Chapter 20: Conspirators Revealed
Author's Note: Once again I apologize for the lateness of this chapter, hopefully you all won't have to wait another month for the final two. Enjoy!
Dumbledore and Samuel tiredly walked down the halls to Samuel's office. Samuel carried a rolled up piece of parchment under his arm and his briefcase in the other. Several professors were waiting on the two as they entered the office. After setting his briefcase on the desk, Samuel sat down in his chair and began rubbing his temples.
"That bad?" Gene asked.
"Oh yeah." Samuel replied. "I'm sure you people would like to hear the list, and I know I'm just dying for some peace and quiet so here we go."
Samuel stood up and unrolled his parchment, and adjusted his glasses. "Hannah Abbott, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Jim Albin, Lisa Turpin, Sarah Porter, Pansy Parkinson…" Samuel read several more names off the list and then shook his head.
"Most of those are fifth years." Professor McGonagall commented.
"I'm glad you noticed." Samuel said. "I thought that a bit odd myself, except that was the year Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley were inducted. I also found it quite odd that none of these children were children of death eaters."
"Why would fifth years be recruited?" asked Professor Longfellow.
"That might have been relatively easy, with all the events that year." Samuel replied. "Virtually no one but those three were recognized for anything they did that year, or the two following. Neville Longbottom, being the most notable exception. Two of these students on their second year told me they had helped Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey with the curative necessary to cure the victims of the basilisk. I'd be a bit miffed, and wanting some attention myself. I'm surprised that many of these students are from Hufflepuff, and so few are from Slythern."
"I didn't hear Draco Malfoy's name mentioned." McGonagall said.
"I'm not surprised." Samuel said. "I wouldn't recruit Malfoy either, he'd expect to be in control because of his father. Besides, few students here can match Malfoy in raw power anyway. I'm not certain that he would have joined even if he were recruited, there'd be little to gain. Anyway, I'm really sorry but I have an excruciating headache and I need some rest. There will probably be a bunch of students needing counselling as soon as the announcement is made."
The professors in Samuel's office stood up and left. Dumbledore shook Gene's hand and left the room. Samuel reached into his desk drawer and retrieved a small medicine bottle labelled "Aspirin" and took two of the little white pills. After a few minutes of rubbing his temples he looked up to see his father still sitting in the chair in front of his desk.
"Are you going to explain to me what happened to Remus?" asked Gene.
Samuel nodded. "You know how I can move stuff with my mind, and manipulate shadows?" he asked.
"Yes I've seen you do it, and many other things. Opposite you call it?" Gene replied.
"Well I think I got it from you." Samuel said.
"I can't move things with my mind." Gene replied.
"Not all Opposites could. You sure have a knack for negating magic though. You've sucked the magic out of several things here, kept many students from casting spells." Samuel said. "I'd imagine you've got some other hidden talents as well."
"You're saying I drained the magic out of those things that messed up when I touched them?" Gene asked. "Where did it go?"
Samuel chuckled. "I'm not sure if you drained it or negated it, or changed it to something else. It seems to be completely unconscious on your part."
Gene nodded. "Can you prove it?"
Samuel nodded and pulled out a small wooden ball from his drawer. "This is something the Weasley twins gave me. Looks like a wooden ball right?"
Gene nodded. "I suppose it bounces."
Samuel held the ball about half an inch over his desktop and dropped it. The ball started bouncing higher and higher until it was bouncing off the ceiling. After a few moments the ball was bouncing so fast it was barely visible. Samuel caught the ball and repeated the bouncing several times.
"Catch it." Samuel said.
Gene reached under the ball and caught it in his hand. "Feels normal."
"Drop it." Samuel said.
Gene dropped the ball on the desk, and it hit the desk and started rolling off. Samuel picked the ball up and dropped it several times. "See it's dead." Samuel said.
"What does that have to do with Remus?" asked Gene.
"Lycanthrope is a magical affliction. When you touched him you sucked the magical part out. You left him with an ability similar to Sirius' ability to turn into a dog. That's also why when you touched Sirius in his dog form and he turned back to his human one." Samuel answered. "At least that's my theory, and it seems to be correct."
"So he really is a werewolf." Gene said.
"He's an extremely powerful one now."
"I see. Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Gene asked.
"We weren't sure, but it's obvious now." Samuel replied.
"We?"
"Minerva McGonagall, and myself." Samuel said, with a shrug.
"What other abilities might I have?" Gene asked.
"That will take some time to figure out." Samuel said. "I can help you with the magical negating though. I'm not very good at it, but I can help."
"Seems to me like we only have a few days." Gene said.
"We'll begin tomorrow, I need my sleep though. I'm sorry." Samuel said with a smile.
"That's alright, I'm almost finished in the Chamber. I can get Elanus and James to help more." Gene said. "You have much more to worry about. Get some sleep."
"Thank you."
Gene left the office, and Samuel made his way back to the Gryffindor tower, stopping only occasionally to tell the students he'd be occupied for several hours. He found his quarters, and removed his robe and slipped into bed. He slept for several hours before being awakened by James as he entered the room.
"Quiet down." Samuel mumbled.
"Sorry." James said. "Dad told me to tell you that your sword is nearly ready. Maria is looking for you as well."
"Alright." Samuel said. "Tell dad I'll be down in a little while, and tell Maria I'm sleeping a headache off. I need about an hour's more sleep."
"I'll tell them, I'd go find Maria as soon as you wake up though."
Samuel nodded groggily and turned over on his side and fell back asleep. James quietly left the room. After an hour had passed Samuel woke up and went to the student bathrooms and cleaned up. He quickly dressed, and made his way to the kitchen, where a house elf brought him a mug of coffee, and a few leftover rolls as he had slept through supper. He located Maria outside the castle, practicing with a few students. The sun was just beginning to set and the students were already filing into the castle. Samuel stood watching the students practice their fencing. Maria looked back and noticed Samuel and nodded.
"Alright, pack up." Maria said. "It's getting late."
The students nodded and removed their masks. After they had packed their epees up Maria sheathed her practice rapier and walked beside Samuel back to the castle.
"How's your head?" Maria asked.
"Better, it's been quite a day." Samuel replied.
"Yeah, I heard you fought a monster, interrogated several children after we caught them, and then dealt with several professors." Maria commented.
Samuel nodded. "What did you need me for?"
"To tell you some of my older students are ready to defend the school if need be." Maria replied.
"Students shouldn't be put in harm's way." Samuel said. "Besides we have reinforcements coming."
Maria stepped in front of Samuel. "What if they aren't enough? If the castle is breached, the students will be in danger. Even if they get out, how far do you think they can make it? Those that are able, might as well help."
"They could be killed."
"They'll be killed if the castle is breached anyway."
"I know, I know. Voldemort really just wants Harry. He'll need people willing to defend him." Samuel replied.
Maria nodded. "I'll tell them."
"You've already told them what's happening?" asked Samuel.
"Yes, several of them found out about the captured students." Maria said. "What was I supposed to do?"
"You did the right thing." Samuel replied. "The announcement will be made Monday."
Maria and Samuel walked into the castle and parted ways. Night finally fell and the castle was quiet. The following Sunday was the longest the professors had ever experienced, the anxiety was almost tangible among the professors when students started asking about their friends. The faint sound of hammer fall was heard echoing up from a certain bathroom, and Gene sweated as the finishing touches on a magnificent blade. The hissing of steam was heard followed by a sigh of satisfaction, and the sound of hard felt on metal. Finally a grinding sound, accompanied by the sharp smell of heated steel. Gene attached an elaborate wood and metal hilt to the blade and held it up. The sword was ready.