Bad Romance
Chapter 12:
Je veux ton amour
Rodolphus Lestrange merely shrugged in response to Bella's implied question. He never heard himself about wand tamers. In fact, if Mr Rat were not a Ministry official, he would have suspected some subterfuge, including a dangerous trap. Even now, he was not sure how far he could trust the cunning little man, and did not intend to risk everything on his say so.
"Wand taming follows certain trends," Mr Rat was explaining in the mean time, not bothered by their questions, or their distrust.
"50 years ago it was deemed that only older people, with sufficient knowledge of wand lore, could be expected to be wand tamers. And now, it is the opposite.
The French community of wizards seems to believe that only the younger people have the creativity necessary for understanding and communicating with wands. The youth factor became so prevalent, that even students who still haven't graduated from Beauxbatons can expect to be hired as trainees, provided they have the necessary set of skills.
Trends, popularity, all nonsense if you ask me, but people would be expecting younger wizards for the job, that is the unfortunate truth that creates the difficulty for our cover story," the Ministry employee spoke with some regret .
"Well you said we'd be working in the back of the shop out of sight, so I'm glad to be an old school wand tamer," Bellatrix said firmly. Then she gave a wicked smile, eyes glittering with mad promise. "Anyone asks...we'll just tame them." She grinned over at Rod, already hoping for a reason to tame someone as soon as they got to France. "What's next? What else needs to be taken care of before we can leave," she asked, not bothering not to sound eager. She was so ready to get out of here and enjoy a little freedom and torture and killing, and French food.
"Excellent. Now the final point. Well, it should be fairly obvious, but with the two of you it is hard to know what is. In light of recent circumstances, unrest, anarchy abroad, that kind of a thing. There is an armed Muggle group that is responsible for shootings at the airport. Some of our wizards have been hit by their weapons, and we hope for it to be a mere coincidence that we sent them on a mission, only to be targeted by Muggles.
The bottom line is, we want you to refrain from showing who you are to the world. From engaging with the French authorities who have been harsher in their security checks than normal. From engaging with Muggles unnecessarily, which means without the very best of reasons to worry for your own safety. We want you to restrain your well known...enthusiasm, and to be circumspect. To remember that this time you are serving the country and not just yourselves. Do you think you would be able to do that?" Mr Rat wondered with some undisguised skepticism.
Bellatrix gave a sigh and rolled her eyes. "Really," she drawled. "Is this really happening, Rod," she cast a bored look at her husband. "Is this rat faced little rodent truly concerned that we'd run rampant through the airport or anywhere else doing exactly as we please? Doesn't he think that such actions would have us tossed right back into Azkaban even if the Minister finds us of use to her?" Casting a withering look back at Mr. Rat she added, "Are you really that stupid? I mean I knew you were stupid, but..."
"She means we've got it," Rod cut in. "We're good." Though he agreed with Bella, it was more prudent to assure the stupid little rat as if he spoke poorly of them to the Minister she may change her mind. They really needed this trip. They really needed a little freedom. Perhaps the Ministry really needed them on this job, but why test them in case they had someone almost as suitable for the job who they could trust more.
"Other people would remember about the consequences of Azkaban, with you, it is impossible to know, very well then, if you can resist the temptation, we should be ready to move on," Mr Rat concluded, whether mollified by Rod's reassurance or simply resigned, Rod could not say, and did not care either.
"I do think we should perhaps arrive by flu into the back of that wand shop or something, as, from what you say, taking a Muggle flight to avoid detection doesn't appear to be working," Bella said dryly. She was fully prepared to think for Mr. Rat to keep her and Rod safe and alive. He was likely slow on the up take + didn't value their esteemed lives nearly as much as they did.
"It is not a horrible idea, generally speaking," Mr Rat reluctantly conceded, making Rodolphus wonder with annoyance which Forbidden Curse would rile the official the most, when all was said and done.
"Only, we believe the Department overseeing the Flu transportation for France has been breached. It might still be the best course of action, but be careful. Somebody from the French Ministry might be coming to investigate your documents, and, unlike us, they won't be your friends," the Ministry employee concluded with a sardonic smile.
"Well as you are providing said documents, we trust they will be in order," Bellatrix said sweetly.
