Three days had passed since the day Lucius was murdered. Nothing had been definitively proven of the culprit, however. Hermione could not link it to any beast or being and there had been no luck with finding any wild creature about.

Likewise, the aurors were at a loss of what exactly transpired. Nonetheless, Gerald remained the top suspect and though, of course, that was confidential information, Draco Malfoy was smart enough to put the pieces together.

The Malfoy family had been notified of Lucius' passing the same day. The following, Minister Shackelbolt's statement had been released warning citizens only that he passed in an unexplained accident.

Draco didn't take the news well. Even though he had renounced the teachings of his father, the ex-deatheater still loved the man who had been a driving force in his life. He refused to believe that something as simple as a freak accident had been the cause of the powerful wizard's demise and outright asked if the man the aurors had questioned him and his father about had been involved.

The aurors pressed on with the story that it was all a mystery, which wasn't a complete lie. After speaking with Draco, they feared he would try to take matters into his own hands and even retaliate, but all they could do was wait.

It was on that third day that Harry felt sure Draco had stepped in as it was then that the aurors contacted the residence at 14 Salt Box Road again to discover that Gerald had not returned since his and Oliver's fight.

''I don't know where he's gone,'' Oliver's voice was weak, his guilt showing through.

''Why haven't you reported him missing?'' Harry asked over the phone. ''Has he taken leaves like this before?''

The other wizard hesitated, ''No. I mean, he's never put this much distance between us... He would have at least spoken to Brad by now...''

''I understand,'' Harry soothed. ''Please let us know if he comes back or contacts either of you.''

''Ok,'' Oliver replied softly before hanging up.

Harry put down the phone with a frustrated sigh. The conversation Ron had helped them overhear was saddening at first thought, but deeper reflection showed a darker side.

The three musicians shared a strong bond. One that held when wickedness was involved as well. Oliver seemed convinced that Gerald was not evil, even with the dim things he knew about his friend. Though aware of his faults, he was most concerned with Gerald's honesty with him more than his guilt of any crimes.

Brad seemed to care nothing about his friend's innocence, instead focusing on his happiness and peace of mind. He didn't appear to care at all if the wizard were dark or not. Knowing of Voldemort's wickedness, he still sympathized with Gerald's sentimental attachment to the evil wizard.

Both men were aware of their friend's guarded nature and took it into account every time Gerald was dishonest or found himself in trouble again. Even so, Oliver seemed to be reaching his last straw. Harry didn't feel that Oliver would easily betray Gerald even so. Brad certainly wouldn't.

''Should we contact Draco?'' Ron spoke, jarring the other auror from his thoughts.

''Can you take care of it?'' Harry asked. ''I want to see if Professor Croaker is still in.''

''Sure,'' Ron nodded, heading for the phone, ''Hermione and I will meet up with you and Ginny at The Three Broomsticks, then, yeah?"

"Yeah, see you there," Harry agreed as he took his leave.

Ginny had returned home that day from her trip while Harry was at work. The two of them had made plans to go with Hermione and Ron to Hogsmeade in the afternoon for a drink when the aurors had finished up at the Ministry, which ended up taking longer than usual. The aurors had had to catch up on a couple of other cases. Just follow up work including a meeting with The Daily Prophet for final statements and warnings to the public.

Harry didn't expect the unspeakable to be available. He mostly just didn't want to deal with the futile conversation with Draco right then. Also, he quite doubted that if he had encountered Gerald, it would be Gerald that was missing. Not disparaging his old classmate's capabilities, just being aware that the American wizard was more capable. Especially if he had killed Lucius...

Harry reached the floor of the Department of Ministries to see it was sealed, an hourglass counting down to when employees would return. He returned to the lift and took it back up to the Atrium where he stepped into one of the chimneys there, taking the floo network to his own home.

"Ginny?" he called, taking off his formal robes and laying them on top of the couch as he stepped out of the fire place.

"Harry!" Ginny cried happily, entering the room with a jump into her husband's arms. "Oh, I've missed you! How was your day?"

Harry smiled, squeezing her tightly against him, "Frustrating, but much better now."

Loosening their hold on each other, Ginny leaned in, placing her lips on Harry's for a gentle kiss first. Then, closing her eyes, went in again for a more passionate exchange. Harry reciprocated lovingly pressing harder against her, his hands finding her waist and feeling around it as his wife's hands reached his face, pulling to keep their lips touching.

"I'm so glad you're home," Harry said when they had finished their reunion, his arms still holding her waist.

"Me too," Ginny smiled brightly, putting her arms around his shoulders, looking up into his eyes. "Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly, breaking from her husband. "Hermione and Ron will be waiting for us! You should get changed."

"Changed?" Harry objected. "I took off my coat. What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Ugh," Ginny sighed and began shoving her husband, "Go put something more comfortable on. Go!"

Harry grinned, relenting as he went into their bedroom and opened the closet. As he was undressing, Ginny's voice called into the room.

"So, you haven't told me much about your investigation," she started. "I heard about Lucius...Is this Gerald guy involved?"

Harry's smile faded. He didn't want to talk about work, but he also knew not telling his wife would worry her even more. "We're not sure...Ron and I heard him threaten Lucius, but..."

"But what?" Ginny had appeared in the doorway.

Harry turned around to face her after grabbing a pair of plain blue jeans from the closet. "He didn't threaten Lucius, exactly... He threatened his wife and Draco."

Ginny's face grew solemn, "That's..." she started, but changed thoughts, "Do you think Lucius went to find him?"

Harry nodded as he pulled up his jeans and buttoned them, "That's what I thought, yeah. It's just the way Lucius died. They called Hermione to the scene with us because they thought a beast had done it."

"Oh," Ginny replied, thrown off. "Is..."

"Human," Harry answered before she finished the question. Pulling a shirt over his head and straightening it, he walked to his wife. "As far as we can tell he's human. Let's go, huh? We can talk more later," he smiled, holding his arm out.

As soon as Ginny took it, the two disappeared into the fuzz of apparation, coming back to themselves just outside of Hogsmeade. The all-wizarding village was a popular destination for Hogwarts students and many adult wizards alike. Among the attractions were Honeydukes, Zonko's Joke Shop, The Shrieking Shack, Hog's Head, and of course The Three Broomsticks.

The young couple walked hand in hand through the snowy streets of the village. It was late in the afternoon, but early enough in the evening that the sun was still out to cast a beautiful light on the bleak climate. It was a short way to the pub where they would be meeting their friends.

"Ginny!" Hermione's voice came from behind the couple just as they reached the doors of The Three Broomsticks.

Harry and his wife spun around to see Hermione and Ron feet from them. Ginny and Hermione found each other in a friendly embrace while Ron grinned over them at Harry.

"It's good to see you! I hope the trip went smoothly," Hermione smiled at the other witch as they let go of each other.

"It went very well," Ginny answered as the two began walking past Harry and into the pub.

The two aurors followed behind the women who led them to a table near the middle of the building. The wives kept bubbling on about various details of Ginny's trip as the four took their seats and waited to be served. The girls had taken the booth facing the door while their husbands sat in the one opposite.

"I wish things here had been so pleasant," Ron interjected at the first pause in the conversation.

"Yes, Harry was telling me that you've been having some trouble," Ginny appeared worried for her husband again.

Hermione's expression became serious as well. "Apparently Gerald Davis is a bother to deal with. Very sketchy."

"Well do you know anything for certain about him being a dark wizard?" Ginny inquired.

"Several things that point to it, you know, besides his lying about working with Voldemort," Ron answered.

"His being a necromancer is one," Hermione said with a quick explanation of the reality about the form of wizardry. "The boys think he may have actually been the one to create the horcruxes for Voldemort."

Ginny's eyes widened, "Are you serious?"

The aurors nodded. "Saul Croaker seems to believe so too," Ron added before turning to his partner with a smirk, "By the way, Harry, Draco is offended by our accusation."

"Of course he is," Harry grinned.

A waitress appeared at the table then, "What can I get for you?" she smiled.

"Just four butterbeers. Thank you," Ginny said, watching as the witch left,her eyes suddenly catching on something in the distance. "You said this Gerald has white hair, didn't you?"

Hermione followed the redheaded woman's eyes to where they lay beyond. "You've got to be kidding me," she muttered.

Harry and Ron turned in their seat, immediately seeing what the witches had. Sitting at the bar was a wizard dressed all in black, hands cupped on top of his white head, leaning back in his chair. They watched for a moment longer until a man behind the bar brought him a glass and his hands fell from their position. The wizard turned his face to the side briefly as he scratched at his hidden cheek before looking back and picking up the mug in front of him.

"Bloody hell," Ron exclaimed.

Harry, however, said nothing as he slid out of his seat and trudged toward the wizard. Ron gave his wife an unsure look which she answered with a glare that he took to mean he should follow his friend.

"There you are," Harry said with a thick voice the instant he reached the bar, "Your friends have been worried about you."

Gerald's eyes darted to the auror without turning his head. "Your concern is flattering," he replied equally as abrasive as he lifted the mug to take a drink.

Without thinking, Harry reached out to put his hand on the man's glass and pushed it back down onto the bar. Gerald turned in his seat to face the auror then. His eyes were glazed and flashed with anger under his furrowed brow. Obviously anything Oliver assured his brother about Gerald's control over substance use was entirely out the window. The cheek he had been scratching at, now exposed, showed a deep cut sideways from his hairline to his mouth.

"Get into another fight?" Harry questioned harshly upon seeing the wound.

"Yeah with some young punk that didn't know when to quit," Gerald growled making his insinuation obvious.

"I think you've had enough to drink," Harry glared back.

Gerald turned away from the auror again, blinking his eyes rapidly several times. He reached out his right hand, taking firm hold of the drink in front of him and then shoved the glass toward where Harry was leaned against the bar. The beverage cascaded out of the mug when it stopped moving, splashing the auror's clothes. Gerald stood up suddenly, facing Harry and Ron who both quickly retrieved their wands.

"You're not doing yourself any favors," Harry whispered calmly as Gerald continued to loom, his eyes still full of anger.

Gerald's gaze gradually lessened and he was blinking again, turning to glance around the room. Several other witches' and wizards' attention had been drawn to the scene. The blue eyed man's energy seemed to change abruptly at this realization.

"You're right," he muttered at the floor before looking back up at the aurors. "Sorry."

His eyes lingered on Harry's momentarily while the wizards lowered their wands and replaced them on their person. Gerald's hand was on his face again, absentmindedly picking at the wound.

"You should have that looked at," Harry offered in a less rough manner.

"It's fine," Gerald mumbled, "I've had worse."

The white-haired wizard then turned to the bar, dropping his hand to pull a galleon from the jeans he still wore from three nights prior, and laid it on the counter before stepping to the side and beginning to walk out of the pub.

Ron and Harry exchanged looks with each other before sauntering after the wizard. Harry reached around and grabbed Gerald's arm. In an instant reaction, the white-haired wizard used that arm to take hold of Harry's, turning and pulling the auror into him, kneeing him in the stomach before pushing him away.

Ron drew his wand, stepping up past Harry, who was quickly regaining himself. Gerald had not moved from his spot. He stood there, chest heaving, waiting to see how the aurors would respond. The redhead kept his wand and his eyes pointed on Harry's attacker as he spoke to the side.

"You alright, mate?"

Harry had already reached his feet, "Lower your wand, Ron," he told his partner.

"What? He attacked you," the auror protested. "That's an offense right there. You remember what the minister said."

"Ron," Harry said more sternly.

Finally the redhead relented and put his wand down. Both aurors kept their eyes on Gerald, who was glaring back furiously. However, once again, as soon as he seemed to remember that he was surrounded by other magical folk, he backed off. His gaze hitting the floor again, he put his hands in his pockets and continued waiting for Harry and Ron to act.

Harry took notice of the man's shying away when recalling his current surroundings. Gerald was used to living in the muggle world. Even when it was not required of him. Harry put together in that moment that the dark wizard wasn't just hateful of other wizards...he was leery of them. With this in mind, he took a different approach. Stepping towards the man again, he lifted his hands.

"I apologize. I shouldn't have grabbed you like that," Harry said.

Gerald looked up at him. His eyes were still very glossy and Harry wondered how much he had had to drink and how aware of the situation he actually was. He didn't say anything or even open his mouth. Instead, he looked off to the side again. His hand found the gash on his face once more and suddenly he was smirking.

"Gerald," Harry continued softly. "You can come outside with us and talk while we have that cut attended to...or we can arrest you for assaulting an officer."

The drunken wizard's smirk grew into a smile and he shook his head, looking back up, but not directly at anyone. "Fine. We'll talk."