Order Only: the Beer Garden, again

[alt_lupin]

We had a visit this past week from a chap who claims to be from the Ministry -- after a fashion, anyway. He's an inspector for the department of Food and Beverage Purity, and comes round quarterly or so to shake us down for our spare galleons, on pain of being shut down for unspecified violations. It was only after this last visit that it occurs to me we've never actually verified his credentials.

His name is Wayne Hill. Bill, could you check? He probably is legitimate, but he raised his demand this past time and we can ill afford to pay it. I'm also worried he might start coming around more often. Clearly he's grasped that we want to avoid extra attention from the Ministry; we could have turned him in for his petty corruption, if we'd thought we could risk it.

(That's what had us tied up, when the message first came from Terry.)

Comments

Private message to Sirius Black

[alt_lupin]

It's safe to come back now, if you'd like. We've made up.

Re: Private message to Sirius Black

[alt_sirius]

Right. I'm for Stevenage for the weekend, then back to town. If you can maintain domestic bliss long enough for me to get there, that is.

Incidentally what do you tell people when Padfoot's not about? That I tend to wander off? Next time, Hill will want you to pay extra for an unlicenced pet roaming the streets of London.

[alt_bill]

He is legitimate, unfortunately. A legitimate inspector attempting illegitimate shakedowns.

The only thing I can think of is I could see if I could get someone to pull some strings to get his assignment changed, so you wouldn't be in his territory anymore. But I'm not sure if the person I'd have to have my people lean on would be responsive. Want me to try anyway?

[alt_nymphadora]

Not sure it would make much difference in the long run. At least this one takes a bribe and goes his way. The next one might be the type to nose about.