Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Twenty Two

When she got no response, Delilah looked up from her essay with an eyebrow raised, her hand reaching for her mug for a much needed drink. The smile he was giving her was odd, she didn't like it.

"How splendid! This really is convenient I must say," he chuckled lightly and grabbed the next roll of parchment. "What's convenient?" She asked, lifting the mug to her lips, the heat from the liquid warming her cheeks.

"Take the boys with you."

And she choked on her coffee, getting it slightly splattered over a poor thirteen year olds half assed transfigurations essay. "I beg your pardon?" Hitting her chest as she cleared her throat, Delilah stared at him as if he had two heads.

"I assume you'll be staying in London for a few days, go then. And bring either Mr. Malfoy, Rosier, or Leststrange. Their parents are Ministry officials, you can get in."

Had he suddenly gone fucking mental?

Dumbledore must've read her expression easily, folding his hands on the table and his pleased smile dropped slightly. "I feel you're seeing this whole mission as much more complicated than it actually appears to be."

Now she was annoyed, her cheek twitching slightly and she raised a hand to mess with her necklace. "Sir, this is the Ministry we're talking about. If I get caught... and if my friends end up getting punished because of this? Are you really expecting me to drag them into this, when they have no idea why we're even breaking in, in the first place?"

There was a long pause, and a sigh left his crooked nose. She froze then, she knew that look, painfully well.

Shaking her head, Delilah picked up her quill again and began marking the essay. "No. I've lied to them about many things, but not this. They don't deserve that."

"Miss Meddows."

The use of her actual name made her tense up, her grip tightening on her quill. Glancing up, she was greeted by his twinkling eyes.

"I understand the emotionally difficultly of lying to loved ones, trust me, I do." Rubbing at his eyes, Delilah suddenly saw his age fall heavy on his shoulders. "But this very well may be the safest, and best guarantee of getting you home."

"And," he waved a rolled up essay at her, "when's the last time you've heard of a Malfoy being punished for illegal activities?"

Delilah bit at her cheek, he did have a point, which irked her. Money did tend to cover up whatever dirty business a Malfoy was into.

Abraxas could get her into the Ministry easily, she had no doubt about that. But the Department of Mysteries? That was a whole other level of law breaking.

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Cain twirled his engagement ring around his finger as they walked, absentmindedly humming along with the tune Pyrrhus was whistling. Elio was drumming on his legs lightly, counting the paintings as they went down the hall.

All three of them completely oblivious to the boy trailing behind them, looking as if he was about to throttle someone over the head.

"Will you three shut up?" Abraxas suddenly snapped, causing the boys to whirl around confused. "What's wrong with you, mate?" Elio asked with an eyebrow raised, just now taking in his friends disheveled appearance.

Circles resided under his eyes, the purple looking stark against his pale skin. His usually styled hair was also a mess and his uniform was askew.

"She fucking knows, that's was wrong." Abraxas rubbed at his head, messing his hair up even more. The boys all shared a confused glance, "who knows what?" Cain said slowly, not being able to piece any information together in his head.