The following morning Marty and the others were having breakfast in the sitting room. Well the others were Marty was sitting on the couch sipping a cup of tea she was too nervous to eat anything.
"You okay sweetheart, you seem at bit on edge this morning?" Murdock asked her.
"I'm fine." Marty replied sitting her cup down on the table and not saying anything else. At that point Hannibal came into the room and Marty immediately tensed up which everyone in the room took notice of but didn't say anything. Hannibal then sat down in a nearby chair smiled at Marty who returned a small nervous smile. 'Damn it would he just get this over with' Marty thought.
"Well it seems we will be extending our trip for another week or so guys." Hannibal said taking a cigar out his pocket and lighting it.
"What's up Hannibal?" Face asked.
"Well we are going with Baby here to visit a friend of hers. It seems that this lady lives pretty far away and Baby says she needs to go see her." Hannibal replied.
"Why all of a sudden to you need to see this woman, Baby?" Murdock asked looking at her suspiciously.
Marty couldn't very well explain considering she didn't know why she was going see her in the first place. "I don't know Murdock I just have to." Marty replied feeling a bit uncomfortable under his gaze.
"Besides she is a very kind woman and was there for me a lot when I was younger." Marty added.
"What does she do for a living I don't think you mentioned that?" Hannibal asked.
Marty felt all their eyes on her and she knew she had to think fast because, they wouldn't believe the truth…at least not yet. So she said "She works at a boarding school for gifted children…..I went there as a child." 'Well it's not a total lie.' She thought.
They all smiled and agreed they would very much like to see the place where she went to school.
'How am I going to get these guys into my world without having them ask a lotmore questions? 'She thought to herself then suddenly it came to her 'That's it!' She knew it would work and in order for it to do so she needed to go and get a few things to prepare for this little trip.
She then stood up and went to retrieve her leather jacket. "Where are you going Baby?" Face asked.
"I need to run a few errands before we go, I'll be back to get everyone as soon as I'm done." Marty said putting on her jacket and putting her hair in a pony tail.
With that she gave Hannibal a peck on the cheek and headed out. As she stepped outside the sun hit her in the eyes and she reached inside her pocket and took out her sunglasses and put them on. As with the night before Marty allowed her feet and heart to lead the way and once again she was outside the old building with the faded cauldron on it.
As she walked up to the door she inhaled deeply took off her sunglasses putting them back in her jacket pocket and said to herself, 'Back into the fire old girl.' And with that she crossed the threshold back into her past.
The room was foreboding dark until she closed the door to the street. Once closed the rooms lighting changed and a warm glow was coming from the fireplace and from the candles on the tables. Once her eyes got accustomed to the lighting she heard an old deep voice say "Well bless my stars, Martintha has returned." As she turned toward the sound of the voice she immediately recognized old Mrs. Sinclarion. 'Wow things are coming back to me pretty quickly...I think.'
Marty smiled "Hello Mrs. S it's been a long time since I saw you last."
Mrs. Sinclarion looked at her thoughtfully and said "Well yes girl, geez it's been what 20 years since I saw you last and you haven't changed a bit." "Where have you been keeping yourself?"
Marty smiled but before she could answer she heard a voice shout out "Marty!" from across the bar as an old man wearing a white shirt, brown pants, white apron and spectacles approached her wrapping her up in a big hug lifting her up off the ground. She was shocked at first and then grinned and hugged the man right back.
"Hi Tom, how's tricks?" she asked as Tom put her back down on the ground.
"Not bad, the pub is running fine just like always…..wait what are you doing here? You're still wanted you know." Tom said with concern in his eyes.
"Yes, I know Tom, but something is pulling me back and you know how I love risk." She said smiling not really knowing what this man was talking about. 'I'm wanted here too? What in the world did I do?'
Tom smiled back, "Yes dear you do and if I remember correctly it was risk that got you into that mess in the first place."
Marty didn't want to him to know that she couldn't remember what she had done and instead smiled and said "True enough Tom but I can't stay I need to head into the alley to pick up a few things." "I need help getting there." She added quickly because a thought came to her mind that she needed her wand. Course she didn't know where that came from but she shrugged it off.
Tom grinned "Okay, Mirabella was heading that way weren't you dear, would you mind opening up the wall for my friend here her key is down in the alley."
"I certainly will Tom." Mirabella responded. Marty looked at the woman who approached them she was right around five feet tall and had yellow eyes. Her voice was very melodically and soothing. Herclothing was of a brown consistency but was cut at nice angles. 'Yes' Marty thought 'this woman knows how to use all that she has in order to draw attention.' She then waved to Tom and Mrs. S and followed Mirabella through the back door towards the alley. She watched as Mirabella took out her wand and tapped a section of bricks in a clockwise manner and slowly the wall began to retreat in on itself revealing the mysterious and bountiful Diagon Alley.
The alley was bustling and the shops were filled with men and woman wearing the same kind of clothing Mirabella was wearing. Marty suddenly felt like she belonged and began to relax a bit, but remembering what Tom had said about her being wanted kept her guard up. She thanked Mirabella for helping her out and began walking down the cobble stone path remembering the sights and smells of the alley. This seemed to trigger something in Marty's mind but as with a ghost of a memory it was gone before she could grasp it. She shivered as she continued to walk down the path till she stopped in front of a shop with a quill on the sign that said…..
"Olivander's Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C."
Marty knew this is where she could retrieve her wand. She then walked in and marveled at all the boxes and boxes on the shelves. She could hear who she knew immediately was Mr. Olivander in the back telling someone "The wand chooses the wizard." She smiled when she remembered when those words were said to her all those years ago. He came carrying a few boxes out of the corridor to the left behind the counter; he was an older man with white hair and wearing a brown vest over a crisp white shirt and brown durable pants.
When he sat down the boxes he saw her and said "Welcome back Martintha, oh excuse me Marty. Have you come to retrieve your wand?"
"Yes sir I have." Marty replied.
He smiled and went over to a bookshelf on the far right of the shop. He returned with a small box that was 9 inches long. He handed Marty the box and said "Here is your wand Marty, Unicorn hair, yew, 9 inches."
Marty smiled "Thank you sir, how much do I owe you for keeping this for me?" Mr. Olivander held up his hand smiling replied "Don't worry Marty we will consider the debt from all those years ago paid." With that he picked up the boxes from the counter and disappeared back down one of the corridors.
Marty opened the box with reverence. The yew wood looked freshly polished and as she picked it up she felt a warm feeling of being surrounded in love and a feeling of completeness that she had almost forgotten about. She placed her wand into the pocket of her jacket and then lifted the velvet up on one corner of the box and retrieved a small gold key and placed the now empty box back on the counter.
Marty then left the shop feeling like a new woman and headed back down the path towards a white building with a sign on it that said Gringott's Bank that was slightly leaning to one side, it reminded her of the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy. She knew this was the place where she would have to get her money for what she would have to do. As she entered the bank she saw the high ceilings with the cobwebbed chandeliers and the dark tiles on the floor. She watched as families came in and speak with what she knew where goblins who were behind desks counting gold.
As she approached a teller a funny feeling came over her and suddenly she remembered something. As the goblin looked at her with annoyance she said in gobbledegook a language she hadn't spoken in years "Martintha Parapetis is here to make a withdrawal."
The goblin looked at her with surprise and the responded in the same language, "And does Martintha Parapetis have her key?" Marty nodded producing the key and they then left the main area. They traveled down a long staircase to a trolley system which took them down winding corridors and through tunnels over impenetrable darkness. Marty was feeling sick but managed not to vomit. It then stopped at a vault with the numbers 42564 carved in stone above it, they got out. Marty was trying to steady herself when the goblin said "Key Please." Marty handed the key to the goblin that opened the lock. The heavy door swung open, and inside were large mounds of gold coins, sickles and knuts. Marty stepped in and filled her shoulder bag which to her surprise was not bursting at the seams and stepped back out with the vault door closing as if on its own accord.
She then got back into the cart with the goblin and back up to the surface. Upon exiting the cart Marty turned to the goblin and said "May your vault be ever full" with that she walked up the stairs hurriedly. The goblin watched her leave and said "May your vault be ever locked Parapetis for your luck may not hold out much longer." the goblin then returned to his duties on the floor at the bank.
As Marty left through the front door she noticed a man leaning up against on of the pillars. He was looking at her strangely making her nervous so she decided it would be a good idea to disappear. She started walking down the path and turned left down the mysterious Knockturn Alley.
Once in the alley of the shadows Marty remembered that a certain person lived around there and she began looking for the sign that said 1313 on the door. As she was searching memories of the last time she saw this person began to float in her mind……
("Remember our deal Sebastian; I don't want any funny business."
"Yes, Yes dear I do remember our deal don't worry you just keep your wits about you at all times. And don't forget that damn amulet that was given to you for god sakes she would have your hide if you lost that now."
"No, I won't lose it just remember if something goes wrong you know what to do……")
As the memory faded from Marty's mind she spotted the run down house she was looking for and knocked with a series of taps that she remembered.
The door opened cautiously and a small gnome looked up at her. He was around 3 feet tall and was wearing a pair of brown pants and a vest.
"What do you want?" He asked rather nastily.
Marty sighed 'Here goes nothing' and responded "I'm looking for Sebastian."
"Sebastian is dead, been dead for 230 years and counting." The gnome replied.
"The counting is why I'm looking for him." Marty replied.
The gnome sighed and replied with a hint of annoyance "Come in for a minute then." And let Marty into the house.
From the outside the house appeared small but like everything in this world, looks are deceiving. Marty was led down a long dark corridor with the only source of light were the torches dotting the walls. She was taken into a room that only had a chair in it. Marty was going to sit down in the chair when she remembered seeing that very chair fall away once and decided it would be wise if she would remain standing. The gnome didn't notice this and went to an old candleholder that was sitting on top of a fireplace mantle.
He moved the candleholder over to the left and sure enough the chair dropped down into the floor. He turned around and to his surprise saw Marty still standing there. He then scowled.
Marty who was trying not to laugh asked "Can I see Sebastian now, please?"
There was chuckle from behind Marty and as she turned around she saw Sebastian standing there. Sebastian was a small gnome who stood only 3 feet tall, he was wearing the same thing the other gnome was wearing only the color was a deeper richer brown; he was wearing round glasses that sat on the end of his large nose as he looked at her.
"Well Martintha, finally come back to see Sebastian have you? He asked
Marty nodded and said "Yes I have Sebastian; I realize it's been a long time since we last saw each other."
Sebastian looked at her thoughtfully "I was wondering when you were going to come back to fulfill your destiny girl."
Marty looked at him rather confused and Sebastian began to chuckle again "You don't remember what your destiny is girl, I'm surprised at you." "I mean I have heard rumors that a person that was supposed to be dead has returned."
Marty then remembered what the deal was that she and Sebastian had struck all that long ago………
("Yes my dear I do remember what do, I cast that lovely charm you taught me."
"Good I thought for a minute there you forgot Sebastian." Martintha said with a slight smirk.)
Marty came out her trance to reply, "Well why should you believe them seeing as how you were the one who killed me."
Sebastian smiled, "True and you will be happy to know that the charm came off perfectly and has helped others as well."
"Well that was the deal," Marty said, "I teach you the charm and you help me disappear."
"Then what is that you want now Martintha?" Sebastian asked.
Marty took a deep breath and said "I need some more help now; I have to go back to Hogwarts. Something is pulling me back there after all these years."
If Sebastian was surprised he didn't let it show replied "That is not a good idea my dear, several people there would not want to see you back. Especially, a certain person whom you cared about all those years ago, and I suspect still does."
Marty knew who he was talking about but didn't want to admit that she still cared for that person even if Sebastian knew. "I'll deal with him but it's not just me, I need to bring four others with me as well."
"What can you do for me?" Marty asked.
"Well I can do a lot depending on what you can afford my dear."
Marty thought for a moment and replied, "I need a cloak that will displace me and I also need my friends to have the ability to cast."
Sebastian looked at her aghast, "You want to give the gift to muggles, are you insane girl!"
"No I'm not insane but I feel as though they have to come with me and I know you have the spell Sebastian." Marty replied.
Sebastian thought for a moment and then looked at her and said in a very low tone "That spell is very old and taxing, if the spell works it will cost me dearly in years and in the mind and you know that."
'I know that spell would cost him but for some odd reason I really need those guys with me and I can't figure it out. Wait a minute I got it' she thought.
"Alright then do you have a temporary one that would give them the abilities for a few weeks?" She asked.
Sebastian looked at her for a moment and then walked over to a wall and touched it lightly. A bookshelf appeared filled to bursting with books and he selected a very old tome. He flipped through the pages scanning each of the entries located with in its venerable pages with his stubby finger.
He finally stopped at a page and said "Okay I can cast the spell, but it's going to cost you 10,000 galleons and the cost of some ingredients." Placing the book on a near by table that wasn't there a moment ago.
Marty agreed and reached into her shoulder bag and dropped a small bag she had taken from her vault onto his hand and said "There are 20,000 galleons in that bag. Take the money you need out of it along with enough for a strong sleeping draught ."
"What do you want with a sleeping draught girl?" Sebastian inquired.
"Don't worry about it I will take care of that." Marty replied.
Sebastian then looked over at his assistant handed him the bag and stated sternly "Do it."
The assistant took the bag and said "As you command Father." And with that the assistant left the room.
Marty looked at him and smiled "So you did get with Martha didn't you?"
Sebastian looked at her with a smile and said "She is the only reason that you were allowed back through that door after all these years. She sends her regards; she had to go back to Mire Wood to visit her grandmother. Her time was very short. She also said to ask you for the pendant back."
Marty didn't know at first what he was talking about and then with a funny feeling came over her as she reached inside her jacket pocket she felt the pendant and pulled it out. The chain was silver and the amulet was jade that was surrounded by white diamonds. 'Wow who would have thought?'
"Here," Marty said handing it to Sebastian "Tell her that it will need to go back into the hopper for about a week to recharge." 'Where the hell did that come from?'
She also handed him a piece of paper and said "We are staying at the Good Fellows Inn the address and the room number are on the paper be there just after tea time." Sebastian's assistant came back with two small pouches. He handed them to Sebastian and left the room again.
"Here you go girl, this pouch is filled with your sleeping draught and the other is what's left of your gold I'm sure you can tell the difference." He said handing them to her. "Also here is your cloak." Handing her a cloak, it was black and was smooth and silky between Marty's fingers.
Sebastian shrunk the cloak for her so she could fit the pouches and cloak inside her shoulder bag and upon thanking him Marty left the room and made her way out of Knockturn Alley and back into the world of Science.
TBC