A Web Of Magic

It was the 13th of May. The summer vacation started early by a few weeks this year for some reason. Usually it would only start at the end of May. From what Magnus could gather, there should be something special happening next term but he didn't know exactly what. That was probably the reason they wanted the castle empty early.

Magnus was ready to find the local informant that Mundungus pointed him towards. It was a squib named Jenkins. Magnus knew squibs weren't treated well in the wizarding world, so they either live in the muggle world or work in supporting positions like Mr. Filch. Filch being a squib is one of those open secrets that most senior students know about. Jenkins worked in a muggle company and acted as an informant to Mundungus for over 5 years. That was the reason for Mundungus's trust in the man, before all of this happened.

Jenkins worked at "Jon and Keats", a muggle company located near the Willow road in Hampstead, London. He would take a break in the nearby park around lunch time every day. Magnus took muggle transportation to reach his destination. He waited in the park for Jenkins. Jenkins came on time just like any other day. He sat on his favorite park bench and took out his lunch of ham sandwiches. Just as he was about to take a delicious bite, he felt someone sit beside him. It was a man tall and handsome with dark hair that matched his onyx eyes. Before he could tell him off, he heard a magnetic voice.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Jenkins. I'm hoping you could help me." It was of course Magnus in a new disguise.

Jenkins was immediately alerted. But before he could stand up, he felt a hand pressing him down back into a sitting position. "Why the rush Mr. Jenkins? I only want to ask some questions. Now look here," Magnus spoke in a commanding tone. Jenkins subconsciously looked up to Magnus's eyes. He immediately felt something pull his mind into a spiral. He gradually lost any resistance. While mind arts were dangerous to wizards, they were downright terrifying when used on muggles and squibs who cannot use their magic to resist. If not for the circ.u.mstances, Magnus wouldn't like to use it to take away someone's free will even if it's temporary.

When he leveled up his mind arts, he came to know that the mind arts aren't something that should be used willy nilly. While they offer great power, they are also a great temptation. With uncontrolled use, it might subconsciously become a habit. Then whenever you meet anyone, you'll use it to read their mind or control them out of habit. This if not kept in check will hinder your progress to move to the higher levels of the craft. For how can you proceed to a higher level if you cannot control your own mind? That was what stumped most wizards on walking further along this path. This was something that wasn't written anywhere in all of the books Magnus read. Hence, he wanted to exercise caution in their usage, not just for others' sake but also for his own benefit.

"Now tell me, what's your real name?" Magnus started his questioning.

"Mark Jenkins"

"Where are you from Jenkins?"

"Calais, Belgium"

"And what's a man from Belgium doing in London?" Magnus asked suspiciously. Mundungus didn't know that Jenkins wasn't from Britain. So that means Jenkins probably didn't come here legally at least from the side of the Ministry, if not there would be records and Mundungus would find it easily by greasing a few hands.

"I got a job six years ago. They asked me to come to London and become an informant."

"And who are "they"?" Magnus asked intrigued.

"I don't know. They only contact me through the letter. They always pay me in gold," Jenkins said absentmindedly.

"Tell me everything you know about them. How did you come to London and what did you do after?"

"They sent me muggle doc.u.ments and identification that made it easy to come to London. They give me information from time to time and I pass it on to the local informants. I don't ask any questions and they pay me gold."

'So, he came from the muggle side? Hmm, that would indeed work for a squib I suppose. It's harder for wizards unless they plan on never using their magic here. Usually they are required to register at the ministry and not doing so is a punishable offense. Whoever these people are, they know the loopholes of the ministry well. If not why chose a squib over a wizard?' Magnus thought.

"You know Mundungus Fletcher?"

"Yes, I pass information to him once in a while."

"Then you remember the information you passed to him about the deal in Egypt?"

"Yes"

"Explain in detail"

"I received a letter telling me to pass the information about someone in Egypt looking to sell a Bloodthorn flower. It asked me to sell the information to Mundungus. I was to hint to him that the Webbs would pay good money for that information," Jenkins said with unfocused eyes.

'So, it was a set up,' Magnus felt his anger boiling but he quickly brought it under control. He's on the right track, now he needs more information. He continued asking Jenkins for more information while also using Legilimens. He didn't get more in the end. Jenkins was just a puppet that didn't know much. The only thing Jenkins suspected was that it was some foreign wizard group who sent him the letters. Not all of their information was fake, that would blow Jenkins cover. They just mixed some wrong information occasionally to fulfill their agendas. What those agendas were Magnus didn't know and neither did Jenkins. Whoever those wizards were, they didn't come into direct contact with Jenkins, if not he would have been Obliviated already regarding some of his deeds.

When he saw that Jenkins didn't really have a direct hand in his parents' demise, Magnus let him go. But he felt just letting him go was really letting him off easy. Jenkins sometimes passed on information even while knowing it would harm the other party or knowing that it was fake. He didn���t stop even when he knew someone was killed because of it. He wasn't a good person by any stretch. So, Magnus gave him a parting gift. From now on whenever Jenkins would try to sit, sleep or eat, he would feel piercing pain spread throughout his body. It will only increase day by day. The only cure is to go to the ministry and confess all that he knew. No medicine will work as the problem didn't come from his body but his mind. It was a strong compulsion that Magnus left in him. For a wizard, their magic might help them alleviate it over time. But for a squib that's impossible.

Mind arts at Lv5 is no joke. Magnus levelled both his Divination and Mind arts to Lv5 just yesterday in order to cope with any unknown problems. He's yet to completely digest all the knowledge and make more spells and this is already the result. Imagine what he could do once he thoroughly digests it. Magnus got up as he watched Jenkins walk away into the distance. He decided to take a walk among the trees to calm his mind. While Jenkins's words confirmed some of his conjectures, they also raised many more questions. There were no people in this area of the park and so Magnus was undisturbed. As he was lost in his thought, he felt a sense of danger all of a sudden. His senses are magnified in his Flesh-suit owing to his modifications. He quickly cast a shield around him when he felt a bullet strike his raised hand throwing him off balance.