Game

"I don't like where all of this is leading," Harry said. "And where on earth has James got to?" It had been a full day since James had walked out of that bar with a hooded man. He wouldn't have gone that long without checking in with them. Something must have happened to him.

"My guess is that James has been taken by the same person that took Scorpius. The main question is why? What is this person, or persons, goal?" Albus said.

"None of this makes any sense. That is perhaps the most frustrating thing. No one has made any demands or done anything they couldn't have done with him present as far as we can tell. And what is Dawson's role in all of this?" Harry said.

"Why don't we go and ask him?" Rose asked.

"Ask him what? "Hey, can you please tell us where you took that man you arrested?" Most likely, he won't even know what we are talking about. Dawson doesn't do arrests like that, not anymore. He is close to retirement, that is why he is mostly training new people. This was most likely someone pretending to be him."

"Well, do you have a better idea?" Rose asked. "It is at least a place to start." Harry sighed.

"You're right. We need to at least get his side of the story. It must have been a convincing act for Scorpius to go along with it. According to the Tracker, Dawson is still at home."

"Wouldn't any impostor know to remove that though?"

"If he removed it, or even tried to place it on someone else, it would register. That is why I am surprised that James' Tracker is just gone. I wish Scorpius had let me place one on him as well."

"Why is he so insistent on not having one?"

"He claims he frequents some places that he has promised not to reveal to others. I wish there was a way to temporarily disable them, so he could have one anyway."

"That is a stupid reason. It's not like you look at the Tracker device often. When we find him, I am going to insist that he uses one of these."

Harry smiled. Rose had tried many times to convince Scorpius to be tagged, but he had stubbornly refused. He knew Albus had tried convincing him as well. Harry suspected he didn't want a repeat of what had happened the last time he had worn one. But yes, this event would probably convince him that he needed one. But the fact that James' Tracker was not visible worried him. It wasn't disabled, nor removed, just not visible. He would have to ask George what would cause that.

"Come on, we need to get to Dawson, before he disappears as well."

***

The hole opened. Before Scorpius even had time to react, a body was dumped into the hole, nearly hitting him across the chest. It was all tied up and gagged, just like he had been. He heard Sam's hesitant voice.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, that is James Potter! We will be in so much trouble if they find out we placed him here."

"Find out? They already know. Mr. Potter here finally snapped and actually killed someone. It was only a matter of time, if you ask me. It seems to me that this prison is more secure than Azkaban, and it has the added bonus of not being official. If any of the Potters or Weasleys begin to falter in their conviction to imprison him and want him back, they won't be able to find him."

"Does that mean that the game is over? That you'll take Malfoy out of there?"

Dawson actually laughed. It was not a happy laugh. Scorpius started taking out his wand. Maybe this would be his chance for escape, if they forgot to close the hole for a little while longer.

"You still think this is a game? You really are stupid. But you have been useful." Scorpius didn't hear anything more, as the hole closed over them. He swore under his breath. There wasn't any way for him to get up there, even if the opening hadn't been shut. He turned to the tied-up figure Dawson had dropped down. It really was James. Scorpius tried to remove the ropes. They were really tight. Even worse than his ropes had been. Clearly, whoever it was that impersonated Dawson no longer needed to pretend to be friendly. From the sound of it, Sam would learn the truth soon as well. Scorpius wondered what he would do.

***

"What do you mean, it's not a game?" Sam asked. He didn't like the look on Dawson's face. It was different from all the other times he had worked with him. He looked insane. Had he finally cracked under the pressure of being an Auror for so long?

"You really think we would have gone through all of this just for a game? You have no idea how much all of this has cost me. But it was worth it in the end.

You've been a good pawn. You have exactly two options. One, you keep working here, doing exactly what you have been doing. I am actually impressed with what you have managed to build here. That would be the smart option, and the best way to ensure your brother's continued safety."

Sam gritted his teeth. Had Dawson arrested his brother just to be able to use him as leverage to get Sam to cooperate? Either way, this had not been what he had signed up for! This went way beyond slightly unorthodox, this was illegal! An illegal, secret prison island that he had helped make secure and kept someone locked up in for a week. Not just someone. Scorpius Malfoy! And now a Potter! It could mean Sam was in even more trouble than his brother had ever been in.

"And what is the other option?" Sam asked with a trembling voice.

"Your other option is to be allowed to test out one of these cells yourself. You've made them, you know exactly how secure they are. I might even bring your brother here, so you can stay there together. That way, both you and your brother will be behind bars for the rest of your lives. Is that what you want?"

Sam only considered for a moment. If he was placed in one of these cells, all was lost. If Dawson was to be believed, no one even knew he was here. No one else even knew this place existed. Better to pretend to go along, until he could work out some better plan.

"I'll take the first option."

"Good choice."

"If I prove that I will do a good job, will you release my brother? Please, he hasn't done anything to anyone."

"I'll consider it. Work here long enough, and no one will believe you aren't an accomplice. Then I won't need the leverage anymore. But just remember, I can always get to your brother, no matter where he goes."

Sam nodded. He knew that. He had been played, and there was no way out. He doubted even Rose Malfoy would believe him. Not when he had kept her husband in a hole in the ground for a week. This explained why he had been so tied up when he arrived. Sam should have realised this wasn't just a test already then. Now it was too late.

"How many top-security cells have you completed? And how many regular ones?"

"Th-Three top-security cells." The third one wasn't completely finished, but he could do that within the next few days. Though he wasn't sure he would call them cells. They were holes in the ground. Very secure holes, but still. He hadn't even seen a whisk of Malfoy since he was tossed down there. He had tried shouting up to Sam the first few days, then he stopped doing even that. He didn't know if he was even still alive, but the tube hadn't filled up with excess food, so he was probably still down there. "About 5 rows of regular cells, though they are still in the open, no house around them yet."

"Are the rows of cells facing one another?"

"No, you said to make them face away from each other. They are in the same area over there, but no one can see any other cell from where they sit. I even made the walls between the cells solid, so you can't even see if there is someone in the other cells on your row."

"Good. That is good. We may have a need for some of those soon as well. I've run into… unforeseen obstacles." Dawson said. "Oh, I forgot. I have someone else I want to introduce you to. A new co-worker, if you will. Or perhaps more of a supervisor."

A woman got off the boat as he spoke. She had reddish-blonde, curly hair and some strange scars on her face.

"This is Marietta Edgecombe." Dawson said. "I trust the two of you will get along. She will take over feeding the top-security prisoners. You can continue doing everything else."

Marietta smiled at Dawson. A friendly smile, as if this was a totally normal situation to be in. Dawson gave her a friendly hug and showed her around. When they came back, Dawson pointed to Sam and explained who he was. Marietta smiled at him but didn't say anything.

"I need to go," Dawson said. "I need to find the other one. I'll most likely be back by tomorrow."