Preview of Draconian Revelations

Harry's POV

26 August 2005

"Harry!" I snapped to attention as Parvati entered the Junior Auror office. I blinked a few times to chase away the fatigue. I hadn't slept in 24 hours, and my sense of time was fuzzy. "What are you doing here!"

I sighed. One of the only perks of working late was to avoid interactions with nosy colleagues. I glanced at my watch – though, I should probably leave now if I wanted to be on time.

"Oh." I just realised why she was being inquisitive, not that that wasn't her norm. Technically, I was meant to have the day off. Well…more like I was forced to have the day off. She probably knew this, because she was married to my colleague, Alex Silver. "I…thought I'd get a head start on tomorrow."

I didn't even believe my lie.

"No, I mean, Alex is on duty tonight, and wasn't it meant to start at 6pm?"

"Duty…tonight?" My heartbeat quickened and I touched the inside of my left wrist to calm down, doing the mental math.

I had spent the last twenty-four hours in Hawaii…which was eleven hours behind the UK…

"Oh Godric! It's Friday!" I jumped up from my seat, "She's going to kill me."

Parvati nodded in agreement, buttoning up her scarlet trench coat, "They're both going to kill you." She turned and headed for the exit, "You can borrow Alex's tie! That one doesn't go!" She shouted over her shoulder, gesturing to the white bow tie I just pulled out of my desk drawer, and made her way to the Ministry of Magic staff floos.

"Thank you!" I was already clambering out of my shirt.

Thankfully most of the other junior aurors were either on duty, or at the pub for weekly drinks, so our office was empty.

I don't know what it says about Alex Silver and me that we both had a spare set of formal attire in the office.

Probably that we had saints for partners as we were constantly late, never taking the time to freshen up at home like a normal person, and always rushing off from the office.

I clambered into my dress robes and dug into Alex's drawer to grab his dark blue bow tie – not entirely sure what about it matched my formal dress robes better than my white one, but I trusted Parvati to know better.

"Potter, what the bleeding hell are you doing here."

I gulped, recognising the voice. I had been hoping to avoid my boss completely.

"Doing a terrible job at a knot spell." I joked, hoping he'd forget that I was defying his direct orders to take some of my 'vacation' time, or he was going to set Wizard Resources on me. Or worse, Hermione.

Roger Davies narrowed his eyes in frustration, but yanked the tie out of my grasp, and began doing it by hand, "Speaking of knots – my hands are tied. I spoke to Robards, and he said no to your Pacific Ocean request. I agree with him. Harry –"

"It's okay." I gulped again, uncomfortable at the mention of the request I put through a few days ago.

His eyes narrowed; I had gulped one too many times. However, Roger's next sentence was cut off by a quick knock at the open door.

"Roger. Malfoy is here." Roger's assistant, Peter, popped his head in.

"Draco Malfoy?" I cocked my head, halting buttoning up my shirt.

"Well, the other Malfoy is barely a month old so I'd be pretty surprised if he was waiting for me in my office. And well the other one is in Azkaban so I'd be more surprised if he showed up. Though, I guess he could mean Narcissa. Now I wouldn't mind a visit from Narcissa Malfoy. You know they say-"

I ignored Roger's attempt at both humour and a diversion, "What's he doing here?"

Roger averted my eyes and I straightened up. Why was he being so skittish? Why was he not reprimanding me for disobeying him about vacation time, he usually never lets things go. He raised his hands at whatever look was on my face.

"It's nothing. He wanted to talk, I'm not sure about what."

"Well, I can sit in –"

"Look, I think it's about his wife. I don't know specifics, but I doubt he would want you of all people there. Also, aren't you late? Alex left an hour and half ago."

"Shit." I ran a hand through my hair, he was right. Though, what was Malfoy doing here, especially now. Didn't Hermione say that he had cancelled all meetings for the foreseeable, which is understandable considering his circumstances, so if he was here... "Well I'm already late." I spoke aloud and Roger straightened up in response.

"Harry." Roger chided. "Look, you're one of my best men. And I say this with nothing but love. Sod off."

I groaned, taking the knotted bow tie. He was right, I can't miss this. " If anything –"

"I'll tell you. I'm telling you everything I can. Trust me."

I averted his eyes as he backed out of the office. I didn't particular want to talk about transparency and trust with Roger right now. The guilt churned at my insides, but I didn't have time to lament over my lies and rushed to the exit.