Independent Operations?
Ministry of Magic, outside Dolores Umbridge’s (former) Office, 1:45 PM
”I’m confused, Minister,” confessed Tonks. “During the interrogation, Umbridge stated that Moody escaped, and made it to Hogwarts, yet Auror Shacklebolt said that Crouch, Junior, was impersonating Moody….”
”He was, but not until October,” confessed the Wizard in question, as he neared the group. He’d managed to use the hubbub in the area to cover his ordinarily loud approach.
Moody quickly told how Pettigrew had Transformed from his Animagus form, then Stunned Moody just before the Triwizard Champions were to be announced. The next thing he knew, he’d been looking at “himself”…just before being Stunned again—this time by Crouch, Junior—and being thrown into the bottom of his nesting trunks.
”Obviously, Umbridge never got the word that ‘you’ weren’t ’you’,” noted Tonks.
”That makes sense; however, she’s also enough of a ‘loose cannon’ that she undoubtedly decided to continue working on her own agenda…right under my nose,” mused Fudge.
”A true Slytherin, through and through,” added Arthur.
”I’m still glad you Stunned her, Arthur. That got things moving in a better direction…and a lot faster than if I’d sent her to Hogwarts in September, as DADA….,” Fudge started.
”Actually, I’d like another chance at that job, myself, Minister,” Moody interrupted. “By the way, Sir, it seems that Snape and Sprout are combining forces to have students gather Potions ingredients, and the early classes have really come through. Dumbledore said Snape should have enough to start the first batch of Veritaserum tonight.”
”Excellent!” Fudge replied. “Ideally, we can coordinate with Dumbledore, and tackle the Board of Governors and the Wizengamot at the same time.” He was already planning what promised to be a significant purge.
”I’m hoping Bill has some good news from Gringott’s,” Percy said.
”Why don’t we take a break for a late lunch, everyone?” Cornelius proposed, checking his pocket watch. “Mr. Moody, could I persuade you to pop into the office, and take a quick look around, and then join us? Ms. Skeeter, here, found a large case of Blood Quills; there’s no telling what else is in there.” Fudge had a definite devious tone in his voice.
Moody’s matching feral grin, at the thought of using his Magical Eye, to speed the search for more contraband—and hopefully turn up the heat even more on Dolores Umbridge—was the only answer Fudge needed. While Moody was quite capable of dealing with Hexes and Curses of all types, Alastor was still glad to see Bill Weasley approaching; an extra pair of capable hands would come in handy. Bill barely had time to say, “We’ll talk later, Father,” before Moody motioned the Curse Breaker to come with him.
~~~~~
All of a sudden, both Witches in the group stopped, trading confused—yet thoughtful—expressions on their faces. Rita spoke first. “If Pettigrew was roaming around free…,”
Tonks picked up the thought: “…then, maybe, he’d read the Prophet’s announcement about Mr. Moody’s upcoming position at Hogwarts…,”
”…and started tracking Moody…,” put in Arthur.
”We need that rat!” Fudge’s frustration nearly made him roar, and Percy Weasley squirm uncomfortably. Arthur—some decidedly Slytherin thoughts surfacing in his mind—saw Percy flinch.
Thus, it was Arthur who provided the key clue. “Well, until his cover was blown last June—I’m a little foggy on the details—he was a family pet…and he’s missing a toe on one front paw…,”
”…which should translate to a missing finger,” the Animagus added, trying to piece together the puzzle of how fragmented the Death Eaters’ actions had been.
”I know that your family has all but adopted Harry Potter. Do you think that he has any more information that will help us track down that cemetery…and Pettigrew?” Fudge asked Arthur.
”I can certainly try to speak with him, although I’m not sure when,” replied the Weasley patriarch. “In the meantime, we have lots of pictures of Scabbers, our former family rat. We can get them to you after lunch Friday,” he added, looking straight at Percy.
As Fudge led the group—minus Tonks, who’d dashed off, to update Shacklebolt—to the Ministry’s nearest Commissary/Restaurant, one thing became crystal clear to Rita Skeeter: As uncomfortable as her own future promised to be, she would not have traded places with Percy Weasley for all the money in Gringott’s…for the prospect of facing his mother had turned his blood to ice.