While Albus and Scorpius were talking quietly in the Slytherin dormitory, Ginny sat at the kitchen table in the Potters' house. It was almost midnight. By this time she was usually already in bed, but tonight she was waiting for Harry. He rarely stayed in work so long, not these days. She concluded something important must have happened - hopefully something regarding Albus's attacker. She wasn't worried anything bad happened to her husband as she would have been immediately informed in such a case.
To occupy the time, Ginny wrote an answer to her younger son's letter, which had come earlier that evening. It was written entirely by Albus (the first few they had received in the beginning of September had been written mainly by Scorpius) and contained good news about the number of pain attacks receding and Albus's progress in Braille. Ginny wrote the letter with 'the white quill', as they called it, so Albus could read it. She finished her part, leaving a place for anything Harry might want to add, and sipped the hot cocoa.
She heard a loud crack of Apparition and a second later Harry walked into the kitchen. He was beaming.
"We found him."
Ginny put down the mug, almost knocking it over in her haste, and ran to Harry, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him joyfully. He kissed her back and she felt that he was still smiling through the kiss.
"You found him?" she asked breathlessly, after breaking the kiss. "How? Who is he? Where is he?"
"Well, we don't know where he is," admitted Harry sheepishly. "But we know who he is."
"Tell me everything," she said, sitting back at the table and indicating him to take a seat beside her. "Do you want a cup of cocoa?"
Harry nodded and sat down. Ginny waved her wand and a mug of steaming hot cocoa started making itself.
"Is that a letter from Albus?" asked Harry, sliding the sheet of parchment towards him.
"Yes. I suppose our answer is going to be much longer than what I thought."
"Definitely. I can't wait to tell Albus everything." The mug with cocoa flew over to Harry. He took a sip and closed his eyes.
"Harry, I know that you're tired but I need to know everything now. I can't wait till morning," Ginny said, stroking Harry's hand.
"I know you can't wait," laughed Harry and opened his eyes. "I have no intentions of keeping you in suspense." He took another sip.
"Good. Then I'm all ears."
"For the last two weeks we've been searching through the wizarding population's records for anyone who has family members named Charles, Claire and Grace. As we don't know who exactly these names refer to, we looked for anyone: parents, siblings, grandparents, children, wife. And these are fairly common names so we found about twenty or more individuals who have someone named Charles, Claire or Grace in their families. Most of them are Muggleborns and in such cases our records aren't very detailed. We know parents' names but, for example, we don't know anything about siblings if they're non-magical."
"Have you questioned all those people?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, we started doing that but only got to four or five people so far. We're also asking around if anyone know someone with such a tattoo."
"Why won't you put an announcement in the newspapers? Or posters in the streets?" Ginny suggested.
Harry took a sip of his drink, then nodded his head. "That would be the easiest way to reach more people who may know him. But I was afraid he would see the announcement and know that we're looking for him, that we know how to identify him. This way he has no idea we're searching for him."
"Of course," Ginny agreed. "So, how did you finally find out who he is?" Ginny leaned closer to Harry, impatient to hear his revelation.
Harry sighed. "It's funny, you know. We could have known this two weeks ago if one of my Aurors hadn't been injured during his mission. Philip Beumont, he was hurt rather bad and spent a few weeks in St Mungo's and then at home recuperating. Today he came back and I asked him if he knew someone with that tattoo. And he said that of course he knew him, it was one of his best friends at Hogwarts."
Ginny gasped.
"Edward Mortimer is his name," said Harry, making a grimace, as if the name was the swear word.
"Edward Mortimer," Ginny repeated slowly. At last, she knew the name of her child's oppressor, the name of the man who had brought so much pain and sorrow into their lives. She drew strength from that knowledge, as if knowing just the name had given her power over its bearer. "What do we know about him?"
"There is very little information in his files but Philip told me a lot about him. He really was one of Mortimer's closest friends and he probably knows more about him than any other person besides Mortimer himself," said Harry. He took another sip of cocoa before starting the story: "Mortimer came to Hogwarts when I was in sixth year. He was sorted into Ravenclaw. His parents are, or rather were, Charles and Claire Mortimer. Grace is his sister, three years younger, non-magical."
"She's a Squib?"
"Oh no, she's a Muggle. He's a Muggleborn wizard, the only one in his family to have magic." Harry turned the mug in his hands, staring at the swirling liquid. "It's a tragic story, very sad."
"Tragic? Albus's story is tragic!" Ginny protested. "I'm not going to sympathize with a torturer."
"Wait until you hear the whole story. What happened to his family is truly heart-breaking." Harry rubbed his eyes. "So, he came to Hogwarts after the Battle at the Department of Mysteries, when everyone believed that Voldemort had returned and wizarding world was at war. An eleven-year-old boy, all alone, thrown into a strange and unfamiliar world, which, moreover, was at war. But Philip says that Mortimer quickly found himself in the wizarding community. He was very intelligent, talented, an excellent student, though he was a shy, reserved boy, who spent most of his time alone with a book. But he had a few trusted friends and Philip says that he was kind, helpful and everyone liked him."
"Sounds like another Tom Riddle to me," Ginny scowled.
"Not exactly. Tom Riddle's niceness and courtesy was just a manipulation, means to an end. It seems that Edward Mortimer was a genuinely nice boy. What had happened to his family changed him completely. He spent the summer after the first year in his family house. He knew little of what was happening in the wizarding world at the time and I suppose as a child he didn't really care about it. Philip said that he had written him a letter informing him that Voldemort had taken over the Ministry and that he and his family were in danger. But it seems that Mortimer didn't do anything about it, probably he didn't know what he could do. Maybe he thought they'd be safe, that Death Eaters didn't know where he lived. But they soon found out."
Harry paused. Ginny saw that his eyes were shining with unshed tears. She held her breath, waiting anxiously for the rest of the story.
"Three Death Eaters attacked them in the middle of the night. But they didn't kill them. They tortured his parents and sister. They made an innocent twelve-year-old boy watch as they were torturing his family into madness. They were doing it just for fun; the Mortimer family didn't have any useful information. When his parents and sister lost their minds, the Death Eaters turned their wands to poor Edward. They cast the Cruciatus Curse on him but he was lucky – members of the Order saved him just in time. They had been summoned by a neighbour who was a wizard. Unfortunately, they were too late to save Edward's family. They killed one Death Eater, two others escaped. Then the Order moved Edward and his family to a safe house where he spent the rest of the war with a few other Muggleborns' families, caring for his insane family."
Ginny's eyes were full of tears. Despite her previous statement, she couldn't help but feel sympathy towards little Edward and his family.
"That's- that's horrible," she whispered, dabbing her eyes dry with a sleeve. "What happened to them? Are they still alive?"
"After the war Edward's parents and sister were transferred to St Mungo's," Harry continued his story. "To the same ward as Neville's parents. Edward was taken care of by his grandmother who returned from her retirement in France after she heard what had happened to her family. His parents died some years ago but his sister is still in the hospital."
"And what happened to Mortimer? Did he return to Hogwarts? What did he do after the graduation?"
"Yes, he continued school. Philip says that he was still one of the best students in his year. He was still friendly and polite but he secluded himself even more than before. He spent most of his time alone, studying hard, doing research he didn't want to talk about. Philip says that in their final year Mortimer barely kept in contact with anyone; Philip was basically the only person he spoke with. In their sixth year he tattooed the names of his family on his forearm. He graduated with excellent marks, passed all his N.E.W.T.s, and could have started any career he wanted. But shortly after graduation he disappeared."
"What do you mean?"
"We don't know what happened to him. He didn't take any job. He broke any contact with his school friends, even Philip. He didn't answer his letters. Philip says that Mortimer mentioned a few times that he wanted to travel around the world. Presumably that's what he did. But we don't know where he travelled to, with whom, if he started a family, where he lives now, nothing. The only thing we know is that he visits his sister about once a year. Healers say that he talks to her for about an hour, asks them a few basic questions and leaves. That's all. And they don't have any contact information for him."
"When was his last visit?" Ginny asked, trying to contain the excitement.
"Unfortunately, two months ago. So we can't just wait in St Mungo's until he appears again. We have to catch him sooner."
Ginny hung her head in disappointment. She had hoped that Mortimer's visit in the hospital was due in a few weeks and the Aurors would be able to set a trap for him there.
"Do you have any idea where he might be?"
"Not yet. I've just found out who he is. Tomorrow morning I'm gathering all the Aurors I can and we're going to discuss the best plan to catch him. It will be hard but sooner or later, we'll find him. I promise you," Harry said, conviction in every word.
"Why Albus, though?" Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose. "It doesn't make any sense. It was Death Eaters that destroyed his family. The Order saved him and you ended the war. He should be grateful, not taking vengeance on your son."
Harry took a sip of his cocoa. "I don't understand it either. Maybe he wanted revenge because the Order didn't save his family? At least I understand why he used the Cruciatus. Though I wonder what was his purpose. Did he want to blind Albus or was that just a side effect he didn't intend? Did he want to drive him insane but didn't finish his job because he heard someone approaching? So many questions." Harry sighed.
"But finally we have a real prospect of finding answers to them," Ginny said, reaching across the table and taking Harry's arm. "We need to find him. We need to bring him to justice. He'll get a lifetime in Azkaban for what he did, right?"
"I'll be trying for that," he said. "The trial will be long and difficult. Especially for Albus."
"But he'll be relieved when his torturer is finally in custody. Write him a letter Harry, it's important that he knows everything." Ginny gave him the quill and the letter she'd already written to her son.
"I have to thank him for that information about the tattoo. Without it, I don't think we would have found Mortimer." Harry turned over the letter and started writing his part.
Ginny stood up and put her mug in the sink. "I'm going to bed. Don't stay up too long. Finish that letter and get some sleep. You're going to have a lot of work in the near future."
Harry nodded, already engrossed in his answer to Albus. Ginny smiled and kissed his cheek.
On the last Saturday of October students were permitted to visit Hogsmeade for the first time that school year. It was also the first visit for Albus since he had started Hogwarts. He had been in the village a few times as a kid with his parents but never as a student. Even though Harry had sent the Headmistress a permission form after Albus had burnt the first one just before entering the train for the third year, Albus had never used it. In the fourth year he and Scorpius had been denied visits to Hogsmeade as a part of their detention.
But in the beginning of fifth year McGonagall relented and let them visit the village again. At first Albus was overjoyed. He longed to leave the castle, to visit Honey Dukes and Scorpius's favourite bookshop, to have a proper date with his boyfriend. But soon these merry plans were shadowed by dark thoughts about his attacker. Edward Mortimer was his name, according to what his father had found out. Albus was constantly worried that Mortimer would find him, kidnap him, torture him again. He felt quite safe on the school grounds, after Scorpius reminded him that no unauthorized person could enter through Hogwarts barriers (all secret passages had been sealed many years ago). But there was no protection in Hogsmeade. It would be all too easy to attack him in the village.
Despite the overwhelming terror, Albus desperately wanted to leave the castle and spend a pleasant day with Scorpius. He was determined to not let Mortimer control every aspect of his life. He had to live with consequences of Mortimer's deeds but he couldn't allow the fear of him to influence his every decision. He couldn't spend the rest of his days hiding in Hogwarts or in the house, frightened that Mortimer would find him. His dad was searching for him, but for now he and the Aurors hadn't found any trace. The search might last a few months, even a few years. It was possible that they would never catch him. Albus wanted to live his life to the fullest, visit new places even if he could no longer see them, and he couldn't do that stuck in a safe place. In order to gain freedom, he had to sacrifice security. After long talks with Scorpius and his parents, he decided to take a risk.
With decision made, Harry, Ginny and McGonagall took actions to minimize the risk. Professor Warmund, the Head of the Slytherin House, was going to accompany Albus and Scorpius during their visit in Hogsmeade. He was a skilled duelist and promised to keep a permanent eye on Albus. In order not to make boys uncomfortable, he suggested using a Camouflage Spell. The spell didn't make a person invisible, they still could be seen, but whoever looked at a person under the spell, found them boring and ordinary, ignored and forgot them in a few seconds. It was a difficult spell, demanding a lot of concentration, but Professor Warmund was excellent at it, having mastered the spell during the war.
Albus stood in the Entrance Hall, near the top of the stairs leading down to dungeons. He was waiting for Scorpius who'd forgotten to take his gloves and scarf and had to return to the dormitory. Albus leaned against the wall, feeling hot and uncomfortable in his winter jacket.
He heard footsteps and moment later a voice he immediately recognised as his sister's.
"Hi, Albus!" said Lily, sounding extremely excited. "Long time no see."
"Even longer for me."
"Oh," Lily sounded upset. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"No, I'm sorry," Albus interrupted. "It was just a joke. In poor taste. Sorry." He smiled. "How are you?"
"Oh, great. Even more than great. It's my first visit to Hogsmeade! I can't wait."
"You've been there before with our parents," Albus reminded her.
"That doesn't count, obviously. You can't do whatever you want with parents trailing behind. It's your first visit as well, right?"
Albus nodded. "Yes, finally a proper date with Scorpius."
"And where did you lose him?"
"He forgot his gloves and scarf." Albus shrugged. It wasn't anything out of ordinary. "He'll be back in a moment."
"And how are you, Albus?" asked Lily seriously, taking his hand. "Did the pain attacks stop?"
"I don't think they're ever going to stop completely. Healer Austen said that most probably I would still experience them occasionally my whole life." Albus swallowed a lump in his throat. "But at least, they're considerably less frequent and less violent. I can live with that. I have to."
"I'm glad. Do you have any news from dad about Mortimer?" Both James and Lily had been informed about Harry's discovery.
"Sadly no. They're still looking for him. They questioned anyone who might know him. They apparently even tried to talk with his sister but, well- she's unable to talk-"
Lily was silent for a while. "Do they know what he looks like? Do they have any pictures of him?"
"Only an old photograph from his graduation. But some expert estimated what he may look like now based on that photo."
"Good. I hope someone will recognise him and he'll be caught soon. I have to go. Natalie and Isabella are waiting. Say hello from me to Scorpius. Have a nice day!" She hugged him briefly and ran to her friends.
Albus leaned back against the wall and huffed impatiently. What was taking Scorpius so long? He took out his cane and started to play with it, unfolding and folding it back repeatedly. The Entrance Hall was buzzing with sounds, students talking, laughing, calling for their friends. Everyone was excited to spend the day away from the castle.
A noisy group of students passed him and moments later Albus felt someone grabbing his arm. He was so startled that he flinched violently and dropped his cane.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Scorpius. "I thought you heard me."
"It's alright," Albus said, shrugging, and bent down to retrieve his cane. His fingers touched the cool plastic and suddenly Albus felt soft hair tickling his nose before the head it belonged to smashed into his face. Scorpius must have bent for the cane before Albus did and didn't notice that his friend's face was just above his head before he straightened up.
Albus groaned and took a quick step back, clutching his throbbing nose. He felt hot blood running from his nose and into his mouth. He licked his upper lip, tasting the distinct iron flavour of blood.
"Merlin! I'm sorry! I'm so clumsy," Scorpius lamented. He took Albus's hands away from his face. "You're bleeding! Merlin, what have I done? You're alright? Sit down, Albus, before you faint from blood loss! I'm going for Madame Pomfrey!"
"Geez, Scorpius, calm down. It's just a nose bleed." Albus tried to stem the blood flow with his sleeve. "Do you have a tissue?"
Rustling of clothes and moments later Scorpius shoved a bunch of tissues into his hands. Albus held them to his nose and tilted his head back.
"And you want to be a Healer?" he asked, grimacing as he felt blood running down the back of his throat. He swallowed it.
"Don't tilt your head back. Let the blood flow out of your nose," Scorpius said. Albus did as he was instructed. "Sorry, I panicked. It's not the blood that freaks me out. It's you and blood combined. And it's being my fault."
"Accidents happen. I didn't know that you bent for the cane."
"How you were supposed to know? I should have told you. It's all my fault. I'm sorry."
"Merlin, Scorpius, if you say sorry one more time I'll slam these bloody tissues into your face." Albus cautiously took the tissues away from his nose. "Is it still bleeding?"
"A little. Give them to me. Here, have a new one." He took the dirty tissues and gave Albus a clean one. "It's not broken, is it? Your nose?"
"I don't think so," said Albus, touching his nose. "It doesn't hurt. Is it crooked or something?"
"No, it looks normal. The bleeding almost stopped. Let me clean your face and clothes." Scorpius cast a quick 'Tergeo' and Albus felt crusted blood disappearing from his face.
"Thanks," he said. "Can we go?"
"I think so. Just hold the tissue for a little longer." Albus heard Scorpius picking up his cane. "Do you want to use it now?"
"Um- no, I'd rather you guide me."
Scorpius put the cane into Albus's pocket and Albus grabbed his arm. They walked together out of the castle into the sunny and crispy autumn morning. Albus heard distant voices of other students ahead of them. A soft wind rustled through the last leaves on trees. A lonely bird sang nearby.
"There's a Quidditch match next Saturday," Scorpius said. "Slytherin vs Ravenclaw."
"Do you want to go?"
"I'd like to but- you're not going, are you?"
Albus shook his head. "I never went when I still could see. There's no point in going to a game I cannot watch. But if you want to go, feel free."
"I don't want to leave you alone. What if something happens? Lily, James, Rose, everyone will be at the game."
"I'll stay in the common room or in the library. There are always some students who don't go to Quidditch matches. Or- you know what- I'll ask Mr Parry if he can come on Saturday instead of Thursday. Then you absolutely won't have to worry about me."
"Great, I like that," Scorpius said and Albus could tell that he was smiling.
"I'll write to him tonight, then."
When they were passing through the Hogwarts gate Albus heard heavy footsteps behind them. But before he started to wonder who was following them, he completely forgot about it and turned his attention back to Scorpius who talked excitedly about their History of Magic assignment.
While Scorpius was rambling about their homework, Albus's thoughts turned towards a subject he often contemplated lately. Ever since he had received the letter from his dad, Edward Mortimer occupied his mind. Albus was relieved that his dad finally found out who his attacker was and was somewhat proud that it was his information that turned out to be vital in the investigation. Knowing the name and the background of his torturer made everything seem more real but also gave hope that someday he would be caught and appropriately punished.
His feelings towards his oppressor hadn't changed, though. Sure, he was horrified to hear what had happened to Mortimer's family, he felt compassion and sympathy for them, but it didn't change that all he felt for Mortimer was hate, anger and an immense need for revenge. But even more than vengeance, Albus wanted answers. While Mortimer's tragic story explained why he had used the Cruciatus Curse, for Albus it provided more questions than answers.
"Albus? Albus!" Scorpius's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Are you with me?"
"Yes, yes, now I am. What's the matter?"
"We're in Hogsmeade. Where do you want to go first?"
"Oh, I don't know," Albus said, trying to muster interest in the current situation. "Honeydukes, maybe," he shrugged.
"Sure!" Scorpius exclaimed and led him through the crowded streets of the village. The interior of the sweet shop was the most crowded place Albus had been in since he lost sight. It was more packed than Hogwarts corridors during breaks. Albus tightened his grasp on Scorpius's arm, afraid that he would lose him. He kept bumping into people, not knowing that someone was standing in front of him. He was constantly being pushed or moved aside for standing in someone's way. Albus trailed gloomily after Scorpius as he moved from shelf to shelf, picking his favourite sweets.
"Scorpius." Albus tugged his friend's arm. "Maybe I'll wait outside. There are too many people in here."
"Just a moment. I'll get Chocolate Frogs and we're done. Promise."
Scorpius kept his word and after quickly paying, they finally left the shop. Albus breathed the crisp autumn air deeply and relaxed.
"So, where now?" Scorpius asked.
"Can we sit somewhere for a while? Three Broomsticks or some café," Albus suggested. "Just not Madam Puddifoot's," he added quickly, recalling the story his dad had told him once about a disastrous date with a Ravenclaw girl whose name he couldn't remember.
"I know a nice café, not far from here. They have an excellent hot chocolate."
Once again, Albus followed Scorpius's lead. This time though, he took out his cane to be more in control of his surroundings. They turned into another street and Albus felt his cane hitting an obstacle. Before he could stop or move aside, someone ran into him with a full impact. He let go of Scorpius's arm and the cane, trying to regain balance, but he couldn't stop himself from falling. He landed harshly on his backside.
"Albus, are you alright?" He heard Scorpius's worried voice and felt his hand on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking," said the man who'd apparently run into him. He grabbed Albus's hand, wanting to help him get up.
"Don't touch him!" shouted Professor Warmund, startling Albus who had forgotten that he was with them. "I said: don't touch him!"
But the man only gripped Albus's hand tighter. Then Albus felt the space pressuring around him, the unmistakeable sensation of Apparition. Scorpius's hand was still on his shoulder.
Harry paced back and forth in front of the Headmistress's desk, running his hands through his hair. Five minutes ago, he had received a cat Patronus carrying a message that Albus and Scorpius had been kidnapped. Abandoning his work, he'd Flooed to Hogwarts where he had been soon joined by Ginny and Draco. Now they were all in the Headmistress's Office, listening to Professor Warmund's story.
"When did it happen?" asked Draco from his place by the window. He seemed calm but Harry knew it was only a pretence mastered to perfection by many years of practice.
"About ten minutes ago. No more than fifteen," answered Professor Warmund. "As soon as Albus and Scorpius were taken, I sent a Patronus to Minerva and Apparated as close to Hogwarts gates as it's possible. Then I ran straight here." He was still slightly out of breath. "I arrived a few minutes before you."
"Harry, it was Mortimer, wasn't it?" said Ginny. She was sitting in a chair, with tears in her eyes but determination on her face.
"I think so. Who else could it be?"
"Delphi?" suggested Draco.
Harry shook his head. "No, she's still in Azkaban. If she escaped, I'd be immediately notified. And she has no connections with Mortimer, as far as we know. It was Mortimer or someone working with him."
"Then why did he take Scorpius as well?"
"I think he wasn't planning to kidnap them both," said Warmund. "Scorpius was holding Albus's arm and so was taken along with him."
Harry was ashamed by his thoughts and would never admit them to anyone, but he was kind of grateful that Scorpius had been kidnapped with Albus. At least his son wasn't alone.
He took the photograph of Mortimer out of his pocket and showed it Professor Warmund. "Does the man who kidnapped our sons look like that?"
Warmund put on his glasses and looked closely at the picture. "Maybe. I'm sorry but I can't say it was him with utter surety. I saw him just for a few seconds. He had a hood over his head and looked at me just for a brief moment. I remember that he was a middle-aged man, white, with dark beard. It wasn't a long beard. He was rather handsome."
Harry sighed. It wasn't very helpful. Besides he was pretty sure who took his son. He wanted to know where he took him.
"Harry?" He looked at his wife. Now tears were streaming down her face. He was close to breaking himself. He tried not to think what Mortimer was going to do to their son and in what state they would find Albus if they were too late. "Why did he take Albus?" Ginny asked. "Wasn't making him blind enough? Does he want to torture him to insanity or death?"
"I don't know. Maybe- I hope, maybe he kidnapped Albus for a ransom? Maybe he knows we're after him and wants to make a deal? He'll give Albus back if we give him money and let him go?"
"I hope so," said Ginny, wiping her tears away.
"I'm going to Hogsmeade. Professor Warmund, can you come with me and show me where exactly Albus and Scorpius were kidnapped?" Harry asked. "Ginny, Draco, you can come as well. I'll engage every Auror I can in searching for our sons."
"I'll inform Lily and James. They need to know what happened," said Ginny, standing up and heading to the door. "I'll join you later in the village." She kissed Harry and left the room.
"I'm coming with you," said Draco, as Harry had expected. "And maybe our sons will let us know where they are. Like last time."
"Maybe," said Harry, without a lot of hope. "Let's go."
He needed to do something, to take action. He needed to occupy his mind so it stopped projecting dreadful images of Albus being tortured by Mortimer. Of Albus lying alive but insane in a hospital bed, like Mortimer's sister.
"Albus is strong," said Draco as he took Floo powder from the mantel. "He survived before, he'll survive now."
"I know he's strong but everyone has a limit. And I don't want him to suffer another second of Cruciatus."
Draco didn't say anything. There was nothing to say. He offered Harry the jar with the green powder.
"After you."
Harry threw the powder into the fireplace and stepped into the green flames.
"Three Broomsticks," he said and disappeared into chaos of colours and sounds.