Undercover

Gideon Pierce had been promoted to the Deputy Minister. Who was this man? What was his background? What were his policies? Why had he, an attorney, been given the position above other worthy candidates? Marie Voisard seemed to be the perfect candidate? More to the fact this unknown face had no history or connections, as far as Hallie was aware, with the Lupins. The Lupins that had warned her about unknown people in the ministry acting through forgery - Pansy Parkinson-Nott had even written an article about this matter in the Daily Prophet a month or so ago. Was Gideon one of those behind the forgery? Or was he simply a pawn for whoever was the king in this political game?

An Order meeting had been held, Jack Dyllan had called for people to find out about Gideon. Hallie, working in the Ministry, had nominated herself instantly for the task. It wasn't something she had done before, snooping and spying. She'd acquired these skills during her auror training but had not yet managed to put them into practice. Hallie was more of clash of wand-on-wand kind of girl.

She had thought through plans and possible excuses as to why the trainee auror would find herself in the new deputy minister's office. It had to be work related, although anything to do with her department would seem suspicious as Hallie would have simply go the Head of the Auror Office or Magical Law Enforcement Squad. The Deputy Minister was a step up from that. The witch couldn't exactly request a new partner in the marriage law for she was happy with Theodore and were expecting their first child. They were expecting their first child. Hallie was pregnant. She knew exactly why she'd want a meeting with Gideon Pierce.

A week ago Hallie had requested an appointment with the Deputy Minister through one of his secretaries and now a week had passed, it was Tuesday and the leather strapped watch around his wrist read 2pm. Raising a hand the blonde politely knocked three times. Two for confidence, the other for luck.

The office was exactly the same, in every detail, as it had been when Elijah Krum had been here—except for one detail.  Gideon was actually working.  He saw no evidence that Krum had done crap in here for months on end.  Gideon guessed that Krum was either a fool or a coward.  
Gideon had much to deal with. He had lived in relative obscurity until now.  Now he was all over the wizarding media, and he knew everyone would be suspicious. He was aware of how he would come across, so today he was wearing a relatively understated black business suit, good quality but understated.
 
He glanced at his pocketwatch and noticed the time. He had an appointment with Mrs. Rookwood.  He had taken the time to pull her dossier and read it. Auror.  Daughter of Professor Amelia Cooper.  Married to the ex-headmaster.  Had fought on the side of the greater good in several events.  It had been how she’d lost her leg.  Gideon suspected she was either an Order member or a Lupin sympathizer. That had told him quite enough.
 
He opened the drawer and set the photograph of himself and his wife Melinda on his desk. The only personal ornament he had in the room. And then the knock came on the door.  Rookwood was punctual. Good. He opened another drawer and placed a few files on the desk, opened the files, and shuffled the papers a bit.
 
It was time to meet Rookwood and find out exactly what it was she wanted.

“Come in, Mrs. Rookwood,” he called cheerfully, with a bright friendly smile.

'Good afternoon Mr Pierce, it's nice to meet you.' Hallie greeted brightly as she led herself into the office making care to quietly close the door behind her. It was this office where, last September, she had met her match in Theodore Rookwood. At the time she'd been annoyed to the point of infuriated that the ministry had partnered her with such a snob. A snob that she had come to love and learned there was more to the conservative pure blood family name he held.

'I don't know how aware you are but I was partnered with Theodore Rookwood in the marriage law.' Hallie paused. Oh great. Now she looked like a complete idiot for he'd called her Mrs Rookwood. Clearly he aware that she was married to Theodore. Quickly adopting a polite tone Hallie continued:

'Well, we're now expecting our first child and I'm due in November. However I am a bit unsure where I stand on this matter with my work?' Hallie asked honestly. It was a good excuse to meet Gideon but the witch was genuinely curious. How did her maternity leave work, was she even entitled to it? Theodore didn't work, he could easily take care of the baby whilst Hallie returned to work, although a part of her knew she would want to spend time with the baby.

'Because I'll have completed my auror training by then and will be working full time as an auror will I be restricted in what work I can do? I wouldn't really want my pregnancy to hinder my progression as an auror.' Hallie spoke, her polite tone standing stronger and growing in confidence.

“The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Rookwood,” he said, motioning for her to sit. “It was rather hard to miss when our headmaster found a bride. Clearly, though, the write up didn’t do you justice. Your work record speaks quite well for you, though. You seem to be quite accomplished for a trainee. Seems to perhaps be an oversight that you are still a trainee, does it not?

“Tell me,” he said, sitting down at his desk. “You do appear to me to have more than proven yourself in your work through your training. What do you feel you yet need to learn or gain before you would feel comfortable in advancing to a permanent position?” He cast her a warm smile. “After all, we’d like to catch up with things that have been left undone and put them to rights. Perhaps this is one of those oversights that we need to correct, is it not?”

“On the other hand, you have valid questions, under the circumstances. The Ministry’s interest is, of course, the wellbeing and the health of its staff. You have many of the same benefits as a permanent auror. You are entitled to the standard maternity leave either way, and we certainly would not hinder your professional development because of your pregnancy.

“Any Ministry employee is entitled to continue their current tasks as long as they are medically cleared to do so. When or if it puts you or your child at any risk, we can accommodate your needs or begin your leave, as you and your healer see fit. Legally we cannot allow you to put you to put yourself at any unnecessary risk, but that is the policy for any auror, as you know. However, it is up to your supervisor and the evaluation of your trainer to determine what is or is not going to put you in harm’s way, depending on your skill level. That is a bit nebulous. I don’t foresee that as being a problem, though, do you?”

Hallie took her seat and listened to what Gideon Pierce had to say. Whatever she had been expecting it hadn't been that. She'd come here, possibly having to worm as much information out of the man as possible yet here he was congraulating her on her accomplishes. This wasn't the first time somebody had said this about her auror skills for the Lupin's house elf had implied it when she'd met her.

A bubble of guilt rose in Hallie's throat. Becoming an auror was everything she had ever wanted to be and now Gideon Pierce was, if Hallie had understood right, offering to upgrade her to a qualified auror? Hallie had come her snooping, acting, and instead she'd walked into the biggest compliment she could have received. After all she'd been through, losing her leg and going under excruciating pain to regrow it for Theodore, the Ministry still believed in her abilities. Maybe the Order didn't have anything to fear from Gideon Pierce after all? He clearly had done his research on her, taking an interest in his employees.

'I-' Hallie paused, stumped. What else did she have to learn? The majority of her knowledge and skills based training Hallie had completed, what else defined someone from a trainee and a qualified auror? Hallie was not sure, all she was sure on was that she relied on a natural instinct inside of her. For her being an auror felt right and you could never judge how to handle a situation in advance, you had to think on your feet and ensure you always kept a level head. A year ago Hallie wouldn't have been able to do that for she'd ran head first without thinking into the arms of mutilator James Darling. Hallie had learnt. Was this it? Had she finished? Had she completed her training? Her leadership skills weren't exactly like those of longstanding aurors, but maybe that was because she was a trainee? She didn't feel it her position to lead? Would that change if she were qualified?

'I have to sit auror exams though don't I?' Hallie asked, completely drawn away from her question about maternity leave. In hindsight it seemed rather silly but at least she had her answer and Hallie had learned one thing already. Gideon Pierce was supportive of fairness within the Ministry. If the Lupin's hadn't employed him then whoever had knew what they were doing, even if they were behind the marriage law.

Gideon flashed her one of his charismatic smiles. He turned and picked up a book on the credenza behind him and laid it on his desk. He opened it and flipped through the pages until he got to the right section of Ministry law.

"And here is where I can help you," he said, looking up at her. "Your trainer, it seems, has kept impeccable documentation of your work and his evaluation of it. That, in this case, helps you. You might well want to re-read the subsection of law that pertains to auror trainees and the exams. It does state that in order to advance past the trainee stage you must pass the exam, or...." He looked at the book and read from the passage, "it's equivalent, as deemed appropriate by the head of Law Enforcement or by the Minister of Magic."

He looked up at her. "And following that, if you look at the job duties or responsibilities of the Deputy Minister, the wording specifies that the Deputy Minister shall be empowered to assist the Minister in ensuring the operations of the Ministry and the welfare of the wizarding public.

"In short, if, in the absence of the Minister, I deem it fit for you to be an auror, and your file documents that you are capable of doing the job without endangering yourself or others, I have the right to advance you myself in lieu of completing the required exam--if I am willing to take Mr. Quinn's word about your abilities--unless you're aware of some reason that would counter Mr. Quinn's documentation that says you've been successful in everything he's required of you."

He looked at her. "Mrs. Rookwood, nowhere in Ministry history has pregnancy been a terminal condition in regards to any post. If you feel you're capable, I find no evidence to withhold a full auror's post from you any longer--unless, as I said, you have some objection."

Hallie simply listened, astonished at what she was hearing. Mr Quinn was impressed with her abilities, the person she had learned all her auror skills from. It was an odd feeling to know that she'd come out on top - it wasn't a competition with others, but one with herself. She had made it and this is what it felt like.

'I can't think of any reason.' Hallie stated, her eyebrows raised in astonishment as she still tried to understand what was happening. If Gideon was promoting her this worked out even better for when she were to give birth. Had she been made to complete her training and finish the exams she would be starting her work as an auror not long before her due date. Peirce's proposition, however, allowed her to find her feet as a qualified auror before she went on maternity leave.

The blonde didn't really know what to say. Was it official? Did all she have to do now was sign papers? Either way Hallie couldn't wait to go home and tell Theodore the good news. He'd be proud of her, a little annoyed at how quickly she'd progressed (if he had his way he'd keep her at permanently at home), but nonetheless he'd be proud.

'Thank you.' Were the only two words that managed to escape Hallie's lips as a smile steadily spread across her face lighting up her eyes. Hallie was now ready to start living her dream.

"Think nothing of it," he said. "It's merely the matter of a new set of employment papers to upgrade you from trainee status to auror status--a legal formality, you understand. You could simply..." he paused and then laughed slightly.

"You know, it would take me longer to explain to them downstairs where to find the packets and how to complete them than for me to go get a packet myself, frustrating as that might be. Its one of those issues I hope to improve on--the unnecessary bogging down of excessive repetition and paperwork. Why don't you wait here and I'll just pop down and fetch a packet and then you can sign it at your leisure and leave it with my secretary? I won't be a moment."

He got up from the desk and walked out casually. He went downstairs to his old office in the legal department and opened one of the file cabinet and got out a folder with a packet of employment papers that had already been assembled.

He drew out his pocketwatch again and checked the time. Two minutes ought to do it, he figured. Thee minutes tops. He perched himself on the edge of his old desk. After all, Rookwood needed time, didn't she? If she were here to scope him out, which he certainly expected from "them," then he was going to let her have at it. After all, there was practically nothing there he afraid for her to find.

Nothing except--in one of the bottom drawers--a certain classified file of documents from last summer, months before the marriage law was passed. The documents were memos about the research and design of the law, documents from the office of Ana Levski.

'Unnecessary bogging down of excessive repetition and paperwork' Hallie was with Gideon on that. If she wasn't working on a case she was given the paperwork from the other aurors, asked to sign things off. At first it had been interesting for Hallie to learn a bit more about the cases and the regulations set up in the auror office although the blonde had now done so much paperwork she knew them like the back of her hand and was all of it necessary? Perhaps not. It took time away from the aurors when they could be using that to continue working on their cases and capturing dark wizards than documenting each step they take.

'Okay' Hallie nodded politely rather stunned at how fast this seemed to be moving. Watching him leave the door Hallie remained seated for a few seconds before quickly hurrying to his desk and opening the top draw. Empty.

Perhaps she'd arrived prematurely, had he not finished transferring his files and important documents? The middle draw didn't hold much information either, it was simply home to scrap parchment, ink bottles and quills.

The bottom draw, however, proved to be more interesting. Swiftly checking the door Hallie pulled out a file marked confidential. This could only mean one thing. Juice on Gideon.

Pulling out the file Hallie began to flick through. There were pages and pages dating back over a year ago about Levski's research. A blow by blow analysis of her findings and 'devastating' news it held. It seemed that this was the research Levski had mentioned that had provoked the marriage law. But why was this in Gideon's desk? Was it his? Was he the person behind the marriage law, after all there was an entire chapter dedicated to methods to combat the problems found in the research, Or was it Elijah Krum's from when he and Ana had held meetings? Had his desk not been fully cleared out?  

Taking another glance towards the door Hallie paused for a moment. There was no sound of footsteps. Withdrawing her wand she pointed it at the page outlining possible ideas to combat the problem highlighted in Levski's research, thought to herself Gemino and watched as she multiplied the document. A part of Hallie wanted to replicate more pages, but not wanting to take the risk Hallie slipped the documents back into their file, returned the file to the bottom draw, making sure to close it before rushing back to her seat. Hallie thought she'd be rushing home to tell Theodore all about her promotion, it seemed she'd been mistaken, the first thing Hallie would be doing would be writing a letter to Jack Dyllan - attaching the duplicated page that had now been folded and tucked safely inside her robes.

Gideon snapped shut his pocketwatch and took the forms that were completed and awaiting Rookwood's signature. He had waited enough but not too long. He proceeded back up to his office.

"My apologies," he offered. "Things in the forms room do seem to be a bit in a fuss this morning. I think its sorted now. At any rate, here are the forms you need." He handed the forms to her. "You're welcome to take your time to look them over and sign them at your leisure. I'll approve them as soon as you sign them and return them.

"When I've signed it, you'll automatically receive written confirmation of your advancement, along with the standard increase in salary for advancing from a trainee to a full auror status. That also will include the increase in benefits--the increase in medical leave and vacation time, all standard for the increase. It will be effective immediately upon your advancement.

"I know this isn't what you came here for, but I am just getting started in what appears to be a large list of incompleted tasks," he said. "When I accepted this post, I guessed there might be some ends to tie up, but I made a promise to do a great many things. So you'll forgive me, I'm sure, in needing a bit of time to get caught up with all the leftover business--yours included.

"I am presuming, though, that your family will be quite proud of you. Not many aurors have presented with a track record that includes completing training quickly and with such high recommendations as your file holds. Well done, Mrs. Rookwood.

"Did I satisfy your questions? Or is there something else I can assist you with?"