Chapter title: The decree

Rating: G

A/N: A month before the first chapter. In the Ministry building.

"Tell me exactly what your department is doing."

Kingsely's gaze swept along the table. He was not intimidated nor caught off guard. His lips parted the moment he had recognized each figure in the room. "There are many sightings: Australia, Brazil, France…Truthfully not a continent has been spared a glimpse of Sirius Black. These are diminishing; Sirius Black is escaping the public eye."

"Interesting, Kingsley. But I did not ask for an account of the search for Black."

"I apologize Minister, but that is our focus." Kingsley replied, not at all deterred from his steady speech. "

"What else?" The Minister asked, with very little patience. Kinglsey stared at the face of the Minister of Magic and felt cold, kindness was drained from his expression and warmth was gone from it. He seemed under great strain.

"The department has been seeking a man registered on the International Arrest Decree, at this moment he is believed to be living in England having come here on a boat from the far East. He stole secret documents from a department there and unfortunately sold them on to an undercover ministry worker." When Kinglsey had finished he found that the people along the table where exchanging whispers.

To an outsider this might have appeared to be a trial, and it felt that way to Kingsley. But for several months it had been common for many people throughout the ministry to present themselves before a board and make a full account of themselves. "A man?" Asked Fudge.

"Yes Minister."

"The notes say 'vampire'" Kingsley gazed towards the new voice. A man who's pale blond hair was swept back over his shoulders. His bearing was one of importance although he had been placed towards the end of the table, with the lesser advisors of the Minister.  

Kingsley smiled politely "Yes, this gentleman is a vampire" he agreed as Lucius Malfoy stood.

"And you did not think it wise to bring this to our attention?"

"No. The crime has nothing to do with his condition; the fact that he is a vampire is only mentioned because of course it means he can only be searched for at night."

"That is not the case." Another man stood now, he looked at about the age of Arthur's boy who was seated beside the minister.

"This is Icarus" Fudge murmured to the rest of them, "leading the investigation."

"It is our belief that vampirism along with its other afflictions leads to an affinity with dark arts and beliefs." The boy sounded as though he had memorised this from a book.

"It isn't our job to question beliefs, merely to arrest." Kinglsey said to him, looking at the Minister on the last word of this seeking confirmation.

"But did you not think that this may be the very reason the devil has come to this country in the first place?" Malfoy said softly, having taken his seat again.

"No. It has no bearing."

Malfoy sighed "It has every bearing. We know perfectly well that these creatures are involved with all manor of dark arts, persuading and stealing others into such darkness when they may. They are a menace to the magical community and dangerous."

"If you will excuse me, Mr Malfoy, but I act upon the orders of the Minister. And these instructions are to catch criminals, not innocent beings who have committed no crime other than to be different." Kingsley remained where he was, his steady gaze meeting with the cold glance of Malfoy.

"It isn't your place to judge innocence." The Minister chipped in, looking almost surprised that he had spoken.

"Indeed not." Kinglsey said and fell silent, looking now on the Minister. A declaration was coming he knew it. It had been written all over recent instructions, in the words of the councillors of the Minister and others about the office. As danger was growing so wizards tried to lay the blame on anyone they could.

The Minister indicated that Kingsley should take a seat, and he did towards the side of the room where several of his own co-workers were sitting. They looked at him nervously; all of them were younger and less experienced than he was. They were nervous of being called before the meeting. Kinglsey said nothing to them, but sat down and looked at the Minister eager for what he would say.

"I would take this opportunity to put this new legislation before you. There are enough of you important enough to pass it, and I think it is best that it is passed as quickly as possible. We have just heard yet another example of why it should be enforced. It is a decree which orders the high security alert of all creatures deemed to be dark. We must enforce the lax rule which orders their registration, we must monitor as many of them as possible. It's better to act now than to wait until all of these dangerous creatures unite with He Who Must Not Be Named." When Fudge had finished speaking Kingsley looked once more along the row of councillors and Ministry workers. He noticed that barely any were taken back by this decree.

"Do any oppose this?" Fudge asked, moving out from behind his table to look at them. Those who sat along the side with Kinglsey were merely workers, not entitled to a vote or to bring comment.

A grey haired woman raised a hand then stood, "Which creatures does the Minister state should be placed onto this decree initially?"

Fudge stared at her blankly, clearly he had no answer for this but was saved by the young man from earlier who stood blushing "If I might, Minister." Fudge indicated that he could speak, and the young man rounded the table also to look directly at the grey haired woman. "As follows: Vampires, Werewolves and banshees. We are investigating over species and these will be put before a board at a later date. I am making plans to present this case to the International Wizards meeting, in order to persuade them that their Ministries should do as ours for the protection of their communities."

Kinglsey stared at this young man; Icarus, he looked roughly of the same age as Percy Weasley, as one who has just left childhood. It didn't follow therefore that he should be leading this venture, or that he should be capable of persuading the Minister to such an extreme idea. He must have been put up to it. The boy looked confident enough but held his arms folded in front of him in a way that made him seem very young.

The grey haired woman had remained standing, and clearly had more to say "How will it be enforced?" she asked directly to the young man.

"We will be asking that the named species submit themselves to the ministry for registration."

"And those that do not?" This time it was Lucius Malfoy asking.


"Those that do not will be hunted out by Kinglsey and his team." Fudge replied, looking over at Kingsley now with a faint smile.