Aeneas Strosslink
Chapter 1
Edwina Yolk's Street
Strosslink Apparated around the corner from the house. He didn't want to arrive too close. Edwina Yolk was known to be a cunning old witch, and it was more than likely that she would have placed some protection spells around the area.
Strosslink whisked the note out of his pocket for the fifth time, checking that he was headed for the right address. He knew that it was number three, but he always had to make sure a dozen times before he moved in. Etched in his memory was the story of Nott, who'd broken into a house in the wrong street, thinking that two of the Prewetts were hiding out there. It had been an enormous embarrassment for him.
An unfamiliar noise made him look up. His body tensed for a few quick moments, and his hand immediately dropped into his wand pocket.
His surprise lasted only a couple of seconds, however, when Strosslink realised that it was merely Muggles, in one of those bizarre contraptions they constructed to travel around in. It was making a lot of noise. Strosslink wondered how Muggles survived in the world without magic, and almost – for a split second – felt sorry for them.
Scolding himself, Strosslink banished the thought from his mind. Muggles were useless; every self-respecting wizard knew this. There was no reason for them to be around at all.
Whatever their contraption was, it was hideous. Cars, he remembered, that's what Verret had called them. Well, Verret was half Muggle, anyway. He tried to keep it quiet, but Strosslink knew.
He waited until the car had left. Strosslink knew that none of the Muggles could see him under his Invisibility Cloak, but the noise of that awful contraption would set any wary witch or wizard onto the alert.
And Strosslink was anything but unwary. It was said that the Dark Lord himself favoured him. There were rumours that he was looking for new lieutenants, and Strosslink hoped that he was in with a chance. Well, his attributes were indeed praiseworthy. Strosslink was the main consultant with the Dementors. Most wizards and witches, even Death Eaters, were terrified of the Dementors. Negotiations were difficult, mainly because the Dementors could sense fear and knew that they had the upper hand.
But Strosslink had never felt particularly scared of Dementors. He felt that he could understand him. They were single-minded creatures with simple demands. Give them basically what they wanted, and they were content, or content as a Dementor could be.
Strosslink had long ago perfected his Patronus Charm, and also perfected the method of focussing on happy thoughts in order to call upon it. He always behaved calmly before the Dementors, and had therefore used the charm only occasionally, when the Dementors became too aggressive.
And there were rumours that the Dementors understood Strosslink in ways that they could understand few others. In him, they saw a fellow being, a creature, cold-hearted, callous, very willing to deliver pain onto others in the name of the cause. Perhaps too willing, some said, perhaps he enjoys it too much.
Strosslink checked the note again as he rounded the corner. He felt warm under the cloak.
What self-respecting witch would live among Muggles? Strosslink wondered to himself. Did she think that this would be a good place to hide? That the Death Eaters would not find her here in this place? That they could not find her anywhere?
He felt very warm, and excited as well.
Strosslink glared down the street, expecting to see some sort of enchantment placed there to guard the house. There was none visible.
He began to walk quickly down the footpath. The he broke into a jog. This made him feel hotter under the cloak.
Number Three was no larger than the rest of the houses in the street. It looked exactly like them, actually. There was no touch of magic to be seen.
Strosslink felt burning hot. It was as if the temperature were coming right from the fabric of his Invisibility Cloak.
Then, with a scream, Strosslink threw the cloak off, long purple flames singeing his hair and his clothes as he did so.
The Cloak writhed, shrivelled up into a ball of melting silvery fabric, and with a great puff of purple smoke, burnt away into ashes.
Strosslink pulled out his wand instantly. Edwina Yolk must be around somewhere; her magic was still working. He was about to leap over the fence when a deep voice called out from behind him.
'Oi, hey, you all right there mate?' asked the Muggle man.
Strosslink spun around to face him.
'What happened?' he asked.
'Petrificus Totalus!' shouted Strosslink, raising his wand.
The man jerked, and fell backwards, as stiff as a tree-trunk.
Strosslink stood over him, surveying his victim. The Muggle was large, very tall and wide. He was quite heavily built, strong-looking. Well, there was not much that muscles could do against a true wizard.
Perhaps the Muggle should see what a true wizard could do, thought Strosslink. The Muggle's eyes were staring up at him, scared, confused.
The Death Eater pointed his wand at the paralysed figure. He paused, wondering what spell he could use. He had so many; it was difficult to choose.
Another yell broke his concentration. He looked up, and saw, about fifteen metres away, a second hideous Muggle contraption. Two Muggles dressed in sort of uniform had leapt out of the car and were standing stiffly beside it. Both of them were wielding strange-looking wands, raised and pointed directly at him.
There was a loud cracking sound from inside Number Three. Strosslink knew immediately what it was. Edwina Yolk had just Apparated into her house.
Strosslink spun around, wand at shoulder height, but there was a brief flash of a surprised-looking face and a second crack as his target Disapparated.
He'd missed his chance. Edwina Yolk was going to be twice as difficult to find now.
'Police! Drop the weapon!' came the yell again.
Strosslink had missed his mark. Now he was going to be in trouble. Well, it was those Muggles' fault he hadn't been ready. He turned back to face them.
The two Muggles in uniform yelled at him again, looking nervous. When Strosslink moved suddenly, they both jerked in surprise.
The Death Eater was quick. He invoked a protective spell upon himself, one strong enough to resist most curses.
It had no effect whatsoever.
Strosslink felt something hot and sharp hit his thigh. Then, a moment later, his shoulder. The objects pierced his skin, and he was bleeding, dark red blood. He collapsed almost instantly, his body crumpled, his wand clinking as it fell on the ground.
Muggles don't use magic, was Strosslink's thought, his only thought as he sunk down, down, down into unconsciousness.