WHO: Robbie Stebbins and Michael Corner, later Morag MacDougal WHEN: Monday, 27th June, lunchtime WHERE: Ministry of Magic, holding cells WHAT: Their stories have to coincide, so a little tête-à-tête is necessary
After a weekend of meetings and discussions with Diggory and various discreet Ministry lawyers and officials, the play had been written as to what 'officially' went down on Friday night, and now it fell to Robbie to deliver the amended pages to Corner.
Slipping into the department during the lunch break didn't make sure that he wouldn't be seen there, a few diligent employees still sat at their desks and were quietly conferring over cases, but it did make it a little easier to go unnoticed. Less people that might mob him over the NPPCAV murder and the Minister's take on it, and less people that might notice his slowly healing face. Turned out he didn't have any Bruise Removal Paste in his potions cabinet at home, and he hadn't yet managed to pick some up, so his face looked like some sort of modern art piece or the victim of a particularly enthusiastic face-painting session. Diggory had suggested he keep the bruises a little longer for the photo oppurtunity, and he could understand that. There was also a small part of him that needed them; he had deserved them really, for what he'd done. Not that he could say that aloud, but it was a sharp reminder every time he caught his reflection.
And for the vain and narcissistic person that he was, he did that a lot. Any shiny surface. Seriously.
He managed to make it to the cells without being accosted, and he rounded to Corner's cell, straightening his tie reassuringly before stepping up to the door with a glance over his shoulder to make sure no one had followed him or was lurking to eavesdrop. Robbie slid the small hatch open and stood to one side to search within for the wizard. "Corner, it's Stebbins. I don't have long," he said, with another look along the corridor. "But if you don't want Patil involved in any of what's going to happen, I suggest you listen good to what I've got to say."