanged a look with Draco. Years of working together meant they could reach each other's expressions easily and now each of their faces said they had gotten what they could for tonight. They needed to let the Weasleys go home.

After goodbyes and condolences all around finally the last little group started to leave and only Harry, Draco and Hermione were left. Harry turned to Hermione and said, "I know it's been a difficult night for you but Draco and I need to ask you the same question and then I will see you off home and make sure you're OK. Would that be all right?" The tenderness with which Harry held Hermione around her shoulders was not lost on Draco. Harry almost seemed to forget Draco was there, so finally he cleared his throat. It seemed to snap Harry out of it and he squared his shoulders and asked Hermione, "What was Ginny's mood tonight? What did you both talk about before the awards started? Did she say anything that made you think she might be upset?"

Hermione thought for a moment and said, "She seemed so nervous to me tonight. I knew her so well that I thought her nervousness had to do with the awards but could it have been about something else? I did not ask her outright, I was trying to distract her actually by talking about her recent travels."

Harry perked up at that and said, "Where did she say she had been?"

Hermione looked embarrassed, "I'm not sure Harry, I know she was in America, but we weren't talking about the places she went."

Understanding dawned on Harry. He also knew Hermione was trying to spare his feelings, little knowing that his feelings had stopped being about Ginny a long time ago. "Don't worry Mione, you can tell me. Was she with a man? This could be really important to the case."

Hermione nodded and gave Draco an apprehensive look before turning back to Harry and saying, "She didn't name any names but the way she was talking about him and blushing when he was on stage, I think it was Clive Gold."

Draco and Harry wanted to compare notes so it was decided that the two of them would apparate home with Hermione to make sure she was all right and then discuss briefly while things were still fresh in their minds. Draco stood off a little to the side as Harry kissed Hermione's temple and whispered good night to her. Just before she turned into the door Hermione turned to Draco and said, "Good night Draco - thanks for your help with everything." Almost two decades had he known her but her smile still left him speechless. All he could do was nod.

Harry and Draco apparated back to the Auror offices where they found a missive from Tabatha Prescott, the Head of Magical Defense, to floo her immediately. Harry was a bit surprised, as his path did not often cross with Prescott. While he was the Chief Auror, meaning his responsibility was policing the day to day civilian and criminal activity of the magical world, Prescott was the equivalent of an army chief, whose mandate was to defend the nation.

Draco and Harry poked their heads into the floo and found her at her desk. She asked them both to come into her office. Brushing the soot off their clothes, both the wizards stepped in.

"I don't know exactly how to tell you both this, if you haven't considered this already, since it's not a pleasant topic", she began. As she spoke she poured and handed each of the men a glass of fire whisky. Draco downed his straight away. Harry sipped and listened to her as she went on. "The thing is gentlemen, since you were both at the scene of crime - and in fact interacting with Ginny Weasley just before the incident and have close personal associations with her in any case - I hate to tell you this but you are both suspects as much as anyone else."

"What?" exclaimed Draco. "We have been taking statements all night and collecting evidence, and you only just thought of this?"

"Calm down Draco" said Harry. Looking at him carefully Draco realised this thought had in fact already occurred to Harry. "Its the Trial By Fire, isn't it?" Harry asked Tabatha.

"Very good Potter. You remember your Auror training well. I know these incidents don't occur often enough to deserve much study but in the rare event when a senior auror is under suspicion for a crime where she or he is also in a position to be an asset to the investigation, as you are for the same reason you are suspects - then the Auror is given a Trial by Fire to prove his or her innocence in a speedy manner. It is not a pleasant test and your refusal to take it will not diminish your credibility in the investigation. You will be investigated as any other suspect but in the meantime you will not be involved in the case or any other cases."

"What does the test entail?" Draco asked quietly.

"It is literally a trial by fire. If you accept I will instate a fire of purity into which you will step. The sensation you will feel will be that of a real fire, and you will feel as if you really are burning. The pain is truly excruciating, and is the reason your refusal to take the trial will not be seen as an admission of guilt. However rest assured that it is in fact a magical fire and no matter how painful, it will not actually harm you if you are innocent."

Reading the unspoken question in both pairs of nervous eyes she carried on, "If however, an auror is guilty of the charges against him, the fire will in fact burn him for real and consume him."

Harry took up his glass of fire whisky as Draco reached for the bottle to pour himself another. Neither said a word for a few moments and finally Prescott spoke again.

"Do you need more time?"

Harry placed his glass on the table as Draco shrugged. They exchanged a look and then said in unison, "We don't need more time."

Draco added, "Can we get to it quick because I for one would love to get some sleep tonight." Harry turned to him and smiled his first smile since Ginny died.

xoxoxoxo

The Trial over, as Tabatha Prescott was seeing off Draco and Harry at the floo she asked them to send her their update the next day on everything they had uncovered so far.

"If Clive Gold is indeed your prime suspect, then this will be a matter of significant diplomatic importance. I would like you both to keep me in the loop on everything."

Tabatha continued, "The preliminary reports on the spell used show an advanced magic that has not been recorded previously. It seems to be a modification of the Avada Kedavra spell, muting the green light effect. Not only was it performed wandlessly and silently it was possibly performed over a distance ranging anywhere between 10 meters to 100 meters. We are dealing with a very advanced wizard here, the likes of which I have not seen in my Auror career. At the risk of being ignored, I would like to request both of you to be very careful."

Harry nodded his head. "We will do our best. Good night."

Harry and Draco apparated back to their office and decided to kick off the investigation the next day by talking to Clive Gold. They were about to call it a night when suddenly a silver otter, evidently a patronus, came flying in through the office window. "Hurry Harry," it said in Hermione's voice, "I need you."