Professor Finnigan

Part 1

Rescue

Chapter 2

Reconnaissance

Lavender looked through the omnioculars at the compound. It was centered around what appeared to be a nineteenth-century French manor house.

"Guard posts at the corners and gate, and they're the same three guards as last night," Seamus said from her side. "They're doing the same fifteen minute rotation too. Not much in the way of defense."

"Arseholes are more concerned with the kids escaping than an attack," she said. "Still, be careful, Shay. Don't come in wand blazing until I give the signal, alright, love?"

"Oh, I'll be careful, you just see to yourself," he said. "I still get a little tense when you do this kind of thing, Lav. You're not invulnerable or immortal, so don't get too caught up in the moment. I want me wife back in me bed tonight."

She smiled and kissed him. "I'm always careful, love."

He grinned. "Is that so, is it? How'd you wind up adding to your little collection o' scars then?"

She looked to him coyly. "Those were just grazes. Besides," — and she stroked her hand down his side and kissed his neck — "you like my scars," her hot breath whispered in his ear.

He chuckled. "That I do." He cupped her cheek and stroked it with his thumb. "That I do. Go get 'em, love."

She kissed him again, and then walked away toward the road that led to the compound.

-~####

Alfred was as dependable as he was thick, Lavender found. Three days later the goblins of Gringotts let Harry know that there was a letter in Selene Wolfe's post box. Lavender, along with Seamus, Harry, Hermione, and Allan Wheaton, the Minister for Magic, were sitting in the Minister's office.

The Minister, a stout man with a full head of grey-black hair, leaned forward on his desk and looked at Lavender over the top of his glasses. "Harry has briefed me on the operation so far, Lavender. I'm a bit concerned that you all intend her to do this solo," he said. "You're a very valuable resource, not to mention a good friend. I'd like you to reconsider the manner in which you wish to carry out the infiltration."

"I'll be fine, Minister," Lavender said. "Seamus and I will do our typical thorough surveillance before we move in. From what Hermione and I have been able to glean, it's a mostly Muggle operation with a wizard at the top."

"A wizard who was a follower of Grindelwald," he said. "They're just as bad as the Death Eaters, Lavender, ruthless and deadly. Don't get too confident."

Hermione saw her friend tense and laid her hand on Lavender's. "Allan, you know as well as any of us, if they let her in the door it's all over for them. You've seen what she can do. Even without resorting to her wolf form she can take any Auror in the department in seconds. Lavender will be fine, they won't stand a chance."

"I appreciate your confidence, Hermione, and I share it, but there's always the unforeseen circumstance." He turned to Lavender and Seamus. "I've spoken to the Mugwump, and to the security seven in the Wizengamot. They've cleared you for any action you see fit to take." His voice softened. "You're not our assassin, Lavender, we know that. But we also know how you feel and react to this type of thing, so just do what has to be done." He smiled. "But please, don't make too much of a mess," he said, pleadingly. "And on that note, I'd like a backup team with you."

"Who'd you have in mind, sir?" Seamus asked.

The Minister looked thoughtful. "I was thinking Ron Weasley and Cal U-Dalley? How do you feel about that?"

Lavender looked at the Minister. She had always liked Allan, and knew he was looking out for her, but she was never one to like being coddled. "As long as they stay well back and don't compromise my cover, okay. Are you sure you want to send our African Exchange Auror on this?"

The Minister smirked, apparently at some private joke. "Oh yes, I'm sure."

Lavender shrugged. "Okay then. Seamus and I will use the coins to keep them current when we're in position, will that be all right?"

The Minister nodded. "Yes, that should work well. They're in France, are they? Well, I can see I'll be making some apologies to the French Ministry when this is all over," he said with a laugh. "You may have to make another one of those grip and grin tours, Harry."

Harry rolled his eyes and nodded. The "grip and grin tour" was their euphemism for having to meet all the higher ups in some foreign country, shake their hands, and tell the story of how he defeated Voldemort for the thousandth time. "Of course, sir," he said in an overly dramatic voice.

The Minister laughed in his deep baritone. "Alright, alright," he said as leaned back in his chair. "You'll have the Portkeys you'll need to get there and back?"

"Yes, sir," Harry said. "We're arranging a direct key to Nantua, and an open destination key back, so they can take the rescued kids where ever they need to go."

"Good thinking, Harry. You four are some of the best agents we've ever had in the department. Take good care of my… assets, would you?" he said with a grin. "Now, get out of my office and go kick evil's arse… again."

"Yes sir. Thanks." Harry said.

-~####

The guard stepped from his little shack and leveled his Muggle gun at Lavender as she approached. "Bonjour Mademoiselle…?" he asked.

"Wolfe," she replied. The few Aurors in the department that knew had thought her covert persona's name was screamingly funny. "Selene Wolfe."

"Ah yes, Mademoiselle Wolfe. We were told to expect you." He lowered his weapon and opened the gate. "I did not 'ear a car?"

Lavender smiled. "I didn't use one."

The guard nodded in comprehension. "Ah yes, I see. We are not often graced by a witch, and never one of such beauty." He turned and started walking towards the building. "If you will follow me, the director will see to your needs."

Lavender looked at him askance. "You're aware of my business?"

"Oh, no mademoiselle, I am only a guard. What the director and the master do is their business, and I try to know as little as possible. My wife told me to. It keeps me safe."

And she just saved your life, Lavender thought. "What's your name?"

"Claude."

"Well, Claude, here's what I want you to do." She had palmed her wand, and he didn't even see her level it at his head. "Obliviate! You won't remember me; you won't remember anything that happens tonight. When all hell breaks loose in a little while, you will run home and thank your lucky stars that you weren't killed in the fire that leveled this place. If you encounter a red-headed man, an Irishman, or a black man coming from the woods you will say, 'Lavender says let me go.' Got that?"

He stared blankly into the night. "Run 'ome, if I meet a red-headed man, Irishman, or a black man say, 'Lavender says let me go'."

"Perfect, Claude. Oh, and you will make passionate love to your wife," she said with a grin.

"Yes, mademoiselle, make passionate love to Clair." A hint of a smile played on his face.

"Good boy." She flicked her wand up once, and then it disappeared back under her robes.

Claude stumbled, and shook his head. "I'm sorry, mademoiselle, what was I saying?"

Lavender smiled. "Nothing, Claude. Just how much you love your wife."

He smiled so broadly that Lavender could see it from behind. "Ah, oui, mademoiselle, I am counting the hours till I return to her."

They had reached the great doors to the house. "You're a good man, Claude. Take good care of her."

"Of course, mademoiselle," he said, and then rang the door bell. "The director is expecting you, and he should be with you shortly." Claude turned and strode back towards the guard shack.

-~####

Ms. Wolfe,

My business contacts say they can easily meet your needs. Proceed to Nantua in the French Alps. Make contact with Philippe, the barista at the Angelic Coffee House.

Alfred

Seamus sat on the bed and turned to his wife. "So, we're set to go?"

Lavender was brushing out her hair at the vanity in their room. "Yes, Harry's got the Portkeys ready, Ron and Cal have been in place for two days now, and our rooms are reserved in Nantua." She turned to her husband. "We haven't been to France on holiday since the honeymoon, I do wish we weren't going on business." She shot him a glance that told him how she'd rather spend a week in France.

Seamus looked across the room at his wife. Even after twenty years, his heart still swelled with so much love for her that it sometimes made it a little hard for him to breathe. "Well, maybe we can get the Potters and Weasleys to take the kids on a little cultural tour soon, then we'd get paid to go."

"You are such an Irishman!' she said, as she rose from her chair and walked across their bedroom to him. "We do get compensated rather well for providing security for the kids. We can afford it on our own you know."

She sat in his lap and he gathered her in his arms. "You're right," he said with a sigh. "I am an Irishman." She slapped his arm. Seamus hugged her tighter and fell back on the bed, then he turned her to face him. "Let's look into it, Lav, we could use a bit of a holiday. We've traveled all over the world, but it's always been on business. We never have time to just take it in. I'd like to go back to Japan again." He smiled at the memory. "Tokyo was amazing, the Ginzu district, brilliant, and you could say hello to Master Siato."

"That'd be great, Shay, and we could pop over to China and look in on Masters Po and Ding." There was a sparkle in her eyes as she thought about it. "We'd have to make sure the kids were properly looked after before we go anywhere though."

Seamus recognized the look and her tone. "Mam wolf doesn't like leaving the cubs, I know." He kissed her. "You are aware that Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Harry are four fairly capable witches and wizards, aren't you? I think they can handle us being gone for a few weeks. They're handling this week okay."

"That's because the only ones not at school are Lily and Hugo." She smiled wistfully. "What are we going to do with ourselves when they're all at school?"

"How do you feel about teaching?" he asked, softy and seriously.

She looked at him with her puzzled expression that always made him laugh "What do you mean?"

He chuckled to a stop. "Dadelus is thinking about retiring. He's been DADA professor for almost fifteen years, and he's frankly getting on a bit. We were talking the other day and he suggested you." Seamus lit up as he talked. "Hogwarts duty isn't like it was; the professors can have a personal life now, look at Nev and Hannah. You'd be perfect, Lav. You know more about defense and fighting than anybody."

"Oh, I'm sure the governors would be delighted with the thought of another werewolf as DADA teacher. It went so well the last time," she said sarcastically.

He ran his hand down her cheek. "I think they'd be thrilled to have you; the kids certainly would. There wouldn't be one in the class that didn't grow up with 'The Good Wolf' on their nightstand. You know that." He stroked her hair. "We've done our bit, Lav. This is a game for the young, and like it or not, we're nearly forty."

"Speak for yourself," she said, haughtily. "I've been twenty-eight for ten years now."

"Yeah, and you're just as beautiful as the day I married you." He drew her into a kiss. His hand snaked its way up her side and slid under her blouse.

"Mmm, you'll mess my hair," she said, but didn't pull away.

"I'll brush it out for you."

"You'll wrinkle my clothes."

"I do own a wand," he said, as he kissed his way down her neck.

"That you do."

-~####

The short, fat man who answered the door was momentarily stunned by the beautiful woman that stood in the doorway. He started to speak, sputtered and started again. "B-bonjour… a… Miss Wolfe, 'ow was your trip?"

Lavender presented her business face. "Pleasant, but my time is precious. I'm here to purchase some stock, and I'm given to understand that you can provide what I need."

"Oh yes, miss. We can provide boys and girls of any age and coloring," the man replied enthusiastically as he held the door for her to pass. "We 'ave examined the list of requests you forwarded through Alfred, and I believe we 'ave the… 'ow did you put it… units you require."

You're a dead man. "Excellent. Well, shall we examine my requests?" she said with a smile, and strode into the entryway.

"Certainly, but first you must have a sample of the local vineyards," he said as he gestured for her to accompany him to a nearby room.

"Oh, if you insist," she said in a slightly exasperated tone. "You are 'the Director' then."

"Yes, Miss Wolfe, I am Director LaBeau. I will be representing the master in our dealings."

"Very good, and the rest of your staff can be counted on for their discretion?"

He smiled as he poured a glass of deep red liquor for each of them. "Absolutely, only the house staff is aware of our particular industry, and we pay them enough to ensure their loyalty. Also, there is the master who, as I'm sure you know, is quite capable of making them regret any transgressions."

"I don't suppose there will be a meeting between us?" she asked.

"The master values his solitude and anonymity, Miss Wolfe. He does not meet clients."

"I understand." She took her glass and sniffed. This assignment is going to completely spoil me. The glass contained another spectacular wine. The sobriety potion she had taken moments before approaching the gates would ensure that none of the alcohol would enter her system. "Spectacular nose," she said, and took a sip. "Very nice. Local you say?"

"Yes, just down the valley from Nantua is the vineyard." He smiled and sipped from his glass. "We get first choice of the bottling, and the master loves this.

"I'll have to pick up a case before I go then. Thank you, Monsieur LaBeau, but now, to business."

You English," he said smiling, "you 'ave never perfected the art of enjoying life the way we French 'ave. It's a great pity to rush through pleasures such as this. However," — he set his glass on a table — "if you will follow me…."

-~####

The Portkey dropped them in a grove of trees outside the town of Nantua. Harry had asked his Muggle cousin to reserve rooms at two different hotels. One hotel would be the base for Lavender and Seamus, the other for Ron and Cal. The sun was rising over the Alps as they made their way to the hotel by the lake. Lavender stopped at the window of a shop they were passing.

"You know, after we check in and drop our things off at the hotel, I'd like to come back here," she said to Seamus.

He looked at her questioningly. "Why's that, love?"

She smiled warmly at him and inclined her head at the shop window. "Just look at these shoes. That pair of red pumps would go great with those new dress robes that Padma designed."

"Just how many pairs of shoes do you own anyway?" he said laughing.

"Not enough," she said, looking confused that he would ask such a silly question.

He chuckled and nodded his head. "Alright, but on the way back here we have to stop at a bakery. I'm a bit peckish."

"Food and shoes. We're a pair, aren't we?" she said with a smile.

"No regrets?" he asked.

"Never once," she said, and kissed him.

The hotel sat at the water's edge. Their balcony overlooked the lake, and the Alps were reflected in its calm surface. As Lavender sorted her clothes into the dresser, Seamus held his wand to the coin on the chain around his neck.

"In place," he muttered, and the coin glowed momentarily. "Okay, Ron and Mister U-Dalley know we're here, let's get something to eat."

Lavender crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him. "What do you fancy?"

Seamus looked at her and smiled. "Staying in bed all day, but I think we should probably do some reconnaissance. Do you reckon we can find that boulangerie we passed on the way here?

"There's a shoe shop just down the street from it. Trust me, I'll find it."

Not only did the little bakery they found have a broad assortment of breads and pastries, but they had a small selection of meats as well, for luncheons. With Italy just a short train ride away the prosciutto and various salamis were marvelous. They sat in the small square just outside the bakery, and nibbled on the meats and bread. A shared sweet roll passed for afters, and they were on their way again. Lavender indeed found the little shoe shop, and Seamus reluctantly parted with the rather steep price for the red pumps she wanted. She did promise him that he would view the shoes in an entirely different light after she wore them for him that evening.

The business district of Nantua was fairly small, and they had no trouble finding the "Angelic Coffee House" among the restaurants and ski outfitters on the high street. They noted its location, and with that out of the way went on to look for the place where the children could be held. The initial reconnaissance revealed that they were not being held in Nantua. There was just too much tourist traffic and general hustle and bustle to hide an operation of that kind. But in questioning one of the local gendarmes, who would never remember the conversation, they had found that in the nearby village of Charix one of the older chateaux had been turned into a kind of compound. The local law enforcement suspected something was going on there, but they had no evidence, and therefore could not proceed any farther.

"Ahh, sure and we'll find out for you then," Seamus had told the officer just before he took the memory. "If it's who we think it is you'll be very happy you talked to us, me lad."

"Off to Charix?" Lavender asked as they stepped out of the police station.

Seamus considered her for a moment. "Yeah, but let's do a glamour on you at least so you're not familiar to anyone when you go back as Selene.

She smiled. "Good idea, and let's take a cab up. The more we act like Muggles the less attention they'll pay to us."

They ducked into an alleyway and Apparated back to their room at the hotel. After working out what Lavender would look like, Seamus performed the charms. In minutes Pansy Parkinson was staring out from under Katie Bell's hair.

"Next time I see Pan I'll have to tell her she should let her hair grow out. This looks great," Lavender said. "She's always kept it in that bob she wore in school. It's easy to take care of that way, but not as flattering as it would be if it was long like this."

"I still can't get over how much she changed. What'd you guys do, spell a new personality into her?" Seamus asked.

Lavender smiled. "No, my love, we just showed her the difference between right and wrong. You know I could keep this up for a while tonight," she said, with her mischievous grin on Pansy's face.

"I like making love to me wife, there's no one more beautiful to me than her," Seamus said, looking deep in her eyes.

"Well then, let's get this recon trip out of the way Mr. Finnigan," she said in her commanding voice.

He laughed. "Absolutely Mrs. Finnigan; I'll call a cab."

-~####

Director LaBeau led her through the old chateau. As they passed from room to room Lavender noted the defenses. The entry way let into a series of rooms. There had been no central hall like there was in most English mansions, just rooms that led from one to another. They had taken a door out of the lounge that they had been in, through a sitting room, a reading room, one that looked like perhaps it was a game room, and then to what was obviously a dining room for the children. A long table sat in the middle of the room, and chairs of varying heights sat next to it. The room was plain save for the row of windows on one long wall, and an old buffet against the opposite wall. There were two tall chairs next to the doors that led out. One for the kitchen, Lavender surmised, and one to the barracks. The director went to one of the doors and pulled a ring of keys from his pocket.

"They are of course guarded, but we keep these locked in case there is a problem. I'm sure you understand," he said to her.

How shall I kill you? Let's see, rip your throat out? Take your head? Eviscerate you? she thought as she smiled sweetly at him. "Of course," she said.

"In your request from Alfred we noticed you asked for a magical child. Does it matter what sex?" Director LaBeau asked as he unlocked the door.

Lavender raised an eyebrow. "Not in the least. You have one?"

He practically clapped his hands in glee, and he turned to face her. "Yes mademoiselle. Just this month we acquired a girl from Sweden. She speaks English well enough and is quite pretty. In the neighborhood of eight or nine, I believe." He turned to the door and swung it open. A flight of stairs greeted them. "As you can imagine, the price for her will be substantial."

Lavender was thankful his back was turned because her wolfself pushed forward in a fury, and she was sure it would have been visible. Not yet, my sweet. Just wait a little bit longer. She cleared her throat so the next thing she said didn't come out as a growl. "And my other requests?" she said.

"Oh those are easy," replied the director as he began to ascend the stairs. "We always have plenty on hand. It's really so simple. Except for Britain and the U.S., acquisition is a small matter. The most difficult part is typically transport. The master does some, but only when necessary, and that service is… how do you English put it? Oh yes, quite dear."

"I can imagine," Lavender said. "As you might have surmised, I'll be taking care of my own transport."

They reached a landing at the top of the stairs, and the director knocked three times. "Director LaBeau with a client," he said to the door. There was the sound of locks being unlatched, and the door swung open to reveal a heavily armed Muggle guard.

"Welcome to our sales floor, Mademoiselle Wolfe."

-~####

Charix was small. It reminded Lavender of Seamus's home town of Cill Fhion'ian, just a collection of houses surrounding a small town square with a few shops. Seamus paid the driver and asked if he would be available in a few hours to drive them back to Nantua. After a quick bargaining session the driver agreed that two hundred euros would be a sufficient reservation fee.

"He'll be at the pub," Seamus told Lavender. "Hope he's sober enough to drive us back."

"Bistro, Shay," she said, rolling her eyes. "God, you're such an Irishman."

"Aye, and you love me for it too," he said in full brogue, with a wink.

Lavender couldn't help but laugh. She loved this man, and his sense of humor was one of the many reasons. "Alright Mr. Irish, lets see if we can find this place."

"As me lady wishes," he said, with a smile and a bow.

The search was short. The first try was the local greengrocer, and after chatting with the assistant for a few minutes they found that he did a weekly delivery to a large chateau just south of the little village. He was disturbed by the seeming hostility of the residents of the place. Guards met him at the gates, and would unload the fruits, vegetables, and dry goods from his little three wheeled delivery scooter. Then they would shoo him on his way. What concerned him was that some of the dry goods consisted of children's breakfast cereal, and he never saw any children. Lavender thanked him for his directions to the place, and then swept the memory of the two of them from his mind.

They bought a small package of pears, apples, and grapes from the man, and a bottle of wine and some cheese from the shop next door. Armed with the small picnic, they made their way out of the little village and up into the foothills overlooking the town. After about an hour they were standing on a hill with a perfect view of the chateau. The sun hung low in the late September sky as Lavender drew a large blanket from her bag. She spread it on the ground while Seamus cast a series of concealment charms.

"Think it's them?" he asked.

Lavender considered the chateau. "Full fence, guards at the gate, deliveries of kids' food, and no kids in sight. No play equipment, no bikes, yeah, it's a pretty good bet this is them."

"Well, this'll be one of the nicer stakeouts we've been on," he said as he pulled two wine glasses from his satchel and set them on the blanket. "Beats the shit out of that castle in Scotland we had to watch. Blimey that was bloody awful."

Lavender snuggled up to him. "As I recall we had a great deal of fun warming back up."

Seamus smiled at the memory. "Okay, it wasn't all bad, but it was arse numbing cold and wet," he said, and he pulled the cork from the wine with a wave of his wand. The bottle tipped and filled the two glasses. The glasses floated over to them and Lavender picked hers out of the air.

"I've had more great wine on this assignment than I've had in years," she said as she gazed through blood red liquid. "Even an average bottle from around here is special. What did he say this was?"

Seamus assumed a fake French accent that Lavender found hysterical considering his already pronounced Irish accent. "Ahh, mademoiselle, these is a very fine vintage from a local winery. Only the luckiest of the tourists get to taste these."

As long as Seamus lived he would never tire of hearing Lavender laugh. She laughed unabashedly, starting with a titter that moved on to squeaks as it took hold, and then full on guffaws. He was never prouder of himself than when he was able to make her snort.

"I think they'd shoot you, or maybe themselves, if they heard how badly you massacre French," she said as she regained her composure. She took a sip. "He was right, though, this is very good. Not as good as that bottle Hermione and I shared two weeks ago, but very good."

"Is it?" he said with a shrug. "You're the one with the nose, I can never tell. As long as it's not bitter or sour I'm good."

"Cretin," she said with a smile.

"Aye, me love, and you can't help but love me anyway, can you?"

"More than you can imagine, Seamus Finnigan," she said, and they settled back, sipped some wine, ate some fruit and cheese, and watched the chateau.

Very little happened that day. The next morning they Apparated directly to their stakeout position and within moments they had confirmation that they were on the right trail. Shortly after seven-thirty a large woman led a group of young children from a side door out into an area within the fence surrounding the chateau. Four men with dogs took up positions away from the kids, but close enough to make sure the children knew where they were.

"They'll be in for a surprise," Lavender said, indicating the dog handlers.

Seamus chuckled. "I still remember the first time I saw you stare down a guard dog. How'd you learn to do that?"

"There was no learning to it, it's part of the whole package. Dogs just do what I tell them to." A feral grin spread on her face. "To them I'm The alpha female."

"Even after twenty years, I still get to learn something new about you," he said, with genuine love in his voice.

They watched as the woman they christened 'the matron' made the children run a few laps around the yard and then do some exercises. After that she let them do what they wanted for about ten minutes, then she ushered them back into the building. The same thing happened an hour later with a group of older kids. There were three more dog handlers with this group and Seamus took note of a few of the older boys. When the time came, he'd put them to work.

The process repeated at three in the afternoon. Then a shift change took place at five, and the day crew that guarded the gates and patrolled the fence was replaced.

"Looks like twelve hour shifts," Seamus said, and huffed. "Where'd they find guys that'd work for twelve straight hours?"

Lavender shrugged. "Times are tough. The Muggles are still dealing with the global depression. It's only got better for them in the last year or so," — she shook her head — "so it probably wasn't that hard finding people to do this kind of work." Her voice became fierce. "Bad career choice though."

Seamus smirked and nodded.

At ten P.M. the lights went out all over the compound except for the ones on the gate and the perimeter fence.

"Guess that's a day. Do you want to come back for one more tomorrow?" Lavender asked Seamus.

He nodded. "Yeah, I want to make sure I can recognize the players, and see if they beef up the levels when they know you're coming."

-~####

The guard backed up into a small office-like area at the top of the stairs, and sat in a chair next to a window that looked into a large common room. Another door led into the common room, and small groups of children sat at tables in the room playing games, drawing, and reading. There were doors lining the walls of the room, and Lavender could see through some of the open doors that these were the children's bedrooms.

The director looked to the guard. "Inspection, Petar."

The guard nodded, stepped to the desk and pressed a button mounted on a small square wooden plate. A chime sounded in the room with the children; they rose from their seats and made their way to their assigned rooms.

When the last of the children had entered their rooms a series of loud clacks sounded as heavy bolts shot home into the locks on the doors.

"For your safety, mademoiselle," Director Labeau said. They stepped into the common room and he motioned to a small window looking into one of the rooms. "Now your first request was for a girl, aged eight to ten, blonde, with passable French. We have two. First there is Genevieve." He indicated a pretty blonde girl sitting on a bed in the first room. He ushered Lavender from room to room, showing her the children that fitted her request list. As he did so, she planned her attack.