Chapter 10: Father's Sin
Kingsley's uneasiness grew with each passing moment. Reports showed that his right hand man had numerous unscheduled absences from duty. The meetings about the new bill which was relevant to the Privilege of the Pure-Bloods were postponed many times. The Daily Prophet reporters including Rita Skeeter fussed that the bill would be rejected. Things were wrong in the world, and Kingsley felt powerless against the growing feeling that it wasn't going to get better any time soon.
Everything came to a head when Haas's wife came to tell him her husband had just been admitted to St . Mungo's.
Rose stared at the front page of the Daily Prophet and contemplated for a while. Vice-Minister Haas was in St. Mungo's. The most important bill of the term had not passed. Her porridge was not touched at all. The only thing she wanted to do right now was ask her mother some questions. James talked to her from behind.
"Aren't you hungry, Rosie?"
"Oh, I was reading this." She handed the newspaper to him.
"Politics? Are you interested in entering the Ministry like your mum?" He handed it back to her.
"I don't know. When will Uncle Harry come back?"
James shrugged. "I don't know. Haven't you heard when my dad and yours come back?"
"They didn't contact us via Floo Network or the owls."
"What did he say about his father, Malfoy?" James glanced back at the Slytherin table. "I can't see the Malfoy boy. I suspect he's at the owlery. He must be missing his dad."
"He is with Albus at Hagrid's hut. They'll be back soon."
James frowned. "When did my brother become his mate?"
"Perhaps since the Gryffindor tryouts. Your fascinating stand play attracted him."
"Oh, did he watch my play?" James asked with his head held high, twinkling his brown eyes.
"You and Teddy are the most famous and popular at Hogwarts. He admits the fact."
Teddy, whose hair color changed from vivid purple to ginger red, cut in their conversation.
"Hey Rosie, what are Albus and Malfoy up to? I often see them going to Hagrid's hut. Tell him we need a Seeker for the early morning practice if we're going to win the game against the Ravenclaws at the end of this month."
"Oh, ask him directly. Here they come." Rose waved her hands towards them.
Albus and Scorpius were running into the Great Hall. Rose noticed Scorpius face was bright with excitement, which showed their plan was finally worked out. Albus sat down next to her as she watched the other boy go back to the Slytherin table.
"Well, did you guys finish?" she asked Albus.
"Yep, finally." Albus grabbed a toasted Sunny-Side up egg and took a big bite.
"What were you doing?" James swiped his brother's bacon and chewed with satisfaction.
Albus frowned at him and said,"None of your business. We helped Hagrid with a project."
"Well, if you're so secretive, I'll owl my Dad."
"Oh, don't tell him yet!" shouted Albus.
"Yet? What do you mean?"
"I can't tell you."
Teddy handed a goblet of pumpkin juice to Albus.
"Brother, you didn't show up in our early morning practice recently. Do you recognize how important the first match against Ravenclaws?"
"Yes, I do, Captain. We have to win against Victoire. But isn't it easier for you to win her? If you kiss her in the middle of the game..." then he was smacked by Teddy on the back. "Ouch!"
Teddy in his vivid turquoise blue hair, was grinning wide.
After classes, Albus, Scorpius and Rose hurried to Hagrid's hut. Hagrid had already set a grindylow's egg painted in dull green on the dry leaves in the wooden box. Rose looked into it mesmerized.
"Wow, it's beautifully painted, Albus!"
"I helped him, too," Scorpius pouted.
Rose giggled at his attitude. "I'm sorry. I know you've worked so hard. Well done, Scorp!"
"It's a Kappa's egg whichever way yeh look at." Hagrid smiled with satisfaction and served a slice of rock cake on each plate.
"All you have to do is, Scorp?" Albus urged Scorpius to say the rest.
"Yes, I know. I'll ask my father if he got the real ones in Japan and give these to him." Scorpius got serious.
Admiring their art work, he spoke, "Yeah. I hope your father hasn't handed them over yet." He thought in his mind, if Malfoy handed the Kappa's eggs to RL, their hand-work would be in vain. He loved to draw pictures, but painting was an exhausting job. Albus continued, "I sent the second owl to my father but he hasn't replied. I'm afraid he hasn't read my letter yet."
Rose sipped her tea and hesitated to eat the rock cake. "I'm afraid of that too. I'll send owl to my mum."
"Thank you, Rose." Albus took a bite of the cake and said, "Hmm, it's hard to chew, but yummy. Scorp, you'd better try it. This one is better than the one the other day."
Scorpius had been staring at his cake for a while. Encouraged by Albus, he began eating gingerly.
Hagrid smiled at them and said,"I added dried fruits into my rock cake after I got the idea from Molly. I can't wait to see the match. I'm the head of House Gryffindor. Win the game, Albus. Catch the Snitch faster than your Dad."
"I have no confidence at the first match. But I'll do my best." Albus grinned wide.
Harry twirled his holly wand in his hands as he stared at Malfoy. Malfoy had gotten better after he'd had enough sleep. Harry was wondering if it would be wise to try Legilimens upon him. He sensed Malfoy must have been hiding something.
"Malfoy, I can give you Veritaserum whether you are allergic to it or not. Tell me everything you are hiding from me."
Malfoy heaved a big sigh and said, "You're mental, Potter. When will you stop interrogating me? If you want to do Legilimens, try it. I mastered Occlumency." He glared at Harry.
"Okay. I will tell you I got information from Luna and Rolf. It is clear that you visited the Priest. Take us to Priest Dogen."
Malfoy shrugged, but his mind was ruffled and he searched for a way to escape. Then he thought of a plan.
"Alright, I'll send an owl about our visit to Dogen." He was going to send false information that Potter and Weasley were the egg hunters under the disguise of Aurors.
Hana stood in front of the temple gate and gave the two wizards with Professor Malfoy an amused look. One had jet-black hair which revealed the lighting scar on his forehead with an occasional gust of wind. The other had ginger red hair, a rarity in her part of the world. More than that, she was amazed by their fearless determination.
"Good evening, gentlemen. I'm Hana. What can I do for you?"
Harry said, "I'd like to meet the Priest Dogen. I heard from my friend whose grandfather is Newt Scamander about the Kappa's eggs. I need to know if Professor Malfoy found the eggs."
"Why didn't you ask him yourself?" Hana asked. She noticed Harry's eyes were the special green. She remembered that "Seers" lived in the far West land. "Are you a druidic warlock?"
Harry was puzzled at her words. "My mother might be one, but I'm not sure. Well, can we meet your master?" He stared at her dark brown eyes and tried his magic.
Feeling a slight headache, she answered, "Unfortunately, he has left for your country. If you…" her words were cut off suddenly.
Malfoy coughed hard and said, "See? I did as you commanded me. I have to be back at Hogwarts. The students are waiting for me." Then he disapparated away.
"Bloody hell! We didn't expect this. Harry, we have to chase him!" Ron was going to vanish too.
Harry grabbed Ron's arm and said, "No, Ron. We'll stay. Hana, I reckon the Priest Dogen is here."
Ron was surprised. "Harry, did you do Legilimens?"
Harry nodded lightly and continued, "Your master will understand when we have a talk with him." He stared at her eyes again, "I'm sorry I read your mind. Your master is here, I'm sure."
Hana stared back and said, "That's why I asked you if you're a druidic warlock. Seers can read the other's mind." Then she smiled, "Welcome to our magic land. I'll take you to my master."
The Buddhist priest wore an oblong piece of gold and brown ornamental cloth over his plain robes. He sat erect with his legs folded under him when they entered the room, and turned his head in their direction. Harry wondered if he had to sit in the same way as Dogen.
Dogen spoke in his low reassuring voice, "My answer to your question is to save the victims. The man who vanished is also a victim."
"You mean Malfoy? I'm sorry, eh, Professor Malfoy is a victim?" Harry asked.
"Yes, he is. He found the Kappa's eggs. I'm sure he is being threatened by Dark wizards."
"You know Malfoy had been threatened and you let him go?" Ron couldn't hide his distrust.
Unperturbed, Dogen continued, "He'll soon regret what he has done. You'll need this when he wants to adjust his orbit." He pulled out a chained hourglass and held it out to Harry.
Ron peeped in and asked, "Is this a necklace? The top looks like a sandglass."
"Time-turner." Harry muttered, grabbing it in his hand.
"I heard most of them in your country were destroyed. Use it wisely." Dogen beamed at them. "Now I'll let you in on Ninja skills before you go back to your country. Come with me." He stood up and began walking.
Ron whispered to Harry, "Did he do Legilimens on me? How could he find I wanted to learn Ninja skill?"
Harry shrugged. He couldn't guess how to use the Time-Turner. He had a lot to ask Hermione when they got back to Britain. Dogen looked back to them, "We'll do side-along apparation. Take my arms, gentlemen." He tapped him on the arm.
As soon as they grabbed his arms, they vanished and appeared on the side of a gigantic waterfall surrounded by rugged rocks.
He took off his oblong cloth and robes and jumped into the water with only a loincloth remaining. He bobbed up and down on the surface of the water and moved right to the foot of waterfall. Standing, he folded his hands and started chanting a prayer. Harry urged Ron to remove his clothes and they jumped one by one into the water. Shivering, they swam towards the priest and did the same movements. Hearing the howling of the waterfall, they nearly choked with falling water. After the ascetic practice, Dogen swam back to the spot where he jumped and they followed him. Casting a drying charm, Dogen smiled at them,
"How long can you swim?"
Ron didn't answer and continued drying his body and soaked hair.
Harry answered, "As we use Bubble-Head charm or Gillyweed, for two hours or so." He pointed the tip of his holly wand to his hair and cast a drying charm. Oddly, he felt warm after swimming in the cold water.
"You'll need to swim with the victims to save them. You need to develop stamina." Dogen noticed Ron was looking at him with much expectation. "Are you eager to learn more about the art of Ninja? Good! Follow me" Then he started running.
The priest ran faster than the wind, Harry thought. He soon heard his mate breathe hard next to him. Harry also gave up trying to catch up with Dogen. They jogged for a while and took off their Auror robes and sat down on the ground.
"Where's the priest?" Panting, Ron asked.
Harry looked around, but Dogen had vanished. Then he got knocked on the head from behind with a wooden sword. Rubbing the spot Dogen attacked, Harry stood instantly and got ready for the next attack pulling his wand high.
"Constant vigilance, gentlemen. I'll tell you how to do a moment movement. You get the strength of your magic from the wind, Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley, your strength is the ground. Concentrate on gaining power from nature. Close your eyes." Dogen folded his hands in prayer again and started chanting.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances and did the same. They repeated the same activity till the sun set. When the sun hid behind the mountains, it was Ron who succeeded first in the skill. Raising a thick cloud of dust, he vanished and reappeared right behind Harry.
"I did it!" Ron cried like a child and clenched his fist in triumph.
Harry got jealous of his mate, and cursed himself for his childish feelings. Dogen chuckled and advised, "Climb the big rock there and do the same movement jumping from there. You can win the wind power to your side."
Harry dashed to the rock as Dogen had said, and climbed to the top. He closed his eyes, folding his hands. He imagined his destination and chanted, "Teleportatio!" Soon he felt his whole body thrown far away then landed right behind his mate.
Ron shouted, "You did it, Harry!" and gave him a five.
Dogen beamed at them, "It was fun to teach you a few skills, young men!"
After going back to Britain, Harry remembered his son's letter, still inside his pocket and unfolded it. He smiled at the scribbles and muttered,
"He inherited my bad handwriting. I have to ask Hermione to tutor him during the winter holidays." The letter began with the talk with a DADA teacher who could speak Mermish. He found a cartoon of the Kappa at the bottom. The picture was well drawn. It had reptilian green and yellow skin with scales and webbed hands and feet. There was a hairless spot on the top of its head.
Then Ron patted him on the shoulder and shoved the Daily Prophet in front of him.
"Have you read this?"
Harry read the front page about the Vice Minister's hospitalization.
"I need to see Kingsley."
At Kingsley's office, the strawberry blonde witch told them that he had already left for 's, fluttering her eyelashes. Ron flushed and asked her,
"When will he come back?"
"He didn't say. Will you go to St. Mungo's? It's speedier to check directly with the Contagious Maladies section. That's the floor where Mr. Haas was sent."
"We'll use the Floo Network. Thank you, miss." They grabbed a handful of Floo powder and went straight to St. Mungo's.
Haas' private room was at the end of the ward. His bed was set inside a cubicle. No one was allowed inside to see the sleeping man, not even his wife. Kingsley was talking with her outside the cubicle, while Harry and Ron waited. When Kingsley noticed them, he urged them to go outside of the room. When they reached the staff room, the Head Healer led them into his office. He shut the door and spoke,
"I've never encountered this type of disease before. I can't find any remedies for this."
"What's happening to him? According to his wife, he suddenly started drinking water all the time, and preferred only salad and fish to meat and bread. His baths got longer. Now he can't speak and can't perform daily functions. Does he have nerve palsy?" Kingsley asked.
"I'm afraid Mrs. Haas doesn't know how or why he is transforming now."
"Transforming?" Harry asked the Healer.
"Yes. Transforming. Since he entered the ward, the staff has checked him regularly. They reported Mr. Haas is transforming into a water demon. This is the first time we have ever seen such a rare disease. I wonder where he was infected."
"Is it contagious?" Ron asked.
"We're not sure."
Harry pulled out the letter Albus had written and showed the hand-drawn picture of a Kappa to the Healer,
"Is he transforming into this?"
The Head of Healers was stunned at the cartoon.
"He's precisely in this state."
Ron peeked in the letter and said,
"He still has hair."
"He's losing his hair little by little." The Healer confirmed.
They exchanged glances. Kingsley, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke.
"Harry, I've been busy with the bill, but what is going on over at Headquarters?"
"I can't tell you here, Kingsley." Harry nodded towards the Healer.
The Healer said, "I'll be back to my patients. If you need me any time, call me." He left.
"So what has happened?" Kingsley asked in his baritone voice.
"Malfoy has been threatened by Lestrange. Lestrange commanded him to get Kappa's eggs. Newt Scamander's eggs were kept in the DM, room number 55, but they seemed to be stolen, an inside job... We found the eye of a needle, the means by which the essence must have been extracted. I suspect Mr. Haas is the targeted victim."
"Do you mean the essence of the Kappa's egg made Mr. Haas transform into a Kappa?
"I suppose so. We'll do our best to find the Counter-Curse." Harry said.
"I'll tell Gawain to watch Malfoy Manor. Lestrange and his followers may visit there during winter holidays to see Draco Malfoy. If the connection between Lestrange and Malfoy is discovered, Draco Malfoy won't be able to escape from Azkaban this time." Kingsley said sternly.
"His game will be up," Ron said.
When Scorpius heard from Rose that her father told her mother about the possibility of Malfoy's arrest, he got depressed. He recalled that his father secretly had a temporary come back before the conference. Rose noticed his gloomy mood before the Potions class started, sat down next to him.
"Are you okay?"
Scorpius didn't say a word and stared at his father who had been preparing for the next class. Malfoy was checking each cauldron.
"I wish I had a time-turner," Scorpius uttered. "If I had one, I could change my father's mind in the past. We made a fake Kappa's egg, but it was useless. My father must have handed them to Lestrange."
"When do you think he did it?"
"Before the conference. He came back to Hogwarts secretly."
"Did he really?"
Scorpius nodded.
"Oh." Rose contemplated for a while and opened her mouth.
"I heard there was only one left in Britain."
"What?"
"A Time-Turner. My mum's talked about it. I'll ask her about it via Floo Network tonight."
Sheets of parchment were scattered on the oak desk. Hermione was overwhelmed by the different numbers of house-elves between the Pure-Bloods and the non-Pure-Blood families. The case in the House of Black (Potter) was rare. Her aim was to set the trusting relationship between house-elves and the wizards as the same level as Kreacher and Winky at Grimmauld Place. The bill had just passed, but the real battle would begin after she submited her documents.
She glanced at her wrist watch and felt irritated. She promised Ron that she would try cooking a Japanese hot pot with him. She felt thankful that Ron was willing to help her with the kitchen recently. She reckoned Harry's words encouraged him during their recent mission in Asia. Ron had been helping George with his joke shop, George was now managing three and he needed his brother's hands. W.W.W. had created innovate products with the ideas of his father and sometimes she helped with the new products and some of them were promoted by Harry and his colleagues. Ron had enjoyed managing the other two branch shops but she knew he had been missing being out in the field. When he contacted her with the two-way mirror, he looked lively after he returned from Asia.
After an hour's intense desk work, she had her finished with all the documents. She stretched herself and cleaned up all the mess on the desk. Satisfied with her accomplishment, she took a step closer to the hearth and grabbed a handful of Floo powder and shouted, "The Burrow!" As she landed on the carpet of the sitting room, her son Hugo welcomed her.
"Mum! You came home early!" He grinned wide at her.
She hugged him and said, "Have you studied your math?"
"Yes, I did. But what for? Dad said we wouldn't use math at Hogwarts.
"Hugo. Most of modern technology needs mathematics. Grandpa Arthur told you we started using their devices mixed with our magic, didn't he?"
"Yes, but it's boring. When will Dad and Uncle Harry come back?"
"Tonight. Oh, Hugo, help Molly with the laundry. I have to prepare dinner."
She went to the kitchen. It seemed that Molly had finished the boiled potatoes and meat pies already. The big steel pot was ready on the stove. She pulled out her wand and pointed at the vegetable knife. Then Hugo came to call her,
"Mum, Rosie is calling you."
Hermione glanced at the vegetables sitting by the cutting board and came back to the sitting room with Hugo. He pointed at the hearth and she saw her daughter's face in the flames.
"Hi, Rosie. How's your studying?"
"Not bad. I envy you, Mum."
"Why?"
"I wish I could have a Time-Turner."
"Oh, Rosie. You inherited my side. I understand your feelings. There're so many subjects to study but you can't choose two in the same period." She smiled at her.
"You said the oldest Time-Turner was found in Britain the other day. Tell me about it in detail, Mum?"
"Well, I happened to hear from my colleague, Casey. She got to know an old witch who lives in Giants Causway, and still keeps in contact with her. "
"Is that in the Druidic district?"
"Yes. The old witch named Nora O'Byrne, came to Hogsmeade to live with her son and his family last month. His name is Padraig O'Byrne. I heard he donated his mother's Time-Turner to Hogwarts last week. It's very rare. It can make you be back two weeks ago at maximum."
"What? You said the Time-Turner is in Hogwarts right now?" Rose was stunned at the news.
Hermione smiled at her, "Yes, it is. If you want to learn two subjects at the same period, you can ask the Headmistress."
The unexpected news made Scorpius delighted. They decided to get together at Hagrid's hut after classes. Albus had a little hard time to reach the hut. James and Teddy halted him.
"Albus, you're going to Hagrid's but we won't allow you to go there this afternoon. If you want to visit him, practice with us first!" Teddy reprimanded him.
Albus exchanged glances with Rose and Scorpius and gave a big sigh.
"I'll race with the reserves double times as usual tomorrow, okay?"
They reluctantly agreed. Albus ran after Rose and Scorpius and caught up with them in front of the pumpkin patch.
"What's the news?" Albus asked Rose.
"I'll tell you inside."
The room was empty except Fang II sleeping by the hearth. There was a note by a tea pot on the big wooden table.
I'll be back soon after the meeting with Minerva.
Rose pointed her wand at the hearth and ignited a fire. They were staring at the wood burning in the hearth. It was Albus who spoke first.
"So what's your plan?"
Scorpius came to his senses, "Did you ask McGonagall to lend you the Time-Turner, Rose?"
"Yes, I did. She will lend it to me tomorrow after lunch."
"Okay, after we get the Time-Turner, you and Scorp will go where?" asked Albus.
"Malfoy Manor. I reckon my father called Lestrange there and handed the eggs him then."
"It's too dangerous for only two of you to go there. We should tell our plan to my Dad." Albus said gingerly staring at Scorpius.
Scorpius didn't say no. Rose continued,
"Right. I'll tell this to my dad as well."
Then they heard the voices outside. Albus dashed to the window and peeped out. He shouted,
"Here they came. Dad and Uncle Ron!"
Hagrid opened the door and came in with Harry and Ron. He spoke,
"Whoa, hah! Surprise! They came to Hogwarts for an investigation."
Scorpius became tense. Rose and Albus jumped into them. Harry hugged his son tight and said,
"Long time no see. How's Quidditch? Do you need a new broom?"
"I like my old broomstick. You don't have to waste your money." Albus grinned.
Hugging Rose, Ron pulled out an oriental comb with pearl inlay and handed it to her. She was mesmerized the beautiful art and said,
"Wow, dad. It's so beautiful. Thank you. How was your stay in Japan?"
"Most of the time, we watched …" Ron hesitated for a while seeing Scorpius and continued, "Malfoy. He had a heavy fever. How's your father now, Scorpius?"
"He's fine, thank you." Scorpius answered shortly and kept silent.
"What will you investigate here, Dad? Is it related to the case we saw on the front page?"
"Yes, Albus. We suspect Professor Malfoy handed the things to the culprits before he left for Japan." Harry said and stared at Scorpius.
Scorpius got pale and uttered,
"You suspect my father committed a crime. If he did that, will you send my father to Azkaban?"
"We have to say 'yes'."
Scorpius breathed hard. Albus took a step closer to him and said,
"We have a chance to change the situation. Dad, we're planning to change the past."
Harry stared at his son with surprise and asked,
"The past? You can't change the past with magic except a Time-Turner. There aren't any Time-Turners left in the Ministry since we intruded there at our school years."
"Hey, Rosie, you and Hermione were talking about the things at the Burrow. Hermione wouldn't tell me what you were talking about. I reckon you were talking about the Time-Turner, weren't you?" Ron asked Rose.
"Yes, we were talking about it. I borrowed it from Professor McGonagall. We're planning to go back to the time Professor Malfoy came back to his house before the conference. Scorp and Albus made a fake egg from the grindylow. If Lestrange gets the fake one, you can arrest him. We have to persuade Professor Malfoy to co-operate to capture Lestrange. If he agrees, he will turn to be a cooperator not an accomplice, won't he?"
"Did Professor Malfoy come back in the middle of his stay in Far East Asia? It's incredible." Hagrid poured tea into mugs.
"That's why he got sick. Repetition of apparition had him exhausted mentally and physically." Harry said. "I'm on it. We'll work with you. Rosie, come back to us as soon as possible after you persuade Malfoy. We'll use the Time-Turner to go back to Malfoy Manor to arrest Lestrange. I'll lend you my Invisibility Cloak. Use it if you feel that your'e in danger or need to hide." He pulled out his Invisibility Cloak and handed it to Rose.
Rose asked, "You said Time-Turners. Does it mean there's more than one?"
Harry winked and said, "Your dad and I will follow you three. If the bad wizards emerge, we'll protect you. Let's go persuade Scorp's dad not to commit a crime."
Author's Note:
Many many thanks to Pixi for beta! I thought of the plot before "the Cursed Child" was released, I swear! Please leave your insight below, thank you!