Amelia Bones looked to the two Aurors seated across her desk with a tired two of them were so different that when she was first told that they were family she had to double check it.
Nymphanora Tonks was hard to describe, she had the habit of changing her physical features once she got bored with them, which was quite often. This made her an incredible asset when it came to surveillance and infiltration, if it weren't for the fact that she had the coordination of a gigant on Firewhisky. This was not unusual when it came to Metamorphmagus, just because they could shape-shift didn't mean that they would be used to their new proportions right away.
According to her colleagues she was a rather optimistic, very driven young woman. She was a capable investigator, able to relate and make witnesses open up to her and was all around liked by the department with a bright future ahead of she wanted her to succeed, not only as a woman since the DMLE was still seen as a man's department., but for the fact that she was also a half-blood, which was till looked down upon. But if she could work her way up the command chain, if she could prove the benefits of a Muggle education could provide and, maybe include other half-bloods or muggleborns into the department she knew that it could really make some changes.
On the other hand, her cousin Ezekiel Black was her complete opposite, he looked quite like an aristocrat: he had an angular face, a long nose and a strong jawline. He had the black hair that was expected from the Black family, except his seemed to swallow all the light that touched it and had ice-blue eyes that downright scared the life out of her, those eyes looked like a spectral blue fire when the light touched them that did not belong in a human being. She had heard that he used sunglasses to cover them up once his shift was over, but she didn't socialized with her employees so she those things every time. He was well-built, but there was something about the way he looked, to the way that he walked and talked that made it seem as if he was trying to hide the natural grace that the Black family seemed to posses.
She didn't knew anything about his personality, as people avoided him like the plague. Those who did interact with him out of necessity said that he was ''cold, calculator, terrifying" She would have suggested him to leave a long time ago if it weren't for the fact that he was an exceptional investigator and an even better interrogator, capable of extracting several secrets without the use of violence, magic or even Veritaserum. In fact, he had created such a reputation as an interrogator that some Aurors were starting to use him as a threat of sorts. The ''Inquisitor'' Black, he was called. She was aware that some cases had been sent to the Archive by ''mistake'' only to come back later that same day with notes on them, still, nobody ever said anything and as long as the cases were resolved properly neither would she.
She hated the situation that she found herself in, she had two great agents that had the potential to be even better, yet one of them was judged and dismissed for her gender and her blood and another that had all the advantages but happened to be related to two of the most hated wizards in recent history. And what made things worst was the bomb that was dropped on her first thing in the morning.
''So, would any of you would like to explain why I was informed that a warrant for the arrest of our appointed Excecutioner and Head of the Old house of Macnair, Walden Macnair was requested only to have the man arrested while said warrant was being considered?'' She said as she looked at both of them. This must be how McGonagall fells, she thought. Seeing that she got no response from either of them she asked ''Well?''
Ezekiel cleared his troat before answering ''Well Madam Bones, as you know my work on the Archive is to well... archive the files for the cases, reports and complaints made in the Ministry an-'' ''I'm aware of your responsibilities Auror Black, what I want to know is WHY you performed an arrest without a warrant against a Ministry employee IN HIS HOUSE, which unless I'm wrong it's OUTSIDE the Ministry and nowhere even near the Archive.''
Ezekiel knew that he had to tread very carfully, Madam Bones was known for being tough but fair, but mostly tough. As one of the few women that had rised on the Ministry by merits alone, rather than her family's name or status she had much to lose if something like this went wrong. The truth was that one could count the number of Aurors that actually cared about the Law in the Ministry with both hands, and sadly would still have some fingers to spare. She was a beacon of hope for those muggle-borns or lower cast members of society that dreamed to become something in the wizarding community. She always tried to fight against discrimination and to embrace more of the muggle word, even if it only was on for the Aurors investigations, but so far she had met great resistance from her colleages at the Wizengamot.
''As I said Madam, my job at the Archive is to archive the files of the cases, reports and complaints made in the Ministry and to make sure that they all comply with the regulations. While I was verifying the complaints against Macnair, sorry'' he said as she gave him a look '' Excecutioner Macnair, I found the staggering number of one hundred and seventy nine complaints made against him so far that were set to expire by the end of the this month. All of them related to the exercise of his functions.''
Madam Bone's eyes widened once she heard that number, usually the complaints against an execution lasted only a month, unless it was investigated. To have this much meant that someone must have meticulously made the complaints month after month so the incident wasn't lost in the burocracy of the Ministry. At least she hoped that was the case.
''Well, the reports filled in by the Excecutioner Macnair regarding those events were, to say the least, not up to the standards required. He was quite vocal regarding the creatures that he executed, as well as their owners. Frankly, I'm appalled that they were accepted in the first place.I was on my way to his office to request a clarification of the events on the reports, but it seemed that he had vanished from his office without an explanation. Due to the amount of complaints I was rather forced to look for him, you see. I needed to know If this could continue trough the propper channels or to move it to the Division of Internal Affairs''
Madam Bones could barely stop herself from snorting. It this was true then she was a goblin.
Ezekiel took the lack of response from her as a sign to go on, so he took a breath and said '' I didn´t knew were to look for him and since he's single and has no other family members since the death of his uncle, the last Head of the Old house of Macnair, Allistair Macnair. I decided to look for him at his home, being the most likely place. If he wasn't there I'd tried in Gringotts. What I found when I arrived at the Macnair estate was a complete mess. The doors were open wide and he had servants (human servants, mind you) were moving his bags while he shouted at them. I know that this might not be very professional for me to say this but at first glance none of the servants seemed to be very happy with their employment. I could swear that some of them muggles, but then again I'm not sure. They were carring his belognings in some sort of carriage, although I couldn't see any creature to pull it'' He could see that Madam Bones eyes kept widening so much that he feared that they'd pop up their sockets but decided to continue. '' I found Macnair in front of his house as I said before, and tried to talk to him but he attacked me without reason. He even throw his axe at me, so I had to defend myself, naturally. We fought, (again, none of his servants assisted him or me, for that matter) and I was able to reduce him''
Madam Bones looked at him for a full minute before speaking again, slowly ''And you were able to find him on his home just like that? It sounds to me that if he'd liked to flee that badly then he would had setup the wards on his property to at least try to slow down outsiders'' She said, as she directed her sight to his right hand, to the silver ring on his middle finger that was giving a lingering glow.
''Yes'' said Ezekiel, as he covered his hand, '' That would be the case but it seems that he was in quite a hurry. He was shouting to his servants to hurry up but it seems that the thought of actually doing the job himself never crossed his mind. That was a bit of a mixed blessing, as we don't know what would have been of the help otherwise'' Lie. They did knew. The man saw those below his no different than those creatures that he dealt at work, and treated them just as well.
''As for the warrant for his arrest I did not know about it. I was just as surpirsed as you were Madam'' The fact that he was able to say this with a look of innocence was something to admine, specially since Madam Bones was looking at him with such a fury that he was afraid that her magic would set him aflame.
''We'll see about that later, Auror Black. Auror Tonks!'' she said looking to the other Auror with such a force that the witch couldn't help to jump a bit '' I was told that you requested the warrant for MacNair's arrest.I was also informed that this was on relation with the death of the previos Head of his house. Explain.''
Tonks stood unconfortably for a moment, until she noticed the look that his cousing was trying to give her without Madam Bones noticing it. She did, but decided to let it slide. Taking a big breath she started to talk but realized that she was almost mumblin she cleared her throat and started again. '' We have reasons to believe that the current Head of the House MacNair, Walden MacNair, is responsible of the disappearence and possible murder of the last Head of the Old House of Macnair, Allistair Macnair. As you know he had disappeared without trace over fifteen years ago. We have collected enough information to set a solid base for this case. Furthermore, the Executioner MacNair fleed the Ministry once he learned from our investigation and the request of the warrant for his arrest''
''At which point he was intercepted by Auror Black. Is this right, Auror Black?'' Said Madam Bones, she shifted her gaze towards the other Auror only to find him looking over his shoulders towards the door. ''Auror Black?Auror Black, AUROR BLACK'' she said raising her voice, startling the young man. ''Is there something else demanding your attention?''
The man himself was quite puzzled as he looked around the room confused ''I'm sorry Madam Bones. Is that crying child that bothers me, did any of the Aurors brought their children to the office? This is hardly place for one, he might have seen somethin inappropriate for him.''
Both women exchanged puzzled looks before looking at him again ''A child, in this department? I didn't hear anything''
''How could you not?'' he replied '' I could hear it clear as a bell, didn't you hear it too, Dora?''
''Me? I didn't hear anything'' said Tonks
Seeing the look that both women gave his he tried to hear the boy again but found that it had vanished. He shook his head and said ''I'm sorry Madam Bones, Auror seems that the excitement of the day is still affecting me. I must have imagined it''
''Very well, I'll overlook it this time but for now I require your full attention for this matter. Now, Auror Tonks, you said that you had evidence for this?''
''Yes Madam, I made two copies, one is on the general archive and another one is on my drawer. I could bring it if you'd like to check it''
''No need, I'll get it right away'' Said Madam Bones as she opened a drawer on her desk, she looked into it and then reopened several times. Seing the look of anger that she had both cousins already knew that the evidence on the general archive was no longer there. Madam Bones then looked at Tonks and asked ''In which one of your drawers did you hide it?'' ''The bottom one from the left side it's labeled as Case 1976-08'' Madam Bones then opened the same drawer on her own desk and took a large file from it. She didn't say a word while she looked into it but judging by her expression they could see that she was surprised and pleased by what was on that file, and both feelings seemed to be growing the more she read. Finally, she looked up the file and simply asked '' Has this information been verified?'' To which Tonks answered with a nod.
''Very well, I'll hold on to this for the time being. I'll look over what got of you both discovered -Yes, Black. I'm not stupid- and will verify it from my end. If this checks out, then we'll move for the arrest. MacNair is currently in the detention cells under the attack charges against both an Auror and the head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. "Luckily" for us, it was Auror Black who was attacked. If he pressess charges this won't be ignored and the date would have to be setup for his trial which would be at least on the next session of the Wizengamot, that gives us two weeks for us to dot all the i's and cross all the t's. This is a serious acusation against the Head of an Old House, this case needs to be so thight that not even an Avada could go trough''
''Yes, Madam Bones'' Said both cousins.
''Very well. I'll hold on to this and will made more copies. In the meantime I want both of you to return to work as usual. Black, remember to file the charges and demand the man to remain in custody.''
'' As you wish Madam Bones'' as they got up and walked towards the door
''And one last thing'' she said before they left '' Auror Black, how did you knew that he'd flee to Bulgaria?''
Seing that both women were looking at him with interest he simply shrugged and said '' It is the only place that would take him, his family and his reputation would make any other country send Auror squads to hunt him down on principle only. Bulgaria has the greatest amount of wizards per capita than any other country but very few of them join their Ministry, so they are getting desperate enough that they might ask him to join them.''
''Very well, both of you can go now'' Said Madam Bones. She tried to shake the icy feeling from her spine. A Ministry were MacNair had power was enough to give her nightmares, at least untill he was sent to Azkaban.