Gemstones and Gizmos

Khaat arrived safely back at her place and sent Archangel with an urgent note to Jack and Jessica asking them to come at once to her place and to use their portkeys so they would not be seen. She was mystified about what she had found, and the last thing she wanted was any other Order member getting a hold of it until she knew if Wilson could be trusted. She thought that perhaps this once, Jess might be wrong and Wilson might not be the trustworthy ally she thought him to be. She put the rest of her stones with the first batch she found, and she cleaned the objects all up until they were sparkling clean and all traces of dirt and dust and rust were washed down the drain.

jessica looked at Jack stood beside her the bald eagle pirched on his arm its talens wrapped around his muscles , clsoing ehr eyes she said "home" while holding the locket Khaat had given them , she felt the pull then the stop her body wobbling a she felt herself want to fall she grabed hold of Jack who in turn with his free hand held her steady wtch she was great ful for for if he had not she would ahve ended up on the floor as she had done in her many pratcice attempts, but this was no practice she now stood out side Khaats home. She moved to knock on the door while Jack looked after archangel her bald eagle "Khaat its jessica and jack you in?" she called out she could feel the movement of the babies inside her complaining about the trip she had just took "nows not the time" she said but they didn't settle.

Jack loked across at jessica he coulssee the look of concern on her face, as was his the eagle sat quet onhis arm as if it knew he was taking it home , pulling it close to him he spoke one word "Home" he felt the pull and felt jessica touch his arm quckly he held hers to steady her, concerend that each time she did it the babies became restless causing her to become tired, he strocked he eagle gently to reasure it everything was fine, as he heard jessica call out he moved to hold her around ehr waist he could feel the babies fluttering inside her wildly "you need to rest" he said softly to her as he felt her lean on his arm. He knew she had 4 months left if she made it tat far he had read that muliply birth rarly made it to week 38 and she had been on bed rest already.

Khaat opened the door for them and had them come in quickly. "I'm sorry to get you out, Jess," Khaat said. "Have a seat." She had made some ice tea for them--her father's blend, and she had added some cinnamon and orange to give it a wam comforting flavor while it eased anxiety--and she knew if the babies got anxious by travelling by portkey, this would stop it. "Drink some of the iced tea, Jess, "Khaat said. "It will help before you get to the end of the first glass." She handed her a glass and handed one to Jack.

" I asked you two here because you're both Order members, and I don't know if I can trust Wilson right now. Jess sent us on a mission to Tom Riddle's old homestead in Little Hangleton. I found some very interesting things there that I originally asked Jess Potter to keep at Order headquarters, but I'm not sure they'd be safe there if Wilson cannot be trusted. I want you to see them and tell me what you think."

"First--look at this." She drew out the key, the silver box that was lined inside with pure quartz crystals, and the enourmous piece of hematite--about the size of a cake of soap. "I think they all work together. I think they're designed to energize and supercharge perhaps the last of Voldemort's horcrux. The quartz and the hematite would do that, and I think it's, basically, turned on, when the key is put into the lock."

Then she spilled out her huge leather tote bag, filled with pure quartz crystals and hematite. "And these were just laying around in the yard, the flowerbeds and the garden. I don't think that these stones woud just naturally be laying on top of the ground in the yard in this part of the country, and certainly not in this quantity. There's something not at all right about this. Check this out and tell me what you think."

Jack stepped forward letting the eagle hop to his pirch then turn to look at the cyristals "could he be trying to harness energy for something , you know focuse it into a dark charm or somethng?" he sugested looking at Khaat "what... i do have ideas you know , and I was an auror too " he said smirking as he moved them around on the desk. he glanced at Jessica seeing she had finished the first cup of tea he took her empty one and gave her his he looked at Khaat "I am fine , besides she needs it more than me right now" he knelt down in front of her his hand resting on her belly s he spoke again turning to face Khaaat "they don't settle as quck now ,its as if they know somthings going on and they too don't like not being able to help" he said softly

"That's exactly what I think," Khaat answered the question posed to her, "I think the horcrux is supposed to go in here so that when Voldemort returns, he returns fully powered--maybe even superpowered. Voldemort on steroids, more or less. I don't think we can afford to let anyone get this stuff. Ever. And I'm wondering if these extra stones and crystals are for extra insurance. Extra power if he needs it. That's all I can figure. There are too many of them, and they don't just lay on top of the ground like that. What do you think?"

Jack stood up letting his hand brush jessicas cheek as he saw her smile to him that she was allright , moving back he stood looking "I'd have to agree, where is the horcrux now?" he asked hoping she would say somewhere safe where Wilson could not get his hands on it, he ponderd what t would mean if he did and the awnser he did not like , not one bit but he ahd to do somthing his family were atstake , his Auror side kicked in and so he decided if it was not he would do something about it , his way.

"No one knows. Everyone is hunting for it. The Order is hunting, the Death Eaters are hunting, and so is the Ministry. I wish we did know. But if we're lucky, the horcrux isnt that strong and that what he needed it for is to power his life essence once he resurrected it to get it fully powered. If that were the case and if I keep this gizmo, it seriously compromises him and his followers because they can't get their hands on it. I'm not sure about Wilson. Jess seems to be convinced that he's still a good guy, but I don't see it. I have to believe that Jess knows more than Wilson is letting him say. I'm just keeping my distance from him, that's all."

Jack nodded "I know all about that , I don't like the idea of you keeping this hear not in your coditin if he was to attack you you'd be vunrable and so would your child " he said his voice not as seriose as when he spoke about Jessca not doing as she was sposed to.

He walked back over to Jessica and nce more rubbed her belly ths time he gave as oft shush to t babaies inside much to his suprise jess smiled to say they had settled he smiled abck not knowing if it was his shush or Khaat tea that hd done the job.

"The only other place I might consider putting it is at St. Mungos, under all the enchantments I have put there. Gringotts will be the first place anyone would look. Its where all the great secrets lay hidden. So I cannot put it there. I have to choose very wisely this time, I'm afraid," Khaat sighed heavily. "but you're right. Having it here does put the kids and my unborn child at risk. And I don't want that. St. Mungos puts the patients at risk. I think I'll have to think about some place else."