You're not going to break me.

"When did you say they were coming?" Walter asked, glancing at his pocket watch.

"In half an hour," I replied in a monotone voice, not looking up from the book I was reading. We were coming to an end with the new wards, and I just wanted to check on some of the theory behind blood wards and the way they tied to the witches and wizards whose blood we were going to use, it wouldn't do for someone to tamper with the wards and have it transfer to the witch or wizard who donated the blood.

It was hard to concentrate though.

I was looking very interested in what I was reading – I hoped, but my mind had given up after two sentences, and I only turned the page when it seemed like the right amount of time had gone by. While I felt like I had a good hold on the fear that was trying to control my life lately, the anger at what was about to happen today was making it difficult. A handful of people from Magical Law Enforcement was coming to question us about the – according to them – alleged Dementor attack in Little Whinging just over three weeks ago.

While I felt confident they wouldn't be able to find anything to put their finger on, I knew from experience that Fudge and his office didn't always play fair. While the Minister wasn't the most competent, he was still very clever and knew how to look after his own interests. Especially these days. And with Albus being the one that had urged them to do an inquiry, after insisting over and over that You-Know-Who had returned and that Fudge was, well, basically being stupid for not believing it... For the past couple of weeks, I had gone through every detail of that day in my head, making sure I had everything right and that nothing could be pinned on me or the rest of my Azkaban Security Officials, or be traced back to the Order.

When I heard Walter's chair scrape against the stone floor, I finally came back to the room. Looking down at the book, I realised I had leafed past the part I was researching long ago.

"They're here," my partner announced. While his voice shook a little, he looked calm and stony-faced, ready to face whatever may come, when I looked up at him.

I turned in the direction he was facing and saw two Aurors, two Magical Law Enforcement patrollers, and – taking up the rear – the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Amelia Bones. As I saw her, I breathed a little easier. Albus spoke highly of her, and I had never been given reason to dislike her the few times I had met her.

Paula and Heston greeted the cavalry, and I watched my colleagues guide our guests into what we called the reception area, for lack of a better term. Walter walked out of the office to greet them, and I followed quickly behind, steeling myself on the way.

As soon as all six of us were there, Madam Bones got abruptly to the matter at hand. "We are here to investigate a reported Dementor attack on the 1^st of August. One wizard and one Muggle is reported to have encountered two Dementors in an alleyway in Little Whinging, Surrey." She glanced around as she spoke, looking each one of us in the eye, probably gauging our reactions.

I felt confident about my calm, collected expression and looked unwaveringly back.

"I will be questioning you one by one, and you will give up one of your offices for the interviews. The room will be searched for magical and non-magical bugging and other threats."

Madam Bones looked expectantly around now, and I immediately stepped forward and gestured to the door to the left. "You can take mine and Walter's office. We can work out here in the meantime."

"Thank you." She nodded at the two Aurors and they followed Walter and me into the office. We quickly gathered our things and moved them into the reception area.

As I laid my parchments and books out, I watched through the glass windows as the Aurors waved their wands around the room, various shades of red light and grey smoke creeping up and down the walls and windows, until the windows themselves turned opaque. A shiver went down my spine.

One by one, my colleagues were called in. Heston, Paula, Walter, Gregory, and then me. I didn't know if it was my imagination or not, but they all looked pale and tense when they came out.

Tentatively, I sat down in the chair I usually sat in while working and looked around. It was unsettling not being able to see through the glass windows. I didn't like not seeing what was going on at the other side the office walls, not being able to look down at level after level of prisoners and patrolling Dementors.

Madam Bones waved her wand and I noticed a quick white light that surrounded the door as she locked and secured it. "Would you take down your Patronus Shield, please."

I snapped my head in the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement's direction, almost gaping at her. "What?"

"I need you to take down your Patronus Shield."

"Why?" I couldn't help it, but I was struck dumb.

"I find that Patronus Shields influence emotions in a way that's not beneficial for an interrogation. Please drop your shield."

For a few intense seconds, we stared into each other's eyes, and a million thoughts ran through my head. The Patronus Shield did not influence emotions. I knew that to be a lie. Why then did she insist I drop it? I had never let it down for anything out here on the island before. How did the others react? Why hadn't they warned the rest of us?

But I knew I had no choice, for whatever fucked up reason. With a reluctant mental nod, I let my shield drop. Instantly, I felt the cold from the Dementors and the wild ocean outside start to seep into me, darkness crept at the edge of my mind. This was it, I realised. They wanted us vulnerable. Terrified and vulnerable.

Madam Bones set a quill down on a piece of parchment and looked me straight in the eyes. "Where were you on August 1^st?"

I met her eyes with the same steeliness she was showing me, and I hoped I sounded more confident than I felt. "I was at work, worked a little late. Went home after, went to see a friend around eleven." The quill wrote as I spoke.

"Were you at Azkaban or the Ministry that week?"

"Ministry."

"Why did you stay late at work?"

"It was an incredibly hot day, things took a bit longer to get done." I hadn't actually worked late, but after I told Connell I had, I made sure it looked like it.

"What did you do at home?"

I kept myself from rolling my eyes at that question and tried to answer without sounding exasperated. "The usual. Had dinner. Read the paper. Listened to the wireless. Sup– No wait, I had dinner at the Ministry. I only had supper at home."

"Can anyone confirm that?"

"Uh, no. I live alone. Not even an owl or a cat."

"Who did you go to see?"

"Connell Harper."

Madam Bones cocked her head to the side for a moment, before leafing through the parchments on the desk between us. Finding what she was looking for, she let her index finger rest on a line and looked up at me. "Connell Harper, he's a colleague of yours, but working on the second rotation." I nodded. "Why did you visit him so late in the day?"

"Connell and I have a history," I began and sighed. I figured I should be straight about it, it wasn't against any rules anyway. "Ever since I met him, we've had an on and off type relationship, and it only ended when I found someone else. It had been a while since I'd seen him, and I wanted to catch up. I wasn't feeling tired, and I know Connell stays up late, so I went to see him."

"What did you talk about?"

"Like I said, I wanted to catch up. We talked about work, our lives, the news, everything."

"Did you talk about the Dementor attack?"

"I did ask at one point, yes. I'd overheard something in the cafeteria, and I was curious." I paused and noticed she was about to speak again, so I went on, having a pretty good idea what she was going to ask about. "Connell just said that someone from the Minister's office had come to request five Dementors as bodyguards for a meeting the Minister was going to."

"What did you overhear and who said it?"

"I don't remember exactly. I remember I was hungry, as it had been a long day. I went to get something to eat, and I think I heard something about Dementors and attack and south of London. I was more interested in my dinner, but the words stayed with me and I kept thinking about it when I got home."

"Did Mr Harper say anything about who from the Minister's office made the request?"

I shook my head. "He did not."

Madam Bones nodded and looked down at the parchment that the Quick Quotes Quill had filled during the questioning. "When did you leave Mr Harper's place?"

"Around midnight."

"Very well. Thank you. I will see Miss Pritchett now."

"Can I put my Patronus Shield up again?"

Madam Bones nodded without looking up from her notes. I stood up, took a deep breath, needing to settle my stomach. Focusing, I closed my eyes and let my Patronus Shield rise from my feet and up to the top of my head. Calm overtook me, and with a sigh of satisfaction, I went out to send in Darla.