Unfinished Business: Shattered Pieces
DISCLAIMER: Look at first chapter.
WARNING: Look at first chapter.
Getting in Over Your Head
"Harry, can we talk for a moment," Ginny said as she walked into her daughter's room where Harry was currently waking up Lily.
"Uh oh. Someone's in trouble," Lily mocked even as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"That's enough from you, young lady," Harry said half-heartedly as he pulled the covers from his little girl. "Hurry up and get dressed, so you can get something to eat. I need to drop you off at the Burrow early today."
"Okay," the little girl said as she literally rolled out of her bed, only to drop on the floor. "Ow. I'll never get used to this bed," she mumbled as Harry shook his head at her.
When Harry closed the door to give his daughter some privacy, he turned to Ginny who had a very determined look on her face.
"What do you need to talk to me about?" Harry asked, only to have Ginny grab onto his arm and pull him into the nearest room.
"Did you know that Albus has befriended Malfoy's kid?"
"Scorpius? Yes. He and Al seemed very close when I went to Hogwarts. Why?"
"Why didn't you tell me about it?"
"Why are you surprised? He was bound to befriend Malfoy's son. They're the same age and in the same house, which means that they share a dorm together."
"We have to do something about this. Being in Slytherin is bad enough. But now he's friends with one of the darkest wizarding families there is."
"He's eleven. I doubt we have anything to worry about," Harry reassured before heading down the stairs.
"Are you serious right now? That boy's been raised within the walls of pure evil," Ginny said as she followed her husband, who only scoffed at the notion. "If there's one thing I learned from my time at Hogwarts is that Slytherin can twist goodness into evil from a young age. That boy is probably corrupting our child this very instant."
"Then I guess I should bring Walburga out of storage. She'd probably enjoy his company."
"I can't believe you," the redhead said in exasperation. "It's like you don't even care what happens to our son."
"Ginny, of course I care. I just have a lot on my mind right now. With a new Death Eater, or rather the son of a Death Eater, popping up out of nowhere, things have become a little hectic at work. I have to somehow track where this guy has been hiding his whole life. And the most effective way to do that is to either locate an alchemist skilled enough to make Veritaserum or someone skilled enough with Legilimency to get the truth straight from him. Unfortunately, all of my sources are pointing me directly to the Malfoys and that is not a route I'm eager to take."
"Figures a family as dark as the Malfoys would be experts at getting people's secrets while keeping their own," Ginny scoffed, while Harry rolled his eyes in irritation. "Can't you just do it yourself and be done with it."
"Do what myself?"
"Go into this guy's mind. You told me that you learned how to do it in your fifth year."
"No. Snape was teaching me Occlumency, keeping people out of my mind, and I was rubbish at it. My lessons were cut short before I could learn it properly. However, Lestrange is very skilled at it and our initial efforts to get information from him so far have failed."
"And the Malfoys are the only ones skilled enough at this? That's all the more reason to keep Albus away from their little spawn," Ginny concluded, which made Harry suddenly very irritated with his wife. "The little brat is probably just using our son to get information from him."
"So? We have nothing to hide," Harry nearly snapped, finding the conversation grating on his nerves. This was truly the last thing he needed right now.
"Daddy! Where are you! We're going to be late!" Lily called out as her footsteps could be heard from the top of the stairs.
Saved by the voice of an angel.
"Crap," Harry said as he looked at his watch. "I need to drop Lily off now," he said, thankful for the reprieve, as Lily dashed down the stairs.
"We're getting a Hogsmeade weekend at the end of next month," Frank said while looking at the posting inside the Gryffindor common room.
"Really?" James asked as he walked up to his friend. "Finally. I'm starting to run low on supplies."
"We've only been at school for a few weeks and you're already running low?"
"I was low before school started. I would have gotten everything I needed from Uncle George the day before we got on the train but my fathers wouldn't let me go."
"Your fathers, as in more than one?" Dominique asked, amused.
"Did I say that?" James asked in confusion, though the slip had seemed correct at the time. "I meant my dad wouldn't let me get anything."
"I wonder why Molly didn't tell us about the trip," Dominique said as she turned back to the board, as if the object would tell her the answer.
"Or Vicky. She is Head Girl after all," Frank pointed out.
"Well Vicky doesn't tell us anything, does she?" the part veela pointed out.
"Well here come Molly. Why don't we just ask her?" James said as he spotted the red-head coming down the stairs.
"Ask me what?" Molly said as she walked down the stairs with Rose behind her.
"We're getting a Hogsmeade trip at the end of next month and we were wondering why you didn't tell us," the blonde asked as she pointed to the board.
"What's that?" Rose asked.
"It's a day when third years and above are allowed to leave the school and spend the day at the village by Hogwarts," Molly explained. "Usually these things are planned by the Head Boy and Girl with the Headmaster's permission."
"Yeah, and the whole point of you being a Prefect was so that you could give us the inside scoop on these kinds of things," James pointed out.
"The whole point of me becoming a Prefect is to uphold and enforce the standards and expectations which Hogwarts has set forth for its students," the Prefect began to lecture as she headed out of the portrait hole, her cousins and Frank following her.
"Wow," James said, speechlessly.
"How long have you been wanting to say that?" Dominique joked as Rose giggled, to which Molly shrugged.
"Don't worry," Frank said. "I think it's cool that you're so passionate about being a Prefect," he said, too which James rolled his eyes.
"Thanks," the Prefect smiled, her cheeks tinting red. "I actually didn't know they were going to go through with having the trip so soon. I had suggested pushing the first one back to December, right before Christmas Holidays, but Zabini wanted one much sooner. I had to leave the meeting before they reached a decision."
"I still can't believe that prick is a Prefect. Of all the people in Slytherin they could have chosen. He's going to abuse his power, I just know it," James grumbled.
"Like you wouldn't," Frank countered.
"Hey, I don't break the rules, I just bend them-"
"-And twist and turn them until they're a shell of their former selves."
"All for the benefit of the student body. They're lives would be lacking if I didn't put a little fun into their day."
"Wow," Molly said, speechlessly while Dominique and Rose laughed.
"Besides, I don't see you saying no when I ask for your help."
"Do you think James has already seen the postings?" BJ asked the first years next to him. "It wouldn't really matter if he did, but it would make things easier."
"I don't think him knowing about the Hogsmeade trip now or later will make him any more or less inclined to go out with you," Travis, one of BJ's friends, said nonchalantly.
After leaving the Slytherin common room, BJ, along with his Slytherin classmates and friends, Travis Higgs and Thelma Nott, started up the hallway towards the Great Hall. Following in their wake was Albus and Scorpius.
"The longer it takes for him to find out about the trip, the longer it will take for him to make plans for that day," the Prefect explained. "That's why I have to make my move as soon as possible before that happens."
"He'll probably just end up going with Frank since Molly and Mini will go together," Albus said as he and Scorpius walked with the older Slytherins.
"I doubt he would go with anyone else," Thelma said matter-of-factly. "The whole school knows by now that you're after him, and everyone's too afraid of you to ask him out."
"Not everyone, little snakelings," a new voice sounded.
When the five of them turned to the sound, it was to find a tall, golden-skinned boy with short and wavy dirty blonde hair walking towards him with four other boys and girls with him. His uniform, as well as his entourage, bore Ravenclaw colours while a shiny badge that read 'Head Boy' was pinned to his robe.
"McLaggen," BJ groaned.
"Correct. That is one person who isn't afraid of you. And I think he would have a far better chance with the Gryffindor than you," the Head Boy, McLaggen, spoke in the third person. "After all, why would the son of the great Harry Potter go out with a mini Dark Lord when he could have someone much more befitting his stature?"
"James wouldn't go out with a stuck up arse like you, no matter your stature," BJ sneered.
As the two older boys argued, Albus pulled Scorpius aside, silently deciding to find out for themselves.
"I already owled Ted about the trip," Victoire said when she joined her cousins on their way to the Great Hall. "He might not be able to visit me, though. His training's keeping him busy."
"I could ask my dad to give Ted the day off, if you'd like," James suggested.
"The benefits of having the Head Auror as your dad never ceases to amaze me," Molly said. "Yet you insist on using his position for trivial things."
"Getting to see the love of my life is not trivial."
"I didn't mean…," the red-head tried to appease as Dominique tried to contain a giggle. "Oh never mind," she said, realising when to give up as they were about to head inside.
"JAMES! JAMES!" They heard a voice call out, followed by stampeding feet heading their way. When the group looked to see where the call was coming from, they saw Albus and Scorpius running their way.
"What's the commotion?" James asked as the two first years rushed up to him.
"BJ just posted up a notice saying that there's a Hogsmeade weekend at the end of next month," Albus said before panting, trying to catch his breath after his run to catch up to his brother.
"Sorry twerps. Hogsmeade trips are for third years and up," James informed them.
"We know that," Albus brushed off his brother's words. "But we heard BJ and some Ravenclaw named McLaggen arguing."
"Not even a Prefect for a month and already Zabini is giving the Head Boy trouble," James rolled his eyes.
"They were fighting about you," Scorpius said, getting straight to the point.
"BJ was saying that he was going to ask you to the Hogsmeade weekend and the Ravenclaw heard and boasted that there was no way you would date a Slytherin because all of us are a bunch of … of…"
"Mini Dark Lords," Scorpius helped.
"Yeah, what he said. The Ravenclaw said that he was planning on asking you instead so there was no point in BJ even trying. You aren't going to say 'yes' to him, are you?"
"Don't worry, James wouldn't go out with that stuck-up arse," Victoire reassured. "McLaggen is such a twat,"
"I don't know… He is one of the hottest guys in school."
"But he called your brother a mini Dark Lord."
"Yeah," he said in contemplation. "But having the Head Boy for a boyfriend could come in handy. It sure did for you when Ted still went here."
"That's different. I was dating Ted because he's caring … sincere … generous-"
"Maybe McLaggen is as well. You never know. Like Molly said, I shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
"Oh, so now you listen to me," the red head rolled her eyes.
"Auntie Luna," Lily squealed when she saw the blonde woman walk into the living room of the Burrow. The little redhead hadn't seen her aunt in months, when the Magizoologist had taken her family around the world, trying to prove the existence of Nargles. "So did you find any Nargles?" Lily asked as she wrapped her arms around the smiling woman.
"Unfortunately, no," Luna said in a wistful smile as she ran her fingers through the redhead's locks. "They are very sneaky after all. I suspect that we would have had a better chance of finding them during Christmas though."
"Because of all the mistletoes, right?"
"Exactly," Luna smiled.
"Do you have to go right away?" Lily asked when she spotted Luna's twin sons Lorcan and Lysander come into the living room.
"I planned on visiting your fathers, but they aren't expecting me until later so I can stay a while."
"Excellent," the little girl beamed, "because I have a lot of things to catch you up on."
As Harry's stomach started to rumble, he decided to visit his favorite café for something to eat. It was almost lunch anyway and he didn't think he could concentrate on an empty stomach.
"Don't forget your meeting with Minister Shacklebolt at 1 o'clock, sir," Harry's assistance reminded when she spotted the Auror.
"Right," Harry nodded as he left his office. "Of course. I won't forget."
As Harry entered the lift and the doors closed, he sighed. Realising that he had been doing that a lot lately, he sighed again. No matter how hard he searched, the answer to one of his problems led him directly to him to one of his other problems. The only one capable of getting the information he needed from Lestrange was a Malfoy, and Harry was determined not to put himself in that kind of position. It was well known that the Malfoy clan never did anything without getting something in return and Harry was worried what Malfoy would ask for in exchange for his help with Lestrange.
Now while Lucius was well known as a master alchemist, it would take far too long to brew Veritaserum that was strong enough to get the answers needed. Answers were expected, and expected soon. That left Harry with the Legilimency approach and the only person reportedly with enough skill to break through Lestrange's Occlumency was Draco. There were few others that could break through Lestrange's defences but Draco was the only one that Harry could actually get into contact with, or would be willing to try.
The only problem was knowing that Draco would want something in return for his services and Harry feared what he would ask for.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" A familiar voice asked Harry as he sat pondering his dilemma inside the café.
"Would you go somewhere else if I said yes?" Harry asked the very blonde he was thinking of.
"Probably not," Draco smiled as he sat down opposite the green-eyed man.
"Then why do you bother asking?"
"Etiquette demands it," the blonde smirked as if the answer was obvious.
Unable to help himself, a small smile appeared on Harry's lips.
"That's the first time I've seen you smile since the conference. I wouldn't mind seeing it more often-"
"What are we doing?" Harry asked spontaneously.
"We're having lunch together," Draco laughed. "I thought that much was obvious-"
"Why? We're not friends. We've never been friends. We were rivals at school. You even broke my nose once-"
"You were spying on me."
"You were trying to kill Dumbledore."
"Yeah but you didn't know that," Draco scoffed.
"Maybe not, but my instincts were telling me that you were up to something unpleasant, and my instinct rarely fail me."
"Really," Draco smirked. "So what do your instincts tell you know?"
Give in to him.
Wondering where that had come from, Harry suddenly noticed that they were attracting a bit too much attention and discretely cast a notice-me-not spell around them.
"Would you have taken his hand … if … you know…?" Harry asked, his hostility slipping away at the thought of his deceased mentor.
"I wanted to," Draco said, all humor gone. "I don't know if I would have, but I remember that his offer was extremely tempting. It wasn't until later that I realized that it wasn't the offer that was important. It was the fact that I wanted to take it. That realization changed me. That and thinking that Voldemort had succeeded in killing you."
"Do you miss him, Dumbledore I mean?" Harry asked, listening to the blonde but no longer able to look him in the eye.
"Well I highly doubt you meant Voldemort. But the answer would have been the same. No, I don't miss him," the blonde said resolutely, causing Harry to look up at him in shock. "I wasn't as close to him as you were. He was more of a symbolic wizard to me. Equality, justice, and a belief in the power of the human spirit was all that he was to me. But after his passing, what he symbolised transferred to you so I didn't need to mourn his passing like others did. Especially not to the extreme of naming a child after him, it would seem," he said with a cheeky grin. "I find it odd, yet reassuring that you also named your son after Snape. I was of the impression that you two despised each other."
"We did, until I realised that he wasn't as cold as he appeared to be."
"Ah Severus Snape, the greatest enigma the wizarding world has ever known," Draco smiled sadly as he raised his glass. "Your greatness is not shown by how many miss you, but how much you are missed."
As Draco and Harry's cups clinked together, the blonde took a sip of his drink while the Auror placed his cup back down, his previous thoughts coming back to him.
"Malfoy, I need to ask you for something," Harry said as he forced himself to look at the blonde.
"How many times have I asked you to call me Draco?"
"I don't think that would be appropriate. I think it's best if we keep our relationship professional, especially after what I need to ask you. There is a dark wizard we apprehended recently. Rabastan Lestrange, and we need to find out as much about him as we can."
"Rabastan? Didn't you catch him years ago?"
"That was the father. Recently, however, someone had been kidnapping families within the sacred twenty-eight and the one responsible is claiming to be his son."
"I didn't know he had a son."
"No one did. That's why we need to find out as much about him as we can, as quickly as we can."
"Where do I fit into this?"
"We need you to use Legilimency and find out what you can from him."
Leaning back in his seat, Draco folded his hands on his lap in contemplation as he looked out into the café. Customers and workers alike walked past them as they went on with their day, no longer paying the two wizards any mind. As he watched them continue on their day, the blonde contemplated the position he was being placed in.
He didn't doubt his ability to get the information from this man. In preparation for his mission to kill Dumbledore, he had been well trained in Occlumency. After he had been pulled from school, he had become very skilled at Legilimency as well.
The only concern he had was how he could use this to his advantage with Harry. Surprisingly, his first reaction was to do it without asking for anything in return. The thought of using this as means to slip further into Harry's life somehow seemed wrong, and that put him at odds with what he had been brought up to do.
"Okay," Draco said as he continued looking out into the café. "I'll help you."
"Thank you," Harry said with grateful surprise.
"On one condition," the blonde said as he turned to his comrade, who now had a resigned look on his face. "I want you to start calling me Draco," he said.
"Th-that's all?"
"Why? Did you want me to ask for something else?" Draco asked in feigned curiosity.
"No, no. Not at all," Harry laughed nervously, relieved the blonde hadn't asked for something a lot more guilt provoking.
"Well then," the blonde said as he got up from his seat and adjusted his robes, "I expect I should make preparations at the office before we begin," he said, taking Harry's hand and giving it a small peck. Then he suddenly pulled himself in closer and whispered into the Auror's ear. "I look forward to working with you," he said as Harry instinctively moved into the touch.
Before Harry could get a hold of himself, Draco pulled away and readjusted his robes before leaving the Auror wondering what he had just gotten himself into.
End of Chapter: Getting in Over Your Head
