A Birth day

Ruby saw Angus wake from his sleep and took his hand in hers and smiled at him as Edward spoke to him about what had happened. It was now Lucian walked in empty handed and nodded to Angus " looking much better" he said and looked to Edward " I put that jar in a special place " he said " as far as anyone knows there just extraordinary mice" he said with a chuckle.

Just as Lucian finished Jack walked in with Victor and Sam and looked at Angus " double checked the grounds nothing on it or around it, black magic wise , and I just heard, if I see her I'm ripping her a new one" he said " boys are done for the day they did good on the barn cut down the repairs by at least two days." he told Angus.

"Good job, Lucian. Thanks," Robert said. "I'll let them sit for a couple days, and then I'll have a little chat with them and see if I want to change them back or let them serve their sentence in a habitrail." That made Sam and Victor laugh.

"Make it a dirty habitrail," Sam teased.

"Nah, Mate. Give them lots of food that they find irresistable so that the little porkers get stuck in the tubes," Victor said. That made Robert laugh.

"You have a devious mind," Robert told Victor. "I rather like it, actually. Thank you, Jack, for being on the security. We may need to hire more security forces for here, but I'll let you know if I decide to do that. In the meantime, do put about four more security guards around the duplex on each shift temporarily and a separate, additional protection grid around the duplex so that even someone gets on the grounds, they're not going to rush right in here." He looked at Ruby and Edward. "Do either of you have any objections to my shutting down the floos here for any transportation purposes? Messages are a different matter. We might need those, but I would like to shut your floos down from anyone being able to use them to get in and out of the house until this is over. Any issue with my blocking them?"

"I was about to suggest that very thing," Edward said. "We don't use them to transport anyway, so I say shut them down. I don't want that trollop or her lackeys getting in here."

Lucian chuckled at Victor and Sam's suggestion then looked at Edward "my men are at your disposal." he said  knowing it would help having extra men on stand by if needed. Ruby looked from Angus to Robert and shook her head " I don't have any problems with it at all" she said then looked to Angus still holding his hand in her own. Aria finished her tea and stood up taking the cup to the sink she walked back to stand by Marcus.

"I'll just do a perimeter sweep before we leave to execute a search warrant on the gelding house in Paris, won't be long." she said and walked out side. Transfiguring into her dove form she flew up into the air and circled before flying to the far side of the grounds to start an arial patrol. Lucian lent back on the counter and chuckled.

Michael arrived, knocking on the door and letting himself in. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored black three piece suit, with a black shirt and a black tie. His lapel pin was actually a small diamond reproduction of the doubloon that the organization members wore, and he had an Edwardian gold pocketwatch that was inset with diamonds.

"Well, aren't we polished?" Robert smiled. "Going out?"

"Yes, when she's free. Dinner and then box seats for the symphony. I thought since Aria and I would be going to the same place, I'd make sure Aria got straight in. You going with Aria, Lucian?"

"Oh, good thought, Sounds like it should be a lovely evening, then," Robert said. "I hadn't asked Lucian but perhaps he wants to go. I probably could get one more man inside."

"If you can't, I can," Michael said. "Aria is going to participate in a search warrant of the Gelding mansion in Paris. You going along? if so, that climbing gear isn't going to do, just so you know. Polished aurors only on this affair."

"I'll work on shutting down the floos," Robert said. "You and Aria behave if you do go, Lucian. We need to keep international relations intact, you know. And, Marcus, don't let Aria dally. They should be leaving very soon. Michael's just waiting on her now." He flashed Lucian an amused grin and went to shut down Edward's floos.

"Will do," Marcus replied to Robert.

Aria finished her patrol and landed in the yard transfiguring back to her human form then changed her clothing to a black pencil skirt and white blouse with a light blazer over the top and heels, her hair was now up in a bun out of the way and in her ears sat two gold dove earrings. She walked up to the door and walked in and walked over to Marcus "perimeter's secure and will I do?" she asked .

Lucian looked at Robert as he asked if he wanted to go execute the warrant " hadn't thought about it ." he said but changed his clothing to a dark blue site with gold cufflinks and tie pin that had a gold Roc on it and smiled " will this do?" he asked looking at Robert as he stood with Aria " and don't worry my wife would kill me twice over if I messed around" he said and chuckled.

Ruby had looked at Robert when he mentioned the lawyer and she nodded " I'm glad you found some one good , and I don't care what he is, as long as he can put a stop to their nonsense once and for all." she told him then looked to Angus.

"You look good," Marcus smiled, taking a moment to turn one of her dove earrings right side up. In touching the back of her earlobe, he found the earring back was loose, so he cast a tiny spell to tighten it a little and then brushed a gray feather off her lapel. "Your dove form isn't molting, is it?" he asked, showing her the little feather.

"You look fine," Robert nodded. He looked and saw Marcus and Angus coming back downstairs. Angus was  a pair of plain gray sweat trousers and a matching sweatshirt. "You definitely look a lot more comfortable, Angus." He poured him some tea and put it on the table by his chair.

"Going out later?" Angus asked Michael

"I am indeed, after I drop these two off," Michael replied.

"In the pantry, there's a jar of preserves she asked me to find for her. I ordered them from a friend of mine that runs a restaurant in Pennsylvania. The Bear Jam."

"Bear Jam?" Robert asked, wrinklling his nose in disgust.

"It isn't what you think," Angus said. "Its a blend of fruit. Blackberry, Elderberry, Apples, and Raspberries. Hence, Bear."

"Oh, okay," Robert said.

"Someone gave her a jar of it that they bought in their travels, and she loves it," Michael said. "So I thought I'd try to get her some more."

"Alright. Well, drop them off safely, and then have a good evening," Robert said. Michael went to Angus's pantry, found the jar of jam and then shrank it and tucked it in his pocket.

"Let's go," Michael said. When Aria and Lucian took hold, he ported them to Paris, taking them straight to the ministry. "This way," he told them, heading through the Ministry atrium through to a magical lift. There was an attendant in the lift, and he seemed to recognize Michael. He nodded respectfully to Michael, and then he took the lift to the top floor. Things were definitely more elegant on this floor, and Michael took them down a hallway that had deep, plush gold carpet, and when he got to the office at the end of the hall, the doorman opened the door for Michael.

Michael led Aria and Lucian through the outer office, and a young blonde male secretary rose to his feet and hurried to open a very tall set of french doors. Michael motioned to Aria and Lucian and led the way inside.

Daniella was dressed in a long sleeved black evening gown because of the winter weather. She was putting on a pair of diamond earrings when Michael and Aria and Lucian arrived. She saw Michael, turned and smiled and went to him and kissed him lovingly.

"Bonjour mon amour," she told him.

"Bonjour," Michael smiled. "Tu es belle ce soir, mon amour. Angus a trouvé votre confiture."

"Merveilleux. Remerciez-le pour moi?" she asked. He nodded. "Daniella, these are the aurors Robert sent to accompany your team to the Gelding mansion. This is Aria Barnett and Lucian Wheeler. Aria and Lucian, this is Daniella Dumond, the French Minister of Magic."

"Bonjour," Daniella smiled and shook hands with them. "Any friend of my dear Michael and my friend Robert is certainly a friend of mine. I'm glad you both could come. Sit so we can speak for a moment about this warrant." She gestured to some chairs.

Aria watched as Marcus walked over and gently fixed her earring then pulled off a feather "wow , not that I know" she said with a smirk as he stepped back. She watched Michael and Angus return and saw he was a lot more relaxed as he joined them in the living room before Michael took hold of their hands and ported them to Paris. They walked over to a building where on entering they went to a lift. Aria staid close to Michael as did Lucian both watching the are as they moved.

Once the lift stopped and they exited they saw a man who stood up with Michaels approach. Aria looked at the papers on the desk and even upside down she could read several orders for extra men. Hearing Michael talk to some one Aria looked up to see Daniella walking over to him. Both walked behind him . Lucian bowed slightly as he was introduced " pleasure to meet you." he said as Aria just gave a slight nod and continued to look around the room.

"Come sit," Daniella told them. "The Geldings have been a thorn in my side and in my people's for almost 50 years, Eric Gelding was one thing, but Tom is another matter altogether. I honestly wish we could send them back to England once and for all, but they hold dual citizenships between England and France, and their primary residence is here."

"Any sign of the woman?" Michael asked.

"Possibly. Four days ago, a couple arrived but they were in winter clothing, so we didn't get to see their faces," she said. "We know, though, that it was not Tom and Suzanne because they arrived at the house later that day, and we were able to positively identify them."

"That's the same information that we got from our informants as well," Michael nodded.

"I want my team to make a thorough check of that house. I want them to check for passageways, extra rooms, and every other thing they can find. I have a man who is a specialist in finding such things that I am sending as part of the team..." she explained, and then she saw Michael looked rather confused. "Not you, my sweet. Much as I believe you would do a better job, we already have plans tonight. You don't get to get out of taking me to the symphony."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Michael smiled. "Who's leading the team?"

"Fabien," she replied. Michael looked at Ania and Lucian.

"Fabien heads the espionage department. He is very good at what he does. He is just returning from a medical leave. He was in a fight with one of Gelding's thugs about a month ago, and he was seriously wounded."

"If you find something of interest that you need to look at closer or wish us to collect as evidence, tell Fabien, and he'll make sure it is collected for you," she told them.

"If you need to reach us, use your signal, Aria. I'll receive it," Michael told her. "Daniella, Priscilla tried to kill Angus today. He's alright, but we have to get her and Dominick under control as soon as possible."

"We will," she nodded. "If they're at the house when we get there, Fabien has orders to take them both in. Any questions for me, Aria or Lucian?"

Lucian and Aria both sat down and listened to Michael and Daniella talking when she said Michael would not be leading the execution of the warrant they looked at each other but it was Lucian who spoke " No disrespect but is this Fabien trustworthy?" Lucian asked as he then looked to Michael " you have had geldings men infiltrate before" he said but then fell silent waiting for her to respond.

" I don't think there are any other questions, Lucian is just being cautious, we all know how slippery the geldings are." Aria said her hands resting on her knee as she paused waiting for some one to say something about where they would meet up with Fabien if Danelle vouched for him.

"You can trust Fabien," Michael told Aria and Lucian. "He knows about us, and he is the one who leads the teams that respond on our missions when we are doing the rescues. Sometimes, as much as we try to function on our own, we do need an assist from time to time, and when that happens, Fabien always comes and he always helps. His team members are not always fully read in on who we are and what we do, but he knows. He's actually joined us on some of our survival weekends, and unlike a few of us, he can cook a lot more than eggs. Give him a chance. You might like him."

Daniella paged her secretary, and he came in.

"Pascal, has Fabien arrived yet?"

"Oui, Madame," he nodded, "and, also, Gervaise is waiting with your car."

"Merci, Pascal. Send Fabien in, please," she said.

"Oui, Madame," Pascal nodded. He left, and a moment later, a young man with dark hair and dark eyes, impeccably dressed, came in.

"Bien, Fabien," Danielle said. "Aria, and Lucian, this is Fabien, the head of our espionage department. Fabien, these are our British allies, Aria and Lucian. As I told you, they will be accompanying you today.

"I am glad to have you with us," Fabien told them. "My unit has a number of muggle cars waiting. We find that the Geldings have not learned to watch for muggle cars, so we are able to catch them by surprise if we do not use magic until we absolutely have to. You may both ride with me if you like."

"Please let me know what you find, Fabien," Daniella said.

"Of course," Fabien nodded. He looked back at Aria and Lucian. "If you are ready to go, we can go downstairs to the cars now. Enjoy your symphony, Madam and Mr. Tremaine."

"Thank you, Fabien," Michael nodded, picking up Daniella's long, black evening cloak and draping it over her shoulders.