The Justice Team
Chapter 2 - Welcome to the Team
"Where the hell do you intend to put that thing?"
Burton and Bailey shared a glance, and Harry raised an eyebrow at the man who was standing in the doorway, "Good morning, Malfoy."
Draco walked into the room, shutting the door behind him, "Good morning, Potter."
"Meet Junior Auror Dana Burton, and Junior Auror Harrison Bailey," Harry said with a slight smile, "They are the brains behind our team."
"What does that make you, Potter?" Draco asked smoothly.
"The leader," Harry said honestly.
"You like to boss other people around, don't you?" Draco asked with a smirk, "You have done ever since Weasley started following you around, and look, all these years later he still is."
Ron had just entered the room, eyeing Draco warily.
Harry ignored the comment, "Ron, you're late."
"Sorry, Hermione had an appointment," Ron said, "I was just dropping her off."
"So you and Granger really are a thing then?" Draco asked as he sat down on the hospital bed in the little lab-type room, "There was me thinking she had brains, and taste."
Ron's ears went red, and Harry said sharply, "Malfoy, shut up."
"Control your assignment, Harry," Ron muttered as he kept to the other side of the room.
Draco just smirked, and Burton said, "Okay Mr. Malfoy, the procedure will only take a few moments and it might sting a little but it shouldn't hurt. Rather like the-"
Harry shook his head, so she cut herself off, looking sheepish.
"The Dark Mark?" Draco asked smoothly, "No, that was supposed to hurt, it was his way of proving a point."
"Well this won't," Burton said with a smile, "Like I said it might sting a little."
"And where exactly do you intend to put it?" Draco asked, narrowing his eyes at the pretty young Auror.
Harry smirked, "Well we were going to put it on your arse Malfoy. But we figured too many people kiss it as it is."
Draco rolled his eyes, "How very unprofessional of you, Potter."
Ron grinned and said, "No, it would be unprofessional if we stayed to watch you get something burned into a very private part."
"And since we are very professional," Harry added, "We are going to leave you, and your private parts, in the very capable hands of Junior Auror Burton."
Bailey sniggered as he walked towards the door with Harry and Ron. Draco's face had paled considerably, "You're letting her burn something into my private parts? She isn't even fully qualified!"
Harry and Ron shared a grin, "Good luck, Malfoy," Ron said wickedly as the three men left the room.
"Do you think he'll cry?" Bailey asked in amusement as they walked down the corridor to their office.
"No, but I expect he might-"
Harry's words were cut off by a very girlish scream from the lab room down the hall. The three men tried to contain themselves, but when Harry caught Ron's eye they both began to laugh uncontrollably.
When Harry reconvened with Draco after his procedure was over, it was to show him to his new office and help him pick his new team members. He walked into the lab and smiled slightly at Draco who was gingerly pushing himself to his feet.
"Ready?" Harry asked.
Draco shot him a glare, "What was the point of that?" he asked.
Harry leant in the doorway, "It will tell us if you are in any dodgy locations. Anywhere you shouldn't be, or places that are known to have criminal activity associated with them."
"Potter, you've asked me to work for you," Draco said in disbelief, "If you want me to track down criminals I will be in dodgy bloody locations!"
"Yes, but we'll know if you are there during work hours or in the middle of the night," Harry pointed out simply, "Now we really have to get a move on. I need to show you to your new office."
Harry smirked as Draco walked towards him stiffly, wincing as he did so, "Your Junior Auror is a liar."
"Hurt more than you thought it would, Malfoy?" Harry asked in amusement as they walked along a long, concrete corridor.
"I've had the cruciatus curse used on me, and that hurt more," Draco said coldly.
"Well I don't expect you've ever had the cruciatus curse used there," Harry pointed out, "Unless you've really pissed off any ex-girlfriends."
"Sounds like you know from experience, Potter," Draco joked.
"Ginny Weasley," Harry said, wincing at the thought, "Bad break-up."
"Well you did cheat on her with the Slytherin ice queen," Draco pointed out with a smirk.
"Not true," Harry said as they entered a dingy, damp smelling concrete stairwell and made their way down, "The press just said that I had. We were working on a case together, it was an undercover job."
"So she does work for you," Draco said, "I suspected it, but she never confirmed anything."
"Only special jobs, and we pay her a fortune to do them," Harry said, "I suppose it was my own fault about Ginny, I probably should have told her about the case."
"Why?" Draco asked with a frown, "It would have been top secret, surely?"
"It was," Harry said honestly, "But the target we were trying so hard to arrest was her brother."
"Ah," Draco said in realisation, "So that's why Charlie Weasley vanished off the face of the Earth. Did you put him in Azkaban?"
"Not exactly," Harry replied as they reached a stainless steel door. He pushed it open and they walked into a large basement, it was set up with desks, chairs, sofa's and even a small kitchen at the back, "Here's your office, Malfoy."
Draco raised an eyebrow at him, "A basement that stinks of damp?"
"We thought you'd feel at home," Harry said with a smirk, "Looks rather like the Slytherin common room after all."
"I won't even ask how you know what the Slytherin common room looks like," Draco said dryly, "Oh look, there's even a lake at the back," he added sarcastically.
"Yeah," Harry said sheepishly, "We've got magical maintenance coming down tonight to give it a clean out and stop the leaks, but you'll have to make do till then."
"Great," Draco muttered as he sat down heavily on a moth-eaten sofa.
Harry smiled slightly and sat down at the largest desk, "If you want a say in your team members you better get over here."
Draco crossed the room and sat down across from Harry at the desk, "How many do I have to pick?"
"Three," Harry said, "And I've got 10 possible people in this file," he added as he opened it up.
"And I have to pick three of them?" Draco asked.
Harry nodded, "Candidate number 1 is Marcus Flint, former Slytherin as I'm sure you well know. He is 30 years old, known crimes involve trading on the black market and-"
"No," Draco said simply, "Too old, and not anywhere near unique."
"Good," Harry smiled, "I hoped you'd say that. Candidate 2 is Adrian Pucey, also a former Slytherin. He is 28 years old, known crimes include fraud and-"
"No," Draco said again, "He's a bit on the old side too, and besides that one big fraud gig he got he hasn't done much. That wasn't even him anyway, I know the genius behind that, Pucey just got paid to take the fall."
Now smirking slightly Harry said, "You're pretty good at this," he discarded the file, "For the record, I agree with both those decisions."
"I never thought I'd see the day we agreed on anything Potter," Draco said with a raised eyebrow.
"Miracles do happen," Harry retorted, "Candidate 3 is Daniel Riva, a former Hufflepuff of 24 years of age. He is known as an art thief and faker in the criminal underworld, engineered the big heist of 1999-"
"Put him in the maybe pile," Draco said a little distastefully, "If his achievements are correct then he's a consideration. However given the loyalty and general attitude of Hufflepuffs I suspect he's just a pawn in somebody else's game."
With a nod Harry put the file to one side, "Candidate 4 is Eddie Carmichael, a former Ravenclaw of 26 years of age. He is mostly known for his illegal brewing and selling of potions, and the illegal import and export of potion ingredients. He's made jaunts into fraud and art theft too, he was part of the duo who stole the old atrium statue after the war and defaced it as a statement."
Draco was nodding thoughtfully, "My sources tell me he's the real thing. I know the guy he did that job with, I hope he's in your pile somewhere."
"I suspect he is," Harry said honestly, "So are you saying yes to him?"
"I'm saying maybe," Draco said so Harry put the file on top of Daniel Riva's.
"Candidate 5 is Stewart Ackerley, also a former Ravenclaw, 23 years of age. Known for his-"
Draco scoffed, "Bin it, he's a wannabe. Public protests and hunger strikes? He's not a criminal."
"I thought you might say that," Harry said as he discarded the file with a smirk, "Which brings us onto candidate number 6, Marcus Belby, again a former Ravenclaw. He is 26 years old and he's involved in the illegal potions business-"
"Too soft," Draco said quickly, "I knew enough of him at school to judge that."
"People have changed since Hogwarts, Malfoy," Harry pointed out as he discarded the file.
"Not that much," Draco said simply, "Who's next?"
Harry shook his head slightly in amusement and exasperation, "Candidate 7 is Charlie Weasley, former Gryffindor and 32 years of age."
Draco raised an eyebrow at Harry, "Weasley?"
Harry nodded, "Arrested for dragon smuggling, as you probably know. He escaped time in Azkaban, but he won't be able to find respectable employment now. He was involved in the great smuggling ring that spanned the globe, operated out of Europe with a couple of others."
"Dragon smuggling? Why do I need a dragon smuggler on my team?" Draco asked in disbelief, "What good would that do me?"
"Well he has connections globally," Harry said, "And he has an understanding of the illegal world concerning magical creatures, you can't just pick people who have the most impressive skills Malfoy, you need a balance."
"I may need a balance, but I don't need a Weasley, discard him," Draco said, a steely look in his eyes.
Harry sighed and discarded the file, "Bear in mind you really ought to pick someone with some knowledge of the Muggle world. Some jobs will require going undercover there."
"I'm aware of that," Draco drawled, "Who's the next candidate?"
Harry rolled his eyes, "Candidate 8 is Daphne Greengrass, former Slytherin of 25 years of age-"
"Yes," Draco said simply.
Harry looked at Draco in amusement, "Really?"
Draco smirked, "I know she's the real deal. She's intelligent, and incredibly sneaky."
"I assume you know why she's on this list then," Harry said in amusement.
"I suspect the fact her last three boyfriends all died mysterious deaths has something to do with it," Draco drawled.
"Possibly," Harry said, "For the record I'd recommend her. I've worked with her personally, she's professional and very good when it comes to working undercover."
"I don't need your recommendation," Draco said smoothly, "She's on my team."
"Alright," Harry said, placing the file as the first in the resolutely 'yes' pile.
"Is the next candidate Theodore Nott, by any chance?" Draco asked, "Because if it isn't it should be."
Harry smiled a little, "Yes, the 25 year old former Slytherin. Known for engineering several art heists, and as one of the few wizards to ever orchestrate a successful break in to Gringotts. He never gets caught, someone else always takes the blame for him."
"Like Pucey and Riva," Draco said with a smirk, "They didn't do what they claim to have done, he did."
"What about Carmichael?" Harry asked curiously.
"They really did work together, Carmichael has some potential," Draco admitted, "But it's a definite yes to Theodore Nott. He's a genius, and what you know he's pulled off is only a fraction of what he's actually pulled off."
"That doesn't surprise me," Harry said honestly as he put the file on top of Daphne Greengrass's, "You can't pick a team of only Slytherins you know, that's very biased."
"I can't help it that the only people with potential on your list are Slytherins," Draco said slightly smugly.
Harry narrowed his eyes at the man, "Our last candidate is a Gryffindor and I highly recommend you consider him. He's 24 years old and he's called Neville Longbottom."
"Fatbottom?" Draco snorted, "Are you serious? He couldn't commit a crime if his life depended on it!"
Harry shot the blonde-haired man a glare, "He worked as an Auror up until May 2004 when he was struck off for killing a Death Eater on the job. Ever since then he's been doing illegal jobs for the department, off the record obviously."
Draco raised an eyebrow at Harry, "I've just agreed to hire one person who is the known son of a Death Eater, and another whose family was associated with the Death Eaters. I myself am an ex-Death Eater, and you expect me to hire somebody who got fired for killing a Death Eater on the job?'
Harry smiled slightly, "Yes."
"Why on earth would I do that Potter?" Draco asked, eyeing Harry as if he was insane.
"There are several reasons, first and foremost he's good. He was trained as an Auror, you won't find someone as good as him in combat, his tracking skills are better than any Auror I've ever seen. He may have killed that Death Eater, but it was for personal reasons so you won't need to fear for your own safety."
Draco eyed Harry curiously, "I'll humour you by considering him if you tell me what these illegal jobs you've had him doing are."
A hint of a smile came to Harry's face, "He's completely infiltrated himself into the underground black market, he's part of the reason you're here thanks to a tip he gave us. Combined with your rather unsuccessful love life, and the tip from your now ex-girlfriend, I presume."
Draco shot him a glare, "Yes, she is my ex-girlfriend. What else has he done?"
"What we want you to do, he's been bringing in people we can't touch. He kidnapped a politician last week," Harry added in amusement.
"If he's so good why am I leading this team, not him?" Draco asked, leaning back in his chair and surveying Harry.
"Honestly?" Harry said, "Because we need someone without too much of a moral compass to call the shots. That's also why you need him on your team however, with three Slytherins you need someone with a moral compass, it just wouldn't be wise to put him in charge."
Draco was clearly thinking about it, "Neville Longbottom…I can't see past the fumbling fool we went to school with."
"The fumbling fool who beheaded a giant snake you mean?" Harry asked in amusement, "That's far cooler than anything I recall you doing in the final battle, Malfoy. Running away seems to be your area of expertise actually."
With another glare in Harry's direction Draco said, "Add him to the maybe pile, and discard Riva from it."
Harry did so, laying his two options in front of him, "Neville Longbottom or Eddie Carmichael."
"Is there a set rule saying I can only have 3 other members on this team?" Draco asked as he surveyed the two files, "I want them both."
"You can only have 5 people on this team," Harry told him, "So if you want them both, you can have them both. But you can't recruit anyone else."
"Done," Draco said, picking up the two files and putting them in his 'yes' pile, "I have my team."
"There is just one slight problem," Harry pointed out as he glanced to the clock, it was nearing lunch time and they still had a lot of work to do.
"There's always a catch with you, Potter," Draco said dryly.
"These people may agree to this team, but chances are we're going to have to give them an ultimatum, like we did with you," Harry pointed out, "Neville is desperate for that adrenaline rush of catching bad guys, and this is going to be a godsend compared to what we pay him for his illegal jobs. He'll take it in a heartbeat, I don't think he'll even care about the Slytherin aspect."
"If we recruit Theo, then we recruit Carmichael," Draco said thoughtfully, "Carmichael is basically just his sidekick, Theo's far better, but Carmichael idolises him."
"So if we arrest one, we'll find the other in the same place?" Harry asked.
"More than likely," Draco said, looking at the other file, that of Daphne.
"And what do we do about Greengrass? She's on our radar because she's done jobs for us before, but I can't see her agreeing to this," Harry said.
"No," Draco agreed, "She wouldn't. But I happen to have evidence on the death of Blaise Zabini that incriminates her. If I provide you with that you can arrest her, and she'll choose this over prison."
"She'll also kill you for giving her up," Harry pointed out.
"No, she won't," Draco smirked, "She can hurt me all she wants. But kill me? She wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for me, she can't kill me. Life debts are a wonderful thing."
Harry smirked back, "Oh I know all about life debts," he said, "You still owe me one if I remember."
"I haven't forgotten," Draco said dryly.
Harry grinned, "Come on then Malfoy, let's get some lunch and get on with this. We've got four team members to recruit before 5pm."
"Are you always this upbeat about crime?" Draco asked as they left the basement together.
Harry's grin widened, "Of course I am, I'm an Auror!"
Draco rolled his eyes, "This is the next 10 years of my bloody life, working with you. I'm starting to think Azkaban was a better option."
"If it gets too much you can always transfer there," Harry joked, patting Draco on the back as he shut the steel door to the basement.
"So it begins," Draco muttered under his breath.
Harry heard him and said, "Oh admit it, you're excited about this really. You always wanted to become an Auror."
Draco snorted, "I don't know where you get your information from Potter, but your sources are incredibly wrong."
Harry shot Draco a smirk and Draco rolled his eyes. They made their way back into the main department together, and Draco had to admit, this wasn't as bad as prison. In fact, it might even be quite enjoyable.
"Who lives in this dump? Carmichael?" Draco asked as he and Harry stood outside an old tenement building that was falling apart.
"Neville," Harry said darkly, "The Ministry doesn't pay you off with a huge amount after your murder someone."
"I can't imagine why," Draco remarked as they walked into the dingy stairwell that stunk of damp, he felt incredibly out of place in his black suit.
"Our next stop is Diagon Alley," Harry said, noticing Draco's discomfort, "You can't dress like that, your way out of place in the ordinary criminal world."
"Are you saying I'm a classy criminal?" Draco asked with a smirk as Harry knocked on a door with the label '101a' hanging off of it.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Harry said with a chuckle as a voice called, "That you, Harry?"
"Yeah it's me Nev, can I come in?"
"What's the password?" Neville's voice called from inside the flat.
Draco rolled his eyes, "You Auror bunch are pretty paranoid, aren't you?"
"We catch bad guys for a living, of course we are," Harry said under his breath, "Unless you've changed it since yesterday, it's Godric."
"Predictable," Draco muttered.
The door snapped open and Harry walked into the small flat with Draco at his heels, "You're getting as paranoid as Moody in your exile," he said to Neville who was sitting on the sofa in jeans and a baggy t-shirt with a glass of firewhiskey in his hand.
"I can't imagine why," Neville said bitterly, "It's not like there are angry ex-Death Eaters who want revenge. Don't suppose that's why you've brought him here, to off me?"
"Nah," Harry said, shutting the door and walking further into the flat, "We've got a job offer for you."
Neville narrowed his eyes at them, and Draco felt uncomfortable, this definitely wasn't the Neville Longbottom he'd gone to school with, he almost missed the bumbling fool.
"You and Malfoy?"
"Malfoy is now technically a member of the justice department," Harry said with a slight smirk.
"What was his other option, Azkaban?" Neville asked, his face lighting up slightly at Draco's downfall.
Harry grinned, "You guessed it. We're setting up an unofficial team, to do the jobs you've been doing for us. It's damn good pay, you get to be in a team again, and you'll officially be employed by the ministry so you can stop living like a bloody tramp."
Neville seemed brighter just at the mention of it, "A team, you say? To do the illegal jobs?"
"Not exactly," Harry said, "A team to catch the bad guys, by any means."
Neville nodded thoughtfully, "Alright…I'm intrigued, why's Malfoy in charge of it?"
"He's a criminal genius, we can't deny that," Harry said with a sideways glance at Malfoy, "He knows the criminal world like the back of his hand, he's a more corrupt version of an Auror."
"I'm a pretty corrupt version of an Auror," Neville retorted as he got to his feet.
"Well you'll make a fantastic team then," Harry joked.
"Who else?" Neville asked.
Harry opened his mouth to answer, but Neville smirked, "No Harry, let Malfoy speak. I want to see if he can get any more uncomfortable than he is right now."
Draco rolled his eyes, "Have it your way Longbottom. The team will have 3 other members, Daphne Greengrass, Theodore Nott and Eddie Carmichael."
Neville scoffed, "Greengrass, the boyfriend killer?"
"Trust me, there's far more to her than her reputation," Draco said smoothly, "And Theodore Nott-"
"No, I'll give you that, he's a bloody genius. Harry can't stand the fact he's never been able to catch him," Neville said in amusement.
Harry shook his head in amusement, "I have to admit it, he's too good for me to catch."
"What about Carmichael?" Draco asked, "What's your take on him?"
Neville shrugged, "He's alright, he's basically Nott's lackey, but he's a half-blood. You'll need someone with knowledge of the muggle world on your team."
Draco gave a slight nod, "Good, I'm glad you agree," he said awkwardly.
Neville grinned, "So what's my role in this? If I know Harry he'll have let you pick your own team, but why on earth would you pick me, Malfoy?"
"Potter gave me a convincing argument," Draco said simply.
"Let me guess, he said you need someone with a moral compass?" Neville asked with a smirk.
Harry smirked slightly, "Well, I had to convince him somehow, you need a job."
"What?" Draco asked with a frown.
"You believed Harry when he told you I had a moral compass?" Neville asked in amusement, "I got fired for killing someone, yeah that's some moral compass I've got there."
Draco rolled his eyes, "And this is why I never trust Gryffindors."
"You're the slimy snake," Harry remarked, "But that's beside the point, Neville your part in this is to provide the official side of the team, as the former Auror."
Neville raised an eyebrow, "Alright, I'll do it."
"So how's the drinking going?" Harry asked as he sat down on an armchair, leaving Draco standing awkwardly by the door.
"Not bad, down to two glasses a day," Neville said simply.
"It's better than two bottles," Harry remarked.
"Don't even start, Harry," Neville said darkly.
"I was just going to say, the offer of getting you help still stands," Harry said simply.
"I don't need your help," Neville said bitterly, "I got myself into this mess, and I'll get myself out of it. Stop trying to save me with your bloody hero complex."
Draco raised an eyebrow at the two men, "How do you two know each other so well? You never talked at school, you were too busy hanging around Weasel."
"Big misjudgement on your behalf, Harry," Neville said sarcastically, "We could have been killing snakes and dark lords together for years if you'd just paid attention to me."
Harry smirked, "Shut up, you git," he said almost affectionately.
"This is charming," Draco said dryly.
"We were Auror partners, Malfoy," Harry said as he got to his feet, "Until this idiot decided to go and kill someone."
"Thanks for that, mate."
"You probably would have got away with it if the guy you killed hadn't been the guy who helped Bellatrix Lestrange torture your parents to insanity," Harry remarked, "That kind of takes away the argument of saying it was an accident."
Neville rolled his eyes, "Yeah, I probably should have thought that one through."
"You should have bloody told me, I'd have done it for you and we'd both have gotten away with it," Harry said, "You got me doing paperwork for a month after that, and I had to get partnered up with bloody Ron."
"You and Ron are fine," Neville said with another eye roll.
"He's not as good as you though, he knows it too. He only got promoted cause you got fired," Harry said.
"What the hell happened to the whole golden trio thing?" Draco asked in amusement.
"Ron's fine, but he likes to cut corners," Harry said with an eye roll.
"What Harry is really saying is, Ron's a lazy git who only got the job because of what he did in the war," Neville translated.
"What about Granger?" Draco asked, leaning against the door.
"Let's just say her and Ron's first shot at a relationship was short, and ended with a bang," Harry said with a slight frown, "Ever since then it's been an on-off thing, and I can't be bothered being in the middle of it."
Draco smirked.
Harry and Neville narrowed their eyes at each other, "What?" they asked in unison.
"I may have helped with that," Draco said in amusement, "As you both probably know Weasel slept with some intern or whatever. Granger wanted to piss him off, and she decided the best way to do that was through me…"
Neville grinned, "Wow, I have so much more respect for Hermione now."
"I know," Harry said in amusement, "She went to such lengths to piss off Ron, how noble of her."
"Lengths?" Draco objected, "I am a valuable asset."
Harry snorted, "Right, keep telling yourself that Malfoy."
"I suppose some girls are into the whole bad boy thing," Neville reasoned.
"There's the bad boy thing, and the convicted criminal thing, slight difference," Harry grinned as he made towards the door, "Glad to have you back, Nev."
Neville smiled slightly, "When do I start?"
"Tomorrow morning, 9am," Draco responded, "You better not be drunk because I'll be testing you."
"Don't worry, he doesn't get drunk anymore," Harry said as he opened the door, "He's immune after the amount he's drunk in the last few months."
"And I'd pass your tests even if I was," Neville retorted in amusement, "See you around Harry."
"See you Nev," Harry said shutting the door and smirking at Draco, "One down, three to go."
By the time Harry and Draco walked into 'The Warty Hag', the worst (and only) pub in Knockturn Alley, Draco had undergone a wardrobe change. Harry was in what he termed his 'undercover wear', slightly shabby, but simple black robes. Draco on the other hand was mixing with the criminal underworld now, not just running classy illegal operations. He was wearing black leather robes, his hair was no longer slicked back, and he fitted in perfectly.
They wandered up to the bar and sat down next to two people who were sitting on barstools, then they made their move.
"Theo."
"Draco."
"Carmichael."
"Malfoy."
"And who is your mysterious friend?" Theodore Nott asked, glancing sideways at Harry who with his stubble, and glasses removed, he didn't recognise.
"Oh, just someone I'm using for the moment," Draco said offhandedly.
Theo accepted this with a nod, "What brings you here? You got a job for me?"
"I've got a job offer for you," Draco remarked.
Theodore narrowed his eyes, "You fucking coward, you've turned haven't you? That an Auror you got there with you? You bloody git, what did he offer you, money? Fame?" he scoffed, "Hear this Eddie? Draco's got a fucking Auror with him."
"An Auror?" Eddie asked with a raised eyebrow.
Draco glared sidelong at them, "He's an Auror who has a bloody good job offer for you both."
Theo scoffed, "I'm not working for any Auror, mate. Just because you've turned doesn't mean I'm going to."
"Or me," Eddie added.
Draco rolled his eyes, "Well you would agree with everything Theo says."
Eddie glared at Draco, "He happens to be right, unlike you, joining up with the bloody Aurors."
"He has a point," Theo said darkly.
Harry opened his mouth to argue their case, but he didn't get a chance to say anything. A rather large man covered in tattoos had appeared behind them, he nudged Theo hard on the back, "Oi."
Theo turned around, "Want something?" he asked casually.
"You spineless bastard," The man said, "You fucking slept with my wife."
"I think you must be getting me confused with someone else mate," Theo said.
"Nah, I saw you two together in here last night, and I followed you," The man said gruffly, "And now I'm gonna kill ya."
Draco and Harry stayed put as Theo and the jilted husband got into a fist fight which escalated into a duel. Eddie jumped in to duel the man's henchman, and after 5 minutes or so Harry got to his feet.
"Alright, break it up!" He ordered, "I'm an Auror, and if you don't stop right now all four of you will be getting arrested for assault!"
The fight instantly broke up, Harry smiled slightly as he looked at Theo and Eddie with their bloody noses, "Want to reconsider that offer? Because otherwise I'll bring you both in for assault, and then it's likely we'll be able to book you for all your other crimes, including fraud, theft, attempted murder-"
Eddie and Theo shared a glance, then Eddie said, "Yeah mate, I'll reconsider your offer."
"You fucking traitor," Theo muttered under his breath.
"I'm not going to Azkaban for you like the idiots you employ," Eddie said, glaring at Theo.
"Good choice Eddie," Draco said with a slight smirk, "You've just saved yourself time in Azkaban. I do hope you enjoy prison Theo, but I don't suspect that you will. There are far more men than women and with how lonely it can get on that little island and how feminine you look, I'm sure they would have a whole lot of fun."
"Oh alright then, I'll hear your bloody job offer," Theo caved, "Fucking traitorous bastards, the lot of us."
Harry and Draco shared a glance and Harry smirked, finding himself actually enjoying working with Draco Malfoy.
"Come on," Harry said, binding both of their hands, "I won't blow your cover, we'll discuss this somewhere more private."
"So much bloody courtesy for an Auror," Eddie said sarcastically as they were transported upstairs to an empty room. It was only as Harry sat down in an old dusty armchair and put his glasses on that Eddie and Theo recognised him.
"You're working with Harry bloody Potter? Have you lost your mind Draco?" Theo asked in disbelief.
"It was this or 10 years in Azkaban," Draco said dryly.
"I would have taken Azkaban," Theo remarked.
"You're free to it," Harry said smoothly, "But before you decide, you should hear our offer. The ministry have decided to set up a team of criminal geniuses, there are some criminals who keep slipping through the system. This team, which will be led by Malfoy, has the job of catching these guys by any means necessary."
Eddie smirked, "You think we're criminal geniuses?"
"Of course we are, you imbecile," Theo said with a roll of his eyes.
"I handpicked the team, Theo," Draco said as he leant against the wall, "And I lead it, Potters just here to help with the set-up, and pay us."
"Yeah alright, I'm intrigued," Theo said, pushing his shoulder length black hair behind his ear, "What about you, Eddie?"
Eddie shrugged, "Sounds okay so far," he admitted.
Theo was the womaniser, but Eddie was good looking too, with blonde hair and blue eyes he looked a lot like Draco, only musclier. Despite being Theo's sidekick he was pretty good in his own right, and intelligent, unlike Crabbe and Goyle.
"Who else is gonna be on this team then?" Theo asked Draco.
"Well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but Longbottom," Draco admitted.
Theo snorted, "Fatbottom?"
"Yeah…I wouldn't call him that to his face, he's gone pretty badass these days," Draco said.
"He did kill a giant snake with a sword," Eddie said. "And he murdered a guy on the job and got the sack for it. I heard he hit him in the face with the killing curse."
"He castrated him first, but yeah," Harry said, watching Theo and Eddie for a reaction.
"Merlin, that's a whole other level of evil," Eddie said with a wince.
"I like the sound of him," Theo grinned, "When do I meet him?"
"So you're up for this then?" Draco asked hopefully.
"Let's put it this way, I'm not doing time in Azkaban," Theo remarked.
Eddie nodded, "I'll do it too, I always thought it would be cool to be an Auror."
"From what I saw down there, you're both pretty good," Harry admitted, "And trust me, it will be worth it for the pay. That's the best thing about the justice department."
"Please stop calling it that," Draco said dryly, "And stop calling this team the justice team."
"Salazar, that's a shit name," Theo said, "From now on you're not allowed to name anything Potter."
"How about the kick ass team?" Eddie suggested.
"Bloody hell Eddie, that's about as bad as the justice team," Theo remarked.
Draco smirked, "We'll name it properly later. For now let's talk business, you both start at 9am tomorrow."
"Alright, we'll be there," Theo said for himself and Eddie as Harry and Draco walked towards the door.
"Hang on, is that it? The three of us and Longbottom?" Theo asked.
Draco turned around in the doorway with a slight smile on his face, "No, don't suppose you know where we could find Greengrass?"
Eddie laughed loudly, and Theo's eyes widened, "No way! I can't work with her!"
"Why not?" Harry asked in confusion.
"She's tried to kill me three bloody times!" Theo remarked.
"Well you shouldn't have screwed her over three times then, you know her reputation," Draco said matter of factly.
"You fucking arsehole! She will kill me if we have to work together," Theo said, actually looking scared.
"No she won't, just don't sleep with her," Draco said simply, "Do you know where she is?"
"Probably shagging and stabbing some poor guy as we speak," Theo said darkly.
Draco rolled his eyes, "She's not actually that bad, and I know that at least one of you two knows where she is."
"She's staying at the Leaky," Eddie informed them, "She just got disowned, pretty badly too, all the inheritance goes to her bitch of a sister."
"You bloody traitor," Theo mumbled.
"Oh shut up you git," Eddie said, "We just agreed to work for the fucking ministry."
Harry hid a smile as they left, leaving Theo and Eddie to bicker amongst themselves, "Good luck with that," he muttered to Draco.
TBC :)
