“Zat was a false transfer, wasn’t it?”
“Huh?”
“Ze trick you did, to throw off ze Inspector. When she forced you to empty your pockets, you secretly transferred ze key zhey wanted out of your hand, revealing only ze coins. Zat left ze inspector to zhink ze flash of silver her men had seen you holding was just a coin, razher zhan ze key.”
“...Richtig. Did that heavyweight book you stole back in London actually tell you all that?”
“(sniffs) About false transfers, oui. But I did not steal it -- it was from a library. Library books are meant to be borrowed. I shall return it, when next I return to London.”
“(smirks) You not keeping a book? Das ist ein Das Blaue vom Himmel versprechen.”
“Sie sind der Dieb auf diesem Schiff, Monsieur Witt, nicht ich.”
“Das stimmt. ...Here. You’d better hold onto this. We’re going to need it, if we’re going to find Dolorous Guard. If our Captain wants to do it, though, he’ll have to hurry. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the French Ministry is suddenly so interested in it.”
“Me eizher. Ze protective magics on it are supposed to be as strong now as zhey were when Merlin walked ze Earth. Some say zat ze Curse initially placed on ze keep was on pier with Morgana’s own black magic.”
“(nods) Right. So process of elimination -- either the Ministry wants to see if they can recreate those shields to protect themselves from Grindelwald...”
“...Or ze Ministry has already been infiltrated by zhose who wish to give zat knowledge to Grindelwald himself.”
“You really think Jules will want to involve himself in all that?”
“Bien sûr, non. But Dolorous Guard is not just a haven of black magics. It is ze resting place of Lancelot Dulac -- ze most famous knight in both magical and Non-Magique history...ze right-hand man of King Arthur himself. Ze treasures one could find -- ze untapped knowledge and adventure wrapped in such a quest...zat is what Monsieur Aquila will always put most value in. And I know Monsieur Zain, Monsieur Hopper, and Mon Ami Alton will approve of hampering Grindelwald’s agenda.”
“And you?”
“I have concerns. Much as you do, I suspect.”
“Freilich. You and I both know what diese Ficker are like, when they don’t get their way. ...But I reckon our concerns will be overruled at any rate, so all we can do is just be faster and smarter than the other people chasing after our prize.”
“And we will be. For we already are.”
x~x~x~x
Featuring Felix Witt @sirfluffig and referencing Kath Alton @magical-retales, Lugh Hopper @thatravenpuffwitch, Darian Zain and Jules Aquila @kathrynalicemc
Another fun friendship scene I had in my head and wanted to write out, this time for our resident Slytherin and honorary “Ravenclaw” on the Empyrean! Any of my German-speaking friends, I really hope I didn’t butcher your language -- please forgive and/or correct ANY of this that’s wrong, I really tried!! 😖 But yeah, I see these two being the resident pragmatists, even if everyone on the Empyrean are kind of escapists in their own way, and both Felix and Desi would definitely be able to tell which direction the wind is blowing when it comes from Grindelwald -- if nothing else, then because they’re from blood purist families who either passively or actively support Grindelwald’s ideology and actions. Plus the idea of these two becoming close confidantes despite their contrasting personalities just makes me happy. 💙