"Hmm..." Bagnold gave the proposal serious consideration. "Come to think of it, that's a better approach than trying to catch Black by conventional means. Even so, we'd better post guards around Hogwarts, just to be safe."
An encouraging smile spread across Richard's face.
"Then your new Department for the Protection of Important Magical Sites will come in handy after all. Recruit wizards to guard Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, St Mungo's, and my company. Let them undergo a short training course at the Auror Office.
"I also think you should introduce a paid security license and divide the profession into different grades. Complete a two-month introductory course, and you receive a First-Class Security License. Spend another couple of months on advanced training, and you qualify for the Second Class. And so on. The higher the grade, the better the salary. Gradually, these wizards will raise their skills to something approaching an Auror's level.
"After all, they won't need to learn how to fight the most dangerous magical creatures or master investigative work, so they won't require the full three years of Auror training. Deduct the cost of tuition from their wages. That way the wizard will be tied to the job, because resigning would mean paying substantial compensation. The Ministry of Magic would also gain an additional source of revenue through the paid courses held at the Auror training academy. Part of the costs would be covered by the course fees, while I'd pay some of the guards' salaries directly myself."
The Minister gazed at Richard with admiration and respect. Every trace of her earlier disappointment in the young man's intellect had vanished.
"Richard, I truly admire you!" she said with genuine delight, while, as an experienced politician, instinctively paying her companion a compliment. "Would you care to share the secret of how you manage to make money out of something that ought to have damaged your reputation?"
"Millicent, I had excellent tutors." A dazzling smile lit Richard's face. "One of them was a professor of economics... And then there were the business sharks from Grosvenor Group who drilled me relentlessly... On second thought, I'd better not say any more. This isn't about me. Millicent, can you handle things from here?"
"I can now," Bagnold replied with obvious relief. "Richard, thank you so much. I never imagined your visit would prove so helpful."
"Any time. And I'll send that detective over after all."
"What's your detective's name?" Bagnold asked.
"Potter..."
The Minister's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"Scott Potter," Richard added.
"He wouldn't happen to be related to..." Bagnold trailed off in astonishment.
"Harry Potter's uncle and his legal guardian," Richard finished, delivering the final blow.
Bagnold leaned back wearily in her chair. For several moments, she could do nothing but gape at him in stunned silence. Then her shoulders began to shake, and a moment later a bright, melodious laugh filled the office.
"Oh, Richard..." Millicent wiped away the tears that had sprung to her eyes from laughing. "This is incredible! Harry Potter's uncle—a Squib and a detective... You couldn't ask for a better investigator. He'll have every reason to want Black caught. Well... Richard, I don't even know what to say. I could applaud you."
"Millicent, Detective Potter works for me," Richard said, setting the record straight. "He's an excellent investigator, though he's a bit rough around the edges and has little love for wizards. I'd appreciate it if you'd be patient with him."
"Not a problem, Richard." Bagnold nodded. "Thank you for your support. I hope we'll meet again soon."
"All the best," Richard said in farewell. "Keep me informed."
***
Richard's memories from his previous life contained no recollection of anyone named Sirius Black. Everything he knew about the man came from the dossier on the Death Eaters.
After leaving the Ministry of Magic, Richard couldn't stop thinking about Black. He considered it entirely possible that this wizard was the very threat to the world. If the magical community regarded him as exceptionally dangerous, then he couldn't simply be ruled out as a suspect. Bagnold had been Minister during the complete destruction of Tom Riddle's organization. It was worth noting that she had proved to be an exceptionally capable administrator in that role and had been entirely satisfactory in the Queen's eyes.
Because of the potential danger posed by Sirius Black, Richard had been forced to rack his brains and come up with a highly unconventional solution. It was only fair to admit that the idea of granting an amnesty hadn't originated with him. Rather, it reminded him of a similar incident from his previous life.
In the world of the future, people were still people, with all their flaws and vices. There was no shortage of criminals, and governments had to contend with them. An entire planet had been designated to house the most dangerous offenders. For a very long time, not a single prisoner had escaped from it. It was considered the perfect prison, much as Azkaban was among Britain's wizarding community. But one day, a prisoner did manage to escape.
Capturing a fugitive who had broken out of the most impregnable prison planet became an obsession for the government. The escape dealt a serious blow to the authorities' reputation.
But the galaxy was vast, and humanity had settled countless worlds—including many where no one cared about a colonist's past. It was much the same as during the colonization of North America. Under such circumstances, finding an escaped prisoner who was actively hiding was simply impossible.
The search dragged on fruitlessly for two years, spanning the entire galaxy. Then, one day, the news broke that the Galactic Government had granted the escaped prisoner an amnesty.
Less than six months later, the fugitive casually walked into a major colonial city as though he had nothing to fear. He entered a branch of a bank on one of the agricultural worlds and requested access to his account. That was where the law enforcement officers arrested him. Since he had been granted amnesty, he believed there were no charges that could possibly be brought against him—and he was hardly alone in thinking so. Instead, he was prosecuted for escaping from prison before the amnesty had been declared. The trial ended with the fugitive receiving a lengthy prison sentence and being sent straight back behind bars.
Richard had decided to rely on a tactic that had already proven successful, hoping it would work again.
Business wasn't enough of a headache—now I have to deal with a runaway convict too, Richard thought irritably. The power plant project has so many problems that no shovel would be big enough to dig through them all. And that's with Her Majesty's full support! As if that weren't enough, I still have to figure out what to do about the Philosopher's Stone.
The situation with the Stone had become rather peculiar. He possessed it, yet had no practical way of using it.
To understand how to use the Stone, he would first have to study alchemy. But if Richie suddenly started buying books on alchemy—or worse, began reading Hogwarts textbooks on the subject—it would look highly suspicious.
According to Bagnold, Dumbledore had spies everywhere. It would be foolish to think the Headmaster of Hogwarts wouldn't connect the disappearance of the Philosopher's Stone with Richard's sudden interest in alchemy.
After giving the matter a great deal of thought, Richie concluded that studying alchemy would have to wait. The best course of action was to forget the Philosopher's Stone existed for the next five years or so. It needed to be hidden somewhere no one would ever find it. Only after the uproar had completely died down could he quietly begin studying alchemy. Perhaps, once he had graduated from Hogwarts, he could hire an alchemist as a private tutor and mentor.
(End of Chapter)
Before you vanish off to your respective common rooms, a brief reminder that your support is most welcome. Power stones, reviews, and comments would be greatly appreciated.
Consider it a small bit of magic to keep the story going.
🎁 Bonus chapter at 50 power stones!