Disclaimer: Not mine.

Rebirth

Chapter 6

Morning came before Aberforth stood over the table and told them to find a room. Vincent threw enough galleons on the table to cover his tab, and a little extra for Aberforth staying open longer than he should have. He picked up her cloak and stood by the chair holding it to slip over her shoulders.

"You're strange Crabbe." She said narrowing her eyes. "You pay my price and then we just sit and talk. You could have just asked me to sit a while you know, I didn't have any business."

"It's been too long, almost two years since I sat and talked. In all that time, I have gone out to lunch once with someone. I didn't want you to say no." He took her by the elbow when Aberforth cleared his throat loudly. "We best get going before he gets angry."

He opened the door and stood back, letting her go out first then joined her on the pavement to walk down to the apparation point.

"You are a real gentleman Crabbe." She looked up at him oddly. "If I were … well lets just say if I was not a career girl I may set myself up to get you."

"Do you want me to take you home?"

"Nope, don't allow anyone to know where I live. It's not safe, a girl never knows." She shrugged the stood on her toes and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. "Thanks Crabbe, it was real nice. Like a real date. I'm not treated like this anymore."

He watched as she spun away then he apparated home. He walked up the pavement slowly, watching the ground as he walked to the house, shoulders slumped, head down. He had enjoyed her company and found that she was not what he expected. He had expected an uneducated girl, someone with few opinions and fewer ideas. She had been to school and even finished her exams. He was sorry to see the sun come up and send her on her way.

He had tried to get information from her, asking her questions about where she shopped, where she went to school, what she liked to do. All he had learned is that she was mostly home schooled, she had apprenticed but would not tell him where, and when the war came she lost everything.

"I taught you better than that Mr Crabbe. First impressions are important. Put your head up young man." Minerva stood with her hands folded primly in front of her.

"Professor McGonagall?" Vincent stood staring at her shaking off his thoughts of the Hogs Head.

"Close your mouth Mr Crabbe it is most unbecoming."

"Professor? You are aware of the time?"

"It is not I in need of a lecture young man. Coming home at seven in the morning indeed." She sniffed and pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at her nose.

"How long have you been here?" Vincent looked back over his shoulder, feeling uncomfortable and exposed.

"Not long Mr Crabbe. I would think you would open the door and invite me in."

"Of course. Forgive me Professor." He hurried up the steps, released the wards and stood back indicating she should enter. He took her cloak and put it in the hallway closet, hissing for Elsie.

"Umm Professor, if you will just wait in here." He opened the door to the sitting room, "I will just grab us a cup of tea."

"From your looks you can use more than a cup," she snipped.

Vincent hurried to the kitchen, running his hand though his hair and hissing Elsie's name as loud as he could and still not be overheard by Minerva. He was tired, he was hungry, and he was still a little drunk from sitting up in the Hogs Head all night with a whore.

"Yes Master." Elsie stood in front of him with a large yawn on her face.

Waiting until she closed her mouth, Vincent squatted down to talk quietly. "Listen Elsie, a Professor from Hogwarts is here. I need a tea service, and if you can get it put a little sober up potion in mine."

"Yes Master." Her eyes got large and she began to hurry around the kitchen.

"Well now Professor, the tea will be right in. I am sorry you caught me at a bad time. However you are the first quest I have had."

"Had since when Mr Crabbe? Is that your excuse for coming in at this ungodly time?"

"Had ever." He saw Elsie come in and went over to help her with the tray that was about to tip over it was so heavy with tea and cakes.

"Mr Weasley was here, but that was on business I guess you would say."

"Mr Crabbe, I have come over something of importance I found in that note book you brought to me." She spoke kinder than she had after hearing his admission that she was sure he did not mean to make.

"Go on."

"First, do you have a pensive?" She asked lifting her chin to see him thru her glasses that she wore on the tip of her nose.

He let out a snort of laughter. "Yeah, you may say I have one or two."

"I see." She leaned forward and poured a cup of tea for Vincent and then one for herself.

"Are these pensives …, well Mr Crabbe, are they yours?"

"No, I mean they are mine, but not my memories. What is going on here?"

"I have asked Mr Weasley to join us Mr Crabbe. I think we will be wise to wait for him before continuing."

"That would be fine Professor. Please have some breakfast." Vincent caught Elsie peeking in the room twisting her claws.

"I am quiet all right Mr Crabbe."

A wail went up in the hallway followed by the noise of Elsie smacking her head against the wall. Minerva jumped up and looked around, her hand going to her throat.

"Umm Professor, if you could just take a biscuit. Just hold it on a plate and maybe hide it when she isn't looking, she gets upset you see." He shrugged sheepishly, handed her a plate, and then hurried to the hallway to calm down Elsie. He took a deep breath, rested his forehead on the wall and wished he had paid the whore twice and found a room.

He was squatted down talking to Elsie when the wards sounded, announcing Mr Weasley's arrival. He patted the elf on the head and opened the door shooing Elsie back to the kitchen.

"Mr Crabbe," Arthur said, nodding. "It appears Minerva has found some information that may be of use to us."

"This way Mr Weasley."

"Ah, Arthur, I am glad you could be punctual. Unlike the younger wizards that stay out all night." Minerva gave Vincent a pointed look.

Arthur poured himself a cup of tea and put three biscuits in his pocket, looking around for Elsie.

"Have a date Vincent?" He grinned at the young wizard.

"No, not exactly, I think we should get started here." He felt a flush creeping up from his collar and the thought of being a child at his parents table came to his mind.

"Miner.. Professor McGonagall sent me some information yesterday that I think may be important." Arthur looked at Minerva and nodded.

"Mr Crabbe, did you read that book you brought me?"

"No, I glanced at it, but I really don't know that much about potions." He looked at Mr Weasley hopelessly. "I am going to meet with a tutor today, like you said."

"That is fine Vincent. That is just fine." Arthur grinned widely and reached over, taking his hand in both his warmly. "If I can help you just send an owl, but that is great news.

Minerva cleared the throat loudly. "Mr Crabbe if I may?"

Vincent leaned back in his chair and looked at her again feeling the blush come up this neck. "Sorry Professor."

"It appears that there was much more than potions in the journal, but spells and charms. Certain charms that Severus discontinued working on as he could not find the reversal."

"What kind of Charm Professor?" Vincent felt uneasy and looked to Arthur who had his eyes trained on the floor.

"Any pensive that was your fathers is now your's by inheritance. Any memory in those pensives that was his, will now be your's. Not by memory, but by viewing."

"So, the pensives that we saw were really my father's memories?"

"Vincent, that would explain why he was alone in the cell with a whip, yet you heard your name called." Arthur said gently.

"That means it was my father on… that killed Lydia." Vincent looked at him with his jaw clenched. "And it means who ever looks in the pensives will think I am guilty."

"That is why, Mr Crabbe, you are not to set foot out of the house until we get this settled. The Ministry would need a warrant to come in here, and we do not need you giving them a reason. That and, well other things." Minerva said firmly.

"This could mean that any Death Eater that had a pensive used against him in trial can have the verdict overturned." Vincent said more to himself than to the others in the room. "We can't trust anything we see in them any more."

"Correct Mr Crabbe. However, having the journal will also protect you from being accused of the atrocities of the visions I am sure you have yet to view." Minerva looked down at him, then reached forward and patted his arm. "I am truly remiss in my treatment of you Mr Crabbe. I should not have said what I did in my office that day."

"And I should stay inside why? What were the other things?"

Arthur looked a Minerva before answering. "Vincent, your father was not known for keeping his mouth shut."

Vincent let out a snort of laughter and then stood going to the liquor cabinet. He had been feeling bad since drinking his tea, he never should have told Elsie to put in a sober up. He lifted up the bottle and raised an eyebrow, silently asking Arthur if he wanted a drink as well. Seeing the older wizard shake his head and Minerva's scowl, he took the bottle back to his seat and poured a generous amount into his teacup.

Arthur frowned watching Vincent finish his drink in two swallows. "Vincent, someone may be after that book. Remember when we went down stairs and you mentioned a clock that was taken?"

Vincent nodded.

"It never made it to the Ministry. Someone was in here that you were not aware of."

"No one could get in here. When I am not home the wards are always set, and they have not been tampered with. I would know if they were."

"Who else would know your wards well enough to tamper with them without you knowing? Think Vincent."

He poured another cup of whiskey and brought it half way to his mouth before lowering it back to the table.

"This would also be someone who keeps pensives of their memories to revisit at will?"

"Yes." Arthur glanced at Minerva.

"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy stayed here on occasion. Hell, since I was a first year if I was home he was here. I only came for special events, and Lucius would be here showing off Draco. I think that is the only reason I was allowed back in."

"I will mention it to Kingsley." Arthur said bringing his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

"I don't think Draco would do this Arthur, it's not his style. Bloody hell, he would march up to the front door with a witch on his arm and convince me to do anything he wanted." Vincent leaned forward to reach for the bottle only to have Minerva beat him to it and pull it away.

"It is more like his father, you know, blind side someone. Get rid of them so it doesn't come back on you. Hire some one…" Vincent stopped talking and looked at Arthur.

"Get me out of the house long enough for him to get in. Shite!" He yelled as he jumped up and ran to the floo.

"Helen, Helen Dolohov. He will go after her. He did once already. Don't you see? He thinks we are together. He must have seen us at lunch. He tried to get her twice to get me out of the way. Arthur it has to be him, and he is going after Helen."

Gesshh… I can't believe I am still writing Crabbe…