The Old Breed | Nordstrom

Wednesday, December 1, 1920
Noon
The Minister's Office
♫

Wylder pushed the glass of brandy across the desk to Nordstrom, his cigarette hanging lazily from his lips. "It won't be long, Nordstrom, until military mobilization will be in play," he said quietly, taking the cigarette from his lips and replacing it with his own glass. "If we think that we can keep our people out of the muggle conflict, we're kidding ourselves."

He took a long swig, letting the fermented taste of plum coat his lips, while the burn drifted down his throat. He sighed, letting his head loll back against his chair for a moment while he thought carefully, mulling his words about in his head.

The IRA was beyond bold at this point, and while Wylder had no desire to drag his people into the foray, especially considering he represented both British and Irish interests, he and his advisors didn't see a clear way around it. Not when the British Prime Minister was now at his doorstep, imploring him for assistance, despite his own resistance to offer any. Wylder knew well the cost of war, and he didn't want to subject his own people to the horrors of it so soon after the European conflict.

Still. It was inevitable, according to all those he spoke with.

The twenty-first of November had been deemed 'Bloody Sunday', and indeed it had been. A shame that men couldn't work out their differences with diplomacy, even if diplomacy wasn't Wylder's strong suit either.

"Your secretary informed you about the proposed legislation for a Wand Registration Act?" Wylder asked, ashing his cigarette into the nearby tray. "I don't like the idea of imposing on civil liberties, and we all know old houses like yours are bound to grumble, but if it secures the integrity of the wizarding population and enables us to surveil resistance groups, then it may be the best option." His eyes settled on the Head of Magical Affairs as he swished his brandy idly.

"The muggle government just passed the Firearms Act, so it wouldn't be entirely out of left field?"

Meetings were piling up, but this one was by far the most important. It was slated for thirty minutes, but Beth, his secretary, knew that if it went long, all other meetings were to be canceled and rescheduled. Who was he kidding, it was going to last far longer than thirty minutes.

"It won't be long, Nordstrom, until military mobilization will be in play. If we think that we can keep our people out of the muggle conflict, we're kidding ourselves." Picking up the brandy, swirling it around in the glass, taking a strong sniff then a deep pull of the rich liquid, Bram sat and sighed deeply.

He hated that Merrow was right, but he was. “From what I have heard, and the reports that are coming across my desk, the fighting is getting worse. The front line is encroaching on magical territory.”

"Your secretary informed you about the proposed legislation for a Wand Registration Act?" Bram needed to step lightly. He did not like the legislation. At. All. "I don't like the idea of imposing on civil liberties, and we all know old houses like yours are bound to grumble, but if it secures the integrity of the wizarding population and enables us to surveil resistance groups, then it may be the best option."

A war was not what they needed right now, but it was looming. By and large, the Nordstrom family was upper class and law-abiding. The family tree had deep roots and a lot of branches, a few were darker than others, living in the shadows instead of the light. A wand registry was crossing a line. “I’ll be honest. I don’t like it. The push back will be fierce and loud.”

"The muggle government just passed the Firearms Act, so it wouldn't be entirely out of left field?" Drinking the rest of the brandy in one gulp, Bram stood and started pacing. Loosening his tie and unbuttoning his top shirt button, he felt strangled by the fabric and the thought of his wand being monitored. Did he do shady things? No. Did he want every spell to be scrutinized? Also no.

“The Firearms Act requires the registration and certification of firearms and ammunition. What you're suggesting with the wand registration would be like alerting the police to every time the gun is shot. We don’t have the manpower for such oversight and the public outcry will ruin us.”

Walking over to the bottle of brandy, Bram poured another two fingers worth and continued pacing the room. Why had he taken this position? He was so happy with his job at the Swedish Ministry, and now this. Fighting, war, completely idiotic legislation and the endless hand shakes and back slaps of the ruthless uppercrust. Was it too early to ask for some time off?

"It is," Wylder said decisively, bringing his cigarette up for another drag. "I received word the other day that a halfblood family was caught in some of the crossfire when the rebels burned another neighborhood." He shook his head slightly as grey smoke trailed out of his nostrils. "A father and daughter were both killed, despite having his wand on him." It was all getting out of control, and if the wizarding community was starting to come under threat, he didn't see a way around this.

"The Prime Minister seems to think this can be handled in the same way as the Great War. Utilize Aurors and Unspeakables and then just obliviate." It was messy, it was undignified for all involved, and it would cost him good lives that were better suited serving the magical community.

“I’ll be honest. I don’t like it. The push back will be fierce and loud.”

Wylder knew this. He hadn't expected Nordstrom to be waving the flag for surveillance. Old families like his tended to be the most vocal when it came to the government 'overstepping' in any sort of way. They tended to be more conservative, more insulated and less open to change. Whether they dealt in any sort on underhanded business or not, wealthy pureblooded families didn't get to where they were by being open and tolerant.

“The Firearms Act requires the registration and certification of firearms and ammunition. What you're suggesting with the wand registration would be like alerting the police to every time the gun is shot. We don’t have the manpower for such oversight and the public outcry will ruin us.”

"I disagree," Wylder said easily, sitting back in his chair slightly, "In the aspect of manpower anyway. We have the Aurors and plenty in training. Your department budget can be increased if that's the worry? Hire more MLE to oversee the registration and build cases when we're notified of misuse?"

He set his glass down on the desk and was quiet for a moment. "No matter what we do, Nordstrom, there's going to be outcry. If we sit on our arse and do nothing, there will be outcry. If we make moves and enact legislation to try and protect our people, there will be outcry."

Wylder shared the man's silent sentiment, wondering why he'd ever accepted this election instead of spending his days quietly training Aurors. "We have to do something, and if military mobilization is on the horizon, this is what has to be done."