Chapter 372 (2/2)
The tall, slender figure of Reginald Prince appeared before her as he shut the door firmly behind him. ”May I have a seat?” Reginald coolly asked.
Gesturing to the older wizard to have a seat across from her, Minister Jenkins slowly sits back into her seat. ”Can I offer you a drink, Prince?”
”No,” Reginald wrinkled his nose in distaste. ”I do not care much for drinking, Minister.”
Minister Jenkins slowly nods her head and says, ”In that case, how can I help you, Prince?”
”I wish to verify that for the moment, there will be no other progressive proposals,” Reginald crisply inquired. ”I can only control the purebloods so much, and they will not side with us should such another occurrence come to be within such a short period of time.”
”I understand,” Minister Jenkins truthfully said. ”I did not think I had it in me either, but yet here I am. Either way, I can assure you, Prince, I have no intention of passing any other laws or reforms for the time being or in the near future. The ones that already have come into existence will serve to keep me busy well into the future.”
”Good,” Reginald coolly murmured. ”Then I have your word and I will be passing along this message with the utmost confidence to those that have sided with us?”
”You have my promise as Minister of Magic,” Eugenia Jenkins steadily declared.
”Excellent,” Reginald said as he rose to his feet. ”Then I shall not tarry any longer with you.”
”Of course,” Minister Jenkins said in surprise, before hesitating. ”And what of the cost?”
”In due time, Minister,” Reginald matter-of-factly stated, while dubiously eyeing her drink. ”However, I would not drink that if I were you, it's been poisoned.”
”What?!” Minister Jenkins said in a panic as she hastily pulled out her wand and cast a spell on the champagne glass. To her utter shock and horror, the wine glass turned a sickly green in confirmation of Reginald Prince's words.
”But how!” Minister Jenkins said flabbergasted.
”The usual way, I am sure,” Reginald calmly said. ”Though given your expression, it would appear said bottle was purchased by yourself.”
”Yes,” Minister Jenkins stammered. ”I purchased the bottle a year ago and made sure it was safe to drink at that time. No one knows about the bottle, not even my undersecretary, Mrs. Prim!”
”In that case, I would suggest increasing your security, Minister,” Reginald coldly advised. ”Someone is out to kill you and they very well nearly succeeded if not for my impromptu decision to speak to you.”
”Yes,” Minister Jenkins dully replied.
Seeing the Minister's shocked expression, Reginald carefully adds, ”Goblins tend to make useful items to check for poison. It is costly, but I am sure that Grok Gringotts would ensure the speedy delivery of the said request, no later than this very evening.”
”Thank you,” Minister Jenkins quietly said.
”I would hate for all my time and effort to go to waste,” Reginald matter-of-factly declared. ”Good day, Minister,” before turning around and quietly exiting as swiftly as he came.
Rubbing her aching head, Minister Jenkins tossed the entire champagne bottle and glass into the fireplace. Unable to believe it still, she slumped weakly back down into her chair. Someone was trying to kill her. And that someone could get into her oval office!