Tempus Magia

Part Four

Chapter 39: Reporters are all B*tches

Leaning his tall frame against the window, he noted that it had begun to rain at some point during his agonized ruminations. The only disturbance on the otherwise empty floor was a clock ticking and the startling sound of the elevator opening, signaling Kingsley's arrival. Saul took one last look at the people rushing about muggle London huddling under umbrellas to keep dry.

Pulling himself from the window, Saul took one more look around the room to confirm that everything was neat and orderly. Settling into his chair, he reorganized his desk for the fifth time in the last hour. When he was nervous he always made sure everything was perfect, down to the knot in his tie. The object in question had been charmed a spectacular shade of shiny purple, as Mary had written it was this particular witch's favorite color. Now, he just had to watch and wait.

Saul's predecessor had charmed his door to act like a one-way mirror. It was visible only to the person sitting behind the desk and only if that person was the Director of the Department of Mysteries. Should Kingsley sit behind his desk, he would see nothing. In fact, Minister Fudge had actually had the audacity to sit behind his desk during one of his 'interrogations' post the first wizarding war. Saul had no idea what he saw through the door but it terrified him enough that he never stepped foot in Saul's office again.

He didn't complain. Fudge was as bureaucrat through and through and an idiotic one at that. Every time they conversed he felt his brain decaying. Shuddering at the thought of the many conversations he had with the wizard he looked through his door and out into the hallway. He could see most of the floor and through closed doors. He knew that behind closed doors Hermione chewed on her sugar quills and that Agathe from Human Resources cried when she was on her monthly and had a deadline. Details like this made his office an excellent place for spying, which is what his predecessor had used it for. Saul simply respected his employees' privacy sending anonymous Honeydukes baskets once a month to the Human Resources department and always ensuring that Hermione had sugar quills at her desk.

A booming laugh drew his attention away from his thoughts and towards the trio heading towards his office. Kingsley was wearing his signature purple paisley robes and cap. Gawain was in his usual Head Auror gear and combat boots. Saul was pretty confident he'd been wearing the same boots when they first met over twenty years prior. In between the two of the two wizards was a witch with more drama and flare than Narcissa Malfoy had during the height of her Hogwarts days.

Parvati Patil cut a striking image in a tight black lace dress that clung tightly to her curves. Her hair was done up dramatically with a fashionable hat tilted to the side leaving just a bit of netting to cover her dramatically bright purple eyes. Ironically, she had no one to impress as two-thirds of the wizards she was meeting with were uninterested. One wizard being gay and the other very happily married.

Saul charmed an ornate purple and black Chinese teapot to heat. The nifty pot was charmed to know exactly what tea everyone wanted in the room and when they wanted it. The matching cups would fill and refill from the pot as needed. It was a gift from Beatrice Perry when he turned fifty. Her son was in his year at Hogwarts and they were born several days apart, so she always remembered his birthday.

Smiling fondly at the pot, he pretended to be reading something on his desk as the door opened. Gawain, of course, never knocked before he entered any room. He believed that it was easier to catch people unawares when you just randomly stormed into rooms. Word was that he walked in on two (now-fired) employees displaying inappropriate work decorum in the fourth floor supply closet. That was what it said on their termination report anyway.

Gawain, the gentleman, held the door open for Parvati's dark shiny pumps to sashay through. He noted there were silencing charms on them and mused at the humor that two people that were polar opposites of each other had something in common. Gawain pulled out her chair and she sat down elegantly tucking her ankles beneath her, like a ballerina resting them daintily on the plush carpet beneath her feet.

He looked up and smiled warmly in greeting.

"Good evening Head Unspeakable Croaker," boomed Kingsley shutting the door behind him.

"Good evening Minister, Head Auror," Sweeping around his desk, he shook her hand. Firm, like everything else about her. "And to you Miss Patil, welcome to the Department of Mysteries. You look lovely, my dear."

Predictably, the witch preened under his compliment. Her lavender painted lips split to show a row of gleaming even white teeth. "Why thank you, Head Unspeakable Croaker. I must say, I adore that tie. It's not often you meet a wizard who can charm a trinity knot."

Saul walked back to his seat, watching as the other two wizards made themselves comfortable. "I find the standard Windsor to be repetitive and a bit boorish."

"Yes, hence the reason I don't wear ties," chuckled Kingsley sarcastically into his tea. Saul doubted as if the Wizard knew what a trinity knot was.

Gawain smiled over the rim of his teacup. "Yes, well I don't enjoy ties or frivolous things in general."

Parvati arched one perfectly manicured brow at the Head Aurors, her eyes flickering down to his boots. "No, you wouldn't. Now, let's get down to business. I believe your assistant mentioned that you do not allow Quick Quotes?"

Flicking her wrist, a scroll of parchment and a deep purple sugar quill slid from beneath her leather lined cuff. Without breaking eye contact, she began scribbling in shorthand so it was impossible to understand what she was writing.

Saul bowed his head respectfully. "I apologize but we monitor everything very carefully in this department."

"Was this before or after several of my fifth-year classmates waltzed into the Ministry and tore apart several of your more classified departments?" she asked sweetly, her smile bright and innocent looking. He almost scoffed. Reporters were as innocent as adopting a baby dragon and keeping it as a pet.

Saul returned her smile with his own forced one, "We took that incident extremely seriously here. After the battle, we began enforcing multiple procedures as well as an entirely new security team that came directly from the Auror department."

"Personally," she said as she tapped her chin with the quill. "I've always been curious about if any of the parents of the students reached out to you following Lord Voldemort's duel in the middle of your department."

"Did they reach out to me? No. I personally, made visits to each of the parents of the students within the weeks following the battle. We had a muggleborn Healer flown in from the United States of America to better explain the situation to Miss Granger's parents. She was injured during the battle and seeing as her parents are Healers and we thought it best they hear a detailed explanation from someone within their own field."

"You went above and beyond," she commented dryly.

"It was a grave misstep on our part. We were aware that the Death Eaters expressed interest in the Hall of Prophecies but we had no idea how far he planned on going to gain access to Mister Potter's prophecy."

"Did each of the parents receive the same 'extra effort' that Hermione's did?"

"Yes, although one was unnecessary as I am the godfather of said student. Her father was out of the country at the time and being her legal guardian I stayed with her until she was well enough."

Saul could see Parvati's eyes trying to calculate which student he was talking about. Her eyes brightened and she smiled, "I wasn't aware you were so close with Luna Lovegood's parents."

"Her father, no. I was a member of the original Order of the Phoenix alongside Luna's mother, Pandora. I have visited quite often especially after Pandora's death."

Parvati's eyes widened. "Her mother was a victim of Voldemort?"

"No," he said slowly. "A potions accident actually. May fourth, nineteen-ninety. Luna was sitting in the kitchen when the Aurors arrived and found her mother's body. Her father was at work- Wasn't she in your year?"

Parvati clenched her teeth. She clearly prided herself on knowing mass amounts of information. How had she not known that Luna grew up without a mother?

"Yes, well she was year below me and in a different house. Hogwarts is a big school."

"That it is," interrupted Gawain. "Why are we talking about Luna Lovegood?"

"We got sidetracked. I apologize, Miss Patil."

Parvati waved her hand. "The Minister said you had important policy updates based on recent events that you wanted to talk about?"

Recent events? Either Parvati had already heard about the incident or she was very very good at sniffing out a story.

"Yes, the entire Ministry will be following the progressive direction of the Department of Mysteries," Kingsley said proudly. He nodded at Saul to continue.

"Over the last seven months Unspeakable Bode, Unspeakable Scott, and I have been working on a project alongside the HR witches and wizards of each Ministry department. We have drafted out yearly training sessions, classes in workplace etiquette, and a workplace conduct code. While most of the rules are common sense, they are finally on parchment and being enforced."

Parvati tilted her chin, "I have a source that confirmed training classes yesterday. Is the project officially being rolled out?"

"The original plan for the project was to roll it out in June followed by a pre-scheduled Wizengamot session in September. The session was to pass actual laws to protect employees and provide a safe workplace for them."

"But you rolled it out earlier?"

"There was an incident last week. Just as Hogwarts has been working tirelessly to stop bullying on their grounds, so is the Ministry. We will not tolerate it and we most certainly will not employ witches or wizards who overstep their boundaries. Thankfully, we had recording devices that were being tested for the big reveal in June already in place and we were able to dismiss the employees immediately."

"I'm going to assume the names are confidential?" Saul nodded. "Can I get a statement on the violation, at least?"

"Verbal and physical assault. The employees will not be allowed to work for the government in any capacity ever again."

Parvati's lips thinned, "That seems, harsh."

"Forgive my language, but calling someone a mudblood and assaulting someone over the circumstances of their birth was what we fought and won a war over. I'm not about to allow such behavior to cultivate in my own department. Being passive when others were suffering was what led us to war. I am not keen in fighting a third war in my lifetime, Miss Patil."

She tilted her head as if to agree with him, "The last war brought you under intense scrutiny."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Were you not dating a Death Eater?" She was good, he would give her that. For the first time in their interview, he faltered momentarily. His reaction gave her all the answers she needed.

"Miss Patil," Kingsley interrupted. Parvati turned to give the Minister her full attention. "Unspeakable Croaker was cleared of any and all charges. As he mentioned previously, he was part of the Order of the Phoenix in both wars."

"Forgive me if I'm suspicious Head Minister, but there isn't anyone alive from the original Order."

"Actually, the original Order was divided into five groups. The main defensive group, that included James and Lily Potter, as well as Sirius Black, are dead. However, the group my parents and Unspeakable Croaker were in, is in fact all still alive."

"Is there information to corroborate this?"

"There are pictures and mission statements," Gawain cut in. "However, given the concern for the witches and wizards lives, they are all confidential."

Parvati turned to face him again. "There are also talks amongst the Azkaban guards that reported a spouse of yours is being included in the group of Death Eaters being released on Parole in June. It's quite a coincidence that you planned such an explosive project at the same time as the release. It's almost as if you are trying to cover for something."

"Miss Patil," Kingsley boomed. "Are you accusing-"

The interview was derailing quickly and Saul raised a hand towards Kingsley. The younger wizard who also happened to be his superior fell silent immediately. "Miss Patil, you are looking for a story where there is none. I have been in a long term relationship with my partner since before I took my NEWTs. Yes, he is still in Azkaban. Yes, he was a Death Eater. Yes, he is being released for parole. No, I did not plan the project for June to cover his or any of the other parolees. We planned for the project to be released before the parole came out and I was not aware until two weeks ago that he was even eligible. The recording devices have been running mock tests all over the Ministry for over a month."

For the first time since their meeting began Parvati looked down at her notes. Eyebrows scrunched, she looked up at him and then back to her parchment once again. He could already see the question coming before her bright lips opened. "He?"

"Yes, Miss Patil. My partner is another being that happens to be male."

"And you're pushing to enforce acceptance and safe workspaces throughout the Ministry regardless of what a person's private life may look like," she said slowly.

"Yes, I doubt I have to explain why."

"Would you care to give me anecdotes?" Saul could practically hear her heart pounding in excitement.

"Not particularly. There are plenty of witches and wizards that refuse to associate with me because of my sexual orientation. I cannot change who I am, the same way a muggleborn cannot change who their parents are and a werewolf cannot change his or her condition. If you want stories or anecdotes walk down Diagon Alley. After the war we should be at peace but instead, we are at each other's throats. We should be accepting, instead, we are reverting back to how we were before You Know Who rose to power. I wonder if we continue down this path if we will end up with another Dark Lord in the next decade or so."

Parvati leaned back in her chair. Saul could see from her expression, that while he was not above suspicion, he had at least earned her respect. Realizing that the topic had run its course, she changed tactics.

"I have a cousin who is in her fifth year at Hogwarts. There is talk that you are considering a magical guardianship of two students. Care to comment?" Saul cursed inwardly when he saw Kingsley and Gawain stiffen. It had literally happened earlier today.

"During the Battle of Hogwarts, my partner and I saved several Hogwarts students from Death Eaters. Two of these students reached out earlier today to express their gratitude. We began talking about their academics and it came to my attention that neither student had a magical guardian to care for them outside of Hogwarts. Their summers are lonely and they have nowhere to go. When I was in Hogwarts, I was in the same situation and Albus Dumbledore volunteered to be my magical guardian. It wasn't much but I had a place to go for holidays and someone to sign my Hogsmeade form.

"When he passed I actually inherited many of his things including the home I spent my summer holidays in. I look forward to passing those items on to these two students, as I have no biological children of my own. The paperwork has only been started and not official yet. I would also like to remind you that they are minors and therefore cannot be reported on in the Prophet," he added sternly.

"Yes," Parvati agreed solemnly. "Rita did makeup the most terrible things about Hermione and Harry while we were at school. Hermione used to cry in her bed at night. It was quite horrible."

Parvati looked genuinely mournful and Saul doubted that Orion and Charlotte would be making an appearance in her article. He had no doubt she was going to find a way to sneak in his magical guardianship with Luna and Auggie into her article but at least she would leave the kids out of it. She might not have been Rita Skeeter but her quill was no less sharp and her words filled with Reporter's glee.

He could sense the interview coming to a close. Thank Merlin. Surprisingly, it hadn't gone as bad as he thought it would. Reporters were a notoriously slippery sort.

"Is there anything else, Miss Patil?"

"I did have one final question. I was aware that Hermione Granger was under your employ and yet I did not see her name tag on any of the doors."

Saul chuckled. "We had the first of hopefully, yearly Hogwarts tours today. Unspeakable Granger had work to do and charmed the tag on her door to read Jane Austen."

Parvati cracked her first genuine smile since she arrived. "I wasn't aware she read the classics. We were roommates and she only seemed to enjoy the big dusty books from Madam Pince's private collection."

"Yes, well if you found out you were a witch one day and that magic was real, I'm sure you'd be excited about the big dusty books from Madam Pince's private collection, as well."

Parvati pondered his statement before she nodded and flicked her wrist once more, tucking away her quill and parchment. She slid a camera from her other wrist, "Could I trouble you for a photo?"

Saul blushed. He hated photos of himself in magazines, especially after he was plastered all over the Prophet when the war was over. Smiling tightly, he nodded and allowed her to take several photos of him at his desk. Gawain and Kingsley joined him for a final photo before she slid the camera back into her cuff.

"I think that is all," she reached out to shake his hand once more. "I can see myself out."

"Nonsense, Miss Patil." Gawain grinned. Reporters often got 'lost' in the Ministry. "I'll show you out myself. I heard the Head of the Unspeakables upgraded security. Wouldn't want you to get in trouble with the Auror guards, would we?"

The door closed behind them and Saul collapsed his head into his hands.

"By reporters standards, that wasn't so bad Saul," Kingsley commented over his tea.

"Bad? I just got outed and she's probably going to write an entire wartime crossed-lovers puff piece about me and Auggie. The only applicants we're going to get is for the Research of Love department!"

"Amalaya will be pleased, at least. I heard she broke up with Belby at the Interdepartmental Floo on the way home." That got his attention.

"Really?"

"Yeah, she hexed him and called him a racist hairless git." Saul chuckled. "Needless to say, it will be all over the Ministry by tomorrow morning."

"Yes, well he was being an arse earlier today."

Kingsley took another sip of his tea. "Every department has one."

Saul could see Gawain returning from the lift through the door. He ran several charms to assure Parvati hadn't left any listening devices. It wouldn't be the first time a reporter overstepped nor the last.

The room was clean and he squirmed uncomfortably. Radomir's request had blindsided him and he still wasn't sure how he felt about the entire situation. The combination of Hermione's incident, the fact that she was going back any day now, Radomir, Charlotte and Orion, and the various functions of his department had left him emotionally drained.

For the first time since his first visit to Auggie, he was dreading going to Azkaban. He wanted to eat, shower, and sleep. Maybe read a book, but it was unlikely he would get through the first couple of pages before falling asleep.

The door banged open to admit a furious Gawain. It warded itself sealed behind the red-faced Head Auror. "Now that that shite is over, who wants to tell me why the bloody fuck the Unknowns just showed up?"

"You're so beautiful my love," he murmured. One day soon they would be able to take a bit of time off and have the children they had been planning on for over a century. Soon. They had finally gotten pregnant and then Grindelwald showed up and she lost their little ones in a routine recon mission. He had almost lost her as well. It was one of the darkest times in his life and he was from one of the darkest wizarding families.

Her hands were cold as they slid from his skin and she removed herself from his embrace. "Is something wrong, love?"

She clucked in annoyance as she stepped off of their marriage bed of over three centuries. They had built an entire life right here on this four-poster. "I hate when you call me that."

"Love?"

"Yes," she said turning away from him. Gliding away from the bed she put on her slip and settled into her vanity that they got on holiday in the tropics of Western Africa.

She rarely stayed in bed with him anymore. She was so engrossed with the fellow from the Ministry. Osborne had raised concerns about him the night before but she shut them down immediately. Being the good husband he was, he stood behind her ignoring the calculated stares from Phineas and Alistair. He trusted his wife's counsel. She was the wise one after all.

"I know your work is important but if you see anything that could substantiate Osborne's claim-"

She was fiddling angrily with her earrings. "Osborne's jealous and you know it. Stop questioning me, you know I hate it. I earned my spot fairly, just like you did."

Radomir raised his hands in defense, "I'm not trying to fight love."

Slamming her hand down on the wood, she whirled on him. "I hate when you call me that!"

Radomir blanched. "You never used to," he whispered.

"Yes, well I'm not the foolish witch I used to be," she spat.

"I never thought you were foolish, lo-"

"Stop, calling me that!" she screeched. The mirror on her vanity shattered into a million little pieces as her rage sparked accidental magic around them.

His patience finally snapped. "I've been calling you my love for over three hundred years! I can't just stop because you decided you wanted a new pet name."

"I don't want any pet names from you," she responded coldly. For just a moment, his blood ran cold like it hadn't since he was a little boy and would play with snakes while his father tortured muggles and muggleborns in the garden.

"What's going on?" he asked, panic rising and threatening to choke him. "Have I done something wrong?"

"No, you…" she visibly deflated pushing her blonde hair out of her eyes. "I need a break."

He stood from their bed immediately. "I'll speak to Osborne, I'll take on all your duties. What can I do? Do you want me to go to Italy? I can get those zeppoles that you like."

Turning her back to him, she faced her the remains of her ruined vanity mirror once again. "I need a break from you, Radomir."

Radomir felt the blood drain from his body. "From me?" he whispered, his voice cracking under the weight that was settling itself on his chest.

"Yes, I feel like I'm suffocating. I need you to go and give me space."

The room felt as if it had been crowded by a thousand dementors. "Leave the citadel?"

"Yes, go somewhere far. Just for a few weeks. I need to figure out how to fix us, or I fear I won't be able to come back to us at all."

He barely registered himself nodding and leaving the room with nothing but his cloak and his wand. He traveled out of their tower and out of the citadel. He flew past the small village that bordered their fortress watching the small children play. He could feel the ache in his chest that only deepened as he flew past them.

What had he done wrong? He loved her. Loved her more than he had ever loved even himself. What had he done?