"That means 'no,'" Remus drawled, and when she bristled, he held up his hands in surrender. "My father used to work for the Ministry, Madam Bones. I know the nuances behind political double-speak."
She let out a quiet 'humph,' but said nothing as a silver tray with the order came floating down onto the table. For a few minutes neither spoke, but of them sipping at their tea.
"Regarding your… request, I have one of my own," Remus admitted.
"Tit for tat?" she inquired.
"Yes," the werewolf nodded. "You see, I tried asking around for some information on Black when I read he'd escape in February, but I didn't find what I was looking for. I wanted to see if you might know."
"Very well, I can oblige your request if you answer mine," Madam Bones replied. "What do you seek?"
"Did Black ever have a trial?" Remus said. She blinked.
"Beg pardon?" she demanded.
"A trial. I found no news articles from the time in back issues of the Prophet, nor did the clerks and functionaries at the Ministry mention anything like that. So I was hoping you could help me with that."
"Why do you want to know?" Madam Bones asked.
"I want to know 'why,'" Remus replied, clenching his fists. "Surely the transcript of the trial would have that information. Surely somebody asked him why he betrayed James and Lily and murdered Peter!"
Remus knew he was playing on her emotions. She'd lost a brother and his wife to the Death Eaters. And every victim of a crime wants to know 'why them?' He just hoped his acting was good enough.
There was another moment of silence, but the tension had somehow only gotten worse, and Madam Bones stared into her tea cup. Was she trying to perform tea leaf Divination?
"I do not know," she said. Then, she repeated it. "I do not know."
And the way the head of House Bone spoke, she sounded confused, and maybe a bit horrified to not have the answer.
"I see," Remus said with a sigh. "In that case, I will answer any questions you have about Black, as we agreed."
Madam Bones shook her head to clear it. "Good," she muttered. "Where would he likely go? Would he go to ground in the old Black manor?"
"It's unlikely he'd head to his family home," Remus informed her. "He hated that place. It would also be the first place to look. And anybody with Black blood could check it out. I believe you have an auror who is the daughter of one of his cousins, yes? She might be helpful in that regard."
It wasn't even a lie, either. Sirius had refused to return to his family manor at all since escaping.
"Ah, yes, trainee Tonks," Madam Bones muttered. "She has done well in her training. Top marks, I believe. And under Moody's tutelage, no less. Yes, I think I could trust her with a mission to sweep the Black House. No need for a warrant either if it's family checking in on family."
Remus winced in sympathy for Sirius' niece. Mad Eye Moody was a bloody good Auror, but his training left something to be desired. He remembered James and Sirius complaining about it when they'd been going through Auror bootcamp.
"Sirius might head to the continent," Remus continued, spinning a yarn. "I know the Blacks had acquaintances in Romania and the Balkans."
"Hmm, tricky, but I'll let word out to the foreign Ministries about that," she hummed.
"And, I am hesitant to say this, but since it will help catch him, I will let you know in confidence," Remus said, acting hesitant and leaning in. Both Sirius and Edward had thought of this next plan, and Remus agreed with it.
"I am listening," Madam Bones said.
"Black was an unregistered Animagus. So were Peter and James," Remus revealed, causing her to stiffen in shock.
"Beg pardon?" she uttered.
"You know about my… problem, yes?" he asked her, and she nodded. "Well, the three of them found out about it when I was at Hogwarts. And so they studied how to become Animagi, learning how to transform in our Fifth year. They would spend every full moon with me in their animal forms, because a werewolf won't attack animals. And it seems to be the case with Animagi as well."
That tidbit caused Madam Bones to gain a funny look as she thought it over. "That's how Black escaped," she realized. "The Dementors do not affect animals the same way as humans!"
Remus nodded at that, impressed. She caught on quick.
"But then he could have escaped at any time," she began to mutter. "Why now?"
"I do not know," Remus claimed. "I fear he might be after Harry. He likely heard about him from the guards, and found out he enrolled in Hogwarts last year. He may have been biding his time for the right moment to break out."
Remus then put on a thoughtful frown. "Though why he didn't bother freeing his fellow Death Eaters eludes me. Did he not think they could escape with him? Or was there another motive?"
He felt he was laying it on a bit thick, but it was part of the plan. Get her thinking, and get her suspicious.
"I see," Madam Bones hummed, a thoughtful expression on her face. "You have given me much to think about."
"Of course," Remus replied, bobbing his head. "If possible, could you let me know when you find Black's trial transcripts?"
"Of course," Madam Bones echoed. "Hmm. I suppose this has been a productive meeting."
Remus nodded and took a sip of his lukewarm tea.
"I would not be opposed to it happening again," Madam Bones added, causing Remus to cough a bit in surprise.
"Huh?" he uttered dumbly.
"Only to keep in contact and exchange information!" she claimed. "Do not think it means anything else!"
"Right, yes, I understand," Remus said, awkwardly wiping his mouth. "I wouldn't mind either, I suppose, if that's the case."
"Excellent," Madam Bones said, rising from her seat. She then dropped a sickle into her tea cup as payment, which vanished. Afterwards she strode out, leaving an utterly perplexed werewolf in her wake.
"…What just happened?" Remus wondered as he blinked in confusion. He wasn't sure why, but he had the strangest feeling somebody was laughing at him.
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