"Minister Fudge! It looks like the Auror's have taken charge of the situation at the London Zoo. It appears an underage girl did some accidental magic under duress," a wizened and older man said to the Minister of Magic. They were on opposite ends of the Minister's desk. Behind the Minister, you could see the sun shining through light clouds.
"Oh? What was the duress?" Fudge asked. He turned his seat sideways so that he could see 'out' through the magical illusion a bit.
"It appears that her Muggle friend was taken and almost raped. The Auror in charge is going to process the hearing quickly, but sees no real harm done." The advisor folded the paper into a folder. "That should be all for today."
The Minister of Magic frowned in sudden thought. "What was the young witches name?"
"Harriet Dursley, I believe. No one important."
The Minister spun his chair back around and stood up. His expression was startled, but controlled.
"Minister? Is there a problem?" the old man asked.
"No! No, not at all! I... just remembered that I have an important meeting in a while. I have to prepare for it." Cornelius Fudge fiddled with his tie, thinking furiously. "Say, Leekshroom? Didn't you mention that you had a problem at home?"
"It's nothing. Just a boggart that has moved in. After my wife passed away, it's been dreadful to keep up the house." He sighed and scrubbed his large sideburns that had been quite popular in his youth.
"Ah, yes. Something about having to leave early to get it handled. Take the day off! That's an order. Make sure your house is in order. I can handle things here for one day without your assistance." Fudge sat back down at his desk and pulled out some paperwork.
"Why, thank you! I'll see you tomorrow, Cornelius. We should be able to push on that legislation that Malfoy has an interest, I think."
Fudge smiled. "Of course. Let Wendy know that you are leaving." As soon as Leekshroom had closed the door, the Minister of Magic nearly flew from his seat and opened a secret door behind one of the busts of previous holders of his office. He panted as he ran down narrow stairs to the Judiciary floor. He opened a panel in an unused office. That would always be unused, unless they really ran out of room.
He took a moment to make himself look as if he were in total charge of his situation and not a desperate man. Damn that Dumbledore! With that, he slammed open the door to the office of Misuse of Magic, the sub department of Underage Magic Matters.
"Ah! Murpkell! So this is the young girl that caused such a fright today? Set off half the magic detectors in downtown?" Fudge said suddenly, taking over the room in surprise. The hearing room was crowded with the Auror, three girls, a single boy, Petunia Dursley and the standing judge. "So, how far along have you gotten in the process," he asked airily.
"Ah, Minister Fudge?! We were just about to have them fill out their paperwork and then the inquiry. Madam Bones agreed with me that this is really a mere formality. They'll be out of here in a few hours," the older Auror blurted out.
Cornelius let out a deep breath softly. They hadn't had the chance to get her full legal name. Thank the ancestors. "A lot of balderdash, if you ask me! Let's just be done with this. The girl's had a lot of stress already today. Just fill our your report, Murpkell and forward it to my office. The rapist has already been dealt with?"
"Ah, yes. He's been obliviated and taken into the Bobbies custody. He'll do hard time."
"Minister Fudge! This is quite unusual! There is a reason for our processes and paperwork! It is no large problem for us to do our work without interference!" Madam Bones almost looked like she was about to vibrate out of her chair in her anger. She jammed her monocle back into place.
"Ah, my powers of office do allow us to cut corners for the sake of children's sensibilities. These girl's don't need to be truamatized again today. If you must, I'll pen a directive from my office right this moment. This girl is a heroine, I say!" Cornelius just smiled as Harriet. "Say, what was your name?"
"Harriet, Sir. Harriet Dursley." The Girl Who Lived was quite disconcerted. Didn't the man remember her at all?
"Ah, yes! Harriet. I think we actually met once. If you don't mind me saying so, I feel a bit of caring for you and your situation. Almost like I was that distant uncle that dropped Christmas cards off." The Minister stood the three girls up and got them and Petunia outside. "Just make sure to get that report to me, Murpkell."
"The Muggle girl's will need to be obliviated, Minister. They can't be allowed knowledge of our world." The old Auror brought up the important point sheepishly.
"Well, of course. Do you have an Obliviator ready?" he replied as he walked the girls and Harriet's mother to the lift.
"I'm sure I could find one in about a half an hour, Sir."
"I don't want my friends hurt!" Harriet shouted.
"Nonsense, this won't hurt a bit. And when you are fully a part of Wizarding society, you will be thankful that they won't be asking you for some cure-all for their problems. I'm afraid I can't bend the rules on this." Fudge led them across the main atrium to the main doors. "You have a car?"
"Oh, no! We took the tube!" Petunia exclaimed.
"Well, we can't have that. Theodore! Have a car brought around. As soon as we've oblviated the Muggle's memories, you can be off to your home. Safe and sound!"
Murpkell caught up to them from the lift. "Minister Fudge, it appears all of our Obliviators are currently at the London Zoo, cleaning up this matter. It'll be an hour before they will be back."
Fudge thought furiously. He just had to get this girl as far away from the Ministry as possible. "Are you licensed for obliviating?"
"Only a 3rd degree license."
"Well, I'll just have to do it myself then. I'm still licensed as a 2nd degree myself."
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(Posted Sun, 31 Oct 2004 07:33)
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