Chapter 3 - Explanations

"James, a matter has arisen that has forced me to call you in." She said. I had never seen the boss look this rattled before. Her nickname around the office was 'The Ice Maiden' as she was almost devoid of emotion but not today. Whatever was going on must be serious indeed. But what could it have to do with me.

"Two men are coming from the Ministry of… Well let's just say a Ministry we don't talk about. They want to ask you some questions."

"A Ministry WE don't talk about?" I replied surprised.

"Yes and James take some advice for once and don't muck these people around.' She replied curtly.

The intercom buzzed and the voice of the secretary announced the two gentlemen had arrived.

My interrogators were an odd lot. The man who did most of the talking was mid forties, balding with what remained of bright red hair. He did all the polite introductions. His name was Weasley, an obvious career government service type. The other one though was a surprise. Odd name of Dumbledore and he was old, impossible to tell how old, with long white hair and beard. Looking harmless but his eyes had a piecing look. All my years on the job, told me that this was the one to be careful of. Once the polite introductions were made, I waited for the axe to fall. What did these men want and what did I have to do with it?

"We believe you have been on leave recently?" Mr Weasley asked.

"Yes, not much going on and I certainly have it accrued, so I took some time off. Brought an old house down in Surrey and was restoring it. But you gentleman didn't come to ask me about my handyman skills."

Mr Dumbledore's eyes were looking right into me. He said "But we did actually. Tell us about Harry?"

"Harry! Harry Potter!" I replied surprised, "he's just a local lad who helped me with the work on the house. I mean why are you interested in him?"

How much did these guys know about what had happened this summer?

'Gentleman, I am sure you have got it wrong. Harry is... well just Harry.' I replied

"Just tell us what happened over the summer." the red headed man said.

"Look, one day I was struggling with a tree stump I had just gotten to the rubbish dumpster when this young lad appeared and offered to help. Together we managed to lift it into the dumpster. I had seen this young lad around, mostly alone but sometimes with his aunt and uncle. A neighbour told me, the family were all nuts. The Uncle and Aunt are not liked in the neighbourhood and their son was positively hated. Harry had been living with them since his parents were killed in a car crash. He wasn't around much anymore except during the summer."

"Anyway, I was grateful for the help and when he refused the money I offered, I asked if he had had lunch. He accepted and that's how it started. We talked over lunch, and boy could this kid eat, and I offered him a job for the summer helping me. Just general labouring work."

"How did he seem when you first met?" Mr Weasley asked

"Well if you ask me, the kid had had the stuffing knocked out of him. I know the signs (only to well) but the kids a fighter. If I wasn't suppose to draw attention to myself, I would have reported the Aunt and Uncle for possible abuse. Seems they have sent the kid to some weird school. Abuse must happen there too as Harry wouldn't speak much about it." Something I just said made these two men uncomfortable.

"I believe you are an orphan yourself?" Mr Dumbledore with a gentle voice said but those eyes were still looking right into me.

"You mean, did I identify with this lad? Hard not to really. He's a good kid under all that life's handed him. We worked hard, talked and laughed over lunch, which I supplied. Don't think he was getting much food at home from his aunt and uncle. And every week he was just so damn grateful for his wages. I even arranged to have his short sightedness corrected. You know, laser surgery on his eyes. That was sort of my birthday present for the kid."

"James, you didn't discuss your work for this department with this youth, I hope?" the boss was giving me one of her evil eye looks.

"Of coarse not" I said with just the right amount of disdain. Damn that old guy, I am sure he knows I am skirting the full truth.

"And your Russian friend?" he asked.

Shit! Did these guys have my house under surveillance?

"James?" the boss was in full evil eye mode now.

"Valentin Zukovsky dropped by. He may have been more forthcoming with the boy about our past history." I replied, I mean what choice did I have.