Roses Under Cypresses

Chapter 7

Harry twirled his wand in a circular motion, diving to avoid the first of the spells spat at him by his target. The blast of magic spat out of Harry's wand was yellow sparks, and it landed in a circle around both him and his target and strayed over to the pub. Now nobody would be able to see or hear them, and the Mundane's would be safe. Falling to his knees he careened to the side and leapt back to his feet. The adrenaline already pumping through him along with excitement and sheer jubilation. He loved duelling, he loved fighting with his targets, he'd come to love what he did.

"Crucio!"

Harry sighed in exasperation, why did they all have to be so utterly predicable at times? What was their fondness for the Cruciatus curse? It was like that was how evil guys were always programmed. He yanked himself to the side, avoiding the beam of light, flinging his own spell back, fire arrows spat out of his wand, aiming directly for his target.

Which was avoided, the spells fizzling out harmlessly at the back of the dome he'd created. Which would not only keep his target in until the duel was over…and he was either apprehended or dead.

"Oh, the glory I'll have boasting about killing the fabled Boy-who-lived," he boasted, "Bombarda!"

"Protego!" Harry raised a shield and sent it blasting back at the wizard, "Dirumpo!" aiming at his wand arm, trying to sever it, one couldn't continue casting spells without their wand after all. "You wish," he told the wizard, eyes flashing the colour of the killing curse.

"You should have stayed where you were!" he hollered, "Caeco!" trying to blind the wizard in front of him.

"Tenebrae!" casting a spell and darkening the streets, all he could hear was the laboured breathing of the wizard before him. They were both vulnerable now, unable to see, "Stupefy!" don't let it be said he didn't at least try to bring them in to face judgement. He wasn't like the others, he didn't stick to 'light' spells, at least in Britain, America wasn't quite so prejudice about any form of 'Dark magic' which made him think he'd fit in very well here.

The wizard laughed darkly, "You're all the same, pathetic! Deluminate! Crucio!"

"I couldn't agree more, you are all the same," Harry murmured, able to see one more, too bad he didn't have any of the Weasley powder, which now came with the ability to see in the dark along with the darkness powder, it would have been fun to play with his…target for a bit. "obstupefio," trying to paralyse his target, with a rather dark spell that would render it permanent.

"Avis! Crucio! Avada Kedavra! Imperio!" was cast in rapid succession by his target, averting his spell by using birds, that disappeared as soon as they were hit, bodies twisting uselessly. Harry fell to the ground, avoiding the Cruciatus Curse and rolled swiftly to avoid the killing curse, but the Imperius curse hit him full force.

"Get up, come to me," Liam Samson said with vicious amusement.

Harry feeling nothing but amusement, decided to play along with the idiot for a few moments. Honestly, he knew whom he was, he should surely know his reputation that followed. One of the things that they knew about him was the fact he could fight of the Imperius curse…from Voldemort himself. His target was nothing on him.

"I'm going to enjoy this," Liam said, "Strip!" but instead of stripping, Potter punched him in the nose, breaking it instantly. Squealing in pain, his left hand coming up to his nose as the agony speared through his entire face. "Flamen!" and he was blasted off his feet and fell against the wards the wizard had up.

Dazed he staggered to his feet, breathing through his mouth, finding it too painful to breathe through his nose. "Offoco!" he spat out in retaliation, "Episkey!" he healed his nose grunting at the pain of it correcting itself. Moving forward so he wasn't stuck at the boundaries of the wards.

"Nice try though," Harry said darkly, "This one's better excaeco!" using a much darker spell to try and choke his opponent, it worked much more swiftly than the one his target had attempted to use.

"Accio!" and the motorbikes flew over not only stopping the spell, but one smacked violently into Harry knocking him clean of his feet, he only succeeded in preventing one getting to him by making it shrink. "Crucio! Confractio!" Liam cast while Potter was on the ground, winded and most definitely injured.

The spell caused numerous ruptures, and Harry stopped breathing, his body going still.

Liam smirked viciously, staring down at the wizard laying spread eagle on the ground. His body still trapped by the motorbike. "I told you," he muttered, shaking his head, anyone that came after him would receive the same treatment. Maybe one day they would cease sending idiots after him. He cast a spell to check for a heartbeat and found none.

He'd done as promised, killed the Boy-Who-Lived. Honestly, just how pathetic was Voldemort that this boy had gotten the better of him for years? Sad and pathetic so it was, and so was he apparently.

He didn't have his reputation by allowing bounty hunters get the drop on him. Once Liam was sure that Potter was dead, he removed the spell to detect his heartbeat. He turned away, flicking his wand tearing down the wards the wizard had put up. Then began to walk away.

He'd barely taken more than a few steps when…

"Now you've just pissed me off," the voice spat furiously.

Liam span around, shock clear as day on his face, "You were dead!" pale and shocked to the core. He'd definitely been dead, he'd killed him. He'd half expected him to be a ghost, but he most certainly wasn't.

The boy was whole and alive, staring at him angrily, injured still but impossibly alive.

"Yes, and now you're going to be permanently dispatched, can't have anyone finding out, quasso!" Harry told him coolly, clutching at his side.

Liam hastily tried to cast a shield charm, but he was too late, too shocked to act as swiftly. Potter had been dead, this sort of shit shouldn't be possible, so of course he was too slow. The spell hit him, shattering every bone in his body.

He was dead before he hit the ground, the shards imbedding in every single organ and then some.

Breathing heavily, Harry scowled, entirely pissed off at the fact he'd died, again. It bloody well hurt, although the worst of it was breathing again it took days to warm up again after that. Shivering in cold, and presumably shock and blood loss.

Grimacing in pain, he flicked his wand, and the bikes – all except one – rightened themselves back to their previous position. Unfortunately, there was not a damn thing he could do for the broken bike. Magic and motors – anything Mundane really – didn't go hand in hand together.

He banished the broken bike, better that they think it was stolen than involve the Mundane authorities which would have them baffled. Hopefully he or she had insurance, because they looked custom made and entirely awesome.

"Sorry," he murmured with a grimace, the Mundane's were probably going to be pissed – in more ways than one – when they left tonight. Groaning in pain, still cold to the very bones of him, he grasped the portkey that had been created for this very incident – well both dead or alive – he wasn't sure the President much cared.

He levitated the dead body, keeping it afloat as he got rid of all the spilled blood. Then he summoned the dead wizards – because that's all he was now – wand and pocketed it. grasping a hold of the corpse, he honestly didn't think he had it in him to bend over a little.

This was going to hurt, Harry thought, tensing as he muttered the words for the Portkey to activate.

He was right, agony speared through him, he was only just able to stop himself screaming. Which would have terrified everyone working in the bounty hunter department.

A pained grunt left his mouth though, gaining him attention.

"Merlin's balls! You look like you've been put through ten rounds of the blasting curse!" cried out one of the female bounty hunters, "Do you need a healer…Derrick get a healer immediately!"

"No, I'm fine," Harry declared before Derrick could so much as flick his wand to summon a healer to the Bounty hunter department. "You can take him though." Flicking his hand at the body laying at his feet with an air of nonchalance.

The two bounty hunters flicked their gazes down, "Dead then?" Derrick asked, craning his neck to find out who it was. "Bloody hell, that's Liam Samson!" he was one of the most wanted, on the wall before them.

"Yes, it was," Harry said with a wry smirk, flicking his wand at the wall which was filled with pictures of the Most Wanted Wizards of MACUSA. Fiery red flames crossed out the wizard's face, a tradition, bounty hunters did when they caught their bounty.

"Alright, you need to sign a few forms before you leave," Andrea explained, summoning the paperwork quickly, giving him a concerned once over. She could tell he was in pain; he was barely moving. Barely bloody breathing, and he was deadly pale. "You sure you don't need a blood replenishing draught?" she asked, seeing the blood-soaked clothing.

"Nah, I've got potions I'll be fine," Harry reassured them, and they were better quality than MACUSA probably had. Any decent potions master becomes independent, those that weren't good enough to create and invent usually headed to places like the hospitals or MACUSA depending on the department. His body was still healing, if anyone did any spells, they'd see the damage that had been done and he'd have a lot of explaining to do.

Something he couldn't explain away actually.

"Alright, here you go, just sign these and you're free to go," Andrea said, handing over a pen and paperwork. She'd filled it most of it for him so that he could get away as quickly as possible. Their people didn't hound each other then they were hurt, it was a given that it would happen, it was practically their job description. You learned quite quickly just how bloody strong and stubborn the sons of bitches were.

"Ta," Harry said, his accent more noticeable today.

"And welcome to the team," she added with a little laugh, team, well, technically they were a team of bounty hunters, but they certainly didn't work together often or at all when it came to certain people. They worked better alone for the most part.

Harry's lips twitched in amusement, inclining his head, not daring to laugh or worse talk overly much. Each breath was excruciatingly painful, and he was going to have to Apparate back home…too bad he couldn't call Kreacher to pop him home. Now that wouldn't have been painful, you didn't feel anything while popping with a House-elf, it was like instant teleportation.

"We have a work picnic coming up, y'all can get to know each other there, you interested?" Derrick questioned, bringing out a leaflet. Standing up, he moved over to Harry, stepping casually over the dead body of the wanted wizard to hand the leaflet to him.

"We'll see, my schedules a bit unpredictable at this point," Harry informed them, sliding the leaflet into his pocket. Admittedly, it would be nice to get to know some like minded folk, the guys in the UK had been leery of him. These guys seemed unbothered by his blooded appearance or the wizard he'd killed instead of 'apprehending' which gave him the thought that it happened more often here. Hence, like minded people.

"That's always the case here," Derrick nodded, standing back over the corpse, "A reserve team will be here for the day, they're Auror's full time, failed to get into the department full time."

"Not everyone has what it takes," Harry agreed a little breathless, "I'll try and make it, if not my apologies."

"You can bring a plus one, a friend, although it's not exactly going to be kid friendly this one," Andrea laughed, "Too much drink around. The one in the summer is more family orientated."

"Go on, get healed up, you look ready to drop," Derrick interrupted her, it was true enough, he'd need a few days to recover. "I'll get him taken down to the morgue." Which ID tests would be run, make sure it was who it looked like, inform his family if he had any that is, then he'd be either dealt with by the Ministry – cremated – or handed back to his family for them to deal with themselves? It was the end of this particular career criminals' activities and nobody here was going to cry about it. Not with the deaths he'd left in his wake.

"Thanks mate, I'll see you later," Harry said, with that he shuffled to the Apparation spot, a few departments had them, the Aurors and this one in particular, had spots where you could Apparate out of MACUSA in a rush, or emergency.

He bit back the scream of pain at the immediate feeling of dozens of dogs budging into him. All welcoming him back, fuck, that hurt, Merlin's balls, they're bloody killing him he thought frozen in pain.

Finally, finally, after what felt like years, their excitement wore off…or they realized he wasn't greeting them back. Inhaling sharply, he summoned his bag, before hastily delving in, grabbing his potions kit. He opened the box on the table and plucked out the three he needed desperately, before opening the back door, letting the dogs scatter into the wind for a bit.

Slumping down on the seat, he yanked the cork out the vial with his teeth and drank the pain relief draught with great relish. Thank Merlin for potions, otherwise he wouldn't be able to endure these next few days. The skin had knitted back together, he was just waiting on his body entirely repairing itself.

Harry repeated the process with the other two potions, the blood replenishers. Inhaling sharply as the potions began to do their work. Merlin, he hated dying, sleepy and exhausted, he shuffled towards the door, watching the dogs careful. Making sure none of them made for the roads – which were miles away – but dogs could cover that ground very, very easily and quickly.

Will would never forgive him if he let anything happen to the dogs. Hell, he wouldn't forgive himself actually. Fortunately, they were very well trained, and had good recall, otherwise they wouldn't be allowed outside.

Will always trained the dogs immediately upon rescuing them.

Leaning against the doorway, groggy, he realized he wasn't going to be awake much longer. Shuffling indoors, he grabbed frozen chicken legs for them all and refilled the water bowls. The frozen chicken legs would do them a good few hours while he slept.

Once that was done, he whistled loudly, getting the dogs all back inside. He counted them all, and let them grab their chicken as he made a direct beeline for the bed. He slumped down and that was the last thing he knew as sleep claimed him.

His body needed to heal from the wounds he'd sustained.

Harry groaned, batting the incessant tongues laving at his face, what the ever-loving fuck? Shivering slightly, man he hated the cold, every time he died, he endured that kind of coldness for days. It didn't take long for him to realize that he was actually warm and the only cold part of him was his arm and face which were out of the covers…and not being squished by dogs.

His eyes flashed open, heart pounding, he was warm…but that took days! Was his body becoming more accustomed to it? That didn't feel right at all, flicking his wand he had the time and date flashing in red numbers and letters at him.

Merlin's bloody saggy balls, he'd been sleeping for two days! Guilt slammed into him, as he swiftly stood up staggering a little. Getting to the fridge he immediately put out dog food into the bowls, there was still plenty of water…shit, man, he hadn't meant to sleep that long…he hadn't done in the past.

"I'm sorry guys," Harry murmured petting them all, thank Merlin he'd fed them before he fell asleep so they'd only gone without for a single day. It didn't make it all right but it eased the guilt just slightly. He added more food than they normally got, so he knew they'd be full. "That's never happened to me before." He murmured. Sleeping for all but two days, admittedly, he probably needed it, he'd been on the move for years now, hunting down Death Eaters and everything.

"Good morning, Master Harry Potter, Sir," Kreacher said, "I is been cleaning the house and fed the doggies and let them out for walks…don't worry, I was being invisible."

"Thank Merlin," Harry said, the entirety of his guilt fading, bloody hell, "Thank you Kreacher, that was…well done. I appreciate that."

"Your mail is on the table, sit down and I'll make you breakfast before I go," Kreacher demanded, his Master wouldn't eat if he didn't get reminded. Silly Master that he was, but Kreacher would happily remind him. "That…thing hasn't stopped ringing." Pointing towards the phone that was oddly in its charge. Harry knew he hadn't done it, which meant despite calling it a 'thing' Kreacher knew exactly what it was.

"My phone? Thank you Kreacher," Harry said, bending down to retrieve it, the smell of breakfast already wafting in the air. Once he'd retrieved it, he sat down and checked his messages, voicemails and missed calls.

A few were from Hannibal himself, entirely innocent out of context and Harry couldn't help but be impressed. He was very good at what he did, he supposed Hannibal had to be, otherwise he would have been caught by this.

He found the newspapers reporting that the 'Copy-cat killer' was in fact still at large. Today's paper was about Will, narrowing his eyes he began to read the article, and found it was suitable. It spoke of Will's impending release, which pleased him immensely but also surprised him.

He'd thought for sure that it would take the idiots longer to figure out that it was 'copy-cat killer' although, it seemed that Hannibal wasn't combining the Copy-Cat killer and the Chesapeake ripper into one. Just how many people had he killed to clue them in?

He read all the articles and found pictures of the crime scenes in the newspapers. Yes, Hannibal had indeed been busy, three kills in the same manner as killers they'd already caught apparently. One of the men was spread out like an angel, another impaled on was that deer antlers? Oh, yes, he recalled that the first scene Will and Hannibal had worked on had something about a hunter turned cannibal serial killer killing teenagers.

Sitting back in a contemplative manner, yes, things were going well. He wondered how long it would take before Will was released. "Thank you, Kreacher," Harry said, when the House-elf brought him large plate of food and a mug of coffee, while scrolling through his contacts.

Hitting call, he waited patiently for an answer, they all worked earlier so it's likely he'd be awake. "Hello, Harry,"

"Hey, when is Will Graham getting released?"

"Officially? Tomorrow."

"Officially?" Harry asked narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

"Jack Crawford already making attempts to get him released early." It was explained, "Jack Crawford has considerable pull…"

"I know who he is," Harry reassured him, "When is Will being released exactly?"

"He's already there pulling strings; I'd give it twenty minutes maybe thirty-five at a push." They informed him, "I tried to get in touch with you to inform you that this might happen."

"I received your voicemail, thank you for alerting me," Harry said sincerely.

"You ever going to tell us why you suddenly want information on Graham so badly? He's a Mundane."

"Yes, he is, Stuart, but only because he doesn't have active magic," Harry said wryly, "But he's been…honoured with gifts that he has no clue how to use." Not informing Stuart the real reason he was interested in Will; it was entirely up to Will what he wanted to do.

"He has family magicks?" his tone taking a reverential one, "MACUSA would love someone like him around…depending on the gift naturally." Each family had a set of gifts that they were known for that was passed down sporadically over the family lines.

"Oh, they absolutely would," Harry said smirking smugly, his brother was powerful, of course he was smug, just in a different way from him naturally. "I have to go; I'm not allowing Crawford to stick his claws in him again. Thanks for your help."

"Go ahead," Stuart said, before hanging up, he didn't even do the discourtesy of denying that's exactly what Crawford was like. Magical or Mundane everyone knew the higher ups in the police forces in some capacity.

He didn't have time to drive all the way to Baltimore hospital, not in the thirty-minute window he had. He was not going to let Crawford sink his way back into Will's mind, not when he still had dozens of others in there with him.

"Kreacher I need you to get me this potion with a very trusted and reputable Potions Master, in either Britain or USA I don't mind but I must have it in two hours." Harry ordered, writing the potion down, summoning and then handing over a bag of gold coins, he didn't want to rouse curiosities as to why he'd be buying that particular potion.

He'd rather not be tracked so easily by being reckless.

"Yes, Sir, Kreacher will," the House-elf agreed, as bad as the start had been…he was so very grateful to Master Harry Potter. He was no longer wasting a way in a dirty town house being driven insane by his inability to do as his Master Regulus had asked of him. Now he had tasks to do and a Wizard to serve. A Master who was kind and cared, it was a novel experience…and Dobby had been lucky to have such a good Master. Even if he was a free elf, Kreacher knew Dobby would have jumped at the chance.

Harry whistled, before summoning his car keys, he honestly didn't know where anything was…if not for magic he'd probably have spent the next hour looking. He was still a little groggy, but he reckoned when he stepped outside, he'd feel a lot more alert.

Plus, his brother was coming home.

Low grade excitement was just beginning to clash over him. His brother was going to be back here in a few hours, home, with his dogs and him.

"I will deal with the dogs!" Kreacher insisted, sensing his Masters urgency to go and do something else. "Then potion." Keeping a tight grip of the piece of paper with the name and strength of the potion.

Harry nodded, cleaned his clothes, ironed them, straightened them out before making for the car. Shrinking it down to toy level, he plucked it from the ground and smirked as he Apparated. If Crawford thought he'd get his way…he was sorely mistaken.

He apparated to the blind spot he was becoming increasingly familiar with. Before finding a parking spot and returning the car to the correct size. Hopefully it would be the last time he needed to come here.

He bypassed the main entrance, so that if Crawford was there…he wouldn't be seen. He stalked through the halls, he'd been there a few times, nobody seemed overly surprised to see him there again, especially considering they thought he was a cop. Well, he was a cop, just not a Mundane one…well, bounty hunter right now he supposed.

Speaking of that, he was surprised that Tristian hadn't been back in touch, the president of MACUSA had hired him for a reason. He guessed he'd expected him to request another criminal brought in. He may draw it out though, keep him wondering when the next order would come, so that he worked for MACUSA longer.

No doubt the bounty for Liam Samson was already in his account. He didn't really do it for the money though, it was great fun hunting, tracking and apprehending the sons of bitches so they couldn't kill anyone else. Although, if they managed to get the drop on him…he did have to kill them to keep his secrets.

He would need to get the journals from the vault, so that Will could read about their mother. He deserved to know that he was thought about every single day of what was left of Lily Potter's life. The regrets she lived with for abandoning her son, abandoning her lover. If it could be called abandoning, she hadn't felt worthy of having him because of that.

They'd never discussed their parents when they first got to know each other. Not wishing to tread on very delicate egg shells. Wanting to enjoy their time with one another, although it had taken Harry a while to get Will to believe him.

He convinced or rather compelled one of the orderlies to let him through the gates, he didn't want to have to wait for Chilton to agree that he could. He'd probably deny him since he didn't have an appointment due to the fact he had been denying him access to Will.

He made his way down to hear Chilton and Will talking, and Will scaring the shit out of the man. Harry grinned in amusement, yes, Will probably would have done well in Slytherin, the same as he would have done, had he not begged to go into Gryffindor, which was very Slytherin move all on its own.

That's when he spotted Will, and how he was dressed.

"What on earth are you wearing?" Harry asked staring at Will as if he had an elephant for a head. Last time he'd seen Will in normal clothes it was suits, sure he looked like a boy trying to wear his fathers…but it was still suit's, maybe due to his job? Was that really Will's preference? "Were you fishing when they grabbed you?" knowing how much his brother liked fishing.

Will looked down at his clothes, shifting marginally, "There's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing." It was suitable for a Professor.

"Come on, let's get out of this cesspit, no doubt there's someone else waiting for you at the door." Harry laughed, completely ignoring Chilton he wrapped his arms around Will and grabbed his head rubbing his knuckles against his head, "That's for being an idiot!"

"Get off," Will grumbled, but he was muffling a laugh at the look on Chilton's face. He honestly looked as if someone could have bowled him over he was that shocked. No doubt at him letting Harry touch him let alone their familiarity with one another.

"Think that's bad…want to see Crawford's face?" Harry said slyly, grinning widely at Will.

"Forget Crawford…how about Lecter?" Will said his eyes so similar to Harry's except in colour gleamed in shared merriment.

"You're on…mind opening the door?" Harry barked at Chilton, bringing him out of his shock.

Will muffled his amusement into Harry's shoulder, freedom had never felt so good.

A/N – so will Will get a job working with MACUSA? And be appreciated for the gifts he has with potions on hand to help him after he does his work? Shall we make his gift a little different than portrayed? A little more powerful with the purge enabling him to focus entirely? Will Harry eventually remain working for MACUSA while his brother does? Will they know they are brothers or will that remain a closely guarded secret? After all this is a Harry/Will/Hannibal story…will we see them all moving to New York in the end or will they remain at Will's with a few changes to make everyone happy?

Do you want to see Crawford's reaction to a really chummy Harry and Will coming out of the doors? OMG I could totally write that out it would be so hilarious! I hope you're enjoying it! You all wanted to see a fight and the MOD powers so I did both…hope it's all you wanted 😉 R&R please!