November 2008
Wizarding London, England
Ministry of Magic of Great Britain
Office of Magical Law Enforcement
Tuesday
Lyra met Harry outside of the room where the inquiry was to be held. Draco and Gold were already inside.
"Remember that you don't remember," Lyra told him gravely.
Harry took a large shaky breath. "Right."
They walked in together, side by side, to a plain table set up before the board of nine inquisitors. Lyra recognized some of them from her match with Harry in the arena. Julian Diamond, head of MLE (and known idiot) was sitting in the center as the presiding chairman. Fucking great, Lyra thought. Hey, we just need five votes. That's all we need.
One of the panel, a middle aged witch with greying red hair, leaned over to Julian to ask where Auror Shacklebolt was.
"I have no idea. Seems he can't find the time to defend his own Aurors. That's a real shame. Probably off campaigning," the pudgy wizard said smugly.
Lyra clenched her fists anxiously. That's how the fuck it's going to be.
Julian banged a gavel on the long table in front of him. "We the members of the Professional Review Board for the Office of Magical Law Enforcement for the Ministry of Magic of Great Britain call to order this professional inquiry into the use of the killing curse in the line of duty by Auror Harry Potter. The Board will produce evidence of the use of the curse and the Auror under review and his ancillary council will then provide any extenuating information pertinent to these proceedings. Are we in agreement?"
The members of the board mumbled their assent. A blonde wizard on the end who couldn't have been much older than Harry read out an MLE report of the incident that was heavily editorialized and full of flimsy subjectives. It made copious mention of the long standing animosity between Draco and Harry, that they had a history of violence towards one another as recalled by the victim's (Draco's) own father. Their intended point was clear. Harry hated Draco's guts, he saw an opportunity to kill him and so he did. The report made the glaring omission that Draco did not, in fact, die. It was ridiculous and Lyra was absolutely fuming by the end of it.
"Thank you, Carl," Julian stated before turning to Harry and Lyra. "You may now present your case to the board. Members of the board may interject with questions at any time. Please state your full names, title and agency," he said, gesturing first to Harry.
Harry cleared his throat. "Harry James Potter, Auror, Ministry of Magic of Great Britain."
Julian narrowed his gaze at Lyra. Lyra spoke out clearly, with a dogged confidence that she didn't truly have. "Lyra Lily Black, Auror, Magical Congress of the United States of America working in consultation to the Ministry of Magic of Great Britain. I'd like to make the members of the board aware that our Head Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt is enroute and will be here as soon as he is able. He was coming back from a site in Wiltshire an hour ago when our office received word that this hearing had been moved."
"Yes, thank you. You may begin," Julian dismissed.
Harry recalled what happened the night of the raid, beginning with the face off between himself and Narcissa Malfoy. He did what Lyra asked and admitted to blacking out in a sense when he saw Draco standing over Lyra's body on the ground. After seeing the gruesome scene, the next thing he remembered was having Lyra in his arms and trying to shove a bezoar down her throat. It wasn't until Draco awoke and Harry saw him that he realized what he had done.
"What response do you have to the allegation of bad blood between yourself and Mr. Malfoy mentioned in the MLE report?" An elderly wizard with a long beard asked Harry.
"I would say that it was a long time ago and we were children. I'd remind the board that during his trial for war crimes I testified both against him and in his defense in front of the Wizengamot. Before this case, I hadn't seen him or even thought about him in eight years. The insinuation that I've been stewing in rage over an old school rival is absurd."
Nailed it, Lyra thought proudly.
"What is absurd is not for you to decide, Auror Potter and I'd thank you to mind your tone," Julian said pompously.
"Yes, Sir. Forgive me. I'd also like to point out that the person that gave this evidence as to the relationship between Mr. Malfoy and myself is presently incarcerated for cursing his own son to torture and kill a witch while under compulsion," Harry added.
"Allegedly, Auror Potter," Julian added.
"Allegedly," Harry nodded.
"If I may," Lyra began. "I'd like to point out an omission made by the MLE report that I feel bears mentioning and that is the fact that Draco Malfoy is not dead. Now, given that Auror Potter has little memory of the moment he cast the curse, we'd have a difficult time assessing his intent and the nature of this particular cast. What we do know, based on his own admission, legilimency and recordings from the room where this happened, is that Auror Potter said the words Avada Kedavra and that Draco Malfoy did not die."
"What's your point?" Julian asked, disinterested.
"My point is that, though we lack the information, whether or not Auror Potter wanted to kill Mr. Malfoy doesn't matter in this case because Auror Potter was magically incapable of doing so," Lyra stated calmly. She noticed that Harry went stock still next to her.
"Do you have so little faith in Mr. Potter's abilities, Auror? He saved your life. I would think you'd be a little more grateful," Julian quipped with a sneer. Lyra noticed that some of the other members of the board fidgeted uncomfortably away from his rude words.
"Sir, I am incredibly grateful to Auror Potter for saving my life. It's why I'm in this room right now. My partner, the very victim we are discussing, is here in this room to defend him as well. And if, as you say, these two men despise each other, I'd call that quite a feat" Lyra explained. "Let me show you. Please," she stated.
"As interesting as I'm sure your theory would be..." Julian began.
"I'd like to hear it," the red-haired witch interjected. Several of the other board members nodded in agreement.
"Oh fine, then. Get on with it," Julian sniped.
"I know that some of you saw Harry and I fight last week in the arena. I noticed that when he and I sparred, some of his offensive curses, his stinging hexes for example, didn't affect me or land on me properly. I was able to repel them or power through them more easily than I'm used to. His defensive spells, however, were excellent and impenetrable...well I mean almost," she explained with a cocky smile at the end.
"I was trying to figure it out and I realized that Harry had told me, several weeks ago that his wand was Hawthorne, with a core of unicorn hair. I've studied wandlore quite extensively and it seemed an odd choice for a wizard like Harry. The only other wand of that composition that I was aware of belonged to someone I knew very well when I was young. After Harry and I fought, Mr. Malfoy was kind enough to heal a cut on my forehead and I noticed something. He didn't have the same wand he'd had when we were children," she paused for effect. "Harry, could you put your wand on the table please?"
Harry did so and Lyra eyed it knowingly.
"Where did you get your wand, Harry?" Lyra asked.
"I..." Harry's eyes lit up. "It was Draco Malfoy's. I turned it during the war."
The board came alive with interested whispers.
Lyra turned back to the gallery. "Mr. Malfoy, would you come to the table please?"
Draco approached and stood next to her. "Can you confirm that this used to be your wand and that Auror Potter did take it at some point during the war?"
He eyed his old wand with longing. "I can. This was mine and he made off with it when he was being held prisoner at my parent's estate and escaped."
"Thank you," She replied sweetly. "You may return to your seat."
"Get on with it, Auror."
"My point is that this wand is made of an emotional wood, Hawthorne, and has a core that is known for it's good memory. This wand belonged to someone who knew me for years, performed magic on me regularly and also loved me. My theory is that Harry couldn't kill Draco for the same reason he can't hit me with a good stinging hex. This wand simply will not allow it. I imagine this was also a contributing factor as to why it took a highly skilled Auror like Harry so many minutes to get Narcissa Malfoy into a body bind, no offense to her," Lyra explained.
"You may have studied wandlore at your little American school, but unless you are credentialed, it's little more than a guess," Julian fired at her.
Lyra deflated.
The young blonde wizard on the end spoke up. "I am credentialed in wandlore and I believe she has a point." He looked down at Lyra. "Would you be willing to provide a demonstration?"
"Absolutely," she nodded. "Auror Gold, would you help me please?"
He joined her in front of the panel. She stationed him at a distance from her and turned to face him. "Auror Gold, I'd like you to hex me. A sting, please."
Gold looked at her like she was insane. Maybe she was.
"Auror Gold. Sting me," she repeated.
He raised his wand.
"Wait!" Lyra waved her hands at him. "Not...not the face, okay?"
He smirked. "Ictusceler-" he shouted, hitting her in the hand.
She squealed and danced around in a little circle waiving her arm around frantically and yelling at him. "Ohmigod, Pip! You could have tempered it a little bit, you animal! I'm unarmed. Unbelievable!" She stomped her foot.
Most of the board members laughed. She turned to them, red faced and flustered, and held out her hand, showing them the emerging welt that was beginning to swell.
She took a deep shaky breath and looked over to Harry. "Ok, your turn."
Draco stood and cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Ly...Auror Black, is this really necessary?"
She smiled at him, cradling her injured hand to her body. "You want to take this one? For it to be a true test, Auror Gold will have to sting you too," she explained.
"Yes. I'll do it," he replied seriously.
Lyra heard one of the women on the panel say "so sweet," to one of her colleagues.
"No, Draco. I'm fine," she dismissed gently, with a little blush.
He flexed his jaw at her in frustration, but sat down.
"Ok, Potter. Sting me," she said, gathering her courage.
He got up and stood next to Gold.
"I have to tell you nice folk that Auror Potter here, is right mean with a stinging hex. Got me in the eye once. Looked like I hugged a hornet's nest," Gold explained up to the board.
"Yes, Gold. Thank you for that," Lyra quirked, trembling.
Harry leveled her with a wild stare. "Ictusceler-" he bellowed, hitting Lyra in her other hand.
Lyra hissed, and clenched her fist, but that was it. She held her hand up for the board and there was a small pink line, like she'd been snapped with a stick, but it was nothing compared to the other.
The blonde wizard furrowed his brow first in confusion, then arched them in amazement. "Extraordinary! I hate to ask, this is really more for research, but Mr. Malfoy, would you be willing to let Auror Potter sting you? Do feel free to say no."
Draco dropped his jaw in surprise at the odd turn of events. He sighed and eyed Potter warily. "Yeah, alright. To research, I suppose." He got up and stood next to Lyra, who was looking at him with a shocked look on her face. He smiled at her. He knew he was still in the doghouse. A little sting wouldn't undo what damage Astoria had done earlier, but it was a start.
"Not the face. You know I'm far too pretty for that nonsense," he said to Harry in his best aristocratic tone.
Harry narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Ictusceler!" He yelled it so loud that Lyra felt her teeth rattle.
"Bloody hell!" Draco exclaimed in a surprised tone, pulling his hand back. He shook it out a moment and looked down at the scarcely noticeable welt that formed on his skin. "I mean, it definitely doesn't feel great, but I'd call that weak stuff, Potter." Draco quipped with satisfaction.
The blonde wizard was thrilled. "Mr. Potter, for comparisons sake, could you sting Auror Gold?"
"Alright. That's enough. I have a Quidditch match to attend later this afternoon and I'd like to get going," Julian boomed from the center of the board. "Auror Black, final statement."
"British Law does not prosecute wizards for the attempt of unlawful magic that they are incapable of performing. If that were the case we'd be in here all day throwing the book at 14 year olds who angrily say Avada Kedavra at their parents. Further, the night of that raid, with me poisoned and Harry using that particular wand, my boyfriend was unarguably the safest person in the room. What should be concluded by this board is that Harry's actions resulted in the fulfillment of a murderous compulsion curse with absolutely no loss of life, executed to protect and defend the life of a three year old child," Lyra concluded.
"Auror Potter, final statement," the red haired witch intoned.
"Um...I love my job, I think I'm pretty good at it and please let me keep it, I guess," he mumbled nervously.
"We'll vote. All in favor of termination, please raise your hands," Julian stated, putting his hand in the air.
He was joined by the old bearded wizard and a pinch-faced witch in red robes. Lyra felt like she was going to vomit.
"All in favor of retention," Julian spoke with a grimace.
Six hands went up and, just like that, Harry still had a job.
Harry and Lyra stared across at each other in shock.
"It seems, Auror Potter, that you still have a job for now, but understand that this assembly severely reprimands you for your irresponsible conduct and know that we will be watching you more closely in the future," Julian fumed from his seat.
"Yes, Sir. Understood. Thank you," he nodded seriously.
"We are adjourned," Julian said with an angry bang of his gavel. He rose from his seat and exited immediately.
Lyra rushed into Harry's arms with a squeal as he lifted her off the ground.
Gold laughed and wrapped his arms around the pair of them.
"Brilliant, Lyra. You were brilliant," Harry breathed to her, still in disbelief.
"Well done, lass. Sorry about your hand." Gold quipped.
"I hate you," she said with a laugh as Harry set her back down.
The door Harry and Lyra entered through flew open at that moment, ushering in a breathless and windswept Shacklebolt trailed by Zabini, Rossman and Simpkins who appeared to have struggled to keep up. Shacklebolt looked mad. Real mad.
"I want an explanation as to why my Auror went up to board a day early with only an hour's notice!" He boomed.
The red haired witch, who was making her way to the inquisitors exit paused and spoke. "Kingsley, I'm so sorry. We were told that you were made aware yesterday. An unforgivable mix-up. You'll be happy to hear that Auror Potter and Auror Black nevertheless made an excellent case and the board ruled in favor of Mr. Potter," she said warmly before making her way out the door.
Shacklebolt stared in amazement at Harry and Lyra. "Oh. Quite right," he muttered approaching them to shake their hands calmly.
"It was Lyra. She was unbelievable," Harry beamed at her.
There were cheers and back pats all around in congratulations. Lyra was thrilled with the outcome. It had almost eclipsed her lunchtime debacle with Draco and Astoria. Speaking of Draco. Lyra spotted him walking back to his seat for his jacket. Punk thought he was just going to skate on out. Lyra opened her mouth to yell to him.
"Oy, Malfoy!" Harry called, disentangling himself from his cadre of well-wishers and walking over to him.
Lyra hung back so she could observe.
Draco fought, but failed, to keep the scowl off his face. "What is it, Potter?" He asked.
Harry clicked his jaw to stamp down his instinctive reflex to call him a rodent...or punch him. "Er...thank you, for what you did. Sorry about your hand," he mumbled out awkwardly.
Draco flexed his fists to keep himself from calling the dark haired wizard a wanker...or punching him. "I didn't do it for you," he replied coldly.
Harry looked back to Lyra who was watching them with a side-eye while pretending to listen to Rossman. "Yeah, she's something else. Regardless of why you did it, I'm grateful," he said extending his hand.
Draco stared at Potter's hand like he was trying to give him a rotting fish. He was about to tell the wanker to piss off when he saw Lyra's hazel eyes flash in the crowd. He inhaled warily and shook the other wizard's hand without enthusiasm.
"Right. Okay," Harry stammered before walking away. He passed Lyra on his way back to the group and she squeezed his arm playfully.
Lyra walked smugly up to her boyfriend who smirked at her knowingly.
"They'll be no living with you after this, Black. Your ego arrived ten steps back," He quipped at her.
She smiled prettily, but Draco saw the exact moment her high faded with the recollection of what had happened earlier in the day.
"Let's just say that it was a boost I could use," she said looking down at her feet.
"Sweetheart..." he began.
"I heard you defend me. I want you to know that. Thank you," she offered sadly. "It still sucked, though. I thought she and I were cool."
"Lyra, you don't have to thank me for defending you. Defending you is what I'm supposed to do. It's what I want to do." he said, rubbing a soothing hand down her arm.
Lyra nodded.
"I will add it to my list of many occupations. Be rich, look handsome, help my mother, insult Potter, defend my beautiful girlfriend from the ire of jealous women...since there's bound to be so very many," he added, hoping to make her laugh.
Her face cracked into a little smile.
"I've got Scorpius tonight. Will you come over? We can talk about it," He said.
Lyra looked up at him. "Harry wants to have people over for dinner tonight. And, I agree that we should talk about it but..." she looked away to her friends with longing. "I'd like to have today, you know? I want to celebrate with Harry and not worry about the fact that your fancy Ex wishes that you'd just drop your peasant girlfriend and go to a brothel instead."
Draco frowned. He wanted her with him so he could wrap her in his arms and worship every inch of her until there was no doubt in her mind that she was a goddess worth ten Nagini sirens. Still, she was telling him what she needed, so he swallowed his reticence and decided not to argue, despite all of his inner desires.
He huffed and nodded. "Of course. You have fun. Celebrate your win," he said, trying not to pout.
"Oh, look at that pout," Lyra teased. "I could just bite it off you."
"I'd allow it," he quipped, smoldering at her with his pale eyes.
Lyra smirked. She raised her hand, the one Gold had hit with his hex. It was swollen and tight. "Will you heal this for me?"
"Gods, witch. Didn't anybody ever teach you a healing incantation? I mean your mother is a Mediwitch, for Merlin's sake. It's embarrassing!" He exclaimed.
She chuckled and leaned into him, dropping her voice. "I want you to do it. I like feeling your magic on my skin. It feels like you're kissing me," she whispered.
Right, okay then. He smiled at her and pulled out his wand. He passed it over her hand, reducing the swelling and mending the welt.
"When can I see you again?" He asked, trying not to sound too desperate.
"Tomorrow night, Savoy, Indian food?" she offered.
"I'd like that," he replied.
"Me too," she said up at him shyly.
"Have fun, love," he said kissing her hand and leaving the room.
