Chapter Twenty Four: Hallowe'en
Colin Creevey stood before the full length mirror. He adjusted his cravat, then pushed a stray blond hair off of his ear. He gave himself a smirk as he thought about his little brother, jealous of him for being a wizard. And now Dennis had a picture of his big brother in a real uniform. A grin formed on his face as Colin had a farfetched idea. What if it turned out that Dennis was a wizard as well? Just in case, he would warn Captain Grissom.
Colin left his dorm and went to the common room. It was empty except for Neville Longbottom.
"Has everyone left?"
Neville looked up. "Hermione's in her room. She doesn't want to see anyone."
"Did Robert ask her to marry him again?"
They both grinned at that, then Neville explained, "Hermione's cat attacked Scabbers again. Ron reminded her that she would get rid of it."
"What's she going to do?"
Neville shrugged. "I thought she'd make Robert take care of the cat but I guess I was wrong."
"Maybe she didn't think of it," Colin suggested. "Why don't we tell her?"
Colin walked to the set of stairs to the girls dorms and began climbing. Suddenly the steps collapsed into a slide and a loud claxon began to sound. Colin tumbled down and picked himself up. As Neville was helping him brush off his uniform, Hermione came sliding down the stairwell. She was holding Crookshanks and smirking at some private joke.
"Ron's not here?" Her smirk disappeared. Her thought that maybe he came back to apologize fled back into the fantasy cupboard of her mind. She noticed Colin adjusting his jacket. "Did you try to climb the stairs?"
"Didn't know they were jinxed. I wanted to tell you that Neville had a great idea on what to do with your cat."
Neville saw the look of anger flash in Hermione's eyes and said quickly. "You can have Robert take care of him. That way he's still around and you've kept your word to Ron." As Hermione paused in surprise, Neville added with a grin, "after all, he is a close friend."
Hermione snickered. "That's a wonderful idea, Neville. I should have thought of it myself."
Colin grinned at her sudden change in attitude and suggested she join them for the Hallowe'en feast. And a good time was had by all. (Except Robert).
Robert excused himself from the feast. He would return, but first he needed to be rid of a certain cat. Susan, sitting at the Gryffindor table pointed him out to Ron, who gave a rueful smile.
"Ron, you can't hold a grudge. Hermione told you she would get rid of the cat if it caused any more problems, and she was true to her word."
"But it's still in the school. What if that cat gets loose."
"Change the password. That should slow him down."
Ron laughed at the absurdity of the statement, then looked over to where Hermione was sitting. A sharp poke from Susan made him stand up and walk over to the Hufflepuff table.
"Hermione," Ron said softly, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean all those things I said."
"I told you what I would do if Crookshanks didn't behave," Hermione reminded him with more cheerfulness than she felt. "I know you were upset."
"Um, yeah, thanks," Ron answered, then excused himself when Wayne Hopkins waved him over.
Hermione watched Ron leave, then watched him sit down as Wayne started to tell him something. After a few minutes she turned around to see Susan glaring at Ron for ignoring her. Hermione smiled. Everything was back to normal.
"How was Hogsmeade?" Harry asked politely as he sat next to Susan Bones. He owed it to Ron to distract her for a while.
"Ron didn't tell you? We made it a point to buy out the sweet shop so that you and Robert wouldn't be disappointed. Why couldn't you go, anyway?"
"Lord Bontriomphe refused permission. With that escaped convict, Sirius Black, somewhere, and the dementors by the entrance, he felt it would not be safe. Robert pointed out that Black was not after him but our guardian thought Black might make a mistake that he could not correct." To change the subject he asked, "Did Hermione go with you?"
Susan smiled. "I talked Justin into asking her." Her voice became a conspiratorial whisper. "He told her he'd feel like a fool because he was muggle born, and it would help to have someone share the experience. Hermione fell for it. And they had a wonderful time."
"I am glad. I was worried."
"You were jealous."
Harry grinned. "That, too."
Neville walked by at that moment, he and Harry looked at each other and grinned.
"Snape hates him, now," Harry commented.
"I heard about the boggart," Susan admitted. "Ron is very good at details. Remus Lupin is an excellent assistant. Between him and Master Sean, this must be the best DADA class we've ever had."
"Robert says that Master Sean is teaching your class his defense spells. In our class, we are learning to finesse our spells, to do more with less."
Fred interrupted. "Do you know what he's doing?"
"Sorry for listening in, but you were talking about our favorite teacher." George added. "We had to stop and listen."
Fred nodded. "We ran into Cho Chang. She says he's teaching them something else altogether. We're getting the Quidditch teams together to trade notes."
Susan was surprised. "Master Sean is teaching different classes to each house?"
Harry nodded. "The idea is to get everyone talking to each other. Our two houses are good at that, but he wants all the houses to talk to each other."
"Even the Slytherins?"
Fred answered. "Even them. We talked one of their beaters into joining us. You might know him. He was the one who laughed when he found out what your brother did to Malfoy last year."
George laughed at the thought. "We'll let you know when and where. It should be soon."
"You're not surprised," Susan said as the Weasley twins left.
Harry nodded. "You do know that Master Sean is my Godfather." Susan gave him a surprised no. "He told me what he was planning. If it works, he will keep teaching different classes. Otherwise, he will rotate the lessons so that we all learn the same things."
Susan was amazed. If the Weasley Twins succeeded in their plans, then . . . "That is an amazing idea."
"That is how Master Sean thinks. He wants to teach as much as he can. He will not be here next year."
"He won't."
"Remember my uncle, Lord Darcy? He took a leave of a year after his marriage. Master Sean works with him and so he took leave as well. That is why he is able to teach this course."
Susan nodded then looked up. "Robert's back."
Susan was sitting next to Robert as the feast came to an end. Both had stuffed themselves. "Didn't we do this last year?"
"Yes we did," Robert said, refusing to move.
"Everyone else has already gone," Susan pointed out.
"You are still here," Robert pointed out in turn. "You could have left with Ron."
"Ron ignored me half the night to talk about Quidditch. He can leave by himself. Besides, he left with Harry and Hermione."
"Good, then we can stay here and not be bothered."
"Can you move?" Susan asked. Robert shook his head. "Neither can I. You were right. Eating does take your mind off your troubles." Susan let out an unladylike belch. "Sorry."
Robert laughed then belched as well. "You should have said something to Ron."
"We're only supposed to be friends."
"Well, I am going to stand up."
Robert made the effort, and Susan joined him. Both walked carefully to the entrance and stepped into the hallway. As soon as they did, Professor McGonagall's voice was heard throughout the school ordering all students to report to the Great Hall. The two Hufflepuffs turned around, laughing.
"This is not a matter to be taken lightly," Captain Grissom said.
"Indeed, it is not," Albus Dumbledore told him. "We are taking precautions."
Master Sean interrupted. "Headmaster, both the Captain and I know your precautions are sufficient. There is the matter of trust between our two governments. If we abide by your decision, it will appear that we trust your judgement."
Albus chuckled. "It wouldn't look good if you trusted my judgement. The Minister might want you to trust his judgement as well."
Master Sean nodded. "We know his intentions are honourable, but we do not trust his, um, abilities."
"The Minister does not understand what it is he wants," Albus admitted. What was not said was that Albus did understand. The Minister for Magic was becoming obsessed with the idea of obtaining a control stone. He did not understand that of the myriad worlds he could visit some would not be good, and would not be benign. "What do you wish me to do?"
"I can settle this matter easily," Captain Grissom said, "with your permission, Headmaster."
Albus nodded, and the three stepped from the room into the Great Hall. The students were beginning to settle down in their selected spots. Captain Grissom walked across the Hall to the entrance and turned around. Without using the Sonorus Charm, he still managed to make himself heard clearly.
"ALL OFFICERS WILL REPORT TO THE SHIP, IMMEDIATELY."
As he left, Harry and Robert stood up and walked briskly from the Hall. After a short pause, Colin Creevey quickly followed. Susan noted that all three were still in their uniforms. Then she had a thought. She stood up, looking for Ginny and Ron. She nodded her head toward the door. Ron looked at her, turned to Ginny, then both looked back and nodded. The three of them left as well.
"Why are we going?" Ginny asked as they left the school. "Beside the fact that we want to?"
"While you were talking to Colin," Susan told her, "I was talking to Harry and Robert. Something is going on and I want to see what happens."
"What?" Ginny asked.
"Think about it," Susan said. "They both have to have special classes, and both of them have to wear those uniforms all the time instead of robes. They're trying to keep Harry and Robert separate from the rest of us. This way if something happens they can't blame us."
"They can't thank us either," Ron said.
Susan stopped, then quickly kept walking again. "What do you mean by that?"
"My dad mentioned before school started that the Minister wants to get one of those stones. That's why he let all those people come here, to show them we were being nice. If we keep doing nice things for them, they'll have to give us a stone. Right?"
Susan nodded. Ron had figured something out that she hadn't even thought of. That world, the Empire, didn't want to give away the control stones. That was why there were constant problems. The Empire wanted excuses, even if they had to make them up. Then Susan understood what Ron already knew. They reached the ship and began to board when the Captain blocked their path.
"The three of you have no cause to be here."
"You hit Malfoy on purpose," Susan accused.
Captain Grissom smiled and stepped aside. "Welcome aboard."
"Would you like to be part of a conspiracy?" Grissom asked, "or do you merely wish to reveal its existence?"
"What kind of conspiracy?" Susan Bones and Ginny Weasley had asked at the same time.
"The simple kind, where no one gets hurt." Captain Grissom paused as Remus Lupin handed out cups of tea to the six students. He took one, thanked the Groundskeeper, and took a sip as he gazed out the porthole. Master Sean had set the wards in place so that no one would even bother to come aboard. "What have you figured out so far?"
Ginny answered. "The Ministry wants one of your stones and you're making excuses so you don't have to give them one."
"Oh," Grissom said in a matter of fact tone. "Then you already know all of it. Are you also aware of the threat we have made to your government? No? Then I shall tell you that. If my government is convinced that your government is unable to protect the Lords Somerset, we will withdraw them, and ourselves, from this world. Permanently."
"It's an effective threat," Remus Lupin said cheerfully. "The Ministry knows that their coming to our world was a bit of luck. The Ministry also knows that they could just as easily go elsewhere." He put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "That makes my nephew the most important person in the world."
Ron was surprised. "They're using Harry?"
Harry smiled. "I have a roll to play, Ron. All I have to do is keep going to school here."
Ron nodded. "You said you were going to stay there, with your family."
"I was ordered to return."
"Ordered?" Ron was surprised, as were Susan and Ginny. "Who ordered you?"
"My Uncle." Harry cast a glance at Ginny. "As King and Emperor, he is also in absolute command of the Army and Navy."
"I thought that part was a joke," Ron admitted. "He's really your uncle?"
Harry and Robert nodded.
"Why don't you leave, then?" Susan asked Captain Grissom. "Wouldn't that solve all of your problems?"
"I do not have that information. I am also here because I was ordered."
"I have that information," Remus Lupin told them. "They can't leave, and I can't tell you why. It is an excellent reason, but I promised that I would not reveal it."
"You promised them," Susan accused.
"I promised Dumbledore," Remus clarified. "This problem is not only their problem but ours as well. You have to believe me. If we went our separate ways at this point, it would be a disaster for both of our worlds."
"What do we have to do?" Ginny asked.
"That is the easy part," Grissom replied. "All you need do is sleep on board this ship tonight."
Ginny looked confused. "We were going to do that anyway?"
"Exactly." Grissom was almost laughing. "But you should know this. When you came to the ship tonight, you made a statement. In a crisis, you chose to stand by our world instead of your own. Others will make note of that."
"We thought it would be more fun to sleep on a ship than in the Great Hall," Ginny admitted.
Robert nodded. "With Malfoy's constant remarks about Dementors, I know I am grateful to be sleeping here."
The Captain held up his hand for quiet. Everyone stopped and listened. The sound of footsteps could be heard on the deck above, tentative footsteps, as though the owner was not sure of what to do. Then the footsteps reached the stair into the hold and everyone watched the figure descend.
"Sorry," Hermione said with embarrassment. "I couldn't decide whether or not to come on board, but . . . my curiosity got the better of me. Should I leave?"
"Not at all," Captain Grissom said. "Would you like some tea, Miss Granger?"
The sun was shining as Ron stood on deck, looking out over the lake. "It's not much of a conspiracy, is it?"
"Not really," Harry admitted. "It is this way. We have to stay in contact but we do not want the Ministry to know that. That is the secret you are keeping."
"We? Harry, isn't this your world?"
Harry frowned. "It was. Do you remember the Mirror of Erised? I have my deepest, darkest desire. I have a family."
"Shouldn't you be happier when you say that?"
"Yes. I should. But being part of my family means having responsibilities. Sometimes it is hard, even when it seems easy."
Ron nodded. Somehow, he understood how his friend felt. "Are you hungry? They should still be serving breakfast?"
Harry shook his head. Lunch wasn't that far away. He could wait.
Master Sean O'Lochlainn listened in amazement as Captain Grissom related the tale of his late night visitor. "I am truly amazed. It must have taken a great deal of concentration for her to pass the wards. And she had no idea of what she had done?"
"None at all," Grissom admitted.
Master Sean smiled. He would make it a point to talk to the girl, Hermione Granger, over the Christmas holiday.
Ginny looked Hermione in the eye. "Are you really going to marry Robert?"
Hermione laughed. "I'm thirteen. I'm not going to marry anyone. What made you think that?"
"Harry told us what it means to be a 'close friend'."
"And Robert knows that I refuse to commit myself, for a few years. Besides, he's a lord. He can't marry me. He has," she added in a haughty voice, "obligations."
Both girls laughed.
Master Sean called the class to order. He motioned for Remus Lupin to step forward, then addressed the third year Gryffindors.
"I have tried to explain the differences between our two worlds when it comes to casting spells. With Groundskeeper Lupin's help I will give all of you a practical demonstration. How many of you have tried to cast a protective spell?" Hermione was the only one to raise her hand. "And how many of you have seen a protective spell being cast?"
More students raised their hands. Master Sean nodded, then went to one side of the desk while Remus stood at the other side. Remus held five Sickle coins in his hand to show the class. He placed them in a stack on the edge of the desk, clearly visible, and pulled out his wand. In short order, he cast his spell.
The students murmured their approval of Lupin's skill, then turned to Master Sean to find out what would happen next.
"Oh, are you finished?" Master Sean asked in mock surprise. "That was very quick. My spell will take a little longer and," he added in a sad voice, "I'd already done my preparations."
The students politely laughed, then watched as the tubby Irishman stood and recited a long incantation in old Latin over a steaming cauldron, all the time casting various powders into it. As he neared the end, he reached into his pocket and pulled out at least ten Galleons, setting them down in a neat pile on the edge of the desk near to him.
"I have finished," Master Sean said two minutes later. "Now, who would like some free money?" Every student raised their hand. "You can have either pile of coins. All you have to do is take them."
At once, Seamus Finnigan was out of his seat, his wand out. He made a couple of attempts to cancel Remus Lupin's spell but to no avail. Lavender Brown insisted he let her try, and Pavarti Patil was ready to try once she was done. After the third student tried to cancel Remus's spell, and failed, Master Sean spoke up.
"No one has tried to take my pile of coins. I am wealthy, so do not fear that I will become destitute. Miss Brown, would you like to try?"
Lavender Brown looked at the stack of gold coins and shook her head apathetically. "Not really. It doesn't seem worth it."
"Ten Galleons is not worth an effort? But five Sickles is worth several attempts?" Master Sean shook his head. "Your world must not value money."
"We do," Lavender said, "but . . . "
"That's it," Hermione said suddenly. "Master Sean, your spell makes us not want the money. Remus Lupin's spell only stops us from taking it."
"Congratulations, Miss Granger. My assistant's spell affects the physical effort to take the proffered coins. My spell affects the mental effort. No one is trying to take my coins because they do not want to." He smiled as the students suddenly turned to look at his pile of coins, although they still did not make any effort. Nor did they stare for long. "Miss Granger, would you care to try."
Hermione nodded and walked up to the desk, and walked past the stack of Galleons before she realized what she had done. She turned around and did it again. Then she stopped and slowly turned around to face the coins. Her eyes seemed to slide away every time she tried to look directly at them. As a last resort, she deliberately looked away while trying to feel for the coins with her hand. She came close but then seemed to forget what she was doing. Finally, she was forced to stop.
Like everyone else in the class, Harry was watching Hermione's actions with humor. When he saw Hermione look away, he remembered the time he closed his eyes against a spell, although with better success. That was when he paused and began to think. As Hermione sat down in frustration, Harry raised his hand.
"Master Sean."
"Harry, do you wish to try."
"I could if you like, but I understand the spell. I have had experience with it before in a different form." Harry, at the professor's prompting, related the incident on board the Hermes and what happened when he closed his eyes.
"That is not the same type of spell," Master Sean pointed out.
"It is not," Harry agreed, "but thinking about that incident led me to understand why your spell was familiar. I came across it near the end of my first year, when I faced," Harry paused, as though trying to decide, "When I faced Voldemort and kept him from taking the Philosopher's Stone." Harry continued, knowing he had everyone's interest, including the adults. "Professor Dumbledore hid the stone inside a mirror. It would only give the stone to someone who wanted it, but did not want to use it. And that is what your spell does. Anyone can take the money, as long as they truly do not want it."
"Then you see the humor in the spell." Master Sean was grinning.
Harry nodded, with a grin of his own. "Anyone who does not want the money will not bother to take it."
"There is one exception, of course." Master Sean reached over and picked up the gold coins. "I can take them because they belong to me. And I will prove the point." He pointed to show that one Galleon was still on the desk. "Miss Granger, for making an effort, this coin is yours."
Hermione, with no little surprise, realized she could look at the coin without difficulty but that the others were still looking elsewhere. She stood up and walked to the desk and easily picked up the coin. "Thank you." She then returned to her seat with everyone watching her.
It was Saturday. Gryffindor against Hufflepuff in the first Quidditch match of the year. After last year's game being cancelled, making this the first match was almost a necessity. Harry was on his broom waiting for the whistle, wishing only that the rain or the cold would stop. He looked over to Robert and smiled. Robert nodded and mouthed, "Good Luck." Then Madam Hooch blew the whistle, lightning flashed across the sky, and the game began.
Gryffindor were aggressive and their chasers had the quaffle for the first part of the game. It kept Robert busy, and he did let his brother's team get a small lead. Then the tables were turned and Oliver Wood had his hands full. Oliver did a better job than Robert, but it was so hard to see that Robert couldn't tell. Suddenly the whistle blew, and Cedric flew by, saying to follow him. They landed in the mud and took some shelter with the rest of the team.
"Wood called a time out," Cedric told them. "I think he hates the weather as much as I do."
Eleanor Branston couldn't help herself. "Cedric, just catch the snitch and we can all leave."
"I should have thought of that," Cedric said jokingly.
"How are we doing?" Robert asked. "I know they scored at least three times before I was even aware of it."
"We're down by fifty points," Cedric told him, "but don't worry about it."
"My glasses," Robert complained. "With all the rain, I can not see a thing."
"I'll take care of that," Hermione said as she suddenly appeared out of the shadows. "I did this for Harry, and I told Oliver Wood I had to be fair." She pointed her wand at Robert's glasses and shouted, "Impervius!"
Robert was amazed as the glasses immediately began to repel the water. He gave Hermione a quick thank you as the whistle blew and the game continued. The spell worked wonders, and Robert had no more surprises. He managed to block the quaffle every time it came his way, but he noticed Oliver Wood was doing as well as he was. Then Robert saw it. The Snitch. And Cedric was chasing after it. He saw Cedric fly past Harry and Harry turned to follow but Cedric clearly had the edge.
Suddenly, Robert felt a shudder pass though him, but not from the cold. (Afterwards he was told it was the result of his attacking the dementor on the train. It made him more sensitive to their presence.) He looked down and saw them. Dementors were filling the pitch. As he stared, he saw Harry waver in his flight, and fall.
Cedric, at that moment, caught the snitch and held it up, but he saw Robert racing toward the ground. He saw the dementors as well, and Harry falling to the ground in their midst. Before Cedric could shake off his surprise, Dumbledore was there, waving Robert away, and casting a spell which caused the foul creatures to scatter.
Cedric flew down and cornered Oliver Wood.
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Dumbledore has it in hand," Wood told him, pointing to the stretcher that was now carrying Harry.
"I didn't know what happened," Cedric told him. "We need to call the game. We'll have a rematch."
Oliver smiled at the offer. He didn't want the loss but he had to do the right thing. "You caught it fair, Diggory. You already had the lead on our Seeker. The match is yours."
Cedric nodded. He would still talk to Madam Hooch.
"Robert," he called out to the Hufflepuff Keeper who was standing there with a look of disbelief. "He'll be fine," Cedric told the boy and put his arm around his shoulder. Carefully giving Robert constant reassurances, he led him back to the school. Harry had a bad fall and would be in the infirmary, but Robert had a bad shock. To Cedric's credit he thought of Father Maurice, the new school counselor. Father Maurice was a friend of the family as well and would know best how to help Robert.
