Looking to her two senior aurors, she said, "Right. We're going through the rest of this Department before we move on the rest."
"Same claim of a burglary ring?" asked Scrimgeour.
"Yeah; it's a good cover story," she replied. "But brooms for Broom Regulatory Control, and portkeys for the Portkey Office. Let's get it done."
They found a possible couple of future Death Eaters in Broom Regulatory Control who were such because they were unhappy with their lot in life. But found another two Death Eaters in the Portkey Office and just about all of them willing to, and having already taken, bribes.
Within the Portkey Office it was harder to find an honest witch or wizard than the other way around.
There were no problems in the Apparition Test Centre offices. With the exception of a single blood bigot - who had nothing against muggleborns, really - those folks, apparently, were far too staid.
"Where to next, Boss?" asked Scrimgeour.
"Level Five, Department of International Magical Cooperation," she replied after a moment. "We might as well work our way up."
"What about Magical Games and Sports on Level Seven?" he asked.
"Most of them are at the second task, this morning," she replied with a little shake of her head. "We'll skip them, for now, and get them next time."
"Shall I get us a couple more aurors who're on the 'Five No's' list, Boss?" asked Robards.
As they were walking, Madam Bones thought about it for a moment and replied, "Do it. But, go down and get them, directly. I don't want loose communications running around here that anyone clever enough to do so can latch onto. And make sure they're at least fully qualified Aurors. We'll meet you on Level Five."
"Right you are, Boss," replied Robards before he headed for the lifts. Sirius had been having a ball, but he was now grumbling as if his favourite toy had vanished. He'd spent the better half of the past week plus, near terrorising the Minister's office and staff with demands to know when his godson would be receiving his Order of Merlin, First Class.
He thought to himself, 'If they thought Augusta Longbottom on a rampage was scary; they ain't seen Sirius Black!'
However, Sirius didn't just walk in, make demands and yell at flunkies. He politely asked to see the Minister, and got in to see the man after only having to wait a day.
"Mister Black," said the Minister, walking around his desk to shake Sirius's hand.
"Minister," said Sirius. The Minister then gestured expansively towards a chair before his desk. "Please," he smarmed. "Take a seat."
"Thank you, Minister."
As the Minister retook his seat behind his desk, he asked, "Now, what can I do for you, Mister Black?"
'Straight to it before we're interrupted,' though Sirius. "Well, Minister; I find myself quite confused about something, and hope you might be able to clear the air, for me."
"Well," buffed Fudge. "I don't know if I can; however, I can certainly try."
"Thank you," said Sirius. "It's like this. You see, one of my godson's bondmates asked Madam Longbottom to look into why my godson has not received his Order of Merlin, First Class yet."
That made the Minister suddenly blanch. Clearly, the man had forgotten Sirius was Harry's godfather.
"Of course, the diligent witch she is, Madam Longbottom came to your offices to try and find out what the hold up was, and see if she could... assist... in speeding things up a bit.
"Now, she's only about a week into that... assistance... when, all of a sudden, the Minister organises a secret evening auror raid on a specific healer at Saint Mungo's. And, wouldn't you know it? It also happens to be the same healer treating Madam Longbottom's son and daughter-in-law. And, wouldn't you also know it? The healer's been drugging the Longbottoms keeping them in their mentally ill state." "Umm..." stammered the Minister.
"Of course, the Longbottom heroes are woken up, and Madam Longbottom... Regent Longbottom... immediately drops everything and hurries to their bedsides. Including, dropping her investigation into why my godson has not received his Order of Merlin, First Class, yet.
"What an astounding coincidence; eh, Cornelius? One of the very few things that could cause Madam Longbottom to break off her investigation and... encouragement to act... of your office, and it happens. And, not only that, but it happens right in the middle of Madam Longbottom's investigation. And, it's you and your simpering Senior Undersecretary, who are right in the forefront of it. "Wow, Cornelius. As I said, what an astounding coincidence," Sirius falsely gushed before his expression morphed into a flat stare. "The trouble is, I don't believe in coincidences."
"Ahh..."
"Here's the way I and my friends see it, Cornelius," said Sirius. "You see, everyone knows what a publicity whore you are. You see a camera aimed in your general direction and you have to posture. If you see a reporter wanting to take notes you have to gush words of self-importance. It's what you are.
"So, how is it that... when the award of an Order of Merlin, especially First Class, is such a huge publicity event... you come over all reticent to make the award? Especially when it's as popular as awarding one to Harry would be."
"Errr..."
"Well, that's easy to deduce, isn't it, Cornelius? Because, if there's one thing you value more than publicity, it's political power, and the holding on to that power. After all, it's why you're such a publicity addict in the first place. And, the only way you can hang on to political power is with the backing of, shall we say, certain benefactors?
"Hmm. So, either Dumbledore or Malfoy, or both, have demanded you block young Harry getting his well-earned and deserved Order of Merlin, First Class. That's not very polite, Cornelius.
"Umm..."
"However, I can help you see reason. You need to also be aware of some major changes in the political landscape that have recently occurred. If you had been aware of these, beforehand, you may not have so foolishly acted as you have.
"The first is that Dumbledore doesn't have the support within the Wizengamot you appear to think he has. His powerbase has been well and truly undermined. And that's happened because young Harry has reactivated the Potter alliances."
"He... did that?" asked a thoroughly cowed Fudge.
"He did," confirmed Sirius. "Young Harry, though he does not sit upon the Wizengamot yet, has effectively taken control of the alliance. And, in doing so, has greatly reduced Dumbledore's support base. He is no longer, and hasn't been for a while, Dumbledore's 'man'."
Sirius watched as Fudge tried to think that out.
"But, not only that, Cornelius," he continued. "I'm taking back control of the Black alliance."
Fudge's eyes widened so much they nearly bugged out of his head.
With a slow nod and smirk, Sirius said, "I see you understand what that means. It means much of Malfoy's alliance is being stripped away from him.
"So, you see, Cornelius; you're worrying about the wrong two wizards and their threats. Malfoy may have money to, shall we say, support your re-election campaigns; but, that's about all he has now. Together, Harry and I have the numbers to make your re-election quite impossible should we wish it. We may even have the numbers to get you booted from office. That is, of course, if we thought we'd need to.
"Do you understand what I'm telling you, Cornelius?" he asked.
"I..." tried understand."
Fudge.
"Err...
Yes.
Yes;
I
"I thought you might," smirked Sirius. "I believe you're leaving us for about a week in a few days."
"Errr... yes," replied Fudge. "A... Heads of Government meeting in some dinky foreign country in Europe."
"Liechtenstein," said Sirius. "I think at least a week away from magical Britain meeting with your peers should do you a world of good, Cornelius. You should take Senior Undersecretary Umbridge with you, if you weren't already. Order your office not to contact either of you unless it's concerning the existence of a state of war, or something. Take time to relax.
"Then, when you feel well-rested after your not less than one and not more than two weeks away from the office, you come back here and immediately organise young Harry's award ceremony for his Order of Merlin, First Class. You should plan on awarding it to him no later than the end of March; preferably, earlier. Alright, Cornelius?"
"Umm... yes. Capital idea," he said.
"Nice chatting with you, Cornelius," said Sirius, rising to his feet. "I'll see myself out." Without even looking back, Sirius simply strode from the room. As he walked out of the Minister's offices, he thought to himself, 'And, that's how the Blacks do it.'
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