"Just for the record, I still don't agree with Sirius coming along." Remus had somehow ignored the splendor of the looming mansion in front of him. Taking him off to the side, Sirius stared deep into Lupin's eyes, his face startlingly calm.
"I was locked up in a cell, without warmth or comfort for 12 years. I won't be locked up in that house…I won't be…" Remus held up a hand to stop him, a look of sincere understanding still on the former instructor's face as they rejoined Nathan at the front gates.
"So how are we going to get into this fortress?" Sirius joked, but the joke wasn't completely unfounded. With 15 foot walls surrounding the perimeter of the 3 story mansion(including its sizeable lawn)and an electrified gate, the outside was as formidable as any castle. Within, unkempt grass came up to the mid-thigh of a tall man, with statues of famous wizards and witches situated at key points across the estate, surrounding the mansion as silent sentinels. Only the walkways were clear; cobblestones that led to French doors.
The gate was sealed by a titanium tiger's face, and when Nathan rubbed the forehead of the seal, the dead crystal eyes began to flame to life; green embers staring up at the party.
"Good morning Nathan." The voice was rumbling to the three present, but to passerby it would have been a scene of lunacy; three men staring and talking to a tiger lock.
"Good morning Kiran. We haven't seen each other in quite some time."
"When master left the mansion a few nights ago, I assumed it was on your behalf. Did all go well?" Nathan would have loved to rush through the conversation, but it was necessary to gain the approval of the gatekeeper.
"No casualties. Is Franklin in?" Nathan watched Kiran, saw the security features being accessed, some being deactivated and some being kept on standby.
"He might be…but you didn't answer my question, young ." Nathan grinned…
"I would have to say that it was much more excitement than I had planned on that night. However, it was for a good cause, and our mission was a success." Kiran's eyes showed a sense of satisfaction; taking a long look at Remus and Sirius before turning his fathomless gaze back to Nathan.
"And your associates? How am I to know they don't have you under the Imperius Curse?"
"They aren't talented enough." Lupin allowed himself a small chuckle at Nathan's jest as Sirius pushed the former Auror forwards, almost knocking him into the fence. Using a miraculous amount of body control, the lanky wizard managed to stop himself, his face inches from the gate before he carefully stepped away.
"You know if I'd have touched that gate, it would have knocked me all the way back to Diagon Alley, right?" .
"I figured you could get some sleep during the trip." There was a hint of humor in Sirius' reply, something that had been missing while he was confined to his family's ancient house.
"Back to the matter at hand,' Kiran interjected,' I have one final question for you. What is the Pierce family crest?"
"You know good and well we don't have one. You just keep hoping we'll make it the tiger in your honor, and I have every reason to make it a lion just to spite you." Kiran roared indignantly, the electrical field shutting off as the gate swung open to admit the trio. As they made the long walk down to the front doors, curiosity struck Sirius; who appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the fresh air.
"So what happens if that conversation goes badly?"
"Magical cuffs clamp around our ankles, we all get stunned, the Ministry is alerted, and a swarm of Aurors takes us into custody." Nathan said off-handedly, before turning suddenly and brandishing his wand. In response his companions reached for their own, but instead of the host of enemies they envisioned, the levitating form was a house-elf.
"Welcome back ." The house-elf greeted, his face covered in a smug smile.
"Franklin ordered you to call me that, didn't he Himslock?"
"No, he simply suggested it." Himslock laughed, guilty thoughts running through Nathan's mind before he lifted the house-elf up so they could see eye-to-eye.
"Well, I would suggest you discontinue its use." Nathan smiled evilly, gliding the house elf to the front doors.
"You should put me down this instant!" Himslock shouted, kicking and squirming against the younger Pierce's spell.
"What are you planning on doing to our little friend?" Sirius asked, surveying the scene with minimal interest as he took in their surroundings.
"Door knocker." Nathan answered, rapping the house-elf's head softly against the doors until they opened, revealing Franklin Piece; dressed in a full length terra cotta bath robe and slippers bearing his initials.
"If you give him brain damage you're getting me a new one." Franklin admonished, stepping forward wearily into the sunlight as if he might burst into flames. Meeting them halfway and then guiding them to the full length, climate-controlled porch(which was worth every galleon) Franklin shook their hands in turn before he came to look at his younger brother, who made no attempt at formalities.
"Marie is on the loose." At this Franklin sat down on the front steps, rubbing his hands through his hair and grunting prominently.
"I told you we should have burned her at the stake."
"I couldn't agree more. More to the point, I believe she's going to come here. The Death Eaters are quite aware that I'll rush to make contact with you, so we can expect them to attack at the earliest opportunity." Before Nathan could finish, Franklin was already dismissing him off-hand.
"Unless Voldemort himself comes waltzing through those gates, no one's going to get in here…"
"But Franklin, she knows the entire layout of the…"
"You think I don't know these things? Please Nathan, don't insult my intelligence." Sighing, Nathan walked over to the porch swing; Remus and Sirius looking off into the distance, checking for possible security breaches while trying to stay out of the brother's conversation.
"I don't think the idiot is going to get you. As a matter of fact, I'm sure she'd be killed by any number of your security measures. The point is: if we can capture her or any of her accomplices, then we may be able to get valuable information from them." Nodding slowly, Franklin accepted the validity of the point.
"Very well then. What did you have in mind?"
"We let the wolves into the hen-house…"
"Can we not refer to my lovely dwelling as the hen-house?" Franklin objected, but Nathan could already spot a grin on Sirius' lips.
"But it's the official codename and everything. Set in stone, much too late to change it now." With his back to Franklin, the game held for several long seconds before the former prisoner busted out with a bark-like laugh, Remus shaking his head as Franklin grumpily began to march back into the mansion.
"Let's begin the preparations then, if we're all done making jokes." Franklin's retreating figure announced, holding the door open as his guests entered the highly decorated and ornate mansion…
Sitting in the living room, the security adjustments long ago formalized, the three had excused Franklin to tend to pressing matters while they waited for nightfall.
"How did your brother accumulate all this wealth?" Remus inquired, staring at the many lavish objects and sophisticated technologies that surrounded them. Though Franklin had told them to make themselves at home, they had decided against divulging in the theatre on the 2nd floor or the spa on the 3rd. Being too relaxed could be deadly when the time for fighting arrived.
"Amidst the chaos of the last wizarding war, Franklin founded a security company with the money he already had as professor of an online college. His inventions spread across North America and eventually found their way to Asia. You know the company as Safelock Security."
"Has your family always owned a house-elf?" Sirius personally didn't have much love for his own house-elf, but the practice of keeping them had remained mostly with the pureblood families, and rarely even with those. Those of new wealth tended to avoid them in favor of technological gadgets or simple enchantments. Nathan shook his head immediately.
"Himslock isn't bound to our family, he has an arrangement with Franklin personally. For guarding the manor, Himslock is allowed to come and go as he pleases and retain his freedom, while Franklin gains the services of Himslock in securing his premises. So far, not a single burglar has ever made it to the front door; and I assure you, countless have tried." Letting the information settle in, Nathan excused himself, visiting the spotless kitchen while Sirius turned to his old friend.
"I don't see why they would go through all the trouble of enchanting the front gate. Seems anyone wishing to break in wouldn't bother trying that way." Returning with another diet soda, Nathan finished a long drought before setting it down on a nearby coffee table, which held several Asian tomes.
"It's the only safe way to get into the premise. The walls may look like simple brick, but they're as enchanted as the gate lock. Touching them will cause them to become….rather grumpy." He said vaguely, trailing off as he began to hack and cough, stepping aside to cover his mouth with the blue handkerchief.
"And what about flying over?" Ignoring it, Sirius, himself a rather stubborn man, knew bringing it up would be pointless, so he decided to make himself an expert on the surroundings. As much as one could in so short a time.
"It's possible. Some have attempted it, but setting down on the grass or getting within a certain radius of the house results in severe repercussions for those attempting to break in. Only powerful charms can get one past the walls, and those are monitored by the seal. Keeping them constantly activated would be rather un-economical, so Kiran regulates their activation. Himslock is a failsafe should Kiran be somehow bypassed or bewitched." Nathan returned to sit beside them, gulping down long swigs of his diet soda before he finally seemed over his coughing fit.
"And how do we know this house elf can be trusted?" Sirius might not have much interest in house-elves, but keeping himself apprised of their ways would be useful when dealing with Kreacher.
"While he may not be magically bound to Franklin in the traditional fashion of house-elves, he made an unbreakable vow to protect and serve in the same manner, with the inclusion of several key points. Their contract was almost 10 pages long when it was written out." The seriousness of the unbreakable vow wasn't lost on any of the three wizards present. To break one meant certain and immediate death.
"I remember Marie wanted me to make an unbreakable vow." The former Auror laughed, Lupin clearing his throat as he broached the potentially uncomfortable subject.
"You've mentioned she's a bit unhinged….but is there anything else we should know about her?"
"Describing her as unhinged may be the understatement of the year…but she isn't to be taken too lightly. She isn't a very talented witch on her own, and not extremely aggressive normally. But when cornered, she's capable of anything. Don't let her innocent looks fool you…she studied the dark arts extensively in an effort to destroy me, and don't think for an instant she'll hesitate to use them."
"Nathan, this isn't our first dance with Death Eaters. We know what we're doing." Lupin reminded.
"Personally, I've missed the thrill." Sirius stood up, walking back outside to enjoy the fading sun.
The hours saw the trio relocating to several different rooms, discussing the plan over and over again until the Order members could recite it forwards and backwards from any step. Franklin made it clear that, despite the many security measures and Nathan's constant reassurances, he had many reservations about the ambush. Should the plan go awry, the ministry couldn't be contacted due to Sirius' wanted status, and any reinforcements that might be available would force the elder Pierce brother to disable all the alarms; which would risk further efforts by any watching enemies. In addition, upon hearing of Nathan's tactic, Dumbledore, Sirius, and the former Auror fell into a pitched discussion, culminating in a outnumbered Dumbledore expressing a final word of disagreement before returning to his many responsibilities. An hour before Midnight, the silent alarm was triggered, Franklin joining Lupin, Sirius, and his younger brother to share the security statuses that were fed directly into his laptop. To encourage not only their commitment to the plan but also to lure in any waiting ambushers, the first few obstacles had been purposefully downgraded to allow access without arousing suspicion by making it too simple. Watching their progress, Nathan's face furrowed into an even deeper grimace than during one of his coughing fits. Long brown hair trailing behind her, Marie, accompanied by a bulking, dubious looking dark wizard and two women; one with an enormous girth and corn-rowed hair that blended into her dark complexion, the other a tall, ostrich-like blonde with an eagle-beak nose, bypassed the pressure-sensitive alarms embedded in the grass with a powerful disenchantment.
"I think we've let them get close enough." Franklin proclaimed, setting down his laptop and drawing his wand; leading the other three behind his whooshing cloak towards the secret passage that would lead to the ambush point…