A short chapter that somehow took me two weeks to write. No Sage in this one but plans are coming to light.
Disclaimer: With the pressure of the seventh book release hanging over her, thankfully I'm not J.K. Rowling.
The man was dressed in casual muggle dress, a long black overcoat covering a shabby shirt. He was waiting on a balcony of a disused London apartment building overlooking an old church. He had seen his associate only a few hours ago, but then they had not been at liberty to speak and no message had been sent yet they both knew where to meet. The place was a Death Eaters hideout, one of several in London alone, its previous owners had been a pair of illegal immigrants and nobody had found their bodies and nobody had cared about their disappearance. It was similar, in fact, to the one in which, the man had heard, Severus Snape made his unbreakable vow in the presence of Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy.
As the man expected he was waiting barely twenty minutes before a small creature emerged from the shadows engulfing the unlit room behind him. He looked over at the flea-bitten, scrawny and scarred cat with half an ear missing in some disgust.
"You look dreadful, Legimin." He said in an unpleasant mocking voice. He despised the man secretly but had to acknowledge his brains and undeniable skill and in the interest of the dark lords plans had to work with him.
"Well perhaps its guilt" Legimin replied with a twisted ugly smile. He had now come back to human form. "Or perhaps in the interest of my task I've neglected the need to eat"
"There is food inside, help yourself, but first we need to talk about where this…project is going" the man in the overcoat said, he was staring into the night.
"And here I was thinking you wanted to discuss the Chudley Cannons surprise victory" Legimin replied with that sinister smile spreading across his lips.
"Where is the boy now?" the other man replied abruptly.
"Oh they broke into another empty muggles house, used a brick to smash the back door's window instead of using magic, just in case" Legimin cackled slightly at this but stopped as the other man gave him a sharp look. "Don't worry I know where to find them."
"So what exactly happened tonight?" the man said, coming to the point of the conversation.
"You were there?" Legimin enquired.
"Under invisibility cloak, I sent the dementors they were promised, to test the boy. He's quite a talent, the car explosion was unexpected and I lost track of them. I didn't see all that went on in the tent either."
"Not trusting me to do the job then" Legimin replied. It was a statement rather than an accusation.
"You know as much as I that we need to work together on this delicate operation" he looked at the starved and wretched face of his companion" the boy was a fool tonight, he almost got himself killed, we have spent too long planning this for this boy to throw it all away".
"Yes, it was an incredibly bold move on the boy's behalf, it threw me off guard too, I must admit" Legimin said thoughtfully "though the result was undeniably spectacular, not only did he escape but he also succeeded in blowing up a street and to the ministry's knowledge killed a senior Auror."
"So you did succeed in killing Danielle Aukartivitsky" the man stated.
"I knew I'd get her one day but I didn't imagine it would be in such a glorious circumstance" Legimin replied with a menacing grin.
"I suppose it had to happen sooner or later but such death was highly expected"
"Yes, it brings the entire plan forward the ministry will be after blood on this one now"
"It complicates the matter; discreet protection will not be enough if the boy tries anything remotely reckless" the man said, concern in his voice.
"Ah well, here's the interesting thing, the boy saw the photographs of the crime scene and as you said the kids got talent"
"You think he'll go after Iceberg".
"Given tonight's events and given that the boy has the right information and means I would say it was inevitable" Legimin was leaning over the railings as he spoke with that grin still on his face " The boy has to struggle for survival he'll do any anything and fall into the trap further and further. This is where the girl comes in."
"I was wondering whether their meeting was your construct or chance"
"Yes, amazing what a simple imperius Curse can do" Legimin replied darkly "I believe she could be of some use here"
"How is that?" the other man growled.
"Well I believe the boy will be rather concerned for her safety and as I said the ministry wants blood".
"You seem to have this all planned out" the other man said showing in his voice the closest to admiration to Legimin than he ever would.
"You just leave that side to me and our friend" Legimin said "By this time tomorrow the boy should be under our mercy and there is an annoying little problem I'll get him to stamp out, then you and Bellatrix can have a ball"
"Excellent I shall inform her immediately" The man replied tonelessly "please eat Legimin and then resume your duty. I shall expect a report when the boy is on the move"
"As you wish" Legimin sneered.
The man again stared out into the red sky. Red sky in the morning, Sheppard's warning. There was a storm coming.
Reviews are always appreciated.
Next chapter- Back to Sage as he comes to terms with previos events and plans his next move unaware of the net closing in around him.