Chapter 6 - Circumstantial Evidence

The Aurors' office was a wide and imposing area, illuminated by magical lights suspended from the high ceiling, casting a soft and even glow over the space. Dark wooden desks were arranged in orderly rows, each cluttered with scrolls, quills and magical artifacts. On the walls, detailed maps and bulletin boards were covered with newspaper clippings and photos of wanted wizards. A glass wall provided a panoramic view of the room's interior, where Aurors, dressed in their traditional work robes, were deeply engaged in serious discussions and document reviews.

The tension in the air increased instantly with the entrance of Moody, his eyes fixed on Ron and Nichols. "WEASLEY! NICHOLS!" he shouted, his voice reverberating through the office walls. "Come here NOW!"

Ron and Nichols, who were reviewing documents at a nearby desk, stood up immediately and hurried towards Moody. Ron looked frustrated, while Nichols maintained a serious and focused expression.

Moody stared at them intensely, his magical eye alternating between the two. "By Merlin, tell me you have some good news about that map!"

Ron sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to find the right words. "Well, Moody, we had a brief meeting with the warden of Azkaban, Felicity Evans. She confirmed that Azkaban is divided exactly as marked on the map: Metamorphmagi, Death Eaters, Alchemists, Mudbloods and Mediums, which are the regular wizards without any special markers. As for the marked numbers, they represent the schedules and intervals of various guards, but not all of them. She was very alarmed by the accuracy of the map and decided to change everything around, both the arrangement of the groups and the guards patrol schedules and intervals."

Nichols nodded, complementing Ron's words. "Warden Felicity Evans said that she allowed the redistribution of prisoners according to these groups to avoid fights. This implies that whoever made this map has knowledge of this new division."

Moody grunted, his face a mask of frustration and contained anger. "In other words" Moody said, "Malfoy would have full knowledge to make such a map, since he got out of Azkaban a few days ago."

Moody, angry, said, "For Merlin's sake! And that's not enough for a new interrogation?"

Ron shook his head, choosing his words carefully. "It might be, but Malfoy's lawyers were very emphatic about the illegality of holding him for nearly 24 hours without any concrete evidence last time. I don't think it would be wise to summon Malfoy in the coming days unless we have something substantial. Otherwise, we risk being sued for harassment and hindering the reintegration of an ex-convict into society."

Moody punched the desk, making the objects on it tremble. "This is exactly what I mean about Minister of Magic Wilma Dean and her new laws! Yes, she has made many improvements, but this tendency to defend criminals is unacceptable. It not only gives them reasons to call our system weak but also drowns us in endless bureaucracy. We are tied up, unable to act effectively because of these complacent policies. It's frustrating to have to deal with so many obstacles while criminals take advantage of these loopholes. But go on, did Evans mention which group Malfoy belonged to?"

Ron quickly replied, with a serious tone. "According to Felicity Evans, he didn't belong to any group. Malfoy was hated by the former Death Eaters for the mass delation he did to ensure his family's freedom. The other groups either had some issue with Malfoy for his past actions or simply didn't want to associate with him to avoid conflicts with the Death Eaters."

Moody frowned, clearly intrigued. "At first, I thought he was trying to free some friend, but now things have changed." He looked deeply at Ron and Nichols, trying to understand what was behind Malfoy's actions. "Do you think Malfoy made this map for another purpose? Maybe he's planning to hire someone to infiltrate Azkaban. And if his intention is revenge? Perhaps he wants to teach a lesson to someone, who was particularly cruel to him during his time there."

Ron and Nichols exchanged looks, considering the possibility. Nichols was the first to respond. "It's a plausible theory, sir. If he was isolated and faced reprisals, he might very well seek revenge against someone in particular."

Ron nodded and added, "We need to investigate further. If Malfoy is really seeking revenge, with the resources he has, it's only a matter of time before he succeeds."

Moody shrugged. "To be honest, I don't care much if Malfoy wants to get back at someone in Azkaban. If he wants to take out another criminal, that's one less problem for us and a saving for the taxpayer. But by acting this way, he weakens the image of our entire justice system, and that we cannot allow. Besides, making the entire Diagon Alley fall asleep, including the Minister of Magic, was a grossly disproportionate display of power for someone who just wants revenge. This suggests that he has bigger goals, like forming a cult, creating a sect, or even planning a coup. We need to be alert to these possibilities."

Nichols, trying to ease the tension, asked Moody, "And you Sr., did you have any success in your investigation?"

Moody was furious, the anger in his gaze almost palpable. "The damn Gringotts bankers refuse to provide any details about Malfoy's visit on the morning of December 4th" he said, his voice loaded with frustration. "They claim that, besides security, Gringotts offers privacy to clients, and unless the Minister of Magic issues an official order, they won't confirm or deny whether Malfoy withdrew the jewel we found in the briefcase in the Diagon Alley incident. Are you sure you can't appeal to your brother who works at Gringotts, Weasley? We just need a yes or no."

Weasley shook his head negatively. "Bill is extremely strict about his work. Besides, goblins are notoriously rigid with rules and have a prejudiced view of wizards working at Gringotts. If they found out that Bill broke protocol, he would not only lose his job but could also face serious reprisals from the goblins. I could never ask him that, sir."

Moody continued, sighing in frustration. "So for now, we're tied. It seems all Malfoy's alibis have been confirmed. He arrived at Gringotts at 8:30, where he made a withdrawal and possibly took the jewel found in the briefcase. Then he went to an elite beauty salon called 'Spells and Glamour'. He showed up there shortly after 9:00 and spent an absurdly long time. He got a haircut, had a precision shave and underwent a magical facial cleanse. And to complete the spectacle, he got a manicure and pedicure, with enchanted nail polish and everything. He only left there around noon." The old Auror shook his head, with an ironic smile. "Who would have thought that a former Death Eater would need a princess day? Well, at least he'll look nice in the cell when we catch him again."

He looked at Nichols and Ron and asked, "You said you managed to check where he claimed to have had lunch, right?"

Nichols nodded. "Yes, Weasley and I went to the 'Royal Delicatessen'. They confirmed he arrived at noon sharp and had lunch until about 14:00. During that time, he tasted several desserts, including pumpkin pie, cauldron pudding and a slice of Green Velvet. He also tried different types of tea, such as mint, ginger, bergamot, and…."

Moody, impatient, interrupted: "Enough with the teas, Nichols! Let's get to the point! What else do we have?"

Nichols closed his notebook and replied, "Nothing more, sir. Five employees confirmed his presence and the time he spent there, detailing the specific requests he made for each item."

Ron shook his head, discouraged. "And after that, he claimed to have gone straight to the Crystal Eye to buy the new cane. It doesn't really seem like he had time to meet someone and deliver the briefcase in Green Square, which is quite far from where he was, and if Lucius Malfoy had Apparated in the middle of the street, someone would have seen."

Moody, still determined, did not give up. "But, considering that the shop assistants completely forgot the two days before the incident, we cannot say for sure if he made an extra stop to deliver the jewel he took from Gringotts, along with the mental map of Azkaban's divisions and schedules."

Ron sighed. "The Malfoy Manor employees confirmed he hadn't returned home that day. Draco and Narcissa were in Canada, and apart from them, no one could have opened the family vault. Unless the goblins confirm that Lucius took the jewel from Gringotts that day, what we have are just circumstantial evidence. The jewel in question could have been sold or stolen many years ago and have nothing to do with him actually."

Moody pounded his fist on the table, frustrated. "Circumstantial evidence is one thing, Weasley, but there are three, three!" He held up three fingers. "A map of Azkaban on the day of release, a Malfoy family jewel along with the map and waking up alone at the epicenter of the confusion. My instincts say that under that French perfume, Malfoy is rotten."

Nichols, excited, added: "Indeed, there are too many coincidences to ignore, sir. But without confirmation that he took the jewel from Gringotts, we can't call him in for questioning again. What we need is the Minister's order as soon as possible. This could be the missing piece to connect all the dots."

Moody nodded, still irritated. "Alright, I'll push the Minister. I'll ask a favor from her aide, Kurten Philips, and try to speak with her today. Hopefully, we'll get those goblins to talk. And you two, go to the forensic department and make sure they figure out what that jewel is for. If they're not useful, use other means. Weasley, use our sources, your way, but we need to know exactly what this thing does."

Weasley and Nichols nodded. Weasley took the map and carefully stored it in his drawer. He opened another drawer, revealing a spare wand, and took it firmly. In a quick and discreet movement, he placed it in a secret compartment between his shoe and calf, making sure it was well hidden. With everything prepared, both stood up and headed towards the forensic department, determined to discover more about the mysterious jewel.