Chapter 16
The next morning Severus left Harry asleep and headed back to the warehouse. Peck had ordered Harry to take the day off whilst his team catalogued their findings at the farm and tied up some loose ends.
"I will have the reports delivered to your apartment so you can work on your final submisison. "
Severus feeling a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, threw himself energetically into preparations for the contract with the Americans. A new and successful life beckoned although he was saddened by the thought that Harry would have to return to London shortly. When he returned home at 6pm, the living room was covered with papers and on the coffee table lay, what Severus assumed, was Harry's half written report. The dining room table was set for dinner and Harry was in the kitchen making pasta. He was humming gently as he stirred the sauce. Severus judged that he was not the only one whose shoulders were feeling a great deal lighter.
Over dinner, Severus took the opportunity to describe in detail the deal he was entering into with the Americans and his plans to develop the business as a result.
"You know how useless I am with technology, but it sounds great," commented Harry enthusiastically.
"It is an important opportunity, "said Severus. "The potential market is significant."
"Will you have to take on a lot more staff?"
Severus nodded. "Production staff and in due course research staff. The bigger the profits the more we can plough into research and development. "
"I can't wait for you to show me round next time I'm over. "
"When are you going back?"
Harry dropped his eyes "Day after tomorrow"
Severus kept his face impassive. "Good, Mrs Potter will be glad to see you."
Harry nodded.
"Lots of plans to make. "
"If it's a boy I am going to call him Severus. "
"No, "said Severus immediately. "Eldest son. It should be James. "
"But I want to name..."
"Second son," said Severus "If you must."
"You think we'll have another?" said Harry horrified.
"At least, Mrs Weasely will be expecting it."
Harry put his head in his hands.
"It will be alright, Harry," said Severus patting his hand. "You have defeated Voldemort, how difficult can it be?"
Severus volunteered to clear up after the meal while Harry got on with his report. He would miss Harry a ridiculous amount but now the fear of being investigated for murder had gone and the US contract was becoming real he knew he would have much to occupy his time. Harry had done well with the Gottingen aurors and no doubt they would be happy to see him again.
"Oh God, "
Severus looked up, Harry was staring transfixed at the papers infront of him.
"What is it?" inquired Severus.
"You remember Lubricus was looking for a missing father? The son's name was Leon Suche."
Severus stepped back into the living room. "And?" Severus tried to recall what might have caused Harry to have looked like he had seen the light.
"Where I have put Schmit's will?" Harry rifled through his box of papers. "Here it is." I leave everything I have to my son Leon." Where's my notes of my interview with Leon Suche?" Harry scrambled around. "That's it. Leon told me had taken his mothers name. His father's name was Weber."
"Is that why Schmit killed Lubricus?" asked Severus. "Is that what started this all off?"
Harry picked up Lubricus' investigation book and flipped through the pages
"Let's map this out," Harry scribbled away frantically for 10 minutes and then handed Severus a piece of paper.
"What's this?" asked Severus.
"A timeline of events. "
Timeline of events
Lubricus called in by Berlin University to investigate embezzlement
Lubricus is retained by Leon Suche to find his father.
July
Lubricus interviews Berlin university professors
Trank purchases his third Grindelwald commander wand from the Magical Taberna and talks to Mrs Schmit.
August
Lubricus goes to Munich to interview Schmit: could be connected with Trank or the missing persons case. Meets Mrs Schmit.
Lubricus goes to Cayman Islands.
30 August Lubricus goes to Munich might have interview Schmit again?
31 August Lubricus has an appointment with Trank.
2 September Lubricus is found dead in warehouse.
Schmit puts his mother in a care home
Trank visits Magical Taberna and looks at French wand
Aurors called into the Lubricus murder case
H&S visit university Berlin interview professors.
Discovery of Lubricus investigation notebook
Gottingen aurors make discreet inquiries about Schmit's shop the Magical Taberna.
Discovery of Trank's body.
Severus studied the timeline carefully
"This is a useful device. Either the first or second interview with Schmit might not have been about the embezzlement. "
Harry nodded. "Exactly it could be linked to the missing father. He thought Trank had ratted him out to Lubricus to get the heat off himself over the embezzlement. He thought he was about to be revealed to the world as Hans Weber/aka Cheatah the war criminial."
"That's why he put the body in Trank's apartment, " said Severus
"As a warning," agreed Harry. "Trank must have been really confused. "
"Trank panicked and planted the body on the Death Eater he recognised. "
"Unfortunate, that you chose that evening to make your first visit to the wand society."
Severus nodded, "Extremely bad timing".
"Then when our desk based investigators, started to put out feelers about the shop, Schmit must have thought Trank had done it again."
"And Schmit killed him," agreed Severus.
"Of course this assumes Schmit knew about the embezzlement."
"I expect he was lying when he claimed he didn't,"said Severus thoughtfully. "A man like that enjoys the power of knowing everyone's secrets. It helped him protect himself." Severus paused. "Infact, I would guess he was blackmailing Trank. That would explain the monthly payments for that pathetic magazine."
"The backmail would also explain why Trank creamed off more money from the university this year than in precious years, " observed Harry
"Schimt would also have believed that it gave Trank another reason to reveal his, (Schmit's) true identity," pointed out Severus.
"So Schmit could have been right. Trank could have told Lubricus about his true identity?"
"Possibly," concluded Severus. "Either Trank tipped Lubricus off or Lubricus worked it out for himself while he was searching for Leon Suche's missing father. We'll never know."
I would have liked to have brought someone to justice, " said Harry wistfully.
Severus nodded. "The trial would have involved lot of paper work."
Harry shuddered. "Even so I am amazed he killed himself rather than going to Mexico. It was sheer dumb luck we found that farm house so quickly and why did he construct those wards to protect the room?"
Severus shrugged, "Didn't want to be found until it was too late to save him?"
Harry nodded uneasily, "You don't think it could be anyone else?"
"Like whom?" inquired Severus.
Harry said nothing just stared back at him uncomfortably.
Severus pursed his lips, "The mother?"
Harry nodded miserably, "It would explain his confession, why he had the tickets to Mexico and the wards. Nobody was meant to find him until it was too late. She did it to protect herself. "
"Didn't want the publicity attached to being the mother of a war criminal, angry at being shut away?" Severus said thoughtfully. "Not sure whether that would be enough to make her kill her own son," he added.
"What if it was more than that?" whispered Harry.
Severus eyes widened, "She was the murderer?"
Harry nodded, "At least of Lubricus. Look again at the timeline."
Severus peered down at the sheet.
Timeline of events
Lubricus called in by Berlin University to investigate embezzlement
Lubricus is retained by Leon Suche to find his father.
July
Lubricus interviews Berlin university professors
Trank purchases his third Grindelwald commander wand from the Magical Taberna and talks to Mrs Schmit.
August
Lubricus goes to Munich to interview Schmit: could be connected with Trank or the missing persons case. Meets Mrs Schmit.
Lubricus goes to Cayman Islands.
30 August Lubricus goes to Munich might have interview Schmit again?
31 August Lubricus has an appointment with Trank.
2 September Lubricus is found dead in warehouse.
Schmit puts his mother in a care home
Trank visits Magical Taberna and looks at French wand
Aurors called into the Lubricus murder case
H&S visit university Berlin interview professors.
Discovery of Lubricus investigation notebook
Gottingen aurors make discreet inquiries about Schmit's shop the Magical Taberna.
Discovery of Trank's body.
Severus raised his eyes, "That's why he put her in the care home. She killed Lubricus."
"Maybe, " said Harry.
"It is an interesting theory," agreed Severus.
"Plausible?"inquired Harry.
Severus paused then nodded, "Worth investigating."
"What shall I do? Put it in my report or tell Peck."
"Neither, " said Severus. "It is pure speculation at the moment. I suggest you do a little digging first."
Harry thought, "I could see if Mrs Schmit left the care home after we visited yesterday."
Severus nodded, "Of course, if she is the perptartor she is very skillful and they may not have detected her absence. "
Harry nodded. "Visit in person or firecall?"
"Firecall," said Severus decisively. "Talk to that receptionist. "
"Helga?"
"Yes Helga, call her on the pretext of passing on your condolences to Mrs Schmit."
"And sort of ease into asking if Mrs Schmit has been AWOL?"
"Exactly. It will be an exercise in subtly."
Harry decided to leave the firecall until the next morning. When Severus returned from his hunt for fresh bread, milk and pastries, Harry was feverishly scribbling away.
"You managed to reach the care home?" inquired Severus.
Harry sat back and nodded, "Helga had just clocked on."
"And?"
"Mrs Schmit went walk about in the late afternoon after our last visit. She went in the garden and disappeared for a couple of hours. When she missed Kaffe and Kunchen they started looking for her. She turned up in time for dinner, claimed she had been lost in the woods."
"Suspicious. "
"That's what Peck said. I firecalled him after I had spoken to Helga suggesting you and I went and interviewed her."
Severus' heart sank. "Did he agree?"
Harry shook his head. "He told me I had done my bit and to put it in my report. He would then decide whether any further action was needed."
"Good advice, "said Severus.
"I know, "agreed Harry with a smile. "But I like to see things through."
Severus nodded sympathetically.
"You are a professional now, not an amateur on a crusade. You need to recognise when to let things lie."
Harry nodded again. "You are safe that is the main thing."
"And for that, I am extremely grateful, "said Severus.
For their last evening, Severus had cooked a traditional German meal including strudel for pudding. He had rejected Harry's call for a last take away.
After dinner, Harry had packed his bag mournfully, but had cheered up when Severus had reminded him that Ron would be arriving back at the Ministry at the same time.
"At least l can stick him and Hermione for loads of babysitting, "said Harry cheering up.
"You had better provide lots of snacks, "said Severus. At least with Harry's departure, he would not need to polyjuice himself into Weasley again.
This time Severus had no need transform into a moth to see Harry onto the train back to the UK. He travelled openly in his usual disguise
The platform was quiet. There was only one other couple. Harry put his bags down next to an empty bench and Severus shrugged off his cloak in deference to the heat of the day.
"Work hard and pass your final exams before the baby arrives, "advised Severus.
Harry nodded. "Finals are in May. Baby is due in June. Weasley family babies don't tend to be early thank goodness."
"Will the Ministry give you some time off?"
"A couple of weeks I think," said Harry.
"Mr Potter, "said a soft voice behind them.
Severus swung round. Peck was walking down the platform towards them.
"Hi, is something wrong?" asked Harry anxiously.
"No, no Harry, I just wanted to come and see you off and thank you again for all you have done. It has been a tough secondment but you and Ron have got us out of tight spot. Where is Mr Weasely by the way? "
"He's already on his way back to London, "said Harry truthfully.
The head auror turned to Severus and held out his hand. Aren't you going to introduce me Harry?"
"Ah, yes of course. This is a friend of mine Sebastian Damasco, Sebastian this is my boss Mr Peck, head of the Gottingen aurors."
"How nice to be formally introduced at last, "said Peck.
Severus resisted narrowing his eyes and smiled politely. He didn't like the look in Peck's eyes. A gentle probe suggested he was an effective occlumens.
"Ah, here it is," said Severus disguising his relief as the train pulled into the station. "Jump on Harry I will lift your case up. "
Peck stepped back to allow them a private goodbye.
Harry looked uneasy.
"Go Harry," whispered Severus. "I can handle this"
Harry gave a brief nod and then raised his hand to his former boss.
"Goodbye Sir, "
"See you again Harry, I look forward to your next secondment. You will always be welcome here."
"Take care Harry and thank for your help, "mouthed Severus looking deep into Harry's eyes. Severus was eternally grateful for his skill as a Legilimens and could sense Harry projecting, "Goodbye dad, see you soon."
Severus squeezed his shoulder. He watched until the train was fully out of the station and he could no longer see the window of Harry's carriage. He turned slowly round. As he expected Peck was waiting patiently by the bench, starring down at his cloak. Has he searched it? wondered Severus.
Peck turned and picked up the cloak and gestured to Severus to take it.
"A nice cloak," observed Peck as Severus reached out for it.
"Thank you, "said Severus swinging it over his shoulder.
"I particularly liked the buttons. Spelled against loss I assume."
"A strong unravelling spell certainly, "agreed Severus.
"Anti-fade?"
"Indeed, "agreed Severus.
"Fire proof? "asked Peck innocently.
"Flame retardant," said Severus reluctantly.
"I thought they might be, "said Peck.
Severus nodded and moved towards the station exit. Peck fell in step beside him.
"I am sorry to see young Harry go. He has been a great help. Do you know him well?"
"We met during the war, "said Severus shortly, an answer that usually led people to cease questioning out of politeness.
"I imagine he met many interesting people."
Severus nodded pausing at the exit to the station. "A great number."
"Yes, I was surprised but delighted when he applied to come here on secondment during his training, so many interesting places he could have gone."
Severus nodded, "I am sure."
"Yes very surprised. He suffered a great personal tragedy here. I was surprised he wanted to return, Rekindle old memories and everything. "
Severus remained silent.
"Do you know Mr Weasley?"
"We've met,"admitted Severus.
"Yes me also. At least I think so. He's on secondment in Vienna, but supposedly came to help us out for a while."
"Ah, ah," said Severus non committedly.
"Yes, the only thing is my cousin Phil, works in Vienna and apparently Ron hasn't left since he arrived a week ago. A clever chap to be in two places at once. Very efficient. Must find the spell for that. "
"Indeed, "said Severus uneasily.
"Well, I must head back to the station." Peck stretched out his hand. Severus took it. "Good to meet you at last and thank you for looking after Harry while he was here. I hope we meet again sometime." With that, Peck nodded and headed across the road.
Severus remained by the station exit looking out across Gottingen. As he watched the traffic flow into central Gottingen he was aware of unfamiliar feeling. Happiness? he wondered. No it was more than that. He felt safe. For the first time in his life he felt safe. He was safe and he had found a home.