Marriage is Murder

"I ca'nt imagine Robert didn't send a bag with you. Look in there if he did. He surely sent a preventative for a cold. that would be rather standard for a potionsmaster. You could pour a bit in her tea. It if has a cap, use a capful. If it has a cork, then use around a generous teaspoon's worth. It might prevent more problems. You're right. Canal water is always cold. This boy has glass almost down to his skull. Damn. Suppose he's used to a knock or two?"

Michael laughed out loud. "Or several," he said. "Who the hell do you think he trains with?"

"Oh," Edward said, understanding. "Robert plays rough."

"And he plays roughest with that boy there. I think its a machismo contest between them..." He was interrupted when Brian began to groan and move. Edward laid his hand on him to steady him.

"Hold still, Boy. You're both alright. Let me get the glass out of your head."

"I don't care about glass," Brian moaned. "Where's Khaat? And Enzo?"

"I need you to care about glass for another moment. Hold still," Edward said firmly.

"Depends," Edward said. "If he's a wimp or not." Brian tried to jerk his head around to glare at Edward, and Edward headslapped him on the side of his head. "I did not give you permission to move yet. Hold stil. You're worse than a kid."

Khaat woke coughing. Michael went into her and helped her sit up.

"I'm here, honey," he told her. She reached for him instantly and he sat with her and wrapped her in a tight hug. "You're alright. You're in your room. Brian and Enzo are fine. Just take a minute and wake up."

"What happened?" she managed, coughing. Michael explained it.

"Call Daddy," she said. "He needs to deal with Daniella."

"I'd rather be here with you for a moment," he said. "Jim, do you mind? You mind going to get Robert? He might want someone to go with him to see Daniella. Daniella's always had the hots for him. And he surely won't be in the mood for more trouble."

Robert looked up from his work on yet another trial potion for the plague. He looked at Jim, frowning.

"Slow down and take a breath," he said. "First of all, my kids were mugged. I get it. Brian has glass in his head? Hm. Sounds manageable. Khaat's okay. Good. Why do I need to deal with Daniella? She's the Minister of Magic in Italy. She's an honorable woman. There is no way she's be involved with a mugging. Just not possible." He blew out the fire under his cauldron. "Alright. I am sufficiently confused." He got up and put his suit coat back on and picked up his bag. "Kate!" he called. "Some sort of a Ministry matter. I have to go out."

"Will you be back for dinner?" she called back.

"No clue, but I'll do my best," he returned.

"Okay. Be careful."

"Always," he said. "Let me go see what''s going on in your hotel room and then I'll go see Daniella. I can't remember. Have you ever met her?" He drew the portkey for the hotel out of his pocket. "Shall we?"

"Not your fault. Sounds like just petty muggle thieves to me," he said, finding himself in the alley by the hotel. He heard men's laughter. Giggling. He frowned. He turned around and walked down the alley and looked behind a dumpster. "Well. Look what we have here," Robert said. The two young thieves had Brian's wallet and its contests scattered on the ground and were delighted with the gold coins they' d taken. The two young men bolted at Robert to attack him. Robert grabbed the first one by the wrist and swiftly twisted his arm behind his back until he heard the young man's shoulder dislocate, the young man screaming in pain. He trusted Jim to get the second one, knowing Jim's willingness to engage in hand to hand combat if he needed to.

"Accio!" Robert commanded, having no patience. The coins zipped out of their pockets and into Robert's hands. They looked at him in absolute confusion, asking him, in Italian how he did it.

"I'm a magician," he lied. "Its slight of hand."

"But we found those!" they lied again.

"Yes. And I know exaclty where you found them." He leveled his wand at them. "Obliviate!" He heard apparating in of aurors, and their commands for him to stop, that they were under arrest. He tossed the boys on the ground and spun on the aurors. "I will NOT surrender," he bellowed. "I demand to see Daniella! NOW!" One of the aurors decided he was going to charge at Robert to bind him, and Robert stunned him.
"Dont think you can take us," Robert said. "We outmatch you all. Now--where is Daniella?"

They began telling him he violated the law by using magic in a muggle area.

"I know the laws! I am Robert Lupin, Minister of Magic for Great Britain!"

"Right," one of the young men laughed sarcastically still speaking Italian. "And I'm a hippopotamus."

"With pleasure!" Robert flicked his wand and turned the young auror into a housecat sized hippopotamus. The other young aurors thought they would just leap on top of Robert and subdue him, but as they leaped into the air, they were frozen. Robert froze. It had not been his spell. Behind him, from the other direction, came a tall willowy woman with dark hair, dark eyes, and wearing a bright red dress and black heels.

"Let him go," Daniella commanded. "This instant." She eyed the hippo. "Is he yours or mine?" She asked Robert.

"Yours," he told her. She flicked her wand at the little hippo, restoring him.

"He really is the Minister of Magic, you idiots. Now. gather up the muggles and finish the task he started. You disrespect our honored guest again, and I'll turn you into a hippo myself--or worse."

"Yes, Signora," they bowed slightly and ran to obey her orders.