A/N: i don't own anything...pity...will add chap 2 tomorrow...just want to see how you react to this one...reviews are welcome!

Chapter 1

The Cell

Deep in the bowels of the Ministry of Magic, there was a cell, many cells in fact. But this cell was special, despite its dank, moldy walls, rusty bars and numerous rat inhabitants. Huddled in one of the shadowy corners was what appeared to be a dirty bundle of rags. The bundle of rags stirred, then coughed and looked up. There was a sound of heavy footsteps and then a key was being turned in the rusty lock. A harsh whisper reverberated through the musty air.

"Lumos."

A wavering light filled the damp cell. The prisoner blinked and cringed away from the warmth. A portly man stepped into the cell, wearing pinstriped trousers and carrying a lime green bowler hat in his nervous hands. He glanced around the cell in distaste before saying…

"So, I have kept my word. It has been three days since our last meeting. I trust that you have thought about my little proposition?"

The man stood and watched as the filthy pile of rags raised its even filthier head. A pair of eyes glinted out of a once handsome, now skeletal, face. A thin grimy hand darted out and pushed away some long greasy black locks from his face. The man opened his mouth and a single croak came out.

"Yes."

"Really?" The man said, looking mildly shocked and extremely pleased with himself. He glanced at some hidden person behind him with an "I told you so" look. He turned back to the prisoner, a smug look settling on his face. "So, you have decided to tell what you know about Dumbledore and where he has been disappearing to?" A hungry eagerness gleamed in his eyes.

"No."

"What? But you just said th-that…" the heavy man trailed off.

"Even if I knew what Dumbledore does in his spare time, I wouldn't tell you." His sneer was so intense it made the man step back, fidgeting with his hat.

A tall thin man jumped out from behind the other man, narrowly avoiding being stepped upon.

"Watch yourself, Cornelius! I need both feet to accomplish my job as minister."

"S-sorry, Scrimgeour," stuttered a fluster Cornelius.

The filthy head looked from Cornelius to the thin man, Scrimgeour. The man had a wild mane of hair, faintly reminding him of a lion and by the way he held himself as he stood, he could tell that the man walked with a slight limp. He looked curiously at the thin man.

"Minister?" he croaked, "but I thought…"

"Yes, well…"Fudge hesitated. "It seems, given the new state of things, that the people wanted a new Minister…" Cornelius sighed then continued, "So I resigned and Scrimgeour took on the job…" The ex-Minister looked highly uncomfortable and slightly red.

The prisoner looked as though he might ask another question. He opened his mouth to reveal one or two missing teeth, when the new minister interrupted him.

"Enough with the questions!" he burst out. He glanced at Cornelius and then at the prisoner; he regained his composure. "Fudge has given me details about a certain meeting of yours, one, I believe, that took place two weeks ago…" he said silkily, as he smirked down at the dirty man. He watched as he tried to recall the meeting. All of a sudden a light sparked in the prisoner's eyes and his face settled in an unrevealing mask.

"Of course. How could I ever forget our lovely meeting, any of them really? They are truly the highlight of my stay here," he said sarcastically.

Scrimgeour glared down at the dirty man at his feet. His fist flew out, struck the prisoner in the head and quickly drew back his leg and kicked the man in the side. The prisoner slid completely on the floor, clutching his side.

"Do not ANGER me! Don't be so STUPID! How is this any way to repay the Ministry? We save you from that wretched veil and this is how you thank us? By refusing to answer our questions? Ungrateful, little…do not forget that we have other ways of finding out what we need to know, from much more vulnerable…and weak…sources…" he smirked and quickly knelt down to the prisoner. He whispered, "Tell me, Sirius. How is your daughter, Alexis, doing? I heard that she had gotten herself into a spot of trouble earlier…." He stood up and walked to stand next to Fudge.

Sirius tried to concentrate his thoughts on what the Minister of Magic was saying. His daughter? What does this have to do with Al-He glanced up at Scrimgeour, murder in his eyes. He struggled to get up despite his recently acquired concussion and newly bruised kidney. He was roughly pushed back down.

"I swear, Scrimgeour. If you did anything, laid one finger on her…I'll…I'll…"

"You'll what? Kill me? I'd like to see you try." He nodded to the hall outside of the cell they were currently in. Sirius looked and saw three large wizards, all with their wands raised and pointed straight at his chest. Sirius turned back towards the two men just as they were walking out. He fought to stay conscious as his cell door was locked. The last words that Sirius Black hear floated towards him on a black cloud…

"Let's see if the daughter falls far from the tree…"

"Yes, it shouldn't be too hard to break her…"

Then he was gone; he had fainted.