Monday 26th November, following One Hand Washes the Other



“Abbott!” the Minister for Magic breezed through his outer office, summoning the attention of the Senior Undersecretary who had been owled to be there early that morning. He waggled a finger, beckoning the other wizard without further word. Knowing his place, and Edwin’s ways, he was followed into his inner office without protest. Only unlike Edwin, he didn’t stalk straight to his desk before addressing Brinley, but shut his own office double doors and warded them personally.

“I have something for your ears only,” Edwin explained, gesturing ahead of him in the office for Brinley to continue into the space. The grandfather clock was ticking rhythmically, with the correct time by Edwin’s pocket watch which he had checked thrice on the way along the corridor of the first floor. The fire was low in the grate, permanently lit as the occupant might call at any hour of the day or night. The enchanted windows showed an autumnal scene, with dawn light that had not yet properly broken in London proper.

The Minister gestured again to the chair before his desk, and slipped his cloak from his shoulders to hang on the hatstand. Only then he finally rounded his desk as per his usual routine. He fixed Abbott with a keen stare.

“Harper Graves.” He named, clasping his hands. “I have reason to believe she has some undisclosed evidence on her person, or in her home.”

This was a revelation for the other wizard. Edwin had wanted to summon Brinley to his home on the Sunday morning, but he didn’t want to appear too troubled by it all. He was just following up a lead, he didn’t have any solid evidence apart from a casual witness statement. He’d already tickled the bald head of Fendrel Stump to see if he could turn up anything from Azkaban on the Minister’s behalf, as Musgrave’s former personal guard.

“I believe she has taken memories from Lawrence Musgrave.” Edwin elaborated and left a pregnant pause. “And as you may recall I had Musgrave obliviated[1] before he went to St Mungo’s to ensure that certain sensitive information from his interviews was kept from being leaked. Such as how he summoned those dementors.”

1.	23rd August 2011 Now Quivers Lowly

The Daily Prophet had begun counting down to Christmas. But the summons that arrived from Glass was the opposite to the merry season. Brinley arrived even earlier than usual. The Ministry was dead before dawn. One of his jobs was to make sure the Minister was not.

Glass wasted no time briefing him. Behind warded doors. The Minister doing so with his own wand. Brinley did not miss that.

Harper Graves was a striking red head who had not escaped his notice. She had a good reputation. Took difficult cases and got results. Someone had been forced to take Musgrave's case. His rights and all. But Harper had taken it on without complaint. That took character. It was a long haul. The case would land before the wizengamot before Christmas. Nearly two years in the preparation. They wanted to send Musgrave away and throw away the key. If Azkaban had keys. Brinley had never checked.

"I do recall Sir." Confirmed Brinley. Taking the Minister's worries seriously. Asking for Musgrave to be obliviated had raised a few eyebrows. Brinley had checked a few laws. But they did not want to go chasing Musgrave and dementors around the country again. Not if he had given all his evidence to the Aurors before he was obliviated. Not if it did not change his evidence in court. "You have reason to believe these memories were taken before that took place Sir?"

“What would be the point in taking them after, Abbott?” The Minister replied indignantly, huffing, as if it were plain as day.

In reality he had no evidence whatsoever, just a distant relation mentioning in passing. But anything, anything at all that might risk him being found out dealing with Lawrence Musgrave and those dementors had to be scorched from the earth.

“There were only a few people who knew of my order to obliviate, Graves being one of them.” He spoke sharply, brows furrowed over his eyes. “Those memories are inadmissible in court for interests of national safety,” he persisted, arms folded, attempting to look as imposing as he could for a wizard whose hair was rapidly receding and whose weight was dropping off with the prolonged stress of his role.

“I want you to find them and confiscate them immediately, or have Carstairs and his ruddy department do it.”

Brinley knew better than to contradict a Minister in this moment. Even if he did have a clever answer for Glass it was wasted on this audience. The Minister had made up his mind. There was a picture in his head of what had happened with Harper Graves and Lawrence Musgrave and Brinley Abbott was to assemble the frame to put it in.

"Minister." Placated Brinley. "Your request is understood." He bowed politely. Hands gripped behind his back. He waited long enough to check he was dismissed.

END