Chapter 053

The next morning, right on 8.00am, a rather nondescript man walked into the offices of the Auror department at the Ministry of Magic carrying a small bouquet of white roses and a wide smile on his face.

He approached the counter and immediately rang the little bell placed there for someone who wanted to make either a complaint or an enquiry.

Though it was a Sunday and most of the aurors were off for the day, he was approached from the other side of the counter by a young wizard auror.

"Yes?" asked the auror.

"Good morning!" replied the man. "Could you please ask that dear, sweet lady who Heads the Department if she's got time for a very dear friend. And please let her know I bring with me a bouquet of her favourite white roses."

"It's a Sunday. What makes you think she's in?" asked the auror.

"Oh, she'll be in," the man grinned. "She has plenty of court cases she needs to prepare for, for her not to be in."

The auror frowned and hesitated a moment before he gave an almost imperceptible shrug, then walked away towards the Director's office at the back of the 'bullpen'.

The man, Sirius under a glamour, watched as the young auror walked up to the door of what he remembered to be the Director of Department's door and knocked. A moment later, he walked in.

Sirius surreptitiously drew his wand and held it with only the tips of his thumb and index finger before himself by the middle of the shaft as he laid the roses on the counter off to one side. So far, besides the young auror, no one had paid him the least amount of attention.

About five seconds later there was a short, sharp klaxon sound and the doors leading back out slammed shut. Sirius just stood there with his hands up and wand still held with thumb and index finger of his off hand and a grin on his face.

Like little meerkats, what few aurors were in the bullpen shot to their feet and were looking about, with their wands drawn.

Then the office door slammed opened with Bones storming out with her wand held ready and a determined scowl on her face. The young auror was right behind her, also with his wand at the ready; a little scared, but backing 'The Boss'.

She took one look at Sirius and strode towards him. "Don't. Move!" she quietly but firmly ordered.

"I have no intention to, Ami my love," he grinned as she still strode towards him.

Once she was about ten feet short she stopped and said, "Gently now... place the wand on the desk."

As he complied, Sirius whined, "But I thought it was my turn to be the auror when we played, sweetheart!"

"Be silent!" she barked. With a glance at the young auror she said, "Auror Williamson. Handcuff him."

"Ooohhh... kinky!" grinned Sirius.

"I said, be silent!" she snapped at him again.

The auror was quick to duck around the counter and, by the numbers, affixed magic-inhibiting manacles to Sirius with his hands behind his back. Sirius made no move to hinder the young man.

Once manacled, Bones ordered, "Bring him! We're going to Interrogation Room 2."

As Sirius was led through the bullpen, he called out to the still watching on-duty aurors, "Next time we're playing 'Haughty Healers and Wicked Medi-witches'!"

That's when Bones hit him with the threatened silencing charm.

As he was practically frog-marched through the bullpen and out another door, one Sirius knew led to the interrogation and interview rooms, he turned back to Bones and pouted at her. However, the twinkle of mirth didn't leave his eyes.

"Shacklebolt, Tonks and Robards!" barked Bones. "With me! Bring a Dicta-quill with you!"

After only a short walk past two doors, one opposite the other on either side, Sirius was hustled into an interrogation room. Once he was manhandled by the young auror into a seat, his cuffs were transferred from behind his back and threaded through the ring in the table top, before they once again secured him by his wrists.

Then the young auror stepped back awaiting his next order.

A moment later Robards led in Shacklebolt and Tonks, with Tonks carrying a Dicta-quill.

Bones turned to the young auror and said, "Alright, Williamson; you're done. Thank you. And not a word of this to anyone."

The young auror gave a single nod and left without a word.

Then Bones, still staring at Sirius, asked, "Are you willing to undergo interrogation under Veritaserum?"

"Yep," he immediately replied. "Actually, I think I'd have to insist on it."

She then glanced at Tonks and said, "Tonks. Set up the Dicta-quill. I take it you have qualified competence in its use?"

"Yes, Ma'am," replied Tonks, as she set to work.

Then she glanced at Shacklebolt and said, "Shack, go get a vial of Veritaserum."

"Yes, Ma'am," replied the burly dark-skinned auror before he ducked out and away.

Then she turned her full attention back to Sirius and asked, "What are you using; Polyjuice or a simple glamour?"

"Glamour anchored by a rune stone," he immediately replied. "You'll find it on a cord around my neck."

"Gawain," she quietly said.

The Master Auror quietly moved around behind Sirius and, feeling the back of his neck which Sirius aided by bending his head forward, found the cord and pulled it off over his head.

As it cleared Sirius's skin his form seemed to shimmer a little as the glamour dropped away.

Tonks let out a gasp from where she was now monitoring the Dicta-quill

"Sirius!" she quietly exclaimed.

"Hello, Nymmie," he grinned at her. "Look at you, all grown up."

She scowled back and said, "Don't call me that. I prefer 'Tonks'."

"Even for me, your favourite cousin?" he grinned.

"Even for you," she scowled.