Blood of Mud, Wing of Bat

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Chapter 35: Margie Jackson's Day Off

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Margie,

Sorry to bother you so early on a Saturday, but I think the giant is about to step on the dungheap in this Malfoy matter.

Your brother,
James

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James,

Thanks for the heads up.

Sis

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Mrs. Jackson,

I apologize for contacting you at home, but we have some representatives of Auror Covert Operations here with a warrant to seize Hermione Weasley's Apparition records. I wasn't sure if I should release those without your being here. Please advise?

Muffy Brown
Apparition Enforcement

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Muffy,

It's the weekend. I don't work on the weekend. Deal.

Margie Jackson

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Dear Mrs. Jackson,

Since you have been working closely with us on this matter, you are no doubt aware that we had planned on moving to take Draco Malfoy's Apparition license first thing Monday morning. That's less than 48 hours from now. We have been counting on you to make full disclosure of all records pertaining to Malfoy's Apparition history, without exception. Are you absolutely certain there are no Apparitions that, for whatever reason, do not appear on his records?

Daschel Duncan
Supervisor, Auror Special Operations

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Daz,

Owl me at the office on Monday. I don't work on Saturday. Capisce?

Marge

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Mrs. Jackson,

I apologize for disturbing you again but we could really use you here. Apparently there is an issue regarding a query on Hermione Weasley's Apparition records we answered earlier today. We have no record of her Apparating away from St. Mungo's after she Apparated there. However, there were apparently several eyewitnesses who claim she did. We've got both Auror Covert Operations and Auror Special Operations in here trying to seize her records, and things are getting more than a bit ugly. Please advise as to when you might arrive. Thank you.

Muffy Brown
Apparition Enforcement

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Muffy,

If you owl me again, you're fired.

Margie Jackson

P.S. Give the records to whichever one of them has the actual warrant. If they both have warrants, send them to Auror Affairs to straighten it out. It's not our problem.

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Margie,

Hi, long time no see. Sorry I can't write much… I'm jamming this into an owl's claws while the boss is in the loo. Look at this recording. It shows Hermione Weasley Apparating from within St. Mungo's Apparition wards. The whole office is abuzz over it. I don't doubt it'll make the news in one form or another. Thought you'd be interested.

Cora Betel,
WWN Network

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Cora,

This is a fraud. She didn't Apparate from within St. Mungo's wards. If it was within the wards, then she didn't Apparate, no matter what it looks like. I wish you people would get a clue. Just because something is incredibly sensational doesn't mean 1) it ever happened or 2) it's newsworthy.

Marge

P.S. Mind if I keep this recording a little longer? I need to show it to someone.

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James,

You've been holding out on me, haven't you? All right, what's the deal with this untrackable, through-wards Apparition trick? Can he do it? Is he the one who taught Weasley? Spill.

Sis

P.S. Recording enclosed.

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Margie,

I swear on mother's grave that he never breathed a word to me. If he can do it, he's done a hell of a job keeping it secret.

Your Brother,
James

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James,

I'm getting all sorts of heat over it back at the office, from the Many-Headed-Hydra that was once Magical Law Enforcement.

Sis

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Marge,

You know they want to slap a Special Ops grade restraint charm on him. So naturally they need to find out what that trick Apparition was that Weasley did, so as to figure out if he can do it, and then to make sure the restraint charm is properly enchanted to detect and stop that kind of Apparition too. That's all they care about.

Your Brother,
James

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James,

I thought we decided there was no risk of that restraint charm ever being applied. Can't he just set off the flying restraint charm sixty-six times during the trial to convince the Wizengamot that the charms are too abusive?

Sis

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Marge,

Exactly.

Your Brother,
James

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James,

That's what I thought. Fine. I'll deal with this. Thanks for the info.

Sis

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Muffy,

Tell them all to get out. At once. I don't care what kind of warrants they have.

Marge

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To:
Angelique Binford
Director
Department of Magical Transportation

Ms. Binford,

I am writing to request your assistance in a matter of some urgency. The personnel of my sub-department are being harassed by Aurors from Special Operations and Covert Operations who are attempting to get their hands on the same person's records with conflicting warrants. This is unacceptable! Can't anything be done?

Sincerely,
Margie Jackson
Apparition Enforcement

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Daz,

Tell Nesbitt or whoever you sent over there to stop pitbulling my staff and get their arses out of my area before I sic Angelique Binford on them. This is your last warning.

Marge

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To:
Codename Bright Phoenix
Auror Covert Operations

Three words.

1) Underage

2) Flying carpet.

3) Pensieve in a secure location

Do we understand each other? Get those agents out of my office now. I don't like being pushed around.

Marge

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Arthur,

Did you know Cov Ops and Special Ops are over at my office fighting over your daughter-in-law's Apparition records? Might want to do something about that.

Marge

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To:
Maxmillian Brunch
Director, Urban Tactical Division
British Wizarding Army

Colonel Brunch,

I apologize for disturbing you at this inconvenient time, but persons disguised as Aurors have broken into my office and have taken the staff hostage. Could you possibly send a unit to take care of them? Thank you.

Yours truly,
Margie Jackson

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Malfoy,

If you ever cause me this much trouble again I'm serving Nesbitt your head on a platter. Now tell me truth. What the hell was that Apparition Weasley pulled off, and when were you going to tell us you can do that shit? Impatiently awaiting your prompt reply,

Margie Jackson
Apparition Enforcement

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Mrs. Jackson,

I will look into this matter immediately. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Angelique Binford
Director
Department of Magical Transportation

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Margie,

I had no idea Nesbitt was headed over there. I'll speak with him at once. Sorry about any inconvenience.

Daschel Duncan
Supervisor, Special Ops

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Marge,

Hold on now. No need to do anything rash. I'll see what I can do.

Codename Bright Phoenix
Covert Ops

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Margie,

Really? What on earth for? I'll check up on them right away. Thank you for letting me know.

Arthur

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Mrs. Jackson,

I'm really, really sorry to disturb you again but things are getting very bad. An entire squad of Urban Tactical just arrived and are in the midst of a heated wand battle with Special Operations. I'm not sure either one realizes who the others are. The front windows are all shot out and we're all hiding under desks here. I hope this owl makes it to you alive.

Muffy Brown

P.S. I quit!

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Dear Mrs. Jackson Ma'am,

Itsy very sorry but Master not here right now. Itsy be sure to give Master very important letter the moment he returns.

--Itsy

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