April 27th, 1888 — Department of Magical Law Enforcement
He had not limped in his efforts to escape her—this should have been a red flag, but Elinor had simply chalked it up to his desire to end their conversation, a momentary burst of adrenaline. Now she knew it for what it was: the failing of an impersonator under the sway of polyjuice potion.
Thirty minutes she had waited before she had, paranoid that he had simply tried to write her off, to pry Mr. Crouch’s location from his secretary, only to be told that not only did she not actually have an appointment, but she could not have made one with Mr. Crouch himself as he was not due back from Portugal until Wednesday. Confused, Elinor had asked to speak to a Mr. Macnair, only to learn that no one by that name worked in the department.
She had all but bolted from the office, making long, quick strides to the lift, and then from the lift to the secretary in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
“The Ministry of Magic has been infiltrated,” she informed the rather bewildered-looking woman. “Mr. Aldous Crouch is not himself—there is an imposter in our midst!”
— MJ never ceases to impress ♡ —