Chapter 40

Working the Case

Saturday 8 February 1997

After Hogwarts' worst ever cocktail hour, the teachers, and Percy, each expressed their gratitude to Harry for saving their lives. Harry did his best to deflect credit to Luna, but by then she had disappeared on her photographer's arm, but more importantly a smile on her face.

After the guests separated, the Marauders slipped into Hermione's workshop as it was closest. Harry went over the first half of his private meeting with the rest of the Marauders. He spared Percy's motivations for issuing four aurors on him. "So Susan, you're right. There is something going on there."

"Shit," she replied with her hands on her hips, as started to pace. It was a sentiment that was shared among all of them. "What the hell do we do if the ministry is having problems?"

"Nothing." Harry said with resounding confidence and to eyes of surprise before him. "Nothing different." he clarified. "We are too far removed geographically and politically. The Ministry is going to have to save itself. Bill already knows. He'll inform the Order and help from there. We focus on the damn Horcruxes and our deployment when we're called. We keep with the bookends approach. We protect the innocent civis and try to find the rest of Riddle charms."

Ron crossed his arms and nodded slowly. "I know it sounds cold and callus. I get it doesn't sit well, but Harry's right. We've got connections for information, sounds like two now. But that's a long way from influence. We're the only ones that know about the Horcruxes so we're the only ones that can do anything about them. And those ultimately are what keeps Riddle in play. Those have to be taken out to end this. If we lose focus…"

"People are going to pay with their lives." Ginny spat out in frustration. "God damn Riddle." That sentiment was shared with them all.

Harry squeezed the bridge of his nose in stress. "Alright, things are getting murky. Neville, how is our bunker coming?"

"Just finished rear access this week. We can walk the entire way but I was going to ask Hermione's help on some rune work."

"Probably," she said with a shrug. "What do you need?"

Neville affectionately looked over to his girl. "Hannah and I have the access tunnel and a spiral staircase shaft carved and lit. But it's a lot of bloody stairs."

Hannah nodded in agreement. "I've seen Dad use a lot of ascending and featherfall charms when working with shipping. We were thinking you could help us add some runes into the drop shaft at least to make it more of an elevator, with magical up and down?"

"Conceptually, not hard." Hermione said, "I'll need to take some measurements and do some calculations. Depending on the heights involved I may need stronger spell supplies-"

"We'll make it good." All four of the nobles said at once.

Harry smiled. "Well at least we all know we're on the same page." The team chuckled. "Look, it's late. We've had a hell of a day. Everyone, break for the day. Get some sleep."

The team broke apart heading for their dorms, but once they left Hermione's workshop, Harry felt the familiar pull of Ginny tugging him off to the side. He turned to see a look of seriousness in her eyes. "Harry, we need to go see Slughorn. "You just saved his life. He'll be tired and stressed. We need to press him for the memory, together."

"Together?" Harry repeated for clarification.

"I told you he's taken a shine to us as a couple…" she paused for a moment feeling Harry's gaze upon her as he could sense the missing variable. "Also after Harpie Stadium I gave him a reality check."

"Ginny! Seriously? I thought the mission was 'charm' him."

"No, the mission is 'get the memory!" she harshly corrected. "And you tried the nice way." She stopped, took a breath, and remembered who she was talking to, and who the gits were here; Slughorn for hiding and Dumbledore for sending Harry. "Sorry, but look, Slughorn is an opportunistic politician. He doesn't deserve the level of respect and protection you want to give everyone. I'm not saying he's as bad as Snape, but sure as hell hasn't been as supportive as Tonks or McGonagall. Tell me where I'm wrong, Harry."

Harry closed his eyes and nodded in acceptance. "You are not wrong, Gin."

"Okay, so Slughorn is a person of interest, and has information vital to the war. Who knows what that damn memory is? What if he knows where the other Horcurxes are? As an auror, what do we do?"

Harry continued to nod, accepting the facts of the matter. "We lean on him. We hit him now while he's tired. We press him."

Ginny could see the weight on his mind. "Harry, I know this isn't your usual preference-"

"It's the job." he finished. He looked up to her with a surprising look of resolve. "I've had this talk with Tonks before. The job is not just carrying the shield."

Soon the pair were knocking at Slughorn's door. He came to the door wearing his dressing gown and red smoking jacket. His breath was thick from fire whiskey, when greeted them, "Harry? Miss Weasley?"

"We need to talk, Professor." Harry said firmly. He didn't wait for an invitation. He pushed in with Ginny following behind him.

"Have a seat." she said as she glared at the potion master.

"I-I-I've already answered Sergeant Tonks questions," he nervously spat out as fell into the nearest chair. Harry and Ginny remained standing.

"Good," Harry replied curtly, "it should be easy for you to answer mine then." Harry drew out his copbook and pen.

"Isn't it a bit late for questioning?"

"Standard protocol," Ginny answered as she slowly circled around the pair in Slughorn's sitting room. "Quicker a statement can be taken, the fewer details people get wrong. Interview is always best as soon as possible."

"Professor, can you think of any reason anyone would want you dead?" Harry asked bluntly.

"What? Me? You think that was directed to me?" Slughorn's lip quivered as he asked.

"It was your bottle. You brought it to the party." Ginny reminded. "Unless… Harry could Slughorn have been trying to poison the teaching staff?"

"I suppose that is possible." Harry shrugged as he wrote the idea down.

"What?!" Slughorn replied with a look of pure terror. "You can't possibly believe I would poison the bottle then take a glass to drink it myself?"

"I believe you are a renowned potions master. And if you didn't know how to make the proper antidote to a poison you yourself administered, I would be greatly shocked." Harry continued to write.

"Why? What motive-"

"Money." Ginny and Harry both snapped in unison.

"Harry, do you think Sergeant Tonks could get the warrant for the Professor's bank records tomorrow?" Ginny asked, thinking out loud, as she grabbed the opened bottle of whiskey.

"Unlikely, tomorrow is Sunday. Likely need to wait until Monday." Harry looked up from his notes. "Professor, don't make any plans to leave the school premises."

"Now see here! I'm a victim, not a-a-a suspect!" Slughorn pleaded.

Harry glared at the Professor. "Which takes me back to my original question. Can you think of any reason anyone would want you dead?

Slughorn fell quiet, Harry chased the quiet. "Let me put it to the point. Professor Slughorn, can you think of any reason a known Death Eater would want you to stop breathing, or more specifically, talking?"

"Death Eater? Mr. Malfoy?"

"Yes." Ginny replied as she knelt beside the Professor. "Malfoy is a Death Eater, like his father before him." She leaned forward to whisper in Slughorn's ear. "And close enough to Riddle he has his very own dark mark." She refilled his highball from the open bottle. In his fear induced nerves he greedily drank from the shaking glass.

"So Professor Slughorn," Harry took a knee to look Slughorn eye to eye. "Tell me where I am wrong. For the last six months you have been living comfortably behind the walls of Hogwarts. Walls that my team patrol. You stay hidden away from a war while my team is deployed to defend the innocent. This is now the second attack on these grounds. And it damn near took out the entire faculty." He growled as he reminded the professor of the prices he had already paid.

Ginny flashed him a look. Harry nodded. Ginny took the pass. "Professor, we don't think you're a mastermind trying to kill anyone." With her left hand refiling Slughorn's glass she gently rubbed Slughorn's shoulder to comfort him with her other. "I think you are a man who has been so frightened for so long, you truly don't know what other options you have."

"Professor," Harry continued with a much more gentle voice. "I understand fear. I've known it my whole life. Fifteen years ago, my parents died defending me from the same man who tried to kill you today."

"Oh dear. Yes, that was — was terrible indeed. Terrible . . . terrible . . ." He looked quite at a loss for what to say. Ginny let the weight press up on him and filled his glass again. "I don't — don't suppose you remember it, Harry?" he asked awkwardly.

"No — well, I was only one when they died," said Harry, his eyes focused on Ginny sharing his gaze, giving him the needed support. "But I've found out pretty much what happened since. My dad died first. Did you know that?"

"I — I didn't," said Slughorn in a hushed voice.

"Yeah . . . Riddle murdered him and then stepped over his body toward my mum," said Harry.

Slughorn gave a great shudder, but he did not seem able to tear his horrified gaze away from Harry's face.

"He told her to get out of the way," said Harry remorselessly. "He told me she needn't have died. He only wanted me. She could have run."

"Oh dear," breathed Slughorn. "She could have . . . she needn't . . . That's awful. . . ."

"It is, isn't it?" said Harry, in a voice barely more than a whisper.

"But she didn't move. Dad was already dead, but she didn't want me to go too. She tried to plead with Riddle. . . but the bastard just laughed. . . ."

"That's enough!" said Slughorn suddenly, raising a shaking hand. "Really, my dear boy, enough . . . I'm an old man . . . I don't need to hear . . . I don't want to hear . . ." Ginny reached out and took his hand, held it and lowered it, making comforting 'shh'ing sounds as she looked at Harry to continue.

"I forgot," Harry lied , "You liked her, didn't you?"

"Liked her?" said Slughorn, his eyes brimming with tears once more. "I don't imagine anyone who met her wouldn't have liked her. . . . Very brave . . . Very funny . . ." His eyes drifted over to Ginny holding his arm. "It was the most horrible thing. . . ."

This was the first time Ginny had heard in such, haunting detail, what happened on that dreadful night. And listening to the recount from Harry himself, broke pieces of her heart she didn't know were even there yet. She held firm to the task at hand but couldn't control the tear falling from her cheek.

"Then help her son," said Ginny. "She gave her life, but you won't give a memory?"

Harry and Ginny both focused on the teary eyed Slughorn. The potions master seemed unable to look away.

"Don't say that," he whispered. "It isn't a question . . . If it were to help you, of course . . . but no purpose can be served . . ."

"It can," said Harry clearly. "Professor, for the last six months we have been on a mission to hunt down and destroy the Horcruxes."

"Destroy?" Slughorn said in disbelief.

"Yes sir." Ginny replied. "We've already ruined three of them. That's why we need your help.

Looking Slughorn straight in the eye, Harry leaned forward a little. "Let me avenge my parents. Help me find justice for Lily. I don't have a choice. I have to face Riddle. If you give me that memory, my odds are better." Slughorn turned paler than ever; his shiny forehead gleamed with sweat.

"You really are the Chosen One, aren't you?"

Clearer than he ever had before, with confidence and with Ginny looking right at him, he nodded "I am."

"But then . . . my dear boy . . . you're asking a great deal . . .

"You don't want to get rid of the wizard who killed Lily Evans?"

"Harry, of course I do, but —"

"You're scared he'll find out you helped me?" Slughorn said nothing; he looked terrified.

"Professor. . . ." Ginny said gently. "Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's choosing to do the right thing despite fear. Make the right choice. Help us put Riddle in the ground."

Slughorn raised a pudgy hand and pressed his shaking fingers to his mouth; he looked for a moment like an enormously overgrown baby. "I am not proud . . ." he whispered through his fingers. "I am ashamed of what — of what that memory shows. . . . I think I may have done great damage that day. . . ."

"Then help us repair it," said Harry. "I have an entire team, all focused on ending this damn war. Please give us your piece of the puzzle. Pass the torch, and let us use it to light the fire that burn him."

Harry and Ginny stared at Slughorn for a long, long silence.

"Please sir," Ginny said barely above a whisper, and another tear along her cheek. "A few weeks ago, you said what Harry and I have is the stuff of legend and if you could ever be of help, just ask. Professor, I'm asking."

Then, very slowly, Slughorn put his hand in his pocket and pulled out his wand. From across the room he summoned a small, empty bottle.

Slughorn touched the tip of his wand to his temple and withdrew it, so that a long, silver thread of memory came away too, clinging to the wand tip. Longer and longer the memory stretched until it broke and swung, silvery bright, from the wand. Slughorn lowered it into the bottle where it coiled, then spread, swirling like gas. He corked the bottle with a trembling hand and then gave it to Ginny.

"Thank you very much, Professor," she thanked with a gentle kiss to the back of his hand.

"You two truly remind me so much like them. ," said Professor Slughorn, tears trickling down his fat cheeks into his walrus mustache. "You've got her eyes" he said to Harry. Then he turned to Ginny. "You have her spirit. . . . Just don't think too badly of me once you've seen it. . . ."

Finally his head fell back in seat and drifted off to sleep. Harry summoned the blanket off the nearby sofa and covered Slughorn. Then the pair quietly left the living quarters and even locked the door behind them. Ginny waited till they rounded the corner before finally choking out. "Harry."

He stopped and looked at her, seeing the devastation in her eyes. "Hey, Gin, it's okay. I'm okay," he comforted as he pulled her next to his chest.

"How? How can you be?" Ginny said as she looked up to him, now seeing emerald eyes filled with confidence and strength. "You never… you never talk about that night."

Harry took a deep breath and kissed her head as he held Ginny close. "Can you blame me?" She shook her head no. "But for what it's worth. I'm glad you were there tonight. I'm glad you heard. Ever since you told me what your first year was like… I felt I owed it to you… but when the hell do we bring up shit like this?"

"Oh Harry," Ginny squeezed tighter, "I get it. I get that at least." She took a deep breath. "Harry I know you hate this, but please let me say this once. I am so sorry all this happened to you. I love you so much."

Harry took a breath. "From you, after you've put in the time with me, sat and heard it all. That's not what I hate. It's when it's reflexive platitudes I hate. You feel it and mean it. That's appreciated, Gin. You know I love you too."

Changing the subject Ginny pulled out the treasured memory and held it out to Harry. "You did it. Mission accomplished."

He did pocketed the memory. "No… WE did it. Don't think for a second I don't credit you for heavy lifting with that back there. The drink was a good move too. Thank you. He passed out, there are good odds he won't even remember us."

"What do you think it is?" Ginny asked, composing herself back to presentable.

Harry pocketed it. "I really don't know. Another version of Slughorn talking to Riddle. The true version." He stopped and thought for a moment. It was late in the night of an incredibly long day. "Babe, I do not have a Dumbledore meeting in me tonight. I suggest we hit him up tomorrow first thing. Before breakfast even."

Ginny silently nodded in agreement, still not letting go.

"And you are crashing with me tonight, aren't you?"

Another silent head nod without release.

Harry took out his cloak and covered them both. "I love you, Gin."

Sunday 9 February 1997

Harry and Ginny awoke again in his trunk room. Ginny felt far better than the night before. The rest of the boys' dorm was still asleep and snoring when they slipped out again and headed to Professor McGonagall's office.

"Harry, do you honestly think she'll be up already?" Ginny asked.

"I know that I've seen her watching us when we go out on morning runs." Harry shrugged. "And looking back, I know that Dumbledore has had his eyes on this memory since before we started class this year. I really don't want the Old Man waiting any more."

"Old Man?" Ginny laughed as they walked.

"Tell me I'm wrong."

"No, you're not wrong. I'm just surprised compared to how you spoke about him a year or two ago."

"Things change, Gin. It's been a hell of a couple of months. I'm not exactly happy at what we needed to do to get the thing. I get it, it's war. I don't regret it, but it doesn't mean I have to like it… or him."

Harry rapped at McGonagall's door and waited a moment until it opened to the Professor awake and looking as if it were the middle of the day. "Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, is something the matter?"

That actually made Ginny laugh and gave Harry a half smile. "Given the two of us, fair question. No ma'am, nothing wrong."

"Well, thank merlin." she said, visibly relaxing. "To what do I have the pleasure of your early visitation?"

"I need to see Professor Dumbledore. It has to do with my private lessons. I'm sure you're aware of them." Harry explained. "You know about everything in this school."

McGonagall smiled. "I appreciate you acknowledging my awareness of Hogwarts, Mr. Potter. Yes, I am aware of your lesson with the Professor. Even without them I would have no quarrel with you meeting him, but he is not here."

"You're kidding me." Harry said in shock.

"He was just here last night!" Ginny pointed out.

"No, I am not being humorous, and yes he was indeed here last night, but neither statement negates the reality of the Professor's absence now. Believe me I too wish his attendance was far more traditional this last year as well."

Harry sighed. He wanted to swear, but kept that under control in front of the present company. "Professor, one assumes you have no idea where he went?"

"One assumes correctly Mr. Potter," she nodded.

"Does he ever flame or contact when he is absent?" Ginny asked in depiration. "Can we leave a message?"

"The Professor's contacts are rare… but not nonexistent." McGonagall nodded. "For you Mr. Potter, considering everything about you, I would be willing to deliver a message. Would you care to write it down?"

"No need. Just tell him, 'I did it.' He'll understand."

After how the day before went, Harry and Ginny just returned back to the common room to put some time into study like normal average students. The irony of their lives wasn't lost on them. But they had months ago decided acceptance was easier than trying to make sense of it all. Seamus did return to the Gryffindor table for breakfast with Lavender by his side. He had a tenderness to his walk, and was prescribed blood replenishers for a week, but his smile was still there so Harry took that as a positive sign. Harry and Ginny shared smiles of satisfaction when Slughorn's spot was empty for the morning meal.

Draco came to breakfast far more subdued and limping. The Slytherin glared at Harry when he dared to look at him. Notably though there was still a scar on the left side of Draco's face from his ear to jaw. A remnant from Harry's first blood draw. But Draco's mouth did seem to talk less, so Harry considered it an improvement.

They were breaking from breakfast and heading out for the day off when Tonks approached him. "Potter, we need you. McGonagall's office."

Harry's head dropped and he sighed. The frustrations clearly were not over yet. "What is the problem now?" He asked as they walked.

"Narcissa Malfoy has come to visit."

Harry stopped mid step in mild protest. "Great, let her go visit Draco. Leave me alone."

"Harry, you have no idea how much I'd like to," she agreed as she crossed her arms. Then she nodded with her head to continue. She held her hand behind her back as they walked and took the opportunity to brief Harry on the progression of cases. "I questioned Slughorn about the mead yesterday. He said Draco wanted him to pass it along to Dumbledore."

"And when you questioned Draco?" Harry asked, sighing hard as he could already guess the answer.

"Haven't yet. Professor Snape was being a protective mother hen yesterday." Harry snickered at the description.

"I'm serious. He was dotting over Draco so much he refused to let me question him."

"That's an option?!"

"He pulled the minor card. Wanted parental presence. That's what we're walking to now."

"Merlin's beard." Harry groused.

Tonks stopped the pair of them and firmly but gently grasped Harry's shoulder and looked him square in the eye. "Harry, before this goes anywhere. I want you to know this. I am damn proud of you yesterday. For the entire day."

"Even when I threw the link down?"

"Even then. Because you were doing that out of a sense of loyalty and protection. Stopping the bastard. You have the skills that… well if anyone else did they'd be very scary. But you have the moral fiber that even I take confidence in. You went up against a punk bastard that you could have killed, he probably deserved anything you gave him, and you still kept yourself under control. And then you went on and defeated a four on one fight against seasoned aurors. Harry, I'll take you as my backup on any mission."

"Thanks, Sarge."

Tonks smiled, but then took a breath. "Don't thank me just yet. There's a surprise still in store."

Harry closed his eyes, and swallowed hard to brace himself. "What?"

"As I said, Draco pulled the parental presence card. And neither I nor McGonagall are dumb. We can see how this is going to go, so the Weasleys should be here now too."

"What!" Harry yelled in disbelief. "One damn fight and you flame them?"

Tonks stopped to look at Harry with compassion, but correction. "Yes, Harry, because this is something that could get bigger. The Malfoys have a tendency to try to pull strings. And for the big events of concern in life you deserve to have them in your life. I know you don't have a frame of reference, but this is what it means to have a family. It's not just meals around the table. Its support in times of trouble too."

As warned Mr. and Mrs Weasley were standing outside McGonanall's office when they arrived. Molly wore a worried expression on her face. Arthur had one of quiet pride. The moment they turned the corner and were in visual range Molly began almost running to Harry. Tonks was smart enough not to be between Molly and her child so stepped to the side with a smile.

"Harry," the mother said as she quickly embraced her adopted son.

"Er, ah, hi Molly." spat out awkwardly.

Arthur came along with a reassuring hand to Harry's shoulder. "So it sounds like you have been keeping busy."

Tonks continued to smile as she excused herself. "I'm going to go check in with the Professor. Give you three a moment."

Harry sighed as Molly released her grip. Arthur led them to an alcove to be out of traffic.

"I'm sorry." Harry began.

"Whatever for Harry?" Molly asked, truly confused.

"Causing trouble to bring you two out here." he explained, now the confused one.

"Son," Author began with a grin. "We raised Fred and George. They were troublemakers. Trouble seems to just find you, but neither of us is upset with you."

A strange sense of relief came to Harry. "Happy birthday by the way, a few days late I know."

Arthur smiled. "But you wished the same in the letter with the book about airplanes you sent, Harry, relax."

Finally Harry asked the obvious question. "How much have they told you?"

Molly began adding her hand rubbing Harry's back. "Well yesterday was that contest of the auror team vs Snape's class you had written about. Thank you for keeping up with that by the way." She interrupted herself to smile and kiss his hair in appreciation. "From what I understand Draco put one hell of hex on Seamus."

"Damn near killed him by the sound of it." Arthur said to clarify.

Harry nodded affirmatively to both.

"Right," Molly continued, "Then you stepped in and, well, you taught young Mr. Malfoy that there's always someone bigger 'round the bend." She gave a smile of pride.

Arthur continued raising a finger. "Now as I understand it, there was some poisoned mead at a cocktail party last night?"

"Yes sir." Harry nodded as he relayed the events to his guardians.

"So it appears Draco tried to poison the entire faculty, and you saved them?" Arthur asked with a cheeky grin. "And you felt we'd consider that 'causing trouble'?"

His foolishness starting to register, Harry blushed. "Old habits die hard, sorry."

"That's all right son." Arthur replied, hugging Harry and patting his back. "We can already see the progress."

Molly wanted to cover the basics. "Now, is there anything else that happened yesterday?" she questioned.

"Um, after Draco, Percy made me fight four aurors at once." Harry offered with a grin.

"Merlin's beard." Molly drowned, as she looked off to the side.

"And?" Arthur asked in a tone of expectation.

"OH! I won. Knockouts! I wasn't going to kill anyone for a demonstration event."

"Harry James Potter," Molly said in shock, "You fought and beat four trained aurors yesterday?"

"Yes ma'am." Harry nodded.

Molly rolled her eyes, then looked him over. "You seem well enough. How are they?"

"They were fine by the time of the cocktail party. They even gave me their information and told me to owl them when I have a badge."

That took Molly a moment to process. "Let me just understand this. You beat, and knocked out, four aurors, so they essentially offered you a job?"

"Yes ma'am." Harry nodded again.

"Actually Molly, considering the work of aurors, that does make a lot of sense to me." Arthur nodded in admiration. "Well done son, very well done," he continued to squeeze Harry's shoulder.

Still with a smile he gestured to McGonagall's office. "So should we go see what madness the Malfoy's have for us?"

He led the way and opened the door for Harry and his wife. McGonagall sat at the head of the table. Snape to her left then Narcissa, finally Draco. All of them looked highly annoyed to even be here. Tonks was sitting to McGonagall's left. Molly skipped two chairs and had a seat. Harry reflexively took the seat next to Tonks and Arthur the last, between his wife and adopted son.

"What are they doing here?" Narcissa asked in contempt, looking at the redheads sitting across from her.

"Same reason you are here." Tonks replied with a grin.

"Yes," McGonagall confirmed. "Last summer the Weasleys were appointed Mr. Potter's guardians. As Professor Snape and your son have requested your presence, we felt it only proper to invite them for him."

Narcissa looked over to Snape for confirmation. He nodded.

"Fine," she said in irritation.

"We really should try to meet under better circumstances." Arthur said with a smile.

Narcissa rolled her eyes as she focused on Potter. "I will go straight to the heart of it. What do you plan to do to that … brute?"

Tonks smiled. "Well I'll keep it simple too. As it now pertains to two open investigations under the D.M.L.E. I would love for Mr. Malfoy simply to take his shirt off."

Draco looked at his mother intensely.

"Draco! No! What are you going to do to Potter!"

Harry couldn't resist. "I'm willing to take my shirt off, sure." he grinned. "C'mon Draco, I'll show you mine, you show me yours."

"Harry." Molly growled to correct.

"Sorry ma'am." he apologized.

Both McGonagall and Tonks smiled. Tonks continued, "I'm sorry. When you said 'brute' I made the logical deduction you meant the one who hexed a student so harshly it took a team of five mages to patch him together and stabilize him enough to be carried off the training grounds. Whereas Draco walked off the firing range."

"Barely," Snape added.

"Which you sir, were warned repeatedly, of the dangers of cross engagement." Tonks said vehemently.

"Mrs. Malfoy," McGonagall interrupted. "I can confirm that Sergeant Tonks did on multiple occasions attempt to explain the skill differences of students in question."

"Regardless!" Narcissa snapped. "I want to know what repercussions Potter is facing."

"None." McGonagall said coldly and firmly.

"Excuse me?!" Narcissa spat out in shock, he hand reflexively

"It was a pre-planned organized duel." Tonks explained. "Ordered from the Ministry in fact. All participants had been briefed on what combat can be like and knew what to expect. My understanding is Draco volunteered to be on what was primarily a Seventh year team."

"I'm the best on the team!" Draco slammed his hand on the table in rage.

"But not the best…. in the school… apparently." Arthur said pointedly with a smile. Snickers had to be stifled from everyone on the right side of the table.

"Leaving the duel to the side." Tonks took her copbook out and turned a few pages back in her notes. " Yesterday evening a bottle of poisoned mead was served at a gathering by Professor Horace Slughorn. Slughorn has in turn stated that he received that bottle from you Mr. Malfoy."

"Look," Draco snapped at the auror. "I gave him the bottle! That doesn't mean I poisoned him!"

Both Narcissa and Snape lowered their eyes in disappointment.

"What?" Draco asked in concern.

Harry grinned. "You just admitted to giving Slughorn the bottle, in front of witnesses."

"But NOT to poisoning it. How would I even do that?" he growled.

"Valid question Mr. Malfoy," Tonks said as she sat back and looked at a side table. She summoned a book to her hand, then slid that in front of him. "Please confirm this is a copy of your current text book for your potion brewing class."

Draco was starting to wise up. He looked at Narcissa and Snape. There was no point in denial so Snape nodded affirmatively. "Yes." Draco said solemnly.

Tonks made a note then directly asked, "Please turn to page 175."

"Why?" he sneered.

Tonks didn't react. She simply repeated the request, "Please turn to page 175."

Again, there was no point otherwise so Snape nodded affirmatively. Draco opened the book. There was no need to say anything, the chapter header was large enough for the table to read. 'Poisons & Antidotes'.

"Congratulations Tonks," Snape replied dryly. "You have reduced your suspect list to anyone who had access to the Sixth year course material over the last 50 years. All of this is circumstantial at best."

Tonks smiled. "Thank goodness, that's not my only point." Then she turned to Narcissa. "Mrs. Malfoy, may one ask why your husband is not here today?"

Narcissa turned red with anger. "You know damn well why!"

"Please answer the question." Tonks all but sang.

"Because he's in Azkaban prison." Narcissa growled out barely above a whisper.

"Under what charges?" the auror asked with a look of expectation that would not be denied.

"Breaking and Entering, and Magical Assault."

"And?" Tonk said almost melodically.

"Convicted Death Eater." Narcissa finally confessed with her eyes aflame.

"Thank you," Tonks said as she quickly turned to Snape. "Professor-"

The man in black held his hand. "My former association with the Dark Lord-"

"His name," the right side of the table interrupted. "...is Riddle."

Snape rolled his eyes. "My former associations are a matter of public record."

"Are they former, Professor? Are they really?" Tonks said. "Because I am aware this may be circumstantial, but don't you dare think I can't use this to keep pushing."

Tonks returned to her notes. "Mr. Malfoy, my understanding is you formerly were the Seeker for House Slytherin for … three years."

Draco checked with his elders, "Yes."

"Care to advise why you dropped?"

"No." he said coldly.

"And I see you were formerly a Prefect?"

"Yes."

"Care to enlighten us as to why you left that?" Tonks looked up, focused on him like a hunter on its prey.

"No." Draco repeated like a rehearsed broken record.

Harry decided to add a card to the deck. "Draco, where have you been sleeping this last year?"

Draco made a choking sound in silence and looked to his house head in desperation.

Snape looked at Harry with pure contempt. "Slytherin Dorms, as he has since First year."

Tonks and McGonagall both watched Harry with curiosity, but Harry had more than earned his trust.

"Really Professor, 'as he has'? You mean he hasn't been residing in the head boy's room?"

Snape kept silent and looked with disdain at Harry.

Tonks picked it up from there. "Well Draco, it's a simple enough question. One I'm sure your own mother would like to know. Where are you sleeping?"

All eyes fell upon the platinum blonde lad. "Alright yes, Professor Snape said I could have it this year."

McGonagall turned her head to Snape with a raised eyebrow. "Mr. Quinn from Ravenclaw is the headboy this year. Why would you make such an offer?"

"I would be very curious as to how Mr. Potter knows where my students sleep in my own dorm."

"That's not an answer, Severus." McGonagall said more sternly. "Why?"

Snape's eye finally left his opponents across the table to him and looked at McGonagall. "After his father's incarceration I thought the young man could use some level of privacy. The room was not otherwise in use. He came to me resigning for the activities as mentioned, I wanted to offer some level of … kindness."

"Which you are so well known for, Professor." Harry replied coldly.

"Harry." Molly corrected.

Arthrur smiled like a school boy while watching Harry and Tonks lay a case.

Tonks made a note and continued. "See, there is another piece in a puzzle that Draco Malfoy has become this year. And I have a theory," the auror said as she put the pen down and pressed her fingers together.

"Harry, you've played quidditch, correct?"

"Yes ma'am, six years, Seeker, Griffindor Captain."

The two of them may have been speaking to each other but both of them stared at Draco. Tonks leaned closer with a cheek grin. "I hate to be personal but, where do you change into and out of your quidditch uniform?"

Harry shrugged and smiled. "No problem Sarge, Quidditch pitch locker rooms."

"Those don't happen to be private locker rooms?" Tonks smiled.

"Hardly, Sarge. "

"Interesting Harry, thank you." Tonks smiled. "The prefect's bathroom, is that private?"

"No ma'am." Harry confirmed, still focusing on Draco.

"Very interesting Harry, thank you." Tonks said, "Professor Snape, I checked with Madam Pomfrey who was unable to provide me with the records of his treatment after yesterday's engagement. Her statement is that you failed to deliver a student under your charge to her for medical treatment after an encounter that, in your own words, he 'barely' walked away. Would you care to explain to the boy's mother why such care was not sought?"

Snape turned to Narcissa. "I tended to his injuries myself."

Tonks rose and leaned forward with both hands on the table. "Professor Snape, are you a certified and approved healer of this institution?"

Snape returned Tonk's expression of contempt. "I know what I'm doing."

Tonks slammed her fist into the desk. "Not an answer to the question. Are you an approved healer for this institution?!"

"No-" McGonagall interrupted, "Professor Snape is not."

Tonks rose and started pacing as the table watched her, half of them in admiration and the other half in vitriol. "Here's my theory. It appears that in the last eight months our young Mr. Malfoy has taken every step possible to prevent being seen in a state of undress. He has given up a respected position of prefect. He has left a prized position of team seeker. He has avoided medically needed treatment through proper personnel. He has, against protocol at least, moved into a private room he does not have the right to. He has at every turn gone to great lengths to not be caught with his shirt off. So I see two possible solutions. Either Draco Malfoy has developed a severe case of shyness…." she laughed at the ridiculousness of the idea. Then T0nks chuckle lowered into a deep growl. "...or you have a Dark Mark."

Silence filled the room as the eyes fell onto the Slytherin boy.

Cold and even Tonks "Draco Malfoy, would like to exonerate yourself as a suspect by simply taking off your shirt, sir."

With a slight tremor in his voice. "No."

Narcissa pulled Draco into a protective hug. "You have no right to ask that!"

"I am an auror!" Tonks yelled back. "I took an oath to Serve and Protect. I have been assigned to the Hogwarts and greater Hogsmeade area. I have every right! Draco is looking at multiple counts of Conspiracy to Commit Murder and And Conspiracy to Commit Murder on a Ministry Official! I am warning you now! If Draco does not voluntarily disrobe now, I will be filing my request for a warrant!"

Tonks shifted her eyes from mother to the technical child. "Draco, you are still a minor. After your father's conviction, I am willing to believe you were coerced. You've gotten lucky that the damage has been minimal. No one has died yet. I am willing to help you but… you have to work with me!" Tonks pleaded with the young man.

Molly and Arthur looked across the table. They knew the report from the activities of the day prior were accurate. But in this moment, they didn't see the wizard that damn near killed one of his own classmates, or the bully of several of their children. They saw the truth, a scared little boy, who didn't see options.

"Draco," Arthur said softly. "You wouldn't be the first young man to make a mistake. But you are reaching the age that many of the decisions you make will define the rest of your life. Please, you do not need to follow your father."

The sight of Draco cowering tore at Molly's heartstrings, and she couldn't stop a few tears from falling as if they were pleading for his own soul. "I've had seven boys now under my wing, Draco. I know a bit about young men. You are not a bad man. You still have a chance to choose a better way."

Draco seemed to summon up the last reserves of his courage and strength. With smugness and false bravado he simply replied. "I'm a Malfoy!"

"You get your warrant. Until then you leave my boy alone!" Narcissa spat out as she rose and marched Draco out of the office. Snape nodded only to McGonagall and followed.

"Damn it!" Tonks yelled with a punch to the table. "Stupid stubborn kid! That warrant is going to prove lack of cooperation. I'm not going to be able to help him much if he keeps forcing my hand."

Arthur rose and reassured to pat Tonks's shoulder. "I don't think you could have tried any harder to reach that boy."

Tonks nodded in agreement. It was cold comfort.

They broke away from the meeting, the Weasley walked with Harry back to the Gryffindor commons.

"Harry," Arthur began as they walked. "Molly and I are quite proud of you."

"Er, okay?"

Molly explained, with a side hug. "You and Draco couldn't be more different. He seems to have had every advantage and that boy is falling to such a dark, dark place."

Arthur stepped in front of them to stop them. He kept a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You, on the other hand, couldn't seem to catch a fair break for anything. And yet, you have become a fine man. I'm proud to call you son."

Harry smiled. "Thank you sir, thank you both."

As it was Sunday, Molly and Arthur opted to follow Harry back to the commons to visit their other children, who were happy for the surprise visit. Once they got there though, an Irish voice called out to him. "Oi Harry!"

Harry turned to find Seamus approaching from a couch that Lavender was still sitting on, no surprise. But the pair looked to have been talking to an older woman, in her 40's, slender frame covered in long hazel colored hair like her son's. She smiled and rose as Harry approached.

"Mrs. Finnegan," he nodded as he took her hand.

"Hello Harry, it's my understanding, that after my son's… 'incident' yesterday, it was you who stood in his place and taught the ruffian a lesson?"

Harry looked over to Seamus, and Lavender, smiling and nodding to him. Then he turned back to Mrs. Finnegan. "Semus is a mate. The D.A. takes care of its own. I kicked his bloody arse. He had to damn near crawl off of the firing range when I was done with him."

She took a deep breath of satisfaction and smiled very warmly. "Mr. Potter, I am aware that you are a man of means. But if for whatever reason, if you find yourself near Kenmare and would fancy a cup of tea, a meal, or lodging, you would always be welcome."

"Actually ma'am, that's one of the highest honors I think anyone's given me, thank you." he said offering his hand.

She batted it away to hug him. "Thank you, Harry."

Harry rejoined the Weasleys for an mid-day catch up. Before they left though, the parents did take a moment alone with Harry.

"There is one more thing." Arthur said, clearing his throat. "We saved it for last because visits so often go in many directions, and we wanted to end this one on a good note regardless. My understanding is you're having Bill help you with a valentine gift for Ginny?"

"Yeah just some basic charm work on-"

"He told us." Molly interrupted, with a hand raised. "Lovely idea by the way."

Harry was shocked. "Coming from you that means a lot, Molly. Thanks."

"Well," she replied, "In the end he cared very much for you and only wanted the best for you."

"While Bill was preparing it, in one of the pockets, he found this." Arthur held out a well worn pocket notebook. It was about 2 inches wide and 5 inches long, with a brown leather cover that had clearly seen a lot of miles. Harry took it as Arthur explained. "It's a journal from Sirius, from when he first escaped Hogwarts back in '94. And the entries are addressed to you."

Harry opened the book.

Guidance from the Dogstar

-Tips and Tricks of Sirius Black-

1 July 1994

Dear Harry,

It's been a month since you and Hermione freed me at Hogwarts, and likely saved my life. I truly want to thank you. Someday, I want to try to repay that debt. It's been a busy few weeks for me. I'm realizing now that clearing my name is going to be easier said than done. Now don't be mistaken, that's not me quitting by any stretch of the imagination. But it is me looking realistic at the situation. It may be a bit before I can be the type of father figure you deserve.

But the devil of it is, I don't want to wait to help you. Also… I, more than many, have an idea of what may be in your future. This is where I say I wish you all the happiness possible. I would love for you to find a cottage someplace with a lady of your choice and fill it with little ones. Alas I fear that is a dream. And dreams are good, they give you goals and motivation. But you also need to keep your feet on the ground, one eye on the reality before you if you want to stay alive long enough to achieve your dreams. I was there when your parents had to run and hide during the last war. I hate to say this to you Pup, but there's a second war coming. You may need to run and hide from it too. And running and hiding happens to be something I have a bit of experience in, and everyday I seem to be adding to that.

So I've decided to write this for you. A collection of tips, tricks, and spells that I've found useful for living rough. I admit I rather enjoy beginning this as a letter to you. It helps to let me think that I am trying to be a better family man for you. This is one of those things in life I hope you never need. I hope forty years from now we can take a look at that and laugh at how melodramatic I'm being.

Love,

-Sirius Black

COMING NEXT WEEK

Ginny asks a question many readers ask:

"Harry, since we're talking about our histories here, I want to ask something. Why am I here? I mean, why me… instead of … Hermione?"

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Ever have a case of your characters not doing what you want? That was February 7th for me. For the last three chapters I have been looking forward to next week's chapter, Valentine's day. But NOOOOO... Percy needed to make sure Harry was good enough for his sister. Then Ginny was very much, in to pressing Slughorn for the memory, and frankly if Harry didn't come along, well unsupervised Ginny can be a dangerous Ginny. Then when the Weasleys are watching Tonks interrogate Draco... I didn't expect them to ... be parents. But once I get an idea of how these characters are I truly try to let them have their voices, so ... okay... Molly, Arthur... if you want to try to offer to help Draco, go ahead... but...

But Next Week... Surprise! A rare but I think earned visit to fluffy town, where Harry and Ginny have their first Valentine's Day.

And since I am putting in such and extensive note in this time. Allow me to put and deep thank you for all of you reading this long unique 'What if' story. We are approaching 70 total chapters and 400k words and people keep showing up. Thanks.

No Spoilers but I will let you know we have a LOT more to come. Current outlines run thru Year 9, so yeah... get comfortable, we have a ride ahead of us.