Peanut Butter and Anchovies
AN: Warning: gets a bit violent towards the end
I inched towards Al carefully, keeping my eyes firmly on the quietly conversing guards opposite me. They'd called for Al's dad three minutes and twenty-six seconds ago, but luckily he was still caught up with overseeing the necessary clean up at the football stadium. Unluckily, he was supposed to come in nine minutes and fifty-eight seconds. And if I had any chance of using the object Al had slipped me – the small silver key that opened the door to the Bulgarians' cell (I didn't even want to know where Al had picked up that particular skill) – I'd need to do it before the Saviour of the Wizarding World arrived.
My right arm just brushed Al's left, and I leaned my head against his shoulder, trying to appear like an innocently concerned gi-girlfriend (Merlin, that was incredibly odd to say. Were we even at that stage? Somehow I doubted Al – or I, for that matter – was the type to shower people with bouquets of roses and chocolates and declare undying young love. Or even go around willingly calling someone his "girlfriend" without flinching) The thought did me chuckle, though, drawing the attention of the guards – and an annoyed look from Al (yeah, the bloke was definitely the picture of sweet devotion). I quickly assumed a mournful expression once more, waiting nervously until the guards looked away after eighteen seconds.
Nine minutes and forty seconds left.
Cassandra was directly to Al's right, so we'd have to be careful to keep our voices low. Merlin, how I wished I had my wand right now; a quick Muffliato would take care of everything.
After shooting another quick glance at the guards, I turned my head slightly so that my mouth was near his ear. He shifted almost imperceptibly, and I fought down a grin of triumph – ha. Now look at who was taking the lead.
"You idiot," I whispered. His lips twitched, but he looked stoically ahead, the picture of innocence.
"I am a bloody lawyer. I cannot be caught breaking any laws," I continued. That got his attention. His eyes slid toward me for a split second.
"Sorry," he murmured, looking back at the guards once more. "If things go to plan, you won't be doing anything technically illegal. Just make sure to stay with Green at all times. But I think you're right about the Bulgarians. The Aurors are too spread out for dad to even think about sending someone here. And if we don't get to the bottom of this, some more people will end up getting hurt."
I swallowed; he had a point.
"Okay, so what about you? You can't risk having another mark on your record – you'll be put out of the field for months, if not years," I said.
He leveled me with an indignant look. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes; he'd had a plan. Of course he did. This was Al I was talking about, not James or any other of the reckless blokes that seemed to be pouring out of Hogwarts these days. I did wish he had told me of said plan before plunging into it; note to self - notify Al of my annoyance at a later time.
"You didn't think I'd risk my career if I didn't have to, right?" he whispered, assuming an expression of wounded pride. This time I did roll my eyes. The prat didn't need to act so satisfied with himself. The bloke was clever. Whoop de doo. We all knew that already.
The corner of his lips pulled up in a small smile as his eyes caught my irritated movement. "I saw a standard observation charm in the top right corner of the room," he explained.
Numberita worked, trying to call up all the information we'd read on the matter. The Auror department often used small charmed objects that were undetectable to those who weren't aware of their presence to spy on various events. They had a limited range, though, and the nuances of the charm meant only one could be placed in a room at a time to avoid conflicting magic.
Ah. So that was how he'd done it.
"And from that vantage point, any observers wouldn't be able to see your wand, just-"
"One angry and already slightly insane woman attempting to tackle me," he finished.
I glanced at Cassandra; she was wringing her hands, muttering silently to herself and shooting dark looks at Al.
"Insane?" I asked.
"Yeah, why do you think she was placed in desk work? She couldn't be kicked out – not with her father being so prominent. Vane told me she started cracking after the third year at the Academy. Started seeing things, muttering doomsday prophecies and breaking our cover during critical missions-"
I regarded Cassandra with renewed interest, a flicker of empathy blossoming in Numberita. I knew what it was like to be regarded as crazy.
"Well, her name is fitting," I said finally. Then a thought hit me – would she get in trouble for this as well? Sure, she had been the one to attack Al, but she hadn't been unprovoked.
"Will she get into trouble for this?"
A flash of hesitant worry passed over Al's face. "I doubt it. Her father will pull her out," he said quietly. I chanced another look at the woman; she was staring at me now, her pale eyes brimming with hate. I looked away quickly.
"I just – I'd feel terrible if…" my voice trailed off.
"Me too," Al admitted. I raised an eyebrow. "What? I'm ambitious and manipulative, not an emotionless bastard," he said.
He sighed heavily. "I'll try and twist the situation to make it seem less…incriminating. A mutual fault, then."
A heavy-set man – Green – entered the room, his eyes drifting briefly towards Al before he walked smartly over to the trio of guards.
"Okay, you remember the plan?" Al asked without moving his lips.
"Yeah, Numberita's got it." I'd start walking towards the guards. Pretend I needed to go the bathroom, which, luckily enough, was located in the same hallway as the Bulgarians' cell. Say it was urgent, get Green to accompany me (note to self: get Al to explain what in bloody Merlin's beard was up with this whole condiment business), infiltrate the cell while Green was pretending to deliver dinner, and find out the truth.
Simple, really.
Not.
I shifted, getting ready for my grand entrance into the acting business. Al brushed my hand, and I looked up to meet his concerned gaze.
"I really am sorry for making you risk your job," he said softly.
I smiled wryly. "I should be telling you that." Then, before I had a chance to second-guess myself, I channeled my inner Gryffindor (well, if my capture had one benefit I guess it was my growing boldness) and reached up to kiss him.
Eep. Perhaps this had been a bad idea. Numberita was beginning to get all fogged up, and Merlin why was I still kissing him? I had no idea how long it'd been, but it certainly was longer than the brief two-second peck I'd planned…
Shrill wolf whistles broke through my mental fog. I sprang backwards, looking at Al with widened eyes. His lips were swollen – I'd done that – but his green eyes flicked behind me pointedly. Right. The guards.
"Oi! No cavorting with the prisoner!" one of the guards shouted.
Al's expression showed nothing but self-assured composure.
"Don't you mean wrongfully held captive, Brown?" he answered. The guard – Brown – laughed good-naturedly. They must have known each other through work. Good – that meant they were familiar with Al and would thus be more reluctant to punish him. Luckily, Al hadn't managed to thoroughly piss off this bloke (which was an accomplishment; when he wasn't actively trying to be charming, the guy wasn't the friendliest of blokes. In fact, he was downright prickly and abrasive).
Al's eyes met mine for a brief second. "Go," he mouthed.
I inclined my chin slightly, exhaling slowly. Then, plastering my best innocent expression, I turned slowly, making my way confidently towards the cluster of guards.
"Yo, mates!" I blustered. They exchanged uncertain looks with each other. I could just picture Al rolling his eyes behind me. Right. Less dramatic.
I stopped just twelve centimeters before them. They were much taller from this distance. The scary woman from before eyed me silently. I swallowed nervously.
"I need to pee," I blurted out. Green was looking at me with barely disguised horror. Well, if he didn't like my approach, too bad.
"I'll take her," he said finally. The woman glanced at him before nodding dismissively.
"Follow me," Green ordered brusquely. Retrieving the thick iron key from around his neck, he unlocked the steel door.
Once the door had closed safely behind us, he refused to move, still staring at me disbelievingly.
"This is the best Potter could come up with?" he asked. I scowled.
"Oh, sod off. I hate peanut butter and anchovies," I said. He frowned, shooting me another angry look. At least he started moving, though; Numberita was growing antsy. Six minutes and two seconds left.
"Don't worry; there aren't any listening spells in the hallway. You'll need to be quick; the window for delivering meals is open for only forty seconds. Merlin knows why you're entering the cell of your captors, but I certainly do not want to know. I'll be with you the whole time," Green rattled off. I hurried to keep up with his brisk pace.
He stopped abruptly, and I barely avoided slamming into his back. He tossed me a slim object – my wand, I realized with relief. I caught it nimbly, running my fingers over it swiftly. The familiar thrill of magic tingled through my hand, and I felt a surge of confidence.
"At least now the git will finally stop lording this favor over me," I heard Green mutter under his breath. Ah. So that was why he was helping us (though I still didn't understand the whole peanut butter thing). How many favors did Al have? First Kingsley – the bloody Minister of Magic – and now this?
"Right, here we are," Green said. He held his hand out expectantly, and I wordlessly slipped him Cassandra's key. "I'll go in first – wait a few seconds for me to disable the observation charm."
I nodded, struggling to control my nerves. So many things could go wrong. Someone could go into the hallway, the observation charm might not be unbreakable, I could get thrown into jail and Black would be left without a second chair for the Daisy case, the Bulgarians could somehow overpower us and escape –
I forced Numberita to think about something else.
Green's head popped out of the door. "What are you waiting for?" he hissed. I bit back my annoyance; he hadn't told me exactly how many seconds to wait. I couldn't read minds. How was I supposed to know what he meant by 'a few'? This was why specific numbers were best.
Green motioned for me to remain behind him – luckily, he was broad enough and I was short enough to hide behind his form – as he waved his wand at the clouded glass. It cleared immediately, revealing the two people behind it.
"Oi! Dinner's here," he said, producing a small parcel from within his bulky coat.
I heard soft rustling noises as someone – Andrei? – got off of the cot.
"Wonderful," he said sarcastically. "What happened before? A bit of…trouble, would you say?"
Green stiffened. "No, no, nothing for you to worry about," he said hurriedly, stepping forward. I struggled to match my steps exactly with his as he approached the glass. Luckily Aleksandra couldn't see anything, for from her angle at the opposite corner she'd be able to clearly see me hiding behind Green.
"Stay back," Green warned. I could see a trickle of sweat dripping down the back of his neck. He reached forward carefully, tapping at the glass with his wand. A small window of about nine centimeters by twelve slid open at around eye level. Andrei approached it, his dark eyes still fixed hungrily on the food parcel.
It was now or never.
I sprang forward, grabbing Andrei's hand and jerking him forward as the parcel dropped with a muffled thump to the ground, spilling peas and potatoes across the slick floor.
He let out a shout of surprise, and I quickly pointed my wand at his neck, casting a revealing spell at his collarbone. His skin shimmered slightly but remained uniformly tan. I frowned, beads of sweat dripping down my temples. Andrei had overcome his surprise and was now pulling strongly back, yanking me towards the cell. A spiral of panic coiled in my stomach; if he drew me any closer, he'd be in easy reach of my wand –
I narrowed my eyes, forcing Numberita to focus on the spell. Come on, Adela. You can do this. I exhaled, blocking out my surroundings determinedly.
"Incantem revelio," I whispered. The familiar tingle of magic shot through my arm as my wand warmed. The shimmering at Andrei's neck shuddered violently, revealing a smaller version of the tattoo sported by my prior attackers. I smiled triumphantly; I was right!
He reached up involuntarily to cover his neck, loosening his grip on my wrist in the process. I wrenched backwards, channeling all of my Beater strength.
"Now!" I shrieked. Green had to close that window now or Andrei would escape – he was resourceful enough to figure out a way to lengthen the window, and with Aleksandra hovering at the background, it wouldn't be long –
No reply. Risking a quick glance backward to check on Green's state, I uttered a string of curses.
Green had bloody fainted, leaving me alone with two very angry Bulgarians and only a weakened glass barrier between us. How could a guard used to protecting London from the cruelest of prisoners faint? I shot his prone form a look of disgust.
Okay. Think, Numberita. Think. My mind whirred frantically as I struggled to think of a plan. I had no idea what incantation Green had used to open the window, and the spell to close it would probably be its reverse. I had no idea how much time had passed, and I couldn't risk looking away again to check my watch.
"You," Andrei snarled. He surveyed the window carefully, reaching through it in an attempt to reach me. I stumbled backwards, carefully keeping out of his grasp.
He snarled. Then he stepped back slightly, his lips widening into a smile that was more bared teeth than anything else. What was he going to do? My breaths came quickly in and out of my body as panic began clouding Numberita.
He reached down and plucked something from the waistband of his white trousers. I caught a flash of silver as he jabbed down on his forearm, drawing crimson blood. I willed Numberita to think faster. Ignore the unhinged, highly dangerous criminal across from you, Adela.
Okay, there were eighteen main opening spells that could possibly open such a magical barrier. I just had to narrow that down – easier said than done, considering that reversing the wrong spell would result in the glass barrier's further weakening.
Andrei dipped a steady finger into his blood, observing it for a second before stepping forward once more. What on earth was he doing? Numberita hadn't seen anything like it. Had he gone completely insane? Then he lifted his hand purposefully and set it on the glass. He winced slightly as the tremors of prohibiting magic shuddered through his body, but he began moving his finger steadily, drawing a diagonal slash across the faintly pulsating surface.
What…? I realized with horror that he'd formed not a crazed mess of lines but the beginnings of what looked like a very powerful rune. Cursing my lack of knowledge on the subject – I'd opted to double on Advanced Arithmancy instead of taking Ancient Runes back at Hogwarts – I saw with a sinking heart that the faint blue glow around the glass was beginning to turn vaguely yellow. Not a cheerful, happy yellow but a sickly yellow. The glass was beginning to shriek now as Andrei, now with sweat dripping down his face and his teeth gritted in pain, continued drawing complex runes with his blood.
A single, piercing shriek began careening up and down the octaves. I looked behind Andrei to see Aleksandra, who had been so quiet before, convulsing up and down her cot as silver-white runes began to curl up her tanned forearms.
A long string of expletives flew out of my mouth once more. At this point I'd have to risk saying the wrong spell – I quickly ran some last minute (well, more like last second) calculations through Numberita before settling on one of the spells. It was a particularly complex one that I'd never tried, only read about briefly in an obscure letter I'd found while exploring Hogwarts as a seventh year. It was actually designed to close flesh wounds, but at this point I was willing to try anything. I'd just have to alter it a bit to fit the situation.
Pointing my wand at the glass, I shouted, "VULNERA VITRA SANENTUR!"
A ripple of bright blue light shot from my wand, slamming into the window and spreading out to encase the whole wall. I gritted my teeth, planting my feet against the slick floor as I haltingly brought up my left hand to join my right. The glass shuddered as the runes began to steam. Andrei hissed as dropped to his knees, his hand still pressed to the glass. Was he unable to separate himself? I couldn't stop the spell now; if I did, the magic could backfire and the whole room could collapse, bringing all of us with it.
So I gritted my teeth and continued channeling magic, muttering the spell repeatedly under my breath. Andrei groaned as the waves of blue magic washed over his body, the bloodied runes smearing slightly. Were they – were they burning? Curls of dark smoke swirled upward from his rapidly reddening hand.
"Vulnera vitra sanentur vulnera vitra sanentur vulnera vitra sanentur," I chanted, desperation weaving through my exhausted body as I struggled to maintain the spell. Slowly, slowly the window was reluctantly closing as the runes began to burn off the glass. Andrei buckled forward, his other hand resting briefly against the glass. It instantly stuck as fresh curls of smoke began floating upwards as his white shirt turned black. He was almost unrecognizable now, his usually tanned skin bright red and his hair slick with sweat and plastered to his grimacing face.
I felt something drip down my face, and I angrily blinked the stinging liquid from my eyes. I felt bile rise up my throat, threatening to break my concentration as I stared at Andrei's panicked eyes. Merlin. Merlin. My lip quivered slightly as I saw his body grow limp, his dark eyes still wide open. He hadn't yelled. Not even once.
The window was barely three centimeters by two now – I just needed to hold on for a little longer. My shoulders were shaking, buckling from the tension and my voice hoarse.
A memory of Seth shouting "BATTLE CRY!" flashed through Numberita. I gritted my teeth, bolstering my resolve as I stared at the few square centimeters left.
"VULNERA VITRA SANENTUR!" I bellowed. The window shut with a bang as the magic cut off abruptly, and I crumpled to the ground, vaguely registering a dull clatter as my wand fell from my limp hand. As my eyes rolled to the ceiling, I dimly saw Green's weathered face – when had he regained consciousness? – above me.
"G-Green?" I mumbled.
He shushed me, running a hand down my cheek and catching a stray tear with his finger.
He contemplated it silently before turning a smile that was choking with venom towards me. Then he was gone, leaving me to blankly stare at the white, white ceiling as the acrid scent of burning hair permeated the room.
Author Note: Thanks for reading! C; All reviewers will get a teaser of the next chapter.
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