Chapter 22 – Agents

Harry was not keen on coming back from a job to find someone in his office. When that someone turned out to be the Minister of Magic himself it took on new shades of awkwardness.

"Minister. Have you been waiting long?"

There was a gentle cough from behind him. Hermione had followed him into the room.

"Hi, Harry," she nodded in greeting, shutting the door behind her.

"Harry," Kingsley smiled. "In answer to your question: no, I have only been here a couple of minutes."

Harry sat at his desk and gestured to Hermione to take a seat. "So, how can I help the two of you?"

Hermione looked to Kingsley then proceeded. "The Minister has told me you are planning to infiltrate Rowle's operation, using non-Ministry personnel."

Harry squirmed in his seat. "Do I need the services of a legal advocate?"

Hermione shook her head. "I'm not here to give you a hard time about it, Harry."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "You don't want to give me a hard time, or you're not allowed to give me a hard time."

Kingsley smiled and leaned forwards. "Harry, permit me to explain. I requested that the Head of Enforcement be in on our discussions because I do not want the operation to get into legal difficulties at a later date. If there are arrests, we do not want the accused to go free because of some technicality."

"I'm also concerned for the safety of the agents you use," Hermione added.

Harry nodded slowly. "I should probably explain what we are planning and why we need to go about it this way."

"You can start by convincing me that Ron is not involved in any of this," Hermione challenged.

Harry stared at her wide-eyed. "Of course he isn't! Not only is Ron no longer an auror but he's also too well known to go undercover anywhere. Same reason I'm not going in."

"There's always Polyjuice," Hermione suggested.

Harry shook his head. "Not for long-term infiltration."

"Crouch did it," Hermione countered.

Harry glowered at her. "That was a different environment, completely. He was in a school. There was no need for anyone to expect infiltrators. This is…"

"Perhaps, Harry," Kingsley stepped in, "you could return to your original plan of explaining the whys and wherefores. Hermione will keep any questions and suggestions until you have finished."

Hermione sat back in her chair, looking suitably chastened.

Harry explained how the Auror Office had links to a small number of talented witches and wizards who they had recruited as agents in secret. These were people leading ordinary lives who nobody would suspect of being linked with the aurors. These agents had received some auror training. They could be deputised at short notice to serve as temporary aurors or "special informants". Hermione took the term to mean "spies", though she said nothing. Their current plan was to ask for two volunteers to infiltrate an organisation working against the Ministry. Once two had been selected they would be given more detailed information about the situation. If they had any qualms about the mission, there was an agreement that they would submit to having their memories of the briefing obliviated. Other agents would then be selected.

Aurors were not able to do this task for a variety of reasons. They might be recognised as aurors. They would lack a suitable background to be believable recruits for Rowle's organisation. Their skills were needed full-time in the Auror Office. The undercover agents, however, could spend most of their time going about their normal lives.

As a result of not being fully-trained and authorised aurors, the job of these agents was solely to gather information. They were not expected to make arrests nor to fight. It was recognised by all involved that there was still a degree of risk to the agents.

Hermione thought for a moment before commenting. "Are these 'agents' aware that they are still subject to the law while they are acting out their roles as members of an illegal group?"

Kingsley answered her question. "There are certain precedents and dispensations in such cases."

"I'm not aware of any, and I've been an advocate for years," she snapped.

Kingsley slowly raised an eyebrow. "Are you aware of the concept of a 'need to know' basis for dissemination of information?"

Hermione flushed. "Yes, I am. But I am the Head of Law Enforcement, after all. I should be told these things."

Kingsley looked at her, his face impassive. "You are being told these things, now that you need to know."

There was a moment's silence.

Harry cleared his throat. "Do you, er, have any suggestions about how we can keep our agents safe?"

Hermione glared at him for a second, then sighed. "I… understand why you need these agents, in rare cases like this. I don't suppose enforcement officers could be used, for all the same reasons as the aurors."

Harry looked uncomfortable.

"We have as many safety features in place as we can," Kingsley assured her. "One reason for involving you was that we both know and respect your ability to innovate the cleverest ideas. I hope you will work together with Harry to ensure that we care for our agents. I will remind you that we must keep this between the three of us plus, I believe, Tempest?"

Harry nodded.

"The three of us and Auror Savage," The Minister noted. "Not even Ronald may know, as he is no longer an active auror."

Hermione nodded her agreement.

Kingsley smiled. "Good. I shall leave you two to wrangle over details at a later time. Hermione and I are needed elsewhere, shortly."

"There's one thing I'd like to know before I go, Harry," she said as she stood. "Are any of these agents known criminals?"

"We recruit from all areas of our community," Harry replied. "And if they have the skills and the attitudes we are seeking, we will assess them on an individual basis. You and I will only be discussing the volunteers for this particular mission at this time."

Hermione huffed. Kingsley opened the office door for her.

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