Chapter Twelve: Best Laid Plans
Leolin stood under the hulking shadow of the bronze Velázquez statue at the Southeast end of the Prado Museum in Madrid, casually checking her watch every ninety seconds. It was ten minutes before midnight; that meant it was almost time. She checked her watch again. She wished the twins would hurry up; at this point, they were borderline late, and she didn't have a minute to waste. After all, theft demanded something of a strict timetable.
Finally she heard a soft pop and she slowly looked up to see two figures clad in black slinking towards her. Leolin had met the twins Effie and Sweeney McAngus through Severina, and she'd known at once they would make the perfect co-conspirators. They were both accomplished pickpockets and charm-breakers, and despite their somewhat nefarious resumés, she found them easy to trust.
"Sorry we're late," Effie said in a thick Scottish accent, pulling her shining red hair back into a ponytail. "Their apparation system here is mental. It took Swish an age to figure out a way around it."
Leolin nodded.
"You know what they say about Spanish Bureaucracy," she replied. "You two ready?"
They both nodded.
"Are you?" Sweeney asked, drawing is wand.
Leolin considered, biting her lip. Part of her was sick to do this; she hated to rape the world of its treasures. However, when a memory of Cristian's hands on her emerged in her mind, she felt resolute. She even smiled.
"More than ready," she affirmed, pulling out her own wand and continuing to smile. "Let's get filthy rich."
Sweeney and his sister shared a smirk. Effie drew three bottles of polyjuice from her slim pack, offering one to both Leolin and her brother.
"I hope I got the handsome bloke," Sweeney said, sloshing his around in its vial. "I think I'll work better if I know I'm still handsome."
"Shut up, Swish," Effie said, pulling out three plain Venetian carnival masks as well. "No one is even going to see your face."
"It's psychological!" Sweeney said, downing the glimmering liquid.
Immediately his slender frame began to elongate, and suddenly he'd shot from 5'6 to 6'5 even as his flaming red hair disappeared. He touched his pocked-marked cheeks and bald head.
"Ugh," he said, repulsed. "This bloke has a face like hammered meat."
Leolin was growing terribly nervous as she drank her own polyjuice, but she laughed to calm her nerves. She grew taller as well, and her dark hair turned a shocking white-blonde as her feminine features morphed into equally-attractive male ones. She would never tell the others, but she'd chosen this bloke on purpose. She found it oddly comforting that he resembled Draco.
"Merlin, Thénard," Sweeney huffed. "You're a bloody Greek God."
"What about me?" Effie said.
She looked more like Sweeney's bloke than Leolin's, though hers had tufty blonde hair.
"You're pretty heinous," Sweeney said, and she punched him.
Checking his watch, Sweeney pulled out a slender velvet box from his own pack and popped open the lid. Nestled inside were three small earpieces.
Leolin picked one up and examined it.
"Do we know if they work?"
Effie nodded.
"Swish calibrated them himself."
"I want to test them quickly," Leolin said, jamming hers in her ear.
"I hope this bloody works," she said in English.
The twins nodded, and Sweeney beamed with pride.
"It sounded both German and male," he said. "Didn't understand a bloody word."
Leolin nodded.
"Now put yours in," she instructed them. "We need to make sure we can communicate with each other."
They did.
"Sweeney McAngus is bloody brilliant," Swish said.
Effie laughed, nodding and indicating she understood.
"He's only brilliant at being a twat. This idea was simply inspired, Nay."
Leolin winked, straightening. She'd come up with them last minute to put the Spanish off their trail. It was in the plan to have a run-in with la policia españoles, and she wanted them to report the thieves to be three German males.
"What can I say?" she said, readjusting her earpiece a pit. "I'm a genius of evil."
Sweeney consulted his watch.
"Alright, boys," he said, making the girls laugh. "It's showtime."
They nodded, and Leolin check that the coast was clear before slipping from the statue's shadow towards the front entrance. They looked around again before each putting their masks on.
Naturally the door was locked, but Effie had lifted a guard's badge earlier that week and made a copy so they would get in without a hitch. They'd ensured the man was at home tonight so he'd be cleared of suspicion. Leolin wasn't in the business of ruining lives.
Once they were in, they ascended the marble steps, skirting the deserted desk in the rotunda.
"Where are the guards?" Effie whispered.
"This is the information desk," Leolin explained. "The guards sit in the lobby farther over. They just made their rounds at 11:45. We already tampered with the cameras, but they'll patrol the gallery again at 12:15."
"That's only fifteen minutes from now," Sweeney pointed out as they headed down the cavernous main hall.
"Forget that," Leolin said. "We're only going to have five minutes to get this done after we rip the thing off the wall."
"Good thing I have the quickest hands in the criminal world, then," Effie replied.
They passed countless Titians and Rubens dotting the walls, and Sweeney made a face as they passed Rubens' grotesque Saturn Devouring His Son, which depicted the deranged god ripping the skin off his infant.
"Muggles, man," Sweeney shuddered. "They can be so fucked up."
"Rubens was a wizard," Leolin whispered in response.
"What a weirdo," Effie whispered back.
"Come on," Leolin said. "Let's keep going."
The twins nodded wordlessly, following Leolin as she made a left at the end of the hall, which led to a large octagonal room with a high ceiling. There was a long bank of skylights running around the top, and they lay a pattern of moon-stricken stripes on the floor.
The room was filled with Velazquez portraits of inane Muggle kings and queens, but at the far end was his masterpiece Las Meninas.
Leolin gave a sigh of appreciation. It was perfection.
"I am a horrible person," she muttered miserably to herself.
"Think of it as borrowing," Effie said. "You are going to give it back someday."
Leolin nodded.
"Alright, let's do this. Rip it down, Eff."
Effie nodded, getting a good grip on the frame with her gloves before wrenching the painting off the wall.
Leolin set her watch.
"T minus five," she said, drawing a spring blade and taking a huge breath. " Here we go."
Immediately she dragged the knife smoothly along the top of the canvas. It was not lost on her that a tiny fraction of the painting would have to be forfeited when it was stretched over the frame again. She worked quickly, checking her watch again as she made the second cut. Three minutes. She had to move quicker. She couldn't afford two minutes per the next two sides. She finished, moving to the bottom. Two minutes. It was going to be close. She cut along the left side. One minute. She could hear barked commands in the distance.
"Hurry up, Nay-Nay," Sweeney whispered urgently.
She nodded. Finally the canvas was free, and she hastily rolled it, stuffing it in the tube that Effie'd just produced from her sack.
The first of the guards appeared just as she was screwing on the cap.
"Let's boogey," Sweeney said, as the man appeared.
A thought occurred to Leolin. Merlin's fucking beard, what if one of the guards understood German. They would be screwed. This was Spain, she assured herself. They weren't usually ones to be bi or trilingual. She wrenched off her mask so the man got a glimpse of her handsome face before she began barking orders at Sweeney. Effie was already sprinting out of the room, heading for the lift. Sweeney and Leolin where taking the stairs.
Leolin slung the canister across her back.
"Aquí," the guard was calling to comrades. " Están en la sala de los retratos de Velázquez. Tienen Las Meninas!"
"Swish," Leolin said. "You know the drill. Go into the Ancient gallery then circle around to the back stairs. He'll follow me. Meet me in the Goya galleries on the third floor and we'll make the switch from there.
He was already tearing from the gallery as the guard started after Leolin.
"¿Cuántos ladrones?" his radio blared as Leolin streaked away.
She was light on her feet and he was burdened by his gun and heavy belt, so she had a comfortable lead.
"Tres," the man, huffed as he lumbered after her. "Son alemanes."
Leolin, turned the corner and flew down a flight of stairs, taking them five and six at a time. She'd finally broken line of sight, and she tore through the lower gallery before banking right towards the next set of stairs. She could hear more guards now, and she hoped Effie was gone already.
She tore up the three flights to the gallery housing Goya's early works. Sweeney was waiting for her there.
"Pass the baton," he said, and she tossed the painting to him.
"Get out of here," she said, and he nodded, already dragging a ladder from his slim pack and ascending to the ceiling. "There's a broom on the roof. You have to get out of here before they get up there."
"See you on the other side," he said, she nodded, watching him ascend.
She dodged into a side gallery as guards hustled down the hall, heading for the room Sweeney had just disappeared from.
"Están en el techo!" a guard called. "Date prisa!"
Just as one man scrambled up the ladder, Leolin burst from her hiding space, drawing three guards. She headed down the stairs to the garden level, bursting out a side door and sprinting towards the Gardens.
The guards who'd been posted outside were on her at once, but she tore through the maze of bushes she'd memorized. They'd lost her, and she knew she only had about ten seconds before they found her again. She couldn't allow that. If they saw her disappear, all this Muggle thieving would be for not. Dropping to the ground, she slithered along the path on hands and knees.
Fuck, they were closing in.
"Aquí," someone screamed, a light swiveling across the labyrinth. "¡Vino al jardín!"
Just when Leolin thought she was caught, she saw the gleaming pocket watch she'd planted earlier in the day, and as her hand curled around it, she felt the familiar jerk behind her navel as she was pulled away.
Leolin awoke feeling…strange. She'd expected to feel guilty, but as she opened her eyes and blinked back into full consciousness, the only thing she really felt was hungover. She'd consumed an ungodly amount of wine the night before, and this morning it felt like someone had rung out her brain like a sponge. Still, despite the nausea and the apocalyptically-scaled headache, she felt weirdly ebullient. She'd had a dream about the night she and the twins had stolen Las Meninas, and it'd awoken a fire in her that had been dormant since she arrived in South Carolina.
She was La Genie du mal, for fuck's sake. The bloody genius of evil. She'd been dubbed the smartest criminal of the age. She had to stop acting like her sixteen-year-old self and cowboy up. If she didn't she was sure to lose Draco.
She sat up gingerly, hissing in displeasure as she did so. Her skull was throbbing, and she tugged on some of her disheveled hair in an effort to relieve the pressure. When she felt confident she wasn't going to vomit, she turned her head to survey Max, tugging the sheet to her bare chest as she did so. He was lying on his stomach, and she watched the wings on his back moving with every exhale. Merlin, he really was sexy.
She didn't regret it, she decided as she continued to watch him sleep; every girl needed a one night stand in her life. Still, any errant sexual desire she'd may have been harbouring for Max had been burned off during the previous evening's exertions. The sex had been good, sure, great even, but that was never going to be enough for her. She'd been over-emotional the night before, but in the cold night of the day, she remembered the truth: she loved Draco, and she was and would always be his Leolin, and no one else's.
Labouriously, she rose to her feet, unable to stifle a groan. She was sorely tempted to go to her hands and knees while she searched for her hastily discarded clothes—Leolin always found herself wanting to be as close to the ground as possible when hungover—but she ultimately admitted to herself how pathetic that would be, and she grit her teeth as she shuffled around like booze-soaked niffler, trying to separate her clothes from his. When she finally found her dress, which had miraculously (and annoyingly) ended up on top of a bookshelf, Leolin groaned again. It had seemed like a conservative choice last night, and indeed for intimate sea-side dinner for two, it was. However, now at almost half two in the afternoon the following day, it was almost comically suggestive. In this outfit, there could be little doubt what she had gotten up to the night before. Still, she didn't have any other options. She just wanted to leave before he woke up.
As she crept down the stairs, she wondered how Max would react when he found she was gone. She honestly doubted he'd care. He'd all but admitted that he only wanted to sleep with her, and now that he had she was sure he'd lose interest and move on to his next conquest. That was the kind of bloke he seemed to be, and if she was being honest, it was a relief. If he backed off, Gen would be forced to back off as well.
Leolin slouched out to the beach, heels still in hand, and swore audibly as the blazing sun touched her face. She really needed to consider exercising restraint from time to time. Still, it was too late now. Holding up a palm up to shield her eyes from the sun, she clumsily wrestled into her heels before apparating away.
She arrived in the Magical quarter several seconds later, and it took everything she possessed not to vomit onto the cobblestones. The street was bustling with witches and wizards all squawking and chirping in their needling Southern voices, pausing to sneer at Leolin as she trundled through in her rumpled cocktail dress. She simply ignored them, picking her way along cobblestones in search of a cup of coffee.
Eventually she found herself in a sleepy old book store with a small, cramped cafe inside. The bitterness and scalding heat helped stave off the insidiously long-lasting effects of the alcohol, and as she began to feel better, feel more herself, she found herself thinking about Draco again.
The dream about The Prado had been like a forest fire, burning away all the debris so only the necessary remained. The answer to winning Draco back wasn't seducing him; as long as he clung to the notion she'd abandoned him, he'd always be plagued by doubt. That meant she needed to switch gears. She needed to stop pursuing him and throw all her energy into breaking the gag. That's what Draco needed from her. That's what he had been craving from her; to finally know the truth. When he learned the truth, it would be game, set, match.
There would come a time, of course, when Draco would have to answer for all the terrible things he'd said and done out of his misplaced sense of betrayal, but oddly that wasn't her main concern. The truth was that she wasn't a child anymore, and when it came to Draco, she really didn't give a shit if he was a good person. She knew that at his core he was a great man, and she didn't need him to be a saint to prove it to her. Besides, despite his cruelty, he made her happier than she'd ever been, and that alone was worth fighting for.
What she did need was to get out of South Carolina. Gen and Max and even Draco were distractions that were only hindering her progress. She needed to get back and work on helping him find his stepfather and Herpo's vessel, and she needed to break the chains that bound her.
On that score, she'd had an idea, and the more she mulled it over, the more convinced she became that it was a good idea. Closing her eyes, she recalled when she'd signed the gag, reading the stipulations with her mind's eye.
That was it. Lucius had been over-hasty in his drafting of the terms, and there was a glaring loophole; Leolin should have seen it before. La genie was not explicitly mentioned. He had failed to bind the evidence he'd collected on her to the contract. That meant if she could find the evidence and destroy it, that part of the gag would fall away. She would still be bound by her silence, but at least she wouldn't have to worry about being dragged to prison.
Lucius would keep the photo squirreled away at Malfoy Manor, but she knew he wasn't there that often. Besides, he was arrogant: he would never expect her to be this bold. It wouldn't be easy, but she was a mastermind with two of the world's finest and most loyal thieves at her disposal. She was confident she could find the evidence and destroy it.
Just then her floo began to issue smoke, and she flicked it open with a thumbnail.
Look up, it said simply.
She did as she was bid, and even though she didn't see anyone on the second story balcony, she beamed and stood. She knew who the message was from. She quickly ascended the rickety wrought iron staircase, picking her way around piles of books and sagging shelves, growing more giddy as she did so. Finally, she head a familiar voice behind her and she turned.
"Naomi Thénard, as I live and breathe! Or is it Leolin now? I can't keep up."
"Swish!" she cried happily.
Sweeney was standing with arms outstretched. His red hair was wild as ever, as were his devilish brown eyes.
"Hello love!" he said, dragging her into a MacAngus bear hug. "Don't you look bonnie! You just come from the pub or something?"
She laughed sheepishly, smoothing the slightly rumpled fabric of her dress.
"Ah—not exactly. The outfit's from last night."
He raised his eyebrows and laughed merrily.
"Things going well with your lad then, I take it?"
"Maybe not as well as I would like," she admitted, giving another embarrassed laugh."I might have slept with Max Brankovitch last night."
His eyebrows shot up as he gave a laugh of surprise.
"The yankee quidditch star?" Sweeney said, still laughing.
"Shut up," Leolin said, though she was smiling. "It was a one-time thing."
"How the screwt did that happen?"
Leolin bit her lip again, flushing.
"Things with Draco are—complicated," she admitted.
"I should say so!" Sweeney said jovially. "I admit I cannae see how boffing someone else figures into your plan."
Leolin sighed.
"It doesn't, unfortunately. It was more like an—unintended pit stop."
Sweeney shrugged, still grinning.
"Well at least now you can tell your minted Malfoy bairns that you had a bit of hochmagandy with one of the best quidditch players of our generation."
She had the good decency to blush.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Did you look into those Greek vases I sent you?"
"I did," Sweeney said. "It turns out that huge dumps of Greek art have been funneling through the market in Istanbul."
"Did you talk to Spiros?"
"I didn't better than that. I applied a little…pressure, and he let me see that logbook he keeps of all his clients. Any of these blokes familiar?"
He drew a stack of photographs from his inner coat pocket and handed them to her. She flipped through them, shaking her head.
"Pucey, Rookwood, Flint, Montague," she said to herself. "These are all my old schoolmates."
She came to one and stopped, her blood running cold.
"Who's that?" Sweeney asked at seeing her distress. "He looks like a real knob."
"His name is Jaime Quinn," she said, feeling sick to her stomach. "And I just saw him a few days ago. He must be in charge of keeping tabs on Draco."
"You didn't know he was one of this bloke Pucey's crew?"
She shook her head.
"But I should have guessed. It was too big of a coincidence for him to be down here. Damnit, I should have seen that earlier. Drake and I both should have. Who knows what he's gotten off us when he thought we weren't listening."
"I can't believe you didn't notice," Sweeney admitted. "It's not like you to miss connections, and from what you've told me about Malfoy Jr., he's not either."
"He was busy trying to make me jealous, and I was admittedly—distracted."
Sweeney gave a resigned smile. "You know I hate this wank-job, right? I don't think he's even worthy of you."
Leolin smiled back, warmed by his concern. Sweeney and Effie had always said Leolin was the little sister they'd always wanted but never had. She grabbed his hand and squeezed.
"He is, I promise."
"Right, so what do you reckon the thieves were after, anyhow?" Sweeney asked as she continued to scan through the pictures. "You're note didn't say."
She looked up.
"Have you ever heard of Herpo's vessel?"
He bubbled his lips at her serious tone.
"Nay, that's a myth."
"Have you ever heard any chatter on it, though?" she asked seriously.
"Well, sure," Sweeney said. "Of course. It's the crown jewel of thievery. Anyone who got their hands on it would be—"
"Have you heard anything recently?" she interrupted. "Did Spiros say anything about it when you asked about the vases?"
Sweeney shook his head, his mirth fading.
"You really think Malfoy's going to try and bring you-know-who back from the dead?"
Leolin bit her lip. "Yeah, I do."
"Merlin," Sweeney breathed. "That would be bad."
"Agreed," Leolin said. "And on that score, I have another huge favour to ask of you."
"Of course. Anything."
"No," Leolin said, seemingly a little agitated now. "I don't want you to agree until you've heard all the facts, and I don't want you to hesitate to say no."
"Oh c'mon, hen! When have I ever—"
"Swish, I'm serious. This is—risky, and I don't want you to feel like you have to do this for me. If you can't, I'll find another way."
"Alright," Sweeney said seriously. "Hit me."
"Lucius Malfoy knows I'm La Genie," Leolin blurted, and Sweeney frowned.
"How?"
"He sent one of his thugs down to Florence to hire La Genie," she bit out. "Probably to steal these exact vases. His contact happened to see me."
"Well that was shite timing for you," Sweeney admitted. "What can I do to help?"
She looked up at him, a fire flashing in her eyes.
"I'm going to take away his leverage. He used the evidence he had against me to forcing me into a gag, but he forgot me to bind the evidence to the gag."
"So if you could find the evidence, and destroy it—"
She nodded.
"I'll still be gagged, but La Genie would at least be free from all this."
Sweeney nodded his understanding.
"You want me to steal the evidence from Lucius," he surmised.
"Only if you think you can."
He gave a grim smile.
"It's always been a dream of mine to pull one over on that bastard."
Leolin nodded.
"The Malfoys are big on vanishment, but would be too risky to carry around with his person. The things you need are going to be hidden in non-being in Lucius's office in the Manor in Wiltshire."
"What's the best way in?"
"Like a Muggle," Leolin said. "The Manor has tons of charms to repel Muggles but I think it would be relatively easy to sneak in as a Wizard using Muggle means."
Sweeney nodded again.
"I'll do it."
"Swish—"
"I said I'll do it," Sweeney repeated firmly. "You can't talk me out of it. It's done."
She nodded, drawing out a vial of ruby liquid.
"There's one more thing I need you to do for me."
Sweeney wrinkled his nose.
"Tell me that isn't a vial of your own blood."
"Take it," she said in response. "I want you to make sure that all the servants ingest this."
"You can't be serious."
"I am," she said. "I know it seems foul, but please don't question me."
Sweeney finally accepted the vial.
"At least tell me why," Sweeney said, pocketing it.
Leolin looked at him, her eyes suddenly a touch sad. Sweeney didn't know the specifics of her history with Lucius. Only Sev did.
"He hurt me a long time ago, and I used that hurt to make a charm so he couldn't physically touch me. If you give it to the servants, they will be the same way."
"That won't save them from being crucioed," he pointed out grimly.
She nodded.
"I know Lucius, though. When he figures out the info is gone, which he hopefully never will, the first thing he's going to want to do is physically hurt someone. When he goes to and he can't, he'll know it was me and he'll forget about crucioing staff."
"You can't take on that kind of target. "Lucius will kill you."
"I can handle him," she assured her friend. "Trust me. And I'm not going to be responsible for Lucius killing some poor servant. And make sure that his wife is away when it happens. I don't want him coming after her either."
Sweeney gave a grim smile.
"That shouldn't be a problem."
"What do you mean?" Leolin asked.
"You don't know?"
"Know what?"
"His wife is pregnant. She just announced it in The Prophet this morning."
"Merlin," Leolin said, and Sweeney could see her retreating into her own head.
"Don't worry," he said soothingly, pulling her in to hug her. "I will sort out this theft for you. Everything else is out of our hands."
"I don't deserve you," Leolin breathed against his chest.
He stroked her hair.
"I'm loyal to you because you've earned my loyalty. I would follow you anywhere, Nay; you know that. Effie and I both would."
"Thank you," she said. "And hopefully you won't have to for much longer."
He pulled away.
"If what you said about Malfoy is true, we could be following into battle before the years' end."
"I don't mean to let it get that far," she said resolutely.
"And what about Draco's fiancée?" Sweeney said. "Do I have to tie rocks to her ankles and throw her in a lake somewhere?"
Leolin sneered, her ire directed towards both Gen and the sniveling coward she'd allowed herself to be in Gen's presence.
"She doesn't seem like at first," Leolin admitted. "But she's a right foul bitch. Someday I am going to pay her back in kind for all the shite she's heaped on me. I'm going to take away everything. When I'm done, she won't have a pot to piss in."
"I love when you get all revenge-y," Sweeney said, smiling. "It gives me goosebumps."
"I've let that little American slag push me around long enough," Leolin said in answer. "We'll see how much power she thinks she has after I break this gag and tell Draco the truth."
"I almost feel bad for her," Sweeney said, clapping Leolin on the back and drawing her from her revelry. "Almost."
Leolin raised her eyebrows.
"When you finally meet her, you'll be relieved of that feeling, I assure you."
"Can't wait."
He winked, pulling the hood of his jacket back up.
"Right," he said. "I'm back to the UK. I've got a crooked minister to steal from."
Leolin smiled.
"Please be careful."
"You too," he said. "And I will let you know if I hear anything about Herpo's vessel."
Leolin nodded and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks, Swish. Tell Effie I said hello."
"Of course. See you in three weeks."
Bollocks, the godparents ceremony for Severina's baby. She'd totally forgotten. Eventually she nodded again, her smile widening.
"See you there."
With that he disappeared, and Leolin looked at her watch before inspecting her clothes. Though it hadn't felt like it, they'd been in the bookstore for well over two hours, and evening was fast approaching. She had to get back to the house. Bollocks, she really hoped everyone else would be out. This dress was telling a very vivid story about the last twenty-four hours. I It would turn into a whole production, and that was exactly what she didn't need. She looked down at Jaime's picture again, biting her lip. He was a reminder of what could happen when she got distracted. Making a mental note to rip Jaime's face off the next time she saw him, she quickly apparated back to the house.
It was a little after six when Leolin finally arrived There was no one in the kitchen when she flooed through, and she kicked off her heels as she slunk from the floo. Hopefully she could make it upstairs for a quick shower before—
"Leolin! Finally! Merlin, we were ready to send out the Aurors after you!"
Gracie said. She was seated at the sprawling dining room table with Harry, Pansy, and Tieran.
"Sorry!" Leolin said as everyone sized up here attire; at least they didn't know who she'd been out with the night before, though it was exceedingly clear from her attire what she'd been up to. "It's been a long day."
"Looks like it was a long night as well," Pansy said dryly, smirking at Grace as if they were back at Hogwarts again.
"It's been a long holiday," Leolin answered, steering the conversation away from herself. "What are you lot doing here?"
"Malfoy summoned us," Harry said, his voice just a shade bitter. "He said it was about Lucius and Adrian Pucey. Merlin, he has been in a state waiting for you to get back here."
"I bet," Leolin said dryly. "Speaking of which, were are all the people I actually came here with?"
"I'm here, at least," Ieuan said, a handsome blonde man trailing behind him as they entered the room. "Though I'm not sure why Draco had to turn this into such a production, besides his predilection for dramatic flare. Hey, darling. Nice dress. Weren't you wearing that last night?"
"Um," Leolin said, letting him brush a kiss on her cheek. "Yes."
Pansy laughed outright, but Ieaun ignored her.
"Leolin, this is my fiancée, Luke," Ieuan said. "Luke, this is Leolin."
Leolin smiled as Luke kissed her as well.
"Nice to meet you," Luke said in a soft, serious voice. "Ieuan thinks the world of you."
"You as well," Leolin said, admiring the kindness in his soft grey eyes. "I'm so happy to finally meet you."
"You're glowing," Grace interrupted. "Did you know? You're absolutely fucking glowing."
Leolin touched her cheeks as a pretty blush flooded her cheeks.
"Am I?"
"Yes," Grace said evenly. "America agrees with you, Leolin. You look lovely."
"Oh I don't think it's America at all," Pansy said wickedly. "I think Leolin finally let some bloke—"
"—Fuck, woman," Draco interrupted, pushing through the door and glaring at Leolin.
Pansy raised her eyebrows sinfully, but Leolin ignored her.
"Where the devil have you been?" Draco demanded. "And what the hell are you wearing?"
"Yes," Leolin said in a bored voice, not looking at him. His tone still stung, but she had stop reacting, It didn't help anything. "Nice to see you too, Malfoy. And we've been over this: you aren't my personal stylist. Stop trying to weigh in on my wardrobe."
"Leolin!" Blaise and Ginny had entered now, and Blaise was scowling as well. "Merlin, we thought you were dead!"
"No you didn't," Leolin said, rolling her eyes. "Stop being so dramatic."
"Well what were we supposed to think when you didn't come how last night?" he demanded.
"That I'm a big girl and I don't have to report home for curfew?" Leolin supplied.
"You were out all night?" Draco demanded, taking the dress in again. "Doing what?"
Pansy raised her eyebrows and smirked.
"I told you," she whispered to Gracie, who shushed her but smiled.
"Seriously, where were you?" Ginny asked. "We called you a million times. I had to keep Blaise from flooing the Aurors. Or worse, your mum."
Leolin opened her mouth to answer, but a newcomer's arrival interrupted her.
"Sorry I'm late," Max said, glancing around the table.
"You're not, really," Draco said flippantly, still glaring at Leolin. "Lefevre just got here, too."
At this Max looked up at her, and his grinned wickedly, giving her a shameful up-down. Apparently he wasn't quite done harassing her. She'd suspected he'd keep it up until he found fresh meat.
"Well aren't you an early riser!" he laughed.
"Excuse me?" Draco spit, looking between them.
Max ignored Draco, biting his lip and giving Leolin a sinful appraisal.
"You could have at least stayed for breakfast; I have feelings too, you know."
Draco looked ready to breathe fire. He looked between Leolin and Max, and he didn't even bother to hide to naked and ferocius jealousy in his sparkling eyes.
"Well," Pansy announced. "That at least solves one mystery."
"Pans," Tieran said in a flat voice. "Don't get involved."
"Just stating facts," Pansy said innocently, but Leolin ignored her, eager to get this conclave over with.
Draco sneered at Leolin.
"You have to be kidding me, Lefevre."
"Stay out of this," she said sternly. "This is none of your business. And shut up before I punch your lights out, Brankovitch."
"What," Draco continued. "Was Kelly Troy too busy?"
"I said stay out of it," Leolin snapped at him. "And if you say even one more unkind thing about Kelly I am going to rip off you arm and beat you with it."
"Let's just get down to business," Blaise said, sensing that Draco was gearing up to say something truly regrettable.
"What about Gen?" Leolin said, not sure why she even cared.
"I sent her down to New Orleans to make preparations," Draco explained, his gaze still contemptuous. "We'll met her down there tomorrow."
Leolin nodded. She didn't know why, but it seemed significant that Gen wasn't at Draco's side for this meeting. Leolin forced herself not to hope that Draco had sent her away on purpose. It was clear that everyone else had been informed about the abduction, the theft, and the sack of the National Museum, and she knew Draco would flip if she wasn't there. It admittedly felt good that he felt comfortable not having Gen by his side.
"What's the plan for New Orleans, then?" Ieaun said.
"First things first," Harry said. "Leolin, Malfoy said you might know what Adrian's after?"
Leolin finally looked at Draco, dispassionately meeting his glower.
"One of my contacts in Florence found out that thieves have been discarding mass quantities of Greek vaseware in Turkey."
Tieran spoke first.
"Did this contact have any names or descriptions of the fence? We need to know who the players are."
Ginny had told Leolin that Tieran had assumed an unofficial role, alongside Blaise, in advising Draco. Whatever Draco was planning, Tieran would be near the helm.
"The dealer in Istanbul always takes a secret photograph of all his clients," Leolin explained. "Not many people know that. "
"Did Malfoy's men know?" Luke pressed.
"Back up," Max said, his gaze teeming with mistrust. "How did you?"
Leolin and Draco exchanged a glance. Max, for all his swagger and caddish remarks, was sharp, and he was somewhat intimidating now that he was serious.
"Spiros is—an old friend," she said simply. "Every once in a while he throws me a bone."
Max nodded in understanding, licking his lips inadvertently. Apparently he'd decided this was a boon and not a detractor.
"Right, anyways," Harry said. "Did Malfoy's men know?"
"No," Leolin said. "And in a effort to minimize suspicion, Adrian sent a different man every time. Based on the time stamps, this has been going on for a while. Since before Sebasten's abduction and the move on the National Museum. They're been hitting private collectors for months."
"Do you have the pictures?" Luke asked.
Leolin nodded, pulling the stack from her pocket and skidding them across the table.
"Merlin," Gracie whispered, picking one up and looking at it. "This is half our Hogwarts graduating class."
"I know," Leolin said, grimacing. "And they're all the children of original Death Eaters."
"Quinn," Ginny said grimly, staring down a grinning face on the glossy photo in front of her. "He's one?"
Leolin bit her lip.
"That's my fault," she said somewhat fiercely. "I should have known he was involved when we saw him last week."
"The question is what does all this mean, and what are we going to do about it?" Harry interrupted.
"We're going to New Orleans," Draco replied authoritatively. "They are holding a big public funeral for Baudry des Lozières the day after tomorrow, and Audige is going to be there. We have to get to him before Adrian does. Otherwise he'll slither back into his hole and we'll never find him again."
"Who is Audige?" Grace asked.
"They call him the King of the Quarter," Blaise said. "And he's the only one who knows the truth about Bones."
"He's also incredibly nasty," Max said. "This is a terrible idea; going about Audige is a suicide mission. He'll kill us all and serve us at his next dinner party."
"We don't have a choice," Draco said in a cold voice. "We already know that Adrian is looking for him."
"Let him look," Max said, leaning back and crossing his brawny arms. "It will be one less problem for us when Audige kills him."
Ginny shook her head.
"Adrian may not be a match for Audige alone, but he's got Thivierge and Merlin knows who else with him. He has a better chance than you think. A much better chance."
"Victoria Thivierge is down here now?" Ieaun asked somewhat fearfully. "That's not good."
"Fine," Max ceded. "I'm in. I don't like it, but I'm in."
Draco nodded grimly. Leolin fought off a quizzical frown. Draco didn't seem particularly keen on Max, and Max had admitted he didn't really trust Draco. What, then, was he doing there? Leolin had a feeling that he was more involved than she knew. She made a mental note to do some digging.
"Me too," Tieran said solidly. "If Pucey gets to Audige, this could be over before it even begins."
"So am I," Pansy said, taking Tieran's hand. "This is starting to scare me."
"I'll go," Harry said, looking at Grace. "But I don't want you involved in chasing Pucey or Audige."
Grace huffed.
"I'm pregnant, not infirmed," she said in a sour voice.
Draco shook his head.
"I agree with Potter. We're not going to take any unnecessary risks."
Leolin fought off a quizzical frown. Draco didn't seem particularly keen on Max, and Max had admitted he didn't really trust Draco. What, then, was he doing there? Leolin had a feeling that he was more involved than she knew. She made a mental note to do some digging.
"Obviously we're in," Ginny said, and Blaise gave her a warm look. "Though I admit this whole thing makes me sick to my stomach."
"So are we," Luke said, and Ieuan nodded.
Draco's eyes slid to Leolin,
"Lefevre?"
"Of course I'll go," she said. "I'm the one that started this. But you should know," she said, looking at Draco before shifting her gaze to Blaise and Ginny across the table. "I'm leaving after this."
"Leaving where?" Ginny said, sounding doleful.
"Back to London. My family needs me, and I need them. No matter what happens with Adrian, I'm going back to London on Thursday morning."
Draco eyed Max coldly for a moment before his eyes skidded back to Leolin.
"Before you say something hateful," she said in a strong voice. "Let me assure you that I can work just as hard on finding the key to saving your stepdad in London than I can here."
"Not that you deserve her help," Ginny murmured to Draco, and he gave her a cool look in response.
"Not going to try and convince her to stay, Brankovitch?" Draco sneered, physically incapable of letting sleeping dogs lie.
Max laughed hardily.
"As if I even could."
"Butt out, Malfoy," Leolin warned. She meant it.
Draco gave her a cool look, but she knew that beneath the surface this barb has stung.
"Stay or go," he said dispassionately to Leolin. "After New Orleans, it makes no difference to me."
"Good," Leolin said evenly, un-phased by his brooding. She could tell he was sour she was leaving, and though it was petty and selfish on his part, it was progress on hers. "Just so we're clear."
"Inescapably," Draco said, and Leolin could feel Max watching their exchange keenly.
"So what's the plan?" Harry said. "Just spread out and try and find Audige?"
"Exactly," Draco said.
"And what about Adrian?" Pansy said. "The way I see it, this is practically two separate missions."
"We have to deal with Adrian first," Draco agreed. "Get him and his crew running in circles chasing us so we are free to go after Audige."
"Here's our next problem," Ieuan pointed out. "How do you lot propose to find Adrian in the midst of this funeral? Won't there be thousands of people there? It'll be bloody impossible."
"We're going to drop a tracking charm on him," Blaise said.
"He's not an idiot," Grace pointed out. "He'll be able to feel the charm. My mother used to put them on me; they're very inorganic."
"I know," Pansy said, "But Tieran's been working on a new one."
Everyone looked at Tieran.
"It's not as powerful," Tieran explained. "But it's a lot more subtle. The French Quarter is less than a square mile, though, so it shouldn't be an issue."
"What about the others?" Leolin said. "Adrian's crew?"
Tieran considered, looking at the pictures spread out across the table.
"Let's prioritize them," Tieran said. "I bet you he doesn't run more than five at any time. Once we know who we're looking for, I can link the tracker charm. It will spiral out from Pucey, and we can hunt the others down accordingly."
"I know Flint is the one stealing art," Leolin said, removing his picture. "He won't be there."
"Quinn's just the lookout man," Draco sneered. "He's not going to be in the field."
"The minister of Spain is in London until Thursday discussing the education reform," Harry said. "So that means Rockwood's out."
"Who does that leave us?" Grace said.
Blaise called them out.
"Graham Montague, Dom Godfrey, Robby Macnair, Radomir Dolohov, Merrill Travers, Tate Rowle, Terrence Higgs, Nic Scabior, Rodger Yaxley, Will Avery, Macklin Gibbon, Ferran Rosier, and Kai Morris."
"Kai Morris?" Ginny said in disbelief, leaning over to look at his picture. "The bloke who used to announce the Quidditch matches at Hogwarts?"
"I could have predicted that," Pansy said imperiously. "I never liked that twat."
"That's how I feel about Dom Godfrey," Ieuan said, and Leolin gave him a sympathetic look.
She hadn't forgotten the way Godfrey had tortured Ieuan about his father and Cornelius Fudge, and apparently neither had he.
"Quite the boys' club," Grace sniffed, and Leolin nodded grimly.
"She's not in these pictures," Leolin said. "But Victoria will be there, too."
"Right," Harry said, surveying the group. "How would Pucey organize this lot?"
"He and Tate Rowle were thick as thieves when Rowle was still at Hogwarts," Pansy observed. "And he's smart as hell. I guarantee he's Pucey's second in command."
"She's not in these pictures," Leolin said. "But we already know Thivierge will be there, too."
"Montague and MacNair are both clever," Draco said. "They'll be there."
Grace gave a big exhale.
"Someone needs to tell Daphne," she said softly. "She has no idea Graham is mixed up in this."
"Someone will," Harry promised.
"I'll talk to my stepdad James," Leolin said. "He still has some Auror friends he can have look out for her."
Gracie nodded in appreciation.
"Assuming Adrian runs a five-man team," Blaise observed. "We're still two short."
"I can't believe Terrance Higgs is involved," Pansy said. "I always liked him."
"I think he's peripheral," Draco said. "Look: he and Morris were the first two to go in. That means they're expendable."
Leolin nodded.
"Adrian was testing the waters with Spiros. He didn't send in his best guys until he was sure it was safe."
"Who's left?" Luke asked.
He didn't know any of these people, but Leolin could tell he was a quick study.
Draco began arranging the photos.
"Godfrey, Dolohov, Scabior, Yaxley, Travers, Avery, Gibbon, and Rosier."
"Godfrey's out," Grace said at once. "I know for a fact that Adrian's ex-wife Isobel cheated on him with Godfrey. I don't know why he's running with this crowd, but Adrian's the most spiteful little prick I know. He's not going to give Godfrey a slice of the action."
"So are Yaxley and Travers," Blaise said. "They're both power-hungry, and Adrian won't want anyone challenging his authority or stealing his glory. Besides, Yaxley's working for his dad in Magical Law Enforcement. I think his part is probably mostly in London."
"So Avery, Gibbon, Rosier, Dolohov, and Scabior," Harry synthesized. "Now what?"
Leolin stood up and considered, singling out the pictures of Adrian, Rowle, Macnair, and Montague.
"Adrian and Tate are the brains," she said, pushing them to the side. "Robby Macnair and Thivierge muscle. Montague, most likely, is running point. That means that Pucey's missing a sneak."
Draco came to stand beside her, surveying the pictures as well. Out of her peripheral, Leolin could see Grace and Pansy exchanging a meaningful look, and she knew what they were thinking: Leolin and Draco were a two-man triumvirate.
"Scabior's the sneak," Draco surmised. "He's slick and he's cruel. That makes him dangerous and versatile."
"What about Dolohov?" Leolin said, nodding her agreement to Nic Scabior and sliding his picture towards the rest.
"What about him?" Tieran asked.
"I have a feeling he's going to be here, too. If Audige is as nasty as everyone says, Adrian's going to want to bring a thug like Dolohov."
Draco looked down at her, and she could feel the tension seeping out of his form as they read each other's thoughts. Much as he professed to hate her, she knew he was secretly grateful to have her back on his side.
"I think you may be right. He's Pucey's cruelest man," Draco said, tearing his eyes away from Leolin. "Adrian's going to need him on hand if and when things go South."
"Then I say we link him closest to Pucey," Max suggested, flexing his broad shoulders. "Because we are going to want to neutralize him first, if necessary."
"Agreed," Leolin said, sitting down again.
"Good," Tieran said, gathering the pictures and ordering them. "I can do that tonight."
"Aren't we forgetting something?" Ginny said. "How do you propose to slap this charm on Adrian?"
"That's already sorted," Draco said. "I sent Gen down to Louisiana today. The Wizarding community in New Orleans is small, and her father's house is one of the biggest in the Quarter. Word that's she's there in going to spread like wildfire. Once Adrian get wind of all this, he's going to come sniffing after us to try and find out what, if anything, we know. Once we lure him out, we can slap the charm on him."
"I'll do it," Harry said. "I can pretend to pick a fight with him."
Blaise shook his head.
"It's too inorganic," he replied. "He's used to being the aggressor in situations like this. He has to be the one to come to us; we'll spook him if we come on too strong."
"Who do you suggest, then?" Harry said, sounding the slightest bit defensive.
Blaise shook his head.
"I'm not sure. My guess is he'll come after Drake. He can do it."
Now Leolin shook hers.
"No, Adrian's always been scared of Draco. He wouldn't risk antagonizing him directly, especially when there are easier targets."
"What are you suggesting?" Luke asked keenly.
Leolin looked at Ginny, whose face was grim.
"It has to be me; we all know I'm the one he's going to come after, and it will be the most organic."
"Are you mad?" Draco snapped. "No way."
"Yes way," Leolin replied. "Blaise just said it: this will only work if he starts the tussle. If we try to, he will know something is up." Leolin said.
"I don't see why that means it should be you," Draco said.
"Yes you do," Leolin said softly.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Max said, looking at her intently.
"We've known Adrian since we were kids," she explained. "We all went to Hogwarts together."
"I knew that," he said somewhat impatiently. "What does that have to do with you in particular?"
"I was—" Leolin began, trying to avoid Draco's penetrative gaze. "I could have been nicer to him. I was also picking at him, mostly because I had Drake and Blaise to back me up and keep him from retaliating. Now that the tables have turned a bit—" she paused again. "Let's just say he hasn't forgotten the score, and now he's looking to settle it."
"That's exactly why I don't want you doing this," Draco said. "No way."
"I'm not your responsibility anymore," Leolin said evenly. "Just worry about Gen and let me do the rest."
Draco gave her a cold look that Leolin knew was veiled concern. She gave him a candid look in return.
"She's right, Drake," Blaise said. "He's going to take one look at the two of you out together and come after Leolin."
"No," Ginny said fiercely. "I'm with Draco. The fact that he's going to come after her is precisely why it shouldn't be her."
"I'm a big girl, Gin," Leolin said, swallowing the swelling knot forming in her throat. "I can take care of myself, I promise."
"Are you forgetting what happened last time you tried to go toe-to-toe with him?" Ginny said. "He had you arrested."
"What?" Draco demanded. "No one told me that."
Leolin ignored Draco.
"I've learned a lot since then," she said to Ginny. "And he has a weakness for me. I guarantee that he will be so caught up torturing me that he won't see this coming."
Tieran nodded.
"If Lefevre thinks she can handle Pucey, I believe her. Besides, we will all be on hand to sort things out should they go awry."
Max nodded.
"I will wring his fucking pencil neck if he gets too handsy," Max assured Leolin, giving her a small wink. She rolled her eyes.
"How chivalrous," Draco sneered.
"Good," Harry interrupted. "Then it's settled. We'll meet you in New Orleans tomorrow, then?"
Draco nodded.
"Gen's father's house on St. Charles, right on the edge of the Quarter."
Grace nodded, standing and rubbing her belly.
"Send us the address, then."
"We will," Ginny said, standing and hugging them both. "See you tomorrow."
"See you then," Grace said, and they left.
"I'm out, too," Max said, standing. "See you all in the Big Easy."
"I'll walk you out," Leolin said, standing as well.
Draco clenched his jaw, but she pretended not to notice. She just wanted to sort this mess with Max out before it became a problem.
Max waited for her to rise before they left through the large French doors that lead to the beach.
"So," he said when they were a ways away.
She looked up at him, and he was merely smiling.
"I'm sorry," she said, blushing a little. "I shouldn't have snuck out this morning."
Max shrugged.
"It's alright," he said, grinning at her again. "Last night got pretty intense."
"Look," she began. "It's not that I didn't enjoy myself—"
"I'm not worried about that," he said. "I know you enjoyed it. A lot."
She flushed, and he bit his lip, still smiling.
"You made some of the hottest noises I've ever heard."
"Right," she said awkwardly. "Well, be that as it may—"
"Listen, sweetheart," he said. "You can relax, okay? I'm not Kelly Troy. I'm not trying to fall in love with you or sweep you off your feet."
"A charming sentiment," she said, unable to avoid feeling at least the slightest bit annoyed.
"You're a great girl," Max said. "And you're wicked hot. But it seems like you've got something fairly complicated going on here, and it doesn't really seem like you're that eager to let me in on it."
"I'm not," she said bluntly.
"Then its no hard feelings," Max said. "Though it doesn't mean we have to stop spending time together like we did last night."
"That was a one-time thing," Leolin said firmly. "I think you know that."
Max bit his lip as he looked down at her.
"I was really hoping you wouldn't say that," he admitted, grinning amiably.
She gave a laughing groan.
"Merlin, you're a nightmare."
"I guess," Max said. "But I'm a guy. Screw the consequences; I'd bang you four times a day if you'd let me."
"Elegantly put," she said, both amused and annoyed.
"Sorry," he said. "I forgot you redcoats always stand on ceremony."
"It's admittedly not often that someone uses the word 'bang' to my face."
"My apologies, then," he said, and he brushed a kiss on her cheek.
Leolin gently wiped it away. Max was a decent enough bloke, but any desire she'd had to be touched by him had long since faded away.
"See you in NOLA," he said.
She smiled.
"See you there."
He disappeared with a pop, at which point Leolin consulted her watch. She needed to grab some dinner, and maybe after that she'd go through the files Narcissa had given her. She wanted to get to the bottom of the stolen painting. She had a nagging feeling it was critical, and much as she selfishly wanted to work on breaking the gag, she knew that Sebasten's life partially depended on her figuring out the truth.
She traipsed back up to the house, making a small plate of pasta before fetching the files and heading to the dining room again. Radames was laying on the deck when she re-emerged, and he stood and followed her as she sat back down at large table. He sat dutifully at her feet as she spread out her materials and began to work, her eyes scanning through the hundreds of paintings listed in the inventory as she placed x's on the map Narcissa had given her of the two apartments and the villa.
The work was time-consuming but engaging, and she gently rubbed her bare feet on Radames's belly as he lay sprawled at her feet. It was nice not to be alone, and Leolin couldn't help but fantasize what it would be like if she and Draco reunited. The three of them would be like a little family.
Around midnight, the door clicked open and Draco emerged.
"Is my—"
Radames woke up and stood at once, immediately trotting the length of the rectangular room and going to his master.
Draco knelt to scratch his ears.
"Sorry," Leolin said, watching them. "He just sort of followed me in here."
"He's very fond of you," Draco admitted.
"Well, I'm sure you can convince him to be otherwise," she said flippantly, looking back at her work.
As charitable as she'd been about Draco that morning, she realized now that they were alone that she was still supremely annoyed at him. Just because she loved him didn't mean she had to always like him. He ignored her barb, straightening and studying her instead.
"Did you have sex with Brankovitch last night?" he asked bluntly.
She looked up, not sure if she should deny it or not. She decided to just be honest.
"Yes," she said evenly.
"Because of me?" he pressed.
She met his gaze.
"Not everything in my life is about you," she pointed out, hoping he wouldn't realize she'd side-stepped the question. She didn't want him to see her as pining or weak anymore. The other night had proven that it wasn't effective. Furthermore, it wasn't her.
"Look, Lefevre—"
"You better be getting ready to apologize," Leolin said, not looking up from the floorplan in front of her.
He growled in frustration.
"If you're going to be insufferable about it, then I'm not going to," he said, annoyed.
She rolled her eyes.
"You know what? You don't get to be indignant with me. I am helping you protect your family, and I didn't force you to kiss me. If you're so weak that you can't handle me in a fitted skirt, wear blinders next time."
"Why do you always have to be so difficult?" he said, clenching his jaw.
"I'm not!" she snapped. "It's not my fault you can't decide which head you want to think with!"
He groaned.
"Goddamnit, Leolin, I didn't come down here to fight with you!"
"Then why did you come?" she said.
She knew she was shooting herself in the foot a bit, but she didn't care. As much as she still loved Draco, even in that very moment, he'd been a right royal prick, and she was fed up.
"I'm sorry, okay?" he snapped. "You're right; I shouldn't have pushed all of that on you. I—I'm the one who's engaged."
She finally looked up at him. Despite her resolve to forget about Gen and focus on breaking the gag, she had a feeling whatever he was going to say next would still sting.
"In fact, you were right about a lot of things," he admitted. "I don't—Merlin, I don't feel 'nothing' for you."
She remained impassive, despite the hammering in her chest. Was he saying what she thought he was saying?
"But it's not—" he broke off, as if trying to convince himself. "Look, I don't love you anymore, alright? I've done that and I don't want to go back."
"So you've said," Leolin pointed out, savagely repressing her disappointment.
Please Merlin let that not be true.
"But even still," he bit out. "I said some really cruel things I maybe shouldn't have."
"I don't know if I ever told you this," Leolin said, not able to bite back her pettiness. "But you give the worst apologies I have ever heard."
"I'm aware," he admitted, coming to sit next to her. "Look, we both know that it's not in my nature to be kind, but your help has been invaluable, and I—the truth is that I can't do any of this without you."
Leolin turn to look up at him. It was hard to meet his glittering gaze, but she did so unflinchingly.
"Then man up and apologize properly," she said.
He considered, and Leolin could feel the trust they'd always shared flowing between them again as his diamond eyes arced across her face. She clung to it desperately.
He crouched down next to her chair so he could catch he downcast gaze.
"I'm sorry, Leolin," he murmured in a deep, rich voice. "I was a terrible prick to you, and I shouldn't have been. Please forgive me."
The irrational part of her wanted to lean in and kiss him again. Instead she looked away, reminding herself that there was only one way to win Draco back, and it wasn't this.
"Help me stop Adrian and then I will consider it."
He nodded.
"Done."
They were silent a minute before she set down her quill and looked at him again.
"Can I ask you something?"
He looked away from her, clearly sensing he wasn't going to like what she was going to say.
"Go on," he replied.
"How sure are you that we can trust Gen?"
He looked up, glaring at her.
"Excuse me?"
She met his fierce gaze without fear.
"I have to ask," Leolin said. "Because if you have even one single doubt—"
"I don't," Draco said with derision. "And if you bring it up again I'm going to make you really sorry."
"Screw your threats," she said. "You're asking our friends to put their necks on the line tomorrow. I have a right to voice concerns."
"It's a shame your 'concerns' are so translucent," Draco said, and Leolin flexed her shoulders in irritation.
"Go to hell," she said sullenly. "This actually has nothing to do with me and you."
"Then where is this coming from?" Draco said, narrowing his eyes.
"Why wasn't she here with you tonight?" Leolin replied
Maybe Draco was right and that her hatred of Gen was simply clouding her judgment, but there was something about Gen's absence that distressed her.
"Because I need everything to be ready when we all head down there tomorrow. If we can't lure Adrian out, we'll be sunk."
"And that's it?"
"I'm not even going to do this with you," he said, annoyed. "Of course I trust her. If I didn't, I wouldn't be marrying her."
Leolin bit her cheek.
"Fine," she said, feeling less anxious, though no less agitated. "That's all I needed."
"Glad to have cleared that up," he said sarcastically, moving to stand.
However, Leolin had seemed in find something in the inventory.
"What is it?" he said, leaning to peer over her shoulder.
She fought not to inhale his lovely scent.
"According to your stepdad's records, this was the painting in his office."
Draco must not have been wearing his glasses or lenses, because he had to lean farther over to read the title.
"Hypnos and Thanatos Carrying Away the Slain Sarpedon," he read, frowning a little. "Who is Sarpedon? And who are—" he glanced down at the parchment again. "—Hypnos and Thanatos?"
"Sarpedon is a hero of the Trojan War," Leolin explained. "And he died nobly in the battle of Troy. His courage was so revered by Zeus and Phoebus Apollo that they send Sleep, Hypnos, and Death, Thanatos, to fetch and clean his body."
"I thought my mum said that it was someone on a raft," Draco said.
"I think she might have been talking about this," Leolin said, pointing to the wooden dais on which Sleep and Death were standing. "It's a funerary pyre."
"What could this mean?" Draco asked.
Leolin shook her head.
"I'm not sure. It could mean the vessel we're looking for has this story on it. It could be that an image of the vessel is hidden somewhere inside this picture. I'm not sure. I need more time to sort through this."
He nodded tightly.
"Alright," he said, standing again. "Let me know when you figure something else out."
She nodded, glancing up at him at he moved towards the door. Radames moved to follow him but Draco shook his head.
"Non," he said, making a sweeping gesture towards Leolin. "Reste avec elle."
Radames did as he was told, obediently dropping to Leolin's feet again. Leolin looked up at Draco, trying not to read into the gesture. She needed to focus.
"Bring him with you when you come to bed," Draco ordered quietly. "I'll be up for a while."
She nodded, wishing they were sleeping in the same one.
"I will, thanks."
She looked down at her parchment, blood rushing through her veins. There was hope yet.
"Goodnight, Lefevre," he said seriously.
Her eyes found his.
"Goodnight."
A/N: Sorry for the delay! I'm terrible human! Please let me know what you think. How do like Effie and Sweeney? What's going to happen in New Orleans? Who is your favourite death eater? What about Max? Also, people know that the more reviews I get, the faster and better I write!