Chapter Seventeen
Contemplating Suspects
It wasn't long before Severus got an update, for when Harry Potter returned with Vallid from the States a week later, he had immediately gone to see the Imp, and as usual had a certain knack for getting such creatures to speak with him. It was Friday during his first year class that a note arrived for Severus, stating that Harry would meet him at Hogsmeade the next morning to speak of it. Severus, who was debating whether or not to go at all since Jennifer had to stay, decided he could at least attend long enough to find out whatever it was that Harry had for him, and perhaps even stay to take care of another matter that he had been contemplating for some time.
He regretted his decision to go when he woke the next day, for it had gotten very cold the night before. Jennifer must have slipped out of bed at some point while he was sleeping, for nearly every window was open and blowing in the icy air. Jennifer herself was so tightly wrapped around him that Severus wasn't quite sure just how he managed to slowly pry her away without waking her. He very reluctantly slipped out of bed, waving the windows shut. He gazed at her for a long time before letting out a long sigh and getting dressed, quite irritated that he couldn't stay and spend a quiet day in their rooms.
There was already a bustle in the Great Hall as students began to come down for breakfast, chattering excitedly about the trip. Severus still had reservations on whether or not this trip was truly a good idea. He paused only long enough to mutter to Corey and slip a galleon in his pocket before walking towards the staff room.
"What was that all about, Corey?" Taylor wanted to know after they got done eating a few minutes later.
"Dad doesn't wanna be seen going in to Honeydukes to buy chocolate frogs for Mom," Corey whispered to him. The two of them had a good chuckle.
"Yeah, I can see that, after how many times he's condemned them," Taylor grinned.
"I can't wait until we can get Essie in there! She's going to totally love it at Honeydukes," Corey grinned. "Hey, I wonder where she is, anyhow? She wasn't at breakfast."
"Hey guys!" The two of them looked up to see Danny hurrying over to where they stood outside the hall. "Sorry I'm late, but I had to take care of something for my cousin. Family business," she explained. Corey and Taylor glanced at each other. They knew any time she said that they wouldn't get any details of what she meant. "Any sign of Doug?"
"Who cares?" Corey glowered. But the other two ignored him.
"I saw him just before breakfast in the courtyard talking to that mouse of his," Taylor sighed. "I say, I wish he'd talk to us."
"I agree, Taylor. Corey, don't you think this thing between the two of you is getting a bit out of hand?" Danny said. "Have you even tried explaining to him what happened?"
"Like he'd listen! All the sudden he's been accusing me of intentionally getting in his way. He even told Gail that the only reason I rejoined sparring was to spite him, but really, that's not it at all," Corey complained, revealing how upset he really was over the ongoing war. "I don't know what to do, Danny. But I don't think this 'he'll get over it in time' thing is going to happen. He really thinks I'm doing things just to make him look bad."
"That doesn't sound like he's angry at you, Corey," Danny said thoughtfully. "It sounds more like he's angry himself."
"Why would he be angry at himself because of what I did at that stupid Quidditch game?" Corey asked.
"Maybe it's not really about the game?" Taylor suggested. Corey frowned at that, suddenly concerned about his wayward friend. "Corey, you're one of the most popular guys in school, and you always have been. You ace any test that doesn't have essays in it because of that memory of yours and hardly ever have to study. You have professors as parents, and nine times out of ten, you get away with just about anything you want to do. Things just always go your way. Maybe he's feeling a bit upstaged?"
"Oh come on, Taylor, aren't you exaggerating a bit? I mean, Danny is top student, after all, not me, not to mention the best Seeker since Potter. You are keen at writing in a way I couldn't even dream of being myself. And Doug…" Corey had to think a moment. "Doug has a way with women," Corey said finally. "Nobody has had more study dates with more girls than he has. He's a charmer."
"Yes, well, the problem with that is, you could be too if you wanted to be," Danny said.
"Especially Katie, since she's had a crush on you since first year," Taylor said. "And she still won't go out with Doug."
"Well if it's about Katie, I can talk to her about him."
"No, Corey, it's more than just that," Danny said. "Maybe he does just need some time apart to, well, figure out who he is."
"If only he didn't seem to think he needed to be angry at me to do that," Corey said with a sigh.
Essie rushed back to her room to finish getting ready for her first Hogsmeade trip and found Angela sitting on the bed waiting for her, already bundled with her coat and scarf on.
"You'd better hurry. I don't want to miss the bus," Angela said as Essie hurried to get her coat. "What in the world took you so long?"
"I'm sorry, he's just so lonely right now. He needed someone to talk to," Essie explained, grabbing her scarf.
"Essie, he spent all afternoon studying with Gail yesterday, and has a date to spend today with Lisa at Hogsmeade," Angela reminded her sternly. "I don't think he's lonely."
"He is for his friends," Essie explained. "I need to find a way to get them back together again."
"Well if you ask me, I think the whole thing going on between Corey and him is just plain silly. What they need is just to duke it out and get it out of their system," Angela said.
"Wouldn't that just make things worse?" Essie said in surprise.
"Nah, they're men. Beating each other up is what makes them bond," Angela explained as they headed downstairs. "At least, that's what my father always says when my three older brothers start brawling."
"I don't think I'll ever understand men," Essie said, hurrying after her.
A light snow drifted in a soft wind as the students headed off the bus, quickly racing to be the first in line to their favorite shops. Corey quickly joined Essie, just as eager for her to be there as she was, and pretty soon, Essie, Angela, Corey, Danny and Taylor were all off to Honeydukes, chatting excitedly.
"Just let me know if you see anything you want, Essie, I have to pick some things up for Craw and I'll have plenty of change left," Corey grinned.
"Can we go to the joke shop next?" Angela asked.
"Sure, Angela. It's best to hit Honeydukes first thing, though. It packs up pretty full right before noon," Corey said. "We can hit Dragonwing Deli for sandwiches, and then maybe the Brooms later on."
"Corey has it down to a formula," Danny laughed.
"Well, I hate waiting in long lines," Corey explained as they stepped into the shop. Several others were in there trying to beat the crowds, but for the most part, Essie found that she could easily get around, recognizing many of the candies that Corey had got her on previous trips and some she hadn't seen before. Angela seemed to be interested in picking up a bit of everything, while Danny and Taylor stuck mainly with frogs. Just then Essie noticed something creeping across the counter and she squealed, suddenly losing her appetite for candy as she noticed some large, hairy black bugs scurrying on the counter and hiding behind the jars.
"Ah yes, those are new this year, licorice beetles," the clerk said cheerfully. "Lifelike, aren't they? If you eat them whole, they wriggle on the way down too. Care to try one?"
"Er, no thanks," Essie said edging away from the counter, and Taylor and Angela quickly did the same.
"It's only candy," Danny said. "Do they come in any other flavors, though?"
"I think I'll get some for Snape," Corey grinned. "Although I doubt he'll like his licorice quite this animated. Maybe I'll get some for Alex too."
"Any collector cards in them?" Taylor asked.
"Not yet, but I haven't given up hope," the clerk chuckled.
Angela bought quite a few of them as well, but Essie decided to just stick to things that didn't wriggle. Bags in hand, the five of them went towards the joke shop. Across the street near the Three Broomsticks, Essie, who had been discreetly looking around for any signs of Doug, saw him and Lisa sitting on the steps outside the Three Brooms, sipping on something that reminded her of root beer floats. But it was somewhat obvious that Doug wasn't having much fun, because Liam and Casper were hovering nearby, the two of them watching the couple with obvious suspicion. Poor Doug, Essie chuckled to herself. It was bad enough having to worry about dealing with an overprotective brother without having to worry about him being a Slytherin to boot. Danny noticed them as well, waving at them. Lisa smiled and waved back, along with Doug.
"I never thought Doug was the type to date a Slytherin," Corey said coolly, not even looking in their direction.
"I never thought I was either," Taylor put in defensively, not liking the tone Corey's voice and taking Danny's hand.
"Let's not bring houses into this today, alright?" Danny said, frowning at Corey. "Don't forget what the Hat said."
"I don't forget anything," Corey pointed out as they headed into the shop, "But I doubt the Hat was advocating a 'why don't we all just get along' policy from that silly rhyme."
The small shop was packed with wares and students alike, some of the shelves color -coded to make things simpler on the students.
"It's really simple, Essie. Green labeled things are things that haven't been banned from Hogwarts. Yellow are things you need to be a certain age to buy them, usually fifteen, and red means they're banned at Hogwarts. You can still buy them," Corey explained, "but you have to sign this sort of contract that you won't use them on school property. And once you sign it, everything you buy that's red has your name magically written on it, so if you do get caught, you're really caught," he said ominously.
"Could you get some things off the yellow shelf for me, Corey?" Angela asked hopefully. Corey grinned.
"Sure, Angela. Just get what you like," Corey said. "What about you, Essie?"
"I'm going to the green section," Essie chuckled. "I take enough chances as it is."
"Really, like what?" Corey asked curiously.
"Oh, uh…being late to class and things like that," Essie said quickly.
"Well, she's definitely late for class a lot," Angela agreed. Essie gave her a dirty look.
"So are you. Is it my fault the Defense room is so far from the Divination room? And who can't help to be late for Sinistra's class, it's so hard to wake up in the middle of the night for Astrology." Corey chuckled.
"Yeah, I was always late for that class too," Corey grinned, glancing at the red shelf. "Hey, look! It's WWW Exploding Bubble Gum! When did the shop start marketing the Weasley twin's stuff?"
"Neat, maybe I can get some Fizzling Potion Pellets," Danny said, looking. "Aw, those are on the red list too."
"Looks like everything WWW in the shop is on the red shelves," Angela noted. "I'm getting some wizard crackers." As she turned to head towards the back of the shop she noticed someone ducked on the other side of the shelves, trying to make a swift exit. "Victor Greisley! What have you got in that sack?"
"Mind your own business," snarled Victor, who suddenly made a play at looking something off the bottom shelves and putting it back. "Or do you want me to tell the professors that you're getting older students to buy things you're not supposed to have?"
Corey looked over then, a dangerous spark in his eye.
"I'd stop while you're still standing up, Victor," Danny suggested warningly. Greisley looked between them a moment before resuming his walk towards the door, making a face at Essie and Angela the moment his back was turned to Corey and Danny.
"I really ought to fry that little twit," Corey said when he left.
"He can be a pain at times," Danny admitted. "But he doesn't have the best family life in the world. Leave him be, Corey."
"Don't worry, Corey, we can handle it," Angela insisted, still glaring at the door. But Essie couldn't help but wonder if Angela was saying that for her own benefit or Greisley's.
It was as they were leaving the shop and wondering what to do next when Taylor suggested they get sandwiches and walk to the Grove for lunch.
"It's not as cold now that the sun's up, and I really would like to see how the trees are coming along," Taylor said.
"I doubt they'll look like much this time of year," Danny said, "But then I doubt anyone else will be in the Grove in this weather, so at least it'll be quiet."
"What's the Grove?" Angela asked.
"It's a garden of trees they planted where Salazar's Tomb used to be," Corey explained. "It's really pretty in the summer. But ever since it was put there, folks have thought that Keki's Grove is a bit, well, odd, somehow."
"In what way?" Angela asked curiously.
"I don't know, no one has ever really said," he shrugged. "Come on, let's go get some sandwiches." As they walked down the street, Angela paused, looking over at two men in front of the Three Broomsticks.
"Is that Harry Potter standing with Snape?" Angela asked. She'd only seen him briefly once before, at the dance after Craw was poisoned.
"Yeah, I wonder if he's found out anything about Mom," Corey said, waving in their direction. Harry waved back at Corey, and then Snape squinted at him, making a gesture for him to come over.
"You guys get us a spot in line. I'll be right back," Corey told them, walking to where Snape and Harry had stepped to the side, away from the main crowd going in. "Need me for something, Professor?" Corey asked hopefully.
"No, but I want you to stay alert. It seems that Malfoy lost his case against the Beard Wand yesterday and he's quite likely to be in a foul disposition. I'd rather you didn't accompany Nelson today," Severus said.
"But we were all going to go to the Grove for a picnic," Corey protested. Severus stared at him.
"In this weather?" he asked suspiciously.
"Mom would have gone over there, if she'd been here," Corey said.
"I'm not even going to go into this now," Severus snapped, loudly enough that several of the students nearby hurried rapidly past them. He lowered his voice. "And you have a lot to learn about trying to subtlety when you're trying to manipulate someone. Don't let your guard down, and meet me back here in an hour, is that quite understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"You know the way back if you get in trouble," Severus said, but Corey knew it wasn't a question. Nodding, Corey headed back to his friends, Severus' eyes watching him thoughtfully a moment until he noticed Harry looking at him with an amused look on his face. "Problem, Potter?"
"We'd better go get a seat before we get crowded out," Harry suggested, going inside and towards the back and up the stairs to the balcony overlooking the main floor. "At least we don't have to worry about Lucius in here. Rosmerta would spark fire before letting him in here again."
"Never mind about that, tell me what you found out about the Imp," Severus said, looking around suspiciously before sitting down. "Who was it working for?"
"I haven't found that out yet," Harry sighed softly. "And I'm not quite sure the Imp can help it. It's like whoever's controlling it has a blind control over any Imp that comes within range, rather like Quirrell had with the trolls."
"Yes, only that trolls have so little brain power they aren't exactly hard for anyone to control," Severus frowned. "Some Imps are quite intelligent."
"This one was definitely no exception. Not to mention he was quite sure of itself, to the point that if it was released, it'd probably turn on whoever it was in a heartbeat if it could," Harry said. "There is no one registered in the Ministry with the ability, not even in the old Mystery files."
"No, I'm sure whoever had this ability would have kept it to themselves," Severus brooded. "Did he know anything about the Ladle?"
"No, not at all, he was only concerned with finding the Tome," Harry said, "In fact, he seemed quite intent with trying to find it before someone else did. You'll never guess who," Harry said sarcastically. Severus squinted at that.
"Malfoy?"
"Whoever sent the Imp doesn't particularly like him," Harry nodded.
"Yes, that narrows the field down, doesn't it?" Severus said sarcastically.
"I'm also fairly sure the Imp had nothing against Jennifer. It did finally admit to nearly drowning her, but said it was only trying to get her out of the way when she tried to stop him," Harry said. Severus' look turned to one of complete surprise. "It wasn't personal," Harry added more cautiously, realizing from the unnerving expression appearing on the other man's face that he hadn't been told about that. "But there is one thing I can definitely say for sure. There is more than one person working against us. I don't think the same person that tried to kill Jennifer is the same one that has been sending these Imps." Severus leaned back in his chair, his frown deepening and a hand going to his chin in consternation. "Another thing, the Imp didn't seem to know where to look for the book…"
"Yes, and whoever broke into my office knew exactly where to look," Severus said. "Which means that whoever searched my office and whoever poisoned Jennifer must be someone in the school…" Severus said softly, not truly wanting to believe the obvious conclusion. He gazed at Harry to see the same dark look in his face as well. Severus gazed at his ring and flipped up his watch. "I should get back."
"I'm sure she's not in any danger at the moment. No one would attempt to go after her now with so many watching out for her," Harry pointed out.
"More than half the school and most of the staff are here today, anyone inside the school would know that," Severus said, getting up and putting on his cloak.
"What about Corey? Should I give him a message?" Harry asked. Severus stopped short indecisively. Glancing at the ring, he sat down again.
"No, there's something important I need to do here," Severus frowned, tapping his fingers in frustration.
"You know… I haven't seen Jennifer since she's been out of bed. I'm sure she'd love some company right now," Harry said, getting up. Severus' expression changed dramatically. "I think I'll go get Ginny and head up to the castle for a bit. Let Sirius know where I went if you see him?" Harry said.
"Since when do I look like a post owl?" Severus asked gruffly. "Fine. Do that. But this still doesn't mean I like you."
"Anytime," Harry grinned, knowing that was the closest thing he would get to a thank you, waving to Rosmerta on his way out of the pub. Rosmerta continued on her way towards the table, a lopsided smile on her face as she saw Severus lurking in the far booth in perfect view of the floor below, shaking her head slightly as she put a glass of Black Anise wine on the table.
"Reliving your bachelor years today?" she joked. "You know, several of the professors have already established a table downstairs..."
"Yes, and I remember what happened to me the last time I made a display of where I was in this establishment," Severus scowled, amusing Rosmerta all the more.
"Well, your sister's looking for you. Should I send her up, or are you hiding from her too?" she asked.
"Of course send her up," Severus said, peering over the side with a frown not having seen her come in.
"You got it," Rosmerta said, her smile widening slightly. "And would you tell your wife for me she's due a free drink next trip? It'll be worth it just to see her walk in the door again. Well, I'd better go see if my brother's arrived yet. Enjoy the drink," she added warmly, heading downstairs.
It wasn't long after that Anna came up the stairs with only a glass of water in hand as she made her way over to his table and sat down, looking tired and cranky. But Severus, having seen Jennifer look this way three times before knew better than to comment on it, and decided to veer away from the topic of her health altogether.
"Good morning. Where is that dolt of a husband of yours today? I have a message for him. Apparently I've become everyone's messenger service today," Severus grunted.
"Sirius had another work emergency," Anna said with irritation. "He's been getting called away day and night at every hour with complaints of wizard houses revealing themselves to Muggles. It's gotten to the point between my work and his work that we don't see each other at all."
"Perhaps you shouldn't be pushing yourself so hard anyhow, considering…" Severus checked himself and took a sip of his wine, but Anna's eyes were already flashing at him.
"Considering what? You don't think I'm capable of anything either, is that it?" Anna snapped. Severus sighed.
"You're not carrying just your own, Anna," Severus reminded her sternly, "and it's bound to make you a bit unstable if you're overstressed…"
"Unstable?" Anna said furiously, standing up. "You think I'm unstable? At least I have an excuse! At least I don't lurk in corners wearing black morning, noon, and night and criticizing everyone for things I have no business in!" she yelled at him, turning around and stomping down the stairs. Severus frowned, his eyes on her as she slammed her water down on the counter and stormed out the door.
"I knew I should have stayed in bed today," Severus grumbled to himself, taking one last sip before heading down, deciding someone had better look after her. But he was instantly distracted when he saw Dumbledore standing near the bar talking to Rosmerta and decided to update him on what he'd found out so far.
Ice glistened like crystal on the leafless trees in the Grove, their trunks all nestled in blankets of pine needles and peat like sleeping babes. Dark green pines were scattered about along the paths and it seemed, to Corey at least, that they were quite happy to be there, catching snowflakes on their outstretched branches and contentedly watching as students and wizards wandered through. A centaur from the Dark Forest solemnly nodded to the visitors as he paused to check on the saplings, while a myriad of birds, some of them types that Corey had never seen before, chirped softly in the branches above.
"What a magical place this is!" Essie whispered in awe and surprise. And as ironic as that sounded after having been to Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and so many other magic places, Corey couldn't help but to agree. There was a richness about the Grove, a healing calm that seemed to penetrate the skin and exist in the trees and plants around them. Even in the growing winter weather when so many of the Grove's denizens were resting, Corey could never recall being anywhere that felt so full of life; wild and yet somehow friendly at the same time. "What a perfect place for a picnic! It's positively lovely!"
"Hang on, let me transfigure some of these bags into a bench or two," Danny suggested. "Mind you take out anything you want to munch on," she added as they quickly got out their sandwiches. Then she took out her wand, turning their parcels into two long benches. "You know, I haven't felt much like transforming since I came to live with my Uncle," Danny admitted, trying not to think too hard about running as a fox in her father's hunts. "But something about this place wants me just to change and run along the trees, as if it were more natural."
"Yeah," Essie said, and then quickly caught herself. "I mean… I can understand how you might feel that way. Maybe it's just that animals seem to belong here more than people."
"Well, I feel perfectly at home here even being a regular wizard. In fact, the whole place reminds me of Mom somehow," Corey said.
"What's odd is I feel even safer here than I do at Hogwarts," Angela put in, taking a bite of her sandwich. "I doubt anything unsavory could get in here if they tried." Just then, Danny heard her name called and she groaned, taking a large bite of her sandwich before stowing it away.
"I think my cousin's heading this way," she explained, getting up.
"Well, that blows that theory," Corey snorted, getting a dirty look from Danny.
Danny then turned and waved to where Draco was coming up the path. But Draco didn't seem to have the relaxed expression that the others had gotten when they entered the Grove. In fact, he looked quite uncomfortable.
"I should have known you were hanging around this crowd again," Draco frowned. "Good thing Father can't get in here or he'd probably be getting even more irritated than he is already," he said, shooting a glance at Corey who was glaring back at him.
"He can't get in?" Danny asked. Taylor got up so she could turn the bench that was made from her parcels back to normal.
"Every time he tries, the path disappears and trees block his way," Draco shrugged. "He told me to come fetch you."
"Sounds like the Grove likes your dad about as much as the Beard Wand does," Corey said.
"Nobody asked you for your input, Willowby," Draco said.
"I'll see all of you later, if not at the Brooms, then back at school," Danny waved. Draco nodded curtly to Taylor and Angela, ignoring the other two entirely as he and Danny walked back down the path.
"Guess us Muggle bloods aren't good enough to nod to," Corey said with distaste at the obvious omission.
"Shows what he knows then, I had a Grandmother who was a Muggle," Angela said cheerfully, taking another bite of her sandwich. Just then Corey got up, waving to the others.
"Where are you going?" Taylor asked suspiciously.
"I'm going to see what Malfoy is up to, of course," Corey said.
"I wouldn't. Uncle Severus won't like it," Essie warned him.
"But Malfoy can't get in," Corey grinned. "So if there's any trouble, I can just Apparate in here and he won't be able to touch me."
"You don't have your license yet. You're going to get into trouble again," Taylor warned him.
"Stay here with Angie and Essie, Taylor. I just want to see if I can find out what he's up to," Corey said, hurrying down the path. The other three shook their heads.
"And I thought you got into a lot of trouble," Angela said to Essie. Taylor looked over at Essie thoughtfully.
"Never compared to Corey," Essie protested, nibbling on her sandwich.
Corey crept up to the edge of the Grove, but they were well away from it by the time he caught up and were walking in the direction of the sport's shop. Well, Corey certainly had a valid reason to be in there, he grinned, quickly Disapparating and landing to the far side of the building and slipping in ahead of them, taking a moment to stare at the new broom models near the window. It was as they approached that Corey slipped to the back, and he felt an odd sense of déjà vu, remembering the first time he'd seen Lucius in there. It had been before he had found out that he was Danny's uncle, and what a shock that had been. But oddly enough, as unlike her uncle and her cousin that Danny was, Corey couldn't help but notice as he came in that she very much looked like one of the family, with the same sharp, confident glint in her eyes that the others had.
Lucius himself had an added fire in his eyes and was in no mood to put up with any resistance of any sort. First because of last week when he discovered that Craw wasn't dead after all, and now this week when he lost his case against Grendelbane. Provoked indeed! One spell on its cabinet and they consider that provoked? Well, there were other ways to get even, he reminded himself, and Beowulf would surely help him find financial ways to do it.
"Here we are, sir, the best line of sparring gloves that we have," the manager said, bringing out a case. "Especially designed to improve grip and steady the hand."
"My niece has a steady hand, Mr. Marks, but a little improved agility never hurt," Lucius said evenly. Sparring gloves? Corey didn't know they were allowed to wear gloves.
"Ah yes, I know exactly the ones you mean," Mr. Marks said brightly, picking out one of the supple leather gloves and holding it out to Danny to try on. Danny did so, glancing in the mirror as she tightened them, whipping out her wand and pointing it at her reflection with lightning speed before nodding to her uncle.
"Very well, those will do, but do you have them in black? I don't think those would go with her uniform." Lucius said. Corey rolled his eyes. Suddenly he noticed that Danny had seen him behind her in the mirror and ducked back behind a stack of Quaffles. "Draco, why don't you go fetch your friend Amadeus? I think you should give him one of these for Christmas, don't you?" Lucius said, tapping a pair of the first ones they looked at. "And anyone else you know who might benefit from them," he added.
Corey growled softly in his throat. It was a sure bet that Lucius must have heard that he and Doug joined sparring club again this year, and that along with Perry's win over Amadeus last year was reason enough for him to want to help improve Slytherin's odds.
What sort of victory is it when you have to buy it? Nearly as bad as Draco buying the Sentinels so he could fire the old Seeker so he could play a season, Corey recalled. Justin had wasted no time in leaving and joining a home team, and the Canadian team then had their worst season in years. It was no wonder Draco sold it so quickly a few months ago. In fact, Corey lost track of exactly what it was that Draco was doing now a days. It seemed like no matter what business he bought, he got out of within a year or two.
Corey then began to wonder then if Snape would even let them use the gloves. Probably, Corey admitted. His dad never seemed to mind it when things were stacked in favor of his house. Remembering that he had promised to meet him, Corey skirted around where they had been standing to walk out of the shop. Unfortunately, he had forgotten that Draco had left a moment before, and just as he was leaving, Draco, Amadeus, Wyatt, and Baylor were walking in, stopping short when they saw him come out.
"Willowby? What are you up to? Get out of our way," Draco said, glaring at him suspiciously.
"What do you mean what am I up to? I was looking at brooms, not that it's any of your business," Corey said.
"I thought you decided to quit after that embarrassing display you made your last game," Amadeus said in a nasty tone.
"You had a thought?" Corey said with mock surprise. "I didn't think puppets had their own thoughts, Longbottom. It isn't surprising the one you did have was wrong."
"Listen, you filthy…"
"What is this?" Lucius said from behind him. Corey, who had been clenching his fist to keep from raising his hand, leapt to the side, stepping warily away from him but without turning his back.
"Nothing, just this fool Muggleborn coming out and getting in our way again, funny how he keeps just showing up out of the blue," Draco said, eyeing him warily.
"Yes, especially since I don't recall ever seeing him come in," Lucius said, gazing at Corey who smiled thinly back. "Why don't you boys run along in and pick yourselves out some gloves. I'm sure Draco will sign for you."
"You won't stand a chance this year, Willowby. So much for your comeback," Amadeus sneered at him as he went in with the others. Draco followed up the rear, looking cautiously between Corey and his father before going in.
"I may be mistaken, but I'm quite sure that I've made it quite clear to you to stay out of my way," Lucius said darkly.
"Actually, you told me to learn my place, and my place is making sure that scum like you don't get away with buying supporters to put Ladles in punch bowls for you," Corey said.
Malfoy tsked at him and shook his head with a cold smile of utter distaste.
"So quick to accuse, aren't we? Rest assured, Willowby, if that Ladle hadn't left my hands from the beginning, that deed would have been done correctly the first year she taught at Hogwarts with no one the wiser, and you, you Mudblood mutation, would never been have been 'discovered' at all, and would have died along with the rest of your pathetic Muggle family."
"You son of a…" Someone grabbed Corey's raised hand and a sudden force hit Malfoy, propelling him back into the wall of the shop. Corey stared at him in surprise and looked up to see Anna there.
"You have something to say against Muggles, Malfoy, I dare you to say it to me," Anna said. "But leave my nephew alone."
"How dare you attack me?" Malfoy snarled, reaching for his cane.
"How dare you attempt to provoke Corey, hoping to get him expelled?" Anna retorted. Corey stared at her in surprise, realizing she was probably right. "Don't bother drawing your wand, it's not going to work on me," she said in a tone that Corey had never heard her use before, a steel grey glow developing around her.
Slowly Corey began to back away, unsure of exactly what he was seeing. Then he realized Malfoy was doing the same, slowly moving his hand away from his cane. But Anna didn't look like she had any intention of backing down. "Care to see what a Muggle blood can do when pressed?"
"You may have been raised a Muggle, Black, but neither of your parents were Muggles," Malfoy said expressionlessly. "How is it that you are so ashamed of what you are that you would rather be a beggar over a queen?"
Anna's face suddenly paled as if something had stabbed her. Severus hurried over and already had his wand out, and Lucius looked up, squinting slightly. Severus had arrived just in time to see the odd glow fading from Anna and gave a sharp look at Corey, who was trying to avoid his gaze.
"Might I ask what is going on here?" Severus asked warily, gazing at Malfoy.
Danny, Draco, Amadeus and the other Slytherin out then, their gloves on and chatting among themselves, but the five of them grew quiet when they saw the scene at hand. Lucius turned and nodded to them.
"I was merely shopping for my niece and her housemates, when your waif decided to accuse me of attempted murder. Really, Severus, isn't that getting a bit old? Or did you send the foundling in to spy for you?" Lucius asked evenly.
"Lucius, I am not sure exactly what you did to provoke my sister and my son, and I am not about to get into it in front of students," Severus said evenly. "But I do intend to make one thing perfectly clear. Corey may not share my name, but I consider him as much my child as the others, and he will be referred to as such."
"Very well, Severus," Lucius said with a stiff nod, nudging Danny forward and stepping onto the street, the others following behind. Severus, Anna, and Corey watched from where they were standing. "Remember that, children," he told the students with him. "Corey's now the son of a traitor instead a son of a Muggle. My, he is coming up in the world, isn't he?" Amadeus and Baylor sniggered as they followed behind.
Severus watched them until they got a fair distance away before turning to the other two, blinking when he noticed that his sister wasn't there.
"Where did your Aunt go?" Severus asked.
"She Disapparated a moment ago," Corey replied.
"What do you mean she Disapparated?" Severus said in alarm. "Doesn't she realize she can't do that in her condition?"
"Dad, I've seen her, she does it all the time," Corey said. "She pops in and out of everywhere more now than she used to. I even saw her doing it to skip stairs in Hogwarts before. I thought people couldn't Apparate in Hogwarts?"
"Anna's magic works a bit differently than ours," Severus explained.
"Maybe that's why she can do it while pregnant too," Corey suggested with a shrug. "Does this row mean we're not going to go ahead with the plan now?"
"No, we're still going to get this done," Severus decided, even more determined. "I'm sure she's all right. But I want to know exactly what Lucius said to you."
"I don't want to talk about it," Corey admitted. In fact, he was rather worried about what he would do if he heard exactly what Lucius had said. "Really, it's not important. I just asked him about the Ladle and… well, he implied he didn't have it."
"Of course he didn't, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't know who did,"
"Hey Dad," Corey said, following behind as Severus who had begun to walk back to the Brooms. "Anna can actually Apparate into Hogwarts and out without anyone knowing it, can't she?"
"I already said that, didn't I?" Severus snapped. "Actually, I think Dumbledore may know when she does, but I doubt anyone else would notice."
"Oh, well if he notices that would kill my theory then," Corey decided.
"What theory?"
"That maybe it's another Aethermage getting into the school." Severus stopped short causing Corey to bump into him, staring at him for a long time.
"I think if there were, we would know it by now," Severus said finally, but still wondered why he had never considered the possibility himself. It would explain how all of them would be connected… no, Harry's theory made more sense. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to start taking extra precautions, just in case.
