Chapter Twenty-Three
For Your Eyes Only
When John Carnegie arrived at five in the morning, there was a student at the door. In two minutes and twenty-eight seconds, he had unlocked his office and fetched his toolkit and was following Quintin up to the clock tower.
"I can't believe they did this. They knew it'd mess with me," Quintin grumbled.
"Now, then, it might not have been student mischief. It could be a loose gear or a tight gear or something going out of alignment, and it's simply a matter of coincidence," John told him.
"Don't you think the timing is suspicious?" Quintin asked skeptically.
"Coincidences happen all of the time, Quintin, it's best never to jump to conclusions," John advised. He unlocked the door and led him in, taking the time to release the dampers.
"We have twenty minutes and forty seconds before the clock goes off again," Quintin said.
"Better safe than sorry, especially since we both know it's not working right now," John reminded him, and the two of them climbed up to the gears level, checking everything over. Twelve minutes later, Quintin leaned over from where he was perched.
"Everything checks out here, Mr. Carnegie. Nothing is loose and everything properly lubricated," Quintin reported. Further up the mechanism, John peered down at him.
"Aye, everything's perfect here as well," he admitted, casting a spell at the hands.
"Any residual?"
"Apparently it's been too long," John said, "but I'll admit now that someone moving the arms is the most likely answer. Why don't you go ahead and fix the hands, and let's wait a bit to make sure it isn't slowing on its own in case we missed something."
"Right," Quintin said, taking out his wand and setting the clock. The two of them climbed down to a much safer platform to wait, watching the clock. John took out a couple of morning buns, handing him one. "Thanks," Quintin replied gratefully.
"Mitch has always lined my pockets in the morning, and lately Sharon has been doing it too, so I always have extra," John said.
"Sharon is really nice," Quintin commented, taking a bite.
"Aye, she has come a long way in the little time she's been in our family," John smiled. "She was such a shy, nervous little thing, with very little stability in her young life. But Mitch took to her after seeing a bit of himself in her... they've become two peas in a pod, they're such kindred spirits, it feels as if it she were always meant to be with us. Of course, at first I wasn't sure if I would make a good parent, but I've found my years at Hogwarts have given me experience with children I never really appreciated until having one of my own."
"That's great," Quintin said sincerely, then watched the clock as he ate the bun. "I don't see any signs of the gears slowing down."
"No, neither do I," John admitted.
"Is there any way we can make sure they can't hex it again?" Quintin asked.
"Oh, I can change the locks on the doors easy enough, but it won't stop anyone from flying up to change the clock from the outside," John said. "The only sure-fire fix is to replace these old gears with a self-correcting mechanism."
"That sounds very expensive," Quintin said flatly.
"Aye, very," John admitted. Quintin sighed. "I'll speak to Janus and your mother about the problem. I'm sure they can come up with something," he reassured him.
"Thanks," Quintin said. "I'd better get to class. I'm going to have to run if I want to get to my first class on time."
"Ah, wait, take a tardy slip just in case... I don't want you jumping staircases if the front stairs aren't cooperating, promise you won't," John said, handing him a slip.
"Yes, Mr. Carnegie," Quintin promised reluctantly, taking the slip before climbing down.
Sure enough, the stairs weren't all that cooperative, and even with walking at a rapid pace, he knew he was going to be two minutes late to his brother's Transfiguration class. Andrew had just asked for everyone to pass up their homework but paused when Quintin came in, watching as he pulled his schoolbooks out of his cloak pocket.
"So much for perfect timing," Broc sneered, and Quintin's face began to feel hot.
"I have a pass," Quintin said, handing it to Andrew. "I had to help Mr. Carnegie fix the clock tower this morning. He asked me to stay to help him make sure it was accurate."
"I thought it was running a bit slow last night," Andrew commented, accepting Quintin's homework. Several of the Slytherin students rolled their eyes as Quintin took his seat, then turned their attention to what Andrew was writing on the board.
Wilder hooted a greeting when Alexandria came out dressed for the day.
"Are we off to the office to get back on the trail of the Dashing Doppler?" Wilder asked.
"Not today," Alexandria told him. "I'm taking the day off."
"What's that mean?" Wilder hooted. "You've never taken a day off before. You told me that criminals never take a day off, so you can't either."
"Don't worry, I have other agents keeping an eye on things," Alexandria explained. "I need to head to the wizard's museum to talk Ambrose into opening the Tinker Shop for me. Do you want to stay here, or do you want to go out to hunt?"
"Out, please," Wilder hooted.
Alex opened the window and let the owl out before locking up the apartment and grabbing her cloak. Alex opened the panel and turned a numbered dial that controlled the Portkey Station and stepped out of the station in Coventry Suites, taking a cursory look around to check her surroundings before walking over the museum.
Ambrose, Amy, and TJ were down in the Archaeology department, unpacking some of Amy's latest finds to be cleaned up for later display.
"Are you sure you don't mind if I don't open on Halloween? You seemed put out about it when I mentioned it the other day," TJ asked worriedly.
"Oh, no, it's fine," Ambrose assured her. "The museum closes early that night, so we just rescheduled our plans for the evening. It's not as important as your meeting your potential mother-in-law," he replied.
"Yes, from what I've been hearing, she's pretty nice. When she found out that my mother was abroad, she volunteered to step in and handle announcements and invitations, so she's invited me to meet her for breakfast and to help her choose the design," TJ said.
"I can't believe you're starting on all of that already when you're not even getting married until June," Amy said after sliding a rune-filled stone onto the worktable.
"Well, there's all sorts of planning involved, and several social events leading up to it as well as needing to hire a hall and entertainment and choosing wardrobe and all... it's going to be quite an affair," TJ said.
"I'm glad we kept it simple," Amy said. "Just a family ceremony in Keki's Grove followed by a large reception at the Craw Mansion for extended family... and it didn't take eight months of planning."
"There's something to be said for keeping things simple," TJ agreed. "But I don't mind, not really. To be honest, I'm rather enjoying all of the fuss. My father and his parents seem to be quite invested."
"In more ways than one, I bet," Amy said. "Posh weddings cost a lot these days."
"That's alright... my father set asides trusts for us when we were born," TJ explained unconcernedly. "Which piece do you want to set up next, Amy?"
"Let's put that Roman standard dragon on this table... it won't take all that long to clean up," Amy suggested. The three of them used their wands to gently move the golden figure to the table, making sure it was still in good shape.
"Good morning, all!" Alexandria said as she stepped over to the doorway.
Amy gasped, grabbing one of the wrappings off the dragon and quickly covering the rune-covered stone.
"Don't you dare translate anything! I'm working on this one myself!" Amy said protectively, squinting at Alex.
"Okay, okay," Alex laughed. "Just let me know if you get stuck."
"You're here early, especially for a Saturday," Ambrose commented. "Are you doing some research?"
"Actually, I came to find out if you were planning to open the Tinker Shop today. I have some shopping to do," Alex admitted.
"I wasn't originally planning on it, but I don't mind opening it once I get off work today," Ambrose agreed.
"Did you need to leave early, Ambrose?" TJ asked seriously. "I really don't mind staying over so that you can go home at lunch, especially since you're opening for me on Halloween."
"Thanks, TJ. That does sound like a fair trade," Ambrose said with a smile.
"I'll come by later then. See you," Alex said.
"No problem," Ambrose replied, turning his attention back to unpacking the crate.
Alexandria went ahead on to Hogsmeade, Apparating in front of the Daily Prophet to grab a paper off the newsstand before stepping into the tearoom for breakfast, taking her time before wandering through the town. She stopped by to say hello to Alicia and Corey and then walked to the music shop for some new music for Jay and then to Pitch Plus for some sparring gloves for Rus. Then she wandered by a shop that Hadrian and her uncle were setting up to see how things were progressing, before finally walking over to the side street where Toby's Trinkets was to see if Ambrose had gotten there yet.
The door opened, and Archimedes hooted a happy greeting from where he was perched on one of the shelves behind Ambrose.
"Great, you're here! Thanks for opening up for me," Alex said.
"No problem," Ambrose smiled. "As it happens, when I got here, the sign in the window read, 'Open Today from Noon until Eight', so I'm betting you're not going to be the only customer wanting this shop open this weekend."
"Oh, great, then I don't feel so bad about making you open," Alex said.
"As long as I can find someone to cover at the museum, I'm always glad to open this shop on the weekends," Ambrose assured her. "So what were you looking for, anyway?"
"You won't tell anyone right?" Alex asked seriously.
"My father would rake me across the coals if I broke his confidentiality rules, and you know it," Ambrose reminded her.
"I know... but it's a bit personal this time so I needed the reassurance," Alexandria admitted. "I'm looking for one of those worry stones with the Dragonheart Diamond chips in it. I don't suppose you have one left?"
"Yes, there's at least one in here, because a lot of people come in and use it in the shop, then put it back... we did it too, come to think of it," Ambrose chuckled. "It should be over there on that wall, closer to the front."
"Thanks," Alex said, looking for it. But after a while, she finally gave up. "Are you sure it's over here? I don't see it at all."
"Really? Maybe it's further down than I thought..."
"I have been working my way further across," Alex said.
Ambrose got up to help, and the two of them began moving things to see if it was hidden behind things.
"Huh, it really doesn't want to show up, does it?" Ambrose said.
"But why would it hide? I really, really need it!" Alex said emphatically.
"Then let's not give up yet," Ambrose said, sliding a set of books back. "Oh wait... here is its box back here."
"Finally!" Alex said, shoving the stuff she had moved haphazardly into place.
"But it doesn't seem to be in here," Ambrose added.
"What?" Alex flailed as Ambrose took a tiny envelope out of the box and flipped it over.
"Oh... it's addressed to you. It's my father's handwriting," Ambrose said, handing her the small envelope. When Alex took it and flipped it over, the note opened on its own.
"'Oh, no you don't! That would be cheating,'" Alex read out loud. "'If you're going to do it as a quest, then quest. You need to trust your instincts on this one. Sorry, Toby.' Well, isn't that just perfect!" she grumbled.
"Well, I don't know what's going on, but apparently my father saw you coming," Ambrose chuckled softly. "So what's all of this about going on a quest? Considering what you're after, I guess you're questing to find your Cosmic Match, right?"
"It was Rel's idea, really, not mine," Alex said.
"I see. Well, I guess that makes sense. He's always been tied to the Dark Forest and that White Knight thing, so he's pretty tied to the Fate side of things," Ambrose said. "And the Questing Instinct is probably related closely to Fate too."
"Do you think so?" Alex pondered, but then nodded. "I think you're right, although I admit that I never thought about it in that light before. It's rather like Pelinor, I suppose, Fated to chase the Questing Beast."
"He caught it once, you know," Ambrose commented. "But my Father said that after seeing it, he decided to let it roam free, and turned to serve Arthur. Of course, when Arthur died, he took up the chase again, and although he saw the beast often, he never caught it again. Father thinks he really wasn't as motivated to catch it after the first time. Pelinor realized he was in it for the chase."
"Sometimes that's true of me too," Alex admitted. "But not in this case. This time, I'm questing to try and find my happily ever after! Instead of a Questing Beast, I'm embarking on a quest to find my Cosmic Match, no matter where it takes me... even if I have to spend the rest of my life looking... although that would be a lonely and pathetic ending, wouldn't it?" she realized.
"I don't think it'd take that long... especially with all the resources you have in the Mysteries Ministry," Ambrose said.
"That really would be cheating, wouldn't it?" Alex admitted.
"Okay, you've got a point," Ambrose said. "Well, I'm not an Agent anymore. Do you need backup?" Alex pondered it for a moment.
"No. I mean, I'm sure that I'll be asking for help along the way from my family and friends, of course, but ultimately this is a quest I need to do by myself," Alexandria decided. "My biggest challenge, I think, is going to be finding the time. This is the first day I've had off work since the summer birthday party."
"Yikes, Alex," Ambrose replied.
"Yes, I know. What can I say? I'm dedicated to my work," Alex admitted, then deflated, slumping into the stool next to the counter. "Maybe this isn't a good idea after all." Ambrose blinked.
"You're giving up already?" Ambrose asked.
"I don't have the time to dedicate to another person... I don't even have enough time to raise my own children! How could I possibly have time for someone else? It'd be wrong to seek someone out to spend my life with when I don't have any time to spare for them. Maybe I'm better off just being miserable," Alex decided.
"Listen to you," Ambrose said, shaking his head at her. "This isn't about the fact that you don't have time for anyone else. This is about the fact that you don't even have time for yourself. Don't you have any assistants to help you at the Ministry?"
"Of course. Doc's still there, and Quill..."
"Doc heads R&D and Quill writes your Ministry reports. That's not what I meant," Ambrose said. "I meant someone else who could take over the big chair in your absence."
"Of course not, Ambrose, it'd be a liability to security," Alexandria sighed at him.
"Surely there's someone you might trust in that job," Ambrose protested.
"I'd trust Grandfather, Father, or Harry, but last I checked, they are already employed," Alex said curtly.
"I really think the first step is probably finding time to take care of yourself, Alex, and I don't mean just this one day of shopping," Ambrose said, then glanced at that shelf. "Is that an annual diary over there on top of those other books?" Alex sighed and stepped over to look at it.
"Yes it is, and it's on top of a book called, Putting the Self and Self Care followed by a book called How to Talk to Your Mother in a Beneficial Way." she said in disbelief, and Ambrose smirked softly. "Thanks but not thanks to all three," she said, grabbing a dusty old tome that was next to them instead. Ambrose glanced at it curiously, smiling softly when he saw it was entitled Pelinor; the Quest for Enlightenment.
"I guess that counts as progress," Ambrose decided as she put some coins in the jar.
"Don't bother wrapping it, I'll take it as it is," Alex replied. "Thanks again for opening up for me."
"Thanks for opening up to me," Ambrose replied.
"Who else have I got?" Alex asked dryly, pocketing her book on the way out the door.
Deciding from her rolling stomach that the next course of action was a hearty lunch and a stiff drink, Alex made her way over to the The Three Broomsticks.
"Why, good afternoon, Alex! Been a long time," Rosmerta greeted on her way past with a tray.
"So it has," Alexandria acknowledged, glancing to see what tables were available before taking a small one away from the windows, and sat in the chair that faced the door. A few minutes later, Rosmerta came over.
"So you're sitting down here for a change?" Rosmerta asked curiously.
"For a change," Alex agreed, dodging the unspoken question. Typically, Alexandria preferred to sit on the balcony where she could watch the room without anyone noticing her. "How about the lunch special, whatever it is, and a house brew."
"Not working today, then?" Rosmerta asked, and Alex gave her a dirty look. "I'll get someone right on it," she added, shrugging to herself as she walked towards the back.
After one of the other girls brought out her brew, Alex took another glance around in case someone interesting came in before finally pulling out her new book, flipping through it before finally settling back on the first page to start reading through it. But it wasn't long before Alex felt someone hovering and looked up to see a handsome wizard in tailored robes gazing at her book.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I was simply curious about your book, it looks quite old," the man said. "The Quest for Enlightenment... how intriguing. I take it you are a scholar, perhaps? A Professor at Hogwarts?" he guessed.
"No one could pay me enough to do that job," Alexandria said.
"Do you mind if I sit down? It isn't wise to drink alone," he requested.
"I'm having lunch," Alexandria said.
"Even better," he replied, straightening his robe the moment he sat down and placing his martini on the table. "The name is Sterling, Robert Sterling... and you are?"
"Alexandria Clemmons, but I'm sure you already know that," Alex said flatly.
"What would make you jump to such a conclusion?" he asked.
"Why else would you have decided to sit down across from a witch you don't know?" Alexandria challenged him.
"Because you're strikingly beautiful, why else?" the man said unabashedly, stirring his drink. "Surely someone with your appearance must have to deal with male suitors all the time."
"Quite the contrary," Alexandria said, feeling her face go red. "Most people around here aren't foolish enough to try, knowing that as Minister of Mysteries. I have a whole army of agents ready to flatten anyone who tries, not to mention I'm a member of the Snape family, one of the most powerful wizard families on the planet."
"I see," the man said. "But doesn't that support your hypothesis that I didn't truly know who I was sitting down with, since I sat down without fearing for my life?" he suggested. "I simply made some personal observations that convinced me that you wouldn't currently mind a bit of company."
"Observations?" Alex repeated skeptically.
"Such as the fact that the tavern witch seem surprised when you chose a public table instead of a private one as you typically prefer. You seem quite interested to watch and see who is coming in as if looking for a friend, and yet you ordered a meal for one. You also brought a book with you, as if resigned to the fact that despite picking a prominent location for a meeting that you would likely be forced to eat alone, which is nothing short of a tragedy in my opinion," he explained. "That is why I chose to sit here, for anyone as lovely as you doesn't deserve having to be lonely in a crowded room."
Before Alex could come up with any sort of suitable reply, Rosmerta came back with her plate, looking at the stranger with open interest.
"Well, where did you come from?" Rosmerta asked curiously.
"I fell from the sky and found myself in a garden of beautiful women," the man said, producing a rose and handing it to Rosmerta.
"Aren't you a bold one! Have you been spending time in America?" Rosmerta asked, putting the flower on her tray.
"I guess I can't fool you. I did spend some time over there," he said with an American accent.
"I knew you must have picked up those habits from somewhere. You best stay over here and pick up some better manners," Rosmerta told him.
"Yes ma'am, thank you, I will," he replied.
"I'll get you something to eat," Rosmerta decided.
"Yes, thank you... but I don't eat meat..."
"Well, of course you don't," Rosmerta clucked. "Keep an eye on this one, Alexandria! He's quite the charmer," she warned as she went to the back.
When the man turned back around, Alex had propped her head in her hand and was looking at him with a nonplussed expression.
"Is something the matter?" he asked.
"You're the Dashing Doppler," Alexandria said flatly.
"Just where did that name come from, exactly?" he asked. "I don't care for it."
"Someone at the newspaper coined the name after finding out the Ministry had a rogue shape changer," Alex replied evenly. "Speaking of which, you're under arrest."
"You're arresting a shape changer without a full team to try and contain me beforehand? Forgive me for not believing you, but I know for a fact you came to Hogsmeade by yourself today... shopping for your children, I think," he mused. "As well as buying that fascinating book from a shop that I had never noticed before today."
"You can see the shop?" Alex blurted out with such surprise that he raised a brow. "How is it that you can see the shop?"
"I saw you go inside," he said, not quite understanding.
"Well, don't expect to get in. Not everyone's allowed in, you know," Alex informed him.
"But I am not just anyone," he informed her.
"Then who are you?" Alex asked.
"You may call me whatever you like," he replied.
"And what if I choose to call you the Dashing Doppler?" she challenged him.
"If that is your choice I will answer to it, but it would be inaccurate," he replied. "I'm nothing but a simple street performer, who has recently turned my attention to information gathering."
"You mean spying," Alex corrected.
"If you like," he replied.
"Hardly..." Alexandria said, then paused when their lunches arrived.
"Here we are, one special and one potato and pumpkin pie," Rosmerta said.
"Such talent, you are magnificent!" the man declared.
"Too right you are," Rosmerta said with amusement. "No, no! You already gave me one," she pointed out when he tried to give her another rose.
"Thank you," he said, putting the rose in his robes before turning his attention to his food.
"Just where do you get all of those, anyway?" Alex asked,
"I use magic, of course," he explained, but seemed more interested in eating now than talking. "After all, I am a magician."
"You mean a magus. A magician is a term for a Muggle illusionist, where there's no real magic involved, and you obviously use real magic," Alexandria pointed out.
"I use both," he replied. "And I think of a magician as a performer of magic, whether it's slight of hand or true magical ability is beside the point... regardless if anyone thinks it's illegal or not. Don't you find that law ridiculous sometimes? That Secrecy Act of yours..."
"Most wizard societies have them... someone are more strict and some are more loose, but they all have them. Don't you realize how disastrous it'd be if they knew we were here?" Alex scolded.
"Well, I've seen a lot of films where non-magical humans met someone strange or were faced with a power they don't understand, and I'll admit they usually didn't end very well. But that doesn't mean that they didn't try to make a world a better place before they were arrested or taken by the military for experimentation," he pointed out.
"Right..." Alexandria said. "You're not helping your case, here. Using magic on Muggles for any reason leads down a bad road."
"If I promise not to do it again, will you drop the charge?" he asked.
"What does it matter? You're guilty of breaking into the Ministry, impersonating public officials, and espionage!" Alexandria said.
"Then there should be no harm in forgiving me for the first charge," he reasoned, folding his napkin and putting it on the table. "Thank you for the talk and the lunch, but it is obvious that you are much too worked up to have any further intelligent conversation. Until we meet again."
"If we meet again, it'll only be so that I can escort you to Azkaban," Alex threatened, but he simply tsked.
"As I already mentioned in my newspaper interview, Alexandria, you will never catch me unless I want to be caught," he explained.
"We'll see about that... Magician," Alex swore.
He walked out the door with the same confidence and grace that he came in with, pausing only to hand out a couple more flowers before leaving. Alexandria, who had yet to touch her lunch, finally took a bite of it, trying to process the encounter. That was when one of the waitresses came back, dropping off a bill. Alexandria blinked at it, then growled in annoyance when she realized he had left her with the tab.
The Magician, as he was dubbed, wandered back over to where he had seen the strange shop, studying it with interest. Finally he went in and was greeted by a wooden owl. Sitting behind the bar was a young man with dark hair, vivid blue eyes, and unusual set of diamond rings on his right hand.
"Oh, good afternoon," Ambrose said. "Feel free to look around. Have you ever been in here before?"
"I have not," the Magician said.
"It's pretty simple... you can buy just about anything in the store, but you can only get one item per visit, and you get to name your own price," Ambrose said.
"Ah. Well, what if I run out and come right back in again?" he asked curiously.
"I don't think that works," Ambrose admitted. "If you're asking how long a visit is, I'm not sure myself... I think it varies. I'm just the owner's son, not the owner."
"Yes, I knew that," the Magician said, then frowned at the jar. "Must it be in local coin?"
"You know, it's never come up before, but I really don't think it matters... as long as you pay for it."
"Ah! Very good," he said, then paused in front of the mirror. He tilted his head side to side thoughtfully in such a way that Ambrose couldn't help but be curious, coming out from behind the counter.
"That's the Mirror of Truth... it shows you for how you really are," Ambrose said.
"Really?" the Magician said with interest, then frowned. "I seem to be a bit off," he decided.
"Your eyes are a different color. And the image is slightly taller," Ambrose commented.
"I don't suppose you have another mirror?" he inquired, and Ambrose looked around until he found a hand mirror and handed it to him. The Magician studied it speculatively, then right before Ambrose's eyes, his appearance matched the one in the mirror. "There we are! How is that?"
"Yep, I think you've got it now," Ambrose agreed, and he handed the mirror back. "Just how long have you been changing yourself that you forgot what you were supposed to look like?"
"It's more complicated than that. Until now, I didn't know what I was supposed to look like. Oh, this is for you... for the use of your mirror," he said, holding out a small box.
"No, it's okay, no charge," Ambrose said. "You can pick something else out to buy. I guess you must be the Dashing Doppler I read about in the school paper."
"The Minister of Mysteries called me Magician," he offered.
"Okay," Ambrose said, then watched with interest as he went over to the middle shelves, which were currently filled with so many magical spy gadgets that Ambrose couldn't help but wonder when his father raided the Mysteries supply closet.
It was entertaining to watch, and Ambrose was glad that no one else seemed to notice the shop, because the Magician was taking his time studying and trying out every single gadget. In a strange sort of way, it reminded him of his Aunt Jennifer when she was fascinated with something, because he was enthralled with every one, finally settling on a bow tie with a hidden camera in it.
"This one! This one is exactly what I would like," he decided, putting some one pound coins in the jar.
"Thanks! Do you want me to wrap it?" Ambrose asked.
"Oh no, I'll try it on now," he decided, putting it around his neck. "What do you think?"
"Well, it doesn't really go with what you have on at the moment," Ambrose admitted.
The Magician pondered that and got an idea, turning his robes into a nice black suit.
"Is that better?" he asked.
"Definitely," Ambrose said. "Wow, you're really good at transfiguring your clothes as well as your own appearance, aren't you? You did that in a blink of an eye without any added disguise spells."
"There's an easy trick to deal with that... I simply don't wear anything at all," the Magician explained. "Other than an invisible satchel for my things, of course. Thank you very much, it was a pleasure."
"Come back any time," Ambrose said with a polite smile, waving as the man left the shop. "Down boy," he murmured to himself, going to the back to cool off.
