Auror Bones was having a great day.
Runcorn's terrible bill had failed to passin the Wizengamot, with no effort needed on her part. She had managed to dodge Minister Fudge's junior assistant in the morning—quite an attentive fellow—and her work for that day was done as her assistant Judy went to office to send off the final paperwork for the day. Auror Bones was free to drink her tea at last.
"Who cares so much about pumpkins… "
Mutterings were heard from the other side of her office but she did not raise her head. Nothing could ruin her day at that moment.
Her eyes skimmed past the Daily Prophet as she sipped her tea. She saw that article: The Ministry of Magic's 'Massive' Secret Out.They had published it so fast! It had happened just that morning. What a cluster-fuck for the Ministry. Would Minister Fudge care? Probably not. He might even be happy.
"Auror Bones?"
She looked up to see the young intern standing in the middle of her office, looking at her with wide eyes.
"I was just going to ask if this case involving a person turning into pumpkins goes into the Transfiguration Misdemeanor pile or Misuse of Potions pile?"
Auror Bones raised an eyebrow.
"Pumpkins? They got turned into multiple pumpkins?"
Intern Sykes gave her a look.
"If it includes potions then it is a Misuse of Potions."
"It goes to the Misuse of Potions pile, then."
He gave a long sigh and tossed the case file at one of the piles in front of him. Auror Bones lowered her gaze and started reading the article. She halted soon enough as her eyes caught something interesting.
After inquiring about the possible identity and origins of the ruins and the muggle "archeologist," she mentioned something worth noting.
"He was such a snobby boy," she said, "Everyone here has seen him gloating about this magnificent discovery—said it was near the top of that hill."
She looked at the young intern. He was wearing a light blue robe with its hems decorated ornately. "You do seem like a snobby boy," she muttered under her breath.
A high pitched squeak cut through her thoughts. "Excuse me?"
"Uh… Nothing."
She continued reading.
And most interestingly, according to the muggle woman, the man was not alone but working with one other person.
Auror Bones hummed. It makes sense, she thought. There was another person. There were actually three other people, three muggle workers. But something continued to puzzle her. Was there something more to see?
She put her tea cup back one her desk and decided to watch Intern Sykes for a moment. He was wrestling with the large pile of documents on the floor but jumped as she started talking.
"Mr. Sykes, may I ask a few questions concerning the artifact you found?"
"Of course!"
Ah. So eager. To be an intern again! She didn't miss it one bit. Auror Bones leaned back on her desk as she continued to scrutinize the young intern. Intern Sykes moved uncomfortably under her sharp gaze.
"You did hire a group of muggles. Why?" The article mentioned more than one person.
He didn't reply at first.
"Because…" he started, "My magic didn't seem to work on it. The artifact, I mean. I couldn't use spells to dig the tomb, to levitate or open the chest. I promise you, in the name of the Merlin, I tried."
Auror Bones nodded and stood up.
"Did you find the artifact yourself, Intern Sykes?" She walked in front of her desk. Intern Sykes fiddled with the case files.
"I- no?"
"No?"
"The muggles in the town had shown me the way. They had said others had been interested in that area before."
Intern Sykes gulped and tossed two other cases into a pile. Auror Bones leaned back into her desk.
"May I ask how you became aware of the existence of such an artifact?"
"I overheard someone in a muggle cafe."
"Muggle cafe? Why were you there?"
Instead of answering he looked at another case file he picked from the floor. "Is hiding inside an enlarged pumpkin truly a misdemeanor, Auror Bones?" he asked.
"It is if they do it in the middle of a road."
"You know these cases!"
"Of course, I do." She crossed her arms. "I wouldn't assign this punishment for you to categorize them if I didn't know the cases myself," she said, "We don't want to traumatize any interns again."
"Again?!"
Their talk is interrupted by a knock on the door. A young wardbreaker poked his head through the door. He rushed his words.
"Sorry for arriving this late, I was in the infirmary but I would like to inform you, Auror Bones, that we opened the chest."
He shut the door before she could ask any questions.
Auror Bones turned to look at Intern Sykes and saw his panicked expression.
"Be quick with that pile or you will miss what comes out of the chest," she said.
She watched as he worked fast as a Zouwo. Case files getting organized into different piles. After putting the last file in its respective position, Intern Sykes raised his empty hands in the air and exclaimed, "My work is done."
"Are you sure that you put everything in the correct pile?" she asked. Quit tormenting the young intern, a voice said in her head.
Intern Sykes nodded.
"Then I hope you learned your lesson, Mr. Sykes."
Before he could open his mouth, she also added, "Just because we know a spell doesn't mean we should also use it."
The young intern gulped. Auror Bones sighed.
"Good. You can go now."
Intern Sykes was gone before she lowered her head. She sat back on her desk and wondered. Was there some other person at the discovery site?
Groans from the spectators were heard. This would certainly take a long time to sort.
Unspeakable Abbott was having a terrible day.
First, her meeting with Albert was interrupted by Intern Sykes's patronus, carrying a cryptic message asking her to come and see what he had found. Second, she could only guess how many people had witnessed her altercation with Mr. Broadmoor. What an embarrassment for the Department of Mysteries. Then, like that was not enough, her newly formed group had lost the most important thing to come out of the chest.
Unspeakable Abbott looked at the portrait that stood at the other side of the room. The talkative portrait winked at her as if sensing her thoughts. She turned back to her group. All of which worked for the Office of Magical Artifacts. With their wide smiles and rosy cheeks, someone should wonder whether they work at the Ministry at all.
She could work with that.
They all gathered around the remaining artifacts that came out of the chest. A wooden staff was balanced dangerously next to a group of stacked books. A red cape was wrapped around a large crystal and amulets were dangling from a crossbow.
Unspeakable Abbott sighed.
Mr. Browmann held his wand to his throat and cast the Amplifying Charm. A loud cough was heard before he cancelled the spell abruptly.
"I guess we won't be needing that," he said.
She watched as Mr. Broadmoor gave a high five to one of her Unspeakables behind the back of Mr. Browmann.
"We should partition the rest of the artifacts between two groups now," Mr. Browmann began, "I've decided that the same kind of artifacts will remain as a single body."
"How else would you do this anyway?" the portrait quipped.
Mr. Bowmann ignored him.
"Books should stay with other books. Poultices with other poultices. Otherwise, we won't be able to find much about the artifacts' history."
"Good call," said Mr. Broadmoor, "That would certainly make our lives easier."
Mr. Bowmann continued talking.
"As Mr. Broadmoor and his group got the portrait, it's only fair for Unspeakable Abbott and her group to get the first pick in what artifact they want to get." Mr. Bowmann gestured towards them, "Then it will be Mr. Broadmoor's group and then Unspeakable Abbott's again and so on."
Unspeakable Abbott looked at Mr. Bowmann.
"You know that we have our responsibilities, right?" she asked, "Both Mr. Broadmoor and I are head of our departments. You yourself must have other responsibilities other than babysitting us."
He gasped and put his hands to his chest in an exaggerated manner.
"My work as the head of Wizard Resources is not to be considered babysitting, Circe!" he exclaimed, "There should be no hostility between two different departments in the Ministry. I am here to ensure that."
After a long look at both Mr. Broadmoor's and her group, Mr. Browmann shouted, "Let the partitioning begin!"
She turned towards her group. But before she could open her mouth, she saw them all try to speak at once.
"Amule—"
"We should take books. They will tell us the most—"
"—Not books! They are too much work—"
"—Let's take the cup. There is only one of those—"
Mr. Bowmann must have didn't like that because he interrupted them once again.
"Be quick! Or it will be Mr. Broadmoor's turn."
"Be silent!" Unspeakable Abbott reprimanded, "I agree with ...Bathsheba" "Yes" "that books will naturally contain more information than any other artifacts. We shall take the books."
She ignored the groans that came out of her group.
"Books," she simply said to Mr. Bowmann. Three stacks of books were levitated towards her group. Unspeakable Abbott took one book from the stack and opened it. It was written in a language she didn't recognize. She put it back.
"Now, it's Mr. Broadmoor's group's turn," said Mr. Bowmann
"Ahem," Mr. Broadmoor said, "It's Hypnotic Hippogriffs!.. Our group name, I mean."
Mr. Browmann scratched his chin. "Hypnotic Hippogriffs… I like it."
Unspeakable Abbott spun towards her group and whispered, "Any ideas for a group name?" When no one replied, she quickly added, "Well... we will think about it, alright?" They nodded. Damn Mr. Broadmoor!
"Which artifact do Hypnotic Hippogriffs want?" asked Mr. Bowmann.
The portrait shouted at Mr. Broadmoor, "Get the cape! Get the cape!"
An indignant Why are you helping them was heard for her side of the room but was quickly muffled by the booming voice of Mr. Broadmoor saying, "Our group will take the cape."
The red cape was levitated towards their side of the room. Unspeakables gathered around the cape, trying to gauge what was special about it.
"What will the cape tell us? What secrets does it contain in its silky threads?" asked Jake, his favorite Unspeakable student. Mr. Broadmoor snorted.
The portrait crossed his arms and a huge smile appeared on his face.
"Sentimental value."
"Hey!"
Mr. Bowmann turned to look at her group. "Now it's your turn."
They went back and forth a few times. Unspeakable Abbott's group got a cup, three wooden staffs and three pendants and amulets. Hypnotic Hippogriffs got one crossbow (you shouldn't separate the crossbow from the cape, they are a match! the portrait had said), one unfamiliar instrument, two large crystals and weird smelling poultices.
When the last remaining thing in the middle of the room was the chest, they heard a loud thump outside the door. Someone shouted, "I'm alright!"
Looking disheveled, Intern Sykes appeared through the door.
Unspeakable Abbott heard cheers coming from her group. Other Magical Artifact employees welcomed Intern Sykes with open arms. Someone shouted, "We didn't think you would survive Auror Bones!"
Intern Sykes, clearly baffled, asked, "Why are you all here? Why are there so many people here?"
"We are all volunteers!"
"We are going to research the artifacts for a few weeks."
"I thought it would be fun."
"Intern Sykes," began Mr Bowmann. Unspeakable Abbott saw a shudder go through him. "You are in no group, right?"
Unspeakable Abbott saw him walk towards her and other magical artifact employees but Mr. Bowmann stopped him in his tracks..
"You should learn to work closer with your own head of department."
A defeated look crossed his face, he walked back to Mr. Broadmoor's group.
"Sorry to interrupt," said Mr. Bowmann, addressing everyone again, "But we haven't decided which group will get the chest itself."
They all looked at the large chest that remained in the middle of the room. It was made of dark wood. A deep mahogany, her mind supplied, carved delicately into strange creatures and flora. Unspeakable Abbott could make out three types of dragons covering the surface. It was a breathtaking piece of craftsmanship.
"Is there a point in assigning the chest to a single group?" asked Mr. Broadmoor, breaking the silence.
"There might be hidden compartments inside the chest," Unspeakable Abbott said.
They all looked at the portrait, who was suspiciously whistling.
"There are definitely hidden compartments in the chest."
The portrait chuckled.
Mr. Bowmann stretched his head. "Who wants the chest?"
"Unspeakable Abbott and her group can take it," Mr. Broadmoor said.
"High Hydrasss!.." someone in her group shouted.
"Unspeakable Abbott and High Hydras can take the chest."
Unspeakable Abbott's head snapped towards his direction. Is this a trick? she thought.
Mr. Bowmann clapped his hands. "With that over with, we can start with the actual research!"
Both groups spread around their artifacts. Unspeakable Abbott watched as someone in her group picked a pendant and held it in front of his face. She watched as some shuffled the pages of a book.
"We need to be organized," she said towards her group, "Tell me which artifact you want to research."
They shared the work load. Two wizards took the responsibility of translating the books while others attempted to identify the materials amulets were made of. Another person started prodding every crook and cranny of the chest. She was overseeing her group while she overheard Intern Sykes talking.
"I know you won't tell us your name but what should we call you? It'd be rude not to address you while we are having a conversation."
The old man in the portrait leaned forward. "That's actually very nice of you to think."
"So what do you want to be called with? I'm Ruben Sykes by the way."
The old man didn't speak for a moment.
"You can call me Emrys."
Mr. Broadmoor turned to look at Intern Sykes. "You are the person responsible for the portrait."
"What? Why?" What did he do wrong now?
"He revealed something to you that he had not revealed to us."
Intern Sykes still couldn't find a way to amend his relationship with the head of his department. Maybe his cooperation would help.
"Alright."
Intern Sykes and Mr. Broadmoor turned to look at the portrait. "Try to find something about the portrait," Mr. Broadmoor said, "That's going to be your work."
"Is he really no help?" asked Intern Sykes, "I would have thought he would help us more to find out about its history."
"I helped you enough, didn't I?" the portrait's answer was quick, "If not for me, you couldn't figure out… my favorite meal or what my occupations isn't."
Useless information, Intern Sykes thought.
"But enough speaking of the past! Tell me about the future… I mean now!" The portrait looked at him with large eyes, pressing his hands to his chest.
Intern Sykes turned to look at Mr. Broadmoor. He made a hand movement that said go on. Then he twisted around to help some other poor soul that had gotten tangled in the cape.
Intern Sykes summoned a piece of paper and a quill. I should record everything that comes out of his mouth, he thought.
The old man in the portrait had a glint in his eyes that was too bright for his liking.
"So what do you want to learn?" he asked.
The portrait hummed.
"Tell me, who is the current king?"
"England no longer has a king."
"Took enough time!"
Against the monarchy, he wrote on the paper. The portrait continued.
"Tell me... What is a Hogwarts? The name itself resembles … an exotic plant or strange animal."
"... It's a magical school."
"What does it teach?"
Intern Sykes described its curriculum briefly.
Passionate about learning, he wrote on the paper.
After he was finished, the portrait threw his hand in the air.
"You mean to tell me there is no Language class in Hogwarts! Goodness above! What went wrong? No wonder all of you talk in such a peculiar language and use names as if they are swear words!"
"Okay..."
Particularly against swearing?
"What was your favorite food again? I think I missed it."
"Kidney pie, thanks for asking."
Kidney pie.
The portrait appeared to look at something behind him, then his face twitched.
"That's not how you hold a crossbow!" the portrait shouted at someone behind him, "You should hold it with both hands! Don't they teach you anything useful in that school of yours?"
Knowledgeable about muggle weapons
"Hey, you are helping them! That's unfair!" He heard someone exclaim from the other side of the room. The portrait smiled.
"Most things are unfair in life, young warlock. It would be best if you learned that early in life."
Somber approach to life?
The portrait turned to look at him.
"Are you passionate about learning… or teaching magic?" asked Intern Sykes.
"You can say that," the portrait replied.
"Did you apprentice anyone yourself? Taught students of your own?"
"I had a few promising students, I suppose."
He might be the mentor of Merlin, Intern Sykes thought.
"Did you happen to live at the same time as the great Merlin?"
The portrait stared at him. "You can say that."
"Really?!"
"I might have met him in passing. My memory is not quite as good as when I was younger."
Intern Sykes stared at the portrait.
"You are a portrait but alright."
They were interrupted by Mr. Bowmann. "Okay guys that is enough for today. It's getting late," he shouted, "We can all leave."
Intern Sykes walked next Mr. Broadmoor and showed him his list.
"He could be the mentor of Merlin," he whispered.
"He might be literally Merlin himself, if we go into that direction."
"He doesn't look like Merlin's other portraits," Intern Sykes replied.
They saw the portrait snort and wave at them. "See you tomorrow, young warlocks," the portrait said.
After everyone left the room and Mr. Bowmann locked the door, Intern Sykes looked at his list for a final time.
- against the monarchy
- passionate about learning
- particularly against swearing
- favorite food: Kidney pie
- knowledgeable about muggle weapons
- somber approach to life/fate?
- mentor of some wizard possibly Merlin?
He sighed.
"You worry too much, Severus."
Headmaster Dumbledore leaned back on his chair and plopped a lemon flavored candy to his mouth. There was an open newspaper lying on the desk between them.
Severus Snape watched as Dumbledore sucked the candy. Snape winced and turned out to look out of the window.
He put a hand to his chin, in thought.
"So, you are going to do nothing?" he asked, "No writing letters, no asking around… no assigning me to look for something or someone."
"Should I be doing something?" Dumbledore replied, "Or do you want to do something?"
Severus Snape took a deep breath. He scanned the landscape outside Hogwarts. Stars flickered in the dark sky above. Then he turned back to look at Dumbledore once more.
"We should do everything to ensure the Dark Lord's demise," he simply said. Snape watched as Dumbledore took off his glasses and wiped them with a cloth.
"We should instead focus on a more imminent threat," he said.
"Umbridge…" Snape breathed. That toad had taken his position.
"I'm working on something. Don't worry," Dumbledore said, smiling. He put on his glasses.
"Have open eyes and ears. That's all I ask of you for now."
Snape nodded in agreement.
"You are excused, Severus," Dumbledore said. "But do remember what you promised to me."
A/N: So this story is not abandoned. I know I updated 1 year late. :(
Life was extremely busy the past year. I also made (possibly) the worst mistake in life and decided to study medicine next year. (kinda bragging not gonna lie)
For any new readers, my update schedule might appear sporadic but in reality, is quite consistent. I update once every year. Expect a new update the latest next August! Anyway, see you next year! I read every comment so don't be afraid to ask about anything there, I will try to reply.
Please do mention any mistake you see. English is not my native language and I feel like my English levels actually worsened the past year. Any feedback (positive or negative) is welcome!
Next chapter: Exploration
