The Grants Artefacts

16 New Years Eve

New year's eve

"I've spent days clearing out that bloody vault and I've found nothing remotely cursed or curse breaking. It's a joke," Arun complained to her sister, who was using the portrait as a window. Next to her Severus was picking at the dirt under his nail with the corner of some post that had arrived for him a few hours ago. They sat on her desk in her study, facing the painting of Arun's sister, which hung above a roaring fire.

"I thought the Headmaster was giving me a clue, but it seems he just wants me to know that there's nothing down there. I even snooped into the other vaults and nope," she threw her hands up in frustration. "Nothing."

"You think he's hiding it elsewhere?"

"Yes. I do think that. I also think it's still on the school grounds somewhere. The whole buildings haunted though."

"Somewhere away from students then?"

"I just want to know what Dumbledore's doing, I want to know if he's trying to help me, and if he is, why he won't just come out and say it!"

"He doesn't trust you sis. Why should he?"

Next to her, Snape opened the post, bored with a conversation he'd had time and time again.

"Any updates on destroying them?"

"Actually yes. I saw a reference to the Oren Spike. It's a cursed object in its own right, wielding it apparently takes some sort of toll, but the spike is said to be known as the curse breaker."

"How old are we talking?"

"Mayan."

"Where is it now?"

"Apparently in the department of mysteries in the Ministry of Magic."

"Any chance you can get it out on loan for study?" Arun laughed but her sister shook her head.

"You're the vault cracker kid."Amber paused and looked over her shoulder then came closer to the picture. "There's been rumours. Werewolves are going to England. Some of them are- known- child eaters."

Severus looked up and studied Amber, but he didn't say anything. Arundel felt him tense up next to her.

Arun shrugged, "You think they are working with the Americans?" she asked, hoping that her own nervousness wasn't showing. Fenrir's business was his own and she'd already tipped off the Centaurs so she didn't feel she had to do anything else. Those Centaurs would have spoken to Dumbledore maybe he moved the Artefact after but she had no proof that it was so and to be quite honest, she didn't intend to get in Fenrir's way if he did come to Hogwarts.

"Maybe, or maybe they're just pissed off that the Dark Lord didn't give them what they were promised," Amber pulled the corner of her mouth down and shrugged up her shoulders.

"Do you have any idea why they are coming to England?" Severus asked. "I assume you have notified the Ministry?"

"I have notified them," Amber told him, her voice was not so kind when she was addressing him. "And what is it that the werewolves always want? New recruits. So I expect they will be making their way to the school," She ran her lips through her teeth and looked away from them for a moment. "I have to go, I'm halfway through a research paper and Dad's coming to see me later."

"Let us know if you find anything else," Arun told her.

"Shall do. Happy New Year. Good to see you again Sniv," Amber grinned at Severus through the painting and then she was gone.

"Sorry," Arun ran a hand across his arm and down to the letter. Snape watched her movement saying nothing as she snatched the letter from him and jumped off the table and opened it. The letter was from Avery, she recognised his scrawling handwriting.