A Suite and Magical Life

Chapter 29: Truth is often stranger than fiction

March 26, 2012

New York City, United States of America 

Alex and Zack took a few moments to catch their breath, before realizing that they were surrounded by the rest of the immediate Russo and Martin families. Theresa, Jerry, Kurt and Carey rushed and hugged them, looking relieved while Max looked confused, Justin looked disapproving, and Cody looked relaxed. Justin shook his head disapprovingly at the couple, which caused Alex to blow a raspberry at him and Zack to grin apologetically at him. Cody managed to calm Justin down at exactly the right time.

After Theresa, Jerry, Carey and Kurt had finished hugging the couple, they broke apart and glared at them. Alex and Zack realized that they were not out of trouble just yet. As they looked around, they saw that everyone was still wearing the black clothes they had worn to Professor Crumbs' funeral. After all, it had only ended an hour ago. 

Alex telepathically asked Zack, what do we tell them? Zack responded, the truth. He wasn't sure whether she would listen to him. 

"Where were you two?" Jerry asked, in a reproving tone.

"Do you two have any idea how worried we were?" Carey scolded.

"I get that you two are a little rebellious, but this is just the limit." Theresa remonstrated. "Getting arrested by Britain's greatest Auror? What did you do now?" she questioned.

"Wait, how did you know we were arrested?" Alex asked her mother in surprise.

Jerry held up a piece of paper. "We got a telegram from the Ministry saying that arrest warrants issued against you two had been executed and that you were in the custody of the Auror Department." he said. 

Zack took the piece of paper from Jerry, and he and Alex went over it. It said:

London, United Kingdom of Great Britain

March 26, 2013, AD

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Russo,

The Auror Department of Great Britain took into custody Mrs. Alexandra Russo and Mr. Zachary Martin, acting on arrest warrant that had been issued in their names. The purpose of those warrants was to interrogate them regarding an ongoing criminal case. All the proper protocols have been followed, with the Head (Harold "Harry" Potter) of the Auror Department having executed this order.

Signed,

Kingsley Shacklebolt

British Minister for Magic

Zack looked up from the paper at all those assembled around him. They looked worried, and he understood why. The telegram was terse and gave little information about why they had been arrested and where they had been taken. Zack also remembered with a shudder that a real interrogation by the Aurors would have likely involved torture, despite Kingsley Shacklebolt's best efforts to end that practice in Britain. He thanked his lucky stars that it had been Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, rather than John Dawlish, who had arrested him.

"Did they torture you?" Kurt asked, looking uncharacteristically anxious as he gazed at his son and likely future daughter-in-law. 

"No, they didn't." Alex replied laconically, which heightened the already intense anticipation in the room.

"Did they take you two to Azkaban or Hebridia?" Carey asked the couple anxiously, reminding Zack that they were lucky to have been visiting the Minister's office, and not rotting in a cell in one of Britain's two notorious wizarding prisons. 

"They didn't take us anywhere near either prison." Alex said, further increasing the tension and heightening the anticipation in the room.

"Then, where did they take you two?" Kurt asked them curiously.