The Contract

Chapter 68

Corvus startled when he felt the wards ping, alerting him to someone entering the property. They were easily accepted, and knew it was Tom. He had insisted he'd be by as soon as his other obligations were seen to. It was a little bit late to be calling on any family, but Corvus didn't mind. Regardless of how late it was...he would lay down his head and sleep well tonight knowing his sons were home.

Both of them had been rather subdued, which had surprised him so much. He hadn't said anything as of yet, but he would discuss it if it didn't get better. Azkaban will have played havoc with their emotions. They would have their ups and downs until they recovered this he knew.

They'd bathed, put on a pair of soft fluffy pyjamas that he'd ordered for them. They were a little big on them, he'd tried to get the measurements correct but hadn't succeeded very well apparently. No matter they would fill out given time, at least their ribs couldn't be seen quite so starkly as he'd feared.

Then they'd eaten the food he'd had made for them, with the advice of the Healers. He didn't want them to go, he didn't want to let them out of his sight. They had to go, he knew that, they needed to recuperate. Which they wouldn't get with him waiting on them hand and foot, which he would do.

Voldemort slowed his gait when he noticed the brothers sleeping, comforters wrapped around their bony bodies keeping them warm. "How are they?" he asked, his concern for them genuine.

"Would you like a drink?" Corvus asked, both of them speaking low as not to disturb the sleeping boys.

"Whiskey," Voldemort stated immediately, he'd been doing some digging and investigating into just what Doge and Diggle thought they were doing. "The Aurors were put to the Doge and Diggle estates very quickly." He added, giving a reason for his annoyance and lateness.

"Harry will have your hide if he sees that," Voldemort pointed out, as he accepted his own glass.

"This is the first drink I've had since I was diagnosed," Corvus admitted, he didn't want to let either his boys or Harry down. "But I find myself in rather dire need." At least he could drink it without Harry's earnest disappointed green eyes staring at him.

He knew things had almost come down like a pack of cards. He hadn't been sure his heart would take it for Merlin's sake. "Did you find out anything?"

"I did," Voldemort admitted wryly, with a smirk on his face and disbelief colouring his eyes. "They made no attempt to conceal evidence of the correspondence between themselves and the unsigned letter, which will lead them directly to Dumbledore."

Corvus' own eyes gleamed with disbelief, sipping the drink, "You must be joking." Surely, they wouldn't be that stupid as to leave incriminating evidence lying? Especially in regards to their wizengamot duties and treason of all things.

"No, not at all, the Aurors even packed up their journals, if they have recorded anything...well, they're in for some serious trouble." He said smoothly, chuckling at the complete absurdity of it.

"Hmm, I wonder if that will encourage the Ministry to investigate the guards surrounding Azkaban." Corvus mused, because that was how Dumbledore's letters were getting out. "Including the cell, which will reveal him probably living a little greater than he should be."

"I think it's wholly likely," Voldemort agreed, "Hopefully it won't set Harry's goals back or he'll be disappointed." And strangely enough, he didn't want to see that. Harry was a smart stubborn creature, but he reckoned easily doubting himself. It didn't stop him going through with his ideas regardless of that doubt though. Hence the stubborn creature part.

"Yes, that's true enough," Corvus said wryly, "I bet you didn't see this happening in your future."

Voldemort choked on the drink, throwing Corvus a dark look, "No, I suppose not." He admitted, "It is better this way...so long as we deal with Dumbledore's fanatics, they're becoming more and more troublesome."