Chapter 522 - The Apothecary Ⅱ (2/2)
Elphinstone speedily departs from his office, but not before firmly locking the door behind him, and making his way down the hall, and towards the Minister of Magic's office. The outer office of the Minister of Magic is decorated elegantly with portraits, comfortable chairs, a rich carpet, and a desk that of the Senior Undersecretary, Mrs. Prim.
Mrs. Prim despite her position had chosen to remain at the receptionist post guarding entrance to the Minister of Magic's office like a Sphinx of some sort. The prim, very proper witch purses her lips in a frown at spotting Elphinstone Urquart. ”Minister Jenkins is in a meeting with Ogden as you well known, Urquart. I shall not have you interrupting them. Please take a seat and wait until they are done.”
”This cannot wait, Mrs. Prim,” Elphinstone resolutely insisted.
Mrs. Prim frowns even more as she crisply retorts, ”Mr. Urquart, I shall not ask again. Take a seat.”
Elphinstone makes a motion as to turn around and take a seat as Mrs. Prim to glance down at her work, when she hears a flurry of steps and sees Elphinstone rush past her desk. ”Mr. Urquart desist this instance!” She shrieked as she pulled out her wand and fired a hex at his back.
Elphinstone winces in pain as the hex slams into his back, but he manages to wrench open the door and fall onto the carpeted floor to the surprise of the Minister of Magic Eugenia Jenkins and Bob Ogden. ”What is the meaning of this, Urquart?” Said the stout witch with her hair pulled up in a neat bun.
”I am so sorry, Minister Jenkins!” Mrs. Prim apologized as she flashed the fallen figure of Urquart a fierce scowl. ”I can assure you, Minister Jenkins that Mr. Urquart shall not bother either of you for the rest of your meeting.”
”Wait, let him speak,” said the short, plump wizard wearing enormous thick glasses, Bob Ogden. ”And no offense Mrs. Prim, but Urquart would have never dared face your wrath for anything less than important.
Mrs. Prim face twitches in offense as she opens her mouth to vehemently protest, but Minister Jenkins waves her hand at her undersecretary in dismissal and says, ”It is fine, Prim, please lock the door behind you. I would hate for any more interruptions to occur.”
Mrs. Prim lips twitch in displeasure, before stepping over the groaning figure of Elphinstone Urquart, and closing the door a little too firmly behind her with a loud thud. As Elphinstone picks himself painfully off the floor Ogden is not able to hide a cheeky grin as he says, ”Well, it would appear that Mrs. Prim got the better of my second-in-command. Perchance, some field work is in order to brush up a few rusty skills, Urquart.”
Elphinstone is too sore to be offended as he climbs up onto his feet knowing full well, he is going to have a severe bruise on his back tomorrow unless he stops by to see the healers. ”Minister of Magic, Ogden,” Elphinstone begins to say as he nods his head at them. ”I apologize for the abrupt interruption, but there has been an unexpected development.”
”What type of unexpected development?” Minister of Jenkins said as she narrowed her eyes at the second-in-command within the Auror Department.
Elphinstone hesitates as he formulates a proper response in his mind causing Ogden to impatiently say, ”Well, out with it, Urquart. It can't possibly be that bad!”
”Master Damocles Belby was taken in broad daylight while shopping in Diagon Alley,” Elphinstone steadily replied. ”The A.P.D. officers were first to arrive and respond at the scene. At present, they are interviewing witnesses and have a scent, but nothing further is known at this time.”
”For Merlin's sake!” Ogden swore as the Minister Jenkins said, ”Can we be certain that this is in fact a kidnapping for ransom, Urquart?”
”We can't be certain of anything, Minister,” Urquart admitted. ”But it is very likely that it will be a ransom attempt as Master Belby was not harmed in the attack and captured unharmed. I would suggest that we send Auror's to contact Master Belby's apprentice and his remaining family members. The abductors are sure to contact one of them with a ransom note listing their demands.”
”Very well, see to that it is done,” Minister Jenkins ordered. ”But I want this under lock and key, Elphinstone. This stays quiet until we have Master Belby safe and sound.”
”Yes, Minister Jenkins,” Elphinstone replied, before swiftly making his way out of the door, and ignoring the fact that Mrs. Prim was staring daggers at him as he made his way back to the Auror department to start giving out orders. It was going to be a long night for everyone.