Letter of Complaint When: April 19, 2004 Who: Richard Summerby, various Ministry officials Private/Public: Private (?) Rating: Depends on the people at the Ministry Summary: Richard is not a happy camper. He wants to share the joy
copies to everybody, Lavender, files <i> Dirk Towler, Minister for Magic Gawain Robards, Chief, Department of Magical Law Enforcement Kingsley Shacklebolt, Chief Auror Percy Weasley, Division Head, Wizengamot Administrative Service
Gentlemen;
I am sorry to report that I find it my civic duty to complain about the conduct of Senior Auror Savage in regards to his investigation of the attack on Ms. Lavender Brown on 5 April, 2004.
My first exposure to the lack of professionalism of this representative of the Ministry was when I returned from travel abroad and he confronted me at my flat, failing to properly identify himself as an Auror, and behaving in a most suspicious manner. Even though the attack took place almost outside my door, when he was informed the muggle security cameras on the building recorded that area, he made no attempt to immediately secure the recordings of the attack. Auror Savage apparently had some agenda he was following.
As I am a law-abiding individual, with a proven record in the last war fighting against Death Eaters both with the Resistance, and in several battles, I of course invited Auror Savage into my house since I would be readily able to provide documentation of my whereabouts, and many contacts, wizarding gentlemen of good reputation including an Italian Auror, that would undeniably prove my whereabouts the evening in question. Instead, he seemed intent on getting me outside my wards, behaving, as I told him then, as if he were actually attempting to kidnap me for some nefarious reason. I should note that at this time, and then again later in our time together, when I questioned Auror Savage about his role during the last war, he did not deny that he was either a Death Eater, a sympathizer, or some sort of collaborator with the minions of the unlamented former Dark Lord.
When I did accompany Auror Savage to the Ministry, since he apparently felt it necessary to abuse his authority to the point of using the Directive in regards to the unlawful use of Polyjuice to hold me for investigation, I proceeded to provide my documentation and contacts to prove that I had been out of the country. At that time, personal effects of mine were taken, including things that obviously had no bearing on the attack, such as my muggle mobile telephone. Auror Savage behaved in an insulting manner, and it was only through bits of information he let slip during his so-called investigation that I found out it was my fiance that had been attacked. I was naturally distraught at that information, and offered to submit to both Vertaserum and the Imperius Curse to speed up the process so I could attend to Ms. Brown. Auror Savage continued to behave in an insulting fashion, claiming that I could somehow resist the combination of the two, even if administered by a competent department investigator, which I frankly informed Auror Savage I did not find him to be. All of this was ostensibly based on the supposed testimony of some muggle who said the attacker resembled me, and a vague statement from Ms. Brown who has said she was still mostly in shock when questioned by Aurors, but who is willing to testify that I had no connection with the attack in any way.
Auror Savage seemed disappointed that my 'story' as he called it checked out, as if what I do for a living is somehow sinister, and my references could indeed vouch for my whereabouts at the time in question. Even though he admitted he had no grounds to hold me in the matter of the attack, he refused to return my personal effects, insisted on searching my flat to the detriment of my domestic tranquility, refused me access to my own residence, removed more of my personal property as alleged evidence to a crime that I had been proven to be in no possible way associated with, removed parts from my building's security system, and placed restrictions on my movement to the detriment of the practice of my regular means of employment. It is almost like Auror Savage either has a personal agenda because I was not the perpetrator of this awful crime, which meant he had wasted days of valuable investigative time, or has some other reason for wanting me out on the street, outside my wards, in these difficult times. I leave further speculation as to the actual cause up to your internal investigation.
Since I only want what is best for wizarding England, I bring this matter to your personal attention, rather than going to the media, or submitting a formal petition to the open Wizengamot. It is said that a new broom sweeps clean. I can only wonder if it might not be time to sweep some of the detrius from the old administration out the door. In general, I would like my personal property, some of it family heirlooms, returned, and to be allowed to return to my regular working life. An apology from Auror Savage if he is merely an unpleasant individual and not either incompetent or carrying out some hidden agenda would be nice, but is not necessary. A swift, competent, and successful pursuit of the individual actually responsible for the heinous attack on Ms. Brown would be the one thing that would give me greatest satisfaction.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Richard Summerby Wheaton Wharf Clink Street London