Invictus [Tom Riddle / Tomione]

The Runner

Gaspard arrived at the Ministry early, as he had a meeting scheduled with the Minister and her advisors. She had questioned him about his department's agenda for the week, and then checked up on his progress toward hiring more purebloods in his office. He was already irritated when he made his way to courtroom ten, where the Wizengamot was gearing up for the day. He presented key evidence which would be used in the day's hearings, and then made his way up the elevator, back to Level 2.

When he arrived at the DMLE, he was greeted by a flood of post, all regarding his hiring of Hermione Dumbledore as an auror, courtesy of the latest article in Witch Weekly.

Gaspard took a deep breath, attempting to curb his annoyance as he poured himself a coffee and got to work. Eustace began to brief him on new cases of improper magic usage.

"Oh, and sir, we've made a bit of headway in the British Historical Society robbery."

Gaspard cocked an eyebrow. "Go on."

"As you suggested," Bones began, "The Historical Society brought in a team from the Bureau of Enchanted Artifacts in Germany to examine the wards. They found something rather interesting in one of the offices." Bones handed him a photograph of an antique, three-sided cabinet.

His eyes narrowed. "What's this?"

"This cabinet was a gift given to the Historical Society only a few days prior to the robbery by a local antique dealer with a shop located on Knockturn Alley, Caractacus Burke."

Gaspard's eyebrows instantly shot up. Burke was the owner of a shop called Borgin and Burkes. Incidentally, Dufresne recalled from his file that Tom Riddle worked at that particular shop. "Go on, Bones."

"One of the Bureau's team recognized the cabinet as an antique Vanishing cabinet made by a Dutch craftsman by the name of Joost Schrijin. They were rather popular during the goblin rebellion in 1890, but when Joost passed away, the cabinets became rarities. In the 20s, a muggle stumbled upon a pair of the cabinets and began using them for magic shows where he'd vanish his assistant, therefore the Ministry placed a regulation on Vanishing cabinets. It was revoked in 1932. The Bureau says the cabinets are beginning to regain popularity as another craftsman in Germany is studying the enchantments woven into the woodwork in order to build new ones. They come in pairs, and they create a sort of passage between them which can override any protective enchantments. The timing of the cabinet's arrival and the robbery are rather uncanny."

Gaspard blinked, his eyes narrowing. "Indeed." He examined the photo of the cabinet. "Where is its mate?"

Eustace shook his head. "That we do not know. The issue is, the cabinet on the other side must be opened in order for us to discover its location. Also, the Bureau worker said that it appears that this cabinet may be broken."

"Broken?"

Eustace nodded.

Gaspard's eyes narrowed. "Weren't the wards at the museum dismantled?"

"It appears so."

Gaspard stood and straightened his tie, then strapped on his leather shoulder harness on which he kept his wand holster and badge. He took up his robes, then muttered, "Give Dumbledore something to do until I get back. I'm going down there."

An hour later, Gaspard took the elevator back up to Level 2. He had examined the wards at the museum again, as well as the cabinet, and now needed to talk to Bones. He decided they would go to Borgin & Burkes and question the owner later.

"Mr. Bones," he called sharply as he re-entered the auror department. "In my office."

His pulse jumped sharply as he passed by Hermione Dumbledore, seated at a cubicle of her own and reading a training manual. He caught a faint whiff of her lavender fragrance as he walked by, but he didn't spare a glance her way.