Chapter Twenty Five – Committed
"Lady Aydin, your nine o'clock has arrived," Teresa's voice came over the speaker.
"Show her in," Lady Aydin replied. Her quarterly meetings with the Ministry's appointed representative were rarely fun. But they did provide her with the rare opportunity to learn about what was happening at the Ministry directly. Sir Ian's moles provided excellent information, but there simply was no substitute for direct observation.
The door opened and a middle-aged witch entered the office. She was wearing a badly mismatched business suit. Lady Aydin resisted the urge to shake her head. You'd think working in the middle of downtown London witches would have a better sense of fashion she thought. Instead she put on a pleasant smile and nodded to one of the chairs in front of desk.
"Assistant Minister Mockbridge," Lady Aydin said. "Please have a seat."
The women nodded and took the offered seat. She had been appointed to the position of liaison to the British government because of her brother's position and as a reward for the loyalty she showed to Minister Fudge.
"Lady Aydin here is the quarterly report," she handed over a parchment scroll.
Lady Aydin took the scroll, untied to cord to unroll it and began quickly scanning the contents.
"I've been noticing over the past few months a rather steep increase in the numbers of 'pranks' some wizards seem to enjoy partaking in," Lady Aydin said.
"I have not noticed such an increase Lady Aydin," Mockbridge stated. "Perhaps if you could explain."
"Yes of course," Lady Aydin said. "Note here several instances of backed up plumbing in August. I know at least one of those instances resulted in a man being hospitalized. This is second incident of someone being injured that you've reported this year," they've left out the three others we know about, Lady Aydin thought. "You've also reported a sharp increase in smaller pranks," while leaving out many of the larger ones.
"I can assure you My Lady, the Ministry does not tolerate such behavior," Mockbridge replied. "Those responsible will be found and properly punished. What you are seeing is just an anomaly. It will pass as such things always do."
"You are probably correct," Lady said. Now to drop the bomb. "But I can't help but notice that the last time this sort of statistical blip occurred was at the same time Voldemort declared himself."
Mockbridge visibly flinched. "You-know-who is gone," she said. "I don't understand how you can even bring him up."
"Perhaps it is just an odd coincidence," Lady Aydin said. "But I have heard some rumors that make my government nervous. Rumors that Voldemort may have returned."
Again Mockbridge flinched. Lady Aydin had to suppress the urge to shake her head again or even smile. Watching the witch's reaction to the mere name Voldemort was almost humorous.
"My Lady, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, is gone. The Ministry has assured your government of this on many occasions," Mockbridge said. "What sources are telling you this lie?"
"As I said, it is merely rumors," Lady Aydin replied. "I don't want to get anyone in trouble."
Mockbridge wondered if Dumbledore had gone behind the Minister's back to foster trouble with the muggles. If he had, then Fudge was right, the old man had finally cracked.
"Lady Aydin, it would be most helpful to learn how such lies came to your ears," Mockbridge said. "The Ministry wants to make certain that we provide your government with the truth."
"Of course you do," Lady Aydin said. "Perhaps you can explain another incident to me then."
"What incident Lady Aydin?"
"Early in August, the police and hospitals in Surrey received reports from several people living on Privet Drive about a sudden feeling of dread. Several people called in sick and were unable to go work for several days," Lady Aydin explained. "The reports seem very consistent with exposure to, I believe you call them Dementors," Lady Aydin needed to remember to thank Elder Sinclair for informing her that Dementors had been turned loose outside the enclaves.
It had to be Dumbledore, Mockbridge thought. He's the one who foisted the lie about Dementors on the Wizengamot to get Potter off.
"Lady Aydin I have no idea what you are talking about," Mockbridge said. "I can assure you, no Dementors have left Azkaban since we called them off the search for Sirius Black."
"And how is the search for Black progressing?" Lady Aydin asked.
"Our best people are tracking him," Mockbridge replied. "It will only be a matter of time until he is captured."
Lady Aydin nodded. "That is good to know. But you still haven't explained what happened on Privet Drive in Surrey."
"Again no Dementors ever went to Surrey," Mockbridge stated.
"I have the hospital and police reports right here," Lady Aydin waved her hand over a stack of papers on her desk. "Something happened. Something not normal. I expect an explanation."
"Harry Potter lives on Privet Dr.," Mockbridge said.
"Potter? Oh yes, the boy who stopped Voldemort while he was just a baby after all your Aurors and Ministries failed," Lady Aydin said. She then mentally kicked herself. It wasn't good to rub that fact in their faces. Mockbridge had a tendency to bring out her nasty side.
"Yes that Harry Potter," Mockbridge said in an annoyed voice. "I'm afraid the fame has gotten to him. The boy is becoming quite difficult. We've taken too soft an approach to him in the past out of gratitude. It's most likely he caused whatever happened that day. The Ministry is already taking steps to make certain he is kept under better control."
"Then I guess that resolves the matter," Lady Aydin said. "I assume you need to get back to the Ministry. Unless there are other matters you wish to discuss."
"I would still like to know how rumors regarding you-know-who came to your ears," Mockbridge said.
"You have assured me they are false," Lady Aydin said. "I see no reason to get anyone in trouble over a few rumors."
"I really must insist," this could be a chance to get Dumbledore. Fudge will shower her with rewards.
"No," Lady Aydin replied. "I am under no obligation to share my sources with you. When I next speak with them, I will correct their misconceptions about Voldemort."
"Rumors about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named are dangerous," Mockbridge said. Lady Aydin said you-know-who's name so casually. The woman is as cracked as Dumbledore, Mockbridge thought. "The Ministry has an interest in making sure they are stamped out. We don't want to cause a panic."
"I believe we have reached an impasse," Lady Aydin said. She looked directly into Mockbridge's eyes. "I will not give you names of my sources. The matter is closed. And this meeting is done."
Mockbridge visibly wilted under Lady Aydin's powerful gaze. She looked away. "Very well. Please tell them they are wrong. Good day My Lady."
Mockbridge got up and hurriedly left the office.
Lady Aydin relaxed. She mentally reviewed the meeting. It would seem MI5's moles were correct. The Ministry was in complete denial about Riddle's return. They were also desperate to stamp out rumors. And lying about the Dementors, that got her attention. At least nine people had to go into the hospital to seek treatment. The Elder had informed her that it was most likely a Ministry official that had released them in an effort to get rid of Potter.
The Ministry was useless and badly corrupted. She picked up the phone and dialed Sir Ian's number.
"Sir Ian," she said. "I just completed my quarterly meeting with Ms Mockbridge ... Yes it was most enlightening ... You have full authorization to execute your plan to go after Black and inform the Council they are a go as well ... One more thing Ian. We need to start making long term plans for how to deal with Ministry ... I feel I might be time for the Crown to exert it's authority ... No not immediately. Riddle needs to be dealt with first. But it seems from recent events we can no longer rely on the Ministry ... That is my feeling. I will be discussing the matter with the Queen and the Prime Minister ... Yes, I know. As I said this will be a long-term project. I just want you to start thinking about it ... Good day Ian."
Lady Aydin hung up the phone. So much for this being a simple matter of removing one dark wizard. But if the Council was right, the Wizarding world's isolation was slowly killing them. Steps needed to be taken. Now she just had to figure out what those steps were.
Whatever the consequences, she was committed now. Within a few days MI5 and the Slayers would make their initial strikes against Riddle. She felt the tingle on the back of neck. The world was going to change.