Chapter 25
Monday 1 Nov 1993
Night turned to day and the moon and stars of in the enchanted ceiling gave way to a dull sunrise. Students began to stir and the teachers finally returned, dark circles under their eyes. They waited tiredly as the prefects woke students, gathered up the sleeping bags and pillows, and moved everyone out of the way.
Headmaster Dumbledore tiredly restored the hall to order, vanishing the sleeping bags and pillow. "Good Morning everyone." He said, his soft voice once again carrying across the whole hall. All conversation died when he spoke.
"I trust you had a restful night. Your professors and I have searched and secured the whole castle. We can say with absolute confidence Sirius Black is not here." The room let out a collective sigh of relief at his proclamation.
"Though it is a Monday," He continued. "I think it in the best interest of everyone that I give you today off. With that in mind, please enjoy your breakfast and make the most of today." Food appeared on the tables, and students quickly made for their normal spots.
Headmaster Dumbledore gave a tired nod to the professors as he left. He needed to get out ahead of any mail and speak with Madam Bones, sleep would have to wait a while longer. The professors made their way to the head table, intending to eat quickly and finally get some sleep
James didn't join the students on their way to the tables, but sought out his dad. There was information he needed to be able to relax and enjoy the day.
Remus was easy to find and filled him on without prompting. "James, I'm on my way back to the apartment now. Veronica and Morgan stayed there last night with it locked, warded, and Veronica on watch. They were already there when the hubbub started."
"Good. Good. They were safe last night. Was there any chance they would have crossed his path? Any at all?" James asked falling in step with Remus, just a bit in front of him.
"No, We were fine all the way to the apartment. It wasn't until I got a message from the Headmaster we knew he was here. I found where he entered the building and tried to track from there. It wasn't easy, but his scent was just strong enough for me to track it. He came up from the boat house trailing wet dog was everywhere he went." Remus said in low tones.
"Okay, so he swam into the castle. Why did no one see him?" James asked.
"The ghosts were celebrating Nearly Headless Nick's death day, all the staff and students were at the feast, and the Portraits aren't the most reliable watchers and guardians. If you don't interact with them, they don't really see you." Remus explained.
"Okay, so he got in, came up from some docks? Why does the castle have docks that lead into it?" James asked.
"The first years come across the lake to the docks. He came up from where they land on the first day of classes."
"Okay, so he got in that way. Swam across the lake, slipped into the castles. Shouldn't the door have been locked?" James asked as they turned a corner and began climbing the stairs. Remus huffed a bit trying to keep up with his pace, but made no suggestion to slow down.
"Something that is being investigated." Remus said then cursed. "I just remembered, it might not be anyone's fault. Little known fact about the castle, it has no protection against manually picking a lock. Magical sure, but there are no actual protections against a crafty individual."
"Are you shitting me?" James asked stumbling to a halt.
Remus had the good graces to look embarrassed, but nodded. "Yeah, we learned it one time when we were trying to get into certain places to make a map. It was locked and no spell was working. Sirius took it as a challenge, and at that time he was dating a muggleborn, er first-gener."
"I know what a muggleborn is." James interjected but otherwise let Remus talk.
"Right, so she was into lockpicking and code breaking. Sirius picked it up from her and learned how to do it."
"And you are just remembering this?" James asked exasperated.
"I'd forgotten okay. She died that winter over Winter Break defending her family, at least that was the story. How much she actually did…" Remus shrugged sadly.
"I think we are getting off topic. How is it the castle isn't protected against lockpicking?" James asked.
"One of the basic rules of magic James." Remus said as they turned the corner toward the family apartment.
James thought for a second. "What is made by nature can only be disrupted by magic. What is unmade by nature can only be remade temporarily." He quoted.
"Right. Think about it." Remus said, he could just give the answer, and a part of him wanted too, but he knew it was better for James to figure it out on his own. It would make him a better leader if he could think. The more beastily half of his mind accepted that reason and settled down.
"You can lock a lock, but if someone has the key or picks it it will unlock. If you use an unlocking charm it won't stay unlocked because someone can relock it. If you use a locking charm they can be undone by using the key or a stronger charm." James said after a moment. "But why not charm the keys and lock so someone not using the key is shocked or petrified? Or so that the keyhole is shrunk until the key is there to be used in it?"
"Good questions and suggestions I will bring it up in the future. Yet, the Hogwarts doors are not so charmed. Thus, through a little used entrance he was able to make his way into the school. Sure an unlocking spell will do you no good, and I think enchanted lock picks will trigger a different ward, but plain metal. Don't worry I will tell the headmaster tomorrow. Okay today." Remus said as James continued to glare.
They paused their conversation and knocked on the door. There was no answer. They knocked again and this time Remus called out as he began dispelling the wards.
"Veronica. Morgan. Are you awake, we're coming in now!" He said with James knocking heavily on the door.
"Just a second." Veronica called from the other side of the door. There was the sound of wood on steel, chains moving, and the scraping of metal on metal. A moment later the door opened on a very tired Veronica.
Without a word, she yanked her husband inside. James followed him in. The door slammed just behind him and James turned to find a number of new locks on the doors. They ran the whole length of the door frame, and there was even a thick wooden security bar that had not been there before.
James whistled in appreciation. Remus turned and raised an eyebrow of his own. "Okay, I just did the deadbolt before I left. I guess you decided that wasn't enough?"
"I may have gone a bit overboard, but all you said was Black was in the castle. I figured if he could get in a bit more was warranted." She said taking a seat at the dining room table with the making of a basic breakfast sitting untouched. "I know we think he might not mean you harm James. And yes he ran the other night rather than hang around a pack of werewolves, but that doesn't mean his is innocent."
"You're right, and there is nothing wrong with playing it safe." James said as he and Remus sat down on either side of her and began fixing breakfast muffins. "To be honest I didn't sleep so well last night myself."
"I don't think anyone but Morgan did." Veronica said, taking the muffin Remus passed to her and nibbling at it. "So… Was he here?"
"Yeah, and we think we know how he got in. Dad?" James said. Remus swallowed his current bite and filled Veronica in on everything they had covered up to that point.
"Okay, so we know how he got in, where did he go?" Veronica asked.
"I lost him shortly after he left the Gryffindor tower. The wet dog smell was already getting weaker. He was taking short cuts all over the place, there are only a few ways he could have gotten out of the school though. I wish I still had the map." Remus said wistfully.
"The one of the school right? That tracks everyone in the castle because you found a way to tie it right into the wards." James asked. Remus had mentioned it a time or two before in stories about his school days and James' father. "Wait, if it is tied to the wards and it shows where everyone is, then shouldn't the Headmaster have known where Black was from the wards themselves?"
"You'd think so, if the Hogwarts identification wards was tied to the Headmaster." Remus replied a bit of pride in his voice at delving into the secrets of Hogwarts. "As we learned that particular ward is tied to the Book of Names, a record of all magical born children in the Isle, a relic of Rowena Ravenclaw according to legend."
"And this book is tied to the whole of Britain? That is insane, the amount of power and resources for something like that…" James trialed off trying to conceptualize it.
"Even today, the border enchantments, transport wards around American cities, and other workings aren't that different. This is just an informational enchantment, technically a divination enchantment if you want to split hairs." Remus explained.
"So the Headmaster doesn't know where everyone in the castle is, but you and your friends decided to parasite off an ancient ward to better sneak around Hogwarts and play pranks." Veronica surmised. "Sweet merciful Merlin there is so much wrong with that."
Remus scooted away from his tired and possibly, no definitely, irate wife. "We were teenage boys, I'm pretty sure making stupid decisions is part of the package."
Veronica glared at him a moment more then turned her gaze to James. He shrugged as if to say "what do you expect, he's right," and kept eating.
Conversation stalled as everyone chose to focus on their breakfast rather than debate the wisdom of teenagers. About the time they were finishing, Morgan shuffled in from her room, still clad in her pajamas. She grunted greetings and set into the food.
James stifled a chuckle and wondered if he should get her a coffee. Once she started eating Morgan perked up considerably.
"Jamie, Daddy, isn't it Monday?" She asked her spoonful of applesauce stopping inches from her mouth.
"Yes Morgan." Remus replied.
"Oh, then why are we eating breakfast here instead of with everyone else?" Morgan asked then shoved the food in her mouth.
"Something happened last night, remember how I had to leave?"
"Not really… I fell asleep at dinner didn't I?" She asked with a blush.
"You did. Things happened after that and now we have the day off." Remus said.
"Yep." James confirmed.
"Oh. Okay." Morgan said cheerily. "So what are we going to do? Can we play outside?"
"Maybe, but James and I have something else we need to do, then I am going to go to bed. I was up very late last night."
Morgan pouted, turing her eyes on Veronica when Remus seemed unmoved.
"If you get all your work done today, then yes we'll play outside." She said, once again proving her immunity to puppy dog eyes.
"Phooey." Morgan said, disappointedly dropping her spoon into the applesauce.
"By the time you get your work done, I might be done resting and will join you." Remus offered. Morgan accepted this and was out of her foul mood as quickly as she fell in. "But right now, James, let's go and see if you can sniff out the answer to our earlier question."
James needed a second, but caught on to what Remus was saying and stood. Together they walked out and headed for the entrance to the Gryffindor Common room. 'Let's see if my nose is as good as I think it is.'
Late morning found James and Remus stopped in front of a statue of a one-eyed witch. They'd reached it quickly after finding the scent had settled thickly around a mirror on the fourth floor. Remus revealed the mirror was a secret passage out of the school as they ran to the statue. They'd rushed past a few others, only for the scent to have passed them by, before stopping at the witch.
"Dad? This is another passage out of the school, right?" James asked when they came to a stop.
"Yes."
"And these aren't warded or blocked or under watch because…"
"Because we are idiots." Remus said while facepalming. "I'll bring it up with Dumbledore. I know the staff knew about a few of these. Probably not this one. It was a favorite of ours back then for that very reason."
"And you didn't check it last night?"
"I did, I didn't get any of the wet dog smell but I gave it a quick check anyway. It seemed heavily used so I took a chance and rushed down to the end, but there was no sign of him."
"Well he was definitely here, and I am not getting any of his scent anywhere but the way we came. I'm picking up another one though." James said pacing back and forth before the statue. "Where does it lead anyway?"
"Honeydukes, so right under the wards. It would be suicide to Apparate into the passage, but going the other way…" Remus let out a sign.
"You think that's what he did?"
"Almost certain. What is the other scent you are getting?" Remus asked.
"Just a second. I know this scent. It's a pretty strong, like someone used this just a few hours ago." James said trying to suss out who he was smelling. It was familiar, but he couldn't quite pin it down. It almost seemed like two scents. Two scents super similar to each other!
"I think it might be the Weasley Twins."
"Hmm. Fred and George?" Remus asked. James shrugged and Remus thought it over.
"Well, let's see what is on the other side." Remus said staring at the witch in her missing eye. He placed his wand on the witch which started to open without a word.
"That's not right." Remus said dropping into a ready stance. James drew his own wand before they came face to face with a stunned Fred and George. Their arms were laden down with bags and several more floated along behind them. Remus summoned the floating bags to himself and turned a questioning gaze on the pair.
"Professor, we promise this isn't what it looks like." They said in unison.
"Oh, and what does it look like?" James asked as he stowed his wand.
"Nothing! It looks like nothing." The left one said.
"Exactly. Now if you don't mind closing the statue and pretending we were never here?" The other asked hopefully.
"I think not. Since you told me this isn't what it looks like, and then you told me it looks like nothing I am going to have to confiscate all of these items to check for contraband and try to figure out just what this actually is." Remus said shrinking the bags he already had and moving them into a robe pocket.
The twins reluctantly handed over the other bags which Remus shrank and added to his haul. "Alright pockets too." The twins grimaced and started turning out their pockets. They were giving each other angry looks and muttering under their breath.
James wasn't sure what they were talking about, but the phrase "I thought you checked it!" came up more than once. He noticed Remus' eyes light up when they got down to the last few things in their pockets. A few beaten quills and a tattered piece of parchment.
They held them as if expecting Remus to ignore the last few items. They began squawking when Remus took the parchment and quills too.
"Really Professor!"
"Our Parchment"
"And our quills?" They said with pouting faces and big eyes.
Remus was having none of it as he slipped the items into his pocket. "I am very disappointed in you two." He began sternly. "Not twenty-four hours after the castle is invaded by a suspected mass murderer and you go sneaking through secret passages in and out of the castle. What if Black was in there? What if this was how he got in?" Remus asked.
Their eyes went wide for a moment then hardened. "Not a chance. No one knows about this passage besides us." The left one said. Remus' left not their own.
"Well, I guess except for you." The other said.
"And do you know who else knows? Black does. It is entirely possible this was how he escaped." Remus said harshly. Fred and George winced. Remus continued talking, his voice softening. "You boys do have a bit of talent for trouble making, usually in good taste." James snorted. "But you are far from the first pranksters to roam these halls and you won't be the last. Head back to your dorm rooms. Report to me tomorrow and the rest of this week for detention."
The twins began to protest but Remus shot them down quickly. "I am being nice and not taking house points. I should be dragging you up before the Headmaster for this, but instead I will be sealing this passage and conficating everything you had. Anything I deem to be safe will be returned to you in detention."
The pair hung their heads and walked off. Once they were out of the opening to the passage Remus set a sticking charm and waited for the passage to close. He then put up a few detections charms around the base of the statue to warn him if anyone crossed them. They wouldn't last long, but long enough to work with the other Professors and set up a more permanent ward.
"So… You even took their quills and parchment?" James said once Remus was done.
"They'll get most of this back. I'll give them a good talking to first though. Of all the irresponsible things to do." Remus said with nostalgic smile. "It reminds me of my own school days."
"Most, but not all?"
Remus pulled himself back to the present. "Not all, watch this." He said pulling out the raggedy parchment and placed his wand on it. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
The parchment began to fill with ink. In seconds a map of the castle was writ across it. "Look here and see the greatest achievement of Messrs Prongs, Moony, Wormtail and Padfoot." Remus said point at their current spot on the map. James saw a two pairs of feet. One labeled Remus Lupin and the other James Lupin. Next to them the existence of the secret passage was in black and white the password floating next to it.
"Now what?" James asked with a yawn.
"Bed time." Remus answered with a yawn of his own. "I'll keep an eye on the map. Maybe I can make a copy or two now that I have it, but that will be a job for another day."
"Okay, see you at dinner." James said. They hugged and separated. James back to the dorm rooms and Remus to the apartment.
XxX
The Gryffindor Common room was ripe with anticipation and anxiety. After breakfast, Professor McGonagall led them all up to meet their new door guard, Sir Cadogan, whose portrait would act in place of the Fat Lady until she could be repaired. Already Katie knew it was going to be a long wait no matter how quickly the Fat Lady was returned.
"What kind of password is: The knight's blade shines brightest just before the dawn anyway?" She asked Alicia and Angelina.
"A damn long one. Isn't Sir Cadogan the crazy painting that challenges any firstie asking him directions to a duel, then gives them bad directions?" Alicia asked.
"You know, I think you're right. Are we going to have to deal with that too?" Angelina said, glancing towards the door.
"Merlin I hope not, let's talk about something else." Alicia said, smirking as she turned towards Katie.
"Oh no, I got enough of that last night!" Katie protested.
"Oh, whatever do you mean. Is there something you want to tell us? I was just going to talk about the absolute thrashing the Tornades took yesterday from Puddlemere." Alicia said with a smug grin as she pulled out the sports page of the Daily Prophet with its headline quidditch game on display.
"Why, what did you get enough of last night Katie?" Angelina asked smirking wickedly.
"Nothing!" Katie said quickly and took the paper. "And this just isn't Tutshill's year. They will be better next year for sure. At least we aren't the Cannons." Katie said. Angelina and Alicia shared a quick smirk but were more than happy to talk quidditch for now. They'd get more information if they waited for the Twins to get back with the butterbeer and firewhiskey anyway.
Lee burst into the room, leaving the portal open behind him. "Here they come!" He announced for the Twin, throwing his arms up to wave them in like heroes. The heroes that came through the door were very downtrodden. They hung their heads low and were without their usual energy. It was Percy who spoke first.
"What happened to you two this time?" He asked. There wasn't much brotherly love and concern in his voice. It was a more tired, scolding sound to the occupants of the room.
The pair grimaced and turned to him. "Well, dearest brother your dreams have come true."
"A teacher caught us with our means of merriment,"
"And have taken everything but the clothes on our backs,"
"the wands in our pockets,"
"And the breath in our lungs." They lamented before throwing themselves into a loveseat near the fire. Ignoring the cries of indignation from Percy whom they fell upon.
"Everything! Blimey, you musta run into a real git of a professor." Ron said from his corner with Dean and Seamus.
"That's the worst part."
"It was one of the decent professors."
"Sure his kid is a piece of work,"
"But we actually liked Professor Lupin."
"Then next thing you know its Black could be using this passage."
"And turn out your pockets."
"And yes indeed I'm taking your quills and parchment." They said, weaving their tale of woe.
"So, to summarize. You were sneaking out of school, using a secret passage, right after a mass murderer sneaks in and out, and were caught in the act." Percy said, having finally forced them off him.
"Well when you put it like that-" Whatever else they were going to say was stopped when Oliver smacked them both upside the head.
"Did you two take a bludger wrong?" He asked continuing to smack the two of them.
"Ow. Ow. Hey! Stop it!" Fred and George complained trying to ward off his hands.
"Do you have any idea how hard it would be to replace you two if something happened. Don't tell me he suspended you from playing!" Wood said, drawing a faint giggling from the crowd. If there was one thing they could count on it was the quidditch obsessed team captain.
"No, just detention!" Fred said having scrambled away from the loving blows of Wood.
"Wait? Just detention. Not points?" Sara asked from her spot by the windows with Lavender and Parvati.
"And your complaining?" Percy asked. "He should have taken one-hundred each. I should take points." The entire room started to boo at him. Someone called from tar and feathers. It sounded a lot like Ron.
"Merlin! I said should not would everyone. They already got caught by someone else." Percy said calming the room. "Count yourselves lucky. I'll go see if I can't get something arranged for us by Professor McGonagall instead. And a word to the wise, let's not spread this story around too much." He said, stepping up to leave the room, his eyes lingering on certain his departure, the room returned to its cliques as they waited to see what he would get from Professor McGonagall.
Percy returned with Professor McGonagall an hour later. Under her watchful, but tired eye, a feast of food and McGonagall approved drinks appeared. She stayed for but a moment then was gone. The afternoon burned away in a far more festive mood than the past morning and night. Soon the sun began to sink low and Katie slipped out for a planned rendezvous. She was pulled up short when Sara and a few of the second years joined her.
"Umm, what are you doing?" She asked when she saw them behind her in the hallway.
"We are going to the tutoring session. Helga invited us." Aanaya said, lifting her shoulder bag with a shrug.
"Helga?"
"Our classmate in Transfiguration. She's a Hufflepuff." Colin explained.
"Oh. What about you, Sara?" Katie asked. She could deal with the second years. Students wanting to learn was something she could accept, it would just be a few more on that side of the room. Sara joining was weird.
"You really think I was gonna miss out on this after last night's talk?" Sara asked with a chuckle. "I'm going to see this. I want to know why your hair is always messed up when you come back. He's not your boyfriend so it shouldn't be a problem right?"
Katie was frustrated at Sara's smug tone but knew trying to stop her would only lead to more and more teasing about it. "Fine, but if James complains it's on you." She said before addressing the larger group. "Alright, let's go."
XxX
James arrived early to the History classroom to get all his work with Professor Binns done first thing. Today was discussing the most recent books Professor Binns had read from the reading list they put together using James' own experience, a bit of library time, Madam Marchbanks recommendations, and a check of the MCUSA Department of Education recommended readings they'd sent a letter to the ambassador for. They talked about where anything was valid, should be assigned, or if the writers were off base.
For the most part, it was James offering his two cents and letting Professor Binns decide. The Hufflepuff second years were the first group to arrive.
"Hey James!" Stephan said by way of greeting.
"Hey Stephan, everyone. So what do you need help with today?" James asked. He was pretty sure they already had the essays done.
"We were hoping you could help us with our practical transfigurations." Helga said nervously, not quite willing to meet his eyes.
"Umm," James mumbled thinking about it when a pair of Ravenclaw arrived. It was Luna with Lewis half hidden behind her. He still wasn't comfortable around James even though they'd been coming to the sessions for a week now.
"Hello James," Luna said, skipping into the room. "Did they already ask you to help us turn rodents into alarm clocks?"
"Yes, they were just asking that when you arrived. Lewis, good to see you again. Do both of you have all your essays done?"
"Ye-Yeah," Lewis said. "Of course."
"Cool. I guess we can do that while I wait for Katie. Did anyone bring any rodents?"
"I did!" Lizzie McDonna said pulling out a cage from within her robes. Six mice scurried about on top of one another within. Tightly packed.
"Okay. Let's get set up over here." James said pulling out a notebook and ripping a few sheets out of it. He placed them at the edges of six desks and transfigured them into tiny fences to keep the mice from escaping. "Put one mouse on each desk."
As they were getting the mice in place, the Gryffindors arrived. Katie came in first, the second years followed, and Sara slipped in last, trying to go unnoticed.
"Hey James, sorry I'm late I picked up some hangers on this time." Katie said a bit guiltily. James looked up and sighed.
"Great more people." He muttered and sent a pleading look at Professor Binns who always stayed to watch over the sessions even when there was nothing more to be done for James' detention.
"Aanaya, Colin you made it!" Helga called out to them. "Over here!" She said waving them to the desk they were gathered around.
James glared at Helga. "Why are they here?" Helga blushed and mumbled an answer. "What?"
"I said: They wanted help after seeing my essay scores." Helga said softly.
James ran a hand down his face and glanced at the newest arrivals. The Gryffindor second years were standing halfway to the desks and halfway to the door.
"I really don't think I can handle more people Helga." James said with a sigh.
"Please. Please. Please. Please." Helga chanted, her eyes bright and hopeful the tiniest bit of tears that would flow if she was denied already in place at the edges of her eyes. James was sure it was a charm of some kind. No twelve-year-olds should be able to pull that off. Hell, Morgan was already too old to pull it off.
Katie and Sara giggled at the scene, careful to turn around to hide their chuckles. Professor Binns floated up and places a hand through James' shoulder causing him to shudder.
"I think, at least for today you are going to have to let them stay. Though I think in the future we might need to move to a different room if you are going to continue on like this." He said looking at the students. "I might not be able to do magic, but I can help them get started and listen as they review what they are supposed to do if you want to go speak to Miss Bell and Miss Casper first."
"Okay." James said. Professor Binns herded the second years together and had them start telling him about what they were attempting while James went over to Katie. "Hey Katie. Sara."
"Hey."
"Hey James. Don't mind me, I just wanted to see what Katie was getting up to. She didn't even tell us about this until last night. Can you believe that? It is almost like she wanted to keep you to herself or something." Sara said with a lecherous grin. James just glanced back at the hordes of second years taking up most of the room and then at Sara. Her smirk fell a bit. "Okay, so she has a bit of competition."
"For Circe sake, Sara. You came, you saw, and now you can leave." Katie said, turning to push her friend out of the room.
"So you didn't tell anyone about this?" James asked her as he joined her in ejecting Sara from the room.
"No, because I knew they would pull a stunt like this."
"Hey, I'm hurt. Look at what four years as roommates gets you. Tossed when the first cute boy comes along." Sara lamented. James blushed and Katie opened the door to throw Sara out. Instead, Flora came walking in with a few younger Slytherins in tow.
"What now! You too?" James yelled, causing them to flinch back. Sara took the opportunity and slipped away from Katie.
"Hey Flora!" She said, then had to dance out of the way of Katie's jinx.
James closed the door on the Slytherins and started walking away. The door flew back open and Flora strode in. "Looks like the tutoring session has already started. Why don't you go join it." She said to those accompanying her.
"Alright, can I expect anyone else to show up." James asked to no one in particular. He looked at the room and felt overwhelmed. The second years were all jostling around, now arguing about the inclusion of the Slytherins and the Gryffindors together. Katie, Sara, and Flora were over in a corner arguing. Professor Binns was looking a bit overwhelmed and James wasn't sure where to start. He had half a mind to bounce, take a lap down the hallway, then come back to restart it. Perhaps by throwing most of the people out.
"Relax James. This is proof you are a fine leader and teacher. Both things one in your position should aspire to. Here you have fine clay to mold and shape. Take a deep breath, center yourself, and seize the challenges before you. Lest the Wrackspurts win." Luna said patting him on the back.
James gave her a questioning look and sighed. She'd been right time and again with these little hints. How she knew what she knew he didn't know. "Okay Luna."
James shook off his stress, then cracked his hands. "Alright everyone." He called. The assembled teens stopped and focused on him. "Here how this is going to go down. First off, for the newcomers to these sessions, do you have all your essays done for Transfigurations and History?"
"Since they are due tomorrow, I should hope so." One of the Slytherin boys said.
"But do you?" James asked again. A moment later a few of the Gryffindors and Slytherins admitted that no, it wasn't done yet since they'd planned to just cram it before class and were going to do it tomorrow. "Okay, first things first. Second years, you guys get them through their essays, same rules as always. And check over the new people's that claim it's done if they brought it with them."
The Hufflepuffs sighed, looking at the mice and back to him. James stayed firm on the essays first rule. This way was easier on his attention too, and Professor Binns gave him a nod from behind the students letting him know it was the right choice. He left them to their devices and turned his attention to the fourth years.
Katie, Flora, and Sara had claimed a trio of desks in the back and were leaning against them watching him.
"Well done. For a second, I thought we had you overwhelmed." Flora complimented reluctantly.
"Yeah well you don't, but you do have me curious, why are you two still here? Katie why are they still here?" James asked.
"They've insisted on staying." Katie said apologetically.
"Fine, whatever. Then you can go help the second years." James said pointing with his thumb over his shoulder.
"But we want to watch you and Katie." Sara said while Flora pursed her lips disappointedly.
"Then beat me in a duel or find something to make it worth my time. Lessons for people that earn it only. The second year tutor session started that way and I am going to be having a talk with them once this is over about what I'm owed. It won't be free for them, trust me." James tacked on when he saw Flora start to speak, her finger pointed at the study group.
"Fine." Sara said. She started over to help the study group but stopped when Flora spoke.
"Okay, I'll duel you, and when I win you'll teach me and owe me one other favor." She said a determined glint in her eyes. Katie couldn't hold back a guffaw.
"Then that will be two favors you owe me when I win. Deal?" James asked holding out his hand.
"Deal." Flora said shaking his hand. Katie just shook her head and sighed.
"I'm not getting a lesson tonight am I?"
"Probably not, honestly you just need practice applying what I've already taught you. I have something in mind if you don't get it tonight though. Alright Flora, let's see if we can do this here and now." James said, walking up to Professor Binns.
They exchanged a few quick words and the second years slowly stopped what they were doing to pay attention to what was happening in from of them.
"Your attention please." Professor Binns said, drawing in the few that weren't yet focused on the unfolding events. "Tonight it seems we will be having a quick duel. So it remains educational, who can tell me a bit about the history of dueling or about a famous duel?"
"There was Dumbledore's duel with Grindelwald!"
"Merlin and Morgana!"
"Godric Gryffindor and Jarl Habstfar!"
"Excellent examples of famous duels, and ones that wrote the course of history. But what about the history of dueling?" Professor Binns asked.
It was a Slytherin that spoke up. "Duels have been ways for witches and wizards, mostly wizards, to settle grievances in the past. There is no real start or 'first duel,' but the European Dueling League was established in the seventeen hundreds and it grew into a world dueling league after the Great Wizards War. At one time they tended to be fought to the death, but that is now illegal."
"Well said, and for the most part correct. However, dueling has always had a competitive component. The advantage of magic, we need not kill one another to establish a superiority. Dueling has been used to settle feuds or test skills for ages. Tonight, Mister Lupin and Miss Carrow will be dueling today for favors." Professor Binns said. The second years looked at the pair excitedly. "Now if you would please move your things and selves to the back of the room."
There was some scraping and excited chatter as everyone moved for the duel. James and Flora stood apart at the front of the room. Flora's side was clean and she stood stiffly waiting for the start. James' side was a mess with bits of trash and debris. As everyone waited for the duel to start, James continued to throw stuff on the floor as he dug through his pockets.
Flora was in a traditional witches robe, as one would expect from a pureblood in Slytherin. Opposite her, James was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Professor Binns returned to the front and looked between the two combatants.
"Are you two ready?" He asked. Flora nodded, frowning at the mess James was creating. James stretched for a moment then changed. Gone was he easy relaxed stance. Now he was ready. His hands at the ready, one filled with a wand. One foot forward with his knees bent. His whole body was like a coiled spring.
"Ready." He said.
"This is a duel to incapacitation. Anyone casting a permanently harmful or fatal spell will forfeit the match and may face expulsion from Hogwarts. Stick to safe spells. Understood?" Professor Binns asked.
"Understood." They replied, ready for the duel.
Professor Binns looked between the two then raised his hand. "In that case, begin!" He announced and slipped back into the crowd.
"Impedimenta!" Flora cried flicking her wand at James. James turned his body away keeping his wand forward, letting the spell fly by. Silently he waved his own wand and sent a spell at Flora.
She shielded and fired back. "Porrauis"
James threw a piece of the trash at his feet in the way and continued his work. The trash sprouted leeks and the crowd cheered. Flora kept throwing spells James way and he continued to dodge or block them. Each spell was announced quite loudly so he had no problem knowing what was coming. Still he wasn't perfect.
He quickly found himself with leeks growing out his ears, out of control hair growth happening, held back by a quickly transfigured hair band, and overly large front teeth he'd had to cast the counter-jinx for. Still, it was about time for the plan to come together.
Suddenly Flora shrieked and started slapping at her legs. Made more difficult when one of her robe sleeves changed from cloth to wood. James smirked, glad the fire ants he created finally arrived, and used the break in combat to finish his plan. It was his first time trying this kind of thing, but he was pretty sure it would work. He pulled the different parts together and a stone cat raced towards Flora. Then he added the final twist.
Flora had just cleared the misshapen ants from her legs when the very much alive cat hit her. It clung to her wand hand and sunk in. Flora shrieked in pain. James took the opening. A quick leg locker and Flora was tumbling, still unable to cast thanks to the cat. She tried to pull it off, but it just sunk in deeper.
"Get off me!" She said through clenched teeth. James moved closer and cast a final petrification hex on her. Flora froze under its influence. A second later the cat let go. It took a step towards James before turning to stone and them crumbling into the things that had made it.
"Mister Lupin is the winner." Professor Binns announced. The students cheered and James lifted his spells from Flora. She pushed herself off the floor and cradled her hurt wrist close against her chest.
"Let me look at that. I can at least cast a basic first-aid charm." He offered.
"I can do it myself." Flora argued turning away from him. "So what will my favors to you be?"
"I don't know." James said with a smile. "I think half the fun will be leaving you to wonder the what and when." Flora scowled but accepted his response.
"Fine. when you figure it out let me know." She said. Flora pushed her way through the thong of second years approaching to talk to James and found herself stopped by several of them who were coming up to talk to her instead of him.
Once she finally worked her way free, having taken a moment in all the questions and prodding to cast a quick episkey with her offhand on her wand arm, She made for Sara and Katie.
"I thought my three ties in a row was a hint he was good." Katie said as Flora sat down near them. As the trio of fourth year females began to debate the duel and James' skills. After he got rid of the remaining effects of Flora's jinxes, James got busy settling the second years and getting them to work, .
A/N: So here we get among other things our first introduction to my take on magic. The impermanence of anything worked just by spell. Of course things like death, and other serious medical conditions tend to be more permanent, but without wards and runes creations and spells will tend to dissipate as the natural forces of the universe work against them.
Otherwise thanks for the reviews, let me know if I screwed up somewhere and have a wonderful week. Until the next chapter
-Pentel out
Bonus: Now over 100,000 woohoo!
Updated 6 Jan 2019