December 25th, 2024

London, Jessy's place

06:41

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"Get up."

The voice was soft but unrelenting. Harry nodded and tried to move, but as soon as he shifted Jessy moaned and followed Harry, impaling himself further on him. Harry groaned and tried to shake Jessy awake but to no avail. He struggled to sit up, trying to hide the obscene picture of himself leaving the willing body underneath from the enraged father standing above him. Judging by the man's hard breathing he failed and only succeeding in pissing the man off. He stepped over the boy who only stirred once and mumbled something in his sleep, covering himself with his arms. He hastily caught the pants that were thrown his way and pulled them on.

The man reached over and shook Jessy's shoulder, trying fruitlessly to wake him up. Now Harry was also starting to get concerned and the worried man in front of him reached towards his belt, right above the gun holster. His eyes were now trained on Harry. Harry couldn't imagine what would be going through his own head if he found one of his sons nearly unconscious in a bed with a completely coherent much older stranger, so he decided it would be best for him not to let the man come to his own conclusions and started talking.

"I saw him in the club last night. He was drunk so I thought I should bring him home."

What Harry saw on the other man's face was definitely not the grateful expression, not that he was expecting one. Worst of all was that the man's hand seemed to be itching to grab his service pistol if the twitching fingers were anything to go by.

"So you raped him." he growled. Harry truly feared he would pull out the gun and then the situation would escalate pretty quickly. "Dress yourself."

Hurrying to comply he quickly scanned the room. Noticing his boxers hanging of the glass ornament on the coffee table he pondered whether he should also put them on. But since he already had his pants on he didn't think the man would appreciate him taking them off again. Thinking fast and avoiding the furious eyes of the man in front of him, he grabbed them and stuck them in his jeans pocket. He picked up the socks from the floor and found his sneakers. Tying the laces quickly and feeling marginally less uncomfortable Harry focused on the man. His shirt was thrown at him also and now fully dressed he looked from Jessy lying on the sofa to the man who pulled the slipcover from the sofa backrest and through it over his son.

"I didn't do anything he didn't want."

"He was drunk! And you used him!" Crenshaw whispered angrily, pointing his index finger at Harry. And then something clicked in the man's mind "Shit! I knew I saw you before! You're the cop from the other night, right?" When Harry didn't immediately answer Jason continued "Give me one good reason not to report this right away! Fuck that! I should shoot you where you stand!" he concluded with a yell.

Even with the wand at his side, Harry was apprehensive of the man. If Jason Crenshaw wished it, this could be the end of his career as an Auror.

"Ok, please, calm down. Wait until Jessy is awake, if he thinks you should report it or even shoot me, so be it!"

Startled by the yelling a few moments before, Jessy was slowly waking up. He was disoriented and looked around sleepily, trying to figure out what was happening. Jason crouched down next to his son, still keeping Harry in the line of sight and his hand just above the gun.

"Jess, are you alright? Do you know what happened?"

Jessy stood a bit straighter unknowingly allowing the covers to slip from his body. Harry slowly handed the man Jessy's pants so the boy wouldn't feel completely uncomfortable when he realizes the situation he was in. Elder Crenshaw snatched it from his hand and handed it to his son. Jessy looked at his dad and then at Harry. Harry could see Jessy connecting the dots by the way his face slowly flushed. He bunched the pants over his private area and closed his eyes tightly for a moment.

"Dad?" he asked uncertainly, casting a nervous look towards his father.

"Do you remember anything from the last night?" His father gently cupped his cheek while looking straight into his eyes, pushing his belt to the side so the gun was out of Jessy's sight. "I want the truth, Jessy."

Jessy nodded. Without looking up at Harry he explained in rough voice what he thought had happened, as confusing as it all was to him. Harry added in a few details, trying to help Jessy recount all the events and explain the situation to the best of his ability. The bottom line, which Jessy embarrassedly pointed out when he saw the murderous looks his dad was throwing the detective, was that he wanted this to happen. In the end Jessy was completely red in the face and squeezed his eyes tightly as if he could escape the reality of what happened. Jason finally stood back up and turned to face Harry.

"Stay the hell away from my son from now on." Harry opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted "I don't give a shit what you have to say! If you need to talk to him about Steve, every conversation between you will be supervised by me. And I'm only willing to give you that much because I don't want this getting out for the whole police department to know. Do you understand me, detective?"

Harry could only nod. He looked at Jessy, who was still sitting on the sofa behind his father, still covering himself with pants. With his father's attention directed at Harry, and Harry looking at him, he mouthed something which Harry didn't know how to interpret at this moment… Sorry. Was he sorry for what happened? Or was it just the situation they were in now?

"Unless you have something else to say, I think you should leave, detective."

Harry was about to leave when another thought struck him. This was not the best moment but when was he ever known for his tact. He took a deep breath and steeled himself before turning to Jason Crenshaw.

"Since I'm here, I do have something to ask about your brother, if that is alright with you, sir."

Jason clenched his jaw but motioned Harry to move into the kitchen while Jessy dressed himself. Taking the offered seat at the end of the table with Jason sat next to him he felt like he was the one who was being interrogated.

"Go on, detective, ask away." The man said, obviously irritated.

"First, I really apologize for..."

"You said this is about my brother, so if I can keep my mind off this awkward situation, so should you. I am a cop. I understand you have to ask questions, so just ask and then leave me and my son alone."

"Alright, so..." Harry swallowed and gave his best to focus on the case, " I was wondering if you know a man called Darien Louviere?"

"Yes. He was the co-owner of my brother's bar, before he was arrested. My brother helped bring that man to justice. May I ask why you ask?"

"Louviere was released on good behavior a few days ago, so we're suspecting he might have something to do with your brother's murder. Is there anything else you might be able to tell me about your brother and Louviere? Perhaps how they met or..."

"I repeat, detective, I'm a cop, I know how this works. I know what you need to know, so I'll just tell you all there is to it. Most of it will be what Steve told me anyway, since I was too young to remember…" Harry nodded and wished for a second he could use the quotation quill "When I was still a baby, Steve's best friend Trey went to a boarding school. They got to see each other only during summers, and sometimes Trey would also visit during Christmas holls. "

Harry nodded, realizing that Trey, a Hogwarts student obviously, was probably Steven Crenshaw's first link with a wizarding world. He wondered if this Trey was in fact Trey Donovan, the officer in charge of the illegal potion distribution case.

"When I was 6 and Steve 17 our father died. Our mum was sick and Steve was the one who had to look after me. He practically raised me. Steve was doing any job he could get his hands on only to be able to pay for mum's medicines and food. Two years later, Steve was tired of it all, but he tried not to let it show. I noticed though, that I remember clearly." Jason trailed off for a moment, clearly remembering the days when he was just a child.

"I guess this was when Trey suggested that Steve and Darien, Trey's friend from school, should open a bar together. Steve was desperate enough to accept although he didn't really like Darien. But Darien had money. So this deal went on for about ten years. In the end, even though I spent most of my time at school or with my friends, I remember Steve getting jumpy and becoming a nervous wreck. The next thing I know is that Darien was arrested and Steve was back to his old self. I didn't ask question, I was just glad to have my brother back."

"Do you know Trey's last name?"

"Donovan." Jason said with a faraway look in his eyes.

At this confirmation an idea popped into Harry's head. Steven Crenshaw ratted on Louviere and Donovan helped him put the man behind bars. For far longer than usual. As an MLE officer, Donovan would also know about Louviere's release. So perhaps he tried to warn his friend, but arrived too late? Perhaps he was on to the identity of one of the wizards present at the bar that night. Still this didn't make sense, because if Crenshaw and Donovan were friends, the chances are that Jessy would have recognized the man.

"And did your brother keep in touch with him since Darien Louviere was arrested?"

"No." Jason's voice held certain finality to it.

Sensing the touchy, perhaps important subject, Harry didn't want to let go that easily.

"You seem quite sure about that?"

The rustling from the doorway drew their attention to a fidgeting, fully clothed Jessy.

"Do you need me for anything?"

Harry wondered about that. He had a few ideas on the identity of at least one of the men involved in the murder of Steven Crenshaw. And if Steven Crenshaw did not keep in touch with a man then of course, Jessy wouldn't have recognized him at the bar. "Jessy, if I show you a picture, would you be able to recognize a man that came into the bar that night?"

"Yes." Jessy nodded.

"Mr. Crenshaw, may I come back with these pictures later?"

"Wouldn't it be more practical for me to bring Jessy to the precinct?"

"I don't wish to inconvenience you to come all the way there, but if you are uncomfortable with my presence here, I may send another officer with pictures?"

Jason exhaled and Jessy found his feet extremely interesting.

"No, it's alright, detective. You may return. Make sure it is during the day, since I'm sure you are aware by now, I work night shifts in the next few days."

Harry nodded and stood up to leave. He offered his hand which was politely accepted.

"Thank you for all the information, Mr. Crenshaw. And once again, I really am sorry... "

"Just leave, detective. And find my brother's murderer."

Harry nodded and walked passed Jessy through the door. He wasn't oblivious to the hopeful look Jessy was sending him, but unable to respond to it, he just ignored it. He never saw a tear slide down the young man's face, but Jessy's father did.

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December 25th, 2024

London, Grimould 12

09:14

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Harry apparated home into the empty foyer. He slid down the wall and held his head in hands. The whole night was a fucking mess! However, he didn't get much time for regrets and wishful thinking, since his eldest's voice cut through the silence.

"I really wish to see you explain to Lilly what happened this time."

Harry looked up at James, as that thought for the first time this morning came into mind. He banged his head backwards on the wall.

"I'm not even going to try, James."

"What's wrong with you? Why do you keep hurting her?"

Harry looked at his son standing above him in bewilderment.

"You think I wanted this to happen? Merlin, James, you have no idea what I just went through, so just..."

"What, dad? Just shut up? Just don't ask? Just leave me alone? I did! Don't you see that I did? I left it alone when you didn't come home one night. I asked Uncle Ron and he said he left you in the office. I saw he was lying but I didn't ask. And then it happened again! And then you kept coming home at late hours, but still, I kept my mouth shut, and mostly because Albus thought you deserve to live your life and we shouldn't hold you back. But that's Albus and I, dad! Not Lily! I won't let you pull the disappearing act on Lily! She is just a kid and she still needs a parent who is going to listen to her and be there! So no, dad, I won't just shut up and I won't just leave you alone!"

Harry just stared at his son, wondering how everything could go so wrong so fast and when did James and Albus start acting more grown up than he did. But again he didn't get a chance to answer.

"If you were any louder, you would have woken the dead, James." Albus said from the top of the stairs. "But I can't say I disagree. I wouldn't have worded it that way but that's a minor detail."

Harry stood up and came face to face with Lily who just came down the stairs. "What's happening, dad? Please, tell us 'cause I'm scared. We just want to help you?"

Harry hugged her as tears started falling down her pretty face. "I'm so sorry honey. Merlin, I seem to be saying that a lot lately. I'm here now, and I promise, nothing will keep me away for the rest of the holidays." still holding Lily he turned to James "And you are right, James. I was being an idiot lately, I hurt you, and thanks for opening my eyes."

"That's not what James said, Dad." Albus interfered "We were just concerned. If you only told us you wouldn't be home it would be ok. This way you could go on some Auror assignment and get yourself killed and we wouldn't know. "

"Yeah, you don't have to tell us her name, just say 'Hey, kids, I'm going out tonight' or something, we'd get it." James smirked.

"Well if I ever decide to go out I promise, you'll be the first to know every juicy detail, Jamie." Harry smirked at the instantly horrified look on his son's face. "Now, honestly, I really am sorry I behaved this way, and I promise, it stops now." he petted Lily's dark red hair. "Can you forgive your old man, Lils?"

"I guess... if you talk to McGonagall about that quidditch ban she put me under." Lily looked up with innocent eyes. Harry observed suspiciously.

"Quidditch ban?"

Lily nodded, giving him a letter she held in the back pocket. As soon as Harry took it, she ran up the stairs, while Albus and James snickered.

"Lily! What did you do this time!?" Harry bellowed.

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December 25th, 2024

London, Jessy's place

09:14

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Jason watched as his son tried to cover up his tears. He never believed he'd be in this situation. Between his brother being murdered and finding Jessy naked at home with the man more than twice his age, he was rapidly losing the ground under his feet. He approached his boy and turned him around. Jessy could never lie to him in his face.

"You care about him?"

Jessy pitifully nodded, wishing they weren't having this conversation.

"You understand that he was just doing his job the night Uncle Steve died? He didn't offer comfort because he liked you, he did it to get information."

"He gave me a blanket." Even to Jessy's ears this sounded unconvincing, but he couldn't help it. "And he didn't need to help me last night." he whispered.

"No, he didn't. But, there are a few other things he didn't need to do last night, too." Jason replied haughtily.

"I'm glad he did." Jessy said, almost to himself. However, Jason heard him and more than a bit of anger and frustration was put into the next question.

"Are you now? Has this happened before?"

Jessy stared at his father, bewildered. He was suddenly wondering what the man who raised him thought of him now. All his life they've been honest to each other, Jessy shared everything with him, and now this? Did he really deserve such a treatment?

"Contrary to what you might believe now, no, it hasn't." he cut in without real bite to his words, but the hurt look was more pronounced on his face.

Jason saw that his question was misunderstood, but what could he expect. The words spoken in anger at the situation are often misinterpreted as the anger at the one they were directed to. He knew that and still he let himself slip up. He reached for Jessy's hand and spoke as calmly as possible.

"Hey, don't you ever think I'd assume something like that. I know you, Jess. I believe I know you better than anyone right now. And that is exactly why I'm concerned. That man doesn't know you at all, Jess. And what he saw last night probably led him to believe..."

"No! Don't say that! I know, ok? I know I screwed up dad. I really liked him and I wanted... I don't know what I wanted!" feeling the lump in his throat Jessy hiccupped.

"Do you know anything about him? Is he married? Did it ever even occur to you that he might have a wife, or a husband for that matter, to go home to?"

"I... I don't know... no..." he felt the bile rise in his throat.

"You know nothing about this man and you brought him into our flat, Jess. Fuck the flat! You gave yourself to him!"

"I... I'm sorry... I didn't think... I just wanted... I wanted to forget about everything..."

"And you did. You forgot everything I ever thought you. You were irresponsible and selfish, and all you did was hurt yourself."

"I know that, dad! Please, I know! But I really liked him! I'm sorry about everything, but I would have done it again and again and again!" Jessy was nearing hysterics now and Jason, feeling nearly as much anguish as his son did, held him tight just letting him cry for now.

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A/N: Please review! I would really like to know if you like the story so far.

Yalia