Signs (Willow)

Jericho paused outside the Minister's office before knocking, his hands tucked inside his leather jacket. Jericho wore his typical boots, jeans, and button down shirt with matching white tee underneath. When that Malfoy had attacked Moody and himself a few months ago, the Minister said that she would look into and do everything she could help him bring this bastard to justice. We're gonna get him, Joelle.... I promise.... he thought to himself as he raised a hand and knocked on the door.

Willow turned away from her globe, that sat on its own table beside her desk. The globe was large and whenever underage wizardry took place it alerted her who what when where and what spell took place. Sipping at her coffee she sighed and finished writing another reminder to a family living in America that they had to control there five year old who kept stealing there wands.

Tying the letter to an owl's foot she sent it on its way, as a knock on the door came her door displayed the name of the visitor Jericho Young

"Come in Mr. Young" she called out as she fixed a fresh pot of coffee her messy hair in a knot on the base of her neck. Today she wore simple jeans and a t-shirt she knew this would be a late night.

Upon hearing Miss Noble allowing him entrance, Jericho entered her office and quietly closed the door behind him. "Sorry to disturb you, Ma'am," he began with a respectful nod of his head, "But I was wondering if I could borrow some of your time." He wasn't one to simply ask about something as sensitive as this if she was busy, but he needed to know if there was any news, anything at all. Hopefully, she wasn't overly busy and could speak with him for a few moments.

She looked at the young man as he entered her office, with a flick of her wrist the door shut behind him, the room was protected with a perpetual silencing charm to promote her privacy and secrecy of the minister.

"Of course Young" she said offering him a mug of coffee "have a drink you don't look very good" she folded her long legs under her as she curled into her chair.

"Thank you, Ma'am," he said taking the cup she offered. "It's nothing, Ma'am. Work tends to do that to a person when working a never ending case," he mused with a wink as he sipped the coffee. The heat felt good against his throat. Looking into the cup, he added, "One case, in particular." He raised his blue eyes to her without raising his face.

She reached out a hand to stroke the soft feathers of her hawk and nodded "would this be about the hunt for malfoy?"

Jericho took a seat in a chair across from her. "Yes, Ma'am. We are determined to find him," he answered her. "I think me more than any other," he said looking away. He had been living and breathing the case since it started. To be so close and yet so far away from the answer was maddening. Might be a cause for Willow's comment about him looking like hell. In truth, he was beginning to feel like hell, too.

She masked her guilt and nodded slowly as she ran her fingers through the feathers on her hawk's back "What exactly happened to your wife Young, I do not recall your case"

Jericho's eyes locked on the Minister. He could have sworn she of all people would know about what happened. But, she was a busy person and it was some time ago. It's possible she just needed a reminder. "I was working late one night on a paperwork after sending a muggle murdering wizard in Azkaban when I received an owl with a letter that changed everything," he began, setting his jaw before continuing. "It said that my wife, Joelle... You remember her, Ma'am. She attended your Yule Party with me this past year?" he asked, with a small smile, side tracking himself slightly.

She nodded slowly, she remembered Joelle she had a kind smile and a laugh like bells. She picked up one of her pens and twirled it between her fingers gesturing for him to go on.

Jericho rose and walked to Willow's window and sighed. "The owl said that she had been killed. No one knew anything until...." he rubbed his fingers against his forehead and then rubbed his hand down over his face, resting for a moment over his mouth before dropping heavily to his side. "Until the day of the attack here on the day of my return," he continued turning to lean against the wall. "My wand and his connected and along with all the one he killed in the attack, her voice came out of his wand, too. He killed her, and it should have been me," he said looking away. "He came to finish the job. Moody got word that a Malfoy was planning the attack, and after seeing his face, I helped confirm that he was one of two Malfoys..." he finished.

Her heart went out to him and she worked over time to hide the guilt in her expression, she now knew the identity of the man who had killed Joelle and that he was a death eater, she didn't want to lie to him but the movement needed him.

"Thats right" she said quietly her throat felt thick "I do remember that, Alastor has been livid since that day" she closed her eyes and sipped at her coffee "Jericho i've led several man hunts for him and we keep coming up dry" her stomach churned with the lies she told but she had to maintain composure.

Jericho nods as he hears that even the Minister was having trouble finding this man. "As there are two that look the same.... Damn...." he said turning to face the window, again, and, leaned one elbow on the trim. "I still blame myself that, not only is she gone, but that he got away that day. It's like I let her die twice and I could have been prevented both...." he stated, sorrow and anger creeping into his voice.

"We'll catch ph-Malfoy" she bit back her words and her eyes widened she struggled to recover quickly and focused her eyes on her hawk "We'll catch him soon you didn't fail jericho your only human"

As Jericho heard the Willow trip over the name of the one who got away, his eyes hardened. He didn't let on that he caught what she said. So, she knew the man's first name... "Only human.... Yes, but it doesn't change the fact that I could have made a difference twice and didn't. I want him to pay for what he's done...." he said quietly. He returned to his seat, locking his blue eyes on her, "Is there anything you can give me, Ma'am? Anything at all?"

"I've told you Jericho, I don't have anything for you, he's a f- eluded us I don't even know what he looks like" the lie felt like acid on her lips burning her. She raised her eyes to look at him "I promised you justice whatever means nessicary" she could feel her conscious rising up.

Jericho looked away, "Any means necessary...." he echoed her words. He heard, yet again her trip over her words. That's two... "I'm sure you know what he looks like," he said standing and walking to her desk. "You've seen the file...." he said coldly, as his hand sent the very file he spoke of sailing off her desk and to her. It landed on the floor at the foot of her chair, the pictures of the two identical Malfoys staring up at her.

Her jaw tightened and she swallowed hard as the photos moved in front of her, she bent to pick them up "O-of course" she said steadying herself best she could she opened the file in her hands "he al-probably hated you"

And the third trip.... Just as he suspected, she knew more than she was saying. Jericho set his mug of coffee down firmly on her desk. "What aren't you tell me, Ma'am?" he asked firmly.

"I'm telling you all I know Jericho" she said levelling herself to speaking a monotone.

Jericho pursed his lips together and picked up the cup to sip the liquid it held. "Don't lie, Minister. It doesn't become you..." he said flatly, his cold eyes on her face.

Placing her hands on her desk she stood, the minister wasn't very tall she appeared more petite and easy to overcome then most others "I did not get into this office by lying Mr. Young" she said her tone even and her eyes leveled on his "I understand your under duress but accusing your head of command is not the avenue you should take"

"Duress? DURESS! This isn't duress!" he said raising his voice and sending the mug crashing into the wall behind Willow. "You know something that you aren't telling me. So much for your 'by any means necessary' method.... Does that include covering for the bastard?" he spat at her. Something was very wrong with what was happening here, but he didn't know what just yet. It wasn't like the Minister to cover for a murder such as this.

She jumped as the mug hit the wall and silently questioned where Stephen was, "Calm your temper Young!" she roared her hand on her wand but not picking it up "I am on your side, I am helping you I am not covering for the bastard"

Jericho watched as her hand went to her wand, but not drawing it. He felt his, mentally, in the pocket of his jeans designed specifically for wands. He placed his hands firmly on her desk and leaned heavily on them. "So you say," he spat at her. "Prove it...." he challenged her. "Prove to me your on our side, as you say. That you're doing as you say to help aid, rather than hinder this case!" he yelled at her.