Nathan made sure to hide the tip of his wand within the trench=coat's long sleeves. Reno's friend was already 10 minutes late, the mild British summer still chilly to the more warm-blooded Americans. While Reno had stayed behind after Hogwarts, Nathan had maintained a home in his native land and returned there whenever not on assignment. Unbeknownst to Reno, they would be headed back home very soon.
"He'll be here…..don't worry…." The reassurance was unnecessary; the former Auror was used to this routine from many nights of waiting on less than punctual informants.
A short, red headed woman took an abrupt turn on the park path and emitted a faint blue light with her wand. Recognizing the signal, Reno hesitantly began to walk towards her; inspecting every branch and blade of grass for some sort of official. Nathan remained in the shadows, concealed behind a grouping of foliage and his long trench coat; keeping his own vigil and hoping for a quick exchange.
Having acquired a wand from Mundungus(who had "acquired" it from someone else), Reno twirled the wand between his fingers; the Mist-user's own wand being significantly longer but still in the ministry evidence locker.
Something about the look in her eyes told Reno something was wrong….but he ignored his intuition as the woman produced two long chords from her robe…passing it casually and continuing on the park path while pocketing a few gold galleons.
"I guess nothing ever gets cheaper when it's in demand…" Nathan mused to himself, heading off to cross paths with Reno and leave….when suddenly the ginger-haired woman turned; face covered in horror.
"RUN RENO!" She cried, a faint crimson glow illuminating her from behind. The glow made the woman's hair seem on fire, and as she collapsed Nathan realized they had been set up.
Both wizards made to apparate, but as they disappeared from the park it was Reno who felt a desperate grip close in on his fluttering robe. Appearing, not at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, but at a nearby and pre-agreed upon rooftop, Nathan's first sight was Reno and a ministry deputy locked in a frenzied struggle. Reno's right wand-hand was being gripped by the short, portly man while Reno viciously punched him with his free left hand.
A precisely aimed stun from Nathan's wand connected with the deputy's arm; causing the wand to fall from the limp hand and sending its holder tumbling.
Stepping back after scooping up the dropped wand, Reno kept the tip leveled at the man's head; studying him closely for recognition but finding the man to be a stranger.
Nathan recognized the look in Reno's eyes and motioned for him to stop; the deputy slowly regaining his feet while a trickle of blood dripped from a nasty scrape above the man's receding hairline.
"I say we kill him." Reno growled; the thought of going back to the ministry jail(and eventually Azkaban) driving the withdrawing addict's mind to extreme action.
"No….fighting Death Eaters is one thing but this man was just doing his job, same as we were. We'll augment his memory." Set in his decision as the very concrete they stood upon, Nathan flicked his wrist casually and the deputy fell to the ground, cushioned by a last second catch made by Pierce himself.
Reno grumbled and nodded his reluctant assent; standing ready as his comrade hauled the portly man back to an upright position.
"Obliviate!' The spell nearly knocked over both the intended target and the former Auror; Reno leaving nothing to chance as the spell worked its way through the deputy's mind. Having lost a month or so, the deputy would still be able to return to work….though his chances of ever recovering his erased memories were almost null. Nathan neatly tied the deputy using the Incarcerous spell, leaving him in a bundled heap as the two old friends hastily decided their next course. "The ministry could be honing in on us right now. They could be tracking us or their lap dog….we have to move quickly…but where?" Reno asked, picking up the Mist from where it had fallen during the scuffle and examining it with an expert eye. "I hadn't planned on leaving just yet….but I see no reason why we couldn't. We'll need to make a multiple-apparate jump; we can't cover the distance in one without taking too big of a risk and there doesn't seem to be a fire place on this particular rooftop…." Nathan trailed off, planning the trip in his head as Reno nodded nervously. "Works for me….let's just hurry up and get it over with." Looking from wand to Mist and back again repeatedly, Reno almost became nauseous as the withdrawal effects made his stomach turn. "Ready?" As his old friend nodded, Nathan took Reno by the arm and focused intently; the squished feeling still affecting him even though the former Auror had been apparating for well over a decade. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Reno fought back the urge to vomit as Nathan forced them through the apparating process. The duo had appeared over several locations; ranging from empty houses to barren fields in their trek. Feeling that death had to be imminent from the pains in his side, Reno wondered why Nathan had dragged them all the way to Greece….the former Auror inspecting several rooms before producing a key from his deep pockets and opening one. Stepping inside, Reno noted the room looked as if it had been unbothered for years. Nathan motioned for his friend to approach and pointed to a small slip of envelope concealed behind several magazines. "It's a stupid envelope, what's the point?" Reno growled, wanting only to find a stable spot to enjoy his Mist. "Portkey." Nathan explained, tapping the small, exposed white part and being hooked into its magic; followed closely by his comrade. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Popping into place in a well-lit backyard, Nathan saw the look of realization dawn on Reno's pale face and made to quickly apologize before a duel erupted. "I just needed a place I could depend upon to be safe. We'll be gone before they ever know we were here."Accepting Nathan's explanation, Reno crumpled to the ground; sitting cross-legged and taking deep, calming breaths to combat the horrible feeling that had nothing to do with withdrawal. "I can't believe you used my old house as a portkey location…." Several minutes went by before Reno broke the silence; gesturing to each golden light and window and naming off the people who occupied them. "Two brothers and four sisters….it's a wonder your mother didn't lose her mind." Nathan laughed, clapping his friend on the back and remembering too late of Reno's pained stomach. "She did lose her mind….she'd have had to in order to marry that bastard." The bitterness was nothing new to Nathan….the Roberts had divorced and Reno's mother re-married before Reno turned eight; the future Hogwarts student had resented his step-father since Nathan's earliest memories of him. "You probably helped that process…" The former Auror chuckled, taking in the sweet air of the countryside as Reno abruptly stood up; dusting off the robes and clothes he had been loaned by Sirius and turning away from his childhood home. "Of course I did." Reno laughed lightly, bracing for the squished feeling that accompanied apparition; but Nathan held off. "Are you sure you don't want to at least step in and leave a note? You know your mother would love to hear from you…." Before he finished the question Nathan knew the answer….but Mrs. Roberts had always been kind to Pierce in his younger days, and the lanky wizard figured he owed her at least an attempt. Vanishing into the night, the two friends left the home behind…. * * * * * * * * * * * * * This location was completely alien to the Mist-user, but he hoped earnestly it was their final destination. He needed to light those two chords and inhale their sweet mist as badly as the wizard had needed to escape his childhood home. The memories that had flooded through his craving mind had served to only strengthen his desire for the sweet release of the Mist; the drama and expectations of the family he had left behind pushing the ailing Reno further away than ever. Taking in the surroundings, Reno felt a vague memory tugging at his brain; this sight being familiar but buried under more recent events. "You never did visit my house, did you?" Nathan's happiness was almost tangible as his long strides carried him to a bright blue door. Checking back to see that Reno was following, though with a pronounced limp from the growing pains, Nathan tapped in several distinct places on the front door before beginning a the long and arduous task of unlocking the magical protections placed on the door. Dumbledore himself would have been impressed by the level of security upon the domain. As the door noisily creaked open, Nathan assisted Reno inside and held him up by the arm despite the presence of several comfortable and available chairs. A rather tall and curvaceous woman rounded the corner from the kitchen; a few years younger than both Nathan and Reno but with a face that sported more worry lines than either. With deep and caring brown eyes, the woman's hair was so attention grabbing as to completely conceal the pale skin and other attractive features of the lady. Every color of the rainbow was dutifully represented; the flowing locks reaching the shoulders in a straightened ponytail. Reno recognized this woman as Nathan's wife…..though he hadn't seen her in person for several years; the photos gave him a memorable image that matched this person perfectly. Nathan produced his wand and tapped his wife's cheeks three times each before letting the tip rest easily on her nose. Completely lost, Reno suddenly realized that; instead of walking into Nathan's home, the duo had entered an enchanted security room. No doubt if the former Auror had done some part of the process wrong there would have been dire consequences. As the illusion melted away, Nathan escorted Reno to an orange door, knocking on it with a cheerful impatience that Reno hadn't seen since Hogwarts. The home was two-stories but compact; the bricks of the home naturally black but covered with various paint and chalk drawings. The door flew open and a woman who looked identical to the guard from the security room leaped into Nathan's arms; the couple enjoying a passionate embrace that made even Reno turn away. Separating from each other but still holding hands like high school sweethearts; Nathan couldn't hold back a broad grin. "Reno, you know my wife Lei-Ann and vice versa. You can use the balcony upstairs just make sure to close the screen door behind you." As Reno scurried off to the upstairs balcony(moving as if his life depended on it despite the painful withdrawal), Nathan faced his wife with the same attitude and vigor of a returning soldier. "You were supposed to send me an owl." She pouted….before stomping on her husband's foot. "Lei-Ann….it was dangerous and I was busy not getting blown to pieces….and…then….Franklin…." Nathan collapsed into a nearby chair and Lei-Ann's expression softened immediately; holding her husband's sobbing face against her chest and allowing him to weep out his sadness….. Wiping away the last of his tears; Nathan rose to his feet; body shaking in renewed anger and fury. "When I find them…..I'll rip them apart with my bare hands…..and her….her…" Nathan's voice was like thunder as it reverberated throughout the house…..looking down into the eyes of his beautiful wife, the former Auror saw the fire burning there as well. "Should we flip a coin to decide who gets the little bitch first?"