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Chapter Twelve: Accidental Rendezvous

Harry's determination to uncover the truth hadn't lessened in the month since he had seen Nott and Malfoy's clandestine meeting by the docks, but he still had nothing solid to go on to help him figure out what Malfoy was planning. Now, however, he had two wizards to keep track of – Malfoy and Nott.

Theodore Nott had met with Malfoy for about an hour before heading back to the Hogwarts Express. Harry had waited patiently, wishing he could get closer without being seen so that he could hear some of what they were saying but not wanting to risk discovery. Any move closer would blow his cover and he would be outnumbered two to one. The odds weren't in his favour, so he had kept his distance, waiting until Malfoy was back on board the ship and Nott was a safe distance away before he made his way back to his own room.

The next morning Ginny had known something was wrong when he showed up for breakfast late looking completely worn out and eyeing Nott with distrust. He had pulled her aside soon after and filled her in on what he had seen, but she hadn't been overly alarmed.

"They were friends at Hogwarts," she pointed out. "It's not surprising that they've made contact with each other. What I wonder is why they did it in secret. That is suspicious, but I suppose there could be a good explanation for it."

"Like what?" Harry asked doubtfully.

She shrugged, "I don't know. All we can do is keep an eye on them until you hear back from Tonks."

But when the letter came from Tonks it wasn't what he had hoped. She had written that there was nothing she could do about Draco being at Beauxbaton because as far as the Ministry was concerned he was a free citizen. Until he did something illegal, he was not worth bothering with in their official opinion. As for what Draco might be up to at Beauxbaton, she wasn't certain but she promised she'd check into a few things and get back with him. In the meantime, she stressed the importance of maintaining constant vigilance.

"I know it's hard for you, Harry," she had written, "but please stay away from him. Whatever he's up to will most likely reveal itself in due time. Tell Ginny to watch her back this year, and both of you… keep your eyes open. I don't trust him any more than you do, but for now he's off limits as far as the Aurors are concerned. Let me know if anything changes, and be careful. I've also received an owl from Minerva on the subject and she's just as concerned as you, so she's on top of this as well."

"Well, at least McGonagall is taking this seriously," Ginny commented after she had read the letter.

"But is that going to be enough?" Harry said. "What if his intent is revenge? You said yourself that he lost everything, and that makes a person desperate. What if he blames me and wants to try and get back at me by hurting you?"

"I suppose that's possible, but if he had really wanted to hurt one of us he could have done it by now," Ginny countered. "Besides, how could he know that we'd even be here? Going back to Hogwarts was publicized well enough, but it wasn't common knowledge that we'd be part of the delegation."

"Nott could have told him," Harry said triumphantly.

"Maybe," Ginny conceded. "But we don't know for sure. I understand why you're worried, Harry, but for now we'll just have to be careful – me as well as you. That means no unnecessary risks, like sneaking out on your own," she scolded him. "I wish we had some way to contact each other in case one of us runs into trouble. I think I'll do a little bit of research and see what I can come up with."

"I think that's an excellent idea," Harry agreed. "And I know just where to start. My father and Sirius used a charm on a set of mirrors to communicate during detention. It was similar to the one on the mirror in the classroom, but on a much smaller scale."

Her eyes lit up. "That's brilliant!" she exclaimed. "And I know the perfect thing to use. Hermione showed me a type mirror once… she called it a compact, I think. Muggle women use them to apply their beauty potions. It's small enough to fit in a pocket and can be folded for protection when not in use. If we can locate some and find this charm, I think we'd have a good, reliable means to get in touch with each other."

"Excellent," Harry agreed, just as excited. "Remember the DA coins? We may be able to use the Protean Charm to alert us silently when one of us is calling the other." He laughed. "Cell phones for wizards!"

"What's selling phones have to do with it?" she asked, confused.

"Never mind," he said. "I'll explain it to you later. For now we should send an owl to Hermione and see if she can round up a few cheap compact mirrors and any information on those charms she can come up with. I also think we should hit the books. I want you to be prepared for the first task. That's going to be the perfect opportunity to get at you without me being around and make something look like an accident. We have no idea what it'll be, and you'll be all on your own without backup. I know Malfoy's not as smart as Barty Crouch, Jr. or as cunning as Voldemort, but he must have something up his sleeve. I just wish I had something more to go on."

"We'll figure it out together," Ginny promised him.

It took about three weeks, but eventually Hermione came through. She had owled her mother with the request for some inexpensive compact mirrors. In fact, she had requested four mirrors total, since she liked the idea so much she decided to connect them all, allowing for better communication between them. Her mother, though a tad baffled by the request since Hermione had never shown any interest in Muggle beauty products before, had never-the-less acquired them at a local department store and sent them back straight away. That had given Hermione enough time to research the exact spells they would need, including a way to "call" one specific person without accidentally getting one of the other two. This problem was solved by use of a password charm, which simply involved touching one's wand to the mirror's case and saying the name of the person he or she wished to talk to; as soon as the person's name was spoken the Protean charm activated, making that person's compact feel warm. All the recipient had to do to answer the "call" was to flip open the compact and talk to the person on the other end. The "call" ended when the compact was closed.

Hedwig, who had stayed behind because she had recently laid a clutch of eggs, was given the task of flying the "wizard phones" to Harry and Ginny. Her eggs had since hatched and the owlets were now old enough to hunt on their own according to Hagrid, and the Snowy Owl was anxious for a long journey. She would then stay with Harry at Beauxbaton indefinitely. Luckily Hermione had thought to enlarge the interior of the box and include Hedwig's cage along with the mirrors. Since they had been delivered, the foursome had spent many hours talking with each other via their "phones", discussing possibilities and theories as to what Draco might be up to and what the First Task could be. So far their discussions had yielded little more than theories.

The only downfall of their new invention was that the charm connected no more than two mirrors at a time. If Harry wanted to talk to both Ron and Hermione at the same time they had to keep passing the compact between them. This became so frustrating for Hermione (who was constantly having her compact jerked out of her hand by Ron) that she decided to secure some larger mirrors that could be mounted to the wall and would eventually allow them to see at least two people standing side by side. Harry thought that was a great idea, but he cautioned Hermione to consider privacy in the design. He didn't relish the idea of his best friends accidentally catching him spending time "relaxing" with Ginny, especially when one of them was her brother. Hermione promised to come up with something suitable by Christmas.

With the First Task rapidly approaching, Ginny was becoming more and more nervous. News had spread of her appointment as Hogwarts champion and she had been getting regular owls from her family cautioning her on the dangers of the unknown task and the need to be careful. With each new letter she was growing more and more agitated so that she finally stopped opening her mail and just tossed the letters aside. When Harry questioned her about it she handed him a few of the unopened letters and told him to read them. It only took a few to make her point.

The night before the First Task and tension was running high. Ginny had snapped at him for being too close to her when she was trying to concentrate on learning a new spell – apparently he was distracting her – and so he had ended up taking a walk to clear his head, taking his compact phone with him to try and contact Ron about his last letter to Ginny. His wanderings led him to a secluded spot on the grounds of Beauxbaton, a small garden with tall shrubs and benches scattered about amid beautiful fountains. Harry selected a bench tucked away and hidden from view for privacy. He still attracted a great deal of attention wherever he went and the further away he was from that night the better.

He had just drawn his wand to utter Ron's name when a familiar voice nearby stopped him cold.

"Did you do what I told you?" Draco Malfoy said, causing Harry to jump. He looked around him but didn't see anybody.

"Of course I did," Nott replied.

Harry ducked to the ground, hoping that he hadn't been seen, and hid behind a large potted plant. The voiced were coming from around the corner and if they happened to walk this way he would be caught.

"Did you find out, then?" Malfoy asked impatiently.

"It's Vampires," Nott replied. "The First Task involves vampires, but I'm not certain how."

Harry's blood ran cold at the news. Vampires were much worse than Werewolves. Whereas Werewolves only transformed at midnight during a full moon, vampires retained their forms, hunting by night and sleeping by day. They lived to drink the blood of humans and animals and the longer they had been without a feeding the more ruthless they became. A well-fed vampire could be quite cordial, but a starving vampire could have the strength of ten men and was resistant to most spells. Its powers of seduction were legendary, especially if it wanted to "kiss" a person – the vampire's kiss, usually a bite to the neck that was not intended to kill, was what created a vampire. The breed was among some of the most feared and dangerous creatures on the planet, but controversial because at times they could be quite tame and almost human-like. His one experience with a vampire at Slughorn's party hadn't been so bad, but he remembered Remus' DADA lesson well and knew that if provoked a vampire could be brutal or worse – deadly. Better dead than undead, according to Remus… Vampires were tortured Dark creatures shunned by most of society.

"What are they doing with sodding vampires?" Malfoy swore. "Your information has got to be wrong."

"I heard it from the half-breed Headmistress's own mouth," Nott told him. "They have special harnesses on them that won't let them bite, but they haven't fed in over a week so they're ravenous. There are three and they all volunteered for the job for a sum of money. You'll have to get past them somehow – I think they must be guarding something, but I don't know what."

Malfoy swore violently. "What am I going to do?"

"You're asking me?" Nott said in an incredulous voice. "You're the champion."

"Don't remind me," Malfoy said bitterly. "If that Weasley girl hadn't provoked me I wouldn't be in this predicament. If she hadn't run her mouth I never would have actually put my name in, then the bloody Goblet actually picked me. What are the chances of that?" he raved. "This is all her fault!"

"Whatever," Nott said in a bored voice like he'd heard all this many times before. "It doesn't really matter whose fault it is, does it? The bottom line is that you have to figure out how to get past a thirsty vampire – or three – with nothing but your wand."

"All I know about repelling vampires is their aversion to garlic and holy water," Malfoy said. "Wait… sunlight will kill them. Do you think it's the sun that does it, or light in general?"

"I think it's the sunlight," Nott answered. "I forgot to say that the task is going to be at night."

"I wonder if I can smuggle some holy water under my robes," Malfoy mused.

Nott shrugged. "Maybe, but I've heard that most vampires nowadays have developed an immunity to it. It might not do you much good, and if you're caught cheating you'll be disqualified."

"Who cares?"

"That's a lot of money…"

Draco sighed. "It didn't used to seem like so much. Speaking of which, we need to talk about the real reason we're here."

Harry leaned closer, forgetting that he was supposed to be hiding. The shrubbery rustled a bit at his movement and he froze, gripping his wand tightly in case he was discovered.

"Did you hear something?" Nott asked, looking around.

Draco paused. "Probably the wind," he said finally. "I have to go, but we'll meet up at the usual time to discuss the other issue. Just keep your mouth shut around that fool Baker. I don't want him or anyone else – especially Potter or Weasley – find out we're in contact. I've come too far to be derailed now."

Nott agreed and they went their separate ways. Harry stayed where he was for awhile until he was certain they were really gone then he carefully moved out of the shrubbery and into the open.

"Catch an earful, did ya' laddie?" a distinctly Scottish voice said near his left ear.

Harry whipped around, his wand out, to find he was being tailed by an unfamiliar man in his mid to late thirties. He had an angular face, neatly combed blond hair, an athletic build, and a professionally sharp look about him despite his casual expression and tone.

"Who are you?" Harry growled, pointing his wand at the man's heart.

"Name's Maclver… Gordon Maclver," he said, ignoring Harry's wand. His demeanour hadn't changed at all during the exchange; he seemed totally unconcerned about Harry's wand pointed at his chest and he didn't make a single move to defend himself. "I'm an associate of Nymphadora Tonks… now Mrs. Lupin."

Harry regarded him suspiciously. "Are you an Auror?"

Maclver hesitated. "Of sorts. Have ya ever heard of the IWA?"

"No," Harry answered curtly, still not lowering his wand.

"That would be the International Wizarding Aurors, or IWA fer short," Maclver explained. "We deal with all foreign investigations, whereas the Aurors take care of the domestic ones."

"So you're a spy?" Harry concluded.

"Some may say that," the older wizard admitted. "We tend ta look at it as protectin' our national interests."

"Prove it, then."

He reached for something in his pocket, causing Harry to tense. "I'm jus' reachin' fer my badge, kid. Ahh… here it is," he said, shoving it closer to Harry who took it suspiciously. The credentials seemed official enough with a picture of a blinking Maclver next to the Ministry stamp and a gleaming gold badge on the opposite side of the fold.

Harry handed it back to him and lowered his wand cautiously. "What are you doing here?"

"No need to ask yer name, Mr. Potter," he said extending a hand. "It's nice ta finally meet ya in person."

Harry shook the offered hand firmly but suspiciously.

"I'm tailing yer mate, Draco, that's what I'm doin' here," he explained with a twinkle in his pale green eyes.

"He's not my mate," Harry said curtly, "and I thought the Ministry had cleared him. If you're really checking up on him, then you must have a reason."

Maclver laughed. "I know very well he's not your mate, Mr. Potter. Just using a bit o' humour ta lighten the situation. Officially the Ministry has cleared Mr. Malfoy of any intentional wrongdoing, but given his background an' history we are unofficially keepin' an eye on him. We think it's suspicious that he happened ta show up here in the same place as you an' yer girlfriend, and now he's a champion… it sets off some alarm bells, don' ya think?"

Harry bristled. "Of course I think so. Why do you think I was hiding in the bloody bushes?"

"No need ta get yer knickers in a twist. I'm on yer side," Maclver grunted.

"Sorry," Harry said sincerely, backing down somewhat. "I know Draco Malfoy very well and his being here puts me on edge for good reason. I want to know what his game is, so if you have information I would appreciate you sharing it. Otherwise I'll get it my own way."

"You don' beat around the bush, do ya?" Maclver said with a grin. "I heard that about ya, laddie. Ever consider a career as an IWA agent?"

"Er… no," Harry answered. "Seeing as how I just learned about your organization and all, I can't say I've given it much thought."

"Well, ya should. Great way ter get to see the world, although sometimes we spend a tad too much time in the more dodgy parts, mind. Still, it's an exciting career for the person who likes to be in the thick of it, which I think you do."

Irritated, Harry brushed this comment aside, "So getting back to Malfoy… can you tell me what you know or are you going to keep trying to distract me?"

"I don' know anything," Maclver answered, seeming impressed that Harry had picked up on that tactic so quickly. "That's why I'm here… trying to find some answers. I do know that Monsieur Fortier has assigned his own man to the job, but we're not certain why. Obviously something has the French Aurors in an uproar."

"Who's Monsieur Fortier?" Harry asked perplexed.

"I'm surprised ya haven't heard o' him," Maclver said. "He's only the most powerful wizard this side o' the Channel. He knows everything that happens in these parts."

"Is he on the right side, or is he shady?"

Maclver hesitated. "That's not really a fair question, is it? He may be working fer the good o' the people, but sometimes we all have ta do things we don't like ta see that there's peace in the world. You should know that better than anyone, Mr. Potter."

"You didn't answer my question," Harry pressed. "I want to know if he practices the Dark Arts."

"No, he doesn't," Maclver said. "At least not ta my knowledge. But he is powerful and ruthless, that's fer certain. If he thinks there's a threat to his country he'll pull out all the stops to squash it."

"I'm not entirely confident that makes me feel better," Harry said with a shiver. "I don't want to see innocent people caught in the crossfire. I've witnessed too much of that in my lifetime already."

"That's why Tonks asked me ta check things out," he said. "If I can find out what Draco Malfoy's up to before Fortier's people, then hopefully I can take care it in my own way before they have a chance."

"I'd like to help, if I can," Harry volunteered.

"I thought ya might," Maclver said with a grin. "Just keep on doing what you're doing, laddie. I need you to keep your eyes and ears open. If you find out anything I can use, I'd appreciate it if you keep me informed."

Harry hesitated. He wanted to trust this man but he'd learned Moody's lesson of constant vigilance too well to completely trust anyone other than his circle of friends. This man Maclver was a stranger to him and he would have to think hard about promising to divulge any information he learned about Malfoy to a complete stranger.

"I can see you may have a problem with that," Maclver observed in a shrewd voice.

"I'm willing to work together on this," Harry told him, "but I'm no snitch and I'm no informant. Until I know you better I can't promise that."

"They weren't lying about ya, I can see," the man said with admiration. "Tonks told me you were on top of it, but I didn't fully understand what she meant 'til now. Just be careful, laddie. These are dangerous folks we're talking about, not school children."

"I've dealt with dangerous people before, thanks," Harry reminded him. "I'm used to being cautious. That's one of the reasons I've stayed alive as long as I have."

"I believe that," Maclver assured him. "So let's leave it like this... You contact Tonks and let her know that you've been in touch with me. After ya hear what she has to say, if ya still want to work with me you can reach me by owl – she said you have one. I'm staying nearby at a small bed an' breakfast called "Le Maison de la Bellerose" down the road. It's a Muggle place but the woman who runs it has a daughter who's a witch, so she knows all about us. I'll be there for a few more weeks if ya find out anything and want to share."

"What about you?" Harry asked. "If you find out anything, will you let me know?"

"That depends," he answered truthfully. "I'll do my best ta keep ya informed but I may not be able to report everything. I have other cases I'm working on while I'm here and if concerning Malfoy directly, I'll do my best ta pass it on. If I come up empty I'll give ya a report before I leave, all right?"

"Fair enough," Harry agreed. He held out his hand to the man to seal the deal, satisfied that Maclver shook it firmly with a measure of conviction.

"I'll be in touch," he said with a small wave that looked more like a salute.

Harry waved back just as he Disapparated. "So will I Mr. Maclver, so will I," he said to himself as he stared into empty space. "You can count on it."

He turned to leave, lost in thought. What could Malfoy be up to if it wasn't the prize money? His mind was racing through the possibilities as he walked, and he forgot his own rule – constant vigilance. He never heard the spell coming and by the time he felt the prickle of warning it was too late.