AN: Okay, so this was meant to be the second half of the last chapter but it would have made it too big and I hadn't finished it when I last posted. But I managed to finish it today so here it is. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter Nine: Interrogations

Valkyrie stepped out of the Hospital Wing the next day with a grin on her face. Thanks to Skulduggery's insistence that he needed her for his current case Madam Pomfrey had reluctantly allowed Valkyrie to leave, though she was under strict instructions to report back at the end of the day to make sure that none of her wounds had re-opened. If the Hogwarts Matron had had it her way Valkyrie would still be on the bed but luckily Skulduggery had convinced her otherwise.

True to their word the Weasley Twins, Harry and Ron had visited the night previously, Fred and George had smuggled up butterbeer and food from the kitchens once Valkyrie told them that she was being released so as they could celebrate. Of course, the celebrations were quiet and hushed but still, it had been fun. Hermione had joined them half-way through the evening with what had looked like genuine concern on her face. It was almost touching, at least it had been until Fred had given her a Canary Cream that she had absent-mindedly accepted while apologising for not visiting earlier only to burst into a giant feathery canary much to the delight of Fred and George. Who quickly ran when both Madam Pomfrey and Hermione chased them from the Hospital Wing their wands drawn.

Skulduggery was waiting for Valkyrie outside the Hospital Wing wearing his dark blue suit with a matching hat and pale blue shirt.

"Good morning," he said in greeting from his position against the wall. "Sleep well?"

"Not really," Valkyrie murmured, stifling a yawn. When Madam Pomfrey had operated on her she had slept well, though that had mainly been due to the stunning spell and the potions that she had been given, but the following night her dreams had returned. Darquesse. Visions of Darquesse had filled her mind once more. Even Madam Pomfrey's dreamless sleep potions could not banish the dark dreams that filled her head. She had had an hour or two at most.

"Bad dreams?"

"I never seem to have good dreams these days," Valkyrie grumbled.

"The price of being a detective," Skulduggery told her as they began down the corridor. "How's your back, by the way?"

"It's fine, a little sore. I've got to be back up here tonight to make sure it doesn't reopen or anything." Valkyrie replied. "So, where are we going?"

"Professor McGonagall has kindly agreed to give us the use of her office for today. I suppose we could use my room but I'd rather he didn't know where you sleep. I interviewed everybody else earlier, seeing as Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let you out until lunch I thought it would be a constructive use of my time. They're all clean. Only three of them have given access to anyone over the last few months and none of them were Tanith or Sanguine. I did some checking on Malfoy. He gave access to two school inspectors: Madam Elizabeth Kerner and Mister Alexander Reynolds. They are both inspectors at the Ministry, they have meetings with Dumbledore every so often to make sure that everything is going okay. I asked Fudge if he had sent them. He hadn't. They're both on holiday, Kerner is in Paris and Reynolds is in his flat in Oxford."

"So it is Malfoy then?"

"It can't be anyone else. The trouble is that we can't get hold of either of them to validate it. Malfoy could have requested them, it's his right as head of the Governors."

"So we've still got no proof that it is him?"

"No," Skulduggery said the frustration clear in his voice. After that he didn't speak again for the rest of their journey to McGonagall's office. It was unnerving and more than a little worrying. Skulduggery was rarely quiet and when he was it was never a good sign. Valkyrie didn't envy Malfoy one bit, he had chosen the wrong side and he didn't even know why yet but he was about to find out.

As they reached the office Valkyrie stopped, throwing out an arm so as Skulduggery didn't enter the office. She had to say it before they entered, she needed to know that he wasn't going to do anything that wasn't by the book. Not now. Not when the world was watching. Normally she would have let him take his anger out on Malfoy but they couldn't afford it.

"Promise me you won't do anything stupid," she said, making sure that there was no one around. "Voldemort's got one of us on his side, if we do this wrong they'll tell anyone who'll listen, they're looking for an excuse to go to war, Skulduggery."

"I know," Skulduggery replied. "But he's going to pay for what happened to you, Valkyrie."

And with that Skulduggery went into the office. After a moment Valkyrie followed him. It was a small and yet brightly lit room with one large window looking out onto the Grounds. The far wall was home to a roaring fireplace, a small grey pot sitting on the mantelpiece. There weren't any real signs that this was someone's office. There was a Gryffindor lion etched delicately into the wall above her desk but apart from that there was nothing, no photos of loved ones, nothing that made it Professor McGonagall's office, it could have been anyone's.

The desk itself sat to the side, the chair that McGonagall sat in facing the door while the chairs that the students would sit in faced her, away from the door, so they would have to crane their necks or turn to see who entered. Valkyrie almost smiled. It was exactly the same as how Skulduggery set up his interview room at the Sanctuary.

Skulduggery made his way to the large chair behind the desk when the recently closed door was thrown lazily open and a tall, blonde haired man that could only be Draco Malfoy's father stepped inside wearing completely black robes and carrying a black cane with a silver serpent's head as the handle. His cold eyes fixed on Valkyrie, widening slightly, but only for less than a second before flitting to Skulduggery so quickly that she wasn't even sure that it had happened, it was almost as if he was shocked to see her.

"Mister Malfoy, take a seat." Skulduggery said, his usual warmth gone from his voice and filling with a coldness to rival that of Malfoy's emotionless eyes.

"I do hope that you are not about to waste my time, Detective Pleasant, I am very busy man."

"I assure you that this is not a waste of time," Skulduggery told him as Malfoy took the seat opposite. Valkyrie already hated him. The arrogance that had oozed from his son was nothing compared to the cool, hard self-confidence that radiated from Malfoy. She had never seen anything like it and the way he talked, she just wanted to hit him hard across the face to knock him down a peg or two. He had a face that made her fists itch. "I am sure you that Professor Dumbledore has made you aware of the events of two days ago."

"Of course," Malfoy replied, with a small nod as he turned to Valkyrie, those cold, icy eyes on her once more. "You have my sympathy, Miss Cain, I hear it was quite the ordeal."

"I'll get over it," Valkyrie said tightly, resisting glaring at the arrogant, self-obsessed man before her. Definitely like father like son.

"I'm sure you will. However, I am unsure what Miss Cain's predicament has to do with me."

"Then let me make it clear," Skulduggery said. "There is no way that either of the people who attacked Valkyrie could have entered this castle without help. It has been confirmed that someone on the Board of Governors is responsible for allowing them access to the school. Do you have any idea who that could be, Mister Malfoy?"

"None at all,"

"Are you quite sure?" Skulduggery pressed. "Think hard Mister Malfoy because we know that someone is guilty."

"Now that you mention it, Cyrus Greengrass has been acting strangely since Miss Cain's name came out of the Goblet. He doesn't like your kind, Detective, perhaps it could be him."

Valkyrie felt her fists clench and her jaw tighten, he was trying to blame someone else for what had happened to her. He wanted to be in the clear and he was going to shift it all onto someone who had never meant her any harm, someone who was completely innocent. It didn't matter to him as long as he wasn't affected. It took all of her self control not say anything, Skulduggery had it under control, he was their best chance of arresting Malfoy for what he had done.

"I myself have already talked to Mister Greengrass," Skulduggery replied. "He's innocent, he hasn't given anybody access to the castle apart from his mother, last year, who wanted to see her granddaughters over Christmas."

"Then I'm afraid I can't help you, Detective." Malfoy said with another little smirk. He probably thought he'd won. "Now if you would excuse me I must be -"

"I know you are busy, Mister Malfoy, but I still have some questions for you."

"Such as?"

"Mister Greengrass isn't the only one who has granted permission to outsiders so as they can enter the school. You yourself gave permission to Madam Kerner and Mister Reynolds, is that correct?"

"Yes it is," Malfoy nodded. "They work at the Ministry, with everything going on, the Tournament having two more champions that expected I thought it would be prudent for them to inspect the school. It seems that my fears were correct."

"I assure you, Mister Malfoy, nothing is as it seems. Those inspectors, for example, they never came here, did they? Do you know what I think? I think you lied about them coming here. I think you lied to cover up who really was coming here."

"I do not appreciate what you are insinuating, Detective Pleasant."

"I'm not insinuating anything," Skulduggery said, leaning forward, his gloved hands on the desk. "I'm telling you. You're the one who gave Valkyrie's attackers access to the school."

"You're insane!" Malfoy shouted, losing the cool demeanour that he had kept in place throughout the entire conversation. "Do you know who I am?"

"Yes."

"Then you'll that people who oppose me have little to show for it afterwards. I can make things difficult for you and your partner very quickly, Detective. All I have to do is send a letter and you're finished."

"Is that why you did it, Malfoy? Put Valkyrie in her place for daring to touch your pathetic little son. You wanted make sure that she was finished, is that it?"

"I will not be spoken to like that," Malfoy spat, suddenly on his feet, his eyes flashing. The effect would have been intimidating if Skulduggery hadn't drawn himself up to his fullest height, towering over Malfoy, who looked up at him defiantly.

"No that's not it, is it? You wouldn't kidnap her for that, would you? You'd make it public, embarrassing. This wasn't your plan was it? It was Voldemort's."

"If it was the Dark Lord's plan then why would he use sorcerers? Answer me that Skeleton."

"I don't remember telling you that she was attacked by sorcerers, Mister Malfoy." Skulduggery said and Malfoy's eyes widened with panic. Valkyrie felt a smile pull at her lips. They had him. "In fact, I deliberately made sure that you wouldn't know that. I made sure that Dumbledore only told you that Valkyrie had been attacked that you were needed, nothing else. So, there is no way that you can know unless, of course, it was you who sent them."

Malfoy's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed as Skulduggery took out a set of shackles from his jacket pocket. "I have very powerful friends, Detective, you are going to regret accusing me of such a thing."

"I'll do more than that. Lucius Malfoy," Skulduggery said, "by the power endowed unto me under the Sanctuary Rule of Justice, I am placing you under arrest for aiding and abetting the assault and attempted murder of a Sanctuary Agent. You have the right to -"

But Skulduggery was cut off by Malfoy drawing his wand, pointing it straight at his chest. It was lear that he hated not being in control, people like him never did. Malfoy's plan was unravelling and he knew it. There was nothing he could do. Maybe later he could but not now. They weren't Aurors. They were detectives. He couldn't bribe his way out of this. "I think not, Detective."

"Are you resisting arrest?" Skulduggery asked, not bothering to raise his hands, Valkyrie was about to step forwards but he shook his head so imperceptibly that only Valkyrie noticed. What the hell was he playing at?

"You have no right to arrest me, Detective. I will see you pay for what you tried to do today."

"I'm going to take that as a yes," Skulduggery said. "Valkyrie, please verify that Mister Malfoy is resisting arrest."

"I think he is," Valkyrie agreed, realising what he was doing a moment before he did it.

Skulduggery didn't waste another second with words but moved under Malfoy's wand. There was a bang but Skulduggery was already grabbing his arm and then moving under, turning and wrenching. There was a loud crack and a howl of pain that echoed around the office, Malfoy dropped to his knees, his wand scattering to the floor. Skulduggery drove his knee into Malfoy jaw and the man was sent backwards, unconscious, lying sprawled out on the floor. Skulduggery slammed another fist into his face, drawing blood, before he knelt down and cuffed him. Valkyrie picked up his wand and snapped it for good measure, just in case the shackles didn't bind wizards like they did mages.

Outside the office there was the sound of someone running and then McGonagall appeared, her wand in her hand, she was out of breath and glaring at both Valkyrie and Skulduggery.

"What," she demanded. "Is going on here?"

"Mister Malfoy was resisting arrest," Skulduggery answered, as he rose to his feet, leaving Malfoy where he was on the floor.

"Arrest?"

"Yes, Professor, it was Mister Malfoy who gave Sanguine and Tanith access to the school. I don't know why yet but I will. Has Ghastly left any Cleavers?"

"Mister Bespoke left a group of four, to look after Mister Sanguine in the dungeons, he thought it best that Mister Sanguine and Miss Low did not travel together." McGonagall told him. "But -"

"Then I will be placing Mister Malfoy with the Cleavers until they take Sanguine back to Ireland, he can go with them." Skulduggery replied before turning back to Malfoy and with a wave of his hands levitated him out of the room, knocking his head hard against the doorframe as he did so. McGonagall stared after him, her mouth slightly open, shock on her lined face. Valkyrie gave her a smile before she followed Skulduggery, closing the door behind her.

The news of Malfoy's arrest spread around the school quicker than anything Valkyrie had expected. Only hours later everyone was talking about it, though that was partly due to the fact that Skulduggery had paraded him in front of six open classrooms before taking him down to the dungeon, claiming to be lost when the tiny Professor Flitwick asked what they were doing on the Sixth Floor.

Draco Malfoy, as a result, was completely disgraced. Valkyrie would have felt sorry for him if he hadn't been such an insufferable, arrogant coward, as it was she felt a twinge of guilt when she saw his pale face marred with emotion. Though, the guilt vanished when he began shouting at her from across the corridor later that day. It didn't do him much good. Fred, who had been at the opposite end of the corridor, silenced him just as he was about to call her something particularly foul and threatened to curse anyone who gave him the counter curse.

When the news of Lucius' arrest reached Ron's ears he was almost instantly asking Valkyrie how they had managed to arrest him and get away with it. Apparently anyone who had tried to arrest him failed and those who actually managed to arrest him were never able to get a conviction as he would always be able to worm his way out of the situation. Ron didn't stop celebrating for a whole day, ignoring Hermione's comment on it being bad taste. Malfoy had persecuted his family for years and Ron was enjoying the fact that he had finally got what was coming to him.

They took Malfoy away with Sanguine two days later, despite his best efforts to be freed through the many lawyers he requested, Skulduggery refused to let him go and he wasn't about to grant him immunity, even for information, not after what he had done. Even so Skulduggery spent almost every hour down in the dungeons, talking to Malfoy, chipping away at him. Valkyrie joined him a few hours before Malfoy was scheduled to be sent to Ireland.

The dungeon that he was being held in was cold and eerily lit by the cool, green light that shone through the lake above them. Torches lit the Cleavers outside, Malfoy had two and Sanguine had the other two, one posted outside his door, the other inside to keep a constant eye on him. They didn't react when Valkyrie neared, but she hadn't expected them to, they just kept staring straight ahead at the chipped stone wall. They let her pass and she opened the door to Malfoy's make-shift cell.

Malfoy was sitting shackled to a chair, Skulduggery had shackled each arm to the corresponding arm rest on the chair and had done the same with his legs. There was no way Malfoy was going anywhere and neither was Skulduggery. Sleep didn't stop him, hunger didn't affect him, he hadn't moved for the past few hours straight and the only way Malfoy could stop him was to tell him everything. Malfoy didn't look round when she entered, his head was bowed low, his long hair obscuring his face from view.

"If you don't tell me anything, Lucius do you know what will happen to you? Do you even know where you're going? You're going to be tried and then sentenced a put into the deepest, darkest hole I can find. No one will be there, you'll be completely, totally alone, you don't deserve company. But if you tell me everything you know, why you're responsible for Valkyrie almost being killed, then I might consider giving you a nice, warm cell in a jail full of killers like you. You don't help me then you rot. I'll leave you there forever and believe me I can and I will. This is your last chance. Tell me everything."

"I can't," Malfoy whispered, his voice frail and empty of the arrogance that it had once carried, being replaced by a tinge of fear that lingered on the edge of his words and filled his eyes. "He'll kill me."

"I hate to be cliché but where you're going is worse than death, trust me. I know what it is die and I know what is to be trapped alone with nothing but pain for company. Death is far easier, Lucius."

Malfoy nodded, more to himself than to Skulduggery, his lank hair falling in front of his stubble covered face. "It was his plan. The Dark Lord isn't gone, Potter didn't kill him, we all thought he was dead but he's back. The Dark Lord, he wants her to die. The girl. You have to believe me I do not know why, I just know that he plans to kill her."

"How did he contact you?" Valkyrie asked, from her position against the wall and Malfoy turned slowly looking at her with those empty eyes. He didn't even look half the man she had seen almost two days ago.

"He sent someone with a letter, his last loyal servant."

"I don't know, he wouldn't tell me, he just gave me the letter and left." Malfoy told them, Valkyrie moved round, joining Skulduggery opposite Malfoy.

"What did the letter say?" Skulduggery asked, his voice gentler than it had been before. "What was his plan, Lucius?"

"He told me to give Low and Sanguine a way into the school, he said that they would take it from there and that when you die we will enter an Age of Glory that we have never seen before. When you both die our greatest ally will be revealed to us." Malfoy said. "I didn't even know he was back but mark is getting clearer with each day, soon he is going to return and he isn't going to fall, not this time. He will call on those of us who were loyal to him. He will rid us of the scourge that plagues or world."

"Who is this ally?"

"I don't know." Malfoy told him, if he had said that only days previously Valkyrie wouldn't have believed him but as she looked into those empty eyes she knew he wasn't lying. He feared his master but he was more scared by the threat that had fallen from Skulduggery's mouth. "The letter didn't say. But I've heard a word, I don't know what it means but he said it, the man who gave me the letter."

"What word?"

"Darquesse."