Barnaby Lee x Reader - Year 6

Hunting Rakepick

Tonks and Lana made it to Knockturn Alley in hopes to find Rakepick, when they spotted Ben chatting to a dark wizard.

"I've never been happier to find you in Knockturn Alley, Ben. Tonks and I could use your help." Lana said as they approached the boy.

"Sorry, I can't. I'm busy interrogating dark witches and wizards." he said.

"Ben's interrogating dark witches and wizards? Our Ben?!" Tonks asked in disbelief.

"He thinks it'll help him hunt down Rakepick and the final cursed vault." Lana informed her.

"I'm close to finding a lead. I just know it." Ben said.

"So you haven't seen Rakepick around here?"

"If I had, do you really think I'd still be talking to these blighters?" Ben asked, rolling his eyes.

"That's odd. We rushed over here because Aberforth said Rakepick was headed this way..." Lana said.

"But there's no sign of her anywhere. No white eagle-owl either." Tonks added.

"White-eagle owl? Last time I saw you, you were looking for Sickleworth." Ben told Lana, "Are you sure it's Rakepick you're after and not new additions to your creature collection?"

"First interrogation and now cheek? How very un-Ben-like of you!" Tonks said.

"For your information, Ben, Sickleworth did lead me to someone." Lana said, growing increasingly annoyed with the boy, "It just turned out to be my brother, not Rakepick."

"Your brother was at Hogwarts?" Ben asked in surprise.

"Yes, though it wasn't as surprising as the first time he showed up. When he apparated here to tell me and Merula about an assassin he thinks is after us."

"An assassin?" Ben asked again, eyes wide.

"That's more like the Ben I remember." Tonks smiled, "Don't worry, I was shocked too."

"I'm not shocked, I'm jealous." Ben stated.

"I stand corrected." Tonks commented.

"Fending off an unseen assassin who could be anyone or anywhere...it sounds exciting."

"Exciting? To deal with an assassin? Are you mad?" Lana asked Ben with a frown.

"Perhaps I am." he shrugged, "You certainly seem to think so."

"If it makes you feel any better, Ben, the most interesting people usually are." Tonks smiled.

"Unfortunately you might get your wish, Ben. Turns out the white feather Sickleworth had in his mouth was a transfigured message."

"What did it say?"

"'You still owe us a friend's life, and we intend to collect.'" Lana recited.

"Heh, I'd like to see them try." Ben said, smiling darkly.

"For the record, I most certainly would not." Tonks said.

"Do you know who sent it?" Ben asked.

"Jacob thought it was someone who owns a white owl, so I tracked down that eagle-owl from earlier. According to Aberforth Dumbledore, the white-eagle owl belongs to Rakepick." Lana told him.

"And you think she might be responsible for the threat." Ben added.

"I was hoping to corner her here and get some answers, but it looks like we missed her." Lana said, scanning the area with her eyes to see if she could spot the familiar head of orange hair.