Chapter Twenty Eight: Patronus
Robert stood before Professor Quirrell and Remus Lupin while Harry watched. He raised his wand and called out the spell to produce the Patronus. To his relief, the spell worked. A large white Raven appeared and flew around the room until Robert cancelled the spell.
"I find it curious," Professor Quirrell told the boys. "The Patronus that both of you produced clearly reflect your fathers."
Harry frowned in thought and then smiled. "The Ravens who sit on Odin's shoulders."
"Very good, Lord Henry. You know your mythology. And your father, in your world, is an equally powerful representation. Oberon in his animal form."
"Do we return then?" Harry asked.
"You do understand why we are sending you back, My Lord?"
"You need me to be the wedge, to maintain the connection between our two worlds."
"It is that, and more. We are learning so much about your world. We need to have you, and your brother, as the link."
Harry thought briefly about telling Professor Quirrell that he knew about the prophecy, but he kept his mouth shut on that point. They felt it important that he not know, so he would pretend he didn't. "I will do my best, Professor."
Both boys put their hands on the Professor's arm, and Quirrell invoked the control stone. The laboratory in Cambridge faded away and the Teachers Room at Hogwarts came into focus.
"The prodigal son returns," Susan Bones said as Robert walked into the common room.
"I thought you would be happy to see me."
"I am, but Cedric Diggory has a bone to pick with you. I thought I should warn you."
"A bone to pick?"
"He's upset with you. We played Ravenclaw, you know, while you were gone."
"Did the match go well?"
Susan Bones shook her head. "It was terrible. Your replacement failed to stop a single goal. Of course, she had no chance to train. The only good thing is that Cho Chang caught the snitch before . . . well, you get the picture."
"It could not be helped," Robert admitted.
"I know," Susan said. "We were thinking for a while that you might come back, just for the game. Cedric actually thought we had a chance at the Quidditch Cup. It's going to be Slytherin again." Susan sighed. There was always next year.
"We have not played them yet," Robert pointed out. "And I plan on beating Slytherin."
Robert walked back to Hufflepuff as he chewed on the piece of chocolate. He and his brother found something else that they shared. When faced with a boggart, it always assumed the shape of a dementor. It still affected them but not as much as a real dementor. Both boys also learned that they would need more than one lesson with a boggart to perfect the spell, regardless of all their practice. The spell was easy to cast when there was no danger.
It was mid-February. Harry and Ron turned when the entranceway opened. Professor McGonagall walked in. Harry's eyes grew big when he saw she was holding a broom, a FIREBOLT!
"I thought you would be here, Mister Potter." McGonagall paused. "Old habits die hard, Mister Somerset. I came to give you this." She held out the broom.
Harry stood up in amazement. He had been told that, after he fell from his Nimbus, the broom floated away and into the clutches of the Whomping Willow. It was now an assortment of toothpicks. And here was Professor McGonagall handing him a brand new, top of the line, Firebolt.
"Did you buy this for me, Professor? This is wonderful. Thank You?"
McGonagall looked with surprise at Ron Weasley. "You actually kept a secret? That must be a first for your family."
Ron smirked at the jest. "It was easy. Harry would have been worse off knowing about it."
"About what?"
McGonagall smiled. "You have a mysterious benefactor, Harry. Shortly before Christmas this broom arrived, addressed to you. I had to check it thoroughly, for jinxes and such, just in case."
Harry nodded. It could have been a trap. The murderer, Sirius Black, was still loose. He might be trying to finish the work of his master, Voldemort. Ron was also right about not telling him. If Harry had known about the broom, he would have fretted over it every night.
"Thanks, anyway, Professor. I promise to put it to good use."
"Trouble with an H," Susan whispered suddenly.
Robert turned to the entrance to see Hermione Granger storming angrily toward him. "Where's Crookshanks?"
"Off wandering," Robert said defensively. "He is probably in one of the dorms. Do you want me to get him?"
"You'll have to go to Gryffindor for that."
Robert stared in surprise.
"I trusted you, Robert. You know how Crookshanks is around rats."
"Hermione, calm down, please. Tell me what happened."
"Ron and Harry both accused Crookshanks of eating Scabbers. Somehow he got into Gryffindor. Ron is furious. He's blaming me for everything, and . . ." Hermione began to cry. Robert, feeling uncomfortable by the scene, stood up and held her in a hug. Susan Bones excused herself, mouthing that she would check it out, and slipped out of Hufflepuff.
Robert thought to himself that they needed to change the password and then not tell anyone.
"Ron Weasley is an overgrown baby, and lazy at that," Robert told Hermione. "He only has that rat because it is so old that all it does is eat and sleep. He is mad because now he will have to get a real pet and pay attention to it."
Hermione looked up, and Robert lifted his hand to wipe the tears from her cheek.
"I am sorry, Hermione. I never thought Crookshanks would bother going back to Gryffindor. But he has always had an independent streak, much like his owner."
"I shouldn't be crying," Hermione said as she tried to force a laugh. "I'm worn out with all my classes and the homework and now with Ron acting this way . . ."
"Drop a class," Robert told her. "I do not know how you can carry such a workload, but if it is too much, drop one class. There is no shame in admitting you can not do something. Although for you that will be a new experience."
Hermione's eyes dried immediately, then she saw the smirk on Robert's face and returned his smile. "You're right. I should drop a class, but not because I can't do the work. Trelawney is completely useless as a Divinity teacher. I don't know why I ever stayed in the class this long."
Robert smiled in relief. "If you like, I will talk to Professor Sprout. I would not object to having you in Hufflepuff."
"And give Ron exactly what he wants." She let out a sigh. "Thanks for the offer. I just needed to be with someone who didn't think I was completely rotten."
Two days later, Hermione was back in the Hufflepuff common room. Her eyes were red. Robert was surprised when he first saw her, but understood that something had happened.
"What is it?" he said as he stood up and walked to her.
Hermione hugged him. "I'm just happy to have someplace to go."
With the help of Megan and Susan, Robert was able to get Hermione to explain. It should have been a happy time since Gryffindor had managed to beat Ravenclaw. There should have been a celebration, but Ron was using the chance to provoke Hermione. It was as though they had never been friends.
Susan Bones reminded Robert of his suggestion, and told Hermione to stay in Hufflepuff. She was supposed to visit Ron anyway, and she promised Hermione to give him a piece of her mind. Hermione nodded gratefully.
"Why do you have that book?" Robert asked after Hermione began to relax.
"I still have 432 pages to read by Monday."
"You are jesting," Robert told her. "After what happened, you still want to study?"
"What would you suggest?"
Robert smiled. "We could sneak outside and watch the stars."
"But my book?"
"It will probably vanish, never to be found again, once you let it out of your sight."
Hermione smiled and put the book down. "I've never watched the stars before. I've looked at them in Astronomy. And I've read charts . . ."
"You are doing it again," Robert said. "We are supposed to be close. I only want to know if we should be."
Hermione blushed lightly. After Ron's harsh remarks, Robert's words were a welcome change of pace. "I think it's a good idea."
The two of them easily avoided anyone, then found a secluded spot to watch the night sky, close enough to the castle, but far enough away from the lights.
Hermione fell asleep and had a wonderful dream. Robert was telling her yes. Any question she asked, he would smile and say that word. At one point in her dream, she turned to Robert and asked him once again if he thought she was beautiful and he shouted, "ALL STUDENTS AWAY FROM THEIR HOUSES SHOULD REPORT AT ONCE."
"What?" Hermione said as she roused herself.
"Something has happened," Robert answered. He had clearly been awake the entire time. "We need to get back now."
"It could be the dementors."
"They are not near. I would feel them."
Hermione paused. "You can feel dementors?"
Robert nodded. "It is an aftereffect from my contact with them. If you doubt me, talk to Hagrid. From his experience, he can feel them as well. We are safe."
"Get up," Hermione insisted as she stood up and brushed off her clothes. "It must be the escaped convict. He's looking for Harry."
Robert nodded and was up in a flash. Hermione was right. The killer had managed to get into the school once before. If he found them, he might easily believe he had found his prey.
They carefully made their way to the entrance, when a large black dog ran through a suddenly opened door and barreled into them. Just as suddenly, the dog was a man, cursing. "He's gone, and now this!"
Robert turned from his position on the ground, and saw the man, thin, scraggily black hair, yellow teeth, staring in surprise.
"Harry?" the man said curiously and laid a rough hand on the boy's cheek. "You fly just like your father," he said with a sudden grin. Then he changed into the black dog and disappeared into the night.
"Robert," Hermione said fearfully. "He thought you were Harry."
"Yes. He did think that."
"What did he say to you? I couldn't hear."
"Did you hear the part about 'he is gone'? He then told me that I fly like my father."
"And then he ran off? That doesn't make sense. Not if he's trying to kill you."
"We should contact my Uncle, Lord Darcy. He would make sense of it."
With a sudden boom, the Entrance Doors to Hogwarts burst open, and spells were cast to light up the grounds. "I've found them," Professor Flitwick called as Professor Sprout appeared behind him.
"Both of you, back to your dorms," Sprout demanded. Robert never saw her so furious. "Professor Flitwick, could you return Miss Granger to Gryffindor."
"She is to stay with us tonight," Robert said, and quickly explained to the Head of House what had happened in Gryffindor. Sprout nodded and began to lead both students back to her house.
"And why were you outside?"
"Hermione was upset," Robert told. "I invited her to watch the stars with me, to help her relax. We fell asleep."
"Outside the main doors?"
"We were in the bushes," Hermione said sheepishly, knowing she was giving the wrong impression. "That man ran into us."
Professor Sprout stared in amazement. "You saw him."
Robert and Hermione exchanged looks. Then Hermione said, "Only briefly. He knocked into us, we fell down and he kept running."
Professor Sprout nodded and ushered them into the Hufflepuff common room. She then left to tell the Headmaster what had happened.
Both students said little. Something had happened. Unusual and unexpected. They would have to think about it.
The air was fresh and cold. The last taste of winter in this first weekend of March. Harry, feeling that he should, lent his brother the Firebolt.
"You wanted to try it out."
Robert smiled, and took the broom. Now he was on his broom, guarding the posts against the Slytherin chasers. From the first he refused to be tired and stretched himself to the limit. Twenty-three times Slytherin tried to score and twenty-three times he defended the goals successfully. And the Slytherins were coming again.
Robert moved quickly to block the quaffle, but a well-timed bludger forced him to weave, leaving the posts open. He was still facing the chaser when the Quaffle flew past him. Then it flew back and into the hands of Eleanor Branston who quickly flew toward the Slytherin goals. Robert looked behind him to see Cedric Diggory.
"Curse you, Robert," Cedric said with a laugh. "Now I've lost the . . ." The Seeker suddenly sped away across the pitch.
Robert watched as Cedric streaked after a glint of gold, racing past Draco Malfoy and his Nimbus 2001. Harry's Firebolt was definitely faster. (Robert did warn Harry. He would lend the faster broom to the Seeker). Hufflepuff cheered a moment later as the whistle blew and Cedric held up the snitch. They had won. 200 to zero. Robert smiled.
"It is this way," Robert explained later. "We won our first game by a wide margin and lost our second game by as large a margin. Slytherin can still win the cup by beating Gryffindor by 180 points. Gryffindor however would have to win by over 200 points."
"I wouldn't worry about Slytherin," Diggory answered. "They've all but given up after the trouncing we gave them."
"Then maybe we should worry about Gryffindor," Susan Bones said prophetically. "They can do the math as well."
"Susan is correct," Robert told Cedric. "And Oliver Wood is hungry for the cup."
"I can live with that," Cedric laughed. "But if Wood wants the Cup that badly, he can work for it. And if he gets it," he shrugged, "there is always next year. Wood will be gone, and we have the same team coming back."
"I envy him," Susan said as Cedric walked away. "He can see himself losing and accept it."
"As long as it is fairly lost," Robert added. "For myself, I hope they only make a good showing. I prefer to win."
"Here he is," Hermione said as she escorted Lord London into the common room.
"That was wonderful," Lord London said as he ran up to his brother. "Thank you for letting me come. It was great hearing about all of this, but to actually see it!" The boy was in heaven.
Roger Somerset, Marquis de London, was in rare form. He had traveled to a new world for the first time to see an amazing sight, his first Quidditch match. His brother and Hermione Granger were now giving him the Grand Tour of the school, ending at the Gryffindor common room. As they approached, Robert stopped his younger brother.
"Roger, we have a favour to ask of you. Hermione and I need you to send a letter to Lord Darcy, but you must not let anyone know."
Roger nodded, eager to be part of any secret plot. "May I deliver it to him personally?"
"If you can get to Normandy."
Roger frowned but quickly smiled. "I could write him, and put your letter with it."
"That should work," Robert agreed, and gave him the letter. "Now, let us see what Harry is up to."
Captain Grissom stood in the hearing chamber to answer the charges of assault. Despite efforts on the part of the ministry he had refused to show until this time. Cornelius Fudge was sure it was in reaction to the sudden news about the Hippogriph. The Department for the Destruction of Dangerous Creatures had decoded to reopen that case.
"Captain Grissom," The Minister said politely, "we are happy that you have finally managed to keep an appointment."
"Minister, if this were an important matter, I would have taken care of it at once."
Fudge was indignant at the remark as were other wizards there to hear the case. Lucius Malfoy, for his part, was delighted. "Excuse me, Minister, but this is a perfect example of the problem. The man has total disregard for authority. This is why I cited a personal grievance against him on behalf of my son."
"Yes," Fudge admitted, looking at the papers before him. "Captain Grissom, the purpose of your summons was so that you could answer questions concerning an alleged assault on a student by the name of Draco Malfoy."
Grissom smiled. "I remember the lad, slight build, pale blond hair, no idea of what he was doing."
"Minister," Lucius Malfoy said in anger, "Such a remark is an outrage."
"Truth is always outrageous," Grissom sneered. "Minister, the boy entered my classroom without any intention of taking the course. I threw my hat at him to see if he would do anything. He refused. So I made him pick up my hat as the condition for leaving my classroom. It is not my fault that he kept walking into me while I was waving my arms. In short order, he picked up my hat, I permitted him to leave my class, and that is the end of the story."
"Then you admit everything?" Lucius Malfoy asked. The way Grissom was acting, he was certain to win this case.
"And more," Grissom acknowledged. "By agreement between the Angevin Empire and the Ministry of Magic, I have been permitted to establish a class for the purposes of educating cadet officers in His Royal Majesty's Navy under conditions as near and exact as they would have otherwise. Also, it was agreed to permit students at the school to attend these classes should they choose, and without prejudice. Please note in the booklet I have provided that the punishment for insulting a superior officer can include confinement, fines of a significant amount, and up to one hundred lashes. At no point have I exceeded the punishment."
"I beg your pardon," one of the wizards said. "Do you claim that you have the legal right to assault these students?"
"Only if they come to my classes and refuse to obey the rules. If they do not come, or if they obey the rules, I may do nothing against them without risk to my own position. Examine your documents, you will see that I am correct."
Fudge was severely annoyed. Grissom had conducted himself with insolent indifference. He had literally shoved the law back in their faces. The rule that permitted any student, regardless of sex to join the class also subjected them to the rules of that other world's navy. His backhanded effort to embarrass the Empire had been reversed.
Lucius Malfoy took the matter in stride. In an honest court he had no case anyway. He was annoyed though by the arrogance of the captain. These were a barbaric people who had no respect. Perhaps the Minister was right. He should have pursued the other matter as well. His friend, MacNair, could find an excuse or make one up, and then they could execute the hippogriph. It would be petty, but it would be something. He paused in his thoughts. The panel had never bothered to issue a ruling. He would still ruffle a few feathers at that school.
Ginny Weasley was in fine form. It was her task to give the orders to sail the frigate. The Giant Squid was lying placidly in the middle of the lake, and was being used to represent an island. Her task was to circumnavigate the island. It looked easy at first. The wind was behind her, so she ordered all the sails lowered, which happened automatically. The ship lurched as the sails took hold and shot forward. She quickly ordered the rudder to turn and the ship responded. Unfortunately, the ship was picking up speed much faster than she expected. As the ship turned, well past the giant Squid, it began to shake and lean as it came broadside to the wind.
Captain Grissom immediately ordered all sails up, and the frigate settled in its course.
"Do you see, Weasley, why you do not simply drop all the sails? If we were in a rush and heading straight out to sea, you would have been fine, but you have to have more patience when you are changing directions sharply. Try your tack again."
Ginny nodded, still upset from when the ship started to pitch to one side. She ordered the Mainsail and foresail down. She fixed her direction as she slowly made her way past the far side of the giant squid. She barely avoided bringing the ship to as it turned into the wind, but it was little more than luck the kept the ship moving in its turn before it headed back to the dock on its third leg. Ginny was relieved that she didn't have to try docking, or else she might have had to swim ashore.
"Creevey," Grissom said. "You saw the mistakes. You either do better, or you look for another career."
Colin nodded, and began giving orders. He did do better but he made mistakes of his own, including coming too close to the Giant Squid. It moved for him, but if it had been a real island, he would have grounded for certain.
When they were done, they were dismissed. For the next class, both Colin and Ginny were expected to explain what they did wrong, and why. The first part was easy. But both of them were smiling when they left. It is one thing to be on a ship of any size. It is another to be able to command the ship. Even one on a lake. It was fun.
Lord Bontriomphe promised the Marquis de London that he would post the letter for his uncle, Lord Darcy. He traveled to his office and put the letter, which was actually two letters, in a pouch and sent it with a courier to be routed to Cambridge when it was expedient. Two days later, the pouch was delivered to the office of Professor Gabriel Quirrell, who brought it with him to Hogwarts School when he arrived the following morning. He gave the pouch to Professor Dumbledore who gave it in turn to one of the larger owls. Four days after it was written, the letter was received. Three days later, a reply was sent.
"Dearest Robert," the letter began. "The situation you describe is absurd. Assume that the man, Black, is not guilty of the crime of which he is accused, and the logic is that he is chasing the real criminal. Following this, it is reasonable to assume that he was not after young Ron Weasley, but with whomever the boy shares his bed with. This is what makes the situation absurd. Examine the facts again. Contact me via owl."
It was signed, "Your uncle, James Darcy. PS. Your Godmother gives you her love."
Hermione smirked as she and Robert read the letter. She told him how she had pictured herself asking Ron if he had been sleeping with anyone. Considering how he felt about her since Scabber's disappearance and presumed death, such a question would end their friendship, as weak as it was, forever.
"That is the answer," Robert said jokingly. "Sirius Black was after Ron's rat." They both laughed. Later, they would go over the facts again and try to figure out what it was that they missed. In the meantime, they would keep their secret. And they would keep another one. Lord Darcy was in this world, and that meant he was on the King's business.
"We should tell Harry," Hermione said firmly. She and Robert were still sitting together at a table in the Hufflepuff common room. "But we're going to have to get him away from Ron somehow."
Robert sighed. Hermione had been avoiding Ron ever since Scabbers the rat disappeared. Ron always made some kind of comment whenever she was around.
"I will tell him," Robert said. "We are going to see Uncle Remus tonight after dinner. I will tell him then."
Hermione looked at him curiously. "That's right. This is Wednesday. You always go on Wednesday. Do you think I could join you tonight?"
Robert stared at Hermione. She knew it was 'family night,' for the twins and their adopted uncle, but she never asked to join them before. Curiously, Ron had asked to join them several times, and Harry was forced to tell him no, but that was when they were taking their Patronus lessons. Both Harry and Robert continued their weekly visits afterwards.
"You thought of something," Robert said carefully.
"Something I should have thought of before now." Hermione was grinning. "I completely forgot that we know someone who used to be a close friend of Sirius Black. Remus Lupin might know why Black acted the way he did that night."
Robert grinned as well. Hermione was right. Remus was the perfect person to ask.
