Inquisition

Thaor walked slowly out of the lift once it reached The floor that housed Robert's office.His hair more gray than ever, his face pale, if anyone had been about this late, they would have thought he was a ghost. Dark lines, and bags laid under his eyes. The lack of sleep was apparent. It had only been a short time since he last saw Khaat and Robert after the trial of Felix Barker, no doubt Khaat was much better, and Thaor was much worse. Ironicly enough, Thaor was the cause of his own doom.

Thaor reached Roberts office door, and knocked, waiting for a reply.

Somehow annual budgets were always such an enormous pain in the arse. And Britain's entire annual budget for the wizarding world was no exception. It was giving Robert migraines. He hadn't had those since Hogwarts. This was one part of the job he did not like. He had devoted extensive time to study and working and reworking of the budget. Somehow it seemed like all he was doing was shifting funds from one pot to another, and historically, that was all that ever happened. There was not much of a strong influx into the wizarding world. The good part about it was that meant the capital base stayed stable. The bad part about that was that it didn't ever increase very much.

He was actually grateful to be distracted from the frustration of it by a knock on his door. "Come in," he called. He motioned his tea mug to go refill itself from the pot that was enchanted to always stay hot. He closed the budget file, glad to not be seeing numbers floating in front of his eyes for awhile, no matter what the reason for the distraction.

Thaor walked in as Robert said come in. He walked to the closest chair, and half sat-half collapsed into it. How have you been Minister Thaor said with a slight nod. Obviously I've been better. Thaor said with a slight chuckle, obviously talking about his paleness and gray hair. I want to get straight to business, I've come here for your help, not as minister of magic, not as anything but old friend, to old friend. I need to pick your brain, on two very dark types of magic. Unbreakable Vows, and horcruxes. Thaor said, pausing to let this information sink in.

"You're right. You have looked better," Robert said. He frowned. Thaor was a very capable wizard who could well take care of himself. His appearance did not bode well. If he looked like this, then chances are there were wizards who would not have survived what he had been through, whatever it was.

"Alright. Off the record. I get it. That's fine by me," Robert said. "I don't know what the devil you're into, but whatever it is, by the looks of you, you're either over your head or nearly there. Horcruxes--disgusting magic. Not only dark magic, but totally disgusting and highly dangerous. Unbreakable vows? I dont' know I'll necessarily make you feel any better about that either. But tell me. What exactly is it you want to know?"

Thaor showed a slight frown. I'm in quite the pickle Robert. You see, I've made an unbreakable vow, that I now wish to break. I know that sounds impossible to survive. But I have a theory. You see, I have a horcrux, made about 30 years ago, I want to find it, bring it to you, and Khaat, and bring Jess here, I will then tell you three, what this vow was, and what is about to happen in our world. I'm assuming I'd die after that. But, this horcrux was made before I made that vow, and in theory, should not be bound to that vow, and I should be able to come back to life through that horcrux. Thaor said, all the while looking deep into Robert's eyes, to gauge his reaction.

"It has been a long time since I have read Secrets of the Darkest Arts.," Robert said quietly. "So far, the theory appears to be sound. You do realize that the only way to truly bond the soul back to the body is for you to be willing to be truly remorseful and to be willing to look at all of it straight headon. For a lot of people, that would be completely fatal." Robert knew what it had taken to even make the horcrux in the first place. He wasn't going to question who Thaor had killed to be able to make the horcrux. Whatever that was, he truly didn't want to know.

"We would have to be absolutely sure that your body would not be destroyed," Robert continued. Thaor was his friend, though, and Robert would not turn his back. "If you're willing to take all the risks to walk this out, then I'll be there. I'll walk it out with you. It sounds like you ought to perhaps tell me more about this unbreakable vow if you can, without endangering yourself."

Igor Karkaroff Thaor said emotionlessly. The scene played over and over in Thaor's mind.

Thaor approached the giant gates of Durmstrang, walking so fast his cloak had a hard time keeping up with him. On and on he walked, his brilliant blond hair waving in the wind. Finally he reached the castle. With a flick of his wand, the doors opened. He turned right and went up the flight of stairs that lead the the headmasters office. stupify Thaor sent nonverbally, stunning a teacher who gave him a funny look, and started walking towards him. Ah, here we are Thaor said as he reached the headmasters door. expulso! Thaor thought as he blew the door open. A split second later a red jet of light flew past, inches away from where Thaors head was. Ah, so you knew I was coming, did you Igor? Thaor said with a laugh. You know, I could still help you Igor, just come with me. Everything will be okay. Thaor lied. Igor walked towards him, wand still pointed directly at Thaor's chest. Attonbitus Thaor said, sending a lightning bolt flying towards Igor, rendering him un-conscience. My, my, this was easier than I'd expected. Avada Kedavra. Thaor said as a jet of green light hit Igor square in the nose. Instantly killing him. Mosmordre Thaor thought to himself, sending the dark mark flying out the window, lighting up the sky.

I killed Igor Karkaroff. Thaor said, shaking his head from side to side. Anyways, the vow, shall be revealed to you once I have everything in place. I need to secure the horcrux. I've taken a leave of absence from Hogwarts, I'm ready to do what ever it takes.

Jess walked briskly through the Ministry of Magic, it was ages since he had been called to Robert's office, normally the Minister came to visit Jess, much against his own protests, it was almost as if his friend had an aversion to his own office, much beyond Jess' own belief.

Still, today something was obviously different, so Jess couldn't help but feel the urge to keep his pace brisk in order to meet whatever that thing was as soon as possible.

Reaching the minister's door he paused for a moment, trying to regain his composure before he entered, if this was anything important he needed to seem cool, calm, collected and in control the situation, at least on his own end.

As he stood their he heard a noise and narrowed his eyes, It was eerily familiar. Dropping to his knee so as to "Tie up his shoe laces" Jess listened in on the conversation - he had been invited to the meeting, so he barely saw any problems in listening in, surely Robert wasn't hiding something from him.

Having heard enough, the man in the other side of the room, possibly Vincent Majere or Thaor Elldir, he couldn't quite tell, was obviously not talking about a light topic, and he clearly wasn't a "Good guy"

Pushing the doors open he walked in, confident that neither of them had heard him, for they'd not responded to his presence for a few minutes, and smiled at the two of them. "Well well, if it's not Thaor Elldir," he said with a stone faced look, walking to one of the spare chairs and sitting down, not waiting to be invited to do so. He knew Thaor Elldir, and he knew that he was an important person. He also knew that he was definitely not someone he wanted to be helping in any way

Robert knew Jess far, far too well. Jess had no idea what the devil was going on, and by all appearances, Thaor gave most of the public no reason to trust him. However, Robert's decades with Thaor told him more than the surface story.

"Jess," Robert said, "I'm glad you're here. I want you involved in this because it impacts the Order. First, let me lay my hand completely on the table here. You know where I stand. You know my loyalty to the Order and to my family and friends. I'm going to ask you to perhaps go out on a limb with me for a moment--I'm going to ask you to trust me. I'm going to ask you to not rely on what you think you know. I'm going to ask you to trust me."

He leaned back in his chair and studied Jess and Thaor just briefly before continuing. "Thaor is an old classmate of mine. He went to school with Remus, Michael, Kate, and all the rest of us. We have had different political views, but when its really counted, we've always been able to trust the other. Thaor has come for our help. In exchange for our help, he has valuable information about the Death Eaters that will benefit the Ministry and the Order both. And in answer to the question I already know is in your head--Do I trust him? Yes. Even if I didn't, I still would be getting involved here. Its a worthwhile risk.

"The Death Eaters already know you and I are Order members. As I see it, the risk to us is minimal. The risk to Thaor is far more than the Death Eaters could benefit from by sending him here. So--all I'm asking is that you hear it out."

((Is thaor replying to this anytime soon?))