The soft golden light of the late morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the White Manor's study, casting a warm glow over the polished oak desk and the stacks of parchment spread across it. Eira sat in her high-backed chair, cradling a delicate china cup filled with her favorite mango-flavored tea—the dry mango pieces infused the brew with a subtle sweetness that lingered on her tongue, soothing her restless thoughts. She was immersed in a thick dossier when the door opened quietly behind her.
"Good morning, my lady," came Emma's calm voice as she stepped inside, holding a heavy folder bound with dark leather. Her expression was sharp, edged with excitement but carefully controlled, the mark of a seasoned assistant used to balancing urgency with discretion.
Eira looked up, offering a small smile. "Emma, you're early today. What news do you bring?"
Emma closed the door softly behind her and approached, setting the folder down with a gentle thud. "I've gathered all the information you requested about Sirius Black," she said, her fingers tracing the embossed lettering on the cover. "It's quite a story."
Curiosity piqued, Eira set down her tea and gestured for Emma to continue. "Tell me everything."
Emma took a breath, then began, "The arrest of Sirius Black wasn't some routine matter handled by faceless officers. It was personally conducted by Cornelius Fudge, who at the time was the member of Magical Law Enforcement—long before he became Minister of Magic." She opened the folder and laid out documents, official records, and eyewitness accounts that had been painstakingly collected.
"Fudge himself arrived at the scene after the explosion on that Muggle street—the same incident where twelve Muggles tragically lost their lives," Emma explained, her voice low with gravity. "He was the one who arrested Black on the spot. Every Muggle police officer and civilian who witnessed the incident had their memories erased."
Eira frowned, her fingers tightening around the armrest. "Yes, that's protocol—to erase the memories of Muggles who witness magic or anything related to it."
"Indeed," Emma nodded. "But it doesn't stop there. The imprisonment of Sirius Black in Azkaban was ordered without trial—no court hearing, no defense, no chance to speak for himself. Barty Crouch Sr., then head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, authorized it directly, bypassing all judicial procedures. It was effectively a political imprisonment."
Eira's brows drew together as she studied the pages. "And Dumbledore? Surely he intervened."
Emma shook her head. "That's part of the mystery. It seems that the Ministry kept this tightly under wraps—even from Dumbledore. It's likely that the information was compartmentalized and the Aurors involved sworn to silence. Our dossier suggests a high level of conspiracy within the Ministry hierarchy."
"That explains why Black was considered a fugitive for so long, despite the lack of any trial," Eira mused. "A miscarriage of justice, hidden in plain sight."
Emma flipped through more pages, revealing further details. "There's more. Recent reports from Britain describe a bizarre incident involving Harry Potter. During a heated argument at the Dursleys' home, he apparently lost control of his magic. Witnesses claim that one of the visitors—a woman named Marge Dursley—suddenly began inflating like a balloon and floated up into the air before drifting away. The entire thing caused quite a scene in the Muggle neighborhood."
Eira raised her brows. "Well… that's certainly one way to end an argument."
Emma continued, "Afterward, Minister Fudge personally arranged for Harry to stay at the Leaky Cauldron. The place is now under constant Auror surveillance, twenty-four hours a day."
Eira sat back, her mind racing. "Let me guess—Fudge is using Harry as bait."
"Exactly," Emma confirmed. "They expect Sirius Black to come after Harry, thinking he'll attempt to kill the 'boy who lived.' It's a dangerous game of cat and mouse, and Potter is the lure."
Eira gave a small, almost indifferent shrug. "So they're using the Boy Who Lived for the Ministry's own benefit. Smart move on Fudge's part, politically speaking."
Emma's gaze was steady. "It's politics, my lady. The Ministry wants to keep control, but they're willing to sacrifice anything to do it."
Eira exhaled slowly, her eyes closed. "Thank you for the report, Emma. This information will change how we approach things."
Emma inclined her head. "There's one more thing. I'm scheduled to meet with Minister Isabella Voclain—you know, your aunt—and discuss these developments with her. She's deeply concerned about the implications."
Eira's lips curled into a teasing smile. "You seem to be spending a lot of time with my aunt lately. Is this strictly professional, or should I be worried?"
Emma's cheeks flushed faintly, but she quickly masked it with a professional demeanor. "Nothing to worry about, my lady. We're just coordinating efforts on the investigation into Alina Trévér and her recent activities."
Eira raised an eyebrow but said nothing, letting the comment hang in the air. "Very well. Keep me informed of everything."
Emma bowed slightly and moved toward the door. Just before leaving, she turned back. "I'll begin looking into the trial records as you requested, to find out exactly who was responsible for the arrest and what legal justifications were—or weren't—made."
"Excellent," Eira replied, her mind already spinning with possibilities.
As the door closed behind Emma, Eira stared out the window at the sprawling gardens bathed in sunlight. The more she uncovered, the clearer it became that Sirius Black's case was tangled in a web of secrets and lies. And if the Ministry's top officials were involved in such dark deeds, what else had they hidden?
Eira's fingers curled tightly around her tea cup.