The group's conversation had gone here and there after that. Talking about the case, about America, Ginny's daily training during the season, and even on simple plans for the future like having kids of their own. Harry's mind, however, kept returning to the cursed bones Gerald had originally gifted to Oliver's brother. It was a gesture with no purpose other than to protect the man and his wife so it once more confirmed that, no matter how small, the strange wizard did have a heart.

The auror was less concerned with that. His focus was on what damage Gerald had done to the owners of those bones...what turmoil he had caused Lucius Malfoy and others with his dark necromancy... This trail of thinking led him to remembering his own lost loved ones: his parents, his godfather, Cedric Diggory, Fred Weaseley... As the name of his deceased brother-in-law hit his brain, Harry had decided to bring up the morbid possibility that had crossed him and Hermione when Arthur interrupted George's questions before.

The poor guy was far from okay, having to deal with the loss of his twin, but surely he wouldn't seek the use of dark magic to see his brother again. Ron completely shut the idea down, deeming it preposterous. And although Ginny and Hermione obviously wanted to as well, they both hesitated before verbally denying that it would happen. Like George had said, it was just curiosity.

When the meal was finished and the mess was cleaned, the four wizards set off for the old Riddle property. This time around was easier since all could now apparate to the place themselves, but they were just as careful as before should danger await them on the other side. Once more, though, nothing could be seen. Their process was identical to the previous visit. First was a stroll through the cemetery which yet again was fruitless.

It was disappointing for Harry, truly feeling that something had been overlooked the last time and hoped to discover anything to show from where the bones had been stolen. Sighing, he put his attention on the home with the others. The casual walk to the building was filled with constant visual searches of the surrounding land. Nothing was seen or heard, but the ever-looming sense that the company was being watched remained. After this many treks to the property, the lead auror was convinced a spell had been cast over it to give trespassers an uneasy feeling as a means of protection. He was certain nothing was actually there. Nonetheless, they would stay vigilant.

When the raggedy home was near, Hermione spoke softly, raising her wand and reiterating the uselessness of the revelo charm in this instance. Inside, the witches and the redheaded auror started around the base floor, but Harry immediately crept up the stairs on an impulse. The rest took notice though they said nothing. Only quickly finished their inspections, wands in hand, and followed behind their leader.

The head auror's intuition was revealed to be correct when, turning into the same room as before, he laid sights on a man, dressed in dirty clothing, sitting in the window Gerald had broken two days prior after transforming into a demon. The man was facing outside, away from Harry, with legs bent at the knee and hanging off the outside wall.

"Oliver?" the auror stood still in a position just far enough inside the room that his companions could also enter, and aimed his wand at the man.

The other three soon stepped inside as well and readied their weapons should a battle ensue. Oliver, however, stayed silently staring over the landscape in front of him. Harry eased to the side in order to get a better view of the wizard while his teammates spread out further without getting any closer to the suspect. The moment the dark-headed auror was in Oliver's side vision, the lone man scoffed, showing a brief smile of surrender.

"Here," his voice was barely audible as he lifted a hand from his lap.

The auror back-pedaled a pace and took a firmer grasp on his wand when Oliver's raised arm revealed to hold his own, though loosely and without intent. The wizard gave a white flag by tossing the weapon aimlessly in Harry's direction. The armed man knelt to pick up the discarded stick while keeping his upon the criminal. After retrieving it, he began treading near again in order to inform of the arrest to be made, but Oliver beat him to speaking.

"I feel like a moron, Mr. Potter," he confessed, "I really do."

Harry, easily sympathetic, softly asked, "What happened?" yet stuck to his job by tipping his head at Ron, telling him to arrest the man.

"I gave him... I put too much faith in him," the defeated wizard sighed as Ron's incarcerous spell bound his wrists together.

Both aurors lowered their wands as did their wives. Ron took hold of the ropes tying Oliver's hands and of his shoulder, then pulled the man man up to stand. He turned to face Harry, following the detective's gentle pushing. Head hung, he shook it and continued chiding himself, "It was so stupid. I thought... I honestly thought that he wasn't evil. I knew he had done some things, but not..." Oliver lifted his head, obviously choking back tears as he gazed upon the lead auror, "I didn't know. I promise I didn't know..."

"What happened, Oliver?" Harry repeated more determinedly, "What did he do?"

The betrayed man broke his eyes away from directly looking at anyone and placed them on nothing in particular, but he did not drop his posture again. "He told me he killed Lucius Malfoy. Uh," Oliver scoffed at himself again as he tried to streamline his thoughts, "He- it was my impression that while under Voldemort...Tom Riddle...that it was all before the dark lord's full rise...that he didn't really hurt any-" the man swallowed hard and blinked his eyes several times, "He did though. This necromancy... He did hurt people...kill them. I'm just... I'm just so stupid..."

Oliver broke into a sob, finally unable to hold back. Ron and Harry glanced at each other, then the head auror looked at the witches who also seemed pained by the criminal's state. None of them believed he was a dark person. They all were aware that he had been tricked and lied to...that it was Gerald at fault. If nothing dubious came to light, the aurors were sure that Oliver would be given leniency. For now, though, the situation must be completely assessed.

"Has he hurt anyone else more recently? Other than Lucius?" Harry prodded.

The captive wizard was shaking his head, pursing and folding his lips in chaotic thought, "Brad. Brad said that up until a few years after I came around...that Gerald had killed a handful of people...including magical people. He, uh, apparently helped Gerald a couple of times."

Even with having surmised that the muggle wasn't concerned with legality or morality, but rather the well-being of his friend, it was still a bit of a shock to the investigators to hear this bit of information.

"Did Gerald confirm that?" Ron asked from behind the man, who nodded in response.

"What about here, since you left America?" the other auror inquired.

"Lucius...some vampire underlings...and...I don't think there was anyone else," Oliver appeared genuine. "These vampires have had an eye on him ever since we came here...or so they say...so Gerald says..."

"Do they still have him?" Harry asked.

Oliver nodded again, putting eyes on the auror, "Brad is still there as well."

"Alright," Harry breathed. "We have to take you in for aiding a dark wizard and resisting arrest."

The auror's words were nearly apologetic. He looked at Ron who then began leading the captive out of the room. Harry and the witches followed behind and all was silent as they journeyed though and exited the house. Outside once more, visual surveys were rapidly done before the aurors disapparated back to the entrance of the Ministry for Magic and their wives disapparated home.

The process of admitting Oliver was simple enough. He would be kept in a small jail for yet to be charged detainees while awaiting sentence. The first thing the investigators did was send immediate word to Minister Shackelbolt of Oliver's presence. Then, they talked to Mr. Smith in more detail before sending him to his temporary accommodations. Unfortunately, the Minister wasn't available to make a decision about the wizard's fate before the day ended as both Harry and Ron had hoped. Neither wanted to see Oliver detained yet they did well not to show their bias while interrogating him.

According to him, he had woken up in a dungeon like cell, his wand removed from his person. Gerald was with him, sitting in an opposite corner with his back leaning against the old brick wall. The dark wizard's hands, wrists, and arms were all bound by rope and chain to his chest, obviously to keep him from using his magic. In addition, Oliver said, he seemed intoxicated. His mind was clear, but he had difficulty moving his body. No doubt the effect of the vampiric magic.

Oliver attempted to free his friend, but was met with hostile words and growls. The white-haired man barked at his bandmate to leave him be and when Oliver had refused, he yelled further with aggressive confessions of his past crimes, of things he had blatantly hid, and so forth. He ended it with a threat not only on Oliver, but on his family, their friends, and the Ministry itself including personally naming Harry, Ron, Croaker, and Shackelbolt.

Oliver eased away, taken aback by the sudden violent ferocity in his years-old friend...and moreso by the admissions of guilt to various murders and other crimes. He was accustomed to the man losing his temper and saying harsh things...but what he told him, how direct his threats were...was anything but usual or understandably forgivable. It struck Oliver speechless and still.

The ruckus caught the attention of the vampires and three were soon standing in front of the cell door. One of which, was Brad. Only then did Oliver find his voice again, demanding the muggle explain what was going on...even pleading with the newly turned vampire lackey to fight against those controlling him.

Brad, who had been smiling, turned a frown. He assured his old friend that he was under no spell, that he had been approached by the dark creatures to work with them for Gerald's best interest. He had slowly watched the old wizard's emotional state worsen and he lost more and more control. It was then that he shared the numerous fights and those killings that Oliver had not been privy to, which occurred during the time between Gerald's allowing his relationship with Brad and when Oliver came along. Brad confessed to knowing about the demon prior to recent events. He also admitted to introducing Gerald to drugs, sex, alcohol, and self-harm as a means of control though he did not expect it to go so far...

The vampires, he said, knew a way to help the demon and offered it in exchange for his expertise in necromancy. Harry asked at that point what exactly they wanted, but Oliver insisted he wasn't told. He only knew that Brad assisted in their capture and let a vampire infect him because he believed the deception would convince Gerald to accept the offer.

After these revelations, the three vampires took the dark wizard away, leaving a dumbstruck Oliver alone in his cell for several hours. He later discovered he had fallen asleep when he was awakened by Brad standing over him. His first instinct was to attack the muggle vampire and he did, but without his wand, his try was futile against the being's superb strength. Brad did not hurt him, however. Not really. He only held the struggling wizard tight, apologizing for 'the mess' and offering a last encouraging statement before choking him into a blackout.

"It will be okay, brother."