Hey guys, i am so sorry it's taken me this long to update the story. I'm switching shifts at work right now and trying to adjust to the new hours. Updates may be a little slow while i adjust, but with that being said, im trying to make the chapters a bit longer so you have more to hold you over. Thank you for your patience! Feedback is king, we're all writers here and we know how it works... if you like the story please drop a review!
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Harry hadn't been in his office 5 minutes when he'd gotten an owl directing him to Kingsley's office.
Hermione sat at her desk in the giant foyer leading to The Minister's office. "Come on Hermione you're the Senior Undersecretary to The Minister! You have to know what this is about!" Harry whined, but she just gave him her know it all smirk and responded that he would have to wait and see. Shaking his head and letting out a growl of playful frustration he walked into Kingsley's office as she held the door open for him. "Mr. Potter here to see you Minister" she said, showing Harry into the room.
"Thank you Hermione" Kingsley said, as she closed the door on her way out. Kingsley raised an eyebrow as Harry helped himself to the Minister's superb collection of vintage whiskey, as he always did. "What's this about Kingsley?" Harry said, maybe a small bit more disrespectfully than he meant to, "I do have quite a bit of work to get done today" The minister steepled his fingers atop his large oak desk, and nodded for Harry to have a seat in one of the great plush armchairs in front of him. "This concerns your work Potter" he said. "As you know, for the four years since we… Since YOU won the Battle of Hogwarts, the ministry has been in a constant state of chaos, the constant war effort has left us with some undesirable negligence of structure at home".
Harry took a swig of his whiskey and nodded for Kingsley to continue, curious as to where he was going with this.
"Potter, I'll cut the bullshit and get right to the point. I'm running myself ragged trying to wear all these different hats. I'm acting in the role of minister, head of Magical Law Enforcement, Head Auror, and head of Ministry Publicity. I can't manage all of it anymore." Was he saying he wanted to step down? Why was this any of Harry's concern? "Potter I want you to completely take over the Parkinson case, take whatever liberties you want, do what you want, direct man power however you see fit, I'm granting you Head Auror" Harry nearly spit his whiskey down his robes. "You want ME as head Auror on this case? Kingsley I've barely got 4 years of experience, and that's including academy time!"
Kingsley smiled, shaking his head. "Harry you misunderstand, I don't want you as head Auror on the case. I'm granting you rank as Head Auror over the entire division" This time Harry really did spit his whiskey everywhere. Blushing sheepishly he cleaned the mess with a wave of his wand as Kingsley continued. "As I said Harry I can't play all the instruments in the band anymore. I'm appointing a new head of department as well, I need to focus on my job as minister. You will still report directly to me as Head Auror, the new department head will sit in on all decisions to be made, but during war times I will still call the final shots on our war effort. There is a bigger office, and a pay raise included of course, should you accept the job, but we can discuss all that later. The most important thing, because I feel like this must be said due to the nature of both my predecessors. Harry I do not want you to think that this appointment has anything to do with your face or your name. I am not trying to paint the ministry in a gilded light by using you as a motivational poster boy. You have shown time and time again that you have earned this position, and not just by defeating the Dark Lord. In the past four years I have watched you grow into one of the most capable wizards I have ever met. Your parents? Sirius and Remus? Albus…. Harry they would all be so proud of the man you've become. It was with a great sense of conviction and honor that I gave my full support to you on the board's decision on who would be chosen for this job"
Harry was completely dumbfounded. He was touched to know that Kingsley thought so highly of him. "Of course I'll take it sir" he said humbly. "I want to do everything I can, to help everyone I can, that's why I became an Auror. This puts me in a better position to do that. I don't want anymore bodies"
Kingsley nodded, "Potter you're a damn good Auror, I'm glad to have served with you in this war, I have every confidence that you will do right by the people we serve in your new position." He said, "Hermione is going to organize a press conference to announce your new appointment, as well as the new Department Head, and then the both of you will need to report to the Department of Mysteries bright and early for training for your new security clearance. Your new position gives you access to a lot of classified information Potter, and there's a whole new training regimine dedicated to how you are to handle that delicate information"
Harry nodded, standing to shake Kingsley's hand, his mind still racing…. Head Auror. It was surreal. He was still a rookie compared to so many, still had so much to learn. He was the boss now, director of the entire Auror department. Holy Merlin.
Hermione rushed Harry as soon as the door to Kingsley's office clicked closed, throwing her arms around him in an all engulfing hug, "Oh Harry! Congratulations! You'll do so well!" She squealed, her excitement for Harry gleaming in her eyes. She handed him a thick packet of sealed files stamped "CLASSIFIED". "Now, you are legally not allowed to open these until after you've had your training tomorrow morning, but Kingsley trusts you so he wanted me to go ahead and hand them over. This is everything they know on the Parkinson case, which is your biggest priority right now. Your new office is the one right across from the MLE Department Head's office, obviously you know where that is. Here are your keys! I think that's all…." She said handing him a set of keys and losing herself in thought making sure she hadn't forgotten anything.
A few minutes later Harry stepped into his new office, and looked around in awe. His things had already been moved, of course they had, that was the charm of magic. The room was easily twice the size of his cramped corner office on the other side of the floor. This reminded Harry of an executive office like you would see in the muggle movies. It was a smaller version of Kingsley's own office, very similar to the department head's office. There was a large oak desk in the middle of the room with a high backed leather chair sitting behind it, and two very comfortable looking armchairs in front of it. Behind the desk was a large window covering that entire wall, looking out over wizarding London. Bookshelves lined the walls, and as Harry's eyes swept across the tomes filling them he was impressed. There were so many books on combatting dark magic, so much research, he could get lost in the materials for days.
On the opposite wall between several large filing cabinets sat a solid wood bar. A silver tray sat perched atop it with several crystal glasses, and bottles of all of Harry's favorite drinks. Kingsley knew him well. There was a grand fireplace on the front wall of the room, with a jar of floo powder sitting on the mantle and as Harry's eyes wandered up to the giant portrait above it, he was almost brought to tears. Kingsley had to have had it made for him, there was no other explanation. His mother, his father, Sirius, and Remus all waved at him from in front of the Potter's house in Godric Hollow, bouncing baby Harry on his mother's hip.
They all looked so happy, immortalized in time, a bright moment in a time that was just as dark for them as the one Harry found himself in now. Harry gave the portrait a watery smile and a wave back, remembering to thank Kingsley later for his thoughtfulness. He tried each of the keys on his desk before finally finding the correct one to open the drawer. He carefully placed the classified file in the drawer and locked it back up. His curiosity was eating him alive but he had Kingsley's trust that he wouldn't open it until he'd had his security training. He didn't want to botch the new job 10 minutes in.
Harry sat in his comfortable new chair, with his feet up on his desk, sipping on a glass of high end bourbon, taking it all in, watching the portrait of his family. He was on top of the world and no one and nothing could bring him down. Looking at the clock Harry realized it was already 2:30, and cursed under his breath, he'd meant to make it to St. Mungo's earlier than this, he didn't want Parkinson to think he had abandoned her. He felt some attachment to the girl after rescuing her, he just couldn't put his finger on why.
A few minutes later Harry walked into Pansy's hospital room, to see her sitting propped up on a ridiculous amount of pillows. "Potter…." She sneered, "you stood me up! Did no one ever teach you how to treat a pure blood lady?" Harry smirked, at least her attitude hadn't been damaged in her ordeal. "Of course not Parkinson, I'm just a half blood oaf remember?" He said snarkily. Her face fell somewhat and Harry could tell he had unintentionally struck a nerve.
"Pansy I didn't mean…." He began but she cut him off.
"Potter…. Harry, I went through a lot at the hands of those… perfect purebloods. I won't forget that it was the Half Blood oaf that rescued me." Her eyes were full of gratitude and it took Harry aback, he had never seen this side of her before, she was almost…. Pleasant. "I er… I brought you some food" Harry said, holding up the brown paper bag. "I can't really make up for standing you up, but I can try right?" He said, giving her his best half cocked smile. She pretended to think about it for a second, and then reached for the bag. "You're taking steps Potter, you're taking steps"
Just like that, the enmity of their childhood was behind them. Wounds wouldn't heal overnight, but Harry thought that maybe Pansy Parkinson wasn't the total bitch he'd always made her out to be, not anymore anyway. He sat with her for most of the day, not wanting her to feel alone.
They ate the pasta Harry had brought, they played a few games of exploding snap, until the nurses came in waving their arms and yelling like banshees, which made Pansy giggle. Harry couldn't help thinking that her laugh wasn't the most unpleasant thing he had ever heard, and he found himself actually enjoying spending time with the girl that had made his childhood a living hell.
Sometime after dark, the healers came and gave Pansy a sedative. It hit Harry with a pang of sympathy when a nurse pulled him aside and told him that she had had violent nightmares the night before, and that she needed her sleep.
After a few minutes of bickering with the nurse, Harry convinced her to let him spend the night, stating concern about Mrs. Parkinson's security, and flat out saying that it was an ultimatum between him staying, or several Aurors keeping watch outside her door. She finally relented.
In all honsty Harry wasn't concerned about her security, St. Mungo's was probably one of the safest places she could be right now. It was just that he knew all too well how it felt to be constantly terrorized at night by the ghosts of ones past.
Harry found a blanket from one of the supply closets, and Pansy gave him a quizzical look as he plopped down on the plush couch in her room and began to spread it over himself.
"Harry" she said dreamily, the sedatives beginning to take effect. "You don't have to stay"
Harry shook his head. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere, you're safe Pansy. I'm not letting anyone hurt you again"
She nodded and rolled onto her side, watching him as he pulled a book from his bag.
Harry opened up "An offensive defense, a theory study on magical law enforcement" it was one of the books that had been on the shelves in his office.
The time passed in silence as Pansy just watched him read, he could feel her tension dissipating. No matter what she said, she obviously felt safer when he was around.
Harry read until well after Pansy's breathing had evened out and she was sleeping deeply.
Tired himself from his work day, it wasn't long before Harry himself had dozed into, for once, a dreamless sleep.
What felt like minutes later Harry was woken up by a loud scram. He bolted upright, his wand in his hand and at the ready. As the haze of sleep cleared, he realized Pansy was screaming and thrashing around in her sleep. Harry rushed to her side, to keep her from hurting herself. "Pansy!" He yelled, grabbing her wrist gently to keep from getting punched in the mouth. "Pansy wake up! It's just a bad dream!" Harry called again, and her eyes shot open. "Are you ok?" Harry said, winded. "You were having a nightmare again, you're safe, it's ok!" She finally began to calm down as her mind registered that she was in fact, not in a dark decrepid Death Eater dungeon miles away, but safe in her hospital bed. Harry could see the tears threatening to pour down her face, but her pride kept those floodgates shut.
Harry threw caution to the wind and motioned for her to scoot over. She looked at him like she was seeing him for the first time, Harry couldn't tell if she thought he was her knight in shining armor, or that he was cracked in the head. After a moment of deliberation, the blanket still wrapped around her carefully, she made room for him on the small bed. Harry laid down next to her, motioning for her to scoot in to him, and she hesitated, this was strange new territory for the pair. "I'm right here Pansy, I'm not going anywhere till you want me to. No one is going to hurt you again, you're safe." A few unbidden tears leaked from her eyes.
She nodded and scooted closer, her head coming to rest on his chest, her arm carelessly thrown across him. They lay there in peaceful silence, Harry's steady breathing under her head lulling her off to a sound sleep. He couldn't help but laugh at the thought of his current position. If you'd told him four years ago, as Pansy was trying to sell him out to Voldemort, that he would be laying in bed with her comforting her, he would have laughed in your face.
Harry woke the next morning, to thick black hair fanned across his face, and a warm weight on his chest, he smiled, it was the first time in a long time he'd slept through the night without a nightmare jolting him awake in the early hours of the morning. Carefully, as so not to wake Pansy, Harry disentangled himself from her and stood slowly from the bed. She was so peaceful as she slept, Harry really just wished he could take it all away, wished he could have prevented what had happened to her.
After apparating home for a quick shower, Harry headed straight back to the ministry building, full of excitement to start his first day at the new job. It didn't start slow. The department secretary met him at the entrance to his floor with a stack of paperwork, and an itinerary for his day, babbling instructions in his ear, and rattling off a list of things Harry needed to see to. Harry had a hard time keeping up with the fast paced, one sided conversation, he hoped this was all in the paperwork she had handed him. He was bombarded by four other people on the way to his office, needing signatures for paperwork, stamps of approval for warrants, and requests for meetings. Harry graciously gave the best answers he could, but couldn't help feeling overwhelmed, and he hadn't been at work ten minutes yet.
His office door shut behind him, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Making his way to the desk he began to look over the itinerary for his day, and it looked like it would be a busy one. Reading over the first item on his list, Harry sighed and turned right back around to his fireplace. He scooped some floo powder from the jar on the mantle, and threw it in the fire "The Leaky Cauldron!"
As he stepped out of the fireplace, Harry brushed the soot from his shirt and straightened his tie, waving to Tom on his way through. It had been a while since he'd been in Diagon proper. The closest he'd been recently was with Teddy for Ice cream, and that had been entered from the side that opened into muggle London. As always, Harry had to stop and take a deep breath. It was hard to see this place full of life and laughter, when just four years ago, down this very street, Harry had held Ginny in his arms as the life had seeped out of a gaping hole in her chest.
He made his way past the colorful displays at Flourish and Blott's, Quality Quidditch Supplies, and Olivander's, stopping in front of a dingy office building.
Steeling himeself, Harry gripped the handle and walked in.
The first sight Harry was met with, was an attractive young blonde, standing a little too close to Draco Malfoy, they seemed to be in heated conversation, so Harry waited patiently. He couldn't help but notice how the muggle jeans she wore hugged the curves of her hips and rear end completely perfectly. Looking over her shoulder, the girl gave Harry a once over, with hooded electric blue eyes, and she smiled, maybe a little bit too seductively, chewing on her bottom lip. Harry couldn't help but watch as she walked by, her eyes never leaving his, and her hips swaying ever so gently, long blonde hair swishing behind her as she left the office.
"Who…." Harry began, eyes still on the door, but Malfoy cut him off. "What do you need Potter?" he drawled, in the same annoying voice that made Harry want to punch him in the face when they were in school. Harry held out the packet his secretary had given him, "Give this to your father" he said coldly. Draco took the package from Harry with a quizzical expression on his face. "No one in my office can seem to find him, and this is his next assignment, information we need him to find on several high profile targets". Malfoy nodded, striding back to a safe on the wall. He made a complex series of gestures with his wand, and the door opened, he deposited the file, among stacks of other paperwork and closed the door.
"Would you like a drink?" he asked, catching Harry off guard. Harry nodded, accepting the glass of some deep brown liquid from him, half tempted to check it for poisons before taking a drink. Some enmity never dies. "I received word down the grapevine Potter, that you got Pansy out of that hellhole dungeon of Dolohov's" he said. "She is my oldest and dearest of friends, and i would really love to know how she is doing. St. Mungo's is denying that she's even a patient there". Harry shook his head. "Sorry Draco, I'm really not at liberty to discuss an ongoing case with anyone outside the investigation"
Malfoy gave him a cold stare, his steely grey eyes boring into Harry's emerald green ones. "Potter I swear to God if anything happens to her on your watch, you'll have me to answer to" he said, and Harry could see his fingers opening and closing over his robe pocket, as if he wanted to reach for his wand and hex Harry where he stood.
Harry pointed at Draco's hand, with a glare. "First of all, you don't want to do that, I fought hard to keep you out of Azkaban, for your mother's sake, but don't think for a second I wouldn't love to throw you back to the wolves in a heartbeat. Second of all, I don't take well to threats from ferrets like you Malfoy, I'm in over my head enough with this damned investigation to try to save YOUR fucking friend from this shitstorm she's in. Thirdly, I can be compassionate enough when the situation arises, I know you care about her Draco, as much as you can care about anything anyway. I will let you know as soon as we have some information that can go public."
Malfoy clenched his hand into a fist, the scowl never leaving his face. His eyes narrowed "If anything happens Potter, her blood will be on your hands, and it will be your blood on my hands" Harry took a step forward squaring himself up with Malfoy, inches from his face. "Don't make threats you can't back up Draco" he spat.
It seemed like their childhood feud would never die.
Without another word Harry swept from the office, his morning already off to a fantastic start. On his return to work Harry found Hermione waiting in his office, helping herself to one of his books as usual. He cleared his throat and she snapped to attention
"Oh! Harry! Sorry I was told to wait here for you" she said, "it's time for the press conference!" Harry almost groaned out loud. He hated press conferences.
Hermione led Harry to the atrium of the ministry where a stage had been set up in front of the restored statue of magical breatheren. Kingsley was already there, with several of his aides bombarding him. Harry felt a slight twinge of sympathy having tasted only a fraction of what Kingsley must have gone through over the last four years in spearheading three major offices in the war effort. Kingsley spotted Harry, and used him as an excuse to escape the crowd surrounding him.
"Harry!" He said, "enjoying your first day so far?" Harry snorted "Kingsley I've been here less than two hours and already I don't know weather to thank you for this job or curse you for it." The minister let out a roar of laughter and clapped Harry on the back. "We're just waiting on our department head and then we'll…. Ah! Arthur amicable timing!" Kingsley said looking over Harry's shoulder. Harry turned to see Arthur Weasley striding towards him. He couldn't help but notice how the loss of so much of his family had begun to affect the elder Weasley. Arthur was thinner than Harry could ever remember him being, and he had a gaunt, haunted look in his eyes that Harry knew all too well, as he saw it every time he looked in the mirror.
Arthur shook Kingsley's hand and pulled Harry in for a hug. "How are you son? Congratulations on the new job!" He said enthusiastically as he broke the embrace. Before Harry could answer Kingsley spoke up "Harry, Arthur is our new head of Magical Law Enforcement! I think he's spent far too much time in a bogged down backwater division of the MLE, he's paid his dues and it's time to move up!" Harry shook his head in disbelief, giving Mr. Weasley a huge grin, "Well I'll be damned, I thought you were happy where you were Mr. Weasley?" He asked. Arthur's face fell slightly and his featured hardened. "Harry I'll be damned if I let another one of my family members die to this war. First Fred, and then Molly, and Ginny…. Anything I can do to put a stop to this madness I will do" he said, tears threatening to well up in his eyes.
Harry hugged Arthur again, congratulating him. He was estatic, he couldn't think of anyone who deserved the job more. "Well now that all parties are here, let's get this thing started shall we?" Kingsley said, motioning for the two men to follow him up onto the platform.
Kingsley made a grand speech about how trying times produced the best of leaders. About how he was proud that the wizarding community had come together during this prolonged period of chaos, and how he was happy to have served next to some of the finest witches and wizards he had ever known. He lamented the casualties of the war, and he exclaimed his hope that with the Death Eaters becoming more savage and brutal every day, it meant that they felt the ministry had them backed into a corner and that the war was nearing it's end.
He spoke of the bravery of every witch and wizard in the community as they fought through these troubled times and how he knew that the light would prevail. It was very moving actually.
He spoke of reform in the ministry, changes that would be made to avoid future corruption, and the future democracy of the Ministry of Magic. Above all he spoke of hope. Telling everyone that there was a light at the end of the dark tunnel they'd wandered down for so many years. Promising that all the deaths, the lost loved ones, family, and friends, would not be in vain.
He introduced Arthur and Harry into their new positions amongst a thunderous applause, stating that under new leadership the Ministry would be pushing their war effort harder than ever, and that they would never back down to these masked savages who worshipped and enshrined a dead master. That the cowards would be unmasked, be brought to justice, and that peace was within their grasp.
Harry and Arthur smiled for the cameras, waving to the crowds, and for just one moment, standing in the light listening to the applause, Harry couldn't help but believe Kingsley. Maybe this would actually all turn out ok.
Once the crowd had disappated, Kingsley reminded Harry and Arthur that after their lunch, they were to report to the Department of Mysteries for their security training.
"I need the both of you to get done as soon as you can. You were both handed a classified dossier of files, and the contents are urgent. You will both go to your offices individually straight from your training, lock your doors, and review the files. After that I need the both of you to report directly to me"
Harry and Arthur both nodded their acknowledgement. Hands were shaken all around, and the three men seperated for lunch. Harry decided to forego his traditional lunch of sitting in the cafeteria shooting the shit with his co-workers. He had a far more important place to be. "St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries!" Harry yelled into his fire, and disappeared in a roar of emerald flame. Harry picked up some lunch at the food court and made his way to Pansy's room, actually looking forward to spending some time with the girl. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt a connection to her somehow, one he'd never felt before. Maybe she had changed in her time as a captive, or maybe she had just let her walls come down and trusted Harry to see her for who she really was.
She smiled when he entered the room, but Harry thought it had more to do with the food than his company. "I must be so high profile if the savior of the wizarding world is even reduced to being my servant. You bring me more food than my house elf Potter!" She said jokingly, taking the tray from him and eagerly digging into the pastries. He sat with her and they chatted about the goings and comings of the world, she had been so out of current event events that she was hungry for some gossip. "Here" Harry said, pulling a copy of the Daily Prophet out of his bag, as well as a copy of Witch Weekly he'd picked up for her while he was in Diagon Alley. "Conceited much Potter?" She said with a hint of laughter in her voice, pointing to the cover of the Prophet. "The first thing you give me is a newspaper with your mug pasted all over the front page! Then again, when is Harry Potter not plastered all over the front page of the Prophet?" Harry looked and sure enough, it never ceased to amaze him how fast the Prophet could run a story. His press conference that had happened barely a half hour ago, was already today's headline. He hadn't even noticed. "Hey Parkinson I just picked it up in the cafeteria, figured you'd like something to read when I'm not here." He said. She smiled up at him, laughter in her eyes. "Oh so you're also a considerate hero?" She jived. Harry shrugged his shoulders as she unfolded the paper and began to read.
"Draco asked about you today" Harry said absently, "more like threatened me for information" Pansy looked up from the paper, "What did you tell him?" She asked flatly.
Harry shook his head. "Nothing, I'm legally not allowed to tell him anything as long as this investigation is going on. St. Mungo's is under strict orders to keep your presence here a secret, no one even knows you're alive. Once this is all cleared up you'll be fine, but there will be a lot of steps to take before that. I'll be frank with you, the moment you are discharged from this hospital, you're going to enter ministry custody and be taken to a secure location so they can question you. I know you don't like to talk about what happened, but you need to be prepared because that is what's going to happen Pansy. It's out of my hands. I'm just the muscle, I don't get a say in the politics."
Pansy just looked at him in silence as she pondered his words. She slowy nodded, acknowledging that she understood, but Harry could see the rage building behind her eyes.
"Look, Pansy. I know you don't want to discuss this. I know that you want to go back to how things were before, you want to live your life without anyone controlling your actions or telling you what to do, trust me I get that. No one wants to make you uncomfortable, but this is how we do what we do. This is how we find the bad guys, and this is how we make sure that what happened to you never happens to anyone again. I will be right there with you if that makes you feel any better about the situation".
She stared up at him defiantly, and Harry could see the tears welling in her eyes again, she dropped her head so he couldn't see, and meekly nodded, grabbing for his hand in a surprising move of vulnerability.
Harry took her small, warm hand in his and gave it a light squeeze.
"It's all going to be ok, I promise"
xxx
Harry rushed to catch the elevator door, not wanting to make a bad impression on anyone by being late to anything on his first day as head Auror. Arthur was the only one in the elevator, and Harry greeted him with a smile. At least if they showed up together Harry could feel confident that he wasn't late. The two men made small talk on the way down the elevator shaft, discussing the political points and duties of their new jobs, pleased that they would be working in such close tandem to one another. As the elevator came to a shuddery stop the men stepped off on the ninth level. An elderly wizard met them midway down the hallway and they were directed to follow him to a room just off the main entrance to the department.
Staring at the plain black door at the end of the hallway, Harry shuddered as he was forced to remember all the strange and terrifying things he had experienced the last time he had been through that door.
"Your instructor will be with you shortly" the gentleman said curtly, in his wheezy voice.
The room was dimly lit, and windowless. The stone walls were bare, and there was a single rickety table staged in the middle of the room. It struck Harry that it looked like an interrogation room from an old muggle film.
Harry and Arthur sat tentatively in the wooden chairs at the table, as if fearing they may collapse under the weight. They sat in amicable silence, listening to the constant ticking of Harry's watch, which was the only way by which to mark the time.
Finally after ten minutes, the door opened and Harry's jaw dropped.
Through the door walked the witch that Harry had seen with Draco Malfoy just that very morning. She looked stunning with her long blonde hair in a fancy updo, and Harry once again couldn't help but notice how her slimming skirt showed off her finely toned legs all the way down to her feet which were encased in what looked to be extremely expensive dragonskin heels. She wore a stark white linen blouse, which Harry noticed with a gulp had maybe just one too many buttons undone, as he could see just the swelling tops of her….. Erm…. Assets.
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat as she strode across the room with an aura of authority and power. This would be an interesting morning.
When she spoke it was with the slight hint of an accent that Harry couldn't place, just enough to make her voice sound like a smooth silk on Harry's ears. He shook his head, trying to keep his thoughts from wandering too unprofessionally.
"My name is Alexandra Matryoshka" she said, " I am a defense and security specialist for the Department of Mysteries, recently transferred from the Russian Ministry of Magic where I worked for six years in the same capacity. I graduated with honors from The Durmstrang Institute, and as you may guess that gave me a certain…. Familiarity with the Dark Arts. Growing up with the stigma of Grindewald upon my country, I strove to show that not all from Durmstrang were of like mind of the Dark Lord that made our land his home. I focused my studies solely on a defensive stance against those magics, and the Russian Ministry took notice. They recruited me straight out of school.
With the war you have going on here, I decided my talents could be put to better use, than in my country which is currently being left out of your war. I wish to help stop it here before it spreads any further than it already has."
She finished her speech with an air of defiance, as if daring the Death Eaters to challenge her intelligence.
Harry and Arthur stood, both shaking her hand, and introducing themselves.
She flashed Harry a pretty smile, and held onto his hand just a moment noticeably longer than necessary.
"Gentleman shall we begin?"
xxx
Three hours later Harry was sitting in his office, head spinning from all he had learned.
The packet Hermione had given him yesterday sat in front of him on his desk, unopened, as Harry mentally prepared himself for whatever else it was that he was about to learn.
His fingers shook as he unsealed the envelope and shook out the contents, a large folder with papers stuffed inside, and a small glass vial that contained what looked like a pensieve memory.
Harry walked to the table where his alcohol collection sat, and opened the cabinet beneath it, it was ministry standard that every office held a pensieve. Memories were the main method of evidence held by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He sat the heavy stone basin on his desk, and mentally prepared himself for the uncomfortable sensation of being sucked through time.
Taking a deep breath he poured the contents into the basin.
Moments later Harry stood in the corner of a dark, dingy room.
It wasn't all that different than the room he'd sat in with Arthur not too many hours ago.
Except that this time one of the rickety old chairs had a man tied to it.
His hands were bound behind his back magically, and his face bruised and bloody. Like he'd been beaten within an inch of his life.
Nonetheless Harry recognized the man he had not so long ago brought to his superiors for justice on suspicion of Death Eater activity.
"Persius Parkinson" the voice made Harry jump, "do you deny knowledge of the whereabouts of the Death Eater Rodolphus Lestrange?" It was Dawlish, Harry was puzzled.
The man in the chair nodded, and there was a sickening crunch as Dawlish's fist collided with the defenseless man's face.
Harry wanted to cry out, but knew no one would hear him. This was barbaric! This was not how the Auror's office handled interrogations! Harry had handed them this man with the expectations that his investigation would be handled with Justice and integrity.
Parkinson spit blood on the ground and laughed. Instantly Dawlish's wand was at his throat, "I could kill you right here and now, no one would even miss you, you Death Eater scum" he growled.
Parkinson's eyes glinted like steel in the candlelight.
"Kill me if you want, Auror" he spat.
"My Lord's vision will be seen to completion and there is nothing you or your damned ministry can do to stop us"
Dawlish hit him again, hard enough to make the chair fall sideways.
The senior Auror trained his wand on Parkinson's still form still bound to the chair, lying at an awkward angle on the cold stone floor.
"I'll ask you one more time Parkinson, and then I'm not going to play nicely anymore" Dawlish said, Harry could hear the hatred threading his voice, "where is Rodolphus Lestrange?"
Parkinson just laughed.
Dawlish kicked the chair in frustration.
"CRUCIO!" He bellowed, and Harry was sickened as he watched Pansy's father lay still on the floor, his bindings the only thing keeping him from writhing in pain. It was disgusting.
Dawlish kept his wand trained on Parkinson far longer than was in any way humane, not that any use of the Cruciatus Curse was humane.
After what seemed like an absurdly long time Parkinson began to foam at the mouth, his screams turning to faint gurgles as he began to choke on his own bile.
Harry did cry out now, trying to stop Dawlish, knowing that it was futile, and he just watched, wondering how Dawlish was any better than the man he sought to find.
Was this how it had looked when the Lestranges had tortured the Longbottoms into insanity? How was this senior Auror, a man Harry had known his entire life in the wizarding world, a man he had served next to, how was he any better right now than the darkness he was allegedly fighting to stop?
"Stop!" Parkinson choked out between screams.
"Stop! I'll tell you everything I know!"
Dawlish didn't stop. Not immediately anyway. Harry was sure Dawlish had heard him.
Finally after far too long, Dawlish removed his wand, leaving Parkinson panting on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
Harry wanted to vomit at the display of brutality displayed by one of his own. This was not how the Auror office was supposed to conduct itself. They were supposed to be a beacon of hope and light, not fear and pain and hatred.
"Wales….." Parkinson choked out between gasps of air. "He's in Wales"
Harry was filled with a sense of boiling rage as he was thrown out of the memory, back into his chair. He wanted to take the memory to Kingsley and confront him with it, but he allowed himself a moment to cool down. His hands shaking with fury, he opened the folder containing the case file.
It seemed Harry had been played, he became more and more angry as he read over the reports.
A tip had come from Lucius Malfoy that he had suspicions that Persius Parkinson had been secretly funding Death Eater efforts throughout the war. As Voldemort had began to view Lucius as more and more worthless to his cause, Lucius became less and less privy to the workings of Voldemort's inner circle, so he couldn't be one hundred percent sure. He only knew what he'd been able
To glean from the connections he still had within the ranks of the Death Eaters.
Someone had been funneling cash through to the Death Eater ranks, someone had been controlling real estate on a large level so the Death Eater's would have several safe houses in the event that the war was not on their side. Lucius had done his due digging and concluded that the only family with enough gold to fund an operation on such a large scale, had to have been the richest of the old wizarding families. The Parkinsons.
Harry and another junior Auror under his watch, had spent two full months staking out Parkinson Manor, intercepting communications, and monitoring their floo network and travel habits.
Parkinson was smart, he kept it all from his family. Pansy and Persephone Parkinson hadn't heard a whisper about his involvement, as he'd convinced his family that he took a neutral stance in the war.
Harry had noticed the way he doted on his daughter, Pansy was his world. Harry could remember thinking that if he was guilty, it was probably because he honestly thought he was making the world a better place for his family. That or that the Death Eaters had blackmailed him into it.
Notes were placed here that on the night shifts Harry hadn't taken, Dawlish had taken over the watch, forcing Harry's trainee out of his designated job.
Dawlish had watched Parkinson commit several murders, torture, and extortion. Never stopping him, but gathering Intel for the ministry under orders from Kingsley and the board.
When finally they had enough evidence to make a case, Harry was directed to conduct a raid on the Parkinson's home. Harry could remember thinking it was too early, as far as he had known at the time, it was too early, they had nothing. He hadn't known about the things Dawlish had seen, the Ministry had kept him in the dark.
Parkinson surrendered without protest, claiming he had nothing to hide, not wanting a fight to break out that could potentially harm his family in the crossfire. Harry could remember the look of horror and anger on Pansy's face as he bound her father's hands behind his back and led him from the manor.
Upon his arrival to the ministry, Harry had handed Parkinson over to Kingsley, who told Harry he would be escorted to Azkaban until his trial. Except that there was never a trial. Harry had been told that there was not sufficient evidence after a month of holding him, and that he had been released and cleared of charges but would be kept under a close watch for a while. The reality was an entirely different story.
Parkinson had never gone to Azkaban. Kingsley had handed him over to Dawlish to be taken to a secure Ministry building deep in the slums of muggle London, somewhere on Fleet Street. For a month he'd been tortured and treated gruesomely, all leading up to the moment Harry had witnessed in the memory.
Parkinson gave up everything. The exact location of Lestrange's safe house in Wales, along with a rundown of the defenses around the property. He gave them the names of the Death Eaters stationed there. He gave them every bit of information they'd asked for.
And then they let him go. No witness protection, no defense, nothing. They just cut him loose.
It hit Harry like a tidal wave of horror, everything had now clicked into place. This was why Pansy had been kindnapped. Everything that had happened to her, all of it, the Ministry was at fault, his department was at fault. They had found out somehow that Pansy's father had given up the information, and they had attempted to take their pound of flesh. The realization also dawned on Harry that the Death Eaters hadn't received that pound of flesh. Pansy was still very much in danger.
