If Paths Diverge

Chapter 21

When Harry returned to the Ministry he was called into Robards's office before he even had a chance to reach his own. Everyone was still talking about Voldemort's Italian massacre and Harry pondered distractedly how to divert attention away from those damn accurate descriptions.

"Where did you go?" his boss demanded, as soon as he'd knocked.

Harry faltered, rapidly inventing excuses.

"I—"

"Are you still on that special project from Shacklebolt?"

"Oh. No." Harry wiped his palms on his trousers. "No. That's done."

Robards eyed him and then nodded.

"Good. So I want your focus back on the BDE. Don't worry about this foreign nonsense, I already talked to Kingsley and we won't be wasting any more of our men on it. Let the Italian Aurors do their jobs."

"Right."

Ever the hero, Robards was. Italy wasn't all that far away. And considering it was a Brit that had caused all that destruction...

"You were close to finding another safehouse location from Kingsley's information, weren't you?"

"Yes," Harry replied, forcing his mind back. "I'm almost ready to take a team and check it out."

Robards was shaking his head.

"You're still too famous, Potter," his boss said with distaste. "Better not sabotage anything with your presence. Give me the details and I'll assign a team."

His stomach clenched in anger and shame. What good was he here if he couldn't even do his job? Maybe Ron was right, maybe he should start looking elsewhere. But who was he if not an Auror? What other skills did he even have?

"Right."

Robards considered him and Harry tried not to react.

"You're not a bad Auror when you actually work, Potter." He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands over his stomach. "You're not my most dependable man, but when you show up— and I mean, not just your body in your office. When your brain shows up too, because don't think I haven't noticed your bouts of... melancholy?" Robards grimaced at the word. "Anyway. Just... focus on your work. Bring all of you to work and we'll be grand."

Harry had no idea what to say to that. He nodded once and Robards nodded back at him. The other man then turned his attention to the parchment on his desk. Harry got the hint and backed out of the room, making his way towards his own office.

He tried to ignore the posters and updates on Voldemort's latest attack. He'd have to warn the man, tell him to lay low for awhile.

"Harry," another Auror said, blocking his path, "Robards was looking for you."

"Just saw him, excuse me."

He sidled past her into his office, closed the door, and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes.

Voldemort was on his knees, taking his cock down his throat. He felt the sharp sting on his cheek as Voldemort struck him hard. Voldemort saying he regretted hurting Harry, that he would try... Staying with him, holding him...

Merlin, he had to pull himself together. Seeing Voldemort had left him with a clear head and energy again. Optimism. He pushed off from the door and pulled out the parchment that Voldemort had given him, smoothing it out on his desk.

Should he write to the man already? No, too desperate.

He felt good. Ready to work. With this parchment, he might even be able to act like a normal person. It was an enticing image. He could work and repair his social life and when he began to fall apart, he could beg Voldemort to fix him again.