Sirius looked down and crossed two items off the list, then raised his head and looked toward the entrance to the Vale.
The first guests had arrived.
The Floo Powder network activated at the temporary connection point on the eastern side of the Vale.
Green flames flared up in succession from a row of six fireplaces, disgorging one person after another in formal robes.
Cornelius Fudge stepped out first.
He wore specially tailored deep purple dress robes, the fabric gleaming like silk in the light.
A gold commemorative medal was pinned to his chest, depicting a wolf clasping a human hand, with a line of small lettering beneath it-"Pioneer of Werewolf Integration."
"Who had that thing made?"
Scrimgeour emerged from the second fireplace, his gaze falling on the medal on Fudge's chest.
Fudge puffed out his chest.
"I had it made. What do you think?"
"I think you ought to replace 'Pioneer' with 'Witness.'"
Scrimgeour's tone was dry.
He was not wearing dress robes.
He wore a standard Auror Office duty trench coat, with the latest magic detector from the Marauders Power Company tucked into his left breast pocket and a Commander-in-Chief Edition Portable Communicator strapped to his right wrist.
Six Aurors followed him, fully armed and looking alert.
"My people will handle perimeter security."
Scrimgeour surveyed the Vale, his gaze lingering on the Golden Skynet's protective pillars for two seconds.
"Everyone entering will be scanned individually. No exceptions."
"Including me?"
Fudge frowned.
"Especially you."
Scrimgeour had already walked away.
He raised the detector and aimed it at the next person to emerge from a fireplace.
Umbridge.
She wore a pink suit and pink low-heeled leather shoes, with a pink parchment notebook tucked under her left arm and a quill sharpened to a fine point clutched in her right hand.