Beauty in The Dirt -The Magic Behind Doors-

Switching Roles

Travers stood tall and proud, a sheet of creased lavender parchment unfolded in one hand, a paperclipped manila folder in his other. He opened the file and withdrew a copy of the Morning's edition of The Daily Prophet. He held out the cover page and turned it towards Severus and Cassiopeia's probing eye's.
An excerpt from the Daily Prophet article read:

Stanley Shunpike, conductor of the popular Wizarding conveyance Knight Bus, has been arrested on suspicion of Death Eater activity. Mr Shunpike, 21, was taken into custody late last night after a raid on his Clapham home....

A headline of Stan Shunpike's arrest, followed by a short snippet of text, on the cover of the Wizarding Newspaper elicited much excitement from one ecstatic Travers.

"What does a scraggy, rawboned, protruding eared, pimply faced conductor have anything to do with our mission?" Cassi inquired.

Travers crumpled the paper into a ball and shoved it in a pocket, pulling out a separate piece of crisp stationary from the folder.

"I got these from Pius Thickness' assistant, remember?" He reminded her.

"Go on." Severus urged.

Travers clutched the sheet in his hand and began reading the scribbled notes aloud.

"Stanley "Stan" Shunpike- A wizard and conductor of the Knight Bus was overheared claiming to have inside information about a certain Dark Lord's organisation. At a local pub, the person in question tried to impress a gathering of friends by making the statement that he had inside knowledge of The Death Eaters' plans." He took in a breath.

Cassi ventured a quib at his pause.

"Well he sure is true to his vain nature, Moronic git." She spat. Severus shushed her, again urging Travers to continue. He turned the parchment over and began the ballid.

"Rufus Scrimgeour, received word of the betrayal and raided Shunpike's home in Clapham, taking him into custody on suspicion of Death Eater activity. The interrogation with one Stanley Shunpike, has revealed that he has absolutely no link with the Death Eaters, but by the order of the Ministry, he is to be kept in order to put up a façade of progress. He is to be seen by the Wizengamet on the account that he will be moved to Azkaban Prison On the day of 14 in the month of September. Mr. Shunpike is to be incarcerated until further notice." He placed the paper back in the file and looked up to meet the understanding golden gaze of Severus.

"That's today." Cassi chimed in, the dawn of realization displayed in her witty tone.

Travers shook his head, yanking out the worn lilac piece of parchment. He smoothed it out then threw it up in the air, revealing it's contents.

"He's our way in!" He blurted, holding out Pius' schedule.

Pius Thickness was to be in the court rooms along side Stan Shunpike for the duration of the day. It was his job to process the gaunty wizard and escort him to Azkaban Prison.

Two birds, one stone.

Cassi's face lit up in recognition at the turn of events. An unlikely ally, Stanley Shunpike, was going to be their way to Pius Thickness and their way into Azkaban Prison.

"Yaxley is already in the court room's. I must make my way there now with this." He held up the file folder.

"What do we do?" Cassiopeia asked.

"He wants us to find our own way in." Severus concluded by the look on Travers face.

"I'm afraid so. Pius will need these notes and I can't be late. Will you two be okay? " He questioned with more concern then what Cassi was use to. Apparently, Severus felt the same, as he went rigid, uncomfortable at her side.