11/24/03: Okay, here's a long, long, long chapter from me. Just a warning, it's all about the case, no interactions with any of Harry's friends. Not much happens since it's just plot development, so hopefully it's not too boring.
8. General Magics
Harry awoke the next morning with a splitting headache, made worse by the blaring of his alarm clock. Harry groaned, promising himself once again that he would never drink like that again. After Harry's rather uncharacteristic confession about his feelings, Ron was left not knowing what to do; it wasn't in his nature to provide comfort. So, rather than offer words of sympathy (words that he didn't even know), Ron tried to bolster Harry's spirits the best way he knew how: by getting him completely pissed. Ron used Harry's mobile to call Fred and George, and the four of them had an unmemorable time at The Hog's Head – unmemorable only because Harry had too much to drink to remember what happened. He did, though, have images of a lot of red hair and…karaoke?
Harry shook his head grimly. Harry casted a spell on himself to remove the effects of his hangover, and then padded his way to the shower to get ready for work. Today, he and Robert would be working on the Mediate case while Nick Clarke and his partner, Brad Casey, reviews the Campbell murders. Harry dressed quickly and floo'ed over to the Ministry. Robert was waiting for him just inside the security counter. "Ready for a full day Potter?" he asked gruffly.
Harry smiled. "And cheery good morning to you too! Where do we start? Imagery?" Robert nodded, and the two detectives made their way to the forensics department.
"Back again detectives?" Roxy, the witch behind the reception desk asked curiously.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, but this time we want to look at the Mediate case. It was Detective Darren Price's, earlier this year."
Roxy nodded and opened a large book filled with blank pages. She waved her wand over the book and murmured a spell, and as they watched, words filled the pages. "Price…Price," the witch said softly to herself. "Ah ha! Here it is," she said triumphantly, stabbing at the entry with her finger. "It'll take about ten minutes to spool it up. Have a seat, and I'll call you when it's ready."
"Thanks Rox," Harry said. He and Robert took seats in the plush couches that lined the waiting room. Harry reached over to the little coffee table in the center and picked up the latest Daily Prophet while Robert grabbed an issue of Quidditch Weekly. They read quietly for a few minutes until Harry's sigh of exasperation broke the silence.
"What?" Robert asked, looking over the top of his magazine at his partner.
"Our first MSARS death, near Bristol," Harry said glumly.
Robert let the magazine fall to his lap. "I had hoped it wouldn't reach us."
Harry nodded in agreement. MSARS had started on the Continent, the first identified case was in Italy, and had spread rather quickly throughout Europe and into Asia. America was similarly impacted, but thus far, only a few isolated cases were found in the UK. Contracting MSARS was not automatically fatal, though many of the cases ended inexplicably in death. Today's Daily Prophet brought news of the first death in the UK. Harry thought of Hermione, working long hours in her lab at St. Mungo's, trying to find a cure and/or vaccine for the disease. He knew that this news would hit her hard; she would probably take the death as a personal failure.
Harry sighed again, but not for reasons involving MSARS. Harry had been thinking of Hermione a lot recently, and all because of Ginny and Neville's party just a few days ago. After pouring out his soul to Ron the other night, Harry was able to admit to himself just how much he missed her. He could no longer hide behind the walls created by his anger and his hurt. Was Ron right? Was it not over yet between them? Should Harry still have hope?
"Detectives?" Roxy's voice interrupted Harry's thoughts. "The image is ready. Exam room four is yours."
Harry and Robert stood and thanked the witch. They entered their exam room, and Harry flipped the activation switch. The bare walls of the exam room faded away and were replaced by a dark alley, illuminated by a few lampposts. Harry immediately spotted the body of Ernie Mediate, lying face down in a small puddle of blood. Pulling out his wand, Harry approached the body, his eyes taking in every detail of the crime scene.
Various bins lined the sides of the alley, obscuring the body from the street outside. Trash littered the ground, and Harry stepped over a few broken bottles and a crushed box or two. It was a cold enough that Harry could see his own breath; the room mimicked the temperature at the time of the murder as well. Harry frowned slightly as he approached the body. Mediate was face down on the ground, a gunshot clearly visible on his back, outlined in the red of his blood. Harry knew from reviewing the case file that it was an exit wound; Mediate had been shot from the front at close range. His practiced eye also picked out the details that confirmed what the report had concluded: the fact that Mediate was face down despite being shot from the front, combined with the small amount of blood that had escaped the body meant that Mediate was killed elsewhere, and then his body was brought here. Harry looked around the alleyway, noticing the lack of blood stains anywhere, and grew unhappy.
Robert walked up to stand beside him. "What?" he asked, evidently noticing the scowl on Harry's face.
"I can't believe Price didn't notice anything right away! I mean sure, the gunshot's as plain as day, but the body and crime scene are just too clean! It would take a really anal Muggle to move the body without getting blood all over the place, or to drag a bleeding corpse into this alleyway without being noticed. I mean, it's a busy street out there," Harry growled in frustration, gesturing back at the main street connected to the alley.
"Yeah, well, even if he did, I don't think it would have helped much. MC used a tracking charm afterwards to help out the Muggle police, but they couldn't find where Mediate had originally been murdered."
"That should have been a clue that it wasn't a simple Muggle killing," Harry said darkly. "You find anything?"
Robert shook his head. "No, and I didn't really expect too. There's nothing here that Price and MC didn't find already."
Harry nodded in agreement, as he had expected the same. Despite his earlier recriminations at Detective Price, Harry knew that he and MC would do a good job collecting any and all evidence. Robert and Harry visited the crime scene mainly to get an idea of the crime. After another ten minutes examining the scene, Robert and Harry agreed there was nothing else to be learned. After checking out of Imagery, Harry and Robert's next stop was a General Magics' plant, where Mediate had worked. Harry and Robert took the lift to the garage where they signed out a Ministry car.
Harry groaned melodramatically as he climbed into the passenger seat. "Gah! It's going to take us half an hour to get out there! If only there was someway to get there faster."
"Shut it Potter," Robert replied as he pulled out into the London traffic. Harry grinned. Because of the sensitive nature of the magic that performed, the General Magics plant was not directly connected to the floo network for fear of industrial espionage. Normally, Harry would have preferred to simply apparate to the plant, but Robert couldn't apparate, something Harry took pleasure in reminding the older man, and it was a bit too far a distance for Harry to apparate them both.
Unlike Harry's harrowing experiences aboard the Knight Bus, Robert guided the ministry car smoothly through traffic, and Harry quickly become accustomed to the sensation of moving sideways. In fact, after being partners for a year, Harry had almost learned to suppress the panic at heading straight for a standing car at eighty kilometers an hour. Eventually the plant came into sight, and Robert drove towards the entrance.
"Here we are, Potter, so you can stop wetting yourself. Only took twenty minutes," Robert said slyly. Robert took as much pleasure in mocking Harry's reaction to riding in wizarding cars as Harry did with Robert's inability to apparate.
Harry chuckled. "Well, you really are a good driver, I'll give you that. Of course, you'd have to be, since you can't really get around otherwise…" Harry was saved from a response as they had reached the guard tower.
Robert rolled down the window. "Aurors to meet with Mr. Adam Tway. We have an appointment," Robert said to the guard.
The guard checked a piece of parchment he was holding. "Very good. Follow the road all the way straight through. You'll pass the main entrance, and then you'll see the signs for visitor parking."
Robert gave his thanks and they followed the directions. Harry was impressed by the size of the plant as they drove through, noting the small pond as they passed by. After parking, Harry straightened his robes and followed Robert back along the road they had traveled until they reached the main entrance. They passed a very long rack containing brooms and through the doors, where they saw a large reception desk manned by two wizards and a witch. Two other wizards were being helped, but as no one was in line ahead of them, they walked right up to the witch.
"Detectives Toms and Potter to see Mr. Adam Tway," Robert said to the witch as he flashed his Auror credentials. The three receptionists, along with the two other people being helped, looked up immediately upon hearing 'Potter.' There was the usual gasp and stunned silence, but the witch recovered quickly.
"Certainly," she said, flashing a charming smile at the two Aurors. "He's expecting you. If you'll take a seat, he'll be right out in a few moments," she said, indicating a large waiting area containing a set of leather couches.
Harry and Robert nodded their thanks and took the 'Visitors' stickers that the witch handed them. Placing the stickers on their robes as they walked, Robert took a seat and thumbed through a magazine while Harry examined a large-scale model of the facility. It was even more impressive then he had originally thought, now able to see the four buildings in addition to the one they were in now, the three cafeterias, and the childcare center. After examining the model twice, Harry took the seat opposite of Robert. He looked around impatiently a moment, checking his watch.
"It's been ten minutes already," Harry grumbled, eliciting an amused chuckle from Robert. Harry was familiar with this particular strategy – making the Aurors wait to show how important you are – but it didn't make waiting any easier. And, Harry had to grudgingly admit, he was accustomed to people reacting quickly to his needs once they found out he was Harry Potter. After another five minutes, during which Harry amused himself by drawing various shapes in the air with his wand, a young witch headed directly towards them. Although there were other people in waiting area, only Harry and Robert were wearing Auror robes, clearly distinguishing themselves from the saleswizards and other people waiting.
"Mr. Toms? Mr. Potter? I'm Anna Soren, Adam's secretary. If you'll follow me?" she asked cheerfully. Harry and Robert stood and followed Anna through the complex. As they walked, she gave them a brief tour of the plant. "…and the hallway on our left leads to our Charms facility…up ahead to the right is where our warehouses are located. They house all of the raw materials we use…and here we are. Adam's office is over here, overlooking the Transfiguration department." Anna led them through a glass door and into large room filled with cubicles. One entire wall was made of glass and overlooked the Transfiguration department, and many wizards and witches gave them curious looks as they passed through. At the end of the room was another door, and Anna turned towards them. "I'll go check to see if Adam is free," she said and disappeared behind the door. Harry and Robert wordlessly watched the Transfiguration department through the window until Anna returned and gestured for them to enter.
Adam Tway was a mousy looking man that reminded Harry of a taller Peter Pettigew. He disliked him immediately. Tway's desk faced the window into the Transfiguration department, and two small chairs were arranged before it. Tway came around his desk to greet them.
"Ah, Detectives Toms and Potter! It's wonderful to meet you both. Please, have a seat." Harry was slightly surprised that the man didn't gush all over him; he definitely seemed the type. "I am a little confused though," he said, putting on the look of a man with much more important things to do, "as to why you are here. I already told the other Auror everything I know."
"It's just procedure, Mr. Tway. We recently found some new information that may be related to this case."
"New information, huh?" Tway asked casually.
"Ah, I'm afraid I can't go into details. I'm sure you understand."
"Of course, of course. Well, I want to help in any way I can. What do you need to know?"
"Tell us about Mr. Mediate's job, his responsibilities."
Tway leaned back into his chair. "Ernie was the quality control supervisor in our fig-n-fly department," he said, indicating the glass wall behind Harry. "He-"
"I'm sorry," Harry interrupted, confused, "fig-n-fly?"
Tway chuckled. "Ah, sorry. That's what we call our Transfiguration department for short. Fig for Transfiguration, and fly because after we're done transfiguring the raw materials to the correct components, they're levitated over to the Charms department."
Harry nodded. "Okay. Please, continue."
"Let's see, where was I? Right, Ernie was in quality control. His responsibility was to ensure that each transfigured component was free of defects."
"Did he check each individual component?" Robert asked.
Tway shook his head. "Oh no, it would take a week just to check over the components we produce in a single day. Ernie had a team of workers who check a random sample of components, but primarily Ernie would follow-up on any problems or customer complaints, and it was his job to make sure we followed the Ministry's guidelines on transfigured objects."
"Ah, I see now," Robert said.
"Would you like to see how the process works for yourself? I'm sure it'll prove most enlightening."
Harry nodded eagerly. "I've never been in a plant before," he admitted.
Tway stood. "Well then, come on," he said with a smile. He led them back out the way they came and down another hallway.
While they walked, Robert leaned over and whispered to Harry, "Anything?"
Harry shook his head. "Just the typical nerves at the beginning. Nothing suspicious for now."
They reached a set of heavy, metal doors. There was a mirror on one side, and Tway looked into his own reflection. "Adam Tway and two visitors," he said. The metal door shimmered slightly and looked less substantial, but it did not open. "Follow me," Tway said and walked through the wall. Harry followed Robert through the wall, reminded of the barrier at Platform 9¾. Harry found himself in a very large room, the size of a warehouse. The sounds of spellcasting could clearly be heard. "Here, put these on," Tway said over the noise. He handed them each a wizard hat, which Harry realized that everyone else was wearing. "They're charmed to protect your head from falling objects," Tway added.
Harry put on the hat and followed Tway to the far end of the room, where two large doors were open. They went outside. "Over here," Tway said, "is where we the raw materials are brought over." Harry watched as teams of wizards levitated various 'raw materials' (large rocks, tree trunks and branches, pieces of scrap metal) from outside the room onto floating platforms. Other wizards then manually pushed the platforms into the room. Harry looked at them in curiosity, wondering why they didn't use magic. Tway must have noticed his look for he gestured over at them. "Squibs," he explained. "We make it a point to employ Squibs. Our president's sister is a Squib."
Harry nodded, and Tway led them back into the room. Once inside the room, the platforms were arranged into a various lines depending on the material, and were magically moved towards the other end. Various stations were set up where witches and wizards would cast different spells on the materials on the platforms, transfiguring them into different forms. "Each station has a different responsibility," Tway was saying, "transfiguring the raw materials into the components. Some components require multiple transfigurations, while others only need to be magicked once or twice."
They approached the other end of the room, where another set of double doors was wide open. "From here," Tway said, "the components are levitated to the Charms department, where the workers there add their own spells to the components. After that, it's on to assembly where everything is put together, then transportation."
"Very impressive," Harry said as they made their way back to Tway's office.
"We try our best," Tway said modestly. "It's a good system, though we're of course always on the look-out for ways to improve efficiency. We're currently investigated the feasibility of a local floo network to move materials back and forth between departments more quickly."
After they returned to Tway's office, Robert began asking a few more questions about Mediate and his job. Harry remained silent, passively using his legilimency skills to watch Tway for any telltale reactions, any emotions that would reveal guilt. Tway revealed nothing out-of-the-ordinary until Robert came to the most pertinent question.
"Just one last question, about your customers. You mentioned that Mr. Mediate often dealt with complaints. Do you know if he dealt with any complaints from Magical Solutions?"
An unidentified emotion flickered briefly across Tway's face, and Harry's eyes narrowed. "Er, Magical Solutions?" Tway asked.
Harry nodded, speaking for the first time. "Yes, they're a small family-owned business in Diagon Alley. Has Mr. Mediate had any cause to be in contact with them?"
Tway looked at Harry as he asked the question, giving Harry the opportunity to make eye contact. Tway swallowed. "Um, I'm not sure. We have hundreds of customers, so I'm sure you understand that I don't have that kind of information at the tip of my finger," he said.
"Perhaps you could have someone look up that information for us?" Robert asked.
"Of course, of course," Tway said. "If you'll excuse me for one minute?" Without waiting for an answer, he left the office. Harry and Robert exchanged a meaningful look but didn't speak, aware that there might be magical listening devices somewhere. After what seemed like five minutes, Tway returned. "I've looked through our recent activities and couldn't find anything on this Magical Solutions. I would look further back, but unfortunately the witch in charge of our archives is on vacation. She'll be back in a couple days, at which I'll make sure to have her do a thorough search and get that information to you straight away."
Harry looked at Robert, intending to take the lead from him. "Very well, Mr. Tway," Robert said, standing. Harry followed suite. "We eagerly await the results of her search. In two days time, you said?"
Tway nodded. "Two or three, depending on how long it takes her."
"Okay. Owl the information over to the Ministry, care of either Detective Potter or myself," Robert said.
Tway led them to the door. "Anna?" he called out to his secretary. When he got her attention, he said, "Detectives Toms and Potter are finished here. Would you mind walking them out?"
"Certainly," she said with a smile.
Tway shook Harry and Robert's hands. "It was a pleasure to meet you both."
"It was nice to meet you too, Mr. Tway," Harry said. "If you can think of anything else, please owl us."
"I will. Have a good day," Tway said before disappearing back into his office. Anna escorted the two Aurors back to the main entrance, where they signed out. Harry followed Robert silently back to the car, and it was not until they were on the road back to London that they spoke.
"Well?" Robert asked.
"He knows something. He's scared, and I don't think it's just of us," Harry said, his reply masking his certainty. Harry was sure that Tway was scared of something other than the two Aurors.
"All right. We'll see what Clarke and Casey find out at Magical Solutions, and then we'll take a much closer look at Mr. Adam Tway."
*********************************
By the time they got back to the bullpen, it was the end of the workday. Since Harry and Robert already had a case, they weren't required to stay the night watching the wheel; only detectives without active cases were required to pull a late shift. Once everyone had a case, though, their names would be put back on the wheel, though Harry suspected that given the high-profile nature of their case, they wouldn't be on the wheel until it was solved.
Detective Clarke hadn't yet returned from his investigation (or he had already returned and left for home, they couldn't be sure of which), so Harry and Robert decided to call it a day. They called over to S&I to put a few standard tracking spells on Tway, mostly to ensure that they could locate him if he tried to escape. After finishing up their notes on their day, Harry and Robert took the lift to the main level. After exiting, they saw Madam Bones talking with a young couple, a wizard and a witch. Although Harry and Robert could reach the fireplaces without passing near her, they knew that, she being their boss, it would be rude to simply walk by without acknowledging her. Harry and Robert walked in her direction.
"Good evening, Madam Bones," Robert said respectfully, Harry next to him.
"Harry!" came a surprised voice.
Harry suddenly recognized the young couple. "Susan!" he said in surprise, and then shared a quick hug with the Hufflepuff alumni.
"Hey Harry," came the voice of the young wizard, pleasant though more subdued then Susan's.
"Hey Ernie," Harry said, shaking his hand. Ernie Macmillan also worked at the Ministry, a rising star in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. They had crossed paths a few times during work and had shared lunch on occasion.
"Hello Harry, Robert," Amelia said. "How goes the investigation?"
"Very well, Madam Bones," Harry said politely. "We believe we found a connection and already have a small lead, which we will follow-up on tomorrow."
Amelia smiled. "Good. This is a very important case; keep me informed," she said to them. "You'll drop by later for dinner, then?" she asked her niece.
Susan nodded. "Of course Auntie. I'll owl you," she said cheerfully.
The two Bones shared a hug, and then Amelia bade everyone a good night before floo'ing off. Robert also said good night, leaving the old classmates alone. Harry looked over at Susan and smiled. He always felt a little guilty they he didn't even know her name until their fifth year, at the first DA meeting, but he was eternally grateful to her, for she was the first one to give credence to the notion that Harry could teach Defense Against the Dark Arts when she asked about his Patronus…his corporeal Patronus, to be exact. Susan was a pretty witch with long, blonde hair. Her aunt had tried to set them up a few times, but Harry wasn't interested in her romantically. As Harry looked into her smiling face, he off-handedly wished that he were interested in her, but he knew that his heart would always be elsewhere.
"So, what brings you in town Susan? I thought you were working in Belgium?"
"I was, but I took the week off to be here for the ten-year anniversary," she said, slightly somber as Ernie nodded
Harry looked at them in confusion. It would be another three years until his ten-year graduation anniversary. "Ten-year anniversary?"
Susan gave him an odd look. "Yes, ten years since…didn't you get the invitation?" she asked.
Harry wracked his brain, trying to think of an invitation. Harry, of course, got more mail then he cared for from fans and people wanting things from him. He had to hire a small firm to keep track of his mail, and they were supposed to forward important things onto him as well as answer his fan mail. He couldn't think of any invitation that would involve Susan Bones. "I'm sorry," he said lamely. "I don't remember any invitation."
Susan and Ernie exchanged a look. Harry would have expected them to be irritated or exasperated with him, but instead, they looked more uncomfortable then anything else. "Well, er" Ernie stammered.
Susan laid her hand on Ernie's arm to quiet him. "It's the ten year anniversary since Cedric died. We're having a little service and a get-together this weekend. I know you were invited, Ron and Hermione too."
Harry took a deep breath to steady himself. Was it already ten years since Cedric died, ten years since being tied up in the graveyard and watching Voldemort rise? He had successfully forgotten all about it for the past five years or so, and now it all came back. Everything seemed to be happening all at once to Harry: first, his confrontation with Hermione, and now this.
"Please come, Harry. Everyone would love to see you," Susan was saying. Harry redirected his attention back to her. There wasn't a good reason why he shouldn't go (except that he really didn't want too), and he knew he owed it to Cedric to honor his sacrifice.
"I'll be there Susan," he said, putting up a faltering smile. "Did you say Ron was going?"
Ernie nodded. "He confirmed a few weeks ago."
"Okay, I'll get the details from him then."
Susan smiled. "I know it's a strange thing to say about a memorial service, but I think it'll be a good time. It'll be nice to see everyone again." Harry nodded in agreement, though he privately thought it wouldn't be that nice to see everyone again. "Ernie and I are meeting Megan Jones for dinner, want to come?" Susan asked.
"Er, thanks, but I have a lot to do tonight. As Madam Bones said, we have a big case, and I have a lot of materials to go over tonight," Harry lied. Susan and Ernie looked disappointed but said that they understood. Finally, they exchanged good bye's and Harry floo'ed home.
A/N: well, hopefully this chapter wasn't too boring. Not a lot happened, but it was necessary to move the plot along to the next step. At least you can take comfort in the fact that I posted this all at once rather than split it into two chapters :)
Sethro72: you're right in that all these emotions from Harry are driving him back towards people. Can't have Harry be angsty forever, now can we? In my story, Voldemort's dead and buried, but I won't be getting into specifics since it won't come up in the story.
JT: this is strictly from Harry's POV, so sorry, nothing from Hermione's view.
kraeg001: Naw, I don't think Harry will sacrifice himself at the end of book 7. After all, think of all the crying kids! JKR would receive hate mail from parents around the globe! You're right that with all the HP fanfic floating around, a lot of stories resemble each other. I mean, consider my own stories: a transfer student and Harry-in-Slytherin. They've definitely been done before.
Winky27: thanks for the compliments! And H/Hr rules!
HeeroTomoe: I'm glad you didn't find the last chapter depressing…hopefully this one won't be too boring ;)
