The Inquisitor's Son

Part Twenty-One: The Goyle Manor

Ron Weasley received an urgent call from the shipping docks in London. He had been called to come down to the offices of Gentry and Goyle Ltd. This was the company in charge of large shipments like store stock for many businesses in London. Gregory Goyle was one of the owners. The call had come from Goyle's business partner, Roderick Gentry, reporting that Goyle had failed to return from his extended holiday.

"Tea?" offered Gentry.

"No, thank you," replied Ron. "So you haven't heard from Goyle since before Christmas?"

Gentry shook his head. "Goyle is a nose to the grindstone sort of fellow. I'm the one who handles the finances and the planning, but he made sure that things were running smoothly. It's not like him to do this without warning. I've been trying to reach him, but no replies."

"How long was he supposed to be away?"

"Just until last week."

"Have you been to his house?" Gentry shook his head. Ron couldn't ignore the bad feeling he had when Gentry first mentioned Goyle. "I'll go to his home. It might be nothing at all, Mr. Gentry," said Ron.

"Thank you. With any luck, we can laugh about it later as an embarrassing mistake," said Gentry.

Ron nodded and left. He had Goyle's home address and apparated there. The Goyles lived in a posh estate that Goyle had inherited from his parents. Ron was able to get through the front gates without using any spells. He saw a children's play set out just around the corner from the front door. Eerily, the swings moved on their own.

He knocked on the door and called out. No one answered. He did it again and still no answer. Ron tired the knob but it was locked. Ron used his wand to unlock the door. The cold air from inside the house enveloped him immediately. It was warmer outside with the snow than it was inside. There was a fireplace in the entryway that was extinguished. Further in, Ron saw the den with a Christmas tree still up with decorations with gifts wrapped.

The next thing that Ron saw made his heart stop. It was a house elf dead on the marble floor. It looked like it had been running from something. There were two deep wounds in its back. Ron went towards the direction that the house elf ran from. He came to a staircase and proceeded upstairs.

It was then that Ron's nose detected a faint odor. He recognized it as the stench of death. Slowly, he saw a door that was open slightly. Ron drew out his wand and slowly pushed it open. It was one of Goyle's daughters. The child looked like she was asleep, but she had the same wound in her chest as the house elf did. Ron backed out and went back downstairs. He lit the fireplace to call for back up.

Ron didn't have to wait long as the other Aurors came through the fireplace. They quickly secured the scene and Ron showed them to the house elf.

Harry and Ron went upstairs and they discovered the bodies of the Goyles: two girls, his wife, and him. His body was found just a bit outside of his second daughter's. His wife's body was still in their bed with a hole in her head.

"Harry, look at the pattern," said Ron. "It looks just like the ones on the Malfoys. Like Muggle gunshots, except coming from inside the body."

Harry assessed the room of the second daughter. "It looks like Goyle was running here to protect her." They had to step over Goyle's body to get into the girl's room. With glove covered hands, Harry lifted the sheet that was on top of the girl. There was a hole in it and it was soaked in blood. "The killer positioned her body like this." He was referring to the way the little girl's face was turned to the side.

"He was checking to see if she was alive," said Ron. "He hexed first, and then checked to see if they were dead."

"Just the girls. They were probably killed first," confirmed Harry. "Then Goyle's wife. He didn't know that his daughters were already dead. The killer let him get her first before finishing him off."

"And the house elf was probably trying to get away," summed up Ron.

"It's too soon to tell if these murders are tied to the Malfoys."

Ron shook his head. "Goyle's wife, Daphne, is or rather, was the older sister of Astoria Malfoy. This little girl is Scorpius' cousin and Goyle was his uncle." He had seen he pictures in the family room.

Harry sighed as he raked his fingers through his hair. "Goyle's parents are dead. So are the Greengrasses. That leaves, Scorpius."

"This time the killer made sure that he didn't leave anyone behind," said Ron. "He also did it knowing that the Goyles wouldn't be missed for a while. The last time anyone saw him was at a Christmas Eve party."

Harry left the child's room unable to take it much longer. He stepped over Goyle's lifeless body and Ron followed suit. Harry went to the bedroom where the door was left ajar just as it was when Goyle probably ran out of there to get to his daughters. Daphne Goyle was lying in repose. Her hair was dark brown, compared to her sister's honeyed locks. "The killer wanted Goyle to suffer," he whispered. "He wanted him to see that his family was dead before he finished him off."

"We've got to clear out the bodies," said Ron. "And notify the next of kin. I'll double check who it is."

In the next few hours, the Aurors moved the bodies to St. Mungo's for further autopsy and did a sweep of the house to find evidence. Unfortunately, Daphne Goyle's next of kin was listed as her husband and her sister. There was only one family member left. Harry volunteered to go to the school to tell Scorpius and Ron was lead investigator on the Goyles' murders.

***

Scorpius came down for breakfast a bit late. To his curiosity, both the Headmistress and Professor Longbottom approached him. They both looked very serious. Lily watched from the Gryffindor table as they came up to him. "Mr. Malfoy, please come with us," instructed Professor McGonagall. "You will not be attending classes today."

Looking around him, Scorpius held the strap to his bag closer to his body. "Why, Headmistress?" he asked. He looked to Professor Longbottom. "Did something happen? Did I do something wrong?"

"Harry's here. He needs to speak with you," answered Professor Longbottom. Several heads from the Gryffindor table shot up. "You haven't done anything wrong."

Scorpius followed them out of the Great Hall. "What's Dad doing here?" asked James out loud. "Why'd he need to talk to Malfoy?"

"Probably about his parents," said Albus because it was the only thing he could think of.

"Do think we'll see Dad?" asked Lily.

"It sounds like he's here on official business, so I'm not sure," answered James.

Roxanne knew that Lily's concern was Scorpius. He looked like he was going to be sick as he was escorted out. Whatever it was, he was forced to skip breakfast and that was never a good sign. Scorpius felt like he was being led away to executed. "Why is Mr. Potter here?" asked Scorpius.

"I don't know myself," replied Professor Longbottom. They went to the Headmistress' office.

"Sherbet lemon," she said for the password.

Meanwhile, Harry was having a moment of nostalgia as he looked around the office. The portrait of Albus Dumbledore smiled at him with twinkling eyes. Professor McGonagall kept some of the strange objects of her predecessor. Harry's eye was drawn to the stand that Fawkes once used. It was still there even though it was empty.

Harry returned to the moment at hand when he heard the door open. Scorpius looked impassive, but his grey eyes gave him away as he looked Harry's dead on. He clutched the strap on his bag nervously. For a moment, Harry could almost see Draco's anxious face back on their sixth year. "Hello Scorpius," said Harry, keeping his voice leveled.

"Hello Mr. Potter," managed Scorpius.

"Have a seat," said Harry as he put his hand on one of the chairs in front of his desk. Neville grabbed a nearby chair as Harry took the other chair in front of the desk. Professor McGonagall took hers behind the desk.

"I wanted to tell you this before a statement is released to the press," said Harry. "Yesterday afternoon, your aunt and her family were found dead."

Scorpius was stunned as the words registered. "All of them?" he whispered. "Di and Annie, too?"

"Yes," nodded Harry. "And your uncle."

"I haven't seen them since after the burial," said Scorpius. His eyes were starting to sting. "How did it happen? When?"

"It happened in their house over the course of the holiday. I don't have the complete report yet, so I can't release those details to you."

Scorpius buried his head in his hands. "It happened around four in the morning on Christmas Day. That's when it happened," he said through his hands. Harry was startled that he knew this. Before he could ask, Scorpius said, "Because that's when the bloody scar felt like it was on fire." He lowered his hands as he yanked up his shirt and showed the star shaped scar. "It felt like someone stuck a red hot poker through it and twisted it. It was the person who killed my parents, too, wasn't it? I know it was! Don't lie to me!"

Harry swallowed hard. Professor McGonagall and Professor Longbottom had never seen Scorpius have an outburst like that. "We suspect it was," said Harry quietly.

Scorpius let go of his shirt as he looked away from him. "They were just four and six years old. Diana just learned how write her name. She signed a card for me. And Annie just put a big A for her name," he cried. He hadn't been by to see his aunt and her family. It was too hard to because she had the same eyes as his mother and her smile as well. It was unbearable for him. He hadn't picked out any presents for them because his grandmother had sent along sweets and other desserts to them. There were presents that they had sent him that he had opened, even a birthday present with a card that they all had signed.

"We are doing everything we can," said Harry. "The investigation is just starting."

This was enough to anger Scorpius who snapped at him, "It's been a year, Mr. Potter. Are you really doing your job or are you just saying that? Are you doing everything you can because you want to or are you just saying that? Or maybe you don't care because it was my father who died and you despised each other. How many more people from my family have to die before you do something?! Or do you ever care?!"

"Mr. Malfoy, that was uncalled for," said Professor McGonagall, disbelieving that the boy she knew who had such terrific manners would suddenly say that to the man who was trying to help him.

There was such fury in Scorpius' grey eyes. Harry had never even seen that in Draco's. Professor Longbottom got out of his chair and put a comforting hand on Scorpius' shoulder. Scorpius held in all of that anger for so long that it was like a volcano erupting. His face was red as he rubbed his eyes with his robe sleeve. Professor McGonagall was completely caught off guard by Scorpius' sudden display of raw emotion.

"No, it's all right," put in Harry shaken by Scorpius' outburst. He put his hand up slightly. "I have conducted nearly a hundred interviews. Mostly focused on your father, but now given what's happened, the range of suspects just increased."

"Harry, is he in any danger?" asked Professor Longbottom.

Professor McGonagall answered that question, "As long as Scorpius is on these grounds, he is safe."

"I'll make arrangements with your grandmother," said Harry.

Professor Longbottom added, "Your father placed a very powerful protective shield over you, Scorpius. It will keep you protected even if you can't use your wand."

"A lot of good that did my aunt and my cousins," muttered Scorpius.

"What spell did Draco Malfoy do?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"When he was dying, Draco cast the old magic blood spell to protect Scorpius," explained Professor Longbottom. "It was done on purpose. It was the last spell that he ever cast." He turned to Scorpius, "Draco, asked me to take an Unbreakable Vow. His wife was with him. She was the bonder."

"Professor Longbottom, why didn't you inform me sooner?" demanded the Headmistress sharply. Both Harry and Neville winced. She was eyeballing them the same way she did when they were students.

"I didn't want him to," croaked Scorpius. His voice was hoarse from the yelling. "Professor Longbottom has been helping since the beginning of the school year. I needed someone to talk to. There's no one else." He all but admitted to his loneliness.

"I see. Be that as it may, we need to discuss things further," said the Headmistress as she softened a bit. "I need to know exactly what is going on, Mr. Malfoy."

"Yes, Ma'am," said Scorpius.

"Professor Longbottom, you must go and conduct your class," ordered Professor McGonagall. She directed to Harry. "I assumed your business is concluded, Harry?"

"I'll send further word later," nodded Harry. He didn't feel right leaving Scorpius, feeling that he had just injured him. It was almost a hit and run.

"I'll see you later Scorpius. Please drop by my office whenever you're ready," said Neville, patting his shoulder. Scorpius nodded and the two exited the office.

They didn't breathe until they had cleared the staircase. "McGonagall is as formidable as ever," observed Harry ruefully. "And to think you stopped working for me to work for her."

Neville chuckled, "It still is less stressful and more rewarding." He stopped smiling. "This is a horrible situation, Harry. I'm really sorry about Scorpius."

"Don't worry about it," sad Harry. "I don't blame him. He has every right to get angry about it." He remembered being that age.

"Something evil is lurking about," said Neville darkly.

Harry nodded. "We're almost positive that it was the same killer who murdered the Malfoys. This time he was more thorough. He checked to see if Scorpius' cousins were dead. They never even woke up. Thank Heaven for that."

Neville paled. "How old were they?"

"Six and four."

"My God, Ally's four," whispered Neville. "I remember Daphne Greengrass. She hung out with Pansy Parkinson."

"She didn't get the chance to go down fighting like Scorpius' mother," said Harry. "Goyle didn't even have his wand. His girls were killed first. The killer let him get to his youngest daughter's room just to let him see her before he finished him off."

Harry and Neville heard a gasp followed by a stumble. Out of no where, Harry's sons appeared, falling to the ground. Albus half landed on James, who shoved him off. "You tripped me, Al!" shouted James.

"You tripped me!" retorted Albus.

"I should have known," groaned Harry. "What are you two doing?"

"Dad!" the boys cried in unison.

Harry glared at them and folded his arms over his chest. They got up very quickly. Albus grabbed the invisibility cloak, while James hastily pocketed the Marauders' Map. They swallowed as they took in the look on their father's face. "I'm waiting for an explanation," he said.

"We heard you were here during breakfast," said James.

Albus said, "Professor Longbottom and Professor McGonagall took Scorpius out to see you."

"I checked the map."

"I had the cloak."

"It was his idea!" They declared it all at once.

"How much did you hear?" asked Neville.

"We couldn't get the portable ears to work on McGonagall's office door, and there's sound proof spell," answered James, "but we heard you talk about Scorpius' cousins."

"Basically everything since you left the Headmistress' office," added Albus. His green eyes met his father's.

"You two should be in class," said Harry. "This isn't your concern."

"Shouldn't Professor Longbottom be in class, too?" asked James.

"I was on my way there. And by the way, twenty points off Gryffindor," replied Neville. "I'll leave be nice and not give you detention. I'll leave your father to deal with you."

"No, by all means, Neville, give them detention," said Harry.

James groaned as Albus looked at his shoes. "Very well. I'll see you two tonight at the greenhouse after dinner. Go easy on them, Harry," said the professor before taking off.

"Always good seeing you, Neville," Harry called after him as he looked back and forth between his sons. He put his hands on his hips. "You both are in serious trouble."

James held his tongue. The usual joke was that he was James Sirius, not Sirius. "We're sorry," said Albus. He was always better at getting Harry to calm down than James was. "We didn't know."

"You are not to breathe a word of this to anyone," ordered Harry. "Do you understand?" He made his immense displeasure known in his voice. The boys gulped and nodded. He softened a bit. He unexpectedly put his hands on their shoulders and he pulled them into an embrace. James didn't protest. "Sometimes your job's awful, Dad," he murmured.

Albus asked, "What about Scorpius Malfoy?"

Harry answered, "The press will have this out very soon. And no doubt whatever was held back before will be exposed." His eyes rested on Albus. "I want both of you to be kind to him. Don't talk about it to anyone unless he talks about it first."

"Yes, Dad," they chorused.

"Now I have to go back to work," said Harry. "Tell your sister for me that I miss her and love her."

James rolled his eyes, jerking his thumb at Albus, "He can do it."

Harry gave them a slight smile. "Be good. Both of you. Now go before Filch catches you."

Albus waited until James was out of earshot. His father gave him a questioning glance. "Is it okay to be friends with him, Dad?" he asked.

"Albus, you don't need my permission. You are capable of deciding on your own," replied Harry. "I trust you. And he really needs one."

Satisfied, Albus nodded, "Bye Dad."

Author's Note: I thought it would be fun to throw in a Potter family moment. Too bad Lily missed out, but she'll show up next chapter. It'll be cute. I promise. As the movie fast approaches, I look forward to seeing more Malfoy scenes. I didn't make much of Malfoy when I was reading the books a while back, but this story has changed my mind a bit.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Him and all of the original characters belong to J.K. Rowling. Please use this story with my permission.