分卷阅读27（2 / 2）

Herpartnershookhishead.“Andwehavetowearthesebecause…?”

Igorablinked.“Theyhelpthedamnedthingsdistinguishbetweenfriendandfoe,okay?”Sheknewhowabsurdtheplanwas.Shealsohadworkedsixteenotherkidnappingcaseswithransomdropsandneverfeltassecureabouttheexchangesasshedidnow.

ThekidnappershadenoughsensetochooseaMugglerecreationareafortheexchange.Aplacewithnoinherentmagicmeantitwaseasytodetecttraps,wards,andotherusefulMinistrymethodsofcapture.Italsomeantthekidnapperscoulddisapparateatanytime.IgorawassurprisednooneattheMinistryhadeverthoughtofusingFaemagicbefore.Althoughthesmallcreatureswerenotoriouslytemperamental,theirmagicwassointunedwiththenaturalworldthatifanyonecastregularandevenmoreadvancedprobes,they’dlikelynotevennoticetheFaewerethere.

WhenPansyParkinsonhadowledhertomeetatthehotelbar,Igorahadneverimaginedthewomanwouldhavesuchastorytotell.ParkinsonendedupadmittingthattherewasaDepartmentofMysteriesangletothecase,soshecouldn’tdivulgeallofthedetails.Therewerestillinconsistencieswiththeransomdemands,butParkinsonassuredIgorathataslongastheyprotectedBertrice,and—oddly—aredkneazlenamedGuinevere,everythingwouldbefine.

EverythingParkinsondisclosedmatchedwhatIgoraandFelixhadseenandheard,soIgorahadnochoicebuttoofferherservicesandagreetohelpinanywaythatshecould.She’dneverimaginedthatwouldmeandonningaChristmasjumperandwaitingontheroofofanindoorMuggleswimmingpoolforasignalthattheWinterSolsticeFaewerelooseandterrorizingthekidnappers.

“Isthisthestrangestcaseyou’veeverworked?”Felixasked,rousingIgorafromherthoughts.

Sheturnedtohim,smirking.She’dworkedmissingpersonsalong,longtime.“Thismightbethestrangestinrecentmemory,”sheoffered.

Aflashinthedistancecaughthereye.SheandFelixdroppedtotheirkneesandpeeredovertheedgeofthebuilding.ThefieldbelowwasslightlylitbytheelectriclightsofaMuggleparkingareanearby.Theycouldmakeouttwogroupsofhoodedfiguresstandingoneitherendoftheopenfieldbelow.Thenawoman’svoiceuttered,“Lumos!”

Twofiguresstoodclosesttothebuildingwhiletheotherfourfiguresmadetheirwaytothemiddleofthefield.Igora’smouthfellopenwhensherealizedoneofthefourwasBertriceZivantus.Felixtappedherontheshoulderandpointedtohiswatch.WhenIgoralookedbacktothefield,thefigureswereclearlyperformingtheexpectedsecurityspellsandchecksonthearea.

Fromwhatshecouldtell,Bertriceseemedalright.Sheclungtothesideofoneofthefiguresinthefieldandlookedaroundwithwideeyes.Thepoorthingwasprobablyterrified.

POP!

PansyParkinsonandLunaLovegood,whoclutchedtheredkneazle,cameintoview,bothwearingobnoxiouslycolored,flashingholidayjumpers.Theywerefollowedbyathirdwomanholdingalargeplant.Wasthat—itwas—HermioneGranger,inasimilarlyridiculousoutfitmostlyobscuredbytheplantinherarms.IgorapulledonherpairofredWeasley’sWirelessExtendableEarmuffs,hopingLovegoodhadn’tforgottentobringoneofthewirelessearswithher.

“…wandsonthegroundifyouwantheralive,”awomancommanded.ItlookedlikethefigurenexttoBertricewastheonethatwastalking,judgingbytheanimatedmovementsofherarms.Thethreeyoungwomenthrewtheirwandsintothegrass.“Now,handtheTimepieceandthemoneytomyassociateshere,andcarefullyputdowntheinquollisanicorpus.”

Igoratappedherpartnerontheshoulderandmotionedinthedirectionoftheotherhoodedfigureswho’dstayedback.Felixnoddedandedgedtothefarcorneroftherooftowatchthepairofthem.Igorafocusedbackonthesceneinthemiddleofthefield.

“AndwhataboutBertriceandGuinevere?”ParkinsonaskednervouslyandIgorablinked.HowhadshenotnoticedParkinson’sjumperwassooversized?Itlookedabsolutelyridiculousonher,asifshewerewearingadressforsomeonethreetimeshersize.Parkinsonadded,“Willyouswitchthemback?”

“HandovertheTimepieceandtheplant,”thewomanrepeated.

ParkinsonnarrowedhereyesandpointedtoBertrice.“WewillgivethemtoyouwhenweknowBertriceisbackwhereshebelongsandsafe.”

Afterafewlongmomentsofsilence,thewomanfinallysaid,“Ididn’twantittobethisway,youknow.”Shepulledsomethingoutfromunderhercloakandtookastepforward,leadingBertrice.FromwhatIgoracouldsee,itlookedlikethewomanheldasetofvials.“Bringherforward,”shecommandedtoLovegood.Theblondesteppedcloser,theanimalinherarms.Thewomanhandedheroneofthevials.“Makesureshedrinksitall,”shesaid.ThensheturnedtoBertrice,tiltedthegirl’sheadback,andpouredthecontentsofthevialintothechild’smouth.Lovegoodcradledthekneazlelikeaninfant,uncorkedthevial,andslowlyletthecreaturelapitup.

Veryslowly.“Handovertheitems,”thewomanmotionedforherassociatestocollectthemfromParkinsonandGranger.Thetwowomenhandedthemagoldtrinketandadrawstringbag.“AccordingtoBertice,”Lovegoodsaid,“itdoesn’ttasteverygood.”Igoraglancedattheyounggirlandfrowned.Shehadn’theardhersayanything.