"Auror Hamilton informed me that the survivor had a diluted form of basilisk venom in his blood," the Senior Auror said to Harry. "Any ideas how it got there?" The boy looked surprised at that information. Kingsley wondered if that was the first open reaction he'd seen.
"Nothing that makes any sense," the boy answered. "I didn't really check the bodies but it didn't look like a snake could do that."
Kingsley grunted agreement. "Very well. We may have other questions later, Mr Potter." He turned to his squad. "Spread out and look for any witnesses or victims needing help. Stay with your partners. Stay alert." Four of the Aurors left while Hamilton walked over to the tent door to wait for his partner.
"Can I ask what happened to everyone else?" Harry asked. The Senior Auror grimaced.
"Apparently several people thought it would be funny to dress up in Death Eater garb and cause a riot. The campground owner and his family were abused and some tents were burnt down. They all Apparated away when someone cast the Dark Mark. Barty Crouch's elf was found unconscious nearby along with Draco Malfoy's wand. Young Mr Malfoy's wand was used to cast the spell."
"Did Malfoy cast the spell?" Harry asked curiously. He wouldn't put it past the pretentious git.
Kingsley frowned. "No, he was actually with his mother and Madam Fudge at the time the riot started. They took Madam Fudge's emergency Portkey to the Ministry before the spell was cast; an oath-bound alibi. Crouch gave his elf clothes for being involved somehow."
"Crouch was always one to punish before getting all the facts," Sirius sneered. Kingsley had the grace to look embarrassed.
"Yes, well, I apologize for that. Now, if you will excuse me we must continue our investigation."
The Senior Auror started to leave the tent with his partner. He had just reached the tent opening when he stopped and turned back to Harry. "Oh and by the way, Mr Potter? Just one more question."
"What?"
"Do you by any chance have six fingers on your right hand?" The black Auror threw Harry a cheeky grin of his own and walked out before Harry could respond.
Harry was stunned for a moment before throwing his arms up over his head and cheering, "Ernie and I are not alone!"
Sirius rolled his eyes at his godson's bizarre antics. While he waited for Harry to settle down a bit he cast a privacy charm to seal the tent from outside observation
"So, the in Merlin's name happened here, pup?"
Harry stopped laughing and smiled at the elder Marauder before raising an eyebrow and asked, "And how did you sober up so fast?"
"Kalina had a Sobering Potion in her tent," came the answer. "Now what happened?"
Harry told the older Marauder everything that had happened up to the point the Aurors arrived including the Beast's appearance and his brief fight with the Death Eaters.
"What was that bit about the basilisk venom?" Sirius asked.
Harry frowned as he thought about it. "Well, I doubt that Sasha or another basilisk just happened to slither by after I put the Death Eaters down. The only thing I could think of it the Beast's claws are now poisonous to some degree. You know I don't kill the animals I play 'tag' with." Sirius shared Harry's grin as they both thought of that night at Hogwarts where the Beast played tag with the large black dog he found wandering the grounds.
"Well, thank Merlin for that," Padfoot allowed. "Er, is there a chance the survivor saw the Beast?"
"I doubt it," Harry answered with a headshake. "It was probably the first one I took down and I got him from behind. He might have seen something before he passed out. I know he was unconscious when I brought out the one that came into the tent." Sirius grimaced at hearing his godson so casually talk about killing or almost killing three wizards. Harry was usually a happy, friendly, and thoughtful kid, but the wolf definitely had an impact on him. When it came to protecting his 'pack' he had a streak of brutal practicality that saw killing the enemies of the pack as being a sensible, logical decision. Wolves never killed for pleasure. They killed for food and in defence. As Harry said, the Beast never killed the animals he played tag with because he didn't need them as prey to survive.
Sirius set his concerns aside. For now he needed to get Harry and the still-unconscious Remus back to the Marauder's Den and safe.
"Okay, pup. Let's get Moony and get out of here."
.....
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