Recap:Micheal Duke becomes a celebrity at Hogwarts overnight when he is released of all charges of the Maya Angus Hillbard case. But because Peter told Mary that he thinks he might have saw Micheal Duke did kill her, and Mary believed it for a hot second, Mary and Micheal are no longer friends. Sirius and James have both advanced to 4th year transfiguration, much to McGonagall's dismay where they have taken a liking to a group of four 4th year girls- one of whom has a crush on Sirius. During Transfiguration class, Lucinda Gilmore sees Elvis Lockhart creeping around the corridor and decides to follow him, sensing a story. She sees him about to attack a second year. Elvis fails to do this at the last minute and Lucinda runs away fearing for her life. Severus gets initiated into Lucius's elite club, the Knights of Walpurgis.
Chapter 38: Children of the Night
Peter had been afraid of many things, creepy crawlies, things that lurked in the dark, teachers, but never libraries. Perhaps it was the fact that they were in the library after hours, shuffling underneath the invisibility cloak that was perhaps getting a little too small for the four them- but Peter was absolutely creeped. Or perhaps it was the fact that Remus wasn't with them.
"James, why isn't Remus with us?" Peter whispered tapping the boys shoulder. "Isn't it kind of important that he be here?"
"Are you mad, Pete?" Sirius barked turning to face Peter whipping the cloak off of them. "This is exactly why he shouldn't be here."
"But this is dangerous stuff," Peter insisted eyes wide at the older boy "and we're doing this for Remus right?"
"Exactly why he's not here," Sirius said stopping in the middle of the room. Peter tumbled into him, fumbling for his wand that dropped to the floor making a small noise. It was James who immediately scooped it up and handed it to Peter, holding a finger up to his mouth. "You know how Remus is, he would never let us go through with it Peter."
Peter nodded, understanding. Remus was certainly the type to stop his friends from doing anything that put them in danger and especially if it was something to do for him. But he was a Marauder nonetheless. While James and Sirius threw caution to the winds, more so Sirius then James, Remus only pranked when it was clear no one was going to get hurt. Peter wasn't sure where he fit in their group yet. For now he had a group and he wasn't planning on doing anything to leave it. It was like having friends, Peter thought. No. They were his friends. They were his friends.
"And here we are," James pointed to the shelves in front of them. They didn't look unlike the several ones they had past but Peter could feel that the atmosphere here was stranger..almost dark. "The restricted section."
Ah.
"Well I think we've seen enough from back here." Peter said stepping back but Sirius grabbed his sleeve. "Come on Peter, nothing here but old books."
Peter sighed but let the older boy pull him along to where James was looking through the shelves. "Come on you two, anything about werewolves and how to help them or how to make it easier for them to er transform. Maybe things about the new moon too."
Sirius sighed. "Alright boss. Anything else you need us to do?"
"Just grab a few books that look important and then we'll look trough them at the end." James ordered scratching his head like he was unsure of himself. "Yeah." James nodded. "That should do it."
Peter let out a small laugh at the and Sirius looked at him appreciatively. "Come on Pete, let's make ourselves useful."
Peter nodded. The boys each chose a self and began browsing through the many titles. Peters eyes brushed over many titles that caught his eyes but none of them were the ones they needed. Most Potente Potions. Fraletts Foul Folices. An Inside Guide to Hexes and Hurtles. Transformation and Spells from the Banshee Realm...
"I think I found something!" Peter turned gratefully towards James's voice. His head was beginning to hurt from reading. Sirius was already sitting criss crossed on the floor craning his neck to the large book James had pulled off the shelf. It's dark blue cover looked worn and tattered,with something suspiciously looking like claw marks running along the edges. Intrigued, Peter sat across the boys, turning his head upside down to read the title that was facing James in silver letters.
Children of the Night.
"Children of the night?" Peter asked. "Aren't those like Vampires?"
"And Werewolves and banshees and ghouls." James agreed. "There has to be something in here that might help Remus." He looked at Peter and Sirius, who shrugged. "Won't hurt to look."
Peter eyed the claw marks along the edges. It certainly looked like it was something about a werewolf. He nodded, prodding James to open the book. The three boys forced through the entire book, eyes searching the small fancy scripted words for anything that might help their friends. There were many words and little pictures and over time Peters eyes seemed to glaze over the pages...
"Peter!"
Peter's eyes flew open immediately and he looked at James and Sirius's expectant faces. "Sorry-I must have dozed off."
"It's okay." James told him. "Show us what you 've got Sirius didn't find anything useful." James added giving Sirius a side glance.
"I found a love potion and thought James might want to give it to Lily Evans." Sirius explained.
James rolled his eyes. "I don't think a love potion would work on Lily Evans."
"Alright. I'll just give it to Harley- she's already half-way in love with me."
James rolled his eyes. "So Peter what have you got?"
Peter gulped. He had forgotten entirely about the books he was supposed to find. "Er- one sec. I left it on the shelf, because they were too heavy."
If James and Sirius didn't believe him, they didn't show it. Wordlessly Peter walked towards his section of the shelves and picked four of the heaviest books he could find so that his lie would look at least a bit believable.
"Alright," Sirius grinned. "Let's see if Pete's out done me."
Peter laughed nervously praying that at least one of the books he picked would help. Worse than lying to the boys, was feeling useless and Peter's biggest fear was that they would realize it one day and kick him out.
James shoved his glasses further up his nose and peered at the titles. "Well Peter, I don't know if Paranormal and Paranomia would help since we know Remus is real."
He began to shove away the pale cream book away while Sirius made a grab for it. "One second thought it might help with Binns. There's no way he's just a ghost."
Peter immediately agreed hoping Sirius would believe him. "I think he might be part Goblin."
Sirius looked thoughtful. "Or part troll since he just drones on and on and on and on-"
James put a hand on Sirius's soldier. "Remus. First Remus, Sirius."
"Right." Sirius nodded turning back to Peter, "What else have you got for us Pete?"
Peter's brain was scrambling as he reached for the next book hoping it was something useful. Origins of the Wolf. "Well there's this one I think might help with Remus background history, even though he's not full wolf." Peter said quickly, words coming too fast out of his mouth to process.
James and Sirius looked impressed flipping through the pages and muttering to each other, Peter forgotten.
Peter didn't like that.
He looked at the last two books remaining. One was written in some language he couldn't read and the other was something about plants used in deadly potions. James and Sirius were whispering urgently now and Peter wasn't having it.
"Hey I think this one says something about werewolves but I'm not sure because it's written in elfish or something-" Peter began excited as James and Sirius finally looked up at him.
Satisfied that he had gathered their attention he quickly flipped it open so that he wouldn't lose their attention once more but the book had other ideas. It let out a shrilling scream and Peter helped scrambling back in fear.
"SHUT THE BOOK PETE!"
"Peter make or stop!"
Well he definitely had their attention all the mayhem Peter decided he didn't like libraries, restricted section or not. There was a clatter of foot steps approaching them and Peter was suddenly being pulled up by James.
"Someone's coming-hurry Peter!"
Peter nodded grabbing the cloak and throwing it over them as Sirius slammed the book shut, silencing the screams.
"Who's there?" came a voice followed by a wand light just as the boys quietly slipped away.
Colton Breckbridge had enough problems on his mind. Pre-NEWTS testing was just around the corner, he had had to change his entire Quidditch line up because his beater had suddenly discovered that balancing school and quidditch was harder then it looked, his seeker, Dawn Shallow, was due to graduate this year and he had yet to find her replacement, and McGonagall had decided that this was the year that Gryffindor would win its first Quidditch match, constantly reminding Colton anytime they made eye contact.
His day couldn't get any worse, Colton though taking a long gulp of his cold coffee. As he set his cup down he was met with the face of Emma Vanity.
"What now?" He grumbled.
"You haven't heard?" Emma sighed lowering her voice. "There's a 2nd year in the hospital Wing!"
"So?" Colton picked up his coffee cup again. "I'm a rubbish captain, my teams falling apart, I'm going to fail my NEWTS and one of my chasers refuses to play until I go out with her, so what if I don't sodding care."
"Elvis tried to kill the boy, Colton." Emma whispered urgently ignoring his Quidditch talk. "He's doing what we failed to do last year."
"Why though? Maya's gone, we don't need to do anything anymore."
"That's what I told him last night when he came running to me after attacking the 2nd year." Emma sighed rubbing her forehead, something she did often when she was stressed. "Elvis has a theory."
Colton shook his head. "I've had enough of his theories-"
"I think he might be right about this one though," Emma glanced at him earnestly. "Think about it Colt. When we opened that book and we were asked to pay a price, she said a soul for a soul."
Colton nodded. "Right. We tried to sacrifice-"
"We tried to kill," Emma hissed lowering her voice. "We tried to kill that little girl and-"
"But we didn't." Colton grabbed her hand, she was shaking. "We didn't get to and then Maya died and we didn't have to anymore. She was the price."
"No." Emma looked down. "She wasn't the price because nothing has changed. Elvis is right. Maya didn't die for the curse to end, she committed suicide because she was terrified of what would happen if we didn't pay the price." she looked up at Colton. "We tried and we failed and now...it's back."
Colton was breathing unevenly now. Elvis's theory wasn't wrong. The book had still show up even after Maya's "death" meaning the price still hadn't been paid.
"A soul for a soul." Colton nodded.
"A price to pay, for every demand must be equally weighed." Emma nodded. "She's not satisfied yet, she still wants us to pay the price, and fast-" she looked up at him. "I'm scared, Colt."
He wanted to tell her that honestly he was too. He wanted to run and hide from it all.
"What are we going to do, Colt?" Emma asked. "We can't live like this forever. I'll be gone after this year, but it'll follow me, I know it will." She looked up at him. "And you and Elvis, You both will still be here at Hogwarts, what will you guys do?" Looking down at their hands she said. "I'm really worried about Elvis and what he'll do. He's only a 4th year, and he's even more terrified than Maya was."
"I don't see a way out of it." Colton told her honestly.
Emma's eyes widened. "You don't mean we actually-" she lowered her voice so that anyone sitting nearby them couldn't have heard. "Kill?"
"We have to." Colton said, voice hardening. "I don't see another way."
"But who?"
"Someone who deserves to." Colton decided. "At least that way we're benefiting someone."
"We're only benefiting ourselves." Emma finished quietly.
"Either way we're on this together." He gave her a firm nod. "Together, Emma."
Emma nodded. Well if we're in this together I might as well ask you to accompany me to Slughorn's Ball tonight?"
She looked at him, smiling slightly, in a way that he couldn't have said no.
Lily eyed the invitation wearily. Severus looked at it like it was going to erupt any moment now.
"I think it's safe to open it now." Lily decided fingering the fancy script that spelled out her name in ways that she didn't know it could be spelled. "It's not like Slughorn would stuff a Draught of Living Death in there."
Severus looked at her impressed. "Draught of living death."
Lily grinned. "Yes, I actually did my reading today." She looked back at the letter. "So it can't be something regarding that right?"
"But the Draught of Living Death...I wouldn't put it past him either." Severus added curtly. "I'm not sure what it is, Slughorn looked way to happy when he handed it to us."
"Why does it have to be bad?" Lily wondered. "Although it's a bit odd that he only gave it to the two of us and not everyone else."
"I'm not opening it."
"Sev," Lily warned. "I'm sure it's a fine letter complimenting our hard work and ethic, and for advancing to 4th year potions or something of that calibre."
"Calibre?"
Lily laughed. "It's a word I'm trying out. Lucinda thinks I should increase my word knowledge so that I can advance in the Holy Grail."
"But calibre?"
"Shut it, Sev."
Severus let out a shy smile, he showed less and less these days and Lily grinned at him. She liked seeing her friend happy despite what a certain few did to hurt him.
"There you are!"
Lily turned at the sound of her friends voice. Mary was waving her over, square glasses once again on her face(she had a bad habit of wearing them to see something and then taking them off before anyone could notice),her signature crimson bow on her head.
Lily turned back to say good bye to Severus but he has already disappeared leaving her alone in the corridor. Lily shrugged, Severus really needed to start telling her when he left so she didn't look like she was taking to nobody.
"Wearing your glasses permanently, I hope?" Lily inquired touching the square frames playfully.
Mary rolled her eyes. "My mom is back to saying if I don't start wearing them all the time I'll permanently go blind." She twirled around. "And Lily I can see everything. You know that corner in Flitwicks class, there was a crack there that I didn't see until today!"
"I won't disagree with that. Of course you can seee, silly. There sole purpose is for you to see." Lily nodded watching Mary look at the walls in awe as they trudged to the Gryffindor Towers. "Besides they make you look cute."
Mary scowled. "You're only saying that because you don't have glasses. Only people with glasses understand the pain of wearing them." She looked down at the invitation on Lily's hand. "Lily, where did ever you get that?"
Lily looked down alarmed. "Er Slughorn gave it to me and Severus-why do you know what it is?"
"Do I know what it is?" Mary laughed. "Do you even know what it is?"
Lily shook her head. "Honestly no- I haven't found the strength to open it-Mary!"
Mary had immediately snatched the letter opening it hastily, and pulling out a single parchment encased in sliver lining that looked rather heavy. She gave it a quick glance and nodded. "I knew it."
"Knew what?" Lily asked nervously. "What does it say, what does it mean? Oh!" She snatched the letter from Mary unable to contain her nervousness. "The Slug Club?"
"Oh Lily, do you even know how lucky you are?" Mary sighed. "Only the best of the best get into the Slug Club. Slughorn hosts the best parties and once he starts to favor you you get-"
"Wait," Lily stopped her friend, "How do you know?"
"Fabian and Gideon, of course." Mary told her. "You do know that they've been in the Slug Club since 4th year, right?" They turned the corner, Mary walking faster than Lily who had to leap to catch up as the dark haired girl continued. "You know, I've always asked them what it is that I could do to get in and they brushed me off saying 'Mary it's honestly not all that' but I know that's just a nice way of saying I don't think you could get in but Lily" Mary's eyes were wide when she spoke "imagine parties all the time, dances, balls, pretty dresses, who wouldn't want that? You are so lucky." Mary finished. "So what I want to know is how you got in."
Lily shrugged. "I'm not really sure." She racked her mind. Other than being exceptional at Potions Lily really didn't have anything exceptional about her. "I'm guessing maybe that I'm doing well in potions-"
Mary groaned. "Of course. Of course it had to be that." she laughed. "The one thing I'm dreadful in."
"You're not dreadful, Mary." Lily assured her trying not to think about the last potion Mary had made. She had somehow solidified a cough tonic, that Lily had to help scrape out of her cauldron. "You're just a little behind, that's all."
Mary sighed again. "And we have double potions today too." she peered at her schedule to double check. "Yeah double potions."
"I'm sure Micheal will make sure you don't screw it up this time." Lily laughed. The Gryffindor boy always managed to save Mary from hearing the worst of Slughorns rants.
Mary stopped suddenly. "Lily I'm not going to partner with Micheal this year at all."
Lily was surprised. "Why not? You guys always pair up, it's practically set in stone that Slughorn will pair you two together." She frowned. "Is that why you've missed potions for the past week, because you didn't want to pair up with Micheal?"
Lily put her hands on her hips. "Have you two had a row?" she lowered her voice. "Are you afraid of the Maya thing because it was a suicide-"
"No." Mary shook her head. "I'm not. He's been my best friend ever since we got sorted together!" She shut her eyes. "This is all Peter's fault."
"What's Peter got to do with this?" Lily asked, bewildered. "What's Peter got to do with anything of it?"
Mary sighed. "Nothing." She started walking fast once again, and Lily leaped behind her. "He's just got everything to do with it. I'm not friends with Micheal anymore, that's all Lily."
Lily opened her mouth, for she was curious but Mary shook her head. "Please Lily I don't want to talk about him. Besides Remus is a good potions partner too."
Lily nodded. "That he is. I don't think he'll mind putting up with you for the entire year too much."
"Hey!" Mary reminded her, pulling her along. "We were potion partners first year too!"
"Yeah and you exploded a cure for boils." Lily added remembering the sticky yellow substance that had coated the entire first year class. Severus hadn't shut up about Mary being an idiot and Lily being the loyal friend had gotten him to tutor her. Needless to say Mary was getting better.
"Hey where are we going?" Lily asked suddenly. Mary stopped. "Charms, right?"
"Charms is that way." Lily pointed from where they had come.
"No," Mary shook her head. "It's definitely this way. Lily I know this school like the back of my hand."
"Looking a little lost Red, need a hand?"
Lily's eyes widened and she turned around her heart pacing back and forth. Lucas Anderson was leaning against a stone pillar looking at them with a grin. He had gotten a new hair cut and Lily wasn't sure why she had noticed. She noticed the scraps of parchment sticking out of various pages in the two books he held, his wand stuffed in his back pocket that Kingsley had told them to never stick a wand.
"Red?" Lily blinked. Lucas's face was so close to her, she could see his every pore, and the faint green in his blue irises.
"Sorry about her." came Mary's high voice. "She always does this. And we don't need help. Professor Flitwick just walked over there."
Lucas nodded. "Well this is the charms corridor, I wouldn't expect little Flitwick to be anywhere else." he looked down at them closely. "You guys are still in the Holy Grail this year right?"
Mary said something and Lucas nodded his hair moving with him in slow motion. And then Lily felt herself moving, Mary was chattering away about how she was right, "honestly Lily I can't believe you forgot the way to Charms, isn't it like your favorite class? Hey do you think they're going to have the muffins from morning at lunch-I barely got a bite this morning..."
But Lily didn't hear any of it. She could only think about a small smile and the words 'Bye Red' ringing in her head.
Michael Duke felt like a stranger in his own school. Everywhere he went people were congratulating him, asking him about the details but Michael didn't want to tell anyone anything. He didn't want to go back to that day where he had seen that girl, lying still on the compartment floor. He didn't even know her name until he heard it being mentioned the first week of school.
Maya Angus Hillbard.
The name haunted him. It took him back to the train ride back last year when he had been confused and terrified of what he had just seen and he ran as far as he could from that compartment. Truth be told he wasn't sure what to think and while Mary MacDonald talked the entire train ride, he kept thinking that perhaps he should go back and check on the girl in the compartment to see if she was okay but his feet somehow were glued to the floor and he found he didn't want to leave the bubble of safety in his compartment.
He thought it would be over when he got back to Hogwarts but suddenly Aurors had flooded the school and during his Defense Against the Dark Arts class they showed up again.
"Mr. Duke, we need you to come with us." they demanded, escorting him out of the class while his friends looked after him confused.
"Uh why?" He asked a nagging suspicion growing in his heart. There was no way this was because of what he had seen last year. No way.
"You have the right to remain silent and I believe that would be the best thing to do until we get to the interrogation." the ministry official in front of him explained with a kind, but strained smile.
As he followed the ministry officials he caught sight of Mary looking towards him, eyes wide. How would he ever explain this to her? He had already avoided her enough as it was.
Michael Duke was terrified. He was terrified that his fear had led to this. Guilt had been eating at him every day since then. Why hadn't he gone back to check on that girl? Why had he just run away and not informed anyone? Would it have changed anything?
They led him out the class and he followed with slow footsteps his shoes echoing in the corridor heading towards the courtyard.
"Darlene."
"Albus." The ministry official said pausing in step and looking surprised. "You can't stop this."
"I believe I can. This is my school and that is a student of mine you're taking away."
"He could very well be the reason Miss Maya Angus Hilbard is dead, or a means to help us find out how."
Michale looked up at Darlene, mouth agap. "I didn't do anything!"
"Mr. Duke," Dumbledore warned. "No one here is accusing you off anything and no one will be taking you off Hogwarts grounds without going through me."
"Darlene, I've got the Lockhart boy-" Another Auror was walking towards them, a lanky Ravenclaw student following after him. "Albus." Hé greeted the headmaster immediately.
"Farlin." Dumbledore greeted the Auror. "And where are you taking Mr. Lockhart exactly?"
The Auror looked towards Darlene nervously. "The ministry?"
"Darlene, I implore you to listen to reason- do you honestly believe a 12 year old boy had anything to do with Maya Angus Hillbard's death?"
"Albus?" This was professor McGonagall as she came running towards the group of them, holding the fronts of her emerald robes.
"Minerva, just the person I was looking for- can you believe this?"
"Albus this is my doing." Minerva explained apologetically "I came as soon as I was informed Mr. Duke was being taken away-"
"Your doing?" Albus Dumbledore repeated looking towards his deputy headmistress with a curious expression.
"I was informed by Mr. Pettigrew and Ms. MacDonald that Mr. Duke may have been present at Miss Maya Angus Hillbard's compartment before or after she committed suicide- I informed Darlene though I didn't think she'd take Mr. Duke away."
Michael felt like he had been doused in cold water. Mary? Mary had told them? And Peter? His own housemates had turned him in and not one of them had asked him if it was the truth.
"Minerva surely you didn't think we'd just let his testimony slide?"
"No but to take him to the ministry and be tried in front of the entire Wizengamot- that's a stretch Darlene, even for you."
"What would you have me do?" Darlene asked. "I've got the minister breathing on my back to get this Hogwarts situation sorted as well as countless others I have yet to start- the ministry doesn't take a break as you very well now."
"And what of Mr. Lockhart?" Dumbledore asked beckoning the 4th year Ravenclaw the other Auror, Farlin had brought.
"We reviewed Mr. Lockharts testimony as well as the others and decided that we needed to question him again to confirm a few doubts we had."
"And must they both be taken to the ministry?" Dumbledore asked.
"That will be determined when I question them individually." Darlene told him walking forward "Shall I get back to business? I don't have all day."
The headmaster and headmistress exchanged looks and nodded.
"Fear not, Mr. Duke," He looked up at the headmaster with terrified eyes "I will be there with you every step at the way. Perks of being a member of the Wizengamot."
He winked and McGonagall gave him a hard squeeze on the shoulder before leaving him alone with the ministry officials, Aurors and Darlene.
"After you, Mr. Duke." She prodded him towards the empty classroom and he stepped in nervously.
The tables had been pushed back save for few where a few Aurors were sitting. Darlene pulled out a seat and beckoned him to sit.
A young auror took a seat across from his and fixed his blue eyes on Michael who gulped nervously.
"The names Alastar Moody." He greeted. "Now let's get straight to business Mr. Duke. I don't want any funny answers just be honest and open about all and everything you know."
"Yes sir."
Nearby Darlene had sat Elvis Lockhart down and had appointed an Auror to question him. She was a lady auror with a kind smile and Michael felt as if he had been handed the short stick in Auror options.
"Let's begin Mr. Duke, tell me where were you on June 10th?"
"On the Hogwarts express." Michael told him honestly. He had been late of course, courtesy of Charlie, but he had managed to board on time for once.
"And what did you do once you were on the train?"
"I went looking for a compartment to sit in. I talked to a few friends and had gone to get some chocolate frogs before I took a seat-"
"Had you already found a compartment by that time?"
"Yes, with my friend."
"Name?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Your friends name who you sat in the compartment with and whoever else was present in the compartment with you two."
"Mary MacDonald." Michael told him the name sounding sour on his mouth. "Elvin- Elvin Presque, Merlin Dunphy and Karima Aiken."
Alastor Moody noted down the names and Michael wondered if they too had said something to the Aurors like Mary and Peter.
"I've got here a testimony that you went into Maya Hillbard's compartment- do you deny it?"
"No."
"What were you doing in her compartment?"
Michael shut his eyes trying not to think about how ridiculous he was going to sound. "I was hiding."
Alastor Moody stopped writing immediately and looked up at Michael. "You were hiding? From what exactly?"
"A group of 4th years." Michael replied after taking a moment to remember the events that had transpired before that unfortunate time. "I had swiped the last of the chocolate frogs from the trolley and they were angry so I ran into the open compartment-"
"Open compartment?" Alastar Moody had paused again "Are you saying that Maya Hillbard's compartment was open?"
"Yes?"
"Are you not sure?"
"I am." Michael told him nodding. "It was slightly open that's how I was able to go inside."
"Interesting."
"I'm sorry but what's interesting about a open compartment."
"It's interesting because it makes us feel that perhaps Miss Maya Hillbard wasn't sure she wanted to go forward with the suicide-anyways continue so you went inside the open compartment and then what?"
Michael shut his eyes, the image of the girl burned in his mind. She hadn't left his mind since that day Abd every day he was reminded of his reluctance to go back and inquire about her.
"Mr. Duke?"
"I'm sorry." He hung his head down. "I-I can't."
"Take your time Mr. Duke- we just want to secure as many details as we can to further this investigation if needed."
Alastar Moody waved his wand and levitated a glass of water in front of Michael took it great-fully. The Aurot refilled it again and again until Michael was satisfied.
"Let me know when you're ready to speak." He said standing up. "I'll go ahead and submit this until then."
Michale nodded and let out a shaky breath looking around at the others in the room. Darlene was deep in conversation with Alastor while the others were conversing amongst themselves putting over files detailing information others had provided about the case.
To his right Michael looked over to see the 4th year still conversing with his auror. He was trembling as he spoke and Michael wondered what his relationship had been with Maya Hillbard.
"They were fellow captains."
Alastar Moody was beside him once more looking towards the pair. "Ravenclaw captain while Ms. Hillbard was the captain for-"
"Hufflepuff." Michael knew that much from the whispers among the students.
"Not only that she was a favorite of the minister and had been interning at the ministry before all this. It's why the ministry's been in a ruckus and the minister is insistent about getting to the end of this."
Michael sighed guilt eating at him again. "When I-"
The Auror took a seat immediately and gave him a nod. "Go ahead."
"She was sitting alone on the compartment floor, crying I knew because her face was red and wet." Michael took another shaky breath remembering the event clearly.
She had been kneeling on the ground, praying possibly if he had to guess. Her brown hair was messy, threatening to fall from the bun atop her head. She was muttering something under her breathe when he had come running in.
"As soon as she noticed me she looked at me, I think she wanted to say something but then she shut her eyes said forgive me and just put her wand to her heart."
Michael put his hands to his head. "I don't understand for a minute what had happened. But she fell back slowly and was very very still and I- I ran out." He finished eyes watering up as he looked Alastar Moody in the eye. "I didn't know what was happening, I thought maybe she was asleep or-I should have gone back and checked on her, I should have-!"
Alastar Moody suddenly stood up and knelt down to the boy. "I want you to know Mr. Duke, there was nothing you could have done to prevent Miss Maya Hillbard from killing herself."
Michael looked up, eyes leaking. "But I could have talked to her or-"
"No, Miss Hillbard made her decision. Tracing her wand we found that she used the killing curse at approximately 6:52 pm on June 10. Does that sound about right?"
Michael nodded. The sun had set and it had been dark outside. But something nagged at him. "Killing curse?" Michale rubbed his eyes. "But that's illegal-"
"Very much so and that's why we want to find what drove her to take that drastic measure." Alastar Moody agreed. "Based on your friends testimony you were in the compartment with the the entire ride."
"I should have done something though-I thought of doing back but I couldn't bring myself to do so." He explained. " I convinced myself she had used another spell it couldn't be that, it just couldn't be."
"It's not easy to witness something like that Mr. Duke, I'm afraid it's also not easy to overcome." He knelt down. "Bit with time it will become easier to accept, and you have to accept it to move on- I just want you to remember that Miss Hillbard made her decision l, even with you present with her in that moment she was firm on her decision and nothing you could have said would have changed her mind. This is not your fault."
And Michael Duke simply moved forward and let the Auror comfort him for there was nothing more he could do and say.
Alastar Moody was never considered an affectionate person but when the young boy leaned in for a hug, Alastar Moody didn't hold back.
Despite the evidence they had racked, the boy was still the only solid evidence they had that Miss Maya Angus Hillbard had committed suicide. He would still have to say all this again in front of the Wizengamot and for that Alastar Moody felt pity for the boy.