Subterfuge...
Amos Diggory made his way to Mad-Eye's office. The Ministry was not an ideal location for the conversation, but Amos was just asking an old friend to lunch. If other things got discussed, then they got discussed.
Amos suspected someone his department was Liberi. He was betting on Umbridge for certain, but he couldn't be sure. The woman had no silver jewelry. Also, she hadn't been in the day it happened. She'd been out of the Ministry. That meant someone else. It was a frightening thought because he could not imagine anyone in his department joining up with them. Aside from Delores Umbridge. It was spooky how unclear the lines were divided this time around. With Voldemort and even Grindelwald, you knew what side everyone's bread was buttered on. With this Glorious Mother, your neighbor could be one and you'd never know it. Most of them were a subtle bunch.
Thank goodness he had a pretty good memory, even for his age. Amos had come across a document that listed ownership papers for a sodding dementor. Who in the hellfire owned a damned dementor as a pet? Well, he knew who, but honestly, what sort of person had one? It was a terrible thought.
He knocked on Moody's office door.
Moody called out, "Come in, Amos."
"Moody," Amos announced loudly. "I was wondering if I could take an old friend to lunch."
Amos tilted his head down and raised one brow. Not the most covert of signals, but not the most obvious either. Moody had known Amos since he was a young man just starting in the Ministry. Amos had been in the Order every time it had been assembled in his lifetime. Anyone who knew him, knew that the slight nod and eyebrow meant we need to talk.
Moody pulled out his pocket watch and looked at the time. "I do believe that can be arranged," he told the other man. "Give me a moment or two to finish this up for Merryweather."
Amos watched as Moody completed his paperwork and put it into the out box on his desk.
"Right then," Alastor said, "What did you have in mind?"
"Hannah is always on me to eat better, but I'm in a fish and chips sort of mood. How about the Leaky Cauldron?"
Crowded. No one would pay attention to two old men chatting and eating. Someplace Moody would actually go. It was there or Three Broomsticks, but everyone went to the Leaky. Nothing amiss there. Also, he wasn't sure if Moody wanted to sound the alarm quite yet. Lunching with the possibility of Nessa MacDougal near would sound it. She knew things, had been through this as many times as they had, and her grandson was pretty perceptive about when people were discussing things of import in his place.
"I dare say that some chips might just hit the spot." He looked around furtively. "But don't tell Verity or Addie. They're on me like Hannah is you."
Amos chuckled. "Then I shall see you there."
He left the office, hearing Moody behind him. Amos made his way silently to the Atrium then apparated just outside the Leaky. Amos went inside, holding the door for Moody. Both nodded at Tom before taking a booth. Two fish and chips were ordered. Amos got himself a butterbeer, and Moody wanted to stick to whatever was in his flask.
Amos looked at Moody, waiting to see what charms he'd place on them before speaking.
Moody decided to wait to throw up the secrecy charms until after their food arrived. No use in making Tom suspicious.
"So, speaking of Mrs. Zabini, née Abbott, How is she enjoying married life? I must admit to not having been by the bakery in quite some time."
Amos nodded. Best to seem like they really were chatting by offering up some chat so that anyone might overhear it.
"Well, I suppose you know about what happened to Sarah. That has Hannah high-strung. Plus Gracie starts school this year. That's caused some drama, but Hannah's settling in, and I must say, Zabini is making a decent husband. Not what I'd have expected."
Moody nodded when Amos mentioned Sarah, and chuckled when he'd mentioned Blaise. "It seems that most of the children death eater and other sympathetic families have been very surprising of late. Young Malfoy has his school, Parkinson has a thriving Spa business, Greengrass is teaching potions at Hogwarts next term, and Young Teddy Nott is a Healer in good standing." Moody commented.
"And young Malfoy has not been burning his lawn lately." Amos paused. "The Greengrass girl is teaching Potions? Has McGonagall gone off her nut? She does know that one poisoned someone, doesn't she?"
"I'm told that she does. Which is why Zabini will be 'assisting'." Off of his companion's look, Moody continued, "The official story is that since Greengrass is currently gravid, Zabini will be supervising the practical portion of the potions classes as the fumes from the students' work will be detrimental for the child. Greengrass will be taking the lecture bits."
"Suddenly I wish I could be a fly on the wall. Blaise doesn't like her. From what I understand from the Stewart children, she doesn't like him either. They've despised one another since childhood. Should be interesting."
Two plates, a butterbeer and a bottle of malt vinegar were set before them. Amos shook some vinegar on his plate before digging in.
Moody waited until the server was well on his way back to wherever he'd come from, and then he surreptitiously pulled his wand and swiftly cast a very strong silencing charm.
"Well, I suppose then we ought to look into animal transformation spells, then," Moody commented.
Amos chuckled.
Then his face turned serious. "One of them works in my office, and I don't think it's Dolores Umbridge. I think it's someone else."
Moody's brow furrowed. "What makes you think it's not Dolores? If she's not member, I'd be very, very surprised."
"Oh she is, I'm pretty sure. Her cup of tea exactly, all this purity nonsense, but she isn't the one moving files out of my office."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because I was looking at it, put it away, and now it isn't there. Delores wasn't in that day. She was on a field assignment. She also doesn't come in my office. Mainly because I don't take her nonsense. Also, she's not the sort to let something like what I saw accidentally make its way to my desk. It was a rather dumb mistake. Someone fouled up and had to cover their tracks."
"Ah. Perhaps I should walk you back to your office after lunch. I can have a look around, and make you some magic drawing pins."
"That sounds a fine idea, but let me tell you what I found." Amos took a drink. "Are you familiar with someone named Morgan Reed?"
Moody nearly choked on his lunch. "Funny you should mention him. He just came up in conversation the other day."
"He's got hisself a pet dementor. I happened to get a peek at the paperwork before I was called away from my desk. When I got back, it was gone. And no, I did not leave it on my desk. As I said, I'd tucked it away. Someone rifled through my desk, and they were good because the only thing missing or even out of place was that paperwork."
"Really..." Moody trailed off, remembering the Greengrass potions case that Tonks had had ripped from her caseload by the Minister herself. He'd known that the testimony that she had given was rubbish, as he'd rooted around inside her head while she'd been learning occlumency. She had been obliviated prior to the ministry picking her up... But the Healer's report had shown signs of a dementor attack. He wondered if perhaps this was the same dementor.
"Was it a license renewal, or a new license request?"
"Renewal. Actually a transfer of ownership. The thing belonged to the Senior Reed. Gives me the shivers to think someone's been keeping one of those damned things like a pet. Puts a man to wonder what they could be using it for."
Moody didn't look happy. "I've got a pretty good idea," he declared. "And I don't think you want to know what it is that I'm thinking."
"Probably not. Might want to mention to the Order that everyone should be up on their patronuses."
Amos sighed. He was beginning to wonder if he had the energy to go through all this mess again. What was that thing he'd heard Mina say?
Same old shit, different day.
He'd had to scold her for her use of language, but it applied here. It definitely applied.
{SUMMARY} Amos finds something out about the Liberi and shares with Moody. Neither are happy.
Amos suspected someone his department was Liberi. He was betting on Umbridge for certain, but he couldn't be sure. The woman had no silver jewelry. Also, she hadn't been in the day it happened. She'd been out of the Ministry. That meant someone else. It was a frightening thought because he could not imagine anyone in his department joining up with them. Aside from Delores Umbridge. It was spooky how unclear the lines were divided this time around. With Voldemort and even Grindelwald, you knew what side everyone's bread was buttered on. With this Glorious Mother, your neighbor could be one and you'd never know it. Most of them were a subtle bunch.
Thank goodness he had a pretty good memory, even for his age. Amos had come across a document that listed ownership papers for a sodding dementor. Who in the hellfire owned a damned dementor as a pet? Well, he knew who, but honestly, what sort of person had one? It was a terrible thought.
He knocked on Moody's office door.
Moody called out, "Come in, Amos."
"Moody," Amos announced loudly. "I was wondering if I could take an old friend to lunch."
Amos tilted his head down and raised one brow. Not the most covert of signals, but not the most obvious either. Moody had known Amos since he was a young man just starting in the Ministry. Amos had been in the Order every time it had been assembled in his lifetime. Anyone who knew him, knew that the slight nod and eyebrow meant we need to talk.
Moody pulled out his pocket watch and looked at the time. "I do believe that can be arranged," he told the other man. "Give me a moment or two to finish this up for Merryweather."
Amos watched as Moody completed his paperwork and put it into the out box on his desk.
"Right then," Alastor said, "What did you have in mind?"
"Hannah is always on me to eat better, but I'm in a fish and chips sort of mood. How about the Leaky Cauldron?"
Crowded. No one would pay attention to two old men chatting and eating. Someplace Moody would actually go. It was there or Three Broomsticks, but everyone went to the Leaky. Nothing amiss there. Also, he wasn't sure if Moody wanted to sound the alarm quite yet. Lunching with the possibility of Nessa MacDougal near would sound it. She knew things, had been through this as many times as they had, and her grandson was pretty perceptive about when people were discussing things of import in his place.
"I dare say that some chips might just hit the spot." He looked around furtively. "But don't tell Verity or Addie. They're on me like Hannah is you."
Amos chuckled. "Then I shall see you there."
He left the office, hearing Moody behind him. Amos made his way silently to the Atrium then apparated just outside the Leaky. Amos went inside, holding the door for Moody. Both nodded at Tom before taking a booth. Two fish and chips were ordered. Amos got himself a butterbeer, and Moody wanted to stick to whatever was in his flask.
Amos looked at Moody, waiting to see what charms he'd place on them before speaking.
Moody decided to wait to throw up the secrecy charms until after their food arrived. No use in making Tom suspicious.
"So, speaking of Mrs. Zabini, née Abbott, How is she enjoying married life? I must admit to not having been by the bakery in quite some time."
Amos nodded. Best to seem like they really were chatting by offering up some chat so that anyone might overhear it.
"Well, I suppose you know about what happened to Sarah. That has Hannah high-strung. Plus Gracie starts school this year. That's caused some drama, but Hannah's settling in, and I must say, Zabini is making a decent husband. Not what I'd have expected."
Moody nodded when Amos mentioned Sarah, and chuckled when he'd mentioned Blaise. "It seems that most of the children death eater and other sympathetic families have been very surprising of late. Young Malfoy has his school, Parkinson has a thriving Spa business, Greengrass is teaching potions at Hogwarts next term, and Young Teddy Nott is a Healer in good standing." Moody commented.
"And young Malfoy has not been burning his lawn lately." Amos paused. "The Greengrass girl is teaching Potions? Has McGonagall gone off her nut? She does know that one poisoned someone, doesn't she?"
"I'm told that she does. Which is why Zabini will be 'assisting'." Off of his companion's look, Moody continued, "The official story is that since Greengrass is currently gravid, Zabini will be supervising the practical portion of the potions classes as the fumes from the students' work will be detrimental for the child. Greengrass will be taking the lecture bits."
"Suddenly I wish I could be a fly on the wall. Blaise doesn't like her. From what I understand from the Stewart children, she doesn't like him either. They've despised one another since childhood. Should be interesting."
Two plates, a butterbeer and a bottle of malt vinegar were set before them. Amos shook some vinegar on his plate before digging in.
Moody waited until the server was well on his way back to wherever he'd come from, and then he surreptitiously pulled his wand and swiftly cast a very strong silencing charm.
"Well, I suppose then we ought to look into animal transformation spells, then," Moody commented.
Amos chuckled.
Then his face turned serious. "One of them works in my office, and I don't think it's Dolores Umbridge. I think it's someone else."
Moody's brow furrowed. "What makes you think it's not Dolores? If she's not member, I'd be very, very surprised."
"Oh she is, I'm pretty sure. Her cup of tea exactly, all this purity nonsense, but she isn't the one moving files out of my office."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because I was looking at it, put it away, and now it isn't there. Delores wasn't in that day. She was on a field assignment. She also doesn't come in my office. Mainly because I don't take her nonsense. Also, she's not the sort to let something like what I saw accidentally make its way to my desk. It was a rather dumb mistake. Someone fouled up and had to cover their tracks."
"Ah. Perhaps I should walk you back to your office after lunch. I can have a look around, and make you some magic drawing pins."
"That sounds a fine idea, but let me tell you what I found." Amos took a drink. "Are you familiar with someone named Morgan Reed?"
Moody nearly choked on his lunch. "Funny you should mention him. He just came up in conversation the other day."
"He's got hisself a pet dementor. I happened to get a peek at the paperwork before I was called away from my desk. When I got back, it was gone. And no, I did not leave it on my desk. As I said, I'd tucked it away. Someone rifled through my desk, and they were good because the only thing missing or even out of place was that paperwork."
"Really..." Moody trailed off, remembering the Greengrass potions case that Tonks had had ripped from her caseload by the Minister herself. He'd known that the testimony that she had given was rubbish, as he'd rooted around inside her head while she'd been learning occlumency. She had been obliviated prior to the ministry picking her up... But the Healer's report had shown signs of a dementor attack. He wondered if perhaps this was the same dementor.
"Was it a license renewal, or a new license request?"
"Renewal. Actually a transfer of ownership. The thing belonged to the Senior Reed. Gives me the shivers to think someone's been keeping one of those damned things like a pet. Puts a man to wonder what they could be using it for."
Moody didn't look happy. "I've got a pretty good idea," he declared. "And I don't think you want to know what it is that I'm thinking."
"Probably not. Might want to mention to the Order that everyone should be up on their patronuses."
Amos sighed. He was beginning to wonder if he had the energy to go through all this mess again. What was that thing he'd heard Mina say?
Same old shit, different day.
He'd had to scold her for her use of language, but it applied here. It definitely applied.
{SUMMARY} Amos finds something out about the Liberi and shares with Moody. Neither are happy.