To Tickle A Dragon
By JK Fie'r
Disclaimer: I don't own The Bill or Harry Potter.
Warnings: Kiwi spelling
Other notes:
JK: Don't be afraid to hit the review button and tell me what you think. I don't care if you flame me (I've even bought a packet of marshmallows just for the occasion), I just want to know what you think. To those who have reviewed already, thank you. I'd do a reply section about here-ish, but there're a few rumours going around about those who reply in the story part getting suspended. So, even though I want to reply to any unsigned reviews, I can't. Sorry!
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Chapter Four: nunquam ora equii gratum inspice
Subtitled: Never Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth
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There was, Gina decided, something incredibly creepy about Legilimency. 'Hearing' what other people were thinking, sometimes being able to access their memories…
Shudder.
Still, once she'd learnt how to control it, so she only picked up on surface thoughts, it could be a rather fun ability: something she could seriously use to her advantage, in many and varied ways.
Scaring subordinates, to name but one. And everybody passed by her office at least once a day, it was right in the middle of the station, it was practically impossible to get through the hours without taking a route that went in front of the room at one point or another.
P.C. Best was thinking about his grandmother moving into a home, and wondering if he could get the day off next week to help transport her possessions.
That was dealt with easily enough. A few quick clicks on the computer, and the roster for the next six weeks was tweaked. Good thing she'd found out about it now, something like that could have become could have been highly annoying in a few hours.
Sgt. Ackland was mulling over a case.
Something about a wife-beater, pretty serious too. She'd better leave that one alone, there were some things that just shouldn't be done, and ribbing Saint June about her work when the Hot Chocolate (not, as some helpful young P.C. on the B Relief had written 'Chocate'. Some people…) wasn't working on the machine was one of them. Gina had learnt her lesson the last time that had happened.
P.C. Carver was busying himself with thoughts about what he'd say at his next AA meeting.
"Stiff upper lip Carver. Remember: One day at a time…"
Carver stopped, blinked once in surprise at Gina, and then nodded.
"Thank you ma'am."
P.C. Tony Stamp had settled down in the canteen to ponder the meaning of life over a cup of coffee.
"Anthony?" Gina called from the entranceway, doors still swinging behind her.
"Yes ma'am," he answered, in the distinct mixture of cheerful and neutral that characterised his voice.
"Why aren't you out on patrol?"
"I'm having a cup of coffee ma'am. I've been out all morni-"
"I don't care about that Tony; what I do care about is the fact that both you and P.C. Taviner have decided that now would make a good time for a coffee break, and since you've been here longer…"
Trail off, wait, let him draw his own conclusions.
Tony reluctantly put down his coffee.
"Ma'am," he replied, the cheerfulness subdued.
Even without the Legilimency, Gina could have read the voice – and facial expression – like a book.
Resignation/Duty/Darn, and this was a good cuppa too…
Merlin, the man had no idea how much he gave away, just in his body language.
"Oh, all right, you can finish your coffee first. Three minutes Tony."
"Ma'am!"
The happiness was back.
One-and-a-three-quarter minutes later, and P.C. Stamp was scuttling out of the canteen.
Oh yeah. Legilimency was still creepy to use, but one should never look a gift horse in the mouth.
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JK: Another short chapter, I'm afraid, with nothing about the wizard-murder in it again. Of course, I never intended to make it a major plot point, but the bunnies are mauling, and…
…Reviews help me write more…