Bridging the Generation Gap

"That's quite a compliment coming from you, Matt," Robert smiled, "And yes, I would appreciate your help. Here's what you need to know. The man who has her is an enormous prat named Luther Burke. His father was a schoolmate of mine named Selby Burke. Selby was raised by his uncle who was a muggle. Selby later went to work for the British government and passed himsef off as a muggle. It didn't end well, though. It's a long story, but I ended up in an unfortunate duel with Selby, and Selby lost his life that night. Luther has always blamed me.

"He went to work this summer for Tom Gelding, but it seems that now that he knows the target is really me, he has his own axe to grind. He's using Khaat to try to hurt me the same way he feels I hurt him by killing his father. I've asked a friend of mine, Michael Tremaine, to try to narrow down the possibilities of where she can be. He will have figured out more than just about anybody by now. Unless you want to reinvent the wheel, I would start by going to see Tremaine. He's renting Khaat's old cottage in Hogsmeade. Start there.

"Oh, and believe me, I don't intend to be here any longer than I need to be," Robert managed a grin. "I'm sorry to say that Khaat did not get her tendencies to misbehave from her mother or my brother. That, my friend, she honestly did get from me. Oh,...and before I forget....Michael Tremaine is a top operative of mine. His top skills are silence and stealth. Well, among other things. He's one of us. Regardless of what his dossier might say. He's a former Order member back with the first bunch of founding members. You can trust him."

Matt nodded and understood everything Robert was telling him. He made a mental note to go and see this Micheal friend of Roberts. "Right, I'll do all I can. Anyone who kidnapps Khaat OR my daughter is on a hit list." he said remembering Sophia had also been kidnapped by someone. But then again, he also had Emmy and the twins at home now to worry about. They were healthy but could Emmy handle them herself. He sighed heavily and took a seat on the chair next to Roberts bed. "I may like this Micheal friend of yours Robert. We both like to stay quiet..." he said chuckling.

"I can understand what it means to be targeted for vengance." he said remembering Ne'Os. However had had come out on top as Robert did. He wanted to make Robert proud...he wanted Khaat back. Khaat seemed to be the only person besides Emmy who could make him feel better with just a smile. You could say Khaat was Matt's best friend. Her and Jess...always there when they were needed. Andrian...had somehow left him alone. He didn't see too much of him anymore really.

He felt his wand head up in his pocket for some reason. Something was seriously wrong with Matt but he didn't know anything. His stomache growled and he blushed a little bit. He had skipped breafast for some unknown reason. He just didn't feel like eating he supposed. He wanted to stay with Robert for a bit before he took off. Robert had always stuck with him, but Matt also had a job to do.

OOC: I love the Mulan reference, btw. LOL

"Well, the truth of it is that Mike spent a lot of years after we graduated working for either the Order or the Ministry doing...intelligence...work..Oh hell. Here it is straight out. Mike is an expert catburglar. Definitely the best I've ever seen. He neer did it for any reasonother than just survival or for us, in one form or another. He doesn't broadcast who heis or what he does, but if she is in the recesses of Whitehall, there is nobody who can penetrate impossible places any better, any cleaner, than Mike can. Do you have any mountain climbing experience?" He seemed to hear something,maybe from Khaat, that Matt liked to climb, but mountains and trees were two entirelydifferent things. And a building was something else again. "If you climb, Mike might be able to use you. If we still need any connections with the muggle ministry, do you think the muggle minister might talk to you? Maybe he'd look the other way if we broke into Whitehall to get her back?"

Matt was really starting to like this Micheal fellow. He couldn't help but grin as Robert told him about the man. He was sitting staight and listening intently. He tried remembering climbing any mountains but couldn't recall anything at all. "No, trees, buildings, and different monuments is all." he said him grinning when he said monuments. He liked climbing the Eifel Tower the best at night. It was always weird scaring young couples by climbing in front of them while they were in Mid-makeout. "But It's never too late to learn." he told him. "The muggle minister shouldn't give us any trouble if we don't get caught." he told him smiling. "I know the man, he's a bit of a dimwit to be honest. One of the most gullible person I know, however the Canadian Prime Minister is a different story." he said.

"We shall pray then that he does not spriti her away to Canada, or else we might have to do some delicate negotiations. Alright, then. It seems like you might indeed be useful to Michael because it does appear he has to penetrate Whitehall to get her back. He will lead. And if I know Michael, he won't ever use any of those high tech muggle gadgets. He'll want to do it old school. He understands muggle technology well enough. He just hates it thats all. He doesn't need it when he does have all those wizarding abilities as well. And Whitehall is a veritiable impenetrable fortress. It just isn't the place one tries to go unless one has magic and unless one is very, very serious...." His thoughts were interrupted when the clear, crisp scent of Turkish spices came to his senses. A scent he would have known in his sleep. It was strong in Robert's nose. It filled him and took away every other thought he previously had.

"Do you smell that?" he asked Matt softly.

It was colder now. October weather was actually beginning to come to fruition and it had prompted Jen and Rob to put some coats on. The extra material had proved to be useless and Rob still ended up with Jen gathered in his coat which he’d bought a couple of sizes bigger, knowing her delight at hiding in people’s coats. The two had had a few drinks in the Hogs Head and were making their way into the residential area of Hogsmeade, towards the house Rob had shared with his wife not so long ago. Rob looked down at Jen who was shuffling along beside him and smirked. “Come on it’s not that cold.” He said jovially. She scowled at him and he chuckled.

They stopped outside the cottage and Rob pushed Jen out of his coat. She let out a cry of exasperation and he smirked, holding up the keys. He ducked under the porch and fumbled with the keys, pushing one into the lock. He unlocked the door and opened it up, ushering Jen inside. She moved quicker than he had anticipated and ducked in after her, closing the door behind him and throwing the keys onto the hall table. Rob shrugged his coat off and looked around. He dropped it onto the banister and walked down the hall, turning sharply into the living room, followed closely by Jen who was still shivering somewhat. “Oh look, a family reunion. I hope this is productive and you’re not all just sitting here drinking tea,” Rob scowled.

"You missed the reunion, I"m afraid," Michael said, lighting his pipe. "They've gone to check on your leader in St. Mungos. Welcome. I do need your help, it appears. And I have learned a fair bit since I saw you briefly at St. Mungos yesterday." He turned to the furniture. "You lot behave yourselves or there will be no football on the lawn later." The furniture crept back respectfully to its proper places.

"I have decided to not undo Khaat's burst of accidental magic. Partly because Khaat still is so fond of Otto, though he does cost me a fair bit in socks. He keeps chewing them up. I presume Otto inherited his maker's quirk for socks. And partly because I like it. I've have, however, improved upon her enchantments, so most everything in the house responds to your request now. For the most part. Teacups! Mind your manners! We have guests!Two of you, snap to, or become flowerpots!"

Two of the large colorful teamugs that Katherine had made for the cottage came floating into the living room and alighted onto the coffee table. "The Earl Grey and the coffee are both still quite hot. Help yourselves. We have information to discuss, and it does appear that I will require both your services and specialties. You, Peter Pan, you do a fair bit with potions, I see. It is very likely that she has been given several potions. Of what kind we cannot tell, except that I would guess one of them binds her magic entirely or strips her of it. Her father is too ill to make the potions to reverse whatever has been given to her. She also may need some sort of energy potion for a bit in order to keep her going. God only knows what Burke is putting her through. Oh that's right. You need the information on him as well. Well, we'll get to that. Tinkerbell--you I have special interest in. There is no one else around here who have the skills that come anywhere close to matching my own for getting into impossible places. This will be, most likely, the most impossible place you have ever encountered. You, my dear, will be essential. So, I suggest you pour yourselves something to drink and I will catch you up on what we know. But if Khaat is to live, you both will need to be a signifcant part of this."

Matt looked at the painting on the wall again, he didn't know what was so fascinating about it. It was just a painting of some flowers and a sunny backdrop. Althought the flowers swayed like they were caught in a breeze. There really wasn't anything too interesting besides the fact that it gave him something to do; looking at it! Matt was still listening to Robert speak to him and wasn't aware of any smell until Robert mentioned it. It smelled rather well, almost like....Khaat's homemade cooking. "As a matter of fact I do smell that Robert." he said standing up. "Shall I get us something then?" he asked him. He already knew what he wanted. He wanted a good sandwich and a mug of french roast. However he still had things to adress about Michael.

"Right, well I'm not a huge fan of modern day Muggle technology. The manufacturors have certainly gone downhill since the 3-D television." he told him. He remember when they had brought it out for the first time. It failed miserably, maybe...twelve people bout them in America. But that was not what he should be focusing on right now. He was willing to do anything to get Khaat back. Plus he wanted to meet Tremaine; he sounded fun. "I'm willing to do anything Robert, so long as it's partially enjoyable." he added hiding a grin. But the smell was very strong by now and his stomache growled again.

"That's not Khaat's cooking you smell," Robert said, his senses highly alerted now. "I haven't smelled that in...almost 20 years. I'd know that scent anywhere. Its a Turkish aftershave. Remus bought a bottle one time in his travels to Turkey and after that he wore no other cologne. He had it shipped in. Remus mst be...aware? Perhaps? Trying to remind me of something I've forgotten. Something he thinks I need to know. That's all I can figure out. I hope if he has the ability, he will go and keep an eye on Khaat for us. I wonder what the deuce he wants? I haven't smelled that since....before he died." Rober was frowning deeply. He had wondered if the scent had been only in his mind for some reason, but surely not if Matt smelled it too. Matt had detected the cinnamon notes in it and it had made him hungry. Well, cinnamon was one of the spices in the cologne, along with other pungent and heady exotic herbs and extracts. Matt had been far too correct not for him to have actually smelled it.

He looked about and saw just the slightest ruffle of the drape at the window--when there was no breeze. "Remus," Robert said softly, looking at the drape, pointing it out to Matt.

Matt looked at where Robert was pointing and stepped backwards a few steps. "Robert..." he said pulling out his wand. "What the hell's going on?" he asked nervously. Matt was getting a little freaked out right now actually. "All I smelled was cinnamon." he said sitting back down. "What in the bloody hell was going on" was going through Matt's mind right now. He was afraid but..he also felt like he should know something. He had no connections to the Lupin family, well besides the fact that his Aunt was Tonk's Aunt as well. But there was no blood connections between them. But his wand was at his side now..somehow he knew Robert would handle it if things...well he doubted they would, get out of hand. "Would Remus perhaps..be telling you something about Turkey?" he said completely clueless. He meant the country but didn't say it.