Chapter Thirty-Four
A Trip to Dagda's Market
When Jay came downstairs on their first morning back at Baker Street, Sissy and Rus were at the dining room table setting up metal pans and biscuit cutters.
"Are we starting on baking already? I thought that was tomorrow," Jay complained.
"It is," Rus confirmed. "I didn't have enough coins to buy presents this year, so we're making up boxes of treats for all of our relatives."
"Did you want to make some too, Jay?" Sissy asked.
"I bought presents," Jay said.
"Jay!" Jennifer called out from the kitchen, making out a list. Jay walked in to find Quintin helping his sister with her breakfast, while his grandmother inspected the ice box. "Did you want to go to Dagda's Market with us? It's your turn to pick out the Yule Log."
"But I thought Grandfather was having the children's party on Yule this year," Jay said.
"That doesn't mean we won't have a Yule Log here as well, even without the ceremony," Jennifer said.
"I will go if you need me," Jay said with a sigh. Jennifer looked over her spectacles.
"It wasn't that sort of request. I was asking to see if you would like to go. You don't have to if you really don't want to," Jennifer explained.
"Then I'd rather not. I already have to go out later for my appointment, and I don't need the added stress."
"I understand," Jennifer said. "Since you're staying here, could you help Rus and Sissy find things in the kitchen?"
"Fine, I'll help them," Jay decided. Jennifer smiled softly as he went back into the dining room to find out what biscuits his brother was planning to make.
"Quintin, help your sister wash up and then get your coats so that we can head to the market," Jennifer said.
"Yes, Mum," Quintin said, helping Seren down while Jennifer went to the library to check on Severus. He was adjusting a new log on embers in the fireplace.
"Do you need anything from the market, Severus?" Jennifer asked.
"No, but if you're on the way past the tobacco store..."
"Absolutely not. I love you too much to give in to your vices," Jennifer informed him.
"Is this your way of getting even?" Severus inquired.
"Goodness no, I'll find something better than that," Jennifer replied. "Anyway, Jay is going to stay and help Rus and Sissy. Apparently, he's not really into Christmas this year."
"It isn't that surprising at his age," Severus pointed out, seeing that Jennifer was concerned about it. "Consider, he's past the age of being excited about presents and not yet old enough to decide for himself what the holiday season means to him personally. It's quite normal for teens to go through it even under the best of circumstances."
"Yes, I suppose you're right," Jennifer replied, sitting on the arm of the chair. "In many ways, Jay is still trying to discover who he is and how he feels about things... it all comes out in a bit of a muddle when he thinks about it."
"He's seeing Conner this afternoon, correct?" Severus asked.
"Yes, at three," Jennifer replied.
"I see. I will make sure he is reminded of it beforehand," Severus decided.
"Thank you, Severus," Jennifer said with a smile.
"So how about getting even?" Severus inquired.
"Perhaps I'll get even by forgetting to buy ingredients for the Springerle," Jennifer threatened.
"Then I'll go back to the store for you," Severus said unconcernedly.
"Then I'll remember to 'forget' all of my shopping at Harrod's for everyone who had something Muggle on their list," Jennifer said. Severus looked up with a frown.
"You wouldn't do that to me," Severus said flatly. "Not this close to the holiday."
"Try me," Jennifer replied before turning and going back down the stairs. Wincing as if in pain, Severus decided to enjoy his book while he still could.
Jennifer, Quintin, and Serendipity took the floo power to an open fireplace at the center of the open-air market, unsurprised when quite a number of people were occupying the tables nearby to protect themselves from the brisk and damp morning air. Wonderful smells came from all around them, mixed with a few strange odors that came from the fish and eel vendors and from the exotic spice vendors.
"Here we are! This will be lovely! Quintin, why don't you pick out our log to start, and then we'll head off to fill our bags," Jennifer suggested.
The Yule Log vendor set up in the exact same place every year, so Quintin led the way through the busy market with Jennifer and Serendipity waiting a few steps away as Quintin climbed onto the pile of noisy, chatty logs, all charmed to draw attention to themselves by calling out, "Pick me!" "I'm the best!" "I'll crackle more!" "I'm the biggest!"
But Serendipity only watched them for a moment or two before her eyes went over to the the fruit vendor's table, spying a stack of bright red apples. Jennifer heard Serendipity make a noise of appreciation and looked down to find her pulling on her hand.
"What is it?" Jennifer asked. Serendipity ran over to make a grab at the biggest and reddest she could reach. "Oh! Um... be right back, you know how to get that tagged, don't you Quintin?"
"I'll be sure it gets to the right house, Professor," the vendor reassured her, and Jennifer went over to help Serendipity at the other table.
"It would seem that we are in need of some apples, Rebecca," Jennifer told the woman behind the table.
"Quite alright, Professor Craw, do you need a sack for them?" she asked.
"Thank you very much," Jennifer said, letting Serendipity pick them out herself. Then she picked out several other items off of her list. Quintin walked over to them as she was paying.
"It's tagged and ready to go, Mum," Quintin reported.
"Thank you! Off to the spice vendors," Jennifer said.
"Are we having turkey again this year?" Quintin asked.
"Getting tired of it, are we?" Jennifer teased.
"We had it at Thanksgiving, and we had it before we left school, so I wouldn't mind something different. Prime rib?" he asked hopefully.
"But I already bought chestnuts and current jelly... I know, how about goose?" Jennifer suggested.
"Yes, alright," Quintin agreed, and then heard clapping and saw a small gathering near a hot cocoa stand. "I wonder what's going on over there?" he asked, then noticed some wine bottles being tossed in the air. "Oh, it's a juggling act."
"Let me get the spices done, then we'll go over," Jennifer said. "That way you can have cocoa and watch the act before we finish up."
Both Quintin and Serendipity were now impatient to get over there, and Quintin picked her up so that she could watch the bottles and brightly colored balls up in the air. Jennifer finished just as the crowd was breaking up, and for a moment Quintin was afraid they had missed it. But the street performer was simply taking a break to line up his juggling props again, and the crowd had wandered off to finish their shopping.
As they got to the cocoa vendor for something to warm their hands, Jennifer let out an exasperated sigh. She saw an older French gentleman in a wooly coat standing in front of a cigar box with a smattering of sickles, knuts, and even pound coins thrown in.
"Oh, it's him again," Jennifer said with a resigned smile.
"Him again?" Quintin said, then stared at him. "Is that the Dashing Doppler?"
"It is indeed," Jennifer said, handing him his cocoa. "And as such, I think it's best if I stay over here."
"How come?" Quintin asked.
"I'd rather not meet him just yet," Jennifer explained. "I've decided that I very much want to stay out of the Dashing Doppler affair altogether, and if I went over there, I'd be obligated to trouble him since I have certain Ministry licenses. But there's nothing to stop the two of you from going over if you want to see the show better, just don't let Alexandria know I was this close and chose not to go over."
"I'm sure we can watch well enough from here," Quintin decided as the Magician began his act again. He tossed the colorful balls so high in the sky that Serendipity had a look of sheer amazement on her face. She nearly spilled her cup, causing Jennifer to quickly put a spell on it to keep from spilling on the occasions where she missed her mouth completely.
Quintin's favorite part was the wine bottle routine where he even managed to toss them in an eight pattern, but he was a little annoyed when he saw that several of the people watching were hoping he'd drop one to see if they'd really break or not.
Finally the Magician bowed and as the crowd clapped, Seren was tugging insistently on her mother's cloak and feeling in her pockets.
"Are you looking for coins?" Jennifer asked her, then crouched down as Seren watched several others put coins in his box. "You know, I don't really think it's dirty old coins that he wants. They're just a means to an end for him. I bet what he'd really like the most is a nice, shiny red apple," Jennifer suggested.
Seren immediately began going through the shopping bags, pulling out her favorite one.
"Go ahead and take her over there, Quintin, it's quite all right," Jennifer assured him.
"Alright," Quintin said, offering his sister his hand. She pulled him insistently along, easily getting the Magician's attention as they approached.
"Good morning, children! Did you enjoy the show?" he asked.
"You're the Dashing Doppler, aren't you?" Quintin asked flatly.
"I now have what Minister Clemmons calls temporary immunity from being captured, but yes, I am the Magician," the Magician replied. "If I am not mistaken, you are Quintin, the Minister's youngest brother and friend of Jeremy Miller. And you must be her youngest sister, little Serendipity! You look so much like your big sister, and your mother," he told her, crouching down.
Serendipity thrust the apple out in front of his nose.
"It's for me?" he asked, and she nodded firmly.
"Mum told her that you'd probably prefer an apple to coins," Quintin explained.
"Ah, did she?" the Magician said, looking around searchingly until he spotted Jennifer near the cocoa cart. She nodded gently to him with a smile.
"I think she knows who you are and has decided to stay out of it," Quintin admitted.
"So I see," the Magician said, smiling back at Jennifer before looking down at Serendipity again and accepting the apple. "Thank you so very much! Your mother is right. I do prefer apples to coins. Would you like a present as well?" he asked, pulling out a piece of bright pink tissue paper and fiddling with it in his hands. A moment later, it was a beautiful paper flower and he handed to her.
"What do you say, Seren?" Quintin asked.
"Thank you," Seren said happily.
"Thank you... ah, and would you give this to your mother?" the Magician asked, pulling out a rose and carefully wrapping the bottom in tissue paper before handing it to Serendipity. Seren brought it back carefully as if she was afraid to drop it, handing it to her mother.
"Maybe Jeremy is right," Quintin said, his head tilted slightly as he tried to make up his mind about it. "Maybe you're not so dangerous. Are you?"
"That would depend on who is asking," the Magician replied. "In certain circumstances, I assure you that I can be quite dangerous."
"Come along, Quintin! There's more to do!" Jennifer called out sternly. Quintin went back over to them.
"Sorry, Mum," Quintin said, taking his sister's hand again as they walked back through the market. "I just wanted to ask him something... about whether or not he's dangerous. He said it depends on who's asking. What do you think?" he asked, hoping to get some hints as to who he was.
"I think he's quite dangerous indeed," Jennifer replied with certainly. "And much better to have as a friend than an enemy."
As they walked by, Mr. Jack stepped out behind the fruit stand, munching on an apple. Glancing in the direction they came from and noticing the performer, he bought a full sack of apples before heading over to see the street Magician emptying his coins into his pockets.
The Magician saw something out of the corner of his eye and looked around with a smile to see a burly wizard juggling apples in a complex pattern.
"Careful with those apples, Mr. Jack. I wouldn't want you to drop want and waste them. Those apples took months to grow," the Magician pointed out. Mr. Jack gathered the apples back up again one by one as they came back down.
"If I did drop one, I could always plant it," Mr. Jack reasoned.
"A fair point," the Magician said, packing the rest away. "But I have earned enough for my supper and perhaps a rose or two, so I believe I'll be on my way."
"Wouldn't it be nice to earn more than a meal and a rose or two?" Mr. Jack inquired.
"It's all I need," the Magician said. "Up until now, I've preferred to lead a very simple life, and I have benefited from it in many ways. It has taught me much about people, and has given me great insight on basic human nature and what motivations lie beneath the surface. Because of that insight, what I can't find out on paper, I can easily fill in the blanks," he explained. "It has helped me become a better information gatherer."
"And just who, may I ask, are you gathering this information for?" Mr. Jack asked calmly.
"Why, myself, of course," the Magician replied.
"Are you sure that's all? Because I heard you were currently working for the Minister of Mysteries," Mr. Jack said.
"It was a temporary arrangement to help her with a security matter," the Magician explained. "I don't honestly know if she'll come to me again or not now that her problem is solved. I don't think she's made up her mind whether to trust me or not."
"Should she?" Mr. Jack asked.
"Of course! I'm a very trustworthy fellow," the Magician said with a smile. "Although I'm certain an untrustworthy fellow would say the same. What about you, Mr. Jack? Are you a trustworthy fellow?"
"Yes, in my own circles," Mr. Jack replied.
"Then I believe I've proven my point," the Magician decided. "Exactly what do you want, Mr. Jack? You have yet to say."
"I am here to offer you a deal, to help you with whatever objective you have... and to provide safety if you are ever in danger of being caught," Mr. Jack.
"I am in no danger of being caught, and there's nothing that you, your boss, or your organization can offer that would help me with my objective. If anything, it would only complicate things," the Magician said. "Furthermore, I believe that you personally would be better off concentrating on your duties as bodyguard and spy rather than be sent on these sorts of liaisons. You really have no talent in it, any more than you have much talent as an assassin, to be perfectly honest. I know your loyalty means that you do whatever Ludo says, but he'd be better off giving you jobs that play to your strengths."
"Well, now, those are quite some observations, not to mention accusations. Exactly how do you intend to back it up? Because I have a feeling you have no more evidence that I've done anything wrong than the Ministry does," Mr. Jack said unconcernedly.
"But I'm not with the Ministry... at least not yet," the Magician explained. "Whether or not I'm even willing to work for them will depend on several things that have yet to play out. Speaking of which, I really ought to get going, especially since it looks like it's about to rain again."
"Then allow me to invite you to lunch somewhere out of the rain, so we can continue our conversation," Mr. Jack suggested.
"And you are covering this meal?" the Magician asked with interest.
"Of course," Mr. Jack replied.
"I generally prefer a prettier companion," the Magician admitted. "But I suppose I have time for lunch before I'm off to tend to other matters."
"Good! Shall we?" Mr. Jack said with a triumphant smile, suggesting a place to try.
Ludo Bagman glanced at the rain out the penthouse window, having an afternoon drink with Deacon Aldus, who was sitting at the bar. Suddenly there was a strange thud that made Ludo turn and squint at the door suspiciously.
"Allow me," Deacon offered, taking a couple of his rings off before carefully listening at the door. He then Apparated into the corridor to try to catch whoever had made the noise off guard.
Much to his surprise it was Mr. Jack, tied up and bound in Auror cuffs with a gag over his mouth despite being rendered unconscious. Deacon knocked in a pattern and the door opened. He levitated Mr. Jack inside, shutting the door.
"I hope you checked him for explosives before letting them in this flat," Ludo snapped.
"I have jewelry to detect for that, sir," Deacon assured him, looking him over. "Other than being bound and under some sort of magical sleep spell, he seems unharmed... oh, and there's a note," he realized. "Folded with your name on it."
"Check for poisons and curses," Ludo ordered, frowning at Mr. Jack.
"Nothing," Deacon reported, handing it out for Ludo to take.
"Well then, untie that idiot and undo whatever sleep spell he's under," Ludo said, reading the note.
Dear Mr. Bagman,
Your assistant, Mr. Jack Cade, paid me a visit today as I was finishing up my work. He kindly took me to lunch, hoping to entice me to tell him what measures the Ministry took to secure the plans for the upcoming renovations to Azkaban. Unfortunately for Mr. Jack, I really don't deal with middlemen of any sort, let alone lackeys. If you have any proposals for me, I insist that you deal with me directly or not at all. Bear in mind that anyone else you send will likely end up like the rest of your men who were foolish enough to approach me; asleep in an inconvenient location. I can defend myself... and as you can see by where I dropped Mr. Jack off at... and I can breach your security when required. If you need to contact me directly, you may reach me by way of a note in my cigar box the next time you see me doing my work.
Kindest regards to you and your family this joyous Yule.
The Magician.
"Just who in craters is this fellow?" Ludo said out loud.
"I don't think anyone really knows, not even the Ministry," Deacon replied.
"Well, somebody knows," Ludo growled. "You still have ties to Hogwarts, do you not? See what you can find out. And look into that student reporter... Jeremy Miller... maybe he knows more than what he's saying,"
"At your service," Deacon replied. "Anything else?"
"Yes. We must move this penthouse at once," Ludo said, agitated that any agent, rogue or otherwise, had managed to get that close without detection.
