Order Only: Wakefield Prison

[alt_kingsley]

After a bit of assessment of the security measures in place, Tonks and I made it inside the prison. (She Metamorphed herself into the guise of a guard she stunned and stuffed into a closet. I used a Disillusionment charm.) We were in and out within a couple of hours (hiding our tracks with Obliviation). One hour was spent touring the cells, the other going through records of the prisoners.

Apparently, when the Protectorate took over, the prisoners who were there were mostly disposed of. Those with the more serious sentences were simply killed, and about a quarter went into the nearest Sleeper warehouse. A few were kept to do the labour needed to maintain the place, other than guarding. Cooking and serving meals for the prisoners, laundry, janitor work, and so on.

As for the new prisoners: the Protectorate has used the prison ever since for Muggles sent here without trial--not ones who had committed any crime, but people who were notable in the Muggle world before Voldemort's rise.

It's an interesting mix. They are haggard, obviously, suffering from years of imprisonment, but I think there is enough talent and intelligence here to have made mealtimes in the mess hall well worth the opportunity for conversation.

I jotted down a few notes on several prisoners of particular interest:

• Alfred Denning. Lord Denning that is, who under the old aristocracy was a Baron. He was the third most senior judge in England and Wales, and a former Master of the Rolls, whatever that means.


• Tim Berners-Lee, a scientist who worked with compyuteers, which as best as I can tell, seem to be the Muggle equivalent of Pensieves.


• Alec Jeffreys, described as a geneticist. I think that's similar to a word I've heard Regina Wilson-Lee use, when talking about crop propagation?


• Richard Dawkins, another scientist. I don't understand the nature of his area (sloppy prison notes) but apparently he was rather reknowned in his field. Whatever it was?


• Michael Foote, a politician. He was, I take it, the leader of the opposition party--in opposition to the Prime Minister who was killed in the early days of the regime.


• Martin Rees, another scientist. Terry was rather excited when I mentioned his name, having read about him in one of his muggle science books. Physics, something about the stars.


• Robert Runcie, who was one of the highest in the land of church government. The title was Archdeacon. No, Archbishop. Archbishop of some city or other. Canterbury, I think.

I think what we may have here is a resource of some quite prominent and intelligent Muggles, who may be key in helping rebuild, not only society, but some of the areas of knowledge we've lost.

If we ever manage to get the Lord Protector off our collective necks.

Comments

Private message to Alice and Frank

[alt_kingsley]

I'll admit I'd hoped a little, but no.

There was no sign of Neville, or any indication he'd ever been there. I'm sorry.

Re: Private message to Alice and Frank

[alt_alice]

Thank you, Kingsley.

And no hint of Prince William either, I take it?

Re: Private message to Alice and Frank

[alt_kingsley]

No. We didn't take the records' word for either of them; we looked into every cell.

Re: Private message to Alice and Frank

[alt_kingsley]

No, nor of him.

He would be King William rightfully now, wouldn't he? Since his father is dead.

I wonder if he is still alive.

[alt_pansy]

You may want to seize control of it before we make our move in September. Someone may try to use them as hostages, or kill them out of spite if they think they're losing.