(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

"You don't have to be nervous," Nymphadora whispers, squeezing Bernard's hand and guiding him along through the throng of the morning rush hour in the Ministry's atrium. "You're gonna be fine. And you look brilliant." A crooked grin.

Comments

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard flushes and tries to look as if he belongs in a hall full of robed witches and wizards. His robe looks new, and his hair is not too crazy, and his scars are only getting a few looks. He shoves his free hand in his pocket as they walk, and nearly knocks into a really burly-looking... person.

He thinks it's a person.

"...Hey, speaking of. Did you buy me new clothes?"

[clumsy_auror]

That earns him an incredulous look.

"Well, yes. About... five months ago? Morning, Stebbins!"

Nymphadora nods at a grey-haired wizard before looking back at her husband.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard blinks, completely confused.

"Huh. Really?"

[clumsy_auror]

"How did you not notice that your shirts suddenly had all their buttons back? And your trousers were true black again? Honestly. Boys."

They pass the security desk, and Nymphadora flashes her credentials, as well as the pass Allbright had given her for Bernard. The security wizard nods curtly, waving them through, and his eyes remain on Bernard until the couple disappears into the lift.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"I dunno!" He's so busy defending himself that he doesn't notice the stare. "Maybe you learned to sew!"

[clumsy_auror]

A sardonic look. "Uh-huh."

The lift is crowded, as usual, and paper airplane memos hover around their heads. After a few stops, 'Dora absently swats one away from her eyes, and then nods to Bernard as the door opens. "Here we are. C'mon, I'll put my things in my desk and then we'll go see--"

[wand_wavers]

"TONKS!"

The booming voice carries across the bustling Auror department, and a stocky man glares churlishly in their direction.

"Tonks, didn't I say I needed your report on the Atkins case first thing in the bloody morning?"

[clumsy_auror]

She blinks, not terribly ruffled. "Well, it's..." A check of her watch. "Eight twenty-two in the morning. So I think I'm still coming in under the wire, especially since I had it filed before I left last evening."

[wand_wavers]

A non-committal grunt. "Damned files. Should've just put it on my chair, I never find anything unless I sit in it or it sits on me. Bernard. Allbright." Not missing a beat, the Auror holds out his hand to Bernard.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard half-smiles and shakes his hand firmly. "Good to finally meet you."

[wand_wavers]

"Likewise. Follow me, both of you."

Allbright turns and walks briskly in the direction of his office, shutting the door firmly after Nymphadora and Bernard enter.

"Sit. Now, you have the pass I gave Tonks yesterday, correct?"

[clumsy_auror]

"I've got it, yeah." She pulls out the pass once more, and hands it to her husband. "That'll get him clearance in the Department of Mysteries, will it?"

[wand_wavers]

"Yes. I'll take you down there in just a bit, Bernard, and we'll get you introduced to your colleagues."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"All right," Bernard replies. "I'm afraid that I did my homework on the Department of Mysteries pretty fast in the last few days. What do I need to know?"

[wand_wavers]

"And I'm afraid I can't tell you too much." Allbright's grin is wry. "Suffice it to say that the Unspeakables work on the Ministry's most hush-hush projects, and yours definitely qualifies." He glances over at Tonks. "Even your wife doesn't have the clearance to see what goes on there, aside from her one... extra-curricular trip a couple of years ago."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"...So I'm in the position of keeping secrets from my wife, is that it, Allbright?" He shoots 'Dora a playful glance.

[clumsy_auror]

With a smirk, Nymphadora kicks him gently in the shin. "Don't worry, I won't torture you for anything. I value my job."

[wand_wavers]

Allbright watches the two of them closely, the way the tips of their fingers barely brush, the way they unconsciously lean towards one another.

He's been curious about this Wrangle bloke for... well, ages, now.

Time to see if he measures up.

"Quite right she does," he replies smoothly. "Now, Bernard." A direct look at the redheaded man. "Bernard Mickey Wrangle, yes?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard freezes, the playful grin a bit rictus-like on his face.

"Um."

[wand_wavers]

The Auror reaches into a drawer and hefts a two-inch-thick file into the air. The edges of newspaper clippings and Muggle police reports are clearly visible.

"You've certainly had a prolific career, haven't you?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

For a split second, Bernard's mouth drops open.

Then he sees the size of the file, and can't help but grin.

"I do believe you have more clippings than my mother."

[clumsy_auror]

Nymphadora can't help but snicker, though she does cast a slightly wary look at Allbright. "I was under the impression that Bernard's past wasn't going to come into play, here."

[wand_wavers]

"Oh, I don't give two rips about any of it," Allbright replies cheerfully, and tosses the file into the bin beside his desk, where it promptly catches fire. "But, as you can see, I have done my homework, because I don't fancy taking on anyone but the best for any of my projects. And you, Mr. Wrangle, are the best as far as explosives are concerned. So isn't it lucky for me that you just happened to marry one of my Aurors?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard bursts into surprised laughter. "I am," he replies, "and yes. I tend to consider it a lucky thing myself."

[clumsy_auror]

Letting out a relieved breath, Nymphadora squeezes Bernard's hand, and shoots her boss a grateful half-smile.

"Anyway. There's also the bit about this being... not entirely Ministry business." She casts a meaningful look in Allbright's direction.

[wand_wavers]

"Quite right," he replies quietly, crossing his arms. "But the less said about that, the better. I think we all know what we're doing, here, and exactly how high the stakes are."

The Auror turns to Bernard once more.

"It's going to be difficult to hide the fact that you aren't a wizard, but don't tell anyone outright. If anyone finds out, you come to me immediately. Your team already knows. Understood?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

A nod; then, "How many in the team?"

[wand_wavers]

"Five, including you. All outstanding potions masters, and most of them have a fair working knowledge of Muggle chemistry, but nothing like what you've got. Which is why you're here. These new hybrids are the edge we must have in order to succeed. Otherwise it's our same old party tricks up against whatever new thing Voldemort's cooked up, which I don't reckon will be anything pleasant."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard pulls out a moleskine and starts making rapid notes. "Do you have the latest intel on what he's been working on?"

[wand_wavers]

Walking back over to his desk, Allbright shuffles around until he unearths yet another file folder, which he hands to Bernard. "Incident reports from the last month. The Death Eaters are putting a lot of emphasis on Inferi -- the reanimated corpses of their victims. Physical and psychological warfare, which is a brilliant combination so long as you're on they're side of things."

He sighs, and rubs his lined forehead.

"Inferi don't like fire, so there's a point to us as far as your work's concerned. But it doesn't stop them completely. We need to figure out a way to do that."

[clumsy_auror]

"Dementors, too," Tonks adds quietly. "Anyone they catch unawares, or who doesn't have a good Patronus, is likely to be Kissed and therefore out of commission. A large-scale way to slow them down would be ideal."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He'd heard, of course.

But the idea of--

No.

Push it aside.

"Maybe some kind of fire-based containment spell? White-hot fire -- magnesium, maybe."

More scribbling.

Absently, "How will I um. Avoid getting Kissed myself, when I set these fuckers off?"

[wand_wavers]

"You'll be accompanied by a team of Aurors at all times, no exceptions. It'll be their job to ensure you get the bombs where they need to be, and that you're covered whilst setting them." A frank look. "If you go anywhere without them, I'll have your arse for a trophy."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry. You'll have to ask my wife for that particular objet d'art," Bernard quips, smiling at his page and writing furiously.

He doesn't agree, however.

[clumsy_auror]

"He can have it, if you wander off," she informs Bernard. "My first brush with a Dementor, I fainted, woke up, cast the worst Patronus on record, threw up, and fainted again. I was lucky there was someone more experienced with me. Otherwise, I'd be dead. Or rather, worse than."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Blue eyes flicker over to her. "I'm not sure where I'd wander to, sweetheart. Honestly."

[clumsy_auror]

"You know what I mean. Don't be a hero."

Her brow furrows, and she looks away, all the worries of the past week catching up to her at once. The realization has finally kicked in that she is actually bringing her husband into this war, and it's not sitting too well with Nymphadora.

[wand_wavers]

Allbright eyes her, and for the briefest of moments rests one large hand on her shoulder.

"He'll be fine. I'm putting some of our best shots on him."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard finally stops writing and looks up. He reaches over to take her hand, oblivious to Allbright for a moment. "Hey."

[clumsy_auror]

Taking a breath, Nymphadora looks back over at her husband and forces a smile. "I'm all right."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

A comforting half-smile. "You're not. But we will be."

[clumsy_auror]

She squeezes his hand, and her own smile softens, somewhat.

"Yeah. I know."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"We're going to get very old, and very, very argumentative, together," he continues.

[clumsy_auror]

Nodding a bit, Nymphadora leans closer, her shoulder brushing his.

[wand_wavers]

Allbright watches them, his expression somewhat unreadable, his steely eyes shrouded.

"Well," he says after a moment. "Better get you situated, Bernard. You'll see her at lunch, I'm sure."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

And, just like that, Bernard's all easy smiles and steely blue

(bombardier's)

eyes.

"See you." He stands letting go of her hand with some reluctance. "Let me know if Kathleen owls in a panic."

[clumsy_auror]

"I will. I'm sure they're fine."

She smiles back.

"Have fun. Stay in one piece."

And with that, she opens the door and heads for her cubicle.

[wand_wavers]

Allbright follows her out, motioning for Bernard to come down, too.

"And don't forget I need that final analysis on the Stapleton evidence by eleven sharp, Tonks!" he bellows after her.

The witch waves a hand over her head in acknowledgement, and narrowly avoids upsetting the mail trolley.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard can't help but snort and mutter under his breath, "Full marks in stealth."