Chapter 62: Wand Registration
After Twycross finished explaining the Rules of Conduct for Students Visiting the Ministry of Magic to Claire, he allowed her to ask questions.
"I don't have any, except what my assignment is going to be," Claire said.
"Under normal circumstances, you would be assigned to the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office," Twycross replied. "But Alastor Moody has requested you specifically to head for the Auror Office instead."
"Does that mean I'll get to work with him?"
"You and another student, unless you would prefer to work in Magical Maintenance?"
"No, the Auror Office is fine."
"Then I'll escort you to the Auror Office and explain your tardiness to the supervisor."
From there, Claire followed Twycross up the brass elevators to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. It was a large room with checkered flooring, wooden desks, tables with coffee pots on them, and spiral staircases leading up to a second floor with yellow windows. Filing cabinets lined the walls next to the windows, which had the same sunny mountainous valley on them, while the first floor was littered with boxes stacked on top of each other.
"Wotcher, Claire!" Called a familiar voice, causing Claire to look to her left and see Tonks. "I didn't know they assigned you to the Auror Office too! Did something happen to prevent you from being part of our group?"
"You could say that," Claire said.
"Twycross gave you the same rules lecture, didn't he?" Tonks asked. "He's so dull."
"At least he's better than the Umbridge woman I met," Claire murmured.
"Umbridge?" Tonks paused. "Doesn't ring a bell."
"She reminded me of Tulip's toad Dennis, both physically and personality-wise," Claire said. "But she was very pink, and in an unhealthy kind of way."
"Sounds like a dodgy witch," Tonks remarked. "I hope I don't have to meet her. But I'm glad you're here, as I wouldn't want to share this assignment with anyone else. Do you think we'll start Auror training? Like hunting Dark Wizards and Witches? That would be so cool!"
"Glad to see you're just as excited as ever."
"I just have a lot of energy. Let's blow off some steam by Dueling, which will prepare us for what Moody has in store for us!"
"That's not a bad idea, actually," Claire responded as she raised her wand while Tonks did the same. But before Tonks had the chance to cast a spell, Claire said, "Depulso!"
As Tonks was sent flying across the room, she landed into a stacked pile of boxes which bended inward when she hit them. But she managed to get up and used Episkey to heal her bruises.
"Glad to see you two training," Moody said as he entered the Department of Magical Law Enforcement office. "Now it's time to shake off your exhaustion, Tonks."
"You know my name, Mr. Moody?" Tonks exclaimed.
"Call me Mad-Eye," Moody insisted. "Everyone else does."
"Nice to see you again, Mad-Eye," Claire interjected.
"Twycross tells me you were late this morning," Moody frowned.
"But to be fair, Twycross made me more late with his lecture on the rules for visiting students," Claire claimed.
"Well, Twycross is a decent man. But he does talk too much," Moody admitted.
"Tell me about it," Tonks chimed in.
"Now, enough about Twycross and his lectures," Moody stated. "It's time for your first assignment in the Auror Office."
Moody then led Claire and Tonks back into the main area where they came up to a wooden desk with a gold 'M' on it, which Mr. Munch was standing behind.
"I'm sure you both have met Mr. Munch," Moody said.
"'Met' is one way of putting it," Claire said, avoiding Munch's scrutinizing gaze.
"That Probity Probe working good, Munch-Munch?" Tonks said to Munch.
"Don't call me that," Munch insisted.
"Your enthusiasm is commendable, Miss Tonks, but please tone it down a bit," Moody responded. "Aurors must be vigilant and aware of their surroundings, so tempering one's emotions helps with that."
"Right, constant vigilance!" Claire stated.
"Now, are you sure you both are up for the task? It will be quite difficult," Moody warned.
"We defeated one Dark Witch already, so no task is too monumental for us," Claire said confidently while Tonks nodded in agreement.
"All right," Moody said and pointed toward a measuring device near Munch's desk. "Your first assignment will be registering visitors' wands with Mr. Munch."
"Definitely wasn't expecting to do that of all things," Tonks remarked.
"Nor did I," Munch added condescendingly.
"Everyone has to start somewhere," Moody stated. "It's like learning how to carry a broomstick before learning to fly with it."
"Hmm, I haven't heard of that analogy used in this kind of situation," Tonks said.
"But Mad-Eye is right," Claire responded. "If we want to learn about the Ministry of Magic as a career option, we need to understand the different functions it has."
"Exactly," Moody nodded. "Before I go, Claire…."
Moody walked a ways from Munch, causing Claire to follow him. Then he leaned down and said to Claire, "Keep an eye out for me, just in case my suspicions about 'R' are true."
"Sure thing, Mad-Eye," Claire acknowledged.
"If you see anything suspicious, report to me and only me," Moody ordered.
"Of course I will."
"Right then, I'm off to investigate a tip I got about a Dark Witch. Don't bother Mr. Munch too much, okay?"
Claire nodded and Moody walked away. She then joined Tonks by Munch's desk where he regarded both of them with a straight face.
"Here's what you'll do: register the wands, keep the slip, and ask for credentials," Munch instructed. "Not too difficult to do."
"Just leave it to us, Mr. Munch," Claire said enthusiastically.
"All right!" Tonks responded in a similar tone to Claire's.
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With the knowledge on wands she gained secondhand from Rowan, Claire was able to determine the make of the wands that were being registered on the measuring device while Tonks asked for the credentials of the witches and wizards that visited the Ministry of Magic. It was slightly boring due to the lack of visitors during this time, but the two managed to get 34 wands registered and catalogued within two hours just before Munch was about to have his break. Though he seemed surprised by how much they were able to accomplish, he quickly hid it.
"Your next assignment is in the Portkey Office," Munch stated.
"What are we going to do there?" Claire asked.
"Don't know, and I don't care," Munch replied. "Look for Arthur Weasley. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you."
"Thanks, Mr. Munch," Tonks said. "Maybe we'll see you around."
"I hope not," Munch muttered out loud.
To be continued…