Chapter Two

Thomas and Delia

Delia craned her neck up to look at the Craw Mansion skeptically, carrying her Unremarkable Suitcase in both hands as she stopped to take it in.

"I know it's quaint, but it's home," Thomas commented. "This way, Delia."

Still wondering if this was such a good idea, Delia reluctantly followed him in through the main entrance. She gazed at the polished granite floors and large staircase that took up most of the entryway area, which had a split level leading to two different wings. Thomas led her up the left side staircase and stopped at one of the tall doors that lined the hall.

"This is Beth's old room. When they get back, they'll be in the large suite at the far end of this hallway, next to the nursery," he explained.

"Yes, that's subtle," Delia said wryly.

"I like to plan ahead," Thomas retorted. "I chose this room because I have extra security on it, and it doesn't have any curses on it if you're not a Craw. The same goes for the room next door, that's Mike's room. It's there because he used to play watch dog to his sister, but if you don't like him being there, I can move him if you want."

"Oh, well, I really don't know how I feel about it," Delia admitted. "I guess it's okay for now."

"If you change your mind later, just say so," Thomas said with a shrug of indifference. "The bathroom is just across the hallway here, and we run a strict schedule as far as mealtimes are concerned. You can skip whenever you like since you're not family; we dress for dinner, but you can always eat in your room if you prefer. The only house routine I expect you to strictly follow is to meet me at the kitchen door at 7:45 precisely so that we can get to the LE Office at 8:00. The clock above the mantel in your room is goblin precision."

"Right," Delia said.

"There are security rules we'll need to discuss, but there are a lot of them, so I'll give you the three important ones up front. Do you see how the trimming around the doors have different colors?" Thomas asked. Delia looked down the hallway curiously. Most of them in natural tones ranging from brown to off-white. Some of the differences were subtle, but there were also some trim that was brightly colored. Delia nodded.

"That is a clue to which rooms you and Mike have access to; mainly the ones with brown or off-white, and every shade of brown in between. Stay away from any doors that have green, blue or any other colored trim, especially black, without a Craw to go with you. All of those have blood magic wards on them."

"Right," Delia said, wondering what nasty things would happen if she tried.

"Second, don't move the paintings in your room, they're tied to security. Do you have a familiar?"

"No, I really never needed one. I always used my father's postal owls," Delia admitted.

"Well, you're far from any cities now, so I suggest you get one. That reminds me, I need to check on your Father's security, just to be safe," Thomas said, pulling out a journal to make a note to himself about it. "If you decide to get a flyer, let me know, so I can tie them to security. And if you do need to go out, don't leave without taking a family member with you just to be safe."

"Right," Delia said.

"Any questions?" Thomas asked.

"One," Delia decided. "Are they any boyfriend proximity detectors in my room?" Thomas sneered.

"No, but now that you mention it, it might be entertaining to put a set of those in Jennifer's old room if she ever came for a visit. Very entertaining," he decided, then made another note. "Don't tell anybody about that idea, Delia."

"Not my business," Delia decided.

"Good girl. I need to go down and contact the Ministry about that security check," Thomas said, leaving Delia to unpack.

Wondering if Mike had gotten stuck with another overnight shift, Delia decided to put on her agate charm bracelet that he had given her just in case he came home. It was tied to an onyx necklace he wore that made her bracelet sparkle when they were near each other; they were also charmed never to come off except by their own hands, even if they died. That part of the charm was a bit unsettling to her. The set had been Thomas Craw's idea, and he thought adding that charm would prevent someone from murdering one of them and using the jewelry to get to the other later. Trust Thomas to think up something like that, she thought.

It didn't take long for Delia to unpack her room. Charms were her greatest strength, so it wasn't long before the room had unpacked itself and she had her Dictation Quills ready to go. After writing a quick note to her father, she dictated to her journal. Then Delia turned in early.

Delia hadn't slept well that first night. Part of it was being in a strange room in a strange place. Part of it was waking up every time she heard a noise in case it was Mike coming in. And part of it was because she was very nervous about her first day of work the next day. She really, really, really didn't want to keep the Minister waiting the next morning!

She woke up early and had her Dictation Quills write up a few letters as she got dressed. She threw the letters into a shoulder bag marked with the Owl Post seal and went downstairs.

When Delia went into the dining room, she saw that Fleur and Thomas were sitting at the far end of the dining table with Thomas at the end and Fleur in the seat beside him. Noting that there was a place setting on the other side of him, Delia took off her bag and slung it on the back of the chair.

"What's all that?" Thomas asked curiously.

"Oh, that's just my post going out. I figured that the easiest thing to do was to take it with me to the Ministry until I get my own owl," Delia decided.

"If that's your normal post load, you'd be better off getting a flying mule," Thomas said. Fleur furrowed her brows at Thomas, but Delia didn't seem to be offended.

"Actually, Mondays are pretty light compared to some other days of the week," Delia said. "I only have six letters to go out today... one to my father and the others to my friends."

"I hope you're not putting anything sensitive in those," Thomas said sternly.

"Oh no, I learned not to do that a long time ago. Although I admit that I learned that lesson the hard way," Delia replied. "I often feel like talking to someone in the mornings, but nobody else I know likes to talk as much, so it's easier for me to just to talk to my Dictation Quills instead."

"Strange," Thomas decided. "But you never know... it could make your workload easier. Maybe you should bring some of those Quills with you."

"I already have a box of Quills with me. I thought I might take notes during my training," Delia said.

"Fine, bring them. Are you going to eat anything?" he asked, glancing at the time. Delia decided that was permission to hurry. "Minister Clemmons is going to help me with your training. I'm going to train you on procedures, and she's going to train you on investigations. So get ready for a lot of hard work."

"I'm not scared off by hard work. I was a Hufflepuff," Delia said proudly.`

"You're right, being a Hufflepuff does explain a lot. You're too damn pert." Thomas said curtly.

"I thought you always said that it was Gryffindor girls who are too pert, Thomas," Fleur teased.

"Yes, but between Delia, Ginger, and Alicia, I think Hufflepuff could make a good case," Thomas decided, downing his tea in one gulp. "Come on, Delia! Off to work."

The two of them keyed directly into the the LE office. At the desk, Gary March merely glanced up at their arrival.

"Good morning Minister Craw, Miss Agate. Why do you have a Dictation Quill up?" he asked curiously. Sure enough, Delia had already gotten one going.

"It's her familiar," Thomas said sarcastically. "It's alright, she's using it to help her with her training. And on that note, go ahead and get her to fill out the usual employment contracts, disclaimers, liabilities and so on while I see what's piled up in the office overnight. Delia, when Alex gets here, let her know you're planning on using your Quills, and she'll show you the proper way to keep the wrong stuff from being seen by the wrong people."

"That sounds really interesting!" Delia said enthusiastically. Thomas rolled his eyes, poking her in the shoulder.

"Watch her, Gary, she's pretty cheeky," Thomas grunted, going into his office and shutting the door.

"It looks like you've made a decent first impression on him," Gary commented with a chuckle.

"It's probably just as well since I'm stuck living in the same mansion with him," Delia decided. "So where's my paperwork?"

She was halfway done with the signatures and was wearing a dull, glazed expression by the time Alex came to rescue her.

"Have you signed your life away yet?" Alex teased her.

"It sure feels like it," Delia said, rubbing her hands. "I'm not used to all this writing. I've always had an army of Dictation Quills for all of that."

"Yes... about that. We're going to have to talk about that habit of yours..." Suddenly Alex heard someone clear his throat and saw Thomas standing in his doorway, gesturing her over. Then he closed the door behind her.

"You might as well read and sign the next scroll while you're waiting," Gary suggested.

"Got some Butterfly Balm?" Delia asked grumpily, and happily he pulled one out of a drawer and put it on the table. Delia barely had time to rub it on her hands and sign another scroll when the door opened and Alex came out again.

"Alright, Delia," Alex said, shutting the door. "If grandfather wants to try it, we will, but we're going to have to work out some safeguards and rules. How many different Quills did you use when you were working in journalism?"

"About the same as I do at home. Half a dozen," Delia said. Alex blinked. "But I can manage up to a full dozen if I have to... I had to do that in seventh year during the cram before the NEWT exam," she admitted sheepishly.

"Huh," Alex said, understanding now why Thomas wanted to try it then. "I guess we need to get you your own office."

"You're going to give a new hire who hasn't even finished her paperwork yet her own office?" Gary blurted out. "It took three years and a missing LE assistant before I got mine, and I still spend most of my time sitting out here!"

"Do you really want a dozen Quills floating around this office while she's working? Let's be realistic," Alex said. "Come on, let's go see Draco's secretary."

"She's still not officially an LE officer yet, you know. She hasn't finished her paperwork," Gary pointed out.

"I guess we'll start by getting you an official Ministry signature pen first, Delia. Either way, we should see Draco's secretary... it's this way," Alex said.

By the time lunch rolled around, Delia already had a Signature Quill, a Court Recorder Quill, an official Ministry Report Quill, an Invisible Ink Quill, a Secretary Assistant's Quill, and a Random Code Quill, not to mention a decently sized office with a rather small but serviceable Owl Post window.

"That should be enough to her started," Thomas agreed when Alex handed him the acquisitions list.

"Sure, all I need to do now is get a reliable familiar," Delia decided, taking the offered sandwich plate.

"I can help you with that, Delia... it can be our first course on how to effectively interview," Alexandria said. "And yes, I know you've had training on that already, Delia, but there's a difference between asking nosy questions to sell a story and asking delicate questions to try to get evidence."

"Yes, but there are occasions where it becomes necessary to blur the lines a little. Alex, how about we get Aurelius involved in this training too? She may not be a Truth Seeker, but she may benefit from watching him giving interviews as well."

"Sure, once he has time, maybe after Mum and Father get back," Alex agreed. "I think he's still out on a capture, though."

"Is that the same one that Mike's on? Hasn't he been on duty for like eighteen hours now?" Delia frowned.

"Yes, it happens. Nothing to be concerned about, Delia, these things sometimes take a while," Alex said. "Maybe you should talk to Ginger about it if you're worried about it."

"Who says I'm worried? I was just asking," Delia said defensively.

"Yeah," Thomas said dubiously. "Finish eating, Cheeky, there's still a lot left to get done before we can go home today, you know."

"Right," Delia said, eager to get back to work. In fact, she was so absorbed in everything she needed to learn that afternoon, that she was surprised when Thomas told her to put her Quills away and stow her books in her office so they could leave.

The two of them arrived precisely five after six, and Delia saw her bracelet sparkling.

"No... change first," he nudged her up the stairs when she tried to go to the dining room. "We eat at a quarter after." he reminded her. She dashed up the stairs, while he strode through the dining room to see Fleur and Mike setting the table,

"Have a close call, did you?" Thomas noted, pointing at the bandage on his neck.

"It was just a servant bat," Mike protested. Thomas grunted, stepping down the corridor.

At six fourteen, Delia thundered down the stairs like a stampeding animal, sliding into place behind the chair next to Mike. Mike looked at her quizzically but decided not to comment. Thomas walked out calmly just as the clock struck, while Delia was still trying to catch her breath.

"Good evening, Thomas. How was your day?" Fleur asked as they sat down. Taking cues from Mike, Delia sat down beside him.

"Damned busy for some reason," Thomas said. "So how'd it go, Mike? Do you guys get Mesar's sister last night?"

"No, but we took out someone else in her clan and a few servants. Then we spent the day going through the place looking for clues to where she might be holed up, but no luck yet. BELA's over there now, though, they're going to let us know if they find anything," Mike explained.

"Oh. Well, one less vampire is still something. That clan has gotten too damn big since Sunset Dawn's destruction. When one of their clans has that much more power than the others, it does nothing but cause more trouble for us," Thomas said. Mike nodded at that. "Harry mentioned you're going to be doing training soon."

"I have to get Owain officially trained, since he's been acting as an Auror already all year," Mike explained. "And Harry says he recruited someone else reliable too, but he promised that he wouldn't mention who it was until the new recruit has a chance to warn his friends what he is planning to do."

"Hm... a 'he' that needs to warn his friends before joining," Thomas mused. "Not Ambrose, surely, he's not the Auror type."

"I haven't seen Ambrose since the wedding," Mike said.

"Come to think of it, me either," Thomas said. But after mulling it over, he shrugged. "I got nothing. I guess we'll find out soon enough. So what were you up to all day, Fleur?"

"I was putting the finishing touches on Maurice's room," Fleur said brightly. "And then Gabrielle and I went shopping to pick out some things for the nursery."

"Aren't you pulling the wand on this whole nursery thing?" Mike asked bluntly.

"No, Fleur is right. They're not going to wait long," Thomas interceded. "For one thing, Viviane wouldn't give out a present if she was going to be back before it's needed, and she's never gone for more than a year or so on one of these trips. On top of which, neither one of them have ever protested the hint of grandchildren no matter how strong I rib them on it. Typically, when parents do that, young couples will protest strongly about even bringing the matter up... until it actually happens, that is. I think it's a sign that they don't plan on waiting any more than Garvan does, albeit for different reasons. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if your niece and my grandson don't end up at school together." Fleur tsked at him.

"Lady Viviane never once said it was going to be a boy, Thomas, only that it was for their first born... but that is more important! Jennifer thinks that Lady Viviane's hint means they are going to have more than one child. She thinks it means that the Craw line will no longer be so linear," Fleur explained. Thomas stared at her for a moment.

"You're right. That is a lot more important," Thomas realized. "And if this is where that line is broken, and our family follows the male line... it also means Maurice is likely to have more than one son! I guess now that the cat is out of the bag about what she was doing to our family line, there wasn't any point to her meddling in it any further."

"Meddling in your family line? How would she do that?" Delia asked curiously. Thomas blinked, then looked at Mike.

"She doesn't know yet?" Thomas asked him.

Mike looked over at Delia, who was staring between them with that look she always got when she was trying to figure out something going on behind her back at school.

"I guess not," Mike decided.

"Oh. Never mind, then," Thomas said, growing interested in his food.

"That's not going to work with her. You realize that, right?" Mike said with a snort.

"You're right it isn't... especially now. It's my job now to ask impertinent questions," Delia pointed out proudly.

"If I can give it, I can take it away," Thomas threatened.

"I bet you wouldn't, not after going to all the trouble of setting up that office and all of those official Dictation Quills for me," Delia decided.

"Aren't you going to eat anything? The only thing you've touched since you sat down is your soup and then it was with your teaspoon," Thomas pointed out. Delia blushed furiously.

"Well, how in craters is she supposed to know? She grew up in a cramped flat under an Owlery, this is all new to her... Delia, work your way outwards to inwards, I'll explain the rest later," Mike said, handing her a fork. "And don't mind Thomas, he's by far the most impertinent person here."

"If so, you're a close second," Thomas retorted.

"Just take your cues from Fleur, Delia, she's the politest person I know... probably because she has to overcompensate for the Minister," Mike said, then turned to Thomas. "If there's one thing I learned growing up as a Coventry, it's how to wage a word-war at the dinner table. I've had plenty of practice. But I'd appreciate it if you lay off Delia for a week or two so she can get used to all of this and she can hold her own at the table."

"She can hold her own already," Thomas replied. "She's a devil with words even without the upbringing. Cheeky, there's a rule in this family that applies here; when you're in a fight, use whatever spell you know is going to get the job done. Don't worry about the place setting, I'm sure Fleur and Beth will both help you with that later."

"Why, Thomas! It sounds as if you've grown attached to her already," Fleur teased him.

"Might as well be, since she works with me, and she's here at the mansion for the duration," Thomas shrugged.

"Duration?" Delia asked.

"He means until my brother is dead," Mike said bluntly. Delia frowned, and then noticed that Fleur and Thomas were concentrating on their food. "It's all right. Beth and I know there's no other way. I just hope Maurice learns from our mistakes, now that your family will be allowed to branch out. Birth order can be taken too far."

"As far as I'm concerned, your family history is ours as well now," Thomas said firmly. "And as such, it's not likely to be forgotten." He glanced at the clock. "Speaking of crazy histories, it's almost Corrie time, so I'm heading downstairs. Dinner was good as always, Fleur," he said, giving her a peck on the cheek before going to the secret lab.

"What's Corrie time?" Delia asked.

"Whatever you do, don't ask Thomas that question. Because if you do, he'll start talking about it and you won't understand a word of it," Mike warned. "Do you need any help, Fleur?"

"No, thank you, Mike. Colette will help. Why don't you see Delia upstairs?" Fleur suggested.

"I will, thanks," Mike said, immediately getting up and helping Delia out of her chair.

"I really want to talk to you," Delia admitted quietly on the stairs.

"I have half an hour before my Wakeful Dose potion wears off. Just give me ten minutes to change and you can tell me all about your day," Mike said. "Which room are you in?"

"Beth's old room," Delia said.

"What, right next to mine?" Mike asked in surprise.

"I don't mind," Delia said. "What's wrong with it?"

"In a mansion this size and with this many bedrooms, it's a bit inappropriate," Mike attempted to explain.

"Oh, well, he said this room had the best security for a non-relative. He did offer to move you to another room, but I told him not to bother," Delia said. Mike rolled his eyes.

"We'll talk about it after we've changed. Your room has a formal sitting area where mine only has a table, so I'll meet you in yours," Mike said, going to his room.

Instantly realizing the two of them shared a common bathroom, Delia immediately ran across the hallway to get herself in order, barely escaping getting toothpaste on her good dress before darting across to her bedroom.

"I am never going to get used to all of this!" Delia muttered to herself, pulling her dress off in a heap and snapping her fingers to get her coat hangers to pick something out for her to wear and to collect her frumpled frock. She had managed to get to everything but her hair by the time there was a knock on the door. She popped it open vigorously enough that her hair fell in her face. Mike gave her an exasperated smile.

"I could have waited," Mike informed her, taking out the ribbon in his pocket and tying up her hair for her. Delia blushed furiously.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Mike asked.

"I forgot," Delia admitted. Mike sighed. "Are you all right? You were gone all night. Is that normal? Does that hurt?"

"Please tell me you're not going to be like this every time I go out on a capture," Mike said flatly.

"I was just curious! Okay, I was disappointed you weren't here when I moved in. Then you weren't back before I had to go to work... and then things got busy, but Alex and Thomas told me not to worry about it and to talk to Ginger if I did," Delia said.

"That sounds like a good idea," Mike agreed. "What was Alex doing in the LE Department?"

"She's helping with my training. I have to go with her to observe her doing interviews and stuff and she's helped me get set up with a whole bunch of official Ministry Dictation Quills," Delia explained excitedly.

"Just what you needed! More Dictation Quills!" Mike exclaimed.

"I guess the headmaster must have mentioned my system to Thomas, because he seemed pretty interested to see if I could use it to cut down paperwork in the LE Department, so they set me up with my own office and Alex is teaching me all sorts of codes and things and giving lessons on what security clearance belongs to which Quill and when it's best just to write it by hand," Delia explained.

"It sounds like you like it so far," Mike concluded.

"So far, yeah, but there's a lot to learn," Delia replied, then made a face. "There's a lot to learn here too, really. It's all a bit much at the moment. And I'm sorry if I sounded nosy about the capture before, I was just frustrated. I thought the one good thing about having to move in here was that I was going to be able to see you more often."

"Well, long captures like that aren't that common, Delia, typically I come home singed in a quarter of the time," Mike explained with a dry chuckle. "Does it bother you that I'm an Auror?"

"What? Why would it bother me? You've wanted to be an Auror since fifth year," Delia asked.

"Yes, but that was as a supportive friend," Mike pointed out quietly. "I'm asking if it would bother you if we were in a more permanent relationship."

"I'm wearing your bracelet, aren't I?" Delia pointed out.

"There's a big difference between wearing a bracelet and a ring, Delia," Mike said seriously. Delia blinked. "So? Does it bother you?"

"Does it bother you that I'm nothing more than a poor Postmaster's daughter?" Delia challenged him back.

"If it did, I wouldn't be asking," Mike pointed out.

"Are you asking?" Delia inquired, gazing at him searchingly.

"Delia, how about we skip all that pomp and circumstance stuff, and let's just go to the Ministry and get married in the licensing office tomorrow?" Mike suggested quietly. Delia turned bright red again.

"Your sister will rake you across the coals if you don't wait for her," Delia pointed out.

"Well, I'm off tomorrow since we had such a long capture, and I have no clue when I'm going to get another day off again," Mike explained.

"Oh, but I have to work. What time does that office close again?" Delia added, very much wanting him to know she wasn't opposed to the idea.

"I'll go talk to Thomas before I go to bed. He'll let you have tomorrow off," Mike said. "That is, if you want to, of course. No pressure or anything..." Delia turned around and kissed him passionately, embracing him afterwards. "I take it that's a yes?" he asked for good measure.

"Yes, silly!" Delia told him, then paused. "Gosh, I wonder what my father's going to say?"

"Tell him afterwards and say that it got lost in the post," Mike said mischievously, kissing her. "I'm going to go talk to Thomas. Why don't you tell a couple of friends you trust instead?"

"That's probably a better idea," Delia agreed. Mike smiled at her as he turned and went back down the hallway towards the main steps.

Delia found her heart pounding, realizing it was going to be very hard to sleep that night. She stared at her line of Dictation Quills, wondering who to tell... wondering who to trust. She was still thinking about it when there was a gentle knock on the open door and she looked up to see Thomas standing there.

"Sorry, Mike came in to the lab to ask me about something and I told him to wait ten minutes 'til my program was over. He was dead asleep by the time I looked up. Any idea what he came down to ask me?" Thomas inquired.

"Oh... um..." Delia cleared her throat, very aware of how intently Thomas was looking at her. "He wanted to ask if I could have the day off so we could... visit the licensing office," she finally got out.

"Oh. Yeah, he's got a point, maybe it'd be best for you two to just get it over with under the circumstances. Does your Father know?"

"He'd just ask me which brother it is..." Delia said irritably.

"Yeah, maybe he would. I'll talk to him about it myself. Come to think of it, I'd probably better take the day off too," Thomas grunted at the inconvenience. He smacked the door frame a couple of times on his way out. "Try to get some sleep, Cheeky. Wedding day tomorrow."

"Great craters," Delia murmured under her breath in stunned realization. Closing the door and making certain the ink bottle in front of her journal was completely filled, Delia spent half the night dictating everything that happened to her that day before finally falling asleep.