"It's good to meet with you, Mr. Briggs. I hope you're feeling well this morning."

Nate turned his head and shrugged his shoulders, easing out a kink from last night's sleep.  "Never better," he replied in a tone of voice that made it unclear if it was sarcasm or genuine.

Maviolo Zabini's smile only faded a hair, but everything else about him remained unflapped.  His expertly presed lapels, his clean hairline with a perfect even fade.  His hands folded comfortably in his lap.  His badge.  Azkaban Liaison & Rehabilitation Consultant. Zabini's eyes narrowed somewhat.

"You'll know why I'm here, I'm sure.  You're just over a month from your release date.  You must be pleased?"

Who was this person? Nate found himself half-disgusted, half-perplexed.  This wizard and all his manner was so detached, so out of place here... why was he here?

"Yes," he responded slowly. Patronizingly.  "You know I'd thought I'd get used to this place at some point, but I really never did acclimate to being a prisoner.  Maybe it's alright for some, but quite looking forward to getting the hell out of this shithole." 

Again, barely a flicker from Zabini.  "Glad to hear it! We here at Azkaban do look forward to your release as well.  Why don't we get int this interview, then."

He conjured a clipboard and long sleek quill.  He began to read.  "With your release date a month away, do you  feel as though your time here has adequately rehabilitated you from your criminal past of..."  He paused to flip a page. "Of burglary, resisting arrest, and wand-firing upon an Auror?"  Zabini looked at Nate and smiled encouragingly.

Nate looked over his shoulder and back again.  Was this a a joke?  He harrowed his eyes and peered at the unblinking wizard.  He opened his mouth, but still considering how to respond, said nothing at first.

"Yea...really regret doing that. My...hubris and subsequent downfall has really taught me a lesson," Nate said slowly. Skeptically.  "Shan't be doing that again." 

Was that the right answer?  Zabina made a very small mark on his clipboard, nodded, and continued.

"What have you learned during your time here?" 

It was difficult, but the answer was Nate had learned to Be Gone.  To forget about the days, hours and minutes just before the current moment, and all those that might come next.  Rather than despair, he'd opted to situate himself squarely in the present.  Not in that pleasant way, that carpe diem, but in a way that numbed him to the inescapable truth of his predicament.  It made the minutes fly.

"Humility," he lied.  And Zabini nodded and ticked a box. 

"Good. Fine, Mr Briggs.  And what plans do you have upon your release? Short term? Long term?"  Again, reading from the clip board with practice and measure.

He'd thought about that when he allowed it.  On the rare sunny days remembering back to his top floor flat in Knockturn Ally which got a burst of sunshine over top the other buildings in the afternoons.  Nate wanted very much to be back there, in his own bed.  That was the first thing he'd do: nip down to the pub, gorge on chips, and sleep for days.

"Find my wife."  For she was difficult to find.  He figured she would find him.  "Find a job."

A real answer.

"That's what we like to hear, Mr. Briggs.  Establishing family ties, re-entering the workforce.  When a former Azkaban inmate can accomplish these things we find the rates of recidivism decline sharply."

The prim agent's words didn't do much to encourage Nate because he knew how difficult the latter would be.  Barely employable before, hardly acclimated to labor and authority, and now a criminal record - it'd be harder than ever.

"As you likely know, upon your release you'll be assigned a parole officer with whom you'll check in with regularly as your sentence requires.  You won't be permitted to leave the country, unfortunately, and should you find yourself in trouble again the penalities will be much stiffer.  We advise strongly that you avoid any contact with previous acquaintences that may have contributed to your delinquincy."  Zabini furrowed his brows with deliberate sincerity.

"I see here that you'll have the return of your wand - good news for you."

And understatement.

"Have you any questions for me?"

"Are we done?"