Chapter 52
Mag regarded her reflection in the mirror. A girl with long straight red hair tied back with a silver silk scarf and wearing a long, green off the shoulder summer silk dress with folds that brushed the floor stared back at her. Her chakra wand glittered unassumingly between her breasts, not at all indicating that it was an actual wand, and twice the strength of any wooden one. Her large green eyes were silent and thoughtful as they watched her. What her silent reflection said was that the past year had been a mixed bag. She'd initially wanted to teach at Hogwarts with Severus, if only to remain close to him, but he'd refused, insisting that she was safer further away. At least he allowed her to be with him at night, and her days were enjoyable spent with Areecen. She'd learned much from the dragon, and she felt she was getting close to talking him into agreeing to help against Voldemort, did it ever become necessary.
After hearing of Nightshade's positive interaction with Severus's Mum, Mag was eager to meet Eileen Prince last Christmas, but it was another thing that Severus would not allow. At least not yet. He wanted to avoid drawing any danger or notice to the two most important women in his life. People expected him to visit his Mum but if Voldemort did happen to pay attention, a new person in the mix certainly would raise his disgusting serpentine brows. Though Mag knew this was entirely logical, it was frustrating. Still she was with Severus. She'd actually won him, and that was all that mattered. Now if they could just get through this last year. The thoughtful look in her large green eyes turned to one of worry and she let out a shaky breath, hands curling into tight fists of tension that she forced herself to release. Worrying did no good, and she reminded herself of that all too frequently. Being busy helped. She'd come up here to get a book from the bedside table that Severus wanted to show Albus. When passing the mirror, however, she'd gotten distracted with tucking stray wisps of hair back into the silver scarf she used to keep it tied at the nape of her neck.
"Silly," she told her reflection, then turned away and went for the book. She was just heading downstairs when the door knocker sounded. That was followed by the sound of a crack as Mira Apparated to open it.
"Miss Mag...Severus...Kereston Boxwood is here to see you," the elf called cheerfully. Then after another moment she added,"Oh she's here to see everyone actually."
Kereston paying them a visit wasn't strange, but her wanting to see everyone was. Mag's worry returned as she hurried toward the front hall where Mira was guiding Kereston in the direction of the library to join everyone else. Kereston worked at the Ministry now, in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Had she heard something bad? Why else would she be here wanting to see everyone?
"Hi, Mag," Kereston called, waving cheerfully. The tightness in Mag's chest eased at Kereston's apparent good mood. Could she dare hope for good news? The gods knew they could use a bit.
"Hi," Mag called back, joining Mira and Kereston at the door to the library. "What brings you to see us all," she asked as they headed inside. "Kereston is here and she wishes to talk to all of us," she announced to the rest of the room.
Kereston stood in the doorway, jaw having dropped as she gaped at Albus who sat on the sofa with Raislen and Heather. Mag couldn't remember another time when the small chatty witch was rendered speechless. In spite of her eagerness to discover the reason for Kereston's unexpected visit, she allowed herself to bask in this unprecedented moment. "You're alive," she breathed. "That is...congratulations."
Mag's lips twitched. Not much kept the little blonde speechless for long, not even a very well done faked death, apparently.
"Thank you, Miss Boxwood,' Albus said with a warm smile. "I do ask that you keep this to yourself for my own safety, and that of Severus."
Kereston nodded. "Sure...of course. When I heard, I assumed that Severus was set up and that Mag's family would protect him. Especially when she didn't write me a tear streaked letter about him being a wanted man. I never suspected this, though! Well done."
"Thank you," Albus said again as Mag approached Severus and handed him the book from upstairs.
"So what brings you to talk to all of us," Mag asked, her curiosity back in full force now that Kereston was talking again.
"Well it's someone, actually," Kereston began. "Someone I think you should all meet. He's also trying to bring Voldemort down. He's been working on his own, but when we told him that there are others who also don't wish Voldemort to succeed and who are, unlike the worthless Ministry, willing to do something about it, he was interested."
"I hope you were wise enough not to drop names," Severus said tartly.
"Where did you meet this person," Mag asked, uncertain how to feel on the matter due to all the unknown factors.
"How do you know you can trust him," Raislen demanded.
"Yes, what if it is a set up," Heather chimed in.
Albus wore a concerned expression but remained silent.
"All fair questions," Kereston saidd patiently. "We plan to proceed with caution, but we do trust him as it stands. He's shared a lot of information that could have him put in Azkaban, including the fact that he's killed many Death Eaters." Though Kereston was a sweet looking little blonde, the fact she spoke calmly of killing' Death Eaters without blinking showed just how hard and Slytherin she was when it was necessary. "We also have his address, as he invited us to bring you all to a dinner party in a few days. Were he setting us up, he'd be risking a lot."
"Who is us," Raislen asked.
"Oh yes, me, Millicent and Blaise. We were out book shopping and ran into him while we were having lunch. Millicent and I aren't speaking, as it happens," she added with a dark scowl. "I was just looking at his book, and she thought I was looking at him. Apparently she fancied him heavily even then and demonstrated this fact by lifting me off the ground by my bloody hair! Do you know how much that hurts," she demanded hotly. Everyone professed to in fact not knowing how that felt, but they all assumed correctly that it did not feel at all pleasant.
/Go ahead and go see him. I'll know if he's lying,/ Nightshade thought to Severus and Mag, from where he sat on the arm of Severus's chair.
/He's also taking a truth potion,/ Severus replied firmly. /Just in case./
"You wish to align yourself with an admitted murderer," Albus asked in open concern.
"How do you know he's any better than Voldemort? What if he only wishes to bring him down in order to take his place?"
From the headmaster's expression, he considered this to be quite likely.
"What's his name, anyway?"
"It's Wolfgang Adler. He's a half giant from Germany," Kereston said.
"He's been educated all around the world, and knows some fascinating spells that he's already shared with us. He's extremely willing to share his knowledge unlike Voldemort. He has expressed no wish to lead anything but a party who wants to free the wizarding world of tyranny."
"By murdering wizards," Albus asked flatly, his disapproval obvious on his face.
"By murdering wizards who would happily murder us," Kereston replied tightly.
Mag gave a small nod of understanding. Albus was alright, but too frequently he was too fluffy to do what needed doing. His moral high ground was screwing him and others over when he wouldn't use his power to do what was necessary. She'd always known this and thus never truly related to Severus's attachment to him even if she respected it.
"He knows that he can't go after Voldemort directly due to the prophecy that apparently enough people are now aware of. He at least knows that Potter is supposed to do it. I didn't ask about the prophecy because I didn't want to give too much away in case he'd sorted it out another way," Kereston explained. "He's trying to weaken Voldemort as much as possible by removing all his true supporters."
"And he's only killing true supporters rather than those forced into it," Albus pressed, tone doubtful. "How does he know one from another?"
"He does his research," Kereston said. "He's careful and strikes from the shadows to keep himself out of it too. I like that. He would want the same of anyone helping him and that keeps us safe while allowing us to be part of doing what needs to be done."
"And what is it that he wants of us," Raislen asked.
"Whatever we're willing to do. Whatever we can offer. For now, I think just to meet and talk," Kereston replied.
"In short, for now an exchanging of resources and information."
"Sounds reasonable," Severus said. "I, for one, think we should take all the help we can get, once we verify it." He turned to Albus, expression grim. "You have your Order of the Phoenix. It does what it can, but I've always felt it wasn't willing or capable of doing everything that needs doing. It simply isn't dark enough. If we had another small organization like your order, but darker, who was willing to do what needed doing, I think that would get us further. I have my family to think of and more reason to live than ever, and live is what I intend to do."
Mag bit her lip in her struggle to keep the tears that were suddenly standing in her eyes from spilling down her cheeks. She loved him so much for that in that moment. He'd fight in any way he could to stay with her, and that validated things even more than being in his arms every night.
/Ah keep it together, Mags,/ Nightshade told her. /Prof was never trying to get himself offed./
/Don't call me Mags. You know I hate that,/ she complained, glad of the distraction if unwilling to admit it.
(Author's note) The short Novelette, Millicent Bulstrode Falls In Love, also uploaded here by us, gives a closer look at Wolfgang and his plans from his and Millicent's perspective.)