“Absolutely not,” Arthur Weasley said.
“Look, Weasley. The orders are direct from the minister, you’ve got no say in it,” the sallow faced man said with a sneer, ”Now stand aside and we’ll question her. We’ve been told to try to make it quick so she can get back to rest. But she’s a key witness in this case.”
Mr. Weasley hesitated, “Well, I’m going with her then. I’m not leaving her alone given what happened.”
“That’s fine,” Avery sneered, “You are a witness too. You were coming either way, now or later. Now stop delaying, let's go.”
Hermione sat up from the bed and followed Mr. Weasley and the unpleasant man silently. She had woken up a few hours ago and it seems that everything was still frantic as the ministry tried to deal with the case. At least Lucius couldn’t sweep the incident under the rug since he had attacked her in an open space. Hermione couldn’t believe he had just ambushed her in the middle of a crowd like that. Apparently Lockhart had come to her rescue. Hermione flushed as she imagined the battle, she had seen his heroic picture as he stood above the unconscious Lucius Malfoy. Ron and Neville had been wrong, he was a hero! She couldn’t believe he was going to be her Defense against the Dark Arts teacher this year!
The two of them were led to a long hallway with a series of wooden doors. They walked for a while until the men stopped in front of one of the rooms and opened the door. Inside was a wooden table and a few scattered chairs in an otherwise bare room. Hermione thought it would look like one of those interrogation rooms from the cop dramas her parents watched if everything was made of metal instead of wood and stone for the walls and floor. The place had no windows but was brightly lit by a few floating magical lanterns.
Hermione and Mr. Weasley sat at one side while Avery and the other man stayed at the door.
“Wait here, you two. We’ll be back soon,” Avery said before closing and locking the door. Both of their wands had been taken a while ago, although Hermione was probably more relaxed than she should be. Not only did she feel that she could still do things with her new magic wandlessly, she still thought Dobby could help her escape if she was ever really in danger. She would only do that if she really had to though, that might expose Dobby as helping her.
That was only for self defense though. Legally, she had to be careful not to let anything spill. She would probably be fine, she was a minor and what she did was theft and minor assault at worst. Still bad, but not enough that she would go to jail Hermione didn’t think. She hoped so. But Dobby would be in even bigger trouble, he would probably be hunted down by the ministry for ‘impersonating’ a wizard.
She would just have to be careful, despite her stress. Mr. Weasley would help since he had no clue about any of it and thought she was totally innocent. Hermione did feel a little bad for not telling him the truth, but if her parents' crime shows were right then Avery and the other man were probably watching and listening to them right now waiting for them to say something incriminating to each other.
Hermione looked around the room and turned to Mr. Weasley. “So, uhm. Why am I in trouble again? Didn’t Lucius Malfoy attack me? One of the Aurors said I stole something apparently?”
Mr. Weasley huffed. “That’s right! Ridiculous they are even making you do this. But Malfoy claims you attacked him and stole his house elf right before he was caught in possession of dark artifacts. Load of rubbish if you ask me, the man clearly was just flailing for an excuse to not get in trouble.”
Hermione side eyed him, wanting to get the man’s genuine opinion, “So I read about it before, and aren’t the house elves, like, basically slaves? I just don’t get why no one seems to talk about it. I thought slavery had been banned in Britain since the 1800s.”
Mr. Weasley swallowed uncomfortably, “Well, that’s… it's a little different for them than humans. If you’d ever met one then you’d know that they are almost obsessive in making sure their masters are comfortable. I felt the same thing as a boy you know. Did you know there are house elves that run the Hogwarts kitchens?”
“What?” Hermione said in surprise, “They are the ones that make all the food?” She wasn’t sure how she should feel about that. The food was really good. But made by house elves…
“Oh, yes. I think Hogwarts actually has one of the largest populations in Britain. The population is in the hundreds of house elves between the food, cleaning, and other chores they take care of in that old place. Anyway, back to my story, I actually snuck down there into the kitchens in my fifth year. To get snacks between meals, you know. I felt the same as you and tried to convince a few of the elves to take clothes and free themselves. But they fought it every inch of the way and shunned me. They just didn’t understand what I saw wrong with their situation. They were more than happy where they were, so I gave up. It’s up to wizards to be good masters to them, since they are always so loyal to whoever they are bound to.”
Hermione shifted in her seat, not sure what to say. Was Dobby right about the loyalty clause making all the elves act differently? Or was Dobby really just that different from other house elves? Hermione thought that Dobby was probably right. She just couldn’t understand why the house elves could naturally think that way without exception (minus Dobby) unless they were under some compulsion.
But Hermione couldn’t tell Mr. Weasley any of that, that would expose her as knowing more than she was supposed to. At least he had tried a little to do something when he was younger.
“I don’t know. I guess if they’re happy about it.” She mumbled, “Still doesn’t feel right though.”
“Hmmm. Yes, it took me a while to wrap my head around it too. But don’t you worry about that right now. You’ll have plenty of time to think about big issues like that once you’re out of school. Right now we just have to get through this and get you back home safe so you can get ready for your upcoming classes.”
“Okay,” Hermione said, not sure why she should wait until after she graduated from school to start questioning things.
— — —
Avery returned with the other man a little while later. He was carrying three mugs and a bottle while his partner had a box of what appeared to be donuts. They set the food and water down in front of them and silently pushed it towards them. Hermione eyed the second man’s dirty hands as the two sat across them. The dirty man reached into the box, smearing his grimy hands all over everything before withdrawing a single donut from the center and taking a bite. Hermione felt her face scrunch up in disgust as she saw little brown flecks on the donuts surrounding the one the man had grabbed.
Mr. Weasley went to grab one and Hermione cleared her throat. Had he not seen what just happened. “Uhm. I wouldn’t eat those, Mr. Weasley.”
Avery raised a brow. “Why do you think we are eating first, girl? It's a wizarding tradition to show that the food is safe to eat. Feel free to eat up.”
Hermione straightened, “Oh, I, err, didn’t actually think of that. It’s just your partner…”
She gestured to the man who had just polished off his donut and wiped his hand on his coat.
Everyone looked at him and the man froze, “What? I’m allowed to enjoy food on the job.”
Hermione checked the box again. Yeah, there were definitely brown flakes covering a portion of them.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Well, it’s just,” Hermione said, “You wiped some of your dirt onto the rest of the donuts as you took the first one. I’m definitely not eating any of them now.”
Avery picked one up and inspected it closely, “So you’re right,” he said deliberately. He turned to his partner and barked, “Go use some cleaning spells for Merlin’s sake. Way to botch our opening, genius.”
The man grumbled and quickly left. “Ah, apologies for him,” Avery said, “We were just on the graveyard shift yesterday, so it has been a long day for the both of us. Would you like some water?”
Avery poured out water into the three mugs and pushed two of them over to Mr. Weasley and Hermione. She frowned as she noticed the man’s eyes quickly darting to her cup, seeming to make sure she took the right one. He made an obvious motion to take a long and sustained sip from his own cup before looking at them expectantly. Mr. Weasley shrugged and drank directly from his cup. But Hermione was more suspicious, especially after Avery made sure she received that exact cup. And made a big deal about poisons before. She raised the cup to her lips and noticed that Avery was watching her closely. She stopped and put the mug back down.
She turned to Mr. Weasley, “Hey, Mr. Weasley. I’ve heard that truth serum is incredibly valuable. Do you know exactly how much it costs?”
Avery’s eye twitched and Hermione knew that she was right. He had put some truth serum in her cup somehow! What a jerk!
Mr. Weasley stopped and appeared to be trying to remember, “Oh, around five to ten galleons a drop I think. Very hard potion to make, and a long brewing time. The ministry only uses it in the most important cases.”
“Okay,” Hermione said. She turned to Avery, “I’m not thirsty. Did you want it back, Avery?”
Avery nodded, “You know, I think I do…”
Hermione tipped over the cup and the liquid spilled all over the table. Avery’s face twisted in anger and she smiled slightly. That’s what he got for trying to drug her! It wasn’t like he was ever going to be friendly if he was trying to slip her potions to try to get her to talk.
“Oops,” Hermione said. Avery took out his wand and vanished the spill and stood after collecting her empty cup.
“Quite alright,” He said with gritted teeth, “Accidents happen.”
He quickly left, and Mr. Weasley looked at her in confusion, “What was that all about?” He asked.
Hermione looked at him, “Well, he was looking at my cup pretty closely, so I thought he might have put something in it. Probably truth serum or something similar. Did you see his reaction when I spilled it?”
Mr. Weasley slowly nodded before glancing down at his own mug and huffing, “You know, you may be right. I wouldn’t put it past Avery to try something like that. Good thinking, Hermione. Can’t be too careful. But why prod him like that by pouring it out? That will only make things harder for you, you know.”
She looked at the door, “I don’t know, really. I guess I’m just mad he’d do something like that. And he’s been a huge jerk ever since we got here. When are we getting out of here? They haven’t even asked us any questions yet.”
“Better be soon,” Mr. Weasley grumbled, “I was having quite an engaging conversation with your father before all this happened, Hermione. Who knew taking care of teeth without magic could be so complex!”
“Er, yeah. Mom and Dad could talk about it for days if you let them.”
Mr. Weasley brightened at that, “And I’d be happy to listen for days! Molly and I should invite you and your parents over to the Burrow again. Didn’t exactly give you the full tour in the rush to leave.”
“That sounds nice,” Hermione replied, “Very nice.”
— — —
“...So in conclusion, you have no idea of what happened and you were at home at the time of the incident,” Avery said.
Hermione nodded, “Yes. That’s… that’s right. I’m not sure why someone would pretend to be me like that.”
Avery leaned forward, “And if we check your wand we’ll find that you cast no spells with it over the summer?”
Hermione’s breath released in relief and Mr. Weasley frowned at Hermione slightly at her reaction.
“No, I didn’t cast any spells over the summer,” she said. Wait, she realized that they should already know that from the trace. Why would he have to ask? She tried to think of why that would be. Huh, hadn’t the entity that helped her and Dobby form the contract said it removed something from her that observed magical activity? Had it removed the trace from her?
“Why wouldn’t you already know?” Hermione asked, “Wouldn’t I have gotten in trouble either way if I was using magic? Isn’t that the whole point of the trace?”
It was Mr. Weasley who answered her question, “The trace tracks any magical activity in the area around you. It can’t tell who cast the spell. The ministry knows to ignore things if a spell is cast in an area with many wizards. If you were in Hogwarts for example then there would be no way to tell if you cast the spell or any of the hundreds of other students nearby.”
Mr. Weasley turned to Avery, “Regardless, you must have checked her wand for spells over an hour ago, Avery. That’s the simplest test we always do, you wouldn’t have waited this long if there was anything suspicious. Do you have any real questions left, or are you just wasting our time here? I would very much like to go home now.”
Avery looked like he was trying to think of something. He opened his mouth, looking slightly desperate as Hermione saw him visibly thinking.
At his long pause, Mr. Weasley stood, “Let’s go, Hermione. I think we’re done here. And don’t think no one will notice you going out of your way to cover Malfoy’s as– butt, Avery,” Mr. Weasley quickly shifted his word mid-sentence after a quick glance at Hermione, “He won’t be able to squirm out of the consequences this time.”
Avery sat for a few seconds longer before sighing. He got to his feet with his now much cleaner partner and opened the door to the room.
“I guess not,” Avery said. They all walked out into the hallway and they started walking back to the entrance to the Ministry.
Mr. Weasley and Hermione were about to leave for the front desk to get their wands back when Avery called out behind them.
“Weasley. Hermione.”
The two of them turned and Avery’s eyes were fixed directly on Hermione. His expression was carefully blank as he continued, “Accidents happen. Do be careful out there.”
Something cold ran Hermione’s back as she met the man’s cold eyes.
“We will, Avery. We will,” Mr. Weasley said seriously, seeming to understand the unspoken threat.
A moment of tense silence.
“Then I’ll be off then,” Avery said abruptly, “Time to submit my report to the minister. I’m sure he’ll be interested in what I have to say.”
And with that the man turned in place and quickly walked off, not looking behind. After a few more seconds of watching him leave, Mr. Weasley spoke, “Rather unpleasant, that fellow. Don’t you worry about him, he’s just frustrated he can’t manufacture any evidence proving Lucius’ delusions as true. Now, let’s get out of here. I’m sure this isn’t exactly how you imagined your first visit to the ministry. I should take you to work sometime, show you it without all this unpleasantness going around…”
“I’d rather not come back for a while if that’s okay,” Hermione replied as she was handed back her wand by the secretary. She tucked it back in her robes.
Mr. Weasley went silent as they made their way towards the exit, which was a big row of floo powder fireplaces. “Well, I guess that’s alright too,” He said eventually as they waited in line.
Eventually, Mr. Weasley had Hermione go first and she said her destination correctly this time. The ten to fifteen minute wait as she traveled through the ‘floo space’, as she had been mentally calling it, was a little boring. But she could observe the little windows through other fireplaces once she slowed down towards the end, so that was interesting enough at least.
Eventually, Hermione saw her destination as she saw her Mom saying something in slow motion with the chaotic background of the Burrow around her. The little window grew and grew and Hermione had to resist flinching as she flew straight through into the dead center.
Her vision suddenly was engulfed in green flames and Hermione was back in the real world. She took a few steps forward and a few seconds later she heard the flames of Mr. Weasley arrived behind her.
Everyone in the room looked at him.
“What took you two so long?” Mom said with some tension, her eyes scanning Hermione.
“Hermione’s fine, just had to answer a few questions from an unpleasant fellow,” Mr. Weasley said, “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. Just took a little longer than I’d hoped to finish things up with him.”
“Are you okay, Hermione?” Mom said, still looking worried.
Hermione met her eyes. She had had a pretty long time to calm down in the floo space, “I’m fine, I didn’t get in any trouble.”
Mom relaxed, “Oh, that’s wonderful. Me and your father were worried after it took so long, you know. Now it is late. I think it is time for bed. The Weasleys were nice enough to offer for us to stay the night to wait for you two to come back. I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping with us.”
“Ok,” Hermione said. She waved to Mr. Weasley, “Thanks for coming with me at the Ministry, Good night.”
“No problem, none at all. Not your fault at all, I’ll make sure Lucius pays for attacking you," Mr. Weasley, "Don’t you worry about it. See you tomorrow.”