Chapter 298 - Master Belby (1/2)
It was rather late when Minister Eugene Jenkins glances up from her paperwork and up at the clock. She'd been requested to come down to the holding cells, and she would be late if she didn't leave soon. Making sure she did not forget anything, she finally exits her simple decorated office, while two Auror escorts patiently waited for her outside of the Minister's office. The stout witch with thick bobbed hair nods at the two of them, before one of the guards steps in front to lead her and the other steps in behind her to guard her back.
Sighing silently to herself, Minister Jenkins proceeds in this fashion downstairs to the holding cells. It was to be a full moon tonight and Auror's would be out in the night patrolling. Werewolves tended to be about tonight as fools would tend to get into mischief. She rather disliked full moons to be honest ever since she had become the Minister of Magic.
Minister Jenkins was surprised to see three members of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. The first two she easily recognized, the mild-mannered wizard with russet-colored and bright clever eyes, Lyall Lupin. And the second the recently retired Newt Scamander, an older, tall, thin wizard with tousled hair more silver than brown. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement whenever he came upon a new creature.
The third Minister Jenkins had to squint her eyes at before recognizing the younger wizard with a ruddy face and a neat brown beard. Amos Diggory was relatively new to the department and was presently still in training. She heard he was quite talented at charms, which was good as they were in manpower with the Quidditch World cup almost upon them.
However, what caused Minister Jenkins to pause was the fourth unknown member that she hadn't noticed before. The sharply dressed wizard wore a clover colored robe. His thin lips were pressed into even thinner lines. He was rather pale with a pointed chin, sleeked back dark hair, seeming quite tense really. The unknown wizard did not seem at all impressed by her given her short stature.
”Diggory, Scamander, Lupin to what do I owe the sudden request?” Minister Jenkins asked. ”And who is this? He clearly is not a member of the Ministry.”
”Pardon me, Minister Jenkins,” Damocles Belby coolly interrupted. ”Allow me to present myself, I am Damocles Belby, a potions master.”
”And why are you here, Master Belby?” Minister Jenkins slowly asked as the two guards at her side remained to hold their wands.
”I am here for the full moon, of course, Minister Jenkins,” Damocles said as he walked over to the four holding cells that were full. ”The four participants found within the cells are all werewolves and will be cured by the end of the night.”
”What?!” Minister Jenkins sputtered in disbelief. ”That is impossible, there is no cure!”
”There is now, Minister,” Damocles confidently replied. ”I've discovered that the crucial process is not to remove the wolf, but rather to change the aspect of the curse. After three doses of the potion, the curse will be removed leaving behind only a wolf animagus. The formerly cursed bites will no longer be contagious and will simply need to register at the nearest animagus registration office to register their wolf animagus form.”
”How can you be so certain?” Minister Jenkins suspiciously asked.
”I have already cured one other,” Damocles lied with a straight face. ”These four will be my proof and the three men before you have all witnessed my giving them the last dose in the process of curing the curse.”
”Very well then,” Minister Jenkins said. ”In that case, let us have a seat.” One of the guards hurriedly transfigured a seat for Minister Jenkins to wait in while they watched the four nervous, but rather excited figures waiting inside the holding cells. If what Master Belby had told them was true, then these men would finally be free.
While Minister Jenkins stared at the four individuals in the cells, Lyall Lupin fretfully murmurs, ”If the potion works, Master Belby? How much will the cure cost?”
”It is rather affordable actually,” Master Belby confessed. ”There are only three required dosages that must be given for a three months period before the werewolf in question is completely cured. And then naturally, I have requested that they register themselves at the nearest animagus registration office. We must not have wild wolf animagus running around. We have laws in place for a reason!”