The young wizards found their way safely to the ground in an area that, according to Malfoy, was magically populated. It kept them from having to worry about being seen with their broomsticks or needing further use of the disillusionment charm they had cast. The village they entered was somewhere between an average size and being large. Perhaps a handful of Godric's Hollows could be contained within it. It consisted entirely of old buildings, not unlike most other wizarding towns.
"Ron's got the address to his brother's place," Hermione spoke up as soon as everyone had dismounted.
Draco, who had put his attention away from the group and onto the lightly populated streets of the village, twisted around at the statement, "Brother? That's the source of your lead?"
The ex-deatheater seemed agitated at the information, like it gave the effort less validity. Ron was quick to speak up in their defense, taking a forceful march toward the white-haired man, "Charlie knows quite a few things about magical creatures, especially dealing with dangerous ones, I'll have you know."
"But Charlie isn't the lead," Harry broke in, once more keeping Ron's temper in check with a fierce glance, before turning his vision to Draco, "He's putting us in contact with someone who can possibly set us in the right direction for finding Gerald."
"I see," the Slytherin's voice didn't soften at all as he gazed back into the village as if looking for something. "I will find- find my acquaintance... He may have some useful information as well. We can meet you back here as soon as possible."
And without anything further, the young Malfoy strolled away, leaving the others to simply accept the terms. Even so, Harry had felt that the wizard's attitude had changed midway through speaking...about the time he fumbled over naming his friend...or 'acquaintance.' It was curious to the auror why he had had trouble with talking about his family's friend. Fully aware of the Malfoys though, and the way Narcissa had approached the topic, the man Draco set out to get was undoubtedly a shady individual.
"I wonder if he realizes that if this guy is some sort of criminal, that we'll have to arrest him," Ron mused, staring after their temporary ally.
"If he is a criminal," Hermione clarified, "I doubt that any of us will know it, considering that the plan is to bring him around aurors."
"And it's not like Draco can hide the fact that the two of you are," Ginny pointed, "With how famous Harry is...and even you, too, Ron. Your face has become quite known as well."
It was a strange time to take his sister's words as a compliment, but Ron appeared to do just that. His lips slowly grew into a grin and he temporarily forgot about his aggravation with having to deal with Draco. Ginny, however, didn't let him have the glee for long for she, too, had started to become frustrated with their old classmate.
"After all the manipulation during the days of the last couple of Ministers," she continued, "I had hoped that Shackelbolt wouldn't allow people like the Malfoys to continue to have any sort of privilege when it comes to the Ministry's affairs."
Hermione sighed loudly, shutting her vision briefly as she switched from watching after Draco to focusing on her own friends, "Unfortunately, I don't think it's that simple. It's not that he's letting them run anything, but he realizes that they can help."
"Like Lucius giving up all of Voldemort's followers after the Battle of Hogwarts?" Ron asked rhetorically. "He's still an arrogant, evil son-"
"Was, Ron," Harry spoke up softly, causing the redhead to still, "He's dead, remember? Gerald killed him. And what's worse? He's somehow controlling his ghost...trapping him here."
The wizard was struck dumb and the witches joined him in fixating on the lead auror. The recollection had instantly put the girls in a solemn mood, yet Ron was having difficulty letting go of his aggressive stance.
Harry shook his head at his partner and added, "I don't like it either, but this is about the bigger picture." He tore his gaze from the others and looked once more down the road to see that Draco had finally disappeared. "Just be glad it's him and not his father." Grabbing firm hold of his broom and getting closer to Hermione, he slid close by Ron and looked him in the eye, "Besides, Draco had changed a lot since back then."
"Well, I wouldn't say a lot," the older witch picked up the conversation with a lighter tone as she took the Firebolt from Harry and began sliding it into her charmed purse, "But it seems he's started to realize that not everything about Lucius is admirable...some of the things he was taught."
"I honestly feel a little bad for him," Ginny agreed, also handing her broom over to her sister-in-law, "I mean, imagine what his upbringing was like. I feel like maybe a lot of the things he did...he really didn't want to."
"No, he didn't," Hermione whispered, shoving the last two brooms into her bag and giving it a small shake to make sure its contents were settled properly.
"Hermione?" Harry prompted inquisitively after she had gone silent for a moment.
Granger looked from her purse, emitting a small breath before sharing what was on her mind, "I thought about saying something earlier when the two of you mentioned Astoria with the Malfoys in Kingsley's office, but...it really didn't come up directly, so I didn't just bring it up. You see, I ran into her not too long ago. Right around Lucius' death, actually..." she paused, folding and unfolding her lips in consideration before finishing, "You know how strange we thought it was that she was with Draco?" She stopped momentarily to wait for affirming nods from her audience. "Well...he was forced to be a deatheater after his father failed to get Sybil Trelawney's prophecy. Marking Draco was to punish Lucius."
"Blimey," Ron finally sounded as if his anger had faded. "That's right fucked up, itn't it?"
"Astoria says that not only was poisoning you an accident, but he didn't even want to kill Dumbledore in the first place," Hermione added, "He was forced to...well, to try at least."
"Snape did it to save him from failing Voldemort as well.." Harry interjected, trailing off as his voice saddened with the remembrance of the events of his final year, "Dumbledore knew it was happening..."
"Come on, then," the other auror abruptly starting leading the way into the village, "This is sad and all, but we really should get a move on."
The others couldn't tell if he was avoiding feeling sorry for Malfoy or if he realized that his friend's mood had started becoming depressed and wanted to help. At any rate, he was right. They needed to get on with their venture and hopefully learn something to find out where Gerald was hiding. So onward through the town they went, taking a couple of turns onto side roads, and eventually coming to a residential area where they easily found the address on Ron's note.
The home wasn't much different in architectural style from the rest of the place. It was quite small: suitable for the bachelor who had chosen his career over focusing on any romantic attachments. Brick walls of a white color with varying degrees of wear and discoloration from age, dirty window panes, and a slightly crooked door which wasn't obvious what it had been made from. As the four approached the house on the stone pathway, the door swung open to reveal Charles Weasely, a tall and well-built man with midlength red hair, facial scars, and stern eyes. Upon seeing his family, he began to smile quite warmly.
"Ron! Harry!" he greeted excitedly with arms open, "Girls," he said more gently with a slight tilt of the head and a wink.
"Hey Charlie," Ron stepped forward first, giving his brother an awkward and quick hug.
"It's good to see you all, even though it is on business," the older man continued.
"It's great to see you too," Ginny beamed, jumping into his arms for a tight embrace.
"Come in, come in," Charlie moved to the side and gestured inside his home.
The party moved into the living area immediately on the other side of the threshold. Each walked around to the old plaid couch and chairs positioned around a fireplace almost too large for the building and politely waited for their host to close the door and enter as well. When Charlie took his seat, the other wizards joined him, placing their focus on the elder man, who had already begun speaking again.
"Please, help yourselves to some tea," he leaned forward and picked up a full cup from the table in the circle.
"Thank you," Harry gave as all of them gladly took the refreshments, "So no luck contacting your coworker?"
"Actually," Charlie lowered his tea into his lap, "I did reach her. She should be over any minute. I told her you were on your way."
"Oh, that's great," the auror replied.
"She?" Ginny grinned, stirring her drink, "Have you finally gotten a girlfriend?"
"Ahaha," the wizard laughed, "No, only a friend, I assure you. She's native to Romania. Her name is Ioana and she was the one that told me much of what I've already shared with you concerning vampires and the country's lore."
"That's-" Hermione was interrupted by a knock at the door behind them.
Charlie shot up from his chair, carefully placing his cup back down before leaving to answer it. The others watched as he let in an incredibly beautiful woman. She had pale skin, dark hair, and eyes that matched her hair. She was also fairly tall for a female, nearing the height of the man accompanying her, and looked to be around the same age. Hermione noticed that all the seats had been taken and pushed at her husband to get up and let the newcomer have his spot. It took the redhead a moment to realize what she was doing, but did end up getting out of his seat just as the dragon-keepers returned.
"Everyone, this is Ioana," Charlie smiled, then glanced over at his family members, "This is Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, my sister Ginny, and my brother Ron."
"It's nice to meet you," the woman gave, with a reserved expression. Her accent was reminiscent of Russian though there were subtle differences. "Charles speaks greatly of you all."
"It's nice to meet you as well," Harry stood, trying to offer his hand, but awkwardly fumbling when he remembered he still held his tea.
"Don't worry about that," Ioana chuckled, "Let's just sit and talk."
"Um, actually, I hate to be rude," Harry informed, "But we've brought someone else with us. They were meant to gather a friend and meet the two of you and Ron and I back in the village."
"Oh?" Ioana cocked her head to the side. "The Malfoy boy?"
There was an odd pause.
"Yes," Charlie cleared his throat. "Harry, do you know who Draco's friend is?"
The auror shook his head.
"He didn't say," Ron rolled his eyes.
"I see..." the older Weasely rubbed his chin.
"Perhaps I will know them," Ioana suggested, "I have lived here my entire life. If he's of any use, I may recognize."
"If he's not disguised..." Ron pouted.
"Tsk!" Ioana shuffled her hand at the younger wizard. "There's only so much you can hide. We shall see."
The woman appeared extremely confident in herself. She also came off very friendly, despite a lack of smiles or cheerful disposition.
"Ginny, Hermione, make yourself at home," Charlie told his sisters, "We'll be back as soon as possible."
The witches nodded and the new group of four were out the door and in town with little time and no fuss. On the trek back to where Draco had left his old classmates without any agreement, Harry spotted the ex-deatheater outside a tavern next to a man a bit taller than him with a head of short curly brown locks and skin of a medium shade. He wore the same scowl that Draco did yet somehow, on the older man, it came off as disturbing rather than angsty. His hazel eyes, void of light, also gave a chilling factor.
The two shady individuals had also seen the aurors and their counterparts coming, and watched until they were upon them. Only then, did either move, and it was the young Slytherin, "Let's speak inside, then," he stated frankly as he turned toward the door of the bar just feet between himself and the newcomers.
"I know a better place," Ioana spoke up, moving in a manner identical to Draco's, showing that she wasn't going to take no for an answer.
She walked past the wizard that had put a glare on her as well as his companion in deliberate steps, not looking at either of them. When Harry, Ron, and Charlie followed the witch without question, it left the ex-deatheater and his pleasant friend to go along or be left behind. So, reluctantly, the two joined the group.