RP: Defensive Instincts

[shh_kingsley]

Date: 28 August 2005
Characters: Horace Slughorn, Lisa Turpin, Kingsley Shacklebolt
Location: Dept. of Mysteries, Horrace's House at 3rd & D
Status: Private
Summary: DoM Head Turpin and Auror Shacklebolt go to collect a book from Professor Slughorn.
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[shh_lisa]

"Morning, Shacklebolt," said Lisa as she opened the door wide, allowing him inside. There wasn't a hair out of place on her head, but she hadn't troubled much to hide the fact that she'd been here for hours with very little sleep in between their last meeting and current. Upon further investigation into Moriarty's grimoire, as it was, she'd decided that more than the typical wards would likely be necessary: as to Slughorn's warning that a personal desire for power might spark it, she wasn't particularly worried about either herself or Shacklebolt. Short-tempered though he might have been, Lisa had had cause to study his career extensively during her time as an Auror, and had never seen any sign to that effect. Besides, Moody had certainly seemed to trust him- so far as Gawain's trust in his judgement went, that was almost good enough for her

[shh_kingsley]

"Morning, ma'am." She looked tired.

"I wish I knew. I'm inclined to hope for the best and expect the worst," never a bad philosophy for facing dark items.

"Would you give me an overview of how you'd like this to go down?" Kingsley had no desire to be debating tactics or procedure with her in front of the professor. The Moriarty was coming to the DoM, that meant that she was the boss, and he needed to appear completely supportive of her in front of Slughorn.

[shh_lisa]

"Gladly," said Lisa, setting the simple brown leather briefcase she'd warded down on the ground before she reached up to the mantle for the urn of floo powder that stood there. "We'll retrieve the book and I'll bring it back here immediately to safe storage- I personally am free to Apparate in and out of this building. You'll stay with Professor Slughorn until I return; I have some reason to suspect that it might attempt to reach out to him, knowing it was being transferred, particularly if it's had some success in influencing him in the past. I'll rejoin you once the book is secure, at which point I imagine you might like to conduct an inteview; if not, we'll leave Professor Slughorn there for the time being until I consider it appropriate to approach him again with further questions. Any additions?"

At this, she removed the top from the urn of powder, taking a handful large enough for herself and extending it to Kingsley.

[shh_kingsley]

"Are you sure apparating with it is wise?" Kingsley was a bit skeptical about her transferring it alone, but it was her show.

"The Professor is licensed to have the book and turned it in on his own accord. Unless there is any issue in the retreival, I don't see a need for an interview today. I will be following up with him over the course of the next week or so to insure there are no residual effects." He took some of the floo powder for himself.

[shh_slughorn]

Horace waited in the kitchen, wondering when his visitors would arrive, and checked that everything was ready. Protective clothing, of course - though he doubted that anything he owned would suit Shacklebolt or Turpin, he'd just have to hope that they had their own. Tea, naturally. Retcon had volunteered to stay to look after it, while Stammy took his children out for the day. And of course plenty of chocolate, the best thing for staving off low-level curse effects without recourse to potions.

Horace was ready. He just hoped that his visitors would be...

[shh_lisa]

"Ready, then?" asked Lisa, floo powder in one hand, wand and case in the other. "I hope you don't mind if I ward you," it wasn't really a question, but she thought it best to give some warning before casting magic on an Auror. If Slughorn's wards were as stable as he'd mentioned, there wasn't much need, but it was old magic and apt to react poorly if too much disturbed.

[shh_kingsley]

"Ready." He eyed her for a moment when she asked if he minded if she warded him. Frankly he did mind. Kingsley didn't take well to having wands pointed at him. He'd set his wards himself on each layer as he dressed, as well as verified the spells on his old Auror robes were still properly in place, even his earring was a form of protection. "It's already done. I don't mind if you wish to verify or cast another." Actually he did mind, as it meant her pointing her wand at him, but he'd suck it up.

After she finished, he raised an eyebrow in inquiry. "Would you like me to return the favor?"

[shh_lisa]

Lisa had to strongly resist the urge to roll her eyes as she finsished with Kingsley's wards. Praise be to circumstance that they'd never been tasked together; a small voice inside her muttered that there was no way she should expect him to know of her preeminence in the subject, but it still rankled to be treated like an amateur. Well, it couldn't have lasted forever.

"I'm quite all right, thank you," she said coolly, meeting his eyes to be sure he was ready and then throwing her powder into the fireplace.

[shh_kingsley]

After Turpin went through the Floo, Kingsley allowed himself a deep chuckle before following her through.

"Good morning, Professor." Kingsley nodded to the gentleman.

[shh_slughorn]

"Good morning to you both," said Horace. "Would you care for some tea while we wait for the rest of your people to arrive?"

[shh_lisa]

Lisa glanced at Kingsley as he stepped through the fireplace after her, left with the distinct impression that he was far too relaxed considering the situation at hand. Nodding at Slughorn, her face was a mask of impassivity.

"It's only us Professor, I'm afraid," she replied. If in actuality she thought that she and Kingsley were more than up to the task, no sign of it echoed in her voice. Slughorn's home, like his study, was richy appointed for Stoatshead; it didn't surprise her that the Moriarity had been a prize he was hard-pressed to resist acquiring, and a cup of tea would certainly do well as she assessed the situation further. "I'd love a cup, thank you."

[shh_slughorn]

"Just you?" Horace tried not to show too much surprise. "Oh well, I dare say you can cope. Last time it was moved by the Ministry they bought some squibs along to handle it, but I dare say your personal wards are better than they had in the eighties."

Retcon put tea and biscuits on the table, and Horace added "Thank you, Retcon, better scoot off out of the house until we're finished. Don't want any accidents. Go and get the shopping, there's a good chap." He waited until the house-elf was gone then added "I don't think the book can actually affect house-elves, but it wouldn't do to have him underfoot if someone has a bad reaction..."

[shh_kingsley]

"Thank you for the offer, but nothing for me, sir." Kingsley nodded politely and resolved to keep his face completely blank. He wondered how much of his file was missing if Turpin wasn't aware of Kingsley's special talent. It wasn't as if Old Rufus and Idiot Cornelius hadn't made use of it... him, but then it was possible some of his file had been conveniently lost. He wouldn't complain if it had. He'd remain quiet, observe, and be the Good Auror. It was the lady's show and he was looking forward to seeing Horace Slughorn and Lisa Turpin take tea together. He had a feeling he'd appreciate the view, even if his own ticket was for over here in the cheap seats.

[shh_slughorn]

There was a rather uncomfortable silence as Horace poured the tea. Eventually he said "Well, at least we've got fairly good weather today. Should make things easier when you leave."

[shh_lisa]

"Thank you, Professor," said Lisa as she sat, watching him carefully as he poured out two cups of tea. He seemed to be largely stable; deciding that she might well use whatever resources she had, she met his eyes. "I had intended to Apparate with it. Is there some reason why you think that might be a problem?"

She tried very hard to ignore whatever expression might have passed across Shacklebolt's face; surely he had his methods, but she was rather sure her own better suited the circumstance.

[shh_slughorn]

"Mmmph," said Horace, swallowing and trying hard not to splutter tea on the table. Eventually he said "Well... I'm not saying it can't be done. Most things can be done. I wouldn't want to try it. The casing is magic-resistant, of course, so you might have trouble getting it to come along with you. And if you did, the odds are that you would find yourself splinched, and possibly splinched with parts of the book incorporated into your body. If you tried carrying the book without the protective casing I'd say that was more or less a certainty."