The Love Of A Wizard

CHAPTER 14
Friends

Claudia awoke with the phone ringing. Who’s calling her? Her mother is really the only who calls and she spoke to her just a few days ago. Reaching across the bed, on the night stand, was the phone.
“’lo?” Her voice was scratchy.
“Good morning.” The voice spoke in Russian. A smile stretched her face wide open.
“Oh, Nick! I’m so happy to hear from you.”
“Are you up to visitors? Because there is a rowdy group of men here that need some home cooked meals.”
“I think I can find room for them.” She was laughing now. “When will you be here?”
“In a few hours. We landed in London and are packing our things into rental cars.”
“Oh alright. I can’t wait to see you. “
“Same here. See you soon.” And the line was dead. She hadn’t realized it at first, but her Russian hadn’t suffered at all over time. She was so excited, she jumped from bed and showered. She would have to wake Emma up soon too. Emma was going to go crazy when she saw all her uncles here at once.
After she was spotlessly clean and sipping coffee, Claudia drafted a letter to Dumbledore. She told him her friends would be here today and when he was ready, he would be most welcome. The had spoken at great lengths about this gray area, and decided that Claudia should be the one who tells them about the magical world. But Dumbledore would be the one to prove it.
It was almost two hours later when Claudia saw two vehicles driving towards the house. She rolled her eyes. Those ‘boys’ always rented the most awful vehicles. In the lead, was a beautiful, luxurious black car. Maybe it was a Cadillac or a Lexus, she wasn’t sure. The next one was a white, 4 x 4 pickup truck on wheels much too big for it. Whomever was driving it was having fun bouncing down the driveway.
She waited outside as the cars pulled to a stop in front of her house. Well, one pulled to a stop, the other jerked itself into park. The doors of the pickup flew open first and a Hispanic man wearing a t-shirt and jeans hopped out of the driver’s seat. Rodrigiez. The passenger door open slower and a very large black man jumped out, followed by a ultra Euro-trash looking Italian man. Bones and Antonio. As these men were jumping from the truck, the doors of the black car were opening. All at once, three more men stepped from the car. The first was a tall, lean, blonde haired man with a permanent scowl on his face. Nickolai. An enormously tall and thin black man stepped gracefully out. He wore jeans and a traditional Kente, multi colored poncho type wrap. Zulu. The last to show his face was Chester. Small of frame, skinny, wearing glasses and flaunting his many nervous ticks. All six men stood in front of Claudia. She was overwhelmed looking at all of them. She opened her arms and they all took turns hugging, lifting, kissing and generally showing her they still loved her and she was still a part of them.
A loud scream was heard at the door and all seven adults turned and saw Emma standing with her arms open wide and a huge smile on her face.
“You came!” She yelled. Zulu was closer than anyone and her scooped up and began passing her around for kisses. Claudia waved them inside and they began to drag their many bags and trunks into the house.
Hours later brought eight very happy people together to eat dinner. A dinner that Antonio made, all the while pouring wine down his throat. The thump, thump of base from a very annoying American Rap star played in the back ground. Rod and Bones bobbed their heads in time with the music. Nick sat back on the couch and sipped Vodka. Zulu sat at the table, preparing the salad. Chester was setting up shop in the study and Emma was running around overly excited by all that was going on. She was surrounded by people she knew and loved.
“Mommy has new friends. I like Sirius the best. Remus is good too. Oh…Uncle Bones, Remus has a dog named Sirius too!” She was playing with Bones who , when Emma gave this information, eyed Claudia curiously. Rod got up and turned the music down.
“Claudia, why don’t you let me put you to bed?” Upon hearing this, Emma was actually excited to go to bed.
“Claud, who is Serious? Who is Remes?” Nick sat board straight and stared at Claudia. Man, she thought, they were so nosey. Were they always this nosey?
“That my dear, is something we need to discuss. All of us.” So gadgets, music and wine forgotten, all seven of them sat around the table.
“Claudia, I have some news of my own. Would you mind me telling my news first? Business before pleasure.” He smiled at her. The others chuckled. She wasn’t sure why. But she had the distinct impression they thought she had man problems, not real live war problems.
“Go ahead.” She and everyone else gave their psuedo-leader their attention.
“If my sources are correct, it seems Hernandez in back in business these days. He has teamed up with the man we know as ‘Azi’, who knows his real name. There is one other involved too. I don’t know anything about him other than that he is white and German by birth. We all remember what Hernandez was like a few years ago right? Well, now according to my sources, he has been employed by an unknown group to make a hit. A very high end hit here in England. No word yet on who it might be. I have my people here in England trying to figure out who the target might be. But until then, I want to tale Hernandez and see what he is up to these days.”
“I know where he is.” Claudia spoke up. Every head in the room turned to look at her. “I saw him the other night In a club in London. He was with Azi and another man. They were meeting others…” She didn’t know how to finish her sentence. She had not planned on this being what Nick was coming to tell her. So the wizards, known as Death Eaters, are employing Hernandez and Co. to assassinate someone? Someone here in England. Someone the Death Eaters and that Lord Voldywhosey wants dead. Where was Dumbledore?
“Are you telling me you saw him? Claud, what were you doing in a club in London?” Every eyebrow went up. They really are nosey. She laughed.
“You really need to hear the first part of the story, in order to understand that part.”
“Wait!” It was Antonio. “Mi amore, I need more wine…really…I need more if I must sit here and listen to story.” Claudia rolled her eyes and waited until Antonio sat back down. She told them everything starting from finding the big black dog all the way to her birthday party. All the while making it a point to forget to mention the parts about Severus and her meeting in the cottage.
“You sayin’ you believe this hoopla?” Bones was giving her a ridiculous look.
“Wow. They really are magic?” Chester was in awe.
“You’re so full of crap Moore.” Rod starting laughing thinking it was a joke.
“Caud, I am not joking and neither should you.” Nick said.
“Oh I assure you she is not joking.” Every head turned around at the sound of a man’s voice in the doorway. There stood Dumbledore, in full wizard’s robes of the deepest green, smiling at all of them. “My, you are an impressive lot.” He twiddled his thumbs and looked at Claudia. “I believe your friends are waiting for an introduction Ms. Moore.” He as still smiling, and Claudia was smiling with him. She rose from her seat and faced the table of her dearest and closest friends.
“Guys, this is Albus Dumbledore. The greatest wizard of modern times, or so I am told. Dumbledore, my teammates. Nickolai, Rod, Bones, Chester, Antonio and Zulu.” She had to bite her lips closed. The looks on their faces were priceless.
“I also believe, that almost all of you,” here he flashed Chester a smile, “need little more proof. Hmm…yes that should do it.” With that he flicked his wand and “CRACK!” the table was covered with bottles of wine and vodka. They scattered in so many directions Claudia didn’t know where to look. She was laughing at them as Rod jumped back flat against the wall. Bones stood up so fast his chair fell back. Nick and Zulu calmly backed away and Chester just jumped straight from his seat to the floor. Antonio was under the table. Bones spoke first.
“Holy-”
“Christo.” Antonio finished his sentence. Surprisingly, Zulu was the first to gain composure.
“You are strong magic old man. You put your magic on Claudia?” His eyes were sharp and menacing. Claudia put her hand on Zulu’s arm.
“Calm down there Zulu. Dumbledore is a friend. And no, he didn’t. But the magic is real. What he has to tell you is very real.” Dumbledore waved his wand again and righted Bones’s chair. Everyone sat down quietly. Dumbledore was still smiling.
“Ms. Moore told me you know the men in the club ? Well, they were there meeting men I know.” He stopped pacing and looked them all in the eyes.” They are called Death Eaters. Wizards that are following an evil wizard whose name is Lord Voldemort. They kill, without hesitation. They bring pain and suffering at all who stand in their way. Somehow, Lord Voldemort has discovered the use of people such as yourselves.”
“We are not like them.” Nick blurted out. “We have killed. Yes. But only in self defense or when it mattered. They kill for money. The last time we saw how Hernandez does business, he had kidnapped a thirteen year old daughter of a Diplomat. The Diplomat hired us to retrieve his daughter. When we received the ransom demand, we tracked him and found him. But he had already killed the girl days ago. He wanted the money, didn’t care about her. He has no cause, no Lord and master. He is his own Lord and master.”
“I am sorry my dear Nickolai. I meant to say, muggles with your talents.”
“What’s a…muggle?” Chester asked Dumbledore.
“Oh it’s our word for people who are not wizards.” He is such a charmer, Claudia thought.
“Dumbledore?” Claudia asked. He turned his gaze to her. “They are here because it appears Hernandez was hired to assassinate someone here in England. Nick here has his ear to the ground pretty good. When I saw Hernandez, he was meeting with that Malfoy person. Who would Lord Voldemort want to kill? And why would he use muggles to do it?” He turned his eyes up to the ceiling and sighed.
“Alas…I do not know for sure. But I have a hunch. Perhaps, it would be good to invite you all to London for a spell. The other Order members should be brought up to speed. And I think you are the one to do it Claudia.”
“You want us to go to Headquarters?”
“For a meeting. Perhaps a little socializing too.” He smiled a knowing smile at Claudia and she felt her cheeks burn. He knows. Oh yeah, Occlumency. “Well, I am off. I welcome you to London, shall we say in two days time? I wish to have one of the Order members travel muggle style with you. Dementors are out in full force now…”
“Dementors? Those things that suck all the happiness away and try and take your soul?”
“Yes…just the creatures. They attacked the young Harry Potter at his home in Surrey only two days ago. A big mess that was. You might want to bring your friends here a bit more up to speed on the darker side of our world.” With those words, Dumbledore waved a goodbye and returned to wherever it was he came from through the fireplace. All six men hurried over to watch him go through the fireplace and all of them turned and stared at Claudia.”
“What the hell did you get us into woman?” Bones asked. She really didn’t know. All she knew was that they would be going to London and everyone would be shocked to know the Claudia they thought they knew was an imposter. Everyone but Severus. Her thoughts strayed to him and the other night as the seven friends sat to discuss the nights events. He said he would send word when he was ready with the potion. She knew she would run to him when he did. She knew she also had to consider sending Emma away for awhile. Maybe back to the states. It would be better than worrying all the time about her safety. There was the other problem of Sirius. How much more would he hate her now? She looked up and saw Zulu eyeing her intently. She gave him a wink and settled in to join the conversation.