Chapter 53
The next day, Kereston wrote them with the address to Adler Manor and said to arrive at six in the evening on Saturday for the dinner party. Surprisingly, she included a request from Millicent Bulstrode that Severus bring enough Veritaserum for everyone. As Severus planned to do just that, he was pleased to know he wouldn't have complaints.
Nightshade wanted to go, but to remain unseen under the chameleon spell just in case there was trouble. /If there are issues I'll be an ace in the hole. I can fuck with his mind and throw him off while you all attack if he's a Death Eater./
The idea sounded solid to Severus, especially as Kereston had said they'd not given Adler any list of names when it came to who would be attending the party. That meant if he was a follower of Voldemort, he wouldn't be able to report that Severus was involved before the night of the party. In such a case, the dark lord would have no idea who killed him if it came to that. It wasn't until Saturday afternoon that it occurred to Severus to invite Filius along. Kereston was clear on the fact that Wolfgang Adler was interested in working with anyone capable and willing. Like Raislen and Heather, Filius was one to lay low and stay out of things for unspecified reasons, but Severus knew for a fact that he didn't support Voldemort. It was the potions master's suspicion that Filius found the order's methods to be too soft and there was no other act in town as it were. He'd never said as much, but Severus trusted his hunches. After shamelessly bribing Nightshade with thinly sliced deli turkey to take Filius a note, he charmed a sheet of parchment to burn if not opened by Flitwick. Quickly outlining the situation and providing Adler's address, he gave the note to Nightshade. The owl was back before long.
/He wasn't there, but I left the note for him./
Albus decided to sit this one out, so he remained with Mira at WestCraven Manor while Heather, Raislen, Mag and Severus, with an invisible Nightshade on his shoulder, apparated to Adler Manor at six in the evening on Saturday. The place was on the edge of London, not fully in the city but not far enough out to be considered out of it either. The lawn was vast and neatly kept and the home itself was stately. The group arrived to the sound of others apparating in. Kereston and her parents arrived then Blaise Zabini and his parents. Millicent and hers were already waiting in front of the closed front door. All the parents wore nearly matching expressions of wariness. Millicent appeared nervous, fussing with her long green skirt. Severus would've found it odd that the Amazon like girl was dressed up with her hair pulled back if he actually cared, which of course he did not. For his part, Blaise Zabini looked bored, so at least some things never changed. Millicent was the one to lift the door knocker, expression turning eager as she let it fall four times. The man who opened the door was Adler himself rather than any servant. Severus could tell because he was definitely tall enough to be a half giant. Rather than being stocky as was the block like Hagrid, Wolfgang was taller than wide, big boned rather than thick waisted, and somehow elegant. He looked like someone who had themselves together. His face was clean shaven and well proportioned, his blonde red hair short and neat, his gray suit perfectly tailored.
His smile of greeting was gracious as he warmly welcomed everyone to his home and ushered them inside. In the front hall, Millicent made introductions and Adler suggested they get the meeting bit out of the way first before having dinner if everyone was agreeable. Severus found himself liking the fact that he was polite enough to inquire rather than simply stating how things would be. Granted it was his home and he had every right to do so, but the fact he hadn't showed a willingness to work with others that Severus could appreciate. Likely this was because it was a trait Voldemort definitely didn't have.
A dark lord didn't need to specifically listen to his followers, but it could certainly get him further in the end if he did. Adler led them into a lavish yet comfortable sitting room full of heavy velvet covered furniture in shades of tan and dark green. The colors gave the place a definite nature vibe. Adler invited everyone to make themselves comfortable,and to Severus's surprise, it was Millicent who started things off by suggesting that everyone take veritaserum just to clear the air before things got heavy. To his credit, Wolfgang agreed readily, even professing to having some of his own that he'd planned to offer.
"But if your friend Snape has enough, I would actually prefer to take his so that no one is concerned that I tampered with it in any way," the half giant told Millicent.
Severus noticed that the two did a lot of sappy gazing at one another. He recalled Kereston's comment about Millicent lifting her up by her hair for looking at Adler. How anyone could appreciate the lumbering Bulstrode was beyond him even if her dumb act was an act. She was far too good at it if you asked him, and if she were as smart as Mag claimed, she could've thought of a better way to lay low than dumbing down Slytherin house. It was embarrassing, and should've embarrassed her as well.
"He's not my friend. He's just a potions master with useful skills," Millicent was quick to assure.
For his part, Severus felt complimented. To be considered her friend would indicate his having poor taste. Though he cared for Mag deeply, her taste in friends was perhaps her only flaw. Bulstrode, Griphook, Sekhmet, and the bloody dragon all grated on his nerves in the worst of ways. Kereston, the Bloody Baron and Parvati were the only ones he didn't dislike...on most days. Standing, Severus reached into a leather waist pouch he'd worn for the occasion, withdrawing several small glass bottles of Veritaserum and passing them around. "If you want me to take yours after this, I don't mind," he told Wolfgang after downing his own. It was only fair to prove in any way necessary that he could be trusted, as they were asking Adler to do the same.
Adler gave Severus a smile of approval, but shook his head. "I appreciate that, but it won't be necessary. There are spells that one can use to tell if someone is speaking the truth. I can merely use one of those and you won't have to go through anything twice."
"Then why aren't we just using that spell rather than these potions," Millicent's father asked.
"Because while the spell detects the truth, it can not force one to tell it," Wolfgang said, and Mr. Bulstrode nodded in understanding.
"I think we should all go around the room and say why we're here and what we have to offer. Then, if anyone has questions, they can ask before it's the next person's turn. What do you think," Millicent asked, turning to Wolfgang.
""Brilliant," he nodded.
"I'll start, then," Millicent said. "I'm Millicent Bulstrode. I am here because Voldemort scares the fuck out of me and I don't want to die. I hate that Harry Potter, a worthless little loser shit seems to be our only hope. I don't want to lead the kind of life Voldemort would make us lead were he to win either. As for what I can offer..."
She waved to indicate everyone in the room. "I was a big part of orchestrating this. I am also good at Muggle Technology. I use Muggle computers to online steal Muggle money then have it turned into bars of gold which I deposit in my account at Gringotts. I'm gonna be the richest witch ever and Muggles can and will make it happen. I can steal money for me but I can also likewise steal money to facilitate anything needed to help take Voldemort down."
Severus had to struggle to keep the surprise, even shock from his face at that revelation. It was good that Albus hadn't come as this may very well make his morals itch. For his part, Severus was just glad of a bit of proof that Bulstrode did have a functional and perhaps even mildly creative brain.
/Ah Prof, you're so shitty. I love it./
At that, Severus did smile. /Thank you./
"You're doing what," Millicent's father thundered.
"I knew you were playing with that computer thing but I had no idea," her mother added more quietly.
Millicent shrugged. "It's just Muggles and I think it's an awesome ability I have," she calmly defended herself.
"True," her father agreed, and at that the big man seemed to be over it, just shrugging it off...like a proper Slytherin Severus supposed.
He didn't know Roger and Ali Bulstrode very well, having graduated three years after them, but they were also from Slytherin house. "I'll go next," Kereston said. "I don't do anything particularly special like most everyone here, but I am a competent witch. I can get along with people and I can see things as they are. I know Voldemort needs to be stopped at any cost and that the government isn't going to help us so I will do whatever I can."
At that, Kereston sat back and fell silent. Severus couldn't believe the small overly chatty blonde was actually finished, but as she said no more, this seemed to be the case. "That's good enough for me," Wolfgang told her with an honest, open smile.
"I'm not one to become involved as a rule," Blaise Zabini spoke up, taking his turn. "But I definitely comprehend the need to do so in this situation. I feel I work better behind the scenes. I am a skilled wizard, my specialty being enchantments and charms. I can create specialized items to meet whatever needs you may find useful," he told Wolfgang. "I have recently made myself a powerful protection amulet that alerts me to all manner of threats." He touched the large onyx and silver spider pendant which hung from a chain around his neck.
"Could you make something that would do the opposite," Wolfgang asked, expression suddenly intense and thoughtful. "Something that would cause other magical alarms not to go off if they are set on a particular location?"
Blaise considered for a moment then slowly nodded. "Yes. I think I could."
Wolfgang smiled. "Good."
Mag then took her turn. "I'm Magritte WestCraven. I am skilled in many forms of magic, but I consider dragons my specialty as well as my ability with gemstones. I enhance their properties to make strong charmed items. For example I can make a jet pendant that protects one in such a way that it would not occur to a mugger to attack them were they wearing the jet. I also make gemstone wands with quartz crystal and they are two times the strength of a wooden wand due to the fact crystal enhances." Severus found himself focusing on her clear musical voice as much as what it was saying. Entrancing she was without even trying, and he thought, not for the first time, how fortunate he was. She seemed to feel the same about him, and that was still baffling.
"That's impressive," Wolfgang said appreciatively. "Would you be willing to make them for everyone working against Voldemort?"
"Of course," Mag said readily. "If there is time, I like to personalize a wand to each person, adding other gemstones that I feel would suit them best. If there is a hurry, though, I can just use a plain quartz and nothing else and it will still give double the strength."
Wolfgang nodded.
Raislen spoke next. "I'm Raislen West Craven. I along with my wife work at the Department of Mysteries at the ministry. So if something there was of use, I could get it and we could use it. Also I have the largest personal library in the U.K. For generations my family has collected rare books of magic and that collection is an excellent resource free to anyone here working against Voldemort."
Heather nodded from where she sat at Raislen's side. "What he said."
Kereston's parents went next, sharing that they both worked at the ministry in the department of magical law enforcement. "We work with aurors but we both do desk jobs, filing and completing reports, nothing in the field that's dangerous," Kereston's mum explained. "We do have access to a lot of information, though, which can be useful."
"Of course," Wolfgang nodded.
Millicent's father cleared his throat. "Millicent's mother and I work at the ministry as well, in the department of magical international cooperation. As such we have ties to wizards all around the world and information gathered from all around the world."
"Excellent," Wolfgang said happily. "It's always good to know what is happening everywhere and if anyone has something we can utilize or if Voldemort's influence is spreading to a place that we can visit and handle."
Blaise's Mum spoke next. "I excel at poisons. If you want someone dead without a trace, I can help you manage it simply by shaking their hand or touching their chair. No need to even slip it into their food, unless you want to that is." She chuckled, then her husband spoke up at her side. They were quite a contrast, her being icy, willowy and tall with long blond hair and him a stocky dark Italian.
"I'm an unregistered metamorphmagus," Mr. Zabini said proudly.
"Brilliant," Wolfgang said, eyes shining with a pleased satisfaction. "We could get into all manner of places with you pretending to be...whoever they belong to and letting us in."
Severus spoke next, the last to take a turn aside from Adler himself. "I'm highly skilled in the dark arts, as is everyone here, but also excel in mind magics as well as potions. I also know more about Muggles than most if traveling among them is ever required. I teach potions at Hogwarts, and perhaps the most interesting aspect for you, I work under cover as one of Voldemort's Death Eaters. I report to Albus Dumbledore currently. As I strongly approve of what you are doing, I am also willing to share the same information with you."
"Excellent," Wolfgang said, a pleased light flickering in his blue eyes at Snape's words. "That will be very useful indeed." He opened his mouth to say more but the chiming of his doorbell caused him to rise instead. "Are we expecting anyone else," he asked, glancing around.
"I left a note for a friend of mine, a fellow teacher at Hogwarts," Severus said. "He wasn't in when I went to tell him of this meeting, so it isn't his fault for being late."
"Understood," Wolfgang said, then left the room. He was back in less than two minutes with little Flitwick following behind him, looking even tinier than usual beside Wolfgang's far greater height.
"I brought wine," Filius said, tone almost questioning, but his smile was cheerful as he presented a huge jug to Wolfgang. "It should be enough for everyone. It's the wine of my people."
Wolfgang studied the odd looking black, nearly pot shaped jug with open interest. "Thank you. That was very kind. We will surely try some with our dinner."
"First we have another drink for you," Severus told the tiny charms professor, a slightly amused expression tingeing his thin lips. "Everyone else has had some and we've all introduced ourselves to Mr. Adler and outlined our skills. So toss yours down and catch yourself up to speed."
Filius nodded and Severus stood, retrieving another bottle from his belt pouch and passing it over to Filius. The charms professor opened the bottle and downed it in two swift swallows.
"I am Filius Flitwick," he said, turning to Wolfgang. "I teach charms at Hogwarts, and I was a dueling champion so am able to fight and defend if necessary. I have specifically unique magical abilities, being half leprechaun. This is a secret for family reasons I prefer not to go into, because they are personal to me and have nothing to do with Voldemort or the reason we are here. I prefer that no one speaks of this outside of this meeting." Everyone nodded. Expressions were shocked, even those of Mag and Severus. Of course they already knew Filius's secret, so their shock was for a different reason. That being that he'd shared it with anyone else when he was obviously reluctant for anyone to know. Severus supposed Filius's willingness to bend on the matter was a strong indication of his need to have Voldemort dead just like everyone else.
"Welcome to our little group," Wolfgang said warmly. "We are glad to have you and any edge that you can bring to the table."
Filius blushed and seated himself in a free armchair near Heather and Raislen.
"So the wine...it's leprechaun wine," Geo Zabini asked eagerly, and Filius nodded, chuckling.
"Will it make us see lots of gold," Kereston's dad wanted to know and Filius's smile grew.
"It'll make you see something!"
Once everyone's eager laughter wound down Wolfgang cleared his throat. "Well, everyone has introduced themselves and shared what they can bring to the table. Thank you. Now I think it's only fair that I do the same. I only hope that this esteemed group finds me worthy. I am, as you know, Wolfgang Adler. My father wanted specifically to have a child with a giant, because he believed such a child would have strong magical abilities were he properly trained. As a result I was given the best education his gold and many influential connections could buy. I was trained by wizards from around the world. I feel I learned the most unique magic from the Arabic wizards, as well as those from China and India. I work in the shadows and my spells of detection and death are flawless. I could do more with more people helping me, though. I hope to share ideas and work together to, if not take Voldemort down, as that is apparently Mr. Potter's job, at least make life very difficult for him."
Everyone clapped. "Lets fuck it up," Millicent called eagerly.