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[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.

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[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."