Grading Scheme

Grading Plan

Morel toyed with the copy of the LeMay Map, his fingers pointing in turn at Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, those North African countries.

They had no few seals within their borders, but their economies were in the direst straits.

"Everyone can imagine a scene. The Minister for Magic of some small country is sitting in his office, with the dilapidated Ministry of Magic building outside the window, and last month's wages still not fully paid. His secretary walks in and hands him an official Confederation letter. The minister opens it and sees: some ancient ruin within his borders is actually a seal, Lucifer is buried beneath it, and if the seal breaks, hundreds of thousands of Muggles will be affected. The only solution is to ask him to cooperate with us in signing an agreement—of which the most important clause permits the Confederation's Auror deployment team to enter that nation's territory to carry out work, and permits the use of his secret liaison channels to launch the grand potion-promotion plan with the Muggle government."

As he spoke, Morel leaned back against his chair.

"What will he think? He will weigh it again and again in his heart. If this news is true, then he is the gatekeeper of the seal within his borders, a hero who saves lives; but if this news is false—if the Confederation is setting a trap, aiming to infiltrate his Auror system, then take control of his secret liaison channels, or pass false intelligence to his Muggle government—then he is the criminal who let the wolf through the door."

"In that situation, he has only one option: put the official letter into a drawer, ask his secretary to brew another cup of tea, and then sit tight, waiting for further news. He will not reply,