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[alt_rachel]

Bill and I have made about a dozen trips now to the Protector's Collection. Cultivating as much of an interest as we think we can, without attracting suspicion.

On two visits, I went in my animagus form, in Bill's pocket, since there are elements of dark magic one can perceive in animal form, as a smell or taste.

Neither of us has been able to touch it, since it's kept inside a case, but just from nosing up against the glass, I think we can both confirm emphatically that the sceptre is imbued with strong dark magic, and it's distinct from the other Dark objects in the Collection.

It also stands out in the collection for being a muggle artifact.

I'll admit I'm not an expert on pre-Protectorate wizard-muggle relations, but it strikes me as unlikely in the extreme that a cursed object would have been used in the royal crown jewels without a wizard intervening at some point.

I think Harry's right.

As for destroying it -- it occurs to me that possibly we could make a replica, and swap them. Especially if the Goblins were interested in helping us out. Re-creating the diamond is going to be trickiest; it's large and rather distinctive in cut. That's if we think Voldemort isn't checking on it regularly.

Comments

[alt_sirius]

Well, if we can make a replica, that's certainly a step forward. What sorts of spells would one have to get round to swap it, though?

[alt_rachel]

I made a list of what we spotted, but I'm sure there's more we didn't.

[alt_alice]

We'd have to be very careful when negotiating regarding ownership, but yes. That's certainly a thought.

[alt_lupin]

Well, as long as they were willing to let us leave the decoy in for as long as it was needed, I certainly don't mind saying the decoy will be returned to the Goblins immediately after.

If they were copying a human-made artifact, would they even want it, though? Or would they consider it to be inferior to their usual work?

[alt_bill]

I'm not so worried in the goblins' interest in the decoy.

I'm more worried about what their interest may be in the actual sceptre itself, if we enlist their help to liberate it. I mean, yes, it's muggle-made. But Voldemort has taken ownership of it.

At the very least, that'll draw their curiosity. Besides, this sceptre holds the BIGGEST CLEAR CUT DIAMOND IN THE WORLD, so it's very likely they might want to examine it as part of the bargain to help with the swap. Who knows what mischief that could cause, considering we think the thing's a horcrux? Some of us have already discovered that having a horcrux in one's possession can make decisions....unpredictable.

[alt_alice]

Yes. That's what I was a bit more concerned with. More that somehow, they'd interpret the exchange as possibly their having ownership of the original. I think if we make the contract as iron clad as possible to begin with, that will help.

[alt_rachel]

Well, we could also steal the rest of the collection, so no one would know the horcrux was the real target, and allow a couple of the other items to turn up on the black market, so no one will realise the goal was to destroy the horcrux itself.

Swapping them is risky, anyway; it might not work.

[alt_hermione]

Can goblins visit the Protector's Collection on their own? Because if they can do, maybe they can make observations of it without anyone realising it, and they might be able to make other copies of other items, too.

[alt_rachel]

They're not allowed to visit.

I think occasionally they've been called in for their expertise on something or other.