A/n: please all stay safe.

Warning: this story will deal with violence, sexual mentions and rated for over adults. TAGS: Corruption, violence, mentions of rape, murder, child abuse and illnesses. Warnings will be in place from the star of each story.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters and no money has been made from this.

Enjoy...

Part 4

The Law

"Laws are spider webs through which the big flies pass and the little ones get caught."

― Honore de Balzac

She tries to ignore the pins and needles in her feet, the sharpshooting pain running through her knees. She's too comfy to move, she will just pay the price when she stands up. Her mind is a mess swirling with potential plots that the activists could be planning. Most annoyingly, she cannot put her finger on one.

Bella always struggled when it came to secrets, she always needed to uncover the truth, now however she was left in the dark. Her late-night visit to Granger not improving her mood, being banished from the shop by the elderly shop keeper failed to improve it either.

Staring at the bland ceiling she follows the cracks running along with the plaster back to its points of origin. A fire many years ago before she started at the Ministry caused subsidence to the building, the crack and a black sooty spot the only reminder. Fiddling with the paper on her lap, feet still resting on the table she reclines leisurely.

It's with slight relief there is barely a mention in the daily prophet about any activists she could do without seeing Riddle today. Could do without the cold calculating gaze that would shine with disapproval. They have nothing essentially, nothing to get anyone on and it was frustrating. The new recruit on her team Potter, a good lad, heart of gold has recently pulled a few suspects in but it led to nothing.

They're planning something. She rolls her eyes at her thoughts, of course, they're planning something. They're not idly sitting by, not watching from their sofas with steaming cups of hot chocolate.

The meeting with Granger plays on repeat in her mind, as though searching for something. Anything. Granger is a key to something but still, Bella cannot figure it out. She mulls information gained, stares at the address on her desk. Granger is key, but which door doe she unlock?

A tinge of something Bella doesn't recognise, something she refuses to name. She remembers the sight, the book shop, Granger's little apron, the dust on her trousers. Granger left school with almost identical marks to Bella, top marks and now she was nothing. Not even a mention in the newspaper about her life, about her achievements. She could be so much more.

The world doesn't even know she exists. It's a strange thought as Bella contemplates the young witch, same old hatred stirs. The witch who helped lead her sister astray, who brought dishonour on the noble house of Black. Granger part of the small little rebellious gang, at Hogwarts, who introduced her Andie to that filthy mudblood.

The thought still makes her blood stir, makes hatred bleed internally, she hates them. The lot of them, all so high and mighty not caring for the way the system works. Too wrapped up in their ideals to see the big picture.

It's about time she brought reality back to the mudblood, the game ends and if they continue to play, then she will bring them all down if need be. The Minister is being patient if not candid with his approach. Their Minister who was voted, elected by the people who is bringing real change. For the first time in many years, the wizarding world has moved forward. Their recession passed, money flowing freely, expansion into the muggle world. There were changes for the good, but some people still preferred the old life. Still stuck to the old rules, do the activist fail to see the improvements. Crime at an all-time low, stock trades increasing they were on to a high, why do they need to ruin it?

Their last conversation tugs at her mind, before the old shop keeper, asked her to leave. Did he not know what Granger was, what Granger did? Or was he one of these old foolish purebloods helping bring disruption.

"I don't know what you want Black," Granger states irritation in her voice. "I'm sure the Auror unit has more pressing matters to attend to like I don't know the serial killer."

"There is no killer," Black waves the mention away.

A snort leaves Granger's mouth, Bella's mother would disapprove of the un-ladylike behaviour. Nevertheless, Bella's mother would disapprove of Bella breathing in the same air as the mudblood.

"Tell yourself that, see that's the problem with the Ministry, you don't care. You don't care about anyone; all you care about is the bottom line."

"It's an important line it keeps the peace," Black responds smugly folding her arms, keep Granger talking the more she talks the more she sounds like Jane Austin.

"It doesn't keep us safe," Granger reiterates. "There's a killer on the streets, for months, people are dying but no one says anything. So, we lock our doors and now we border up our windows. So please, Black, if you don't mind, I'd rather finish my work and get home before nightfall."

Toying with a quill Bella studies the crack once more. Normally she would care little on what a lowly mudblood had to say, if it weren't for the fact, she had already heard the rumours. Seen the boarded-up houses, she made sure to ask Alice before she left for the day. Now she sits as her team slowly leave, they don't comment on her feet, they barely pay her attention they know better to interrupt her musings.

She waits. Her legs numb, her mind still moving too fast for the morning, listens to the sound of life. The day has brought the workers, the night crawling away. There's a meeting in the chamber below, the Minister had called one. Scrimgeour must attend along with Mad-Eye the day Lieutenant. She decided her presence was not needed; she wasn't one to sit in a stuffy room.

So, she waits twisting the quill in her hand, waiting for Alice to inform her of the recent ongoing. To see if what the mudblood said had some truth to it?

Snap.

The quill breaks apart in her hands, groaning she throws the quill down, finally moving. She rubs her face as she plants her numb feet on the ground. Ignores the twinge of her knee, she scans through the paper in her lap.

Mostly news on the upcoming elections. An investigation into Azkaban requested by the local health community, several inmates dying or becoming severely sick. What's new? The stocks and trade reported on page twenty-seven, a small drop due to the activists.

All because of you. Bella glares at Granger's name scrawled on a piece of paper. She needs to throw it away she has already memorised the witches work address. A column catches her attention, the running mates going against Riddle. Cornelius Fudge a bumbling idiot if there ever was one. She spots Yaxley in the foreground Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic. She smirks Corban everyone knows is Riddle's future protegee, someone, they wish to take over after Riddle eventually steps down. Next to him she spots Pius Thicknesse Advisor to the Minister for Magic a clear-headed individual, Bella has fallen asleep many times listening to Riddle and Thicknesse droning on.

A cough interrupts her thoughts, Alice Longbottom standing next to her desk with a pensive look on her face. It reminds Bella of Augusta, not a good look for the young Alice. A slight tilt of Alice's head and Bella is rising to her feet following the witch from the room.

"Alice?" Bella questions.

"You wanted to know, so I'm showing you."

Confused, Bella follows the witch to the floo network, apprehension filling her gut. She should have long since gone, what took Alice so long to come into to work?

They disappear with a flourish and reappear in one of the shops in Diagon Alley, they walk without talking. Despite the numerous questions running through her mind, Bella follows dutifully, towards the back streets of the town. Away from prying eyes and boarded up houses. It's when she spots the police mulling around, preventing anyone from trespassing further.

Flashing their badges in unison they pass through the magical field, pausing on the other side. Alice turning to Bella, away from prying ears, she releases a long sigh.

"There's a killer," Alice confides rubbing her knuckles. "We haven't made it public yet."

"Fuck sake," Bella hisses, just what she needs a killer and activists. "How long?"

"Too long, we have nine bodies so far."

"Nine?" Bella spits.

"Keep it down." Alice hisses. "If this gets out…"

"How am I only hearing about this now?"

"We only pieced it together while you were away, the journalists know something is going on. We found a mass grave, a few weeks back. We thought we caught the killer."

"Edwards?"

"Yes, killed his wife. Unfortunately, it was just a giant coincidence he placed his wife's body in the same location as the others. While we were processing the scene and charging Edwards with all the murders the bodies started to emerge in the streets." Alice confesses leading the way to the other Auror's currently examining the scene. "The killer wanted his work to be known. He sent a letter to the daily prophet claiming they were the real killer. Thankfully, the prophet handed us the letter we followed the instructions which led us to the fifth body."

"How do I not know anything about this?"

"Need to know, Riddle wants it kept secret."

Riddle knows? The thought hurts more than it should, she burns with anger, how could they keep this from her? Didn't Riddle trust her enough to deal with this? She could have sorted this out by now.

"He keeps them for a short time." Alice continues pausing in front of the motionless body on the ground. "Somewhere else, sometimes only days, others, longer. There's a sign of torture, they're all roughly the same. Near enough the same ages ranging from twenty-three to twenty-seven, same hair colour. All women. Except it doesn't matter about their blood status."

Staring at the woman on the cold cobbled ground, Bella winces at the smell, the witch has been dead for a few days. The glassy eyes staring up to the sky, never to see again, she can see the bruising to the face, and the redraw around her throat.

"Strangulation?" Bella summarises.

"All of them, except one. She was beaten to death. Her head was caved in, felt like broken crackers." Alice murmurs.

"This is number nine?"

"yes."

"Suspects?"

"None,"

"Merlin, Seriously Alice?"

"There's nothing, no witnesses and no magical residue."

"Signs of Abuse?"

"No thankfully."

"No?"

"It's the only silver lining."

Releasing a breath, Bella watches as they slip the new victim on to a waiting trolley.

"She looks like a ragdoll." Bella comments from the floral dress to the braided hair and the faint makeup.

"They're dressed like that; people report them missing and what they're wearing. When we find them, they're dressed like this? Wecall him the Ragdoll Killer."

Turning away, Bella rubs her forehead, her headache growing watching the onlookers outside the bubble. Trying to see in through the magic hoping to see what the Auror unit is hiding. Trust me, you don't want to see this.

"Riddle wants this out of the paper, especially with the riots," Alice comments as they head for the exit.

"IS this about the upcoming elections."

"Probably, although we have advised we need to warn the public, plus we need the public's help. We have no leads Bella. We're just cleaning up. Anyone we talk to won't say shit and those who may know something well they think we're just police brutality."

"I'm assuming the bodies turn up on your watch."

"Yes and no. They turn up and strange times, it's as though they know when watches are changing over. We've tried appearing earlier than our shifts but they're a step ahead of us each time. Every time."

"Do you have any good news?" Bella wonders.

"I'm finally moving out of my mothers."

"That's a real silver lining," Bella chuckles.

"I thought Frank might strangle her, so it's best. Besides the bitch doesn't know when to leave alone."

"I thought you got married quick."

"Well mother wanted a grand wedding, I wanted to move out. Couldn't exactly tell her with already shagged in the boathouse more times than I can count."

"Too much information," Bella replies, watching the police slowly disperse from the area and the trickle of onlookers vanishing back to their normal work. "You'd think they'd be more, more nosey people."

"The people aren't stupid just cause the Ministry isn't talking doesn't mean they don't know what's happening. Anyway, Alastor is speaking to the Minister today. They are going to vote on the best decision going forward."

A scream interrupts their talk, in a blink, Bella is apparating through the air, towards the sound. She arrives no more than several hundred yards, closer to the Ministry to find a mass of people. Heart hammering, Bella searches for a body, was there another. The sound of Alice appearing next to her fills her with some relief.

A nudge as Alice points over to a fallen cart that startled a bystander. Rolling her eyes, Bella relaxes analysing the crowd around them, the anger vibrating. It's when she notices Yaxley standing tall on a small podium. What is happening?

"As of today, the Ministry has implanted a new rule. From Friday the 5th of June we will be issuing a curfew." Yaxley voice bounces of the shops echoing. "From seven PM onwards all group activities will cease. A curfew will be implanted unless a warranty is otherwise given no one can leave their homes until the following morning six am."

The response is immediate, the shouting from the crowd questions annoyance ringing loudly around them. Slowly, Bella and Alice step to the side of the crowd away from the middle so as not to draw attention. They need to have an advantage just in case things kick-off.

A flash of brown catches Bella's attention, from the other side she spots Granger standing against a lamp post. Watching the scene unfold. It's when she spots the fair-haired man, next to Granger. Witch and wizard talking amongst themselves. Tonks. Edward Tonks.

Ancient anger pushes to the surface, the rage she wants to force her way through the crowd. Strangle the smug bastard bystanders be damned.

"I run a pub!" A man shouts over the others. "What of my patrons, you're driving me out of business!"

"Bella," Alice whispers pointing to a wizard rushing to the stage.

The wizard is quickly dealt with by the police as the situation grows further out of control.

"I need to start baking at four am!" A witch shouts.

"You're going to shut us down! The Ministry won't compensate us!"

"Due to local activities, it is in the best nature of the public to remain at home while these dangerous individuals are dealt with." Yaxley calmly replies.

"Dangerous! They're the ones being beaten!"

"You're the ones who are dangerous."

"They are the reason the curfew is imposed."

"What about the murders!" A voice shouts from the depths of the crowd.

A murmured shush falls over them all, Bella splits from Alice searching for the voice. Ignores an echo of the question. Who knows about the murders?

"The curfew is to prevent any further vandalism…"

"Witches are dying!" A voice shouts once more, female breaking Yaxley's speech. "Hannah Jenson twenty-four found murdered, she was a mother, a daughter and a prominent witch."

An officer points Bella closer to the source of the voice, she pushes past the murmuring crowd.

"That is currently being dealt with by…" Yaxley continues unfazed by the questions.

"What of the others? Eight witches's dead!"

Pausing, Bella turns the voice now behind her, she shoves an overweight wizard aside moving to the preacher.

"Nine now!" She'd recognise that voice anywhere.

Granger joining in with the chorus, how did she know there was another murder. She catches Alice's eye through the spectators. Pushing a sweaty patron aside, Bella moves towards where she saw Granger standing.

"People are dying on the streets and your Minister choses silence!"

Shoving a witch aside Bella breaks through the crowd to find both Granger and Tonks have vanished from their spot. From the corner of her eye, Bella catches a glimpse of unruly brown hair, how many times has Bella used that hair to hold the witch prisoner at school. She'd recognise Granger anywhere.

A wizard joins in with the chorus and soon the whole crowd are shouting. Tonks perhaps leading the crowd into a frenzy, another tries to get on stage with Yaxley. Breaking free of the crowd Bella chases after the flash of brown.

Too busy watching the witch escaping she misses a door swinging open.

Bang.

"M' sorry," A wizard's voice brings her back to the waking world. "Didn't know she was there."

Knocked out by a door, she groans at her injured pride. Head throbbing, she finds herself slumped up against a stone wall. Tentatively she touches the lump on her forehead, the world spinning. A fucking door.

"Bells?" Calm, she peers up at Rod's concerned face. "She's fine Rab, let the idiot go."

It's when Bella notices the quivering wizard and the angry Rabastian ready to start cursing.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, I didn't see you." The giant oaf mutters reaching down to collect a silver vase. "I didn't know you were coming by."

"Watch out next time," Rod orders moving the wizard away. "Your gonna have a hell of a bruise, shit that would have killed a few people."

"A door?"

"No idiot the massive silver vase that smacked you around the noggin."

With a helping hand, Rod pulls her to her unsteady feet. The scene makes her pause. The crowd long gone and nothing, but smashed bottles and slurs painted on shops remain.

"Things got out of hand," Rod informs her.

"Wasn't us for a change either." Rab elaborates chewing on a pack of gummy bears.

"Crowd didn't take to nicely to being told there's a curfew. You need to see a healer."

"M'fine." Bella slurs cracking her neck.

"Bells." The voice leads no room for debate. "You need to see a healer. Come on I'll take you to St Mungo's. What you are doing down this bit anyway."

"Hitting my head," Bella grumbles earning a chuckle from Rab. "Following a suspect. They got away."

"Well you got a few days off, think you gonna need it. Worlds a changing." Rod mutters offering his arm to Bella.

"I think we've just started a war."

In a flash, Rod apparates them away heading towards St Mungo's. Tomorrow she will follow up with her hunch.