A/N: As always,
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Mine? Right! Oh, please!
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: EVASION TACTICS-REVISED
Katlin's hand instantly covered her mouth, a slight sound being all that escaped.
Orion Black.
She knew that name. As did every Deatheater. He was one of the most hated Aurors among them. But why would Sier have such a document?
Maybe Sier was connected to the man somehow.
Katlin felt her frantic mind calm slightly at the thought. That was it! Sier was a relative. Didn't Black have a brother?
Katlin racked her brain. What was the man's name? Sier..........Sirius!
That was it! 'Sier' must be a nickname of some sort. Short for 'Sirius'. And that made him Orion Black's brother.
Katlin all but breathed a sigh of relief. That explained as well for her why he didn't want to tell her his last name. He was a Black. He was afraid she would hate him as well because of his brother. Because Orion was an Auror.
Katlin happily went back to sorting things out. She certainly had enough other things to occupy her mind. The night before she and Sier had chosen a date for the wedding. Just five short days away. There was so much to do. And now that she had an explanation for her fiancee's mysterious shielding of his last name, things looked a good deal clearer to her. So his brother was an Auror. She had no idea if Sier held the same beliefs or not. How could he? He was dating her. They were getting married. And he said he didn't get involved in other people's politics.
Yes, everything was right back on track.
Katlin's happy pasting together of facts came to an abrupt end.
Sirius Black?
She suddenly realized she knew that name as well. Sirius Black was also an Auror. And why did he have a commendation document for his brother?
Katlin spun about and quickly began tearing through papers on the desk behind her. The mass of black robes shadowed her, looking over her shoulder at what she was doing, but made no attempt to stop her. Katlin pulled out another piece of parchment on which the name Orion Black was signed on the bottom. She tossed it aside and went on with her frantic search. Soon she found another document with the same name on it. Then several others.
Letters.
Receipts.
Bank papers.
All with the same name.
Katlin turned in absolute fury to the creature behind her, a stash of the papers clutched tightly in her hand.
"Orion Black!" She shrieked at the creature. "It isn't his brother. He isn't Sier!" She screamed, pointing to the ceiling. "That man.......that bastard.......that filthy, disgusting, abhorrent, lying..........." Words finally failed her as she threw the papers to the floor in anger. "He lied to me! He lied! He's an Auror! A filthy, rotten............," the rest came out in a low growl, ".......dead Auror."
Katlin made straight for the door to the room. But the tower of black robes moved with her, placing itself in front of her at the last minute and blocking the exit.
Katlin stepped back from the creature, pulling out her wand.
"Get out of my way!" she warned.
The creature reached out a robe covered hand. Katlin pulled back instinctively as she fired off a spell at the creature before her.
The spell struck home with little doubt. But the instant it made contact with the creature it fanned out in waves, effectively washing over the form in the black robes and finally simply dissolving.
But the creature kept reaching for her until it touched its hand to her forehead.
Instantly the Deatheater collapsed, crumpling in a heap to the floor.
Bo stood for several minutes, anxiously tapping the tips of his fingers together as he stared down at the woman laying on the floor.
This simply wasn't good.
(Scene Change)
Upstairs Orion lay in bed as his worried partner gave him an appraising once over.
"Well, you're still alive. Bo's actually good for something."
"He's been doing just fine, Charly. Pile of laundry's a natural healer." Orion rubbed the back of his neck with a slight wince. "I just wish I knew what Treaks hit me with."
Charly gave his partner a small smile. "He just got off a luck hit, Orion. That's all."
But the man in the bed shook his head. "It wasn't a lucky shot, Charly. It was a trap. A well laid one. And I walked right into it."
"Deatheaters are always mucking about with spells, Mate. You know that. Probably just a variation of one."
Orion shook his head, wincing again. "Charly, I didn't even recognize this one. It was like.............having something put under your nose with your eyes closed and someone tells you what it is. You know what you expect it to smell like. But what you expect and what you smell turn out to be two totally different things. It was just.........I've never felt that kind of magic before."
Charly paled slightly at his partner's description. "Was it dark magic, do you think?"
Orion shook his head again. "I know dark magic, Charly. This was......direct. It had one purpose. To attack. It was just..............," Orion paused, then gave up, "I've just never felt anything like it. And it worries me that the Deatheaters might have something that powerful. What if they........."
Orion never got to finish what he was going to say. Abruptly the tower of dark robes materialized at the foot of Orion's bed and instantly launched into a rapid series of gestures. Both men watched the boggart with undivided attention when Charly suddenly spoke up right in the middle of Bo's rapid gesturing.
"Here! What does he mean 'she's down in the study'?" Charly ask, turning quickly to his partner.
Bo suddenly looked up at Charly as though he hadn't even seen him there to begin with. Instantly he stopped gesturing and hid both hands out of sight behind his back. Standing up to his full height, the boggart did a very good impression of looking innocent.
"Bo, whose down in the study?" Charly asked again.
The boggart quickly turned his head to Orion, then back to Charly, making a quick gesture.
"No one." Charly said in a less than convinced voice. "You popped up here to tell Orion no one was in the study?"
The boggart offered no further explanations.
"Right." Charly stated, getting up from the chair. "We'll see about that then."
Orion simply sighed at the whole display as he watched his partner storm out of the room. He knew he had a few moments at least before Charly made it to the study.
"All right, Bo." he stated. "Tell me again."
Bo immediately launched into his explanation. But Orion brought it to a quick halt as he waved his hand at him.
"Wait! Wait, wait, wait." he stated. "She found 'what'?"
The boggart repeated the gesture.
"Papers? What sort of papers?" But Orion suddenly remembered Charly and quickly pulled the sheets back as he pulled himself up in the bed. "All right, never mind." he told the mass of black robes, holding his hand out to the boggart as he swung his feet off the bed. "Just show me. I'll sort things out from there."
Bo carefully wrapped a robe covered arm about his friend and in the next second Orion found himself standing in the study, though only because Bo was still supporting him. Before him Katlin still lay unconscious on the floor.
The boggart pointed emphatically at the collapsed form.
"Yes, yes. I see." Orion stated, working his way over to her by way of chairs and desks that he held onto.
Just as he reached the collapsed form, Charly came storming through the doors.
"That had best be a hooker you picked up at a bar, Mate!" he stated as he stormed across the room, reaching his partner just as Orion was turning a still stunned Katlin over. Catching sight of her face, Charly looked everything but surprised. "Oh, good." he stated in low tone. "It is."
Orion frowned up at him, then turned back to Bo.
"Why is she unconscious, Bo?" he asked.
The boggart went through a series of gestures.
"We're back to the papers again?" Orion asked with a puzzled frown.
But Charly was already picking the crumpled pile of parchments off the floor and looking over each one in turn.
"Oh, she was a busy little girl." he stated, turning back to Orion. "She's got a handful of parchments here. Letters, statements, even papers from the Ministry........all with your name on them." Charly paused as he handed the papers off to his partner. "Mate, she found out who you were and she obviously wasn't happy about it."
"You don't know that." Orion stated, although he sounded more like he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else.
Charly turned to the boggart. "Bo, why did you stun her?" he asked, pointing to the collapsed woman.
Bo made a quick series of gestures, to which Charly turned slowly back to his partner. "Because she was going to kill the Auror." he translated. "Oh yeah. She was thrilled."
Orion paused as he slowly lowered himself into a chair with Bo's help.
"Orion," Charly said, walking over to him, "It's all hit the fan now. She knows who you are. She knows you're an Auror. And she's going with her instincts here. What she knows. What she's been taught. Kill Aurors."
"So what would you have me do?" Orion asked as he stared at the collapsed form. "Turn her over to the ministry?"
"Orion," Charly said quietly, crouching in front of his partner as he looked up at him, "it's gotten out of hand, mate. You tried. It didn't work. You tried again, it still didn't work. How many times are you going to put yourself...put her...through this? The situation isn't good, and you need to end it. Once and for all."
"How?" came the barely audible answer.
Charly thought fast. Orion was at least listening to reason....for the moment. But he was afraid of how fast that might change.
"We'll get Dumbledore. Have him expand the memory charm. Just get rid of the last few days."
"We can't go back to Dumbledore." Orion replied quietly. "The old man will kill me."
"Better him than her." Charly replied, pointing behind him at the unconscious woman. "Now, she's only been seeing 'Sier' for a short time. No one at the lair likely even knows about you yet. Dumbledore can redo the Memory Charm and we'll just leave her near the lair. Like we did before. All right?"
Orion sighed as he focused his attention solely on the figure on the floor.
"I messed up, Charly. Again."
"'Fraid so, mate." his partner offered sympathetically.
"I swore I wouldn't this time. I would find a way to make this work."
"Orion, you were lying to her from square one. How were you going to make a pack of lies work? Now you tried..., again. It still didn't work. Now.....sometimes proving you love someone comes at the price of having to admit that they are better off without you than with you."
Orion didn't answer him, but kept his attention focused where it was.
"Orion," Charly said quietly, "if she comes round, she's going to try and kill you. And she might get lucky. Now, it's over. You can't explain things away anymore. You know what you have to do."
Orion paused as he closed his eyes, a thin trail of a tear running down one cheek. But finally he nodded in answer to Charly's statement.
"We'll take her to Dumbledore." Charly suggested. "We'll explain to him what happened..................."
The suggestion was met with a short, choked laugh. "Right." Orion stated. "Go and explain to Dumbledore how all this happened. He will absolutely love that."
"Then what would you suggest? Neither of us is that good at Memory Charms. Least of all to manipulate one this selectively."
Orion paused as his gaze slowly drifted to the figure standing silently over the collapsed form.
"Bo can do it." He stated in a very tired, very worn voice.
"Bo?" Charly asked in disbelief. "Mate, are you crazy?"
"Bo was teaching me Memory Charms before anything else. He can do it."
Charly gave the man a skeptical look. But Orion was agreeing to allow the Memory Charm, and that was more important to him at the moment that who actually performed it.
"All right." he replied. "But just make sure he gets it right. It's right complicated doing it in bit parts."
Orion didn't make any move to enlist the boggart's help at first, but nor did Charly press him. But after a few moments, Orion finally said, "Bo."
The boggart raised its head and turned to his friend.
"Bo," he ask in the same tired voice without once looking up at the boggart, "can you do a Memory Charm?"
The boggart nodded.
Orion must have seen him nod, because he went on. "And can you do them selectively? Just erase what you want. Not everything."
The boggart nodded again.
Orion paused again for a few minutes, leaning back in the chair as he stared at the ceiling.
"Orion," Charly finally prodded him gently in a low voice, "it for the best. For everyone. You know that."
Orion continued to simply stare at the ceiling for a few more moments, then finally pulled himself back up and pointed at Katlin's collapsed form. "I want you to erase any memory she has of the last few days, Bo. Any memory of me or anything she may have learned. Replace it with random daily events. Nothing that would make her question anything. You understand?"
Bo stood for a few moments, then made a small gesture.
Orion read the gesture, then frowned slightly, but finally just shrugged it off. He was simply too exhausted at that point to play games with the boggart. "Yes. Just like last time, Bo. Do it just the same."
With that final order, Orion pulled himself out of the chair with Charly's help and left the room, never once looking back.
(Scene Change)
As soon as he had Orion settled back in his bed and everything else arranged as they discussed, Charly was off to one of the lower town bars he and Treaks used as meeting places. He wasn't looking forward to meeting with Treaks that night, but circumstances dictated it this time. It would be the first time he had seen the Deatheater since Orion's capture, and he had a few questions he wanted answered.
The minute Treaks entered the bar Charly swore he could feel the man's presence. It wasn't a feeling he liked. It was more and more becoming a feeling that something wasn't right. A feeling that was fueling his suspicions of the man. But for tonight he needed answers, so he had to try and stay level-headed about things.
"What is it this time, Misser?" the low, cold voice behind him asked as it approached and finally took a seat next to him.
Charly slowly set his drink down on the ring-stained bar counter.
"My partner was captured a few days ago." Charly started out. "By Deatheaters."
He slowly turned to face the man. "I want to know what you had to do with it."
The Deatheaters showed no surprise at the question. Any more than Charly did at the answer.
"Everything."
"He was tortured. Nearly killed." Charly went on in a low, level voice. "What can you possibly tell me that would make me let you walk out of this bar alive tonight?"
Treaks smiled slightly, then gave the man a low, quiet laugh. "My, my. Where is that 'we're both on the same side now' speech of yours, Misser?"
Charly reached over and laid a hand on Treaks arm. But the grip was anything but friendly. "Not when it's my partner."
Treaks pulled up slightly at the ever increasing pressure the fingers were exerting on his lower arm. Finally he wrenched the arm out of the man's grip. "Steady, Misser." Treaks answered with a falsely stable tone. "You're letting your temper show."
Treaks didn't even have time to react as the man next to him suddenly spun about, knocking the bar stool he was sitting on over as he wrapped two clenched fists about the collar of Deatheater's jacket. "He's my partner!" Charly hissed at the man. "And you damn near murdered him. Why!?"
Treaks fought down his fear as he pulled back slightly. He had seen this man in battle and he knew the muggle had a temper. One that could make him as ruthless as any Deatheater. And it came out the worst when Charly felt he had to defend his partner. Treaks was well on his way to his wand when the bartender came to his timely rescue.
"Here! None of that in my place." he stated firmly, a large bat-type stick in his hand. "Take it outside."
Treaks gave the Auror a tight-lipped smile. "You heard the man, Misser. Take it outside."
Charly only released his hold on the man's collar to get a grip on his arm as he practically shoved him through the crowd and out onto the street. One good thing about the places they met, Charly knew too well, was any altercation went practically un-noticed due to such things being so common placed among the clientele.
"Are you quite done wrinkling my jacket now?" Treaks ask in a heated voice as he brushed down his sleeve. But he quickly amended his tone when he caught sight of the cold stare fixed on him. "Fine." he stated. "If you're willing to listen, I'll explain it to you."
"I suggest you talk very fast." came the reply that caused even Treaks to give an involuntary shudder to it.
The muggle had a temper.
And a wand.
Treaks bought himself a few precious minutes by straightening his jacket out again before he turned to face the man eye to eye.
"Your partner was marked for death." he started. "Voldemort had given the order any Auror matching the description given of the one who destroyed the lair was to be killed on sight."
"That's old news." Charly hissed at the man.
"Not this order." Treaks replied. "Voldemort gave the order himself, before all the Deatheaters. Any Auror, tall, thin, with long black hair, was to be killed on sight. To the exclusion of any other." Treaks pulled back with a slight smile. "I did your partner a favor, Misser. I solved his problem for him."
Treaks never even saw the blow coming. A second later he was on the pavement, his jaw feeling like it was near broken. On instinct he went for his wand.
One word, and it was torn out of his grip.
He turned quickly onto his back, only to see Misser standing before him holding the Deatheater's wand tightly in his right hand while his own was pointed in the man's face.
"I'm finding your explanation most unsatisfactory right now." Charly told him in a low, dangerous voice.
"Your partner was going to be killed." Treaks offered up a good deal quicker. "One of the other Deatheaters on that raid where we captured him wanted to be the bait. I talked him out of it. He would have killed your partner, Misser."
"And you just decided to torture him instead?" The wand pressed a little closer.
"I had to do something!" Treaks stated in something very close to a panicked cry. "Don't you understand? I had to give them something. It was all too easy. One on one. If I hadn't come back with him, then I had best have been sitting in a Ministry interrogation room. Because that's the only explanation they would have excepted for his escape."
"What? You never miss?" Charly ask skeptically.
"I've 'missed' too many times." Treaks replied. "Too many times letting your partner go free. Too many times looking the other way. People start to notice things like that, Misser. And if I fall suspect, I might not be there the next time your dear partner needs someone to look the other way. And whoever is in my place might not be quiet so selective. Now, I'm very sorry if Black had to kiss his lovely raven strands goodbye. But that was the price he paid to stay alive this time. Next time maybe I'll just chose a body part instead."
"You planned this." Charly stated with determination in every word.
"That's a lie." Treaks responded with just as much conviction.
"The spell you used to capture him." Charly stated with a cold, mirthless smile. "The master taught it to you weeks ago. I was there. You were planning to use it to capture Orion."
"I planned 'ahead', Misser. Because Magic knows, one of us has to in this."
"And you have five precious seconds to explain that."
"Yes, I planned the capture. I did it in the hopes Black would get focused again. That he would realize how vulnerable he's allowed himself to become. You know I'm telling the truth. You're the one who told me that. You were becoming concerned over his lack of focus. He was becoming careless on missions. Taking un-necessary risks. You said the man acted like he just didn't care anymore."
Treaks watched with an immense feeling of satisfaction as Misser slowly pulled back. The man was listening to all the right words. That's all it took with most people. Just tell them what they want to hear and they'll hear it. You don't even have to force them.
"Now," Treaks stated, his own voice a great deal more under control, "how well was it serving our master's purpose if, after all we've done to protect him and keep him alive, the idiot goes out and, because he's careless, gets himself killed?"
Charly pulled back and turned partially back to the door of the bar. A drink was what he wanted right then more than anything else.
But he had to finish business first.
Turning back about he leveled his wand at the man still on the ground.
"Crucio!"
Treaks let out a scream of pain as he fell back against the pavement. His hands clawing at the air in agony.
Charly had the man by the jacket before the spell even wore off. Yanking him to his feet he pulled the man up until he was staring him right in the eyes.
"And you pray to whatever you believe in that I never find what you've just told me to be anything by the sworn truth."
Treaks barely managed any words past the man's grip, which was dangerously close to choking him. "It's the truth." he rasped out. "I swear it."
Charly released his grip as he threw the man back on the pavement. "Fine. You're so proud of your well thought out plan. Let me tell you what it's gotten you. Orion has been hold up in his house the past few days, basking in the loving care of his own private nurse."
Treaks rubbed his neck as he stared up at the man. "What are you talking about?"
"Griss, the problem you were managing so well, has been playing nursemaid to Orion ever since he escaped. But this time he'd found a way around the Deatheater/Auror problem."
"Which was?"
"He didn't tell her."
"He didn't tell her?"
"He convinced her instead he was a 35 year old Medi-wizard."
Treaks stared back at the man for a moment. "A what?"
"Unfortunately your girl got a bit too curious, and when opportunity came knocking, she opened the door and let it waltz right in."
"Meaning?"
"She got into his study and went on a 'seek and find' mission. And she found plenty. Enough to tell her who he was without question."
Treaks didn't even bother suppressing the smile on his face. "Oh, that must have been just lovely. And you're worried about me killing your partner?"
"She was stopped before she got far enough to do any damage."
"And where is she now?"
"Back at the lair. We redid the Memory Charm, erasing the last few days. That should take care of any time she was with Orion. She won't remember his being captured, being with him, or anything she may have found out in his study."
Treaks frowned at the last part. "Pity."
"I've done my part, Treaks." Charlie stated. "It's time you do yours."
"Mine?"
Charly leaned down and grabbed the man's shirt, yanking him up until he was face to face with him again. He congratulated himself that Treaks once again pulled back from him. "Manage your problem, Treaks." He advised the Deatheaters in a low, level voice.
Treaks quickly pulled himself away from Charly's grip on him. "I intend to." He replied. "I was, in fact, doing just that until your partner decided he didn't like the single life anymore. Now, I would suggest, if we want to be successful this time perhaps it would be best if we could actually keep the two of them apart. In eight days Katlin will be my wife. And that will be the end of her flirtations with Mr. Black."
"You hope." Charly added.
"It will be." Treaks stated a bit firmer. "What I need you to do is for those eight days to keep Black occupied. Surely there must be something you can find for the man to do that will keep him off the prowl for a week."
Charly thought for a moment. But just a quickly a smile came to his lips. "Perhaps there is." He stated.
"Which would be?"
Charly stared stoically back at the Deatheater. "I'll let you know."
Treaks huffed slightly at the man before him, but didn't press for details. In truth he was just as happy to be rid of the Auror tonight.
"One last thing, Treaks." Charly added.
Treaks fully expected 'one last thing' to be the Auror at least returning his wand to him. But the blow he received instead was completely unexpected as it laid him back out on the pavement. He heard the clatter of his wand land next to him as the Auror leaned over and grabbed him by the shirt one last time.
"You touch my partner again and you are a dead man."
With one final shove Charly released the man as he stood back up. Dropping Treaks wand next to him on the pavement, and without once looking back, he turned and walked off into the gathering fog.
(Scene Change)
Happily leaving Treaks behind, Charly made his way home. Early the next morning he headed to Hogsmeade, and then onto Hogwarts. Good fortune seemed to smile on him that day as he ran into the castle groundskeeper right at the gates.
"Well now," the tall man regarded the Auror past a suspicious stare, "and who might you be then?"
Charly approached the man cautiously. He had had only passing contact with Remus Hagrid, and the man made him slightly nervous.
"Don't you remember me, Mr. Hagrid?" Charly asked respectfully. The groundskeeper had always appreciated good manners. "I'm Charly Misser. Orion Black's friend."
"Oh!" The larger man commented after a moments thought. "You'd be his little muggle friend then."
Charly politely smiled at the man. He disliked being called a muggle by a wizard. He felt he had at least earned the right to be addressed as an equal. But arguing the point with the groundskeeper wouldn't get him anywhere.
"That's right." he managed past a forced but friendly smile.
"So what brings you here, lad?" Hagrid asked as he stepped aside for Charly.
"Well, I was hoping to see the Headmaster." Charly answered.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Hagrid asked with a puzzled expression. "What would you be wanting to see the Headmaster about?"
"Well, it's about Orion, actually." Charly explained vaguely. "Do you think I could have a word with him?"
The groundskeeper shrugged. "We'll see. He's at the castle, to be sure. Just never sure where."
Charly sighed as he anticipated a lot of walking. But to his relief, the first place they looked, in the Headmaster's office, was where they found him. His next brush with luck was that the old wizard seemed to remember him.
"My, but it has been a long time, Mr. Misser." he commented as Hagrid introduced him. "I believe the last time I saw you was when your young friend and you snuck into the castle over the holidays and tried to lay a few surprise traps in the girls dorms."
Charly paused. "Ummmm...., high spirits, Sir." he offered quietly. "And Orion and I did appreciate you not mentioning that to our parents, Sir."
The old wizard raised an eyebrow, but said nothing more as he offered the Auror a cup of tea.
"Now," he asked, seating himself behind his desk with a cup of his own in hand, "I am curious as to what I might do for you, Mr. Misser?"
"Well, Professor Dumbledore," Charly started, "I came because I'm a bit worried about my par......my friend. About Orion."
"Go on."
"Orion's been through a bad time lately. Just a few days ago he was captured by the Deatheaters. They nearly killed him."
The old wizard's eyes narrowed slightly. "That is most unfortunate, Mr. Misser."
"And Orion, Sir, you know what he can be like. He doesn't care much for sitting about healing when it's exactly what he needs to do."
Dumbledore gave the man a slight smile. "Ah, yes. 'High spirited' as I recall."
Charly paused slightly. "Ummmm...., yes, sir. Very high spirited. The point is, Orion needs something to do that will keep him occupied while his body has a chance to heal."
"A noble idea, Mr. Misser. But I fail to see what I can do to help."
Charly kept as close to his script as possible. The old wizard was no fool. And if he sensed Charly wasn't being completely honest, everything might fall apart on him.
"I understand that Orion set up many of the wards and charms around this school, Sir."
"Mr. Black revised and strengthened many of them." Dumbledore corrected him kindly. "The charms and wards themselves were placed ages ago by the school's founders. Mr. Black merely did some 'maintenance' on them for us."
"Well, Sir," Charly continued, "I was hoping maybe they might be in need of some more 'maintenance'. It would be something Orion could do to keep himself occupied, and it would likely take a few days at least."
Dumbledore considered the request. "Work on the wards about the castle is no small task, Mr. Misser. Are you sure your friend is even up to it?"
"Up to it or not, Sir, it's better he's here trying than out on a mission getting himself blasted by a Deatheater's curse."
Dumbledore sat for a few moments as he sipped at his tea. But finally he set the cup back down as he turned back to his guest.
"Very well, Mr. Misser.' he said. "I will make the request to Orin Bale to allow Mr. Black to come to Hogwarts and do some 'maintenance' work for us. There are several wards around the castle that could use a good refreshing. And Orion was the best student we had at wards."
Charly gave the old wizard a friendly smile. "So he is always telling me, Sir."
(Scene Change)
"So, what do you want now, Misser?" Treaks asked as he stood facing the Auror in the alleyway. "Or is this just another chance for you to take another shot at me?"
"I've arranged for Orion to be out of the way for a few days." Charly replied flatly. "You have approximately one week to get your problem solved."
Treaks smiled slightly. "Really? Well, a week should be more than enough time." He stated. "But do tell, what did you manage to come up with to keep the man occupied for a week?"
Charly took a slow, steady breath as he considered whether or not to tell Treaks. But finally he gave a slight shrug. "I arranged for him to go do some work at Hogwarts Castle for the Headmaster there. It should take him about a week to complete the job there."
"How very convenient." Treaks replied.
"Just make the most of it, Treaks." Charly warned. "Because I doubt I can manage this again."
"One week is all I'll need" the Deatheater replied. "After that, Katlin will be my wife. Past that I'm sure all other problems will solve themselves."
"See to it!" Charly stated as he turned and walked off towards the open street.
A small smile crept over Treaks lips as he watched the man disappear into the gathering fog.
"I intend to." He stated quietly.
(Scene Change)
Treaks hurried down the corridor, having seen Voldemort turn down it moments before. He quickened his steps until he caught sight of the black robes just ahead of him.
"My lord!" Treaks called as respectfully as he could make it sound.
Voldemort's steps only slowed at the call at first, but eventually stopped as he turned a very disgruntled stare to the man hurrying to catch up to him.
"What is it, Treaks?" he asked. "I am very busy."
"I have no doubt, my lord." Treaks replied in the same near-groveling tone. "But this matter is important. It involves Katlin."
If Treaks thought adding Katlin's name would gain support for his statement, he couldn't have been more wrong. The dark wizard's expression darkened even more as he glared at the man before him.
"I have heard enough from you on this matter, Treaks." he stated in a low, dangerous tone. "If you can not handle matters on your own concerning Katlin, perhaps this marriage isn't such a good idea after all."
Treaks instantly pulled back. He knew Voldemort was never completely in favor of his marriage to Katlin and he had had to do some very good persuading in order to make Voldemort see even the smallest merit in it. But the more Katlin delayed things, the more Treaks pressed the issue with Voldemort, and the more irritated the dark lord was becoming. And perhaps he was right. How well would he be able to handle Katlin as his wife if he couldn't even handle things with her now?
Well, that was a small matter. If things went as he planned now, soon he wouldn't have to worry about that at all.
"I have mis-spoken, my lord." Treaks replied solicitously. "What I meant was only to voice my concern for her as of late."
"Of late?"
Treaks could tell he know had the man's full attention. Just suggest anything was amiss with his beloved head Elite and you had his full attention as with nothing else.
"Katlin hasn't been herself these past few weeks, my lord. I am sure you have seen it yourself. She has been moody, agitated, and very short with the others."
"Perhaps it is just the wedding drawing near." Voldemort suggested almost conversationally. "She's worried with the details."
Treaks paced himself. He had to place every step now with extreme caution.
"I do not think that is it, my lord." he replied cautiously. "Katlin....I have known her for a very long time."
"As have I, Treaks." Voldemort's voice came out hard and cold.
Treaks pulled back again. "More so than anyone, my lord." he amended quickly. "I only meant to point out that I have known her to be like this from before. And it was usually not from anything that was concerning her, but more that she was......bored."
"Bored?" Voldemort turned to face the man fully.
"Katlin hasn't had a mission in some time, my lord." Treaks offered helpfully. "Not one of any significance to her. Something that required any real effort on her part. You have sent her out with the lower ranking Deatheaters. But she doesn't find much challenge in those missions. They're not what she is used to. What she needs to prove, to herself, is she still has value."
"Katlin does not doubt her value with me."
Treaks pulled back slightly. "With all due respect, my lord, how have you allowed her to redeem herself since her last punishment? By assigning her to lower ranking tasks? She perhaps feels you do not trust her with anything more serious yet. Such a thing would definitely weaken her spirits, to feel she wasn't serving you as well as she could."
Voldemort stared at the man for a very long time.
Treaks did his very best to maintain a neutral air about himself. He was just offering a suggestion, he firmly told him over and over. Nothing more.
Finally Voldemort spoke again. And his words carried a clear warning if Treaks were misleading him. "And you have some suggestion to offer?"
"Katlin only seeks to serve you, my lord." Treaks replied earnestly. "She is happiest when she do that. Give her a mission to go on. Something of some importance to allow her to prove herself to you again if only in her own eyes."
Voldemort thought for a moment, but finally nodded slightly. "Perhaps you have a valid point." he replied, his voice a good deal less frosted.
Treaks smiled. The dark lord was listening to him.
"Perhaps I can find something........"
"If I might offer a suggestion, my lord?" Treaks spoke up, but quickly cursed his eagerness as Voldemort's stare darkened again.
"A suggestion?" he practically growled at the man.
"Only if you think it is worthy of her, my lord." Treaks offered. "But I can, of course, only hope you will see merit in it."
"Speak."
Treaks fought with himself to keep the smile off his lips. He had to make this good.
"At Dumbledore's castle two of your enemies are residing. The Auror, Orion Black, and Severus Snape, who you yourself have suspected as turning traitor to your noble cause. Sending Katlin there could eliminate both of them in one night, and further secure your position in the growing turmoil in the wizarding community."
Voldemort stared down at the man.
"She is only seeking to prove herself to you, my lord." Treaks repeated. "It would please her to know she had done so. And likely raise her spirits immensely."
Voldemort continued to stare at the man without saying a word. but finally he turned and walked off down the hallway.
"I will consider your words, Treaks. In the meantime, tell Katlin I wish to see her in my chambers when she is available."
Treaks didn't bother hiding his smile this time.
"At once, my lord."