Wizard Hunter

Chapter 14: The Hidden Government

Jimmy hugged his dad around the waist, and looked up at him, "Can we go home now?"

Ken was still recovering from all the confusion that day. Owen was leaning against the wall, staring at Ken casually. Ken had meant to leave earlier, but Stewart had stopped him. He looked over at Stewart, deciding now was not the time to go. "I haven't been here in a while, and you know the truth now. I mean to find the Ministry of- what?"

"Magic, dolt," Stewart laughed. "What was your memory modified or something?"

"Maybe," Ken said, putting the best act of a sad face.

Stewart shrugged the answer off, and asked still kindly, "You wanna know where it is. Dennis can show you. Owen, where's Dennis? He can show this gentleman where the Ministry is?"

"Looking for a job?" Owen inquired.

"Probably, depends where it is," Ken answered, privately thinking that they the Wizards, had no idea what kind of job he'd do there if and once he found out where the Wizards resided.

"Dennis is in the Ministry," Owen replied. "He's working with McMillan on an International Cooperation bill."

"McMillan!" Ken jumped.

"Someone you know?"

"Ernie?"

When Owen nodded, Ken was paralyzed in shock. Ernie, a Wizard? No, it couldn't be. How could Ernie be a Wizard? Ernie was his lifelong friend. He was like a brother to him. How could he possibly be a Wizard? Ken found himself foolishly thinking that perhaps Ernie also snuck in, but then why was he in the Ministry? Ken speculated in that minute that Ernie had probably went to that Hogwarts place, and that was why he was gone for so long and why Ernie was so quiet about it.

"I know him," Ken answered shortly. "But take me to the Ministry."

"I'll take you," Owen said, grabbing hold of his arm. "Get your boy over here. We're doing side-along Apparition."

"Side-a-what what?!" Ken exclaimed suspiciously.

Before he knew it, he and Jimmy were spinning. Ken felt sure he'd throw up in the end, and Jimmy's feelings were no different. It felt as though his ears were pressed in and his face was being caved. He was grimacing in pain just as the painful sensation stopped. He found himself in a completely different place. It looked like an alleyway. It was very dirty, and he thought to himself how Wizards could pick a place like this.

But then, he was led out of the alley into what Ken recognized all too well as London. At his left was a phone booth he knew to be out of order, and there Owen took him. "So they think it's out of order."

"Muggles really can't tell normality from magic," Stewart laughed as Owen led them in. They all squeezed in, Ken trying to ignore the pang he felt in his stomach when Stewart badmouthed Muggles such as himself. If only he knew…

"Ok, Ken, you're closest," Owen said, taking command. "Dial in the phone MAGIC. Err… six, two, four, four, and two."

Luckily his back was turned, Ken was rolling his eyes. He didn't guess this before? Jimmy reached his hand out, "I'll dial it dad."

Jimmy's small fingers dialed the numbers, and the four waited. The booth then acted as a lift, and took them down. Ken tried hiding his surprise, and actually succeeded. Jimmy failed miserably though. His mouth dropped open. The lift came to a halt few seconds later, and they stepped out.

Ken expected the Ministry to be full of anti-Muggle posters, but the entry looked beautiful. There were five golden statues standing in a fountain. He recognized all of them, but most were from the fairy tales he knew. He saw a man and a woman who he guessed to be a Witch and a Wizard. Beside them was a Centaur holding an arrow. Looking up at the three beings were a Goblin and what looked like an elf.

Ken would've liked to leave at that point, because he already knew where it was, but he decided to keep it going. He got this far, and if this world had a government, he had to do something about it.

"We take a left to the lifts," Stewart instructed. "We want the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Level… Five?"

"Yeah," Owen answered shortly. They clamored into another lift, and Owen punched a number to go on down further.

This world was literally underground, Ken thought. Well, the Muggles had laws against underground corporations, especially governments, which could form civil war. Now he felt it his sworn duty as a civilian to stop them, and deeply regretted killing the masked man he met at the beginning of the day, which he now felt it to be days before, when it only happened mere hours ago.

The lift stopped as various points in the Ministry, and a cool voice saying where they were. Eventually, they said Level Two: Department of Magical Law Enforcement." They all stepped out, Jimmy last of them, and went on, everything completely new to Ken. Ken acted like it was nothing to him though, and looked as if he saw this all before. Only Jimmy kept his awe showing.

"Auror HQ." Stewart read. "Here we are."

"Stu?"

"Harry, is Kevin here?"

"Kevin Whitby? He's in the Minister's office. Level 1."

Stewart shook his head, "What's he doing there?"

"Something on Antonin Dolohov," Harry shrugged.

"Still giving trouble?"

"Yea," Harry sighed. "Dennis never quite forgave him for"-

"We were looking for him," Owen said. "Wanted him to show this guy around."

"Come on," Stewart said, waving goodbye to Harry, and leaving. "That was Harry. Head of the Aurors. He oversees the function of the armed wing of the Ministry."

Armed wing? Were these people terrorists or something? What did they want? The armed wing was fighting the masked people. Probably the asked people were against the government of the Wizards. They were good. Ken was manipulated, once again in his life.

"Level One: Top Offices." Once again, they clamored out of the lift, and went through. This place was very new. Pictures of a tough-looking black man hung all over the place.

"Minister Kingsley Shakelbolt," Owen sighed, almost admiringly, as they walked through a small narrow hall. "Such a great Minister."

"And Owen poised to take him over," Stewart grinned.

"Shut up, Stu," Owen said, blushing red. "I'd never be as- hah- here we are."

Owen knocked on a large oak door. "Minister?"

"Come in," a growling voice said from the other side.

Owen motioned for the three to step back. Stewart led them back, saying they were not authorized to step in without permission. Owen walked in. He spent few minutes in there, door open but voices muffled over a squawking sound. Finally, Owen poked his head out, and invited Ken in.

Ken took Jimmy's arm, and went in. Jimmy looked up and around, and didn't notice the three men in the room until they said, "OI!"

Jimmy jumped, and looked. Ken was beside him. In front of them was the black man whose picture hung all over the place, and a blond man looking short, but obviously in his thirties.

"I was telling Mr. Creevey how close we are to capturing Dolohov," the black Minister said growlingly. "I am then told we had a forgotten Wizard in here. Reintroduced to the place."

"And it floods back to me," Ken said quickly and nervously. Bad combination. It might've made him obvious. Kingsley gave him a penetrating glare, and looked back at Owen. "Yet, Dolohov remains at large, but we get closer by the day in capturing him."

"Dolohov is not their leader or anything," Owen said to the Creevey man.

"You'll tell me when you have him, right?" Dennis said, looking up at the men.

Kingsley gave his word, and the blond nodded, all of a sudden, looking happier. "Well, I have two boys to get home to. If you will excuse me."

Owen stood aside and the blond walked out. Kingsley watched him go, and said, "Well, that's over with. I understand you look for a place in Hogwarts." Ken failed in hiding his anger, but Kingsley didn't seem to think much of it. "I am sure you, as a Muggle-born, will do well there."

"What's"-

"We don't know what he is," Ken said through gritted teeth. He wished they would stop talking about Hogwarts. He hated that subject. "I adopted him."

"All in all, I understand you had no money," Kingsley said. "Know that Hogwarts did not yet send owls to their future pupils yet." Ken's face was definitely showing nervousness now. Was he found out? "I need to warn you all directly to be careful. Sneaking into Diagon Alley was only lucky on your part, and dangerous, unlawful, and suspicious. Hogwarts teachers are sent to contact Muggle-raised pupils. Your boy would have been no different, but no matter."

Ken nodded, gulping, "Yes sir."

"You may leave now," Kingsley waved his arm in dismissal.

Owen was left in, and Ken walked out with Jimmy. Outside the office, he met the blond man again. "I never introduced myself," he held his hand out, "Creevey. Dennis Creevey."

"Dennis," Ken repeated, taking his hand. "I heard what- I'm sorry what happened to your"-

Dennis shrugged, "Doesn't matter. It was a long time ago. I still think of it sometimes, but it doesn't matter. I have a wife and two kids. I'm ok."

From behind a statue of a Wizard appeared another broad-shouldered man. Dennis immediately beamed, "Peakes!"

The two embraced in a tight hug, as if they were the best of friends, and broke apart. "My good friend."

"He protected me all through the war," Jimmy Peakes laughed, punching Dennis.

Ken nodded, "Well, I too have a home to get back to. I'll see you all later. Ok… um"-

Jimmy reached forward to shake Ken's hand, "We'll see you. Drop by sometime, and you can get a job."

"Will do," Ken said, nodding this time whole heartedly. He actually planned to stay a bit longer, but nowhere near these men. No, he had a visit to pay to that Harry Potter guy in the armed wing.