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Frank's eyebrows rose in obvious disbelief. "Really? I can't imagine why. Though I've heard rumours your boy's an Assessor. Is that true?"
"Uh, yeah it is," Sirius said.
"Hmm..." Frank looked thoughtful. "Maybe Dumbledore isn't wasting his time, then. Neville might yet do me proud."
"I'm sure he will," Sirius said firmly. Judging by Orion's tales of his old schoolmates, Neville was just lacking in confidence. Listening to the way his father spoke of him, Sirius understood why that would be the case. Although he had no idea what Dumbledore had to do with anything. He considered asking Frank to clarify, but didn't get the chance before Mad-Eye stomped into the room, causing the gathered Aurors to snap to attention.
"Why are you all standing about gossiping like a bunch of gormless Garden Gnomes?" Moody demanded. "There are two cases of muggle-baiting and a burglary in Knockturn Alley to deal with."
"We were just waiting to find out who's in charge of each case," Scrimgeour said smoothly.
"What, you need your hand held, Scrimgeour?" Mad-Eye sneered. "Fine. You can handle the muggle-baiting. Longbottom, you've got the burglary - take Dawlish with you, the boy's too wet behind the ears to work on his own. As for you, Black, there's a special case I'd like you to look at. There's been a report of a disturbance over in Hogsmeade. Apparently a woman's Werewolf neighbour attacked her."
"You don't sound convinced of the truth of that," Sirius noted shrewdly.
A grimace stretched itself across Mad-Eye's scarred face. "It's two days after the full moon and the witch in question hasn't got a scratch on her. Sounds to me as if something else is going on."
"I'll get right on it," Sirius promised.
Scrimgeour coughed and stepped forwards. "Are you sure Black's up to the case?" he asked Moody. "His questionable loyalties might interfere. I'd be happy to lead a Werewolf Capture Unit and bring the beast in for interrogation."
"I know Black's loyalty is to justice," Moody growled. "I trained him, after all. And I gave you a job to do, so get to it!" He couldn't have made his dislike of Scrimgeour clearer.
Moody then handed out case files and barked out "Constant Vigilance!" before sending them all on their way. Sirius pinned his Auror badge to his robes and headed down to the designated Apparition point in the Ministry Atrium, smirking at Scrimgeour as he passed the disgruntled-looking wizard in the hallway.
Sirius hated Aurors like him; ones who pandered to their superiors and took every chance to show themselves in the best light instead of concentrating on the job. Luckily Mad-Eye was firmly of the opinion that appearances didn't matter, only results did, and so had little tolerance for such people. Sirius shuddered to think what the Auror Office would be like under someone like Scrimgeour, and the thought of the man as Minister of Magic made him want to throw hexes - preferably at the wizard in question. Being Arcturus' proper pureblood heir was worth it if it meant he could prevent such a thing from ever occurring.
Hogsmeade showed no signs of a Werewolf's rampage; a few children were passing a Quaffle back and forth in the middle of the main street and a group of giggling Hogwart's students were gathered outside Madame Puddifoot's tea shop. The only shouts were those of laughter.
As soon as Sirius arrived at the address Moody had given him, he knew for sure that the Head Auror's scepticism of the report was well founded. He relaxed his grip on his wand and marched into the well-kept garden, where two figures were arguing amongst the flowerbeds. A plump witch stood brandishing her wand at a cowering wizard, whose skin was covered in painful looking red boils that Sirius immediately recognised were spell-induced.
"Ha! Here's the Auror now! He'll know how to deal with you!" the witch crowed triumphantly.
"I didn't do anything!" The wizard looked terrified as he turned to face Sirius. "I didn't, I swear!"
"I assume you're Caspian Wilkes, registered Werewolf three-seven-oh-six?" Sirius said, to which the man nodded miserably. "And you'd be Mrs Frobisher, the witch who notified the Auror Office of this disturbance?"
The witch drew herself up proudly. "Yes, that's me."
"Very well. I'm Auror Bla-"
Mrs Frobisher didn't have the patience for any more introductions. "Auror, I want you to arrest this man!" She jabbed a finger in her neighbour's direction.
"And what is it you're accusing him of?" Sirius asked politely.
"He's a Werewolf," the witch said and looked at Sirius expectantly.
Sirius barely refrained from rolling his eyes. "That is not, in fact, a crime," he told her, causing Caspian Wilkes to sigh in relief and suddenly look much more confident. The poor man had probably expected to be dragged straight off to the Ministry holding cells without even the pretence of an investigation. It happened often enough, after all.
Mrs Frobisher did not appear at all pleased. "But he attacked me!"
"I didn't!" Mr Wilkes said. "You attacked me. I was only defending myself."
"Well I never!" Mrs Frobisher gasped. "Auror, whatever your name is, surely you won't let him get away with such lies?"
"Auror Bla-" Sirius tried to introduce himself, but was once again interrupted.
"I'm not lying!" Mr Wilkes insisted, sounding desperate for Sirius to believe him.
Mrs Frobisher scoffed. "Ha! Everyone knows you can't trust the word of a Werewolf."
Sirius was fed up with all the baseless finger-pointing. "Mrs Frobisher, have you any proof of your accusations?" He conjured up a quill and parchment and waited.
"Proof?" Mrs Frobisher looked blank. "What do you mean? I've already told you what happened."
"Yes, but it's only your word against Mr Wilkes's," Sirius could see she remained uncomprehending and so continued, "Why don't we keep things simple, hmm? Mrs Frobisher, do you have any injuries?"
"No, I don't," she said. "But what's that got to do with anything?"
"I'm trying to establish the facts of the case," Sirius said. "Now, did you cast a hex on Mr Wilkes here?"
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