Lost And Found

REAL AND SURREAL (Part 1)

Harry Potter was rushing through the corridors of the Auror Office in a fast pace and yet, he was nowhere near to beat his mind from travelling faster. Many unknown scenarios were playing and replaying inside his over-imaginative brain and each scenario was scarier than the previous one.

"Please, for Marlin's shake, at least let him be alive! What would I say to Hermione, how would face their children, if Draco Malfoy dies under my custody?" Harry prayed fervently.

It felt like forever when he finally reached the room where Draco was transported to after being rescued from the attack. Inside the room, there were four make shift beds and those were occupied by an unconscious Malfoy and three Aurors respectively. From the other occupants of the room, it was evident that all four of them were being supervised by Healers while at least ten Aurors were guarding the room.

Harry soon found the Auror who had sent him the Patronus. Hurrying to that young Auror, Harry asked, "Sheldon, what is going on here? How on earth had such important interrogation been ambushed?"

"Ambushed?" Exclaimed Auror Sheldon, "I wouldn't use that term in the present case."

Harry could barely hide his astonishment before saying, "Well, what is it then, please do enlighten me."

"Sir, no one came from outside, no one broke into the interrogation room. Mr Malfoy was attacked by one of the interrogating Aurors, to be more specific, the in charge of the interrogation, Auror Dalton Tewksbury."

"What!!!!"

Harry couldn't believe his own ears.

"Are you sure of what you are saying? Do you know the gravity of the accusations you are placing on a fellow Auror?"

"Sir, I can understand your reaction. It is exactly similar to that of all of us. None of us could believe it. But, he was caught red handed torturing Mr Malfoy with an Unforgivable."

Harry gestured him to continue.

"Well, sir, the other two Aurors present at the interrogation, initially tried to stop Auror Tewksbury from attacking Mr Malfoy. But he stunned both of them. Then, we don't know how long he had been torturing Mr Malfoy, but at length, one of these two Aurors gained consciousness and activated the alerting system for immediate reinforcement. Almost ten of us, including me, rushed there with our wands raised, fully prepared to take down Mr Malfoy from disempowering the Aurors. But, instead, we found him writhing on the ground as Auror Tewksbury just started to utter the.... the killing curse...."

There was an electrifying silence in the room where the faint sounds of the movements of the healers seemed to come from some other dimension of consciousness.

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose, in a failed attempt to prevent the growing headache. First the news of Jean, then Malfoy almost being killed - with all the workloads of his office and personal life, he started to feel really tired. But his fiercely protective nature for his loved ones didn't let him take a moment of respite.

So, assuming the Head of the Auror tone, he asked, "What has been known so far about this unnatural behaviour of Auror Tewksbury? And what are the extends of injuries in Mr Malfoy?"

"Sir, till now both of them are unconscious, Auror Dalton being hit by Stunning spells by almost ten Aurors at the same time and Mr Malfoy being tortured for a prolonged period. The Healers are examining them."

Harry didn't say anything more. He sent a Patronus to Hermione informing her that Malfoy was safe and waited for the Healers to finish their examination.

At length the Healers were done with the patients and they came to give the report to the Head of the Aurors. According to them, there was sign of Imperius curse on Dalton Tewksbury. The Healers, with ninety nine percent surety, could tell that the Auror was Imperioed to attack Draco Malfoy. They would be fully sure of it after Dalton gained consciousness. But, about Malfoy, they said that they couldn't predict much before he woke up or if he actually woke up at all. All of his vitals were giving alarming value at that time as a result of being under the Cruciatus curse for a long time just few minutes ago. Hopefully, with time his vitals would start to come down to normal. Rejuvenating spells and potions were already applied on him for his speedy recovery. The most important reason to be hopeful was that Malfoy was at the prime of his youth and of excellent health. There was a fare chance that his body would fight and win against the after effects of the curse. But, of he didn't gain consciousness within next twenty four hours, he would have to be shifted to St Mango's.