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Off Site Location
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 06-14-11 19:25
Griffin Price arrives after Harry at an off site location Kingsley Shacklebolt had told Harry about. They'd made the decision that with Harry and Griff closing the net on Rufus Henshaw and with the man having people working in the Ministry, at this stage in the game meeting outside of the office would be best. Griff and Harry have so far identified nine Ministry employees on Henshaw's payroll, a far larger number than they had expected. They'd been thinking there was one or two, maybe ven three. But nine and they are still investigating so it's possible they will turn up a few more.
Knowing that Henshaw has people from a variety of departments on his payroll, and as yet not having identified anyone from law enforcement, Griff and Harry have had to be extremely careful in selecting others to pull into the case as they get closer to arresting Henshaw. As it would be greatly beneficial to Henshaw to have someone from law enforcement, either an Auror or a Hit Wizard or possibly even both, on his payroll, Griff and Harry are working under the assumption that there will definitely be a tenth name on the list and it will belong to someone they know, maybe even have worked with. With any luck it will be someone they don't know all that well or someone that neither of them much likes.
Harry looks up from the table where he's got a trail of paperwork laid out. Griff doesn't look so hot making Harry wonder if he's ill. "You okay?"
Griff rakes fingers through his hair, blinks a couple of times, then goes straight for the coffee Harry's got brewing. "Worked really late then didn't sleep well, and so far the day has been extremely chaotic."
He takes such a big gulp of coffee, Harry thinks it's a wonder that Griff didn't end up spitting all the coffee right back out from scalding his mouth. Somehow he manages to swallow then asks, "Where are we this morning?"
"Your friend Ruth found something for us that might link Henshaw to another murder."
"That's great. The more we get on him the longer he goes away for. Which murder?"
"Last year in September, Tim Applewhite who worked at Stygian's in Knockturn Alley."
"That the one where the guy's lungs looked liked they'd exploded?"
"That would be it. When it comes to the gruesome factor, Henshaw is not lacking."
Griff moves closer to the table, looking down at the parchments Harry's got spread out. "Is this what Ruth gave us?"
"Yeah. Apparently her people had questioned Applewhite about a week before he was murdered. He mentions Henshaw."
"So why are we just now getting this? It was Ruth who brought us information to tie together what they'd been doing with what we were doing."
"She said it was an oversight. If there's more to it than that, you'd be better at getting it from her. Anyway, this is the transcript of their interview with Applewhite and these are copies of the surveillence they'd had on him and other documents. I'd just started going through the file to see what's here when you arrived."
Griff takes another gulp of coffee then holds out a hand for part of the file so he can help get things organized so that they can sit down and start reading through everything. As Griff had brought sandwiches with him, he and Harry eat lunch while they read. Even though Griff is steadily working, Harry can't help but think that part of Griff's mind is elsewhere and wonders if whatever it is was the reason for Griff's bad night.
Neurology
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 06-15-11 17:57
This week found Hermione back at St. Mungo's after her wedding, honeymoon, and the additional days she'd taken off to allow herself to get settled into her new life with Ron. The return to St. Mungo's also introduced her to the newest clinical rotation in her line-up, Neurology.
Hermione quickly discovered that her new rotation couldn't have started at a better time. Since the beginning of the month or so, a couple of healers had been involved in a study about memory, with heavy emphasis on memory loss. Hermione was fascinated by their research and quite enjoyed learning about the study.
Since enrolling in the healing program at St. Emrys all those years ago, Hermione had always wondered about conducting research in the field of healing rather than practicing healing exclusively. It had certainly helped that she'd worked for the Committee for the Development of Magical Spells at the Ministry of Magic.
Although she wasn't directly involved in the memory study and wouldn't be working with any of those patients, Hermione hoped that she could observe the trial from time to time.
Currently, she shadowed Barbara Bones, one of the healers on the Neurology floor. Hermione wore a brand new name tag with the name H. WEASLEY on it. She stepped into the room Healer Bones had just entered and stood off to one side of the occupied, metal-framed bed.
A patient sat up with a pillow propped behind his back. He wore a standard, hospital-issued robe, which was just as unflattering as a Muggle hospital gown.
"Mr. Fenwick," Barbara said by way of greeting, after picking up his chart, "How are we feeling today?"
"I've got a splitting headache," Mr. Fenwick replied. To Hermione he didn't look older than 25, but he wasn't anybody she knew from Hogwarts.
"Let's have a look, then." Barbara put away his chart and then went to his side, raising her wand to his temple. It twitched in her hand and guided her to a spot just over his left ear.
"Mr. Fenwick woke up this morning after having a series of seizures. What might be afflicting him, Weasley?"
Although Hermione had grown accustomed to signing her name Hermione Weasley, she still wasn't quite used to hearing somebody call her by that name. She hesitated a moment, and then, upon realizing that Barbara was indeed speaking to her said, "If they are ongoing, then it could be epilepsy. Head trauma also can cause seizures, but I don't see any evidence of that. A tumor, maybe?"
"A tumor is not unlikely," Barbara murmured, "but we won't know for sure until we run some more tests." She patted Mr. Fenwick on the shoulder and said, "We'll have your headache sorted out soon enough, not to worry."
But he looked anything but not worried. The word tumor had definitely drained what little color had been in his face.
Hermione smiled at him reassuringly, but that didn't help either.
OMG?
Author: Desdemona Diamond
Date: 06-15-11 18:07
I was enjoying a fairly nice quiet day at work when out of nowhere I hear Bronwyn’s voice and my name. I was a bit surprised to see my best friend walking towards my desk with a purpose. That’s when she showed me the tabloid; and started making a scene. I figured I needed to get her someplace where she couldn’t make a scene.
“You know what Bron, you’re right. I should start thinking about others,” Bron’s expression went right to confused as I stood up, “In fact, I’m thinking that you’re hungry and should eat lunch,” I said to her as I grabbed my coat.
“What? No, I’m not-“ Bron started but I yanked her out of the chair before she could finish, “Ow! Are you trying to pull my arm out?”
“Nope, just trying to go to lunch,” I said, I had to turn around real quick to grab the tabloid before pushing a resistant Bron out of the office. As we moved Bron stopped talking, not sure what was going on, but she wasn’t making it any easier to move her either.
It didn’t take long to get to the lift and into the Atrium, before flooing to my apartment. Finally alone, I paused and took a deep breath.
“I thought you said we were going to lunch,” Bron said a little confused.
“We can eat here, besides, it’s more private then the office or anywhere else,” I told her.
“So, are you going to tell me why you’re being selfish by not thinking about Xavier?”
“How about I start from the beginning?” I asked.
“Fine,” Bron said with a huff.
“Alright. After our anniversary I didn’t hear anything from Xavier. Not Christmas or New Years. So, in my spare time, when I wasn’t doing crazy amounts of overtime, I started looking for him.”
Bron just stood in silence, as I sat down in a chair before continuing, “Well, I started with his band mates, and after getting hit on by Blaine, I figured something was up. They hadn’t heard from him in a while anyways.”
“Blane hit on you?” Bron asked.
“Yeah, but not the point. So, after speaking to them, I spoke to my grandmother, who hadn’t seen Bianca during the holidays.”
“Bitch…” Bronwyn interjected not entirely under her breath.
“So, after a bit of work, I finally managed to track them down. After they had gotten married. Which was the end of January or the beginning of February.”
“They got married… two months ago?” Bron asked with a bit of surprise.
“Yeah, quiet courtroom one,” I answered, “Anyways, I had to talk to my mom about it. I had come to find out that Bianca had already talked to her about it.”
“WHAT!?”
I sighed, “Not long before I did…”
“But still! She didn’t tell you? Or didn’t turn her in?”
“I’m getting there…”
Bron stopped, still wanting to fire questions at me, but finally said, “Ok.”
“My mom had spoken to her a couple days before me. Bianca apologized for what she did and confessed everything because she didn’t want Mom all mad at her.” I had to raise my hand to stop Bron from speaking, “She also explained herself.”
“Ok, that I have got to hear,” Bron said finally sitting down.
“She had said that she was tired dating jerks, and when she stayed with me she saw Xavier was actually a nice guy. She decided she wanted a guy like him. Then it went to why find a guy like him when she could probably get him.
“But, she decided trying to win him would be to hard, so it would be easier to steal him.”
”That bitch!” Bron blurted out while standing up again.
“Still not done…” Bron stopped and crossed her arms.
”She said she thought about it for a while because she didn’t want to hurt me, or loose one of the best shopping friends she’s had. However after she went home something in her finally made her go for it.”
“You still haven’t said why you’re not going to do anything.”
“I know,” I said, “See, at home, she was acting a bit like a mom, so I think her maternal instincts kicked in and she wanted to start a family.”
“So?”
“So, she did. And as I tried to figure out what to do, I did think about Xavier, and Bianca. A lot. I can barge in there, remove the spell and arrest my sister. But what would that do?”
“Fix things!”
“Would it? Bianca would be upset cause she lost everything; Xavier would have to deal with what happened with Bianca, and he may have developed feelings for her. Not to mention how my parents would take it. How would you feel with one of your kids arresting one of their siblings?”
I paused a moment, “Bianca did this because she was sad, lonely and wanted a family. Xavier is happy. If I were to do something I would ruin it for both of them.
“Xavier would have to decide between Bianca, myself, or going alone if the spell were to end. There’s what to do with Bianca, throw her in jail, leave her alone, to forgive her or not…”
“Still doesn’t make it right!”
“No, it doesn’t. However, if I do something, it won’t fix it either. It’ll just open up a huge can of worms. So, that’s why I’m not going to do anything.”
What Would You Do?
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 06-17-11 17:47
After lunch at Desi's house and the intense discussion about Bianca and Xavier, Bronwyn left the London flat feeling a mix of emotions. The one person she wanted to talk to about them was on an overnight trip with the Falmouth Falcons. And he still wasn't home when Bronwyn left for work the next morning.
All throughout her broadcast, she couldn't stop thinking about Desi's reasons for not doing anything about Bianca. The distraction caused her to stumble over her words more than once or to simply blank out in the middle of talking. Half the time, she didn't even listen to what the others said.
After the show went off the air, Bronwyn retreated to her cubicle, but wasn't left with a moment's peace. Milla, the co-host who had alerted her to Bianca's secret wedding to Xavier, immediately came over and questioned her about what was going on. After all, Bronwyn had left in a hurry yesterday and just hadn't seemed right thereafter.
Bronwyn didn't want to talk about it with Milla, no matter how well she liked her coworker. She wasn't Toby, who knew Bronwyn as well as the back of his hand and would give her the solid advice she needed. When it was finally time to go home, Bronwyn made no stops en route to the duplex. Toby still wasn't home, though, so she sat and waited.
And waited and waited.
When at last he arrived via floo, Bronwyn rushed to her feet to greet him.
He noticed the odd look on her face and dropped his bags to the floor. He took her into his arms and asked, "What happened?"
Bronwyn looked up at him with questioning eyes and asked, "What would you do if you knew somebody had committed a crime, and that turning that person in would probably make things far worse than simply leaving it be, even though you know, deep in your heart, that what this person has done is very, very wrong?"
Toby gently took Bronwyn by the shoulders and asked, "Did you have another memory, Bron?" He didn't want to flatout ask her if she'd committed a crime during those lost days four years ago, but he felt she would understand what he was asking, even without saying the actual words.
"No, Toby. For once, it's not about me," Bronwyn replied. She hesitated. "It's not about murder, or anything. It's still pretty bad, though."
"Want to tell me about it?"
"Yes," Bronwyn said. She led him to the sofa and, while holding his hand, told him in a rush everything she had learned yesterday. He listened without interruption.
"So, I ask again," Bronwyn began, "what would you do?"
Toby shook his head. "Desi's in a difficult position, but I think I would do the right thing and turn Bianca in. Yes, it will cause an upheaval in the lives of everyone involved, but I think it's necessary. The truth needs to come out."
Bronwyn nodded. "I'm really kind of angry with Bianca, and I can't believe her parents are okay with this. I would like to think that my parents would disown me if I ever did something so deceitful as to steal my brother's boyfriend."
"I guess it's a good thing Asa isn't your type." Toby shot her a grin.
Bronwyn leaned into him with a smile. "Ha. Anyway, I don't know what to do. I want to turn Bianca in so badly because I know what it's like to have my mind tampered with, and I don't care if Xavier is happy right now because his memories are fake. He was happy with Desi too. So GENUINELY happy."
"But what do you suppose will happen to Desi if you come forward?" Toby asked. "As an auror, she has a legal obligation to report and handle crimes as she becomes aware of them."
"I don't want her to get in trouble," Bronwyn admitted, "but I'm afraid to go the anonymous route. What if I get in trouble for shielding my sources. Can't people get arrested for withholding information?" She blew out air and collapsed against the sofa cushions. "Now I wish I never would have found out the truth."
"The best thing would be for Bianca to come forward, but I can't picture her doing that," Toby said. He grinned slyly at Bronwyn. "Perhaps you should suggest Xavier enroll in the memory study at St. Mungo's."
Bronwyn rolled her eyes. "I haven't seen him in half a year, at least. For all I know, Bianca made him forget our friendship too."
"Is he playing at Emrys Fest this year?"
"I don't know. I'm not involved in the planning this year."
Bronwyn reached for a pillow and pressed it into her face. She screamed.
Toby patted her head. "Bron, this isn't your battle."
"But I can't not do something about it. Bianca is in the wrong."
"So, are you going to come forward?"
Bronwyn hesitated and then raised the pillow back to her face. "I don't know!" she screamed into it. "I don't bloody know what to do!"
She felt Toby seize her hand. He got up and pulled her into a standing position. She dropped the pillow on the couch.
"First, I'm going to take you out to dinner. Then, you're going to sleep on it. Perhaps tomorrow, you'll want to make a statement to Anthony."
Bronwyn sighed. "All right."