Chapter 33
Shortly after picking up the phone, Kingsley appeared at the end of the street where the Patil's lived. Flickering streetlights dimly lighted the winding road. On either side, brick houses, all similar, were lined up. Kingsley walked down the path, past a park where a group of young people were chatting loudly, glass bottles in hand. Then, parked in front of one of the houses, he saw Detective Patil's car a little further on. He walked to the door and knocked. A few moments later, he heard footsteps approaching before the door opened, and Patil greeted him, voice low, his glasses askew on his nose.
"Good evening, Detective Schaklebolt."
"Good evening, you look tired."
"That's because I was... what's so important?"
"Can we talk inside?"
"Yes...But try not to make any noise. I just sent my girls to bed."
"Of course..." Kingsley said in a low voice, gently closing the door of the house behind him. "Should I take off my shoes?" Kingsley asked, glancing around at the amison's decor.
"If you don't mind." Patil said gently.
Kingsley took off his shoes and put them in a small cabinet in the hallway, which Patil pointed out, then followed him into the living room, where they sat around the coffee table.
"I just made some coffee. Would you like some?" Patil offered.
" Yes, please...You've got a lovely place...Quite tidy especially." Kingsley said.
"Thank you. Yes, my wife is very strict, everything must be in its place...But I guess you didn't come to tell me that." Patil said, filling a cup in front of Kingsley.
"Indeed...I'll get right to the point; my superior just gave me an ultimatum. I must have the investigation closed by this Friday." Kingsley said.
"What?! That doesn't make any sense! The investigation is just beginning. We're still gathering information! Patil said.
"They want to close this case as soon as possible before the perpetrator strikes again," Kingsley said.
Patil leaned back in his chair, looking at Kingsley thoughtfully. "That's what you think?" Patil asked calmly.
"Why is my intuition telling me that you know something I don't?" Kingsley asked.
"As you asked, I spent all afternoon reviewing all the surveillance footage from the traffic. I've been particularly looking at the entrances to the freeways and other roads connecting Wales and England. "Patil said.
"What did you find?" Kingsley asked.
"Nothing. The victim's car never arrived in this country. I'm sure he was abducted before he crossed the border. So, there is a possibility the man got killed on the other side of the border. In England." Patil said.
"Then moved here?" Kingsley asked.
"What would be easier? Carrying a man alive for several miles, risking him to escape? Or a corpse, emptied of its organs and in a position to fit in a suitcase?" Patil asked.
"No... You're missing my point...Why transport the corpse here? Why not display it in a similar place in England? Should we see something symbolic in this?" Kingsley asked.
"I don't know...I don't understand. Nothing makes sense…Normally, this kind of killer like to have a stable place where they can do the job and not far from the spot they plan to leave the body… The far they must drive, the risk of seeing the victim escape is higher, or get pulled over by a cop with a dead man in the car!... And now your superiors ask you to solve it in record time instead of offering us more resources. Don't you think it's odd? " Patil asked.
"Strangely, the media is not interested at all in this case, while when a mailman slips on a dog shit, they can easily write about it for two weeks... You agree with me if I say this is the kind of story that makes the media go crazy, people write books and all!" Patil said.
Kingsley remained silent; he had warned Scrimgeour of the high probability that the criminal was from their world. So, the man must have taken some measures to keep the matter quiet. Good thought... He could already see that new vulture writing daily in the daily prophet snooping. He looked at Detective Patil, who was anxiously waiting for an answer. The man had a sharp mind; he asked the right questions but could not find any answers as he simply ignored several parameters that could perfectly answer them. However, he had made some progress. If the car had disappeared in England, he could locate the exact area with the help of Muggle tools and reconstruct the rest with the help of magic. "Look...let's focus on what we know because there is a way to find out more," Kingsley said.
"I'm listening..." Patil said, before looking up to the ceiling when a noise was heard upstairs. "Excuse me for a second...I swear, I wish I had their energy." Patil said as he got up to head towards the stairs.
Kingsley stood alone in the living room, looking around, then had to blink repeatedly when he saw his coffee cup start to levitate on the table in front of him. He instinctively put his hand on his jacket pocket, where he used to keep his wand; he sometimes took it out without realizing it when he was alone, daydreaming. It hadn't moved. He got up just as he heard a slight noise in the living room. Behind the coat rack, to be exact. He approached it slowly and then pulled the detective's jacket aside to discover a little girl, both hands clamped over her mouth, her face red, fighting off a giggle.
"Good evening! Who am I dealing with? Padma or Parvati?" Kingsley asked, kneeling before her.
"SHHHHTTT! Daddy will hear you! I'm on a secret mission!" the little girl said.
"A mission in search of what?" Kingsley asked, lowering his voice.
"The candy Mommy hides in the third drawer, behind the paper towels," she said.
"Was it you who levitated my cup?" Kingsley asked, nodding in the direction of the coffee table.
"No..." She replied, looking away.
"I'm not mad, on the contrary...It was excellent." Kingsley said.
"So, yes! It was a disgregation." she said.
"A what?" Kingsley asked, frowning.
"To get you to look away while I run to the kitchen." She said.
"A diversion?" Kingsley asked.
"Yes, that's what I said." She said.
"And your sister can do that too?" Kingsley asked.
"Sometimes yes, sometimes no." she said with a shrug.
"PARVATI!" Patil growled from the top of the stairs, startling them both, before rushing down.
"Sorry," Parvati said, lowering her head.
"What are you playing at? Your bedroom window is open! I thought something happened! Go back to your bed immediately!" Patil ordered, pointing to the stairs.
"Yes. Good night, Daddy. Good night, Sir." Parvati said before heading for the stairs.
He turned to Kingsley, who had stayed behind. "Sorry...I hope she she didn't bother you."
"Not at all! How do you tell the difference between the two?" Kingsley asked.
"Physically, it's impossible..." Patil said, putting his finger against his mouth, motioning Kingsley to remain silent. "I CAN STILL HEAR YOU!" he shouted.
They heard the little girl burst out laughing before running away.
"I guess you are never bored at home," Kingsley said.
"You can't imagine...Parvati is a bit restless, Padma is rather calm and shy, but she often participates in her sister's tricks." Patil said.
"What kind of tricks?" Kingsley asked. "Anything strange?"
"Er...are you investigating my girls, Detective Schaklebolt?" Patil asked.
"No... Of course not...Unless they were in England about three or four days ago and came back with a big suitcase that they hurried up to their room." Kingsley asked.
"Did you just try to be funny?" Patil asked, laughing.
"Yes, I do that sometimes... Well, Detective, I won't bother you any further." Kingsley said, glancing briefly at the back of the living room armchair, from which the tip of a small head was protruding, calm and shy my ass.
"Are you leaving already? We haven't finished talking yet!" Patil said.
"No, I think you've made a lot of progress, but until we have more to go on, we'll just waste our time speculating. You will receive the records you asked for first thing tomorrow." Kingsley said.
"I wouldn't be so optimistic if I were you; I wouldn't expect anything until Thursday..." Patil said.
"You'll get them tomorrow morning, I've got my people on it, and I can assure you they are working very fast," Kingsley said as he put his hand on the front door handle.
"You'll get them tomorrow morning, I've got my people on it, and I can assure you they can work very fast," Kingsley said as he put his hand on the front door handle.
"If you say so..." Patil said.
"Just one more thing...This might sound like a weird question, but I'm asking it anyway. Do you by any chance often see owls in the neighbourhood? Maybe your wife has a pet owl?" Kingsley asked.
"If my wife has a pet owl? No... We don't have any pets...Why?" Patil asked.
"Oh, nothing...Actually, I'm a bit of an ornithologist, and it turns out that Wales has some exceptional specimens among its fauna... So, I was hoping to observe some during my stay." Kingsley said.
"Oh...No, sorry, to be honest, I've never seen one in person." Patil said.
"Too bad then...Good night detective and thanks for the coffee. "Kingsley said before leaving the house.
He did not return directly to his hotel room. Instead, he walked along the street before stopping, caught by a moment of lucidity. He looked at his watch; it was already 10 pm. He thought about going back to Patil's house, but he considered it would be too difficult to explain and even more to convince him to get on board with his plan. He made his mind and disappeared.
Sirius, Joan and Red arrived at the Great Hall. The man who had pointed them in the direction of Xenia's house in the morning was sitting at a desk at the entrance, greeting them half asleep. They climbed the stairs until they reached the floor where Dragan's office was located. The building was empty, the lights were dimmed, and in the silence, Xenia's voice, which seemed to be very angry, came from the director's office. The three of them approached the door, her voice getting louder. Joan delicately pressed his ear against the door. Joan delicately pressed his ear to the door.
"What's going on?" Red asked in a whisper.
"I don't understand it all...they speak fast and Ukrainian. "Joan replied, his face tense as he listened.
"Isn't that the same language?" Red asked.
"Very similar but not the same," Joan said." From what I understand, Dragan has no heart, is a total jerk and also has no balls... Xenia insists on the third thing."
"Besides Dragan's balls, what's it about?" Sirius asked.
"A rescue mission...Now Dragan is the one yelling, Xenia is completely immature, it's her fault, and he always ends up regretting giving her any responsibility." Joan said.
"What else?" Red asked.
"Nothing...They stopped yelling..." Joan said, "I hear a noise." He added, pressing his ear even more.
The door opened, and Joan came close to falling forward but caught himself just in time so as not to fall at Xenia's feet, who was standing in the doorway.
"Huey, Dewey and Louie listening behind the door...Are you familiar with the principle of privacy, or were you raised in the wild? " Xenia asked, irritated.
"We apologize; we wanted to see..." Joan stammered.
"Oh, you apologize! It's okay then! Breaking into people's homes, spying on private conversations... Just say you're sorry and everything will be fine? Is that how the world works?" Xenia asked.
"XENIA, THAT'S ENOUGH!" Dragan growled from his desk, which he was leaning on.
She glared at him before shoving Joan out of the way and storming off.
Dragan sighed and waved them into his office before settling into his chair.
"I swear, I've seen Hungarian horntails softer than that girl..." Dragan said.
"Is everything okay, Dragan? Have you heard from your team?" Sirius asked as he sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk.
"We are doing everything we can to find them as soon as possible," Dragan said.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Sirius asked.
"Thank you for offering, but I want to handle this matter internally," Dragan said. "I understand you wanted to talk to me?"
"Yes...I just wanted to update you on what I did today. First, I updated the maps that Xenia gave me and collected samples on-site; before I go any further, I will need to examine them. Do you have a room I could use?" Red asked.
"Sure, we have a lab in zone 3. We've set up an old house after an accident on the second floor, use it for whatever you need...Anything else?" Dragan asked.
"Yes...I was wondering if before he retired, the previous ward manager left a notebook or journal that could guide me."
"No, not that I know of...However, the house where he lived was taken over by one of my men; I would ask him if the man left anything useful behind." Dragan said.
"Perfect. That's all I have to say for now...I'll give you another report tomorrow night." Red said.
"As for me, I would like to ask you..." Joan said before being interrupted sharply by Sirius.
"That can wait until tomorrow. I'd like to speak with Dragan in private. It's past curfew, so go straight back to the tavern, we'll talk in the morning. Good night"
Red and Joan looked at each other, surprised, then finally got up and left the room, making sure to close the door behind them. Sirius waited a moment before taking out his wand, soundproofing the room, and sitting back opposite Dragan.
"You can never be too careful," Sirius said.
"What is it that requires so much caution?" Dragan asked.
"The answers I seek from you," Sirius replied.
"You're not going to let it go, are you?" Dragan replied, annoyed.
"No. Do you know how animals can sense when there's going to be an earthquake or a tsunami so they can run away in time? Maybe my background has made me paranoid, but I think I've developed a sixth sense, like animals, that warns me when something bad is coming." Sirius said.
" Will you run away if I tell you? Like an animal?" Dragan asked.
"Honestly? I wish it were that easy. It would make my life so much easier...However, I suffer from a mental condition, a curse, or maybe I'm just too dumb, but whatever es wrong with me, it makes me unable to look the other way. "Sirius said.
"You know how to sell yourself...Very well...I'm expecting an attack or some kind of move against the reserve." Dragan said.
"Now we're talking...From who?" Sirius asked.
"There is a criminal organization that operates throughout Eastern Europe and Russia. Black market, poaching, sales, contract killings, whatever you want...as long as you pay." Dragan said as he poured himself and Sirius a drink.
"I take it they were the ones who attacked your team?" Sirius asked.
"Perfectly...You see, we dragonologists have secret ways of getting in and out of the reserve without going through the main entrance, a spell...If Zoran and his men ever managed to get the men they captured to talk, we'd be in a situation we could never handle." Dragan said.
"What are you still doing here then? Why aren't you out there moving heaven and earth to find them?" Sirius asked.
"You sound like a less vulgar Xenia..." Dragan said.
"There was a child with them!" Sirius said.
"You think I don't think about it every second? Listen...We are undermanned; not all dragonologists are warriors! Can you imagine how much work it is to manage dragons? Each one requires at least six of us!" Dragan said.
"Alright, I get your point... However, what are you actually doing to save your men? Have you at least asked for help from your ministry?" Sirius asked.
"No... "Dragan said.
"Can you repeat that? I think I just heard something stupid coming out of your mouth." Sirius said.
"I've trusted the job to a small group of dragonologists who have some connections with the criminal world to try and find them while I spend my days between the Romanian and Ukrainian ministries making sure the main ward is intact and fully functional." Dragan said.
"Is that all? You didn't even notify them?" Sirius asked.
"For forty years now, the idea of militarizing dragons has been gaining momentum and I've been fighting hard to make sure it never happens, but the decade that your Lord Voldemort has been active in Britain has given a new life to the idea. Using dragons as a dissuasion weapon at first, and then who knows? If the ministries feel that we can no longer do our job properly, they may take advantage of it. That's why it's better for everyone if this story is settled as quietly as possible. " Dragan said.
"How do you plan to keep everything under the radar if they attack this place? What if they steal a dragon? How about the one your team was escorting?" Sirius asked.
"I know, I'm taking a huge risk, but I have no choice! If I go asking for the ministry's help, it would be over for this place! You don't understand what this sanctuary represents! Dragons are living beings with complex feelings and personalities like you and I, not beasts to use as weapons! And at the same time, I can't send all my men to look for my team and leave this place unprotected!" Dragan said.
"I understand...It sucks, but I still think you should do something, only at the same time, I don't know what..." Sirius said.
"I more than familiar with the feeling ...This is what a leader is, Sirius...Anyway, there is something you can do for me." Dragan said.
"Name it." Sirius said.
"I would like to make sure that Xenia doesn't leave the reserve. That's why I assigned her to be your guide in the first place, to make sure she would be with one of you, at least during the day...However, I don't think I can hold her here any longer; it's personal for her..." Dragan said.
"Personal?" Sirius asked.
"Yes...The two men missing are her childhood friends and the kid her "mentee", they have developed a special bond, he wasn't supposed to go on a mission with them, too young, but he insisted for weeks, and she finally allowed him to." Dragan said.
"She wants to go herself. Even if she had no idea from where to start looking." Sirius said.
"Yes...I know her, Sirius. If she goes, she will do something foolish and get herself killed...You don't know what kind of man Zoran is, Sirius...What he would do for gold." Dragan said.
"Zoran?" Sirius asked.
"The boss of the organization...A man who climbed so high in such a brutal world should be taken very seriously." Dragan said.
"I'll keep that in mind. You seem very concerned about Xenia..." Sirius said.
"I'm always concerned about her! She's, my daughter!" Dragan said.
"Oh! It explains a lot...Ok then... I'll keep an eye on her." Sirius said.
Kingsley appeared in front of the hospital; he stayed back, hidden in the darkness of the night. From his position, he had an unobstructed view of the entrance hall. Two men were there. A man in a security guard's uniform was leaning against the desk, talking with a younger man in a nurse's uniform. He could not go unnoticed, and Scrimgeour's instructions were clear; no use of magic was allowed on muggles unless absolute necessity. He examined the area looking for a way to distract them before slipping discreetly into the hallway. He quickly found what he was looking for; an Ambulance was parked in a space reserved for them in the parking lot a little away from the main entrance. He took out his wand and pointed it at the vehicle; a moment later, the headlights turned on, the anti-theft alarm started to sound, breaking the silence of the night, all the indicators and wipers activated. The security guard jumped up and rushed out, quickly joined by the other man who stood on the landing watching what was going on, arms crossed and smiling, watching the security guard struggling with his keys trying to open the door of the ambulance. Kingsley took the opportunity to walk around the parking lot to the left, hiding behind two cars before moving even closer to hide behind a pillar that supported the entrance, less than three meters from the nurse who was waiting for the security guard. He had finally succeeded in deactivating the alarm and was coming back towards them, wiping his forehead and smiling.
"What happened?" the nurse asked, laughing.
"I have no idea! Maybe a cat or a dog!" The security guard replied.
Excellent idea, Kingsley thought, but why not both? He pointed the tip of his wand at a trash can and one of the chairs in the waiting room, and within seconds the first turned into a cat and the other into a dog that immediately began chasing the cat around the hall, barking. The two men came back inside and started to run down the right corridor where the animals had run away in a din of metal stretchers and overturned carts.
Kingsley waited until he no longer saw the nurse and the guard before approaching the front door. Then, he took care to blind the security camera placed high up in the right corner of the room, which he had spotted during his first visit with Detective Patil.
With the coast now clear, he entered the hospital lobby, walked around the reception desk and down the hallway where Dr Gavin had greeted him and Detective Patil the other day. He recreated the path to the autopsy room, moving slowly, making sure that the way was clear at each corridor intersection before finally arriving at his destination. As expected, the autopsy room was empty. He didn't waste any time; he began to randomly go through the drawers of the lockers, one by one, until he understood the chronology of the classification of the medical files. He went to the topmost drawer of the right-hand locker and opened it to take the victim's file.
He flipped through it until he found where the body was kept until the investigation was over. He put the file back where he found it, closed the drawer and left the autopsy room to go to the morgue, which logically should be on the same floor. In fact, he found the room a little further down. Once inside, he opened the long drawer where the victim's body was kept in a cool place. He was no longer folded up like a fetus but lying straight on his back, which had been stitched back.
Kingsley sighed, reluctant to do what he had to do. With the tip of his wand, he made a slim incision on the necrotic flesh and took a sample. The murderer had undoubtedly used a potion or unicorn blood. Whatever method he used; he would find a trace of it in the flesh sample. If he used a potion, it would have to be quite powerful, and even if the victim survived, his organism would need several months to completely eliminate it. But the victim was dead, so is his body, so there is nothing to remove any trace of the potion or potions. There was, therefore, a chance he could identify the potion, its components and their origin, and the identity of the person who had acquired them; even on the black market, the Aurors have a vast network of informants, ready to provide any information in exchange of avoiding a face to face with the dementors.
He brought out a small jar filled with formaldehyde, into which he inserted the sample, then closed the incision, taking care not to leave any trace of what he had done before closing the drawer and leaving the room. On the way back, he was now familiar with the hospital corridors. He went up two flights of stairs, snuck into an unoccupied room, opened a window leading to the back of the building, and left the hospital. Then, Kingsley walked away from it before disappearing.
It had been too easy...She had locked the door to her house wrong again. In his German shepherd form, Sirius only had to sneak in and was just climbing the stairs when he heard a snoring sound coming from the living room. He returned to his feet and headed there to find Xenia slumped on her couch, still wearing her dragonologist uniform and gear, her arm hanging down, touching the floor where a bottle of whiskey was slowly emptying onto the floor.
She was completely knocked out. Sirius took back his human form. He gently placed the palm of his hand on Xenia's cheek, raised his hand a few inches and then slammed it down hard on Xenia's cheek. Despite the hit, she slowly opened her eyes.
"Good for you; I was going to try again," Sirius said.
"Who...Who's there?" Xenia asked, squinting her eyes.
"It's me...Your alcoholism talking to you. "Sirius said
Hearing his voice, she opened her eyes wide this time and reached for her wand, except that Sirius had anticipated her reaction and the tip of his wand was already pressed between Xenia's eyes.
"That's not a good idea...I'll take that for now," Sirius said as he confiscated Xenia's wand.
"What do you want? How did you get in here? What are you playing at?" Xenia asked, trying to keep her calm.
"I came in through the door like last time...And I'm here because, after talking with your father, who turned out to be the director of the reserve, which explains how you got on the reserve staff so quickly...
"Fuck you." Xenia hissed through clenched teeth.
"...I went back to my room to lie down, but I couldn't stop thinking in my bed," Sirius added.
"Couldn't you overthink during the day like everyone else?" Xenia asked.
"I'm being very serious daddy's girl," Sirius said coldly, the tip of his wand pressed a little more against Xenia.
"Ok...ok...Just tell me what you want!" Xenia said.
"One day I made a big mistake, I trusted the wrong person, by the time I realized it and tried to correct my mistake, it was too late, my best friends got murdered. Within an hour, my world had fallen apart." Sirius said.
"I know... Everyone knows the story. It was on the front page of the newspapers for weeks; the officials we had here couldn't shut up about it. So, what are you going on about?" Xenia said.
"I want to know why. Why is it that while there's still a chance your friends are still alive, you're sitting on your ass getting drunk and taking it out on your father? Sirius asked.
"Do you think I like it? That I don't want to go in and help them wherever they are? Why do you think I spend my nights drinking, and it's such a mess around me? IT'S MY DAD KEEPING ME PRISONER HERE! I'M SURE HE TOLD YOU TO WATCH ME BECAUSE HE CAN'T DO IT HIMSELF!" Xenia shouted at him.
"Stop shouting!" Sirius said, with a quick glance towards the window that looked out onto the garden.
"There is not a single second that passes without me thinking about them, about him... It tortures me; it affects my magic; I almost got grilled by a dragon yesterday because that's all I think about." Xenia snarled.
"What's stopping you from going? Why are you following your father's orders?" Sirius asked.
"That's none of your business. I can't do that to him. That's the way it is. This place needs him. You wouldn't understand." Xenia said.
Sirius lowered his wand, sighted shaking his head before standing up and stupefying her.
St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries was utterly empty. This was just what Kingsley wanted, as he remembered the horrific scenes there during the war. He passed the large portrait of Dilys Derwent sleeping and stopped in front of the desk, behind which a wizard was dozing. Kingsley cleared his throat and placed his Auror badge in front of him. The wizard looked at the badge and blushed.
"I wasn't sleeping." He said.
"I didn't say anything," Kinglsey said.
"Okay...what can I do for you?" the wizard at the front desk asked politely.
"I would like to speak with the Healer on duty in the Poison and Herb department please, it's urgent." Kinglsey said.
"Now?" The wizard asked.
"Yes, that's what urgent means." Kingsley said.
"Is it for you? Are you hurt or something?" The wizard asked as he examined Kingsley.
"No, it's for a consultation, third floor, right?" Kingsley said, looking at the large sign that indicated the hospital's services.
"Yes, you'll find him in his office on the third floor, down the hall. Do you want me to come with you?" he asked.
"No thanks, have a nice evening but don't fall asleep." Kingsley said as he tucked in his badge before heading for a large double door.
He paced the hallway where portraits of famous healers were lined up and then climbed the stairs to the third floor, wondering why they still hadn't installed elevators in this building. When he arrived at his destination, he just had to walk straight through the portraits that were staring at him with curious eyes, probably surprised to see someone there again, so late.
He knocked on the office door and waited a long time before knocking again. Then, finally, someone came to open the door. A pale-skinned wizard, medium height, long hair tied back, wearing the typical green Healer robe, flanked by the hospital emblem.
"Yes?" The Healer asked.
"Kingsley Schaklebolt, Auror of the Ministry of Magic." Kingsley said showing him his badge.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Healer Rhys Gould. What can I do for you?" The Healer said as he opened the door wide, inviting Kingsley inside.
Kingsley sat down in a chair in front of the desk and put down the jar containing the flesh sample he had taken earlier. Receiving a suspicious look from the Healer, who moved his hands away from it.
"I would like you to perform an analysis of this sample; I suspect that a potion illegally brewed was administered to the subject. I need you to identify it and provide me with a complete list of the ingredients. Kingsley said.
"I see...May I ask about the provenance of this sample?" Healer Gould asked.
"That's confidential." Kingsley said.
"Then, we have a problem, Auror Kingsley." Healer Gould said.
"What problem?" Kingsley asked.
"I can't do what you're asking." Healer Gould said.
"Healer Gould, I remind you that the law requires you to assist the Aurors in the exercise of their duties, and the refusal or obstruction of the same is considered as a severe crime." Kingsley said.
"Perfectly, I am well aware of the law. We are required to assist you, provided that you present us with a warrant signed by the director of the Aurors' office and the head of the Department of Magical Justice." Healer Gould said.
"I don't have the time, my superior can sign a warrant without any problem, but it would take a week to get Amelia Bones' signature, maybe less, if I submit evidence with my request. "Kingsley said.
"If you are sure of yourself and the legality of your act, you won't find it difficult; just submit the evidence you've got with your application." Healer Gould said.
"The evidence is right in front of you," Kingsley said, tapping the lid of the jar with his finger. "The problem is, so it could be admissible, you have to do your job."
"With all due respect, I am doing my job the right way." Healer Gould said.
"That's not what I see," Kingsley said.
"Then let me enlighten you...My job is to practice medicine within the boundaries of the law. Unlike some people, my job is not to pull out my wand at the first occasion and destroy half a city." Healer Gould said.
Kingsley was taken aback by the Healer's last remark. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this personal?" Kingsley asked.
"No. I'm just doing my job by the book." Healer Gould said.
"Look... This is a severe matter and must be handled as discreetly as possible to maintain an element of surprise. However, if you do me this favour, I promise you that not only you'll be in no trouble, but my office would be very grateful." Kingsley said.
"Look...I've already answered your question, and I won't change my mind. Feel free to report me to my superiors. I will not hesitate to file a complaint against you for attempted intimidation and bribery of a sworn public service employee if you do. I, therefore, advise you that we end this conversation." Healer Gould said.
Kingsley sighed and nodded his head before putting the jar back in his jacket and standing up. Then, before leaving the office, he turned to face the Healer again.
"Just one more question." Kingsley asked.
"Yes?" Healer Gould asked, sneering.
"Did you just live the highlight moment of your life? Saying no to an Auror, just to say no, even though you know I'll find another way?" Kingsley asked, making the smirk on the Healer's face disappear.
"Fuck you." Healer Gould spat, standing up.
"Yeah...Fuck you too." Kingsley said calmly before leaving the office, slamming the door loudly behind him.
He walked down the hallway, frustrated, cursing the bureaucracy. He was about to take the stairs back down when a voice called out to him. He turned around; the hallway was empty. He thought he misheard and was about to continue walking when he was called again.
"Here! To your right." Said a voice, whispering.
Kingsley turned to his right, where he found himself facing one of the portraits in the hallway where a smiling witch was looking at him, waving her arms over her head to get his attention.
"Yes Me! Here! Good evening!" She said.
"Er...Good evening, ma'am." Kingsley said as he approaches.
"My name is Dilys Derwent! You probably saw my portrait downstairs!" Dilys said.
"Dilys Derwent?" Kingsley asked.
"Yes! That's me!" Dilys said.
"Oh, nice to meet you!" Kingsley said.
"Nice to meet you Aswell, when I heard your name, I couldn't help but follow you and listen to your conversation with that knucklehead. " Dilys said.
"My name?" Kingsley said.
"Yes...The last time I heard your name, a real earthquake ensued in the ministry of magic. That's why I want to help you." Dilys said.
"How can you help me?" Kingsley asked.
"I can direct you to someone who can do what you ask discreetly as you wish while getting the best possible results," Dilys said.
"Really? who?" Kingsley asked as he approached the portrait as Dilys Derwent asked.
"Severus Snape." Dilys whispered.
"Snape? Hogwarts's potion master?" Kingsley asked, surprised.
"The same one!" Dilys affirmed.
"Thanks, but I know who he is. I don't think he'll accept..." Kingsley said.
"Oh, if you go directly to him, he certainly won't accept! However, if you go to someone higher ranked first and ask for his assistance, he will have no choice but to help you, maybe even without knowing it." Dilys said.
"Higher ranked...you mean Dumbledore?" Kingsley asked.
"Yes!" Dilys said.
"I can't go asking for the Chief Warlock's help like that! That would be going over the heads of two of my superiors! I'd be disbarred from the ministry!" Kingsley said.
"Yes, most likely! But you can go to someone in a position to go directly to Dumbledore's office whenever he wants." Dilys said as she winked at him before leaving the painting.
The sun was already rising when Sirius put Xenia down on the grass, knelt in front of her and snapped his fingers in front of her face to wake her up. She opened her eyes and jumped to her feet.
"I still have your wand," Sirius said, showing her the wand before tossing it to her.
She caught it in midair and pointed it at him.
"You stunned me! Why? Where are we?" Xenia asked.
"Far away from the reserve. We're near Ternopil, pointing to a town a little further away." Sirius said.
"Why did you stupefy me? Why did you bring me here?" Xenia asked.
"Step number one to kidnap someone, stunning her. Step number two, there is none." Sirius said.
"Kidnapped me? Why?" Xenia asked." Are you one of Zoran's?" Xenia asked, the tip of her wand lighting up.
"Yes, that's why I gave you your wand back...You told me you wanted to go find your friends and apprentice; only your daddy ordered you to stay in the reserve, right?" Sirius asked. "So, if you were forced to go against his orders, it wouldn't be your fault, am I right?"
"I don't know...Aren't you doing the exact opposite of what he asked you to?" Xenia asked.
"That would be my problem, not yours... Listen, I just don't want anyone to go through that pain. If you wish to go back to the reserve and pretend nothing happened, I won't stop you, but I would have given you the chance to do something. I'm going to look for them with you or without you." Sirius said.
"How would they know I went away against my will?" Xenia asked.
"I left a note to Red and arranged your living room to look as if a fight happened there." Sirius said.
Xenia nodded, lowering her wand. Then she walked closer to him, and without warning, she punched him in the guts making him growl in pain before pushing him into the grass.
"What the fuck!" Sirius complained from the ground.
"That's for slapping me on the face earlier!" Xenia said.
"It was nothing! I barely touched you!" Sirius cried.
"For breaking a second time into my house then. Let's go! I know from where we can start." Xenia said, throwing at Sirius his backpack.
Back in the village, Red and Joan stood puzzled in the living room. Dragan was sitting on the couch, his eyes wide open, staring straight ahead at the wall of the living room that had been completely demolished along with part of the roof. His hand was clutching two letters Red had brought to his office a quarter of an hour ago, on which one could read:
Red,
I went to find the missing team. Xenia tried to stop me, but I quickly overpowered her. I took her with me, so she won't get to warn Dragan and the reserve's staff. I'm sorry our paths split this way. I hope we'll see each other again someday until then, take care of yourself.
Sirius.
Red.
This is the actual letter. The other one is nothing more than a fake story to mislead Dragan. Xenia and I went to rescue her friends. I fucked up her living room to make it look like an abduction. While I'm gone, I want you and Joan to keep your eyes wide open, stay together, always keep your mirrors close to you, and don't trust anyone but Dragan. I will keep you posted on my progress.
Sirius.
"Red, I swear you're such a moron!" Joan hissed to Red.
"I'm sorry! it's not my fault if the two letters were stuck, I didn't notice that there were two!" Red hissed back.
"Zip it! Both of you!" Dragan said, standing up. "You guys can't imagine what would Zoran do to her if he finally gets to her."
Hello everyone! Thank for reading! I hope this one won't be too difficult to read. I found it difficult to write by I did my best. Please enjoy!