"Oh, it's Gryffindor's top student. You've returned."
Inside the portrait, the Fat Lady lifted the hem of her dress and offered a slight curtsy. "To think the mischievous boy I once knew would look so dashing and full of manly charm in a uniform."
Hearing the Fat Lady's praise, Kingsley couldn't hide his massive grin. He shot a subtle glance over his shoulder at the completely deadpan Annabelle, then feigned a modest tone.
"Oh, thank you for the compliment, though I've always been this charming."
Right then, another portrait chimed in. "Visitors from the Ministry of Magic. Professor McGonagall has requested your presence in the Gryffindor Head of House's office."
Hearing that, Kingsley puffed out his chest and turned to his three colleagues. "Let's go. I know the way; I'll lead."
With that, he confidently strode out of the room.
Annabelle just shook her head and followed.
She honestly couldn't believe Kingsley was still assigned to this case.
Not only had she filed a detailed report on his completely unhinged behavior at Gringotts—explicitly stating she did not want him as her partner—but Kingsley was also a Hogwarts alumnus. Given standard conflict-of-interest protocols, he shouldn't have been allowed anywhere near an investigation involving the school.
And yet, here he was, still officially part of the team.
She genuinely didn't know what to say.
As for Annabelle having a nephew currently enrolled at Hogwarts? That wasn't considered a conflict of interest. Most Ministry officials had children or relatives attending the school; if that disqualified them, the Ministry would never be able to investigate anything at Hogwarts.
The four of them left the reception room, and silence fell over the space once again.
Eventually, one of the portraits couldn't hold back their curiosity and asked the Fat Lady, "Do you actually know that wizard?"
Inside her frame, the Fat Lady pulled a glass of red wine from somewhere off-canvas and casually swirled it. "No idea who he is. I only remember passwords!"
"Then why did you..."
"He knew me," she shrugged. "Aside from the Gryffindor lions, who else in Hogwarts sees me on a daily basis?"
"As for the compliment? I'd say that to anyone. If you stepped out of your frame, I'd say it to you, too."
Hearing the Fat Lady's blunt admission, the other portraits burst out laughing.
"Haha!"
"Those Gryffindor lions really are that gullible!"
"Now that's the Fat Lady I know!"
The four investigators arrived at the door to the Gryffindor Head of House's office.
After a polite knock and a brief confirmation from inside, they pushed the door open and stepped in.
The office was awash in deep, fiery red. Tapestries bearing the Gryffindor lion crest hung from the walls. In the corners sat several work desks cluttered with actively whirring magical instruments. Behind the main desk hung a massive wool tapestry featuring the joint signatures of the four Hogwarts founders.
Several people were already waiting for them in the office.
Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Snape, and Quirrell.
They were seated in the lounge area, each wearing a distinctly different expression.
Facing down half of the Hogwarts senior faculty all at once carried a massive, undeniable weight. It was especially intimidating for Kingsley. Even though he had graduated over a decade ago, stepping back into this office as an alumnus hit him with a heavy wave of pressure.
Walking in and seeing the lineup, Kingsley instinctively froze mid-step.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said, offering a warm smile to the Auror leading the group.
"Oh, Mr. Shacklebolt. It is quite a pleasure to see you again. I still distinctly remember how ambitious you looked on graduation day, all those years ago."
Looking at his former Transfiguration professor—now the Head of Gryffindor—Kingsley felt a sudden flutter of anxiety.
Transfiguration had been his absolute worst subject during his seven years at Hogwarts. He had lost count of how many times McGonagall had handed him detention.
"Professor McGonagall, it's been far too long," Kingsley greeted her respectfully. He immediately stepped aside, consciously yielding the floor to Annabelle and making it clear she was the one in charge.
"This is Annabelle Godwin, Senior Investigator for the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes."
"A pleasure to meet you, Professor McGonagall." Annabelle offered a slight, respectful bow.
"Please, sit." McGonagall drew her wand and gave the sofa opposite them a light tap. A second later, the furniture seamlessly stretched outward, expanding into a comfortably wide four-seater.
"Thank you."
Annabelle stepped past Kingsley and took the lead, sitting directly across from the professors. Kingsley sat down beside her, but the two scribes remained standing behind them, pulling out their notepads.
"I hope you don't mind if we take a few notes for the official record?" Annabelle asked, gesturing to the two men behind her.
"Please, go right ahead."
McGonagall flicked her wand again, and four steaming cups of tea floated gracefully through the air, settling on the table in front of the investigators.
"This is our signature Hogwarts honey black tea. Both Headmaster Dumbledore and I are quite fond of it."
"Thank you."
The four of them accepted the tea. After taking a polite sip, the obligatory pleasantries officially concluded.
Sensing the right moment, Annabelle immediately cut to the chase.
"Professor McGonagall, we are here on behalf of the Ministry of Magic to formally question the relevant parties regarding the break-in at Vault 713."
McGonagall nodded solemnly. "Hogwarts will cooperate fully."
At Annabelle's signal, the two scribes behind her uncapped their quills and prepared to write.
"Which one of you is Mr. Hagrid?"
Hearing his name, the massive man crammed onto a single armchair nervously raised a hand. "That'd be me, ma'am."
"Hello, Mr. Hagrid. I would like you to recount the events of that day. Detail your trip to the vault with your companion, and explain exactly what actions you took upon discovering the item had been stolen."
"Please start from the moment you entered Gringotts."
Following standard procedure, Annabelle launched the interrogation.
Hagrid nodded and launched into the exact narrative he had mentally rehearsed dozens of times. The only sound in the office was the rapid scratching of quills against parchment.
Once Hagrid finished his detailed account, Annabelle gave a satisfied nod.
"Now, if you don't mind telling me... what exactly was stolen from Hogwarts?"
Hagrid paused and instinctively looked over at McGonagall. The professor gave him a subtle nod of approval, silently giving him permission to answer.
"At first, I thought it was just some regular teaching supply... but I found out later it was a highly important magical item that one of Professor Dumbledore's friends had asked him to keep safe."
"As for what it actually is? Professor Dumbledore never told me."
Hearing Hagrid's answer, Annabelle frowned deeply.
"If it's such a highly important magical item, why didn't Headmaster Dumbledore keep it on his person?"
"As the most powerful white wizard alive, I highly doubt anyone would be capable of stealing it directly from him."
Hagrid hesitated for a long moment before finally giving an honest answer.
"I think... Professor Dumbledore was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist the temptation of the item himself."