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UnBroken	By : OddDoll Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 6172 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Unbroken
By Odd Doll
Chapter 7
From behind the two-way mirror, Narcissa Malfoy watched Phoebe's performance. Clad in a black velvet witch's robe with a low-cut bodice, she made no attempt to blend into the Muggle world. She was pretty, in a mean-looking sort of way, with a sharp mouth and eyelids that tended to remain slightly narrowed, as if calculating one's worth as an opponent.
The door to the small observation room opened; a tall cadaverous man entered.
"Who are you?" she said.
"Veritus Villanova. London Ello sent me. Who are you?"
"Nancy Black. I presume you're a wizard." She said it like she had found a squatter, and did not look forward to ridding herself of him. The Law Enforcement Liason Office, or Ello, was the Ministry's solution to dealing with witches and wizard who had run afoul of the Muggle police. She assumed he was here because of Snape's involvement.
"Of course. I'm curious as to why you're here...Nancy Black." His attention alternated between the interview in the adjoining room and Malfoy.
Malfoy faced the mirror, not looking at him when she spoke. "Let's just say I have a personal interest in this case." Appeasing the Dark Lord, keeping herself and her son alive, yes a very pressing personal interest. It may appear that she wanted revenge against her husband's killer, but the truth was that Lucius had been an arrogant, philandering rat. His death had left her a reasonably young, wealthy, free widow. Snape had saved her the trouble of poisoning him.
"That may be true, but it gives you no right to interfere."
She sneered but did not look at him, not wanting the fear in her eyes to show. Voldemort had given her orders; she had to find Snape, healthy and whole, and return him to Hogwarts. This afternoon, she had been too late. Snape had left and taken much of her confidence with him. The blond woman beyond the glass must tell her where Snape was.
"Mr. Villanova, I intend no harm to you or this woman. It's Snape I'm interested in, and you know that. Why don't we just stand here calmly and see what information she has?"
Villanova shifted a little, turning more toward Malfoy.
"Just stay out of my way, Mrs. Malfoy." She wondered if the trace of menace in his voice were real or for show. "I would enjoy arresting you for interfering with a criminal investigation."
She turned on him, an expression of deadly amusement in her pale blue eyes. "Are you threatening me, Mr. Villanova?"
"Of course not. I'm just a policeman, trying to do his job."
"You are either a fool or a very brave man."
"Only an honest one, Mrs. Malfoy."
She laughed softly. "Haven't you heard? It's open hunting season on honest men."
"Now who's making threats?"
She arched one delicate brow and turned back to the window.
"...And I'll just have to ask you about something else," Dunst was saying. "Can you tell me what a Death Eater is?"
They could see Phoebe's mouth open, but nothing came out until she managed a weak, "What?"
Dunst removed another plastic bag from his coat pocket. Inside was a creased piece of paper.
"This was found in the trashcan of his room. It has a number of little phrases on it, as if someone who could not speak aloud were carrying on a conversation."
"Even supposing those were part of a conversation, you can't imagine he was talking to me. I was a complete stranger to him."
"Ms. Baher, please don't be coy with me. You were his only visitor, and these messages weren't written to the nurses. Please note the fingerprint powder. The prints are his and yours."
"She's very cool," Villanova said.
"She's a witch," Malfoy replied.
"Yes, I think you're right."
"Are you going to put a stop to this?"
"I think I'll let them do my work for me for a little while longer."
Phoebe Baher's expression was now guarded, but she still held the corners of her lips in a small, disdainful smile. She had been leaning back in her chair, but now sat up straight. "I've never heard that term."
"Ms. Baher, let me tell you what I think happened. I think you recognized John Doe, or recognized what kind of man he was when you saw his tattoo." He pointed to the paper. "He asked you what your name is, so I assume the two of you had no prior acquaintance. And yet, he tells you 'I was a Deatheater.' What is that? Some kind of secret society?"
Phoebe Baher laughed. "Considering my occupation, the implications of that are pretty disgusting."
Burgin, who had remained quiet throughout the interview, snorted.
"What is her occupation?" Malfoy asked.
"She's a dominatrix and runs some kind of sex resort," Villanova said.
Narcissa Malfoy laughed. "That's priceless. I can't wait to speak with her."
"You won't get the opportunity."
Emotions warmed up inside the interview room, Dunst and Burgin leaning forward in their chairs, while Baher subtly leaned away.
"This makes no difference," Phoebe said. Her voice lost her amused drawl and she spoke faster. "I didn't help him get out of the hospital. And even if I did, what difference does it make? He was never under arrest. He was free to go whenever he wanted."
"Ms. Baher, would you please read this last line on the paper?"
Even through the glass he could see Phoebe Baher blanch. She looked at the paper as if not seeing it.
"Ms. Baher?"
"Fingerprints," she said in a soft, clear voice.
"Fingerprints," Dunst repeated. "I have to wonder, why would you two be talking about fingerprints? Could it be that you know a lot more about him than you pretend? Perhaps you know some reason why he needed to flee?"
"Chief Inspector Dunst, I don't know where John Doe went. Now, I think I would like to exercise my right to telephone my lawyer."
"Now I stop it," Villanova said.
*****
Phoebe had just coaxed her purse and cell phone out of Dunst, and was looking up George's number, when a man and woman entered the interview room. The man was odd looking, but the woman had made no discernable effort to blend in to the Muggle environment. That Dunst and Burgin did not stare at her black cloak and the breasts bulging out of the low-cut, black gown was testament to a powerful Ignore-Me charm. Even with the odd clothing, the woman was a knockout, if a bit scary.
"Ah," Phoebe said. "Looks like the cavalry has arrived."
The man produced an ID card and said, "I'm Veritus Villanova, from the LELO. We are taking custody of this witness."
"LELO?" Dunst said. "You're joking. Do you have papers?" His expression and voice were incredulous.
"What's the LELO?" Burgin asked, but Dunst shook his head.
Villanova took several folded papers from inside his jacket. "You will see that they are in order and that we will want your files and any physical evidence gathered."
"I know of no one who's actually ever dealt with you before. How do I know you're for real?" Dunst was acting polite, but his face was red and his voice hard. He made a show of reading every page of the orders before he folded them up and put them in his jacket pocket. He glanced at Burgin.
"Get the files. They only are interested in John Doe and Baher, so leave everything else with us.” To Villanova he said, "I don't want you interfering with my murder investigation. I still need his cooperation." He glanced at Phoebe with a look of irritation. "And Ms. Baher's as well."
"Don't worry," Villanova said with a calming smile. The tip of his wand peeked out from his cupped hand as he moved it in a small circle. "We'll have their statements to you as soon as we can get them."
"Right.”
Burgin quickly returned with a sheaf of files and set them on the table. While Villanova glanced through them, Phoebe and the other woman exchanged glances, sizing each other up. The coldness of the woman's gaze made Phoebe's flesh crawl. She wasn't planning on taking any chances, but she decided to take extra precautions as well.
"Any DNA evidence taken, or evidence still in the labs?" Villanova asked.
"Yes, I believe they took some from the upstairs closet where he slept."
"All right, I'll go down and get them myself." Villanova sighed. "Now, if you two would sit down for a moment, there are a few things we need to discuss."
Phoebe watched in fascination as Villanova performed a complex Obliviate on the two men. Although they were considered unethical, and under some circumstances illegal, Phoebe had performed the Obliviate spell a number of times. Her world straddled the boundary between magical and Muggle, and there were times when she had no choice but to remove a little snippet from the mind of a friend or colleague who had seen too much.
The two men stood and said goodnight, looking a bit bemused.
"God, I hate murder cases," Villanova said as they shut the door. "Everyone has their fingers in it. I'll be cleaning up after this one for days." He turned to the woman. "I am going to ask you to leave now, Mrs. Malfoy. And I will be putting a silencing spell on the room, so don't bother going behind the glass."
Malfoy was about to speak when Phoebe said, "Who are you?"
"She's a Death Eater."
Malfoy scowled and said, "My name is Narcissa Malfoy, Ms. Baher. You may not be aware that the man you have befriended murdered my husband."
"At the train yard."
"Yes."
Phoebe thought that Narcissa Malfoy could make an alligator look tame. She chose her words with care. "Mrs. Malfoy, I am sorry for your loss. As far as Mr. Snape's participation in his death, I have no knowledge of that. Nor do I know where he is at the moment."
"So you knew who he was," Villanova said.
Phoebe turned her focus to Villanova. "Before I say anything more, I would like you to roll up your sleeves, Mr. Villanova."
Villanova blinked, his mouth open, and then smiled. "Of course, Ms. Baher, if that would make you more comfortable." He removed his jacket, folding it on a neat vertical line, and placed it over the back of a chair. Each starched cuff was unbuttoned and rolled up to reveal unblemished forearms.
"Thank you, Mr. Villanova." As he unrolled and buttoned his cuffs, she said, "I am actually quite glad you are here, Mrs. Malfoy. I wouldn't want to have to tell my story twice."
"And what is your story?"
"We should probably take you back to the Ministry, Ms. Baher," Villanova said.
"Why not go to her hotel? It's much closer, and I'm sure she would be more comfortable there."
"The Ministry is just a portkey away," Villanova said with a razor edge in his voice.
"Forget it," Phoebe said. "I'm not going anywhere with either of you." She sat down and motioned to the chairs across from her. "Please sit, and I will tell you everything I know."
"Ms. Baher..." Villanova began, but she glared at him and he sat. Malfoy gave her a look of cold amusement and sat as well.
Phoebe studied Narcissa Malfoy. The woman reeked of privileged arrogance and suppressed malice. Phoebe expected to deal with a Death Eater, but the widow of Snape's victim threw her situation into a new realm. She needed to be careful not to express any sympathy for Snape as a wizard or the Hero of Hogwarts.
"First of all, I would like one of you to find some Veritaserum to give me."
Villanova opened his mouth in surprise, but Malfoy's brow knit into a frown. "You don't know where he is, do you?"
"No, I don't." She addressed Narcissa Malfoy, not only because of her imposing presence, but because she posed the greatest threat. "But I want to be sure that you believe me. I realize that my only chance of walking out of this in one piece is for you to be convinced that I am telling the truth."
"Do you know where he might have gone?" Villanova asked her. He shot an anxious glance at Malfoy. Phoebe cringed.
She skirted the question. "You probably have a better idea than I do. I've spoken to him, aloud, for a grand total of fifteen minutes, but I assume you must have known him at one time, Mrs. Malfoy." She glanced at Villanova. "And I am familiar with the wizarding world in England, but not like a native would be."
She waited while the two of them absorbed her words. They sat very straight in their chairs, and had avoided looking at each other throughout the conversation. Although Villanova worked for the Ministry, and his distaste for Narcissa Malfoy was palpable, she wondered if his concerns centered on Severus Snape's safety. As for Malfoy, her motives were as clear as the malice that shone in her eyes.
"You helped him," Malfoy said with a trace of accusation in her voice.
Phoebe kept her gaze steady. "You have to understand that I promised that I would help him get through this before I knew he was a wizard." The images rose before her like a sickening fog. "It makes me sick, almost literally, to think about what he looked like when I found him. When I realized who he was, I tried to make myself back out of the situation, but I just couldn't. If it makes you feel any better, Mrs. Malfoy, he's suffered a lot, for a long time."
Phoebe suddenly felt very tired, as if she had been swimming against the current and was now ready to accept her fate and let herself drown. Midnight had passed, and only adrenalin and fear had kept her going through the last few hours. "Please, let's just get this over with so I can go home."
Villanova said, "If you think of anything that might help us find him, I expect you to contact me without delay."
Phoebe looked from Villanova, who seemed as tired as she felt, to Malfoy. The other woman looked as if a mask had been torn away, revealing what might have been desperation.
"Would you tell him, if you had an idea where Snape went?"
Phoebe forced herself to keep her voice steady. "No."
Narcissa Malfoy sat up straighter than before, and turned her head slightly toward Villanova. "I intend to call your bluff, Ms. Baher."
She had her wand in her hand and was raising it when Villanova spluttered, "Don't you dare!"
Malfoy's jaw tightened and her eyes blazed. "I only intend to get some Veritaserum. She suggested it herself."
"You are only here because I can find no civil way to get rid of you, Mrs. Malfoy. Now put down your wand, or I will arrest you for interfering with a Ministry investigation."
"You cannot stop me, Villanova. I intend to get satisfaction from this woman, even if it means dealing with you first."
Villanova jumped out of his chair and pointed his wand at Malfoy. "Make one move, and you will be in prison before you can say 'unforgivable curse.'"
Phoebe watched, open-mouthed, and then stood as well. She edged toward the door as Narcissa Malfoy slowly rose to her feet, like a leopard that has sniffed prey. They stared at each other, wands raised, brows knit in concentration. Each waited for the other to make a move. Phoebe inched her feet over to the end of the table until she stood almost directly behind Malfoy. The door was three feet away, but she still had to get past Malfoy to reach it.
A small shift of her body drew Villanova's attention, and Malfoy took advantage of this lapse to throw a Stupefy curse. Villanova's body flew backward and slammed into the wall. He slid down it into a heap on the floor.
In one swift move, Phoebe picked up the tape recorder that still lay on the table, raised it high, and smashed it over Malfoy's head with all her might. The woman made a very unladylike grunt and she, too, collapsed to the floor. Phoebe stood staring for a few seconds, the tape recorder still in her hands, and watched the blood seep from a small gash in Malfoy's head, staining the blonde hair red. She dropped the recorder and went to Villanova to check his pulse. He was breathing, and his color was good. Just knocked out, she hoped. She hesitated to approach Malfoy and decided to take the woman's wand first. Once she held it in her right hand, she slowly lowered her left to her neck. Malfoy's pulse was strong, and the gash on her head had already stopped bleeding.
Stupid pureblood. They never think of the obvious stuff.
Phoebe looked around the room and grabbed her purse. Almost as an afterthought, she took Villanova's wand as well, just in case Malfoy awoke first. She tucked both wands into her purse. After cracking the door to peek out, she stepped into the hall and made a swift exit from the building, forcing herself not to run. A taxi, she thought. I need to get out of here. The street was deserted, and she had no idea which way to go to find transportation. Turning toward the brightest lights, she set off at a brisk walk. Soon, though, she ran full speed. It struck her that she had just attacked a Death Eater, and the situation had grown from a scary annoyance to a life-threatening terror.
- 7
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- 9
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UnBroken