Nate smirked "Leave that to us, it's what we do! Guys, let's go steal an Athame back!"

"Oh boy, I have a terrible feeling about this!" Hardison exclaimed.

Somewhere in London.

"Ok, according to our magical sources the auction is held by a Edward Bridges. He's our usual kind of guy; rich spoiled man who wants to become richer and hires people to steal art. He's been dealing with magical stuff for a couple of years. Apparently this stuff pays good." Hardison communicated to their coms from the a van that Parker stole hours before.

"Okay" Nate answered through com. "Sophie and I will go inside as possible buyers. We will try to locate the Athame and give the location to Parker. Eliot, you're backup"

"Got it!" Eliot stood at the end of street ready to go inside the building if needed. "Where's Parker?"

"Already in" came the thief voice. She got inside the building through an open window moments before.

"Parker!" Hardison shouted "You were supposed to wait. I haven't hacked in the security system yet"

"Well, I can tell you one thing for sure, it's so lame. Who leaves the window open?" She started looking around for a safe. The main objective was to retrieve the Athame but who would pass the opportunity to get something extra?

"Parker, please try not get caught!" Nate warned her. "We're up" He said to Sophie who was in her Annie Croix persona.

"Let me do all the talking"

Nate watched her walk towards the door with her confidant pace. Oh, he loved when Annie Croix showed up. He soon followed her.

"Yes?" a big tall guy stopped them at the entrance. He sure wasn't friendly.

"We're here for the auction" She replied.

"It's a private gathering!"

"Tell Mr. Bridges that Miss Croix is interested in the merchandise."

The guard eyed her but talked through an earpiece. He nodded.

"Mr. Bridges is waiting for you."

Nate and Sophie went inside and were greeted by a charming young man. Well, Sophie thought he was charming, Nate just found him annoying but that might have been because he soon noticed how the younger man was looking lustfully at his grifter.

"Miss Croix, I didn't know you were going to join us this evening. It's been long since anyone saw you in town." He kissed her hand and Nate really had to resist not to punch him.

"Mr. Bridges, I don't think we ever met!" She felt Nate tense beside her and tried to keep her cool.

"Edward, please. And we haven't, but your fame is well know especially in our line of business."

"Indeed!"

"I didn't think this evening item was something you would be interested in." He led them towards a room where the auction was going to be held. The room already had some occupants.

"No, it wouldn't, but I've noticed that these types of merchandise are very profitable."

He smiled. "They certainly are." He finally noticed Nate. "And you are?"

"This is just my assistant." Nate shot her annoyed look. Just "He'll be waiting outside, if that's okay."

"Yes, we don't need the help around"

Now Nate was really going to punch him but Sophie discretely held him back. "James, wait for me outside"

Nate nodded and went outside. "He really is a type" Hardison told him in his ear.

"Do you want me to punch him?" Eliot asked next.

"No, if it comes to that I would like to have the pleasure. Hardison, where are you in finding the Athame."

"I've got a couple of possible rooms. Parker can work in the upper floors. There is one near you."

"Okay, I'm going to check it out. There's not really much security around here, that's strange."

"I've got a bad feeling about this. Do you want me to come in?"

"No, let's wait and see. I'm outside the door but there's no electronic security."

"You what?" Hardison exclaimed.

"It's just a locked door. " Nate tried the door handle but no alarm set off.

"That's impossible. There are a lot of cables of signals coming out of that room"

"Nate, I'll right down to pick the lock. I've just got one room up here left."

"Parker, I'll go" Sophie voice replied.

"But, I'm much faster!" The thief whined.

"Sorry," Sophie excuse herself from the host "But I've got an important call waiting for me"

"No problem, but we'll be starting soon!" Bridges smiled

"I'll be right back"

Sophie ran and reached Nate.

"Sophie, you should have stayed there!"

"We have to move fast and Nate, you're not very good at pick locking." She gave him an evil little smile. "Plus, I've got this" and she got her wand from her purse.

"Alohomora!" she whispered and the door magically opened.

"Well, that was helpful." Nate was impressed. "Tell me why you left magic again?"

They went inside "It's a closet!"

"Hardison, it's a closet there's nothing here!"

"And I've told you that's impossible. Something is there. Maybe a false wall?"

"Guys, something strange is happening here!" Eliot shouted.

Black smoke was moving quickly outside the building. Soon strange figures came out of the dissolving smoke. They had pointed black hats, black cloaks and they were wearing masks.

"Some weird men with masks came out on nowhere" Eliot informed them.

"Death Eaters!" Sophie was scared. "Eliot, stay hidden. Nate, we've got to get out of here, fast."

"They certainly came for the Athame. We can't leave without it."

"You don't understand! They won't hesitate to kill us all!"

"What's going on?" Parker appeared from out of nowhere behind them.

"Parker!" they both shouted.

Then they heard glass smashing and people screaming.

"They're coming in!"

Sophie turned pointing her wall to the empty wall. "Dissendium Revelio!"

The spell revealed a hidden panel. Nate put his mobile phone near it.

"Okay, I'm working my magic here" Hardison worked on his computer. "Here, it's safe to go in now."

Parker went in and delicately got the Athame out of a glass box. " Got it! We can leave!"

"You might have a problem leaving, all the exits are guarded. Go to the east entrance. There's only one guard there, I can easily take him out" Eliot started running ready for a fight.

"Eliot, no!" Sophie tried to warn him but it was too late.

Eliot sneaked behind the Death Eater. "Hey, you!"

The Death Eater turned around and was hit by Eliot's fist, soon followed by a kick.

"Crucio!" the Death Eater got up and pointed his wand to Eliot.

The hitter felt immense pain passing through his body making him weak to his knees.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Sophie shouted and the Death Eater fell immobilized.

Nate rushed to Eliot and helped on his feet. "Are you okay?"

"God, that hurt!" Eliot had trouble breathing.

The commotion caught the attention of two other Followers. They hid behind a pillar.

"What now?" Nate asked.

"I don't know" Sophie couldn't fight them all by herself.

Then suddenly white smoke was visible in the sky. Five men and women materializing in front of them.

"Don't worry, we're here to help you!" a light brown haired man with shabby wizard's robes approached them. "I'm Remus Lupin. You must be Severus's cousin. Did you get the item?"

Sophie nodded. "There's one of us still in the van across the street and Eliot has been hit by the Cruciatus curse" She watched the battle between the Death Eaters and Members of the Order of the Phoenix unfold before her.

"We'll take care of him" He gave a sign and a young woman with orange hair ran towards the van. Hardison got out and protected by the witch he joined up with the rest of team.

"Man, there's a lot of flying lights out there!"

"You need to go to Hogwarts, Dumbledore he's waiting for you." Remus Lupin told them.

In a blink of an eye the Leverage team was gone.

The following day at Hogwarts.

"Your friend is going to be fine" Severus informed his cousin. They were slowly walking through the castle corridors. "The Cruciatus Curse didn't hit me so hard."

"That's good news. I'm glad that we got the Athame back and that you can use it to defeat the Dark Lord."

A young boy with a lighting scar on his forehead passed beside them.

"Was that.." she exclaimed surprised.

"Yeah, Mister Harry Potter!" he replied with loathe in his voice "Arrogant just like his father"

Sophie gave a small chuckle. It seems that her cousin will never forget the past. "But he has Lily's eyes. That can't be easy for you"

"It's a reminder of the horrible things I did in the past and why I'm doing this now."

"Severus, you should try to forgive yourself." She patted his arm "You're a good man, now"

They arrived at the Great Hall where Eliot, Hardison, Nate and Parker sat at one of the tables eating their breakfast and laughing.

"The same goes for you. What happened to William was not your fault. Now you've got a family that accepts who you are. There's no need for you not to use your magic, it's a part of you"

Nate saw them approaching and he smiled at her. "We'll see. Nate has been quite understanding but wait until I tell him that any kids of ours we'll probably have magic!"

Professor Dumbledore walked towards them with his always cheerful attitude. "Good, you're all here. I wanted to personally thank you for your help. I'll be sure to keep the Athame safe after I'm done with it."

"It was our pleasure, Professor" Nate shook his hand.

"I hope you'll decide to come and visit us again. It's good to see our Severus with company. His always such a loner"

Severus Snape scowled.

"Sophie, can't we do that apperating thing to go home?" Hardison asked hopeful "It would be so much quicker than an airplane"

Parker suddenly disappeared and appeared behind them.

They looked at her stunned, Dumbledore just smiled. He had sensed magic in her from the beginning. "Parker, so that's how you do your thing!" Hardison exclaimed.

Parker shrugged "Yeah, why? Can't everyone do it?"

"No, Parker, not everyone can do it!" Sophie smiled "It means that you're a witch too"

"Really? Cool!" She was excited "What else can I do? Can you teach me that open door spell. That would be so much fun"

"Oh boy! Parker, a witch. Just our luck" Eliot grumbled.

THE END