"Sit down Potter." Chief Finnworth growled barely giving Cory and Devon a spare glance. His eyes were glued to Harry, his fury evident in his jerky movements and his stiff posture. Cory glanced at Harry, he looked like hell warmed over his cloths rumpled as if he had slept in them for a week. Cory frowned noticing the pallor of his skin, the bags under his eyes. She didn't doubt that he had.

Harry sank into a chair in front of his chiefs desk looking deflated and worn ragged. Cory glanced at Devon taking a cue from him and taking the seat next to Harry. They had discussed this the night before as soon as the howler had arrived at Harry's place demanding he meet with the chief first thing in the morning. Whatever happened next they were standing by him.

"You want to tell me Potter what the hell you were thinking? You want to inform me why you thought it best to take on a madman without reporting in or calling for aide?" Finnworth bit out still glaring at Harry.

When Harry didn't even look up Cory leapt to his defense. "Sir Harry did send up the call for aide. That's how the team arrived on the scene."

If they were lucky they could still get out of this as long as the chief didn't know about Fred's trying to kill Ginny.

"That's not what I was talking about Damn it! Don't play games with me Kenworth! You think I'm some sort of bloody fool?" Chief growled his tone becoming more and more menacing. Corry shivered as he leaned forward eyes hard glinting like ice. "Now I'm giving you one chance Potter. You utter one word I don't like and your ass is out of my department is that clear? Now. What. Happened."

Harry continued to stare at the desk, as if he could find some sort of answers within the pattern on the wood. Corry nudged him hard. What on earth was he playing at? This was his job on the line, not just his job but possibly time in Azkaban.

When Harry remained silent Devon spoke up.

"The deceased was showing signs of disturbia, Potter being off duty and a relation thought it best to take him to Mungo's for a Psyche Analysis. The deceased made an unexpected move leaving the home and heading for the Park. Upon Harry's arrival the deceased snapped attacking the two muggle boys. Potter in order to save the boys life engaged Weasley, when he went in the water Potter sent up the call and acting more as a relative then an Auror jumped in to save Weasley. Unorthodox but according to protocol sir."

The silence in the room was heavy as the Chiefs eyes bored into them each in turn. It was a bald faced lie. Fred had not just shown signs of madness he had full out tried to murder two people. Protocol would have been to turn him in then. Harry had ignored protocol and broken a few laws in the process. It had cost two people their lives and if word got out it would destroy their department and Harry's career. Not to mention his life, things weren't pretty in Azkaban.

Chiefs eyes centered on Harry. "Is that how it happened Potter? I have it from an anonymous tip that things didn't quite happen that way. Thing is though that I happen to think this department doesn't deserve to sink for your stupidity. So if that's how it happened, you say the word and that's how it happened."

Corry and Devon both watched Harry with nervous anticipation.

Just say yes! Hell just nod Harry don't screw this up, She pleaded sending a prayer heavenward.

"Potter I'm waiting! I'm waiting for you to tell me that the death of a teenage boy and your own Brother-in-law was a tragic accident and not a result of you breaking every rule this department has! Can you assure me of that Potter?" Chief snapped growing impatient with Harry's silence.

Harry's eyes slowly raised until they met the chiefs.

"Who told you?" His voice was whisper soft.

"It was anonymous, Potter." Chief grumbled his eyes shifting a little.

Lie.

Harry blinked at the chief not saying anything more.

"Potter you are one step away from being fired answer me!" Chief snapped loosing his patience.

Corry held her breath as Harry seemed to struggle to make the words come out.

"Just tell the chief that's how it happened Harry." Devon encouraged softly gripping Harry's arm tightly. Harry glanced down at it, as if he had never seen such a thing in all his life. Harry turned his eyes back to the chief and shook his head.

"No Chief. I can't assure you it wasn't my fault."

Devon groaned throwing Harry's arm away in disgust. Corry tried desperately to salvage the situation as the Chiefs face began to grow red with fury.

"Harry natural feels guilty for not being able to save them. You followed Protocol Harry there was nothing more you could…"

Harry slammed his fist down on the wood so hard a crack appeared in the surface. Corry sucked in a breath biting her bottom lip to keep from trembling. Harry seemed unconcerned with the sudden swelling in his pinky.

"DON'T LIE FOR ME!"

There was absolute silence.

Then the chief reached for his wand.

"Chief if you call for them to arrest Harry the media is going to destroy this entire department." Devon warned him.

"You think I don't Bloody know that? Damn you to hell Potter!" Chief cursed gripping his wand tighter.

Harry laughed bitterly. "I'm going chief, don't worry about that."

"I can't bloody well let you off, if they found out I'd sink with you!" chief grunted.

"If Harry goes this department goes whether you aide him or not. Chief he's been your best for years he messed up but…" Corry began to defend him.

"MESSED UP! HE COST A KID HIS LIFE!" Chief thundered.

"Look at it like this chief. Harry is grieving, he doesn't have any sense of what he's saying. Obviously, he just broke his pinky on a desk and didn't even flinch. You asked him for a report and like we said he followed protocol. As far as you go if Potter is found to have lied to you that's hardly your fault. Meanwhile since Harry is obviously emotionally unstable, understandably of course, send him on a very long medical leave until this all blows over." Devon suggested.

Finnworth pondered it for a moment glancing from Harry to Devon then skyward. "It only works if Potter keeps his mouth shut." He grumbled.

"We'll take care of Harry" Devon assured him

The chief grunted. "He'll need to give an official press conference. The Daily Prophet will want an official statement. Potter I want your name all over this, if it ever comes out it'll be you and only you who takes the fall then."

"Done sir." Devon assured him.

As Devon yanked Harry to standing and the three of them moved for the door Chief called them back.

"For this to work you'll need to keep everyone who knows quiet." he warned them.

Corry shook her head. "The Weasleys wouldn't do anything that would harm Harry."

The chief snorted, "Tell that to my informant."

Change of scene

Fred had died, an innocent boy had died.

It was his fault yet Corry and Devon had risked their jobs for him.

"What the Hell is wrong with you Harry?" Devon demanded as soon as they had left the chiefs office.

Harry ignored him, ignored the whispers surrounding him as he marched past. He was driven by the strongest urge to flee. On the edges of his vision the shadows gathered the tortured memories of his mind threatened to overwhelm him with guilt and pressing darkness.

"Look at me Potter!" Devon demanded grabbing for his arm.

Harry didn't even think he turned and swung at him. He was on one level aware that there was stinging pain in his knuckles, that something bad had happened to the structure in his bones. But it was barely something to take note of.

He heard Corry shouting at him, but he was past caring.

Devon had let out a grunt of pain blood pouring from a nose that was now funnily out of line. He swung back. "You could have put me and Corry in Azkaban! You STUPID STUPID FOOL!"

He knew it. Just one more chain to the shackles awaiting him in hell.

He welcomed the pain from Devon's fist. He was furious, he needed to destroy something.

Destroy it the truth will eventually come out and they will go down with you. Friendship with you has only every brought the ones you love suffering. Destroy it.

"I DIDN'T ASK FOR YOU TO LIE FOR ME!" He screamed tearing into Devon as hard as he could feeling Corry's hands grappling at his back. He thrust an arm back pushing her harshly away.

"DON'T TOUCH MY WIFE POTTER!" Devon screeched in affront laying into Harry with more force.

Harry lay panting on the floor unable to swing at him anymore. His hands throbbed in excruciating pain. Had he broken every bone in them? Devon stood panting over him blood running down his face into his mouth.

"I'm turning myself in Dev." Harry sighed all his anger leaking from his body. He was so incredibly tired of it all. He welcomed a few years rotting in Azkaban.

Devon let out a noise of utter disgust. "You are the biggest fool that ever lived Harry. You have a family to support and you're going to roll over like a kicked dog! You're a coward Potter! A coward! You made a choice and yeah it turned out rotten. But it was Fred who killed that kid, Fred who fucking blew his gourd not you! All you did was try and give him a chance."

He let out a frustrated sigh swiping his face to clear it from blood with the back of his hand. "You know what I don't get Potter? If you knew you couldn't fight why the hell did you marry her? If you can't fight to keep what's yours then you don't bloody deserve it. We're done Potter, if you want to roll in dung roll in it by yourself."

"Devon please…" Corry touched his arm.

Devon spit blood from his mouth glaring at Harry. Then he looked to his wife "You do whatever you think you have to do I won't stop you. I wash my hands of this entire mess. " He turned. And then he was gone.

Change of Scene

"Not home yet is he?"

Ginny turned from the window where she was watching for Harry's return. George was leaning on the doorframe of the kitchen looking nonchalant but underneath the poise she could see a line of tension running through his body.

She shook her head. George had been silent and Moody since Fred's death three days before. He barely spoke anymore, laughter was a distant dream. Around Harry he was the worst. He was frosty, his attitude like ice barely able to hide his scorn of her husband.

"What will you do now that he's been fired?" George asked watching her in contemplation.

Ginny stiffened. It would destroy Harry to loose his job, he had worked long and hard for it so many years. Becoming an auror had pulled him from the darkest moments in his life.

"We don't know that they have. They wouldn't Harry is their best." She reassured herself more then George.

"Please, he broke the law." George snorted.

They didn't know that though. Corry and Devon would cover for him, she knew it better then she knew herself.

"Corry and Devon are with him." She spoke still watching for his return.

"Oh yes. And they'd gladly lie for him wouldn't they." George sneered.

Ginny bristled turning to him. Did he want Harry to go to Azkaban? "Of course, they love him. This wasn't Harry's fault."

"Oh of course not all his fault. We both know that don't we Ginny. Harry may of started it all but in the end we both know you could have grabbed for Fred." His voice was soft completely non threatening but the look in his eyes…

Ginny shivered.

It was condemning.

"You're berating me for choosing my husband over my brother? Do you have any idea what that choice felt like?" She demanded advancing on him.

He's right thou….

You could have…

Harry's not to blame you are!

"I don't. But I would have chosen him. You should have chosen him. It doesn't really matter though does it. You still have your husband, even if he'll rott in Azkaban you'll still have Harry. You got exactly what you wanted, you should be Happy Ginny. Your happiness is all that matters when it comes down to it right?"

His sneer cut her to the core. Better then any knife could.

He left her there shaking watching the window desperately for Harry to come home.