Chapter 225 - Claret Ⅲ (1/2)
Despite the rather late hour, two wizards' heads could be seen bent over a pile of important documents which they were currently going over. The forty-year-old, dark-haired wizard with slicked-back hair sighs out loud. Elphinstone Urquart tiredly blinks his dry eyes and runs a hand through his widow's peak. ”Ogden, I do believe it is time we retire for the evening,” Elphinstone professed. ”The letters are starting to swim in front of my eyes again.”
The short, plump wizard and head of the Auror Department exhales loudly at the remark. Bog Ogden adjusts his enormous thick glasses across the bridge of his nose. ”I know, Elphinstone,” Ogden sighed out loud. ”However, Auror Clements has been providing excellent intel and we can't let him down. We must do our part and confirm his information as soon as possible in order to allow him to find the killer of Vinovich.”
Feeling a jolt of guilt, Elphinstone rubs his tired eyes with his hand, before slumping back down to read through the reports. However, before he had progressed much a knock can be heard at the door. Both men glance up in surprise as Ogden asks, ”Who is it?”
”It's Alastor Moody, sir,” the Scottish Auror could be heard replying.
Stifling the urge to roll his eyes in exasperation, Ogden says, ”Auror Moody, if this is another complaint, I do not want to hear another word on the subject at the moment. It is late and despite your being on duty for tonight's evening shift I expect you to be at your post, which is your desk.”
”I know, sir,” Alastor Moody grumbled back. ”However, there is an unexpected guest here, whom I do believe you would like to meet with despite the late hour. Sir.”
Ogden and Elphinstone share a look, before Ogden says, ”Very well let them in, Auror Moody.”
The door opens to reveal the short-hooded figure of a goblin. Ogden instantly recognizes his informant within Gringotts. ”Thank you, Moody,” Ogden swiftly said as the informant slipped inside. ”You may be dismissed.”
Alastor Moody, however instead gives Elphinstone a glare which says, ”I better get in on this, Elphinstone.”
However, Alastor Moody only moved to close the door when Elphinstone sheepishly nods his head back in voiceless promise to keep him in the loop. Satisfied with the unspoken promise, Alastor closes the door with a firm slam behind him emphaizing his vast displeasure at being left out of the discussion. After all, he was a senior Auror and had enough rank to be included in the meeting.
With the door now firmly closed shut, Ogden turns his attention to the goblin before him. The informant had a rather pointed nose and rather pointed beard. With a sly smile, Gornuk says, ”I have something for you, Ogden. But what do you have for me?” In emphasis, Gornuk rubbed his fingers together as if touching a golden galleon between his fingers.
Ogden's eyes burned dangerously as he stiffly replies, ”You'll get your payment, Gornuk. However, I won't pay even a single knut until I know the value of what you offer.”
Gornuk merely sneers and says, ”Bah, wizards always so untrusting.”
Ogden's eyebrow twitches as Elphinstone smoothly leaps and says, ”We are Auror's Gornuk. If we aren't paranoid, then we aren't much good, are we?”
Gornuk nods his head a bit mollified by the wizard's response. ”Very well, I have two new tidbits of information for you. Firstly, Grok Gringotts will be increasing security not only at the bank but including on the employees. And secondly, a goblin has been tortured and killed by the same ones, who killed one of your own.”