This isn't how official investigations are run, and it's starting to worry them. Why are things happening this way? Is it so there won't be a paper trail when they execute Sirius? They want to believe that that's ridiculous but all their training says to prepare for the worst case scenario.
What they really want to do right now, is call their mum. Mum would know what to do. She'd know what to say to Sirius to make him whole, and what to say to the minister to convince him to free him. Andromeda Tonks was well known for being able to argue anyone into a standstill.
It was just a pity that she did family law and not criminal. Just their luck. (Mum had told them once that she couldn't work in the criminal side – not after what they'd done to Sirius. The irony was palpable.)
Everything had seemed so good and then the authorities had turned up and ruined it. They should have taken Sirius to Madam Bones the moment he transformed. When Moody fetches them, they go quietly, hopelessly diminished.
They'd expected Dumbledore to lead the questioning for some reason, but the first one to speak is the minister.
"How long has Black been staying here?"
They don't miss the implication that Sirius had been invited to stay here, and have to hold themselves back from visibly reacting.
"Charlie found him in the garden in mid-June. I don't remember the exact date. If you mean how long has he been here in human form then I only found out a few hours before you did. Minister." They add the title as an afterthought, as though it can disguise the clear distaste in their voice.
"And he made a convincing dog, did he?" This time the question – again with the implications! – comes from Snape (why is Snape here?).
"Yes." They answer firmly, even though the cruel glint in Snape's eyes makes them feel a little sick. It's the truth and it doesn't mean anything. "A bit more sensitive to people's feelings than might be normal but not overly so."
"Peoples?" Moody says, and they snap to attention at once. "Who else has met him like this apart from you and Weasley?"
"Err just my parents? Some other dog walkers I guess, and there's this one neighbour who says she's allergic to animals but honestly I think she just likes to complain – oh, and Molly Weasley was at my parent's house once but only for like three seconds."
"I'll send someone to fetch them then. If we're doing it properly." He sneers and strides out. What's that about? They're clearly not doing things properly after all; they happen to currently be in Tonks' sitting room. And is he really going to track down every dog owner who uses the local park? They wouldn't put it past him.