“I kop you from w,” Felix offered, “but we have leads on the ase. We won’t stop until we’ve found her.”
“Thank you,” Pansy offered him half a smile. She gathered herself and stood to leave. “I’m stayiyl. Please keep me updated.”
“We will,” Felix nodded.
“Ouh!” Harry swatted Ron’s hand off his shoulder.
As soon as he’d smmed the door shut, Ron’s fae flushed red. “Harry, mate. What in Godri’s hink y?”
“Me?” Harry appealed. “I havehing! If you’d gotten my message, you’d knoened.”
“Clearly I haven’t. S to have to expin it to me.” Harry took a breath ahe evey four hours. He left , exept the sehe fourteenth floor. While it weighed on him, Harry was sure whatever it was had o any of the ases, let alo reassure Ron, tehnially his ha all of Harry’s mental faulties were still intat. “So let me see if I uand this,” Ron said finally. “You’ve been fired from your j in on Marwan Zivantus’ murder seo somehow disover his missihat night? And—” Ron gazed around wildly, “—whilst you were the kneazle and saw Marwan’s daughter, someone killed yhbor while they were in your ft, whih you and Drao bloody Malfoy had only just vaated.”
“I know it sounds—”
“You’ve gotta dith Eversworn,” Roed.
Harry frowned. “No, really, I ahe only way iel.”
&her ways, Harry. That fae is more a liability now tha.”
Harry wao objet. But he knew Rht. “I swear Malfoy khahis me, er, Everswht be the only ostuted. Ron shook his head and Harry sighed. “Fihe disappoi of wastihs ohing only to fail made him a bit sik. He eyed a desk hair a forward. Whe, he shot Ron a lnatioeh lied his harms said it would be more paihem removed than put on, and suddenly Harry regretted giving in so easily.
“This is going to hurt, isn’t it?” Harry gulped.
Ron nodded and handed him a vial filled with a milky hartreuse potion. Harry dow and waited. His fae began to feel very hot, alm. Theiion hit him and he squeezed his eyes losed. It was as if thousands of pimples were being popped ohe brief agony of that was followed by something ool and light. Harry opened his eyes ahe prosthetis had slid off his fae and onto the floor, and a old, ion washed over him as the air kissed his real skin.
“Alright, Harry?”
“Yeah,” he ran his hands through his hair. “Rest in peae, Arhie.”
&rouble thah,” Ron said.
&ed the building at a brisk pae, Harry eager to get away from the iigators and Ron ompining about needing lunh. They headed to a small afe that was out of the way of the more heavily traffiked wizard areas. When Harry fihe sun ohe odd warmth made him shudder. He was ertaihe sun ohe harms, but somehow they’d left his skin feeling so inredibly old.
“Alright?” Ron looked over as they walked.
Harry nodded. “Yeah, it’s just the harms wearing off I guess.”
““Mione said she thio put a time limit on them. Says she doesn’t trust that the harm woually bond ti.” Ron stopped and grabbed Harry’s shoulder. “agiuk as Arhie Eversworn?”
& made Harry sik. Or was it his stomah? Harry hadn’t realized how huhey fihe afe and ordered sandwihes. When Harry asked after Hermione, Roe pale.
“I’m arted a projet for the Department of Mysteries a seen muh of her sine.”
Harry nodded. He khe two previous projets Hermione had worked oment of Mysteries that Ro was all he was goihe subjet. Merlin, that robably all Ron even knew and he was eo her. “I saw Gio the provisional national team,” Harry said through a mouthful of ham sandwih.
Ron dropped his drink. “What? Where?”
& had it yesterday m.”
“,” Rohey’re annouomorrow.” Harry wasn’t sure how he ould be mistake was a list of potentials,” Ron finally offered.
Harry’s frown deepeared at the table. The artile was i in his dirty pants bak at his ft. “Maybe.”
&hio his mind just then. Harry put down his sandwih and sat bak in his hair. He ouldn’t stop himself from thihing odd ening to him, but he ouldn’t put his fi exatly it was. Roed his thoughts.
“I know you’re worried about this Ziva you should leave it to the professionals, Harry.”
The simple impliation that Harry to the task unspooled his anger. “I am a professional! I’m an auror just like you, just like them.” Harry realized his voie had risen, ao rein himself bak ily, he poi, “Besides, they’d rather hase down flimsy leads like Arhie Eversworn than atually try to solve their ase.”
Ron shoved a hip in his mouth. “I spent a lot of time with them this m. They’re not as daft as you’d think.” Harry sent him a look he hoped showed his disbelief. “Alright, Harry. Why dohe hotel after lu? I have aess to the rime sene.”
“No,” Harry wihere’s no reasoo see that horrifi mess again.”
&here anythin