Chapter 11, And you know that I need you
The next morning, peering at the files dedicated to the cabal, Rodolphus Lestrange looked up in surprise.
"They steal magic...but how? Is it through their physical touch, or with their wand? Is it sufficient to be in their vicinity? Is their awareness of our presence even necessary to steal it?
Or could it be some charm, that we might detect with spells of our own? Are there missing files here? Cause I don't see enough information..." Rod complained at the official Bella had dubbed Mr Rat.
It wasn't just about his looks, Rodolphus decided when they discussed last night and how he'd conducted the interview. It was about his personality. Possibly the very reason he was here was not only because he'd been responsible for gathering Intel, but merely to annoy them with a constant reminder of how lowly they have sunk. To be guided by this rat of a man.
Mr Rat in the mean time sadly shrugged. "All surprisingly good questions, to be sure. However our intel is limited to what you see.
We suspect our French colleagues had a leak of information, something to do with a sordid affair in their Ministry of Magic of the kind the two of you might appreciate. A high ranking Auror may have been compelled to work some of the time on behalf of the cabal, and hide their tracks. We could not risk any more agents exposed to the cabal, so have to rely on an incomplete dossier..."
"But you can naturally risk us, based on incomplete information," Rod demanded sarcastically, with an arched eyebrow. Fortunately he wasn't even too mad and so wasn't surprised when Mr Rat, unperturbed, responded in kind.
"We have utmost certainty in your superior skills," he said and Rodolphus had to wonder, if there would be any point in which he would be rewarded for his service tormenting the man.
"Are we allowed any special protections," Bellatrix demanded of Mr. Rat, eyes narrowing on the man. "Protections in way of extra weapons, or protective or defensive amulets," she pressed. She hadn't missed his snarky comment, indicating his surprise that Rod had noticed pertinent points without having to be guided to them. He and Bella were very skilled wizards and that took brains. A thing Mr. Rat had obviously overlooked. Bella longed for the day she'd be able to break this one. If she could only work it where it wouldn't break her vow to the stupid ministry.
She was pleasantly sore from her romp with Rod last night. After they'd returned to their quarters in the compound, their physical needs for one another had to be gotten out of the way first before they could talk over their new situation. Angry with him she may be, but he was still hot and she had planned to have that all evening.
"Indeed," Mr Rat added with something that Rod could almost interpret as indecision. He made a mental note then to watch for loopholes, omissions in his briefing, or troubles of a general nature. After all, anything the unshakeable clerk found disconcerting or had doubts about, could easily bite the two of them in the ass.
"We have some charmed pendants that could serve as temporary reservoirs, should the enemy manage to surprise you and steal some of your magic. We also have amulets to alert you to hostile intentions around you. There are even a few glyphs to fend off some of the darker spells. We will get you ready..." Mr Rat spoke in a manner that Rodolphus felt lacked confidence.
"Then what is the matter with you, why didn't you say so right away, what are you hiding," he challenged, unable to restrain himself anymore.
"Well, some of the spells are experimental. They could cause nausea, indigestion, black outs, and a few other interesting side effects," the Ministry official explained with an expression Rod was not able to place precisely, except that this time it looked sincere, and too amused for his comfort.
"Any more questions before we start layering these protections?" Mr Rat wondered somewhat sardonically and with a sigh, Rod sadly shook his head in negation.
For her part Bella simply shot Rat-face an acid glare. "Layer away," she commanded haughtily. Silently she reminded herself that they would do the Minister no good dead. So the Ministry wasn't trying to get them killed. It didn't mean that it wouldn't happen regardless...But no! They were the Lestranges. The most terrifying couple alive, and they had this.
"So are we covertly watching them at their known hideouts and taking them down via assassination or do you expect us to infiltrate them or what's the plan," Bellatrix asked. "I assume you lot have that bit worked out," she asked testily.
"Contrarily to what you think, we value our employees and don't wish them dead. Infiltration may or may not work, but observing them from a hideout, should be safer. If you like, we have a safe place which you could operate at your leisure. Its owners would be aware of your affiliation and would be instructed to help you out to the best of their frankly limited abilities.
Alternatively, we are also supplying you with some bank notes signed by higher ranking Goblins that ought to be honored anywhere abroad. Should you need to separate from our field operatives and set up your own base of operations, you shall be equipped to do just that," Mr Rat patiently explained.
Bellatrix was mildly surprised that they had choices. "Good. options are wise." It was a surprise to see the Ministry becoming wise, but the new Minister, being a former Slytherin, at least had her head partly in the right place save for working too much with goblins and elves.
"I didn't want to play double agent so that's a relief," she said. "This place from which we can watch the activities of the cabal. What is it, a house, a business, what and the owners you speak of who can help us, do they live there? Are we living with other people?"
"The safe place masquerades as a wand shop. The amount of wands available there is of course limited, the transactions are sparse. The back room is isolated with silencing and other spells from the front where the transactions take place.
The proprietors are a unusual bunch. They are a couple of pure blooded wizards, brother and sister, with a streak for adventure and disgust for their country. We invited them here, offered them some basic training. They are good at the acting part required from aspiring secret operatives, but not as great with battle spells.
They could mainly offer you cover, orientation in an unfamiliar city. As for the rest, it will be up to your discretion. If you feel like giving them a concrete task, they might be able to accomplish it. You have the authority to use them as you please, at any rate. No questions will be asked, so long as you succeed in you mission," Mr Rat added with a smile Rod found uncomfortably ominous.
Bellatrix, though, for her part, merely smiled back at Mr. Rat. Some day, she silently vowed, he would so learn his place...to the oh so musical sound of his own screams. "But why are we there if asked? What's our cover? Where do we live? With these siblings you speak of or elsewhere? Or is all that up to us?"
The question she didn't ask, at least not yet, involved the likelihood of his giving only enough information for them to hang themselves with. Was he trying to screw them over so they'd make a mistake? Bellatrix was under no illusion that everyone in the Ministry of Magic was fine and dandy with the Minister's choice to use them. Kereston Boxwood saw it as making the Lestranges pay their debt to society by utilizing their skills, but many officials, including all of the bloody Aurors, were still terrified of them and rightly so.
Mr Rat, at least to Rodolphus' mind, regarded them like intelligent animals who just learned how to speak.
"The truth is, we could not come up with a perfect cover story so far. Some of us believed that you could be most natural in the capacity of the so called Wand Tamers.
In France, this is an informal designation that describes darker wizards, those who not only specialize in some elements of wand lore, but also enjoy subverting wands inherited from dead owners. Those who can break the wand and make it serve a new master, whether the wand wishes for it or not.
The advantage of classifying you as Wand Tamers would be that you wouldn't have to deal with customers directly, and would already possess some relevant skills. The disadvantage is that such wizards are often younger than you.
We have also considered introducing you as familial connections to the siblings, unfortunately their facial features and color of hair do not match yours. Perhaps if you are said to be their cousins...I am afraid the three of us who have been working on your cover story haven't reached an agreement about the best course of action. It may be because my colleagues are a goblin and an elf, and do not fully understand human wizards. Be that as it may, we decided to leave the details to you. Should you accept our idea of Wand Tamers, we could supply the necessary references in French, just let us know in advance, " Mr Rat concluded, clearly unhappy that some details could not be fully planned.
Bellatrix was surprised that she'd never heard of wand taming. She slid a questioning glance to Rod, arching her brows. He had family connections in France, so perhaps he had. The concept was fascinating to her and exciting rather. She enjoyed breaking the wills of people...why not wands?
"Indeed that's right up our alley," she told Mr. Rat, eyes glittering in excitement at the prospect. Finally a new adventure!
"What, wand tamers lose their abilities at a certain age," Bellatrix demanded, annoyed about the comment of wand tamers being younger than she and Rod were. What? They were still hot and plenty spry. Why just last night...