Chapter 106: The Director
"The only person I know that matches your description is Healer Burke," Madam Strout said. "But it couldn't possibly be him. He's been with us for quite some time. In fact, we just celebrated his fifteen-year anniversary. No, you must be mistaken…."
Strout then walked away much to Claire and Chiara's surprise.
"Who told you about Healer Burke?" Chiara asked Claire.
Not wanting to compromise Merula's position, Claire said, "It was…Mad-Eye Moody who told me. He got the information from an informant."
"I see," Chiara said after a pause. "What are you going to do?"
"Find Burke before he hurts my brother or anyone else," Claire decided.
Claire then went to the Hospital Ward finding Penny and Talbott there. But to her surprise, Jacob wasn't in his usual bed.
"You just missed your brother," Penny said. "He went with a Mediwizard to take some last-minute tests before he's officially released from the hospital."
"He didn't seem happy about it, your brother," added Talbott.
"Jacob's never liked being cooped up in a place for too long," Claire said. "But I was wondering if either of you know a Healer named Burke. I think he's an undercover agent from 'R.'"
Penny looked surprised and turned her head slightly. "That's him over there…."
Behind Penny, Claire could see a Healer tending to a patient a few beds down. He had tan skin and wore round glasses.
"That's the Healer Talbott and I ran into when we went looking for the swan Patronus," Claire realized. "I remember he was particularly rude."
"I also noticed he had gifts under his arms," Talbott recalled. "And that was before your brother started uncontrollably laughing."
"Let's talk to him," Claire said.
"We'll back you up," Penny offered while Talbott nodded.
The three of them then walked over to the Healer with the glasses.
"Healer Burke?" Claire said, hoping she assumed the Healer's name was correct.
"Yes?" the Healer with the glasses said. "Can I help you students with something?"
"Were you delivering gifts to the patients yesterday?" Claire asked.
"Does it matter if I did?" Burke said, pointing to Penny. "She was delivering gifts too."
"But you gave me the gifts you weren't able to deliver because you had 'something else to do,'" Penny said. "That's what you told me."
"Anyway, one of the gifts was a CD case, which was left on the table of my brother Jacob, and it was cursed," Claire said.
"Cursed?" Burke looked nervous. "Are you accusing me of giving away a cursed CD case?"
"Don't play dumb and confess already!" Talbott snapped.
Instead of answering, Burke just took out his wand.
"Protect the patients!" Claire said to Penny and Talbott, taking out her ebony wand. "Stupefy!"
Stunned, Burke fell to his knees.
"Why can't you…understand?" Burke murmured.
"Understand what?" Claire asked.
"You would know if you listened to what 'R''s members have to say," Burke said. "Then you would see the light and come home to us."
Suddenly, the Dark Witch who spoke to Merula at the end of Sixth Year Apparated next to Burke. Her hair was still white and she wore the same pointed black hat. Upon seeing her, Claire realized this Dark Witch and the Metamorphmagus Merula talked about were indeed the same person as she suspected.
"You!" Claire exclaimed.
The Dark Witch Metamorphmagus then cast a spell that sent a blast of air which knocked Claire to the ground.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Claire demanded.
"It's not time," the Dark Witch Metamorphmagus stated.
Next, the Dark Witch Metamorphmagus grabbed Burke's shoulder and they Apparated away.
Later that night, Claire met up with Merula and Corey at the shore of the Black Lake.
"You were right, Merula," Claire said to Merula. "There was an undercover agent from 'R' at St. Mungo's, but he got away before I could question him further. Now I need to know who the Dark Witch Metamorphmagus is."
Merula hesitated. "I can't talk about her."
"We both want the same thing, right? To take down 'R'?" Claire reminded Merula. "If you can help me, Corey and I will make sure nothing bad happens to you."
"Absolutely!" Corey chimed in.
Rolling her eyes, Merula said, "This Dark Metamorphmagus is very high up in rank within 'R'. She's called the Director, because she's in charge of a lot of people in the organization. And earning her respect is difficult, which is why I was glad when she approached me in Knockturn Alley last year."
"Do you know anything else?"
"That's all I know, and I would have no reason to lie to you."
"Okay, I understand. This Director does sound more formidable than Rakepick."
"Rakepick was reckless and made mistakes. But the Director has never made a mistake before."
"Are you…worried about me?"
"No!" Merula snapped. "I just don't want you to do something idiotic that could blow my cover. And tell Corey to stop acting like we're friends."
Then Merula stormed off, brushing past Corey. After mulling over the information from Burke and Merula, Claire Apparated to the Ministry of Magic the following morning and told Mad-Eye Moody what she learned.
"You did a fine job," Moody complemented. "Though I fear Merula may have almost exposed herself as a double agent by appearing at St. Mungo's. I would suggest you continue to use Corey as the go-between and lookout for your private meetings with Merula. Now, in light of recent events, Professor Dumbledore and I have decided Jacob should be moved to a safe house. We need him to be ready to attend the Wizengamot trial at all costs, and we can't afford to have what happened at St. Mungo's happen again to him."
Claire was nervous. "Have you used this safe house before?"
Moody nodded. "Yes, and no one would think to look for your brother there."
With Moody in tow, Claire made her way back to St. Mungo's into the Hospital Ward where Jacob was waiting with Madam Strout.
To be continued…