Gerald had picked himself up off the couch, simultaneously lowering the music at the sound of his friend's voice. The aurors watched as he walked around to meet Oliver and Brad, who had appeared out of the hallway and into the room.
''Harry? Ron?'' Oliver spoke with a quizzical look, ''What are you doing here?''
Gerald turned out of the brotherly hug he and Brad had greeted each other with, looking over at the aurors with a smirk, ''There was a man found dead nearby. They were just warning me that there might be a dangerous beast around,'' he glowered at Harry.
''Someone was killed?'' the muggle spoke, looking at the guests before turning toward Gerald and lightly smacking him on the chest. ''The fuck did you do now?'' the man belted with laughter.
Gerald closed his eyes and shook his head with a faint grin.
''That's not funny, Brad,'' Oliver growled. ''These men are with magical law enforcement.''
''Oh,'' Brad calmed himself, still keeping his jovial demeanor.
Oliver turned his glare from Brad, catching eyes with Gerald briefly and Harry was sure he saw him glint at their suspect before he turned to the aurors with a solemn face. He didn't speak, but seemed to be aware that they did, in fact, think Gerald was responsible.
Harry sighed, stepping away from the furniture, ''Actually,'' he admitted, facing Gerald again, ''We would like to see your hands.''
The wizard tilted his head to the side, blue eyes narrowing as he looked back at the auror.
Then a loud sigh left Oliver. He crossed his arms and smacked his lips open, ''So you are suspicious of Gerald.''
''We have reason to be,'' Ron spoke up.
''Yes, because I'm quite a beast,'' Gerald had put his thumbs in his pockets. His head was still sideways, but his eyes had returned to normal.
''We can't rule out that a wizard was involved,'' Harry jabbed.
Oliver gave another loud sigh which obviously annoyed his friend. ''Relax, Oliver,'' Gerald glared at him as he stepped forward, raising his right hand, then turning to face Harry, looking intent into the auror's eyes, ''They're wasting their time.''
Harry glared back at the man, glancing at his outstretched hand, ''Both your hands.''
The dark wizard kept his gaze, hesitating only a moment before raising his left hand as well.
Harry produced his wand, aiming its tip at Gerald's hands just as he had done with Lucius' wand only minutes earlier. The auror spoke the spell and a gold strand of light left his wand again, illuminating around his hands.
Side by side, two shadowy visions appeared above Gerald's hands. Over the left, the image was of him sitting on the couch, using his hand to adjust the stereo. Over the right, Saul Croaker appeared, attacking Gerald who stopped the furled items with the 'stupefy' charm.
Once the shadows dissipated and the golden energy was gone, Gerald retrieved his hands, placing thumbs in his jean pockets again and leaning to where his weight was mostly on one foot.
Brad cleared his throat awkwardly, ''I, uh, I'll be upstairs,'' he announced as he began backing away.
''Don't worry about it,'' Harry spoke to stop him, ''We're leaving. Thank you for your time,'' the auror huffed absentmindedly as he started to leave the home, taking notice that Gerald immediately moved as well- back to his tea.
The two aurors closed the door behind them as they left and then walked through the grass that was still uncut, taking several paces down the sidewalk along the road.
At that point, Ron suddenly grabbed his partner by the arm, ''Hold up, mate.''
Harry turned to the redhead who smiled then, showing an item he now held in his hand. Harry blinked, not having seen the object in several years.
''Is that...'' Harry spoke in a hushed voice.
''George had been messing around with the old extension ears,'' Ron confirmed. ''He gave me a pair. See the improvements?'' the auror asked excitedly.
Harry took the ear from the outstretched hand and studied it, ''It's much smaller,'' he deduced.
''Yeah, and look, the receiver and transmitter don't have to be connected anymore,'' Ron smiled.
Harry paused for a moment, taking his gaze from the contraption he held and up to the redhead's face, ''Ron, did you leave the receiver in Gerald's house just now?''
The auror beamed, ''While everyone away so focused with Brad getting there and all, I stuck it under the coffee table.''
''Why didn't you tell me about this?'' Harry breathed.
''Well, I only saw George last night. I meant to tell you this morning, but with its surprise start, it kind of slipped my mind,'' he explained before quickly grabbing the device back from his partner. ''Now let's just hope they haven't cast any imperturbable charms or anything.''
The redhead flipped a tiny switch on the fake ear as Harry looked nervously around to make sure they were in the clear. Just as the familiar voices of the metal band sounded from Ron's hand, the auror was certain they were safe. He tugged his friend to follow him closer to the bushes that separated them from another residence two doors down.
''So help me, Gerald, if you are involved...''
''What? You'll do what exactly, Oliver?'' Gerald spoke back angrily. ''Tell me, I'm curious.''
A loud rustle sounded through the ear, startling the aurors. Then there was a banging noise through which Brad's voice could barely be heard yelling, 'guys!'
''Because if you've pulled this shit again, I'll fucking kill you myself!'' Oliver's voice seemed to be releasing years of frustration in that single moment.
''You wouldn't either,'' Gerald hissed. ''You'd just run off and tell your little wizard friends.''
''Yeah, right,'' Oliver replied with a sardonic tone, ''like I told MACUSA about you when you told me who you were. Like I told them about you almost killing those muggles a few years ago. Oh wait a minute, I didn't.''
''Guys, guys!'' Brad stepped in, ''Calm down. You're both just stressed is all. Get off of him, Oliver.''
''Of course you would take his side,'' Oliver spat.
''Fuck, man, I'm not taking any sides!'' Brad yelled, ''You're both being stupid.''
There was another rustle, followed by a few moments of silence before Oliver spoke again. This time in a soft voice.
''Beneath everything, I know you're a good person, Ger...but you can't keep lying to me.''
More rustling that Harry assumed was Gerald regaining himself as it sounded that Oliver had backed off.
''I won't keep sticking up for you if you can't at least be honest with me,'' Oliver added before footsteps sounded walking away from the room.
''Are you alright, Ger?'' Brad spoke after the footsteps had gone quiet.
''I'm fine,'' the dark wizard gruffed, his voice getting closer to the planted ear.
''He's right though,'' Brad continued, ''I know I was the first person you opened up to after that Tom guy and I know it wasn't easy for you to trust me. Still isn't sometimes,'' the man mused, ''But Ollie cares about you too. You can't keep hating the whole world because of what's happened in the past.''
Gerald sighed loudly. Harry could almost picture him sitting on that red couch, leaning forward with his head in his hands.
''I have no idea what I'm doing anymore, Brad,'' Gerald whispered. ''Ever since Tom died... These past three years...'' he trailed off.
''You've definitely changed since then,'' Brad pointed, ''I mean, you've always been a cynical person. At least since I've known you. And emotional, but...you've kind of gone off the deepend since your friend died. You've become really aggressive...drinking all the time, the drugs...and trying to kill yourself those times? Not cool, bro.''
''I know,'' Gerald agreed, ''I feel like I've lost control of myself. I don't...I don't know how to get it back.''
There was a brief silence.
''You could start by letting us help,'' Brad finally spoke. ''We can't do that if you hide away from us and treat us like we're your enemies. Everything the three of us know about each other, everything we've gone through together...that should be proof that we got your back, shouldn't it?''
''It should be,'' Gerald's voice grew angry again. ''But I'm not myself anymore...I don't want to drag you down with me either.''
''Ger!'' Brad yelled suddenly and the aurors heard more rustling. ''Where are you going?''
''I don't know,'' the wizard's voice grew quieter. ''I need to be alone.''
The next thing the aurors heard was the door to the band's home opening and then slamming shut. But they didn't need the ear to hear it. Footsteps sounded down the stone sidewalk.
Harry quickly pulled out his invisibility cloak, throwing it over himself and his partner, just as the white-haired wizard appeared at the end of his drive and turned from side to side, contemplating which way to go.
However, he finally decided to take neither way. Instead, he spun on his heel and disapparated.