Chapter 9 Beginning the Search
Harry arrived at the office. The first order of business was checking with Professor McGonagall to see that the security in the school was increased.
Harry even considered trying to convince her to cancel the Hogsmeade Visits. No, he could station two Aurors in Hogsmeade. He would have Lucas and Bones. They worked unusually well together.
Knowing that any action he took would be backed by the Minister of Magic, Harry sent interoffice memos to them. He then headed down to the Department of Mysteries. He knew this would not be the highlight of his day.
The person in charge of Azkaban Prisoner office was down there. Mostly because he was trying to be an Unspeakable anyway.
Harry crossed the corridor and entered into the third door on the right. The secretary at the desk rose immediately. "Which office?"
"Snape's. Who's running it now that he's at the school?"
"That wife of his." The Secretary said. "He just put her in charge last month. I recommend having your wand ready, Auror or not."
"Thanks." Harry said rolling his eyes.
If Snape was bad his wife was worse. She was a female version of him that would probably scare Professor Umbridge.
Harry politely knocked on the door.
"Enter." Snape barked from the other side. "Potter." She didn't even look up.
"You heard about the escape?" Harry asked politely.
"Yes. The Minister has already informed me." Her eyes didn't even leave the scroll.
"Have you been able to figure out what happened?"
"You're the Auror. Isn't your job to find him, not figuring out what happened."
"He wasn't supposed to be able to escape you know. If there is anything, it might help determine where he is. . ."
Snape turned to look inside of her desk. "I do not answer to Auror's. The Minister of Magic already sent down a message asking. I sent him my answer. You should try consulting his office. Since you seem to excerpt a low faith in our abilities"
Harry gripped his wand. This was really tempting.
"I did not imply anything about your abilities. I want to know how he escaped and if so is there any evidence as to where he would be going."
Snape stood straight up in her seat and for the first time in their conversation looked at Harry. "Like I said that is your job."
The Grand Button of Harry Potter's anger had been pressed.
He lifted his wand in a threatening manner. "If anyone is hurt because of him I will personally make sure that you are the one blamed."
Snape's wife or not, that woman need serious help.
Harry walked out making sure to slam the door behind him.
"A Minute forty. You almost made a new record." The Secretary said. "I make copies of all her correspondence going in and out. Despite her rules." She passed Harry a parchment. "If it gets traced back to me I won't mind."
"Thank You." Harry said taking the parchment. He wondered if he could have that secretary moved somewhere better if needed.
Harry took the parchment back to his office and unrolled it.
For the last few weeks no unusual activity had been recorded from the prisoner. He was last seen on rounds from the wizards on guard going to bed and later sleeping.
In that area of the prison Appartation was blocked and the Wizards powers were slowly being removed with the means of potions. It could not all be done at once, do to some complications. So that would mean Malfoy would not have all of his resources.
But how did he escape?
There was not any signs of physical escape. This would have been an inside job, or somebody breaking in that was for sure.
Harry stopped looking over the scroll and looked at his picture of Ginny.
He watched the picture laugh while holding Christine Lily. Harry could not believe that she was pregnant again. It came as a surprise to them when she used her wand to see. At once she began to make plans and was excited. She was handling it lot better than she did the first time around.
A knock came on the door and Susan Bones entered. "I was just letting you know that Lucas is setting up at Hogsmeade. His Aunt lives up there and she's letting us use her house. I met her already there is nothing to worry about." She quickly added. "If fact the house is ready for a complete group of Auror's at any given moment."
"That was fast." Harry said. "She doesn't mind, and you know she can be trusted."
"Her husband was an Auror." Susan answered. "She's more than willing to help. She also said that she was willing to provide dinners."
"Great. I want you to keep your eyes open up there. Especially on the Hogsmeade Visits by the school. I will try to make it up myself at that time."
"I know that I am not supposed to know this, but I understand why you are afraid for Eric. I've read the back log in the Ministry already. He did enough damage already to your family. We'll catch him."
For a Hufflepuff she was determined.
"Thanks." Harry said.
Harry thought his next move would be to see about the Malfoy properties. After the arrest was made, all of the Malfoy's true assets were exposed. Harry found many properties that Lucious Malfoy had hid ownership from. Several illegal potions in store houses and a few other items that would have increased his sentence if he had not been killed.
The one thing that Harry found he would not forget. Neville Longbottoms parents, who had spent their last days in Saint Mungos had been denied treatment that could have cured them. Lucious Malfoy had used his sizeable donations as a leeway to deny certain potions and remedies to the family. They had seen him with the other deatheaters the night of the attack.
Other truths were made clear as well. Barty Crouch had come along when the Deatheaters had tortured the Longbottoms. But he was not there to help. Barty had planted a trap for them. He was going to capture all of the Deatheaters single handedly. Hermione had said that it was to get his father's attention. The plan had failed do to Malfoy discovering the truth.
It could be said that Barty Crouch did do some good that night.
In the cruelty of Deatheaters, they did not bother about the baby being in his play pin at the time.
Neville Longbottom had watched his parents being tortured with the Crutious Curse.
Barty Crouch used a memory charm to remove the memories from the babies head. He only used too strong of a charm, that had been the reasoning behind Neville's forgetfulness. It didn't diminish his bravery though.
Harry left to begin checking some of the properties for activities with Remus. Harry had to admire him. Despite his age and condition, he could still keep up with the best of them