Hindsight

Dark Clouds

Kingsley, Tonks, do you know what I called you in here for?'

Both Aurors shook their heads. 'We don't, Amelia.'

Amelia raised an eyebrow. 'Surely you've seen the Prophet lately, how it's been calling for a purge of Death Eaters and their supporters in the Ministry, right?'

'I have,' answered Tonks. Kingsley nodded in agreement.

'Good. The two of you, then, will be responsible for carrying out said purge.'

'Excuse me, Amelia, but why us?' asked Kingsley.

'The two of you are the closest to Harry Potter and his associates, aren't you?'

'Tonks is,' Kingsley said. 'I'm just on slightly better terms with him than any of the other Aurors.'

'That's all we need,' Amelia replied, 'I am confident in you two being more loyal to myself, Potter, Black, and the rest of the "Light" than many others. I suspect that there will be Death Eater moles in the Auror force, as well.'

Kingsley nodded. 'That's a certainty. I have always suspected Yaxley, for one. How may we help?'

'You both know how to perform the Imperius Curse?'

The Aurors' eyes widened. 'B-But, Amelia, that's illegal,' Tonks stammered.

'But do you know how to perform it?' Amelia pressed.

'Yes,' Kingsley replied cautiously. 'But we don't do it.'

'I suggest you practice, Kingsley, Tonks. You will be using the Imperius Curse regularly soon enough.'

Tonks paled. 'Amelia, you're telling us to place people in the Ministry under the Imperius?'

'Correct, Tonks,' answered Amelia, smiling at the shocked expressions on her two Auror's faces. 'I've…convinced…Cornelius to make the curse legal in this room only for the rest of the year for this specific purpose.'

'But could you not just use Veritaserum?' Kingsley rightly pointed out.

'Under normal circumstances, we could,' Amelia agreed. 'However, with Malfoy and the other four's very well-publicized trials and the Prophet's public crusade against the Death Eaters, you can bet that they will be prepared for a Veritaserum interrogation. The Imperius Curse, on the other hand – '

'Can only be fought, not defended against beforehand,' Tonks finished.

Amelia nodded. 'It will achieve the same effect as Veritaserum with far less defensibility.'

'Once you start interrogating, will the others not find out and hide?' Kingsley asked.

'That's why they will be Obliviated,' Amelia replied, 'Both of you will be Disillusioned at the door. One of you will perform the Imperius Curse on whoever is entering the room and compelling them to tell the truth and obey my every command. The other one of you will be Obliviating the suspect when the interrogation ends to make them think they were in here for a job review, or whatever excuse you two come up with.'

'Would you like a demonstration?' Amelia asked.

The two Aurors nodded. 'Please.'

'Yaxley! Come in!' Amelia called.

The door opened and Yaxley walked into the room, looking slightly confused. Kingsley's eyes flashed vindictively as Amelia picked up her wand and pointed it at Yaxley.

'Amelia, what – '

'Imperio!'

Yaxley's eyes glazed over as he was hit by Amelia's Imperius Curse. She commanded him to sit down in front of her.