Chapter Six
Harry hadn't been seen in months. There were rumours of course. Sightings of the Boy Who Lived, he'd surfaced here and there. It was said that he was searching for something to defeat Lord Voldemort. There were whispers that Professor Dumbledore sent him on a quest. Percy hoped he'd simply fled the country.
The hopes of their entire community rest on the shoulders of one small boy who has not yet finished his schooling. These were just rumours of course; Percy suspected that if the other side had gotten a hold of him there would have been some public announcement.
Within the Ministry it was not much better, not a day went by without some new decree being passed down from the minister office. Pius Thicknesse was desperate to be seen to be doing something and Percy was more than happy to assist the appearance.
First it was question then capture. Then information came down about his friends and contacts. Neighbour hoods were in turn scoured then quarantined. Muggle-borns were questioned then captured then imprisoned. Snatchers were hired for those that ran; they wanted compensation and rewards for the ones they brought in. Somehow they became unionised and when someone suggested they ask for sick pay and annual holidays two weeks were lost to a negotiation and strike talk.
Percy stopped on the fourth floor on his way to his office one morning to collect a set of keys. He hovered by the coffee maker after making himself a drink looking for all the world like he was just waiting for it to cool.
Two women entered the small kitchen.
"River is fired for sure."
"They can't sack her just for this. Everyone knows how hard it is to keep track these days."
"I'm telling you, that's the fourth Muggle-born they've had to let go because of her sloppy work. It's not that hard to get these people imprisoned."
Percy listened as the women waited for the kettle to boil. "It's much harder than it used to be. Up stairs want to know all about their family now. They want to know dates and locations on where they've worked and with whom. Muggle-borns are particularly difficult; half of them have had outside jobs."
"I know what you mean. There are about six forms that I need to fill in before I can get approval for a ransom so that the Snatchers will actually go out and get them. Those each need to be signed and countersigned by four different people. One of whom is Robbie, who left three days ago. Apparently we won't pass anything through our team for another month while we hire his replacement."
"Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. I'd like to know who approved this system. It's like they don't want us to be able to do our jobs. "
Percy smiled and slipped out the door and back to the stairwell.
Percy returned in time to see Albert Runcorn sweep out of the Ministers office looking smug. Mr. Runcorn often looked smug now a day. Percy opened up the bottom drawer of his desk and unstuck a thick folder from the bottom of the shelf. He smoothed down his robes took a deep breath, stood up and knocked on the Minister's open door.
"Minister, can I speak to you?"
"Certainly Percy." The Minister looked a little distracted and but not nervous so Runcorn obviously was not threatening him. Not directly anyway.
"It's come to my attention that several Muggle-borns have not made it to Azkaban or out of the country. I've checked the records quite thoroughly and there appears to be a large amount of paper work missing."
"Well, certainly, all those forms we have to fill in now not surprising that a few bits of paper are missing."
"There appears to be a pattern and when filing earlier today I found this." Percy flourished a bit of paper with a small red flower on it.
"The Scarlet Pimpernel." The Minister's shoulders dropped. "If only we knew who he was then we could make an example of the mole in this office who wishes to trick us. Try to make me look stupid!"
"I believe I do know who it is Minister; Albert Runcorn."
"Runcorn! Don't be ridiculous. Why would he? He's weaseled out many a Muggle-born in these very offices."
"He has access to all our records though and has been in and out of the Muggle Registration department a lot recently. He was also here last Friday and waited for you will well after seven."
"But still?"
"I'm not saying I started believing it was immediately but there is evidence. I have looked into the missing and irregular details that I came across. I can show you my findings if you want." Percy waved the thick file. "I've taken these notes when going over every case file these past two weeks. Of course this is just the condensed version for ease of reading."
Thicknesse looked at the thick file in Percy's hand. Different coloured post-it notes stuck out and each sheet looked crammed with notes. "Well the past two weeks is a very small sample case."
"You misunderstand, Minister, I've spent the last two weeks going over every case."
"I cannot come out and accuse Mr Runcorn of such a treachery without solid evidence though."
"Certainly not." Percy appeared to think about it. He wasn't a terribly good actor but then again the person he had to fool wasn't terribly clever. "Perhaps it would be best to just ban him from that department in the Ministry. Keep him as a private consultant on a different matter. If he does not need to come in to the Ministry he can hardly spy on what we are doing from the inside."
"Indeed." The Minister's eyes lit up. "Excellent idea, Percy, I can always rely on you. I shall have a private word with him; let him know I know what he's up to. Perhaps a position at Hogwarts would be more suitable."
Percy fixed a smile to his face. "Thank you, Minister."
