Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Twenty Five

Aleksander sighed and rubbed at his eyes, "maybe taking the lift, yes. But again, seven teenagers frolicking about in the Department of Mysteries? That'd be idiotic."

Delilah bit her cheek, he had a point and her mind raced at how to fix this. If only they had Harry's invisibility cloak. Turning to Tom with a brow raised, a silent way of asking 'what do you make of this?' He only glanced at her before gesturing for Aleksander to continue.

"He'll meet the two who decide to go down, and there he'll lead you to the Department. He said he'll stand guard but you'll only have a window of fifteen minutes to retrieve whatever you need. After that, he'll take you back up to the lift and see you out."

There was a brief pause over the group before Abraxas turned towards the boy, "who's going down?"

"I thought it best I go."

Tom and Aleksander spoke at the same time and they stared at each other for a moment. "Well that settles it, Tom and I-"

"No." Delilah cut in, trying her best to keep it together. She needed a way to work around this whole 'only two' people being able to go down. "I'm coming. It was he and I who originally even planned this out." She gestured to Tom and he nodded his head once, "the lady has a point." A brow raised at him calling her 'lady' but she ignored it.

"But wouldn't it be wiser if I attend? Seeing as he is my brother, it would look far more discreet should anyone pass by us. They'd think we were just having a little family get together."

Why'd he have to talk sense? Delilah bit at her cheek but stopped herself as she noticed Tom doing the exact same thing. "I don't see why one more person can't go," Pyrrhus called from the bar, pouring himself a glass of Irish whiskey.

Looking at Aleksander, he sighed for a moment and appeared to be mulling it over. "Fine, okay. I'll owl him-"

"Even if your brother doesn't agree, Delilah and I are going to the Department, whether you're in attendance or not."

Delilah felt an uncomfortable shiver roll down her spine at Tom's tone, it wasn't cold, but it was nearing it and he left no room for argument.

Aleksander looked like he wanted to punch him but he simply rolled his shoulders. "Might I ask what you two are even after? It would be helpful, that way my brother could lead you directly to the right section."

Before Tom could open his mouth, undoubtedly to tell Aleksander no, Delilah beat him to it. "That won't be necessary." Everyone turned to look at her for an explanation but she waved them off passively. She didn't have to explain herself to them. She knew her way around the Department, she just hoped it hadn't changed too much in its lay out.

"By the way Lolita is coming along," Cain spoke suddenly and the group stared at him incredulously. He quickly continued as Tom looked like he was to give him a telling off. "She's my fiancé I couldn't just tell her to sit home while I'm off having a holiday in France."

"Yes you could."

Cain gave Pyrrhus a dead panned glare, "no, I couldn't. But I'm going to try to get her to stay in France while we're at the Ministry. By the way, what will the rest of us be doing while you three are off breaking the law?"

"Well while we head to the lift, distract any staff or guards. And in the meantime, wait patiently and don't draw attention to yourselves. We should only be about thirty minutes. Five minutes down, fifteen minutes in the Department, five minutes back up."

They all nodded but then Cain shook his head again, "that'll be difficult, have you met these two idiots? The drunk and a Malfoy. No one is going to overlook his snowy white locks."