Chapter Twenty-Two
Forbidden Forest, Outside of Hogsmeade, Scotland, 8 November, 1991
He waited.
The woods roared and screeched deafeningly, and the wind and branches pulled at his clothes, but he remained perfectly still.
He heard a noise to his left and his muscles tightened, like a coiled spring wound too tight, he waited.
His friend emerged from the foliage, robes torn slightly at the hem.
He chuckled. "It has been too long."
"It has."
The two men embraced, smiling.
"What have you found?" He'd never been a patient man.
"I found someone with mixed blood."
"Like what, part Veela or giant?"
"No, this is something else entirely. Something very ancient and, I fear, very dark."
"What is it, my friend?"
"I believe that it was a blood-binding."
"B-but those are illegal! REALLY illegal! Even I wouldn't attempt that!"
"I know that, but that's what I think. There's no other explanation for a full-blooded human that has two mixes of blood, from two sets of parents."
He ran his hands through his hair, cursing under his breath. This was not what he'd wanted to hear.
"And who, my friend, was the victim of this?"
"A first year by the name of Adrian Malfoy."
"Oh, bloody hell! I don't give a damn about what the Malfoys get up to anymore! I'm not an Auror!"
"Listen for a mo-"
"You dragged me all the way here, just to tell me that Malfoy has some slimy kid? Dammit, I could've still been in Turkey, looking! Why'd you have to-"
"Listen! Adrian definitely smells like a Malfoy, very similar to his brother. But there's something off about his scent, something difficult to catch unless you were looking."
"And what is that, exactly?"
"He also smells like a Potter."
The man stood stunned, staring at his friend. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely. It's faint, but it's there."
"What can we do?" He was excited now.
"Nothing right now. I'm researching it as best I can, but for now, we have to wait."
"Finally," he breathed. In a sudden show of his joy, he laughed and sent a massive bolt of purple lightning into the night sky.
His friend laughed and turned. "I have to return. I'll see you soon." He turned on the spot and Disapparated.
The man smiled openly. Just wait, Harry. I'm coming.
