--The Master's Seal-
Chapter 1- Juniper Hartily
By Darkley
Disclaimer and author's note: Harry Potter and the whole of Hogwarts and related places, characters etc etc are NOT my own but the creation of J.K Rowling. This is just a fan story dedicated to the books which have brought reading pleasure to many. I hope I can live up to her standards. Please enjoy. Comments and criticism welcome and encouraged at
A deep snow had fallen across all of Hogwarts and the surrounding area. Even Hogsmead with its quaint shops and houses was like a picture on a Christmas card, with the old slate roofs adorned with frosty white coverings, the trees too, drooping under their snowy shroud, sprigs of green only seen here and there amongst the evergreens. In the distance, the towers of Hogwarts stood tall and grand against an otherwise bleak winter sky, a soft amber glow emanating from some of the high windows and blazing torches which had been hung on the outside walls to guide any weary witches and wizards back to the safety of the school.
Everyone knew the dark hours were the most dangerous, and few were foolish enough to venture out of their houses on cold winter nights when there was a chill in the air and the moon shone down its watery beams, bathing everything in a magical pool of liquid silver.
But it wasn't quite dark, not just yet, and from the local tavern, the faint sound of raised voices could just be heard, the smell of warm ale and fresh pastry tinging the air. An old sign swung creakily on its rusted hinges above the door, a welcoming sign, especially for one who had travelled a long way and was in need a brief respite before making an appearance at the highly acclaimed Hogwarts to take up position as professor.
Such was the case for Juniper Hartily, who with a push of a heavily gloved hand, flung wide the tavern door and stomped in, shaking snow from his boots and cloak as he entered, feeling the warmth from the roaring fire already unfreezing his chilled bones.
A few occupants looked up at him in vague interest. It wasn't that busy at this time of day and most of them went back to their drinks, meals or whatever conversation they had been engaged in, without so much as a second glance.
"Pint of your best," the newcomer ordered, placing a coin down on the bar, easing his fingers through his damp and tousled hair, pushing it back from his face.
The barkeeper nodded and got a glass, filling it with a dark brown liquid as Juniper hauled the pack off from his back and sat up on one of the bar stools, glancing back out of the window where it continued to snow heavily outside.
"Where ya headed stranger?" The barman asked, placing down his drink, the head just frothing over the top.
"Up to Hogswarts, got a position there. Name's Hartily."
The other man grunted, obviously not that impressed. Hartily was certainly no famous wizard, that was for sure. Juniper sensed this and smiled thinly. Just because few knew of him, didn't make him any less adept to teach his speciality than anyone else. To look at, he was nothing special either, a man of his late twenties, slightly thin in the face with shoulder length dark brown hair, a few lighter tinges running through the front. Normally it was tied back with a black ribbon but it had become loosened from travelling and wisps of hair kept falling across his eyes and ears. His skin was light, a strange contrast to his hair, as were his dark blue eyes, not crystal blue as many people's, but dark, like two stormy pools of water. His lips were thin, but not unkind and a slick smile suited him, as did his knowing glance, giving others the impression he always knew more than he was letting on. Juniper lifted the drink and quaffed half the glass in one go, smacking his lips as he breathed out with pleasure. It was the first drink he'd had in a while and was glad of it. He even closed his eyes briefly, revelling in the warmth of the old building and the friendly chat and the....
He span around suddenly, a deep frown appearing across his face, his hand snaking out like lightening into what looked like thin air. There was a strangled yelp as Juniper whisked off a handful of invisibility cloak, revealing two young students who had been cowering underneath it.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here," he said in a smooth voice, his best smile playing across his lips as he tried not to laugh at the petrified looking boys.
"Please...we.....errrr.....just give us back our coat please, mister."
"I believe," Juniper said, looking at the boys, still in their Hogswarts uniforms, "That's please, sir. I start at Hogwarts tomorrow, but I doubt this is the welcoming committee, is it now?"
They looked shamefaced down at their feet, which they shuffled awkwardly, not knowing what to say, but knowing all to well that they were now in big trouble and more than likely, detention.
"Where did you steal this from?"
Juniper held up the cloak admiringly, now changed back to its normal uninteresting appearance.
"We....we didn't steal it, s...sir."
"Yours is it?"
"We made it sir, us and Li...."
His friend shoved him hard in the ribs. "We made it...us two."
Juniper raised an eyebrow, but left it at that. He believed them as far as the fact that they had not stolen it, and respected they were ready to take the blame alone.
"So...hmmmm," he said, inspecting it, "you boys must be pretty good wizards to come up with something like this."
They both appeared a little less nervous at the praise, instantly finding something quite likeable about soon to be Professor Hartily, even though they were expecting a scolding any time soon.
"Thank you sir."
"Don't thank me yet," Juniper replied. " My next question is what were you doing with it and why are you truanting?"
They both fell silent, looking at each other, wondering if they should tell the truth or try and wheedle their way out of it. Neither wanted to be expelled.
"Well.....?"
"We....we lost a dare sir."
"A dare?"
"Yes....yes that's right," the skinnier of the two boys said, looking rather pathetic.
"We had to go and get Weedy's collar and bring it back."
"Weedy?"
They pointed over to a corner of the room where a very old crinkly looking dragon slept by the fire.
"He's sleepy but he's vicious," the other boy said, "but we had to do it or...well....we lost the dare you see and..."
"Yes, yes I get the jist of things. Typical schoolboy pranks," the older man sighed, handing the cloak back then picking up his glass draining it to the bottom.
"So...what's your names?"
Relieved he wasn't planning on questioning them further, or at least for the minute, the boys happily introduced themselves.
"I'm James, James Potter," the older looking boy said, a youthful handsomeness about him. He was probably coming up towards fifteen. "And this is Remus Lupin."
"At least your parents didn't name you after a plant on purpose," Juniper quipped, smiling at Remus who grinned back, his oversized uniform not helping him look any less scrawny, pushing his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose with a finger which just protruded from underneath his blazer jacket's sleeve.
"Well, seeing as I'm not really supposed to become staff until tomorrow, I guess there's little I can do about you two and this whole situation. I feel that would be a little harsh on my part to report you, although I must admit, I don't approve."
"Sorry...sir..."
"But thank you sir..."
Juniper nodded and stood, his long cloak falling back to his feet.
"You boys had better get back before you're missed. Let's keep this one...to ourselves, yes?"
They grinned back, "Yes sir, of course sir....."
But James' look suddenly fell and he nudged Remus and nodded at Weedy. They couldn't go back without what they had come to get, otherwise.....
Juniper, however, had caught their look and knew their intentions. He gestured for them to wait where they were silently, James noticing a beautiful ebony wand now in Juniper's right hand, appearing as if from nowhere, as he leant over and pretended to make a fuss of Weedy.
"Careful sir, he'll bite off you ha......"
But before James could even finish speaking, Juniper had turned around and James felt something leather with a big silver bell on it pressed firmly into his hand.
"I know, that's why I did it."
James gawped down at the collar and then at Remus who stood equally as wide eyed, amazed that anyone could have got Weedy's collar off without so much as a scratch or even alerting anyone else in the bar. The barman was off cleaning glasses round the corner, and the other customers were hardly interested in a few boys and a fairly unimpressive young wizard, so it had been perfect.
"Just make sure you send it back when you've used your proof," Juniper told them, in a hushed voice. "I don't endorse theft of any description or for any reason."
Still almost too shocked to speak, James and Remus nodded, repeating thank you sir so many times Juniper had to tell them to stop.
"Just go," he ordered them, but allowed them a brief kindly smile. "I may not be so helpful next time."
He bent over and slung his pack onto his back, adjusting the straps as he called a quick farewell to the barman and oped the door for himself and the two now cloaked boys to slip out.
"Wish I had a broom," he murmured, wrapping his own cloak tight and warm up around his chin as he glanced up with his cold blue eyes and looked towards Hogswarts. A glimmer of amusement caught them as he saw small footprints made in the snow by invisible feet heading back towards the school. The lanterns from above each shop were too inviting for Juniper to pass up a quick browse before heading up there himself. There were some fine looking brooms in one of the shops, and Juniper had promised himself to get one once he arrived, but maybe tomorrow. There was also a book store.
'As if I don't already have enough books,' he scolded himself whimsically. He really had to stop being such a swat. Still, he, unlike many of the higher up wizards didn't believe he knew everything and was always willing to learn more. He walked on a little further and just as Juniper was drooling through a frosty window at some delicious looking savouries, the young wizard heard a sharp birds cry from up above.
Circling high up in the cloud strewn sky was a black shape, a raven, its shadow black against the almost completely white sky.
"He'll be there before I am, as always. Showing me up as usual, that blessed bird," Juniper tutted, pulling himself away from the bakery with some reluctance.
"Ah well....guess I'd better start moving, before this weather stops me."
So with tired deliberation the figure of Juniper Hartily started to make its way slowly up towards Hogwarts and hopefully a nice warm jug of spiced wine as well as a good meal. And like the rumoured hospitality of the place, the only other thing Juniper was certain about was that his time there was already destined to be rather......now how did he put it....ah yes.....interesting.