Chapter 7

Muggles. Muggles, in a wizard school. The statement kept flashing through Indira's mind and she got more and more anxious. Of course, Indira had always encouraged Muggle/wizard relations. She had seen through her life, as had many of the staff at Salem, the horrors that came from prejudice. However, actually inviting some inside was never part of the plan. As she walked, doing all she could to maintain her upright, cool, calm demeanor, she thought of all her possible options.

Option number 1: Tell them all about the magical world and hope that they can make some sense out of it. Indira smiled to herself, then remembered it wasn't the right time for jokes. Option number 2: Lead them all to a broom closet, hex them and hope nobody notices that they're missing. Sheer stupidity. They would most certainly be missed and Indira wasn't the kind for needless brutality. Besides, something like that would give the government license to shut them down for good. Option number 3: Pretend to be a Muggle school and hope that the lie holds. This seemed to be the best choice, no, the only choice. Now the only thing to do would be to find a room that wouldn't give away the "special character" of the Salem Institute.

While she thought all this, she lead the FBI people further down the corridor. Turning a corner, the group bumped into two other people. One of the people was Minerva McGonagall who, on seeing the Muggles, shot Indira a look that was a mix between "What The HELL!" and "I told you so." The other person was somebody much more helpful; a small, young witch, with light brown hair and clear blue eyes. Lucy Whithers, the Salem Institute Muggle Studies teacher.

"Lucy." Indira said, a little too enthusiastically. "These people are from the FBI. I was hoping we could use your classroom to talk."

Lucy got the gist straight away.

"Oh, of course." she nodded. "Yep, sure thing."

"This is Ms Lucy Whithers," Indira said, addressing Aaron Hotchner, "our...cultural studies teacher. And this is Minerva McGonagall. She joins us from the UK."

"And she teaches?" Hotch asked.

Indira hesitated, "Physics?"

"Physics." Hotch repeated.

Minerva, who had been staring daggers at Indira, gave a forced smile and nodded.

"Physics!" she said.

"All this chat is very nice," Indira said quickly, "but I don't suppose this is what you have come for. Lucy, if you could show them to your room."

Lucy nodded and beckoned for them to follow her. Indira's grey eyes and Minerva's dark blue ones watched as they left. When they were out of sight, Minerva spun around.

"Physics?" she exclaimed. "I don't even know what they are? What are "physics"?"

"Um...something to do with airplanes." Indira replied. "Don't worry. I highly doubt they're going to ask you to write a pop quiz."

"And who are they?" Minerva asked, lowering her voice as if one of them might spring up from behind a wall.

"I told you." Indira said. "FBI."

"Muggles?" said Minerva.

"Of course Muggles!" Indira snapped. "I don't go around lying about your subject because it amuses me!"

"Alright, alright." Minerva snapped back. "The real question is what are we going to do?"

"For now," Indira said, "we try and conceal our true nature. However, I'm beginning to wonder if we should tell them about magic. In all honesty, both you and I know that this was a wizard murder or at least a magical murder. If we want it solved, we need help."

"And we can get help!" Minerva said. "But are you sure these Muggles are a good idea? We'd be breaking about a million secrecy laws."

"I don't know." Indira said. "I don't know what to do. I shall gather everyone together and we'll take a vote."

"How very diplomatic." Minerva said, rolling her eyes.

The two witches made their way to the Muggle Studies room. Tactfully, Lucy had hidden all magic objects, so the room appeared like a normal computer lab.

"So, Agent Hotchner," Indira said, "what is your business here?"

"We are here, as I'm sure you are aware, to investigate the murder of Amber Kersley." Hotch said quietly.

"Of course." Indira sighed. "A terrible business. And we will do what we can to help you."

"You're difficult people to find." Rossi said.

"Our methods are unusual, I will admit that..."

"Rossi. David Rossi."

"And the rest of my team," Hotch said, "Agents Prentiss, Jareau, Morgan and Dr Reid."

"Pleasure, I'm sure." Indira said, nodding at each one in turn.

"Amber was a student here?" Hotch asked.

"Correct. It was her final year with the Institute."

"During the days leading up to her death, did you notice anything unusual?"

"No. But I see so many students during a day that things blur a little."

"A bag, that we assume was hers, was found at the crime scene. There was no cellphone. Did Amber have one?"

"Cellphone?" Indira, turned to look at Lucy.

"Um, no she didn't." Lucy said. "But that isn't unusual among our students."

"I see." Hotch said. "We will have to speak to your students, especially those close to Amber."

"I'm afraid you can't do that." Indira said hastily. "Not at the present anyway. We will need to get parental permission before you ask them any questions. School policy."

Hotch looked annoyed.

"Miss Inkpen, this is a murder investigation."

"I am fully aware of that fact."

Hotch sighed, "can we interview your staff or do they need parental permission as well?"

"I will make the arrangements." Indira said coldly.

She signaled the other witches to come with her. They walked out of the room and into the corridor.

"What's the plan, Commander?" Lucy asked.

"Brief everyone." Indira said, talking as she walked. "They are not to mention anything magical until Minerva or I give the word."

"Me?" Minerva asked, a little surprised.

"Yes. You're the Hogwarts head. As Hogwarts is a part of this, you have just as much authority as I do." Indira said. "However, I'd like you to conference with me before you make any official decisions."

"Of course." Minerva said, her voice sincere. "This is your school. I won't undermine that."

"Lucy," Indira said, "tell Agent Hotchner that we will send the staff members in one at a time. Then go and gather everyone. I will expect you in my office in fifteen minutes."

Lucy left and Indira turned to Minerva.

"Come. We must ready ourselves for withholding information and lying to federal agents."