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Another night, and another night talking about the threat of the conjurists. From his office to the right of the stairs on the fourteenth floor below, Caelius Lupin made his way to the black stone-lined office at the floor's centre, the centuries-old meeting place for the Ministerial cabinet. This place, and that of the Wizengamot, was said to have been a place for governmental and legal meetings before even the building stood. A good many wizards had come and gone on that spot (leaving a sticky mess, in some cases); policies debated, laws brought into being. This meeting, to which Caelius was walking, not too quickly, and not too slowly, was just one tiny grain of sand on a beach of political precedent.
Caelius was, as usual, the first to arrive. He usually was, for his tradition of dawn meetings, though now long accepted by his peers, was still not entirely popular. It didn't matter – when another Chief Minster was appointed they could choose their preferred meeting time. It was causing a little disgruntlement at the present time due to the frequency of cabinet meetings, of which there had been several, of late.
The oak table, twenty feet at its widest diameter, oval, and thick, hovered above the floor. A further score of chairs ran around its perimeter, empty, as yet, waiting to be occupied by half-awake wizards beginning their day at four with a meeting before their day's work began before it wore on to night and security work.
"Our agenda today," began Caelius, rehearsing in his mind what he would say to the assembled cabinet, "is as follows: the conjurist threat, our response to it, implications of the threat to domestic security and finally, educational matters." As he outlined the details for each of these points in his mind the Chief Minister of the Ministry for Magic, sharing an equivalent role to that of the non-wizard Prime Minister in this Combined Government, paced around the obsidian office, dark as night but illuminated with flaming torches thrust into the walls at intervals.
It didn't take long before the first wizard ambled through the door. Mick Mullen, with his jaunty air and laid-back manner, strolled into the meeting room, coffee in one hand and cloak over one shoulder which he swung over the back of one of the chairs before saluting Caelius and winking.
"Morning, Caelius," he said, "a lovely morning for it, if you don't mind me saying so." Mick winked at him before leaning forward and taking a swig of his hot drink. "Imp-brewed. Lovely."
"Good morning, Mick," nodded Caelius, before his eyes flicked to the door again as the other Mullen brother, Dave, entered, in not quite such a casual way.
"You here already, Mick?" yawned Dave, "oh, morning Caelius," he added, nodding towards the Chief Minister. Sitting opposite his brother he placed a pile of paperwork sheaved within brown files neatly on the desk.
The room soon filled. Lucius Malfoy was next to arrive, his aristocratic gait and dress disguising a quite forward-thinking wizard with a modern outlook. Another fifteen wizards and witches later, Department Heads and appointed Ministers, sitting and standing as they arrived, informally chatting as they waited, as ever, for Gregor, Head of the Department of Mysteries to make an appearance.
"My good wizardfolk of our Ministry," began Caelius at length, as all of the cabinet who he was expecting, bar one, arrived in ones and twos, settled and waited. "It is good news, good news indeed. Our efforts, given not lightly, to the threat that hangs in the shadow of our nation, are beginning to pay. Our sustained work, our collective endeavour, to uphold our laws in the light of the increasing threat to our national security has been both efficient and effective. Citizens, both wizardly and non may rest easier." Caelius began to pace, reading from his internal brief, uncommitted to paper, memorised. He watched as the cabinet members checked the agenda with the unfolding minutes, held forth before them, vertically, the items from the agenda disappearing from one and appearing on the other.
"Our efforts have been complemented by the involvement of the Reciprocators who are only too willing, as ever, to support our cause in defence of wizard-non-wizard interests."
"Hear, hear!" exclaimed Mick, putting down his now empty coffee mug with which he had been playing.
"Our efforts had averted several dozen incidents in the last week alone from escalating and thus in all likelihood, a deterrent to many more. Mr. Furnace will avail us of the details."
Peaceable Furnace, Cabinet Minister for the Hovel Office scraped back his chair on the polished stone floor making the witch next to him wince at the sound. He too had a pile of papers assembled before him and his thin fingers leafed over the cover of the first.
"My esteemed colleague Mr Lupin has succinctly opened this meeting and addressed many of the points contained within my report," began Furnace, his face glowing as hot as his name. A skilled minister and diplomat it was unfortunate that his countenance did not give him its full support.
"There have been many attacks, sporadic, unpredictable and so therefore has been difficult to manage until now." He surveyed the wizards and witches who were either trying to disguise their fatigue by staring at him or the minutes growing minute-by-minute, or were keenly staring as the effect of coffee on the system had taken hold.
"Up until now?" Lucius Malfoy's gravelly voice slid into the conversation as the arm of a cripplingly expensive record player over a pristine disc. Peaceable nodded.
"Now we have established a pattern, of sorts." He nodded round the table as several witches and wizards made notes. "It has been towns, mainly, rather than cities, which have resulted in the highest level of conflict, towns which are surrounded by countryside – Clitheroe, Wadesbridge, Leadburn, Uttoxeter, Hawes…." Furnace turned the page, "…Hexham, Inverurie, Pont-y-pandy, Holford, Brockenhurst…" he looked up. "It is known, widely suspected, conjectured, that these are the nearest places to where illegal covens have met and are targets because they are close and convenient. Conjurists with too much butterbeer in their systems and more besides looking for targets to practise their beliefs. Although the attacks are by no means limited to rural towns. Cities have had their fair share of conjurists and similar unrest."
"It could be far graver," interrupted Caelius, anticipating the interjections that he expected from Hervert Herbert, an ancient wizard who was approaching two hundred if he were a day and whose role as head of Defence seemed to involve his disagreeing with everything anyone said, and a couple of other witches, Dulcie Dainty, Head of the Control of Magical Creatures department and Jane Jones, Deputy to the Head of Wizardly transport (her superior had been delayed at the last moment by a fault in the Inter-European Floo network and was currently flying back to London by broom. All three lowered their hands as he spoke. "Had we not acted to derail a co-ordinated attack, had we not acted together, if we continue to do so, we may prevent conjurism from taking hold, as an ideology as well as a cause."
"But does this not show that some areas of our society feel disenfranchised?" A witch, the Head of the Magical Environmental Protection Agency raised her hand. "Clearly that some will follow this – I've seen some of the people who've been arrested and they're educated, worldly. They're not sheep, to be led – "
" – there are plenty of sheep, as well as dragons!" Demescue Goole, Head of the Aurors, tired from his lack of sleep that night but infused with caffeine banged his fist on the table. "We've got them, we have!" Many of the ministers nodded, including Caelius. A few did not. Miss Forteskew was one of them. She sat, stony faced, waiting for the room to fall silent.
Evelyn Forteskew, a thin witch of Caelius's age and who had been his main and closest rival at his election two years before to Chief Minister. It had been close, very close, and it had only been because of joint role as Head of the Reciprocators with Snape, that he had influence over moderating force, which had swung it. Evelyn's stance in all things wizardly was conservative, cautious and guarded and her provocations reflected this in her role in the Magical Environment Protection Agency which, amongst other functions, was involved in the preservation of magical culture. As predicted, Evelyn Forteskew got to her feet.
"They are seeking reassurance in their lives," she began, as the silent room stared at her, owlishly. "These wizards, whether inciting the violence you describe or condone it clearly feel there is nothing that this Ministry, this Ministry for Magic, can offer them in defence of their beliefs."
"Leave ideology to covens, let the druids handle them!" Miss Forteskew's eyes narrowed at Demescue Goole, who had spoken, and Peaceable Furnace, Dave Mullen and even the inscrutable Lucius Malfoy nod.
"Yes. We have." Evelyn nodded, glancing at Caelius. "And look where this has got us. You've told us here, Chief Minister, that defence strategies and deterrents are working. Were we to appeal to the wizards we are imprisoning, were we to make them feel we have something that they can relate to perhaps they would not seek solace in our Auld Magic?"
"Indeed," interrupted Hervert Herbert, his voice cracking as he contributed. "But the druids a long time ago, a long time ago indeed."
"There are plenty of powerful wizards who carry this mantle, if not the name," responded Dave Mullen. "Some might even say such wizards were in this very room."
"And yet these druidical wizards do not have enough influence to have prevented the conjurism you so hatefully speak," replied Evelyn, who was still standing, her voice strong and forceful "I put it to the cabinet that we have failed a large section of our community whom we claim to represent!" As silence fell, bar the scratching of the minutes above their heads her eyes met those of Caelius and she held the gaze defiantly.
"If I may?" Lucius Malfoy, hand raised, nodded as Caelius looked away from Evelyn and gestured that he may speak. "From the point of view of my role as Chancellor of the Exchequer, perhaps I am a little out of touch in terms of the front line. But these attacks, if I am right in my understanding, are few, and low level. They do not seem to be as much of a threat we perceive." The wizards, as one, drew a breath, waiting for the inevitable. It wasn't long in coming. "You only have to look at the Continent, where my son is President of the Magical European Union." Collectively the wizards rolled their eyes. Lucius never missed an opportunity to mention his son, and did so at every available opportunity. "In Europe, so I am led to believe, conjurists, non-wizards and wizards alike live side by side, there is no resistance to their belief, and in turn, no violence."
"Get on with it Lucius!" growled Rodolphus Lestrange, Justice minister, His wife sat adjacent, her mind appearing not to be with the rest of the Ministers As Minister for Sports and Competitive Magic Bellatrix Lestrange's mind probably was not even on this planet. Had they been talking about Quidditch, for example, then things would be a lot different.
"Perhaps it's a passing phase? People go through these ideas, and they come and go." Lucius waved his hand. "In a few months all this will have been forgotten and I'll be getting more letters about tax instead." He sat down. No-one else raised a hand. Caelius looked around the wizards and, when he was sure no-one else had anything else to say on the matter, he continued.
"All I'm saying is we can't divorce ourselves from Auld Magic," replied Evelyn, "and we have given people the freedom to express their wizardliness. Now, twelve years after that legislation was passed, when wizards are doing just that, what do we do? Dole out sanctions – "
"Save it for another time, Evelyn." Mick Mullen, unfolding his legs at the ankle, put his hands behind his head instead. Evelyn Forteskew sat back down again.
"As I said, we are dealing with the threat to our country in terms of practicalities – " he shot a look at Evelyn Forteskew and smiled inwardly at her evident dissatisfaction – "with practical measures. We will continue to offer a bulwark to conjurists and so if it emerges as you say, Lucius, a passing interest in the minority, then we can step down our vigil. Though I have to stress that, from our intelligence, we should not underestimate those behind the conjurists. Even the least witted conjurist that we've interviewed so far in Azkaban is aware of our stance on half-breeds, that they are not going to be tolerated. And I do not believe anyone here would sanction the legalisation of half breeds." He glanced at Miss Forteskew, a woman who had competed with him every day since he had arrived at Hedgewards, waiting for her to countermand him.
Before he had a chance to introduce Mick Mullen to brief the cabinet on the imminent arrival of non-wizard students to Hedgewards his brother Dave spoke.
"I believe you have interest in this matter yourself, Caelius? Your brother? Please allow me to address the cabinet as a neutral voice." The Head of Health looked around the table. Several of the ministers who might have challenged Caelius looked away. "Half breeds are, of course, welcome in the country but under strict conditions. Each are interviewed prior to admission through customs and they sign a contract of conduct. When unlicensed half-breeds, being used as symbols by conjurists, arrive here, they are unacclimatised to our expectations and, in many cases, their undesirable features are downright encouraged by the conjurists. We have this evidenced in their confessions. I cannot imagine anyone here could entertain the removal of licence, as called for by many conjurists, from many walks of life, as being anything but irresponsible.
Caelius looked round. Even those he expected to challenge him had fallen silent, a few looking down. It had been a coup of highest magnitude when he had appointed the younger Mullen brother Head of Defence for the wizard's loquaciousness was Caelius's biggest asset. His second biggest, he postulated, lay within his robe. He had not got round to looking at the manuscript that Cecilia had given to him, but he would, right after the meeting. Gently, as he was about to introduce Mick Mullen to speak, he patted his pocket. And then Caelius realised Evelyn Forteskew was back on her feet.
"There is another security measure I wish to raise," she began, "which may also be considered by some as irresponsible. May I clarify that Cecilia Lupin is not only back in the country but residing in the Chief Minister's home?" Caelius made sure his face remained fixed as he took in Evelyn's expression of triumph. Nearly all of the Ministers were now looking at him accusingly. Evelyn realised this too, and smiled at his expected discomfort.
"My fellow wizards, indeed, indeed. As you know, we have been expecting Mrs Lupin to make an appearance; did we not send bugs, nay, a swarm of bugs in search of her?" He began to pace round the table as he recounted his role in Cecilia's residency.
"We believed she was missing, did we not? I personally believed her to be captured by conjurists, European conjurists at that, those who we suspect to be involved in the uprising of conjurism in Britain today. Had she have been I suspect her life probably wouldn't have been worth living for Cecilia would not have revealed her work for the sake of her son. Why, it was for her son's sake that she abandoned her post at Durmstrang and returned to where she knew he would be."
"And how is any of this meant to reassure us? A security threat in non-wizard form has taken it upon herself to disobey you to be, as you say yourself, with her son." Evelyn continued to smile. Caelius fixed her with a neutral glance.
"Please do not let yourselves believe that Mrs Lupin's role is over – far from it."
"And what reassurances do we have?" This time it was Hervert Herbert who croaked the thoughts of many into being.
"Only one: that I have her under control."
"You've said that before," replied Evelyn Forteskew, and several others nodded.
"All is in hand. And she has been most useful to our cause." Caelius changed the subject while pretending he hadn't. "Speaking of Europe we are still waiting to hear from several of our agents from Europe, Milo Jakeman, Felicity Bell and Henrietta Edwards. Clearly they must still be in their field completing their assignments. While we still need to be guarded over the idea of missing agents – " Caelius heard the name "Reginald Pugh" whispered by the wizards and nodded inwardly, the ministry agent who had prompted a wizard-hunt over three continents but was discovered sitting down a well in Luxembourg dribbling, " – they will nevertheless need to present their findings before the end of September. Would respective department heads take note?" Three wizards, quill in hand, scribbled quickly on the papers in front of them. Caelius turned his head Gregor. "And Tabitha?"
The elderly wizard, jerking as if being awoken (which he probably was, a dream, Caelius postulated, regarding at a mystery or three) and blinked. After a few moments he looked at Caelius. "I have absolutely no idea. Probably fine."
"She is still behind the veil?"
"Yes." Then Gregor sank back into his chair, his mind searching for the thoughts from which he had been so rudely interrupted. It was probably the best he could hope for – Mysteriours acted according to their own rules and as such Caelius felt lucky he had got a response from Gregor at all. It had satisfied the ministers too – even the ever-meticulous Lucius did not raise so much as an eyebrow.
"Mick? Over to you?" Caelius looked at the Head of the Department of Education, who was chewing on what looked like gum and he resisted the urge to ask the older Mullen to remove it. As he rose Caelius clarified, "Mr. Mullen will brief us on our educational challenge which, I am pleased to say, we have met head-on."
Slowly, casually, in the manner completely opposite to that of Caelius Lupin Mick Mullen got to his feet, slouching, even though there was nothing to slouch against and began to speak. Like his brother, Mick was in his sixties, but he had the spry, sprightly outlook on life of someone a third of his age.
"Thank you Caelius." He winked at the Chief Minister. Caelius growled inwardly. "And my thanks too for the tireless work you have put in to the amendments to the Education policy. Your attention to detail has left me with little to do." It was true: Caelius had driven through the changes, namely because he knew if he had left it to Mick "laidback-he-was-almost-vertical" Mullen there would be non-wizards at Hedgewards ten years from now. He closed his eyes and nodded a little, openly accepting Mick's comment as an accolade.
"That said, our department has been working on the dual subject names which, if you'll allow, we may ratify now?" Without waiting for a reply he withdrew his wand and flicked it above them. Words, scrolling around the table, at eye-height, appeared, moving from right to left, so all of the Hedgewards subjects, which would be called by both names this academic year, could be viewed by all of the wizards.
"…Defence against the Dark: Practical Defence…Charms: Physics…Transfiguration: Science…Potions: Chemistry…Herbology: Plant Biology…History of Magic: History…Astronomy: Astronomy…"
"Astronomy's going to be called Astronomy?" Dulcie Dainty's squeaky voice sounded above the low hubbub as the wizards commented to one another as subject after subject appeared.
"Non-wizards study astronomy, albeit at an amateur level. This needs no translation on their behalf." Anaxagoras Tring, Head of the Department of Non-Wizard Liaison clarified the point on which Mick had consulted him. Caelius bristled. Had he had time, and wish to remove all responsibility from Mullen – not a particularly politically shrewd move – astronomy would have been renamed. It was the point of the fact. But these things were bound to happen and, especially when there was still so much to do before the end of the week, some things would have to pass if non-wizards were to successfully study at Hedgewards this year, for now.
"…Study of Ancient Runes: Religious Studies…" continued the subjects, "…Arithmancy: Mathematics…Non-wizard Studies: Sociology…Care of Magical Creatures: Animal Biology…Divination: Politics and Economics…"
At the last one Caelius took a furtive look at Mick, who grinned, an expression which could easily be interpreted as pleasure at his revelation in his part in the integration of non-wizards to Hedgewards and, more than likely, a subversive swipe at the Establishment. The whispering continued as the words continued.
"…Ancient Studies: Archaelogy…Art: Art of Magical an Non-Magical Subjects…" Caelius had proposed this name as an illustration to the clarity he was expecting. Nevertheless, from the atmosphere in the room nothing which Mick had revealed so far had displeased them. He would wait, until their next meeting at least, to push his policy that the wizard subject names would be dropped as of next year.
As the subjects tailed off, "… Earth Magic: Geology…Music: Magical and Non-Magical Music..." Mick waited for the discussions between adjacent wizards to die off.
"You will notice that one subject, Ghoul Studies, has been temporarily withdrawn this year while its content is reviewed and a suitable title considered. One has been added with only its non-wizard name, "Language of Spells and What they Mean." Any questions?" He looked around as precisely no wizards raised their hands. He suspected there wouldn't be: it was in everyone's interest, not least from the financial aspect, that the reforms went ahead – Caelius had impressed on each and every Head of Department the personal benefits of non-wizards at Hedgewards…improved security…cultural harmony…healthcare development…improved transport links…smoother relations between the Hovel Office and its equivalent in the Combined Government…fewer legal disputes.
Even Evelyn held her tongue. She was fiercely against anything which might sully the noble history and culture of wizards but even she had been reluctantly swayed on the argument that both of these would be strengthened rather than weakened when non-wizards truly understood wizards.
As the meeting wound up, Caelius nodding and shaking hands with some of the wizards and witches as they went past, he realised that the burden of the meeting had been replaced in his thorax with something else. The room emptied and he sat down, the dark tiles now empty of feet, the minutes devoid of additions and now on the desks of all Department Heads in their entirety.
He wouldn't worry about that, he couldn't. The time could not be afforded. So much to do…so much to organise. Caelius would be so glad when it came to Monday next week, the first day of teaching at Hedgewards. So much would be in place then.
Then Caelius got to his feet, sweeping across the room, closing and securing the Cabinet Meeting Room behind him. So little was known about Tabitha Penwright's whereabouts and that bothered him. Not that he couldn't trust the Mysteriours – far from it. It was just that they were so…unpredictable. But he had no reason to believe in anything other than expected of her.
"You wished to speak to me?" Out of the shadows the elf Vincento stepped, his long thin feet gliding across the corridor tiles in front of Caelius. The Chief Minister stopped.
"Indeed my old friend." From his robe he pulled out the manuscript painstakingly copied by Cecilia and handed it to the elf who ran his thin, long fingers over its cover and then, seemingly at random, some of the pages.
"Can you translate it?" Caelius hoped he didn't seem too desperate and he held off from asking for a timescale from Vincento. The elf opened his eyes.
"Of course." He waited until Caelius had furnished him with gold. And then the elf turned, heading off towards the Department of Mysteries. Caelius Lupin watched him go until he could see him no longer.