XVIII

[alt_bellatrix]

It's been quite some time since I last Apparated such a long distance. The thought of it leaves me a little dizzy. Or perhaps it's just the anticipation.

The parchments should be approved within the hour and then I'm off.

Vive La France.

Comments

[alt_narcissa]

Truly?

Oh, praise.

Are you off alone, then?

[alt_bellatrix]

I'll let you know when I have visual confirmation with my own eyes, but you know the French - they are rarely confident without cause.

Carpenter and Zuckerman are accompanying me.

[alt_bellatrix]

It's him.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Signal if there's anything you need from this end.

[alt_narcissa]

There, you see? Now you may remain behind your desk in good conscience.

[alt_crouch_jr]

This is the one case for which I've volunteered to do exactly that: it's where I can best serve Our Lord and Bellatrix's team. You understand that everything else this week pales in comparison? There's no chance I'd have let running after mudblood malcontents or fishing bodies out of the North Sea derail this case. I'd have come in off my deathbed if necessary.

[alt_narcissa]

Well, for these results, I can forgive you worrying me half out of my wits.

Order Only

[alt_kingsley]

SHITE.

Alice, Frank, d'ye see?

Re: Order Only

[alt_kingsley]

Molly, any change on the clock?

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[alt_molly]

No. But perhaps there wouldn't be until she faces him? Or breaks him?

Arthur...do we move now?

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[alt_bill]

No. Not yet, Mum. Wait until you see it on the clock.

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[alt_frank]

we see it, man.

merlin help him.

[alt_narcissa]

Our Lord be praised.

How was he taken? Tell me he's in horrible pain.

ORDER ONLY

[alt_alice]

That bitch.

Doesn't deserve.

The ENERGY IT WOULD TAKE TO BEAT HER SENSELESS.

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[alt_alice]

I would like nothing more right now

than to be alone in a room

with both of them

so I could bash their heads to a bloody pulp.

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[alt_frank]

oh, you and me both, general.

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[alt_alice]

Calls herself an Auror.

I'll show her an Auror.

[alt_bellatrix]

Caught up in some kind of pub brawl, if I understand. No doubt started it himself. And yes, he's in pain, though not as much as he will be.

[alt_narcissa]

It's no more than he deserves.

But is it true you're not being allowed to question him? Lucius has begun the process of calling his contacts in Paris - Are you in Paris? Or south, closer to that homestead he had set up?

Curse him twice for me, when you get the opportunity, Bella.

[alt_rodolphus]

I'm sure she'll do more than twice, Narcissa. No worries on that score. The French must be quite steely, if they're standing up to the Missus so flagrantly.

[alt_narcissa]

Oh, no, Rodolphus, I mean in addition to anything she does on her own behalf.

He doesn't need his eyes anymore, for example. At least, not both of them.

[alt_bellatrix]

Not Paris - Brest.

And yes, it is true. For the moment. Zuckerman is trying to change their minds with sweet wiles, and then I'll bring in the sour.

[alt_lucius]

I've just heard the good news. Excellent!

Our Lord will be pleased to finally swat the fly that has been buzzing maddeningly in our ears.

[alt_bellatrix]

I've just sent word of positive identification to Mafalda, and would have aleady sent off the request for extradition to France's MLE, but these French wizards keep telling me that it's the middle of the night - as if that matters - and are trying to convince me that I can go to the Embassy myself first thing in the morning.

Moreover, they insist on interrogating him themselves while he remains on French soil. It may be getting lost in translation, but I believe they want to make a great show of the fact that France captured him, and were not, say, harbouring him.

I realise that it is late, but if there's anyone you can have a word with to make this go more smoothly, we would all be in your debt.

[alt_lucius]

They're what?

Yes. I'll see what I can do, of course. I may be able to reach Dideron even at this hour.

Were you able to discover anything even from a preliminary probe?

[alt_bellatrix]

Stubborn resistance. I will need a prolonged session with him, the sooner the better.

[alt_lucius]

Dear oh dear, the old-fashioned way. How delightful.

[alt_bellatrix]

I came prepared.

[alt_bellatrix]

And I can wait all night.

[alt_narcissa]

And so shall we. This calls for a celebratory drink. I may even wake Draco - he should remember this day!

[alt_lucius]

Let the boy sleep, my love. He can hear the good news in the morning just as easily.

[alt_narcissa]

He shall have to, husband. I've just tried to wake him and he takes after you. Dead to the world, quite impossible.

Ah, well. We can at least sit up together to await word from Bella.

[alt_lucius]

No; you've an earlier start to-morrow. Why not a nightcap and I'll keep trying Paris?

[alt_narcissa]

I admit I'm not used to staying up so late, though for this reason I could celebrate for hours. I feel like opening a bottle of Clos du Mesnil, but perhaps that's premature. And I don't think we've any chilled. Pity.

If Bella were in Paris she might have been able to bring some back. (I know, she'll tell me that she's there to drag Black to the Lord Protector, not to shop!)

[alt_bellatrix]

Shopping? You took the words out of my quill.

Sleep while you can, Cissy; I may not have news until morning. No one here seems to understand the concept of urgency - I only hope Lucius can teach it to them.

ORDER ONLY

[alt_alice]

Bugger.