Trying to Get a Story [open]

[jessicann]

After going through security, Jessica made her way down to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. There had been news about some Death Eater activities, but no one was saying anything. The wizarding community had the right to know. If something was going to happen, they needed to protect themselves, right? She walked around, trying to find a wizard or witch she could talk to. Surely, someone here would give her some kind of information. They don't even need to say anything definite. They just needed to give her bits of information to work on. Jessica was pretty sure she can fill in the blanks for herself.

[Angelique St. Clare]

Angelique was rushing through the hall, trying to do some research. She had received a tip that there was a Death Eater working as a healer at St. Mungo's and was trying to find records that might give her a clue on who it might be. As she turned a corner, she nearly crashed into a woman she didn't recognize. "Ooof!" she gasped, balancing herself quickly. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

[jessicann]

"Oh, sorry," she said, turning around, putting her hands up, posed to catch her if she ever did fall. Luckily, she never had fallen. And, now she was demanding a name. Jessica quickily held it together and tried to be a bit more confident, turning into reporter mode. "My name is Jessica Winthrop, editor of the Daily Prophet," she said. "I'm here, looking for someone to talk to. There had been deaths and disappearances that have been happening, and no one from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement has been giving statements. I'm not sure if you know this, ma'am, but there are rumors going around that Death Eaters are behind this and You-Know-Who is gaining in power. What do you have to say about this?"

[Angelique St. Clare]

Angelique shook the woman's hand. "I'm Angelique St. Clare. But I'd prefer it if you kept me anonymous, if that's all right. Just make sure you point out that I'm pretty, OK?" She tossed her hair back for effect. "Why don't you come with me to my office and we'll have a little chat?"

[jessicann]

Jessica forced a laugh when Angelique told her to include that she was pretty. Most people she talked to always try to make themselves seem a lot better than they really are. Those people try too hard and in the end, fail to do what they had wanted to achieve. "Oh, I'll make sure you add that," Jessica added. She wanted to make sure that she was on Angelique's good side. "So, Angelique...if you wouldn't mind, what is your profession with the Ministry of Magic? Your name will be off the record, but I would like to know, and I'm sure my readers would like to know, that this source would be coming from someone that actually know what they're talking about."

The last thing she wanted was someone who turned out to be just the janitor and feeding you broken up information they hear when they go and clean a coffee spill. "I'm sure you must be pretty high up in the rankings," Jessica said, trying to reassure her that she didn't think she wasn't someone important. Flattery was something very important in a business like this. Jessica learned that very early on.

[Angelique St. Clare]

Angelique led the woman to her desk. She sat down and looked at her carefully. "I'm an Auror," she said. "I'm new at the job, at least here. I came over from the States. Anyway, there are some people at the Ministry who would prefer to keep the investigations quiet, but I think that's a bad idea. The truth is, Death Eaters are responsible for all the deaths that have taken place over the last year or so. There was even a murder right here in the Ministry, and another attempted murder. Our previous Minister of Magic, and his assistant, were both Death Eaters, and they were responsible for two deaths. Death Eaters can be just about anywhere." She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the woman. "In fact, how do I know you're not one?"

[jessicann]

Jessica was feverishly writing everything Angelique was saying about Death Eaters really being behind these crimes. But, she stopped in mid-air when the auror stated that Jessica could possibly be a Death Eater. She looked up at Angelique to see how serious she was, then started laughing nervously when she saw that the auror was very serious. "Surely, you must know that I can't possibly be one," Jessica said. "Would a Death Eater come into the Ministry during broad daylight?"

Looking back down, Jessica wrote a few more notes. Hopefully, Angelique would not really be accusing her and that it was just all part of the auror's job to be suspicious of people. Jessica could never be a Death Eater. For one, she's a muggle-born witch. She was pretty sure Death Eaters wouldn't welcome her with open arms. If anything, she'll be on top of the list for their hit list. Which is one of the reasons she's so intent on trying to find out everything she can and be safe. If not for her, but for her son, for every other muggle-borns out there.

[Angelique St. Clare]

Angelique looked at her for another minute. "Sorry. I had to ask. You don't really look like a Death Eater. But you should know that most Death Eaters are very good at hiding their identies and putting on an air of respectability." She frowned. "They could be doing anything, working for the Ministry, the hospital, the school, even your newspaper."

[jessicann]

A bit of relief finally came to Jessica when Angelique dropped those accusing eyes. "Well, I was sure to check the background of all of my employees, and I'm pretty sure there are no Death Eaters," she said to Angelique proudly. "Besides, I'm a muggle-born witch. What Death Eater would want to work under me? They would have killed me by now."

At that thought, she became a bit nervous and for the first time realized just how close this thing was to her. It was true that Death Eaters had infiltrated places that no one could ever predict. That's why she came down to the MInistry of Magic in the first place, to cover the stories of these infiltration. Jessica just never thought or realized that her newspaper could be at risk.

[Angelique St. Clare]

"Well, to be honest, sometimes they aren't just out to kill," said Angelique. "They are working on building up the strength of Voldemort's forces by slowly inflitrating key areas of our society and using their influence there to promote his beliefs." She looked at her seriously. "And in some ways, that is actually worse than actually killing people. It's a way of slowly enslaving us all. Just keep an eye on your employees, and the stories that they write. Be especially careful of anyone who comes from one of the old families."

[jessicann]

Jessica took all of this down and nodded. She flinched a bit when Angelique said Voldemort's name out loud. "Well, thank you, Miss St. Clare," Jessica said, nodding still nodding. "But, don't you think that would be a bit prejudice to be suspicious of those from old families? Like you said, Death Eaters could be anywhere. And, I do realize that most come from the old pure-blood families. But, is that fair?"

If the Ministry was practicing unorthodox methods of finding Death Eaters, that would surely be a good bit to report.

[Angelique St. Clare]

"Well, that's true," Angelique said, nodding. "There is an unconfirmed report that at least one of his most trusted Death Eaters is actually from a muggle family! Or rather, the mother was a Squib, and the father a muggle. However, we can't confirm that report at this time. All I am saying is, just be careful who you trust."

[jessicann]

"Duely noted," Jessica said, writing down a few more notes, then looking up. "Well, Miss St. Clare, this has been an awfully wonderful interview. Is there anything you would like the Daily Prophet to report? Any news of what's happening?"

[Angelique St. Clare]

"Actually, yes," Angelique said, reaching into her desk and taking out a photograph. Handing the photo to Jessica, she said, "This is Greta Weiss. She was the Minister's assistant, and a Death Eater. She is also a murderer. She killed my niece, Sabrina St. Clare, in front of numerous witnesses. I would like you to print her picture, along with a message offering a reward for any information concerning her whereabouts."

[jessicann]

Jessica took the picture and felt for the auror sitting across from her. She nodded. "Yes, of course," she said. "I'll put it in the paper. No charge, of course." With the questioning done, she felt it was time for her to go back to the office and get to work. She had a paper to put out, and a deadline to meet. The people will want their news.

"Well, Ms. St. Clare, thank you for your time," she said, standing up and putting a hand out to shake. "I hope to hear some good news soon. And, I hope that it will come from you."

((I'll put the thing up in issue 2))

[Angelique St. Clare]

"Thank you," Angelique said. "I never got to even meet my niece, because of this woman, and I intend to make her pay for that. I will bring her in, no matter what it takes." It was the first time she had admitted these words out loud, and she felt better for having said them. Now she knew what her purpose in leaving her home in America had been. She smiled at Jessica. "Anyway, thanks again. Good luck with the paper, but make sure you don't turn your back on your employees. Make sure you know who you can trust."