Chapter 11

"Well I think we can rule out suicide,"concluded Harry some hours later "Unless he garrotted himself from behind."

He had joined Severus in Fudge's office. Severus had been tasked to baby sit Crassus. He had not resented this. He was anxious to stay away from the team of Gottingen aurors and medical personnel who had turned up to view the body. He was already concern that he might have to make a statement as he had been with Harry when he found the body. This masquerading as a Gottingen auror had been a bad idea. He was getting himself and Harry into deeper trouble. However, as Crassus had spent a lot of time in the bathroom, the interlude had given Severus an opportunity to explore Fudge's office. He has been delighted to find a wealth of books relating wandlore and wand power. He used the Elder Wand to perform a swift duplicating and shrinkage charm. He carefully stored the tiny package of books in his cloak pocket.

"Where's Crassus" asked Harry anxiously.

Severus pointed to the bathroom opposite the office.

"They have removed the body?" confirmed Severus.

"Yes after taking pictures from every possible angle," replied Harry.

"Have you spoken to Peck?" Severus inquired tentatively.

"Yeah. He's not pleased but I am still in charge of the case," said Harry anticipating Severus next question. "They have little choice but to stick with me. The timing looks bad. Looks like someone from inside tipped someone off."

"Could be a coincidence," said Severus.

"Yeah maybe. But it's not exactly reassuring is it?"

"If there is a spy, he is not very subtle."

"Can't take the chance. The Daily Fictum is going to be all over it."

Severus nodded.

"I'm afraid you're off the case as well," said Harry in a whisper. "Peck doesn't want any internal Gottingen aurors involved. He's now completely paranoid. "

Severus nodded part of him was relived but the main part of him was bitterly disappointed he could no longer help Harry. He had secretly enjoyed been part of an investigation team.

"You will find it hard to manage on your own."

Harry grinned "I won't be on my own. He drafting in another outsider."

"Who?" said Severus

"Someone he met recently," said Harry still grinning.

Severus looked puzzled. And then his face cleared, "Mr Weasley?"

"That's his idea."

Severus paused, "The Ministry have agreed to pull him out of Vienna?"

"Well Peck's certainly received an owl to that effect," said Harry carefully.

Severus looked hard at his son.

Harry smiled "Ron is a very careless packer when Hermione's not around. Always used to leave loads of stuff at Gryffindor over the holidays."

Severus looked puzzled again.

"I found his hairbrush this morning," continued Harry with a grin.

Severus sat up straight. "No, not under any circumstances."

"Sure you will to help me," said Harry confidently. "It'll give you a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate those acting skills."

Severus groaned.

They did little more that evening. In, theory Harry was supposed to be waiting for Ron's arrival from Vienna. Harry had already taken a statement from Crassus about the discovery of the body, he had a quick reassuring chat with him before sending him home and sealing Trank's quarters. The local firm of security trolls were dispatched to keep everyone in their quarters overnight. There were some complaints but no-one wanted to be dragged to Gottingen in the middle of the night to be interviewed. Harry and Severus therefore headed home for another take away.

As Ron could not reasonably have been expected to arrive from Italy before 9am, they had a lie in the next morning at least until 8am and a good breakfast. Shortly after that, Harry handed Severus Ron's hairbrush. Severus added a hair to a small glass poured from his store of polyjuice potion. After the usual discomfort of transformation, Severus forced himself to look in the mirror. Ron Weasley stared back at him. Harry emerging from his bedroom clapped him on the back.

"Good to see you mate."

Severus scowled. "This is completely unacceptable," he growled.

Harry shook his head. "You need to loosen up I have never heard Ron use the work unacceptable."

Severus muttered something unrepeatable under his breath.

"You also need to relax, the last time I saw Ron so stressed was before a quidditch match when he was in goal. You are standing too upright, slouch more"

Severus muttered again.

"Look," said Harry this time becoming serious. "You don't need to do this Dad. I can manage or get Ron to pop over and give me a hand."

Severus forced himself to relax his shoulder. "No I will suffer." He paused.

As Harry appeared even more sceptical. He relaxed his shoulder, his arms hanging at his sde.

"We are cool mate, don't worry about it."

Harry grinned "Not bad." He paused again as Severus grimaced "What's up?"

"I'm starving," groaned Severus. "I could eat a full English breakfast. "

"That's Ron," said Harry. "We will get some snacks on the train."

By the time they were half way through searching Trank's quarters, which had Harry had insisted they must do before starting the new round of interviews, Severus was feeling more comfortable in Ron's skin. It was if his mind had gradually adopted the laid back sloppy movements of his former student. However, he was glad Ron wasn't any younger at least he had developed some co-ordination.

Severus was searching Trank's private potion lab and office whilst Harry did his domestic living quarters, Harry's instructions had been clear. First priority was any trace of the murder weapon or the intruder, second was any information tying Trank to the embezzlement. The potions lab had surprisingly proved a wash out, except for a bundle of "Mense Magicae Monthly" magazines which explained the monthly subscriptions Ron had identified. Severus had flicked through them and decided they were not sufficiently interesting to purloin. In fact the quality was so poor, Severus was amazed Trank had allowed himself to be ripped off. Apart from that, the lab was exactly what Severus had expected the potions lab of a competent professor to be. There were even fewer illegal potions than Severus had expected. He had been sorely tempted to "obtain" some of Trank's substantial collection of potions ingredients but in deference to Ron's good character he had resisted.

Severus had been searching Trank's office for about ten minutes when he struck gold. He found a small safe built into the wall behind Trank's diploma from the Association of Potions Masters.

"Potter!"

Harry, who had been searching Trank's bedroom, appeared at the door with a pillow in his hand. Severus gestured to the safe in the wall.

"Bingo," said Harry excitedly.

"Could be a decoy," warned Severus.

Harry tossed the pillow onto the desk and drew his wand. Severus folded his arms and leant back against the study wall.

Ten minutes later a frustrated Harry admitted defeat. "The wards are too strong. We'll have to blast it open."

"You risk damaging the contents if you do that. Would you like me to try?"

Harry who looked rather hot sweaty nodded and stepped back.

Severus drew his wand and spend the next five minutes testing the wards from various angles. "Impressive, and I say that as a man who had managed to dismantle the wards of both Dumbledore and the Dark Lord."

"Better call the team to get the dynamite"

Severus held up a finger, which looked odd given he was Ron. From inside his robes he withdrew a second wand and rolled it gently in his hands.

"Careful not to channel too much power," warned Harry "Remember Slytherin's door!"

Severus nodded fully focused on the safe door. Last night before bed he had dipped into the books he had duplicated from Fudge's collection. They had contained some useful tips. He kept his wand movements small and controlled. He visualised the wards in his mind. They were black and sticky. In his mind he managed to compress them into a ball and push them out of the way. As the imaginary ball bounced gently off across Trank's office. The safe door clicked open.

Harry clapped his hand together slowly.

"Impressive Dad," he paused. "You know I think you were really destined to be master of the elder wand. I was too uncontrolled with it. You seem to have the touch."

Severus shrugged and stepped back to allow Harry to search the contents. He began to check the other paintings in the room in case they had others secrets to reveal. He was just deploying a "revelio" spell on a picture of the Brandenburg gate, when Harry gave a sharp exclamation.

"Something useful?" inquired Severus.

Harry turned round, eyes on fire. "We were right." He waved a small piece of paper at Severus.

Severus stepped back across the room to examine it.

"The details of the Swizz bank account," said Severus.

"He was the embezzler" said Harry triumphantly "But," he added more soberly. "That doesn't prove he killed Lubricus although if he had been about to be unmasked he might well have done."

Severus nodded, "A good motive, Trank had a lot to lose."

Harry nodded "His wand is currently being examined. They should be able to determine if he used the Avada Kedavra on Lubricus".

"Anything else in the safe?" asked Severus.

Harry turned back and lifted the contents onto the bed: bundles of cash, pocket watch, travel documents and three slim boxes. Harry lifted out one of the boxes.

"Spare wand," he concluded. "That's a bit unusual isn't it?"

Severus ignored the question. "What's in the other two?"

Harry open them. "More wands," he said puzzled. "Why would anyone want so many spare wands? I suppose I will have to get them all checked for spells."

Severus stepped closer and inhaled sharply.

"What is it?" asked Harry.

"I am no expert," said Severus "But these are not spares. They are collectors' items, old wands with a history attached them. Probably very powerful. The safe is lined with a special substance to contain their power."

"Are they valuable?"

Severus shrugged. "Quite possibly. Fudge could probably give you a view it is a specialised field."

"I'll get him to take a look. If they are, it would explain the large sumes of money he was spending."

Harry raised his wand "Expecto Patronum."

Harry didn't want Fudge to contaminate the crime scene so they waited outside Trank's quarters. Severus accioed a table from inside and Harry laid out the three wands next to their boxes.

"Has he been questioned about who went in and out?" inquired Severus jerking his head towards the pixie on the shelf outside Trank's door.

Harry nodded gloomy. "The only thing he'll says is that he doesn't remember."

Severus raised his eyebrows. "Typical."

The pixie scowled. "I don't remember anything," Offy said on cue.

Fudge appeared five minutes later looking annoyed. He launched into what was clearly a prepared speech on behalf of the faulty before Harry had time to draw breath.

"I hope you realise what a great inconvenience this is. I strongly object to us all been held virtual prisoners in our quarters for nearly 24 hours. "

Severus glowered at him but Harry raised his hand calmly.

"We apologise for every inconvenience. But as I am sure you realise, procedure must be followed carefully in the case of a suspicious death. "

Fudge paused. "It could not have been an accident or suicide?" he asked hopefully.

Harry should his head. "I can't give you details but I can tell you we are treating this as a homicide investigation."

Fudge blanched and the tried to recover. "Are you any closer to finding the embezzler? "

Harry hesitated. "I'm afraid I am not at liberty to say. "

Fudge snorted. "Well the sooner you catch the person who broke in and killed Trank the better. Crime is rife in this city."

Harry ignore the hint, "We will interview you all in the next few hours but there is one issue I would welcome your advice upon now."

"Go on, "said Fudge grudingly.

Harry lifted the cloth covering the wands. "I know you are a specialist in wandlore. Could you give me a quick view on these?"

Fudge looked down. His back was to Severus but he could tell immediately that he was taken aback. His shoulders tensed and then relaxed. There was a moment silence.

"May I take a closer look?" requested Fudge quietly with a hint of reverence.

Harry nodded. "Please don't cast any spell, my team will need to test them."

Fudge's hand which was reaching for the first wand faltered a little as he realised what they would be tested for.

He silently picked up each wand in turn, weighed them in his hands and caressed the grain of the wood. After about ten minutes he put the third wand down gently.

"Well that answers one question."

Harry raise an eyebrow.

"Trank was the embezzler," concluded Fudge shaking his head "I would not have believed it of him."

"The wands are very valuable?" deduced Harry.

Fudge laughed, "If they are what they seem to be, then I would say priceless."

Further proof, thought Severus. His instinct has been that they were the genuine thing. But he was no expert. However, Fudge's reputation suggested he knew what he was talking about.

"Do you have any idea where he might have got them from?"

Fudge shook his head. "No. But there are only a dozen or so dealers in the world who could acquire such items. Maybe one or two in Germany. One of these at least comes from the black markets "

"It would be helpful if you could tell me a little about them" said Harry encouragingly.

Fudge licked his lips. "The first two are straightforward but very valuable and very famous. The first is from Egypt. The markings on the handles lead me to believe it is the wand owned by the one of wizards who worked for an early Pharaoh. He was instrumental in the construction of the pyramids. Many stories are attached to this wand," he paused briefly.

"Like the Elder Wand?" said Harry

Severus restrained an urge to cuff him round the head.

Fudge laughed patronisingly. "The Elder Wand is a legend, attached to a child's fairy story. The wand owned by Death. No these are stories of the great deeds that the owners of the wand performed: the building of the pyramind, the reshaping of the Nile, the defeat of many enemies."

Fudge paused again.

"The second, "he said lightly touching the wand's handle "Comes from Asia, China. Its' history is unclear but it was found in the tomb with the terracotta warriors which were discovered many years ago."

Harry stirred, he had heard of the terracotta warriors. Hermione was always on about a cultural holiday in the Far East. "So they would fetch a high price?"

"Enormous "agreed Fudge.

"And the third?" asked Severus.

"This one is different, " Fudge picked up the third wand up gingerly.

"How?" asked Harry.

"I cannot tell you who was the previous owner, but I can tell you he was steeped in dark magic."

Severus remained completely still ignoring the prickling of his skin.

Fudge pointed to the small embroidered cover over the base of wand, "May I?"

Harry nodded.

Fudge peeled back the cover and lifted the wand up until Harry could see it. Harry bent closer.

"There are some tiny markings but..?"

Fudge slid a magnifying glass out of pocket and handed it to Harry. Harry peered down and then stepped back suddenly.

"You recognise it?" said Ollivander in surprise.

Harry nodded "It is the sign of the deathly hallows."

Fudge laughed "Well that was it original meaning. But I'm afraid it became more commonly linked to the followers of Grindelwald."

"So this…" said Harry uncertainly.

"Belonged to one of Grindelwald's followers. Inner circle I should say. After his defeat, the authorities did their best to purge the country of dark objects such as these. Many wands of this type were burnt. Very few are thought to be left."

"So very valuable to a certain type of collector, "said Severus.

"A lot of gold would have changed hands certainly. For their remains a huge interest in these macabre objects." agreed Fudge. "No reputable dealer would sell this sort of item. It is illegal."

While Fudge was with them, Harry ran through the standard questions about his whereabouts the previous evening. Fortunately he had been in a university administrative meeting chaired by the Vice Chancellor from 1pm-6pm. Assuming that muggle colleagues could confirm his presence, that meant he had an alibi for the time of the murder. Fudge relieved that he was free to go about his business, offered lunch in the form of sandwiches from the university kitchens, which had Harry gratefully accepted. Severus who, had been hankering after burger and chips was mildly disappointed. They decided to complete the search of Trank's quarters while they were waiting for the food to be brought up.

Severus returned to the office carefully pacing across the floor searching for any underground storage.

"Dad, "

Severus moved swiftly into Trank's bedroom, Harry was stood by the bedside table looking down at a book.

"Harry?"

Harry looked up and held up the book. "Amazon plants and potions."

"So?" said Severus thinking it was a title he had meant to get round to reading.

Harry held the book out to him. Severus reached across and took it from him. It was open at a chapter entitled, "The Rainforest: plants with healing properties."

"So?" said Severus again.

"The bookmark," said Harry quietly.

A chocolate frog card was being used as a bookmark. Severus turned it over. A picture of himself slide into view. He was in full black teaching robes and sneering fiercely. He turned it over to read the writing "Severus Snape, potions master, Hogwarts professor and later Headmaster. Follower of Lord Voldemort and later spy for the light. Killed Albus Dumbledore," Severus looked up.

"The cards were issued a few months after you left Hogwarts. You've never seen one?"

Severus shook his head.

"We're all on them. You, me, Ron, Hermione, Neville."

Severus nodded and looked back down at the card.

"I guess that's how Trank recognised you. He had been using the card as a bookmark."

"And then he met me at the wandlore meeting. He'd spend a week or more going to sleep with my face and saw through my disguise," concluded Severus.

"Just bad luck," said Harry. "I guess he killed Lubricus needed to the dump the body. "

"Thought a supposed dead ex death eater would cover up the crime rather than tell the authorities and risk being convicted of murder. A clever plan," admitted Severus.

"It fits," agreed Harry." He killed Lubricus because he had discovered he was the embezzler and then dumped the body on you."

"It would solve the mystery nicely," agreed Severus "If he hadn't turned up dead."

"Yeah, we are missing something,"concluded Harry.

Calista looked pale and annoyed. She had acknowledged Harry's greeting with an abrupt nod and barely glanced at "Ron" when Harry had introduced him.

"I am sorry for the delay. But we had various inquiries to make before we could begin the interviews."

Calista nodded again. "Fudge thinks the death was the result of an attempted robbery by someone who broke into the university. Is that what you think? "

Severus noticed she did not use Trank's name. A classic attempt to distance oneself from reality.

Harry paused. "We are pursuing all lines of inquiry."

"But has any evidence of an external break-in been found?"

Harry paused again and then shook his head.

"I see, "said Calista sitting back in her chair. "Fudge's a fool," she added.

Harry kept his face carefully neutral.

"So, "continued Harry. "Where were you between 4pm and 5pm yesterday evening."

Calista smiled and visibly relaxed. "Between 4pm and 4.30 pm I was in a seminar on Suetonius with a group of my second year students. When I came out I met Crassus who wanted to discuss a budgeting matter, that took about 45 minutes. After that, I went to the main library. I had long conversation with the Marcia at the front desk about a text I meant to order from Munich."

Harry nodded his thanks. Crassus had already told them about the 4.35pm meeting. "When was the last time you saw Professor Trank?"

"At lunch yesterday, "said Calista decisively.

"How did he seem?"

"Perfectly normal, as far as I can recall. We didn't have much in common so I tended to pay little attention to him."

"Where was I?" said Coactor. "Well between 3pm and 4pm I was giving a lecture on the Greek's use of Arithmancy in lecture hall in 5. After that, I must admit I had no classes so I went to the barbers and then to my tailors. Would you like their addresses?"

"That would be very helpful," said Harry gratefully.

Harry had expected Fabula to be hostile but instead he appeared relaxed and launched into an explanation of his movements before Harry could begin.

"I was at conference in Frankfurt yesterday. Left here at 10.30 didn't get back until 9pm. Conference focused on Aztec magic. I gave a paper on magic in the city states. Old Duffy Vert was there, fascinating discourse on magic in 12th century rural France".

It was ten minutes before Harry was able to successfully interrupt Fabula's description of the conference.

"When did you last see Professor Trank?"

"Ah... he wasn't at breakfast poor chap. Rarely was. Liked a quiet start to the day I guess. So the last time I saw him must have been at dinner the previous day. Seemed fine to me."

The last interview was with Crassus who was dreadfully nervous trembling almost. He had clearly not got over his discovery of the body.

Harry did his best to put him at his ease pouring him a glass of water and reassuring him of the routiness of the questions. They had covered most of the ground the previous evening.

Crassus' whereabouts were dispensed with fairly quickly he had been in the finance department for most of time with the other accountants apart from his discussion with Calista.

"What did you think of Trank?" asked Harry.

"He was a good man," said Crassus immediately "Kind, polite, very helpful to me. I have a nervous complaint you know, "he explained confidentially. "Professor Trank was very helpful in supplying different brands of calming potion."

"Kind or not, he was still an embezzler," said Severus after Crassus and escorted them to the exit of the building.

Harry nodded, "Looks like it. "

"So what now? "said Severus, it was late afternoon and Berlin's rush hour traffic was in full flow.

"Back to Gottingen," said Harry immediately. "We need to review all their financial accounts and see if anything turns up and get someone onto verifying those alibis. Because at the moment it doesn't look like any of them could have done it."

"They'll be a crack in one of them," promised Severus. "Trank certainly didn't kill himself."

Severus arrived back at the flat the following evening about 7pm. It had been a long day of catching up at the warehouse, developing plans for fulfilling the new Kiwi contract and identifying a suitable legal and finance team. It had gone well. On this front at least, Severus was feeling optimistic about the future. His team was suitably excited but a little daunted about and today had been as much about reassuring words than anything else. They reminded him of the Hogwarts Upper Sixth just before Newts.

When he entered the flat, Harry was sat on the sofa with his head in his hands. Unusually, he did not look up when Severus entered.

"Harry?"

Severus put his briefcase by the robe stand and moved into the lounge,

"Harry," he repeated.

Harry looked up his face blank and tired.

Severus sat down in the armchair opposite him and leaned forward.

"Harry, what's wrong?"" he paused "All is well with Miss W… Mrs Potter?"

The formality produced a strained smile in response. Harry nodded, "As far as I know."

"So what's wrong?"

"It's the investigation."

"Harry, work is not worth getting distressed about. Well unless you are trying to defeat the Dark Lord," Severus admitted.

"Yeah, but we need to get this cleared up so you're safe and …"

"Don't worry about me Harry."

"I can't help it. You're so far away when I'm in London, if anything were to happen."

"I can look after myself. Looks what's all this about? "He paused. "The inquiries into the professors' alibis and their finances have not thrown up any leads," he guessed.

"No they haven't" admitted Harry quietly.

"Harry, I have never been an auror but I suspect you will come across many dead ends in investigations and seemingly unbreakable alibis. "

Harry nodded, "I know that."

"So what's the problem?"

Harry licked his lips. "It doesn't look like Trank killed Lubricus."

Severus sat back in his chair and stared steadily at Harry. "What has led you to arrive at that conclusion?"

Harry reached for his note book. "Ok. First none of the wands tested casted the Avada Kedavra that killed him. "

"He clearly had a tendency to buy additional wands. He may have used one and then disposed of it."

Harry nodded. "True. But we can run a test these days which links someone's magical signature to a crime. "

"Really?" said Severus immediately fascinated.

"Yeah it's a bit like a fingerprint or DNA. Law enforcement are trying to keep quiet about it. You need serious grounds to have full access to someone wands to determine the signature and it can be difficult to get a warrant. "

"I would imagine many people will claim that is a serious violation of a wizard's rights," said Severus. "So Trank's magical signature does not match what you found on Lubricus' body?"

Harry shook his head. "Not even close."

"So the embezzlement is a red herring?"

"Not necessarily, you see the magical forensic team have found evidence that Lubricus' body was in Trank's apartment. Although we don't think he was killed there."

"Somebody dumped the body on Trank?"

Harry nodded "Maybe. Then he panicked and dumped the body on you."

Severus nodded somehow the fact that Trank had discovered the body and then decided to dump it on him, made it feel less premediated more of a spontaneous act of a man under pressure. It strangely made Severus feel a little more comfortable about the situation. Which he supposed was ridiculous as the net result was that he had still end up with a dead body in his warehouse.

"So where does that leave the investigation?"

"Back at the beginning. Well not quite. It must be somone connected to both Lubricus and Trank. We need to go back through every interview, every lead, and every connection Lubricus had and see what we missed."

"Would you like me to come into the office with you tomorrow and go through the evidence?"

"You can put up with being Ron for another day?"

Severus rolled his eyes but nodded.

"A fresh pair of eyes can't hurt but I'm not hopeful."

Eighteen hours later Severus was forced to accept Harry's analysis. He had been through the record of every interview, re-examined every artefact and scrutinised the financial statements of those involved three times. Some of it had been enlightening about the individuals concerned but nothing pointed to the identity of the murder or murderers. Crassus clearly had a muggle prescription drug habit, which was no doubt going to get worse now he couldn't turn to Trank for help. Calista, spent an inordinate amount of money on women's fashion. Coactor's expenditure on silk cravats and handkerchiefs was frankly ludicrous and reckless as he had lost a lot of his family's wealth in the financial crisis of the 1990s. Fudge's indulgence was first edition books which while costly were at least a better investment.

Harry had sunk further into despondency as the hours past and it was clear that Severus had, had no flash of inspiration. Severus cast a round desperately for a way forward.

"What does Peck suggest?" he asked. After all, he was the head auror and ought to be providing his young secondee with some sound guidance.

"He's as baffled as we are, to be honest this is all such a mess I think he is scared of unduly influencing the investigation and being accused of malpractice."

"Wonderful, "muttered Severus. It would be a long depressing Wednesday evening if he did not think of something. He tensed.

"What?" said Harry.

"The wandlore society!"

"What about it?"

"It is due to meet this evening. We should go."

Harry's eyes light up "Try to catch them off their guard?" The light in his eyes faded. "I don't think that will work. I know they invited me but that was before the murder. I think they will be too cautious now."

Severus smiled." Oh, I don't suggest Harry Potter attends. Notwithstanding, their kind invitation. I thought I should go and you come undercover as it were."

"My invisibility cloak?"

"I will get you in, and then leave early. With any luck that will loosen their tongues. "

"Worth a try," agreed Harry.