Family fined 10,000 Galleons for illegal objects, charged with obstruction
The inquiry into Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy’s possible involvement in the disappearance of Regulus Black ended late Friday night as Aurors left the Malfoy residence, without many of the answers they’d hoped to find.
“After an extensive search, we’ve concluded that there is not enough evidence to charge Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy with murder,” said Kingsley Shacklebolt of the Auror Office, who was assigned to head the investigation in early February. “At the same time, it would be inaccurate to say that they’re no longer of any interest to us in this matter. They have not been forthcoming and they have not been entirely honest. There is irrefutable evidence that they knew information about Mr. Black beyond what was known to the Auror Office, and we find that unacceptable.” Shacklebolt went on to say that the couple are each being charged with three counts of obstruction of justice, as well as being fined a total of ten thousand Galleons for the possession of illegal magical objects. If convicted, both Malfoys could be sentenced to as much as three months in Azkaban.
Regulus Black, who is Narcissa Malfoy’s first cousin, went missing in the autumn of 1981. The second son and youngest child of Orion and Walburga Black, he was employed as a research assistant by the eminent potions expert Horace Slughorn and was rumored to be a follower of the dark wizard He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The recent inquiry into his disappearance was prompted by the discovery of an embossed button belonging to him in the forest surrounding the Malfoys’ property.
Though Shacklebolt declined to comment as to the grounds behind the obstruction charges, rumors circulate that one or more charge may stem from the discovery of Black’s will in the Malfoy house. If correct, Black’s will is a heretofore unknown element of a case that sat dormant for most of the last decade.
“I don’t blame anyone for [the case’s inactivity],” said Professor Sirius Black, Regulus Black’s older brother, commenting publically for the first time about his brother’s disappearance. “When you’re out of leads, you’re out of leads. I don’t know if Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy killed Regulus, but I would urge anyone who knows anything about what may have happened to him to get in touch with my attorney, Brutus Swift. Twelve years are a long time. We need to answer the question of where Regulus is so he can finally rest in peace.” Professor Black had no comment as to the possibility of his brother having an existing will, but did mention that he had not been in contact with Regulus for a number of years prior to 1981.
Though Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy refused to respond to Daily Prophet reporters, they issued a statement through their attorney, Timarchus Hagen, just before this edition went to print. “Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy ask that their privacy not be disturbed at this very difficult time,” Hagen said. “They are surprised at the charges against them and would like this matter to be settled in a Ministerial court of law, not the court of public opinion.”