Obliviate [Drarry - english]

Chapter 13

The Auel case.

Harry had already read the file, but he concentrated on it again, this time with the names of the new people in mind. He felt his mind was clearer and freer, and he could really concentrate on the work.

As long as he managed not to think about Draco. Draco and his perfect blonde hair. Draco and his perfect grey eyes. Draco and his perfect slim body. Draco and his perfect deep voice. Draco and his p....

Harry slapped himself in the face. He'd already read that same sentence four times and he still hadn't understood it.

He returned to the top of the page.

Ah yes, the list of objects found at the suspect's home. A few magical objects, not very powerful, a lot of charlatanism, sold mainly to muggles, who knew nothing about them, promising miracles. The investigation showed that there had been no serious injuries, and that was all.

Harry looked at the file several times before taking it and going over to Amanda.

-Is that all?

-What are you talking about, Harry?

-The Auel investigation. We found some evidence, we arrested him and that was that. No further investigations into possible accomplices, the place where he bought all that merchandise, nothing?

-No. He insisted that he worked alone. Then another case came up. There was no evidence that he had any accomplices, or where he bought the goods. Or even if he was stealing them. We were asked to let the courts deal with his case and find the missing children. Then another investigation took over. We never went back.

Harry frowned. He wanted to believe that today he had more flair, because of his experience, or that he had accepted this victory as one, without going any further.

-Harry, you mustn't ask yourself what you could have done differently with each file you open. You have to understand that we were younger, with less experience in the profession. It wasn't Hermione who was head of the Ministry of Magic, we didn't have as much support. The saviour and the Muggle-born lesbian on duty still had a lot to prove. Disobeying a direct order was not an option. Okay ? And today, we know we're looking for something wrong. So, please, don't start feeling guilty.

The dark-haired man gave her a small smile. He knew she was right. It was still profoundly strange to read over files, to see his name everywhere, to not know what he had done, said or deduced. Yet he could feel his instincts telling him that something was wrong in this case.

Amanda sighed and sat down at her desk.

-Did you find your file?

-Why? Yours is much cleaner.

-Because we had an agreement. I keep the final versions of the files, those presented to the directors and our superiors. In your office you have the draft versions, with notes and remarks in the margins. Not everything can appear in the final version. So my advice is to tidy up your mess and find your file quickly.

Harry nodded and returned to his desk. He tried an accio, but his things were such a mess that not even the papers knew which file they belonged to. So he resolved to work the Muggle way.

Sleeves rolled up, he sorted through the boxes and files, filing away every scrap of paper he could find. First, he sorted them by year. Then he managed to piece together complete files. On almost every page he could see two very different sets of handwriting, and notes written in red in the margins. Amanda hadn't lied.

He had already been working for two hours, and his colleague had come to say goodbye to him, after dropping off a tray of food.

Time passed and Harry paid it no mind. Time was pressing, he absolutely had to find that file. He didn't hear the employees leave the office, nor the cleaning team sweep through the building.

No, what brought him out of his torpor was a small, persistent noise in front of him. When he finally looked up, he realised that an owl had been tapping furiously against the window, trying to attract his attention for some time.

-I'm sorry, I was deep in the files and didn't hear you.

The owl was not happy about this and pecked him in revenge. It was only after several treats that the saviour of the wizarding world was allowed to retrieve the letter that had been attached to the bird's dough.

Dear Harry,

I was thinking about you, and I thought maybe you'd like to hear from me too. Or maybe you wouldn't. I don't really know, I just know that I miss you, and that I couldn't sleep until I'd written to you.

I'm glad we found each other again, really. I don't think you can imagine how relieved I've been since our weekend together. And at the same time, it was so much like one of my dreams that sometimes I'm afraid to wake up.

Was it a dream, Harry, or are you really mine again? The time we weren't together was short, but so painful that sometimes it feels like years have passed between us.

I'm not trying to make you feel guilty, far from it. It just makes me sad sometimes not to be able to hug you every night. To have to wait for the school holidays to be able to enjoy you for more than a few days.

But I've thought the situation through, and I don't think it would be very Malfoy of me, as you like to say, to let you off so easily. For one thing, a Malfoy in love is frowned upon. But a Malfoy in love with a Potter who forgives him without seeking revenge... My father could come back and haunt Hogwarts castle just to punish me.

So I'm going to get even. I don't know how yet, but I think your dear savings won't last very long, and I'll finally be able to have that suit I've been seeing. You know, the one that looks so good on me and costs a small fortune? Or maybe I'll ask you for some other favours, I haven't decided yet.

I know that solving this case is important to you, that you want to understand why someone stole ten years of your life. Just take care of yourself, okay? I'm not planning on going back to hospital any time soon. The Hogwarts infirmary because of the inattentive pupils is more than enough for me!

See you soon, my saviour.

Love,

Draco Malefoy

So Harry answered the letter, because he suspected that the blond wouldn't sleep until he had an answer, and went back to his files. This time he made the effort to sit more comfortably and even began to eat his lunch tray. After all, he wasn't the type to worry his boyfriend for nothing.

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