Chapter 646 - Accord (1/2)
Later that same evening within the confines of the office of Elphinstone Urquart, there is a rather solemn air in the office as he has four Auror's standing present before him. Frowning deeply, the forty-year old's dark slicked back hair is slightly messy as though he had run a hand through his hair in exasperation. Further furrowing his brow causes his widows' peak to deepen.
Glancing up from the report that he was reading, Elphinstone says, ”Is that it?”
The younger partner of Percius Clements, Auror John Dawlish slowly nods his head, which had short, wry hair. As usual, his bad habit appears just at the same moment causing him to blink and glance around appearing to be rather foolish. ”Yes, sir,” Auror Dawlish croaked. ”That's all that's been found on Harold Minchum.”
Seeing Elphinstone's face fill with exasperation, the medium-sized wizard that long ago become slim, Auror Percius Clements wryly comes to the aid of his much younger partner. ”That is all, Urquart. I had Dawlish speak to every single individual, who had last been in contact with and seen him; while I did prod our contacts for information, I gained nothing for my troubles. Sanderson has been lying down low and has not ordered nor permitted any hits. According to rumors on the street, Sanderson left his people for several months, and then returned rather forlorn. It's whispered that he suffered some unimaginable loss.”
Rubbing his brow at feeling an ensuing headache, Elphinstone turns to the other Auror pair. ”Moody, Scrimgeour, please tell me there is something on your end?”
The rugged Scottish Auror, Alastor Moody twists his lips in equal frustration. His wavy brown hair is missing chunks of hair as if someone had to hex him to only end up cutting his hair. There is a tiny new scar on the tip of his nose as if someone had tried to cut it off, but ultimately failed.
In a Scottish borough, Auror Alastor Moody says, ”Aye, sir, Scrimgeour and I knocked on every door, we could find. We even turned over a local criminal nest and received naught for our troubles except for being hexed. The only good news is that we caught the rat's red-handed and captured them all. They're sitting in our cells as we speak.”
The younger partner of Auror Moody, a tawny-haired young man with a lion-like man, and equally tawny hair snorts. Auror Rufus Scrimgeour snickers and says, ”What Moody forget to mention is that we literally caught them with their hands in the biscuit jar.” The two Auror partners share smirks as if that said it all.
”So, you are telling me that a ministry official of his rank, and former Ministry of Magic contender, Harold Minchum is not only missing and presumed dead, but not even some of my finest Auror's can find a single clue?!” Elphinstone said in exasperation.
Auror Clements sighs and says, ”It's not that we haven't looked, Uraqurt, but whoever did it knew exactly what they were doing. And it is not though as Minchum did not have scores of enemies. He has made plenty of enemies not only within the Ministry but outside as well. Trust me, when I say this, Harold Minchum had more than on unsavory dealing that should have gotten him locked up in Azkaban.”
”I know, Clements,” Elphinstone sighed as the reports brought before him had to be partially redacted. The Ministry of Magic could not afford the corruption scandal that Harold Minchum would bring down upon them. Thankfully, with Minchum's disappearance the Ministry would be able to quietly take care of the corruption scandal avoiding the bad press. However, harsh steps were being taken to root out the corruption now discovered. Several reprimands and punishments were quietly given out as well as demoting of several high up Ministry Officials and including the resignation of several officials claiming an early retirement.
(These severely corrupt officials had been given the choice of turning their resignations or become the scapegoats for the entire fiasco. They wisely elected the first option leaving their reputations mostly intact. However, the word had been quietly spread around about the truth of the matter, and ensuring that these individuals would never be permitted to take a seat of power in any capacity again whether it be at a guild or any other type of directing position.)
Blowing a stream of air through his nose, Elphinstone finally says, ”I will have the undersecretary, Mrs. Prim inform the public that Harold Minchum has gone missing and is presumed dead on an expedition for the Ministry. That ought to appease Minchum's family and quell any gossip from surging up as to the reason for his untimely disappearance.”