Lizzy spent the entirety of her Sunday with Jane, and only Jane, which had become rather a rarity. Jane had sent Bingley away for the day. The sisters spent a great deal of their time outside alternating between tending to assignments and gazing up at the sky while talking of various things. Lizzy was able to start adjusting to this new version of her sister.
"I worry about Caroline," Jane sighed during one of their cloud gazing sessions.
"How so?" Lizzy asked. She had been lying with her eyes closed, but snapped them open and rolled onto her side to face Jane.
"I'm worried that she is unwilling to change, and what that will mean for Charles's future, and for mine." The last she said quietly, but Lizzy was not surprised and chose to ignore it for the time being.
"I'm curious what you think Caroline's unwillingness to change will mean for Charles's future," Lizzy continued to dig.
"Charles is capable of change," said Jane, "and he's done quite a bit of it since coming to Hogwarts. He and Caroline fight more often than not, now. I fear some argument will occur that causes a rift between them."
"Would that be such a bad thing?" Lizzy asked with an amused quirk of her brow.
Jane quickly looked at Lizzy with anger, but upon catching the mischievous look on her sister's face began to chuckle, instead. "I once thought she and I might be good friends," Jane said after sobering. "Now, I don't think I would mourn the loss of her presence from my life. Charles, on the other hand, would never be able to reconcile himself to parting from his sister. It would eat at him."
Lizzy sighed. "Well, whatever your future with Charles may turn out to be," she said with a shrewd and pointed look, "you are not yet in a position where you should interfere with the Bingley family affairs."
Jane raised herself to her elbows and looked around quickly before answering quietly, "But I should very much like the Bingley family affairs to be in order before I am in such a position as to have an effect on them."
"If only wishing made it so, Jane," Lizzy laughed. After a moment of companionable silence, she asked, "I assume you and Charles have discussed what the future might hold? At length?"
Jane blushed slightly and played with a blade of grass. "That would be a fair assumption."
"I suppose I shall have to take on a few extra tutoring sessions, then, to purchase my gown to stand up with you," Lizzy said with exaggerated exasperation. "Then again, I may just as well wear my oldest, rattiest gown, for no one shall be paying me any attention, and I doubt anything could happen to ruin your enjoyment of that day."
Jane playfully pushed her sister and they laughed a few moments longer before flipping onto their bellies to resume working on assignments.
Darcy restlessly paced the floor of the room he had rented in Hogsmeade for his cousin. After catching sight of Wickham, he had immediately returned to Hogwarts and sent Hootsworth off with a note demanding Fitwilliam's assistance, then set off for Flitwick's office to obtain permission to stay off the grounds on Sunday.
"Needed at Pemberley, are you?" Flitwick had asked. "Do you intend to use the floo network or take one of your thestrals?"
"Neither, Professor," Darcy had answered. "I am not to Pemberley. I am to Hogsmeade. A matter of some delicacy has occurred that I must discuss in person with my cousin, Major Richard Fitzwilliam."
"I should like some more details, Mr. Darcy, before granting your request," Flitwick had said. His voice was pleasant, but Darcy could tell he would not be moved.
Darcy had breathed heavily through his nose and taken a moment to collect himself before answering. "Today in Hogsmeade I saw someone that has caused my family a great deal of harm. When last we saw each other, we came to an understanding," he had said with gritted teeth. Understanding was not his first choice of words. "I intend to see he honors that."
Flitwick had gazed intently at Darcy for several moments. "I will communicate with Professor Dumbledore that you have a family emergency requiring you to be off grounds. You are, however, not to miss your classes on Monday, barring some truly catastrophic event."
Darcy scoffed to the empty room. Catastrophic events were Wickhams's specialty. Darcy was almost hopeful Wickham would give him or Fitzwilliam the excuse to kill him. Once, Darcy might have felt remorse for such a thought. After his last encounter with Wickham, however, any lingering affection for the man had burned away. Darcy had tried to honor the spirit of his father's last wishes for Wickham, but was now willing to settle for following the letter of the will, instead. And that had already been satisfied.
The door opened with a bang.
"Where is that cowardly dog?" Fitzwilliam growled. "Wands or swords, I'll kill him this time, and nothing you say will be able to convince me to do otherwise!"
Darcy strode across the room, shut the door, and put some protective charms on it. "If it weren't for Georgiana, Fitzwilliam, I would be only too happy to step aside and let you do whatever you wish to the scoundrel."
Fitzwilliam ripped off his outer layer of robes, then threw himself into a chair. "Let's have the details, then."
"Good morning, by the way," Darcy said drily.
Fitzwilliam waved Darcy's greeting away irritably.
"I saw him here, in Hogsmeade, yesterday during a Hogwarts student excursion."
Fitzwilliam's eyes went wide. "He wasn't after any of the students, was he?"
Darcy's expression, if possible, darkened further. After his discussion with Flitwick, he had hurried back to Hogsmeade to see if he could gather more details. When he had failed to see Wickham in the streets, he had gone into Madam Puddifoot's. He had been filled with such rage at seeing his Elizabeth dancing with Wickham he had turned and made a hasty exit before he could make a scene that would cause more problems than it would solve.
"He is definitely endearing himself to the female population," Darcy ground out.
Fitzwilliam looked his cousin over keenly and seemed on the verge of asking a question before reconsidering. "Did you find out what his business is?"
"No," Darcy grudgingly admitted.
"How long he's been here?" Fitzwilliam tried again.
"Less than a week," Darcy answered. "He was not here the Saturday past."
"Are students to be about this upcoming Saturday, as well?" Fitzwilliam asked.
"Every weekend," Darcy confirmed.
"Blast! If it weren't for that, we could just wait for him to run up debts, buy them, and deal with him that way."
"There is another way," said Darcy.
Fitzwilliam raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to allow me to curse him into the afterlife?"
"He's joined the militia," Darcy said after allowing himself a moment to smirk at his cousin's dark humor.
"The militia?" Fitzwilliam repeated, jumping out of his seat. "This is wonderful! I've some connections that can surely be convinced to change Wickham's assignment. I can get him sent to tend to a unit on the front, though I would hate to put those poor Muggle sods under the protection of his self-serving wandwork. Perhaps I can instead get him sent to a colo – You said he was talking with students?"
"Yes," Darcy answered, rather confused by the abrupt change in thought.
"And Bingley's at Hogwarts now too, yes?"
"That's correct," Darcy answered. "He may have conversed with Wickham at some length. I'm not sure."
Fitzwilliam began putting his outer robes back on. "Go talk to Bingley and get all the details you can from him. I'm going back to the Ministry to talk with my superiors about this. Don't worry; I won't give them any explicit details. They trust me well enough that my word should convince them. We'll meet back here in two hours."
Darcy walked out of the inn with his cousin, watched him disapparate, and then set off for Hogwarts at a quick pace. As he walked, his thoughts began to spiral out of control. He had worked so hard in the past year and a half to bring some semblance of normalcy to his and Georgiana's lives. Now that normalcy was on the verge of collapsing, all because George Wickham had reared his cursed head again.
Darcy's thoughts had begun to turn to the darkest corners of his mind when he heard a familiar, comforting sound. He grasped it like a lifeline, using it to pull himself back to safety. As his eyes landed on Elizabeth, her head thrown back in laughter, he found himself surprised he had already gotten back to Hogwarts. Before he could think through the consequences of his actions, Darcy changed direction to head for the eldest Bennet sisters.
"Darcy!" Jane called, waving as he approached. "Good morning! Have you been off grounds?"
"I went through the required channels before making such a venture, Miss Bennet, I assure you," Darcy answered.
Elizabeth crossed her legs and pulled a book into her lap, thus hiding her face from Darcy. He longed for her to look up. Seeing her smile always improved his mood, and he needed that now desperately.
"You look unwell, Darcy," Jane said concernedly. "Is everything alright?"
Darcy chose not to answer. "Have you any idea where Bingley is? I saw the pair of you and assumed he must be nearby."
"No, I am determined to give Lizzy my undivided attention as much as possible today," Jane said with an affectionate smile towards her sister.
Elizabeth looked up from her book to return Jane's smile, and Darcy felt his shoulders relax slightly.
"Did he give you any idea of how he intended to pass his time?" Darcy asked. "I should like to talk to him as soon as possible."
"I'm afraid I can't give you an answer," Jane said. "What is it you need to discuss with him? Perhaps I could be of some assistance."
Darcy looked across the grounds as he considered his options. Bingley could be any number of places: the library, the Quidditch pitch, the Hufflepuff common room, an empty classroom. He checked his pocket watch. Half an hour of his time was already gone. He did not wish to waste what was left looking for Bingley when he very well may not find him in enough time to get all the details required. "May I sit?" he asked finally.
Jane touched her sister's knee and the two shared a conversation conveyed entirely by small changes in facial expressions. Finally, Jane gestured to the grass in front of her.
Darcy settled himself and tried not to fidget with his hands or the grass. Despite being in such an open space, his current predicament felt rather intimate. He even began to wish he could receive some comfort from Elizabeth, which led to his problems slamming back to the forefront of his mind.
"You met a man in Hogsmeade yesterday," Darcy started.
Jane nodded. "Wickham."
Darcy chose his next words carefully. "Did he happen to state his business?"
"What concern is it of yours, Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth asked with raised brows.
Darcy suddenly felt as if he had been punched in the gut. Had Wickham already gotten into Elizabeth's head? The thought of her siding with Wickham made him feel physically ill. He attempted to swallow, but his throat was dry. "I am acquainted with Mr. Wickham," he said finally.
"I've heard," said Elizabeth.
Darcy bit his tongue to keep from making a reply in anger. So Wickham had gotten to her. He would have to navigate that mess at a later time. Right now, he had to concern himself with Georgiana.
"Would you share with me your interactions?" Darcy asked Jane. He did not think he could bear to hear of Elizabeth recounting her dance with the cad. "Please," he added quietly. Had he been looking at Elizabeth, he would have noted her expression of shock at his last word.
Jane set about explaining that Wickham was on a recruitment mission with no specified date of completion. She continued with the tale of how Wickham was already familiar with her family, as he was with a company of Muggle militia quartered at Meryton for the winter.
Darcy found himself incredibly grateful the Bennet sisters were all at Hogwarts. He did not care to think of what might have happened had they been home for Wickham to prey upon.
"Might I ask how you are acquainted with Mr. Wickham?" Jane dared to inquire.
Darcy might have refused, had he not glanced at Elizabeth to see her at rapt attention. He considered his explanation carefully. "His father was my father's steward. We grew up together, but have since grown apart."
"And your current interest in him is due to what?" Elizabeth asked.
Darcy grit his teeth. He could not refuse Elizabeth, especially since she so rarely directly asked him anything. "We have some business that I believed was concluded, but may need to be revisited.
"Has there ever before been a recruiter come to talk to Hogwarts students?" Darcy plowed on quickly before Elizabeth could ask further questions.
Elizabeth and Jane looked at each other, again exchanging a silent conversation, before Jane replied, "No, there hasn't been."
"With the various political upheavals, I'm sure the Ministry is simply looking ahead in a rare moment of clarity," Elizabeth said with a snort.
"Did Wickham give the impression of sticking around for long?" Darcy asked. Had circumstances been different, he would have loved to engage Elizabeth in a conversation on politics. She surely had fresh, interesting views to offer.
"I would say yes," Jane replied after a moment's consideration.
"Did he say anything about coming onto the grounds, or is he to conduct his operation at Hogsmeade?"
"Merlin's beard, I hope he keeps to Hogsmeade," said Elizabeth. She then threw her hand over her mouth as if she had not meant to say as much aloud.
Darcy snapped his gaze to Elizabeth, hope welling in his chest. Maybe she was not in as much danger as he thought. He looked intently into her eyes, begging her to elaborate.
"I should hate for Lydia and Kitty to lose all the progress they've made toward being sensible creatures by coming into contact with a man in uniform," Elizabeth said quietly after looking between Darcy and her sister several times.
Jane laughed lightly and made a reply to her sister, but Darcy did not catch it. Elizabeth was worried about her sisters' reactions. Not about Wickham himself.
"Tell me, Mr. Darcy," Jane asked after a few more words with her sister, pulling the man from his thoughts, "what can you say of Mr. Wickham? So far, it has been us providing all the details."
Darcy drew his brows in confusion. Never had he heard Jane be so direct. "My dealings with Wickham are a private matter, and I should like to keep it that way."
"And why is that, Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth asked. Her tone was light, but Darcy could sense great danger, should he reply incorrectly.
"I am a private person, Miss Elizabeth," he finally settled on. "I do not like to bandy my dealings about so they might become fodder for gossips."
Darcy looked down at his watch, and so missed the shocked and affronted expression on Elizabeth's face. He stood as he stowed his watch back away. "Thank you, for answering my questions," he said to the sisters. "I must be off again, however. Enjoy the rest of your day."
"As if we should gossip about him!" Lizzy fumed once Mr. Darcy was out of earshot.
"I doubt we are the ones he's concerned about, Lizzy," said Jane lightly, dipping a quill in ink.
"But it was we who asked, and we he denied," Lizzy insisted.
"At no point in time – in common occurrences, anyway – is a person required to share more than they would like, Lizzy," said Jane. "Darcy may share what he wishes with whom he wishes and withhold the same.
"Why should you care, anyway?" Jane continued. "We've agreed not to trust Wickham, and that it was incredibly inappropriate of him to say all that he did to you."
"Curse your ever-sensible mind, Jane," Lizzy said sullenly. "Can't you simply be upset with me?"
Jane chuckled. "Lizzy, if I were to be upset along with you, you would do something impulsive and foolish."
Lizzy turned her head toward Jane so quickly her neck popped. "Me? Foolish?"
"Yes," said Jane, only half paying attention now, as she was tending to an Astronomy chart. "You like to jump to conclusions, Lizzy, and that often results in the formation of stubborn opinions based on only part of the truth. Foolish, indeed."
Lizzy stuttered for a few moments. "Perhaps I don't like this new, forthcoming version of Jane that will point out a person's flaws!"
Jane smiled sweetly as she glanced up from her Astronomy. "A person has to know their flaws, Lizzy, to fix them."
Lizzy allowed herself a few more moments to stare blankly at her working sister before sullenly returning her attention to an essay.
"There, I've spoken long enough," said Darcy to his cousin after relating the highlights of his conversation with the Bennets. "It is your turn, now."
Fitzwilliam, upon returning from the Ministry, had refused to say anything, thus forcing Darcy to launch into his tale. The entire time Darcy spoke, Fitzwilliam had sat with his elbow on his knee and his face in his hand.
"Miss Bennet will be pleased to hear that Wickham is not currently permitted on Hogwarts grounds, nor is any other member of the Magical Military Unit, for the purposes of recruiting," Fitzwilliam said to the floor.
"I gather your meetings did not go well," Darcy ventured.
"They neither went well nor poorly," Fitzwilliam sighed. He rearranged himself so he was slouching in his seat, but able to see his cousin. "I had no success in getting Wickham removed from his current assignment. My superiors believe I am too close to the situation, considering how long I've been cursed with knowing the man, and have ordered me to keep away from him, for the time being. They have, however, assured me that they will begin an investigation into possible debts and other disgraces to the uniform as regards Wickham within the next twenty-four hours."
"You trust they will actually do this?" Darcy asked after a moment of pacing and processing.
"If I didn't, would I be here speaking with you right now?" Fitzwilliam asked dully.
"Will they investigate his dealing with Muggles, also?"
"Most definitely," Fitzwilliam answered. "We are supposed to protect the Muggles we are assigned to, as well as Muggle communities at large."
"And his punishment?" Darcy asked. "When they discover all his debts and his latest illegitimate children?"
"General Matheson has been looking for men to take to Australia," said Fitzwilliam. He kicked his chair back onto two legs and had a mildly pleased look upon his face, now. "It's been a struggle. There are, currently, no wizards among the military there, and the magical natives can do remarkably fierce things without the aid of a wand. Until a solution can be created, the assignment might as well be a death sentence."
"Well I should infinitely prefer his blood be spilt by some criminal, which would be exceedingly fitting, or by a native than by you," said Darcy. "I should hate for you to mar your soul with murder."
Fitzwilliam raised an eyebrow. "Just what is it you think I do for a living, Darcy?"
"Apparently, not what I thought," Darcy quipped. "How long do you think it will be before he is given his new assignment?"
"I'd wager less than a fortnight."
"Excellent," said Darcy. "When you return to London, please convey my demands that Georgiana not be left unattended at any moment. I imagine Wickham will become like a rabid dog when he hears of his new assignment, and I will not give him the opportunity to sink his teeth into Georgie again." The last was said with such ferocity that anyone but Fitzwilliam would have cowered away.
"Of course," said Fitzwilliam with a nod of acknowledgement. He and Darcy both knew Wickham was very likely to act in desperation and spent the next hour predicting what might happen and how to take preemptive counter measures.
"Should I be in Hogsmeade this Saturday, do you think?" Fitzwilliam asked.
Darcy deliberated for several moments before answering, "I think not. Should Wickham see you, he will know his time is running short. He likely still thinks he can manipulate me, that I have sympathy for him or care for him on my father's behalf."
"And do you?" Fitzwilliam asked.
Darcy's face hardened. "I do not."
"Good," said Fitzwilliam, slapping his thighs and rising, "because his future is a bleak one and I should hate for you to lose sleep over it."
"It is his own doing," said Darcy. "He has had opportunities the average person could only dream of, and he cast them aside carelessly."
"Keep telling yourself that truth, Darcy," said Fitzwilliam in all sincerity, staring into the eyes of his cousin. "Though you may hide it from the rest of the world, I know how much you truly care about people, how you constantly wish them to have opportunities to do better."
"I am well aware of the fact that Wickham has only used the opportunities my family has given him to harm others," Darcy said in reply, his face like stone. "He is a disease that must be eliminated."
"And yet you insist I be denied the pleasure of eliminating him," Fitzwilliam teased, content with Darcy's assurances.
Darcy smiled grimly. "He does not deserve the distinction of being killed by you."
Fitzwilliam puffed out his chest and put on his most pompous air. "Very true, old boy!" he said in a most exaggerated manner. "I am a decidedly distinguished person. As such, I have wasted too much of my time on such a lowly being as yourself. I must demand that you take your leave!"
Darcy rolled his eyes at his cousin's theatrics. "Do be careful not to hit your overly large head on the door on your way out." More seriously, he added, "Remember, Georgiana is – "
"Not to be unattended," Fitzwilliam finished, still in character. "I, as a man of such distinction and merit, shall, of course, be certain my ward is looked after most attentively. Be gone with you, man!"
As Darcy made his way back to Hogwarts, he wondered how he might introduce Elizabeth to Fitzwilliam, so she could teach him his own insignificance. Despite the amusement that the thought of Elizabeth setting down Fitzwilliam gave, Darcy dismissed it thoroughly before long. Fitzwilliam was much more socially apt than Darcy, and Darcy did not particularly like the idea of Elizabeth bestowing her smiles and laughter on his cousin.
Two weeks had passed since Lizzy had first seen Mr. Wickham. Unfortunately, she had been forced to endure him at Hogsmeade since. While she had first been cautious of him on Mary's insistence, his succeeding behavior had made her mistrust turn to true disgust. Not only was Wickham continually attempting to garner the sympathies of Hogwarts students by bemoaning his past, but he spent an inordinate amount of time with the female population. Considering the nature of what his business in Hogsmeade ought to have been, Lizzy was greatly upset by this.
"Oh, calm down, Lizzy," Siobhan chastised. "Spends all day with men, he does. Who can fault him for some flirting?"
"I can," Lizzy came back with harshly, "especially when he is flirting with those that are underage when he is decidedly not so."
"He's only two and twenty," Siobhan said with a shrug. "He's not that much past our age."
"The differences between a seventeen-year-old student like yourself and a man of two and twenty out in the world are more significant than you think, Siobhan," Lizzy argued. "He's here, supposedly, to get more men to join the ranks of the magical military. I doubt he could name more than five people meeting such requirements, but I am willing to bet good money he could name nearly all of the sixth and seventh year girls."
"Missish," said Siobhan. "That's what you're being."
"Perhaps so," Lizzy conceded. "But I would rather be missish than be taken advantage of."
Siobhan rolled her eyes and made her way to Wickham to exchange greetings.
"Some help would have been nice," said Lizzy, rounding on Josephine and Phoebe.
"You know we agree with you, Lizzy," said Josephine.
"Dealing with your temper is bad enough," said Phoebe, with a great deal less tact than Josephine had been attempting, "we don't want to deal with Siobhan's, also. We've all seen what she's like when she lets loose."
Lizzy pursed her lips in irritation.
"There's that temper," said Phoebe teasingly. "Come, Jo, let's get her some food, before her ire is further raised by hunger!"
Lizzy rolled her eyes and allowed herself to smile as she was ushered into The Three Broomsticks by her friends.
"Lizzy!" Jane called, seated with Bingley. Lizzy made her way over and sat, along with her friends. "Charles has just had the most wonderful idea," Jane gushed once all were settled.
"Do tell, Bingley," said Phoebe. "I've hardly ever seen Jane in such a state."
Lizzy rather agreed, and looked her sister over carefully to notice a certain light in her eyes and a slight tinge of pink in her cheeks. She raised her eyebrow at Jane, whose blush deepened, but she did not shy away.
"I have decided that, upon returning to Hertfordshire for the holidays, I shall throw a ball at Netherfield," Bingley declared.
Lizzy broke into a wide grin. She felt confident Bingley and Jane would share some monumental news at the event. "That sounds wonderful, Bingley," she said in all sincerity. "The neighborhood shall be even more enamored of you. They may even refuse to let you leave after providing them with such entertainment."
"I believe I could make such an arrangement work," said Bingley good naturedly.
"Your ball will be in the Muggle style, then?" Josephine asked interestedly.
"There are hardly enough witches and wizards in the area for it to be otherwise," Bingley answered.
Lizzy looked skyward, already knowing what was about to happen.
"I should find it ever so fascinating to attend a Muggle ball," said Phoebe wistfully.
"It would be a great practical application of things learned in Muggle Studies," Josephine agreed.
"I should be happy to grant you such an opportunity," Bingley said with a great smile. "You must come, of course! In fact, I think I shall insist on each of the Bennet sisters inviting a particular friend."
"Well, Lizzy, who shall it be?" Phoebe asked pointedly while Josephine raised an eyebrow.
"Lizzy, of course, shall be permitted two guests," Bingley said with a laugh. "I won't be the cause of strife between her and her closest friends."
Struck by a somewhat cruel thought, Lizzy said, "It would be strange for me to have two guests while my sisters only had one. Perhaps Caroline could be convinced to have Phoebe or Josephine masquerade as her guest."
"An excellent notion, Lizzy," Bingley agreed. There was a certain light in his eyes that told Lizzy he understood her intentions perfectly. Caroline currently spent most of her time with Aquila Black, a particularly unpleasant person that would, undoubtedly, ruin the festivities with her presence.
Unsurprisingly, conversation among the table centered solely on the upcoming ball.
"Zebulon!" Josephine greeted when he approached the table. "We've just been discussing the most delightful thing – "
"I'm sure you have been, and that you'll tell me all about it," Zebulon interrupted. "That'll have to wait. Put down that fork, Lizzy. You're wanted."
"For what?" Lizzy asked suspiciously. She was rather enjoying her meal and was not eager to have it disturbed by bad news.
"Wickham started going on about his dueling skills," said Zebulon, rolling his eyes. He, along with many other sensible young men, had become rather irritated with Wickham's cries for sympathy and wondering eyes in regards to their female classmates. "Naturally, we challenged him. He's agreed, but says he'll only duel once. You're our chosen champion, so let's go."
A smirk crept onto Lizzy's face. She was happy to put Wickham in his place, and knew she was quite capable, as did her classmates. They were all also aware, however, that being defeated by a woman would be that much more humiliating for Wickham, considering how well he believed himself able to manipulate them.
Lizzy wiped her mouth and stood. "I shall be happy to accompany you, Zebulon."
"Lizzy, I do not think this is a good idea," Jane cautioned.
"I shall be back before my food grows cold, Jane, and none the worse for wear," said Lizzy soothingly. "This is a common occurrence amongst incompetent duelers. They boast of their skills and, when challenged, say they shall only fight once in the hopes that some poor sod as incompetent as themselves will volunteer on an impulse. I'm sure Wickham is already very nervous with the fact that deliberation was made as to his opponent."
Jane huffed and rose from her seat with an uncharacteristically stubborn expression. "If you insist on engaging in a duel, I insist on being there."
Lizzy raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise, but then shrugged and accepted Zebulon's escort. On Lizzy's instruction, they quickly located Flitwick, who was chaperoning that day, so she could obtain his permission to duel. He easily gave his approval. Though he did not say so explicitly, Lizzy was sure Flitwick knew Wickham would not present much of a challenge or any danger to someone so competent as her.
"Ah, there's our champion!" Albert cried when Lizzy came into view on Zebulon's arm. The duel was to happen just outside Hogsmeade, assuring no innocent passersby would be hit by a wayward spell.
"Lizzy?" Wickham said in surprise. "Lizzy is your champion? The girl's so slight a simple levitation charm would do her in!"
"That's 'Miss Elizabeth' to you," Albert snarled, turning on Wickham.
"I assure you, Mr. Wickham, that I will not be blown away by a gust of wind," Lizzy said calmly.
"I had thought to duel a future colleague," Wickham tried again.
"And perhaps you might have, had you been willing to duel more than once," Lizzy countered.
Darcy journeyed to Hogsmeade in record time. He had been prevented from getting to the town on the previous weekend owed to his attention being needed at Pemberley. His departure had been delayed this morning by urgent letters from his steward and a communication from his Aunt Matlock. He had rather hoped for news from Fitzwilliam, but such had not come.
Darcy had become remarkably more irritable than usual since Wickham's arrival in Hogsmeade. In fact, he had hardly spoken to another human except to ward them off in the past two weeks. Occasionally, he heard Wickham's name spoken by others, and, try though he might to do otherwise, he always shot a burning glare at those involved in the discussion. His one consolation was that he had not heard Elizabeth speak the most accursed name.
"…had you been willing to duel more than once."
Darcy raised his head and turned in the direction of the voice carried by the wind. Before long, he came upon the sight of Elizabeth standing across from Wickham, surrounded by several sixth and seventh year boys. Jane stood a little off to the side with Bingley.
"What is the meaning of this?" Darcy asked harshly, joining Jane and Bingley from behind.
"It seems Wickham's been bragging about his dueling skills, and has been taken up on the opportunity to demonstrate. Lizzy's been chosen as his opposition," Bingley supplied.
"Is that wise?" Darcy asked. He desperately wanted an excuse to interfere. Wickham would lose, and he would not take it well.
"Lizzy can handle herself," said Jane, her gaze steady upon her sister. "She's so stubborn," she added angrily.
"You spoke correctly, Jane," Bingley soothed, "as did Lizzy. She'll be fine."
"I'll take Thomas as my second," Wickham declared with a smirk, pointing at Zebulon. "Who will yours be, then?"
"I shan't need a second, Mr. Wickham," said Elizabeth sweetly. She took up position the required distance away and removed her wand from her sleeve in a decidedly unbothered fashion.
Darcy felt as if there was an invisible rope tied to his person, pulling him toward Elizabeth. Her calm in the face of such a situation was incredibly endearing and just one more thing to add to the list of reasons he wanted her.
Albert Bentham volunteered to oversee the duel, stated the expectations clearly, and positioned himself appropriately.
Jane's hand suddenly shot out and grabbed Bingley's tightly. Bingley smiled slightly and squeezed her hand in reassurance.
Darcy, though intent on watching Elizabeth, witnessed the entire exchange between the couple beside him and felt a flare of jealousy.
"Engage!" Albert finally cried.
Elizabeth attacked with the quickness and strength Darcy had become quite accustomed to through the course of their dueling lessons. That Wickham was surprised by her skill was evident, and he lost quite a bit of ground. The smile he had upon his face fell, and he grit his teeth as he planted his feet and began to take the duel seriously. Unfortunately for Wickham, his initial lackadaisical approach had significantly handicapped him and made gaining the upper hand nearly impossible.
After a mere minute, Elizabeth stood with two wands in hand, barely breathing heavier than normal.
"Well, Wickham, you gave it your best," said Zebulon with barely concealed sarcasm, "but you just weren't a match for little Lizzy Bennet."
"I'm sure she'd be willing to go for best out of three," said Albert, looking at Elizabeth in question.
"Certainly," said Elizabeth, beginning to make her way to return Wickham's wand.
"That won't be necessary."
Everyone present turned to observe the person that went with the new voice.
Darcy felt a smile of grim satisfaction slink across his face. Major Fitzwilliam had arrived, flanked by four other members of the magical military. The blood drained from Wickham's face.
"Who might you be?" Albert asked, stepping in front of all his classmates, wand hand in his pocket.
"Major Richard Fitzwilliam, at your service, sir," said Fitzwilliam. "I'm afraid I shall have to deprive you of the pleasure of seeing this young lady duel Lieutenant Wickham a second time, as he is needed elsewhere."
"What?" Wickham burst, color returning to his face in the form of an unflattering red.
"Yes, Lieutenant Wickham," said Fitzwilliam with a slow smile. "You've been reassigned. I am here to take over recruiting." He held a letter bearing a general's seal up for all to see. "General Matheson has ordered your assistance."
Wickham paled again, then looked to the group around him as if hoping for help. When his eyes landed on Darcy's hard face, he closed his hanging jaw and had the nerve to display a pleading expression.
Darcy responded merely by turning his head away.
"Matheson," said Albert thoughtfully. "Isn't he the one headed to Australia next month?"
"The very same!" said Fitzwilliam cheerfully. "Keep up with military news, do you?" He gestured to the men behind him, then approached Albert to better engage in conversation.
"I won't go!" Wickham declared as Fitzwilliam's men converged on him.
Fitzwilliam's pleasing air dropped in an instant, and he looked every inch the harsh military commander his position required. He took even, measured steps until he stood directly in front of Wickham. "Well, Lieutenant, you have before you two choices," he said icily. "You can follow your orders or you can desert and be hunted down like an animal, then face the penalty for desertion, and you know what that penalty is."
"I'll get you for this," Wickham hissed, looking first at Fitzwilliam, then at Darcy.
One of the men surrounding Wickham punched him in the gut as he scolded Wickham for disrespecting a superior officer.
"Take him way, gentlemen,"' said Fitzwilliam in an unconcerned fashion to those under his command. "Tell General Matheson I shall be along shortly with the lieutenant's wand."
Without any further ceremony, Wickham was grabbed firmly by the arm and disappeared with Fitzwilliam's officers.
"I am terribly sorry for this whole ordeal," said Fitzwilliam to the group at large. "I should have liked to deal with this all in a quieter fashion, I assure you, but discoveries as to Lieutenant Wickham's habits made his immediate removal from the students of Hogwarts an absolute necessity."
"Bring him back," said Zebulon. "I'd like a chance to punch him, too."
Fitzwilliam laughed. "I do not doubt it." He turned his attention to Elizabeth. "You have his wand, do you not?"
Elizabeth held out Wickham's wand without complaint.
"That was some fancy wandwork on your part, I must say," said Fitzwilliam as he pocketed the offered artefact. "You're not, perchance, a Metamorphmagus, are you?"
Elizabeth laughed. "I am afraid, Major Fitzwilliam, that I am simply myself and do not possess the capabilities of turning into a man at will. You shall have to make do with trying to convince Albert and Zebulon to join your ranks."
"Well, I suppose being a woman fits you admirably," said Fitzwilliam with an exaggerated sigh. He looked around the group at large. "Darcy, is that you?" he asked, as though he had not noticed him before.
Darcy barely refrained from rolling his eyes as his cousin strode toward him to shake his hand. "Some notice of your impending arrival would have been appreciated," he said pointedly.
"You know how I like to keep you on your toes, dear cousin of mine!" said Fitzwilliam gaily. A glint in his eyes told Darcy there was more to the story that would be told later. "Now, where is my new little brother? I should so dearly love to see how he fares at Hogwarts." He turned and clapped Bingley on the back. "Good to see you, Bingley!"
"Richard," Bingley greeted.
"Is this the brother, then?" Albert asked, arms crossed as he moved to stand next to Zebulon.
"No, my older brother recently married Adelia Malfoy," said Fitzwilliam.
Darcy noticed Elizabeth glancing between himself and Fitzwilliam at this knowledge and felt somewhat relieved as understanding settled on her features. Now that she knew of his unfortunate relation to Malfoy that he could not help, perhaps she would be better able to understand why he had not yet made advances to her.
"You, related to Malfoy?" Zebulon scoffed. "I feel sorry for you, mate."
Fitzwilliam smiled at Zebulon. "I should like to get to know you better, I think. Do consider making yourself available for lunch next week."
"My future's spoken for," said Zebulon, raising his hands as if to clear them of the business. "You might have some luck with Bentham here, though."
"Is that so?" Fitzwilliam asked, quirking an eyebrow at Albert. "Well, I shall consider the pair of you an excellent challenge and hope to see you Saturday next. Unfortunately, I must be off now. It was certainly a pleasure to meet all of you. Especially you, Miss -?"
Elizabeth smiled as Fitzwilliam extended his hand to her. "Elizabeth Bennet, Major Fitzwilliam. It was a pleasure to meet you, also."
Fitzwilliam, ever so suave, kissed Elizabeth's hand, then made his general goodbyes before requesting a moment alone with Darcy.
"You seem miffed, Darcy," said Fitzwilliam with an annoying gleam in his eyes.
Darcy, unconsciously, looked over his shoulder at Elizabeth's retreating figure.
"I thought that might be it," said Fitzwilliam gleefully. "Go after her, man! She is clearly a woman of sense, and not at all displeasing to look at! She'll certainly keep you on your toes, if her dueling is anything to go by."
"She is also the daughter of a Squib and a Muggle," said Darcy, turning back to face his cousin. "Not to mention her family's estate is entailed away and she has several relatives involved in trade."
Fitzwilliam became serious in an instant. "And those are your only problems?"
"We both know how she would be treated by Aunt Catherine and, regrettably, your own parents," said Darcy lowly. Now that he had finally begun unburdening himself to someone, he felt immense relief and a desperation for help to sort his thoughts out.
"Aunt Catherine shall think poorly of anyone that is not Anne," said Fitzwilliam unconcernedly. "As for my parents, give me the week to confirm a suspicion of mine. I shall not tell them of your interest in the lady, or any lady in particular, rest assured. If I am correct, however, and I often am, I think you will be pleased with what I can tell you."
Darcy tried to quash the hope he felt rising in his chest. He did not want to think of what pain it would cause him to allow himself the belief that he would have the support of his Aunt and Uncle Matlock in pursuit of Elizabeth, only to discover it was a lie. "When is Wickham to be sent off?" he asked to reset his mind.
"You heard that Bentham fellow," said Fitzwilliam. "Matheson is to leave next month. Wickham will be under constant supervision until then."
Darcy frowned. Wickham would still be on English soil when Hogwarts let out for the holidays. Now that Elizabeth had humiliated him in a duel, Darcy feared he would seek retaliation.
"I've requested, and been granted, daily updates on Wickham's whereabouts and actions," said Fitzwilliam. "If he's to try anything, I should have enough advanced notice to stop it."
"See to it that he's not given even an inch," said Darcy.
"But of course," said Fitzwilliam.
The cousins shook hands, and Fitzwilliam disapparated.
Author's Note
So... what do you think of the encounter with Wickham? What did you think of Fitzwilliam?
