CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
"Atty and Harry have once more outdone themselves!" Walburga gushed as she watched Ophelia and Harry fix Athenaïs' ink art into the inside of the Courting Box.
"Plus expensive tickets and Malum's favourite chocolates," Druella chuckled. "Avery is not going to know what hit him."
"If this Box doesn't impress Malum, I will eat cold porridge," Ygraine stated firmly.
"And then hex Avery for being an O-grade idiot," Druella quickly added.
"I don't think that will be necessary, in either case," Harry reassured as she straightened after she and Ophelia had finished. "From what I saw in Malum's head, his feelings for Ophelia are quite serious and he is committed to their courtship."
"Then explain why he has been acting so strangely," Ygraine crossed her arms, her brow furrowing. "I think it may be your influence but I get this not so funny feeling that something is bothering him, and that Lia is somehow involved."
Harry and Ophelia exchanged a covert, knowing look while Walburga and Druella frowned. It appeared that their quiet Monday evening was about to be disturbed, and things were going so well indeed! The disgruntled murmuring about Hagrid had died down ever so slightly to a more tolerable level. Harry had her fifth and seventh year lessons already planned, the Courting Box was now done and the design for her first Imbolc effigy was almost finished. True, Harry had spent a great deal of time during Charms and her archive time working on it, but that was beside the point!
"Well, whatever it is, I am sure it is nothing to worry about too much," Ophelia responded nonchalantly.
"Or it could be that he knows that you are hiding Harry's Peverell problem from him," Druella pointed out. "As much as he can be a shallow git at times, Avery isn't thick. I am pretty sure he can sense Riddle keeping secrets, since that is one of the things Riddle is just naturally good at. I am willing to bet tea and cakes at Madam Padifoot's that he can smell deception at this point!"
"Indeed," Ygraine concurred grimly. "Especially when you also run your own little spy network. I am willing to take Druella's bet and that he instinctively knows that you know something and you are not telling him."
"And so the dominoes continue to fall," Harry commented with a deep sigh.
"If Ophelia told him the truth, would you object?" Walburga immediately wanted to know.
"To be perfectly honest, I am rather surprised Malum hasn't confronted me about it already," Harry admitted readily as she made a start on a few pieces of homework. "If Lia wants to tell him, she can go right ahead. I won't stop her. It would be like trying to fight the inevitable anyway. Sooner or later, Malum would fit the clues together himself."
"That's true," Druella agreed.
Ophelia nodded in agreement. As that conversation was laid to rest, the girls all did their own thing. Ophelia did some more marking, Druella also did her homework while Ygraine decided to get an early night and Walburga decided to work a little on her Old Magic abilities. Sigyn and Seraphina watched Atty do some more Arithmantic equations, heads cocked to one side in interest. As was common for them, they lost track of time and soon when a hippocampus Patronus swam into the room, Harry, Druella, Ophelia and Walburga practically jumped out of their skins. Fortunately, none of them woke Ygraine up.
"Hey, Ophelia. I don't know if you are about to go to bed or how many of your girls are asleep but could you come and meet me in the common room?" Malum's voice rang out. "I need to talk to you. Quite urgently."
As the hippocampus faded, Harry, Druella, Ophelia and Walburga all exchanged a look.
"I am getting some serious amounts of déjà vu," Druella commented.
"Since when can Avery conjure a corporeal?" Walburga questioned with a frown.
"Well he almost got it the last time we practised so it isn't too surprising," Harry pointed out as her eyes drifted over to a pensive Ophelia. "Question is, does Lia want to see what he wants."
The Rowle heiress stared out in front of her for a moment or two longer before she took her wand from her bedside cabinet and incanted her own Patronus. The silver kelpie cocked its head at its witch, waiting for orders.
"Tell him I will be there in a minute," Ophelia told the kelpie clearly.
The fairy horse immediately went to deliver its message; Ophelia set aside her marking and picked up her robe and some slippers before heading out of the door, Harry, Druella and Walburga watching her leave with concerned looks. As for Ophelia, she headed down the corridor and to the common room with a sense of determination in her step.
I won't divulge anything about Harry unless I am certain that he's not going down the path I fear he is, Ophelia promised herself.
Harry's Traveller secret must be guarded even more than her Mistress of Death one; not even Riddle and Nott were going to ever be able to get that secret out of her. Ophelia was never going to let that happen. Travellers were more hunted than the Peverells were, and there was no way that the Rowle heiress was going to sic the dogs on her own friend.
Malum was sitting at one of the tables in the back; by the looks of it, he had already put Silencing Charms and privacy sigils around the area. This practically confirmed to Ophelia that she needed to brace herself and get ready for one hell of a verbal battle, because Malum was not going to let this go easily.
Her suitor smiled wryly as she approached. "Thank you for agreeing. I didn't wake anyone up, did I?"
"Harry, Dru, Wally and I were all still awake. Ygraine's practically dead to the world," Ophelia reassured.
"Good. I … I just wanted to make sure," Malum pursed his lips as he gestured to her to take the chair opposite him, which she did without saying a word. "Ophelia, I know I have been distant and that I am faltering in our understanding and the agreement made between our families by not publicly and formally offering my hand to you, but I feel … unable to at present. Not only because I haven't the foggiest idea where to begin, but also because I have something pressing on me and I feel like I can't move forward unless I … get it off my chest."
Ophelia's brow furrowed. "What is it?" she asked softly.
"Something has been bothering you for a long time," Malum was in no mood to beat about the bush. "You were in a rut about it, I could see it, and then suddenly," he snapped his fingers, "gone. Like nothing ever happened."
His unblinking gaze was on her the entire time he spoke. Ophelia swallowed a little. Malum continued. "I think I have been more than patient in waiting for you to come and talk to me about your problem. Tom even advocated on your behalf that I should probably give you some more time but I am sick of being left in the dark! Even Heron now seems to have an inkling about what is going on and I am fed up of not having a clue! I am not Felix or Caius, who don't give a shit. I very much give a shit!"
Malum ran his hands through his head, shaking his head. "I am not a patsy and I will not be treated like one."
"No," Ophelia found herself agreeing quite easily. "You're not, and I don't mean to treat you like one."
"Even the Malfoys know," Malum continued with a scoff. "Heard them arguing about you. I have never heard Abraxas freak in my entire life but he was freaking out! All because of something you know."
Ophelia exhaled sharply as she began to fumble nervously with her fingers. "Most likely, they were concerned because it also concerns Harry."
"Gathered as much," Malum clicked his tongue. "Our friend is full of secrets."
"Yes she is, for good reason," Ophelia agreed easily. She decided the truth was the best to for in this case. "The things I know about her – the things that the girls, Artemis, Heron, the Malfoys, Riddle, Nott, Orion and I also believe Arcturus has figured out – they are not the kind of secrets you just talk about over tea or whilst looking through gossip magazines."
"Clearly," Malum concurred dryly. "And are so big apparently that you can't even tell another of her friends and your own suitor!"
"Because they are!" Ophelia countered immediately, eyes flaring a little. "They are the kind of secrets that should be protected by layer upon layer of psychic defences because if anyone other than us finds out the truth about Harry, she is in grave danger!"
Malum folded his arms. "Are you saying you don't think I am capable of protecting it, mentally?"
"No, I am saying that I am not comfortable sharing a secret that isn't mine," Ophelia shot back immediately, raising an eyebrow. "Harry is one of my best friends, practically family now. I wasn't going to talk about this without her blessing. Yes, I … struggled processing the secret; I thought I was going mad! Because, I didn't know who I could talk to about this without ending up in St. Mungo's," Ophelia chuckled coldly. "Of all people, Loreley Malfoy told me to talk to Harry, and I did. Harry, unbelievably, was open and honest, and gave me my time to process it. Because it is insane. Pure and simple."
Malum's ire and irritation settled quite a bit. Ophelia clicked her tongue this time. "Wally calls it her 'Peverell problem'. It is more like a 'Peverell nightmare' because it pains a target on the back of anyone with Peverell blood and the name," she continued with a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"It has to do with the Deathly Hallows, doesn't it?" Malum inquired.
"More than that," Ophelia responded candidly. She scoffed quietly. "Malum, she's the Mistress of Death."
That caused Malum's eyes to start bugging out of their sockets. "What?!"
Oh yes, it was fortuitous indeed that he had put up privacy wards and spells up. Ophelia was certain that exclamation could have been heard all the way down the Hufflepuff dungeons. The Avery heir sat gorgonised on his chair, paling rapidly and his mouth opening and closing with no sound coming out, rather rapidly. He put his head down onto the table for a moment and then raised it just as quickly as he ran his hands through his hair and then over his face. "Merlin's untrimmed beard … you have got to be joking …" he muttered.
"If only," Ophelia whispered, her heart pounding out of her rib cage. "If you want the full picture you will have to ask Harry, but the long and short of it is, she was Marked by Death when she survived the Killing Curse but her powers didn't get activated until a few months ago."
"It's why Grindelwald is after her," Malum whispered, head up and still shaking in disbelief. "Which is why she was important to her Resistance faction, which means her guardians know and likely had been looking for her when she escaped to England, and is also why she risked life and limb to rescue Nick and Perrie – holy Hekate, how the fuck did this happen?!"
Malum's head was once more resting on the table. Ophelia tried to strangle the feeling of guilt that was bubbling in her stomach. Malum then started chuckling to himself. "You're right, Lia, it is insane and frankly, had this been about anyone else I wouldn't have believed it, but … it makes too much sense. It explains everything weird about Harry; to have to live with a secret like that! It would drive anyone else mad!" Malum regarded Ophelia unblinkingly. "I understand why you kept it from me, I do. But it hurt, a lot, and I hope you know that I want to help protect Harry too."
"I do," Ophelia reassured readily. "It just … wasn't easy."
"Yeah," Malum agreed. He cleared his throat and got to his feet. "Thank you, for telling me. I will work on some defences and have Tom test them."
Ophelia stood up too. "And us?" she whispered. "Are we OK?"
She was more than a little relieved when Malum pulled her into a warm, loving hug and planted a loving kiss to the side of her temple. "We're OK," he reassured. "Might hate that you kept this from me but I know it is for a good reason. Just – next time, tell me it is to do with Harry or something like that, because I drove myself mad with worry."
"I am sorry for that," Ophelia whispered as she nuzzled his shoulder.
"I know," Malum released her and gave her a bright smile. "You heard anything from your parents yet about their meeting with the Board of Governors? Mine are silent upon the matter."
"Mother told me that the matter has been dropped for now," Ophelia replied with a frown. "Apparently they want to see if Hagrid is still a cause for concern and to see if Mr. Alsop will be able to handle him before they go to the Headmaster, expressing their concern. Apparently, Harry's guardians were rather indignant that it was suggested that Mr. Alsop is ill-equipped without meeting him or that Mr. Ogden left subpar advice, and that some of the advice the Headmaster got was from Harry herself."
"Excuse me?" Malum laughed shortly.
"Indeed," Ophelia found herself chuckling too.
"She said nothing?"
"No. I think she was keeping the Headmaster's confidence."
"That's quite likely, because that would have gotten around Hogwarts faster than out of control Fiendfyre!" Malum stated as the pair headed back towards their dorms. "Well, I bid you good night, Lia, and … I will come up with a way to propose to you."
This made Lia grinned. "Or I will," she could not help but smirk.
This made Malum give her a look and then smirk himself. "Well, I will look forward to receiving it, Heiress Rowle," he stated formally as he gave her a bow and then headed to bed.
Ophelia continued to smirk to himself and then headed back to her own dorm, breathing a sigh of relief. Perhaps now Malum would be off her back for a while; it would give her enough time to properly hide Harry's other dangerous secret from pesky Legilimenses, such as Queen Goldstein and Tom Riddle.
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Regina Avery knew that when Rhiannon asked for an impromptu meeting Tuesday morning that something either was badly wrong or Rava had finally managed to unpick the genetic make-up completely of the counterfeit Blood Curse on Nymera to make a counterspell. However, a feeling in Regina's gut, told her it was very likely the former rather than the latter because Rhiannon would have likely Fire-Called instead of resorting to a letter. Alex was already gone to deal with another of their clients and Harfang was due in court to hear a final verdict on one of his cases so Regina knew she was going to the meeting alone.
Perhaps it was rather fitting that the weather was flitting between snow and rain; Regina knew this meeting could end in a flood or in an avalanche as she arrived at Lestrange Manor. She was met by an anxious Rhiannon, who was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet when Regina stepped out of the Floo Network.
"What is going on, Rhiannon?" Regina wanted to get straight to business.
"Come with me. Francis is waiting for us in his study. There is something we would like to discuss with you," Rhiannon replied, looking set to bite her perfectly manicured nails due to her nerves. "We have had a rather … unforeseen development?"
"Good or bad?" Regina immediately wanted to know.
"We have yet to decide that," Rhiannon confessed readily. "Nymera thinks we are worrying over nothing, but considering everything … well, we can't help but not worry!"
Regina frowned but held her tongue until they had reached Lord Lestrange's study. Francis too was pacing back and forth, reading something over and over again. He only looked up rather sharpish when he heard the door of his study open. The second he caught sight of Regina, Francis hurried over.
"Thank you for coming on such a short notice, Regina! We need you to take a look at this," he blabbered quickly, pressing the leaf of parchment into her hands, sounding almost like a child who got a letter from Father Christmas that he wanted his parents to read out.
Regina obliged.
To Francis and Rhiannon Lestrange,
Forgive me if this letter comes as a surprise. That I even contemplated quilling this letter has been a surprise to me as well but I found myself compelled to do so. I do not mean to alarm you but I know that Alexander Avery is up to something and has allied himself with Electra Potter and the Greyback brothers. When Ava told me that my own husband and Diantha Underwood were the targets, I had a funny feeling that perhaps Regina and yourselves were somehow involved. I am not as blind as people think I am – I noticed that Rhiannon and Regina practically interrogated Diantha about her sister's baking habits and I admit I found it odd. Now, I suspect that interrogation and the one conducted by the Greyback brothers may be linked.
You need not tell me how or why. I simply request that should the Averys need one, I am more than willing to offer myself up as a witness against my husband's character. I have been waiting a long time to see Mattheo face the music and if his case is brought to court, I am willing to testify against him if need be. You may be surprised, or not, but I am done protecting a man who has dishonoured me for almost eighteen years.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have further queries.
Yours sincerely,
Lady Amaris Nott
Regina blinked in shock. Amaris Nott … was actually offering herself up on a silver platter, despite not even knowing why Alex was going after her husband. This was an interesting development indeed! There was a part that made her frown. Ava was Amaris' lady-in-waiting; that could only mean Ava had been at Prestige to see Alex's plan get executed!
We are lucky Amaris is not on her husband's side or we could have been in deep doo-doo, Regina thought to herself.
"Well?" Rhiannon demanded impatiently. "What do you think?"
"About what?" Regina wanted to know.
"If we should take this letter on face value," Francis answered impatiently. "Amaris Nott is not exactly known for being the most vocal against Mattheo. In fact, she can barely open her mouth in public without looking like she is about to faint! Now, she is offering herself up as a witness?"
"I admit, it is very surprising," Regina answered, scanning the letter again. "However, considering the fact Amaris has already been rebelling against Mattheo in little matters, I don't entirely see this as a surprising occurrence. Plus, having Amaris as a character witness could play to our advantage in the future, especially since neither the Underwoods nor Lord Nott will see it coming!"
"You can say that again," Rhiannon agreed wryly.
"In fact, Amaris' reputation could work in her advantage if anyone tries to spread any rumours," Regina started pacing as her mind began whirring. "She is the loyal wife who was trapped in a loveless marriage, forced to endure a philandering husband whose mistress tried to murder her son and ended up poisoning the Lestrange heiress by accident. The papers will lap it up!"
"That is true," Francis concurred readily, nodding along.
"Outrage for Nymera and sympathy for Amaris: the defence for Mattheo and his harlot will have more than an uphill battle," Rhiannon found herself smirking.
"If everything gets portrayed properly," Regina stopped pacing. "I think I will get in contact with Amaris myself. We need to keep the pair of you out of this just in case."
"A letter?" Francis guessed.
"No, Mattheo and his butler could easily get their hands on it," Rhiannon disagreed. "I think you should simply ask Amaris out for tea. That doesn't look suspicious; we do have tea together far more often now. Perhaps invite one or two others along to make sure no one can get a wrong idea."
"That is exactly what I was thinking," Regina smirked.
"Which means we owe Nymera a sponge cake," Francis huffed. "Again."
"We need to stop betting against our daughter," Rhiannon agreed.
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Other than closing her ears to the excited shouting and chatter that Ophelia Rowle had proposed courthship to Malum Avery, her normal lessons and her History lesson for her fifth years, Harry's Tuesday was mostly spent down in the Serpentine Corridor, trying to decipher the order in which the sigils and runes needed to be disenchanted to get the box to open. The Cursebreaker had half expected to bump into or get a visit from the unknown Ghoul Studies professor, but each time she returned to the slightly spooky classroom, Harry found the Corridor deserted and showing no sign of the professor or the Ghoul Studies class.
It was perhaps this that freaked her out more than the classroom that she occupied.
Not even Snape was this much of a dungeon bat, her Gryffindor voice had grumbled.
Perhaps the Professor likes to play games with their students? her Slytherin voice suggested. A creepy game of hide and seek!
Harry actually gulped at that thought and tried to push it away as she focused on the books in front of her. There was no obvious answer to this puzzle – not to the sigils and not to the contents of the box – and something in Harry's gut told her that disenchanting the sigils and runes needed to be done extremely carefully.
Pushing her books aside for a moment, Harry began pacing as the gears in her head started whirring.
I am missing something – I just don't know what.
I think you're thinking too complicatedly, again, her Slytherin voice could not help but state. The man who created the box and put the seal in it was clearly in a hurry. I don't think he would have had the time to make an overly complex device.
But it is bound to be well protected, Harry answered herself.
True, but I doubt that there is layer upon layer of encrypted curses on the thing, the voice pointed out. If you want to check, try casting your History Revelation spell on the sigils themselves. I am surprised you didn't consider it earlier! Harry grumbled quietly to herself, cursing the old habits that were definitely dying hard, and then knelt in front of the box. Her verdant eyes bled silver, causing all the sigils and runes to also begin lighting up. She incanted her spell, focusing on each symbol and, much to her own surprise, the golden magic began revealing the composition of each, albeit only briefly. However, by the end, all Harry needed to know was that each sigil needed to be dealt with one at a time, because many of them were indeed paired with each other in order to ward off anyone foolhardy enough to try and break into the box.
The Cursebreaker preferred having her eyebrows on her face and not singed off.
Thus, the Traveller set to work, switching between modern disenchantments as well as Old Magic ones from one sigil to the other, meticulously targeting the fabric of the magic. The only hint that Harry got that her endeavours were succeeding was when she visibly saw the enchantments visibly fizzle and peter out. It was boring, but it worked!
Just as Harry had managed to completely disenchant the sigils carved into the left of the box, Altair's golden jackal Patronus, which now looked more like a Grim than a jackal, came trotting into the room.
"Hey, Harry. I have no idea where you are but I wager that you're probably doing the second project for Gringotts. I don't know how far you have gotten but I was wondering if you would like to meet me at the Room of Requirement? I am getting some more training in, but I do really need to talk to you about something."
Must be serious for him to be this polite, Harry's Gryffindor voice commented. Besides you are driving yourself up the bend again, girl! Take a break and finish this tomorrow. The box isn't going to sprout legs and walk away!
Technically it could, Harry's Slytherin voice could not help but answer. Especially when Ygraine decides to do her Charm work!Harry conjured Padfoot, who looked extremely excited to be allowed to deliver another message. "Tell Altair I will meet him at the Room soon."
Padfoot was gone in seconds. Harry gathered her things, carefully lifting the box into her bag while still making sure its left side was kept in the suppression chamber just in case, and then headed back to the Slytherin dungeons in order to dump her stuff in her dormitory. Ophelia was doing the last checks on her Courting Box before sending it to Malum tomorrow, Walburga and Druella were discussing effigy ideas and Ygraine was trying to juggle effigy planning, homework and Abraxas gift planning so her friends were all very occupied when she did so. Atty, Seraphina and Sigyn were hanging out with Frey in the common room; Atty was forgoing training that day, which Harry was rather glad about.
Her familiar had really been pushing herself to some rather concerning extents. Harry had been rather tempted to talk to Atty about it, but someone had beaten her to it because Tom sat close-by with Heron and Malum.
On her way to the Room of Requirement, Harry could not help but ponder what on Gaia's earthy face Altair wanted to discuss with her. Perhaps he was a little worried about how little time she, him and Tom were spending together? Things had been rather hectic of late and they didn't get to spend as much time together as they probably would have liked. Or perhaps it was the transferred powers acting up? But then the gods and Tom would have likely been summoned too. Then another thought came into Harry's head.
What if it was something Altair had seen in Caius' head?
Truth be told, Harry had been more than a little surprised when Altair had been paired with the boy who had been his tormentor for six years straight. The Traveller had thought her lover would have protested – she certainly expected Caius to – but was taken aback when neither of them had objected to the pairing.
Almost as though Altair had wanted to be paired with Caius Dolohov! This consideration had been lurking in the back of Harry's mind, but she could not think of a reason as to why Altair would be willing to enter his tormentor's head, other than to find a reason for why Caius acted the way he did.
A reason Harry knew about all too well.
The Lady Peverell paled a little and prepared herself as she reached the Room of Requirement, and stepped inside. Altair was busy keeping himself occupied, throwing his daggers into a wizard shaped dummy. Once the dagger he let fly lodged itself into the neck of the dummy, Altair turned around and waved her over with a beaming smile on his face.
"Harry! Thank you for coming!"
"No problem, sweetheart," Harry smiled wryly as she approached him. "I realise that we haven't been spending that much time together, except perhaps for training, and-"
"Don't fret about it, my Sun," Altair cut across gently. "We will make time this weekend, I know it, but right now I need to ask you about something that I … still can't get out of my head."
Harry's brow furrowed immediately. "Inside Caius' head, you mean?"
"Yes, I had a feeling you already knew what this was about," Altair chuckled, conflict swimming in his eyes. "You were almost a Ravenclaw, after all. Plus, you have this knack of sussing people out quite quickly."
Harry smiled weakly as she began fumbling with her courting ring. "Are you angry at me?" she wanted to know.
Altair looked a little taken aback by the question. "For not telling me that Dolohov is in love with my best friend? No, of course not! You were told in confidence and you respected Dolohov's wishes. No, I am not angry. I am just … I have no idea what to think and I need to talk to someone about it."
Altair shook his head despondently, pinching the bridge of his nose. "All this time … Dolohov was jealous."
"Yes," Harry answered automatically.
"Of my relationship with Arc," Altair scoffed. "Unbelievable. Wouldn't have believed it, had I not seen it for myself."
Harry regarded her lover for a moment. "Have you considered talking to Arc about this?"
Altair scoffed. "No. It isn't any of my business and as much as I can't stand Dolohov, I am not that vindictive."
"No, you're not," Harry agreed immediately. She smiled softly. "I told Caius that he needs to make a choice: about whether to accept who he is, or decide to continue hiding it because it genuinely pains him to see another with Arc. Told him so while we danced."
"At the Malfoy Ball?" Altair laughed. "Yes, I saw that memory though I didn't hear anything that was being said. It was like Dolohov had put extra layers of protection around the audio."
Harry found her smile growing at that. "I think you are absolutely right. Well done, Caius."
Altair hummed in agreement. He then considered something. "Do you think Dolohov will actually come clean to his parents?"
"Honestly? I have no idea," Harry sighed. "Could go either way. I have promised to support him, and protect him if need be, but I do get that he still wants his father's approval. Despite the fact said father is a mentally abusive pig."
"That's putting it mildly," Altair responded grimly. He then unsheathed his wand and started to smirk. "Up for a bout, darling?"
Harry smirked back, her eyes bleeding silver. "I thought you would never ask!"
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Caius knew he was not only being a massive coward, but he would have been battered black and blue by his father for actively hiding behind his four poster's curtains in order to avoid having to face Nott and Rosier that Tuesday evening. Although he had promised Athenaïs that he would talk to Harry about a strategy to ask Rosier or any other fool to the Imbolc Festival, Caius always managed to find an excuse to avoid doing so.
He had not studied with Rosier at all, despite him asking to and Atty even asking him to come. Caius knew he was delaying the inevitable, but he had been so used to denying himself what he wanted that it had, in a way, become second nature. Currently, he was using homework and studying as an excuse to avoid Rosier and everyone else around him. Plus, Harry's last essay wasn't an easy one and he was only half done with it.
"Are you going to be staying like this the whole evening?" Abraxas was getting thoroughly fed up with his behaviour, Caius knew this. The Malfoy boy was clearly sitting at the foot of his bed, judging how close the sound of his voice was.
"Preferably," came the honest answer from the Russian's mouth.
"What in the name of everything good and holy has gotten into of late?" Abraxas demanded. "I am used to seeing the antics of Black, Nott and even Rosier but not you! Tom is concerned, you know, and the only reason he has not spoken to you yet, is because I promised I would talk with you tonight. He has been extremely patient, but that patience is running thin!"
For the first time in years, this fact made Caius' jaw clench instead of making his stomach acid curdle in fear. Ever since he met Tom Riddle, Caius knew instinctively the boy was not to be crossed or trifled with and had tried to stay as much as he could on his good side. But now, now that Tom was happy and Caius was miserable, the fact that the last Gaunt was annoyed irked Caius more than scared him.
"It is none of Tom's business," the words had flown out of Caius' mouth before he had even meant for them to. "If he wants to know, he is welcome to try my shields. His beloved Nott could barely manage, but that isn't too surprising considering …"
Caius did wince at that accident jibe at Nott. Guess some old habits were dying rather slowly. What made it worse, was that there was a moment of tense silence, especially when he heard the door open and close at that precise moment.
"You should consider yourself lucky that it wasn't Nott coming in, or Rosier, or you would be toast," Orion Black stated matter-of-factly as he marched towards his own bed. "But I suppose it is a step up – you're no longer following Tom Riddle blindly, which is a good thing. By the way, Malfoy, Dolohov, you both look rather ridiculous right now, especially you Malfoy."
"You always look ridiculous. What is your excuse?" Abraxas sneered.
"Personality," was Black's quick, jovial answer. Caius rolled his eyes; Abraxas should really have seen that one coming! "Oh, by the way, Dolohov, Harry would like a word and Altair is on his way with Rosier so I would suggest dropping whatever topic you were discussing just now – oh Somnus! Not again! Silly owl!"
Abraxas started laughing heartily. "Malum should have tried you for Chaser and Keeper, Black. How you manage to catch that damn owl of yours each time is beyond me!"
Caius dared to push his curtains aside to have a peek to see what had happened. Judging from the fact Somnus the owl was once more cradled in Orion Black's arms and not on top of his four poster bed, it was obvious that the silly familiar had once again toppled off. Caius chuckled, shook his head derisively, muttered something incoherent to himself in Russian and then pushed his curtains aside a whole lot more. Almost at the exact same time, Nott and Rosier came in, chatting exuberantly with each other.
"-I mean, I don't get why Imbolc is almost as bad as Yule! There is all this effigy nonsense to worry about as well as asking someone to the damn Festival, then there is also everything else on top. I mean, I have had to already tell three people to clear off!" Rosier complained loudly as Nott chuckled a little.
Nott is courting two people who he loves; they are not an item. Nott is besotted with Tom and Harry; there is nothing to be jealous of, Caius started his mental mantra as he watched them with slightly clenched jaws.
"Yes, Imbolc has never been in my top three favourite Sabbaths," Nott agreed wryly as he dumped his bag on his bed. "I think I am just going to make a kraken effigy or something. Harry suggested I do the Kraken-learning-to-hug – you remember that?"
"Oh yeah! That was still one of the best creations she made. At least you don't have to worry about asking someone out!" Rosier pointed out and at that moment seemed to realise that the pair had a bit of an audience. "Oh sorry, guys, are we disturbing?" his eyes drifted to the books and parchment in front of Caius.
"Nope!" Black reassured brightly, much to Caius' quiet relief. "So, Rosier has been getting letters from secret admirers again?"
"Earlier than normal," Rosier huffed. "Very well nearly jinxed one Ravenclaw until I found out she was just a first year who thinks I am 'cool but scary' and she just wanted to be nice."
"Good thing you didn't jinx her then or Loreley would likely have had your head," Black joked.
"She would have," Abraxas was happy to confirm. "First years and second years are off limits for hexes, curses and jinxes in Lorri's book."
"I swear, each year, the madness is getting worse," Rosier collapsed onto his bed, lazily taking his shoes off.
"Speak for yourself," Abraxas snorted.
"Hey, you have never had to put up with it!" Rosier protested. "Everyone avoids you and now that you and Ygraine White are set to commence courtship, you're off the market! Orion and Walburga have been engaged since fifth year, Altair only ever got two or three letters or cards and Dolohov managed to ward them all off early on!"
"I think you're making this into something bigger than it is," Black commented as he looked up from his Transfigurations homework. "Rosier, if you really want to get these people once and for all, say you are already going with someone – can be a friend or someone. Hell, the rules don't even say you have to invite potential love interests to the Festival. You could invite Atty if you so wished!"
Before anyone could say or do anything to that, Harry's werewolf Patronus came padding into the room, looking a little apologetic, funnily enough. Caius was rather surprised that it came to him, until he remembered that Harry wanted to speak with him.
"Hey Caius, I don't know if Orion got distracted again – or if the boys were keeping you – but I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time to talk? I'm in the common room with Atty and Evren's violin. Could play something for you if you want?"
The werewolf faded and Caius quickly extracted himself from his sheets. He tried to ignore the knowing look in Nott's eyes and the confusion in Abraxas' and Rosier's eyes. Black, funnily enough, had looked down at his text books, refusing to so much as look at Caius. Though this made him frown, the Russian pushed it from his mind.
"What could Harry possibly want to discuss with you?" Rosier wondered out loud.
"Does Harry need a reason to talk to her friends?" Black surprisingly countered easily, still not looking up from his work.
Rosier flushed. "No, but I … never mind."
Caius tore his eyes away from the fetching rosiness in Rosier's cheek and hurried out of the dorm to meet with the girl who was quite quickly becoming a good friend, despite everything. As she had said, Harry was in the common room, retuning Evren's violin with Athenaïs lying with her. Malum's sister, the Prince girl and the Rookwood boy were reading together in the back while War and her friends were helping a few of the younger ones with homework.
When he approached, Caius couldn't help flushing a little when Atty lit up and Harry gave him an actually friendly greeting. "I hope I didn't disturb you," came the predictable comment as he joined the pair on the sofa.
"Was doing homework, and your essay. Have to admit, it has me stumped," Caius rubbed the back of his neck as he made the confession.
"Well, what subject did you choose?" Harry wanted to know, cocking her head curiously.
"Erm … the political shenanigans during the Industrial Revolution when the Hogwarts Express was first introduced as a concept," Caius flushed, chuckling awkwardly. "It's a subject not really explored and I thought … well, I might as well do something potentially fun and interesting."
Harry's face, especially her eyes, were already brighter than the Sun when she heard this. "That's fantastic! Which part of your research has you stumped?" she wanted to know.
"Honestly? Primary sources," Caius admitted. "I have quite a few secondary sources, including some of our old textbooks, but I really need some primary sources from the time and concerning the Wizengamot of the time but … I haven't found anything. You didn't happen to spy anything in the archive I could use, did you?"
"Unfortunately not. My interests are mainly centred around magic from the Dark Ages," Harry admitted, looking extremely sheepish. "Sorry."
Caius waved his hand dismissively. "It's OK. I will think of something," he reassured.
"I could try writing to my uncles and see if they have anything belonging to a Peverell at the time that you could use," Harry suggested. "Given the Hogwarts Express had the potential to be spotted by Muggles, it would definitely have been a great source of concern for some of my ancestors."
Caius lit up. "I would appreciate that, Harry. Thanks!"
"What are friends for?" Harry grinned and then sobered a little. "Anyway," she continued in a lowered tone, "I was told by Atty that she too had given you some rather blunt advice on the matter we previously discussed."
Caius deflated a little and gave a look to the stone dragon, who was still looking at him as though she were a mother about to admonish an unruly child. "She did," Caius confessed easily.
"And that I would have a plan of action," Harry scoffed with laughter and then quickly lowered her tone again as she continued. "I mean, other than engineering a scenario where you and Arc have no choice but to at least talk to each other, nothing really comes to mind."
"And what do you suppose happens in this scenario?" Caius wanted to know, folding his arms.
"The oldest trick in the book – we make Arcturus jealous," Harry answered simply. "You have been the one jealous for over six years; I think it is perhaps time that we turn the tables a little bit."
Caius paled at this. "But who would be stupid enough to help us? I know for a fact I am by far the last person someone would consider to be an ideal match, whether a girl or boy is concerned! I mean, I am Russian, I am not the most good-looking guy-"
Harry scoffed. "Classically? Perhaps not. But you're not ugly!" she gave him a slight nudge in the ribs. "And you were born in England, not Russia! So that is a moot point in my book, and in many other's too I might add. I already considered perhaps asking an Eagle or a Badger for help, but I think the less Hogwarts insiders know about your secret, the better."
Caius nodded in agreement. "So what do you suggest?"
"Well," a small smirk started forming on Harry's countenance again. "How about I ask Melanie if she can get in touch with a few single family friends who would be interested in helping out?"
Caius gaped again. "But how would that even work? Imbolc is fast approaching – it is too late for a pen pal scenario!"
The smirk on Harry's face only grew. "That is why this coming weekend Atty is coming along to Hogsmeade, you will kindly dragon sit her for me while I spend some quality time with Altair and Tom and Atty will suddenly start acting up, leading you on a bit of a goose chase and right to the feet of a tall, dark, handsome stranger!"
Athenaïs howled and chirped in excitement, clearly onboard with the plan entirely. Caius snorted with laughter at the absurdity but also brilliance of this insane plan. "You're mad," he stated bluntly.
"I thought you knew that already," Harry quipped easily.
"And what if people start asking questions?" Caius wanted to know.
"Well, easy – I will happen upon the three of you at some point and then establish that he is a friend of my family. I will also likely accuse him of being sent by Thomas or Henry to keep an eye on me and perhaps cause a bit of family banter for extra effect," the Lady Peverell responded nonchalantly. "Though I do advise you to say you invited him to the Festival a day or two after meeting. To make sure people don't think he enchanted you or something."
"I am willing to bet tea and cake at Madam Padifoot's there will be more than enough people who will think that!" Caius scoffed.
"Let them. It's not their business," Harry shrugged. "We wouldn't need this plan if you would just surgically remove your head from your butt."
Caius playfully slapped her with one of the sofa cushions for that comment, chuckling. Harry grinned just as broadly as she defended herself. After the third slap, Caius gave the cushion back to Atty and considered the plan. It was mad, but it was the only one he had. Simply talking to Rosier was not an option – there were already rumours flying around because of the fact they had chosen the Astronomy Tower to study together. No, as strange as it was, the make-Rosier-jealous-for-once plan was not entirely bad.
"OK," Caius felt the words leave his mouth before he could change his mind. "Let's do it. Write to your guardian."
Harry grinned. "And so it begins!" she laughed. "If only Minnie's problem was easy to solve too."
"Hmmm?" Caius frowned.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it – boy drama," Harry replied nonchalantly as she finished retuning her ancestor's violin.
Caius smiled. "Can I take you on your offer for a free concert?"
"Of course! What would you like me to play?"
"Anything!"
Harry considered for a moment before she rested her chin on the violin and raised her bow, and began to play. Very quickly, a smile formed on Caius' face as he recognised the tune: it was one of the songs sung by those silly old Russian dolls he had sent Harry for Yule. She was playing Nightingale the Robber. Without meaning to, Caius found himself humming along as Atty laid her head onto his lap, hissing quietly in contentment.
###########################################################################
"Those children are in for a shock!"
"As is the Peverell girl's familiar! I still haven't wrapped my head around the fact the girl is a Peverell…"
"For goodness sake, Vulpus, you have had more than a week or so to process!"
"Well, I am sure they really are rather glad to escape Kara's clutches for a while."
"I would agree if it concerned Albus."
"All right, that is enough out of all of you!" Dippet stated firmly, stopping his pacing to scowl up at his predecessors while Joanna Lupin sipped her tea, trying not to laugh. It was already period two on a Wednesday morning, and already Dippet felt like he needed to spend the rest of the day in bed. Mostly because he could not fathom for the life of him what Patrick could have left four children and one familiar.
It seemed the nerves and excitement was shared by all the portraits because none of them were able to hold their painted tongues for one minute.
"Well, they are certainly all more chatty than I remember," Joanna commented, eyes dancing with amusement.
"That is because we do not interfere in the day to day business during school hours or when Armando is admonishing unruly students," Headmaster Everard informed with a grin. "Indeed we prefer to take our naps then because it gives us enough energy to advise-"
"Annoy," Dippet muttered.
"-Armando in the evening."
The lawyer chuckled. The sound of the gargoyle moving outside silenced the portraits quite quickly and made Joanna and Dippet look up quite sharply. In came three confused students, one serene Ravenclaw and a curious young cat who was looking more draconic than feline, now that Dippet paid more attention to the familiar's appearance.
Hmm odd, Dippet thought to himself but quickly pushed that thought away. "Miss Potter, Miss Malfoy, Mr. Black, Miss Evans and Miss Athenaïs – please, please, do come in! I do hope Miss Harrow reassured you that you are not in trouble. Not in the slightest! Do take a seat if you can."
The children did as they were told, Athenaïs choosing to sit at Hera Peverell's feet.
Joanna smiled kindly at them. "It is a pleasure to meet you all. You made quite the impact on my client, Patrick Ogden, and I am pleased to finally put some names to faces. You are probably wondering who I am and why I am here. Well, my name is Joanna Lupin and I was the lawyer to my late client."
Looks of realisation spread onto the faces of Orion Black and Artemis Potter; a look of disbelief and shock was on the young Lady Peverell's.
Interesting, Dippet thought to himself.
Joanna cleared her throat as she began to open her briefcase. "I will not detain you from your lessons for too long. Hekate knows that I still remember the stress I felt when doing my own O. and N.E.W.T exams! So, I am here to formally inform you of the legal estates that my client has chosen to bequeath on each of you."
All four students and the familiar were soon scrambling to pick their mouths up off the floor.
"Excuse me?" the young Peverell went rather pale.
"Mr. Ogden … left us an inheritance?" Artemis Potter was shaking her head in disbelief. "It is too early for April Fools you know."
"I assure you, Miss Potter, this is very serious," Joanna reassured as she put on her reading glasses and took out Patrick's will. "Patrick was very insistent. I should also inform you that any movable estates will be sent to your families per request of the Headmaster. Now, shall we begin?"
The children and the familiar nodded. Dippet finally felt calm enough to sit down as well. Joanna cleared her throat. "To Heiress Loreley Azalea Malfoy, I leave the beautiful painting she and Athenaïs made for me. It made my day, and Yule, a whole lot brighter. I also bequeath her three pairs of my late wife's gloves that I didn't have the heart to sell or throw away as well as Maggie's Seeing Stone. I know that you will take great care of them."
This last object made Loreley Malfoy's eyes widen, along with Orion Black's.
Hera's brow furrowed. "What's a Seeing Stone?"
"It is a Druidic artefact. Extremely rare," Orion informed. "It was used to view visions and also to spy on people."
Joanna continued. "To Heir Orion Nigellus Black, due to his passion for Ancient Runes, I leave all the books I still have on the subject in addition to my dear Maggie's Ogham stones and carving kit. They will finally see some use again, is my hope! As I do not have a male heir, I also wish to leave him my family pocket watch, my 'souvenirs' from the Great War and several of my jackets that still look wearable and fitting for a boy of Noble blood."
"Mordred's unpolished chainmail," Orion whispered in disbelief. "The Ogham stones alone would be more than I could have asked for!"
Joanna smiled softly as she turned her eyes back onto the will. "To Miss Artemis Althea Potter, due to her love of flying, I leave her my Maggie's broom, which she hardly flew. I also leave her my wife's cloaks and an old crossbow and staff that belonged to one of Maggie's ancestors. I have a feeling you will take very good care of it, Miss Potter."
"Mrs. Ogden had an inherited crossbow? Awesome!" Artemis' eyes were shining.
"Of course that is the thing you're excited about and not the Druid staff," Loreley sighed, shaking her head at her friend.
"Oh no, that is awesome too."
"To Lady Hera Elizabeth Peverell," Joanna continued, "the first Hogwarts student I could safely call my friend, I leave what little books on the subject of History I have as well as the trunks in our attic containing personal History and some whose contents I have forgotten. I should apologise beforehand, because there are quite a few! What you choose to do with them is up to you."
Hera looked shellshocked.
"To Miss Athenaïs, my dear friend, I have not the foggiest idea what one bequeaths a familiar like yourself, but I do know you have a love of art and learning, much like your witch. So, I leave to you my Maggie's art book collection as well as some books of mine on magical creatures, Arithmancy and architecture. I also wish to leave you the amulet Maggie made for Bertie as well as Bertie's favourite blanket."
The strange familiar howled ethereally and then chirped rather quietly, nuzzling her witch's leg. Hera immediately patted her familiar's head soothingly.
"It seems that Mr. Ogden was once again unfailingly generous," Hera commented.
"Indeed, but that is only your individual inheritance," Joanna took them all by surprise with that statement. "Patrick has also left one hundred Galleons to each of you, wishes that the rest of his wife's jewellery be split between the Lady Peverell, Heiress Malfoy and Miss Potter, and that all of you decide what should happen to Maggie's childhood home in Kelpie's Hollow, which was entailed to him after Maggie's father died."
"Excuse me?" Orion was the one to voice all of their surprise.
Joanna decided to read the segment of the will in question. "Since Maggie and I do not have issue, the matter surrounding the house that belongs to Maggie's family should be resolved by the heirs named. Since Maggie's childhood home is not part of the covenant between myself and Hogwarts, it is theirs to do with as they please."
"Unbelievable!" one of the portraits could not hold their tongue.
"Does Mr. Ogden specify when this matter should we resolved?" Artemis immediately wanted to know.
"He does not," Joanna replied as she put the will away. "The only thing he requested is that you get in touch with me once a decision has been reached so that the decision becomes legally binding and no funny business can occur."
The kids nodded in agreement, utterly speechless. Joanna sighed with relief, flashing a smile. "So that concludes our business! It was a pleasure to finally meet you, but I am afraid that you have to excuse me because I have another client to attend to," she stated as she got to her feet.
"Of course! Have a good day, Joanna," Dippet smiled as he opened the Floo Network.
"You too, Headmaster. Bye, children!"
"Bye!" the students chorused slightly despondently as the lawyer stepped through the fireplace and was gone in a few seconds. The children still sat there, dazed, for a couple of more minutes.
"Did that just happen?" Orion voiced weakly.
"Apparently," Artemis stated with a gulp.
"Why would he put us in charge of dealing with one of his properties?" Hera wanted to know, shaking her head in disbelief. "It just doesn't make any sense…"
"Because Patrick trusted you," Dippet told them bluntly. "It is as simple as that. Had he not done this, the house would likely have been abandoned – legally speaking – altogether."
"But why not bequeath it to Hogwarts?" Hera questioned.
"Because Kelpie's Hollow is outside our jurisdiction," Dippet explained. "It is not Hogwarts land and it would be frowned upon for the castle to own land outside her jurisdiction. It would draw bad press."
"Something that Hogwarts can ill afford," Loreley stated.
"Exactly," Dippet then beamed at them. "Now, shall we have a cup of tea before you return to class?"
"Yes, please!" the students chorused in relief.
###########################################################################
Rollo had decided to forgo going to the office on Wednesday, siting 'illness'. In actuality, Rollo was trying to make sure that no one witnessed his magic trashing his office because of a letter that had arrived from his parents. He didn't want anything to happen to his people or Meg or even his guards by accident. Fortunately, King Ragnok, Goldheart and Griphook seemed to sense that something along the lines of Rollo's-parents-being-interfering-buttholes was going on so they had allowed Rollo to 'work at home' and stationed a few goblins nearby. Unfortunately, those goblins had also informed someone else that there was something going on with Rollo because just as the Head Cursebreaker was going to make some lunch, there was a knock at the door.
That had better not be Mother or Father or I will be liable to fling more than a couple of jinxes around, Rollo grumbled to himself.
The Rowle heir braced himself as he approached the door, praying to any deity who would listen to have some mercy on him. It appeared that they were listening because when he opened the door, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Henry! Thank everything good and holy that you're not my parents!"
Henry, who was carrying a couple of grocery bags, blinked and then chuckled softly. "I take it that they have been badgering you again?"
"What do you think?" Rollo huffed as he stepped aside and allowed his lover into his apartment. He took the letter out of his pocket. "Your father and I are concerned that there have been no public sightings of you trying to court a young woman – maybe because I don't want to end up in the pages of the Court of Britain!"
"Oh dear," Henry commented, though he looked as though he were trying not to laugh.
"I should be in the office but I am liable to explode so my bosses agreed I could work from the safety of my own home," Rollo grumbled. "They are just so impatient! It is like they think a relationship doesn't exist unless everyone knows every detail concerning the people in the relationship!"
"Which is why people were very excited to see Harry featured in the Blacks' piece," Henry smiled softly.
"It's bloody ridiculous!" Rollo huffed.
"Indeed. But let's first have lunch – you're very grumpy when you're hungry," Henry teased as he brought his bags over to the kitchen. "I also bumped into Meg on the way here. She was worried about you."
"Oh?" Rollo pushed his anger away a little.
"Yes. She worried that you might have Dragon Pox," Henry chuckled. "I had to tell her what Griphook told me in order to calm her down. Meg wanted to risk goblin ire in order to get you some medicine."
"That's sweet of her," Rollo felt himself flush a little.
"Indeed. Meg is definitely my favourite of those three," Henry agreed as he started to boil some water. "I liked having lunch with the two of you."
"Did you?" Rollo inquired.
"Yes. It felt … natural," Henry replied as he turned around for a moment and regarded Rollo for a moment. "Have you perhaps considered that you don't have to saddle yourself with one of those pureblood heiresses to get your parents off your back?"
"I have," Rollo admitted as he approached carefully. "But I don't know if they would want to be stuck with the both of us for the rest of their lives, or even if they like us well enough to agree to the mad scheme."
Henry smiled softly. "Meg."
Bloody Burkes and Peverells catching onto everything, Rollo grumbled to himself.
"Yes," Rollo confirmed. "She's different. Meg is fun, has had life experience-"
"I understand completely," Henry reassured gently. "I don't disapprove of your choice. In fact, I think we should invite her for dinner again only this time here. What do you think?"
Rollo's eyes widened but he could not keep the grin off his face. "I think you're amazing and that I don't deserve you."
Henry chuckled and pecked his lover's lips. "Yes, you do. And you deserve a wife of your choice too, so let us see how Meg reacts to a personal dinner."
"We will have to sneak her out of Gringotts again," Rollo grinned.
"Indeed," Henry smirked. "Oh, by the way, would you like some gossip about someone else's messed up love life?"
"Oh yes please!" Rollo's eyes li up.
"Melanie got a letter from Harry this morning, asking around for any single family friends who are young and who are in a similar situation to us," Henry explained as he continued making lunch. "Apparently one of Harry's friends is in love and wants to make the other person notice them by making them jealous."
Rollo started splitting his sides laughing. "Oh for the love of Aithusa! There will be tears at the end of this scheme!"
"Probably," Henry agreed. "But at the same time, we are on the outside looking in so I say we have the right to have a good laugh."
"Absolutely," Rollo readily agreed. "If the Lady Hera sends updates, please let me know!"
"I intended to do so," Henry reassured, grinning away. "Oh to be that young again and make ridiculous schemes like that. Thomas is against it, but that isn't surprising."
"He isn't trying to stop her though?" Rollo inquired with a small frown.
"No," Henry agreed. "I think he is rather relieved that Harry is acting like a normal teenager for once, despite everything."
Rollo nodded in agreement, smiling softly. "Yes."
"Here I go, ruining the mood!" Henry huffed with a short laugh. "Do you want to hear some stories about my students and colleagues?"
"Of course. I can then tell you about my own people," Rollo grinned.
###########################################################################
So the box's sigils are slowly coming undone and Harry is getting ever closer to facing what Grindelwald had sent her. Another hair brained scheme is in the mix, this time focused on making Arcturus Rosier jealous? Will it work? Will Regina Avery tell Amaris Nott the reason why her husband is being targeted? Stay tuned to find out!
So my life has been rather hectic lately: I had to go to an important family do, attended a Con and now I have a new job! This job should give a much more stable schedule than my last one so finger's crossed. I loved the hectic nature of the job but it was burning me out. So that is just a quick update on the background events on this Umbreon's life.
Orion: Yeah, Harry and I were a little bit concerned. Tom and Gellert wanted to knock Umbreon out for a bit.
EXCUSE ME?!
Gellert: You looked tired!
Tom: Tired Umbreons cannot write good stories!
…
Gellert: Umbreon?
I am going to steal your cookies.
Gellert: NOOOOOOOOOO!
Orion: Well he should have seen that coming. See you in the next chapter everyone!