Chapter 7
Chapter 8 of 18
flaminia_xHarry is asked to investigate a series of suspicious attacks, but soon the suspicion is turned toward Harry himself. Can he clear his name?
Tonks wanted a bit of a lie-in the next morning, so I left her some tea and toast under a warming charm on the counter and headed off to work a bit early. But before I headed to my office, I stopped by to see Robards.
“Any details on Tonks's letter, sir?” I asked, popping my head into his doorway and catching his eye.
“Ah, Potter, come in,” he said, motioning me toward a chair. “I was just about to stop by and see if you were in yet. Tell me, what did Tonks say about this letter?”
Briefly I sketched out the story that Tonks had given me. He held my glance for a minute, then dropped them to his desk, where the letter was encased in a protective charm. “Seems whoever wrote this knows Tonks fairly well, wouldn't you say?”
“I don't know, sir,” I answered. “It certainly seems like they are after something specific, but neither Tonks nor I can figure out what it is. She's got nothing of value, no hidden valuables or assets.”
Robards hummed under his breath, then looked up at me intently. “You're Teddy's godfather, are you not?”
“Yes, sir,” I said. His tone of voice took me aback. “Are you ... accusing me of something?”
“No, no,” he said placatingly. “Just curious. How is the lad, anyway?”
“Nothing new,” I answered. “He's still in a coma. We can only hope that the poison will work its way through his system, or that the mediwizards will figure out what it is so that they can create an antidote.”
“Well, I am sorry to hear that,” Robards said, “both for Tonks's sake and your own.”
“I appreciate that,” I said. “Was there any other information for me about the letter, sir?”
“No, I'm afraid whoever wrote it was very careful,” Robards explained. “The handwriting looks like it might be from a Quick-Quotes Quill. Very generic, nothing that could be used to pinpoint an individual. And the only fingerprints found on it are Tonks's and yours.”
“I see,” I said. “Thank you for the information, sir. Let me know if anything else turns up.”
“Count on it, Potter,” Robards said. As I left his office, I felt his eyes watching me.
I took lunch at home so that I could share Robards's information with Tonks. As we plowed into two plates of reheated stew, I relayed what I had learned ... and what I suspected. “Seems like they didn't find anything on the letter to go on,” I said around a mouthful of vegetables. “Just the likelihood that the perpetrator used a Quick-Quotes Quill or something that would disguise their handwriting.”
“Bollocks,” Tonks mumbled, swallowing a spoonful of potato. “Not that I was really expecting anything else, but I'd hoped …”
I hesitated, feeling the weight of my words in my mouth, debating whether to share them. Bloody hell, it's Tonks, I thought. She deserved to know. “Tonks, whoever's behind this ... well, the letter clearly states that it's just one person. Robards thinks that it's someone who knows you really well, someone who thinks you've got something they want.”
“Yeah, I would have thought that was fairly obvious,” she said, sipping her tea.
“Tonks, I think Robards suspects me,” I said.
“What? That's fucking ridiculous, Harry,” she said, staring at me. “You're not the only one that knows me, and you bloody well know I've got nothing anyone would want.” She blushed, her eyes falling down toward her lap.
“I know that. But mine are the only other fingerprints on that letter, and I'm Teddy's godfather.”
“What the hell does that have to do with anything? Robards could never believe that you'd kill your own bloody godson,” she spat.
“You'd think, wouldn't you,” I said neutrally. “I'm glad you don't think it could be me.”
“Of course not,” she said, staring me in the eye.
“Alright then,” I replied, a faint smile tweaking the corners of my mouth. “I've got to get back to work, but I should be home at the normal time, unless something comes up. What's for dinner?”
“You're going to sit down and let me cook, or do something,” Tonks said, a hint of fire in her voice. “I cannot bloody sit still around here all day and then have you wait on me when you get home.”
“Fine,” I said. “You won't hear me complain. There should be plenty of groceries here already, but if you need me to pick something up on the way home, just send an owl or something. Got to run.”
I'm not sure why, but I leaned over the table and pecked her quickly before heading to the Floo.
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Latest 25 Reviews for The Set-Up
20 Reviews | 8.65/10 Average
Now that was just downright mean to stop there!!!!! I anxiously await MORE!
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Hahaha - chapters in queue, I promise! Thanks for reading!! :)
Ah, so the Black family fortune makes an appearance, if only in Robards' speculation. I was wondering about that portkey as well. Could it have been activated remotely once Remus was murdered, so it wouldn't act as a portkey until the right moment? What if Harry hadn't looked in the box to find it? Although it rattled - presumably to catch his attention at the right time . . . And Ron is finally and firmly on Harry's side! Yay!
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Yay indeed! As if one could doubt Ron's loyalty, though! Perish the thought! I do think the answers to your speculations will surface soon enough ... stay tuned! Thanks for reading and commenting!! It's greatly appreciated!
Oh, poor Remus. You never actually said why he and Tonks had a fallout.I wonder ... just for how long had that portkey been in this box? I mean, Remus was dead just for less than an hour, and the portkey brought Harry to the place of the murder.I noticed Hermione's absence in this fic. Not that I suspect her, but I just noticed it.
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Ooh, I love seeing guesses and speculations and seeing what folks notice!! I can't wait to hear your reactions to the upcoming chapters!!
Poor Remus! Although there went my primary suspect. I am enjoying the buildup of suspense and have no idea at this point how you will get Harry out of this. (Unless you plan to go the route of "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd!)
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Oh, I'm glad you're enjoying it! I do hope the ending lives up to your expectations! :)
Oh poor Remus. Things aren't looking good for Harry, too many coincidences.
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Poor Remus indeed! I do like him, but ... alas. Stay tuned to see what happens with Harry!
Oh no, poor Tonks! Very suspenseful chapter, looking forward to the next one.
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Thanks! Should be up soon - keep your eyes peeled! Glad you're liking it thus far!
Since I love to speculate, I have lots of questions. (Not that I expect answers that would give anything away!)First of all, where is Remus? Shouldn't he have come to see his son?Teddy was poisoned by an unknown poison, and coincidentally, his cousin Draco was working with theoretical potions. Is that important? Draco would certainly have recognized if one of his theories/potions had been used or mis-used, or might have recognized what Teddy was poisoned with. And with Draco out of the way, does Tonks by any chance become the Black/Malfoy family heir?"One day, all you have will be mine." Odd wording - one day. Someone planning far off in the future? What will Tonks have "one day?" What does she have besides Teddy? And is it important that Harry spent a lot of time with Tonks after her mother died? Is someone jealous? Does that person hate Harry enough to frame him? To quote The Grinch, I have been puzzling and puzzling til my puzzler is sore.I eagerly await the next installment!
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Ooh, I love speculation! I am glad you're picking up on some of these things - perhaps they'll be answered in the future chapters! I'm terribly sorry your puzzler is sore, though! Hopefully the rest of the story will un-hurt your puzzler! :)
I like the way the mystery is developing - although, poor Teddy! Hmm, I wonder if there is a connection between the cases . . . looking forward to more!
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Oh, glad you're looking forward to the next chapters! All forthcoming. :) Poor Teddy indeed. Stay tuned!
wow, the story is developing really well!i'm curious to see if there's a connection between the 2 cases... ooh, can't wait for the next chapter! =)
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying the plot development! Keep your eyes peeled for the next chapter!
Interesting...I wonder where this is going?
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
I know it's a bit of a teaser prologue, but much more to come! Thanks for reading!
This continues to be quite intriguing! I have been speculating on what connection there could be between the two cases, and can only come up with Andromeda Black Tonks, which seems awfully far-fetched. So will speculate some more . . . . .
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
I don't know whether to hope that you figure it out or that I fool you completely!! I'm so glad you are continuing to read and I can't wait to hear what you think about it when all is said and done! :)
too abrupt. needs one chapter before this poetic ending... very well-written and original though!
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Sorry you didn't care for the pacing at the end, but glad you enjoyed the rest of it!! Thanks for the review!
Nice start! I like the "hard-boiled detective" flavor, and look forward to more.
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Yay, hard-boiled! Thanks! I'm definitely aiming for the film noir feel, so I am glad that was the vibe you got from it. Plenty more coming - can't wait to see what you think!
Great start on this story. My first thought was why would Draco be in a car? Glad the investigators thought that too. Is this being told through Harry?
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Thanks for reading! Glad you're enjoying it so far! Yes, everything is from Harry's point of view - sort of a film noir story (or at least I hope so). Keep reading - more chapters to be posted soon! Can't wait to hear what you think!
I bit of Raymond Chandler going on here. I always enjoy an original take on the potterverse.
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Why thanks! So glad you think I've got a bit of something new here. Can't wait to see what you think as the story develops! :)
It's a little hard to believe that Lucius killed his own son and grandson just so Narcissa could inherit money. But if he is the culprit, how did he get through Harry's wards????
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Such good questions!! :)
Hmmm, how long has that porkey been among the papers?I wonder if someone polyjuiced as Harry would get through the wards?The mystery deepens. Looking foward to more!!!!!(Chapters 8 & 9 seem to be out of order.)
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Oh bless you for noticing! They had gotten submitted backwards and I hadn't realized they had also been posted backwards. It's fixed now! Also, love your ideas! I love to see readers' guesses about what's going on! Keep reading - all questions will be answered, I hope!!
A classical theme - suspended detective investigates, but not after having wallowed appropriately in his grief / guilt / whatever. Funny to see Harry act the part.So the pen was a portkey? But your description doesn't quite match up - "... yanked into myself." HmmmmI briefly thought that one of the persons the wards was set to, had come back from the future to assault Tonks. But what reason would any of them have for doing it?
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Well, I think being yanked into oneself is sort of like Portkeying - at least in the sense that it creates a horrific vertigo or sense of disorientation, and being yanked at the navel by a big hook, as the books say. I love the idea about the future person ... we'll see if you're right and what happens in the upcoming chapters!
Well, well - friendship is growing into more here. I still can't see any connection between the two cases - apart from Tonks and Draco being related. Maybe Narcissa doesn't want to see her sister's lineage going on when her own had been destroyed? That still wouldn't explain Draco's death (assuming he is really dead), though.
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Ooh, I do love guesses! It's interesting to see what readers think or guess or pick up on, because as the author I had a certain plot in mind, so I'm anxious to see whether anyone figures it out, or if they didn't, what they thought might have happened instead! You have very interesting ideas, and that's all I'll say! ;)
Lots of cigarettes in this story so far - well, hard-boiled detectives always seemed to smoke in the film noir genre.(I just wonder - I can't recall that in canon a single cigarette was mentioned ...)A very interesting set up. So far I have not enough clues to guess anything, so I#ll continue reading :-)
Response from flaminia_x (Author of The Set-Up)
Haha - thanks! Glad you're enjoying it thus far, and yes, more shall be revealed later on. I don't really think Harry's a smoker, but I can picture it, and I was definitely pulling out lots of film noir tropes, so it just seemed that cigarettes were necessary for that feel. Hope you enjoy the rest of it!