Published 3rd. November 2020
Howden Dam
At the same time
When the water began to boil slowly in eight metal cauldrons, Peter prepared another one - a glass one, standing on a glass base insulating it from the metal. He carefully measured out a quart of Moon Water, adjusted the flame with spells and reached for a porcelain knife, a glass ladle and a thin pipette.
He still had no idea how to get away from here, but he hoped the opportunity would present itself, so he decided to take precautions in case the Old Man poisoned him.
So he decided to brew a lot of healing potions, label the vials with some innocent names and hide them among other potions, many of which were already in the Laboratory. That's why he was so happy today that Tylor told him to brew again.
Something rustled behind him and Gratus appeared in the doorway.
"But Mr. Tylor said you had to make eight cauldrons" he said, eyeing the table suspiciously. "Contrary to your fears, I am not blind."
But mentally retarder.
„Since when did you become a potion brewing specialist?" Peter replied without even turning to him.
Gratus stepped closer and looked at the glass cauldron.
„It's different from the rest. What's that supposed to mean?"
Oho ... Time to slow him down a bit ...
Peter turned to him, pretending weariness.
„I means that I have to mix in something the bundimun secretions, that is much more concentrated in the last delivery. That poisonous goo that sputtered so terribly", he added and casually adjusted his goggles. "Have you checked the warehouse? If so, maybe you could help me to stir it up because..."
'Fuck off' Gratus said scornfully. "This is your shit, not mine."
I hurried out.
Peter allowed himself a triumphant smile as he turned his back to the door. This moron was so predictable ...
Ministry of Magic,
Level 1
Moment later
Harry got out of the elevator, adjusted Auror's robe and hesitated. He should have gone to Foch's, but he didn't know how long it might take and Kingsley was more important. Of course Foch will complain, but ...
"But he can kiss you you know where."
He nodded to a wizard who had just left the Legal Department and headed for the office.
"Good morning, ladies" he said, bowing politely to Mrs. Rogers and walking over to the younger girl. "Amelia, I need to see… the Minister urgently."
The witch put her quill aside and glanced at her watch.
"Today it will be difficult, because of what is happening in St. Mungo's..."
"Not today, but now," Harry objected.
"'Now' is absolutely impossible..."
"Amelia, I know the Minister is busy, but it's really very important!" The boy whispered emphatically. "Just let me in for ten..."
"He's not here!" Amelia interrupted him.
Harry broke off abruptly, froze for a second, and exhaled, cursing softly. What a bloody day! NOTHING, just NOTHING is going as it should!
„Where is he?!"
"He has not yet returned from the meeting with the MACUSA's President."
"And when is he supposed to come back?!"
"Soon. We sent him an owl with the apparition option, otherwise it would be a week to the United States..."
"When?! Did he answer you something?"
"Not yet. But anyway, he was due back this afternoon."
Harry thought frantically. WHAT NOW?!
„In that case, I have to see the Senior Undersecretary."
Amelia looked apologetic again.
"He is in St. Mungo's or at Rufus Haehner's since this morning."
"Shit" Harry growled.
For a moment he stared blindly at a pile of papers, desperately searching for some reasonable solution. Time was running out. He couldn't, he just couldn't wait passively!
Not knowing where and with whom Kingsley was, he couldn't send him Patronus. The best he could do was leave him an urgent message.
However he might have sent Patronus to Bernard Moor, who was Kingsley's deputy, but he sincerely doubted that it would do any good. For some unknown reason, he and Moore hated each other and Moore blatantly disregarded him whenever he could.
„Can I write to Kin... the Minister and you will deliver it to him as soon as he arrives?" He pointed to a thick layer of red pages.
"Here, write" Amelia handed him one. "We will leave it in his office. As soon as he comes in, he will surely reach for it."
Harry wrote a short message to Kingsley, he and Amelia entered his office and left it at the top of the pile of documents piled up on his desk, then Harry sent his Patronus to Moor.
„Something important happened?" The young witch asked interested, opening the door directly to the corridor and following Harry.
The boy shook his head, neither confirming nor denying it.
"Make sure he reads my message as soon as he arrives."
He started down the corridor towards Foch's office and to his surprise Amelia followed him.
„I'm going for parchment, because nothing left."
„Why don't you summon it?"
"Because last time a whole large cardboard box flew in and I thought it was going to kill me."
Harry smiled faintly.
„Yes. Better not to risk it again. I can help you?"
Amelia stopped near the alcove.
"I can handle it. Where will you be when Moore gets back? In the HQ?"
"Exactly. Make him come to me immediately."
The girl found a small box with the appropriate parchment and levitated it into the air.
"I can only ask him."
So you can do a lot more than I thought of Harry. He waved his hand goodbye and entered the Human Resources Secretariat.
.,.,.
Silently casting the worst possible curse, Paul waited for Amelia to walk a few yards and, without removing Disillusionment Charm, he left the alcove soundlessly, ran to the foyer and pushed the elevator button forcefully.
What now, Merlin?!
He had to run away. First of all, RUN AWAY, and as soon as possible! Not knowing what Potter told Amelia, Shacklebolt and Moor, he had to assume the worst. That everyone already knows about him! Faster! Hurry up!
He could hear the elevator clinking already. Almost panting, he looked over his shoulder to the closed door at the end of the corridor and at that moment the golden cabin light illuminated him and the grille slid open with a loud scrape.
He jumped in, hit the big A button and looked down the hall again.
The secretariat door burst open and Harry Potter burst out!
Come on !
Can't see you! He can't see you! CLOSE AND GO DOWN, you bloody lift !
The grate slammed shut and the elevator lurched down with a sharp jerk, like a stone and all of Paul's insides rose to his throat. But for the first time, he was happy feeling this.
.,.,.
„DAMN IT!" Harry roared, grasping the bars and shaking them with all his strength. The elevator literally pulled away and he could still feel a blast of cool air from the shaft blowing through his face. He slammed the button summoning second elevator, all the cuts and badly healed thumbbone hurt him and the pain eased his fury a little bit.
"Harry, darling, someone made you a stupid joke. Foch is absent this week. You did not notice? It's not his handwriting."
Of course you noticed that SOMETHING was wrong with that summons! It was just about luring you out of the Headquarters!
And he was sure it wasn't a stupid joke!
But bloody hell, WHY?! To escape? Though they could just leave! The son of a bitch Bryant is already out and he's probably a thousand miles away now! White could have gone out, too! So why they got you out of the Headquarters ?!
They're not murdering the rest of them now, are they?!
The elevator chain stopped as the cabine stopped somewhere below and at the same time the adjacent elevator came to life, and humming and groaning went upward.
"Hurry up" Harry muttered.
He had enough. If by some miracle Bryant and White are still in HQ, he'll get them, petrify them, grab them by their throats and drag them straight to the jail. The rest will be surprised, but to hell with them! As he could see, every second counted!
Apart from hating them, he was furious with himself. How could you be so careless! You had to hide what you felt! Pretend! Play as if it were the most important role in your life! And you showed all your feelings! You might as well have engraved them on your forehead, you would have another scar ! You idiot!
But Bryant also gave himself away. Harry could feel it from him. But White played perfectly well.
The elevator stopped, the grate slid open and Harry lunged inside and ran into an old man, nearly knocking him over.
"Excuse me!"
He helped him out, or rather pushed him into the hall and slammed the button with convex '2' with his fist.
Never has it taken so long to go down one floor. As soon as the grate slid open on Level Two, Harry burst out and ran to the Headquarters.
The desks of both Aurors could be seen from the very front door. The sight of White sitting by one of them and the empty chair next to Harry made him almost dizzy with relief and rage at the same time.
Roger glanced at him and gave him a slight smile and certainly that made Harry come to his senses. He couldn't arrest him in front of the others!
„Roger?" He waved his hand at him. "Can you help me with this box?"
He was surprised how easily the idea had come to him.
"Sure, mate!"
Seeing White put his quill into the ink bottle, Harry backed out of the door, held his breath and prayed that no one would pass that way just now.
Three seconds later, White went out into the corridor.
"Harry? Where..."
The boy lashed his wand.
"Expeliarmus! Incarcerous!" He grabbed White's wand and at the same moment coils of thick cords appeared in the air and immediately wrapped themselves around Auror's body, from head to toe. "Harry, what are you..." White choked out and Silencio took his voice away.
Speachless, he shook his head desperately and tried to move his tied hands and suddenly from the side of the hall footsteps and a male voice came. Someone was coming!
"Chameleos" whispered Harry, tapped his wand on White's head and pushed him against the wall. "Petryficus Totalus!"
The steps came closer. White stiffened, and his head and shoulders faded into thin air. Harry glanced towards the hall and out of the corner of his eye he saw a wall appear at his waist.
"... I wanted him to stop!" Two wizards in blue robes emerged from behind the corner and, without thinking, Harry stepped forward and covered White's legs with his.
„You know that Philippe always pisses everyone off. Next time, don't ask him anything and do your job."
"You're right. Hi Harry." The taller of them waved his hand at him, his friend saluted like Muggle soldiers and ignoring him, they walked into the Headquarters.
Harry grabbed White by the invisible elbow and whispered the magic formula in his ear:
"Roger White, you are under arrest on suspicion of mass murder of Muggles and wizards, falsifying of Wizengamot documents and illegal sentence of an innocent man to Azkaban for the Dementor's Kiss. And for the murder of Judge Wizengamot Griselda Marchbanks. Anything you say, do, or think from that moment on can be used against you. You've been informed."
There was nothing White could say or do, though he must have thought, but from then on, with the help of spells, it could all be seen and spoke for or against him.
The magical surveillance has begun.
Having no idea when Gawain would arrive, whether he would accept his explanations and whether he would decide to free Snape, Harry sneaked out to the Workshop and made a Regalium for Hermione. Then he returned to the Headquarters and decided to stay there at noon as well. Rich, convinced his partner didn't want to go home cause of Ginny brought him sandwiches from home, but Harry didn't even touch them.
Gawain didn't arrive until after two. At the sight of the familiar, slim figure, Harry felt almost overwhelming relief and at the same time a large rock fell into his stomach.
"Good morning, everyone" Gawain said, his gaze scanned the nearly empty Headquarters. "Harry ... come on."
Harry jumped even before Gawain called him. Rich gave him a light pat on the back and blinked.
„Go, he will give you day off!"
The boy just waved his hand and quickly entered the office right behind his boss. And he closed the door behind.
„What's happening?" Gawain asked, hanging up his cloak, which still had traces of mud and sat down behind the desk.
"We have a problem. Serious problem" Harry began, slumping into a chair and pressing his fingers around his wand.
"I could deduce that from your message. Now tell me WHAT the problem is" the best proof that Gawain was serious about it was that he completely ignored the pile of aeroplanes covering his desk. One of his employees came to him with an important matter and that was all that mattered right now.
Harry nodded and tried to remember what he had planned to say to him. Gawain did not like long stories, he always expected it short and with details. So you'll have the details.
"You've probably heard about what is happening in St. Mungo's. What if this is not a coincidence but somebody's deliberate act and two of your Aurors are involved? They protect someone who brewed poison and gave it to these people."
Gawain's eyes widened and he was motionless.
"Oh, shit! Who is this?!"
"Paul and Roger."
"Where are they?"
"Paul escaped before noon, Roger is in our custody."
"Who locked him? And when?" Gawain winced slightly and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
Harry grimaced as well.
„I did it, just before noon."
"Have you opened the case?"
"No. I arrested him ante-causa."
This time his boss grimaced and something flashed in his dark brown eyes.
"Now tell me how you know about this. Everything."
Harry nodded, shifted in his chair and began to recount latest events briefly. He forced himself to look Gawain straight in the eye as he spoke, but often he found himself staring down at his lap or at the wall somewhere, so he kept looking back at his boss and it was getting harder and harder each time.
Gawain didn't react to the news of his mug being searched, or to the fact that Harry suspected him, but gave him the first sharp look when he heard about the Regalium being prepared for Hermione. The second Harry received when he admitted he had allowed her to go there alone and offered to pass as Auror. When he talked about the sneaking and searching the Archives, Gawain began to be visibly furious and not just about what Harry discovered there. And as he had mentioned his trip to Azkaban, Gawain could not stand it anymore.
"Don't tell me you went there alone?!" He interrupted abruptly.
"There was no one..."
"Harry, bloody hell ... !" Gawain exploded, quickly regained his composure and looked around. "We never, ever go there alone in such cases! There are always a few people! They could tear you apart! Kiss and tear into pieces!"
Harry swallowed hard and looked down.
"I had to do something. I know that sometimes dementors kiss just after midnight if they are very hungry."
"So, since you realized the day before that I wasn't involved, why the hell didn't you send me a Patronus back then?!"
Harry froze. Why didn't you do it then?!
"Because..." he searched frantically for some explanation and suddenly he remembered. "Because I didn't know you were on vacation. I've been waiting for you all morning and it wasn't until afternoon that Rich told me you wouldn't be back until Monday."
The truth was, he hadn't even thought of it then and now he felt like banging his head against the wall. With all his force.
„That's not an explanation! You could send me a message today and you couldn't yesterday ?! You could also go to Kingsley!" Gawain cried and he sprang up from his chair and began pacing around the office like a nervous wild animal in a cage. "What's next. You went to Azkaban, notabene breaking the Wizengamot law and passing yourself off as me and apparently by a miracle you made it, because you're sitting here alive. What happened next?!"
Harry gritted his teeth and tried to find words to explain to Gawain his suspicions about Paul and Roger. Suddenly, the phrase "I felt something was wrong with him..." sounded completely idiotic. "Today, just like yesterday, Paul was in HQ" he replied softly. "He must have sensed that I knew about Snape, because he was watching me all the time, but at the same time he was looking away when I looked at him and he was clearly hiding... It was just obvious that ... something was wrong with him. You know what I mean..." Gawain just jerked his head and waved his hand to continue. "So around eleven he left and I thought he ran away. And Roger was still there, so I decided to arrest him so that at least he could tell us everything. Besides, I was looking for you and Kingsley. And Moor" he added in a little defensive tone.
Gawain looked at him grimly and for a long moment he continued to pace the little office nervously. He opened his mouth a few times, but only shook his head and clenched his jaw. Finally he stopped in front of Harry and looked at him seriously.
"Harry, now we will deal with the problem you brought me to and leave the matter of your insubordination for later."
The boy took a deep breath, but Gawain held him back with a firm gesture.
„It's not up for discussion, got it?"
Harry nodded sadly and flopped in the chair. Until now, he hadn't even realized that he was so tense that he was almost floating on his elbows in the backrests.
Gawain walked to the door and yanked it open.
"Rich, Klaudia, please come here" he called out loud.
Rich immediately jumped up from his desk and almost ran into his office, Klaudia followed him stiffly. One look was enough for Gawain.
„What's happening?"
The girl rubbed her forehead with a helpless gesture.
"My grandfather is in St. Mungo's. Sick with this ... strange disease."
Gawain sighed heavily.
"I understand. I have a job for you. Urgent. Can you make it or are you coming home?"
"I can do it" Klaudia replied immediately, looking up.
"Perfect."
He sat down behind the desk and picked up a quill and a red note.
"I am suspending your current investigations until further notice" he said, writing simultaneously. "Any of you know exactly where Paul lives?
Rich didn't know, but Klaudia did.
"At Stratford. I was there once to visit his wife."
"Do you know the exact address?"
"Unfortunately not, but I will recognize their home."
"Okay" Gawain put down his quill and handed Rich the piece of paper. "Give it to Liz in the Archive. If she grumbles, tell her that if I don't get these documents on my desk in five minutes, I'll be there in person. Take your invisibility cloaks, two-way mirrors and Apparate outside Paul's house. If you see Paul or Mia, you are to catch them and bring them to me. If I do not respond to a call, please send me a Patronus."
Rich stared at Harry and Claudia was stunned.
"What's up ...?"
Gawain patted Klaudia on the shoulder.
„I'll explain everything to you later. For now, I can assure you that when you find out, you'll be glad you're helping with this. Now go away. Someone will replace you in a few hours."
Klaudia smiled faintly and Rich sent Harry a questioning glance as he left and then they both hurried out.
Gawain muttered "Expecto Patronum" and a giant bear sprang out of his wand and, like his master, began circling between the desk and the wall.
"Kingsley, Black Key. Meeting at three in my office. Send me a reply by your Patronus. Gawain."
He sent exactly the same message to Bernard Moore and conjured another Patronus.
"Gawain Robards, Head of the Auror Office. Miss Granger, please come to Auror Headquarters. As soon as possible" he said clearly and swung his wand.
The giant bear, which had perched on its rump to obey the order, sprang up in no time and was out of the office in one leap. They were left alone.
"Gawain..." Harry didn't even know where to start, so many words pressed on his lips. "I would like to say sorry. Now I can see that I acted like the last idiot. Instead of trying to go to someone for help, I tried to handle it myself.
Gawain nodded slowly.
"That's your biggest problem, Harry" he said, calmer. "Maybe it's Dumbledore's fault that he… raised you like that, maybe it's because that's what your whole life was like... As long as all people instinctively seek help around them, you try to solve all the problems on your own. And you don't feel any limits. All people are bound by some laws, standards and they won't even think to do some things, but for you those standards don't exist. You were able to plan the free a prisoner from Azkaban, you yourself made the decision to postpone the execution ... you would be able to kidnap even the Minister himself, if you thought it would help the cause for which you are fighting. This is, on the one hand, a great advantage, but on the other, a great disadvantage. And if you want to continue being an Auror, you'll have to work on it."
There was silence for a moment in the office. One could almost hear Harry's heart pounding in his chest.
„You think ... it's possible?" The boy finally asked.
"I do not know. We could say that you have wandered further than the others, you have learned something that no one else has. And it is you who must go back to the rest and not the rest to come to you. And forget about it" said Gawain and glanced at his watch. "We have twenty minutes to have a chat with Roger until Kingsley and Bernard arrive. If Liz doesn't bring the documents..."
Exactly at that moment there was a knock on the door and the head of the elderly archivist appeared. The woman pursed her lips tightly, gave them an offended glance, tossed the bundle of documents on the desk and left without a word.
Gawain quickly found the sentence and the verdict for sentence and gritted his teeth.
"Come on, Harry. We're going to get him to shit. And yes, it would be great if you could call Ginny as well, it might be handy and we don't have time to waste."
Harry jumped up immediately from his chair and opened the door for Gawain.
"You think we have a chance to catch Paul in his house?"
"Not Paul. But maybe his wife would come."
St. Mungo's
15:30
Gawain Robard's patronus found Hermione in a last unsuccessful attempt to save a girl her age. After she and Mathias removed most of the blood from her abdomen, they gave her a bit of blood replenishing potion and at first it looked like her condition had improved. Mathias cast some basic diagnostic spells and a slight smile appeared on his tired face.
"Her strength level is increasing. Good." He squeezed Hermione's shoulder lightly. "Stay here with her a little longer, I'm in the next room."
Hermione nodded, covered his hand with hers and gave him the hug. Almost everyone has reacted like that since yesterday evening. Completely unnecessarily they hugged each other, shook hands or kissed each other on the forehead or on the cheeks. They were acting like parents trying to soothe crying children. And they didn't even notice how the initial patting grew warmer and slowly turned into desperate embracing with others for solace.
Hermione sat down by the girl's bed, looked at her face, yet beaming with a smile yesterday morning and today destroyed by this damned poison and bit her lips for the thousandth time.
Yesterday, Harry explicitly forbade her from saying that she knew the cause of the disease. He explained that, first of all, saying that would not help these people, for this they need an antidote that they cannot brew yet, and second, this message may also reach the murderer, who will certainly not hesitate to dispose her. So she was silent all day today, even when Mathias made an official request to cast Imperius. Three people had died since the morning, the others' condition continued to deteriorate and Hermione had wanted to go to the Prime Minister of Muggles several times for help. If Muggle doctors found a way to overcome this poison, maybe they could help the wizards now? But it immediately occurred to her that no one would let her into the Prime Minister and there was no way she would overcome all Downing Street security measures.
The face of the sick girl, completely pale before administering the potion due to the loss of blood, clearly blushed a moment ago, but now it started to turn redder and redder. Hermione immediately raised her wand above her and at that moment a Patronus appeared out of nowhere near the bed. The giant bear stopped in front of her and spoke in a voice unknown to her:
„Gawain Robards, Head of the Auror Office. Miss Granger, please come to the Headquarters..."
The rest of the words was drowned in a terrible scream - the young woman sat up abruptly, covered her eyes with her hands and began to howl. Hermione immediately jumped up to her and tried to put her on the bed.
"Easy. Easy, it's just Patronus" she said soothingly, but the girl gasped and screamed again.
Her face turned purple, her scream turned to a gurgle and suddenly blood spurted from her mouth, nose and ears.
"MATHIAS ! MATHIAS, QUICK!" Hermione yelled and cast a spell to stop the bleeding. "Cesso sanguinem!"
The hemorrhage diminished a bit, but the girl's eyes widened, she grabbed her throat and started struggling, trying to draw air. Hermione tried to grab her, but the girl lunged violently to her side and fell to the ground.
"Head down!" Mathias shouted, running up.
He dropped to his knees and he and Hermione tried to hold down the woman who was trying to get up.
The girl struggled for a few more seconds, then she slumped limp to the floor and went still.
Mathias passed his wand over her and lowered it resignedly.
"God, Mathias, it happened so suddenly..." Hermione groaned, looking at the girl's body.
"I know."
Hermione couldn't take her eyes off her, so Mathias pulled her close to him and hugged her tightly.
"I know" he stroked her hair.
At that moment, Ang entered the room and gasped at the sight of them.
"We're all right" Mathias said hurriedly and slowly got up and extended his hands to Hermione. "Fourth."
"Oh, Merlin..."
Hermione got up and reflexively straightened her robe, but it looked nothing more than a soaked dark brown, almost black sack.
"What's wrong, Ang?" She heard her boss.
"I have just run out of pain killers."
With a heavy sigh, Mathias rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers, immediately smearing the blood on his face.
"So we're starting to cast Imperius" he said, looking up.
Ang sighed heavily and nodded.
"Then I'll need help."
Hermione hugged her friend's waist and stepped towards the door.
"I should be able to do it.
"It's not about being able, but there are many" Ang said, her mouth twitching in defeat.
Hermione cast Imperius at eleven persons and felt both relief and terror. And a growing rage. For one son of a bitch people suffered and died, some two bloody Aurors who should have been the bastion of justice, had condemned an innocent man to Azkaban, whose only fault was trying to stop this madness, the Ministry had yet to approve the casting of Unforgivable Spells, Harry probably not yet succeeded ...
Patronus of Gawain Robards! So Harry found him! And maybe in a moment we can free Severus Snape! And you have a meeting with Octavia at four! Probably concerning the order list! Maybe this is how you will find the murderer!
Hermione relived. She quickly found her boss in one of the rooms and dragged him aside.
"Mathias, I need to Floo at the Ministry for a while" she said. "I don't know how long it will take, but..." "But of course, Hermione" Mathias replied immediately. "And then go to bed. You won't last long in this state."
He did not talk about himself, although he also was up since two days.
"I'll be back as soon as I can" Hermione promised.
"Take a bath and go!"
Hermione hugged him tightly and quickly went to the Healers' room, where she took all the potions she wanted to take to Azkaban.
Ministry of Magic, Section Regulation and Authorization
Half hour later
"I have to admit, Hermione, I'm really upset" Octavia was saying. "I never thought it was possible. You disappointed me."
Hermione stared wide-eyed at the old witch and tried to understand.
"... a ban on contacts with the controlled entity, going beyond what is necessary to perform official duties ...", "suspended from the right to practice ... in your case as an external employee to the Ministry ...", "... until completion investigation ... "," ... we have irrefutable evidence and the testimony of Auror from the Security Department."
Octavia's words echoed in her head all the time. She tried to ask what had happened, to understand, to explain, but Octavia did not let her speak.
Merlin, this is absurd. Idiocy! Extreme idiocy !
"Give me back your card, please" demanded the witch, pursing her lips in a stern grimace.
The girl didn't react. Something was growing slowly inside her, swelling and she felt as though it was about to burst. People were dying around and all that the fucking Ministry could do was throw her out of her job for hugging another human for a while?! It wasn't about any romance, she was just trying to get hold of because she wanted to howl!
And they denied her access to an investigation that could save all the sick people!
Suddenly she felt that her world had just ended. It fell to pieces. She lost...
She was literally on the edge of exploding when the question suddenly flashed through her mind. In fact what did you lose?
She took a deep breath and held it as she held back an explosion.
WHAT did you lost? ... You won't be inspecting Powell anymore? Well, and so? After all, almost from the beginning it was a farce, not an Inspection!
Will you no longer help at the Ministry? No loss, you DO have enough things to do now. You have to get Severus Snape out of Azkaban, you have to stop this madman from murdering Muggles and wizards, you have to heal the people in the Clinic somehow ...
If they don't know appreciate you, let them get stuffed!
However, she lost access to the Carcassonne report. Taking it from her at such an important moment, for such stupid and trumped up reasons, was ... absurd!
You won't have access? So you'll have to steal it.
What is sneaking into the Ministry? You succeeded a few years ago, so you will succeed now. For so many years you've managed to get away in Hogwarts, you've managed to find and steal Voldemort's Horcruxes, you've DEFEATED Voldemort ... so it will be child's play to steal something from the Ministry that you and Harry both now know!
Suddenly, peace and quiet fell over her, as if someone had covered her with some invisible veil separating her from the problems and nonsense of this world and she even smiled.
And she got the impression that she was watching herself. She saw her summoning her personalized card, set it as gently as possible on Octavia's desk, as if making any noise could ruin everything, slowly getting up and straightening the chair until his legs hit exactly the marks in the rug.
„... we let you know about the date of your interrogation ...
Hermione watched as she walked to the door and took the handle.
Octavia broke off and looked at the girl in confusion.
„... Hermione...?"
"You're stupid. Everyone" Hermione stated slowly, opened the door noiselessly and left.
Howden Dam
After four p.m.
Mia was unpacking clothes and cosmetics in a room in a strange castle where she ended up and in the same time she was trying to absorb what Paul had told her. It was true that several hours had passed, but she still hadn't grasped it.
At noon he burst into the restaurant where she was cleaning that day, grabbed her arm and, ignoring her questions and protests, desapparated them from there.
They arrived in some dark forest, right in front of a great iron gate and only when they were on the other side and he closed it with some strange spell, he breathed a sigh of relief. And finally he explained to her what happened.
Mia knew that as an Auror, her husband was often confronted with danger, but he always tried to keep this aspect of his job far from her.
This time he couldn't, so he confessed that he had been dealing with a very hard and risky case for weeks and just today, just a moment ago, he realized that a certain group of warlocks had caught his trail and decided to kidnap her to force him to obey. Therefore, he had no choice but to find her as soon as possible and hide for some time. And, as he argued, losing a few contracts is nothing compared to losing life.
Mia wanted to notify her mother, but Paul had forbidden her to contact anyone and explained that this was how the warlocks could find out about her. It was true that Mia thought it was easy to check her address, but since her husband explained that she was safe, then of course she believed him. He was an Auror after all and he knew everything.
From a distance, the castle seemed terribly gloomy. And she immediately disliked the two Aurors who were already hiding in it. Oh, she could at least tolerate the short fatty, but she felt terrible reluctance to the bearded giant. Half an hour ago, a third, horrible old man showed up and Paul asked Mia to wait for him in their room.
She finished removing her clothes and rubbed a finger across the dusty wooden headboard. How dirty it was in here! Incredible!
And suddenly it occurred to her that this was normal. These people had far more important things to do than clean up! They tried to save the entire wizarding world! And she could help them and clean up here!
She smiled happily and while waiting for her husband, she lay down on a terribly creaky bed. Maybe someday someone consider her a heroinę for helping them?
.,.
The conversation in the living room next door had little to do with saving the entire wizarding world, but it was just as hectic.
Tylor sat stiffly in his chair and listened to Paul, staring at him with such an eye that Paul stammered more and more with each sentence.
"I tried to catch him and get him here somehow, but ... instead of walking past my hideaway, Potter went to Shacklebolt ... I mean to the secretary's office, because Shacklebolt was gone ... fortunately, and when he left, with the secretary, told her to get Moor and Shacklebolt to him. I mean, to the Auror Headquarters. And then he went to Foch, our Personal, Head I mean, who wasn't there. Neither was there. And when he found out he wasn't there, he had to understand that it was ... someone had lured him out of the Headquarters on purpose. So I had no other choice and ... I took my wife and came here" he finished and dared to look at Tylor.
The old man was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed strongly. Gratus and Peterson were sitting on the couch and trying not to draw Tylor's attention and in the sudden silence one could hear through the fireplace the distant sound of birds screaming in the forest.
„A moron. And a liar" Tylor said finally. "Bryant, I don't know if there's one reason why I shouldn't kill you here and now."
Paul turned pale as dead and pushed himself so deep into the chair that he almost hid in it.
„Mr. Tylor..."
„Be silent when I speak. I have hired you to keep the whole plan safe, and in the meantime everything hangs in the balance because of you. Two weeks ago, I wanted you to eliminate Snape, but you proved it was RISKY" he winced, accentuating the already deep wrinkles. "So you were supposed to keep an eye on him, but instead he looked after you. And now you had to take a much greater risk, kidnap him and imprison him illegally in Azkaban and kill Wizengamot Judge to fake the sentence. You know what will happen if anyone sees these papers?"
Paul looked down at his lap and didn't dare to look at Tylor, but he didn't seem to wait for an answer.
„The second gross mistake is that you hide this from me. Someone figured out what was going on, was just a step away from catching you and discovering our plan and you didn't even feel fit to let me know. Great, Bryant, really great. And third, cause of your incompetence you betrayed yourself to Potter."
There was a rustle and Paul involuntarily squeezed his eyes shut and inhaled sharply, though neither of it saved from Avada...
But he didn't heard the spell, but receding murmur, so he dared to peer through his narrowed eyes and saw Tylor stepping up to the wall and facing them. Let him stay there. Let it never turn...
"Gratus, keep an eye on our friend " Tylor said to the giant. "And his lovely wife too."
Gratus smirked like predator in response and sat a little more comfortably on the couch.
"Of course. With pleasure." He answered, looking at Paul with absolutely clear intention on his face. The Auror returned him a furious glare.
"Bryant, what do you think Potter knows?" Tylor asked, turning to them.
Paul didn't know for a moment what to say. The crazy thought ran through his mind that maybe Potter didn't know ANYTHING, maybe he just suspected him, maybe he went to Shacklebolt about some other matter and he had seen that he had figured it out! And at the same time, he thought it would be better not to even mention it to Tylor. If Potter wasn't sure, it was just his escape that made him sure. He decided it was best to blame Snape.
„He guessed the disease and deaths were not accidental. And that somehow I'm involved in it. I don't know how, but ... he might have found out from Snape somehow. Snape had brewed this poison, so he must have known how it worked."
"Then we have a big problem."
?!
"If Potter knows about Snape, this one is most likely already free."
Holy shit ... ! He did not think about IT!
Peterson twitched but said nothing, but Gratus seemed to feel more comfortable from one moment to the next. He turned sideways on the couch and looked at Tylor.
"I'm sorry to interfere ... but if I remember correctly, they both hate each other."
The old man thought for a moment.
"Did Potter go to Powell's Lab?" He asked Paul.
"As far as I know ... he did not. I've never seen him there. And I've never seen Snape at the Ministry. But…" he suddenly thought of an explanation and he caught it the way the drowning man catches at a straw. "Granger came often to Powell's..."
„Who?"
"Hermione Granger. A close friend of Potter. She came to Powell for Inspection, do you remember, I talked about it."
Tylor looked doubtful and so did Gratus, but Paul suddenly felt it wasn't that stupid! He'd just said anything so that only Tylor would get away from him, but now he could see that it was quite likely! He had seen Granger going upstairs, even though she had a meeting with Powell ... although of course he couldn't admit that.
"So either Snape told her it or she found out and found out more" he added eagerly. "And she went to Harry Potter! Griffin was supposed to lead her, so maybe she started to nose around?!"
"I think the second option is more probable" said Peter. "Snape is not in the habit of sharing messages with others if he has no interest in it."
Everyone's eyes turned to him and the man immediately regretted he had spoken.
„How do you know?" Gratus was clearly surprised.
"Because I know him" muttered Peter and added quickly. "I mean, just a little. We spoke several times at the Potion Makers' Convention."
Tylor watched him closely for a moment, his brow furrowed, then he looked back at Paul.
"Is there anyone else who could be an intermediary between them? Or is there any other way that Potter might have discovered you?"
Auror tried to focus and look for some other option than Granger, but was unable to. His mind was completely blank.
"I don't think so" he said finally. "In my opinion, only they are involved."
Tylor pulled up his sleeve to check the time. "By now I am sure Potter has already told Robards, Shacklebolt and Moor and maybe a few more people" he said in an icy tone. "Bryant..."
Paul, whose matter-of-fact conversation had relaxed a bit from a moment ago, stiffened again. The vision of the green light suddenly returned.
„It's not so sure, sir! He interrupted Tylor and the Old man twitched nervously, so he continued. "Gawain's on vacation, as far as I know, somewhere in Africa and he'll be back on Sunday! The Minister is in America and he will have more important things to do when he returns than running to Potter and Moore hates Potter even more than Snape, so I'd be surprised if he wanted to meet him!"
"That's the only good message you're giving us today. But I'm not taking any chances. Gratus, kill them. Everyone."
"Of course" said Gratus and rose heavily from the couch. "Avada Kedavra, Muggle way or something else?"
Tylor hesitated for only a few seconds.
„Poison them. It will be the least suspect."