The End Justifies The Means

[Freddie Prewett]

After more than a year of interning for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Freddie was promoted to the position of an Interrogator. While he could have picked a different occupation based on his interning, one which couldn't get slightly violent if needed, Freddie thought that he'd enjoy his new position. Interrogators could be harsh to get the information they needed, but that information was used for the greater good. And Freddie wouldn't mind being a bit of a hardass for the sake of the better good.

Or so he thought.

His first interrogation would take place only in an hour or so and Freddie could feel how his nerves slowly got the best of him. He wouldn't do it on his own, a Mr. Demarcus Argyle would be there as well, but that only made Freddie more anxious about doing his best.

He decided to fight his anxiety with revising and revising the information on their suspect. So taken he was with it, that he seemed to have blocked most outside noises.

"Hm?" he said, once he finally noticed that Mr. Argyle was trying to speak to him. "Uh, yes, some coffee would be lovely."

  

[Demarcus Argyle]

Demarcus was not going to let some new interrogator mean they did not get out the information they wanted. He was going to give him a chance, of course, but he was going to be there and ensure that the information was collected. He looked surprised at the young man as he seemed to be far away, and did not even listen as he asked him. When he finally responded as wished, he quickly got the coffee he wanted for both of them.

"Mr. Prewett, now I think you need to relax." he said calmly and looked at him, as the coffee came in and one cup was placed in front of Prewett. "It is an easy case, and I doubt even a new one can mess this one up." he said calmly.

"If you seem nervous, then you will have a harder time getting the information we want out of him. Do not show that you are nervous." he advised him with a calm voice.

  

[Freddie Prewett]

Freddie did not like being scolded like he was some child, but he accepted Mr. Argyle's advice and nodded slowly in response. The last thing that he wanted was for the suspect to think him a scared, little child who was too afraid to do his job properly! It'd be rather embarassing if the suspect ended up being less worried than him! And the case was supposed to be an easy one, if Mr. Argyle's word was to be trusted and his idea of easy and hard was not twisted.

"Please, do forgive me." Frederick told the older man as he sipped from his coffee, hoping that it would soothe his nerves a bit. He was much more used to tea - that was what he'd drink before Quidditch matches are school - but it tasted well and it would damn well give him energy.

"I suppose I am rather anxious about the... methods we are going to use. We can do almost anything to get what we need, after all. Unforgivables are not permitted but say, a bone breaking spell?"

  

[Demarcus Argyle]

Demarcus just allowed it to slip for now - because it was actually something that was reasonable. The first interrogation was actually a bit terrifying, but he could not even remember his own first interrogation. There had been so many and they was beginning to just be a part of his life. It was work, and it was important. He felt confident at work, and he got the results.

"Depends on the situation, how much we need the information, and how we are going to use the spell. In the case of a bone breaking spell, then which bone are we talking." he said with a calm voice, like it was everyday stuff - which it was to him.

  

[Freddie Prewett]

It was rather strange how calmly Mr. Argyle talked about their job. As if a bone breaking spell was a piece of cake. Freddie had the suspicion that Argyle probably did not even bat an eye when he broke the suspects' bones. It was quite cruel, but it was also for the greater good. And if the community would benefit from them doing something cruel and harsh, then perhaps it was not so cruel and harsh after all.

"So I take it we can break only some certain bones?" Frederick asked. He'd personally rather not go as far as to break someone's bones, as he knew from Quidditch how painful it was, but if he really had to break bones then he wanted to know which ones he was supposed to break and which not. And then pretend he was a beater.

  

[Demarcus Argyle]

Demarcus had probably been working a bit too long with this, it not longer felt so wrong and it was not something that haunted him afterward that he did what he did during an interrogation. So it was better to simply get used to it straight away. However, he could feel a bit of sympathy toward the new interrogator. "Well, if you feel bad about it, I can be the hard one this time, but you will have to toughen up sooner or later. Better now before they send you on your own." he said calmly and looked at him.

Why was he the one who had to take care of the new interrogator, he could have been done with this interrogation already if he had done it on his own, but he had to deal with this, it was a part of the work.

  

[Freddie Prewett]

Be the hard one? Freddie had a mental image of Argyle whipping the suspect with a fat chain as he yelled him to spit out whatever they wanted to find out as he was curled up in a corner, trying not to start crying or display a similar pansy move.

Merlin, he had played Quidditch, how much more terrible an interrogation could be? Surely, the torturing part was only for extreme cases, when they had to deal with really stubborn criminals.

“Yes, Mr. Argyle. Thanks.” Freddie said. “I will practice on my, uh… harshness. I’ll watch you and learn.”

He took an awkward sip from his coffee. “Are we going to torture the suspect? Or you, I guess?”

  

[Demarcus Argyle]

"It takes time, eventually you hardly think about it except in the actual situation. Like - there is a part of your mind and memories you lock away until it is needed." he said calmly to make Frederick feel better about it all. It had taken Demarcus time to reach to that, but he had learned to do it eventually.

When he was asked if he believed they would have to torture to get the answers, he just shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe. Honestly I always hope that it will not be necessary. You can get a lot out of people by threats, stares, consistancy et cetera." he replied. It was always best for everybody if they never reached the point where torture had to become actual things. "And it gives us less to report." he chuckled to himself. He hated filling out the reports for every interrogation, it was a nightmare, but at the same time he could see that it might be necessary.

  

[Freddie Prewett]

Frederick listened silently to the older interrogator and just nodded. It was a good thing that Argyle was willing to help him out with whatever he needed. Freddie felt like he was still an intern, unable to take care of some actual, important job.

“I bet it’ll be easier than I think.” Frederick murmured, more to himself. Perhaps it wouldn’t be as dark and violent as he thought it would be. Quidditch probably looked dark and dangerous to some, but it really wasn’t that bad.

He took a final sip from his coffee and set the cup down. “Well, I think we should be on our way? For the interrogation, that is. Better not keep the suspect waiting.”