Aurin and Caleb Meet

[golden_armor]

Date: Tuesday, 10 July
Time: 1 PM
Place: Alecto's Animal Emporium, Aurin's Flat
Characters: Aurin Helm, Caleb Moore, Stella Sinistra
Status: Invitation Only, Incomplete

Comments

[golden_armor]

Aurin liked Caleb's handshake, and his tone when he spoke. Both told him that Caleb was a good man. A glance at Romero cemented the impression; the bird was looking at the new people with interest, but his crest was down and he was relaxed on his perch, meaning that he sensed no mal-intent. Aurin resolved to put all his resources into helping the man slip his Registration in under the table, without the Ministry's notice.

"No more trouble than I've been in before, I think," Aurin said with a wry grin, "And I've done as much for less deserving people. I believe you're more than worth the effort."

A slight sadness crept over Aurin's face as he watched Caleb trying to keep Stella out of things. According to Ministry records, Caleb was only a couple of years younger than Aurin, but his disappearance from wizarding society six years ago had spared him the experience of the second war that had so changed Aurin. Not that being a werewolf, especially with the fear that came from not knowing if any given transformation would be the one where the wolf got free, wasn't more than enough of a hardship, but it was, as far as Aurin knew, something of a solitary trial, different from that of going through a war and realizing just how far-reaching the consequences truly were. Aurin had learned that the hard way, and he was going to do his damnedest to keep Caleb and Stella from suffering his fate.

"I'm afraid that it's a bit late for that, Mr. Moore," said Aurin, putting as much of the sentiment behind the statement into his words as he could. He wanted them both to realize what he already knew, though it pained him to have to be the one to tell them. Still, better him than someone less sympathetic to their situation. "Though of course we'll keep all mention of Stella out of the documents we need to fill out, and this procedure will necessarily be a clandestine one. If the Ministry finds out that you've been un-Registered this entire time, the fact that you're coming forward now and Registering willingly will mean little to those above me. They'll hand you over to the Werewolf Capture Squads, and all your known associates will be taken in for interrogation."

Aurin sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. Though the circumstances were entirely different, the whole situation still made him think too much of Elsinore, which still hurt. He found himself slipping into more formal language, distancing himself so as to push those thoughts away. This wasn't about him and Elsie, it was about the people in front of him. "I, of course, would sooner die than betray a fellow Order member; they'd never get her name from me, no matter how they tried, but the MLEA is thorough, and there will be those with looser, or more cheaply bought, tongues than others. It is very possible that, should we be discovered, Stella will face consequences along with the rest of us."

He turned to Stella, concluding, "Of course, due to the fact that your relationship is rather new as of yet, we can give you plausible deniability, and your status as a Hogwarts Professor will afford some additional protection, but with the current state of the Ministry I cannot guarantee with any certainty that you will be entirely safe." His last statement was addressed to both of them, "It's up to you if you want to continue, though I'll tell you now that, dire as it sounds, I can't think of a better or safer alternative."

[prof_stargazer]

Stella briefly caught Caleb's eye before he turned back to Aurin, and she kept her eyes glued to Caleb as he spoke. She kept having the overwhelming urge to tell him that he didn't need to worry about her, that he only needed to be worrying about keeping himself out of trouble, but she had the feeling it wouldn't do much good at the moment. All Stella could do to acknowledge his concern was to squeeze his hand in return and nod before turning her attention back to Aurin.

His words worried her, there was no doubt about that. She recalled Severus's response to her request for help, his concerns that something could happen to Remus, or Aurin for that matter, settling down on her shoulders like a weight. And her father- she hadn't mentioned any names in her letter, just that she might need a favor sometime soon. Her mind reeled, thinking of the people she'd drawn into this, whether intentionally or not. She tried to focus back on Aurin, she needed to listen, to figure out what they could do.

"Please, don't worry so much about me," she pleaded, glancing between Caleb and Aurin. "I know Minerva would back me up, regardless of what happens, and my father has enough pull at the Ministry to keep me out of too much trouble, at least." This was not about her, this was about Caleb, and she wanted to keep their focus on him.

"What, exactly, are you thinking of doing, Aurin?" Stella asked, her forehead drawn in concern.

[wolf_caleb]

Caleb's stomach was dropping with each word Aurin spoke. He hadn't realized the extent of the danger he'd put Stella in, just by being with him. She would be dragged in for questioning, and who knew what else, just because they'd been on a couple of public dates. He ran his hands nervously through his hair. "I honestly didn't know the Ministry had become so bad," he said, truly horrified. "I made a point to cut all contact with the Wizarding world when I left. I just wanted to keep my head down and live a normal a life as possible. I had no idea coming back could be so dangerous, and certainly not for other people."

He looked at Stella. "I told you Stella, I will always worry about you, and even more so if I've put in danger and didn't know it," Caleb said fiercely. "I should have asked more questions before coming back and I never should have put you in this position."

He knew there was no point in arguing with Stella, she would just dig her feet in and insist on helping him no matter what. It would be better knowing what she was doing, rather than what she might be doing behind the scenes that could get her into trouble. And as Aurin said, it was too late now, she was already in it. Now he just needed to know how to get out of it.

"Tell me what I need to do, and I'll do it," Caleb said to Aurin, knowing he and Stella were going to have to have a talk when they were done here. She had to stay away from him until this was all done. There was no other option, he wouldn't make things worse than he already had. She had a better chance at claiming ignorance if they weren't constantly in contact.

[golden_armor]

Aurin saw their expressions fall, and felt awful for being the cause, but he knew that a quick dose of cold, hard reality was the best way to get them to be as cautious as was needed.

Opening his mouth to respond to Stella's question, Aurin realized he'd left the door open. Silencing charms would have kept anyone from eavesdropping, but it was better that they move upstairs at this point. Toviel was at work, so they were the only people in the building. Holding up a hand for momentary silence, Aurin stepped past Stella and Caleb to put the "Closed" sign in the window and lock the door. Once that was done, he said, "It's best we move upstairs to my office to continue this. The animals in the shop are mostly non-intelligent, but there are spells people can use to get sight and sound memories from them."

He led them to the back stairs leading up to the second floor. Romero, indignant at being left out, took off from his perch and glided gracefully across the room to land on Stella's shoulder just as she was going through the door. His graceful movements and precise landing belied his huge nine-foot wingspan, and his talons, capable of ripping off a man's face with little effort, rested gently on the cloth of her shirt, not even pricking it.

Aurin talked as he led them to the office and offered them seats in the two large blue armchairs there, conjuring one for himself as well. "As for the Ministry," he said, "It's not yet a hopeless situation, but it's bad all the same. The MLEA top brass doesn't much care what's going on as long as they don't have to work any overtime, and those in power, like my boss, Carson, are mostly prejudiced bastards. There are still a few trustworthy people, though. Nymphadora Tonks, myself, and my immediate coworkers all still actually care about what's right, rather than easy or popular."

Sitting back in his chair, Aurin said, "Before I explain what I've got planned, can I get either of you anything to eat or drink? This is when I usually take my lunch break, and I feel like it'd be rude not to offer."

Once he'd conjured the food from the kitchen, Aurin began laying out his plan for Caleb. "I've lately found it necessary to get very, very good at ageing charms, and I think this will come in handy for us. However, before what I've got in mind can be of any use, we need an excuse to get you into the Ministry building. Can you think of any reason why you would make an appointment at Ministry HQ? A passport, or recent return to the country from abroad? We can make one up, but it's better if at least this part of the plan is based on something legitimate."

[wolf_caleb]

While grateful for Aurin's cautious nature, he was making Caleb even more parnoid that he already was with his talk of surveillance. They followed him upstairs, and when the large bird landed on Stella's shoulder, Caleb didn't know whether to be worried, or laugh at the expression on her face. He settled for stroking the bird's chest and saying, "You're a handsome boy aren't you? Watch the talons, or I'll be less than amused," he warned, though he couldn't help but smile since it was obvious the bird meant no harm.

Once they were seated, Caleb declined the offer of food, being too nervous to eat, though he did accept something to drink. His mouth was unbelievably dry. He reached for Stella's hand, taking support just by her presence. "I can claim to be returning from abroad. I've been out of the area for sure, and even where I was living I kept a low profile. It would make sense that now that I'm back in the area, I want to check in with them. But, won't they notice I haven't got a collar? It we're going to pretend I've just been out of the country, I still would have been collared, right?"

[prof_stargazer]

Stella nodded at Aurin's suggestion to move out of the front of the shop, though she'd really paid very little attention to their surroundings after they'd begun speaking- she hadn't even realized the door was still open.

But as they followed Aurin up the stairs, Stella nearly fell over in surprise as the beautiful bird she'd seen perched in the window soared over to alight on her shoulder. She gasped as she turned her head to see the huge creature, amazed at how gently he was perched, despite its size. Stella was fond of birds- her own Patronus was a huge cormorant, after all, but this had completely shocked her. "Aurin?" she managed, her voice wavering a bit. She continued gazing at the bird as she made her way up the stairs, though she spared a look for Caleb, shaking her head at his obvious amusement.

Thankfully, Aurin's pet glided off her shoulder when they reached what looked to be the shop's office. Stella sat in one of the offered chairs, still a bit dazed from her sudden companion for the trip upstairs as Aurin began to speak again. His assessment of the Ministry pretty well matched her own- other than the few Order members employed there, her father, her brother, and some of their associates, Stella had fairly well decided that the Ministry was simply full of pompous idiots.

Stella was sure that she couldn't eat anything, since her stomach seemed to be tied in knots, but she graciously accepted some water when Aurin offered. She took Caleb's hand gladly, twining their fingers together- it was like an anchor, keeping her grounded and focused. There was little she could say, at the moment- she would just listen, and let Aurin and Caleb work out a plan.

[golden_armor]

At Stella's reaction, Aurin turned to see Romero perched on her shoulder. "Ah, that'd be Romero. Is he bothering you? I can get him off there, if he is."

Aurin rubbed the bird affectionately on his cheek when Romero perched on the edge of the desk behind them, then turned his full attention back to his guests.

"The lack of a collar shouldn't be much of an issue; they haven't yet got to the point where they're checking at the door. If you wear a collared shirt and keep the top button done up on your way in, anybody who sees you on your way out will probably just think they overlooked it, though you might have to do a little lying if anybody asks."

He leaned forward, with his elbows on his knees. "My idea is for you to set up an appointment tomorrow to register your change of address with the Ministry, late in the day when most people have gone home. I'll make sure I'm the one to take that appointment. We'll fill out both your change of address and Registration, get you fitted with a collar," Aurin's tone revealed his distaste at the term, "and file both, the change of address openly and Registration somewhat less so. You can then head home with no one the wiser. I'll be ageing your Registration and collar to make it look like you signed up as soon as it went into effect. The fact that you've been out of wizarding life helps us immensely in this case, since nobody will find it unusual that you were off the radar."

He grinned suddenly, aware how much he sounded like a character from a hardboiled spy thriller novel. "I'm afraid I've made this all sound rather James Bond, but it should actually be pretty simple, which is to our advantage; the less complicated this is, the more likely it is to succeed."

Having explained the plan thus, Aurin sat back in his chair again, waiting to see if either Caleb or Stella had any questions about the ruse.

[wolf_caleb]

The plan actually sounded absurdly simple, which made Caleb even more nervous. "Just like that? Walk in, do a change of address with you, and walk out again, registered and collared?" He ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath. "The less complicated the better," he repeated in agreement.

Could it really be that easy? He'd be taking a chance that nobody noticed his missing collar, but nobody would really be looking for it, nobody would know him, or his status. Or what his status should be. And if for some reason he did get stopped, he'd have to talk fast, maybe even just admit he'd been out of the country and was coming to register. If his luck held, and Aurin was as good as he seemed to be, they just might be able to get out of this relatively unscathed.

"If you're willing to take the risk, that I'm all for it. One way or another, this will be all over tomorrow," he said, looking at Stella. "Until it's done, you make sure you're somewhere public doing something with witnesses. I want you as far away from this as you can possibly get."

[prof_stargazer]

The plan sounded- well, simple, as Aurin had said. And if he was actually able to pull it off, it would make everything a lot easier for Caleb.

Stella nodded in agreement with Caleb's request- part of her wanted to accompany him to the Ministry, but she knew it would be dangerous for both of them to do so. "I'll go shopping around here, and stop in at Seamus's new pub to eat." Seamus was an Order member and trustworthy, should it happen that Stella needed someone to vouch for her whereabouts.

She turned back towards Aurin, a hopeful look in her eyes. "And you can set this all up by tomorrow?"

[golden_armor]

Aurin nodded. "That sounds like as good an alibi as any. Don't just stick to contact with Order members, though; make some small talk with one or two strangers as well, so they'll remember meeting you if the Ministry asks around."

"As for getting it set up by tomorrow, If Caleb will send an owl to Ministry HQ after you leave here asking for an appointment, I can volunteer to stay late when the request makes it in. With your permission, I'd like to bring in a colleague of mine, Cyrus Allocen, to back us up and run interference on anyone who might try to approach me while I prepare and file the Registration papers. He'll do what I ask without knowing any details, since we've gone undercover together before and have a strong trust in one another based on that. He won't be told any names, just that people are to be kept out of my office after you leave."

[wolf_caleb]

"Yeah, I can do that, no problem. If you trust him, then that will be good enough for me. Do whatever you need to do to cover yourself." Caleb scrubbed his face with his hands. "I can't believe I'm letting you do this. Aurin, are you sure this is a risk you want to take? I can find another way if I have to," he said, giving the other man a way out.

[golden_armor]

Aurin didn't want a way out. In the short acquaintance he'd had with Caleb Moore, the Auror's attitude toward the whole operation had shifted, from doing Remus a favor owed, to upholding those of his own basic beliefs that conflicted with the agenda of the Ministry at large. Werewolves were people, not animals, and to treat them any differently was to violate their basic rights. Aurin had known that for a long time, intellectually, but only since meeting June had he begun to have a personal connection to the discrimination going on in the wizarding world against those inflicted with lycanthropism. As Ministry regulations targeting werewolves got stricter and stricter, Aurin had been feeling a sense of self-loathing that he couldn't stand up and speak out without losing his job, which would be a blow to the Order, where his higher loyalties lay. Now, he had a chance to do something, and while the risk if he was discovered was great, the benefit of pulling it off was even greater.

He sat up very straight, and looked Caleb in the eyes. The light coming through the windows was at such an angle that it emphasized the scars beneath his left eye, giving him an unconsciously severe look. "Let me make something clear to you, Caleb. Even at the relatively young age of 37, I am already considered a relic in the ranks of the Aurors. Younger recruits are being brought in almost daily, boys and girls barely out of school whose minds can be molded into the Ministry's new way of thinking as the top brass weeds out those like me, who remember when the Magical Law Enforcement Agency was more than just a spiked club in the hand of the Minister of Magic. I have only retained my position through a careful balance of both concealing my actions from and blackmailing my superiors; were I, a respected Auror with a record of distinguished service, who lost family and friends in both wars, to speak against the Ministry, they would have several months of very bad press indeed, and some of my superiors would stand to lost their jobs. However, until now, I have not actually been able to take such action as I would like, as doing so would result in me losing my position, something that the Order of the Phoenix can ill afford at this time."

Aurin ran a hand through his hair, and the moment of severity passed, but his voice was still serious and steady as a rock as he continued, "So you see, my friend, and I address you as such with no irony, for I feel that despite our short acquaintance we will certainly become so in time, helping you is not, for me, an option. Had you proved a man of lesser character, I perhaps would have sought another way, one that carried less risk for myself but was not so sure to succeed. But you have shown yourself both courageous and honorable, in your willingness to move forward with this plan and your concern for Stella and myself in the matter, and I am glad to help you."

[wolf_caleb]

Caleb was stunned by not only Aurin's words, but by the passion in his voice as he spoke them. For a moment, he just stared at the man. Finally, Caleb stood and held out his hand to Aurin. "I appreciate the help, and if you ever need anything, honestly anything, I hope you'll let me know. I owe you. I owe you big," he said, meaning every word.

Whatever Aurin's motivations, he was still taking a risk to do what he thought was right, and Caleb could respect that. There were very few people left in the world willing to do the right thing, and he'd been pleasantly surprised at the number of people who were trying to help him sort things out. Caleb hadn't a clue how he could ever repay Aurin and Remus, but he made a vow to himself that he would find away.

[golden_armor]

((I think I'll wrap things up here, if that's all right with you. Then we can move on to the Registration thread and fill up that placeholder!))

When Caleb stood, Aurin stood as well, and took the hand offered in a firm handshake that had all the significance that the small gesture could contain. He grinned, a genuinely friendly expression that broke the serious atmosphere of the conversation and restored some lightness to his tone. "I don't normally like to call in favors, but in this case I think you're right; I can't say I know when, though. Maybe never. But it's good to know we're on the same side."

With the meeting thus ended, Aurin conducted his guests back downstairs and saw them off with a wave and a smile. Just as they became lost in the crowd that always seemed to be present in the Alley in the daytime, Toviel returned, coming from the opposite direction. Aurin changed the sign in the door back to "open," saw his brother settled behind the counter, and went upstairs to change; he was working half-shifts at Ministry HQ since he'd got back from America, to get back into the swing of things at home, and today he had the afternoon shift.

He pulled his scarlet Auror's robes on and summoned Romero to his shoulder. It was only then, with his arm held out for the bird, that Aurin noticed how much his hands were shaking. He sat down behind his desk and tried to steady himself. It wouldn't do to dwell on the consequences, though the scenarios running through his head showed odd parallels to the scenes of his past interspersed with them. He shoved the thoughts away almost physically, with a violent shake of his head. Caleb and Stella were obviously afraid enough for all of them, and Aurin knew it was his job to stay calm. He wouldn't fear until he had concrete reason to, instead of imagined consequences of mistakes not yet made.

Still, as he descended once more to the first floor, he thought that it would pay to be cautious. Approaching the door, Aurin stopped and turned to catch Toviel's attention. His older brother's inquisitive look changed to one of concern at the look on Aurin's face, a look which only deepened as he spoke. "Tove, I...I've gotten myself into some business that may go bad tomorrow. If it does, it will go very bad indeed, and not just for me, for everyone I know. So in the morning, I'm going to give you a list of names. Memorize it in the morning, then burn it, or eat it, just destroy it so it can't be reclaimed."

"It's very, very important that if, tomorrow or any time in the future, I send Romero to you carrying my wand, my badge, or even a scrap of my robes, you contact every person on that list and tell them that I've been found out, then get yourself and dad out of the country." Toviel drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, but he and Aurin had been working in dangerous circumstances for a long time before this. He said nothing, but nodded to show he understood.

With that, Aurin left the shop and apparated to the Ministry, the "CRACK" of his departure echoing across Diagon Alley.