CHAPTER 36: SABOTAGE

Three more weeks, and I'm going to be married.

Artimus Rand stared at his right hand, which clutched a goblet of water sitting on the table at the Golden Wand Tavern in Haypippil Square. His stomach clenched, making him wonder if he'd be able to eat lunch today. It wouldn't be the first meal he'd only half-eaten, or missed, over the past couple of weeks. The closer his wedding day got, the more nervous he became.

Why am I so nervous? He loved Jenna, and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He should be excited about getting married.

We already live together, so it's not like much would change.

But it would. Marriage was . . . well, marriage. It was a permanent thing.

Unless we're talking about my father.

Marriage meant starting a family. He wanted that. He wanted to have children with Jenna.

That's when the fear crept into his mind. What sort of father would he make? It wasn't like his own father was any sort of role model. He then thought of Rosa's father, and Jared's father, and Jimmy's father. They all had good relationships with their children.

Not always, though. Artimus thought about how the war nearly destroyed those bonds, and all the work it took to repair them. What if something like that happened between him and his children, and he couldn't fix it? What if Jenna thought him a terrible husband and left him?

No. I'm going to do right by her. I'm going to be the best husband and father I can be.

Merlin, I hope I can keep that promise.

"Yo, Artimus!"

The familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He looked up. His anxiety was quickly forgotten, and a huge smile spread across his face.

Jared strode toward the table, waving with one hand, while holding Tasanee's hand with the other.

"Hi, Jared." Artimus got to his feet. "Welcome back."

"Thanks, man." Jared let go of Tasanee's hand and hugged him in what both Jared and Jimmy referred to as a "man hug," meaning there was more back-slapping than actual embracing.

After greeting Tasanee, the three sat down.

"Sorry it took us so long to see you, man," Jared said. It had been three days since he and Tasanee port keyed in from Thailand. "But it took a while to get settled back in, my Dad and Aunt Adelaide and Uncle Cesario wanted to see us, and I wanted to give Tasanee a whirlwind tour of the US, or at least parts of it in Washington and Massachusetts."

"That's all right. I understand. Say, have you seen Esteban yet?"
"Oh yeah. We were over his place last night." Jared smiled. "I'm tellin' you, him and Oriana look like they're back to normal. All thanks to you for finding that Muggle marriage counselor."

Artimus shrugged and gave him an embarrassed half-grin. "I'm just glad I could help somehow." He felt some of his earlier nervousness vanish. If Esteban and Oriana's marriage could survive all the turmoil of the past two years, then surely he could deal with any challenges that might arise between him and Jenna.

"So where's the blushing bride?" asked Jared as a waitress came by to give them menus. "Or I guess I should say the soon-to-be blushing bride."

Artimus softly chuckled. "She has finals coming up at her college, so she's putting in extra time at the library."

"Ah, that brings back memories of Salem, doesn't it?"

"Excuse me?" Tasanee furrowed her brow and turned to Jared. "From the things you have told me of your time at Salem, it sounded as though you did not spend any time in the library."

"I spent time in the library." Jared stared back at her in mock offense. "Okay, I was sleeping more than studying, but I was there."

Tasanee laughed. So did Artimus. A surge of joy went through him as he stared across the table at his old friend. He found it hard to believe that over a year ago Jared had been despondent to the point he overindulged on a Daydream Charm, putting him into a coma. Now . . . now it was like the Jared he remembered at Salem had finally returned. There had been many times when he thought the war, Mrs. Diaz's death, and Mr. Diaz's bout with depression had buried the old Jared forever.

"Hey." Jared looked over his shoulder toward the entrance to the crowded restaurant. "Shouldn't Rosa be here?"

"Yeah, I'd think so." Artimus checked his watch. Just a couple minutes past noon. "Maybe she had something to take care of at work."

Jared frowned. "Aw, what's more important? Spending time with your friends or chasing down dark wizards?"

Artimus couldn't help but smile. The old Jared was most definitely back.

"So your wedding is coming up soon," Tasanee said. "Are you excited?"

He tensed, biting his lower lip. He drew a slow breath through his nose. "Um . . . yeah. Yeah, sure."

Jared scrunched his face as he looked at him. "You don't sound excited. What's up?"

Artimus' shoulders slumped. "I . . . I'm just nervous. It's just . . . I'm marrying Jenna, and . . ." He groaned and stared up at the ceiling. "I don't know. I'm just worried about everything. It's stupid."

"I don't think so," said Tasanee. "I remember when one of my uncles was married. He was so nervous he almost collapsed when the ceremony started."

"Yeah," Jared chimed in. "And just before Esteban got married, man I'm tellin' you, the guy was a basket case. Then again, so was my mom, and Aunt Adelaide. I think even my dad was close to freakin' out a couple of times."

Artimus groaned again, his gaze falling to the floor.

"C'mon, man. All we're saying is it's normal to be nervous when you're about to get married. And Jenna's an awesome woman."

"I agree." Tasanee nodded. "I did not get to spend much time with her when she came to Thailand, but I thought she was very nice, and she seemed to care about you a lot. I think you are very lucky to have her in your life."

A smile crossed Artimus' lips. "I know. You're right. I really do want to marry her. But then I start thinking about all the stuff that comes with getting married, like raising a family. And even the wedding itself. You wouldn't believe all the details that go into it. Hiring a photographer, making sure there's enough tables and chairs and food, making sure the tablecloths and the napkins match, then there's the cake and her gown and my dress robes and seating arrangements and . . . and who to invite."

"I woulda thought that last one would be the easiest. You invite your family and your friends. I mean, good friends like me and Tasanee, not the kid who sat next to you in Muggle Studies your Second Year."

"Well, there was . . ." Artimus shifted in his chair. "There was someone I debated sending an invitation to. I probably shouldn't have after everything that happened between us. But . . ."

Jared tilted his head, a perplexed look on his face.

"Who are you talking about?" Tasanee shot him a curious look.

Artimus slowly worked his jaw back and forth before speaking. "My father."

Jared's eyes bulged. "Dude. Are you serious?"

Artimus just nodded.

"I thought you were no longer on speaking terms with your father," Tasanee said.

"Well, yeah, I'm not, but . . . he is my father. He may not be the best father in the world, but he's still my father. Honestly, I doubt he's going to come."

"Then why did you bother sending him an invitation in the first place?" Jared asked.

"Because I just thought he ought to know that his son was getting married. And . . ." His voice started dropping off. "I just wanted him to see that I'm a success. I'm getting married, I'm now the Special Advisor to the Secretary of Magic on Muggle/Muggle-born Affairs. And I did it all on my own. I just . . . I just want to show him I'm not the failure he always said I was."

Jared's face hardened. "Hey, man, I know he's your father, but let's face it, the man treated you like crap. Merlin's beard, look what he did on graduation day. Yelled at you in front of all of us, kicked you out of the house just because you got a job with the Office of Wizarding-Muggle Relations. Hell, you haven't even talked to him since that day, and that was, what? Five years ago? Let's face it, aside from that one night he and your mom went at it and created you-" Jared ignored an eye roll from Tasanee. "You don't owe your old man squat."

Artimus just stared at Jared, digesting what his friend had said. At least, he began digesting it after his initial shock. It was a rare occasion that Jared dispensed good advice. Blunt and colorful, perhaps, but good advice nonetheless.

It was also advice that made him feel stupid. All his life, his father belittled him, embarrassed him, made him feel worthless. Most times he felt the day his father, for all intents and purposes, disowned him, was the best thing that could have happened to him. He started to finally stand on his own. He'd carved out a successful life for himself. The war, having friends like Jared and Jimmy and Rosa, being with Jenna, it filled him with a confidence he'd never experienced before. He thought of himself five years ago, then thought of himself today. No doubt about it. He had become a completely different person, and his father had nothing to do with that change, at least, in a positive way.

"You're right." He nodded, looking up at Jared. "I haven't needed my father for five years. Why should I care whether he approves of my life or not?"

"Yeah, now you're talking." Jared reached over the table and raised his palm. Artimus smiled and gave him a high-five.

The waitress came by a minute later. Artimus said they were waiting for Rosa and would order when she arrived. In the meantime, he talked to Jared and Tasanee about their experiences in Thailand. Jared seemed particularly excited that his boss had slowly given him new responsibilities, including trying to decipher the etchings found on a stone monument, the purpose of which no one had been able to figure out.

"It's like Tasanee said," Jared told him. "Just do whatever job Prajak gives you to the best of your ability, and eventually he'll have to give you better things to do. And low and behold, she was right. Is it any wonder why I love this woman so much?" A smile grew across his face.

"Jared." Tasanee lowered her head, a shy smile on her lips.

Surprise flared within Artimus. He felt he'd been mistaken thinking the old Jared had returned. If he could actually admit openly that he loved a girl, this was a new and improved Jared.

"So, Tasanee," Artimus said. "How have you been enjoying your first trip to the US?"

"I'm enjoying it a great deal, thank you. Yesterday Jared took me to see Milmothryn Market in Boston. It was unbelievable. Much bigger than any of the outdoor markets we have in Thailand."

"Good. I'm glad you're . . . Oh. There's Rosa."

Both Jared and Tasanee turned around as Rosa came in, a newspaper folded under her arm.

"Yo, cuz!" Jared waved. "Over here!"

Rosa turned and started toward them. Artimus furrowed his brow when he noticed her face. Unsmiling. Was she upset? No. Judging by her narrowed eyes and her tightened lips, she looked angry.

Jared apparently noticed it, too. "What's wrong with you? Some dark wizard get away from you?"

The skin around Rosa's nose crinkled. It made her look even angrier.

"Rosa?" Artimus tilted his head. "Are you all right?"

Her nostrils flare. She snatched the newspaper out from under her arm. "Have any of you read today's All-Seeing Eye?"

Jared shrugged. "Just the Quidditch scores."

"I only read the first few pages," Artimus answered. "Why?"

"So none of you read the society section?"

Jared gave Rosa a disgusted look. "Are you kidding? Why the heck would we want to read about where rich wizards and witches are going on vacation or what fancy robes they're wearing?"

Artimus shook his head. "I never read that section." He had to grow up hearing his father or step-mother read one article after another on Ulysses Rand's latest business venture or who he attended a Quidditch game with or the latest award he received for being such a successful businessman. Naturally The All-Seeing Eye wouldn't print anything negative about his father, not when he was a minority owner of the newspaper.

Rosa sat down and slammed the paper on the table. She snapped the pages until she got halfway through. She then stabbed at one section of the page. "Read."

Artimus leaned closer, as did Jared and Tasanee.

WEALTHY WIZARDS AND WITCHES BEWARE! MUGGLES MAY BE AFTER YOUR MONEY.

A puzzled look came over Jared's face. "What does this have to do with -"

"Just read." Rosa snapped.

Jared stared at his cousin, ready for some wise retort. He then bit his lip and kept silent. Judging from the expression on Rosa's face, Artimus thought that was a good idea.

He started reading the article.

To say the Wizarding World remains hidden from the Muggle World is a misstatement. There are many Muggles who know of our existence. The relatives of Muggle-borns, for one. Certain high-ranking officials in Muggle governments have knowledge of our world. For many years, this did not pose a problem to our way of life.

Now, however, that is changing, and it is changing to the detriment of the wealthiest members of Wizarding society.

Over the past year, quite a few incidents have arisen of Muggles married to magical citizens trying to obtain their fortunes. Examples include . . .

Hirem Pike, a 108-year-old wizard who owned a successful chain of apothecaries throughout the Southeastern US. His great-granddaughter, Annabelle, became friends with a Muggle-born named Rico Navarez. Navarez's 33-year-old single Muggle mother, Felicia, wormed her way into Pike's life, married him, then six months later when he died, she inherited the vast amount of his fortune.

Then there was the tragic case of Natalie Muser (formerly Naymick), whose family owns magical fisheries along the California coast. Her Muggle husband, Nick, was arrested three months ago when he poisoned his wife in order to claim part of the Naymick family's wealth.

In the past, these sorts of situations would never have occurred. Laws were in place that prevented any Muggle married to a wizard or witch from inheriting any part of their spouse's fortune when said spouse passed on. But in the past year, those laws were repealed by the Continental Wizarding Legislature as part of Secretary of Magic Infante's agenda of currying favor with Muggle-borns.

Much of this pro-Muggle/Muggle-born agenda is being pushed by Jimmy O'Bannon, one of the leaders in the Second Battle of Helghorst Island and a man who maintains a very close relationship with the Secretary's daughter, Rosa Infante of the U.S. Auror's Bureau. But there is someone else who is probably more responsible for encouraging Secretary Infante to sway the members of the Legislature into changing the law. And that someone, in fact, is a Muggle, one who is due to marry a member of one of the oldest and wealthiest families in the United States.

Her name is Jenna Fabrici, the fiancé of Artimus Rand, the youngest son of Ulysses Rand, owner of Rand's Realm of Magical Necessities.

"What?" A bewildered look came over Artimus' face. He tilted his head and continued staring at the paragraph.

"What the hell are they talking about?" Jared shook his head.

"Read," Rosa said through clenched teeth.

Trepidation spread through Artimus. Part of him wanted to shove the paper away, afraid to see what this article had to say about Jenna. Instead he steeled himself and read on.

Artimus Rand met Fabrici as part of his job with the Office of Wizarding-Muggle Relations. He had gone to Fabrici's home in order to convince her to send her younger sister, Samantha, to the Fantimoor School of Magical Study in Washington, D.C. This visit turned out to be anything but official as shortly afterwards, Rand and Fabrici began a romantic relationship.

But is Jenna Fabrici's desire to be with Artimus Rand motivated by love, or something more insidious?

"This young woman comes from a life of poverty, of squalor. Her parents are dead, she lived in what was basically a shack with her sister. A person in that situation would do anything to get out of it."

So says Ulysses Rand.

Artimus clenched his jaw. Anger burned in the pit of his stomach and spread through his body.

A tick developed under his eye as he continued to read.

The elder Rand went on to say that Artimus let it slip how rich the family was, and that Fabrici saw her opportunity to extricate herself from a lifetime of poverty.

"My son, unfortunately, is naïve in the ways of the world. He also has issues with attracting women, despite the family name. So when some girl, even one as mildly attractive as this Muggle girl, starts using what feminine wiles she has, well, when women don't normally pay attention to you, how could my son resist this Jenna Fabrici?"

Artimus' head trembled in fury. He made a fist, imagining his father standing next to him, and that fist smashing into his damn face.

"What the hell!" Jared blurted, causing some patrons to turn toward their table. He ignored them and continued. "Where does he get off saying this kind of crap about Jenna?"

Tasanee said nothing. She just gaped at the article, the shock and disgust evident on her face.

"It gets worse," Rosa nearly growled.

Scowling, Artimus read on.

Ulysses Rand claims that when Fabrici learned of the law regarding Muggles and magical families' fortunes, she insisted Artimus Rand use his influence in the Office of Wizarding-Muggle Relations to change it. And the youngest Rand certainly had the influence to do that. As with Muggle-born advocate Jimmy O'Bannon, Rand also had a close relationship with Secretary Infante's daughter, and convinced the leader of Wizarding America to take him on as an advisor. Operating under Jenna Fabrici's influence, Rand managed to convince Secretary Infante to make repealing the law a priority.

"And our esteemed Secretary couldn't say no to Artimus," said Ulysses Rand. "The Infante family has a soft spot when it comes to my son, and Jenna Fabrici knew how to use that to her advantage."

So now the law is changed. Muggles married to wizards or witches are now entitled to inherit their spouse's family fortunes. Ulysses Rand fears what this means for the future of America's magical elite.

"Obviously I do not regard Muggles or Muggle-borns the same way Death Eaters do, but we must think about the status of those families who have been on this continent since before The Great Break, the witches and wizards who helped build this country, who established traditions Muggles and Muggle-borns may not appreciate. With most of these fortunes come business interests. What would a Muggle know about running a wand shop or a Quidditch supply store or, say, a business like mine?"

Rand added. "There is also another problem I find disturbing. The attitudes of some of the younger members of this nation's older, wealthier families. Teenagers are always fascinated with new things, are eager to latch on to them. This push by people like Secretary Infante and Jimmy O'Bannon to create more tolerance and understanding toward Muggles and Muggle-borns has now turned those people into the latest fad. I have heard stories from friends of mine who say their children and grandchildren are actively seeking out Muggles and Muggle-borns to date and even marry simply because, in their vernacular, it looks cool. They don't understand that by marrying a Muggle, they might be opening the door for their non-magical wife or husband to steal away the fortunes their families have spent more than two hundred years amassing."

Opposition to the end of this law is not about prejudice. As Ulysses Rand points out, Muggles do not have the sort of knowledge needed to run magical businesses. The efforts of Secretary Infante and the Legislature to repeal this law may open the door to more incidents like what happened to Hirem Pike and Natalie Muser, and, may eventually, result in economic chaos in Wizarding America.

"All because of greed and manipulations of one, impoverished Muggle," added Ulysses Rand.

The rage was so great it froze Artimus. He just glared at the paper, the horrible words about Jenna racing through his mind. Words said by his father.

How . . . how could he?

And how could The All-Seeing Eye print that? What had Jenna ever done to any of them? How could they call her greedy? In his entire life he had never known anyone more compassionate, more sincere, than the woman who would soon be his wife.

For this pathetic excuse of a newspaper to say this about her . . .

For his own father to say this . . .

Artimus felt his cheeks glow red. Teeth clenched, he slammed his hand down on the paper and swept it off the table.

"Son-of-a-bitch!" The paper fell to the ground, along with utensils and napkins and his goblet of water. Everyone one in the tavern whipped their heads around to stare at him.

Artimus didn't care.

"Artimus," Tasanee said in a hesitant voice. "I'm so sorry. That . . . that was horrible."

"I still don't believe it." Jared shook his head. "I mean, I never thought much of your father, but this . . ." His face twisted in a mask of fury.

"This is a new low, even for him," said Rosa. "What kind of . . . of scum spreads lies like this about a girl like Jenna?"

Artimus stared at The All-Seeing Eye, its pages spread over the floor. He barely heard a waitress and the tavern owner approach their table to ask what was going on. He just narrowed his eyes at the offending pages, willing them to burst into flames.

Worry sliced through his anger. Worry over what Jenna would think when she learned about the article.

TO BE CONTINUED