Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

Chapter 33 - Interviews

Wearily, Harry left Robards' office later that night having recounted everything that had happened as he saw it, including the death of Priory. He was surprisingly numb to the fact he had killed again, it wasn't as horrifying as the idea of killing the Carrows had been.

Harry wasn't happy with the idea he had killed, in fact it saddened him that he had to, yet there wasn't the feeling of self-hate. When he explained this to Robards, the Head Auror cryptically stated that there is a difference between killing and murder.

On arriving at his cubicle he found Ginny curled up in his chair fast asleep. Smiling to himself he gently tried to wake her. Sighing when he was unsuccessful, Harry gently picked her up bridal style. She grabbed hold of his shirt in her sleep and sub-consciously buried her head in his shoulder,

Making his way to the apparation point proved to be simple enough, it was the awkward journey up the stairs of his building where Harry made sure to be extra careful. Ginny mumbled something in her sleep as Harry gently laid her down on their bed and covered her with the duvet.

Before floo travelling to St Mungo's, Harry wrote a quick note explaining where he had gone in case she woke up. On arrival the witch on the front desk pointed him in the direction of the wards the Aurors were spread out over.

Whilst looking around he spotted a girl with a blonde ponytail sitting in a chair next to Neville's bed. She was holding his hand whilst staring at his face with a relieved smile while he slept. Harry smiled slightly as he walked over.

'Hi Hannah, how is he?'

She lurched at his voice as if coming back from being deep in thought. She smiled up at him.

'Hi Harry. Yeah, he's fine, just sleeping. The healer said he should be out of here tomorrow.'

'That's good news.'

'Yeah it is, are you OK?'

'Yeah fine. For a change I'm just visiting. Do you need anything?'

'No, I'm good thanks.' She raised a coffee cup at him.

'Ok, even if he's released tomorrow morning make sure he doesn't go into the office till the day after. Bosses orders.'

She laughed 'I will. I'm not sure that will stop him though.'

'I'm sure you'll find a way.' He said cheekily.

'Get out of it.' She playfully threw the coffee cup lid at him.

He caught it laughing 'I'll see you in a bit I'm going for a wonder.'

'See ya Harry.'

Moving on he spoke to the families of some of the other Aurors to check how they were doing. Luckily it looked as though there would be no more casualties.

Harry was comforting the family of Billy Trista who had unfortunately been bitten when Robards stuck his head around the curtain.

'Sorry to interrupt. Potter, are you ready?'

'Yes sir.' Harry turned back to the family. 'If you need anything ask.'

'Thankyou Mr Potter.' Said Mrs Trista.

'No problem.' He stood and followed Robards to the end of the ward where, behind another curtain, Trott was sitting up casually drinking a cup of coffee.

'Sir, Potter. You here to get me out?'

'Unfortunately not.' Said Robards 'You will have to wait until you get the release from your Healer.'

'Well one can dream.' She muttered to herself. 'By the way, have either you seen Ron, Manny or Sam. I've asked around and they aren't here. I take it they're OK?'

Robards and Harry shared an uneasy look. 'What, what is it?' Trott asked setting her coffee down and looking pleadingly at the two of them.

'Ron's Ok, Manny and Sam didn't make it.' Said Harry quietly.

'They're dead?' She said quietly, looking down at her legs. 'Shit when will it ever end? When will we stop losing people?'

Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder 'I don't know Leanne I ask myself that question all the time. All we can do is make sure they didn't die in vain.'

'You're right. She said with a determined look in her eye. 'So how are we going to do this?'

'That's simple, if you two are up for it. I would like you to interview Padonnis, Blade and O'Manda. See if we can get them to tell us anything. Like any other groups we need to be wary of.' Informed Robards.

'OK, if they don't talk have we got enough evidence to send them down?'

'Yes, for a start they were all involved in your kidnapping and we can prove most of their other crimes as well. Roza will be able to help link them to other crimes we don't know about too.'

'OK,' said Trott 'It might be worth interviewing anyone O'Manda interviewed himself. They might have more information for us, now they are talking to actual Aurors.'

'I agree.' Said Robards. 'I'll send a team to Azkaban to see if they are willing to talk.'

'Don't offer this to Greyback.' Said Harry. 'He was almost as bad as Priory.'

'Fine, I'll sort that out.' Said Robards.

'When do you want to start sir?' Asked Trott.

'As soon as you're out of hospital.' At the brightening look on Trott's face he continued 'When the Healers let you go, I'm not springing you early.' She slumped.

It was a couple of days later when Trott sauntered unhappily back into the Auror office. 'They finally let you out then?' Asked Harry as she joined him at the kettle.

'Yeah.' She responded moodily 'They kept me in all day yesterday for some stupid reason.'

'What was that?'

'Something to do with internal bleeding, they couldn't heal the injury in my stomach properly until some specialist got there.' Harry snorted. 'What?!' She demanded.

'You realise internal bleeding is bad don't you?'

'It didn't feel that bad. I was fine.'

'Oh yeah perfectly fine.' Said Harry sarcastically 'You would have just bled to death in the middle of an interview.'

She waved a hand at him 'It wouldn't have been that bad.'

'Everyone thinks I'm bad.' Muttered Harry to himself.

'What was that?' She asked sweetly.

'Nothing, come on we'd best start these interviews. Who do you want first?'

'Padonnis, he's the leader.' They talked to the head guard on duty and asked him to take Padonnis to the interview room. They picked up the prepared portfolios and after a briefing from Robards they entered the interview room.

Padonnis was chained to the chair with a grim expression on his face. He didn't look up as the two Aurors took their seats on the other side of the table to him.

'Good Morning Mr Padonnis.' Said Trott in a business-like tone. 'Before we begin with our questions is there anything you would like to tell us?'

Padonnis continued to stare at the desk in front of him so she continued. 'Mr Padonnis, you are accused, and we have evidence of not only your involvement but your leadership, of crimes across Europe. They include murder, kidnapping, blackmail, torture, destruction of property the list goes on. Is there anything you would like to say to that?'

'We all know you have enough on me to send me to prison without me saying anything. There is no evidence of my innocence as it doesn't exist. Just answer one thing what made you look in Albania?'

'You did.' Answered Harry, not wanting to give away the particular reason. Padonnis glanced at him quickly then looked back down. 'Is there anyone else you are working with and anyone else being held captive that you can tell us about?'

'Like I'd tell you.' Sneered Padonnis.

'It will be in your favour if you help us.' Said Trott.

'Get fucked. When's my trial?'

'Few days. I would enjoy it whilst you're here though.' Said Harry 'Azkaban's rough, my godfather was never the same after he came out.'

Trott knocked on the door and asked the guard to take him away. She also asked for them to bring Blade to the room.

'Well he was talkative.' Mentioned Harry as they waited.

'Yeah well like he said, we've got them banged to rights. There's nothing he can say to get out of this so why say anything. One thing you learn is that they never help when they can't save their own skin.'

They sat in silence before the door opened so that a smirking Blade could be led inside. As soon as he sat down the chair bound him in place. 'I seem to remember the shoe being on the other foot in Romania.' He said conversationally, not the least bit perturbed by the chains.

'Mr Blade'

'Come now' interrupted Blade, 'What's with all this Mr Blade stuff. You weren't this polite in Romania.'

'You weren't this talkative.' Said Harry.

'Maybe not with you Potter.' He spat 'Me and this one spoke all the time though, didn't we gorgeous?'

'Yes I do remember you talking quite a lot. Rather annoying really.'

'Blade the list of charges against you is endless. Multiple killings, kidnappings, torture, so on. Is there anything that you would like to say?'

'Not really.' He said shrugging. 'You've managed to stop all our operations as far as I know. What is there to add?'

'Well, here are a list of people still missing.' Harry opened the portfolio and showed Blade the list.

He looked at it with interest. 'You've got a lot of work to do.' He said with a cruel smile.

'Come on Blade you must know something.' Urged Trott.

'No, not a clue.' He said smugly. 'Although I wish you the best of luck.'

'Come on Blade you can't benefit from this anymore. Can you honestly say you want these people to suffer?' Asked Harry.

'No, like I said though I don't know anything.' Blade growled.

'I don't believe you.' Accused Harry.

'You'll have a hard job proving it Potter. Especially as the Ministry has gone soft and prevented you from forcing people to take Veritaserum.'

'Yeah well, confessing under it, if you give us useful information, can reduce your sentence.' Pointed out Trott.

'What can I do with a shortened sentence?' Blade spat. 'For what you've got on me that won't help me get out of Azkaban in my lifetime.'

'Keeping quiet won't either.' Said Harry

'We'll see.' Retorted Blade with a sinister gleam in his eye.

'This is pointless.' Sighed Trott as she stood up and opened the door. 'Take him away and bring in O'Manda.'

After Blade had been taken from the room, Trott turned to Harry. 'I thought one of them might know something.'

'O'Manda still might.' Said Harry fairly.

'Yeah I doubt he will give us anything though.'

'We could always pressure some of the other guys involved. See if we can get them reduced sentences for useful information obtained by Veritaserum.'

'I don't know, do you really think they know anything?'

Harry shrugged his shoulders 'Can't hurt to try.'

They were interrupted when the door opened and a very sour looking O'Manda was placed in the chair. He just glared at the two of them without saying anything.

'Mr O'Manda,' started Trott her voice expressionless 'You are not only being charged with numerous crimes including murder and abduction, you are also being charged with treason against the Ministry of Magic.' O'Manda snorted.

'Something funny?' Asked Harry icily.

'Treason ay? It was you who betrayed us! The Ministry has done fuck all the past few years to help anyone and you accuse me of treason? Come on!'

'Yes, because murdering and kidnapping people helps.' Harry retorted scornfully. 'Although I agree the Ministry hasn't been led that well in recent years, particularly in Fudge and Thicknesse's cases.'

'Well it's alright now is it? All because the great Harry Potter is here. The chosen one! The epic boy who lived! Is that it?'

'No, it's getting better because people were prepared to stand up against people like you.'

'We'll see.' Sneered O'Manda 'The slightest bit of trouble and the wizarding world will be on lockdown again. I'd be careful though Potter if I was you.'

'Is that a threat?' Asked Harry darkly.

'No merely an observation.' Said O'Manda smirking 'Everyone loves a hero, but do you know what they love more?'

'I'm not interested considering I'm no hero.'

'They'll still enjoy watching you fall.' He smirked at Harry 'I don't mean by being killed or badly injured. There's a murderer in you waiting to get out Potter, we both know it. You may hide behind Priory's death as self-defence but we know different, don't we now? Especially after the incident with the Carrows'

Harry was frozen to the core and averted his eyes What if he's right. 'It seems I struck a cord.'

'I'm no murderer.' said Harry defensively.

'You could have fooled me. I saw the gleam in your eye when you killed him, you enjoyed it didn't you Potter?'

'You're wrong!'

'Am I now? I don't think' There was a flash of red light and O'Manda crumpled in his seat. Harry looked to his right to see Trott with her wand out.

'Don't listen to a word that bastard said, you hear me?' Trott growled. Harry nodded his head meekly 'I'm being serious Potter he's just trying to get in your head.'

'I know.' He said still with his eyes cast towards the ground.

'It really worries you doesn't it?' Asked Trott this time her voice gentle.

'Yeah.' Said Harry quietly 'I know that I wouldn't cross that line, I just don't know how much of Riddle is still left.'

'None, Harry, if he was still there and had any control, Padonnis, Blade and O'Manda would have died that day, as well as countless others. Priory died failing to defend himself, it was an accident. All Aurors kill at some point, the point is we don't go looking to, it's always a last resort.'