Chapter 15: Unsuccessful Heist
From there, Claire and the other Circle of Khanna members brainstormed on the best way to distract Olivia Green so they could break into her office and steal the memory vials without being caught.
"You know, my dad recently told me he once let loose a Manticore on the Quidditch Pitch," Claire said after everyone had told her their ideas.
Ben frowned upon hearing this. "I thought we were supposed to be stopping 'R,' not taking ideas from them."
"Though you've got to admit something like that would be quite distracting," Liz said, already picturing the incident in her mind with excitement.
"No, this plan is too reckless," Ben objected. "Releasing a Troll on the school grounds is one thing, but a Manticore…."
"Okay, it doesn't have to be a Manticore," Claire said, trying to disperse the growing tension between Ben and Liz. "What about Tim the Wampus Cat?"
"Tim?" Ben was confused.
"He was the creature that was causing all the ruckus in Hogsmeade last year," Liz reminded Ben. "Claire, Charlie, and I managed to subdue him and I named him Tim. Fortunately, he's calmer now since he's been living at the school reserve after the incident. And with me around, I guarantee he won't harm anyone."
"Sounds like that could work," Claire said. "Okay, here's the plan: Barnaby, Liz, and I will get Tim from the reserve. Jae and Tulip, you'll wait for me by Professor Green's office. Then after Tim successfully distracts Professor Green, I will join you and the three of us will sneak into the office together."
"All right, then let's go!" Liz said impatiently.
While Ben was still reluctant, no one else objected to Claire's plan. So Claire, Barnaby, and Liz made their way to the Care of Magical Creatures enclosure where Tim the Wampus Cat was sleeping soundly near a boulder.
"Kettleburn has been showing me and Liz how to take care of Tim," Barnaby said to Claire.
"Isn't he the most adorable thing ever?" Liz said, gazing admirably at Tim.
"He almost looks like a Kneazle, only bigger," Claire remarked. "Now the question is: how are we going to lure Tim into the courtyard?"
"Last time, we used a live Niffler as bait," Liz recalled. "But I don't want to put another Niffler in danger like that again."
"Maybe if one of you held the Niffler in front of Tim, you would be able to protect the Niffler better than if we let one loose," Claire suggested.
"Hmm, that might work," Liz agreed. "Tim and I have developed a special bond, so I know he won't hurt me."
"Then I should hold the Niffler," Barnaby suggested. "If something goes wrong, I'll be too big for Tim to eat."
Claire chuckled at Barnaby's half-joke. "Okay, then I'll give you my Invisibility Cloak so you won't attract too much attention while luring Tim."
"You mean it?" Barnaby said. When Claire nodded, he replied, "Glad to know you still trust me, even with everything that's been revealed about your dad."
"Of course I still trust you," Claire said, and gave the Invisibility Cloak she had been carrying over her shoulder to Barnaby. "I know Ben's still hurt about what Merula revealed, but I'm not sure if you are too — especially after the way you reacted."
Barnaby thought back to what he said the night 'R''s true leader was revealed and immediately felt ashamed of himself.
"I guess my reaction was pretty harsh," Barnaby admitted. "Though at the time — "
"Guys, can we talk about your relationship later?" Liz interrupted. "We've got a distraction to do that's more important right now."
"Yes, you're right," Claire said and looked guiltily at Barnaby. "Let's talk more about this after we get the memory vials from Professor Green."
"Sure," Barnaby agreed, though he clearly didn't want Claire to leave.
While Liz approached Tim with Barnaby looking for a Niffler to use as bait, Claire left the enclosure and went up to Olivia's office where Jae and Tulip were already standing.
"Took you long enough," Tulip said. "Is Tim out in the courtyard yet?"
"Help!" cried a voice from the courtyard below the window. "There's a Wampus Cat loose!"
"Sounds like it," Jae noted. "I'll make sure the coast is clear. You and Tulip should get those memory vials now."
Jae then went outside the office. Claire then went to the painting of the lotus flower and lifted it down, revealing the alcove where the box of memory vials was hidden.
"We should be extra careful with this," Tulip said as she opened the box and examined the vials, making sure none were missing. "It'll take the two of us to carry it."
"Guys!" Jae shouted, running into the office. "The coast…is not clear."
"It most certainly is not!"
From the other side of the door to the office appeared Olivia, and she didn't look happy.
"Olivia," Claire gasped. "It's not what it looks like. We're — "
"Trying to break into my office and steal something?" Olivia interrupted. "Explain yourselves, right now!"
While Tulip and Jae clammed up, Claire was put on the spot. "To tell you the truth, we're investigating a secret cabal known as 'R' and we thought this box full of memory vials might contain important information on them."
Olivia glanced at the vials like she had never seen them before in her life. "Where did these vials come from?"
"They were already here in your office, behind the lotus flower painting," Claire said and pointed to the alcove.
"Do you know whose memories they contain?" Olivia asked Claire.
"I believe they're yours," Claire said and held up one of the vials. "They all have the initials 'O. G.' on them, which must stand for your name. Unless there's someone else you can think of with the same initials as you."
"No, it can't be…." Olivia held the side of her head. "Did I remove these memories, or someone else? I don't remember…."
"And that's why I need to know why these memories were removed," Claire said. "Either you wanted to forget the pain of losing Duncan after Rakepick forced you, him, and Jacob to search for the Cursed Vaults, or someone removed them because of the vital information they contain about 'R.'"
"Shut up!" Olivia snapped. "My memory is perfectly fine! You don't know Duncan the way I did. He didn't think before he acted, and your brother manipulated him to drink that powerful Draught of the Living Death Potion!"
"You're wrong, Professor!" Claire argued. "Duncan was forced to brew a powerful Erumpent Potion to get inside a Cursed Vault, but he died after it exploded on him. And if you don't believe me, ask his ghost who haunts the Prefects' Bathroom."
Frowning, Olivia grabbed Claire by the arm and dragged her out of the office. "You're coming with me to Professor Dumbledore's office. The same goes for you two!"
Realizing Olivia was referring to them, Jae and Tulip reluctantly followed Claire and Olivia.
To be continued…