"Harry Ashworth was at Malfoy Manor when the attack commenced," Voldemort declared.
"If you say so, my lord," Mulciber said.
"He was," Voldemort snapped impatiently, "but he left, not even attempting to help Malfoy defend the manor."
"A possible turncoat, then?" Mulciber asked.
"A messenger on an errand," Voldemort retorted. "Romulus Malfoy was a defiant sod. I suspect he sent Ashworth to arrange for the gold to be removed from the Malfoy vault. Either Harry Ashworth has the gold, or he knows who does."
"What should we do, then?" Mulciber inquired.
"Bring me Harry Ashworth, alive," Voldemort commanded. "That is our first priority. Every single person is to focus on it and work together. Even if snatching Ashworth risks showing our hand publicly, do it. We need that gold. Now, leave me."
Mulciber and Lucius wasted no time in departing from the dark lord's presence. In only a few seconds, Voldemort was left alone. As soon as this occurred, he very awkwardly rose to his feet and began pacing furiously.
He had figured Ashworth as being a stooge of the Blacks and Malfoy. Apparently, Ashworth's involvement now ran deeper. Toward the end, Romulus Malfoy had apparently viewed Ashworth as a partner, or at least successor, in their defiance against the dark lord. Did Orion Black plan that all along? Voldemort mused. Was old man Black that canny?
If so, new avenues of speculation were open to Voldemort. If Romulus Malfoy had been so bold as to leave Harry with the care of his gold, could Orion Black have been so bold? Perhaps Cygnus Black could have made a similar decision. That would solve one mystery over which Voldemort had already spent time speculating. Who was the Head of House Black, and who controlled the Black fortune?
.....
Guiltily, Harry was basking in luxury. He simply had been unable to resist the desire-not with all the money he now had. His deprivation under the hand of the Dursleys and the rough conditions of the war against Voldemort in the future had left in Harry a deep desire to indulge himself at least occasionally. Now, for him, the cost of a suite at one of London's more luxurious hotels was pocket change, as was room service.
Harry had checked into the hotel shortly after noon and had slept away most of the afternoon and a good part of the evening. Though he was now sorely tempted to order room service for dinner, or pay a visit to the luxurious restaurant downstairs, he had a dinner appointment that he reckoned he should honor. It was with Alastor Moody.
He quickly changed into some clean clothes and was on his way to be interrogated by Moody as they had dinner. He found the auror waiting for him, as arranged via owl, near a tube station.
"Nice of you to come, Ashworth," Moody growled in what Harry recognized as a semi-friendly voice. Most people would have been intimidated, but Harry did have the benefit of having known Moody fairly well in the future.
"It's not like I don't have spare time," Harry replied.
"Yeah, I heard about Slughorn returning to Hogwarts," Moody admitted.
Harry vaguely wondered how much the auror knew. His suspicion was that Dumbledore would have told Moody everything. Harry's relations to the Black family, and thus to Bellatrix, would be of some interest to those Dumbledore may have assembled to start the Order. "Shall we pick a place to eat?" Harry asked.
It only took them a few moments to choose a muggle restaurant once Harry made it clear that he was willing to pay for both dinners. For some reason, this made Moody rather pleased, though somewhat suspicious. They were soon settled in and waiting for their food.
"Now, Mr. Ashworth," Moody began, "the next few questions are official. Can you describe to me the events that occurred at Malfoy Manor last night?"
"Yes," said Harry. He had spent time since sending an owl to Moody rehearsing what he would say. Harry then briefly related everything that had happened, omitting only the specific details of the conversation between he, Malfoy, and Cygnus, as well as the detail about Malfoy sending him to Gringotts to evacuate the Malfoy gold.
"So Lucius Malfoy is the one that made it all possible," Moody mused.
....
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