Adrian Devrat Pucey (adrian_pucey) wrote in rodrian, @ 2008-01-21 13:46:00 |
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Healer Sanford's words are in green.
Subject: Roger Allen Davies' words are in blue.
Healer Alan Bates in brown.
Present as witnesses were Clotilda May Fagshot and Earnest P. York.
Begin record. Who is the greatest wizard of all time?
Define great.
Give him another dose.
Sodding Ravenclaws.
Language Alan.
(pause)
Who is the greatest wizard of all time?
Albus Dumbledore.
Ha! Five sickles! I told you he wouldn't say Merlin!
Roger, I know we all must discipline small children. Have you ever hit your son Robert?
Yes.
(pause)
Please explain.
Thank you. I got home after a 14 hour shift. Remember the bridge collapse in Derby? Anyway, I got home and Robert had his sister under the shower. I thought he was trying to drown her and popped his bottom. Later, after I'd got them both sorted out, I found out he'd been trying to wash her. Her diaper was full of stool and all. He was 4. She was 2.
(pause)
And in whose care were they while you were at the hospital?
Their mother's of course. The nanny had gone home by then... Yes, I think we could still keep a nanny back then.
And why hadn't she changed the diaper?
She was asleep when I got there. I don't remeber what her excuse was, but she'd been drinking and had taken a dreamless sleep potion. I took the children to my mother's so I could go back to work six hours later. I think it was two more days before the Lethifold showed up to take them back.
Lethifold? What's that?
The technical term for the mother of my children.
(pause)(laughter)
He's bloody serious.
Quiet. Roger... have you ever hit Robert any other time.
No.
Have you ever hit your daughter Rosa Lynne?
No.
How did Robert obtain the bruise he had today?
I haven't the foggiest.
Why did you assume the worst and bring him here?
Well, I'd been expecting something like this to happen ever since I moved out, and she'd kept the children home from school today, so I knew she was depressed. That's when she's angriest and meanest... and craziest... when she's depressed. That's when she used to attack me, anyway -
Stop.
(pause)
You expected your ex-wife to attack your children?
I... feared it, yes.
And yet you left them in her care.
I NEVER LEFT THEM IN HER CARE! THE COURT TOOK THEM FROM ME AND GAVE THEM TO THAT FUCKING BITCH DEVIL LETHIFOLD!
Stop.
(pause)
Roger. You said she used to attack you. Describe the nature of those attacks.
Oh. Hexes, curses, anything really. It was when she started using the butcher knife in front of the children and I nearly died one night that I knew I had to leave.
You say she attempted to murder you?
I didn't say that.
(pause)
You said you nearly died from her attack.
Yes.
And yet you didn't call Magical Law Enforcement.
To tell them what precisely?
That your wife had attacked you with a butcher knife in front of the children!
And prove it how?
(pause)
But the mark... you said the children witnessed it...
Ah, but an expert Healer leaves no mark and I of course am an expert Healer. And you can bloody well bet that after I'd petrified her, I Healed myself! As for the children, they'd just seen their mother nearly kill their father, and you want them choosing who to love? And who to rat out to the Hit Wizards? Robert was FOUR THEN! YOU WANT ME TO HAND A FOUR YEAR OLD OVER TO YOU LOT OF INCOMPETENT PLUME PUSHERS? NOT ON MY LIFE! I -
Stop.
(pause)
So you petrified your wife? The mother of your children? What other hexes did you use on her?
Stupefy.
What else did you use on her?
(pause)
Nothing. Just those.
And what did she use on you?
Oh you name it and she cast it on me. I was forever casting protego on myself. Itchy spells, rashes and boils hexes, fire spells, water spells to try to drown me in my sleep, Imperio, which I quickly learned to resist. She tried Crucio too, I-
Stop.
(pause)
You mean to say your wife practiced dark magic on you and you never told anyone?
I told plenty of people in the Ministry and the court, but they all said I was just trying to get out of paying child support.
Roger, why did you marry Morgana?
She was pregnant.
But you'd decided to have a child, correct, even though you were not yet wed?
Not at all. She finited the contraceptive charm I'd used on myself.
And yet you married and had another child.
It wasn't until she'd done it the second time that I allowed myself to believe she could do something so... selfish. I... tried to love her... the first go round...
When did she start... hexing you?
Not until she wanted sex, four months after Rosa Lynne was born, and I refused.
You refused?
And she hadn't wanted sex before?
I refused. And, no, she stopped wanting sex as soon as she was pregnant. Which was fine. But it took me until the second pregnancy to realize what she'd done, and at that point I was not going to play along anymore. She only wanted sex to get pregnant... to get my money... and the court's given it to her, haven't they?
Your divorce case was supremely lacking in the news media, Roger. How was that?
My father paid the Prophet to keep it out. I imagine he'll be paying again now, won't he?
Is there anything you'd like to say to us? To the court?
Yes. Please help get my children away from that madwoman. I'm their father. I love them both more than life itself. I'd do anything for them. I want them with me where I know they'll be safe and taken are of and brought up properly.
*
"Pucey!" Adrian looked up from the file he was reading and leaned back so he could look over at the open door into his superior's office.
It'll be yours soon enough.
The tone indicated his presence was desired, at once.
Carefully, Adrian closed the file and put it back into the stack it came from. Only then he rose from his chair and walked calmly to the office. He remained in the door opening.
"Come in, come in! I have something for you, that might interest you. Shut the door." The head of Aurors gestured for Adrian to come in and sit down.
When Adrian had seated himself, a file was pushed across the table towards him.
"You went to Hogwarts with Roger Davies, didn't you?"
Adrian glanced at the file that held the insignia of St. Mungo's. Had he failed his medical check up after all? What was Davies up to?
"Yes, I did, Sir. He was also the healer who performed my Physical examination on Friday."
"Yes, yes, I know. He and his former wife have come under investigation concerning their children. Child neglect and abuse ... violence. Bad thing." the man tutted and shook his head.
Roger Davies, neglecting and hitting his children? That's got to be a joke... But he knew better than to express his personal views, when faced with a case he very much wanted to take care of. He couldn't believe Davies would do something like that.
He could've fooled you... But why? And why should he care?
"I see. Do you wish me to investigate the case? He'll know me, but Friday was the first time since school, that we have met." Adrian decided the truth was best.
"Very good. You are the only Auror available for this sort of case at the moment. If you wish to pass it to another Auror at a later time, it can be arranged."
Adrian nodded and took the file.
"I doubt that will be necessary." With that he rose from the chair.
"You will find a transcript of a Verita interview with Mr. Davies, along with a report on the son's, Robert Davies, condition and all the personal information you will need to investigate this matter."
"Thank you, Sir." Adrian left the office and sat down in his cubicle again.
He opened the file and started reading, expression turning more and more grim at what he was learning. He needed to speak with Davies as soon as possible. The man had most likely left St. Mungo's by now, but finding the residence in Ottery St. Catchpole wouldn't be difficult.
And if Davies wasn't home, Adrian would wait for him.
Adrian read the rest of the file, then put it in his personal warded cabinet. He had no wish to share this information with anybody else.
15 minutes later he stood outside Davies' door, and rang the bell.
*
"Get your feet off the table!" Rhiannon's voice was exasperated.
Roger raised a brow.
Well, at least that's some reaction, she thought to herself.
"Come into the kitchen. You've got to eat something!" she tried again.
"I haven't got to do anything," Roger spoke for the first time in hours. His eyes were bloodshot. He hadn't slept much at all since Friday night... when the Ministry took his children into protective custody. He sat, slumped down into his couch as far as he could go without slipping off to the floor.
[Stupid little shit,] his mother swore in Gaelic.
That earned her a bark of laughter. Roger was amazed. She never used foul language. He didn't even know that she knew any.
Just then the doorbell rang. Roger didn't twitch. Rhiannon threw her arms in the air and went to answer it. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Auror robes. "Yes?" she inquired sharply.
*
Adrian looked at the woman's face, and if he wasn't much mistaken, this was a close relative. Older sister? Mother?
"Auror Pucey. I'm here to speak with Mr. Roger Davies." Adrian's expression was neutral, but his voice didn't hold the usual sharpness. Even he could hear that.
*
Pucey? Wasn't he the snot when they were in school together?
Rhiannon's expression didn't grow any warmer. "May I see some identification?"
NO one liked to see Aurors in their official capacity.
*
"Of course." Adrian was prepared for that request. He held up his right hand, and flipped open the small wallet holding the charmed golden badge that identified him as Auror. In unauthorised hands, it would fade to a dull grey. Next to it sat his Identification card with a picture, his name and rank.
*
Rhiannon held her hand out for the shiny badge. When it faded to dull grey, she returned it, satisfied that it was legitimate.
"I'll see if he'll see you. Wait here please." She shut the door and stepped through the tiny foyer to the living room where Roger hadn't moved from his awful slump on the couch.
"It's an Auror to see you Roger. You're in no fit shape. Shall I tell him to come back tomorrow?"
"Are you kidding?" Roger said, struggling up. He set the half empty bottle of Ogdens Firewhiskey on the coffee table. "Anyone we know?"
"Pucey."
"Pucey?" Dear god! Roger ran his hand through his hair, suddenly conscious that he must look and smell like shite. He accioed his wand and began a few quick grooming spells.
"Shall I tell him to send someone else?"
"No. That's all right. I had lunch with him Friday. Mother. Go home! Go fuss over Dad! He's pining for you."
Again, she threw her hands in the air and began cursing in Gaelic, but went to usher Adrian in.
*
Adrian waited patiently, not really listening to the faint voices he could hear through the closed door. Well, Davies didn't really have a choice, whether he wanted to see Adrian or not. This wasn't a lunch appointment.
When the door opened again, he followed the woman inside. His senses were instantly overwhelmed by the scents of food. Good ... home-cooked ... food. Adrian's mouth watered and he had to swallow.
Gods, how the hell am I going to concentrate like this?
Adrian met Davies' eyes, when he entered the livingroom.
"Davies." He nodded lightly.
*
"Good evening Auror Pucey," Roger said, enunciating clearly. "Are you here about my son?"
Rhiannon disappeared into the kitchen. She'd been cooking all day, as was her wont when there was stress in the family.
*
"Good evening. Yes, I'm here about your children. I've been put in charge of the investigation." Adrian was certain he could smell whiskey, and a glance at the table confirmed that.
"I've read the transcript of the Veritaserum interview at St. Mungo's. Do you have anything to add to that?" Adrian couldn't understand how on earth Davies could've stayed with a woman like that. And why!
The children, stupid. Since when have fathers ever recieved custody over the children?
*
In charge? One of my worst enemies at Hogwarts... in charge? Dear Brigid, it just keeps getting better and better...
"Um, not really," Roger began. "I'm happy to clarify any points."
He really didn't know where to begin.
Just then, Roger's mother returned to the living room.
His eyes are turning blue, Rhiannon noticed, gazing at her son. She looked over to the Auror who seemed genuinely concerned, then back at her son. His eyes had been black since Friday night. She knew it was an effect of the mood glamour he wore on them, but she'd never seen them that black color and it scared her, and so she'd hung around almost constantly all weekend. She didn't know what the deep cobalt meant either, but it had to be better than black.
"Am I to stay or go?" she asked.
"Go home!" Roger snapped irritably.
"I'll leave when you eat!" She snapped right back. "Auror Pucey surely you'd enjoy a nice homecooked meal. Maybe if you eat, he'll eat too."
Roger rolled his eyes, then looked to the Auror. "If you're hungry, feel free. She's made enough for the whole Ministry!"
"Come on then!" Rhiannon waved both boys into the kitchen and began setting out plates full of hot food and glasses full of cold apple juice.
*
It could only be the mother then, judging from the interaction Adrian listened to, silently awaiting his turn.
But then there was the offer of food. Homecooked food, that smelled mouthwateringly good. Food of the likes he hadn't enjoyed for ... months.
And he was on duty, so it wouldn't really be proper. But who would know? Who would care? And he was starving, as usual. Adrian met Davies' eyes, then followed the woman to the kitchen.
"Thank you, Mrs Davies ... I appreciate your offer." He forced himself to NOT look at the food, smiling politely at the woman.
*
Roger stalked into the kitchen and threw himself into a chair. He sat there sullenly glaring at the food.
It did smell good.
And he really ought to drink something other than firewhiskey. With a sigh, he drained his juice and then began poking at the meat, potatoes, salad, stuffed mushrooms, and fresh buttered bread.
"Please, eat all you can and take the rest with you," Roger said pointedly to Adrian. He'd told his mother not to bother, that he wasn't hungry.
How could he eat, when...?
The fork bent in his hand. When he noticed, he very gently laid it down and put his hands in his lap.
"Do you have questions for my mother, or perhaps you want to interview her separately?"
*
Adrian's eyes flicked down to the bent fork Davies put down. A lot of repressed emotions and reactions right there, below the surface. He wondered if and when those would come out, as his eyes once more returned to the man's face.
"I think a separate interview would be better. I will contact you through owl, Mrs. Davies, and we can arrange a time that suits you?" he looked up at the woman to get confirmation.
*
Very well then. Just make sure he eats something!" Rhiannon gathered up a hamper full of food and left, muttering in Gaelic under her breath.
Roger smiled. She was really a wonderful mother... and grandmother...If only things had been different...
Well, he looked at Adrian. Things might get very different now. Hopefully for the better once the dust cleared.
Roger's eyes continued to get more and more blue.
"Please, enjoy your meal."
*
"I'll do my best, Mrs. Davies." But the look on Davies' face and those ... startling blue eyes, wasn't very promising in that concern.
They weren't that blue on Friday. Were they even blue then? Could the man be using a charm on them?
"You should eat as well," Adrian replied, a small smile on his lips. It was important to get Davies to relax. The man was wound up tighter than a spring.
*
Roger shot Adrian a doubtful look then picked up his fork and bent it straight again and then used it to stab a bite and begin chewing.
It was rather good. He ate a slice of bread slathered in butter in silence.
"There's chocolate pie in the coldbox." He smiled ruefully at Adrian.... er, Auror Pucey. "So how's the Auror business this week?"
*
Certain that Davies would eat, Adrian started eating as well, first picking out an absolutely delicously looking stuffed mushroom.
The first bite was heaven, the next even better. Circe ... he wanted to eat this every day. He wondered where Davies' mother lived.
"The Auror business is slow this week, but I'm sure it'll pick up soon enough." He took another bite, relishing the wonderful flavours.
He decided to wait a little longer with the questions. He would most likely ruin Davies' appetite completely once he started.
*
Well... maybe that stuffed mushroom didn't look quite so nauseating once it passed Adrian's lips... Roger decided to try one. And finished it quickly.
He'd expected Adrian to make a sarsatic remark about child abuse in the Auror business and was quietly grateful when he didn't.
And it wouldn't hurt to just try a bite of the meat... and potatoes... and maybe another slice of buttered bread...
Before he knew it, Roger had cleaned his plate and sat back with a small burp. "Gods, that was good."
*
Adrian ate in silence, trying to control himself and not just go into a food frenzy. But he was rather satisfied with the fact that Davies had eaten after all.
He sat back as well with a small sigh, and relaxed as much as was proper for an Auror on duty.
"Yes, it was. Your mother is a very good cook."
*
"Yes, she is. She spoils me rotten sometimes." Roger's eyes were a normal shade of blue now.
He pulled his wand off his ear and used it to start water in the sink and send their dishes and utensils over to wash themselves.
Enough with the niceties... enough sneaking glances at those incredible green eyes under those incredible jet brows...
"Back out there for the interview?" Roger asked with a wave to the livingroom door.
Actually he didn't want to move. He wanted to sink into his chair and fall into a coma. The lack of sleep, the whiskey, and now the good food all conspired against him. Also, the waiting for the next round of questions. Every interview he went through was a step closer toward getting back with his children, he told himself.
*
"Here is good too." Better not get too comfortable, with all that food in his stomach.
"If you are ready, we can begin." Adrian drank the last of his apple juice and looked at Davies for confirmation.
"In what state was your ex-wife Friday, when you removed the children from her custody?" Adrian couldn't say care. The reports had given a rather clear image of what kind of care the son had been exposed to.
*
Roger nodded. Now was as good a time as any. Though he sort of missed the comfort of hte bottle of Ogdens in his hand.
"Ah. I didn't actually see her. When I got to the school, at my scheduled pickup time and found out that they hadn't come to school at all, I firecalled my mother to come with me."
Roger folded his hands neatly on the table infront of him.
"I knew she was here, baking for the weekend. Normally, she wouldn't go over to the house, or indeed, even remain here at my house because Lethi won't allow it. But I wanted back up... in case something was wrong."
Which it was...
"Anyway, Mum told me later that Lethi was passed out with an empty bottle of dreamless sleep next to the bed. I had taken the children over, well, here as soon as I found them."
*
Adrian nodded "Did your children in any way describe to you, what had happened?" The children had not yet been interviewed, and Adrian doubted he would be involved in that aspect. He would most likely just get the report later this week.
*
"Actually..." Roger said slowly, thinking back, "I didn't ask, not that night. They were crying and frantic from having been unattended for, well ever how long it was. I brought them here, to get them out of that environment then set about checking them over, like I always do. Then when I found the ... bruise... on his lower back... I thought that a spanking must have gotten out of control..."
Roger's voice went dry and tight as he spoke.
"And that she'd forgotten to heal it for some reason... She knows better than to leave a mark... Anyway, at that point I took them straight to Sanford, because he's the only one who would authenticate it and launch a full scale investigation. I assume Sanford asked Robert how he got it."
Roger's knuckles were white. He let go his grip and returned his hands to his lap.
"I always interview the children and check them over. And I knew she was spanking them, but poor little Robert, I don't know whether it came from him or his mother, he always had it perfectly rationalized how it was his fault..."
Roger looked to the ceiling, trying to blink back hot tears... his voice cracked as he continued speaking.
"How he'd talked too loud, or spilled his drink... and he deserved the punishment... he was taking it for his sister too... and I couldn't tell, exactly what she was doing, because she always made sure to heal anything she'd done. And Robert didn't want to tell on his mother..."
Roger's throat closed and he closed his eyes, waiting for the next question.
*
Adrian's jaws clenched slightly, as he watched Davies while listening to the answer. So much pain and helplesness.
"Children always quite easily take the blame, especially if they feel they need to protect somebody they love." And gods, but children loved their parents unconditionally. He'd loved father after all ... until it had cost him Bia and Zelus. Anger flashed through him for a second, but he pushed it away. This was not his pain.
He still found himself sympathising deeply with Davies, although he still wondered how the man could've let this go on for so long.
"So, this is the first time you have actually seen marks on either children after punishments?" Adrian asked carefully.
*
Roger met Adrian's eyes. "Yes. Yes it is." He wanted to explain. But it was so mad.
"She never punished them before..."
She had me to abuse.
"I mean, when we were still together... and during the divorce too. She was very permissive. I mean, she hardly spent time with them. They got discipline from me, the nannies, and the teachers at Hogsmeade Pre and Prime. But never from her. Not until now... A few months now... Nothing like this - where they both were frantic and hysterical... and Robert swears she never spanks Rosa Lynne. And Rosa says she's never been spanked by their mother."
Roger's eyes grew darker as the interview progressed, going midnight blue. Gods, he wanted to crawl in a hole and die and the only thing on this green earth that stopped him was those two children. They needed him to get them out of this nightmare.
"What I want, and what she needs is a full scale interview under veritaserum. I could make a list of the questions about dark arts, about why the fuck-!"
Roger bit his tongue. Whenever he'd talked like this before, he'd been slapped down and told to shut up his crazy talk or he'd lose everything...
The tears were back. He really shouldn't have durnk so much, but he'd been trying to get to sleep in the wee hours this morning. He refused to take dreamless sleep potion ...
*
Those eyes were mesmerising, but Adrian still concentrated on Davies' words, storing them. He hated making notes. It only interupted the interview process in his experience. And his memory had always been exceptional.
For a moment Roger looked as if he was on the edge of exploding. But then ... deflated. Adrian couldn't look away from Davies' eyes, and the raw emotion in them.
Calmly he urged Davies to go on "Please continue. You mention her use of the Dark Arts in your Veritaserum interview as well. Which spells more precisely?"
*
With a sniff, Roger gathered himself together. "Well the Imperio and Crucio are why you were called in, I'm sure."
He looked to the ceiling again, trying to remember... trying to verbalize.
"It started... you know, with playful little jinxes. A tiny little stinging hex to get my attention... Little things, harmless things. After Rosa Lynne's birth, she, my wife, was trying to ... claim my attention, but things were so hectic, and two babies... and the nanny always quitting... and the maid always quitting and having a thing or two to say to me about how a proper wife and mother should be..."
He realized he was rambling. "The hexes got bigger and more nasty and it became sort of a game - She would try to catch me off guard and I would deflect or heal whatever she did and ignore it. I mean, I tried to talk to her about it at first. Like, hey, this is too much. Hey you can't do that in front of the kids. Hey, did you really mean to hex my balls off?"
Roger shrugged. "Luckily I'm a Healer and I could just reattach them." He sighed. "I threw off the Imperio fairly quickly." He laughed. The sound was harsh.
*
Adrian had to literally force himself not to comment. Not to yell that the man why the FUCK he hadn't done something. Hadn't gone to either a healer or the Ministry, and have those curses detected and registered, which in turn would've started an investigation. An investigation that would've incriminated the bloody Lethifold... uhm, the wife.
"I see. Do you know whether or not your ex-wife is capable of performing any measures to remove the evidence from her wand? And if so, do you think she has?" It was possible, but extremely hard, to remove all magical remnants lingering after using Dark Arts. Or any powerful magic.
*
"She's pretty good at covering her tracks. Did they take her into custody? She won't realize anything's happened till she goes to pick the children up today... unless someone tipped her off."
Roger shook his head, trying to stay on track. "She knows a priori."
He looked at Adrian's eyes. "If there are a pack of scourgifies on her wand, you'll know she's hiding something. She never cleaned anything in her life."
*
"A priori won't remove all evidence stored in the wood and the core." The wand specialists at the Ministry were pretty amazing, when they went to work. Especially when they knew what to look for.
"But no, she has not been taken into custody yet, although her house is under surveillance. She will be, this afternoon." Which would be his pleasure. He reminded himself to do an initial scan of the wand. The deeper scan would probably not be completed until Tuesday morning. He also reminded himself to remain professional.
"Thank you for your cooperation. Do you have anything you want to add?"
*
"That's it?" Roger gaped. "I mean... I don't know what I mean. I don't really know how these things proceed. But..."
He gripped his hands together tightly again. "Auror Pucey... I need one thing and one thing only from your Department."
He looked up and his eyes were black again. They bored into Adrian's eyes. "I need her declared incompetent to maintain legal and physical custody over her own children. And I need you to do whatever it takes to secure the evidence needed for that to happen. Because if I have to face the Ministry court, in front of my family and peers again, and be told that what I said under veritaserum was merely what I believed and that when all is said and done, the only proof we have is one small bruise, I swear on Albus Dumbledore's grave I will kill her!"
And then he bit his lip to keep from speaking anymore. His eyes swam with tears, even as they begged, no demanded, Adrian's help.
*
"I will need to ask further questions, when I have interviewed your ex-wife and gathered what information and evidence I need from her and her wand. But for now, that's it, yes."
He knew he should add Davies' outburst to his report, since it was an open threat against the opposing party, but it wouldn't benefit the man's case at all. And something deep inside Adrian told him, Davies was telling the truth as it was, and not only as he believed it was.
"My job is to gather evidence, from that determine whether or not a crime has been committed and by whom that crime is committed. As long as I can trust you'll not do anything that will endanger my investigation, you can trust that I'll do my very best to create the best basis for further action, and I'm good." He spoke with confidence. He knew how good he was and was proud of that.
"Davies ... Roger," Adrian purposefully used Davies' first name, trying to recreate some of that connection he'd sensed on Friday, even if he hadn't used the first name back then.
"Promise me you'll not do anything that could jeopardise the investigation."
*
"Oh no... Adrian," Roger shook his head sadly. The tears flowed freely down his cheeks. "I won't do anything. Everything... absolutely everything I've done has bolloxed it up worse. I'll do whatever you tell me to. I have no choice."
I have no hope anymore, unless it be something in your Slytherin eyes.
"Well you've outlasted the others of your class, so you must be good." He laughed weakly at his macabre joke.
"Thank you."
*
Seeing people cry was a regular event for Adrian, but it would never stop making him feel slightly embarrassed. He wasn't very good at dealing with upset people. Crying men, even less so.
"Good," he said kindly and rose. Should he go around the table to Davies and offer some words of comfort? A small touch? They knew each other after all and it wasn't really comparable to most of Adrian's cases.
You just want to touch him, you lech.
"You're welcome. It's my job to do my best." Well, he couldn't just leave the man crying like that. Adrian went over and put a hand on Davies' shoulder.
"I'm sure things will be sorted out."
*
Roger reached up to grip the comforting hand. With a loud sniff he pulled himself to together and used his other hand to wipe off his face.
"Thank you. I really appreciate all your effort. It's... we really need people like you... doing this sort of thing..."
Feeling stupid for losing his poise in front of the Auror, Roger rose and led him to the front door.
"Let me know if I can help in any way. My mother too. Don't hesitate to call on us. If you need absolutely anything."
*
It wasn't often people showed that kind of gratitude. Even less common before actually resolving the case.
He smiled lightly at Roger and nodded "I will contact you when I have further questions." For a moment he considered their lunch on Friday. But repeating something like that, while he was handling Davies' case, was not a good idea at all.
It would be nice though...
"The best way to help me, is to remain calm and try to remember all you can from your experiences with your ex-wife. Anything, even the smallest details, might be helpful. Also, if you still have any items that might've been affected by your ex-wife's spells, you should find them. I will then have them examined and compared with the results we get from her wand."
*
Roger nodded his willingness.
"I ... have a box of my clothes she destroyed. I was going to take them to a tailor... or repair them myself."
He didn't know anymore what he intended to do with them. The thought of seeing them or wearing them again was quite wearing. They'd been some of his nicest clothes and he'd been quite attached to them... which is of course why she destroyed them.
"They have my blood on them. Do you want them now?" Truth was, he'd be glad to be rid of them.
*
"Yes, that would be very good. At some point you might also be called in for a wand examination, if there are any doubts. I'll notify you instantly if so. Are you planning on returning to work?" The mention of Davies' blood had Adrian remember what the woman had done, what pain and abuse Davies had been the victim of. How could anybody endure something like that over a longer period of time?
*
"Would you like to examine my wand right now?" Roger really didn't want to turn it over to be taken away. His livelihood depended on his skill at healing and his wand was so much a part of that.
"I have to return to work at some point... but it's so hard... not knowing...if Robert cleaned his teeth correctly... if Rosa got her stuffed plimpy..." He shrugged. It was killing him not knowing where his children were and how they were being taken care of.
It felt like he could close his eyes and apparate to them just by his burning desire to be with them.
*
"No, that won't be necessary." Adrian shook his head, then considered for a moment.
"If you have something, you would like the children to have... I can bring it to them. I'm sure they're fine, but would it ease your mind--"
And keep you calm
"--if I made sure and report back to you how they are?" He knew he was going way further than he usually would. Further than he should even. He wouldn't contemplate that fact right now though.
*
"Oh god, would you!?" Roger gripped Adrian by his biceps and looked earnestly, desperately up into his eyes. "They won't tell me anything. they act like I'm a non-person. Like my children aren't missing their parents."
Pleaseohpleaseohplease!
He let go of Adrian and raced to Robert's room wanting to gather up everything but then choosing one toy and one book. More sedately, he went to Rosa's room and did the same thing.
*
"Yes." Adrian blinked, startled by Davies' outburst and grip. He wasn't surprised by the Ministry's attitude towards Davies though.
He watched in silence as Davies vanished into the flat again, and waited patiently for the man's return.
*
Roger re-entered the living room calmly after also finding and picking up the box of tattered clothes, and held out the items to the Auror. "Robert likes Quidditch for Kiddies and Rosa likes the Ravenclaw Prince." The stuffed dragon and plimpy were self-explanatory.
Not that Adrian needed or wanted to know what was for who.
"Thank you, Adrian. I just want to know that they are healthy and happy... Thank you. Good night."
And if he thought about it anymore he'd completely break down.
*
Adrian took the box, books and the stuffed animals, shrank and pocketed them.
"You're welcome, Roger. I'll bring it to them today." Adrian looked closely at ... Roger's face. The man needed to sleep, badly.
"Good bye. I'll contact you soon." He held out his hand to shake Roger's.
*
"Thank you... thank you," Roger shook Adrian's hand, holding on to it too long.
Soon this very hand might ruffle his boy's head, might pat his girl's shoulder.
Roger nodded and let go.
*
"Get some sleep." He ordered kindly, then shrank the box with clothes and pocketed that as well. His wand was returned to its sheath on his leg.
"See you soon, Roger." Adrian left the flat with a last small smile at Roger.
*
"Yes. All right," Roger said softly as he closed the door behind the Auror.
He scrubbed his head, feeling like a puppet whose strings had been cut. He checked the wards and went and flopped on his bed, utterly exhausted, but also, feeling a small bit of hope.
He fell asleep to a mental replay of a smiling face with green eyes.