Disclaimer: I don't own either of the Star Wars or Harry Potter franchises. They belong to their respective copyright owners. This story is not written with commercial purpose in mind. I make no money from it. It is not for sale or rent.
Chapter 2: Hiking for fun and profit
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Part 3
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10 January 1986
Pirin Mountains
With the Force, finding the general location of the only other people in this part of the mountains was simple. Apparating to a few kilometres away from them – not so much, but it was still doable. First I had to cast upon myself all the silencing and concealment charms I could think of, then I apparated straight up in the air and while falling down, enchanted myself to slow my falling and the apparated a few more times within my line of sight until reaching the ground. I had to repeat the exercise a few times before I got near enough to my quarries that I didn't dare to apparate any closer. At that point, I refreshed my concealment spells before surrounding myself with the Force and practically melding in the night's shadows.
It took me couple of hours to actually reach the werewolf camp and if it wasn't for sensing it through the Force, I would have missed it – it was covered by some very potent notice-me-not charms. Probably others were meant to repel muggles and any wildlife crazy enough to be awake and outside in this weather. The only other defences I could detect were meant to warn if anyone approached and I was pretty sure that there was an anti-apparation jinx covering the small clearing where the weres were camping.
Through the Force I could feel them – six of them were in their tents, sleeping, with three more smoked around a fire where they were cooking a large chunk of venison. None of them gave any indication they knew something was wrong so this was either a trap or I was about to catch them all with their pants down. I was convinced that sooner or later I would run against someone or something that could counter the Force, for all I knew, there were already charms and enchantments that could do it by accident – it wasn't like I was familiar with more than a fraction of the existing spells. However, until that moment came, I was going to enjoy every advantage that being an OCP could offer me.
Now, how to approach this... Three tents, all of them occupied – one had three people, another two and the last just a lonesome were. If they were werewolves – it wasn't as if it was obvious from where I stood and the next full moon was a few weeks away. Nevertheless, I should take into account that their senses and reactions might be better than baseline humans.
I opened myself fully to the Force; power surged through my veins strengthening my body, enhancing my speed and reaction time. My senses sharpened and I looked at the world through my power. I could actually see a bright blue haze around the wizards and their tents as well all over the clearing. I wasn't sure how much the Force could interact with magic, however I could perceive it through it. That in turn meant that magic could potentially influence or counter my other power...
I paused and looked at the tents. They were wizarding ones so enchanted all right – expansion and warming ones at the very least. Possibly a limited notice-me-not, perhaps unbreakable to avoid accidents... No matter. First I would be taking out the awake people, only then I would worry about the rest.
I looked at the ground and the snow was no barrier for the Force. There were twigs and small stones all over the place.
Excellent. Using telekinesis I picked up a bunch of them and waved my wand whispering a spell. A muted flash of light later, I had over thirty thin needle sharp silver spikes floating in front of me. The weres were just beginning to react when I used both the Force and a banishing charm to hurl my improvised weapons at them. Only one was fast and aware enough to jump to the ground and avoid becoming a human pincushion. He just got his wand out when I grabbed him in a telekinetic grip and sent a piercing hex in between his eyes.
Three were down and only one of the sleeping ones stirred – the man closest to where they stood before they died. Did the fools charm their tents to keep sound away too!?
Their funeral. When the newly awake supposed wolf opened the tent's door I greeted him with a cutting curse that left him missing his head. The others didn't fare better – for Merlin's sake, I was able to just open the doors – granted I used the arm of one of the corpses that I controlled telekinetically just in case there was a last ditch defence I missed, but nothing happened – the door opened and I entered after summoning three of the silver spikes, which I used to murder four more people in their sleep.
This was all too easy. Were those amateurs, just terribly unlucky or was this the average level of criminals and mercenaries around these parts? I had to remind myself not to overestimate my future opponents. For all I knew, these were the lowest of the dregs. Besides, I did leave one awake for interrogation. That sorry bastard slept through the whole sordid affair so far and – not surprising given he snored almost loud enough to awake the dead.
I cast an anti-apparation and anti-portkey charms over the tent – something that I Dimitri go taught on the sly at Drumstrang, and used conjured chains to bind him in place, then summoned his wand before he could awake.
"Good morning!" I greeted cheerfully.
"Wut!" The man babbled. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, though his hair was already greying and looked gaunt – all signs that he might be a were. Their kind did age prematurely due to the strain each transformation put upon their bodies.
"Be a good doggie and answer a few questions." It was too bad – for him that I didn't have truth serum nor was I particularly good with Legilimency, though the latter was a moot point – using it on wolves wasn't healthy. Obviously I had no idea what would happen when I tried to do the same with the Force, besides the obvious – that it would be destructive upon his mind.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing!?" The man spat in my native language – one I haven't really spoken for centuries until I awoke in that alley.
"Asking questions. Duh. Who sent you here and why?" I asked with a voice thick with the Force and got a snarl for my troubles. His brown eyes bled into yellow colour too. So his wolf was going to cause problems... "Bad doggie!" I waved a finger in front of his face before giving him a dose of Sith lighting and then asked again.
"Stephan Ivanov! I don't know who he works for!" The man shook in his bonds and stared wide-eyes at the smoke rising from his body. I wondered which was worse – Sith lighting or the Crucio. One of these days someone was going to piss me off enough to warrant some experimentation.
"Stephan Ivanov." I repeated. "Why did he sent you here and where can I find him?"
The man blanched and shook his head in fear. There was clear disbelief on his face at what he just told me. It sounded like the truth too.
"You don't have to worry about what he or his boss can do to you. They aren't here, I am." I smiled and levelled my left hand at him. Lighting danced between my fingers then I gave him another dose. The part of me that used to be Dimitri recoiled at how enjoyable I found torturing a man. Once upon a time I would have blamed the Dark Side about that, however she had been my constant companion for so long that I doubted it really mattered any longer.
"The bitches!" He spat. "We're here to grab a few of them if we can and scout their defences!"
"Good man." I spoke softly. "Now where can I find this Ivanov fellow? Does your group has any easy to access stash for rainy day that isn't in Gringotts?" I added absent-mindedly.
The wolf sang like a canary. He was a part of a small pack – with only their leader missing because tonight he was back in a bar in Sofia to report to Ivanov about their progress and wasn't expected until sometime in the morning. They had a stash in the alpha's house and that was the last useful thing he knew.
"You were a great help, my friend." I nodded at my captive, summoned what money he had on his person and called upon the Dark Side. Under my will a pitch black spear of pure Dark Side energy formed above the bound man and it took just a thought to slam it in his body. He screamed one last time as the corrupting energy ate his flesh until there was nothing left. I proceeded to loot the camp, dispose of the bodies and then did my best to cover my tracks – while no one might miss this pack, better safe than sorry.
Once that was done, I had a decision to make – I could either report to the Veelas or apparate to Sofia and get myself further involved in this mess. The potential reward was high – blackmail material on the current minister and one of his biggest backers, potentially the option to play kingmaker with his successor or on the downside – I could get a lot of people after my head. Should I cut my looses here and now? I knew what was the safe course of action – wait for the alpha, dispose of him and disappear. Then again, I did tell the Veela's my real name – this whole thing was supposed to be aboveboard after all.
Decisions, decisions...
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Part 4
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10 January 1986
Veela Sanctuary
Pirin mountains
It was early in the morning with dawn fast approaching when I got back to the sanctuary and led to Petrova's office. When she met me, Irina had a dazzling smile in place that did its best to make me all gooey inside, however I could feel her surprise through my emphatic sense – even if none of it could be seen in her expression nor in the way she acted.
"Mr Veil, back so soon? Did you miss us that much?" The Veela purred.
"The werewolves won't bother you any more. Only their alpha is left and he's supposed to be in a bar in Sofia." I cut to the heart of the matter. "He's there to meet a Stephan Ivanov – the man who did the actual hiring. You were spot on about their intentions – they were to capture a few of you people if practical and scout the magics protecting this place." I reported.
Petrova grimaced. "Ivanov." She hissed. "That's a hated name. He is a vampire acting as go between for various people who need to be seen keeping their hands clean." As she spoke, Irina looked more like an angry raptor than a gorgeous woman, yet she didn't shift even partially in her alternate form.
I probably could end things here and now – perhaps only going after the wolves' alpha – Ivailo Kolev. That could be the end of it as far as I was concerned. On the other hand... The only thing keeping my sense of pride and accomplishment over tonight's hike in the woods was my iron control and the Dark Side. It was becoming obvious that there was a bit more left in me from Dimitri than I assumed - that could be troublesome as it often was the case when I ended up merging with someone when I was sent to another dimension.
I could see the benefits of stepping away while the going was good – I wasn't looking up for the political entanglements. If things went really wrong, my plans would go down the drain and I would have to put my long overdue vacation on indefinite hold. However, the benefits of success were damn tempting too – what I intended to do would be shattering the status quo in the years to come and earn me a lot of enemies. Getting myself some cover from a magical government until I could stand up on my own two legs politically would be invaluable. Unless my actions somehow butterflied the fall of the Soviet Union, I would be moving to more or less buy myself an Eastern European country to get access to more stable legal and international cover in the Muggle world as well. Or perhaps... An idea struck me, however it was a particularly crazy one. If it worked, the benefits would be incredible, however if it backfired I would be in tons of trouble.
"Mr Veil!" Petrova snapped me out of my thoughts.
"I'm listening now, Ma'am. I was merely wondering if it was worth the risk to help you deal with the source of your troubles." I looked up at the Veela, who had an angry scowl on her face – which somehow made her look even more irresistible. Small wonder most women loathed her kind. Even with magic cosmetics, there were precious few witches that could even hope to compete in the looks' department. Then there was the fact that Veelas were sexual creatures...
Down boy, I chided myself.
"Oh, you would be willing to help us further?" Irina bathed her eyelashes at me and smiled. She leaned forward and once again her presence changed – she radiated enough lust and desire to make even a gay interested and I was still sure she kept her allure at bay!
"Let's talk price and information. I'll need to know what I would get out of this arrangement and everything you know about the Minister and his naughty backers." I smirked. "As well as possible successors that might be willing to step in."
"I'm sure we may make up to your troubles." Irina winked. Her smoky eyes held all kinds of wicked promises.
"While I won't say no to a bonus so to speak, I'm in a need of a lot of galleons. What can you afford to make this problem go away?" I countered. I needed a cold shower, Merlin damn it!
"You are no fun." Petrova pouted. She shook her head making her golden hair cascade like a waterfall over her ethereal form and became serious. "Two thousand galleons if you succeed – we simply can't go any higher in the money department. We will be very grateful as well."
The way she stressed grateful made a certain part of my anatomy stiffen harder than a rock. Yeah – I was up for a cold shower and blue balls tonight.
"Good enough." I would be looting everything I could while dealing with this issue anyway. While strictly speaking the money weren't enough for what I was about to do – the other benefits could be worth it and I wasn't necessary thinking about a lot of grateful Veelas. In fact I was very hard trying not to think about that particular distraction. "Now, please enlighten me about your resident troublemaker."
Petrova fell back in her armchair and frowned. She no longer radiated sex and desire when she began to speak in clipped tone. "Ilia Gorski," She spat the name. "He is the head of one of the oldest wizard families in Bulgaria and more importantly one of the few that survived Grindelwald's war more or less intact. He is quite powerful wizard, however what makes him dangerous is the fact that he is a ruthless vicious bastard who has tons of money and connections with Minister Kniajev. Gorski financed his election campaign, spent a small fortune on bribes and a bigger one on gaining blackmail material and smear campaigns. He is also a sadistic bastard!" Irina growled.
That sounded like a useful fellow to know – also as someone who could gleefully become a problem once I began my rise in society, especially if I kept my businesses away from the UK – which could be prudent considering that once I got myself Harry as an apprentice, Britain could become quite unfriendly to me and my interests. With the Soviet Union likely to fall apart in a few years, there would be great opportunities in Eastern Europe – both in the magical and mundane worlds. All of that meant that having a stable foothold with the Bulgarian Ministry of Magic could be invaluable.
While Irina continued to tell me what else she knew about Gorski and Minister Kniajev, I began plotting. Find the pack's alpha and Ivanov – interrogate them. Then get in contact with one of Kniajev's political opponents who got a decent shot at becoming the next minister... I smiled. It's been a long time since I've put to use the skills I earned while working for Imperial Intelligence...
"As far as viable candidates to replace Kniajev go..." Irina paused and thought about it. "The best bet might be Lady Sylvia Varshenska. She is the head of another old family that emerged from the war reasonably intact. Old money that she and her father and grandfather before them did their best to invest wisely and were quite successful at least until the war happened. She has the station, backing and public support to become the next Minister if Gorski ceases to be a factor. It would be even better if some of Kniajev's illicit dealings become public."
"Can you arrange a meeting with Lady Varshenska in couple of days? Can you provide me with some Veritaserum as well?" That would make interrogation much easier if I knew the right questions to ask.
"I'm confident that I can get you an audience with Lady Varshenska. As far as the truth serum go... Maria is a good friend with a certain potions master. If he has some available we can get it to you in a few hours. If not – he'll know how to procure some or brew it, though the latter will take time as you well know."
"Excellent." I stood up. "Please make the arrangements and get the serum to my room at the Ugly Witch Tavern in Sofia. I have a few people to locate."
And a cold shower to take before something broke.
