Just A Warm Up Please

"Sure," Brian said. "For example...Kensington Gardens!" he commanded. The gym transfigured to the pathways at Kensington Gardens and they looked like they were running in the famous London park. "The spell doesn't last forever. It varies, depending on the strength of the spell, and that depends largely on the strength of the caster. And, yes, you can make enemies, but they're not much use, really. They're mostly illusion. The training dummies are far better. Or training with partners. However, if you're training for stealth, they can be useful then. Okay. Enough running. You've proven yourself."

He slowed himself to a walk, preferring to slow down rather than to stop abruptly.

"Hm..Kensington, huh?" Robert asked, coming in. "The running track isn't enough scenery for you, Brian?"

"You're just jealous you didn't think of it," Brian laughed.

"Well, that's true," Robert laughed. "You must be Mr. Satermoon. Welcome. I'm Robert. Brian, how about you and Mr. Satermoon here go and shut down a new illegal potions ingredient dealer in the catacombs. Strictly small time stuff, but we do not need that to get started again."

"No, we certainly do not," Brian said. "Do we have ten minutes to change?"

"Certainly," Robert said. "How'd our new auror do, Brian?"

"He's going to be fine," Brian smiled at Chris.

"Glad to hear it. Take care of him his first time out," Robert said, turning and leaving, with a simple wave to them.

"Well," Brian looked at Chris. "A bit of action. Good."

"And put the room back!" Robert called as he walked down the hallway back towards his office.

"Nag," Brian laughed. He looked at Chris. "You try it. See if you can put it back to a gym again."

Chris was marvelled at the Kensington Gardens. He had taken a trip there just before his vacancy ended, and it was quite as he remembered. The green bushes filled with all the types of flowers where there, the tree's, the sun, everything, except for the people that were filling the Garden when he took a trip there. But of course it was an Illusion. He finally understood that this rooms where only good for landscaping and maybe relax a little bit, nothing to much of a big training because well, they would spend their energy while holding the landscape and still have to train their spells and stuff. He definately prefered a partner.

He heard a strong voice echo through the room, as the Minister for Magic appeared from the door. He and Brian got into a funny to hear arguement about the garden's and Brian's liking for different types of landscapes. He had been given a lesson by the Minister, to go deal with an Illegal Potion's Ingredients Dealer in the catacombs. He got all fired up when he heard that, and to be followed up by Brian was quite good as well. It was small time stuff yes, but just another chance to prove his street-smarts to the older Auror. But before that he had another chance to impress him, transforming the room back into the gym. He presumed it was enough to yell gym while concentrating, and so he started clearing his mind.

After all his mind was cleared from the earlier explosions during their small duel, after his breathing finally became normal, he saw himself focused and confident that he could turn it into the gym where the weight lifters, lockers , and all those things were at. He finally took a big breath in and spoke.

"Gym!"

The Kensington Gardens started fading away slowly, the roses, tulipes, and all those things banquishing slowly, and the magic of the room started going away, all the colours, all the happyness. But in the same minute, the room became the old gym, ready for whoever wished to work out. He nodded his head to Brian, as in a way to show him he had done it, though his breathing raced a little bit after, it was strong magic indeed, and he was gon'na have to get used to it.

"I'll take those 10 minutes then, and after we can go work that little problem."

"Oh, well done," Brian smiled, pleased. "And take a jacket. The catacombs are dark, cold, and damp. And, so you know, it isn't any place even an experienced auror ever goes by himself unless he absolutely has no other choice. Always take a partner there. I'll meet you back here in ten minutes."

Brian picked up his bag and went into the locker room and showered and changed. He refused to wear wizarding robes. He hated them. He preferred rather new looking bootcut jeans--what Americans called 'dress jeans', a light blue denim shirt, and a tan leather jacket, with his favorite tan leather boots under his jeans. He came out of the locker room and sat down on a weight bench and drew his watch and his wedding ring out of the gym bag where he'd put it for safe keeping. He fastened the platinum watch band around his wrist and then paused just a moment looking at the large ring Khaat had insisted he have. It was platinum with a large, pure emerald, flanked in diamonds. It was as close as they could get to the rings that made up the enormous cluster of diamonds and emeralds he'd put on her hand. The antique engagement ring that he hadn't been able to resist. It had been the final nail in the end of his fear of commitment. He'd had the wedding ring designed to fit with the engagement ring, and then he'd given her a ring guard to hold the two together. And when the set was assembled, it was a huge shimmering cluster of white and green sparkle on her slender hand. He slid the ring on with a slight smile. Two years ago, he'd been a confirmed bachelor. Now he was a married man with five kids--all of them in diapers.

The catacombs held nothing but ugly memories for him. Memories of almost losing his wife there. He didn't mind going back down there to destroy a few things. And it was a good thing for Chris to stretch himself with. Could he do the magical handcuffs charm? Could he blow things up deliberately? They could all blow things up without trying. But could he do it on purpose and under pressure? And what if there were 'potionswenches' down there? Could he bring himself to arrest a woman, especially a sly, conniving one? It would be interesting to see. He expected Chris would do well. He didn't have to be perfect. He just had to survive. And any time an auror survived, it was a job well done.

Chris took the advice about the catacombs pretty serious. He was the experienced Auror in there, not Chris, so he decided to accept that everytime he went down there he would be followed by another Auror or Wizard to help him, and only go in there alone if he truly had no other chance. He finally went into the Locker Room, to go and get dressed, remembering of the other advice Brian gave him , about it beeing extremely cold and dark down there, and by that he meant he should take a jacket. He got off his workout clothing, and got dressed in his tight dark jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black jacket with a hoodie on top, closing the jacket , and saving his wand on his back pocket of his jeans.

He put on his dogtags from his pureblooded grandfather on his neck and smiled. Chris was quite happy to aldready be on a mission, specially with someone this important, that only meant he had yet another chance to impress. He went to the mirror and started fixing his black long hair, so that it became volomptuous on top, and short on the back. He played a little with the dogtags, realizing he was ready to go. He packed everything in his locker, and then looked around to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Finally, he got out and saw Brian, in an all Leather Clothing, waiting for him while looking at a ring.

"Ready to go."

"Sorry," Brian laughed. "I was just thinking of the last time I went there. Alright. Let's go. I presume you can apparate? If so, I'll meet you at the corner of Diagon and Knockturn. Wait for me if you get there ahead of me. Keep your eyes open."

Brian apparate out of the Ministry and headed for Diagon Alley. He didn't aim to end exactly there. He intended to get to the other end of Knockturn and make his way down the alley to scout it out first. Knockturn was always narrow, dark, and foul. It was not at all like Diagon Alley. The two streets were like two entirely different worlds, but as an auror, he spent more time there than he liked. He saw the regulars there. The ones he was used to seeing there, going about whatever shady business they did. Some things he just didn't want to know until he had to. Once he was sure that the alley was clear, he pushed ahead to the other end to find Chris.

Chris laughed and nodded his head, as in a no problem way, and listened carefully as Brian told him that he was reminding himself of the last time he was there. It was surely a good story, though this wasn't the best moment to hear it, as the Minister himself had requested this mission, and so they decided to give it top priority, though it was small-time stuff. He nodded his head again, and watched as a loud bam sound echoed through the Ministry of Magic and Brian vanquished into Knockturn Alley or atleast close.

He started focusing on Knockturn Alley, or somewhere close there, found the determination, and finally another loud sound echoed, and he disappeared. He felt his legs float away, his body twisting all around itself, strange feelings going through his body, as he started to realize he was close to landing. He landed and took a few steps forward before stopping. Sometimes Apparating gave him a hard time, he never really liked it that much anyway. He looked around and saw he was a little far away from the corner between Diagon-Alley and Knockturn Alley.

He let out a small sigh and took his wand out , holding it in his hand. The moon was up in the sky, and for his happyness it wasn't full moon, though he was quite aware of it. He looked around for any unpleasent companies, before taking a few steps forward and finally going towards Knockturn Alley. Alot of creepy persons were there, talking to each other, though he decided that for his best, he wouldn't bother them, for now. Besides, it wasn't part of his department for now. He finally arrived the corner and waited for Brian.

Brian walked up to the corner. "We're clear. Nobody but who normally belongs there. Keep your wand drawn but not at the ready in the alley. Let's go. Stay close." He led the way down the alley, through its narrow twists and turns until he came to a rough hewn black door. It was closed with a heavy wrought iron latch and a lock.

He pointed his wand at the lock and forced it to open. An auror's perk--access to the catacombs. Heopened the door and drew his wand to the ready position and lit it with a lumos spell. He went inside noiselessly. There was a stone landing and then stone stairs wound down,, down, down, as far as he could see. He looked back at Chris and motioned him to be silent. Then Brian started down the stairs.

"Yeah, same the way I came. No one but the usual people that I see whenever I come by Knockturn. Clear as well."

He started thinking if he was ready for the catacombs, now that he was so close to them, and that he had heard some creepy stories about it yet never been there, he could feel the nerves running through his body now yet he smiled to himself, giving himself the motivation. He saw Brian lead the way to a throughly closed rough hewn black door, and pointing his wand at the door it was unlocked. He looked in front and followed Brian , as a bright light started beeing emitted out of his wand. He put his wand up as well and casted Lumos non-verbally , to keep it as quiet as possible.

Another ball of light appeared, and he looked down the stairs. Those were really alot of stairs, and it didn't have barely any lightning, though it was the perks of beeing a wizard. Lighting up dark places. He looked around, not wanting to be surprised by anything creepy he had never seen or some kind of crazy man threatning to kill both of them. He had heard of alot of creepy things about the catacombs, yet, he was quite happy and anxious to go in there.

It took quite awhile to make their way down the stone steps and the further down they went, the more damp the steps became. He motioned Chris to be careful because the steps were slowly becoming more slippery. But when they at last made i to the bottom there were dark tunnels leading off in every feasible direction. Brian motioend Chris to follow him. He chose one of the hallways leading northeast. He made his way down the corridor quite a distance and he started to see a dim light coming from one of the doorways on the left. It figured it would be that one. He rolled his eyes, annoyed.

The doorway was covered by a door with a window with an iron grate over it. Brian threw open the door and walked in. There was an illegal potions works back in action at the same old location. The four women who were there making potions turned, looked up at him casually and then one of them decided to get catty with him.

"Well, well," she slinked her way over to Brian and drew her slender hand across his clean shaven cheek. "If it isn't Mr. Second Choice himself. What happen? Did the little princess run out of energy potion? Come to get her more, have you? You know the price has gone up, though. Without Robbie here, it makes getting the ingredients so much harder now...."

Brian never took his eyes off her. He merely extended his wand and pointed it at the shelves of ready made potions. She gasped, and grabbed his arm trying to stop him. He fired his wand without a syllable and blew the bottles to bits. She and the others grew angry at him. They drew on him. He laughed.

"Four against two?" he snickered.

"No. Four against one and a half," she laughed at Chris. Brian didn't say a word. Chris could hold his own. They'd made a critical mistake. The women had underestimated Brian and Chris. But they were about to learn the hard way.

"Take them!" he ordered Chris. He fired his own wand at the woman right in front of him to bind her.

Chris was enjoying the walk he was taking in Knockturn Alley. The light that emitted from his wand gave a more dramatic sense to the thing, specially after the steps became even more slippery and easy to fall, they started to take some extra care, until they got to a lot of dark underground tunnels, each leading it's own way, and they seemed like they would never end. He casted Lumos Maxima non-verbally to leave a floating orb of light on the staircase, and then casted Lumos again and kept walking forward, following the silent Brian. He could see the thing getting worst when they finally arrived the Potions Ingredients Dealer. He was hoping for that.

He took a steady grip of his wand, making sure it wouldn't fall or be easily taken away by something lurking in the dark. Chris was pretty sure he had seen a vampire lurking a few meters away from him, but when he got there, it wasnt anything. Perhaps the thing had simply disappeared, but that he didn't know. He took in a big breath and finally arrived at a big black door with a iron grate with a window on it. He saw Brian force the door open, and start a dialogue with the women that were making all the kinds of potions that were possible, and several different ingredients were there on the tables.

Chris quickly recognized the Draught of Living Death Potion, and he feared that if it was perfectly made by a professional potioneer, one single drop could kill everyone in the room. Maybe some care when dealing with these types of things was in need he thought, though that thought quickly when Brian exploded with an entire shelf of potions and ingredients. He let out a big breath, beeing aware that the most dangerous potions were yet intact, and he decided to cast something to protect them. He flickered his wand and a white transparent wall was created in front of the shelft, to make sure everything dangerous in there was safe.

Though, after hearing the women, say that Chris wasn't even worth beeing called as a man, as he was just a little kid, anger flew through his body. He gave a little grin to Brian and nodded his head, as he saw the women get binded, and he took the surprise element to his advantage. With a flicker of his wand and some words, one of the other 3 women's freezed in the middle of nothing, and almost in the same second fell back, showing no emotion whatsoever.

"Petrificus Totalus!"