Two for One

Chapter 55: Implementation

Tom and Gellert bully Credence into doing his home-assigned work because the Hogwarts tests just aren't bringing out all of Credence's ability, and then they head out for the day to the research labs with lunches Harry packed them.

They get to the Department of Mysteries and shuffle around their neighbouring offices getting things ready before heading out to meet the Unspeakable.

"You're late," the Unspeakable states. "Not late enough, we'll wait another twenty minutes."

"We're already fashionably late though," Tom points out.

"Yeah, and I've decided we're going to be irritatingly late," the Unspeakable argues even as they take the paper bag Gellert hands them. "What is this? Tell Harry he needs to stop packing me lunch, I'm not one of his little strays."

"You don't have to eat it," Gellert says and makes to take it back.

The Unspeakable is not an idiot so they stare Gellert down and don't react. They pause like that for a while, bag still in the Unspeakable's hand Gellert wiggling his fingers.

"Great, we've wasted another minute," Tom mutters. "What shall we do next? Talk about girls? Oh, sorry Gellert, I suppose you can talk about boys."

The Unspeakable is confused. "You're both like seven, do you even have a sexuality?"

"You were literally at my birthday party this year, what do you mean seven?" Gellert complains.

"By the way," Tom says, leaning in. "You can just not come to my party; I've told Harry you're gluten intolerant too, so don't expect leftover cake."

"That is a dirty lie and I would duel you if you weren't three years old," the Unspeakable declares. "Gluten intolerant? Bite your tongue, boy."

"I'm eleven," Tom sighs.

"Eleven months," the Unspeakable scoffs. "Every time I look at you, you get shorter."

"I'm almost as tall as Harry now."

"That's a low bar."

=====================

The field of yellow daisies were picked as a meeting point, a sea of flowers turned towards the morning sun, a breeze rippling through like waves of a golden ocean. They didn't pick this spot because of the picturesque beauty but because they could lie the trackers and defence system under the petals and leaves.

The guests have already arrived, a small cluster of witches and wizards standing tall as the wind makes their outer robes flair like wings but their hair stays perfectly still with styling charms.

There are only four guests present and three are just mandatory department overseers that the Unspeakable can deal with in necessary. The fourth is the woman the Unspeakable doesn't like, British-pale and stick thin but she's got height, with brown eyes and dirty blonde hair.

A woman from the Ministry, wearing a blandly polite smile and pencil skirt, steps forward to greet them but the Unspeakable walks right past.

"Sorry about being late," the Unspeakable says despite having spent the last ten minutes in a dumb argument about what height would make the boys real adults. "So we don't waste any more of your time, Tom would you mind getting started right away?"

Tom barely bites back the urge to pointedly waste time by tying his already perfectly laced shoes because this is about being obedient and making the Unspeakable look in control. (Tom will make the favour he's getting in return be just shy of crippling to the Unspeakable.)