The sun was just going down as Thea and George made their way toward the visitors' entrance to the ministry. Standing beside the red phone booth was Richard Burke wearing baggy jeans, a tie-dyed shirt, and a baseball cap on backwards. It seemed he had Liam's fashion sense-or rather, lack thereof. "Richard," Thea said politely in greeting when they had approached.
Richard made a face trying to place her. After a moment, his eyes widened. "Thea?"
Thea handed him her pass. "I know the way in if you want to take a break."
Richard blinked. "No, Liam wants to see you."
Thea narrowed her eyes. "Does he now?" Really what Richard had meant was that Liam wanted to meet her investor, George, but Richard wouldn't tell her that.
"This way," Richard said, gesturing to the phone booth, and Thea and George stepped inside, followed by Richard. "I'm Richard Burke," he said, offering his hand to George to shake.
"George Weasley," said George, taking his hand and briefly shaking it. The lift lowered creakily down to the main floor of the ministry. The three of them stepped out. "Adrian Pucey?"
Adrian Pucey was standing there-he blinked at George. "George Weasley? And..." His eyes widened. "Thea?"
Burke handed Pucey Thea's pass. "Liam wanted to see them right away," Burke reminded him.
Pucey nodded. "Come with me." He led them to the lifts, which clanged all the way down to the Department of Mysteries. He led them into the main atrium. "Wait here," he told them, before heading off to the other side of the room.
Liam and the other Unspeakables had lit the chamber with torches and the Lumos Maxima spell. The room looked different than when Thea had been last down here with the addition of buffet table and couches and chairs, but she was more focused on Pucey. "He's suspicious," she said softly.
George looked over at her. "He's suspicious? I thought you said this was going to work."
Thea shook her head as Pucey returned with Liam. "George Weasley, I understand it?" Liam asked, offering his hand to shake.
"Yes, that's right." George shook his hand briefly, before releasing it.
"George owns a successful joke shop in Diagon Alley," Thea explained.
Liam turned to face Thea, and his eyes widened. "Thea." He blinked, before turning back to George. "Weasley? No relation to Ron Weasley is there?"
"He's my brother," said George smoothly. "But we haven't been particularly close as of late."
"As I'm sure you remember, he lost his twin brother in the Battle of Hogwarts," Thea spoke up.
George stiffened. "Yes, well," he managed shakily. "That's part of my interest in your research. When Thea told me what you were working on...I just had to find out for myself. Do you really think you can find a way to bring the dead back to life?"
And just like that, they had hooked him. "Well, that's the goal," said Liam with a toothy grin. He was looking at George the way cartoon characters looked at a companion and saw food when they were starving on a deserted island. Only thing was, what Liam wanted was money, not food.
"We've had some small successes so far with house-elves," Liam continued with a smirk, looking quite proud of himself, "keeping them alive for longer than they ordinarily would survive in very tough situations."
"So then the house-elf survived yesterday?" Thea asked.
"Yes. That experiment was a complete success I am proud to say," said Liam, before leaning over to whisper to Thea. "You did very well bringing him to me. I will ensure that you get a raise for this."
Thea didn't know what to say to that, so she merely nodded.
"Now," said Liam, "if you'll excuse me, I need to get set up for the demonstration. I'll be back to speak with you later." And he headed away.
Thea waited until Liam was out of earshot before turning to George and whispering, "Are you all right?"
George shook his head. "No." He tried to compose himself but ultimately failed. "I need some air. Is there anywhere..."
Thea nodded. "I think so. Come with me." She led him back over to the doors. "Amor revelare," she said softly, and one of the doors opened. "Come on." She led him inside, closing the door behind them.
