Chapter seven: #133 revisited
The following Monday, the ministry had flown in to a self-designated caution. The office was filled with a sense of hurried purpose. Employees walked briskly to their offices rarely stopping along the way, only giving curt nods to each other in morning greeting. It was now rare when even the lowest of ministry employees smiled and you would be harder pressed to hear a laugh issuing from the atrium.
Usual gossipers were now rarely ever found encircling the halls. I never so much as heard one whisper about room #13 any longer, not that I would have had any time to listen if they did. When I was not locked up in the courtroom taking down notes from the increasing number of Wizengammot meetings, I was walking the halls running errands from office to office. Very few breaks were ever taken in the courtroom any more. We moved quickly as we could, reviewing the most pressing bills first, forgetting for the most part, the schedule that had been set up before the return of He-who- must-not-be-named.
One such bill was proposition #133, whose review had been moved up from the 13th to the 12th.
'. Due to the nature of recent events, I trust this court will take into more. serious consideration the passing of this legislation.' Ms. Ducarless said bearing her usual smile.
I took down each word spoken meticulously. Celia's reaction to this bill had caused me to take a somewhat more active interest.
The opinions of the rest of the wizengammot also seemed to have changed. Most now approached legislation with a certain amount of fear, and it showed in their faces as most now nodded in approval at Ms. Ducarless's statement.
Dumbledore, the reinstated chief warlock of the Wizengammot, however, was looking rather solemn. I could see him surveying Ms. Ducarless carefully over his half moon spectacles before he spoke.
'I don't believe that there is any doubt that times have indeed changed Ms. Ducarless. The question that remains to be answered now is how much? How far are we willing to go to ensure our own stability at the cost of others?'
For a moment the smile seemed to waver from Emma Ducarless's face as she fixed Dumbledore with a piercing glare. She soon recovered however, and when she next spoke directly to dumbledore, it was with her usual self assured smirk.
" While obviously, Professor Dumbledore, some of us might feel comfortable in the company of werewolves, the rest of us will sleep more soundly knowing that the less honest creatures of this breed do not remain a constant threat.' More murmurings were heard across the courtroom. It was clear that with this statement Ms. Ducarless was attacking Dumbledore's continued affiliation with the werewolf Remus Lupin. Although many other members of the court that I had spoken to disapproved of his involvement with such a man, there were very few who would dare to attack Dumbledore, no matter how indirect, especially not after the return of he-who-must-not-be-named.
Dumbledore however, appeared un phased. As he spoke next it was only to the general court. 'Of course I hold no true persuasion over the passing of this bill. I will however note my assurance that this court, especially those with special interests in this particular field, will be completely ready and able to consider the consequences of such actions.' As he said this, his deep blue eyes landed on Fudge. Fixing him with a piercing glare. I could not understand why.
Fudge had been oddly silent through out this whole ordeal. Now as I looked at him, very little colour was left in his cheeks and he was once again running his hand over his brow. When he next spoke it was with a rather hesitant stutter.
'yes well, if you.er. have no more to add Ms.Ducarless-'
'Actually, minister, if I may.' Ms. Ducarless said, her smirk broadening as she pulled several sheets of paper from her brief case. 'I have taken the liberty to create a comprehensive list of currently unregistered werewolves over the past year.' Fudge who know looked even more flustered, motioned for me to take the papers from her and give them to him, I did so.
'I believe if you investigate the.er.person's on this list, you will find it to be quite accurate.' Ducarless said as fudge milled over the papers in front of him. Even as I continued to take down the notes from the meeting I could see the little colour left in Fudge's face drain out of it as he continued to read the list.
'Very well Ms. Ducarless. This will of course be.er. investigated.' Fudge swallowed slowly running a hand once more across his brow
' Now if there is nothing further.' Fudge looked around the room for confirmation, which he received.
'All those in favor of proposition 133.' I could tell immediately that over half the Wizengammot had raised their hands. It was already apparently clear that the motion would pass.
'All opposed.' No more than half a dozen members of the court raised their hands, including Dumbledore and Jane Brightman, who had kept silent during the hearing but was now staring at Fudge looking both oddly bewildered and livid.
'Abstentions' At this only three members raised their hands including (to my amazment) Fudge himself. Never in my memory had I so much as heard of a minister abstaining from a major bill. 'Motion passes.' Fudge said, though his voice sounded rather weak. 'Court will take a forty five minuet recess for lunch.' I set my quill down and began to file out with the rest of the court. However, as I passed the ministers desk, he beckoned me to him.
What this could mean I could not guess, it had been far less then a month since my last visit to Oswald manner. Surely it would be sometime before more medication needed to be delivered.
'Weasly.' He said with apparent effort to keep his voice calm. 'I would be much obliged if you would tale this-' he tore off a piece of parchment from a small, hand held notebook and handed it to me '-to Charad Street on your way from work this evening'
I stared blankly at the paper in my hands 'Only the note sir?' I asked hesitantly
'Yes only the note Weasly.' He said shortly. He then dismissed me to lunch while he himself remained in the court room, starring down at his papers and fingering the small strands of hair left on his head.
I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me. Rather than confusion now, I felt an odd sense of purpose. I was going back to Charad Street, and this time I would not leave until I had gotten the answers I needed
The following Monday, the ministry had flown in to a self-designated caution. The office was filled with a sense of hurried purpose. Employees walked briskly to their offices rarely stopping along the way, only giving curt nods to each other in morning greeting. It was now rare when even the lowest of ministry employees smiled and you would be harder pressed to hear a laugh issuing from the atrium.
Usual gossipers were now rarely ever found encircling the halls. I never so much as heard one whisper about room #13 any longer, not that I would have had any time to listen if they did. When I was not locked up in the courtroom taking down notes from the increasing number of Wizengammot meetings, I was walking the halls running errands from office to office. Very few breaks were ever taken in the courtroom any more. We moved quickly as we could, reviewing the most pressing bills first, forgetting for the most part, the schedule that had been set up before the return of He-who- must-not-be-named.
One such bill was proposition #133, whose review had been moved up from the 13th to the 12th.
'. Due to the nature of recent events, I trust this court will take into more. serious consideration the passing of this legislation.' Ms. Ducarless said bearing her usual smile.
I took down each word spoken meticulously. Celia's reaction to this bill had caused me to take a somewhat more active interest.
The opinions of the rest of the wizengammot also seemed to have changed. Most now approached legislation with a certain amount of fear, and it showed in their faces as most now nodded in approval at Ms. Ducarless's statement.
Dumbledore, the reinstated chief warlock of the Wizengammot, however, was looking rather solemn. I could see him surveying Ms. Ducarless carefully over his half moon spectacles before he spoke.
'I don't believe that there is any doubt that times have indeed changed Ms. Ducarless. The question that remains to be answered now is how much? How far are we willing to go to ensure our own stability at the cost of others?'
For a moment the smile seemed to waver from Emma Ducarless's face as she fixed Dumbledore with a piercing glare. She soon recovered however, and when she next spoke directly to dumbledore, it was with her usual self assured smirk.
" While obviously, Professor Dumbledore, some of us might feel comfortable in the company of werewolves, the rest of us will sleep more soundly knowing that the less honest creatures of this breed do not remain a constant threat.' More murmurings were heard across the courtroom. It was clear that with this statement Ms. Ducarless was attacking Dumbledore's continued affiliation with the werewolf Remus Lupin. Although many other members of the court that I had spoken to disapproved of his involvement with such a man, there were very few who would dare to attack Dumbledore, no matter how indirect, especially not after the return of he-who-must-not-be-named.
Dumbledore however, appeared un phased. As he spoke next it was only to the general court. 'Of course I hold no true persuasion over the passing of this bill. I will however note my assurance that this court, especially those with special interests in this particular field, will be completely ready and able to consider the consequences of such actions.' As he said this, his deep blue eyes landed on Fudge. Fixing him with a piercing glare. I could not understand why.
Fudge had been oddly silent through out this whole ordeal. Now as I looked at him, very little colour was left in his cheeks and he was once again running his hand over his brow. When he next spoke it was with a rather hesitant stutter.
'yes well, if you.er. have no more to add Ms.Ducarless-'
'Actually, minister, if I may.' Ms. Ducarless said, her smirk broadening as she pulled several sheets of paper from her brief case. 'I have taken the liberty to create a comprehensive list of currently unregistered werewolves over the past year.' Fudge who know looked even more flustered, motioned for me to take the papers from her and give them to him, I did so.
'I believe if you investigate the.er.person's on this list, you will find it to be quite accurate.' Ducarless said as fudge milled over the papers in front of him. Even as I continued to take down the notes from the meeting I could see the little colour left in Fudge's face drain out of it as he continued to read the list.
'Very well Ms. Ducarless. This will of course be.er. investigated.' Fudge swallowed slowly running a hand once more across his brow
' Now if there is nothing further.' Fudge looked around the room for confirmation, which he received.
'All those in favor of proposition 133.' I could tell immediately that over half the Wizengammot had raised their hands. It was already apparently clear that the motion would pass.
'All opposed.' No more than half a dozen members of the court raised their hands, including Dumbledore and Jane Brightman, who had kept silent during the hearing but was now staring at Fudge looking both oddly bewildered and livid.
'Abstentions' At this only three members raised their hands including (to my amazment) Fudge himself. Never in my memory had I so much as heard of a minister abstaining from a major bill. 'Motion passes.' Fudge said, though his voice sounded rather weak. 'Court will take a forty five minuet recess for lunch.' I set my quill down and began to file out with the rest of the court. However, as I passed the ministers desk, he beckoned me to him.
What this could mean I could not guess, it had been far less then a month since my last visit to Oswald manner. Surely it would be sometime before more medication needed to be delivered.
'Weasly.' He said with apparent effort to keep his voice calm. 'I would be much obliged if you would tale this-' he tore off a piece of parchment from a small, hand held notebook and handed it to me '-to Charad Street on your way from work this evening'
I stared blankly at the paper in my hands 'Only the note sir?' I asked hesitantly
'Yes only the note Weasly.' He said shortly. He then dismissed me to lunch while he himself remained in the court room, starring down at his papers and fingering the small strands of hair left on his head.
I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me. Rather than confusion now, I felt an odd sense of purpose. I was going back to Charad Street, and this time I would not leave until I had gotten the answers I needed
