𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐈𝐍

Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Forced Entry, Investigation Beginnings, The Shopping Trip

Days had passed. Draco was constantly tired and generally stayed on the sofa under his coverlet watching game shows and having juice and prescription potions from Severus to keep his fever down, his energy up, and his appetite as good as possible. Harry had not left Draco's side and fawned over every little thing he needed while continuing to work on the piles and piles of investigative business on the large table in the living area. More and more folders were being added onto the table from the secretive filing cabinets somewhere in the house. Dobby was invaluable in service to the three men now residing on Serpentine Way.

Although still his less than loveable self, Lucius was genuinely attempting civility by tolerating the intimate way Harry held Draco on the sofa many times a day, the fact that they kissed at every available opportunity, and continually touched each other casually. The only consolation was that Draco seemed happy with the attention and whatever kept him in high spirits would no doubt aid his health in some small way.

The wedding invitations had been finished and sent out magically to the wizarding addresses on the envelopes. The three muggle invitations were mailed using the mailbox at the end of their long, paved driveway. Harry took the opportunity to hold Draco's hand and walk with him to the mailbox in the sunny day to get him outside for fresh air and exercise. It was a lame excuse, but it worked.

Severus had finished the potions for Draco and had left them with Dobby with a schedule for Draco to take. The odd thing was that Draco was visibly weakening every single day and his sallow skin and weakened eyes were not as bad as his physical fatigue at trying to do the simplest of things. Lucius had not left their home at all and Harry could tell the man was itching to get out for a few hours.

The breakfast had been nice, but wearing off as it was nearing noon. When checking his notebook for any new and useful information, Harry had come upon the latest entry by a contact who was watching Carmen Louisa Fairaday in Toulouse, France. The message had been scribbled quickly and Harry jumped up from his desk in dread.

"I need to go," Harry said in a flash. "There is something that needs my immediate attention. Lucius, I think you need to come with me. Draco, I'll send Albus or Hermione here to be with you. I don't want you by yourself in case something happens. Is that alright?"

"Yeah, fine. Where are you going?" Draco asked from the sofa. "Is it an emergency?"

"It um...I just think I need to act quickly on this latest entry from an informant," Harry said. "I'll let you know what we find out as soon as we come back. It shouldn't be more than two hours or so." Draco nodded. "Lucius, I'll apparate us." The man stood and nodded before the two were gone in a flash. Within fifteen minutes, Albus appeared in the living area where he and Draco had a great time when Jeopardy came on.

Harry and Lucius appeared outdoors in a very tiny littered alleyway near a fire escape between two brick buildings.

"This way," Harry said motioning and taking a step in the direction he'd indicated.

"Why are we here, Potter?" Lucius said holding Harry's arm and halting him. "I want to know the details before we go in. This is a muggle neighborhood. And I think...are we in France?"

"Yes," Harry said. "This building is where your daughter lives. The last entry into my journal said that that two wizards were following Carmen and that my informant sensed an intent to harm her in some way. I want to get her out of..." A muffled whimper was heard from an open window from above and Harry gasped. "Hurry!" Harry took off running with Lucius following him into the apartment building and up three flights of stairs. Taking the hallway with a bit more caution but sill at a quick pace, they came to the door and heard the muffled sobs and obstructed pleading and movement. With a look to each other, Lucius drew his wand and Harry braced himself. A magically blasted away door later, the two burst inside to see one gagged and bound female over the back of a chair with one man plundering her body against her will and the other holding two fierce grips on her hair in a painful way. The two men barely had time to react before Lucius sent two killing curses with remarkably skilled accuracy and speed. Even Harry was impressed. They ran to the girl and Harry knelt to her beginning to take off her gag and Lucius the ropes binding her wrists at her back. "Are you alright, Carmen?"