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Chapter 15- Surprisingly Unexpected Allies
The Potter and Black families had both descended into a somber mood. Ever since the involvement of a love potion had been learned off, there had not been a moment of peace.
The elder lords had gone out of their way to find Andromeda. But, their search had not borne any fruit. Harry had been on the edge all this while and had even called in a favor to help with the search.
FLASHBACK
Harry paced about in the hall of Potter manor. He had called in a few favours and said favour was about to come to Potter Manor.
The floo roared and a man stepped out.
"Okay. You said it was an emergency." The figure said as Harry nodded.
"Come on." Harry said and gestured for the figure to follow him back to the sitting room. The other people noticed the new arrival at this moment.
"Saul?" Charlus asked, surprised by the appearance of one of his older friends.
"Hello Charlus." Saul Croaker greeted the Potter Lord as he shook his hand.
"Well, I am here to see Harry. He had written to me stating that something important had come up." Croaker explained.
"Wait. How do you know my son, Saul?" Dorea asked as Saul placed a small kiss on the back of her hand.
Saul frowned before turning back to his protege. "You are in so much trouble, Kid." He chuckled as Harry was suddenly looking sheepish.
The two elders looked from Harry to Saul.
Harry gulped nervously.
"Uhm…please don't be mad," Harry muttered.
"Your son here is probably one of the best men that I had the privilege to train." Saul interrupted. The two still looked confused.
"He approached me after he arrived here. The lad was searching for hands-on experience. I agreed and took a role in training him. And frankly, this boy is a gem." Saul praised Harry.
"I went a step ahead and appointed him as one of my Spooks." He said and his parents stood shocked.
"You might have heard of him. He goes by the name Blaze." The two dropped their jaws in shock.
They turned back to the boy who was now looking anywhere but them.
"Are you crazy?" His mother snapped and Harry winced.
She turned on the old head of the Unspeakables.
"And you. What the hell were you thinking?" She gritted through clenched teeth.
Saul shook his head.
"Now, Dorea. It's not foolishness. Your son was too good to not pick him up." He tried to placate the woman.
Dorea turned back to her son but was too late as the boy had bolted as quickly as possible.
"That boy." She huffed, as she shook her head, now glaring at the two men snickering childishly.
Harry peeped into the dining room where the elders were having their tea. Lord Black had joined the group.
"Harry Potter!" He jumped out of his skin. A blonde bomb was standing in wait for him, her eyes narrowed and hands on her hips. Harry saw Narcissa and Bellatrix standing in wait for him, and he noticed the smug smile of his mother.
"Hey girls." He gulped.
"Come here and sit down," Narcissa ordered and Harry followed.
He went to speak, but instantly became quiet when he saw their glare.
"And when were you thinking of informing us, dear?" Harry gulped as Narcissa caressed his cheek lovingly.
"Uh….I forgot…?"
"Is that a question or an answer, Harry?" Bellatrix questioned from the other side.
Harry had no answer.
Saul couldn't help but chuckle.
"Whipped." He muttered to his old friend who grinned.
"If you let him be girls, we have a few important matters to discuss." Saul interrupted.
Narcissa nodded. "Don't think for a second that I have let go of this matter." She whispered.
The group seated themselves comfortably.
"Harry? You said that it was urgent."
Harry nodded.
"I did." He said as he stood up.
"Is there any way that you can find a witch or a wizard who are lost?" Harry questioned the man.
Saul frowned. "What is the matter, Harry?"
"Andromeda has been missing for some time now, Saul." Charlus answered.
"By missing you mean?" Saul Croaker was confused.
Harry looked conflicted. He looked apprehensive.
"I will Make sure that this matter does not get out of this room." Saul promised to the room.
"Andromeda Black has been missing for so many days, Saul. Our efforts to track her have all been for naught in spite of the resources at our disposal." Harry explained.
"We know that she is with a Muggleborn called Ted. We don't know his full name. Just that, Ted." Harry said.
"My Hedwig failed to track her, Saul. He has powerful wards set up. And that is possible only by the Goblins. He is very rich, apparently. I tried. I tried hard to get any and all information regarding this boy, but the Goblins are not giving up any information." Harry growled.
"We are stuck," Harry replied. "We don't know what to do. That is the reason I had to contact you." Harry finished.
Saul was silent for sometime. He seemed to be in contemplation.
"Is she of age?" Charlus nodded.
"Drat!" Saul cursed. "This makes things very difficult."
Harry eyed the man with curiosity.
"What do you mean?"
Saul shook his head.
"You know that using magic under the age of seventeen outside of Hogwarts is traceable, right?" He received a series of nods.
"We identify the wizards or witches performing magic in muggle areas using the same procedure."
"I think why Ms Black has not been identified by the ministry, is because she is of age." He explained.
"It is possible to trace an area where magic is performed, but not who performs it." Saul explained.
"One, as I repeated, she is of age. The ministry trackers won't function in tracing a wizard or witch's magic once their magic goes through the maturity phase."
"Another reason is that, when we are under wards, our magic becomes untraceable." He explained.
"Old Manors like this one, will have ancient wards with a lot of ambient magic. The overload of magic nullifies any magic that is used inside." Harry nodded. This, he knew very well.
"I known that this was what you didn't want to hear, but it seems very difficult to find her, Harry." Saul answered.
"But don't worry. I will see what I can do. I will use my resources and see if we can come up with something that really helps." The head of the DOM assured him.
FLASHBACK ENDS
"Harry?" Amelia broke him from his thoughts. He saw that they were the only two that remained in the compartment.
"The others?" Amelia nodded towards the carriage that was moving away.
"I told them to go ahead. Come on." The fro climbed into
"What are you going to do about all of this?" She asked gently.
Harry sagged his shoulders.
"I don't know, Amy. I don't know where to start looking. My head is all messed up." He sighed into his hands.
He sat up. "Can you remember anybody at all?" He asked.
"Anybody with the name, Ted, who is a muggle-born?"
Amelia frowned. "I don't know, Harry. I am sorry. You know as well as I that I am not good around people." She whispered.
Amelia was a little ashamed.
Her best friend. The only one who trusted her and let her into their group and helped her along the way. Now, when he was troubling himself so much, she was not able to help him. She cursed herself.
She felt his hand encircle hers. She didn't want to look into his eyes. She didn't want to see what emotion was present in his eyes.
Harry noticed that Amelia was falling back towards her insecurities. He couldn't be awed by the insecure and innocence that a strong-willed woman like her would carry.
You can't be weak and go on to be the head of the DMLE. A post that is made for the tough headed.
"Amy?" Harry called after a moment of silence. Amelia had tears in her eyes as she looked into his emerald greens.
"There is nothing wrong in being helpless sometimes, Amy. It's a part of life. Look at me. One of my family is missing, but I am unable to do anything. And people call me the big bad and scary Potter." The two of them chuckled softly.
"The thing is, I would not have my Amy any other way. My best friend. My sister in all but blood." Harry smiled as her eyes lit up.
"I know how self-conscious you get in this matter. You need not fear, Amy. You will always be welcomed among us. You can be anyhow you want and none of us will question it. We like you, for you." Harry smiled.
"We will look for him together. No harm done. But I want you to keep your eyes and ears open, Amy. Any detail however small it may be is important. " Amelia nodded as the carriage came to a stop.
"Come on." Harry jumped down and held out his hand. "I am hungry." She followed him and smiled once again at the sight of the wonderful boy in front of him.
Amelia would lay down her life for the sake of the boy next to her. To keep him happy. To keep him safe.
—-&&&&--
The feast was as pleasant as ever. This was a tradition of Hogwarts that Harry actually liked. Everyone, high or low, sitting together and eating. Though he would have been more than okay if there was no barrier to divide the houses.
Harry decided to take a dare. He didn't bother speaking to anyone before he slowly marched up to the Slytherin table and sat down in between Bellatrix and Narcissa. He stared down at every single eye that stared back at him. He let a hint of power into his eyes and when they glowed eerily, the stares quickly moved away from him.
After Dumbledore's speech and sorting of the first year students, he met the eyes of Thomas Avery. Immediately, he crashed into the boys mind and broke his meagre shields.
"I need to have a word. Seventh floor. After dinner." He watched satisfactorily as the boy winced in pain, dropping his spoon.
He saw the boy nod subtly at him. Harry watched the entire hall. He tried to take in the behavior of people. The Slytherin House was not like before. He was pretty sure that the inner circle was now in Azkaban.
The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were like ever. He had his sight set on the two tables. Andromeda had run away with a muggle-born. So that left only the other three houses apart from Slytherin.
Not that there might not be a muggleborn in Slytherin, but it would have caused a commotion of huge proportion.
"You must calm down for a while and eat, love." Narcissa whispered.
Harry nodded as he continued to eat.
"You said that you received a letter from Mr Croaker?" Narcissa questioned.
Harry nodded and with a wave of his hand, a silencing barrier surrounded them.
"He wrote back to me. He has not made any headway." Harry said.
"Now I am starting to worry." Harry muttered. His expression was mirrored by the two girls.
Harry let his eyes fall on the Head table. It was just like always, but for one change.
A man sat near Horace Slughorn. He had a familiar face. Harry somewhat recognised this man but raked his brains hard for a name. Who was this man?
The goatee on his face looked familiar. The man turned back to Slughorn and grinned. The almost yellowish teeth confirmed his suspicion. His straight long face confirmed his identity all the more.
"Igor Karakaroff?" Harry blurted out with surprise. What was this man doing here?
"You know him?" Bellatrix questioned with surprise.
Harry frowned. "How do you know him?"
"He is a business associate of my father. They became good friends and have remained so for the past fifteen years." Harry was surprised by this news.
The last time Igor Karkaroff had ended up in Hogwarts, he had received bad vibes from that man. Now, he was putting Harry on the edge once more.
"Be wary of him." Harry instructed the girl seriously.
"I don't think this appointment was a coincidence."
Harry stood up as the dinner was done and placed a kiss on both their cheeks.
"I'll see you two in the morning." Harry waved at the two, before walking away towards James.
"Listen. I have to speak to somebody, so I will be late to arrive. Don't panic or anything. I am just giving a heads up." James looked like he wanted to ask something, but decided against it.
Harry walked quietly to the seventh floor. He had become well versed in walking silently. He found a secluded corner and disillusioned himself.
Harry waited for another hour before the boy decided to make an appearance. He sat still and waited to see if the boy had any acquaintance.
He dispelled the charm when he was sure that Avery was alone.
"I need some information, Avery." Harry muttered after leading him to the Room of Requirements.
The boy followed Harry and sat down in front of the boy. Harry could see that the boy was nervous. Good. He would be honest.
"Your father? Did he speak to you about anything?" The boy shook his head.
"Nothing new. Only the usual. When will you be joining the ranks? Do you know what an honour it is to serve the Heir of Slytherin? You should be like Lucius Malfoy. They laid down their lives for our betterment." Avery sneered.
"The foolish man doesn't realise the foolishness in his own words." Harry didn't speak anything, just listening to the boy vent.
"I want you to find out about Andromeda." Harry spoke once the boy was done.
"I need you to speak to your father and get any information possible. There is something important I need to know." Harry instructed.
"Do this and I can assure you that you will survive this upcoming conflict and come out unscathed. I'll give you my word." Harry promised, taking the young Slytherin by surprise.
The boy was silent for sometime, contemplating this offer.
"My father?" He asked hopefully, clouded by desperation as well, but Harry shook his head.
"I am sorry, Avery. I can't help you there. It's your father who has made that choice. If he associates with Voldemort, he will die. If he attacks my family, he dies. He attacks innocents, he dies. It's up to him. Not me." Harry stood up.
"I am taking a big gamble in trusting you, Avery. Don't make me kill you. Don't try to betray my trust." Harry warned.
Avery nodded. "I need some time."
Harry nodded in agreement. It was afterall to be expected.
"I am not fond of giving second chances, Avery. I don't know what is making me give you a second chance, but I want you to use it." Harry finished as he left the room.
Thomas Avery sat still in the room. He was contemplating the words of the boy who just left. He had given him a way out of all this madness. But he didn't want to run away. Not wanting to leaving his rich heritage and bloodline behind. Thomas Avery won't be called a coward. No. He will do everything to make sure that his family will continue.
He started making his way back to the common room. He had a letter to write.
—-&&&&--
"Professor?" Harry waved at the Potions professor.
"Ah…Mr Potter." Horace beamed at the boy.
"How can I help you, Mr Potter?"
Harry cursed himself. He didn't want to do this. He wanted to do anything but this. But he had no choice.
FLASHBACK
"Wait. Come again?" Harry's facial expression screamed horrified.
Narcissa rolled her eyes as Bellatrix grinned smugly.
"Told you he would react this way," Bellatrix replied.
"Let me make this clear," Harry whispered more to himself than anything.
"You want me…." He started only for Narcissa to nod.
"To go and socialize and butter up Horace Slughorn." The girl nodded once more amused by his facial expression.
"Are you barking mad!?" Harry questioned the girl incredulously. "You expect me to go and butter up that man just so he could part with some information?"
They had just entered December, and Hogwarts had grown colder than usual.
The past months had been taxing. They were no closer to finding Andromeda than they were four months back.
Harry shook his head. "Are you out of your mind, Cissa?" Harry asked.
"That man has been on my back for a while now and you want me to go and hand myself over as a sacrificial lamb?"
"You are not going to Dumbledore. You said that. If there is anybody who can get you some information within this castle, then it is Slughorn. The man has a weird obsession of collecting popular students as trophies." Narcissa wrinkled her nose.
Harry scowled at the girl but finally relented so that she would lay off him.
He had to do something about this. The girls were worrying as much as he was.
He leaned down and captured Narcissa's lips in his. He felt her catching his midsection immediately. Harry deepened the kiss, lost in the passionate kiss with his girlfriend.
He slowly broke the kiss. "I am sorry." He muttered. "It's just that, my head is all messed up. I feel like it's my fault that I let Andromeda down." Harry was immediately silenced by another kiss.
Harry moaned into Narcissa's mouth as she bit hard on his bottom lip.
She pulled back.
"No. That's not fair on you nor on Andi. She made a bad decision. You are dead set on getting her back. That's it." She kissed him once more, her hands travelling underneath his shirt.
"We will find Andi, Harry. I know you enough to tell you that you won't stop till that happens. You have us here, Harry. You need not keep yourself bundled up. You can speak to us about anything. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem, we will discuss it." She nodded to her sister and herself.
"Understand?" Harry nodded. "Good. Now let me help you distract yourself for a while." She kneeled in front of the boy and her hand travelled up to his belt buckle.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Harry shook his head. This was not the time to think about that.
"Me Potter?" Harry looked back at Slughorn. "You spaced out a little, young man. Are you well?" Harry nodded, smiling at the man.
"Of course sir. Just lost my thoughts for a moment. Narcissa just informed me that you wanted to see me, sir." Harry said with a questioning tone.
The rotund man nodded, his jaws flapping comically.
"Yes. Yes. Ms Black just finished her class with me. She would make a fine Potions mistress along with young Lily Evans." The man said his eyes lit up in pride.
"Narcissa is very good with Potions, professor. Though, sorry to disappoint you, but she is more into healing." Harry replied for conversation sake.
Slughorn hummed as the two started walking. "Yes. A noble profession, no doubt. But a teacher can always hope." Harry nodded.
"Oh… I seem to be extremely forgetful today. Pardon me, Mr Potter. The downside of aging you see." Slughore said.
Harry shook his head.
"It's fine sir. No harm done."
"The Yule is around the corner, Mr Potter. You know that, don't you?" He received a nod.
"I invited both of the young Ms Black, and they have agreed to be there if only you would show up." Harry sighed. There it was.
"I don't know, Professor. I am not good with all this." Harry tried to backtrack, but he knew that he was stuck.
"Nonsense. It's just a bit of socializing, Mr Potter. I hope to see you there." Harry now had no way out, not that he had one in the first place.
"Alright, professor. You can expect me there." The professor grinned back at the boy excitedly.
"Excellent. Excellent, Mr Potter." He beamed.
Harry winced inwardly. He now had to get ready for a lot of politicking and arse kissing.
"I should be going, Professor. I have work to do." The man nodded.
"Of course, Mr Potter. Of course."
Harry turned back and left the corridor as he moved upstairs. Just when he was about to leave for the room of requirements, he noticed a shadow that was trailing him.
Harry smirked. He knew who it was. The shadow tried to be as subtle as possible, but Harry did catch on very quickly. He found this very amusing, but now it was getting on his nerves.
Harry continued walking toward the third floor. He knew where to lead the shadow. He would be leading him to the room in which Fluffy was locked in his time.
Harry walked with his normal pace, and disappeared into the room.
A few seconds later, the shadow burst forward into the room and froze. Harry knew that the man was looking for him.
"You could have done better. I'd like to say a good job, but you did give yourself away so easily and quickly. Poor work, Igor." Harry grinned as the man stumbled into a heap on the floor, his invisibility cloak flying out of the fallen man's arms.
Harry grinned at the fallen man as Igor Karkaroff paled. He was in big trouble.
—&&&&--
Harry had the man bound by his wrists and legs as he sat down in front of the man.
Harry leaned forward and pushed his sleeve back. Sure enough, the dark mark was on his arm
Harry looked back into the man's eyes grimly. "So, Mr Karkaroff. How is dear old Voldemort?" He smirked as the man jumped in his seat
"Let me go, Potter." Karkaroff growled, struggling against his bounds. Harry hummed thoughtfully.
"Nah." He shook his head.
Harry turned serious, and his eyes lost all traces of humour. He rammed his fist into the man's stomach, and he watched the man groan and wheeze as the wind was knocked out of his body.
"Fun time is over, Karkaroff. It's time to start talking." Harry growled.
Harry could see the man not budging from his initial decision.
He raised his wand, and a series of continuous stinging hexes hit the man in various places of his body. The man could only struggle in his bounds as Harry silenced him as well.
Harry then fired a stinging hex and sure enough, Karkaroff's body sore from the rain of curses, couldn't take the hex anymore without flooding him with pain.
The Death Eater shook his head and Harry released the Silencing spell.
"Talk?" The man nodded.
"The Dark Lord sent me on this mission. He contacted me from Bulgaria and ordered me to take this job. He wanted an inside man in this School and since I have a mastery in Defense and Dark Arts and am close to Dumbledore, he was convinced that I am the right man." Harry listened to all this silently.
"My task was to spy on you. Convey anything and everything that I learn about you. And I have been doing that for a while now." He admitted.
Harry silently pondered over this for sometime and then raised his wand.
Karkaroff suddenly went rigid.
"No. Please don't. I can be of help to you. Please don't kill me." He begged.
Harry stopped midway. "I better like what you have to say." Harry muttered.
"You will need an inside man. I can help you there." He begged. Harry shook his head.
"Not good enough." And a cutting curse hit him on his stomach. Karkatoff screamed in pain and blood rained down his body.
"Pl…please. Please. I'll swear my loyalty. I will help you any way it's possible." Harry shook his head.
"Not good enough, Karkaroff."
"Please. D…don't kill me." He begged pathetically. His vision was swimming and he was losing a lot of blood.
Just when he felt like it's all over, he felt his strength returning slowly. His vision swam back into focus.
He was staring back into the eyes of Harry Potter.
"Fine." He whispered. "You get your chance."
Karkaroff felt his bindings disappear.
Harry stared at the man with unnerving intensity.
Karkaroff knew what he was waiting for.
He raised his wand and swore an oath of loyalty. Harry nodded.
"Continue as you were. Don't bother trying to escape. I will find you." Harry promised.
"You will feed information that I agree to for you to convey. You will answer his call and attend his meetings. I want every information that is being discussed over there. Am I clear?" Harry questioned and received a nod.
"Now, I need you to find out about Andromeda Black. Anything and everything. Remember, I need answers." He left the classroom quickly.
He had done everything possible. He now needed to wait for answers. Hopefully he gets them soon enough.
Without expecting, he gained two allies. Two spies in Tom's bastion. This ought to help him a lot. It's a good thing that he let his rational brain think here rather than giving into anger.
He would do anything possible to bring Andromeda back. Anything.
TBC--
I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Igor Karkaroff was a spur of the moment thing. I just felt like writing it. And I think I almost did justice to his character.
I did enjoy writing the conversation with Slughorn. It was fun.
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