Spy vs. Spy
Chapter 2
A large map was spread out on a glass charmed to float just where a table would stand. Virginia looked at it intently. "You'll have to provide the travel yourself. If you were to portkey or apparate, well, they might think you suspicious and trace the artifact or paration trail*. The safest way here will be to fly directly from the Ministry, where they all know you to work." the chairman of the Order explained.
"You'll not have to worry about acting suspicious. If you were anything but fidgety and nervous the Death Eaters would think something was wrong. Your story is that you're absolutely sick of being the last invisible little Weasley, and you've come to prove everyone wrong." Virginia listened to this next bit of information interestedly.
She would have no problem with the last part. "At the meeting they'll question you to the very depth of your person, even your soul. Be very careful not to slip up- that's what they'll be looking for. If all goes well here, you'll be given a robe and told the next meeting. After a few assignments, you will have proved your worth, and depending on your conduct of these missions, you will receive the dark mark. Do not take this lightly. The marking ceremony is very esteemed, and it will not be without pain. You'll never be able to remove this mark. Voldemort will not doubt be present here. Be wary, do not speak to him more than necessary. Do not seem to overzealous to receive your mark. That is the end of our knowledge on their customs and ceremonies. The rest will be given to us as you go along. Every day you will be expected to return to your job and normal life. At the ministry the Death Eater spies will heavily watch you, no doubt. This would be no time to pass information. Owl will not do, of course. We have a drop off for you that another double agent knows of. He will pick up any information here and bring it to us. Looks may be deceiving on their side, Virginia. Do not trust anyone merely as you perceive them. Heed my words, child." Virginia nodded solemnly.
"How often will I be able to drop off my information at the point?" she asked, eyes dark with trepidation.
The Councilman looked to his peers. "We have decided that a bi-weekly drop off will be adequate. The first Tuesday and the last Thursday of every month are the set days. You will never see the other agent, lest you give something away during a Death Eater meeting." Virginia nodded.
She had expected as much. "When do I leave?"
"Immedately." Virginia paled.
"There will be no time to see my family?" Dumbledore sighed, a deep frown creasing his wrinkled face.
"No, Virginia, I'm afraid not. It will seem more believable this way. You may give things away with a goodbye of some sort. A broom is waiting for you at your flat." his eyes were kind.
Virginia smiled lightly, although her heart felt anything but. "Yes." the council cleared out, each leaving separately.
Dumbledore stayed behind with Virginia. "I want you to know, Professor, if this is the last time-" his eyes grew so saddened she stopped herself.
"I appreciate everything you've done for me, Sir. Even in school..." Virginia wrapped her arms around him impulsively.
"Thank you, Dumbledore." he stiffened at first with surprise, but then hugged her back, smiling.
"Do not forget the Chairman's words, Virginia. You mustn't trust anyone in the Dark legions, for our agent is one of the best and will never reveal himself by action alone. I wish you the best of luck." with that, he left the echoing chamber, leaving Virginia feeling a lost little girl all over again.
"Off to the flat, then." she muttered to herself, chewing her thumbnail nervously.
Once she was home Virginia didn't quite know what to do with herself. She could not write her Mum a letter, nor would she need to pack or change. She busied herself with tea for now, knowing that the meeting was still around two hours away. After a long slow sit with a mug of hot tea, which rapidly grew cold as she drank very little, she slowly brought herself to stand. Virginia left the cup on her table and wrapped herself in a dark green cloak, her warmest. She then grabbed the sleek Nebula Whirl left for her by the Council and hopped out onto her balcony, where she made herself mount the broom and push off, headed for Malfoy Manor.
"Bugger. Merlin knows that's a place I'd never thought I'd be in. I know I'll see that sod Malfoy, too. And the rest of Slytherin house, no doubt." she preoccupied her mind with thoughts of old school grudges and dueling matches, trying her best to keep it from straying to the topic at hand.
Virginia landed at the gate, wondering what she should do. The wrought iron slowly swung open, to her great surprise, and allowed her entry. Far up a gravel path she could make out the house lights, partially blocked by shrubbery and trees of the garden. "What a surprise, I would never have thought the Malfoys enjoyed plants much." but as she studied the wildlife, she soon realized that this was no ordinary garden.
Great Grodhomp trees made little clearings along the way. A Grodhomps' only purpose was to smash anything that was unfortunate enough to come within the reach of its low branches. Virginia shied away from these. Bushes, flowers, even the animals of the garden alike all had some dastardly purpose. Virginia shuddered and urged her broom to move faster. She was almost there. Even with her dallying in the garden, she was flying along the path and could make out every separate window of the manor.
Virginia stopped at the door, her heart pounding. She stepped up the stairs to the double doors, raising her right hand to rap firmly on the door. Unfortunately, her "rap" came out as more of a soft tapping noise. Thankfully, the doors moved open with fluid grace and allowed her entry into the brightly lit hall.
Chapter 2
A large map was spread out on a glass charmed to float just where a table would stand. Virginia looked at it intently. "You'll have to provide the travel yourself. If you were to portkey or apparate, well, they might think you suspicious and trace the artifact or paration trail*. The safest way here will be to fly directly from the Ministry, where they all know you to work." the chairman of the Order explained.
"You'll not have to worry about acting suspicious. If you were anything but fidgety and nervous the Death Eaters would think something was wrong. Your story is that you're absolutely sick of being the last invisible little Weasley, and you've come to prove everyone wrong." Virginia listened to this next bit of information interestedly.
She would have no problem with the last part. "At the meeting they'll question you to the very depth of your person, even your soul. Be very careful not to slip up- that's what they'll be looking for. If all goes well here, you'll be given a robe and told the next meeting. After a few assignments, you will have proved your worth, and depending on your conduct of these missions, you will receive the dark mark. Do not take this lightly. The marking ceremony is very esteemed, and it will not be without pain. You'll never be able to remove this mark. Voldemort will not doubt be present here. Be wary, do not speak to him more than necessary. Do not seem to overzealous to receive your mark. That is the end of our knowledge on their customs and ceremonies. The rest will be given to us as you go along. Every day you will be expected to return to your job and normal life. At the ministry the Death Eater spies will heavily watch you, no doubt. This would be no time to pass information. Owl will not do, of course. We have a drop off for you that another double agent knows of. He will pick up any information here and bring it to us. Looks may be deceiving on their side, Virginia. Do not trust anyone merely as you perceive them. Heed my words, child." Virginia nodded solemnly.
"How often will I be able to drop off my information at the point?" she asked, eyes dark with trepidation.
The Councilman looked to his peers. "We have decided that a bi-weekly drop off will be adequate. The first Tuesday and the last Thursday of every month are the set days. You will never see the other agent, lest you give something away during a Death Eater meeting." Virginia nodded.
She had expected as much. "When do I leave?"
"Immedately." Virginia paled.
"There will be no time to see my family?" Dumbledore sighed, a deep frown creasing his wrinkled face.
"No, Virginia, I'm afraid not. It will seem more believable this way. You may give things away with a goodbye of some sort. A broom is waiting for you at your flat." his eyes were kind.
Virginia smiled lightly, although her heart felt anything but. "Yes." the council cleared out, each leaving separately.
Dumbledore stayed behind with Virginia. "I want you to know, Professor, if this is the last time-" his eyes grew so saddened she stopped herself.
"I appreciate everything you've done for me, Sir. Even in school..." Virginia wrapped her arms around him impulsively.
"Thank you, Dumbledore." he stiffened at first with surprise, but then hugged her back, smiling.
"Do not forget the Chairman's words, Virginia. You mustn't trust anyone in the Dark legions, for our agent is one of the best and will never reveal himself by action alone. I wish you the best of luck." with that, he left the echoing chamber, leaving Virginia feeling a lost little girl all over again.
"Off to the flat, then." she muttered to herself, chewing her thumbnail nervously.
Once she was home Virginia didn't quite know what to do with herself. She could not write her Mum a letter, nor would she need to pack or change. She busied herself with tea for now, knowing that the meeting was still around two hours away. After a long slow sit with a mug of hot tea, which rapidly grew cold as she drank very little, she slowly brought herself to stand. Virginia left the cup on her table and wrapped herself in a dark green cloak, her warmest. She then grabbed the sleek Nebula Whirl left for her by the Council and hopped out onto her balcony, where she made herself mount the broom and push off, headed for Malfoy Manor.
"Bugger. Merlin knows that's a place I'd never thought I'd be in. I know I'll see that sod Malfoy, too. And the rest of Slytherin house, no doubt." she preoccupied her mind with thoughts of old school grudges and dueling matches, trying her best to keep it from straying to the topic at hand.
Virginia landed at the gate, wondering what she should do. The wrought iron slowly swung open, to her great surprise, and allowed her entry. Far up a gravel path she could make out the house lights, partially blocked by shrubbery and trees of the garden. "What a surprise, I would never have thought the Malfoys enjoyed plants much." but as she studied the wildlife, she soon realized that this was no ordinary garden.
Great Grodhomp trees made little clearings along the way. A Grodhomps' only purpose was to smash anything that was unfortunate enough to come within the reach of its low branches. Virginia shied away from these. Bushes, flowers, even the animals of the garden alike all had some dastardly purpose. Virginia shuddered and urged her broom to move faster. She was almost there. Even with her dallying in the garden, she was flying along the path and could make out every separate window of the manor.
Virginia stopped at the door, her heart pounding. She stepped up the stairs to the double doors, raising her right hand to rap firmly on the door. Unfortunately, her "rap" came out as more of a soft tapping noise. Thankfully, the doors moved open with fluid grace and allowed her entry into the brightly lit hall.