A/N: I've tried my best to edit out the explicit scene from the end (if you want it, go to Ao3!). Enjoy reading!
Chapter 6: It is the psychology I seek
10 January 2022
"What do you think, boss?" Quinn asks, after they've questioned both Miss Westen and Mr Riley – for the second time.
Harry doesn't know what to think anymore. He puts his glasses on the table in front of him and presses the heels of his palms against his eyes, trying to sort out his thoughts.
It is almost four in the afternoon, and they have questioned Scorpius, both Scott sisters, Albus, Miss Westen, and Mr Riley. And it seems that their stories have a lot of inconsistencies.
According to Scorpius, he had talked with Travers on the train, where she had threatened to spread rumours about Scorpius and Albus being… well, more than friends – which doesn't make any sense to Harry. The two of them have never appeared to be interested in each other romantically, at least not in front of Harry. Why had Travers even made such a threat? Scorpius had told Quinn, that he had no idea why Travers had said such things, but Harry can't stop feeling that perhaps Scorpius knows exactly what the reason behind Travers's threat was. Did Scorpius feel threatened by something else the deceased girl knew? Would that have been enough for Scorpius to act? To harm her?
Pamela Scott's version of the events had changed between the two interrogations. Why would she first claim that Scorpius was the one having an argument with Travers on the train, and then the next day say that Albus had been there with him? Is it possible that someone had told her to say such things? She hadn't given Harry any explanation for her lies, and merely claimed that she had forgot the details. Harry doesn't really buy that.
And then there's Albus. Harry sighs wearily. Albus's version actually sounded like it could've been the truth, but then again, there is history between him and the victim, there is the party… and then there had been that rather shocking reveal about how other people – witches, mainly – see him, and treat him.
Harry wants to yell at the top of his lungs. He never wanted it; the fame, people fawning over him. He never wanted any of that for himself, and definitely not for his children. How did Albus describe it? Fifteen minutes of fame, was it? That witches – underage girls – want to… want to sleep with him, just so they can tell their friends that they've been with the Chosen One look-a-like? Harry bristles. He feels shocked. He feels angered. He feels powerless. He is the one who is supposed to protect his children, and the fact that he is the reason for Albus's troubles, is…overwhelming.
Miss Westen and Mr Riley both had failed to mention during their first questioning that there had been a dispute on the train between Travers, Riley, Scorpius and Albus – which Westen saw taking place and Riley in fact participated in. Westen claimed that she hadn't thought it had been important, while Riley told Harry that he didn't want to say anything, since he was ashamed as he had thought that his girlfriend had still had some feelings for Albus – something they had been fighting over in their compartment afterwards, instead of making out.
Harry wonders if the dispute Moonstone had heard had also been about Albus.
"Sir?" Quinn asks quietly.
Harry and Quinn are having a quick bite to eat in the classroom they've been using for questioning the students, and simultaneously going through the results of the morning's interrogations.
Harry squints at Quinn, before putting his glasses back on. "I want to question the boyfriend under Veritaserum. Both Scott sisters, Miss Westen, and – Scorpius as well," Harry says wearily, grimacing inwardly as he thinks how Malfoy will take the news.
Quinn nods slowly. "And Albus?" He asks carefully.
Harry sighs, looking out from the window, to the snowy landscape. His sons should be enjoying the weather after their classes, and not be questioned for murder. Still, if there is a way to speed things up, he knows it is with Veritaserum. And if Albus truly has spoken the truth, wouldn't it be better to question him once more, and be done with it?
"I trust my son. I do not believe he's done anything to aid Travers's death, but…in the eyes of law, he does have a motive. Revenge…protecting himself or his best friend by making sure Travers was unable to fulfil her threats," Harry tells Quinn, chewing the inside of his cheek.
He wonders, how Albus will take it?
Quinn gives him a small nod. "I agree." He then glances at the timepiece on the wall. "Nearly one. James is coming now, right?"
Harry nods, just as there's a knock on the door. Quinn flicks his wand to clear the table while Harry goes to open the door. Ginny marches inside, a hint of a scowl in her expression, still undoubtedly steaming after what Albus had told Quinn, and somehow, deciding it is Harry's fault. Which Harry thinks kind of is, but it is not like Harry had any say about the matter. He didn't choose to be the Chosen One – that was all Voldemort. All his life, he's tried to stay away from the spotlight, and Ginny knows it as well. Harry knows she will eventually calm down and apologise. He just hopes she will do so sooner than later, as they really need to go over the circumstances of Albus's situation together, and do something about it.
Behind Ginny, there's Professor Fox – James's Head of House, and James.
Harry greets Fox and gives his son a reassuring smile.
"James. Come here," Harry says and gestures for James to sit next to Ginny, before taking the seat on James's other side.
Fox sits in the corner, while Quinn retakes his seat behind the desk.
"Hello, James," Quinn says with a small smile.
James nods at Quinn. "Laurean." James says easily. Quinn's lips twitch.
Harry knows that the two of them are somewhat acquainted, as both of them are Quidditch fanatics, and have shared many conversations about the sport whenever James has stopped by the Ministry during the school holidays.
Quinn schools his features and clears his throat. "We would like to know more about the party that took place in your home, on New Year's Eve," he tells James, and Harry is bloody relieved he had the time to speak to Ginny about that little bit of information, as he practically feels her bristling on James's other side.
She had screamed her voice hoarse an hour and a half earlier, when Harry had spoken with her after Riley's interrogation. Harry had explained her everything Albus and James had told him earlier, and everything he was allowed to say to her regarding the investigation. Ginny had been beside herself with anger, her magic sparkling around her threateningly. It wasn't of course all meant for Harry; she was fuming at James for organising a party, with alcohol apparently, which made it much more serious than it had originally sounded, since some of the guests had been underage. James could be arrested for it – even if he had nothing to do with other people's drinks. Harry knew that Ginny was also angry at herself for bailing to work and leaving Harry with the kids; annoyed at Harry for leaving the kids by themselves and going to work on New Year's Eve and being gone for the night; disappointed at Albus for not telling them he had been dating someone four months ago. She was also furious at the wizarding world in general for their obsession about Harry Potter, and how it was causing pain and sorrow to her son.
James starts by telling how he had agreed to spend the night with some of his friends, and how it then somewhat expanded into a party when his friends brought their friends, and Albus had invited his friends. He tells how one of his classmates took Muggle Studies with Travers, and how Travers had been disliked by many of his friends. How she had been disliked by James as well, after she had messed around with his brother.
James admits that he might've got the idea of inviting her to the party and getting back at her, since he – and the rest of his friends – thought she deserved it. James ducks his head slightly, saying that they didn't really think she'd come, even though they knew exactly how much she craved to be included into the group of the popular students in Hogwarts.
Quinn looks James silently for a moment. "But she came?"
James clears his throat and looks up at Quinn. "Yeah," he mutters, swallowing hard. "After that…I gathered everyone together, and – um – basically told her that she was a daft cow to not realise we were taking the piss out of her – that she had to be deranged to even think we'd invite such a slag to party with us," James says very quietly, looking everywhere but at Harry, Ginny or Quinn.
Ginny lets out a shocked breath, gaping at James. Harry is similarly stunned; he stares at his son, feeling horrified, and wonders who is this boy and what has he done to Harry's good-mannered son James? Because until now Harry had been sure James doesn't speak like that about others, or treat others like he apparently had.
"JAMES!" Ginny cries, looking appalled and speechless. "How can you speak to – to anyone – like that?!" Ginny yells, shaking her head in disbelief.
Harry glances at Quinn, and sees how he too looks completely taken aback.
James stares at the floor with a strained look. "I'm not proud of what I said. But, what he did to Albus – "
"Surely it wasn't that bad!" Ginny says in outrage.
James's gaze snaps to his mother; he gives her a deep glare. "You don't even know what happened!" James says heatedly, "She embarrassed him! Broke up with him one morning, with a new boyfriend already, in front of the entire school, just like that!"
Ginny gasps, her anger faltering.
And Harry is even more stunned, if possible, since… James and Albus, they get along, but they have never been as close as Lily and James, or Lily and Albus. The fact that James would defend his brother – and Harry admits that the means to do so were rather harsh – makes his chest warm a bit.
James lifts his chin and looks at Quinn, "I'm not proud of what I did, but she was a b…I mean, many people disliked her," James says simply.
Quinn nods at him. "Why did it take so long for you to get back at her?" Quinn asks carefully, and glances at Harry. "Albus and Miss Travers did break up at the end of September?"
Harry has been thinking the same thing. Why get back at her several months later, if Albus and Travers hadn't been in any contact between September and the end of December?
James gives Quinn a shrug. "I wouldn't have, but then I heard her on the train, when we were on the journey back home for the holidays, and she was…talking about Albus to her friends," James says, his voice cold.
"Oh?" Quinn asks, "What did she say?"
Harry holds his breath, staring at James intently.
James shifts in his seat, looking very uncomfortable. "She, um…she said," James murmurs, and gives Harry an apologising look. "She said 'I hope for all the single women in the wizarding world, that Harry Potter is not as useless in the sack, as his son is.'"
All air leaves from Harry's lungs.
"W-What?" Ginny whispers, and Harry knows even without looking, what Ginny thinks.
Albus actually slept with the girl.
And then, something heavy and unpleasant drops in his stomach, as he realises something else. What James had heard Travers say on the train, implicates that she knew Harry was single and possibly looking for a partner. He thinks, if Albus had known about his parents' separation, and told Travers about it.
Harry wonders, if Lily knows too.
Harry barely listens as Ginny starts to demand details from James about Albus's relationships, and this group of witches that seems very much like some kind of a twisted Harry -fan club. James tells Ginny he doesn't want to know about his brother's personal life, and that Albus sure as hell doesn't tell anything to him.
Ginny and James continue bickering, while Harry is deep in thought. Albus, his sixteen-year-old son, has…been with a girl. Girls, possibly. Harry feels a sizable lump in his throat. Is that – is it normal? It probably is, he reckons. He and Ginny weren't that much older when they reached that same level of intimacy. Perhaps they would have got there sooner, if the war had not been raging around them? Still, it seems that his son is growing up so fast that he has barely been able to hold on. So many details of Albus's life have come forth during the past day that Harry wonders how well he really knows his son?
His thoughts are interrupted by Quinn, who manages to silence Ginny with a serious expression before he asks James to continue explaining the events of the party.
Apparently, Travers left soon after the uncomfortable incident, and James and his friends stayed up until the early morning hours. He doesn't mention the alcohol, and to Harry's embarrassment and relief, Quinn doesn't ask about it.
James then speaks about his train ride, after Quinn asks him to, and he tells Quinn that he didn't see Travers on the ride back. He says he spent the most of the ride with his girlfriend and his friends, and only left them for thirty minutes when he briefly met Rose and Hugo, one to two hours before the train reached Hogsmeade.
Harry thinks that other than the thirty minutes during which James was not in his compartment, his story seems perfectly unquestionable.
An hour later, Harry's in for another row with Ginny, as he asks her permission to have Albus questioned under Veritaserum.
"…I know it'll clear him of your 'suspects'," she says with an arched brow, "but that still doesn't eliminate the fact that you are talking about him like he has something to confess. Him being private about his life has now spurred you on, and you're certain he is hiding something!" Ginny rants.
Harry lets out a weary sigh and briefly closes his eyes. "Look, Gin, – "
"Don't 'Gin' me, Harry!" Ginny hisses, "This is on us! We should've been there, and not let our jobs come before our children!" She says, her voice anxious. "There wouldn't have been any parties on New Year's, and we might've learned about Albus's troubles long ago…"
Harry blinks at her, feeling resigned and angered at the same time. "I'm not the one who spends half of their holidays in France," Harry grits out, giving Ginny a pointed look. Even though Ginny speaks about them both, it certainly feels she's somehow blaming him for all of it.
Ginny looks outraged. "I was not in France, and you bloody well know it! And how is me being abroad for work any different than you spending all your time in the Auror office?" Ginny yells, and then narrows her eyes at Harry.
"Did you tell them?" She asks suddenly, her voice lower and even more threatening. "Did you tell our children about our separation?" She seethes.
Harry gives her an incredulous look. "Of course not! I haven't told anyone!"
Ginny lets out a scoff. "Then how would the girl have known?!" She hisses, her eyes blazing. "How would anyone know that the Great Saviour is in fact single?!" She yells, and as she does so, the door to Moonstone's office opens, and Malfoy steps in.
Ginny whirls towards the door. "What?!" She nearly snarls, her eyes turning cold as soon as she sees who it is. "What do you want, Malfoy?" She asks tersely.
Malfoy looks unaffected by Ginny's spiteful tone, and merely gives her a blank look before turning towards Harry. "Quinn said you wanted to speak to me, Potter," he says simply.
As Harry looks back at Malfoy, he can see there's something flickering in Malfoy's gaze. Something close to…curiosity.
Harry clenches his jaw, nods at Malfoy, before giving Ginny a pointed look. "We can continue the discussion regarding our son later, Ginny, if that's what you wish. However, you know it is for the best," He says, lifting his brows slightly, moving the topic back to the inspection.
Ginny scowls at Harry for a moment, and then lets out a weary sigh. "Fine. Do it then," She says stiffly, looking aloof, and then turns towards the door, not saying anything more, and not turning back to look at Harry.
The door shuts with a click, and Malfoy stares at Harry, a somewhat contemplative look in his eyes. He then clears his throat and lifts his brows inquiringly. "Potter?"
A frown takes place between Harry's brows. "Take a seat, Malfoy," Harry says quietly, feeling nervous. If Ginny reacted the way she did, Harry's not looking forward to see how Malfoy will, as he will be asked the same thing.
Malfoy's eyes flash with something Harry can't place. "Is this about my son?" Malfoy asks, as soon as he has sat down opposite to Harry, on the other side of the table.
Harry swallows uncomfortably, trying to not be bothered by the way Malfoy's eyes sharply track his every movement.
"You wish to use Veritaserum?" Malfoy asks blankly, his jaw hard. Harry lets out a small sigh, but Malfoy continues, a hint of a sneer on his expression. "Tell me, Potter…is it only my son?"
Even though Malfoy's voice stays calm, there's a storm of rage in his eyes.
Harry gives Malfoy an incredulous look. "What?" He then shakes his head quickly, realising what Malfoy is on about. "No. It's not," He says firmly, and then looks away, rubbing his neck. "You just witnessed me asking Ginny if she will agree to it – to let Quinn question Albus under Veritaserum."
Malfoy's eyes move over Harry's features. "I take it she was not overjoyed?" He asks, his voice now void of the sharpness, his expression less menacing than it was mere moments ago.
Harry is about to say more, but then closes his mouth, opting to give Malfoy a nod instead. "I need to go soon. Quinn will question Rose in a moment, and then I have to discuss with Mr Riley's, Miss Scotts' and Miss Westen's parents and ask them the very same thing I'm asking you now," Harry says wearily, before giving Malfoy an intent look. "Will you give your permission to question your son under Veritaserum?"
Malfoy watches back unblinkingly, and after a moment Harry wants to look away from the intense pair of grey eyes – eyes that have been haunting his dreams during his weakest moments. But he forces himself to hold Malfoy's gaze, forces himself to focus in present. He has a job to do. A possible murder to solve.
"I will," Malfoy says after a long silence. He then looks away, a small frown between his brows.
Harry nods, "Then I will inform Quinn that he should proceed with questioning our sons tomorrow," he says unenthusiastically, and stands up. Malfoy follows his example. "Um. I'll talk to you later…back in the village," Harry mutters, feeling quite uneasy, and out of his skin.
Malfoy merely gives him a brisk nod, and grunts a simple, "Potter," before he leaves the room in a flutter of robes.
Harry takes a moment to rub his temples, and then makes his way back to the classroom they've been using for the questionings. Ron and Hermione are both standing with Rose in the Entrance Hall.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione breathes, shaking her head in bewilderment as she walks up to Harry, leaving Ron and Rose close to the classroom. "What is going on? Rose isn't – you know Rose, how could anyone – if someone is behind this – if someone has done it on purpose –"
"Hermione, calm down," Harry says with a hard tone, giving Hermione a squeeze on her shoulder and glancing at Ron and Rose. His friend gives him a strained smile, and an inconspicuous nod. Harry focuses on Hermione again. "I know it doesn't make any sense right now," Harry says very quietly, "You know that I wouldn't suspect any of our children, because I know them. But we need more information. We need to show that Rose is innocent, as well as find out if she has seen anything that could help us solve the case," Harry says promptly. "You know this, Hermione," he adds softly.
Hermione swallows hard, nodding a couple of times. "Yes…yes, I'm…I know," she says weakly, before taking in a deep breath, and standing straighter, pulling up the 'Head of the DMLE' look on her face. "I hope you do find out what happened. The press is going wild, now that some of the parents have talked," she says with a tired voice, pinching the bridge of her nose. "It will get worse when the parents start arriving here, trying to pull their kids out of the school," She continues, before whispering, "And if they find out that our children are suspects – "
"They're not." Harry says promptly. He gives her a meaningful look, before glancing at Ron and Rose. "Let's get this over with, yeah?"
Albus watches as his mother leaves through the front doors in the Entrance Hall, his stomach twisting nervously. He's going to be questioned under Veritaserum the next day, and even though he has nothing to hide – at least regarding Travers – he can't stop feeling worried.
Somehow, other people's descriptions of the train ride, as well as his history with Travers made his own story questionable, and he doesn't know how, or why. He knows that Rose too will have to face the same thing the next day, as during the train ride she had apparently stopped by Travers's compartment, and been alone with her. He thinks back to their conversation in the library after classes, after Rose had been questioned.
"Hi Al," Rose says quietly as she sits down next to him at the corner table.
Albus gives his cousin a small smile and puts his quill away. "Hey. Is…is everything all right?" He asks, taking note of the anxious look on her face.
Rose shakes her head slightly, her eyes glinting. "No. I don't know," she whispers, worry evident in her voice. "I saw Jenna, on the train, and I talked to her, and I went into her compartment, and – and now they want to question me under Veritaserum!" She says, urgently, keeping her voice low, even though she seems somewhat…terrified.
"Wait…what?" Albus asks, frowning at her. "Why would you have spent time with her? Why would you have gone to her compartment?" He asks, his jaw tight, annoyed at his cousin, hoping she hadn't been there because of Albus. Albus has had enough of other people trying to solve his problems. At the same time, he is quite surprised that Rose is part of the investigation.
Rose gives him an incredulous look. "Was I not allowed to do so?" She asks with a tense voice.
Albus huffs, shaking his head. "If you're pissed off about what James did, you should know I had nothing to do with it," He says sharply.
Rose frowns. "But – but why would James…?"
Albus sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. Why, indeed…Albus has no idea. He tells her so, and Rose looks a bit regretful, chewing the inside of her cheek.
"I'm sorry. I thought…I thought it was…to, to get revenge, or something. I thought you were involved with what happened at the party," She says quietly, and then looks at Albus, sees the bitterness in his gaze, and hastily continues, "I'm not saying what she did was right, but…I thought you two were past that."
Albus suppresses an eyeroll. Past that. Well, yes, he is, but…he thinks that she wasn't. He briefly wonders, why Jenna left him? Why leave him, if, in the end, she had not been happy with her decision... Perhaps he'll never know. He gives Rose an agreeing grunt, before remembering the reason his cousin came to him.
"I'm sure it'll be all right, Rose." He says, patting her hand. "The questioning. You have nothing to worry about."
Rose bites her lip, giving a jerky nod, and stares at the table. There's a short silence, during which Albus has moved his focus back to his schoolwork.
"Where's Scorpius?" Rose asks suddenly, glancing around them.
Albus shrugs. "Dunno." He says simply, having been wondering the very same thing earlier. He saw his friend in their dorm after Albus had been questioned, and Scorpius had seemed rather absent. Scorpius had then excused himself and left the dorm and the Slytherin common room. Albus had wondered for a moment, whether he ought to go search for his friend, but in the end decided that Scorpius probably wanted privacy, and so Albus had went to the library to do his homework. "Why?" He asks Rose.
Rose shrugs, moving her gaze away from Albus. "You're always together." She says airily.
Albus gives her a pointed look.
"Well, okay!" She says once she sees Albus's stare, lifting her hands up. "I was just wondering how he is doing with his…father around." She says with a shrug that she tries so hard to make an indifferent one.
Albus sniggers inwardly. It's obvious that Rose is quite taken by Scorpius, even if she has always denied it whenever Albus or Lily have asked her about the matter.
"He'll be fine," Albus says, hoping to Merlin he's right. Scorpius has been acting strangely for some time now, and Albus doesn't know why, nor does he know how to get through to his best friend.
Rose smiles tentatively at him.
"When are you going to admit that you fancy him?" Albus asks, giving her a teasing nudge.
Blush creeps up to Rose's ears, and she stammers for a moment, before adamantly telling Albus that he's wrong, and that he ought to shut his bloody trap.
Albus sniggers a bit at her expense. His cousin soon leaves, after aiming a sharp punch on his shoulder, when Albus keeps the knowing smirk plastered on his face.
He wonders, if he'd be okay with Rose and Scorpius dating. It doesn't feel right to Albus, somehow. He thinks the feelings between the two of them are not really mutual. He thinks Scorpius hasn't looked at Rose like that, and probably will not do so in the future.
Regarding the questioning the next day, Albus thinks Rose will be all right, that it'll go smoothly. He doesn't really worry for her, as much as he does for his best friend. Albus can't stop thinking that something's not right with Scorpius. Albus – well, Albus thinks Scorpius might know more about Travers's death than he has let on.
James, however, seems to be off the hook; no one seems to be interested about questioning him further – at least, according to his mother – since he wasn't actually seen with Travers after the party, even though, Albus thinks bitterly, James was the one who started this whole bloody mess.
Groaning inwardly, Albus runs a hand through his unruly hair and turns to walk towards the Great Hall, knowing that dinner will be soon served, and deciding that there's no point of going back to the dungeons.
However, as he walks across the Entrance Hall, he can hear his name uttered in a sharp whisper.
"What do you want? Did Albus send you?"
Albus stops in his tracks, and glances around him; the hall is empty. The classroom where Albus and the others were questioned by the Aurors in the middle of the hall is now closed, and Albus reckons the voices carry to the hall from one of the rooms around the corner.
What he doesn't expect, as he creeps a bit closer, is that his brother and his friend are in a middle of an argument.
" –Potter," Scorpius says stiffly, "We need to talk."
Albus frowns ahead, bewildered. Why does Scorpius sound so…anxious? Why does he need to talk to James? Albus listens attentively, feeling like a complete stalker as he leans against the wall around the corner, close to the classroom, the door of which has apparently been left open.
"Why?" Albus's brother mutters, sounding a bit worried. "Is it – is it about what happened?" James asks mutedly.
Albus's eyes widen in surprise and interest. What? What are they talking about?
"What do you think?" Scorpius asks impatiently, and Albus can picture clearly Scorpius rolling his eyes in exasperation. "I trust you heard about the questioning they're doing tomorrow?" Scorpius continues tightly. "And if they ask the right questions, you know what they'll find out."
"Yeah, okay! I get it," James hisses harshly. "You don't have to say it aloud!"
Albus gapes ahead, unable to believe what he's hearing. James and Scorpius? Do they – do they actually have something to do with Travers's death?
No, it can't be! It's James. And Scorpius! Albus knows them. They couldn't be responsible for something so horrible, no…
"I will tell Albus." Scorpius mutters after a short silence.
Albus can hear James scoffing loudly. "No, you fucking won't," James growls. "You will not tell a soul, Malfoy, and you will pray that they don't ask about it tomorrow. And if they do, you'll – you'll lie!"
"How the fuck will I lie, when they'll use bloody Veritaserum?" Scorpius asks threateningly, and Albus hears a sharp intake of breath.
There's a short silence.
"Scor…" James whispers with a weary sigh.
Albus's brows shoot up high on his forehead. Since when has James called him 'Scor' ?!
There's another silence, longer this time, and Albus wonders what is happening, especially, when James continues, his voice now a bit muffled, "You don't understand," James murmurs. "My career…Char…everything will be ruined," He says, sounding…something between hopeless and emotionless.
Scorpius huffs with irritation, and Albus can hear movement in the room. "So – what? One mistake and your life is over?" he asks darkly.
James scoffs. "Can't believe you just said that…Well, fuck you, Scorpius." James grunts, and Albus can hear him walking in the room, towards the door. "I need to go…I need to find – find Charlotte…"
"Whatever," Scorpius mutters, resign in his voice.
Albus hastily retreats to an empty classroom behind him, and manages to close the door just before James rushes past it towards the Great Hall.
Albus's mind whirls, as he tries to understand what the hell is going on. He thinks hard about everything he just heard. James…did James do it? The mistake? Is – is James the reason Travers is dead? Dread flickers to the bottom of Albus's stomach; what if Scorpius and James have something to do with Travers's death? What if one of them…what if they killed her?
"Hey Scor," Albus greets his friend at dinner, as Scorpius sits down next to him at their house table.
Scorpius gives Albus a quick glance. "Hey," he says absently.
Albus watches carefully, as Scorpius proceeds to fill his plate. "You all right?" Albus asks, taking note of his friend's every move.
Albus is certain he sees Scorpius's hand twitch as he grabs the potato ladle.
Scorpius looks back at him, shrugging. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just some stuff with dad…" He mutters, turning his focus on his plate.
Albus arches a brow at him, knowing that there could quite well be 'some stuff with his dad', as there always seems to be, but this time he knows it's about Albus's brother. But before he can question his friend further, Julian, Cory, Cecil and Zachary sit down on the other side of the table, all red-faced and windswept, evidently due to a fun afternoon spent outside.
Albus feels irritated as his day has gone by in different kinds of interrogations held by his father, mother and the Aurors, and running to his classes, while his friends have had their free periods and enjoyed what sounds like a victorious snowball fight against the fifth year Ravenclaws.
Julian chuckles, "I mean, you should've seen him! Zach hit Thomas straight in the nose!"
Zachary gives his friends an indifferent shrug. "I could hardly miss it," he says airily, his eyes glinting slyly, "…not with Thomas holding it so preciously up…"
Cory snorts, shaking his head, while both Scorpius and Albus snigger, all of them knowing that their friend's description of their classmate is quite accurate.
Their conversation quickly moves to Quidditch, and to the final matches of the season between the Hogwarts houses. An hour later, their group has finally emptied their plates and returned to their common room to take care of their homework. It is not until later that night, when Albus has retired to his bed, that he remembers the argument between Scorpius and his brother. Albus decides to find out what is going on, and decides to confront Scorpius the next day.
"It is a nightmare," McGonagall says, staring out of the windows in her circular office. The sun has gone down and the grounds are dark.
"The school governors have been owling me every hour, as well as the Minister; apparently many of the students' parents have taken residence in the village, demanding that the school ought to be closed, and the children sent to their homes," McGonagall says, her tone weary.
Harry lets out an irritated grunt. "Yes, the Minister has sent his regards to me as well, urging us to solve this case…" Harry says, sounding as tired as the Headmistress.
McGonagall gives Harry a small smile. "I have faith in you, Harry. I know you are doing everything you can. I merely wish we could already put this behind us."
Harry nods slowly. "We will continue tomorrow, by questioning Miss Hazel Scott, Miss Westen, James, Albus, Rose and Scorpius under Veritaserum," he says, chewing the inside of his cheek. "Unfortunately, we cannot let any of the students go yet, since they are all witnesses – as well as possible suspects – in a murder investigation."
McGonagall looks at Harry with a steady look. "Yes, I understand. Do you really think one of them did it?"
Harry is quiet for a moment, trying to think if any of the students could've done it. Of course, it is possible. It has happened before. He hopes it isn't the case this time. "I hope not." He says quietly.
There's a short silence, before Harry speaks, "Aurors Peele, Prone, Higgins, Bletchley, Walter, Parkinson, Bones and Smith will be stationed in the school during the night, patrolling the common rooms and corridors."
"It would be appreciated."
Harry gives a nod to the Headmistress. "If there is nothing else, I will head up to the Gryffindor Tower to inform James that he too will be questioned under Veritaserum tomorrow," Harry says wearily.
They weren't going to, originally, but then Rose had been questioned and she hadn't been sure if it had been thirty minutes she had spent with James on the train, or less. And Harry knows, that if there hadn't been an incident between James and Travers at the party during New Year's Eve, he wouldn't have been questioned at all.
McGonagall smiles sympathetically at Harry. "Good night, Harry."
"…You're saying the post-mortem-scan did not reveal any other magical signatures but Miss Travers's?"
Draco can hear his boss's question, but his focus is on Potter, who right then walks into the pub, only to be confronted by a group of anxious Weasleys.
Potter tries to explain the group calmly, that he cannot allow anyone to the castle, and yes, their children are safe there, with eight of his Aurors patrolling the common rooms and corridors. Draco thinks Potter looks a bit helpless, as his wife's mother starts to pester him with questions, and soon Draco sees him glancing around the room, trying to find someone to help him reign in the apprehensive group of gingers and their spouses.
"…Draco?" Granger – or well, Granger-Weasley, Draco thinks – asks, staring at him with a questioning look from the seat next to him. "Did you hear what I –" She turns to look at the direction Draco had been looking, and growls under her breath. "For Merlin's sake!" She grits out and stands up to march towards the group of Weasleys, ordering them to leave Potter alone, reminding them that the longer they prevent him from doing his job, the longer they have to wait to see their children. Granger then asks Potter to go ahead to the meeting room to go over the situation, while she will talk with her husband's relatives.
As soon as Berrycloth, Fungbury, Keir, Quinn and Draco sit down around the table, Potter starts to speak.
"Let's go over what we have learnt today, shall we?" Potter says, looking around the room. "Today we questioned Scorpius Malfoy, Pamela Scott, Hazel Scott, Albus Potter, Skylar Westen, Nate Riley, James Potter, and Rose Granger-Weasley. After many inconsistencies in the descriptions of events they gave us, I decided it was needed to question all of them under Veritaserum," Potter explains, while both Keir and Quinn take notes. "Nate Riley and Pamela Scott were questioned again later today, under Veritaserum, and the rest will be questioned tomorrow."
Potter looks at his notes and clears his throat. "Nate Riley spent part of the journey with Travers, and the other part of it with his friends. He saw Travers having an argument with Albus and Scorpius in the corridor, participated in it in order to end it, and afterwards had an argument with Travers in a compartment. Both incidents were left unmentioned by him in the first questioning last night," Potter says, looking around the room. "Riley explained today under Veritaserum that he had been jealous that his late girlfriend had still had feelings for Albus, and had been embarrassed about his argument with Travers, and thus had not wanted to mention the events. He told us under Veritaserum, that the last time he saw Travers, was in her compartment, where he didn't see any books. Riley had left after Travers had intended to change into her robes and had asked for privacy. Riley had returned to stay with his friends for the rest of the trip. It was approximately one hour before the train reached Hogsmeade."
Potter glances at the Aurors, before he continues, "Pamela Scott stayed in a compartment with her sister and Skylar Westen for the most of the trip. Jenna Travers stayed in their compartment for some hours in the beginning of the train ride. Pamela Scott, her sister and Westen heard the argument between Scorpius and Travers, and then between Albus, Scorpius and Travers," Potter says, with tightness in his voice. "Scott's description of the events changed between the questionings, and her final word, under Veritaserum, was that she had heard Scorpius asking Travers not to say anything to anyone, but she hadn't heard what exactly. She confirmed that she had in fact seen Albus coming there as well, and having an argument with Travers. Scott explained that she had heard Travers threatening Albus about revealing his secrets to everyone, and because of that, she had later asked her sister and Westen to not mention the occurrence to the Aurors. She explained that while she was sure that Albus couldn't have been the reason for what happened to Travers, she thought Albus would have been suspected for her death, after having the argument with her."
Draco's jaw clenches, as he thinks how the witch had made his son a suspect simply by lying to the Aurors.
Keir shakes his head slightly, still taking notes, and Potter then proceeds to go over Hazel Scott's and Skylar Westen's questionings; as both Westen and Hazel Scott had left unmentioned the incidence in the train corridor between Albus, Scorpius and Travers, they too will be questioned under Veritaserum the next day.
Potter then asks Keir to order them something to eat and drink, and there's a short break. When Keir returns, Potter nods at Quinn, who then starts to go over the questionings he had held with Draco's son and Potter's sons and niece.
Draco listens carefully as the blonde Auror goes through his son's questioning.
"Scorpius spent the train ride mostly with his dormmates; Julian Flint, Cecil Parkinson and Albus Potter. After changing into his robes, one to two hours before arriving to Hogsmeade, he met Travers in the corridor, where she unexpectedly started to threaten him. Scorpius thought that she had still been upset about what had happened at the party, after James and his friends had mocked her." Quinn says, and then switches a parchment, and scribbles something onto it with his quill.
"Scorpius told us that Travers had been threatening him without reason and had claimed she was going to tell their classmates that Scorpius and Albus were romantically involved," Quinn says, his cheeks tinging slightly with red, and Draco wants to roll his eyes at the prude Auror.
Quinn clears his throat and keeps his gaze on the parchment. "However, Scorpius insisted it is a lie, and said that he thinks Travers had brought it up merely as an excuse to talk rubbish behind Albus's back. After the argument, Scorpius spent the rest of the trip alone in a compartment."
"Why is he being questioned again tomorrow, under Veritaserum?" Draco asks, watching Potter and Quinn with an expressionless look, while knowing exactly why. He had been at his son's questioning, and he himself had thought that Scorpius had left some things unsaid.
Potter levels him with a serious look. "Because I think there's more to the story." Potter says, not moving his eyes from Draco. "He didn't really give Quinn a reason for Travers's threats, and I have a feeling that he knows exactly why she threatened him." Potter says, and Draco thinks the saviour's gaze tells him enough: they want to know if Scorpius had done something to prevent Travers from fulfilling her threats.
Draco inclines his head slightly, knowing Potter is right, knowing that he himself wants to know the truth, but is nevertheless irritated by the bright, righteous expression on the bespectacled saviour's face.
The food and drinks appear onto the side table, and Potter gestures everyone to take a snack, before Quinn continues.
"James told us about a party that took place in his home, to where Travers was invited by him," Quinn says, glancing at his notes.
Draco arches a brow at Potter, only then remembering the fact, and deciding to exchange a couple of carefully selected words with the Auror later. Potter notices Draco looking at him, and there's a mixture of guilt and exasperation in his expression, before he turns his focus back to Quinn.
"Travers had a dispute in the party with James and his friends. She left soon after her arrival. James did not see Travers at all during the train ride, but spent it with his friends and girlfriend, leaving them only for thirty minutes, during which he met with Rose and Hugo Granger-Weasley, approximately one to two hours before the train arrived to Hogsmeade. Rose Granger-Weasley's questioning confirms that James did indeed see her and her brother during the train ride, but she couldn't say if it took exactly thirty minutes."
Potter clears his throat. "And due to that, I decided that we should question James under Veritaserum as well."
Draco watches Potter carefully, taking note how concerned the other man looks.
Quinn nods. "And as James is of age, you will need to have his agreement again to be present during his questioning."
Potter frowns at the table, before giving Quinn a tense smile. "Yeah."
Quinn shuffles his parchments. "Albus spent the train ride with his dormmates Scorpius, Julian and Cecil, and told us in the questioning that there had been approximately a thirty-minute period during which he hadn't seen anyone but Scorpius, Jenna Travers and Nate Riley, less than two hours before arriving to Hogsmeade. Albus had gone to change into his school robes, and as he had returned to the compartment, it had been empty. He had then proceeded to go and find Scorpius – whom he did find, in the middle of an argument with Travers."
Quinn glances around the table before resuming back to his notes. "He had asked Travers to leave them alone, but the girl had warned Albus to stay out of it, threatening to expose Albus's secrets to the other students," Quinn says, his face slightly red.
Draco's brows twitch slightly, as he wonders, with irritation, what the hell the blonde man is blushing about now, and how the hell would a Hufflepuff have this much dirt on others?
"As Albus had dated the girl previously, he presumed she knew some of his 'secrets'. However, he told us he hadn't been worried about the threat."
Quinn looks at Potter. "Even though Albus didn't seem to be distressed at any point of the questioning, and explained the events rather openly, there is still the fact that Albus and the victim have history together, and he admitted that they were in bad terms some months prior to Travers's death. Thus, he will be questioned under Veritaserum."
Draco watches Potter, seeing how wrecked he looks. He knows there's a lot of pressure upon the Head Auror, as the Minister and the school governors are all watching his every move, expecting him to solve the case in a record time. In addition to that, both his sons are being questioned, and regarded more of less as suspects in this investigation. His irritation towards the messy-haired wizard diminishes somewhat, as he sees the flicker of overcome behind his eyes, as Quinn continues to go over Rose Granger-Weasley's questioning.
The fifth-year Ravenclaw had stayed in a compartment with her cousins for most of the train ride. She had met Travers at the luggage department, after which, she had lent her book to her.
"Why would she have the book?" Draco asks, suddenly. "It was a sixth-year charms book."
Potter gives him a somewhat pitiful look. "She reads ahead." He says simply.
Draco wants to roll his eyes, but settles for an unimpressed raised eyebrow. Of course, he thinks. Granger's kid.
Quinn nods at Draco and Potter, before continuing, "Miss Granger-Weasley said that Travers's book had been destroyed by her cousin's joke products, and thus she had felt bad for the girl, having heard what had happened during the New Year's party. She had lent her book to the other girl, knowing she didn't really need it for school, and would have it back once Travers had ordered a new copy. Granger-Weasley went to pick up the book from her own trunk, and brought it to Travers's compartment, approximately one hour before the train arrived Hogsmeade. Granger-Weasley had then seen James giving her brother Hugo Granger-Weasley joke products like the ones previously mentioned, and had confiscated them before returning to her own compartment."
Quinn puts his notes down. "Rose will be questioned again tomorrow under Veritaserum, as she is quite possibly the last one to see Travers alive."
Draco then explains the results of the post-mortem-scan that had been performed to Travers's body. He tells the others, that no other magical signatures had been detected, except her own. The scan confirmed the cause of death; blow to the head, resulting a massive blood loss and a traumatic brain injury. The scan hadn't really revealed information they hadn't been already aware of; the morgue confirmed that the sedative levels were high, and based on the laboratory examination of a sample of Travers's blood, the sedative was most likely Calming Draught.
The discussion moves on, and the Aurors form a plan for the next day. Potter informs that in addition to the Veritaserum interrogations they will be performing during the morning, they will question a handful of students who have come forth to their Heads of Houses, even though it seems that all of those students had seen Travers during the first hours of the train ride.
Potter also tells the group that he had questioned both Mr and Mrs Travers before arriving to the village, trying to find out if either the parents or their daughter had any enemies. Potter had explained to Mr and Mrs Travers that as they were an old Death Eater family – and Draco almost flinches at that – the possibility that someone had wanted to harm them in the most cruellest way couldn't be dismissed.
Unsurprisingly, the parents had been shocked, and had not considered that as a possibility – that their name could have been the reason to what had happened to their daughter. Potter had also asked them if their daughter had had access to any sedative potions, as there had been a high dose found in her bloodstream. Mr and Mrs Travers had been adamant as they had told Potter that their daughter wouldn't have had access to those potions in her home.
Potter puts both Berrycloth and Fungbury to night watch, to patrol the streets as there are several concerned parents staying in the village along with the regular population, making the air around them somewhat tense.
Granger pops in right as Quinn and Keir retreat to their rooms, and Potter starts to give Granger a summary of how the investigation is proceeding. Draco packs up his notes, ready to leave the meeting room, but is stopped by Potter.
"Malfoy," Potter says, cutting off his explanation to Granger.
Draco lifts his brows at the Auror. "Yes?"
"Would you mind waiting for a bit?" Potter asks, a somewhat imploring look in his eyes.
Draco's eyes flicker to Granger, who looks mildly surprised and moves her gaze away from the two men. He looks back at Potter and nods, thinking the Auror has most likely figured out that Draco is still peeved about the New Year's and wants to apologise for it.
Potter finishes the update of the situation, at times murmuring to Granger quiet enough so that Draco doesn't actually hear what they say.
Granger leaves the meeting room sometime later, bidding good night and informing Potter that the Weasley clan has left to their homes.
Potter heads to the side table after the door has clicked shut, picking up a bottle of Butterbeer.
Draco watches as Potter sits heavily across him, fiddling the bottle while staring at the table.
"I'm sorry," Potter finally says, moving his gaze to Draco, who feels a small twitch in the back of his neck for being under the intense stare of the pair of bright green eyes.
"I should've checked on them…there probably wouldn't have been a party," Potter continues, and then sighs wearily, "And our sons probably wouldn't be questioned now."
Draco wants to give Potter a couple of carefully selected sharp words, as he completely agrees; even if the kids are old enough to be alone at home, he too thinks this all stemmed from the party – from the dispute between James Potter and Jenna Travers, and perhaps something else as well. But looking at the man now, and seeing how exhausted he looks, Draco takes pity on him, and decides to incline his head in agreement.
Potter gives Draco a wan smile. "What? No scornful words?"
"Would you like me to give you a few?" Draco drawls with a pointed look.
Potter lets out a short laugh, shaking his head slightly, and looks at his bottle again.
After a short silence Potter speaks. "You think it's true? …That bit about our sons…you know. Dating?"
Draco watches Potter for a moment, thinking back at Scorpius's questioning, and the way his son spoke about the incident between him and Travers. "No," he says, his eyes fixed at Potter's fingers that are wrapped around the bottle.
Draco knows there's something else, however. He knows his son – there's something Scorpius has left unsaid. And that something, Draco thinks with a mild concern, will be revealed the next day.
His eyes track Potter's movements, as the Auror rubs the bridge of his nose, his glasses going askew. He watches, transfixed, at the other man, taking note how he has changed; how his hair is longer, how his appearance is somehow more…untidier – but at the same time even more distracting than before. Draco is trying hard to force away the memories that surge to the forefront of his mind, trying to forget the blazing look in the emerald eyes.
Potter lets out a dry laugh then. "It would've been better if they did…" He says, and as he looks at Draco, and sees his confused expression, he continues with a weary sigh, "Today, I learned that…that some girls in the school, they…" Potter trails off, looking flustered, embarrassed.
Draco lifts his brows in question, leaning back in his chair.
"…They aim to – to sleep with my son, because –" Potter says, his eyes wide with incredulity, his voice rough, "– because he looks like me."
Draco eyes Potter's reddened face, those innocent wide eyes, and the disbelief in them. Still, after all these years, after being the saviour, after being in the headlines for years. Still the man in front of him regards what he has just said as shocking news. He wonders, how Potter can be so…so bloody naïve? How has he managed to close his eyes and not understand his own popularity?
Potter takes off his glasses and buries his face in his hands, rubbing it anxiously. "And if that's not horrible enough, I'm fairly certain my children know that their parents are going to divorce soon," he says with a quiet voice, the heels of his palms pressing against his eyes, while his elbows are propped against the table.
Draco contemplates Potter's words. Finally, he has the confirmation to what he has been wondering, after hearing Weasley's outburst about Potter being single, as well as Potter's earlier confession about him and Weasley having problems.
"Should they not be aware of it?" Draco asks simply.
Potter lowers his hands back to the table, a small grimace on his lips. "Yeah, they should. We were supposed to tell them, during the holidays," He says, pushing his glasses back to rest against his nose, his fingers and eyes back at the bottle again. "Work came before that, I suppose."
Potter is quiet for a moment, chewing the corner of his lips, before he speaks again. "I don't even know why I'm telling you all of this…" He says, his voice hesitant, as is his expression, when he looks up and gives Draco a long, somewhat intense look.
Draco swallows hard, and sees Potter's eyes following the movement on Draco's throat. Bloody hell, he thinks, as Potter's eyes stop at Draco's lips before he looks up into his eyes again.
There's a tense silence.
"Is it because what happened?" Draco asks, finally putting in words the thought that has been swirling in his mind since that morning. If what happened between him and Potter is in fact the reason Potter is divorcing his wife.
Potter looks at the table, his jaw tightening slightly. "Yes and no," He finally says with a weary voice. "She knows what happened," he says, looking at Draco, who had already figured out that bit, "But there were other…issues," He says with a small grimace. "I suppose the…thing…at the pub was just the last straw – something we'd been, well, hoping to happen, as neither of us had had the courage to admit it before. That we're not the same anymore. That we're not happy together."
Draco doesn't even know how to take Potter's explanation. Sure, Weasley knowing is not something Draco had been wishing, since, well, probably her whole family knows by now, and as it is the Weasley family, Draco does not have high hopes for discretion. But…Potter doesn't seem to – to regret it, does he?
"We should head upstairs," Potter mutters then, looking away. "I need to be at the school before breakfast to talk to the Headmistress…"
Draco doesn't really listen, and instead flicks his wand to gather his stuff, and then stands up knowing that if he doesn't leave now, he might say something he could regret later.
Potter follows him upstairs, as they go towards their rooms, but before they reach the first landing, Potter takes Draco's hand, stopping them both in the middle of dimly lit stairs.
"…Draco." Potter whispers, and fuck, Draco thinks, how good his name sounds coming from between Potter's lips, and he remembers vividly the last time Potter had called him by his first name – in the dirty toilet of Leaky Cauldron, nearly two years ago.
Potter takes one step up the stairs, and he's standing so close to Draco now that their bodies are nearly touching. Draco feels the anticipation fluttering down his spine, as well as the urgent overwhelming need flooding down his body, as he gazes into Potter's darkened eyes.
"Do you want to –"
"Yes." Draco grunts, and with a curt nod, Potter walks up the rest of the stairs, dragging Draco with him by his hand.
Draco lets Potter have his way with him, lets the lust and want overpower reason.
Their gasps fill the quiet and dark room, and Draco feels euphoric. Too long has Draco thought of it, reminisced it – the night at the pub, and Potter's touch and taste. And now that he has it, now that the emptiness has been filled, and Potter is there with all his attention on Draco, allowing him to finally feel, there's…something nagging in the back of his mind.
Draco knows exactly what it is. It is many things. The fact that Potter is still married. That they are working together to solve a possible murder. And that – that after the pub, Potter disappeared. He didn't floo Draco. He didn't owl him. He just went back to his wife. Back to his family.
Draco's pride tries to remind him that he still ought to feel bitter about what happened, and not let Potter use him whenever he wants to.
" – What are we doing?" Draco asks, his voice hoarse against Potter's lips.
Potter stills, pulling his head back slightly to meet Draco's eyes. His glasses are askew, his pupils blown wide, and his mouth…well, Draco will steer his eyes away from Potter's delectable mouth, at least for the time being.
"What?" Potter breathes, a frown taking place between his brows, his eyes clearing. Then, as it did in Draco's mind, it happens also in Potter's. His eyes widen slightly as he realises what exactly is transpiring between them, and how it all ends if they allow it to happen. "Oh."
Draco suppresses a much needed eyeroll. They disentangle, and look away from each other.
Potter clears his throat, looking quite embarrassed, as he stares hard at the plush, green rug. His mouth moves twice, but no words are coming out.
"I should go," Draco mutters, saving them both from the uncomfortable silence. He glances at Potter, sees the somewhat desperate look in his eyes. Draco's not sure how to interpret it, but he has a vague idea what Potter is on about. "…It is best not to mention this to anyone," he adds, before murmuring a quiet, 'excuse me,' and slipping out of the room quickly and silently.
As soon as he's in the confines of his own room, Draco takes in a long, steadying breath, and presses his hands against his eyes. What in the name of Salazar was he thinking? In which scenario snogging Potter like his life depended on it, and letting Potter wank him into the brink of an orgasm is a good idea? Suppressing a groan of frustration, Draco quickly disrobes himself, and slips into the lumpy bed, making sure his wand is ready to wake him up early in the morning, and willing his somewhat painful erection to go away. He needs to get a grip. His son's questioning is the next morning. And Potter is still…Potter.
For a moment, he tries to remember that night, at the pub. He tries to remember how it ended, tries to remember what had happened after the bathroom, after he'd sucked Potter off, and after Potter had – but he can't. All he can recall, is the feeling of emptiness the next morning, when he woke up from his bed at the Manor.