The Most Powerful Man in Britain

"We left you alone for five minutes. How in the world did you manage to get yourself into such a mess?" asked Daphne, completely flabbergasted. "And what's wrong with your eyes?"

After Madam Pince had caught Oleandra standing over Granger's petrified body, her wand had been confiscated and she had been brought to the headmaster's office at wandpoint, like some sort of criminal! As she was being taken away, she had opened her Mystic Eyes in an attempt to find more clues, but had been nearly blinded by the residual dark magic floating around. Which is why her eyes were tightly shut and her cheeks were caked with dried up bloodstains.

"I found her reading a book, nearly standing on top of Miss Granger," Madam Pince said accusingly. "It was open on the page on Cockatrices. Miss Granger had even prepared a mirror to avoid looking into the creature's eyes directly. In my opinion, she had discovered Slytherin's creature's identity, and this student tried to silence her."

Dumbledore didn't quite know what to make of this situation. On one hand, he was loath to accuse any of his students of wrongdoing, especially when there was no concrete proof, but on the other, he was biased against Slytherins, and the evidence was damning. From Potter's account, she was also a Parselmouth, and she was found at the scene of the crime, possibly getting rid of evidence.

"Will you listen to me, you old bat?" Oleandra said angrily in the librarian's direction. "I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm a victim too! Are your eyeballs merely decorations?"

"Now, now, let us stay civil," said Dumbledore. "As a valued member of Hogwarts's staff, Madam Pince is due your respect. Now, thankfully, there have been no deaths thus far. When the Mandrake restorative draught is ready, the creature's victims will be able to give their accounts. Even then, can you swear on your innocence, Miss Greengrass?"

"I swear I have not, directly or indirectly, caused the petrification of any of the people currently lying in the Hospital Wing," said Oleandra, choosing her words carefully.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. That was oddly specific, wasn't it? He tried his luck again.

"A while back, there was an incident where two unidentified assailants attacked Professor McGonagall with the Reductor Curse. Misses Greengrass and Greengrass, do you know anything about this?"

"I swear I have never cast the Reductor Curse in my life," said Oleandra.

"I also swear I have never cast the Reductor Curse in my life," Daphne quickly chimed in.

Dumbledore silently used his Legilimency on Daphne. Her thoughts could barely be read any more, but he still detected a hint of truth in her answer. And yet, she was not telling the entire truth.

He directed his gaze to the Greengrass matriarch. She had kept silent thus far, but her mind was wide open to a Legilimens of his calibre, despite her Occlumency training. The only thoughts in her mind were about how to maintain the family's good name through this ordeal. Dumbledore shook his head in disappointment.

"Miss Greengrass will be held here until this evening," Dumbledore said quietly. "The Minister of Magic will be visiting then. I am told he will be exercising his right to take charge of this… situation."

 _

A few hours later, Dumbledore looked up from his paperwork and addressed Oleandra, whose eyes had gone back to normal.

"Come, Miss Greengrass. It is time."

Oleandra got up from her chair and followed behind the headmaster. After reaching the main entrance, they joined up with a little man wearing a lime-green bowler hat. She recognized him instantly; that was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic!

"Terrible business, all of these attacks," Fudge said, shaking his head wearily. "Well, shall we get on with it? I cannot in good conscience allow this Hagrid to stay on the premises of the school." 

"And—" Fudge faltered, noticing the girl standing behind the headmaster. "Well, if it isn't the Greengrass heiress herself. What is she doing here with you, Dumbledore?"

"I'm not Daphne, I'm her twin sister," said Oleandra timidly.

 "Let us leave that subject for later, when we meet Hagrid," Dumbledore suggested.

The unlikely trio walked in awkward silence, broken only by the Minister's attempts of finding conversation topics with the headmaster. 

Finally, they had arrived at Hagrid's hut. Dumbledore rapped loudly on the door, signalling his arrival. The door swung open and Oleandra found herself face to face with an enormous man holding a crossbow.

"Good evening, Hagrid," Dumbledore said simply. "Now, to answer your question, Cornelius. You asked that I deliver a list of potential suspects, so here she is. Now, there is no definite proof, but Miss Greengrass is the most likely suspect behind the attacks. The details are in here."

"Goodness me, Albus!" said Fudge, astonished. "You can't be serious. You think this girl is behind these four attacks?"

"I simply do not know, Cornelius," said Dumbledore mournfully. "I do not wish to doubt any of my students, but there is too much at stake. You have said so yourself."

The minister quickly read through the parchment Dumbledore had handed him.

"Suspected Parselmouth… Arrival at school through dubious means… Suspected of attacking a teacher…" Fudge gaped at Dumbledore. "Miss Greengrass, do you know Parseltongue?"

"No, sir. I can't talk to snakes. You can ask Potter, though, he knows how to do it," Oleandra responded.

There was no way to prove that she could or couldn't talk to snakes, so Fudge simply left it at that. Disturbing rumours about the Boy Who Lived being a Parselmouth had also reached his ears, so the Minister didn't especially want to hear any more about anyone speaking Parseltongue! This man loved the status quo.

"Oh, I forgot to mention," said Dumbledore. "This doesn't have anything to do with the current situation, but the Shade has appeared at Hogwarts. Two of them, in fact."

Last year, the ministry had reached out to Dumbledore about the events at the Department of Mystery, hoping to get the input of the most knowledgeable Wizard alive. When Oleandra had emerged from the Archway, she had been wrapped in the mists of Hel and shadows generated by Perthro. The wraithlike apparition had thus been codenamed "Shade" by the Ministry. 

Dumbledore thought this Shade might be linked to Oleandra due to the runes that had appeared on the archway, but once again, he had no proof, and the girl had an airtight alibi, having been part of the scramble for the Philosopher's Stone. Thus, Dumbledore decided against voicing his thoughts to Fudge. The girl was in enough trouble already as it was, there was no need to add any more!