The missing boys ✔

Part 12: Veritaserum

"We detected the underage apparition, but by the time we were able to pick it out from all the other channels we're monitoring and identify it as independent rather than side-along, they were long gone," said the head of the Auror office, Rufus Scrimgeour. He was standing near a long wooden table addressing the Minister of Magic, Moody, and Dumbledore, who had all been in conference when the latest evidence had arrived.

Fudge sighed.

Another headache and he hadn't even had his first cup of pumpkin café.

"We'd better keep this quiet, especially from Weasley. We don't want the public getting wind of this." He said.

Moody rolled his eyes at the very idea and Scrimgeour spoke.

"Weasley was there when the alert came up. He was one of the people to check the area. I doubt you need to worry about him going public though; we made him sign a secrecy agreement when he joined our task force. If he wants to continue searching for his son he'll be discreet."

"That man will continue looking with or without your permission. If I were you I'd be more concerned with keeping him on our side than putting restrictions on him," said Moody in a gruff tone.

"Is there any other information?" asked Dumbledore calmly before Scrimgeour could retort.

Scrimgeour's face turned to one of vindictive satisfaction.

"I inquired as to the condition of Harry Potter's relatives. Apparently the Dursleys are nice and settled in their new apartment in Ireland. The child threw quite the tantrum when he found out there was no—what do you call it? A "Tele"? Mr. Dursley kept inquiring about muggle jobs. Their transition coordinator told him the local petrol stations were hiring, apparently his tantrum was even bigger than his son's."

Moody cracked a smirk and Fudge nodded in approval.

"Well," said Dumbledore, "if that's all you have for us, I'd better get on."

The group adjourned and Moody moved out of the office and back towards the room that was being dedicated to searching for the missing boys. Halfway there he saw a tall, red haired man moving through the corridors.

"Weasley, I thought I sent you home to get some sleep," he called.

The man froze and turned around.

Moody squinted his eyes in suspicion at the nervous look on Arthur's face.

"What's happened?" asked Moody shrewdly.

"Nothing," said the man. "Just couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about…Ron," he said slowly, still looking twitchy.

Moody observed the man closely before stepping forward.

"Weasley…if you're hiding any new evidence you'd better fork it over now," he growled in a low tone.

"I don't have anything. I just came here to work," said Weasley, his voice growing stronger.

Moody didn't step away, instead he continued on in the same low voice

"Some are starting to say you're too close to the case. Don't give them an excuse to kick you off the taskforce."