Lance's next encounter with Harry Black was only a few days later. Except you really ought to replace the word 'encounter' with 'eavesdropping' if your goal is total disclosure. He was just about to exit an office when someone came to a stop in front of the door and began to speak.
"Hermione has an update on the knife." It was the name that caught Lance's attention. It was unusual enough to immediately bring to mind Dr. Harry Black, not that he wasn't already on Lance's mind because he really was. Pretty much all the time lately. So rather than pushing out of the room and letting whomever it was converse in peace. He just. . .stayed. Only a moment later he was rewarded with the sound of Harry's voice.
"Hermione is working on it? That's not even her department."
"Don't be stupid, nothing could keep her away when you're involved. Besides nobody does research better than my wife." The pride in the other man's voice was undeniable and Harry snickered.
"I wondered how long you'd be able to go without dropping the 'W' word. Okay tell me what she found."
"The markings on the knife. They were Runes just as you thought but Hermione has translated them." There was a pause and Lance could tell that whatever it was Hermione's husband didn't want to tell Harry.
"Okay hit me with it."
"It looks like some kind of resurrection spell. There are runes for soul capture and resurrection. Plus the Hollows which I know you saw."
"Huh."
"That's all you have to say? Huh? This thing ends up on your literal doorstep with a resurrection spell buried in his chest and all you have to say is huh?" This conversation had taken a distinct turn for the odd but he supposed if Dr. Black worked with the Occult it was inevitable he should encounter believers.
"What am I supposed to say Ron? It didn't work obviously maybe it's a threat or maybe . . .well I don't know but I told you already I'm not going to let fear rule me anymore Ron. Whatever comes will come and I'll deal with it when it does." There was a pause while the other man apparently called Ron seemed to think this over. When he spoke again it was with great hesitance.
"Hermione. . .has a theory but. . .it doesn't make sense unless. . ."
"Unless what Ron?"
"You told us everything right?" The tone of voice suggested Ron very much doubted this was true.
"About what?" The tension in the voice told Lance Dr. Black knew exactly what his friend was asking about.
"The night in the woods. You went out, pretended to go down and played dead until he least expected it right?" Lance was thankful that Harry Black seemed as unsettled by this question as himself was because his sharp intake of breath was covered by Harry's own.
"Harry?"
"I never said I pretended." It was spoken so softly Lance could barely hear him through the barrier of the door. "I said I went down. I didn't- I never said I was pretending."
"What do you mean? Harry you didn't. . .you didn't die." There was a long tense silence that was more of answer than anything Harry Black could have said before he finally spoke again.
"Look Ron, this isn't the place and it's not a conversation I relish having sober. Let's go get a drink alright." The other man didn't answer but did move to follow his friend away from the door. Lance was left leaning against the door his head spinning. Harry Black had died or at least believed he had. Lance wondered what the circumstances had been and what they had to do with the body being left.
He was even more desperate to talk to and help Harry but how could he approach him when almost everything he knew was based on conversations he absolutely should not have heard.
2...3...4...5
The opportunity to do so presented itself far earlier than Lance would have expected but not at all in a way that he would have liked. He was in the lab, hoping to corner Vincent Nigel-Murray and ask some questions about Harry Black when Dr. Hodgins cornered them both instead.
"Hey guys, I was thinking maybe we could all head out and get a beer." Lance gaped at him and was certain Vincent's face mimicked his own.
"I'm sorry, did you just ask me to come out for a drink? With you?"
"Yeah don't look so shocked I called up Wendell and he's coming along as well. Hey you could even call up your buddy Dr. Black and see if he wants to come along." Lance perked up at this suggestion and quickly turned his attention to Vincent. Vincent shifted uncomfortably before he replied.
"Am I right is guessing your reason for this sudden desire for camaraderie has a bit to do with asking Harry Black about the body with the knife in it?" Hodgins shrugged.
"Of course not I just thought it might be fun. I mean if the body comes up it comes up but that's not why." Vincent nodded.
"Alright I'll call him but he won't tell you anything about the body." As he spoke he pulled his cell phone out and began to punch in the correct number. "Hello Harry, Yes well myself and a few fellows from the lab are going out for a drink and were wondering if you'd like to come along.. . .Oh well Dr. Hodgins, he's our slime specialist and Wendell Bray who is another grad student, along with Dr. Sweets. . . .Yes, he's the one who consulted on the case with the knife. Alright lovely we'll meet you at the entrance."
2.. . .3...4...
Normally going out to a drink with a bunch of people who were already suspicious of him, would not have appealed to Harry. Somehow though he couldn't resist seeing Dr. Sweets again. After their first meeting and the stress that followed Harry had all but forgotten about the young Doctor but the night he'd run into him a few weeks later was harder to forget. He looked surprisingly good without a shirt on.
Not to mention the scars. Harry had lots of scars that he didn't always want to talk about so he didn't blame Sweets for being self conscious about his. The fact that they were there though hinted that there was much more to the eager young doctor than met the eye and Harry was curious. He'd found the war and his troubled childhood made it hard to connect with people who had lived quiet lives. He liked complicated people, with secrets and bad decisions hiding in the background.
They were huddled around a table in a small local bar that was nothing like the busy clubs Harry usually frequented. It was however just the sort of place he'd expected from tonights event because it was ideal for sitting down and talking. He'd heard enough about Dr. Jack Hodgins from others at the Jeffersonian to expect an interrogation. They were working on their second round of beers and everyone was getting more relaxed. Dr. Sweets, who still hadn't told him his first name, sat on one side and Vincent on his other. That left Hodgins and Wendell on the opposite side, this was convenient because he knew the instant Hodgins decided to pounce.
"So Harry, I've been meaning to ask you what was up with that body a few weeks ago?" It wasn't at all sly but Hodgins voice was appropriately accusatory so maybe he was just hoping to startle him into a full confession. Harry couldn't help but smirk as he noticed all eyes had turned to him. Even Vincent was watching wide eyed clearly wondering if Harry had a good excuse prepared.
"While I admire the directness of your approach Jack, I'm sure your FBI Agent told you the entire situation his highly classified. I can't talk about it."
"Actually," Wendell piped up "He said he couldn't ask you."
Harry suddenly had an absolutely evil thought. He couldn't resist the smile the spilled onto his lips.
"Alright let's play a game. You ask me a question, open ended mind you, and I will give you three answers. One of them will be true. If you guess which you can ask another question, if not you can never ask again and you have to buy the next round for the group. Everyone gets one shot. Are you in?"
They all quickly agreed and Harry turned a warm smile onto Hodgins who seemed to be thinking very carefully about his first question. Finally he looked up a devious glint in his eyes.
"Is Harry Black really your name? If not why did you change it?" Harry thought carefully before answering. He held up one finger.
"Yes, Harry Black is the name my parents gave me."
He held up a second finger.
"Yes, Harry Black is my legal name it was changed so I could inherit the family fortune"
And as he lifted the third he couldn't keep the smirk off his face.
"My real name is Harry Potter, I changed it because I'm incredibly famous."
Hodgins was eyeing him thoughtfully clearly weighing the possibilities.
"I choose answer one. Harry Black is the name your Parents gave you."
Harry grinned.
"You are quite wrong my friend. Run along and order the next round we'll wait until get back for Wendell to start his turn."
"Wait you have to tell me which one was the truth." Hodgins demanded by Harry smirked.
"I never said that was part of the deal. You guessed wrong you've got two other options you'll just have to figure it out." Hodgins opened his mouth to protest but to Harry's surprise Sweets intervened.
"He's right that wasn't in the rules he proposed." Hodgins huffed angrily and stormed off to the bar. While he waited he cast a friendly smile at Sweets and moved a little closer to him. Noting the way the other man's face flushed.
"So Dr. Sweets, I never did catch your first name. Or do you want me to keep calling you doctor?" Sweets shivered next to him and Harry leaned back to take in his flushing face.
"Oh umm. . . uh. .. L-Lance is fine." Harry grinned at him but didn't respond because Hodgins had huffed his way back to the table and was now whispering with Wendell undoubtedly about what the best question to ask would be. Harry cleared his throat.
"Ready?" he asked and Wendell straightened up with a nod.
"How did you know the man whose body was left on the Jeffersonian steps?"
2...3...4...5...6...
Lance snapped back into focus as Wendell asked his question. He'd gone suddenly fuzzy in the brain when Harry had spoken to him. Earlier when Harry had asked his first name he'd practically purred the word Doctor sending waves of arousal coasting through his body. Now Lance watched carefully as Harry considered Wendell's question.
"I didn't know him," Obvious lie, "He's an evil dark lord who targeted me from the time I was an infant only to destroy himself in a final showdown of good and evil when I was 17." Lance watched Harry's face closely. He looked like he was telling the truth except that it was totally absurd. Then Harry shifted with a shrug and leaned back into the bench "He's a criminal who used to date my aunt, who raised me. I ran into him several times when I was young."
Wendell scoffed in annoyance. "Well it's obviously number three."
Harry grinned and shook his head.
"Sorry Wendell."
"I can verify that was not the correct answer Wendell." Vincent piped up and Lance noticed he kept giving Harry strange looks like he was torn between being impressed and being worried.
"Oh come on! You're obviously messing with us you can't expect us to believe he was some kind of 'Dark Lord"! What does that even mean?" Harry shrugged sliding slightly to the side as he did so and Lance noted their shoulders were now pressed together. Making his heartbeat pick up.
"Well it's either that, or I just don't know the guy Hodgins. It's up to you what you believe."
There were a few more mutinous mumblings before the attention was turned to Vincent who was next up to ask questions. The other man put his hands up in mock surrender.
"I'm sorry gentlemen but I'm sure if Harry doesn't want to tell me something he has a good reason. I will however happily buy the next round when we are done with this one." Hodgins scowled in Vincent's direction but quickly turned his attention to Lance himself with brightening eyes.
"That makes it your turn Sweets! I forgot you're practically a human lie detector. You'll get everything out of him."
"Okay well thank you for that vote of confidence but don't get your hopes too far up. I should warn you though Harry I am a Psychologist and I have a degree in behavioral analysis. If you're uncomfortable continuing the game I'll understand."
2...4...6...8...
Harry lifted himself up into a sitting position so he was no longer leaning against the doctor. He smirked as he visibly swelled up in his seat looking so cocky. He had a feeling this guy might give him a run for his money so he decided to even the odds up but pulling distraction technique. Unbuttoning the sleeves on his green shirt he rolled them up and pushed them about halfway up his forearm. Knowing this would both highlight the muscles there but also his scar. The 'I must not tell lies' still etched into his wrist often threw people off. For someone like Lance it would be irresistible not to ask.
"You don't scare me Lance, ask away." Harry told him with a smirk pointedly reaching for his glass and exposing his scar for all to see. Lance seemed to observe him thoughtfully for a moment his eyes lingering on the scar and when he spoke he actually managed to take Harry by surprise.
"Tell me about your parents," It wasn't exactly a question but Harry was prepared to let it slide. He thought carefully before he answered. Wanting to make a point but not give too much away.
"I respect my parents too much to lie about them. I will tell you the truth then you can ask another question." Sweets nodded his agreement and Harry took a breath. "My father was James, he was from an old aristocratic family and I've been told he loved my mother almost the moment he laid eyes on her. Lily, was from a middle class family and I've been told she hated my father from the moment he opened his mouth. My father pursued Lily throughout their education together and finally, for whatever reason in their final year she came around." Harry paused smiling fondly at the thought of his mother and father before he became serious. He leaned in to emphasize his point looking Lance straight in the eye. "My father stayed back, to give my mother time to run. He died first, my mother couldn't run far enough and she died protecting me."
There was a long period in which nobody spoke. Harry drained his glass and used the time to glance around at the rest of the bar. It was mostly empty other than a few committed regulars nursing drinks at private tables. Harry tilted his head trying to better see one of the other men who was seated at the bar. He looked familiar. Harry stood abruptly.
"Excuse me," he told Lance as he pushed his way passed him and toward the bar. He came to a stop right next to the man and leaning down, hissed the instructions into his ear. "Stand up and come outside with me. Don't make a fuss or I'll be forced to get violent."
The man stiffened but nodded without actually turning to look at Harry. Harry stood but put one hand around the man's bicep squeezing just enough to be painful and ensuring he wasn't going anywhere without him. Harry escorted him out of the pub hoping the others would mistake his actions for a pick up instead of an act of violence. Once out Harry swirled quickly and pushed Draco Malfoy hard against the wall, trying not to wince at the way his head cracked against it.
"What the fuck are you doing here Malfoy?" Malfoy started to shake his head and Harry shook him hard this time ignoring the unpleasant thunking of his head against the wall. "And don't you dare tell me its a fucking coincidence either. I know you've been following me, its not the first time I've seen you."
"Look Potter. . .Just calm down yes I'm following you but . . ." he paused and Harry growled in frustration.
"Did you send the body?! Trying to earn points with your old friends or maybe you were thinking you could take me on your own?" Malfoy shifted and after a brief struggle managed to cause Harry to stumble back away from him.
"No Merlin! Potter just listen to yourself! Of course I didn't send it I have no old friends! They'd probably like to kill me even more than you!" Harry studied his face but Malfoy appeared sincere and Harry knew it was true that Draco had a price on his head ever since Harry had spoken for him at his trial. He'd been branded a traitor and the few free surviving Death Eaters had been pretty clear about wanting him in the ground.
"Then why are you following me?" Harry demanded. Malfoy shifted uncomfortably.
"It's complicated."
"Then uncomplicated it!" Harry snapped as always annoyed just to be in Malfoy's presence. Malfoy scowled at him.
"I owe you a debt Potter. I'm not going anywhere until I've had a chance to repay it." As Malfoy spoke he straightened his back and managed to give Harry a look of pure loathing. Harry scoffed.
"You don't owe me anything Malfoy. Just go home." He turned to walk away but Malfoy grabbed his arm and hauled him back.
"The fuck I don't! You may have been too busy playing hero to care and the rest of your fans may think just worshipping you is enough but you pulled me out of that room." Malfoy paused as a shudder ran through both of them at the memory, when he continued speaking his voice was choked with emotion. "You pulled me out. You could have left me to burn with Vince but you saved me. I hate you Potter more than anyone I have ever encountered and I'll be damned if I let you keep that hanging over my head for the rest of my life."
Harry met Malfoy's eyes, saw the depth of emotion there and almost stepped away. He'd never thought such a cold person could have so much fire in their eyes. He cleared his throat and glanced up at the stars, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
"Alright, but what if whomever sent the body doesn't show again? Or isn't trying to kill me?" Malfoy snorted.
"Are you kidding me? You're Harry Come-kill-me Potter it's only a matter of time before someone tries to off you again." Harry laughed and Malfoy joined in for a moment before pausing. "I heard your tragic tale of your mudblood mother and blood traitor father-"
Whatever Draco thought of Harry's 'tragic tale' was cut off by Harry's fist impacting his face. Malfoy flew back but quickly regained his footing and swung at Harry. Harry ducked easily before spinning in and punching Malfoy's ribs hard enough to hear them crack. He'd got too close though and Malfoy retaliated by grabbing Harry by the hair and holding him still long enough to punch him in the face, Harry twisted leaving a chunk of hair still gripped him Malfoy's fist before dancing back to swing at him again.
Harry landed one more punch before he felt himself being pulled back.
"What is going on out here?!" The voice of Doctor Hodgins brought Harry back to the present and Harry realized both Wendell and Vincent were holding him back while Hodgins had Malfoy. Malfoy smirked before, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Oh don't worry gentleman Potter and I were just making sure we understood each other."
Author's note: So there is my chapter two! I'm glad you guys liked my open and I'm hoping for lots and lots of reviews to inspire more! I hope you LOVE IT
Anyway PLEASE REVIEW and thanks so much to those who already did.