Culling Aftermath Ⅲ

There was a stunned lapse of silence as Minister Jenkins barely refrained from swearing, before rubbing her now aching head. After a while, she finally grumbled, "Very well, continue."

"A brilliant wizard if his Riddle's followers are to be believed," Reginald snorted with disdain. "But I will grant him this much, he in fact a powerful wizard and very much dangerously so. Do not make the mistake of underestimating him, Minister. He fooled one of the greatest of wizards of all, Albus Dumbledore, and even had the audacity to perpetrate a crime right under Dumbledore's crooked long nose."

Minister Jenkins closes her eyes for a moment, before breathing deeply. Opening her eyes firmly with a determined expression. "Senior Auror Percius Clements has been instrumental in tracking Riddle's whereabouts to Albania despite this important piece of information. With the aid of Senior Auror Alastor Moody and his partner, Auror Rufus Scrimgeour."

Minister Jenkins made a face as she said, "I will admit that I underestimated the inklings of Auror Moody and that of Auror Scrimgeour. Both Ogden and I had dismissed their incredulous theories with much skepticism as to how could the wanted criminal known as Tom Marvolo Riddle possibly be associated with the infamous Dark Lord also known as Lord Voldemort. Prior to being partnered, Auror Moody & Scrimgeour were separately assigned by Ogden to investigate the abrupt disappearance of one of our unspeakables, Augustus Rockwood. They were convinced of a dark conspiracy, but Ogden and I dismissed their words."

"With the murder of Sara Vinovich Auror Clements was persuaded to their side," Minister Jenkins said with a sad expression. She had been friends with stubborn Auror. And she still visited the grave of her friend every blue moon.

"Ogden and I believed that Auror Clements was clouded by grief and only further dismissed their concerns. With the disappearance of another of the Ministries own, Harold Minchum, Ogden and I turned a deaf ear to their cockamania," Minister Jenkins lamented.

"I owe them an apology and I will quickly rectify the situation by personally informing them alongside the Head of Law Enforcement, Elphinstone Urquart," Minister Jenkins solemnly vowed. "Though for the time being I will ask them, Urquart, and including you, gentlemen to keep this crucial piece of information tightly under wraps as there very likely are spies among our midst."

"That being said, I cannot force you, two gentlemen, to do anything that you do not wish to do," Minister Jenkins dully admitted. "All that I ask of you, gentlemen to please to keep this particular piece of information close to your chest for the time being."

"It shan't be a problem, Minister," Sanderson sincerely said with a lazy grin, while Reginald Prince merely titled his in a stiff nod of agreement.

"Thank you, gentlemen," Minister Jenkins said with a bit of relief. "As agreed, upon by all parties, I shall begin to move more openly and in force with the political momentum on my side. As promised, Prince, I will begin to tie down those associated with the Dark Lord. And Sanderson-."

Minister Jenkins paused as she eyed the innocent-looking weathered old man. "I trust that you will not relapse into old habits. And though I will uphold my end of the bargain under due protest from some of my Auror's, I expect that your end of the deal will hold true. I dislike being made into a liar."

"No, my time as Potentate of London has come to an end, Minister," Sanderson truthfully replied. "I am old and seek a new venture which to embark upon. A merchant is a suitable occupation for one as wily as me. It will serve to keep me out of trouble and from being underfoot or at least that's what the wife says."

Reginald lets out a soft snort at Sanderson's words. The best lies are half true. And Sanderson was devious enough to even fool the Minister of Magic. For Sanderson had fooled far more deadly foes.

Minister Jenkins studied the visage of Sanderson but finds that his words ring truthful. Slowly nodding her head, she says, "Then I wish you well, Sanderson on the embarkment of your new path in life."

"Why thank you, kindly for your words, Minister," Sanderson said with a bit of grin. "I'll be sure to tell, my wife, Clarice that. She'll be positively thrilled to learn that the Minister was thinking of us common folk. My Clarice is quite the fan of you, Minister, and she campaigned quite hard for you among our neighbors."

Minister Jenkin's face twitches, before she forcefully turns away from Sanderson lest she blurts out something that could not be unsaid. "Is there anything else to speak on Prince?" She carefully asked. She owed the old Prince, and they both knew it. Just as easily as he had aided her in becoming the Minister of Magic for another term, he just as easily could see to it that she was forcibly removed. She had to live up to his expectations.

"With the turning of the populace in our favor, I will propose the enaction of the Auto. Database," Minister Jenkins said as Sanderson listened with interest. "The created database-.

Sanderson raised his hand and interrupted, "Pardon me, but what is this word, Da-ta-base?"

"It is a structured set of data," Minister Jenkins immediately replied having asked the same question herself. "Muggles typically keep store said database on a COM-PU-TIR, or so I have been told. Our squibs, muquibs, and muggleborns are in the process of creating a similar artifact. It shall be called the Automatic Data Processor also known as Auto or Auto Data. Files will be stored magically on to the Auto. The database will be interconnected to a magical network termed the Magical Brain or M.B. for short. Once the Magical Brain is up and running information can be accessed from anywhere within the system and from any location. Naturally, identity security and other securities will be put in place, but it is widely believed that this will revolutionize the wizarding world as we know it! The applications for the Magical Brain are endless!"

Minister Jenkins practically beamed as she explained for, she was a Ravenclaw and she believed in the pursuit of knowledge above all things.