 Lovely™ | Captain Hurted | Ariana's Bane | Resident Antagonist | Unparalleled Delight
A little birdie. Jake had heard that one before, a dad joke if ever there was one, he was fairly certain. He automatically followed the Minister's gaze to the sealing doorway; whether because of work, or experience in raising his little menaces darling children, he had long since formed the habit of not launching into anything but the most casual conversations until all doors had closed behind him. Maybe it was ridiculous, when magic took care of all that, but he supposed it was hard to shake that muggle mindset, even after all these years.
"You do know how to pique a man's curiosity," Jake said, looking back to Charles, intrigued, yes, but only a little. He figured it was probably a work thing, some report the Minister had just looked over that required feedback, perhaps, or anything to do with Level Two. They'd get there soon enough. "Tea would be great, thanks. Have to steer clear of sugar." Terrible intolerance to it, any processed sugar, not naturally occurring. Never pretty. Poor Ez had inherited it from him too.
Unfastening the lower button of his suit jacket, Jake took a seat on one of the couches, then lined up the parchments in his hands by tapping them on his knee, ready to hand them over once Charles was sitting too. "Wanted to run these by you; proposed schedules for the trials of the Neo-Alliance faithful. There's a list of those who appealed for clemency too, plea bargains, plus those who gave witness statements." Et cetera. Seeing his own child's name in there had been jarring (again), even if it was just in the context of that last. At least the full statement wasn't in that stack - none of them were, as the most sensitive documents were stored securely on Level Two for the time being - and his kid wouldn't be making a personal appearance at any trials. If Jake had his way they'd be at Hogwarts year-round; safest place for them at this point. Unsettling to think that, all things considered, the clock was ticking, the sands quickly running out.
He cleared his throat, adjusted his tie; Charles, of all people, would understand his concern, would likely have some sympathy for the situation, but Jake wasn't going there. "I just need you to give the schedules the once-over, and to let me know if you think there's anything here that needs addressing before we start getting it all arranged." There were dozens of investigations still ongoing, more trials to come in the future. Reports dribbled in even now, though most turned out to be hoaxes or blown wildly out of proportion. Most, but not all.
Even when years passed and it all became less raw for their society, Jake imagined they'd still be chasing down the final stragglers, the crafty ones who had so far slipped through their fingers.
__________________ Days of Potter 2023:___________________________ Which Bertie Botts Flavour Are You?
You are Chocolate! |