In an empty corner of the Ministry of Magic, a tired dark-haired wizard with dark eyeshadows and gaunt cheeks loudly coughs. The coughs wrack his body, physically shaking him for minutes leaving him breathless and more tired than before. Alphard Black looked sickly and out to be resting in bed and yet here he was withering away in the Department of Personnel Files. A walk in the sunlight would do him good as he looked like death paled over.
For some moments after, Alphard's hands shook with latent tremors until at least he ceased to shake. Rather weak, he sat up in his seat and stared at the three files before him. He had combed over the three files of Burke, Gamp, and Shafiq hundreds of times to no avail.
There was simply not a single least bit of clue that screamed at him from any one of them. He had even tried to subtly check with other department members beyond gentle prods but found nothing. Any further, he knew would kill him that much was for certain. No, he would have to ask someone who attended with all three of them but who?
Alphard is deep in thought for a moment before the obvious answer appears in his mind. Without any further thought, he carefully writes a single two worded message as was their usual means of communication. But with a third word with the name of the requested. Sliding the letter into his robes to later be sent via owl, he tiredly returns to what he was doing. For he still had a job to do. And what little pride he had left was in a job well done.
*
Beyond the Ministry of Magic near London, a prison guard shouts, "Lights Out!" as the lights went out in the (muggle) prison.
In the dim darkness through the tiny, barred window streaks of pale moonlight slip inside. Standing in the moonlight a prisoner stares rather solemnly into the night sky. It had been just over four years since he had been imprisoned.
The lack of alcohol in the prison had caused Tobias Snape to be sober. It had done him a load of good. His midnight black, indigo-colored eyes were clear and sharp, free of any illicit substance. His once waxy yellow skin was healthy looking with a bit of a tan earned from working on the prison grounds during the summer months.
Tobias Snape in short looked far better now at forty-six years of age than he had in the last ten years. For three years now, he had been writing daily letters to his twin children. Yet every day, he hesitated, he simply didn't have the courage or guts to send the letters to them. What could he possibly say to them that would excuse his cruelty and violence inflicted upon his wife, their mother, and his own children?
But the truth of the matter was that no matter how many times he apologized it would never ever make up for what he had done. He had destroyed his family with his own two hands. And for that simple fact alone he more than deserved to be imprisoned.
A weary snort escapes from Tobias as he closes his eyes as recalled the faces of his two children. They'd be fourteen now going on fifteen come January. They would be bound to be tall like him, but thin like their mother.
No doubt his boy was just as snarky as ever. Sadly enough, his boy had inherited a bit of a rash temper from him. Now his girl was smart with dark, watchful eyes. She was never loud about anything, preferring to hide her emotions behind a mask of silence. No, she would have made sure to keep an eye on his boy's fiery temper much like she had done in primary school.
A swell of pride fills his chest as Tobias nostalgically recalls the wee mite of his girl having returned after beating up several 6th years. Aye, she'd always been strong that one. And she would continue to be without a doubt for many years to come.
Turning away from the moonlit barred window, Tobias slides into the bottom bunk while his cellmate loudly continues to snore from the top bunk. Laying on his back he stares at the bunk above him when he hears the gentle clack of footsteps. Turning to his side he sees one of the guards leading two hooded figures down the hallway. Instinctively he recognizes the thin wooden stick in their hands as wands. His wife used to have one of those before he snapped it.
"Thank you for leading the way," a cold male voice mockingly said, before his wand flashed and the guard fainted onto the ground.
"At least you didn't kill the guard this time, Dolohov" drily remarked, the voice of the other hooded wizard.
"I already apologized Lestrange," Antonin Dolohov snapped as he pointed his wand at the locked cell door. "Alohomora!" The door unlocks with a soft click as Tobias instantly sits up and warily studies the two hooded wizards.
"So, you're Tobias Snape?" Dolohov sneered as his hood fell off. The tall, dark, broad-shouldered man with a vicious gaze stepped forward to study the muggle man. "You're not much to look at. But I suppose good old gloomy Eileen Prince must have seen something in you."
"Enough Dolohov," Rodolphus Lestrange warningly chided him. Tall, thin, and dark, Rodolphus's gaze had only grown colder with the death of his younger brother. "We were sent by the Dark Lord to acquire that which he sought."
Dolohov sneers and says, "Mr. Snape, did either of your children present any unusual symptoms such as speaking to serpents?
Tobias's gaze grows wary at hearing two unknown wizards asking about his children. Quickly thinking, he slowly answers, "They performed bits of magic when they were very young. But their mother said it was normal for-, for wizarding children."
"Are you certain, Mr. Snape?" Dolohov flashed a cold wolfish grin. "If not, we'll have to return not and we certainly won't be as kind the next time around."
"I'm certain," Tobias confidently answered for he had not lied. Yet he is unable to hide the worry and alarm crawling inside of him. Were his children in danger?!
"Then good evening, Mr. Snape," Rodolphus said as he waited for Dolohov to obliviate the muggle man.
"Avada Kedavra!" Dolohov shrieked as Rodolphus reacted much too late. A green flash filled the room as Tobias Snape flopped onto his back without knowing why he'd even been killed. His blank soulless midnight black, indigo eyes stared at the bunk ceiling still in shock and utter surprise.
"What have you done?!" Rodolphus hissed as he grabbed Dolohov by the collar. "What if the Dark Lord had a need for him later on?! But more importantly, you fool the ministry will know that we were here! They aren't as many fools as you would think. And this man for better or for worse was once Reginald Prince's son-in-law!"
Dolohov flings Rodolphus' hands off his robes as a dark laugh fills the cell. "And what of it, Lestrange? I certainly do not fear the Ministry of Magic, do you?"
"Have you gone mad, Dolohov?" Rodolphus said as his wand glinted in the moonlight.
"No, but I grow weary of running these little errands," Dolohov coldly said. "And I will have my fair share of blood." A loud snore causes them to glance over to notice that his muggle cellmate was still sound asleep and snoring.
"Let's go before the guard's disappearance is noticed," Rodolphus snapped, before striding away in anger. Dolohov merely whistles a haunting happy melody as they make their way back outside of the prison. But not before Dolohov casts the dark mark over the prison, before apparating away.
The unconscious form of the guard was found twenty minutes later and so was the corpse of Tobias Snape. Immediately the prison went into lockdown mode as the search for the killer began. Not long after those in charge notified the government and soon the Aurors were called in to erase memories and take care of the murder.