Hermione's words left William utterly bewildered. He didn't know if Newt's suitcase was in the Louvre, but he knew Hermione couldn't possibly know either. After all, they had been together every minute, never separated. Yet, he didn't argue. Based on his understanding and trust in Hermione, William knew she must have noticed something he hadn't.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go to the Louvre and find the suitcase," William said in French, playing along with Hermione's act.
Hermione laughed and pulled William to his feet.
"We've changed our minds!" Hermione shouted to Apache. "Stop the carriage just ahead. We're going to the Louvre!"
"The Louvre?" Apache asked, sounding quite nervous. "What about the Lyon Avenue?"
"We're not going there!" William shook his head. "We're going to the Louvre, now!"
Driver Russell slammed on the brakes, the Thestral executing a sharp drift before stopping in the square in front of the Louvre. William pulled some money from his pocket, tossed it to Apache, and then, hand-in-hand with Hermione, sprinted towards the Louvre's iconic glass pyramid. Hermione continued excitedly chattering to William, mentioning the suitcase loudly.
Apache hurried back to the fireplace, stuck his head in, and rapidly reported, "Mr. Odom, they got off! They've entered the Louvre."
"What happened?" Odom's voice was grave. "Were you exposed?"
"No, I didn't say anything. The girl suddenly suggested going to the Louvre. She told the boy that something... something was in the Louvre... Oh right, it seemed to be a suitcase!"
"They mentioned a suitcase?" Odom asked tensely.
"Um... yes." Apache hesitated, then asked curiously, "What's in the suitcase? Dark Arts objects? Or a Muggle... bomb?"
"Where are they now? Have they entered the Louvre?" Crigen's voice suddenly boomed.
Driver Russell peered out the window. "There are a lot of tourists. They're queuing up, about to enter the glass pyramid..."
Crigen roared, "Recall all Aurors heading to the Lyon Avenue immediately! Surround the Louvre now! We're going to apprehend them! We're going to find the suitcase! Move!"
"Sir, I remember the Louvre has Anti-Disapparition Jinxes..." Odom said. The French Ministry of Magic, to prevent artifacts from being stolen by wizards, had placed various protective enchantments on all major landmarks. Among them were Anti-Disapparition Jinxes.
"Exactly! So once they're inside, there's no chance of escape!" Crigen's eyes gleamed. "Seal the place off immediately! We're one step away from success!"
Odom turned and left to summon the Aurors who had already departed.
Five minutes later, fifty Aurors continually Apparated onto the streets a short distance from the Louvre. They sealed off the area as quickly as possible.
Crigen, leading a dozen others, strode towards the glass pyramid. The audacious concept of building a pyramid in front of the Louvre had faced widespread opposition from the French public when the design was first unveiled. But French President Mitterrand, against all odds, had chosen this design. And this structure, completed just a few years ago, had now become, in the words of most French people... magnificent!
Crigen was in no mood to admire the architecture. He didn't bother queuing, ordering the Aurors to disperse the tourists. He strode past the revolving doors towards several security guards.
"I am Crigen, Director of the French Directorate-General for External Security."
Crigen drew his wand, gave it a light flick, then held up a blank ID card and presented it to the security captain. The captain's eyes glazed over for a moment as he took the ID and examined it.
The Directorate-General for External Security, also known as the Seventh Bureau, was the French equivalent of the CIA or MI6.
The thing was, Crigen was indeed a nominal employee of the Seventh Bureau. The Ministry of Magic maintained contact with the President, and high-ranking Ministry officials like him often held nominal positions in the Muggle world to facilitate their work outside.
However, he never carried his Muggle ID... A simple Confundus Charm solved everything; why bother carrying it?
"Yes, the ID is real. Mr. Crigen, what can I do for you?" the security captain asked respectfully.
"Ten minutes ago, two British spies entered here. I need you to locate them immediately." Crigen handed over the photographs. The security captain immediately dispatched personnel with the photos to check the surveillance footage.
The Louvre was too vast; a thorough search would take days. Fortunately, there was a comprehensive surveillance system in place, with no blind spots.
Three minutes later, the surveillance operator pinpointed the suspects' location and relayed the information to the security captain via a "brick" mobile phone.
"They went to the Denon Wing... no, that's footage from five minutes ago. They entered the Grand Gallery and are now in the restroom at the end of the gallery! Reporting, Captain, the man and woman entered the women's restroom together!"
Crigen was momentarily taken aback. Could Newt's suitcase be there or…?
"Are there any other exits there?" Crigen asked.
"No, that restroom is enclosed, no other exits," the security captain replied.
"Alright, take us there immediately."
Five minutes later, a group of heavily armed security personnel stood guard outside the women's restroom, guns raised.
"You wait outside," Crigen instructed, then led four Aurors towards the restroom. The door was locked from the inside. Crigen, impatient for a key, kicked the wooden door open and strode in. An Auror closed the door behind them, and everyone raised their wands.
Stark and Granger had been in the women's restroom for fifteen minutes! Although he didn't know what they were doing in there, Crigen knew they were definitely inside.
Apparition was impossible within the Louvre. After entering the restroom and locking the door, they hadn't opened it again. They couldn't have Disapparated! And there were no other exits!
A perfect trap!
A victorious smile spread across Crigen's face. He said softly, "Stark, you are surrounded. Hand over Scamander's suitcase, and I will revoke the arrest warrant and restore your reputation. Don't put up unnecessary resistance. We don't want to hurt you or your girlfriend!"
Inside the disinfectant-smelling restroom, no one answered him. Only the sound of running water could be heard.
Crigen gave a look. Odom immediately stepped forward and cautiously pushed open the door of the first stall.
Empty!
The second Auror followed... soon the third, the fourth...
Finally, the Aurors surrounded the last stall, wands raised, warily eyeing the wooden door. Locked again!
"Alohomora!" Crigen's wand flicked. The door opened, revealing... emptiness!
On the toilet seat sat a leather suitcase. Crigen knew that Scamander's suitcase was greatly expanded with an Undetectable Extension Charm, capable of holding half of Beauxbatons. Could the two be hiding inside?
Crigen's wand twitched, lifting the lid of the suitcase. His pupils contracted sharply. It was just an ordinary suitcase, containing a piece of parchment with a line of elegant cursive English:
William & Hermione Were Here!
Crigen stared at the mocking parchment for a good fifteen seconds, softly cursing under his breath.
Damn it!
Crigen was furious. When had he started being led around by the nose by two young wizards? Where the hell had they gone?!
"Sir, all exits are sealed," Odom insisted beside him. "The only possibility is that they are still inside the Louvre. They couldn't have left. I suggest intensifying the search and bringing everyone in."
It sounded logical, but Crigen had a bad feeling. Stark and Granger had already escaped.
"Send someone to the Élysée Palace immediately! Tell Muggle President Mitterrand to issue a nationwide manhunt for Stark and Granger in the Muggle world!"
Crigen's enraged roar echoed through the women's restroom.