The Stolen Child: Prologue

The Stolen Child

Prologue



Draco Malfoy strode down the hallway toward Kingsley Shacklebolt's office. He kept his expression neutral, though he raged inwardly, as he passed various Ministry employees along the way. They didn't need to know his business.

He knocked once, a sharp rap to the wood, and pushed open the door.

Kingsley was sitting at his desk, clearly engrossed in a scroll he was reading. He didn't even look up.

Just as Draco was about to clear his throat, Kingsley spoke. "Yes, Mr Malfoy?" His eyes remained on the scroll.

"I have a problem you must take care of immediately."

"Who sent you?"

Draco started forward, glaring at the man's shiny head. "No one sent me," he said, smoothing a hand over his robes.

Kingsley grunted, but his focus remained on the paperwork in front of him.

"Sir?" Draco said, barely reining in his irritation.

Kingsley gave his attention to Draco. "What's the problem?" He leaned back in his chair.

Draco lifted his chin. "My assignment is unacceptable."

"Unacceptable," Kingsley echoed.

"Yes. I know nothing of Muggles. How can I possibly be of any use?" There. He'd said it in as diplomatic a fashion as possible. Surely Kingsley could read between the lines. He'd even humbled himself.

"It is your expertise on being a wizard that is most needed for this, Mr Malfoy. Your partner's knowledge of Muggles is enough for the both of you. It's a good match."

Draco held back a sneer, but quickly said, "My partner is also unacceptable."

"Have you spoken with Tonks about this?"

"Why should I talk to her?"

"She is your immediate supervisor. I don't have the time to deal with the petty complaints of her team."

Draco felt his face turn red. "My complaint is perfectly valid."

"Mr Malfoy, you are wasting my time, and yours. This assignment is given to all Auror candidates in their third year. I frankly don't care if you don't like it. If you want to become an Auror, you will do it, and you will do it with the partner assigned to you."

"But--"

"And in the future," Kingsley continued as if Draco hadn't spoken, "if you have any problems, take them up with Tonks, not me."

"This is not a good idea," Draco said, despising the tinge of petulance in his tone.

"Mr Malfoy, do you want to be an Auror?"

"Yes!"

"Then we have nothing more to talk about. You have your task."

"Fine. I understand the assignment. I'll do it. But surely my partner can be switched?"

"Why?"

"He and I have a . . . history. We don't get on."

Kingsley sighed. "This is not Hogwarts. You'll have to learn to play nice with everyone."

Draco flushed. "This is more than schoolboy rivalry."

"I suggest you get over it, Malfoy," Kingsley said. "Is there anything else?"

"No," said Draco. He knew he wouldn't get his way.


**


Harry knocked on the door twice, and waited until he heard Kingsley's deep voice reply.

"Enter."

Pushing the door open, Harry shuffled inside. While he considered Kingsley a friend after having worked with him during the war, he also knew Kingsley was his boss and deserved his respect just for that.

"Sir," Harry said, coming to a halt at Kingsley's wide desk. The door fell shut behind him, and Harry made an effort not to flinch. "I need to talk to you."

"Really?" Kingsley leaned back in his seat and gave Harry a curious look, as though he didn't know this was about the assignment Tonks had given Harry.

"Yeah. You see, Tonks said -- "

"If this is about something Tonks said, perhaps you should take it up with her."

"I did," Harry said, just as Kingsley picked up a paperweight shaped like a small Bludger, threw it up in the air and caught it carelessly.

"So why are you here if you took it up with Tonks?" The Bludger was thrown up higher and higher each time, while the smile around Kingsley's lips became more apparent. Harry got the distinct feeling Kingsley was enjoying this.

"Because she didn't agree with me. And now I'd like you to interfere."

"Tonks is your team leader, Potter. If she stepped out of line, I'll happily interfere. Did she?"

"Well, no," Harry said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Or maybe yes. It's about the assignment she gave me."

"The assignment she gave you is the assignment all Aurors in training receive. There is nothing to be done about that."

"I know. And it's not really the assignment that I have a problem with. It's the partner she assigned me."

"Ah," Kingsley said, unsurprised. "Perhaps I should remind you that Malfoy is an Auror candidate just like you are. His grades even surpass yours, I believe."

Harry scowled at that, but quickly looked down to hide it.

"Since you are both working for my department, it's crucial that you two learn to work together. This is only your practical year. After you've both passed it, you'll need to be able to rely on each other out in the field."

"Yeah," Harry sighed. "I get that, but -- "

"No buts." Kingsley sat up in his chair, putting the Bludger down. "Why is this such a problem for you?"

"Because he's..." Harry frowned. How could Kingsley not see what the problem was, honestly? Malfoy was an almost-Death Eater. Granted, he'd never made it to real Death Eater because he'd been hiding like a little coward during the war, but that didn't really matter. "Because he's Malfoy!"

"How observant, Potter. I'm happy to see two years of Auror training hasn't been lost on you so far," Kingsley said, grinning.

Harry scuffed his shoe against a leg of Kingsley's desk in a silent protest. Deep down he knew Tonks and Kingsley were right, of course, but that didn't mean he just had to accept everything they threw at him.

"I suggest you learn how to work with Malfoy, because cooperation is valued highly in this department. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," Harry said, and gave Kingsley a tight nod. Kingsley stared at him for a few moments, and then offered him a smile.

"You are dismissed, Potter."

Harry turned around and left the office. This wasn't how he'd envisioned his third and final year of Auror training. Visiting Muggle parents with Draco bloody Malfoy.

He was doomed.


Chapter 1