The tears kept falling, and Lilah felt helpless to stop them. She wasn't crying about her inability able to pass the test, but rather about the truth that, no matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she wanted it, she would never be able to use magic.
A whole world, lost to her...why? The question had been turning over and over in her mind since Lilah had discovered Hermione's magical abilities. Only recently had it started to plague her.
Everyone has a purpose in life, a voice said from behind her. Lilah screamed.
It was Damin.
Lilah wiped her eyes furiously. And he had to see her like this! What are you doing here? Wait--how did you get in here?
Damin raised his eyebrows. Although one can't Apparate into Ministry Hall, one can Apparate within Ministry Hall. I-I just wanted to see how you were doing.
Lilah tried to say it lightly, but the word fell hard.
I'm sorry.
You know I'm not meant for this.
Damin opened his mouth and started to say that of course she was but realized he had to agree. I know.
Lilah's eyes watered. Oh, but I wish I were.
Damin surveyed the sphere and the bowl. Let me give you a chance. And he cast a spell on them and vanished.
said Lilah. How was she ever going to come to terms with being a Muggle if she continued in this charade?
The sphere bobbed, floating in the blue liquid that now filled the bowl.
Well, your score was a bit spotty on the exam, but you did do wonderfully on the essay question, and since you've passed the practical test, we'll be happy to hire you, Rubert said.
Much as she wanted to explain that it was impossible for her to fulfill the duties of her job, Lilah kept her mouth shut. Now isn't the time, she tried to convince herself.
Rubert became serious. Something big has come up...it's not in my department, but the Minister has asked me personally to see about it. I would like you to take it.
Take what? asked Lilah.
The job you applied for has been filled. I hired you to do something else. No one knows you're an employee of the Ministry yet, that suits our purposes.
Was she going to be a spy? An undercover agent? Lilah nodded slowly.
Rubert began to speak quickly. Now, this is just between you and me. No one else is going to know. We have some Muggle clothing in the next room to change into--you're going to be posing as a vacuum cleaner salesperson, we've got a car in the lot for you--here's the key. And here's a briefcase, you'll find some Muggle money and an address inside. Are you following me?
Good. When you arrive at the address, you are to attempt to sell a vacuum to the residents. They'll need to ask you inside. Only when you are inside are you to ask them for the Package. They'll know what you mean. Place the Package inside the vacuum and immediately head for Diagon Alley. Park near the Leaky Cauldron. An agent will meet you there.
Lilah mentally reviewed the information. Drive car to address...put package in vacuum...return to Diagon Alley. Yeah, I think I've got it.
said Rupert. He gave Lilah the keys and the briefcase. I'll see you when you return.
An hour later, Lilah was wishing she was wearing her own Muggle shoes instead of the ones the Ministry had given her. The trip to the parking lot was a long one for someone who couldn't Apparate. She estimated she'd walked a mile or two through the boggy wilderness.
Was she ever going to find the car? Lilah ran her hand across her sweaty forehead and took another step. Her foot landed on solid ground. She took another step and found herself on the upper level of a parking garage.
How...? Lilah wondered. What kind of spell did they use to do this? But that wasn't what mattered. Finding the right car was what mattered. There were a dozen cars on the top level of the parking garage, and Lilah had a sinking feeling there might be more on the other levels. Somehow she got lucky and found the right car on her second try. It was a green town car, and there was a vacuum in the trunk, just like Rupert had said.
The directions were easy to follow, and soon Lilah was driving down a pleasant country road. The road was curvy and framed by billowy pines on either side. It's like the scenery in a car commercial, Lilah thought.
Everything was going so well that Lilah's mind started to wander. Maybe I won't need to tell them I'm a Muggle. As long as I can do my job, what does it matter to the Ministry if I can't do magic?
Later a small sign announced the town of Devon, and Lilah checked the directions. She was to turn left on Third Street and head west out of town. Seven turns later, Lilah found herself on a desolate gravel road.
According to the directions, I'm almost there. I should be looking for a white farmhouse...And then Lilah saw it. The house was a small two-story, white with gray trim. Lilah pulled into the drive, wondering why there was no mailbox.
She turned the ignition off and opened the trunk. As she bent over the vacuum, she realized something. Of course there's no mailbox. These people have magic, I'll bet anything. Suddenly, what she was doing seemed very odd to her.
I'm going to pretend to sell a vacuum cleaner to people who could use magic to clean? This doesn't make sense. The hairs on the back of Lilah's neck prickled. Should I keep on with this assignment? Why did Rubert have to have me selling a vacuum cleaner? What is in the Package? Drugs? Do wizards...?
Lilah noticed a curtain moving and knew she had to make a decision. She decided to get the Package, then find Damin and ask him for advice. Rubert didn't want me to tell anyone else about this, but I think that I need to. Something isn't right here.
She heaved the vacuum out of the trunk. It didn't seem functional. The main unit was made of a bronze metal and stood three feet tall. Attached to it was a thin hose with bristles on the end. This couldn't vacuum up anything. It doesn't even have a cord to plug it in. Goodness, maybe everyone in the magical community isn't that brilliant...she'd have to come up with a fabulous story to get in the door.
The contraption rolled awkwardly behind Lilah as she walked up to the door. She didn't think she was particularly good at inventing stories on the spur of the moment. I'll just have to have a lot of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm will get me in the door.
She grinned, opened the screen door, and rapped a wooden door twice. I'll get it! she heard a woman's voice say. There was a pause, and Lilah was certain the door was being unlocked by magic.