Chapter XII – There's Nothing Like Seeing Old Friends

The plane landed at Heathrow safely and the six friends were met by Kingsley Shackelbolt.

"I have information you need to see." he told Harry and Ron. "Come to the ministry tomorrow at noon.

Hermione, Ginny, welcome home. Your supervisors are expecting you at training on Monday morning.

Luna, Neville, if you could please come to my office Monday morning at nine I would like Luna to look over the object we believe to be Bellatrix's second Horcrux and possibly examine some other objects if necessary."

Luna looked at Kingsley in a funny way and said, "If my father is feeling better and this month's issue of the Quibbler is ready I will come to your office; but first I have to be sure everything is in order." Then the two of them disapparated leaving the others looking at each other.

"Harry" asked Kingsley, "did you explain things to Luna on the plane ride back."

"Yes," responded Harry, "but you have to remember our priorities aren't Luna's priorities. She hates Bellatrix and will help, but her father and the Quibbler come above everything. When I talked with her and Neville I got the feeling she might say something like this so I talked to Neville alone. He will offer to help Xenophilius with the paper so Luna can come in on Monday as you asked. If Xenophilius is sick however, Luna will stay with her father until she feels he can do without her help. It's the best I was able to get from them. Ginny and Hermione even offered to come and help but Luna knows they really don't believe most of the stuff the Quibbler prints and Luna said no to their help."

"Very well," answered Kingsley, "I will see you two tomorrow at noon."

Kingsley disapparated and after getting their newly purchased American belongings from the baggage pick-up the four of them apparated to Grimmauld Place to find a late meal waiting for them.

"Kreacher" asked Ginny, "how did you know we were coming home tonight.

"Kreacher always knows where Master Harry is." he responded, "How could I serve him properly if I did not know?"

After a fine meal everyone headed off early to bed knowing there was a busy day ahead.

The next morning they all awoke still tired.

"It's Jet Lag," said Hermione. "Our bodies have to adjust to the time difference between Washington and London. We didn't feel it going over because the plane crash had us all pumped up and we were going constantly for almost two days. We'll all feel better tomorrow or the day after."

Over breakfast Harry and Ron discussed what they thought Kingsley was going to show them and about how their new classes starting tomorrow would be. Ginny and Hermione talked separately and seemed to be disagreeing about something. All Harry could hear was that Ginny planned to talk with somebody today and Hermione was trying to convince her it was a bad idea. It reminded Harry of the times in America when Hermione had interrupted Luna and he made a mental note to ask Ginny what this was all about when they were alone.

Just before noon Harry and Ron apparated to the ministry and found Kingsley waiting with a muggle telly box and DVD player on his desk.

"Ron, I had your father set this up for me since he is the only person in the ministry that I thought could do it." said Kingsley. "He got the equipment and had to arrange for electricity to run it. This is why I wanted you here on Sunday. On a normal day if all the ministry workers were here there would be so much magic in the air none of this would work.

The muggle museum where Luna said Bellatrix's second Horcrux was has muggle security and we got this from them. In the last week since I told you about the Horcrux not reacting to being stabbed by the Sword of Gryffindor the ministry has been checking everything we could think of including look alike objects that we want Luna to check; and the possibility that someone got to the Horcrux before we did.

Harry you must be more familiar with muggle devices than I am; start this thing up will you. Arthur said he had it all ready to go."

Harry turned on the telly and started the DVD player. It showed a picture of what was obviously a museum hall at night. The hall was empty and fairly dark but the exhibits were just barely visible. Suddenly two people appeared in the hall out of nowhere; clearly they had apparated in but in the dark hall their faces couldn't be recognized. They moved left and Harry caught sight of an Egyptian statue that looked exactly like what Luna described as Bellatrix's Horcrux. One of them waved a wand and another statue exactly like the first appeared on the floor. The second wizard picked up the real Horcrux and the first wizard replaced it with the copy he had made.

Just then a muggle guard came into the picture holding something in his hand. There was no sound with the picture but Harry could see that the guard spoke to the two wizards and then into the object in his hand. One of the wizards waved a wand and the guard fell to the ground. The wizards seemed to be arguing and then another guard came around a corner. He too was stunned.

The wizards argued more; then one of them preformed spells on both the guards. One of the wizards picked up the real Horcrux and disapparated. The other preformed another spell and disapparated. The two guards woke and began talking to each other then both looked around at the exhibits and walked away.

"Shut it off," said Kingsley," unless you want to see it again. You both realize what it means of course."

"Someone took the real Horcrux." said Harry. "When did this happen? Were the two muggle guards questioned?"

"The muggle guards remember nothing." said Kingsley. "They showed signs of being stunned and having their memories erased. That must be from the spells you saw on the picture. We think the wizards must have been arguing whether to kill the guards and decided if the guards were found dead or just disappeared we would know the Horcrux was taken. They must have decided to wipe the memories and hope we never noticed. Most wizards wouldn't know or think that the muggles might be able to record pictures of what was happening.

As for the time; it was the same night we collected the Horcruxes in the American museum," said Kingsley. "almost to the minute when Jim was killed. We know the American Secretary of Magic's secretary was under an Imperious curse and told the death eaters we knew about the Horcruxes. That's how they were able to get there and attack all of you. They must have contacts over here who were also notified and switched Bellatrix's Horcrux with the fake we found later."

"We need to find out who these two are, if there more death eaters still in Great Britain, and if there are other Horcruxes." said Harry. "If these two know what they were stealing they may have made Horcruxes for themselves without telling Bellatrix. If she didn't know then Luna wouldn't see them in her thoughts but other Horcruxes could still exist."

"Well we got lucky with your first idea at least." said Kingsley. "The muggles were able to brighten up the recording with their electric equipment and get us these pictures of the faces of the two wizards. We just got these late Friday and our Aurors are checking to see if anyone recognizes them. Take a look."

Kingsley slid two nonmoving muggle picture across his desk and both Harry and Ron yelled at the same time, "That Goyle and Nott."

"You know them?" asked Kingsley.

Goyle, Nott, and Crabbe were Slytherins and friends with Draco Malfoy. They helped him with his dirty work while we were all at Hogwarts." said Ron. "Crabb was killed during the battle but I never found out what happened to the other two. As Malfoy backed away from helping Voldemort the others got in closer with the Carrows and learned a lot of nasty spells. Neville could tell you more; he was there all that year."

"I know the Goyles were killed and the Notts are in Azkaban." said Kingsley; "but I don't remember hearing anything about their kids. I'll have the Aurors check and see if the ministry has a record of where they live. In the meantime you two report to your new classes tomorrow and if something comes up I know where to reach you.

"I still think Luna should look over the objects we have just in case." said Harry. Goyle and Nott weren't the smartest and they could have grabbed the wrong object.

When Harry and Ron returned home they picked up Ginny and Hermione and apparated to Jim's parents house to offer their sympathy. Ginny told them of how Jim jumped in front of her pushing her to safety and Jim's mother put her arm around Ginny and started to cry. After an hour the friends offered to help the family in any way that they could, said good-by and apparated back to Grimmauld Place.

That night Harry and Ron filled Ginny and Hermione in on this latest news and they all discussed what they could do to help the ministry.

"I think we just have to let the Aurors do their work." said Hermione finally. "After all you two will have to begin your new classes eight to ten hours almost every day with more homework on top of that and I have my own training schedule for my new position."

Harry sat a second and waited; then said, "Ginny, Hermione didn't mention you. I know you two were arguing about something this morning. What going on?"

Ginny gave Hermione a sort of dirty look and said, "I was going to talk with you later in private but I guess it won't be a secret long so; Harry, I want to try out for a professional Quidditch team. There it is, are you happy Hermione."

Hermione didn't look happy but she didn't say anything.

"Professional Quidditch," yelled Ron. "Are you boggled? Didn't you see how rough the play is at the practice last week? You could get really hurt. Talk to her Harry, tell her no."

Harry held Ginny's hand and said, "I'm not Ginny's master and I can't tell her to do or not to do anything; but I would like to talk it over with you."

Ginny started out with, "I intended to talk to you about it in private as I said but I guess doing it now in front of all of you will save time over having to argue with everyone separately. I've been thinking of it since my fifth year at Hogwarts when we were all on the house team together. I am pretty good Harry, even you admit it. And this doesn't mean I will play, I may not make the team. I just need to know if I am good enough. The practice with the Washington Wizards just brought the idea back to me and I have to know for myself.

I talked with Professor Slughorn today and he sent an owl to Gwenog Jones the captain of the Holyhead Harpies asking her to let me try out. They are practicing for the new season now and if she lets me I want to take one day to do it and if she tells me I'm not good enough that will be the end of it.

I will talk with my supervisor at the ministry and with Kingsley too. I don't want them to think I don't appreciate having the job but I won't be happy if I don't give Quidditch a try."

Harry kissed her and said, "Give it your best try. However, if you make the team I do want to talk more about the dangers of you getting hurt. When is this tryout happening?"

"I don't exactly know," said Ginny, "but soon. The team will be selected in a week or so and I am waiting for Gwenog's owl to let me know if she will give me the chance."

Hermione look looked like she wanted to say something but held her tongue after Ginny gave her another look. They all went off to bed leaving the subject hanging.

Harry and Ron's classes this year would be detecting concealment charms, identifying dangerous charms, and breaking both types without injury to themselves or damage to the surroundings. Monday's first lesson went quickly but a great deal of reading homework was assigned already.

Hermione was working in the magical creature relations office trying to get better conditions for house elves, and Ginny in magical law enforcement.

After work Tuesday Ginny announced an owl from Gwenog Jones had arrived telling her to show up with her broom Thursday morning for a tryout. She had talked with Kingsley and her direct superior and both agreed to give her the day though her superior may have been influenced by the fact that Ginny already had Kingsley's approval note with her when she asked him.

Wednesday went quickly and Thursday morning as they sat at the breakfast table it was hard to tell who was most nervous. Harry kept apologizing for not being able to take time off to watch Ginny's tryout and Ginny kept assuring him she would be less jittery and better off without him watching. She promised to send an owl either way as soon as she knew something and then they all disapparated to their own destinations.

Harry had trouble concentrating all day and kept thinking he was hearing owls pecking at the classroom door. After five he and Ron met Hermione and apparated home together. Ginny sat sipping tea in the kitchen. As Kreacher prepared cups for the others Ginny took a half an hour to relate her story of the tryout. "All in all," she finished," I thought I did fairly well but the keeper did block quite a few of my shots so I don't know. Gwenog said she will send an owl after she and the manager have time to talk things over. The announcement of the team roster is set for Monday so I will hear something before then."

Just then the bell rang and Harry went to the door to find Kingsley waiting on the stoop.

"Come in Minister." he said in the formal tone sensing this was not a pleasure call. Would you like to come to the kitchen or would you rather talk in the drawing room."

"I need to talk with you and Ron in private," he said, "so the drawing room may be better."

Harry called Ron and they took seats across from Kingsley.

"We haven't been able to find a trace of Goyle or Nott." Kingsley said. "Their parents' houses are empty, look like nobody has been there since the Battle of Hogwarts."

"What next?" asked Harry.

I told the head Auror what you told me in my office and someone in the Aurors' office suggested we talk with Draco Malfoy. You said Goyle and Nott were friends with him, maybe he knows something that will help.

"Draco and his parents broke with the death eaters during the battle." Harry said. "I don't think he is with them again."

"Maybe not," said Kingsley, But that doesn't mean he hasn't seen Goyle or Nott around or talked to them lately. We think you two should talk with him at his house; politely, like old friends. It will be less threatening than pulling him into the Auror's office so you may get more from him.

"Like old friends?" said Ron. "He jinxed us dozens of times and tried to kill us both. He may be reformed but he is hardly an old friend."

"Still," said Harry, "We do know him and he may talk with us rather than the Aurors. He may feel the Aurors are still trying to get him on something after all this time. Minister, do you mind if I go and take Ginny with me. She told me about working out a truce with Draco during the year Snape was Headmaster. Ginny, Neville, and Luna were leading the opposition to Snape and the Carrows and Draco came to them to ask for a truce. Because he honored that truce he didn't identify us to Bellatrix the time we were captured. Maybe seeing Ginny will remind him of his promise and get him to help if he can."

What about me?" asked Ron.

"If you come Hermione will want to come too. The fewer of us the better I think." said Harry. "I would ask Ginny to go alone but she told me she was never comfortable being alone with Draco but she would never talk about why. Also since she has even less training than me she might miss something."

"Do what you think is best," said Kingsley, "and let me know what you learn. By the way Luna and Neville came in and Luna went over all the objects we had questions about and found nothing. I guess Goyle and Nott have the Horcrux."

With that he got up and Harry escorted him out. Harry then called Ginny and Hermione and explained what Kingsley wanted.

"When do you plan to see Malfoy?" Ginny asked.

"I will send him an owl right now and ask him for a time that is good for him." answered Harry. "We want him to be comfortable and not think we suspect him of being involved."

After sending off his new owl Merlin, Harry joined the others for dinner then they discussed how he should approach Draco so as to not make him suspicious.

The next day at his noon break Harry found two owls waiting for him. Ginny made the team. She just got word from Gwenog Jones that she was picked as second chaser and a contract would be drawn up with a generous salary. She should look it over and return the signed copy. She couldn't wait for Harry to get home so they could talk about it. Ron did not seem happy when Harry told him.

The second letter was from Draco. He asked Harry to meet him at the family's business in Diagon Alley at five that day. If Harry couldn't make it he should sent another time and date back with Draco's Eagle Owl. Harry sent Draco's owl with an acceptance and Ginny's owl with a message to meet him at the ministry just before five if she could.

Harry told Kingsley then asked for and was granted by his instructor permission to leave class a little early for a meeting that he was ordered to attend by the minister. Ginny was waiting and they apparated together to Diagon Alley in front of the Malfoy's family building.

The door was open but nobody was around. Harry and Ginny entered and Harry called out, "Draco are you here?"

Draco came from a back office and looked Harry and Ginny over.

"I thought you might be uncomfortable coming to Malfoy manor, so come have a seat in my office and welcome." he said, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Harry and Ginny followed him and sat in two large comfortable chairs while Draco went around the desk to his own Dragon Hide executive chair.

Draco started, "My father said he talked with you a few months ago and of course I saw your names in the Daily Prophet recently. Involved in a muggle plane crash wasn't it? I hope you're all safe."

Not sure of how much Draco knew and didn't know Harry answered, "We were asked to fly to America by the Minister of Magic to talk to the Americans and our plane crashed. Thanks to your father we were able to escape before it hit the ground and we are all fine. Next time you see him give him my gratitude; he did save our lives."

"Father said he taught you how to soar; so I guess it came in handy." said Draco. ""I see you and Ginny are together, I heard you got engaged. Ron and Hermione also if my information is correct. Ginny I heard you are going to be a chaser with the Holyhead Harpies. If you need a business manager let me know I will work out a generous contract for you."

Ginny was shocked. "How do you know that, "she asked, "I just heard from Gwenog Jones this morning."

"My business is to know about other people's business." Draco said. "It how my family has always made money."

Harry was anxious to get to the point but Draco seemed to want to make small talk and Harry knew Draco was nervous about why they had come but afraid to find out. If small talk made Draco more comfortable Harry would be patient. "Yes," he said, "we plan to have a double wedding in two years after Ron and I finish our training."

Ginny seemed to sense what Harry wanted and broke it with, "What about you? I heard you were going with Astoria Greengrass. She is very smart, I remember her from classes."

"Yes we're engaged now and will be getting married this spring." said Draco. "I see you keep up with the social news too."

He must have been feeling more sure of himself now because he finally asked the question,"But, I am sure you didn't come on a social call; so exactly why did you ask to see me?"

Now Harry was ready with the plan they came up with last night. "As I mentioned I am in Auror training and my superiors came to me with some information and a request. Goyle and Nott were spotted in some kind of illegal activity and the Aurors want to question them but can't find them. They asked Ron and me and everyone they can find in our year at Hogwarts if we have seen them since the battle or know where they live.

My superiors wanted to question you since you were friends with them. I feel I still owe you for not identifying us to your aunt Bellatrix at Malfoy manor that day we were captured and as I said I owe your father also. I have enough pull to get the ministry to let me talk with you instead of having you brought in for questioning. I know you are not with them anymore and thought I could do you this little favor as a way of saying thanks."

Malfoy looked at Harry for a few seconds trying to decide if Harry was serious about wanting to do him a favor or just being clever. Then he stared at Ginny for a while. He must have thought Harry was serious because he finally said, "I haven't seen or talked to either of them in over a year but I know that both family houses are abandoned.

Goyle doesn't have any family left that I know of but Nott has an uncle that died and I heard that this uncle's house hasn't been sold yet. Nott used to go there on summer vacation when we were in school. It is in the woods somewhere west of Ascot I don't know exactly where but Nott said it is far from other houses and talked about it as a perfect place to hide if he ever needed to. That's all I can think of that might help.

Potter, we're never going to be friends but I sincerely am sorry for the past and want you to know it. Ginny, I apologize to you again for how I treated you and wish you two the best. Tell your brother and Granger I am happy for them too."

"Good luck to you and Astoria." responded Harry and thanks for your help."

Draco led them out of the office and the apparated back to Grimmauld place.

"I'll send an owl to Kingsley and another to the head of the Auror's office." said Harry after finishing telling Hermione and Ron what they got from Draco.

"Tomorrow you better go in early and see Kingsley in person." said Hermione.

"Why?" asked Harry and Ron together.

"Don't you remember," said Hermione, "The place Malfoy described is Swinley Forest where the snatchers caught us. Maybe we were close to Nott's uncle's place and the snatchers were using it as their hide out. Maybe we can give the Aurors a starting point for their search."