Light and Shadow

Light and Shadow

Chapter 4 - Disclosure

Hermione walked through the corridors that lead to her office. When she got inside, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. There was another desk in there. "Ah! No... Phillip went too far now," she thought.

She went to her "boss" office,but things wouldn't be just like that. The secretary even tried to stop her from getting inside the room, but it was useless. She got in, facing the man in front of her. She was furious. Phil was on the phone,and when he saw her, he smiled. Now she was even more furious.

"Hermione, darling, what can I do for you?" Phillip said, hanging up the phone.

"What is that desk doing in my office?" She was getting red.

"What do you mean? That desk is for Harry."

"HE IS GOING TO STAY IN MY OFFICE?" Her voice was louder than she expected.

"Of course, yes." Phillip was still smiling and Hermione felt like strangling him.

"He's your partner. How do you expect to work with him, if he's not around?"

"There are thousands of rooms in here... Why did it had to be in MY room?"

"Hermione, what is your problem? I know you didn't like the idea of having someone to work with, but why are you so nervous?" Phillip asked, surprised with the woman's reaction. Hermione never reacted like this.

"Problem? Well, apart from the fact that I hated him, there is no problem." Now she was walking from side to side in the room.

"But why didn't you like him?" Phillip asked surprisedly. "He is a great person. A very good lawyer."

"Ah! He may be a good lawyer, but as a person, he fal..." She realized the stupid thing she was about to say, and tried to fix it, "A good person, he is not."

"So, since you didn't like him, think at least in the great lawyer he is, and try to forget he isn't a great person."

"But..."

"No buts. You have work to do, and I'm very busy, so, if you'll excuse me..." Phillip interrupted, before she finished. He was serious. Hermione had learned that when he wasn't smiling, it was because the thing was serious. So, she decided to leave the room, and no more discussing.

In her way back to her room, she passed in front of Mark's office, and decided to stop.

"Mark! Did you know there is an extra desk in my office?"

"No..." Mark looked at her, confused.

"Phillip sent it... For Harry."

"Hmm... Is he staying in your office? This is going to be interesting..." Mark said, debauched.

"Come on, stop joking. It won't be funny." She sat in front of her friend.

"Well, try to avoid talking too much to him."

"What are you thinking? That I'm going to sit in front of him and chat?" The idea of sitting in front of Harry and asking, "Hey, what's up?" seemed absurd.

"But I didn't say you had to do it."

"Why in my office? And what about my privacy?" Hermione said, still pissed off.

"Did you talk to Phillip?"

"Yes... it didn't make any difference. He is staying in my room."

"So, you'll just have to accept it."

"Yes, I know... Mark? Could I move to your room?"

"Ah! No..."

"And why not?" Hermione asked, offended.

"Because then I would lose *my* privacy," Mark answered, somewhat strangely.

She smiled. Only he could make her smile in a moment like this. As she was leaving, he called.

"Hermione? If you need something, say it!" he said, obligingly.

"Okay... You're going to hear a lot," she said, still annoyed.

The moment she got inside her office, she took a deep and tired sigh. On her desk there were a lot of folders, books and papers, about the new case. It would surely be a tiresome day.

Harry got back just two hours later. He found Hermione among many folders, books and papers. He couldn't avoid a smile. It reminded him of Hogwarts, where you could always see her around with tons of books. In some way, she was still the same.

"You're late!" she said coldly.

"And? So what?" he answers, with disdain.

She said nothing, just gave him a killer look.

"This desk... Is it for me?"

"It would appear that way, wouldn't it? I already have one, in case you hadn't noticed."

"Seems like your lunch wasn't good at all, was it?"

"Why do you say that?" she asks, still looking at a folder she was reading.

"Bad mood..."

"Ok, Potter." She wasn't reading anymore,she was just looking at the man in front of her with anger.

"I wasn't happy to know I'll have to work with you." Harry was going to say something, but she didn't let him. "And I think you're not that happy about working with me. So, let's make things easier. Just sit at that desk and do your job."

"I'd like to, but it's not easy. You're monopolizing all the folders, files, papers..." he said, pointing at her desk.

So, Hermione stood up and practically threw a pile of folders at Harry.

"Enjoy them," she said, with a superior look.

The afternoon was very interesting. Meaning, silent. After their explosive little dialogue, neither of them said a single word. They were very entertained reading all those things. Hermione couldn't avoid looking at him occasionally. Harry was sitting back in his chair, very serious, and had one hand holding his chin. He was wearing a suit. A beige suit and a green shirt, fitting with his eyes. She couldn't remember ever seeing him dressed like that before. He was so much more handsome now. But one thing still intrigued her. What the hell was he doing there? After all, according to the last news she heard, Harry was working at a department in the Ministry. What was he doing among the Muggles? And since when did he know about Muggle law? There were so many questions in her head, but Hermione knew that they probably wouldn't have answers.

It was almost dark when the phone rang. It was Mark.

"Hey, Miss! You're not thinking about sleeping here in the office, are you?"

"Hmm... No, it's just..." but Mark completed it:

" 'I was so entertained with this case that I didn't realize what time it was...'"

"Actually, it wasn't only the case that was entertaining me. I was trying to find other answers..." Hermione looked at the green eyed man sitting at the desk in front of her, and wondered if he was paying any attention to what she was saying.

"And did you find out what he is doing here?" Mark asked, curious.

"No. Maybe I'll never know."

"How long do you think he intends to stay?"

"I have no idea. Hope not too long."

"Go home, Hermione. Have some dinner, take a shower, take some rest. Thinking all the time won't help."

"Yes, I know..."

"And what about the case?" Mark asked, changing the subject.

"Nothing interesting so far. It's a very simple case." Now she was using a low voice. "I don't understand why Phillip thought I needed help."

"Maybe this Halkins is his friend. You know how he is when something involves his friends..."

"A friend accused of murder?" Hermione asked, thinking the idea was a bit strange.

"Who knows? Maybe he really wants to hire this Potter, to work here in the office, and he is just "testing" him."

"Testing? Don't say that..." she said, despondent.

"I know you don't like him working here, but as I said before," Mark assumed a debauched air, "it will be interesting...."

"Oh, Mark. I'll make sure you're the next victim."

"No, no, no. You know him already. Don't bring me into it. Well, I'm leaving. Are you?"

"Sure, I'm leaving now."

"So, see you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow, Mark."

After she hung up the phone, Hermione prepared to leave. Turning to Harry,but trying to appear indifferent, she asked, "Aren't you leaving?"

"In a minute," he answered without taking his eyes off the folder he was reading.

When she had almost reached the door, Harry called to her, indicating the folder he was reading.

"Hermione? Do you mind if I take this?"

"Whatever," she answered, indifferent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Harry left the office, it was past nine. Before going home, he went to see his godfather.

When he got to Sirius' house, he wondered if he should knock on the door, or if he should just go in without announcement. He decided to apparate to Sirius' office. He knew well enough that his godfather would surely be there now, but Sirius seemed startled when he saw the man that appeared in his office.

"I'm sorry," Harry started. "I didn't know if I should knock, or just come in... I know Jennifer goes to bed early."

"No problem," Sirius said, recomposing himself. "What are you doing here at this time of night? Any problems?"

"Actually, yes..."

"And what is it?" Sirius asked, curious.

"Do you have any vodka?" Harry asked, looking at his godfather's bar, and quickly changing the subject.

"Well, I did, but you drank the whole bottle."

"What do you have?"

"Are you looking for a Muggle drink?" Muggle drinks were stronger.

"Yes," Harry said, still looking at the bar.

"Muggle drinks... I only have whiskey. That's what my Muggle friends drink. You're the only one who likes vodka."

Sirius started to get worried, his godson only drank strong drinks when things weren't doing good, or when something was bothering him. And he started to have an idea about what he was doing there.

"That'll work," Harry said, serving it straight.

"You shouldn't drink like that, Harry." His voice was disapproving.

"Won't do you any good. You might become an alcoholic."

"Nobody cares about it," Harry said, seemingly indifferent.

"I care," Sirius said seriously.

Harry said nothing. Now, looking at the man in front of him, he remembered what he was doing there, and started to get angry.

"Do you know exactly the case I'm working on in that office, Sirius?" Harry was now serious and looking at the glass in his hands.

"I have a brief idea," Sirius said, a bit defensively.

"No, you don't have a "brief idea". You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"What are you talking about?" Now he WAS being defensive.

"Sirius, playing the fool isn't one of your qualities." Harry hated when his godfather omitted details about the "missions" he was working on.

"I'm not playing the fool."

"Do you know who this Halkins is?" Harry was still looking at the glass, trying to contain his anger.

"A Muggle, accused of murder, but the person who actually committed the murder was a wizard."

"Yes, a wizard..."

"Who is the wizard?" Harry was looking at his godfather, furious.

"I don't know... Who is it?" Sirius was now *really* playing the fool.

Harry stood up, and handed his godfather the folder he had brought from the office. He turned to the bar and this time he didn't get another drink. He grabbed the bottle and took it with him.

"What exactly do I have to look at in this folder?"

"Page 115."

Sirius started to read, and when he ended, he stared at his godson.

"Yes, what's the big deal?"

"This man, the one who was murdered. He was a Death Eater, wasn't he?"

"Yes, he was." Sirius was now cautious.

"Did you pay close attention to the statement?"

"Yes, it says that Joseph Soares was walking in a park at night when he saw a blond man fighting with John Wendell, the Death Eater. The blond killed John with a stick. It just so happens that the only blond man found in the park that night was Andrew Halkins." Sirius repeated what he had read.

"This Joseph Soares is our key witness to Halkins' "crime", Sirius. Now, tell me what you read at the end." Harry was still irritated.

Sirius dropped the folder on the table, went to the bar, took a glass and served himself some of the whiskey Harry was drinking.

"Joseph Soares doesn't know how to say it, but after killing the man, the blond became red-haired." Sirius surrendered. He sat back in his chair, looking at his godson.

"You knew that, didn't you?" Harry's voice was low.

"I did," he comfessed.

"And why didn't you tell me?" His voice was still low, but he was saying it pausedly.

"I didn't think it was necessary," Sirius says, calm.

"You didn't think it was necessary..." Harry's voice was still low, and Siruis hated it when he did that, because he could never hear what Harry was saying.

"We have no evidence it was... Ron, Harry." Sirius began to soften.

"Oh, no!" Harry was ironic "How many redheads do you think would kill a Death Eater?" Harry was practically yelling. "Do you know where he's been after the war?"

"Luxembourg. But we couldn't spy on him there because the country doesn't have a Ministry of Magic. By the way, there are practically no wizards there." Sirius was trying to calm down his godson.

"Is there someone after him, now that he is in England?" Now the younger man was standing up, walking through the office.

"We don't know if it was really him, Harry."

"And till you find out, he won't be under surveillance?"

"No. We're trying to find him."

"What is he doing back here?"

"We don't know if it was Ron!" Sirius was losing all calm.

"The Weasleys aren't the only red-haired family in England. But we've had information that the Death Eaters who weren't arrested are making some kind of conspiracy to get back to the power."

"And who is in charge of it?"

"Lucius Malfoy."

"Ah! I can't believe that idiot is not arrested yet."

"Harry, you know how smart Lucius is. He always finds a way out." Sirius didn't like the idea of seeing Malfoy around either.

"And if this conspiracy really exists, then it's obvious that the man who killed Wendell is Ron." Harry was angry because his godfather had fooled him.

"It's just not like that, Harry. Ron has a family now."

"A family?" Harry asked, shocked.

"Yes. A family. A wife, journalist for an important TV station in Luxembourg, and a five year old daughter. Both Muggles. I don't think he would lose all the calm and comfort of a family. Because from what we know, he ran away before the war ended."

Harry didn't say a word. He just sat down and served another drink.

"Why me, Sirius?" Harry asks, without understanding. He was a little hurt, and Sirius hadn't heard Harry like that for a long time.

"Because you're my best man. I'm not saying it just to comfort you, or for you to take this job. I say it because it's true, you know that." He sat down in a chair beside his godson. "You need to face the past too, so that you can live in peace. I only could live in peace because I faced it."

He didn't say anything. He just looked at the godfather as if understanding what he was saying. The problem now was this: what would Hermione say after reading that folder?