Devotion
It was the ninth of November. Rain was lashing against Claudia's windows when she woke up, and the air was chilly. The weather had finally turned. There was no point lighting a fire or hanging around at home, as the fire in her office would already be lit and she could warm up there. So, she got dressed as quickly as she could and, without bothering with breakfast, apparated to the Ministry. She had mountains of work to get through today.
"Morning," Auberon said in his usual chipper tone the moment she walked in. "Coffee is on your desk, and Agrippa called the Council of Twelve."
"When?"
"Starts in twenty minutes."
"Thanks," Claudia sighed. A management meeting, that was the last thing she needed today. Besides, the name bugged her. They called it the Council of Twelve because there were twelve rooms in the Department of Mysteries. But with the head and deputy head of the Department also presents, there were fourteen of them! Hungry and grumbling about the name, she set off.
"Claudia!" a familiar female voice carried after her. "Wait up."
Grimacing, Claudia turned. She had not spoken to Édith since their fight and was not exactly keen on continuing it in the middle of their workplace.
But Édith did not seem especially furious. "I shouldn't have blown up at you like that," she said and brushed Claudia's upper arm with her fingers. "I know you don't mean any harm. It must be tough-" she paused. "To be honest, I cannot pretend that I even begin to understand what it's like."
Claudia attempted a smile. "It's not a lot of fun."
"Come to mine tonight," Édith said and squeezed Claudia's shoulder.
"Only if you promise you won't try to make me talk about it."
"I promise."
They walked together to the Council Room, which was adjacent to Agrippa's office at the very heart of the Department.
The room was circular. The walls were black, and peppered with lamps emitting bright turquois light, which made everyone look like they were deadly ill or under water. It was impractical but it gave these meetings a secretive and eerie vibe that Claudia enjoyed. At the centre of a room stood a round table with fourteen chairs around it.
Claudia sat down by the engraved silver place card which simply read 'The Mind Room' just as Agrippa walked in.
"Let's start," he said briskly. "Alexander-" he pointed at the empty chair of his deputy-" is not coming and the rest of you are here. Now…" he took a deep breath. "I believe you've all heard about the Hogwarts cat. Things have escalated. There was a boy petrified at the school yesterday."
Claudia's heart jumped. "Who?" she mumbled hoping with all her might that Neville's fears did not come true. It suddenly dawned on her that she never replied to his letter. Must get to it today, she thought.
"Colin something…" Agrippa uttered. "Now, it's been made clear to me by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement that this is their territory, not that of the Department of Mysteries. But I want to know your theories anyway."
Griffin Kershaw, the bearded and burly head of the Beasts and Creatures Room spoke first. "Last time the Chamber was supposedly opened, they said it was an Acromantula who killed that girl, didn't they?" His face, covered in scars and half-obscured by an eye-patch, barely moved when he spoke. "Never seen an Acromantula petrify anyone…Not ruling out other beasts, of course."
"Let's rewind a bit," Claudia said. "My potions specialist was at Hogwarts at the time that girl died. He said it was Vol-" she cleared her throat, remembering that this was not an Order meeting. "That it was You-Know-Who, who killed that girl, and the whole circus with creatures and the Chamber of Secret was a hoax. Now, if that's true, then it could be anyone with a Death Eater grandfather or an uncle causing trouble."
"What-" Griffin tried to jump in but Claudia was not quite finished.
"I suggest we request Hogwarts students records from the Department of Magical Education," she continued. "See if anyone stands out."
"I think we should look into other beasts…" Griffin ignored her suggestion. "Gorgons, Basilisks even. They would both be able to petrify a human."
Scattered laughter travelled around the room.
"Come off it, Griffin," scoffed Gordon Weasley, the young and energetic Head of the Weapons Division, who also happened to be distantly related by marriage to Fabian's sister. "Basilisk at Hogwarts? That's ridiculous…"
Most people around the table nodded. But not all…
"I agree with Griffin," Clotilda Kershaw, an imposing lady with an impressive head of curly grey hair, barked at Gordon. She also happened to be Griffin's twin sister. "These people were petrified. I don't know many students who could perform that kind of spell."
Clotilda ran the Healing Magic Room, conducting experiments the healers in St Mungo's were too scared to try, so she could have a point. But then again. Claudia frowned and spoke again. "Let's not forget this is You-Know-Who we're talking about… Whoever is doing it is following his instructions. No spell is off limits."
That remark seemed to have shut everyone up for a moment.
A moment that Agrippa used to take a deep breath and try to move the meeting forwards. "Let's look into both… Griffin, you look at beasts. Clotilda, I want a full report on petrifying spells. As Claudia says, nothing is off limits. Malika-" he turned to Malika Shafiq, the Keeper of the Hall of Prophecies and an exceptionally powerful seer. "Go through our prophecies, see if there is anything in there of interest."
"Gordon cleared his throat."
"Yes, Gordon?" Agrippa said with a hint of resignation in his voice.
"I can get in touch with my contacts in the Department for Magical Law Enforcement, to see if they need any assistance after all."
Claudia took one look at Agrippa's face and knew he would appreciate help. "We shouldn't get involved, not yet. They will try to shut us out. Best if we wait and then step in when they inevitably mess this up."
"I'm sure the Minister would-" Gordon protested.
"Oh, climb out of his arse, Gordon-" Agrippa hissed. "Claudia is right."
And that was the end of the discussion. No one else said anything; they rarely did on the matters of Ministry politics.
"Another thing…" Agrippa continued after a few seconds' pause. "I've heard from Alexander today that he isn't coming back. He enjoyed his sabbatical so much that he decided to make it permanent. I'm hoping to get his replacement appointed by Christmas."
Claudia stared at Agrippa with her mouth slightly ajar. Christmas was soon, she thought. But it was not a surprise, really, that Agrippa wanted to move fast. Alexander was the one who usually dealt with Ministry politics, and his absence was taking its toll on Agrippa's mood.
"Will it be someone from within the Department?" Gordon asked.
"It's not a job an outsider can do," Agrippa said with a nod and called the meeting to an end. "Now, I don't want any games from any of you. I will decide when I decide. You all go about your business as usual."
Claudia looked around at everyone, as they began to get up. She knew instantly that one of the twelve people around this table was going to get that job, and she desperately wanted it to be her. "Let the games begin," she mumbled and collected her papers.
On her way out, she saw the Head of Division Twelve approach Agrippa. No one knew his name. This mild-mannered gentleman of Indian origin was referred to simply as 'Twelve'. "A word about the Chamber?" he whispered.
Agrippa nodded and led 'Twelve' away from the crowd trying to leave the room. Claudia strained her ears in case she could overhear some of their conversation, but they were being very discreet. Somewhat frustrated that she was not privy to their conversation, she left the room too. Division Twelve was still a mystery to her. No one other than Agrippa and the people who worked there really knew what was going on. When Claudia asked about it a decade ago, all she was told was that the research would make her toes curl. She had been curious ever since.
Édith cooked as usual that evening, and after dinner, Claudia found herself sitting on the sofa, smoking and staring into the fire. She could not stop thinking about Alexander's departure, and about who she would be up against.
Griffin and Clotilda had not enough political nous to handle the Ministry. Although, she was sure they would prevail in any fist fight they would inevitably cause.
Gordon had no chance. It was very obvious Agrippa disliked him and would not trust him on matters to do with the rest of the Ministry.
And then, there were the others.
Birog, the elderly druid in charge of the Indigenous Magic Room was too eccentric even by the Department of Mysteries standards for anyone at the Ministry to take her seriously. It was a shame, she was a great witch, but Agrippa was a realist. It could never work.
Hadrian Ingham, the Head of the Space Room, was out for the same reason. Claudia doubted very much the Ministry hierarchy would ever trust him, for he had done something very peculiar in his youth. He went to get himself an astronomy degree from a muggle university after graduating Hogwarts.
Then, there was Malika-
"What?" Claudia gasped when she noticed Édith waving her hand in front of Claudia's eyes. It startled her.
"Still here?" Édith chuckled. "I was wondering if you wanted a macaroon? My bother sent me some from France." She sat down next to Claudia, holding a small plate with two delicate pink sweets.
"Sure," Claudia whispered. "These are good." She smiled as the macaroon dissolved in her mouth. "Instantly makes me feel a bit better about work." For a moment, she wished she could forget it all. At least for a couple of hours. And get some real sleep.
Édith smiled. "You have all of it." She picked up the second piece and guided it towards Claudia's mouth.
Claudia bit off half and then looked up at Édith, whose face was merely an inch away from Claudia's own. The cigarette was burning away in Claudia's left hand, and her right travelled up Édith's arm and towards her hair. There was something else that usually made her forget about work, at least temporarily. Claudia reached towards the coffee table to smother her cigarette in an empty coffee cup. Both hands now free, she gently placed them on Édith shoulders and kissed her.
"Should I grab couple more macaroons and meet you in the bedroom?" Édith whispered when their lips parted.
"The bedroom is so very far away," Claudia smirked and reached for the zip on Édith's dress.
When Claudia and Édith finally made it to bed, it was nearly midnight. Claudia's body was tired from their earlier escapades on the sofa, but her brain would still not let her sleep.
She reached to the bedside table and lit up another cigarette. Where was I, she thought as she waved her wand towards the window to open it. Ah, yes… Malika.
Malika spent most of her time alone with her inner eye, and Claudia was sure she would never take a job that would cloud it with all kinds of Ministry nonsense.
The last of the hopeless cases was Cassius (or Saul Croaker as he liked to call himself in the wider wizarding world these days) who, as a vampire, had no chance at all.
But there was real competition too. People with much more experience than Claudia, and much better researchers. Persephone Campbell, the strikingly beautiful black woman in charge of the Death Room, was certainly an option. As was Lysander Shacklebolt, the experience Alchemist who ran a tight ship in the Alchemy Room. And of course, no one should ever underestimate 'Twelve', the most secretive of all Unspeakables.
And then, there was Édith. Claudia looked at the form breathing softly next to her. She was not at all sure whether Édith would be interested in that job.
Just then, Édith stirred. "Neville will be alright," she mumbled sleepily when her hand reached to where she though Claudia's head was but found her leg instead.
Claudia grimaced. Shit, she really needed to reply to that letter! "I know," she whispered. "It's just- It's work. I got used to dealing with Agrippa directly. I don't want another Alexander getting in the way."
"Who do you think he's going to appoint?"
"Not Gordon…" Claudia smirked and blew the last of the cigarette smoke towards the open window.
Édith brought the duvet closer to her bare chest and turned towards Claudia. "I wouldn't do that job if they paid me double," she whispered.
"I hear you," Claudia said with a smile and slid down into the bed. But that was a lie. She would kill for that job.
Édith yawned. "Goodnight," she whispered and planted a kiss on Claudia's cheek. "Try not to think about it and get some sleep."
"Night," Claudia replied absentmindedly as Édith wrapped her arms around Claudia's torso.
Sleep was, however, still eluding her. She could not stop thinking about the job. It was a liaison role, a way back to the Ministry proper. She would get to do all the political things that Agrippa hated doing so very much, and would get to boss Gordon around. It would be glorious!
She got up at five and clobbered together a half-reassuring response to her godson, showered and went to the office.
For the next couple of weeks, the mood in the Department of Mysteries seemed, at least on the surface, unaffected. There was no application process, no interviews. It was Agrippa's decision, and everyone knew he would make it when he was ready.
Claudia tried her best to focus on the day job, to preserve the fiction that she too was unaffected by all it, but it took all the energy and composure she had. Even the vendetta against her father got sacrificed on the altar of responding to every one of Agrippa's requests at twice the normal speed.
One day, she unrolled the piece of parchment that finally arrived from the Department of Magical Education – the list of current students at Hogwarts. As Claudia went through it, she found many familiar names.
'Vincent Crabbe.'
'Gregory Goyle.'
'Draco Malfoy.'
She groaned. Was there anyone on that list not related to a Death Eater?
'Theodore Nott.' For a split second, Claudia wondered whether he could be Julius' son, but surely, she would have heard. Must have been a cousin of some sort.
The set would be complete if Marcus had a son- "Hang on," Claudia whispered to herself. Marcus did have a son, a biological one at least. She ran her finger down the list. He must have been about sixteen now, and Marcus said he was named after him despite the adoption. Towards the end of the list, she found him, listed under sixth year.
'Marcus Flint.'
Claudia sighed. There were at least five kids related to high-profile Death Eaters. Any one of them could have staged this-
Just then, Auberon put his head through the door. "Your one o'clock is here, and Agrippa wants to see you at half past."
"Fine," Claudia sighed and rolled the parchment away. "Who is this person again?"
"A healer claiming, he can induce personality changes in people he calls 'deficient'. I think he just means people who are ill. He's from the outside-"
"Why can't he meet with Beresford?"
"He asked specifically for you, and since you had time-"
"Fine, fine…" Claudia relented. "Show him in."
A man in his forties, with slick black hair and rather expensive-looking brocade robes, entered the office. Claudia's eyes narrowed. A rich healer was never a good sign, for there was no money in honest healing.
"My name is Caspian Francey." He extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you." Claudia took it. "What brings you here?"
The healer sat down in a chair opposite Claudia. "I am the inventor of the Francey Transformation Programme." He waved his wand and a parchment had risen up in the air and unrolled itself to reveal an overly complex diagram. "The course starts with three different potions, to be taken each day at exactly the same time-"
"Before you get to that…" Claudia silenced him with a gesture. "What exactly are you transforming?"
He chuckled. "Well, people preferences, of course."
"What preferences?" Claudia hissed, growing rather impatient. This was starting to feel like a huge waste of her time.
"Sexual preferences. Transform them into being normal."
"We don't do that sort of research here," Claudia replied icily and began ringing the bell oh her desk rather forcefully. "Auberon will show you out."
But Francey did not move. "The Ministry is of course at a liberty to conduct its own research, but I am here because Madame Avery thought-"
Claudia froze. This was not some quack healer wanting to earn easy money by selling bogus research to the Department of Mysteries… This was her mother's doing. Slowly, she rose to her feet, and hit the bell couple more times. "Please tell my mother to take your potions and shove them up… Well, up wherever she wants."
"There is no need to be vulgar."
"Oh, there is every need… And I can get much more vulgar than this!"
The quack began to pack away his things. "Your mother is only concerned, quite rightly in my view, about your wellbeing," he huffed. "About the preservation of the Avery dynasty. She is a kind woman; all she wants are some grandchildren to spoil."
"Tell her-" Claudia's voice was now shaking with rage-" that if by some miracle I ever have children, she will never get anywhere near them. Do you understand?" she yelled. "Now, get out!"
Francey did not dare to speak again. He backed out of the office, clutching his wand in his hand, as if he was expecting a curse to fly his way.
The moment the door shut, Claudia groaned and swiped her papers off her desk. When will she ever be shot off that woman!
She breathed heavily, surveying the papers that now covered her carpet.
Auberon popped his head through the door. "You rang? Sorry-" he trailed off when he saw the mess on the floor.
"Multiple times," Claudia barked. "And why did you let that quack through the door?" she yelled. "Next time, don't just give out appointments to strangers, talk to me!"
Auberon lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry… Do you want me to?" sheepishly, he pointed at the floor.
"Probably best if I deal with the consequences of my rage alone, don't you think?" she hissed.
"I'm sorry…" He said again, now looking like he had tears in his eyes.
Claudia sighed. "No, I'm sorry… The one thing you can do is contact the Auror Office and report this Caspian Francey. He should be in Azkaban."
"Anyone in the Auror Office in particular?"
"Inspector Fernsby. Just-"
"Just don't tell him this came from you," Auberon finished her sentence. "I know the drill."
"Exactly… And I am sorry for the shouting. My mother sent him…" she added awkwardly. "Me and her. It's a whole thing. You don't want to hear it."
Auberon gave her a meek smile. "Agrippa meeting in five minutes."
"Thanks."
Claudia went to the bathroom and splashed her face with cold water. Anything to regain her focus. Until the new deputy was appointed, there was no room for error.
She took a few deep breaths in front of Agrippa's office and knocked.
"Come in!"
Claudia reached for the handle and entered.
Agrippa was sitting in an armchair, reading something. "Just give me two seconds," he mumbled. "Done." He looked up at Claudia and pointed at the armchair opposite.
Claudia sat down and brushed her trousers straight. "Any news on the Hogwarts situation?" she asked to break the ice.
"Not really…"
"I got list of current Hogwarts students. You have no idea how many kids related to Death Eaters there are. If only we could interview them all-"
Agrippa chuckled. "You should stop thinking like an auror and start thinking like an Unspeakable…"
"So, you think there is a beast? Basilisk even?" Claudia scoffed.
"I think we should make law enforcement let us search the castle at the very least… They've been at it for weeks and came up with nothing."
"Good luck convincing them."
Agrippa looked at her for a few second. "I was hoping you might," he said with a smile.
"What? Why me?"
"Come on. You know what I'm going to ask you."
Claudia shifted in her chair, desperately trying not to get her hopes up. "Not really."
"I want you to be my deputy. You might not be the best researcher I've got, but you are my best politician. You know how the Ministry works better than anyone here. And most importantly of all, you don't care what any of them think of you. I cannot have a people-pleaser in this job."
Claudia's insides contracted and despite how much she wanted this, she found herself hesitate. Now that Agrippa asked her, the reality had dawned on her. This was not going to be easy. "I'd love to, but-"
"What's the problem?"
"You know why I came here. I came to hide from Crouch and the others," she mumbled. "If they had their way, I'd be in Azkaban. They'll run to Fudge. They will put a stop to it."
"They can't put a stop to anything. The Minister has no power over the Department of Mysteries. I have been elected by the body of Unspeakables and I can do as I please." Agrippa grinned. "It really is rather dictatorial."
"Well, they will try to stop it."
"I know and I don't care. You are no Rookwood, I'd stake my life on that."
"Alright, then."
"So, you accept?"
Claudia could no longer contain her smile. "Of course, I accept."
"Good. Immediate start, naturally. I won't be able to take the politicking for much longer."
"What's going to happen to the Mind Room?"
"First thing on the to do list will be to find your replacement… In the meantime, you can do both jobs, right?"
"Great…" Claudia said. She tried to sound sarcastic but knew full well Agrippa was not buying it. Of course, she did not mind doing both jobs!
Her mood much improved, Claudia practically skipped back to her office. She was going to be the new Deputy Head of the Department of Mysteries. If only Cassandra understood how big this was, so much bigger than some grandchildren…
Once in her office, she collapsed into her chair, put her feet on the desk and leaned back. She could not stop smiling.
There was a brief knock on the door, and Édith entered. "Why are you smiling?" she asked cheerfully.
Claudia put her feet down and grinned. "Agrippa offered me the job."
Édith sighed and folded her arms across her chest. "I was worries about this… And what it would mean for us if you took it."
The moment these words left Édith lips, it was as if someone poured a bucket of ice-cold water over Claudia's head. How did she not think of this? Now she took the job, Édith was going to be her direct subordinate once more.
"I already took it…" Claudia mumbled, avoiding Édith's eye-contact. "I said yes."
"Without talking to me?" Édith asked sharply.
Claudia grimaced. "I was never going to say no to it…"
"And what am I supposed to do?" Édith threw her arms in the air. "Switch jobs again? Leave the Ministry altogether?"
"I'm sure we could figure something-"
"That's not even the issue." Édith shook her head. "It's that you don't think! How could you ever take it without talking to me, given it affects me just as much as it affects you?"
Claudia was stumped, she had no answer. It should have occurred to her, but the harsh reality was that it did not. "I don't know what to say…"
"I can't do this anymore." Édith sighed.
"I'm sure there is a way-"
"Maybe… If it was just about this."
"What do you mean?" Claudia asked defensively.
"What do I mean? Really?" Édith voice was raised again. "You're a walking, talking red flag! The engagement ring-" she was now gesturing wildly, jabbing her index finger in Claudia's direction. "Then, there is the fact I've never been to your flat, that you disappeared on his birthday. I know you love him…" Édith took a few breaths. "But you don't even pretend you want to move on, and it's too much for anyone to handle. I refuse to be some kind of distraction to you. I love you too much for that."
Claudia tried a few times to say something, but no words came out of her mouth. All of it was true. Édith had every right to say all these things. She had every right to be mad.
"This is over, Claudia," Édith added much more calmly.
"Okay."
"You aren't even going to try to convince me to stay, are you?"
"I don't know what you want me to say. I just-" But Claudia's sentence was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. "Hold on!" she shouted. Some words have finally started to form in her head – Édith was a good person. And there were times, like in the St Mungo's hospital wing, when Claudia would rather be with no one but her. When Édith was around, everything seemed just that little bit calmer.
"Come in!" Édith overruled her. "We're done here."
Claudia turned towards the door, ready to give whoever dared to interrupt her a piece of her mind. But it was Cassius – the Head of the Time Room – who walked in, with a big smile on his face. Big enough to show his fangs. "I hear congratulations are in order."
Claudia did not dare look at Édith, so she looked at Cassius' feet. "Did Agrippa tell you already?"
"He did…" Cassius said with a laugh. "I'm glad. If an undesirable such as yourself managed to get a promotion, maybe I'll be next…"
"You're a vampire, Cassius," Claudia smirked. "I know the brass hates me, but still…"
"We shall see," he said and floated out of the room just as quickly as he came. Silence engulfed Claudia's office…
"In some ways," Édith was the one who spoke first. "I'm glad you took that job. You'll be great at it," she said through gritted teeth.
"Thanks. Want a coffee or something?" Claudia mumbled. "I could tell you about a healer my mother sent earlier, to cure me from seeing you."
"What a wasted journey…" Édith quipped. Then, she sighed. "Some other time. I'm still exceptionally mad at you."
"Sorry… If there is anything I can do."
Édith looked at Claudia with such intensity that it made Claudia feel almost naked. Like Édith could feel every single one of her emotions. "The only thing you can do, Claudia, is get yourself right… I'm begging you."
"I'm fine."
"Please-" Édith rubbed her temples. "We both know it's not true."
Claudia collapsed into her chair. "Just go. Take your lectures and go." She picked up some parchment and pretended to read, not looking up while Édith's footsteps got quieter and quieter until the door slammed shut and Édith was gone.
Only then, Claudia looked up again and inadvertently smiled. She wanted to feel bad for Édith, she really did. But she was going to be the new Deputy Head of the Department of Mysteries! And nothing could spoil her mood about that.