No Honor Amongst Thieves | Invite

Friday, August 24, 1923
The Office of the Minister of Magic
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"Thank you Moira. That'll be all for now."

With a polite wave of his hand, the secretary nodded her head and dipped back out through the entry-way, closing the office door behind her. The man clutched the parchment in his hand, light brown eyes hovering over the words again, a slight scowl crossing his features as he finally shook his head and slid it across the desk to Nordstrom. His gaze flicked to Harper, sharing a look with her that would tell her everything he was already thinking.

The British Prime Minister was requesting, for the umpteenth time a direct meeting between himself and James, insisting that without cooperation between muggle and magic folk, relations were sure to dwindle into something more contemptuous than they had been in decades. They didn't want to rock the boat, the memo had warned - threatened - indicating that should James Laurence and his cabinet not be open to collaboration as they had been doing for years, the magical world would suffer for it.

James didn't hold or nurse such worries. From his perspective, friendly relations with the muggles had only ever served them and not those that were forced to hide their innate abilities from the greater world. Should they wish to, certainly the wizarding world could expand, forcing its place into the open where muggles could do nothing but tremble beneath the power they wielded, but the man wasn't so short-sighted to resolve straight to conquering.

Rather, he preferred his kind be left alone to govern themselves, without muggle interference where it certainly didn't belong. What value did the muggles bring to his table, or to any wizarding family's table that they couldn't provide for themselves? Since the beginning of organized religion, magic-wielders had been persecuted, tortured and murdered for existing. Muggles were the brutish sort, and he simple saw no use in allowing them the little power previous ministers had.

"He's demanding now," James said with a scoff, leaning back in his chair as he folded his hands across his chest.

"Seems to think a written tantrum will coax us into his perspective." He grinned a bit, eyebrow raising as he moved his gaze from Harper to Bertram. "Well old man? What say you about it?"

Bertram accepted the parchment without comment, reading it once from beginning to end before folding it neatly and placing it back on the Minister's desk. His face remained unchanged, though one brow lifted ever so slightly at the Prime Minister's choice of wording.

"Demanding is an interesting strategy," he observed, settling back into his chair. "Particularly when they are asking for our cooperation. "

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before fading. His fingers laced together thoughtfully.

"For decades now, the Ministry has continued these meetings out of courtesy and tradition. Not an obligation. Courtesy should not be mistaken for dependence. We have never been and never will be dependent on the muggle government.”

Bertram glanced briefly toward Harper before returning his attention back to James.

"Our government has every right to reevaluate its relationship with the Muggle administration. That, after all, is the definition of sovereignty."

He paused, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, steepling his fingers in thought.

"That said..." There was the solicitor making an appearance. "...I would advise against an emotional response. His language is inflammatory by design. If we respond in kind, we will prove him right. If we answer with thoughtful confidence, we demonstrate exactly why Britain's magical government is capable of governing itself."

Another pause, running over the words in the letter, Bram tried to figure out why the Prime Minister would chose to instigate in such a way.

"I see no reason for a meeting simply because he has demanded your attendance.”

Shaking his head, Bram looked up to meet James’ eyes. He was happy with his vote and who sat in the chair across from him, even if his face was lacked the wrinkles of age and wisdom.

"However, If we decline, I would do so respectfully and with a clear explanation of our objective moving forward. The international community will be watching how this administration conducts itself. We should ensure they see confidence..."

A small smile crossed his face, old man indeed.

"...not the petulance of a child."

Ankles crossed, Harper lightly rested her forearm onto one of the chair’s arms, watching James’ face as he read over the letter in his hands. She didn’t need to see to know its contents. The scowl on his face said enough, and the look in his eyes the rest.

The Muggle Minister wasn’t letting up.

"He's demanding now.” James slid the parchment across the desk and towards Nordstrom. The Head of Magical Affairs accepted without comment. Harper gave the slightest shake of her head, amusement curling imperceptibly at the corners of her lips. Apparently he was growing bolder as well. Or perhaps merely more accustomed to the Ministry yielding whenever he pressed hard enough.

Senseless.

She had never understood the purpose of maintaining such a relationship in the first place. A bilateral relationship with a government that had nothing to offer beyond demands and arrogance, a people so wholly beneath them. The relationship between Magical and Muggle Britain was advantageous to only one side, leaving the other with more work than gain.

The war had been the most egregious example.

Shameless exploitation, frivolous participation. The Ministry had foolishly offered cooperation, resources, and the lives of their own, only to be met afterwards with more demands and more expectations. More insistence that Magical Britain ought to answer the moment Muggle Britain called, granting wishes and meeting needs, using the skills they had once been hunted for.

Bowing down so willingly, forsaking their superiority. As though they had forgotten why secrecy had existed in the first place. Wizardkind should never have revealed themselves to muggle governments, and they should have broken ties a long time ago. Muggles to muggles, wizards to wizards.

Harper was glad to see Nordstrom seemed to understand that much. Mellow as he may appear, the man held the right values. Once he finished speaking, Harper’s gaze travelled back to James.

“I believe we have already explained our objective quite clearly”, she said evenly, linking her fingers atop the armrest. “Repeatedly. They are simply choosing not to accept it.”

Her eyes briefly dropped to the parchment between them, before flicking to Nordstrom.

“I see little sense in doing so again. Clearly they are unable to respect our position, or our decision. A meeting will not change that. Neither will another polite decline.”

She paused, sliding her gaze to James.

“Perhaps quiet will make the message get through at last.”

James was not an unreasonable man. Young as he was for his position, he innately understood the precarious position his cabinet teetered on. Their people were waiting for its government to prove itself, and if moves weren't executed in precisely the right way, the optics would be less-than-impressive.

The wizarding world deserved confidence in their leaders, and James had every intention of instilling it so deeply it'd never waver.

He listened quietly, nodding here and there with Bertram's assessment and remaining still when he didn't. Bertram Nordstrom was a diplomat, and a competent one, which sealed his value in James's circle of advisors. But the man led with politeness and propriety, things that worked well when maneuvering through one's own circles of influence, but came across weak and limp-wristed when dealing with opponents. James was charming, but he was calculated first, and he knew when to wield his name but more importantly, when to bare his teeth.

"However, If we decline, I would do so respectfully and with a clear explanation of our objective moving forward. The international community will be watching how this administration conducts itself. We should ensure they see confidence...not the petulance of a child."

"Is that what you think of me?" James laughed, leaning back in his chair, "Come now, Nordstrom. I only throw my toys out of the pram in front of my wife." His grin grew momentarily, before he sighed, drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair. Diplomacy was good and well, when it served both parties. Nothing about the relations between muggle and wizard had ever served their kind. It was an imbalance and always had been, the scales never tipping in their favor only because the leadership that had come before had been too cowardly to throw their weight in.

“I believe we have already explained our objective quite clearly. Repeatedly. They are simply choosing not to accept it. I see little sense in doing so again. Clearly they are unable to respect our position, or our decision. A meeting will not change that. Neither will another polite decline.”

"Correct," James agreed, but he lingered on the word a moment, the wheels turning behind his eyes as his gaze drifted between them. "Another decline will simply see more postage piling at our door, and I'm not of the mind to meet simply because he demands it." What was the solution then? If their polite messages weren't getting through, if the Prime Minister was so adamant that they should meet despite the Laurence Administration's refusal, what came next?

“Perhaps quiet will make the message get through at last.”

"I've never been quiet a day in my life," he said, his voice lowering slightly as he finally looked down at his desk in thought. Quiet wasn't the answer either.

"We'll have the meeting," James said finally, his hand slapping loosely on the desk, and he pointed to Nordstrom. "You'll come with me," his eyes flicked to Harper, "as will you. We'll give the Prime Minister what he wants, but only so far as showing up. It's time for the muggles to understand their place."

He leaned forward, folding his hands on his desk, and knowing that Harper already understood his meaning, he fixed his eyes on Bertram. "We'll make it plain that this meeting will be the last time they'll hear from us, if they understand what's good for them. We'll explain we have no intention of continuing this 'diplomatic relationship' and effective immediately we will govern our own and expect them to do the same, without interference on either side." Knowing where this could go, and how unpredictable muggles could be, he continued.

"We'll bring two aurors. Talk to the MLE Head and get his best. I want us all on the same page here. We're to simply lay out our terms and intentions and roadblock any attempts at dissuading us. If things take a turn, we'll leave and regroup with our next steps."

He looked at Harper pointedly and then back to Bertram. "Are we all in agreement?"

Bertram remained silent for a moment after James spoke, considering the decision that had just been made. It was certainly bolder than he would have recommended. Then again, James Laurence had never promised to govern timidly.

A slow nod followed. "Very well." He folded his hands neatly in his lap.

"If the purpose of the meeting is to establish the conclusion of our working relationship, then that is exactly what we need to accomplish."

His gaze drifted to the parchment before returning to Harper and then the Minister. They shared the same destination, even if their preferred routes were different. James had made his decision. Bertram's responsibility now was to make sure it succeeded. "I would suggest we control the meeting in every way possible."

Leaning forward, Bram rested his arms on his knees, counting off the details with his fingers.

"The meeting should take place on neutral ground, with a written agenda delivered beforehand. We determine its purpose, its scope, and its duration. There should be no misunderstanding that this is not a negotiation. This is not an invitation to revisit previous decisions."

Looking toward Harper, then James, Bram's expression remained thoughtful.

"If the Prime Minister tries to change the topic of discussion, we politely decline and return to the matter at hand. The fewer opportunities we provide for distraction, the less opportunity there is for misunderstanding."

Or manipulation.

"As for security..." He nodded once. While he didn’t anticipate any issues, walking in with security would send a clear message.

"I agree. I will speak with the Head of Magical Law Enforcement. Two Aurors should be more than sufficient, as long as they understand their role is one of protection rather than intimidation." Granted, intimidation would come regardless.

Another pause. Thinking over the meeting to come and what would be expected. His fingers tapped lightly against the arm of the chair.

"I would also recommend that we keep an official record of the meeting. History has a habit of being rewritten by people not in the room. I would rather there be no question as to what was said, by whom, and under what circumstances."

Finally, he met James' eyes. There was no hesitation. "You have my full support, Minister." A faint smile found its way onto his face. Happy with what the future would bring.

"I've never been quiet a day in my life."

Harper clicked her tongue, arching a brow in subtle amusement.

She supposed she should have anticipated an answer like that. Not like James Laurence to not have the last word, was it? If it were her decision, she would have simply ignored the Muggle tantrum until it dissolved on its own, left the letters and demands unanswered like a child’s willful frenzy. What could they do? Throw themselves to the ground and scream?

But confidence through passivity wasn’t the sort of power James wanted to portray, and Harper understood that. Either way, agreeing to meet might open up the opportunity they needed to better sell their decision to the public, judging by how deteriorated things with the muggle government already were. Not everyone was convinced yet, but Harper was sure they could make it so.

The muggles might just do it all by themselves. In fact, they already were. Petulant and doltish as they behaved.

Upon James’ decision, Harper smiled, a sly curl, softly inclining her head.

A meeting it was then.

A show of force rather than a negotiation, although she doubted the muggles would be intelligent enough to recognise the distinction. They were rather dull creatures. But she supposed time would be the judge. If they knew what was good for them, they’d finally relent.

Harper’s gaze shifted to Nordstrom as he outlined the practicalities of the meeting, listening in silence.

Neutral ground. A written agenda. Predetermined control.

Sensible. The less room they gave the Prime Minister to make demands, the easier it would be to strengthen their own position. After all, this would not be a discussion, but a declaration. If the muggles needed to hear it in person, so be it.

Once Nordstrom finished, Harper nodded. “I agree. A written response to arrange the meeting—we chose the time, place and attendees and make the purpose clear from the outset. A formal in-person break of ties. No negotiations, no hints of reconsideration, no concessions.”

Harper leaned back in her seat.

“As for the Aurors, two should be sufficient. Enough to provide security in the unlikely case we need it; subtle enough not to intimidate. I would rather they not provoke the muggles into doing something foolish.”

Her gaze settled on James, brows lifting faintly. The smallest smile appeared.

“We wouldn’t want them to feel threatened.”

A beat, and her gaze returned to Nordstrom. “I also agree on keeping a record. Preferably someone impartial, removed enough from the politics to leave no reasonable questions as to its accuracy or legitimacy.”