The Extensions.
Part three
of
The Muggle and The Auror.
Chapter 1 – Wales.
When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Author)
Former DCI Adam Croft woke up as the little man in his head almost smashed his way out. He could see sunlight filtering through his closed eyelids, making his head hurt even more. He sat up which made the room spin, his stomach joining in for a moment, as he took deep breaths.
Memories were filtering across his head, Pinne the almost giant wandmaker, doing magic tricks much to the amazement of his former work colleagues. Tony standing on a table trying to recite the filthiest rhymes he had ever heard, much to the merriment of all concerned, and a fight, someone had a fight.
There was a loud bang that reverberated through his head as someone threw a door open.
"Morning sleepy head." He recognised the loud heavy welsh accented voice of Gwen, his schoolteacher girlfriend. He was still not ready to open his eyes. "Ready to face the world yet Mr Croft?" She continued as loud as before, emphasising the word Mr. The bed bounced sickeningly as she jumped onto it beside him.
He risked a single eye and felt a sharp pain stretch across his forehead. Gwen was grinning at him, looking well and tanned from her extended stay in Africa, as a guest of the African Magical Congress. She was wearing a white short-cropped t-shirt and white shorts, guaranteed to show off her curves and her new tan, a tan being a rarity in North Wales. Adam wondered how on earth you could get a tan in a place that theoretically does not exist? He mentally shook his head, knowing if he did it for real, he would throw up, also knowing the answer wouldn't be forthcoming.
"Why do you look so well?" He asked opening his second eye, his voice deep and gravelly.
She giggled. "I felt like Alice in Wonderland this morning. On the counter in the kitchen were two little bottles, with a little label saying, 'drink me'"
"You actually drank it?"
"Yes. Wow is the only word I can use for what happened."
"Was it Tony's hangover cure?"
"I have no idea, but here's the other, drink up."
He took the little bottle in his shaking hands, pulled the top off, and let the contents slip down his throat. Gwen opened the window, allowing the sweet smell of fresh earth to fill the room. The weather had broken during the night and they had had their first rainfall in weeks. The sun had come back out at sunrise and now everything smelt of fresh earthiness and summer plants.
His memory kicked in as he remembered that someone was complaining that the weather had been nice for too long and that their garden was looking brown and parched, and that the Ministry should do something about it. He decided that it was nothing but a drunken illusion, he hoped.
The little bottle's contents, as before, had the desired effect and Adam felt ready for anything now the headache had receded, along with the nausea.
"Gwen, did Edlyn Balsom turn up last night?" He asked, enjoying the view of her leaning out of the window, silhouetted against the light spilling through it. "It was last night wasn't it?" She turned and looked back at him.
"Yes and yes, what does that woman have, bloody hell, even I fancied her. Are she and Tony an item, or is he and that Holly an item?"
"Holly turned up?"
"Yes, she can drink and then some."
"She's a policewoman from Brighton."
"Is she, I thought she was a witch. Talking of witches," not giving him time to reply, "little Haf from the Coch called in this morning and you'll never guess?"
"She's a witch."
"How do you know?" She asked, finally noticing the look he was giving her. "I know that look, no."
"What am I supposed to do with this? He gestured down at the covers that covered his lower portions. She leaned over and pulled the cover away.
"What do you think you're going to do with that big boy?" She grinned at him, then shrieked as he grabbed her and pulled her down into the covers.
Adam finally made it to the shower and then downstairs. Gwen met him at the bottom of the stairs and dragged him into the small living room while Adam put Pinne's necklace over his head.
"That's very pretty Adam, but it doesn't suit you. And when did you start wearing jewellery?"
"This is a protective charm, made by Pinne, huge guy, makes wands." She nodded. "One like this saved my life a week ago."
"You didn't tell me about that." The humour in her voice had gone, replaced by concern.
"We haven't had the chance to talk recently. Someone used a wand on me, the charm stopped it."
"I understand, but you know the rule about keeping secrets from me, even if you think it's for my own good." She waved her finger under his nose, the same was she did to the young children when she chastised them.
"Yes I do and if I don't an important part of my body will be violently removed with a blunt knife."
"Best you remember that. Now explain this?" She pointed at a windowed alcove, in the middle of which was a wooden lectern with a large closed book. On top of this was an envelope, with Adam's name written in an elegant handwritten script.
"When I went away, we had a wall here, now we have a bloody great alcove sticking out of the house and a huge book, that I can't open." She stared at him.
The book was the History of the Wizarding World, the one he had brought, or at least tried to buy in Diagon Alley, finding he already owned a copy that and never been delivered.
"I'm sure I mentioned a book."
"No, you didn't, I would have remembered." She placed her hands on her hips, her Welsh accent stronger than usual, which she used to great effect.
"It's a history book that is important."
"Try opening it then." He reached down and took the letter from it, which slipped from his fingers, opened itself, allowing a sheet of paper to slid out and float in the air above the book.
Adam didn't know who was more surprised when the paper talked, explaining, how to use the book.
Half an hour later they were both sitting side by side, reading page after page from the great book, often quarrelling over which section to read next. They broke for breakfast, as both were hungry, the book left open, forgotten, at least until breakfast was over.
"What's this bag for Gwen?" He was in the hallway later on in the afternoon, looking down at the small canvas bag, he usually used when he went back and forth to London. He had planned to throw it in the bin, expecting it to become redundant, but things had conspired against him somewhat.
"I packed it for you. Everything inside is clean and I'm told is exactly what you need." She called back from the Kitchen.
"Why?" He asked the usual sinking feeling of confusion had returned.
Her head came around the door. "Don't you want a change of clothing then?"
"For what?"
"You do know Tony's coming for you tomorrow morning?"
"No. Why?"
"You're going to the Extensions." She frowned.
Adam did not reply for a moment. "Why does everyone know more about everything than I do?"
"You were too pissed last night, so I was given the information you need." She smiled at him.
"And you were sober?"
She looked across at him and smiled. "I could still walk and talk."
"So I just got home and I have to leave again."
"This has all been organised and apparently you won't complain once you see the inside of this extensions thing." She appeared beside him. "What is an extension?"
"I'm not sure, but I think Luthor's house could be inside one."
"Luthor mentioned something about worlds inside worlds; I assume that's the same thing?"
"Probably. Are you coming with me?"
"No, school starts on Monday and I have things to organise." She stopped and looked at him, head tilted to one side.
"What?" When she did this, he knew something was on her mind.
"When you get back, we need to discuss a job offer I've had." She walked away making sure the subject was at an end, for now. He realised it must be something important, as she was warning him in advance, something she didn't do unless it was bad news or something that could affect them both. He knew Gwen well enough that no amount of prodding would get the stubborn cow to talk if she didn't want to.