Visitors at the Shrieking Shack

Kingsley Shacklebolt had grown thin during his one year of absense from the outside world. Very thin, and weak. For the first time it seemed, he was actually looking his age. The food he got here wasn't terific, once a day and usually some measly small portion James Wake or his owl could bring. Shacklebolt couldn't leave the shrieking shack, it was much to dangerous.

But now he was going to. He had decided that the life of isolation was not for him, and so he had formulated a plan. he could always just walk out of course, but the world believing him dead could be exploited very well. And so he had sent letters to his two most loyal allies, Khaat and Wilson. Wilson was probably a small risk, he might of become corrupted by Vincent, but Shacklebolt had to trust him for now.

When Khaat had gotten an owl from Shacklebolt, she was utterly delighted. She figured that if he were in the Shrieking Shack that he had been alone and on his own for long time. Her first thought, then, was that perhaps her friend might be hungry. She decided to take to him a gift--a good hot meal. She immediately apparated into Sparks and had Lizzie prepare one of their finest meals for him. Their most popular meal right now was Beef Bourguignon over homemade pasta, with a tossed salad on the side, fresh hot homemade bread, and a hot, steaming slab of their deep dish apple pie. She included both a thermos of really good coffee and one of hot tea, so that he could take his choice. It was all arranged with all the necessary dishes, condiments, etc., in a large covered basket.

She apparated to Hogsmeade and walked through the back allies to the Shrieking Shack. No one travelled these allies. They were much too close to the shack, and no one wanted to ever go there. She was careful to be sure she was not followed and went inside, deliberately making enough noise to demonstrate to Shacklebolt that no one but a friend would enter so boldy. She did not need him firing on her by mistake.

"Hello,"Khaat called, starting to walk through the house to find him.

Kingsley hearing the noise, hurried into the kitchen and took out his wand, hiding behind the wall. it was possible that the message was intercepted, and that it might be a death eater who had come for him. He could smell something as whoever it was came closer, something good. FOOD! He almost bolted from behind the wall then, but stayed put. Perhaps it was bait, the Death Eaters were cunning little devils. He heard the voice then, Khaats! But once again he wasn't impressed, he was far too smart to be fooled by polyjuice potion! As the woman (or man) came closer, Kingsley leaped from behind the wall and pointed the wand directly at her face. "You look like Khaat, but then again, you might not be. I don't have proof do I? And until you give me substantial reason to believe that you are who you claim to be, I'm afraid I won't lower the wand," he growled.

"You'll fire on me after I nearly got killed by Wilson and Majere trying to save your life?" she frowned, shoving his wand out of her face. "Put that thing down. You're lucky I don't turn you into a bug and put you in one of my father's bug jars in his potions lab for not telling me you were alive all this time. It would serve you right. You do remember my father's love of transfiguring people into insects, don't you?

"Nevertheless, I brought you food. I do own a restaurant now, and we make a mean beef bourguinon. " She ignored the wand he had aimed at her and conjured a table that was actually functional and a couple of chairs. She put the basket down on the table, opened it and got out the food and put it on the table. "I don't know if you've been able to keep in touch, but I own Sparks, and we make some really good bistro fare. And no, it isn't poisoned. Besides that, you look like you've missed a meal or two. "

She sat down, drew an extra coffee cup from the basket and poured herself a cup of French Roast. "You surely aren't staying in this place, are you? I think I could help you find a better safehouse than that--unless you really like living here. I know of a place that, so far as I know, is a far better hiding place for you than here. And much safer. Not to mention the living conditions are far, far better. You're welcome to stay there as long as you like. I presume when you figure out whether or not I really am Khaat, you might actually tell me why you did all this and how I can help you."

Kingsley slowly put his wand back in his pocket, starting to believe that it was the real Khaat. She had given him enough evidence. "Ah, you brought food! I thought I could smell something. that is very thoughful of you Lupin," Kingsley said, sitting down on the chair and examining the food. Turning he called his owl, which was resting on the windowsill. He then gave the owl a taste, and when nothing happened, Shacklebolt took some himself. When he started eating, he found out he couldn't stop, quickly consuming almost half of the food before turning to Khaat again.

"This place is an effective base," he told her seriously. "It is connected to Hogwarts in a way. And from Hogwarts I have been getting information from a certain student. He has been very helpful, though I'm afraid -" he stopped then, suddenly noticing something. "Wilson tried to kill you!? You mean he is on their side now?!"

"No, he's not," Khaat reassured him. "He had to make himself appear to side with Majere in order to protect his position in the castle. He hasn't sided with them. Believe me. He is, as ever, your friend. Do not concern yourself with that for one moment. Although, I'm not sure you want to be close to the castle right now. It is under Death Eater control. I do not believe they would hesitate to try to exploit someone with your talent and experience if they found that you were still alive. Not to mention with Halloween coming up next month, there will be some natural student attraction to want to come here for supposed ghost hunts and the like. Surely you remember how the students liked to do that out of tradition every Halloween. Personally, I would prefer to see you away from here for a bit, but that is, of course, your choice.

"Is there anything else you need? I will be more than happy to help you with anything you need. Your student and your owl can't possibly provide, at the very least, food for you like I can. I'll make sure you have whatever you need there, and anything else you need. All you have to do is say the word. Oh, what about some copies of the Daily Prophet so you can keep up on the area news? I'd bring you the Quibbler, but they're less reliable than the Prophet.

"So, fill me in a bit. Why do all this? And why are you still in hiding?"

"Good, because he's coming here as well, or was supposed to. If he doesn't, then I guess he has truly abandoned me. But no matter! I'll deal with him too," he said before finishing the main food. He then started on the apple pie, still quite hungry. "I know I know, but if I am correct, it is still September, and almost a month left until Halloween, so I can stay here for a while longer."

"No, no thats Okay, I am not going to stay in hiding for much longer. Perhaps a week, until I can be sure of who my loyal allies are and who are not. Then I will show myself and come back to the surface. However, first I need to know what is going on in the outside world. The boy has informed me of the Death Eaters taking over my school, but where are the Order? What have they done about it?"

"As for that question, this is a little complicated. As you know, there is aggressive action and defensive action. But also Nuetral Action. This is the best, as it teaches you to wait and strike at exactly the right moment. I have been waiting. And I believe now is the time to strike," he explained.

"Ah, well. The Order was attacked some months ago by the Death Eaters and Grimmauld Place is gone to us now. It seems it is up to the Ministry to decide to take some action against the Death Eaters. But that means actually being able to get an effective auror force going. My father was just made the Head of Law Enforcement, but he has the same age old issues that the other head aurors have had. Pure apathy by most of the aurors. I'm sure it is not going to be an easy task to get that bunch reformed.

"Well, I will stand with you, whatever you decide. You know I will. Oh, but, since we are alone, I will tell you this. Matt Lestrange has resigned as the Minister, and there are a number of names being bantered about for potential candidates for an upcoming election for the position--including Vincent Majere. I know that won't come to you as good news. Frankly, the political climate here is just getting darker all the time. To make matters worse, somehow demons have found their way into our world and they are making a mess of things. I don't know what they want or how to get rid of them, but they attacked the Hogwarts Express, killed all the adults on board, killed a student, and injured countless others. I'd like to find a way to send them back where they came from."

Shacklebolt stopped eating the apple pie, and stared at Khaat as if she was joking. "You mean the order is gone? Dead? Nil?" he asked in disbilief. "I knew this would happen, we defeat Voldemort, but you idiots allow the World to fall again. Argh." Shacklebolt got off his chair and started pacing.

"No, the aurors can't be of any use. They are corrupt and have been from the beginning. You can't change someones roots Khaat. So get your father out of there, it'll be the death of him," he said, shaking his head. "At times like these we must fight fire, with fire. My personal suggestion is, and you may not like this Khaat, is to use the imperius curse on Majere, elect him as minister, and use him to destroy the death eaters.." He didn't like Majere becoming minister, but this plan made some sense to him.

By this point, a tawny owl flapped its way silently to the window sill. Clamped in its beak was a square-shaped package, addressed to one "Old Man Winter." It was poetic name really. The owl knew better. It was a package was for the old man that made the Shrieking Shack unbearable. With his odd eccentrics, he had ruined many a pigeon-holed meal. Still, the owl had a job. It flapped between the rooms, flitting about, seeking out the old man. It followed the voices of a woman and the old man, seeking its way to them. It found them conversing about various things that did not really matter to the owl in question. It flapped onto the table and dropped the package neatly beside the pie.

It then began to unwrap the package, just as trained. Just pull the worm-like string, and it would pop open. The package opened perfectly, revealing a Rubiks Cube. The wrapping had a note written on it, which read,

Though you would be bored.

~Jimmy W.

PS: You keeping fed? Its never too late to use "Imperius" on a House Elf and give you daily, fresh-cooked meals

The Owl proceeded to gobble up some stray crumbs before flapping away.