Chapter 40: A Crazy Little Thing Called The Internet
After dinner, Wolfgang suggested that Regulus and Kreacher come with him to get the invisibility cloak so that they would know where he lived for future meetings. Like any other group, Wolfgang and those who worked with him had meetings, but they were held at Adler's home, a thing the Dark Lord had never done. Regulus had no idea where Voldemort had even lived back in the day. Adler's openness made him like and trust the man even more. Before they departed Hogwarts, Regulus promised to return tomorrow evening to see what news Albus had from his friend. He assured the Headmaster that he and Kreacher would be alright at Dora's for one more night. Albus relented, seemingly with some reservations, but with Ms. Karkaroff determinedly clinging to his arm, he appeared a bit distracted. Regulus and Kreacher walked with Wolfgang and Millicent out of the school and across the grounds. Wolfgang and Millicent lit the way with their wands, which Kreacher seemed to appreciate. This only served to remind Regulus exactly how long it had been that he'd actually required light. Noticing such things could definitely make him feel less human, but he supposed he didn't mind. The trade of abilities wasn't something to complain about, after all. Not requiring light to see wasn't a bad thing, even if it made him feel different from those around him. Having to avoid the sun could make things inconvenient when dealing with non-vampires, but everyone seemed to appreciate his unique abilities and even value him for them. For this reason, he wasn't nearly as uncomfortable with the difference as he'd expected to be in this return to his old life. Not to mention, when he was alone with Kreacher and in the elf's arms, he felt exactly as he had before having to flee all he'd ever known. Kreacher always caused his heart to race and could have him melting with desire with a simple touch.
"So do you play with computers, Regulus," Millicent asked. The young woman's question jarred Regulus from his pleasant thoughts and he started slightly.
"Sorry, what?"
"You said at dinner that you hid among the Muggles with your maker. While there were you exposed to the Internet and did you find it useful?"
"I am aware of it, but I never had an interest myself," Regulus replied.
"What is the Internet," Kreacher asked, looking between Millicent and Regulus.
"It is the latest way that Muggles share information," Regulus replied.
Millicent nodded. "Even more than that, though. The Internet is a global network of computers that works much like the postal system, only at sub-second speeds. And you can also buy stuff."
"But what is a computer," Kreacher asked with a frown.
"Um...It's a...It might be easier if I just showed you mine," Millicent replied as they reached the edge of the grounds. "It's at Wolfgang's."
"Kreacher would look at this computer," the elf said, nodding.
Wolfgang side apparated Regulus and Kreacher. They arrived at the same time as Millicent, all standing together on the stone stoop of a large sprawling manor. "We're just outside of London," Wolfgang said. "Welcome to Adler Manor."
"Thank you for inviting us into your home," Regulus said, suddenly humbled by the trust so quickly extended to him. He knew it was likely a result of the endorsements of Albus and Severus, but that didn't make it mean any less.
"My computer is in the library," Millicent said as Wolfgang flicked his wand at the door in several complex unlocking patterns. Regulus was impressed by the man's work, as he couldn't even see the hex locks that were obviously in place. Any would-be burglar wouldn't see them either and as such would run into a nasty surprise.
"I'll meet you in the library with the cloak," Wolfgang said as the door opened. The place was well lit, and Regulus found himself squinting against the brightness. Wolfgang's good taste was evident in the simple yet elegant decor that caught Regulus's eye as Millicent led them down a long hall hung with silk tapestries embroidered with mystical symbols. The floor was covered in luxuriant dark green carpeting. Gargoyle shaped wall sconces held enchanted candles that spread light at a far greater distance than any ordinary candle could. The library was large with comfortable looking chairs scattered about. Between each set of two chairs stood a small round table that held books, or quills and parchment for taking notes. All in all the place seemed a grand spot for research or relaxing with a good read. One of the little tables held Millicent's computer and she went directly over to it, flopping down into a chair as she reached to turn it on. Kreacher's eyes widened slightly as the screen began to flicker.
"It's magic," he murmured. "How is this a thing of Muggles," he demanded, turning to Millicent.
"Oh it isn't magic, but it's as close as Muggles are going to get," Millicent said with a small smirk. "It is Muggle science. This connects to the Internet that I spoke of earlier. If you know a person's email address, you can send them a letter in less than a second. If you wish to research a topic, you merely type it in, and in an instant tons of sites come up that have information posted about that topic. You can even shop on the Internet, and the stores will mail you whatever you buy."
"It shows pictures of the items for sale as catalogs do," Kreacher asked and Regulus smiled, proud of his friend's brilliant deduction. Kreacher had always been the smartest person Regulus knew, perhaps aside from his father Orion.
"That's right," Millicent said, smiling and nodding at the elf.
Kreacher frowned in open consternation as he studied the computer. "But what is this Email, and typing?"
"An email stands for electronic mail...I think," Millicent said. "Anything running on electricity is considered an electronic...I think...Sometimes Muggle studies gets boring, though at times like when we learned about computers, it does have its uses," she said, waiving airily at the machine. "And typing is what they call writing when you use those keys there."
"Hm," Kreacher said, moving closer to study the letters on the square little *keys*. "They aren't at all key shaped."
Millicent nodded, giving him a wry smile. "It's a Muggle thing. We wouldn't understand." She gestured to the chair on the other side of the table that held her computer. "Come and sit. I'll show you how it works."
Regulus moved to the chair, reaching to draw Kreacher into his lap.
"What do you want to see first," Millicent asked Kreacher.
Kreacher frowned in thought, leaning forward to study the computer screen. He caught his lower lip in his teeth as he considered. "What does Millicent use it for," he asked.
"Mostly stealing money from Muggles," Millicent answered, boldly forthcoming.
"Slytherin, right," Regulus asked, lips twisting up into a small amused smile as she nodded. "So was I. How on earth do you manage to steal money with that thing," he wondered.
"Well the Muggles recently started a thing called online banking. I sort of mingle magic with Muggle tech to make it where when I lift a bit from any Muggle's account into mine, it goes unnoticed. I then turn my Muggle money into Muggle bars of gold via buying them from the same Muggle bank where my account is. They mail me the bars. Then I deposit the gold bars in Gringotts cause the goblins don't give a fuck what shape the gold is."
Regulus grinned and Kreacher chuckled. "So you learned about computers in Muggle studies, and thought, hey I can use these to steal money," Regulus asked.
Millicent grinned back shamelessly. "Basically. These computers last me about six months before the magic around here fries them out and I have to buy another. This is called a laptop. The desktops may last longer, but they're so much more of a pain in the ass. They are bigger with more parts to them, and you have more than one place to turn them on. It's annoying to turn each part on. With this one I just push one button and it's on or it's off."
"Why is it a laptop when it is on a table now," Kreacher wondered.
"I suppose because if you want you can put it on your lap, and the bigger one I mentioned you really can't," Millicent replied with a shrug.
"Kreacher wonders what information there is on the Internet about ancient elf magic," he said.
"Muggles wouldn't know about that," Regulus said, surprised that Kreacher even thought they would.
"Of course not," Kreacher agreed. "Kreacher just wonders what the Internet has in case there are other witches and wizards like Millicent using it."
There Kreacher went again being smarter than anyone else, Regulus thought, pleased by his friend's fascinating mind rather than being embarrassed by the fact he hadn't considered that possibility himself.
Millicent nodded. "Yeah. When I heard you'd lived among the Muggles, Regulus, I wondered if you used computers in any sort of magical way, so I get that...I'm always looking to expand the shit I know and discovering other wizarding uses for computers would be interesting. I haven't found any sort of secret wizarding society on the net yet though."
Regulus and Kreacher watched as Millicent typed on the strange keys. When words began to move across the screen, Kreacher's eyes rounded in fascination and even Regulus found himself impressed. Though he knew more about Muggle science than most wizards, this did truly seem a lot like magic. Several sentences appeared on the screen referring to high elves and ancient elf lore. One was even titled The Origin of Elves.
"We can read any of these you like," Millicent told Kreacher. "When you hit this key, the enter key, it's called clicking on a link. When we want to read something in its entirety, we click on the link and we can see the entire article or whatever," she explained. "Come. You can do it yourself if you like," she invited.
Kreacher slid from Regulus's lap to stand in front of the table that held the computer. He clicked on the Origin of Elves and they all read it. Millicent showed him how to use what she called 'arrow keys' to move down the page. It was an odd sort of electronic page, but a page nonetheless, Regulus supposed. As it turned out, Muggles were attempting to document what they believed to be the history of mythical beings, spirits in many cases, some of demonic nature, that Germanic cultures believed were elves in ancient times. Basically they wrote elves off as mere superstitious beliefs in spirits that evolved into various creatures to different cultures over time.
"Muggles," Regulus said with a roll of his eyes as Kreacher gave a disappointed sigh.
"Kreacher should not have expected better, but he was curious," the elf said. He clicked on the other two results, only to find that they were from Muggle fantasy books in which elves played some sort of prominent role. These elves weren't truly elves, though. They were more like those in Pandora's Lord Of The Rings that she had so wanted Regulus to read when he'd first become a vampire. Idly Regulus wondered if Kreacher would perhaps enjoy reading Lord Of The Rings as he had. Judging from the disgruntled look his friend was giving Millicent's computer, he didn't think now was a good time to mention it, though. Wolfgang entered then with a cloak over his arm which he extended to Regulus. "Keep this for as long as you need it. I have a few more," he said generously.
It was then, with Regulus seated and Wolfgang standing, that he realized just how tall the other man was. "Thank you," he said, taking the cloak. "I must say...I don't think I've ever seen anyone as tall as you other than...Well Hagrid, but he's a half giant."
Wolfgang's lips quirked up into an amused smile. "As it turns out, so am I."
Regulus blinked. Hagrid was wide and bulky like a stone wall with legs, but Wolfgang, while big boned and quite tall, was elegantly put together and not nearly as blocky as Hagrid even if wider in the shoulders than most other men. He was also cultured, a strong contrast to Hagrid's rather uncouth nature.
"Interesting," he said. Then he chuckled as the beginning of what would have to be a very bad joke popped into his mind. "An elf, a pretty lady, a vampire and a half giant walk into a bar."
(Dear Reader,
If you're enjoying Millicent and Wolfgang their story, Millicent Bulstrode Falls In Love, is also uploaded here.)