Chapter Twenty-Five

Not Quite Synchronous

Severus woke up early the morning before term resumed and buried himself into the daunting task of planning his next board meeting and to work out the Olympic event schedules. In fact, he was so absorbed with those daunting tasks that Jennifer was having a very hard time trying to get him on the subject of Quintin. Finally he sighed and adjusted his spectacles, looking up at her.

"I rather think the solution is quite obvious, although it will be rough on everyone affected by it," Severus said. "We will have to take him off his daily schedule."

"What? Have you gone completely mad? You know how he gets when someone breaks up his routine, Severus!" Jennifer said.

"Yes, which is why we need to start now before it gets worse," Severus said. "Do you happen to have your supply estimates for the potion lab so I can add it to the budget report for the governor's board?"

"I'll go get it," Jennifer said reluctantly, stepping through the curtain.

A few minutes later, there was a quick knock on the open doors and Hermione strode in.

"I'm back," she announced, walking up to the desk.

"So I see," Severus answered, shifting some papers to her side so she could peruse them.

"I take it that it's been quiet since I didn't get any Owls. Any trouble with the gargoyles?" she asked.

"No, they settled down just after Christmas. Not one seen out of place nor were there any strange movements, although I'm sure you noticed that my door guard hasn't returned," Severus said.

"Interesting. The fact that it was quiet over the holiday probably means that whoever is behind this left the property," Hermione mused.

"No, it is more likely that whoever was instigating the gargoyles to respond at all had left the property," Severus said calmly. Hermione gazed at him thoughtfully.

"Abraxus left late Christmas Eve, didn't he?" Hermione asked.

"So did a very many other people," Severus reminded her. "And as you recall, Jennifer questioned Abraxus herself to make certain he had nothing to do with that dragon or lake incident."

"Yes, but just because we know he didn't that doesn't mean others know or even believe it," Hermione pointed out. "Someone still might suspect him. Maybe if we had some idea what the true motive behind these attacks are it would help. We're only guessing that it's someone attempting to undermine our security. We don't know if our guesses are right or not."

"Perhaps we'll get more clues now that we're hosting so many events inside the castle in the next couple of months," Severus suggested.

"About that," Hermione began with a sigh, tapping the paper with the events in front of them. "A few of the professors with major subjects are concerned on how many events we have packed for the end, considering that their reviews will probably overlap the last week or two. "

"I was just noticing that myself, actually. We had it arranged so that certain events would take place in warmer months, but with the modifications to the Quidditch Pitch for the winter festival, we could theoretically double up on some of these during the weekends and thin it out a bit. Have we already sold tickets to the rest of the field and team events?" Severus asked.

"No, we've only sold tickets for the winter events scheduled for January," Hermione replied.

"Good, then let's get what we can moved up. How were the mark averages for the first half of the year?" Severus asked.

"Well, they are a tad lower than normal… assignments are coming in a bit rushed and some of them are distracted during tests, but I from what I've heard and observed myself, they are making an effort to keep up," Hermione said carefully.

"All the more reason to move up what events we can," Severus reasoned. "Besides, I'm also not blind to the fact that my staff has been far stretched with everything going on. The sooner this thing is over the better. Do you happen to have the fundraiser total for the first half?"

"I can have it to you before classes in the morning," Hermione promised, but then paused. "Are you going to report the full total to the board?" Severus blinked at that.

"That was my intention. Why wouldn't I?" Severus asked.

"Well, I suppose you'll have to ask yourself that when you see the totals are," Hermione decided with a smug look. "I had better write something up about the schedule changes to put on the bulletin boards in the house rooms and at the Pavilions and then touch base with the staff… but I think I'll let you be the one to tell Jennifer she's going to have to double up on some of her security staff," she added, making herself scarce.

Severus grimaced at that, wondering if there was a way to soften the blow. Then he shrugged. After all, it was a school matter, he reminded himself. But she was not likely to be happy about it.

Leu arrived at breakfast to find Noah already waiting for him.

"And just where have you been? I was expecting to see you last night at least," Leu complained.

"I've been spending some time with the other ghosts," Noah explained. "I really didn't have anything better to do with you gone all holiday."

"I did try to come see you, but nobody would let me in the castle by myself. You know what security has been like," Leu said.

"Yes, I do, really. Did you get all of your homework done?" he asked.

"Ages ago," Leu said. "Did you hear they might be moving a lot of the track and some of the team games up?"

"They are. Professor Ravenclaw told me that the Headmaster wanted to lighten the schedule before the test crunch and had Professor Weasley reschedule them," Noah confirmed.

"I wonder how badly that's going to affect all the Owls signed up to assist," Leu murmured. "I suppose I best go over there at lunch. I have a feeling that volunteer chart of ours is a bit of a mess right now."

By the time Leu arrived in the Owl Room, several of the others were already there. Hope and Jessica were leaning over a Go board, a black stone hovering in air as its owner decided where to go. Many of the others were staring at the chart, including Mike and Kim. In fact, Kim looked like she was about to pull her hair out.

"I can't do it, I just can't. No matter how many ways I look at it, I'm going to have to drop out of sparring if I'm going to make all of the team games," Kim said at last.

"It isn't as if Craw didn't have sparring in the bag anyway," Jessica shrugged.

"Bite your tongue! I'm still in it too, you know," Hope said indignantly.

"Have there been many conflicts?" Leu asked, walking over to the chart and flipping over some pages.

"A few when it comes to the team events," Hope said. "Natalie is going to miss the next Quidditch game so she can compete in the familiar finals."

"I don't blame her for doing that, she's the only non-flyer left in the competition," Leu said. "What about with assisting games?"

"I can't assist with wizard skiing for sure," Kim sighed. "And I think Paula was supposed to assist with football but said she can't."

"She's going to compete in Wizard Go with us," Jessica said. "Scribe hinted she might give a few bonus points to some of us beginners for competing and believe me, she needs the extra points in history this year."

"I was going to assist Go and Chess, but neither of those are going to happen now with the footrace scheduled for February. I don't have much time left," Mike said grimly.

"I could probably pick one of those up. I don't have to assist again until late spring," Leu said. "I think I'll do Chess, it's safer. I'm still not sure I understand all the rules in the other game."

"It isn't the rules that get complicated, it is all the different combinations that can happen when you're playing it," Jessica said, her stone dropping into place on the grid. "Maybe you could talk Maurice into it, Mike. He seemed to follow it quite well, but didn't have much interest in playing."

"He might if it doesn't conflict with sparring," Mike decided with a nod, and then began pouring over the chart again, following names with his finger.

Librarian Boulderdash came in from his office, glancing at the students at the board before climbing up on the stool at his tome repair desk with a sound that was more of a groan than a sigh.

"I'm glad to see you're all actively making adjustments to the schedule," he said.

"If we're any example, there will be a fair few," Kim said. "I for one am going to be kept quite busy."

"Oh, you're far from the only one," Boulderdash snarled. "I have been volunteered against my will to help with security over the next three months." Leu looked up.

"What do you mean by 'volunteered against your will?'" Leu asked.

"Your mother has a talent for that," Boulderdash grumbled with irritation. "She called several of the faculty and one or two school friends for a 'friendly' lunch, and systematically began handing us security duties for the remaining winter months. I may as well have been a lower officer in a bank board meeting. Regardless of the tactics, it does mean you may be seeing less of me short of school hours and scheduled library times, so if you need to speak with me about something, don't be surprised if you have to schedule an appointment."

"Sounds like everyone is going to be busy," Kim said sympathetically, taking a seat.

The door opened and Helena hurried in, closing it quickly behind her.

"You all right? You look a bit out of breath," Mike asked with concern.

"Oh… your brother again. He was following me," Helena explained. "I suppose I'll eat lunch in here today," she added, grabbing a sandwich.

"Why is he bothering you this time?" Mike frowned.

"Well, mainly it's because he wasn't happy when I returned his Christmas gift to him so he has been pestering me about it since we got back," Helena said.

"What did he get you?" Kim asked with interest.

"A rather expensive necklace, actually."

"What? I would have kept it and hocked it," Hope grinned.

"Keeping it would have given him the wrong ideas, and Don already has great difficulty taking 'no' for an answer," Helena explained.

"Probably because it's a word he's never heard before," Hope snorted. Mike sighed. "No offense, Mike."

"When you're right, you're right," Mike shrugged, grabbing a sandwich as well. "Anyway, you might want to check the schedule. There have been quite a few changes, you know."

"Well, if anyone needs someone to cover and it's an hour that I have time free, let me know. I'll gladly pick it up," Helena said, glancing at it.

"And just when are you going to study?" Mike challenged her.

"In here or in my room after dinner, assuming I don't have hall duty," Helena said unconcernedly. "You'd better finish eating, we have class in a bit."

"Fine, but I hope you have enough sense to come to me if my brother keeps pestering you," Mike said.

"I'm a Slytherin prefect, Mike, I can handle it, thank you," Helena said indignantly before turning to her lunch. She ignored Mike's concerned frown, more than a little irritated that he wasn't so convinced. Besides, she really didn't want to give the two of them any more reason to butt heads.

After lunch, Leu and Keir walked to Transfiguration, then after a rather tedious class on liquids, Noah and Leu began the long walk out to the greenhouses for Herbology.

"I hope you're not going to pick up all that many events to assist, Leu," Noah said as they walked down the corridor. "It'd be nice to actually attend some, and besides, you've got Wizard Hurling, anyway. That's enough of a time commitment."

"Not really, we only have to play everyone once, then winners play off. But I admit I'd like to go to more events. When's Dressage?" Leu asked.

"Not until March, but I'll have to practice nearly every day until then. Still, most of the time I'll be practicing just before dinner, and most of the events are after. How about Chaser Ball tonight?" Noah pressed.

"Maybe. I'll have to check with Corey first to see if he needs help," Leu said. Noah gave him a dirty look, but didn't say anything as they stepped out onto the back grounds.

Leu paid attention to his footing, knowing that lately even the paths didn't seem to be completely safe; uneven ground and piles of random dirt that often appeared overnight.

"Quite a mess today, isn't it? The Elf Willow must have been really restless last night. It even got a part of Madame Willowby's outside garden," Leu observed.

"Well, he seems rather subdued now…. Leu, look!" Noah suddenly gasped, and Leu looked over at the tree. The tree's branches seemed slightly gathered and crouched over, shading a baby who was too busy banging a copper alarm clock on the ground to notice anything else.

"Quintin! What is he doing out here?" Leu exclaimed in surprise, hurrying towards the tree.

"Maybe Mrs. Tinker came down to talk to Professor Willowby during her conference and he wandered off," Noah suggested.

"You'd better run to the classroom and get them. I'll try to get to Quintin," Leu said.

"Right," Noah said and hurried off while Leu stumbled over the dirt piles across the grounds.

Leu carefully walked over, the Elf Willow lifting his branches curiously as Leu approached.

"What are you doing out here, Quintin?" Leu asked with exasperation.

"Bad tock-tock," Quintin explained unconcernedly.

"Well, it isn't all that much better with you hitting it on the ground like that," Leu sighed, and stepped over to pick him up. But apparently in so doing he startled the tree, which immediately lowered its branches again and swatted him hard across the stomach, landing him flat on his back and out of reach. "That was totally uncalled for! I'm only trying to help," he gasped and slowly sat up, trying to get his wind back.

It was then that he happened to notice an odd shadow and looked up, immediately focusing in on a very large gargoyle that was clinging to the side of the castle, watching him. It was a gargoyle like none he had ever seen before around the castle. It was tall like a door guard and its wings were the same, but the shape was of a man, perhaps with a beard, and its hands and feet were almost human-like, with only the tips of the fingers extending like talons. The gargoyle met Leu's gaze steadily, and there was a look in its faceted, kaleidoscope eyes that had an intelligence that Leu never noticed in any of the other gargoyles before.

"Leu! Come back out of the way!" Rose ordered as she ran over to them with Ashley and Noah right behind her.

"Quintin, you naughty boy! My goodness, you certainly move fast when you have a mind!" Ashley scolded, picking him up. "And where on earth did you get that clock?"

"It isn't mine. It looks like someone's night stand alarm clock," Rose said, taking the clock. "A bit dented now, though."

"Look! Look up there!" Leu said, but when he pointed to where the gargoyle was, he realized it was no longer in sight.

"What is it, Leu?" Rose asked, stepping away from the tree and looking over to where he was pointing curiously.

"There was a gargoyle… a very different one. Completely different… and it was watching me… no… I think it was watching Quintin," Leu blurted out.

"I'll go take a look," Noah volunteered, floating up in the direction Leu had pointed and fading from view.

"How was it completely different?" Rose asked.

"It was half-man, half-gargoyle. Or maybe it was half-statue half-gargoyle… oh, I don't know. I just know I haven't seen anything like it in the castle," Leu insisted.

"Do you mean it was like an angel statue?" Ashley asked.

"No, not really, more gargoylish than that, and definitely not refined in any stretch of the imagination. It seemed rather warped somehow, really," Leu explained. Ashley and Rose stared at one another.

"Good afternoon, everyone," came the voice of Icarus, and he and Noah appeared a moment later. "I found this one haunting the outside of the castle instead of going to class. Something about a strange gargoyle lurking about?"

"You didn't find it, then?" Leu asked Noah.

"No, I saw nothing odd at all until Professor Ravenclaw found me," Noah said. Ick squinted at him.

"I'm not quite sure I like how you worded that," Icarus said.

"Well, we certainly can't dismiss the citing. At the very least, I should go up and tell Professor Weasley about it. Perhaps she will recognize the gargoyle Leu described," Rose said.

"I will watch your class for you, then," Icarus volunteered.

"And I had better go relieve Danyelle in the daycare room and get this little monster back there before he gets into any more trouble," Ashley said with exasperation, carrying Quintin inside.

"Come, Leu and Noah, let's be off to class… watch the dirt, now," Icarus said, floating towards the greenhouses.

"Isn't anyone else in the least bit concerned that that thing was watching Quintin?" Leu demanded, reluctantly following behind.

"Now, Leu, you can't possibly know that for sure. It could have just has easily been you it was watching, or the tree, or that side of the castle in general. Leu frowned, certain he was right. It was then that he noticed just how quiet Noah had become, and found himself wondering if Maurice hadn't been right about his friend all along.