Title: The Innocence Of Guilt
Author: ENSIGN
Chapter 08 – Size Does Matter
London – St. Mungos Hospital For Magical Maladies
White, a blazing radiant laser of brilliance pierced her eyelids despite them being only but a sliver open.
"And the sleeping beauty graces us with her consciousness." Despite the sarcastic remark there was no sign of coldness to it, only a hint of relief.
"Waaargg." Mary rasped as she attempted to speak, her eyes shut tightly to ward off the irritating glare of the ward's lights.
"Ah, the wonders of halogen light bulbs, lighting our lives but also burning out the retinas of awakening hospital patients." Harry commented as he poured out a pitcher of water.
"Fak yuu." Was the raspy illegible reply from the bed ridden girl?
"Not now dear, maybe when you're better and in more private settings, never did take you for an exhibitionist. Now keep your eyes shut for a while." Harry smirked as he guided her hand to the offered glass before reaching for the light switch and turning them off.
"What hit me?" The girl whispered her throat still dry.
Harry chuckled. "Congratulations, Mary Sue. You are now officially a Mary Sue and one of the very lucky few to join the 'I Survived A Killing Curse Club'".
"Huh?" The girl voiced her confusion as she risked opening her eyes in the now dimmed room lit by the sunlight entering from the windows.
"You my dear," Harry waved his hands in an elaborate gesture. "Stupidly decided to take a Killing Curse of the green variety to the chest."
"I'm alive?" Mary's eyes snapped open as the memory no doubt came rushing back to her.
"No this is heaven, we decided that receiving dead trauma patients via hospital beds is much more beneficial nowadays, dismembered dead good guys tend to make those at the main gates think they're in hell instead." Harry rolled his eyes as his partner gave him the one fingered salute.
Now fully aware of her surroundings, the girl adopted a slight look of panic as she realized all she had on was a plain white hospital gown.
"You're wearing a distortion bracelet, standard Unspeakable issue. Your face is distorted despite the absence of the cloak." Harry explained.
"I know about the bracelet, jack ass." She proved this by jiggling her right wrist. "You changed my clothes while I was out didn't you?" She accused.
Harry snorted at her thought process. "I got the nurses to do that."
"I bet you stayed in the room as they did it didn't you."
Harry merely scratched his cheek in silence.
"What the hell!" Mary shouted. "You pervert!"
"Oh grow up. I was your guard. I'm not to leave your side no matter what. Of course I'm not going to claim I didn't enjoy it."
Mary scowled at his reasoning as she grumbled beneath her breath about skinning a certain part of the male anatomy.
"Anyhow, our little conversation aside. I have here in my hands a little Q and A sheet for patients that may have suffered brain damage due to spell trauma." Harry waved a sheet of parchment.
"Now eyesight first, how many fingers am I holding up?" He stuck one of his fingers out.
"Good enough to mimic and respond to your gesture in kind." Mary flipped him the bird.
"Now for your name." Harry stated in a deadpanned voice despite Mary's response.
"Mary Sue."
"Real name?" He received a middle finger as an answer.
"Sex?"
Mary rolled her eyes. "Female."
"I meant when was the last time you remember having sex?" Harry corrected, still maintaining his straight detached composure.
Harry promptly dropped the questionnaire as it burst into flames, courtesy of an Incendio sent by Mary who had by now shifted enough to obtain her wand from the bedside table.
"Meh, it was for standard patients anyway." Harry shrugged as he tossed Mary's clothes onto the bed. The girl herself didn't know whether to believe the last question was really on the sheet or was her mentor screwing with her as usual.
"Get dressed we are leaving."
"Don't we have to sign out?" Mary reached for her blouse. "Do you mind?" She gave an unseen glare at her partner who was shamelessly still staring.
"Can't say that I do, I'm actually enjoying the scenery for once in a hospital."
Harry had to duck as a temporary Blindness Curse narrowly missed him. "Alright, alright, jeez, did that curse kill off your humor instead?"
Satisfied that her perverted partner no longer had his gaze upon her, she conjured up a changing screen just in case.
"You do know that doctor recommended that you lay off any serious magic for a while." He stated still looking at a peculiar crack in the wall.
Throwing on her cloak, she snapped off the disguise bracelet. "What's he know about patients who have survived an Avada Kedavra curse?"
"You do know you aren't the first survivor of that spell." Harry stated.
Mary snorted. "Yes, we all know about Harry bleeding Potter and his miraculous survival abilities in regard to the impossible."
"Actually, he's only famous not because he survived the curse per se but a Voldemort powered Avada Kedavra. Of course bouncing the spell back is unheard of and killing off the Dork Bugger itself did kind of help."
"So you're saying it isn't that amazing to survive a Killing Curse?" Mary seemed a bit confused.
"Correct." Harry shrugged. "There are quite a number of survivors of that stupid spell."
"Stupid?"
"Yes, Avada Kedavra."
Caught completely unawares, Mary once again caught the green curse of death in her chest.
Eyes wide and falling on her behind more out of shock than the effect of the curse, Mary's wide eyes stared wide and unblinking in horror at her assailant.
"I'm alive?" The shock was evident on her voice, face and posture.
"Avada Kedavra."
The still motionless girls caught the curse this time directly on her forehead. Harry winced at his abnormally bad aim. That was definitely going to leave a mark.
Mary getting over the shock of surviving not one but three Killing Curse winced as she prodded the growing bruise on her forehead.
"Avada Kedavra." Harry muttered lazily, he figured the girl had enough time to poke and prod her new no doubt lightning shaped bruise.
To her credit, it was high time her survival instincts decided to inform her that bright green curses were not beneficial to one's health.
With skills borne from her near countless duels with Harry, Mary sprung aside, tucking herself into a roll and immediately sought cover behind one of the ward's beds.
Harry himself watched nonchalantly as the bolt of green light carved a small finger sized hole in the hospital immaculately clean floor. "Finally." He commented with amusement lining his voice. "I was beginning to think you were developing suicidal tendencies after prolong exposure to my wonderful personality."
"Fuck you, James." Mary curse, still not daring to show herself should he start cursing her again.
"I'm still slightly disappointed though. I thought that I had drilled it onto your head that when an opponent attacks you, you respond with appropriate force before asking questions." Harry spoke as he calmly moved to flank the bed Mary had taken shelter behind.
"Here I am cursing you with deadly force and yet you fail to respond appropriately." He jumped the final step, throwing himself into a perfect striking view of her.
To his surprise, instead of a girl taking shelter behind an overturned hospital bed, he just found an overturned bed.
"Crap." He intoned as the unmistakable feeling of a wand tip pressed against his temple.
"Dodge this." The disembodied voice of his female companion taunted.
"Expelliarmus."
The flash of red light blinded the room as the cloaked form of Mary flew across the room and into a couch lining the wall.
Harry sighed as he returned his second wand hidden within his robes to its holster. It was still smoking at its tip from the overcharged disarming spell.
His partner grunted in pain at the impact before scrambling for her wand that that surprisingly landed by her feet.
"Accio wand." Harry intoned, pulling her wand out and away from her grasp. "Lesson over." He announced before she could go for the other weapons located within her cloak.
Mary stood up, her posture screamed annoyance as she caught her returning wand.
"Firstly, you failed to respond to my initial curse, while I can forgive you the shock of surviving, your opponent wouldn't. If you get tagged and survive, you damn well better be returning the favor." Harry growled.
"Secondly." He pressed on before she could reply. "Always respond with deadly force to one who had initiated it. Your subconscious may have told you that I was screwing around, but it doesn't excuse the fact that you taunted me instead of taking the shot. A stunner to the head would have sufficed instead of a comment."
"Thirdly, I allowed your wand to fall by your feet instead of across the room after that Disarming Hex. Why?" Harry waited.
Mary wincing slightly at the impromptu lecture pondered. "I immediately went for my wand."
"Yes, most people being disarmed and seeing their primary weapon nearby would go for it instead of reaching for their back up which would be both faster and safer. Hence reliance on only one weapon is bad. You lose a weapon, abandon it, you have many more on your person."
"And lastly, I take it you have no idea on how to cast the Killing Curse do you?"
"No." Mary seemed a bit disgusted.
"There's nothing wrong with not being able to cast the Killing Curse. Nothing wrong at all!" Harry reinforced. "It's considered an Unforgivable due to the intent required to successfully use it."
"You sound like you have intimate knowledge of the spell."
"I have always relied on the few spells in my repertoire when dueling." Harry moved to reset and sit on the bed. "While there are those like Professor Dumbledore, whose collection of spells is simply astounding and capable of performing just about any trick to get out of a sticky situation, his method of dueling requires decades of practice, familiarization, quick thinking and improvising. Something I am a bit short on."
Harry poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher he used earlier and gestured for Mary to sit in the chair he previously vacated.
He gave Mary a pointed look. "I have intimate knowledge of all the spells I use in duels. I stick to simple, easy spells that I have completely broken down to analyze. For example, my Disarming Hex, what can you use it for apart from obviously disarming an opponent?"
Mary glanced at where she had crashed into the couch across the room. "You can overcharge it to attain the dual affect of a disarming as well as bowling your opponent over to disorientate them. Seeing as you controlled the location of where my wand ended up, you can somehow control where the weapon lands."
"Excellent. Watson." Mary scowled. "The disarmer has many uses. You can banish an opponent into another resulting in two downed enemies. If the weapon is a blade, it can be made to fly into another opponent. I have even used it to change direction in mid flight sharply as well as to banish myself out of the way of spell barrages."
"So you're familiar with the Unforgivables then?"
"Yes." Harry admitted. "All three have their uses."
"Care to tell me how I survived then?" Mary seemed curious.
"What's to say, the guy who cast it was an idiot. The Killing Curse requires two parts to be satisfied to work. The intent to kill the target. The intent makes it an Unforgivable, if used in self defense, the Killing Curse would never work as to truly use it you have to want the person dead. You have to understand that if you kill him it would be both in cold blood and you are well aware of the repercussions that come with killing. Hence, its use shows that you are well aware of what will happen to both you and the victim. Therefore, successfully killing another person with it earns you a one way trip to Azkaban as you just about admitted murder."
"The second is power. You have to consciously put power into the spell. You have to concentrate, unlike other spells which can be snapped off subconsciously or without much thought. The power has to be molded and force into the spell, therefore once again showing the intent and awareness of its use. It truly deserves its name of the Killing Curse. Unlike other curses when cast successfully the victim may yet live, even the decapitation curse if countered immediately." Harry noted Mary's look. "The Killing Curse, if cast successfully has no counter and the victim immediately dies regardless of anything else. That my dear is the reason why Harry Potter is famous, he survived a true Killing Curse successfully cast from a person who was an expert with its use. Not to mention that unlike experts, Voldemort throws it around with deadly results on a duel by duel basis."
"Therefore the Death Eater that shot you was missing a requirement, he didn't truly understand what it meant to kill you, he wasn't aware of the repercussions as it was a spur of the moment spell, lastly he had no understanding of taking a human life. He did however put quite an amount of power into it which is the reason why you're here enjoying my company."
"Taking a life?" The Witch enquired.
"There's a reason why I can't use the Killing Curse. On animals yes, on another person never." Harry sighed.
"Can't?"
"Yes can't. To use the Killing Curse you have understand and experience killing another innocent human in cold blood. They have to be defenseless, begging for mercy, innocent and you will have to kill them out of your own will, not via orders."
Mary looked truly horrified.
Harry looked directly into her eyes via his glasses. "The Killing Curse is not evil, I can successfully use it on animals without fail. However the intent to successfully use it on another human and the one casting it is truly unforgivable. It can also be said that using it on oneself is near impossible unless you have attempted suicide once and failed."
"I am almost afraid to ask about the other two."
"Of the three I am only able to use the Killing Curse and Imperius Curse. And only the Imperius Curse on humans."
"What use have you got with the Killing Curse on animals besides hunting?" Mary thought of its use if stranded and required to kill animals for both defense and food. It was quick, clean and painless.
"Why, owl interception of course. You kill the bird painlessly, quickly, don't make a mess and the message or parcel is unharmed. I do admit I have used it in duels once or twice, there's nothing like a green bolt of doom that makes your opponent simply hit the deck, failure or not. Of course if you are going to do so, please don't do it in front of witnesses. Successful or not, a Killing Curse is still a big no no. The Imperius Curse is pretty obvious."
"So what are the requirements of the other two?"
"Not as severe as the Killing Curse but they do earn their titles as Unforgivables."
"The Cruciatus Curse requires one to truly want to see the victim in pain. You must want to torture that person, want them to suffer the utmost agony and truly understand the repercussions of doing it. Otherwise it would just cause a sharp jolt of intense pain unlike the real deal. Only people with a real thirst for torture can use it on another human. That's what makes it an Unforgivable, you have to want to torture."
Harry took a sip of water.
"The Imperius Curse requires the want to dominate another's will. To take away their free will, to destroy and relieve another of their sense of will. You have to both understand the results of your actions the repercussions and want to dominate them."
"So the first war…"
Harry interrupted her. "The Aurors were given permission for use of the Unforgivables. This only included the Cruciatus and Imperius. Those who use attempted the Killing Curse failed obviously as it goes against the mindset of an Auror. Voldemort's spies who could use it wouldn't dare, as to use it would be to understand that if you did you were definitely guilty and no doubt a spy. Of course that didn't stop some Aurors from slinging it around. As long as no body died from it then they weren't guilty."
"The Cruciatus is easy enough to use for some of the Aurors at that time. A lot of them had family members and loved ones tortured and killed. They obviously had grudges against the Death Eaters. Thus while frowned upon, it was understandable to be able to use it against a Death Eater."
"The Imperius, was the easiest to cast but hardest to maintain due to its long term of use. Simply reason with yourself that to take the will of Death Eaters would be performing the greater good and you easily cast the spell on them.
"It's all about intent and conditions for the last two. Aurors could only use the Cruciatus and Imperius on those they knew without a doubt were Death Eaters. The slightest bit of doubt would throw the spell off. Of course there were other conditions and reasoning. Knowing you were torturing a controlled civilian might cause your Cruciatus to fail but knowledge that a controlled person can't display pain only act it would make its use simple enough."
"Hence insane nut jobs can't use the Unforgivables as you need a stable reasoning mind to do so."
"Bellatrix Lestrange?" Mary enquired of the most famous insane Azkaban escapee who was famous for her Unforgivable use.
"That bitch." Harry spat. "Is not insane, else she wouldn't be able to use them and would instead be here in St. Mungos. She just acts nuts to freak and throw her opponents off guard."
"Why?"
"Would you rather duel a predictably sane opponent or an insane one. Would you rather be tortured by a sane or insane person?"
"I would rather not be tortured." Mary deadpanned.
"True." Harry pointed out. "However the stigma of insane people is that they have no sense of morals, and take sick delight in pain and of course you never know what they would do next. That thought coupled with rumors of her sadism would probably break most people at her tender mercies before she even starts."
"Well." Harry slapped his knee and took a deep breath. "While this is all very educational, we have some place to be."
"When I just supposedly recovered?" Mary wondered if recovery time was even allocated in the Department.
"While you don't, I do. And seeing as you fit enough to duel and insult me. I believe you're coming."
"Slave driver."
"You do know you just admitted to being my slave." Harry pointed out with slight cheer.
Mary flipped him the bird. "Where we going?"
"The old bastard at HQ wanted a debriefing and I said I would give him one when you woke up." Harry explained.
"And how long was I out."
"Two days."
"Why didn't you give it to him earlier?" Mary enquired, she somewhat knew the answer already.
"I never left." Harry mumbled. He could see Mary's features soften under her disguise shroud. "Of course now that you had two days of non stop sleep you're going to have to make up for all the lost time."
Mary's face turned to a scowl.
Harry grinned as he held out a Portkey in the form of a wrapped Pumpkin Pasty.
"What? No bra?" Mary asked sarcastically and made a show of trying to look into his robes.
"Nope, just this. The old man took the bra if you remembered. Besides, I bet you're hungry."
"Don't we need to sign out?"
"The staff would notice you missing in about an hour, they would then contact the old man and by then we should be out of his office and on our merry way to our next assignment."
Mary just grunted and grabbed hold of the Portkey.
XXXXX
Ministry Of Magic – Level Nine: Department Of Mysteries – The Chamber
"Well I guess I'll see you later then." Mary made towards the exit.
"Wait? What? You're abandoning me to the tender mercies of that old coot." Harry moved to block her.
"The specifics were for you to be debriefed, not me. Therefore seeing as you are still my superior, I'll leave it to you then." She circumnavigated him.
"Meh." Harry grunted and made for the Unspeakable Officers. "Go get lunch or something, I'll find you in a while."
Mary snorted as she tore into the Pasty.
XXXXX
Ministry Of Magic – Level Nine: Department Of Mysteries – Head Unspeakable Office
"Here's the report." The Operative tossed a yellow folder onto the desk.
"I sort of expected your usual verbal report, Harry." Nicholas sighed. "They always did seemed faster and it pays to leave no evidence you were ever there."
"So sue me, I decided to follow protocol."
"You just had too much time on your hands waiting for Mary to wake." Nicholas pointed out as he searched his robes for a pipe.
"So." Harry erred. "What happened after the raid, I was sort of left out for the last two days?"
"Does it matter?" Nicholas began stuffing his pipe.
"All Death Eater activity concerns me." Harry's eyes narrowed. "I did make Voldemort's defeat my main priority."
Nicholas sighed. "That's not the way this works Harry."
Harry growled. "We made a deal old man. My services on any case dealing with the Dork Tosser and I get all information I want on any Death Eaters this department has."
The Head Unspeakable lit a match and drew a few puffs. "This obsession of yours with anything Voldemort related is unhealthy."
"It's not an obsession." Harry intoned. "It a goal. A goal I wish to see over as soon as possible. The longer that Dark Idiot stays around the more this country and its people suffer. That and I really want my permanent Dark Bugger free vacation as soon as possible."
"You do know that some say that knowledge is both a blessing and a curse." Nicholas pointed that out.
"Cut the crap, you're not that old coot with the twinkling eyes. You're an Unspeakable and to us knowledge is power." Harry stared pointedly.
"You do have a point, very well." Nicholas pointed to a yellow folder on his desk with large printed 'CLASSIFIED' stamp on it. "It contains all information on what we know about the latest Death Eater activity, this includes the raid on both the Malfoy Manor, their raid on the Ministry and the subsequent questioning of captured Death Eaters."
"So who'd we get?" Harry raised an eyebrow. "And raid on the Ministry?"
Nicholas gave a look as to say what planet had he been on lately.
"Two days out of touch remember?"
The man rolled his eyes. "The Dark Tosser as you so eloquently call him attacked our Ministry on the night of the raid. Apparently he had the same idea as you, taking full advantage of the Ministry being in chaos to attack. Unfortunately for him, while in chaos, we are not part of the normal chain of command and are not prone to running like headless chickens when a single bureaucratic idiot goes missing."
"Too many department heads fighting over the spot of Interim Minister?"
"Idiots, the lot of them." Nicholas rolled his eyes.
"So who and what'd we get?"
Nicholas gestured to the earlier folder that was already within The-Boy-Who-Lived hands.
"Carrows Alecto, Carrows Amyces, Crabbe Vincent Snr., Dolohov Antonin, Goyle Gregory Snr., Malfoy Lucius, Macnair Walden, Mulciber Michael, Nott Francis and Rookwood Augustus, are the only ones that really stand out."
"Four inner circle members captured. The other three were at the Ministry raid with Voldemort."
"The three Lestranges, huh." Harry flipped a bit more.
"With information garnered after interrogation we raided a significant number of safe houses, unfortunately due to time restraints nothing of much importance was obtained apart from a large amount of galleons and dark artifacts of no importance." The Older Unspeakable pointed out.
Harry snorted. "So despite our raid we still know jack squat."
"Actually, we do know one of the Lestrange brothers was to lead an envoy to establish relations with a small tribe of Giants hiding up in the Northern Scottish Highlands of Strathnaver."
"Forgive me, but geography has never been a strong point."
Nicholas expecting this pulled out map of the North of Scotland. "There." He pointed out a name on the furthest top of the map.
"A loch?" Harry stared at the name below the region of Strathnaver.
"It's the most possible location for their camp being a large source of water. Your Portkey will drop you about 5 clicks off from the supposed meeting point. There will be two members of the Department Of Magical Creatures who will meet up and oversee that you don't do something too extreme. The Giants are a protected species after all."
"I see, so either I try to dissuade an alliance or if impossible, search and destroy. Not to mention babysit two annoying Ministry fuckmooks who would try their hardest to screw this mission up."
"Affirmative." Flamel grinned. "Don't scar them too badly, it must be pretty hard to find two people who would willingly spend time out in the freezing wilderness looking at things that could use you as a toy doll. They would be rather hard to replace."
"Crap." Harry deadpanned. "I've seen a Half Giant shrug off some pretty mean spells."
"Hence I believe it's time you decided to comply with your friend's Professor Von Hindleburgh demand that you go see him. He might have something of use." Nicholas threw what Harry assumed was a Portkey to an outpost in the Scottish Highland.
Harry gave him an irritated look. "You know as well as me that entering that department is more dangerous than getting tangled with a Hungarian Horntail, trust me I know."
"At least you have Mary for backup." Nicholas unhelpfully pointed out.
Harry simply rolled his eyes, flipped the bird and left.
"By the way, your safe house is safe again." The dimmed voice called behind him as he exited.
XXXXX
Ministry Of Magic – Level Nine: Department Of Mysteries – Harry's Desk
"What are you eating?" Harry asked curious that his partner was actually at his desk.
He had spent the last half hour searching for the girl since he exited Nicholas's office. Already searching all her usual haunts he decided on the last place she would be.
His very much unused desk.
Except unlike the other Unspeakables inside the room, she was eating instead of filling out paper work.
"Lunch." Came the mumbled reply as she popped a fork full of salad into her mouth.
"I am aware of that." Harry deadpanned.
"Then why ask?"
"That looks tasty." He decided to break the topic just to throw her off.
The girl looked up somewhat surprised. "Want some?"
Smiling Harry bent slightly forward. "Just a bit, it looks interesting." He examined the jumble of lettuce, shredded roast chicken and ham.
Commandeering her fork he moved for a piece of chicken.
"Not the chicken." Was the quick reply.
Raising an eyebrow, he decided to move for the next best thing.
"Not the ham either."
Was this girl for real? Deciding to humor her he went for the last thing, the lettuce itself.
"Oh please not the lettuce, I just love the lettuce."
Behind his Disillusionment Charm Harry goggled incredulously.
"If you aren't aware Miss Sue, that via the simple process of elimination that leaves nothing else for me to poke at with this sharp pointy instrument."
"Well, too bad then, no lunch for you." She took back her utensil and proceeded to stab a large piece of chicken while sticking her tongue out.
Maturely Harry conjured a fork and proceeded to spear the largest piece of chicken, ham and lettuce he could find. "Tough, you ate my Pasty."
"Hey, that's mine." The girl protested moving her lunch away from his reach.
Harry simply smirked and ate the salad. Stolen food always did taste better. "Well doggy bag it, we got an assignment. But first, toys." Harry gestured wildly in the direction of the Research And Development Department run by the Unicorn Division.
Mary rolled her eyes as she made to follow her sometimes eccentric partner. "Boys."
XXXXX
Ministry Of Magic – Level Nine: Department Of Mysteries – The Chamber
"Remember how I always said that the Wizarding community seems to have gotten the short end of the stick in the intelligence department?" Harry commented as his partner stared at the glowing blue trails left by the spinning of the chamber.
"No. No I don't remember actually. Since when did you say that?" Mary sounded curious. Her partner never did bring up strange topics out of the blue.
"Really? Weird." He went back to looking at the revolving doors.
A moment of silence followed as Mary waited and her partner simply idled.
She finally broke. "What no words of wisdom this time?"
"Oh you wanted some." Came the mock surprised answer.
The Unspeakable rolled her eyes. "Yes, you don't just insult the whole Wizarding community as a whole randomly."
"I do when it comes to our ex Minister."
"Fudge or Scrimgeour?"
"The obvious one." Harry answered like it was the most obvious thing.
"There you go again, changing the subject." Mary deadpanned.
He made a show of cautiously looking around. "Damn she's catching on."
Judging from his partner's posture, she was definitely giving him 'The Look'.
He decided to explain. "See, I have this running theory that Wizards and Witches seem to have this problem contemplating anything related to common sense and logic."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well judging from my experiences, the greatest safeguards in the Wizarding world seem to be either logic or common sense puzzles. Take the Sphinx for example, excellent guard for treasure and entrances, highly resistant to magic as well as physical attacks. However, answer a single riddle and bingo, instant access." He rolled his eyes.
"Hmm…" Mary thought about it. "I see. I guess a powerful wizard could easily get past certain wards by simply over powering them, but that doesn't mean jack shit if the thing they want to get to requires logic."
Harry nodded. "My friend always did say that not many Wizards and Witches had logic to spare. I guess it's because magic itself isn't logical at all."
Mary frowned. "I guess that's true in some sort of warped way." She paused. "Wait. Did you say friend?"
Harry gave her a weird look. "What?"
"You have friends other then our boss?" She seemed genuinely surprised.
Harry scowled. He wasn't that much of an introvert was he? "Yes woman. I do interact with people other than your good self when I am off duty."
"But you're never off duty."
"I am always on duty Mary. My primary mission is still in progress. Everything else is secondary. That includes your training and the raids I have been on."
Another moment of silence passed as Mary wondered just how long did it take for the stupid chamber to stop spinning. "So going to tell me what it is?"
"Assassination."
The single word shut Mary up instantly. She knew about her partner's stance on killing and for him to have such a mission as his primary meant it was definitely personal.
Nothing more was said between the two as the chamber came to a stop conveniently.
XXXXX
Ministry Of Magic – Level Nine: Department Of Mysteries – Research And Development
Mary could only stare.
Chaos.
It was absolutely chaos in an ordered sort of way.
The main thing that one could describe the Division Of Research And Development was like the main office of the Ministry above them.
Firstly it was noisy. Sounds ranging from explosions to shouting permeated the room. Paper planes flew from one desk to the other delivering notes and messages.
Truthfully it was the last thing she expected down in the Department Of Mysteries.
"Not what you expected huh?" Harry prodded the woman to follow him as he headed towards a corner of the lab where a fairly short man was having a conversation with himself in a mirror.
"I believe this was what you meant by logic and common sense." She stated blandly.
"A prime example Mary, a prime example."
XXXXX
Scotland – Far North – Strathnaver – Loch Meadie
"No I am sorry, but I do believe that it would be within the best interest of my clan to stay out of the coming conflict. That is unless you can provide us with a better deal."
"What sort of deal?" The Death Eater seemed to be scowling. When the Dark Lord told him to proceed as an envoy to the Giants he was definitely not expecting this situation.
"Better living conditions for one. While the outdoors are nice we do appreciate better living conditions. Apart from that we would also wish to have a say in the Dark Lord's new order should he succeed in his endeavor."
Rodolphus Lestrange gritted his teeth in annoyance. "Anything else?"
"Yes but I believe that I have it on parchment somewhere." The Giant looked through its pockets and withdrew an entire cow's hide.
Rabastan frowned as he and his brother looked over the terms written on the contract made out of cow's hide. This was definitely not going to impress the Dark Lord.
Behind them stood a small number of newly recruited Death Eaters who were getting an early wake up call as well.
The last time Giants were encountered was back during the rise of the last Dark Lord some fifty years ago. At that time, Giants were simply dumb beast of mass destruction that were unleashed upon the battlefield as shock troops. Magically resistant they were devastating against the Wizards of the Allied powers.
After the war, the Giants had simply vanished into the mountains, secluding themselves from Wizarding Community. The only mention of them was when one or two rogues would go on a rampage in some Muggle village and had to be put down but a team of Wizards. Other than that everything else was fifty year old news.
Voldemort himself had tried to track them down but due to time constraints was unsuccessful in his search. He had of course heard the stories of how the Giants were swayed to his predecessor's side by the trade of magical artifacts.
Then again evolution and natural selection had a way of eliminating the useless and less adaptable. The dumber Giants had joined the last Dark Lord and were killed. This logically left the smart ones.
The result.
Somewhat educated communities of Giants that while not on the level of Goblins and Wizards were definitely able to tell the difference between getting suckered into deal or not.
Rabastan once again let out a sigh as he looked over the demands of the Giants. The Master would not be pleased. Thank the gods that the Dark Lord had chosen his brother as the leader of this expedition. The insane Bellatrix had been paired up with Fenrir to convince the Werewolves.
"No, no, no, the term is allies not servants of the Dark Lord."
Rabastan sighed. Nope, the Dark Lord was not going to be pleased.
XXXXX
Ministry Of Magic – Level Nine: Department Of Mysteries – Research And Development
"Now I believe you expressed a wish to see me Professor Von Hindleburgh." Harry again wondered what in god's good name made him humor the man's request that he found himself in his most hated place of the Department Of Mysteries.
Mary took as step back in shock as a short man with the thickest glasses looked up from his work table.
"Ah Operative James." The man was practically bubbling in excitement as he witnessed the Unspeakable.
Mary just goggled at his glasses. The things were practically magnifying his eyes from her point of view.
"So many times I sent for you, yet you never turn up. I thought you like the toys I make." The man said in a somewhat hurt tone.
An explosion interrupted them as a Research and Development member was sent flying over their head.
"Forgive me if I express no wish to be anywhere near this disaster zone." Harry coolly replied as he pulled Mary out of the way of some Hex gone astray.
"Minor matter. What happens here we fix, no?" The eccentric man began opening drawers looking for something.
"Please at least tell me it's not another idea you thought up after watching a Bond movie."
"But their ideas. The inventions the Muggles have." The man's traditional accent showing through.
"You do know they aren't real right?" Mary stated drawing attention to herself.
"Do I know you?" The techno geek focused his glasses at her.
"Mary Sue, and regarding the Bond equipment, they don't exist." She offered her hand.
To her annoyance the man didn't take it but instead went back to searching in his cluttered excuse of a drawer. "They do now." Was the only indication that he had heard her.
Harry simply sighed.
"Ah ha!" They man came up and presented Harry with a simple one foot metallic stick.
"Wow, a shiny stick." Harry said sarcastically.
"Yes, shiny." The man said somewhat mesmerized by the light reflected off the instrument.
"Very shiny." The man once again said.
Harry rolled his eyes once again wondering if the man really was that easily distracted or did he have a serious case of Attention Deficiency Disorder. "The stick, what does it do?"
"Oh, yes right. Remember Battle Staffs of old?"
"Yes." Harry briefly recalled War Staffs that the Wizards used in their old wars. They were weapons that depended solely on pure magical power and no skill. Pure magical energy would be channel into the weapon and a beam of pure magic would lance out causing an explosion.
"This here new War Staff." The man proudly declared.
"It's a stick." Mary deadpanned.
"New War Stick then." The inventor corrected himself.
"It can't be new if it's the first of its kind." The Female insisted.
"Newly Invented War Stick then." The Professor didn't seem at all insulted or irritated at all.
"But…" Harry decided to give the man a break and silenced Mary.
"So what is it meant for?" He enquired.
"I don't know." Came the quick reply.
Harry sighed. He would have to reword the question. "What does it do?"
"Oh, why you not say so? It makes big explosion. Now you stay yah? I run test on you, yah?" The man easily switched subjects on the fly.
"Not invasive, no pain." He paused contemplating something. "Alright, maybe a little pain, only little."
Harry decided it was about time he left. He never did want to find out what would happen if he was left to the mercy of the weirdo.
"Well er… GET DOWN!!!" He shouted startling those near him.
Surprisingly enough, due to working in the constant hazardous environment, everyone in ear shot ducked and covered.
Using the distraction, he grabbed the still silenced girl and beat a hasty retreat back to the normal world. "Now that's good reaction time." Harry commented as he exited.
XXXXX
Scotland – Far North – Strathnaver – Cliffside Overlooking Loch Meadie
"Well good ole freezing jolly ole Scotland." Harry commented as he reached out a hand to support his partner.
"Actually, it's rather nice this time of the year." A voice called out from behind them.
Both Unspeakable immediately spun around wands drawn and curses on their tongues.
"Woah! Cool it!" One of the men behind them said hands raised in surrender. His partner likewise in the same posture.
"Department Of Magical Creatures?" Harry enquired.
"Yes. Would you please put your wands away?" The man seemed nervous as Harry's twin wands were still glowing.
"Not until you give us the password." Harry demander aiming each wand at a different target.
Both men paled. "What password?"
"Excellent." Harry holstered his wands and motioned Mary to do so as well. "No password, just making sure."
He shook hands with the two who still looked somewhat uncomfortable. "I'm Agent James and my partner's Agent Sue I believe you are to be our guides."
"Well yes." The man replied scratching his chin. "My name's Robert Miller and me mate there's Richard Heath."
Harry looked back towards the scenery provided by the altitude. It really was impressive to see such a wide expense of greenery. Very much like Hogwarts. He had forgotten how much he missed that place.
Turning back to the two men he caught the end of a conversation between his partner and the two.
"… any contact at all." He caught the tail end of Robert's comment.
Harry tilted his head. It was rather unique to see Wizards who didn't wear robes and actually got it right. Both men were decked out in typical woodsmen fatigues right down to the leather breeches. Weird.
"I'm sorry the scenery caught my eye there." Harry apologized.
Mary decided to brief him. "James, Robert just told me that unless you know it's there, the Giant's village can't be seen at all. They seem to have some magical artifact that disillusions the entire village from both magical and Muggle eyes."
"Yeah damn near gave me and Rob here a coronary when we stumbled into it." Richard commented. "Good thing none of them saw us."
"I take it the Giants are not too friendly then?" Harry drawled.
"No idea really. We haven't made contact with them since we found them really. Other than this village we have no idea where they all are. Kinda weird seeing as they are about thirty foot versions of us."
Harry's mind ground to a halt. "Wait, you mean you two on an expedition to locate the Giants found them and have not made contact?"
Richard rolled his eyes. "Ministry red tape. No contact to be made until a decision has been made. That was about eight years ago. Methinks they forgot about it already."
"But we aren't complaining, we get paid to go camping out here, scenery is good, air is fresh, it's peaceful, does get a bit too quiet though." Robert added.
Harry snorted quietly. "So where's the village then?"
"Oh you're gonna love this." Richard chuckled. "Right there, over on the left side of the lake's shore." The man pointed over his shoulder.
Both Unspeakables turned as their eyes followed the lakes shore. Instantly the village appeared replacing a large section of trees.
He didn't know about his partner, but his jaw nearly dropped. The village was massive. Not in population but the size of the log cabins being half the height of hundred foot tall trees.
"How many?" He heard his partner mumble.
"We estimate around at least thirty."
Harry grinned as he pulled out his Firebolt. "Well let's go meet some Giants."
XXXXX
Ministry Of Magic – Level Nine: Department Of Mysteries – Head Unspeakable Office
"What's this?" Nicholas questioned the Head Of Division that stood before him.
"I wish to enquire why is it that the Operative simply known as Griffin and his partner Griffin Eight are not under my command despite their position as Operatives."
The Head Unspeakable leaned back into his chair. "They are under my direct command. Code name Pathertrory James is under our temporary employ till his assignment is complete. His partner however shall be transferred to your division upon the completion of his current long term assignment."
"Their Identities?" The head of Griffin Division pressed on. "Surely you could have assigned any other Unspeakable from our many divisions."
"Due to the assigned mission, their identities are currently on a strictly need to know basis. As to your second question, I requested his assistance for the mission as he's the best person for the job. Mary Sue was assigned as a partner should he require backup."
"Giving him a greenhorn with no prior habits just so that he could train someone to complement his style?" The Division Head nodded.
"Yes, you should have noticed by now that Mr. James does have a certain unique way of conducting his missions." The Dragon pointed out.
"Indeed. Thankfully there are only two of them."
"Thankful indeed." Nicholas snorted.
XXXXX
Scotland – Far North – Strathnaver – Cliffside Overlooking Loch Meadie
"What's with the harness?" The man asked as Harry began strapping him in.
"It's for precaution, just in case he does his thing." Mary answered as she pulled up beside Harry's broom.
Harry noticed that her partner too was nicely secured by a similar harness. Throwing a knowing look at her he finished securing his passenger and hopped on.
"What thing?" The man asked look some what worried.
"This." Harry accelerated and shot into the sky at a blinding speed, the sound of his passenger's scream fading away.
Mary smiled and turned to her passenger.
"Ready?"
If possible, the man paled further.
XXXXX
Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry – Headmaster's Office
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stared at the remains of a small black diary.
"Was immortality really worth the cost to your soul Tom?" He flipped through the ink splattered pages. Beside him a large wilting tome lay opened.
He sighed as he closed 'Soul Repositories', the ancient tome letting off a puff of dust. Grabbing the diary he looked towards his familiar.
"Fawkes my friend, we have some work to do."
XXXXX
Scotland – Far North – Strathnaver – Above Loch Meadie Forest
"I'M GONNA DIE!!! I'M GONNA DIE!!!"
Harry was beginning to get irritated with all the screaming. All he wanted was a chance to fly peacefully and quietly.
"Oh do shut up." Harry snapped as he performed a complex evasive maneuver.
If possible, the man screamed even louder.
A red beam of light flew past his broom, missing it by a few feet.
Harry frowned. It was either his evasive flying wasn't working or his pursuers were much better than he gave them credit for.
Still frowning he sent his broom into a downwards spiral dive.
"AAAAHHHHHHIIIIIIEEEE!!!"
"What's your problem! You're going to get us killed you kamikaze!"
Harry eyes widened slightly.
"Well what do you know, an educated Wizard, don't get many of those nowadays. Funny you mentioned Kamikaze. Did you know that back in World War Two, the Kamikaze pilots of the Japanese Imperial Army were one of the most honored and respected men? They were warriors who didn't fear death. They were willing to die for their Emperor and defend their land no matter the cost."
Harry swerved sharply to the left to avoid an incoming curse as well as the Death eater that shot past him. This prompted another round of screaming from the piece of deadweight behind him.
"Oh fine scream then. I thought we were having an intelligent conversation."
He reached into his robes and pulled out one of his glass spheres.
Looking behind, the first Death eater was still trying to catch up. Feeling a new idea creeping up on his mind, Harry pushed his broom once again into a steep dive.
Predictably, the opponents followed blindly firing curses in hopes that they would get lucky and hit him.
Now that he thought about it, an aerial firefight was extremely lame. The chances of you hitting an opponent was next to none due to the high speeds and large distances involved. The only time a proper firefight took place was when both flyers would slow down enough to aim or get hit.
Blocking out the annoying screaming of his passenger, Harry activated the orb with his wand. Once again making sure they were behind him, he tossed it over his shoulder.
The Levitation Charm kicked in floating the magical grenade.
Banking hard, the closest pursuer dodged the small seemingly harmless globe.
The second blocked by his teammate and concentrating on the fleeing Unspeakable fail to notice the small red colored orb. By the time he realized, he had flown within a meter of the Proximity charm, triggering it.
Predictably the weapon detonated with great force, releasing its contents of deadly shrapnel. The Death Eater had barely realized he was falling and in pain before everything went dark.
"One down." Harry mumbled.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" His passenger screamed in terror as he once again pulled a suicidal mid air maneuvers that sent them spiraling out of control. The perusing Death Eater fell behind unable to keep up with the wild movements.
"Oh do shut up. Stupefy. Petrificus Totalus." Annoyed of his tag along Harry promptly stunned and force him is position, a passenger going splat was definitely not going to amuse Nicholas.
XXXXX
Scotland – Far North – Strathnaver – Loch Meadie Forest
"God damned son of a…" Mary's curse was interrupted as another exploding curse violently detonated upon the large boulder she had sought cover from.
As rock shards rained down upon her, her eyes scanned the forest for the next avenue of cover she could get to. Spotting no large boulders behind her she once again cursed. Wincing in pain she once again reapplied the numbing charm to her wounded right arm.
"Assholes." She screamed in rage as her cover was once again worn away by an exploding curse. Rock had so far been the best form of cover available. Despite the shield charm one of the Death Eaters had enough raw power to blast through.
She once again cursed her mistake of initially hiding behind a tree. The Death Eater had powered through her shield and turned the tree into splinters. Pieces of which now resided in her dominant arm.
"Malleolus." It was one of the only combat spells that didn't really require aim.
The advancing men scattered behind trees as flaming arrows peppered them.
Mary snarled as she once again fired random bone shattering and rotting curses blindly. They were moving to flank her. She prayed that James would hurry the fuck up as she was in serious FUBAR.
"Deflagratio" She once again sent her opponents ducking for cover as she unleashed a wide area flamethrower spell.
"Ardeo ardere arsi." She conjured a line of fire and forced it towards the Death Eaters.
XXXXX
Scotland – Far North – Strathnaver – Loch Meadie Forest
Rodolphus grunted in annoyance as the lone Unspeakable threw yet another puzzler at his team. He glared at the new recruit at his left. "Spread out you fools." He yelled. "You're a target together. Spread out." He once again fire another exploding hex at the boulder.
He had to hand it to the Unspeakable, she definitely knew what she was doing. Despite the odds of five against one she had so far been able to hold out via use of delaying tactics. He resisted the urge to scratch at the bleeding cut upon his cheek.
Early on she had conjured a flock of ravens that she had attack them. He and two others had been liberated of their masks in the chaos as well as suffering multiple scratches to their faces.
"Flank her!" He ordered before his eyes went wide. "Cover!!!" He screamed as another barrage of flaming arrows flew in a wide area arc at them.
He panted in exhaustion. Five exploding hexes had taken their toll on his magical reserves. "Reducto." He settled for the less demanding version.
XXXXX
Scotland – Far North – Strathnaver – Above Loch Meadie Forest
The Death Eater's eyes widened in horror at the incoming tree. Leaning all his weight to the left he narrowly avoiding a personal encounter with a spruce tree. Still a bit of his cloak had been ripped by the close shave he had with the bark.
Rabastan cursed once again. Damn that pest could fly. He once again pull hard to the right. It was taking everything he had to even keep the flying menace in sight as he waved through the trees at insane speeds.
The part that really annoyed him was that the Unspeakable had a passenger and despite that he was still flying expertly.
He had long holstered his wand. There was no clear shot as long as the man had tree cover. Instead he focused sorely on flying.
His eyes narrow as a glint of light caught his attention. Directly in his flight path was yet another reason for his ire. The pest had been lobbing explosive orbs at his throughout their chase. Banking hard he detoured around the seemingly harmless floating sphere.
His smirk turned to horror. Directly before him floated at least five orbs of various colors.
"SANCTUARY!!!" He screamed as his vision went white and his consciousness faded out as the Portkey activated.
XXXXX
Scotland – Far North – Strathnaver – Loch Meadie Forest
"Mary? You there?"
The sudden voice of her partner startled the girl that she nearly dropped her wand. "What the?"
"It's me James. What's the situation." Her partner's voice coming from her cloak was slightly discerning.
"I'm outnumbered, getting flanked and there are both Portkey and anti Apparation wards up around the entire area. How'd you think I'm doing?" Mary hissed as she threw out another flamethrower.
"Numbers?"
"Five." A scream interrupted her. "Four. I can't keep this up James. Get your ass here now!"
"Lady, your wish is my command." The arrogant voice announced. "Oh, one more thing."
"What?"
"Duck." The mono syllabic word was her only warning.
Mary's brow pinched for a millisecond or two before her eyes went wide. "Oh shit." She flattened herself to the forest floor.
Immediately explosions rocked her world.
Flames of intense heat were unleashed. Trees exploded spraying shrapnel everywhere. Ball bearings shredded wood to the likeness of Swiss cheese. In the chaos of the airborne bombs, three newly initiated Death Eaters were instantly added to the KIA list.
Five seconds after the last explosion. Mary peeked out from her shelter to witness the forest before her in near devastation. Every tree that wasn't either blown apart or felled was burning with holes caused by shrapnel.
"SANTUARY!!!" A lone voice echoed off the cliffs in the distance.
Mary shook the bits of debris out of her hair and advanced through the embers. Her wand held tightly in her left hand and a backup dangling in her right.
"SANTUARY!!!" The voice screamed in agony.
"James?" Mary spoke aloud.
"Yeah, I hear it to. Hold up."
Climbing over a fallen tree trunk, Mary caught sight of her partner descending.
"SANTAURY!!!"
"Mary." Her annoying mentor greeted.
"Where. Were. You." She growled out.
"Where's your baggage?" Her superior raised an eyebrow as he gestured to his still knocked out passenger.
"His knack for survival caught on." She spat. "Asshole activated his Portkey while we were still in the air. When we went down, he Portkeyed out. Coward didn't have the decency to hold on to my broom and take me with him."
Harry snorted. "They," he gestured at his passenger, "are ministry flunkies." He tilted slightly and dropped the still frozen man off. "Don't expect anyone from the Ministry to aid you when the name 'Death Eaters' are mentioned."
"SANTUARY!!!"
"I thought you had a plan." Mary ignored the scream as she and her partner moved towards the scream.
"I did."
"And?"
"Why Mary dear, haven't you heard the saying, 'No plan survives initial contact with the enemy'?" Harry smirked.
Mary resisted the urge to curse him and settled with the finger.
"SANTUARY!!!"
"What's with that incessant screaming?" Mary gestured towards the direction.
"Portkey activation Pass phrase." Harry shrugged. "Don't bother." He held his fellow Unspeakable as she made to run. "The Portkey wards fell the minute he started screaming."
"Malfunction?"
"Definitely. Seeing as he's still here. I'm actually surprised he's still alive. Anyone caught in that shrapnel storm should be dead." Harry floated forwards.
"One of the five was fairly powerful. Probably a team leader."
Harry nodded. "He was. Coward was standing about the same distance from the epicenter as you. Too bad, boulders make better cover than falling trees."
Mary stopped and stared at him. "You mean I could be screaming just like him now."
Harry snorted. "You didn't say 'where'" Was his monotone answer.
Mary was about to lay into him on friendly fire when she noticed something amiss. "The screaming's gone."
Harry shrugged. "Either the Portkey activated, or you know…" He trailed off gesturing to a fallen tree trunk fifty feet away.
Mary frowned and moved towards the downed tree, her wand ready.
Harry dismounted, both wands drawn, he followed.
XXXXX
Location Unknown – Death Eater Safe House
Rabastan was in pain.
It wasn't that pain of the Cruciatus Curse. No pain could compare with the sheer mind shredding torture of the Cruciatus.
This, however was coming pretty close though.
All he remembered was the sight of five floating orbs burned into his vision before waking up staring at the ceiling.
His vision was hazy and he just didn't seem to have enough breath left in him.
"He's awake." The voice sounded muffled.
"Good get him to drink this."
A tube was forced down his throat and liquid started flowing.
Rabastan gagged as expected.
"God damn it."
"Doesn't matter." The minute his hurling paused a fresh batch was poured down his throat.
Rabastan tried to focus on the two healers tending to his injuries despite the pain.
"Will he live?" The unmistakable voice caused the two healers to pause.
"My lord. I don't know. His injuries are severe."
"I see." The Dark Lord's voice held a trace of his no doubt building anger. "Legillimens." The voice hissed.
Rabastan thought the pain could not get any more worse but it did. Coupled with his lack of breath, the pain and now memories flashing, his hold on consciousness failed.
XXXXX
Ministry Of Magic – Level Nine: Department Of Mysteries – Head Unspeakable Office
Nicholas raised an eyebrow at Harry's lack of partner.
"Infirmary." Harry explained with a shrug. "She proved she could hold her own."
"Your plan failed. I'm already getting reports flooding in from the Department Of Magical creatures." Nicholas held up a sheet of parchment.
"We located the Giant village, however the Death Eater's meeting place was unknown. I suggested we lure them out into the open." Harry reported.
Nicholas nodded glancing at the self dictating quill.
"I decided aerial combat was the way to go due to the numbers against us. We gained the attention of the Death Munchers. However I was unaware that one of their numbers had the knowledge to visually hex a broom. Not common knowledge that." Harry grunted remembering his experience with that particular hex.
"Two of their numbers engaged me in an aerial pursuit. I took one down and the other Portkeyed out after I ambushed him. He should be critically wounded after what I did." He reached within his robe and withdrew one of his orbs.
"As for Mary, she was forced to land while her passenger saved his ass via Portkey. This left her to hold the remaining five off till I could provide aerial support."
"I take it, that's the reason why a small patch of forest is now black and burning?" Nicholas interrupted.
"Yes. I commenced aerial bombardment via the use of my orbs. Mary was under sufficient cover and as such was unharmed other than a wounded arm from shrapnel incurred earlier on during her duel where she eliminated one of the targets. My initial blast killed off the other three. As for the squad leader who hung back, we found him dead after a tree fell on him." Harry grimaced at the memory. He withdrew a bottle from within his robes. "Here are copies of Mary's and my memories of the event today."
"The Giants?" His leader enquired.
"Disappeared. After the amount of damage we did, it wouldn't be hard to notice we were there."
"So you did not make contact."
"Nope." Harry shrugged. "Their village vanished completely. Apparently they have an artifact that not only conceals their village but allows it to relocate on a moments notice."
"I will take that as a positive result." Nicholas sighed. "While we didn't get to meet them, their relocation has resulted in the loss of the only known location of Giants."
"Excellent." Harry pointed out. "What I remembered of Giants from Hagrid was that they were pretty reclusive and never did like getting involved in the matters of Wizards. With knowledge of their location now gone, neither the Ministry nor Voldemort can gain their assistance."
"Yes. That just leaves the matter of explaining to the Department Of Magical Creatures this entire debacle."
"Hey, your job not mine, I just get things done, efficiently and quickly." Harry pointed out. "I may cost the Ministry a couple of Galleons, but my actions incur no deaths on our side."
"And that's the only reason why I still let you do as you please. The Department and Ministry have the funds, especially more so now that Fudge is no longer embezzling Ministry resources into his Gringott's account." Nicholas handed a manila folder over. "Your next assignment."
Harry accepted it with a raised eyebrow. "So soon?"
"We are busy." The Alchemist stressed. "Just don't blow anything expensive up this time."
Harry snorted. "No promises old man." He walked out the door in search of his partner.
Author's Note:
And here it is. The much awaited, after two years, the eight chapter of Innocence Of Guilt.
Together with this I have uploaded another story of mine that has been sitting on the back burner for a while. However Innocence Of Guilt will definitely take precedence over that one.
Some of you may notice that the latest chapter may not be up to my usual standards. I apologize, I seem to have been out of touch. Not writing for two years really does do weird things to one's style.
As for the extremely long period of hiatus, I apologize. It was a combination of writers block, procrastination, a case of CBF and I really was busy as Fuck. Still am, but I finally finished my PhD. Muah hahaha. Gonna milk my titles for all its worth now. Basically eight years of university and ton of my father's money = MBBS surgery title, Bachelor Of Biomedical Science Degree, Bachelor Of Medical Engineering, Honors In Medical Anatomy, PhD In Medical Physiology.
My latest course undertaking is Masters In Business Administration. Why a course so out of the Medical field? My dad's idea. His reasoning, he allowed me to study my chosen course till I finished it completely, which I did. Now he wants me to help run the company. Thus Business knowledge required.
Shit, believe me when I say switching from a scientific POV to a business POV is freaking hard. I have no idea what the lecturers are going on about. At least I have plenty of study time. I mean WTF 12 contact hours a week? Shit son, you Business students have the lightest contact hours ever. Science freaks require a minimum of 26-28 contact hours a week. Then again, I pity the Engineering students, they get 32-34 hours a week.
ENSIGN
Nunquam
Lamiae Morde "Me Ictus"