Humphrey Caractacus Burke's Story

Granny's Advanced Time Capsule Artifact Study - Test GATCA-Ts592 - Report: Level 3 Dimension altering charms failed to initiate partial GATCA's temporal displacement. Recommend further extension charm comparability studies prior to approval of Level 4 charms...
The grandfather clock hoisted above the Victorian era wooden compartment gonged thrice, garnering a mixed reaction from the scribbling dark robed researcher; a sort of simultaneous frustrated sigh and amused chuckle. Thus far, the department had failed to comprehend, let alone repair the time traveling device. Even the clock refused to obey any and all attempts to return it to real time.

A silent Reductor hit the clock head on, shattering the delicate mechanics. Max closed his eyes and quietly tapped his wand five times; once for each second passed. Surely enough, when he reopened his eyes, the clock was visibly whole and ticking as usual. Self-repairing charm: resetting time to previous value? Determine significance if proven Max set aside his quill and project journal. Since his unofficial return to the department, the time capsule had consistently baffled most of his preconceptions regarding time travel.

Location: Department of Mysteries - Level 9
Dialog Colour: ##4d4e50


"Still at it Mr. Greenslade?" asked one of the department's early arrivals. "Good morning miss Mckinnon. I arrived a short while ago, twelve minutes and fifteen seconds to be exact. I believe the time room has a tardiness discouraging spell about it. ", said Max, gesturing towards the multitude of clocks and time-turners assembled in the hall outside his laboratory.

The unspeakable hesitantly nodded, rightly disbelieving Max's obvious lie, "I know you technically returned to the department a few days ago, but you are still marked down as one of the rookies of the new recruitment drive. The Minister is expecting your lot for some sort of orientation", said the unspeakable, turning to leave the laboratory. "But of course, have a pleasant day" Max mumbled, his gaze locked on his research papers once more. His college stopped by the doorway, displeased at his inaction, "I would make my way down there soon if I were you", she rebuked, leaving no options for discussion.

Max decided to accept his college's words of advice and take a break of his futile attempts at understanding magical devices that theoretically should not exist. Life was so much simpler when one embraced the theory and pretended that anything that disproved it was simply a figment of the imagination. Muggles consistently ignored centuries of obviously magical events, pretending that they were ether pranks of freak acts of nature. Pure-blood's maintained their idiotic beliefs regarding muggle-born, though every bit of ministry sanctioned research disproved most of their dogma as utter nonsense.Seething in frustration of his lack of progress, Max barley noticed the incoming male figure before he ran straight into it.

"My sincerest apologies", said Max offering his hand in aid, "I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings, are you all right?" He asked, taking note of the wizard's expensive velvet dark brown robes. The man conveyed him a disapproving glare, denying Max's offer, of help, preferring instead to stand upright on his own initiative. "Apology accepted, young man, though I would suggest that you pay more attention in public magical spaces, least you continue to waste the valuable time of others". The man huffed and went on his merry way, an ominous snake branded silver-black cane in hand. Max's though but decided against sending any rude gestures towards the pure-blood in-breed's back; he had been the one at fault, though that didn't excuse the pompous bigot's attitude. Young man indeed, he thought with a condescending sneer.

The mechanics of the brain suddenly clicked, leaving Max rooted to the reception area's tiles.
...magical spaces...waste valuable time...

Max was familiar with the muggle time-space theory. Until now, he had dismissed it out of hand, since it didn't account for another element; magic. Magic in turn interacted with both time and space, but separately; not as a single manifold. Could all three elements be incorporated into a single spell? Max paused only to take a seat by an Asian witch, to whom he offered only a brief acknowledging nod, before he took out his research journal and wrote down a small circle and the words matter, energy, space, time, magic. He didn't hold much hope of a breakthrough, but at least he was making progress.



Humphrey walked a brisk pace, concealing his fury only at face value. He refused to look back at the oblivious muggle spawned delinquent he had just had the misfortune to 'run into' along the hallway. His eyes searched the room with growing discomfort, ears reeling at the sight of the undignified, often excitable conversations of the assembled mass of humanity. How had it come to this? The great and powerful ministry had been reduced to a magical equivalent of the common muggle circus; many acts but only a handful of professional handlers.

He didn't waste his time charging one party or the other with the blame; the liberals and moderates had evidently made up their mind to challenge the traditional establishment, rather than select a compromise half-blood candidate. The pure-blood traditionalists correctly saw the mudblood's appointment for what it was; a deceleration of war against the establishment.

Burke quietly censored his choice of terminology; thoughts and deeds went hand in hand, if he wanted to work with the current administration, he couldn't afford to fall back on purist ideology. No, though he understood the reasons he could not agree with the "the great walk out" as it was now termed. The irresponsible action not only threatened the stability of the ministry, it played on the fears of otherwise moderate pure bloods; creating the bogyman of an administration hostile to pure bloods everywhere.

Which was of course the exact aim of the operation; discrediting the ministry would double if not triple Death Eater membership.

Among the crowd, Humphrey was delighted to recognize Michael Nott and quickly made his way towards civilized company. "Behold the sight of the modern Trojan horse" he declared, preferring a lapse of drama to the usual pleasantries. "So assured of their victory are they not? In their eyes, they have already beaten the establishment, they do not see the transfigured wooden sculpture for what it truly is; a sleeping Horn-tail". Humphrey presented his hand in greeting, revealing the Burke heir's ring; "I am Humphrey Caractacus Burke, reinstated Permanent Under-Secretary of Magical Law Enforcement, order of Merlin second class. I must say, it is quite the relief to meet you Mr. Nott. I hadn't realized any members of your most distinguished house remained in the ministry."

Michael had virtually no time to sink back into a pit of self pity of his current predicament as people swarmed into the room... with one face in particular being familiar but he couldn't place it on exactly how he recognized the woman. The Auror dismissed the line of thought, if he couldn't recall the reason he recognized the woman then the reason must be a small matter and could be ignored for the time being. Nevertheless he made a mental note to watch the girl and flexed his free left hand that bore his wand in a dueling bracer for his own comfort. A familiar voice that sounded out familiar poetics prompted a switch in his cane towards his left hand as he turned to address the owner of the voice - his cover unfortunately to be blown for a matter of social protocol. However since in this case, secrecy was not required so a change to a more overt position was allowable.

It was a rare, genuine smile that surfaced on Michael's face as he clasped hands with the Under-Secretary." It's great to have you back Mister Burke; acting Head Auror Michael Nott and I must say it's beyond my talent of tongue to say how reassuring it is to have you back. After all, regardless of the whims of politics - the Ministry keeps the peace after much bloodshed from our ancestors and no one knows how improper abandoning such noble work due to the opinions of the masses better than yourself. Truth be told, the less-than-reliable substitute during your previous absence made things far more difficult for us in the field- your reinstatement clearly shows the current Minister possesses better judgement than the last." Michael made sure to keep a level of respectful formality since after all the man was his elder and also a superior. Despite the fact that the man's various weigh-ins on legal matters had saved his skin more than once and kept a couple dangerous individuals locked up despite...recent opinions on how things should be run. As he himself was only a branch member within the Nott line, Michael held no delusions that any of those had been deliberate or even meant explicitly for his own benefit. In more simple terms, despite his own gratitude, Michael felt that the man was a professional that performed his job and duties admirably - something he could healthily respect.

Still he could only inwardly wince since he'd controlled the volume of his voice less skillfully that he'd like given the noise of the crowd and his own excitement. His word just now of it being the duty of Purebloods to support the safety and well-being of the wizarding community matched his words in a Prophet interview that took place because of his family's rather well known views - he still didn't enjoy the memory of the experience. He could understand the reporter was doing his job: trying to sell a story, but he found the attempts to bait him into a negative reaction obtuse.

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