Bad Romance

Chapter 19

Chapter 19: More Security than Lloyd's of London

With all the Azkaban defenses basically torn down, they spent the rest of the afternoon, and evening, rebuilding them. As Delphini had broken them so easily, and they wanted to keep her out as well as prisoners in, much more was needed. It was Bellatrix's concern that the girl may attempt to return to free prisoners in hopes they would follow her, which they very likely would for the favor. As Grindelwald and Valdez didn't disagree with Bella's reasoning, they remained to help strengthen the defenses and lay even more nasty traps for anyone who broke them.

"How she got through the ones we had up, I still honestly don't comprehend," one of the goblin Aurors complained, and Rodolphus nodded.

"Morning thinks it took her a while," an elf Auror that Bellatrix took to be named Morning replied thoughtfully. "She was studying them intently during the first part of her chat with the Lestranges before she approached. It was as if she found the defenses a puzzle to solve... or rather, to break"

"We had Gringotts level security on this bitch," Rabastan complained, frustrated.

"I'll go and get Filius Flitwick to help out," Blaise Zabini said suddenly. "He is responsible for all of the advanced wards on Hogwarts, and she wasn't able to get inside. Only onto the grounds when she attacked."

Grindelwald nodded, smiling at his man as their eyes met. "Brilliant thinking!"

Zabini smiled back then Apparated away. Everyone continued laying wards without speaking much, the mood glum and dour considering they still had few answers when it came to how the hell the girl was able to do...basically everything she did. Within ten minutes, Zabini was back with little Flitwick.

At the sight of the small Charms Master, Bellatrix couldn't keep her lips from twitching upward into a small amused smille. The expression had nothing to do with any fondness for the man. He was alright. He knew his craft well, and she'd learned some useful things from him. This reaction was more about the fond memory of giving Rod a hand job in the back of Charms class during their sixth year, though.

Of course they hadn't gotten caught. Rod had joked then that it was as close to getting laid as little Flitwick was likely to get. From the grin on his face, Bellatrix could tell they were wandering down memory lane together. Before Bellatrix could murmur anything into her husband's ear, one of the goblins was approaching him. "I had an idea, Mr. Lestrange, inspired by the way you were incorporating wards into the spiderwebs. It involves a shield that absorbs any magic thrown at it. It won't be able to use the magic, but it can take it and not break... Rather like with the sword of Gryffindor."

Rodolphus nodded, though, of course, none of them understood just how the sword of Gryffindor's magic worked.

"Show me," he invited, and he and the goblin moved to the edge of the island. As they went, Rodolphus called for the two Acromantulas to accompany them. In no time, the spiders were weaving webs at lightning speed while the goblin cast magic into them as soon as they were formed. As he worked, he explained what he was doing to Rodolphus who used more spells to fortify them. The four moved around the edge of the island, working until the webs were once more encompassing it all.

Meanwhile, Valdez explained to Flitwick what wards had already been done, and the little man listened with a frown of concentration. "I will place evading wards under and above those in place," Filius decided briskly. "Those protect and when one attempts to break through them, the wards actually shift to avoid being broken."

The Charms Master gave a small smile at the Head Auror's impressed look. "Come and I will show you," he said, gesturing to Valdez as he walked toward the edge of the island. Zabini and Grindelwald were quick to follow and Bellatrix trailed along as well. She also wished to see how these wards were done. Unfortunately, this wasn't to be because she was unable to track most of what Flitwick did. She saw the way the ward began, then it seemed to simply vanish, yet Flitwick was still casting.