Thick Of It

The wizarding world was ablaze with Jason Bourne's name. His fame had reached unprecedented heights—everyone from Diagon Alley to the farthest corners of the magical globe was discussing the young prodigy.

His book, which unveiled the spell to reverse the Killing Curse, had sold out instantly. Shops couldn't keep it on shelves for more than a few minutes before eager witches and wizards snatched up every copy. 

Adding fuel to the fire, Dumbledore himself had publicly endorsed Jason, calling him a "truly extraordinary mind with a heart set on the betterment of all." This, combined with the fact that Jason was a wizard to pass both his OWLs and NEWTs at the tender age of 16, catapulted him to an almost mythical status. To many, he was a modern-day Merlin. Yet, despite his meteoric rise to fame, Jason had avoided the limelight—until now.

The day had arrived for Jason's first public appearance as the Muggle Liaison Officer, alongside the newly appointed Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour. The anticipation in the air was palpable. Reporters from every magical publication jostled for space in the crowded Ministry atrium, their quills poised to capture history in the making.

Scrimgeour, with his leonine demeanor and gruff authority, stepped up to the podium. The flashes of cameras illuminated his face as he began to speak.

Scrimgeour: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Rufus Scrimgeour, your Minister for Magic. I assure you, under my leadership, we will put an end to the Dark Lord and his forces. Today, however, I have the honor of introducing someone truly exceptional. Please welcome our new Muggle Liaison Officer, Jason Bourne."

The room erupted into a frenzy of camera flashes and whispers as Jason stepped forward. Dressed sharply in a tailored suit that bridged the gap between Muggle sophistication and wizarding elegance, he exuded a calm confidence. His face, rarely seen, was now captured in every angle possible.

Jason: [stepping to the podium with a small smile] "Hello, everyone. I'm Jason Bourne, and I'll be working with the Ministry on behalf of the Muggle government."

The reporters exploded into questions, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of noise. Jason held up his hand, his smile unfaltering.

Jason: "Calm down, everyone. Let's keep this orderly—one question at a time."

The crowd simmered, though the energy was still electric. Rita Skeeter, ever the opportunist, seized the moment.

Rita Skeeter: [leaning forward with her Quick-Quotes Quill poised] "Mr. Bourne, why are you working for the Muggle government? You're the pride of the magical community!"

Jason turned to her with a hint of amusement.

Jason: "As you all know, I recently graduated from Hogwarts. I looked into roles within the Ministry, but none of the positions appealed to me. Meanwhile, the Muggle government offered something... unique."

Rita: [narrowing her eyes] "Unique? Are you saying they created a position just for you?"

Jason: [with a playful smirk] "They did. Flattering, isn't it?"

The crowd chuckled at his quick wit, though Rita's lips thinned in annoyance. Another reporter chimed in, more serious.

Reporter: "How do you plan to deal with the Dark Lord?"

Jason's expression sobered as he addressed the question.

Jason: "Let me clarify something: 'capture' is the wrong word. Both the Muggle and magical governments have deemed the Dark Lord and his followers too dangerous. The directive is clear—known Death Eaters and Voldemort himself are to be neutralized on sight. This includes authorization to use the Unforgivable Curses if necessary."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Whispers broke out among the reporters as they processed the implications of Jason's statement. A young journalist muttered, "Did he just casually sanction killing Death Eaters?"

Jason stepped back from the podium, the conversation swelling into a roar. Rita Skeeter's quill darted furiously across her parchment, and Scrimgeour stepped forward to take control of the situation.

Backstage, Jason exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, approached him with an approving nod.

Amelia: "Well, that certainly made an impression."

Jason: [smirking] "Did it? I thought it went rather smoothly."

Amelia: [raising an eyebrow] "Smoothly? You just made history, Jason. The first wizard to work directly with the Muggle government—and you casually declared open season on Death Eaters."

Jason shrugged, his tone light.

Jason: "Seemed like the right thing to say. You have to admit, it'll motivate them to stay on their toes."

Amelia [smiling ]

Jason's expression softened.

Jason: "How's Susan doing, by the way?"

Amelia's face lit up briefly at the mention of her niece.

Amelia: "She's well, though worried, as we all are. Now, let's talk about strategy for taking down the Dark Lord."

Jason adjusted his cuffs, his sharp gaze now focused.

Jason: "Lead the way."

The meeting room at the Ministry of Magic was steeped in tension. The flickering light of enchanted torches cast long shadows across the stone walls, adding to the air of unease. Jason sat at the long wooden table, flanked by Amelia Bones, the formidable Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Rufus Scrimgeour, the lion-like Minister for Magic; and Gawain Robards, the grizzled and no-nonsense Head of the Auror Office.

The weight of the conversation was palpable, and Jason's sharp mind was already working overtime.

Jason: "So, our biggest issue is locating the Dark Lord."

Gawain Robards: [with a frustrated grunt] "Yes. Every time we get close, he vanishes. It's like chasing smoke."

Amelia: [firmly, her voice cutting through the tension] "As I've said repeatedly, there are moles in your department, Gawain."

Gawain: [bristling] "And what makes you think they're not in yours, Amelia? We only inform your department before taking action."

Rufus: [slamming a hand on the table] "Enough! This is not the time for squabbling."

Jason, seated calmly, leaned forward, his fingers steepled as he regarded the two department heads.

Jason: "If I'm understanding correctly, part of the issue is that the Auror Office isn't being given the freedom to act independently, right? You're effectively shackled until you have approval?"

Gawain: [nodding] "That's correct."

Jason: "Then why don't we try something different? Attach an officer from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to each Auror group. They'd act as observers—eyes on the ground to ensure accountability."

Gawain: [raising an eyebrow] "That would slow us down, and it puts those officers in danger."

Amelia: [crossing her arms] "Exactly. We're not trained for frontline combat like the Aurors."

Jason shrugged, his expression thoughtful.

Jason: "They don't have to fight. They can stay back, out of direct combat. The point isn't for them to be in the thick of things but to ensure transparency. Volunteers only. This way, if there's a mole in the Auror Office, they can't act unchecked. And if the mole is in your department, Amelia, the Auror teams will still be monitored and they can do nothing . Any foul play, and the truth comes out."

Amelia: [hesitant but intrigued] "It's a dangerous proposal. Casualties would be inevitable."

Rufus: [stroking his chin] "It's dangerous, yes, but it ensures accountability while still allowing the Aurors to act. I think it's the right move."

Gawain: [grumbling] "And how do we keep tabs on the operations? Who decides when and where we act?"

Jason leaned back, his expression confident.

Jason: "Simple. The Aurors would need Gawain's permission to act, as they do now. But afterward, they'd have to report everything to Amelia. It's a dual accountability system. This way, we're not just fighting the Dark Lord—we're also safeguarding the Ministry from internal collapse."

The room fell silent as the gravity of Jason's proposal sunk in. Amelia tapped her fingers on the table, her sharp eyes scanning his face.

Amelia: [slowly] "It has merit. But it's risky."

Jason met her gaze steadily.

Jason: "War is risky, Madam Bones. We're trying to minimize the risk while maximizing the chance of victory."

Rufus: [nodding] "It's a sound plan. But Jason, you said there's a flaw in this method?"

Jason nodded, sitting up straighter.

Jason: "Yes. This system centralizes a lot of power in the hands of the three of you. If something were to happen to any of you, it would create a vacuum. That kind of instability could be disastrous in a time of war."

Amelia frowned, but Jason pressed on.

Jason: "So, my suggestion is this: as long as we're at war, you three stay in the Ministry itself. Live here. Aurors will guard you at all times. It ensures continuity and reduces the risk of losing key leaders."

Rufus: [after a moment's thought] "A reasonable precaution. It's settled, then. We'll implement this plan."

Amelia: [exhaling deeply] "If we're doing this, we'd better start immediately."

Gawain: [reluctantly] "I'll brief my team."

As the meeting ended, Jason leaned back in his chair, watching as the three senior officials began discussing logistics. The tension had shifted—from uncertainty and bickering to a fragile but determined sense of cooperation. The room hummed with the weight of their decision, but Jason couldn't help the faint smirk that tugged at his lips.

Jason: [muttering to himself] "One step closer to cleaning up this mess."

For once, there was a flicker of hope in the air, albeit faint and fragile.