Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 13: Down the Rabbit Hole

A/N: The following chapter has been a long time in coming. I had stopped writing this story for over a year because I didn't know how to end Zara's first year. I've gone through several different drafts and this is what I came up with. This chapter takes place a few months after the last on the night of May 31/June 1. I hope that you like it. Thank you for reading this story, reviewing it, adding it to your favorites, and adding it to your alerts. It means a lot to me, really and truly. Enjoy!

The first thing Zara saw when she opened her eyes was an ornately carved wooden ceiling. She blinked and then frowned when she realized she was lying on a sofa. Was she in the Gryffindor common room? Zara took a breath and her whole chest burned. She whimpered a little and struggled to sit up.

"Take it easy," A voice advised and a second later Zara heard a small crash before feeling a person's hands helping her into a sitting position.

When she was upright, Zara realized she wasn't in Hogwarts at all. She was in an office and there was a broken teacup on the floor by the desk that sat nearby. Looking down, she also saw that she was dressed in her school robes which had become dirty and torn in some places. How had that happened?"

"Reparo!" The voice said and pointed their wand at the teacup which repaired itself and took its place back on the desk.

Zara redirected her attention towards the source of the voice and found herself looking at a slightly older witch with bubble gum pink hair and a heart-shaped face. She winced as she was forced to take another breath, "Who are you?"

The pink-haired witch looked at her charge, "You can call me Tonks," She said.

"I've heard that name before," Zara said studying Tonks.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you have," Tonks said with a small smile. "My mum is your Aunt."

"Andromeda," Zara answered immediately as she remembered the story of Andromeda Black marrying a muggle-born wizard named Ted Tonks.

"That's right."

"Tonks," Zara said wincing again as she took a full breath. "Where are we exactly?"

"We're in the Auror Headquarters at the Ministry of Magic. Rufus Scrimgeour's office to be more precise, he's the head of the department. This is my first time in here actually.

"How did I get here?"

"You were brought here by Kingsley Shacklebolt. I don't know the exact details though."

Zara nodded, "So you're an auror too then?"

"I haven't qualified yet, still in training. But I'll qualify next year I hope."

The realization of why she was here began to dawn on Zara, an icy feeling forming in her stomach. "If I'm here I must have done something bad," She said quietly.

Tonks' face turned serious for the first time, "Maybe. But we're all here to help you. I'm going to let everyone you're awake alright?" She rose off of the sofa and headed toward the door.

"Tonks wait!" Zara said just as her hand touched the knob. "Do you have to go?"

Tonks turned around, "I'm afraid I do. But I'll be right outside," She replied giving Zara a reassuring smile despite the fact she didn't feel the same way.

As the door closed behind Tonks a memory locked in the recesses of Zara's brain popped into the forefront.

Zara and Ginny were in the queue waiting for Professor Sprout to take the Gryffindor first-years to charms. Since they were at the end of the line, it was easy to whisper without being overheard.

When they moved into the castle Zara did just that, "Ginny."

"What?" Ginny whispered back.

"Let's go to Moaning Mrytle's."

"Now?"

"Yes now."

"But we have charms next. They'll know we're missing."

"So what? I have something I need to show you."

"Can't it wait until after charms?"

"We'll be stuck up in the common room after charms."

"So you'll just have to wait," Ginny said firmly. "McGonagall will skin us alive if she finds out."

"So she won't find out."

"No Zara, it's too dangerous," Ginny replied with finality in her tone.

"Ok fine," Zara said and without giving it a second thought she pulled her wand out so only the tip showed and it was pointed at Ginny who didn't notice it. "Imperio!" She murmured and a beam of light shot out, hitting Ginny. "Let's go," She whispered to her best friend and the pair broke out of line and slipped through the doors leading onto the transfiguration courtyard, heading for Moaning Mrytle's bathroom.

"Miss Malfoy?" said a new and deeper voice causing Zara to break out of her reverie.

Zara looked up to find a tall man with a lined, experienced face looking at her. "Yes?"

Rufus Scrimgeour pulled his office chair over and sat down across from her. In all his years as an auror he had seen his share of horrible things. But he could tell that the conversation he was about to have would show him a new level of horror.

"My name is Rufus Scrimgeour," He said in as gentle a tone as he could muster. "I'm the head of the auror office."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Zara replied with a nod, not forgetting her manners. "In spite of the circumstances."

"Miss Malfoy, do you know why you're in my office?"

"I'm afraid not sir. But I have a feeling that I did something bad."

"That's what I'm here to find out. So here is what I'm going to do Miss Malfoy. I'm going to ask you a series of questions and I need you to be completely honest with me. If you don't know what the answer is, please tell me that. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Do you know what today's date is?"

"No sir."

"Very well. How about the year?"

"1992 sir."

"And the month?"

"April?" Zara tried.

"Is that your answer or is it a guess?" He asked studying her face intently, making sure that she was being truthful.

"A guess," She admitted quietly.

"What is the last memory you can remember?"

Zara thought for a few minutes and then answered, "The last clear memory I have is Valentine's Day. I remember because Professor Lockhart tried to make the day more festive and the singing valentine he sent me was dreadful."

"What did you do that day Miss Malfoy?"

"I had breakfast, went to my morning lessons, then lunch, my afternoon lessons, and then tea with Severus."

"You mean Professor Snape?"

"Yes, he's my god father."

"Did anything unusual happen that day?"

"No sir," Zara replied shifting slightly. She was hiding something.

"You're holding back," Scrimgeour said immediately and without preamble. "Whatever it is, I can guarantee that whatever you were threatened with to keep your silence will be nothing compared to what you will face if you do not tell me the truth."

Zara looked up at her interrogator feeling sick and incredulous all in the same moment. How could he threaten her when she wasn't even sure if the memory she just had was real or not? "With all due respect sir, why are you asking about how I spent Valentine's Day when I don't know how I got here or even what day it is?"

An involuntary smile pulled at the head Auror's lips. Zara Malfoy had moxie that was for sure. "Touché Miss Malfoy. How can I expect the truth from you when you do not know the circumstances under which I'm asking it?" He replied and then paused for a moment, wanting to tell the girl the truth but at the same time not wanting to scare her or overwhelm her to the point where she could not talk anymore. For any adult in this same situation, Scrimgeour might not have been so kind. However, he was keenly aware how very young and innocent his subject was. It was something that if he could find out the truth, it might actually play in her favor. "Earlier this evening the Heir of Slytherin left another message announcing that he or she had taken two students into the Chamber of Secrets. You and a Miss Ginny Weasley, I believe. The two of you are in the same House am I right?"

"Yes sir," Zara replied as her stomach began to churn.

"And are you friendly with her?"

She nodded, "Yes, I am. She's my best friend," Zara said very softly as a feeling of cold dread engulfed her. "Is Ginny alright?" She asked looking up at the auror, hoping that she had not in some way hurt Ginny.

"Miss Weasley is fine."

"Where is she? Can I see her?"

"She's with her parents Miss Malfoy. We need to finish our conversation. You were taken to the Chamber o f Secrets with Miss Weasley. Do you remember anything about that?"

Zara shook her head, "No. I don't even know where the chamber is."

Scimgeour pulled something from his robes, "Then I don't suppose you recognize this," He said holding up the black leather diary belonging to Tom Riddle. It had a hole going all the way through it.

Zara blanched, "W-where did you get that?" Zara asked, her voice unsteady.

"Mister Potter, another fellow Gryffindor retrieved it when he rescued Miss Weasley. You do recognize this diary don't you? According to what Miss Weasley told the headmaster, the two of you wrote in it. Is that true?"

"Yes," Zara said, who was now trying to maintain her composure.

"What did you write in it?"

"I wrote questions at first."

"Did the diary write you back?"

"Yes."

"And what did it say?"

"Tom—he wanted me to do things. But I could never remember doing them or even what they were."

"When did you start writing to Tom?"

Zara thought back. "It was in October."

"And when did you start missing time?"

"In December. But I thought I was just tired. Mr. Scrimgeour please tell me why I'm here. Why am I here when Ginny isn't? I don't understand," She said sounding confused, desperate, and worried all at once.

"I will tell you what happened Miss Malfoy. You have my word. But first you must tell me what else happened on Valentine's Day. Did it have something to do with the diary?"

Zara slowly nodded, "Yes sir."

"What was it?"

"Ginny was waiting for me outside after tea. We went outside to talk and she told me that we had to get rid of the diary because it was making us lose time. I agreed with her and told her that I would get rid of it alone."

"Why did you want to do it alone Miss Malfoy?"

"Because I thought Ginny would lose time again if she did. I hadn't had the diary for awhile so I thought it wouldn't happen to me."

"What did happen?"

"I told Ginny that I would meet her in the common room after I got rid of the diary."

"And where did you go?"

"To the bathroom Mrytle the ghost lives in because no one goes in there."

"Do you remember going in there?"

"No sir, I don't," She said quietly. "I just remember leaving Ginny."

"Ok," Scrimgeour said seeming satisfied. "That's it for now."

"So why I am here?"

"Somehow Miss Malfoy, you managed to get out of the Chamber of Secrets and go to Professor Dumbledore's office. Professor Dumbledore was having a conversation with two of my aurors when you walked in. According to them, you raised your wand and tried to kill him."

Zara was as white as a sheet by this point, "Is he dead?" She asked in barely a whisper.

"No Miss Malfoy," Scrimgeour replied. "He's just fine. My aurors stunned you before you had a chance to finish. You may be a little sore as a result I'm afraid."

Zara nodded numbly, "What are you going to do with me?" She asked after a few minutes of silence.

"For the moment, you are going to stay here. I'm going to send my assistant in with some tea," Scrimgeour said before getting up from his place. "Just try to relax."

As he walked toward the door, Zara bit back the urge to ask if he was kidding in spite of her shaken state. But she didn't.

Seconds later, the door closed behind Rufus Scrimgeour and Zara was alone in the room.

Please review if you can. This chapter was a risk of sorts and your feedback would be really helpful so I know whether or not it all made sense! Look for another chapter soon!