Chapter Two: The Interrogation

"Ginny, what are you saying?" said Harry.

"I'm saying, I love you Harry, and you know that…."Ginny said. "I just need some time before I go off and get married. Harry…. I'm only seventeen and you're only eighteen. We have plenty of time to think about marriage in the future. There's no war going on anymore, Harry. There's no need to rush like Remus and Tonks did. I'm sorry Harry, but the answer is no…. but only for now." She then leaned forward and gave Harry a quick kiss. She then stood up and walked away. Harry was disappointed, but he had to admit, she had a point. There was no need to rush into marriage. She deserved a chance to establish a career and make something of herself. And she honestly couldn't have done better than a direct invite from Gwenog Jones, the captain of the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team herself, to become their new Chaser once she graduated. Harry on the other hand, was training to become an Auror under Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister for Magic. "Kingsley!" Harry exclaimed suddenly. He realized he was late for his training. He took a pinch of Floo Powder out of his pocket, put it in the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room and stepped into the grate. Harry shouted "Kingsley's office at the Ministry of Magic!" and he disappeared into the fireplace.

After a stomach churning trip through the Floo network, Harry appeared in the fireplace in Kingsley's office. "You're late, Potter," Kingsley said.

"I'm sorry, Kingsley, I was a little…. Preoccupied…."

"Save it Potter…. Training is cancelled for today. We have our hands full. We need you to go to Malfoy Manor immediately."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"We have a murder case and a missing person's case on our hands," Kingsley said. "Narcissa Malfoy was murdered and Lucius Malfoy has disappeared. The way I see it, either Lucius Malfoy murdered Narcissa and ran for it, or someone broke into Malfoy Manor, killed Narcissa and kidnapped Lucius."

"And Draco?" Harry asked.

"Draco Malfoy recently moved out of his parent's home. He is living with his girlfriend, a Miss Astoria Greengrass. He has been notified of the incident, and he and Astoria are here right now being interrogated. They are suspects too."

"How was Narcissa killed?" Harry asked.

"Well, her body was unmarked, so we can assume it was Avada Kedavra," Kingsley said. "But we still need to investigate further. We can't jump to conclusions. It also could have been poison, or something of the sort." As if summoned by the very topic of their conversation, an Auror, Dawlish, Apparated into the room.

"Mister Shacklebolt," Dawlish said. "We have determined that the cause of death was indeed the Killing Curse."

"Well that solves that mystery," Kingsley said. "And what of Lucius?"

"Still no sign of him, sir," said Dawlish.

"Very well," Kingsley said. "Stay on the lookout for him, Dawlish. You too, Potter. You go back with Dawlish to Malfoy Manor."

"Yes, sir," both Harry and Dawlish said as they simultaneously disapparated without a word.

"Now…. To tend to Draco…." Kingsley said. He turned on the spot and disapparated to the room Draco and Astoria were being interrogated in.

"I know nothing, I tell you!" Draco said. "Let us go, Weasley!"

"Rubbish!" said Percy Weasley. "You know something, Malfoy, and you're going to tell me, no matter how long we have to sit here!"

"Weasley," said Kingsley.

"Oh- Excuse me, Minister! I didn't notice you." Percy said. "Neither of them are talking, sir."

"I'll handle this Weasley," said Kingsley. "Could you take Mr. Malfoy and step outside for a minute? I'd like a word with Ms. Greengrass. In private."

"Of course, sir. Malfoy, you come with me." Draco and Percy left the room wordlessly.

"You are Astoria Greengrass, am I correct?" Kingsley asked.

"Yes," Astoria said.

"You are sixteen years of age, and a Hogwarts dropout, am I correct?"

Astoria didn't answer.

"You were a Slytherin student at Hogwarts with all O's and E's, and yet you left school in your sixth year, after getting straight O's on your O.W.L.s, to live with Draco Malfoy. You aren't even of age yet, and yet you threw everything away for some boy."

"What do you want?" She asked.

"Why did you do it?" Kingsley asked.

"I don't see what this has to do with the murder of Draco's mother. If you're just going to question me about my personal life, then I'm going to be leaving, Minister."

"It has nothing to do with it. I only need to interrogate Draco, Astoria, but as Minister for Magic, I want to offer you some advice. Go back to school. Complete your sixth year and go on to complete your seventh. Complete your N.E.W.T.s, and make something of yourself. I'm sure Mr. Malfoy will understand. I don't want to see a good witch go to waste." Astoria looked at Kingsley coldly. She appeared to be teetering on the edge of speech when they suddenly heard a loud bang and saw a flash of red light from the other room. Kingsley quickly withdrew his wand from his robes just as Draco Malfoy came bursting back into the room with his wand pointed directly at Kingsley.

"Expelliarmus!" they both bellowed simultaneously. The jets of light collided in the air, creating a dazzling shower of red sparks in the middle of the room that somewhat resembled a Muggle firework.

"Stupefy!" shouted Kingsley. The jet of red light hit Draco in the chest, sending him reeling back into the wall. He then collapsed, and dropped his wand. "Mr. Malfoy, you have a lot of explaining to do!" exclaimed Kingsley. "What is the meaning of this?"

"It's too late," said Draco. "It's too late…. No one can stop him now. No one…. Not even the Aurors…. The deed is done…. And now his backup plan is almost in place." His face looked gaunt and pale. He didn't appear to be in his right mind anymore. He looked positively frightened by something they couldn't see. "Too late…." He repeated again. Then his eyes rolled back into his head and he passed out. Astoria looked petrified by what she had just witnessed. Then she let out a terrified scream.

"Draco!" she shrieked hysterically.

"I'll have someone take him to St. Mungo's," said Kingsley. "In the meantime, I'm going to Malfoy Manor. I don't know what Draco was talking about, but there's no doubt that something's gone horribly wrong." Suddenly, Percy staggered back into the room, apparently still recovering from Draco's Stunning spell.

"Minister…." He said, panting. "What happened?"

"Mr. Malfoy has fallen ill, Weasley, and I need you to escort him to St. Mungo's," said Kingsley.

"Yes, sir," Percy said.

"I'm coming with you," said Astoria.

"That's fine, Weasley, she can go with you as well. Now go." Wordlessly, Percy and Astoria picked Draco up by the armpits and dissaparated.

Kingsley then turned on the spot himself and disapparated to Malfoy Manor.