Chapter 16:
The typical American shopping mall found its genesis in the 1950s. While similar centers of commerce did exist before then, the concept of an entirely enclosed structure focused near entirely on retail and food vendors with department stores anchoring the venue is a modern concept. An early proponent of shopping malls was Victor Gruen, who was noted for his aid in planning what is often deemed one of (if not the) first true shopping mall in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Malls are interesting in that they are near entirely social spaces. Unlike a home or other more personal spaces there is always an expectation for there to be at least a moderate amount of other shoppers milling about and looking at merchandies. So, as is the case with most things, when expectations are not met the result can lead to a feeling of unease.
An empty shopping center was a normal enough experience for Roy Donahue. Roy was one of the night guards at the North Langstrom Mall. Seeing as the holiday rush had passed, the mall was back to normal operating hours. This meant the last of the customers left shortly after nine, and nearly all the staff of the hundred or so stores left by ten. So at half past ten he began his first round. The security office was on the second floor directly next to the Sears down a short access tunnel and as he exited he glanced at the few overhead lights that remained on. The storefronts were all shuttered with metal gates and the only sounds present were the click of his shoes against the hard tile floor and the slight murmur of the fountains from the first floor as he continued his trip along the upper level. After turning down the east hallway-the only part of the mall that jutted out and made it into the T shape it was from above-he continued to walk leisurely. He'd worked night shift for nearly three decades and in that time he'd never had a disturbance on his shift. North Langstrom was only robbed once in his time there, and it had been an unsuccessful attempt to break into a jewelry store that was quickly foiled by the alarm going off.
He finished the loop of the upper level and entered the main stairwell to bring him to the first floor. As he did so he heard what sounded like a popping noise from the direction of the food court. He frowned slightly as he turned toward the square dining area. Chances are the guys in the Wetzel's Pretzels forgot to turn off the pretzel warmer and it tripped a fuse again. As he approached the food court he was surprised. It looked like a small group of people were huddled over something glowing brightly as he approached.
"Put your hands where I can see them!" He shouted as he pulled out his taser.
He heard one of them murmur something, but it was too indistinct to understand.
"The three of you are trespassing on private property of Starcourt Industries. If you do not comply I will be authorized to use force against you."
One of the group turned directly to him and sneered, lifting up what appeared to be a wooden stick? Before he had time to react he heard the wielder speak, "Avada Kedavra!" and a bolt of green light shot forth, striking down the security guard.
"Oh, you're no fun." A husky male voice nearby huffed, "Should've made sure he suffered before you offed him."
"While I assure you I take just as much pleasure in ridding the world of an insignificant muggle, we haven't the time. Come, we have work to do." She replied as she gestured for the others to follow her. She led the group forward through the center, passing numerous storefronts. She sneered at the RadioShack display and was tempted for a moment to disintegrate the pathetic technology within, but restrained herself as there are more pressing matters to attend to.
Goldberg's Fine Jewelry was located on the first floor of the mall. It was a fairly impressive collection of gold, silver, and platinum trinkets all displayed neatly in glass cases. Unlike most jewelers, the Goldbergs were known for procuring and selling both modern and antique pieces. Some of their best business were collectors who bought from the current stock of antique pieces. These pieces, obviously, were under lock and key when not displayed-unlike the less valuable more modern works. This presented little challenge for the death eaters. After disabling the security cameras and having the gate unlock themselves with a simple unlocking charm they did the same on the vault in the back of the store. Tossing aside a few other antiques she smiled as she withdrew the golden necklace.
"Finally." She smiled as she showed her peers. They likewise grinned sinisterly.
A few moments later they had returned to the food court. "Yaxley, Rowle, make sure our guests arrive unharmed, we need them alive for this."
The men nodded and disapparated. They each returned a moment later with a number of unconscious students tightly bound. As soon as they appeared they then disapparated a second time until nearly the entire dining area was full. Over one hundred students in varying states of unconsciousness were bound and gagged, seated on chairs arranged to face the center of the room.
"Now we can begin." She nodded at the man to hand her the emerald. As it neared the pendant it began to glow even brighter than it had when they'd arrived, the two glowing as they neared each other cast a light strong enough to be seen through the skylight above.
"I hate to interrupt-well not really-" Padfoot quipped as he stepped out of the Taco Bell flanked closely by Moony. "-but I've got plans for tomorrow morning and I don't want to call them off because I'm too sore from kicking all of your collective asses."
"Sirius. How wretched to see you again. I figured you and your furry boy-toy might show up. No matter." Alecto flicked her wrist causing a large black shape to arise from the shadows behind her. "Quetzalcoatl, take care of them."
The serpent roared as it lunged forward toward the two men. The brawl had begun. After dodging out of the way of the beast Moony engaged Yaxley, launching a scarlet bean at his arm which flicked his chestnut wand well across the room. While he did this Padfoot barely lunged out of the way and began firing charms back and forth at Rowle. Alecto was clearly annoyed and started trying to engage the men as well, with flickers of light bouncing around the room all under the glow of the now nearly united emerald and pendant. The two men edged out of the food court and toward the center of the mall, the three death eaters following closely as they started leading them near the main staircase.
Once the five combatants had left the room a trio emerged from the darkness.
"Quick! Remember, Diffindo to untie them and use Rennervate on anyone who's unconscious." Alicia whispered.
"I still can't believe my mom okayed this." Chase whispered as he started breaking the cords on a group of fellow first years who were awake.
"Neither can I, to be honest." Danny muttered as he freed a fourth year girl who quickly exited through the outside door behind them.
After undoing the last of the students-a particularly indignant fifth year who quickly vacated the food court-Danny shot off a gold beam from his wand-the agreed upon sign that everyone was safely rescued and that the next stage of the plan was underway.
It had taken nearly ten minutes of stalling and goading the three death eaters through the shopping center-including a few brief apparations to other parts of the mall to force them to search for them-but when Wolfgang saw the beam he breathed a sigh of relief. He and Silas quickly disapparated again, appearing on the first floor near the main entrance, leaving the trio of attackers angrily chasing after them as the two exited through the front of the mall. As they exited the three immediately froze as nearly a dozen aurors had their wands pointed at them.
"I fucking told you they were going to do this, but did you listen?!"Silas angrily stated to the collected authorities as he stood behind the men.
"Now isn't the time for 'I told you so'." Wolfgang said as he dragged his boyfriend away and attempted a tight smile as the aurors closed in on the three.
**HP**
Two hours later the couple were finally free to go from questioning. After establishing all that had happened-well, all that needed to be known to the authorities at least-the authorities had apologized for not believing them in a rare show of tact and had made sure that the two men were safe before allowing them to go.
"Your plan was awesome! Even if we did get in trouble for using a portkey without a license." Chase said, looking over at Danny's fathers as they exited the auror's interrogation room.
"With everything that happened I don't mind paying the fees. I'm just glad it worked." Wolfgang sighed as he cracked his back.
"Showing up with a couple of the missing students in the middle of the Magical Congress lobby got their attention." Alicia remarked. "When we said we knew where the rest of them were they went there immediately."
Wolfgang paused as they neared the door, "Are you kids ready for this?"
The three exchanged glances, "Ready as we'll ever be." Danny replied as they stepped out into the crowd of reporters and writers who were all ready to interview the 'Fantastic Five'.