Scrimgeour really did go after Malfoy, intending to take him back to the Ministry of Magic for trial, and Professor McGonagall agreed.
Hogwarts had no authority to try or convict anyone. Even if the victim had been a school governor, the culprit still had to be handed over to the Ministry of Magic.
But when they arrived at the classroom where Malfoy was being held with a large group of Aurors, they were immediately stunned.
The classroom was empty?
Professor Flitwick, who had been guarding him, lay unconscious on the floor, and Malfoy was nowhere to be seen.
"What happened?!" Scrimgeour demanded furiously. "Where is he?"
"That's what we'd like to know too." Professor McGonagall's expression was equally grim.
If the culprit behind Dumbledore's death had simply escaped like this, Hogwarts would be utterly humiliated.
Professor Sprout hurried over to check on Professor Flitwick, but she could not wake him no matter what she did.
"Pomona, go find Madam Pomfrey and have her come here as quickly as possible," Professor McGonagall said, then turned to the portraits on the wall.
"Tell me what happened here!"
"Someone broke in, Headmistress," said a witch holding a jar. "He took the student from the room."
"Who was it?"
"I don't know." The witch shook her head. "He wore a hood and was completely hidden beneath a black cloak. I couldn't see his face."
A hood, a black cloak...
Such a standard outfit immediately made everyone present think of the Death Eaters, and they happened to have every reason to do this.
"They must have sneaked in during the funeral just now!" someone could not help saying.
Though the others said nothing, they were all thinking the same thing.
Only the Death Eaters would risk coming to save Malfoy.
But some considered another possibility.