Anything from the Harry Potter Universe belongs to JKR. Other than that, I made it all up. Angst/Anxiety/Drama. AU. Enjoy.
Rated M for language and situations.
Previously on A Riddle With Another Name 17: Aftermath
Jackson was at a loss. As far as he was concerned, Bertie had gone round the bend. "I think you should go into the dorm, have a lie down and consider yourself very fortunate that Professor Dumbledore was not in his offices when you made your ill advised visit. Before you do that, I'd like to say we've discussed certain matters and come to the conclusion we would do whatever would be done together. I personally think Zach has rubbed off on you. You want to be super sleuth by yourself and possibly get hurt. Forget it. Malfoy and Riddle won't get away with anything, but whatever punishment we decide to inflict on the blighters will be done as a team. A team Bertie as in you, me and Butters. Anyway, I think you're barking. There is probably some other explanation for Riddle's absence like he has dropped dead somewhere in the Slytherin common room."
Bertie smiled. "One can only hope. I'm sorry I interrupted your relaxation time with this bullshite. Go have your lie down. I'm going to have a quick word with Madam Hooch."
"Don't do anything stupid Bert. We have a team."
"Understood mate. We have a team. I'll see you later."
/*/
Jackson watched as the door closed behind Bertie knowing his hard headed mate would accost Malfoy or Riddle if he got the chance. Sighing, he got up from the couch hurrying to catch up with his mate. Even though Bertie had a powerful wand hand, he couldn't let his best mate do something stupid like walk into a dangerous situation alone. He was part of the team.
/
/
A Riddle With Another Name 18: Bertie Is Back
"Oi Bert! Wait up." Jackson shouted as he hurried to catch up with Bertie.
Bertie turned to face his mate. "I thought you wanted a lie down yet here you are chasing me down. Go back to the dorm Jackson. I'm going to have a conversation with Madam Hooch nothing else."
"I'll accompany you. I can have a lie down later. Beside, I have my eye on Madam Hooch. I want to check if she wants a walk around the Black Lake this evening."
Breaking out in a wide grin, Bertie gave Jackson a shove. "Hahaha Jackson good one. I'd like to see you approach the good Rolanda in an inappropriate manner. She would separate you from those withered walnuts you call balls with one wave of her wand while shoving her Silver Arrow up your arse."
"Hahaha. I know. However, she is so lovely I'm willing to take the chance."
Giving Jackson another slight shove, Bertie just shrugged. "Fine. Ogle Madam Hooch as much as you like, but stay out of my way. There are matters I want to get sorted with her."
Jackson let out a soft sigh. It was confirmed. His mate had other ideas in his head. What those ideas were he could readily imagine. Hard headed git. "Although I'm glad for the exercise, I must speak on something I heard."
"And just what would that be?" Bertie asked as he continued along at a fast pace.
"For one. You have asked for the Quidditch meeting to be postponed until next Saturday. For two. Madam Hooch only remains at Hogwarts the weekends Quidditch meetings, tryouts or games. Right now, Rolanda is probably securely ensconced on a stool in The Three Broomsticks trying to pick up some strapping wizard."
Bertie stopped in his tracks and howled. "If you weren't one of my best mates in my same House, I'd give you fifty demerits and a weeks detention for speaking so rudely about our Quidditch coach who possibly could be securely ensconced on a stool in The Three Broomsticks. Just so you know, I did plan on speaking to Madam Hooch until you reminded me of what I'd forgotten. Now what shall I do? Perhaps I'll…."
"If you say stroll into the Slytherin Dungeons, I'll hex you myself. Let's just stop by the kitchens to see if Crawlie is working. If he is, we can snag ourselves a sandwich and a piece of pie, return to the common room to discuss the witches we like to ogle."
"You're an arse Jackson. I don't want a sandwich or a piece of pie and I don't ogle witches. I walk right up to them and speak."
Jackson shrugged. "Fine. You don't have anything better to do so accompany me to the kitchens where I will get a sandwich and a piece of cake."
"Alright mate. You've worn me down. Let's get to the kitchens, after which, you will take your arse back to the common room and leave me in peace."
Jackson let out a long sigh. "Alright Bertie, I can do that. I do need to put my feet up to rest my legs for my previously mentioned walk."
Turning around to head to the kitchens, Bertie muttered to Jackson. "If I'm correct, neither you nor your partner will be on those legs for long."
"Shame on you Mr. Robbins for casting aspersions on the name of the comely witch who will be taking a stroll with me."
"Really? The knickers will hit the ground less than ten minutes into the walk. Change my mind." Bertie replied with a smug smile covering his face.
Tapping the side of his nose, Jackson changed Bertie's mind. "The lovely witch I am walking with tonight is a fairly new acquaintance. She and I will do nothing more than walk and talk. Perhaps the knickers will hit the ground next walk."
Waving his irreverent mate off, Bertie headed to the kitchens at a very fast pace.
/*/
Dumbledore and Fawkes landed softly back in Dumbledore's office. They had only been gone an hour because Albus had come to his senses. He was Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts. He didn't have the luxury of falling into a snit.
"Back to my senses then Fawkes. I need to arrange additional seating as my detention will be full. So sad Fawkes. I have some of the best behaved Gryffindors serving detention while two of the most despicable students to cross our doors have been allowed to walk around free." Albus hesitated for a moment. "I'm stretching the truth a bit Fawkes. The despicable two will serve detentions just not tonight. Now that I'm relatively calm, I can begin to plot Dumbledore's revenge which must be done with all stealth and caution."
Fawkes let out a soft squawk as if in agreement.
"I can always count on you my friend. My students will be here shortly so Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Riddle will have to be set aside for now."
Fawkes let out another soft squawk as he did a quick turn on his stand then covered his head with his feathers.
/*/
Per instructions, Zach, Trevor and Aiden met up with Bert, Jackson and Butters in the common room. They would all go to Dumbledore's detention together. Jackson gave some last minute instructions which Zach, Aiden and Trevor had heard before. They were to stay together. No one would veer off for anything. Once in Dumbledore's office, no one would speak unless spoken too and lastly, they would bring quills and an ink bottle just in case.
As soon as Jackson stopped speaking all three First Years ran to their dorm room sporting red faces. None had thought about quills and ink.
Jackson grinned silently as he turned to look first at Butters then at Bert. "Hahaha. Got to keep the little miscreants on their toes. Won't they be surprised when Dumbledore hands out parchment, quills and ink."
Both Jackson and Bert smiled at Jackson's nonsense but became quite serious when Zach, Aiden and Trevor returned to the common room. The little miscreants did need to be kept on their toes.
Butters made a gesture towards the door. "Let's go then. Professor Dumbledore expects us to be on time."
Bert had one last statement which surprised the trio. "If any of you step one foot out of line, I will hex the shite out of you right in front of the professor. Let's go."
As sharp as Bert's words were, Zach, Aiden and Trevor answered simultaneously.
"Yes Bertie."
Butters and Jackson went into a silent fit of giggles. No matter how harshly Bert spoke to his little soldiers, they were happy he spoke to them at all.
Acting the total arse, Butters softly remarked to Bert's back. "Yes my king."
Bertie gave the two finger salute behind his back and kept walking as though he hadn't heard Butters.
They were off to detention.
/*/
As scary as it was to be going to Professor Dumbledore's office for detention, and as sharp as Bertie's words had been, the three young friends were happily glancing at each other. None had to speak. All three knew what the looks were about. Bertie, their Bertie, their king had spoken directly to them. Perhaps he had forgiven them.
/*/
Knock, knock, knock.
Horace Slughorn began muttering as he headed to his rooms door. "So the high and mighty Dumbledore has gotten over his snit and wants to talk. Maybe I don't feel like talking.
"Who is it?" Horace called out in a cranky voice pulling open the door.
"It's me professor Garrett Avery."
Surprise surprise. It wasn't Albus after all.
"What can I do for you Mr. Avery. It's Friday afternoon. Shouldn't you be somewhere dawdling in a corridor?"
This isn't good thought Avery. Professor Slughorn seemed to be in as foul a mood as Tom. However, he pushed the thought out of his head. He was on an errand and might as well get on with it. Pulling the box from under his cloak, Avery extended his hand.
"I have a gift for you professor."
Still in a less than stellar mood, Horace snapped off a reply as he reached for the box. "A gift? From whom? Why?"
Avery was at a loss for words. Tom had told him to deliver the package but hadn't mentioned anything other than the professor would know who sent it.
"It's from an admirer."
It was definitely a bad day because Horace snapped again. "Don't try to be clever Mr. Avery."
Avery sighed, damned if he did, damned if he didn't. "Tom has sent a gift to his favorite professor. He wanted you to be surprised, but, there you are."
A gift from Tom? Horace felt himself going red. The brash Mr. Riddle was making him even more complicit in what he was sure had been a miscarriage of justice. He had been bought and now was being paid off. Tom knew his weaknesses, all of them. However, sugared pineapple was his favorite sweet which he wouldn't be turning down.
"Alright then. Please extend Tom my regards with thanks."
"Yes professor." Avery replied automatically, backing away a few steps before turning to head back to his common room mumbling as he went.
"Yes professor. Certainly professor. Of course I'll give Tom your regards and thanks just before he curses me into oblivion because I mentioned his name. Lovely, just lovely."
/*/
When Avery returned to the dungeons, he headed straight for Tom's rooms noticing that all the upper years were milling about. Then it clicked. Tom had called a meeting for 7:00 pm sharp. No one wanted to be late. From the sound of it, it wasn't going to be a cozy chat. Never breaking stride, Avery continued to his Master's rooms where the door opened before he could knock.
Tom gave Avery a direct stare but didn't say anything. Avery was at a loss. Should he speak or should he wait? He waited but waiting only irritated Tom.
"Well Gar-rett. Did you deliver my gift without problems?"
"Yes Tom."
Tom glared.
"Yes Master. The gift has been delivered."
"Excellent."
Avery started to reveal he had shared Tom's name, but Merlin or someone was looking out for him. Before he could speak, Tom spoke.
"Old Sluggy will be very happy when he opens the box and sees who it is from. He's always pleased when he knows I'm pleased. It never fails. Now. It's coming up on 6:15. Go gather the idiots and get them to the Black Lake. Every one of them better be there before I get there. Go. Now."
"Yes Master." Avery mumbled, scrambling towards the door trying to get away before Tom could ask for another favor.
/*/
At 6:00 pm sharp, the five Gryffindors were at Dumbledore's office door. Before they could knock, the well known voice called out. "Enter."
Zach, Trevor and Aiden hadn't moved fast enough and got a nice shove from Bertie. "Get in there."
Once again, the three compadres answered their king. "Yes Bertie."
Dumbledore stood. With five quick flicks, he conjured a large table with six chairs. "Please take a seat."
Dumbledore was speaking as he moved closer to the table and conjured parchment, quills and ink. "Your instructions for tonight are to write, 'I will not die at Hogwarts' two hundred times. You will not anything other than what you've been given. The ink, quill tips and parchment are self renewing."
Zach, Trevor and Aiden glanced quickly at each other. Jackson had played his little joke on them. They didn't need parchment, quills and ink. Professor Dumbledore had supplied it all.
Professor Dumbledore was still speaking.
"Before you begin, I will remind you one last time that there are factions within Hogwarts that would rather do evil than good. Do not take your safety lightly. If we have to speak on this matter again, rest assured you will be expelled from Hogwarts leaving you free to pull your shenanigans at some other school."
All six backs straightened up. None of them wanted to hear the word expelled. They didn't want to go to another school. They were attending the greatest magical school in existence, Hogwarts.
"Have I made myself clear?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Yes professor."
"Yes sir."
"Clear sir."
"Alright, you've been warned. There will not be any need for discussion. Begin."
/*/
Two hours later, the six Gryffindors were on their way back with sore hands. As they walked up the stairs, Bertie made a few remarks.
"Expelled is a big word. I hope you heathens listened to what Professor Dumbledore had to say. I know your hands are sore. When we get back to the common room, come to my dorm room. I'll set you right."
Even though their hands felt like they were falling off, the three First Years grinned at each other. Bertie was addressing them directly. Their punishment was over. All three replied in concert.
"Okay Bertie."
Jackson and Butters who were bringing up the rear had to strain to keep from laughing. Bertie and his boys were back on good terms.
/*/
As they entered the common room, Butters and Jackson drew their wands and immediately healed their hands before hurrying to the bathroom for a quick wash and pee. The only thing on their minds was their dates and a walk around the Black Lake.
Bertie could finish chastising Zach, Trevor and Aiden all by himself.