Chapter 10 – Dung's Daring Deed

Mundungus Fletcher had invested his windfall 'commission' in an invisibility cloak. The cheapest of these are little more than children's toys; he was able to afford a mid-priced one. The wearer would see clearly, while invisible to all but the most perceptive. It would last a year, unless used in direct sunshine, and it would muffle any small sounds the wearer might make. Its major defect was that the wearer could only hear muffled sounds, making eavesdropping almost impossible.

When Mundungus saw The Doctor and Susan, accompanied by Ollivander of all people, hurry through the Leaky Cauldron, he felt compelled to tag on quietly behind. When they stopped at the police callbox he put on the cloak and was able to slip in before Susan closed the door. He backed into a corner where nobody would barge into him and waited. He was able to gather only that they were going somewhere. Was it Rome? He wasn't sure. He saw the others leave, dressed for a fancy-dress party, and was puzzled: he couldn't picture either The Doctor or Mr Ollivander letting their hair down and enjoying themselves. Once they were gone he had a wander around looking for something small and valuable that wouldn't be missed for a while: he had heard a wild rumour about a diamond 'as big as a hen's egg', but saw nothing like that. The central control panels he left well alone – touching those could only make trouble. Frustratingly, the internal doors would not open for him, though earlier The Doctor and the others had passed freely back and forth. There was nothing for it but to go outside and see what he could see.

Outside looked like a bomb site – there had been plenty about in the east end when he was little. He was able to hold the door open with one hand while reaching out for a short length of timber with the other and wedged the door open. Outside he sat down on some rubble while deciding what to do next. By habit he opened a packet of cigarettes – no 'roll your own' for him while he was in the money – and put one to his lips. His reverie was brought short when his wand failed to light it. Feeling smugly pleased with himself he produced a muggle cigarette lighter from one of his many pockets. He had liked showing it off to his friends – "That is a bit of class that is" – until the novelty wore off. Fortunately it was still nearly full, and he was soon puffing in satisfaction.

He would have a look around and figure out where he was; he had the invisibility cloak if he needed it. Half-way down the alley he remembered that he had left the door wedged open. He shrugged and walked on; there was no way he could judge whether that was the best thing to have done. The people he passed in the alley were all wearing strange clothing; some even had on Roman togas like The Doctor and Ollivander. He was getting strange looks; his smart new suit in a bold check did not fit in. He did his level best to look unconcerned, that he had every right to be there – his way of life had given him plenty of practice at that. When he could, he dodged into empty premises and put on the invisibility cloak; now he only had to worry about people colliding into him.

Coming to the end of the alleyway he was struck by the sights, sounds and smells of the Forum, not that he knew where he was. He was greatly puzzled: this was somewhere foreign. But when he took off the cloak for a moment he found that everyone was speaking English. Was he under the influence of some strange enchantment? Or could it be some vast film set? Was he dreaming? Whatever, there were too many people dashing about for him to keep the cloak on, and he didn't want to be seen too much until he knew exactly what was going on. He would find somewhere less busy, somewhere he could get a wider view of the place; he looked for a way up hill.

Near the base of a steep hill was a quiet wooded area, and inside that was a building largely consisting of a circle of columns. He could hear frantic shouting, male and female coming from it. Curious, he checked that his invisibility cloak was covering him and ran towards the commotion. The entrance was open. Inside there was young woman held down on her knees by two men. Facing her was a furious, red-faced man who was obviously in charge. To one side were three women standing together, all facing the man. The man was shouting so loudly that even with the cloak on there was no mistaking his words:

"The sacred fire is out. It was your task, and you failed, you are the guilty one. Let us pray that no new catastrophe falls upon the city. The fire will be re-kindled with due ceremony, and you will suffer the ordained punishment. What have you to say?"

During this repeated rant, Mundungus, confident in his cloak, had moved around and nearer to the centre of events. He was now near to the kneeling woman and could see her face. There were tears running down it, but she was angry and defiant. She shouted back her reply:

"The fault is not mine: the fuel would not burn, it has been hexed! Beneath it the embers may still glow. Act quickly and fire may yet blaze up."

The three other women moved towards the central hearth, but froze at a gesture from the red-faced man. "Vestals, am your priest? I say the fire is out. My word is final! The girl will be flogged. See how she defies me."

Mundungus fancied himself as a rescuer of damsels in distress (as young men should), and had quickly taken a great dislike to this unpleasant man. He kicked him on the ankle as hard as he could and went straight on to the little pile of firewood in the centre. He did not think that 'hexed' wood would fail to burn when doused with lighter fuel. Fumbling with his lighter, he managed to open it and pour most of its contents over the wood. Before he could raise a spark from the flint there was a glimmer of light: the girl had been right! There were flames; it was time to scarper.

At the entrance he paused and put his wand tip to his throat, forgetting that wands did not work in this strange place. What he meant to be a booming command was heard, thanks to the invisibility cloak, as a whining, spectral voice, but was just as effective:

"Let the girl go. See to the fire. I have spoken."

Before anyone could wonder whether there was a man behind the voice, he was gone. Mundungus was rather proud of that "I have spoken," but his nerve now failed him. He ran back to the TARDIS without pausing, not even bothered that the sunlight was damaging his expensive cloak. The door was still wedged open, exactly as he had left it. With a gasp of relief he removed the wedge and shut the door behind him.

Not a fit man, he collapsed into a chair, out of breath, and waited for the pain in his side to ease. Once recovered, and his heartbeat nearly back to normal, he began to think what to do. If need be he could reveal himself to The Doctor and beg to be taken home, i.e. Diagon Alley. He no longer cared where he was or what was going on, it was all too much. What bothered him most, however, was that his wand did not work. He tried it again, repeatedly, even trying the elementary exercises they had had to do in the first year at Hogwarts. Nothing! Had he become a muggle?

He started going through his pockets as calmly as he could manage, and methodically laid out all his possessions on the floor in front of him. There was the invisibility cloak - he knew that worked; his wand which did not; a person pointer which was not pointing anywhere; money; his cigarettes, and a little hipflask of 'tonic.' He downed the tonic in one go and felt better. Then he took out a cigarette and looked around for his lighter. Not there! He went through every pocket, and checked carefully through the scattered items he had spread across the floor. Thinking back he realised that he had left the lighter in two parts right next to the fire. At least the lighter could not be traced back to him; if it was, he could always claim that he had lost it earlier, that he had been robbed. Sighing, he pocketed all his things and arranged the cloak ready to hide.

He was asleep in the chair when Susan, supported by Mr Ollivander, stumbled into the TARDIS.

To be continued …