章 996: Feast of Saint Valentine Aftermath

Despite the late hour, the Ministry of Magic is buzzing with Ministry of Magic employees moving about as buzzing like busy little Cornish Pixies. The giant attack had been successfully repelled but there had been fatalities among both the Aurors and Hags and that of the civilian populace. Thankfully, the scope of the attack had primarily been centered around Rowle manor and there was no need for oblivator's to be on standby. Still, there were plenty of tasks to do including tracking the fleeing giants and tending to the survivors.

Just outside of the Minister of Magic's office, Mrs. Prim, the undersecretary of the Minister of Magic prepares a list of reports including a speech for Minister Jenkins to read before the reporters and public masses. The door of the Minister of Magic's neat, book-laden office is tightly shut by three individuals inside. Eugenia Jenkins, a stout, somber witch despite the late hour appears to be neatly put together with her thick bobbed hair in a rigid updo.

"Have a seat, Auror, you appear dead on your feet," Minister Jenkins commands at seeing the exhausted state of Auror Rufus Scrimgeour.

"Thank you, Minister," Auror Scrimgeour tiredly rasped, before gratefully slumping down in a chair. His scarlet Auror uniform was charred and singed from spells not to mention physical injuries sustained during the battle.

The Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Elphinstone Urquhart furrows his brown in concern causing his widow's peak to dip even lower. Maintaining his composure, Elphinstone proceeds to give his report. "During the course of the battle, 5 Auror's were lost, half a dozen sustained serious injuries, and even more so sustained minor injuries. Among our allies, the goblins sustained only a few injuries from a lucky long-range attack. However, among the Hags, there was one fatality with more Hags seriously injured."

Elphinstone paused to glance at Auror Scrimgeour, who roughly said, "Senior Auror Moody was among those more seriously wounded and is presently being treated at St. Mungo's."

Minister Jenkins refrains from letting out a curse. "What is the prognosis of Auror Moody?"

"St. Mungo's staff says, Auror Moody will recover, but he lost his right eye while dueling Death Eater Antonin Dolohov," Scrimgeour gloomily answered.

"Auror Moody is one of our most veteran and talented Aurors, where was his partner?!" Minister Jenkins demanded to know.

"Auror Moody was temporarily paired with Auror Dawlish," Elphinstone flatly replied. "However, in Auror Dawlish's defense, he had been ordered by Auror Moody to aid Team 2. Auror Dawlish partially obeyed, before returning to aid Auror Moody. Thankfully, Auror Dawlish arrived in time to kill Antonin Dolohov and save Auror Moody."

Minister Jenkins frowns at the response. "I suppose Auror Dawlish cannot be outrightly punished," she unhappily concluded.

"No, Madam, but Auror Dawlish will seriously be reprimanded and placed on temporary desk leave as punishment," Elphinstone responded much to the chagrin of Scrimgeour, who still thought Dawlish was getting off easy.

Minister Jenkins pressed her lips into a thin line and clasped her hands together. "And what of losses among those present at Rowle Manor?"

"Thankfully most of the women and children evacuated in time," Elphinstone truthfully replied. "However, there are those that are still unaccounted for which are presumed dead."

"Speak clearly, Elphinstone," Minister Jenkins said fearing the worst.

"Among the dead, we found one of our own," Elphinstone said with a pained expression. "Stephen Flint was proclaimed dead."

Minister Jenkins closed her eyes at hearing the name of the wizard, who she even called a friend. "Has his family been notified?"

"No, Madam," Elphinstone quietly murmured. "I was planning on personally delivering the news myself."

Minister Jenkins opened her eyes and waved her hand at him. "No, I will personally deliver the news. Stephen Flint was an old friend, and I won't dishonor his memory by handing off the responsibility to another."

Rubbing her gritty-filled eyes, Minister Jenkins asked, "Who else is among the dead that we should be concerned about?"

"Bogdan and Lysithea Fawley," Elphinstone sighed in resignation. "The Fawley's are members of the 28 Families and their only daughter is betrothed to marry the secondborn son of Walburga and Orion Black."

"They will want retribution," Minister Jenkins concluded with a sour expression.

"Undoubtedly," Elphinstone drily muttered. "However, there is also no small measure of concern as some witness statements collaborate an abnormality with the attack."

"Which is what exactly?" Minister Jenkins impatiently snapped.

"Multiple witnesses claim that at the start of the attack, the host, Livius Rowle was in as much shock as they and even more surprising utterly enraged by the uncalled attack."

"And?!"

"Among the collected corpses the body of Livius Rowle was found, but-."

"Quickly now, Elphinstone, I grow weary of this!"

"There was the mark of a Death Eater upon his forearm," Elphinstone gravely declared as Scrimgeour let out a low whistle of surprise.

"A Death Eater, are you certain?" Minister Jenkins asked again.

"I am absolutely certain, Minister," Elphinstone solemnly confirmed. "Yet the more pressing question is if Livius Rowle was in fact a Death Eater then why was he killed in the attack? And why did he fight against those that should be his sworn allies?"

"Regardless of the reason, Livius Rowle is dead now," Minister Jenkins pursed her lips. "The press will all over us for the death of Stephen Flint. And the fact that Livius Rowle was a Death Eater will only add more fuel to the fire." She paused, before gravely staring at the Head of Magical Law Enforcement. "Bury the information, Elphinstone, we cannot afford to have it be known that Livius Rowle was a known Death Eater.

Auror Scrmigeour lets out a squawk of protest. "Minister, Rowle was a Death Eater!"

"Death Eater or not, Livius Rowle fought to the death to protect those in attendance of his ball," Minister Jenkins steadily retorted. "The masses will only remember his sacrifice and we cannot alienate the remaining branches of the Rowle family, who will surely become crucial informants in order to avenge the death of the head of the Rowle family."

"Remember Scrimgeour, we are here to serve the people," Minister Jenkins much more gently said. "I acknowledge your sense of duty, but there must be a balance to your righteousness. It is far better to hide the dirty sheets of one wizard if we can in exchange for the ability to save the lives of countless instead." Auror Scrimgeour did not speak merely shaking his lion-like mane in response.

Minister Jenkins slumped back into her chair tiredly rubbing her head as a migraine began to slowly gain strength. "Is there anything else?" She asked.

"As of this moment no, Madam," Elphinstone clearly clarified.

Minister Jenkins waved the two wizards out of her office, but not before saying, "And Auror Scrimgeour, you look dead on your feet. You are not fit to work. Go and rest, I am sure there will be plenty of work for you to do in the morning."

"Thank you, Minister," Rufus Scrimgeour muttered his thanks as he stumbled away in sheer exhaustion. In this state, he likely wouldn't be able to apperate home. Thankfully, there was a resting room full of comfy warm beds for tired Aurors working late to nap on.

Taking pity on Scrimgeour, Elphinstone helped the younger wizard to the resting rooms. In Rufus Scrimgeour's current state, he was likely to walk into the women's lavatory and fall asleep there. Now that truly would make for a scandal if the Daily Prophet had anything to say about it!