DISCLAIMER: Everything recognisable belongs to J.K. Rowling. Everything else is mine!

1. On the verge of something unusual.

Cold, there is so cold ... The dark haired man in white thick robes was shivering violently. Black eyes were moving quickly from shelves full of magic books and odd-shaped keys to the thermometer lying on his desk. Temperature in his office was 36 degrees, he was completely sure. So - what was going on?

Moments like this he desired to be the night guardian rather in room full of half-rotted mummies than in Department of Uncovered History. Things here probably smelt nicer but surely they are more ... living-like than corps of ancient kings.

And that was terrifying. Imagine that you are getting through your daily job routine (it means sleeping peacefully with strong feeling of well fulfilled duty) and something out of the blue sky started to groan just outside your office door. What you are up to do in supposed life danger situation like that?

The man knew exactly how to react. Without any hesitation he threw himself under his desk and knelt there with fingers clinched tightly on his wand.

"W-who's there?" he asked politely the misty, freezing darkness. The darkness wasn't eager enough to answer. "OK." he said after long silent break "I will better say: What is there?"

They usually were giving any sign of activity. Frankly speaking - always. But not that night. Like if something was waiting till man's curiosity would calm down.

But man wasn't brave at all. He wasn't curious. He wanted only to be left in peace. And he decided not to leave his shelter. But there was getting colder and colder.

"Flamelis!" hi waved his wand desperately but. nothing happened. The simple charm didn't operate!

Man stared at his breath changed into white cloud of frozen air. So cold ...

***

"I-I cannot believe!" the little round-faced black-haired wizard was dashing through long corridor of IAS quarters. It was like the very angry Bludger found his way to freedom and now tried to attack as many objects as possible. The sculpture of Abraham Nott the Greatest Auror of Nineteen Century was then beheaded and the picture of Bruce Grampon the Seven-Head Monster Killer had an awful flaw on Bruce's chin.

Just behind the evil piece of destruction was running very tall and thin wizard with frightened look on his freckled face. He just have caught the falling sculpture of Lysia Phantom when the round one said that full of despair words.

"B-but sir!" gasped the thin one trying to stop his boss. "We just have been given the full report from Egyptian Ministry of Magic!"

The little wizard in long purple robes, who was seemingly Surrendus Brewett, The General of the International Aurors Society, suddenly turned to his employee. He looked very annoyed if judge by his tomato-like face. Little black eyes were glittering dangerously.

"Those idiots!" he hissed looking straightly into younger wizard's face. He grabbed his green, seemingly bright new robes and drew him nearer. The thin man was in a hard shock, his freckles completely paled. But that was not disturbing the General who continued with more tempered voice "Can you believe that well-trained wizard, completely sane and in good physical condition may have died by ... being frozen?"

"Basing on pure facts exactly that happened two days ago."

"And there was n o t h i n g stolen!" Brewett's face was now white with rage "Their Auroros are completely helpless! There was no sign of using any know charm or curse - only this icy mist! And what we are supposed to do? We have sent our best staff for hours ago and they just have said that they can't help! It will destroy our worldwide fame of best detectives!"

"But if it was ... You-Know-Who?" young wizard sighed nervously "He is exceptionally good in this kind of things. You know, sir, stealing, murdering and disappearing without any sign of his previous existence." Brewett smiled bitterly.

"No, it's surely not his style. And there would have been any sign of using wand. Moreover Dumbledore confirmed my predictions about our dear friend. He is now up to other things. But it is his part of job." Brewett smirked, tapping lightly his IAS badge "Remember about our dependency of Ministries, English one too. We cannot even think about it."

Young wizard nodded and continued "So ... might it be some kind of equipment they are keeping there? What if one of them has learnt how to murder people?" wizard's water-blue eyes grew wider. His freckles were now completely invisible.

"I don't. Hsss!" both the general and his employee felt silent when pretty well-known tapping echoed in empty corridor. The portrait of black haired witch in madly red robes gave out a little giggle.

"Morning, Alastor" said Brewett a bit coldly to the men in black robes "There is nothing to do today, I feel."

"Hmm. Having a little problem, aren't you?" Moody smiled widely, what made young wizard's stomach start making some unpleasant movements.

"Nothing special" the General shuddered "Only a little piece of our job. We are getting well with it."

"So - Nice day." Moody yawned rather not-discretely and went to the main staff room.

"Why are you so uneager to inform him?" asked the young wizard.

"Because" General's voice was rather dull "In order to not lose society's trust we are compelled to call fore some specialists. Like that one who really dislike Alastor Moody. I'm talking about Theodore Restaud.

***

'Specialists' was the name he usually called them. The Old Magic Masters. People of whom all the wizards community was afraid. People that were considered dangerous by most of them. But helpful as well, especially in situations where ordinary magic knowledge was useless.

Is it possible to believe wizards who are preparing magic without using wand or any of well-known spells? Who simply know that this strange force called 'magic' is far more than a simple tool useful for cooking apple sauce and desire being extremely cautious when using it? Who always have a reliable explanation for million of things that sometimes happens when wizard is incantating a spell? Surely, the Old Magic, this extremely difficult branch of Arts, was attracting only mentally fixed people. And that was the Old Magic Masters. Anyway, as that they stated in Brewett's mind.

***

Surrendus Brewett took out his wand and tapped lightly the black lion's sculpture nose.

"What is so important that General Brewett eventually decided to use the Member's Room?" groaned the animal friendly, winking his stone eye "I have started to feel a bit lonely there."

"I think you will be no more." Answered Surrendus shortly. The lion grinned and moved aside. Behind him was plain doors made of the same kind of stone the lion was. Now they opened. And Brewett come in.

That was the Member's Room, the most mysterious chamber in IAS quarters. Only the General and people invited by him had the permission to been there. Brewett looked over - everything was the same as the last time he was using it - over a year ago. The black marble was covering everything: ground, walls ceiling and eight sculptures of animals standing in corners. The moment he came in their eyes opened.

There was no windows, no torches, not even a single candle, the light was coming from nowhere as it have been there for ages. And mirrors. The room was full of sparkling, glittering or simply reflecting his shape mirrors. There were probably every type of magical mirror any wizard can find around the world. Some of them were dangerous. One, now covered with black material, had the same effect as basilisk's eyes.

The main aim of creating this room was to contact. Especially with persons who were not available when using some normal forms of contacting like owls or Floo Powder. Brewett took a deep breath, bowed the falcon's sculpture which looked at him curiously and stepped straight opposite the plain mirror in silvery frame. He could see no glittering, twisting or other forms of magic activity but only the picture of a bit puzzled himself. The General always felt strong distaste when he was using the Eyemirror as the object hanging on the wall was called.

Eyemirrors. The basic tools of every Old Magic Masters. Created of the ordinary mirror by using the Eyemirror Potion, that cannot be brew properly by anyone who was not one of them. Yeah, many wizards were trying, but even with proper recipe they were only able to obtain a mixture changing mirror into something useful only to contact. And true Eyemirrors had much more options. Quite interesting options.

But Brewett wanted today only to contact. He reminded himself that the Eyemirror is able to transfer him to some unpleasant places with one-way ticket so he should be really cautious. He took away his wand and touched slightly mirror's surface with his index finger. Around his touch the reflection of black room began to vanish. After a while all the surface was silvery. The falcon's sculpture moved lightly.

"Theodore Restaud, can you hear me?" he said calmly.

"Silence, you idiot!" seemingly very angry masculine voice came from the Eyemirror "If I remember correctly I have sent you a letter asking you very p o l i t e l y ('What an effort!' thought Brewett smiling ironically) not to use the Eyemirror because I think it's not safe now! And ensuring you I will visit IAS quarters as soon as possible!"

"I'm not supposed to read one million of letters coming to my office everyday!" Brewett smirked "And I ask you politely to use politically correct language."

"Oh, how I love every one of you, bureaucratic narrow-minded officials." Said the voice very coldly. He seemed not to notice the last remark. "But you are supposed to read this one which may save your head and other parts of body. So you just have understood that you know completely nothing about that so-called 'murderer'? And old Theo Restaud is obtained to help you in your pathetic tragedy of disability to do anything?"

"Please, don't talk to me in this tone!" Brewett started to be very impatient "And what kind is the danger that is able to disturb the Greatest Old Magic Master in his daily routine? Is it You-Know-Who?"

"I'm not interested in this prat called Voldemord" the voice became a bit evil "That is something completely without connection with your Dark/Light War. But - wait for me"

The Eyemirror again started reflecting the room. And Brewett who was muttering under his breath:

"What a disrespect for the law representative! Sometimes I understand why Alastor loath him so much!

***

The falcon cried unexpectedly what made Brewett jump. Sniggering just behind him was without any doubt belonging to Restaud. He turned his face to the overjoyed wizard, his cheeks completely red.

"I have never seen any official behaving like his most inexperienced employee" said Theodore with ugly smile "What an interesting view for your voters." his intensively red eyes glittered "Oh, sorry! I forget to be politically correct, forgive me!"

"Stop joking, Mr Restaud, it's not time for this" said Brewett as coldly as he managed to.

"As you wish" tall wizard's appearance immediately becomes deadly serious. And rather frightening. He was, or used to, be a vampire, Brewett was completely sure. Pale oval face, thin mouth, red, always screwed up eyes looking straightly into his under a great amount of hay-colored hair and this awful long teeth. Brewett has no idea about how this wizard-like creature managed to live in day light - that was one of this damned Old Magic Masters secrets. But he was sure about the other thing.

"Er-" he said focusing his sight on silvery falcon fastening Restaud's dark blue cloak. "I prefer you smiling. But, back to the point, are you supposing something?"

"I'm rather sure about something." Restaud raised the eyebrow "It was stolen."

"What 'it' means?"

"I don't know now. I'm lacking some important information to find out this. But that will be the simplest part of our investigation."

"But how you understood ..."

"Some signs that cannot be overlooked. We have different methods of sniffing." The wizard grinned terribly.

"Wait!" Brewett become evil again "It means that you were informed long before the IAS was given any damned report!"

"What an interesting observation! I've never suspected that you have such a brilliant mind!" Restaud smirked "So - don't worry and sleep peacefully. Heimallion is now over it."

"He- what?"

"Oh, it's only my little organization."

"Do authorities know about it?" Brewett looked at Old Magic Master suspiciously "I mean - is it legal?"

Theodore Restaud started to laugh so loudly that the monkey's sculpture put it's hands on it's ears (meaningful gesture).

"Oh, you naïve boy." He said to the madly red General who was dreaming about large wodden pegs desired especially in Restaud's heart. "Now I must go. Wait for my next visit and don't worry about your dear reputation. And - pass on my greetings for Moody because of his seventy birthday. Heh, someone is getting older."

He disappeared noiselessly with a lot of blue light.

"I hate him!" groaned Brewett after a while, breaking still silence in Member's Room. "He said me completely nothing! How - How he dares to treat me the way like this! I felt like a complete idiot! And this Heimallion. Hmmm."

***

Far away from IAS quarters (now full of people singing more or less enthusiastically some ambitious pieces like: "Haaapy birthdaaay tooo youuu!" or "Who will not drink and sing will be thrown to the sink!") , England and all Europe two human shapes were standing just behind one, very sad camel shape.

"Ow! My poor back!" said one of them who was possessing long curly hair and black velvet cloak with seemingly woman's voice.

"I've warned you not to use the Eyemirror if you don't know exact position of landing" said the other witch in green robes shaking her head despisingly "And you really didn't need to threw this poor Arabian into dragon's nest, Leo."

"Dragon will not even notice his guest, Pat" Leo shuddered "He is completely blind."

"But if this man start to cry in panic?"

"It's his business."

"What?"

"He should not laugh at me. Think better about our damned mission. What Theo means by searching for something t h e r e?" She pointed at the nearest sand dune.

"Hmmm. I've just found a great deal of sand. Quite interesting. Have you brought a spade with you?"

"You are crazy!"

"But - think a bit! There is a thing. Suppose it's visible. It's material, have a defined fracture. And to top it all it is transmitting exactly the same magic waves as this missing 'something' in Department of Uncovered History. Interesting, isn't it?"

A loud snort.

"Of course, it might be just the same object but think also, Pat. About both of us turning upside down all the Sahara while searching for something microbe sized. Stunning vision, isn't it? Theodore must have a great fun now. OK, don't look at me the way like this!"

"But you can't see!" Pat sighed. There was completely dark as the night was half it's way through the empty lifeless sand. Her friend's face was barely visible.

"But I can imagine" said Leo and looked down. "For our dear boss it is that place. For me - one of similary looking-like sand dunes. But I'm obedient, I will say nothing. The Great Digging is about to begin! Pat - Light!"

The witch clenched her hand into fist and shook it. Then she opened it - there was a blazing spark on the middle of her palm. She blown it out cautiously - it felt onto the ground and started to grew. After ten seconds there was daylight in radius if about two kilometers.

"Oh. Don't you think that you overdo it a bit?" asked Leo calmly.

Her friend, now it was possible to notice that she had short dark brown hair and big round chestnut eyes looking openly at everything smiled widely.

"Don't you remember that we are supposed to go through this entire desert?"

"Of course!" Leo winked and out of her black cloak (fastened with exactly the same falcon-shaped silver clip as Theodor's) she took the Eyemirror.

She was holding it face down for a moment and next looked at it. "Come on, darling. Let us see what's going on" she said softly, examining the Eyemirror's surface. "Yeah, Pat. This mysterious object is right there." She screwed up her bright green almond shaped eyes and shook her head. "It's not going to be easy. Dou you think that the Uncovering Spell will be appropriate?"

"Quite good at the beginning" Pat nodded and raised her hands. The same did Leo, standing straight opposite her.

"Open your mouth and let us get in!" - ordered the curled-hair witch in Old Speech. Pat repeated her words and the sand between them started whirling up and flowing away. And after a while ...

"A hole." said Pat after a long moment of shock. "I see a hole."

"Quite ... err ... deep hole" Leo added her bright observation to her friend's one. "What we are going to do with this. hole?" She looked into the Eyemirror and said slowly, like she was considering every word:

"It is a deep, dark hole made of some kind of stone with Egyptian inscriptions on it's walls, leading to ... end of mirrors range. It seems it is friendly."

Pat gasped. "How the hole is supposed to be friendly?" she asked.

"I have no idea. It's just my impression. Like it is inviting us to come in."

"So - should we do it?"

The answer came quite unexpectedly with a load of falling sand and, additionally, two swirling and cursing witches. After few moments everything ended. In complete darkness.

"Here we are" summed up Pat.

"Ow! My damned back!"

"You are repeating yourself."

"It's becoming quite irritating! Ashta re breva!"

"Stop cursing in the Old Speech, please!" there was a loud gasping somewhere, belonging to Pat "Do you forget that you are allowed to use it only for incantating spells? You should be more cautious!"

"I am cautious! Wanna some light?"

A little spark appeared on Leo's hand. And it was sufficient. For a third party there were nothing more but the stone chamber, a very regular one with some inscriptions on the wall. But the fallen Eyemirror's surface was completely black. And two witches' eyes were looking into each others', both widened in horror.

"We are in enormous trouble" said Leo very firmly