''Are you absolutely sure?''
''Hermione, we're not misinterpreting the situation,'' Harry insisted, ''He was definitely threatening Lucius.''
''Yeah, obviously,'' Ron agreed. ''I mean if it weren't clear by what Gerald said, Malfoy certainly made it so by grabbing the guy.''
Hermione's eyes were still wide with the news. She covered her mouth with one hand and shook her head, ''Sometimes I hate when I'm right about things...''
''No kidding,'' Ron mumbled, then mouthed an 'ow' when his wife gave him an aggravated shove.
''I don't know though,'' Harry carried on. ''Maybe he was bluffing.''
''Doesn't seem to me,'' Ron said.
Harry and Hermione looked intently on the redhead. ''Why not?'' the other auror asked.
''Well,'' Ron's voice cracked, ''from what they said to each other, it felt that they had been more than acquaintances, yeah? So wouldn't Lucius have known if it was a bluff or if he was actually capable of doing something like that?''
''Ronald's got a point,'' Hermione turned back to Harry, who nodded.
''Yeah... Lucius' reaction was pretty odd too... He's not the type to just lash out like that without doing some real damage...''
''Right. That bothered me as well... Moreso, though,'' Hermione continued, ''is what he said. 'I know what you are and I know what you've done.' What do you think he meant? I mean obviously something wicked, probably to do with Voldemort-"
"Probably?!" Ron interrupted with exasperation, but his wife ignored him.
"However, he's had no real associations with the deatheaters, the people closest to Voldermort, except Lucius Malfoy and that obviously wasn't a good relationship...so what could it have been? Especially if we are to believe that Gerald and Voldermort did cut ties around the time that he claims they did..." Hermione trailed.
"Well obviously trusting anything that Gerald says is not the way to go about things," Harry growled back.
"Relax, mate," Ron calmed.
"Sorry...it's just this whole situation is so maddening," Harry sighed, "I hate that we keep finding out that Gerald is lying to us. I really wanted to believe his story...and that he was at least mostly innocent," the auror admitted.
"I know," Hermione placed her hand on his shoulder, "None of us wanted to think that anything involving Voldemort was still going on."
A solemn silence settled upon the room as each of them recalled all of the treachery perpetuated by the dark lord or in his name. So many innocent people killed...so many lives disrupted or even ruined... Even their young lives, especially Harry's, had been filled with terrible turmoil because of the dark wizard. Voldemort's final demise had only been three years prior and the magical world had only just begun to start recovering.
"I still stand by my suspicion that Gerald is most concerned with his own safety," Hermione was the one that finally spoke, "Everything about his actions, the lack of criminal activity, even his lies- they all support the idea that he's more defensive than offensive."
"You don't think that Gerald is the type to harm anybody without being provoked?" Harry inquired. "Tell me honestly."
The witch shook her head once, "I don't think so, no. But...I also sense that he may be the type to feel provoked easily..."
"Yeah, especially if he's drunk or something," Ron muttered.
"Yeah," Hermione sighed, "Unfortunately."
Another, more awkward silence fell.
"Hey, well, how is Ginny doing?" Hermione broke the quiet again with a smile, "She's due back in what, about a week, right?"
Harry grinned, "Yeah, I talked to her earlier this morning, before work. She sounded in good spirits. Everything's been going smoothly on her end, it seems."
"Have you been telling her about all this shit with Gerald?" Ron asked innocently, but immediately realized that his wife had been trying to steer the conversation away from that topic when she gave him a scowl.
"No," Harry replied softly, ignoring the two's dynamic. "I didn't want to upset her... We'll talk when she gets back." He was leaned forward in his chair, elbows on knees and his hands grasping each other as he looked down at the floor.
"That's understandable," Hermione soothed and then, giving up on changing the subject, added, "If it helps, at least he's not lying about his disagreement with Voldemort."
Ron turned to his side to face his wife with a puzzled look. Harry pulled his head up, wearing an equally confused expression.
"If he did subscribe to Voldemort's ideals, he wouldn't have kept himself living as a muggle. He certainly wouldn't associate so closely with them," Hermione explained.
"Brad Angston," Harry murmured.
"Who?" Ron and his wife asked simultaneously.
"The other member of Gerald's and Oliver's band. I looked them up online. His name is Brad Angston," Harry clarified.
"Oh right, yes, that's what I meant," Hermione went on, "Musicians like that stay pretty close with each other. Especially the ones that go on tour as The Devil's Children does...or did, I guess. At any rate, Brad's a muggle and is closely associated with Gerald."
"The Devil's Children? Blimey," Ron said.
"That's my point," Harry continued, ignoring his friend's criticism, "They had to be close...how much do you think Brad actually knows?"
Hermione glanced from Harry, to her husband, and back, "You mean about his friends being wizards?"
"Yeah. And anything about Gerald's past. According to everything we know, he knew that Gerald and Oliver came to Britain from the beginning...before anyone else," Harry reminded. "That would suggest they were even close enough to share the knowledge of magic with him, wouldn't it?"
"Well, yes, I suppose it would, but," Hermione spoke confusedly, "I don't see how he would know anything more than Oliver. Gerald is obviously closer to him than with Brad. I mean, he came here with Oliver, not Brad. Brad didn't even come at all."
"I think we should talk to him," Harry decided suddenly.
"Haven't they already done that though, mate?" Ron pointed.
"Yeah, but they did so under the assumption that he didn't know anything of the wizarding world," Harry answered. "Bear with me, guys. What if Oliver was the one to accompany Gerald here only because he's a wizard? and because he's from the UK? Not to mention his entire family has a clean history with Magical Law Enforcement. If that were the case, Gerald could actually be closer to Brad and just using Oliver as a sort of cover. Maybe someone to make him look good or help him with the magical world's system of doing things here."
"I hadn't thought about that possibility," Hermione mused.
"Being a muggle, Brad wouldn't ever be able to out Gerald if he knew something about him," Ron interjected. "If he told MACUSA, he'd be obliviated and if he told muggle police, he'd just sound crazy and it'd definitely put him on Gerald's bad side."
"But what about telling Oliver?" Hermione inquired. "If he did know something bad about Gerald and couldn't come forward on his own, why wouldn't he just talk to Oliver so he could take care of it?"
"I don't know..." Harry paused, thinking. "Gerald threatening him? or just him generally being afraid of Gerald depending on what he knew."
"Or for all we know, Brad's the evil one," said Ron. "We haven't dealt with him at all...looked into him at all...We wouldn't have any clue if he were or not."
Harry and Hermione nodded.
"It's true," Hermione agreed, "Either way, I definitely wouldn't put it past Gerald to manipulate someone like that."
Leaning back in his chair, Harry reached a hand to his chin and rubbed it, contemplating. After a few moments, he stood up and walked over toward the phone that rested on his desk on the wall opposite where his friends were sitting. He picked it up, dialing a number within the Ministry. It was early enough in the evening that employees would still be available.
"What're you doing?" Ron called over to him.
"I'm getting a number to reach Brad on," Harry answered as the phone began to ring.
"Harry, what is it?" Minister Shackelbolt's voice sounded on the other end with a hint of concern.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Minister, but Ron and I were talking and we've decided to contact Brad Angston," Harry spoke quickly to ensure that the man knew nothing was wrong. In any other case, he would just contact the department of records or general information instead of contacting Kingsley Shackelbolt directly. However, since they were playing so close to the vest with this one, only the two aurors, Saul Croaker, the minister, and of course MACUSA knew anything about any of it.
"Brad. The third member of Gerald's band?"
"Yes, sir."
"You think he knows something, then?"
Harry hesitated, "We think it's possible."
"Hmm..." the minister thought, "it's funny you should call now. I just finished reading the report you sent me." He was speaking about the interview with Gerald and the altercation between him and Lucius afterward. "I don't like this at all. I don't want him to have any room to breathe, you understand? Press him as hard as you can. I don't want him to have any time to even think about starting something."
"Sir," Harry protested, "It seems to us that doing that would only push him into acting out."
"I'm aware that you feel that way. Even so, I want the two of you stuck to him. The moment he gives you any excuse- even the tiniest thing, arrest him," Shackelbolt commanded.
"Yes, sir," Harry relented.
"As for Brad," the man on the phone continued, "I have a number from the file that MACUSA sent over. It's for their band's agent. That should lead you to him."
"Thank you, sir," Harry nodded even though the wizard couldn't see him.
The auror quickly jotted down the digits given to him and hung up. He then immediately dialed it and waited. He turned toward the couple sitting on the couch, resting his back against the wall next to the phone and the desk it was on. The phone rang three times before a woman picked up on the other end.
"Joyce Letterman, Publicist and Agent. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with today?" Her voice was overly enthusiastic and sounded extremely fake, but Harry ignored the annoying chipper attitude and carried on.
"Uh, yes, this is Harry Alderman. I was looking to get in contact with one of your clients, actually," the auror replied.
"That is great to hear, Mr. Alderman. Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to give out my clients' personal details. However, if you would like to leave a message with me, I can inform them of it immediately."
Harry paused, thinking as he cleared his throat. "Thank you," he continued in his 'business' voice, "If you could tell Brad Angston that Harry in London was looking to speak with him concerning his friends Oliver and Gerald, I'd be much obliged. Please stress to him the urgency of the situation."
"I certainly can do that for you, Mr. Alderman, but may I ask if you are in contact with Gerald Davis and Oliver Smith?"
Harry shot a baffled glance at his friends before answering her, "Um. Yes, I am, actually."
"Well then," her cheeriness peaked, "You will be pleased to know that Mr. Angston has recently taken a vacation and will be visiting with his bandmates."
Harry's eyes widened, causing Hermione and Ron to exchange glances.
"Oh, I see. Alright then, thank you for your help," he told the agent.
"Of course, Mr. Alderman. Don't hesitate to call again if you should have any questions or concerns. Have a wonderful evening."
Click. Joyce Letterman hung up quickly, leaving Harry awkwardly removing the phone from his cheek and replacing it on the desk.