TWENTY-FIVE

Josephine felt like getting drunk. She had never gotten drunk in her life, yet she knew this is what she wanted. It was a Thursday morning and she had shadows for eyes. She tried to remember the last time she slept properly as she supported the majority of her weight on the fence. They were outside, at an ungodly hour, it must be said, observing a pair of Midas Leopards.

"I feel like getting drunk," She announced as the leopards prowled about, their golden pelts shedding in clouds. They had an amusing fascination with Lucius Malfoy, and eyed him threateningly. Malfoy's friends kept their distance.

"I know what you mean," Marlene answered. There was a certain peace to the situation as Professor Kettleburn broiled away on the subject of magical felines.

"Really?" Josie started to sketch a bit. The way the muscles of the beasts rippled beneath their glistening skin really interested her. It was like they were completely fluid.

"Totally. Let's do it."

"Friday night then, we have Astronomy tonight," Josie reasoned.

"Deal," Marlene's words came out in a thin cloud of condensation.

"Okay class, I know it's Friday afternoon, but just try and concentrate. We're focusing on theory today, looking back on the subjects we've covered in the rest of this week." Professor Slughorn waved his wand and the chalk started scratching the day's notes enthusiastically.

"Ah, poor ole Horace tries his best," Sirius said, leaning over to Josie, and she mm'ed, agreeing. She hadn't really directly talked to him since she saw him snogging Peter's girl, since identified as Aria Whelkes. It wasn't like she was avoiding him; she was just avoiding the topic. At least, that was what Josephine had been telling herself.

She didn't even bother paying attention to the notes, either. Instead, she curled her arms up to support her chin and sat looking at her little Midas drawings walking across the paper. It wasn't quite as close to life as she wanted it, but it was animated. Lily taught her the spell. Josie felt Sirius nudge her, and he handed her a note. Unfolding it, she read. Cool leopards, he had scrawled.

Thanks, she wrote back. No more, no less.

Heard you were planning on getting smashed tonight.

Josephine sighed. Of course, Marlene would have had to get the alcohol from somewhere.

Yeah.

Am I invited? He wrote back immediately. Sirius had an incredibly smug expression at that moment, and Josephine couldn't help but smile a little, no matter how much it made her hate herself. Before she could answer though, there were three knocks on the door, and the whole class turned their heads in unison. Professor McGonagall stood there, black robes sweeping quite elegantly down to the floor.

"I apologize for the disruption, Horace, but the Headmaster would like to see Miss Swire in his office." She made no eye contact with Josie, but nodded in her direction. There were several 'ooo's stifled among the students.

"Of course! Of course, of course," Slughorn bowed slightly in acknowledgement, and waved Josephine off before trying to regain control of his class. James winked at her as she passed his desk, and she followed McGonagall out.

Part of Josephine was glad to be out of double Potions, but part of her was also immensely uneasy about what Dumbledore would have to say. Obviously it would be about the timepiece, but what more could Josephine do to help? McGonagall said nothing on the trip to the Headmaster's office, seemingly put out for some reason. She gave Josephine the password ('Sugar Mouse'), and stalked off. While she was leaving, Josie could almost hear the Professor mutter something about her "not being his bloody secretary", and she smothered a laugh.

This time when she entered Dumbledore's office, he was not alone. Another man stood by his desk, looking unexpectedly ordinary. He wore a leather apron, jeans, working boots, all worn thin, and an exquisite beard. Of a strong build, only Dumbledore's pointed hat made him shorter than the Headmaster. Despite all his intimidating physical representations, he had kind eyes, and reminded Josephine a little bit of Rubeus Hagrid.

"Josephine!" Dumbledore greeted, "May I introduce my good friend, Phillius Temporalis." The man stepped around the desk to take Josie's hand.

"Please, call me Phil. The folks are much more sophisticated than I am," he joked. His large hand swallowed Josephine's, firm and warm. His accent was American.

"Nice to meet you," She said politely.

"Sorry to take you out of classes today," Dumbledore addressed her. "But unfortunately I could just not find another time that suited any better for all three of us!"

"How ironic!" Phil added, and Josephine laughed.

They spent the next twenty minutes setting up a device, which looked vaguely like a spinning top with various wires and outlets. It looked threatening at best. Dumbledore conjured a chair for Josephine to sit on while "Phil" explained that the drawings were extremely helpful in the progression of the invention, but there was no way they could make anything that small yet. The contraption had the same concepts, just with a different outer shell. Dumbledore also added that no one else knew about it except the three of them, while Professor McGonagall had limited knowledge. Eventually Phil stepped back and announced it done, and Dumbledore suggested something that stopped Josephine's heart.

"Would you like to try it out?"