Pansynodded.“Look,Irealizeyou’vesummonedmeanditmustbesomewhatimportantifIhadtoomebakallthewayfromBrussels,butthegirlwho’spratiallymygodhildhasgonemissingandI’veonlyjustfoundoutandI—”
“Ohdear,”thewomanshookherheadandherfaeflushedwithpity.
“What?”Pansyried,shakingherheadbakandforth.Suddenlythepessimismshe’dworkedsohardtoburyamebubblinguptooverwhelmher.Shefoughtbakasob.“Whatisit?”
“Whydon’tyoufollowmetomyoffie?”
TearspooledinPansy’seyesasshetrailedbehindthewomandownthemainhalloftheAtriumintoadivisionoffieshedidn’treognize.AssoonasshereadthesignoutsideFamilyAffairsMinistryLiaison,somethingoldandbittershotdownherspine.“bsp;youtellmewhatthisisabout,please?”I’mstartingtopani,Pansythoughtandforedherselftotakeadeepbreath.
Thewomanstoppedatanemptydesk,tookherpebehindit,andmotionedforPansytosit.AuroraThistlewik,atoherdeskpard,almlyopenedafolderandgulped.“I’msorrytobetheonetoinformyouofthisterriblenewsbut—”
“Oh,Sazar,no,”Pansywhimpered.
“MarwanZivantusisnowdeeased,whihleavesguardianshipofhisdaughter,Bertrie,toyou.”
“WHAT?”Pansyyelled,inshok,relief,andperhapsasmallpinhofwistfulaffetion.
TheforeofPansy’soutburstausedAuroraThistlewiktoshootbakinherhair.
“Iapologize,”Pansygatheredwhatlittleomposuresheouldfind.Inherrity,sherememberedDrao’sletter,andnarrowedhereyes.PerhapstershemightregretthetoneandthelookshegavethepoorThistlewikwoman.Mostlikelynot,though.“Waitamoment.Youwanttosignoverguardianshipofahildtome,whoatomybestfriendhasbeenmissingsine—”Pansypulledouttheletterandnotedthedate,“—stTuesday!”
“WehavetwohighlyexperienedMinistryoffiialswonthease,”Thistlewikassured.“It’sallverymessyuptherewhatwiththemurderofMisterZivantus.”
Pansyughedandthenshooledherfaeintosomethingoneagainralandhopefullyterrifying.“Here’swhatwe’regoingtodo.Iwillsignwhateverpaperworkyouhaveformewhileyouwritedownthenamesofbothoffiialsonthease,thenamesoftheoffiialsinvolvedinthemurderiigation,andanyotherpertiinformationthatwillhelpmenavigatetheso-alledmessthatistheEdinburghMinistryoffies.”
“ThisispratiallyMuggleEdinburgh,Eversworn.Whereareyoutakingme?”Malfoywalkedbesidehim,andHarryould’veswornhedidn’trememberinvitingthegitalong.Hewasabouttosayasmuh,butMalfoyasked,ahintofworryinhisvoie,“Don’ttellmeshe’sallthewayouthere?”
Harryshookhisheadandpointedtothefamiliartownhomeontheblok.“Justthere,”hesaid.MalfoyswattedHarry’shanddownandpulledhimtothesideofthehouses.“Whatareyoudoing,Malfoy?”
“Weangoinfromthebak,throughthegarden.”