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Post by Alex Kameren on Sept 6, 2010 21:49:44 GMT -5
Alex looked at the simple sheet of parchment in his hand, such a simple bit of paper, yet so dangerous to him and his colleagues. Embossed with the Ministry's official seal, and imbued with irreplicable spells, it was official. He scowled, his eyes falling to a single paragraph.
"In accordance with the Auror Revelation Act, all Law Enforcement Officers must sign a Full Disclosure Agreement in order to stay employed by the Ministry. Immediate termination of employment is the penalty for failing to do so by September 31st."
Alex ignored the irritated pecking of the Ministry Post owl, waving it off without paying. He crumpled the sheet, turning it into a small, mashed ball that he quickly lit on fire.
The small pile of ashes didn't bring him any satisfaction.
Alecsander sat in a secluded corner of the Cauldron, drinking firewhiskey and brooding. The Ministry had sent him another one of those damnable letters today, as though reminding him that the deadline was near. He was, however, completely certain that he did not want his records seen by the public.
But there was another matter that pressed more recently on his mind. It had, in fact, happened a mere three hours ago, when his team had cornered a witch who was selling items enchanted with Dark Magic to muggles.
The Auror lifted his wand to cast a binding charm on the woman, just a simple charm, really. It should have gone smoothly, but instead there had been a strange feeling, a sort of squeeze that seemed to affect their lungs but really affected their minds, and the woman was a pile of ashes. Theodore's Junior had thrown up. Alex advanced, wand at the ready, but there was no need. There wasn't even a bone left, just ash.
Alex swigged down the last half of the whiskey, acknowledging the truth most seemed unwilling to hear. Magic had gone wonky. He waved at the waitress for another drink.
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Post by sam on Sept 6, 2010 22:45:27 GMT -5
Sam entered the Leaky Cauldron with the last of his possessions bound for overseas. His rucksack was heavy with items marked for distribution in Canada: a number of parcels marked CLASSIFIED for barter between the Ministry of Magic and the Canadian Federation of Wizards, and samples of natural commodities that one could not retrieve from the rich landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Despite the weight of Sam's rucksack, however, the only thing that bothered him as he nodded to the bartender and received his regular firewhiskey was an impatient Ministry Owl, that fluttered in great fury over a giant of a man (much like James, Sam noted) huddled in the corner.
Deprived of last night's sleep, an impatient Sam quickly grabbed the owl by the legs and ushered it outside without so much as a word and without putting down his drink.
Re-entering the establishment, the miner tossed his rucksack in to an empty booth across from the man with the Owl infestation. Sam gave the younger lad a once over, noticing that the man appeared more wiped out than he and nodded his regards before plopping down upon the bench. A bar maid brought over a second drink for Sam and he tipped her handsomely:
"Lucy, can you please bring the lad another. He looks like his cat died. On my tab. Thanks, love."
He then dared to speak to the only other patron this side of the pub.
"Those messengers have been getting a bit viral. I was patient with the first three but by the tenth I was crafting a dinner menu featuring Owl. Identity cards." Sam was clearly not impressed. "Flipping brilliant."
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Post by Alex Kameren on Sept 6, 2010 23:35:47 GMT -5
Alex was sipping at his new drink when another owl appeared hovering over his head and dropped a letter. Alex ignored it, transfiguring the letter with a silent touch of his wand into a puddle of water. He siphoned this up, waving an irritated hand at the owl hovering over his head. He went to wave it again when a hand reached out and grabbed the owl by the legs and escorted it to the door. Alex’s keen eyes observed the man as he returned. About 5’11”, black wavy hair, hazel eyes. Features vaguely familiar, he was about thirty and looked slightly sleep-deprived.
Alex nodded gratefully to the man. ‘Thanks.’
"Those messengers have been getting a bit viral. I was patient with the first three but by the tenth I was crafting a dinner menu featuring Owl. Identity cards." Sam was clearly not impressed. "Flipping brilliant."
‘If it were only that simple.’ Alex muttered in a low growl, he was evidently less impressed with the new laws. His eyes were bright with fire whiskey, but his voice was even and un-slurred as he reached across the small table to take the other’s hand. ‘Alex Kameren.’
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Post by sam on Sept 7, 2010 0:02:21 GMT -5
Sam returned the firm handshake.
"Sam Black. Rough day, hey sport? I'll take it you received more than your Ministry-issued card then. Exactly which Department do you work for?" Sam eyes fluttered down to the remnants of the last delivery. "Nice puddle."
Sam accepted menus from the bar maid and handed one to Alex.
"You'll like the pot pie. It works wonders with the whiskey." Sam took in Alex's haggard appearance and felt oddly empathetic and sorry for the stranger. In the past he had little opportunity to liaise with other Ministry officials in London but in this situation he was less concerned with Kameren being a Ministry man and more concerned that he was playing target practice with his mail. Sensing Alex's despondence, Sam took the lead,
"I'll order."
...and held up a "2" to the bartender, who keenly obliged.
"Mr. Kameren, you look strangely familiar but I can't seem to place you. When you're not in the Leaky Cauldron where do you roam?"
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Post by Alex Kameren on Sept 7, 2010 0:45:23 GMT -5
"Sam Black. Rough day, hey sport? I'll take it you received more than your Ministry-issued card then. Exactly which Department do you work for?"
Black. Alex’s mind flashed back to an earlier time. “The Kamerens are a pureblooded family, Alex. We reach back eons.” A slim finger tapped a large sheet of parchment. “The Blacks are nearly as old. We’ve often intermarried with them.” The finger moved. “Same with the Malfoys.” A grimace of distaste. “Keep in mind, Lucius and his lot are a disgrace to the family. We don’t acknowledge them.”
‘Black? I think I must have some distant Black cousins.’ Alex looked at the menu, not terribly interested in the food, though within him he felt his belly rumble alarmingly. ‘Auror.’ He added as an afterthought.
"You'll like the pot pie. It works wonders with the whiskey."
The auror’s expression was one of careful blankness, he didn’t respond to Sam’s sally about the pot pie as he studied the bottom of his glass through the amber liquid.
"Mr. Kameren, you look strangely familiar but I can't seem to place you. When you're not in the Leaky Cauldron where do you roam?"
‘I’m usually working or at home.’ Alex waved away the “Mr Kameren”. ‘Please. Alex will do.’
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Post by sam on Sept 7, 2010 23:10:28 GMT -5
‘Black? I think I must have some distant Black cousins.’ Alex looked at the menu, not terribly interested in the food, though within him he felt his belly rumble alarmingly.
Sam looked thoughtful at Alex's mention of a possible family connection. He certainly knew of the Kamerens, but what purebloods weren't related in some fashion these days. The race for magical purity meant a certain uncomfortable brush with marital nepotism and all of the original magical families were guilty of it. Sam was more struck by how much Alex looked like he belonged in the family line. He rather mirrored James when he was younger.
"Well in that case, I'll invite you over for Winter Solstice."
'Auror. I’m usually working or at home. Please. Alex will do.’
Everything quickly made sense and Sam silently offered his understanding; the newly minted Auror Revelation Act imposed a potentially deadly threat on the lives of those who so selflessly gave of themselves to protect others. Being an Auror was a thankless job and Alex had every right to seek the company of a firewhiskey. Sam was certain that facing a Dementor was more favourable to Alex than receiving yet another Ministry Owl. The winged visitors were constant reminders that his safety was gone.
There was another flutter at the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. The bar manager bellowed:
"OWL."
- and Sam deftly whipped out his wand to charm the door locked. A pile of greyish feathers and a loud squawk! were all that made it through. Sam may have been incapable of sparing Alex his fate but at least he'd help him find a little breathing space.
A few minutes later, Lucy appeared with two steaming platters of food (and another round of firewhiskey) and set the order down upon the table. Sam handed his distant cousin a set of cutlery and then reached in to his jacket pocket to retrieve a small bottle containing fresh herbs, which he sprinkled on the golden pie crust. He offered this too to Alex.
"It's good. Mountain ginger and a bit of thyme. It's good for settling the stomach, reducing pain, and helping with the mornings after firewhiskey."
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Post by Alex Kameren on Sept 9, 2010 22:14:57 GMT -5
"Well in that case, I'll invite you over for Winter Solstice."
Alex groaned quietly and took another large gulp of the amber whiskey, not feeling the burn on his throat numb from previous drinks. What had he gotten himself into? A simple few words, strung together, and he seemed to have acquired more family members. He looked morosely at the scant liquid left. This was why he didn’t usually drink.
There was another flutter at the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. The bar manager bellowed:
"OWL." A slight smirk, almost a true smile, crossed Alex’s face. He chuckled darkly, watching a feather float to earth. “The owls are just pissed I’m not paying postage.”
"It's good. Mountain ginger and a bit of thyme. It's good for settling the stomach, reducing pain, and helping with the mornings after firewhiskey."
“Surely you don’t think I’ll need that?” He asked dryly, accepting the vial and sprinkling the herbs on the food, which he dug into with a vigour that was surprising, considering his earlier claims to not being hungry.
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Post by sam on Sept 9, 2010 22:42:43 GMT -5
"Alex, I think you will absolutely be needing it," Sam replied matter of factly, taking the nearly empty goblet from the Auror's hand and setting it aside. "Food. Eat. Now."
Sam dug his fork in to the delectable pot pie, devouring the dish like it had been eons since he last saw food. In truth, Sam knew this was his last of the Leaky Cauldron's esteemed cuisine, at least for the next several months, and he wanted to eat every crumb of it before his stomach caught up with him and said it was too full.
"You should go private," Sam said between mouthfuls. "Start a practice in London as an Elite Dark Wizard Catcher for Hire. In the muggle world, they have these people called Bounty Hunters. Agencies put up rewards for known criminals and the bounty hunters make a living off catching them. You can be your own boss, work according to your rules and forget about leaving a calling card for those who want to spit on your guts. Bonus."
"Are you related to Curse Kameren?"
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Post by Alex Kameren on Sept 9, 2010 22:58:22 GMT -5
"Alex, I think you will absolutely be needing it," Sam replied matter of factly, taking the nearly empty goblet from the Auror's hand and setting it aside. "Food. Eat. Now."
Alex was already eating, but he didn’t protest the removal of the old goblet, instead he tapped the new one with his wand and transfigured the whiskey into water, which he gulped down.
"You should go private," Sam said between mouthfuls. "Start a practice in London as an Elite Dark Wizard Catcher for Hire. In the muggle world, they have these people called Bounty Hunters. Agencies put up rewards for known criminals and the bounty hunters make a living off catching them. You can be your own boss, work according to your rules and forget about leaving a calling card for those who want to spit on your guts. Bonus."
Sigh. “Former Aurors will have to sign too.” He explained. “They will fire me if I don’t let my file go public, and then they’ll make it public anyway.” Truthfully he didn't plan on leaving the ministry. Someone had to be there to keep an eye on things. He pushed some of the pot pie around, his expression thoughtful. “Curse is going to Hogwarts, since they made him sign the Disclosure too.” And just two weeks ago he told me he’d go crazy if he had to teach.
"Are you related to Curse Kameren?"
Alex chewed his last bite of food and swallowed. “Older brother.”
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