The Purpose, Rewritten, Chapter 26 Departure
January 1954
The Churchill Arms, Darthael's tavern
Clark and Dorina were vampires created by Gellert four years before. Strolling the streets of London and searching week after week for the wizard that Gellert saw in his visions, the two vampires were most often seen at Darthael's tavern, where muggles ventured there by the dozens and where some learned that a service was being offered in the basement.
The basement was bigger than it looked, for the fact that it had been magically enlarged by a wizard. This hidden part of the Muggle part had, at its door, a particular enchantment to repel any Muggle. To access it, a muggle absolutely had to be accompanied.
Although previously unknown to wizards, the tavern's popularity exploded following Seth's nomination as Director of International Magical Cooperation last summer. Dominic Sharp had taken his well-deserved retirement after thirty years of service in this field, preferring to take care of the Meadow field village quietly, thus reversing the roles of who worked for whom.
In addition to having Danyck as his assistant, other vampires from the island had been transferred to work at the Ministry, particularly assisting the Department of Regulation of Magical Creatures as well as the Department of Control over Magical and Muggle Items. The latter then took the opportunity to party in the tavern after working hours.
Darthael even had to ask Greisha, one of the oldest vampires created by Nathaniel, just like Lazarus, to use his second tavern, called Starry Night, and to do the same thing as with the Churchill Arms. She had accepted, despite herself, because she was bored on the island, but had been running the tavern for four years now.
The goblins were also frequent customers, having always had good relations with vampires and were delighted to have a place to go, besides Hogsmeade or Gringotts.
The popularity of the taverns had not pleased the Ministry, fearing above all the breaking of magical secrecy, but only muggles who frequented wizards or who had had wizard children could access the basement, but auror raids were frequent and the Obliviators had to go there regularly. Soon, vampires discovered that drinking the blood of humans who were drunk gave them the same feeling of intoxication they had had before they were vampires. Fights took place and sometimes... incidents resulting in serious injuries, sometimes fatal, ended up happening.
''BALFAUG MUK!'' Greisha screamed, grabbing Clark by the neck, and throwing him onto a table which broke on contact.
The muggle's heart, from which Clark was draining blood, was almost no longer beating and Greisha had heard it very clearly. Light panic gripped her, but someone was already on top of the muggle, pouring something down his throat. She recognized the wizard Augustus Rookwood who came in sometimes for a drink because he didn't have much time to relax between work hours. He was one of those who understood that trouble in the tavern would lead to further problems with the aurors and he was quick to intervene before the aurors did, and that he could no longer come here. The music had stopped, and the other guests watched the scene attentively.
''Ah... he's going to live, Rookwood?'' Greisha asked, glancing at Clark who was laughing as he got up. "You idiot, do you want to get us into trouble?"
''Yes, but he will have to be taken to... our hospital.'' Rookwood replied.
Clark got up, grunting, rubbing his neck.
''This human had taken... ah, something... I really feel...'' Clark shook his head, stunned, and suddenly stared at Rookwood. "You…you there, uh, Rookwood?"
Rookwood raised his eyebrows. Clark suddenly grabbed his head.
''W...what? Is that him?'' Clark moved closer to Rookwood who then pointed his wand at the vampire.
''HEY! No magic here.'' Greisha alerted, standing in front of Clark.
"I just want to know his name." Clark said, resting his chin on Greisha's shoulder while standing behind her.
''Why do you care, vampire?'' asked Rookwood.
The music had resumed, and the other guests returned to their conversations, seeing no point in mingling with the vampires. Clark snuck in front of Greisha again as Rookwood lowered his wand.
''Hey, Rookwood, we're not dogs. Be careful with your tongue.'' Greisha warned.
The wizard clenched his jaw and turned his attention back to Clark.
''What?''
''Do you know Grindelwald?'' asked Clark.
Another vampire appeared alongside Clark and looked at Rookwood intently.
''Him? Is it really him?'' Asked Dorina.
Rookwood looked at Dorina, then Clark.
"In name only, and what he did. Why?'' asked Rookwood.
"He's been looking for you for years. You are important to him, and he wants to meet you.'" Clark said.
Rookwood laughed, not being able to believe a single word these vampires said. Greisha frowned.
"Does Seth know?" Greisha asked.
''No. Gellert just told me... I mean, he said before that it's not something that was enough to talk to him about.'' Clark replied.
Greisha turned to him.
''Rookwood can't just go to Egypt without Seth knowing. He works at the ministry, and he will have to have a good reason to leave the country and use a portkey.'' Greisha said.
''And why me?'' asked Rookwood.
"He never told us why, but it was one of the reasons why he sent us to London, and it was to find a man he had been looking for, for a long time with your… physical description. Only, he didn't know who it was.'' Dorina said before crossing her arms.
The muggle that Clark had bitten came back to his senses and groaned.
''My name is Augustus Rookwood. If it's so important that he meets me... let him do it himself.'' Rookwood said before going to the muggle and casting an obliviating spell on him and leading him outside the tavern.
''Drugs... I bet you that human had taken drugs.'' Clark replied, massaging his temples. ''Ugh god, I have a headache.''
''Be glad it's not that wine from last year... we've had enough trouble as it is.'' Dorina said before turning to Greisha. ''Gellert wants to know what Rookwood is doing at the ministry. Do you know?'' asked Dorina.
Greisha looked at the broken table and pouted, because repairing it manually would take longer than waving a magic wand, which she did not have or could use.
''In the department of mysteries, I believe. Ask Seth if you can get his attention. He's already overloaded with work.'' Greisha said before going to get a broom.
Dorina turned to Clark.
''Hey, doesn't Yaxley work there too, right?'' she asked.
Clark shrugged.
"And why would I know about it? Mmm...'' Clark looked around the room and spotted another human, a woman, and went towards her.
''CLARK! You'll get thrown out of the tavern if you do this again.'' Greisha said as she returned with a broom.
"Yeah, yeah." Clark grunted.
A wizard cleared his throat as he reached the basement. It was Maugrey.
''I just saw Rookwood bringing a muggle in pretty bad shape and he didn't want to tell me what happened, but seeing his neck wound, I could easily guess.'' Said Maugrey .
Greisha rested her chin on her hands which were on the end of the broom.
''So what? He is not dead. Go away, Mad-eye.'' Greisha said wearily.
The auror had earned a nickname due to his mechanical eye.
"This is the fourth time this month, Greisha. I'll close this tavern if more muggles keep coming out like this.'' Threatened the auror.
Greisha raised her eyebrows.
''Oh yeah? If that ever happens, I'll help you.'' Greisha assured, looking him in the eyes. "Go chase away these wizards who are having fun lighting trash cans in the streets, hm? That's your job, right?''
Maugrey made a face of disgust and his magical eye fluttered behind his head as Dorina walked behind him.
''Don't you want to have a good time with me, handsome?'' Asked Dorina.
"I'd rather die in hell. I'll always keep my eye on you.'' Moody said before turning and pushing Dorina with his long stick and walking towards the stairs.
''Yes, because Lazarus took away your other eye.'' Greisha whispered while Moody was gone. "And I almost had the chance to kill your mother, but the queen did it before me."
"Is that so?" whispered Dorina, who alone had heard it.
Greisha swept the pieces of glass on the floor and didn't answer. She didn't hold back from speaking quietly, even if she wanted to shout it in front of this wizard. Like most vampires, she hated the Aurors and would never forget what they did, especially Maugrey's parents. Although their situations had improved greatly since Seth worked at the ministry, she could see that the wizards still had this... uneasiness when interacting with them, as if they would jump on them on any occasion.
Nevertheless, she had developed a certain passion for this tavern and enjoyed the interaction she had with the wizards, the goblins, the veelas, and even some humans whom she found pleasant to talk to. It was different from the servants on Vulken Island. Humans had a completely different history, other experiences, without forgetting… other tastes.
Dorina decided to pick up the pieces of wood from the table when one of the goblins who was having a drink further away walked towards them.
"All you had to do was ask, Greisha." The goblin said, snapping his fingers.
The table got back into place and repaired itself, taking the pieces of wood from Dorina's hands. Greisha put the broom on her shoulder.
"Pff, I bet you made fun of my broom." Greisha replied, smiling.
"Obviously." The goblin sneered.
Gunshots startled them, then came the smell of blood. Greisha and Dorina were faster than lightning, using their vampire speed, and arrived at the top of the tavern. A man in a cowboy hat brandished a gun with smoke coming from it, indicating that he had just fired. A waitress was lying on the floor with three holes in her chest. She gasped, and coughed up blood as Dorina was near her and Greisha had already removed the cowboy's gun and pinned him to the ground. The scared humans around had backed away or were on the ground with their hands on their heads. Greisha heard her barmaid's last heartbeat and gritted her teeth.
"You dared to kill one of my employees." Greisha said, restraining herself from killing this man.
"She was just a dirty whore! She fucked my brother!'' The cowboy spat.
''So what? She was mine! You had no right to take her life! And the fault is your brother for inserting his cock into her, and not the other way around!'' Said Greisha.
A police car arrived along with various apparating sounds. Years of experience and self-control were the right thing for Greisha, but not for Dorina. Dorina was licking her blood-filled hand as she had tried to stop the blood from flowing.
"DORINA! GLENN- ED!'' Greisha yelled.
Dorina made a face and left the dead woman on the ground and returned to the basement. The two police officers got out of their vehicle, pointing their weapons at them.
"No one moves, hands in the air!"
The wizards who had apparated were already casting several spells, aimed at keeping the other muggles away. Greisha looked at the man beneath her, under her control. She, who held his neck, and him, who struggled, not understanding how a woman could hold him against the ground with only one hand.
She bared her teeth and leaned towards him.
"Know that your luck tonight is only temporary, human." She hissed before removing herself from him, while taking the weapon from the ground and destroying it between her fingers.
She let the wizards do their job and returned to the tavern, plans of revenge in her head for this man who had dared to take away a human who belonged to her.
OoOoO
Egypt, Vulken Manor
Gellert took great pleasure in watching the thoughts of the vampires he had created from the comfort of his office, if not locked away in this mansion. This time, he was following Clark's thoughts as he fed off a man who had most likely taken ecstasy.
Gellert intruded into Clark's thoughts, almost taking possession of him, feeling the blood rushing down his own throat. He was going to kill this man and he didn't care. The man's heart had slowed and was barely beating. His excitement mounted as he was about to take his life, when he was suddenly grabbed by the neck and thrown onto a table.
No. Not him. Clark.
The connection was broken momentarily. Gellert grumbled and put his thoughts towards Dorina who was in the same tavern. She watched people come and go from the tavern, always taking what Gellert asked her to heart. Gellert sighed and turned back to Clark, who was looking at a wizard.
It was him. The one he had been looking for, for so many years. What had he called him? Rookwood? Gellert rose from his chair, beginning to pace.
''It's him. I want to know his name.'' Gellert said through his thoughts.
''What? Him?'' Clark replied.
"Dorina! Go see Clark in the basement. Rookwood is the one I've been looking for.'' Gellert ordered.
Dorina let out an exclamation and quickly went to join Clark.
'In name only, and what he did. For what?'
He heard Rookwood through Clark's thoughts.
'He's been looking for you for years. You are important to him and he wants to meet you.'
He heard Rookwood laugh.
'Does Seth know?'
Greisha.
''No, and it's not necessary.'' Gellert thought.
'No. Gellert just told me... told me, that it's not something that was enough to talk to him about.'
'Rookwood can't just go to Egypt without Seth knowing. He works at the ministry, and he will have to have a good reason to leave the country and use a portkey.'
Gellert stopped walking. He wondered what department this Rookwood worked in. He could not leave Egypt until December 24, 1960. Was it time to return to London at that moment, or should he meet him before then?
'My name is Augustus Rookwood. If it's so important that he meets me... let him do it himself.'
What nerve.
Clark's thoughts were diffused and Gellert grimaced before moving towards Dorina's thoughts instead.
"Ask Greisha where Rookwood works!" Gellert ordered Dorina.
'Greisha. Gellert wants to know what Rookwood is doing at the ministry. Do you know?'
'In the department of mysteries, I think. Ask Seth if you can get his attention. He is already overwhelmed with work.'
Obviously. Rookwood must be an inventor and manipulator of objects with curses or ancient enchantments, to be someone important enough to have visions off of. Fine, he had what he wanted. He turned towards his desk where the metals were. There must be a reason why he couldn't inscribe runes without them melting or... exploding. On the wall behind his desk, you could see holes in the wood and paint, burned and unrepairable due to runic magic. He did not have the space, nor the resources, to carry out these experiments.
He gritted his teeth and decided to go to the outdoor terrace, one of the only places where he could go outside.
OoOoO
May 8, 1954
Seth groaned and sat up in bed. He looked to his right, seeing Abraxas Malfoy sleeping peacefully. He raised his eyebrows, trying to remember the day before.
Ah yes, the celebration of the birth of his son, Lucius Malfoy. They had been drinking... and talking, for hours...
A kneazle made a noise beside him, stretching and turning onto its back. And Corban who got involved in the game too. There were no more glasses of wine around, courtesy of his house elves. Had he even apparated with Malfoy? However, they were at his mansion the day before.
Abraxas sported several bruises and teeth marks, in duplicates. He brushed a finger against Abraxas's skin, suddenly feeling uneasy about what he and Corban might have done to him and whispered a healing spell. Abraxas shivered and clutched the sheets against him but remained with his eyes closed. He must have been in worse shape than he let on.
"Abraxas." Said Seth. The blonde made a mumble. "Abraxas!" Seth repeated, moving his arms.
Abraxas opened his eyes and turned around abruptly, looking at Seth in confusion, then sat up as well before rubbing his face with his hands.
''Ah! I hurt everywhere...'' Said Abraxas before looking around him. "It's not my room. Ah... I don't remember anything. What exactly did we do yesterday?'' he asked, looking at Seth, then saw the kneazle still sleeping, and frowned.
''Having a good time, I guess... my memories are vague too, but we drank a huge amount of alcohol, so...'' Seth said before getting out of bed via the bottom of the bed.
Abraxas looked at Seth's body with a smile and got out of bed as well.
"Yaxley… my wife, oh…" Abraxas mumbled, realizing he might have made a mistake.
"Corban will be the last to blame you. For your wife, you will only have to take care of Lucius all day. I know very well that women love to go shopping for a few hours while their babies are taken care of. Monica loves it when I take care of little Igor.'' Seth said with a smile. He made a Tempus spell which indicated 4:56 in the morning. ''I have to go back to work so... don't wake the kneazle and take your time before you go home. You'll have a long day...'' Seth said with a laugh.
Abraxas looked around and saw his laundry, clean and folded, on a chair by the window. Seth quickly dressed and walked out of the bedroom to the living room to apparate.
Before apparating away, he saw Tom reading a book on one of the couches. It had been a long time since they had dueled together. He had time to read the title, Blood Rituals, before Tom lowered his book. It was a book he had in his main library, and he remembered that Tom had already read it several times.
''Hey, V. A duel tonight, what do you think?'' Said Seth.
Tom cocked his head to the left.
"Will you have time?" Tom asked.
''I'm doing what I want with my time. It's not a few hours that are going to change anything.'' Seth said.
Tom placed his book on the small table and stood up before taking a few steps in her direction.
''Speaking of time... I don't think I'll be here much longer.'' Tom said.
''Oh? Don't you like being around Lazarus anymore?'' Seth said, laughing.
He thought he saw a smile on Tom's face.
''That's not the reason. I'm getting close to my goal...'' said Tom, remaining vague.
Seth was suddenly worried. Although Tom was in front of him, he still felt his other part of soul in Tom's room. He had split his soul twice and if what Tom was saying right now was what he thought, he wanted to complete his... seven souls.
''After all these years... you are still fixed on that?'' Seth asked.
"And why not?" Tom hissed. "What does that matter to you?" Seth opened his mouth, then closed it. ''Would you be... worried about me?'' Tom added with a smirk.
"You are already immortal. Why would you want to go even further? There is so much magic to explore, everywhere on this planet. When I went to Uagadou, it only strengthened my wandless magic, among other things, and I was able to observe the different cultures in all the countries I went to as International Director of Magical Cooperation… Yes , I'm worried about you, because you are pushing a branch of magic that has never been explored and not only are you breaking your soul, but you could damage your sanity!'' Seth explained.
Tom made a mocking noise and shook his head.
''Only you would think such things. Anyway, that's what I was planning to do... go see the world.'' Tom said haughtily.
Abraxas came into the living room and stopped short when he saw Tom. He looked very elegant with a bow in his hair and his cane, just like Lazarus. Abraxas' curt attitude made Seth frown.
"Abraxas…" Seth began, and the blond cleared his throat before curtsying.
"It was nice. See you next time, sirs.'' Abraxas said before apparating away.
Seth turned to Tom.
''What was that? Don't tell me you still have a hold on him?'' Seth asked.
''A hold? No…no more than you.'' Tom laughed. ''The Malfoy family has some of the oldest and most dangerous artifacts I know of. Lately, Armand Malfoy came to me to get rid of some who would have been questionable to have in his house, since the Ministry has been doing several wine raids among wizards since the scandal last year.'' Tom said.
A large export of wines, mixed with a potion, had been made among the muggles. The potion only served to make muggles listen to their dark thoughts and this had caused murder and suicide in large numbers. This potion did not affect wizards, and the creator of this potion had not been found, but several wizards had copies and were apprehended having distributed them to muggles. They had been sent to Azkaban. Seth had had extra work for months. He suspected that the Malfoys would be strongly behind this plot, since Armand possessed the necessary skills to create such a potion, and the resources available to be its creator. The vineyards he owned did not help his cause.
It didn't matter to him that these muggles died, but these wines had also caused another problem, namely the fact of affecting the vampires who took the blood of the muggles affected by the potion and never before had he had to deal with vampires who killed so many muggles. The taverns of Greisha and Darthael had been closed for months and vampires had been returned to Vulken Isle for several years. They had escaped the death penalty for murders committed under the influence of a potion.
''Hmph. I have to go to work. I'll see you tonight.'' Seth said before apparating away too.
OoOoO
August 1955
''A murder? WHAT DO YOU MEAN, A HOUSE ELF?''
The head of the Daily Prophet, Alexander Skeeter, slammed a fist on the table.
''QUICKLY! ON THE FIRST PAGE!'' he yelled at the employees, who hurriedly ran in all directions. "Hehehe, so, do we know how this elf did it? It's going to cause a scandal in the magical creature control department.'' Alexander added, rubbing his hands.
"A poison… apparently, and inadvertently. It was Hepzibah Smith who was murdered!'' Simon replied.
"That rich old woman? Oh oh! The goblins are going to want to raze her house!'' Said Alexander. ''Warn Vulken... if he doesn't already know. He will know how to keep the goblins waiting without causing another bloodbath. Even if it's great in the newspapers… I care about my head.'' Added Alexander.
"Right away!" replied Simon.
Simon ran towards the office of the director of international cooperation. It was very late in the evening, and he only met the few wizards who were overwhelmed and aware of what had just happened. He even saw Director Graves talking with a few Aurors before he turned down the hall towards Seth's office. The latter was frowning, his eyes on the last report, and he was standing, as if he was getting ready to go out.
''Mr. Vulken!'' said Simon.
A bloodthirsty look was thrown at him, and he took a step back.
''Brown. It is not the moment. I have to go now.'' Seth said, moving his hand towards his files which fell back into place on their own.
He pulled Simon out by the sleeve and locked his door with an enchantment.
''You know about it?'' Simon asked as Seth let go of him, but followed on his heels.
''And why wouldn't I know? The newspapers are NOT the priority!'' Seth said sharply.
Simon almost ran after him when they were already at the atrium.
''Do you think it was the elf who did the deed, then?'' Simon asked, almost screaming.
This question only earned him another furious look from Seth before he apparated away, without having had his answer.
When Seth arrived home, he immediately knew something was wrong. The density of magic in the air almost suffocated him, but there was no longer any doubt: No matter what he had done, Tom was no longer in the castle, nor even his Horcruxes. Nothing…
He went to Tom's room where a letter was waiting for him on the bed.
Seth,
I have what I want. I need to see this magic, in all its forms. I will miss our duels.
V.
Nice way to say goodbye. Seth sighed and made a grunt before casting his thoughts towards Corban who was sleeping peacefully and went to join him. Had Corban not felt this suffocating magic?
He couldn't help but think that he would miss the duels as well.
Translation Venthyr
"BALFAUG MUK!"
"DRUNKEN SHIT!"
"GLENN-ED!"
''Go away!''