Milicent dropped her arm to her side and slid her wand onto her desk after the men had left. "Well, that went smoother than I thought it would. Thank you."
"Me?" Minerva cocked her head to the side. "Whatever for?"
"I have been looking for a reason to suspend him since his son was arrested," the Minister told her. "I knew he was affected by it, no matter how he argued. This situation tells me that he was impacted long before. We must be exceedingly careful, or the Deatheaters we've already arrested will not be prosecuted. We can't risk that."
"Well, then I suppose you're welcome. I really just wanted answers about Sirius. The boy I knew would never have betrayed his friends, never!" She stated emphatically.
"We are going to get to the bottom of this. I could understand if Sirius was placed in Azkaban because they are so busy tracking down and arresting Deatheaters. I could understand if he was being held on charges if he had confessed, but to just be there with no expectation of further investigation is completely unacceptable. I'm shocked that it's you here addressing this and not Albus."
Minerva frowned. "He seems convinced that Sirius is guilty."
"Really? Did Albus speak with him?"
"No."
"Then what has him so convinced?" Milicent asked.
"I have no idea…" Minerva trailed off.
"You've thought of something," the minister noted as a knock sounded at her office door. "Don't forget whatever you're thinking of."
Minerva nodded.
"Come in," Milicent called out.
The door opened, and a large man stepped into the office. Two things were noticeable right off the bat: there was a rather noticeable chunk missing from his nose and there was a strange clunking noise every other step when he walked.
"Alastor!" Minerva said in shock.
"Deatheater," he said, tapping his nose, then lifting his trouser leg to reveal a wooden leg. "This too. You sent for me, Minister."
"Yes, are you aware the Sirius Black is being held at Azkaban?"
"He was found at the scene of the Muggle murders," Alastor replied as if that answered the question, "and according to Albus, he was the Potters' Secret Keeper."
"That's what he told me as well," Minerva said.
"All looking and sounding quite suspicious, yes. Are you aware he has not been charged with anything and that he has not even been questioned? I don't even know if a standard Priori Incantatem was cast on his wand."
"Shouldn't you be bringing this up with old Barty?" Alastor asked.
"Bartemis is currently on administrative leave," she returned.
The man smiled. "Well, Minister Bagnold, I didn't know you had it in you. I take it you want me to oversee questioning of the lad."
"Yes."
"I'll get to that first thing tomorrow," he replied.
"His wand should be in the evidence room, right?" Minerva asked.
"It should be," Alastor said. "With how things have been going this week, it might not be. I'll find it though."
"Could you do that tonight?" she inquired.
He considered. "Why do you think that's important?"
"You'll know before you speak with him what spell he used on those Muggles and Peter. You can use that information to gauge whether he's answering truthfully or if he even cast anything at all. Did you recognize the spell used to kill the Muggles?"
"No, it was not a spell I'm familiar with, though I could be a combination of spells. Did you ever consider a career in magical law enforcement? You might be a good interrogator." Alastor commented.
"No, the Ministry was not the place for me. If I'm good at interrogation, it comes from working with teenagers."
"And you don't have the benefit of using Veritaserum," he said with a rough laugh.
"No, no, I do not. I prefer it that way. Do you always administer it when you question suspects?"
Alastor shook his head. "Not always; we usually reserve it for particularly hostile witches and wizards. Occasionally we have someone ask for it to prove their innocence."
"And how often are they actually innocent?"
"Not as often as you'd think," he laughed again.
"They think they can beat it," she nodded knowingly. "I've heard Muggle criminals often feel the same about their method of testing truthtelling."
"All of this is very interesting," Milicent put in.
"But I should go find that wand and get the papers in order to transfer Black here tomorrow," the Auror said. "On my way. Shall I let you know the results of the PI?"
"If they're significant, yes, please."
Alastor nodded and clomped from the office.
"Thank you," Minerva said. "I know I had no real reason-"
Milicent held up a hand. "Things are so chaotic right now, no matter how much we try to keep things calm and orderly. The Prophet isn't helping."
"They never do."
"No, they don't. I told you I've been worried about Bartemis, and he's not the only Auror I'm concerned about. Alastor can be a bit aggressive in his search sometimes, but he's also persistent and more objective than some. Now if someone has been caught red-handed... she trailed off and shrugged. "Anyway, you had a thought before he came in, something to do with Albus."
"Not a thought so much. I'm not sure what's going on with him. He swears he believes Sirius is guilty, but he couldn't give me a reason that made sense."
"What did he say?" Milicent asked as she sat down next to Minerva. "Would you like some tea? Sorry, I know that's a sudden change of subject, but I could use a cup myself."
McGonagall smiled. "That would be nice. Thank you."
"Not a problem, Mellie," the minister called out.
Shortly, the tiniest house elf Minerva could ever recall seeing popped into the room. "You called, Mistress," squeaked the elf.
"Yes, Mellie, would you please bring a proper tea for two?"
"Yes, Mistress. I will be returning soon," Mellie replied, then popped away.
"Millie, you have a house elf named Mellie?
"I didn't name her. My mother did, and you know she insisted I go by my full first name. No nicknames at my house."
"How old is she?"
"I believe she's nearly 100."
"She doesn't look it," Minerva commented.
"No," Milicent laughed, "she never did grow up really, but she's the best elf I've ever known, and the tea here at the Ministry is best drunk only when there are no other options. Now, tell me what Albus said while we wait for tea."
Minerva did just that, filling the other woman in on the conversations she'd had with the Headmaster, both about Sirius Black and the baby Harry.
"Sirius is his godfather, you say?"
"Yes, and he absolutely doted on the child from everything I've heard. Lily occasionally sent me letters," she admitted. "I think she just wanted to talk to someone other than James and his friends. She got along with all of them, especially Remus, whom I still don't know if he's been found and if he has been what he's been told. The thought of Sirius betraying them will break his heart."
"So, if Sirius were innocent, he would want to take Young Harry to live with him."
"I would assume so."
"And Remus Lupin would support his claim to the boy?"
"Not only support; I wouldn't be surprised if he moved in with them to help raise Harry," Minerva responded.
The Minister mused for a few moments. "Which means he wouldn't be living with the Dursleys under the blood magic protection. Do you think Sirius would be acceptable to Harry staying and simply living nearby to help take care of the boy?"
"Highly unlikely."
"In other words, it would be a battle of sides on who best believes they can keep Harry safe as we wait to see if Voldemort will return."
Minerva sighed, "Yes, I suppose so." She paused and twisted her lips. "You don't think-"
The Floo in the office flared to life, and Alastor Moody's head appeared in the flames. "Minister," he called.
"Yes, Alastor," she replied, turning to the fireplace.
"I need your assistance. Black's wand has been stored by the Unspeakables," he reported.
"Whatever for? That is far from standard operating procedure."
"Jameson was with Crouch at the scene, and he reports that Dumbledore recommended the wand be placed with the Unspeakables as no one knew the curse that had been used."
Milicent turned back to look at Minerva. "How interesting." She stood and moved to the Floo.
"I'll get right on it, Alastor. Meet me at the Department of Mysteries."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I need to go see to this in person," Milicent told Minerva. "If Mellie returns before I do, please pour the tea, and we shall continue our discussion upon my return."
Minerva nodded.
Milicent stepped through the flames and disappeared. Minerva sat for a few moments, then stood and began to pace the room.
What is going on? What is Albus up to? He never wanted to be Minister of Magic, he says over and over, and yet he's managed to exert control over things happening here even without being Minister. What does he know that he hasn't shared? Is he really trying to keep Sirius locked up so that he won't take custody of Harry? Does he truly believe that Harry is safer with those awful Muggles? That woman may be Lily's sister, but she's nothing like Lily. I worry about that boy growing up in that house. I still don't buy that he'd grow up entitled or with an ego growing up in our world. On the contrary, it seems that if people saw him growing up and making the same mistakes and missteps as others, they might realize it was a freak set of circumstances and the boy himself had nothing to do with it. Albus obviously knows something more. So, why isn't he sharing?
As she rounded the room for the third time, Milicent's tiny elf popped back in with a tray three times her size.
"Mistress," the little elf said. "Here is your tea."
"She had to step out for a moment. I'd suggest you set it up where you normally would," Minerva told her.
"Thank you, ma'am."
Mellie settled the tray on the large conference table, then began to place the items from the tray at two places while standing on a chair. When she had finished, she waved her hand over the lot of it, hopped down off the chair, and turned to Minerva.
"It should stay warm until Mistress is ready to return. If you would like, you are welcome to help yourself. I am certain she won't mind."
"Thank you, Mellie."
"You're welcome, ma'am."
No sooner had the little elf popped away than the Floo flared to life again and the Minister stepped out.
"Sirius didn't cast any spells that could have caused the damage at the scene, nor killed the Muggles or Pettigrew," she announced, then clarified. "At least, not with his wand. I suppose they could have been wandless, possibly even nonverbal and wandless, but that seems unlikely. Is he that strong magically?"
Minerva blinked. "Should you be telling me this?"
The Minister shrugged. "Probably not, but you're not going to tell anyone, are you?"
"Certainly not."
"Then is it possible he is strong enough to cast that way?"
"I know he can cast nonverbal spells. I saw him do it many times in my NEWTS level Transfiguration class. I never observed him casting a spell wandlessly. Honestly, I don't know many witches or wizards who are comfortable doing that with simple spells, much less ones that might kill someone, not even Albus."
Milicent nodded. "As I thought."
"What did Alastor say?"
"Same thing; he doesn't know of anyone that strong magically. We haven't even heard rumors of Voldemort being able to do so, which means someone else cast the spell or somehow Sirius used Muggle means to kill Peter and the Muggles."
"I feel absolutely horrible saying this, but are we sure Peter Pettigrew is actually dead?" Minerva asked. "I can't believe he would betray his friends either, and I don't know how that would work if Sirius was the Secret Keeper for the Potters."
"All that was found of Peter was a finger."
"Yes, but the Muggles were found whole, correct?"
"Yes," the Minister paused. "You're right, it does seem odd. Perhaps one or both of them were Imperiused."
"That would make more sense," the professor said.
"Well, we'll find out tomorrow. Alastor has already arranged for his transfer back here to the holding cells in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement." Milicent replied as she sat down at the table.
Minerva joined her. "Does he plan on using Veritaserum?"
"It is standard procedure, but I believe he prefers to question suspects without it first."
"And then compare their answers to what they say under its effects; that makes sense," Minerva nodded. "I almost wish…" she trailed off.
"Would you like to be here?"
"Oh no, that wouldn't be appropriate, and I'm certain it's against regulations."
The Minister shrugged, took a sip of her tea, and then said, "So long as you are not in the interrogation room, I don't see any issues with it. By the way, Alastor has sent out a team of Aurors to the last known location of Greyback and his fellow wolves to attempt to locate Remus Lupin."
"That is good news." Minerva relaxed a bit into her chair and took a sip of her tea, and then her eyes went wide, the tea snapped down into the saucer and she asked, "He doesn't think Remus is involved in all of this, does he? Does he want Remus back for questioning?"
"I don't know that he suspects Remus, but he does want to be sure he can corroborate Sirius's story, whatever it is," the Minister acknowledged.
"But if he's questioning him under Veritarserum, is that necessary?"
"Alastor believes there are those who are able to resist the potion. I'm not sure that's ever been proven, but there is a reason the witches and wizards he's sent on to the Wizengamot are convicted. To allay your fears, he never questions a suspect alone. There is always another Auror in the room with him and at least two observing."
"Perhaps I will come then."
"Now, to decide if we also invite Albus or wait until we know more."
Minerva pursed her lips. "Would you like my opinion?"
The Minister nodded.
"Let him wait. He obviously knows or thinks he knows something that the rest of us do not. He must have reasons for leaving Harry with his relatives."
"Yes, I find it quite odd that he suggested Sirius's wand be sent to the Unspeakables. I am also rather concerned that his suggestions are taken. He is the Chief Mugwump of the Wizengamot, but to that end, he should stay out of all matters that might come before them, as it ruins his impartiality. He shouldn't be anywhere near the Aurors and their investigations, much less advising them. No matter what happens tomorrow and what we find out about Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, Lupin, the Potters, and the Muggles, I need to have a long and detailed conversation with the entirety of the Auror department and most likely the Unspeakables as well," Millicent said emphatically.
"That should be interesting."
"Not nearly so interesting as the conversation I'll need to have with Albus himself."
"Remind me to be nowhere near the Ministry when you do that," Minerva said, raising an eyebrow. "Now, I should be getting back to Hogwarts. What time shall I be here tomorrow?"
"I'll owl you tonight. If you'd rather not go back through the main hall, you can use my Floo."
"Thank you."