Chapter 18

Indira decided to wear a dark grey skirt suit today. The tone perhaps reflected the somber task she had, but also helped to blend in with the Muggle crowd. She was escorting Agent Jareau to the magical district, something the FBI agent wouldn't have been able to do on her own. They were going to walk there, both women agreeing they could do with the fresh air in the still relatively early morning. Indira walked up the stairs, her heels clicking against the metal, her hands in her pockets. She stood by herself for a while, staring out at everything around. The day was so still, the sky a clear blue, not even a breath of a breeze stirring the air. It was the complete anthesis of what was going on in Indira's head. She had tried to sleep, it never came, despite the exhaustion she felt. She couldn't stop thinking about Lucy, about how young she was, about how wonderful she was. The girl had spent most of her career under Indira's wing and now the senior witch couldn't imagine doing her job without her. It had been like hell this morning, telling the rest of the staff and the student body about the death. Amber had hit them hard and they were barely on their feet again when this blow had sent them tumbling to the ground again. There had been silence for almost a full minute and Indira, who couldn't take it, had had to leave the hall.

Now Indira stood at the top of the stairs, waiting for JJ to join her. The younger woman came only five minutes later and they departed for the magical district, falling into step beside each other. Both had their hands in their pockets, despite the fact that the sun was shining. As they turned a corner, Indira noticed how her companion was frowning.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Indira said, her voice slow and measured, "but I had figured that it was part of your training to learn not to blame yourself."

JJ gave a small laugh and threw her head backwards, gazing up at the sky.

"Can you magic people read minds now?" she said.

"I'm a teacher," Indira said, "I've seen years and years of self-doubt. Although I can read minds when I want to."

JJ, unsure whether she was joking or not, just smiled and nodded. Then she sighed.

"It's basically the first thing they teach you when you apply to the Bureau," she explained, "If something goes wrong, you can not blame yourself. And I don't, not usually and not now. But there's always a tiny bit of doubt, isn't there? Always that little voice that says "what if you were there, Jennifer? What if you had made it on time?" I can't help but feel that I could've done something. I liked Lucy. I liked her a lot."

"You're the profiler," Indira said, "Tell me, is the person we're looking for at all dangerous?"

"Very."

"Then I suppose we should be thankful that we weren't there. The body count could've been much higher."

JJ nodded, though there was still a little bitterness in her expression.

"There is always that." she said quietly.

They made their way to the souvenir shop that acted as the entrance to the magical world. It was called "Magic Mementos" and was a medium sized building with painted black bricks. JJ followed Indira as the older woman pushed open the shop door, curious as to what would happen. There was the sound of a bell as they stepped inside. JJ looked around and was slightly disappointed. On the shelves were tiny models of various buildings from around the city, as well as keychains and various witchcraft related items, all designed for tourists who had too much time and money to spend. It was currently devoid of customers. Indira must've sensed JJ's disappointment, because she whispered, "you ain't seen nothing yet, kid" and went off towards one of the display racks, a smile on her face. She went over to the key rings and scanned up and down the rows. She took one down and walked back to JJ, swinging the ring around on her finger. It was a simple silver chain and the charm attached to it was, actually, a key, a small golden one. JJ blinked and looked back at the rack; she hadn't seen those for sale. Indira gave a small laugh and went over to the counter. The youth standing there, a tall, gangly young man with black hair that was far too long, looked up as she approached.

"Just this," Indira said sweetly, placing the key down.

The youth looked down at the key and then up at JJ, his eyes filled with a questioning look.

"She's with me," Indira said in response.

He nodded and said "two then."

Indira reached into her coat pocket and pulled out two coins. At first JJ thought they were normal American dollar coins, but she noticed they were slightly smaller and, when Indira handed them to the man, they appeared to shine with a slight purple hue.

"American Wizarding Dollars," Indira whispered to the Muggle as the money was deposited in the till.

The key was handed back and then, to JJ's surprise, Indira started to walk towards the changing rooms. The man behind the counter didn't blink an eyelid at this, so JJ ran after her. When they had turned the corner into the row of changing rooms, each small cubicle covered with a pale blue curtain, Indira stopped and turned to JJ.

"You're going to have to hold my hand for a bit," she said, "Muggles can't see certain things, so you're probably going to feel a little disorientated."

She held out her hand.

"Do you trust me?"

JJ gave a grin and took it.

"Do I have any choice?" she said.

Indira laughed.

"No, not really."

The witch led JJ towards the end of the row. She got to the full length mirror that hung on the grey wall that signaled the boundaries of the changing room. Then she kept walking. Right through the mirror. JJ almost let go in surprise, but felt her companion's fingers tighten around her own as the older woman glided through the glass. JJ followed, watching, with a slight tingle of fear, as her own hand slipped through the mirror, the reflection eating up the reality, merging them together. She felt a weight on her arm as it passed through, like something was trying to keep her out; given what Indira had told her, perhaps something was. As her body went through, it was squeezed and, for a moment, JJ was sure she had stopped breathing. When she made it to the other side it was like stepping off a crowded train, into the fresh air.

The other side of the wall could've been an extension of the changing rooms. The same grey walls stretched out, at the end of which was a door. Indira dropped the agent's hand and looked at her with a gentle smile.

"Make it through okay?" she inquired.

"Yeah," JJ nodded, slightly out of breath, "I'm fine."

"If you don't mind my asking," Indira said, "what did you see?"

"A mirror?" JJ replied, confused.

"Ah, of course," Indira said, "Logical."

"You mean you couldn't see it?" JJ said incredulously.

"No," Indira said, as it was the most normal thing in the world, "that's magic for you."

She walked to the end and pushed the key she had purchased into the keyhole of the door.

Beckoning for JJ to come closer, she said, "this will take us to the magical district."

Then, sounding hopeful, she added, "you've never travelled by Floo powder, have you?"

JJ shook her head.

"Probably just as well," Indira said, "This isn't exactly the same thing; since there's only one destination the powder incantation isn't required."

She turned the key and pulled open the door, then took the key out again and slipped it into her pocket. The door opened onto what looked like a tiny cupboard, covered in black marble tiles. Upon looking inside, JJ saw there was no floor or ceiling. She turned to Indira, a look of acute apprehension on her face.

"Nothing to worry about," Indira said warmly, "Just step in and it will do the rest. I'll be right behind you."

Still rather unsure, JJ took a deep breath and took a step into the room, one foot after another, as if she was jumping into a swimming pool. However, instead of falling, she found herself being pulled upwards and, before she knew it, she was swirling and tumbling around in darkness, completely unable to tell where she was going.