Chapter 18
"Miss Edwards. I see you weren't wasting anytime at coming. Come sit."
Smiling warmly, I stepped out of the floo as McGonagall called for the kitchens and one of the elves came an instant latter with a pop, taking her order. I glanced about the office, noting the slight changes made from when it belonged to Dumbledore. The one most obvious is the absence of Fawk's ever present gaze.
"Thank you for letting me come. I know all of this is short notice." I remarked taking a seat as she did.
A moment later, one of the kitchen elves appeared with a tray of tea and bakery. "I was surprised at your owl and with your quick arrival. I assume there is something behind all of this. Since you left out an explanation in the note."
Nodding a thanks as she handed me a cup of tea, I knew I wouldn't be able to just show up without telling McGonagall something. I debated on a half truth because I knew I would never be able to lie to her, "Since I'm sure you already know, I was recently hired to be the Malfoy Companies sole investment handler."
She nodded her head and continued for me to explain, "Well there was more to it than that. However, I was made to sign a confidentiality agreement about my work that I do for them. All I can say is that it's important and I wouldn't have taken up your time if I didn't feel it necessary to look at the paper here instead of going down to the Daily Prophet."
She scrutinized me over the rim of her tea cup and I held my breath, praying that I said enough to satisfy her without breaching my contract. The less other people knew the better.
"Well." McGonagall finally states setting her tea cup down, "I would have wanted a better explanation but I trust your judgement. I would like to know more in the future if possible, if this becomes a regular occurrence."
I let out the breath I had been holding, "Thank you. I really do appreciate it and yes, of course."
She nodded in approval, "Well then, I won't take up any more of your time. I'm sure you remember your way to the library?"
"Thank you and yes."
"Good. Oh and by the way Ms. Edwards be extra careful handling the copies; ever since the library sustained damage during the War, Ms. Pince has become overly protective of the everything the library has."
"Of course."
Setting my now empty cup on the table I took my leave and headed out the door. Each step sent waves of nostalgia over me and it almost left like I was just another student. Shaking my head slightly to remove the feelings, I headed to the library.
…
"All of the copies we have of the Daily Prophet are in this section. I hope I don't have to remind you of the importance of handling these copies with care?" Ms. Pince remarks shrewdly, giving me a glare that made a vein in her neck bulge slightly.
"Of course, thank you."
She huffed for moment before stalking away. She hadn't changed a bit since I was a student. Still suspicious of anyone wanting to actually use the library for research. Dumping my bag onto the table I walked towards the rows of shelving; each one having small, slanted printing. Detailing the month and year of the papers tucked neatly inside. After a few moments I found the section I was looking for and pulled it open.
Neatly folded, under the disguise that they were as innocent as the care given to them. I pulled the stack out and slowly made my way to the table. 1996. I certainly felt all of 1996 coming back to me with just reading the first headline.
MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN:
We have confirmed that ten high-security prisoners, in the early hours of yesterday evening, did escape. And of course, the Muggle Prime Minister has been alerted to the danger. We strongly suspect that the breakout was engineered by a man with personal experience in escaping from Azkaban; notorious mass murderer Sirius Black, cousin of the escapee Bellatrix Lestrange."
Humming softly I skimmed through the article, jotting down anything I thought might be of relevance. 1996 was just the beginning of the end and the headlines proved it.
TRAGIG DEMISE OF MINISTRY OF MAGIC WORKER
SIRIUS BLACK MAN HUNT ORDERED
HOGWARTS HEADMASTER REINSTATED
HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED RETURNS:
Minister for MagicCornelius Fudge confirmed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be Named has returned to this country and is active once more. "It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord - well, you know who I mean - is alive and among us again," said Fudge, looking tired and flustered as he addressed reporters.
Continuing to scroll through the articles, I already had a long list of potential incidents that could have started or triggered the sudden withdrawal of money. I had a lot of work ahead of me. Grunting as my back protested until a pop finally released the tension I continued to stretch out after hovering over hundreds of newspapers. Glancing over at the scorched grandfather clock I realized I had be here for at least 4 hours and was just shy of 6 pm. Had I really been here that long?
In that time, I had gone through every article of 1996 but also 1995 and had a categorized list of events that could have been involved in the decision to take money from the Malfoy Company. They were listed in periodical order by month, date and year. As well as what newspaper article number it was linked to and the page. In the case of future referral it would be quicker. Slowly I started putting them back where they belonged and shoved all my things into my bag, making note that I should swing by the company and pick up any messages I missed while being here.
Thanking and saying good bye to Ms. Pince, I ignored the fact that she still seemed annoyed at my arrival at Hogwarts. Once stating the password I waited as the spiral staircase appeared and I took them up to Headmistress McGonagall's office.
"Ah. Miss Edwards. Would you like dinner while you are here?" She inquired glancing up from her work.
"No think I'll be heading out. Thank you again for letting me use the library. There is a possibility that I may have to come back to do some more research if that is all right with you?"
"Of course. Please owl me when you are coming and I'll make sure to make Ms. Pince aware of your arrival."
"Thank you."
After talking briefly with her I stepped into the floo and arrived in the front of Kerry's desk. It was quiet since everyone went home for the day. Once I reached my office I flipped on the light and dumped my bag on one of the chairs, ignoring the fact that my stomach grumbled. Glancing at the memos left on my desk I took a seat. Both Hermione and Ginny said if it wasn't too late they could come by my apartment tonight, if not then it would be Friday where we could shop and get lunch. Glancing at the time again, I debated on whether I should tell them to come over tonight.
"Finally showed up huh?"
Glancing up, I found Blaise walking towards me, "Yes. It took a while to read through those newsletters. What about you? Were you able to get stuff from Kerry?"
"Yeah, a shit ton of stuff plus more." Blaise began taking a seat, "Kerry brought me ledgers from 1996 and man, what a complete mess."
"What do you mean?"
"Well let's just say Lucius was preoccupied with his Dark Lord's wishes than with running his company."
I waited as Blaise began to explain how not only was everything unorganized but most of the notes were irregular and hard to read. According to him, he had the sneaking suspicion that the Companies handlers ran the company that year not Lucius Malfoy.
"As much as I would like to sit at work the whole night, I have a hot date." Blaise remarked at the end.
Rolling my eyes I grabbed the notes from him, "I'll take them home and cross reference them to my notes and see if anything aligns. I've got a few theories on what happened but I want to wait."
Giving me a thumbs up, Blaise stood up quickly, "Good. I'll come and see you when I first get in and we can strategize. I would owl Draco and let him know where we're at. He had to go pick up Scorpius."
"Will do."
As Blaise retreated out of my office I quickly scribbled a note to Draco and sent the owl off with the message as well as sending an owl to Ginny and Hermione stating that Friday would work. Gathering the stack of papers I now received from Blaise, I shoved them into my bag and headed back out the door. I might as well be comfortable sitting at home while pouring over these notes.
…
Sitting Indian style on the floor I kept arranging and rearranging a set of scribbled notes as I poured over the notes between Blaise and I. My hair pulled up into a messy bun with piece started to fall down, a half-eaten dinner and an empty wine bottle all rested on the worn, wooden end table next to my couch. Rubbing my eyes to help push the fatigue away I glanced once more over what we had.
I didn't feel that the escape of Death Easters from Azkaban was enough to either trigger Lucius or someone else into moving money. There was only one headline that my eyes just kept going back to, time and time again. The announcement that Voldemort had returned. That was a pivotal piece that confirmed Voldemort's rise, even if the Minister at the time kept trying to deny it later. Draco surely must know more about what erupted that night and the days following, when Harry was able to elude Lucius and the countless other Death Eaters at the Ministry that night.
Scribbling a note to Draco, not even caring that it was 2 am and he was most likely asleep. Settling back down around the piles of paper I leaned back against the couch, closing my blood shot eyes as memories of that night came back to me. Even now I can still hear Bellatrix insane laughter, the sweat from the panic and adrenaline as I did that night. Groaning a bit I tried to shake of the feelings and the green flash that ended Sirius' life; the guttural scream that came from Harry.
That night made me finally understand just how serious things were, how dangerous it was. Yet, at the time and even now I wouldn't have changed my choice to follow them into the Ministry. This had to have been the night that changed for Lucius Malfoy, just like it changed everyone else.
