You don't need a solicitor. You need to talk to me and you need to talk to me now. Because if you didn't do this, you're going to tell me who supplied you with the Wolfsbane and you're going to get out of this mess.
And because if you did do this...if you did this and those people died you're going to need a Healer with a shovel to carry what's left of you out of this room.
*pulls a chair over and slams it down right in front of Noah* Tell me who you got the Wolfsbane from.
Do you think I did this? *forces himself to look up and meet his brother's gaze* Be honest with me, Will. Do you really believe I would do this?
*has no intention of supplying the name of who he does business with because he absolutely doesn't believe that person intentionally did this, it's all some big mistake, and he just needs to be quiet long enough for them to sort it out*
Honestly? After what you've done in the past? *no hesitation* No I don't believe it.
But what I believe is that there's still a dead muggle and the boy that got attacked is Drew's age. I know there's a growing frenzy out there and that the sooner we can wrap this up the better for everyone.
What I believe is that you need to tell me where you got the Wolfsbane from so I can help clear you.
*quietly, so quietly his words come out in almost a whisper*
I wouldn't do this to them. Any of them. If I was callous enough to make money at their expense I wouldn't do it in my own backyard when you patrol the streets on full moons and my niece, nephew, mother and everyone I care about lives here.
*threads his fingers through his hair, obviously stressed out*
The person who supplied me wouldn't do this either. He wouldn't, Will, I know he wouldn't. You think things are bad now? If I throw his name out here things are going to erupt in ways you can't even imagine.
*looks up at him, pleading for the right way to handle this*
You raised me to protect those that deserve protecting. He wouldn't do this, and there is more at stake here than his reputation or our family's. You know no one is going to be treated fairly right now.
Fix this! Prove it...it's just some mistake. Get me out of here without dragging another innocent person in. I can keep quiet while you do it.
*softly...like he'd talk to Noah when he was a kid* I know that. That's what I said when they told me you were brought in. I know you wouldn't.
Look kid, it's not up to you to protect this guy. You signed up to do a job and you did it. Now, whether or not the Wolfsbane was cut at the supplier or something else happened that's for us to find out. But we can't do it if you won't tell me who it was.
Noah--I promise you, if he's innocent I'm not going to let him go down for something he didn't do. But we've got to know.
*that tone works better than any threats or verbal lashing out, he nods his head, looking sick to his stomach, because he wouldn't give this name to just anyone, he really doesn't think the guy is guilty, not in the least, and Noah isn't one to snitch on someone else, but he also knows that if this did happen at the guy's greenhouses he'd want to know so he could figure out how, so he could go after who did this*
Neville Longbottom.
This is some huge mistake. He wouldn't do this, and if one of his employees did? There is no way he knows about it. For Salazar's sake, I took the job because it was respectable. It was the thing I did every month that helped.
I know. It's a bloody mess. But, *quite seriously* I'm proud of you. The sooner we get this figured out the safer everyone is going to be on the next full moon, not just the general public but the werewolves too.
They're probably going to keep you. At least until they bring in Longbottom.
Let Mum know that this time I didn't do anything, please? Fuck, I'm going to have to figure out how to explain this to Natalie and her family. To Isabel and Bastian.
*sighs, nodding his head*
Yeah, I figured as much. Make sure Longbottom knows to get a solicitor, yeah? His connections to the school and the auror department is going to be a liability rather than an asset.
*quietly* He has kids, Will. Little kids. Ministry is out for blood and now the two of us are practically handing our heads over for the hangman's noose.
Hey, I won't lie to you that Dad'd be thrilled by your record. But once it happened, you did your time and haven't been back. As far as that's concerned the books would be cleared the day you got out.
*quiet*
That's how I should have been. I don't have the right to hold it over your head. You're more than that spot on your record.
I was sort of hoping not to be here again with you.
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*doesn't look up, too busy staring at the walls trying to figure out how he got here*
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yeaaaah... no.
You don't need a solicitor. You need to talk to me and you need to talk to me now. Because if you didn't do this, you're going to tell me who supplied you with the Wolfsbane and you're going to get out of this mess.
And because if you did do this...if you did this and those people died you're going to need a Healer with a shovel to carry what's left of you out of this room.
*pulls a chair over and slams it down right in front of Noah* Tell me who you got the Wolfsbane from.
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*has no intention of supplying the name of who he does business with because he absolutely doesn't believe that person intentionally did this, it's all some big mistake, and he just needs to be quiet long enough for them to sort it out*
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But what I believe is that there's still a dead muggle and the boy that got attacked is Drew's age. I know there's a growing frenzy out there and that the sooner we can wrap this up the better for everyone.
What I believe is that you need to tell me where you got the Wolfsbane from so I can help clear you.
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I wouldn't do this to them. Any of them. If I was callous enough to make money at their expense I wouldn't do it in my own backyard when you patrol the streets on full moons and my niece, nephew, mother and everyone I care about lives here.
*threads his fingers through his hair, obviously stressed out*
The person who supplied me wouldn't do this either. He wouldn't, Will, I know he wouldn't. You think things are bad now? If I throw his name out here things are going to erupt in ways you can't even imagine.
*looks up at him, pleading for the right way to handle this*
You raised me to protect those that deserve protecting. He wouldn't do this, and there is more at stake here than his reputation or our family's. You know no one is going to be treated fairly right now.
Fix this! Prove it...it's just some mistake. Get me out of here without dragging another innocent person in. I can keep quiet while you do it.
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Look kid, it's not up to you to protect this guy. You signed up to do a job and you did it. Now, whether or not the Wolfsbane was cut at the supplier or something else happened that's for us to find out. But we can't do it if you won't tell me who it was.
Noah--I promise you, if he's innocent I'm not going to let him go down for something he didn't do. But we've got to know.
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Neville Longbottom.
This is some huge mistake. He wouldn't do this, and if one of his employees did? There is no way he knows about it. For Salazar's sake, I took the job because it was respectable. It was the thing I did every month that helped.
What a disaster.
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*the sound of a dozen Aurors all head desking at once*
Longbottom? Shit.
*puts his hands on Noah's shoulders* You did the right thing. I'm liable to agree with you. There's more going on. But you gave us a place to start.
This helped. And I meant what I said, I'm not letting someone innocent go down.
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Are they going to let me out, or are they keeping me until they can check this out?
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They're probably going to keep you. At least until they bring in Longbottom.
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*sighs, nodding his head*
Yeah, I figured as much. Make sure Longbottom knows to get a solicitor, yeah? His connections to the school and the auror department is going to be a liability rather than an asset.
*quietly* He has kids, Will. Little kids. Ministry is out for blood and now the two of us are practically handing our heads over for the hangman's noose.
What a fucking disaster.
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Look, Prewett's a fair man and an honest man. He reminds me a lot of Dad. He's not going to stop until we find out who's responsible. Neither am I.
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He'd be pretty disgusted with me, yeah? A Robards being a prime suspect and his record not doing anything but making the case against him.
Thank you for still believing in me.
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*quiet*
That's how I should have been. I don't have the right to hold it over your head. You're more than that spot on your record.
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I've heard the stories about what happens when the masses panic, and the Ministry flips out trying to control things. They already invaded Hogwarts.
Is there a chance in hell that Longbottom and I can possibly get a fair shake here?
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