Hullo ullo, onions! Slow response last chappie, but a response nevertheless. Always glad to hear from you all!
A big, huge thank you to those who revved: Mrs. Grint-Cozart-Felton-Horan, lilbuddie715, SaruDM, Marianna Stanton and aalizwell. You guys are brilliant and I would probably become depressed because of this story if it weren't for your support :)
And, of course, thank you to those who alerted/favourited: Bookwormlovesharrypotter, Punzie the Platypus, GoldOwl89 and aalizwell. Review? :D
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to lilbuddie715 who has been really sick this week. Get well soon, lilbuddie!
Chapter Four
"What on earth are you doing here?"
Percy held up his hands defensively. "Calm down, Rose."
"Why are you at the Malfoy residence? You told me practically nothing in the recorded interview," Rose crossed her arms and stared down her least favourite uncle. "I need to know. It could be important. Heck, I'm willing to bet it is important."
Percy sighed and adjusted his horn-rim glasses. "I can't tell you. I'm here on ministry business," he paused then added somewhat pompously, "and it's highly classified."
Rose scoffed. "I'm having a hard time believing that, if you'll excuse me."
Percy scowled at her. "Impertinent. Just like your father. I'll have you know, I'm undercover. I'm posing as a ministry official." He puffed out his chest and waited for Rose to make impressed noises.
Rose, however, regarded him disbelievingly. "You are a ministry official," she pointed out.
"Yes, but I'm posing as a corrupt ministry official. There's a difference."
Rose nearly scoffed at that as well, but managed to restrain herself. No point in antagonizing Percy Weasley. He was unbearable even when in a good mood. Instead, she pinched the bridge of her nose and shut her eyes, hoping that the headache building behind her eyes would go away. "Explain."
Percy looked around shiftily. Having satisfied himself that the Malfoy library was empty aside from the two of them, he leaned in and spoke. "I'm here on assignment –can't tell you the details. I was supposed to meet Draco Malfoy last night about something important, but when I got here, he called it off, saying something had come up and he couldn't help me after all. I was irked, as you may well imagine and quite insulted as well- with good reason, I think you'd agree."
Percy broke off and looked around again, moving his head in an exaggerated arc. Rose found herself nodding, urging him to continue. "So what did you do?"
"I refused to leave, of course," Percy said, in tones that implied that this should have been obvious. "He made me quite suspicious. I wondered, you know, if he hadn't decided to join the 'dark side' after all. I decided to stay for the night, in order to keep an eye on Malfoy and he told me to 'suit myself'."
Finally they were getting somewhere. Rose looked at Percy with renewed interest. "So? What did you find out?"
At her question, Percy's cheeks flamed a vivid red. He drew himself up to his full height and said in a dignified voice, "Nothing. I –aah- I fell asleep."
Rose stared at him blankly. "You….fell asleep?" she echoed.
"Yes. I did," he responded primly. "I think it was something in the liquor."
Rose was fairly sure nothing had been in the liquor. It sounded more like Percy had gotten drunk and passed out. She shook her head, knowing she should have expected something like this. "What did you mean earlier, about being undercover?"
Percy's complexion returned to its normal colour and he looked smug again. "Well, everyone at the manor was -and still is- under the impression that I was here to collect a bribe on behalf of the ministry. Mr. Clayworth, head of the Department of Domestic Liaisons himself said I was perfect for the job," He paused as he said this and seemed to consider his words for a moment. "I'm not quite sure what he meant by that. But I'm sure it was a compliment, wouldn't you agree?"
Rose merely continued to stare disbelievingly at her uncle.
XXXXXXXX
Rose checked the corridor thoroughly before slipping into the room. She'd made sure it was empty. She'd be in trouble if she was caught here. Technically, this wasn't part of her investigation. And if the room's occupant discovered her here….well, she'd lose her advantage. Not to mention, she'd raise a lot of questions and eyebrows.
Just to be on the safe side, she cast a disillusionment charm on herself. The cool sensation of something trickling down her back made her shiver.
She started her search methodically. First she checked the side tables. They were empty. Pressing around at their base, she found false bottoms. The secret compartments contained a few mouldy letters, a candle stub and an antique ring. She left the objects where she'd found them.
There was nothing under the mattress and nothing on the floor beneath the bed. The bathroom was empty aside from a few styling products, a bottle of shampoo and a used toothbrush. There were a few clothes hanging in the cupboard, among them rumpled pajamas. Nothing under the rugs and nothing on the floor. Except…Rose found what she was looking for on the windowsill. A fine sprinkling of white powder, barely noticeable. She swept the flakes into a transparent bag, sealed it and then left the room, remembering to shut the door securely behind her.
XXXXXXXX
Rose made sure she was visible again before descending the stairs into the sitting room. Right away, she knew something was wrong. It didn't really take a genius to figure it out, not when all seven suspects were gathered around the mahogany table, looking solemn. They stood as she entered and before she even had the chance to ask what was wrong, a disarming spell hit her and her wand flew straight into the grasp of Blaise Zabini.
She looked around at the group, meeting their hostile gazes individually. Rose tried to quell the rising panic building up. Had they seen her just now…?
Realizing that they were waiting for her to speak, Rose found her voice. "What's wrong?" she asked, keeping her tone casual.
Astoria Malfoy grasped her flowing robes gingerly and stepped aside, revealing a shrunken figure….Hokey.
The elf's eyes were glistening with vehemence and triumph. In the corner of the room, Lorky was wringing his hands, looking terrified.
Hokey raised a knobbly finger and pointed at Rose. "Miss killed master! Hokey is knowing the truth!" she declared without preamble.
Rose forced a laugh, looking around disbelievingly at the angry faces. "That's ridiculous! Why would I –this is stupid. It's not even possible for me to-"
"Save it," Theodore Nott snarled. "We know you did it. How else would you explain your presence at the manor last night, Detective?"
Rose froze, mouth half-open to defend herself. "I –how did you-"
Hokey spoke again, barely restraining a cackle. "Hokey is seeing Miss at manor last night. Miss was in the garden during the party. She is thinking she is so clever, so quiet. But Hokey is catching her! And then, Master is dying that night!" Hokey wrung her hands, a look of anguish crossing her face. "And I is thinking, it musts be that girl! It musts be! And then she is showing up at manor next morning! Hokey has never before been so saddened, so shocked! Miss must be punished for what she is doing to Master!" The elf broke off for breath, breathing heavily.
Astoria's glare, like Hokey's, was mixed with a look of triumph and Rose realized why Astoria had seemed to be mocking her during her interview. She'd known all along. Hokey would have reported to her of course.
"Well, Ms. Weasley," Astoria said coldly. "I'd say the tables have turned, wouldn't you? Where were you on the night of the murder?" she mocked.
Rose swallowed heavily. "Fine," she admitted. "I was here. But-"
She didn't even get to finish her sentence. Everyone except Scorpius and Percy drew their wands, all aimed at her.
She raised her hands slowly, trying to pacify them. "Let's be reasonable. I'm unarmed. I'm a wizpol officer. You don't want to hurt me."
"Actually," Pansy interjected. "I'd love to hurt you. You killed Draco!"
"I didn't! I admit that I was here last night but it was nothing to do with Mr. Malfoy!" Rose turned to Percy and Scorpius. "You believe me, right?"
Percy looked away uneasily and Scorpius stared back at her, frowning slightly. "I don't know what Ms. Weasley was doing here last night," he began slowly. "But I don't think we should jump to any hasty conclusions. It doesn't make sense for an Officer to commit the crime she's investigating. I think we should talk-"
"Screw that!" interjected Blaise. "I say we incapacitate her first and then ask questions. Stupe-"
"STOP!"
Everyone froze and turned as one to face the elf cowering in the corner.
"Lorky," Astoria stated frostily. "What is the meaning of this?"
Lorky took a hesitant step forwards, still wringing his hands. "I- I is knowing who is truly killing Master. I is seeing it. And I is knowing it is not Miss!"
Hokey flared up, baring her teeth at Lorky. "You is lying! You is liking Miss and protecting her! You is besmirching good name of Malfoys! Disgrace! Abomination!"
"Hokey," Scorpius interrupted the enraged elf sternly. "Quiet. I believe Lorky. Mother?"
He turned to face Astoria who looked like she'd just had a valuable prize snatched out from under her nose. "Very well," she said stiffly. "We don't want to unjustly accuse an officer of the law. Lorky, tell the Detective what you saw."
Everyone turned to face the elf expectantly and he shrunk into the corner, looking horrified.
Rose spoke up again, coming to the elf's aid. "Wait. He can't tell me out here. I'll have to talk to him in private."
Her declaration was met with suspicious looks but nobody dared stop her as she stepped into the adjoining room with Lorky.
The elf's knees were nearly knocking together as he followed her in.
Rose crouched down to his level. "Thank you Lorky," she breathed gratefully. "You really saved me in there."
The elf twisted his tea towel abashedly. "Lorky is only telling the truth."
"So…" Rose scrutinized the tiny witness. "Who was it?"
"I – it was-" Lorky clapped his hands over his mouth and abruptly ran for the wall. Rose grabbed him by the collar as he bounced off it.
"Lorky, stop! Stop that!" The elf struggled in her grasp trying to bang his head against the floor.
"Lorky cannot say! Lorky cannot say! Hokey is right! Lorky is besmirching good name of family!"
The elf went limp in her grasp as Rose held him above the floor. She set him down gently, ready to grab him if he decided to run into the fireplace or beat himself up with the poker.
"Lorky," she said urgently. "Who killed Mr. Malfoy? Help me bring justice to your master, Lorky."
Lorky looked tormented, tugging at his ears. "Lorky cannot say! Lorky cannot betray family!"
"So, it was one of the family?" Rose prompted slowly.
The elf looked horrified and ran towards the wall again. Rose grabbed him before he could make contact this time.
"LORKY CANNOT SAY!"
"Lorky!" Rose shook him warningly. "I'm going to let go of you. Promise not to hurt yourself."
"I- Lorky promises," the elf said miserably.
Rose released him and repeated her question. "So was it one of the family?"
The elf hesitated. "Yes and no," he answered ambiguously.
Rose frowned. "What do you mean, yes and-"
She broke off abruptly as a blood-curdling scream pierced the air.
"Shit!" Rose reached for her wand before realizing she didn't have it. "Lorky, stay here! I'll be right back!"
She wrenched the door open and followed the sound of the voice. A few wrong turns later, she found what she was looking for.
Narcissa Malfoy was kneeling on the floor, tears streaming down her face, staring at the corpse of her son, bloody and battered. Moments later, the others burst into the room and skidded to a halt, taking in the scene.
Narcissa leaned over the body, clutching the blood-stained shirt, sobbing uncontrollably.
Scorpius entered last, shouldering his way through the throng.
He saw the corpse and staggered backwards, swearing. He stared at it for a moment.
Rose saw him visibly pull himself together as he raised his wand. "Riddikulus!"
The body morphed into a black blob and then vanished with a pop, leaving behind a stunned silence, save for Narcissa's sobs.
Astoria and Scorpius hurried forward, helping up the older woman and leading her out of the room.
As Rose watched them leave, she recalled Lorky's words and wondered if one of them was really the killer.
XXXXXXX
Rose walked back to where she'd left the elf, barely registering her surroundings.
What had just happened was unbelievable. A boggart, of course, but….it had looked so real. Narcissa Malfoy had certainly seemed to think so anyway.
She turned the doorknob, addressing the elf. "Sorry about that Lorky, it was-"
She paused. She took in the scene that was before her. And then she screamed.
Is that a cliffie? Not really, right? Ehh, maybe. Anyway.
The usual poll: Any thoughts on who the killer is? I always love hearing you guys thinking out loud!
And Anonymous Review Reply for Marianna Stanton: Hey! Of course I would thank you, I just wish I could reply to your reviews as well. I'll just do it here itself as I can't PM you. Aah, you totally made my day with your amazing review last chapter! And I can't wait to hear why you're suspicious of Scorp. Thank you so much, it's always great to be praised ;)
Alrighty, next chapter on Tuesday. See you all then. Oh, and,
REVIEWWW. Hehe, no but seriously. Review if you want to. I'll just sit here and obsessively check my mail every few minutes. -checks mail-