That night, after scarfing down the remains of the Chinese takeout that Bellatrix had bought when it had become clear that Harry wouldn't be home in time to cook dinner, Harry returned to the familiar pub in Knockturn Alley.
Upon entering, Harry instantly sensed that the atmosphere was different than it had been during his previous visits. The barkeep was clearly doing his level best to avoid eye contact with anybody inside of his pub. Those who were typically rowdy were acting quite subdued. Frowning, Harry glanced around for his standby buddy, Thorpe.
Spotting Thorpe huddled in a booth, Harry made his way over and sat down, signaling the barkeep that he'd like ale. "What's the latest?" Harry, using the persona of Big D, muttered in a scratchy voice.
"Not much," Thorpe grunted. He nodded over to another corner of the pub where a pair of wizards clad in dark robes were speaking in low tones to one of the more disagreeable pub regulars. "Recruiting."
Harry arched his eyebrows to visually show a response to Thorpe's comments. He felt a small rush of adrenaline as he realized that this could be his change to come into contact with the Death Eaters who were recruiting people to look for him.
"What kind of recruiting?" Harry asked quietly.
Thorpe shrugged. "Couldn't say," he observed. "Time to go home, I think." With that, he stood and tossed a sickle on the table to cover his tab before leaving.
The barkeep brought over Harry's ale and then retreated back behind the bar into blissful ignorance.
Harry sat alone with a bemused expression on his face as he contemplated Thorpe's early departure from his night at the pub. He was just about to push the ale tankard away when a shadow fell over the table. Harry glanced up and found himself looking into the face of Rabastan Lestrange.
"Big D, is it?" Rabastan said.
"Yes," answered Harry coolly, sticking to the persona he had created for himself when visiting the pub. Furtively, he glanced over to where now only one wizard in a dark robe was speaking to the disagreeable pub patron.
Rabastan sat down, attempting to do so in a manner that suggested he was tougher than Harry. However, Harry could sense that the young Death Eater was extremely nervous. "Heard you did some time in Azkaban."
"I did," Harry said, reaching for the ale and taking a swig.
"Those dementors are pretty tough creatures," Rabastan said.
"Uh-huh," Harry said, eyeing Rabastan impatiently.
Harry's impatience goaded Rabastan into action. "My friends and I are looking for a wizard. If you have some time and an inclination to earn some gold, we'd like to have your help."
"I see," Harry said. "What happens when this wizard is found, pray tell?"
"Nothing. That's when the job is over for you. You find him and then summon us."
"Sounds easy enough."
"It is," Rabastan said, gaining a measure of confidence. He withdrew a card from his pocket and handed it to Harry. "This is the bloke."
Harry accepted the card and found that his picture was on it. The picture was a reproduction from the Daily Prophet article detailing his heroics in Diagon Alley from around the time he had arrived in the past.
"His name is Harry Ashworth. He's been avoiding public notice of late, but seeing that he is a wizard, it isn't exactly easy for him to avoid Diagon Alley. Keep an eye out. If you spot him, follow him, but do not confront him. You can tap your wand to the card and we'll come and give you gold for locating him. Simple enough?"
Harry nodded. "It is simple, but shouldn't you be trying beyond Diagon Alley? You might have more success."
Rabastan shrugged. "If you think you can trace him outside of Diagon Alley, be my guest. All I can say is that the gold goes to whoever finds him first."
"Right," Harry said, pocketing the card. "I'll keep a lookout wherever I go. He won't miss my notice."
.....
You didn't say that we were going to go meet some crazy auror," Bellatrix growled as she and Harry stood next to the tube station where Harry and Moody had originally met after Harry's discharge from Hogwarts. Bellatrix was dressed in an expensive Muggle dress and had done her hair up using the hair ornament that had brought Harry to the past.
"Does it matter?" Harry asked. "Dinner is dinner."
"I thought it was a date."
"It can be a date," Harry replied absently, looking in the crowds passing by them for any sign of the auror. He wanted to spot Moody before Moody spotted him, even though Moody clearly had the advantage.
"No it can't, not if there's some auror watching us the whole time!" Bellatrix retorted.
"Why do we need to have dates?" Harry asked. "If I want to marry you, all I have to do is sign the contract. It saves me the trouble of courtship. I don't know why I was so uncomfortable with the contract idea. It actually saves me quite a bit of effort."
"You know, I could slap you," Bellatrix said.
....
Join my P@treon and get 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/0LordSilvere0 (Remove the *)
Free members get 5 chapters free.
Join Right Now