Chapter 18: Harry Gaunt - Chapter 18
An Auror came through the door to Moody's office at the Ministry. "Sir, he's ready now."
"Good, I'll be right there," said Moody, finishing the report that he would normally delay. But not this time, not after today. "How did he seem?" he called suddenly to the leaving Auror.
"He's relaxed sir," said the Auror as Moody walked to the door. "No complaints since being forced to use the Floo. Apparently he doesn't like it."
The Auror shrugged.
"Strange." Moody thought for a moment. "Good work Neil, stay put with the others."
"Yes sir."
Moody swept past him and into the corridor, leading them both back down and through the tile covered tunnels of the Department of Justice. Prisoners were kept on lowest level for questioning purposes only.
"Report."
The man on guard straightened by the entrance to the interrogation rooms.
"He's not been a problem sir," he said, gesturing vaguely down the corridor. Harry was in one of the rooms further down. "Though, he did ask when you would arrive."
He'd been almost eager to speak with the one called Moody.
"Hm."
Moody didn't like the sound of that, but pushed it aside as he gestured the guard away. He'd see for himself what the boy really wanted, and to hell with Black trying to secure his release.
Click.
Harry looked up from the chair he'd been placed in, a very wooden and hard one. He looked at the man coming in with avid interest, the spitting image of the man he'd known.
"Hello," said Harry. "Are you Auror Moody?"
Moody took a seat on the opposite side before he answered. "Yes," stated Moody, looking him up and down. "And you're Harry."
"Yes indeed," chuckled Harry, shuffling forwards in his chair. "It's nice to meet you."
And Harry meant it, even if Moody didn't return the greeting.
"What is your full name?" began Moody without preamble, having retrieved a pen to write with on his report.
"Harry Gaunt," said Harry. "I am Lord."
Harry tried to show Moody his ring from within his bound hands. It was some kind of magical cloth.
"Gaunt?" came Moody's incredulous voice. "You jest."
Moody didn't appreciate being lied to.
"It is my name," smiled Harry with a laugh. "Check it later. But what else do you have on there?"
Harry looked at the report in Moody's hand.
"I am going to level with you Harry," said Moody in a change of tone as he set the report down. "You attacked an Auror, that's not something that can be let go."
Harry nodded, understandable.
"And the rest of it-" Moody made a face that he was at a loss. "Why did you do it?" he asked.
It didn't make sense. None of it did.
"What about those who were hurt?" answered Harry instead, enjoying the small twitch in Moody's face. "I saw a few with cuts and bruises in the bookshop. I assume it was the same elsewhere?"
Harry was keen to know. It wasn't his intent to seriously harm anyone, not that the thought had really occurred to him at the time.
"You honestly care?"
Harry nodded. "Yes."
"Hmm."
Moody looked down at his report. "It's as you say, cuts and bruises. However, Auror King faired differently…"
Moody slowly looked up from his report.
"Anymore and he'd be dead!" he shouted, glaring at the boy.
Moody flicked his chair away
"That was not my intent," said Harry quickly. "I was-"
"You were what," seethed Moody as began to pace with an angry frown. "Going to fight him off? To avoid an unlicenced Apparition fine?"
Moody had hoped people were more intelligent than that, but clearly not as he heard Harry grumble.
If he was going to ask rhetorical questions, then Harry may as well say nothing.
"Well?" said Moody expectantly. "What was it? Why?"
Harry looked away. "You should have been better prepared," he said indifferently. "There was only one Auror on patrol, and no one came to help him. He couldn't even beat me." Harry gestured to himself, an adolescent. "So what does that really say?"
It was not Harry's failure for attacking the Auror, it was the Auror's for failing to stop him. That was their job.
Harry added an arrogant sniff when Moody said nothing for a moment.
"I'll make sure you go down for this," he assured in a whisper. "Let that be a lesson to the rest of your lot - my lord."
Moody swept away.
Harry blinked. It couldn't be.
~~~~~~~
Bellatrix understand why she'd been asked to come, Cissy too as they sat together in the quiet corridor of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. But why then with Arcturus in the room just opposite, had no one asked them anything?
They heard raised voices. Nobody was interested in what they had to say.
"Do we have to stay here," said Cissy with a petulant huff, finally having enough of sitting down as she got to walk around.
"Yes Cissy," replied Bellatrix for the fourth time. "Arcturus said to wait here while he talks with Mr Crouch."
They heard another round of raised voices, this time a shout from Arcturus about a Lord's rights. It didn't seem to be going well.
"Don't worry Bellatrix," placated Cissy with her hands on her hips, looking sure of herself in her smooth dress. "Arcturus knows what he's doing. You remember when Pollux got in trouble a few years ago?"
Bellatrix nodded, though why Cissy thought bringing that up would help she didn't know. "It's not the same Cissy."
"Why not?" Cissy tiptoed across the corridor so she could listen at the door. "Pollux was in big trouble. And now so is Harry."
She began to listen in on the more whispered words exchanged.
Bellatrix looked at Cissy with a deadpan. "Pollux used the Unforgivable Curses to torture muggles," she said. "It's not the same."
"Yes, it is, and look at what happened." Cissy smiled with her ear to the wall. "Pollux got off, and compared to what Harry did it was much worse."
Honestly, Bellatrix did like to worry about things. If it wasn't about Cissy it was about House Black, and if it wasn't about that it was about the world and their place in it.
Cissy had no such worries.
"Come away Cissy," ordered Bellatrix from the bench. "They're sure to come out soon."
"Hang on…" Cissy adjusted her head. "They're coming!"
She leapt away from the wall, darting back to the bench with little clicks from her boots. Bellatrix shook her head, Cissy could be very immature sometimes as Arcturus came out the door.
"Good, come with me," he gestured to them both before turning to Mr Crouch. "Barty, thank you. I'll handle it from here."
"You better," said Mr Crouch with an air of agitation. "I'll expect the rest within the week."
Arcturus nodded, the deal was done and Mr Crouch departed without another word, heading off to the left while they headed right.
"What happened?" asked Bellatrix quickly. "Is Harry to be set free?"
She hurried to Arcturus's side as he walked down the corridor.
"Yes."
Bellatrix took a relieved breath.
"However," said Arcturus with his eyes set ahead. "You will have to further contact with him."
They came to a set of stairs that led down below.
"What?" stopped Bellatrix at the top. "Why would you say that?" she demanded as Arcturus took a step down.
Arcturus looked up at her. "I do not agree with his actions," he stated. "If you are around him, which I know you are keen to be."
Bellatrix looked away.
"Bellatrix."
Arcturus spoke frankly to her. "If you were me and in charge of House Black, would you wish an association between you and a man who would do what was done today?"
He didn't think so.
"There's more to it," emphasised Bellatrix. "You've spoken to him, Harry's no fool, so there must be a reason."
Everything had a reason, all the little things she'd seen since the they'd met. The way his eyes looked at her, how he talked and interacted with people: it was different yes, but also honest and real.
Bellatrix took a step down, she wouldn't be told what to do.
"We'll discuss it later," dismissed Arcturus, sweeping around to continue down. "I will speak to him myself before he is let go."
If he was let go, Arcturus had many questions for Harry Gaunt as the three travelled down to the interrogation rooms.
Cissy stayed beside Bellatrix, her hand reaching out for Bellatrix's own. Bellatrix was always doing it to her, showing she cared and that she was here. "He can't stop us when we're at Hogwarts," whispered Cissy with a growing grin. "He's just being silly."
Arcturus could be a silly old man sometimes as the pair glanced ahead - Cissy had seen it, and his collection of Goblin teeth he still wouldn't throw away.
She felt Bellatrix squeeze her hand. They'd arrived at a set of desks and two Aurors who looked displeased while Arcturus barked orders at them. It didn't take long after that for them to be let through, guided by one of them to the waiting Captain.
"Auror Moody," said Arcturus as they came to a stop outside a door.
"Lord Black."
Moody stepped to the side, a cold greeting as Arcturus took the handle on the door. "Thank you," he said mockingly. Arcturus glanced behind at Bellatrix and Cissy. "Stay here," he instructed. "And behave."
He sent a warning look towards Cissy, then opened the door to step inside.
Bellatrix caught a glimpse of Harry sitting on a chair.
"If you'd like to wait over here," said Moody, wanting them away from the door now Lord Black was gone. "Nasty one in there."
Moody seemed to believe it too as he ushered them both to yet another bench further down.
"Harry's not nasty," snipped Cissy as they took a seat.
"Cissy."
Bellatrix nudged her to be quiet.
"Oh he's a sly one alright," returned Moody as he walked by them. "You'll see."
He gestured for another Auror to watch them, apparently having other matters to attend to. He told the Auror to watch them and wait for Lord Black to return. "The boy might be with him," he added. "Let them go if he is."
The words came out with difficulty.
"Yes sir."
Moody nodded, leaving with a rigid stance.
It looked like they'd be waiting again, thought Bellatrix as Cissy sighed dramatically.
Bellatrix smiled as they sat together.
~~~~~~~
Arcturus walked over to the waiting chair, deciding not to speak as he took his seat.
"Arcturus," said Harry.
"I'd prefer Lord Black," returned Arcturus. "Allies or not."
Harry winced a little. He could understand why Arcturus was upset. "I didn't know they were there," explained Harry, his arms held below out of sight.
"And that would have made a difference?" returned Arcturus with a raised brow. "Do not lie to me Harry, we few who are equal should be honest with each other," he said. "Now, what happened."
He looked into Harry's eyes.
"The truth?" asked Harry.
"The truth," confirmed Arcturus.
Harry took a laboured breath. "The truth is long and difficult," he stated. "But I will answer any questions you have."
Harry made a point of leaning forwards in his chair.
"Even now," laughed Arcturus. "You still lie to me. But alright, I'll ask. What caused you to leave during dinner?"
Arcturus knew there was a reason.
"It couldn't have been Bellatrix," he concluded aloud. "You've seen how she is, how she brought you away just to help you. She's too kind, so what was it?"
There was something more there in Harry's eyes…
"Don't," said Harry, blocking the Legilimency probe. "And I won't tell you that, it's personal."
Arcturus felt his lip begin to twitch. "Personal?" he uttered lowly. "Are you not aware what will happen if I am not satisfied?" Arcturus looked searchingly across Harry's face. "You will be imprisoned. Azkaban. Understand?"
"I know. I will admit I didn't think this through," said Harry. "I was angry."
"Why?" snapped Arcturus. "Why Harry?"
It was now or never, Harry had to tell him something. "I was compared to a relative of mine," he said, guarding his expression as Arcturus listened. "A man whom I hate and for good reason."
Harry pushed the memories away.
"And how does that lead to attacking an Auror?" asked Arcturus, narrowing his eyes as Harry held back again. "Are you unable to control yourself?"
Harry flinched.
"Don't be ridiculous." Harry shifted in his chair. "Forget about the alley, it was my fault and it won't happen again. What's important is what's happening out there."
Harry nodded his chin.
"He is here," he stated. "And it's already begun, he's gathering followers. Surely you've noticed?"
In the future Lord Black hadn't lived past his current age, killed most likely just before Voldemort rose to power. And Harry was beginning to see why he had been as Arcturus spoke carefully.
"This man you speak of," he said. "He's a Gaunt?"
Arcturus saw Harry nod as if that didn't matter.
"He is as I knew him," explained Harry. "Dangerous and with an ideology you yourself are sure to believe in." Harry shook his head. "But he'll say anything to gather support."
Voldemort was ahead with his plans as Arcturus leaned away, a murmur of thought across his lips.
"You can have no proof of this."
Harry didn't.
"But what about Cygnus?" he fired back. "Hunting Muggles with his friends? And more, all the deaths and disappearances."
Harry's own house for example.
"You know it's true," said Harry with finality. "I expect it's only a matter of time before you're approached, which I find strange hasn't happened already."
It was obvious how frustrated Arcturus was with the waning respect he and the other Purebloods endured, how people like Moody looked down on them with contempt and loathing.
"I will ascertain the truth for myself," decided Arcturus with a look, his distrust in Harry only slightly eased. "But for now, you will go, before Barty changes his mind."
Arcturus rose from his chair.
"I can help you," replied Harry, or more likely the other way around. "You must know he will fail, he does not care whether Lord Black still remains, it's all about power to him. And he will take it if you let him."
But Arcturus wouldn't hear anymore. "One other thing," he said with his wand pointing at Harry's restraints. "If Bellatrix or anyone else in my family is put at risk because you." Arcturus moved his wand to point at Harry's head. "You will regret it, am I clear?"
Harry's lips threatened to smile.
"Of course," he said easily. "I will stay clear of her."
Arcturus nodded, releasing the restraints that fell away into dust. "Let's go," he said, heading out ahead of Harry with a quiet murmur. "…bloody hell."
He had to speak to with Walburga - and quickly, who knows what that daft woman had already promised.
~~~~~~~
"Hey! Come away from there," said the Auror with their cups of tea. "I told you to stay by the bench."
Bellatrix slipped her wand away and stepped back from the door. "Sorry, I shouldn't have."
She was reeling, trying to smile apologetically as best she could while the Auror nodded, thinking very much so after he'd kindly agreed to get Cissy tea. He'd even brought one for Bellatrix too.
"Back we go," he said.
Bellatrix followed him back with a quiet step. This was more than anything she'd imagined, so that's what Walburga was doing.
She had to speak to Harry, he knew much more than he was letting on.
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