Chapter Text
Harry sat on the sofa reading the Daily Prophet he had discarded earlier that morning when he heard the lock at the front door click before the door opened and shut again.
A smile crept onto his face as he heard the distant sigh of one very tired Draco Malfoy.
"Food's in the kitchen, I have a glass for you here already," Harry called over his shoulder as he pointed his wand at the bottle of wine, spelling it to fill Draco's glass straight away.
The impatient rattling of cutlery from the kitchen made Harry snort. He could picture the git rummaging through the drawer and piling a huge load of food onto his plate as if he'd never eaten before. Harry had seen it so often already but the sight never failed to amuse him.
The door kicked open and Draco came in, his plate levitating in front of him. One look at the filled glass of wine already waiting for him brought a spark of life back into those tired eyes of his.
"Bad day at work?" Harry asked, putting down the Prophet to look over at Draco.
"Don't even ask," Draco said between bites. "If I had known how much you destroyed in the Department of Mysteries when you broke in I wouldn't have put in to become an Unspeakable."
"Yeah, you've mentioned that once or twice already. A few times. What happened?"
"Trainee got lost in the Prophecy Hall while trying to sort out your mess."
"Well, look at it this way. At least you don't have to take care of the prophecies anymore. That's something."
"Yes, but now it's me who has to go and find said lost and traumatised trainees. I don't know if that's much better," Draco sighed.
"I had a strange day too. We had an order come in to arrest a few people who were involved with Death Eaters and bring them in for questioning."
"What? It's been five years, why would they—?"
"No idea. I wasn't involved in the interrogations and have no idea what they want. Tried to snoop around but I found nothing."
"That's bizarre. But fine by me. As long as they leave me alone I couldn't care less."
Humming, Harry leaned back into the sofa and yawned. Tiredness had crept up on him. One day to go and then he'd have the entire weekend off. Two glorious peaceful days where he could do nothing but relax.
"I'm going to bed. Don't bang your door shut again when you go to bed later or, Merlin as my witness, I'll come over and strangle you," Harry yawned once again as he got up.
"That'll be unnecessary. I'll finish eating, and thanks for cooking by the way, and then I'm off to bed myself. You probably won't even be done with wanking when I fall asleep."
Suppressing the need to throw a pillow at Draco, Harry rolled his eyes and walked out of the room.
Asking Draco to share a flat during their training wasn't something Harry thought he'd ever regret. Not even now that they'd finished it and still lived together. But occasionally Draco made it very hard for Harry to not doubt the life decisions he had made in the past that brought them both to this point.
The next morning Harry hadn't even arrived properly in the office when Ron stormed at him and dragged him off towards the largest meeting room.
Robards was already waiting for them and Harry immediately sensed trouble. He could tell by the way his eyes jumped from one Auror to the next—as if he was making a mental list of some sort—and Harry knew this would be bad.
"Thanks for coming here right away everyone. We have a mission of the utmost urgency, an order from very high up the ranks," Robards said, shuffling urgently through a few documents on the table in front of him until he found the parchment he was looking for. "You'll team up with your partner, every team gets a list with names on them. I want you to find those people and bring them here, all of them. No exception! If everything works out you won't need to use any force, but as always, you need to be prepared. I can't promise that for all of them."
"Excuse me, sir, may I ask who those people on the list are?" Harry asked furrowing his brows. "What's the purpose of this mission?"
He had been here for five years but something like this had never happened before. The events of this morning had been highly unusual.
Sure, there's been a critical raid here and there, or a mission too big for only one team. But Harry today counted 12 teams, all crammed into the room waiting silently for orders. He could feel the tension pressing against his skin.
"Well Auror Potter, there has to be a good reason but that's one that not even I'm aware of yet. Those names are all people who were in some way involved with Death Eaters, or suspected to be involved with them. Yesterday's questioning obviously didn't bring the expected results so now it's up to us to bring in the rest of them."
Harry wasn't satisfied with that answer. "But if not even you know what's going on, who's doing the questioning then?"
"Trained personnel from Azkaban. Is that all?"
Robards' tone and the angry set of his features made it clear that this was to be the end of Harry's questions. The wizard swallowed his concerns and gave his boss a short nod.
"Good. I expect you lot to get onto this right now. You have one week to find them all and bring them here. Potter, a word in my office as soon as we're done."
Already feeling annoyed beyond repair, Harry gestured to Ron to get their order while he turned on his heels and stalked down the corridor towards Robards' office to wait for him.
A private meeting with Robards never meant anything good, Harry wasn't sure what to do. His long experience told him that. If Harry was about to get a warning for simply questioning some rather ridiculous orders he'd be so livid that he'd be lost for words.
It wasn't as if working for the Aurors was that much fun. Harry had lost some of his fight during the last few years, and truthfully nowadays it was less about saving the world and more having a paid job. But that didn't mean he'd just sit there and do his job until he could leave.
Heavy footsteps from behind announced Robards' arrival, and they thankfully dragged Harry out of his chain of thought. Following Robards into his office, Harry closed the door behind them. He waited for the order to sit, which followed suit.
"I knew that if anyone questioned this it'd be you, Potter."
"I'm sorry, sir. It's just rather—"
"Worrisome? I thought the same, but an order is an order, Auror Potter." Robards looked at him with a stern, fearsome expression until Harry huffed and leaned back into his chair.
"Of course, sir."
"Good." Some of the annoyance left Robards' expression. "That's not the reason I asked you to come here though. Do you still live with Draco Malfoy?"
Harry's blood froze at this question. If they were going to bring in all those people and if Robards was asking specifically for Draco, that couldn't mean anything good for the wizard. "Yes, sir. We still live together. He's working for the Ministry as I'm sure you know."
"I'm aware. Now tell me the truth, Auror Potter. Do you trust him?"
"I'd trust Draco Malfoy with my life," Harry replied, without a quiver of hesitation in his voice. "If I see his name on one of those lists then I'll quit the second I see it."
"That won't be necessary." Robards smiled as he stood up. The interview was over. "That's all, Auror Potter. You can leave and get to work now."
Something about Robards' smile made Harry feel uneasy, but he couldn't do anything about it immediately. All he could do was leave and join Ron in their tiny crammed office that reminded Harry strongly of how Mr Weasley's looked when the two of them were growing up. At least they had a window even though it always seemed to rain when Harry decided to look outside.
"What happened?" Ron asked the second Harry had closed the door behind him.
"He asked me if I trust Malfoy. There's something off here, I know it. Robards knows more than he's telling us."
"We're obviously investigating some kind of big Death Eater ring, mate," Ron replied. "It's only logical that he'd ask you about him. His family were mixed up with Dark wizardry for generations."
Putting his glasses onto his desk, Harry pinched his nose. "You're probably right. But still—"
"Tell Draco about it when you get home tonight," Ron said, cutting Harry off. "For now we have a list of people we have to deal with first, and Draco isn't on it."
"We'll never get out of here on time, right?" Harry sighed.
"Doesn't look like it, no. Take a look at the list and tell me what you think."
This was not how Harry had hoped his Friday would pan out. Putting his glasses back on, Harry looked down at the list Ron had handed him and let out a groan.
He knew none of those people. Not a single name sounded even slightly familiar. Wishing not for the first time that the wizarding world had something like Google, or any kind of easy data research, Harry handed the parchment back to Ron. "We have to go to the archive and ask Mathilde for old case files and whatever else she can give us about them. Any details could help us, mate. I don't know any of those names."
"I know two, they had a shop at Knockturn Alley. Dad led raids at their shops and homes years ago."
"Well, at least we have two of them somewhere in old case files then. It's a start."
"Mathilde will be very pleased to see you again," Ron teased. "It's been a while since you were down there. I bet she misses you."
Harry shuddered as he remembered all the hours he'd spent sorting through files with her. He remembered the dust and the clutter of the place. Whenever Harry had done something that wasn't up to the high departmental standards they had set upon him, they had sent him down there to help her.
Mathilde was a nice old witch, but she had taken to Harry rather strongly, and her attitude reminded him rather too much of Mrs Figg. She also smelt like too many cats and too much flowery parfum. And she had no sense of privacy when speaking with people. The only privacy that was holy to her were her tons and tons of files and documents. Nobody could even take as much as a glimpse at them if they didn't have a very good reason to.
"She'll be flooded with work by the others already," Harry sighed.
"Probably. But we have no other choice than joining the queue if we want to get to work anytime soon."
"You know what?" Harry replied, standing up, "I'll go and take care of this. But I'll stop at the Department of Mysteries first, I need to tell Draco what happened. Something about this smells fishy and I want to give him some fair warning. And then I'll slip Mathilde our list and hope she'll have my back."
Shaking his head, Ron copied the names onto an empty sheet of parchment and handed it to Harry before he sent him off.
Harry had no idea if this was a good plan. The Unspeakables weren't exactly fond of him, but he knew that he needed to see Draco. Time was of the essence.
Once in the lift, Harry waited to see if someone would follow him onto it. But thankfully he was the only one needing a ride. Pulling a memo and a pen out of his pocket, Harry hurriedly jotted a message to Draco, telling him to join him at the door leading to his department, and he sent it off. He wouldn't make the same mistake again and stumble into the labyrinthine department without knowing where to go.
It took him ten horrible long minutes to get there, and another five before Draco finally decided to show. His grumpy face instantly switched to worry as soon as he spotted Harry.
"Did something happen?"
Harry looked around the empty hallway and lowered his voice to a hushed whisper, "Is there somewhere we can go where nobody will listen?"
Furrowing his brows, Draco looked around as well. "Follow me, and be bloody quiet."
Nodding, Harry followed Draco into the Department of Mysteries and through a dozen doors and twisting, maze-like rooms until they found themselves in a dimly lit room that made Harry feel immediately uneasy.
"The words said in here will never be overheard. People who try to listen into our conversation will suffer greatly, so we're safe here. What happened?"
"I don't have much time. We've been sent to get even more people who were linked to Death Eaters. Told to bring them in by any means necessary."
"I already told you—"
"Draco, Robards called me into his office and asked about you. Asked me if I trust you."
"What?" Draco asked quietly, his face looking even paler than it had before. There was a look of betrayal in his grey eyes.
"Yes. I'm not sure if I'm even allowed to tell you."
"Bloody hell Potter!" Draco shook his head, looking aghast at Harry's words. "Then why are you here? I don't want to be responsible for you losing your job!"
"Because I want you to be extra careful today. And if something feels off I want you to go home and ward the entire apartment until I finish work. Whatever this is, it's not normal protocol."
"Are you sure?" Draco narrowed his eyes. "You know how you get sometimes. This isn't the leftover remnants of the war talking or something?"
"I'm not paranoid, Draco! There's something going on and they're refusing to tell us! Just…be careful, yes?"
"Okay. Yes. If something's off I'll leave." Draco bit his lip and looked around. "Thanks for warning me. We need to invite the others tonight, let them know what's happening."
"Yes. Tell them to be there for drinks, I'll do my best to leave in time. Can you show me the way out?"
"Of course. If someone sees you wandering around here they'll lock you in the Hall of Prophecies for the rest of your life," Draco chortled.
"Not interested, thanks. There are more important things than a few lousy prophecies, I've had enough of them to last me a lifetime."
"Me too, thanks to you and your gang."
This time it was Harry's turn to laugh before he quietly followed Draco back to through the department and out into the Ministry.
"See you tonight," Harry whispered before he turned and fled across the hallway and down towards the archive.
"Harry! I've been waiting for you!" came the delighted cry of the archival witch. "How lovely to see you again, my dear boy. All your other Aurors have already been down here already. I thought you might have done something stupid again, and they weren't allowing you to join this madness."
"Hi Mathilde! I thought I'd give you some time to please the masses before I come here to trouble you, too. How are you? And the cats? Did Tibbles ever stop coughing?"
"Dodging my question about doing something stupid, I see." Mathilde laughed her rich laugh and shook her grey locks which made her heavy earrings swing around. "I'm wise to your tricks. Tibbles still has his cough, he's taking veterinary potions once a day now and feeling a lot better. And I'm doing just fine, you know me. Nothing can shake me up. So where's your list? I can get to it right away."
"Are you already done with the others?" Harry asked, feeling astonished as he handed her the parchment.
"No. But they didn't ever help me down here. You spent half of your training here and even stayed to have lunch with me, so I'll gladly help you get your files first before I take care of the others."
"You're an angel, Mathilde. Want me to help you look for them?"
"Absolutely not. You have no business in my files as long as they didn't send you to help me," Mathilde snapped.
Knowing that tone Harry held up his hands and grinned at her. "Just an offer, I'll wait here."
"That you will. I'll be right back."
Sitting down at one of the chairs in front of her little window, Harry closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. Panic and anxiety weren't ever friends in a situation like this. He knew that he couldn't expect to make any progress on his work while being distracted by worrying.
Taking deep breaths and focusing to push away every intrusive thought, Harry concentrated on the sounds all around him. The rustling of paper, someone walking past the Archive, another set of steps, a cough from Mathilde. All those little things that filled his surroundings seeped into his consciousness.
Harry finally felt some of the tension leave his body. And when Mathilde finally returned to her desk, Harry felt a lot better. Now wasn't the time to worry. Now was the time to do what he'd been trained to do: take action.
"I got you the first five files I could find and will send the rest to your office by the start of next week. That way, they can't make you work on the weekend." Mathilde winked and Harry sent her a grin.
"I appreciate that. I'm already so ready for the weekend and the day only started."
"Same for me, Harry. This week was"—she hesitated for a second—"something. To say the least. Is there anything else that I can do for you?"
Harry already wanted to thank her for everything, reassuring her that there wasn't anything else when an idea shot through his mind. "Actually, and I know this is kind of a grey area, but technically I'm not asking you for any information, so—"
"Dear Salazar, spit it out already, " the witch laughed, amused. "I don't have as much lifetime left as you."
"Fine. Would you tell me if someone requests information about Draco Malfoy? Anything at all? I just want to make sure—"
"—make sure they're not after your friend too. I understand. I'll see what I can do for you."
Smiling gratefully, Harry took the files from her and left to dive up the spiral staircase back to Ron.
The pair of them worked solidly through till lunch, splitting up the files and going through them with a fine-tooth comb, trying to figure out precisely who the people were they had to take in.
Two were registered shop owners at Knockturn Alley, one was an old man living in a hut in the forest who was everything but happy to have visitors, and the others had nothing registered on them so far. Not even underage magic or anything minor like that. It didn't make any kind of sense to Harry. But if Robards wanted them brought here to the Ministry, then they'd have to be brought in.
"Hermione won't be here for lunch today. She's at her parents place this weekend, left this morning," Ron said absent-mindedly as he looked at the sandwich he had brought along with him. "I should have put more mayonnaise on this I think."
"You'll die young if you eat that stuff in such vast amounts," Harry snorted. Ron's love for mayonnaise really was a bit revolting. He'd begun to eat it spread on everything once he had discovered it in their fridge. "I think Draco invited the Slytherins over. You can come too if you want to."
"Sorry, promised George I'd help him at the shop first thing in the morning," Ron replied, examining the crust of bread that he still held in his hand. "I know how nights with the Slytherins usually end so I'll do the wise thing and stay at home."
"Blaise promised to never ask for strip poker again"—Harry grinned—"so we're safe."
"You're never safe with them around." Ron shook his head. "Snakes, the whole lot of them. They're always plotting how to embarrass us."
"No they're not," Harry laughed, flicking a crumb of his bread at Ron's head.
"Yes they are," came a voice from the door. Both wizards turned their heads to find a grinning Greg Goyle standing there, looking back at them. Greg was another surprising addition to their circle of friends, once Harry had taken in Draco. Nobody knew Slytherins only came in packs.
"Potter, Weasley, I just wanted to check if there's anything I could bring tonight? Beer? Wine? Draco didn't know."
"Uhm," Harry stuttered, "maybe snacks? Depending on how much you've planned to drink tonight."
"Draco sounded rather distressed so I guess a lot. I'll let the others know to bring snacks and stuff." Greg furrowed his brows, a shadow of anxiety crossing his face. "I think I know why. It's scary out there right now."
"We'll talk about this tonight, yes?" Harry asked, hoping that nobody was trying to listen into their conversation. This was the Ministry and the walls had ears.
"Good idea. See you later then, Potter. Weasley, I'll tell Blaise that you're still scared of him."
"I'm bloody well not!" Ron replied hotly. "He didn't play fair, that's all!"
Harry and Greg both laughed as Ron spluttered on how unfair the entire game had been, and that the Slytherins definitely played foul.
He still didn't even stop when Greg had left and Harry reassured him once more that them cheating must have been the reason that Ron had lost that badly, knowing fully well that they had lost because none of them actually knew how to play poker.
"So, do you think we should get the recluse first? I figure he'll keep us busy for the rest of the day. And once we have him securely here we can go home," Ron announced after they finished their lunch break and were back hard at work examining their files.
"Yeah. Nothing better than a good duel on a Friday," Harry huffed, already dreading the cuts, bruises and strains that he'd later have to heal. "I'll go inform Robards, can you go and fetch a few Healing Potions just to be safe? The files clearly show that he's a clear 'attack first, talk later' kind of person."
"Sounds like a plan."
Getting up, Harry stretched before he slipped into his Auror robes and tied his boots just a bit tighter. Still closing all the buttons and clasps on his robes, he made his way over to Robards' office.
Knocking on the door, Harry waited for the tell-tale barked 'come in' before he entered the office. What he hadn't been expecting was to find himself face to face with not only Robards but with Kingsley as well. "Just here to inform you where Ron and I are going to, sir."
"You're working on the arrests too?" Kingsley asked, taking in the sight of Harry's full uniform.
"Yes. Just made the decision to go in after the first contact on the list we were given. Recluse living in the forest, goes by the name of Jasbert, nobody knows what his real name is according to his case files," Harry said, glancing at Robards before looking back at Kingsley. "Sir, do you mind if I ask—"
"Yes, for once I do, Harry. This is, as we politicians say, a matter of national security. I can't give you any more details about it." Kingsley's deep voice was steady as he spoke, but as Harry looked closer he could see worried lines appear around his eyes. "Your role isn't to reason, Auror Potter. It's to get out into the field."
"I preferred the Auror over the politician," Harry said before looking back at Robards. "I'll call for backup if needed, this guy doesn't look like fun so please keep a team ready if it's needed."
"Nothing better than a duel on a Friday afternoon, Auror Potter. That way you'll do everything you can to not end up at St Mungo's. Looks like your weekend depends on your success. Backup will take five to ten minutes to arrive, so be careful! Good luck, stay alert," Robards said and sent him off with a nod. "Merlin be with you."
Shaking his head, Harry left Robards' office. He wasn't happy whatsoever. He was livid with how little he knew of the reasons behind all this. That Kingsley himself was worried didn't help much either. The whole situation felt corrupt.
Finding Ron waiting in front of their office, Harry took the vials of Healing Potion from him and let them slide into the small pocket on his chest. He patted them, glad to have them close at hand.
"Kingsley was in Robards' office, he looked worried but didn't tell me anything. Backup takes five to ten minutes, Robards keeps a team on call for us." Harry informed his partner as they gathered the rest of their kit.
"In Auror mode already, I see: plain information, no emotion," Ron giggled and Harry sent him a stern look.
"This won't be fun. Hermione will kill me if you get injured so please try and get out in one piece, yes?" Harry replied snappishly.
"Of course. Let's go, I can't wait to go home already."
Taking the lift to the Atrium, Harry and Ron went to the first empty Floo and called out an address that led them to a location just outside the New Forest National Park. Their target lived within the wood. The two wizards visited a nearby farmhouse where they borrowed a set of brooms to fly towards the heavily warded hut.
Landing far enough away to not be noticed immediately, Harry and Ron sent the brooms flying back to the farmhouse before they took a cautious look around.
It didn't look as if anyone ever walked through this part of the forest. Thin paths showed where animals usually crossed through the woods, while birds were chirping above their heads as if nobody could ever disturb them and Harry and Ron were the first humans they had ever seen.
"What do you think?" Ron whispered.
"Nothing off here," Harry said, casting his eyes all around him. "But we have to walk for at least fifteen minutes to get to where we want to be. We'll see what we're up against once we're there. Shields up now, you reckon?"
"I think that'd be wise. I'll cover you."
Nodding at Ron, Harry pulled out his own wand and whispered "Point me," to make sure they were walking in the right direction.
Getting closer, they noticed that the birds around them had quieted, and their numbers had lessened. The air grew colder and stiller until everything around them was silent, and a shiver ran across Harry's spine. "I don't like this. Keep your shield up, Appare Vestigium."
A net of magical traces appeared around them, shimmering and shining in the afternoon sun. Harry realised with horror that they had long passed the line where no magic was present, which could only mean that Jasbert already knew they were coming. "Fuck."
"We haven't been attacked yet," Ron said quietly, casting his eyes in the direction of their target. "Maybe he isn't—"
A stirring in the air was the only warning they got before a storm of curses crashed into Ron's shield, bouncing off with a furious hiss.
"Can you hold this?" Harry gasped, a million different strategies running through his brain.
"Yes, but you better think of an exit."
"Sonorus," Harry said, pointing his wand at his throat. "Jasbert, Ministry of Magic. Aurors Potter and Weasley. Stop the curses or we'll have to make you! Quietus"
A few seconds later the air around them wavered as the curses stopped, but then a new wave of magic rolled over their bodies, something that was holding them pinned tightly in place instead, making them unable to move. Growling, Harry cast a whispered Finite that thankfully freed their feet even though they wisely didn't move. They'd been taught on their first day of DADA to lure your target into a false sense of security. Ron and he pretended that they were still stuck fast.
"What do you want here? Can't you just leave me alone?"
The voice came from somewhere in front of them but Harry couldn't see where Jasbert was. He squinted his eyes, trying to get their perpetrator in sight. "Do you think he's disguised, or just really good at hiding?"
"Maybe both."
Humming in agreement, Harry looked back at where the voice came from. "We've been sent to take you in for a questioning," Harry announced, his voice more confident than he really felt. "If you haven't done anything you'll be free to go before it gets dark. If you come with us now without any further attacks we'll let the first ones slide!"
"I've done nothing wrong! I haven't left this forest in three years! There's no reason for you to come and get me! Sliding up to my house like spies! Don't you go believing I'm stupid! People are going missing, people nobody are looking for and I won't be the next one on that bloody list!"
"I can assure you that you won't go missing," Harry called out, glad that the wizard was talking. "They just want to question you about some things."
"You've been blinded by the Ministry, boy! Blinded by their lies! Use your brain! If you take me there I'll never be seen again!"
Next to him, Ron shook his head; only a small gesture, but big enough for Harry to know that talking wouldn't take them very far in this case. He was right. Jasbert was obviously paranoid and detached from reality. If living in a forest far away from everything wasn't a big enough hint, then his frenzied, angry words definitely were.
"What do you think?" Harry asked.
"We have to make him come out of hiding. That's the only way we can get him! We can't catch what we can't see."
"You're right," Harry said, holding his wand in white-knuckled fingers "Get ready. Stronger shield probably, do you need us to switch?"
"No I've got that, we both know your focus for holding a shield up for a longer time sucks."
It took Ron only the blink of an eye to pull up a new, tougher shield. Nodding at Harry he focused once again.
"Revelio" Harry whispered, and seconds later a figure of a big bearded man appeared in the shadows of the trees. He didn't wait until Jasbert realised what was happening and instantly pointed his wand at him, screaming Incarcerous at the top of his voice. He watched as ropes appeared out of thin air and tied themselves around the man who sunk to his knees, roaring in rage and righteous anger.
"You can't take me with you!" Jasbert cried out and seconds later a blinding light appeared that all but burned the ropes away.
Jumping up again, Jasbert slashed his wand at Harry and shot a volley of different spells and curses at him which were thankfully all blocked by Ron's shield, in a furious salvo of lights and smoke.
"I hate when they resist," Ron murmured next to him and Harry wholeheartedly agreed.
For a recluse, and a crazy one at that, Jasbert was a surprising good duelist. He didn't make his arrest easy, and by the time Harry had him at a point where his reactions were slow enough for Harry to land a hit, both Aurors were breathing heavily, their lungs in agony. Harry even had a cut on his cheek from when Ron's shield had given in for a second.
Harry finally got him with a Blasting Curse that threw Jasbert six feet backwards, deep into the forest. It left him unconscious.
"Remind me why we decided to take this chap first?" Harry asked, his chest rising and falling in his exhaustion. "Are you okay?"
"Cut on my arm, you look worse. Let's get him before he wakes up and disappears."
Agreeing, Harry started to walk towards Jasbert. He immobilised him while Ron cast another Incarcerous. With their suspect secured, Harry lifted him up with a spell, all the time checking he wouldn't have another burst of energy that made their spells ineffective. But Jasbert was still entirely knocked out. Pleased with the outcome, Harry grabbed Jasbert's shoulders and nodded at Ron. His partner was picking up Jasbert's wand before the three of them turned and Apparated back to the Ministry, Jasbert a dead weight wrapped in Harry's magic.
Once they had arrived, Ron and he took Jasbert to the holding cells before taking the confiscated wand to the Artifacts, Articles of Magic and Stolen Items Room where they filled out the necessary parchment form to designate it as belonging to Jasbert. Harry handed it all over to the quiet guy working behind the desk.
"This was no fun." Ron sat down with a loud groan. "All very bloody strange. I wonder why he became a recluse. He's definitely way more skilled with a wand than is usual for a forest weirdo."
"That's for sure. Merlin knows what happened to him." Harry chewed on the end of his quill as he spoke. "Let's get the paperwork done so we can finally go home," Harry said, already scribbling a memo to let Robards know they'd returned.
"Want me to heal that cut for you?"
"Nah, I'll take a shower later and then it'll be gone."
"You could just admit that you're keeping it so the Slytherins will be nice to you later, this office is a judgement free zone mate," Ron laughed, throwing an arm around his best mate's shoulder.
"You know a scratch won't stop them from being them," Harry said, his voice amused as he looked through his drawers for a stray blank report form.
After all this, he was so ready for his weekend to start.