Zugzwang: Being forced to make a move, although all possible moves are disadvantageous.
"I said I don't want any! Seriously, Hermione, enough mother-henning already. Viktor, thank god you're here! Can you remove your girlfriend from my person?"
"I am not mother-henning, I am being attentive. You are just ungrateful." As Viktor stepped out of the Floo at Harry and Theo's new home, Hermione was trying to force-feed Harry a yellowish, gloopy liquid. "Is that Harry's breakfast?" He kissed Hermione and plucked the bowl from her hands.
"I am not eating custard for breakfast!"
"I have done some reading," Hermione pressed on despite a very indiscrete eye-roll from Harry, "the lutein and zinc in the egg-yolk is very beneficial for the eyes. So, I made custard for Harry's breakfast. Which he is refusing to eat." Hermione grunted at Harry with her hands on her waist.
"Why didn't you just boil some eggs?" Viktor asked, spooning the custard, although he had had breakfast not an hour ago. It wasn't like he could let his girlfriend's cooking go to waste.
"I hate boiled eggs." Harry finished his tea and rose from his seat to greet Viktor. "I will eat scrambled eggs, if the egg to butter ratio is one to one."
"You said you liked custard!" Viktor took advantage of Hermione's big mouth being wide open, and shoved a spoonful of custard into it.
"Yeah, not for breakfast. Cuppa, Viktor? Ah, sorry," Harry corrected himself, "I forgot you don't drink tea. Espresso?"
"No, thanks, I'm good." They all took seats around the dining table, where small bowls of half-eaten cereal and tiny glasses of juice from the kids' breakfasts still lay.
"How do you feel today?" Viktor asked, half knowing the answer.
"I'm alright. Now, let's talk about the case," Harry replied dismissively.
"Yes, and the protection charm, don't think I forgot," added Hermione.
Viktor gave them an account of his past days, the missing Parzival Blankley, Cassius' suspicion about radicalization within the Identitarians, and his encounter with Amalie Blankley. To his surprise, Hermione didn't interrupt him once with questions. When it came to his conversation with Draco Malfoy, Harry broke his silent contemplation.
"I am not surprised, to be honest. Don't get me wrong, I like Malfoy as much as like a heavy flu that makes me appreciate good health, but he hasn't had it easy after the war. Most people won't be caught dead doing business with an ex-Death Eater. It is brave of him to persevere, though. His mates have long fled the country one way or the other."
"So, they won't do business with the son, but it is fine to have the father as a professor?" Viktor wasn't convinced.
This time, Hermione replied, "The people who govern Hogwarts and those who own businesses are not the same. Hogwarts is tradition. Besides, it probably also helps that Lucius Malfoy was never convicted of being a Death Eater after the War, unlike Draco. It is absolutely ridiculous. If anything, it is Draco who deserves a second chance, not his father."
Harry agreed, "The war was a decade ago, for fuck's sake. He served his sentence and that should be the end of it. Do you really think that he can find a cure, though?" Harry's eyes were lustreless, but his voice was full of hope. Viktor wondered how he could remain so grounded in the face of such a tragedy.
"As far as I understood from what you two told me, it would benefit his reputation if he did," Viktor said, "maybe he would even have a chance to win the election."
"Yeah, that too. I don't know if anyone will still vote for Blankley after the attacks. Speaking of which, we need to find Blankley, loath though I am to admit. I am sure it won't be a problem to get a search warrant. We should also interrogate the rest of the Identitarians. Someone must know where he is." It didn't escape Viktor's attention that Harry was still talking about "we".
"Harry, are you…"
"I don't need magic to interrogate people!" Harry snapped. "I can't do everything, but I can do something. I am not entirely useless." Viktor wished that Hermione would not look at Harry so sadly. It certainly wasn't doing Harry any favours.
"Of course, you can take over the questioning, then. I still need to follow up on the explosion as well."
"Who is investigating it? You haven't said anything." Hermione finished the last of the custard. "It has been, what, ten days?"
"Twelve," Viktor corrected, "It feels more like twelve months. The ITF Berlin crime scene investigators are working on it, and the non-wizarding police, too. I feel a bit bad for them, they are running an investigation with half of the clues. The Berlin team removed all the remains of the suspect. We still don't know who blew up the place, why they did it, and who the second man was."
"Any guesses? It doesn't make much sense to me, I mean, why would they kill one of their own? Unless, there are two terrorist groups," asked Harry.
"My first thought was that someone must have been hiding something there," Viktor pushed his chair back, "but the investigators haven't found anything. Or, they just wanted to kill the guy, but their method is a bit extreme. Or, it has nothing to do with the case, the owner of the warehouse is trying to cheat the insurance company and organized the explosion himself, and we just happened to be there. I don't know."
Harry laughed, "Yeah, it's not impossible, I guess. You're leaving?"
"I am meeting Minister Shacklebolt in twenty minutes. You two will be fine?" He petted Hermione's head.
She growled, "You aren't going anywhere till you tell us about the protection charm. You promised."
"Did I? I don't remember."
"Viktor, just do it, mate. Otherwise, she'll be talking my ear off all day." Hermione swatted Harry with a rolled-up magazine. "Oi! That's domestic violence!"
"Children, behave." Viktor handed Hermione the note that she had given her. "Do you remember this?"
Hermione held the note out to Harry. "Is this the note that I gave you?"
Viktor nodded. "This is the protection charm."
"What is this?" Harry snatched the paper from Hermione. "Did Peggy Warrington write this?"
"I believe she did, yes." A moment of dead silence sat on Viktor's shoulders as the two friends read the contents of the paper again and again, dilated eyes moving frantically up and down the small piece of paper. Harry fisted his hair and scrunched his eyes closed. Hermione was still staring at the paper.
"I don't get it."
"Hermione, do we really need to dissect this?" Harry sounded very annoyed.
"So what is your conclusion? The mother forged this amulet with the desire to protect her child? How does this even work?"
"It is not like something like this has never happened before." Harry opened his eyes, hurt.
"Harry, I am so sorry, I didn't wish to be obtuse. It is just, I can't get my head around it. Wanting something very badly is not enough to make it happen. And why did they kill her? What about the sign?"
"I think the sign, whatever it is, makes it personal to the wearer." Viktor was running late. They all walked to the Floo as he kept explaining. "I am not sure. I wrote to Berlin, but the victim of the explosion is in too many pieces. They haven't found anything."
"Ugh," Harry shook his head with distaste, "well, keep us posted, then. And Viktor," Harry grabbed Viktor's elbow as he took a handful of Floo powder, "I am sorry."
"What are you sorry for?"
"You'll see."
Viktor decided that he had been in the Ministry of Magic way too often in the past days. It was very convenient to travel via the International Floos, but the long faces of the ministry employees, quarrels between employees and Aurors due to this or that extra security measure, and the necessity to flash his badge at every turn of the corridor, were getting to him. When Auror Dawlish raised his wand to cast detection charms on him before he entered the Minister's office, he had no energy to object.
"Viktor, come on in, please, take a seat. Amidst this chaos and catastrophe, we finally have a chance to talk." In the opulence of the Minister's office, Viktor found himself admiring yet another man. Despite his years, Minister Shacklebolt was the human Talos. Bronze, beautiful, terrifying to his enemies and reassuring to his allies. He was clad in royal purple robes that became him to perfection, and Viktor mourned once again that he would never dare to wear such a colour. He had never interacted much with the Minister before, yet knew that he was a down-to-earth, sincere man who cared little for hierarchies and etiquette. He took a seat across Viktor at the coffee table and crossed his legs. Viktor noted that he looked quite a bit more relaxed and refreshed than when he saw him the night before.
"It is like history is repeating itself all over again," the Minister started, "this thinly veiled segregationism, this eternal debate around what it means to be a wizard and who may call herself a witch and who has the right to magic… Voldemort hated muggleborns, Identitarians of don't dare say they hate muggleborns, according to them muggleborns are of course an integral part of the wizarding world and have always been, provided that they leave their muggle heritage behind. How is this any different, I ask myself, and yet there they are. Now these attacks… We are ever so grateful for ITF support, for our Aurors are spread thin, especially after the tragedy yesterday. Harry told me that you are suspecting an international terror organization? Just what we need. Muggles and wizards alike, strife is at the heart of the human condition, more's the pity." Viktor didn't reply, but nodded, more in acknowledgement than approval. He still wasn't sure what was going on in this game between the Minister and the Identitarians, and he had no desire to take sides. The Minister already knew about what happened in Berlin, the attack against Cassius Warrington, and the possible link between the terror attacks and the murder case.
"Before you explain any further, Viktor, Harry and I discussed your need for a replacement field partner. He suggested someone who is most suitable, although not always the easiest one to work with. You know him, though, I am sure it will be fine. He had a prior engagement this morning, but should be there any minute soon. Ah, there he is." Before Viktor had any time to agonize over who his mystery partner may be, the doors opened and said partner walked in.
No.
No.
No. No. No. No. Just no.
Shit.
"You don't seem too pleased to see me."
"Headmaster Snape, no, I wasn't expecting you, to be honest."
"Severus, why don't you join us?" Minister Shacklebolt shook hands with the Headmaster. Viktor did too, out of obligation, realizing that this was the first time ever. "You know Viktor already, of course, far better than I do." Viktor watched as the Headmaster silently, but not so subtly regarded his ITF uniform, and noticed his eyes briefly fixing on his name badge. It seemed like he didn't know that his real surname was Krumov.
"We are acquainted, yes. Although, it seems to me that you haven't had the chance to announce my involvement to him?"
Shacklebolt laughed, "No, this is all rather last minute, I am afraid. But now that we are all here, Viktor, why don't you continue your report?"
Viktor was confused, to say the least, "Excuse me, Minister Shacklebolt, but you were talking about a field partner, not a consultant. Why is the Headmaster here?" He knew he sounded rude, but didn't find himself giving a flying fuck.
"Harry suggested Severus as a field partner for you, he was convinced that our old friend is the one with the most complete skills set for this complicated case. I asked Severus, and he kindly agreed."
"Except, Headmaster Snape is a civilian, not a law enforcement officer, and should not be in the field."
"Mr Krum...ov," Snape hissed between his teeth, "your faith in my abilities moves me to tears."
"I don't mean to be disrespectful, Headmaster, but I stand by my word," Viktor hoped that this was the correct phrase, "I can not have a civilian with me. If you don't have an Auror to spare, you can give me another resource, as is described in the agreement between the ITF and Ministry of Magic, and I will talk to my supervisor about a suitable partner from the Force."
And, there it was, the signature Snape scowl that could curdle the milk in a ewe's udders and send Koschei the Deathless into an early grave. Viktor didn't care. To his surprise, Minister Shacklebolt did not object.
"I fully understand your concerns," he started.
"I don't," Snape continued, "Mr Krumov, you are aware that I have been fighting in a war before you were born? That I train Aurors in Occlumency and Defence? Your three-day career outside Quidditch seems to have got to your head."
Viktor didn't feel like arguing. Snape was a formidable wizard, for sure, but taking a civilian with him into the middle of a conflict where he could be hurt, possibly killed, did not sit right with him. He just laid back against his chair, and said no more. After a moment, the Minister cleared his throat and broke the uneasy silence.
"You know, Viktor, I was an Auror longer than I have been a politician. Although Severus is more than qualified without a shadow of a doubt to act as a law enforcement officer in these dire times, I fully acknowledge that an Auror has to be utterly comfortable with his partner in the field. If, Viktor, you think that Severus is not the right choice of partner for you in this case, I will respect your judgement. Unless, you wish to reconsider? Severus does have a rather unique set of skills which could provide highly useful, and as he himself has stated, he hardly could be considered a civilian, given his past endeavours." The Minister's tone was smooth and reassuring, his features relaxed, his eyes compassionate. Viktor found himself almost persuaded to reconsider. Was this how politicians talked people into doing things?
"My answer is unchanged, Minister Shacklebolt. But there is an aspect of the investigation where the expertise of Headmaster Snape would be very helpful. We think that the terrorists are using a volatile potion of unknown composition."
"Who is "we", may I ask," interrupted Snape. "Potter is not exactly a potions prodigy, and I would hate to presume, but," from the self-assured glint in his eyes, Viktor could see how much the Headmaster loved to presume, "neither are you."
"The suspect was seen mixing the contents of two vials together, that is all we know. Hermione was the first one who proposed that the damage is caused by a potion rather than a charm." Snape's eyes narrowed as Viktor uttered Hermione's name. "We think that one vial contains the poison, and the other contains something to turn it into a gas."
"That's brilliant!" exclaimed Shacklebolt, "Absolutely brilliant. If it is as simple as that, our citizens can simply protect themselves with a Bubble-Head charm! Well done, Viktor."
"I am afraid it is not so simple," Viktor hated to kill the Minister's mirth.
Snape agreed, "I also don't think that a simple Bubble-Head charm will suffice, especially if the potion is delivered as an aerosol. Even if it did prevent the victims from breathing the droplets in, potions can be absorbed via the skin through clothes. That the attacks have taken place in the open air and have nevertheless been so effective is indicative of the fact that the poison used is very potent. Which begs the question, how did the attacker protect himself, being in the epicentre of the poison cloud? If they had Imperiused someone to do it, we would have known."
If nothing else intimidated Snape, this bit certainly would, or so thought Viktor. "They use an artefact, an amulet of forged out of," He locked his eyes with Snape's, "a mother's desire to protect her child. The people who wear it are immune to harmful spells and potions, it seems."
Snape's fingers dug into his palms. The Minister was baffled. "What are you saying, Viktor?", he asked hesitantly. Viktor gave both wizards a summary of the Warrington case and what they knew about the amulet.
"So, the Warrington murder was not committed by muggles." said Shackleblot with a furrowed brow.
"The evidence suggests that it was not. The suspect is still unidentifiable, but my guess is that they are not based within the wizarding Britain."
"But this means that witches, especially witch mothers, are in danger!"
"I have sent word to all ITF Headquarters and local MLEs that all missing person cases which match the profile should be reported immediately to me." Viktor shifted in his seat, slightly uneasy. "Auror Potter knows, too. I don't have any indication at the moment that they will attempt this again. We have recovered the amulet that the first attacker was wearing, but there has been a second one. My guess is that they were able to…" Viktor paused briefly to look for a suitable word, "multiply it. I have consulted with an expert, and forging of this kind of amulet has not been practised since a very long time. The terrorists must have found a way. They are possibly cooperating with someone who is very learned in old magic." He turned his eyes to the Headmaster as he said the last words.
"I will join the investigation." The Headmaster said in a definitive tone.
"I have made myself clear, Headmaster." Viktor replied similarly.
"Now, now, there is no need to be antagonistic. It is clear that we have a very complex case which is of utmost priority. I am honoured and very privileged to have two exceedingly competent wizards, hell-bent on bringing the culprits to justice. I suggest the following. I will set up an Auror team which includes Severus, and you, Viktor, can operate abroad outside the British MLE jurisdiction. The two teams would then meet regularly to exchange information. This way, you can both stay on the case without directly working together."
This sounded like a reasonable compromise to Viktor, and he was glad that the Minister was finally setting up a dedicated Auror team to solve the case.
Why so late?
He opened his mouth to ask, but was interrupted by Snape, "I strongly suggest that you reconsider, Viktor." Their eyes met.
Harry suggested him, he remembered. He trusted him to be the best partner. Who is he? Headmaster. Former Death Eater. Double agent. Double agent… Viktor's glance escaped to Minister Shacklebolt for the briefest of moments, and wandered back to the Headmaster. They looked at each other for another second, and they somehow agreed, though Viktor wasn't quite sure on what.
"Very well, Headmaster, Severus," he corrected himself and waited for a volatile reaction which didn't come, "but we need to get going. Minister, I would highly appreciate it if you would task some Aurors with finding Mr Blankley. Harry said he would help with the questioning, despite his condition." He stood up, and so did the other two. The Minister looked a little discombobulated, like he wasn't used to other people than him ending a meeting.
"I will. Thank you, Viktor, Severus, great that you have come to an agreement." After hasty handshakes, Viktor left the room with the Headmaster, no, Severus. Without saying a word, they headed outside.
"Do you have clearance to travel within Europe, Severus?" The first name of the Headmaster was still alien on Viktor's tongue.
"I do, I often travel to other magical schools, and I have a muggle passport, too. Just to be sure, Viktor is your real name, right? I am not fond of pet names." Viktor halted briefly. Severus looked quite a bit different to how he did in Hogwarts. He had forgone his robes, and was dressed in a three-piece charcoal suit and red tie. His long black hair was tied back with a ribbon, giving him a youthful, casual air. He was smiling mockingly at Viktor. Viktor resisted the urge to slap back with a rude reply.
"When I started to play Quidditch, my manager decided that Viktor Grigoriev Krumov was not a suitable name for a young player. Viktor Krum became my Quidditch name. So yes, Viktor is my real name." Severus looked away, as if he couldn't care less. Then why did you ask, thought Viktor. The man was just infuriating.
"What is the plan?" Severus drawled. "Assuming that you have one, that is."
"First, we will leave this place," Viktor had noticed that they were attracting quite a few stares from the passers-by, "then we talk."
The aroma of the sourdough bread that adorned the counters of the little café-bakery under a Hackney railway arch where Severus led him had even seeped into Viktor's espresso. It was just the kind of place he loved. Cosy, unpretentious, and full to the brim with people who walked in and out without even noticing him, even wearing his rather alien-looking ITF uniform. It seemed like Londoners had perfected the art of minding their own business. "This is a nice place," he remarked. His remark was blatantly ignored.
"You are suspecting that the terrorists use a potion to render witches and wizards squibs. Voldemort had me look into such potions and curses, back in the day. The bottom line is, there is no such potion." Severus talked, looking out of the window. "Whatever this is, it is a rather recent innovation. I find it highly unlikely that the cretins that are behind these attacks are capable of devising such a weapon. Let alone forge such a potent protection amulet."
"So, you think that there is a mastermind behind these attacks? Using the others like a… doll? Puppet, sorry."
"I think so, yes. Let's however keep this bit of speculation among ourselves, shall we? Now tell me, what are your leads so far?"
Viktor spooned the crema at the bottom of his espresso cup. "The only people who have seen the criminals are a very small child that can't talk, and perhaps a woman who has been Obliviated. I have also been told that there might be a subdivision of the Identitarians who have fallen out with Blankley because they were more radical. I haven't been able to find Blankley, and his niece did not cooperate. I have a suspicion that she might be involved."
"This is not very much to go by. How long have you been investigating this again?"
Bastard.
"The forging of amulets such as the one used by the terrorists is described in a recent book by Mr Malfoy. Perhaps we could consult him, what do you think?" You are not the only one who can push the other's buttons, thought Viktor. I can push buttons, too.
"Is it now?" Severus' voice was tense. "If you think his expertise is relevant, by all means. Now, tell me about the witnesses. The infant, I assume, is Warrington's child?"
"Yes, little Leonhard. The family is hiding now. Mr Warrington made it very clear that he will not allow anyone to use Legilimency on him."
"He would allow me. It would be no use, though. It has been a very long time, and children at that age do not retain memories for long."
He is right, thought Viktor. Why the attack on Warrington, then? Perhaps the terrorists overestimated the efficacy of Legilimency.
"What about the Obliviated woman?"
"She is Danish. She was abducted and returned a day later. She was quite traumatized. Very protective of her child afterwards. I don't have direct evidence that she was a victim of the same group, but the profile fits. They might have used her to experiment with the amulet."
"Is she in danger?"
"I don't think so. I did alert the Danish MLE, but I told them to be…" Viktor paused again to look for the right word. He was so tired. "Discreet. The witch was very distressed after the event, there is no need to alert her unless it is necessary." He hoped that he made a point. Snape did have a bit of a swagger when it came to his capabilities as a wizard, but Viktor had no desire to upset the poor witch even more if there was no real chance to recover information. Severus, on the other hand, did not show a moment of hesitance.
"We will start with the witch, should she agree to cooperate."
Viktor nodded. This was going to be a very, very long trip.
Hello dear readers! First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for all the faves and follows, and for my first review! This chapter is the penultimate one for this year. It was originally one veeery long chapter, but I have divided it into two, since the last third or so didn't really fit with the rest. I will post a shorter chapter next week, and close the year.
I'd like to remind you that an illustrated version (by me) of this fic is available at AO3, same name.