AN: I was doing research in /Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them/ so I could write about Care of Magical Creatures class, and I came upon a creature that I had to use in the story.
Chapter 7: Salazara
Harry and the Weasley twins were the only remaining members of the team that had captured the Quidditch cup two years ago, but this year they had quickly fielded a strong new team. Ron and Seamus had joined as Chasers, and hoped to replace Ron's brothers and become Beaters the following year. Ron had hit on the idea of using Omnioculars as a training device, and they had adopted it with outstanding success. Because of the instant-replay feature, players could perform a flying exercise with someone else watching through the Omnioculars, and then watch themselves while getting coaching on the finer points of technique.
Fred and George had acted a bit coolly toward Harry since they had both been passed over in his favor when the new Gryffindor Quidditch captain had been voted in. Harry loved being Quidditch captain, but he had to admit that Fred and George had a better grasp of strategy than he did. His strength was flying, not tactics. So Harry drilled his team in flying maneuvers and techniques (he had mastered the Wronski Feint well enough to give a convincing demonstration) and relied on the Weasleys to come up with formation diagrams, explain them, and direct their execution on the field.
Today Fred and George had put up what Harry recognized as someone's old Divination homework. George put on a pair of rhinestone-studded spectacles, studied the sheet for a moment and spoke in the misty voice of Professor Trelawney, their Divination teacher. "According to this chart, my dears, the two Beaters are at opposite ends of the field, one in the house of Saturn and the other in the house of Mars. This is a very serious matter, for it presages great danger for the opposing team. The Keeper has their fate in her hands, as soon as the moon reaches the full."
Fred covered his head with a gauzy silk scarf and murmured, "As you see, the Seeker gains power from the influence of Jupiter, while the Chasers progress from Venus to Mercury with the Quaffle, which will not only score a goal, but also cause all the opposing Chasers to fall off their brooms. My friends, the end is near."
Harry noticed the other team members snorting with amusement, and decided (not for the first time) that the Weasley teaching method was an improvement over putting the team to sleep. Even Ron was still conscious.
When they had finished the day's field drill, Harry asked Fred and George to meet with him in the locker room after the rest of the team had left. Ron, looking much restored after his relaxing morning and an hour of vigorous flying practice, stayed too. "We're at your service, Harry," Fred declared. "That's right, we would never stab you in the back, no matter what our personal feelings are," George assured him. "That's good," said Harry, "because I'm going to step down as Quidditch captain for the time being, and promote the two of you to Acting Co-Captains."
Fred and George looked at each other, stunned. "You're having us on," said George suspiciously.
"No, really," Harry insisted, grinning in spite of himself.
"But why?" Fred demanded. "Ron, is this man serious?"
"Far as I know," shrugged Ron.
"You didn't slip something in his pumpkin juice, did you?" asked Fred of George. George shook his head.
"I have some, er, personal obligations at the moment that are rather pressing," explained Harry, trying not to give away more than he had to.
"Girlfriend trouble?" asked George with concern.
"Not exactly," said Harry. "It's sort of—"
"Trouble with someone else's girlfriend, then," Fred amended. "Didn't I hear something about Ivy Parkinson yesterday? And Draco Malfoy?"
"I wouldn't be a bit surprised," Harry sighed.
"It could end up being serious," Ron put in.
"Say no more," said George grandly. "We'll hold down the fort until things blow over."
"And Harry, all fooling aside, you can trust us to do right by the team," Fred promised.
"I know. At least you take your Quidditch seriously. Though I must say you hide it well," said Harry.
"Well, we have a reputation to uphold," said Fred. "And listen, if you need advice about anything—"
"Girls—"
"Slytherins—"
"Slytherin girls—"
"Or anything else—"
"You can always come to us."
"Yeah, if you want to get into even more trouble," heckled Ron.
"Since you mention it, there is something else I'd like to ask you about," Harry said as casually as he could manage.
"Name it," said George.
"The Marauder's Map," said Harry.
"Ah, the Marauder's Map," said Fred. "You've been taking good care of it, I hope?"
"Not really," Harry admitted. "It's been confiscated twice and I've got it back twice."
George put the rhinestone glasses back on. "Clearly, Harry, the Marauder's Map is your appointed destiny," he trilled in his Trelawney voice. "I've been experimenting with it," said Harry, "and it works fine when I say exactly what you told me. 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' But if I promise I'm up to no good, or vow that I'm planning mischief, or anything else, nothing happens Or at least the map doesn't appear. So how did you figure out exactly the right words to say?"
"Well, Harry, we never told you this, but we had a little help," George confessed in his normal voice, but still peering at him through those silly glasses. "When we saw it in Filch's drawer we knew it was a find, but for quite a while it stayed blank no matter what we tried. Naturally we couldn't go to a teacher for advice."
"Or a student," added Fred.
"Or a family member."
"Who does that leave?" asked Harry.
"Exactly," George agreed. "Who indeed?"
"Or perhaps we should say not who, but what?"
Harry had no idea what they were on about.
"Well, one day," said Fred, "we had a bit of luck."
"To make a short story shorter, somebody in one of the Hogwarts paintings told us what to do," said George.
"But he wouldn't tell us how he knew," added Fred.
"Which painting?" Harry asked.
Fred and George looked at each other. "Can't tell you," George answered regretfully.
"Why not?" asked Ron.
"Because of the rule," said Fred.
Harry and Ron didn't bother asking what rule.
"What rule, you ask," George supplied for them.
"The unwritten rule of passing on magical secrets."
"Which is, don't tell your successor every little thing. Let him figure out some of it for himself."
"Make him work for it a little. Don't make it too easy. He should feel like a part of the process."
"That way sensitive information is less likely to fall into the wrong hands."
"Like Filch's, for example. The Marauder's Map didn't give anything away to him."
"I see your point," said Harry. "And I suppose unwritten rules are the only kind you're interested in following."
"Quite," said Fred. "Written rules are for people with literal minds, who see only the obvious."
"Unwritten rules are for those who look deeper for the meaning of life," put in George, beginning to sound like Professor Trelawney again.
"Well, thanks, Fred and George," said Harry. "You've been almost helpful."
"Any time," said George.
"That's what we're here for," said Fred.
* * * * * * * *
The next morning Harry wrote a letter to Sirius Black, also known as Padfoot and Snuffles, using initials to refer to himself, the Marauder's Map and its makers in case of interception. He deliberately made the letter sound casual and a bit thickheaded.
/Dear S,
I have a question about the MM. I got it back quite recently and I want to know if it is anything besides a M. Hermione wrote a verse on it, not knowing what it was, and then it got wet, and M, W, Pf, and P changed the verse to something nearly the same but quite different. Then they all made remarks about the verse. Can you tell when Pf says things on the MM?
The chaps who gave me the MM said that a painting helped them learn how to use it. Do you know which painting?
I need to know more about W and I thought that the MM might help. Please advise.
Sincerely,
H./
Harry decided it was safe to send Hedwig. She returned with a reply two days later (Monday), arriving with the rest of the morning mail at breakfast time.
/Dear H,
No, I have no direct knowledge of what Pf says on the MM. That Pf isn't the current me, but the me of 25 years ago. The answer to your first question is yes, but I can't give you complete instructions, only clues. When you solve them you will be able to get some of the information you want, but of course it will not be up-to-date. First, you must ask someone who is not human for help. Second, you will find an important clue on page 818.
I don't know which painting your friends are referring to, but I can make a good guess.
What sort of things do you want to know about W? I might be able to fill you in.
As ever,S/.
Harry puzzled over this letter for a while, chewing his pancakes pensively, and then passed it on to Ron and Hermione. Ron said, "I guess Snuffles knows the same unwritten rule as Fred and George."
Hermione asked blankly, "Page 818 of what?"
"I was going to put you in charge of figuring that one out," said Harry hopefully.
"An offer she can't refuse," said Ron.
"Time for another meeting," said Harry quietly. "Tomorrow afternoon. Ron, will you get Ginny to give a message to Ivy during Potions class?"
"So you're going to invite Ivy to our next meeting?" asked Ron, also in a low voice, after looking around to make sure no Slytherins would overhear him.
"She has information we need," Harry pointed out.
"And she already knows a lot about what we're doing," Neville added.
"She plays a mean game of chess too, but that doesn't make her trustworthy," Ron objected. "She hangs around with that Malfoy scum."
"And she admitted that she might be spying on us for her own purposes," Hermione chimed in. "I must say I don't exactly like it."
"If she is," said Harry, "we won't be able to stop her by leaving her out."
"I don't think we should leave her out," said Neville. "I have a feeling that we need her. Not just for information. She knows what she's doing, and she wants to help."
"She wants to help her precious Uncle Severus, you mean. Well, if we were putting it to a vote, we'd have two in favor and two against," said Ron. "Where does that leave us?"
"I think we should leave it up to Neville," said Harry, "but if you want to break the tie, we could ask Hagrid what he thinks."
Ron thought about that for a minute, then shrugged. "Okay," he said, "I guess I'm outvoted. Don't come crying to me when it backfires."
* * * * * * * *
"So the next thing I need to do is talk to someone who's not human," said Harry. The five of them were at Hagrid's again, and he had filled them in about his conversation with the Weasley twins and his exchange of letters with Sirius Black. He had also told them what he knew about the Marauder's Map and its creators.
"Dobby would love to help you," Hermione reminded him. "You gave him his freedom."
"Harry's not that desperate yet," hooted Ron. Hermione frowned at him.
Ivy and Hagrid were looking at each other as if they shared a secret, and wondered if they should spill it.
"You're a Parselmouth, aren't you, Harry? How would you like to talk to a Runespoor?" Ivy asked.
"A Runespoor would be perfect, if I could find one," answered Harry, "but how likely is that? Unless you know something I don't."
"I might."
"Why am I not surprised?" muttered Ron.
Ivy rose from her cushion, and after a whispered consultation with Hagrid, disappeared outdoors. She returned in a few minutes with a three-headed serpent wrapped around her arm. The six-foot length of its body and necks sported imposing black and orange stripes. Fang raised his head, but apparently recognized the snake and didn't consider it a threat.
"Harry, everyone," said Ivy, "Meet my Runespoor, Salazara."
"Isn' she jus' beau'iful?" crooned Hagrid, reaching out to touch the middle head, which moved toward him as if expecting the gesture.
"She's also illegal," said Hermione. "No underage wizard is allowed to keep a Runespoor in Britain."
"Maybe," admitted Hagrid, "but she isn' so dangerous as yeh migh' think. Ivy's got her trained a treat. Usually in Runespoors, the heads don't get on so well, 'cause the one on the right is always criticisin' the other two. Salazara's no different, but at least Ivy's taught her heads not ter bite each other."
"Hagrid looks after her when I can't," said Ivy. "She likes the Forbidden Forest. She finds food there, as well as information. Hagrid reads to her middle head. She understands English, even though she can't speak it. And in return, I let him have her eggs."
"You must be a Parselmouth," said Ron.
"Of course," said Ivy.
"And Hagrid's probably selling the eggs on the black market," said Hermione.
"Lost a few at poker, I reckon," said Ron, and Hagrid nodded sheepishly.
Harry was remembering Ivy's words about Hagrid. He knows things. Important things that most people don't know. "How many people know you have her?" he asked.
"Only my dorm-mates—the fourth-year Slytherin girls—Draco Malfoy, Hagrid, and now you," Ivy ticked them off on her fingers. "Not even Uncle Severus knows about her."
"It's a great honor to be introduced to her, then," said Neville.
"Oh well," shrugged Ivy, "half the fun of owning a Runespoor is being able to show her off. I get a bit tired of having to keep her hidden all the time. Without Hagrid I couldn't manage it. Let me show you a little of what Salazara can do." Ivy addressed her Runespoor in Parseltongue, and Harry understood the exchange.
"/Salazara, what can you see about the people in this room that they would find surprising?/"
The middle head replied, "/One of them owns a wand that is unusual in appearance./"
The left head hissed, "/Ask them to compare their wands, and they will see./"
The right head carped, "/Unless they'd rather not./"
Ivy looked up and said, "Harry, will you translate?" He did, and all of them got out their wands (except Hagrid, of course), passed them around, and studied them with attention.
Ron took Harry's wand and held it next to his own. Suddenly he looked more closely at the business end of Harry's, turning it in his hand to study it from all angles.
"Harry, have you noticed this? The tip of your wand has a scar on it like the one on your forehead. It's even shaped like a lightning bolt."
"Let me see that," said Hermione. She reached over and Ron handed her the wand. "Harry, let me see your scar." Harry obligingly swept back his untidy black bangs, and Hermione held up the wand to compare the two marks. "It's a perfect match, except much smaller," she observed.
Harry had indeed noticed the faint scar on his wand, and he knew what had caused it. He did not, however, wish to discuss it. He had told Ron a very little about what had happened after the third task in the Triwizard Tournament last year, barely mentioning the fact that he had dueled with Voldemort when the dark wizard was newly restored to full power. In fact, very few people knew the whole story. Now he merely said, "Same wizard, same curse," and gave Hermione a look intended to forestall further questions. She opened her mouth, saw his expression, closed it again, and changed what she had been going to say.
"Well, it's very interesting that the two scars are so alike," she remarked, and passed Harry's wand to Hagrid to look at. "Does your wand still work properly?"
"As well as ever," said Harry.
"Just like you," grinned Ron.
"Ah, but you never knew me before I got this," said Harry, tapping his forehead.
"Bet you couldn't even talk yet," said Ron.
"Funny, but I can't remember."
"Well, that scar must be what Salazara meant," said Neville, scrutinizing Harry's wand in his turn. Ivy silently held out her hand for it when he had finished, and she examined it very carefully indeed before handing it back to Harry.
"Could I ask her about the Marauder's Map now?" asked Harry.
"Certainly," said Ivy. "It would probably help if you showed it to her." Harry took the Marauder's Map out of his book bag, unfolded it, and placed it on the floor in front of Salazara. She looked at the transmogrified verse for a few moments without speaking. Then Harry activated the map, and allowed Salazara continue studying it. He decided not to ask her any leading questions, but rather to wait to hear whatever she had to say.
Finally the middle head spoke. "/If you wish to see what is behind the map—/"
And the left head continued, "/Look at its reflection in a mirror./"
The right head added, "/But you may get more than you bargained for./"
The Runespoor appeared to have no more to say. Harry repeated her words in English and folded up the map. "/Thank you, Salazara/," he said to her in Parseltongue.
"/It is an honor to serve the distinguished Harry Potter/," the middle head answered.
"/We will be pleased to serve you again in the future/," said the left head.
"/Except when we are busy with our own affairs/," the right head qualified.
"/Which are never too pressing to make time for Harry Potter/," the middle head asserted.
"/Oh yes they are/," argued the right head.
"Oh no they're not," retorted the left head. "I decide what we do in this outfit, and don't you forget it."
"I think we'd do a lot better under new management. I call for a vote of no confidence," sneered the right head.
"You're lucky we let you stay on at all," warned the middle head. "Party-pooper."
"Airhead."
"Killjoy."
"Tyrant." The conversation degenerated into furious hissing.
"Manners, girls," Ivy scolded. "No name-calling. You may be excused. You've done well." She knelt down and stroked Salazara's heads as they slid over her arms, then said in English, "Behave, darling. I'll see you later." The Runespoor slithered out the door Hagrid held open, still arguing among herselves, but swiftly flattening out in the grass so as not to be seen.
Ivy rose to her feet, looking after Salazara a little ruefully. "She's good about using her words instead of her teeth, but she can still be very rude. The challenge for a Runespoor is to think of herself as a single being rather than three separate ones. But Salazara's still very young. She'll learn." A cold wind blew in and made them shiver, and Hagrid finally stopped peering out the door and shut it.
"Where did you get her?" Neville wanted to know.
"My father gave her to me just last summer. He told me I could keep her at Hogwarts as long as I didn't get into any trouble on her account. He said he had a feeling I might need her help with something. Or someone else might."
"Your father isn't too worried about breaking rules, is he?" remarked Ron.
"Written ones, at least," added Harry.
"Not if there's a good reason for it," Ivy replied. "My father doesn't actually see the future, but he gets premonitions rather often, and he's learned to act on them. But he made it clear that if I'd decided on my own to take a Runespoor to Hogwarts without his knowledge or consent, he would be very displeased."
"Well, I like that!" exploded Ron. "Consistent, isn't he?"
"More than you might think," said Ivy warmly. "He's always saying that part of life is learning when to break rules. He's got an entire lecture on the subject, which I'd be glad to repeat to you." Ivy's eyes sparkled a little dangerously.
"Thanks, I'll take a rain check," Ron decided.
"I've got a note from Father in case I need it," she assured them all, "and I know that Hagrid will vouch for Salazara."
"That I will," Hagrid agreed, his eyes shining with affection at the thought of the three-headed serpent.
"And we all know how much an endorsement from Hagrid means," Ron teased.
"You've had a pretty distinguished career in rule-breaking yourself, Ron Weasley," Ivy shot back. "If you don't watch out, you'll be in the same class with your notorious twin brothers."
"Maybe so, but Mum and Dad always gave me what for when I did," Ron defended himself. "Especially Mum," he added, remembering a certain Howler from three years back.
"And I suppose that's what makes it all right," Hermione exclaimed impatiently.
"Speaking as an expert rule-breaker," Harry broke in.
"We defer to your great wisdom on the subject, O Scarred One." Now Ron was starting to sound like Professor Trelawney.
"Well, it's about time," said Harry.
"I think I know what you're going to say, Harry," said Neville.
"Well then, you might as well go ahead and save me the trouble," Harry told him.
"You break rules in obedience to a higher law."
"Close enough," said Harry. "Sounds good to me."
"Well, most of the time you do," conceded Hermione.
"Half the time, anyway," said Ron.
"Once in a while," added Harry. "Depends which higher law you're talking about."
"What about the higher law of, um, petty personal revenge?" Neville proposed.
"Yeah, that's always a good one," agreed Harry. "Listen, all of you, tonight I'm going to Secret Room Number Eight to experiment with the Marauder's Map. Anyone who likes can meet me there, but you'd better come separately. Hermione, have you made any headway with our little page number problem?"
"At least I've narrowed it down a bit. Most of the books in the library have less than eight hundred pages," Hermione reported.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Ron exclaimed.
AN: When I introduced Ivy, and even when I brought her to Hagrid's the first time, I had no idea she owned a pet Runespoor, but When I found the Runespoor in /Fantastic Beasts/ I knew I had to give her one, though they are probably not legal pets. My youngest hit on the idea of having Hagrid help her hide it. Hence their friendship. Salazara brought the mirror motif into the story. In chapter 8, "Seeing Things and Hearing Things," you will find more about mirrors, and about another spell, courtesy of Professor Snape, to make Harry's life difficult.
Chapter 7: Salazara
Harry and the Weasley twins were the only remaining members of the team that had captured the Quidditch cup two years ago, but this year they had quickly fielded a strong new team. Ron and Seamus had joined as Chasers, and hoped to replace Ron's brothers and become Beaters the following year. Ron had hit on the idea of using Omnioculars as a training device, and they had adopted it with outstanding success. Because of the instant-replay feature, players could perform a flying exercise with someone else watching through the Omnioculars, and then watch themselves while getting coaching on the finer points of technique.
Fred and George had acted a bit coolly toward Harry since they had both been passed over in his favor when the new Gryffindor Quidditch captain had been voted in. Harry loved being Quidditch captain, but he had to admit that Fred and George had a better grasp of strategy than he did. His strength was flying, not tactics. So Harry drilled his team in flying maneuvers and techniques (he had mastered the Wronski Feint well enough to give a convincing demonstration) and relied on the Weasleys to come up with formation diagrams, explain them, and direct their execution on the field.
Today Fred and George had put up what Harry recognized as someone's old Divination homework. George put on a pair of rhinestone-studded spectacles, studied the sheet for a moment and spoke in the misty voice of Professor Trelawney, their Divination teacher. "According to this chart, my dears, the two Beaters are at opposite ends of the field, one in the house of Saturn and the other in the house of Mars. This is a very serious matter, for it presages great danger for the opposing team. The Keeper has their fate in her hands, as soon as the moon reaches the full."
Fred covered his head with a gauzy silk scarf and murmured, "As you see, the Seeker gains power from the influence of Jupiter, while the Chasers progress from Venus to Mercury with the Quaffle, which will not only score a goal, but also cause all the opposing Chasers to fall off their brooms. My friends, the end is near."
Harry noticed the other team members snorting with amusement, and decided (not for the first time) that the Weasley teaching method was an improvement over putting the team to sleep. Even Ron was still conscious.
When they had finished the day's field drill, Harry asked Fred and George to meet with him in the locker room after the rest of the team had left. Ron, looking much restored after his relaxing morning and an hour of vigorous flying practice, stayed too. "We're at your service, Harry," Fred declared. "That's right, we would never stab you in the back, no matter what our personal feelings are," George assured him. "That's good," said Harry, "because I'm going to step down as Quidditch captain for the time being, and promote the two of you to Acting Co-Captains."
Fred and George looked at each other, stunned. "You're having us on," said George suspiciously.
"No, really," Harry insisted, grinning in spite of himself.
"But why?" Fred demanded. "Ron, is this man serious?"
"Far as I know," shrugged Ron.
"You didn't slip something in his pumpkin juice, did you?" asked Fred of George. George shook his head.
"I have some, er, personal obligations at the moment that are rather pressing," explained Harry, trying not to give away more than he had to.
"Girlfriend trouble?" asked George with concern.
"Not exactly," said Harry. "It's sort of—"
"Trouble with someone else's girlfriend, then," Fred amended. "Didn't I hear something about Ivy Parkinson yesterday? And Draco Malfoy?"
"I wouldn't be a bit surprised," Harry sighed.
"It could end up being serious," Ron put in.
"Say no more," said George grandly. "We'll hold down the fort until things blow over."
"And Harry, all fooling aside, you can trust us to do right by the team," Fred promised.
"I know. At least you take your Quidditch seriously. Though I must say you hide it well," said Harry.
"Well, we have a reputation to uphold," said Fred. "And listen, if you need advice about anything—"
"Girls—"
"Slytherins—"
"Slytherin girls—"
"Or anything else—"
"You can always come to us."
"Yeah, if you want to get into even more trouble," heckled Ron.
"Since you mention it, there is something else I'd like to ask you about," Harry said as casually as he could manage.
"Name it," said George.
"The Marauder's Map," said Harry.
"Ah, the Marauder's Map," said Fred. "You've been taking good care of it, I hope?"
"Not really," Harry admitted. "It's been confiscated twice and I've got it back twice."
George put the rhinestone glasses back on. "Clearly, Harry, the Marauder's Map is your appointed destiny," he trilled in his Trelawney voice. "I've been experimenting with it," said Harry, "and it works fine when I say exactly what you told me. 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' But if I promise I'm up to no good, or vow that I'm planning mischief, or anything else, nothing happens Or at least the map doesn't appear. So how did you figure out exactly the right words to say?"
"Well, Harry, we never told you this, but we had a little help," George confessed in his normal voice, but still peering at him through those silly glasses. "When we saw it in Filch's drawer we knew it was a find, but for quite a while it stayed blank no matter what we tried. Naturally we couldn't go to a teacher for advice."
"Or a student," added Fred.
"Or a family member."
"Who does that leave?" asked Harry.
"Exactly," George agreed. "Who indeed?"
"Or perhaps we should say not who, but what?"
Harry had no idea what they were on about.
"Well, one day," said Fred, "we had a bit of luck."
"To make a short story shorter, somebody in one of the Hogwarts paintings told us what to do," said George.
"But he wouldn't tell us how he knew," added Fred.
"Which painting?" Harry asked.
Fred and George looked at each other. "Can't tell you," George answered regretfully.
"Why not?" asked Ron.
"Because of the rule," said Fred.
Harry and Ron didn't bother asking what rule.
"What rule, you ask," George supplied for them.
"The unwritten rule of passing on magical secrets."
"Which is, don't tell your successor every little thing. Let him figure out some of it for himself."
"Make him work for it a little. Don't make it too easy. He should feel like a part of the process."
"That way sensitive information is less likely to fall into the wrong hands."
"Like Filch's, for example. The Marauder's Map didn't give anything away to him."
"I see your point," said Harry. "And I suppose unwritten rules are the only kind you're interested in following."
"Quite," said Fred. "Written rules are for people with literal minds, who see only the obvious."
"Unwritten rules are for those who look deeper for the meaning of life," put in George, beginning to sound like Professor Trelawney again.
"Well, thanks, Fred and George," said Harry. "You've been almost helpful."
"Any time," said George.
"That's what we're here for," said Fred.
* * * * * * * *
The next morning Harry wrote a letter to Sirius Black, also known as Padfoot and Snuffles, using initials to refer to himself, the Marauder's Map and its makers in case of interception. He deliberately made the letter sound casual and a bit thickheaded.
/Dear S,
I have a question about the MM. I got it back quite recently and I want to know if it is anything besides a M. Hermione wrote a verse on it, not knowing what it was, and then it got wet, and M, W, Pf, and P changed the verse to something nearly the same but quite different. Then they all made remarks about the verse. Can you tell when Pf says things on the MM?
The chaps who gave me the MM said that a painting helped them learn how to use it. Do you know which painting?
I need to know more about W and I thought that the MM might help. Please advise.
Sincerely,
H./
Harry decided it was safe to send Hedwig. She returned with a reply two days later (Monday), arriving with the rest of the morning mail at breakfast time.
/Dear H,
No, I have no direct knowledge of what Pf says on the MM. That Pf isn't the current me, but the me of 25 years ago. The answer to your first question is yes, but I can't give you complete instructions, only clues. When you solve them you will be able to get some of the information you want, but of course it will not be up-to-date. First, you must ask someone who is not human for help. Second, you will find an important clue on page 818.
I don't know which painting your friends are referring to, but I can make a good guess.
What sort of things do you want to know about W? I might be able to fill you in.
As ever,S/.
Harry puzzled over this letter for a while, chewing his pancakes pensively, and then passed it on to Ron and Hermione. Ron said, "I guess Snuffles knows the same unwritten rule as Fred and George."
Hermione asked blankly, "Page 818 of what?"
"I was going to put you in charge of figuring that one out," said Harry hopefully.
"An offer she can't refuse," said Ron.
"Time for another meeting," said Harry quietly. "Tomorrow afternoon. Ron, will you get Ginny to give a message to Ivy during Potions class?"
"So you're going to invite Ivy to our next meeting?" asked Ron, also in a low voice, after looking around to make sure no Slytherins would overhear him.
"She has information we need," Harry pointed out.
"And she already knows a lot about what we're doing," Neville added.
"She plays a mean game of chess too, but that doesn't make her trustworthy," Ron objected. "She hangs around with that Malfoy scum."
"And she admitted that she might be spying on us for her own purposes," Hermione chimed in. "I must say I don't exactly like it."
"If she is," said Harry, "we won't be able to stop her by leaving her out."
"I don't think we should leave her out," said Neville. "I have a feeling that we need her. Not just for information. She knows what she's doing, and she wants to help."
"She wants to help her precious Uncle Severus, you mean. Well, if we were putting it to a vote, we'd have two in favor and two against," said Ron. "Where does that leave us?"
"I think we should leave it up to Neville," said Harry, "but if you want to break the tie, we could ask Hagrid what he thinks."
Ron thought about that for a minute, then shrugged. "Okay," he said, "I guess I'm outvoted. Don't come crying to me when it backfires."
* * * * * * * *
"So the next thing I need to do is talk to someone who's not human," said Harry. The five of them were at Hagrid's again, and he had filled them in about his conversation with the Weasley twins and his exchange of letters with Sirius Black. He had also told them what he knew about the Marauder's Map and its creators.
"Dobby would love to help you," Hermione reminded him. "You gave him his freedom."
"Harry's not that desperate yet," hooted Ron. Hermione frowned at him.
Ivy and Hagrid were looking at each other as if they shared a secret, and wondered if they should spill it.
"You're a Parselmouth, aren't you, Harry? How would you like to talk to a Runespoor?" Ivy asked.
"A Runespoor would be perfect, if I could find one," answered Harry, "but how likely is that? Unless you know something I don't."
"I might."
"Why am I not surprised?" muttered Ron.
Ivy rose from her cushion, and after a whispered consultation with Hagrid, disappeared outdoors. She returned in a few minutes with a three-headed serpent wrapped around her arm. The six-foot length of its body and necks sported imposing black and orange stripes. Fang raised his head, but apparently recognized the snake and didn't consider it a threat.
"Harry, everyone," said Ivy, "Meet my Runespoor, Salazara."
"Isn' she jus' beau'iful?" crooned Hagrid, reaching out to touch the middle head, which moved toward him as if expecting the gesture.
"She's also illegal," said Hermione. "No underage wizard is allowed to keep a Runespoor in Britain."
"Maybe," admitted Hagrid, "but she isn' so dangerous as yeh migh' think. Ivy's got her trained a treat. Usually in Runespoors, the heads don't get on so well, 'cause the one on the right is always criticisin' the other two. Salazara's no different, but at least Ivy's taught her heads not ter bite each other."
"Hagrid looks after her when I can't," said Ivy. "She likes the Forbidden Forest. She finds food there, as well as information. Hagrid reads to her middle head. She understands English, even though she can't speak it. And in return, I let him have her eggs."
"You must be a Parselmouth," said Ron.
"Of course," said Ivy.
"And Hagrid's probably selling the eggs on the black market," said Hermione.
"Lost a few at poker, I reckon," said Ron, and Hagrid nodded sheepishly.
Harry was remembering Ivy's words about Hagrid. He knows things. Important things that most people don't know. "How many people know you have her?" he asked.
"Only my dorm-mates—the fourth-year Slytherin girls—Draco Malfoy, Hagrid, and now you," Ivy ticked them off on her fingers. "Not even Uncle Severus knows about her."
"It's a great honor to be introduced to her, then," said Neville.
"Oh well," shrugged Ivy, "half the fun of owning a Runespoor is being able to show her off. I get a bit tired of having to keep her hidden all the time. Without Hagrid I couldn't manage it. Let me show you a little of what Salazara can do." Ivy addressed her Runespoor in Parseltongue, and Harry understood the exchange.
"/Salazara, what can you see about the people in this room that they would find surprising?/"
The middle head replied, "/One of them owns a wand that is unusual in appearance./"
The left head hissed, "/Ask them to compare their wands, and they will see./"
The right head carped, "/Unless they'd rather not./"
Ivy looked up and said, "Harry, will you translate?" He did, and all of them got out their wands (except Hagrid, of course), passed them around, and studied them with attention.
Ron took Harry's wand and held it next to his own. Suddenly he looked more closely at the business end of Harry's, turning it in his hand to study it from all angles.
"Harry, have you noticed this? The tip of your wand has a scar on it like the one on your forehead. It's even shaped like a lightning bolt."
"Let me see that," said Hermione. She reached over and Ron handed her the wand. "Harry, let me see your scar." Harry obligingly swept back his untidy black bangs, and Hermione held up the wand to compare the two marks. "It's a perfect match, except much smaller," she observed.
Harry had indeed noticed the faint scar on his wand, and he knew what had caused it. He did not, however, wish to discuss it. He had told Ron a very little about what had happened after the third task in the Triwizard Tournament last year, barely mentioning the fact that he had dueled with Voldemort when the dark wizard was newly restored to full power. In fact, very few people knew the whole story. Now he merely said, "Same wizard, same curse," and gave Hermione a look intended to forestall further questions. She opened her mouth, saw his expression, closed it again, and changed what she had been going to say.
"Well, it's very interesting that the two scars are so alike," she remarked, and passed Harry's wand to Hagrid to look at. "Does your wand still work properly?"
"As well as ever," said Harry.
"Just like you," grinned Ron.
"Ah, but you never knew me before I got this," said Harry, tapping his forehead.
"Bet you couldn't even talk yet," said Ron.
"Funny, but I can't remember."
"Well, that scar must be what Salazara meant," said Neville, scrutinizing Harry's wand in his turn. Ivy silently held out her hand for it when he had finished, and she examined it very carefully indeed before handing it back to Harry.
"Could I ask her about the Marauder's Map now?" asked Harry.
"Certainly," said Ivy. "It would probably help if you showed it to her." Harry took the Marauder's Map out of his book bag, unfolded it, and placed it on the floor in front of Salazara. She looked at the transmogrified verse for a few moments without speaking. Then Harry activated the map, and allowed Salazara continue studying it. He decided not to ask her any leading questions, but rather to wait to hear whatever she had to say.
Finally the middle head spoke. "/If you wish to see what is behind the map—/"
And the left head continued, "/Look at its reflection in a mirror./"
The right head added, "/But you may get more than you bargained for./"
The Runespoor appeared to have no more to say. Harry repeated her words in English and folded up the map. "/Thank you, Salazara/," he said to her in Parseltongue.
"/It is an honor to serve the distinguished Harry Potter/," the middle head answered.
"/We will be pleased to serve you again in the future/," said the left head.
"/Except when we are busy with our own affairs/," the right head qualified.
"/Which are never too pressing to make time for Harry Potter/," the middle head asserted.
"/Oh yes they are/," argued the right head.
"Oh no they're not," retorted the left head. "I decide what we do in this outfit, and don't you forget it."
"I think we'd do a lot better under new management. I call for a vote of no confidence," sneered the right head.
"You're lucky we let you stay on at all," warned the middle head. "Party-pooper."
"Airhead."
"Killjoy."
"Tyrant." The conversation degenerated into furious hissing.
"Manners, girls," Ivy scolded. "No name-calling. You may be excused. You've done well." She knelt down and stroked Salazara's heads as they slid over her arms, then said in English, "Behave, darling. I'll see you later." The Runespoor slithered out the door Hagrid held open, still arguing among herselves, but swiftly flattening out in the grass so as not to be seen.
Ivy rose to her feet, looking after Salazara a little ruefully. "She's good about using her words instead of her teeth, but she can still be very rude. The challenge for a Runespoor is to think of herself as a single being rather than three separate ones. But Salazara's still very young. She'll learn." A cold wind blew in and made them shiver, and Hagrid finally stopped peering out the door and shut it.
"Where did you get her?" Neville wanted to know.
"My father gave her to me just last summer. He told me I could keep her at Hogwarts as long as I didn't get into any trouble on her account. He said he had a feeling I might need her help with something. Or someone else might."
"Your father isn't too worried about breaking rules, is he?" remarked Ron.
"Written ones, at least," added Harry.
"Not if there's a good reason for it," Ivy replied. "My father doesn't actually see the future, but he gets premonitions rather often, and he's learned to act on them. But he made it clear that if I'd decided on my own to take a Runespoor to Hogwarts without his knowledge or consent, he would be very displeased."
"Well, I like that!" exploded Ron. "Consistent, isn't he?"
"More than you might think," said Ivy warmly. "He's always saying that part of life is learning when to break rules. He's got an entire lecture on the subject, which I'd be glad to repeat to you." Ivy's eyes sparkled a little dangerously.
"Thanks, I'll take a rain check," Ron decided.
"I've got a note from Father in case I need it," she assured them all, "and I know that Hagrid will vouch for Salazara."
"That I will," Hagrid agreed, his eyes shining with affection at the thought of the three-headed serpent.
"And we all know how much an endorsement from Hagrid means," Ron teased.
"You've had a pretty distinguished career in rule-breaking yourself, Ron Weasley," Ivy shot back. "If you don't watch out, you'll be in the same class with your notorious twin brothers."
"Maybe so, but Mum and Dad always gave me what for when I did," Ron defended himself. "Especially Mum," he added, remembering a certain Howler from three years back.
"And I suppose that's what makes it all right," Hermione exclaimed impatiently.
"Speaking as an expert rule-breaker," Harry broke in.
"We defer to your great wisdom on the subject, O Scarred One." Now Ron was starting to sound like Professor Trelawney.
"Well, it's about time," said Harry.
"I think I know what you're going to say, Harry," said Neville.
"Well then, you might as well go ahead and save me the trouble," Harry told him.
"You break rules in obedience to a higher law."
"Close enough," said Harry. "Sounds good to me."
"Well, most of the time you do," conceded Hermione.
"Half the time, anyway," said Ron.
"Once in a while," added Harry. "Depends which higher law you're talking about."
"What about the higher law of, um, petty personal revenge?" Neville proposed.
"Yeah, that's always a good one," agreed Harry. "Listen, all of you, tonight I'm going to Secret Room Number Eight to experiment with the Marauder's Map. Anyone who likes can meet me there, but you'd better come separately. Hermione, have you made any headway with our little page number problem?"
"At least I've narrowed it down a bit. Most of the books in the library have less than eight hundred pages," Hermione reported.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Ron exclaimed.
AN: When I introduced Ivy, and even when I brought her to Hagrid's the first time, I had no idea she owned a pet Runespoor, but When I found the Runespoor in /Fantastic Beasts/ I knew I had to give her one, though they are probably not legal pets. My youngest hit on the idea of having Hagrid help her hide it. Hence their friendship. Salazara brought the mirror motif into the story. In chapter 8, "Seeing Things and Hearing Things," you will find more about mirrors, and about another spell, courtesy of Professor Snape, to make Harry's life difficult.