all’s quiet || antonin & bellatrix
Antonin watched, thoughtful and patient, as Bellatrix crossed to the bookshelf, tapping the side of his glass with near-silent forefinger. His own paranoia led to less concrete methods of documenting their missions, but his home wasn’t as protected - nor as foreboding - as the Lestrange manor. He had his ways, coded notes to himself neatly hidden away in his desk at home; it didn’t stop him from being infinitely curious about Bellatrix’s journal when she sat back down across from him.
“Recently?” He echoed, sitting back to tap his chin lightly, gazing up at the ceiling in thought. “I know Yaxley’s little shadow, what was his name - Roberts? Lost him a few weeks ago, either got cold feet and was taken care of accordingly or just some sort of accident on mission. Couldn’t tell you which, but I could ask Yaxley next I see him. Don’t think he was leaking, though, if that’s where your heads at - and it’s a good place to be, but he didn’t know enough to leak.”
“Couple injuries beyond that, I think,” he trailed off, compiling a list in his head and only considering, then, the more obvious potentials. “But no one gone, as far as I know. Snape is still out recovering from that nasty jinx, but that was a month ago now and he’s still brewing potions for us on the regular, can’t imagine he’s got anything to do with it.” Snape was one of his boys, anyway; one of the most recent graduated class of Slytherins that Antonin had helped recruit. It wouldn’t have been him anymore than it would have been Evan or Rabastan.
“I think you’re right,” he nodded, not trying to butter up Bellatrix - even though it never hurt to do so - but genuine, brought to a bit more on guard now that she’d brought it up. “Even if they’re not, the only logical assumption is to expect them to be planning something. We haven’t stomped them all out yet, that’s too much to dream for. Either way, it’s worth bringing to the table - red alert awareness, it’s too easy to get complacent with all the wins.”
“I’m sure they’re going to show their faces sometime soon. Or, you know. Figure of speech; they’ll appear.” He hummed, seeing the signs - because they were often so clear in himself - of Bellatrix obsessing over the puzzle she’d presented them with. “Personally, I’m missing some of that friction. Good stress relief when I get to throw a curse or two at someone who might actually fight back.”
Bellatrix trailed down the list and studied the approximate time he was mentioning. She didn't have the defection, the death, whatever Roberts may be, but Antonin was right. It likely didn't matter. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.
"That one lacked the knowledge and the nerve alike," Bellatrix agreed. "I can't even see him as bold enough to be out there bragging to the wrong person." She almost wished he was. She knew there were members in it for the notoriety. She knew a couple of them had made mistakes and were punished in turn. There was no respect in it, but it was better than meekness.
She would have to pull those names again. Check directly with the sources.
"Fuck," Bellatrix muttered under her breath. She couldn't let this get to her. After all, it was just a puzzle. It was most likely not a serious threat. She pulled her composure back together and looked back to Antonin as he ruled out more options. It narrowed the list down, but it couldn't be called a lead.
At those two, simple, beautiful words—you're right—she finally sat down. "Truly too much would be for them to develop some sense and simply quit. I have faith in us taking them out soon." She had to say it. Despite the papers in front of her, the obstacles they'd posed, and the corner of her mind constantly dedicated to ruining them, she refused to believe this group a proper threat. It gave them too much credibility.
"You will have my back if I do? Bring it to him?" It wasn't one she was willing to bring in entirely unsupported. This was to be blame shared or her credit. "You've seen the evidence."
Bellatrix smirked at the quick correction. "They do make things interesting, don't they?" She propped one of her legs up on the desk's crossbeam, thinking. "Because it was all oh so easy before." She went back to frowning at her notes quickly, another piece in her hand and searching for the spot it would click in. "I don't think there's anything substantial we can move up to leverage it or put an action together quickly. Not without massive faults to be leveraged if they show up, say tomorrow."
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