The Theft (Zach)

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When Thaddeus Thorn has obtained his ancestor's Book of Dark Spells from Borgin and Burkes, he found that it led to other mysteries. It spoke of other books that were powerful as well in the area of dark magic. Learning of these books, Thorn looked into what had become of a particularly infamous work of literature called By The Demon's Hand. It was a book written by an ancient Dark Wizard who was so evil, his name was no longer spoken of as Voldemort's was, and was therefore lost in history. The book itself made no mention of the name.

The book had been passed on from one dark wizard to the next throughout time. Even some in Thorn's family had it for short periods of time, including his great grandfather who wrote the family's dark spells book. But Thorn learned that the last Dark Wizard who possessed it was defeated by Zerod Grimp in his Auror days. And therefore Thorn assumed that Grimp possessed it and no doubt kept it in his office.

While Grimp was teaching a class, Thorn had to find it and find it quickly. So he approached his fellow Black Army member Zach. He didn't like Zach all that much, and sensed the same from him. But this was not about friendship. It was about their mistress obtaining something incredibly powerful.

Using a spell, Thorn unlocked the door and stepped in, turning to Zach.

"The book is large and blood red in color. The cover is rigid as it was made from a dragon's wing." he said. "If you find it, it will not open without a password. My great grandfather knew the word, as do I. However, I'd prefer it not be revealed until the book is placed in the hands of the Dark Lady. I trust you understand, old boy."


@zach

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Zach had been reluctant to come along with Thorn when he had first mentioned he wanted Zach's assistance. It all seemed a bit flaky - he had worked out that the last wizard who possessed the book was defeated by Grimp, and therefore he assumed it would be in Grimp's office? It could be any number of different places, if indeed he even still had it. Zach felt it was a bit of a stretch, but when he reailsed how much the Dark Lady would like to get hold of it and would likely hold in esteem those who found it, he decided to get involved. He nodded at Thorn's instructions as they stepped into the office. "Right. That's fine. Although I don't suppose you'll be looking in it without me before handing it over to her?" he asked with a raised eyebrow as he began to search on one side of the room. If this book had Dark secrets, he didn't want Thorn reading them without Zach getting the chance to read them as well. And if Thorn wasn't going to read them, well, that was fine then. But he didn't trust the kid.

@thorn

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Thorn smirked as Zach asked the question about him looking at the book before it was handed to the Dark Lady. The truth was that he wanted to, but at the same time he was wise enough to know that it took a more powerful dark magic user to handle it than Thorn.

"Oh certainly," he said. "If I wanted my eyes burned out or my mind to become jam. There's a reason there's a password for it. Only certain dark magic users can handle it. And as you and I both know, our mistress is far from ordinary."

Thorn them closed the door behind him and looked about.

"We have about half an hour before Grimp returns to the office," he said. "Hence why I asked you along. Two snakes are better than one as they say." He then looked around. "Where is it? Grimp would never leave it too far from him, though he certainly wouldn't risk taking it to his classroom. It has to be here."

Suddenly the door opened and in stepped Hagrid. What the half-giant saw was who appeared to be Professor Grimp staring at him. Thorn has obviously been prepared.

"Oh, Professor Grimp," said Hagrid. "I thought you were holdin' class. I see you're meetin' with our Mr. Rosier here. Just returnin' the book on trolls you let me borrow. I'll just leave it on the desk and be on my way." Hagrid placed the book down, waved, and parted. When he was gone, "Grimp" morphed back into Thorn.

"That was a bloody close call!" he said. "We need to hurry!"

@zach

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Zach's heart leapt to his throat when the door opened, and he just realised that Thorn was 'morphing' into Grimp before he shot a curse at the person who came through the door. Thankfully he had realised just in time and kept his wand down. He gave a curt nod to Hagrid as he left the book on the desk and then left, closing the door behind him. "Metamorphmagus, hey? That's a handy skill," Zach commented drily. It was extra information that he had now that he didn't have before - that alone almost made this trip worth it.

He kept searching for the book, checking all of the bookshelves on his side of the room, before seeing a small gap behind one of the bookshelves. He reached into it curiously and found a book in there, and pulling it out it appeared to be the one they were looking for. "Is this it? It was pretty well hidden... looks like the description you gave, too," he said, holding it up.

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@thorn

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Thorn sighed and gave a slight nod as Zach said that being a Metamorphagus was a handy skill. Granted it was, but Thorn also knew it didn't allow permanent results in a lot of situations.

"Well it won't be handy if that big, stupid oaf discovers the real Professor Grimp is still in his classroom," said Thorn. The young dark wizard then looked about some more. When Zach asked if he had found it, Thorn slowly turned. He darted Zach a cold look. Now that it was found, Thorn was a tad upset that he himself didn't find it. The cold look then turned to a smile. He stepped over and looked it over. That was it! The Demon's Hand!

"Very good, Zach," he said. He then took out his satchel and opened it, motioning for Zach to place the book inside. "Our mistress will be most pleased. If we're lucky, she'll use the book on that ancient relic McGonagall if she hasn't killed the old goat already."

Thorn then looked through the crack of the door and waited for the coast to be clear. He then stepped out and turned to Zach.

"It's a nice bit of irony, isn't it, old boy?" he said. "Grimp sought this book for years to prevent other dark wizards and witches from causing unspeakable evils. And now his possessing it has allowed us to allow our mistress to do that very thing."

@zach

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That was a good point, and he knew they had to hurry up. That was why it was great timing when Zach actually found the book, and showed it to Thorn. His glib praise meant nothing to Zach, and if anything felt condescending, so Zach didn't acknowledge it at all. Instead all he did was to put it in the satchel when Thorn offered it, knowing with satisfaction that he was the one who had found it and would hopefully be recognised for his part in this.

"The irony is clear," he replied drily as they continued on their way, walking without appearing to be in a hurry. He didn't have much interest at all in idle chit-chat with Thorn - he would happily work with him for Black Army stuff, but beyond that it wasn't like they were going to be friends. Zach had a clear line between work and play, and this was work.

@thorn

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Thorn didn't care for Zach's dry tone concerning the irony. And by that, Thorn literally didn't care. He didn't care if Zach liked him or hated him. All he cared about was that Zach played his role and didn't get the other Black Army students in trouble by appearing weak or backing out. For now, he supposed he could show the boy a bit of respect. The boy was Slytherin after all, and a Pureblood. That alone earned some respect. Plus Zach had done his job well inside the office. The two were safely out now, and no one would suspect them of anything.

And it was a good thing they were safely out because as Thorn moved to depart from Zach, Grimp had returned. The DADA Professor stopped and eyed them, since while they were out of his office, they were still near it.

"Herr Rosier, Herr Thorn," he said. "Something to see me about?"

"...Yes," said Thorn, showing only a moment's hesitation. "Zach and I were going to ask you if we could have an extension on the evening's homework. We were engaged in a few other activities and haven't had time to go over it thoroughly."

"Then I suggest you make time while you still have a little left before it is due," said Grimp coldly. "Gutentag, gentlemen." Grimp then stepped into his office and shut the door.

@zach

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Zach did hold respect for Thorn - especially from the way he handled himself under pressure. It didn't mean he liked him, but he didn't have to - respect was enough. When Grimp showed up, that was another opportunity for Thorn to show his quick thinking. Zach tended to be more of the silent type so he let Thorn do the talking, and that proved to go quite well in this situation.

As they walked off, though, Zach muttered to him. "If he finds it missing now, he's going to look straight to us," he said quietly once they were around a corner and down the corridor. They would have to be on their guard, and deliver the book to the Dark Lady as soon as possible. "We're going to need some way of stopping Hagrid and Grimp talking about this, else there will be enough evidence for him to take us in." If they prevented Hagrid from telling Grimp that Zach and 'Grimp' had been in his office, then there wasn't really enough extra evidence for Grimp to come after them.

@thorn

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(Hope this doesn't sound silly. Just thinking of something to get them out of this.)

Thorn smirked as Zach showed worry that Grimp would find the book and figure them out, and that now Hagrid and Grimp would have to be taken care of.

"Don't fret, old boy," he said. "I anticipate everything. Right after I placed the real one in my satchel, I placed a mock copy in its place. I highly doubt Grimp knows the password, and to look inside is the only way he would discover that it is a fake." He then turned and looked at Zach with cold eyes. "I should hope you don't think me a fool, old boy, as being depicted as one does not sit very well with me." He then smiled again and patted Zach on the shoulder. "Now then, don't worry about Hagrid. He's an aging fool, and has probably forgotten that he even stopped by Grimp's office. But should he be an issue, we'll deal with him. We must be cautious about it though if we do. With the Headmistress gone, the sudden death of another of Harry Potter's old friends might cause even more suspicion, and we've already got Aurors and their bloody trainees wandering about."

@zach

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The overly confident tone that Thorn used just irked Zach. "When did I imply I thought you were a fool? Making assumptions doesn't sit very well with me," he replied just as coldly. He shrugged his shoulder as Thorn reached to pat him on it - he wouldn't have any of that sort of condescension. Zach was older than him, anyway - so being treated as a tagalong wasn't something he was going to put up with. He was glad to hear that there was a replacement there, though, so there wouldn't be any suspicion cast on them. "If that's the case, it seems like we're done here, if we're safe from suspicion." He wasn't chummy enough with Thorn to hang out with him beyond the task required.

@thorn

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If there was another thing Thorn didn't like, it was when someone tried to prove his assumptions wrong. He felt Zach was trying to make him out to be a fool, and nothing was changing his mind. Still, he wasn't going to bicker over it.

"I wouldn't think on it another moment, old boy," he said with a smirk and his same subtle coldness. "No need in dwelling on things we can't change now. After all, our focus is on our primary goal."

When Zach said he felt they were done there, Thorn did agree with that, and he wanted to be rid of Zach as much as the boy wanted to be rid of him.

"I couldn't agree more," he said. "I have a great deal of odds and ends to take care of elsewhere. Nevertheless, I appreciate your assistance in this matter, and I trust our mistress will be equally grateful." Thorn of course said all this quietly. "Good day, old boy." And with that, Thorn walked away.

(Done on my end)

@zach

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Zach gave him a nod, acknowledging the coldness between them but at the same time acknowledging the respect there. They had done a good job together, and that was enough for now. "Later, then," Zach replied as he turned and left as well. He was glad that he would be recognised for his part in this as well.

**END THREAD**