Project 137.43.M.D.

XXIV. | CONFESSIO REGINA PROBATIONUM

XXIV.
CONFESSIO REGINA PROBATIONUM
(confession is the queen of evidence)

"Miss Granger, just a word with you."

Hermione winced at being spoken to. She had already been on her way to call it a day and hadn't expected to be held up again.

Her last official act of the day - completing the interim report on Malfoy's rehabilitation - had taken more time than it should have. And quite apart from the fact that she had already been past the deadline, which wasn't her style at all, she had just wanted to get it over with.

In fact, she was dying to finally leave the Ministry after this long day. Nevertheless, she obediently complied with the request that had so unexpectedly reached her and entered the office of the tiny, bespectacled wizard, who held the door open for her.

Tiberius Ogden was a member of the Wizengamot. Inevitably, she calculated that he already must have been when Malfoy had been convicted over ten years ago. Hermione froze in horror as it occurred to her that Malfoy might have issued a formal complaint because they had slept together. But why should he have done that? She hadn't tied him up and forced him, after all. And actually she didn't believe that he would do such a thing. Still, an uneasy feeling rose in her, but she tried not to let show. Instead, she closed the door behind her and sank into one of the visitor's chairs in front of the expansive mahogany desk.

"Mr. Ogden."

Pulling herself together, she pushed the thoughts away vehemently and put on what she hoped was a relaxed smile. Luckily, Ogden got straight to the point, and she was relieved to discover that this wasn't about the incident in Malfoy's kitchen. However, caution seemed warranted.

"I would like to know how you are getting on with your project, Miss Granger. What was it again?" He grimaced as if trying to think hard, but Hermione saw through his ruse immediately. "Project 137.43. - the Malfoy boy. Is that correct?"

"Mr. Malfoy is certainly not a boy anymore. He was in Azkaban for ten years."

There was a sharp edge to her voice, although it was probably beyond foolish not to show Ogden the respect he deserved. Just the length of time he had served the Ministry as a member of the Wizengamot should mandate Hermione to be polite in his presence. But although he had hardly spoken a word so far, she felt as if she were being tested. Her defensiveness was a reflex.

"I suppose so." Ogden made it sound sovereign, but stared at her thoughtfully. "We were expecting your interim report last week. Any problems?"

His concern was hypocritical and Hermione noticed.

"I actually deposited the interim report in the Wizengamot's mailbox a few minutes ago. I apologize for the delay, Mr. Ogden, but as I am sure you know, I requested Mr. Malfoy's sealed file. I wanted to cross-check my own impressions with the informations in the file before writing my report, but had to wait a few days for approval. That messed up my schedule a bit."

Hermione could tell by the look on his face that she had forestalled Ogden with her long answer and foiled his plan to unsettle her. She had put it like she was just being meticulous. Still, she wondered if Ogden had personally participated in Malfoy's trial and therefore knew the contents of the memory. Maybe that was why she was sitting here now? Perhaps he really wanted to test her?

"I must admit I was surprised to read that you requested the file, Miss Granger. So far, it has never been necessary to have sealed evidence viewed - especially not by the Mentor in charge. After all, working with the perpetrator is no longer about the crime or the imprisonment, but about the release and the rehabilitation."