Did he honestly suggest that she was threatening to throw a hissy and stomp off to the Minister of Magic? It was as if his words about trust were an effusive blanket that extended to everyone aside from here, which normally would bother the people-pleasing side of her. No time for people pleasing today.

"Sir, I might not be willing to jump feet first into this fight without understanding everything that's at stake, but you can trust that I won't betray your confidences. You said at the staff meeting that you put your faith in your department, but in my opinion, that means everyone is contributing toward the common enemy and that one person's word of caution carries as much weight as another's gusto. My experience dictates that you trust those you can, but that you never take for granted that allegiances change." Not that hers had, but if he continued to suggest it, she wouldn't try to change his mind.

Ben got a withering look for that. For one thing, the cult had never had Evander figured out, that was why they were so irked at him in general, because despite everything, they hadn't known who he was when he'd first run into them in his undercover days. For another thing,

"It is never a good thing to have your family threatened. Ever. " However, Ben was right about one thing. The next step in Evander's plan, he'd not shared with anyone. The cultists wouldn't know because there was nobody that D'Isigny or Gevrik -wherever that man was -could suck the knowledge out of.

Despite what they all seemed to think, Van never showed his whole hand.

He took the letter and avoided looking at it.


"No. You never do, but its sure as hell a quick way of finding out who runs off to tell momma when they hear something they don't like." Van held the letter out, for Cade to take and read if she wished to.

Still, the man was getting hold of himself once more. Van straightened.

He ignored Damien in the way that people do when they're entirely comfortable with their presence. Completely aware of, and yet unconcerned by him. Trusty part of the furniture, the D-Man was.

"Actually... I meant the letter specifically..." Ben said trying to make a recovery. "But, uh, no. This whole situation. Generally not a good thing." And the understatement of the century goes to the New Yorker, BENJAMIN CLARK AMSTEN!

Right.

Van nodded and actually cracked a smile. These people were going a long way towards calming him down. It was nice actually, to be able to rely on people.

He cleared his throat.

"You have some new employees due to come in soon. Most of them aren't due to begin work until December, but they'll be popping through the office and if they want to work, feel free to work 'em. The files are on your desk." It wasn't quite a dismissal, it was Van trying to get himself back on track.


He nodded in agreement but gave her a look. "Hogwarts has hardly proved itself to be a bastion of safety and defence, the cult has penetrated it in the past after all. Might be worth looking into other alternatives." He had a few, if she wanted to know.

Privately he wasn't sure that D'Isigny was fooled as he had been in the past, but he did agree with setting a date and creating a timeline.


"Tell as few people as possible. Increase patrols on the alley, see if Dacs has a few patrollers spare if you have nobody, or put your YATI on it. You have a new one, by the way."

Nod.

"So you see why it can't stay this way. Until the threat is gone, it will always be there."

He stretched and straightened to his full height.

"And as long as they think we're preoccupied by this apparition license business, we have a window. Gevrik isn't here, which can only mean D'Isigny doesn't think he needs him here right now." He grinned. "And, lets not forget that activity level 5 provide us with a bit of cover too."

That stupid old biddy and her strike. He made a mental note to send at least one person up there to keep an eye on old Gina. Evander wasn't under any illusions that the woman would be safe.

He tucked the letter away.

Back to business.

"I'm not relying on Hogwarts to keep her safe. I'm relying on Casey. It isn't a perfect plan, and I'll keep an open mind for a better idea, but I'm tempted to go with someone I know would protect Carrigan with his life," Cade mused once Van fell silent again.

"I blend in pretty well, and my job gives me an excuse to go almost anywhere. Consider how you might use me." And now... was she dismissed?

"Always." It was a given, and Lilyan expected it now. And the D-Man could be a buttmonkey sometimes. It was testament to his improved mood that Van didn't chuck something after him or throw a friendly hex at Damien's retreating back.

Well what? He was a Slytherin, Van didn't mind employing dirty tactics when needed.



On Casey? She meant Tate, yes? The man who seemed to think telling the students 'Don't Die' every few years was enough to keep them safe? The man who had a chip on his shoulder about Aurors to the point where he had the knack of leaving it to the last possible second to call in help from MLE?

The man who actually allowed Gevrik an office right there in the school and still employed at least one professor with suspected ties to the cult of the questionable, yet business savvy variety?

"You do what you feel you have to do." Van was entirely dismissive of Gaellen Tate and any security measures that he supposedly employed.

"Noted." Paaaaaause. "Thank you for bringing the note."

Touchy.

Just a bit.


That was one of the few employees Van wasn't 100 percent on loyalty. Not that he suspected her to be involved in the cult, just that this, all this, was just a job to her. Where possible he tried to hire people who couldn't see themselves doing anything else, and while Evander now understood something about choosing people first... his work would always be a priority. Always.

Once Cade had left, Van did too, locking and warding his office behind him.

"Better cold food than dead fiancé, now wouldn't you say?" Van answered and opened the door, his wand remaining in his hand until he'd checked that his office had remained untouched.

He left his door open and sat in his desk chair, patting his knee for Lily to join him.

"The few times I haven't thought someone was going to kill me, they tried." Van answered. "Why do you ask?"

He went back to eating. Lily was an AMAZING cook.

He ate another few mouthfuls and switched to eating with just his fork, so he could wrap his other arm around her tighter.

"The feeling is mutual."

They would use her against him, he knew. Waiting for that to happen was a nightmare. He wasn't willing to wait any more. It was time for action now.

"Say it as much as you like, dear Lily." Evander grinned at her and ate another forkful of food.

Oh.

Until she asked that.

"Ah... I haven't got around to it yet."

"You'll redeem me in their eyes you know. My mother never really forgave me for choosing this career path. Or quidditch before that." She STILL worried and fussed over him, not that he saw her often. His father was proud of course, but not affectionate exactly. And his brother was... Roscoe.

He kissed his Lily.

"She'll want me to retire or something. Settle down and choose a not so dangerous career." Please. He wasn't old enough to retire. He was just getting started.

Get back. Get there safely. Jaxton's eyes looked around his own flat hypocritically as if every shadow in the large living room was out to get him. Oh yes, he was a little screwed over now - but it wasn't something that couldn't be fixed. So he was a little more cautious and a lot more wary... that wasn't something that was new to an Auror... not at all.

Throwing a handfull of floo powder into his grate, he shouted out his destination at the Ministry, and stepped into the green smoking flames. He counted the amount of grates, and flung himself out at the appropriate time.

He didn't really expect Vander to recognise him. Not like this; not today. His normally suave and sophisticated suit and carefully trimmed goatee were replaced with scuffed and mud-splattered jeans, a rough, stained white t-shirt and a full beard. Even his hair needed a cut. Yes, Jaxton Tanner wasn't the same man he had been.

"Van..." He coughed, as he picked his tall, frame off of the floor from where he had landed in a messy heap. He gulped, and raised his cautious eyes to look at his Department Head. He didn't say anything, instead looking at him and... the woman in his lap. Could he talk in front of her? Was it safe? Was she to be trusted? He didn't know the answer to any of those questions, so instead he stayed quiet until Evander said something first.