Under the Apple Tree

[Jakob Slayer]

On a cold mid-november night, Jakob sat down in the living room of an old white victorian house. With a cup of wine in his left hand, he went back and forth on his rocking chair, waiting for a specific being to knock on his door. The residence seemed abandoned, actually, for it had been a long time since Jakob has been in his house. Azkaban has prevented him from sweeping his wooden floors, dusting his warn-down furniture, and polishing his brass candle holders- and because of that, Jakob's home is on the edge of disater.

But that did not matter, for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has asked him to summon Madame Beaucoup for a quick word on new plans. Voldemort had a special mission for the both of them. Not only that, Jakob had a couple of words for her too. Voldemort's Plot. Their Plot. It all had to be updated for updated times. Half-breeds were still being treated unfairly, and with Voldemort rising again, it is quite possible that their plans could finally unfold like it should had years ago.

So it was no coincidence that he heard two knocks. One, being a knock giving the hint of Juliette's presence, and another being a knock something else. Through the cracks of the door, Jakob could smell the fear through Juliette. What could she be hiding? Jakob wondered.

[Juliette Beaucoup]

Juliette, after coming down the cobbled street under the apple trees, waited at Jakob's porch. With a long purple robe over her shoulders, and her wand tucked in tight, Juliette went into her left pocket, and took in a pill. She had been seeing Harry Potter more often now that he is getting older and stronger. Their encounters... They have been close to her being discovered as a Death Eater. It reminds her of how much of a failure she has been the past few months, and the feared that Voldemort was getting tired of it made it worse. There will, no doubt, be a time where Voldemort will get frustrated with her, and summon her to make an example out of those whom fail her. It made her stomach sick just thinking about it, and her mind dizzy knowing that it could happen any day.

But she was relieved of having a friend around. Jakob, whom has long been remembered in her mind, was only moments away from a conversation. After the veela knocked, she kept her stare at the beat up door for only a moment. Then she managed to look around the porch. There were many wombs on its floors. It seemed that the muggles enjoyed using this place as a paintball range. Tsk tsk, would they surely be getting the best from Jakob one day.

[Jakob Slayer]

Jakob opened the door. It has been some time that they have talked to each other. However, not a very long time for Jakob. Time is motionless when you are a vampire, and eventially, things begin to blur together once you have lived long enough. Jakob smiled, more like smirked though, when Juliette came in.

However, he wasn't blind of the surroundings. Anyone could be watching... He looked over his shoulder do see if anyone was around. No one to his best of knowledge. He made sure of that not only by seeing but with a sniff from his nose. He then looked at Juliette knowing now that everything was o.k. "Come in." he said in a friendly, but cautious tone. Something still didn't seem right with the Veela.

[Juliette Beaucoup]

The heals that Juliette wore clicked with ever step the Veela took from the porch to entering the house. Infront of her, she found what little light that was left in the place to shine from the full moon from the windows above the stairs. The stairs seemed just as used as the porch; almost could be considered unsafe, but since it was a wizarding house, she knew that they weren't so.

Juliette turned to Jakob and gave him a hug. She hoped that this would be a token, an understandment, to how sorry she was to abandon him so long ago and to never show up in his cell after the war. He had to understand! She swore to the ministry that she didn't remember anything: that she was under the imperius curse! How could she explain why she was visiting a friend?

She still held him tight. With her chin over his shoulders, she hoped that this was not the end of their friendship and her life. Juliette needed him more than ever, and the veela could only hope that Jakob would understand her intentions and reasonings of abandonment.

She spoke up. "Jakob, I am so sorry." she knew that Jakob knew why to an extend that could not be even explained in this post.

[Jakob Slayer]

Jakob did not hug back at first. The mere presence of another being showing emotion toward him made him feel a little awkward in recent times. He resisted, knowing that the other reason why he would hug back was for both the care he had toward the Juliette whom would do anything for him and her manipulative powers as a Veela. He must not-

Sooner than he knew it, he huged the Veela back. Perhaps that is what he needed all of these years- even before the first wizarding war. He needed someone to care, and at this moment, Juliette only gave a small dosage of his deepest desires. "I... I understand Juliette." he said. "You have nothing to worry. Especially after I have talked about the situations with you and Voldemort."

[Juliette Beaucoup]

Juliette looked at Jakob, but still had her arms around the vampire. She was curious as to why he did all of this to her, but dared not ask. Instead, she gave her gratitude saying thank you.

Unfortunetly, Juliette now had a serious dept with Jakob. Not only did the vampire forgive her, but he saved her life. He didn't have to do that. Jakob could have let her die under the hands of Voldemort. She diserves such a death after abandoning a friend like him.

There is no greater reward to give someone whom has taken time to save your life. Jakob offered her a chance to live, and with that said, Juliette would do anything for him. Speaking up, she gave her fullest attention and most ambitious attitude in order to start paying up her dept. "You have asked me to meet up with you, Jakob. What shall you have me do?" Her new commander was now Jakob as much as it was Voldemort. He could tell her to do anything now, and she would do it. Just like that.

[Jakob Slayer]

Jakob smirked. "Actually, I am quite glad that you have brought that up. Please, sit down."

Jakob found himself gathering photos which seemed to have images of a couple of wizards and witches in DIagon Alley. Along with that, a pile of Ancient Ruins books seemed to have stacked themselves next to the coffe table, and quite away from the fire. One by one, the books glided in the air, and onto the small table next to Jakob's chair.

Pictures flapped their ends toward Juliette and fluttered around her shoulders. Normally, Jakob would have rushed to the being and quickly grabbed the photos, but these were meant to be seen. They were taken by other Loyal Death Eaters, and were given to him. What they would be discussing would be a special mission only to be known between Voldmort, Jakob and Juliette, and when this meeting was adjurned, the secret would then be known by only two candidates.

"Juliette, do you have any background information on Ancient Ruins Artifacts?" he asked, more sarcastically, but stilll authoritativly.

[Juliette Beaucoup]

Juliette sat down. A picture of a boy and a girl happily together flashed forward into her face as each photo moved accordingly. One was a young wizard whom just entered the shop. He seemed to be a previous student from Hogwarts.

The girl was quite familiar, for she was in Juliette's house, and was quite skilled in the academic area. Her name was Autum. However, she did not udnerstand why Death Eaters were spying on them. Were they Order of the Phoenix Members? More important, why did Jakob cared?

"No, I do not know much about Ancient Ruins..." Juliette said, admitting to academic defeat. She did not mention the wizards in the photos.

[Jakob Slayer]

Jakob, with the wave of his wand, had the pictures fall into Juliette's lap as she sat down an contiplated. His voice transformed from serious to charming. He was going to be the teacher now; not Juliette, and that satisfied him quite well. Don't get Jakob wrong. He always did know a whole lot about everything, but Juliette's intelligence and ambition to learn more and more every day overclouded times when Jakob could tell her something new about the world. Jakob now knew something very important, and with a perfect blend of words, he expressed his knowledge.

"Well, you better get to know Ancient Ruins, Madame-Moiselle, becaus the Death Eaters have reported to find something quite interesting with this... couple."

Jakob continued. "It seems that this witch has found something quite valuable in the wizarding world. An artifact... found in Egypt with a very unique and very rare ability."


[Agent:1]

[Juliette Beaucoup]

Juliette kept looking at the photos, trying to find some way to interpret their meaning, and to figure out questions that Juliette could not understand at the moment. Never the less, she responded wit hinterest.

"Go on..."

[Jakob Slayer]

Jakob, feeling a need to refresh his thoughts, flicked his wand in the air as two glasses of wine appeared out of thin air. Yes, wine was very appropriate at the moment. What he was about to say would shock Juliette greatly. Infact, there is a very good chance that she would never be the same.

Jakob took a sip of the red wine he summoned. Its taste has never been the same since he turned into a vampire, but he still enjoys the burning sensation flowing slowly down his throat. It reminded him of the times when he was young; the times when his ideas mattered to the wizarding world. Yes, those times were long ago, but that story is best for another time.

"Our Death Eaters suspect that this artifact has the ability to drain the magic out of a living witch or wizard when it is at clos range with him or her. Dunnigan, the Archeologist Voldemort has placed in Ancient Egypt says that it is quite possible that if the object is placed by a witch or wizard long enough, he or she could possibly loose their magic all-together. Dark lord finds this object quite... useful.. and would like to retrieve it for this war with The Order of the Phoenix."


[Agent:2]

[Juliette Beaucoup]

Juliette dropped her glass when she heard that Jakob's speech on this object. She couldn't believe it. THere was no way any single thing could do such an awful detatchment. To take out the magic of a wizard? To make them muggle? How did they find out about this, and why would Volemort want such an object that turns wizards and witches to the very thing he dispises most; Mud-Bloods.

Juliette couldn't believe it at first. It was impossible. Magic in a wizard or witch wasn't some sort of body part that can be severed or broken. It was their soole. It is the first thing that is given to a youngling when being born in the magical world, and it is the only thing that they can take when leaving it. The thought of it being removed made JUliette gasp and drop her drink.

Then she remarkly responded. "How do we know that the witch and wizard havethis artical? I do not see any pictures of the object in your photos. How do we know this is not just some lead with the Order of the phoenix is playing on us?" Her Auror senses were tingling to all the possibilities of this object not being real; a trait tough foolishly by the Ministry of Magic. Juleitte wished she could believe it right away, but that was just not possible. At least not possible to someone who still has real magical powers...

[Jakob Slayer]

Jakob smirked. "Rest assure that this object is very real, and is very powerful. Like I said before, Dunnigan confirmed the news to The Dark Lord. I do not remember a time when Dunnigan failed to give accurate information to The Dark Lord."

[Juliette Beaucoup]

"Have any of us?" Juliette said, reminding Jakob that failure with Voldemort is Death.

[Jakob Slayer]

"Very good observation." Jakob said. "But I am willing to depend on the chances that it is real. This object is too valuable to ignore to the Dark Lord, which means that the task he has asked you to do will be done. Surely you would be able to take this artifact out of the hands of two young adult. i have seen your duels, and I have no doubt that The Dark Lords deeds will be carried out."