"Keep those hands where I can see them." The IIE officer stated as he waved his wand to shut the door. They had taken Bella's wand and made her take a dimmer shot to dull her senses to produce wandless magic. Standard procedure but she didn't like it. Bella's hands rested calmly against the cold metal of the table. She could fling the table, be on the officer and snap his neck before he could even choke out a cry for help. These IIE officers were all the same, turncoats who wasted time questioning honest aurors when they should be out there catching the assholes who abused their powers.
"Now, lets get started." He said opening Bella's personnel file. He shifted through some papers and raised an eyebrow; "Three stints in Azkaban, don't think you'd fancy another stay?"
Bella remained silent, she was only required to answer legitimate questions and small talk was not her strong suite.
"Alright, so tell me about the blood stone." He said holding up the silk sack containing the stone.
Bella frowned, "A blood stone, well there are many uses, usually healing or protection. Some can alter weather I've heard though I've never witnessed that. I use them for protection, I am an auror you know, in the field, putting myself in the line of fire every day."
The IIE Officer raised his eyebrow. "It's cold."
"Is it? I find its rather warm in here." She said leaning back in the chair careful to keep her hands on the table.
He closed her file, "Look, it's not a secret that IIE doesn't like you alright, you're a risk every damn time you go into the field and now this."
Bella started laughing, was he really going to try and play good cop/bad cop with her. "You're new, aren't you? Oh Merlin I am offended. They could have at least shown some respect and sent in a senior IIE officer to question me."
"The bloodstone is cold." He repeated in a slightly annoyed tone.
Bella nodded slowly, "Mmmhmm."
"Aren't you going to explain that?" This guy was in way over his head and Bella knew it.
"Well they are usually cold when there has been a blood atonement." Bella said speaking slowly as though she were speaking to Ginger Nuts in training.
"A murder." The officer corrected.
"Laymen's terms." She countered. She was getting to him, in less than five minutes this had to be a new record.
The door opened and Bella felt a slight chill go down her spine. IIE Officer Graves stood at the door.
"Auror Black." He said in a quiet voice that made the hairs stand up on Bella's neck. "I apologise I had to send Owens here, he's new and I thought he could use the practice on a seasoned professional. But no worries, I am here now."
IIE Officer Owens stood and exited the room, Bella could see Amelia standing just outside the door looking displeased.
Graves shut the door with a snap and smiled slightly at Bella. "Well well well what a naughty girl you've been Bella." He said pulling out the chair and fingering the silk bag. "23 arrests and or murders in the last six months and every single one can be linked to information found in Auror Weasley's apartment."
Bella stayed silent; Graves watched her as she stared back at into his cold grey eyes. He matched his surname, his eyes looking like granite on a tombstone. He had been a friend of her father's.
"I never got to tell you how sorry I was to hear of Severus' passing. It must still be so hard on you. So much loss in your life." He shook his head, "Granted losing your father at such a precious young age." He shook his head again. "Well I always tried to be there for you girls as much as I could. It's what your father would have wanted. I have to say I am proud of how you turned out but this Bellatrix." He waved his hand over the bag. "This is not something to be proud of."
Bella felt her throat getting sore and her palms began to grow warm. The air in the room felt thin, she needed to get up and out of here, she needed…
"It's really for the good of the department, we can't be seen showing favouritism, I am sure it will only be for a week or so. Amelia feels it is for the best."
Bella's mind came back into he room and she focused on what he was saying….-a week or so…favouritism…
She saw him wave a hand and the same two IIE officers who had brought her into the interview room came in bearing their wands and silver handcuffs.