Meeting the PM
Thanks for all the reviews.
I am having a make-believe PM, and not Thatcher. I already alluded that the PM was a man, so…
Also, I think this is the last we’ll see of Spike. Maybe, it all depends on my muse.
Hphphp
Spike did three things in quick succession. He sent an overpowered cheering charm at Petunia, a memory charm to the woman walking down the street and then he shoved the missus in the house.
“Bloody ‘ell, woman, what’d ya do that for?” he asked, looking at her like she had lost her mind. He manhandled her into the hallway and stood there for a moment and looked around in disgust. He had never been in a place so clean and blah at the same time.
Petunia giggled. She didn’t understand why she wasn’t screaming her head off at the freak that was in her house. He had a knife in one hand and a wand in the other. She knew he had used magic on her, and she continued to giggle as Vernon came lumbering from the living room.
“Who the hell are you?” Vernon asked, coming up to the duo. In his hallway stood everything he hated in a person. A freak with green hair, and in a duster that looked like a punk-rocker. The blasted layabouts that cluttered the streets and got in good upstanding people’s way. He saw his wife in the middle of a laughing fit, and she seemed a bit hysterical. Her face was one of fear, but her mood was cheerful. “What did you do to my wife?” he exclaimed, going to Petunia, and placing her behind him.
“I’m Spike,” the green haired man said, brandishing his wand with his left hand. “I need ‘arry Potter’s paperwork,” he said, pointing the business end of said wand at Vernon’s nose, making the man go cross-eyed.
“Why?” the fat man blustered, staring at the wand pointed at his face. He moved around the man, leaving Petunia exposed to the wizard again. His fear of magic was so great that his only thought was to get away from the wand.
“None of yer business. Jest get ‘em for me, yeah,” Spike said, lifting his knife in his other hand and pointing it at the still giggling Petunia, whose eyes got large.
Her laughter took on a more hysterical tone. She knew she was in trouble and could not stop laughing. She looked up the staircase and hoped that Dudley would just stay in his room.
“Yeah,” Vernon said, backing away and moving to his desk in the living room. He started rummaging there and soon enough came up with the papers the man desired. He didn’t need them anyway. Besides, if they didn’t have the paperwork then no one could prove the boy lived here, right?
Spike followed, dragging Petunia with him. He had pocketed the wand and kept the knife out. He held it to her throat and waited impatiently for Vernon to get the paperwork sorted. “Ruddy well ‘urry up. I don’t ‘ave time to wait on ya,” he said, tapping is foot. He really needed to get things done today.
Vernon pulled out a folder with all of Harry’s paperwork including his school records. He handed it to the man, who took it and dropped the knife. Vernon grabbed his wife, who was still giggling.
Petunia had tears rolling down her face as her laughter was petering out. She had never been so scared in all her life. This day only got worse. She could hear Dudley moving upstairs and prayed that he stayed there.
Spike thumbed through the folder and saw that there was everything he needed. He tipped his head, whipped out his wand and Obliviated them. He didn’t want to be fingered for being here in any way. He then disappeared with a crack.
Vernon and Petunia were standing in the middle of their living room without the knowledge of what happened, and just how much more trouble they were in. To Inland Revenue, it would look like they tried to hide the evidence that Harry existed.
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The next morning, Vic was getting nervous. Spike had not been in touch with him yet and their appointment was in a few hours. He was fidgeting at breakfast. Arcturus wasn’t doing much better, but he was better at hiding it. Harry was just eating away, but he could feel the underlying tension.
“What’s wrong with you two?” Harry asked, looking at the adults. They had been glancing at the clock and their watches all morning. He knew they had an appointment; they had made him get dressed in good clothes this morning.
“We have some parchmentwork we’re expecting that hasn’t come in yet,” Arcturus said mostly truthfully. He didn’t say it could land him in muggle prison if they didn’t have it. He remembered that the Prime Minister was a good man, but firm. He was a stickler for the law, which is what had him worried. He could mind-whammy him, but he wanted him on his side, not some drone.
Selby Sorrel, the current PM, was a man of business, and his business was seeing to the smooth running of the United Kingdom. He was a Welsh man who came from humble backgrounds, and clawed his way to the top by being good at what he did. He had a clean record and was a viper in the courtroom.
If they didn’t have those records soon, Arcturus was doomed. Well, no he wasn’t, but their plans were. Not that muggle prisons could hold him long, but he wanted a relationship with the Prime Minister. Breaking out of jail would put a damper on that.
“Oh,” Harry said, eating his toast and sipping his milk and sugar laden coffee. He still got to drink one every morning.
Just then came a warning from the wards. Arcturus got up and went to the map. It showed that Spike was coming up the walkway. “How in all the seven hells did he know you were here?” he asked Vic.
“Beats me,” Vic said, going to meet the man at the front door. Spike was standing there in all his glory. His bright green hair shining in the morning sun. He was dressed in all black, even his duster was shining like a beacon in the light. “Come in, Spike,” Vic said, holding the door open. He was glad the man wasn’t a vampire.
“‘ello,” Spike said, looking around the richly appointed manor. “Top of the mornin’ to ya,” he added, nodding to Arcturus and Harry, who had joined Vic.
“Morning,” Harry said, brightly. He was in awe of that bright green hair. It was so far from normal that he knew his Uncle Vernon would hate it on sight.
“How did you know to find me here?” Vic asked, knowing that he never told anyone he was here. It would give the game away if they did. Well, maybe not now, but before the adoption, it might have. Now they could come up with some reason he was here.
“Floo records. You’d be surprised ‘ow much you can learn from ‘em,” the tall skinny man said with a wicked smile. “The chit who runs it will do anythin’ for me,” he stated with a saucy look. He put his hands in his duster and pulled out a large bundle of parchmentwork and handed it to Vic. There was no way that that much parchment could have fit in those pockets without magic.
Harry’s eyes widened with awe. He loved magic, and every time he saw it used, he loved it even more.
Vic took them and handed them to Arcturus, who opened them and looked through the bundle. Everything they needed was there, and it was good work. He wondered why it was all in neat script. It looked like it was done on a typewriter. Except for the magical parchmentwork, that required calligraphy. Those were done really well too.
“It’s all here,” the old man said, sighing in relief. He pulled out Harry’s Guardianship Papers and put them to the side. He then started looking for anything else they would need for this meeting. He pulled out things here and there and put the rest aside.
“I do good work,” Spike said, winking at Harry, who giggled. He knew how to use those computers, unlike most wizards, which made him the best forger in the wizarding world. He was muggleborn and had kept up with his education. He liked the wizarding world better though. There was more money to be made ripping off the purebloods.
“I’ll see the money is in your vault by the end of the day,” Vic said, making noises that the man should leave. “What about the muggle records?” he asked, putting his arms out in a ‘this way’ motion, moving towards the door.
“Got some done last night, but I’ve to get the rest done today and tomorrow,” Spike said, moving around Vic and admiring the artwork on the wall. “Told ya, these things take time,” he added, peering closer at a water scene. “Is this a Monet?” he asked Arcturus.
“Yes,” the man answered, still going over the paperwork. He pulled out Vic’s Birth Certificate and Health Card. They’d need those.
“Well, I’ll be buggered,” Spike said, leaning back awestruck that a wizard would have a Monet in his manor.
“It was a gift,” Arcturus said, putting the paperwork in his inner pocket. “I liked it, so I kept it,” he stated, waving the compliment away.
“We have an appointment to get ready for,” Vic said, making that ‘this way’ motion again. He really didn’t want Spike casing the joint, as the saying goes.
“Don’t get yer knickers in a twist,” Spike said, moving towards the door. “I’ll let you know when those records are all set,” he said, going out the door. “Ta,” he added as he closed the door behind him.
“I don’t trust him,” Vic said, once he passed the ward line.
“He’s a forger, not a thief,” Arcturus said, but he made a note to up the wards against thieves. They were formidable on their own but adding to them never hurt.
“I think he’s neat,” Harry chimed in, and then went to finish his breakfast. The other two followed.
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Hours later, they were at 10 Downing Street in London to see the Prime Minister. They had gone through all the check points and were soon seated in Selby Sorrel’s office. It was a well-appointed office with a mahogany desk and many matching seats for guests. There were tasteful decorations that showed that this was an office of a masculine gentleman, like golfing trophies, and some fox hunting items. It was done in greens and browns without it being overpowering.
Arcturus was handcuffed and not happy about it, but he was given a chance to tell his side of the story. Especially since the Dursleys were being questioned by Inland Revenue. Not to mention the fact that the boy in question was right there, looking healthy and happy.
“So, tell me what is going on,” Sorrel said, seated at his desk, a portrait of a wizard listening in on everything said behind him.
“You there, in the portrait, leave,” Arcturus said, glaring at the wizard in the portrait. He knew that anything that went on in this office was going to be reported to the Minister of Magic. Even the fact that they were here would make its way to Fudge in short order.
“I will not,” the portly portrait said, huffing like he was important.
“This is not a matter of state. Leave I say,” the old man said, making everyone in the room look on as the two argued.
“I am privy to everything that goes on in this office,” the portrait stated, which was true.
“Vic, if you would,” Arcturus said, nodding his head towards the portrait.
“Of course,” Vic said, waving his wand to the picture and causing a green and gold curtain to fall in front of it. It matched the décor. “There, that will block it from hearing and seeing us,” he said, smugly. They knew they couldn’t stop it from reporting their presence, but they could stop it from saying why they were there.
“Can you leave it there when you leave?” Selby asked in an almost pleading tone. He, and all those that had come before him, hated that portrait.
“Yes, yes, I can,” Vic said, waving his wand and adding a permanent sticking charm to the rod and curtain. “It can still be rid of, but it will take more than just a wave of a wand. Just shoot anyone who tries,” he said cheerfully.
“Thank you,” the PM said with heartfelt joy.
“You are more than welcome,” Vic said, knowing what being spied on by portraits was like. His mum did the same with the family ones in Grimmuald Place.
“Back to why we’re here. You were going to tell me why you have Harry Potter,” Sorrel said, nodding to Harry who was off to the side drawing with some pencils and paper.
“I’m his uncle on his father’s side. I’m a bastard that no one knew about. I needed to get his Guardianship Papers. To do that I had to prove who I was and let me tell you that was not as easy as it sounds. I lost all my paperwork in a fire and had to get them all redone both magical and muggle. When I got them, I approached Arcturus, here, since he’s related to the boy. We decided that we’d go and get Harry from the Dursleys. I was in my dog form as to not overwhelm him with too many males,” Vic explained, sticking mostly to the truth. He pulled out both the magical and non-magical papers and handed them over.
Selby looked them over and then handed them to his secretary who took them and hurried out of the room. Vic and Arcturus sweated for a moment, hoping at least those were in the system.
“Why didn’t you use the police?” was the next question.
“I didn’t know I was supposed to,” was the honest answer. “I thought I could just go and get him. When I found him in the boot cupboard, I took him away as soon as I could. I needed him to get comfortable with me, so I waited a few days before I reported them,” he added, trying to explain why he waited.
“They have a different story. They say you barged in and just kidnapped the boy,” Selby said, looking at both men as if to gage their reaction.
“They are lying. We knocked on the door and asked to see the child,” Arcturus lied with a straight face. “They didn’t want to tell us where he was, but Vic sniffed him out in the cupboard under the stairs.”
“Harry,” Sorrel called, waving the boy over. “Can you tell me where you slept at your aunt’s house?” he asked when the boy came over to them.
“In the cupboard under the stairs,” Harry said, shuffling his feet on the expensive carpet. “It was my room as long as I could remember,” he added, looking towards Vic, who just smiled a sad smile at him.
“Thank you, Harry, you can go draw now,” Selby said, nodding to the child.
Vic nodded too and patted him on the back. “As far as we can tell, he wasn’t physically abused. Starved and isolated. Mentally and verbally abused, but they rarely laid hands on him. He doesn’t talk about it, but he’s had a few nightmares,” he offered the PM. He was just glad that Harry didn’t let the Dursleys break him.
“Those are bad enough,” Sorrel said, running a hand down his face. He waved for the bobbies to release Arcturus. They did and then left. “I can see you acted in the boy’s best interests. When my secretary gets back from checking the papers, we’ll see if you are legally allowed to have the child. Until then tell me why you wanted this meeting,” he said, leaning forward a bit.
“We want your help reining in Fudge,” Arcturus said, rubbing his wrist when they freed his hands. “He’s allowing Death Eaters to buy his ear,” he stated, his voice going gruff. “And everything else about him,” he grumbled under his breath.
“They are passing all sorts of discriminatory laws against muggleborn,” Vic added, knowing that would get the man’s attention. “Not to mention the out and out biased laws on the werewolves. They are making it impossible for them to live, let alone function in society.” He was still missing Remus and the fact that he would not be able to take up his friendship with the werewolf.
“Are they now?” Sorrel said, getting a predatory look in his eye. “That was not in the reports I have been getting. I was told all was well in that world.”
“It is, from their perspective,” Arcturus stated, nodding his head knowingly.
“You need better spies,” Vic said, hoping the man had some spied there.
“I don’t have any spies in the wizarding world,” Selby said, with a great deal of frustration.
“Why?” Arcturus asked, thinking that would be the number one priority.
“None of the purebloods I know will do it, and none of the muggleborn can pass as purebloods,” Sorrel explained, sighing into his hands. “I’ve been trying for ages to get someone in. All the Prime Ministers have. A few have succeeded, but they are soon caught and disappear,” he said, lifting his head.
“What you need, mate, is a woman to do it,” Vic said, thinking on any woman that he knew that would take up such a task. Amelia Bones came to mind, but she was too law abiding. Then again… Or his niece, when she grew up, with her metamorphmagus ability. She’d make a great spy. He’d run it by Andy… Oh, wait, he can’t. He wasn’t Sirius anymore. Arcturus could though. Or Harry. “Uncle, you might want to speak to Andy about Nymphie,” Vic said, a tinge of sadness in his tone.
“That would be an excellent idea,” Arcturus said, looking to Selby. “My niece’s daughter is a metamorphmagus, which means she can change shape. She’s only a child now, but if we get her early, she can be trained up,” he explained. “I’ll need you or someone of authority to come with me,” he added, thinking Andromeda would not simply listen to him.
“Something to look into,” Selby said, thinking that was a good idea.
“We can make an appointment via owl later this week,” Arcturus said, making a mental note of it.
“Again, back to the matter at hand. I need more information. I can’t just take your word for it. I do have a few contacts in the magical government that I will be confirming things with. I have some pull with a few other people. Don’t worry, gentlemen, this will not be swept under the carpet,” Sorrel said, going over his reports. His secretary came back in and brought back the paperwork. She whispered in his ear and then left. “Well, it seems that most of your paperwork checks out, but your Health Card isn’t up to date. You might want to remedy that,” he said, handing it all back to Vic.
“I will,” the dogman said, taking it all without the relief he felt showing on his face. “Might I make a suggestion,” he inquired.
“Yes?”
“Hire a few muggleborn on your security detail,” Vic said, looking around the room, and noting that one man stood in the corner. “Keep them here at all times. They will prevent any magicals from mind-whammying you,” he continued, nodding his head in a knowing fashion.
“It has been suggested before, but was shot down by the Minister of Magic,” Sorrel said, his shoulders slumped.
“Don’t tell him. He’s not your boss. Hire from the muggle world,” was Arcturus’ suggestion. “Many muggleborn come back to this world after they leave Hogwarts,” he added, nodding to Vic who nodded his confirmation.
“I’ll look into it,” Selby said, jotting down a note.
“I’d check the armed forces,” Vic said, not sure why but they seemed to go there when they left.
Sorrel nodded and made another note. He then looked at the clock and said, “Well, if that is all, gentlemen.”
Just then three men came through the fireplace in a flash of green fire.
Vic and Arcturus raised their wands and stunned them all as they exited. Well, not the black man, who quickly ducked behind a bust and pillar. He got off a few shots before he surrendered.
Selby Sorrel and his guard were under the desk in quick order. Harry was tucked behind a large potted plant. Vic and Arcturus were behind their chairs.
“Wait,” the black man cried, holding his wand out. “It’s the Minister,” he added, like that made a difference.
And he was right, Fudge and Malfoy were knocked out on the floor.