Big thanks to MirrorDede for beta-ing and to animegirl1994, DeimosPhobos, MirrorDede, DayaLuna, Dragonfly999 and 0m3ga's Z3r0 for reviewing the last chapter – sorry I took so long to get my butt in gear!
I found out recently that it is indeed Reim not Liam – though I had to buy the Pandora Hearts character book in Japanese, for some reason even though I keep buying the English version I don't really trust the translations, anyway I digress. Without delay here's the next chapter~!
Break sighed as he opened the wardrobe in his room, removed his purple suit and laid it on the bed. She'd appeared again, but why? Was it to make sure he fulfilled his promise or did she have some strange renewed interest in him? Mentally slapping himself Break shook his head and quickly changed his clothes.
There was another thing – Break was certain there had been someone in the forest when the Dementors came, but the question was who and how much had they seen or worked out? He could not afford to be caught, Break decided as he pulled on the jacket, its tattered edges reminiscent of Mad Hatter's. He'd find the brat who saw and silence them. He lifted his foot to the bedpost, to adjust the decorative straps he wore around his thigh.
"Mr. Xerxes Break?"
Break turned his head to the door, an eyebrow raised, his fingers lingering on the straps on his right thigh. Standing in the doorway looking rather uncertain beneath seven woolly hats was a House Elf.
"Yes?" Break asked the elf flatly as he counted the dropped stitches within the elf's hats.
"Professor Dumbledore wants to see you in his office, Sir. Should Dobby show you the way?" asked Dobby who was taking Break's scrutiny of his head wear for curious appraisal. "Does Sir like Dobby's hats?"
"They're not half-bad," Break admitted, turning from the elf and fastening the leg bindings. "He wants me there now, I assume?"
"Yes Sir, that is why Dobby is here," Dobby answered with a smile.
Rolling his eye Break took his foot from the four-poster and walked over to Dobby. "After you then," he said gesturing with his hand for Dobby to move. Nodding, Dobby turned around and practically bounced down the stairs, his hats bobbling all over the place.
"Professor Dumbledore, Sir, Dobby has brought Mr. Break," Dobby called, opening the door to the old wizard's office.
"Ah, thank you Dobby, you may return to the kitchens now," Dumbledore said with a smile as Dobby bowed – how the hats didn't fall off was anyone's guess – and left the room once more.
"So, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Break asked feeling a twinge of pride at the immediate darkening of Dumbledore's expression once Dobby had left.
"Unfortunately it appears I must ask for a favour," Dumbledore said,[comma] resisting the urge to huff as he begrudgingly offered Break the seat opposite his desk.
"What kind of favour?" Break asked curiously as he flopped into the seat and placed his feet on the desk, smiling as Dumbledore frowned at him.
"Some objects have come to my attention, however you know as well as I that with the Ministry here it is unlikely my absence will go unnoticed."
"So you're asking if I can keep Umbridge preoccupied with something ludicrous that lets you bugger off when you feel like it," Break said, his smile now turned into a frown, "What exactly would I gain from this?"
"I'd be indebted to you, other than that you are correct, there is no benefit," Dumbledore stated flatly, wishing he could ask someone else.
Break removed his legs from Dumbledore's desk in favour of the floor so he could rest his elbows on his knees and steeple his fingers. After several moments Break spoke, a mad smirk on his lips, "must be some pretty dark stuff if you're asking me. So I'll bite - I'll need help with finer details though."
"I can't find him!" Hermione said, frowning at the Marauder's Map.
"Me neither," said Ron glumly.
"But he should be on here! The map never lies!" hissed Harry as he glared at various labels on the map. The three were hiding in a deserted classroom on the sixth floor, huddled under Harry's invisibility cloak as they searched the Marauder's Map for Break.
"Maybe he went off the grounds – the map only shows the school after all," Hermione suggested.
"I guess," mumbled Harry who was still searching the map. Harry jerked suddenly, his eyes fixed on a section of the map.
"You alright mate?" Ron asked, looking at Harry worriedly.
"I think I've found where those three are staying," Harry said quickly, jabbing his finger to the map. The section looked to be a small version of the dormitory's, and was conveniently labelled 'guest accommodation'. There were three dots – two were in the common room and labelled 'Liam Lunettes' and 'Rufus Barma' and the third was leaving one of the ensuites and was labelled 'Kevin Regnard'.
"Wonder who that is," Ron said, "It'd have to be someone they know – using the bathroom and all."
Hermione gave Ron a look that clearly said 'are you really that stupid?', "It's probably Break; the map's showing his true name."
"Just like last year with Crouch!" Harry exclaimed remembering their last Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who had been a Death Eater in disguise.
"Let's go have a look then, they're not too far away," Ron said standing up. Harry gave the map a quick look before muttering, "Let's go, the coast's clear."
"How do we get in?" Ron whispered as they arrived before the location of the three Pandora members.
"I don't think we'll have to, Dobby's taking this Kevin guy somewhere," Harry answered watching as two dots made their way to the entrance of the dormitory on the map.
"This way sir," called Dobby as he turned down the hallway closely followed by Break, who simply rolled his eye and followed.
Sharing a nod the three students began their tailing, stopping only when they came before the stone gargoyle that blocks the entrance to the Headmaster's Office.
"Percy Pigs!" Dobby squeaked causing the gargoyle to jump back and reveal a staircase. After reaching the seventh step, Harry indicated for the group to wait, Break having tensed and turned around, looking directly at their location for a long moment before turning back and following Dobby.
"He knows we're following him," Harry breathed once the door had closed, starting as it opened again only for Dobby to skip down half the stairs before disappearing from their sight.
"Maybe, but he didn't say anything," Hermione whispered, nudging for Harry to start climbing the stairs again.
"Must be some pretty dark stuff if you're asking me," Break said, his voice drifting through the wood that Harry, Ron and Hermione had their ears pressed against.
"That's not really any of your business," came Dumbledore's voice through the wood. "Now, what did you have in mind to distract Dolores?"
Dolores Umbridge smiled from her seat at the Staff Table, the next morning at breakfast. Her 'Educational Decrees' combined with her 'High Inquisitor' status, were gaining her control over Hogwarts. It wouldn't be long before she could dismiss that doddering old fool Dumbledore, put that lying attention-seeker Potter in St. Mungo's and with a little persuasion here and there have those vile soldiers Dumbledore had hired exiled from the Magical World – perhaps even with their memories wiped! Or even, she thought darkly; have that white-haired buffoon given over to the Dementors. Kiss or not, the Azkaban guards were oddly taken by the man, and really it wouldn't be that hard to frame him for some unspeakable crime…
"That woman makes Break look like one of the sanest people on Earth What do you think she's grinning at anyway? It's really creepy," Ron said looking away from Umbridge and instead to Harry as they sat down at the Griffindor Table.
"Dunno. Do you really think Dumbledore's going to go through with Break's idea?" Harry asked looking up at the teacher's table, noting that both Break and Liam had yet to arrive. Another absentee was Hermione who had run off to the library and said she'd be down later.
"Probably, I just wish he'd said what he was after, he definitely didn't sound too happy talking to Break – or Kevin or whatever his name is – about it," Ron said before stuffing his face with scrambled eggs. Just then Hermoine came in, her eyes, wide and a book under her arm as she sat on the bench opposite Harry and Ron.
"You won't believe what I've just found out!" Hermione said her eyes wide and a book under her arm as she sat on the bench opposite Harry and Ron.
"You found out who Kevin Regnard is then?" Harry guessed as he and Ron watched her flick through the book, stopping on an old Daily Prophet clipping.
"Listen: Over the past month there has been an outburst of disappearances in the London area, sixteen Muggles, three wizards and four witches. At the scene of each disappearance large pools of blood have been found. Witnesses claim the murderer had stark white hair, a pale complexion and blood red eyes. Due to the lack of details needed for identification the Ministry have dubbed this killer 'the Red-Eyed Ghost'." Hermione looked up at her two friends, "This was from 1888, the description matches and if he wasn't lying when he told us he was over a hundred then the date would fit too."
"So you think he's a murderer?" Ron said disbelievingly, "I know he's not all there, but a killer? Really Hermione your exadurat-"
However, Ron was cut off by the large oak doors being slammed open, Liam having been thrown through them and who was now sprawled out in the middle of the Great Hall with a sword in his right hand. Break then charged into the room, his left eye closed as he swung his own blade at Liam's head, the tattered ends of his suit jacket flapping behind him in a menacing way.
Hissing profanities under his breath, Liam managed to get to his knees and swing the sword in an arc just in time to block and knock Break back slightly. Seizing the opening, Liam jumped to his feet and launched into a flurry of attacks, which caused Break to move further back, though he had little problem deflecting and dodging the blows.
That one was a little wide, Break noted watching as Liam lost his balance slightly and was in the perfect position – for Break anyway. Leaning back to avoid another slash aimed at his chest, Break let his torso fall back, arms raised up until they touched the floor behind him. Smirking, Break moved in one quick, fluid motion and back-flipped, slamming his right foot into Liam's chin as he did so.
Liam swore as he once again found himself on his back, the sword he'd been holding skimming along the stone floor out of his grasp. Break walked slowly towards the other man as murmurs broke out in the Great Hall, the two had stated before they were good friends, so the fight didn't make much sense. Taking Break's pace as a signal, Liam flipped himself over and ran to retrieve his weapon, skidding to his feet in time to see Break shift into a run and begin his own assault.
They both knew Break was going easy, but Liam was still having trouble keeping up – close combat had never been his strong point. A growl escaped Liam's throat as his and Break's blades collided and he struggled to hold his own. Break smirked, giving the barest of nods and Liam stamped his heel as hard as he could on Break's foot before sending the man stumbling back by kneeing him in the stomach. Running past Break and avoiding the sluggish over-head slash that Break had aimed, Liam smirked delivering a long practised kick that sent Break flying toward the Staff Table.
Not one for being shown up, Break stuck his hand out to the floor and sprung himself up to dodge the table and landed on his feet.
"What is the meaning of this barbarianism!" squealed Umbridge, which Break found was the most attractive noise she had made in the months he had known her.
"Well," said Break as he walked slowly around the Staff Table, swinging the sword around his fingers as he did so, "I'm starting a club and this seemed the best way to advertise."
"A club?" choked Umbridge, causing Break to correct himself – her choking was far more appealing to his ears.
"Yes, a club for swordsmanship."
"I-" but the rest of whatever Umbridge was saying was drowned out as Break raised his voice to speak over her.
"This was a demonstration of what you can achieve given enough practice. Whether you join or not doesn't really bother me, but as of tomorrow I'll be in the Great Hall every Thursday from seven pm until nine." At this point, Break turned to face Umbridge, "I have not asked permission to start this club, nor am I going to. It will take place one way or another regardless of interest or outside influence. So, if you feel like joining tell myself, Mister Liam or Lord Barma," Break finished, walking over to Liam and relieving him of his sword before heading for the door leading to the Entrance Hall.
"Where in the blazes are you going!" cried Umbridge who couldn't quite believe she was being challenged, nor that the man who had done so was walking away. Liam just rolled his eyes and took his seat next to Barma, pointedly ignoring everyone's gaze as he helped himself to toast, bacon and scrambled eggs.
"Well," said Harry blinking in confusion along with the rest of the students and most of the staff as the eccentric man left the Great Hall, "That was unexpected…"
"Yeah, but bloody brilliant," Ron said with faint awe coating his voice.
"Right kiddies," Fred whispered leaning across the table so he could see the three fifth-years.
"We're going to sword classes," George added brightly and with that the twins rose along with Lee Jordon, linking arms and skipping out of the hall. It seemed that the randomness of the twins and Lee had completely destroyed the tension from before as the hall filled with chatter once more, though a highly discussed topic was whether anyone was going to risk Umbridge's displeasure and attend this new club.