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Elaine arched a brow, seemingly amused. "You wish to return it to the way it was, is that right?" she cocked her head and leaned forward. "Was it not your idea to see others join us in the first place?"
"It was," Harry reckoned that was a fair point to be made, but he was confident they'd be safe without the others. Aster had given them a book, so he knew more than he previously did, and Corene's expertise was almost entirely possessed by Elaine. "But I figure it'd be better if it were just us. Safer for them, safer for us, and quicker too."
"Tell me I was right?" Elaine's amused smile turned very satisfied as she leaned in closer.
Harry sighed. "You won't give me an answer until I do?"
"I'll bring along an entire team of Aurors for our protection."
"Can I get a kiss after?"
"You could have one before and after. Why would I ever decline?" Elaine arched a brow at him. "Still waiting, you know."
"You were right," He rolled his eyes. "Happy?"
"Extremely, but I should say, always," Elaine leaned back in her seat, and then with a flick of her wrist, that seat was pushed right up against his own. "We'll leave tonight and return within eight hours, before our shifts at the Ministry. Pepper-up potions and others to stem the exhaustion will be prepared ahead of time. We'll leave after a meal and bathe upon our return, at which point we'll check one another over for any signs of charms having been applied during our presence."
"Have we done that before?" Harry blinked. He couldn't recall doing so.
"No," Elaine shook her head. "Well, not in-depth and not making a moment of it. I've already taken it upon myself to include various wards in those that were already here which do so for us, but better safe than sorry with magic he's famous and infamous for creating or rediscovering spells of all types."
"I see," Harry shrugged, and then he brought something else up; it wasn't like he disagreed with her idea. "We'll take our day off the day after tomorrow then?"
"I would hope so," Elaine folded her arms. "I'll not be doing a double shift without rest and without a day off thereafter. That sounds entirely too masochistic."
Harry laughed, and she did much the same.
"Do dress in the outfit Corene and I made for you, lover, and grab the packs we have preassembled in the sitting room. I'll be going to the cauldrons down below. Additional potions are likely necessary," Elaine wrinkled her nose. "Norway will be entirely too cold, and I've spent less than a day learning about all that's present and important there. We'll depart in three hours' time. Seek me out when dinner's ready."
And just like that, she popped away, elsewhere.
He'd wanted to ask if there was a dinner she desired, or aid he could offer, but he supposed she'd already made up her mind to do it on her lonesome.
That was always who she'd been, and likely always who she'd be.
Ah well, he could just stop down with a cup of tea or something of that ilk, surprise her and please her.
And so off he went.
Harry gathered up what few belongings he needed to prepare and stored them atop the large loveseat in their sitting room. Next, he cashed a freshening charm over his person, and then dressed shortly thereafter in the enchanted clothing Elaine and Corene had so carefully crafted for him before.
It was as comfortable as he remembered, and certainly just as clean; it'd not really seen usage yet, after all.
Finally, he double-checked so as to ensure he'd packed Aster's book, before setting off to the kitchens. The dining room for just the two of them was something they'd do quite seldomly, and this evening, well, with how busy they were, it didn't feel necessary.
Mayhaps on their day off, they'd have a romantic little dinner. That sounded quite pleasant to him.
He reckoned it would to her as well. Elaine was always one for romantic gestures, even if others thought that couldn't be farther from the truth. It wasn't like those 'others' knew the true her. Only the image which she imagined each person preferred, and would be most willing to work with. Harry had been aware of that for quite some time now.
At one point, when mention of Muggleborns was frequent, it was those various supporters that drove a wedge between them as she made different promises to ensure their power went behind her.
With how established they now were, such things were no longer issues. But he doubted he'd forget how easily she flipped that switch; at least now, it was rare as could be.
"Laddey?" Harry called out.
The little elf appeared, and cocked his head and blinked those big, innocent eyes up at Harry. "How can Laddey help?"
"Rot and Veely about?"
Laddey nodded. "Always, just like Laddey."
"We'll need more gardeners and guards come soon enough. I'd have their assistance in picking other house elves to work for them. Naturally, all would ultimately answer to you, then to me — before you or the others ask either, no, it's nothing you did. We just plan on having the other properties fixed up, and we'll need others to help maintain them," Harry anticipated a question or worry voiced by Laddey, and by the look on his face, it'd seemed one had been close to coming forth. "Have them see if they have family or others they remember, and tell me if there's any others they've met. We won't do it tonight, but just get them thinking for me."
"Laddey can do that. Is there anything else?" the elf seemed placated by his words.
"Dinner?"
Laddey blinked at him. "It's already cooking. Treacle Tarts too. Momsey said you wanted them."
Harry smiled wide as could be; Merlin, he loved these house elves.
Dinner went by quickly with Elaine, who seemed busy, occupied, even, during their meal. Enough so that, even throughout their eating, she referenced a parchment she'd brought along to the table. One that continued to have words written via an animated quill even as she referenced parts higher up that very same parchment.
Elaine was taking it as serious as could be, so when he brought her tea and insisted on staying for what remained of their prep time, he felt it prudent that he dig in just as hard as she was. If the place in question was cause for so much review, so much preparation, mayhaps it'd be the place which they sought since that last battle.
By this point, Harry would commit himself to just about any ritual imaginable if it meant knowing where that last bit of Grindelwald's soul was.
When the hour passed them by, and the last stages of their preparation were completed, Elaine grabbed his hand, and with nary a word spoken, apparated them before the Floo. Their belongings were on the loveseat, with additions she'd made; the packs, enchanted as they were for ten times the capacity, still managed to bulge with all that'd been forced inside.
"My animation's certainly gotten better," Harry said as they paused before the fireplace in question. "I'll transfigure a few knights to act as shields for us. Won't have to worry about keeping them safe while they focus on doing just that for us."
Elaine pushed her lips to the side as she eyed Harry. "I'd have you stay here just like Corene or Aster, if I thought you'd agree. Would that I could keep you safe."
"At least you know I'd still come along regardless of what you say."
"Naturally," Elaine's disconcerting look turned to a small little smirk as she looked him up and down. "Would I call you my equal or treat you as such if you were anything but?"
"I'd imagine not."
Elaine smiled. "You imagine correctly — who could've thought?" She took up a hand of Floo powder and stepped closer to the Floo. "We're going to Bleik, Norway. There's only one connection there, so we needn't specify. Ensure the warming charms are activated, stay close, pronounce it as I do, and focus on your safety, not mine."
"Uh-huh," Harry would be sure to listen to everything she said. Most definitely.
The pair looked at one another in silence, neither moving.
"What?"
"I'm waiting."
"Fo— oh," Harry stepped forward once realisation dawned upon him, wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him. Not a second later, he closed the little distance that remained between their faces, and pressed his lips to hers.
The smile on her face as she met him was indicative of what she desired throughout almost all hours of the day; his attention, his affection.
He pulled back after his lungs began to burn, and took in the hooded look she shot him, as well as the flush of her face that spread down her neck, to her heaving chest. Whenever she looked well-snogged like that… Merlin, words couldn't describe what he thought.
Well, some could, but he'd not think of them — if he did, there wasn't a chance they'd leave this night. Not with her intercepting such emotions without pause.
"Remember, pronounce it just as I do," Elaine's voice was, more or less, normal, but the heaving of her chest remained as she stepped forth, to the Floo. Therein, she stood tall, adjusted the strap of her satchel, shot him a wink, and finally, threw down the powder as she said the name of their destination.
In the blink of an eye, she was gone, the greenish flames falling back to nothingness.
Harry grabbed up a handful of his own, and adjusted the emergency portkey he wore around his neck. Were there trouble, even in Norway, far away as that was, there'd be an out for them. He reckoned it'd be more of the same — that meaning empty and dead — but he was eager to be proven wrong.
One sign, Merlin, even a few footprints; he'd take anything if it gave them a lead.
Harry threw down the Floo powder, and the Floo saw him off.
When next he opened his eyes, he found himself in a wooden and warm interior, with no small amount of noise. By the look of things, he was in a pub. He looked to his left and saw Elaine standing there, a map in her hands. Once he noticed her, he brushed himself off and took the few steps necessary to be by her side.
"We'll have a drink here and see what we can overhear before heading out," Elaine said to him, without a care in the world; he understood why too, given her wand was in her hand. Privacy charms were another speciality of hers. One of many in a vast, growing list of capabilities she possessed.
He took another glance around the place, feeling distinctly unimpressed by the lack of popularity it seemed to have. "Quiet night."
"Whispers need only one to be heard," Elaine pulled him by the hand to the nearest table, one that offered a view into the sleepy little village beyond. It seemed like the vast majority of those they saw outside were Muggles based on manner of dress — mayhaps the place was kept secret, but intermingled like many a spot in London seemed to be. "Mulled wine, lover?"
"Sounds good," he blinked when he saw the writing on the menu beside them. "Can't read any of that. Can you?"
Elaine shook her head. "Not without the assistance of magic. I do have in my satchel a dictionary of many languages for just this reason."
"You've not taught me any translation spell before."
She cocked her head. "Why would I, when I'll always be by your side when such a thing is needed?" she leaned forward, a brow arched. "That's more witches to be troublesome, and another happening which you'll not rely on me to solve, just as I do for you and all things Muggle, even with Aster's little book."
If he'd ever wondered if Elaine had changed completely and utterly before, he reckoned that wasn't quite the case. She was still her, to be certain. Tamer, more pleased and outwardly agreeable, but certainly just as affectionate as ever, and as possessive. The more he recalled the latter fact, the more he reckoned it'd been true from when first they'd met.
The only witches he met with, privately or publicly, were those she knew of; Corene, Druella, Daphne, Sarah, Vee… there were no new witches in his life that he'd not met at Hogwarts. He'd not count his secretaries either, for they had a whole divider betwixt their office and his, complete with a door and a permission enchantment before entering.
She'd thought of it all.
"I'm still having you help me learn a bit of it when we get home," Harry folded his arms. "It'll help me when seeking out new spells and the like instead of waiting for a translation or getting assistance from Sarah or Corene if it's in Greek or French, yeah?"
Elaine opened her mouth, but then, her face morphed into a sinister-looking smirk. "Listen." Such was the only word she spoke aloud… and then he heard speaking, but it wasn't her voice he was hearing.
It was a man's. Gruff and most certainly speaking something that wasn't English. Elaine didn't seem able to understand it anymore than he was, but that wasn't an issue. Not with the Quill that was beside them on the table, animated and writing a massive, sprawling text across the parchment before it.
He reckoned it was noting down everything which was being said.
"When did you even place that charm?" Harry was curious.
"Before you arrived, I cast one on every person present," Elaine gestured over his shoulder, like she was flicking a fly away. "There's only seven present, and only two pairs made from those seven. I'd prepared for ten different parchments to be used by ten different quills, but I see they needn't be brought out."
"Evidently not," Harry said with a snort and a glance around the place. It really was rather dead in here, but he supposed it was later, and the village was small to boot, just like the magical community in the far north of Norway. "Is it already translating for you?"
Elaine preened under his attention. "It is," she paused. "I suppose at the cost of much attention and more kisses, I could teach you how to do as I'm doing."
"Seems like an easy enough price to pay." Harry mused aloud.
"I should hope so." Her eyes sought out the parchment, and she huffed. "A shopping list made with his partner. How quaint. I do hope one of our new friends will convey something important, lest we need to do all the work."
"We know where it is, don't we?" Harry was rather confident they knew where it was, or thereabouts, given the information Corene had given them.
"We know exactly where it is, yes, but that isn't the point of our waiting. I aim to see if anybody makes mention of it, or any other issues prevalent in the community. Were followers of his still around, I doubt they'd not be spoken of in a pub — alcohol loosens lips, enough so that many get in trouble in such places." Elaine cast a glance over his shoulder, to those that occupied the various tables, few in number as they were. "If nothing comes up in thirty minutes, more or less, we'll start off."
"Apparate, you mean."
Elaine raised a brow at him. "Must I mean apparate?" her eyes went to the window, peering through it at the peacefulness that was the village they now found themselves in. "Our presence has gone unnoticed. I would walk with you through such a nice place, and take in the sight of this countryside. It'd be romantic, and you could keep me warm."
"Ever the basking rock, aren't I?"
"At least you know it, lover."
Harry snorted at her response, which had been immediate. "More mulled wine?"
This time, it was Elaine's turn to seem vaguely surprised. "Fancy it, do you?"
"Fancy anything with you."
Elaine huffed. "Always such remarks when I'm unable to act upon them. Wait until we're home."
Harry wiped the stupid, self-satisfied smirk from his face. He'd remembered the words Elaine had said earlier in the day. The ones that 'threatened' him about when they'd return home later in the evening. He couldn't wait.
But now that they were nearing the entrance, or where it should be, he had to get a bit more serious and focused. He couldn't be distracted with the possibility of danger lying ahead; without Aster and Corene as well, it felt more… serious.
It was a stupid word, but he couldn't think of one better. When they'd been with Elaine and him, it'd felt like Hogwarts again, and the lack of danger, the lack of anything really, hadn't helped.
"Is it that little brick building up ahead?" Harry asked, his voice a whisper. One that was barely heard by Elaine over the howling wind.
"Just beyond it, according to the guide Corene drew for us," Elaine flicked upwards, and the aforementioned map was flown before them, and kept secure despite the wind. "Strange, that I've sensed no magic, and we see no sign of Muggle weaponry or soldiers."
"They could've gone home already. The war's over, remember?" Harry raised a hand and rubbed at his chin. "I haven't seen so much as a gun or destroyed building since we've been here."
Elaine nodded once. "A fair point," she said. "I do hope this isn't abandoned like the other places we've gone as of late. I yearn for a fight — strange as that might sound."
"Not too strange. I've missed it too, bad as it sounds." Harry meant it too. When the enemy had been present and obvious, there'd been no issue. Not one. Everything was straightforward. You knew who you had to fight, where they'd be, and the fact that they'd be in or around that exact area.
Now they were cowards. Those who had lived and sided with Grindelwald, wouldn't own up to it. Instead they hid away in little holdouts, waiting for the world to forget and forgive, but so long as Harry and Elaine had the Ministry, that would never happen. Everybody had to answer for their crimes, and they would, in time.
"There we are," Elaine smiled when she said those words. "The tree near to us, just beyond that little brick building you pointed out, is an illusion. The first sign of magic I've seen since that rustic pub you so enjoyed."
"You enjoyed it too." Harry remembered the little smiles she had whilst they ate and drank. He remembered just about every time she smiled.
Elaine blinked at him. "I enjoy whatsoever you enjoy. Be happy, and so too will I be. Be cross, and I'll allow my anger to flow freely. You know that by now, don't you?"
"Suppose I do," Harry said with a nod as he pulled her into his side. "Just illusion magic up ahead?"
"That would seem to be the case. For now. It's likely whatever's hidden is a path downwards, into the earth he seemed so fond of hiding in," Elaine tutted. "Were I ever in his shoes, I'd not be half as reclusive. Luckily for us many couldn't stand him."
"Lucky for us." Harry's response was a touch dry, but Elaine didn't pay it any mind. "I'll clear the path up ahead of us. Don't want your shoes getting all wet."
"I've had them enchanted."
He blinked. "Is everything you wear enchanted these days?"
"Do you think I'm a peasant?" Elaine waved her hand, and before his very eyes, the snow began to roll itself as if it were a carpet, making a perfect path for the pair of them. "Everything I wear, even those nightgowns you're so fond of, are riddled with magic. They keep themselves clean, allow cooling or heating, repair the fabric and more."
"Is mi—"
"You receive all the same magic applied to your apparel as I do. Corene aided me in seeing to that and I, in turn, aided her with procuring and researching such magic." Elaine plucked at the collar of his shirt and muttered something, and immediately, the material grew a touch snugger, and far warmer. "Convenient, isn't it?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah. I'd say so — it'd be more convenient if you told me all the various charms and the like."
"That'd take away far too much fun." Elaine paused and looked away from him, to the 'tree' now that they'd reached it. "And here we are. Mayhaps we'll finally find some of the answers we're seeking."
"Think so?"
"I aim to be optimistic when it comes to these raids of ours."
He supposed that made sense. There was no point in being as pessimistic as he oft was.
"Shall we?"
Elaine smiled. "I do believe we shall — my thanks for adhering to ladies first."
As if there was anyway I wouldn't, he nearly replied, but instead, he gestured ahead. "Aim to please, don't I?"
"Always." Elaine assured him as she brushed past and 'accidentally' pushed against his front.
And a moment later, the illusion was torn down. In place of it… seemed to be nothing. But that wasn't exactly true. Not when, a moment later, Elaine blasted dirt and snow and stone alike away from the place before her, and revealed therein a hatch. Wooden and old-seeming, and distinctly out of place up in the woodlands.
"Magic." Harry said, nodding at it; for once, he'd beaten her to the punch. "Some sort of lock, I'd say. One that's likely to alert anybody to our presence upon usage."
"Fun," Elaine clapped, pleased. "I hope that means we have hosts for when we enter. Such a good sign so early on."
"I'd say it means there's a higher chance. This and the illusion earlier." Harry didn't doubt that for a minute. This was the first time they'd seen signs so early on. The more there were, the more likely this was, indeed, some sort of outpost wherein those loyal to Grindelwald, remained.
He could hope.
"It's very indicative of their presence." Elaine then mused aloud a thought. "Mayhaps that means we'll find more bodies, alive, or dead."
"Be weird, wouldn't it? If they were dead, I mean? The other place had a few bits of proof of fights," Harry took a glance around. "I don't see any of that here. No Muggle explosions, blown up buildings or trees or graves. Reckon we would've on the way up, if not around here."
"A fair point." Elaine said. "We'll be silent then — come here. I'd activate one of the charms in your clothing."
"And you'll tell me about them when we're home." Harry said, as he obliged her request.
"If you're good, maybe," Elaine's tone was teasing, as was her visage. "And here we are. The disillusionment charm's activated. I'll do the same for mine now."
As soon as those latter words of hers were said, Elaine went invisible… or near enough to invisible.
"Huh. Just how many charms did you cram in here?" He raised his hand to his face, and saw right through it, as if he wasn't even there; it felt different to those he'd practised.
"More than a day's worth of effort, refined as they are." Elaine traced her wand along the hatch, and the magic he'd detected fell apart. All of it, and seemingly at once… but as quickly as it was gone, it was present once more.
He shot her a look then. "Did you replace their charm?"
"I took control of it," she smiled and made to flip it open. "Shall we?"
Harry stopped her immediately, clutching her hand as it extended. "Wait."
"What?"
He gave her a look that conveyed it should be obvious by now. "Muggle traps. You only checked for Magic," he squeezed past her, and lowered himself so that he was nearer to the ground. "Give me a minute or so and I'll see if we missed anything. Better safe than sorry."
"Fine." Elaine stood up, and flourished her wand.
To Harry, the effect wasn't immediately obvious. But then he blinked… and he swore he could see… "Did you recast the tree illusion?"
"A perfect copy." Elaine said it as if it were obvious. "Anything yet?"
Harry shook his head. "No, not yet." He kneeled closer to the ground, and ran his hands along the edges whilst keeping a low-level lumos cast.
The top revealed nothing.
The right side revealed nothing.
The left side revealed nothing.
But the bottom… the bottom made him blink as he took in the little space between the frame, and the hatch itself. It looked like there was some sort of wire, copper-coloured and gleaming. There should be no reason for something such as that to be by the entryway. None that he could recall.
"Trap. I think." Harry tapped with his wand right by the area in question. "I'm not exactly sure how to disable it from here. Aster's book might help, but I think it'd be better if we went around it. Transfiguration isn't exactly hard, is it?"
"No, I should think not." Elaine gestured to him. "If you'd please."
And so Harry set to work.
"Done," Harry gestured to the little tunnel to the right that went down, and opened up into the room he'd discovered. A few metres as it was, it'd taken him little and less in the way of time. "I'll take a peek in first, see what's up there by the hatch and see if I can't get rid of it. Don't go too far ahead, please."
"I'll stay within yelling distance. I would see if there's anybody else present near to this entry of ours," Elaine then made to follow him down and in.
When the pair reached the 'entrance', he moved in first, and she followed in afterwards, a second between them, not that either could see the other very well.
Harry's eyes sought out the ladder, and hatch, and it was as he took in the latter that he recognised his call had been the right one to make. The reason was simple; the wire led to a grenade… or something along those lines. He couldn't say exactly what it was, but it was an explosive. He knew that well enough.
He turned to look back her way, but in that dimly lit room, he really couldn't make her out. So he moved towards the far side, near where the doors were, and whispered, low as could be. Only somebody especially closeby would hear him, and certainly not somebody beyond a wall or door.
"Elaine?" That was all he said.
No response was given, but he felt a hand clutch his, and by Merlin, did he nearly jump out of his skin.
"Right here, lover," she must have noticed the jolt, given her next words. "Nervous, are we?"
"Not funny," he huffed. "And I was right. There's a trap, attached to the hatch. Some sort of Muggle explosive, or something along those lines. Not sure exactly what, but it's definitely better that we went around. Better to leave that same way too."
"You're the one with more knowledge in that regard than I. I'll trust your judgement," Elaine gestured to the wall, and when he looked back at it, he saw the material slowly shifting, to hide away what he'd done; she spoke whilst he watched her work. "I'm covering our tracks. I'll keep a crack, small and barely noticeable for our sake."
Harry gave her a nod. It wasn't a bad idea. "Anybody else down here with us?"
"In the vicinity, five others. Depending on the depths and how deep they go, more could be present. We'll have many a new brain to pick through." Her voice was happy as could be. Eager, even.
"We're capturing them?"
Elaine cocked her head to the side, similar to how Corene did it, but more aggressive-seeming. "Why wouldn't we? They're holdouts. Who else but them might know more about other such locations?"
"I see," Harry dipped his head. "They'll be able to confirm or deny the spots in Germany and the surrounding lands down there."
"And confirm the existence of others." Elaine pressed a kiss against his neck, and then she tugged on his hand. "Four beyond the nearest door. Stun the nearer two. I've got the farther."
"We sho—"
"There's no magic on the door. I've cleared it already." Elaine exhaled; he heard the noise and felt it splash against his face. "You wish to check for Muggle traps? I'd not imagine they'd use them, given this seems to be their sleeping quarters."
"One would also assume a guard would be posted, but there wasn't, was there?"
He felt that was a good point that he'd raised; why wasn't somebody on guard duty?
"Arrogance is the enemy of all, but one so easily vanquished. Unlike death," Elaine pulled away after such words, and spoke again. "Check the door, but do so quickly. We wish to handle this easily, don't we?"
"Easily means we shouldn't rush. Give me a few seconds, and just watch behind us." Harry didn't need to tell her to stun, bind them or silence them. Elaine would do that without any need for him to say to do so.
He set to work, and nary a minute later, he nodded, satisfied. "You were right. Nothing there," he was quiet as could be. "Ready."
The moment that word was said, the door was opened, and he went in right alongside Elaine; his hand along her back until they split for their respective pairs.
When he saw his two off to the right, each sleeping atop a mattress that was resting atop the cold, stone floor, he felt his heartbeat pick up. Finally, they'd found some of who they were seeking. It was nearly cause to rejoice, given how long they'd been seeking a clue, a lead; he'd wished for just that earlier in the day, he swore.
He saw a flash of light from his left, and immediately, with his wand in-hand, set to stunning his two; he did so without preamble after the prompt, and without failure. Each was bound not a moment after they'd been stunned too, for good measure.
There was no reason to do so, but he wished to be safe.
Harry turned again to look to the left, and saw Elaine become far more visible. Enough so that he could make out her general shape, and most of the details of her face.
"Good?" he called to her in a whisper.
"That leaves one, in one of the other rooms. Check yours and their belongings for anything worthwhile — take no more than a minute to do so. Now that we've started, we must work quickly if we aim to avoid alerting those that remain." That was all the answer Elaine gave his question.
Harry snorted, but set to work once more. In a minute, if that, he'd gone through their belongings and their pockets; he stole their wands too, for good measure, and summoned forth those of Elaine's as well. He was right tempted to snap them in half and have that be the end of it.
But he didn't.
And then they departed the room with little gain.
Next, Elaine cleared a door which housed the last remaining person of the five apart from them. Again, she dispelled a charm that'd been placed over it, and again, Harry checked it over for signs of a Muggle trap; there was none.
"I don't believe this one's sleeping," Elaine spoke as if her lips were right against his ears. "Cast a privacy charm. I'll handle the resident."
Harry set to work immediately, and once finished, moved in a manner that allowed him a better view of the final door they'd left untouched; he reckoned it was either a closet, or a staircase. Nothing else… unless a Loo made sense.
He turned towards the door again, expecting to see her so as to give her the go ahead, but instead, she wasn't visible any longer and the door was ajar. Harry resisted the temptation to peek inside after her, and returned his attention to the door in question.
A few seconds ticked by; nothing occurred.
Twice as many; nothing occurred.
He'd begun to grow curious and worried in equal parts by the time he gazed towards the door once more, but when he did so, he saw it pulled back a smidge… and then he heard the softness that was Elaine's whispers. "Handled; I pocketed a few items to go over upon our return home."
"Stunned and bound?"
Elaine nodded, and then without saying a word, tossed him something; a wand. When he sent her a look, only then did she speak. "You collected the other four. I thought you might like to complete the set."
"Funny." He pocketed it all the same. "Final door?"
"Final door."
The pair went over to it without pause, and as disillusioned as could be. When they reached it, Elaine went first, clearing it of magic and then whispering but a word to convey that it was Harry's turn to search for Muggle traps.
He did so quickly, and found what he'd expected.
Nothing.
And so they pushed it open, carefully… and revealed to themselves a staircase that descended into darkness.
"Anything?" Harry wagered the first spell she'd use would be that which would give away the presence of others.
"Not so much as a hint, so far. The depth could, as I previously said, be an issue," Elaine brushed past him — he felt her do so. "Come."
"Tra—"
"Cast a Lumos to show us the way. I'll watch for magic or unwanted hosts." Elaine's tone was matter-of-fact, and so with wand in-hand, he followed after her.
Quick and perceptive, that's all I've got to be. Harry reckoned that sounded easy enough.
The stairs took them nearly two minutes of walking before they saw the signs of an ending up ahead. One that was illuminated sans his Lumos.
It was then too, that Elaine picked up the presence of others. A dozen. Mayhaps more, if it ventured further still into the depths.
Still, a dozen was no small number. Certainly more than he'd thought would be present, especially when one considered the other five up above they'd already dealt with. It made him wonder why this one had held out for so long — how and why was it special?
Was it even special? Or were there more places like this scattered about, hidden as could be as they awaited Grindelwald's return?
Such a thought was as worrying as it was agitating. They were like rats, hiding until they had their moment to come out and take what they'd like.
"General layout?" Harry's voice was back to as quiet a whisper as he could manage.
"Two groups of four, two all alone, and one pair. The lattermost is who's closest to us." Elaine cast something, a special of a purple hue, and he watched as a mark was formed on the wall… before it dissipated altogether into said wall.
He wasn't sure what it was beyond some sort of sigil; warning, perhaps, or a marker for them to find later to ensure they weren't lost. Either was clever.
"How close are those two?"
Elaine's response came quickly. "Only just beyond the exit, to the right based on the brightness of their presence. We'll need to observe and ensure the others have no view of them before we act."
The two shared a look, ensured they were all but invisible, and then started forward as quiet as could be.
As soon as they went to the very edge of the path, wands-in-hand, Elaine and Harry took all of a second's look… and then, very promptly stunned the two nearest to them after taking in that second's sight; the other rooms all had their doors closed, meaning no visibility of the two that suddenly dropped would be had.
It made binding them easy as could be as well, and dragging. All they had to do was make a little alcove — an easy thing — back whence they'd come and cast an illusion over it to make the wall look like nothing had changed. Such was how easy it could be to hide a few captives.
Harry did have to wonder though, how they planned on taking them all back with so many present. Seventeen was no small number. If there were more to boot, further down in the depths, it'd be made even harder.
He blinked when he didn't get to add two more wands to his collection. Why did neither person present have their wand on them?
"No wand?" Harry had to clarify that with Elaine, even if he knew what her answer would be already.
"No." Elaine paused. "I'll take the door to the right, a barracks, it'd seem. Watch the others and ensure should anybody come out, that you stun them before any warning can be given."
"Easy enough. Be careful." Harry added the last two words just for the sake of it. He knew she'd be fine. She was Elaine.
Harry turned away from the direction she'd claimed, and set his attention to the other three doors in question. Like hers, all were made from some sort of metal, and as such, looked thick and heavy. He figured they were meant to hold out against Muggle weaponry, and probably a great many spells.
But nothing could hold out against all magic. Nothing he'd encountered, and nothing Elaine had ever made mention of. That was, simply put, impossible.
His eyes kept sweeping betwixt the three doors as his mind began to ponder what was likely behind them. A loo? An office? More sleeping quarters? A storehouse? Perhaps even an armoury from which they could find gifts for Aster. He hadn't a clue, though he did know for certain that the place was far more condensed than all the others they'd gone to; more straightforward.
It was a big indicator that Muggles had made it, and recently… and on the off chance he was wrong, Magicals, and very hastily.
He heard a noise, light as could be, but a noise nonetheless, and so immediately his eyes sought out the direction it came from; the first door in his group of three. The one that was nearest to him. It sounded like a pen had dropped, or something else light and not-at-all wood sounding.
That told him, immediately, that one of the others was awake and lively. He levelled his wand at that door without pause.
But no person came out.
And a moment later, he heard Elaine's voice very near to him. "That room's handled. No wands."
That made him furrow his brow. Why were there no wands? Were they Muggles, the lot of them? If they were, why were Magicals up nearer to the entrance, and without a sentry?
This was entirely too strange for his liking.
"Next room? I heard a noise behind the one nearest to us." Harry still had his wand aimed it's way as well.
"If a person is present and awake behind that door, it'd be best to leave it for last in the event of him sounding an alarm, or something of that ilk. We wish to keep this task easy." Elaine, he then heard, shifted, and soft steps sounded that went away from him, near to the third door in his lineup.
He had a view of it as it slowly opened, the thing only just ajar before it was pushed open to a greater degree. It was then, he figured, that she'd pushed herself inside.
A few flashes of light later, the door shifted again, and he saw as the second repeated the actions of the third; the door went ajar, he saw lights flash inside — less this time — and then, she came back to him. He could tell as much when he'd heard her voice once more.
"Handled. Storage and their restrooms." Elaine pulled him, her hand initially coming into contact with his torso before she found his free hand. "Be ready to react with a shield or physical barrier in the event of this being a Muggle. Bullets are too fast."
Harry had a shield at the tip of his wand as soon as the final word was fully out of her mouth; he'd learned about guns and the like in school, when wars were spoken of.
He knew how dangerous they could be, and he knew how vital it was that he would not allow one to strike neither him nor her.
Elaine pushed the door open, Harry followed right behind her with a hand resting on her back, and—
Nothing.
The person at the desk looked up, only to be stunned, their face falling forward to land on the desk, but without noise — Elaine had cast a cushioning charm and stopped any sound from coming forth.
She was smart, as always.
"No stairs." Those were the first words Harry spoke aloud.
Elaine agreed. "No stairs." she cancelled her disillusionment and gestured to the person, binding them. "We'll begin sending them back, one at a time, and then check everything over. Would you like to do the former, or latter?"
Harry was feeling good. "Former." he fancied visiting the Aurors with all sorts of new people to throw in the cells. "You'll be more apt to find something, I'd think."
"Charmer." Elaine kissed his cheek, and then the pair set to work once more.