分卷阅读10（2 / 2）

At the time, Harry had been grateful to see a textbook technique executed so well and rather ruthlessly. But as he approached the doors of the DMLE, he realized he’d probably never get a chance at a proper interrogation himself.

“Good morning,” a voice rang. To the left of the entrance, Harry recognized one of the investigators that interviewed him at the hotel. Stramitz, maybe? She was leaning against the wall, casually holding a half gone cigarette. Harry found it an odd coincidence since she was the person he was coming to see.

“I have some information for you,” Harry said, and then regretted it. He kept forgetting he was a questionable low-life and someone the investigators would likely distrust, accuse, or even jail.

Stramitz smiled. “I bet you do.”

Harry followed her through the main entrance, down a crowded hallway filled with preoccupied aurors rushing around, until they reached an office at the back of the building.

“Here we are,” she said and led him inside. He briefly noticed Stramitz’s partner before a familiar figure to the left caught his eye. Harry turned so fast and blinked that he almost fell over.

“Ron?”

His best friend stood next to an empty desk, arms crossed, with a look of hopelessness Harry hadn’t seen on Ron’s face since their school days. He was giving Harry the dejected stare he used to give essays he’d come up short on. “Har—Have you lost your bloody mind?” Ron stammered, and Harry was sure he’d almost said Harry’s name. His suspicion was confirmed when Ron, visibly anxious, added an awkward, “Archie?”

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but he really didn’t know where to start. Had Ron gotten his owl yet? Harry looked between Stramitz and her partner before he decided it was safe to ask. “I sent Mister Wazlib a letter this morning.”

“Well he didn’t get it, mate,” Ron shook his head. He stared at the ground. “These here have some questions for you.”

“I gathered that,” Harry replied.

Stramitz went to stand next to her partner, whose desk plate said Felix Zaha. “Firstly, Mister Eversworn, was there a reason you came in to the office today of your own volition?”

Harry stole a glance at Ron, who looked increasingly sick.

“Yes, I saw something,” he finally said.

Zaha cocked his head. “You saw something?”

Harry blinked. “I remembered something that I saw.”

“Enlighten us.” Stramitz crossed her arms.

“I remember seeing a kneazle outside the hotel. It left out the service entrance when I got there.”

Stramitz and Zaha shared a look and then Zaha cleared his throat. “And you think this is important?”

“Valentine asked me if I’d seen an animal in the penthouse? I just thought—” he paused. How could he get out of this? “I took down the address on its collar.”