Murder Mystery Au - Tumblr Posts
How to get away with murder?
Prompt used- Sitting on others lap | harry and draco get's assigned for a murder mystery as pretend boyfriends | TW- torture | ENEMIES TO LOVER |
" no Simon, get the hell out of here " robard yelled walking into the room
"now, my favourite aurors " robard grinned as he settled down in his office chair in front of his two employees.
" greetings robard " harry nodded
" morning " the other one greeted
" right, greetings can go on for hours. Now the actual reason I sufficed you here. This particular case has been up by from other aurors as their inability to actually being able to sort it and who better than you two. Cutting to the chase, you know I don't like to waste time. You two are going to work on this case together-"
" with draco, no way-"
" with harry, no way-"
They both glared at each other, narrowing their eyes.
" now now, don't kill each other right here. I know how much you two hate each other but this case is important for DMLE. The truth is you both have strengths which if put together can be put to greater use. Draco is great at analysing situations, detecting potions and previously casted magic and you harry, dear you're fast, you're smooth talker, your wand less magic, and your instincts. All of your traits can so easily solve this case and I want your heads in for that" robard looked at both of them expectedly.
" come on, give me an answer. It's your last case harry, it's all chase and fun " robard insisted
" you're leaving DMLE ?" Draco turned to harry. Harry nodded without Daring to look at him.
" finally understood you don't stand a chance here-"
" as you please Malfoy. I've caught more people than you ever have " harry rolled his eyes
" see this is why I chose you. Your determination-"
" will you stop with the ass licking robard. I'll do it but I must insist at places I'd like to work alone " harry sighed
" same for me. I like to have my space " draco replied.
" well it's settled then. You're in the case for Gary oakman " robard clapped his hands lightly, passing them the files he had fetched before hand. Picking up the files harry and draco almost left the room when robard stopped them.
" oh and you're going to be pretend boyfriends. Do your best, good luck " robard grinned and shut the door on their faces.
" what-"
" what -"
They both looked at each other with morbid shock.
__________________________
Harry pinched his nose tiredly as they went through the case together " I hate this case "
" tell me about it , this man didn't even have had that much money, no heir to pass onto, no wife or anything yet he's murdered " draco sighed as he leaned back into his chair.
" the bigger part is, no culprits, no victims "
" we do have a witness though, the house maid. Rosy I suppose " draco skimmed over her details.
Harry looked at the watch knowing he had stayed in his office for far longer than he normally did " anyways, I'm going to head home. We have to be there tomorrow so the packing. I suggest you do that too "
Draco looks at harry, then at the clock in the wall " in a few " and harry nodded before walking out.
The next morning they met in front of the ministry
" I want you two at the best behavior and I mean it " robard insisted
" I'll try my best to be on the best behavior with my fake boyfriend james " harry rolled his eyes as he checked his coat pockets for everything.
" can I still do the case individually?" Draco rolled his eyes
" draco, trust me, I have thought this through and you would do best at the disposal of your resources " robard sighed as he shook hands with both of them " off you go now. Don't forget to revise your history "
And with that harry and draco sat inside the car.
" I'm so excited " draco sarcastically scowled
" it would be a pleasure to work with you " harry narrowed his eyes at Draco equally sarcastically.
As obvious, they didn't talk through the journey, knowing that if conversed they would want to rip each other heads off. So they Only talked hurriedly when they reached the manor.
" you're james , I'm Derek. We've been together for 2 years, right ?" Harry reassured
" much to my displeasure " draco rolled his eyes as he took down his bags from the car
" best behavior my ass " harry sneered under his breath as he took out his own bags and waited for draco to join him towards the door.
" huh, I'm sure you could never afford such manor " draco said as he dragged his bags towards harry.
" funnily enough draco, I am the owner of a manor since I was 17. Jokes on you " harry grinned sarcastically as he walked forwards towards the gate.
" oh and by the way, I'm far more rich than you are considering I donate a lot of money to orphanages and such. Good deeds. But what would you know about it " harry smiled sharply. It fueled draco how Harry was insulting him with a smile, but man he wasn't lying.
" shall we put this banters aside and finally get to business ?" Harry asked at last. Draco nodded and suddenly the Manor's door opened and they met, Rosy, the housemaid.
" oh my darlings, you are finally here. We've been waiting for you for an hour. Heavy traffic huh ?" She smiled
" it was a little bit of traffic. You see my beautiful boyfriend, he got up a bit late. Sorry about the inconvenience " harry replied as he pulled draco towards him and intertwined their fingers.
" I'm really sorry, that's just me " draco smiled at the lady.
" no matter, no matter. You can leave the bags, the bell boys will take these. Shall we walk inside then ?" She asked with a warm smile
" of course. Shall we james ?" Harry asked draco as he swiftly pulled him more closer to vanish any suspicions.
" of course Darling " draco swore he threw up a little In his mouth.
And they walked towards the main door with harry appreciating the gardens and the vines and talking about the architecture of the windows and doors from the 1960s.
" we'll let you freshen up then. This would be your room. And since you're a couple we thought you wouldn't need two separate rooms, right ?" Rosy asked expectedly
" oh- no no of course not. We share the same room and trust me Ms. Rosy If you had given us separate rooms, I would've been in his room all the time " harry chuckled.
" well then it's no inconvenience. Your bags are already up here. The lunch is at 2, and then we'll give you the house tour. Oh and yes, that area is out of bounds " Rosy cheekily smiled and walked away.
Harry kept smiling until they had reached the room and closed the door behind him and draco immediately jerked his hands off harry..
" wow, I love my boyfriend " Harry sarcastically said.
" what was the hand holding for ?" Draco sneered
" uh- draco, couple's normally do that and if you want to be done with the case as soon as possible, you too have to do couple things even if you hate it. It's important that we raise no suspicions at all. One suspicion and we're dead, alright " harry explained as he took off his shoes and lined it up up on the rack.
Draco hated to admit but harry was right " I think it'd be better if we didn't use our actual names too then and- muffalito- use protection charms all the time "
Harry raised an eyebrow at Draco impressively " guess robard wasn't all wrong about you then "
Draco rolled his eyes at harry and disposed off his extra clothes onto the chair.
" I'll take the shower first " draco announced and went into the bathroom.
Harry didn't had time to react but couldn't even if he wanted to, knowing draco was still a huge pain in the ass.
_________________________
" how are you going to transfigure ?" Draco asked harry as he got ready for the actual investigation
" polyjuice potion " harry replied not even looking at Draco sitting over the study going through the reports.
" you do know it's effect only lasts 3 hours ?" Draco asked
" believe me d- james- I have taken polyjuice potion much more than it would be recommended to for a child" harry huffs as he put his auror coat in the suitcase and transfiguring it into a smaller bag.
" right, of course, the saviour had to do a lot to save us from the chambers of secret's " draco rolled his eyes and turned back to his reports.
" here take this coin. If you need me, just write on it.. not that we'd be far away anyways" harry said as he tossed the coin at Draco.
" how does it work ?" He asked
" just- I have another set of it. If you write something on it, I'll know it too. I used this back in DA meetings at school " harry double checked his pockets walking around in the room looking for his wand.
" clever " draco impressively frowned " here, your wand "
" thanks. And remember, don't raise suspicions" harry told Draco.
Rolling his eyes draco agreed and harry finally left the manor after greeting Rosy, getting ready to get back here again after transformation.
Harry returned half an hour later with his small team Including Ron and getting on with the investigation.
" Rosy, what's this all about ?" He heard someone ask as harry was standing just before the crime scene caution sign talking about the evidences found.
" oh, it's nothing. It was master's old bedroom. Mr. Gary. He passed away a couple weeks ago. These people think it's a murder and just barge in to investigate " Rosy sighed
" well that's too bad. My condolences Rosy. We hadn't known about it " draco sympathetically patted her back softly. Smiling to himself, harry got on with the investigation once again.
At night when harry had finally come back with reports and evidence he was met with a just out of shower draco.
" the water's still warm if you want to" draco told him as he softly patted towel over his head.
Harry nodded, dumping his reports and jackets over the chair and getting in the bathroom, smelling like Lavender and cinnamon.
It only took him 15 minutes in shower when he got out forgetting he didn't had his clothes.
" hey ma- james, can you pass me my clothes on the chair ?" Harry poked his head out of the bathroom.
He could've sworn he heard draco swear under his breath insulting harry.
" I can't find it, just come and take it yourself" draco called out.
Shrugging harry wrapped the towel around his lower body and got out of the bathroom, into the room to find his clothes.
" I left them h-"
" oh- I'm so sorry" Rosy had suddenly entered the room, turning her head in shame
" it's alright rosy. We- we just you know got out of the shower " harry gave her a little firm smile as he covered up his body with another towel.
" I- I'm really sorry. I will leave you two to it. Just bought some tea" she said without looking at them
" it's alright, leave them there, we'll call you if we need something " draco gave her a smile as he stepped closer to harry, putting his hand over Harry's shoulder in a physical gesture.
She nodded and embarrassingly left the room.
" just put on a damn shirt now, will you " draco rolled his eyes as he immediately created space between them.
" oh- I did not know that. I was planning on staying naked for the rest of the evening " harry rolled his eyes as he tried searching for his shirt until he saw draco.
" you're wearing my shirt "
" wha- oh. I didn't realise " draco looked down at his own blue shirt " no wonder it smells like shit"
Harry rolled his eyes " keep wearing it, I'll get myself another one " and he picked out another maroon shirt from the bag and wore it right there in the room.
" ahem- anyways, you got anything over the case ?" Draco asked turning around, giving harry his privacy.
" not a great deal. We would still have to go through every inch of that room and let me tell you, that rooms huge " harry huffed as he finally put on his pants and retrieved the files.
" here, these are the pictures I took today" harry displayed it over the table draco was sat on, ruffling his hair to dry them.
" wow- that's one- ha- stop dripping water over me "
" oh right- sorry" and Harry picked the towel again, drying his hair.
By the night, they decided to finally make an appearance downstairs for dinner.
" oh, I thought you'd had liked it in your room " rosy smiled
"we just thought it'd be nice to have dinner downstairs" harry smiled as he walked along with draco
" right, on the table then " she said and they made themselves comfortable over the dinner table.
" it's better than your manor " harry whispered to draco once they had settled in their Chairs. Draco narrowed his eyes at harry, giving him a scowl.
" here you go dears " rosy said as she placed plates one after the another.
" enjoy-"
" why don't you stay too. We'd like to get to know you, don't you think Derek ?" Draco asked smiling gently
" I think that would be brilliant " harry raised an eyebrow at Draco, impressed by his subtle approach.
With much hesitation rosy joined them, but not eating, just sitting further on a chair despite the insisted offer to join the table.
" pardon me mister's, I haven't been able to ask how you two met?" Rosy asked in Between
" oh- how we met- it's an interesting story actually-" draco stuttered
" we hated each other in school. But then we realised we only hated each other because we thought they had life easier. Infact we always liked each other and were too afraid to say it. So we put it into hate, until one day, I saw him alone in the school bathroom, crying and I consoled him, then I suppose we became friends and started dating after school " harry covered up for draco. Draco nodded along, amused but agreed to the story.
" that is so intriguing. I wish I could have a love like yours " Rosy grinned hopefully at them
" you know what, I think you'd get the love you deserve. And who knows might be very soon you meet the love of your life, like I have" draco smiled at rosy, drinking away his wine.
" I love you too james. I'm so glad I've met you " harry squeezed draco's hand across the table, making sure he raised no suspicions..
When they were finally done, harry insisted on helping through the kitchen, draco tagging along too when rosy spoke up
" you two make a very nice couple. I bet you don't fight a lot "
" we don-"
" oh we do, we do a lot. Who doesn't fight after all but we make up. We'd rather be with each other than anyone else. Right james ?" Harry smiled at draco, his cheeks hurting with smiling so much
" of course " draco smiled back at him as he intertwined their fingers and softly kissed Harry's knuckles. It was unfortunate that harry Blushed when he shouldn't had but with that craving physical touch, he couldn't resist.
" awh, look at you two "rosy happily sighed as he placed her hand over her chest as if touched by their relationship " oh look a mistletoe " she pointed
" a what ?" Draco's eyes suddenly widened, so did Harry's.
" there's a mistletoe " rosy pointed above their head
Harry forcefully chuckled "you don't believe in that thing, do you now rosy?"
" what's it with belief or not. It's a mistletoe. Always kiss under the mistletoe.. I mean it wouldn't matter much but make this lady happy " rosy happily said
Draco's opened his mouth to say something but unable to form any words he shut it close
" i- if that's what you want.. we're not such an open couple if you must know. Not into the public affection but for you rosy " harry gulped smiling pulling draco closer
" no suspicions " harry whispered very quietly to draco before pressing his lips against draco, tenderly kissing his soft lips, just for a few Seconds before breaking it off.
" is that how you'd normally kiss ?" Rosy asked
" what- no of course not rosy. We- we just you know save them for the bedroom, if you know what I mean " draco chuckled blushing.
Rosy's expression immediately changed " oh right, of course I understand "
" we should head to the room actually. It's getting late. We wouldn't want you staying up so late " harry said as he held draco's hands and started dragging him along with him.
Nodding, they finally left the kitchen and without so much of a suspicion made it to the room.
" you're sleeping on the couch for kissing me tonight " draco rolled his eyes as he dumped himself onto the bed.
" whatever " harry rolled his eyes and picked up his essentials and dumped onto the couch.
__________________________
" is everything fine with you two, Derek ?" Rosy asked as harry fetched the breakfast from her
" why do you ask ?" Harry frowned
" oh nothing- you just- I saw the couch with the blankets and everything and thought I- never mind, your personal life. I shouldn't intrude-"
" not at all rosy. Not at all. We just had a small Argument last night over something and, well it turned a bit ugly so I slept on the couch but I assure you, everything is fine " harry assured her taking two cups of coffee with him and heading back to the room.
" we've got a situation-" harry cut off when he saw draco wearing nothing but pants, getting ready for work.
Gulping harry broke out of it and casted a muffalito and gave draco the cup of coffee
" what happened ?" Draco asked as he pulled over a shirt.
" I think, it's a presumption, rosy knew I slept on the couch last night. She asked me about it and I don't want to raise any suspicions so let's not do the couch thing-"
" I've had enough with your no suspicions potter. We are not raising any suspicions. The only suspicion would be if it seemed as if our relationship was too perfect alright. Have some boundaries. I let it slide last night but you're never fucking kissing me again. That's the end of it. I don't give a shit if there was a mistletoe or anything, you better not do that again" draco snapped
" I can't believe you. You'd actually believe I'd enjoy kissing you, for fun or something. Please. Don't flatter yourself. I don't care if the case matters to you enough or not but this case is my last and I want to make the best of it. I don't want anything going wrong, even the slightest bit of suspicion that we're not a couple, anyone would figure out and we'd be dead before you know it. So suck it up because If you're working with me, you have to work with me " Harry snapped, pulling off his coat , taking his bag and slamming out of the manor.
Draco shut his eyes for a moment, sighing.
" everything alright dear ?" Suddenly someone asked.
Auror instincts immediately made him get up and reach for his wand when he realised it was Only rosy
" I thought i heard yelling " she said
" right- " Draco frowned, until he remembered clearly every single word from harry just before " we had a small Argument. We'd be fine.. if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone "
Rosy hurriedly nodded and left the room. It was not much later, draco too left the manor to come back again with harry for investigation.
" I think I know where to start. Talk with me tonight, yeah ?" Draco had told harry between work. Harry frowned but immediately nodded, waiting for the evening to arrive.
___________________________
Part 2
To be continued. Requests accepted ( even for part 2, despite that it'll be out anyways )
I had immense fun writing this. Also Tumblr cut me on word limit,soo.. you'll have to wait for the next part. Happy reading.
Serious notice- I have missed a prompt in between, which will be labelled 43 and willl to be out as soon as possible.
Day 42- little things | Day 45- there's no without you
44. How to get away with murder ? Part 2
ENEMIES TO LOVERS TROPE | tw- torture | fluff |
Harry and draco resolves the murder mystery and readily takes the fall |
For @thebusyfangirl ( you're my consistent Reader and I adore you ) and @slytherinnbitch
_________________________
2 weeks of pretending they didn't hate each other when they were in the same room, pretending they didn't almost disgusted themselves when they had to hold hands, pretending that they infact had the most perfect relationship. It was all too much. Some day's were fine, when it didn't feel like pretending but most of the time, it was pretending and they both couldn't wait for it to get over.
It was until the third and the final week, when Draco was fetching tea for harry and him when he noticed something.
" you look rather lovely today, rosy " draco complimented rosy with a smile.
Blushing furiously, she pushed a strand of her hair behind her hair, her sleeves sliding down a bit " thank you dear "
Draco finally gave her a genuine smile and walked off to the room and immediately casted a protection and silencing charms.
" I definitely have the lead "
" who ?" Harry asked as he buttoned up his shirt, draco ofcourse didn't pretend to notice it was the second time he had seen harry practically shirtless.
" not here " draco answered.
_______________________________
" are you absolutely, definitely, 100 percent sure ?" Harry asked when they had reached the door and put on the charms again.
" what's the first rule about investigating crime scene ?" Draco asked as he leaned over the table Harry was sitting opposite to.
" look for evidence " harry shrugged as if it was too obvious
" bingo. Exactly. A much skilled killer would make sure they never leave an evidence, it is infact the first priority but if someone did it for the first time, they tend to leave the evidence, mostly accidentally " draco's adrenaline pumped up as he cut to the chase.
" and you're saying you've found the evidence ?" Harry asked as he crossed his arm leaning backward into the chair.
" yes. Look what I found this morning. I was going through the evidence picture's yesterday, and look at this set of the picture. You see the dresser table, notice something familiar " draco pointed down at the picture, excitedly
" holy- shit that means-"
" yes- i noticed it this morning " draco widened his eyes In obvious surprise.
" holy shit- we've got it- we- dr- james- we got it. We got the killer " harry jumped from his chair and instinctively hugged draco, who too hugged back until they realised what they were doing and awkwardly separated away.
" we'll start at the beginning then. We can't arrest until we have the final words from the culprit themselves about it. Who, Where, When, Why, and How. We know who, we know where, we definitely know when, we need to know most importantly why and definitely how " harry said as he rubbed his Hands together grinning.
" this case finally got interesting " draco smirked at harry as he finally sat down on the chair.
" it definitely did " harry smirked back and sat down against draco.
" I can't imagine how I missed the detail " harry frowned
" it's alright. Can happen to anyone. I hadn't noticed it too until this morning " draco said nicely as he skimmed over the pages without looking up at harry..
Harry smiled warily " that's probably the nicest thing you've ever said to me "
Draco looked up, frowning " that's not true "
" it is " harry insisted
" what about- oh "
" exactly " harry bit his lip.
" I did say thank you for helping me with the trial though "
" you did..well this and that. Only two nicest thing you've ever said to me.. I appreciate it. You're good by the way. You make a nice auror " harry genuinely smiled at draco.
Draco frowned until it turned into a smile " why, thank you "
____________________________
" we have to find the key. There's no evident reason why they would commit such a crime" harry said as he flipped pages after pages in the files, frustratingly.
" don't worry-" he cut himself off and turned to harry.
" look at me ", frowning harry turned around to face draco, meeting with a thrust against the table, draco getting closer to him
" what- nmph-" Harry's hand collided with the table as his body pressed against it when Draco pushed him and kissed him over the lips. It was unexpected of how draco was kissing harry but it in the flow of the moment, harry kissed back. He enjoyed the sensation that sparked down his spine as draco's thigh adjusted between those of his own, his hands tugging Harry's shirt enclosing any distance left between them and the way draco was roughly making out with harry. It wasn't just a simple pleasurable kiss, it was a full fledged make out with draco's tongue grazing those of harry fighting for Dominance, his teeth biting off Harry's lower lip, emerging a moan from the back of Harry's throat. He let one of of his hand to rest against draco's back pulling him further in as harry deepened the kiss as if it would've been a Cardinal sin to not have the lustful, passionate, urgent make out. It was surprising of how draco had reciprocated the same but he had allowed himself to forget why he was kissing harry in the first place. He let himself drown in the moment, moaning softly as he felt Harry's tongue grazing his lip. They were kissing as if their lives depended on it, maybe it did but they had flown away in the moment that Only when they ran out of breath they separated and draco was faceplanted with reality again. He reached forward, his lips against harry's ear who without flinching let it happen.
" she's watching "
And harry immediately understood.
It was after work when they were walking back to the manor when they were discussing about the case.
" how did you figure she's watching ?"
" well I had my suspicions from the first week here when strangely the mistletoe thing happened and the next morning we had that argument. She had came in asked if everything was alright, since she thought she heard some yelling but if you vaguely recall you had planted the silencing charm, it would've been impossible for her to figure out but she had figured out, so I put an alert on one of the objects in the room if ever caught sight of that eye and this morning, it finally signalled " draco explained as he reached the gates of the manor and pushed open and walked inside
" she's one clever-rosy " harry stepped back
" welcome back, derek and James. Shall I get the coffee's before you go to your room ?"
" ah- of course " harry said as he suspiciously dumped his small transfigured case on the table while draco sat down on the chair.
" here you go " rosy grinned as she passed them the cup of coffee.
" I'd really like a biscuit rosy, if you don't mind" harry narrowed his eyes slightly at rosy. She nodded and walked away into the kitchen.
Harry immediately looked at Draco, who was holding the same expression that of his
" it's poisoned " draco whispered
" she knows " harry mouthed.
" here you go love" rosy said as he gave him the biscuit.
" actually you know rosy, I think I'd let this slide. I don't really feel like drinking coffee right now-"
" but I insist-"
" oh do you-" draco narrowed his eyes standing up
" of course, I do-"
" like you insisted Gary-" harry accused
" avada-"
" expelli-"
" stupefy "
Harry was thrown backwards harshly toward the back wall
" harry-"
" look behind " but it was too late, draco too was thrown back.
Harry groaned in pain as his fingers magically unnoticed moved the back furniture.
" I knew it exactly when you figured. When you refused to kiss that very night but you're much more clever than the old idiots who worked on the case " rosy tilted her face in a deadpanned expression.
" I'm definitely sure we're better " harry groaned still pulling off a smug look
" narcissist " rosy rolled her eyes.
She clicked her tongue in fake sympathy leaning down a little bit " he deserved to die, just so if you're wondering. He stole away this house from me. This house was supposed to be mine as his righteous daughter, too bad I wasn't a boy. Always underestimated me, called me squib, told me i didn't belong to this world, that I would never be half as good as any boy he could have, he sold this damn house. To whom, the stupid boy across the street. So I killed him before he could even write the will. Too bad for father" she clicked her tongue again.
Harry looked down at his lap, smirking when he finally looked up " you really are a bit more stupid than I thought"
" what did you just say !!" She yelled
" you're not that smart rosy " harry groaned, not moving even an inch
" you dare talk to me like that " rosy was pissed off. She should've hurt harry but she went in for draco, kicking him in the shin. But harry knew better to not so even flinch on the site of crime .
" tough boy " she frowned impressively as she grabbed Harry's face and squeezed it hard, slapping him away..
" I mean it rosy. You're not so smart. Wanna know why ?" Harry looked up with blood smearing his lips.
" enlighten me then potter boy " she raised an eyebrow, stepping back a little, just like harry wanted
" because you're not a killer because if you were, the first time you threw a spell at me, you didn't tie me down- bombarda " and the cabinet behind her broke in half, dragging rosy down with it.
She fell down painfully under the weight of the broken cabinet, groaning in pain.
" petrificus totalus " harry casted on her and she remained unmoved, her expression radiating anger.
" you really had to wait this long " draco groaned as harry lend him a hand to get up.
" it was the best of the show. Always keep them for the last draco " harry chuckled dusting off his clothes
" now for you my lovely rosy. Karma is gonna pay you. You know, voldemort's mother was just like you. Too bad she died. You're under arrest for the murder of Gary oakman, rosy Sheldon oakman " harry smiled at her and lifted her up and tying her to the chair.
" how did you know her entire name ?" Draco asked as he casted a message to the ministry for the team to arrive.
" you think you're the only one who figured out too soon. She have the exact same eyes as her father when she didn't wear contacts, it was that morning when she found out about our little fight" harry sighed.
" why didn't you tell me ?" Draco asked as he started putting on his auror uniform.
" I wasn't sure at least not until I found the details about her then same day when you told me about that broken earring from the picture and the morning you saw it"
Draco raised his eyebrows, surprised by Harry's neat skills " and the last move ?"
" never let your enemy know your last move " harry smirked
" you let me see " draco shrugged
" who said you're my enemy " harry smiled.
___________________________
" guess that pretend boyfriends worked out for you huh?" Ron teased chuckling
" I guess so " harry chuckled.
" your coffee " draco said as he bought the coffee and gave it to harry, placing a chaste kiss over Harry's cheek.
" When did this happen?"
" harry, dear boy. I- I can't begin to thank you enough for your services to the DMLE over the years " robard had said at celebration party
" oh it's nothing. It had been great working for the DMLE " harry replied as he took a glass of champagne from one of the waiters.
" it has been great whatsoever. You know I have to say I'm surprised how you returned back in one piece " robard joked
" why is that ?" Harry asked equally amused
" you were working with draco after all. Must've been quite few good fights and the hardest part of the case" robard frowned
" you'd be surprised " harry replied. Robard patted his back and finally engaged with other people to converse with.
Harry had been subtly enjoying his drink when robard decided to make a toast.
" hello, my dear fellows. You all must be tired so I'm going to cut this short" people chuckled forcing their attention on him " this is no ordinary party fella's. This is one farewell to one of our dearest workers, harry potter. I remember when he first joined the DMLE, not more than a little boy of 18 wanting to fight against the bad, he had that urge to prove himself, to push himself forward, to be the best.. and I've never regretted setting him up on any case. I've put you through so many life threatening cases and I do not regret to let you go harry, it was about time you took a break and finally looked after yourself.. we are losing a great auror, but this isn't a goodbye, harry, now is it. You'll be missed. To harry " robard raised his glass, people around the room clapping and raising the glass for harry too.
" so it's true, you're finally bidding goodbye to your savior complex "
Harry turned to his side smiling on recognising exactly who would use the word savior complex.
" sort of" harry chuckled.
Draco turned to face harry, a strange fondness etched upon his face with a light smile of solidarity.
" well- it's not going to be fun anymore" Draco whined playfully
" and why's that ?" Harry asked, light bouncing off his head.
" with you not here anymore, who would I have a competition with "
Harry shook his head laughing softly " strange way of saying you'd miss me "
Draco dramatically placed his hand over his chest " my, my. Me and missing you, in your dreams "
Harry laughed a little louder looking down at his champagne glass " it was nice working with you draco. You do make a great auror and with me out of the way, you can finally get the auror of the year badge "
" damn it, finally " draco pumped his Fist in fake victory until his smile turned into little laughter.
" you'll really be missed harry" draco finally said..
" I know. You will miss me the most " harry teased as he nudged his sides.
Blushing Draco rolled his eyes, nudging harry back " as if. I'm pretty sure you'd miss me more"
"I might, who knows " harry winked at Draco before he Walked away to talk with other people leaving draco entirely speechless, his thoughts running wild.
Exactly one hour later, they were found kissing behind the building. Better word, making out that is, ready to pounce on another.
" well it's a long story Ron, shall I begin from the time I was obsessed with stalking him or from the time I forgave him" harry asked knowingly fully well he was kidding
" or it might be first year, don't you think. I mean I was sort of into you to become friend's " draco suggested equally playfully as he sat down next to harry.
" oh god no, I've lived years of it, I can't- you guy's are such a cringe couple " Ron comically mimicked throwing up at harry holding draco's hands
" oh this cringes you out. Honey why don't you stand up -" draco obliged, before being pulled down into Harry's lap.
" how about you grind on-"
"no, no, merlin no. Hermione save me " Ron groaned as he got up and went to his girlfriend.
Draco broke into a fit of laughter in Harry's lap who too was chortling, instinctively hiding his face in draco's neck while one of his hand wrapped around Draco's torso.
" he's never going to forget this " harry laughed
" never " draco laughed looking down at harry until the laughter turned into a little smile.
" I think I might be falling for you " draco said as he pressed their heads together, sighing to himself, his hand cupping Harry's face.
" don't worry. I'm taking the fall with you " harry sighed and he softly kissed draco.
Well rosy didn't get away from murder after all but she indirectly put them together so every year, harry would send her a comical card on Christmas, all saying the same
" you didn't get away from murder. But you did get me and my boyfriend to make out, one plan of yours that didn't fail . Oh and my boyfriend says hi. With love, derek aka H"
Obviously rosy tore those cards down into shreds.
I did have fun writing this, however painful to see it being a flop. Happy reading.
Requests open
Day 43- love like never before | Day 45- there's no me without you
P
44. How to get away with murder?
Prompt used- Sitting on others lap | harry and draco get's assigned for a murder mystery as pretend boyfriends | TW- torture | ENEMIES TO LOVER |
" no Simon, get the hell out of here " robard yelled walking into the room
"now, my favourite aurors " robard grinned as he settled down in his office chair in front of his two employees.
" greetings robard " harry nodded
" morning " the other one greeted
" right, greetings can go on for hours. Now the actual reason I sufficed you here. This particular case has been up by from other aurors as their inability to actually being able to sort it and who better than you two. Cutting to the chase, you know I don't like to waste time. You two are going to work on this case together-"
" with draco, no way-"
" with harry, no way-"
They both glared at each other, narrowing their eyes.
" now now, don't kill each other right here. I know how much you two hate each other but this case is important for DMLE. The truth is you both have strengths which if put together can be put to greater use. Draco is great at analysing situations, detecting potions and previously casted magic and you harry, dear you're fast, you're smooth talker, your wand less magic, and your instincts. All of your traits can so easily solve this case and I want your heads in for that" robard looked at both of them expectedly.
" come on, give me an answer. It's your last case harry, it's all chase and fun " robard insisted
" you're leaving DMLE ?" Draco turned to harry. Harry nodded without Daring to look at him.
" finally understood you don't stand a chance here-"
" as you please Malfoy. I've caught more people than you ever have " harry rolled his eyes
" see this is why I chose you. Your determination-"
" will you stop with the ass licking robard. I'll do it but I must insist at places I'd like to work alone " harry sighed
" same for me. I like to have my space " draco replied.
" well it's settled then. You're in the case for Gary oakman " robard clapped his hands lightly, passing them the files he had fetched before hand. Picking up the files harry and draco almost left the room when robard stopped them.
" oh and you're going to be pretend boyfriends. Do your best, good luck " robard grinned and shut the door on their faces.
" what-"
" what -"
They both looked at each other with morbid shock.
__________________________
Harry pinched his nose tiredly as they went through the case together " I hate this case "
" tell me about it , this man didn't even have had that much money, no heir to pass onto, no wife or anything yet he's murdered " draco sighed as he leaned back into his chair.
" the bigger part is, no culprits, no victims "
" we do have a witness though, the house maid. Rosy I suppose " draco skimmed over her details.
Harry looked at the watch knowing he had stayed in his office for far longer than he normally did " anyways, I'm going to head home. We have to be there tomorrow so the packing. I suggest you do that too "
Draco looks at harry, then at the clock in the wall " in a few " and harry nodded before walking out.
The next morning they met in front of the ministry
" I want you two at the best behavior and I mean it " robard insisted
" I'll try my best to be on the best behavior with my fake boyfriend james " harry rolled his eyes as he checked his coat pockets for everything.
" can I still do the case individually?" Draco rolled his eyes
" draco, trust me, I have thought this through and you would do best at the disposal of your resources " robard sighed as he shook hands with both of them " off you go now. Don't forget to revise your history "
And with that harry and draco sat inside the car.
" I'm so excited " draco sarcastically scowled
" it would be a pleasure to work with you " harry narrowed his eyes at Draco equally sarcastically.
As obvious, they didn't talk through the journey, knowing that if conversed they would want to rip each other heads off. So they Only talked hurriedly when they reached the manor.
" you're james , I'm Derek. We've been together for 2 years, right ?" Harry reassured
" much to my displeasure " draco rolled his eyes as he took down his bags from the car
" best behavior my ass " harry sneered under his breath as he took out his own bags and waited for draco to join him towards the door.
" huh, I'm sure you could never afford such manor " draco said as he dragged his bags towards harry.
" funnily enough draco, I am the owner of a manor since I was 17. Jokes on you " harry grinned sarcastically as he walked forwards towards the gate.
" oh and by the way, I'm far more rich than you are considering I donate a lot of money to orphanages and such. Good deeds. But what would you know about it " harry smiled sharply. It fueled draco how Harry was insulting him with a smile, but man he wasn't lying.
" shall we put this banters aside and finally get to business ?" Harry asked at last. Draco nodded and suddenly the Manor's door opened and they met, Rosy, the housemaid.
" oh my darlings, you are finally here. We've been waiting for you for an hour. Heavy traffic huh ?" She smiled
" it was a little bit of traffic. You see my beautiful boyfriend, he got up a bit late. Sorry about the inconvenience " harry replied as he pulled draco towards him and intertwined their fingers.
" I'm really sorry, that's just me " draco smiled at the lady.
" no matter, no matter. You can leave the bags, the bell boys will take these. Shall we walk inside then ?" She asked with a warm smile
" of course. Shall we james ?" Harry asked draco as he swiftly pulled him more closer to vanish any suspicions.
" of course Darling " draco swore he threw up a little In his mouth.
And they walked towards the main door with harry appreciating the gardens and the vines and talking about the architecture of the windows and doors from the 1960s.
" we'll let you freshen up then. This would be your room. And since you're a couple we thought you wouldn't need two separate rooms, right ?" Rosy asked expectedly
" oh- no no of course not. We share the same room and trust me Ms. Rosy If you had given us separate rooms, I would've been in his room all the time " harry chuckled.
" well then it's no inconvenience. Your bags are already up here. The lunch is at 2, and then we'll give you the house tour. Oh and yes, that area is out of bounds " Rosy cheekily smiled and walked away.
Harry kept smiling until they had reached the room and closed the door behind him and draco immediately jerked his hands off harry..
" wow, I love my boyfriend " Harry sarcastically said.
" what was the hand holding for ?" Draco sneered
" uh- draco, couple's normally do that and if you want to be done with the case as soon as possible, you too have to do couple things even if you hate it. It's important that we raise no suspicions at all. One suspicion and we're dead, alright " harry explained as he took off his shoes and lined it up up on the rack.
Draco hated to admit but harry was right " I think it'd be better if we didn't use our actual names too then and- muffalito- use protection charms all the time "
Harry raised an eyebrow at Draco impressively " guess robard wasn't all wrong about you then "
Draco rolled his eyes at harry and disposed off his extra clothes onto the chair.
" I'll take the shower first " draco announced and went into the bathroom.
Harry didn't had time to react but couldn't even if he wanted to, knowing draco was still a huge pain in the ass.
_________________________
" how are you going to transfigure ?" Draco asked harry as he got ready for the actual investigation
" polyjuice potion " harry replied not even looking at Draco sitting over the study going through the reports.
" you do know it's effect only lasts 3 hours ?" Draco asked
" believe me d- james- I have taken polyjuice potion much more than it would be recommended to for a child" harry huffs as he put his auror coat in the suitcase and transfiguring it into a smaller bag.
" right, of course, the saviour had to do a lot to save us from the chambers of secret's " draco rolled his eyes and turned back to his reports.
" here take this coin. If you need me, just write on it.. not that we'd be far away anyways" harry said as he tossed the coin at Draco.
" how does it work ?" He asked
" just- I have another set of it. If you write something on it, I'll know it too. I used this back in DA meetings at school " harry double checked his pockets walking around in the room looking for his wand.
" clever " draco impressively frowned " here, your wand "
" thanks. And remeber, don't raise suspicions" harry told Draco.
Rolling his eyes draco agreed and harry finally left the manor after greeting Rosy, getting ready to get back here again after transformation.
Harry returned half an hour later with his small team Including Ron and getting on with the investigation.
" Rosy, what's this all about ?" He heard someone ask as harry was standing just before the crime scene caution sign talking about the evidences found.
" oh, it's nothing. It was master's old bedroom. Mr. Gary. He passed away a couple weeks ago. These people think it's a murder and just barge in to investigate " Rosy sighed
" well that's too bad. My condolences Rosy. We hadn't known about it " draco sympathetically patted her back softly. Smiling to himself, harry got on with the investigation once again.
At night when harry had finally come back with reports and evidence he was met with a just out of shower draco.
" the water's still warm if you want to" draco told him as he softly patted towel over his head.
Harry nodded, dumping his reports and jackets over the chair and getting in the bathroom, smelling like Lavender and cinnamon.
It only took him 15 minutes in shower when he got out forgetting he didn't had his clothes.
" hey ma- james, can you pass me my clothes on the chair ?" Harry poked his head out of the bathroom.
He could've sworn he heard draco swear under his breath insulting harry.
" I can't find it, just come and take it yourself" draco called out.
Shrugging harry wrapped the towel around his lower body and got out of the bathroom, into the room to find his clothes.
" I left them h-"
" oh- I'm so sorry" Rosy had suddenly entered the room, turning her head in shame
" it's alright rosy. We- we just you know got out of the shower " harry gave her a little firm smile as he covered up his body with another towel.
" I- I'm really sorry. I will leave you two to it. Just bought some tea" she said without looking at them
" it's alright, leave them there, we'll call you if we need something " draco gave her a smile as he stepped closer to harry, putting his hand over Harry's shoulder in a physical gesture.
She nodded and embarrassingly left the room.
" just put on a damn shirt now, will you " draco rolled his eyes as he immediately created space between them.
" oh- I did not know that. I was planning on staying naked for the rest of the evening " harry rolled his eyes as he tried searching for his shirt until he saw draco.
" you're wearing my shirt "
" wha- oh. I didn't realise " draco looked down at his own blue shirt " no wonder it smells like shit"
Harry rolled his eyes " keep wearing it, I'll get myself another one " and he picked out another maroon shirt from the bag and wore it right there in the room.
" ahem- anyways, you got anything over the case ?" Draco asked turning around, giving harry his privacy.
" not a great deal. We would still have to go through every inch of that room and let me tell you, that rooms huge " harry huffed as he finally put on his pants and retrieved the files.
" here, these are the pictures I took today" harry displayed it over the table draco was sat on, ruffling his hair to dry them.
" wow- that's one- ha- stop dripping water over me "
" oh right- sorry" and Harry picked the towel again, drying his hair.
By the night, they decided to finally make an appearance downstairs for dinner.
" oh, I thought you'd had liked it in your room " rosy smiled
"we just thought it'd be nice to have dinner downstairs" harry smiled as he walked along with draco
" right, on the table then " she said and they made themselves comfortable over the dinner table.
" it's better than your manor " harry whispered to draco once they had settled in their Chairs. Draco narrowed his eyes at harry, giving him a scowl.
" here you go dears " rosy said as she placed plates one after the another.
" enjoy-"
" why don't you stay too. We'd like to get to know you, don't you think Derek ?" Draco asked smiling gently
" I think that would be brilliant " harry raised an eyebrow at Draco, impressed by his subtle approach.
With much hesitation rosy joined them, but not eating, just sitting further on a chair despite the insisted offer to join the table.
" pardon me mister's, I haven't been able to ask how you two met?" Rosy asked in Between
" oh- how we met- it's an interesting story actually-" draco stuttered
" we hated each other in school. But then we realised we only hated each other because we thought they had life easier. Infact we always liked each other and were too afraid to say it. So we put it into hate, until one day, I saw him alone in the school bathroom, crying and I consoled him, then I suppose we became friends and started dating after school " harry covered up for draco. Draco nodded along, amused but agreed to the story.
" that is so intriguing. I wish I could have a love like yours " Rosy grinned hopefully at them
" you know what, I think you'd get the love you deserve. And who knows might be very soon you meet the love of your life, like I have" draco smiled at rosy, drinking away his wine.
" I love you too james. I'm so glad I've met you " harry squeezed draco's hand across the table, making sure he raised no suspicions..
When they were finally done, harry insisted on helping through the kitchen, draco tagging along too when rosy spoke up
" you two make a very nice couple. I bet you don't fight a lot "
" we don-"
" oh we do, we do a lot. Who doesn't fight after all but we make up. We'd rather be with each other than anyone else. Right james ?" Harry smiled at draco, his cheeks hurting with smiling so much
" of course " draco smiled back at him as he intertwined their fingers and softly kissed Harry's knuckles. It was unfortunate that harry Blushed when he shouldn't had but with that craving physical touch, he couldn't resist.
" awh, look at you two "rosy happily sighed as he placed her hand over her chest as if touched by their relationship " oh look a mistletoe " she pointed
" a what ?" Draco's eyes suddenly widened, so did Harry's.
" there's a mistletoe " rosy pointed above their head
Harry forcefully chuckled "you don't believe in that thing, do you now rosy?"
" what's it with belief or not. It's a mistletoe. Always kiss under the mistletoe.. I mean it wouldn't matter much but make this lady happy " rosy happily said
Draco's opened his mouth to say something but unable to form any words he shut it close
" i- if that's what you want.. we're not such an open couple if you must know. Not into the public affection but for you rosy " harry gulped smiling pulling draco closer
" no suspicions " harry whispered very quietly to draco before pressing his lips against draco, tenderly kissing his soft lips, just for a few Seconds before breaking it off.
" is that how you'd normally kiss ?" Rosy asked
" what- no of course not rosy. We- we just you know save them for the bedroom, if you know what I mean " draco chuckled blushing.
Rosy's expression immediately changed " oh right, of course I understand "
" we should head to the room actually. It's getting late. We wouldn't want you staying up so late " harry said as he held draco's hands and started dragging him along with him.
Nodding, they finally left the kitchen and without so much of a suspicion made it to the room.
" you're sleeping on the couch for kissing me tonight " draco rolled his eyes as he dumped himself onto the bed.
" whatever " harry rolled his eyes and picked up his essentials and dumped onto the couch.
__________________________
" is everything fine with you two, Derek ?" Rosy asked as harry fetched the breakfast from her
" why do you ask ?" Harry frowned
" oh nothing- you just- I saw the couch with the blankets and everything and thought I- never mind, your personal life. I shouldn't intrude-"
" not at all rosy. Not at all. We just had a small Argument last night over something and, well it turned a bit ugly so I slept on the couch but I assure you, everything is fine " harry assured her taking two cups of coffee with him and heading back to the room.
" we've got a situation-" harry cut off when he saw draco wearing nothing but pants, getting ready for work.
Gulping harry broke out of it and casted a muffalito and gave draco the cup of coffee
" what happened ?" Draco asked as he pulled over a shirt.
" I think, it's a presumption, rosy knew I slept on the couch last night. She asked me about it and I don't want to raise any suspicions so let's not do the couch thing-"
" I've had enough with your no suspicions potter. We are not raising any suspicions. The only suspicion would be if it seemed as if our relationship was too perfect alright. Have some boundaries. I let it slide last night but you're never fucking kissing me again. That's the end of the end of it. I don't give a shit if there was a mistletoe or anything, you better not do that again" draco snapped
" I can't believe you. You'd actually believe I'd enjoy kissing you, for fun or something. Please. Don't flatter yourself. I don't care if the case matters to you enough or not but this case is my last and I want to make the best of it. I don't want anything going wrong, even the slightest bit of suspicion that we're not a couple, anyone would figure out and we'd be dead before you know it. So suck it up because If you're working with me, you have to work with me " Harry snapped, pulling off his coat , taking his bag and slamming out of the manor.
Draco shut his eyes for a moment, sighing.
" everything alright dear ?" Suddenly someone asked.
Auror instincts immediately made him get up and reach for his wand when he realised it was Only rosy
" I thought i heard yelling " she said
" right- " Draco frowned, until he remembered clearly every single word from harry just before " we had a small Argument. We'd be fine.. if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone "
Rosy hurriedly nodded and left the room. It was not much later, draco too left the manor to come back again with harry for investigation.
" I think I know where to start. Talk with me tonight, yeah ?" Draco had told harry between work. Harry frowned but immediately nodded, waiting for the evening to arrive.
___________________________
To be continued. Requests accepted ( even for part 2, despite that it'll be out anyways )
I had immense fun writing this. Also Tumblr cut me on word limit,soo.. you'll have to wait for the next part. Happy reading.
Serious notice- I have missed a prompt in between, which will be labelled 43 and willl to be out as soon as possible.
Day 42- little things | Day 45- feeling their temperature
The Butterfly Effect -
- Part 3
“ I beg you, please- please take it away “ He plead with his hands joint to the guard who stood a few miles away talking to someone he knew he loathed with every little atom of his body. The guard and the man looked at him vaguely before they resumed talking and he begged and he begged and he begged again but none of them showed him any mercy as if he was nothing but an abandoned toy to them. He cried and he weeped and he whimpered until his voice went mute and he fell over the ground another day he had lost count of, his body writhing and shaking in fits before he was driven into unconsciousness and insanity.
__________________________________
“ I need to get that register “ Harry bellowed at hermione.
“ I’m doing the most I can, we barely made it out last time- you have to be patient “ Hermione snapped back.
Harry sighed defeated and sat down over the couch in her living room “It’s very important”
“ I know- but you have to be patient. I’m doing the most I can and above everything else if it is what you think it is then we’re going to have to do it more secretly ” Hermione explained to him walking into the living room with a hot cup of cocoa for Harry and one for her own.
“ We don’t have that much time ” harry told her.
“ Yes we do- just hold on “ Hermione told him.
Harry looked at her for a few moment before he nodded it off.
“ What do you think otherwise John was doing there ?” Hermione asked suddenly.
Harry shrugged “ I can’t be sure “
Hermione shook her head “ Where have you reached anyways, any lead ?”
Harry placed the cup of cocoa on the table then said “ That’s the problem, I don’t have a lead, I haven’t reached anywhere. All this time I’ve just been reading the investigation reports, statements and watching and listening to the tapes “
“ Anything that you think is odd ?” Hermione asked again
Harry shook his head “ My intuition says there is something wrong because few conversations just end abruptly but the rest, all of it just points that Draco is convincingly the murderer- except this statement by victim’s old friend but his entire name wasn’t mentioned “ he told her.
Hermione shook her head understandably “ Why don’t you reach out to Draco’s friends? They might know something, don’t you think- you said he used to be a gardener and Malfoy’s have had some pretty old relations with pureblood families, there must be someone who could help you“
Harry looked at her in surprise, almost disappointed how it didn’t come into his mind but Hermione have always beeb better at thinking quick than him “ I know- the Zabini’s left the country ages ago- suspect they’re in the US- I highly doubt Malfoy’s kept any relations with the Goyle’s and Crabbe’s- That leaves us with Parkinson-”
“ Parkinson “ They said simultaneously
“ I haven’t seen Pansy in years- I don’t even know if she even lives in the country anymore “ Harry pointed
Hermione thought for a moment then as if something struck her, she got up on her feet and walked into some other room while Harry waited knowing this meant she was looking some sort of her book but this time she returned back with a small card, what seemed like a business card.
“ Someone gave me this ages ago- Boyce Parkinson but I don’t know if its the same family. For all we know nobody knows if she even had a brother but I think its worth a try “ Hermione gave it to him.
Harry took the card and read it “ That’s not so far “ he pointed “but what if its not who we think he is ?”
“ Then we will find Pansy” Hermione answered
“ Do you think she would even want to help us ?”Harry worriedly asked. Hermione didn’t say anything, there was nothing that could have been said. The game they were playing was a tricky game, a game based on chance and if luck was with them then they would find her and will have something to lead with but if not then this case would get longer than Harry had thought of.
At night when Harry had decided to leave the company of Ron and Hermione and finally go back to his place, to Ginny, Ron interrupted him while Hermione got busy in the kitchen.
“ You think you’re going to be able to finish the case before the wedding since you’re obviously going to take a leave ?”
“ I-I really don’t know. I’ve had the case for almost a week and tomorrow’s a weekend, I can only hope “ Harry shrugged
“ Look- even if you think its going to take longer- just try to finish it sooner “ Ron adviced and Harry nodded and was again going to walk out of their place when Ron stopped him another time.
“ Hey- I heard you are looking for a way to trespass through Azkaban, I know someone who can help you- but he’s out of town recently “ Ron said. Harry looked behind him, Hermione finishing up filling her jar of water.
“ I’m listening “
_______________________________________
“ Remember don’t sound suspicious “ Hermione warned him again. Harry nodded despite that he wanted to roll his eyes, he didn’t, clinging his jacket tighter to his body he crossed the road watching Hermione leave after a few minutes.
Harry breathed deeply before he face planted a smile and walked into the bakery, his hands in his pockets for a casual look and nodding his head along the way at people he didn’t even know.
” welcome-how can I serve you today ?“ The man behind the counter who looked almost around Harry’s age, maybe even an year or two younger.
” why don’t you get me one of your choice- surprise me “ Harry smiled.
The man smiled then nodded ” we don’t usually get these but I’ll get you one of my absolute favourite- and just a secret I add whenever I take one for myself “
” good weekend ?“ Harry asked and the man nodded, grinning.
” So should I Also it’s your bakery then ?“ Harry asked trying to sound as casual as possible, looking around the bakery, it was actually a pretty interesting place to be in.
” I’m not supposed to tell this but yeah- I serve only the morning hours on Monday “ He replied.
” you must be Boyce then ?“ Harry asked then showed him the card he bought with himself.
” I- we stopped using business cards a long time ago “ he suspiciously said cutting a piece of brown looking pastry into smaller pieces.
” oh- that’s just my friend found it in her old stock- she’s moving so and she found your business card and she kept going on and on about how good this place is, so I thought to myself why not try it myself “ Harry added hand movements for gesture to not seem like a random stranger. He didn’t understand however why was it so hard to pretend to be normal.
” Must’ve been some customer then- I am Boyce and you are?“ He asked
Harry smiled then wondered for a moment whether he should tell his name or not, then went with the later ” Ron “
The man nodded and handed Harry his pastries, taking the money from Harry.
” say- Boyce- do you believe magic exists ?“ Harry asked finally.
Boyce frowned ” that’s an odd question to ask- love can be magical if that’s what you mean “
” No I mean- magic magic, like actual wand sort of magic ?“ Harry asked again.
Boyce stared at Harry in confusion, then stepped back ” I don’t know what you mean “ and unfortunately Harry had to go back.
Day 1 of finding Pansy Parkinson- progress = 0.
He dropped the Pastries at home, leaving a note for Ginny ” for you “ and going back to work again and telling Hermione all about what happened.
Meanwhile Ron’s work of trying to help Harry infiltrate through Azkaban was running low.
And he was again left with nothing but reading the statement and watching the video tapes again.
Until it hit him. Relations. His blood relations. Draco had to have been touch with his family members, it can’t be possible otherwise and it was highly suspicious how neither of the parents statements were there in the tapes, nor was it mentioned in the files.
” I need files on Lucius Malfoy “ Harry asked the librarian. She looked at him in a suspicious way but decided not to put up a fight and gave him the the aisle number to access the file. Harry looked for file after file, in the entire L section but apparently there existed too many Lucius. After spending too much time that his hands got entirely covered in dust when he finally found Lucius’s file.
Name : Lucius Malfoy
Date of birth : 2 March 1954
Sex : Male
Blood status : Pure blood
Blood line : Malfoy
Date of imprisonment : 4 June 1998
Cause of imprisonment : Accused of murder during Wizarding War 2, Known death eater, Served the Dark lord and involved in various malicious activities including trespassing of information through the ministry.
Note added:
Found dead in the cell of Azkaban
Cause of Death : Probable forced starvation
Date of death : 3 November 2001
Any further inquiries or ongoing cases on the respective prisoner are hereby dismissed.
Case 23TH49 - CLOSED
Harry sighed disappointed as he read through his details and figured the reason why Lucius’s statements were not involved in Draco’s file yet he still had Narcissa to go to, only he knew he was a dead start since he hadn’t seen her since the final graduation day that too for not more than a glimpse. He flipped the pages through the file, reading the headlines of any inquiries that ever even started or Lucius defense statements in itself which frankly to Harry seemed like a child had wrote it. He was briefly reading through statements unless something felt worth reading until he stopped at a single page,
“How long did you serve the Dark lord for ?”
“During the first war and the later half of the second war “
“ So you would say you were not a servant of the dark lord during that period- am i correct ?” a nod “ Then you had the choice to inform to the ministry or do benefit to release information about the dark lord but you did not- was it perhaps for your own benefit ?”
“ I attained no benefit in seeking the ministry- that place is filled with cockroach like servants like you who would stick up one’s *** for promotion “
“ If I were you- I’d mind my language Mr. Malfoy “
A break was added before the encounter began again.
“ So you faithfully were still serving the Dark lord, even though during the First war you stated that you were under imprerius curse ?”
Lucius Malfoy chose not to say anything.
“ How do you think this effected your relationship with your son- Draco is it- Draco malfoy? You grew him in the light of worshiping the Dark lord ?”
“ He served what he felt was right- he lived an absolutely perfect childhood-”
“ And how exactly do you define normal ?”
“ Normal like everyone else’s- “
“ So you mean a place where he had a nice christmas, one where the dinner table always held beautiful cherishing and absolutely informative conversations ?”
Lucius didn’t reply.
“ Your son says otherwise- He mentions that you had managed to wreck his childhood and inflicted trauma on him especially during the vital teenage years because he was forced to become a death eater “
“ It was his decision- He wanted to serve the Dark lord- It was his fate- It was meant to be”
“ A fate that you decided for him “
Lucius had angrily stared at the investigator, thoroughly offended as if he couldn’t believe it but his later behaviour while left alone in the cell indicated he was mad at himself.
“ You tricked your son with what? I imagine some expensive gift might not have worked on him- significantly because you forced him to grow up that those things didn’t appeal him- so what did you bribe him with? A freedom perhaps that you couldn’t provide him? Or you didn’t bribe him at all, instead tortured him ?”
Lucius remained silent again.
The investigation ended and after that the case was closed once Lucius got admitted into the hospital due to starvation and remained in the ward for a long time and upon his return no investigations were further made and sooner he was found dead.
The case ended with a bunch of loophole and even less of any evidence that Lucius has infact forced Draco to take the mark which would have inevitably worked well towards his defense but Lucius was dead and there was no coming back from the dead.
And Harry was back where he started, with nothing.
“ I need files on Narcissa Malfoy “ Harry asked the librarian again. She groaned at him then looked through her files.
“ There are no investigation files- only general file- N154″
Harry frowned then walked through alleys until he reached the alley and with much difficulty found the file and he took the only file he found on her back to his office.
Name: Narcissa Malfoy
Date of birth: 7 January 1956
Sex : Female
Blood status : Pure Blood
Blood line : Black
Accused charges : Serving the Dark Lord, known Death eater, Trespassing
The following wasn’t imprisoned yet case held in Wizegamont found guilty and put under Probation for 1 year.
Harry turned anymore pages to see if there was anything more to her file but except the court hearings and a few of her pictures, there was nothing which he found surprising because despite not just being guilty, there were no conclusive statement of how her probation even ended, if it did even or did she like Lucius die before time?
Harry threw his head back the chair staring up at the ceiling of his office covered in old looking wallpaper of Palm leaves.
Narcissa Malfoy could not have been dead, or could she ? There was only one way to find out.
PART 1 & 2
PART 4
REQUESTS OPEN/ PREVIOUS MICROFICS/ FICS
5,6,19 in one single fic of draco being in azkaban
The Butterfly Effect
It lacks my skill to make it into a one shot and I apologize for it. This will be continued in parts.
Dialogue Prompts - 5 - “ Why are you doing that ?” “Doing what ?” “ Treating me like a person” //6. “Sometimes memories are the worst form of torture” // 19. “ I lo–” “ No, please.. Don’t say that. You love her/him, not me”
Cold stirred inside the cell, a heavy cloud of mist settling in and the grey walls screeched as he scratched another day over the walls. Day 150. He dropped the stone over the ground making sure to make no noise but the rustling of the door awakened the beast and it crawled towards him. He shimmied back into the corner until no corner was left to fit into and he whimpered begging the mercy from the beast to let him go but what a deaf beast would know.
The beast took its bite, sucked his memory and left over the ground was a filled with tears Draco Malfoy waiting for the numbness to settle in. His life was becoming more meaningless than it ever had been, only now, he didn’t had anything more left to offer.
Keep reading
The Butterfly effect
- Part 4
“ Boyce- Hi” Harry announced as he walked into the bakery the next time he paid him a visit.
Boyce looked at Harry strangely as he should’ve, walking closer to the counter to get his order “You’re here again- What can I get you ?”
Harry tried to dissolve the unknown tension with a smile and whatever absurd thing that came in his head “ I want to take something that’s soft but also something to take on a date type thing”
The man looked at him weirdly and Harry was sure that by the looks of it he was going to hand him a random cake or muffin but for the progress to be made he knew he had to do what it takes.
“ You didn’t answer my question the other day you know “ Harry said as he took out his wallet to pay for the thing he knew he wasn’t going to eat.
“ What question ?” Boyce lied.
“ You know- If you believed magic was real or not ?” Harry smiled
Boyce sighed “ Listen- are you writing a children’s book or what ?”
Harry immediately got confused and picked up the cup cakes he packed him “ why would I write a children book ?”
“ Why would you ask a random person a random question ?” he questioned back.
Harry shook his head then without putting out a defense gave up and walked out of the bakery with a dissatisfied sigh and dropped the cupcakes back at his place for ginny.
___________________________________
“ Hermione- I really need the allowance” Harry snapped, once again, the 3rd time this week.
“ And I’ve been consistently saying I’ve been trying to do my best- Merlin Harry you can be so impatient sometimes “ she snapped back.
Harry collapsed back down on the chair, breathing rather raggedly “ It- its just I’m running out on time”
“ How long do you have ?” Hermione countered
“ I don’t exactly know but I’m taking a week off for wedding- so that leaves me with only 3 weeks” Harry answered.
Hermione looked at her watch on the table knowing fully well their time together had ran out and she had another meeting to go to. She finally looked up at him “ I’ll try to get the allowance in two more days okay- can you do that ? In the meantime try thinking out of the box- from a different perspective” she suggested
“ I’ve already done that- several times but it leads nowhere except for why most of Draco’s statements end with L’appel du vide “ Harry sighed
“ What does it mean?”
____________________________________
Harry hunched over the chair once again, his hands supporting his head as he read the highlighted words he made with a disappointed and dissatisfied expression.
“ Why do you keep saying those words by the end ?” Harry whispered in the air.
“ Need a break ?” he heard from the door and Harry looked up to find Ron standing at the doorway, his hands in his pocket.
“ I don’t need a break- I need to break into Azkaban and get the visitors register- that’s what I need “ Harry sighed. Ron chuckled, shutting the door behind him with a kick of his leg and taking the chair before Harry’s desk.
“ I know Hermione is working on the allowance- just trust her, you know how slow the ministry can be” Ron shrugged. Harry thought about it for a moment then nodded knowing exactly how ministry can be.
“ Just talk to me about it- anything but the case “ Ron suggested
Harry sighed again “ I haven’t done my wedding shopping yet- I know Ginny have but I’ve just been trying to complete cases after cases so I can take a couple of days off you know but it’s getting a little exhausting “
Ron nodded understandably then as if something struck his mind he said “ I’d do your clothing shopping “
“ What ?”
“ Of course I can do that- I’ve done your shopping before and we’ve practically grown up together so I know what looks good on you and what doesn’t and what you like- I can help with that, How does that sound ?” Ron suggested
Harry frowned impressively “ Really insensitive on my part for the wedding but it takes a load off me, so yeah that would just be fantastic “
“ Anytime mate, I’m here for you “ Ron smiled and Harry grinned back knowing he really had his back for everything.
“ Apart from that everything is fine with you- right ?” Ron asked, concerned.
Harry nodded his head “ Of course”
“ So anything else I can help with- maybe a treacle tart, running lose in Azkaban, bombarding those cells, casting john on fire ?”
Harry laughed “ Believe every single one of them is what I want to do but I can’t, apparently I need to think outside the box “
“ Outside the box? What do you mean ?” Ron asked
“ Hermione is suggesting that I’m missing out on something but I’ve already read the files over 5 times, not just Draco’s but his fathers and even his mother but I’m really in a puzzle because Lucius is dead and Narcissa is nowhere to be found, at least according to me” Harry explained
“ What about any family friends ?” Ron asked
“ Been trying to track down Parkinson but I don’t even know if it’s the right Parkinson I’m even tracking” Harry told him
Ron frowned “ Pansy did run out of sight “ Harry nodded, agreeing.
“ What about the goyle or the Crabbe’s ?”
“ Lost contact after the war”
“ Zabini ?”
“ Out of continent “
“ Theodore Nott ?”
“ Out of- Wait, who ?” Harry confusedly asked
“ Theodore Nott, the 4th member in their group, well not really-really but Theodore used to be Draco’s friend till 5th year- don’t you remember the Tall guy- black hair, used to wear really expensive shoes-Oh- Draco and him used to laugh a lot together- well insulted but still- why again are you trying to defend that douche ?” Ron questioned with a distasteful look
“ It doesn’t matter why, I just think he’s innocent and incapable of committing a murder- but I don’t remember any Theodore “ Harry frowned
Ron poked his chin thinking then something struck him again “They used to go to the library together- he was good at studies”
“ Tall, black-haired you say?”
“ As I can recall “ Ron shrugged
“ Guess, I’ll pay him a visit- where do I find him ?”
“ London Real estate, last where I heard of him”
________________________________________
“ I don’t know why you had to bring me with you “ Ron grumbled by Harry’s side.
“ I didn’t want to be embarrassed alone” Harry mumbled.
“ Mr. Potter- He’s ready to see you “ His assistant smile and they gave her a firm smile and walked through the doors into the large maple wood loft-like room, which was just his meeting office.
” I know why you’re here, “ he said before Harry or Ron could’ve even said Hello, even though they had planned that they would but apparently easier said than done.
” I really need your help “ Harry sighed
” I haven’t been in the wizarding world for almost 7 years now- I know you got Draco’s case- trust me I have sources- but even if try to convince that he is a murderer- he’s innocent, he wouldn’t ever-“
” Exactly- I know he’s innocent “ Harry interjected
Theo frowned then pulled himself back into the chair. Ron and Harry finally sat down in the chair in front of his desk and leaned forward.
” I want enough proof to convince that Draco’s innocent-“
” But you’re running against him “ Theo interrupted
” it’s a long story- right now- all I need is everything that you can tell me about Draco’s childhood- his gardener if you remember?“
” bloomy Ben ?“
” the what Ben ?“
” The Bloomy Ben- that’s what Draco used to call him at least- he really looked upto him. He told me he was heartbroken the day he told him that Ben needed to move away for a while for his study-“
” what study ?“
” I really don’t know- Draco and I were never close friend’s alright, we just had crappy conversations Sometimes okay but I only know that Ben moved away for a while- it happened during the school break and by the time Draco even heard from him- he was already running his own botanist farm or something like that-“
” A botanist farm ?“ Ron interjected this time
” yeah- His botanist farm- he used to study- botany there- a lot of different cures for a lot of magic went wrong- and used to make potions out of his plants but that is the most I know- he used to stop talking about Ben after a while “ Theodore explained, ending with a shrug, expressing that he never understood why Draco did it.
” anything you can think of why he’d suddenly stop talking about him ?“ Harry asked
” I think because it hurt him talking about Ben- as I said he really looked up to him “ Theo shrugged.
Ron and Harry nodded after a while understandably.
” are you perhaps in touch with Narcissa ? Draco’s mom?“
Theo shook his head ” but I know Pansy is- they were really good friends and not just because of Draco “
” what do you mean?“ Harry asked again
” just- they had their own stuff- Narcissa never had a daughter so Pansy was almost like a daughter to her “
” are you in touch with Pansy ?“
” as I said- I’ve been out of wizarding World for almost 7 years- I have no relationship with anyone I used to have with “ Theodore disappointedly sighed.
Harry understandably looked at him then offered his thanks for helping him out with everything he could.
” Pansy would definitely know “ Ron said on his way back and Harry nodded muttering what Theo had said in the room.
” You wanna take a cake ?“ Ron suddenly asked
Harry followed his line of sight then immediately shook his head ” oh no- Boyce pretty much Hates me- He thinks I’m weird “
Ron shrugged ” Fair enough “ and they walked back to the office once again.
When Ron finally left to work on his own case, Harry put a pin on the pinboard.
” Draco Malfoy “
And the next pin he made on the board was “L'appel du vide ”
“ Ben ”
“anonymous statements ”
Lastly “ why did John visit ?”
This took me forever to write due to lack of motivation and I’m still so disappointed with the way the chapter even turned out. Anyways Thanks for cooperation with my busy schedule and less frequent updates.
REQUESTS OPEN/ PREVIOUS FICS/MICROFICS
5,6,19 in one single fic of draco being in azkaban
The Butterfly Effect
It lacks my skill to make it into a one shot and I apologize for it. This will be continued in parts.
Dialogue Prompts - 5 - “ Why are you doing that ?” “Doing what ?” “ Treating me like a person” //6. “Sometimes memories are the worst form of torture” // 19. “ I lo–” “ No, please.. Don’t say that. You love her/him, not me”
Cold stirred inside the cell, a heavy cloud of mist settling in and the grey walls screeched as he scratched another day over the walls. Day 150. He dropped the stone over the ground making sure to make no noise but the rustling of the door awakened the beast and it crawled towards him. He shimmied back into the corner until no corner was left to fit into and he whimpered begging the mercy from the beast to let him go but what a deaf beast would know.
The beast took its bite, sucked his memory and left over the ground was a filled with tears Draco Malfoy waiting for the numbness to settle in. His life was becoming more meaningless than it ever had been, only now, he didn’t had anything more left to offer.
Keep reading
The Butterfly Effect
- Part 5
Harry relaxed back in his chair, his finger playing the forward button then replay button over and over again trying to find a clue, any clue but it was all just a video, nothing more. The videos played on loop on the projector, questions after questions being asked and none met with an actual answer. It frustrated him, this entire case did but he was waiting for that one calling that hadn’t made it to him yet. He knew there was something to the case that he was missing or something that was kept concealed but days after trying to find out, he had reached nowhere, a dead end if he must say so.
So he replayed the video like he had done several times, this time focusing on Draco’s facial expression and somewhere along the way pitying him for the horrid condition he must be in. Azkaban wasn’t people’s favorite place to be in and he was there for a crime Harry was convinced he didn’t commit.
“ Killers don’t always use weapon, murder isn’t always murder and death isn’t always met. I did not kill Ben Codsworth, someone did and that’s not me ”
He stopped the video right at that second, feeling too exhausted to go on, just looking at the shade of pale screen and his expressions that looked defeated, like he lost at something, maybe convincing that he was infact innocent, shame Harry didn’t know, yet.
“ What am I not able to find?” Harry whispered in the air then picked up the file and stared at Draco’s face. Looking between the Draco on the screen and on the file seemed like two entirely different people, different yet alike at all time. It was weird how the same person could look so different in such a small span of time, it felt so unreal but it was more real than everything had ever been. It was weird to think of how Draco might’ve possibly thought that he was going to be there only for a short span of time, a couple of days until he would’ve been found innocent like it should’ve gone but little had he seen this coming, little would he had thought about wasting his youth in prison and above that everyone being convinced that he was the murderer, it was like the world was convinced he was a murderer and nobody wanted to hear his story but Harry. It was like living in a tin box, with the same grey painted walls everywhere with the opaqueness of the world convincing that there was no world outside those 4 walls, outside that cruelty.
Harry stared at the screen for a long time, then picture of Draco in his hand wondering what move should be his next, who to go to, who to believe until he heard the door knob twisting and he immediately unplugged the projector and hastily put the picture in a file.
“ Harry “ the door opened and in the shadow cast Ginny’s silhouette.
“ yeah ?” Harry asked putting his case stuff away.
“ Dinner ?” She asked
“ i’ll be right out “ Harry answered. Ginny nodded and left. He cleared up the mess he made, putting the videos back in the bag along with the files and just as he was about to walk out, he had a good look of the room, his thoughts still running in wonderment.
Within a few minutes he was at the table and listening to Ginny and filling her in about the new case he received at the same time yet keeping the name confidential.
“ Seems like some case” Ginny commented
“ Yeah- I constantly feel like there’s something i’m not seeing. There are just too many loopholes” Harry explained
“ Of course there are, if how you’re saying this person didn’t kill him, then somebody else did who definitely had a problem with the person who’s in prison, its like he’s being framed” Ginny stated “ Wow- this fish isn’t as boneless as it was supposed to be “ she added but all Harry thought of how Draco could possibly be framed, who would do it?
__________________________________
Harry was running out of people to reach out to, anyone he possibly could’ve thought of was either dead, disappeared, had lost touch, or currently low in existence as he would like to put it. He was entirely frustrated as he walked into his office and was met with John sitting over his chair. Good thinking of Harry to put the question pin board away last night.
“ Hello, Harry “ John greeted. Even the small hello seemed to have caused a bubble of blood to rise inside of him.
“ Hello, John. I think you might be invading my personal space- well office that is” Harry raised his eyebrows as he set his bag he bought over the table and walked behind to sit in his chair.
The audacity John had to keep his legs over Harry’s table but then again John wasn’t the best guy.
“ My office Harry- I gave you this office if you can recall- but- I can understand. I’m only here to know your progress on the case, don’t you think that perhaps the case have been dragged on for a little longer than you normally do it, say a week or two more than you would have normally finished the case in ?” John asked with his tone laced with challenge and suspicion.
Harry huffed then leaned forward over the table, pouring a glass of water for himself “ I would say you are not wrong. The case have been dragged on for longer than usual- almost a week over than i’d normally do it but you see the case isn’t as simple as I thought it was. I have to make sure that there is absolutely nothing which could be questioned later in any inquiry. I want to make sure that Draco Malfoy stays put in there and for that I need to do an intensive study over the files and people who might think he’s innocent “ Harry wished that a door to hell would open up underneath his chair and drag him downright because right now he hated himself more than he hated John for what he said and how he said with a smirk plastered over his face.
John looked at Harry impressively “ Well- I did not expect you to get so involved but I like your spirit- its as I’d like to put it very impressive. Finally thinking like a true auror “ He got up from the chair and was ready to leave, Harry himself being thankful for that but in the last moment John turned around and looked at Harry in a way he couldn’t himself explain, it was some sort of an unambiguous look that seemed as if John was looking through him and into his soul. Harry didn’t like that look, it left him mildly disturbed.
And he left the office. Harry soon locked it after him and took out the question board from beneath his table and pinned another post.
“ Pansy Parkinson? ”
“ Narcissa Malfoy ?”
And added a few more question marks after John’s name.
Thinking upon the conversation he had with Theodore a couple of days ago, Harry couldn’t help but note down everything he could remember from the conversation on a piece of paper and stuck it to the pinboard as well.
“ The botanist farm “ Harry frowned. How come it was never mentioned before that the botanist farm where Ben worked even existed? That led him to Ben’s investigatory file and doing his background search but reading lines over lines he realised it wasn’t mentioned anywhere when Ben was away for almost an year to the Botanist farm to study. Maybe it could be a start but Harry was afraid that going to find out about that Botanist farm would again be a dead end and if not more so a useless one, what possibly could he even get from there ? Or was it even really connected to the case as such which led him to another thing as why didn’t that come up in any inquiries with Draco about Ben’s disappearance especially about the farm for a while even though it was clear that Draco knew Ben the best.
Harry was still reading through file hastily when suddenly his eyes laid upon the word Marital status, which was scratched several times then left blank. Harry picked up that piece of paper and put it before the table lamp trying to find the words beneath the ink. He bought his specks closer to his eyes, squinting and underneath the scraping was just one to two letter he could see at the end “ an ” and after that was another scratch. Clearly someone didn’t want anyone to know Ben’s marital status. Harry noted it down and left it over the table to later figure out what it was while he tried running around the office library to find a file on Pansy Parkinson, if that even existed. Apparently not and the reason was clear, despite being a hefty supporter of Voldemort during the second war, she was never really put behind bars and only the people who were put behind bars in Azkaban were the ones who had a file and since Pansy was only presented in the court for a short while and found guilty she was free. If Harry really thinks upon it he can recall sitting in the winzegamot while Pansy’s hearing was in process, she was very nervous and she kept bouncing her leg up and down whilst she was sitting on the chair. It was probably the first time he had ever even seen her that nervous but when your life changing sentence is a minute away, you would be scared. He can’t remember what happened next, perhaps he never really could paid attention or he was sent out of there for something and only returned during the final statement hour, the rest was just a fast blur.
“ Harry-” Someone called from behind him and he turned around to notice the fellow he works with but had hardly ever been keen enough to remember his name. Harry assumed it started with a M.
“ How are you doing ?” he asked. Harry smiled at him, answering his question vaguely.
“ Been noticing you coming here a lot “ He smiled.
“ Working on some cold sort of case- unfortunately the evidences are very less-”
“ You’re looking here for evidence’s? Thought you’d know better than trying find them here, its a complete waste- John keeps the actual evidences- Why don’t you ask him ?” He asked frowning.
“ Can’t ” Harry muttered to himself then gave him a fake smile “ I’ll try that, Thanks”
And Harry left after that, going back to his office and waiting for the the hole of hell to open up under his chair.
He was again running in his nuisance of unavailable hints, even thinking of giving up the case but the innocence in Draco’s face called him towards himself. Harry thought of it all and at the end he realised that he was afraid of knowing why he wanted to free Draco. He thought earlier that maybe it was all for a cause, or a sense to prove that innocent people are put into Azkaban without consent but now maybe it was more than that, maybe it always had been, he still doesn’t know why he was so attached to the case, all he knew that this wasn’t just any framed up case, it was so much more than that but if Harry was sure of one thing was that Draco could not have been a murderer.
The annoying clock on his table ticked louder than his thoughts he decided he needed at least something, he couldn’t waste his days away. If he needed to solve the case he needed to know everything about Draco’s life, his past life, his life in general away from school, his family, his relationship with Ben, he needed to know everything to find answers.
And so despite low chances, he was stirring in the pensieve every memory he ever held of Draco. Memories after memories transformed from one to another, some foul and unpleasant to some completely unnecessary but it was enough to prove that Harry knew absolutely nothing of Draco, absolutely nothing. He doesn’t want to blame his own self but it was true that he never really gave himself a chance to take the veil of mask off Draco’s face and look behind it. All the memories he had of Draco from 6th year now were more than just memories, his face was always a cry for help and it was unfathomable how Harry looked past all that and tried to look for suspicious things. He wonders what would have happened if he had ever gave him a chance to prove himself or What would had happened if for once he would had risen from more than just himself and trying to make plans to defeat Voldemort and had lurked a thought over Draco, what would’ve happened ?
Harry was on the last of the memories, the one from the day Dumbledore was on the porch after they had came back to the astronomy tower and Draco was standing with his wand pointed at Dumbledore. Harry walked nearer to Draco and looked at the helplessness in his face, the cry in his eyes, the tremor of his lips. He was hopeless, helpless and broken even back then, more then than ever. He was too young for someone to know what pain was but looking at Draco in his memory with his wand held in his trembling hands Harry felt pity and a strange whim of sadness. He stood right before Draco as he cried to Dumbledore and looked through his eyes but they were dim, closed down, shut off from him because Harry never really had tried to look beyond it but even then he knew it, he knew that he could be anything but a murderer.
“ you couldn’t had done it ” Harry whispered and pulled out of the memory. He pushed the pensieve away a little and let out a long harsh breath. It had been too overwhelming to watch all the memories more than he could’ve thought of. It had left him estranged and guilty of a lot of things but they were just kids weren’t they. Kids who made too many mistakes and had came too far to apologize for them.
Harry startled as soon as the door opened behind him and then shut off by whoever entered. He turned around and noticed Ron had came in and was watching his question pin board he had created.
“ You’re still here- thought you would’ve packed your stuff away” Ron commented
Harry frowned looking at the ticking clock on his table “ Its just 4″
“ Yeah but the dinner is at 6 “ Ron shook his head making a point.
“ What dinner ?” Harry asked confused.
“ Dinner, At my place. Remember Hermione is hosting our usual dinners- something for the wedding to be discussed. Seriously how did you forget, I just told you yesterday while leaving work” Ron frowned.
It struck him then, yesterday while leaving work Ron had said something about the dinner but his mind was making plans to cross by the bakery to check Boyce was there, he wasn’t.
“ Yeah- must’ve slipped my mind- I’ll pack “ Harry retaliated.
Ron sighed then opened the door to walk out of the door “ I’ll see you at dinner then- oh and try not to bring up the case in between with Hermione”
Harry nodded and Ron left.
____________________________________
In Harry’s opinion the dinner was going pleasantly but in everyone else’s opinion, the dinner was everything but fine. The entire dinner Harry kept playing with his fork more than listening and when called out over it, he responded with ‘he’s not that hungry’ and it wasn’t even just that, when he was asked about the wedding preparations he was only half a mind present there and ended up being silent which for the sake Ron answered. Harry was very disturbed, dreaming in his own world, he didn’t like it but he was always thinking of ways to pin any clue or a hint in his head for the case and currently in dinner he was thinking of any memories he might’ve missed about Draco while watching the memories in pensieve but he couldn’t pin any memory he might’ve forgotten.
But lost in his world, Ron finally lost his mind and dragged Harry into the balcony.
“ What is up with you ?” Ron almost yelled.
“ What ?” Harry questioned back confused.
“ You know what “ Ron replied crossing his arms in his front.
“ Nothing is up Ron, I’m good” Harry shook his head for emphasis.
“ You’re far from good Harry, don’t you see you’re losing your mind over that guy who for all you might actually be the murderer and I know you have faith in him and you believe he’s innocent and everything and he might be but Harry you have a wedding coming up, you have your friends and family here and you are being ignorant of them. I don’t know why this case is so important to you or if this have anything to do with your life or people or if its even just about justice but what you’re doing here and everywhere else except your office isn’t valid. You can’t ignore us, your fiance, the rest of the world for that one guy” Ron scolded. With the way he scolded him off Harry knew that it must’ve been something serious or he must’ve done something very wrong, he might even be entirely wrong for all he knew but if there was anything Harry knew about Ron was that if he was yelling at him or if he was calling Harry out on his shit then he had definitely not been a good friend.
Harry sighed then nodded “ I- I am sorry, I didn’t realize I was being such a terrible friend-”
“ Its not about being a terrible friend- it- its just that you’ve been so lost and all of us wish that you were just a little bit present” Ron admitted.
Harry looked at Ron apologetically “I know- I wish I knew why this meant so much to me but I don’t and I know you think I do but I don’t- You know what- you are right, I’ve been very inconsiderate about everything even you guys and you people who mean the world to me- I’ll make it upto you all I promise I will, starting right now. I’ll run down and i’ll bring us guys some good cake and we’ll celebrate, alright”
Ron huffed then nodded “ Do you want me to go along with you ?”
“ I’ll be fine “ Harry replied patting his back and left the flat to run down to the nearest bakery but unfortunately the nearest bakery was closed, so was the other, then the other and the next one until he decided to go to Boyce’s bakery at his last resort which was fortunately open and about to be closed. He ran through the door, reaching for air and made it to the counter with little breath running into his system.
“ I need- “
“ You again- Let me stop you- I know why you’re here, I knew it all along but its- it just didn’t make sense but nobody comes as often as you do and I can see you clearly have a reason with all your absurd questions ” Boyce cut him off.
“ Oh? “ Harry asked in a single syllable.
“ I know you who you need"
“ Its Pansy, isn’t it ?”
PART 1 TO 4
I’m so so so incredibly sorry for anyone who was actually waiting for this update but a lot of factors contributed to this very specific late update and also as noticed I’ve started december fluff fest, I’ve barely been able to juggle with writing that, updating and my own life as well.
I’d also apologize for this one being a shitty chapter, I barely had any motivation and headspace to think through it, clearly I do now. Again, Incredibly sorry. I’ll try to update sooner this time. Much Love.
MASTERLIST/ REQUESTS OPEN
5,6,19 in one single fic of draco being in azkaban
The Butterfly Effect
It lacks my skill to make it into a one shot and I apologize for it. This will be continued in parts.
Dialogue Prompts - 5 - “ Why are you doing that ?” “Doing what ?” “ Treating me like a person” //6. “Sometimes memories are the worst form of torture” // 19. “ I lo–” “ No, please.. Don’t say that. You love her/him, not me”
Cold stirred inside the cell, a heavy cloud of mist settling in and the grey walls screeched as he scratched another day over the walls. Day 150. He dropped the stone over the ground making sure to make no noise but the rustling of the door awakened the beast and it crawled towards him. He shimmied back into the corner until no corner was left to fit into and he whimpered begging the mercy from the beast to let him go but what a deaf beast would know.
The beast took its bite, sucked his memory and left over the ground was a filled with tears Draco Malfoy waiting for the numbness to settle in. His life was becoming more meaningless than it ever had been, only now, he didn’t had anything more left to offer.
Keep reading
The Butterfly Effect
- Part 6
“I know who you need“
“Its Pansy, isn’t it ?”
“Pansy Parkinson ?”
Harry’s already short breath stuck in his throat, a knot forming inside and his head doing the well aware spin it did when things got suddenly strange.
“Ho-How did you -?” Harry couldn’t form the entire sentence even if he wanted to. It was like his voice was lost somewhere deep in his throat and his brain went into short circuit, like all of his fuses gave out and what remained behind was just burnt up left overs.
“I knew it from the day you first came here with the business card and more convinced when you asked me about magic“ Boyce replied.
Harry breathed heavily, shaking his head. He took hold of the nearest chair and sat down “Why didn’t you tell me before ?”
“Why are you looking for her ?” He questioned back.
Harry stared at him for long moment debating with his inner conscience whether it was wise to tell him or not. He knew if Boyce had to give out information about Harry, he would’ve but he hadn’t and what struck more to him was-” why tell me now?”
Boyce dragged the chair in front of him and sat down huffing “I can see it in your face how much you want to know about her. You come here almost every day and take almost the same cakes. Only someone who either loves cakes would do it everyday or someone who’s desperate would do it, in your case, the later. What I don’t get is why didn’t you just ask straight away and more importantly why me to reach to her, aren’t you wizards supposed to know everything about each other ?”
“Us Wizards-?”
“I’m non magical. An exception in the family or sort of a disgrace as I should put it.” Boyce interrupted.
“Oh”
“Anyways, I can’t tell you more because frankly I don’t trust you.” Boyce shrugged and leaned back in his chair.
“But you can tell me where can I find her, right ?” Harry asked.
“I don’t get it, why do you need to know?” Boyce asked curiously.
Harry sighed “Its confidential-”
“Then where she is also confidential.” Boyce interjected snappily.
Harry threw his head back a little groaning in frustration “Why would you tell me about her if you couldn’t help me ?”
But he didn’t answer because perhaps he didn’t have any. Maybe he himself didn’t know why did he tell Harry about Pansy but refused to tell him where she lived.
“Boyce- I need you to understand-,”
“Understand what ? How can I trust you that you won’t try to run after her to do all the bad things that your people have done to her? You didn’t see her Harry, the strongest person I knew crumble down like she was just some broken glass. How can I trust you that you won’t do the same to her?” Boyce’s voice sounded denser as if he had to push himself to utter even a single sound right now. Harry knew at once what he meant and that he cared for her deeply. He might’ve cared for her so much that It hurts him to even think of it.
Harry leaned forward over the table “I am not one of them. Those people out there who tormented her and forced her to be one of them no longer exists and the ones who put her in that deep, dingy hole, I’m not one of them. I know you wouldn’t want to believe me but I was with her, I was on her side. You have to trust me Boyce. This is for her best,”
Boyce stared at Harry for a long time then behind him over the glassy windows, thinking of everything, debating whether he should tell him or not.
“Please Boyce. Believe me, she would want you to tell me this.”
“How can I trust you?” Boyce snapped.
Harry looked over at him softly “Because I know what you’re feeling. I know you want to protect her, I’ve been doing this my whole life. I can’t tell you why I need to meet her but I can promise you that the one’s who did whatever they did to her are the ones i’m fighting against. I need you to trust me. Please.”
Boyce thought for a long time, just staring at Harry then he noticed the desperation in his eyes, he could see Harry really needed this, he could sense it in his impatient self “You really need to see her, don’t you?”
Harry nodded.
Boyce sighed “She lives in the Hafton Building, Shaftsbury Avenue, 7th Apartment. It’ll probably be under the name of Nott’s,”
“Nott’s ? Like Theodore Nott?” Harry asked. confused.
“Yeah. She’s married to him. Why?”
Harry thought for a moment about his conversation with Theodore then finally answered Boyce “I just know him from sometime ago. Met him a couple of days ago.“
Boyce evidently nodded, not thinking much of it. The pendulum clock behind him rang suddenly indicating that it was already 11 in the night and it hit Harry then that he was running very late and his friends back home might be getting worried.
“By the way can I get a cake ?”
“Sure“
Moments later when Harry’s cake was packed and he was ready to step out of the bakery Boyce called him one last time “I’m trusting you, Harry, don’t let it go to waste.”
Harry looked at him standing in the middle of the Bakery, hope glinting in his eyes “Thank you for that- wait- How did you know my real name? I remember I told you it was Ron?” he frowned, his auror instincts kicking in to grab his wand from his pocket for any impending danger that might come along.
“You’re very famous, even among Squibs. She used to tell me about you. She didn’t like you before school though.” he smiled as if he was remembering in his head every conversation they might’ve have had.
“Yeah, Her and I didn’t really see eye to eye on things,” Harry replied. He was finally ready to leave when he had to say just one last thing “ I’m sure she misses you.”
No more words or explanations were needed, no more lingering glances, no more second thoughts were needed as Harry finally walked away from the bakery leaving Boyce alone.
By the time Harry arrived Ron’s place again, his head was swimming with questions and adrenaline pumping up through his entire body like sparks that shot right up thinking about all the possible questions he finally would be able to find the answers of that he had been waiting all along to know of. The more he thought, the more he got excited about reaching somewhere but at the same time he felt himself being pulled down by something, he was finally close and it left him feeling stranger, scared somehow.
“Where the hell have you been?” Ron asked as soon as he opened the door for Harry. He, without a word entered the flat, kept the cake over the kitchen table and summoned Ron and Hermione, as if he would burst if he didn’t tell them right now.
“What took you so long ? Don’t tell me you got distracted once again-”
“I know where Pansy is. She’s married to Theodore Nott.” Harry cut him off and rendered Ron speechless. Hermione gave him a shocked look at the same time a knowing look, as though she should’ve known.
“But that day Theodore said he didn’t had relations with anyone in the Wizarding world,” Ron said
“ Well it seems then he lied.” Harry raised his eyebrows.
“How did you figure this out ?” Hermione asked from where she had sat down coming down from a mild shock.
“ Boyce. He is Pansy’s brother- non magical that is. I went down to his bakery being the only one that was open,” Harry told them.
“ So, what now?” Ron asked eagerly.
Harry looked at Ron longingly and replied “Guess i’ll have to pay a visit to the Nott’s after all.”
___________________________________________
“Parcel for the Nott’s,” Harry disguised in the buzzer.
“Who’s it from ?” Someone asked in the intercom.
“It says from the Firdle Real estate.“ Harry lied, holding onto the empty box.
The person on the other side hummed and buzzed open the door. Harry’s heart rate picked up as he went up the stairs looking for the 7th floor. He could make up stuff in his head, why Theo might’ve possibly lied, but, right now going to visit him at his place to counter question him made Harry more nervous than he had been than when he came up with the idea of visiting them. Moments later when he was standing in front of The Nott’s apartment and had knocked, he kept a safe hold on his wand for anything that might’ve come his way but to his surprise a little girl opened the door.
“Lilian, How many times have I told you to call me to open the door.” Someone’s voice echoed inside the flat and it was growing louder as if whoever it was, was approaching the front door.
“Ha- Harry“ She gasped in a calm undertone but surprised all at the same time, However she knew she expected to see Harry standing on the other side of the opened door.
Harry nodded and knelt down in front of the little girl “Your name’s Lilian?”
“Yes I am. Who are you though? And what are you doing here?” she asked innocently.
“I’m Harry Potter-”
“You’re The Harry Potter. The one who killed the ugly man named Voldemort?” She asked excitedly
Harry chuckled “I wouldn’t boast but he really had no nose and he really was ugly.”
“Yeah I hate him.“ she muttered.
Pansy approached Lilian, placing her hand on her shoulder “Who doesn’t Honey- Why are you here?” She asked.
Harry stood up dusting his knees “I come here as an old acquaintance seeking help.”
“My help?” Pansy scoffed “What could you possibly need my help with?”
“I hope you’re aware I met Theo a couple of days ago,” Harry replied
Pansy nodded, “I’m sorry but I can’t help you”
Harry nodded dismissively.
“Well, if that is it, I really will leave but before I go, I have a message for you- Boyce misses you”
Pansy face became pale, exhaling sharply pressing her lips together. Harry stood there for a couple of minutes hoping it would weaken her stance but as seconds passed on, he was worried it didn’t and he made slow approach to step back to go away disappointed, until when he reached the elevators a little away from her apartment door, she called out to him “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
Harry smiled “That’d be fine.”
______________________________________________
“You’ve got a nice house here.” Harry admitted after having looked around the room.
Pansy nodded “Thanks. Back then it took all our savings.” she returned with a cup of coffee and a plate of biscuits in her hands.
She rest the plate over the small table near the dining table and herself sat down opposite to Harry with her own cup of coffee.
“I’m assuming that was your daughter?” Harry asked
Pansy nodded.
“How old is she?” Harry asked again.
“Just turned 5.″ she replied
“she looks just like you.” Harry complimented looking far at Lilian who was carefully colouring in her book.
“Harry- Why are you here?” She asked.
“You don’t know?” Harry asked bemused.
“I know but I want to know your reason. Why me?” She asked curiously.
“Because there is nobody who I can reach out to who wouldn’t lie to me.” Harry replied.
Pansy shook her head, “How are you so sure that I wouldn’t lie to you?”
Harry exhaled “Because you care for Draco even after all this time.”
“But from what I’ve heard you are working on the case to keep him in Azkaban?”
Harry nodded, “If that were the thing, I’d had convinced why he should be kept there a long time ago. Let me tell you this, If I really had to convince that Draco should remain in Azkaban, then I would’ve turned down the case 2 days after I had received it and It would’ve inevitably kept him there until a new Auror would not have been found but I didn’t turn it down, I’m 2 weeks into the case and right now I’m here. So tell me, Do you really believe I want to keep him there?”
Pansy looked at Harry for a long time, a sense of doubt crossing her features “Even if I believe you, how can I be sure that you’re not lying? After all you have no reason to save Draco at all.”
Harry sighed again and momentarily looked at her daughter across the room unaware of the communication they were having “I want to redeem my mistakes.You are right, I have no reason to save Draco but I know I want to save an innocent”
Pansy gave him a soft look “You are a weird guy, you know. You want to save your former arch-nemesis,”
Harry gave a short laugh, almost a faint one “I am a weird guy,” He looked back at her again “But I would need your help saving him, but I need you to trust me.”
“You’re doing some hard bargain here, Harry. It’s hard to trust someone who works for the one who put him there.” She stated but without malice.
He remained silent for a long time, looking at his cup of coffee growing colder moment by moment, “Do you know what Termite does for a living?”
She didn’t respond.
“Termite reaches till the inner core of a building, eats it out, make it hollow that the whole building is surviving on a single thread, it would collapse anytime. We have a termite here, Pansy, It’s eating everything out, its weakening everything and I know who the Termite is.” Harry replied deadpanned.
READ THE REST ON AO3
An important note- This fic will be discontinued on Tumblr. When I started writing this fic, it wasn’t supposed to be more than a 5 or 6 chapter fic, but we’re 6 chapter in and I still have a lot of things to write in this one. The following updates of the fanfic can be found on AO3. Hope you’d check it out. Much love..x
5,6,19 in one single fic of draco being in azkaban
The Butterfly Effect
It lacks my skill to make it into a one shot and I apologize for it. This will be continued in parts.
Dialogue Prompts - 5 - “ Why are you doing that ?” “Doing what ?” “ Treating me like a person” //6. “Sometimes memories are the worst form of torture” // 19. “ I lo–” “ No, please.. Don’t say that. You love her/him, not me”
Cold stirred inside the cell, a heavy cloud of mist settling in and the grey walls screeched as he scratched another day over the walls. Day 150. He dropped the stone over the ground making sure to make no noise but the rustling of the door awakened the beast and it crawled towards him. He shimmied back into the corner until no corner was left to fit into and he whimpered begging the mercy from the beast to let him go but what a deaf beast would know.
The beast took its bite, sucked his memory and left over the ground was a filled with tears Draco Malfoy waiting for the numbness to settle in. His life was becoming more meaningless than it ever had been, only now, he didn’t had anything more left to offer.
Keep reading
guys just asking for a friend: how would you find a hogwarts murder mystery au? mixed with betrayal, murder obvi and some romance?? let me know, i’m just thinking…
of course just hypothetical:
guys just asking for a friend: how would you find a hogwarts murder mystery au? mixed with betrayal, murder obvi and some romance?? let me know, i’m just thinking…
⛧༺ ’no body, no crime‘ ༻⛧
IN WHICH you try to solve an ongoing mystery in hogwarts, while actively trying not to fall in love.
coming soon…
CONTENT !
pairing: theodore nott x fem!potter!reader
characters: harry potter, hermione granger, ron weasley, ginny weasley, luna lovegood, neville longbottom, draco malfoy, blaise zabini, lorenzo berkshire, theodore nott, pansy parkinson, mattheo riddle
genre: mystery, romance, horror
warnings: mentions of blood, death, weapons, murder, suggestive language
episode 001. dinner and a glass of wine
during the christmas holidays, a heavy snowstorm isolates hogwarts, leaving only a handful of students and teachers stranded at the castle. the events turn deadly when a teacher is found murdered
episode 002. no, there ain't no doubt
to be continued...
episode 003. i ain't letting up until the day i die
to be continued...
episode 004. somebody's gotta catch him out
to be continued...
episode 005. i think he did it but i just can't prove it
to be continued...
episode 006. i wasn't letting up until the day he died
to be continued...
EXTRAS !
ೃ⁀➷ playlist
to get you in the right mood for a dark academia murder mystery
ೃ⁀➷ moodboards
insight to the characters aesthetics
ೃ⁀➷ extra scenes
once the series is finished, requests will be opened, revealing the insight in more scenes you want to see
ೃ⁀➷ taglist: @melsunshine @shereadsandcries @ch3rry-lips @the-sylver-dragon @mayamonroem @allurearia @prongsprincessworld @brokenpoetliz @winterbarnesblog @mysummerwinesblog @cowboy-luvr @ahead-fullofdreams @mietlynn @maxsisly @too-efn-old-to-be-here @reverse-soe
let me know if you want to be added!!
guys i’m an idiot and i lost the post, so here i am again asking which nickname reader should have in the murder mystery series coming out in a few days!! (omg)
we’re almost there yet!! no body, no crime coming soon!!
this is the existing taglist: @melsunshine @shereadsandcries @ch3rry-lips @the-sylver-dragon @mayamonroem @allurearia @prongsprincessworld @brokenpoetliz @winterbarnesblog @mysummerwinesblog @cowboy-luvr @ahead-fullofdreams @mietlynn @maxsisly @too-efn-old-to-be-here @reverse-soe @insideoutjulie @thestrawberrythatgotaway @dvartesgfs
please let me know if you want to be added, it will be closed on october 10
⛧༺ ’no body, no crime‘ ༻⛧
IN WHICH you try to solve an ongoing mystery in hogwarts, while actively trying not to fall in love.
coming soon…
CONTENT !
pairing: theodore nott x fem!potter!reader
characters: harry potter, hermione granger, ron weasley, ginny weasley, luna lovegood, neville longbottom, draco malfoy, blaise zabini, lorenzo berkshire, theodore nott, pansy parkinson, mattheo riddle
genre: mystery, romance, horror
warnings: mentions of blood, death, weapons, murder, suggestive language
episode 001. dinner and a glass of wine
during the christmas holidays, a heavy snowstorm isolates hogwarts, leaving only a handful of students and teachers stranded at the castle. the events turn deadly when a teacher is found murdered
episode 002. no, there ain't no doubt
determined to find the killer, y/n and theo join forces with y/n's brothers harry, hermione, and ron to investigate.
episode 003. i ain't letting up until the day i die
the investigation uncovers mysterious clues, including a rune and a secret involving ancient magical artifacts. as tensions rise and suspicions fall on the slytherins, harry is worried for his sisters safety. y/n and theo‘s bond deepens as they strive to uncover the truth.
episode 004. somebody's gotta catch him out
chaos ensues when another body turns up on the hogwarts grounds. the group's fear intensifies as there might be a connection between the first and second murder.
episode 005. i think he did it but i just can't prove it
as accusations fly, y/n, theo, and hermione find a crucial journal linking the artifact to salazar slytherin. and now they might finally have an idea, who the real killer is.
episode 006. i wasn't letting up until the day he died
in a shocking revelation, the true murderer is exposed, and the motive behind the killings is uncovered, shaking the very foundations of trust and secrecy at hogwarts.
EXTRAS !
ೃ⁀➷ playlist
to get you in the right mood for a dark academia murder mystery
ೃ⁀➷ moodboards
insight to the characters aesthetics
ೃ⁀➷ extra scenes
once the series is finished, requests will be opened, revealing the insight in more scenes you want to see
ೃ⁀➷ taglist: @melsunshine @shereadsandcries @ch3rry-lips @the-sylver-dragon @mayamonroem @allurearia @prongsprincessworld @brokenpoetliz @winterbarnesblog @mysummerwinesblog @cowboy-luvr @ahead-fullofdreams @mietlynn @maxsisly @too-efn-old-to-be-here @reverse-soe
let me know if you want to be added!!
⛧༺ NO BODY, NO CRIME ༻⛧
EPISODE 01: dinner and a glass of wine
pairing: theo nott x potter!reader
summary: the christmas holidays have just begun, but still a threatening atmosphere lies in the air and suddenly, you find yourself at a crime scene
warnings: extremely big trigger warning for the whole series, in this chapter: mentions of blood, a corpse, (small) jump-scare
note: hello guys, welcome to the first episode of no body, no crime!! i’m so excited for this series and hope you enjoy it as much as i do!! the next episode is coming out next monday!! let me know what you think in the comments <333
the soft tunes of christmas music filled the air around you. the great hall was less filled than normal, most of the students deciding to go home for the holidays.
"can you pass me the potatoes, please?" ron's red hair was illuminated by the soft glow of the fairylights behind him. the auburn sweater he was wearing was highlighting the contrast even more.
"here" hermione said, holding the bowl across the table, as ron eagerly grabbed it.
"where's ginny?" harry muttered. he had his nose buried in a book about quidditch techniques you had bought in hogsmeade. he had been busy studying it all night, but apparently not busy enough to not notice ginny's absence.
"she's sitting with luna" you pointed out, as your eyes glided along the slytherin table. ginny and her had grown closer since the beginning of the year and you had to admit that you had quickly taken a liking to the blonde girl. she was a bit strange, admittedly, but lovely none the less.
"she's been busy all year" ron muttered, mouth filled to the brim. "seems like we've gotten too boring for her"
"allow your sister to have her own friends" hermione shoke her head. "and for gods sake, please close your mouth, ronald."
despite the approaching festivity, the atmosphere in the hall was eerie. maybe because only a few people were sitting at eachs house table, making the hall seem weirdly out of place.
the slytherin table was by far the emptiest. probably because most purblooded and traditional wizard families made a hail mary out of everything that would allow a party, showing off their wealth and status.
the only thing that contradicted this assumption was that several children from the most influential pureblood families had chosen to stay. your gaze swept across the table, taking in each one in turn.
draco malfoy, displaying a usual attitude of displeasurement. you guessed that the malfoys weren't the people to listen to christmas music around the holidays.
next to him, blaise zabini, who was munching on a mouth full portion of potatoes just like ron was.
across from them and her back facing the rest of the hall, including your line of sight, pansy parkinson. her perfect cut bob of black hair moving slightly everytime she turned her head to the side, as she attentively listened to what draco was telling her.
a few feet away, mattheo riddle and lorenzo berkshire were quietly discussing something. it looked somewhat urgent, as both of them leaned over the table top, and not even mattheo, whose face you could see, wore his usual smirk.
just before you were able to wonder about his absence, you noticed theo nott walk into the hall. he looked just like always, messy curls falling onto his forehead, dark circles under his eyes and that face, that made every thought in your head disappear.
not that you liked any of them, but theo had always been your favorite. he was a true slytherin. cunning, loyal and determined. even though he had reason enough, there was no arrogant bone in his body.
you had liked him from the first time you had talked to him last year, when snape had coupled you up for a potions project. he had not even been as pretentious as you had thought he was, considering he was always hanging around malfoy.
but theo was nice, actually nice.
"hello?" ron's voice was so sudden, you knocked over the cup of pumpkin juice beside you.
hermione cleaned the juice off of the table with a simple flick of her wand, as she rolled her eyes at your distractedness.
"what?" you wondered.
"the cookies, please?" ron smiled and your expression turned sour when you noticed the pieces of potatoe stuck between his teeth.
you nodded nonetheless and grabbed the plate of decorated christmas cookies. you took one for yourself, a delicious looking christmas tree, before you planted the whole plate in front of ron, knowing that he was gonna take one cookie after the other anyway.
"i think we're good company" harry said, and while you weren't exactly sure what he was talking about, you nodded.
"obviously we are"
"i mean, she could've brought luna along, right?" he closed the quidditch book with a thud and crossed his arms.
"ehh" you muttered. you were saved by the loud sound of the door, that flew open and revealed professor burbage. she walked up to the teachers table in a hurry, quickly excusing her late arrival, before she sat down next to dumbledore.
you noticed the look of worry on her face and wondered what she was thinking about.
“what’s gotten into her?” hermione asked and you were glad someone else had noticed the professor’s strange behaviour.
“everyone is stressed around christmas, right?” ron muttered without an ounce of interest.
“i’m sure that’s it” harry nodded, glad that he could now shift the conversation back to it’s initial topic. “so, about ginny—“
“you’re mentioning her an awful lot, harry” you joked, enjoying how your brother’s face lost all it’s colour and his eyes darted between ron and you quickly. ron hadn’t even noticed the implication, if he had even listened to you in the first place.
you could read the boredom from the redheads face as he rearranged the cookie plate, until it showed a little scene with a christmas tree, huge presents and two happy gingerbread men.
you tuned the conversation out too, as harry continued to speak. you decided that it was hermiones turn to listen now.
you rather turned your head to look at theo once more, who looked up at the very same time, probably feeling eyes on him. but he didn’t look in your direction, but to the teachers table. you furrowed your brows, before you followed his line of sight, your eyes ultimately landing on professor burbage. she looked just as worried as before, as she hectically looked between theo and something clutched in her hand.
you looked back to theo, who simply rolled his eyes, averting his gaze from the teacher and focusing back on the untouched food beside him. draco muttered something in theo’s direction and the latter barely reacted, managing only a weak smile, before his focus was gone again.
you sighed, deciding you had spent enough time with your friends to leave without feeling bad. “i think i’m gonna head to bed” you smiled, standing up.
“oh” hermione simply noted. “should i accompany you?”
you shook your head, “i’ll be fine”. her offer was nice, but you wanted to be alone for some time. it was especially during times like these, that you most missed what other people had: a real family. you still had harry and your friends, but it was different from what you sometimes wished for.
“i’ll see you guys tomorrow” you waved. ron, mouth filled to the brim, only waved back to your relief and harry nodded, muttering something about a game of chess ginny had promised.
you headed out of the hall just a mere second later, pulling your sweater over your head, that you had taken off in the hall, because of the brizzling warmth of the fireplace at your back. you took the usual route to the tower. it was the place you often spend time at whenever you wanted to be alone.
the stairs creaked loudly beneath each step you took, indicating how old the whole structure was. you walked across the wooden beams, leaning your body over the railing as you breathed in the cold of the air and your eyes wandered across the snow beneath you.
it was so calm up here, so silent.. until. the wood creaked loudly, indicating steps coming up towards you. your heart began beating faster, debating who could be coming up here. you had never ran across someone else at the tower.
maybe it was harry? you stepped closer to the stairs, expecting your brothers dark and messy hair to peak from the entrance, but it wasn’t harry who then stepped onto the plattform across from you.
“hey” theo nott muttered, hands pushed into the pockets of his pants while he looked at you with an unreadable expression on his face.
“hey” you said, just as neutral. you tried to act casual, as he walked closer and you followed him back to the middle of the plattform, awkwardly standing next to each other.
theo fished out a cigarette from his pocket. “is this okay?” he asked, pointing between the two of you.
you furrowed your brows, confused what he was talking about, before you realized that he was probably asking about your permission to keep you company. “sure” you nodded and the lightened his cigarette.
“you smoke?” he asked, holding the burning cigarette in your direction as if to offer you a blow.
you shoke your head, although you had to admit that it was intruiging to take a drag when a boy with such blue eyes was the one offering it.
“do you come here often?” you asked softly, deciding it was more awkward to just stare at him in silence.
“sometimes” theo shrugged. “they get exhausting, my friends i mean”
“yeah, mine too” you nodded.
“wouldn’t have held you for a person that particuarly likes to be alone” theo muttered, before he turned his head, blowing the smoke out from his lips, without it hitting you. you appreciated the gesture.
“it gets too much, sometimes” you shrugged. “i don’t mind to be alone”
“then you probably mind my company, huh?” he smirked, looking into your eyes with a deep kind of sincerity.
“not at all” you shook your head, mirroring the smirk on his lips. “although i would prefer malfoy”
“oh shut up” theo laughed, his eyes glistening, almost surprised at the sudden joke. you felt proud that you had made him laugh, even if you had to mention malfoy.
“i’m so sincere right now” you giggled, both of you not believing a word you were saying.
theo threw down his cigarette, stomping on it, before he let it disappear with a flick of his wand. he looked up at you and opened his mouth, about to return a witty remark, when a loud bang rang out.
you both froze at the sound, the laughter abruptly cut off as the echo of the bang bounced off the stone walls. the great hall felt miles away in that moment, and the air thickened with tension. theo’s playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a look of concern.
“what was that?” you whispered, instinctively taking a step closer to him. the sudden shift from light-hearted banter to fear sent a shiver down your spine.
“the door” theo muttered in recognition. the tower was right on top of the entryway to the castle. now that you thought about it, the bang did sound awfully like a heavy door falling close.
“who would even go out there now?” you wondered, your heart still beating fast as the shock settled into your features.
“i don’t know” theo stepped away and closer to the staircase. “are you coming or what?”
you quickly nodded, as you followed him back down and through the corridor, before you froze in front of the door.
“maybe it was the wind” you suggested, though the tremor in your voice betrayed your uncertainty.
theo raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism dancing in his gaze. “you really believe that?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest, his posture relaxed but his expression alert.
“well, it’s possible,” you replied, though you didn’t sound convinced. the notion felt flimsy in the wake of the unsettling noise, and the creeping feeling of dread wasn’t fading.
“possible, sure,” he replied, “but it sounded too loud for the wind. we need to check it out. it could be something... important.”
your heart raced again, this time from a mix of fear and curiosity. “important? like what?” you asked, biting your lip.
“i don’t know,” he admitted, glancing back at the heavy wooden door. “but don’t you think we should at least look? it might be someone in trouble.”
you hesitated, looking back down the corridor where you could see flickers of light from the torches along the walls. “but what if it’s something dangerous?” you countered, feeling a rush of apprehension.
“better to know than to wonder,” he said, his tone serious yet gentle. there was a spark of determination in his eyes, and you found yourself drawn to his confidence. despite the risk, the thought of turning back felt more frightening than facing whatever lay beyond the door.
theo looked back at you once more, before he sighed and nodded, pushing the heavy door open. what revealed itself was the dark of the night, as snow fell into the entrance you were standing in, quickly cooling your face.
“it’s too dark” theo noted. both of you took out your wands, using lumos to light the way. theo urged you to follow him. the snowfall was so heavy, that even the light of your wands did almost nothing.
theo was just a few steps beside you, when you felt it. “theo” you whispered, as your body and heart froze simultaneously. “theo” you repeated, a bit louder. you could see the light of theo’s wand come closer again. he had heard you.
“are you alright?”
you shook your head, what he probably couldn’t see. you could only make out his body. “there is something there”
“what do you mean?”
“i’m feeling it against my foot” you muttered. “there is something on the ground. i’ll have to come closer to make out what it is”
“be careful” theo held you hand to stabilize your body, as you kneeled down, moving the light of your wand across the object on the ground in front of you. it was dark, black robes, hiding something beneath them. but you just couldn’t make out what it was.
then suddenly, you gasped in shock. your light glided over a face, mouth, nose dripping blood. wide eyes, opened in terror as they stared at you unmoving. you screamed, falling back into the snow, as theo surged forward, trying to catch you.
“y/n!” he called, panic rising in his voice as you struggled to breathe, your heart racing wildly “what’s wrong? what is it?”
“professor burbage” you muttered, over and over again.
“what?” theo leaned in closer, still holding onto you, his face drained of color.
“she’s dead!” you choked out, voice trembling, eyes fixed on the professor’s face, still staring up at you, frozen in her final moment of horror.
you heard theo gasp, his own breath faltering for a moment as he processed what lay before you both. without another word, he pulled you to your feet, wrapping an arm around you to support your shaking body. “we have to go,” he muttered, his voice tight with fear. with one hand, he held his wand forward, the dim light flickering in the swirling snow, while the other held onto you as you stumbled back toward the door.
the last thing you saw as the heavy door closed behind you was professor burbage’s body, half-buried in the snow, her lifeless eyes still staring, as if warning you of something far worse to come.
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