Chapter Twenty (Or: The Whole is Less than the Sum)

Sunday was the busiest day in the library – every week students would flood in to finish the weeks' homework. Some, like James, hadn't even started on the essays that were due the very next day.

"C'mon, Hermione! I've got it half done, I need a break."

"You've not got it half done, you've got half of one essay done. You've another two after that one – that means you've only got it a sixth of the way done. You can have a break when you're actually half done." Hermione snapped, tapping her quill on the essay he was working on for Herbology. "Less whining, more writing."

James scowled, huffing and scratching another sentence out about the difference between muggle Salvia and magical Salvia – he added a bit about how sometimes muggles got their hands on 'Seers Sage' and mistook it for a hallucinogenic. Hermione raised an eyebrow at him when he dropped his quill and tried massaging out the cramp in his hand. "You're killing me here."

"This wouldn't happen if you didn't wait until the last minute."

James pouted at her. "Do I have to?"

"If you don't want another detention, then yes. If you'd rather spend the rest of your life in detention making up missed homework assignments just skive it off. Go 'head." Hermione huffed, scratching out another notation on warding runes.

James ducked down over his essay again, scribbling out everything that came to mind as he went through the differences between common plants in both the muggle and magical world. It took another twenty minutes to get the rest of the essay done and he was itching to do anything else.

"You want to know something cool?" James whispered, leaning in conspiratorially. "You know rune magic is considered latent magic, right?"

"Yes?" Hermione narrowed her eyes, but didn't snap at him to get back to his essay so he considered it a win.

"That means it isn't detectable by the trace – it's legal to practice rune magic, even if you're underage." James grinned widely. "I looked it up – there's this big loophole in the decree on underage magic that excuses accidental magic – it basically declares that instances of latent magic aren't classified as a violation of the restriction on underage magic. It means you can actually do quite a bit outside of Hogwarts without getting in trouble."

Despite herself, Hermione was practically squirming with the sudden sharp spike in her interest. "That is interesting. . . But – is rune magic really that versatile? I mean – I see where it's important for wards and the like, but what else can we do with it?"

"All sorts of things." James settled back in his chair, pulling out his own copy of Practical Runes out of his bag. "With the right runes you could do anything. Hogwarts is crawling with runes – you don't really think the entire castle is warmed just by fires, do you? Then there's the torches – they're fueled by rune magic, the staircases and doors as well. . . well, there's a mixture of charms and runes I think, but the runes tie it all together. That's what gives brooms their magic to be able to fly."

Hermione was listening intently. "That is – that's something else."

"Isn't it? I've tried a few things – get a load of this." James pulled a small glass vial out of his bag. It was glowing with a pale blue light, which illuminated the runes that spiraled around the narrow glass tube. "It's got runes for everlasting light – only thing that will make it go out is if the runes get messed up. It's a magical flashlight!"

Hermione grinned, taking the vial delicately. "That is neat – you ought to figure out a better way to inscribe the runes so they can't rub off. Is this paint?"

"Blood." James grimaced at her horrified face. "Medium is important – I nicked some salamander blood from the potions store room. It's not nearly as strong as if it were dragon blood, or something like that – but it still works. There are certain potions you can brew to create a special ink for rune magic, but those potions are NEWT level and the recipes are in the restricted section."

"Huh." Hermione set the vial down on the table. "What else could you use besides blood?"

"Not a lot – bodily fluids, mostly." James scrunched his nose. "All sorts of gross stuff. The way I figure, there's a connection between the life of the runes and the residual magic in the blood – or other fluids. Every living thing has some level of magic. There are a few saps and pollens that can be used, but the effects are more specific and the plants have to be magically powerful all on their own."

James grinned and scooted closer to Hermione, opening Practical Runes to the chapter on inscribing. "There are some instances when you can carve the runes straight onto what you're enchanting – if you're using something that already has a lot of dormant magic you don't need an extra medium. Or you can double up to get more diverse results – the greenhouses have runes to promote growth and keep out pests. And Hogwarts is at a magical epicenter – like Stonehenge – there's latent magic in the earth itself that feeds a lot of the runes. That's why Hogwarts has such powerful wards."

"Really? What have you got in mind?"

James shrugged. "There's all sorts of applications – we could probably figure out a magical equivalent for all sorts of things we use in the muggle world. A magical refrigerator, oven, microwave, lights, air conditioning – anything really. Imagine being able to do all those things without having to worry about running up an electrical bill!"

"That would be fantastic!"

"It's really complicated though." James continued, sighing as he looked at one of the illustrated configurations. "You have to layer the runes, place them together in a way that enhances their properties and lets each small command combine to do something bigger. If you don't get it right the runes could just cancel each other out – or with some of the more complex designs they might become unstable and there's no telling what could happen."

"Well that's easy enough to work with." Hermione said. "You just have to make sure you know what you're doing before jumping into the practical bit. Obviously you're doing alright so far if you've managed to make that."

"Or you're taking short cuts." James started a bit at the unfamiliar voice butting into their conversation. "You know, Professor Babbling doesn't start her students on practical runes until fifth year? She'd skin you alive if she found out you were messing around with them like this."

A tall blonde boy was sitting down at the table across from them, still young enough that his features were overly pretty for a boy, but obviously well on his way into growing into himself.

"I'll be careful not to let her catch me then." James grinned. "Thanks for the heads up, though. I'm James."

He already had a fairly good idea before the boy held out his hand. "Cedric Diggory."

"Oh! I met your mum! I fell out of the fireplace into your drawing room – she told me all about you!" Beside him, Hermione was fidgeting. "This is Hermione."

"Good to meet you." Cedric nodded to her before turning his attention back to James. "I hear you made the Slytherin quidditch team?"

The conversation was forced – James had no doubt the older boy was only there to please his parents and would probably rather be anywhere else. He had to play it just right if he didn't want it to blow up on him.

"You don't have to do this, you know." James ducked his head, clearing his throat and pulling on his collar. "Your mum – did she. . . ? She told you about – she wants you to make friends with me, right?"

Cedric shifted, eyes flickering to the side before he put on a smile. "No. I just wanted to talk to you."

He was a bad liar. "It's okay, really. You don't have to. I bet it's a right pain."

"No! I mean – okay, she sent me a letter – but I wouldn't. . ." Cedric ran a hand through his hair. "Look – she said you're having a rough time of it in Slytherin and that you could use a few friends."

"She promised she wouldn't tell anyone." James grumbled, scowling. "I don't – I don't want to be that kid – the one who everyone pretends to like just because their parents make them."

"I'm not pretending!" It was kinda funny that Cedric's voice could still squeak like that.

"It's okay, really. I'll – I'll tell her you hang out with me, that you're nice to me. So you won't get in trouble."

Cedric fell silent for a few minutes, frowning down at the table. "It's not – it's not as bad as you're making it out, you know. I mean – it's cool that you're offering to do that for me. I was thinking – you're a first year and. . ."

"I'm just some annoying little kid?" James offered.

"Well, yeah. That's what I was expecting." Cedric huffed. "But that doesn't mean – I wasn't expecting you to be so cool about it."

"Oh." James cocked his head to the side.

Hermione quite suddenly straightened up from where she was bent over Practical Runes and batted at the back of James' head. "You slimy, sneaky little snake!"

"What? What did I do!?" James frowned at her, completely thrown.

"You distracted me with runes! You're supposed to be doing your homework!"

James groaned, letting his head plonk down on the table. To his surprise, Cedric laughed at the exchange. He made a note to find out if Hermione had done it on purpose but instead pouted at Cedric. "She's a slave driver."

"She's right, though." Cedric shook his head, still grinning. "What have you got?"

"History and Charms. I already finished Herbology. Which means I'm a third of the way done and it's time for a break!" The last bit was aimed at Hermione.

"The deal was you had to get halfway done before you earned a break!"

"That wasn't a deal! It was a command – this is tyranny!"

"You really ought to." Cedric added, completely unhelpfully.

"No! Not you too! That's – that's like a double dose of tyranny. I won't stand for this injustice!"

Cedric laughed some more, shaking his head. "You're alright."

James grinned cheekily. "Thanks. I try."

"What's this about, Severus?" Minerva asked quietly, sipping delicately at her cup of tea as she watched Severus place several complex privacy charms over his office.

"I have something to discuss with you – I am simply making sure that what's said here today will not leave this office." Severus responded shortly as he finished his charm-work with a flourish. "I've some – upsetting news. Before we begin I'd like your word that you will keep your head about you. It would be disastrous if you lost your temper and charged off to do something foolish and rash."

Minerva snorted. "You have so little faith in me, Severus. I promise I will keep my head."

"I have immense amounts of faith in you, woman. Otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation." Severus responded simply, shifting uncomfortably when Minerva beamed at him.

"I didn't know you held me in such high esteem. That is – a very large compliment, coming from you."

Severus waved a hand dismissively. "Let's not get hung up on sentimentality. We've business to discuss tonight."

"I'm all ears."

Slowly, carefully cataloguing her reactions, Severus explained the Malfoy's involvement with James, the plan to get Black his trial and their theories over why the trial was never happened in the first place.

Through it all, Minerva remained mostly stoic, though he could see disbelief and anger fluttering across her darkened expression. At last, Severus got to the part about the will being sealed away until James' majority and how they'd gotten around that.

"We couldn't get an official copy – but James was able to get an unofficial copy. As I'm sure you're aware, there were many copies distributed to their intended recipients upon the Potter's deaths. However, there were several copies that weren't delivered because the recipient was either dead or incapacitated, and therefore they were never endorsed and sealed. I've the assurance of the goblins that this copy is word for word the same as an official copy."

Minerva nodded. "This is a good plan, Severus. But – who is the second guardian? I assume you wouldn't be pushing through with this if it were anyone questionable."

"Indeed." Severus smirked, producing the will from an inner pocket of his robes. "There isn't anyone I'd trust more, I think."

He didn't elaborate, instead handing her the document and waiting while she read through it. Her eyebrows shot up, and when she finally looked up there were tears in her eyes. "Me!? They – Lily named me as a secondary godmother!?"

"She did." Severus drawled slowly. "So it's true that you didn't know?"

"I had no clue!"

"That is even more troubling. Someone withheld your copy of the Potters will."

Minerva scowled. "Oh that man!"

"We need to operate in secrecy, Minerva." Severus chided gently.

"I know that! Doesn't mean I don't want to wring his neck!"

"I will gladly watch that spectacle when the time comes." Severus smirked.

Hermione felt distinctly uncomfortable sitting in the Headmaster's office, squirming under intense, twinkling blue eyes. It was right after supper and her mind was spinning with the days' lessons and the homework she was itching to get a start on. Dumbledore offered her muggle candy and tea, but she declined both.

"What is this about, sir? Am I – did I do something wrong?"

"Not at all, Miss Granger. I simply wished to chat, see how you're adjusting. You're doing marvelously in your lessons, of course. Top marks across the board! Quite impressive, my dear girl."

"Thank you, Headmaster." Hermione responded politely, her confusion growing. "I'm adjusting quite well, I think. There's so much to learn and it seems there's never quite enough time in the day, but I'm doing my best."

Dumbledore smiled at her over his tea cup, popping another lemon candy in his mouth as he regarded her. "I like to take the time to make sure the muggle-born students are faring well. It can be difficult – it is an entirely new culture, after all. No amount of pamphlets and books can prepare you for immersion."

"I'm doing quite alright, Sir."

"Very well. I hear you've made friends with Mr. Potter?"

That made Hermione even more uncomfortable, and she shifted in her seat – the Headmaster's scrutiny intensified and she had the horrible feeling that she was being exrayed. It made her feel naked, though there was really no reason to feel anything of the like. She wrenched her eyes away from the Headmaster and all at once the sensation stopped.

"I don't know that we're friends – homework buddies, for sure. That is – mostly I beat him over the head to do his homework and he whines at me."

The Headmaster chuckled. "Sounds like you're a good influence on him. There's been a very big improvement in his marks since you've been helping him."

"Yes, well. . . I try." Hermione cleared her throat. "Not to sound rude, Sir. . . but isn't it inappropriate to discuss another student's marks? Even if James and I know each other, it's not really my business."

Hermione chanced a glance at the old man – she might have been imagining things, but there was a nasty gleam in his eye as he considered her this time. "You are a very bright witch, Miss Granger. A model student. Mr. Potter could learn a lot from you – he has received an alarming amount of detentions thus far. The professors assure me it's because he keeps missing his homework, but with your help I don't see how this continues to be a trend."

Hermione's brows shot up. "Er. . . I am trying to get him to focus on his school work, but I can't exactly lord over him all the time. Even if I could, I wouldn't. I'm not a babysitter."

"It wasn't an accusation, my dear girl! I am more concerned that he has been getting undeserved punishment! You're right that it's not your responsibility to make him do his work."

"I see." Hermione frowned, looking down at her lap. "So this visit isn't really to see how I'm doing, it's to see how James' doing? Like I said before, it's really none of my business and you ought not be discussing this with me. Why don't you speak to James about this? But I assure you, he's really that bad at getting his homework done. I haven't seen anything to suggest something untoward is happening, and I promise I would have reported it if I had. If you don't mind, Sir, I'd like to get to the library before curfew and get a start on my homework for the week."

"Of course, Miss Granger. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"Good Evening, Headmaster." Hermione stood slowly, keeping her head down as she grabbed up her book bag and slipped quietly from the office. She kept her eyes on the floor as she headed towards the library – she was supposed to meet James there, but she doubted he'd still be around as late as she was.

Surprisingly, she caught sight of him slipping off down the opposite end of the hallway just as she turned onto the Library corridor.

"James!"

The boy stopped, turning to stare at her and ducking his head as she marched briskly up to him.

"Hermione! Er. . . I started my homework, really I did! But – it was bloody boring and you weren't there so it was even more boring than usual and. . . Where were you?" James finally looked up at her.

Hermione blinked over the tears that were forming in her eyes, swallowing thickly over the lump that was appearing in her throat. "I was. . ."

"What's wrong? Did something happen? Did someone hurt you?" James was suddenly up close in her face, his voice a low hiss. His eyes narrowed dangerously and his teeth bared. He looked dangerous – menacing in a way that she had never seen before and it would have terrified her if that cold anger had been directed at her.

Instead, it was a strange relief and she choked out a laugh.

James arched an eyebrow.

"It's – it's stupid. I was – the Headmaster asked to see me. He said he just wanted to see how I was doing, but that was a lie. Really, he just wanted to ask me questions about you. I'm – I'm upset and angry and kind of hurt because he obviously didn't really care to know how I was doing."

James' eyes narrowed further, his expression turning darker. Hermione actually did take a step back at that.

"Come with me." James ordered quietly. "We have to talk."

Hermione really didn't have the courage to defy such an order in the face of James' unexpected and powerful expression, and she followed her classmate wordlessly away from the Library and into a more deserted part of the castle.

James didn't speak for a long moment as he paced the empty classroom. Hermione was being unusually docile, quiet – he knew he had probably scared her, but he wasn't willing to mess around with this.

"Have you ever heard of Legilimency?"

Hermione started a bit, but shook her head.

"It's the magical ability to look into someone's mind. Dumbledore is a master of it."

Hermione gasped. "Is that why I felt – as if he was. . ."

"Yes." James answered quietly, stopping his pacing and leveling his gaze at her. "I don't suppose you remember what you were thinking about when you were speaking to him – how much did you hold eye contact with him?"

"I was – it was making me very uncomfortable, so I looked away mostly." Hermione fidgeted. "I was thinking about. . . I don't know, about how weird it was that he was asking me these things, how unprofessional it was of him to speak to me about your grades and your detentions."

"Good." James started pacing again. "This complicates things. If we're to be friends, you must learn how to protect yourself from Legilimency."

"Are we to be friends then?" Hermione asked suddenly. "I hadn't – I didn't realize that's where this is going."

"Of course we are." James growled. "What do you think we're doing?"

"I don't know. I can't tell anything with all the games you play. Thought you were just using me to get what you needed." Hermione shrugged. "Didn't really matter to me, seeing as at least you thought I was worth enough for that. No one else seems to have any use for me at all."

"Of course you're useful. You're wicked smart and you're actually clever – unlike the rest of the morons here. Anyone who thinks otherwise is not only stupid but completely daft."

Hermione actually blushed at that. "Oh."

James frowned. "If I planned on casting you off, I would have done it already. And you can bet your arse I wouldn't be bothering with all this." He motioned around the empty classroom. "So – Legilimency. Avoiding eye-contact is best. Of course, even then you have to be able to lie convincingly – I'll have to test you, but I think you'll be able to do it well enough."

"Why? What's – what's so important to hide from the Headmaster?"

"Everything. Everything and anything we can keep from him is for the best." James scrunched his nose, shaking his head. "He especially must not think me to be nearly as capable as I actually am."

"Why? I mean – you're brilliant. Why wouldn't you want him to know that?"

"I know some things about the Headmaster." James scowled. "Bad things – dark things. I'm not going to say more than that, and you'll have to trust me when I tell you it's important to not trust him. Can you do that?"

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "That's asking quite a lot, don't you think. You want me to lie to the Headmaster for you? To keep secrets from him – secrets I don't even know? And you want me to do it because I trust you? I don't trust you, James! I have no idea what you're up to half the time, but I know you're playing games with everyone. Everything is a game, a ruse – that little play with Cedric Diggory? The games you play with your housemates, with the teachers – and now with the Headmaster? There's absolutely nothing honest about you. And you really think I should just trust you blindly?"

James gaped at her. "You – I knew you'd caught on with Diggory. I just – I keep underestimating you, don't I? I really shouldn't. You really would have been marvelous in Slytherin."

"Stop! You are not going to distract me here. You want me to trust you? Keep your secrets? Give me a good reason."

James glared at her, and she glared right back. Finally, he huffed and started pacing again. "I – I was fucked over, really bad."

Hermione arched an eyebrow, but remained silent.

"I was raised muggle – you already knew that – I didn't have any contact with anyone from the wizarding world. Ever." James snorted. "Don't you think that's odd? I mean – my parents had friends. Good friends – there were a lot of people that I should have known, growing up. But where were they?"

"I suppose you've figured it out?" Her expression told him it wasn't really a question.

"Sort of – you see, when my parents died Dumbledore put me in the muggle world, with my mother's family. Insisted I be left there, barred people from visiting, left me completely alone."

"You were with family." Hermione said flatly.

"Some family they were." James growled. "Magic hating lunatics. You remember when you started doing magic accidentally?"

"Of course. It was – it was very strange."

"Were you punished for it?"

"Of course not!"

James smiled coldly. "How fortunate for you. I wasn't so lucky."

Hermione didn't say anything to that, just frowned.

"But while I was punished just for existing, for being born the way I was – you know, not even one of my parents friends came calling? Not once did Dumbledore ever check on me. And now? He has no idea that it's been four years since I stepped foot in that house."

James took a deep breath. "I wasn't actually supposed to go there – Dumbledore didn't have that right. There's this stupid loophole in the laws that lets him get away with it, though. Now – I've been warned against letting him know I'm not living with my relatives anymore, because if he finds out he'll likely send me back."

"But if you told him how they treated you – "

"It won't matter. He knows, Hermione. At least to an extent – he knew when he left me there that they would never treat me right, and he thinks I'm still living there, still being mistreated – he knows. I'm sure of it."

"I don't understand."

"I don't either." James shrugged. "It is what it is, though. That's all I'm gonna say about it."

"So – what? You think him realizing you're brilliant will equate with him figuring out you don't live with your relatives anymore? That doesn't make sense."

"No - it makes plenty of sense. How could I possibly be this smart, this strong-willed – this well-adjusted – if I was living with an abusive family up until last August?"

"Fine. Say I do believe you – what's with all the games? It's risky, isn't it? You're spreading yourself too thin, trying to sell too many stories all at once. It's going to crash around your ears, you know? Keep up like this and eventually you won't be able to keep your lies straight anymore. You'll give yourself away all on your own."

"I've been doing this a long time."

"But why? What's the point?"

"I'm keeping my options open." James shrugged. "I'm going to be here for a while – which means I need to make sure I've got a security net. Can't rely on my house or the rest of the school as it is – I have to change things to my advantage or I'm going to end up in a really bad spot."

"And where do I fit in?"

James grinned. "Obviously you're my devil's advocate."

"James!"

"Fine – I like you." James shrugged. "You're clever, smart – actually worth the words you string together. It would be right stupid of me to make an enemy out of you, and you'd be invaluable to have on my side."

"So that's it? That's how you judge people?"

"Isn't it better to judge you for that? By what you've got to offer? Because I've heard what the other kids say about you – you're a bookworm, you're bossy, you're a know-it-all – it's right stupid of them to make fun of you because you're talented. Because one day you're going to make something of yourself and they're going to be left in the dust. They already are – you're loads better than them."

Hermione stared at him. "So, you're making an investment?"

"Exactly!" James grinned. "And I don't make bad investments."

"I'm strangely flattered that you think I'm valuable, but kind of disturbed that you categorize people as assets." But she was smiling.

"Everyone does it – it's just that I don't sugar coat it and I have higher standards."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Flattery, flattery. . ."

"Not flattery – I refuse to settle for anything but the best."

There was another long moment while Hermione stared at him. "You really mean that." Again, it wasn't a question.

"Of course. It's turning out you're another one who can see through my games. Won't bother pretending with you." James shrugged. "So – have I convinced you to join in on 'keep away' from the Headmaster?"

"Yes." Hermione said simply. "What do I need to do?"

"We're going to learn Occlumency!"

"What's that?"

"Defense against mental intrusion."

"You know it already!?"

"Nope! But I bought a few books about it." James dug the books in question out of his bag – there were two of them – they were very old and they'd cost him a small fortune. Because officially, the mental magics were considered taboo by the ministry, and most books of the like had been confiscated by the ministry years before. He'd ordered them from Gren – they'd come in the post only days before. Even Snape didn't know he was pursuing this, but then Snape's own skill in Legilimency was a driving factor. The Headmaster wasn't the only one James wanted to be able to lie to.

"Mr. Potter? Stay behind for a moment, if you will."

James frowned in confusion, but sat back and waited while his classmates left. McGonagall was straightening the pile of essays that had been turned in that period – including James' so he had no idea why he was in trouble.

"You're not in trouble, Mr. Potter. I just need to have a word with you." McGonagall explained gently, flicking her wand at the classroom door and then setting about weaving some complicated charms.

"What are you doing?" James asked suspiciously.

"Making sure we won't be overheard."

"Oh."

Several minutes later, McGonagall finally turned her attention back to him. Her expression was wretched – her lips pressed thin and her jaw clenched while she blinked furiously to keep her tears at bay. James had absolutely no idea how he'd caused such a stoic woman to look so baleful.

"I want you to know – if I had any idea of how the Dursleys treated you there isn't a force on this earth that would have stopped me from slaughtering them and taking you away."

James froze, his eyes wide as his heart suddenly revved uncomfortably. He flinched when the woman walked up to him.

"Even if I had never found out about that – if I had known you were my charge I would never have abandoned you. If I thought for one second that I had some sort of legal foot to stand on I would have taken you without a second thought." McGonagall continued. "I want – I want you to know that. We – the Headmaster has been playing a lot of people. I am ashamed that he played me so well. I didn't think I had any authority to argue – to contradict him. It all seemed so straightforward, of course Albus had every right to place you – except he didn't, and I will never forgive him for that. And I promise you child – it will never happen again while I still have an ounce of fight left in me."

James remained silent, jumping when both McGonagalls hands came to rest lightly on his shoulders. "If you need anything – you come to me. Even if this trial business is long and drawn out – the legalities don't matter. I want you to know that I'm here if you need me."

She leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to his forehead, straightening up and wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry I failed you so horribly."

James swallowed thickly. He didn't know how to handle this. "It's not – you weren't to know. You weren't the only one who wasn't there – he made sure of it."

McGonagall just shook her head. "I should have been."

James didn't say anything to that and apparently he didn't need to because McGonagall simply undid the protections around the room and shooed him off to his next class as the warning bell chimed signaling the end of their morning break.