Defence, Pretence, Offence (Hecatemus Book #2)

Chapter 19 - Questions

Apparently satisfied, Dumbledore took hold of the amulet himself and lifted it over Fitzsimon's head. As soon as it was no longer on the man's person, Harry could see Fitzsimons magical aura clearly. He still wasn't used to telling unfamiliar people apart using such methods, but he had gone over his memories of the Quidditch pitch a great many times. The magical signature of the person running away was ingrained in his mind.

"It was him," Harry said with a nod.

"Had you not already been in close contact with Fitzsimons?" Snape asked before he could say anything else. "Why did you not recognise him at the time?"

"It doesn't work that way," Draco said even as Harry opened his mouth.

"I seem to unconsciously learn the magical signatures of some people," Harry decided he had to explain, "I'm not quite sure why, but I only met Fitzsimons the once."

"And he proved himself to be useless," Draco added. "None of us thought he would be back."

Surprisingly Snape appeared to accept the explanation without question.

"Time for the other potion, I believe," Dumbledore said, "before we wake Mr Fitzsimons."

"If you are sure, Headmaster," Snape said.

"I am," Dumbledore said with a nod. "However, everyone in this room should be aware, what we have done so far had been perfectly within the law, what I am about to do now is, shall we shall, a much more grey area."

Harry looked around and it didn't look as if anyone in the room cared. Remus even stepped forward to help hold Fitzsimons' head a second time. Dumbledore used the potion and then stepped back, once again pulling out his wand and using Enervate. Fitzsimons' eyes popped open immediately.

"Welcome back, Mr Fitzsimons," the headmaster said.

The Auror blinked once, but otherwise seem unsurprised to have been unmasked.

"Would you really have allowed your fellow Auror to be caught for your crime?" Dumbledore asked.

Fitzsimons smiled.

"You have no proof I was doing anything but my job," the man said.

"Your amulet is gone, Mr Fitzsimons," Dumbledore said, for once, no smile on his own face, which Harry found unsettling. "Harry has already identified you as the person he saw fleeing from the Quidditch pitch. Now if you will dispense with the pretence."

The smile dropped from Fitzsimons' face as well then.

"I stand by my actions," he said.

"You mean testing Harry," Dumbledore said.

"After he failed the first test, I had no choice but to continue," Fitzsimons said. "In such times as these we cannot have a compromised wizard of such power running around."

"What first test?" Harry demanded.

"Wandless defence, you reacted with violence."

Draco actually laughed.

"Merlin, you're more of an idiot than you look," Draco said, tone glacial. "Not only were Harry's actions purely instinctual, they are covered by law because any other of his kind would have reacted in exactly the same way. In fact, Harry could have killed you and been perfectly justified. You attacked him in the same way as if you had been wielding a wand or a sword, you imbecile, but because he is the way he is, he threw you across the room rather than obliterating you where you stood."

That might have been overstating it, but Harry approved of Draco's style. Fitzsimons paled a little, as if the Auror hadn't thought of that.

"Mr Fitzsimons," Dumbledore said and the man's gaze flicked back to the headmaster, "you have been teaching wandless defence to Auror candidates for six years, that is a matter of record. However, the role is part time. All your other activities with the Auror department are restricted. Are you even an Auror?"