Chapter Twelve: Anonymous Advice
Julia and Lily walked up to the stage and found that their husbands had already arrived.
Lily saw Snape and was unsure if she should go speak to him. They locked eyes for a moment until Lily heard her name spoken from the other direction.
"Lily are you going to sit down?" James asked. He followed her gaze over to Snape and his eyes narrowed.
"Yeah." She replied and she chatted with her friends until Albus stood to begin the meeting.
"Hello everyone. I have been informed of one of Voldemort's newest plans."
Lily was pleased to see that Julia had stopped jumping at Voldemort's name.
Albus continued, "He is planning an attack on the Louvre museum. He plans to steal some of the world's most famous artworks and keep them hostage unless the French Ministry gives into his demands."
"What exactly are his demands?" Sirius asked.
"He wants to have Muggle-borns banned from Beauxbatons."
Angry murmurs and shouts filled the room. They continued until Albus raised his hand to silence the group.
James spoke, "Why France, Voldemort has always been more concerned with Britain than any other country. Why not start here?"
"I believe that he thinks it would be too hard to take control of Hogwarts."
Despite the gravity of the situation many couldn't help but smile.
"Do you know when the attack is going to happen?" Alice Longbottom asked.
"Tomorrow after hours is what my source told me. I need several volunteers for this mission."
James, Sirius, Lily and many others rose very quickly but it was nothing compared to Julia.
"Good," Albus addressed everyone now. "That is all the new information we have today but please come on Friday if you can to be briefed on the mission."
Those not coming on the mission began to leave.
"Sni-," He looked at Lily, "Snape what can you tell us about Voldemort's plan of attack?"
It was Albus who spoke first, "Severus was not the one who gave me the information."
"Then how did you find out about Voldemort's plan?"
"It was advice from and anonymous source." Albus replied.
James face flushed with anger, "So what your story Snivellus? Why didn't you inform the Order?"
"I am not privy to all of the Dark Lords plans. He has not forgiven me for abandoning him."
"That's nice and convenient isn't it? That way you don't have to give any real information to us. What have you been telling him? Where we all go, when we sleep. Planning on picking us off one by one?"
By this time James face was inches away from Snape now.
"James!" Albus spoke with great force, "Severus has given plenty of vital information. I will not tolerate you treating other members of the Order this way. You are free to go home if you do not wish to be of help on this mission."
James took a step back from Snape. He turned but rather than leaving he sat down without a word.
"I want to station people at the museum all day to look for suspicious activity. Once the museum closes reinforcements will arrive."
"What about tonight?" Remus asked. "No doubt Voldemort will want to do reconnaissance before hand. Maybe we can capture Death Eaters tonight."
Moody gave his jagged smile, "Very good Lupin. It's a shame you didn't become an Auror."
"Even if I supported all the Ministry's practices they wouldn't hire someone like me." Remus replied.
"Prejudices can be overcome. You should reconsider the option."
Albus nodded. "Alastor, Minerva, Frank, and Edgar why don't you go tonight to scope out the situation. Send word if anything happens."
They nodded.
"Tomorrow Remus, Lily, Julia, and James will arrive when the museum opens and spend the day looking for Death Eater activity. Sirius, Peter and Amril will take the outside of the building as well as the surrounding area. When they museum closes the rest will arrive. Best case scenario the Death Eaters will be working in small groups around the museum and we will be able to take them as individually preventing a battle."
"Professor, uh Albus? Can I suggest something?" Julia asked.
"Certainly Julia."
"Well we are going somewhere that contains a huge amount of Muggle and Wizard culture. I think that it is best if I teach everyone some painting protection spells. We can start casting them during the day so even if there is a large battle the painting will be protected."
"That is a very good idea Julia."
Julia spent the next hour teaching everyone the necessary spells.
Moody, Minerva, Frank and Edgar left for France.
Julia and Amril went home with Lily and James in case they were needed quickly in France.
Edgar was stationed near the main entrance. Minerva and Frank patrolled the perimeter and Moody worked inside the building.
For over an hour everything was quiet but then Minerva saw movement near a staff entrance. She sent her Patronus to the rest of the Order at the Louvre.
They arrive next to her and she told them all she had seen so far. "Two figures are all I have seen so far. They don't seem to be doing anything. Just talking mostly."
"Do you want me to call in reinforcements?" Edgar asked.
"Let's wait to see if they are alone or if anymore show up."
After several minutes it seemed that the two figures, two men by the voices, were alone. They moved closer so the Order members no longer had any trouble eavesdropping.
The voices moved closer, "Don't know why he wanted us here tonight, ain't nothing planned 'til tomorrow."
"I stopped questioning a long time ago. But one thing I do wonder is why it's always us sent on this low level stuff, we've been loyal for years."
Minerva stepped out. "Maybe it's because you forget to check your surroundings and constantly muck things up. Stupefy."
"I'd say you hit the mark there Minerva." Frank replied.
They bound the men and Apparated near headquarters and brought the men inside.
Once the men were placed on the stage Patronus' were sent to the Order members who would be participating in the Louvre mission.
The men were revived once everyone arrived and were caught up on the capture.
"What are your names?" Moody asked.
"I'm not telling you nothing'." the larger man said.
"You realize that I am an Auror, and therefore have many options on how to get you to tell me much more than your name." Moody replied.
Many in the room gave Moody a horrified look, but it seemed to work.
The larger man spoke again, "I'm Stephen Crabbe and that's Michael Goyle."
"What was your business in France?"
"Holiday." Michael Goyle said.
"Really then why were you at the Louvre Museum after hours?"
"I … er … guess I was confused by the time difference." Goyle replied.
"Good answer Michael." Crabbe said with a nod.
Albus stepped closer to the two men. "Alastor why don't I give it a try?"
The men looked frightened gazing at their former headmaster.
Albus bent down to their level and looked Stephen Crabbe in the eyes. After several long minutes Albus broke the gaze.
"Stephen what did he do to you?" Goyle asked.
"I-I don't know."
At that moment Albus locked his gaze on Goyle. After a moment Albus looked up and turned to his comrades.
"You get what we need Albus?" Moody asked.
"Quite easily actually. Their minds were not very difficult to sift through."
Frank spoke up, "I'll wipe their memories so they won't remember this meeting and I'll take them to the Ministry. I saw them attempting to sell dark objects and intervened."
"What about You-Know-Who won't he wonder what happened to them." Julia asked.
Frank shrugged, "We know there are spies at the Ministry. That is one of the biggest reasons the Order exists. Voldemort will think that they were caught before ever reaching France. If he questions them later their own memories will back up the story."
"Frank, why don't you take them in and I will tell everyone else what I learned. You can catch up tomorrow."
Frank stunned the two men and cast a levitation floating the men in front of him as he left.
Albus addressed everyone. "Goyle and Crabbe have worked for Voldemort for years but they are still relatively low level due to the fact that they are almost completely incapable of even the most menial tasks."
There was laughter among the group.
Albus sent a Patronus to everyone who would be participating in the Louvre mission the next day. The group was quickly caught up on the capture of Crabbe and Goyle."
"I did see some of Voldemort's plans for tomorrow. They are planning to steal the art after closing, when everyone but the security staff are gone. But neither of the men had any knowledge about what Voldemort would be doing before closing. We are going to keep with the plan of having people there during the day."
"Did you see what paintings Voldemort is after?"
"No but it is easy to guess what a few of them will be."
"Mona Lisa … Venus de Milo… Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, De Gaulle."
"We will make sure that there are groups around all the most famous works, as well as a general patrol. While Julia has taught us some wonderful spells, we want to avoid a fight if possible. Capturing Death Eaters is important but are large goal this time is to make sure that Voldemort does not succeed in stealing the art."
"You don't really think the French Ministry would give into the demands."
"I can hope that they wouldn't but it will be obvious that this was no Muggle robbery. They will be looking for another answer. And Voldemort will be willing to supply one."
"So basically Voldemort is threatening to expose Wizards." Lily asked.
"Precisely."
"I think this whole mission just got all the more important."
