"I would be interested in hearing exactly how this evidence made its way into your hands, and who you got it from," Potter added. "Especially since I haven't heard anything of the sort, and I work with the treasurer."
"Maybe it's because you're helping her," young Emily Bones told him acerbically.
"Oh please, I don't need to take money from the state," Potter replied arrogantly.
Orion held up his hands, forestalling the Bones matriarch's angry response. "We have copies of the documents that we were given right here. Expense reports from Minister Thornton's travels, copies of her personal accountant's notes, and communications between Minister Thornton and her personal accountant regarding several of these expenses. We also have the book for some of the businesses Minister Thornton was using to launder the money."
"How much exactly are we talking about here?" Prewitt asked apprehensively.
Romulus rifled through the papers, before handing them over. Prewitt's eyes widened in shock. "Seven million galleons? How did she ever move that kind of money without anyone noticing?"
"The businesses she was using as a front had a lot of small denomination cash traffic," Romulus answered. "As a result, she managed to get a lot of it in circulation, effectively removing any chance that we could trace it after the fact. This is merely a tally of all the inconsistencies between her accountant's personal records and the actual expense reports submitted to the treasury."
"And we're supposed to just believe you?" McNair asked.
"Not us," Romulus said, "the evidence." He handed the man the stack of papers.
"Who did you get this from?" McNair asked, paling visibly after glancing through the pages.
"A source that would like to remain anonymous, for now," Orion told him. "A sensible precaution, as there may be those seeking retribution for exposing these kinds of activities, if our informant's identity became known."
"Understandable," Prewitt agreed.
"Let's say we take this evidence to be true," Abbot said, "then why did you ask just us? You could have brought a formal petition to the Wizengamot, and have requested a hearing on the matter. Why do this off the record?"
Orion and Romulus shared a glance. They weren't quite ready to reveal the news of a new dark lord rising to the others just yet. "We have no idea who else may be involved. So far it appears that it is just Minister Thornton and her personal accountant. However, she has many friends and allies in the courts, and the Wizengamot. In order to bring this matter to a swift closure, we felt it best to bring an immediate vote of no confidence before the Wizengamot, followed by a formal investigation, instead of the other way around," Orion replied.
"I see…" Emily Bones said.
"So, what do you propose, Orion?" Abbot asked quietly as the papers made to round and found themselves in his hands. "If we bring a vote of no confidence before the Wizengamot, you need to have a successor lined up. We're in the middle of the term."
"Obviously, it would be best to not hand control of the government to anyone currently involved in the Thornton administration," Orion explained with a pointed look at Potter. "However, we have as of yet not decided who our nominee will be. This matter just recently came to our attention, and part of the reason why we asked you here was to ask your opinion on that matter, in addition to asking for your support on the vote."
"I need to think on this," McNair said.
"Of course," Orion acknowledged. "I think it would be best if you all did. This is a lot to take in."
"Can I take a copy of the papers? I would like to look at them myself."
"Of course. I will have a copy made for each of you."
One by one, the guests filed out of the room until only Davian Prewitt was left. "I don't know if this has anything to do with what you've just told us, Orion, but I heard a few things about that Ashworth fellow you've been dealing with lately. I heard that he's of particular interest to one of the Aurors. Moody is his name, I think. Alastor Moody."
"I know," Orion replied quietly.
"You also realize that I know Jerome Ashworth? He lives near Brisbane these days, but he's got access to the family register. Oddly enough, when I asked him about it, he told me that there was no one named Harry Ashworth on the family register. In fact, no one his age exists in the family."
"You're saying Ashworth is a fake name?"
Prewitt shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he's using a glamour charm to make himself appear younger. Maybe he doesn't want to be found. Whatever the case, watch your back around him, Orion."
"I will. Thank you for your concern, Davian."
With a tired sigh, the Black patriarch watched his friend walk out the door. The clink of glassware announced Romulus's return with a carafe of firewhiskey and two snifters. "Well," he began, "it went better than I thought it would."
"That it did." Orion took one of the glasses and poured himself a shot. "No one seemed to question the validity of our evidence."
"It took a lot to have all that forged on such short notice."
"You made sure there were no gaps?"
"Naturally. The forgers did excellent work, even if the price was completely unreasonable."
Orion nodded gravelly. "That it was, but time is of the essence. We have to push this vote forward. Our current administration is nowhere near prepared or capable of fighting a war against a dark lord. Not after the last war."
"Grindelwald was a complete disaster. I can't fault the government for not wanting to acknowledge the existence of a new dark lord. They're scared of what'll happen, and it's easier to just pretend everything is going to be fine." Malfoy swirled his glass around and stared into the amber liquid thoughtfully. "They did have a point, though. Who do you think should succeed Thornton if the vote goes through?"
"I don't know. But it must not be one of the politicians. They would be just as bad as Thornton."
"Grindelwald was a complete disaster. I can't fault the government for not wanting to acknowledge the existence of a new dark lord. They're scared of what'll happen, and it's easier to just pretend everything is going to be fine." Malfoy swirled his glass around and stared into the amber liquid thoughtfully. "They did have a point, though. Who do you think should succeed Thornton if the vote goes through?"
"I don't know. But it must not be one of the politicians. They would be just as bad as Thornton."
Malfoy nodded. "Aye, they would be. It's a shame that we need to end Thornton's career like this. She may be a politician, but McNair was right. She always acted for the good of the state, even if it cost her the support of her party."
"At least chances are good she will avoid a jail sentence. The evidence we concocted is just enough to pass the vote of no confidence, but a good lawyer will be able to argue that most of it is speculation."
"You're taking a big risk with this. We could've had more direct evidence falsified, instead."
Orion shook his head. "I know, but sending Thornton to Azkaban for things she didn't do is not something I am eager to be an accomplice of. This entire matter is distasteful enough, as it is."
"You never liked subterfuge," Malfoy chuckled. "However, what do we do if the vote does not go through, because the evidence wasn't strong enough?"
"Then we will have to consider other alternatives. For now, let us hope that what we have set in motion is enough."
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