Corban and Avior Get No Privacy and Luna Gets Help With The Musical Mystery
*We're not being paid enough for this shit! Thalia wants a raise!*
*Thalia, we are not being paid at all!*
*That's the point, Nagini. This is a slave labour force! Thalia demands payment! Tell Tom he needs to pay us for this.*
Teddy Ruxpin tittered maniacally, almost way too loudly. As for Mr. Mupples, he was already losing the will to live and it wasn't even eleven o'clock in the morning yet. Today was Saturday, the day that both Corban and Avior would be going on their respective dates and of course, the first one that his friends wanted to keep an eye on was Corban.
The night before, the Dark Lord and his Inner Circle had been debating who amongst them could be sent a spies to keep an eye on both Corban and Avior without attracting too much attention. Very quickly, everyone had come to the same conclusion: both Corban and Avior would be on high alert for anything that looked remotely like a slightly out of place human. What they wouldn't be expecting, was two plushies and two snakes.
Ergo, Mr. Mupples, Teddy Ruxpin, Nagini and Thalia had been bribed to become the spies on behalf of the Dark Lord, the Inner Circle and the Greyback pack. Indeed, Lord Voldemort was looking through the Link with Nagini the entire time and broadcasting what he was seeing in a Pensieve back home. Unfortunately, that also meant the running commentary from both the snakes, which wasn't very subtle.
How they had already not been caught was a mystery beyond Mr. Mupples' mind. They had already had one or two almost slip-ups as they had followed Corban Yaxley to the Natural History Museum. The My Pet Monster was extremely happy that a Disillusionment Spell had been placed on all of them by his Mama because Mr. Mupples did not fancy having to explain to a Muggle why the fuck two plushies and two snakes were sneaking into a museum without a ticket to spy on two adult wizards.
Currently, Thalia was complaining that Corban and Tonks were first getting coffee and a bite to eat at the museum café. The banana yellow ball python was bored – which meant trouble for everyone's sanity. She had been extremely pouty ever since Corban barely paid any attention to Dippy and had practically hurt a little girl's feelings when the child had offered to take a photo of him and Tonks with the giant diplodocus fossil. The only one who could get Thalia to settle for a moment, was Nagini – Teddy Ruxpin was useless in every regard except for needlessly scaring away children with evil laughter.
That was how the four of them had managed to get a table to themselves, funnily enough.
*They're just eating cake and talking! This is normal according to human mating rituals.*
*Dating rituals,* Nagini corrected.
*Do you think Tom is trying to get some tips? Is that why we have to spy on poor Corban and Tonks?* Thalia grumbled.
NO I AM NOT! Nagini almost winced at the sharp words in her head.
*Yes, he is,* she decided to ignore him.
NAGINI!
Mr. Mupples and Teddy Ruxpin both continued to stare at their targets with unblinking eyes; Mr. Mupples because he knew he had nothing better to do at this moment and Teddy Ruxpin because he was waiting for the moment that Corban was going to make a dating faux-pas and laugh at him.
As for Corban and Tonks, well while the former was rather tense because his heightened Death Eater senses were telling him that they were being watched by something or someone – but he couldn't see what – the latter was happily eating her cheesecake and sipping her coffee while talking about taking trips to this museum and others with her parents.
"-I know, I know, it's kind of sad that I enjoyed taking trips to the Natural History Museum for my birthday but come on! You have now seen for yourself how cool dinosaurs are and you're going to loooove the rest of the exhibit, I'm telling you! Merula thought she would hate it when Asteria first brought her to the museum but she had changed her tune quickly afterwards and we both know how much of a sour lemon dear old Merula is! … Am I talking too much again?"
That question knocked Corban back to Earth. "What? No," he reassured quickly, clearing his throat.
"You OK? You seem tenser than normal and that's saying something!" Tonks smirked, eyes dancing with amusement.
Corban shook his head. "It's nothing. Just my … suspicions," he answered carefully. "Let's just say that my … colleagues don't know the meaning of the word 'privacy' and I'm afraid they may have sent someone to spy on us."
Nagini was already quietly tittering to herself at this.
Tonks blinked twice and then chuckled. "Oh? You don't want them knowing you're at the Natural History Museum?" she joked.
"No, I don't want them interrupting my time with you," Corban corrected almost automatically. He paused for a moment and flushed bright red the moment he realised what he had said.
Mr. Mupples had to clamp a fluffy paw over Thalia's mouth and Nagini's mouth because both snakes were set to coo too loudly. Nagini could practically hear the gag reflex from Tom but she decided to ignore Lord Grumpy Cloak. He was just jealous anyway.
Tonks smiled brightly, her cheeks turning bright pink. "Call The Daily Prophet – Corban Yaxley has a soft side!"
Corban cleared his throat, a flush in his cheeks very overt. "Keep that to yourself. I do have a reputation to uphold."
"Yes, Mr. Grumpy Death Muncher who enjoys the fact people faint in fear of him," Tonks stated with a tone that could definitely be construed as fond.
"You sound like you enjoy that, Tonks," Corban smirked a little.
"I do actually! You keep life interesting." Tonks finished the last of her coffee and cake. "Soooo let's go and see some dinosaurs!"
"Very well. But I refuse to look at the Diricawl," Corban sniffed. "Idiotic Muggles believing it to be a bloody Dodo!"
"Ssssh!" Tonks hushed when she noticed a couple of children giving Corban weird looks. "You might not want to insult people for not knowing any better when they're sitting metres away from you."
The Death Muncher sneered at the children but didn't say anything else. He and Tonks got up and went to find the dinosaur exhibit. Mr. Mupples, Teddy Ruxpin, Thalia and Nagini followed closely behind, eager to catch anything juicy. All the while, Tonks asked Corban questions about himself.
"What did you do with your family for fun? Did you ever go on holiday? Where did you go on holiday? How did you meet Mr. Noseless in the first place? Did you ever have a wife? And if so do you have any kids I should be worried about?"
Corban had to massage his temples a little. At home, unbeknownst to him, his friends were laughing at his expense. Of course, Voldemort was one of the only ones not laughing because of the Mr. Noseless comment. In order to save his own sanity, Corban went through the questions one by one.
"My family weren't particularly … warm. There was always a tone of formality between myself, my sister and my parents. Adelaide and I were political assets to my parents, like most pureblood families," he replied truthfully. "We certainly did not play games together or race toy cars. We did read together with Mother but that's about it. Time with Father was spent learning the business of politics."
"So dull as dishwater then," Tonks commented. She frowned. "I didn't know you had a sister."
"That's because Adelaide married a Sallow," Corban sighed. "Because of our family feud, Father disinherited Adelaide. I have not seen her in over a decade." He sighed deeply. "We did go on holiday to Europe a lot. Greece mostly. My mother loved Greece. Switzerland too. But even on holiday, my father somehow always managed to put politics first."
"Lovely," Tonks shook her head. "I take it they do not know you're here then?"
"No," Corban agreed. "My father is dead and my mother … she didn't approve of my association with … my boss. She refuses to see me, but I have to say that if she knew – I highly doubt she would object."
"Seriously?" Tonks looked at him incredulously.
"My mother has Prewett blood," was the answer Tonks did not expect. Corban chuckled at her shocked expression. "The Prewetts did not mind allying with Dark houses for a while."
"I know, I just didn't see that coming!" Tonks huffed.
"Fair enough. As to answer your question, I met my boss at a conference actually," Corban told her. "I was attending in the stead of my father and at the luncheon He approached me. Struck up conversation about magical philosophy and the loss of Ancient Magic. I was just fresh out of Hogwarts. Eighteen."
Tonks shook her head in disbelief. "You're not pulling my leg, are you?"
"I am not," Corban reassured. "He has a very interesting mind. Incredible intelligence. It won me over."
"Are you sure we're talking about the same person?"
Nagini tried not to laugh at the cries of indignation she heard from Voldemort. Thalia had a paw stuffed in her maw thanks to Mr. Mupples to not start laughing out loud. Teddy Ruxpin giggled.
Corban actually smiled. "Yes, yes we are."
"Well, you're going to have to explain that one a little bit further but first – wife. Divorced, Crucio-ed, died, divorced, AK-ed, survived?"
Corban blinked at that but also tried not to laugh; back at the Manor, half of the Inner Circle was actually half dead from laughing. "None of the above. I have never been married," he confessed with a red tinge to his cheeks. "Indeed, I – erm – I have been barely inclined to court at all."
"Really? Not even to maintain your pureblood status?" the Metamorphagus questioned, not disguising her surprise.
No, there was simply no one who could stand his resting moody face, Nagini heard Walden comment through her Link with Tom. The Horcrux giggled; before her friends could ask what was so funny, Corban answered Tonks' question.
"I might have some views, Tonks, but when it comes to a partner one has to stay with for the rest of their life, I do believe there has to be some level of affection," Corban confessed. "I have seen loveless marriages for convenience – I refuse to tie myself to a woman who I will end up resenting in the long run."
*Awwwwwww!* Nagini and Thalia couldn't help but comment.
Mr. Mupples shushed them quite quickly.
Tonks grinned a little, still utterly oblivious to the spies. "So, there is a romantic bone in Corban Yaxley's body. Good to know."
*He wouldn't be with you if there wasn't!*
Thalia got another whack from Mr. Mupples for that comment.
"Yes, I suppose there is," Corban begrudgingly agreed.
"Oooooooooo he admits it!"
"Do not get used to it."
"Fair enough. You do have a reputation to uphold," Tonks smirked. She clapped her hands together. "Shall we get cracking and see the rest of the exhibit before we waste too much daylight?"
"Indeed, but I warn you – I refuse to buy anything at the gift shop," Corban warned as they got to their feet.
Tonks pouted a little. "Not even if I ask you nicely?"
Corban would never admit it to another living soul but he was redder than a Gryffindor tie at the pout. "Buying something for you is something completely different," he answered, attempting to sound as dismissive and casual as he could manage.
He was failing miserably.
*If he buys her a T-shirt, Thalia is going to whack Corban around the head,* Thalia stated primly.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!" Teddy Ruxpin already liked that idea.
Mr. Mupples whacked the both of them around the head as they moved to follow the Death Eater and the Order witch around the museum, with the My Pet Monster having to control Nagini, Thalia and Teddy Ruxpin from going too close to the fossils while still trying to keep eyes on the couple.
Mr. Mupples quickly decided he was not being paid enough for this nonsense. Oh wait, he wasn't being paid at all. He momentarily forgot.
###########################################################################
# Neville, you need to put all this into practise – nah, nah, nah, nah – you need to practise #
"Ssssssh, Melpomene! We don't want Madam Pince to throw us out do we? But you're right. I've been studying all of these books and theory but I haven't really put them to use," Neville sighed as he sat back and sighed deeply. The Cobra Lily cocked her head at him, slightly confused about what was bothering him. "To be honest I don't know if Professor Sprout will let me practise on her babies and well … I'm too much of a coward to go to the Forbidden Forest."
# How about, how about, you use, you use, Melpomeeeeeneee?# Melpomene chanted, doing a little boogey.
Neville blanched. "Use you for practise?! Harry would tickle me, prank me, tickle me again and then make me spend time listening to Zabini and his friends make their ridiculous Weasley Is Our King chant if you got hurt!"
The sassy Cobra Lily gave him a pointed look and shook her petals at him in disappointment.
Before Melpomene could retort, Neville was joined by two people he had not spoken a word to.
"Why are you in the Restricted Section, Longbottom?"
"Reading anything interesting?"
Neville looked up sharply to look at Daphne Greengrass and Theo Nott. His eyes widened. Were these the spies that he was warned about? No … surely not. But then again, they were Slytherins. Weren't they always up to something? Next to Eagles, the Snakes loved information.
Daphne Greengrass clicked her fingers in front of his face. "Longbottom, wakey, wakey!"
Nott smirked. "Books boring, Longbottom?" he teased.
Neville shook himself out of his surprised stupor. "No, they're not boring at all," he replied honestly. "I have permission from Professor Slughorn to read these books." He then frowned. "Wait, why are you two in here?"
"Weeeell, we wanted to do some extra Defence work and the books that we need are a little tiny bit Dark so we cannot go to Professor Snape right now due to Millie and Blaise's antics and Madam Pince may be distracted with a Daedalian key that we 'accidentally' found and released in the library," Nott informed brightly.
Neville blinked but he couldn't help chuckle. "Caught the pranking bug, Nott?"
"Caught it?! I have long prank bug but the symptoms are not as bad," Nott replied easily.
"Meaning we are not suicidal when it comes to picking our targets," Daphne rolled her eyes. "So, are you going to answer our questions or do we have to read the books ourselves to know what you are up to?"
Neville considered for a moment but his eyes narrowed suspiciously at the two Snakes, who tried to look as innocent as possible. "You can't tell your friends," he stated simply. "If you do and I find out, I'll make sure that the next prank we send to your parents and your friends, they will think you had a hand in it."
Neville took himself by surprise with the threat. The Greengrass heiress and Nott both blinked at him as though they were seeing him for the first time before the smirks and smiles returned in full force.
"So you do have some teeth to you. Good," Daphne stated.
"Yeah, wet blanket Longbottom was getting boring," Nott added. "Speaking of your diabolical friend, he owes me some information. Has the Secret Spiller been spilling anything juicy?"
Neville frowned. "Not that I know of but Fawkes is currently dressed like a shepherdess and has been stealing Dumbledore's favourite food."
That news made both Snakes blink and gape unabashedly.
"OK, that is definitely something I need to see for myself," Nott decided easily.
Neville then thought of something. It was his turn to turn nosey. "What kind of Dark stuff are you guys researching anyway?"
Daphne and Nott paled.
"We kind of did walk into that one…" Daphne grumbled. "Well, Professor Snape's next class is going to be about Inferi so Theo and I thought it would be prudent to do some reading on Necromancy, Animancy and how best to combat an Inferus."
Neville was paler than freshly fallen snow. He was semi regretful that he asked that question but at the same time thankful because now he could do some reading ahead in case his most feared teacher decided to call on him during class while Snape was attempting to humiliate him.
Again.
"So, now it's your turn. What are you researching?" Nott prodded.
Neville flushed a little. "Druidic Magick mostly. Ancient Earth Magick. Professor Slughorn thought I could benefit from the further study."
He had expected the two Slytherins to start jeering and laughing in his face. At the very least he had expected them scoff or sneer something hurtful. But they didn't. Indeed, Daphne did not look remotely surprised and Nott looked borderline impressed; the Nott heir seemed to hate himself for the inability to make a cheap shot at Neville.
"About time," Daphne commented. "Still cannot believe Professor Sprout did not suggest it to you years ago. Everyone with a functioning brain could see that your magic is more akin to a Druid's than a wizard's."
Neville flushed a little. "My family thought I was a Squib for years."
"Doesn't surprise me. Druidic Magick takes longer to awaken," Nott sighed, looking a little envious.
"Why didn't someone tell my Great-Uncle that before he tried to throw me off the cliff?" Neville wondered out loud.
Daphne, Nott and Melpomene – who had been singing strange Parseltongue songs up until now – blanched at this. However, before any one of those three could interrogate Neville about what in the name of everything good and magical had come out of his mouth, the ethereal and whimsical notes of another student could be heard approaching. For a moment, the one Lion and two Snakes tensed, but they soon relaxed when they saw that it was Luna, who was going from bookcase to bookcase, seemingly looking for something.
"What is she doing?" Nott wondered out loud.
"Looking for a book most likely," Daphne decided to state the obvious.
Neville frowned. For some reason, he highly doubted it was anything obvious. After all this was Luna Lovegood. Nothing was obvious with Luna. "Melpomene, guard the books," he ordered the Cobra Lily as he got to his feet.
Melpomene saluted and continued humming happily. Daphne and Nott decided to follow Neville, curiosity killing the Snakes. Luna, though, hadn't paid them any attention until they approached.
"Oh hello, Neville. Daphne, Theo. How are you? You haven't found any books on Bardic magic have you by any chance?" the dotty Ravenclaw asked serenely, not taking her eyes off any of the books.
"Eeeeerrmmm no?" Nott answered, weirded out. "I hate to ask, but why do you want Bardic magic books?"
"Are you taking Music?" Daphne wondered.
"No. I am trying to find out if XM has made any more music," was the answer that none of the three people expected out of her mouth.
Neville frowned. "XM? Who is XM?"
"Is that the name of an underground music band?" Nott lit up.
"I doubt it. Considering the fact that she is looking through school books," Daphne rolled her eyes. The Slytherin looked at the young Eagle. "How do you know this XM wrote music?"
"I found a piece of parchment stowed away in a book not too long ago. Apparently, XM was a student who hid his music around the library," Luna replied. "I had a feeling one of them was in the Restricted Section and Madam Pince was unavailable so – this may be one!"
Luna had taken a purple book of the shelf and before anyone could warn her, she had opened the book. Seconds later, Middle Welsh songs blared into the room, a pink light emanating from the pages, forcing Luna to shut the book very quickly, wincing. "All right … not that one…"
"Lovegood, really!" Nott huffed. "We will help you but don't go grabbing books off the shelf like that again unless you want us to be caught!"
Luna was a little pink with embarrassment and nodded in agreement. "It has to be here somewhere… I can feel it …"
"Why do you even want to find XM's music?" Neville questioned curiously as he, Nott and Daphne started to carefully study the books in front of their noses, trying to discern which ones were less likely to sing in their faces.
"The music is important," was Luna's cryptic answer. "Important to a man who lost his son…"
"Great," Nott huffed sarcastically. "As clear as mud."
"I don't think we're going to get much more of an answer," Daphne pointed out, seeing Luna's small smile at hearing that.
The Lion, the Eagle and the Snakes continued searching for another two minutes before they got some rather unorthodox help in the form of Peeves the poltergeist. The trickster had attempted to take Neville's Druidic books but soon was forced to focus on the books that were only on the shelves due to Melpomene's nasty vine attacks. Though the vines went through his body, Peeves apparently was not stupid enough to pick a fight with the Cobra Lily.
The rest however was fair game.
"Ickle little kiddies in the Restricted Section! Are you all allowed to be heeereeee or are you being naughtyyyyy?" he sang evilly as he started to take book after book off the shelf, deliberately juggling them extremely badly. Most of the books were music orientated but there was one or two that was focused on Air Elemental magic, which caused a weird cacophony and several small whirlwinds to be released into the library because of the fact Peeves was releasing the magic within.
"Peeves, stop!" Neville begged.
"Peeves, bugger off!" Nott was less nice.
"Stop that or we get the Bloody Baron!" Daphne threatened.
Peeves cackled but stopped, dropping the books to the ground. The tomes fell open onto their backs, continuing to blare music and releasing whirlwinds while Peeves flew away, cackling happily at the chaos he had wrought. Daphne and Luna were the ones who went to close the books while Theo and Neville tried to clean up as much of the mess as they could. However, the boys knew that no matter what, they would get into trouble with Madam Pince.
Her OCD filing system and shelving system was legendary.
"Wish someone would just trap that poltergeist for a week at least!" Theo grumbled as he and Neville gathered armful after armful of books from the floor.
"We're going to be in so much trouble…" Neville shuddered at the thought of what kind of punishment Madam Pince could come up with.
"Pince is very likely to just hand us over to Professor Snape – hey what's this?" Nott had dumped another pile of books onto the tables in front of them and had noticed a singular, redundant looking piece of parchment float to the floor like a feather. Nott picked it up with a frown and turned it over.
Nothing. Huh?
"What is this – hey! Lovegood!"
Luna had eagerly taken the parchment from Nott and had waved her wand over the leaf. Neville, Daphne and Nott had not caught what spell Luna had used but frankly, they were far too distracted with what suddenly appeared on the parchment rather than what had just happened.
Music. Sheet music. With a message.
I know I shouldn't feel this way. I can never tell him what I really feel. If anyone finds out I am finished. But I can't escape my feelings no matter how hard I try. So I got them out. I wonder if anyone ever finds this, they can feel what I felt without trying …
XM
"Salazar…" Daphne cursed. "This feels … invasive. I mean, this music was meant to be hidden."
"Oh come on, as if you don't want to know who this was written for!" Nott pointed out.
"XM … Who do we know who has the initials XM?" Neville frowned.
"We don't. We don't know him," Luna responded simply.
"How do you know it's a guy?" Nott questioned. "Could be a girl."
"No. If it was a girl there would be more … feelings. Emotions. Explanations. Or nothing at all," Daphne replied, shaking her head. "This feels too matter of fact and too covert to be a girl."
Suddenly Neville had a pang of inspiration. "You know who might know? Professor Slughorn! The man collected students remember? He might remember someone with the initials XM who wrote music and liked to hide them."
Luna smiled in agreement. Daphne and Nott lit up as well. More people now cared about XM. Good.
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF MOTHER GAIA HAPPENED IN HERE?!"
Uh oh. Madam Pince was no longer distracted …
"WHY ARE THERE BOOKS ON THE FLOOR – WHOSE COBRA LILY IS THIS?!"
It seemed for now, it was time for the four of them to face the music…
###########################################################################
Avior felt like a character in one of the werewolves' shitty spy movies that Tyler and Rabastan had rented out the evening before as he snuck out of Malfoy Manor and Apparated to Alice's apartment that evening. He had taken several evasive manoeuvres in order to try and shake off any Mr. Mupples, Teddy Ruxpin, Nagini or Thalia shaped stalkers – because he refused to be treated like Corban had been! – and then had taken the long way around to Alice's place for good measure.
However, what Avior did not reckon with, was Fred and George Weasley, who had been lying eagerly in wait for Avery Senior to arrive, hidden as always on a roof top and dressed in fine suits. Had he known, Avior would likely have tried to hex both twins black and blue.
Fortunately, the Death Muncher was too distracted by his own nerves to keep an eye on his surroundings. Something his friends would scold him for if they knew … Avior had raised his hand to the front door of Alice's apartment but found he didn't need to knock it as it very quickly opened to reveal a beaming Alice.
"Hey! Merlin, don't you look dashing? Let me just get my evening cloak – where is the bloody thing? Ah there."
Avior blinked and gaped like a fish for a couple of seconds. Alice was wearing a deep grape purple dress that was more than flattering yet still appropriate. He was finding it more than a little difficult to think straight and he knew Balthazar would be having a field day if he saw his best friend ogle Alice like an infatuated teenager.
But it really was difficult for Avery Senior to not stare. Alice was a beautiful woman normally, but now she was just dazzling.
"I have my purse … ticket … money … yes I think I have everything!" Alice listed, utterly oblivious to her date's gorgonised state. "Shall we head out?"
Avior quickly cleared his throat. "Yes! Yes. Let's."
Wow. Smooth, he could practically hear Balthazar comment through a smirk, which quietly irked Avior to the highest extent. But he was still a gentleman so he offered Alice his arm and they Apparated to the opera house together, followed by their two spies, who had been given tickets to the show in secret by Dudley.
Fred and George made sure that they kept a safe distance from the couple, but were close enough to use one or two of their new products in order to eavesdrop on their conversations. The twins were close enough during the ticket check to hear everything without needing anything, much to their delight.
"Tell me a little bit about your family," Alice requested with a smile.
This made Fred and George smirk a little.
"Eeeerm well … my parents were old-fashioned. Strict," came the nervous half-truth from the Death Muncher. "They died a few years ago. I have a son, Lysander, who coincidentally is rather eager to meet you."
"Really?" Alice lit up at this knowledge. She settled a little. "And what about his mother? Are you … separated? Divorced? Does she … mind me?"
"No she … she passed," Avior admitted with a forlorn tone. "Not too long after Lysander's birth."
"Oh my … I'm so sorry," Alice looked a little guilty for prying at this point.
Fred couldn't help huffing. "Man, how to start of a date with a good dose of depression!"
"To be fair, Forge, she asked," George pointed out as they were handed their tickets back and were sent up to one of the first-floor boxes.
"True," Fred conceded as they tried to keep an eye on Avior and Alice, whose topic had quickly turned onto Lysander and his likes and dislikes. "But Gred, you would expect a guy to know to avoid such-"
*Mr. Weasley, could you please avoid stepping on Thalia's tail? Thank you very much!*
Fred and George both very nearly jumped out of their skin and their eyes sharply travelled down to see a very familiar, banana coloured ball python wearing a very glitzy bow tie. Both of the twins pondered on just how incompetent security at the opera house was to allow Thalia into the building without noticing.
"Thalia? What are you doing here?!" George asked with a grin.
*Thalia is on a mission. To keep an eye on Avior, so he doesn't ruin his chances with his mate,* Thalia responded primly. *How did you know it was Thalia?*
"Thalia, you are only wearing a bow tie," Fred replied while trying to keep a straight face.
*You walkers have no appreciation for the effort Thalia put in into this disguise. Nagini helped to pick the bow tie, and Thalia had to tie it herself because Tom is being Mr. Grumpy Cloak again,* came the answer that had George almost cracking a rib.
"How did you get in without anyone seeing?" Fred was now highly concerned.
*Thalia is a master of disguise. Most silly walkers will never see Thalia.*
"I think we have another comic idea for Dudley," George stated once he had gathered enough oxygen to breathe.
*Who is Dudley?* Thalia asked curiously.
Uh oh. Both twins paled. That was quite possibly the dumbest thing they had done all day, and that was saying something. After all, Fred made the faux-pas of taking the last Pumpkin Pasty that had been reserved for Tulip. Which meant, Fred had spent the majority of his afternoon running for his life.
"Eeeerm … just a friend," Fred replied quickly and scooped up Voldemort's punny pet and hurried with George to his box.
*Where are we going? Where are you taking Thalia? Ooooooo are you in a fancy schmancy box? Thalia is OK with that!*
Fred and George hushed her a little as they took their seats and then their binoculars, also presents from Dudley, and used them to spy on Avior and Alice, who coincidentally were only one box away. Thalia noticed this as well.
*This is box is the perfect spying spot for Agent Thalia! Targets have been sighted!*
"Well, hopefully we can get something useful out of them," Fred smirked.
Meanwhile, utterly unaware they had three stalkers, Avior and Alice continued their discussion on Lysander, and his friends.
"I used to take the boys to the opera a lot. Lysander, Evan, Xander – Xander especially loved it, but I suppose he mostly came for the music," Avior chuckled softly as he looked at the programme sheet. "He had such talent, that boy. Balthazar always encouraged him in his endeavours."
"That's good. A parent should be supportive. I wish mine were. My mother wanted me to join her in journalism but … I don't have the appetite to invade people's spaces and write drivel about them," Alice huffed. "So what are Evan and Xander up to these days?"
Avior's face fell again. "They … both died in the first war," he admitted.
Alice's eyes widened. "No …" she swallowed a little. "How did they die?"
Avior took a moment to gather his thoughts and push what was left of his grief to the back of his head. "Evan died in a stand-off. He was outnumbered – seven on one," he replied quietly after a while. "As for Xander … he was assassinated."
"Assassinated?" Alice repeated in disbelief. "By whom?"
Avior turned to look at her with a serious glint in his eyes. "Promise you will not say?"
Alice nodded.
Avery pursed his lips and sighed. "Fabian and Gideon Prewett."
This made Fred and George very nearly drop their Extended Hearing Ears and binoculars in shock. Which caused some surprise in their serpentine friend.
*What is it? The show is about to start! Hey, you two look like you have just seen Fenrir's naked butt. A few of Thalia's friends fainted the first time.*
"Our uncles killed Mulciber's kid…" Fred repeated out loud, shaking his head despondently.
*What? Balthazar's hatchling?* Thalia didn't disguise her surprise. *You didn't know?*
"No," George confirmed. "No, we did not."
Thalia looked conflicted at hearing that. The ball python then sighed. *You can deal with this later. Right now, you have a show to watch, Avior to spy on and Thalia to entertain. Let's just concentrate on that.*
All the twins could do was nod in agreement. Quietly, they promised themselves to inform Harry and the others as soon as possible, and perhaps confront their mother about the truth of what happened to their uncles.
"Good evening wizards! I take it you haven't gotten any retaliation presents yet?" Dudley asked jovially that evening when Team Prank called him up.
"Nope! Not yet! I think they've run out of ideas!" Seamus chuckled.
"No they have just been put on a giant naughty step," Dean reminded him with a smirk.
"OK so I take it that means we are just going to be giving them incentive to start pranking you back? Got it," Dudley chuckled.
"As if we need to give them any more incentive!" Hermione huffed.
"Well even if we don't, we can't have them thinking that we've turned nice," the Boy-Who-Already-Had-A-Few-More-Diabolical-Ideas-Up-His-Sleeve stated with sadistic happiness. He had pre-emptively made sure that neither Voldemort nor Nagini could have the opportunity to spy on this particular meeting. "Because it has been a while since we arranged dinner for them, hasn't it?"
A cackle arose from his friends and even from Dudley's side of the phone.
"Are we going to go Indian? Like, spicy Indian as though it is made for an Indian family?" Dean asked happily.
"Go full Mexican!" Justin put in.
"No, Japanese!" the Creevey brothers voted.
"I think hot Mexican food could be funny," Ron agreed.
"Yes but didn't we already send Taco Bell?" Ginny frowned.
"Gin, Taco Bell isn't culturally Mexican food – like proper Mexican!" Dean argued. Ginny scowled at him but before she could retort, Luna decided to give her opinion.
"Japanese is a good idea but let's start off with sushi," the Ravenclaw suggested.
"Oooooo that could definitely work…" Dudley chuckled. "Especially if there are people who can't deal with raw fish!"
"Awwww but sushi doesn't burn tongues!" Seamus pouted.
"No but a whole lot of raw fish that doesn't get eaten does stink up a place!" Harry I Can't Wait To Make My Enemies Cry With Despair Potter pointed out with an evil glint in his verdant eyes. "Let's see how the Death Munchers like the Manor smelling like a giant cat's wet dream!"
"OK so sushi it is!" Justin laughed.
"Definitely," Hermione concurred easily.
"Sounds good," Ginny nodded.
"Motioned!" Seamus, Dean, Ron, Neville and the Creeveys agreed.
"Well, it is a bit late for dinner now so I will make a note of it for tomorrow," Dudley grinned. "Apart from food, anymore ideas?"
"I did have one," Justin volunteered immediately. "Since we have been giving these idiots free opera lessons, why don't we just book them in for a professional lesson for once?"
"Oh Merlin's saggy balls, you want to send a singing teacher to Malfoy Manor?!" It was Ginny who was pale for once. "Whoever it is needs to have a spine of steel and extremely good reaction speeds to dodge Unforgivables!"
"So far, no Muggles have been killed in this prank war," Dean felt the need to point out.
"Yeah so let's keep it that way!"
"But at the same time, we can really put those Crucio-flinging, cloak-kissing Grandpa-worshipping idiots to the test when it comes to self-restraint!" Far away thunder seemed to roll at the same time as the Boy-Who-Loved-Pushing-His-Fucking-Luck paced, practically rubbing his hands together in glee.
"If anything happens to that Muggle, Harry, you pay for the hospital bills and/or the funeral," Hermione warned.
"Yeah, OK. Fair deal."
There was a moment of concerned silence before Dudley decided it was best to move the topic on. "OK, opera lessons for everyone. Any more ideas?"
"Thalia has really been putting her plane to good use and apparently, Dolohov, Mulciber and Rowle have been making some awesome stuff for her to drop on people so I think we should send some flea and tick stuff for her so those three can really make something nasty for her to drop!" Harry really was on a roll this evening.
"That sounds awesome!" Dennis and Colin chorused, eyes shining.
"Not for the werewolves though!" Ron stated with sadistic malice.
"Speaking of those puppies, should we enter them in a dog show?" Seamus suggested excitedly. "There is one coming soon in the city near me house!"
"Yeeeeees! Let's put Fenrir up, maybe Tyler as well and another of the werewolves," Justin piped up.
"Isn't a dog show … for dogs? Werewolves would be disqualified in minutes!" Neville pointed out.
"Who cares?!" came the answer from the majority of Team Prank.
"Opera lessons … dog show … sushi dinner for tomorrow … flea and tick stuff for Thalia … anything else or is this enough madness for one day?" Dudley wanted to know.
"Nah Dud, unless you can think of something," Harry responded with an evil chuckle.
"You giving me more power, cousin? Dangerous," Dudley sounded way too happy for the liking of many of Team Prank. "I have an idea or two – night wizards!"
"Night!"
"Awwwww what's his idea?" Colin pouted when Dudley hung up.
"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on Lord Snake-face and tell you what else Dud came up with when I find out," the Chosen One Who Was Not Going Back Down From This Madness Anytime Soon promised.
Colin lit up.
"OK! Who wants to play Exploding Snap?" Justin got out his pack of cards. "The loser has to boobytrap the staff room!"
"Oh you're so on!" came some excited replies.
"No you will not!" Hermione tried to protest.
As always, no one was listening.
Just as Ron was dealing the cards, Ginny frowned as she felt her mirror zoom again and she fished the thing out of her pocket; she wasn't expecting a call. The others also watched in confusion; a small smirk had started to form on Harry's face however.
"Heya sis!" came the voices of Fred and George as soon as Ginny had picked up. "We bring news!"
It was safe to say that everyone heard a tension to the twins' usually jovial tones. Harry had hurried over to stand behind Ginny at this point. "What's the news, boys?"
"General, we-"
"-followed Avery and-"
"-his date to the opera-"
"-the show was really good-"
"-Avery snuck a kiss only once-"
"-Thalia had a ridiculous bow tie-"
"Thalia was there?!" Colin and Dennis snorted.
"You followed Avery on his date?" Hermione looked scandalised. "You are no better than the vultures who circle Princess Diana!"
"Princess who?" the wizards all chorused.
"Oh dear," Justin did a facepalm.
"She's the Princess of Wales!" Hermione huffed.
"Why does she rule over only one sea creature?"
"SHUT UP, RON!" the Muggle raised and Muggleborns chorused this time.
"May we continue?" Fred cut in quite sharply for his doing. "We discovered something that you probably won't believe."
"What is it?" the Boy-Who-Was-On-The-Edge-Of-His-Bed-In-Anticipation pressed.
"Our uncles – Gideon and Fabian," George responded. "They killed Mulciber's kid, Xander."
"The music prodigy," Neville remembered from Slughorn's enthusiastic babbling.
"Yeah. The term Avery used was 'assassinate'," Fred continued, sounding eerily cold.
"You don't really believe that, do you?" Ron snorted.
"I don't know what to believe, little brother," Fred answered truthfully. "But I also know people don't just die by accident in a war."
"We're going to talk to Mum about it tomorrow," George added. "We'll keep you guys up to date."
"Please do," Harry nodded.
As soon as the twins were gone, a silence descended over the group. Luna and Melpomene were humming in unison, quietly and perfectly in tune. The Thorn In the Dark Lord's Side found himself pacing while the others internally contemplated this new knowledge.
"You think it's true?" Ginny asked quietly.
"Course not! Assassination is a Slytherin move," Ron snorted. "Our uncles were Gryffindors!"
"I wouldn't put it past anyone," Dean disagreed.
Ginny scowled. "You'd think my uncles would murder someone in cold blood?" she demanded.
"I think people will do some very disgusting things in war," Dean replied just as coldly.
"Plus, no offense, Ron, but I doubt your mam is going to give those two a straight answer," Seamus added.
"Oh? And why is that?" Ron growled.
"Because of the shame," Neville was the one to answer simply. He shrugged when people looked at him. "I asked Nan once what Mum and Dad did during the war. I never got an answer. But I could see something in her eyes … something tells me that she doesn't want me to think any less of them …"
On this note, Luna decided to commence the game of Exploding Snap by getting the first pair and sending green smoke up into the air.
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Yes people I am alive and this story is as still mad as ever! I have had weeks of turbulent happenings from having to learn an entire study in three weeks and having to take two exams because I failed one exam due to panicking and being ill due to the stress of having to take the exams. Then I had another important diploma to get. Another fun fact: I had an important deadline for a couple of Mondays ago but fortunately I have a partner who is helping me make it so I finally had time to write. Good news: I have the first of the two certificates I am trying to achieve! My retake was a pass. Same story with the second; right now, I am essentially on a paid holiday until further notice.
I want to make one thing abundantly plain to all of you amazing people still reading my stories and waiting so patiently for me to update: I WILL NOT allow any of my stories to die. You see I am a stubborn arse – I am also emotionally invested in my own stories. I can't let my stories die. Even if there is now a delay, I haven't abandoned my work. It means life right now is taking up my time and I simply am trying to prioritise things.
I want to thank all of you who continue to suggest awesome pranking ideas and who know I am still trying to spread my love between this story and my other ones – I appreciate all of you for this.
Kingmaker'sUmbreon