IV
It was evening, so the Leaky Cauldron was bursting with customers when Charlotte entered. Tom, the old owner of the pub, was loudly chatting with a couple of men sitting by the bar and kept an eye on the glasses that next to him were being cleaned by an enchanted green piece of cloth. She passed by a table occupied by three young witches dressed in bright robes and cloaks that stood out easily in the dark pub. From what she perceived from their hurried and cheerful talk, they had just graduated from Hogwarts and started work, and Charlotte immediately remembered Tonks, who too had just graduated this year and had started her training as an Auror.
Charlotte finally spotted a table left empty by a fidgety wizard with a sort of turban that rapidly walked towards the exit. She was on her way moving past the bar, hoping that Thomas would soon join her, when someone stood up and abruptly stopped her.
"Well! If it isn't Ms Murray, from Level Five - Department of International Magical Cooperation" said a mocking voice coming from above her, imitating the tone of the woman they could hear in the lifts at the Ministry.
Charlotte stepped back so she could see the hairy face of the man standing in front of her. She felt the pervading stench of cheap beer before she recognized Mr. Hall, the violent man she had encountered at Mr. Crouch's office. He had a drunken smile behind his dark beard and a pint in his hand but the eyes were fixed on her, watching her with malicious attention.
"Why, what brings your Excellency to the tavern this splendid evening? Certainly not to drink, huh?" he continued disdainfully and waved his pint around, beer sloshing over the sides and falling on an unfortunate couple sitting nearby. "You haven't brought any more of those fancy papers, have you?"
Charlotte frowned and tried to move past him but he pushed her back. Mr. Hall's smile disappeared from his face,
"Where d'you think you're going? Wasn't I speaking to you? I can't stand rudeness, you know?" he roared.
"If anyone here is being rude that is you, Mr. Hall" she snarled looking at him straight in his mossy blue eyes. "I didn't come here to socialize, now please, move aside."
Mr. Hall gave a snide chuckle as she continued on her way to the table, "A chip off the old block, huh?"
Charlotte turned back rapidly "What is that supposed to mean?" Her hand automatically reached to her coat's pocket and grabbed her wand.
"You just like your father, that's what I mean." he bellowed, very sombre. "He was as nasty and as worthless too, wasn't he? And I bet he's a Death Eater too." And he gave a loud hiss, "Pathetic snakes."
By then the whole pub was paying attention to their conversation; Mr. Hall's shouts had even caught the interest of the three young witches sitting at the corner. So they all witnessed the yellowy flash and an enormous mass flying across half the room, hitting the wooden staircase.
Charlotte was trembling and blind with rage; she looked down on Mr Hall whom she had just stunned, her wand was still in her pocket. But Mr Hall was shifting in his place. His left arm swayed awkwardly and his clothes were a bit torned off but he was already standing up straight. She stiffened in her place holding her breath, but before she could take her wand out, a pair of hands grabbed her by the elbow and tried pulling her back. It took her by surprise and she lost her balance for a second, and before she could react Mr. Hall was facing her.
She hadn't noticed that it had been Thomas holding her arm, until Mr. Hall passed by her and clutched his collars, vigorously shoving him. Thomas tried reaching for his wand but he hit a chair and tumbled over falling hard on the floor.
"That ought to teach you not to barge in on a good scrap, you dumb bairn*. You lucky I can't use my best arm." Mr Hall roared and moved away.
Charlotte took her wand out and suspiciously pointed it at Mr. Hall, holding her other hand out to help Thomas back to his feet, but Mr. Hall just turned his back to them and bent down to pick up his empty cup.
He stared at the bottom of the cup, looking desolate, laid it down on the table where the distressed couple was still sitting, and said to Charlotte, "You own me a beer, child."
"This isn't over." she said resolutely.
Mr. Hall hooted joyfully, "Just like your father!" and he left the Leaky Cauldron. Tom, the owner was already putting table and chairs back in their places as he walked towards Charlotte and Thomas.
"What did he mean by that?" Thomas asked rubbing the arm over which he had fallen.
"I don't know" she replied grabbing him by the sleeve "but we can't stay here now. Let's go somewhere quieter, so we can talk." and she pushed him back to Diagon Alley.
They rushed down the street, Thomas following. Diagon Alley was calmer and gloomier, but a few open shops still illuminated the street with the light coming from inside. People were still strolling about, but their talks seemed quieter probably because no children were in sight. Charlotte darted pass Fortescue's Parlour and swiftly entered Knockturn Alley.
Thomas stopped at the corner, "Why are we going there for?"
"We need a quiet place to talk, don't we?" she replied sharply, and hinted towards the shadowy street "Let's go."
"Why don't we just sit at Fortescue's? There's barely anyone there now." he said apprehensively "And you should really stop by the shop, Fortescue asked about you, you know?"
"Thomas, you're a grown wizard, don't tell me you're going to be frightened by a dark street!" she snapped but still Thomas didn't budge. People standing near the corner fell silent and turned their heads to watch them. Charlotte sighed, "Fine, pick a cafe. But nothing too crowded."
They eventually settled outside a quiet cafe near Ollivander's, and they both ordered coffee and Thomas had a slice of pineapple pie. Charlotte took out from her pocket the piece of parchment she had received earlier,
"So what's this all about? What will I not like?"
Thomas looked very serious all of a sudden, "Hmm, I'll just start from the beginning. Two weeks ago, I was having a small argument about the importance of reports with Alexander Hunt, you know, the foreign bloke from the Beast Division in Level Four. Well, long story short, he had captured a werewolf outside Britain and the Irish Ministry didn't appreciate not knowing about it. Strange thing is Blackboon's name came up when I was sorting out that mess."
"Blackboon? What's he got to do with me?" she hissed at him.
"Wait, please, let me finish" he said leaning forward and lowered his tone, "As I looked into it and enquired a few people, your family name came up too. Your father's name came up, to be specific." he paused waiting for a response "It seems that they had dealings with werewolves the Ministry didn't know about, but I couldn't discover the exact nature of those dealings. The people who told me about it, seemed too frightened to confess anything else, and honestly, at that moment, I felt too frightened to insist. So you can see how it can concern you, since werewolves have always been among the major supports of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and you know..."
Charlotte continued silent, absently stirring the coffee that had turned cold. "That doesn't mean anything."
"Charlotte, you know exactly…" but she had already stood up, not listening to his explanation.
"Look, I knew my father, alright? He wouldn't have anything to do with that; and I also happen to know Blackboon. As far as I'm concerned that git probably got my father involved in some shady business without his knowledge." she retorted throwing some coins to the table to pay for the coffee.
"Charlotte," Thomas insisted "you know I'll have to expose this to Mr. Crouch and launch a full investigation." he paused. "And I will mention what I have discovered about your father."
"Thomas, you know Blackboon, he's scum. He would do anything to have his way, whatever it is." she pleaded clutching hard on the strap of her satchel.
"I'm sorry Charlotte, but I can't do that. This is too serious, I will have to disclose everything."
"Even to the point of soiling a good man's name?" she said suddenly towering over him.
Thomas sneered but regretted it when he saw her scowl at him, "Charlotte, don't be irrational, your father's name was hardly honourable. You are well aware everyone suspects that he might even have been a Death Eater."
"He was no such thing!" she snarled.
"Charlotte..." it was his time to plead, but she ignored him.
"If you want to go through with your lies, I'll be there too, and you will not want to cross me, Thomas."
Charlotte turned away leaving her warning vibrating in the air, and walked fast until she disappeared completely in the dim light of night. Behind her, she left a tense figure that was looking anxiously over the shoulder.
She wasn't exactly aware of where she was going; only that she had to keep on walking. She hadn't felt that enraged for years and if she didn't walk away; she would explode and would take everyone else along with her.
*Bairn – Scot., A child