Chapter Twenty-Three
Somehow Hermione mustered the strength to climb up the stairs. She was frozen to the bone and yet covered in sweat. The fact that she felt like she would pass out was probably a sign that running in the thick of winter with snow falling around her, had not been the best idea. But she had been going out of her mind sitting around the house, that going to Ron and asking if she could run with him had seemed like a brilliant idea at the time.
She knew he had even significantly shortened his route on purpose, and if it had not been for the cold, her aching muscles, and burning lungs, she would have insisted that he continue. No matter what, she wasn't going to allow Ron to help her back. She still had some pride left.
She leaned back against her bedroom door to close it, finally accepting that perhaps she had overdone it a little. At least Remus and Ginny were in town on some field trip and wouldn't see her in this condition. She gripped her painful sides, realizing it was the first time since her release from St. Mungo's that she was home alone. Almost always Remus or Ginny be home with her, and when they couldn't be here Tonks or Mrs. Weasley would come by. She was a seventeen year-old adult who had her own set of babysitters. Finally, after two weeks they were ready to leave her on her own. She knew they had good intentions, but they needed to start trusting her sooner or later.
"Are you all right?"
She let out a short scream at seeing the disembodied head of Harry over her bed.
"I really hate it when you do that, Harry," she said, her heartbeat still racing. "Why are you sitting up here with your invisibility cloak on anyways?"
"I, er, thought it was the best way to talk to you," he said, removing the cloak completely.
Comprehension dawned on her. "Ginny's not here. She went with Remus into town on some field trip." Ginny had confided in her with regards to what was going on with her and Harry. It was a lot to take in but Hermione found herself agreeing with Dumbledore, though she didn't voice her opinion to Ginny.
"You didn't answer me before. What's wrong with your side?" He said, not wanting to get stuck on the subject of why he and Ginny were staying away from one another.
"Nothing," she said, walking over to her bed and sitting down on the end of it. "I decided to try running with Ron and I overdid it a bit." She read the expression on his face. "Don't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you can't understand how Ron and I can be just friends after everything that's happened."
He shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "I thought you were angry with him – at the both of us."
"I am, but I'm more worried that you're both going to get into trouble. I know your intentions were good but I don't ever want you or Ron ever doing anything like that again," she stated, her tone dead serious.
"We have to meet with Mackenzie later," he told her. "She's running an inquiry into what happened with Anderson. It won't be that bad," he tried to reassure her.
From what little Hermione knew about Mackenzie in the few times she had met her at Grimmauld Place, she was not only one of the instructors, she was also one of the best, even Moody complimented her, which went a long way. She was also a no-nonsense type like Moody, who tended to see through people when they were lying.
She had to believe the Auror didn't have any hard evidence of Harry and Ron's actions, otherwise she wouldn't have wasted her time questioning all the other Aurors.
"I was really out of line with all those things I said," said Harry looking up at her.
"It was the truth," she responded.
"I didn't mean for it to come out the way it sounded," he continued.
"Maybe it was better that you did," she told him. "Aside from Remus, no one is saying anything. They're all too busy walking on eggshells around me."
"You want them to punish you?"
"I don't know," she said shrugging. "Sometimes I feel like nobody trusts me anymore – not that I really blame them. I couldn't sleep for almost a week and when I finally could I would wake up in a cold sweat. Remus and Ginny have even stopped using magic when I'm around. And I can't tell anyone how hard it is because it's my fault I ended up like this." As if confessing all that to Harry wasn't bad enough, she felt tears stinging her eyes. Suddenly she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her and she buried her face against Harry's shirt.
"I think the reason I was so mad," he started, still holding her, "was because I realized you weren't perfect. I know how stupid that sounds, but that's how I felt. You have always been my conscience – the best part of me."
Hermione looked up at him wide-eyed. "Harry, that's – " She couldn't find the words to show how much she was moved by what he had said. "You just want to see me cry some more."
She was surprised to hear him chuckle. Harry very rarely laughed anymore. Just today Ron today had described him as being a miserable git for days now.
"So much has changed this year," she said, resting her head against his shoulder. "My dad leaving. Lucius Malfoy abudcting you. Hogwarts closing. You and Ron becoming Aurors, and about a hundred other things." It made her head hurt thinking about how different everything was now.
"It's going to be a hard year to top," he said wryly.
Ron looked down at his watch and then back up again. He swore under his breath. The reason for his choice of curse words came hurrying down the Auror department corridor.
"Where the hell have you been?" Ron barked at Harry. "We were supposed to meet with Mackenzie twenty minutes ago."
"I know, I'm sorry. I got caught up with something," was all the explanation he offered up.
"If that's the best you can come up with, you better let me do all the talking while we're in there," Ron said, still sounding angry.
Ron knocked on the closed office door he had been standing in front of and Mackenzie called out for them to enter.
Mackenzie was sitting at her desk. "Close the door," she ordered.
Harry shut it and then took his place standing beside Ron. Mackenzie had two chairs in front of her desk but neither one of them dared to sit down without her permission.
"I'm glad you found the time to fit us in to your busy schedule, Potter," Mackenzie snapped. "If getting here on time is going to be a problem, I know one way to fix it. You'll patrol Azkaban tomorrow night with Caven. Show up on time and you'll be back with Weasley on Thursday."
"Yes, ma'am," Harry said, his voice unwavering. He wished Ron would wipe the pale look off his face.
"Now we can get started on why you're both here," said Mackenzie a moment later. "Since this is your first prisoner interview, I'll explain how it works. Every once in a while, we catch a lowlife scum worse than usual and someone gets the notion in their head that it's all right to beat the shit out of them. I neither approve nor disprove these actions but because by wizarding law every prisoner has rights, I'm forced to launch an investigation without tying up too many resources. If I find nothing, that's what goes in my report. If I find out who's responsible I have full control over what penalty to hand out, including termination with no chance of reinstatement. Do you understand all that?"
"Yes ma'am," Harry and Ron said in unison.
Mackenzie looked down at her notes. "Where were you both last Monday between the hours of ten and two in the morning?"
"Patrolling on Westbury End and Sutton," Ron answered.
"This is together I assume?"
Ron nodded.
"So you're each other's alibi's then, correct?"
"That's correct," said Harry this time.
"How convenient," she muttered, looking down at her notes. "As of yet, I haven't interviewed anyone patrolling that area who can discredit your story. However, I find it highly unlikely that two young Aurors like yourselves, would be working ten hours after their shift was to end. More to the point, you didn't even file these extra hours in your report for that day. Care to explain this?"
"Would you want all those old tosser Aurors to know the new guys are pulling all kinds of overtime?" Ron said. "They'd think we're budging in on their turf or whatever."
"You and Potter do this often?"
"No, but it was the first decent night in weeks and I'd rather be out there taking down Death Eaters, then sitting on my arse at home while more people die."
Harry nearly blanched at Ron's ability to lie. He was probably making it up as he went along. Fred and George would have beenn proud.
"While I appreciate your dedication, Weasley. This is going to stop. All hours out in the field are to be logged. Is that Clear? Furthermore, from what I've seen of your attitude, I would think you could handle and probably even enjoy mouthing off to those 'old tosser Aurors' as you put it. Nevertheless, some of them can be quite territorial," Mackenzie conceded, "especially now that we seem to be having new trainees popping up almost monthly," she finished with a note of disgust. "I've got everything I need at the moment. If I need to call you back in here I will. Weasley, you're dismissed. Potter I need you to stay behind for a minute."
Ron didn't look at Harry as he passed. Mackenzie seemed to believe their story. There was no need for them to exchange looks and give the Auror any chance to think there was a cover-up going on.
Mackenzie waited until Ron was out of the office and the door closed before speaking to Harry.
"I see you still haven't done anything about this," she said and pointed to his glasses.
"No, they haven't been a problem."
"Not yet, but it will happen. You're as good as blind with those off, aren't you?"
Harry adjusted his glasses self-consciously. "Things are a bit blurry but – "
"Potter, last time I said it as a suggestion, but now I'm making it an order. You need to get those eyes fixed. If we weren't already short Aurors I would have made you get it done months ago." She saw the reluctant look spread across his face. "Not too keen on the idea, are you? If Weasley died or was severely injured because of your handicap you'd be singing a different tune."
He had never before thought of his glasses as a hindering fact. Sure, they had been broken more times then he could remember and when they had gotten knocked off he had been at a complete disadvantage, but he had never considered the possibility of his poor sight affecting others.
"There's a Healer at St. Mungo's who specializes in different eye conditions and injuries. He's booked solid for the rest of December – too many people wanting to give themselves perfect eyesight as a Christmas present. I've taken the liberty of booking you the first available appointment in January. It's a very simple procedure. It takes about an hour and they release you the same day. It takes about a week for your eyes to heal. In that time you'll have several appointments with the Healer to make sure everything's fine. Once they clear you fit for duty you'll be back."
Harry took the brochure she handed him with the Healer's name and a more detailed description of the procedure.
"That's all, Potter. I'll inform Caven you'll be with him at Azkaban tomorrow night."
Harry left the office, finding Ron pacing around outside waiting for him.
"Why did she want to question you separately?" Ron asked in a hushed voice.
"It wasn't about that," Harry said as they started walking. He showed Ron the brochure Mackenzie had given him and told him what she had said.
"If you don't read what they actually do to your eyes, it doesn't sound that bad," Ron said to him.
Harry didn't say anything. He would feel stupid saying he would rather keep his glasses than go through any of that. It was just he had gotten so used to his glasses they had become like a part of him and he didn't want to give them up. But if he wanted to continue his career as an Auror he would have to have the procedure done.
"Mate, I can't make sense of half the stuff written here. You'd feel better if you asked Hermione – "
Ron stopped in mid sentence and Harry understood why. He couldn't go to Hermione about this. It was a magical procedure and she was supposed to be staying away from that kind of stuff.
"Mackenzie explained it well enough," he said, taking the brochure back from Ron. "I'll just go and have it done when she's scheduled me for."
Even if they couldn't correct his vision, which the brochure warned might happen, his eyesight wouldn't be any worse off than it was now. Only then he wouldn't have to worry about giving up his glasses because Mackenzie would probably force him to quit.
"There is no way he's staying here," Ron stated firmly.
"You think I actually want to stay in this dive?" Malfoy snapped. "I want that dirty werewolf to stay far away from me."
Harry felt a surge of anger. "Shut the hell up."
Malfoy ignored him and turned to Ron. "I guess it must seem like a mansion compared to where you come from, Weasley." Malfoy drawled.
"This is a temporary arrangement," Tonks interrupted the boys. "We can't risk You-Know-Who or Narcissa Malfoy finding him. Malfoy understands that his staying here is contingent upon his continuance to provide us with information on Death Eater activities. Hopefully, it will only be for a week or two, until we can ensure another safe house is secure."
"Does Moody know about this?" Harry had a hard time believing Moody of all people would agree to this arrangement.
"Moody's the one who insisted upon it," Tonks said. "Remus is more than capable of handling one extra body."
"I'm not just some body," Malfoy snarled. "I demand to be treated – "
"Sod off, Malfoy. You're going to be treated like the slimy bastard you are," Ron interrupted. "You must hate how our roles are reversed. Now I'm the one with money and you've got nothing. Daddy's in Azkaban and mummy cut you off as soon as she found out you didn't have the heart to go through with framing me. Now you've got nothing.
"Shut the hell up, Weasley," Malfoy growled, stepping towards him.
Harry moved to Ron's side, the two of them prepared to take on the Slytherin.
"Enough," said Remus, standing between them. "Bill, show Malfoy to his temporary room upstairs." Hefixed Malfoy with a threatening stare. "I may not be able to turn you into a ferret, but I know countless spells that would be far more painful to endure. Don't give me a reason to use them."
There was an actual look of fear in Malfoy's eyes, before he replaced it with his normal menacing glare and marched up the stairs.
"You can't expect Ginny and Hermione to stay here," said Ron. "Have you even talked to my mum? There's no way – "
"She understands the arrangement is only temporary," Remus informed him. "Malfoy knows if he gives me a reason to throw him out I will. Right now we're all he's got and he knows that."
"He doesn't even care about Voldemort or what happens," said an angry Harry. "He's just using us."
"The same way we're using him," Tonks reminded him. "Only we're getting the better end of the deal. Since Malfoy started giving us information we've taken down five death eater cells and have another half dozen raids planned. At the moment, he's our best informant."
"What about Grimmauld Place?" Said Hermione, not liking the idea of Malfoy staying there any more than the others.
"Malfoy still doesn't know The Order exists," said Remus, lowering his voice. "He probably has his suspicions about it because his father knew about the Order. But that's something he can't find out about because it puts far too many people at risk. As far as Malfoy knew, he was being held in a Ministry safe house. We made it convincing by having Mackenzie and Kingsley come by to check on him. Grimmauld Place is the center of Order activity, and Malfoy's not stupid. He would figure out for himself what's going on. Right now, he just thinks that there's those of us outside the Ministry who oppose Voldemort and would help the Ministry if need be. That's the way it has to stay."
"How long is temporary?" Hermione asked.
"This was the easiest solution we could come up with," said Tonks. "If Malfoy plans on being his usual pain in the arse self he'll be finding himself homeless faster than he can say 'broke'. For the time being, you'll just have to put up with him."
"What about when Remus transforms?" Ron asked, not thrilled about the thought of Malfoy being alone with his sister and Hermione. He didn't care if Malfoy helped their side win the war. He would never trust that bastard.
"I know you girls have been staying here by yourself but for the meantime, I think someone should be here. If I'm available, I'll come here," Tonks said. "If not Bill or someone else will be here."
"Can't we just make him tell us everything he knows and be done with him?" Ron suggested.
"You know it doesn't work like that, Ron," said Lupin.
"Harry, Ron, we need to get back to the Ministry for Moody's weekly debriefing," Tonks instructed them. "Then we've got a couple of raids to take care of."
Neither of them seemed too thrilled about the idea of leaving with the new houseguest settling in upstairs, but they followed Tonks lead and left. As soon as they got they got the chance both boys would be back there to make sure Malfoy was behaving himself.
Harry hit the ground hard, his glasses dangling dangerously at the end of his nose. He didn't have time to catch his breath as a booted foot kicked him ruthlessly in the ribs. He managed to lock his attackers legs between his own, so when he rolled over he twisted the other man's leg, who let out a howl of pain. He was already disarmed, Harry had made sure of that before, but while he had been shielding himself from another curse, the Death Eater had jumped him from behind.
To Harry, this seemed to be almost a new breed of Death Eaters altogether. Before, any confrontation with Death Eaters meant as soon as it was clear they were at a distinct disadvantage, they would retreat, wanting to avoid any chance at being captured. Now, none of that applied anymore. These Death Eaters were here to fight to the death.
Harry, wanting to end this as soon as possible so he could go help Ron, aimed his wand and shouted the modified version of the body binding curse Mackenzie had taught him in training. By using it, no one could break the spell but the person who had inflicted it initially, ensuring the Death Eater could be used for interrogation later.
With the Death Eater immobilized, Harry ventured over to where Ron was dueling with two enemies.
Harry concentrated hard, getting inside the two minds hoping to confuse them enough that they would see each other as the enemy. He got them to stop throwing deadly curses at Ron and slowly, yet reluctantly train their wands on one another.
Harry could feel them fighting to throw off his control and knew he would not be able to maintain the link long enough. He fired a stunning spell at the one closest him, while Ron took out the other one.
Harry grabbed his head, feeling the pain of a thousand knives stabbing through his skull.
"Damn it, Harry, Lupin told you not to use your mind control in battle," said Ron, coming over to make sure he was all right. They all knew how much it weighed on him to use his powers in general, and in a battle situation he couldn't afford to be in a weakened state.
"No, it's my scar," said Harry, removing his hands from his head.
Ron actually looked apprehensive at the prospect of Harry's scar hurting. Harry hadn't complained about his in bothering him in – well, Ron couldn't remember exactly but it had been months at least.
"Looks like we got everyone we're going to," Tonks announced, jogging over to them. "Moody has a team doing a final sweep through the building for any traps and then we'll get an analysis squad in there to see if they can recover anything. You two all right?"
"Fine," Harry rasped. Ron knew better than to mention anything to do with his scar in the open when there were so many people around.
Tonks sighed wearily. "Something was seriously off with this bunch. Fighting to the death? Some of these blokes were fighting with their bare hands."
Harry could tell by the Auror's voice how frustrated she was by this new pattern of behaviour. Not just that, but he sensed she was deeply troubled as well.
"I need to supervise the retrieval of bodies and captives, your job is done here," Tonks told them.
"How many on our side were hit?" Ron asked.
"Ferguson and Caven were hit pretty hard but they should recover. Jenkins didn't make it," Tonks told them, knowing she had a job to finish before she could think about any of the casualties.
Tonks left them there and headed back to the scene in Diagon Alley where the fighting had first started. These Death Eaters had holed themselves up in the teahouse that had been destroyed in a blast months ago when Harry and Ron had been searching for a pair of Death Eaters. Luckily the owner had decided to move elsewhere instead of rebuilding from the rubble. But it just wasn't like Death Eaters to return to a spot of a previous crime.
"Come on, let's get out of here," Ron nudged him.
Usually Ron was one to hang around and make sure every last Death Eater had been rounded up, but this had been by far their most difficult raid to date. He could normally handle two death eaters on his own, but these ones had been relentless, never really allowing him an opening to attack.
He couldn't feel it now, but he was sure in the morning his body was going to be one massive bruise. With the Christmas Ball the next night, it was going to be uncomfortable enough walking around in stuffy dress robes without his body responding painfully to every move he made. Maybe he could convince Hermione to skip the ball with him.