Disclaimer: If I owned Harry and Draco, I would be the happiest female on the planet. Unfortunately, 'tis only a fantasy... *sighs*
**Note: Vivian's Lake (aka Mirror) only kills those the victim loves and come to love (in the future). It does not kill the victim itself! This would mean that if it was used on someone like Voldemort, nothing would happen because he doesn't love anyone. Just to clear things up, since I have gotten PM's and reviews where people say "Wyclyve's obviously using it to get rid of someone." The mirror does not "get rid of" the victim. Just the people the victim loves, alright?
Read the Pensieve memories too! (Even the repeated stuff) There are more clues!
Chinese puns/sayings/names will be that have not been explained before will be explained/translated where the asterisks (*) are at the bottom.
A/N: I would like to give a shoutout my lovely reviewers; I woke up one morning, thinking "Eh, I'll write tomorrow", but then I checked my emails and found I had 6 reviews. I got up right away and started typing. Moral of the story: keep up the reviews and here's your chapter!
This date is once again split into two parts. I think I'm just going to keep splitting dates into however many parts I need from now on. Just read the dates and be aware.
Chapter 6 — July 7th (Part One)
"You went back to Lamma Island?" Draco asked, eyebrows raised as he flipped through Harry's findings. The two of them were spending the morning reviewing each other's notes, catching up on whatever they had missed during their separation the day before, "And you questioned a seer?"
"Yes," said Harry, "I came across her as a complete accident. She thought I was there to arrest her."
"Arrest her?"
"She was from the Half-Blood society," was all the reply needed.
"So this G-man is the only one who met with Wyclyve ever since his return to Hong Kong?" asked Harry after a few silent moments of flipping through notes.
"Out of the ones I talked to, I would assume so. I'd like to think G-man and Wyclyve were best mates, considering how worked up G-man got," Draco replied, taking a sip from his mug of tea. The mug was the gift from two days ago. Harry had passed a shop filled with little trinkets during their search, and a set of lovebirds' mugs had caught his eye. Each set were customizable with a spell. Harry had designed them to be emerald green — a decidedly mutual color, since it was a Slytherin color for Draco and the color of his mother's eyes for Harry — with a golden key on Draco's and a heart-shaped lock on Harry's. The date, July 5th, was written in elegant script across the handles in the same shade as the lock and key. Also in the fancy script, the words 'Here I give you the key to my heart...Would you be willing to give me yours?' flowed all the way around Draco's mug, one line just under the rim, the other just above the base. It made Harry's heart beat just a little faster to see Draco clutching the mug tightly in-between those aristocratic hands of his; he had been worried that the blond would think his gift as ridiculously sappy.
"Do you remember his exact words? You didn't specify in your report; we might be able to catch a clue from it."
"It would be impossible to write it word for word," Draco groaned; he took an abnormally huge gulp of tea with his eyes squeezed shut. "Why don't I just give you a pensieve memory?"
"Let's trade memories, then? Maybe you'll catch something I missed and vice versa." Harry asked, pulling out his wand and summoned both his and Draco's pensieves from the closet.
Draco merely raised an eyebrow and pulled a long, silvery strand from his temple. "Very well."
Harry nodded and placed his own memory into Draco's bowl.
"Ready?" He asked. Draco nodded and they both dived.
xXxXxXx
"Phier! Who's that?" Harry watched as a group of boldly-dressed young adults waved Phier and Draco over. He took a spot at a metal chair opposite to the occupied sectional; the room was small and he could see everything more clearly from this spot.
"G-Man? Haven't seen you lately," Phier laughed, clapping one of the blokes on the shoulder while flopping onto a sectional next to him. "Really, it's been years."
"Your boyfriends are really annoying, sweetheart," G-man gave Draco the eye from under his fringe and grabbed an unopened butterbeer from the low table in front of the sectional. "Oh, right, I suppose it would be ex-boyfriends, now, wouldn't it."
"Don't be so rude, G-man," the bloke who sported a buzz cut, the one sitting on the other side of G-man grinned, "Can't you see you'll scare the new kid away?"
"Who are you, anyway?" A girl with wavy pink-streaked hair asked, hopping down from her perch on the back of the silver sectional.
"Dragon," Draco replied, extending a hand to the girl. "A...friend...of Phier's."
The girl smirked at Draco's pause. "A friend, I'm sure. You may call me Heart."
"I'm LaBa," the bloke next to G-man lifted a hand in greeting. "So what're you doing here?"
"Isn't it ob-vious?" G-man sneered. "Phier comes in with a new bloke, what do you expect?"
Harry's eyes widened in shock. Draco hadn't mentioned that he had to play the part of Phier's boyfriend while he was undercover. Draco may be good at hiding emotion, but Harry had learned to read the blond's eyes for his true feelings. Never mind that Draco wasn't straight; the fact that there wasn't anything there — not annoyance, not confusion, not even acknowledgement — caused Harry's heart to clench slightly. The nudging instinct inside him that told him something wasn't right with Phier intensified.
'Pay attention! You're the one who needs to see this.' Harry berated himself and turned back to the strangely dressed group.
"He's been in a bad mood since the last time you saw him, Phier," Heart commented from her spot next to Draco. "He's angry that you let Robert move away."
"I didn't have a say in the matter at the time." Phier's eyes narrowed. "You all know that."
"You could have called him back," G-man snapped. "He was our leader and yet he left everything for your sake."
"How was I supposed to know he would leave because of our break-up?" Phier exclaimed. "I didn't even think he was serious about the relationship!"
"How the fuck did you miss the fact that he loved you? It was there in every look, every gift; everyone could see it." Heart and LaBa nodded in agreement, wincing slightly at the glare Avril gave them. "He thought you were mocking him when you told him it was only a game for you!"
"I only spoke what I thought was the truth!"
"Phier, you did tell him you couldn't love," Heart interjected in a soft voice. "He told us. He told us you said you've never loved ever since you moved into your flat. I don't know why it's relevant, but..."
Harry frowned slightly. Why did Phier's flat affect how she could love? Was there a curse on her home?
"Robert's back in Hong Kong."
"Yes, I know," G-man replied, his voice dangerously soft. "He asked me if there was a way for me to get Vivian's Lake for him. Didn't even ask about the rest of us or even the business, that prick!"
"You've seen him?" Draco cut in, all business.
"Yeah, what's it to you?" G-man sneered. "'Fraid that you have competition? Don't worry, Phier never dates anyone twice."
"That's enough, G-man!" Phier yelled, shooting to her feet. "I can't help what's already happened! So cut the crap and tell me where the fuck Robert is!"
Draco dragged Phier back down and whispered something in her ear. The girl took a deep breath and nodded before turning back to G-man, who had a smug look on his face. "Well? Are you going to tell me what you know about Robert? I can't stop him if I don't know where he is, can I?"
"I met him street racing three nights ago," G-man replied, leaning and draping an elbow casually on the back of his seat. "We were just clearing out from a race when Robert came at me from behind. I was surprised to see him, naturally. Asked the man what he was doing there. He told me he needed Vivian's Lake, and it was vital. Asked me if I could get it from you, since you refuse to talk to him. I told him I don't do Dark Artifacts and I won't change that. He sighed like he knew that would be my answer, said exactly that, and then turned around and walked away. I asked him if he wanted to race, you know, a game between best mates, but he said 'No, this is too important. It's important for us.' and apparated out."
"Too important for you guys? What?" Draco cut in.
"He didn't say 'us'," G-man said, the ghost of a smirk curving his lips. "Oh no, he said 'us'. And there's only one 'us' Robert's interested in."
Draco glanced at Phier and back. G-man gave a minute nod. Harry made a mental note to ask Draco about it when the memory finished.
xXx Meanwhile xXx
Harry walked down one of the few muggle roads on Lamma Island, peering at the hidden magical buildings — which muggles saw trees on the side of a mountain — and inside muggle shops. Draco began to wonder what the point of all this was when he realized Harry had stopped.
The brunet stood in the doorway of a muggle shop, where an old Chinese woman sat behind racks of jewelry, pots, and other muggle trinkets. At once, Draco realized what had caught Harry's attention. The elderly woman had a set of tarot cards spread out in front of her in the Twisting Path spread, making predictions and statements as she flipped over cards. The young man sitting on the other side of the table was mesmerized, listening intently and believing every word. The male was no older than twenty at the most, dressed in a muggle business suit and carrying a briefcase, hope written all over his face, although it wasn't quite the same the hopeful expression most of those new to the workforce wore.
"Well, what does it say?" The man asked eagerly.
"The card at the lower left, represents the first decision along your path. You have drawn the Queen of Swords: The essence of air behaving as water, such as a refreshing mist: You are a person gifted with both keen logic and natural intuition, giving them uncanny powers of perception and insight. One who easily sees past deception and confusion to the heart of a matter, and understands both sides of any argument. The embodiment of calm, forthrightness, and wit, in the face of even the most trying circumstances."
The man smiled. "Please continue." Harry walked into the store, pretending to look at trinkets. The old woman gave him an acknowledging nod before turning back to her customer.
"The card to the far left represents the first false path that may lead you astray. You drew the Eight of Coins (Prudence). You are dedicating yourself fully to a task. Learning a new craft or skill. Applying painstaking attention to detail. Industriousness and the efficient completion of tasks. Sticking with a project long enough to see it through."
The young man's eyes grew wider. Harry quirked an eyebrow and picked up some other random object to 'look at'.
"This card in the middle represents the second decision along your path. You have here the Wheel of Fortune: The path of destiny. Karma on a grand scale. An unexpected turn of good fortune. A link in the chain of events. Success, luck, and happiness."
He was nodding now, rapidly and excitedly, "Go on! What's next?"
"The card at the lower right represents the second false path that may lead you astray. This is the Eight of Wands (Swiftness). A sudden release of raw power, cutting through confusion and indecision, and setting things in motion. Rapid progress towards a desired goal, brought about by immediate and decisive action. Boldness and daring in love, business, travel, or spiritual growth."
"A false path?" The man murmured.
The elderly woman nodded, her mouth pulled into a thin line of worry. "The last card is the outcome card; the card at the top represents one possible mask of your true destination." She held up the card so the man could see it more clearly. "Ten of Cups (Satiety), when reversed represents Dissipation, debauchery, and stagnation. Taking one's good fortune for granted. Problems in domestic and social matters. A false love or infatuation, leading to a lack of fulfillment."
When the prediction was over, the young man looked up from the cards and whispered, "How do you know?"
The fossil — as Draco was now mentally calling her — gave a weak smile and replied, "The inner eye knows all."
The man sighed and handed a pouch of coins to the woman. From the way the coins clinked, it didn't seem as if it was the right material to be muggle money. Interesting.
"Thank you, Beattie," The man called out as he walked out the door, eyeing Harry nervously, "Wish me luck!"
The old woman gave him a smile, then closed the door gently, putting up a 'closed' sign and locking the door. Harry slipped his wand into his hand; there was something unnerving about how slowly Beattie was closing the door. Suddenly, she whipped around, swifter than anyone her age ought to be (her wrinkles could rival Dumbledore's) and pointed a wand straight at Harry. "Expelliarmus! Why are you here?" she demanded, and in English, no less.
"I just wanted to ask some questions," Harry replied, holding his hands up by his head in a surrender pose. "I won't harm you."
"The Ministry sent you." It wasn't a question.
"I'm an Auror —"
"I know who you are," Beattie cut him off. "Harry Potter," she spat. "Have you've come to arrest me?"
"Have you broken the law?" Harry asked, frowning in confusion.
"You don't know?" she asked incredulously. Her wand dropped an inch.
"I'm not here for you, if that's what you're asking," said Harry.
Beattie dropped her defensive stance and picked up Harry's wand but kept her wand trained on the Brit. Smart woman, Draco thought. "Then what are you here for?" she asked.
"I came from England to investigate a case concerning Robert Wyclyve. He's been bringing dark artifacts back to England to sell," Harry answered promptly. "I would appreciate it if you'd tell me if you had any information on him."
Beattie glanced out of the glass door, eyeing the street before dropping her wand and leading Harry to the back of the store, pulling a curtain aside to reveal a small room with two squishy chairs and a table. Shelves lined the walls with teacups, crystal balls, and other divination props. She slid Harry's wand into her pocket before motioning for him to take a chair.
"I won't rat out my own kind," Beattie said, once they were both seated.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"You're from the Ministry," Beattie spat the last word as if it was a curse. "You're helping them. Not us."
"And 'them' and 'us' are...?" Harry prompted, leaning forward in his chair.
"They are the Purebloods. We are the Half-Bloods."
"I thought blood status wasn't such a big deal here as it was back in England," said Harry.
Beattie waved her hand in front of her face as if backhanding someone. "Oh, of course, you defeated that fool Voldemort, did you? Saved the muggle-borns and half-bloods, did you? You think that will help you here? We won't care about that. You work for the Ministry. You work for those idiots that try to control us and our minds. You are the enemy."
"I'm..." Harry fumbled for the right words; he didn't want to offend this woman, especially when he was wandless. "not quite sure what you mean. People from you country live differently, I assume?"
The seer watched Harry closely; she must have decided Harry was truly clueless, because she gave him an amused nod. "Your mind really that innocent," at Potter's perplexed look, she clarified. "I am a legilimens. I know you do not see what our society is like. Young people these days, I tell you, so unobservant. Always too self-absorbed," she ranted, waving her hands the way all old people do.
"Will you explain to me, then, since I don't understand?"
"Oh very well," Beattie said, leaning forward in her chair, looking every bit the grandma with a story. "It began didn't begin that long ago, I would say. To me, if feels like it was just yesterday that it happened. But oh, it was a very many decades ago. I'm not quite sure how many, mind you. But we were only separated into two types of people, then. The Magic and the Muggle. Those Ministry fools that call themselves 'old and wise', insisted we keep away from non-magic people. There were many purebloods, then, and there still are. The purebloods thought it was all good and well. They didn't want their traditions to be changed for lesser people and it was too dangerous to interact with Muggles, especially since they industrialized so quickly. Deprived the land of magic, they did, taking over nearly all the land, above and under ground.
"The muggle-borns, few as they were, couldn't live in pure-blood society; not if they wanted to keep both parents, that is. They embraced their magic, but they couldn't feel the same about Muggles as any other witch or wizard. So they did what they could; they asked the half-bloods to help. The half-bloods were kinder, if I do say myself. We went to the Ministry with a proposal and were rejected on sight. This angered many, as you can imagine. Even a few purebloods — the younger ones, as they were more open minded — turned sides and helped us. We tried again with the Ministry, with papers, with riots, with everything we had. They still rejected us; we were so outnumbered, we couldn't even start a war like you English did. So what did we do? We discarded all but the basic laws and built our own society. The Half-blood society. We combine Muggle and Magic methods of living and now we can also use Muggle land, land which once belonged to us. I would say those poor dim-witted leaders of the Purebloods would very much like to wipe us out. We do cause them a bit of trouble, you see, since we live by our laws and not theirs."
"And since I work for the Ministry," said Harry, "you think I want to destroy muggle-borns and half-bloods?" He looked utterly astonished how anyone could think that way of him. It's a rather cute expression, Draco thought, before he realized what exactly it was he was thinking. No, not cute. I am not thinking of Potter as cute, Draco berated himself.
"I had every right to assume so," Beattie pointed out.
"And you won't help me with finding Wyclyve?" Harry asked, eyebrows raised.
"I will tell you what I can," Beattie relented. "I will not betray my own kind."
Harry made a motion of agreement before started his questions. "Wyclyve has come to Hong Kong about a week ago. Did you know this?"
"Yes."
"How did you know?"
"I've met with him."
"How many times?"
"Just once. He was after my Divination services."
"What did he ask you to predict?"
"I cannot tell you that."
"Do you know where Wyclyve is staying?"
"I do not know. Ask those crazy friends of his. He used to always have one of them hanging around."
"Where do his friends live? What are their names?"
"I cannot tell you."
"Do you know what Wyclyve wants, coming here to Hong Kong?"
"Why, His girlfriend, of course," Beattie answered, surprise flashing across her wrinkled face. "Didn't you know?"
Draco could see Harry's confusion. He hadn't had any information about Avril then.
"No, I don't know. Can you elaborate?"
"That little green haired girl. My, was there ever love like Robert's for her. They were always together, though they broke up a few years ago. Robert left then, but he's back for her. I know it."
One could practically see the wheels turning in Harry's head. "Where is she now?"
"Don't you know I can't tell you locations by now?"
"I'm sorry," apologized Harry, "I had to try, anyway, didn't I?"
"I suppose. Will that be all?"
"For now, yes," Harry said. He stood up from his chair. "If I have more questions, I'll come back."
xXxXxXx
The memories ended and the two Auror partners were expelled from the pensieves. Draco spoke first, "Well? Did you catch anything from that?"
Harry frowned. "What do you suppose he meant by 'No, this is too important. It's important for us?'"
"Obviously Wyclyve's doing whatever he's doing as part of his obsession with Avril," Draco drawled.
"Avril?" Harry asked, eyebrows raised and an "Oh?" look on his face.
Draco, looking away, replied much too casually, "Just a slip of the tongue."
"Draco," Harry said the words slowly with practiced dangerous undertones that he used when interrogating prisoners, "Why did you call her Avril?"
Turning his head back towards Harry in order to execute a perfect annoyed look, Draco snapped, "I didn't mean to call her that."
"Draco, if it has to do with the case, then you have to tell me. We're partners, after all," Harry reminded him.
Draco pursed his lips, a crease between his eyes. He eventually leaned back in his chair and sighed, and Harry knew that telling Harry that whatever the other man had been evaluating in his mind was in his favor. "Yes, I suppose it's worth getting my balls hexed off to tell you," he said sarcastically.
Harry raised his eyebrows and gave a small laugh. He did love Draco's witty comments. "She threatened you?"
Draco shrugged. "She keeps her real name secret. I wouldn't want to keep the name my parents gave me if they treated me like that."
"I'd reckon, yeah."
"So that seer confirmed that Wyclyve is after Avril then," Draco thought out loud, before grinning and flopping back into the chair. "Well we're back up to schedule, aren't we? We deserve a day off."
Harry shook his head exasperatedly, although he smiled, nevertheless. "Lunch?"
"Yes!" Draco gave a wide grin and ran off to fix his hair before they went out.
A/N: First, there really is a woman who does tarot readings in a muggle shop of Lamma Island. I've actually been in that shop. Second, the tarot card reading for 'the man' in this is fairly accurate. I looked it up in several books/websites and these are the real meanings of the cards. This spread is called the Twisting Path spread and is done with a Golden Tarot. I'll post pictures of the spread/cards on my LJ once the story is done. I will also post pictures that I took of Hong Kong and the things Harry/Draco visit on my LJ once the story is completed and posted. Now, I know this chapter isn't the most fluffy/UST-filled chapter ever, but I promised some, and it's all in part two. I've been busy, so Part Two will be a little late, I'm sorry.
So, did you guys catch any clues? Make any new theories? Leave me a review and tell me!