"—The purpose of establishing the Department of Oversight is to investigate whether Ministry officials have engaged in any unlawful or irregular conduct in their day-to-day administrative duties.
This includes violations of established procedure, accepting bribes of any kind, embezzlement of Ministry funds or resources, abuse of authority for personal gain, or knowingly breaking the law while in office—"
A war that had arrived without warning had thrown every department of the Ministry of Magic into complete disarray.
Now came the reckoning, and with it, a mountain of urgent work that seemed to grow larger with each passing hour.
Compensation packages for the families of the fallen. Commendations and medals for those who had fought with distinction, which required research, verification, and formal ceremonies.
The planning and reconstruction of Diagon Alley, utterly razed on the battlefield, which involved coordinating with goblins, securing funding, managing contractors, and navigating a thousand competing interests.
Negotiations over reparations for civilians whose homes, businesses, and livelihoods had been shattered by the conflict.
These tangled affairs, each one urgent and demanding, had wrung every last drop of energy from the Ministry's already overworked employees. Each wizard and witch on staff felt like a clockwork puppet wound far too tight, moving through their days without a moment's genuine respite or rest.
And yet, a meeting called without advance notice had compelled the Ministry's Deputy Ministers, Department Heads, and Office Directors to set aside the thousand urgent threads of work needing their attention and attend this gathering instead.
Not only them, either. Every sitting member of the Wizengamot except for Dumbledore and every living recipient of the Order of Merlin, Second Class and First Class had received formal invitations from the Ministry to attend this critical emergency session of the legislative assembly.
Minister Bones stood at the imposing marble podium that dominated one end of the circular chamber and spoke with steady authority, projecting confidence and control. Though the red threading through the whites of her eyes told another story.
In the circular chamber, arranged across the tiered seats, the wizards and witches whose names were household words throughout Magical Britain and in particular those who served the Ministry directly in positions of power and influence listened to Minister Bones's address with expressions that had gone sickly pale.
Beads of cold sweat were gathering at their temples despite the chamber's temperature, trickling down to dampen collars and stain expensive robes.
Yet not a single one of them dared interrupt her speech or raise even a tentative word of objection.
Several cast furtive glances toward the front row of the tiered seating, where a young wizard sat with his eyes closed, apparently resting.
But the moment their nervous gaze brushed across his profile, an unknown unease would seize them—a sudden tightening in the chest, a sensation uncomfortably close to suffocatio.
God only knew what that young man—who had, just days ago at the Battle of Diagon Alley, given fresh proof of exactly what his title of "the greatest wizard of the modern age" was truly worth—might do if they were to voice their protests and storm out.
"—The Department of Oversight shall operate independently of all other Ministry departments and answer directly to the Minister for Magic. Prosecutions initiated by the Department of Oversight against Ministry officials shall be tried and adjudicated by the judicial arm of the Wizengamot.
The Department is provisionally to have one Director and one Deputy Director. Arthur Weasley, currently of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, will take up the post of Director; Frank Longbottom will serve as Deputy Director."
Minister Bones adjusted her square-framed monocle and drew her wand from within her robes. She gave it a sharp, precise flick.
The thick stack of documents that had been resting on the podium rose smoothly into the air. The papers separated with soft rustling sounds, and distributed themselves among every person seated in the chamber.
"What you have in front of you is a comprehensive working document detailing the Department of Oversight's operational procedures, jurisdictional boundaries, and enforcement protocols," Minister Bones continued, her voice taking on a slightly harder edge. "Please review it carefully and thoroughly. Afterward, we will proceed to a formal vote on the Department's establishment—"
The immediate rustle of turning pages swept through the chamber like wind through autumn leaves as everyone began reading simultaneously.
"This is absolutely absurd."
Ludo Bagman having apparently encountered something in the document that deeply displeased him, was shaking his head slowly and muttering under his breath.
He tilted his face slightly toward Bryan who sat nearby wearing a warm, pleasant smile and turning the pages of his own copy with leisurely calm as if he were reading a novel.
"What is it, Ludo?"
Sensing Bagman's gaze on him, he looked over with a slight, politely enquiring expression.
"Something in the document not to your liking?"
"Oh—no! Not at all!"
Ludo hadn't expected to be called out so directly. He was startled, hunched his shoulders defensively like a scolded child, and shook his head with exaggerated quickness.
"I was just—reading, that's all."
But after a moment's hesitation, perhaps emboldened by Bryan's seemingly friendly demeanor, Ludo ventured carefully:
"The working document for the Department of Oversight… it's quite thorough. But perhaps—I mean, for the staff of the Ministry, perhaps some of these are a little…"
He trailed off, watching Bryan's face carefully for any sign of reaction as he stumbled through his vague words.
"Harsh?"
Bryan supplied the word Ludo had been dancing around.
"It's only a draft, Ludo—"
Bryan's expression was composed, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
"The very reason we're gathered here today is to discuss whether these provisions are reasonable and workable, is it not? If you have substantive objections or suggestions for improvement, you're welcome to raise them."
The corner of Ludo's eye twitched. He gave an awkward, forced laugh that sounded more like a cough and quickly closed his mouth, returning his attention to the document with sudden intense focus.
The faces throughout the chamber offered a fascinating study in human nature under pressure.
Some wizards and witches wore expressions of frank admiration as they read through the Department's sweeping mandate. Others projected indifference revealing nothing. A few barely concealed their schadenfreude. But most were fighting desperately hard to suppress a churning resentment about to show on their faces.
Anyone who wasn't a complete fool could see the reality plainly.
A Department of Oversight empowered with broad authority to scrutinize every employee in every department; this would be a sword hanging continuously over all their heads. The sword of Damocles.
The countless small conveniences they had always quietly arranged for themselves and their families—so ordinary, so unremarkable, so universally practiced that they'd barely thought of them as wrong were now being formally classified as misconduct subject to investigation and punishment.
Minor violations would earn official warnings and fines. Serious ones meant instant dismissal from the Ministry. The worst cases would result in imprisonment in the new wizarding prison currently being built in secret under Bryan Watson's personal supervision.
This restructuring meant no one's comfortable life would ever be quite so comfortable again.
Minister Bones took in every expression visible. Then she exchanged a brief glance with Bryan.
"If anyone has substantive objections to the Department of Oversight's proposed mandate or operational procedures, this is the time to voice them."
Her voice carried across the chamber with clarity.
"One more thing—"
Bryan rose from his seat, and turned to face the wizards and witches arrayed in rows behind him.
"If the establishment of the Department of Oversight passes today's vote, the department will officially open its doors and begin operations at the start of next month."
He paused, ensuring he had their complete attention.
"In addition to Arthur Weasley as Director and Frank Longbottom, the Ministry will second a significant number of Aurors into the department. Any employees of the departments represented here today who wish to join the Department of Oversight and take up investigative work may submit a formal application to the Minister's Office before the twentieth of this month. Such applications must bear the countersignature of both the applicant's current department head and division chief before they will be considered valid for the selection assessment process—"
The meeting concluded in a weighted silence. The crowd dispersed slowly.
After watching the last of them disappear, Bryan turned back to find Amelia Bones leaning against the podium. She was pressing two fingers gently to her brow.
Bryan gestured and the chamber door swung shut. He crossed toward the podium.
Before he could say any words of reassurance or strategy, Amelia lowered her hand from her forehead. Her face looked haggard in the flickering torchlight. She stared at the torches blazing steadily on the walls and spoke quietly. "There's going to be enormous resistance—"
The Department of Oversight had just passed with what appeared to be unanimous support—every single person present voting in favor, raising their hands without hesitation and yet this was the observation she offered. And Bryan nodded slowly in acknowledgment of the truth beneath the surface of that vote.
"That was to be expected from the beginning, wasn't it?"
After a brief silence, allowing Amelia to gather her thoughts, he said gently.
"The ones with real objections are only ever going to be the mid-to-senior tier of Ministry officials. The rank-and-file employees won't protest too bitterly. And given the revised salary structure the Ministry is implementing next month, even those senior officials with objections will likely hold their tongues rather than risk their positions."
Amelia did not grow more hopeful at his reassurance.
The shadow the flickering torches cast across her face gave her expression a pensive, deeply hesitant quality.
"The Department of Oversight barely scraped through, even with all our preparation. And yet you still intend to push ahead with granting goblins the right to wands—"
"The goblins gave a great deal in that war, Amelia—"
Bryan's steady voice carried a note of firm, unshakeable conviction.
"They demonstrated their good faith through blood and sacrifice. We are obliged to offer something meaningful in return."
"But you know the opposition will be deafening," Amelia's eyes showed deep concern.
"I understand the challenges," Bryan replied. "Which is why the commitment I made to Barnah is that we accomplish this gradually, within the next ten years—"
He began outlining the strategy:
"Just as the Magical Congress of the United States has already done successfully in America, we will first establish a Wand Regulation Office here in Britain. That will draw some criticism, certainly, but it won't cause an immediate uproar. Then, gradually working through Hogwarts, we will advance toward opening full wand rights to all beings of magical intelligence."
Amelia listened with careful attention, following his reasoning, but the deep uncertainty between her brows did not lift or smooth.
"Do you truly think it's necessary, though? Because, you know—sooner or later, someone will realize what we're actually doing. When that happens, it will cause a storm not just domestically but internationally."
"We are simply doing what is right, Amelia—"
Bryan said with intensity.
"We stand here and condemn Voldemort, rightly, for seeking to build a world of absolute domination based on blood purity. We call him evil, monstrous, inhuman. And he is all those things.
Yet what we—what magical society as a whole have done to beings of magical intelligence for centuries is no different in kind from what Voldemort advocates doing to Muggleborns and Muggles. And above all, we need their strength if we are to win this war."
A long, heavy silence fell over the empty chamber. At last, Amelia gave a single nod.
"It isn't only the Department of Oversight we'll face resistance on, The Magical Trade Division and several other departments we are planning to establish will face fierce resistance as well. Even the new wizarding hospital we intend to build will be obstructed by the board of governors behind St. Mungo's. But we must press on regardless—"
Bryan' voice was resolute.
"If the pure-blood families who currently control every major industry in the wizarding world do not step back from the stage of history—then we will all of us tumble into the abyss together."
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