3:30 PM
Wright stood before the green campfire, manipulating the silvery mist.
The green flames had merged with the mist, forming delicate tendrils that resembled the veins of a leaf or the sprawling roots of an immense tree, stretching into the fireplaces of countless British wizarding households.
The staff of the Department of Magical Transportation watched intently, like students in a classroom, studying every step.
Arthur Weasley stood among them, having slipped in quietly.
Nearby were Unspeakables from the Department of Mysteries, leaders and staff from the Auror Office—Scrimgeour, Shacklebolt, and Moody among them—along with some field agents who'd rushed back, eagerly observing and discussing.
The green flames surged but gave off no heat.
The transformation would take time, followed by testing to ensure stable, safe transmission without disrupting regular material transport. Connecting the Memory Mirror to the Floo Network might not happen until tomorrow afternoon or later.
Melvin wasn't involved in the technical work. He was there as the head of the Mirror Club, primarily to meet with department heads and thank them for shutting down Fudge's objections.
"It's been years since the Ministry was this lively…" Madam Bones remarked from the sidelines, smiling. "The last time the Floo Network Authority saw this many wizards was probably 150 years ago during that overhaul. The whole wizarding world was in a panic over that missing person case, even boycotting the Floo Network."
Crouch, standing nearby, frowned slightly. "That wasn't exactly a missing person case. The teleportation error wasn't the Floo Network's fault."
He'd worked in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement before transferring to International Magical Cooperation and had read the case files, leaving a strong impression.
"Are you talking about the Violet Tillyman runaway case?" Melvin asked.
He'd come across it while researching the Floo Network in the library.
In the autumn of 1855, Violet Tillyman, a witch, quarreled with her husband, Albert, and stormed into their living room fireplace, sobbing as she used the Floo Network to head to her parents' home to vent.
Albert thought little of it, letting her vanish into the green flames. Weeks later, with their home in chaos—no clean dishes or socks—he realized she hadn't returned and went looking.
He Flooed to her parents' house, but her parents said Violet never arrived. Albert, disbelieving, searched their home in a fury, only to confirm she was truly gone.
Her parents reported her missing to the Ministry, publishing notices in the papers.
Despite exhaustive efforts, Violet was never found.
The news sparked fear among wizards, who worried about vanishing during Floo travel. The Ministry responded by ordering a full inspection of the Floo Network, publishing the results to quell the panic, a process that took months.
Twenty years later, after Albert's death from illness, when everyone thought the case would remain unsolved, Violet reappeared.
She'd mispronounced her destination while crying, landing several counties away at the home of Aldous Hawse, a handsome, gentle wizard. In a melodramatic twist, she fell in love, bore him seven children, and lived happily ever after.
It was… hard to judge.
"Even if it was Violet's mistake, the Ministry had flaws. If they could've tracked her destination, the mess wouldn't have happened," Bones said.
Crouch's brow remained furrowed. "Wizards aren't gods, Amelia. We can't predict every accident…"
They disagreed on the case, neither convincing the other. As department heads, they kept their tones civil, mindful of their positions.
Melvin sidestepped their debate, inching away.
He scanned the surrounding staff and asked Old Will, "Will Fudge visit the Transportation Department today?"
Old Will, leaning on his cane against the wall, hesitated. "Probably not. I haven't heard anything."
"He's not coming. He's busy moving Umbridge's office!" Tonks popped up from nowhere, her purple hair vibrant. "After getting publicly rebuffed by the department heads at the last meeting, Fudge is furious. He's plotting with that pink toad Umbridge to teach you and the Mirror Club a lesson."
Melvin raised an eyebrow. "What's he planning?"
"Don't worry, I've got you backup!"
Tonks grinned, pulling a short wizard from behind her.
…
Leaving the crowded Floo Network office, they followed signs to the Apparition Test Centre. The short wizard led them into an office. With the Transportation Department staff busy observing outside, the centre was unusually quiet.
Sitting on a guest sofa, Melvin was about to ask about Fudge's plans when a steaming cup of tea appeared before him. Tonks rummaged through a cabinet for snacks, clearly at home here.
Sipping Ministry-provided tea and nibbling treats, Melvin listened to the Auror's intel.
"So, Umbridge wants to sue me for Apparating without a license?" Melvin's expression was bemused, his Muggle-minded thinking unable to grasp such an absurd tactic.
In the bright office, Tonks nodded, swallowing a doughnut. "They want to embarrass you, make you look bad. That's enough for them."
"Mr. Levent, Apparating without a license violates regulations. You could face a fine of up to 2,000 Galleons," the short wizard behind the desk explained. "If it's deemed serious and the Minister pushes for harsh punishment, you might face three months' imprisonment."
Melvin turned to the frail wizard, whose skin was strikingly pale, hair and lashes nearly transparent, and eyes almost colorless, giving him a ghostly air, as if a breeze could blow him away.
"Wilkie Twycross, Apparition Test Examiner," the wizard introduced himself, extending a hand. "Pleased to meet you, Professor Levent."
Melvin shook the delicate hand gently, hesitating before asking curiously, "Mr. Twycross, do you have albinism?"
Wizards, nourished by magic, rarely suffered Muggle physical ailments. Even generations of inbreeding typically led to mental issues, not genetic diseases like this.
"I've heard of the condition, but no," Twycross said, smiling. "This is from frequent Apparition over the years. Some unknown magical force weakened my constitution."
Melvin, intrigued, stole a few more glances.
"Let's talk about the license," Twycross said, flipping through a file. "We hold Apparition classes at Hogwarts annually, issuing licenses based on final exams. Adult wizards must apply independently, which is a hassle, with only three test dates a year… Professor Levent, did you ever get an Apparition license from the American Magical Congress?"
"No."
"…"
Twycross frowned, pulling a parchment from the pile, listing this year's adult test dates.
"The last test was in December, just passed. The next is after Easter, three months away. If Umbridge sues you, it could be tricky."
"They want to drag you to court, humiliate you, and flex their authority. Whatever the penalty, it'll be a hassle," Tonks added, frowning. "That pink toad is disgusting."
The office fell quiet, save for Twycross flipping through parchments.
"You've analyzed it well," Melvin said, tasting a Ministry pastry and wiping his hands with a napkin. "There's just one hitch. A lawsuit needs evidence. How will they prove I Apparated without a license?"
Tonks and Twycross looked up, puzzled. Tonks reminded him, "They'll use a Prior Incantato to check your wand."
Melvin shrugged. "I usually cast wandlessly."
"Maybe they'll have a witness."
"I don't Apparate in front of others."
"…"
The two Ministry employees fell silent. They'd spent so long in their rule-bound roles, focused on dodging Umbridge's lawsuit legally, that they hadn't considered Melvin wasn't exactly a by-the-book wizard.
…
Evening
Madam Edgecombe and a few staff escorted them to the Atrium's fireplaces.
Most were Old Will's friends, plus some Unspeakables and Transportation staff, discussing technical details with Wright. Bones and Crouch, as department heads, had their own affairs and didn't join in.
One idle department head mingled among them: Ludo Bagman.
With neat golden-blond hair, blue eyes, a flattened nose, and a ruddy face, his loose robes strained over his round belly, giving him an affable look.
During the last wizarding war, Bagman had passed information to Death Eater Rookwood, landing him in court. But due to his minor role and good reputation, he avoided Azkaban, paid a fine, and kept working in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, eventually rising to head it.
His gambling hobby kept his vaults empty, and recent pub bets had left him deep in debt, desperate for some shiny Galleons.
The Mirror Club's business, he knew, was lucrative.
"Professor Levent, once the Floo Network's upgraded, we can watch the Memory Mirror from home. Where can we buy one?" Bagman asked, beaming.
"There's no shop selling them yet, and the Mirror Club has no plans to open one."
"…"
Bagman's eyes lit up.
Pubs had earned tens of thousands of Galleons last year. If he could become a Memory Mirror distributor, his vaults could be as full as his belly!
Melvin glanced at the department head calmly. "If you need one, order from nearby pub owners. They're the distributors. Pricing will be negotiated together."
Old Will, limping along with his cane, overheard. Staring at the Atrium's patterned floor, he thought Jack and Alfie would be thrilled to hear this.
They'd made the right choice.