Chapter 4
Severus was cooking a chicken curry when Harry arrived back at the flat about 7pm.
"You are in good time, "observed Serverus. "I thought you might not be here for a couple of hours."
Harry's cloak winged its' way into his bedroom as its owner sank down on Severus' sofa and began to pull off his boots.
"My feet hurt, "moaned Harry. "An hour walking round Gottingen this morning and then one of the aurors took me on a "detailed orientation session" around the city this afternoon. He only allowed a 15 minute break for coffee." Harry closed his eyes.
"That smells good," he said a minute or so later opening his eyes.
"It is something that I could keep warm easily if you were late."
"To be honest I think Wilhelm had, had enough himself by 6. 30. He seemed keen to get rid of me."
"Being put in charge of the on foot orientation was probably punishment for something," Severus pointed out.
Harry thought for a moment.
"You're probably right. He told me he had been dragged up in front of the head auror, Peck , for failing to get his paperwork in on time and too many absences."
"You and Wilhelm are sure to get on well,"said Severus snidely.
Harry blushed a little and ignored that. He settled back on the sofa and closed his eyes.
"Dinner is ready, " Severus shook his shoulder gently.
Harry struggled to open his eyes.
"Great, sorry I should have offered to help. Ginny would have killed me if I had just fallen asleep on the sofa while she cooked."
"Don't worry you can wash up Potter. Come and eat, "added Severus gesturing towards the chrome table near the window.
"So how was your day?" asked Severus after Harry had made substantial inroads into his curry and was looking distinctly brighter.
"Lots to take in, "said Harry wiping his mouth on the napkin. "I feel like my brain is going to explode. It's a lot like my first few days on the auror training programme."
"Naturally," intoned Severus reaching for an onion bargee.
"I never realised you could cook so well," commented Harry.
"Well we hardly spent any time away from Hogwarts during our year together," pointed out Severus.
"Yeah, I guess if we had made it to the summer holidays, you would have cooked while we were at Spinner's End."
"Mrs Potter does not see the kitchen as her domain?" inquired Severus delicately.
"Yeah, you would think so wouldn't you given Mrs Weasley. But no, she expects me to do my share," explained Harry gloomily.
"And how is that going?" asked Severus keeping the levity in his voice to an absolute minimum.
"She bought me a cooking course as a wedding present, "replied Harry mournfully. "She said the stuff I learn't to cook at the Dursley's would lead us both to an early grave."
Severus failed to repress a grin.
Harry slapped his hand. "So where did you learn to cook?"
"My mother," said Severus. "She saw it as a natural extension of potions."
Harry nodded. He put his knife and fork together and streched.
"Do you have a makeshift pensieve?"
Severus nodded. "Basic but useable."
"I'll download my memories and you can look at them while I am washing up," suggested Harry.
After issuing stern warnings about taking care with the newly purchased dinner plates, Severus dived into the swirling memories. He joined Harry in what was clearly a canteen. Severus thought he recognised a couple of the aurors he had met the previous year and studiously avoided during the last few months. As he watched, Harry, who was chatting away to his companion, ordered coffee and then headed for a large circular table near the window at which four other aurors were already seated.
The first part of the discussion Severus categorised as "Ooh you're Harry Potter..." There were lots of questions about the defeat of Voldemort which Harry answered patiently for the most part. However, Severus tuned back in when Harry's companion, Wilhelm, tried to give Harry a bit of a break by changing subject.
"So, Harry, how big is the auror department at the Ministry of Magic in London?"
Harry paused for a moment and then said, "There are about 50 of us, I think. We've had a lot of change recently. After Voldemort's defeat, a lot of people retired and they really stepped up recruitment."
"Good thing for you, "observed his companion.
"Absolutely, "said Harry with a grin. "What's the size of the Gottingen contingent?"
"About 30," said an earnest looking man who had been sipping his tea quietly for much of the conversation. "Most are very experienced so we only take at most one new recruit each time."
Harry did not waste the opportunity.
"Don't any of your aurors want to retire? Quite a few of ours could not wait to put their feet up!"
"There is not much enthusiasm, "said the earnest young man. "Most prefer to keep going."
"So no one retired last year? " said Harry.
"Well actulally one did, " interjected an incredibly tall female auror with bright blue (Severus hoped dyed) hair . "He'd been with us for 40 years."
"But he didn't properly retire Hanna, " pointed out Wilhelm. "He joined the private security sector. Good pay, more freedom, less rules."
"Is he enjoying it?" asked Harry, whom Severus could tell was thinking furiously, trying to keep the conversation going.
"I don't know actually. I've not seem him in a while, " admitted Wilhelm.
"Hi Harry, I'm Fred, "said a chap who looked like he could have played ruby for Germany. " I saw Lubricus a couple, of weeks ago. He was plenty busy. On some sort of university contract I think. Good guy very competent and experienced."
The memory faded at this point and Severus exited. Harry was busy drying the pots by hand.
"Sometimes Potter you seem to forget you are a wizard, "said Severus distractedly his mind on the memory he had just viewed.
"Well you told me to be careful, "Harry pointed out.
Severus nodded picking up a second tea towel.
"So he was a contractor," mused Severus. "Exactly as we thought."
"I'll put the kettle back on," said Harry
Severus nodded.
"You did well there, "Severus added. "No jumping in with your size tens."
Harry grinned. "We've been working on developing more subtle interrogation techniques, you know in case we go undercover."
Severus nodded and fished out some teabags.
"You know you've developed a few muggle habits yourself, "observed Harry.
"I have bought a coffee maker," admitted Severus. "You can sample some at breakfast."
"So where do we go from here?" asked Harry sipping the hot tea carefully.
"I think surreptitious disposal of the body is no longer an option," Severus concluded reluctantly.
"Agreed. Once they realise he is missing the entire department is going to try to work out what happened."
Severus nodded and chewed his lip.
"But that's not what bothering you is it?"
"Your powers of perception have also improved Potter."
Harry nodded but said nothing is eyes remained steadily on Severus' face.
"It is the reference to the university contract."
Harry nodded, "You're wondering whether it is linked to your meeting at that wand society?"
Severus nodded.
"Yeah, it does seem a bit of a coincidence, I'd thought that," agreed Harry.
"Attending was a mistake, "said Severus.
"We don't know that Dad. We don't really have any evidence the events are connected."
Severus shrugged, "Harry the most likely scenario here is that someone at that event recognised me, my true identity and thought that a safe way to get rid of a body was to plant it in my warehouse and tip the aurors off. They would arrest me assuming the guy had discovered my true identify and I killed him to prevent it being revealed."
"Supposition," said Harry firmly. "Kingsley's always warning us against that."
Severus smiled at the furiously determined look on Harry's face. His son was anxious to protect him even from criticism from himself.
"We have spent nearly all the time since you arrived talking about my problems," observed Severus. "Let's take a break for a while and sleep on it, "
Harry who was already yawning widely nodded.
"Before you fall asleep tell me how you are enjoying married life. I only get snippets over the phone."
Harry laughed, "Fine. It takes a bit of getting used to. I thought it would be a bit like the Burrow,"
"Hoped you mean," said Severus perceptively.
"Yeah I guess, but with Ginny working fulltime it's really busy. She's really insistent I do my fair share of the clearnng and everything. Which is fine you know, I mean after the Dursleys it's no problem although Ginny laughs a lot when she sees me to do most of it by hand."
"She is enjoying her apprenticeship at Quidditch Today?" inquired Severus sipping his tea.
"Yes, an enormous amount, she gets to travel a bit to games now and draft the odd article. She meets loads of the players." Harry said enviously "I must admit I'm really glad she is not at the Prophet."
"That would have been more difficult to acclimatise to," agreed Severus. He paused for a moment putting his cup back on the saucer. "You are glad that that you married when you did?"
Harry blushed slightly. "Yes, it was the right decision. There seemed no point in waiting after you.., well you know."
Severus nodded.
"In any case", continued Harry "Sharing with Ron wasn't a long term option."
"Mr Wesley is planning to leave the auror programme?" Severus interjected sharply.
"What?" asked Harry confused? "Oh no. He's in it for the long haul like me. No it's just,"
Harry paused
"He getting married, "guessed Severus.
Harry nodded embrassed.
"It alright Harry. I knew it would happen. It is for the best. Miss Granger I take it?"
Harry nodded again looking uncomfortable.
Severus cast around quickly for a way of changing the subject.
"How are the rest of the Weasley family?"
They got to bed just before midnight. Breakfast afforded them time for the briefest of chats. Harry was due at the auror department at 9am and Severus was meeting a potential customer. So a discussion on next steps had to wait until the evening.
This time, it was Harry who was home first. When Severus opened the door, a delicious smell pervaded the hall.
In the kitchen was a confident Harry Potter engrossed in making a stir fry.
"Ginny loves these. She had never had one before but I made them all the time at the Durselys because Dudley loved them."
Severus peered in to the frying pan. "Chicken and Salmon - an unusual combination."
"You'll love it. Take your cloak off and get us both a drink. How's' your day been?"
"Good on the whole. I think I have secured another customer. My main problem is going to be meeting all the orders. I may need to expand the warehouse or get another one, " mused Severus. "Assuming I am not in jail," he added.
"Don't worry Dad. I have a plan. Full proof. Let's me serve up and I will tell you all about it while we eat."
In fact Severus did not allow Harry to outline his plan until they had eaten the stir fry and were allowing their stomachs to rest before they tackled the large chocolate cake Severus had purchased.
"I think we should arrange for the body to be discovered."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Not in its current location I hope. It is a little close to home."
"No, of course not. I want to put it in the river."
Severus frowned.
"One step at a time Potter, take it from the top and explain to me exactly what you have in mind."
It did not escape Harry's notice that there would have been a time when Severus would simply have dismissed his ideas or interjected with a plan of his own, a by-product of 12 months plus of auror training he supposed.
"After I left you yesterday morning, I had a couple of hours to kill before I was due at the station so I had a good walk round that industrial estate of yours. Down by the river there is an old loading dock, disused but still there."
"So you're thinking we should untransfigure our unwanted guest and slide him quietly into the water at the dead of night?"
"Exactly. It has loads of advantages. We don't have to transport the body very far. It will wash off any evidence of it being in your warehouse, it will end up downstream probably wash up around Beuren if what I learnt today is true. The aurors may not be able to link it back directly to the industrial estate but they'll guess the body went in at that point which is why they got the tip off."
Severus chewed his lip. "It still links it back to the estate," he pointed out uneasily.
"Dad, that tipoff linked it irrevocably to the industrial estate. We need to find a way of linking it to our proposed solution. They can't prove it was in your warehouse or anyone else's without evidence."
Severus nodded slowly.
"You still look uneasy dad."
Severus raised an eyebrow.
"More uneasy than I would expect just because we are going to dispose of a body in the water."
"Iam going to dispose of a body Potter. You are not going to be involved."
It took Severus a couple of hours to persuade Harry that he should dispose of the body alone. In the end it took a threat to ban Potter from visiting him in Gottingen.
"I will not put you or your career at risk any more than I have to," Severus concluded.
"Take my invisibility cloak with you to cover the body and use the Elder Wand to create a disillusionment charm. No one should be able to disrupt that, "urged Harry.
Severus took the cloak in the hope of preventing Harry conducting some sort of covert surveillance mission to ensure he was ok. "I am reluctant to use the Elder Wand, but on this occasion it is probably the lesser of two evils."
Severus changed into his old black robes before he left, he was uncomfortable with conducting this sort of mission in brighter covered clothing.
"You look almost like you, "said Harry nostalgically. "You will be careful won't you Dad?"
"Extremely, "promised Severus. "If for no other reason that I want to avoid one of your feckless ill-thought out rescue missions."
Harry squeezed his hand unoffended.
Severus carried his cloak and hood until he neared the industrial estate. The sun would set in another hour or so. He and Harry had debated whether to wait until the middle of the night but Severus had argued that early evening would be better. The workers would have left the industrial estate but he could still see what he was doing. Sneaking around in the middle of the night also created suspicion if you were discovered, as Harry knew to his cost.
There was a small wooded area a few hundred meters from the entrance helping to separate the main parts of Gottingen from the industrial estate. Severus entered and found a spaced amoung the trees that could not be seen from the road. He quickly cast a disillusionment spell on himself. The power of the Elder Wand almost caused him to fall over, he paused before heading back to the road.
The operation went surprisingly smoothly. As he got close to his warehouse he cast a series of monitoring spells. He detected no one visible or hidden in the immediate vicinity. He took the precaution of draping the invisibility cloak over the bollard before transfiguring it back to a body.
Severus was glad he had not delayed further, the preservation spells on body were starting to fade and a strong smell was beginning to emanate from the corpse. If he had left it much longer, he would have had a real mess to move. Slowly and carefully he cast a feather light spell and hovered the body through the estate and down towards the river Leine.
It was an easier task than he had anticpated. He was approaching the river bank when his monitoring spells went off. He froze. Whatever it was was getting closer. He lowered the body slowly to the ground and looked around. Sunset was approaching, through the dusk he saw two figures walking towards him along the river bank
"Damn." Severus stood completely still, perhaps they would just pass by.
As they came closer, Severus saw it was a man and woman, hand in hand.
"Not aurors at least, "thought Servers wishing they would quicken their pace. The couple however, had their own plans they ambled slowly towards him gazing across the river at the setting sun.
They were only a few meters away when Severus heard the man speak.
"Let's sit down for a while shall we and watch the sunset?"
"No," screamed Severus silently. "Tell him you would rather go for a glass of wine."
The woman however, had different plans. She sat down obligingly on the grass and rested her head on the man's shoulder.
Severus closed his eyes and swore softly.
It was an hour and a half before they left, by which time Severus' back was aching from standing still for so long. He would have to beg Potter to perform a memory charm on him when he got home to block out all the inane happy murmurings he had been subjected to.
He waited until they were out of sight and his monitoring charms were happily silent before he raised the Elder Wand, hovered the body off the floor and slipped it into the water with barely a ripple.