<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#8000ff">"Well well well, I didn't think I'd see you again for awhile. Who would have thought we would be assigned to the same case, I don't think I caught your name yesterday."</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff">That voice. A ripple of surprise washed over him as he questioned his own ears. Something was off about the way the man had spoken, but Hawke couldn't quite place it. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"><i>Surely he's not that brazen . . . </i></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> Before he'd even seen the wizard, Hawke knew damned well whose face he would find as he raised his gaze from the busted picture frame still gripped in his hand. Or rather . . . he actually had no idea whose familiar hazel eyes his own green irises rose to meet in the doorway. Caught off guard by a rather disarming smile, Hawke answered the expression with a flash of his own teeth, warmer and less enthusiastic than Arthur's, but no less of a facade. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Mr. McClagin,"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> he greeted in return, almost mocking in his tone as he reached out instinctively to accept the other man's hand. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Or, forgive me, would you prefer Arthur?"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> His grip was firm as he maintained eye contact with the wizard he suspected of murdering twenty-one of his colleagues and civilians. Beneath his calm exterior, a part of Hawke roared that he should arrest this man right here and now, blast him onto the floor and put him in binds until he could infringe upon his mind later, sift through every last memory until he understood why. Why take so many lives? Though he supposed the motive was unimportant as he currently held a monster's hand in his own. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"><i>I should have just let that dementor suck out his rotten soul.</i></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> Of course, outwardly his smile didn't falter once despite his angered trail of thoughts. <br/>
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Of course, if Hawke held even the slightest talent with wandless or wordless magic at all, like most wizards of his stature, he could crack open the other's thoughts right here and now, likely without notice. But alas, he didn't . . . and this wouldn't be the first nor the last time he'd curse his own weakness in this matter. <br/>
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With Theo's inquisitive gaze casting between the two men, Hawke could tell his brother's head was rife with questions. He half worried that Theo might say something about locating the real Arthur's employee file, but thankfully Theo had yet to speak.</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"> "Officer Hyperion Hawke, at your service. Though most simply refer to me as Hawke. I'm a man of many names,"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> he taunted, knowing full well Arthur wouldn't dare question the coincidental truth to his words . . . that so-called 'Arthur' likely had more names than Hyperion Hawke. He released the other's equally strong grip, albeit reluctantly. It wasn't as if he could cause a scene here without probable evidence. He wasn't that stupid. And so he would continue to play it safe for now, learn as much about this impostor as he could in the meantime. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"I'm slightly offended that you lied to me last night,"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> he joked, gauging his suspect for a reaction before finishing his sentence. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"It seems you do more than just '<i>send letters and file paperwork</i>,' after all, but no matter. You found your wand, I take it?"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff">The Auror knew he should reign in the underlying sarcasm in his tone, lest he tip off this man who'd lied so diligently about his identity. If Arthur became suspicious, then this chase was as good as over. And so he backed down, needing this stranger to trust that Hawke was none-the-wiser of his false identity. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"I'm pleased we'll be working together to bring this devil to justice." </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff">Though he had no idea what business the Muggle Liaison Department might have here. And neither, he suspected, did Arthur McClagin. Which begged the question, why was he here, snooping around Albiorix's mess? The warmth in his grin disappeared as he continued along a more serious path. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Albiorix has been a thorn in my side since day one . . . but he was slightly careless here so it shouldn't be long now." </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff">He didn't see the harm in discussing the case with this man. Clearly he would find his way into the crime scenes regardless.<br/>
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But Hawke wasn't about to go into detail.<br/>
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Before Hawke could pry further in 'Arthur's' true name, perhaps chat him into letting even the smallest detail slip, another figure appeared behind the dark-haired man in the doorway. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">"Hawke, a word, please. I realize this is probably a bad time, but I've some news regarding your work at the Ministry this morning."</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> Terrendus, one the oldest remaining members of the Wizengamot. If this man was here, then it must be important. While Hawke answered to very few in this line of work, he held no contest against the Wizengamot. His eyes roaming between his prey and his superior, the frustration was almost palpable as he nodded.</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99"> "Certainly. Theo, let's go." </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff">Terrendus shook his head slowly, dragging the braids of his salty beard across his silvery robes. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">"Leave the apprentice for now. This is a conversation for the two of us. It will only take a moment, I assure you."</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> Hawke paused, stuck in limbo between his reluctance to leave Theo in this room with a necromancer and obeying Terrendus's orders. Of course, he was forced to accept the latter, turning back to his brother with concern in his eyes. </span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"I'll be right back. Remember, don't let your guard down. Albiorix could have left any number of deadly artifacts in this house."</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> Of course the room had already been searched clean, but Hawke couldn't just leave Theo completely off guard with 'Arthur.' Hopefully this conversation would be a quick one. And so he stepped out with Terrendus, leaving Theo alone with a stranger. Ophelia and her apprentice had long since left with the body.<br/>
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With his older brother out of the picture, Theo felt quite awkward indeed standing before the man Hyp had suddenly seemed to take up interest in. He hadn't forgotten Hyp asking him to fish out Arthur's employee file the night before. Brushing long hair behind his ears out of anxious habit, he offered Arthur a weak grin. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"Uhh . . . it's probably just something to do with that legilimency case Hyp handled this morning. The Ministry's always quick to use his ability . . . but if something goes wrong it's always his fault . . . "</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> the blond trailed off, not able to withstand awkward silences easily. He was one for rambling, actually, willing to discuss almost anything to fill the void. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"Can I ask . . . what exactly happened last night? It's nothing personal, just that my brother rarely takes interest in anyone. I mean, he remembered your name, for a start."</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> It had been some time since his brother had bothered to ask anyone half as many questions as he'd just witnessed Hyp pour over Arthur in the past five minutes of conversation. Perhaps Hyp found Arthur attractive? Theo decided he'd really rather not contemplate that subject with much depth. </span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"><br/>
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