Who: Alice Longbottom, Severus Snape, various NPCs What: DUEL! When: 26 May, 1980 Where: Marchwood residence Rating: High Status: Complete!
It wasn't her first case, and would likely not be her last, but it bothered Alice more than it usually did. How many times had she done this in her six years as an Auror? Memory charms were not the only things that impeded investigations. Many victims repressed the most disturbing memories. She'd conducted at least a hundred interviews, many times having to persuade the victim to remember things they tried to forget. Of course, if they had access to a pensieve, it wouldn't be such a bother.
It hadn't bothered her before. It was her business to uncover the truth, and helping people relive painful memories was an unfortunate necessity. This was different. Curtis Marchwood was a child, only five years old, and he had no family remaining to him. And here she was, trying to learn if he'd seen anything the day his parents and brother had been murdered.
His hand slipped into hers, and she squeezed it reassuringly. The two Obliviators she had requested on gone on ahead, and Alice only had to join them at the Marchwood residence with Curtis. He didn't want to go back, and he'd let her know. It tugged at her heart, having to put him through this--what if someone one day had to do the same with her child?--but she'd assured him it needed to happen.
Holding him close, she disapparated and appeared with him in the Marchwood's living room with a soft pop. She nodded to the Obliviators, and they slipped out of the room, leaving her alone with the boy. "Now, Curtis," she said, crouching down as best she could to meet his eyes, "would you like to show me around?" She had all afternoon to do this, and it would be easier to get him to open up by taking it slow.
And Alice desperately wanted to get this investigation finished today.