CH. 7 Connections
Ginny hit the ground hard. She had scored her third goal of the practice which had been her best yet since being named in one of the alternate spots. She had been flying very well lately and two of the other Harpies, Waldon the keeper and Rogers the chaser, had told her how impressed they were with her at such a young age.
However, at that moment, the incredible goal she just scored was far from the front of her mind. As she hit the ground, her shoulder popped audibly. She had been bolting towards the goal posts in the play that Gwenong had called, barrel rolled around the keeper and a bludger, and scored. As soon as she rounded back to head towards the middle of the pitch, Meggan shot by and purposefully clipped the front of Ginny's broom. She had been moving fast enough that the light clip sent Ginny's broom hard to the left and nearly unseated her. She flew off on the right side of the broom and barely managed to grasp the handle. The broom dove towards the ground and just before she regained her balance, her fingers slipped and she fell ten feet onto her left shoulder.
Ginny felt her eyes sting in pain but she ignored it and jumped right to her feet.
'You stupid BITCH!' Ginny roared as she staggered to her feet holding her shoulder. It was in intense amounts of pain and was unable to maneuver it so it hang uselessly at her side. She had never hurt like this. Rage, however, temporarily pushed the pain from her mind. 'You did that on purpose!'
'You sound like a child' Meggan sneered with a grin. She knew what she had done.
'Fly down here and stand toe-to-toe with me. I'll show you who the child is.' Ginny challenged. Meggan's leer faltered. Ginny glared daggers into Meggan's eyes refusing to back down. She had stared down Bellatrix Lestrange, Fenrir Greyback, and Voldemort himself; there was no way that this girl was going to get the best of her.
'I don't know what you're talking about' Meggan lied now slightly apprehensive. She may be a good flyer but she knew, if by reputation alone, she would be no match for Ginny wand-to-wand.
'Yes you do!' Ginny shot back.'There's no way that you didn't know what you were doing.' Ginny's temper was starting to peak. Despite her best efforts to restrain herself, she didn't think she could hold out too much longer.
'Just because you're a shit flyer doesn't mean - '
'I am not a shit flyer' Ginny yelled back.
'You can't even stay on your broom'
'YOU PURPOSEFULLY KNOCKED ME OFF'
YOU LANDED ON THE ONLY PLACE YOU HAVE ANY TALENT! YOUR BACK!'
Ginny gasped and went to pull her wand but before she could barely twitch, an enormous sound like a dozen cannons all going off simultaneously made them both freeze.
'THAT IS ENOUGH' Gwenog screamed at the two of them. She tapped her bat on her hand menacingly. 'The two of you go cool off somewhere' she growled at them.
Both Ginny and Meggan went to start yelling again but they were both cutoff. 'NOW!'
Ginny and Meggan glared at each other again for a second before Meggan spun on the spot and was gone with a pop. The group all stood quiet and still for a few moments. The only sound was Ginny's heavy breathing. Gwen stomped over to where Ginny was and placed a hand gently on Ginny's shoulder who flinched significantly.
'Go get checked by a healer before you leave. I think you dislocated your shoulder.' She said stonily.
And with that, Gwenog was gone. The others soon dispersed as well. Ginny stood for nearly 5 minutes to allow her breathing to slow before going to the healer. Gwenog had been right, Ginny had dislocated her shoulder. The healer took one look at her and told her to sit. A few minutes later, Ginny was walking down the hallway headed to the locker room to change when some yelled for her.
'Hey Ginny!' Gwenog was jogging up. 'Can we go talk for a second?'
'Sure' Ginny said lowly. She wasn't exactly in the mood for a heart-to-heart or to be berated right now.
Ginny expected her to head to the locker room but instead they turned off into a breakroom for staff of the complex.
'Have a seat' Gwenog said quietly. Gwenog's face was unreadable making Ginny's heart start to race again. However, it was anxiety rather than anger making her heart pound within her chest.
'How's your shoulder?' Gwenog asked.
'A little tight' Ginny replied flexing it. 'But I'll be fine.'
'You flew well today' Gwenog added sitting back in her chair a little.
'Thanks' Ginny grumbled.
'I'm not trying to yank your wand, you really did fly very well' Gwenog insisted. Ginny turned slightly pink, but said nothing prompting Gwen to continue. 'Do you remember that conversation we had on the pitch a while back about why the Chasers for Ireland were so good?'
'Of course' Ginny told her. That conversation had been very illuminating for her on how to best handle Meggan and her attitude.
'You and Meggan have been at each other's throats for weeks.' Gwenog stated. There was no question but Ginny could tell she was waiting for a response.
'She is, without a doubt, the absolute rudest and crassest person I have ever worked with and I went to school with Draco Malfoy... And my brother!' she added sarcastically. Gwenog laughed.
'Some people just aren't very nice.' Gwenog added reasonably.
'There is a difference between someone who is difficult and someone who is just a bitch'
Gwenog let out a bark of laughter. 'Well be that as it may, sometimes you have to work with people you don't always get along with.'
'I know that' she said thinking again of Ron.
'In a sport like this, tensions run high and tempers even higher. We all argue every now and then but we get over it. We're sisters in the end and we have to rely on each other when the fire starts.' Ginny knew exactly what she meant. Ron had irritated her beyond compare for years but when the spells started flying at her, she always felt a little safer with Ron around. Thanks to all the goings on around Harry, Ron had honed some rather sharp reflexes.
'What I saw out there today was rage.' Gwen said with a deep breath then she continued. 'You were going to curse her. If I hadn't butt in, you definitely would have. And even though Meggan talks a big game, I doubt people are blowing smoke in the stories we've all heard about you and Dumbledore's Army during the war. In a firefight, my galleon's are on you. Hands down.'
'Thanks!' Ginny said. 'I think'
'But this isn't the war. I need to know that if you get this spot, which you would deserve, that you're not going to get that way with us.'
'Of course not!' Ginny said taken aback. 'I like the rest of you! A lot!'
Gwenog smiled but it didn't seem to reach her eyes.
'I'm glad to hear that' she said happily. 'This team...'
She began looking off into the distance. There was a gleam in her eye that made something stir within Ginny. Fred and George used to talk about a gleam in Oliver Wood's eyes that would make even them want to do their best. Ginny finally understood what they meant.
'There is something special about this team, I can feel it. This is a championship team. And I won't let a hotheaded chaser blow those chances for them. They deserve this and I will do anything for them to have it.'
'I understand. All I want is the chance to prove that I can get it. But I want it for me too!' Ginny said.
'How many of your brothers played at Hogwarts?' Gwenog said with a knowing smile.
'Four' Ginny said smiling as well. Gwen nodded her head and continued to look at her.
'I have 3 brothers' Gwenog said and Ginny knew exactly what she meant.
'Go home, Ginny. Get a good night's rest and relax your shoulder. Have that Potter rub your back to help you relax.' Gwenog winked at her and it made Ginny ache with longing.
'I would but he's in America on some case.'
'Bad luck'
Ginny laughed and got up. She bade farewell to Gwenog and headed towards the locker room.
Her shoulder was feeling much better but she had held a little back about how much it hurt. It was extremely stiff, just as the healer told her it would be. It should be better by tomorrow morning, but for now it felt as though she'd gone ten rounds with a hippogriff. She got into the locker room and ambled in towards her locker sitting down on the bench in front of it. She took a few breaths and turned to retrieve her clothes to find an empty locker.
She stared at it for a few moments in confusion. She looked around for a second searching. She stood and started round the corners of lockers looking for her things. She walked by Meggan's locker and it too was empty. Ginny's stomach started to drop and she began to hyperventilate. Fearing the worst, she began frantically searching all the lockers. She bolted by the active player lockers towards the other reserve team lockers when she noticed something.
She went back round the corner of the active member lockers and felt her stomach jump into her throat. There, in the previously empty locker was all of her belongings. Her 3XT, her clothes, spare quidditch robes and gloves, and her shin guards were all in the locker. On the bench in front of the locker was a program with a picture of last season's closing match on the cover. Players were zooming back and forth through the picture. The Harpies' talon was superimposed over the picture in glowing gold. On it was the date of the first match of the season that was set against the Wimbourne Wasps.
Above the locker, in elegant script was the "Holyhead Harpies" complete with the signature Talon with green geometric background. And written write above her name was written "Chaser 3"
Ginny quickly changed her clothes, after a very un-Ginny-like girly squeal and dance, and then headed out of the complex to send a patronus to Hermione. She wasn't as good at it as Hermione was so she couldn't send several at once with all of them reaching their target. The message would reach the right people quicker and more accurately with Hermione. She quickly went through Harry's flat to grab the parchment so she could tell Harry later and one of Harry's t-shirts to sleep in. Minutes later she was in the kitchen at the Burrow with two very anxious parents.
'Ginny!' Molly complained. 'What in the name of Merlin is going on?'
'Hold on!' she said for what felt like the 100th time. 'Ron, Hermione, and George will be here soon.'
'What about Bill and Percy?' Arthur asked sipping his tea.
'New babies' Ginny said simply. Arthur nodded.
A few minutes later, Ron and Hermione came through the floo to complete their group as George had already arrived.
Ginny stood with a wide smile. 'OK will you tell us now?!' Molly said. 'You're practically shaking.'
'OK' she said trying to marshal her thoughts. 'I have news for everyone. I haven't told Harry yet but I will later.' The room seemed taught with anticipation. 'I have something I need to show all of you.' She reached in her handbag that Hermione had magically extended just like her own, though not as extensively, and retrieved her green Harpies robes.
A few seconds went by during which, all of her family stared at her and the robes she was holding up. Ron was the first to speak up, in typical Ron fashion as well.
'Well ruddy surprising, that is! We already knew that you'd been signed to the harpies.'
'Shut it, git' George snapped tossing an olive at him from the table. 'She's obviously not done yet.'
'Well what's so surprising about the robes anyway?' Ron muttered under his breath.
'Well' she said tossing the robes at him which landed on his hear - Hermione found this very entertaining. 'When you pair those robes with this program for the first match, it makes a big difference.'
She retrieved the program from her bag and handed it to Hermione. 'What is this?' she asked.
Hermione glanced at the cover and then immediately opened it to the first page. Ginny knew, as the quickest thinker in the group, that Hermione would catch on quicker than the others. Within seconds, Hermione had found the page with the starting lineups for each team on it and she too squealed.
'What?!' Molly demanded. Hermione threw the program in the air and nearly knocked Ginny to the ground in a hug. Just as Ron extricated himself from the robes, the magazine hit him in the head as he too was about to ask something. Molly snatched the program up and started rifling through it. She found the same page and then she smiled broadly as well and told Ron and Arthur.
'Ginny got the spot!' Molly said ecstatically and everyone cheered while jumping to their feet.
It was a mark of how supportive of her children Molly was that she didn't try to talk Ginny out of taking the spot. Molly did not approve of Ginny's playing professional quidditch, but she was happy for Ginny nonetheless. Even if she did vow to give her a hard time about it as often as possible.
'Well' Arthur said amidst the throng of hugs and congratulations. 'I suppose that if Ginny is going to share her big news, I suppose I should do the same.'
Molly looked at him questioningly. 'What do you mean, dear?'
'Well, I had a visit from Kingsley today' Arthur said clapping his hands together looking very excited. 'He came to tell me... Maggie Walsh retired today.'
'Well that was sudden' Hermione said surprised.
'His thoughts as well' Arthur said nodding his head. He was clearly enjoying this dance, keeping all of them waiting. Molly, however, was starting to look agitated.
'Well, get on with it.' she snapped.
'Well he came to talk to me about that position just like last time.'
'But I thought Percy chose not to take that job.' Ron chimed in. 'Said he didn't feel right, or something like that.'
'Ah but there's the difference' Arthur said bouncing on his toes. 'This time, he offered the job to me.'
There was a long pause in which the only sound that could be heard was chirp of crickets outside and crackle of the fire. Arthur was clearly waiting for someone to say something, probably a loud "Congratulations!", but they had all been stunned into silence. The wide smile on his face began to slowly slide away. George was the first of them to break the silence.
'You've got to be bleedin barking'
Arthur looked outraged and stomped his foot once. 'I am not!' he said in amused frustration.
'You're...' Molly began slowly. 'You are being offered the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic?'
'Not just offered' he said touching the end of her nose with his finger.
Molly began immediately jumping up and down screaming in delight. Soon after, they all joined her. They never thought, in a million years, that their father would be named to such an important and prestigious position.
After another round of congratulations and an odd celebratory dance from George, they all settled down for a good meal from Molly and Arthur began detailing what all this position would entail for him. As it turned out, not only did Arthur's new position come with a substantial pay increase, but it included certain rights and privileges to go with the office.
Firstly, he now had equal standing with any and every department head across the entire Ministry and he was immediately granted a seat in the Wizengamot. He would also be assigned a protective detail anytime his work took him outside of the Ministry. However, this also meant his on the clock time would increase as well. Press situations, any and every time a new law or policy was passed, any major department personnel change, Department of Mystery's inspections, Azkaban administration, and many more things would cross Arthur's desk first before ever reaching Kingsley.
Most importantly though, he would be granted access to the embassy in any other allied country where an embassy existed, all free of charge. Meaning, Molly could finally achieve her lifelong goal of traveling the world without fear of the cost running them broke.
Molly was near tears most of the rest of the night. When asked by Hermione, Molly just said that it was years of hard work finally paying off and watching Arthur finally get rewarded for all his talent. Ginny had to admit, watching how happy her mother and father were, she couldn't help but feel a significant twinge of sadness that Harry wasn't there. But she knew that he was doing something important.
Ginny had at least two glasses of her Father's firewhiskey before bed that night meaning by the time bedtime came around, she was feeling slightly lightheaded and a little silly. Hermione and Ginny giggled as they ascended the stairs. Ginny stopped at her own bedroom and Hermione kept going. Ginny sincerely hoped that Hermione would remember a good silencing charm. Judging by the look on her face, there would be a need for one.
Ginny immediately retrieved her parchment to Harry and began writing fervently. And perhaps a little messier than normal.
Washington D.C.
Harry stood in the Observation room watching Bob Allen and Gabe Martinez talk to Shawna,whose name he had finally learned. As soon as they realized who she was, the other MDFA agents had gotten very hostile. They were convinced that she was corrupt and immediately began treating her with incredible disdain and hostility. On the other hand, Harry had misgivings, not necessarily about whether she was guilty but what exactly she was guilty of.
Her tears had said more about her feelings than any of the words she had said since Harry had arrested and bound her. Actually, she was being stoically silent in her interrogation. So much so that Harry had become increasingly impressed given how emotional she had immediately gotten. Now she was sitting in an interrogation room with two men, both whom were fairly intimidating, but neither of them had gotten a word from her. She just sat silently in her chair with tears pouring down her face.
When they had gotten back to the COH, Harry had sat at her desk for a few minutes while they "booked her" as he now knew it was called. Something had seemed off from the beginning but it only seemed to get more bewildering as he sat there. In her small cubicle were only a few things but they had been obviously placed with incredible care. A large notepad with several scribbles on it, a stack or parchment sheets pre-ready to fly at a moment's notice to anywhere in the city with just a tap of a wand, her "I Luv NYC" coffee mug, and several pictures of her and what seemed to be various family members.
As Harry stood watching the interrogation, something occurred to him. He rounded, headed out the door, down a few corridors, and back into COH. There were two other agents going through her notes and case files, but Harry wasn't interested in any of those things.
The items in her workspace had been repeatedly placed in the same location. So much in fact, that discoloration shown around the areas where her notepad and coffee mug were sitting. He looked on top of her filing cabinet to see marks in the dust for all four of her photos. But only three were there. The fourth had been placed front and center of her workspace. This picture contained two young ladies both smiling happily and waving at them all. One was clearly Shawna and the other was probably her best friend.
While Shawna was petite with brown hair, her friend was quite a bit taller and red haired like Ginny but not as bright. Harry asked the agents if he could take the picture and when they affirmed that he could, he started his way back to the interrogation area. When he returned to observation, two people were already there. One was Sam Bresnahan and the other was Linder. They turned to his entrance and Sam gave a polite nod before returning her gaze to Shawna.
'What is that?' Linder grumbled without looking at the picture.
'It's a picture of Shawna and somebody, I don't know who.'
'Why do you have it?' Bresnahan asked turning to look at Harry.
'Shawna's desk was meticulously organized. All of her photos were placed very deliberately on top of the filing cabinet. Except this one' he said showing the picture to them. 'This one had been moved to the center of the desk'
'And?' Bresnahan asked expectantly.
'And look at it' he pressed. 'It has marks in the dust'
'So?' Linder said waving errantly.
'So look at the marks' Harry placed his fingers on the picture in all of the marks were dust was gone. 'She's been holding this picture a lot lately. Something has changed and if we can figure out what' he paused for a second not knowing why exactly he wanted so badly for her to be innocent, 'maybe she will open up and start talking.'
Bresnahan motioned for the picture and she imitated Harry, placing her fingers in the negative spaces of dust. 'Well it's worth a shot' she said handing it back. 'It probably couldn't make her clam up more.'
'Clam up?' Harry asked.
'Clam up' Bresnehan repeated. 'Sealed lips, tight. Like a clam closing its shell'
'Ah ok' Harry said. 'So do you want to...' he finished holding onto the last word.
'No you go ahead' Bresnahan gestured towards the glass. 'You found it. Maybe your soothing British accent will help her talk?'
'Soothing British... what?'
'Just go' she laughed. Harry shook his head but made his way around the corner nonetheless. He knocked on the door quietly and waited. Martinez opened the door a few seconds later looking a little frustrated, though Harry didn't know whether it was with him or Shawna. Martinez gestured to allow him in and Harry walked in casually. Allen took a deep breath and stepped back from the table she was sitting at.
'I'm gonna get some coffee' he said and stamped out of the office.
'Good evening' Harry said as emotionlessly as possible hoping to keep the tone business-like. Her response was barely more than a whimper.
'You realize the seriousness of the situation you are in, don't you?' Harry said looking her in the eye. She was on the verge of tears but had been nearly the entire time. She nodded her head, but Harry kept his eyes down after he said it. He was going to try and get her to talk.
'May I sit?' he asked Martinez who, slightly confused, nodded.
'You do realize, yes?' He asked again. Again she nodded, but Harry was looking away.
'Ms. Williamson, you must excuse me, I am used to a different world across the pond' he said with a slight smile. 'I'm going to need you to say something.'
'I understand' she said in the tiniest of voices.
'You understand that as a member of this department, you face a multitude of charges as well as breach of contracts you signed when you were employed here as a...?' Harry turned to Martinez this time.
'Logistical Coordinator' he supplied.
'A Logistical Coordinator' Harry repeated. Shawna nodded again, but Harry just looked at her.
'Yes' she finally said.
'So the prospect of prison doesn't make you want to answer Mr. Martinez's questions?'
She vigorously shook her head. Harry looked at her this time questioningly though she mistook the expression and said 'No' a little louder than before.
'So you're not going to divulge the name of the supplier you work for?'
'No'
'And you won't tell us why you were in Capitol Heights so late selling this narcotic?'
'No'
'And you won't tell us whether you have compromised any operations for MDFA?'
'No but I haven't'
'If you won't tell us, then why did you just do so?'
Silence for several seconds. Harry pressed on.
'You won't tell us where you acquire the drug?"
'No'
'Or who your regulars are?'
'I don't... no'
'Or why you burst into tears tonight?'
'No'
'Then tell me who this is' Harry said placing the picture on the table between them rather forcibly.
She eyed the picture for several seconds before a single tear streamed down her cheek. 'That's' she began choked before clearing her throat. 'That's Rachel Winton.'
At this, Gabriel turned his head all the way to see the picture. He looked at it for several seconds drawing both Harry's and Shawna's attention before he left the room quietly.
'And who is Rachel Winton?'
'She... she's my best friend?'
'And where is she?'
'I don't know.'
Harry looked her in the eye again and saw truth there. Undeniable truth. 'Is she a dealer too?'
Shawna shook her head vigorously.
'How about an addict?' Harry asked rather coldly. He was still hoping to get her to talk, even angrily.
'NO.' Shawna shot back at him. 'Of course not.'
'Did you two have a fight recently?'
Shawna shook her head.
'Then what happened?' Harry asked gesturing wildly. 'Why is this picture no longer in its place on your shelf? What happened that -'
Just then the door opened and Martinez came back in gesturing for Harry to join him in the doorway. Harry looked at Shawna, tears streaming down her face steadily, and then walked to join Martinez.
'She knows something' Harry said without preamble. 'I don't know what but it's something.'
'Impatient aren't you' Martinez stated less as a question and more as a statement. He was holding up a case file which Harry retrieved and Martinez started filling him in quietly so Shawna wouldn't hear. 'When she said the name, it sparked a memory. I went found a clerk to find me this case file.'
Harry opened the file and looked at the name on the sheet.
'That' Martinez continued, 'is Rachel Winton. She's been missing for 6 weeks. Her roommate reported her missing after 3 days without seeing her. Look at the second picture.'
Harry flipped to the second picture to find the same two girls smiling and waving at them. Rachel was much younger in this picture as was Shawna but it was nearly the same picture that was on Shawna's desk with the only difference being that they were separated by a few years. Clearly, these two girls were very close at one point and possibly still were.
'How did you not see this?' Harry asked. He was surprised to find himself so perturbed. A line of notes reading "Girl most likely runaway. No evidence to suggest otherwise" written by whoever had bothered to investigate at all caused his blood to start to boil.
'I've been glued to this Dragon Ride situation since the very beginning' Martinez sniped back. 'And I'm not in the Missing Person's sector anyway! I recognized her from the flyer on the wall.' He gestured to the bulletin board next to the lift. It was plastered with missing persons flyers. 'When I went to get the case file, I found the picture.'
'That's irrelevant!' Harry said angrily. 'If a person with half a brain investigated this case, they should have found this connection with someone inside this very office!'
'What's going on?' The voice came behind them from outside of the interrogation room. Bresnahan had walked up during their argument and she did not look happy. 'Aren't you supposed to be conducting an interview not out here arguing like children!' Harry glanced behind him momentarily. Shawna still looked terrified but she wasn't any risk to anyone more than herself and they had already confiscated her wand. He closed the door behind him, but Martinez wasted no time.
'The famous Harry Potter is questioning my ability to do my job!'
'I am not!' Harry said back just as angrily.
'Then wha- '
'I'm questioning this entire office!' Harry continued. 'This office obviously did not spend an kneazle's hair of time investigating the disappearance of this girl.'
'I agree' Linder growled.
'I beg your damn pardon' Bresnahan said firing up immediately looking between the two of them. 'Just who do you think you are?'
'I'm an Auror' Linder and Harry said together. Harry brought himself to his full height and was happy to notice that he was the tallest one there.
Linder took another step forward. 'We have been solving crimes and catching dark wizards since this country was nothing more than settlers shitting in the forest.'
'Not this boy' Martinez said hotly pointing at Harry.
'Trust me, you don't want to go questioning Potter's credentials.' Linder said with a slight chuckle. 'I've been an Auror longer than any of you have been alive and I've never worked with another Auror with more potential than him. Also, he is probably the best duelist I know.'
Harry would normally have been very taken aback at Linder's words but he was too angry at the moment.
'I don't care' Martinez said flailing his arms. 'This office is the most advanced and successful MDFA office in the entire country - '
'This investigation was superficial at best -'
'Now you wait just a minute - '
'This girl' Harry said opening the file angrily. He turned to face Bresnahan completely ignoring Martinez. 'has been missing for 6 weeks apparently and nobody even bothered to look at this picture thoroughly before writing this off as a runaway.'
'Maybe the picture is new evidence!' Martinez defended.
'Not according to the notes' Bresnahan said distractedly looking over the photo. Her eyes got wider and she looked at it closer. 'It was given by Rachel's parents during the initial investigation.'
'And no one bothered to ask who the other girl was?! Well there she sits' Harry pointed at the door. 'Maybe she knows. Maybe this case is connected with DR. Did anyone consider that? No, because bloody idiot that "investigated" he accented with finger quotes 'this case did so with his head up his arse.'
'Now wait just a damn minute' Martinez said losing all sense of restraint. 'I don't know who the fuck you think you are flying over here and trying to tell me how to do my job but I'll have you know that I've been doing this since your parents were cleaning your shitty diapers and I won't have a child tell me anything. Especially a stiff ass brit.'
Harry felt his magic coursing within him. Over the last year, he'd learn to notice the subtle signs that his overpowered magic was about to lash out. Just as he was about to give Martinez a scathing retort, another voice growled at them from nearby.
'I'd be careful if I were you' Linder said smiling slightly. Proudfoot and Dawlish were with him as well and both looked alarmed. 'Potter may seem young and naive, but I watched him lift a muggle car a hundred feet or so in the air while fending off two fully grown werewolves. He may look weedy but he is quite talented.'
'I don't care!' Martinez said angrily never looking away from Harry who returned his gaze just as fiercely.
'You can get all in a tizzy if you want, but Potter's right' Bresnahan said resignedly. She put a hand on Martinez' should who was still fuming.
'Aye, he is' Linder added frustrated.
'I've never even spoken to Shawna but even I can tell she is the girl in this picture and that alone should have been enough to investigate this further.'
'Who investigated that case?' Martinez said more calmly. He was still visibly angry but was apparently trying to keep it more contained whether he was realizing his error or nervous about insulting his new boss, Harry didn't know.
'Stan Miller' she replied in a small voice removing her hand from his shoulder. At this, Martinez completely disarmed. Her turned to hold her gaze and Harry noticed something there. It wasn't outright fury that he'd seen a moment ago but he was angry along with a few other emotions. Shock and regret amongst them.
'Who is Miller' Dawlish asked taking a few steps forward to join the conversation now that tempers had started to simmer down.
'He was a muggleborn wizard who grew up in a house of police detectives and former FBI agents. When he came to the magical world, he followed in their footsteps.'
'FBI?' Proudfoot asked.
'Basically Muggle MDFA' Martinez said turning his back on them. 'He was my partner when I first started. He'd been in the business since the 70's and he trained me how to be a real agent. We were partners for ten years. I wanted to move up the ladder but he liked where he was at so I got promoted and we stopped being partners.'
'What happened?' Harry asked looking from Linder to Bresnehan.
'About 5 weeks ago, he was out in the field and was killed. He was following what he thought was a low-level DR dealer who turned out to be a major player.'
'I'm sorry' Harry said immediately. He couldn't imagine losing Linder like that and he remembered all too well losing Allen Bashir, his first boss in the Auror department.
'Who's to say' Martinez started and then took a deep breath 'that this girl even knows anything.'
'Well we won't know' Harry said looking at Dawlish 'until we ask her.'
During the last year, Savage's widow had gone missing. Dawlish had always promised to keep an eye on her if anything ever happened to him so he had the most recent experience. He would most likely know how Shawna felt.
'Agent Bresnahan' Dawlish said calmly. 'May Harry and I speak with Shawna for a few minutes?'
'Sure?' she said sounding confused. Dawlish nodded and headed to the door. He went through first and sat down across the table from Shawna. Harry stood next to the door intent upon observing.
'Good evening , my name is John. We are both from the UK' Dawlish said with a slight smile and a gesture to Harry. 'I would ask you how you are, but I already know you're terrified.'
She made no reply.
'Ms. Williamson, I need you to tell me something' he went on setting the picture down in front of her. 'What happened to your friend?'
She stared at the picture for several seconds before shaking her head vigorously.
'Do you remember the last place you saw her?'
She shook her head again. This time, Dawlish frowned slightly.
'You ...don't remember?' He asked again. Again she shook her head.
'Is she in some kind of danger?' Dawlish asked through narrowed eyes. Shawna looked him in the eye in a dead stare and said very clearly,
'Yes'
'What danger?' She continued to stare.
'When did she go missing?'
'I ... I don't know'
'You don't know?' Harry repeated a little narrow eyed now as well.
'Isn't she your -' but he stopped with a gesture from Dawlish.
'You don't remember when you saw her last?'
She shook her head.
'You don't know where she is?'
She shook her head.
'You don't know who kidnapped her?'
She shook her head. Harry was starting to catch on.
'And you won't tell us who your supplier is?' Head shaking 'Or where you get it?' Head shaking. 'Or why it is she was kidnapped?' Vigorous head shaking.
'Thank you, Ms. Williamson.' Dawlish said standing. 'You've been a major help.'
Shawna looked at Dawlish in wild alarm. Harry and Dawlish left the room to find Linder, Martinez, and Bresnahan leaving the observation room.
'What was that?' Bresnahan asked.
'Unbreakable Vow' Martinez, Linder, Proudfoot, and Harry all said simultaneously.
'What? Why do you think - '
'Martinez' Harry interrupted. 'When was the last time you talked to your old partner?'
'Two days before he died' Martinez said. 'We were joking about one of the mail girls that comes through here on occasion.'
'You'll never forget that' Harry said going over his last conversation with Sirius in his mind. 'Never'
'But she wouldn't say.' Dawlish continued. 'She wouldn't tell us anything or even say anything. She just shook her head. And the questions she could answer weren't incriminating in any way.'
'My theory' Linder said rubbing his chin stubble. 'Rachel Winton and Shawna Williamson were both kidnapped. Shawna's position in this office opens doors for DR. But Rachel was in the wrong place at the wrong time.'
'Shawna was released so she could continue to work' Bresnehan added
'-But was subjected to the Unbreakable Vow so that she wouldn't be tempted to get help or rat out the people holding Rachel.' Martinez said turning to face them. 'She is probably being forced to go to these drug deals for them so that she will be caught instead of them and she can't rat them out.'
'She is being used and her best friend is the leverage' Harry said.
'Aye, bloody cowards' Linder said darkly.
'It's all circumstantial' Bresnehan said after several quiet moments. 'We can't hold her for anything and at best, this is all a crazy theory.'
'We can hold her for distribution of DR' Martinez offered. 'We will be able to hold her for 36 hours without cause.'
'That's true' she acquiesced.
'So now what do we do?' Dawlish asked. 'We can't ask her anything. Even if she can tell us anything, it would kill her to do so.'
'We start over' Bresnahan said standing taller and opening the file in her hands again. 'Square one. From the beginning, Miller thought this was a runaway and did very little from the kidnapping point-of-view. Go back to the beginning and rework this as a DR Kidnapping.'
'Potter and I will revisit her flat' Linder said pointing at harry.
'Her apartment, you mean?' Martinez asked.
'Same ruddy thing, you twonk'
'What is a -'
'Damnit Gabe, shut up!' Bresnahan snapped. 'Pull Diez and Kanaan off of that theft case and have them canvas the last known places that Rachel Winton was known to be. Take Ms. Williamson to a holding cell, get her any drink she asks for and then you go re-interview her parents and see if there is a DR connection Miller didn't catch.'
'I'll go with him' Proudfoot said. Martinez nodded and the two walked away to take Shawna to a cell.
'And what should I do' Dawlish said looking at Linder.
'You keep looking for Alice Bartrand Lott' Linder said while digging through his pockets. He always tried to make sure he was ready for anything when going out into the field. 'And maybe see if there is a way to release someone from and Unbreakable Vow that doesn't involve death.'
Dawlish nodded and headed back towards the small workstation that had been set up for them. Harry had just begun to follow Linder towards the lifts when an idea struck him.
'Hang on' Harry said out loud.
'What?' Linder said looking slightly alarmed. Harry turned and followed Dawlish to the workstation as well. He rifled through the papers there until he found the photograph he was looking for.
'What are you doing?' Dawlish asked him.
'Testing a theory' Harry said offhandedly.
He took the picture and hurried back to the interrogation room to find Proudfoot and Martinez walking a white-faced Shawna down the hallway.
'Martinez, hold on a moment' Harry said. Martinez looked like he was about to argue, but Harry talked ahead of him.
'Shawna, can I ask you one more question?' Harry said as politely as he could. She nodded her head. 'Do you know who this is?' He held up the picture of Alice Bartrand Lott. Shawna looked at it for several seconds. Suddenly her face lit up and she moved closer to it.
'No, but I've seen her. I've talked to her.' Shawna said conspiratorially. 'I talked to her at a bus stop I was at in Philly.'
'Why were you at this bus stop?' Harry said immediately expecting her to just shake her head. Harry was not disappointed.
'How long ago was this?' Martinez asked her stepping farther up to look her in the eye. She lost what little color she had left.
'A week ago. Last Tuesday, mid-morning.'
'Where exactly were you?' Martinez pressed.
'Pennsylvania University'
'Ok thank you' Harry said stepping aside letting them pass. They got nearly to the end of the hall when Harry called back to them again.
'Shawna' he said. She turned back to look at him. 'We are going to find your friend. I promise.'
Shawna nodded and turned around again. Harry felt very sorry for her as he watched her go.
'Potter!' Linder yelled from somewhere, presumable the lifts. 'The Wizengamot will vote dragons as house pets before you make it back here.'
Harry sighed and began jogging. 'I'm coming, you grumpy old git!' Linder barked a single laugh.
A half hour later, Harry found himself outside of a small complex called Stonebridge Meadows Apartments which was in a modest looking gated community and the apartments themselves looked slightly aged but well taken care of. There were cars parked in nearly every slot and there was a pool in a central area between the buildings where a few families were enjoying the sunny weather.
'Flat number 621' Linder said evenly pointing at a building with a large 6 on the side of it. They made their way towards it and quickly found the correct room. Linder knocked on the door and waited a few moments until the door opened and they were greeted by a strikingly beautiful young girl. Long, flowing brown hair framed a very angular and pretty face. Her eyes were a startlingly grey and when she glanced at Linder, they bulged and she took a slight step back. Linder huffed and moved to the side slightly and she caught sight of Harry. She leaned as well and looked Harry full in the face, she broke into a wide smile.
'You're Harry Potter, you are' she said in an extremely familiar accent. Linder too looked surprised.
'And you're... you're English' Harry replied returning her smile.
'Yes I am' she said nodding and leaning against the door. 'My mum and I moved to the states a few years ago to escape You Know Who. She's a muggle nurse and I wanted to be a healer so I finished my training at Ilvermorny's Healer Academy and started work here in D.C.'
'Well it is nice to see a friendly face' Harry said politely.
'I know what you mean' she said and jolted off the door. 'Where are my manners? Please, come in, come in. You must tell me why you're here.'
The three of them made their way through the door into the sitting room of a small, two bedroom apartment. A simple kitchen was to the left and two doors, assumedly bedroom doors, were to their right.
'We' Linder said turning to look at her. Before he could even say two words, she had begun eyeballing Linder with much apprehension. He sighed, but continued. 'We are here about your missing roommate: Rachel Winton.'
Her expression changed to confusion and she looked between the two of them. 'Why would two English Aurors be investigating a missing person in the US? I think that Detective Miller was on Rachel's case.'
'He was' Harry said. 'Unfortunately, Mr. Miller passed away a few weeks ago. So we are revisiting everything to get a fresh approach.'
'But wouldn't this be a MDFA case?'
Before Harry could answer her, Linder began violently coughing startling both Harry and the young girl.
'Are you ok?' Harry asked clapping him on the back.
He nodded and spoke in a very gravelly voice to the young girl. 'I couldn't trouble you for a glass of water could I? Miss...?'
'Oh my name is Emily Denbighy and of course you can.' She jumped to her feet and went to the kitchen. Linder immediately leaned to Harry's ear and whispered.
'This young bird is terrified of me but she might marry you if you asked. You talk to her, see if you can get her to relax and think.'
Harry nodded and waited for her to return. She handed Linder a cold water bottle and moved back across the room from them. Harry couldn't help but notice that she had positioned herself closer to Harry on her return. Once again, Linder was right. He also noticed how gracefully she moved about the apartment and judging by the picture of her on the wall behind her, Harry could tell why.
'Were you a duchess or something?' Harry asked pointing at the picture. It was of her in a very pretty silver gown with a tiara on top of her head. Also in the picture was an older woman who looked very much like Emily.
'Duchess?' She turned to look. 'Oh no, not at all. That was just a beauty pageant I won in our hometown. She pushed me to enter it because she had been in it as a young lady as well.'
'You won, I take it?'
'Yes' she said blushing slightly, but smiling all the same.
'The gown is very pretty' Harry stated trying to return the smile. He felt very awkward.
'Weren't you here about Rachel?'
'Oh yes, of course.' Harry said running his hand through his hair. 'You were the one who reported her missing?'
'Yes. I got up one day and she wasn't here. After a couple of days, I went to the local police who sent me to the MDFA.' Harry nodded making a note.
'Do you mind' Linder said pointing to the two doors, 'If I look around her room?'
Emily shook her head and pointed to the door on the left. Linder opened it and surveyed.
'How did you two meet?' Harry asked her looking at her over his glasses.
'She took out an ad in the paper. I responded, the rest is history as they say.'
'How long have you been flat mates?'
'A bit over a year.'
Harry paused for a second trying to think. How would DR tie into a disappearance?
'Were there...' he started 'Have there been any major changes in the last few months?'
'No' she said slowly. 'Not really. I mean, she dated this bloke from Anacostia for a few weeks but he hadn't been around for a while.'
'Do know you his name?' Linder asked stepping up slightly.
'Byron, or Bryan. Something like that. I can't remember.' She looked a little apologetic and Harry seized the opportunity to try to soften her a bit more.
'That's ok' he said as sweetly as he could. 'But if you could describe him, that would help.'
She nodded and smiled, still blushing. 'He was tall, maybe a bit taller than you. Blonde hair, square face, and a goatee. He was pretty skinny, but muscular for his size, you know?'
'Anything distinguishing?' Harry pressed. 'Something unique? A tattoo perhaps and maybe... a scar?' he finished with a chuckle.
'No, not that I can... wait. Yes, yes he had a tattoo on his forearm. It was red. I asked him where he got it and he wouldn't tell me.'
'Can you describe the tattoo?' Harry asked eagerly.
'It looked like scratch marks.' Harry looked at Linder who returned his knowing gaze. 'It looked like the marks cat claws would leave.'
'You mean...' Harry flipped through some photos he kept with them in case they needed it 'like this?'
He held up a photo of the tattoo they had found on three previous dealers of DR back home. Emily looked at it for merely a second before nodding.
'Yes just like that' she said slightly confused. 'Does that mean anything? Did I help?'
'Yes' Harry said emphatically. 'Can you do something for us, Ms. Denbighy?'
'Emily, please.' She said placing a hand on Harry's forearm. He felt his face heat slightly. 'Of course.'
'We need you try to produce a picture of this man. Can you picture him in your mind? Just his face?'
'Yes' she said slowly. 'But I can't draw and I'm not that good at describing -'
'Oh you won't have to' Harry said and looked at Linder.
'Ms. Denbighy, I'm going to teach you a spell.'
After a few tries and several mispronunciations of Orisiotractus a very uncomfortable looking Emily held up a satisfactorily sketched image of the UnSub produced by the MindShot spell.
'UnSub?'
'Sorry. Unkown Subject' Harry clarified. 'Thank you again Ms. Denbighy' Harry said reaching to shake her hand.
'Emily, please' she repeated. 'If there is anything else, you need, you'll know where to find me.'
She was looking at Harry very strangely. Linder threw his hands in the air angrily and stalked away.
'Uhhh yes, I suppose I will.' Harry muttered uncomfortably.
'I could always come to you, if you'd like' She continued. 'Maybe we could get a drink sometime and see if there is anything else I can think of.'
'I'll... I'll let you know' he said releasing her hand. 'Thank you.'
Harry walked towards the door, Emily at his heels, and left the flat. Once he got outside with the door securely closed behind him, he found Linder at the bottom of the stairs giving him a very perturbed look.
'Are you quite finished? Or do you have a date to attend?' He said gravelly.
'Shut it' Harry snapped. 'Let's get back, see what we can make of this.'
'Yea, maybe we can make a candlelight dinner for you two to discuss it over.'
'I said shut it!'
