A Memory Of Shadows

10 - Department of Mistrust

"I assure you, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Fitzroy and I are perfectly trustworthy and able..." Robards tried, but Draco cut him off. The nerve this man had to interrupt a high-ranking Ministry official. "Thank you, Mr. Robards. I still prefer to keep this as private as possible. The less people know about the measures of security set up to protect Miss Yaxley, the better. And seeing as Mr. Fitzroy here has a tendency to upset Miss Yaxley further and further rather than help," he glared at him, "I think Potter and we will be perfectly fine. Of course, your time is to valuable to waste on us. I am sure you will be updated promptly by your Auror anyway." Robards looked as skeptical as Fitzroy looked angry. "I do not plan to undermine your authority, Mr. Robards. I only want this to be handled delicately." Ugh, that was too smooth, Verin felt bile rising in her throat, a quick grin hushing across her lips as she saw Potter trying to suppress a grin himself. It was hard to argue with Draco when he got into his negotiating moods. A couple of arguments thrown back and forth, and both Head Auror and Auror agreed to leave under the pretense to get full information later. Just as Draco trusted Potter, Robards and Fitzroy seemed to as well. More, it seemed like they did not want to lose Potter's trust. They circled around him like moths to light, as if his past lead him to conclusions others did not see. He had been wronged before, no one seemed to want to tread on that path again.

The moment the door closed on the Head Auror and Auror Fitzroy, Potter raised his wand to muffle the sound to outsiders. Verin finally relaxed against her chair.

"I had not thought you to be this skilled in Legilimency, Potter," she smiled. She had expected it to be Draco wanting in on her thoughts. Surprised to hear Potter instead, it had taken a lot of her not to react and blow their cover. "I had not thought you to be more trustworthy than him," the man replied, clearly meaning Fitzroy. „He is a good man." He defended him still. "We were all good once, before things changed," Verin replied, her characteristic soft and quiet voice reemerging. It was easier to guard herself with only the three of them here.

Draco looked between them, his cool façade crumbling slowly. He was still angry and disgusted by what had unfolded. Rather than confronting her about the secret she had kept from him like she had expected him, though, he too focused on the attacks and threat mail.

"So, we agree? Pansy and Graham's death might have been an inside job?"

"I cannot parade around suspicions without proof or blowing my cover, Malfoy. Besides, this are delicate information. You do not have access to them."

"I don't need access to them to know ten unconscious Aurors with no memory and a blown-up house with destroyed magical wards and two people dead is fishy business, Potter."

Potter looked at Verin instead of answering Draco. "What was he thinking that made you freak out on him like this?"

"Look who's talking, Little Miss Death Eater" Draco clenched his fist as Potter paled beneath his glasses. "That two -faced bas-" Draco cursed under his breath. He seemed about ready to storm out and confront Fitzroy. It was less about defending her than defending his own honour, she supposed. After all, he too had been one. A Death Eater.

"It's fine, Draco. I am used to be insulted by others. So are you. He just caught me off guard." Thrice. She reached for his clenched fist and he relaxed it so she could take it. Verin wondered if that was weird, them touching so much. A past like theirs did something to people and they had both been so alone in such horrible situations. Maybe even Draco changed. Not properly interacting with people in the past five years had messed with her social abilities as well. Verin's filter telling her what to say or do was misplaced.

Potter watched them silently, a curious look on his face. "Still, we cannot move forward and improve our relationships with people.... like you.... when we show as much unfiltered hostility towards others as Voldemort and the Death Eaters did," he tried. That was something they all agreed on. There has been too much done out of unfiltered hate already. Verin let go of Draco, who had reluctantly and with a forced breath leaned back again. "You are too soft, Potter. One day your impulse to save everyone will fire backwards." Potter looked up from his file. "So far I have no regrets, Malfoy. It saved your ass from Azkaban alright. "

Okay, or maybe no one here had changed since she had been locked up and they had all were stuck in their teenage years. "I still don't like you, Potter." -"Likewise," Both Verin and Draco rolled their eyes, before the men shared a mutual, rare grin. Their dynamic was stage-ready entertaining. "Can we please speed this up? I don't want to spend my entire day surrounding by bickering, angry men," Verin grew tired of this time-consuming back and forth. She just wanted to sit somewhere in peace and not handle anyone. Potter nodded, his attention back on her file.

"I still have to do your monthly evaluation and questioning with you, though, before we move on to our further proceedings" he said, "I won't even try to argue with you, Malfoy, but technically you are not allowed to be present. Just to be clear." Draco shrugged and looked at Verin inquiringly. It was her call to make. She didn't mind, actually preferred him to know what was going on.