Ethan came to doing two things automatically, the first was reach for his wand... which of course he did not have, and the second was sneeze rather violently.

He sat up slowly, his eyes finding the form of his arrester fairly quickly. He took in the heavy table, the two chairs- one occupied, the man himself and then examined the cot and the mattress he was now sitting on, followed by the walls the floor and the ceiling, all without moving.

"Smells like Ministry." Truebridge noted, without taking care to give his words inflection. "I suppose it would be pointless to ask for my wand."

"Normally, I'd agree with you, but seeing as how its just us and I'd like to chat..." Tate placed the wand on the table across from his seat, right in front of the empty chair. "To be frank, I need to know what sort of salve to use on my fingers after handling your wand. They're quite numb, you see."

Ethan made a small noise, almost a crooning sound and he joined Casey at the table and took up his wand, just holding it and then holstering it, though it seemed completely odd that someone who'd just arrested him would allow him to take his wand back.

"You'll just have to let the irritation fade on its own. Most remedies prescribed for countering poisonwood don't really do a lot of good. Preventative balms are better." He shifted his arm slightly so that he could feel Michelle, his wand, against it.

Wand back. Now...

"... chat." Flat voice, flat expression.

"I would have preferred to do this differently," Tate said apologetically, his attention apparently fully on his hands and not on Truebridge. "I had to jump on the opportunity, of course. You were there in the street, and we needed witnesses... and I suppose natural reactions were better with witnesses."

Well. His fingers were feeling better already.

"You want to run those reasons for this... arrest by me again?"

He glanced at the wand in his holster and thought of Copernicus. He'd not incriminate the boy. Surely he was not personally guilty of any charge.

"Not really," Tate pulled out the warrant again and made a show of ripping it in half. He had a feeling Truebridge was going to be difficult to convince, so any element of the dramatic was designed to prove Tate's sincerity.

"I need your assistance, Ethan, and I believe you're capable of looking at the big picture. You must be aware that there is trouble at Hogwarts."

"You've accused me of murder and... jaywalking." Ethan answered quietly, choosing not to comment on the fact that his wand had helped a lot with marking him guilty.

"Trouble at Hogwarts." Ethan actually snorted. "Good to see after over a thousand years, someone in law enforcement has come to that realisation. You might also be aware it is no longer my concern?" Of course he was still a bleeding heart when it came to the well being of his students but Ethan was not planning to point that out.

"My concern isn't Hogwarts either, to be honest. It has come to my attention by proxy," Tate studied the man seated across from him. It didn't seem that the man was particularly eager to help.

Shocking.

"I believe the warrant is void and you've been accused of nothing. Regardless... I'd like you to consider helping us draw out the culprit at Hogwarts. We're filling your post with someone who understands the criminal mind, but we'd like you to stay out of sight as the accused to put this... person at ease."

"Why me?" Ethan asked and truly it translated to 'what's in it for me?' because at the end of the day he was still a Slytherin and he needed something offered if he were even going to consider whatever this was.

He eyed the torn warrant and if he'd been the kind to employ or register sarcasm, might have responded with something about Historians being known for understanding the criminal mind.

One thing Historians did know...

"You are using a criminal to catch a criminal?"

An assumption to be sure, but who else truly understood a criminal?

"We are," Tate said softly, clearly not sure about whether it was a good idea or not. It was their only option at this point.

"For one, because your position was vacant already and you were tarred thickly in the process by that Kazimeriz. For another, because you have a vested interest in clearing your name, which, as I mentioned, was dirtied by Kazimeriz. If you play ball with us, you will get your position back at Hogwarts and will be cleared of all charges."

"Do you mind my asking who?" Truebridge was just as soft, though there was no real reason for it, he was simply matching tone.

"And if I don't 'play ball'?" Ethan was merely curious. Needed to know his options of course.

Tate smiled thinly. "Voldemortist. Naturally." He knew it was going to be a point of contention with the staff that he was bringing a known killer into the school, but he trusted Duskurk. And more, he trusted himself not to let him hurt anyone.

He seemingly ignored the second question. "You know, it's very interesting to me... I expected to find nothing of interest in checking your wand. It was a gesture. Color me surprised when I found a series of unforgivable curses on it." Essentially... Truebridge could go willingly or not, but he was going.

"Oh. Well then." Ethan just shrugged in acceptance.

Thomas Duskurk had teaching experience after all.

"Oh yes. My bad." Truebridge answered quietly. Better him than a student.

"What would you require of me if I agreed?"

"So interesting that what followed the Unforgivable curses was what looked like, at least to me, a series of charms and spells similar to a NEWT courseload," Casey mused, not looking up at Truebridge as he shuffled papers around on the table.

"We could offer you a suite at Azkaban, whatever resources you require to complete the study or research you desire, or books... food... whatever. You just have to stay out of sight."

"I like to keep up the old skills." Ethan answered, "And help my students practice."

Never mind the fact that he was a History of Magic professor, it was still true.

Wait a minute.

A suite. At Azkaban. Sounded fairly contradictory.

"How long?"

"Yes, I imagine you'd do almost anything for your students," Tate did look up then, although his expression was bland. "Let us say... indefinitely, but not more than a year. This experiment has failed if we cannot draw the culprit out before next June."

"And am I permitted to inform anyone that I am cooperating with you during this time or is everyone to believe that I am a criminal, rightly imprisoned?"

Annie would not be pleased...

Ethan thought about it, knowing he was not willing to implicate Copernicus in anything, even if it was likely that the boy had been influenced by whoever it was that Casey and Duskurk were now trying to flush out.

"And there will be a job waiting for me at Hogwarts upon my release?"

"Someone you would like sequestered with you?" Tate queried, clearly considering the offer. Some men were happier with their spouses and children, and since Truebridge had not actually done anything wrong... it was a reasonable request.

"As for the other, yes. I can absolutely guarantee you a job. Let's say... the new Headmaster and I are of the same mind when it comes to staffing."

"No I'd not... want anyone else to have to... be sequestered." Ethan shook his head. "Just... informed. Particular Professors at the school actually, and the bartender at the Leaky Cauldron."

Zan gave Casey a look. New Headmaster hmm?

"I see." He answered quietly.

"I think I may have to deny you that request," Tate answered apologetically. "As much as I understand the need for human connection, the professors are suspects." Except for Truebridge, ironically enough.

"Do you see?" The hint of humor returned to his voice.

"Then perhaps you can do me the favour of being sure that Anastasia Bunbury and Marcus Lawson in particular are well." He'd ask after Caroline too but... well she had quit because of him.

"Is Kazimeriz aware that you have wrested away the position he is so eager to hold?" Ethan asked, in as blunt a tone as he ever managed. So... only mildly blunt. Hmm.

"Not yet. He will," Tate answered wryly. "I'm sure you know he was a professor of mine. I'm not sure anyone ever appreciates being usurped by someone they once viewed as a subordinate. I may have to let him in on the deal. You suspect him of anything?"

Tate was more than willing to check in on the professors as Truebridge asked. Friends of his, he supposed.

"Of course I am aware." Ethan answered in his usual monotone, though actual legitimate surprise and then a touch of fury registered on his face at the following question.

"Absolutely not. Despite... personal differences, I would never believe Valon Kazimeriz could have anything other than the best interests of his... current students," As opposed to former students such as himself and several of the professors as it turned out, "At heart. Despite his unorthodox methods and unexplained reasoning, he'd never do anything to harm them, not unless it was to benefit them."

Ethan was certain he could pinpoint the moment the old man stopped having that kind of consideration for him.

It was a moment he preferred not to think about.

"Careful, Truebridge. Save your fury for someone who will appreciate it," Tate answered evenly, putting up a hand to ward off the anger. He often found that anger was entirely the wrong emotion.

"I don't honestly suspect him of anything, but I value your insights into what is going on at Hogwarts. You're perceptive."