The Inquisitor's Son
Part Twenty-Nine: At Manderlay
Harry pondered what Lucius Malfoy had said about the Inquisitor. He had rumors of someone out there capturing Death Eaters that had gone beyond the British Ministry of Magic. He knew that they had fled into the interior of Europe, hiding in Eastern European countries and other more exotic locations. It was difficult enough to take down the ones in England. Even Harry's fame wasn't enough for him to get in on investigations in other parts of the world. People, no matter what language or country they came from, didn't like to have their toes stomped.
The Inquisitor was a phantom. A shadow that lurked behind the shadows and was rarely spoken of. Harry knew that there was one person who knew something about the Inquisitor. Someone who couldn't be completely trusted: Mundungus Fletcher. The coward was still alive and still at his old tricks. Every once in a while, Harry paid him a visit to glean some information from him. Fletcher was always forthcoming, but depending on the information, he would require a certain amount of persuasion. Harry decided to pursue this lead without consulting with anyone back at HQ because this was his investigation.
Fletcher was found relatively easily because Harry never let him get too comfortable. He only allowed Fletcher some leeway, but he never trusted him fully. Fletcher was good for information, not much else. Harry found just inside Knockturn Alley.
Fletcher was even older and smellier than before. He didn't seem all that please to see Harry. He was petrified of him and with good reason. Harry never forgot how Fletcher had abandoned Moody to die.
Harry regarded Fletcher for a moment before stating his business. He made it very clear that these talks were never visits and he never bothered with pleasantries with Fletcher. "I need some information," he stated.
"It's always about that, Potter," said Fletcher in an oily voice.
Harry showed a handful of galleons. "This information might be worth something to me."
"What do you want?" asked Fletcher as his eyes glowed, staring at the coins.
"The Inquisitor."
Fletcher tore his eyes away from the coins, looking Harry straight in the eye. He paled, turning even more sickly yellow than he was before. He reached into his pocket. Harry had his hand on his wand, but didn't draw it. Fletcher had drawn out his pipe and he filled it with tobacco before lighting it. He drew a long drag before saying, "I don't think my life is worth it."
"Your life's barely worth anything."
"You don't understand. The Inquisitor...no one knows anything about him. You don't even say it in these parts."
Harry's brow furrowed at that. It was like Voldemort. "Why not?"
"They say that once the Inquisitor comes after you, you don't have a chance," answered Fletcher as his hand trembled as he lowered his pipe. He spat. "Look, Potter, I'll give you any other information that I have, but not about the Inquisitor. You can keep your money. I don't want any trouble from him. I don't want to end up in Azkaban or worse."
"I could take you into Azkaban for withholding information."
"Jugson was caught in Berlin almost fifteen years ago by him. The Inquisitor took him down and strung him out in front of the German Magical Guard." Jugson was extradited back to Britain for a trial. "Malicber wasn't so lucky. He fell through a big skylight window in Merlin knows where."
Harry had heard of all of these captures. He raised any eyebrow. The Inquisitor went everywhere it seemed. "None of them mention the Inquisitor."
"Of course not. He wipes their memories clean, but he's out there. I think...well...I think he started earlier. Almost twenty years go. Do you remember Fenrir Greyback?" asked Fletcher. He didn't wait for Harry to answer. "They said that the Inquisitor did that."
Harry felt his blood go cold at that. He knew about Greyback. He had escaped from prison eighteen years ago. The Aurors were working double time to find him before the full moon, but for Harry it was personal. He had to comfort Teddy during that time, who was afraid of Greyback coming for him like he had done with his father. Greyback was captured in Wales. He had been shot in the leg with a buckshot full of silver, which was poisonous to werewolves. Greyback's leg had to be amputated because it had taken too long for him to get medical attention. Greyback had no recollection of how he ended up in the woods in Wales and how he had been shot. He had no memory at all.
Fletcher took out a handkerchief and bloated his brow with it. "Keep your money, Potter. And don't come here asking about the Inquisitor again."
Harry didn't even stop Fletcher as he left.
***
"Do you think Dad would have minded?" asked Scorpius the following morning.
"I think he'd tolerate them for you. He was worried about you about not having any friends in school. He and your mother blamed themselves for it. All that traveling and never settling for too long for you to have regular playmate."
"Mum would be making such a fuss about this."
His grandmother smiled, "I'm making the fuss for her. Now what are you planning to do?"
"They're really keen on trying out my broom," replied Scorpius.
Narcissa shook her head. "Boys. I swear I shall never really understand."
"Maybe we'll bring out some of the Quidditch equipment."
"Another thing I simply cannot understand why everyone gets so excited over it. Other than the games at school, I only attended one other match."
"Which one?"
"The World Cup when the final was played in England. When Ireland played…well, I can't remember whom they played against. Your grandfather got tickets and insisted that we all go. I was dreadfully hot and bored."
A knock came at the door and Scorpius went to go and answer it. Scorpius easily guessed it was Albus with his fathe.r He went to answer and they entered. "Hi," he said. "Come in."
"Morning," said Albus as he took in his surroundings. Manderlay wasn't as grand as other family estates. It was still too large for a family as small as the Malfoys, but it was small based on people's expectations.
It was bright and airy with high ceilings. There were minimal decorations with clean lines that made it very modern. The open kitchen was black and white making it look like art deco design. The open floor plan made everything flow.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter," greeted Scorpius politely, if a bit stand offish.
The auror smiled. "Good morning, Scorpius. Mrs. Malfoy."
"Would you like some tea?" offered Narcissa.
"Yes, please," said Harry. The boys went off to put Albus' things away in Scorpius' room upstairs. Harry took that time to ask, "Is he all right, Mrs. Malfoy?"
Narcissa replied, "If you mean has he been sleeping and if his scar has been bothering him He did get enough sleep last night and as for his scar, he never tells me if it hurts or not."
Harry didn't ask any further because the boys came back downstairs. He overhead his son excitedly ask, "So can I try out the Mach?"
"Albus, you're cousin isn't even here yet," interrupted Harry.
"But, Dad, it's a Mach!"
The fireplace ignited. "Oi! Is that you, Harry?" asked George.
"Morning, Mr. Weasley," greeted Scorpius with a wave.
"Hey Scorpius," piped up Fred.
They came through the fireplace. Fred had brought his broomstick along. He grinned and said hello to Narcissa. George did the same routine as Harry, looking around. They all went upstairs to drop off Fred's things.
"I sure hope this house is standing when those boys are done with it," said George. "The kids are used to playing with just family, so it's good for them to get out and meet people who aren't related to them. Scorpius is a terrific kid."
"It's Scorpius' house, not mine," shrugged Narcissa. "If anything happens to it, it's his problem."
Harry chuckled, "Well, I suppose that is the best way to look at it."
"I really should get back to work as soon as I say goodbye, but I hear your grandson has a very special broomstick," said George.
Narcissa shook her head and snorted, "Boys and their toys. They don't really change when they get older. I suppose Scorpius would be more interested if it wasn't a gift from Lucius."
"Has he attempted to make contact with Scorpius?" asked Harry.
Narcissa shook her head again, replying, "The Malfoy men tend to be frightfully stubborn. They'll hold onto their pride when it's against each other. Don't get me wrong. Lucius at one point absolutely adored Scorpius. I did warn him that the traits he found so endearing would one day come back to smack him in the face. Scorpius could get almost anything out of Lucius when he was younger. He got him to read 'The Fountain of Fair Fortune' one time when he spent the weekend with us."
George roared with laughter. Everyone knew, because it had been published, that Lucius Malfoy hated the story. "How in the world did he manage that?" he chuckled.
"Scorpius pouted and looked too cute to resist. Draco read him the story all the time. When he almost cried I couldn't take it myself, so I stayed by the doorway until Lucius read it to him. He had promised and he had to deliver," answered Narcissa, fondly recalling how she stood at the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest until Lucius in his silken voice finished reading the story to their grandson. He even managed to keep the resentment from his voice as he read it. "I don't think that Scorpius remembers that. I don't think he remembers that at one point Lucius was his grandfather."
"Draco was the one who read that story to him?" said Harry.
Narcissa pressed her lips together and gave a tight nod. The boys came back down. "Bye, Dad," said Fred as he gave his father a quick embrace.
Albus repeated the gesture. Scorpius looked on from the sidelines. It was something that was difficult for him to watch. That was partly the reason why he never liked to linger at King's Cross for too long. "I really should head back, but I'd like to take a look at that broom," said George.
"Let's go to the shed," offered Scorpius. The boys were more than agreeable to it. Scorpius led the way, while Harry brought up the rear. He had already been the house a few times. His visits were strictly for business. His eyes were on the protective wards that he had installed on top of the ones that Draco had put in place. Narcissa had agreed it was best not to inform Scorpius of this.
Harry had been to the shed before. He knew about the broomsticks that Draco had kept. Of course, he didn't know about Scorpius' broom until Albus bragged about it at home. James was just jealous about it. Scorpius opened a custom case and the broomstick immediately levitated, knowing its owner.
"The last time I felt this way about a broom was when I saw your Firebolt, Harry," managed George.
"Dad, you could afford one," said Fred, not even reaching out to touch it.
George sighed, "No, it's not something we're going to buy just because we can afford it, Fred."
"That's what my dad used to say," said Scorpius. "He abhorred clutter." Sure enough, shed was organized it was a testimony of someone who was very precise when it came to his things. There were all sorts of tools. Interestingly, they were Muggle tools. Hand tools used for various things such as the ones that Arthur Weasley would have in his shed.
Draco's broomsticks, including the broom Nimbus 2001 he had used as a Slytherin Seeker, hung on the wall. There was a box of Quidditch equipment and a set of golf clubs along with a bucket full of golf balls. Harry said, "Your father was a great flyer. Although I doubt he'd be amused with that bludger incident at school."
"That was an accident, Dad," pointed out Albus. "We got detention for it."
"I once had detention with Scorpius' dad in our first year. We had to go into the Forbidden Forest."
Scorpius' brows furrowed. "I thought that the Forbidden Forest was off limits. Hence the word, 'forbidden.'"
"You're more surprised about that than your dad getting detention?" asked Fred.
Scorpius shrugged, "I've still got more detention than him."
"That's not really detention," Albus corrected. "Those are extra DADA lessons."
Fred agreed, "Yeah, those don't count."
"They help my reputation."
George looked a bit confused about that. Albus and Fred were just staring at the broomstick. Scorpius reached out and took it. They went outside. George and Harry followed. "Here Albus," offered Scorpius as he let go of the broom. It hovered beside him. Since the boys were relatively the same height it didn't make much of a difference.
Albus mounted the broom and it remained inert for a moment before he motioned it to go up. It did so in a smooth action as he ascended; Fred was very antsy, declaring, "Oh I have to have a go!"
"Me, too!" exclaimed George.
Fred glanced at his father. "You said you had to go back to the shop."
"That's the great part about being the boss, Freddie."
Scorpius extended the invitation to the fathers present, "You want to have a go, too, Mr. Potter?"
"Sure," said Harry.
They all had a go, except for Scorpius. He didn't have to. Harry and George left them and went back into the house. Narcissa was watching them from the window. "Those are some fine boys, you have," she complimented. Fred thanked her for the sweets and had shamelessly requested fudge. She didn't mind because Scorpius hardly ate any of it.
"We'll be back to collect them in a week," promised Harry, "or before then, if you'd like. Just send us an owl or call us in the fire."
"Such lovely things," said George in a pitying voice. "Have your wand ready for those repairing spells."
Narcissa smiled as she shook her head. "Now, George, I've dealt with teenage boys. Believe me, I know that accidents will happen. I'm just glad to see my grandson so lively. Besides, like I said before they're his lovely things. See you next week."
The men departed as Narcissa turned her attention back to the window. She saw that Scorpius carried himself with marked maturity compared to boys his age. He had seen more than a lifetime's worth of grief and loss. He actually felt better than he had in ages. The boys took out the Quaffle from the kit in the shed and passed it back and forth. Albus and Fred had to switch back and forth between the Mach and Fred's Lightning Bolt. Scorpius used his father's broom. The latest broom that Draco had gotten was a few years older. It made no difference though. They didn't go back into the house until lunch.
Narcissa had a spread of cold sandwiches and cold pumpkin juice waiting for them. As an added treat, she even fried up some seasoned crisps. She only had a sandwich with tea.
"You should play on the team. You'd be brilliant," said Fred.
Scorpius sighed, "They'd never let me join."
"I'd rather not have you playing anyway. It's just too dangerous," said Narcissa with a shudder. "I was so worried when your father played. And your grandfather encouraging him only made it worse."
"Somehow I can't imagine Lucius being encouraging," said Scorpius. His voice sounded light, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. "But as for Quidditch being dangerous, that's part of the fun, Grandmother." Narcissa clearly disagreed.
Albus said, "With the Mach, they'd be mental not to let you."
"I said I wouldn't help those rotten prats and I won't," said Scorpius firmly. "They hate me and I hate them. If I knew things would have turned out this way, I would have let the Sorting Hat put me where it wanted to in the first place."
"Where'd it want to put you?"
"Gryffindor."
The cousins glanced at each other a bit awestruck. "That does explain a lot," said Fred after a moment.
"You idiot!" exclaimed Albus. "If you were just put there in the first place, we would have been mates ages ago."
"Actually, I was rather surprised and so were your parents when you were sorted into Slytherin," revealed Narcissa. Scorpius gave her a questioning glance. "When you were younger, you were utterly fearless and inquisitive. You'd get into everything and one of your hobbies was climbing bookcases and dive bombing off them."
"Oh yeah, Dad would catch me. He didn't like it as much as I did," said Scorpius with a smirk.
Narcissa couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, you drove him mad. He once declared that your mother wasn't pregnant with a baby, but a flesh tone dormant bludger."
"Your dad sounded like he was cool," said Albus.
Scorpuis had to agree, "Yes, he was cool." He never would have thought that when his father was alive.
After lunch, the boys helped cleaned up. Scorpius showed them around most of the house. Both Albus and Fred marveled at Scorpius having his own bathroom. They had to share with their siblings. There were enough toilets in the house to go around actually. There was a half bath downstairs, one Scorpius' room, one down the hall, and one in the master suite.
The rest of the day went by rather smoothly. Narcissa rather liked having a busy household because it was so much livelier. Over the next week, Scorpius was happier as he had ever been at Manderlay since his parents had died. It was wonderful to see her grandson acting like a teenager. Both boys were well-mannered for the most part.
Albus and Fred discovered that Scorpius was rubbish at wizards' chess. It was gratifying to see because Scorpius was good at almost everything as far as they could see. Albus was quite excellent at chess, having learned from his uncle. Fred didn't have the attention span to learn it well, but was still better than Scorpius. After losing a half a dozen games, only winning one because of Fred's not so subtle coaching, Scorpius decided it was time for another game.
"You're just a sore loser," said Albus.
Scorpius retorted, "One gets sore after losing six out of seven games."
"You won the last one," pointed out Fred.
Albus laughed as Scorpius said, "Thanks, but I'd rather lose on my own ability than with you coughing when I was directing the pieces." He brought out a different game board.
The cousins watched with fascination as Scorpius opened it. "Backgammon is older than chess. My mum's dad taught her how to play and she taught me." He went to explain the rules and how to play. Unlike chess, backgammon had simpler rules. They were used to moving the pieces by commanding them about. Scorpius finished his explanation, "So, who wants to go first?"
"I'll go," said Albus. "How hard could it be?"
Albus should have known from the smirk on Scorpius' face that the game was deceptively easy. He lost because Scorpius had hit two of his pieces, pinning them on the center of the board, leaving Scorpius a chance to bring all of his pieces home. Albus lost the second round when he had hit one of Scorpius' pieces too soon and failed to block that section, making it far too easy to get back in and hit one of Albus' pieces. In the last round, Albus was overly cautious, he was too keen on keeping two pieces together all the time to notice that Scoprius was able to stage final victory by arranging his pieces just so and throwing doubles on the dice to get all his pieces home.
Unlike chess, backgammon was so fast pace that Albus didn't exactly know what had happened. Fred couldn't tell either. He was confused as soon as the first round had started. Scorpius offered, "Fancy a game, Fred?"
"Um…no," replied Fred. He scratched his head. "I don't get it."
"It's a wicked game," declared Albus, "but very cool. Like in chess, you've got to be moves ahead or you'll lose."
"I'm out of practice," confessed Scorpius. "You almost had me in the second round, Al. This is the first time I've played in about two years."
"Thanks for the lesson," said Albus. "So there hasn't been anyone else to play with?"
"Not really," said Scorpius. "My dad didn't really played as much, but my mum taught him, too. He preferred chess, but I've never been good at it. He played with Lucius."
Albus and Fred never really pressed for details about the murders. No one expect for a handful of people knew the extent of the attack and that Scorpius had been nearly killed as well. People didn't know because it was kept out of the press. The cousins did notice that Scorpius frequently placed his hand over his right side. Like most people, they chalked up his lengthy absence from school after the murders of his parents as a long grieving period.
Fred was all right with leaving Scorpius alone and maybe never knowing what had happened. Albus was curious. His father and Uncle Ron knew more than he did about his best friend and that bothered him. Still, he didn't ask. He just wanted Scorpius to trust him enough to tell him. Albus didn't pry into other sources because he wanted to hear it from Scorpius directly.
Growing up, Albus heard a lot of things about his father. Sometimes he'd go directly to him and ask for more details Albus' father always answered his questions with a mixture of awkwardness and reluctance. By the time Albus was eight, he figured out that it was difficult for his father to remember some of the most traumatic events of his life. Sometimes his father was far away even right in front of him. Just like Scorpius was from time to time.
During the week long visit, Scoprius played his violin or the grand piano. He didn't like to play in front of people normally. He was a well-trained and gifted musician. He played in the morning while Albus and Fred were still sleeping to avoid being watched. Albus would lie awake in his sleeping sack, listening to it. Scorpius was particularly reproachful about anyone watching him play his violin except for his grandmother, Teddy, and Aunt Andromeda. It had to do with his motehr's fame and the expectations that he would have some of her talent.
Albus could relate. Fred had it a little easier, but Albus' parents both were famous. That was why Albus didn't really have friends outside the family. During his first year at Hogwarts, almost everyone wanted to be his friend because of his parents. Rose and James handled their parents' fame loads better than him. Still Albus' first year was better than Scorpius'.
"Man, I could get used to this," sighed Fred. He lazily leaned back into the chair.
Albus nodded. "My house is crazy," he informed Scorpius. "There's always a lot going on. It's like the Burrow at Christmas, only half as crazy."
"Going to the Borrow last Christmas was the highlight for me," admitted Scorpius.
Fred chuckled, "Oh, you should have seen your face when Lily's bra hit you."
"I was stunned!" exclaimed Scorpius.
Albus burst out laughing. "The best part was when Lily socked James." He sighed. "One of my best Christmases ever."
Scorpius agreed, "Oh that was good. For someone so small, she literally packs a punch."
"All the girls in the family are like that to varying degrees," Fred told Scoprius. "My sister is just plain vicious. Worst she gets away with it because she's a daddy's girl. My dad spoils her rotten."
"My dad treats me and my sibs equally," said Albus. "Or at least he tries."
"The only time I kind of had that was with my cousins," said Scorpius. "They were cute for only life five minutes after that they got on my nerves."
"They look pretty small, Scorpius," observed Albus as he glanced at the pictures. "I can't imagine you yelling at little kids."
Scorpius ruefully laughed, "I wasn't used to having other kids around. The last time I saw them I played hide-n-go-seek, but hid so well they couldn't find me."
"That wasn't fair," said Fred.
Scorpius smiled, "No, and my dad stumbled upon my hiding place and called out my location."
"I bet they went through all your stuff, too, when they came over," said Albus.
Scorpius nodded, "They did. With two of them, one would get into one place as I got one out of another."
"If you'd like I can get my sister to annoy you and rifle through your things, when you come over to my house," offered Albus.
"I'll pass, but thanks for the offer," laughed Scorpius.
Author's Note: Yes, Manderlay is named after the famous house in another famous novel, Rebecca, one of my favorite books. I have too many favorite books, which seem to bleed into the story. Scorpius' mother was a Ravenclaw. I have been writing these chapters at work. I could get fired. See how devoted I am.
This is a longer chapter because of the beginning. Harry is starting to really get into the investigation. The hint in this chapter goes back to the first chapter actually.
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.
