Two Weeks Later. The Raven's Coven
Amelia Bones frowned as she waited at the bar in the shady club. Unlike the humble and historic Leaky Cauldron, this place was loud with music, smoky with the cigars and joints lit within the place, and smelled of cheap perfume and alcohol. Her eyes narrowed as she looked around the club. Tables and booths were spread out through the bar with Veela dancers moving sensuously with music blaring loudly through the speakers. Wizards in the chair were hooting loudly as they showered the dancers with money, not caring as their senses were trapped by the trio of liqour, drugs, and beautiful women. Amelia took a glance at her boss, Minister Fudge, drooling shamelessly with a glass of scotch barely hanging in his hand. Around them, most of their guards were not concentrating and instead were staring at the barely naked Veelas, teasing them with every move. Of the ten Aurors they had with them, only Tonks and Kingsley were able to stay alert. Amelia took another look around and saw numerous me in long dark coats, wearing mirrored sunglasses, standing completely still, watching vigilantly for any troublemakers. Amelia sighed, wishing her Aurors could have that amount of self control.
"Excuse me ma'am."
Amelia turned around to see Frankie standing near her.
"The Godfather will see you now."
Amelia followed Frankie while Tonks had to tug Minister Fudge along like a child. Not that she couldn't blame him. One Veela's aura was hard to withstand but ten all in the same area was extremely tough. Frankie opened a door in the dark corners of the bar to reveal a hidden hallway. Amelia's sharp eyes spotted living quarters and storage facilities within the bar. However she ignored the numerous mirrored orbs above her as well as the small dots on the hallways. Frankie turned a corner and opened the door for Amelia and Fudge. They stepped into a dimly lit, red room and an empty table. Frankie motioned them to sit.
"The Godfather will see you shortly."
Amelia sat down, glancing at the corners surreptitiously searching for any advantage if these negotiations go southwards. Fudge however looked completely insulted and pouted on his chair like a spoiled child.
The wall on their right lit the room, temporarily blinding them. Amelia saw a picture of a raven on a white background before it showed a man in the shadows. The man was wearing a pinstriped suit and was sitting at a table. Aside from his thinly smiling mouth, all that Amelia could see was his eyes glowing brightly from the shadows.
"Madam Bones. Minister Fudge. I am glad to see you here today. First of all, I would like to say it is a pleasure for to be meeting with some of the most important wizards of England."
Predictably, Fudge puffed up in pride while Amelia's eyes merely narrowed, observing.
"I am the Godfather. As you may have heard through some of your subordinates or otherwise, I have been dealing with a faction in your government known as the Death Eaters led by a person known as Lord Voldemort."
Amelia and Fudge flinched at the name.
"You-Know-Who does not exist. He died 15 years ago at the hands of Harry Potter!" Fudge stated. The Godfather frowned slightly.
"Hmm. Well then, the amount of Death Eaters in the Alleys must be organizing for a coup or rebellion. Trying to intimidate and bully the fellow shopkeepers in this fine alley. Madam Bones, if I may. The Aurors are no doubt a splendid task force, but they are stretched too thin. Many of the shops here have been threatened more than once before I came here."
"What do you mean?" Amelia asked. The Godfather smiled.
"What I mean is that since I have arrived, my men have been acting as a personal police force for Knockturn and Diagon Alley. We've been getting rid of these Death Eaters for about a month."
"Preposterous!" Fudge snorted. "I would have heard of it."
"Really? Frankie. Mikhail. Roll the tables in."
The mobsters rolled in tables covered in a black cloth. They removed the sheets simultaneously, displaying their grisly contents. On each table were three severed left arms, turned over so that the Dark Mark was proudly showing. Fudge recoiled visibly at the grisly sight. Amelia looked at the arms in interest and curiosity. Fudge turned to the screen.
"What in Merlin's name are you doing you monster?!" Fudge roared. The Godfather chuckled.
"I prefer to think of myself as a businessman Fudge. The arm's owners were threatening my business, so I eliminated them," the Godfather said calmly. "Madam Bones, any thoughts?"
"How many of these Death Eaters have you caught?" Amelia asked.
"About one or two. I dislike holding hostages. I usually have most of them killed and have a disfigured messenger to warn the rest. The tactic hasn't worked so far," the Godfather explained calmly.
"What gives you the right to do this you barbarian?" Fudge roared. The Godfather gave a cold chuckle.
"Don't act so noble you politician. I know your past Fudge. Every skeleton in your closet I have knowledge of. All I have to do is send an anonymous letter to the Daily Prophet and it would tear you to pieces," he said coolly. He snapped his fingers. Frankie slid a sealed envelope to Fudge. Fudge opened the letter and stiffened.
"Wonderful how gold can get you anything you want, eh Fudgey?"
"What do you want?" Amelia asked. The Godfather smiled.
"Ah, that's the million galleon question. What do I want? For now, I'd like a deal."
"A deal?" Fudge asked confused. The Godfather nodded.
"You pay me to get rid of this insurrection against the Ministry. In return I send you a huge wave of public support," the Godfather explained. He turned to Fudge. "Think about it Cornelius. Send word to the Prophet that the Dark Lord has risen again. Promise them that you would do everything in your power to stop them. As you draw them out, I will be in the shadows, stabbing them in the back. Then I will hand them off to the Aurors for easy picking, Madam Bones. You will get all the credit. All the glory. All the fame. Just imagine Cornelius. Your legacy. The Minister that stopped the most terrifying wizard in the history of England. The man who defied all expectations. Just imagine the amount of supporters and benefits you will have. The lights are on you, not on Dumbledore. You will be the Hero of the Light."
Madam Bones could almost see the money sacks floating by the Minister's head. His pudgy eyes were bright in glee as he turned to the Godfather.
"And how much are you asking for?"
"Two hundred thousand galleons Cornelius as well as a couple of favors," the Godfather said smoothly. Fudge was taken aback at the price. Madam Bones slammed her palm on the table.
"Minister you cannot be considering this! That is an absurd amount of money!"
"Is it really? I think of it as a small amount for a definite place in British history, maybe even global history as the man that defeated the world class terrorist only known as You-Know-Who," the Godfather whispered.
"I'LL TAKE IT!" Fudge cried out. The Godfather gave a victorious smile.
"Excellent. Frankie the papers."
Fudge eagerly signed the documents Frankie gave him, despite the fact it was a blood quill. The paper glowed signifying the deal. The Godfather smile was shown only a second longer before the screen blacked out. In the room, Madam Bones shook her head.
Somehow, she knew that it would end up badly for Minister Fudge.
Corvo smiled as he closed the window and removed the hat from his head. Minister Fudge was too easily manipulated. However Madam Bones was a sharper one. Still it was no worry. It would definitely end well for him at the least. Two hundred thousand galleons for just doing what he does best. In muggle American cash, that amount of gold, considering that a galleon weighs around an ounce, would mean over two hundred million dollars in gold. A very profitable experience. Corvo opened another chat window. In a few moments, the window opened and a picture of Vitali opened up.
"Hello Boss, good to see you."
"Thank you Vitali. It's good to see you as well," Corvo said. "How are my hunter's doing?"
"Mostly bored. The situation in New York is highly stable. All the ethnic groups are at a relative peace with one another."
"Excellent. Now my friend. What do you know about England?"
"England? Y'mean bad food, worse weather, Mary fuckin' Poppins England?" Vitali asked.
"Yes, that England. Send Boris, along with three of my Lupos, will be coming here. Also five squads of my soldatos."
"What for?" Vitali asked, puzzled.
"Well my trusted friend," Corvo started. "I have gotten us a wonderfully splendid deal with the wizarding government here."
"How much?"
"200 million in solid gold," Corvo responded.
Vitali whistled. "Amazing. And this is only the tip of the iceberg right?"
"These people here run their economy in solid gold. Solid gold! How many tonnage of precious metals do they have just strolling around. I doubt they ever heard of credits or loan!" Corvo said excitedly.
"And you're planning to exploit that eh?" Vitali asked. Corvo smiled.
"Hell yeah. And to do that, I'm going to need serious artillery," Corvo said. "My raptor along with the three Lupos. A crate full of AK-47, exoskeletons, body armor, blades, and C4. The works. Along with the chopper."
"Quite an order but I'll get it done sir. Good luck with your endeavor sir. Vitali out."
The window closed. Corvo flipped the laptop closed and placed it in his trunk. Inside his trunk was a locked briefcase containing his most precious secrets, a case for his personal effects, books, and his clothes. He flipped the trunk closed and locked the lid. He looked up to see Blaise standing at the doorway.
"Is there anything you need Blaise?"
"Not really sir," Blaise said. "However its time for Transfigurations. I have your essay and your schoolbooks here."
"Thank you Blaise," Corvo responded. Blaise nodded.
"So how are your plans going sir?" Blaise asked. Corvo gave a small smile.
"Quite nicely. Everything is going as planned. However, in the coming months I am going o have to rely on you quite heavily," Corvo said.
"I'm honored that you think sir highly of me sir, but why me? Surely you could find someone else," Blaise said. Corvo smiled.
"Well you have numerous qualities that I like," Corvo said. "That's it."
Blaise nodded and the two of them continued along the corridor in silence. They entered the classroom and sat near the middle of the classroom. Corvo took out his pen and notebook and waited as Professor McGonagall entered the classroom. Corvo began to take notes automatically as the professor lectured. His mind was more concerned with the future plans of the Wizarding World.
Already in the short time he was here, he had established a strong presence in Diagon and Knockturn Alley, the money making district of London England. In those two alleys alone, he could control the money flow between the three powers he had recognized in the Wizarding World. As far as he could tell; the Ministry, Voldemort, and Dumbledore. Right now he had a good amount of sway within the Ministry due to Minister Fudge, a puppet politician in his opinion. Dumbledore as far as he could tell was too much of an idealist too have too much effect on what was happening in front of him. Voldemort however was his biggest competition so far. Corvo had no doubt that Voldemort had noticed him. It was only how Voldemort was going to retaliate was Corvo's biggest concern. The Raven's Coven was a well built safe house with portals to muggle London if ever there was a need to escape. However, Voldemort would have to get through booby trapped hallways and numerous mobsters in order to take it.
"Mr. Corleone!"
Corvo was snapped out of his thoughts by Professor McGonagall looking down at him. Corvo looked up at her lazily.
"Yes Professor?"
"Could you please demonstrate for us by transfiguring this block of wood into an animal of your choice?"
Corvo frowned as he noticed that everyone was staring at him. He smirked and straightened up.
"PEEVES! NOT THE CABINET!"
Everyone turned around, looking wildly for Peeves, the resident poltergeist. Corvo tapped the block of wood and the wood shuddered violently before morphing into a perfect raven, all in the span of half a second. The class turned around to see Corvo stroking the transfigured raven and smiling.
"Is this satisfactory Professor?"
McGonagall nodded, inwardly displeased at being distracted so easily. For the past week, she had been trying to see Corvo actually perform magic. However, someway or another, he managed to perform it in absolute secrecy. Quite a feat considering that it was a magic school.
"Five points from Slytherin for that unnecessary outburst."
She strode away while the rest of the class turned to their own blocks of wood. Corvo chuckled as he petted the raven.
"So damn easy to fool these wizards."
"So Daphne, have you and Corvo done the dirty?" Tracey asked.
"What?" Daphne asked was focused on trying to find a book in the library.
"Have you and Corvo had sex?"
Daphne frowned at her friend. "And how is that any of your business Tracey?"
Tracey gave her friend a wide grin. "I just wanted to know. Is it really hot and heavy or more slow and passionate? And how good is he in bed. Is that fact that he's raised in the muggle world make him any better?"
"Why?"
"Because unlike moi, you have a tall, dark, sexy boyfriend while I only have me, myself, and a toy named Julius," Tracey said. Daphne frowned at her friend's disturbing answer.
"First of all, he and I have only been dating three months. Secondly, never mention Julius again."
Tracey giggled. "But is he good in bed?"
"We haven't done it yet. Couple times we've been close but-"
Tracey huffed. "Why not? He's the best guy you are ever going to meet. He's strong. Charming. Caring. And he loves you. The only thing he needs is he's as wealthy as Malfoy. Hell that's the only reason why some of the Slytherin girls date him."
"For your information, he's five times richer than Malfoy could ever be," Daphne snapped. She cursed softly as Tracey squealed.
"SEE! So what are you waiting for?"
"I just don't feel ready yet. You're my best friend Tracey but if you continue any longer, I'll hex you."
Tracey nodded. "Yeesh, someone's on the period."
She barely missed a yellow beam from Daphne.
"That was your warning shot."
Tracey giggled. "Look! You even look like Corvo when you're angry!"
Daphne was about to say something but a red beam of light blasted Tracey. She turned around to see another red beam of light hit her in the stomach. As she fell down, she saw the signature blond hair of Malfoy before she blacked out.
Malfoy looked at the two girls before nodding to his two thugs. Crabbe and Goyle picked them up and followed Draco to out of the hallway. Draco smiled as he headed down to the abandoned corridors of the dungeons. Corvo was going to pay dearly for disrespecting him. He was sure of it.
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