- Rating:
- 15
- House:
- Schnoogle
- Characters:
- Albus Severus Potter Draco Malfoy Ginny Weasley Harry Potter James Potter II Lily Potter II Teddy Remus Lupin The Weasley Family
- Genres:
- General
- Era:
- Children of Characters in the HP novels
- Spoilers:
- Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix Half-Blood Prince Deadly Hallows (Through Ch. 36) Epilogue to Deathly Hallows Quidditch Through the Ages Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them The Tales of Beedle the Bard J.K. Rowling Interviews or Website
- Stats:
-
Published: 03/17/2010Updated: 04/16/2016Words: 449,284Chapters: 98Hits: 153,722
Questions and Answers
little_bird
- Story Summary:
- What happens when the past collides with the present and threatens to cast the Potters' and Weasleys' lives into disarray...
Chapter 24 - Apologies
- Posted:
- 05/06/2010
- Hits:
- 2,049
Teddy stretched his sock-clad feet onto the coffee table, and dug the letter from Scorpius from his pocket. 'How well do you know Scorpius?' he asked the young woman leaning tiredly against him.
Victoire tucked a scrap of parchment into an enormous book on her lap, before closing it. 'About as well as you do, I suppose. He's pretty quiet, except during Quidditch games, then he turns into something of nutter, but he loves it. He gets good marks, even in the difficult subjects. Got roughed up quite a bit last year in school by one of his cousins, but refused to complain about it. Would get letters from his mother and grandmother, but never his father. He looks quite delicate, you know? Like a good strong wind would blow him away, but he's a lot tougher than he looks. His grandfather's death last spring was difficult for him. Lots of whispers behind his back. Even from other Gryffindors.'
'How did he handle that?' Teddy asked curiously.
'Seemed more confused than anything else. Like he didn't know why people were talking about it.'
Teddy watched the flames in the fireplace dance, throwing shadows on the wall in silence, while Victoire waited for him to say something else. When he didn't immediately reply, she opened her book once more. She had a test on antidotes in the Healer training program in the morning. When Teddy spoke after being quiet for so long, it startled her. 'So if I were to hypothetically know something about his grandfather, should I tell him?'
Victoire raised a reddish-blonde brow. 'Hypothetically? Depends on what you know, doesn't it?'
'What do you mean?'
'Well, it would depend on who else it involves. Lucius Malfoy is dead, and he rather shredded his reputation on his own, so it's not as if you can make it worse. Scorpius, for instance, seemed relieved when he got the letter from his mum that Lucius Malfoy had died. Didn't seemed too fussed about it, to be honest.'
'Can't say I'd blame him. Dad's journals had a few choice words to say about Lucius. None of them were complimentary.' Teddy thumbed open the parchment. 'What if the other person is Ginny? Hypothetically...'
'You mean the diary?' Victoire gave Teddy a look. 'Hypothetically.'
'Yeah, how did you know?'
Victoire leaned down to pick up her bag, and tucked the book inside. 'Do you remember that conversation we had with our parents right before last Christmas?'
'Yeah.'
'It came up.' Victoire buckled the clasp of the bag. 'How do you know about it?'
'I just know what Dad knew - that while they were in Diagon Alley before school started, Lucius slipped it into Ginny's things. She was having a tough time with Defense the next year, when Dad taught it. He got her to talk about it a little, and all she would say was Lucius had sneaked a diary to her that had belonged to Voldemort, and when she wrote in it, his memories got into her head. That's all.' Teddy brandished the letter toward Victoire. 'He's asked about it. Scorpius.'
'Why didn't he just ask Aunt Ginny about it? You said he was with them the last few days of the holiday.' Victoire paused slightly. 'If we're still speaking in a hypothetical sense...'
Teddy tugged Victoire's messy plait. 'Would you have been able to do that? If it had been you?' He stuffed the letter back into his pocket. 'And yes, we're still speaking hypothetically.'
'Well... Aunt Ginny's not exactly a formidable person, you know.'
'She is if you're Scorpius Malfoy.'
'Aunt Gin's always been nice to Scorpius. You've told me so.'
'True. But if you were Scorpius, would you want to actually go ask Ginny what his grandfather did to her?'
'You've got a point.'
'And wouldn't you rather go to some entirely uninvolved third party?'
'Well, yes, I suppose...'
'So...' Teddy sighed. 'I should tell him what I know...'
Victoire stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. 'Yes, and if it makes you feel better, just tell Aunt Ginny that you've told him.' She leaned over the sofa to kiss Teddy. 'Good night, Ted.'
Teddy wound his arms around her waist. 'Don't go yet, Vic,' he murmured against her mouth. 'Stay for a little bit longer.'
'I have to go. Have an exam first thing in the morning.'
Reluctantly, Teddy let her go. 'Bloody training program. How many years is it?'
'Five until I'm a full Healer. Two years of classes and three years of apprenticeship.'
'Even the Aurors don't do that,' Teddy snorted.
'Yes, well, an Auror doesn't hold your life in her hands, does she?' Victoire asked loftily. 'I'll see you tomorrow.' She slipped out the door, and Teddy heard the soft pop of her Disapparition.
Teddy sat on the sofa a moment longer, then pulled his wand from his pocket and muttered, 'Accio.' A sheaf of parchment and a Self-Inking Quill landed in his outstretched hands.
9 January 2019
Dear Scorp,
I can tell you what I know, but if you want the full story, you're going to have to approach Ginny herself. I'm not saying you have to do that right away, but if what I say doesn't satisfy your curiosity, then you'll have to talk to Ginny. Or somehow get Lily to talk to you.
What I do know is second-hand from my dad...
*****
Harry pressed the button on the mobile to end a call. It had been one of Lily's teachers who had called to remind them she had a major history project due at the end of the month. Harry glared balefully at the mobile. 'Whatever happened to making them responsible for their own homework without calling Mummy and Daddy every week?' he muttered, pushing the offending device across the desk. He couldn't imagine McGonagall calling them every week to remind them that the boys had homework. He couldn't even imagine Neville doing something like that. He couldn't have imagined any of his primary school teachers calling the Dursleys to remind them he had a major project due. The mobile rang shrilly, interrupting his musings on how much things had changed since he was in primary school. Without bothering to check who it was, he flipped it open. 'Hello?' he said absently.
'Hello, Harry.' The voice paused uncertainly. 'It's Dudley...'
'Right,' Harry breathed, his mouth gone dry.
'I've wanted to talk to you for ages. I wasn't sure if your lot had telephones...' Dudley cleared his throat, embarrassed. 'I didn't mean it like that...'
'I know,' Harry said. 'Um, some of us do, like me and my friend, well, sister-in-law, I suppose, that's what Hermione is... Anyway, Lily's still in primary school, and we got a mobile when James started primary school so they could reach us, and Hermione was raised non-magic, so she was used to having one...' Harry swallowed, suddenly aware he was babbling. 'You said something at King's Cross last week about coffee?'
'Yeah... When are you free?'
'Next Saturday, I think.'
'Look, I know I'm probably one of the last people you want to see, but there're a few things I wanted to say to you in person. Because sometimes, you just can't put it in a letter...'
Harry swallowed past the lump in his throat. 'Yeah, I know what you mean.' He put his head in his free hand. 'I'll ring you later next week, and you can tell me where to meet you.'
'Yeah. Um... Harry?'
'Yeah?'
'I want to apologize for my parents. For last Wednesday at the station. My father shouldn't have spoken to Lily like that. And they both should have been more civil to you and your wife.'
'You don't need to apologize for them,' Harry said softly.
Dudley snorted with ironic laughter. 'Yeah, well, someone should. Truthfully, that year we spent in hiding was the next best thing to happen to me. The ones they had looking after us were really great with us. Courteous, even when my parents did their best to ignore them. I learned a lot about you from them, too.'
'Oh, God...' Harry moaned. 'Like what?'
'That you outwitted a dragon.' Dudley paused, and asked with child-like curiosity, 'There really are dragons?'
'Uh. Yeah. My brother-in-law works with them. Keeps non-magic folk from noticing them.'
'Wicked!' Dudley chuckled quietly. 'I have to go. Aaron's got dinner ready. But you'll ring me next week?'
'I will,' promised Harry. He ended the call, and set the mobile carefully on the desk's scarred surface. He heaved a sigh and pushed the chair back, heading for the sitting room. Ginny was curled up on the sofa, with a book. 'That was Dudley,' he told her.
'Oh?' Ginny looked up from her book. 'How is he doing?'
'We're having coffee next Saturday,' Harry said, flopping down to the sofa next to her.
'Good for you,' Ginny said.
'You think so?'
'If Andromeda and Narcissa Malfoy can make amends, there's hope for you and your cousin.' Ginny turned a page of her book. 'What was the other call?'
'Lily's history teacher.'
'What did she do?' Ginny's eyes went wide. Lily had a tendency to lose her temper at school sometimes, and it would manifest in magic. Just before Christmas, she had accidentally shrunk Regina MacLeod's prized cashmere jumper, when the girl had teased Lily one too many times about her freckles.
'Nothing, just called to remind us that she's got a project due at the end of the month.'
Ginny scowled. 'Could you imagine Snape calling Mum to remind her I had an essay due next week?' she grumbled in an unconscious echo of Harry's earlier sentiments.
'My thoughts exactly.' Harry stretched his feet out in front of him. 'Teddy came by my office today.'
'Oh?'
'He got a letter from Scorpius asking about you.'
'Oh...'
'Teddy said he told him what he'd learned from Remus' journals.'
'Oh.'
'It was a logical place for him to ask, given all the guff Lily gave him when he was here.'
'I suppose.' Ginny looked down at her book, barely refraining from worrying the corner of a page between her thumb and forefinger. 'When is all that going to end? The blame and the finger-pointing...'
Harry reached across the sofa and brushed a lock of Ginny's hair from her eyes. 'When we stop doing it.'
'That's awfully profound, Potter.'
'And it's true, Ginevra.' Harry got to his feet. 'I'm going to go fly a bit,' he announced. 'Take the edge off.'
'Wear a hat. It's cold outside.'
'Yes, Mummy.' Harry rolled his eyes.
'Fine. Don't wear a hat. And when you catch pneumonia, don't come crying to me.'
'Don't worry. I won't. I'll go crying to Molly,' Harry shot back with a smirk. Nevertheless, he took his hat from the pocket of his coat, and pulled it snugly over his head, before wrapping the matching scarf around his throat, and pulling his coat on over his heavy wool jumper. Harry disliked wearing gloves or mittens while he flew, but Ginny was right. It was rather cold outside. The clouds had dissipated, leaving clear skies, making the temperature drop precipitously when the sun set earlier. Harry tapped his gloves with his wand, casting a Warming charm on them, then drew them over his hands. He went out to the broom shed and took out his broom.
Mounting it, he kicked off the hard, frozen ground, and headed for the woods behind the house, skimming over the tops of the trees. He nudged the broom forward a bit faster, reveling in the feel of the icy wind rushing past his face. Harry usually didn't spend his money on frivolous things, but he loved a good International standard broom. He currently used a Firebolt A-23, used by the Scottish national team.
He had told Al last summer about what flying had meant to him while he'd been in school. It was still the same for Harry. While he was airborne, he could leave everything behind for a few minutes. The January probation interviews were scheduled for Monday, but instead of Harry's usual list, he was taking on Shacklebolt's, too, strictly due to his skills with Legilimency, something Shacklebolt admittedly wasn't very good at doing.
Harry shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thoughts that chased through his head, wondering what he would find. The Muggle-baiting incidents were sporadic at best, and whoever it was behind it was quite skilled at doing just enough to get the Ministry's attention, but not enough to really cause any lasting damage or harm to the victims.
He saw a clearing ahead, and sent the broom into a steep dive, pulling up at the last minute, and soaring above the trees in a vertical climb that left him breathless with exhilaration.
If nothing else, it was liberating. Even if it was only temporary.
*****
Scorpius sat at the Gryffindor table, tiredly spooning porridge into his mouth when Teddy's barn owl, Tonks, landed clumsily on the table, knocking over a jug of pumpkin juice, and sending a rack of toast flying. One of the owl's feet landed in a pot of jam. Tonks pulled his foot out of the jam with a sticky, sucking noise, and left dark red tracks on the table, leaving a trail of raspberry jam. His head swiveled around, and he spotted Scorpius, and began to hoot apologetically, as he minced across the table and held out his leg.
Scorpius made a moue of distaste as he untied the thong that held the letter to Tonks' leg. It was the one that landed in the jam, and the envelope was stained with small blobs of raspberry. Tonks hooted once more, and he sounded so pathetic that Scorpius had to smile. He stroked the dark brown feathers of the owl's head. 'It's all right. No worries, eh?' The owl blinked and leaned into the boy's gentle caress. 'Want some juice?' Scorpius held out his goblet to the owl, who gratefully dipped his beak into it, then launched back into the air, gracefully streaking out of the Great Hall.
Scorpius sighed wistfully, watching Tonks fly gracefully out a window. He wished he had gotten an owl, but his father refused and there were some things that even his mother wouldn't defy.
He looked down at the letter, and used the serviette in his lap to try and wipe some of the larger jam stains away. Shoving his breakfast to the side, he broke the seal of the envelope, and slid the folded parchment out. Once free of the envelope, the parchment expanded alarmingly. Scorpius stuffed it into the pocket of his jeans and headed for Gryffindor Tower. He didn't want to read what Teddy had to say at the table. He climbed through the portrait hole and dashed up the stairs to his dormitory. Anil and Max still slept in their beds, so Scorpius grabbed his coat and went back down the stairs. He ended up in the entrance, biting his lip, trying to figure out where to go. The Quidditch pitch was out, since the Gryffindor team had an early morning practice session. His usual favorite spot by the lake was also out. It was too cold, and by the looks of Teddy's letter, it was going to be a long read. He took a few steps into the courtyard and scanned it carefully. A bench sat in a seclude corner, sheltered from the worst of the wind. Scorpius tightened his scarf around his neck, and picked his way across the icy courtyard.
He settled on the bench, his back to the stone wall of the castle, and pulled the sheaf of parchment from his jeans pocket. Thirty minutes later, he set the letter down, having read it twice. He knew his father and grandfather had fought on the losing side of the last war. Not that anyone had actually said anything, outright, but Scorpius had observed the restrictions set on his father when they had traveled to France, and had heard the whispers of the other children when other families came to visit in Wiltshire about why his grandparents didn't live in England. It was maddening, knowing a little bit here and there. The idea of his grandfather willingly attacking an eleven-year old girl made him nauseated. The blood began to roar in his ears and Scorpius bent over, his head between his knees, panting. As the nausea subsided, Scorpius began to think there was more to Lucius' motives. Even though there was no love lost between himself and his grandfather, there had to be something more to it than tormenting Ginny.
He slowly sat up and leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. It seemed as if every time he thought he had unraveled the knot of his family's secrets, it just twisted again into something even more complicated. It amazed him even more that the Potters and Weasleys could welcome him into their homes as much as they had.
No wonder Lily was having a hard time with it.
*****
Harry shoved Mulciber's file into his desk and rolled his head around, making his neck pop loudly. He scrawled a few notes in the notebook at his elbow. He had two solid leads; their memories were exactly as Teddy had said they would be - that hazy, foggy quality that marred a memory that had been tampered with. Each of the two suspects had memories of the locations, times, and even a hint of the activities. But neither of them was the ringleader. And neither of them had any kind of memory of the ringleader. Harry could see the moment the Memory charm took effect. Both suspects had been there, but neither of them had in fact, cast the Memory charm.
Whoever it was that had cast the Memory charm had done it badly. If Teddy's information was correct, Harry shouldn't have been able to see any of it. Harry sighed and looked at his watch. It had been a horribly long day, and Draco wasn't scheduled to be here for another half-hour to accommodate Gareth and Rafa's teaching schedules. At least they've all been compliant today, Harry thought. Of course, it had helped that a couple of rather menacing looking Hit Wizards were stationed outside his office, and at least one other Auror was in his office with him all day. They didn't have a choice.
Harry pulled his glasses off, folded his arms, and lowered his head to his desk. He could feel the beginnings of a headache forming behind his eyes. He ached all over and shivered slightly. If he didn't know any better, he'd think he had the flu.
The soft knock on his door made him look up. 'Come in,' he said, with more vigor than he felt.
Rafa's dark head peered around the door. 'You all right?'
'I look that bad, eh?' Harry asked ruefully.
Gareth's head appeared over Rafa's. 'You look like shite,' he said bluntly.
'Nice to see you, too,' Harry retorted, sliding his glasses over his nose. 'How're the boys?'
'Fine.' Rafa slipped into the office and dropped into one of the chairs next to Harry's desk. 'James is actually not too shabby with Arithmancy.'
'They're both doing well in Defense, too,' Gareth added, taking the chair next to Rafa.
'Good, good,' Harry murmured.
'Do you expect any problems with Mr. Malfoy?' asked Rafa.
'I hope not,' Harry replied. 'It's just going to be the three of us. No Hit Wizards or other Aurors in here.' Harry sat back in his chair. 'I'll explain what we need to do and why, and the consequences if he refuses to comply.' Harry pulled Draco's file from his desk drawer. 'No matter what he does or says, don't react to it. Just try to stay neutral.'
The insolent knock on the door put an end to their conversation. Harry flicked his wand at the door to admit Draco Malfoy.
Draco sauntered into the room, but Harry had begun to recognize it for what it was. It was how Draco coped with the world. He acted as if nothing had changed for him. His face bore its usual haughty expression, but his eyes momentarily widened as he saw Gareth and Rafa in the office, sitting in their chairs as if they sat there every day of their lives. His eyes flicked to Harry. 'Why are they here? It's always just you,' he asked, a faint note of panic in his voice.
'They're here to help,' Harry replied evenly. 'To verify what I see.' He casually laid a conspicuous hand on Draco's file.
'I haven't done anything!' Draco hissed. 'You know that!' The panic in his voice rose slightly.
'Nobody says you have.'
'Then why the minions?' demanded Draco, pointing at the other two men in the office.
'First of all, they're not my minions. Second, they're neutral third parties.' It was taking all of Harry's self-control to not snap at Draco. 'They're here to back me up, as I said.'
Draco stood stiffly, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. 'I swear I've done nothing. I'm not going to Azkaban.'
'Draco.' It was Harry's calm use of his first name that made Draco stop talking and blink. In nearly three decades Harry had never called him anything but "Malfoy". 'I need you to calm down. We need to perform Legilimency on you. If you block us out or fight us, we will Stun you and take the memory from you.' Draco opened his mouth to object. 'If nothing else, this will prove you're as innocent as you claim.'
Draco looked from Harry to Gareth, then to Rafa. He mutely nodded assent.
Harry soundlessly blew out the breath he'd been holding. 'All right. Have a seat,' he offered, indicating the empty chair across the desk. He pulled his wand from his pocket and pointed it at Draco, whose face was white and drawn. For half a second, Harry felt pity for him. 'Legilimens,' he whispered.
Draco's eyes widened even further and Harry was assaulted with images, coming at him almost faster than he could process them. Scorpius wrapping gifts on the floor in the middle of his bedroom at home. Narcissa sitting over a dying Lucius. A blurred memory of Draco examining the Mark on his arm. Scorpius as a small child staring at it with something akin to horror. Daphne tumbling on the grass outside the house with Scorpius, giggling. Memories of rapidly depleting bottles of whisky. A wine-stained letter Harry remembered Molly showing him right before Christmas.
Harry strained to see evidence of any kind of corruption in the memories. And of the signs that screamed someone had manipulated Draco's memory. Everything was bitingly clear. There weren't even vague memories of any of the locations where Muggle-baiting had occurred.
Nothing.
He gently released Draco from the spell, and nodded to Rafa. Harry leaned back against the chair. Gareth held his wand loosely, but still trained on Draco, his eyes hooded, revealing nothing. In a few moments Rafa lifted the spell from Draco. Draco slumped forward, his face glazed with sweat, glaring at the pattern of the rug on the floor. Harry pushed himself to his feet and leaned toward Gareth and Rafa. 'Could you wait outside for a bit?' he murmured. They nodded and left.
Harry waited until they had closed the door. He sat back down at his desk, and opened the top drawer of his desk, and pulled out a large bar of Honeydukes' chocolate. He peeled the wrapping off and began to break it into pieces. The loud snap of breaking chocolate made Draco jump. Harry pushed the chocolate across the desk. 'Couldn't hurt,' he said, taking a piece for himself.
Draco's eyes flew up to meet Harry's, and for a brief moment, Harry saw an uncanny resemblance to Scorpius, before they shuttered once more. Draco tentatively reached for a piece of chocolate. 'You won't tell anyone else what you saw?'
'No.'
'Not even your wife?'
'Not even my wife.'
Draco shoved the chocolate into his mouth. 'I don't want your pity,' he nearly snarled.
'Good. Because I'm not going to give you any,' Harry said, nibbling his piece of chocolate. Harry noticed the way Draco seemed to shiver. 'You're welcome to stay and collect yourself,' he offered, knowing appearances meant the world to Draco.
Again, Draco's eyes flew to Harry's, in that wide-eyed astonishment Harry had seen on the face of Scorpius. But only for a moment. 'Thank you.' It seemed to cost Draco a great deal of effort to say it. Harry sat quietly behind his desk, making a few notes in his notebook, aware of the person on the other side of the desk, but made no effort to engage him in any sort of conversation. At length, Draco rose and Harry glanced up to watch him walk toward the door.
As Draco's hand landed on the doorknob, Harry said quietly, 'I'll see you in July, then.'
'Couldn't resist, could you, Potter?' Draco said sardonically.
Harry said nothing, but let a small smile curve one side of his mouth. After Draco left, he called Rafa and Gareth back into the room.
'Anything?' Harry asked, without preamble.
'Nothing. Not even a wrinkle in any of the memories for the past several months.' Rafa rubbed the back of his neck. 'God, if that's what Scorpius has had to grow up with no wonder he - ' Rafa bit off whatever it was that he was going to say.
'I know what you mean,' Harry agreed. He shook his head. 'I'll bet you a hundred Galleons that's the first time Malfoy actually willingly told anyone the truth.' Harry stretched. 'Let's get this report done so we can all get home.'
For an hour, Harry and Rafa compared notes on Draco, while Gareth lounged in the corner, grading essays. They each signed off on the written report and Harry stowed it in his desk, locking it. He left Gareth and Rafa at Kingsley's office, and made his way to the deserted Atrium, too tired to Apparate. He took a handful of Floo powder, and threw it into a fireplace, disappearing in a swirl of bright green flames.
When he stepped out of his own fireplace, he heard Lily and Ginny in the kitchen. He slipped up the stairs and into his bedroom, avoiding them with a twinge of guilt. Besides, he knew Ginny had heard him come out of the fireplace. Harry stripped off his clothing and stumbled wearily into the bathroom, turning on the hot water tap. He began to lather the face cloth draped over the edge of the tub and slowly began to scrub his arms.
*****
Lily raised her eyes to the ceiling. 'How long is he going to be in there?' she asked.
'A while.' Ginny carefully cut out a figure dressed in medieval armor. 'Sometimes, your dad has to talk to some of the surviving Death Eaters. It doesn't put him in the best of moods,' Ginny said. 'He just needs some time to himself, is all.' She surveyed the scene on the kitchen table. 'Think you have enough blood on that lot?' she asked, pointing to a group of knights with fleur-de-lis on their chests, lying in a heap. 'Looks like a plate of pasta exploded.'
Lily sighed and gifted her mother with the type of longsuffering look children gave to their obviously thick parents. 'Mum... It's the defeat of the French by King Henry V at Agincourt. It's supposed to be bloody.' Lily looked at the stack of knights Ginny had sketched out on paper. 'I don't suppose we could cut those out with magic?' she wheedled.
'Absolutely not.' Ginny handed Lily a freshly cut-out figure. 'You're going to a Muggle school, and you'll do the assignments the Muggle way. It's not going to kill you.'
'But it would be faster...'
'And an unfair advantage.'
'Oh, all right,' sighed Lily, gluing a knight to a rock in her scene.
'And it's almost your bedtime, so go we'll get this cleaned up, and then you go have a bath.'
'Okay.'
*****
Harry sighed and turned off the water. Most of the past hour he'd stood under the spray, his eyes closed. Viewing Draco's memories had given Harry a startling insight into Draco's life. And his own.
It was how Harry imagined he might have turned out if he'd never met the Weasleys.
He reached for a towel, and carefully dried himself, wrapping it around his middle. He walked into the bedroom, to find a pair of clean pajama bottoms on the foot of the bed with a t-shirt. Ginny must have come up while he was brooding. Harry slipped on the clothing, and wandered into the corridor and down into the kitchen. He opened the freezer and found an unopened carton of ice cream. Prying the seal off the lid, he dug in a drawer for a spoon, and sat at the table. 'Self medicating?' Ginny stood in the doorway.
'Mmm-hmmm,' Harry replied around a mouthful of chocolate. Swallowing, he continued, 'Better than whisky. No barmy nightmares.' He examined the numbers on the label. 'Maybe I shouldn't eat it straight from the carton. That's almost obscene.'
Ginny joined Harry at the table. 'Doesn't count if you eat it from the carton,' she said.
'Is that how that works?'
'It's what I tell myself.' She reached across the table and took Harry's spoon, using it to scoop a spoonful of ice cream. 'How did it go today?' She licked the ice cream off the spoon and handed it back to Harry.
'I've had worse.'
'Any leads?'
'A few.'
'Malfoy?'
Harry shook his head. 'It's not him.'
'You sound almost relieved.'
Harry snorted derisively. 'If I am, it's not for his sake. Malfoy was nothing more than an opportunistic git when we were in school, who wouldn't dare get his pretty hands dirty if he could avoid it. There's no gain in this for him.' He ate another spoonful of ice cream, the memory of all those empty bottles flashing before his eyes. 'Scorpius is welcome here any time,' he said softly. 'If he ever needs a place to go or something.'
Ginny looked at him oddly, but Harry, remembering his promise to Draco, shook his head, and continued to eat ice cream from the carton, sharing it with Ginny until it was gone.