Chapter Eleven
The Corpse in the Closet
"Would you care to see her?" Alex asked in a flirtatious, almost challenging tone as she gazed back at Xavier.
"No need, I believe you," Xavier said with a smile, following her around the lake.
"Surely you're not one of those afraid of Unicorns?" Alex teased.
"No, I merely think it would be cross purposes to see yours," Xavier said, only half joking. "As if your father showing up no matter where we are isn't an effective enough deterrent."
"Him and that watch! It wouldn't be quite so bad if it wasn't for that compass!" she chuckled.
"I need to find a large magic magnet to put around your neck to foil his plans to keep you safe," Xavier said wickedly.
"And what makes you so sure I'd be willing to wear it?" Alex asked coyly. Just then she heard their names called, and looked up in the dim light to see her father and Librarian Boulderdash heading towards them. "Then again, why wouldn't I?" she muttered, stepping back a bit as they came over. But their grave faces were enough to startle her when they came forward.
"Mr. Platt, I've just received some rather disturbing news and I'm afraid we're going to need to escort you to Professor Dumbledore's office to discuss it," Boulderdash said.
"My Father?" Xavier asked sharply.
"No, Xavier, Cutmite," Boulderdash said in a low voice. Xavier shook his head.
"I don't recognize the name."
"I do. That's the goblin that took us down to the Craw vault," Alex said. "But what has this to do with Xavier?" Boulderdash glanced at Severus.
"She will know about it soon enough even if we don't say it in front of her," Severus reasoned, looking at them again. "It seems that Cutmite's corpse has been found… in Xavier's bedroom closet at home." Xavier stared at him. "We expect the Ministry will be sending someone at any time."
"You have got to be joking!" Xavier said completely taken aback. "But how did it get there?"
"I assume that's what the Ministry is going to want to know," Boulderdash said dryly.
"This is insane, whatever reason would Xavier have for doing such a thing?" Alex said.
"He's a Platt," Severus reminded her softly.
"Well, even if I was inclined to follow the Platt curse, I am not stupid enough to try to hide a body in my own bedroom closet," Xavier said in annoyance, turning to Boulderdash. "Surely you don't believe I would do something like that!"
"Of course not, son, but it's not about what we believe or even about what the Ministry believes," Boulderdash said. "It's about what's going to happen when the general goblin public hear about this."
"Oh no," Alex murmured, remembering what had happened a few years before. Were they on the verge of another political nightmare?
"He never came back to his rooms last night," Jocelyn, the other Slytherin prefect, said the next morning. "Professor Snape came by and said Xavier was sent home for a few days."
"A few days? I think years," Eigil said with a smirk. "Goblin slaughter is frowned on in this country I hear."
"There is nothing out there that'll convince me that Xavier Platt murdered that goblin in cold blood," Aurelius said hotly. "Xavier isn't afraid to take action, but he wouldn't do anything to provoke tensions between his family and the goblins, not to mention anything that would endanger my sister or me. Someone has set him up."
"Vun doesn't vant to t'ink his sister is dating a murderer," Eigil said.
"It's more about the fact that Xavier is our leader and he wouldn't do anything this year that would make a stain on this house," Aurelius said firmly. "I stand by Slytherin, Eigil, what do you stand by?" He laughed.
"That is very funny since I hear dat Aurelius stands by no vun. I do not take brave talk from somevun capable of casting illegal spells at vun's own brother, consented or not," he said. Aurelius turned back to his breakfast. "Und now who is in charge of Slytherin?"
"I am," Jocelyn said firmly, a dangerous spark in her eyes. "And I say we keep quiet until we hear something from Xavier. I have heard nothing yet of how this impacts his standing in the school and right now it's better if we just keep our noses clean and see what happens. Oh yes, and pound anyone who says anything negative about it."
"Now dat is something I can agree vit'," Eigil said with a nasty smile.
"He wouldn't do it! He wouldn't do anything to harm us!" Alex said when she met her friends under the Elf Willow for lunch. Both Rose and Mandria gazed at her sympathetically, trying to calm her down.
"Please try not to worry," Rose said, offering her an arm. "I heard Dumbledore himself left this morning to speak to the Ministry about it. And I'm sure Dumbledore doesn't believe it any more than we do."
"Yeah, Xavier may have his creepy moments, but a murderer?" Mandria said dubiously. "Clearly someone is attempting to take advantage of his family's history by planting the corpse on them. Even Thurspire isn't thick enough to miss that."
"I don't know, he can be awful thick," Alex said, and then noticed a half smile show up on Roses face. "What?"
"Just remembering something my Grandfather once said to mother. He said that Minister Thurspire was the most brilliant idiot he has ever met. Even the shakiest hammer will hit the nail true and straight every now and again."
"Well, let's just hope he doesn't miss this time then," Alex said ruefully. "The idea of putting any faith in Thurspire makes my stomach churn."
"Then put it in Dumbledore," Rose assured her. "I'm sure he won't let Xavier suffer for this."
It had been the Platt's House Elf, Torrid, that had discovered the corpse after detecting a strange scent from the room, immediately alerting the master of the house who contacted not only the Ministry but Gringotts as well.
"My son has strong convictions about goblins, none of which I agree with," Damon said to Thurspire. "But those convictions make it impossible for me to believe Xavier would do anything of the sort. If I had thought otherwise, I assure you that you would have never found the body," he added defiantly.
"I appreciate your candor," Thurspire said dryly.
"I would also like to point out the fact that no Platt in his right mind would step foot into Gringotts' Bank, and also that we are recognized on sight…"
"Damon, I truly do not believe that you have to worry. I seriously doubt the Minister believes that your son had anything to do with this," Dumbledore assured him.
"As a matter of fact, for once it seems quite unlikely, and hardly just for the reasons you pointed out, but because of the physical evidence involved," Thurspire said, opening the closet where the poor corpse had been stowed. A large dark stain covered the floor, and below it, a bloodstained goblin dagger was partially laying upon a pair of boots. "The cadaver was standing upright, a gaping wound to the back, and yet the only stains upon the clothing is near the bottom hem. The corpse was old before it was ever put in here, preserved with dark magic. Notice too that the stains on the shoes don't correspond with the stains on the dagger, rather they're around the dagger, as if someone intentionally poured blood upon the bottom of the closet after the fact in attempt to hide just when the corpse was placed there. And the dagger is the sort more commonly used as a throwing weapon… thrown with such force that only someone trained in the weapon could have managed it."
"I'm afraid you'll have to take off that last tidbit as a reason it couldn't have been Xavier, Minister, the boy is well aware of how to use a goblin dagger," Boulderdash said.
"What of the blood stain, Thurspire? I understand that Auror Moody was the one to make the first observations. Has he come back with any information on where that came from?" Dumbledore asked. Thurspire cleared his throat at the reminder that his observations had not completely been his own.
"He should be back at any time, Professor. But the point I wanted to make, Mr. Platt, is that your son is not under any direct suspicion and as far as I'm concerned and is free to go," Thurspire concluded. Xavier relaxed visibly. "You, on the other hand, would be well advised to stay close to home for the next few days."
"What?" Damon said, a flash in his eyes.
"After all, Damon, there are no signs of forceful entry, neither you nor your servants have offered any explanations how they got in despite the fact that this residence is nearly as guarded as the Malfoy Mansion. I hardly think that anyone could walk in here with a corpse without anyone knowing it then leave just as easily as they came," Thurspire said fixedly.
"Thurspire, you are a fool if you think that makes me a suspect. I told you before, I was at work at the time and have countless alibis, and what reason would I to report it if I had done it? Bah, you're not even worth speaking to on this. When is Auror Moody getting back?" Damon said impatiently.
"Even if the Ministry doesn't believe either of you did the deed, Damon, there is another problem," Boulderdash interceded. "My brother has informed me that word quite quickly spread in the goblin community, and I'm afraid regardless of what comes out of the press, their suspicions against you, however unfounded, will not go away anytime soon."
"Then my informing them was a mistake," Damon said angrily.
"No, I wouldn't say that," Boulderdash assured him. "I am merely stating that you and Xavier need to exhibit extra care until we get to the bottom of this."
"Perhaps I might suggest taking another residence in the meantime, at least until they are able to find out how they got in?" Dumbledore suggested.
"If you mean, with him in charge," Damon said, jabbing a thumb towards Thurspire, who merely gazed at him evenly. "I have too much work to do and I play coward for no one. Is my son free to go to school?'
"Yes, I believe we're…"
"Then take him back and wrap things up so I can have my house back," Damon snapped. "Take the whole damn closet if you like, but get out."
"We will leave as soon we we're done and not before, Mr. Platt," Thurspire said firmly, earning a cold look before Damon stomped off again. Dumbledore nodded to Boulderdash, and he escorted Xavier towards the front room, chatting quietly with him.
"You can hardly blame Damon for being upset, Ederick. This family was just beginning to get past these issues, and here it is forced upon them again," Dumbledore said gently. "Come now, you really don't think he is responsible for this, do you?"
"No, but what I believe is secondary," Thurspire said. "I need evidence before I can discount anyone, Professor."
"Yes, I suppose you are right," Dumbledore sighed softly, his look becoming thoughtful.
Aurelius and Stock were playing chess in the common room when Xavier returned. Everyone looked up, but no one said a word. Xavier gestured to Jocelyn, and the two of them stepped to one side and got into a private discussion.
"That didn't take as long as I thought it would," Stock murmured over the table as he moved his knight.
"Same," Aurelius agreed. "The evidence must not have been as damning as Alex told me it was. I notice that Eigil doesn't seem too thrilled about him being back."
"Of course not. Didn't you hear?" Stock said, lowering his voice even more. "Some of the upper classman were talking about putting Eigil on the Quidditch team if Xavier couldn't come back. I heard Hephaestus questioning Jocelyn about it, but she wouldn't answer him directly. I think they planned to settle it during the tryouts."
"Good thing he's back then," Aurelius said. "It's one less year we have to have that giant goon on the team."
"Hm, looks like things are heating up over there," Stock whispered.
As casually as Aurelius could, he shifted his position to lean against the wall as if trying to get more comfortable, his left hand touching the pieces thoughtfully as if considering his move while watching from the corner of his eye. It was Jocelyn more than Xavier who looked agitated. But Xavier had a look that Aurelius had seen before; firm, unwavering, but full of fire as if daring anyone to go against it. Even more than his ease and charm at manipulation, it was that never back down stance that had earned him his position, and it looked as if Jocelyn momentarily forgot it. But finally she backed down, saying something to him without looking directly at him. It was then that Xavier looked over towards where they were sitting with a thoughtful look on his face.
"You're cheating!" Stock suddenly burst out.
"What? Me?" Aurelius said in complete surprise.
"That's right, trying to distract me. That's not a legal move!" Stock told him. It wasn't until they had gotten far into the argument over where Aurelius' own knight had been sitting when Aurelius realized his friend had only acted to cover up their scrutiny. He also knew it wasn't going to work.
"Save the tricks for the other houses, you two," Xavier told them, and Aurelius knew better than to think he was speaking of the game. "Aurelius, before I forget, I want to ask you to be at tryouts early this weekend. You have a keen eye and I want to get your opinion about Eigil Hauk."
"But I thought we had no replacements this year? Don't we have a full team?" Aurelius asked.
"If Hauk is as good as his boasting, Rel, we have to do what's best for the house," Xavier said seriously. "And I'm sure whoever it is that Hauk replaces will do their duty by graciously stepping aside. I suggest neither of you stay up too late tomorrow worrying over homework, either. I expect everyone to perform their best at the tryouts this weekend."
"Xavier? What happened with the goblin?" Stock asked.
"Try the papers," Xavier said dryly. "I'm sure they'll all be talking about it by morning. Good night."
As he walked away, the two of them turned back to the game, leaning on the table and looking at each other as if in a stalemate.
"Look our best, eh? You know what this means," Stock said, shoving a pawn up a spot at random completely uncaring about the outcome now.
"The tryouts this year are going to be real," Aurelius nodded grimly. Stock looked at him thoughtfully.
"I wonder why he wants your opinion? Think you're picking your own successor?" Stock asked him.
"No," Aurelius said, picking up his queen and shaking it at Stock before moving it. "Xavier would be a fool to get rid of me. It would have personal consequences."
"It must be nice having pretty sisters to bargain with. I guess there are some disadvantages to being an only child after all," Stock said, glumly watching as his last knight got broken to pieces by the queen.
"How can he be concerned with Quidditch at a time like this?"
"Because it's Xavier," Mandria sighed as she walked beside Alex on the way to the pitch, knowing quite well that Alex was hardly going down there to check out the hopefuls. "It's not like he can do anything but wait just like the rest of us until the Ministry figures out how the corpse got there, and he does have responsibilities here, being Head Boy and all. What do you expect him to do, anyhow?"
"I don't know, but coming back and acting like there's nothing wrong isn't it," Alex said with frustration. "If it had been me, I'd have stayed right there and would have demanded to know everything I could about what was going on. Quidditch! There are more important things than this school's sports' program."
"Does that mean you're skipping our first sparring club meet this week?" Mandria said slyly.
"No, of course not," Alex said, joining the rest of her team.
"You're just in time, Alex!" Kim Lee, the new Quidditch captain told her.
"Why, who's trying out?" Alex said curiously, frowning when she saw the crowd of Ravenclaws in front of them, too busy gaping to actually get on their brooms.
"No no, not on ours," he said impatiently. "Eigil Hauk!"
Every teams' eyes were on the powerful boy as he pushed through like a locomotive, shuffling the Quaffle back and forth with such strength it nearly knocked Jocelyn off her broom trying to catch it and push it back. Other students practicing in his path saw him coming and fled his path in self-defense as he tossed the Quaffle into the ring like a bullet at a distance no one else would have tried. He turned then and made a gesture with his hand, and Heph Grey tossed him a bat. He then used the bat to point to the box which Juliet kicked open. The Bludgers flew up and Grey with his own bat smacked one over, giving Eigil the perfect opportunity to slam the ball so hard that it smashed into one of the stands, completely destroying the bench that it hit. Everyone in the stands gasped in surprise, and the Slytherin team cheered; all except for Xavier Platt himself, who watched over the tryout with a critical, thoughtful eye.
In the Gryffindor quarter, the entire team turned pale, some of them wincing as they though of what damage a Bludger at that speed could do to an unsuspecting player.
"It's like having Henry the Ox all over again," Rose said.
"Who's Henry the Ox?" Zack asked curiously.
"The most brutal Quidditch player in a generation," Stewart explained, his eyes not leaving the field. "But Eigil is a lot taller and just as thick. How can I put new players out there with him?"
"Well, we really don't have much choice, do we? We have three spots to fill this year," Rose said.
"You don't need to remind me," Stewart said grumpily.
"Where do you think Xavier's going to put him? Chaser or Beater?" Conner asked. "Me, I hope it's Chaser, then you and I can answer the challenge," Conner said, giving his friend a wicked smile.
"And if it's not, we're sending two rookie Beaters out there to face him," Stewart mused.
"I thought you were picking Halbert and Shelly? Surely Halbert's an answer if there ever was one," Rose said.
"Yes, but not Shelly. We need to send a team," Stewart said, looking out into the stands. Rose chuckled, shaking her head dubiously.
"He'll never buy it. Whatever you say, he's not going to buy it."
"He's bent before when we needed him," Stewart said, leaning back a bit. "There he is, up front watching Halbert. Conner, get Snape up here."
"Andrew doesn't like to play. Andrew only likes to watch," Zack said irritably, not liking the sound of this at all. If they talked Andrew into playing, it left only the Chaser position open to decide, and Zack suspected now that would go to Shelly.
"I know that, Zack, but he's a great player in his own right even if he does lack a bit in self confidence," Stewart said, reasoning to himself as much as the boy beside him. "Besides, Eigil aside, we've a field of Snapes against us, and we'd be idiots not to try to even that."
"Oh, com'on, 'Drew! It's not going to kill you to come over here and talk!" Conner said. He had a 'friendly' arm around him, but Stewart and Rose could plainly see that Conner was actually holding onto his collar.
"I don't want to try out!" Andrew protested.
"It's all right, Conner, he doesn't have to try out if he doesn't want to," Stewart said calmly.
"I don't?" Andrew said brightly.
"He doesn't?" Conner squinted at Stewart. Stewart shook his head.
"Nope. He just has to play," Stewart said. Andrew let out a loud groan and held his stomach as he found himself subjected to Rose and Stewart's pleading looks.
