A/N: Poka you're the best. Thanks for understanding and huge thanks for catching that embarrassing typo in the text. Getting this chapter up a little early. The next five chapters should be some pay off for your patience.

Chapter 10: The Ends Justify the Means

Friday July 3, 1998 | 12 Grimmauld Place

The photographer who had been covering the opening ceremony had managed to capture the terrifying moment Voldemort had Hermione dangling above the jagged support beam. There on the front page of the Daily Prophet was Hermione, her arms held out away from her body, ensuring her vital organs would be the first to be impaled. Her back was stiff and straight, her legs dangled uselessly in the air. The motion picture continued to play out the moment she rejected Voldemort and managed to get a shield in place with enough time to change her trajectory. It was clear from the angle the makeshift weapon hadn't missed entirely due to the direction her wand was pointed right before she was released. Voldemort slipped away, a cloud of black smoke as Hermione's body hit the ground. The picture rewound and started over. The headline was chilling— Voldemort Lives, Attacks New Director. Harry pushed the paper away, folded it in half so he wouldn't have to see the terrifying event again.

Dumbledore reached out and set the offending parchment on the far end of the table. "I'm not sure what's been a worse editorial choice. Choosing that picture for the front page or Tom's interview yesterday."

"They do seem determined to repeat history," Snape said from the other side of the long table. Everyone had full, steamy cups of tea or coffee in front of them.

Harry wasn't really interested in eating or drinking. He needed the caffeine though. Begrudgingly, he took a sip. Looking up in the direction of the bedroom he knew Hermione was in, he shook his head. "We seem just as determined."

The truth of the words hung in the air until Albus broke the silence. "You have a suggestion for something we should be doing differently?"

Harry stood, rapping the back of his knuckle on the table. He had many suggestions. Most of them weren't entirely legal. He didn't think they'd make it out of their situation staying strictly within the legal limits. "I think if we stop pretending our laws are strong enough to deal with Voldemort and Tom Riddle, that would be a start. That article about Tom is going to radicalize desperate people clinging to the lie of pureblood supremacy. Voldemort's attack on Hermione is going to destroy what little credibility the minister had gained." The doorbell rang, Harry turned toward it and looked up at the ceiling again. He knew who was at the door. He knew the little time he bought Hermione was used up. "And we're going to keep throwing her into impossible situations, waiting for her to save us." He wanted it over. Williamson's voice drifted through the entryway. Ron was taking the morning watch with Tonks. They'd be looking for an update on the search for Voldemort. Harry had a few more minutes to tell himself he had any control over the situation. "Tell them I'll bring her down when she's ready," he told Dumbledore and walked up the familiar stairs, he stopped outside the bedroom. Hermione was still sleeping. Closing and locking the door, they could wait until she woke up on her own.

Sitting in the chair he spent the night in next to her, he saw the scars from her ior rune were red and swollen again. The frequency between the need for the salve was decreasing. As he had several times that night, he opened the small jar Wiley had given him and scooped out a small amount of the purple paste. Gently cradling her forearm in his hand, he lightly rubbed the salve over the inflamed area. The effect was almost immediate. Much faster than the previous applications. Another change indicating the reaction she'd been suffering from was decreasing. At his touch, Hermione stirred. "Shh. You can sleep," he whispered.

Despite his suggestion, her eyelids fluttered open and a small groan left her throat. "Harry?" she asked with hoarse words.

He was quick to offer her water with a straw so she wouldn't have to sit up. He still needed to check her back and right arm. "Yeah. Take your time. I need to check your back. Do you want me to get Tonks?" Harry was aware she chose to leave him. He wanted to giver her a choice to distance herself if that's what she wanted.

"Tonks is here?" she asked, confused, trying to catch up. Her eyes scanned the room and then there was recognition. "We're… we're at Grimmauld Place?"

"Yeah. We needed to get you somewhere with more protections. I didn't want to take you to Godric's Hollow. I didn't want you to feel like… it's just that you chose to leave there…" Harry stumbled over his words. It was an awkward situation and he wasn't sure where they stood. He held up the jar and motioned to her back. "Someone needs to treat your back."

She nodded and started to move before sucking in a short breath.

Harry put his hand on her shoulder in comfort. "You don't need to move. Healer Halley left the hospital gown on. It's buttoned in the back," he explained and got in position behind her, kneeling on the bed. Knowing she would need a warning about the crowd that had gathered in the house, he continued, "Ron and Tonks are on watch right now. Remus spent the night too. Professor Dumbledore and Snape got here a few hours ago, and Williamson just got here."

"Albus and Severus? That's… I'm sorry. They heard about what happened?"

Applying the cream as slowly as he could, he still sensed her flinch away when he got near a tender spot. "Sorry, this is helping, but you're having an immune reaction. The healers said it might take a few days for your system to even out."

"Immune reaction," she mumbled to herself. It wasn't meant for him, he was familiar with the sound of her working out a theory. "He needs the person he wants to possess to agree to it. When he's denied he's rejected from their body," she continued and traced the lightning scar on the palm of her hand. "My body must still be reacting to that."

It made sense. And it was a relief to know that Voldemort couldn't just possess anyone he came across. It would limit the potential threats. He hoped. The number of volunteers would be growing the longer the day went on and The Daily Prophet stayed in circulation. "Everyone's heard what happened. The Daily Prophet ran the full story on the front page."

"They put out a special issue?"

The question gave Harry pause until he realized what she was asking. She thought it was still Thursday and the paper made a rare evening edition. "No. It's Friday. Friday morning. The healers wanted you to sleep as long as you could."

Hermione rolled on her back, looked up at him. "He could be anywhere by now. He wants you. Not me."

Harry leaned back on his knees. It was a new development. Not an unfamiliar one. In fact, it was a small relief for Harry. He was the ultimate target again. The motive was much different than Tom's. "That doesn't mean he won't hurt you to get to me. Clearly. And I don't plan on consenting to possession."

"You would have. If you had been there yesterday. To spare me. You would have."

It was true. If given the choice, if he had been in the position, he would have allowed it. "There are worse things he could do to me."

She was shaking her head, tears pooling in her eyes. "He thinks he knows how to merge his soul with someone else's. He spent time after regaining his body planning for what he would do if he was ever without a body again. If you agree to let him in, he might not let go."

Nodding his understanding of her fear even if he didn't understand the magic, he laid down next to her. Brushed her hair back from her face. "Okay. Okay, we know now. We won't underestimate him."

He felt her relax into him, letting go of her anxiety and stress. He understood what she was doing. Maybe more so, knowing that being close to her would make her a target to lure him in. They needed to tread carefully. Living apart wasn't just a choice she was making to protect him. It would protect her now. Between Tom and Voldemort, they were both targets. That made Harry pause. "Why didn't he just possess Tom in Azkaban? He could have gotten his own body back. A younger version on top of it." He didn't expect her to understand what Voldemort was thinking. The look on her face told a different story.

"The Horcrux wouldn't allow it. At least not if his goal was to merge his soul with another's. He'd have to feel remorse to merge both pieces together. I'm not sure that would stop him from possessing Tom though. I think he doesn't trust the clone. He doesn't want the clone to know what he knows."

"A crack in their partnership?" Harry asked, hoping they could exploit the rift.

"I need to tell everyone what I learned," she finally admitted.

He knew that was true. He'd done what he could to give her space and time. It was more than she would have given herself. "You can take your time. Tonks relayed what you told her. The house is one of the most protected in London," he told her, opened the salve again and took her right hand in his. The scar from the killing curse looked painful. He thought about the picture in the newspaper. The injuries weren't just an allergic reaction. There had to be damage done as the scars bore her body weight. "The healers said you have deep tissue bruises. It's going to take several days before you're fully healed and you might feel worse before you feel better."

"I've heard that line before," she said, letting him finish his ministrations before sitting up. "I need a shower and clean clothes."

As he moved to help her stand, he was surprised when she kissed him. He hadn't realized how much he missed her touch, their closeness. When she broke away, he searched her eyes.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For looking out for me. For taking care of me."

"Always," he answered, pulled her to her feet and waited to make sure she was steady. "I'll let Williamson know you'll be down soon." Giving her privacy, he slipped out of the room and stood at the top of the stairs. There had been so many missteps. Voldemort had been contained in the prison. And they missed it. Bellatrix survived the battle. And they missed it. An eighth horcrux. A cloned Tom Riddle. A missing time turner. What else had they missed? The thought terrified him.

~~/~~

The loud bangs and clangs of metal doors echoed throughout Azkaban. The general population of prisoners were done with their morning recreation time. They'd all be locked away until lunch, allowing the guards to handle the solitary prisoners. Patrick looked back at his watch partner. "Looks like Tom is up first for the yard."

Edward nodded, took the keys to the dark wizard's cell. Just as the pair headed for the southern hallway a notification chimed.

Patrick groaned. "What do you think Umbridge's problem is today? Her pillow isn't fluffed?"

"That would be a tragedy. You go on and see what travesty has befallen the princess and I'll get Tom to the yard," Edward offered. It was a deviation from protocol. It wouldn't be the first time, Edward was counting on that. The prison's security enchantments were significantly upgraded. There wasn't a reason to think there could be a flight risk that far into the depths of the wards. It made everyone too relaxed.

With a sigh and a scowl, Patrick took a sharp left. "You owe me Greengrass. She's yours tomorrow."

As soon as the taller wizard was rounding the corner, Edward picked up the pace. Dolores had bought him some time. He had questions for Tom Gaunt. Questions that needed privacy. He understood why so many viewed the wizard as a threat. What he was promising might appeal to many for selfish reasons. People who wanted to purge themselves of muggle blood. That was a solution to a problem people would kill for. Edward had a very personal reason to want what Tom was offering. Stopping short in front of the high security cell, he started the process of unlocking the antechamber. Once inside, he was face to face with the man he sought.

Tom was sitting on his bunk reading. He hadn't even bothered to look up at the arrival of another person. "I don't wish to go outside today."

"Is that right?" Edward asked. If he didn't have to waste time transporting Tom that would save him precious time. "If that's your choice, then hear me out here."

It took a few seconds for Tom to respond. Finally, the sharp eyes were focused on him. Closing the book in his hand, Tom stood and approached the inner cell door. He looked past Edward, searching for the second person who should be with him. Finding just the one guard, Tom's eyebrow arched up. "I'm listening."

Edward hadn't been prepared for such immediate interest. He stood straight and rehearsed the words he wanted to get out. Settled, he started. "Can you do the things the Daily Prophet says you can?"

"I can do all the things I said I can," Tom corrected with an edge.

Hope surged, Edward stepped closer. "I can get you off this island if you promise to help me. My daughter. She's showing signs of a blood curse. One that's been afflicting my family for centuries. We're one of the sacred twenty-eight. The curse is getting more common with each generation. It's going to wipe us out. Can you cleanse her of this? So it saves her and ends the curse with her?"

Tom pressed closer to the cage door holding him. The enchantment flared at the contact. It was clear he knew how close he could get before experiencing the adverse effects of the protection. "I know about the malediction. Perhaps more than your family does. I can help you. Get me out and I'll be in your debt."

There were many questions running through his head. He wanted to know what Tom knew. The story of their familial curse had been sensationalized through the years. Edward spent years of his life trying to find a cure. He was always confronted with the weight of the unknown. "Tonight. At shift change. I can get you on a boat that will take you to an apparition point—"

"—I need to talk to Bellatrix before I leave. And I need a wand. She has information I need. It will require legilimency."

Giving Tom Gaunt a wand inside the prison wasn't something he had been prepared to do. He wasn't a traitor. He didn't want anyone to get hurt. "I can't do that," he started and saw the anger transform Tom's face. Edward held up a hand. "I can switch Sadie Smith's potions. Make it so she can get the information." He didn't want to admit it, but Sadie was the plan. The potions were already switched. "Sadie and Bellatrix will have yard time together after lunch. Tell me what you need to know and I'll make sure she gets it."

It was clear Tom didn't trust such a convoluted plan. Too much could go wrong. There weren't many options being presented. "Bellatrix has a device hidden somewhere. A special tool I need. Sadie must get that information for me and detailed knowledge of how to use it. The device she hid right before the ministry arrested me."

Edward was quickly realizing he was in over his head. What was this device? If he got that information and it lead to innocent people being hurt… He was about to refuse Tom's request. Then the frail face of his daughter entered his mind. She might not live long enough to go to Hogwarts. "What is this device? Will it hurt others?"

Shaking his head, Tom stepped back. "It will give me the ability to help your family. If Sadie can tell me what it is and where it is, I'll know it's true and I'll help you." He turned and sat back down, opening his book up again. The conversation was over.

A noise from the main door announced Patrick's arrival. Edward turned to see his partner looking inside with some concern. "The prisoner isn't interested in yard time today. Looks like we get an extra break." Time he needed to get an escape plan in place.

As expected the other wizard didn't question the situation. He gave his partner a shoulder shrug before holding the door open for Edward. "Dolores has the sniffles. She'll need to visit the infirmary," Patrick explained, closing up the cell tightly.

"I'll take her. I need to bring Sadie her potions," Edward offered, seemingly making amends for Patrick's earlier interactions with the whiny witch. Everything hinged on the Legilimens now. He hoped she was as good as everyone feared.

~~/~~

The sun was setting at Grimmauld Place and Albus hadn't been able to shake Harry's accusation all day. It reminded him of the arguments with Moody over the unforgivable curses during the early fight with Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Using them hadn't been right. At the time. If they didn't follow their own laws what would they have left in the end. Mad-Eye was adamant the it wasn't just the fact they weren't using the curses that made them weak, it was that the Death Eaters knew they weren't using them. What fear did they have fighting aurors if they knew only one side was using unblockable curses.

Taking in a deep breath, Albus still stood by his decision. If that was a physical weakness, so be it. It was a moral strength.

"Care to unburden yourself?" Snape asked. The pair were taking a watch together outside the house while Williamson, Tonks, Ron, and Harry were following up on tips.

Albus studied the younger man. Snape hadn't just lived in the grey for years, he embraced it. If he hadn't been willing to break all the rules they would have never won the war. "How did you do it, Severus? When there are no limits, how do you decide where to draw your own?"

"I didn't draw a line until I needed to. It helped to believe I wasn't going to survive in the end," he answered and grimaced. "It also helped I wasn't required to do anything that I hadn't already done. That doesn't mean I don't regret some of those choices."

Albus looked up in surprise and saw Snape watching Hermione reading at the window seat inside the house. "Technically, I made you take the unbreakable vow. And Hermione herself has said your actions saved her life more than once."

"The ends justify the means then." It wasn't clear if Snape believed that assessment. "Tom is walking his own line right now. He's making promises he knows can't be delivered. He's going to back himself up into a corner. There's nothing more dangerous than a cornered animal."

"Are you saying we should do more to intervene?"

"No. I'm saying we need to be there the moment he's cornered."

That was risky. Albus played the scenarios out in his mind. Tried to see the pieces and figure out where each one fit and where each one needed to be placed to be the most effective.

"Assuming we're lucky enough for that timeline to even exist in the future."

He wasn't sure if Snape had continued talking and he hadn't heard the context or if Snape was changing the subject. "You think the prophecy is inevitable?"

The hook nose scrunched up in mild disgust. "I'm not one to put much stock in prophecies. Not since… well not since I learned the consequence of choosing a particular interpretation. We can't deny that Cassandra's talent was extraordinary. We can't ignore the importance of a prophecy that produces such vivid visions."

Albus had thought the same himself. It was hard to accept that such a terrifying future could be possible. Hadn't he just argued with Hermione over that same pessimistic outlook? "We could look at the prophecy as a warning designed to spur Hermione to save Harry in the come and go room. Or influenced her to find the Mnemosyne river. It's possible the prophecy's purpose has been fulfilled and her actions have already stopped that future from existing."

Snape grunted his disagreement. "Did you know she's not taking the memory potion? She knows her only hope is to be in the time chamber if that future comes to pass. She doesn't want to remember this life if she's unfortunate enough to still be alive."

"Merlin," was all Dumbledore was capable of saying at first. It was turning out to be a very dark day. "You're still taking it?"

"Every twelve hours. There's too much we don't know about the effects of such rapid, radical changes. The potions in my safe will be protected, but what happens once they're removed from the event horizon? Fiona is convinced it will create a paradox. As long as the contents were shielded from the initial changes they continue to exist."

"Would the same be true of a person?" Dumbledore asked, glancing at that person. He knew about the suit and bag Newt had made for her. There was no way to truly test the theory. It would be field tested. Why did they keep making the same mistakes? Bellatrix knew where the time turner was. If the threat to the entire world as they knew it wasn't an ends justify the means moment what was?

"The vision showed her with me at the Shrieking Shack—"

He stood, a response to the growing anxiety and energy that had nowhere to go. Snape looked up in surprise at the sudden movement. There were ways to interrogate Bellatrix without using an unforgivable curse. Veritaserum. Hell the dolor poena was an option. It was a cruel potion. It didn't just induce physical pain, it forced the subject to feel intense heartache and despair. He personally used the despair potion on Hermione to test her ability to withstand legilimency under duress. He had decided that ends justified the means. He decided that after experiencing her memories to understand the gravity of the situation she was facing. It could be a case of everyone seriously underestimating the threat. Pretending they were a civilized society when their answers were locked away in Azkaban. What did it matter now? Bellatrix wasn't going to get a trial. They could break the rules and it wouldn't affect her incarceration. There'd be no legal motions in protest to the treatment. She unleashed Voldemort and Tom on this world. Why were they treating her like a common criminal with rights she would never afford to any of them?

"Albus," Snape finally said as the silence grew between them.

"Do you have any dolor poena in your stocks?" He didn't care that the question would shock the man. He didn't care that there was no context for his question.

Slowly, Snape stood. A fleeting look of offense was replaced with his stoic demeanor. "Of course not."

"Make it."

"It's not that simple. Possession of most of the ingredients carry a prison sentence."

He didn't want to hear it. "Make me a list. Harry's right. We're not going to survive this by pretending any rules could possibly apply." Albus searched Snape for rejection. If the man who lived in the grey with no set boundaries for years objected to this, he'd know he'd gone too far.

"I can get what I need. It takes thirteen hours to brew and another thirteen hours to rest before its potency is complete," Snape explained slowly. "How will you get in to see Bellatrix?"

On cue, Williamson apparated onto the exception pad across the street. He wouldn't be able to see them yet. Albus motioned to the head auror. "I'm going to call in a lot of favors. If that doesn't work I'll go to Kingsley and make my case." He wasn't sure if either avenue would be fruitful. He had other options. Not any that he was willing to voice aloud. He didn't need a witness. Once the auror crossed over the charms and enchantments, his determined stride stopped short. "Henry."

Williamson had been around the block enough to understand the tone that had been used to address him. "Albus. Everything alright here?"

"Here, yes. Out there, no. It's time to be proactive," Dumbledore confessed.

The auror's eyes narrowed. "As opposed to the pacifist approach we've taken."

Snape expertly back up a step and opened the door behind them. "Perhaps the study is better suited for this conversation? I'll go take care of your request, professor."

The study. It wasn't lost on Albus that was where Hermione was reading. Severus knew that as well. A not so subtle suggestion that if they were about to break any number of laws on her behalf, she should have a say in the matter.

Used to being in charge, Henry walked with purpose to the study, stopped short at the sight of their protectee, he looked apprehensively at Dumbledore.

The headmaster shut the door behind them. "She should have a say on this."

"A say in what?" Hermione asked.

"What I would like to know too," Williamson answered. He turned and sat on the arm of the couch. He wasn't going to get comfortable.

"With Voldemort a threat, we no longer have the luxury of time to find the lost time turner. If he convinces a Death Eater to be possessed he'll be able to use it. We can't wait and see if he knows where it is. There is one person with that knowledge. We haven't used every resource at our disposal to uncover that knowledge."

Hermione shifted in her seat. "What resources?" she asked before Henry could.

"Truth potion for one," he started with the most palatable. "I know it violates international law. Exceptions aren't without precedence."

"It could take weeks to get an exception approved," Henry countered.

"I can use some connections to fast track it. At the very least guarantee it will be approved which might allow us to… anticipate the approval."

With some relief Williamson didn't appear to be opposed to such methods. Surviving a war had a way of putting bureaucracy into a more realistic perspective. "We can try it. If she's not talking it won't work. It will only encourage her to say the truth not induce her to talk."

"Well there's an old solution to that problem. Dolor poena."

"Albus," Hermione said sharply. Of the three in the room she was the only one to understand the effects of the potion. Once her warning was out, she considered the other options.

"She won't have any permanent injuries and there are existing protocols that can be dusted off to ensure it's used safely. There's no international law against that potion," Dumbledore pressed on.

"There are plenty of ministry regulations against it," Williamson countered.

"The same ministry that temporarily allowed the use of the forgivable curses by the aurors?"

"That was a different time and you know it. This threat… it's a hypothetical threat. There's nothing immediate I can point to. What am I to say in my request to the minister? We're going to reinstate the despair potion in an interrogation because of what might happen? We should reverse decades of reform in prison rights for a prophecy? And how do you know she won't be affected?"

"It's not an effect you can ignore," Hermione said quietly.

Henry's eyes widened in shock. He stood so he could turn and face her.

Hermione looked nervously at Albus. She hadn't meant to put him in a position where someone might find out he gave her the potion against his better judgment.

"I've learned not to ask questions that I don't want the answer to. I'll… go talk to Kingsley. If we're going to do this, we're going to make it as safe as possible," Williamson said, leaving Dumbledore and Hermione alone.

She stood stiffly, worked out a kink in her back before pouring Albus a drink. She put it in his hand and then placed hers on his cheek. "Voldemort isn't going after the time turner. I think you know that. He wants to permanently possess Harry. It would be foolish to do that if he was planning to kill Harry."

He pressed his free hand against the warm touch on his face before stepping back and taking a drink. "You know as well as I that such an action would merely create a paradox. It wouldn't do harm to him."

"No, but it isn't Voldemort who I saw in the vision. And it certainly wasn't Harry. It's Tom."

"What have you said about trusting prophecies?"

"Albus. I know how frustrating it can be to want to do something but have no apparent action to take."

At that he laughed. "You know how frustrating that is? To watch someone you love take all the risks. To let them disappear for years and trust experimental magic to get the home. To know the darkest wizard is hellbent on destroying that person," he turned his back, feeling the emotions rising up. He studied his hand. He knew there was a timeline where it had been cursed. A timeline that didn't exist because of her intervention. "You know how frustrating it is to know someone you love will be cursed and the one thing that stands in your way is the law that forbids the action that would save them."

"That's not the same."

He rounded on her. Anger sparked and fizzled out at the sight of her. "It is. It is the same. You broke the law to save me. I'm happy to return the favor."

~~/~~

Edward paced outside Sadie's cell. It was nearly shift change. Everyone else was in the control room updating their relief team. Patrick was armed with a believable excuse for his absence thanks to the Legilimens. If he wasn't there when it came time to board the boat, that excuse would fall apart quickly. Sadie had assured him her reach could be effective if she sensed a problem. A soft knock on the cell door signaled the conversation inside was over. Hoping Tom got the information he needed, Edward opened the heavy metal door as quietly as he could. Tom was grinning ear to ear. It was a terrifying sight. It wasn't too late to change his mind. "You got what you needed?"

"Yes. How do I get off this rock?"

Pulling out a small potion bottle full of acid green liquid, he handed it to Tom. "Shrinking solution. I'll be able to get you to the south harbor. There's a boat there with a wand that can withstand the waves and protections. It's shrunken down too. No one will know it's there in the dark. Stay small until you clear the enchantments. You'll be able to traverse undetected if you're the size of a fish. Any alarm that might pick you up will write it off as a marine anomaly."

The prisoner didn't look pleased with the plan. He didn't have many options. Grabbing the potion from Edward he gave one look around and drank from the phial. The effects were instant. Tom was standing only inches tall on the dirty stone floor. It was a vulnerable position.

Edward put a small pouch down in front of him. "Get in. I need to make it look like I'm doing one last round." Securing the pouch, he stood straight, smoothed out his uniform. He needed to act like nothing was off. He also needed to hurry in case someone decided to check on Tom early. The order of first rounds could vary. There was no guarantee he would get off the island before it was noticed their highest security prisoner was missing. The south door was cracked open from that afternoon when he placed the escape boat. Not wanting to opened it further and risk breaking a charm, he opened the pouch, let Tom out. He was small enough to fit through the crack. "The boat is straight ahead. A reversal solution is next to the wand. It might take thirty, forty minutes to clear the protections at this size. As soon as you can see lights in the distance you'll know you're clear. A way to contact me is also on the boat so you can find me to help my girl."

Tom nodded. Edward trusted him to keep his word. There was still a chance he'd betray him. It was worth the risk. Any other time, it would be comical to see a shrunken wizard running away like a rat escaping a sinking ship. He just committed a serious crime. One that would ensure he had a cell in that very prison. It was for his girl. Satisfied, Edward pulled the door tight and secured it. His side of the deal was done.