Chapter 142 - Ministry of Magic Ⅱ (2/2)

”At least we know the child is safe with them,” Sara mumbled under her breath as the rest grew still and gravely nodded their heads.

”There is one more piece of information that we should all know,” Alastor unhappily said as the others frowned at his stiff, a rather sober expression. ”Scrimgeour knows about Riddle.”

”What?!” The other five Auror's exclaimed. ”How?”

”I don't know, but he seems to only know Riddle as his alias,” Alastor confessed as the room grows taut with tension. The Auror's flinch as Percius jumps to his feet as the lights go on in his eyes.

”I remember, Elphinstone assigned Scrimgeour to the Rockwood case. It's obvious Scrimgeour found some personal effect of communication between Rockwood and another Death Eater. No doubt mentioning the alias in the letter!” Percius cleverly beamed immensely proud at having connected the two and two together.

”But this is a problem is it not?' Fabian slowly said. ”A loose end can be very troublesome and unravel the whole rope.”

”But Scrimgeour cannot be brought into the fold,” Sara solemnly declared. ”And though talented I will admit; he is a Gryffindor through and through.” The two Gryffindor Auror's in the room, Alastor and Gideon protest.

”I mean no offense you two, but Gryffindor's tend to see the world as Black and White. But as Auror's, we must see the world as for what it really is gray.”

Turning to look at the two Auror's, Sara continues, ”Gideon Prewett, Fabian's Ravenclaw tendencies effectively counters your own rash tendencies to pull you into line. While you, Moody, you were raised in a household that produces Auror's. No matter what Gryffindor tendencies you may have, you've never seen the world as merely black and white.”

”Then what do we do?” Gideon lamely asked. ”We cannot simply leave Scrimgeour out in the cold to become a rogue.”

”We have no other choice,” Percius mused out loud. ”But that does not mean we cannot make use of this to our own advantage.”

The Auror's turn to gaze at Percius as he continues, ”It's simple really, we allow for Scrimgeour to become the enemy of the death eaters. He'll be the light, while we remain in the shadows. And as the ministry actively searches for the truth via him, we shall remain untouched except for Moody as he is Scrimgeour's partner.

Then we are all in agreement?”

”Yes,” in unison they said.

Nodding, Percius glances at the time and says, ”Well, shall I bring out another round of food and drinks, or do you all have places to be?”

”Family dinner,” Alphard gloomily said as he handed over his empty mug.

”Same,” Gideon and Fabian said, before turning to rise to their feet and grab their own coats.

”Well, I certainly have nowhere else to be,” Alastor grumbled as he refilled his cup.

”Well, I do,” Sara said with a smile as she demurely rose to her feet to leave.

”Ah, I see,” Percius wisely said. ”It's to be us lonely bachelor's again, aye, Moody?”

”So, it would seem,” Alastor drily concluded as the rest of the Auror's left through the front door to apparate away. The front door closed and Percius raised his glass in the air. ”To Bachelordom!”

”Here, here!” Alastor murmured as he raised his own drink before gulping it down. Either way, it proved to be a fruitful night as both men drank their worries away and retold the tales of their wild youths. Which to be frank was rather surprising given that both men didn't seem the types to commit some of the acts that they did.