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Harry looked himself over one last time, the urge to pull at the gloves tucked into the sleeves nearly winning him over. The outfit did look to cover every inch of skin that could possibly show save for that of his face and upper neck, and the fit was well snug… enough to frustrate him more so than he'd thought, hence the glove issue.
But, bothered as he was by the semi-stiffness of the material and the pressure it kept around his wrist, there wasn't so much as a thought spent in favour of meddling with it. Corene and Elaine had put forth the utmost effort, with runes woven into the very fabric of all that he was wearing. It was incredibly impressive, but by now, most of what they'd done was much the same. The fact Corene had an outfit that was much the same told him Elaine hadn't let the other girl get away without one.
And yet, Elaine only wore bits and pieces of her own. Harry had made to raise that issue, but she'd assured him as she'd always done whensoever he spoke up regarding her safety, that 'everything was fine' and that 'there wasn't anything Grindelwald or anybody else could do that'd leave her permanently harmed'; the confidence never ceased to amaze him, but perhaps it was arrogance on her part this time around.
Whatever the cause, after she'd jogged off to 'put together a list' he and Corene had been left to their own devices for the hour or so that remained before they'd depart for the Western side of Germany — they'd missed the initial portkey, but like all things, Corene and Elaine had saw to it that a backup was prepared.
Standing as he was before that secondary portkey with Corene reading quietly to herself beside him, Harry took in a deep breath. He was well ready to go, and Merlin, did he hate sitting around.
Corene, meanwhile, didn't seem to mind in the slightest. She seemed at her 'happiest' — if one could get away with saying as much with how passive she remained at nearly all times — when she was quietly reading or studying, or otherwise tending to something that required focus beyond the likes of which many could give.
Harry was quite the opposite, and as he all but fell into the couch nearest to her, he was hit with another wave of impatience. He was almost tempted to go and check on Elaine and see about that list she was working on, but he stopped short. If he did so, the chance their trip was delayed once again would increase rapidly, especially after what he'd said earlier regarding finally having a ceremony for all to attend.
The wedding and their future was something that'd always have her ready to jump him.
"Eager?"
In an instant, he was looking at Corene, the one word breaking the deafening silence that'd fallen since Elaine's exit.
"Just ready to get going. Don't much fancy waiting around. My mind gets wandering, and it never goes anywhere good." All too often, it would cover one of two people, both of whom were painful to think about one way or another.
Corene blinked, her eyes switching from the tome before her, to Harry's own. That in and of itself was a rare enough thing; the girl was usually always so far into the depths of whatever she was reading, she'd never so much as turn to look your way whilst speaking with you. And yet, if that alone surprised him, what she did next left him stunned.
One hand, pale and warm and slight slowly sought out a hand of his own. It made her stretch towards him, cat-like, but also stubborn as could be with how she kept herself as close to her original seated position as was possible.
When her hand finally made contact with his own, it wrapped around it. Her fingers didn't interlace themselves with his, no, she simply held his hand like they were about to greet one another, and then she squeezed it with a token effort.
Harry smiled in return.
What remained of the hour flew by as Harry rested his head on the arm of the couch, using his new position to watch Corene as she read aloud the contents of the book which she was reading. The tome, for credit had to be given when it was due, was full-up with information that seemed rather useful.
It was regarding ancient Germany, the runes, groves and other such information related to the ancient culture therein. Much of it seemed, in many a way, similar to that which one could find in wizarding Great Britain. Harry supposed that made sense, but the differences, whilst not many, could lead to no small amount of problems should one mistakenly identify one for the other.
Ha—
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he heard the thuds of footsteps from up above. Elaine, for whatever reason, wasn't apparating. No, just like when she'd taken her leave, she was jogging through the manor, down the stairs and to the room which the pair were in. It didn't take her very long, granted, and as she burst through the door, the rosiness of her cheeks was certainly something he'd always found nice to see.
Enough so that he'd not make a comment even if he still found her doing so strange; perhaps it was another way of teasing him.
"We're ready to depart," Elaine clapped her hands together, her eyes switching from Harry, to Corene, and back to Harry. "Corene, see to it upon arrival that we're officially checked in. Harry, I know it needn't be said, darling, but no mention can be made of past ventures. This is, after all, our very first trip into the life of Grindelwald upon German soil. We've certainly had no other excursions."
Harry shook his head whilst fighting a smirk, especially with the sincere, innocent and professional visage that Elaine had adorned upon saying as much. He could only imagine how much she'd ham up their trip so as to eke out whatever they could from their 'partners' in the Ministry abroad.
"I won't say a word—" he doubted that even needed to be said, but his question that followed certainly did. "How trustworthy are our new friends? You said the Muggles had a hand in helping reorganise their magical government, didn't you?"
Elaine's upper lip twitched, and her nose scrunched up. Clearly the thought of Muggles, or their interference in the Magical World wasn't something she was fond of. Even if the Ministry and the Yankee Magicals had a hand in things too. Still, after that initial reaction, she spoke. "Tell them nothing that needn't be told, and ask nothing that would require an explanation. The Muggles did more than have a hand in things too, few as they are who know about our world, they do so love to intercede."
That was something that Harry didn't doubt for so much as a second. So long as one person was in a position of power, the desire to intercede in a whole new world was more a question of when than if ever.
"Thirty seconds." Corene stated, those being her first words since Elaine had joined them; as Harry had thought earlier, her attention remained on the book.
"No more questions from either of you, is that right?" Elaine didn't so much as allow a second to pass before abruptly clapping her hands together once more. "None, wonderful. We'll take our leave now. Hands on the portkey, and don't remove them early. We'll appear in the private atrium of the recently-made Western German Ministry."
"Wait, what if what we need to find is in the Eastern bit?" Harry had only now thought about that after hearing her make mention of the Western side of the country again. He was rather ashamed to admit it too, but he only just now recalled that the country hadn't always been unified.
Elaine shrugged. "Then we'll do as we've done previously."
"Five seconds." Corene interrupted.
"Remember, not a word," Elaine said, winking at him… and then, like that, he felt the familiar pull of travel.
When next Harry could make sense of his surroundings, he found himself alongside Corene and Elaine in a miniature sort of atrium. The whole thing looked altogether underwhelming, and the masonry as well as much of the furniture therein seemed mismatched, as if it'd been thrown together as quickly and efficiently as possible.
He supposed with all the damage the country had been subjected to, that too made sense.
"Welcome," a voice greeted from behind the trio. It wasn't half as accented as Harry would have thought, in fact, it sounded sort of Yankee-like as it shook him from his observations.
When he turned a half-second later, Corene and Elaine having done so immediately, he was greeted by a man perhaps a decade or so older than they were. He had dark hair, wore a darker style suit, and had a little flag not too dissimilar to that of the German flag he was familiar with.
"Minister Gaunt, Deputy-Minister Peverell, and a senior administrator from our office, Lady Carrow," Such were the first words Elaine spoke as she observed their greeter. "We're here to speak with the acting Minister of the Yankee, French and British zone of control."
The man dipped his head. "Right away, Minister Gaunt, he is expecting you," the man looked at Corene then. "You are the one I am to meet with regarding our records?"
Corene nodded. "Yes." That was as much an answer as he'd get from her.
"Very good," he answered. "I will escort you to the records room afterwards. I must forewarn the three of you though — the records that we could salvage are few and far between, even with those we captured included."
Elaine smiled, beautiful as could be as she waved his concern off. "Nonsense. I'm sure you and Lady Carrow will be able to find something of use to us," she then pointed towards a sign that hung a little ways down the hall, one that pointed with many an arrow towards the various departments. "It seems the Ministry and Records Department are opposite of one another as well. I do hope we're not a hassle."
The man shook his head, a smile on his face at Elaine's confidence and manners. "Not a hassle at all, ma'am."
Another person came in then, their steps echoing in the empty hall. The man looked past them, at the person beyond, and then their way once more. "We'll just have to be quick, if you don't mind. My friend's in a hel— heck of a rush to finish his lunch break as it is."
Elaine raised a hand to Harry's arm, resting it in place as she turned to look at him, and then look back at the man before them. "We can find our way to the Minister easy enough, and Lady Carrow could wait for you to help the person—" another appeared — "—people that need your attention. If that's fine, of course. I'd hate to presume."
The man clearly looked conflicted. It was obvious he wasn't meant to let people have their run of the place, and yet, as he looked past them — a Minister and other powerful foreigners — to the others now forming a queue, his mind seemed to be made up before their very eyes. He swallowed, and then he spoke. "Please, go directly to the Minister… and if he asks who left you alone, it was John, not me. Now, Lady Carrow, I'll be over to you as quickly as possible ma'am, if yo—"
Harry stopped being able to mind the conversation much attention when Elaine pulled him away in the direction of the Acting Minister's office. Her steps lacked the speed which was typical of them, instead, they were more measured and graceful, and her arm wove around his; she looked happy as could be, and as he'd always say, beautiful.
It was no wonder after she'd kicked up her charm why the young yankee had allowed her to do as she wished. Those people's timely arrivals had helped them a good deal as well, seemingly convincing the teetering American to let the Minister and her Deputy-Minister to travel alone.
Once they were suitably far away, Elaine spoke. "His office is up the staircase at the end of the hall."
Harry looked at Elaine as they continued walking, a knowing expression on his face. "And what else of interest is down this way?"
A faux gasp came free of her as she raised her free hand to her chest. "You think I have ulterior motives?" Elaine maintained that innocent, outraged facade for all of a few seconds as they practically skipped through the halls, and then it fell away as they came to a sudden stop. "You'd be right."
The door they'd stopped before, as Harry read the sign above it, was to that of an interrogation room. He turned to look at Elaine then. "Expecting somebody?"
"Here?" Elaine sniffed. "My reach has yet to extend here in force. We've only a few friends that could be called upon to aid us, but we needn't speak with their prisoners to see what was said or learned."
"You don't trust them to show Corene everything possible." It was more a statement that came from Harry than a question; it seemed their friends didn't trust them anymore than they trusted their friends.
It almost tickled him something fierce.
"I would imagine the Yankees are seeking out whatever treasures they might find the same as we are, and so, that would mean hiding away locations that might be of interest they've discovered. Perhaps there in one of those places, is the final piece of what we seek," Elaine pushed open the door; he hadn't so much as seen her wand get taken out, much less the light of the spell as she stripped away the magic protecting the room and its contents. "Keep watch."
That was all she said before ducking into the room that had a queer sort of smell to it.
Harry wanted to go in with her, and he certainly wished to know how she was so familiar with where everything seemed to be, but he disillusioned himself, blending into the area completely; he cast an illusion over the door afterwards. It made it seem as if the door was closed and all was as it'd been prior to their arrival.
But it seemed he needn't do all the extra work. No, not more than fifteen seconds later did Elaine return, two parchments in-hand that seemed freshly inked.
"Come," She grabbed his hand. "We have a meeting to attend and we mustn't leave the man waiting."
And again, they were off… only this time, to where they were meant to be.
Harry stepped out of the office with Elaine by his side three hours after they'd arrived to speak with the Acting Minister. The man, a German unlike most of those who were stationed at his Ministry, was large and hefty, with a great big bushy beard that hid away a great deal of his face; the little that remained visible was similar to how Dumbledore looked in his later years.
The man was, despite his rotund appearance and happy visage, hiding a greater deal of intelligence than most would think he possessed.
Their conversation had shown as much as well; it'd been enlightening in a way Harry hadn't thought it'd be. No, not when most politicians were completely and utterly bothersome. Now, mind you, it hadn't been very helpful, but he'd offered many a tip and promised to provide help whenever called upon. He'd even gone so far as to provide them with accommodations for the duration of their stay.
That meant a lot given the state of things.
"Ah, there she is," Elaine tapped Harry on the shoulder and nodded in the direction from which the aforementioned girl was coming. "It looks like she's found at least one thing of note."
Based on the folder in her left hand, Harry would wager Elaine was right. He hoped it paired well with whatever Elaine had managed to copy.
They made their way towards Corene as she did much the same to them, and in a few seconds time, the trio were reunited once more. The man that'd shown her off and brought her back gave the pair a little nod and sought out another group that only just arrived; they seemed like refugees, what with their worn down clothing and grime that covered much of their clothing.
It pulled at Harry's heart. Enough so for him to pull his hand from Elaine's and, after seeing her look, make him nod their way before starting off towards that Yankee. The one that was called 'John' if he got in trouble… Harry wondered what the man's name really was.
"Hey mate, here," he called to the other young man. "For the family." That was all that Harry felt need be said as he passed along a little pouch, one of three he'd brought along for the trip. In it, was a thousand galleons. Not an absurdly large number, but enough to help.
He walked off even as he heard the Yankee start to speak again, and as he rejoined Corene and Elaine, the latter grabbing his hand and the former going to his opposite side, he found a pair of matching smiles. It didn't matter that Corene's was only just noticeable or that Elaine's might be larger, for the sake of any onlookers.
He could sense her genuine happiness for his doing so; a family had always been her soft spot, same as it was and always would be for him.
The trio took their leave, and as they did so, Harry was filled with a new sense of purpose for when he'd return home; all those who'd lost so much, he'd help them any way that he could. Not as their Deputy-Minister, but as a person who knew what it was like to grow up lacking.
It was something nobody deserved.
With their time in the Ministry of the joint sections of Allied control — a lengthy way of saying West Germany so far as he was concerned — over for the day, the trio had found themselves escorted to the abode the Acting Minister had given them. It was an ancient-looking place, gothic and with many a spike that jutted out; one could tell from one viewing that the person who'd made the place had done so as an artisan more than a simple contractor.
That wasn't to knock the buildings of his time… but Merlin, the looks of the old ones were always far superior. He was right happy Peverell Manor was of an equally old design.
Harry pushed the door to the place open, shaking himself free from his thoughts. He held it open for Elaine and Corene, and watched as the pair walked past him and into the relatively large manor. It lacked a second floor or pillars the likes of which their home had, and it certainly didn't have dozens upon dozens of rooms, but still, the place was rather nice and quaint. That wasn't to mention, it was more than what they needed. Especially since they lacked a family or sizable entourage that might make use of the dozen or so other bedrooms that were present.
Maybe the man was simply hoping to assure them that he was reliable and would treat his allies well.
Whatever the case, Harry certainly appreciated the place they'd been given.
By the look of Elaine and Corene… or at the very least, Elaine, she too seemed quite pleased with the place. That was, until a set of knocks sounded on the door that Harry had only just closed. When that occurred, she turned on the balls of her feet and looked at Harry, her visage conveying that he would most certainly be the one opening the door.
He snickered, especially seeing as she kicked off her shoes and socks so as to hop atop a couch, and then he turned around; he was still right by the door, after all. With his wand in his hand, for safety of course, he twisted the knob and readied a shield, the tip of his wand aglow. Harry peeked out slowly for his initial viewing, and then, when he saw the person outside his door with eight others behind him, he blinked.
"What's your favourite game?" He asked, remembering the need to be vigilant.
The man across from him, dressed in the finest set of Auror robes Harry had ever seen, grinned. "Wizarding Chess, and I fancy a game if you fancy a loss." Aster looked right and left then, whistling as he took in the place. "Fancier than their Ministry, isn't it?"
"I'd say so — wait, you were there too?" Harry opened the door, convinced it was Aster by way of mannerisms and knowledge both. "What gives, mate? What're you doing in Germany?"
Aster snorted as he walked in, the four of his Ministry Aurors staying outside as four more entered; Harry recognised two from that trip down in the Alps. It was good to see both looked higher than they'd been then; they even had the little medal he'd had made for them. After a quick nod their way, he brought the lot of them to Elaine, whereupon his doing so Aster sat down opposite the two women in a chair.
As for the Aurors, they simply dispersed, two going down into the basement, and the other two clearing the first floor.
"Enjoying a vacation, yeah?" Aster asked Elaine, that cheekiness of his that'd always been prominent, showing once more. "Reckon my invitation was lost in the post."
Elaine rolled her eyes as Harry settled into the space beside her, the former's feet naturally finding their way to the latter's lap; contact was always needed. "We'll be here for a day, mayhaps three at the most. There wasn't the need for security over our persons so far as I was concerned."
"He knows better than to fight them when united," Corene said, speaking up from her spot on the opposite side of Elaine, the 'him' not needing to be alluded to.
Aster huffed. "All the same, we are meant to be the guards of the Minister and the staff thereof, few as they are. Wouldn't do if we didn't at least keep up that image, besides, might as well let some of them come and see another country. If they're guarding the lot of you, seeing the countries you go to will give them all the more reason to stay in this for the long haul. Adventures are nice for the soul."
Elaine's nose twitched. "Fine," she waved him away, perhaps agreeing on account of the perception of their image. "Assign a guard for our protection abroad, pick a person to lead it, and ensure in doing so that all are free of his influence. I'm quite partial to the number seven, but if the need should arise to see it larger, eleven. Now, no more of this. We mean to speak about where next we'll go, so Corene, if you'd please."
Corene cocked her head. "Here?" she blinked. "Others."
"The office, then?" Harry suggested.
"Oh don't be foolish," Elaine waved her hand. "It's a privacy charm. It's not rude for our protection to be left out of our discussion, and a simple illusion cast over it will keep them from being able to read our lips. Now, again, Corene — what did you manage to find in the folder?"
Corene dipped her head as she opened the aforementioned folder. Now seeing in the thing properly, he noted there were only a dozen parchments, if even that. Not nearly as much as he'd have thought by the size of the folder, but more than he'd expected they'd be given.
Truly. He'd have expected to receive a few scattered notes with Corene working alongside the German Ministry. Perhaps the notes they'd liberated from the interrogation chamber would answer any blanks from the notes Corene would soon read aloud.
Harry's eyes twitched as he finally rose from where he'd been seated. They'd gone over, at length, everything that had been on Corene's parchment, and the notes Elaine had liberated. What they'd learned was surprisingly little. There were places that'd been searched brick by brick, dead men that couldn't further leads, and no small amount of crimes listed off by others still alive.
It was the lattermost portion that'd interested the four of them, for the places those prisoners were kept had been named in the notes. With a name, even if that was all they possessed, they could track down those captives and speak with them as much as they'd like… assuming they received permission, and well, if they didn't.
Nobody would know. At least, not if Elaine were the one to speak with the witch or wizard; her mind magic would never be found by any person who spoke with him. Harry would normally feel rather conflicted when it came to such measures too, but these were followers of Grindelwald they were thinking about going to pay a visit to. If any person deserved harsh treatment, it would be they who dealt it out without remorse to so many others.
"You looked tired, lover," Elaine whispered into his ear as a hand, soft and cold to the touch, slipped into his. She leaned against his shoulder not a second later, her long, black hair tickling his arm as it brushed up against it; he was an inch or so taller now, finally, and Elaine seldom did without using his shoulder as a headrest on account of that increase in height. "Fancy a bath?"
Harry sighed. Corene and Aster could still hear them. Neither had taken their leave and each was putting away various notes they'd taken. He supposed both were used to her clinginess by now the same as he was. They'd put up with it since Hogwarts, and it was their fault as well on account of them bringing him to meet her at Abraxas' house.
Tosser.
"Fancy food first, then a bath." He answered.
Elaine arched a brow. "I was told much of the food here might not be what we're accustomed to."
Harry side-eyed Corene then. It'd more than likely been sh— Harry reacted quickly, catching the satchel the girl he was fortunate enough to be looking at, threw at him. When he looked down into the thing, slightly open as it was, he saw two secured shelves lined with pots or other items that were covered.
"Food." Came Corene's very helpful hint.
Of course they'd prepared food. They'd prepared everything thus far, hadn't they?
He took the first four located nearest to the top, withdrawing them and setting them down on the table. They could eat, and afterwards, knowing the trio like he did, speak more about what next they'd do; he imagined they'd cross reference Corene's list with those present on the new lists they'd been given or that they — Elaine — had taken.
If that all proved fruitless, then it'd be off to some rather secure holding cells.
They'd just have to be exceedingly cautious.
The master bedroom they'd be staying in was modest, yet tasteful. That seemed to be the running theme of the little manor they'd been given free usage of. Corene was in the room on the left of theirs, and Aster, the right. The rest of the Aurors that were currently resting whilst the others took watch, picked the rooms nearest to the two exits of the building; they wished to maintain the privacy of their superiors while also staying near to where any action would likely be.
Harry was happy enough with that, as was Elaine.
But there wasn't any fun they'd be having this evening. No, unlike the norm in which she'd be all over him, this evening, she was sat up in bed beside him, his head in her lap whilst she read — and translated — a book. Well, not so much a book as it was a series of notes, hence why it was taking her as long as it had.
It wasn't specifically mentioning Grindelwald or those who followed him, but of the land that he possessed. That all of Germany had. Any place of magical significance that could be something he'd latch onto with his 'love' for all things magical. A love that Harry doubted very much given the number of magical people he'd killed, and not by accident either.
Years ago as it was, Harry still remembered the copies of the Prophet that made mention of massacres in France and the lowland countries. All on the orders of Grindelwald as well, despite his 'desire not to spill a drop of magical blood'; that'd never been his wish. He sought power to handle the Muggle threat, and he didn't care if that meant bringing the world down around them.
As Harry looked up at Elaine, her face angelic as she focused on copying the words so as to translate them, he couldn't help but smile. Had he not come, had he not been sent here by some divine, otherworldly being, she could have ended up just the same as him. Perhaps even worse. Thankfully, the world would never need to know, for Elaine had been tempered by him, and perhaps just a smidge, he'd been a bit more ruthless on account of her.
He shouldn't allow her to mess with the minds of Grindelwalds followers, but he couldn't be bothered enough to make her stop either. Not when the people were horrible and guilty of crimes most would consider unimaginable. In his mind, using them to rat out their friends was the least they deserved.
Harry yawned then, his darker thoughts turning bright once more as he looked up at Elaine. Really, he could never grow tired of looking at her, and so he closed his eyes, the sleep taking hold of him just as one of her hands began to massage his scalp.
Had he opened his eyes one last time, he'd have noticed the smile on her face; happy, calm, and joyful.
The night came and went nearly as fast as the previous day had. Harry was fully rested and ready for the day as the morning's light greeted him, and as it did so, he took note of the still sleeping Elaine by his side. That tome of hers was still in one of her hands, just like how his head was still in her lap; it was a comfortable lap.
He slowly, carefully left the bed, leaving the sheets on Elaine and the warmth thereunder trapped with her. If he moved and didn't do just that, she'd have him pulled back to the bed with his arms forced around her and her cheek pressed right against his own. She had to steal his warmth, after all, if he insisted on getting rid of what remained.
Harry cast a heating charm for good measure after a few seconds thought, and only after then — and a quick trip to the loo later — was he out of the room. Immediately upon leaving it, he found a letter slotted into the door opposite of his, and with a German ministry seal placed upon it.
It wasn't a new one either, it was that which they'd used for as long as he could remember. Harry summoned the thing forth and raised it up to his face, and when he saw his name and Elaine's thereon, he sent it back to where it was, that being lodged in the door. His wand was out in an instant, examining the letter for any signs of magic, and when that failed, he next raised his wand up behind it with a very bright Lumos.
Were anything else aside from parchment inside, it'd show.
His eyes took it in for a few seconds, and when nothing seemed present therein, he brought it forth once more, where he immediately opened it. The little parchment that fell out was thin and didn't use so much as half a page. On it, in English and penned by something that didn't seem quill-like, was an invitation to visit the new Ministry once more.
This time, rather than a conversation or time spent going over the various pieces of information they possessed, the invitation was extended to visit the holding cells underneath the place, in the deepest depths thereunder. Harry imagined that was where those that'd been previously interrogated were, as well as any other criminal of recent infamy — hopefully, there'd be somebody worth something down there.
He turned to look back at Elaine, the letter in his hand, and after a few seconds more of looking at her peaceful, sleeping visage, he shook his head and stepped out. Before he made her rise for the day, he'd wake Aster and Corene if the pair weren't already up; the latter especially, Harry reckoned, had a very high chance of already being awake. He already knew there'd be four Aurors on watch as well.
And so he sought out his friends, and it didn't take very long to find Corene… Aster, however, was another story altogether.
"Aster, remain here with Corene, and when they go to retrieve her, stay by her side," Elaine's tone indicated there was no flexibility for him to decide to do otherwise. The weight of the title Minister was behind her voice, and so the other wizard nodded. She turned to Harry next, her arm weaving through his own in that very familiar fashion. "With that said, lover, let us go and find Minister Kogler. I'm buzzing to meet our friend's many guests."
Harry didn't quite like the way she said that. But he supposed she wasn't completely wrong either. He too had a sense of excitement in meeting the few Grindelwald survivors present and locked away; they themselves had only secured a scant three despite the thousands that'd fought them.
The chance to get into the minds — not literally, at least not officially — of one's enemies was a chance seldom given, and so when it was, one simply had to act. There wasn't any room for deviation so far as he was concerned.
Even Elaine's prior idea of keeping a piece of Grindelwald alive so as to harvest for information wasn't completely illogical to him now. It had been earlier, of course it had been, but he could see and comprehend the reason to do so now. Perhaps she was corrupting him moreso than he'd originally thought, but the chance to peek into his mind was nearly worth it.
Nearly.
When one had to think he could escape, somehow, someway, one day, that put to rest any idea of keeping him around. Especially as the longer it took for them to take all that they could from him, the more likely it was they'd have a family, and a family was something neither would ever risk.
Not when it was what the pair wanted above all else.
"You're thinking awfully hard," Elaine said, speaking up from the silence that'd fallen over the couple as they strolled through the fairly-empty halls of the makeshift Ministry. "Is something the matter? It certainly feels like it."
Harry shook his head and smiled at her, hoping his 'assurance' would be taken. He hadn't meant for her to feel the annoyance he felt towards himself… he hadn't exactly expected to be annoyed with himself either. It was simply a passing dark thought, and so he kissed her cheek as they turned down the final corridor necessary.
"Everything's fine. I'm just thinking about when everything's over. That time can't come soon enough, you know?"
She returned the kiss, nipping at the bottom of his ear and hastily returning to a proper distance when the wiggle of a door handle sounded from his right.
From there and with a smile on her face, she led him to the Minister, and together with the man, they ventured down into the underground, maze-like halls. The place was far larger than Harry had thought, and far busier as well.
And the prison, much fuller. That boded well.
The German Minister left them at the entrance of the prison, and with the Chief thereof before making his way back to his office. As it'd seemed the previous day, the man was clearly being as personable as could be, going the extra mile with their requests without so much as a second's hesitation. It was nearly enough to make Harry believe the man was too friendly, suspiciously so, but the big smile he'd wear as he'd rest his hands on his belly seemed at odds with somebody of such cunning.
In the end, he supposed it didn't matter much so long as he didn't impede their progress, and he hadn't. He'd done more than they'd expected and showed no signs of slowing down, and he'd not so much as asked for a thing in return. Yet. Perhaps if that continued he'd make a donation to the Ministry from the Peverell vaults as a returned gesture of friendship.
He supposed he'd see depending on how useful the prisoners they were permitted to meet with proved to be.
"This way, Minister, Deputy-Minister," the voice was that of another Yankee, and the patch on the man's shoulder was that of the Americans; it seemed they'd helped this new Government just as they'd helped the British Ministry. "We've put all those you're permitted to meet with in parallel rooms with a spacer unit on either side. You'll see another man dressed like me but with a German flag on his shoulder, the other's a Brit like you — they're here to take the prisoners out for you."
Harry nodded as Elaine made to go forward as soon as the man was finished speaking, barely giving him so much as a courteous nod. "Thank you," he said not a second later, shaking hands with the man before he made to go after Elaine.
Speaking of Elaine, she was already at the exit of the centre office, pushing through it. The eagerness she no doubt felt towards finding so many new, potential leads clearly showing in her hasty movements.
When he made it to her side, it was a good few turns and halls later, all of which unlocked for them without so much as a guards presence. The autonomous nature of everything impressed Harry enough for him to linger a good dozen or so steps behind Elaine as he took mental notes for Aster — the system was one he reckoned they should use as well, given the wizards and witches it'd free up.
That wasn't to mention the intricate looking wards that climbed the surrounding walls and archways. There were dozens and dozens of runic paths, all with various colours that flowed through them. It was surprising to see they weren't hidden, especially if one wished to break out a friend… but then again, Harry didn't suppose many people were allowed down at all. Not given the lack of overall manpower and the state of local lands.
Many of Grindelwald's followers would likely be kissed soon enough, and others, if not here, might face justice elsewhere. Maybe on his way out Harry would pick up a list of names for Aster to check over. If not him, Urban could do the job. Anybody to ensure there wasn't a person here that might escape justice for crimes done in the UK.
Finally, after a final door that'd made Elaine pause given the lack of immediate opening, the two emerged in a longer, very strange looking corridor. Sure enough, there were cells on either side with three guards lining the way. A quick peek to his left and right revealed the former cell empty, but the latter, full-up with two people.
He slid his arm through Elaine's once more and saw her escorted up to the first of the three guards. Whereupon reaching the man — another with an American flag — he greeted them with a big, toothy smile.
"It's awfully cool meeting the Minister and Deputy-Minister," The man gushed whilst reaching out a hand. "Baxter, ma'am, sir. Me and Marko are here to help you see to the bad guys."
Elaine held out a hand… which Baxter took up after a second or so of hesitation; he'd nearly shaken it, which would've amused Harry. The two wizards shook hands thereafter, and it was then Elaine spoke, her eyes on the closest cell and filled to the brim with intrigue.
Harry reckoned he'd have to keep her in check throughout the day. He'd thought as much since the whole meeting with prisoners the legal way had come to fruition — the illegal way, it wouldn't have mattered. Not when none of them would remember what occurred, but this way was the better way.
And it'd show how amiable they were in working with alleys that weren't viewed as subjects or client states.
That was pretty important, by his reckoning. The silence that'd fallen after Elaine's quick, direct request lasted until the trio reached the backmost cell, the one with a guard posted outside of it and the shimmering of a barrier coming forth. One that was thick and yellowish, and that final cell, on top of all of that, even had runes sprawled across the top of it.
He supposed Elaine's request to speak with the 'most senior' of his followers had been accepted with nary a pause or problem. At least, out of those present in the hall. There could've been others as well that were in another location altogether. In fact, Harry reckoned they were in that prison further south.
The one Grindelwald had been sent to in his time.
Maybe that was worth a look.
He shook his head and then entered behind Elaine, their first interviewee already at the table.