The Contract

Chapter 118

Harry struggled to keep up with Lord Slytherin, as they rushed through the hallways. Deciding not to wait for the lift, for which a huge group of wizards were already waiting outside for it. They wouldn't get in this time, no matter how much expansion went into it. Instead, Aurelius' opened the stairway door and they began to climb up them, making their way towards the Atrium to Floo out or Apparate...Harry had no clue what had happened.

Fear was the most prominent feeling Harry was experiencing right now, his mind going through numerous different scenarios. Had something happened to Corvus? Sirius? Rabastan? It made him dizzy, and it caused his magic to veer up in reaction to his emotional upheaval.

"They are all alive and for the most part, safe," Lord Slytherin reassured him, whether it was remembering Harry hadn't read the letter or the feel of his magic, Harry did not know. Almost taking the stairs two at a time and tripping. If he hadn't called on his magic to fly a little, he most likely would have.

"So, what's going on?" Harry asked, beginning to pant at the speed he and Aurelius was going. He was far from unhealthy; it didn't mean he was used to speeding down the stairs to this degree. "What was in that letter?"

"And where are we going?" he added when Lord Slytherin said nothing, but Harry got it, since two Ministry workers came through the stairwell door as they got to that level. Grunting in frustration as his query was ignored, for good reason admittedly.

He needed to know what had happened.

Lord Slytherin opened the stairway door to the level they wanted to get out at. Grateful at least that there weren't a big group of wizards waiting for the lift. Turned out, he spoke too soon, as Harry slid under his arm and out into the corridor. As everyone flooded out of the loft, including memo's flying off to the wizards they were intended for.

"What the..." with an indignant huff, he summoned the letter off of the teen. "That cannot be read by you, or anyone else." shaking his head, he pressed against Harry's back, and urged him on, keeping to the fast pace Rodolphus would have made sure it was secure in every single possible way. He wasn't stupid enough to give a letter to a Ministry clerk for a Lord without protection. Even after it had been opened and read it still couldn't be read by a third party. As soon as he had this dealt with, he would get it burnt.

"You can't blame me for trying," Harry said, "Now will you tell me where we're going?" once they were out of view of anyone.

"I'll Apparate us," Lord Slytherin replied, before leaning down and hissing softly, "Portraits!" they were spread out along the corridors, so even when people weren't there, there was always someone around, and all of them reported to the Minister for Magic. Cornelius Fudge, at least for now, they were going to have a new Minister soon. He was hoping to guide the results in a direction he rather desired.

"Oh," murmured Harry glancing around with an inscrutable look, not that he got to 'look' long before he was passing them hastily, turning around into the Atrium, and both of them headed straight for the closest fireplace. He already knew all this, he had just...forgotten in his fear for the others.

"In you get," Lord Slytherin urged, grasping a handful of the Floo powder as Harry stepped inside. Thank Merlin he was fully recovered, he wasn't sure Harry would have fully recovered from the humiliation and scandal of being carried by him. It would have been either that or left him as he hastened, and he wasn't sure he'd survive Harry's ire. His retribution was a force to be reckoned with all on its own. Always when one least expects it too. "The Leaky Cauldron!"

Harry barely refrained from coughing as they were moving through the network. He was secure with Lord Slytherin's arms around his chest, keeping him close as they moved. He had perfected coming out of the Floo Network, Corvus had made sure of it. Still, whatever that was going down...was going down in public. This wasn't a good thing. Especially given how unpredictable his family was, and how easily angered in the right situation.