When Jonathan and Timothy entered the Death Chamber, Gwen opened the door to the Time Room. As always, the towering crystal bell jar with its dancing, diamond-bright light at the far end attracted her attention. A tiny, jewel-bright egg was floating along in the glittering current inside. As it rose inside the jar, it cracked open and a hummingbird emerged and was carried to the very top. As it fell on the draught the bird's feathers became grubby and damp again, and by the time it had been borne back to the bottom of the jar it had been enclosed once more in its egg. This process repeated itself over and over again.

She tore herself away from that silent drama of birth and rebirth, and looked around. There were several wizarding people, but Roberta was nowhere to be seen. Gwen approached an elderly wizard with wispy grey hair who was sitting on a desk with several clocks, scribbling numbers and strange symbols onto a very long piece of parchment.

"Excuse me, sir."

He looked up at her with bemused grey eyes behind round spectacles.

"Yes, miss."

"Could you please tell me where I can find Roberta Dunphy? She's not here at the moment, and I need to talk to her urgently."

"She's gone to the Magic Gym, as far as I know," he croaked.

"Thank you very much, Sir." Is this the reason why Timothy wanted to get out at Level Seven so urgently? She shivered suddenly. Did he want to meet Roberta? Should she go and search for Rob, or first give Jonathan this piece of information?

Oh damn it, she thought, hoping against all hope that Roberta had nothing to do with the murder. She felt more miserable than ever. This is just my kind of luck. Why must it be the witch I fancy who is involved in a murder case?

She said good-bye to the old wizard and went to see Jonathan.

~ooOOoo~

The chilly Death Chamber seemed deserted, but Gwen knew that behind the office doors there were several interrogations in progress. She held her breath and listened. Nothing could be heard. She frowned. She knew that Mrs Beresford was interrogating Manisha, and Jonathan Timothy. Perhaps Pete and Gasparus had already found Macnair. Would they interrogate him straight away, or leave that task to Mrs Beresford?

Which office is Jonathan's? She opened her mind, it was the reverse of occluding her mind. She tried to perceive thoughts, images, waves – whatever. But she sensed nothing.

She passed Archibald's office, where they all had been investigating for so long. She suddenly walked on tiptoes, even though she didn't know why. She passed Manisha's office. The door was slightly ajar. She's probably forgotten to close it after Mrs Beresford came for her, Gwen thought. She paused in her steps. She pondered. Manisha. Macnair's acquaintance. Perhaps even his friend? His accomplice? Perhaps she only pretended to dislike him?

All of a sudden, curiosity got the better of Gwen. She stealed into Manisha's office and glanced around. Manisha has seen Rob and Tim looking down at Archie, which could mean, after all, that she herself was the murderer, Gwen thought, perhaps I can find some evidence, some proof, anything. She tried to ignore the gnawing feeling that she simply didn't want to accept that Roberta, whom she liked, could be involved in this murder business.

Gwen approached Manisha's desk. There were several files, some parchments, quills, a pile of violet-coloured memos, and a big coffee mug. No photographs.

Yet why did Manisha tell me of Roberta being in love? Gwen continued in her reflections. Doesn't that prove that she wanted to help? That she is innocent? But then, Manisha couldn't have known that Gwen would get a glimpse of one of her memories. That Gwen would know that Manisha had been an eye-witness. Manisha had only informed her that Roberta did not tell everything about her private life, which could even have come in handy if she, Manisha herself, would be accused of the crime. Gwen looked hopeful.

She wouldn't hide any proof openly on her desk. Gwen took a deep breath, listened intently whether anyone was outside the office. She didn't want to think about what would happen if anyone found her in here, trespassing. She wasn't an Auror. She had no powers of investigation.

Gwen looked at the shelves on the wall. There were a lot of books. Gwen looked at the titles, they dealt mainly with Manisha's main subject, rebirth and reincarnation, but there were also books about spirit summons, the otherworld, ancestor worship, even about Quidditch. There was also a pair of Keeper's gloves.

Gwen sighed. It seemed to be a hopeless task. And I should be searching for Roberta, Gwen thought guiltily. She suddenly looked at an intricate glass vase with a lot of coloured beads on it. What is that? Gwen thought. I'd never thought Manisha would keep such a crudity. And this ... thing seems to be the only personal item in here. There are no photos, no pictures. She held her breath. Just an idea...

Gwen listened again, but everything seemed quiet outside. She extracted her wand and pointed it at the vase, muttering a Revelio charm.

Her hunch had been right. The vase turned into a simple file. Gwen took some steps forward and seized the file. She opened it, excited, and with trembling fingers. The file contained innumerous annotations which she first didn't understand. Then she found several photos of a small glass tank with a brain inside.

A brain? What...?!

She looked more closely. She actually knew this brain. It was Adalbert Waffling's brain, which Vivi had procured for their colleague, James Croaker, who had been granted the honour of examining the brain of the "father of magical theory".

How envious we all had been, Gwen remembered. What had Manisha got to do with Adalbert Waffling's brain? Why had she photos of it in her possession? James Croaker had been on leave for some time, had she meanwhile gained access to the brain? But how? And why? And what had that to do with the murder?

Gwen hesitated some seconds, then took the file with her, and left the office hurriedly. Outside she met Jonathan. He looked at her, aghast.

"What are you doing here?" he frowned at her. "I thought you were looking for Roberta?"

"I… I was," Gwen replied feebly. "I am. I… erm… I just found this."

"Never mind now. We'll talk about this later. We must try and find Roberta. Timothy, too, has been looking for her. He's worried. She seems to know something. Let's get going. Quickly!" Jonathan took the lead, Gwen followed him.

~ooOOooOOooOOooOOoo~