20. The Ministry for Magic.

They were standing in the living room of Grimmauld Place. The shock of recent events had taken it out of the pair, and they had gone no further forward in the investigation.

"I didn't feel a thing that time," Adam said looking around the room, which a moment beforehand was Luthor's drawing-room, or whatever he called it. "My wife is now somewhere in South Africa."

"Magic's fun isn't it," Tony said, feeling as bemused as Adam.

Adam remembered the wand he had in his pocket and dropped it on the table in front of Tony.

"I'm making a collection of these things, and I can't use them. Any idea what to do next? After we collect my phone, that is. I expect it will be complaining to all, back at the yard by now." Tony disappeared, leaving him alone, returning a moment later with Adam's coat in one hand and the gun in the other.

"I can't believe how light this thing is." He said rotating the gun around. "I expected it to be made of metal?"

"No, metal went a long time ago."

Tony handed the gun back. "As I said to Luthor, we need to visit the ministry. They will have the details of the interviews, plus reports from other places. I also have questions I need answers to."

"Good idea, but you're on your own."

"No. I think you should come with me." He picked up the wand and handed it to Adam.

Adam's phone beeped twice, signifying it was back in range. "Am I allowed in and where the hell is it?" He took the wand, adding it to the others in his pocket.

"Probably not, but I've given no instructions to say you're not allowed in, so sod em and the Ministry is in London."

They apparated to Diagon Alley and wandered down the quiet street. Most of the denizens were filtering into the street. Some already sat on benches that sat outside almost every building and shop, others heading for the Leaky Cauldron. They turned down a narrow alleyway; the sign stated it was 'Knockturn Alley'. Tony stopped at a small nondescript doorway and pushed it open.

"Hello, Edlyn," Tony said trying to keep his voice light as Adam followed him inside.

"Good evening, Mr Garrett weren't you supposed to be meeting me at the Leaky Cauldron." She said without looking up, her voice cold.

"If you know how many countries I've been to and how many times someone has tried to kill me in the last two days, you would understand why I didn't come to see you, but sorry anyway." He allowed his anger to come forth.

This made her head come up, noticing Adam for the first time. She smiled at him.

"This is Adam Croft, my partner."

Her eyes widened. "You're the policeman everyone is talking about?" Her voice was deep and husky.

"How do you know about me?" He asked suspicions aroused in his mind.

"Easy, it's a secret that Tony is working with a Muggle policeman, so obviously everybody knows." As she spoke, she rose and came round to shake hands.

There was something lissom about the way she walked around the desk. Adam wondered how much was down to her, or her magic. Her deep red dress clung to her body. To Adam she was the archetypal Witch he had seen in every movie since his childhood; she was a most beautiful woman. His mistrust shot through the roof.

She held out her hand, cool to the touch, but firm. Adam felt a desire for her, surprisingly strong, but somehow alien.

"Nice to meet you, Adam." She turned to Tony. "Can I assume you're not here to take me to the Cauldron?"

"No, we're on our way to the Ministry."

Her eyes widened again. "You're taking him into the ministry?" Her thumb gestured at Adam.

"Yes, we're working together, anything the Ministry has to say, he needs to hear it first-hand."

"Muggles aren't allowed in the Ministry."

"I've seen Muggles in the Ministry many times." He said heading for the huge fireplace.

"When did you see Muggles in the Ministry?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips, which seemed to accent her figure to a degree that Adam was finding difficult not to notice. He opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it again. "More importantly, how many times have you been in the ministry?" She continued as Adam noticed her fingernails were like sharp-pointed talons, painted the same colour as her dress.

"I've been to the Ministry, but Muggles must go there from time to time."

She shook her head. "You've been to the Ministry once." She held her hand up with one finger pointing upwards.

"We have too many unanswered questions, plus the Ministry set all this up. They can sort it out." He said with finality as he picked up a pot from the mantelpiece, took a handful of the powder from it and gestured for Adam to follow him.

"You're going to do that flame thing, why can't we apparate?" Adam said, backing up across the room, before stopping as he realised he was now too close to Edlyn for comfort; he felt things he had not felt since he had first met Gwen. I really do like brunettes, he thought.

"Remember what I said about Hedgecock, the Ministry has spells on the building to stop anyone apparating in or out. This is the only way you can get in."

Adam looked at him and the fireplace, remembering the day he was in the wandmaker's shop and the huge blast of green fire. He took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"The Ministry will be furious," Edlyn said, talking with a girly lisp.

"I don't care what they think. The Ministry of Magic." He announced as he threw the Floo powder. Adam held his breath.

"You could use the tube to get in," Edlyn called after them as they disappeared. She shrugged and went back to her desk.

Before she sat down, the fireplace lit up with green flames. Adam and Tony had reappeared, crouched in the fireplace.

"Told you," She said in a singsong way as she took her seat, "Muggles are not allowed in the Ministry."

"You said tube before we went..." Adam gestured at the fireplace.

"Visitors' entrance is via the tube from Camberwell Cemetery, Goodmayers Park or Parliament Hill." She produced that smile again. Adam looked at Tony, who was looking as perplexed as he was. "Doesn't matter which one you use they all stop at St Mungo's and Bishops Gardens."

"You couldn't use the tube before putting me through that shit." He gestured at the fireplace. "And I've never heard of those stations." He said looking back at the still smiling woman.

"I've only used the tube once, and I don't know how to get tickets. I didn't realise it was the visitor's entrance." Tony said defensively.

"The old visitor's entrance was a red telephone box." Edlyn piped up again. "It was removed many years ago, so the ministry decided they needed a new way in." She looked up at them both. "Also, nobody ever enjoys going in the main entrance."

"What was wrong with the main entrance?" Adam asked his interest piqued.

"You have never had to flush yourself into the Ministry, it's undignified." Tony was nodding in agreement.

"So we just go to the station and get on the tube?" Tony asked.

"Yes," Edlyn replied, "as long as you have a ticket." She added, looking back down.

"It's all right, I have an Oyster card." He turned towards the door as Edlyn giggled to herself. "You're enjoying yourself far too much, young lady," Adam said, turning around to face her again.

She looked at him, her eyes seemed to sparkle. "Parliament Hill is the nearest station to here," she continued, still looking down and still smiling, "but you still need tickets."

"Can we buy tickets at the station?" Tony asked with a resigned air.

"No." She turned the devastating smile on them again; Adams' heart did a little double beat. She put her hand in a large shoulder bag and pulled out a small purse, from which she pulled many small pieces of parchment, two of which she placed on the table.

"You owe me, Mr Garrett." She pushed the small cards across the table; the rest went back into the purse. "Believe me, I will collect." She added.

Adam took the two gold-coloured metallic cards. On the front, written in an ornate scroll was, 'All stations to Bishops Gardens.' Tony noticed they were the same as the ones he had received before he started this job.

"You hand these over at the station?" Adam asked.

"No. The door to the stations will only open for someone carrying a card. A magical version of an oyster card." She gestured towards the door, dismissing them both.

"Hampstead Heath is a large place, what are we looking for?" Adam asked as Tony opened the door to the alleyway.

"Do you know where the Ice House is?" She asked as she looked up, Adam nodded and she smiled at him in that way again, this time the look had no effect, as a feeling of dread came over him.

Out in the alleyway, Tony held out his arm for Adam and they apparated to Highgate Road, both jumping as a swarm of small delivery drones swept above them in a straight line.

Ten minutes of walking, they came to the Ice House, which Adam knew of, as during some investigations he had combed the area, looking for clues in an old case. The Ice House was a small, unimpressive circular brick building with a new tiled roof. They passed several semi-clad people enjoying the morning sunshine, waiting until they were alone before approaching the small door. Adam stopped a few yards from the hut, causing Tony to walk into him.

"What's wrong?" He asked, noticing Adam's reluctance to continue. Adam moved over to one side and sat down on a lone bench. Tony could see he looked grey.

"What's wrong?" He asked again, sitting next to him, worry in his voice.

"I haven't mentioned this before." It was obvious he was gearing himself up to say something he was not at all happy about. "I have an eidetic memory, it's one of the reasons I'm a good policeman." Tony shook his head. "An eidetic memory means, if I see it, I remember it and can't forget it. Do you remember asking how I never seem to miss anything?" Tony nodded, not wanting to talk. "I can bring up any scene or piece of paper or an item and see it in detail, years after the event." Tony nodded again. "That's the reason I miss nothing." He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Some years ago we had a spate of drug-induced murders, a new synthetic drug had come on the market and certain people were very susceptible to it. It made them psychotic; they acted out their fantasies, and in one case, that fantasy was murder." Tony waited, he could see this was painful as he could almost see Adam shaking. "We were looking for an eighteen-year-old girl who had gone missing. Information had led us to this park, which we were searching. We had fifty uniformed police officers doing a fingertip search. We were sure we were looking for a body rather than a person. Anyway, I was leading one-half of the search, Metcalf, you've met him." Again, he nodded, "was on the other side. I saw this building and headed towards it, the door was open." Adam took a deep breath and looked at the Icehouse for a moment. "I entered the room and found blood everywhere. On one side was a red misshapen lump. It was the girl, she had no skin, it had been peeled from her body, her fingers had been cut off, and her eyes had been ripped out." Adams' head had dropped; his voice muffled when he spoke. "The coroner's report went on to five pages of injuries the girl had suffered. I stepped outside, and emptied the contents of my stomach, for the first and only time in my life at a crime scene. Then I yelled for the forensic team, several officers came running, a couple looked inside and did the same as me. I forced myself to go back inside, to have a look, stupid. To this day I wish I had walked away." He looked up at Tony, the anguish smeared across his face. "The lump moved and a frightened little voice said 'Help me.' It was hard to understand what she said because she had no lips.

"What?" Tony exclaimed.

"She wasn't dead, she had survived." Adams' head slumped back down again. "I can still see the inside of the ice house and I can hear her pitiful little voice like it was yesterday."

"What happened after that?" Asked Tony, interested, yet horrified at the same time.

"She still had a full set of lungs and screamed the place down as they got her out and into the ambulance. She died two days later. An ambulance man, a forensic officer, and four police officers quit that day. I was almost one of them."

"Did they catch the guy that did it?"

"He was a she." Tony looked shocked at this news. "The girl that did it was the dead girl's best friend."

After a moment's hesitation, Adam stood up and walked forward to the door of the little hut. He stopped at the door, unable to enter. Tony slipped his wand from his sleeve and pointed it at Adam's back, watching him slump before he rose and floated through a shimmering wall and disappeared, along with Tony.

Adam opened his eyes and saw he was now standing in a small brick-lined tube station. A huge sign on the wall on the opposite side of the single rail track stated, 'Parliament Hill Station'. He could see no other décor, except for ornate light globes attached to the walls at regular intervals, casting a warm glow over everything.

"What happened?" He asked, looking at Tony.

"I made you sleep while I got you down here, no one should have to go through that again."

Adam looked at Tony for a moment. "Normal people's memories become worn with time, they are like pebbles on the beach, and the waves rub off the edges and make them smooth. Memories get better with age, mine does not. If there were a potion that could rid me of these memories, I would drink a gallon. I've seen too much in my time Tony and I'm not sure how much more I can take." Tony realised that the tough, arrogant cop, afraid of nothing, was like him underneath, full of self-doubt, and worse still, he had seen horrors he could only imagine.

"How do we find out when the next train is due?" Adam asked, changing the subject as he walked up to the platform edge, his normal reserve, masking his feelings again. Tony realised he had seen a side of Adam, that nobody had probably ever seen, except for perhaps Gwen.

"They turn up when needed," Tony replied. They both looked down the tunnel as they heard a rumble, which was becoming louder by the moment. "I think the train is here."

Bright lights signalled the train's imminent arrival. It squealed to a halt and a single door flung itself open. Adam noticed it was a single carriage and driverless. They entered the carriage together, marvelling at the plush leather-covered seats and the polished walls of the compartment, looking as if it had come straight from an old movie. The train moved back the way it had come, almost before they sat down. As they entered the tunnel the lights brightened, and then Adam felt a strange twisting sensation, a little like when he apparated.

Before they had the chance to get comfortable, the lights dimmed, and they slowed to a halt in another identical station, this time the sign said 'St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.' A booming female voice repeated the sign, adding, 'Next stop, Bishops Bridge.'

The train pulled out straight away, entering the next stage of the journey. This took a good deal longer than the first one, and Adam didn't feel any strange sensations this time. They came to a savage halt. This time the station was bigger, with two sets of tracks, on either side of a central platform.

"Bishops Bridge, all change." Boomed the woman's voice from all around them.

They stepped from the train, the door slammed behind them, the train's lights went out, and silence descended. A small sign with an arrow pointed up the metal staircase, and another at the top pointed down the nearest tunnel stating, 'This way to the Ministry of Magic'. Tony couldn't remember seeing this sign the first time he came here. Then again, he wasn't looking for it. In fact, he couldn't remember the staircase either.

Another short walk and Tony had to wait for Adam, who had stopped in his tracks as the atrium opened around him, stretching off into the distanced and upward many floors. They moved forward towards the central auditorium where even more people were milling around. Any more forward momentum stopped as they arrived at a row of desks, each had someone sitting on an upright carved chair, with a box at his feet. On the desk was a small pile of parchments.

"Wand," He held out his hand, "and the reason for this visit?" Said a man in an odd multi-coloured three-piece suit sitting at the desk.

Tony dropped his wand into the man's hand. "To see the Minister for Magic."

"Thank you, Auror Garratt." He dropped the wand into the box with several others, before looking at Adam, his hand out ready.

Adam smiled at him. "I have three wands in my pocket, but they are part of a murder inquiry, so I can't hand them over, the chain of evidence, that sort of thing."

"Your wand, please?" His hand was still out. He looked at Tony, who was smiling and shaking his head.

"I don't own a wand." Adam waited for an eruption, as the man seemed to move backwards in his chair without moving.

"Why don't you have a wand?" He said, sounding more annoyed than surprised.

"I'm a Muggle." He said in a deadpan voice, Tony sniggered behind his hand.

The man stared at him for a moment. "Well, that won't do." A piece of parchment from the desk folded itself into a paper aeroplane and launched itself into the air.

"Please follow the departmental memo, both of you." He looked at Adam as the aeroplane launched itself across the auditorium, heading for a corridor. The man looked away while shaking his head, dismissing them both.

They dodged other walkers as they walked across the huge open area, Adam looking around in amazement.

"I have to be honest, Tony; I was expecting fireworks back there."

"Me too, I think we're expected."

"Or we surprised someone." Adam stopped and turned on the spot, surveying the whole area.

"Anything wrong Adam?"

"Why does this seem somehow familiar?"

"You've never been here before."

"I know, but it still seems familiar somehow." Tony shrugged his shoulders and walked off after the memo.

They headed down a long corridor to an area surrounded by more corridors leading off in a radial pattern; all had polished wrought-iron gates across them. The memo stopped in front of one and waited. Adam threw himself back as the corridor rushed towards them at breakneck speed, and stopped at the gate which swung open. The memo entered and waited.

"Hang onto the grabs," Tony said grabbing a leather strap that reminded Adam of the tube grabs. He reached up and grabbed two as the gates closed.

The lift opened out into yet another corridor, this one had a floor inlaid with marble tiles, and the walls had smooth pillars every few meters, with obligatory paintings between them. A small runner ran up the middle towards three doors. The memo sped along towards the door, diving through the left-hand door's letterbox. The door flew open and a tall, thin middle-aged woman strode out.

"Mr Garrett, Mr Croft, good to see you both. I'm Heather Fawcett Tyndall, come this way." Her clothes seemed to accentuate her height. She was fussily dressed, wearing a white shirt, buttoned up to the throat. The rest of her outfit that was visible was a white tight skirt to her knees and white pumps. Her brown wavy hair was pinned close to her head, reminiscent, to Adam, of the early nineteen twenties flapper style. There was something about her eyes that Adam didn't like, especially as the look was aimed in his direction.

She led them into a large office, a huge desk and chair dominated the plain room, out of place compared to everything Adam has seen so far, except for a huge comfortable settee. The main wall had a large bow window showing a view of the huge atrium. Adam stood at the window looking down on the milling crowd. He scanned the room, realising that there were no paintings.

"Please take a seat." She gestured to the large settee under the windows, which neither took. "I'm afraid the Minister is too busy to see you both, and it is Sunday, but he has appraised me on your progress, such as it is."

"Early days yet," Adam said as he studied the woman. Something about her was wrong; she was uncomfortable and refusing to look him in the eyes, which told him a lot. She sat down, keeping the huge desk between her and them, a defence.

"The Minister was expecting you to be much further on in your investigations by now."

"I think we are doing well," Adam said. She smiled and tilted her head towards him. The smile was forced; stress at the corners of her mouth gave her away. "Seeing as we were both attacked and both of us were injured."

"Can't have been that bad, you look remarkably healthy to me."

"You can thank the expert care we received at St Mungo's for that." Adams stared at her eyes, looking for some insight. He watched her eyes flick to Tony, which he ignored.

"That's as may be. I hear you have put three wizards in Azkaban, why?"

"They seem to be part of the investigation." He saw her eyes flare for a moment, showing annoyance at Adam for continuing to do all the talking.

"I was talking to Auror Garrett." She replied with an edge to her voice.

"I know, however, I was answering. These people are under investigation." Adam watched her lips press together, which showed she was getting angry.

"Mr Arn is a respected Wizard." She looked straight at Tony.

"I agree," Adam replied. "However, he was hurt by someone and had the imperious curse used upon him. You can't blame a Muggle for that, or can you?" Her eyes flicked toward him for a moment.

"Miss Woodrow is the daughter of a respected Minister."

"She used the Avada Kedavra curse upon me." Tony finally spoke.

"Your word against a Minister's daughter will hold no weight Auror Garrett."

"Wand interrogation and her memories are all that is required, the evidence I have." Adam saw a flicker of annoyance in her eye at this comment.

"Urian Adair is the son of a Macusa Minister."

"So?" Tony replied, sitting back in his chair. Adam could tell from the stiffness in his shoulders, he was not as calm as he was making out.

"Do you have any Muggle suspects yet?"

"No, because there are none, so far." Tony almost spat the last words.

"Have you spoken to any Muggles yet, because as far as I can tell, you have spoken to many Wizards?"

"The facts would suggest that wizards or Witches unknown, committed the murders," Adam said, knowing Tony was about to explode.

The woman rocked back in her chair and took a deep breath, her cheeks red with anger.

"Mr Croft, I have need to talk to Auror Garrett on a more personal nature, which is not for the ears of someone like yourself."

"A Muggle you mean?"

"If you wish, could you wait in the corridor for a moment?"

"As you wish," Adam said, standing up, wanting to get out of the room as fast as possible. Once in the corridor, he slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

"Call Tony Garrett." He whispered. After a moment, he whispered again. "I'm listening."

Tony jumped as a voice spoke in his ear, Tyndall was looking down at the desk and missed his surprise.

"Well, you've made a name for yourself." The soft voice was replaced with a nasty snarl. "Three dead wizards, three dead Muggles, a Muggle in St Mungo's who has since disappeared and you have the nerve to bring a bloody Muggle into the Ministry of Magic, what the hell are you thinking?" Her voice had risen to almost a shriek.

"I didn't kill anyone." Tony snarled back, his anger rising. "The Muggle in St Mungo's is my partner's wife, who was hexed, the partner who this Ministry brought in to help solve the murders. He has every right to be here."

"How far have you got in finding the Muggles responsible for the murders then?"

"The Wizards or Witches responsible for the murders are evading capture." He leant across the large desk, but because of its size, it had no effect on her.

"Do you seriously expect me to believe a wizard or a witch is responsible for these murders?"

"I don't care what you think, the facts are—"

She talked over him. "You're not up to the job. It's clear where your loyalties lie and any chance of catching the Muggles responsible has long gone since you and that Muggle barged around as if you owned the place." Tony was about to speak, but she carried on. "I will talk to the Minister to get this case closed. You are finished here; get that Muggle out of the Ministry. When we have time, we'll send someone to find you." She waved her hand at him, ending the conversation.

"I haven't finished," Said Tony, his voice low and threatening.

"Yes, you are Auror Garrett." Her voice matched his. "This meeting is at an end. Get yourself and that Muggle out of the Ministry. At the very least, wipe his memory and clean up the mess you've caused."

Tony stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him and finding a puzzled-looking Adam waiting down the corridor. He could see the skirts of a gown disappearing into one of the side rooms.

"Let's get out of here, now," Tony said, still angry.

"I agree" Adam replied, heading for the gated lift, which was waiting, the doors open.

A Female voice spoke as they entered. "Next stop the Auditorium and exits."

They both grabbed at handholds as the gates slid closed. The lift set off at its usual ferocious pace again, taking them back the way they had only just come.

Tony retrieved his wand from the man at the desk before heading for the fireplaces. He ducked under, pulling Adam with him. Fire flowed around them for a moment and they were back in Diagon Alley. Edlyn was staring at them from behind her desk.

"That was quick."

"If anyone asks, we've gone to Wales," Tony said as he grabbed Adam's arm and apparated out before Edlyn could reply.