Chapter 12: Lunch With Rob
James broke his plans with Lily immediately, apologising over and over.
"It's really fine, James," she repeated for the tenth time. "You can have lunch with me anytime, this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Go for it!"
"But-"
"No buts. Go already!"
She kissed her husband on the cheek and went back to her desk work.
James followed Khyana and Kelria out of Ministry, all three of them eager and excited about the meeting with Rob.
"So how exactly did you find out about this meeting, Yana?" James asked.
"His girlfriend gave me a letter."
James looked confused. "You're friends with Rob Marsden's girlfriend? I thought his girlfriend was Marlene McKinnon."
"Well, it was," Khyana agreed, "But apparently it's not anymore."
"Okay, then who is it?"
"Lezly Mayli."
"Your friend from your French course?" Kelria asked, surprised.
Khyana nodded. "That's the one."
"How did you find out?" James asked.
"She came to my place for dinner last night and she gave me a note as she was leaving."
"What did the note say?"
"That he has information that we will need for our investigation and he thought we might like it."
"We certainly would!" James agreed.
"That's what I figured," Khyana said sardonically. "That's why I brought you along."
When they reached the restaurant, Khyana told the hostess that they were there to meet a Bobby Masdem, and they were shown to a table in a back room.
"Who's Bobby Masdem?" James hissed as they followed the small blonde toward the back of the restaurant.
"Rob Marsden," Khyana hissed back.
James looked utterly confused, and Khyana smirked.
When they reached the table, both Khyana and James looked shocked and nearly fell over. Kelria couldn't quite figure out why…the man sitting at the table looked normal enough to her…
"Khyana! James! How are you?" the man boomed in a loud bass voice.
Khyana grinned. "Grand, Rob, and you?"
"I'm getting on alright," he replied, shaking hands with everyone. "This must be Kelria. It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
"Really? From whom?" Kelria asked, confused.
Rob tapped the side of his nose secretively and smiled. "Now, now, I can't go giving away all my secrets!"
Kelria chuckled, deciding quickly that she quite liked Rob Marsden.
"You said you had information for us, Rob?" James said, getting right to the chase.
"Oh come now, James," Rob said. "You could at least let me catch up a bit first!"
"Alright, catch up then," James said, smiling.
"How have you lot been? I mean, I've heard things, but not much. Not about you lot."
"We're good," Khyana replied, smiling.
"How's your Mora Menda, Yana?"
Khyana's smile faded. "It's under control."
Rob nodded. "That's good."
"How'd you know about that?"
He shrugged. "I know lots of things."
Khyana scowled. "I see."
"Look, Na, don't be mad. It's not my fault!"
"What's not your fault?"
Rob sighed and ran a hand through his hair, much like James often did.
"Okay, okay, so it's all my fault. Is that what you're going to tell me?"
"No."
Rob shook his head, a hint of a smile playing around his mouth again. "You're confusing, Khyana."
Khyana shrugged. "Oh well."
"So…" James said, sipping his water. "That information, Rob?"
Rob laughed. "I just can't distract you, Potter, can I?"
"Not a chance," James replied.
"Alright then. You two girls have been to see Andi Tonks, haven't you?"
Kelria and Khyana nodded.
"That's good. She's a smart woman. Her information is solid."
"I told you so, James," Khyana replied.
James shook his head at her, and she smirked. James rolled his eyes and looked down at his plate.
"At any rate, yes, Andi's information is solid, but she doesn't know everything. You've also been to see Cam Jones?"
The two girls nodded and James' head snapped up.
"Cam Jones? Does Sirius know this?"
Khyana rolled her eyes. "I don't need Sirius' permission to go see an informant."
James gave her a stern look, but said nothing. Kelria had a feeling her friend was going to get a strongly worded lecture after dinner.
"Again, Cam's information is solid most of the time…but he doesn't know everything…he knows less than Andi, actually."
"So, are you going to fill us in?" James asked, playing with the lettuce in his salad.
Rob grinned. "Yes, Potter, I'm going to tell you. Keep your cool."
"Well then, get to it."
Rob took a long drink from his water glass, wiped his mouth and exhaled. James looked annoyed, and Rob winked at Kelria, who grinned.
"So, Kelria."
"So, Rob."
"You're stalling, Marsden," James said angrily.
Rob smiled. "Maybe I am. But I really was going to speak to Kelria."
"Then get on with it!"
"Patience is a virtue, James," Khyana said mockingly.
James made a rude hand gesture, which Khyana quickly shot down.
"You're going to be a daddy soon, James. You can't go around doing stuff like that when the baby comes."
James gaped at her incredulously, but said nothing, and Rob laughed.
"Alright, before Potter here totally flips at me, I'll tell you all. Kelria, Malfoy's boys? Keep an eye on them. Especially that little Wilkes brat. He's bad news."
Kelria rolled her eyes. "That's all you have to say? I already knew that!"
Rob shook his head. "That's not all. Wilkes is running errands for Malfoy. To Severus Snape."
"I knew it!" Khyana hissed. "I knew it!"
"Knew what?"
"I knew Snape was bad news!"
Rob looked confused. "Yeah…he's a Death Eater."
"He's also a member of the Order of the Phoenix," Khyana said quietly, and Kelria and James nodded their confirmation.
"What?!"
"I know. It's insane."
"Insane? It's downright stupid!"
Kelria nodded. "I know. Try telling that to Dumbledore."
Rob nodded. "Yeah, I can understand how that would be tricky."
"So, Malfoy's corresponding with Snape…anything else?"
Rob shook his head. "Not for you. Khyana, though. You need to be very careful. You know the woman who's been making your potion?"
"Lily?"
"What? No," Rob replied, confused. "Leanne Thompson."
"Oh. What about her?"
"She's been imperiused by Bellatrix Lestrange. She's under strict orders to kill you."
"How?" James asked.
"Poison," Rob replied. "She'll poison your potion."
Khyana shrugged. "I'm having Lily make it for me. I know Leanne's been imperiused."
Rob shook his head. "If you don't go back to her, they'll kill her."
Khyana swore loudly, causing several people to turn their heads her way. One older lady gave her a disapproving glare. Khyana ignored her.
"I can't go back, though."
"You have to. You don't have to drink the potion. Just go back to Leanne's and take the potion from her. And when you run out again, go back, so that the Death Eaters think she is poisoning you. They'll kill her otherwise."
Khyana sighed. "Alright, alright."
James looked at his watch and sighed. "As fun as it's been, Marsden, we have to get back to the Ministry."
Rob nodded. "I'll be in touch."
He stood and disapparated. The three young aurors stared at the spot where he had been sitting in disbelief, but looking around, Khyana realised that no one had noticed the large man disappear. It was as though he'd never been there in the first place…