Nyssa had followed Bastila and Daphne on Severus's instructions, invisible, unseen by the two teenage girls. The serpent would often do this, in fact. So strong was her desire to protect and watch over Bastila that Nyssa had occasionally been privvy to certain scenes of Human intimacy that she definitely thought shouldn't be intruded upon. But Nyssa had gotten over her feelings about it, and had stuck through the intimate moments. After all, what better time for anyone to attack a pair of Humans than when they were locked together, totally unaware of their surroundings?
Nyssa was again witnessing one such scene between the two Humans as she perched herself up in a lakeside tree. Still, Nyssa felt annoyed at the girls' behavior, especially in this particular instance. It was late evening, the time when most magical creatures came out to hunt! The Humans were out on the grounds, where any meat eater could come looking for prey from out of the forbidden forest! And they were also beside the lake that was full of dangerous magical sea creatures that wouldn't hesitate to snatch up a Human! AND Voldemort's followers were on the move again!
And the Human teenagers were completely oblivious to any of these facts. Well, except that last one.
Sometimes Nyssa wondered how Humans even survived as long as they did in the world. They were VERY prone to absent-mindedness, loss of memory, or even loss of consciousness! Humans were blind to the world, and very easy targets for any creature wanting a nice meal!
Nyssa then wondered what a Human would taste like. (And who could fault her? Dozens of other creatures ate Humans on a daily basis, obviously there had to be SOME appeal!)
Of course, Nyssa was also very happy for the Human girls she was watching over. Over the past few minutes Nyssa had watched the girls reconcile, reaffirm their support for one another, (Albeit over a vow to leave Hogwarts and take on Voldemort's followers, as well as to find a man who had done Bastila serious harm in her past.) and the serpent had also heard what was unmistakably a marriage proposal.
Nyssa was torn from her thoughts when she spotted something moving far across the Hogwarts grounds, near the edge of the forbidden forest. The serpent gave a glance down at the girls, and thought that they would be safe for the time being, then spread her wings and flew towards the forest.
As she got closer she could see that it was a Human, but couldn't recognize who it was, as she was still too far away. When she came to a hovering halt in the air above the Human, she still didn't recognize whoever it was, something that caused her great alarm. The Human was male. Tall, muscular, and seemed to be moving with purpose and stealth. He wore a heavy concealing cloak with the hood up. It was rather impressive, Nyssa had to admit as she floated along above the man.
From his position on the grounds, no one in the Castle would be able to see him. As the man sneaked along the edge of the forest, Nyssa figured out where he was going. He was heading towards the lake. Which meant Nyssa would have to stop him.
'Wishes do come true.' She thought as she swooped down on the unsuspecting Wizard. Of course Nyssa couldn't poison the man...
But she could still tear him to pieces with her fangs, all the same.
Nyssa swept past the man, clamping her jaw down on his arm, ripping and tearing at it violently, her fangs piercing all the way through his arm and out the other side. She pulled with all her strength and- Off came the arm, torn free just above the elbow. Nyssa flew straight up into the air, then shook her head and tossed the man's arm into the forest.
'Humans taste disgusting!' Nyssa thought. She ignored the howls of agony coming from the man as she came down again for another attack. The man took out a wand with the arm he still had and began blasting off random spells in every direction. Every direction except straight up.
Nyssa waited for a lull in the man's spellwork and quickly darted forward, wrapping herself around him, binding his arm, constricting his chest. She squeezed the man's body. Hard. She heard the cracking of bones, felt the reverberation of his screams. She reared up, opening her mouth as wide as she could. She struck. The man's entire skull was in her powerful jaws. He dropped his wand. With her mouth around his head and her fangs hooked into his neck, Nyssa pulled upward and tore his head clean from his body.
The man's decapitated corpse fell to the ground. Blood gurgled out of the neck stump. Nyssa dropped the man's head next to his body, then began her flight up to the highest tower in the castle, or more specifically: The Headmasters office window.
As she was flying over the grounds of Hogwarts, Nyssa spotted Bastila and Daphne making their way towards the entrance to the great hall. Nyssa watched the two girls long enough to be sure that they made it safely inside the castle before she continued on to Dumbledore's office.
"Can you at least agree that we should wait until Summer to do this?" Said an exasperated Daphne.
"No." Bastila said simply as she shoveled more food into her mouth, looking around the great hall. First her eyes fell on the students at their House tables, then at the teachers sitting up at the head table. It was a comfort to know that in her unpredictable, ever-changing life in the magical world, at least food was a constant, Bastila mused over her dinner.
"We need to start as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the more of a chance the trail goes cold." Bastila elaborated.
"I don't understand how a month or two could make that much of a difference."
"He could die. People who knew him could die. I can't lose this. I have to know." Bastila said evenly.
Daphne smiled briefly. "As soon as possible, then."
"I love you." Bastila sighed, reaching across the table to take Daphne's soft hand in her own.
Daphne smiled again, letting her hand be held. "In the future it won't be so easy to get me to cave in to your demands."
"That's alright, I've already thought of a few alternative methods." Bastila replied, smirking.
"What are these alternative methods of yours, exactly?" Daphne raised an eyebrow, her voice playful.
"You'll find out the next time you try to disobey me!" Bastila cried, letting out an exaggerated evil laugh.
"That doesn't help your image." Daphne giggled, jerking her head in the direction of the staff table, where the two Slytherin girls were being watched by more than one of the teachers.
"They'll get over it." Bastila said dismissively, taking a sip from her pumpkin juice as she glanced up at the head table. As she was watching, she noticed Dumbledore seemed to be very distracted. In fact, he looked to be muttering to himself. The Headmaster got to his feet after a minute of this, then beckoned for Severus and McGonagall to follow him as he left the Great Hall, heading out of the castle.
"What was that all about?" Daphne wondered aloud as they walked to the Slytherin dormitories with their Housemates.
"Probably another one of Hagrid's latest beasts of terror has gotten free." Bastila said with a shrug. "It doesn't matter, because now's our chance to-"
"To investigate your past, or to start on our...Other assignment?" Daphne said carefully, in a low tone of voice, so as not to draw suspicion from the other Slytherins.
"We're just going to start with the investigation. Nothing too difficult or dangerous. It'll be alright. Promise." Bastila assured Daphne as they walked.
Daphne gave a little grin and took Bastila's hand. "When it comes to you, danger comes at the most unlikely of times."
Bastila returned the grin with one of her own. "True."
They lagged behind the other Slytherins, and Bastila immediately cast a nonverbal disillusionment charm on both herself and Daphne. The girls slipped back the way they came, all the way back to the great hall. They went past the House tables, past the head table, and stopped at the door to the trophy room. Bastila unlocked the door and walked in, still holding hands with Daphne so as not to lose her in their state of invisibility.
Daphne shut the door behind them and re-locked it. Bastila removed the disillusionment charm, making them visible to each other again, then grabbed the bowl of Floo powder that sat above the fireplace.
"How are we going to do this without Apparating, Bas?" Daphne moaned. "I don't think there are any fireplaces in the United States that are connected to the Floo network. And even if there were, we have no idea where they are to use them. Say there is, and we get there. Then what? It would take weeks to travel on foot, or-"
"Hey." Bastila squeezed Daphne's waist and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Stop worrying. I have this all figured out." Bastila said confidently. "We're going to Diagon Alley first though. We need supplies." Bastila took a handful of Floo powder and stepped into the fireplace.
"Diagon Alley." Bastila said calmly, letting the powder drop into the fireplace.
She was gone in a burst of green flames.
Bastila stepped out of an old fireplace, into her new surroundings. It was exactly where she had intended to go: The Leaky Cauldron.
A few seconds later the fireplace roared to life, and Daphne stepped out of it.
"Okay, we're here. What's the plan? The full, detailed version of the plan?" Daphne said, scowling at Bastila. Before Bastila could answer, Tom the inn-keeper came out of a door behind the bar.
Tom's eyes widened in surprise as he stared at the girls. "Miss Phoenix? What are you doing here? And with Miss Greengrass? Students are not allowed off Hogwarts grounds unless they are accompanied by a teacher, parent or guardian."
"We're just here to do some late night shopping, then we'll be gone." Bastila answered honestly, staring right back at the inn-keeper. "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't tell anyone we're here. This is very important."
"Miss Phoenix, I cannot-" Tom started to protest.
"It's about my mother."
There was a long silence, then Tom sighed. "I understand. A child's need for closure...Yes. I will keep your visit a secret. But be quick about it."
"Actually, we might come back a few more times. Especially in the Summer." Said Bastila, regarding the inn-keeper warmly. "And there may be a time when we'll be staying here in one of your rooms, in the long term."
"Very well." Tom said, smiling weakly. "You are a true Slytherin, my girl. I hope that you find the answers you're looking for concerning your mother. I truly do."
He bade them goodbye, and Bastila and Daphne went through the back-door into the alley. Bastila tapped her wand against the brick wall, and the entrance to Diagon Alley opened up in front of them. Surprisingly, the Alley was very crowded, though not nearly as much as it would have been if Bastila had chosen for them to come earlier in the day.
"Now will you tell me the plan?" Daphne said irritably as they pushed through the crowd.
"Sorry." Bastila replied apologetically. She gave Daphne a smile and a squeeze of the hand. "I want to get us some extra pieces of clothing. Scarfs, watches, bracelets." Explained Bastila as she led the way towards a promising looking shop called Tukson's Trunks. "We can wear little clothing items and turn them into Portkeys, just like I did to my dress in the graveyard. That way, if we're ever in trouble, or we ever need to go somewhere, we can just activate the right Portkey and off we go."
"That's brilliant!" Daphne grinned, kissing Bastila on the cheek as they stopped in front of Tukson's shop. "But why are we here?" Daphne gestured at the shop in confusion.
"I've read about magical trunks, in my many hours of reading during the night."
Daphne rolled her eyes at that.
Bastila grinned and continued. "You can have magical locks, multiple compartments, they can be charmed to be weightless, and even be spelled with expansion charms where you can have entire apartment houses inside of them. Having a portable, secret base will be incredibly useful to us." Bastila looked at Daphne with lustful eyes. "And besides for the sake of the plan to save Britain...Having an entire apartment inside a trunk...Just imagine it Daphne! I want one of those. I NEED one of those. I don't care how much it costs!"
"Lucky for you, you've promised to marry a very, very rich Pureblood girl." Daphne said with a laugh.
"What? No! Daph!" Bastila said quickly. "I don't want to use you as a money sponge!"
"A...Money sponge?" Daphne choked out. She doubled over, clutching her stomach as she erupted into peals of laughter. "Do you even know how wealthy my family is?" Daphne said after she had regained control of herself.
Bastila shook her head.
"We have the accumulated Galleons of every family before us in the long line of Purebloods! Trust me, a few thousand Galleons missing from the family vault to fund our crusade for justice won't even put a dent in it." Daphne assured Bastila. Then she grinned wickedly. "Besides, it's the least my horrible family can do for me."
Bastila smiled. "Alright then. If you're sure about that."
"We should check yours!" Daphne exclaimed. "Not the Phoenix vault, the Riddle vault and the others in your bloodline." She whispered, glancing around for eavesdroppers.
"I assume the Goblins can identify my true lineage?" Bastila raised an eyebrow.
"They can." Daphne nodded. "And they wouldn't dare tell anyone else. That's their policy. They never reveal what's in another's vault, and they never tell anyone anything that isn't their business. They'll keep it secret from the Minister himself. They might even like it, having information like that to hold over all of Wizard-kind."
Bastila's smile grew wider. "Then I guess our first stop is Gringotts."
It was dark by the time they climbed the steps and walked into Gringotts Bank, but that suited the girls just fine. Night would soon be the new day for them.
"May I help you, Madames?" A Goblin teller greeted them, his voice rude. Bastila surprised the Goblin by giving a deep bow. Daphne did the same after a moment of hesitation.
"My name is Bastila Phoenix. Could I speak with Master Goblin Scarhook please? I would like to clear up a few matters regarding a vault or two that I SHOULD be able to access. I'm afraid I can't say more than that, but this matter must be handled by either Master Scarhook himself, or no one." Bastila kept her tone respectful and pleasant, but also firm.
"I am also afraid, that I must ask for a little more information than that from you, young Miss Phoenix." The Goblin said nastily. "No one comes into this bank and asks Master Scarhook to see them on a whim."
Bastila glanced at Daphne, suddenly at a loss. Daphne pointed her eyes at a little knife on the desk, and Bastila smiled gratefully. Bastila picked up the knife and drew it across her finger, then held her bloody finger out to the Goblin. "I think this will sufficiently inform you of all that you need to know in this matter." She said respectfully.
The Goblin swiped the blood off her injury, then smeared it over a strange glass sphere beside a stack of parchment. The blood seeped into the sphere and swirled around inside before it went still, leaving the sphere a misty red inside. It pulsed once. The blood vanished, and the Goblin stared at Bastila in pure shock. However, he regained his composure very quickly. "I understand. Follow me, Miss Phoenix." Bastila couldn't help but notice the emphasis the Goblin placed on her last name. The Goblin walked around his desk and motioned for Bastila to follow him.
He held up a hand when Daphne started after them. "You stay. This is not your business."
Daphne glanced helplessly at Bastila, her eyes clearly saying 'Do something!'
Bastila nodded, then looked down at the Goblin. "I'd like Daphne to come with me. We're promised to marry. She's family."
The Goblin considered it, then nodded briskly. "Very well. Come, now."
Daphne grabbed Bastila's hand as they followed the Goblin back behind the desks. They were led down a short tunnel, around a corner, and then to a door. The Goblin knocked once and received a short "Enter". He opened the door and stepped inside with Bastila and Daphne behind him.
"I apologize a thousand times over, Master Scarhook, but this is a matter of great importance and it could not wait." The Goblin said, bowing deeply to an older Goblin sitting at a fancy desk. "These are Miss Bastila Phoenix and Miss Daphne Greengrass. Miss Phoenix asked to speak only to you, and provided blood verification on the matter..."
"Miss Phoenix? It has been too long." Said Scarhook with a smile.
Bastila and Daphne bowed. "Hello Master Scarhook. I hope your gold has multiplied since we last met." Bastila responded, smiling back.
Scarhook's smile turned to a grin. "Indeed it has, Lady Phoenix." Scarhook shoo'ed the shocked teller out the door, then turned his eyes back to Bastila.
They stood in silence for a moment. Daphne shifted uneasily, and Bastila chose to speak again. "Master Scarhook, this important matter we must discuss involves a vault of mine. Several, actually, if what my future wife here has told me is true." Bastila waved a hand at Daphne, smiling pleasantly.
"Lady Phoenix, our records are impeccable." Scarhook said, his eyes showing his confusion. "They show that you only have access to one vault. The Phoenix vault that your mother opened with us four years ago."
"Yes." Bastila agreed. "But that was before a blood test was preformed on me, which confirmed my true lineage."
"And what is your true lineage, Lady Phoenix?" Scarhook asked slowly.
"Riddle. I want to claim my birthright as the Head of the ancient House of Riddle, among others." Bastila stated, her voice unwavering. "You can test my blood, the same as I offered to the teller out front." She said, smirking and offering her bloody finger when Scarhook didn't reply.
Scarhook smiled gleefully. "There is no need for that, Lady Phoenix- Ah, Lady Riddle. If the teller has confirmed your identity by blood, I have no need to do the same."
Bastila graced Scarhook with another bow, recognizing the trust the Goblin was putting in her, and how big of a deal that was when it came to relationships between Magical Humans and Goblins, who had always had strained relations. After all, Bastila could have been someone in disguise, or she could have bewitched the Goblin teller somehow. Yes, Scarhook was putting a great amount of trust in her.
"If you will be seated, I will read out your inheritance." Scarhook said, gesturing to the two chairs in front of his desk.
Bastila and Daphne seated themselves gratefully. Scarhook then snapped his fingers, and a large scroll appeared in his hands. He unfurled the very, very long piece of parchment, and began to read from it.
It took over an hour, and several times towards the end Daphne had to stifle a yawn. Bastila herself passed off a few of her own yawns as coughs.
But when it was over, Bastila and Daphne were both very excited at their prospects. Bastila had ownership over more than a dozen different mansions, including a castle that had been owned by Salazar Slytherin himself, mountains upon mountains of gold, access to hundreds of vaults full of jewels, cursed objects, wands, potions (As well as poisons and brews meant to cause all kinds of torture), and much more.
Bastila's mind was whirling with all the possibilities. All the ways she and Daphne could use all of this to take down the Death Eaters. And not just them, but ALL Dark Wizards and Witches, if Bastila and Daphne chose to go after them. Somewhere in Bastila's racing thoughts, she registered Daphne saying "Wow. You have WAY more Gold than me." And that was an understatement, as Daphne had gone on to explain. Bastila was now among the top five wealthiest people in the wizarding world, and was also one of the wealthiest Heirs in the history of the Wizarding world.
"Master Scarhook." Bastila said suddenly, getting the Goblin's attention. "Do you know how one would summon a House Elf?" During the long reading of her inheritance Bastila had been told she owned several House Elves, as well as their names and which manors they resided in. It was a very disgusting notion to Bastila to know that she was a slave owner. She knew House Elves enjoyed their work, and that some Elves were treated better than others, but Bastila still wanted no part in being a slaver. And she was going to set that right.
"Of course, Lady Riddle. Simply say the name of your House Elf aloud and they will apparate directly to you." Scarhook nodded, his eyes curious.
Bastila thanked Scarhook, then, feeling foolish, cleared her throat and said: "Eve."
There was a loud crack, and suddenly there was a House Elf standing on Scarhook's desk. The Elf bowed lowly to Bastila, causing her long ears to droop. Eve looked as if she were wearing an old pillow case. "Mistress Riddle has called me? What is Mistress be needing of Eve?" She asked, her green eyes wide. The Elf's entire demeanor was full of excitement at the prospect of getting to serve a new Master.
Bastila felt sick, but at the same time, she thought that it would be good to get the Elf out and about, rather than letting her stay cooped up in some old dusty manor taking care of knick-knacks and furniture.
"Yes, Eve. Could you please grab a Goblin and go down to the Tagiuri and Sanguine vaults and get...Oh, ten thousand Galleons, then come back here and give it to me please?" Bastila told Eve gently, smiling at the little Elf.
Eve's voice rose into a high pitch, and she sounded as if she was trying not to cry when she said, "Of course Mistress Riddle! Eve is be doing anything Mistress Riddle is wanting!" There was another crack, and the Elf was gone.
"Scarhook. You wouldn't happen to also know if I could give Eve clothes would you? Within the bounds of Elf/Wizard relationship laws." Bastila addressed the Goblin immediately. Bastila couldn't bring herself to say 'Without setting Eve free.'
"I believe if you were to present to her a uniform, something as a symbol of your House and family, that would be acceptable." Scarhook said after a moment.
"Great. I'll have to get that done sometime soon. I don't want her wearing those rags. She's probably so cold all the time..."
"You truly are an oddity among Wizard-kind, Lady Riddle..." Scarhook said, his expression unreadable. But Bastila could read in his eyes that she had just gained even more respect from the Goblin Bank Master.
Daphne was looking at Bastila with a slight smile on her lips.
"Do you know how she identified me as her Master?" Bastila asked of Daphne, presuming that the Pureblood Witch would know more about that than Scarhook, since Goblins didn't seem to know too much about Wizarding magic.
"Hell if I know. It's some kind of magical blood bind. They can only be summoned by those in the bloodline they serve. If anyone else tries to summon them, they won't hear the call, and they won't show. Except in cases where the Elf is free, or the Master tells the Elf to follow someone else's instructions-"
"Yeah yeah I get the picture." Bastila interrupted. "It depends on a lot of things."
"Pretty much." Daphne laughed.
"Okay. And...House Elves can apparate when we can't? Inside non-apparition wards, like the ones around Hogwarts, for example?" Bastila said slowly, thinking hard.
"Right."
"Then Eve will be more helpful to us in our...Crusade, than anyone else." Bastila said carefully, her eyes flickering to Scarhook, who didn't seem to mind her secretive talk. Bastila guessed that Daphne was right. Goblins took privacy very seriously.
A few minutes passed and Eve appeared holding a large sack of Galleons. Given that Eve was clutching it in both hands, Bastila assumed it was heavy. Then she scolded herself for that thought, since of COURSE Gold was heavy!
This was confirmed a moment later when Bastila tried to lift the bag, and found it to be a great deal heavier than she expected. Bastila set the bag of Galleons down again and flicked her wand at it. The bag flew up and hovered in the air.
"I believe our business is concluded. Thank you for everything Master Scarhook." Bastila said warmly, standing up. Daphne did the same.
"Gringotts will welcome you, should you return." Replied Scarhook.
"We'll definitely be back, and probably sooner than you think." Bastila extended her hand to shake, unthinkingly. Scarhook froze for a moment, then put out his hand and shook with her, his smile wide.
Bastila plucked the bag out of the air, holding it awkwardly in her arm like cradling a baby. She glanced at Daphne and took her hand, then looked down at Eve and took the Elf's hand as well. "Alright Eve, can you please apparate us to Tukson's Trunk shop? It's here in Diagon Alley."
"Oh yes Mistress! Eve is knowing exactly where that is! Eve is be taking you there right away!" And she was as good as her word. No less than a second later, Bastila felt a pulling, twisting sensation much like the use of a Portkey, but somehow different altogether, and then she found herself standing inside a shop full of different trunks in cases and on the walls.
A middle aged man noticed them the instant they appeared, and bustled right up to them. "Ah, customers! How can I help-" He froze on the spot, his eyes glued to Bastila. "Bastila Phoenix! What an honor it is to have you in my shop! How can I help such a well renowned, powerful Witch such as yourself?"
Daphne and Bastila looked at one another.
Daphne gave Bastila a shrug. "You're the one who actually knows what we're doing. You have the plan."
"I'm actually modifying the plan as we speak. I never expected the Gringotts trip to turn out how it did." Bastila laughed, then turned her attention to the shop owner. "You're Tukson?" A nod. "Do you make custom trunks?" Another nod.
"They're pretty pricey, normally! But for the Witch who captured the Dark Lord, I'll do it for you free!" Tukson cried.
"Thanks" Bastila smiled radiantly. "So, I need a trunk with a blood lock. It needs to be made out of metal and sheathed in dragon skin to protect it from harm, physical or magical, and it needs a built in spell for weightlessness, and four compartments. One of those four compartments needs to be a studio apartment house. The other three can be walk in closets for storage, unless I come back wanting you to swap them out for anything else, which is a possibility. Oh, and make sure there's a self replenishing refrigerator, and a two person bed, otherwise you can fill it with whatever furniture you want."
Tukson was practically jumping up and down at the opportunity to help Bastila. "I'll get started on that right away! Please wait here!" He cried, his eyes shimmering with happiness as he hurried into a back room. He stuck his head out and pointed to a little couch in the corner of his shop. "Just sit there and I'll have your order done in about twenty minutes!"
Bastila spent the time catching Daphne up on the plans she had in mind, and talking to Eve. Daphne, despite her grumbling and reluctance, expressed excitement at the plans. With their trunk, the vaults full of useful items and mountains of gold, as well as Eve and all of Bastila's properties, they now had a real, solid basis for their plans to take shape. And a means of pulling them off, in Eve especially. Her ability to apparate from anywhere, period, was going to prove invaluable to their little group.
"We need a team name." Bastila said, wrapped up in Daphne's arms as they waited for Tukson to return.
"It's not like anyone's going to know who we are except for us." Daphne snorted. "What's the point in giving ourselves a team name?"
"We're going to have a name, that's final." Bastila giggled. "What do you think, Eve? Do you have any ideas for a name?" She asked the Elf.
Eve gave Bastila a smile, looking thoughtful. "Shadow Hunters can fit what Mistress Riddle plans."
Bastila smiled indulgently at the Elf. "Great pick, Eve. But can I ask you to please not use my true last name when you speak to me, or about me to anyone? Call me Mistress, or Mistress Phoenix. No 'Riddle'. Okay?"
Eve readily agreed to the change. Bastila would have liked to have made Eve drop the "Mistress" business entirely, but Bastila knew that was hardwired into the Elf in her role as a slave, and that she'd never be able to break her of that habit, so Bastila decided to not even bother.
Tukson returned, levitating the trunk over to them and setting it down on the floor. "Here is your order, Miss Phoenix!"
"It looks nice." Bastila told Tukson, her eyes on the trunk. Though truthfully, it looked like any ordinary trunk to Bastila. But that was always the case with magic, it seemed. Something so ordinary hiding how extaordinary it really was.
"Miss Phoenix. And Miss..." Tukson glanced at Daphne.
"Greengrass." Daphne answered, smirking and causing Tukson to blush a deep red.
"So your trunk is all ready. Blood lock needs to be set up. If you'll just drop a bit of blood on it." Said Tukson. Bastila did so, and she heard a click as the trunk unlocked itself. "There you go Miss. All you need do to lock and unlock it is to swipe some blood on the locks. It doesn't matter how much blood. Now, in order to shift through the different compartments you just need to tap your wand against it and say 'compartment' followed by the number." Tukson gestured to Bastila to demonstrate.
Bastila smiled at the man and stepped up to the trunk. She took her wand from its arm holster and rapped it against the top of the trunk. "Compartment one." The trunk lid popped up to reveal a metal sliding door. Bastila slid the door open and found herself staring down into a brightly lit apartment. A ladder automatically lowered itself for Bastila. Bastila grinned at Tukson. "Mind if we inspect it? Just to make sure everything's alright?"
"Be my guest, Miss Phoenix! I want you to have only the best!" Tukson said jubilantly.
Bastila waved at Daphne before climbing down inside.
Bastila looked around the apartment in awe. It was rectangular and long. She was standing in one large room at one end of the apartment. There was the double sized bed, a small table with three chairs, a bookshelf and a dresser. Bastila walked to the other end of the apartment, down a short hallway with a door on the left that opened up into a bathroom with a bathtub, sink, mirror and toilet. There were also cabinets above the sink. Continuing down the hall, the apartment opened up into a small L shaped kitchen. There was a dining table against the wall, cabinets and drawers above and below the sink, a refrigerator stocked full of food stuff, a stove with an oven, and extra countertop space for preparing meals.
Bastila ran back into the living room/bedroom area just as Daphne was descending the ladder. Bastila grabbed Daphne's hips and pulled her the rest of the way down, causing her to shriek in surprise, then burst into laughter as they fell to the floor together.
Bastila led Daphne around the apartment, and Daphne was just as ecstatic over it as Bastila was.
"Hey, you finally have a place for all those books of yours." Daphne had joked at the sight of the bookshelf. Bastila had swiftly slapped her on the arm.
"So does it meet your expectations?" Tuskon asked when they came back up, and had finished viewing the three walk-in closets that they found had several shelves inside.
"It EXCEEDS our expectations." Bastila smiled, shaking Tukson's hand. She opened up her bag of Galleons and waved her wand. Exactly one thousand Galleons floated out, then flew over into Tukson's cash register, which Bastila suspected had an extension charm of its own.
"What's with the Galleons? You don't need to pay me!" Tukson said.
Bastila fixed him with a stare. "Are you complaining?"
"N-No."
"Okay then. Consider it a gesture of good faith. I expect the same quality of work from you Tukson, when, if, we return to have some modifications made to the trunk." Bastila replied, smirking at the man. She held the trunk by the handle at the end and decided that the weightlessness spell worked just fine. It was like holding a feather!
"Ready to go buy some clothes, or should we leave it for another time and go back to Hogwarts?" Bastila asked Daphne as Tukson disappeared into a back room.
"I vote we go back to Hogwarts." Daphne said, yawning loudly.
Bastila smiled. "Hogwarts it is! Can you take us directly into the Slytherin dormitories, Eve?" She directed at the Elf.
Eve nodded enthusiastically, squeaking out "Eve is gladly be taking her Mistresses to Hogwarts!"
Once again Bastila, Daphne and Eve clasped hands. Bastila cast a disillusionment charm on the three of them. "Alright. Let's go." She told Eve. The Elf bowed her head (Though Bastila couldn't see it, on account of them all being invisible) and Disapparated.
Deep in an underground tavern in Paris, France, three people sat around a table in silence. A fourth chair was empty. There was a palpable tension in the air, and no one wanted to be the first to say what they all were thinking.
"Let's not waste any more time. Ruon is dead. Sitting around won't bring him back." Said a woman in a sleeveless black cloak. Her voice was husky and low, but it held an amused undercurrent. Her green eyes glittered under the curtain of her long black hair, and her lips were curved into a smile. Her ears were long and pointed, and her face was smooth and beautiful to a fault. Her most defining feature, however, was that she had no arms. Each limb ended in rounded stumps halfway between shoulder and elbow, though they were hidden under her cloak.
"I wouldn't have expected that reaction from you, Kelisia." Said a man with a smooth, sophisticated voice. He unfolded his arms, which had been crossed over his chest up until now, and set them flat on the table. "Ruon had an integral role to play in the mission, one that cost him his life, and his sacrifice should be well remembered."
Kelisia leaned back in her chair and propped her feet up on the table, perfectly balanced. "I'm just stating the obvious." She shrugged. "Ruon is gone. Now we need to see the results. I don't see the point in getting sentimental. Do you, Miles?" Kelisia's smile twisted into a smirk.
"Oh you needn't worry, my dear Kelisia. We will get our results soon enough. This will prove beneficial to the cause." Miles reassured smoothly.
"Oh please...That's just an excuse so that you can carry on with your little experiments." Said a quiet voice that belonged to a girl of twelve with flaming red hair and scarlet eyes.
"I'm a scientist. Experiments are what I do, yes." Miles grinned, idly stroking his chin.
"Can we move along? There are other things we need to discuss." Said Kelisia with a trace of mild irritation in her voice.
"Quite right, Kelisia. I believe we should start with our progress in Egypt. Have our delightful contacts located the dark artifacts we requested?" Asked Miles.
"I spoke to them last week." Kelisia supplied. "They agreed to meet us at a safe location of our choosing."
"Oh, most excellent! But they will need to be killed the moment we meet, of course. I'm afraid their usefulness has reached its end." Miles leaned forward and began to speak in earnest...