Nicole looked from her mother to the new guest. Something about him made her mother uncomfortable. Nicole looked at Dumbledore who seemed fixated on her father as if he was trying to figure something out about him.

"My name is Bartemius Crouch. I'm head of The Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I'm here to ask you some questions." It was her father who responded first.

"What kind of questions?" He asked skeptically. He was standing beside the bed. Crouch turned his attention to Jeremiah.

"Who are you?" Crouch asked staring at Jeremiah.

"Her father."

"Oh yes. The American." Nicole didn't like the way that Crouch said American and could tell that her father liked it even less. The tension in the room was overwhelming.

"The hope is that the girls perhaps saw something or can give us some information that can help us figure out who is responsible for this crime." Dumbledore explained. Crouch's eyes narrowed slightly at Dumbledore's gentle attempt to ease the discomfort that seemed to have taken permanent residence within the hospital room.

Crouch took a quill and notepad out from his pocket.

"It is my understanding that you have been in coma of sorts since the accident." Crouch asked nonchalantly as he looked at his notepad. Everyone was silent. Crouch looked up at Nicole expectantly.

"Well?"

"That wasn't a question." Jeremiah tried to hide a smile as Sofia looked disapprovingly at her daughter. Crouch continued unfazed.

"Can you tell me what you were doing in Hogsmeade the day of the accident?"

"I was looking for a birthday present for my friend Lily."

"The Muggle Emporium was supposed to be closed that day and yet you and Ms. Monroe somehow were inside. Curious."

"We didn't break in, if that's what you think. The owner let us in." Nicole said defensively. Crouch flipped through pages in his notepad

"Yes the owner, Hammond Tristram. He died in the accident." Crouch said causally.

"I know...I saw his body." Nicole said softly. Jeremiah placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. She thought back to the accident.

Nicole had been looking around the first floor trying to find Adrianna. When she saw the dead body she immediately thought that it was Adrianna.

You were relieved that it wasn't Adrianna. You were relieved that someone else was dead. Nicole thought darkly.

"Did he have any family?" Nicole asked. Her question seemed to stun Crouch as he was unable to answer.

"He was recently married. No children." Dumbledore added sadly. Nicole thought that knowing about his family would make things easier for her. She was wrong.

Knowing that there was a woman out there who was once full of hope and love had now become teary-eyed and broken was no comfort to the child who put her there in the first place.

He went back in because of you. It wasn't a rational thought or even one that had any merit but nonetheless it was the thought that crossed Nicole's mind. Being in the coma hadn't given Nicole a lot of time to process and deal with what had happened on her own.

"Nikka?" Are you okay?" Sofia asked concerned from the side of the room.

"Perhaps we could continue these questions some other time?" Jeremiah suggested. Nicole shook her head.

"No. I want to help. I'm fine."

"Good. Then we'll continue. Where were you when the explosion occurred?" Crouch asked.

"I was on the second floor."

"And Ms. Monroe?"

"The third."

"Are you sure about that?" Nicole looked from Crouch to Dumbledore whose expression was hard to read. There was something going on.

"Yes. She was looking for an album." Crouch closed the notepad.

"Ms. Monroe says otherwise."

"What?"

"Ms. Monroe says that she was on the ladder heading down to the second floor when the explosion occurred."

"What does that have to do with Nicolaia?" Her mother asked face frowning with the confusion that Nicole felt.

"Ms. Monroe claims that she was headed downstairs because of your daughter." Crouch said with a sneer as he turned to look at Sofia. Sofia folded her arms across her chest.

"What does that mean?"

"Ms. Monroe was instructed to get down from the third floor before the explosion happened, which begs the question; How did she know it was going to happen? Unless of course she knew it all along or perhaps saw something or someone. I'm more inclined to believe the latter." Crouch said very pleased with himself.

Nicole was shocked. She looked to her mother and father whose expressions mirrored that of her own. Why was Adrianna saying these things?

Did I do what they're saying? Think Nicole, think. We went inside and Adrianna went to the third floor and I went to the second.

"You can't possibly believe that she had something to do with this?!" Jeremiah said in disbelief.

"The evidence…." Crouch began.

We were sitting on the ladder talking about Sirius and Avery. I remember Adrianna was upset over Sirius. She went back to the third floor. I saw her go back.

"You agree with him? You think that Nicole had something to do with this?!" Jeremiah interrupted turning his attention to Dumbledore who had remained quiet and pensive through this whole ordeal.

I was looking for the book. The fairytale book on the second floor.

"I don't…."

"Professor Dumbledore does not work for the Ministry nor is he conducting this investigation. His opinion of the matter is irrelevant. As head of The Department of Magical Law Enforcement I am duty-bound to look at the facts."

"What facts? All you have is the opinion of a student who suffered a serious trauma. An opinion that you are using to conclude that my daughter had something to do with the accident that nearly claimed her and her friend's life." Sofia defended.

"This is bullshit." Jeremiah said angrily.

I kept looking through the shelves but I couldn't find it. There were so many books and I was distracted about what Adrianna said about Avery.

"Adrianna couldn't have survived if she had been on the third floor like we all thought when the building exploded. There were parts of this accident that didn't make sense. Adrianna leaving the third floor makes sense." Dumbledore explained.

"And what about the part where my daughter is accused of having something to do with the accident in the first place? Does that part make sense?!" Jeremiah retorted.

"As I stated before, most likely she saw or knows something that can help us find the person who did this." Crouch said between clenched teeth. Sofia shook her head in disbelief.

I went to the window by the books. I saw the snow falling outside. There was something outside. Something that kept getting closer and closer…

"Ow!" Nicole yelled as she rubbed her forehead. A sharp pain filled her head threatening to rip it open.

"Are you okay?" Jeremiah said sitting on the side of the bed and hugging Nicole close to him. Sofia walked around to the other side of the bed. Nicole nodded slowly as the pain began to ease.

"This interview is over." Jeremiah said forcefully looking at Crouch.

"That's not your call to make."

"Excuse me?!" Jeremiah stood up, his patience for Crouch's arrogance was completely worn out. Sofia grabbed at his hand. His temper was not going to do any good in this situation.

"I think you can agree that a little break might be the wisest decision in our current situation." Dumbledore said to Crouch.

"There will be no break until this situation is cleared up." Crouch snapped at Dumbledore. He turned his attention back to Nicole who was rubbing her forehead.

"Did you see something before the explosion occurred?"

"I didn't! I didn't see anything...or at least…I can't remember…All I remember is searching for Lily's present. I was looking for a book and then I went to the window. I remember seeing the snow fall outside and that's it...I can't remember anything else."

"You're lying." Crouch sneered.

"How dare you!" Sofia snapped.

"The spell that was used to make the building explode was weak. Whoever cast the spell had to be close to the building to cause the damage. Close enough that someone looking out a window would be able to identify them. She's protecting someone."

"You insufferable inconsiderate ass! My daughter barely survived and has been in a coma ever since and you have the audacity to insinuate that she is protecting someone! It's not possible. She had nothing to do with this!" Crouch narrowed his eyes at Sofia.

"Is it so impossible Ms. Dolohov? My predecessor questioned your brother's connection on a suspected attack at the hands of Death Eaters. And now another attack occurs that is suspected to be at the hands of the Death Eaters and once again your family is connected."

"Bartemius that's enough." Dumbledore warned.

"The Death Eaters didn't have anything to do with this." Sofia responded.

"You sound pretty sure. How is it that you know what they do and do not do? Anything you would like to share?" Sofia scoffed.

"You are so obsessed that you can't even see what's right in front of you. You said yourself that the spell was weak. Do they strike you as the type of people who are weak when it comes to casting dark magic?" Crouch stared at Sofia as he processed her words.

As much as he didn't want to admit it, she had a point. The likelihood that such a weak spell was casted by a group built on terrorizing the masses was very slim. At least it seemed slim now that someone else had pointed out the connection that Crouch had overlooked.

In Crouch's opinion the threat that the Death Eaters posed was too great to take any precautions. It was better to assume that the Death Eaters were involved and be proved wrong later than to never suspect them at all, no matter what the crime.

Crouch cleared his throat and straightened his clothes.

"I will be conducting a follow-up interview with both students upon their return to school. Hopefully time will allow you to remember more of the situation. Good day." Crouch inclined his head before leaving the room. Dumbledore closed the door behind him.

"I am truly sorry." Dumbledore said.

"Is he serious? How can he think…" Dumbledore gestured for Jeremiah to stop.

"He means well. These Death Eaters are a threat like we haven't seen in a long time. However, I am in agreement with Sofia. I don't think that they have anything to do with this incident. It was someone else."

"I'm not lying. I really don't remember seeing anything. All I remember is looking at the snow and then I'm waking up and the explosion has already happened." Nicole said quietly.

"It's not your fault. You went through a traumatic accident. You need time." Dumbledore said comfortingly. He offered her a small smile which she returned.

"I should be heading back to the school. I'm sure that there are students who will be very happy to hear of your recovery." Dumbledore left the room.

The room was silent.

"So is now a good time to tell me what's going on with Antonin?" Nicole asked looking from her mother to her father.

Antonin entered the Leaky Cauldron. It was the middle of the day and the first floor was full of patrons, no doubt gossiping about the Hogsmeade attack. Antonin went straight to the stairs that led upstairs to the rooms. He walked down the long hallway. He knocked at the door on the end.

The door opened by itself. Antonin entered to the room. There was an armchair in the middle of the room that faced toward the window. A large green snake slithered along the top of the chair. Antonin could feel the snake's eyes watching him.

It's Dolohov. The snake curled around the armrest of the chair.

"Come Dolohov." Antonin moved and went in front of the chair.

"I assume that you want something." Antonin nodded.

"The attack at the shop in Hogsmeade…" Antonin hesitated to finish the sentence.

"Yes. there has been quite a lot of fuss over the incident. Your niece was involved was she not?"

"She was inside the building."

"Curious to find your niece in a shop such as that one." Voldemort said coldly. Antonin shifted uncomfortably on the floor.

"Don't worry friend. I don't hold you responsible." There was a brief pause as Antonin continued to sit.

He still wants something yet is afraid to ask. He's a coward. I like cowards. Can I eat him? Voldemort patted Nagini affectionately on the head as she curled around him.

"I grow restless Dolohov as does Nagini. I suggest you spit it out."

"My lord. Who attacked the shop?" Voldemort looked at Antonin.

"It has been quite vexing trying to solve that puzzle. I imagine that they will show their face when they are ready." He said nonchalantly.

"Are you not interested in who did it? The world is convinced it was us." Voldemort ignored Antonin's comment as he continued to stoke Nagini's head.

Antonin sighed to himself. There was no more to that conversation.

"I think that the Americans might be getting involved." Antonin blurted.

"What makes you say that?"

"It's just a feeling I have. My niece's father works for the American government and he's here in Britain."

"No doubt to see his daughter because of her unfortunate accident."

"He was here before the accident." Again Voldemort said nothing but focused on Nagini. No doubt the two of them were having a conversation of their own. There was another knock on the door.

"Get that on your way out." Voldemort commanded. Antonin rose from the floor and opened the door to a man covered in robes. The hood was pulled low so that Antonin could not make out his face.

Antonin left as the man entered the room and stood by the closed-door.

Voldemort stood from the chair and faced the man.

"I'm assuming that you've had some time to think about what we talked about before. So, what's your answer?"

"What do I get in return?" The hooded man asked. His voice was deep and sounded like a growl.

"The thing you want most. Prey, and lots of it." The hooded man smile showing pointed teeth.

"I'll do it."

"Excellent...There's been a new development and I need your ability immediately. Have you ever been to America?" The hooded man shook his head.

"I'm sure you'll love it there Greyback."