"Legerdemain"
"Chapter Fifteen: The One Where Harry Goes to an Ostrich Farm"
Ginny stared at herself in the mirror, her heart hammering in her chest. Another day, another procedure, another stressful situation. Her fingers curled around the edges of the sink, her arm aching. Closing her eyes, she tried to push that to the back of her mind. She had more important things to deal with.
She had booked a Healer appointment for Thursday, the soonest she was able to be seen. Then, on Friday, she would be in court for Albus' arraignment hearing. The days both went by at an excruciatingly slow rate yet also entirely too fast. She felt like she was caught in a whirlwind and her world wasn't going to stop spinning any time soon. That thought scared her because she didn't know how much longer she could deal with bad news and stress.
"Hey, are you ready to go?"
Ginny turned to see Harry leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom. She forced a smile on her face, her brown eyes searching his green. They had almost ruined everything they had worked so hard for. They had to stay strong, continue being the rocks they had always been for their children and for each other.
"My arm hurts," Ginny admitted, her brow furrowing.
Harry crossed the room, his face unreadable. His eyes left hers and looked at the hairbrush on the counter. He picked it up without a word and stood behind her. He ran the brush through her hair, so gentle and so slow. Lily also had thick hair so he knew to be gentle as she always asked for his help when she was little. A lump lodged in her throat, tears brimming her eyes as she looked at him in the mirror. His eyebrows were low on his face as he carefully picked up a section of hair and brushed out the ends.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Harry cleared his throat. "How many times have you spoon-fed me in the hospital after a particularly nasty injury from a raid or an arrest gone south?"
She gave him a watery smile in the mirror. "A few times. My favorite has always been the sponge baths."
Harry chuckled. "Oh, I quite enjoy your sponge baths."
"Well, I wasn't going to let anyone else give you a sponge bath," she whispered.
"I only have eyes for you, Gin."
She sniffed. "Doesn't matter. I don't want anyone touching or looking at you besides me."
"Is now not the time to say I think Ron snuck a peek in the showers after our workout the other day at work?" Harry said, his voice light and a smile spreading across his thin lips.
"Now I'm going to have to kill my own brother," Ginny replied and Harry only chuckled.
Ginny brought a hand up and wiped away a stray tear before turning around to look at him. She placed her hands on either side of his face, feeling the prickly stubble beneath her sensitive palms. He leaned into her, his hands bracing himself on the sink.
"Today, I am grateful that Remus is going to finally get a treatment that may work," Harry said, his eyes burning a hole into her very soul. "I'm grateful that I'm here, with you, right now. I'm grateful that no matter what, I will always be here, with you."
Ginny sucked in a breath, her thumb brushing across his lower lip. They hadn't said what they were grateful for in years. It had been one of the steps that his Addict Recovery Healer said would help to keep things in perspective. She sniffed, her lips curving up.
"I'm grateful for you," she whispered. "You've been amazing these past few days."
"After I was absent for how many months?" Harry asked, his eyes dropping to look at her lips.
"You were concerned for our children, Harry. You are the best father in this entire world and those kids don't even understand how lucky they are."
Harry sucked in a breath, his eyes locking with hers once more. "I think I know how to help Albus."
"How?"
"I need to see Blaise Zabini."
Ginny blinked, her hands falling from his face. Her brows furrowed as she looked up at him. She didn't know much about Zabini except that he had been in a bunch of financial magazines for his lucrative law firm and had been named one of the top three richest wizards in all of the United Kingdom for a good ten years running. He had also graced the pages of Witch Weekly and been named most eligible bachelor a few times over the years. He seemed to always have a new witch on his arm, never having settled down.
"Zabini?" Ginny asked.
"Look, I know."
"You hate him."
"Trust me, I am very well aware of the fact that I hate his bloody guts, but I can't deny that I've seen him work a courtroom. I've seen him get quite a few criminals off, criminals I know were dead guilty," Harry explained. "If anyone can get Albus off, it's Zabini."
"What makes you think he'll even take Albus' case?" Ginny asked.
"Money. Isn't that what he likes to flaunt? That he's one of the richest wizards?"
Ginny frowned. "I don't think you can motivate him with money, Harry."
"It's a high-profile case, Gin," Harry continued. "He's going to want the publicity. He'll be able to do interviews, talk on the wireless, have his picture all over the papers and magazines."
Ginny nodded. "If you think he's the best shot Albus has…"
"I do," Harry admitted. "His office is in Apricity Lane."
"You can't go there," Ginny said, her head shaking and her chest twisting painfully. "Not after what happened a few days ago. I was asked to watch Dora this afternoon after the procedure and-"
"I'll get someone to go with me. I promise not to go alone, all right? I'll grab Ron or James or Bill. Someone."
"Not Ron," Ginny said. "Ron will muck it all up. You know he can't keep his mouth shut and play nice."
"Not Ron," Harry confirmed. "I'll figure out someone, all right? You stay with Dora and maybe go shopping with her. You know she's like a little diva with her purse and sunglasses and likes that Muggle store in town. Buy her whatever she wants."
Ginny nodded. "Maybe I'll see if Lily wants to join."
"I love that. Yes, take Lily. You can even be the doting grandmother and buy a ton of baby clothes for the new little one."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "How are you doing with that?"
"Doing with Lily being pregnant?" Harry asked. "Well, I sort of envisioned walking her down the aisle and dancing with her at her wedding before meeting her child, but… life happens. I just hope that this Rayko is good to her."
"She seems happy," Ginny said.
"I don't like her asking questions about the Flints," Harry said. "I don't like that he's been mixed up with the Flints."
"He didn't go to Hogwarts. His parents didn't go to Hogwarts. He had no idea the type of people the Flints were until it was too late. He said he's not friends with them anymore, so what does it matter? He apparently is a good judge of character to realize they were bad news and step away."
Harry licked his bottom lip. "How upset would you be with me if I looked them up at work? The Flints and this Nolan Cummings."
"You did not," Ginny said with a sigh. "Did you?"
"I haven't had time yet, but I had planned on it."
"Do not let Lily find out," Ginny warned.
Harry snorted. "Please, you're the only one I share my obsessive findings with. You're my one and only."
Ginny laughed as she rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. Her fears and anxieties slipped from her body as he wrapped his arms around her. He made her feel like everything would surely be all right in the end.
James sighed as he squirmed on the uncomfortable hospital sofa. Riley sat next to him, her fingers running along his thigh in an absentminded fashion. James thought that they had spent entirely too much time at St. Mungo's as of late and hoped that the nightmare with Remus was going to soon be over with. He couldn't imagine what Teddy and Victoire were going through. Honestly, it made him actually want to be nice to Victoire for once in his life. He hated seeing her cry, hated seeing Teddy be a shell of himself, hated Remus looking so sick, hated that his mother felt personally responsible, hated everything about the entire situation.
He sucked in a breath and glanced around the room at his various family members. His parents were cuddled together on one of the sofas and talking in soft tones. Teddy and Victoire were also together, Teddy cradling Victoire against his chest as she hugged Remus' stuffed Hippogriff. Lily and Rayko shared a chair together. She sat on his lap and his hand ran along a very tiny baby bump. Honestly, James was convinced he could see the bump so soon because she had always been amazingly tiny. There was nothing to her. Dominique, Louis, Uncle Bill, Aunt Fleur, and all of their grandparents sat around the room as well. It was a full house like it always was.
It took a good four hours before Scorpius came out to greet them, a wide smile on his face. James felt his muscles relax instantly. He squeezed Riley's shoulder and glanced over at her, a grin on his face. The family jumped up and surrounded Scorpius.
"I am very, very, very hopeful and optimistic! We took his levels before the procedure, after we flushed his bloodstream, and then after we allowed the fungus to feast for a bit. Each time, his levels appeared lower and lower. I want to check his levels every hour on the hour for the next twenty-four hours to monitor him. I'm hoping by that point, we'll get him to zero and he can go home," Scorpius explained. "He's already looking better. Some of his color is even back. I want to talk to him when he wakes up to see how he feels, but I am happy with how today went."
"Oh, Scorpius!" Ginny exclaimed as she pulled him into a hug. "You are wonderful, just absolutely wonderful."
Scorpius returned the hug. "I can't bear any child being sick and Remus holds a very special place in my heart."
The family filed into Remus' room. He woke up sounding groggy but happy. Scorpius asked him a bunch of questions while the family waited around eagerly and with bated breath. Everything seemed positive, almost too good to be true. When Remus started to doze off, James stepped up and hugged his godson before pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"I'll see you later, mate, all right?" James whispered in his ear.
"I love you, Unca Jamie."
James pulled back and ruffled the kid's dark hair. "Not as much as I love you."
Remus laughed.
"No arguing!" James said as he stood up and plugged his fingers in his ears. "I can't hear you! Are you talking? You're agreeing with me right now, I know it. Uncle Jamie is always right. I'm right more often than Grandpa over here."
He could hear Remus' fit of giggles through his plugged ears. He shrugged and attempted to look confused. He watched as Riley stepped up, her head shaking, and she bent down to kiss Remus on the cheek.
"Your Uncle Jamie is silly," she said.
"Auntie Riley," Remus giggled. "He's more than silly!"
"You're right. He's unbearable," Riley replied with a wink and a smile.
"What did you say, Riley? Uncle Jamie is the best in the entire world?" James asked.
"Unplug your ears, James," Riley said with an eye roll, her lips quirked up.
"Riley! Save that kind of talk for when we are at home!" James exclaimed with a wink.
"I know you can hear me," Riley said as she stood in front of him.
"You want to eat sushi?" James asked with a sigh. "Are you buying?"
Riley hit him on the arm before she started to say her goodbyes to the rest of the family. Riley and Lily hugged last and the two exchanged words that he actually couldn't hear with his ears plugged. He wondered how long he should keep up the charade and thought it would be best until they were at least out of Remus' room. His sister and wife laughed, Riley snorting loudly in the way that he loved and thought was adorable.
James and Riley exited the hospital room. Riley reached up and pulled his arm down to unplug his one ear. He lowered the other one on his own.
"You're ridiculous, James Potter," Riley said with her voice full of affection.
James shrugged. "It made him laugh."
Riley bit her bottom lip. "You made me want another baby with you in there."
James' eyebrows raised. "Yeah? I mean, Henry is only fourteen months."
"He'd be two by the time we would have another," Riley said with a shrug. "I just can't help it. You make me fall in love with you more every single day when you act like a complete moron."
"Aw," James said with a smile. "You love me being a moron that much that you want to risk spreading my moronic genes down to our children?"
Riley grinned. "Something like that. I think a mini you would be pretty great. I mean, Henry looks like a mini you but his personality is a mini me."
James nodded. "That's true. Let's do the opposite next time. A girl who looks like you but acts like me. That's the game plan." James looked down at his crotch. "You hear that, little swimmers? Make a girl."
Riley hit him in the arm. He glanced up at her with a grin.
"Moron," she said with her lips curving.
"Let's go home and you can pep-talk my swimmers before we have unprotected sex and I'll talk to your ovaries to only accept a girl swimmer. Team work."
James held up his hand. Riley rolled her eyes and met his high five. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her through the hallway of St. Mungo's with very specific plans in mind for when they got home. He needed a break, needed some relaxation. He had been running on empty for weeks now and he couldn't even remember the last time that he and Riley had alone time. With Henry spending time with Oliver Wood for the entire day, they may just get lucky and have the entire day to themselves.
When they entered the house, Riley kicked off her flats with a grin. She stepped up to him, her fingers grabbing the hem of his t-shirt. While he toed off his trainers, she hauled the shirt over his head. Her nails raked up his torso before she pressed her palms against his chest. He cupped her cheek in his hand and bent forward to capture her lips against his.
Her lips were warm and soft. She smelled of lavender and sweet oranges. He could get lost in her, lose all concept of time. She made him feel accepted and loved, something that he didn't feel very often, especially amongst their peers. He could do no wrong in her eyes and she could do no wrong in his. He loved her more than he could accurately put into words.
"Do you want to go upstairs?" Riley asked after she pulled back and gasped for air.
"I want to take you on the parlor floor," James said as he hoisted her up effortlessly and slung her over his shoulder. "I want to take you on the kitchen counter, the stairs, the sofa, in every single bloody room."
Riley laughed. James spanked her on the butt as he bolted for the stairs and towards their bedroom. He tossed her onto their bed and she let out a squeal of surprise. She recovered quickly as she spread her legs and propped herself up on her elbows.
"What happened to all the places you wanted to ravish me?" Riley asked, an eyebrow raising.
"Do I have to spank you for back chatting me?" James asked as he crawled onto the bed.
He settled himself between her legs, his hands running up her thighs and disappearing underneath her shorts. She fell back onto the bed and parted her legs even further. James could just barely feel the cotton of her knickers with his fingertips. Withdrawing his hands, they flew to unbutton the shorts and slide them off. She lifted her hips as James licked his lips.
Riley bit her lip as she focused on him. "I've been a very bad girl. I may need a spanking."
Tossing the shorts onto the floor, his hands were on the bright red and gold Gryffindor knickers. He run his thumb against her through the knickers, teasing her. She squirmed underneath his touch and quickly maneuvered her top off. James grinned when he noticed she was wearing a matching Gryffindor sports bra.
"Keep talking like that and I'm going to flip you over."
"You have too many clothes on, Jamie," she said as she fumbled with his belt buckle.
James ignored her as he glided her knickers down her legs and discarded them onto the floor. Taking off his glasses, he tossed them on the bed next to her. His hands gripped her thighs and spread her wide before he ducked his head down and tasted her. She was sweet and already so wet. He slid one finger in as he swirled his tongue. When he inserted another finger, his fingers hooking, she bucked her hips against his face. He grinned against her for a few moments before his tongue went back to work.
"Jamie," she breathed. "Hmm… Jamie."
He slipped in a third finger and continued to run his tongue along her. Unlike Hanson Gastrell, he was very well acquainted with the clit and how to make a woman squirm against him. He could still remember the embarrassing, yet very well appreciated detailed sex talk that Teddy had given him after the more than lackluster one that his dad had given him.
Her fingers coiled in his hair as she let out a loud moan and went lax. With a last few swirls of the tongue, he started trailing kisses up her torso until he reached her breasts, taking the time to pull the sports bra off her. He sucked her left nipple as he positioned himself over her. She helped him push down his shorts and boxers. He eased in effortlessly as her nails dug into his shoulders. She felt good, better than good. It had been too long since they had taken a moment to themselves over the past few weeks and James could already feel his stress and anxiety slipping. All that mattered was Riley in that moment, the two of them together.
After he came, he rolled onto the bed next to her with his chest heaving.
He held up his hand. "I think my swimmers definitely listened."
Riley snorted as she high-fived him. "Okay, Jamie."
He opened his arms for her to scoot closer, her breasts pressing against his side and arm slinging over his stomach. He drew circles on her bare shoulder as her head laid against his chest. He rested his cheek against her rumpled sex hair.
"Mmm… I could stay like this for the next five years and be completely happy," James mused.
Riley snorted. "I bet within the next twenty minutes you complain you're starving to death."
James laughed, his arm pulling her closer to him so he could reach around her to pinch her nipple playfully. "Quiet you. I could last at least three hours. I had quite a large breakfast and Lily brought pastries to the hospital."
Riley turned her head to press a kiss onto his chest and he could feel her smiling against him. "You're too much."
"You should put your legs up," James suggested. "Isn't that how one gets pregnant while trying? Help the sperm have a fighting chance?"
"You're excited about another baby, aren't you?" Riley asked as she propped herself up on her elbow so they could get a good look at one another.
"Were you just joking at the hospital? Because I did not cast any Contraception Charms," James said very seriously.
"No, no, I was being serious. I just didn't think you were that serious."
"Riley, I'm always serious," he replied with a smirk. "James Sirius Potter. That's my name, don't forget it."
"Merlin, you haven't told that joke since…" Riley trailed off, blowing a piece of brown hair out of her eyes. "Fifth year? Sixth year?"
"Sixth. We had just started dating. You choked on your dinner and I never made the joke again in fear that I would kill you with how funny my puns are."
Riley rolled her eyes. "You are lucky you're so adorable. Besides, it was your puns that made me fall for you."
He grinned. "I knew it!"
Riley's hand trailed down his chest. "I love how quirky you are. You make me laugh and you never fail to make me feel better if I've had a bad day. Not to mention how good you are with that wicked tongue of yours."
"Better than Gastrell? Good. My work is done."
Riley rolled her eyes again. "Idiot." Her hand moved lower, her nails tickling his belly button before she shifted, sliding down the bed. "My idiot."
James sucked in his breath as her lips brushed over him. His hand slid into her soft hair and their eyes locked just as she wrapped her mouth around him.
The loud pounding on the front door had James groaning. "NO! Go away!"
Riley removed her mouth, kissing his hip. "You better go see who that is."
"Can I kill them? Murder is definitely on the table. Especially if it's Lily. Can't we enjoy two seconds of alone time?"
Riley's lips curved. "You better give me longer than two seconds, Jamie."
James rolled his eyes as someone pounded on the door again. They were supposed to be having alone time. He wasn't lying when he said it better not be his little sister. He'd seriously consider murdering her because she always had the knack of interrupting people at inopportune times. He rolled out of bed and grabbed his discarded boxers. He turned to see Riley sprawled out on the mattress, not even bothering to cover up her tits. He grinned as he made his way to the bed, ignoring the pounding downstairs.
"I will get rid of whoever is here and then we're going to try again for a baby," James said as he bent down and pressed a kiss to her breast. "Decide how you want it."
"Longer than two seconds," she called out as James held up two fingers before disappearing from their bedroom.
James made his way downstairs and straight towards the front door. He wrenched it open to see his dad. Well, obviously Lily got her interrupting habits from their father. James' brow furrowed when he noticed his dad wearing… dress robes? His dad rarely wore dress robes unless he was going to a wedding or some Ministry function.
"Hey, Dad, what are you doing here?" James asked. "Going to a Ministry ball?"
Harry sighed. "Did you seriously just answer your front door in only your boxers?"
"Dad, you came to my house. I won't apologize for being comfortable in my own home."
"Are you busy?" Harry asked, his head shaking.
"Er… sort of? Do you not see me in only my boxers?"
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Fine," James said. "What's up? What is it that my father needs from me today?"
"I need to go to Apricity Lane to meet with a potential lawyer for Albus," Harry explained. "I'd rather not go to Apricity Lane by myself."
James blinked at his father, understanding the unspoken words. Honestly, James felt touched, albeit a little confused why his dad would pick him to keep him on the straight and narrow while in Apricity Lane.
Stepping aside, he allowed his dad to enter his home. He carded a hand through his unruly hair. While he really wanted nothing more than to stay and practice making a baby with his wife, he knew how important this was. They needed a good lawyer for Albus and his dad couldn't go alone to the place where he had almost ruined his life all those years ago.
"I'll run up and change," James said. "Give me five minutes, yeah?"
"Jamie, you may want to get a new pair of boxers," Harry told him. "I can see your arse."
James twisted around, attempting to see a hole or something. He caught just a peek of it and shrugged.
"Sure, for you, anything, Dad."
"Wear nice dress robes too!" Harry hollered as James made his way up the stairs. "This lawyer is a pompous arse!"
By the time James entered the bedroom, Riley was already dressed and running her fingers through her long hair. She smiled softly at him.
"I have to go to Apricity Lane with my dad," James said. "He needs to meet with some lawyer."
"It's all right. I figured you were needed for something," she replied, taking a step forward and pressing her lips to his cheek.
"It's just… my dad can't go there alone," James continued. "That's where he, you know, bought Felix all those years ago."
It had been something he had told Riley years ago when they started living together and started attending Friday night dinners regularly. He didn't want her in the dark or confused about anything dealing with his family. She had been perfect about it, not judging and hadn't mentioned it to anyone in the family. She was a natural Potter at repressing things.
"Who are you meeting?" Riley asked.
James shrugged as he pecked Riley on the cheek before walking over to his wardrobe. Honestly, he had no idea who his dad had in mind to hire. He had heard a few names come up in conversations over the past week. He didn't know who his dad had settled on.
"No idea," James said as he pulled out his black dress robes. "Someone overpriced and fancy though since I have to wear dress robes."
Riley smiled at him. "See me when you get home before you take them off."
"I won't even loosen the tie," James assured.
He dressed as quickly as he could before heading into the bathroom and trying to flatten his hair on his head. The stubborn spot on the back of his head was a lost cause even after he tried to put some Sleekeazy's Hair Potion on it that Riley had in her potions cabinet.
After a quick goodbye, he met his father downstairs and they made their way to the Apparition point. His father grabbed his arm and they were gone in a flash. James stayed close to his father as they made their way towards the Queen Victoria's statue. The statue winked at them before lifting her skirt and the two slipped underneath.
James glanced sideways at his father to see him trembling and staring straight ahead. His speed picked up and James found himself jogging to keep up. James couldn't help but think that it was a good idea that he tagged along, especially when they cut down an alleyway to avoid the apothecary on the main stretch of shops.
They stopped outside of Zabini Shafiq. James glancedover at his father and wondered why the hell they would be at some posh pureblood law firm. His dad pushed open the door and they stepped inside. James felt like he had stepped into some posh manor with marble floors and tall pillars. Even the reception desk was carved out of marble. James wrinkled his nose as they stepped up.
"Harry Potter to see Blaise Zabini," Harry greeted.
"I'm sorry, I don't have you on Mr. Zabini's schedule," the receptionist said.
"Just tell him I'm here," Harry said, his jaw clenching. "Please."
"It's fine, Freya," a male voice said. "Potter, I don't think I ever expected you to show up here."
James turned to see a tall man in what appeared to be very expensive dress robes. Harry straightened his back and the two had a very intense staring contest. James just lingered because he didn't know what else to do.
"Can we talk in private?" Harry asked stiffly.
Zabini smirked, his dark eyebrow raising gracefully into the air. "Actually, I think I know why you're here. The answer is no."
Harry sucked in a breath. "I would like to talk to you in your office."
"I don't represent terrorists," Zabini replied as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Bad look and all."
"You and I both know that my son didn't do what they're accusing him of," Harry hissed.
"Hmm, yes, but it's quite nice, isn't it? The esteemed Potters falling from grace," Zabini said.
Harry frowned and James shifted next to him, his eyes snapping between the two men and wondering how they knew each other. He guessed Hogwarts due to their similar ages.
"Should I just leave or are we going to talk in private?" Harry pressed.
Zabini sighed. "I'll give you five minutes of my time."
James and Harry followed Zabini past the receptionist and down a hallway. They passed a conference room and a few other offices until they entered a large corner office in the back of the law firm. James took a seat in one of the over-sized and cushy chairs while Zabini sat behind his desk and folded his hands on top of his desk. Harry remained standing.
"How can I help you, Potter?"
Harry scowled. "You know why I'm here. Can you just cut the bullshit?"
"All right, I have no interest in representing your wayward son. Terrorism isn't a good look," Zabini said in a casual tone.
"He's being framed."
Zabini let out a chuckle. "By who?"
"There's corruption going on in the Ministry of Magic."
Zabini narrowed his eyes. "Do you have names you'd like to drop or are you going to throw around vague and nameless accusations?"
"Gareth Greengrass and Montgomery Reed," Harry replied as he leaned forward and wrapped his fingers around the back of the chair.
"Convenient how it's Gareth on all the wireless shows accusing your son of murder and chaos."
"The Department of Mysteries has gone rogue," Harry said. "The walls have eyes and ears and secrets pouring out of the seams."
James narrowed his eyes, looking up at his father repeating Albus' words. He wondered just how much his father knew and how much was him following his gut.
"Do you have any proof that Gareth has gone rogue? Do you have any proof that Reed is implicated?" Zabini asked, leaning back in his chair and obviously interested now more than ever in the discussion.
"I was told to follow the money," Harry admitted. "Albus entrusted information with someone. I'm going to go chat with them as soon as I leave here."
"You think your son is being framed for the explosion?" Zabini asked.
"Have you listened to the talk on the wireless? Do you know the one bit of information that's being left out on the nightly news reports?" Harry asked. "There were Inferi that rained from the ceiling the day of the explosion."
James narrowed his eyes. He hadn't listened to any of the news reports on the wireless. Honestly, he couldn't even stomach reading the Daily Prophet's lies about his brother either. He obviously knew there had been Inferi on the scene as he had killed… James licked his bottom lip as his heart pounded harshly in his chest. He couldn't think about that now.
Zabini's brow furrowed as his lips pursed to the side. "So what you are saying is that the explosion was a coverup? Something dealing with Inferi?"
"I think the Department of Mysteries has been experimenting on Inferi. I think Albus knew. I think they're trying to bury my son because of the knowledge he holds."
James blinked. He had not connected the dots like his father had apparently.
"Where does Montgomery Reed fit into all of this?" Zabini pressed.
"I think he knows about the experiments and he's squashing all and any investigative efforts into the Inferi attacks that have taken place," Harry explained before nodding towards James. "My son James was heading the investigation into the Inferi attack in Muggle London and a few rogue ones in the countryside before the London one. He and his partner were denied additional Aurors to be assigned to the case, denied resources, and were urged to close the case rather than continue investigating."
Zabini sucked in a breath. "When is your son's arraignment?"
"It's supposed to be at the end of the week," Harry replied.
"I'll petition the Wizengamot to push it back until Monday to give me the weekend to prepare. Can you get me copies of whatever tangible proof this contact of yours has? I don't want hearsay and I don't want theories. I want hard evidence that can be used in court."
"I don't know what they have," Harry said. "I can't promise anything."
"Well, you're the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Find me the evidence."
"I can't just make evidence appear overnight. It may take me a while to put it all together," Harry argued.
"Well, then, I can guarantee you the Wizengamot will not dismiss the case or grant bail. He's going to be in Azkaban until the trial and I'll definitely need the evidence before then."
"I'll get you the evidence," Harry hissed. "Does this mean you're taking his case?"
"I'll need a sixty-thousand Galleon retainer," Zabini explained. "Stop at reception and she'll give you the name of our banker at Gringotts that can help you with the transfer. I'll stop by Azkaban tomorrow morning to talk with him."
"Sixty-thousand Galleons?" Harry asked.
"Yes, sixty-thousand Galleons, Potter. Do you know how much a decent pair of shoes costs?" Zabini asked as he looked down at Harry's feet. "I suppose not."
Harry scowled. "I'm paying you for a service like any other client. I expect to be given the same treatment."
"Do you think a trial is free? I have my own set of investigators that I use. I have experts I hire. I have an hourly rate as do my associates who will be doing research for the case. There are briefs, motions, and other documents that need to be filed. Sixty-thousand Galleons is just a retainer, Potter. I'll be sending you a lot more bills, don't you worry," Zabini said with a sneer. "Can you not pay it?"
"Money isn't an issue," Harry growled.
"Good, because you'll be spending a lot of time transferring gold at Gringotts over the course of the next few months," Zabini said as he stood up, holding out his hand across the desk. "Pleasure doing business with you, Potter."
Harry sucked in a breath as he reached across the desk and shook Zabini's hand. James stood up and did the same even though he hadn't talked the entire time. He knew why he was asked to go. Interacting with Blaise Zabini wasn't it. James carded a hand through his hair as he exited the office and made their way towards the reception desk to grab the bank information.
James' anxiety was back in full force as they stepped out into the sunny cobblestone lane. Suddenly, Albus being on trial seemed very real and very scary. What if Zabini couldn't get his brother off? What if they couldn't find the evidence? What if… James gulped as they picked up speed towards the Apparition point. James couldn't think about his brother spending his life wasting away in Azkaban. It was too much to bear, too hard to even think about. He just hoped that either Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini had a Snitch up their sleeve.
Harry bit down his annoyance as he ran a hand through his unruly hair and walked towards Draco Malfoy's cottage. The last thing he wanted to do was talk with Draco Malfoy of all people. Except he had put it off for as long as he could. Albus had pointed him in this direction, so he knew it was the logical next step. He had secured Albus the most despicable yet best lawyer money could buy. Now it was time to be friendly with Malfoy and hope that he had the physical proof that they needed. Except this time, there was no Astoria to keep him calm and force him to be helpful.
Harry saw Malfoy in the back garden, walking along a cliff behind a peacock and trying to steer it away from the ledge. He couldn't help but roll his eyes and pray to Merlin that Albus and Scorpius didn't buy a flock of peacocks once they were married. He knew Scorpius liked them.
"Still farming your little ostriches, Malfoy?" Harry called as he drew closer.
Malfoy looked up and snarled. The peacock stared at Harry and ruffled its feathers before it took a step towards him. Harry instinctively took a step back. He had heard Albus complaining about Malfoy's prized white peacock who was a biter.
"They're peacocks, Potter," Malfoy hissed. "Merlin, I thought you were smarter than Weasley."
The peacock took a step closer to Harry and let out a little squawk.
"Get your bloody ostrich away from me."
"She's a bloody peahen! Stop insulting Beatrice with that foul word!"
The peacock's neck jutted forward like a snapping turtle and its blasted beak bit down hard on his hand. Harry yelled, jumping back and seeing the webbing between his thumb and finger bleeding. Harry shook out his hand at the pain before he applied pressure to the wound with his other hand.
"Your bloody ostrich bit me!"
"Because she's a peahen and not an ostrich! If you insult her again, I'll have her bite off something you'll really miss!"
"I don't even know why I bothered to come here," Harry muttered.
"Why are you here, Potter? I'd really like to know," Malfoy snapped.
"Albus sent me with some cryptic message about following the money!"
Malfoy stilled. He straightened to his full height, making a face like he smelt dung under his nose. He snapped his fingers and told the peacock to go lay down. The bird listened, but not before it gave Harry one long and nasty look before stalking away. Harry let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"What else did Albus say?" Malfoy asked, his chin jutting up.
"To come talk to you," Harry replied. "He was either playing a good prank on me or you actually have information that will help him get exonerated."
"Let's go inside where no one will overhear us," Malfoy said and gestured towards the small cottage.
Harry followed Malfoy across the back garden and into the house. He blinked and glanced around the house. He didn't know why he expected it to be all cold marble and pillars. It looked rather… cozy. Harry wrinkled his nose as he took a seat at the small yet clearly expensive kitchen table.
"I'll be right back," Malfoy said. "Do not snoop."
"Like I would look through your things," Harry snapped.
Malfoy left the room in a huff. Harry tapped his fingers on the solid wood table, his eyes landing on a little nest in the corner of the kitchen with eggs. Harry sighed. Of course, Malfoy would have peacock eggs in his home. He hoped they didn't start to hatch while he was alone in the kitchen. He had no doubt that Malfoy would end up blaming him.
A few minutes passed before Malfoy entered the kitchen with a very thick folder. He sat it down in front of Harry before taking a seat across from him with a smug look on his face. Harry rolled his eyes before he opened the folder and saw financial records for the Department of Mysteries. Whatever Malfoy was going to give him, he didn't expect that.
"Gareth Greengrass has been very generous with giving Ministry departments funding," Malfoy said as he looked down at his nails. "Money he's received from a very vague and mysterious third party outside of the Ministry."
"This says the Auror Department took money…" Harry trailed off. "A thousand Galleons? Why would Greengrass give Reed a thousand Galleons?"
"To buy his silence. To buy his cooperation. To buy his complacency."
"This money was coming in from a third party?" Harry demanded.
"Ah, well, you see, Albus seemed to think that there was someone who wanted to buy altered Inferi," Malfoy said.
Harry's blood ran cold, his arms trembled. What had Albus been involved in? His eyes snapped up to look at Malfoy who was cool as a cucumber.
"Altered Inferi?" Harry asked, his eyebrows raising, not unable to help but feel like he had been on the right track with his guesswork.
"It was research that was being conducted in the Department of Mysteries. Albus wanted no part of it, tried to figure out why exactly they were experimenting on Inferi. I'm not sure he ever found out to be honest with you beyond that the Inferi were becoming more… intelligent."
"Why are you telling me this?" Harry asked.
"Because despite how much I despise you and want to watch you fall miserably on your face, my son loves your son. If Albus were to spend the rest of his life in prison, I'm not sure Scorpius would ever recover. I want him happy. For some reason, a Potter makes him happy," Malfoy explained.
"A buyer…" Harry whispered, remembering that Albus had mentioned he didn't know who the buyer was when they were being arrested. "Do you know who is buying the altered Inferi?"
Malfoy sucked in a breath. "No, I do not. I contacted Goyle to see if he knew anything, heard of any whispers, but he was clueless. I don't keep in contact with anybody else from our old circle of friends."
"Would Blaise Zabini know?" Harry demanded.
"Blaise?" Malfoy asked with a small chuckle. "Blaise never did anything that didn't directly benefit him. If he knows about it, it's benefiting him somehow."
"I just hired him to represent Albus," Harry admitted. "He's gotten off more criminals than I care to count. He's a good lawyer. One of the best I've seen."
"Blaise likes to win," Malfoy said after a beat. "He wouldn't have taken the case to throw it. He's rather proud of his track record in court."
Harry let out a sigh of relief. He really thought he had stepped in it for a moment hiring Zabini. With a sigh, Harry pushed his glasses up to rub the corner of his eye. At least he'd have something to give Zabini tomorrow. He knew he'd have to make copies and pull in a very small group of Aurors to help him investigate behind Reed's back. He knew Ron, James, and Demelza were shoe-ins. He'd probably even trust James' partner and Sutton as well. Beyond that, Harry trusted no one in the Auror Department.
"I need to take these," Harry said.
"That's fine. I already made a copy for myself," Malfoy replied. "I would keep it quiet that you know about these payments. Gareth will already have a contingency plan. You want to take him by surprise, not give him a warning to scheme."
"I'm not a moron, Malfoy," Harry hissed.
Malfoy sneered. "That's debatable."
"Look, if you think of anyone who could be the buyer or who would know the buyer, would you just let me know?" Harry asked through clenched teeth as he stood up and snatched the financial records. "This is for Albus."
Malfoy drummed his fingers on the table. "Of course, for Albus. I would like to see him. Would I be given visiting access?"
Harry sucked in a breath. "Yes, that's fine. Just… come see me before you try to visit. I'll clear you. It might be less suspicious if you went with Scorpius."
"Yes, I quite agree," Malfoy said, nodding his head. "I would also like to be kept in the loop. The more information I know, the more likely I am to figure out who the buyer is. My guess, it's someone from an old pureblood family. Greengrass wouldn't do business with just anyone. Purebloods have always had a fascination with the dead."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Yeah?"
"Yes, pushing magic to its ultimate limit? To revive bloodlines and continue blood purity? To prove that purebloods are superior and can live forever? Think of the obsession one would have with such ideas," Malfoy explained. "I've heard my mother talk about how the Black family was particularly interested in this type of magic. Walburga Black wanted to live forever, to reign supreme and be the most superior house. I wouldn't be surprised if there were financial records from the sixties and seventies that showed substantial amounts of gold given to similar research."
"The only Blacks still alive are your mother, Andromeda Tonks, and their descendants," Harry said.
"I'd ask Andromeda Tonks who her aunt and uncle associated with," Malfoy suggested. "Your buyer may just be a close associate of theirs. Or, perhaps, the two are completely unrelated."
Harry only nodded and couldn't help but wonder if Malfoy was purposely bringing up the Blacks to upset him. He knew Malfoy would have known about Sirius' body being recovered and the funeral since Andy and Narcissa talked on occasion and the topic of their cousin's funeral was bound to have come up.
"Right. I need to go," Harry said before he let himself out the back door without another glance towards Draco Malfoy.
He would copy the records at home, making more than enough copies that it would be impossible to destroy all of them if Greengrass or Reed caught whiff they existed. He'd even put a copy in his Gringotts vault and maybe even ask George to keep a copy. His heart twisted at the thought of George.
They hadn't talked since their screaming match at the Burrow after Albus had first disappeared. Except George had punched Gastrell when he insulted Albus, and the two of them had stood side by side in solidarity. Maybe it was time to talk. Nothing bad had happened to Albus. If his experience with Ginny's guilt and subsequent breakdown had taught him anything, it was that they were all trying their hardest to protect those they loved. Harry and George both loved Albus. Neither one wanted anything bad to happen to him.
Harry let out a slow breath. Yeah, it was time he took the high ground and apologized. He hated not talking to George, not having him in his life. They needed to make amends, not only for themselves and for the family, but for Albus. If Harry was going to find the evidence to get his son out of prison, he was going to need all of the help he could get.
Lily sucked in a breath before raising her closed fist to the door. She knocked before she could convince herself not to. Part of her wanted to run, to not do this. Except it was far past due. She understood she had been in the wrong for a while now but had let her pride get the best of her.
The door opened and Roxanne stood there in a lacy nightie with a silk robe on top. She closed the robe, tying it tight as she eyed Lily.
"I'm sorry," Lily said in a rush. "You were right. I've been a bad friend because I've been consumed in some new relationship and I've been absent and a bitch and I hate fighting with you. I want to go back to being best friends and cousins and there's so much stuff I'm dying to tell you."
Roxanne's face melted. "I hate fighting with you too. I'm sorry for being a bitch and saying Albus was probably guilty. You know I don't think that. I was just upset and I missed my best friend."
Lily threw herself at Roxanne, hugging her older cousin close. Now if only James and Fred and her dad and Uncle George could all make up, it would be perfect. They could focus on the things that actually matter.
"Can we have tea? I have so much to tell you!" Lily asked as she made her way into Roxanne's flat.
"Uhh… Lils, now is not a good time," she replied and opened her robe.
Lily eyed the red nightie and her ample cleavage. If she bent over, there would be little left to the imagination.
"Oh Merlin! You're seeing someone?" Lily whispered. "Is he here?"
"Yeah, he's in my bedroom," Roxanne confirmed. "He slept over."
Lily did a little dance, clapping her hands as quietly as she possible could. "Name! Who is it? Do I know him? How was the sex?"
"Hey, Rox, how about we have dessert before bre-"
Lily whipped her head to see Hunter Lowe, James' Auror partner, entering the parlor in nothing but black cotton briefs. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the outline of his cock in his briefs. He was definitely not completely soft and obviously had very naughty thoughts on the brain. Her eyes trailed up to his six pack. She had never noticed just how fit he was. She smirked when she noticed his brunette locks disheveled from a long night of sex.
James would have a bloody panic attack if he found out his cousin was dating his partner.
Lily hit the back of her hand on Roxanne's arm. "You're shagging Hunter? When? How? Why?"
"Uh, for about a month now," Roxanne admitted.
"Uh, hey, Lily," Hunter said with a shy smile, his hand rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hunter!" Lily greeted, her voice slightly high-pitched.
He licked his lips and Lily couldn't help but smirk at him. Oh, Roxanne was a very lucky lady. She tilted her head to the side to admire his body a little more. Being an Auror definitely had him toned all over.
"I should, uh, get to work," Hunter said. "Rain check on breakfast?"
Roxanne stepped forward, rising on her tiptoes as she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck. She tugged him down and kissed him… tongue and all. He pulled away, his cheeks pink. He whispered something in Roxanne's ear before he turned to Lily.
"I, uh, would appreciate it if you could refrain from telling James about this," Hunter said. "I'd like to be the one to tell him and you know how he can get."
"Definitely. Your secret is safe with me!" Lily assured with a smile. "Bye, Hunter."
"Bye, Lily," said Hunter before he turned to peck Roxanne on the cheek. "Bye Rox."
He made his way towards the front door, his hand carding through his hair. Lily grinned and admired his arse in his very tight briefs.
"Hunter, you might want to grab your clothes," Roxanne said. "Unless you want to give my neighbors a show."
Hunter whipped around. "Right. Yes. Clothes would be helpful. Thanks."
Lily stifled a giggle, her wide eyes glancing over at Roxanne. Oh, she couldn't wait until James found out. Luckily, her dad and Uncle Ron liked Hunter a hell of a lot more than they had ever liked Gastrell.
Roxanne motioned for Lily to follow her into the kitchen and she set to work making some tea. She could hear rustling in another room and heard the front door close a few moments later. He was gone just in time for the tea to be served.
"So, details!" Lily demanded. "How in the world did you and Hunter Lowe start shagging?"
Roxanne shrugged, taking a sip of her tea. "I was out at a pub and I was being bothered by some arsehole Slytherins who were a few years above us at school. Like the one who got kicked off the fucking Quidditch team for fighting or something stupid. I don't even remember. Anyway, they were trying to get me to try their potion, but I bet it was just a date rape potion. I told them to fuck off but they were getting handsy and Hunter showed up and scared them off."
Lily grew pale as Roxanne talked, her heart pounding harshly in her chest.
"We got to talking," Roxanne continued. "He's funny. Did you know he's funny?"
"I don't know him too well, but I know my dad really likes him," Lily said. "James and him get along really well."
"I like him," Roxanne whispered as though Hunter was still in the flat. "He's grand in the sack."
Lily smiled. "That's always a plus. Hey, um… not to stop talking about the fun stuff, which I do want to get back to, but the blokes who were trying to give you that potion at the pub… they weren't Wesley Flint and Everett Rosier were they?"
"Um… one was definitely Wesley Flint. I can't recall what Everett Rosier looks like," Roxanne said, her face scrunching up. "I mean, the name rings a bell but I can't picture him. Why?"
Lily sucked in a breath. "Stay away from them. Koko says they're bad news. This potion they're pushing is bad."
Roxanne arched an eyebrow. "How does Rayko Krum know about their potion?"
Lily cringed. "He may have tried it before. He said it made him do things he normally wouldn't do."
"Like what?" Roxanne pressed.
"I don't know. He wouldn't say."
"Lils! What the fuck? You need to know what sort of messed up shit he did when he was high. Even Albus would tell you that if he was here to tell you that," Roxanne argued, her head shaking. "I'd drop Hunter's arse so quickly if he wouldn't fess up about something like that to me. There aren't secrets like that in a long-term relationship."
"I really like him, Roxy."
"Yeah, and I really like sex with Hunter but I don't have time or the patience for big secrets."
"You don't understand," Lily said with a huff.
"I do. I know you're pregnant," Roxanne said in a lazy tone.
Lily shook her head, her eyes wide. How did she know that? Was she showing as much as she thought she was? Her hand touched her belly.
Roxanne rolled her eyes. "James knew so everyone knows. We were all waiting for you to tell us at Friday night dinner. Grandmum even had like ten outfits for each gender to give you as a gift."
"James told?" Lily asked.
She was going to fucking murder him.
"James told Louis who told Dominique who told me. I may have told Freddie who told Hugo and it went down the line. You know this family. Gossip travels faster than Fiendfyre."
Lily frowned. "Well, can I tell you something that stays strictly between you, Scorpius, Albus, and me?"
Roxanne flipped her hair behind her shoulder and leaned forward. "Anything. My lips are sealed unlike Rose's legs."
"What?" Lily gasped.
"Tell me your news and I'll tell you what little Miss Rosie's been up to."
"I'm pregnant with twins," Lily announced. "We're going to announce it on the day they are born. It's going to be a surprise. Scorpius knows but not Albus yet. Of course, you need to be one of the twin's godmother."
Roxanne grinned. "Seriously?"
"Seriously. Albus and Ko's sister will be godparents to one child. You and Scorpius to the other."
"I will spoil that child rotten," Roxanne assured.
Oh, Lily had no doubt.
"What's going on with Rose now?"
Roxanne cleared her throat. "Apparently, the day she met that Colin Creevey bloke, they had sex. It started out as rebound sex, but Colin's actually quite talented between the sheets. They've been having sex like bunnies actually. Rose told me that with everything going on with Gastrell and Albus and then meeting Colin, she may have been inconsistent with taking her potion and they weren't using any backup method."
Lily's eyes grew wide. "Is she pregnant?"
Roxanne shrugged. "She doesn't know. Too early to tell, but she's been making sure to take her potion on a more regular basis since she realized she's been slacking and shagging nonstop."
Lily let out a little laugh. Imagine if her and Rose were both pregnant out of wedlock at the same time. It should definitely make her parents feel better that she wasn't the only one. She leant back in her chair, her tea warming her hands.
"Apparently, your dad, Uncle Ron, and my dad all knew Colin's dad and his brother at school. Colin's named after his uncle who died in the final battle, he was in your mum's year at school and a Gryffindor," Roxanne continued. "My dad said the Creevey brothers were annoying little shits but he's fonder of them now looking back. He said they were hyper little things and apparently Colin, the one who died, was obsessed with your dad."
"Really? My parents didn't say anything," Lily said. "That's interesting. I don't remember him from Hogwarts."
"He went to Beauxbatons. Apparently, his dad couldn't bear to send him to Hogwarts knowing his brother died there."
She and Roxanne continued down the path of all the family gossip they could think of. Merlin, she was so happy her and Roxanne were on good terms again. She had missed her more than she could put into words. She had let her new relationship with Rayko and her worry for Albus consume her until she had totally ignored Roxanne. She would never be so selfish again to forget one person who meant the world to her.
Albus walked down the hallway of Azkaban in a single file line, going back to his cell after breakfast. He sucked in a breath. It was always the same shit every single day. It was different when he was at his home in Wiltshire and lounging in bed watching Hidden Passions while eating Maltesers. In prison, it was just plain depressing. The company that surrounded him wasn't the most pleasant. In fact, most of the prisoners made it very clear that he was not welcome to even be in their presence before long.
Prisoners had shoved him in the hallways and called him pampered. One flipped his lunch tray and laughed. Another time he had been hit upside the head while taking a leak. Honestly, nothing too bad had happened… yet. The treatment was very reminiscent to his first few years at Hogwarts when quite a few purebloods took issue with a half-blood Potter being in their house. Albus just tried to keep his head down and his nose clean, something his father had told him repeatedly over the years.
Suddenly, Albus felt someone push him into the nearest wall, his forehead scraping against the jagged stone wall. He grunted as a male laughed cruelly behind him. Albus made a motion to turn to see who had attacked him when a hand shoved his head back into the wall hard enough that he saw stars. He cursed before he heard screaming.
Albus turned around to see Humphrey had plowed another prisoner into the ground. The two wrestled on the ground and Humphrey was at a severe disadvantage in size. Poor Humphrey was flipped onto his back, and the other prisoner started ramming his fist into Humphrey's face at an alarming rate.
"Oi! What the fuck?" a guard hollered. "Get off him, Wilson!"
The guards separated the two on the floor. Albus reached up and rubbed a glob of blood that had run into his eye. Humphrey, the mad fucker, started laughing. In fact, he laughed all the way down the hall as a guard led him to the infirmary. Wilson, the git who had shoved him into the wall, screamed how he was going to murder Albus and this little band of misfits all the way to solitary. So Albus was already forming a reputation of having a little band of misfits in jail who were willing to get the shit beaten out of them. That had to count for something.
"Oi, Potter, you got another visitor," a guard told him and grabbed his upper arm.
That was how Albus found himself in a hard metal chair yet again. He tried to rotate his wrists in the chains to find some relief of his chaffed skin but found none. He appreciated the daily visiting sessions with his family but it was also giving him a lot of odd looks and insults from various prisoners.
He sucked in a breath when the door opened and his father stepped in with a tall and dark-skinned man that he didn't recognize. Albus' face pulled as he took in the expensive designer robes. He reached up and rubbed his chin, his chains rattling, as he appraised the newcomer.
"Albus, this is Blaise Zabini. He's going to be representing you," Harry greeted. "Zabini, this is my son Albus."
"Somehow, I guessed that all on my own," Zabini said dryly. "Imagine that."
Harry sucked in a breath and took a seat across from Albus. His father frowned, his eyes searching his face. Albus groaned inwardly. He hadn't had his head tended to before coming to the visiting room. He could only assume that the side of his face was caked in blood.
"What happened?"
"Nothing, Dad," Albus said. "So… let me guess, my dad hired the most expensive criminal lawyer he could find. Giuseppe Russo robes?"
Zabini grinned. "You know your designers?"
"My boyfriend has an unfortunate taste for his designs," Albus replied. "I find them overpriced and the coloring of the stitches distracting."
Zabini laughed as he took a seat next to Harry. He folded his hands in his lap and leaned back. Albus kept his gaze locked on Zabini, refusing to look away.
"Your boyfriend is Scorpius Malfoy," Zabini commented. "I knew his father."
Albus narrowed his eyes. He looked around his dad and Draco's age. Albus quickly concluded they must have all attended Hogwarts together. That would mean that he had been in Slytherin and didn't get along with his dad.
"Scorpius is my fiancé," Albus corrected.
"I read all about you," Zabini continued. "I did my research last night. The lone Potter of Slytherin. I must say, it makes me like you a lot more than I like your dad, knowing that little tidbit."
"Can we talk about what actually matters?" Harry snapped. "Like how you got that cut on your forehead?"
"I fell," Albus replied.
The last thing Albus wanted was for his dad to make a big deal about it or pry into what else has been done to him. He didn't want to rot in solitary and go mad. Besides, he had a newfound appreciation for Humphrey after he took a beating for him.
"Albus," Harry said in a low tone.
"Let's talk about my case," Albus said as he turned his attention to Zabini. "How long will I be in Azkaban?"
Zabini cleared his throat. "Depends. Did you blow up the Department of Mysteries?"
The corner of Albus' lips twitched. "Are you actually supposed to be asking me that question?"
"Honestly, normally I don't want to know. This, however, I sort of need to know because if you did it and I know I can't get you off, I need to walk away now."
"That wasn't part of the deal, Zabini," Harry hissed.
"Can you make sure no one is listening in on our conversation?" Albus pressed. "I don't trust the guards."
Zabini reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a little circular device and sat it down on the table between them. He then pressed his wand to the top of the circle and a pale blue dome engulfed the table.
"There. No magic can penetrate this bubble," Zabini explained as he pocketed his wand. "No one can listen in. No one can send a spell our way. No one can even enter this bubble until I take it down. It was invented after the war when those accused of being Death Eaters were afraid that the Ministry of Magic was corrupt and listening in on their conversations with their lawyers while they awaited trial. Nobody trusted that this new Ministry wasn't just like the last few. Government and corruption seemed to go hand-in-hand."
"Well, I can assure you that the corruption is ongoing," Albus said, refusing to look at his father. "There are several corrupt departmental heads within the Ministry of Magic today."
"I caught wind of that thanks to the financial records of the Department of Mysteries your father was able to produce under dubious means," Zabini said. "I didn't get to look over them thoroughly, but it's my understanding that a third party was paying the Department of Mysteries a large sum of money."
"For research," Albus explained. "It's an ongoing arrangement that the department has had for decades. This particular third party was looking to buy an Inferi army."
"An Inferi army?" Harry interrupted. "Who? Why?"
"Please, Potter, can you not interrupt us while we talk?" Zabini said coolly. "You can play Auror later and start your line of questioning. My time is valuable."
Harry sneered.
"Livingstone, the Unspeakable killed the day of the explosion, was heading the research. He was altering Inferi to think more independently. He wanted them to be able to think and formulate plans on their own without having to be commanded by a wizard," Albus continued, trying very hard not to look at his father. "The morning of the explosion, I walked in on Livingstone performing some sort of ritual that was causing Inferi to climb out of the Veil of Death. One Inferius… he…"
Albus sucked in a breath and licked his bottom lip. His eyes screwed shut as he saw Sirius Black ripping Livingstone's throat out and dropping it onto the floor with a sickening splat. Albus felt bile rise in his throat. He'd be lying if he said it still didn't give him nightmares.
"He ripped out Livingstone's throat," Albus continued, his voice hoarse as his eyes opened and looked down at the manacles around his wrists. "Even after Livingstone died, the magic he had been performing didn't cease. The Inferi were still climbing out of the Veil and I knew I had to do something. Gareth Greengrass arrived and he told me that Unspeakables who don't fall into line often wind up dead from unfortunate workplace hazards. He told me that Unspeakables are innovators and that innovation doesn't stop just because of what might be perceived as wrong. I, I knew I had to stop Greengrass from selling the Inferi army. I pointed my wand at the Veil and I destroyed it."
"You caused the first explosion?" Zabini asked, his chin rising in the air.
"Yes, but I didn't hurt anyone except for some Inferi. Greengrass was furious. He told me I should run, that nobody was going to believe me. Then he sent a curse at the floor and exploded the rest of the Veil and the floor around it. I ran. I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I didn't kill anyone. I didn't hurt anyone. I was trying to stop Greengrass from forming his army."
"Who is the buyer?" Zabini questioned.
"I don't know. It's what I was trying to figure out before everything happened. I didn't want to go to the DMLE until I had hard evidence against Greengrass," Albus explained. "Draco Malfoy told me I needed an iron-clad case against him before I started throwing out accusations against him."
"Malfoy told you to keep it a secret from me?" Harry questioned, his eyes narrowing and his mouth hanging slightly open.
"He was right!" Albus hissed, his attention finally turning to his father. "Gareth Greengrass is a sociopath who has no regard for those around him. All he cares about is money and being an innovator. He thinks he's so fucking smart."
"You shouldn't have done this alone because Draco Malfoy told you to!" Harry argued.
"No, it was the right move," Zabini said. "You would have had to start a full investigation, an investigation that he would have been privy to. He would have had time to destroy records and evidence. If the Head of the Auror Department is complacent-"
"He is," Albus interrupted. "Montgomery Reed is dirty. He's been taking payments from Greengrass to not investigate the Inferi attacks or to at the very least squash all investigative efforts."
Harry groaned as he rested his elbows onto the table and dug his fingers through his unruly hair. Albus felt terrible for his father and didn't know what exactly to say.
"There were other departments that were taking payments from Greengrass," Albus continued. "I don't know for what or why, but it's in the records that you have."
"When did it start?" Harry asked as he looked up at Albus.
"It never stopped," Albus whispered. "It's been going on for decades, since before the war. It continued after the war. The corruption was always there. You just needed to know what to look for."
"It must truly aggravate you, Potter, to know that your beloved Ministry of Magic that you've worked so hard for has always been and always will be corrupt," Zabini said with a smirk. "What will you ever do?"
"Shut it, Zabini," Harry snapped.
"It must aggravate you to no end to know that everyone thinks you're a posh and pompous git," Albus shot back with a growl. "With your Russo robes and shiny Italian loafers. Try hard much?"
Zabini chuckled. "I like you, Potter." He turned towards Harry. "Not you, obviously. Your son. He's got some spirit in him."
Harry sucked in a breath and leaned back in his chair. "Where do we go from here?"
Albus frowned at his father's tone, so defeated and tired. He couldn't help but think that maybe this was a good thing that he was exposing the last remaining bits of corruption. Maybe, just maybe, they could rid the Ministry of Magic from the last remaining bits of pureblood corruption left.
Albus sucked in a breath as he told his father and Blaise Zabini everything he knew about the department, about Greengrass, about Livingstone, about the research. He talked until his voice grew hoarse. He needed to get everything out into the open if he stood a fighting chance of not spending the rest of his life in prison.
I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter! Don't forget to take an extra minute and drop a review. They motivate me to keep writing and stay on my writing schedule, inspire me with new ideas, and just generally make my Sundays. So if you were excited and looking forward to the new chapter, drop me a review!
Special thanks to Bell for her fabulous editing. Special thanks to Brie for always being there to bounce around ideas and be my sounding board.