Bad [Harry Potter Fanfiction] (Bad Series: 1)

12 | Perfect Opportunity

"Damn," he whispered. He was a fool. He should've realized it sooner, but he'd been so caught up in the plan and the need to catch the thief. He got ahead of himself.

"Potter? What's wrong?" Kingsley asked.

Harry looked up to see the small group watching him. He cleared his throat, pushing his glasses up. Time to fess up. He explained.

No one spoke at first.

"Are you sure?" Ron asked, looking over Harry's shoulder at what remained of the crowd. "I mean, now seemed as good a time as any."

"The ball's better," Sharp added. "More people in an enclosed space."

Harry nodded.

"Let's discuss this in my office." Kingsley nodded towards the lifts.

The President waves at the smaller group and a few witches blushed, waving back and giggling. Harry caught Jack rolling his eyes.

"Let's go, Mr. President," the man said, lying a hand on his back and steering him away from the crowd.

"Don't be a spoilsport, Jack," the President told him.

That made Harry smile. Jack simply clicked his tongue but kept moving.

Once in the lift, the four of them stood in front of the Minister and President.

"Do you drink, Potter?" Jack asked.

"Jack," The President started.

"It's a simple question," Jack mumbles, crossing his arms.

"Why?" Harry asked, frowning. Sometimes the American said the oddest things.

"Drinking with someone can tell you a lot about them."

Harry eyebrows rose. Did it really?

"You don't drink?" Jack asked a moment later.

"Who doesn't?" Ron asked.

"We can meet in Potter's office later tonight," Sharp said as the doors opened, the floor announced. He stepped out, leading the Minister and the President. Ron followed. Harry and Jack flanked them.

"He doesn't say much, does he?" Jack whispered after a few minutes.

"Sharp?" Harry asked, grinning. "A man of a few words."

*               *               *

The three Aurors left the Minister's office, off to their work, leaving Jack with the President and the Minister. His gaze followed Jackson Sharp until he disappeared. Sighing, he shut the door and turned back to the office. The two men were talking, but his boss' eyes kept darting towards him every few minutes.

Time to go, he thought, running his hands down his trousers. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to check on my Aurors. I'll be back. Let me know if you need me." He slipped out before either of them could reply. Once out in the hallway, he rubbed his hands together and looked both ways, trying to remember the map in his mind. A few people passed by, but none stopped to chat. Lovely. Okay, if he turned left, he was pretty sure it'd lead him to the lifts then from there he'd go to the second level.