[HP] Three thousand days of innocence

Percy, who had been a strict rule-follower before, and probably always would be, told her they couldn't talk casually here. "There are people all around," he said, looking meaningfully at the Muggles chatting and laughing in the street. "We need to find a place to talk privately."

"Then hurry up, I can't help it." Ginny grabbed his hand and walked back to the wizarding embassy the way he came. He retrieved his robe from the locker and handed the return pass to him. the Witch who kept the Portkey.

Seeing the time stamp, the witch raised her eyebrows. "Two hours, all the way from London?" she asked curiously.

"There's a bistro near the Champs-Elysées that we both like." Percy lied easily, and Ginny blinked in surprise. "I'm celebrating my sister's birthday."

"That's wonderful," said the witch, thankfully she had lost interest. "Come on, we still have two places for the next Portkey."

Despite Ginny's best efforts, Percy remained silent until they reached his office back in London.After entering the house, he locked the door and cast a protective spell so that no one could pry.

"So?" Ginny asked impatiently. "What did he say?"

"Lots of things," said Percy, touching his lips thoughtfully. "Wait a moment."

He went to another closet behind the desk and pulled out a complete tea set, and Ginny was agitated while he made tea.He did it on purpose.He knows how important it is.She'd never thought so much about cursing one of her brothers, not even when they were kids and Ron was doing stupid things to her.

"All right," he said finally, setting two steaming cups of tea on the table in front of them. "I have to organize my thoughts."

"If you don't start in five seconds, I swear—"

"Monsieur Chamonix has been very helpful to me," began Percy, sipping his tea. "I told him I was an investigator looking for a missing person and I showed him a picture of Yaxley. He spoke up right away."

"He remembers him," said Ginny eagerly.

"Quite clearly," he replied. "But not from him, but from Draco. Draco used to work in the little restaurant across the street, but he would come to the restaurant in Chamonix every morning to have an omelet and talk about the food. Chamonix was very Loved him, sounds like he still feels bad about Draco leaving, which is probably why he was so mad at you. Draco was there for about five months, and then just left abruptly. While he was there , Yaxley is always hanging around."

Ginny reached for a blank roll of parchment and a quill from his desk.As she took notes, she said, "This was after he left Italy, right? Six years ago?"

"Yes," said Percy. "When Draco was working as an assembly line cook at the Alamode for six weeks, Yaxley showed up, calling himself Owen Richards. Chamonix didn't mention what he was wearing, so I guess he was dressed as He said he was staying in a nearby hotel and was looking for good French food. Draco happened to come for his morning omelet when Chamonix told him about all the best restaurants in Montmartre. Mooney said Yaxley and Draco hit it off."

"It must be." Ginny snorted. "What was Yaxley thinking at the time? He narrowly escaped Hogwarts after the final battle and had been eluding the Ministry of Magic for a year or two. Then suddenly he saw a fellow fugitive He might want to know if Draco has news of any other Death Eaters, or who else has been caught," she said thoughtfully, taking notes. "He's going to wait until they're alone together before asking about the others."

"While Draco has no idea what he's talking about," Percy said, "Yaxley must be confused."

"He'll keep asking," Ginny went on, "but Draco doesn't know anything, doesn't understand what he's talking about. Eventually, Yaxley will realize that Draco doesn't remember anything. Then he Just stay there." Ginny frowned, looking at the parchment in confusion.

"Chamonix says Yaxley came every day for about three weeks," Percy told her. "He hangs around, and when Draco gets off work, they'll talk and drink late into the night."

"What are you talking about?"

Percy laughed. "I asked him the same question and Chamonix said he never eavesdropped. They talked in English and his English wasn't very good. I took a look at him and he finally confessed that they would talk about food but Yaxley was always asking Draco a lot of questions about himself. Chamonix thought he was nosy."

"To determine the extent of his amnesia," Ginny realized.

"I thought so too," Percy agreed. "Whenever Draco asked Yaxley back, Yaxley always told him vaguely that he was a wealthy speculator who was going to invest in a vineyard somewhere in Bordeaux. But, no matter what he asked, Yaxley always managed to get the conversation back on Draco, until Draco finally revealed that he—Chamonix didn't understand the word 'dissociative fugue' because he didn't know how to say it in French , but he knew Draco was traumatized and had amnesia. Draco told Yaxley everything."

"Yaxley left Paris not long after," Ginny guessed.

"Exactly," said Percy coldly. "So Yaxley has known about dissociative fugue for six years, but he's never told anyone. That's not all," Percy pushed forward. "About a year later, when Draco was back in London, Yaxley found Chamonix again and asked him where he was. Chamonix just told him that Draco had left and Yaxley had gone. But he comes back every year or two to inquire about Draco."

"That's why Mr. Chamonix was so unhappy when I went," Ginny said softly. "Yaxley has been bugging him for years."

"Maybe wondering if he still has amnesia?" Percy speculated.

Ginny made some more notes. "Yaxley was calculating and ruthless," she said. "We established years ago that he was very high up in Tom Riddle's ruling circle, that he had planned multiple raids and assaults. Riddle trusted no one and gave him incredible trust. We even looked at Yaxley's results at Hogwarts, he took 11 NEWTs and got Os in all of them."

Percy rolled his eyes. "He probably didn't take Muggle Studies?"

"Must be," said Ginny with a sneer. "What we do know is that - after the Battle of Hogwarts, he ran away, and he found an accomplice who had no memory of his past. He spent the next six years trying to track him down. Draco wasn't either The only target Yaxley was after; we have a couple of other ex-Death Eaters' affidavits, and Yaxley 'checks' them every now and then." Ginny grimaced. "He's planning ahead. He's decided that if he's caught, he's going to get as much information as possible to bring everyone else in."

"He has a medical background, and I wonder why he didn't try to cure Draco's amnesia," Percy said thoughtfully.

Ginny was about to agree when something suddenly occurred to her.Yeah, why didn't Yaxley try to cure his amnesia?She realized right away, because it was in Draco's best interest to forget everything. "Draco can help Yaxley," she murmured. "He has no memory—Percy, of all the Death Eaters tried after the war, only the Malfoys escaped Azkaban."

"Because of Harry's testimony," Percy pointed out, but Ginny ignored it.

"Except for them, everyone else was sentenced," she said. "They were allowed to go about their lives, get their property back and even have their own bank accounts. Others didn't get the same amnesty. Yaxley — Yaxley might be jealous. The Malfoys could start over, And he and the other Death Eaters were either locked up or forced to hide."

"Draco won't remember anything," Percy said slowly, understanding what she meant.

"So if Yaxley insisted that he committed a crime that no one else must have witnessed, no one would know," Ginny said.Her heart was beating so fast it sounded almost chaotic to her. "Yaxley is going to Azkaban anyway, but he can still get revenge on Lucius."

Percy must have seen the hope in her eyes, for he took her hand across the table. "I know all the evidence points to that conclusion," he said quickly, "but I don't think you understand how difficult it is to forge memories. As I told you, only one wizard has ever done it."

"But Harry told me he saw a memory of Slughorn once," insisted Ginny. "He said everything was changed—"

"Excuse me, I know the story," Percy said. "I mean, modifying a memory so there's no doubt about its authenticity. The one we saw looked real." He took her parchment. "Operating on the basis of real memory, the more likely scenario is what you said. Yaxley knew about the dissociative fugue and thought Draco was no threat to him or the other Death Eaters on the run. So he again Started absconding, checked back in Paris occasionally, until he was arrested a few months ago. Yaxley knew he would be raped for a long time, so he tried everything he could to reduce his sentence." Percy hesitated. "This fits perfectly with what we know, especially that Yaxley's lead led to the arrest of Travers and Lestrange. He didn't help the Ministry catch Draco, just because you claimed you had following him."

Ginny leaned back in her chair, forcing herself to continue breathing.When she spoke, her voice was even and calm. "However," she said slowly, "I think the circumstances are enough to cast doubt on the Wizengamot's memory of Yaxley."

"Indeed," Percy admitted.

"That's what I'm going to do," she said. "They need to see a picture of Yaxley and hear Draco's testimony."

Percy glanced up at the clock. "Today is too late," he said. "Even if the case is important, the Wizengamot never stays past six o'clock."

Ginny frowned. "Please tell me you're not serious."

"Very seriously," he said with a smile. "This is true of many respected and prestigious officials - Hiram Kincaid is an example - and they use this to their advantage. They think they worked hard when they were young so they don't have to. worked."

"Oh, Merlin," she said angrily. "I'm going to take my notes home and organize my new argument."

"Good idea," Percy agreed. "Get some sleep, okay? You look like you're going to fall over."

"Okay, Dad," Ginny said jokingly.She kissed her brother on the cheek and gave him a hug before leaving his office and the Ministry.It was cold outside when she got out into the street, and she wrapped herself tightly in her Muggle coat.

Everything is pinned on tomorrow.Kingsley said they were going to announce the verdict the day after tomorrow, but tomorrow was still important.The Wizengamot had spent the afternoon convincing herself that Draco was guilty, and anyway, she had to completely change their decisions and their thinking now.

Ginny walked out onto the sidewalk, changed course on a whim, and slipped into a red phone booth.She put her bag on the floor and looked through the phone book on the counter to find the number and address of The Guardian.Ginny murmured the number and the street, left the phone booth, and ducked into a narrow alleyway, waiting for a double-decker bus to whizz by, drowning her Apparating voice.

Even though it was closing time, the offices of The Guardian were packed, with about half the staff meeting deadlines for the next morning's edition.It was Muggle territory through and through - spacious, post-modern, with no paper airplane memos and owls flying around, no explosions coming from cubicles - and Ginny felt as if she had entered another world.The receptionist downstairs told her that the football department was on this floor, but now that she was here, she found it difficult to find Simon.

Thinking of a way, Ginny walked around the room, and she found that the outer walls were all doors leading to private offices.She knew Simon was the editor, so she figured he was one of those lucky ones, and she did find Simon D. Kincaid's name on an open door.The rest of the door was covered in stickers, rosettes and West Ham FC news clippings, and there were several pictures of Simon, John and Draco at a West Ham game, with their faces painted and holding with beer.

There were other people in his office when she went in. "Dude, you're killing me," Simon said to the young reporter across from him. "Beardsley needs this sidebar for the Manchester United game tomorrow. Redo it and send it to fact-check. I don't want to see it again tonight." The reporter took a stack of paper full of red ink from Simon. , slipped away from her.Simon didn't look up from the boxes in front of him - Ginny remembered they were called computers - but he gestured for her to come in. "I saw you coming." He smiled.

The last time she had seen him he had been in tartan, so it was strange to see him now in a plain white oxford shirt, dark gray trousers, and a teal tie loose around his neck.Just like a normal Muggle.No one doubts that he is the son of the patriarch of a magical family with the ability to see the future.

"Palmer is waiting for us in the dining room," Simon told her.

Ginny smiled sadly. "I should have guessed. Has he already been nagging you about withholding important information from me?"

Simon rolled his eyes, stood up, and grabbed the sports coat draped over the back of the chair."We've had this conversation a billion times," he complained, taking Ginny out of the football department, having his assistant "watch over him in his absence," and returning to the elevator with Ginny . "Palmer knows that I can't tell people everything I foresee." Simon continued after they safely entered the enclosed space of the elevator. "you know too."

"I know," Ginny admitted. "But tomorrow is my last chance to convince the Wizengamot of Draco's innocence. I suppose you already know what I did and where I went today?"

"Yes," Simon nodded.He rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. "Good girl. I know you will. That Frenchie is tough, but your brother is a first-rate diplomat, my cousin Nora told me."

The elevator doors opened on the second floor, and Simon led her through several corridors to a cafeteria similar to the Ministry of Magic.Ginny muttered that she didn't have any Muggle money with her, and Simon waved and said he'd pay.They took some plates of food and found John sitting by the window, looking down at the street below.He greeted them warmly as usual.

"Okay," Simon said, taking a few sips of his coffee. "I know you'll be pissed if I interrupt you, so speak up."

Ginny and John exchanged glances. "I have found new evidence that casts doubt on Yaxley's memory," she said, briefly telling them what she had learned from Mr. Chamonix, mainly, of course. For John. "You once told me that you already know the outcome of the trial, whether Draco will be sent to Azkaban or released," she said to Simon. "I want to know what you foresee."

"Draco is our roommate and friend, Kinzie," John said softly. "You have lived with him under the same roof for many years. When he is frustrated or successful, you have always been by his side, and he treats you the same way. Can you really sit back and do nothing for him?"

"You've told me about the Cassandra curse before, and I totally understand, but this time is different," Ginny said. "I can't accept any outcome other than Draco's freedom, so I must go to the Wizengamot as fully armed as possible. That includes you and what you know."

Simon listened to them in silence, not even trying to interrupt. "I saw this conversation coming," he said when they were finished. "There's a thousand different versions at the same time. I still can't figure out how to actually convince you." He sighed. "I want to help him, my God, I really want to help him. But my part is done. My role is to be a protector, to deliver the little dragon boy to the Lady of Fire. I can't say anything .”

Beside him, John made a disgusted sound and pushed away his food.

"It's all nonsense!" Ginny couldn't help shouting. "He needs all the support you can give him!"

"I did my best," Simon said.His voice was soft, but Ginny noticed that he was gripping his coffee cup tightly. "Everything I foresee," he went on, "even the smallest thing, I have to make a very difficult—" He snorted, "I can't even describe how difficult it is to make a decision, and I need to make decisions every day. I need to ask myself, is this the best outcome for this thing, or are there other options? I need to explore all possible outcomes, look for all possible ways, and decide which one is the best in the long run Watching is the best. Then, I have to ask myself the second question: Can I say something? I shouldn’t say it, but can I say it? Will what I say change what is going to happen?" He told them Hold out your hands pleadingly. "About three months ago, I foresaw what would happen to the little dragon boy." He murmured. "I followed my usual routine and decided not to say anything."

"But you said so," insisted Ginny, "that 'little trouble'—"

"When I saw Ainsley at the hospital," Simon nodded. "That's all I can warn you about, so of course I'll take my chances, even if I doubt myself afterwards. But think about it: what else have I done for you?"

Ginny leaned forward to list all the things he had told her in the past.

She found none at all.

"You see, you can get this far without my help." Simon said seriously. "Xiaolong boy is so lucky to have someone like you by his side."

"But the scrapbook—" John said.

"Draco remembered that vile Death Eater without any help," Simon told him. "I knew Ginny was going to need that scrapbook, so I just asked you to get it to him early so it'd be in the Ministry by then." He bit his thumbnail irritably, looking up into the dining room The others in the room, Ginny looked over.Around them, the resting Guardian staff chattered and laughed, minding only the work they had to do and the threads of the news story.

"You," Simon said.Immediately Ginny felt the atmosphere tense up.She knew how distraught he was now, because his temper was out of control and his magical nature was affected.He was getting closer and closer to the trance he had been in at St. Mungo's. "Do you know how much I envy you?" he said to her, frowning. "A damn travel scrapbook! And you, standing in front of the damn Wizengamot—" He leaned forward. "I didn't lie on the witness stand," he whispered to her, dark eyes shining. "I love Draco Malfoy like a brother, and if my life could save him, I'd give it unconditionally. But no, I'll just sit in my nice Muggle office and report the goddamn football game, lying to all our friends that he was in the hospital with meningitis while my best friend was rotting in jail."

He leaned back in the chair and John put his hands on his shoulders. "Life is so unfair, Ginny," said Simon angrily. "But I've accepted my burden, just as you've accepted yours. That's it, honey. I'm sorry." He took her hand and John's hand each. "I'm sorry," he said again. "I'm very sorry."

"Then I'll go alone," Ginny said slowly. "I face the Wizengamot myself with what I have."

"It's you, dear," said Simon. "You and the little dragon boy are going to be the enemy of the world."

Interestingly, this whole thing is no different than it was before.Instead of Apparating to give herself time to think, Ginny took the subway back to her apartment, thinking things hadn't changed.At Hogwarts, she had big dreams.She will do big things, travel the world, change the world.People would remember her not as another Weasley, but as Ginny Weasley, a remarkable witch.At the time, these dreams seemed within reach and could be achieved with a little effort.As an Auror, before she realized how unhappy her job was, she always told herself that the next case would define her career, the next case, or the next one.

She has come this far now.Seven years after leaving Hogwarts, she finally knew what she wanted.However, all this seems to be out of her reach.

Because Ginny noticed that Simon's tone of voice was a little worrying.He said he knew what was going to happen to Draco and she had no reason not to believe him.No matter how he hides it, knowing how the story ends affects his reactions and tone.Ginny had learned that in Auror class; guilt would always show in a person's tone or face.It's almost impossible to hide.

Ginny was worried, because from Simon's tone, it looked like she and Draco were going to lose.