The Inquisitor's Son
Part Thirty-Seven: The Graveyard
Harry had one frustrating afternoon attempting to locate Lucius Malfoy for further questioning. Ron had agreed to meet him back at the house and they would start fresh that next day. Neither of them had expected the scene at Harry's house. They came out of Harry's office to hear screaming.
"That's not fair! You're not even taking Care for Magical Creatures! How could you know the answer!"
Ron winced, recognizing his daughter's voice. Clearly, the girl had inherited her parents' lung capacities. Ron sighed and almost rolled his eyes as he and Harry heard a calm, almost familiar drawl, "I read Al's book. It's not that hard."
They rounded the corner. "Dad!" declared Hugo as he ran up to Ron. He didn't even wait for his father or uncle to ask what was going on, "Scorpius called Rose a grade grubber then challenged her to a quiz match and he's beating her! Rose is pissed!"
"I'm not losing the score is tied!" exclaimed Rose.
Hermione sighed as she scolded, "Hugo, don't swear. This was supposed to be only a few questions. How it got this far I'm not sure. We've been at this for hours now."
"If you're so smart, then why aren't you top of our class?" Rose asked Scorpius sharply.
Scorpius shrugged as he replied, "Are you serious? I don't want to waste my energy jumping through professors' hoops for brass rings. I've got more important things to worry about. Besides, if you do everything perfectly then they'll always expect it. I don't like to be that predictable."
"Stop talking, you fool!" hissed Fred. "When you're not around, she'll take it out on us!"
James and Louis were laughing so hard that their faces were red. Hugo had latched onto his father for protection. Ron looked rather amused, but wiped the grin off his face when his daughter glared at him. "Next question," said Hermione. "In Muggle Studies, name the device they use to pinpoint the location of a person or device."
"GPS, Global Positioning Satellite," said Scorpius promptly.
"Now, how am I supposed to know that?" asked Rose. "I'm not taking Muggle Studies."
"I'm not taking Care for Magical Creatures either, but I got the last one right," said Scorpius smugly.
Hermione cleared her throat. "Correct, GPS." Her daughter had done well in the beginning but as the game progressed, Scorpius knew more answers. "Looks like the score is now tied."
Lily and Roxanne were the scorekeepers. Lily marked down Scorpius' last point. She didn't know who to root for. Scorpius had handicapped himself in the beginning by making Hermione the quiz master.
"Sudden death!" declared James. He, Louis, Fred, and Albus started chanting, "Sudden death! Sudden death!"
"For the tie breaker," said Hermione, "I have devised an Arithmancy problem. Show all your work for the final points." With her wand, she conjured two broads. She flicked her wrist and the equation appeared.
Rose raced to the broad and looked at the problem and started working it. Scorpius sat still staring at the equation for a good minute. His eyes moved over it like he was reading music. He got up and strolled up to the board. At the very bottom, he put the answer to the equation. Hermione gasped, but quickly reminded him, "Show all the work, Scorpius."
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," he said as he started to write directly under the equation. He wrote with a steady hand and never stopped to erase unlike Rose. He only stopped to make sure he was including all the steps. He stopped and stepped back. The last thing he did was erase the answer at the bottom to move it up to fill in the gap. He drew a box around the answer and said, "Done."
"Rose?" asked Hermione as Scorpius sat back donw.
"Done," said Rose a minute later.
Hermione walked over to her daughter's board first. She nodded approvingly. "You got all the steps in and correct answer. Great job, Rose," she praised as Rose beamed.
Hermione walked over to Scorpius' broad, which was cleaner than Rose's. His writing was neat and precise. "This is all correct, too," concluded Hermione. "Scorpius wins. He had the answer on the board and completed all the steps ahead of you, Rose."
Albus asked, "How'd you do it?"
"I just see the answers," answered Scorpius.
Rose folded her arms over her chest as her mother consoled her. "You both got it right in the end, love. That's all that counts. You did your best."
Scorpius turned to Harry. "Did you talk to Lucius?" he asked quietly.
"I couldn't find him," said Harry.
Scorpius said, "Big shock there. He probably took off as soon as he told you about the Inquisitor."
"The who?" interrupted Albus.
"My dad," said Scorpius.
"Scorpius, came with me," ordered Harry. The boy needed some parenting at this point. Harry knew he was probably the only person who could get through to him.
"Back to the office," said Scorpius blandly as he got up.
"No, grab your broom. We're flying," Harry informed him.
"Okay," said Scorpius slowly. He threw glance at Albus, who looked as confused as he was.
Scorpius went with Albus to get his broom out of the shed. Lily wondered what was going on as her father went to go change out of his work clothes.
"So Scorpius' smarter than you. It's no big deal, Rose," said Fred in an attempt to placate her.
"He isn't smarter than me," snapped Rose.
Louis shook his head. "No, Malfoy is. He could have wasted you earlier, but he didn't. He held back from the start. He went easy on you."
"No, he didn't," insisted Rose.
James came to Rose's aid, saying, "It's hard to say. Malfoy's hard to read, except when he got to the end."
Harry came back down and went to kiss Ginny. She stopped him, saying, "If you are out late, make sure you feed him. Oh, and make sure he's got a jacket on."
"Yes," nodded Harry. "We won't be long."
Ginny kissed him. "Good luck. You're going to need it."
Scorpius and Albus were having a conversation similar to Albus' parents. "My dad didn't sound mad, so maybe you're not in trouble," said Albus.
"When has your dad ever made you go flying with him just like this?" asked Scorpius.
"Well, the last time was when I accidentally blasted a hole through James' door, but we just talked. He didn't yell."
Scorpius muttered, "I've been a pain in the arse to your dad. I'm tired of making everyone worry about me."
"Look, try and keep your mouth shut and let him talk. He'll say a bunch of stuff. Whatever you do, don't drag it out. And remember he's not mad," said Albus hurriedly. He spotted his dad. "Good luck, mate." He went by his dad. Harry clapped his hand on Albus' back as he went by.
Harry pulled out his broomstick. It was the latest model that was manufactured by the makers of his old Firebolt. "Have you rode your broomstick at all?" he asked Scorpius ruefully. "It seems that everyone else has ridden it except you."
"Yes, I have sir," nodded Scorpius.
"Follow me," said Harry.
Scorpius mounted his broom and waited for Harry to take off. Immediately, Scorpius could see why everyone said Harry Potter was one of the best flyers in the world. Harry didn't make it easy for him. If it wasn't for the Mach's intuitive controls, Scorpius might not have been able to keep track.
"We're almost there," shouted Harry as he looped over a cloud.
"Where are we going, Mr. Potter?" asked Scorpius over the wind and air whizzing around them.
"You'll see," shouted Harry as he flipped the broomstick around, so he was upside down.
Scorpius couldn't see where they were. He had never gone over this part before on a broom. Suddenly, Harry dove passed him. "Straight down, we're here!"
Scorpius followed him. As they dipped lower and lower, Scorpius began to recognize his surroundings a bit. At first, he didn't because he was used to seeing it covered in snow with the tree branches bare. There was no turning back. This was only his fourth visit there.
Scorpius' face paled as he dismounted. Harry said, "I always wanted to know where my parents were buried, but no one told me until it was over. I never got to visit them for years." He was standing over the grave of Draco Malfoy. "I never had a place to go to be with my parents. Not like you." Scorpius was silent. "It's only naturally to avoid things that give us pain, Scorpius, but I have a question for you: why are you ashamed of your father?"
Leave it to a Potter to strike Scorpius dumb. "I'm not ashamed of my dad," denied Scorpius in an outraged voice after a moment.
"It seems to me that you are," said Harry.
"I'm not. I loved my dad. I wanted to be like him."
"Then why haven't you been more forceful about the investigation?"
"I don't know."
"Come on, Scorpius. You must know."
Scorpius was reeling. All the time and hardly anyone had questioned Scorpius' passiveness and outward lack of interest in the investigation. He started to feel like the walls were closing in on him, even though there were none. "Don't you think that your father deserves more than that from you?" asked Harry. His voice was surprisingly gentle.
"How could I? He lied to me my entire life. The one thing he asked me to do and I can't do it. I'm not like him. I can't be brave. It was easy for him to say it. He knew what was out there. I don't. I'm scared all the time of what will happen next and who else will be taken from me."
"I understand," said Harry, "but you haven't seen how far you've gotten. Your father wouldn't have questioned his own father at your age. I saw your father breakdown under immense pressure as your sixth year. He wasn't always the person you knew, Scorpius."
"Maybe I don't ask because I've learned not to. I know that my mum knew. She helped him cover it up," said Scorpius as he ran his hand along his side.
Harry understood how Scorpius held it in. He had kept up a better front than anyone. "I once saw someone's memory of my dad. He was just a kid really who was trying to impress my mum," he told Scorpius. "He thought it would impress her to pick on her friend and humiliate him in front of everyone."
Harry never told his own children about Professor Snape's memory. "I was shocked and utterly disappointed in my dad. Teddy's dad tried to explain it to me, but I couldn't understand at the time. It took my dad down to earth and made him real to me."
"I've spent my whole life trying to live my dad's reputation down," said Scorpius. "If what you and Teddy say about him being the Inquisitor is true, then it changes everything. How am I supposed to live up to that?"
"You don't," replied Harry simply. He had had similar conversations with his own children. He closed the gap between them. "You be you. And I apologize for earlier. I assumed that you'd be exactly like your dad, but you're not. You take after your mother in personality according to your grandmother."
"My dad used to say that all the good in me came from my mum," said Scorpius.
"Whatever we find out about your parents, you need to know," said Harry seriously. "Believe me, I know it hurts, but I envy you. I wished that my father had left behind something like yours."
Scorpius had nothing to left to say. The last time he had stood over his father's grave he was overcome by blinding, physical pain. There was a different sort of pain now. There was a throbbing much like his scar. He didn't even noticed how much he missed being close to them, if only physically.
"I promise you, Scorpius, it won't always be like this," whispered Harry as he kept his eyes trained on the name of his old school rival. He clapped his hand over Scorpius' shoulder. "Life can go on, if we let it. You can't stay in one spot forever."
Somehow, Scorpius believed him.
***
Narcissa dropped by the Potters with Teddy while Harry and Scorpius had gone out. Ginny had offered her some tea to keep her calm while they waited. Hermione and Ron were with them. The children were hustled outside when Narcissa had arrived. Angelina had very bad luck keeping them from the windows and doors. They were gatherings in separate groups.
Lily watched Scorpius' grandmother with apprehension. The woman seemed cold and aloof, and completely the opposite of her own gran. Lily wanted Narcissa to like her. "Malfoy's gran looks scary, doesn't she?" said James out loud to Albus.
"Nah, she's wonderful," said Fred, yet he conceded, "but I wouldn't cross her either."
"Scorpius said she lied to Voldemort's fasce when she ordered her to check to see if Dad was alive," said Albus. "I'm glad it's not his grandfather."
Narcissa did something unexpected. She had seen the curious looks from the window. She smiled and waved. This surprised them, so they scattered.
"Sorry about that," said Ginny apologetically.
Narcissa shook her head as she smiled. "Draco would peek around corners like that when he was a child," she said.
Teddy said "It's not as bad as Scorpius at the Leaky Cauldron."
"True," said Narcissa. "Scorpius can be a bit of a handful. Draco kept swearing he'd drive him mad one day."
"Now that I don't believe," said Ron almost fondly. "Although, Scorpius was rather obnoxious earlier."
"I'm sorry about that," said Narcissa, having heard about Scorpius and Rose's academic duel. "It's the Ravenclaw in him. Professor McGonagall and Professor Longbottom are certain that he's been lazy when it comes to his studies. I'd push him harder, but I think he has enough pressure on him."
Hermione said, "Nevillle has been in contact with Harry and Scorpius. The school's security has been reinforced."
"Do you think it will keep everything that could get to my grandson out?" asked Narcissa.
Ron glanced at his wife as he answered, "No, it won't, Mrs. Malfoy. How much were you aware of your son's business activities?"
"I always assumed that Draco worked for himself because he couldn't get a job elsewhere. He wouldn't even let his father or me help him. Lucius and Draco butted heads so often. I was in the middle," said Narcissa with a hollow chuckle. "I have become an expert on the Malfoy males, but they never cease to amaze me. I don't mean that in a good way either."
"Scorpius isn't like his father or his grandfather," said Ginny.
"Give him enough time, you don't know him as well as I do. He's probably angry with his father," said Narcissa knowingly. "I can't blame him. I'm mad at him, too. Leave it to my son to find a way to infuriate me from beyond the grave."
Ron's eyebrows raised a bit as he gave a bit of look to Hermione. Ginny almost laughed out loud, but the situation wasn't all that humorous. Teddy said, "Your son was a hero. He took down the man who gave me nightmares for weeks when I was a kid."
Narcissa gave Teddy small, sad smile. She went back to looking prim and calm as Teddy sort of smiled a bit, too.
Albus and Fred had given up waiting and spying at the doorways and windows. They now positioned themselves by the broom shed. Albus was quite relieved when he saw his father and Scorpius returning. Before they could even touchdown, Albus announced, "Your grandmother is here, Score."
"How long has she been waiting?" asked Harry.
"About twenty minutes, Uncle Harry," answered Fred promptly.
"We'll take the brooms," offered Albus.
"Thanks," said Scorpius as he handed off to Fred.
Harry clapped his hand on his son's shoulder as he gestured Scorpius to follow him inside. He gave a strange smile to his nephews, nieces, other son, and daughter as they went by. Scorpius fleetingly caught Lily's eye. She looked worried, not that he wasn't. He didn't like the idea of her worrying about him. He flashed a small smile of reassurance as he closed the door behind him.
Harry flicked his wand and all the curtains closed. "Hello Mrs. Malfoy. Sorry about the wait, we went out for a bit," he said.
Scorpius went up to his grandmother and gave her a very quick hug and kiss from behind without her getting up right before taking his seat next to her. "If you tell me you're all right, I will be very irritated with you, Scorpius," his grandmother told him.
"No, I wasn't going to say that, Grandmother," said Scorpius.
"Mrs. Malfoy, we found the memories that your son left behind at his warehouse along with evidence that indicates that your son was involved in certain activities that were considered illegal," said Harry. "Were you aware of his work?"
Narcissa placed her hand on top of Scorpius as she shook her head. "Draco said he was just a consultant and that his clients required confidentiality. He never talked about it with me. If I had known, I would have done anything to stop him from doing such dangerous things."
"Lucius indicated that he knew," said Harry. "In fact, he was the one who pointed towards the Inquisitor as a suspect."
Narcissa sighed, "I have heard of the Inquisitor. Everyone in our circle has. Draco one time laughed it off, saying that the Inquisitor was just an urban myth. Just a rumor that Aurors were passing around to keep people in line." Narcissa gave a mirthless laugh, "but I did see that gleam in his eye."
"But why?" asked Ron. "Why would the son of one of Voldemort's right hand men and someone who's worked against us in the past become one of the greatest dark wizard hunters of all time?"
"Draco was always very good at putting up facades. It is a talent that comes from my side of the family," said Narcissa. "To the Blacks, if they can't make it right, then they can at least make it look right. You three only caught just a glimpse of what had transpired in Malfoy Manor before the Dark Lord fell." She threw her glance to Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
Scorpius had rarely heard his family talk about the war. "Draco and I were held hostage in our own home. The Dark Lord knew that Draco could play the piano. Draco was forced to play for him. He also witnessed some atrocious horrors in the house. Upon his return, after the fiasco at the Department of Mysteries, Draco was summoned by the Dark Lord. He made him play for four hours straight while he and some of the others, including my sister, were torturing people. Draco didn't stop playing. He was afraid to, even when the screams became so loud, you couldn't hear him."
"Dad never talked about that," whispered Scorpius. "What were you doing?"
"My sister kept me otherwise occupied," replied Narcissa.
Teddy whispered, "Bellatrix."
"Actually, it was the only favor my sister did for me," said Narcissa. "She said if it had been anyone else, she would have let me try and stop them. She said that if I were dead, then there wouldn't be anyone around to protect my son. But she had no problem sacrificing my son to advance her cause. She would have betrayed us in an instant if the Dark Lord had ordered her. After the Department of Mysteries, she was looking for a way back into his good graces."
"I did everything I could to keep my family together. I was so immersed in it all that I didn't even notice that my family wasn't the same after the war. Draco was so angry and lost. He left for three years. Lucius didn't want him to go, but I told him that Draco was like sand. The harder we tried to hang on to him, the more he'd slip through our fingers. Maybe, Lucius was trying to hang on to Draco because he knew we'd already lost him."
Author's Note: Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to do much in the last few weeks. I had a really busy time at work and I came down with the flu from hell. Regular hellish flu, not swine. I won't even begin to make any promises as to when the next update will happen. Thanks as always for keeping up with the story and for your patience.
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.