Previously on Remnants No More 20: So Much Going On
It hadn't taken the Wizengamot long to deliberate on the wizard's fate after the Chief Warlock turned the case over to them. Several hours and a short break later the wizard had been found guilty and sent to Azkaban for the next forty years. Twenty years for each Muggle woman he had killed. The case was over.
So at 1:50 PM Draco found himself technically free for the rest of the day. After removing his telltale plum colored robes, Draco took the lift up to the Auror Department to check in with Harry. The office was empty, but Draco saw the note from Hermione and opened the drawer to see what information she had left for Harry.
Draco smiled as he reviewed the information. His wife was formidable when she wanted to be. It was an interesting array of wizards that appeared in the e-mails. Draco stopped smiling and pounded his fist on the desk when he realized the list was made up of Healers, Researchers, Specialist Healers and Brewers. The very same group he had been prepared to challenge when John Nickles was stalking Hermione and he had backed off at the behest of Harry and Hermione. It would seem they had come full circle and were back at the doors of the rich, powerful, professional medical community where they originally started.
Draco made a few notes for himself before returning the e-mails back to Harry's drawer. At the bottom of Hermione's note he left the message he had stopped by as well. Then he stomped off to the lifts on his way back to his office in the Wizengamot pissed off beyond compare thinking had he followed his first mind, some of this might have been avoided.
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This chapter contains very descriptive language that some readers may find offensive. Please skip this chapter if sexual content annoys, irritates or embarrasses you.
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Chapter 21: Coming To An End
By the time Harry got back to the Ministry he had what he considered enough information to open the case. He had interviewed Lulu Brownley and Alice Dillon to get their statements down on record after which he had escorted them to St Mungo's where Healer Reynolds had already prepared Carol and Will for visitors.
Lulu met with a disoriented Will and had positively identified him as Wilfred Canney.
Alice had positively identified Carol Matthews as her missing daughter Rose Dillon as well.
Harry sat down privately with each pair to explain how the victim had been tricked into servitude by a group of conspirators working in concert then drugged with a malicious potion to keep them defenseless. Even though Harry realized it would all come out if there was a trial, he did not make any mention of sexual assault. The victims had been through enough. He would not add to their humiliation and embarrassment.
Initially, the conversations between both pair were slow and sometimes a bit painful but ultimately allowed those involved to become a bit more comfortable with each other.
In each case, Harry questioned the person who had come looking for their loved one on what they remembered before the disappearances. The answers Lulu and Alice gave Harry were similar in nature. The victims were there the one day then they were gone.
In Rose's case, her mother described her acting dazed and confused after returning from a job interview days before she disappeared. Alice said she had been at a loss of where to look or where to go as Rose hadn't given any information about where or with whom she had interviewed. Alice did mention she had found a piece of parchment with the name Mr. Walter, but had discarded it when she was led to believe that her daughter had been taken by a band of hooligans who oftentimes roamed the roads doing their worst.
/*/
Rose Dillon also known as Carol Matthews recognized her mum but admitted she didn't know why. However, hearing the name Mr. Walter triggered something because Rose blurted out. "Mr. Walter Russell gave me the name Greta Bauer for my own good. I'm not supposed to discuss his business with anyone."
This piece of information about Walter Russell being the wizard who originally spirited Rose away was an unexpected surprise. A score if you will. Harry now had another name for the files. Even though they were in the middle of a different conversation, Harry wanted to follow up on Rose's train of thought, but didn't want to do it in front of the relatives. Rose's prior statement had been a bit telling and he didn't want her to blurt out any intimate details.
After asking Alice and Lulu to step out into the hall for a few minutes, Harry asked Rose if she remembered the witch or wizard who changed her name to Carol Matthews.
"I have only just remembered some of this but Walter Russell discharged me because a Kneazle could suck his dick better than I could. Anyway, a boy had become available and Walter Russell wanted to know what it felt like to fuck a wizard and have him between his legs sucking him off. I remember that fairly clearly. Suddenly I had been taken over by Amos Pinckney who gave me the name Carol Matthews and treated me the same as Walter Russell except he thought I did a good job sucking his dick. After several days with Pinckney plying me with his special drink, I felt as though I'd always been Carol Matthews right up until you began questioning me. More and more memories are coming back, but they aren't coming back in order."
Wilfred had remained sitting quietly in a chair while Rose was speaking. When she went quiet he stood and walked over to the corner where he stood with his back to Harry and spoke softly as though talking to the wall in front of him. "I am the wizard Carol is speaking about. John Nickles captured me when I appeared for a special Brewers Session which didn't exist. I was bound by magical bonds and for days in a row forced to take some sort of drink. I was disoriented and had no idea of what was going on. One day I woke to find that I belonged to Mr. Walter Russell who called me Will. I endured rape. I had to give hand jobs in a manner pleasing to Walter Russell or face his wrath. Like Carol, I wasn't proficient in sucking his dick. But instead of sending me to my next owner, Walter Russell used me to start a Specialty Sex Club for wizards who wanted to try wizards. For months I was the only victim and had to service any wizard who came looking for sex with a man. However, they captured three more wizards who like me were only there to suck off and be fucked by wizards like John Nickles, Walter Russell, Ernest Clarke, Philip Wilkins and more. I had to endure a lot of things, but in the end I won a personal victory of sorts. As straight as they stand behind their prominent facades, this mouth, this arse, this dick and these hands," he choked pointing to himself "had them feeling so good they insisted I remain with the Specialty Sex Club instead of rotating me out to the clubs in Thailand or Belize where men love being taken care of by pale English and Irish lads."
Harry was astounded not only at the filthy details of a male being used by wizards, but how much he had learned as a result of one sentence. All this was fucking unthinkable and he promised himself he wouldn't rest until he had them all.
/*/
Harry had requested a small calming draught for Rose and Wilfred before calling Alice and Lulu back into the room where they once again got back on topic.
As Lulu began to speak, Harry felt remorseful over the fact that even though she'd found her fiance, nothing would ever be the same. He would not speak it out loud, but Harry was of the mind she should go home and forget about Wilfred altogether.
Lulu was explaining what Harry had already read in the paper. Wilfred had traveled to London to attend a Brewers Conference and had gone missing. All follow up seemed to suggest Wilfred disappeared of his own volition using the conference as a smokescreen to give him time to get away without notice. Her father had given up looking for Wilfred, but she hadn't. As Lulu spoke, she reached out to touch Wilfred's hand but whether by intention or reflex much to Lulu's dismay he jerked his hand away. Wilfred apologized to Lulu, but kept his hand in his lap.
At the end of the visit, Harry disclosed the fact Wilfred and Rose were still receiving the antidote to the noxious substance which had been introduced into their bodies and if all went well they would be back to themselves by the following week.
Harry suggested the women keep their rooms at The Leaky Cauldron in order to remain close to Wilfred and Rose rather than travel back and forth from their homes adding that the bill would be paid by the Ministry. Both women agreed to take Harry up on his offer thanking him for his assistance.
/*/
Harry and Healer Reynolds sat down to discuss Carol (Rose) and Wilfred's progress. Together they decided the patients would be allowed to leave the ward to see their visitors, but only if a Security Wizard was assigned to the visitors area when they were there. Harry had fears that once the case became public, the conspirators might well try to harm their accusers.
/*/
Harry arrived back at his office to find the paperwork for Ernest Clarke laying on his desk. The piece of shite was safely ensconced in the Ministry Holding Cells. Harry meant to go right down to the cells to interrogate the blighter but noticed the note from Hermione and the addendum from Draco. Opening his top drawer, Harry pulled out the e-mails Hermione left in his drawer. Just as Hermione had, he honed in on the group called Life Alternatives. Innocent enough sounding name, but Harry knew better as he ran his finger down the list of members. Five of the dirty bastards whose names were mentioned by Rose and Wilfred were listed as clear as day. Wilkins, Clarke (whom they had in custody), Nickles, Russell and Pinckney. As far as Harry was concerned they were all guilty and before this night was over they would all be in Ministry custody.
Harry had what he needed to pursue a case, but he was going to get information out of Clarke regarding additional victims even if he had to pull it out of him. Including the four wizard victims Wilfred had mentioned, there had to be at least ten other witches out there in distress. They had to be found and given help.
Harry recognized the magnitude of his case. Not only was it huge, it had all the earmarks of becoming a Ministry nightmare. Pureblood wizards drugging witches and wizards and using them as sex slaves would turn the Wizarding World on its ear. The shite would run down on Kingsley, Aurors and MLE alike.
Harry knew Aurors and MLE would have to work together to have any chance at solving this thing. He stopped to grab Adrian Pucey, Head of MLE filling him in on the way to the lift.
Adrian was astounded that something of this magnitude had been going on and no one had tumbled to it. Harry nodded his agreement and felt his body begin to tense up. Two more floors and they would be at first level, Kingsley's floor.
Then he and Adrian were walking to Kingsley's office. This would be the fucking hard part. Informing Kingsley that a group of Pureblood fuckers had been running roughshod through Wizarding UK for years on their watch didn't bode well for either him or Adrian.
Before raising his hand to knock, Harry briefly wondered if Draco was still at the ministry. Why he was wondering about Draco when his head was about to go on the chopping block Harry did not know himself.
/*/
Harry knocked on Kingsley's office door and waited to hear him call out his familiar, enter.
"Enter," called out Kingsley in his deep voice.
"Good afternoon Minister. Pucey and I need a word."
/*/
Kingsley Shacklebolt's frown got deeper and deeper as he sat there listening to two of his best men go on about dark potions, subjugation, sex slaves and perverted sex. The story was sickening. If this had been anyone other than Harry Potter sitting in front of him talking, Kingsley would have suspected the person of being mad. Unfortunately it was Harry in front of him and he was serious.
After digesting the unthinkable story, Kingsley's first thought had been to notify the Board of Governor's.
Harry hastily spoke up. "I'm hoping you will hold off until Wednesday before notifying anyone outside of this room. No offense, but the fewer egos involved, the more secure this mission will be."
Kingsley shook his head thoughtfully. He didn't care for the insinuation that someone on the Board might have a part in this mess or at the very least try to take over the investigation, but realized the scope of this case made anything possible and gestured for Harry and Adrian to continue.
The Minister listened intently as Harry and Adrian offered a solution. Although he kept his stern façade in place, Kingsley breathed an inward sigh of relief to know that even though Harry and Adrian were in front of him with a horrific problem, they weren't dropping it in his lap and walking away. They had a plan and it was a plan he could get behind. His first step would be to give them authorization to use what ever means necessary to get information from Ernest Clarke.
/*/
Something was going on. Draco saw Harry and Pucey headed toward Kingsley's office and they didn't look happy. Draco knew he shouldn't jump to any conclusions, but he was fairly certain Harry's Subjugation Case was about to blow up. He had had to make a stop on the first level before leaving for the evening, but now he was taking his arse back up to the second floor to wait for Harry.
When Draco arrived outside Harry's office, he was surprised to find all of MLE including recruits as well as all the Auror Department including recruits milling about. Taking the path of least resistance, Draco walked around Michael Corner and Anthony Goldstein to ask Randy Jordan what was going on.
Randy shook hands with Draco before admitting he didn't know. What he did know was they had all been called to a 5:30 meeting with Harry which in the last five minutes had been moved up to 6:15.
At that moment, Michael Corner called out that everyone should make their way down to the Atrium where they would be sorted into groups of five plus a leader. "If you haven't figured it out by now, we are on a high priority case alert. MLE Ireland, MLE Scotland and MLE Wales should arrive shortly. Let's get to it then."
Draco was in regulation Ministry robes instead of his Wizengamot robes so he was able to blend in with the crowd that took the stairs instead of waiting for the lift. This was huge.
When he reached the Atrium, Draco made sure to keep to the back out of the way of Michael Corner and Finch-Fletchley as they set up groups. He glanced at his watch to see that it was approaching 6:00 and unless the meeting was pushed up even further, Harry should arrive in a few minutes.
Draco wondered if the information Hermione left for Harry had any bearing on all this. He was sure of one thing. There were quite a few rich, arrogant Purebloods on the lists Hermione had left. Draco didn't have time to wonder about anything else as groups of MLE Officers came through the left side doors while Harry, Pucey and the Minister came through the main doors. You could have heard a pin drop. The room had become just that quiet.
/*/
Kingsley took the floor to say a few words of encouragement and impress on everyone this mission was a Swoop and Snatch effort.
Even recruits knew what S and S meant. Whatever or whomever the target, they were going to be taken without warning or explanation. Kingsley then turned the floor over to Harry and Adrian while he excused himself to inform the British Prime Minister about a small spot of bother.
Harry thanked Michael and Finch-Fletchley for setting up the groups then he began speaking to the room at large. "As of this moment, we are No-Com which means the only communications allowed are communications among members of the particular groups and their leaders. The leaders will communicate with myself, Michael Corner, Adrian Pucey or Justin Finch-Fletchley if communication is necessary. Because this is a far reaching effort and our targets are far flung as well, you'll need to pinpoint your target, get him, get out and get back here preferably at the speed of light."
Adrian stepped up. "If we find that anyone has called their witch, their dad, their uncle or anyone else not involved with this effort to inform them what is going on, that witch or wizard will have forfeited their job. This mission is too important to be bollixed up over stupidity. Group leaders raise your wands and your instructions will appear in your hand."
Harry called out to all those involved that an Anti-Apparition Spell should be cast as they approached their target. "If you lose the element of surprise and they get away, we will never catch up with them again. Good luck."
Harry saw Draco in the back and signaled his group to hang on. He quickly filled Draco in on what was going on commenting that for the first time in years Wizarding Britain may see criminals go to Azkaban without a trial. "Good thing you are a member of our legal system or I could face forfeiture of my position by speaking to you," said Harry cheekily. "I have to go. If everything goes to plan, we'll have every one of the bloody fuckers before midnight," and with a wave Harry signaled his group and they were gone.
/*/
As of 6:00 pm, the Subjugation Patient portion of the Janus Thickey Ward at St Mungos went on lock down per Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt. No visitors in, two Specialty Healers on watch and two Security Wizards at the door. No exceptions, no changes and the only thing The Head Healer of the ward had been told was he should be prepared to admit up to fifteen witches and wizards on very short notice.
Healer Reynolds went in personally to set up the additional beds. It would be a bit tight, but it would work for now. After setting up the additional patient areas, Healer Reynolds took the lift up to the Medical Labs where he put in a stat requisition for twenty doses of Level One potion. There were only twelve Level One doses available and Healer Reynolds took them all stipulating he would need the last eight doses as quickly as possible. Healer Reynolds didn't know when the twenty patients would arrive. He did know that it was his responsibility to be prepared when they did.
After locking the doses away, Healer Reynolds visited with the patients. Wilfred, Carol (Rose) and a third witch who had come the furthest in their treatment stopped the healer to inquire what was going on.
There wasn't anything he was allowed to discuss especially with other patients and he told them so. "I do not know exactly what is going on, but even if I did I couldn't discuss it with patients. I'm sorry."
Showing more excitement than he had since the day they brought him in, Wilfred spoke up. "I think they've got the bastards and the reason you've added more beds is because you are anticipating a lot more patients," making a sweeping motion around the room with his hand.
Turning to look Wilfred in the face, a poker faced Healer Reynolds answered just as he had seconds ago. "That's supposition Wilfred and I suggest you refrain from commenting on such matters. I am following orders and have not been made privy to any additional information. Please go rest yourselves. I believe your dinner as well as your evening doses will be along shortly. You three are coming along nicely. After your meal and evening dose, why don't you practice communicating with each other. It may help reinforce the memories that are coming back."
Wilfred spoke up again. This time speaking in an even more enthusiastic voice. "I understand your predicament Healer. Your hands are tied, but my mouth isn't. You do remember what my mouth has been forced to do, don't you? Speaking is one of the nicer things my mouth can do. It is my hope that each and every one of those bloody devils will be picked up and given the same opportunities they gave us." Wilfred's voice became cracked and hollow and he turned away from Carol (Rose) and the other witch to wipe away the tears that had begun to fall.
Carol walked over and wrapped her arms around Wilfred's back and although he stiffened, Wilfred did not jerk away as he had from Lulu. He allowed his fellow sufferer to comfort him.
Without raising her head from Wilfred's back, Carol softly made a statement. "Healer Reynolds you may go take care of the things that cannot be discussed. We'll take care of each other."
As poignant as the scene before him had been, these three Subjugation victims were beginning to communicate, connect and protect each other. Healer Reynolds felt as though he had been given a Level Three dose of hope.