October 2008
Wizarding London, England
Ministry of Magic of Great Britain
Wednesday
After a quick catnap on the floor in Harry's office, Lyra asked him to assemble the team in a briefing room. She wanted to run the idea of the Manor by them and start brainstorming ideas for their operation.
"Hell no," were the first words out of Harry's mouth after she made the pitch.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Well, for starters, I was imprisoned there once before and I don't want to go back, but more importantly, that is his home. His territory. You could well be playing into his hands," Harry explained.
"His mother thinks that doing it there will give him a false sense of security and work against him in the long run if we do it right. I'm inclined to agree with her," she replied. "He's a cunning man and he likes to win. It's a viable strategy to give him the illusion of an advantage to put him at ease before springing a trap. Plus, it has all the things we need. Space, seclusion and, most importantly, it's far away from here, where Scorpius will be."
"Right, I will give you that Draco Malfoy is a cunning man who likes to win, but how can we say who he is under the compulsion? I mean, you heard him last night, Lyra. He was a raving maniac who blew up my damn house!"
"Ok that's...a point, I suppose," she admitted.
"So, Zabini and I actually have a theory about that," Rossman interjected.
"Let's have it then," Harry said.
"So, we haven't found the exact one but, in some of these old Scandinavian compulsion curses, you can refresh the curse or augment it to make the victim pursue the target harder. Like it spurs a form of temporary rage or mania. Based on what Lyra heard from those little Muggle machines in the manor, coupled with Draco's attack at your house, it seems plausible that that's what happened." Rossman explained.
"OK but how does that affect us going forward?" She asked.
"Well, like she said, it's temporary," Zabini offered.
"Ok, but he's being compelled to stalk and kill me. I mean, it seems that there would be some insanity or mania involved regardless," she replied.
"Well, not entirely. It's compulsion, not psychosis. Think about Imperious. You're still you, you just have parameters put on you by another person to achieve their goal. That's kind of what makes it so insidious. It doesn't take from you, it just adds to you. Alters your reality just enough to do whatever..." he added.
"Zabini. Too meta. Plain speak," she quipped.
"Well doll, to make it easy for you, I think you're right. I think you can treat Draco more or less like Draco. Beat him at this the same way you would at anything else."
She looked at Harry who was worrying his thumbnail with his teeth.
"What do you think, boss?" she asked.
"I dunno," he replied.
She turned to the rest of the room. "Help me. What am I missing. Why not there?"
"Dark magic wards?" Gold offered.
"Yep. That's a good one."
"Probable secret torture dungeon?" Zabini said with a wink.
"Ew. But also...would not be surprised," Lyra clipped back.
"It's dark, drafty, cold and I hate it," Harry supplied.
"Ok, any more reasons that are not whiny?" Lyra asked the room, pausing for suggestions. "Gold. The wards. That we should address. Fortunately, we have Narcissa Malfoy with us who can probably help in that regard. You should go sweet talk her, she'll likely be a divorcee soon," Lyra crooned at him.
The graying Scot wasted no in jumping up from his seat and making for the door. He was halfway out when Lyra called after him, "Change your tie, Pipperin! That one's terrible!"
"Wait. So we're doing it?" She asked, looking at Harry.
The wizard rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Fine. If I get sick from the cold there, I'm going to spit in your coffee for a week."
"You are gross and I hate you," she said.
"Bullshit," he replied.
"Yeah, so what?"
"So when you talk, Lyra, does it make sense to you? That is all I'm asking," he mocked.
"I see what you did there," she replied, narrowing her eyes.
He smiled at her.
They began going over their plan, though it likely wouldn't crystallize until they were physically inside the manor and could get a feel for the layout. They talked through their staging, zoning and communication. Lyra had the idea to give everyone the little radio earpieces that Patrick had sent in her box from New York. They were inconspicuous and no-maj, meaning Draco wouldn't recognize one if you shoved it up his nose. Speaking of Draco, she needed a subtle way for him to know where she was going. That was proving a challenge. Suggestions ranged from 'walk up to him and tell him' courtesy of Simpkins, to 'hop on a broom in a short skirt and let male hormones take it from there' from the ever-predictable Zabini.
At that moment Gold reentered with Mrs. Malfoy, who looked tired but motivated. "Auror Gold has told me that you need some help with my wards and I will gladly give it on one condition," she said to the room.
"Which is?" Harry asked.
"I'm coming with you."
"No," Lyra replied immediately. "Too much emotional investment."
"That's unfair! You're practically leading this operation and you are literally the person being targeted!" Narcissa countered. It was a good point. Smart broad, Lyra thought before the woman continued, "Not to mention that you have no right whatsoever keeping me from my own home."
"Well, since it's a crime scene, we do," Harry replied.
"I can help. You'll need me show you the layout. Hidden passages. Secret rooms. Draco will know them. If you want to catch him, you'll need what I know," the blonde witch persisted.
Lyra rolled her eyes but then looked over to Rossman and Zabini before saying "Beat him at this the same way you would beat him at anything else?" She paused to grit her teeth. She hated the idea, but it made sense. "I don't like it, but she's an asset. The call is yours, Harry. I'll live either way."
"Alright, she comes," Harry said begrudgingly. He pinned Mrs. Malfoy with a hard stare. "You do as we say at all times. You do not deviate from our plan in any way and you will stay with Gold unless you are physically using the loo. Deal?"
"Yes," she replied, sweetly.
"Ok, now. Back to it. We need a way to communicate to Draco that I'm going to be at the Manor. Something subtle."
"A fight," Narcissa offered, as if it were obvious.
"What?"
"An argument between you two." She explained, motioning between Lyra and Harry. "Make it appear like you're throwing her our of your home. It wouldn't be unreasonable, considering what happened."
"Ok, that provides a step one, but how do we get from their to the manor?" Lyra inquired.
"Well, I'll abduct you, of course."
"I'm sorry?"
"I'll abduct you." She said slowly, as if trying to explain something to a child. "I'm Narcissa Malfoy, the wife of a soulless Death Eater whose only redeeming quality is my love for my son," she said dramatically, putting her hand over her heart. "I haven't seen him in ages, you see, and I would do anything to get him back," she spoke in a false whimper.
"You are terrifying," Simpkins said from the back.
She smiled sweetly.
"I said subtle, Mrs. Malfoy," Lyra interrupted.
"Sweetheart, for a Malfoy that is subtle," Narcissa replied, looking around the room for confirmation. "I ensure you that it would not surprise Draco in the least to discover that I'd been tracking him, trying to discover why he hasn't been visiting or returning my owls, and viola! I found you."
"Have you been tracking him?" Harry asked.
"Well, obviously I've been trying, but my men haven't been able to trace him. Their best guess put him in Muggle Scotland and that was well over a week ago," she replied in exasperation.
"Jesus. You ARE terrifying," Lyra said with her eyebrows raised in awe.
"What? My plan achieves 2 goals. It makes you appear isolated and it gets you to where you need to be."
"Slytherclaw," Lyra smiled.
"What?" The blonde woman questioned.
"That old hat should have made a new house just for you."
Narcissa thought about it for a moment before breaking in to a proud grin. "Well, I did warn you."
"You did," she replied.
"Logistically, the team could floo in from here and Harry from home. The boy would have no idea," Gold offered. "It's not a bad approach."
"So wait. Who exactly is kidnapping me? I'm so confused." Lyra interjected.
"I am. That is to say, Auror Gold and I are," Narcissa replied.
"How?" she said, narrowing her eyes.
"Well, it would be best to let it surprise you and unfold organically," Gold added, looking...guilty?
"Uhhh...wait a damn minute." She paused, tapping her foot anxiously on the floor, deep in thought. "No gag and I'm gonna fight you," Lyra pointed her finger in his face.
"Lass, I would be disappointed if you didn't," he quipped back.
Harry chimed in then, "Right, so I think it would be wise to have everyone save Lyra and myself head to the manor now to get a feel for the place. Mrs. Malfoy, you go with the team initially and disable your wards please, then take Gold and double back down for Lyra." He turned to his friend. "Lyra, where will they find you?"
"I'll head to Heathrow, via Diagon alley. I feel like that's the most appropriate. Does that work?" She asked, looking at Narcissa and Gold.
"Works for me," Gold answered.
"Ok, Harry. You and I have to go home and break up," Lyra spoke at the dark haired wizard.
"Lovely," he replied without humor.
Heathrow - Large airport serving London
Author's Note - Hey hey! I am trying to push out these build up chapters ahead of schedule, so we can get down to business. Please review if I glaze over anything important. Thanks for reading and mad love to Marloweee1856 for the lovely review. Lyra is my spirit animal as well. She may be my patronus too. I dunno. It's either her or a panda bear.
-MM
