Mourning Dove

Chapter 4

The sharp scratching of a pen on paper could be heard as Auror Smithly diligently took notes in his small notepad. His expression remained stoic and professional, despite the unsettling topic at hand.

"So the wards alerted you to a ghost forming within the castle, is that correct?" Smithly asked, keeping his voice neutral.

Dumbledore's face remained serene and cheerful as if he were giving a lesson to his students rather than discussing the tragic death of a child as he replied, "Yes, the castle is always gaining new ghosts. Most don't stick around or can be convinced to pass on at the very least."

Smithly nodded, but inwardly felt disgust at Dumbledore's nonchalant attitude towards death. With a deep breath, he continued, "Right, and then you investigated the forming of this ghost only to discover it was one, Harry Potter."

Dumbledore's jovial tone faltered for a moment before returning to its usual cheerfulness. Smithly couldn't help but keep his occlumency shields firmly up, trying to keep his tone and face professional, as they discussed the tragic fate of a young child.

"Actually," Dumbledore began, his voice calm and steady. "I sent Severus Snape down to check on the source of the disturbance since it was coming from his dungeons. He knows that part of the castle better than anyone else. It was roughly half an hour after Severus had left the staff room to investigate that we received his urgent Patronus message. It stated that a new ghost had appeared, the ghost being Harry Potter, and suggested someone should check on the welfare of his relatives."

Smithly's voice cut through the tense silence with a sharp edge of disdain. "And instead of alerting the Aurors as any reasonable person or responsible headmaster would do in such a situation, you sent your own people to handle it? And then they had the presence of mind to notify the proper authorities?" His tone dripped with contempt for Dumbledore's actions.

Dumbledore bristled at the accusation. "The Ministry hasn't always been a reliable source, especially during times of trouble," he explained, trying to defend his decision. "I didn't want to cause unnecessary panic by involving them prematurely-"

"No, you just wanted to handle things your way, as always," Smithly cut him off, his voice dripping with sarcasm. With a stern and serious expression, Auror Smithly addressed Dumbledore, his voice tinged with anger. "A child has been found dead, Mr. Dumbledore. It doesn't get much more grave than that." The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air between them. "Consider yourself fortunate that you haven't been charged yet for a multitude of reasons," he continued, his tone firm and unrelenting. "It is a time of peace now, with no dark lord to fight. Engaging in vigilante-style groups like the Order of Phoenix outside of wartime is deemed illegal." He leaned forward, emphasizing each word. "I suggest finding a good lawyer before this all ends unless you want to see the inside of a prison cell."

Dumbledore's face flushed with anger as he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him with a resounding echo. Smithly watched him go, his gaze following until the door clicked shut before signaling for Severus Snape to enter for his interview.

The tension in the room was palpable as Auror Venusia Gore, a rookie with an air of confidence and determination, sat in the corner. She had been assigned to observe the interrogations taking place at Hogwarts under the watchful eye of seasoned Auror Smithly. The other Aurors on the team - Kingsley, Bell, and Robards - were scattered in their own abandoned classrooms, questioning ghosts, students, elves, and staff members alike.

Gore couldn't help but let out a low mutter, "Well, you certainly know how to stir up trouble with the most politically powerful person in this country. Bravo."

Smithly snorted in response. "Men like Dumbledore often get away with murder because we let them hide behind their self-inflated egos. It's times like these where you have to remind them that they are mere mortals, not Gods, and are as such subject to the laws set forth by their fellow men." His lips curled into a sneer of disgust. "Nothing pisses me off more than entitled men like Dumbledore."