Truth and Dare

Calliope had insisted on formation. As they marched down the black-tiled entrance hall to the Ministry, Calliope held Mark's left hand with her right, and Hector held Mark's other hand. They weren't separated, the two wizards could use magic, and Mark was safe.

But Mark wanted to yank his hand away from Calliope and demand 'Do you have any idea what touching you is doing to me?' That or he wanted to stop and hold her tightly, until his fear receded and he could be brave, for her, and she wouldn't have to be so wide-eyed, gripping his hand so tightly it hurt.

The security wizard glared at them as they approached. Calliope swore under her breath.

"What's wrong?" Hector asked.

"I should have gotten a wand while we were at Hollywyck."

"Spirit of the staircase," Mark muttered.

"We don't need a wand. We can get by on mine…" Hector offered.

Calliope said nothing. "We can try that," Mark said.

So Hector broke from the formation, and approached the security wizard, and offered his wand. The security wizard offered him clearance (begrudgingly), but would not allow the other two.

"But they're here with me," Hector argued.

"If they don't have wands, they don't enter."

"But – but—I'm a Muggle," Mark argued.

"You shouldn't have a wand in the first place."

"I'm Mark Printzen! I'm the one the trial is centered on right now!"

"Don't play smart with me, sonny," the wizard snapped. The radio next to him began to play the Wizarding Wireless Network's jingle – the trial was beginning again.

"We don't have time," Calliope muttered. She let go of Mark's hand and strode forward. "Sir, if I may try to make you see reason, we are on a very tight schedule." She gripped the sleeve of his uniform with her left hand. "Confundus."

The wizard's eyes glazed over as she let go of him. He lolled about, leaning from one foot to the other. When Calliope asked him to let them through, he agreed readily. Once the three of them were on the other side of the barrier, it was back into formation. The two men eyed her uneasily.

Hector ventured, "Cous – that Weatherwax magic – that could be a big deal."

"Yes, it could be," she agreed, letting out a huff of air.

Mark looked at her warily. "Does it – cost more magic, to do it the Weatherwax way?"

"Yes, it does."

"What'll happen when your magic runs out?"

"It won't."

"But if it does –"

"I'll keep an eye on my magic, you don't have to worry about me."

"Oh, are you going to forbid me worrying about you?"

"I don't need your worry, Mark, it's a distraction."

"A distraction?" he pulled his hand away. "Why sure then, I'll just take being worried about you and being in love with you and lock those distractions up in a tiny little box and throw away the key, will that make you happy?"

"No! What will make me happy is stopping this, stopping the trial, and your wibbly feelings are not going to help!"

"Why are you embarrassed that I love you?"

"I'm not embarrassed and don't say it so loud…" Calliope was turning red. Hector had last seen that color on a human face the night that Mark decided to sample the entire line of Dragon's Breath Beer. Intervention time.

"Lady, gentleman, I'm sure we'll have time to talk about this later. Please, let's just keep walking. Try not to make a scene until we want to make a scene, yeah?"

He considered it a success when they took hands again and resumed formation, marching into the elevator. As they entered Level Nine, they realized that they didn't know which courtroom the trial was taking place in.

They turned a corner to the hall where courtrooms were lined up – only to find it blocked by throngs of protesters. Signs punched the air, bearing ugly caricatures of Mark and Andrew, and slogans like "Muggles Go Home."

"At least no one gave us Hitler-staches," Mark observed.

Hector tapped a nearby protestor. "What room number is it in?"

"Fourteen!" came the shouted answer. Miraculously he failed to notice that next to Hector stood the man whose face was on his own sign.

Over the conversation Umbridge's voice boomed: large speakers were tuned to the WWN. "Mr. Printzen, you have been conclusively linked to successful Presumption, rape, breaking and entering, and of conspiracy. Are you still prepared to plead Not Guilty? How can you possibly maintain that?"

The crowd surrounding door fourteen was massive. Calliope led the way to push through it, Mark clinging to her and Hector clinging to him. Mark grit his jaw and felt wrath grow in him as he heard his own voice say,

"Fine, then, fine. I change my plea. Why not? I plead Guilty. I wanted magic and I took it, and I don't regret a thing! If I could I'd do it all over again, it's worth everything – and I'm only sorry I got caught. And once Andrew here drops his weepy act –"they reached the door – "he'll tell you the same thing. I guarantee it."

"Alohomora." Calliope leaned her whole weight on the door, and it creaked open. Hector added his own magic to it, ignoring the security wizard's cries of "Hey! Hey, get away from there!"

The door swung open. They stood there, outlined by the crowd. Everyone fell silent. Even Melpomene Timbre was speechless.

For one moment, Calliope saw her double, and Mark saw his, and they locked eyes –

Then someone screamed "FIRE!"

Mark had just enough time to think that no one was going to fall for that, when he was proven wrong. Right in front of Melpomene Timbre fire bloomed, engulfing her microphone and catching on the sleeves of her robe. Other corners ignited and panic erupted.

It was a brilliant move. Spells could be blocked, flames quenched, sound deadened, but a wave of panicked people was an unstoppable force. They didn't run, they stampeded. And the crowd going out met the crowd outside and shouting and yelling and the smell of smoke – the three were almost torn apart. But Mark would not allow that. He was shoved and pulled and the breath was knocked out of him but he would never let them go.

The crowd control was enforced, the louder protesters were escorted out and gradually things became manageable. Calliope, when she and the two men could stay together without clinging desperately, looked around at her full height. "It can't be easy to hide someone as tall as me," she muttered. "Dammit! The judges, I can't see any of them, they're gone."

Mark swore. Hector asked, "Where would they go?"

"I don't – wait!" she began to pull. "I see Linus!"

Mark didn't see her brother, but he saw just beyond. "Andrew!"

About 100 yards away Andrew and Mark's doppelganger were being led into a side room, in chains. Mark ran forward, and didn't realize his path was about to cross that of Linus, who was standing anxiously by the door of number twelve with his sister.

Linus rubbed his eyes with tiredness. His sister grabbed his arm. "Linus! It's him! How did he get past the guards?"

"What?" That got his attention at once, so fully that he didn't notice Calliope with the fingerless gloves melting into the crowd.

Mark neared, and didn't see Linus at all until his wand was pointed straight at him. Mark skidded to a halt.

"This ends here," Linus hissed with barely controlled savagery. "Sectum—"

Calliope saw. She didn't even think. She put one hand on the door of courtroom twelve, and the other –

"—sempra!"

The other closed on Linus' wand. The next thing she knew, the door – made of wood – had split almost in half with the force of the spell. Her knees buckled. Hot tears gathered at her eyes and nausea filled her stomach.

Linus bent over her, his voice weak with worry, "Why did you do that? Why did you make her do that?" he demanded of Mark.

"I did nothing!" Mark cried.

"Let me through – I said let me through, I'm a Healer!" A large man with a white mustache and blue robes pushed through the crowd. "Young lady, do you feel all right?"

"Bit sick…"

"Did you just redirect that spell?"

Calliope nodded.

"All right – that was a neat trick but don't try it again, understand?"

She nodded again, tears trickling down her cheeks.

"Here, have a drink of this, it'll steady your stomach…"

"Sir," Linus interrupted, "Exactly who are you?"

The man straightened up, though he only gave Linus part of his attention. "My name's Raphael Bonebright. I'm a Healer and I happened to see what just took place."

"What did just happen?" Mark asked.

"You –" Mr. Bonebright pointed sternly to Linus, "Were trying some kind of spell, I didn't hear just what it was, and she redirected it, letting the magic pass through her and into whatever next object she could touch – that door, for example." He frowned. "I sure hope you don't have to pay insurance for that."

"But why? Why would she do that for –" Linus couldn't even finish the sentence, he just glared at Mark with undisguised loathing.

"You –" Mark began.

"I have no idea," Bonebright interrupted. "But Mr. Ollivander, did you notice that your sister actually ran off?"

"What?"

"I only happened to look this way because someone shoved past me. It was your sister, but I turned to look your way and I see that your sister is standing in front of you right there."

"Wait – that can't be right."

"I just spent the last hour watching your sister talk, son, I know what she looks like. I tell you either she Apparated in Ministry property or –"

"Listen, let me explain it to him." Calliope's voice was weak, but she took another sip of Mr. Bonebright's potion and went on, a bit stronger, "He'll listen to me. Linus…"

"It's okay, Shrimp, you don't have to be afraid of him," Linus put an arm protectively around her, as if shielding her from Mark, "I'll protect –"

"I don't need protecting, I just need a chance to explain. Thank you, Mr. Bonebright. Mark, you have to leave."

"What? But –"

"No buts. You and Hector have to go and sort out Andrew and the other one. You're the only one who can and you're only making things worse by staying here."

"But you –"

"I'll be fine, you, go!"

They stared at each other for a moment, in a silent contest of wills, then Mark broke away. He resumed his previous path to follow Andrew. Hector followed Mark, with a chipper "Hi, Linus! See you later!"

Linus blinked. "Was that –"

"Yes."

"Why is he going with –"

"Because I'm going to explain something to you, Linus, and if I sound crazy it's not because I just redirected a curse you cast and it's not because my magic was stolen. My magic has not been stolen. Linus, are you listening to me?"

"Yes…" Linus was trying to follow Hector and Mark with his eyes.

"Linus, please! Stop looking at Mark and listen to me!"

"Miss, Mr. Ollivander, how about you step inside courtroom fifteen, where you'll get some privacy?" Mr. Bonebright escorted them into the courtroom, which was an improvement (Mark left Calliope's sight), somewhat, though the door remained open.

She felt dizzy.

'No, no, Benedicte, not now,' she pleaded internally, and fought to resist the dizziness so hard that she did not hear Linus call her name until he shook her by the shoulder.

"What is it?" he was asking.

"There's two of me," she blurted, not looking him in the face because that made Benedicte stronger. "One who says all those lies about Mark, and stealing magic, but she's not the real me, do you understand, Little Dude – I mean, Linus! Linus, no, wait, I'm confused."

"I can tell."

"Last night, yesterday, according to you, what happened?"

"Why can't you look me in the eye?"

"Because of Benedicte's shadow! The voice of the dead, I don't want to, Linus, please don't make me, just answer my question."

"After the attack on the school, Magical Law Enforcement came on the scene and treated you. You were frightened, didn't have much at dinner, and went to bed early. You hardly talked."

"Have – have I been drinking from a little flask all day?"

"I… er… I didn't notice. Do you mean, say, a thermos of tea?"

"Yes, exactly!"

"Why don't you remember?"

"Because it wasn't me! Look, the attack at the school yesterday, what really happened, Mark left and I followed him – well, and Hector came along too, and two other people, don't look like that. I made a Portkey, we spent the night in a forest, and in the morning we all went to Hollywyck –"

"But you just said about the flask—"

"That was an educated guess, because I was, during the trial – oh, no, I have it completely backwards, just, let me think – no, Calliope, there's no time – Linus, it's a dizzy spell, please just wait for me…"

'I want Mark,' she found herself thinking. 'No. I don't need him. I'll be fine on my own.'

Linus stared at his sister, not comprehending. Then he blinked, as if hearing an unseen message. "I understand – oh, my poor Callie –"

"What?" she demanded.

"No – don't panic – you're under Imperius."

"What."

She realized that in the doorway, people were looking at her, wide-eyed.

Linus was ignorant of them, but went on, "Of course – it was set on you at the attack yesterday. It's been controlling you remotely this whole time – it explains your behavior last night, your inability to perform magic today, your memory loss of the trial – you can't explain your own actions, Callie, I'm so sorry, they're using you as a pawn!"

And the people at the door were muttering, yes, this all made sense, didn't it? Yes, it all added up, didn't it?

"Poor girl," someone said.

"I am not a poor girl!" Calliope snapped. "And I am not the same Calliope who was in the courtroom –"

"Because you were under orders, I get it,"

"No, listen to me, because there are two people running around who look like me, one of them is me and the other is impersonating me, are you understanding any of this, Linus, it's very simple!"

"Then where is the impersonator?" Linus asked. "You don't have to explain what you don't know—"

Someone shouldered and forced her way through the crowd, and the door. It was Amity Tweak. She said hoarsely, "I believe you, Calliope –"

But the rest of the crowd was starting to press in, muttering, and Linus was saying, "Yes, if you're under Imperius, you have to be restrained –"

"No! I won't!"

"It's for your own protection, sis, I'm sorry—"

"No – no, you have to believe me! I'm not under Imperius! I'm not! Please, Linus, please –" she looked at her brother –

And understood.

"I'm not under Imperius," she whispered. "You are."

"What?" Linus blinked.

Two security wizards appeared at the door, but Amity pointed her wand at them without a word. The Ollivander daughter said coolly to the guard, "You're not needed here," and to her brother, "Linus, you're under Imperius."

"No I'm not," he said automatically. "And furthermore, don't change the subject."

"But you are! You couldn't sleep after Benny's memory was erased, but since you left prison you've been acting differently, sleeping more – the letters you've been sending, who are you sending them to? You more readily believe that I'm under Imperius than that I'm telling the truth –"

"You think that I am under Imperius," he protested.

"You believe that Mark raped me! You know that would never happen, I told you it was a false memory and you promised not to tell."

"I saw him trying, I saw it with my own eyes!"

"That was an illusion, a false memory, Turpentine must have planted it, then made you believe it, and Linus, you know it's impossible to steal magic!"

"No!" he rejoined. "No, it's what Mark did, I know it, I know that scumbag was planning it, and he's convinced you otherwise – or you're lying to me –"

"Why would I lie?"

"Linus!" it was Amity. Her face was red as if she'd shouted the name, but it had come out at normal volume. "Linus, believe her!"

"And this has nothing to do with you, Amity, leave," he commanded her.

"And don't boss me!"

Linus was rattled, and two thoughts occurred in his mind at the same time: 'Amity mustn't shout, it'll damage her voice,' and 'Amity must be silenced; what she says is dangerous.'

But she kept talking. "Linus, listen, I know you better than anyone and you've become paranoid, suspicious of impossible things, and you're distrusting Calliope, your sister, something is wrong!"

"You don't know me," he said to her, and to Calliope, beyond her, "None of you know, you're too young, you don't realize everything that I have to do – to keep everything together, coherent – you don't know – you don't know!"

'Mistrust, you're the only one who understands, you're the only one who can fix things…'

"Linus," Calliope said, "I am not a child, I have been the one to keep things together, while you stood here and believed lies. You are not infallible. You're – under – Imperius."

"I can't be!" he answered, the words more cracked than he wanted them.

"Of course not!" Amity agreed, and she was really screaming now. "Not Linus Ollivander, because you're so much better than the rest of us!"

"Shut up, Amity," he snapped, turning towards her.

"Make me!"

He raised his right hand to strike her –

"Linus, don't!" Calliope yelled.

'What am I doing?' he thought.

"Go ahead, Linus Ollivander," Amity said, her voice ragged. "If you dare."

'Do it,' came another thread of thought, a thought that he'd believed was his until this moment, 'Strike her, she's an enemy…'

'She's Amity, and if Calliope thinks I'm wrong then…'

'No! You are in the right! You are Linus Ollivander and you are not mistaken! Strike her!'

His hand twitched, and fell forward, but he bent over rather than let it hit Amity. "No –" he hissed, "I am mistaken."

It was like touching land after swimming for hours – for months.

It was a very strange scene as Linus was about to strike Amity, then doubled over, mumbled to himself, then proceeded to take a few lurching steps this way and that.

And then he fell onto the floor, and he struggled to stand up, resisting any help, when Amity tried to take his arm he flung her off, "No, no, I'm not free yet…"

"Linus," his sister knelt by him, placing her hand on his head, "Let me help you. Finite Imperiosum."

And the last clouds, the last whispers of the voice, faded and fled. And Linus slumped, giving a sigh of exhaustion. He'd only had three hours of sleep. How long had this been – aha.

"Turpin," he muttered.

"What?" Calliope asked.

"Turpin Rowle. When I told him to bugger off. I thought I was free of him. But he cursed me when my back was turned."

There was a rasping sound higher up. Linus looked up. "Amity!"

She was clearly trying to smile, but she was clutching her throat and her face was tight with pain. "I said," she said in a horrible rasp, "Turpin is a…"

Linus jumped up and made shushing gestures, his fingers almost, but not quite, touching her lips, "No, don't repeat it, I'm sorry, Amity, for making you yell. I'm so sorry."

She shrugged, as if to say, "The damage is done."

"It'll be all right," Calliope said without conviction. "Now, listen to me, Linus. you're not cursed, I'm not cursed, we can agree, let's start over."

"Yes."

"Mark never raped me."

"Okay."

"The Death Eaters are in the middle of a scheme right now to impersonate Mark and I, and to have not only Mark, but Andrew, found guilty of Presumption."

"Okay."

"Yesterday, Mark and I were both replaced by Death Eaters taking Polyjuice Potion. The entire trial up to this point has been a sham. Mark and I have been impersonated, and now we have to find the impersonators."

"Okay."

"… Linus, this is a bad thing and I'd feel better about your mental state if you said something other than…"

"Got it! Agreed! Affirmative! Je comprends totallement. Understood."

"Hector and Mark have gone to root out the fakes; I know a conspirator – it's Circe Goshawk –"

"Who?"

"I'll explain later, I was supposed to find her but I got sidetracked by you, so I think we need to get back on track right now."

"Agreed."

"And that means –" she took out a coin and tapped it with her wand, "the courtroom."

ooo

Mark's resolve stood up valiantly for a few moments after he left Calliope, then he broke down, stumbling to a halt and burying his face in his hands. Hector tugged at him. "Come on, let's go – we'll think about this later – Mark, I'm sorry, I really am."

"Sorry for what?" Mark raised his head. He straightened his collar and adjusted his tie. "It was obviously ridiculous from the start. My fault entirely. I was too – what's the word?" He smoothed his hair, patted a pocket, and brushed off some invisible dust. He turned to Hector. "Presumptuous, that's it. Okay. How do I look?"

"Why are you asking me that now?"

"Because it matters. How do I look?"

"Um…"

"Do I look calm? Collected?"

"… Actually, yes."

"Great. Showtime. Just follow me, and give me your wand." And Hector had a minute to be worried, because he realized, 'Mark has nothing left to lose.' Mark barged his way into the crowd and shoved past the security guard, and took a stand before the policemen standing with Andrew and a man who looked exactly like Mark.

"Gentlemen," Mark declared, "You have the wrong man. I am Mark Printzen, and I demand that you place me under arrest!"

Ten, then twenty, then thirty heads turned to look at him in stunned silence. Including the other Mark.

He took one look at him, paused, and then began to scream.

"Aaaah! A Death Eater!"

"Oh, shut up," Mark snapped. "You aren't fooling anyone; the gig's up. That man has been impersonating me this entire time, and this entire trial has been a fraud."

"He's a Death Eater! He's impersonating me!"

"Look, I'll give you credit." Mark walked right up to him, and looked – himself? – in the eye. "You are a really good actor. But you can't improvise for shit."

The other Mark stopped his panicking and looked very affronted.

"Furthermore, this is a Boston accent, what I'm saying right now. You have down a pitch-perfect Bronx accent." Mark smiled. He pulled out Hector's wand and said, "This is not going to work. Accio Polyjuice Potion!"

Nothing happened.

Mark waited a beat, then said brightly, "Oh, right, I'm a Muggle. Hector, you try." And he gave Hector his wand back. And Hector pointed his wand and said, "Accio Polyjuice Potion!"

A hip flask zoomed out from underneath the other Mark's blazer. He gave a cry as the flask landed in Hector's hand. "Give that back!"

"Oh? And why do you need it?" Mark turned to him, his eyes glittering. "You know it's Polyjuice Potion, otherwise Hector couldn't have summoned it. And, correct me if I'm wrong, folks," he added to the onlookers, "but Polyjuice Potion changes your appearance. Why would you need something like that?"

The other man scowled, and returned, "Why do you look exactly like me?"

Mark seemed to consider it. "That's a very good question. But the answer to that is, I am the real Mark Printzen, you are an impersonator and a fake." He grabbed his counterpart by the collar, ignoring Hector's warning cry of "Mark, take it easy…"

"I'm taking it easy," Mark said conversationally. "I'm only holding his shirt. No law against that, is there? I mean, he's already handcuffed."

(Hector uneasily noticed that the guards were starting to discuss if they should arrest the second Mark Printzen, just to be on the safe side.)

"I mean," Mark went on, "I could stay here all day."

And they could all see the beads of sweat gathered on the forehead of the other Mark.

"I'm going to do this the easy way." He let go of the other Mark's shirt. "You listening? Okay. Pop quiz. Why would I want to be Mark Printzen? A worthless, pathetic, infamous Muggle? Hmm?" he paused. "If you are the real Mark Printzen, that would have been a good moment to react because I just insulted you. Okay. I'm going to ask you three times nicely. What is your name?"

"Mark Printzen." He swallowed.

"What is your real name?"

"Mark Emory Printzen."

"You liar. What is the name that your mother and father gave you, your Christian name, your true name?"

"Mark Emory Printzen, you bugger!" He spat.

Mark looked surprised, and began to take something out of his pocket. "Weird. I've never used 'bugger' like that; that's British slang. And I distinctly don't remember the word 'bugger' being part of my name. How much longer will that potion of yours last? Ten minutes? Five? Hector, what time is it?"

Hector checked his watch. "Four-thirty p.m."

"That late already? Wow, this day went by fast… A-hem. Okay, Mark Printzen. I'm going to do this the hard way. Next question: Do you have any allergies?" Mark had taken a small box out of his pocket.

He looked confused. "Um… no."

"Wrong again." Mark took the lid off of the box: there was a tiny amount of dirt and yellow powder, enough to maybe fill the palm of his hand. He blew on it, sending a cloud directly into the other Mark's face. Then he stepped back at once and took a quick breath from the inhaler Calliope had given him earlier.

The other Mark began to cough. "What's this?"

"Something that's about half-mundane, half-magic. Dust and pollen from the forest spiked with house-elf magic. Something that you, Mark Printzen, will have an allergic reaction to. And it's beginning now."

Hector watched with mixed horror and admiration as Mark's duplicate began to cough and choke and sneeze, his eyes watering. "Stop it –"

"Painful, isn't it, Mark Printzen?" Mark rattled the inhaler he was holding out. "I have the medicine to stop this at any moment. Something that Calliope Ollivander gave to me, because –" his voice caught, then he went on, "—I am her friend, and I would never harm her, and you deserve worse than this for saying otherwise."

The coughing got louder, "Help me…"

"Help you? In exchange for ruining my name more than it already was, assuming my face, bragging about raping the woman I love, you want me to help you? Don't be a baby, you won't die from this. Anyway, soon your potion will wear off, and you'll go back to being your allergy-free self. Think you can stand it that long? Or is your throat closing up just a little too tough to deal with?"

"Mark, you're going overboard –" Hector pulled at his shirt, but Mark shrugged him off.

"Don't even try. This worm knows what he did, he knows who I am, and he knows that there's only one thing that can fix this. Tell me your name."

"Go to hell!" the other Mark's eyes were by now so puffy he could barely see through them, but he squinted at Mark with pure hate, before another coughing spasm wracked him, and he began to wheeze horribly. "I can't – I can't breathe –"

"Tell me your name."

"Mark – Pr-printzen…"

"Liar. One more time, tell me your name."

"Can't… breathe…"

"Try."

"Mark Pr—pr—" he coughed, "Pr—"

He bent close to his double. "No more lies. You and I both know it, Pro…"

One last cough, tears streaming down his face, and he managed, in a whisper that just barely carried, "Proteus Troup."

Without a word, Mark directed his doppelganger's head up and gave him a dose of medicine from the inhaler. He took a gasp and straightened up a little.

"Now, tell these fine gentlemen who you are." Mark stepped back but kept his grip on the man's collar.

"Proteus Troup." He looked down at the floor, his eyes red.

"A little louder. Here, have another dose." He administered it generously.

"Proteus Spiegel Troup." He looked up now, and over Mark's shoulder something caught his eye. He widened his eyes and mouthed, "Run!"

Mark turned. There was a movement in the crowd. "Hector, after her!"

Hector didn't need telling twice. In a minute he had caught her and dragged her back to the security guards. She looked sadly at Proteus Troup.

"Well, well," Mark said. "Circe Goshawk. I can't say I'm surprised. But what are you wearing?"

Circe looked even smaller than usual in a long black skirt and a pink blouse with a black jacket over it – all much too long for her. The sleeves hung to her fingers, and the skirt was so long she'd tripped over it, which was what allowed Hector to catch her.

"I get it," Mark snapped his fingers. "You're Calliope's double, but when your potion wore off, you were left playing dress-up in clothes that're too big for you."

Hector noticed that Circe and Proteus looked at each other, and some understanding passed between them, but Mark was too busy to notice. He gestured to Hector to let Circe and Proteus stand together, while he found Andrew. Hector followed him.

They found Andrew with his arms and legs chained, with a burly security guard on either side. One of the guards pointed his wand at Mark.

But another guard (who had followed them) said, "Hey, calm down, there's two of them, this is supposed to be the real one."

"But shouldn't we arrest him anyway, then?"

"Andrew, are you okay?" Mark asked his friend.

He recoiled. "Who are you?"

"Andrew, it's me, Mark."

"Shut up. Just – don't even try. Either you're a psychopath who murdered Hector and stole Calliope's magic, or you're someone else, or –"

"No, Andrew! I love Calliope, I would never hurt her, and I remember Joey Reed. You never stole his magic. The three of us walked all the way to Newton's Creamery and back one day just for ice cream, remember? Got home at sunset and our parents were so mad."

The fear lifted from Andrew's face. He blinked in disbelief. "Mark? It's really you?"

"Ask me something. Something only I would know."

He thought. "Do you forgive me for hiding magic from you, and trying to modify your memories?"

He smiled wryly. "It took me a while, but yes."

"Mark!"

Mark hugged his friend. "These chains, Jesus…"

Andrew smiled without enthusiasm. "I don't know, I'm getting back in touch with my ancestors. Could be worse… Hector?"

Mark turned around. A light had entered Andrew's face that he'd rarely seen before. Hector stepped forward timidly.

"Andrew?"

"Hector! I thought that you were dead –" and Mark stepped aside. Hector ran to Andrew and hugged him, saying, "How can they chain you, I can't believe it –"

"I swear, I thought you were dead, Hector, I couldn't sleep last night –"

Then they kissed, and the guards had their reactions to that, but Mark looked away, his chest heaving, but he caught, controlled himself, trying very hard not to think of a pair of silver eyes and a smile among hollyhocks.

He clutched in his hand the coin that she had given him. Then he suddenly felt it grow hot in his hand. He turned around. Hector was holding his coin, too.

"The courtroom," they said together.

"But what about Andrew?" Hector asked.

"We can't bring him with us."

"What's going on?" Andrew asked.

"Calliope enchanted the coin. We need to rendezvous with her." Mark explained.

"Then go on, meet her. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" asked Hector.

"Yes, I'm sure. Please, find her. You'll do more good there than by trying to rescue me. Go!" Andrew urged.

Hector kissed him one last time, and Mark said, "Hey – good luck, man."

"You too."

And the two of them set off for the courtroom.

Hector followed behind Mark, and said, "Mark, listen, you really crossed a line back there."

"What?"

"How did you get that allergic reaction? From your double?"

"I had Scurry the house-elf take the dirt off of my clothes and everyone else's, and asked her to amplify it. I knew that if I had a reaction to it, my doppelganger would too."

"The way you were talking to him –"

"I was dealing with the situation, Hector."

"You were tormenting him publicly –"

"So I sweated the perp, you know he deserved– Calliope!"

He'd spotted her ahead, looking around for someone. She saw Mark and ran towards him. "Oh, thank God, I've been looking for you – Hector?"

"Yes?" Hector frowned.

She looked again at the two of them. "Oh – yes – yes, I found you. What's happened?"

"I went to my duplicate and outed him –"

"Low-grade torture," Hector muttered.

"And we found your duplicate as well. Circe Goshawk, just like you predicted."

"You found Circe?"

"Yes. She was wearing your clothes and everything. Then you –"

"You wanted to meet us in the courtroom," Hector interrupted.

"Er – yes! I have something to show you."

"What?" Mark asked.

"Turpentine. I know what he's doing, but I have to take you there to – to show you."

"And why can't you tell us?" Mark pressed.

She took his hand and squeezed it, looking straight at him. "Please, just trust me."

He swallowed. "Lead on."

They pushed through the crowds, to the courtroom, past the door that Calliope had ruined. "Where's Linus?" Mark asked her.

Calliope glanced over her shoulder. "He was put under Imperius. Turpentine did it."

"Oh – and now?"

"He's off recovering from it."

"You don't seem that worried," Hector muttered.

"He's got his friend looking after him, last I checked. He'll be fine."

"Amity?" Mark asked.

"Yes." She pushed open the door to the courtroom, still holding Mark's hand. "Now be careful – this place may be watched…"

Hector asked, "Now what's this big plan you couldn't tell us ab—"

"Expelliarmus!"

The voice came from above them. Hector's wand flew out of his wand and clattered across the room. They looked. Staring down at them from over the door were two tall masked Death Eaters. One waved his wand, and the door shut itself.

"I really can't believe you fell for that," said the first one. He took off his mask.

"Turpentine," Calliope muttered.

He smiled.

"Mobilarcorpus!"

Calliope was wrenched through the air with a cry, suspended six feet above the ground, and gagged.

"Callie!" But at the same time that Mark ran to her a giant invisible hand slammed him back.

Turpentine nodded to his colleague. "Well done. Now – it's been a very bad day all around, Mr. Printzen. I will not return empty-handed, I'm sure you understand."

"Enough games, Turpentine, let her go!"

"Is it ever going to be enough with our family?" Hector asked, furious.

"You would do well to stay out of this, Mr. Gibbs. Now Printzen, I'm feeling a sense of déjà vu myself, old sport. Last time she gave herself up for you. Now what will it be?"

"Why not take both of us?" Mark demanded.

"Actually…" the Death Eater who was still masked spoke thoughtfully. "Makes a fair point. Why don't we take both of them?"

Hector gave an irritated sigh. "For once I would like to be seen and not just treated like empty air…"

Turpentine scowled at Mark and the masked Death Eater. "Do you think I have time to spare? I can't control both of them if they're fighting back. Mr. Printzen! Your life or hers. This is your last chance.

Mark looked at her – and muttered something to Hector –

"I'm waiting, Mr. Printzen!"

"Shut up, Turpentine. I'm yours. Let her go."

Turpentine smiled even more widely and let Calliope drop. Mark ran to her, got her back to her feet, asking if she were alright.

She looked down at him, disbelief in her eyes. "How can you – how can you do this?"

He smiled, and kissed her.

After a start of surprise, she kissed him back. He poured everything into the kiss, into her, everything he could – all of his love, all of his passion, all of the time he wanted to give her and was giving away –

"Mark?"

There was only one voice that could have made Mark stop. He broke off, and turned.

The courtroom door was open. Calliope was standing in the doorway, with Linus behind her.

Her expression was indescribable.

He looked back at the Calliope he had been kissing. She was smiling.

Horror dawned – and he thought, 'I am a fucking idiot.'

As for Calliope, she had had to shove through the crowds of people there, who recognized her and pulled at her, asking questions, and not least in the questions was Linus. He pestered, "There was a charge of fire…"

"But that was complete rubbish – let me through – let me through –"

"Calliope, do you have to be in the courtroom?"

"Yes, it's the rendezvous point! Let me through, I said –" Finally she got to the door. She pressed on it and said "Alohomora," forcing the magic apart, and then she looked inside –

And froze.

There were two Death Eaters, masked and robed in black, standing before the judge's podium. Hector stood by the door. But between them, with his back to her, was Mark –

– and Mark was kissing –

A double of Calliope, and he was kissing her passionately, and the Death Eater held a gavel in his hand, glowing blue like it was being enchanted into a Portkey, but the entire scene was centered around Mark and the other Calliope –

"Mark?"

Calliope didn't even quite realize that she'd said it, let alone how loud.

And Mark broke away from the kiss – reluctantly – and turned around. When he his met hers, they widened in shock. He looked to the Calliope he was holding, and –

One of the Death Eaters – speaking with Turpentine's voice – said, "Time's up!"

And there was movement all over the place – she let go of the door, letting it fall closed, to run towards Mark – Mark pushing the other one aside and running towards her – but the Death Eaters were swooping in, and even as Mark was reaching his hand towards her –

"No!"

The Death Eater caught him, and pulled him back, and the Portkey vanished.

Mark and the Death Eaters vanished.

Mark was gone.