"Here they come." Molly says as she flips her spoon over to get the last bit of ice-cream out of it.
Amanda doesn't recognize Michelle immediately. Neither of the girls are dressed as they had been. Michelle is wearing her new coat and Ginny is wearing the one Michelle had been wearing and she was carrying her own. Also, Amanda does not see a bundle covering Rebecca's sword.
"Where is the sword?" Amanda says to Molly, but mostly to herself.
"She's wearing a different coat." Molly observes. The coat is too large for Ginny making it look somewhat like she's wearing a raincoat like Michelle.
As the girls join their elders, Ginny says "Mummy! Can I get an ice-cream?" Molly nods and hands her a few coins.
Amanda hisses at Michelle "What did you do?"
"I chose the sword which was commissioned for me. Here is your money back." Michelle hands Amanda a thick envelope with a hopeful smile. But, Amanda fumes at her pupil.
"YOU chose it?" Amanda accuses, Michelle nods. Amanda forces herself to lower her voice. "You… based on your many years of experience…?"
Molly goes to join Ginny and guides her to a table.
"But Mummy, I want to hear…"
"It is not for us dear."
"Mummy, Michelle didn't do what Amanda wanted. She got a better one. The man who works there made both and told her the one she chose was made for her…and the coat that goes with it."
"Ginny. It is still not for us."
"Did he tell you who commissioned it?" Amanda scolds. Michelle cringes and shakes her head. "Probably some piece of junk he just wanted to get rid of."
Michelle tears up a bit but stands her ground. "It matches this coat."
"What good will a fancy coat be if your sword fails?"
Amanda takes the money and goes off to purchase her mentor's sword for herself. Michelle sits down glumly next to the witches. "Do you want one dear?" Molly asks. Michelle shakes her head sadly. "Vanilla then?" Michelle ignores Molly. "Ginny, get a small vanilla with a chocolate dip and a cherry."
Ginny returns with a small cauldron of ice-cream. Not knowing what else to do, Michelle starts to eat.
"The wand chooses the witch. Perhaps…sometimes…the sword chooses the Old One. I know nothing of your people, but listen to an old witch…even I can see you have powerful people looking after you." Ginny nods in agreement with her mother.
After purchasing a CD player from a muggle shop, they head back to the car. It had been a store which fascinated Molly and Ginny, so many devices, so many words they did not understand, all of it new and exciting. Amanda carries her long bundle. Michelle lugs the player.
As they approach the car, Amanda says to Ginny "You have shotgun." Ginny is confused, but understands when a dejected Michelle takes the backseat she had occupied.
Relegated to the backseat, Michelle opens the box and puts in the batteries. She hands it forward to Ginny, who has no idea what to do with it. Michelle explains how to put a disk in it from the case on the floor between Ginny's feet and hit play. Ginny asks which CD and Amanda shrugs "Any, all of them are good." Ginny successfully operates the strange muggle device.
Bob Seger's "Hollywood Nights" begins.
"She stood there bright as the sun on that California coast
"He was a midwestern boy on his own
"She looked at him with those soft eyes, so innocent and blue
"He knew right then he was too far from home
"He was too far from home"
Ginny beams. Soon her head is bobbing to the rhythm.
In the field back at the Burrow the young auror and two old immortals play a cat and mouse game trying to learn without giving away information. Surprisingly, Tonks is holding her own. She is surprised when her two opponents are startled simultaneously. They look around and then take her to the ground.
"That is the wrong car." Ceirdwyn says.
"Yup. Are we expecting anyone before tonight?"
"No."
"What is going on?" Tonks asks.
"What happens when two of your kind meet unexpectedly?" Ceirdwyn asks.
"Normally we greet each other or ignore each other depending on whether muggles are around."
"Yeah well sometimes, if no mortals are around…" Alex whispers.
"We fight to the death." Ceirdwyn completes what Alex was reluctant to say.
"Merlin's beard…" Tonks gasps. "There are two of you…"
Alex shakes her head. "All fights are one to one. It is tradition."
A blond woman in a leather coat gets out of the car and looks toward the field.
"I can't see her well. Do you recognize her?" Alex asks.
"No" Ceirdwyn responds.
Tonks roots around in her pack and hands Ceirdwyn a pair of something that looks like a pair of steampunk binoculars. "Omnioculars." Tonks says. She gives the immortal a quick lesson on how to use the device.
"I've got a good view. But I don't know her." Ceirdwyn hands the device to Alex who views the saved image.
"I do. My God. What is she doing here?" Tonks feels a wave of fear. "It is Kyra."
"Is that bad?" Tonks asks nervously.
"She waged a one-woman war of attrition against the Nazi's in the Balkans. They're gone. She's here…." Alex explains. "She been a warrior or a bodyguard for three thousand years. She is a Spartan. You have heard of them…" Tonks nods. "Last I heard, she was wanted in France for half a dozen murders…"
Alex hands Tonks the omnioculars. Tonks peers at the new arrival. She watches the woman slowly mover her right hand inside the upper left side of her coat. "I think she has a sword." Tonks observes.
"Jeez… Do you think?" Alex says with a laugh. Ceirdwyn grins.
"What happens next?" Tonks asks nervously.
"This." Alex says as she gets up.
Auror Moody receives a note from an auror in Diagon Alley. It reads that Molly Weasley has been seen in the alley in the company of two muggles who separately visited the shop in Knockturn where only Old Ones go. He digests this information. It is highly unusual for visits by Old Ones to occur so frequently and two of them being together is nearly unheard of. He looks at the note again and reads further. He staggers to his chair and drops into it in shock. The young Weasley daughter had been inside the shop. He reads it again to be sure he read it correctly. No witch or wizard has ever been inside that building…at least not and returned as Ginny had.
Moody summons Arthur to his office. Then, realizing how much time has gone by, and worries about Tonks although he'd never admit it. A mental image of her dismembered on the ground passes through his mind, but he shuts it out.
Moody looks through the other reports on his desk. He finds several reports stating that parents of Hogwarts students said their children mentioned an Old One living at the school. That had seemed too outlandish to believe at first. But now… Headmaster Dumbledore was known to be eccentric, but to allow a muggle, other than a parent of a student, to even visit is beyond the pale.
For thousands of years those in the wizarding world that frequented Diagon Alley had been aware that among the muggles were a few secretive and dangerous individuals. They grumbled amongst themselves, but did not confront them. Most wizards and witches were cautious of the unknown but not as guarded as they should be because they thought themselves to be superior.
As he looks through the reports, he finds the one he earlier dismissed. It is from the mother of a Ravenclaw student enamored by an Old One who killed another to save a first year Gryffindor. The murdered Old One had been in the act of burning the young witch at a stake. Had Dumbledore taken this Old One in as protection? Had he taken in an enemy posing as a friend?
He checks the current list of Hogwarts students and faculty. It confirms his recollection that Arthur has several students enrolled.
Tonks is horrified as Alex Raven strides toward the new arrival. Alex sheds her coat gripping it by the collar with her left hand with her right hand hidden inside it. There is no way to know what grip she is using, but it is clear dropping the jacket will reveal the sword. The other woman is less subtle, shedding her coat and baring her weapon. Tonks points her wand carefully. It would be an extremely long shot. Ceirdwyn pushes the wand down. "We cannot interfere."
"Those are your rules not mine." Tonks responds.
"Allow me to rephrase… I cannot allow you to interfere." Ceirdwyn's eyes are deadly serious.
"But she's your friend…" Tonks complains.
"She's more than that… She's my student."
"But what if…?"
"Then I'll get the second round."
Tonks stomach tightens. Despite being threatened by the two Old Ones, Tonks senses now that was mostly bluff intended to achieve a result rather than to harm her. But the situation has become more serious. Tonks looks back at the two women.
As the separation is closed, Alex hugs the woman. "Thank God." Ceirdwyn exhales. A wave of relief flows over Tonks.
"So, it is all good then?" Tonks asks eagerly.
"She hasn't met me yet… and there are two others yet to return." Ceirdwyn observes. "You may yet witness a Quickening."
"What is that?" Tonks asks.
"Come with us tonight and learn… We are more alike than you imagine."
Tonks knows Moody is expecting her return, but there is so much to be learned here.
Ceirdwyn hauls Tonks unexpectedly to here feet. Ceirdwyn explains "I know Kyra only by reputation. She is lighthearted but extremely competent… not to b trifled with. I don't know how she will react to you. But if she warns you, even in a joking way, take it seriously. Be ready to do that… thing you did…"
"Apparate?"
"Whatever you call it."
Tonks sees Kyra turn toward her. Kyra doesn't look happy.
"Let's go." Ceirdwyn says as she begins to usher Tonks forward with her left hand leaving her right free.
Kyra eyes them with suspicion as they approach.
"Steady…" Ceirdwyn cautions Tonks.
As they reach Kyra, her sword remains low and Ceirdwyn's remains in her coat.
Kyra eyes them. "Ceirdwyn of the Iceni?" Ceirdwyn nods. Kyra sheaths her sword. "Good student. Wish I could have helped her, but we were against some of the same people. She speaks well of you…" Kyra nods toward Tonks. "Is this one of the Weasleys?"
Tonks' eyes open wider. Alex answers "No. We found her spying on them…"
"Humph" Kyra snorts in derision. "Why is she still…"
"We don't want to anger them. What brings you here?" Alex says.
"Well, you two will be gone for hours. Amanda isn't trust worthy. The newbie is worthless, at least for now. Somebody had to provide security." Alex and Ceirdwyn are a bit hurt, but it is true. "What do you have to say for yourself, witch?"
"Her name is Tonks." Ceirdwyn explains.
"Good. So, we know what to put on her tombstone."
Kyra returns to her car and returns with a bag. She grabs Tonks by the ear and sits her in a chair on the patio in the garden. She pours some of the contents of the bag in a circle around a frightened Tonks. "Salt. Witches can't cross it. It is known." Kyra explains.
As Kyra returns the bag to her car. Alex and Ceirdwyn watch Tonks stand up, step across the line and quickly back again, sitting back down while Kyra's back is turned. Alex's and Ceirdwyn's jaws drop. Tonks gives them a subtle wink. They look away from Kyra as the overcome the urge to laugh.
Alex mutters "You put your right foot in, you take your right foot out…"
"Cut that out." Ceirdwyn commands.