A/N: What a travesty! Chapter names in ffnet can be only so long. So - we'll go with the boring solution and you guys can admire the Poirot-quotes within the chapters.
Oh, and did I mention that this story will be told from Harry's, Draco's and Albus's POV? Well, now you know :)
Chapter 2: Therefore, the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances
Ministry of Magic, 9 January 2022
"A what?!" Harry gasps, taken aback. "No. No, no, no…" He says, stumbling backwards a couple of steps. "Is it – who is it?!" He asks, almost hysterically. His mind is reeling; if one of his – no, he can't even think about it.
Hermione lifts up a calming hand, or perhaps a hand to stop his spiralling painful thoughts – Harry's not sure which. "None of ours," she says quickly, reassuringly, knowing what was the very first thought in Harry's mind. She continues with a grim look and heavy tone, "But a sixth-year girl was found dead in one of the train compartments. Her name was Jenna Travers."
Air leaves Harry's lungs, and he swallows hard, his head still spinning. He feels relieved that his children are alive, but terrified as well, since someone – a girl from an old Death Eater family was found dead. He knows it could get ugly. "What do we know?" Harry asks simply, gritting his teeth, forcing himself to calm down, and to do his job.
"McGonagall floocalled me and the Minister only moments ago – I came straight to you," Hermione says, her voice shaking. She starts to pace in the middle of Harry's office. "I need you to go there, now," She adds hurriedly, and even if she hadn't been giving him the order as Harry's boss – the Head of the DMLE – Harry would've gone there with or without approval.
"How many can I take?" Harry asks then, in his mind already going through a list of his Aurors who are working or on call.
Hermione worries her lip before she shakes her head. "We don't know what you are up against. Harry –" She says and gives him a frightened look. "What if –"
"Don't, Hermione," Harry says tightly, knowing that this is not the time to be desperate. This is the time to act. "I'll take twelve then," Harry says after a quick thinking. "Peakes and Figg are on call – they can cover the Office," Harry states, already waving his wand to conjure a messenger Patronus.
"Code Green. Report to Headquarters," Harry speaks calmly to the silver stag, feeling quite the opposite, before flicking his wand at it, multiplying it before sending it away.
He notices that his hands are shaking.
"Has anyone else been hurt?" He asks from Hermione as they walk out of his office and towards the space with empty cubicles. Harry's glad he hasn't eaten anything, as his stomach twists with nausea.
Hermione shakes her head. "Apparently the girl's friends found her in the compartment. No one was there, and nothing out of ordinary happened during the train ride, according to them."
Harry sighs. "Obviously something happened during the train ride. We just need to hope that it is something we can handle," He mutters sullenly. "Anything else?"
"McGonagall has contacted the girl's parents; they will likely be at the school soon. She will keep everyone in the Great Hall for now, until your people arrive, and start the investigation." Hermione says, looking exhausted, trailing a hand over her now unruly hair.
Harry frowns at her. "We need a Portkey – and we need to investigate Hogsmeade, as well as the station."
Hermione nods at him. "I'll handle it. I need to talk to the Minister now. And then floocall Ron," Hermione says wearily. "He's still at the shop. He might've seen something."
Harry gives her a nod, "A good idea. Ron could perhaps keep an eye out in Hogsmeade until we get there." He then pauses as he remembers Ginny. "Ginny. I need to inform her," Harry says, desperately trying to keep his thoughts together.
"I'll handle it, Harry. Just go there, and do your job," Hermione says firmly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I need to go now."
Harry gives her an absent nod. "Yeah, sure."
Hermione is already moving towards the elevators. "Oh, and Harry," She says and turns to look at Harry after pressing the button to summon the lift.
Harry lifts his brows at her.
"I'll be sending our new crime scene investigator there, to the scene," she says, and her face becomes even more strained.
She steps into the lift when the doors open. "Please…try to get along," She says with a small grimace, and before Harry can ask her what the bloody hell she is talking about, the lift's doors close and she is on her way back to the Minister's office.
The Aurors start to emerge from the lifts and the Auror office fireplace that is connected to one of the ones in the Atrium.
"Sir," Smith, an Auror in his mid-thirties, and Bones's partner, is the first one to walk up to Harry, looking alert but worried at the same time.
He is followed by Parkinson; a young man who trained in the Academy with Peele, along with his partner; Walter.
Harry nods at the incoming witches and wizards and waits patiently for ten minutes, until all fourteen Aurors he summoned have arrived. A silver otter floats through the back wall before he has a chance to say anything.
"Harry, the Minister is informed about the situation, and has agreed with your preliminary plans. A Portkey will be supplied to you soon. Report to me when you have reached the scene," the otter speaks in Hermione's voice.
Harry gives the otter a grim nod. "Will do." He says and then the Patronus disappears, and Harry turns his focus back to his Aurors.
"A student has been found dead on the Hogwarts Express. Jenna Travers. We do not know much, but as we will be investigating a school with several hundreds of inhabitants, it should be kept in mind that it is possible for a murderer to hide amongst them. We will move with a Portkey –" Harry says, his voice trailing off as the mentioned travelling method – a long thick rope – appears next to him with a loud crack.
"And we will proceed with Berrycloth, Fungbury, Keir and Quinn–" He says, nodding his head at the four more experienced Aurors," – to Hogsmeade village, station and the train with me. The rest of you; Peele, Prone, Bones, Smith, Higgins, Bletchley, Walter and Parkinson – you will be inside the school and on school grounds. Peakes and Figg will cover the Office."
Harry detects shocked looks and some murmuring, but everyone is quick on their moves to unholster their wands and switch into their Auror gear; a uniform charmed with basic defensive spells to throw off some of the milder hexes and jinxes. After a short moment, the group of Aurors grab the rope, one by one, before the Portkey starts to glow in blue, indicating that it will be soon activated.
"Constant vigilance," Harry warns his Aurors a moment before they are whisked away from their Headquarters.
Hogwarts, 9 January 2022
Seconds later, all Aurors land with a collective thud, still gracefully on their feet, in front of the school gates. Headmistress McGonagall stands there waiting, along with Neville Longbottom.
"Headmistress," Harry greets McGonagall with a grim smile. "Neville," he adds. "Good to see you."
Neville grins at Harry through his worried expression, while McGonagall gives him a wry look. "I do not have the time to remind you that we are in a first name basis, Harry, but may I say, that we are the ones who are glad to see you," she says in her strict way, although Harry can detect relief in her tone.
Harry gives her a curt nod. "I have eight Aurors for school and grounds. The rest of us will move to search the village and the train," he says promptly.
McGonagall seems satisfied. "That will do. The students are still in the Great Hall. Is it safe for us to move them into their common rooms with their Heads of Houses?"
"Perhaps one of mine could join each house?" Harry asks and glances at the Aurors before giving McGonagall a questioning look.
McGonagall nods in agreement. "That would make me more at ease, if it is possible in a situation like this."
"Higgins, Bletchley, Walter and Parkinson will be stationed in common rooms," Harry says, giving orders quickly, "Peele and Prone will search the school, while Bones and Smith investigate the grounds."
The Aurors mutter their agreements.
"Mr and Mrs Travers are in my office, waiting news about the investigation. They were also asking to see their daughter's body after the scene has been searched," McGonagall says wearily.
Harry gives McGonagall and Neville a tight nod. "I'm meeting with the crime scene investigator shortly, and will report to you after I've searched and examined the train and the…the victim. I can give the parents a status report then, but we might not know much at that point. Anything else to add?" Harry asks from his former Head of House and classmate, forcing his voice to stay calm, even if his heart is thumping wildly. What exactly would he find in the train?
Neville shakes his head, still looking anxious. "Just tell us if there is something we can do to help?"
Harry frowns, thinking fast. "We need to check everyone's wands," he says grimly.
McGonagall looks rather bothered by the thought of her students or faculty being examined, but nods slowly. "You do what you must."
"Thank you, Headmistress," Harry says before turning to his team of Aurors assigned to the school. "You know the drill."
And with that, McGonagall and Neville escort the eight Aurors into the school.
Harry and the four remaining Aurors leave towards the village and station.
"Sir?" Quinn; a strikingly good-looking bloke in his mid-thirties – Harry's assessment that he hasn't shared with anyone beyond his own mind – and an excellent combat trainer; an opinion he shares with all of his Aurors, asks, as he falls into step with Harry.
"Yeah?" Harry mutters, his mind already going through the possible threats they might confront. He glances at Quinn, whose grim expression doesn't falter as he speaks to his boss.
Harry calls it the 'Auror face'.
"Are we expecting hostile resistance?"
Harry sighs inwardly. He hates not knowing what he is up against. "We don't know yet. Keep your head down and assume the worst," he says with a grim smile.
Quinn nods in agreement and then gestures everyone to be alert when a figure approaches them in the darkness.
"Stop at once! State your business!" Quinn yells, his wand at the ready.
There's a frustrated groan. "Untwist your knickers, Quinn, it's only me!" Ron yells and a second later, he lights up his wand.
"Ron," Harry breathes out in relief, feeling calmer, now that his friend is there.
Ron walks up to Harry and pulls him into a bear hug. "They're all right, mate," He murmurs into Harry's ear, and Harry knows that Ron was, and still probably is, as worried as he has been.
"Been lifting weights, Fungbury?" Ron asks with a teasing smile as he slaps his old workmates on their shoulders, sharing quick grins with them.
Fungbury shoves Ron, but grins at him all the same. "I see you haven't."
Ron smirks back. "Ouch." He then sobers and turns to Harry. "What can I do?"
Harry assigns orders; Keir, Quinn, Fungbury and Ron will search the village and question its inhabitants, while Harry and Berrycloth will go to search the station and the train and to examine the crime scene. Everyone moves quickly towards their destinations, agreeing to report to Harry by the hour or if something comes up.
"What's the matter with you?" Albus hisses next to Scorpius's ear. "You've been acting weird since the train!" He continues exasperatedly.
Albus thinks his friend has been off since New Year's Eve, truth to be told.
Scorpius shifts in his seat, taking a surreptitious glance around them, but Albus knows nobody's paying attention to them. Everyone is focusing on taking their seats at their house tables, eagerly waiting for the feast to start, or still emerging into the Great Hall from their carriages.
"It's nothing. Just feeling a bit off, nothing more," Scorpius murmurs back to his friend, averting his eyes from Albus's.
And that itself is enough to tell Albus that something is bothering his friend. Based on his past experiences, Albus has proved to be rather good at reading Scorpius. He knows there's something he is not telling, but he reckons that his friend will talk to about it him eventually.
He gives Scorpius one last scrutinising look, and then follows his line of sight. Scorpius is watching James, Albus's brother, who is in the process of scowling at them. He glances back to Scorpius and sees his friend's jaw tightening, and has an idea of what could be the issue.
Albus lets out a small scoff. "I can't believe he thinks he can be angry about…about anything! I mean, after what he did at the party, after sticking his nose into my business – I mean, I'm the one who's entitled to be angry, if someone is!" he growls. "Right?"
Scorpius moves his eyes quickly away from James and glances at his friend. "Yeah. Sure, mate." He mutters.
Albus gives Scorpius an incredulous look, having been hoping that he could snap his friend away from whatever it is that is bothering him.
Since James is certainly annoying the pants out of him.
"Fine, then," he mutters as his friend stays quiet and unresponsive.
Albus's focus falters as he notices their classmates were joining them and taking their seats at the table: Cory; a black-haired boy with a long nose and toothy grin sits down occupying the seat next to Albus and gives him an upward nod, Cecil; a slender boy with sharp angles and long brown hair, and Julian who is a bit bulkier than Cecil take their seats across the table.
Their group is completed when Zachary sits down on Cory's other side. They quickly start exchanging their holiday stories, and Albus tells the others about their Christmas. Their – as in Albus's and Scorpius's, since Scorpius spent his holidays with Albus's family, while Scorpius's father was abroad for work. Well, it was mostly Scorpius with Albus and his siblings, since Albus's mum was called to some emergency business trip right after Christmas, and his dad was working half of the holiday, and spending almost the other half with James at his Quidditch try-outs – Albus begrudgingly admits that his brother is a rather exceptional player, and probably will make a contract with one of the teams in the British League.
Scorpius listens quietly, seeming almost relieved to not be taking part in the conversation, and only looks somewhat amused as Albus tells the others a very colourful version of their New Year's party. Well, James's party. Albus grits his teeth together.
When Zachary and Cory – who had both stayed at the school for the holidays – snicker as they explain every amusing event that took place there; how sozzled some of the teachers were at Christmas dinner, and how they tried to hide it from the students, how they managed to beat a group of sixth and seventh-years in a friendly snowball fight, and how they had the chance to prank the Hufflepuff Head of House by sneaking into the greenhouses and leaving a present in the form of a dung bomb to him, Albus wonders if Scorpius would've preferred to have stayed in the school as well. He certainly wouldn't have wanted to stay at home, Albus knows at least that much.
He knows that Scorpius doesn't get along with his father that well, and that his friend hasn't really spent time with the man after his mother passed away a couple of years ago. It has always been either Albus staying with them, or Scorpius with the Potters. Mostly the latter way.
Albus also knows that Scorpius doesn't hate his father, even if he makes it seem like he does some days. He reckons that Scorpius and his father are merely too different – not in appearance, as they look so much alike; they both have blonde hair and an impossibly good posture, sharp angles and grey eyes. Only…Albus thinks there's something inexplicably softer in Scorpius's character, compared with his father. Something, Albus thinks comes from Scorpius's mother's side. No, even if the father and son look like one another, they still have very little in common otherwise.
Albus should know – as he himself is the least like anyone else in his family, compared to James and his Quidditch-stardom and brilliance, and Lily with her fiery and reckless Gryffindor nature. It's almost funny, when Albus thinks about it – his siblings are so much like their parents, and their grandparents. But Albus… Albus is the black sheep. The one that doesn't really belong. The Slytherin of the family. He only looks like the spitting image of his father. While both James and Lily share some similarities in their appearance with their father – James has bright green eyes, and Lily wears glasses – Albus still thinks his siblings have more Weasley characteristics than anything; Lily's hair is long and flaming red, and her eyes are brown, just like their mother's. James's hair is more coppery tone, but paired with his freckles and the mischievous grin, there's no doubt that he's a Weasley.
And Scorpius – he really should've been in Ravenclaw. Albus has a strong suspicion that Scorpius had begged the Sorting Hat to put him into Slytherin, to make his father happy. To not cause a scandal to their family. Like Albus had.
Their holiday wasn't the most brilliant one, at least nothing like last year. But it wasn't that bad. Well, perhaps their little stint to London was, Albus thinks with an inward grimace. They had – Albus had – had an idea; the two of them exploiting the nightlife in London during their holidays, as they were quite free to come and go as they wished. It wasn't like they had any parents watching them at all times.
And later on, Albus did admit to Scorpius that the plan had been an idiotic one, since they really didn't get into any of the Muggle pubs they tried to, even with their charmed ID's. As they were unable to use magic outside Albus's home due to being underage, they had thought their fake Muggle ID's would've done the trick. But no. Apparently, neither of them looks old enough to be eighteen, Albus reckons.
His contemplation is disturbed by an uproar of laughter originating from, where else, but the Gryffindor table. The noisy gits, Albus thinks with mild annoyance. He watches absently as his brother, his cousin Fred and their friend Jordan howl in laughter, while their classmates sit next to them, shaking their heads with amusement. Bitterness flares in the bottom of his stomach as he thinks how his brother had managed to screw things up for him.
Albus chews the inside of his cheek, thinking back the train ride. And what she had said to him. It had been James's fault. Albus is certain there would be nothing to say, nothing to reveal, if James hadn't been a tosser.
He lets out a small huff of annoyance; as if it hadn't been enough that he went and fell for one of the mindless girls that only seek his company because of his looks, but then James had to cock things up even further.
Three months ago, Albus wasn't laughing at that. Not that he is laughing now. He had thought it was different, that she was different. But he was proved wrong, in the most painful and embarrassing way. The thrill of snogging the boy who looks like the Saviour, is apparently, quite remarkable. Scorpius's words, not Albus's, he reckons.
Albus thinks for a bit if he ought to do something about what happened during the holidays – with her – but eventually decides to ponder it later, when he's in the privacy of his own four-poster bed, and proceeds to join in the conversation with his dormmates.
A moment later, Albus notices that Scorpius is even more aloof than he typically is. Albus knows that chatting with others is more his thing than Scorpius's, he knows that while Scorpius does get along with others, he usually prefers to stay quiet and listen, watching the participants carefully. Albus often wonders if his friend is feeling lonely sometimes, as he hasn't seen Scorpius really spend time with anyone else but him.
But now, his friend is not even pretending to listen to his classmates, and lets his gaze trail over the Great Hall; with worry and annoyance mixing in his features.
Albus follows his friend's example, and sees that nearly all of the students have sat down, but most of the teachers are missing. He wonders what time it is, and how long will it take until the feast starts. He's starving. He glances at the doors that lead to the Entrance Hall, and sees something peculiar.
Professors Fox, Longbottom and Moonstone are in the middle of an intense discussion with three students – sixth year Hufflepuffs; Skylar Westen, Stefan Woods and Nate Riley. Albus can't see their faces and expressions, as they are situated on the other end of the hall, but wonders what it is about.
Albus frowns at the Hufflepuffs, before turning towards his friend. "What do you think, mate?" Albus mutters and nudges Scorpius, evidently pulling him from his thoughts.
"Huh?" Scorpius hums as he turns to Albus, after clearing his expression into a blank one.
Albus jerks his chin towards the group of teachers and students lingering at the doors leading to the Entrance Hall.
This manages to pull their classmates from the discussion, and then, all of them stare at the gathering.
The longer Albus watches the occurrence, the more he feels restlessness trickling down his spine. The conversation is interrupted by a strained looking Headmistress, who quiets everyone up as soon as she walks up to them. Albus sees them exchange a couple of words before the Headmistress walks briskly towards the other end of the Hall, towards the teachers' table.
There're sounds of murmur and whispers along the Hall. Most of the students have noticed the peculiar behaviour of their professors.
"Something's not right," Cory whispers, a deep frown between his brows. "They're staying put," he continues, still watching the group of teachers with the three students close to the Entrance Hall.
"May I have your attention!" McGonagall speaks loudly, her voice higher than usual.
There are several students murmuring in every table.
" – What's going on?"
"Has something happened – "
" – Where's the food – "
"Silence, everyone!" McGonagall yells, and manages to take everyone by surprise.
The Headmistress takes a steadying breath, while the teachers at their table keep glancing at her with a mix of worried and shocked expressions.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Albus whispers, almost silently.
Scorpius nods and swallows hard.
McGonagall watches the students gravely. "There has been an incident in the train. A girl…a girl has been found dead – "
There's a collective gasp and then – several people start to scream in shock, and even more people jump to their feet, their wands at the ready, many voices shouting over each other with panic-laced voices.
McGonagall lifts her both hands up. "Everyone, sit down!" She orders with a loud and harsh voice, before she continues, "And for the love of Merlin, please calm down!"
Albus takes a look around him, seeing the shocked expressions of his classmates, before he quickly starts to locate his siblings and cousins in the Great Hall. He needs to see that they're all there, that they are not…not the –
"Shit, Scor, can you see –" He breathes unsteadily, his hands trembling.
"Yes, I can. They're all here," Scorpius tells him quietly, his sharp eyes moving across the Hall.
Albus finally locates James, Fred, Dominique, Hugo and Lily at the Gryffindor table; and then Rose, Roxanne, Louis, Molly and Lucy at the Ravenclaw table. The ache in his chest decreases a bit. He then notices several others doing what he is doing, while the Headmistress continues to speak.
"The Aurors have been called to investigate the matter. I do not know much, yet. I do not know it there are other people associated with the incident. All I know, is that the safest place for everyone is here, in this school, in this hall. Stay put, and do not panic," McGonagall says sternly.
"Dad…" Albus mutters, feeling somewhat relieved that his father is coming there, and knowing that everything will be all right then. His father is good at what he does.
But he is not there, now. Albus moves his focus to Scorpius and his classmates. "We need to do something," Albus states, chewing the inside of his cheek, watching his friends with what Scorpius has identified as 'the reckless Gryffindor gaze' – and teased Albus mercilessly about it, telling his friend that it must run in the family.
Zachary rolls his eyes at him from Cory's other side. "I hope you are taking the piss, Potter," He scoffs and then turns his focus back to McGonagall.
"I ask for prefects from each house, as well as the Head Boy and Girl to step forward for further instructions," McGonagall states, and then turns briefly towards the other professors, to exchange words with them.
The Hall is filled with anxious voices, whispers, murmurs, silent crying, nervous shifting and frightened gazes. The prefects from each house, all twenty-four of them quickly make their way to the front, towards the Headmistress and most of the professors.
"Who do you think is dead?" Zachary asks quietly, his eyes quickly moving across the Slytherin table.
Albus notices that Scorpius has been doing the exact same thing.
"No one from our house, it seems," Scorpius mutters after a moment.
Albus still feels the anxiousness and nausea curling in his stomach. He manages to catch his brother's eye from the Gryffindor table, gives him an intent stare, a questioning look. James looks back steadily, before shaking his head slightly; indicating that no one of the Gryffindor house is missing from the Hall. Albus gives his brother a similar kind of gesture.
"None of the Gryffindors, either," Albus tells his friends.
Scorpius watches Albus's silent conversation with his brother curiously, before speaking, "So, either a Hufflepuff or a Ravenclaw," he says.
Albus does the eye-thing again with Rose at the Ravenclaw table; who has evidently done a similar check-up with her own house table as she gives Albus a worried shake of her head. There's something Albus cannot identify in her expression. She seems…more than worried. Terrified, even. He knows Rose is not easily shocked. Albus has an uncomfortable thought that perhaps Rose…knows who it is.
Albus frowns deeply at his cousin before moving his gaze at the table.
"What is it?" Scorpius whispers, his eyes moving between Albus and Rose, his features guarded.
Albus glances at his friend. "Nothing. She's just…I dunno," he murmurs, before turning his focus back to his friends. "It's a Hufflepuff."
"Figures…" Zachary mutters under his breath.
Albus lifts his brows at him. "Really, Zabini?" He says with a bored voice. He's very fond of his friends, but sometimes, they can be complete wankers.
" – Or someone who doesn't go to this school," Cecil murmurs, watching Julian's face intently to take any hints, as said classmate, who is one of the fifth year prefects, was listening the instructions from Slughorn with a stony expression.
Cory narrows his eyes at Cecil. "Unlikely. The train doesn't take in outsiders. There are wards to prevent that sort of thing…"
Albus shares a grim look with his classmates. What is left unsaid – what Albus reckons is undoubtedly in everyone's minds – is the question whether it was an accident, or if there is a murderer in their midst.