Despite Thea's protests, Jax headed out to the ministry alone. It was a risk leaving the headquarters, but he was supposed to meet with Liam, and he wanted to help. It was the least he could do considering that he apparently had been no help to Thea the last eight years.

He disapparated from the top step at Grimmauld Place and reappeared in an alley.

"I'm told it's probably not safe for you to be out here," came a female voice, and Jax turned to see Valentina standing there.

"What are you doing here?"

"Did I happen to mention that I know a seer?"

Jax raised an eyebrow. "Do you now? Did he happen to mention what would happen if I went into the ministry today?"

Valentina shook her head. "No. He just sent me to go with you." With a wave of her wand, she vanished from sight.

Jax blinked.

"I'm still here," she told him. "It's just better if they don't know I'm here with you."

Jax shrugged at that. He didn't know if it was something to worry about, but he was grateful for the backup.

When Jax arrived at the visitor's entrance of the Ministry for Magic, the Unspeakable with the unfortunate choice of muggle-style clothing was waiting. "Jax!" He called out. "Good to see you again!"

Jax merely nodded and allowed him to lead the way down into the ministry and all the way down to the ninth level and the Department of Mysteries. Even in the daylight, the walls and floor had an eerie green glow that was downright spooky.

He followed the wizard into the main atrium of the department, casually looking over his shoulder as if to look for Valentina, even though he knew he wouldn't be able to see her.

The unfortunately dressed wizard cast the spell to reveal the door to the Death Chamber, and as soon as they walked in, Jax saw Liam at the centre of the room, with the dais and an elf.

Liam looked up at them. "Ah, Burke. A word if you will?" Liam took the stone steps two at a time and reached Jax and Burke in a matter of seconds. "Jax, feel free to make yourself at home," he said, gesturing for Jax to go down the steps to where he had been working. "Obviously you are going to want to stay clear of the dais, but then I think you know that already," he said with a laugh, before turning to speak to Burke.

Jax frowned and looked over at the space where he hoped Valentina still occupied before making his way down the stairs. While this did make it easier for him to snoop around, it just seemed a bit too easy. Why would Liam allow him to go down here unattended?

"Maybe it has something to do with this?" Valentina whispered, holding up a small book. She was still disillusioned, so it looked as if the book was floating in midair.

"Put that down." Jax grabbed the book, glancing over his shoulder, but Liam and Burke were still occupied and apparently, hadn't seen the floating book. Jax looked down at the book in his hands: The Book of the Elite. He glanced over his shoulder again, but Liam and Burke were still talking, and then Jax pulled out his wand. Tapping it against the book, he muttered a few words, trying to determine if there were any hexes protecting the book. There weren't. Jax pointed his wand at the book again. "Geminio," he whispered, and an exact duplicate of the book appeared next to it.

"Nice," said Valentina.

Jax shook his head. "You're going to get us caught," he muttered. While he was grateful for the backup, it wouldn't do him much good if she got caught with all the noise she was making.

Jax looked over his shoulder again to see that Liam and Burke were still busy, before grabbing the original book. "Diminuendo," he whispered and stuffed the miniature book into his robes, before replacing it with the duplicate. He turned just in time to see Liam turn from Burke and start down the steps, while Burke headed out of the room.

"Now then," said Liam, "did you bring the galleons we had discussed?"

Jax shook his head. "We didn't actually discuss galleons. Last we spoke you insulted and accosted me. Did you ever find out who was behind the decoy detonators?"

Liam pursed his lips and all but stuck his nose in the air. "No. Unfortunately, there was no evidence linking the detonators to anyone. We have our theories though."

Jax raised an eyebrow. "We? Who's we?"

"Oh," Liam blinked, "just us Unspeakables here."

"Oh," said Jax with a shrug, "I just thought it might have something to do with the Elite." Jax looked down at the book he had replaced.

"Oh, yes." Liam picked up the book and tucked it under his arm. "Sorry, I had forgotten that I left that there." But his expression was more satisfied than anything else, which told Jax that he was lying. "Now," Liam continued, "I believe we were discussing galleons."

"I have some questions first," said Jax.

Liam sighed impatiently. "Yes, what is it? Didn't the expo tell you everything you needed to know?"

Jax shoved his hands into his pockets. "Actually, the expo didn't tell me much of anything. How are you intending to use house-elf magic to bring someone back from the dead?"

Liam sighed again. "It's a complicated scientific procedure. We don't explain it to donors. Just know that we will bring people back—we just need funds to do it."

Jax crossed his arms. "I hear you, but I'm not giving you money until I know what it's for."

"I've already told you!" said Liam.

"No, you didn't," Jax told him. "I'll show myself out." And he headed for the door.

"What if I can get you a meeting with the guy in charge?"

Jax turned back toward Liam, whose eyes looked almost wild. "Aren't you the man in charge?"

"Here, yes," said Liam, "but I have someone that I answer to as well."

"I suppose that's a start," said Jax. "Set up the meeting, and then we'll talk." And he turned and headed out of the department.