"Greetings Minister."

Cornelius Fudge looked about momentarily until he realized that the comment was directed to him. Yes! He was the new Minister of Magic. True, the field of potential candidates had been thinned out by the recent He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named business, but horrible and dreadful as that was it had allowed Fudge to rise to the top! He was now the Minister of Magic and today was his first day on the job!

"Greetings Minister.", another Ministry functionary bowed.

Fudge nodded back. Oh yes, did this feel good. He made his ways through the Ministry halls, his halls now and headed for his new office. Other underlings greeted him.

"Greetings Minister."

"Greetings Minister."

And now he was at the door! Fudge took in a deep breath. He was about to make history!

"Minister, your first appointment is already ready." said the witch at his side. It broke Fudge's moment.

"My what?"

"Your first appointment. From the Civil Service." said the witch. "They're Muggles, I, um, I think."

"What do you mean, you think? Either they're muggle or magical. Which is it, witch." said Fudge.

The witch took a step back. "Well, I am not sure sir. They don't look like wizards, but they found their way in. You can't do that if you're a muggle, sir."

Fudge had to admit the witch had a point. Muggles couldn't just walk into the Ministry. They shouldn't even be aware of it. So that settled it. Clearly his first appointment were some wizards.
He however didn't recall any part of the Ministry called the Civil Service.

"Thank miss..."

"Thistlelow."

"Miss Thistlelow. I had better be seeing them then."

Fudge walked into his new office. As he did so two men rose from chairs to greet him. Both were dressed in well tailored, black suits and trousers, trousers of all things!

"Ah Minister." said the older man. "Welcome, welcome. My name is Sir Humphrey Appleby, Permanent Secretary to Britain's Ministry of Magic. And this is Bernard Woolley, your Private Secretary from Her Majesty." the older man held out his hand.

"Cornelius Fudge, and I am the Minister of Magic." he looked at the stranger's hand, paused and shook it.

"Of course you are Minister. We are here to help you."

"Help me? How? Why?" said Fudge.

"Why Minister? Because of the recent events surrounding magical affairs it has been decided that some more oversight is needed regarding the affairs of the Witches and Wizards of Great Britain. And here we are. As to how we can help? Minister, we are the Civil Service. It is by our efforts that Great Britain is a first class nation today. The same can not be said for our magical counterparts."

Fudge went red. "The Witches and Wizards of Britain are..."

"Not terribly well regarded by the actual magical powerhouses like Bulgaria, Romania and Egypt. Our magical branch of law enforcement required the help of a citizen's group to bring some magic wielding version of Hitler to heel. That is correct, isn't it. Wizard. Hitler." said Sir Humphrey.

"From the sound of things it's more like Wizard Mosley, or even Wizard Spode." said the man named Bernard.

"And this wizard had a lot of popular support. Minister it just won't do for any part of Britain to go fascist. Surely you can see that. More importantly, it will not do for the leaders and diplomats of other countries to be laughing behind our backs because our wizards are, are.." said Sir Humphrey.

"A bunch of incompetent fools and provincial bumpkins is what the Romanian Ambassador said." added Bernard.

"Yes, thank you Bernard. A bunch of incompetent fools and provincial bumpkins. That will not do Minister, don't you agree. So Her Majesty's Government has sent us to advise you."

"The Magical World has always been separate from the Mundane." said Fudge.

"Of course Minister. Absolutely Minister. Separate they are and separate they shall remain. We are but humble emissaries of Her Majesty, here to ensure that that separation, which has served us so well for centuries continues unabated." said Sir Humphrey.

"Well, that is good. Good. So, why do we need you?"

"As per the Honorable and Ancient agreements in the Statute of Secrecy a small, yet dedicated part of the Civil Service has always been aware of the Magical World. They have, over the years accumulated, updated, revised and reorganised a few minor suggestions to help our mystical brothers and sisters drag themselves, kicking and screaming into the Nineteenth Century." said Sir Humphrey.

"Surely you mean the Twentieth Century?" said Fudge.

"One step at a time minister. One step at a time. Bernard." said Sir Humphrey.

At hearing his name the other muggle withdrew a small gold bell and rang it three times.

Tinkle. Tinkle. Tinkle.

A massive book, bound in red leather apparated just above the desk and fell onto it with a weighty thud.

Fudge regarded the book. As a wizard he was no stranger to eldritch tomes containing strange, unspeakable secrets. Why they were practically bedtime reading! This book however displayed no sigils, no runes or symbols of power. It bore an inscription he felt was much worse. It had the seal of Her Majesty's Government and the worst words he ever thought he would read.

Articles of Recommendation and Reform Vol.1