LAST TIME
"That was something," Crystal noted, staring at the doors through which Valkyrie had just left.
"What's in the file, Potter?" Daphne asked, pointing to the gift Valkyrie had given him.
Harry opened the file to see meaningless dots and dashes strewn about the page with a splattering of colors to the side.
"That's a mission file," Natalie said. "She gave Harry a mission?"
"Well, Potter, go on," Daphne prodded.
Harry tapped the tip of his wand to the center of the parchment.
The dots and dashes floated and swirled on the parchment, as letters printed in crisp black ink began to appear slowly floating into existence.
Colors swirled on the side of the page forming a picture of a snarling disheveled man who held a board in his hand, chains restraining him in his place as he tugged at them.
Fire curled up in Harry's chest.
"That's—" Daphne breathed.
"Rookwood," Harry growled. "Augustus Rookwood."
Ch.6 An Old Enemy
Red and green umbrellas fluttered over full tables and a buzzing crowd bustled back and forth across the worn cobbles.
The bright sun blazed overhead, casting short shadows across the ground.
Harry looked at Daphne across the rim of his glass filled with juice.
"Yes?" Daphne put her glass of cranberry juice down. "Is there something on my face?"
"Just thinking," Harry took a long sip of the citrusy orange juice. "It is a shame they don't even serve tea here."
Daphne peered at him over the top of her sunglasses. Her yellow-red scarf crested with waves over her white sundress, in stark contrast to her bright blue eyes.
"You are touched in the head if you want to drink tea right now," she murmured. "It is bloody blazing here."
Harry tapped his finger on the glass, a smile curling on his face. The glass fogged with condensation instantly.
"You're in a muggle area," Daphne hissed. "You can't do magic."
"Who is paying attention to us?" Harry took another gulp of the ice-cold drink. "You should learn to do charms discreetly. You were a Slytherin, for Merlin's sake."
Daphne scowled. "What has that got to do with anything?"
Harry just sipped his drink, glancing down the street.
'I guess it is too much to hope for Rookwood to come strolling down the streets.'
Daphne snapped her fingers in front of his face drawing his eyes to her.
"What?" He asked irritatedly.
"You didn't answer my question," she sniffed. "Got lost in your own little world, did you?"
"Slytherins are supposed to be cunning," Harry swirled the orange juice in the glass. "Cunning and sneaky. And yet, here you are. A witch complaining about the heat."
Daphne just muttered under her breath before leaning back in her chair, sipping the cranberry juice.
Harry glanced at his almost empty glass against Daphne's almost full one.
'Now that's just sad.'
The liquid in the glass began to rise till the glass was full again.
"Now that's just plain wrong," a smile flickered over Daphne's lips. "Having several glasses for the price of one."
Harry snorted into his glass before taking another sip of the juice.
"You know we can just duplicate muggle money and they won't ever know?" Harry asked. "Magic is more useful if you put your mind to it."
"Thank goodness that magic doesn't work on galleons," Daphne set her glass down. "You would've ruined the economy by now."
"Maybe," a smile tugged at Harry's lips. "Nothing wrong with wanting more juice though, is there? You are just jealous because you don't know how to do it without taking your wand out."
"Not everyone wears long sleeves," She tapped the space between their fingers. "You are infuriating, do you know that?"
"Maybe," Harry glanced past Daphne's shoulder as the lady behind Daphne stood up from the table and splashed a glass full of water over the man who sat opposite to her.
A few furious words rang out across the pub before the lady picked up her bag and stormed out of the cafe.
"Poor sod," Harry eyed the man who had water dripping down his face.
"He was likely the one who did something wrong," Daphne rolled her eyes, glancing back at him. "How many times have you had a woman drenched your face with water?"
Harry let his lips curl into a smirk. "It is not exactly water they drench my face with, you know?"
Daphne frowned. A moment later, her face contorted into a scowl and she chucked a wad of tissue at Harry.
"I didn't think you would've caught on so soon," he grinned easily.
"If you're flirting with me, you are doing terribly," she informed dryly.
"I ain't," Harry glanced at his watch. "And I think you should wear your hat, my dear."
Daphne picked the wide summer bonnet off the chair and placed it on her head. A bright red petal of the rose tucked in the bright blue ribbon slipped down and fluttered onto her white dress.
"Let the rose face the road," Harry pretended to scan through the menu card on the table. "The man should be here any minute."
"He should," Daphne adjusted her hat. "Better remove the notice-me-not charm."
Harry flicked his wand under the table, removing the privacy ward around him like a cobweb on the wall. "Now we wait."
Drops of condensation trickled down Harry's glass, his fingers drumming over the wooden table. Daphne suddenly perked up across the table drawing his attention.
A man with a balding hairline, wearing a multicolored half-sleeved shirt and Khaki trousers walked up to the table, his eyes fixed on Daphne's hat.
"Beautiful day, is it not?" He asked.
"A few clouds won't hurt," Daphne replied.
The man slipped onto the chair between them, glancing around quickly.
"So, how may I help you today?" The man asked.
"We are looking for a friend," Daphne slid an envelope across the table. "We think he lives somewhere around here."
"Of course," the man's lips stretched into a sharp smile. "I hope you have the payment for it."
The man dropped the envelope into his side-bag without so much as a glance inside.
"We do," Harry dropped a leather pouch on the table with a ringing thunk.
The man jingled the pouch, weighing it in his palm. The sharp smile melted from his face.
"That doesn't seem like three-hundred Galleons," he growled.
"It isn't," Daphne agreed, leaning forward. "That is a hundred Galleons. You get the rest when you give us what we need."
The man glanced at both of them before nodding. "Seventy-two hours. I will meet in the restaurant across the street for dinner with the information. Wear your pretty flower, lady. And if you don't get the money—"
"You worry about getting the information," Harry cut in. "You will get your money."
"I better," The man rose from his street before strolling down the cobbled street, disappearing amongst the crowd.
"Do you think he will come through?" Harry asked, draining his glass of juice.
"We will know it in three days," Daphne gathered her things and trapped a handful of muggle notes beneath her glass. "Come, we need to report back."
Harry plucked his aviators from the table before proffering his arm to Daphne.
"Let's go," He murmured, taking one last glance down the street before turning down a corner.
Daphne held out a candlestick for Harry to grasp.
"Felix," He whispered, touching the tip of his wand to the portkey. "Home base."
A force tugged behind Harry's navel, as the world became a swirl of colors.
The aroma of food and the sweet, citrusy tang of the air freshener hung in the air. The quiet chatter of diners drifted through the mahogany-framed double glass doors.
Daphne tightened her grip against Harry's arm as the man at the door gave them a brilliant smile.
"Welcome, sir, ma'am," he greeted.
"A table for three, please," Harry glanced at his watch. "Our friend is going to meet us here."
"Not a problem sir. Right this way, please." The man gestured to a nearby waiter, who led them to an empty table with four seats.
Harry pulled out a seat, allowing Daphne to sit before taking his seat across from her.
"We hope you enjoy your evening," the waiter said, placing two menu books on the table before walking away.
Harry loosened his tie a tad before picking the menu up and flipping through it.
"You know, we are not here to actually eat?" Daphne whispered.
"We have to keep appearances," Harry peered at Daphne from the top of his menu. "And it is terribly rude to come to a restaurant and leave without having anything."
"Soup, then," Daphne declared. "But I reckon we should wait for our guest first."
"And I think he's here," Harry said as the doors opened to admit their informant.
The man's eyes met Harry's and he gave him a nod, strutting forward.
"You have the information?" Harry asked as the man pulled out a seat for himself.
"Of course, I do," The man smiled. "Let us order something, shall we? I would have the Pastella. I like to give information with food."
Harry pursed his lips and flagged down a nearby waiter.
"Yes sir?"
"We would have a plate of Pastella and two bowls of soup," Harry glanced at Daphne who nodded.
"Which soup sir? We have Tomato soup, corn soup, Onion soup—"
"Excuse me, but may I recommend Harira?" The man cut in. "You cannot come to Morocco and not have Harira."
"We will have that, then," Daphne smiled at the waiter. "Thank you."
The waiter walked away allowing Harry to turn to the man.
"Can we have the information now?" Harry asked.
The man gave him a sharp smile. "I remember the information better with food in front of me. But I must say, the man you had me find was a slippery one."
"Had he not been so, why would we have contacted you?" Daphne smiled prettily at the man.
The man's smile turned sharper and he sat straighter. "What can I say? I am rather through with my work, Miss…"
Daphne pursed her lips and tilted her head, amusement sparkling in her eyes.
"Right, you all love your secrecy," The man muttered. "You don't seem to be from around here either. British Aurors, if I would've to guess."
Silence reigned at the table, making the man sigh.
"Alright then, hold your silence," The man huffed. "I am Khalid, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Khalid," Harry said as the waiter walked back carrying a tray with two steaming bowls and a plate.
'That was quick service.'
The waiter quickly laid their dishes on the table before placing the spoons.
"We hope you enjoy your meal," the waiter backed away from the table, before moving to another customer.
"Well, the food is here now," Harry tapped the tip of his wand on the table. "Now the information, if you will."
"Rookwood is a very slippery man. He covers his tracks well." Khalid cut into his dish with his fork. "Multiple scattered apparitions, checking for tracking charms every now and then, traveling under glamors, not having a registered wand— or name for that matter anywhere within Morocco. My men took quite some time to even spot him."
"But you found him," Daphne picked up her spoon. "Where is he?"
"I do not know where he is. As I said, the man is too slippery." Khalid waved his fork through the air. "But I know that he is in regular correspondence with a man named Thedeus Nott."
"Nott you say?" Harry tapped his finger on his bowl, causing ripples across the orange liquid. "Are you sure?"
"I am sure. I have seen it with my own eyes and cross-checked with the Owl office. Thedeus Nott in Britain. Over the past year, Rookwood has contacted him at least twenty-three times by the owl office under the alias of Caesar Redwood."
"Anything else?" Harry questioned.
"He wears a different disguise every time. Three times my men spotted him but he had a different face each and every time," Khalid bit into his bread-like dish. "And the only reason we spotted him was because he walked into the Souk Al-Khatt in broad daylight."
"Interesting. So you cannot give us any more information?" Harry asked.
"You wanted me to find him. And I did." Khalid shrugged. "Alternatively, you can wait in Souk Al-Khatt for a couple of days and catch him there. I am sure he will show up considering he visited it thrice in three days."
Harry hummed.
'Confronting Rookwood in public that too in a foreign country would be dangerous. Rookwood won't bat an eyelash if a civilian is killed in the crossfire. Or worse, he would target the civilians to get away from us.'
"Thank you for your information, Khalid," Harry vanished his soup with a tap of his finger. "It was a pleasure doing business with you."
"Just give me my money," Khalid stabbed into his Pastella. "Two-hundred Galleons."
Daphne placed the leather bag on top of the table as she rose, tugging her hat to the side. Her soup remained untouched.
"You can have my soup," She smiled at Khalid. "Let's go."
Arm in arm, Harry and Daphne walked out of the door.
"Are you ready, Harry?" Crystal's voice cut through the silence of the room.
"Yes," Harry tugged at his outer robe, straightening his collar.
"Very well, come out. Faizal's ready with the equipment you will be needing," Crystal pushed the door wide open.
"It is a solo mission," Harry murmured. "I have done plenty of those in the past for the Aurors."
"You might've. But this is W.A.N.D." Crystal said. "We are nothing if not a team."
Crystal led him to the adjacent room where the rest of the team stood, surrounding a table.
"Morning," Harry greeted.
"Let us get to it," Faizal said, pushing forth an open briefcase full of things. "Earpiece for you to stay in contact with us throughout the mission."
Harry studied the small, black bead before pushing it into his ear. A beep echoed through his ear.
"Activated," Harry's voice rang through the room.
"Good," Faizal tapped his wand to the table and Harry's earpiece beeped again. "Next, we have this band. It is a Floo-rerouter. If you go through and the Floo is shut off at the other end, you will instead appear here safely."
Harry strapped the band on his right wrist, taking a glance at the runes drawn over it. "Anything else?"
"A few more," Crystal said. "Namely, a ward detonator, a location tracker, a burn portkey, and an emergency beacon."
"Hold up, a ward detonator?" Harry eyed the lead ball that Crystal had removed. "Those things are a class D illegal artifact and not to mention, expensive."
"Yes, and you are to use it only in an extreme situation where you need to escape with your life," De Luca cut it. "Also, as for the illegal part, we have a license to kill. This is small stuff comparatively. That being said, here we need Nott alive. So once you go in there, you stun Nott. You open up the Floo and give us the Floo address. We will come and take Nott away and search the residence."
"Simple enough," Harry pocketed the items. "Anything else?"
"If you find anyone other than Thedeus Nott, they are not to be harmed. Just stunned and obliviated." Mr. Singh added. "Civilian protocols apply. So, you avoid using lethal force unless they start shooting Unforgivables your way."
"Understood," Harry turned his shoulders.
"You have said that you would handle getting into Nott's residence yourself," Daphne said. "Are you sure?"
"He owes me, Daphne," A smirk flickered over Harry's lips. "And he might still be a blonde ponce but he has changed since Hogwarts."
"If you say so," Daphne snorted.
"Alright. I am off to my home." Harry took out a ring from his pocket and tapped it with his wand.
The world dissolved into a swirl of colors and wind howled in his ears until he stood in a dark hallway.
A second later, gas lamps flickered on in the hallway, casting a glow across the freshly painted walls and the gleaming copper ornaments.
A pop tore through the hallway.
"Master Harry has returned early," Kreacher croaked, extending his wrinkled hand. "Shoes off, please master. And your coat. Kreacher will begin preparing something for him. Will master like tea?"
"Not now, Kreature. I will be home in time for dinner. Right now I need to use the Floo." Harry smiled at the elf.
"As master wishes," Kreature bowed and vanished with a loud pop.
Harry heard his earpiece beep.
"Can you hear us?" Faizal's voice rang in his ears, making Harry wince.
"A little quieter. This is loud," Harry strode down the hall.
His eyes fell on the wall where the portrait of Walburga Black once hung like a sore spot, making him smile.
Gone were the obnoxious portraits and the haunting specters of beheaded house-elves. Instead, the wall held paintings and photos, with its center being crowned by a photo of Dumbledore's Army. Harry stood at the center, Ron and Hermione at his sides, smiling widely as Colin rushed in to get into the frame with a huge grin.
Beside them were two more photos. One of the original Order of the Phoenix and the other of the new one.
The Harrys in the photo waved at him as he passed, moving toward the fireplace.
The fire sprang up with a wave of his wand and he took a pinch of Floo powder.
"Malfoy Manor," Harry dropped the Floo powder into the fire, the flames turning green.
With a breath, he stuck his head in.
"Malfoy?" He called out loudly as the glamorous parlor came into view. "Draco?"
A pop rang and a house-elf came into view.
"Hows be Tilly helping you?" The house elf asked.
"I need you to fetch Draco for me. Tell him Harry Potter wants to see him urgently."
"I will bes informing Master about yous. Please wait." The elf vanished with a pop.
'Potter, you sure about this?' Daphne's voice sounded through the ear-piece.
"We will see, won't we?" Harry murmured as footsteps sounded down the hall. "He's coming."
Draco Malfoy's face came into view.
"Potter? What do you want?" He asked. "Tilly said it was urgent."
"Good morning to you too, Draco." Harry said dryly
"Morning, Potter. Just get to it, will you?" Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"Let me come through," Harry said. "I have some business to discuss in person with you."
"Business you say?" Draco's posture sharpened. "Come through, I will open the Floo for you."
"Thank you, Draco," Harry pulled his head out of the fire, blinking the green flames from his vision.
Shaking his head, he took another pinch of Floo powder before dropping it into the flames.
"Malfoy Manor!" Harry said and the world spun around him, green flames covering his body.
A moment later, the flames cleared to reveal Malfoy standing in front of him.
"Draco," Harry stepped out of the flames, dusting the soot away. "Thank you for letting me come through."
"Let me say, welcome to Malfoy Manor," Malfoy's smile wavered. "And I am sorry for what happened the last time you were here."
Hermione's tortured form flashed in front of Harry's eyes as her scream rang in his ears.
"All is forgiven," Harry pursed his lips. "And I remember you refusing to identify me and lying to them on purpose."
"Tea? Pumpkin juice?" Malfoy glanced at the golden clock over the Floo. "And you better make this fast. I have to be at St. Mungo's in half an hour."
"I see community service is doing you well," Harry said. "I heard you are a licensed healer now."
A smile curled on Draco's face as his eyes shone. "I do enjoy working there. And it is all thanks to you that I got it. And… I continue to plan to work as a healer once the sentence ends."
"That is wonderful, Draco," Harry nodded.
"Now, what may I help you with?" Draco asked. "Because there is no way you would come to me this early in the morning."
"You're right," Harry nodded. "I need you to contact Thedeus Nott."
"Why do you want to contact Nott?" He asked incredulously. "And what does it have to do with you coming to me? Send him a letter."
"It is about an old piece of empty land in Bristol," Harry lied. "Blacks own a huge part of it but some of it belongs to the Notts. I need to get the whole land and I need it fast. And to do that, I cannot let him have any time to consider it."
"Why?"
"Reasons my own, I am afraid," Harry smiled. "But what I need you to do is call Thedeus Nott and tell him that you want to come through urgently for business. Just, instead of you, it will be I appearing through his Floo."
"You want to trick him because he won't let you come through immediately like I did." Draco's jaw twitched. "What is the land worth?"
"Currently? What Nott owns is less than three-thousand Galleons." Harry said.
"Currently," Malfoy breathed. "And what of, say, four months from now?"
"About thirty-thousand. Give or take." Harry lied.
"Bloody hell," Draco muttered. "And if Nott hears of this—"
"Draco?" A high-pitched voice rang through the parlor. "Who is it?"
'Potter, who is that?' Daphne asked urgently through the comms.
Harry craned his head, catching the sight of a short blonde girl, walking down a set of elaborate mahogany stairs.
'She looks strangely familiar.'
Her bright blue eyes shone in recognition as she caught sight of Harry.
"I was just talking to Potter, dear," Draco smiled. "Harry, Astoria Greengrass."
Daphne's loud, incoherent shout rang through the earpiece, making Harry wince.
"Any relation to Daphne Greengrass?" Harry asked the girl.
Astoria shuffled on her feet.
"Daphne's my elder sister," she murmured.
A short sharp beep sounded in Harry's ear, cutting off the noise from the other side.
"I didn't know you knew Daphne, Potter," Malfoy coughed.
"We spent six years in the same class, Draco," Harry grinned. "My life didn't revolve around you and Voldemort."
Both Draco and Astoria flinched sharply at the name.
"Anyhow," Harry turned to Draco. "Are you Floo-ing him, Draco? This is something I need to do today."
Draco's jaw clenched. "If he asks me, I will say that you called in a favor from me, Potter."
"You can say whatever you want, Draco," Harry said. "But yes, I will mirror your statement as long as he isn't aware of my presence till I go through."
"Alright," Draco took a pinch of Floo powder in his hand. "You owe me one. Nott's Nook!"
Draco stuck his head into the green flames.
"So," Astoria said awkwardly. "I heard you left the Aurors."
"I did," Harry nodded. "Aren't you supposed to be at Hogwarts, though?"
"I graduated almost six months ago," She said dryly. "I am only two years younger than you, you know?"
"Now I know," Harry grinned. "So you and Malfoy, huh?"
"Well, we just hit off," Astoria smiled. "He's a wonderful man."
Harry hummed in response.
A few moments later Draco pulled his face out and dusted his face lightly.
"He's opening the Floo," Draco walked to stand next to Astoria. "Good luck with your deal, Potter."
"Then I guess there's only one thing left to do," Harry flicked his wand into his hand, making Draco's eyes go wide. "Obliviate."
And… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!
A huge thanks to Mughil and Nanu for betaing this chapter!
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SlytherinQueen4ever: It was more of Greek goddess Khione than an inspiration from PJO tbh. Daphne is a greek name and well, ice princess. So, it wasn't hard to put the two together for her codename.
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