To Catch a Killer

~ ~ Chapter eight ~ ~

Harry returned to his office to take on the difficult task of informing Scorpius that Lucius was dead. He'd been dreading this the entire way back to the office. He was still not sure how or what he would say. There were five howlers waiting for him when he got to his office. Cormack started shouting the moment he walked in his office, so he slammed the door before they could follow.

“Bugger! This is the last thing I needed,” he groaned.

“Harry!” Fredrickson said anxiously. “You'd better get to the conference room. Cormack has been asking for you for almost an hour now.” Fredrickson was the only other Auror at this end of the hall, mainly because he was rather antisocial. As Harry was either in his office with the door closed or not at the office at all, they seemed to work well together, or as together as one can be across a hall. He relayed the events from earlier, where Cormack had told Scorpius that Lucius was killed. He did so in the middle of a packed lunch room, where Scorpius had to be taken to St. Mungos after his emotional collapse. Cormack had evidently not chosen to use any sense of tact or compassion for the young man. Instead he chose to be vicious and use Scorpius for a floor show for the lunch rush.

Harry, turned and ran up the hall to the lifts. His anger grew with each step, causing the lights to flicker and the walls to vibrate slightly. How could Cormack do that to Scorpius? It didn't make sense. Harry had walked in on them at the Ministry Christmas party in the loo. Cormack had backed the young man into a corner of the loo and was trying to get Scorpius' trousers over his boots, while Lucius watched. Needless to say, Harry didn't use that loo.

Lost in his anger, Harry hadn't realised he'd entered the lift, let alone arrived at the correct floor.

“You gonna leave, mister?” a pimply faced delivery boy asked. “I've got food to deliver.”

“Right. Thanks,” Harry said, moving quickly up the windowed hall and seeing Cormack addressing his team and many other Aurors. He burst into the room, immediately going to his boss.

“Well it's about time, Potter,” Cormack said sarcastically.

“You miserable, bloody bastard!” Harry shouted, pushing through the crowd to get to Cormack.

“Excuse me?” Cormack snarled.

Harry tried to hit him, but two of his fellow Aurors stopped him before he could. “What are you playing at, telling Scorpius like that?” He struggled to get out of their grips and throttle Cormack.

“Control yourself, Potter!” said Cormack threateningly. “You may just find yourself unemployed.”

“You had no right to tell him! The only reason you did it was to give yourself a false sense of importance.”

“You're forgetting your place, Potter,” Cormack said, stepping up to Harry and showering him with a spray of spit. “I am the Head of Aurors and your boss. It most definitely is my right and my job to inform my subordenants of the death of one of their family members.”

“Duty!” Harry scoffed. “Duty you say? Where the fucking hell were you and your duty when I had to inform all the parents of that they'd never see their sons again?” he said, raising his voice with each word. “Where was your duty when those poor women fell to the ground wailing, sobbing, and screaming for some sense of sanity?”

“Consider yourself on report, Potter. And if you can't contribute anything of substance to this meeting, leave or keep your fucking mouth closed," he shouted, pointing a skeletal finger in Harry's face. "The rest of us are trying to work.” Cormack turned his back on Harry and returned to the front of the room.

Harry was unceremoniously pulled by his collar to the back of the room by Hermione, who he noted had a heck of a grip. He was surprised she hadn't strangled him with his own cloak.

“Oi!” he exclaimed, still narked off, while Cormack continued with his meeting.

“Harry, you have to control your temper,” she pleaded softly.

“Hermione, did you hear what that prat did to Scorpius?” he asked, through gritted teeth in an attempt to appear calm.

Placing her hand over his, she gave him a sorrowful expression. “Yes, I did. It was deplorable at best, vicious at least. But, Harry you have to be careful. Cormack has it in for you now, and if you're not careful you'll be out of a job. You can't just go off and attack him in a room full of Aurors.”

He had to admit, though he would never tell her, she had a point. However, right now one of his close friends was in needless emotional pain because of his boss. He lowered his voice, leaning into her so only she could hear. “I wasn't going to attack him, Hermione. I was going to kill him.”

Hermione looked stricken. Looking around the room, she was almost in a panic. “Harry, don't talk like that. You know talk like that can get you thrown into Azkaban for six months. And if you'd think for just a moment,” she said, softer and patting his knee, “if you get fired, all these people move closer to your job. You may think they're your friends at work, but they all want a pay raise.”

Harry turned to look behind him, and three Aurors quickly straightened up in the chairs, seemingly engrossed in Cormack's talk. Harry groaned, giving his attention back to the front of the room. He didn't look at Hermione. Telling her she was right would only make it worse.

“Therefore, it is our belief that we're looking at a different killer. Though he seemingly used the Bollocks Killer's signature,” Flynn, one of Harry's team, said. He was pointing to a large photograph of Lucius' mutilated body. “Because of the brutality of the killing we are convinced that we are looking at a new killer. One who is possibly...”

Cormack seemed to be hanging onto his every word, and though Harry had an idea it was quickly confirmed when Cormack asked him to finish.

Flynn sheepishly looked at Harry then back to Cormack, almost triumphantly. “Well, the brutality suggests a werewolf, Sir.”

“Oh come off it, Flynn! Did you even read the coroners report?” Harry said angrily.

“Quiet, Potter!” Cormack shouted, giving Harry a withering stare. He turned back to Flynn and the group looking thoughtful. “Yeah, you may be onto something there, Flynn. But why would he take his bollocks?”

"It is our contention, that the bollocks slasher, is taking them for potion making. This killer, is just copying."

“You can't be serious! Flynn thinks every attack or death is due to a werewolf, he's got a hard on for them. I'm telling you it's the same guy!” Harry said incredulously.

“Don't have a go at me because someone is finally listening to someone other than, The Great Harry Potter! I'm just answering our boss' questions,” Flynn barked defensively.

“You're all completely daft if you're even considering this,” Harry said, pointing at Flynn. Although he received several incredulous stares. “The bloody full moon isn't for a fortnight. When could he have changed?”

This fact seemed to deflate not only the group of Aurors, who seemed all ready to go on a werewolf hunting spree, but also Flynn's argument. Flynn however recovered quickly or at least for the group of imbecilic co-workers.

“Well... it's, that is to say, whether they've changed or not they still possess great strength in their human form. And they're just as brutal.”

“How on Merlin's bollocks did any of you even become Aurors?” Harry shouted, standing up. “This is sheer idiocy. Read the bloody report, it's clearly shows the same fucking killer!”

“That is just about enough from you! Potter, you are hereby relieved of all duties. I am placing you on unpaid suspension pending a full inquiry into your mishandling of this and possibly other cases. You will leave this instant and not return until you're summoned.” Cormack seemed to be standing a foot taller, or perhaps it was the fact that the entire front row stood up in support of their completely insane boss.

“Fuck you, Cormack! I'm the only one doing anything,” Harry said, continuing his shouting tirade. Heading for Cormack again Harry was firmly stopped by more Aurors this time.

“Get him out of my sight!” Cormack growled.

Harry was unceremoniously dragged from the room by five members of his one time team. Five wizards he swore had his back through many troubling times. He fell to the floor, hitting his head hard on the wall and possibly dislocating his shoulder in the process.

Harry was lying on the floor looking up into venomous faces who once called him “friend.” Suddenly they all fell backward, loud groans and shouts of pain emanating from the room.

“Don't any of you consider for a second putting one of your smelly hands on me,” Hermione warned.

Cormack approached her quickly, finger waving in the air. “Forget it Granger, you're on suspension too. It figures, you always had to be Potter's puppet!”

She dramatically wiped the spit off her face while Harry stood up. Cormack was just one of those blokes who had far too much spit for his best interests. “Thank you for the shower Cormack, I've had mine for this morning. Although I see I'll need another. And let me think,” she said thoughtfully, tapping her index finger to her lips. “Ah yes,” she said, balling her hand into a fist. “You are not my boss, furthermore, my boss outranks your boss which if I'm not completely mistaken makes me slightly higher than you in the Ministry.” She squared her body to his. “To put it in words you can understand, don't mess with me you foul, evil, bent wanker.” She turned, leaving the man to gape at her back. “Come on, I need a drink.”

Harry followed, even more enraged. He could hear Cormack say something about his theory on trophys. “What the fucking hell is he playing at? He has to see it's the same killer. Why is he doing everything to discredit me?”

Stepping into the open lift she pushed floor seven. “Harry, he's narked off at you because you turned him down at the Christmas party.”

“What?” Harry guffawed. “You're joking, Hermione. He practically raped me. If you hadn't have walked in he might very well have.”

“Someone told him you like it rough,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You have to go to Percy and explain what happened. He'll see Cormack is ignoring legitimate evidence to punish you. It's utter shite, and you have to be on this case. Otherwise there will be more killing.”

The lift doors opened to Harry's floor and he stepped out. “Hermione, Cormack's been blowing Percy. And I doubt very much that he'll take my side over his. Percy still blames me for alienating him from his family back during the war.”

“That's preposterous, Harry. He knows full well he did that all himself. Talk to him!” she said adamantly, as the lift doors closed. “We're still behind you, Harry.”

Harry stormed down the hall as Fredrickson was just coming out of his office. “Ah, Harry. There's been another killing. Just got word. But why are you asking for me to be on your team? Don't you already have seven Aurors already?”

Harry's temper moved up another notch. Cormack didn't waste any time. “It's not my case any more. Cormack's just sacked me.”

Fredrickson gave Harry the most incredulous expression he'd ever seen the man give. Fredrickson liked to keep to himself. He didn't have a partner, didn't go out for teams forming for a common cause. He liked to take the small jobs so he could stay to himself. He never attended Ministry parties or events, he just kept to himself.

“That's utter bollocks! What in Merlin's name is his problem? Is he that bent on getting back at you that he's going to ignore the truth just to make you look bad?”

Harry was dumbstruck. How did Fredrickson know about his case, or his issues with their boss? To his knowledge the two hardly ever talked. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he was at least a little proud that his hall mate had taken to his side at one of his darkest hours.

“Erm... thanks. But I've really not a clue. And how do you know about the Christmas party?”

“Well he can just forget it. If he thinks I'm going to push me into the mess he's making he has another thing coming.” He moved quickly down the hall toward the lifts. “Don't worry, Harry. If he doesn't reinstate you immediately he can have my resignation!” Harry watched as the normally calm and together man repeatedly tapped the lift button, muttering under his breath.

Harry turned and walked into his office, with a slightly lighter step in his stride and a small smile on his face. Perhaps things weren't as bleak as they seemed. He would need to get out to the scene. Fortunately Fredrickson left the newest file with Harry. He'd just grab a couple of things and... he stopped just inside his office. Leaning against his desk was the unopened broom he'd bought James for his birthday. In big red letters across the label Harry saw in the clear handwriting of his oldest child: Return to sender!

Harry picked it up, tears quickly threatening to fall. With as much force as he could he swung the expensive broom against a file cabinet and repeated the motion until it was obvious the broom was in several pieces. With a guttural howl he overturned his desk and began kicking it. His coat rack fell, hitting him on the side of the head. He quickly picked it up and began beating the file cabinets, yelling and cussing unrecognisable words.

“HARRY!” Ron yelled, bringing Harry out of his rage. Harry looked at him with an almost insane look as his best friend backed up a step or two.
Harry looked around his room. He wasn't sure how long he'd been in his enraged fit, but there was now nothing in his office that wasn't broken. A small fire was growing in the corner where he'd knocked the file cabinet into his wall lamps. His breathing was rather ragged, and he leaned over grabbing his knees and attempting to calm himself.

“Need a hand?” Ron asked, stepping back into the one time office. Harry nodded, hearing Ron putting out the fire.

“How mu-much of that did you see?”

“Well... you know. Just the parts after you busted up the broom. Not much really.”

Harry chuckled. “A mate through and through. Thanks.”

“Don't mention it. Hermione owled me.”

“Figured”

“Care to grab a drink?”

“Thanks, Ron. I'll have to pass for now.” Harry stood up searching for the file of the newest victim. Fortunately Ron was holding it, and it was undamaged. He reached up and accepted it from his best mate. “I have to get to the newest site.”

“But I thought that git sacked you?” Ron asked, a slight upturn in his smile.

Harry sniggered back. “Well, yeah I guess he did, but he's a git anyway. Can't stop a bloke from looking can he? Look, thanks for coming by. I'll drop by tonight for a drink, okay?”

“Make it dinner, Ron said, stepping out of Harry's way.

“Sure,” he replied, closing his door and walking up the hall with Ron. “How are the kids?”

“Getting bigger, and mouthier. Merlin, were we ever that bad?” Ron asked with a sigh.

“I wasn't.”

“Oi!” Ron said, mock offended.

“See you tonight,” Harry said, taking the lift up, while Ron took the one going down.

~ ~ tbc ~ ~