The Hollow Beneath Hogwarts

116. Show Me Love

It took nearly thirty minutes for Draco's eyes to return to their usual silver-grey colour.

Thirty minutes of whispered conversations. Thirty minutes of stolen glances. Thirty minutes of everyone else in the room pretending not to stare.

The strange golden glow that had overtaken his eyes after his burst of wandless magic had gradually faded until the familiar grey that Sloane adored finally returned. Even then, she found herself checking every few minutes just to make sure.

The entire afternoon had felt unreal.

One moment they had been discussing Euan and possible ways of finding him.

The next, Steven had arrived and managed to turn the meeting into absolute chaos.

Arguments. Accusations. Threats. An attempted assault. An arrest. And somehow, in the middle of all that madness, Draco had performed wandless magic powerful enough to disarm half the room.

No one had expected any of it. No one could have predicted any of it.

Yet somehow it had revealed more truths than any planned investigation session ever had.

Kingsley and Jerry never returned to Hogwarts after leaving with Steven. Instead, nearly an hour later, Colson had arrived carrying updates and instructions from the Minister. They were to continue their meeting and allow the Ministry to handle the arrest and he would join them as soon as he could.

Most people were perfectly happy with that arrangement.

Particularly Arabella.

"So," Blaise drawled from his seat, lounging back with far more confidence than the situation probably warranted. "He is actually being questioned?"

Colson nodded. "He is."

A satisfied smirk spread across Blaise's face. "Good."

"And what exactly is he being charged with?" Tina asked. Unlike Blaise, there was no amusement in her voice.

Her arms were folded tightly across her chest. Her expression was hard.

Suspicious.

Tina Scamander had lived long enough to know that Ministry officials often received very different treatment than ordinary citizens. Too many times she had watched influential people talk their way out of situations.Too many times she had seen power protect those who deserved punishment.

She didn't like the idea of Steven sitting comfortably somewhere in the Ministry building, spinning stories and manipulating events to his advantage.

Apparently William shared her concern. The Auror sighed heavily and rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, he's not talking his way out of this one."

Tina raised an eyebrow.

William began counting on his fingers.

"Let's see."

He looked down at his hand. Then looked back up. Then down again.

"There are quite a lot."

That immediately got everyone's attention.

"Good," Ginny muttered.

William cleared his throat. "Sexual harassment regarding Auror Arabella, Miss Trent and another Ministry employee who has now come forward."

Arabella's jaw tightened. "About time."

"Assault on Miss Sage with a weapon." Draco immediately stiffened beside Sloane. His hand tightened around hers. Sloane squeezed back reassuringly.