Chapter 184: Ch. 186
"I'm not sure I like the idea of spying on people."
"I don't blame you really. I wasn't too fond of the idea of doing the initial checks myself, but in many respects Harry's right. He's a kid that, based off what happened first year at school, is being maneuvered into things that he knows little about. Most of those manipulations come from high levels in our society. His best chance at a mostly normal and happy life is for him to have information to counter those things. Is it an invasion on the privacy of the people you'll be investigating? Yes, but most of the people you'll be keeping an eye on are people who like to play fast and loose with the rules. Most have definitely broken a few. Harry wants to know what they're up to for his own protection. I think that after a few months you will find yourself in a position of being fine with what you're asked to do, if not you can always quit."
"Somehow I get the feeling you don't approve of me."
"Mr. Lupin, I hardly know you." Cassandra wasn't about to admit he was right. She was glad that she was going to hand off most of the touchier monitoring to a full wizard, but she was more than a little skeptical about this choice of Harry's. This man was a little too in Dumbledore's pockets for her to trust. Plus there was the long list of the ways he had let Harry and Harry's deceased parents down.
Harry had persuaded her to go along with this by pointing out the wisdom in keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. This way he would know what Dumbledore was up to. Harry firmly believed that Mr. Lupin was in Dumbledore's camp. He was confident that he had shaken the man's faith in the Headmaster at least a bit, but was also confident that if push came to shove the werewolf was Dumbledore's man. He believed that habit alone would make that the case, firmly believing that the age and experience difference between himself and the Headmaster would make that the case. Harry had pointed out that the man's presence in Harry's employ would make the Headmaster feel as if perhaps he would be able to exert some influence when he wanted to and the Headmaster wouldn't try to plant a spy that had loyalties Harry wasn't aware of.
Cassandra always got a little nervous when Harry got all sneaky and suspicious like this but she had to admit Harry did generally know what he was doing. Petunia had trained him well, it was a shame she hadn't also managed to instill a true sense of self-worth or a belief in his being worthy of being loved in the process. Cassandra had figured out that Harry measured his self-worth by how useful he was to others, while at the same time maintaining his independence. To him it was okay to be needed, but not to need others. Harry didn't believe that love was something real at least when it came to him.
She supposed it was the fact that she was his employee that had allowed Harry to allow himself to be as dependent on her as he was. It helped that she was dependent on him as well. She hoped one day Harry's magic would lead him to a person that he would need and he would come to accept that everything didn't have to come from him, that he could take back too without shame. But she knew that day was far in the future.
She shook herself from her musings and back to the moment with Mr. Lupin. "I don't know you, Mr. Lupin. Harry has given you this job and that makes us co-workers. It's not my place to approve or disapprove of Harry's hiring you. It is part of my job to see that you get settled in your flat, that you get the paperwork and oath done at the solicitor's office, and that you're briefed on your job. Nothing more, nothing less."
Remus felt skeptical of Harry's assistant's truthfulness, but decided in the end there wasn't much he could do about it. He followed the directions he was given, reporting for his oath late that afternoon. The oath made him a little nervous because he knew that Albus would at some point ask about Harry. He had already proven that to Remus through past association. He looked at Horace Ogden, "Is that really necessary?"
"It's a standard oath for the employees of our firm. It basically boils down to: what you learn about Harry, his actions, and his interests is private both while he is your employer and after you no longer work for him, stays private. Since Harry is a public figure, we decided it was a good idea for his employees as well. Is there a problem?"
"No, I guess not. When in says all information does it mean all information?"
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