Chapter Text
It wasn't long before Harry received a letter from Steerforth. They had decided to meet at Hogs Head Inn the following weekend, since it was easy for Harry to sneak there with his invisibility cloak, and the Ministry had given Steerforth a week off from work to recover from his injuries.
Having waited for nearly half an hour, Harry was afraid Steerforth had forgotten. It did not seem like him, this accomplished man, to be tardy. He was awoken by the clanking of two butterbeer mugs and two raised strawberry blonde eyebrows hanging above twinkling grey eyes.
"Sorry," Harry muttered, rubbing his eyes.
"That's alright, mate. Nearly midterm. Probably studying a lot," Steerforth replied.
"Sure." Harry wasn't in the business of studying.
"So...how is she?" Steerforth asked with an uncharacteristically shy approach.
"Who? Jana?" Harry replied, getting his bearings straight, "Oh...thanks by the way." He took a swig of butterbeer and felt as it warmed his insides.
"She's...she's Jana..." Harry explained, hoping Steerforth would know what he meant by that, and after taking in Steerforth's solemn expression, he supposed he had.
"You said she has spoken of me?" He implored further.
"Yeah, she's mentioned that you have a very important job, much to Chrisoph's dismay," Harry laughed. Steerforth joined him with a chuckle, that weakened into a sigh.
"We used to be very close, Christoph and I. Until, well, the accident..." Harry furrowed his brow. "Jana's accident," Steerforth clarified.
Harry nodded, "I saw...I mean...I…”
“You saw?” Steerforth scowled. This was an auror he was dealing with.
“Jana was attacked at the start of term by a student-“
“What?” Steerforth gasped.
“It was sort of Jana’s fault...she set the girl’s hair on fire-“
Steerforth spit out his drink, widened his eyes, and cheered, “Are you sure this is Jana we’re talking about?”
Harry chuckled, “It was for a good reason. She sort of challenged Jana to a duel and then threatened me…the whole situation was sort of strange...it was Draco Malfoy who found her bloodied up-“
“Malfoy?!” Steerforth gasped again. Harry then began to explain in detail all that had gone on over the past few months. Steerforth huffed, and took a deep drink as if to cool off a flame in his throat. Harry was not sure if he had extinguished it or not.
“If Nymphadora and Christoph have been keeping a close eye, then I trust there’s nothing more to it. Lucius is a piece of work. I sort of feel sorry for the kid-“
“Don’t-“ Harry cut him off, “he’s the worst.”
“He may have a crush on her, I mean she is beautiful and brilliant. Any boy would be so lucky but I’m sure a lot of blokes can’t see past her, you know...”
“Oh they see clear through it,” Harry joked half heartedly rolling his eyes. Jana had a queue of suitors it seemed.
“Oh is that so?” Steerforth replied, somewhat annoyed himself. They shared the brotherly concern for her, “You see, Harry, I was in auror training that night. I was supposed to be the one fighting off dark creatures, but it was Christoph who saved her..."
Harry suddenly realized why it was that they were no longer amicable.
"Please don't think me selfish, Harry. I am grateful to Christoph that Jana is alive. But where was I? What kind of auror does that make me? I'll never forgive myself. I swore that I would not res or stop fighting dark magic until one day I found the bastard that attacked Jana. One day I'm going to find him, and I am going to kill him,” Steerforth proclaimed slamming down his mug. Harry's hair stood up as he heard Steerforth's words. He sought to kill the werewolf that hurt Jana. Unbeknownst to him, he sought to kill Remus Lupin.
"I haven't any leads all these years. Can you imagine? The Ministry is definitely lacking in that department. Keeping track of these beasts. These monsters-"
"I wouldn't be sure that they're all monsters. Some get bitten in childhood, it's not their fault," Harry replied, but quickly regretted it, feeling as if he had given Lupin away, so he quickly added, "Have you heard of Fenrir Greyback? Perhaps it was him."
Steerforth instantly shook his head, "I've seen the damage Greyback inflicts. Jana would definitely be dead.”
Harry agreed with him and quickly changed the subject, “Well I wasn’t going to say anything but-”
“But what?”
“Now that I realize the two of you aren’t on good terms, I suppose it's safe to relay how much of a-”
“Git he is? ‘Cause that’s the perfect word for him,” Steerforth said, in an unfamiliarly casual tone that did not suit him.
“Yeah,” Harry replied.
“Well he’s a pure blood but a drunk one...can’t believe Albus has actually got him teaching classes…”
“How do you know he’s a pureblood?” Harry queried.
“I work for the Ministry, Harry...” Steerforth added before taking another bite of his sausage, “know all about the children, it’s the first thing I did when I was able to get my hands on records and ask around a bit. Perks of the job.”
“Do you know about Christoph?” Harry’s curiosity piqued. Steerforth smirked a bit, and put down the bite he was about to eat.
“I do actually, if you’re interested,” Steerforth smiled, appealing to his more mischievous side. “I have reason to believe he’s the son of deatheaters."
“Does anyone else know that?” Harry gasped.
Steerforth shook his head, and pushed aside his plate, “Dumbledore does, if that’s your concern.”
“Doesn’t that mean-”
“That Christoph is one? No. Trust me, I’ve checked,” Steerforth replied, “Intercepted mail, stalked him, interrogated Jana...Nothing. Besides, do you think something like that would get past Dumbledore?”
“No,” Harry replied shaking his head, “of course not.”
“Many of the children are those of Death Eaters that have died though...” Steerforth added slyly.
“Why aren’t they living with their families? Certainly they’ve got an aunt like me or...well...I would have rather been at the orphanage than with my family…” Harry retracted.
“Ah, yes, Harry, why aren’t they living with their blood relatives? It’s a valid question. I’m thankful that I was sent to Domhail...but some would consider what Dumbledore has done kidnapping. Wouldn’t you?” Harry thought about it for a moment and nodded. He thought immediately of Draco. If both his parents had been imprisoned he would likely have to live with Bellatrix or Andromeda. But...Harry considered...what if he had a Sirius to go to...how unfair.
“If the children had any reasonable family to go to wouldn’t their relatives come for them?” Harry explored options.
Steerforth smirked, “Good point. And how would they do that?” Harry thought long and hard as he took another sip of his butterbeer. Sensing Harry had not solved the puzzle Steerforth interjected. “Where is Domhail, Harry?” Steerforth challenged in a way that he knew he could not answer.
“I dunno…” Harry replied.
“No one does, Harry. It’s untraceable and unplottable with several Secret Keepers. And how does one get to Domhail?” Steerforth quizzed further.
“A portkey in some small muggle village...”
“And let’s just pretend that they even managed to find it, which they won’t….how would they penetrate the protective walls around the property and the protective charms?” Steerforth continued further, “quite frankly Harry I don’t think most of the families of the children at Domhail know they’re alive.”
“That’s awful,” Harry sighed.
“Calandra Yaxley...Corban is her uncle ...Nuallan Jugson...Iagan Snyde...Sophie and Claudia are Dorcas Meadowes’s girls...Demeter is Amelia Bones daughter…and Lachlan and Rachelle are Benjy Fenwick’s children,” Steerforth explained further, “I trust Dumbledore has his reasons. Domhail was certainly the better choice for many of them. This I know for sure.”
The conversation turned to quidditch briefly which Steerforth reported he had played for Slytherin, and Harry was amused hearing about the rivalry between him and Tonks back then. Tonks had targeted him a few times with a bludger, just for fun. He pointed at a scar on his wrist as proof. His last year at Hogwarts was cut short by Jana’s accident, “We all came home immediately and never returned. I was lucky they let me become an auror despite not having finished. I hope no one is bullying, Jana.”
“No,” Harry assured, “and bedsides she and Hermione are friends, she’ll stick up for her."
“Ah, Hermione. That's the muggle born right?” Steerforth smirked throwing a chip in his mouth.
“Yeah...” Harry replied uncomfortably, “and what does that matter?”
“Oh you don't think it does, I see...” Steerforth put his hands up in jest to indicate he was backing off.
“She’s the best in our year!” Harry defended more sternly.
“I’m sure,” Steerforth replied with false conviction.
“My mother, our mother, was muggle born. That makes Jana and I half-“ Harry continued.
Steerforth chuckled, “I meant no offense. I know your mother was muggle born, but she was a witch wasn’t she? And your father a wizard?” Harry nodded. “It’s different,” Steerforth added leaning back on the bench.
“How so?” Harry challenged further.
“Mudbloods-“
“Steerforth!” Harry hissed.
“What?” Steerforth brushed off too casually for Harry’s liking, “Come on. Aren’t we friends?”
“Hermione is my best friend, and that’s an awful word,” Harry said sternly.
“Alright, alright, sorry,” Steerforth rolled his eyes, “muggle borns...they’re different Harry...they try to dilute our world with their muggle methods and ideas…” Harry huffed, not believing what Steerforth was carrying on about.
“Let’s just drop it,” Harry suggested.
Steerforth consulted his pocket watch and finished the last sip of his butterbeer.
“So why have you been dodging The Order? Didn’t Tonks come looking for you this summer? You wouldn’t even speak to her-” Harry tried.
“I have to go, Harry,” Steerforth forced a handshake, “but I will write soon. I want to see my Jana.” Before Harry had a chance to say goodbye, Steerforth apparated away.