To Catch a Killer

~ ~ Chapter seven ~ ~


Harry was busy getting ready for a weekend away from the office. When he'd arrived at his office this morning, he'd been in good spirits. James should be unwrapping his birthday present right about then. It had taken Harry six months and countless numbers of lunches and dinners in the Ministry's cafeteria to save up enough money to buy the Firebolt 260, and it would be worth it. James will go wild when he saw it. They weren't even on the market yet, but Harry had called in a few favours and though he hated doing it, he even used his name to get the first one.

Now he was getting all of his top priority papers turned in and he was busy getting his in and out box organised better. It was Hogwarts' first Hogsmead weekend and Albus had owled him asking if they could meet there. He wanted to talk to Harry privately. In the last two weeks, Harry had made seven more wank chips and Scorpius had actually talked him into giving him an anonymous order for Albus. Albus must have wanted the extra money, because it came back the next morning. Albus obviously had too much time on his hands if he found time to slip to the Slytherin Quidditch changing rooms to defile their equipment, but it was the hottest chip he'd seen yet.

Harry paused, closing his eyes and remembering the images of Al masturbating with a Nimbus 2000 charmed to move in and out of him. He reached down, rubbing his growing cock.

“Potter? Sorry, your date will have to wait,” Cormack said, bursting into Harry's office. If his breathing was an indication, he'd just run down the hall. “There's another body, this time it's in Dovetown. Get over there, now!”

“No! It can't be, it doesn't fit the pattern. He kills every twentieth day. There have only been sixteen days,” Harry said anxiously.

Cormack scowled at him. “I'm sure his family will be overwhelmed at your sympathy, or your indignation at the killer's untimeliness for your personal life. Get your bent arse over there. Now! And I want the report on my desk by tomorrow at five.”

Harry grabbed his cloak, gritting his teeth as he ran down the corridor. “Fucking arse hole!” he shouted. “Another kid. Another weekend you've ruined for me.” He knew Albus' talk would have to wait. He'd be working all weekend, questioning possible witnesses, scouring the area for clues, searching for residual magical traces. As the lift went downward, he hated himself for thinking of himself rather than this murdered kid. Harry couldn't help it though. He was sure this would be the weekend he and Albus would finally shag. Scorpius had hinted to Harry that Albus really liked him. His heart was beating faster with the awareness that Harry would be wanking himself to sleep tonight too.

As he ran up the main hall of the Ministry lobby, Harry skidded to a stop at the owl post. Quickly he wrote a note to Albus apologising for cancelling their talk. “Fucking Hogs Head,” he spat. “He doesn't give refunds either. Ten galleons for a room for one night? That's outrageous, especially when you take into account the look of the rooms!” As Harry ran for the Apparation point, he thought about the rooms. For someone running an inn, he really should use a standard laundry services. A half hearted cleaning spell doesn't cut it.

With a crack, Harry Disapparated and appeared just outside the scene. There were several Aurors already there trying to keep back the growing crowd. They were shouting their displeasure with Ministry malfeasance, faulty investigating, unsafe neighbourhoods. Harry ignored them as he passed quickly through them. He walked up to the group of Aurors kneeling over the body which was dumped in a secluded ditch, and reeked of decay.

“What have we got?” he asked, holding his hand over his nose. He stared down at the mutilated body. This time it wasn't just his bollocks that had been taken, he had gashes all over his body. They were large, deep cuts. His chest lay open for all to see the inner workings of a human body. Lucius' last expression was frozen onto his face. He'd obviously still been alive when he'd been cut up.

“Get everyone back!” he shouted. “I want them all questioned and I want statements from them all.” He looked back down at the man he'd hated most of his wizarding life. He felt pity for the man, but mostly his thoughts were on Scorpius, and how he would take this news. Draco? He didn't think he'd care half as much as Scorpius. He should tell him personally. “Listen, I'm going to contact the closest relatives. Get the body back to St. Mungo's.”

He looked at Lucius one last time. His balls had been cut from his body, the mark of their newest mad wizard. He hated the man, that was the truth. But no one deserved this. “And I want to know if it was done by our killer. No one goes home until I have a firm answer.” Harry took a deep breath, and then Apparated to Hogsmead.

Harry quickly made his way to the castle. He had to inform them and to cancel the Hogsmeade weekend. He couldn't give this barmy bastard any more ammunition. Hagrid was the first he came upon; Harry had to smile slightly. Hagrid always seemed to be right there where you needed him. He quickly filled him in on the latest death, leaving out the details. Love him as he did, Harry knew it was easy too get information out of him.

After informing the Headmistress of the latest news she immediately cancelled the school outing. Harry excused himself and headed down to the dungeons to find Draco. He hoped he at least might run into Al, and possibly apologise for having to cancel their talk. As he descended the main staircase he did however run into James. He smiled happily at his oldest son who returned the gesture with a withering scowl. James quickly turned with his mates, and went in the opposite direction. Harry sighed. He didn't have time to work that out, he had more important business here.

It was almost surreal moving down to the damp, musty dungeons of the castle. It had been an age since he'd taken this route and yet it seemed like it was yesterday. Nothing had changed in the time he'd been gone from the castle. Coming to a stop at the Potions room, he took a deep breath and knocked lightly.

Draco's annoyed voice called his welcome. At least that was how Harry heard it. He pushed open the door to a packed classroom and his heart skipped a beat. He had hoped this would be an open period, but it was not to be. The students were busily making what ever potion it was, all very quiet and diligently working on their task. Only one or two students looked up to see their visitor.

“Potter?” Draco said quietly, walking up to him. A loud clanging of scales echoed through the room, many of the students jumping. Several cursed loudly.

“Damn it, Potter! You made me mess up my potion. Professor, can I have more time? I have to start all over because of that prat!” The annoyed student came marching up behind Draco. Draco continued staring at Harry, willing him to say something.

Harry chanced a look in the direction of the noise, and there was Albus, face as red as the turnip he attempted to squeeze juice from. He gave Harry an uneasy look.

“Potter?” Draco called loudly.

“Erm, yes, Professor?” Al replied quickly.

“You will trade places with Abercrombie,” Draco said calmly.

“Professor!” Al protested. “It was an accident!”

“Do it now! And ten points for your cheek.”

Harry gritted his teeth together, forcing himself not to defend his son. He could hear the deep intake of breath from the front of the room as Albus gathered his things.

“What is it, P... Harry?”

“Wondered if I might have a word in private,” Harry said evenly.

“You will continue on with your calming draught. If I hear one word, I shall empty every cauldron when I return. Understood?” Draco said loudly.

As if being orchestrated by a conductor, they all answered in an even tone, “Yes, Professor.”

Harry was both shocked and awed at how the class followed his direction. Snape would definitely be proud. They stepped into the hallway, Draco leaving the door ajar. Harry gestured up the hall. “Would you mind?”

Draco sighed loudly, and smiling falsely he took five steps and stopped.

Harry walked up next to him. “Draco. I hate to be the one to have to tell you this.” He paused, still unsure as to what he was going to say.

“Just spit it out, Potter. I've neither the time nor the inclination to stand here and... what is it the Mudbloods say? Ah yes, chit–chat, with you.”

Harry balled his fists at the mention of the word Mudblood. Although he knew there weren't any Muggle born children about, it was still a word that quickly enraged him. And before he could stop himself Harry let his anger get the better of him.

“Fine! I was going to say I am sorry to have to tell you, but in the last few hours we've found your father lying in pieces in Dovetown. I'm not sure as of yet if it's the bollocks killer or not, either way the facts are the same. He's been murdered.”

Harry was a little taken aback. Draco's eyes were twitching and he gritted his teeth as he stood closer to Harry. “You fucking... you let...” Draco looked up and down the hall, but they were alone. He composed himself in a way befitting Severus Snape. “If you don't find out who... if you make my father your little media treasure... find out who did it or else, Potter,” he spat.

Draco was talking in short fragmented sentences, his voice changing tones with each sentence. Harry, reached up his hand, patting Draco's shoulder.

“I'm very sorry, Draco.”

Draco pulled away and spat at Harry. “Don't you dare! Don't you dare patronise me, Potter. I... I...” He seemed to be loosing his calm and Harry was unsure what to do.

“I wasn't, Draco. I'm sorry someone took your father from you. Even though we didn’t get along, he didn't deserve that. He paid for his crimes and he has every right we all do to be here.” Harry started to walk away and stopped. “If you want...”

Draco interrupted him. “Save your platitudes. I don't need them.” He turned and walked away then stopped. Without turning around he spoke evenly. “Thank you for informing me.”

“Anytime,” Harry said. “I was going to tell Scorpius next, unless you'd...”

“No. I think he would appreciate hearing it from you. He speaks highly of you. However, kids are easily impressed.”

Harry shrugged, which was lost on Draco as his back was still to Harry. “He's a good kid,” he said, ignoring Draco's other remark.

“Again, thank you. I owe you one,” Draco said, starting to move back to his class.

“Draco?” Harry said, before he lost his nerve.

“Yes?”

“Would you... I mean, could you...” Harry sighed. Why was this so hard? He'd been trying for a week to work up the nerve to ask Draco this. Albus thought so highly of Draco, and it sounded to Harry like Draco was the right person to ask but right now when he had the chance, his childish bigotry was holding him back. Why in Merlin's name Al liked the ferret faced git, he didn't think he'd ever know.

“I will keep an eye on Al and not let anything happen to him,” Draco answered, and he left Harry standing in the hall.

“Thank you,” Harry said softly.

~ ~ tbc ~ ~