Under the surface

Harry walked towards Lagasete's office. He had been surprised that the man wanted to talk to him, after complete silence for two days. Maybe they had found some trace of Rose after all?

Lagasete looked up when he entered.

"There you are Potter."

"Have you found any sign of her? I've contacted the British Ministry and they are outraged. The family has not heard from her either."

"Which part of her family would that be?"

"Her family. My family"

"So, you haven't asked the Malfoys yet then?"

"I have tried. They are not responding. We have sent people in Britain to their house to look for them." This was true, though they hadn't really done more than confirm that neither Scorpius nor Draco was at their house, and no one knew where they had gone. Harry was surprised that Draco had decided to go underground with the other three, but he was pleased as well. He would keep them safe now that he could not. It was strange to feel that he trusted Draco Malfoy, but in this case, he was glad that his son was with him, rather than alone.

"We will continue searching for them, but we've had no luck so far."

"Don't bother," Lagasete said. "I just received this." He handed Harry a letter. Harry read it with increasing wonder.

Dear Mr. Lagasete.

When we met, I didn't understand why you refused to believe me. Why you believed the word of a convicted Dark Wizard over my word.

Then I started to understand what it means to be a Malfoy. I have only been one for about a year, so it was an unusual feeling for me.

I hope you will understand eventually that not all Malfoys are the same.

I think the current situation will be easier to solve without my presence. Please tell my uncle that I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused him.

Yours sincerely

Rose Malfoy neér Granger-Weasley.

Harry frowned. What was Rose doing? This would only antagonise Lagasete further. And why send a letter to Lagasete and not Hermione or himself?

"This sounds very unlike Rose." he said, as he handed the letter back. "But it seems there are things lurking under the surface here that I did not know about."

"So, you are finally starting to come over to my point of view?"

"No, or at least not entirely. But I wonder at the phrasing here. "What it means to be a Malfoy?" Maybe this would make Lagasete tell him his story.

"I thought you knew that. I seem to remember that you had some encounters with the members of that clan yourself."

"Oh, I know their history. As you said, I was present for most of the latest chapter of it. But neither Rose nor Scorpius had any part in that."

"They are all rotten. You should not trust any Malfoy. I am surprised you let your niece marry into that family."

"It's not like I could stop her. Besides, Scorpius is not like most Malfoys. He considered changing his name to Weasley, to match Rose's name instead, but she was the one who insisted on following tradition."

"It wouldn't have mattered anyway. He would still be a Malfoy, even if the name was different."

"If it makes no difference, then wouldn't Rose still be a Weasley then? That is still who she is at heart." Lagasete didn't reply to this. Harry wanted to press further but it was not the right time. He needed to wait until Hermione had the last pieces of the puzzle.

"Regardless, it seems Rose is gone and does not plan to return. I suppose there is not much either of us can do about it now, until she surfaces again." He started walking towards the door.

"Hold on Potter." Lagasete said. "I need to know what would happen if your niece turned up in Britain. Will you send her here to face judgment? Or will you hide her as you have hidden other refugees from Norway?" Lagasete sounded almost desperate. Harry would have felt very sorry for him and done anything he could to help him, if it wasn't a member of his family, and one that had done nothing wrong, he was after.

"Other refugees? I am not aware of any other refugees from justice that are in Britain. Anyway, I doubt Rose will go back there. She knows we will not approve of what she has done. If she does appear, I can assure you that we will let you know, and she will be detained. Whether that will end with her return here or a punishment in Britain would depend on the manner of her return."

Lagasete didn't seem altogether pleased with that answer, but Harry didn't give him the opportunity to protest further.