Chapter 124 - – New Partner

The forty-year old's dark head with slicked-back hair bobs up and down as he reads the stacks of reports on his desk. With a sigh, Elphinstone Urquart rubs his head causing his widow's peak to move up and down for a moment. A knock at the door causes Elphinstone to look and say, "Come in."

As the door opens as the newly implemented Interdepartmental memos merely three months ago flutter inside. With a sigh of mixed feelings, Elphinstone sees the neatly folded paper like airplane notes flutter inside and land on his desk. Glancing over at the young lion-like figure closing the door, Elphinstone says, "Well, what brings you in, Auror Scrimgeour?"

"Sir, I've come to report that I found something of interest among Rockwood's personal items," Rufus Scrimgeour replied as his tawny hair shook like that of a lion's mane. His yellow-brown eyes flicker as he says, "Sir, I have reasons to believe that Rockwood was searching for an artifact of some sort and was in contact with a third party."

"Rockwood?" Elphinstone said in disbelief. "But he's as solid as they come."

"That's exactly what I thought," Scrimgeour said as he pulled out a thin scrap of paper from his pocket. "But I found this sir, and I think you should read it."

Elphinstone extends his hand and takes a scrap of parchment. "Rockwood, have you found a way in? Lord Voldemort grows weary-."

"Lord Voldemort?" Elphinstone softly said as a shiver seemed to pass over his flesh.

"Who else have you told, Auror?" Elphinstone asked as he tore his eyes away from the slip of parchment.

"No one else, sir," Scrimgeour solemnly replied.

"Then you have my permission to keep digging," Elphinstone instructed. "If Rockwood was mixed up in something than it's in very deep waters. Take care to not be caught by the fierce current and be dragged underneath."

"I won't, sir," Scrimgeour promised as Elphinstone taps his fingers against the desk. "But just in case, I think it's more than ample time that we partnered you up, Auror Scrimgeour."

"But sir, I'm more than fine on my own!" Scrimgeour protested as a knock was heard at the door.

Motioning at Scrimgeour to keep silent, Elphinstone says, "Enter." The door almost slams open to reveal a middle-aged man with a scar running down the edge of his cheek. His uncut brown hair reaches the edge of his open collar.

"Sir, a word," Alastor Moody said as he stood at the side of the door.

"Come in, Auror Moody, just the wizard I wanted to see," Elphinstone said as Alastor warily shut the door behind himself.

"Auror Moody, I do believe that you are familiar with Auror Scrimgeour, are you not?"

"Yes, sir, I am."

"Excellent, in that case, allow me to present to you, your new partner," Elphinstone confidently proclaimed to the utter horror of both Auror's.

"But Urquart!" Alastor vainly protested.

Elphinstone cuts the Auror off. "I am well aware that you work alone as does Scrimgeour. But it is high time that both of you got a partner. It's that or you'll both be on desk duty until I deem it otherwise," Elphinstone broached leaving no room for an argument.

"Yes, sir," the two Auror's dully said in unison.

"Good, now Scrimgeour if you would wait outside for your partner, I need to have a private word with Auror Moody," Elphinstone ordered as Scrimgeour all but stomped out of the room and slammed the door shut behind him.

Both wizards stare at the door before Alastor says, "Youths these days."

"Mm," Elphinstone hummed in agreement. "And may I ask why you have come to see me, Moody?"

Alastor quickly waved his wand and casts an anti-spying spell lest his new partner tries to listen in. "Sir, I have reason to believe that the felon known as Tom Riddle is gathering like-minded wizards in secret," Alastor tentatively said.

"And for what nefarious purpose?" Elphinstone said with some disbelief as Auror Moody was infamous for seeing conspiracies everywhere.

"I believe that he seeks to become a source of mayhem."

"Auror Moody, are you telling me that a felon is attempting to sow seeds of fear? But in the meanwhile, is postponing his grandiose plan in order to gather dark forces? Is that what I am understanding?"

"Well, I wouldn't phrase it quite like that," Alastor protested. "Rather than I believe he is too clever and will become a most imminent danger to us all if he continues to remain uncaught."

Crossing his arms over his chest, Elphinstone arches his eyebrow. "And have you found this dangerous wizard?"

"No, sir, but I have some good leads," Alastor confessed.

"Well, until then, Auror Moody, I expect you to stick to your current cases," Elphinstone flatly said. "Now, off you go," Alastor growls and whirls around causing his Auror robes to flap angrily behind him.

But before Alastor can slam the door open, Elphinstone warningly says from behind, "Auror Moody, I expect you to get along with Scrimgeour. That is not a suggestion, Auror."

"Yes, sir," Alastor hissed, before wrenching the door open with a thud. "Scrimgeour, come!" Scrimgeour hides a snarl and stomps after his new partner. Needless to say, there were bound to be explosions within the department from now on. And Merlin helps anyone who got between the Mad Auror and the Lion.

Elphinstone warily shook his head and windlessly shut his office door before opening the Interdepartmental memos to be read. Not even finished with the first one his office door is opened as Elphinstone thinks, "By Helga's rear, I have yet to even finish the first one!"

A young, freckled red-headed clerk enters carrying personal correspondence in his arms. "A personal letter for you, sir," the jolly redhead said. "It's been checked and found to be clean, sir."

"From whom?" Elphinstone warily asked. It better not be a missive from his mother trying to match him up with some witch! He'd had enough of her matchmaking to last him the rest of his lifetime.

"No, sir," the freckled clerk said as he quickly scanned the name scrawled across the envelope. "It says here it's from Hogwarts from Professor McGonagall."

Elphinstone almost snatches the letter from the young wizard clerk's hands but manages to control himself. "Thank you-," Elphinstone pauses as he glances at the young wizard.

The redhead wizard blinks and grins. "Arthur Weasley, sir."

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," Elphinstone said as he carefully took the letter.

"Your welcome, sir," Arthur Weasley said to only hesitate and glance back. "Um, sir, a word."

"Yes, Mr. Weasley?" Elphinstone glanced back up in curiosity.

"I heard that Cabbit, head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office is looking for an assistant. And though it's only Mr. Cabbit and Mr. Perkins, I was wondering if you could put in a good word for me," Arthur quietly said.

"And why is that, Mr. Weasley?"

"Well, I've got an almost two-year-old son at home and another one the way," Arthur sheepishly said.

"And I take it that you're hoping for the better pay?" Elphinstone mused.

"In part, sir," Arthur confessed. "But if not for circumstances of life, I'd have enjoyed earning a mastery in muggle studies."

"Well, Mr. Weasley, I'll see to it that I put in a good word for you," Elphinstone promised. "But the rest is up to you."

"Thank you, sir!" Arthur gratefully said, before excitably departing out of the office to share the good news with his expecting wife, Molly.

Elphinstone didn't even wait for the door to shut behind, Mr. Weasley before tearing the letter open with his hands. He eagerly reads the writing of beloved for only to eyes to dim at another rejection. Sighing, he helplessly put the letter away with the other rejections. But Elphinstone wasn't one to give up. And sooner or later he'd try again.