Man on a Mission
WHO: Mike, Flying Solo WHERE: Lots of Bad Places WHAT: Shaking the trees WHEN: Afternoon, June 11 and straight on until morning WHY: Do you even have to ask?
There are places throughout Wizarding Britain where those who traffic on the... grayer side of magic ply their business. Nocturne Alley is known to all - it's practically safe. There are other places. Michael Corner paid each of them a visit.
Nocturne Alley, Borgin and Burkes
Borgin was having trouble breathing at the moment. His silk tie held him off the ground. He clawed at it, gasping for air. A moment later, an invisible knife sliced through the tie and Borgin dropped to the ground, panting like a dog. Michael Corner flipped over another page in the ledger impatiently, then looked up at the weak old man. "I know she hasn't come here. She's mad, but she's not stupid. But you know people who know people and they talk to you. You know their dirty little secrets because you're the wanker that sells them their... spider chains and then buys them back at half the price when they hear the Aurors are coming." Borgin started to cough a protest, but Corner hurled the ledger at him. "Don't interrupt. I'm monologuing." He reached under the counter for a delicate crystal vial. He popped the cork, took an experimental sniff. "Nice. Probably worth more than Arthur Weasley makes in a year." He held the vial over one of the many candles illuminating the shop, then poured the contents out over it. "Whups." Spiraling plumes of green and black smoke twirled around each other. "Now that I have your undivided attention. I just need to tell you two things."
Ottery St Catchpole, The home of Ulysses Filch
Michael pulled another volume from the bookshelf. "Oh my. This is a naughty one. The Wisdom of Lord Voldemort. First edition. And look, he wrote your pop a note. 'Let this wisdom consume you.' Now what the hell is that supposed to mean?" He looked up and smirked. "Oh hold on." He pulled the filthy sock from the young man's mouth.
"Filthy mud-"
Mike didn't bother replacing the sock. He just hit Filch again.
"The first thing you need to do is tell her I'm coming for her."
Belfast, The Dragon's Cup, The Back Room
"Kids today," muttered Michael. The five wizards and three witches were barely out of Hogwarts. But they each had an imitation Dark Mark tattooed on various body parts. They called themselves the Death Bringers and if they weren't responsible for half the pixie dust in Ireland, he'd probably get the giggles just looking at them. But right now they were eight scared kids chained to the floor. He hadn't meant to break the lad's arm. (Probably.) He cleared his throat.
"The second thing is that I know what she's after."
The Doghouse
Michael took another swig from his flask and waited. He'd give himself an hour to rest and then he was back out again. He puffed on a cigarette and looked at the note.
"Tell them those things. Keep shaking the bushes until she moves. Don't get dead. Hermione will kill you." He scratched his forehead, and wondered what it was, exactly, that he knew. The part of him that couldn't leave a puzzle alone poked at the blank spots in his memory. The part of him that knew better reminded him to burn the note and stop poking at it. Someone he trusted held the pieces he'd burned out of his mind. The comforting thing was that he didn't even know who had them. But if it had been important enough to Obliviate himself before going on the hunt, well, it had to be pretty toxic.
He patted his pocket again. Even through the spellweaved leather of his coat, he could feel the chill of what was inside. But it was also strangely comforting.
Hagrid's Hut
Olympe held Hagrid while he sobbed. She knew the Weasley boy had been like a son to him. She was grateful that she had been there when it had happened. Hagrid had barely survived the loss of his surrogate father and son so long ago. This news had ripped the enormous man open and his heart spilled out onto the floor. She didn't know why the strange man had left a silver bottle of memories with her poor broken love, but she hoped it would help bring her love peace.