A/N: Guess what? I think I'm doing this college thing right after all – last week, I scored 100 on a calculus test. So in honor of that, I give you Chapter 23! I'm pretty proud of this one – it's about 3,200 words (700 more than my average) and I felt that it had some pretty powerful images. Hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it. :o)
Chapter Twenty-Three: In which the case is closed
- A few moments later -
All of a sudden, his problems with Minerva seemed trivial. "Stone?" Dumbledore repeated, hoping it wasn't true. He liked Neil Stone. Neil was a model student, a good person, and Dumbledore's choice for Head Boy. He was a Slytherin, but Dumbledore was wise enough to know that didn't matter – his deceased brother-in-law, Artemus Black, had been a Slytherin, and there were few people Dumbledore held in higher regard than Artemus. Neil showed promise, and now he was dead. It couldn't be possible – could it?
Cutler nodded. "I'm afraid so."
"When did this happen?"
"Barty Crouch found him dead in the Slytherin tower not ten minutes ago, and rushed to tell Indira," Cutler answered. "I suspect two thirds of the school knows about it, and it won't be much longer before they all find out."
"Where is he now?"
"In the hospital wing. Come; I'll tell you more on the way."
The two men left the doorway and began walking toward the hospital wing. Cutler told Dumbledore what little they knew as they went. The cause of death was apparent suicide by poisoning. A vial of the suspected poison was found clenched in Neil's fist, and even as they spoke, Flamel was comparing traces of the contents of the vial to the dead boy's blood to see if there was a match. He had not been dead long when Barty Crouch found him, perhaps half an hour.
Dumbledore was deeply disturbed by this news. Why would Neil Stone kill himself? He showed no signs of someone about to commit such an act. Something about this didn't seem right, and he suspected there was more to Cutler's story: a key bit of information it was possible that Cutler wouldn't even realize. Nothing could be taken at face value during times like these.
Most of the faculty was assembled in the hospital wing by the time Dumbledore and Cutler arrived. The two newcomers made their way over to the bed on which Neil Stone had been laid, around which were also gathered Armando Dippet, Indira Nay, Alain Haas, and Laura Tyburski. Nicolas Flamel was nearby, at a table that looked as though it was a portable Potions classroom. Haas had a piece of parchment in his hands. Their faces were solemn, but Haas's trembling hands gave away their emotions.
Seeing Neil dead for himself finalized it for Dumbledore, and he felt defeated. "Well?" he asked quietly. "Do we know what caused it?"
"I'm not quite finished with this analysis," Flamel spoke up, "but I can tell you that there are high amounts of wormwood and essence of belladonna in both the potion from the vial and in his blood."
"Those ingredients are never used together," Madam Tyburski said. "The combination is deadly."
"So this was clearly a potion that most have not encountered," Indira deduced.
She looked at Flamel, expecting the world's greatest potions master to have an answer for this mystery. He did not. "I'm sorry, Professor Nay," he said. "The only explanation I can offer is that he created an entirely new formula."
"But why?" Dumbledore asked. "And why test it on himself?"
"Because it was the only way," Haas whispered.
That was all it took for the head of Hufflepuff to receive the undivided attention of everyone in the room.
"It all makes sense now," Haas continued, a bit louder. "It was meant to be an antidote to Veritaserum."
"Of course!" said Flamel. "He must have put in a bezoar to protect against the aconite, because wormwood counters lionfish, and wormwood and asphodel, which counteracts the aconite in the original potion, have an adverse reaction. Essence of belladonna would counter the effects of the Jobberknoll feathers. He must not have realized the combination of wormwood and belladonna would be fatal."
"But why would he want to create an antidote in the first place?" asked Dippet.
"To prevent us from finding out the truth during the interrogation," said Haas, and handed Dippet the parchment he was holding. "You asked me to fetch his profile when we found out he died. Here it is. Take a look at his mother."
Dippet took the paper and read where Haas told him to. "Mother Rebecca Stone, maiden name…" His throat went dry before he could utter the next word.
"Rainier," Haas finished for Dippet. "As in Erich Rainier."
"He was Grindelwald's nephew," Dumbledore realized. "Of all the…"
There was no need for him to finish the thought.
"So that's it, then?" Madam Tyburski said. "All of this… it was Stone's doing?"
"It would appear that way," Dippet said slowly, each word sticking to his throat. "He's talented enough to be proficient at Legillimancy if he tried, and he is Erich Rainier's nephew…" He stole a glance at Indira. She looked as nauseated as he felt, and he didn't blame her. All this time, the culprit was one of her star students, committing these crimes under her very nose.
Dumbledore still wasn't sure about this. It made sense, perfect sense, and that was why he doubted it. It was just too convenient, but he didn't make his opinion known. In all likelihood, Neil Stone was the traitor, and he was just an old skeptic who refused to believe a young man he respected was capable of such a heinous act.
"Well?" said Haas.
Dippet looked at Dumbledore. "Albus, make the announcement," he said. "I will write to the Ministry of Magic and disclose everything we know."
"How much is everything?" Indira asked quietly.
"Everything," Dippet replied. "People are dying because of our secrets. We are obligated to try to prevent that."
"I understand," Indira said, avoiding eye contact with anyone. She didn't want the truth to come out, but since her life was no longer in danger, the world had the right to know why Arielle Turner, Christina Bacall, and Neil Stone had died. It was time. And maybe, just maybe, it was time for Madeline Rahmini to disappear again…
"I'm going to request that all students come to the Great Hall at once," said Dumbledore. "They deserve to know the truth." And maybe, just maybe, Minerva would find it in her heart to forgive him…
He and Dippet made eye contact, then Dippet nodded and said, "Do it."
Dumbledore was already on his way out.
"What do you suppose this is about?" Arabella Figg asked Minerva McGonagall as they walked toward the Great Hall along with every other student at Hogwarts. "It's too soon for the Veritaserum to be ready, isn't it?"
Minerva ignored Arabella's first question and acknowledged the second with a nod of her head. Her mind wasn't on whatever announcement Dumbledore had to make. Gryfffindor had been in the middle of Quidditch practice when Arabella and a few others came out to the pitch saying that everyone needed to go to the Great Hall immediately, preparing for the final Quidditch match of the year: Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff. Gryffindor had a significant lead in the Quidditch Cup, but Hufflepuff was in a strong second after crushing Slytherin, and they had the best Seeker in recent memory. If something like what happened last time happened again, Minerva knew she would never be able to outmaneuver Shirley Jones like she had Ronny Buchanen in the game against Ravenclaw. Pooky was a good Seeker – he was more than good – but he was no match for Jones. In all honesty, Minerva wasn't expecting a Gryffindor victory, but she felt they could score enough points to win the Cup before Jones got the Snitch. She would have to sit down and figure out the numbers before deciding if it was possible, but she had faith in her team. If anyone could do it –
"Minerva!"
A boy's voice brought Minerva out of her thoughts. She knew the voice, but couldn't place it until he came into view. It was Bartemius Crouch. "Crouch?"
Barty's robes, face, and hair were impeccable as usual, but the way he carried himself gave away his anxiety: eyes darting back and forth, breathing faster than normal, tense shoulders, and a strain to his step. "Have you seen Riddle?" he asked, falling into stride next to Minerva, sandwiching her between himself and Arabella.
"I've been out on the pitch since classes got over," Minerva replied. It felt a little awkward talking with Barty; the two of them didn't know each other very well, and she was the reason he became a prefect in the first place. "Do you know what's going on?"
Barty stopped walking, his mouth agape. "You haven't heard yet?"
"I told you, I've been on the pitch since-"
"And I haven't heard either," Arabella interrupted.
Barty touched one hand to his forehead and held the other up in the air, signaling for silence. "Never mind; it happened over in Slytherin and Nay told me not to tell anyone until they figured it out. I just thought they would have told you since you're Head Girl and all. But I really need to find Riddle, so…"
He quickened his pace, but Minerva wasn't going to let him go without some answers. "Crouch!" she said loudly, and he stopped long enough for her and Arabella to catch up with him. "What. Happened?"
For a moment, it looked as though Barty wasn't going to respond, but upon realizing that they would hear in a few minutes anyway, he gave her an answer. "Neil Stone's dead."
Minerva stopped walking and clutched at her stomach, which felt as though it had just been kicked. "N-Neil?" she stammered. "How?"
"I went to look for him when he didn't show up to the prefect's meeting and found him in his dormitory," Barty said. "When I realized he was dead, I went straight to Nay. It looks like a suicide, but for the life of me I can't figure out why he would…"
"This doesn't make any sense at all!" Minerva exclaimed. "Neil's… Neil's perfect! Why would he kill himself?"
"Does Gabriella know?" Arabella asked quietly. Gabriella Scott, a seventh-year Ravenclaw prefect, was Neil Stone's girlfriend of four years, and the two had recently become engaged. Arabella and Minerva knew Gabriella personally – they had two classes with Ravenclaw – and though they never got around to becoming close to her, the feelings they had toward her had always been positive.
"I don't think so," Barty returned. A touch of defeat was evident in his voice. He was quite relieved that he wasn't the one who would have to break the news to Gabriella, but that did not make lessen his sympathy for the popular Ravenclaw. Not long after the announcement had been made for everyone to come to the Great Hall, Barty spent a few moments wondering how it would feel to be in Gabriella's place… wondering what it would be like to have someone he loved commit suicide… it was too horrible to bear, and he hoped he never had to experience it.
"Poor thing," said Arabella.
Minerva nodded her agreement, and then something occurred to her. "Wait a moment," she said. "I know this is a terrible tragedy, but why are we having a special meeting about it now? Dinner's in about an hour – why didn't they wait until then?"
Neither Barty nor Arabella could think of an answer. Minerva didn't press them for one, either. They would all be finding out soon enough.
The two girls said good-bye to Barty when the trio entered the Great Hall and split to join their houses, then joined their fellow Gryffindors, all of whom were looking more than a little confused. Minerva found herself being bombarded with questions, and she claimed she didn't know anything, which wasn't entirely a lie. It was possible this assembly wasn't even related to Neil Stone, though she doubted it. But if it wasn't about Neil, what could it be?
Minerva looked up at the High Table, and who was up there surprised her almost as much as who wasn't. Dumbledore was there, and so was Nicolas Flamel, but absent were the headmaster and the head of the dead student's house. Halo Pokeli was in attendance, but Alain Haas was not, making only two house heads accounted for. Rounding out the present staff was Madam Tyburski. The nurse?Minerva thought. This was making less sense every minute.
Minerva was watching Dumbledore in particular, and she felt a pang of longing strike her chest. He didn't look like his usual collected self; there was a tired, defeated feeling to his face and body that was not unlike the expressions she had just seen in Barty Crouch. Every few moments he would lean in and say something to Flamel, or vice versa. He caught her looking at him once, and looked away even quicker than she did. It was one of the few times she had seen him truly distressed, and she felt guilty for adding to his tribulations. Even so, her pride would not let her back down from what she said before. If she ever hoped to obtain the respect she sought from him, she would have to make sure he treated her like an equal.
After a few more minutes, Dumbledore, apparently having decided that the Great Hall was as full as it was going to get, stepped forward and raised his arms. Silence immediately descended upon the room, and all eyes went to the deputy headmaster. He did not begin speaking right away, but let the silence stay for a moment. Then, choosing his words carefully, he began telling Hogwarts the last thing it wanted to hear.
"There is no way I can 'sugar-coat' what I have to tell you today, so I will just say it and trust that you can come to grips with this truly horrific news," Dumbledore began, and Minerva thought, About time. "As you all know, ten days ago, our school, previously thought virtually impenetrable, was infiltrated by the dark wizard Erich Rainier, better known as Grindelwald. Though Grindelwald did not succeed in his task, he did kill two staff members in the process. And when I say that he did not succeed in his task, I mean that he was here for a reason."
Minerva gasped. He's going to tell us about Nay. No wonder she wasn't here.
"I know you are not all familiar with the Fidelius Charm, so I shall summarize it for those of who do not know what it is," Dumbledore continued. "It is a very powerful, complicated spell that conceals an individual from the eyes of another, and the only way a seeker can find the one he is looking for is if he is told the person's location by their Secret-keeper. There is someone at Hogwarts who, until ten days ago, was being hidden from Grindelwald by a Fidelius Charm for over twenty years: the last remnant of the family of the man who exposed Erich Rainier before he was ready, thereby thwarting any chance the dark wizard had of becoming all-powerful. That person is Madeline Rahmini, better known to you as your Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, Indira Nay."
That garnered a reaction, as he suspected it would, but the murmuring died down a few moments after he again signaled for silence. "Professor Nay's Secret-keeper did not hand her over to Grindelwald, nor did Grindelwald act alone in this," Dumbledore said. "An insider – yes, someone at Hogwarts – discovered Professor Nay's true identity, performed the Imperius Curse on her Secret-keeper, and forced him to change the identiy of the Secret-keeper, presumably to himself. He then met with Grindelwald and told him his target's location. As I said before, Grindelwald was unable to kill Professor Nay, but others fell by his hand when he was seeking her." It then occurred to him that Grindelwald probably didn't want to kill Indira at all, and he gave a shudder.
"Grindelwald was stopped, but there was still the matter of the traitor within Hogwarts, so Lord Flamel and I began making Veritaserum, intending to use it on everyone at Hogwarts to find the insider," said Dumbledore, indicating the alchemist on his right with a nod of his head. "Knowing that he would soon be exposed, the traitor was driven to an act of desperation. He attempted to create an antidote to Veritaserum by making a potion that consisted of neutralizers of the truth serum's active ingredients, but he failed to realize that two of the ingredients necessary to counter their respective opposites in Veritaserum were fatal in the amounts he would have needed. He tested the potion on himself and was found dead in the Slytherin dormitories an hour ago."
Minerva covered her mouth to keep from screaming. Now it made sense – cold, horrific, clear, perfect sense. That was why Neil killed himself. That was why they were here, listening to Dumbledore's voice. Neil betrayed them. Neil put the memory charm on her. Neil was in league with Grindelwald. It was Neil.
Dumbledore's voice was thicker than ever as he continued. "The young man I speak of we now know to be Grindelwald's nephew," he said. "Hogwarts, there was an enemy in your midst, and your enemy was Neil Stone."
The entire room erupted into noise, and Dumbledore made no attempt to silence them. Minerva stole a glance over at the Ravenclaw table. Gabriella Scott was sobbing on Kelsie Appanitis's shoulder, and she wasn't the only incoherent person in the room. Even the level-headed Slytherins were upset – though considering Neil was one of theirs, Minerva wasn't too surprised by this. She began to feel her own grief sink in. It hadn't felt as real when Barty Crouch told her, but Dumbledore's speech finalized the reality of the situation. Everything that had happened was because of Neil Stone; handsome, popular, charismatic, intelligent Neil Stone. She wondered what Arithmancy would be like with only three students. She wondered what Defense Against the Dark Arts would be like with Indira's secret out. She wondered what Hogwarts would be like never again knowing who to trust.
Minerva stood up. She didn't want to be in here anymore. She had to get away from the anger, the sorrow, the people, the lies. She had to find out what was still real in this nightmare.
"Where are you going?" Arabella asked.
"I don't know," Minerva replied. "Somewhere. Anywhere but here." Actually, she knew exactly where she was going to go and what she was going to do, but she wasn't going to tell Arabella. She wasn't going to tell anyone.
When Dumbledore returned to his chambers that night, he spotted a piece of parchment sitting on an end table that wasn't there before. It was folded into thirds and had nothing written on the outside.
He unfolded the paper. Whoever gave it to him had not signed their name, but even before he read the message he knew exactly who it was. He read it twice, then folded it back into thirds and tucked it into his pocket, unable to decide if this made things better or worse.
Well, it looks like your plan worked after all. Congratulations.
A/N: Ten points to everyone who caught the foreshadowing. I wasn't even planning to write that in; I just saw the chance and couldn't let it pass. :o)