the mission (ella)

[itsaspaz]

Liam appeared on the street corner with a sound equivalent to someone cracking their chewing gum rather loudly. As he suspected, this part of the city was dead after sundown, but he had more important details to take care of. He needed to talk to Ella, she was a talented witch and would prove highly useful in the mission to extend a friendly hand to the dementors that took up residence in the far south. The Ministry had banned them there after the downfall of Voldemort, but they needed them on their side.

Liam walked briskly, his cloak billowing behind him. The night was semi-warm, but the breeze had a bit of a bite to it, something that Liam supposed he had best get used to. Spending as long as it took to persuade the dementors in Arctic conditions was going to be far from pleasant. But it needed to be done. Liam paused before number ten and knocked twice. A man, presumably Ella's husband (Liam had never met him before, but had heard he was an Auror) opened the door and let him in. They exchanged names and handshakes. "Is Ella home? I've important manners to speak with her about," said Liam.

[italia]

Ella had been brushing her hair in the bathroom, already in her pyjamas. She was looking forward to spending the evening at home with her husband, as today was one of the very few evenings where he did not have to work late. The Ministry had all the Aurors working overtime due to all the new cases of Dark Magic, and yet refused to believe a new dark lady had emerged. She furrowed her eyebrows, puzzled, as she heard the sound of an Irish accent coming from the front room. Liam! Ella put down her brush and strode into the other room, and in spite of her small size, slammed her brother-in-law against the door. "Where's my sister?" Ella demanded harshly.

clothes

[itsaspaz]

Liam was a bit surprised by suddenly being attacked by Ella, but physically she was no match for him. He slipped out from under her grasp gently, he didn't want to hurt her. "I've told you a million times, the secret is with me, and with me it will stay," Liam said gently. "However, I might be persuaded to take you to see her if you help me out." Yes, a bit of bribery never hurt.

[italia]

Ella frowned and folded her arms across her breasts, what in the world did Liam want with her? Probably something to do with the Order, but she didn't think it fair for him to be holding that information from her. Not only was Cici her elder sister, but she was also Ella's best friend in the entire world. She was worried, no matter how many times Liam reassured her that she was perfectly safe. "Devon, could you excuse us for a moment?" asked Ella of her husband. He nodded, kissed her on the forehead, and then vacated the room. "What do you want?" Ella continued quietly.

[itsaspaz]

Liam managed a small smile, Cici's younger sister was quite the firecracker when she was really pissed off. Especially now. He had not known her for terribly long, but hopefully he could do something to win over her favour. Taking her to see her older sister was probably what would do it. "I need you to come with me to sway the dementors to our side," said Liam. "I need your strengths, you're a stronger sorcerer than I, I simply cannot do it by my lonesome."

[italia]

That was perhaps a bit more than what Ella had bargained for. She had originally said that there was no way in hell that she was going anywhere near the dementors, and the only reason she had been in favour of the mission was because she did not want Isabelle's forces using them against their side. The smallest of shudders went down her spine. "Why me?" said Ella. "Why not any of the others?"

[itsaspaz]

"As I have said," Liam responded patiently. "You are a much better sorcerer than I, there is no way that I would be able to hold up a corporeal Patronus and negotiate at the same time. You're the best witch I know, and we're going to need a hell of a Patronus charm to make sure we get out of there with our souls." Liam too found himself folding his arms, mirroring Ella. He would do almost anything to get her to come with him, if he didn't have at least one other person, they might as well hand the dementors over to the other side. and that was the last thing that they wanted.

[italia]

Ella thought deeply, she really did not want to go anywhere near the dementors, but Liam was correct. They needed to have those despicable creatures on their side, otherwise they would be a more than sufficient hindrance to the functions of the Order. And Ella had a feeling that this conflict was going to erupt sooner than they would like it to... "When do we leave?" Ella asked, tone weak, as if she felt terribly defeated.

[itsaspaz]

Laim raised his eyebrows in surprise, he had not thought that Ella would have given in so easily, especially when involving something that she was passionate about. Well, he supposed that it was a good thing, they did not have any time to waste. "The day after tomorrow," said Liam, glad that he would not have to spend too much longer on this "mission."

[italia]

Ella bit her lip, that was a bit short-notice for her. She had been looking forward to her last summer before going into teaching. She did not want to have to leave Devon for too long, they already saw little of each other. But in making the "good" side more fortified, Ella supposed that he would understand. "All right, I'll go with you," said Ella. "But on one condition," She was turning the tables, now it was her turn for making demands.

[itsaspaz]

And there it was, Liam had known that her giving in so easily would come with a catch. Otherwise it was too good to be true. He ran a hand through his hair, but decided that he would probably be able to meet her demands, she probably wasn't going to ask for something too outlandish. "What might that be?" asked Liam, keeping tones of dread out of his voice.

[italia]

Ella allowed a small smile to caress her lips, now it was she who was making Liam feel as though there was more than he bargained for with the deal. "Tomorrow you take me to see Cici," said Ella, running a hand through her own hair, "that's all I ask, to see my sister for the day. Then I'll go without complaint." She figured this wasn't too big to ask for.

[itsaspaz]

"Fine," said Liam, more than willing to compromise on that one, relatively insignificant thing. "I'll be here tomorrow at ten fifteen, be ready." He slipped his cloak back on, as he had not removed his shoes, it was the only thing necessary to do to be prepared to go out into the unusually chilly summer night. He unbolted the door and let himself out. "Ten fifteen," Liam repeated as he crossed the threshold. He closed the door and then disapparated quietly.

[italia]

"Ten fifteen," Ella said quietly, but Liam had already closed the door, and with the sound similar to gum snapping, he was gone. She ran a hand through her tangle-free hair. How in the world had she gotten herself talked into doing that? She had thought that she had been firm in insisted she was not going. But tomorrow she would be able to see Cici and get some answers to her questions. Ella headed to join her husband in the bedroom, might as well make the most of the time she had left before going to the Arctic for God knows how long.

[itsaspaz]

Liam had to take the train and then a bus to Thistlewood Run this time, as it was broad daylight, and he didn't need any muggles noticing that he suddenly appeared from nowhere. As if by luck, when he stepped up to the door of number ten, it was ten fifteen exactly, hopefully Ella was ready. But knowing women, she probably wasn't. Liam extended his hand and knocked twice, and then quietly awaited someone to answer the door.