That very same day, once Belladonna had returned home, she instantly set to work reading through her notes in the comfort of her office. She picked up the parchment narrative that Poppy had given her several months before concerning the mess with Aurelius. She read through it and her eyes widened. "Bloody bastard! I knew it!" Belladonna growled, setting down the parchment, eyes blazing. "Polyjuice potion. I should have known..." she bit her lip and then sprang into action, marching up to her bedroom to quickly change from her lightweight wear which she had worn to Egypt.
Dressing in her black pants and bodice, and black mesh over robe, she left her home in Blakeney to apparate to Minorca, to Stephen's Spanish villa in Mahón, which had been bequeathed to him by a friend upon his death. She found herself just beyond the courtyard of the villa, in view of the aviary he'd had constructed for his various birds. Taking a breath she marched into the courtyard to find that he was seated out on the raised patio, a ferret upon his lap and book in hand.
"Fascinating book, Doctor?" She teased good naturedly, her arms crossed over her chest. Stephen book marked his book, setting it down on the table, calmly. "Yes, actually," rising from his seat, the ferret in his arms now, "and might I inquire as to why you have graced me with your presence?" Stephen asked in polite curiosity. She smirked at his response, as it was exactly what she expected him to say.
My, but he does have such a formal turn of phrase.
She brushed back a golden lock of hair, most amused despite her urgency. "I came to have a word with you, Stephen, of a most urgent nature," she replied, moving closer to him. He glanced at her, almost as if he were surprised, though he betrayed no emotion. She could only guess at what he was thinking: she had never exactly visited him before, why then would she come now to express urgency on a matter?
Stephen moved to the door and opened it for her, gesturing for her to precede him inside. "By all means, we'll discuss it in the sitting room," he informed her quietly, setting the little ferret down once he'd come inside and shut the door behind him. "Would you like something to drink or eat while we converse?" He asked her politely.
"I thank you, no, I am fine." Belladonna responded, sitting in the settee where he'd gestured. He sat down also and conjured a cup of tea as he did. "Now, what is it you wish to speak with me about?" He inquired, sipping his tea, his eyes on hers.
Where to begin? Hmm...
Sitting was certainly not going to help. She rose to her feet and paced a little. "I'm just going to come right out and say it, I need you to contrive a reason to be in Egypt now, this very evening if you can. I need you to stay there, for however long it is until Poppy returns." Belladonna began without preamble, finally turning round to face him.
He didn't so much as blink or reveal any surprise. He merely set down his cup on the coffee table, his hands resting on his lap. "As much as I am concerned for her well being and safety, I am confused as to why you should ask this of me. Is there something I am not aware of? Something amiss?" Stephen asked, completely unfazed, speaking in his usual quiet voice.
Belladonna had to admit; she was strangely amazed at his calm and cool demeanor. How secret and close his eyes and mannerisms were. She could do well to learn a few trade secrets from him, though now was not the time, not in the least. She sighed and decided to try to explain herself and her intentions. "Are you aware of what happened to Poppy several months ago?" Belladonna queried, sitting back down on the settee.
"Yes, I am. Both she and Alastor had confided to me at one point. Am I to understand that there could be a repetition of this event? Aurelius is at large?" He responded with two questions of his own, still calm and collected, taking up his tea once more to finish drinking it.
Excellent deduction. A true Ravenclaw, indeed.
"I must say, your deductions are for the most part correct. I do not know for certain, but I have reason to believe he is at large, in Egypt no less, encamped where Poppy is, though she knows it not." Belladonna told him, feeling herself grown warm with anger again, just as she had when she read her notes and made the connection. "I am merely taking precautions to prevent such an instance again. I have alerted and requested that her friend, Theodosia, keep an eye on her, but I feel that is not enough. I had rather hoped, that since you are a healer, of the Empathic variety, you might be able to contrive a reason to be there where there is need of healers, to make sure she is safe and unharmed while I do my work and hunt this villain out," she explained, hoping that he would indeed do as she had suggested.
Stephen vanished his cup, rose to his feet and moved to where his cello was propped against a backed wooden chair. "I see. Well, if I am to go to Egypt this very evening, I shall have quite a lot of packing to get on to." Stephen mused, turning back to her, the tiniest hint of a smile upon his lips. "Though, I wonder, since your friend Daniel is fond of animals, perhaps he might be prevailed upon to stay here at my villa and tend to my birds and the ferret?" Stephen inquired of her just as the ferret in question made a leap onto the sofa where Stephen had previously been sitting. "I am sure that can be arranged, Stephen," Belladonna smirked, eyeing the small tawny colored ferret. "Besides, I am sure he'd love to come here and take two albums worth of photographs of the Minorcan landscape," she went on to muse aloud, grinning wickedly.
"Delightful," Stephen smiled. "Now, however, I shall begin packing and inform my superiors at St. Mungo's of this new development, and perhaps I shall be in Egypt within two hours at most," he informed her, stooping down to pet the ferret. "Excellent, and I shall go to Danny and explain the situation and persuade him to come stay here," she nodded, pleased with the outcome of her visit. She moved toward him to kiss him on the cheek. "I owe you one. See you around, Doctor," she teased once more. "Good day to you, too, Bella." Stephen chuckled just before she apparated out of the villa.
Appearing just beyond Daniel's countryside cottage, she moved up to the door and knocked smartly. She didn't have to wait long as the door opened after the second knock, revealing a grinning Daniel. "Howdy there, Bella. Come on in," he stepped back to let her inside. She stepped in and moved to the familiar sitting room, tossing herself on the sofa, sprawling comfortably. "Hi Danny, I have a bit of a favor to ask of you," she informed him.
He closed the door and moved to hop onto the sofa also, sprawling beside her. "Well, shoot partner, I'm all ears," he told her, his arm around her. "There's no question about that," she kissed the tip of his ear, "you are all ears." Belladonna laughed, her eyes twinkling wickedly. "Though, I didn't come here to talk about your ears, I came to ask if you might think about staying at Stephen's villa for the next month or so, to look after his animals and such," she told him, snuggling closer to him.
"Stephen going somewhere, then?" Daniel asked, curious, sitting up on his elbow to look at her. "Yes, he is. To Egypt. It's a healer thing," Belladonna responded, turning her eyes to his. "Right, a healer thing," he raised an eyebrow skeptically. "When's he leaving?" Daniel went on to ask her. "Tonight. So can you?" Belladonna replied, imploring. "Sure, I can do that, but really, why's he going? To keep an eye on Poppy isn't it?" Daniel eyed her, correctly assessing the situation.
I suppose he'd have figured it out soon anyway...
She nodded the affirmative. "Yes, isn't that what friends are for?" Belladonna smirked, winding her arms around his shoulders. "I reckon so," he chuckled and leaned down to kiss her, his own arms around her waist.
For the moment, my work is done.
As she had done everything she had set her mind to do, that afternoon, she let herself melt into Daniel's arms, putting all thoughts from her mind except her thoughts of kissing him.