Thanks for your reviews on my first chapter =] Greatly appreciated... As was points made by paili-chan which made me change some of the overall themes of this chapter. Mainly how James's magic will work in the Dragon Age world, might edit the first chapter to incorporate this more. I'm undecided at present. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 2 – The First Clue
James discovered the next day just to what extent people gave Anders a wide berth. They were sat on their own in the library that morning, the lessons James was supposed to be starting with his new friend were supposed to be running but they had been told to 'study' instead. This had been for undisclosed reasons, James overhead lots of young apprentices gossiping animatedly for what reasons. Suggestions were as tame as 'perhaps the professors aren't well' to as insane as one young boy swearing he saw Irving and Gregoir having a full on battle in Irving's study. Anders and James were sat at a desk in the corner by themselves whilst most of the apprentices their age were sat a big common table. They were many whisperings and looking overs from them, Anders seemed to ignore this but it made James uneasy. He hadn't quite anticipated this much and he wasn't used to this. Back in Hogwarts he'd me surrounded by his band of Gryffindors, right now he'd be the one in the centre having everyone stare in awe hanging on his every word. Here, he was an outsider. He couldn't understand what was wrong with Anders. People here are cowards, thought James, if the Templars were at Hogwarts... No one would stand for it.
"They're staring at us," James said annoyedly as they were sat there after a couple of girls at the end of the table had started giggling at them. Anders turned to take a look, he shrugged.
"Louisa and Elaine, mindless bitches." He said definitely. James gave him an odd look then turned back to them, apart from the irritating noise they were making almost like drunken hyenas they seemed harmless enough. "Besides, I think they're just staring at you." James was taken aback by this.
"Me? Why?" Anders rolled his eyes.
"You're new and interesting. Nothing happens much inside the towers and we're -" Anders paused for a moment. "Locked away from anything out there, not that Fereldan looks particularly interesting." He added resentfully.
"You've seen it?" James replied with astonishment. Anders gave a suddenly proud look.
"Oh yeah, loads of times. I know how to break up into the attic to the section where half of the roof has come away, I was thinking about using it for my next escape -" Anders stopped talking instantly when he noticed one of the girls had come to the table. James smiled at her as she approached, she held out her hand to him.
"I'm Louisa, Louisa Vane," she smiled sweetly. James took her hand. Vane, he thought, there was something familiar about that name. She was quite pretty – small, pale, freckles and her dark brown hair tied back into a neat ponytail.
"James, James Potter," he replied nodding. He smiled at her and she started giggling. He was a little confused, this was expected from the odd third or forth year back at Hogwarts but this was just a little peculiar. Wow, thought James, they really do never see new people here.
"What do you want?" Anders snapped immediately. James looked at him surprised by his sudden change in tone, he couldn't picture Anders speaking to him like that and was he imagine or was there a hint of jealousy in his voice? Louisa however did not look even close to having even a note of surprise. She ignored him.
"You know, you don't have to sit with him," she gestured at him with a scowl. "You can sit with us," she pointed at the table. "I'm sure we'll be much nicer company." She gave a resentful look towards Anders, James begun to understand why Anders was so rude to her.
"I think I have good enough company right here thanks," James said feeling his whole body stiffen.
Louisa leaned in closer to him and spoke in what she clearly thought was a whisper but he knew Anders would be able to hear every word.
"Look, he's... Strange. He'll get you into trouble, he's not like us. You're better off with us, they'llleave you alone if they do." James didn't have to ask to know immediately "they" meant the Templars.
"At least I have a brain," Anders piped up unhelpfully. Louisa looked directly at him as if he was little more than a slug and proceed to shrug at James.
"Have it your way," she sang as she waltzed away. James turned to Anders who had suddenly become very interested in carving into the desk.
"She's probably right you know," he mumbled.
"I don't care." Anders looked up at this confused.
"The Templars will treat you worse if you stay with me."
"Perhaps."
"You could have an easy life."
"No one has an easy life." There eyes met at this last statement, a gaze which was filled with unspoken words. Something which conveyed Anders's gratitude and what he thought was understanding. In his mind he had finally found someone who understood him and his ever-growing hatred for the Templars. Perhaps it he was someone who had tried to evade and rebel them like he had, in reality James just had a look in his eye that many had seen in his father. That look which was determined to stand up for what he thought was right. That's what James felt he had to do, his inner Gryffindor wasn't going to sit down with the rest of them, even if he didn't know both sides of the story. James saw Anders's face go back to that lost look as he longingly gazed at the apprentices around the table. James tried to get back to a topic when Anders was much more cheerful.
"So, what's it like in the attic?" James asked. Anders's eyes light up and James knew he had said the right thing.
"It's brilliant, it's like... It's the outside it's just -" Anders gestured with his hands erratically trying to explain something that he'd tasted that was so miraculous. James couldn't even begin to understand what it was like to suddenly have that feeling of freedom when being locked up for so long. He always thought he didn't have the freedom to do as he pleased back home, that his parents were constantly controlling him and he couldn't make his own decisions. Now he saw just how wrong he really was, he had something Anders craved.
"I can't imagine -" James started when the were interrupted by a tall, proud looking man. He had receding dark hair, a pointed nose and his lips looked as if they were permanently crafted into a sneer.
"Excuse me young apprentice but the First Enchanter wishes to see you in his office promptly," the man's expression slowly turned into one of curiosity. James spoke before the man could.
"Where is his office exactly?"
"Oh I am far too busy to walk you there myself, perhaps -" he paused and looked at Anders with his returned sneer. "This young man can take you, I'm sure he has nothing better to do." Anders stuck his tongue out at him and stood up.
"Yes, Ser Mage," He replied sardonically. James stifled laughter. As they began to walk out before the mage could scold Anders the man spoke.
"Wait, you." He pointed at James who immediately straightened up, his first reaction was 'what have I done?' He knew this was ludicrous, he had not been in the Circle long enough to cause mischief. "There's something radiating off you something I've never seen before. Magic," his look became more cautious unsure of whether to be weary. "Not bad exactly but strong, something I've never seen before." Anders looked at James astounded and confused. He decided this was a bad line of conversation.
"Anders, we should probably leave," Anders looked as if he'd rather listen to the mage even longer but he followed James's lead and showed him the way to Irving's office. They walked the familiar path their steps practically in sync.
"So," began Anders. "What's the Circle like back where you're from?" James stared at his feet, normal circumstances he could lie fairly easily. He had had much experience in this from his parents and Hogwart's professors. This was a different matter entirely however, he didn't want
to lie to his one friend here. What he felt for Anders was special, to betray the trust because of that just seemed... Wrong.
"Um... Well, like this one I guess." James said lamely, Anders looked at him curiously.
"Are the Templars worse or better?" James thought about this for a moment, there had to be a reason why he ran away to this one. Then he remembered what Irving had said when he first reached this place: Ours is much friendlier than those in Orlais...
"Worse," James murmured. Anders looked wide-eyed at the thought.
"Worse than here?" James felt a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "I can't imagine it." He felt guilt rise up inside him, he wanted to be honest with Anders. He knew that wasn't really possible and lying was necessary. He didn't want his new friend to think him insane, he knew if he went to Hogwarts with stories about Fereldan he'd be carted off to St. Mungos. "How -"
"Isn't this the First Enchanter's office?" James interrupted. Anders nodded slightly affronted and they walked inside.
"I believe I asked for just young James," Irving said slightly amused.
"First Enchanter, the mage who sent the message commanded me to show him the way," Anders said quickly. Irving chuckled.
"If you could wait outside young man I'll bring your friend back to you in but a moments time," Irving said with a smile. James was instantly comforted when he spoke to the First Enchanter, he seemed like a strong, wise man. He had a warm smile but James couldn't imagine that anything could defeat him. It was as if he commanded instant respect just by his name being uttered.
"Now," Irving began when Anders was, assumedly, out of ear shot. "I can only imagine you have plenty of questions -" He held his hand up to silence James as he began to speak. "- Listen to what I have to say young boy, you will have your chance to speak soon. I must to begin question you about your own world. What do you know of demons from your own world?"
"Demons?"
"Demonic forces? Possession?" James shook his head. "Blood magic? Dark magic?"
"Well..." James screwed up his face a little. "... I've heard of dark magic, my dad fights it in the Ministry. And there was loads of what they called 'deatheaters' who were led by Lord Voldermort decades ago... They used loads of dark magic." Irving listened with interest to this.
"But you yourself have never been taught of the dangers of it."
"Well, we learn to defend ourselves against in Defence Of The Dark Arts." Irving looked at him curiously.
"Young man, did you wonder how we knew instantly you were of magical ability?" James shook his head. "Ah, it was because you have a magic so powerful radiating from you you could hardly be anything else. It is not uncommon for a presence of magical ability to be evident to the Templars on occasion and mages can sometimes feel it but this strong..." He pondered this for a moment and then continued. "The fade, the land of dreams. What do you know of this?"
"I know about Legilimency?Sort of," suggested James. Irving tilted his head.
"What manner of magic would that be?" James squinted his eyes as he tried to remember what he had learned about it.
"Umm... I think it's kind of like reading minds or something?"
"Ah, no, nothing like that." Irving gave him the same curious look he had received a lot. "Hm, I wonder."
"Wonder what, sir?" James asked politely.
"Well, it seems as if mages or -" Irving stopped. "I'm sorry, what term would I use from your world?"
"Wizards and witches," James answered.
"Well, it seems wizards and witches from were you originate have different form of magic. If that makes sense. It's almost as if -" Irving paused. "- James, I wish for you to come to my office tomorrow evening. I want to investigate this theory further, if that would be agreeable to you?" James nodded but he did not feel as if he could do anything else. "Splendid, I shall send a message to you when I desire your presence. Now I'll let you get back to running around with young Anders." Irving finished this with his particular warm smile James thanked him and left. As soon as he left the office Anders turned on him.
"I was listening." James stood there dumbstruck. He had no idea how to deal with this. "Explain, now." There was a look in Anders's eyes, one of anger and betrayal. James had to be honest with him, he knew it.
"I – just -" James looked around timidly. "Let me explain, not here!" He pulled Anders back to down to the first floor and to the first empty room he found. He shut the door and get out his wand, he cast an incantation and was thankful they had learned silent incantations in Defence that year. He turned around and proceeded to tell Anders everything about where he was really from.
"So you're from – where is it?"
"London!" James says exasperatedly.
"Right, right and you somehow got into a portal that ended up here?"
"Yes!"
"Where there are no Templars?"
"No!"
"And you go to a magical school ran by mages?"
"Yes." Anders raised his eyebrows and threw him a worried look.
"You're crazy." James sighed and then had a sudden stroke of inspiration.
"No I'm not, I'll prove it. I'll take you down to where I appeared from. There has to be a portal there somewhere I can show you." Anders raised his eyebrows.
"Are you suggesting, that we break into the repositary in the basement?"
"Yes."
"A place forbidden by the Templars?"
"Yes."
"To potentially go to a place that isn't the circle?" James nodded. Anders shrugged. "Alright, I'm game."
They waited for nightfall. James had shown Anders his previously-owned invisibility cloak which he had from his father and was under no circumstances to tell his mother had been given to him. Anders stared at in awe and was questioning him about it rapidly as they snuck past the Templars to the basement. James had to step on his foot and kick him over and over again to stop them being overheard.
"Anders! We're invisible, that doesn't mean they can't hear us!"
"Oh yeah, sorry I forgot." Anders would say whenever this came up. "You know, this is a bit small, if it had been bigger..."
"Well, it's not supposed to fit two people under it." James said fairly, he didn't add he wasn't complaining about how close Anders was to him right now. James could feel Anders's warm breath against his neck. It was quite comforting. "Don't worry, we can stop as soon as we get to the basement... I think."
"How are we supposed to get in there?" Anders asked. "Won't it be locked or something?" James hadn't thought about this part, he was used to knowing the secret passageways of Hogwarts and thus never having this problem. Then something Irving had implied about the differences in magic struck James, maybe it wouldn't be such a problem.
"Could we use magic?" James whispered as he saw a Templar march towards them, Anders waiting until he had passed them both before answering. Finally, he's learning, thought James.
"I've heard some doors in this place can't be opened with magic," Anders paused thoughtfully. "Or with a certain type of magic, one that isn't taught here."
"Huh, man, they really don't trust you here."
"I thought you said Templars are worse were you come from?" James could feel Anders's suspicious gaze and realised that he made a mistake.
"I – uh, well, hey! isn't that the basement?" James said pointing, changing the subject.
"Oh yeah!" Anders said animatedly. The thrill of having someone to go adventuring with seemed to have made him forget how suspicious he was.
The big, brown door to the basement was heavy but together they both managed to open it. The corridor was eerie and was covered in various shades of grey. When they got to the door Anders tried to open it with a spell, a light blue colour erupted from his hands but the magic wouldn't touch the door.
"What?" Anders said incredulously. He turned to James. "We can't get in!" James tilted his head at the door and thought about this for a moment. He pointed at the words above the door.
"What does that say?" He asked Anders. He examined it for a moment.
"I think..." Anders hesitated, the looked disheartened. "You need a priest or Templar to walk through with a mage." James had walked towards the door whilst Anders was saying this and pulled out his wand.
"Alohamora!" James whispered, he heard the door click as it opened. "Or perhaps not," James said smugly as he opened it. Anders gave him a dumb-founded look.
"How-?" James sighed exasperatedly.
"Irving explained my magic might work differently in this place." When he said this there was a slight look in Anders's eyes, one that looked as if for a second he was starting to believe James but then thought better of it.
"Right, right, of course," Anders replied sardonically. "I think you might have hit your heard harder than you thought..." James found himself holding his tongue at this point. He didn't want to argue so he just stayed silent as he walked to the next door.
"I don't think magic can be used on this one," Anders said examining the carvings above the door. James squinted at the door.
"This isn't where..." He looked down the hall. "It's that one over there!" Anders followed James's gaze.
"You sure?" James nodded. They went down the hall to the door and they managed to open it with ease. Inside was the familiar room that James saw through the portal that he had originally been amazed by. Anders, who had never seen this room, before looked fascinated.
"That statue!" He said pointing to a statue of a woman across the room. "I think that's Tevinter." James nodded and pretend to understand what he was talking about. "So," Anders turned to look at James. "Where did you appear from?" James looked around the room trying to retrace his steps. "I think I just -" He paused. "I just kind of was thrown into this place and I landed -" He walked towards a wall at the far end of the room and gestured to the piece of floor in front of an old chest. "- Here." James walked towards the chest and tried to open it. It was locked, he left it alone for the moment and stared at the wall. He took out his wand and tapped the wall, nothing happened for a moment but then a purple light filled the room as what looked almost like a glowing flesh wound appeared on the wall. Out of it came a creature James had seen in Defence Against The Dark Arts, something his father had taught him to fight after a summer of begging, something Anders had never seen anything like before. A black shape, a dark cloaked creature, something James had only seen in boggart form. A dementor.
Anders entire body shook with fear as the black veiled creature appeared from what seemed to be no where. He had never felt such a magical presence never mind seen one. He fired spells at it, it didn't waver. The thing glided towards him. All the hope inside him had gone, it was like he was being drained of the few happy memories he had ever had. They were disappearing. His first escape attempt and the feeling of freedom. The moment when he first saw that slim, young boy with the dark messy hair enter the circle for the first time - being dragged by the Templar's like he had been so often. The night James was first here with his head on his chest, that feeling of being warm and wanted. Everything started to fade as he begun to think of the night he was dragged away from his mother – the screaming and yelling filled his head. He was attempting to cling onto his happy memories but they were disappearing. That's when he heard James yell some words he couldn't quite make out.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" James bellowed. Anders looked over in confusion and found himself being frozen in shock as a huge, dog that was blinding white ran towards the creature. It ran the thing down, the two disappeared. Anders turned and saw James panting and hunched over. Clearly whatever he had just done had exhausted him. Anders walked over weakly and used a regeneration spell which soothed James.
"Andraste's knickerweasels! Where did you learn to do that?" Anders said, eyes filled with shock. "I've – I've never seen magic like that before! I can feel it... Radiating off you."
"Back home," James whispered, his eyes staring at his feet. Anders gave James a look which he couldn't read but didn't question this.
"What was that – thing?"
"A dementor, it sucks the happiness out of you-" James tilted his head at Anders. "You need chocolate." He searched his pockets for the piece he'd eaten half of earlier and offered to him. Anders look very confused but shrugged and accepted it.
"They let you do that back at the circle you're from?" Anders asked munching on the square. He was clearly surprised at the warmth that was growing inside of him and realised his odd friend had in fact been correct. James felt a growing irritation inside of him, to most people he had been feigning the 'I-hit-my-head-quite-hard-and-don't-remember-anything' story. He wanted his one friend in this place to believe him.
"No! Back in Hogwarts!" James had insisted whilst Anders looked at him. James could tell Anders didn't believe him but the scepticism wasn't as strong as it had been previously. Perhaps he was beginning to question what he had previously thought.
"Right, right, Hogwarts. So back there the templars just let you do this?"
"There aren't any templars."
"Really?" Anders asked turning around a sense of hope filling him.
"No, non-magical people don't know about us. So they can't oppress us. We have our own government and everything. We watch other our own."
"But then how will they learn that you're not to be feared?"
"After what a dark wizard did years ago that's not necessary. Even if my father, a wizard, did stop him. It was still magic that created all that damage and caused so much harm."
"But you are free?"
"Yes."
"No templars?"
"Yes." Maybe it was James's imagination but Anders seemed to be starting to believe him.
"Okay, say you're right, and you really are trapped in a different... What did you say?"
"Dimension," James repeated calmly.
"How did you get here?"
"I was in the Department of Mysteries -"
"The what?"
"Oh, it's a sector of the Ministry of Magic -"
"There's a Ministry of Magic?" Exclaimed Anders.
"Yes, yes, our own government. This is going to take a lot longer if I have to explain everything." I started. "So, my father works in the Ministry and I was at work with him when I .. Well, I started to wander off. I was bored!" I was trying to defend myself like I was being threatened with detention back at school. I cleared my throat before I continued. "I ended up in this room with these many mirrors, all depicting different things. One had a girl with a strange looking bow shooting at a deer, another had a girl with a stick fighting a tall man in a long leather jacket, another had a group of rather small looking people (almost like what you would call dwarves I suppose) wandering through the woods... There was loads of them! So I saw one that looked like this very room. I thought the statues and potions looked interesting, I placed my hand on the glass and..." I shrugged. That was all there was to the story.
"If this is true," Anders began. "And I say if – why would you be brought here?"
"I don't know!" I said exasperatedly. Then I thought for a moment. "Although, that woman looked familiar. The chantry mother we saw earlier. I think -" I hesitated and looked back up at Anders. "I think my father showed me a portrait of her in the Ministry, he hated her, like really hated her – he gave her a glare I'd never seen before." Worse than the one he gives the Malfoys when he sees at King's Cross James said to himself. He tried to remember the portrait, this he could picture vividly. He just couldn't recall the name.
"Wait? Are you talking about Mother Dolores?" Anders faked a shudder. "She's a bitch -"
"Dolores! That's it! Dolores Umbridge! She's the portrait I saw!"
"So you're saying, that she's from were you are from?" Anders raised an eyebrow at this. He wasn't sure whether he was ready to believe this. Then he thought for a moment. "Wait, she only came a few years. Everyone says -"
"What?"
"Everyone says that no one quite knows where she appeared from. She just appeared in the circle one day dazed and confused one day, like you. When she demanded she had no magic ability the Templars reluctantly let her go. They swore they could feel the magic but they found no connection to the fade. She's been with the chantry ever since." Anders shrugged. James was about to ask what he meant by the 'fade' but Anders continued talking. "If she really is here, what has that go to do with you?" James had never told Anders this part because he felt Anders would think he was insane. He decided now was the chance to risk it.
"I felt a presence bringing me towards the mirror, almost something that was daring me to touch it. Maybe this is why! Umbridge isn't supposed to be here!" Anders gave him a stunned glance for a moment, it all seemed to fit.
"So if this is true -" he paused. Looking at his one friend he'd ever had in his hazel eyes. "That means Umbridge will go back to where she's from."
"Yes!" James said excitedly, his friend was beginning to believe him.
"But you'd have to go," Anders said, he hadn't even tried to hide the upset in his voice. The two shared a glance as their hazel eyes met each other. Anders had never had a friend in the circle before, not a true friend. They all stayed away from him and his ever growing need to anger the Templars. James had stayed by his side and even joined him. They had something Anders had never had before and he craved so much. It wasn't only that, there was something that gaze that had been growing rapidly since their first meeting. An ever-growing want, he didn't just wish for his friend to stay. He needed James to stay.
"Yes," James said as the realisation of never seeing Anders again hit him. "I would have to go." The two eyes hadn't even wavered through out this. It was if they were daring each other to say what had to be on at least one of their minds. Neither of them mentioned it but Anders did what he felt was one of the strongest, bravest things he had ever done.
"Well, why are we standing around for? We gotta figure out why that bitch is here and a way to get you both home, dead or alive in her case." Anders said in the happy, joking voice he often adopted. It had never been quite so forced before though, something he was hoping James would notice. He didn't and forced a laugh.
"Yeah, we should."