Chapter Twenty-Five

Motivation

"I rather like this author," Jennifer decided halfway through The Meglomaniac's Club and the Dark Menace. "He's not as nosy." Severus sneered at that. The book she was reading corresponded to the year of Lucius Craw's rampage and Jennifer still didn't like to think about that year. She had become so raw and vulnerable that she was very relieved that her part in it had reduced to being a distracted teacher who had chosen to stay out of events going on outside the castle. The MC, of course, were more active in stopping the "menace". Even Frost, Queen of the Underworld, had yet to appear in the book.

"You'll be playing a part in the ending, but most of the details that might concern you are not present," Severus assured her. "The MC saved us in the end, and your father's part is trivial except for the fact that he is exonerated."

"Thank the stars for that," Jennifer said with a sigh, flipping a couple of pages ahead before returning to the one she was on. "I also like how all of these recent books have a moral in the end."

"Hm," Severus replied.

Jennifer looked up curiously.

"I take it you don't agree?" she asked.

"In a way, the morals are these books' saving graces, actually, considering most of the club members are overpowered. They also seem to have a great deal of criticism against the school faculty and wizard politics in general," Severus replied.

"I definitely noticed that, but it does fit the theme of this book series, doesn't it?" Jennifer pointed out.

"Perhaps so. Still, I find it the most telling sign of who the author might be, because I believe the author is displaying his true beliefs on the matter," Severus said.

"Really?" Jennifer chuckled. "Do you think old Balmweed wrote it?"

"The old fool wouldn't have the time. He's too busy meddling in other ways," Severus said. "But I agree that there are times when the criticism in these books echo something he has said in the past. But being on the school board, he also has more insight on school affairs than what is being shown here. The current author seems to have gotten their information from the Daily Prophet and the Oracle. And, although the morals are present, many of them seem forced and not a part of the original intent of the story."

"That happened in the last book," Jennifer agreed. "Maybe they were just trying to meet some sort of publication standard or something." Severus pondered that, glancing at the book he was on.

"Perhaps he and and whomever was editing the book didn't see eye to eye about some of his ideas. That would explain not only the forced morals but a couple of places where it felt like there was a jump in the story line," Severus mused.

"In that case, perhaps Balmweed was the editor," Jennifer conjectured. "He does still work for Wizardday Publishing, after all, even if he is semi-retired. And he's just the sort of person that would require some sort of educational component, even if it's only a moral."

"A valid point," Severus decided. "He could be the editor." Jennifer nodded smugly at him and turned back to her reading, while Severus caught himself skimming as the concern within him grew. What is this author's motivation for taking over, Severus wondered. Were the messages in the books always been so straight forward, or was there a hidden meaning? Were they meant as general messages, or were they meant with a particular child in mind?

"Do you think we could just fly above it?" Garvan asked. Maurice and his team were still at the gauntlet entrance, staring at in uncertainly.

"Unlikely. They went to all this trouble to put it up and keep us from using paintings to get around it. I'm quite positive that trying to fly over it would have been thought of," Maurice replied.

"The school is locked down," Diana pointed out.

"Diana's right," Ambrose said. "There's a barrier up that prevents entry by flight when the castle is on lock down. We're going to have to do it by the book."

"Seriously? Did you have to put it like that?" Hope glowered at him.

"Well, if it is anything thing like the book, the gauntlet is trapped and also charmed to change direction on occasion," Maurice said. "Looks like you're going to have to lead us through, Dasher."

"Right," Dasher said with a thin sneer. "Let's see if we can get through this thing with the multiple wrong turns that the MC took, shall we? I always hated that part." Ambrose grinned at that.

"I doubt we would have in any case, but it is nice to have a goblin along as insurance," Ambrose said, Dasher nodding to him proudly.

"I guess that means I'm going to have to take up the rear," Hope said, moping.

"True, but stay alert. If this maze is anything like Frump's Improved Gauntlet, we will have to worry about stuff coming from behind us as well.

"That's true," Hope said, brightening. Diana let out a short sigh.

"There are challenges ahead without wishing for more," Diana said.

"Since when do you turn down a good challenge?" Hope retorted.

"I never said that," Diana said evenly.

"Shall we start?" Dasher asked impatiently.

"Lead on," Maurice agreed, getting out his wand. "Wands at the ready, all."

As they entered the maze, Maurice attempted to keep a distance that was both close enough to Dasher to keep watch and far enough back to protect himself from whatever trap Dasher had let off. At first, it was slow going. Dasher was being quite cautious, his ears twitching like a hunting cat as he listened for dangers and peered around the corners. But after a tedious ten minutes of peering around corners, Maurice noticed that Dasher had not only relaxed but had also picked up the pace. He was about to question it when a flash went off around the corner, and the rest of them immediately hurried up to find out what Dasher had run into.

"It's all right," Dasher said calmly when they appeared. He was standing next to a stunned will-o-wisp and a subdued, smoldering willow sapling. "Common Dark Forest nuisances... easily handled."

"Not much of a challenge," Diana agreed.

"It's in one of the books," Maurice explained. "One of the earlier mazes had something like that."

"Oh yeah! Henry's gauntlet, wasn't it?" Hope chimed in.

"No, it was Jeran's. Henry's gauntlet had the unicorn," Garvan said. "It was in the one that Young rigged so that Jeran could get through it. This trap never would have gotten into one of Frump's gauntlets."

"Also, none of the hedges seem to be shifting around at all... at least not yet," Dasher said. "And I don't feel or hear any movement that would indicate a shift. Of course, there could be some further up that are triggered by us doing something."

"That is possible, Dasher. Snape did that," Ambrose said. "But if you haven't detected any shifting yet, Dasher, I doubt the maze shifts by itself. That only started happening in the last couple of books, you know... probably because it wasn't used at the school until Commander Bellamy took over."

"Let's not start with the conspiracy theories comparing the books to Hogwarts. If we start comparing them, not only are we going to get confused but we're going to be standing here all day," Garvan complained. Diana raised her eyebrows. The others stared at him.

"I agree that we can't stand here all day," Maurice said. "But considering where we are and what we're doing, I think it's safe to say the conspiracy theorists have a point."

"And then some," Ambrose agreed.

"Let's go," Dasher insisted, carefully crossing the open section and back into the hedgerow.

"If this is Young's maze, the next one will be a gorgon of some kind," Garvan commented.

"I don't think whoever made this would go in order, would they?" Hope asked skeptically.

"I think that would depend on their motive, Hope," Ambrose said, pausing when he thought he heard another spell go off.

They all hurried around another corner and into another opening that led into a swampy pond area. The surface of the pond had been turned into a giant mirror, while next to it stood a gorgon statue.

"Well done that, that's an impressive transfiguration for someone in your year," Ambrose said.

"Thanks," Dasher said.

"Just as I predicted. This is Young's maze," Garvan said.

"Even if it is, we can't take the change that it will follow the same pattern. We need to stick closer together on those blind corners in case something is in there that Dasher isn't prepared for," Maurice said. Dasher squinted at him.

"Agreed, we were told to stay together," Garvan said.

"Fine, but don't crowd me," Dasher said, annoyed.

"There may be a few traps in between, but if it keeps with the same pattern, we should be running into the boggart next," Garvan said.

"That's no problem either," Hope said with frustration. "What do you suppose the point is of this maze? I mean, surely they knew whoever entered it would have read the books, and this is the easiest gauntlet in the series."

"True, but it is rather fun, though, seeing some of these traps come to life," Dasher admitted with a grin.

"Yes, but you're the only one getting to see them," Hope complained. "Can't I lead for a while?"

"Sorry, Hope, we can't take the chance that this gauntlet is going to stay the same," Maurice said. "But Dasher does have a point. If this was made for a festival, it'd be a lot of fun going through it, and it'd be safe enough for anyone with at least a third year defense level."

"The maze is here to encourage us rather than to harm us or stop us," Diana agreed.

"Well, what about that pain trap that happens after the boggart room?" Garvan asked.

"I'm betting it won't be there," Ambrose said. "Diana's right, this maze seems to be here only to encourage students to come in here. Whoever is doing this wants us to make it inside so we can find the Distaff for them."

"We don't need any more encouragement. After all, Professor Weasley is counting on us," Hope reminded them. "Not to mention all of the Mystery department and everyone associated with Hogwarts."

"How did we get ourselves into this again?" Garvan asked, suddenly feeling the weight of what they were doing on his shoulders.

"Now, don't start that, are you Auror material or aren't you? We'll do what needs to be done because we must, regardless of personal cost. Focus on that and nothing else until it's done," Maurice told them sternly.

"He is right," Diana said evenly.

"I know he's right, though I could have done without the personal cost bit," Garvan admitted, holding his wand at the ready again. Dasher nodded and led them around the corner. While each of them stayed alert, none of them were surprised that the next trap involved the school Boggart.