Arc IV: Part VIII
On a calm afternoon, the space distorted briefly as Sirius apparated. After a glance at the towering structure looking in the distance, belching forth a black cloud swelling to engulf the sky above the grim town, comforting his accuracy while apparating, he strode onward, engaging in the maze of interminable grey brick houses streets, muffling his coughs in his coat's sleeve. After a while, he hasted his walk, deftly avoiding the mud and rain puddles until crossing a narrow stone bridge, putting the towering edifice behind him.
Finally, he reached the town's outskirts, and his eyes instantly found the three he had been directed to, and a grin spread on his face after he saw Lily appear from behind it, waving a hand above her head in greeting. He walked to meet her, briskly rubbing his hands together in a futile attempt to stave off the cold. She embraced him warmly and asked, "You're a bit late! Was it tricky to find?"
"Not at all, I was just nervous to apparate using only imagination", Sirius replied, his gaze diverting toward the giant plant in the distance. "So…Is this where you grew up?"
Pride etched on Lily's face, as she replied with a smile. "Correct! Welcome to the lovely and exciting town of Cokeworth! No jokes are allowed about the name, in my presence or other…We have a Pub, somewhere over there", She said, gesturing to the west.
Sirius nodded, "I had a glance at it on my way here", he said.
"Excellent! There is also a luxurious resort as well, for distinguished guests!", Lily said, pointing a finger at the town's outskirts.
"Hmmm…Interesting…Yet, why is there a donkey tied beside the entrance?", Sirius asked, with genuine curiosity.
Lily was taken aback, squinting her eyes at the hotel, before replying, "You should get a pair of glasses, Sirius. That is absolutely not a donkey! It's a noble steed patiently waiting for its knight to come back…OR, the town's kids are rehearsing a play for school…Far West-themed"
"Ooh…It would make sense. What else is there?", Sirius asked following her finger.
"Umm…All the houses receive drinkable water and are connected to the electricity network!", Lily said happily.
"Fantastic! I could perfectly live here", Sirius said with a firm nod.
Lily frowned in confusion, "Sirius…I remind you that you're homeless. You could live anywhere", she said.
"I must disagree. What you call being homeless is actually freedom! All I need to do is pull out my wand, collect my tent, and fly away to a paradisiac Caribbean island- and enjoy a lifetime of beach and coconut water", Sirius said, snapping his fingers.
Lily sneered, "What are still doing in England, then?", she asked.
Sirius shrugged, "I am actually facing a few logistical issues, and still have to complete a year in Hogwarts."
Lily chucked and hooked her arm with his, "Whatever…Let's have a walk. The river's smell makes me sick."
"Yeah…I didn't want to be rude, but it makes me nauseous. Anyways, why did you insist so much that I come to meet you here so urgently? You said I would regret it all my life if I came to refuse", Sirius said, intrigued.
Lily nodded and dragged him toward the town. As they walked, listened to her childhood adventures, most of them involving her sister, until Sirius stubbled after Lily abruptly stopped at a street corner and cautiously peered. Sirius emulated her, and looked from above her shoulder with a confused frown, "What's the matter?"
"We're at Spinner's End…All right…No one is at the door and the windows seem clear…I think we're good! Let's go! Hurry up!", Lily said before grabbing his hand and hasted him to the street's end.
Once Lily finally stopped, Sirius's eyes switched between her and behind him, his curiosity peaking. "What was that rush about?", he asked.
"That's where Severus lives with his parents…I do my best to avoid him at Hogwarts, and I wish to keep it the same here. Petunia grants me the favor to disappear for a few days, and take her unwanted remarks along, while I'm back home. So, I doubt we would cross paths with her", Lily replied, turning right.
Sirius's eyebrows arched, "Would you be ashamed to be seen with me?", he asked with surprise.
Lily glared at him, "Ask Lord, I ignore you at school unless in deserted classrooms when I'm certain my friends are occupied elsewhere", she retorted coldly.
Sirius blushed, "I know that's just stupid and immature…But, it's complicated", he said.
"Why would it be complicated? Better said, are you sure it is, or are you -just as usual- coming up with an excuse?", Lily asked.
Sirius's mouth opened to reply, but his voice failed him. Lily shook her head and said, "Never mind", before knocking her knuckles on a garage door, calling, "Albert! Are you inside?"
Instantly after, they heard a metallic sound echoing inside before a man's voice replied, "I am!", and seconds later, the garage door opened up, and a short old man with a white bushy beard, wearing a worn blue overall appeared. The man smiled broadly at Lily's sight, and exclaimed, "Lily! Isn't this a marvelous surprise! How's your dad and mom doing? How about Petunia? I haven't seen her for weeks!"
"Good afternoon, Albert! I missed you too! Dad's holding up, but you know better how much everyone is depressed right now", Lily said.
"Unfortunately, I do…I can't even find the heart to go to the pub, anymore. I spend most of my time at home", Albert said, cleaning his tock glasses. "I honestly thought the plant would run forever, giant as it is…I guess I was a fool to believe the suits, just like everyone else. Anyways, does your silent companion have a name?"
Lily startled, and turned to Sirius, patting his back abruptly. "This is Sirius Black, a friend from school. Albert and my dad have worked together on the plant since before and Petunia and I were even born."
Sirius smiled and stretched out a hand to Albert, "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."
Albert's eyes widened in surprise and the man chuckled softly before shaking firmly Sirius' hand. "Sir? You got yourself a…real gentleman as a friend, Lily."
"Sirius is from Knightsbridge, London…That's where all the posh people live", Lily said.
Sirius frowned at her, "That's not even close to where my parents live…Moreover, I'm currently living in my best friend's garden", he said.
Lily shrugged, and told Albert, "Don't listen to him, Albert…Sirus is the shy kind"
Albert nodded, and shifted his back at Sirius, "How do you like Cokeworth, Sirius?"
"Lily just showed me around…I find it lovely", Sirius replied, with a smile.
Albert chuckled, shaking slowly his head. "A piece of advice, Sirius. People around here have been fed lies for years…So, speak your mind freely unless you want to appear taking the piss. Anyway, what's bringing you here kids?"
Lily's smile faded in an instant, and her voice said with a heavy hint of sadness, "Dad said you'll be soon moving away, yesterday when he picked me up at Kings Cross. It was late when we arrived home, so I waited to be sure you'd be working in your garage to visit."
Albert smiled and softly patted her cheek. "That's very kind of you Lily, I appreciate it a lot", he said before glancing behind him at his garage. "I did a cleaning sale last week but spared the best stuff to give away to friends…Would you like to have a look and see if anything peaks your eye?", he asked, stepping aside and gesturing to them to follow him inside the garage. "Come in!"
Lily grinned and pocked Sirius' arm before following Albert. The garage was a small space, packed with many open card boxes gathered around a Morris 1100 in the Centre, and old trinkets on freestanding resell shelves pushed against the walls. Albert pushed some card boxes to make a path for them, before showing them his old belongings, and some books Lily spotted at a speed that disconcerted Sirius before his eyes found something that captivated his entire attention, as highlighted from the rest of the items by a powerful spotlight.
Sirius made timidly his way to the wall and stared interestedly at an old bike in a desolated state, placed against the wall. Soon, Albert popped up beside him and hastily took away the sheet covering half of the bike. "You've got an expert's eye, Sirius! In its heydays, it was a splendid 1959 Triumph 650 T 120 Bonneville, that made lots of my dearest youth memories…Until that bloody accident that destroyed it."
"Have you ever tried fixing it?", Sirius asked.
"I and a mechanic friend have tried everything we could but gave up when we understood that the reparations costs would exceed the bike's current value at the time…So, it sat here for years, and over time, rust brought along its part to the damages. Even if I fix it somehow…I'm too old to drive it", Albert replied, staring sadly at the bike.
"What will you do with it? Will you take it with you?", Lily inquired, with a finger discreetly pocking Sirius' rib.
Albert sighed, "It breaks my heart to admit it, and even more to say it out loud…But, it belongs in a scrap yard now. I can't take it with me anyways…Only, I keep postponing the day I'll take it outside."
"Ooh…Can't you find someone who would be interested in buying it? Perhaps there are parts that still work!", Lily said.
"Unfortunately, not only it's all broken and ruined but Bikes have evolved since. So, scavenging it would only be a waste of time and energy…I guess, sometimes you must let it go", Albert said, patting the ripped leather seat.
"I'm sorry Albert…Would you like it if Sirius and I take it outside for you while we're still around?", Lily asked.
Albert hesitated for a moment before finally nodding and stepping back. "Yes! You'll do me a favor because I rather not do it myself…I won't find the heart to, anyway", he said before walking to a corner and collecting a card box he came back to put in Lily's hands.
"These were Chloe's books, and some novel she wrote… I planned to give them to your mom before leaving. She would have wanted you to have them.", Albert said, before they heard the phone ringing inside the house. "That might be important, the bank is supposed to call about the house…I leave the bike to your care, feel free to look around and take whatever you like. Only, close the garage when you're ready to go", Albert told them, before hasting to the house, leaving them alone.
As soon as Albert disappeared, Lily turned to Sirius. "My dad told us about it this morning, and I know you're saving to buy a bike…So, I decided to make your dreams come true. Am I not amazing? I guess a few charms would do the trick and make it the same as knew."
Sirius stared at the bike with envy, his fingers running along the handlebars then whispered. "I appreciate, Lily. But you heard him, we can't just take it…It would be stealing."
"Yeah, I hear him! Especially, when he said he couldn't ride it anyway…Moreover, even if we do fix it, how would you explain how it 'magically' fix itself to Albert?" Lily asked, then took out her wand. "Sirius…I know Albert since forever, so trust me when I say his mind is made about it. So, let's do both of you a favor", She said pointing her wand at the bike, and whispered, "Reducio!". The bike shrank in a split second to the size of a toy that Lily picked from the ground before tossing it to Sirius.
They left the garage and walked in silence for a while until Sirius said, "Mending charms won't be enough".
"Of course, they will, Sirius. It's going to be a children's game…You'll see!", Lily relied.
"I wasn't referring to that…What I meant is that I won't stop at fixing it and make it work again. I'm thinking about dismantling if, bewitch to each part separately before reassembling it again.", Sirius said, with a smile.
Lily frowned at him, suspiciously. "Nothing dangerous or illegal, I hope", Lily said.
"Of course not! When have I ever done anything dangerous? I'll just increase the speed, bring up some protective charms and add an invisibility option among other ideas…The only issue is that I can't work on it at James' place. It wouldn't be polite to turn Aunt Euphemia's garden into a garage, considering James has already built a real scale quidditch pitch there", Sirius said.
Limy grinned and exclaimed, "I've thought about that as well!". Then, she surprised him with a side-apparition.
As they apparated, Sirius felt the now familiar tug behind his navel intensify before suddenly reopening his eye to find himself standing on the edge of a hill. The wind was bitter, and the crashing waves below added to the chill in the air. He watched as Lily's red hair whipped around her face, following its dance until she turned to him and pointed towards a large rock in the distance, standing lonely in the sea, with a pitiful hut perched on top.
Sirius couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as he gazed upon the desolate scene, his mind wondering what kind of person would choose to live in such a bleak and isolated place. But then, Lily grabbed his arm and started pulling him towards the rock. "We're almost there!" she shouted over the roar of the wind.
Sirius stumbled after her, struggling to keep his footing on the uneven ground. As they drew closer to the rock, he could make out the details of the hut. It was made of weathered wood and looked as though it might collapse at any moment.
"That's what you need!" Lily exclaimed, and with a crack, they apparated again, landing on the hut's doorstep the second the rain began pelting them mercilessly. Sirius quickly pulled out his wand and shouted, "Alohomora!" The door instantly creaked open, and Lily rushed inside, with Sirius close behind.
Sirius slammed the door shut just in time to hear the crash of the first wave against the rock. Sirius breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Lily, who was drying her hair using her wand. She flashed him a wink before spinning around with outstretched arms and asking, "What do you think?"
Surveying the hut, Sirius couldn't help but feel apprehensive. The dank, seaweed-scented air mingled with the creaking of the dilapidated wooden structure, while filthy windows and numerous cracks in the walls allowed the wind to whistle through.
"It looks like it on the verge of collapsing on our heads" he replied, worry creasing his forehead.
Lily bounced onto the moth-eaten sofa, unfazed. "Ooh… Don't be such a worrywart. We can refurbish this place in no time with a few wrist moves. It's amazing all you can do when you're seventeen!" she exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as thunder rumbled outside.
Sirius hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over the bike in his pocket. Before finally asking, "Lily, I appreciate all you're doing, but what's truly going on in your mind?"
Lily stopped jumping on the couch and instead allowed herself to fall sit onto it. For a few seconds, she avoided Sirius's gaze before speaking up. "This hut doesn't belong to anyone… A local con artist pretends it's his to scam tourists and travelers looking for a cheap place to spend the night. I checked with the town hall… So, once we're done restoring it, you could move in here instead of camping in Potter's garden."
"I'm not ashamed of living there and I like it! He's my best friend, and it's temporary anyway! Next year, I'll ace my NEWTs, and get a job before starting my own enterprise. The rest will follow shortly," Sirius replied.
"Why postpone it when you can do it right now? You're seventeen and incredibly skilled with magic! You can start your adult life at this very moment with a simple flick of your wand! How can you be satisfied with living in your friend's garden?", Lily asked, her face incredulous.
"Why do you care so much?", Sirius retorted, sounding irritated.
"BECAUSE YOU'RE WORTH MORE THAN THAT!" Lily shouted at him; her face suddenly as red as her hair before burying her face in her hands.
Her voice echoed in his ears, and he made a step back at her sudden burst. A long embarrassing silence followed, only disturbed by the storm raging outside. Finally, Sirius walked over to her and sat beside her on the couch, passing an arm around her shoulders. Lily's face reappeared, and she quickly wept her tears away using her jumper's sleeve. "Sorry…I shouldn't have shouted at you. I just think it's unfair", Lily said, sniffling.
"Lily…I love you so much for caring about me. Yet, you must understand that I need to be proud of myself. How could I if I can't prove myself with a home? I need that win, that satisfaction that self-sustaining brings", Sirius softly said.
Lily looked at him in the eyes, before nodding and resting her head on his shoulder. "You've come a long way…We both have. Only, I can't understand why you're friends with Potter. You have nothing in common.", Lily whispered.
Sirius chuckled. "We have a few things in common," he said.
"Such as?" Lily asked.
Sirius the time ponded before replying. "Earlier, you accused me of ignoring and avoiding you at Hogwarts"
"I didn't accuse you. I stated a fact," Lily said firmly.
"Well, I do…And it's ridiculous. I'm living a double life and I'm tired of it…So, back when I said it's complicated, what I meant to say…" Sirius said before Lily interrupted him.
"I was just teasing you, Sirius. I understand perfectly what you're juggling with", Lily said.
Sirius nodded before firmly saying, "I want you to come and sit on the Hogwarts Express journey with us next time. Bring your friends along if you feel so."
Lily chuckled, "Have you decided to derail the train?", she asked.
"If James doesn't behave properly, I promise to punch him in the face", Sirius said.
"Ooh…Please start doing push-ups and pull-ups!", Lily explained happily.
"I don't need any workout, my genetics does the job perfectly…Only, I must warn you. If you provoke him, consider our friendship over and never talk to me again. I'm not joking", Sirius firmly said.
Lily's emerald eyes widened with surprise, and her mouth trembled before she sighed and replied, "I can tolerate Potter for an afternoon if it's for you…Besides, I only lash out at him when he starts it."
"Then, I promise it will be a good day", Sirius said with a grin. Suddenly, Lily gasped loudly, and her hand gripped tightly onto his arm. "What is it?", he asked, alarmed.
Lily closed her eyes and took a deep breath before whispering, "There is a cockroach on my knee…Merlin, Sirius. It's on my knee! Please, chase it away!"
Sirius chuckled and quickly chased away the cockroach, allowing Lily to jump to her feet. She shook out her long hair and placed her hands on her hips, watching the cockroach scuttle away toward the fireplace, which was covered by a dirty, dingy blanket. "I feel sorry for the Muggles who got or will get scammed into spending the night here," she said sadly, turning to Sirius. "Won't you at least consider using this place to hide the bike, until it's ready?"
Sirius stood up and looked around, nodding in agreement. "It's perfect... Although, we should reinforce the foundations and structure for safety. We'll also add some wards to repel Muggles…Maybe some protective wards. What do you think?"
Lily nodded in approval. "I won't refuse a safe house this close to Cokeworth... Especially considering you ended up being right about Voldemort," she said, raising an eyebrow at him when he chuckled. "What's so funny?"
"Cockworth," Sirius repeated, unable to suppress his laughter.
During the following days, Sirius seized advantage of every opportunity when James was away assisting his father to sneak out to meet Lily in the hut. Working together, they transformed the main room, rearranging the furniture to create space for Sirius' bike. Sirius spend hours skillfully working on the bike, pouring his imagination into it, while Lily paced around, her lively banter filling the room with excitement. Despite her caution, an occasional misstep led her to curse after inadvertently stepping on an oil stain, to Sirius' amusement.
Until one morning, Sirius was pulled out of his focus by a persistent tapping at the window. Rubbing his eye, he was taken aback to find an owl with big blue eyes peering at him. The tapping grew louder and more urgent until Sirius recognized the familiar face of Xenia peering through the glass.
"Unbelievable…" Xenia whispered, standing up straight, looking down at him. "Can't turn my back ten minutes without you taking advantage of my thrust to nap? Are you for real?"
Sirius rubbed his eyes and yawned as he passed his fingers in his hair. He stood up, and said "Sorry…I barely slept last night"
Xenia ignored him and walked around the enclosure, inspecting his work before turning around to face him, "How come you're already done?", she inquired.
"I started as soon as you left", Sirius replied.
"Are you sure you followed all my instructions?", Xenia questioned.
"Every single one, thoroughly", Sirius said.
"I'm warning you! I'll verify your work later and if I find anything botched, I'll make you come back in the middle of the night to do it all over again and add more work to it. I work late, so I don't care!", Xenia said with a menacing tone.
"I don't mind if you verify right now", Sirius said with a shrug.
Xenia ponded for a moment before replying, "It's lunchtime. So, I'll do it later…Be back in an hour"
Sirius leaned his shovel against the wall, before removing his gloves. "Why don't you come with me?", he suggested.
"To where?" Xenia asked, frowning.
"We should have lunch together as Red and Mikhail do with their coworkers," Sirius replied.
Xenia nodded and crossed her arms. "Yeah, and maybe we should start rehearsing a play or choreography for the school's fair!" she exclaimed.
"Or a magic show…I know a lot of magic tricks that would blow the audience's minds", Sirius said.
Xenia chuckled. "Let me send an owl first, and I'll meet you outside," she said.
Seated at a wooden picnic table, Sirius was bewitched by the tantalizing scent of barbecue wafted over from the nearby farm. He observed Xenia conversing with the man tending the grill, before returning with two drinks. Handing one to Sirius, she sat beside him and shifted her gaze toward the breathtaking view of the valley below, and the towering mountains rising in the distance, cloaked in lush greenery, completing the serene harmony of the landscape.
"You're lucky to work in the sanctuary…Most people pay a high price to get to spend a week in a place like this and escape the cities", Sirius said.
"I know…I wonder how people willingly chose to live in the middle of that concrete hell", Xenia said before taking a sip from her drink.
"Most don't get to choose…Anyways, it's a real feast for the eyes, particularly for someone like me", Sirius said.
Xenia smirked, "A nobleman?", she asked.
"An ex-convict", Sirius corrected with a smile.
Xenia choked on her drink, unable to hold her bust of laughter. "Damn! I completely forgot about it! Honestly, I still can't believe everything they say about you."
"Of course, because it's all lies! Haven't you read about my trial?", Sirius asked.
Xenia shook her head, "I'm not referring to that…I meant about what happened in France, then in Germany and Romania. Did you really slay a gorgon?", she asked.
"I couldn't at have done it alone…If it weren't for Alexa's intervention, I wouldn't be here right now", Sirius replied.
"Who's Alexa?" Xenia asked.
"An annoying gnome I'm friends with," Sirius said, his voice betraying his fondness. "She severed its arm, giving me an opening to finish it off," Sirius explained.
Xenia nodded understandingly, "I wish they would have sent it here to be examined in the Library…But those morons had to destroy it", she said, clearly frustrated.
Sirius's eyebrow arched, "Who?", he asked.
"The ICW…They deemed it a danger to the wizarding community. They made up a bullshit excuse…That someone would attempt recreating it and destroy it", Xenia said.
Sirius nodded, "That sounds like an idea Dumbledore would come up with…Personally, after facing it, I couldn't agree more with him. Moreover, if I were in charge, I would have kept this story concealed rather than spreading it around the globe. The same goes for De Reiss and Greyback", he said.
"Then nobody would hail you as a hero…Would that annoy you?", Xenia asked, side-eying him.
Sirius chuckled and asked, "Do you want to hear a confession?"
"Sure…I'm sure I can make use of it", Xenia replied with a shrug.
« I'm not sure I want to go back to England, where everyone knows my face. Anonymity suits me better…That what's I discovered from the time I spent hiding in the muggle world. I loved wandering in foreign countries, where I'm a complete stranger…Diving in the local cultures and its people. That's one of the reasons I asked Dragan to place me under your supervision, even though he offered me other options." Sirius said.
Xenia seemed curious and asked, "Aren't you bothered by how strict I've been with you?"
Sirius shook his head, "Not at all! I actually appreciate it…I take it as a sign of attention", Sirius said.
"All right…Interesting…You come across as quite humble, and now I feel embarrassed. Although…You're sure you don't have any twisted fetishes or fantasies?", Xenia asked.
Sirius took his time to ponder, before finally shrugging, "Not that I can think of. So, I guess I'm just humble…Anyway, what is this place? It seems that we're the only customers around", he said.
Xenia frowned at him, before thanking the man who brought to their table the grilled meat and fries, they had ordered. "Simply one of the many farms scattered throughout the sanctuary…They're not exactly restaurants, but they never turn away someone offering money for a good meal! They also breed the livestock we release into the wild so the adult dragons can hunt."
Sirius cut into his meat and asked," Just out of curiosity…I had a conversation with Dragan yesterday, from which I understood that the Ministry of Magic and the ICW aren't generous with funding."
"Don't even get me started about it…They frustrate me so much that Dragan doesn't let me participate in the meeting anymore, and he's wise in doing it. They've been shrinking our budget for years in the hope we'll give in and let them take over the place. However, we've been resisting quite well so far…", Xenia said.
"May I ask how? The costs must be enormous", Sirius inquired.
"Well…We've built an economic system that sustains the Sanctuary. Whenever a dragon dies, we auction its skin, horns, claws, organs, and so on…Additionally, the sanctuary's lands are incredibly fertile and that allows us to grow enough to feed ourselves and score additional income exporting outside the sanctuary. Every two weeks, we allow tourists into a few restricted zones such as the village and organize tours to boost the sales in the shops…Which contributes to our treasury," Xenia said, swallowing a mouthful of meat before continuing. "Also, wizarding schools and other academies pay the sanctuary so our scholars would give lectures abroad."
Xenia's answer didn't clear Sirius from his skepticism, "Is it enough to cover all the expenses?", he asked.
Xenia winced and replied, "Unfortunately, we rely heavily on making do…So, it's a blessing that people who chose this career path do it out of passion, rather than the pursuit of gold. We all settle for low wages to make it work."
"Have you tried seeking additional funding aside from the authorities? Gringotts or private funds?" Sirius inquired.
"You must understand that even with our little business, the sanctuary remains a non-profit institution. Hence, we'll never meet Gringott's conditions for a loan, nor repay it. As to private partners, not a week goes by without an offer landing on Dragan's desk…Only, they all request a percentage of the sanctuary, and plans that deviate significantly from the Sanctuary's purpose", Xenia explained.
Sirius nodded and said, "I see…No offense, but investing a single galleon in this enterprise would be just the same as tossing it to the sea", before taking a bite.
Xenia raised an eyebrow in surprise, "What would you do if you were in our shoes?", she asked, then put down her fork after receiving a simple shrug as a reply. "What does that mean?"
"It means that I don't know", Sirius replied, before letting out a satisfied sigh as he chew his fries.
"Why don't you give it a try?" Xenia suggested.
"I rather not, because It's not my problem", Sirius replied.
"Not your problem?! It concerns the entire world!" Xenia exclaimed.
"Of course, it's not," Sirius replied.
"If the sanctuary happens to fall and its dragons escape, the consequences would be…", Xenia retorted before Sirius interrupted her, slightly exasperated.
"Close to nonexistent", Sirius said.
Xenia looked at him in silence, her face displaying a mixture of surprise and amusement, before asking, "Are you taking the piss?"
Sirius shook his head and said, "No, I'm being very serious," finishing his steak.
Xenia chuckled and said, "Then please enlighten me with your wisdom."
"Sure... Do you know what a nuke is?" Sirius asked.
"Not a clue," Xenia admitted.
"It was invented and first used forty years ago…It's a weapon that wipes out an entire city from the Earth's surface. Since, technology has evolved and nowadays, the damage of one bomb can originate irreversible damage to a continent…It's a nightmare for muggles", Sirius explained.
"If such a weapon exists, it's wise for them to fear it. But what does it have to do with dragons?" Xenia asked, still confused.
"They share some similarities…The power it represents, and the fear it instills in both those who possess it and those who can become its victims. For four decades now, muggles have used it as a dissuasion weapon, threatening to use it on their enemies if given reasons to, and as leverage on less advanced nations to pressure them into submission. Yet, everyone knows the truth, and nobody is fooled" Sirius said.
"What truth?", Xenia asked.
"It's in nobody's best interests that one of those bombs explodes, anywhere on this planet, as the consequences would be devastating for the target, the aggressor, and countless neutral parties. Hence, nobody would ever use it…Because it would be self-destruction. Dragons represent a similar power of mass destruction, so you can sleep peacefully. If the sanctuary's dragons happen to fail, the entire wizarding world will set aside their differences to unite and contain the danger", Sirius said.
Xenia remained silent, looking at him incredulously before angrily asking, "Are you calling us useless?"
"Don't twist my words," Sirius retorted coldly, before softening his voice, "What I mean is that your job isn't to protect the outside from the dragons but the dragons from the outside's greed and malice, additionally to study them…Actually, I might have an idea that could be helpful."
"Ooh…Let us hear your genius!", Xenia said, leaning back.
"Have you ever considered reducing the number of the specimens to a manageable number?", Sirius suggested.
Xenia seemed offended and retorted, "Are you suggesting that we kill them?"
"No…I'm suggesting transferring some to other sanctuaries", Sirius clarified.
"We can't do that!", Xenia exclaimed.
"Why?" Sirius inquired.
"Because they were born here and are our babies! So, we won't send them anywhere!" Xenia replied.
Sirius sighed and whispered, "Well…You're probably not doing them a favor."
"What do you know about it? You've been here for barely two days and you're lecturing me about one of the most complicated jobs in the world?" Xenia snapped.
"You asked," Sirius stated.
"Well, you should have stuck with 'I don't know' and 'it's not my problem'," Xenia said.
"I did and you insisted," Sirius responded.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, before I make you clean the enclosure with your toothbrush!" Xenia exclaimed, before grabbing a scroll that an owl had dropped on their heads as it hovered above them. Her eyes scanned the message, before jumping up, asking him, "Are you done eating?"
"Yeah... But we still have half an hour left," Sirius replied.
"No, we don't! The longhorn's egg is about to hatch, and Dragan is transferring it to the nursery... I hope you haven't messed up your job in the enclosure! Let's go, move your ass!" Xenia said, clapping her hands.
A few moments later, Xenia pushed open the Nursery's double doors and ran between the rows of enclosures, Sirius on her heels, until they stopped near the one Dragan waited. Xenia whipped the sweat from her forehead, then carefully took the egg from Dragan and went inside the enclosure to place him in the nest they had prepared for the occasion.
Then, Xenia gestured to Sirius to join her. The moment he stepped inside the enclosure, Sirius felt overwhelmed by the scorching heat that made the air around hardly breathable. Xenia noticed his uneasiness and said, "I should have warned you, but we raise the temperature to simulate its mother's warmth…Once hatched, we lower progressively the heat during the first week until ambient temperature, except in winter when it's too cold for Dragons this age."
Sirius nodded, wiping the sweat dropping from his hair on his eyes, and crouch next to her, trying to ignore his sticking soaked clothes, and both waited for long minutes looking at the dark green scaled egg, a little bigger than a basketball, with Dragan standing on the other side of the glass, hands folded behind his back.
Then, the egg started to shake slightly, and cracks started to appear on it, cracks then slowly connected before, suddenly, a tiny reptilian leg popped out from the egg, followed by another, and Sirius chuckled at the sight of a legged egg hopping on its spot.
"Don't help! We mustn't interfere," Xenia whispered to him. Two small wings then split the egg open, revealing a small light green dragon. It shook its head to get rid of the remaining egg pieces before looking up at them and blinking.
Xenia smiled and used her wand to draw a small circle, creating a bubble that enclosed the baby dragon. This was done just as it spat a weak jet of fire, narrowly missing their faces. The dragon continued to try and produce fire until it sneezed and fell onto its belly.
Xenia chuckled and gave Dragan a thumbs up. "It's a healthy male! Perfect!"
"How do you know it's a male?" Sirius asked. "I don't see any genitalia."
"They're hidden under the scales, but the obvious difference is in the wings. Males have five fingers, one more than females," Xenia replied, pointing at the dragon's wings. "Isn't he cute?"
"He's trying to roast us," Sirius retorted.
"No, he isn't! Just like human babies cry when they're born to breathe, baby dragons spit fire for the same reason!" Xenia explained.
"It's still fire", Sirius whispered.
Xenia stood up and retrieved a bucket filled with chopped raw meat. "Help me scatter the pieces around the enclosure, making sure to hide them under leaves or behind rocks... He needs to learn to find them on his own," she instructed Sirius.
Sirius nodded and helped her, while the baby dragon grew tired of spitting fire and instead, waved his attention towards his tail that he had just noticed. Then, Sirius joined Dragan outside the enclosure and let out a satisfied sigh as he felt the fresh air fill his lungs. Xenia popped the bubble she had the baby dragon in, before patting his head and leaving the enclosure.
"The last egg of the year has finally hatched!" Xenia exclaimed to Dragan as they observed the baby dragon exploring its enclosure.
Dragan nodded, but Sirius noticed a hint of disappointment on his face. Placing a hand on their shoulders in a surprisingly paternalistic manner, he said, "Well done, both of you"
"I'll spend the night here to observe him and see how he copes with his first 24 hours.", Xenia before turning to Sirius, "You're free to leave. There isn't much you can do here, anyway."
"I don't mind staying… I'd rather watch over the baby than go back to my room, unless it bothers you, of course," Sirius replied.
Xenia shook her head and replied, "Fine… You can stay. But first, I'll send you to fetch the supplies for the night."
"Don't bother. I'll come back later to check on you… I'll bring along everything you need for the night. See you later," Dragan said, squeezing Sirius' shoulder before hurrying away.
"Wait!" Xenia called out, rushing to catch up with him before he could leave the Nursery.
"What is it?" Dragan inquired.
"I should have received their report yesterday, but I'm still waiting," Xenia whispered.
"No worries, they sent an owl this morning. They made a stop in Sofia to show the kid around, so he could have some fun and stories to share with his friends when he returns," Dragan reassured her.
"Ooh... Is he having a good time?" Xenia asked, a smile gracing her face.
"Loads of fun, according to their letters," Dragan replied, returning the smile.
"I wish I could have gone with them," Xenia sighed, briefly glancing at Sirius, who pretended to be focused on the baby Longhorn.
"You have your own responsibilities, Xenia, and they are no less important. Besides, they are close to their destination, so they will soon retrieve the package and be back here among us... Until then, don't lose your focus" Dragan advised, giving her a quick hug before departing.
Xenia watched Dragan walk away, and as soon as he disappeared behind the Nursery's double doors, she turned back to Sirius. With a warning look, she told him, "I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. I'm not fucking my boss! Dragan is my father, so the hug was purely innocent, just a father-daughter moment. Nothing more!"
Sirius chuckled and said, "I didn't think anything else…Moreover, Dragan already told me you are his daughter."
Xenia frowned at him before nodding and gesturing at her to the office. "All right…Follow me! We need to fill out the paperwork for this adorable little one and find him a cool name."
Sirius followed her, still wearing a smile. "At least, it explains how you got a job in the sanctuary and quickly climbed the ranks. Being the big boss's daddy's girl must have its advantages."
Xenia froze and banged her fist against the office door before turning to face him, clearly furious. "It's unbelievable how the moment I start appreciating you… You say something that makes me despise you even more than I did," she said before pushing open the door.
"Don't get mad! I was just joking!" Sirius said with a laugh, following her. Then muttered under his breath, "Merlin... Women can bare with childbirth but can't take a joke."
Kingsley and Patil left the sports hall and quickened their steps until they reached Patil's car. They got in, and Patil slowly drove away, but soon pushed the gas pedal after leaving the campus grounds.
"I don't care about how fast your team can work, Chief Inspector… I'm putting that APW on Docherty," Patil said.
Kingsley maintained a steady gaze ahead, his head slowly shaking in disbelief. The case had ignited his curiosity intensely within a mere few hours. The portrait of Kian Andrews, painted by the Chancellor and a former classmate, differed drastically from the one sketched by Andy and Marty the previous night. Kingsley was left pondering - were they misleading everyone to muddy the waters, or was Kian Andrews manipulating the truth for motives only known to him?
As Patil's voice crackled through the radio, a narrative unfurled in Kingsley's mind. Clair Docherty plagued with a decade of remorse and at the lowest ebb of her life, suddenly witnesses Kian's grand return to town - his luxurious car and flaunting of success. That night, she would find no solace in slumber, as she reminisced on her own brilliance, possibly even surpassing Kian's, and her once-promising future that she had forfeited for a man who failed to reciprocate her affections. Earlier that day, her first love had driven by without even sparing her a glance. Ten years of grueling manual labor and substance addictions had ravaged her once-beautiful features. Kian had let her down, betrayed her, and escaped unscathed, with no accountability. It was an injustice that Claire believed must be rectified.
As Kingsley was lost in thought, he failed to realize that they had already arrived back in the village. The car came to a stop in front of the police station, and Patil swiftly exited the vehicle. Kingsley was about to follow suit when he caught sight of a firefighter's truck blazing past them in the rearview mirror with its sirens blaring. At Patil's signal, Kingsley finally stepped out of the car and trailed behind him into the police station. Patil marched straight to the front desk, while Kingsley surveyed the room with a quick glance before approaching a police officer who was standing by the vending machine.
Kingsley discreetly nodded at the man sitting in the hall. The man was young, had ginger hair, wore a big chain with a wheel around his neck, sunglasses, a tracksuit, and a cap put backward. "What did he do?" Kingsley asked the officer.
The constable shrugged. "Nothing, as far as we know… However, we've never seen him around, and as you instructed us to bring in all lurkers and odd-looking individuals... we did as you told," he replied.
Kingsley examined the young man, scrutinizing his attire and accessories before nodding to the constable. "Take a break… I'll have a word with him," he said.
"Thanks, chief inspector," the constable said.
Kingsley walked up to the man and gestured with his hand. "Get up and follow me," he instructed.
The man raised his sunglasses, glanced at Kingsley from head to toe, and then smirked. "Do you I look stupid, guv? I won't go anywhere until my lawyer arrives."
A passing police officer stopped and asked in a bored tone, "You do realize that we can detain you until your solicitor shows up, don't you?"
"We could also beat you until he does," a policewoman suggested.
The young man suddenly jumped to his feet, spread his arms out provocatively, and yelled, "WHAT? WHO'S GONNA BEAT ME? WHO? YOU?"
Kingsley sighed in exasperation, rolled his eyes, and then grabbed the man's arm, dragging him away. "Oi! I KNOW MY RIGHTS! YOU CAN'T TOUCH ME! I'LL SUE YOU ALL!" the man kept shouting until Kingsley pushed him into the office he shared with Patil, and slammed the door shut behind him. Kingsley gestured at a chair. "Take a seat," he instructed the young man.
Kingsley sat behind the small desk and waited for the man to fix his chain and adjust his cap before asking, "What are you wearing?"
The young man grinned. "Cool muggle clothes, guv! How do I look?" he asked.
"You look like a clown, Roy, and stop calling me guv…Be sure to change before heading back to the Ministry, unless you want Rufus to put you six feet under." Kingsley warned him.
Roy seemed disappointed but nodded. "Very well, sir," he said.
"It's just a piece of advice… So, have you located Claire Docherty?" Kingsley inquired.
Roy nodded, his face becoming serious. "We have… I'm afraid a car accident took her life three months ago," he said.
Surprise took over Kingsley's face as he received the news. "Are you certain?" he asked.
"We checked, sir… We discovered that she was drowning under financial problems, addictions, and arrests for solicitation. She was eventually evicted from her home before her car was found crushed in the depths of a ravine, with all her remaining belongings inside," Roy said.
Kingsley sighed and slowly shook his head. "What did the Muggle police deduce?" he asked.
"Suicide… The woman had been struggling with money, drug and alcohol addiction for years. Losing her home was the straw that broke the camel's back," Roy said.
Kingsley leaned back in his chair. "Her debts came from some loans she took for her education. Although, if she listed her house as collateral, wouldn't that have been enough to repay the bank?" he asked.
"She had taken other loans over the years… The house only covered the first loan she had taken to try to avoid being expelled from the university," Roy replied.
Kingsley frowned. "I'm not an expert in Muggle banking, but how did a bank accept lending more money to a person already in debt, unemployed, and with a criminal record? What other collateral did Claire Docherty have to offer?" he asked.
Roy shrugged. "I don't know, sir," he said.
"What bank was she in business with?" Kingsley asked.
"The British Bank of Mercia. Would you like me to go snoop around?" Roy said.
Kingsley tapped his fingers on the desk for a moment, before finally saying "Leave that to the Muggles... I'd rather have you and your partners surveil some people in this village and the university," he said after a moment of silence.
"Sure, who?" Roy asked.
"A delivery man named Andy; you'll recognize him easily by the blue 4L he drives around. Marty, the petrol station attendant. The university's chancellor and Dr. Sexton, a professor at the university," Kingsley said.
Roy nodded. "Very well, sir." Then he hesitated a moment before asking, "Sir, we kind of confused about this case, back at the office... Are we investigating a Muggle or a wizarding crime?"
Kingsley's bottom lip slid under his teeth before he replied, "I don't know."
Roy shrugged and said, "Well, let's find out."
Kingsley chuckled softly. "Go!" he told him, and Roy disapparated in his chair.
Kingsley sat tapping his fingers on his desk in his office until Patil walked in. He closed the door behind him and leaned his back against it, locking eyes with Kingsley before delivering his news. "You'll never believe this," he said.
Kingsley raised an eyebrow. "Try me…"
"Claire Docherty was in a car accident three months ago," Patil said. "Right after losing her house!"
Kingsley feigned shock. "Goodness gracious."
"Yeah…It was even in the papers and on the national news," Patil said, disappointed. "I really thought we had the killer."
Kingsley shook his head. "Well…We only had one person's narrative. A man who provided absolutely no evidence to support his claims."
Patil sighed and fell heavily into his chair. "Well, at least we can cross her off our suspect list. So now, according to my advanced calculations, we have zero suspects."
Kingsley tried to be positive. "That's still more than what we knew when we started the day, Inspector."
Patil looked out the window for a long moment before turning back to Kingsley. "It's worth what it's worth but digging into Kian Andrews' past gave us some results. We should carry on digging… Something is telling me that he wasn't randomly targeted."
Kingsley nodded. "Where should we go next?"
Patil hesitated before replying. "Let's find and question Kian's other former teammates and confront their story with Sexton's. I also want to go further back into Paul's past, before he got admitted to that university. We need to talk to his school classmates, teachers..."
"And his father," Kingsley said.
Patil agreed. "If the clinic he's in..."
"We'll find the words," Kingsley said, glancing at his watch. "But let's grab a bite to eat first."
"Fine…. It's time, anyway" Patil said, yawning.
As they left the station and walked back to the car, they saw a crowd of villagers in the town square, whispering and pointing at a dark cloud of smoke rising from the village outskirts.
"What's happening?" Patil asked a policeman smoking at the entrance.
"A fire broke out in the forest…Although, It's common in the summer... Only, this time it's quite close to the village. So, they're afraid it will spread to the first houses." the policeman replied, smoking nonchalantly.
Two days late, because I got lazy this weekend among other things. Thank you for reading and please review!