The door from the kitchen opened and a tall, very slim, striking young girl with an explosion of blond hair strode into the dining room.
"Hi, I'm Drifa. Are you Tony and Adam?" They both nodded. Her accent was strong, but her English was excellent.
As she walked across the room, the mass of hair seemed to bounce as she walked. Her hand went to Tony, along with a very welcome smile. Adam noticed she was just a little short of Tony's height, but the hair added more. Tony smiled at her and sensibly kept his mouth shut as he shook her hand. She turned to Adam with a set of deep blue eyes.
"Unusual name Drifa," Adam said as he held her hand for a moment, feeling her firm grasp.
"Not so unusual where I come from."
"Where's that?"
"About fifty kilometres from here."
"Are you a Drake? What's the other word?"
"A Drake Hanterare, yes, but I'm still very junior. It will be a few years yet before I follow the migration."
"Has Charley explained what we want you to do?"
"Yes, get you dressed for the weather, which looks like it will rain." She handed them each a lightweight raincoat. "Then I'm to take you up the West path without getting you killed."
"I'm glad he told you about not getting killed bit," Adam said.
"He didn't." She smiled as she turned and headed for the kitchen door. "I added that."
Adam grabbed Tony's shoulder, making him follow. Through the doorway and into an industrial-sized kitchen, large ovens ranged along one wall, the heat from them radiating across the room. Adam stopped when a house-elf walked past him, carrying a huge collection of clean pans on his head. Another one was washing more pans in a sink, standing on a long bench running almost the entire length of the kitchen. Many questions leapt into his mind, but he decided that this was another chance to ignore what was going on, and followed Drifa outside.
The ground underfoot was soft after an earlier shower, squelching a little as they walked to the rear of the shops and houses. She led the way down a side street and then back into the main street, passing the front of the shops, which were now open and crowded with people shopping, reminding Adam of Diagon Alley. Twice Adam had to nudge Tony as he seemed transfixed on the girl's tight trousers. He looked at Adam, blushing, while he shrugged.
Within minutes, they were back in the thick pine woods, following the path they had taken before. The trees kept the keen wind pegged back, and they sweated in the coats as they took another pathway away from the Drakes, which made Adam feel a little better.
After a short while, the trees thinned out, allowing them to see a rolling landscape dotted with immense pine trees. They entered a clearing dotted with small wooden shacks. There were many trampled pathways between the shacks. Adam tapped Drifa on the arm as she strode out towards the nearest, signalling for them both to come close, allowing him to whisper.
"Are these shacks inhabited?" He asked in a whisper. They both looked at Drifa.
"Possibly, the ones like Charley, who were watching last night, will be asleep by now; the rest will be out with the Drakes, watching for any migration start."
"I saw movement in the window of the smaller brown shack." He said, pointing across the clearing.
"That's an empty shack," Drifa replied.
"You two stop here. I'll go get a closer look," Tony said, slipping his wand out ready.
He slipped away, keeping to the tree line until he came to a piece of open ground between the last tree and the side of the shack. Luckily, the wall of the shack he was heading for had no windows, so he could get to it unnoticed.
Adam had completely ignored him, telling Drifa to stay where she was. He circled around while watching Tony creep along the wall to the corner of the shack. He watched him reach around the corner with this hand and tap on the door. He ducked back as a small hole blasted through the door, showering pieces of wood across the damp ground. Adam thought it was a gunshot with no gun sounds. They waited until the door to the shack opened a little, and then a wand with a hand appeared, followed by an arm. Adam watched Tony's hand move. The wand sticking out of the door flew up into the air, landing about three feet from the tree line where Adam stood. He dashed out, grabbed the wand, and ran back into cover as fast as he could, hiding behind a tree.
Silence descended again on the scene until the door that had closed flew open. A figure, crouched about waist height, flew out of the shack on a broomstick. Tony's wand did the trick yet again. A bright flash erupted from the end, hitting the now fast-rising figure square in the back. The figure shrieked and dropped like a stone, crashing through the lower branches of the trees. The broom continued on, also crashing into the trees. A loud thump signalled the figure hitting the ground. Tony came leaping across the snowy ground, oblivious to the second figure crouching inside the doorway of the shack. Adam dropped, pulled the gun from his pocket in one fluid moment, and took aim as the figure's arm came out, pointing at Tony's back. The bang from Adam's gun made Tony drop to the floor as a streak of green light shot through the space he had just vacated. The figure in the doorway crumpled forward onto the path, the wand rolled away to one side. Drifa sprinted out from the other side of the clearing, ignoring Tony and Adam's comment to stay out the way. She headed straight to the prone figure outside the shack before dropping to her knees, rolling the figure onto their back. She undid the coat, showing a crimson pool spreading across the chest of a young woman. Drifa's wand moved over her, reducing the blood loss almost immediately to a slow seep. Another wand movement and the body rose and floated back into the shack as Adam arrived. He followed them both inside.
Tony got over the shock of the gunfire quickly enough, and ran over to the prone figure, lying still on the muddy ground, pieces of pine branches scattered around him. He checked for a pulse. Finding one, he stood up and magically bound the man, making sure he couldn't get away if he woke up. He rolled him over and looked at the face. He was young and tanned, which meant he probably worked outdoors. What he was wearing was the big giveaway, a colourful blouse and a long, full skirt. He decided not to check any further, leaving the man on the ground before heading to the shack. As he went to enter, he found a wand on the floor, which he picked up. Inside, he found Drifa leaning over the other person, with Adam holding the bloody shirt up, exposing a young girl's stomach, which had a gaping hole in it. Blood seeped out, pooling on the floor. Tony looked down at a young brunette, dressed in similar clothes to Drifa.
"Good job we have to be good at first aid in this neck of the woods," Drifa said, giving Adam a foul look.
"Will she survive?" Adam asked, staring at the wound. A jagged rip that had gone in at an angle stopped bleeding as he watched.
"Yes. I've stopped the bleeding and healed the wound as far as I can, but I need to get a bottle of Dittany." She said as she stood up, holding her closed hand out to Adam. "You need this." She said, gesturing. He held his hand under hers as she dropped the misshapen remains of a bullet into it and disappeared.
"What's she gone to get?" Adam asked while looking at the remains in his hand.
"A potion that regrows skin. I used it on your wound yesterday."
Adam held up the wand he now had and offered it to Tony. He raised his own wand and pointed it at the wand Adam was now holding, feeling quite unnerved. Tony's lips moved, but no sound came out, but a small picture appeared showing several images that Adam could now see. He then took the wand he had picked up outside the shack and did the same. This time, he saw a bright green flash of light.
"Good shot Adam." He said, handing the wands back to him.
"What did that just tell you?"
"She used the Avarda Kedava curse on me. I dived when I heard your shot and the curse just missed me."
"What happens now?"
"As soon as we can move her, we take her to Azkaban. We'll take her friend out there as well."
"Might it be a good idea to question them alone first?"
Both the men jumped as Drifa reappeared, a small bottle clutched in her hand.
"Do you know either of these two people?" Adam asked.
"She's Dulcey Woodrow," Drifa replied frostily.
She uncorked the small bottle and dropped a few spots onto the raw, open wound. Adam watched, amazement on his face as the wound stopped oozing and closed up completely, leaving a jagged red mark behind.
Tony stepped outside for a few moments and returned with the man in tow, floating just above the ground. He got him inside and closed the door.
"What do you know about her?" Tony asked Drifa.
"I know he just tried to kill her." She replied, pointing at Adam.
"For your information, Drifa, the curse she aimed at me was the Avada Kedava curse. Adam saved my life, for which I am very thankful. Now, what do you know about her?" He asked, trying to keep the anger from his voice.
"She works here, has done for a year now." Neither man spoke, leaving Drifa to fill the void. "I think her home is in southern England."
"Do you know the area?" Adam asked.
"I've no idea."
"Who is the man?"
"No idea. Never seen him before. Why's he wearing a dress?"
The girl, Dulcey, came round and groaned as she tried to sit up. Drifa helped her.
"Dulcey, what the hell were you doing?" Drifa asked as Tony placed a hand on her arm.
"Drifa, can you leave us alone for a few minutes?" She didn't move. "Wait outside" He snapped. She looked menacingly at Adam, which is difficult to do when you have a halo of blond hair. She stood up and left the shack, closing the door behind her.
"Can I call you Dulcey?" Adam asked. She said nothing. "What's your full name?" He asked just as kindly. Her eyes flicked from one man to the other.
"You tell me who you are first?" She spat angrily.
"Tony Garrett, Auror, working for the Ministry of Magic." He pointed at Tony. "I'm Detective Chief Inspector Adam Croft. I'm a Muggle policeman, also working for the Ministry of Magic." Her eyes stayed on Adam.
"Dulcia Woodrow, I'm a trainee Drake Hanterare." She said begrudgingly.
"Tell me about your male friend, Miss Elfrida Hedgecock," Tony asked. Her eyes opened slightly wider at this comment. "Yes, we know he's a man and not Elfrida."
"Dulcy, either you tell us what we need to know, or we can take you to Azkaban. Their methods are nowhere near as pleasant as ours." Tony said kindly, copying Adam.
"You can't take me to Azkaban. I'm not English."
"I'll take you wherever the hell I feel like."
"International wizarding laws. I refuse to go to Azkaban and you can't force me."
Adam reached across and tapped her on the forehead with the wand he had picked up outside. She visibly flinched, her eyes almost crossed while watching the tip of the wand.
"Listen, Missy, you are in a serious amount of trouble. You used a banned spell on an Auror." Adams' voice was quiet and congenial. "That's life in Azkaban is it not, regardless of where you come from?" He waited for a moment, allowing his comment to register. "So start talking, now." He dropped the cosy voice on the last word. She sagged slightly after a moment, her reserve now gone. "Before you start, try to realise that we know you come from England."
Tears welled up in her eyes. Tony held out his hand to her, and then helped her to stand up and then down again onto the bench, the only item of furniture in the room.
"His name is Urian Adair."
"Is he wanted for anything?" Adam asked, assuming the way she spoke meant they should know who he was.
"No, but my father is Clifford Woodrow, minister in charge of the Department of International Magical Cooperation."
"Is everyone I meet related to a bloody minister?" Adam asked Tony, his voice giving away the anger he was feeling.
"I'm not," Tony replied, turning to the girl. "Why would it be important that you are a minister's daughter?"
"Our families do not get on. Urian's family is from America and mine are English."
"What was that about international wizard law?" Adam asked. She seemed to sag down even further.
"Why is your friend pretending to be a woman?" Adams' voice had dropped back into friendly mode again.
"I have a brother who is staying here for the summer. If he finds Urian, he will tell my father."
"Then what happens?"
"My father will use his influence, my job will no longer be required, and I will have to go home."
They sat for a moment while Adam figured out the next question.
"I take it you're an item." She looked at him, the disdain clear on her face. "It must be very difficult to be intimate when your partner is the wrong sex?"
"Shut up." She said with some venom.
"I'm new to all this magic stuff, but."
She interrupted him. "Shut up."
Adam looked at Tony, who was smiling and looking out the window. An idea finally blossomed in Adam's head.
"Surely your father would be less upset if he knew about Urian being a boy rather than." He left the rest of the sentence hanging.
"Don't you ever shut up?" She blushed furiously.
"You've broken the law, Missy, you don't get the chance to tell people to shut up anymore." He said angrily, tapping her on the forehead with the wand at each word.
Tony leant across and whispered in Adam's ear. "Sometimes people like to spice their lives up a little, Polyjuice can help."
"That had never crossed my mind." He looked at the girl, who was looking at the floor, her ears crimson.
"I have one more question, Dulcey."
She looked up at him, the red face calming down, but the anger in her eyes remained.
"If you were having a little fun with your boyfriend behind your father's back, why would you use a killing curse which carries a lifetime in Azkaban?"
Her eyes had gone wide again, her face going white as this news sunk in.
He looked up at the Auror. "Tony, are you informed during your school years about the three unforgivable curses? Isn't that what you call them?" He nodded. "Do you want me to ask again, Dulcey?"
"No." Her voice was quiet; she seemed to have shrunk into herself more if it were possible.
"Dulcey," Tony said in his soft voice, "if you don't answer the question here, you will be asked the same questions at the Ministry during your trial and your father will be unable to help."
She closed her eyes and kept them closed.
"I want to talk to my father."
"We're way past talking to daddy now, Missy," Adam replied as he turned to Tony.
"Do you have the magical equivalent of a solicitor?"
"We have advocates assigned by the ministry."
"Then I suggest they are both kept somewhere safe until we question them properly."
Tony turned to the unconscious man, still sprawled on the floor where Tony had placed him. He reached down and clasped his wrist before reaching towards Dulcey who pulled back, moving out of his reach.
"I am not going anywhere." She spat at Tony. Adam grabbed her wrist and pulled her across to Tony, who clasped her hand. She screamed in anger for a moment as Tony apparated. The door swung open, and Drifa came hurtling through, colliding with Adam.
"I heard a scream." She looked confusedly around the room.
"Tony has taken them into custody."
"Where's he taken them?" She demanded.
"Azkaban."
"He can't, international wizarding laws."
Tony appeared back, this time standing up.
"What have you done?" Drifa yelled at him, not giving him a chance to speak she apparated leaving them alone.
"I assume you took them to Azkaban?" Asked Adam. Tony shrugged his shoulder and walked out of the shack.
"I'm not allowed into Azkaban, so I dropped them off at a Ministry house as I did with Ramsey. She was screaming her bloody head off, so much so, that the guard knocked her out. Both of them are now in the cells."
"What does International Wizarding Law mean?" Tony stopped and looked back at Adam. He opened his mouth to speak when a lone man appeared beside them both. He leaned on a large staff, looking unfriendly. Adam was unsure, but he seemed to be dressed as a Russian soldier. His jacket had grey fur collars, with a matching fur hat and huge strong boots. Most of his face was covered with a thick, wiry beard.
"Anthony Garrett." The man bellowed in a strong accent.
"Professor Anatoli." They walked towards each other, arms out wide. Adam chose this moment to breathe again as he watched the two of them give each other bone-crushing backslaps.
Adam watched the two men talk animatedly for a few minutes, in, he assumed Danish. It surprised him to find Tony could talk another language. The two of them shook hands again. The older man apparated, leaving Tony to walk over to Drifa. After speaking to her, she too disappeared.
"Who the hell was that?" He asked as Tony stopped in front of him.
"My favourite professor. Seems I've been invited to the Durnstrang Christmas party."
"I thought the little guy had already invited you to the Christmas party the other day."
Tony paused for a moment, smiling. "So, now I have two parties to go to."
"What the hell did he teach?"
"Defence against the dark arts."
"That sounds a little ominous. Should I be worried?"
Tony looked at him and decided not to answer. "Back to London." He reached out to place his hand on Adam's arm.
