Chapter 594: A Sudden Interrogation
Chapter 594: A Sudden Interrogation
As Kyle emerged from the Department of Mysteries, employees were arriving for work at the Ministry of Magic. However, instead of rushing to leave with Chris, Diana had other plans.
"Give me your wand," she demanded, to Kyle's confusion. He obliged, reaching into his pocket and handing it over.
Diana took the wand, her finger hovering over the tip as a few sparks of red light flickered. Whatever she was doing, her expression grew grim, and Chris shifted uncomfortably behind her.
Finally, Diana's patience snapped, and she rapped Kyle lightly on the head. "Use the Blasting Curse less," she admonished. "It's difficult to control, and if you're discovered, the punishment is nearly as severe as for an Unforgivable Curse."
Kyle rubbed his head, more in surprise than pain, and protested, "They were Death Eaters! If I didn't use it, they would have."
"That's true..." Diana conceded, "but as long as they aren't exposed, they aren't technically Death Eaters. Your use of the curse, however, is a fact and easily detectable."
"Priori Incantatem," Kyle murmured, sensing that this interrogation was more than it seemed.
"It seems you've figured it out," Diana said, returning his wand. "You should be careful and stay vigilant, especially with that box."
...
Soon after, Diana returned to the Department of Mysteries while Chris escorted Kyle upward via elevator to the floor of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
As they navigated the crowded corridor, Chris remarked, "We have some time before our appointment. Let's grab something first."
The atmosphere here was a stark contrast to the Department of Mysteries, with boxes and clutter piled everywhere.
"Sorry, coming through!" A hurried voice called out, and a staff member rushed past, cradling a box in his arms.
"Bob?" Chris called out. "I thought you were in Cornwall with Amos?"
"Oh, Chris, I've been looking for you," the staff member, Bob, replied. "We found this there." He gestured to the box in his arms. "We thought it was just an ordinary chicken from a farm, but it breathed fire!"
As if to illustrate his point, a small flame spurted from the box, quickly burning a hole through the cardboard. Fortunately, it was just a small flicker.
"Aqua Clarus!"
A stream of clear water doused the box, extinguishing the flame.
Chris opened the box to inspect its contents, then waved his wand over it. "Distinctive magical signatures... We should get someone from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. This is a serious violation of the Ban on Experimental Breeding. Get a Hit Wizard to bring them in."
"Right away," Bob said, hurrying off. But he soon returned, hesitantly holding up the box. "What about this one?"
"Send it to the forest. We can't release it outside after this."
Bob rushed to the end of the corridor and disappeared through a door.
"That's the experimental beast storage room," Chris explained, noticing Kyle's curious glance. "It contains a real forest used to house various confiscated magical creatures."
"Oh..." Kyle nodded, asking, "How often does this happen?"
"More often than you'd think," Chris sighed. "Sometimes a wizard gets a bright idea, and it creates a whole mess of trouble for us."
Seeing Chris' resigned expression, Kyle couldn't help but think of Hagrid.
Having served as the Head of the Department for a year, Chris seemed to have been reinstated to his previous position.
"Who's the current Head?" Kyle asked.
"Not sure, the position hasn't been finalized yet," Chris shook his head. "But a couple of days ago, there were rumors that Senior Undersecretary Umbridge might temporarily take on the role of Head."
Chris spoke calmly, showing no signs of discontent with his apparent "demotion."
"Alright, take a seat for now," he said. "I need to find the materials I prepared yesterday."
Kyle sat on a random sofa, taking in the clutter in the office.
Files were piled everywhere, a few wooden sticks with spikes were casually placed in the corner, and the stacked parchment beside them almost reached the ceiling.
"Ah, here they are!"
Chris pulled out several parchments from a drawer in his desk.
Kyle leaned over to take a look and saw that they contained the content he had copied from the Restraining Laws.
"It's always good to be over-prepared," Chris commented.
The two then left the office and once again took the elevator to the Ministry of Magic's atrium.
Kyle was there to meet Professor McGonagall, as Dumbledore had mentioned that she would be waiting for him. However, after circling the atrium several times, neither Kyle nor Chris spotted Professor McGonagall.
"Perhaps she's already gone to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Chris glanced at the time. "We have ten minutes; we should head there too."
"Okay," Kyle agreed. He didn't continue searching for Professor McGonagall and instead accompanied Chris to the second floor, where the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was located.
However, things took an unexpected turn.
Their original meeting place was supposed to be in Amelia Bones' office, but the staff member guiding them led them to a different room.
Seeing the group of nearly thirty people before him, Kyle knew his earlier suspicions were correct.
If it was just about the Restraining Laws, there was no reason for so many people to be present... even Skrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office, was there.
"Theodorus Nott is dead."
Without even exchanging pleasantries, Skrimgeour ordered the door closed as soon as Kyle entered. He asked expressionlessly, "What are your thoughts on this matter?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't know who you're talking about," Kyle said. "And I came to the Ministry of Magic to explain the matter of using magic in the Leaky Cauldron. Clearly, your question has nothing to do with that."
"That's right, Skrimgeour," Chris stepped forward, standing in front of Kyle, his face darkening as he asked:
"What are you doing? We received a notification about the misuse of magic, not about assisting you in investigating Nott."
"This is the Minister's request, Chris," a witch beside Skrimgeour suddenly spoke up. "Someone claimed to have witnessed Theodorus Nott dying at this boy's hands, and he apparently used the Blasting Curse. We must investigate this thoroughly."
"Who is it!" Chris demanded.
Amelia Bones glanced back involuntarily.
At the same time, three people stood up from the back row.
"Walton McNair... Igor Karkaroff, Lucius Malfoy..."
Chris recited their names, his face growing grimmer.
"They are the witnesses," Amelia Bones stated. "Given Mr. Karkaroff's identity, we have to take this seriously, Chris. I hope you understand."
(End of Chapter)
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