Chapter 1 – The Questioning

"Hey listen Cho, the Ministry needs you down here right now – there's a case that they want us to solve. Apparently, this Death-Eater is accused of putting the Imperius Curse on some muggle. Dumb fuck – in broad day light aswel. Got the muggle to slap his girlfriend…" Missy paused and sneezed. "Sorry, the ashes are getting to me. I'll see you at the Ministry in five seconds OK?" and her head disappeared from the fireplace.

            Cho Chang bustled upstairs, grabbed the nearest jacket she could find and Apparated to the Ministry of Magic. She was greeted with a series of exasperated and tired "Hello"s as she dashed up to the Questioning Department on the 5th floor.

            It had been 6 years since Cho had left Hogwarts and took a job at the Ministry as an Auror.  She still had her long flowing hair and almond-shaped eyes. She had to decide between playing as Seeker on Stepney United Qudditch Team or being an Auror. She chose the second choice because her parents approved of it more, and because it was more of a well-paid job.

            She rapped on the door quietly and let herself in without a response. Inside, she saw Missy sitting behind a desk with a quill in her hand, doodling on a small piece of parchment. In the middle of the room stood a lonely looking chair. Missy looked up when she saw Cho. She smiled happily.

            "Alright Cho?" she asked as she patted a chair next to hers. Cho walked over and slumped down, getting out a parchment and quill.

            "Yeah I'm fine thanks. OK so –" Cho paused. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

            "Oh – nothing! This questioning should be fairly interesting…" Missy answered, still smiling slyly.

            At that very moment, another door on their left creaked open. In came two large wizards wearing brown robes, and holding another smaller looking wizard, with his head hung low, by the arms. The large wizards shoved the smaller wizard onto the lonely-looking chair and walked out quietly, nodding at Missy on their way out. Missy gave them a thumbs-up and turned to face the wizard on the chair. The wizard slowly lifted his head.

            Cho's jaw dropped.

            "We meet again Mr Malfoy" Missy implied seriously, but with a trace of amusement.

            Draco Malfoy turned to face Missy and sneered at her. However, he glanced at Cho then froze.

            "I bet you're happy to see Cho here now aren't you? OK let's get down to business….aah what's the date today? Oh yes – June 21st…." Missy mumbled to herself, her eyes darting at Draco very quickly.

            Cho shifted uncomfortably in her chair and avoided Draco's eyes. She cleared her throat and scrawled down the date onto her piece of parchment, just as Missy had done.

            "Mr Malfoy, we've had two witches coming up to the Ministry reporting a sighting of you putting the Imperius Curse on a muggle…do you deny that?" Missy asked.

            "No" Draco breathed simply.

            "OK then can I ask why you decided to do that?"

            "Because I felt like it OK?" Draco said, eyebrows raised.

            "No wizard is committed to use a curse on a muggle just because they felt like it" Missy said, in her usual bitchy voice.

            "Well I do, OK?"

            Missy opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted as the door in which Cho entered banged open. A red-faced wizard had an urgent look on his face, staring avidly at Missy.

            "Miss Elliot, we need you quick! There's a bunch of house-elves charging around in the basement going on a strike! Apparently, Miss Hermione Granger is behind all of this!" the wizard announced rapidly.

            "Lord, I've always hated that girl!" Missy yelled furiously. Then she added to Cho "I'm really sorry Cho, you can handle him by yourself can't you? And if he doesn't answer any of your questions, give him a bit of this –" Missy pulled out a small bottle of violet coloured liquid.