For copyright and disclaimers, please see chapter 1
15 – Classes, Week Seventeen, Second Year
Sunday, December 19, 1999:
Hogwarts, Great Hall, Slytherin table: 09:11
The great hall was fairly quiet, students cramming for the last mid-term examinations. Mattie and Shaundra both reached for the coffeepot at the same time, only to look up and grin. Mattie released the handle, and leaned back, then forward. "You know, I never did congratulate you guys on your win," she said softly.
"Thanks. Close-run thing, though. Thanks for the scouting report, although it might be nice to see the others."
"Ah, can't expect me to give away all my advantages," Mattie grinned. Shaundra made a face, and Mattie relented, "They come in a sealed envelope, and that's how I give them out."
"Drat."
"You shoulda heard what Karen said."
Monday, December 20, 1999:
Hogwarts, Potion lab: 08:50
A sign directed the second-years to a classroom on the third floor. Mattie gave a thumbs-up to Abby Michaels as she arrived for the NEWT potions midterm. She grinned in reply, as Mattie headed to Transfiguration.
"Use the gloves!" Mattie hissed to Felicia as she jerked away from the sickle. "Silver, remember?" She motioned with her head to Sprink, who had a pair of latex gloves on as she concentrated on transforming the coin into a small figurine.
"Thank you, Miss Wayne," Professor McGonagall said out of the corner of her mouth as she walked by. Mattie grinned, closed her eyes and concentrated on changing her lump into something vaguely figure-like.
Monday, December 20, 1999:
Columbus, Ohio, Morton home: 11:50 (GMT-5:00)
Momma Morton checked her list for what seemed like the thirty-seventh time. 'Laundry,' she thought. 'Is all the laundry done?' "Teela! The laundry?"
"Three more shirts to iron, Mom!" her daughter called back. "We're out of dryer sheets!" Elena pulled her grocery list over and added Dryer Sheets to it.
'Beds made,' she thought, then changed her mind, 'No, we need to nap for a few hours, then we'll make them.' She called upstairs, "Bill, Julia, do either of you want to finish the milk?"
Monday, December 20, 1999:
Port Columbus international airport: 23:40 (GMT-5:00)
Bill Morton shook hands with Mr. Wayne's son and daughter in law, then they strapped in. He could hear the hiss of the air conditioner, and the muted whine of the engines. His son Bill Jr. was still looking around the cabin, mouth open.
"Good evening," the cabin speaker said. "We'll be departing for New York as soon as we have clearance. The estimated flight time is forty minutes, at an altitude of 45,000 feet. Please keep your seat belts fastened until the sign is extinguished, and thank you for flying with us." It clicked off, and the cabin attendant spoke up, "My name is Holly, please let me know if there is anything I can do for you." She lowered her voice, adding, "I am a graduate of the Salem Institute, so I do know how to use a wand. The flight crew will not go aft of the forward head unless there's an emergency. You're going to Hogwarts?" Bill nodded, and she smiled as the engines spooled up.
The cabin speaker clicked on, the pilot saying, "I'd like to mention that on the port side of the aircraft, we have a Green Lantern flying formation and on the starboard side, we have Superman. This is only the second time I've seen him, I've never seen the young lady before." There was some background chatter, "I'm informed her name is Jade." Elena, who was sitting on the left side, frantically opened her window shade, to see a young woman in a white and green outfit waving from about thirty feet away. Green letters formed, spelling out, "Hi there! Safe flight?" Superman appeared beside and above Jade, saying something to her. Jade stuck out her tongue at Superman, the letters changing to an arrow with the words "Party pooper!" She waved again, and they pulled up and out of sight. Bill Jr. yawned, asking, "Did I miss anything?"
Tuesday, December 21, 1999:
Inverness international airport: 16:40 (GMT)
With a screech and a thump, they touched down, rolling out to the private terminals. With a 'ding', the seat belt light went off, the cabin speaker coming on to say, "Welcome to Inverness, Scotland. We're a few minutes ahead of schedule; the local time is 4:40 in the afternoon, the temperature a frosty 34 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind chill puts that down at 26, so bundle up. We are waiting for Queen's Customs to board us. After that, the crew and I wish you a very Merry Christmas."
Sheila waited outside the Customs barrier as the sleek white jet dropped a ladder for the Customs officer, cradling her cup of hot coffee. After a few minutes, he departed, and people began to file off as a luggage cart pulled up to the jet.
The Morton kids were happy and chattering as they filed out to the rental parking. Sheila used two fingers to whistle, "Listen up. Arthur has no idea you guys are coming. There are a few things to mention, though. First, this is a school, they are finishing off midterms. Secondly, I want everyone to take one of these charms and put it next to your skin." She handed a box around, adding, "This will nullify the anti-muggle charms around the school, allowing you to see it. If you're not wearing it, all you'll see is a decrepit old ruin." She checked her watch, "It's about a twenty minute drive around the loch. We'll stop briefly in the village of Hogsmeade for you to shoot some photos; the castle is really quite spectacular at night. The students should just be going in to dinner. Dick, which van do you want to drive?"
"I can drive," Bill Morton said quietly, and Sheila smiled, "Yes, but Dick and I have driven there several times. The path is not marked and is very easy to miss."
Dick smiled, "Don't worry, I'm a cop." Bill smiled; then tossed him the keys.
"I would have missed that," Bill Morton admitted quietly as the van pulled off to the shoulder. He looked through the windshield, "Is that it?"
"That's it. Hogwarts," Dick called to the back of the van, "Five minute photo stop!" He pulled out his cell phone, "Mattie? We're in Hogsmeade, five minute photo stop. See ya in ten."
In the Great Hall, Mattie put her phone away, flashing ten fingers to Charlie and the twins. She got her book bag, grinning at Professor Sprout at the Head Table and flashing ten fingers. Lee put her phone away, and joined Mattie as she casually walked out, book bags over their shoulders. The Cortez twins followed them out, while Pomona Sprout vanished through a side door.
The vans halted on the gravel, headlights out. Mattie stepped out of the darkness to give a hug, then saying, "Welcome to Hogwarts. This is Professor Sprout, Arthur's head of house. Did you have any problems?"
Bill Morton said, "No, not really. This place is fantastic!"
The twins and Lee vanished with their parents, while Mattie, Charlie and Professor Sprout shepherded the Mortons to Arthur's dorm, Mrs. Morton tisk'ing about the slovenliness her son lived in. Mattie whispered to Elena, "I'm glad she's not inspecting my dorm!" Elena giggled, and Mattie waved and departed.
"Geez, Charlie, what's wrong? Charms is our last exam, and you lose your book!" Arthur complained as he opened the door.
"SURPRISE!"
"Happy Christmas, mate!" Charlie said as he slapped Arthur on the back. "By the by, Mattie's got my Charms text. Study hard!" He waved and closed the door on a flabbergasted Arthur.
"Mom, do you want to bunk with us, or in the suite the Headmaster arranged?" Lee asked.
"I'd like to stay with you, honey, and I'm Julie," she said to the other girls, adding to Sprink, "Are you all right? You don't look too well, dear."
"Full moon tomorrow night," Sprink said. "I'll be fine, thanks." Julie blinked, and Sprink grinned and held out her hand, "Your friendly neighborhood werewolf, pleased, I'm sure."
Lee clapped her hands, calling "Cindy?" The house elf popped in, Julie letting out a little 'eep!' of surprise, Lee telling her, "Cindy, this is my mom; she'll be staying here instead of the suite." Cindy popped out, Lee explaining, "House elf."
Wednesday, December 22, 1999:
Hogwarts, Great Hall: 07:16
Arthur grumbled to himself before leaving his dorm for his family's suite, "What does she think she is, a cruise director?"
To: All Hogwarts
From: Mattie Wayne
Date: 22 December 1999 07:05:13
Subject: Scratch Quidditch?
Anyone up for a scratch Quidditch match after exams and before dinner today?
To: All Hogwarts
From: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 22 December 1999 07:06:15
Subject: Re: Scratch Quidditch?
That sounds delightful.
>Anyone up for a scratch Quidditch match after exams and before dinner today?
To: All Hogwarts
From: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 22 December 1999 07:08:44
Subject: Re 2: Scratch Quidditch?
You know I'm always interested in Quidditch.
>That sounds delightful.
>>Anyone up for a scratch Quidditch match after exams and before dinner today?
To: All Hogwarts
From: Harry Potter
Date: 22 December 1999 07:10:33
Subject: Re 3: Scratch Quidditch?
Draco just floated in, shall I ask him and the other ghosts to referee?
>You know I'm always interested in Quidditch.
>>That sounds delightful.
>>>Anyone up for a scratch Quidditch match after exams and before dinner today?
To: All Hogwarts
From: Severus Snape
Date: 22 December 1999 07:12:56
Subject: Re 4: Scratch Quidditch?
The Baron says that he's interested, it's been centuries since he's played.
>Draco just floated in, shall I ask him and the other ghosts to referee?
>>You know I'm always interested in Quidditch.
>>>That sounds delightful.
>>>>Anyone up for a scratch Quidditch match after exams and before dinner today?
Arthur gave the password to the suite his family was using (Mars Bars), his Mother immediately noticing his pique. "What's wrong, dear?"
"Mattie thinks she's a cruise director," he grumbled, passing over the email printout.
"I think that's very nice, dear," his mother said as Bill Sr. came in; "I can't find an outlet for my razor."
Arthur grinned, drawing his wand. "Around here, most guys use a shaving charm, while the girls use a potion. Have a seat dad. Mom, if you call Henry, I'll do him too."
"Oh, my," Bill Sr. said as he felt his chin. "That's the best shave I've had in years."
"Fastest, too," Arthur said as he moved his wand over his brother's face. "I don't have any of the potions the girls use. Sorry, Becky," He stepped back; then asked, "Breakfast in here, or the Great Hall?"
"The Great Hall!" Julie said, her mother adding, "They're in exams, so I expect you to be quiet!"
"Post's here!" someone called, and everyone looked up. Julie asked, "Why are there bats over there?"
"Wayne owns the Ballycastle Bats Quidditch team," Eleanor said. "She gets mail from them by bat." She pointed up, "You can tell which house is which by the banners. That's the Slytherin table, with the green and silver, then Ravenclaw with blue and bronze, we're Hufflepuff with yellow and black," She nodded her head, "Behind us is Gryffindor with red and gold." She smiled, "When are you coming?"
Julie pouted, "Not till next year. I can't wait!"
"Sounds like a Ravenclaw to me," a fellow said from Gryffindor. He turned around and offered his hand to Julie, "Harry Spencer. I'll be a fifth year when you start. You lot going to the scratch game?"
"Looking forward to it, after Potions exam," Eleanor said.
Stephanie folded down the Reporter, asking, "Anyone see the Pimpernel's letter in the Prophet?"
"Ministry propaganda rag," someone muttered, and another asked, "Read it, please."
Stephanie cleared her throat and read:
My fellow witches and wizards:
The Fudge ministry has decided to attack my character with their propaganda. I feel I must set the record straight, and say here and now I had nothing to do, and no knowledge of, the murder of Deputy Minister Edward Hansen.
My mission is one of justice. I acted to preserve the life and liberty of the unfortunate captive werewolves which the Fudge Ministry had planned to murder for the purpose of robbing their gold. I will not repeat that sorry information, you have read it for yourself. Those persons are safe, their families have been notified. If you know one or more of these individuals, you know what I say is true.
I will close with this simple note. I have sent identical letters with my flower to the Daily Prophet and the Wizarding Reporter. You may determine for yourself the veracity of each newspaper by determining which this letter appears in.
The Pimpernel
She cleared her throat, adding, "There's an editorial note,"
To the readers of the Wizarding Reporter:
We normally verify the identities of all correspondents. However, for their own reasons, the above individual wishes to keep their identity a secret. The flower enclosed matches those found at both the Ministry's DMLE holding cells, and in the cages erected by the Ministry in Diagon Alley. They are available for public inspection, as is the original letter, at our offices.
Lois Lane,
Managing Editor
Mattie danced into the Morton's suite, pulling Bill Jr. from his chair and twirling him around. Teela asked, "You're all in a good mood," and Arthur grinned, "Cheering charms were the last part of the exam, and we don't want to cancel them."
"Quidditch now, Quidditch now!" Sprink sang as she joined Mattie and Bill in their dance.
"Is that what you normally wear for Quidditch?" Henry asked, "I don't think I'd look too good in a skirt."
"We can fix that, Henry," Mattie grinned, pulling her wand. "Arthur, don't you want another sister?" There was a knock on the door, Henry escaping to answer it.
Charlie poked his head in, "Oh, charm's still on?"
"Yes, and they're threatening to make me wear a skirt!" Henry said.
"Can't have that, mate. 'Finite Incantatem'!"
Mattie, Arthur and Sprink instantly sobered, Teela saying, "Good thing I had my camera."
Sprink knocked on the door, Julie opening it and asking, "Those are real brooms?"
"Sure are," Sprink said. "This is a Nimbus 2000, Mattie's got a Firebolt II."
"That's what you wear for Quidditch?" Henry asked. "No skirts?"
"No skirts, Henry. Sorry about that," Mattie said with a grin. "These are our Slytherin team uniforms. Put something warm on, it's cold out there."
Julie was running her hand over the oak handle. "Can I…"
Mattie looked at Mrs. Morton, who nodded. "Why don't you and your brother Bill go put something warm on?"
"Right-o, mates," Sprink said in the corridor. "Hold your hand over the broom, and tell it 'UP'."
Bill held his hand over Mattie's broom and said, "UP!" The broom rose, smacking his hand, while Sprink's broom smacked Julie's hand. Mattie mounted the broom, pulling Bill on ahead of her and kicking off gently. His eyes were round as she grinned, "Ready to fly?"
"Oh, YEAH!"
Mattie waved, "See you at the pitch!" and dove off the balcony. "YeeeHaaa!"
Mattie and Bill floated, Bill looking down. "Gosh, they look so small."
"We're about a hundred fifty feet up, you see the players at the pitch?" Mattie said. "We'll do a flying lesson in a minute, but do you see that tree?" Mattie pointed at the Whomping Willow, whose branches were swaying. "Stay far away from it; it will try to cave your skull in." She waved at Sprink, who called, "She's a natural!"
"You can't let your sister get away with that, can you?" Bill shook his head. "Okay, flying is simple," Mattie said as she demonstrated, "Lean forward to accelerate, back to brake. Point the broom where you want to go; lean in the direction you want to turn. I'm here if you get in trouble." She let go of the broom, and Bill hesitantly put his hands on it. "That's right," Bill leaned forward, and the broom shot forward, Mattie shouting, "Turn!"
"You're good," Mattie said, ruffling Bill's hair as they stopped outside the pitch. Sprink pulled up alongside, floating about two hundred feet up. "They're both good," she added, "I can't wait until they can play." Bill looked at his sister, floating in midair ten feet away, and said, "Neither can we."
The four of them floated to the ground (wobbling a bit), Mattie and Sprink smiling happily. Mattie stood, nudging Bill and saying, "I need to give your brother a ride. I owe him one."
"Awww…" Bill said as he got off, Henry looking pleased. "C'mon, Henry, I said Quidditch was like basketball? See for yourself, get on behind me." Teela got on behind Sprink, and they kicked off.
"You didn't think that we were really going to … you know?" Mattie asked.
"Well, no, but you did look awfully cute, dancing around in that little skirt," Henry said. She twisted around and frowned at him, "Just because I let you hold me does not mean anything, Mr. Morton. I don't want you to fall off."
"Okay, okay!" He grinned, and she did too. "What's going on?"
"It's a scratch game, normally there wouldn't be this many playing," she said. "You can see team uniforms from all four houses. The chasers are the ones tossing the red Quaffle back and forth, the Beaters like Sprink are the ones that have those flat bats, they look like cricket bats. They knock those black iron balls around, that's the Bludgers."
"Confusing, and that's gotta hurt." Henry pointed at one player who was spiraling down, clutching his right arm.
"Hopefully it's a clean break," Mattie said. "Madame Pomfrey will get him fixed up in no time." She twisted around to look back at Henry, "You don't have to wear a plaster cast for months, a wave of the wand and it's good as new."
"That's cool." He looked at the player being helped off the pitch, "You were saying?"
"Think in three dimensions, and with a couple extra players, it's a bit like basketball." She motioned, "You've got passing, scoring, penalties and defense. Harry Spencer, the fellow Bill said Julie talked to this morning? He's in red." She pointed at one of the goals, and she continued, "He's good enough to play professionally if he wants. He's a fourth-year, so I'll give him the chance in a couple years. Otherwise, he's stuck in the family business, poor guy."
"What's his family business?"
She twisted to look at him, "Arthur didn't tell you guys?" Henry shook his head, Mattie saying, "If anything, he's got it worse than I do. The name 'Spencer' doesn't mean anything to you?"
"Should it?"
"If you read the papers it should. Please don't freak out about this, he deserves a chance." Henry nodded, and Mattie chewed her lip, finally adding, "His grandmother's the Queen."
Henry sat quietly, asking, "The Queen? As in the Queen of England? He's like, fifth in line?"
"Third, I think. Yeah, that sucks, doesn't it? No chance to be a regular guy, except when he's in school. He mentioned once that Hogwarts rescued him from hell at Eton. You remember what happened to his mum in Paris? Life in a fishbowl."
"You look at the tabloids, and you think, 'Must be nice…'," Henry said, "Then you meet someone like…"
"…Like me?" Mattie asked. "Please be honest, Henry. Do you think my family's a bunch of pretentious snobs?"
"No, no I don't!" Henry said. "You're real. I can see asking you out in a couple years, or rather, Arthur, if he gets that stick out of his butt."
Mattie giggled; then looked around. "Between you and I only, Henry, promise you won't tell anyone else?" Henry crossed his heart and zipped his lips, throwing the key away. "Dick told me how your dad suddenly got the time off to come. Want the story?"
"Sure, I was wondering," Mattie looked around again; then said, "Dad went a round in the ring with one of the guys on the dock. One of the teamsters, he's a former state middleweight champ. Then he mentioned your dad over a drink, and the champ made a call or two, and here you all are." She leaned back to look at him, "You guys are worth a bruise or two to us. If Arthur was someone else, I would have slugged him long ago."
Wednesday, December 22, 1999:
Hogwarts, Potions laboratory: 16:06
Mattie arrived with Sprink's arm draped over her shoulder. Guiding her to a seat, she glanced up as a pale Felicia was escorted in by Amanda and Professor McGonagall. Rows of bubbling cauldrons held wolfsbane potion, with a few seventh-years tending them. Professor Snape looked up, calling, "Miss Hansen, a minute of your time," as he strode over to them.
"First time you transform, you can't use potion," Amy said as she took a seat. "You have to give blood and saliva samples so the potion can be adjusted for you. With everything else the poor girl's going through, this is going to be a rough night for her."
"At least we're alive," Jeremy said, knocking on the scarred wooden desk, "Thanks to the Pimpernel."
Wednesday, December 22, 1999:
Hogwarts, Morton suite: 16:46
"Are Mattie and Sprink meeting us for dinner?" Teela asked, sketchpad in hand.
"Err, not tonight," Arthur replied. "It's a full moon, remember? Sprink's transforming, so Mattie's with her."
"Oh, cool!" Elena said. "Can we watch?"
"NO!" Arthur shouted. Elena looked hurt, and he relented, "I've seen them once, and if I have to, I'll do it again. It's a very embarrassing ordeal, extremely painful, and they are very dangerous." He shook a finger at his older sister, "I know you, Elena Morton. You'd want to pet them, but they would be either trying to Bite you, or rip you apart. You might be better off if they ripped you to shreds, then you wouldn't have to spend every full moon for the rest of your life chained in the basement."
"So… what does Mattie do?" Teela asked quietly.
"She sits outside the cell they're locked in with a gun in her hand, in case her best friend escapes. She'd have to kill Sprink with a silver bullet if that happened. Otherwise, she listens to them howl in agony as they transform." He looked at Elena, adding, "Like one of us would have to do if Elena was bitten."
Thursday, December 23, 1999:
Hogwarts, Infirmary: 06:36
"G'won, go!" Tonks told Mattie quietly as she looked down on her sleeping sister. "You've got a long flight back to the States. I'll tell her I bullied you off." She smiled, adding, "Sprink's lucky to have as good a mate as you."
"'Kay," Mattie said reluctantly, passing Sprink's wand to her sister. Tonks took her by the shoulders, turned her in the direction of the doors, and gave a gentle push.
Mattie yawned as she entered the Great Hall, to find the remaining people sitting at one common table. She took an empty seat, "Good morning, everyone. Pass the coffee, please."
"Here you go, and good morning, Mattie. Up late last night?"
"With a sick friend," Mattie replied, "What are you doing here Jennie?"
"Dick over there said you needed a bit of help, and John wasn't available," she shrugged, sipping her coffee. "I just got back and got his message."
"You mean there's something Mattie isn't already expert in?" Henry said, before Mattie bounced a muffin off his head.
"See if I ever take you flying again wise guy," Mattie retorted before returning her attention to her morning caffeine fix.
"Are you a witch too?" Elena asked, not recognizing Jennie from the flight to Scotland.
"No," Jennie replied, "but I do have some experience with magic; and Dick thought I might be able to help."
The question "With what?" ran through several minds of the people eating breakfast. Arthur quickly said, "Anything that can help Mattie with her Transfiguration is worth it."
Jennie gave Arthur an odd look before saying, "Uh, yeah."
Minerva rescued her by saying, "Before you depart, I would like to see the Cortez twins, Mr. Morton and your sister, Mr. Adams and Miss Wayne." She smiled faintly at their questioning looks, "Merely a bit of paperwork. You will need to select electives to be chosen at the beginning of April. This merely allows your families to have some input." She favored Julie with a look, "As for you, Miss Morton, should you decide to join your brother here in September, this will allow me to get ahead of my competition at the Salem Institute. You may examine the list of school supplies, and if you so choose, pre-order them on your visit to London."
"Can this day get any weirder?" Mattie asked herself, calling, "Charlie! Wait a minute!" She hurried up to him, asking, "When you go to Diagon Alley, could you have all of them tested at Ollivander's? Over the summer, the youngest, Bill, didn't have a reaction to my wand, but he was able to call a broom. If they need funds, use this letter of credit. Any questions, ask Griplink at Gringotts."
"Arthur won't like that," Charlie said, accepting the letter of credit Mattie passed him.
"Call it a Christmas present, then. He can pay for the wand holsters, if he wants." She grinned, adding, "Get one for yourself, too, for your trouble."
"No worries, mate," Charlie grinned, saying softly, "Ms. Pimpernel."