Only The Beginning

Azkaban

The portrait of Eldritch Diggory, former Minister for Magic and the founder of the Auror recruitment program, had caught wind that Olive was searching for the missing pages of the books she had found in the restricted section. That was how she had found herself in the hamlet of Upper Hogsfield. He had sent her to find his great niece Helen Thistelwood, a retired Auror, who was unable to solve a murder case decades ago. Eldritch thinks the book and its missing pages may just be the key she needed to solve the mystery and prove innocence for the girl who was charged with murder.

Olive headed there straight away, night already creeping in, she would have to be quick if she wanted to make it back before curfew. Just past Hogsmeade was the quaint village, small but bustling, most of its inhabitants gathering at the pub after a hard day's work.

Approaching the home of Helen, she knocked lightly on the door. An older woman with graying hair pulled back in a loose bun answered.

"Hello madame. I was asked by Mr. Diggory's portrait to come and see you, did he let you know I was arriving?" Olive inquired.

"Oh yes, come on in." Helen stepped aside allowing her to enter "My uncle just finished telling me. He is under the impression that a book with missing pages you found will assist in closing an old case of mine from when I was an Auror. Are you familiar with it?"

"Your uncle only told me basics, if you wouldn't mind telling me about the case."

"Very well, many years ago there was a boy named Richard Jackdaw, he was a student at Hogwarts like yourself. One day he was going to meet a girl, Anne, but he disappeared almost into thin air, his body was never recovered. A few days went by, and Richards headless ghost was seen in Hogsmeade for a short time, he was disoriented and not able to say how he died. Shortly after that, Anne was charged with his murder and sent to Azkaban to serve her sentence. Another student, Apollonia Black, gave the testimony that put Anne away, said she heard a heated argument that ended in Anne telling Richard he'd be gone by tomorrow morning and then he was."

"How does the book and the missing pages fit into this murder case?" Olive tilted her head to the side.

"During her testimony Anne claimed that she and Richard were going to run away on an adventure and follow a map that was drawn onto pages he'd stolen from Peeves one night. I think the pages come from the book you found. Anne stated that she was never even able to meet up with Richard that night, as he had given her puzzles to solve that would lead her to him and this adventure, but she couldn't solve the very first one, she wasn't a very bright girl." Helen shook her head.

"This case wouldn't have been a problem if Jackdaws ghost had stuck around, he could have shed light on the incident, but he was gone as quickly as he appeared. So now we had no body, no ghost, and no pages that Anne claimed he had, so there was no evidence other than the egregious statement from Apollonia. The girl was vindictive and jealous of the attention Anne was getting from Richard, Anne is muggle born she stood no chance against the Black family. Since it has been so long, I believe Anne has solved the puzzle, but she won't speak to anyone. Azkaban has diminished her spirit. I'm hoping that maybe you, as a student who knows about the book, might be able to get something out of her." There was a long silence as Olive thought about the case.

The thought of an innocent person sitting in Azkaban was horrible for Olive to think about. She didn't know much about it but felt sympathy for the woman who has had to suffer alone. If there was something she could do she had to give it a try, even if it proved unsuccessful.

Olive nodded her head "Alright, if you think this could help exonerate Anne I will help." Voice quivering a bit with nervousness, she had never been to a jail and even though Anne may be innocent doesn't mean anyone else would be.