CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Ygraine collapsed happily onto her four poster bed after dinner; all the girls decided it was best to get an early night in order to prepare for the stress that tomorrow was very likely to bring. "I have no idea about you, girls, but I am rather glad to be back. I doubt I could stand the nerves of my parents much longer."
"They're nervous about their potential match with the Malfoys?" Druella smirked slightly as she fished her nightgown out of her trunk.
"Extremely so," Ygraine huffed. "I am the most calm and collected about it; I mean, it was a little unexpected but it isn't … wholly awful."
"What? A courtship with Abraxas Malfoy?" Ophelia pulled a face as she plumped Sigyn's bed and then took her own night gown out of her trunk. "I can't think of anything more tedious than to put up with him to be honest. You're going to have pull a lot of stops in order not to die of complete boredom."
Ygraine smirked to herself. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Don't you worry about that, my friend."
"Oh Merlin, please tell me you're not going to use your Veela charms on him?" Harry chuckled as she unpacked her own night gown and several of the books Heron and Artemis sent her for Yule as well as her school books. "The poor boy is not going to know what hit him!"
Walburga, Druella and Ophelia giggled while Ygraine rolled her eyes. "The Veela charm will only be used as a last resort," she reassured, shaking her head fondly at her friend. "I am just going to help him broaden his horizons a little."
"May we be privy to what you're planning, or do we have to wait and see?" Walburga asked eagerly as she ran her brush through her hair.
"I am afraid I am keeping my cards to myself for now," Ygraine informed, Walburga and Ophelia deflated almost immediately. The White Heiress then turned her attention onto Ophelia. "So, you have finally pulled your head out of your behind and accepted Malum Avery's bid for courtship."
Ophelia flushed a little in embarrassment; Sigyn meowed in amusement. "Yes. I think everyone in wizarding Britain knows that by now."
"Have you two met yet to discuss it?" Walburga wanted to know, eager as ever for gossip. "We didn't hear word from you about it; Druella thought perhaps you were reeling a little from the decision."
The Rowle heiress chuckled. "Indeed, no, since I gave the courtship my verbal consent. Father didn't make the decision on my behalf. I just decided it was best to keep things to myself while I try and figure out what I feel for Malum. We had an open and frank discussion about what the both of us want out of any relationship, and we read together. That's about it."
Harry did not attempt to hide her smirk; Ophelia was redder than a Gryffindor tie. Something else clearly happened, but the Rowle heiress was not divulging that, probably for very good reason.
"Well, I for one am happy that you picked one of Riddle's more half decent friends," Druella commented whilst running a brush through her hair. "I was a little worried that your parents would try to foist you onto Greengrass, Flint or Parkinson."
"Me too. Like I could look at any of them in the same way again after they took so long to save Oizys, Atty, Sigyn and Seraphina," Ophelia admitted readily as she began to get ready for bed. She then turned to Druella curiously. "How was your holiday by the way? Did you have to see much of Cygnus during Yule?"
"More than I would have liked," Druella huffed. "I am only glad Wally, Lucretia and Orion were there to save my sanity. Training sessions with Artemis, Heron and McGonagall were also fun. Oh, and my mother has finally accepted all of you girls as my bridal party. Mostly because Father intervened on my behalf. Plus, my family are now more and more turning their attention onto trying setting Arcturus up."
It was at this precise moment that Harry escaped into the bathroom to brush her teeth to hide the inner pain she was feeling on Caius' behalf.
"With whom exactly?" she heard Walburga ask, sounding worried of all things.
"I think you can make an educated guess, Wally," Druella exhaled in irritation. "The candidates are all eligible pureblood heiresses. My family are still determined to pretend that Arc has more than one preference when it comes to his heart."
Harry froze mid brushing. She quickly finished up, spat the toothpaste out, wiped her mouth on a towel and hurried out again. "Your brother is bisexual?"
"I don't know what label to give it – if it needs one – but Arc has never fallen for one type of person. It is why he garnered a bit of reputation," Druella answered, shaking her head. "I love Arc to pieces, but he has left many broken hearts in his wake."
Ophelia snorted. "I'll say, that's an understatement! It's one of the reasons I was rather relieved that Mother and Father never considered a Rosier alliance."
Athenaïs, Sigyn and Seraphina exchanged a look that translated to: humans and their complicated emotions!
Harry, heart pounding a little, swallowed a little. "Do you know if he has his eye on anyone at the moment?"
Druella chuckled at that. "Like he would tell me anything! He knows I am friends with the four of you and that we are pretty skilled in Legilimency. Arc is not going to tell me even if he is." She then frowned slyly. "Why do you ask?"
The Mistress of Death shrugged as nonchalantly as she could. "I am just curious. Most of our friend group is either courting or engaged; Arc and Caius are the only ones not taken."
She made sure not to make eye contact with her friends as she went back to her bed and crawled under the sheets. However, it seems that her friends caught onto something that Harry had not meant them to catch onto.
"Arc isn't in love with Altair, if that is what concerns you," Druella stated candidly.
Harry snorted with disbelieving laughter at that. "Oh please! I know that, Dru! Merlin, I have seen how those two act ever since September. That is not why I am asking."
Walburga lit up. "Morgana and Morgause! Harry, do you know someone who is interested in our Arc?" the future Lady Black gasped.
Oh bugger, why can't I keep a poker face? Harry complained internally. These girls are way too sharp for their own good.
Harry flushed bright red. "No," she lied and hid behind the nearest book she could open. It was one of her vampire books, Arysta.
Her friends were not letting her off the hook.
"You, my dear Lady, are a liar!" Ophelia accused, laughing. She changed into her night gown and then turned to her friend again with a smirk. "Come on! You know you can tell us."
"Nope. Never," Harry answered simply, still hiding behind the book, keeping her eyes fixed on the illustration on the right hand page. "Not going to happen."
It was at this point she heard her friends crawl out from under their duvets. "Well, it seems we will just have to make you talk," Ygraine stated evilly.
"And we have many ways of making difficult Lady Regnants talk," Walburga added; Harry could hear from her tone that Wally was smirking away.
Harry smirked to herself too. "Give it your best shot," she challenged.
The Traveller braced herself for impact and very soon she was being assaulted from all sides by pillows. Harry laughed as she batted Wally's and Ygraine's away with her book, and screamed with amusement as Ophelia and Druella jumped onto her bed and proceeded to bonk her a couple of times with their own pillows before settling for trying to tickle the information out of Harry.
Physically, without a Tickling Charm. Harry shrieked with laughter and twisted left and right. "S-s-s-t-t-o-o-o-o-p, girls! Please! Hehehehehehehehehehe! Atty, heeeeeeelp!"
Unfortunately for Harry, her Familiar was not much help because the Gargouille in question was rolling around at the end of her bed, laughing at Harry's expense.
"Are you ready to yield the information yet, my friend?" Ophelia teased into Harry's ear.
"N-n-n-n-no!" Harry responded stubbornly through breaths.
Druella tutted as she intensified her attack. "Wrong answer!" she quipped. "Do you think you can die laughing, given who you are?"
This made Harry stop squirming and squealing immediately as she turned sharply to her friend. "What did you just say?" the Lady Peverell inquired quietly, eyes wide.
The Rosier heiress seemed to notice her mistake too, because her own eyes widened. Ophelia too turned to look at Druella in disbelief. Walburga and Ygraine were frozen to the spot. Athenaïs, Sigyn and Seraphina had stilled as well.
"What did you just say?" Harry repeated her question a little more firmly.
Druella gulped. "Harry …"
Harry kept her verdant eyes unblinkingly on one of the girls she saw as a friend for life, waiting for her to answer. Druella swallowed again. "You're the Mistress of Death," she whispered, not even a questioning tone in her voice.
Ophelia paled instantly on Harry's behalf. Walburga stook stock still and Ygraine watched the scene unfold unblinkingly. Harry, though her heart skipped several beats, smiled smally at Druella. "Yes."
Walburga, Druella and Ygraine exhaled sharply; they had not expected Harry to answer in affirmation. Harry smiled at them fondly; they were oddly adorable in their shock. Druella got off Harry to begin pacing.
"Why are you not denying it?" Druella asked quietly.
"I have no wish to hide from the four of you anymore," Harry replied candidly. "There are secrets that I keep until there is no way for me to deny it – I left enough clues for all of you to suss out who I really am. I would be gaslighting you if I attempt to deny it."
Walburga, Druella and Ygraine did not seem to know what to do with that answer. Harry frowned. "How did you find out, if I may ask?" she wanted to know.
"We found Orion's research," Walburga answered quietly.
"I just put all the pieces together and considered myself mad," Ygraine added, laughing shortly. "I didn't dare to ask you about it or write to you because I really didn't want to risk upsetting you with such an accusation."
Harry nodded in understanding. "OK."
There was a moment of silence before Druella frowned and turned to Ophelia. "Why are you not surprised?" she questioned,
Ophelia smiled lopsidedly. "I already knew for certain."
Harry and Ophelia giggled as Walburga, Druella and Ygraine's mouths dropped. "Of course you did," Walburga commented distantly. "Well, I suppose we are not going mad after all. That's comforting. For a moment I thought I was afflicted by my family's illness!"
The girls chuckled lightly at that. Harry was rather relieved that Atty, Sigyn and Seraphina started making a raucous by nicking Ophelia and Druella's shoes; it allowed the girls to go to bed on a much lighter note.
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Rollo was already regretting getting up Wednesday morning. He only had breakfast two hours ago and he was already massaging his temples while mentally counting to twenty. Rollo had an inkling that the news that Miles had come to deliver was going to be responsible for causing a headache, but what the Head Cursebreaker ended up with, was a massive migraine instead. Miles had not come with good news: only ten of their people had been booked for Portkeys home, and there were still thirty left out in the field with no way home. Their Cursebreakers' hosts were fortunately kind enough to continue to host them, practically free of charge, until the men and women could get back home.
Katerina also had some more news from Satoshi. As it turns out, the fact that Oscar left had indeed made the person that the Japanese Aurors had been pursuing come out of hiding, because they apparently assumed Satoshi went with them. The culprit had been caught mid-ritual and had been revealed to be Satoshi's own paternal first cousin, Kazuya. She had outright refused to talk to Satoshi or even explain herself, according to the reports.
"So, what is the next step?" Rollo asked in general, counting to ten in his head as he continued to rub his temples.
"Well, King Ragnok is dealing with the bureaucracy side of things at the moment; Minister Spencer-Moon's offices are not being all too helpful right now," Miles looked just as tired as Rollo did. "I went to visit the Ministry several times, as you know, but … to no avail. They refused to so much as let me near his offices."
"Why?" Katerina frowned. "We have been practically badgering them for weeks by this point! Surely the Minister is not so busy that he cannot at least hear you out, considering how panicked our employers are?"
Miles' eyes darkened. "Some of the Minister's men had some … colourful things to say about my skin colour."
That told Rollo and Katerina enough; both of them clenched their jaws and shook their heads in disgust. They had hoped wizards were not as petty and childish as the Muggles about a difference in skin colour, but unfortunately the wizards were not immune to idiotic notions surrounding attributes about a person's appearance.
Katerina quickly moved onto the topic of Satoshi again. "I do have something else to add. Satoshi is still in a state of shock but he is booked for the Portkey to South Africa tomorrow, and I have already owled ahead to the Ministry and made sure that he could catch the nine o'clock Portkey for the day after tomorrow."
"Good," Rollo sighed deeply. "Merlin's sainted father, to think that his own cousin was behind the attacks on the spirit prisons … and you say she refused to explain her actions?"
Katerina nodded sadly. "Yes. Apparently there has been some tension between Satoshi's side of the family, and Kazuya's. Kazuya's family was not happy Satoshi's family had made the decision to live in England. They haven't spoken in years."
Rollo nodded. He could understand that situation all too well. "Well, Kat, you keep an eye on Satoshi's travel. Miles, continue assisting the King in getting our people back. Have any of you seen Oscar?"
"Last I heard, he was seeing his family for a bit," Katerina responded immediately.
"Good. Is there anything else that needs my immediate attention?" the Head Cursebreaker asked with a tone full of authority.
"I think that is it for now," Miles responded; Katerina concurred with a nod.
"OK, then the both of you are dismissed," Rollo stated.
"Make sure to drink some tea with honey for your head," was Katerina's parting comment as she and Miles left.
Rollo breathed a sigh of relief when his door closed. He put his head on his desk for a bit; he had done all the paper work he needed to do and he didn't have any meetings he needed to attend to for the day. He was affectively just sitting around for something to happen, so he was free to make his tea.
"Would you like an update on the Hit Wizards too, Rollo?" one of his goblin guards asked in a much more civil tone than the one he had used up to this point as Rollo started boiling the water in his kettle.
Rollo frowned and waved his wand, casting several privacy wards and silencing charms on his door, before nodding in assent. The guards smirked.
"Ghost and Goliath have been working on a detailed layout of Nurmengard; Meg is working on a dossier on the type of people working for Grindelwald as his guards and the raiding parties," the guard continued. "So far, the three have been behaving themselves."
Rollo felt his jaw clench a little. "And when they have given everything that you want from them, what will happen to them?"
"That will be for His Grace to decide," the other guard responded primly.
The Rowle heir rolled his eyes as he put the tea bag into the hot water. He desperately wanted to make a remark about how eerily similar that attitude was to the one Grindelwald and the Alliance employed, but he tactfully kept his silence.
"Just as it will be for him to decide what will happen to you when this war is over," the other guard added with a smirk.
Rollo sipped his tea, not deigning to give that an answer. It was at this point that he heard the dreaded sound of his telegram machine begin whirring and printing a new message rapidly. His heart began pounding in his ears – he had not heard anything from Grindelwald since he reported to Queenie that the information Lament gave "needed further investigation".
His goblin guards stiffened, their eyes on his cupboard unblinkingly.
Rollo set his mug down on his desk and carefully approached his cupboard as though he were approaching a wild animal. He opened the doors just as the machine stopped printing and he shakily ripped the message out of the machine.
The song of the bird concerned the Cursebreaker – the Hawk wishes to know if the song rang true. Is the girl a Peverell?
The double agent felt his heart sink and his blood begin to boil with rage. How? How did they know?! How did they find out?
Rollo turned sharply to his guards. "Fetch the King, Griphook and Goldheart here immediately, as a matter of urgency!"
The guards must have seen the state he was in because they did not so much as sneer at his tone and immediately ran to fetch the three goblins in question. Rollo began pacing to and fro, trying to figure out how the Alliance could possibly have caught wind of the Lady Hera's secret.
Had there been another agent in The White Wyvern? Had his spell on Lament failed? What went wrong? What had he missed? Did his guards miss something?
The double agent was still pacing when King Ragnok, Griphook and Goldheart arrived; they had arrived separately in order to give the illusion that nothing too untoward was going on. The goblins frowned at the state of their spy; they could see how green he was, and knew that something was badly wrong.
"Rollo, what is it?" the King asked gently as the door was firmly shut and the privacy wards re-enforced.
"He knows," was all Rollo was able to answer.
Griphook frowned. "He knows what?"
Rollo simply pushed the telegram towards the three goblins and continued to pace, pinching the bridge of his nose and muttering under his breath incoherently. The King was the one who picked it up and read it. He too blanched before handing the slip to Griphook and Goldheart.
While the King managed to keep suitably composed, the Accountant for the Peverell Vaults did not. Griphook's face was turning a nasty shade of purple. "How … HOW … How in the name of Mazak the Punisher DID THEY FIND OUT?!"
"I have no clue," Rollo growled through gritted teeth.
"Are you sure you didn't let something slip, Mr. Rowle?" the Accountant of the Peverell Vaults sneered. "Even by accident?"
Rollo's eyes flashed dangerously. "Most certainly not! If you do not believe me, perhaps you should interrogate the two you have put on my guard detail?"
Griphook was visibly shaking with rage. "Then one of those blasted kids who are her Secret Keepers must have blabbed something to someone who told someone in their family with ties to the Dark Lord!"
"Griphook, really!" Goldheart huffed. "You need to calm down-"
"CALM DOWN?! I most certainly do not need to calm down! The Head of House whose vaults I am privileged to be Accountant of has been put into danger! Grave danger!" Griphook shrieked. "How will I be able to look the Burkes and Miss Rollins in the eye and tell them that their ward's most deadly enemy now knows exactly who she is and where she is?"
"You do not think we could lie about this?" the King asked uncertainly.
"Your Grace, I think we would be sentencing our people to death if we did that," Goldheart stated firmly. He frowned thoughtfully. "Rollo's cover has been solid up until this point, and it doesn't sound as though they are accusing him of anything … I also doubt very much that the Lady Hera's Secret Keepers have been compromised-"
"We don't know that for certain!" Griphook wailed.
"No, indeed, my friend, but I think we should explore every avenue possible before we start to panic," Goldheart responded crisply. This was not the first time he had to deal with a long operation that was potentially compromised; the last thing he needed to do was panic. He frowned ponderingly. "This has happened since Rollo met with Lament … I think we should start there … Wait …"
The Head of Security turned to Rollo, who was sipping his tea nervously. "Rollo, remind me. What did Goldstein send you?"
"A vial of Veritaserum and a pin," Rollo scoffed. "She said I shouldn't 'look shabby' while meeting with an informant. It's typical of her and Vida."
"A pin?" Goldheart frowned. "Is it standard procedure for you to be given something to spruce yourself up when meeting an informant?"
"Not usually. It is protocol saved mostly for charming information out of someone," Rollo answered with a frown.
"Interesting," Goldheart muttered thoughtfully.
"Goldheart, what are you getting at?" King Ragnok demanded.
"Patience, Your Grace, I have a hunch," the Head of Security answered. His eyes returned to the spy. "Do you still have the pin?"
"Yes. It is in the top drawer of my desk under layers and layers of spells," Rollo responded. He straightened. "Why do you ask?"
Goldheart didn't reply. He headed straight for Rollo's desk and used magic to open the drawer. The goblin climbed onto Rollo's chair and quickly saw the pretty looking pin lying amongst the quills and parchment. The Head of Security put his finger to his lips as he fished it out and then cast a nonverbal spell over it.
Much to the shock of everyone in the room, the top of the pin was removed to reveal a tiny, electronic looking device within.
Oh no.
"It seems that the Alliance have someone who is well-versed in the new Muggle technique of 'bugging' someone," Goldheart stated grimly. "Just as I feared."
Without further ado, Goldheart fried the thing with a quick spell, causing the people in the room to jump a little as sparks flew up into the air.
"Merlin … they bugged your conversation!" King Ragnok had his hand over his mouth.
"I am rather glad I had that thing under those spell," Rollo gulped. "They could have heard … oh Merlin …"
His cover could have so easily been blown!
Griphook blinked in disbelief and turned Goldheart. "Did you test the pin before Rollo wore it?" he asked in a dangerously quiet tone.
The Head of Security looked sombre. "I did not."
"And why not?" Griphook's eyes flashed dangerously. "Why did you not test an item sent from the Alliance immediately upon arrival, given what is at stake here?!"
"Because at the time I suspected nothing untoward," Goldheart replied simply.
Griphook was set to explode again. "YOU-"
"Griphook, enough!" the King snapped, silencing his friend and subject immediately. Griphook continued to glower at Goldheart. Ragnok sighed deeply. "What's done is done. There is nothing we can do about it. We simply have to adapt to these circumstances."
Rollo inhaled and exhaled twice, breath quivering. "What are your orders, Your Grace?"
The King turned incredibly solemn. "You give Grindelwald the answer he seeks, and we alert the Lady Hera and her family to the danger as soon as possible."
Rollo closed his eyes as though he had just heard a guilty verdict from a judge. He had expected it, but naïvely hoped that the King perhaps had a solution that would allow Rollo to protect both the Lady Hera and his people. It seems that would not be the case here.
It was either keep his people alive, or risk their death to protect the last Peverell. Rollo fought the tears of pure anger and frustration that were threatening to fall. This was all his fault, he knew that. If he had been more vigilant, that bugging device would have been caught in time. But then, Rollo realised, he would have also blown his cover to Queenie Goldstein.
The double agent nodded in resignation. "I will compose a message and send it forthwith, with Your Grace's blessing," he stated in an emotionless voice, which caused the three goblins to frown in concern.
The Rowle heir barely paid them any attention as he walked to his desk and composed the message that he hoped he would never have to write, his hand trembling here and there as he did so.
May Hekate have mercy on me when it is my time, Rollo thought to himself as he put his quill down and handed the message to the King for approval.
The King, Griphook and Goldheart read the message twice each before the King nodded the said approval. Rollo barely registered himself take the message back and begin to type it into the machine; he was too focused on not allowing the bile that he felt at the bottom of his throat come up.
Once Rollo was finished, the King spoke up softly. "I think you can go home for a while, Rollo. We will send a message if you are needed."
"Yes, Your Grace," the Head Cursebreaker whispered, tone still full of remorse.
The double agent gathered his cloak and bag and swept from the room, guards hot on his heels. He did not see the looks of sadness that followed him out of the door; Rollo did not look at those who greeted him cheerily just in case they would notice his forlorn expression. All the way home, the Head Cursebreaker barely looked around him, focusing only on the tiles of the path in front of him. Once he got to his apartment building, Rollo fled up to the second floor, opened his door, strode inside and slammed the door, finally allowing the tears to begin to flow.
"What have I done … what have I done …" he kept muttering to himself between sniffles.
Rollo through off his cloak and threw his bag practically into a corner in frustration with an angry scream. No sooner had he done that, he heard a knock at his door. This made him frown but he brushed it aside.
Knock, knock, knock.
This made the Head Cursebreaker freeze, his eyes widening. Someone was definitely at his door! Immediately, adrenaline coursed through his veins and he drew his wand from inside his sleeve – he was not expecting any visitors. Plus, he was supposed to be at work; most people who knew him, knew this.
Quickly drying his eyes as best as he could, Rollo carefully approached his front door, wand behind his back but still at the ready. He took a deep fortifying breath, his heart beats echoing in his ears, and then he opened the door.
His heart skipped a few beats and then fluttered when he saw the person standing there.
"Henry," he whispered in disbelief.
Henry Burke stood there, wearing a trench coat and a concerned expression. He smiled smally, eyes full of warmth. "Hey, Rollo."
Rollo swallowed a little, trying to ignore his racing heart. "What … what are you doing here?"
Act normal, act normal, act normal, Rollo told himself.
The enigmatic wizard suddenly turned a little sheepish. "I wanted to see you. I was heading for Gringotts when I saw you leave and … well, I followed you. I am sorry; it was incredibly presumptuous," he chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yes, it was," Rollo agreed, a small smile forming on his own face. "A good kind of presumptuous, though. Seeing you … oh Merlin, you have no idea how good it is."
Henry composed himself and frowned in concern. "Has something happened? Rollo, have you been … crying?"
The Rowle heir exhaled sharply. "Yes, to both questions."
The strange History teacher turned even more solemn. "May I come in? You can tell me everything."
"That's the thing," Rollo answered quietly, eyes pricking with fresh new tears, "I can't tell anyone. I … I am sworn to secrecy."
"Then at least allow me to … be there for you. We can talk about anything you wish," Henry insisted. Rollo could already see that the man was not going to take no for an answer, and part of him really liked that.
Rollo opened the door wider and stepped aside before he could change his mind. Henry entered and the Head Cursebreaker shut the door, and promptly locked it. He watched as the man he was developing feelings for studied some of the artefacts Rollo had displayed around the living room.
"They're some of my first finds as a novice Cursebreaker," Rollo found himself explaining. "A lot of them are of Mayan and Aztec origins … a few are Greek and Egyptian."
"Yes, I recognise a lot of them – Greek and Egyptian curse tablets; I always found them fascinating," Henry answered with an amused smile, turning away from the artefacts to look back at Rollo, who didn't seem to know quite what to do with himself. "What made you want to be a Cursebreaker?"
"A myriad of reasons," Rollo chuckled emotionlessly. "I could escape my parents' house with the salary for a start. It gave me an opportunity to have some adventure; I had never been to foreign lands before I started working for Gringotts. I suppose it was also because I could finally make a name for myself and not simply ride the tailcoats of the Rowle name."
Henry's smile grew. Rollo tried not to ogle the man as he undid his trench coat, revealing the well-cut and well-fitting indigo shirt underneath. Sinful thoughts already started running around Rollo's head. If Henry noticed him staring, the man didn't make a comment as he went to hang his coat up on the peg.
"What made you want to be a teacher for Muggles?" Rollo dared to ask quietly.
"Anonymity, mostly," Henry answered with an amused smile. "Plus I have always found Muggles rather fascinating creatures. It is fun to see them up close and to study them, to see what has changed in them and what hasn't."
Rollo nodded but didn't quite know what to say to that. Henry took a deep sigh. "I suppose I also have something else to confess," the man continued. "I was here a few days ago, pondering on whether or not a visit from me would be welcomed by you," he chuckled awkwardly. Rollo kept his eyes fixed on him the entire time. "I … I saw someone in your apartment and I … left like a bloody coward."
Rollo felt his heart soar and then freeze. "What?" he stated breathlessly.
"Yeah," Henry chuckled nervously. "I thought that you had … a guest over and I didn't want to intrude-"
Someone was in my apartment?! the thought raced around Rollo's head.
The Head Cursebreaker composed himself. "You wouldn't have intruded. I didn't have any guests over," he stated crisply. His expression softened. "Why did you leave? I would have loved to see you."
Henry flushed bright red. "It's a stupid reason," he stated dismissively. "It was just the idea of someone else being there with you, in your home. Melanie told me I was being ridiculous but I couldn't help it-"
"You were jealous," Rollo found the statement left his mouth before he could stop himself.
"Yes," Henry readily admitted, laughing shortly. "Like I said, the reason was ridiculous. You have every right to see whoever you want. We are not tied to each other, but the idea that someone else was-"
Before he even knew what he was doing, Rollo had closed the distance between him and Henry and had captured the other man's lips in a searing, desperate kiss in order to shut him up. Henry, though surprised, quickly got over the shock and returned the kiss with passion, hand running through Rollo's hair. The pair continued their embrace for another minute before they had to part for oxygen.
Rollo held his lover close to him. "Does this still your worries? Tied to each other or not, I have eyes only for you; I do my duty to my family because I have to, but my heart is yours. The Yule Ball made it clear to me. I want you, Henry Burke. You are mine!"
The Head Cursebreaker tightened his grip on the other man slightly; the Rowle heir had never felt possessive of anyone in his life, but the idea of losing Henry to anyone made him want to hex the nearest thing he could into oblivion.
Henry's own grip on Rollo tightened at the exact same time. "I haven't loved another in such a long time and I don't understand how it happened so quickly …" he whispered reverently. "My beloved Rollo."
Rollo felt himself going weak in the knees as Henry kissed him again with such love and fire; the double agent, before he knew fully what he was doing, soon found himself guiding his lover in the direction of his bedroom. Henry seemed to notice because he quickly broke the kiss.
"Are you sure …?" was all he was able to whisper through laboured breath.
"Make me forget the world for a bit," Rollo pleaded. "Please?"
Henry nodded once. "If I go too far-"
Rollo smirked. "You won't."
Unbeknownst to them, outside, the goblin guards quickly made themselves scarce; they had seen and heard enough to know that they needed to leave the two for an hour or so.
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That morning, Altair found himself waking up earlier than he normally would. He had never been bothered by the cold of the Slytherin dungeons before, but Altair found that his four-poster had been as frigid as his own bed had been without his future Consorts lying beside him. The Nott heir forced himself out of bed and gather a fresh pair of trousers, and went to take a shower.
Around him, Dolohov, Arc, Orion and Malfoy were also beginning to get up; Dolohov was still groggy from sleep and Malfoy looked like he wanted to get back into bed.
"Morning, Altair!" Arc called jovially as he set about to try and get Somnus the owl to wake up for breakfast.
"Morning, Nott!" Orion added just as happily as he gathered his uniform for the day from his trunk.
"Morning, Arc, Orion," Altair answered much more sedately. He was rather happy that he had managed to get the first shower of the morning; it gave him a good moment to think. Not for too long though; he knew that if he took too long, Arc, Malfoy and Orion would kick up a fuss.
Altair got out of the shower after ten minutes, dried off, put on his clean clothes and left; Orion bagsied the shower next, much to both Arc and Malfoy's chagrin. Altair found himself smirking at this; some things never change.
"Altair, what the hell is that on your stomach?"
The Nott heir blanched; oh Merlin, he had forgotten momentarily about the Mark on his stomach. He had managed to remember the night before to cover up in case of any awkward questions; unfortunately, sleep had scrambled his brain, it seemed. Arcturus, beady-eyed as ever, had noticed the Mark immediately. Altair flushed as he walked a little faster to his trunk and fished out a fresh shirt.
"It's nothing to worry about," he stated dismissively.
"Nothing my pinkie toe," it was Dolohov who made the next comment, looking at the Mark with a frown. "I have never seen anything like it – when did you get it? Did you get hit by Harry's lightning?"
Altair clenched his jaw and scowled at the boy who had been making his life miserable for the past six years, refusing to give an answer as he started doing up his shirt. Dolohov flinched a little but didn't say anything.
"Altair, when did you get it?" Arcturus repeated the question, sounding incredibly concerned.
"It's nothing," Altair repeated coolly as he tied his tie around his neck.
Arc gaped at him; Altair had barely tried to hide something from Arcturus, apart from his feelings for Harry and Tom – this was the first proper secret Altair was keeping, and determined to keep.
"Altair-"
"Rosier, stop," Altair was surprised to hear Malfoy defend him. "He doesn't want to talk about it. Drop it."
The Rosier heir was lost for words; he was so gorgonised to the spot that he didn't even react when Dolohov took the next shower slot after Orion came back into the room, humming away as always. Altair continued to dress and pack his bag for the day, kicking himself mentally for not guarding that Mark well enough. He quietly hoped that Tom had done a better job than he had.
Meanwhile in Tom's dorm, the boys too were preparing for the day ahead. Heron and Felix had already showered and were now dressing and packing their bags; Tom was the third in the shower. Similarly to Altair, he used the opportunity that the shower have him to have a good think and to try and wash off the cold feeling he had about waking up alone. The Heir of Slytherin didn't take too long, since Malum still needed to shower, and was out in five minutes, also half dressed.
And like Altair, Tom had momentarily forgotten about his Mark. Fortunately, Heron and Felix were distracted; they did not see it. Malum, on the other hand, did; he had even noticed it the night before. However, unlike Arcturus, the Avery heir, in both cases, tactfully kept his mouth shut.
"Yes, I have my homework," Felix muttered to himself. "Quills, parchment, notebooks – I think I have everything."
"Good, then we can go. We're going to wait in the common room," Heron informed the pair once he and Felix were done with packing.
"Sure," Tom called back flippantly as he took out a fresh shirt, tie, waistcoat and blazer from his trunk.
Malum didn't say anything in reply to his friends; he simply gave them a nod in affirmation. He waited for the door to click shut behind his friends before he turned sharply to Tom, unable to contain himself any longer. "Tom, when did you get that mark?" he dared to ask his leader, gesturing to his stomach.
Tom froze for a moment, but recovered very quickly. "What are you talking about?" he tried to sound as dismissive as possible.
"The mark on your stomach," Malum clarified carefully. "The one that looks like a lightning Catherine wheel. How did you get it? When did it happen?"
Tom was very happy to focus on closing his shirt and thereby covering his precious Mark up, and away from prying eyes. It also distracted him from the urge to hex his friend for prying into affairs that don't concern him. "Getting a little personal there, Malum?" he responded silkily. "I do not think it is any of your business."
Malum flushed red. "I didn't mean anything by it," he reassured quickly. "I am asking because it just looks very familiar, that's all."
"Familiar?" Tom repeated, looking in his friend's direction for the first time. "Familiar in what way?"
The Avery heir started to run his hand through his hair nervously. "I spent some time with Ophelia over the winter holidays, and she was reading a little bit on her Steward family's research into myths and legends. Most of them centred around the Travellers; there was a picture Ophelia liked with four people who had Marks that look eerily like that." Malum smiled a quick smile. "Forget I said anything. You're right, it isn't my business."
Tom blinked rapidly at hearing that, gaping a little. Malum avoided his friend's gaze and made himself scarce by fleeing to the shower. Tom continued dressing and preparing his bag.
*More myths to deal with,* Frey commented wryly. *Walkers and their stories.*
*Yes well, given what we now know, they're not as fiction as we once thought,* Tom responded coolly as he put his bag over his shoulder and left the room, his heart still beating fast.
The last Gaunt found Heron and Felix talking with Arcturus, Caius and Abraxas with Orion and Altair chatting with each other. Once they noticed his arrival, Arcturus, Caius and Abraxas lit up.
"Good morning, Tom!" his friends chorused.
"Good morning, gents. Did you sleep well?" Tom asked amicably.
"Tolerably," Caius responded candidly.
"No," Abraxas answered curtly.
"Could be better," Arcturus added.
Tom nodded and then approached Altair and Orion, who had been watching him in amusement. Orion grinned at him. "Feeling all right, Tom?"
"Never better," Tom reassured, raising an eyebrow. "Why?"
"You're unusually chipper this morning," Orion replied, eyes shining with mischief. "You're asking if we slept well; you have never done that!"
"Hmmm … well, I suppose I am feeling rather generous today," Tom answered with a small smirk.
"Indeed? A generous Tom? I think there must be snow in Tartarus," Altair quipped.
Tom mock-scowled at his future Consort. "Thank you for that, my love."
Altair smirked. "You're welcome."
The last Gaunt's eyes flashed red for a moment as he captured the Nott heir's lips in a quick, passionate kiss. Altair returned it enthusiastically. The two broke apart quite quickly, but both their eyes were dark with desire.
"Hey, Malum!" Orion called, determined to draw the attention away from the pair. The Avery heir grinned at the Black heir's enthusiasm as he joined the group. "Now it is only the girls we have to wait for."
#########################################################################
The girls heard Orion's voice even before they had opened the door leading to the common room. "Now it is only the girls we have to wait for."
"No you don't!" Harry, Walburga, Druella, Ophelia and Ygraine chorused jovially, coming out into the common room right on cue.
"Morning girls, you ready to face the music?" Felix asked with a grin.
"No, but let's just get this over with," Druella replied candidly as the group headed towards breakfast.
"I just hope I can write back to my parents and tell them I don't have a grade that is below an A," Ygraine commented.
"I will be lucky if I don't have a single grade that is below an A," Caius huffed.
"If I have a single P, I am not writing home," Arcturus agreed.
"I am more concerned about what Headmaster Dippet wants to talk to us about," Ophelia put in, breath quivering a little with nerves. "I know he said that it wasn't bad yesterday but I still can't help dreading the meeting."
"Ditto," Altair agreed readily.
"Hey I am sure everything will go well. We did your best to teach, and we all put our best into our exams," Orion was the first to look at the bright side, as always. "Whatever happens, we still have four months for our exams and five for the fifth years. We can do this! Plus, I did some thinking last night and I decided that some feedback from the teachers could help us also improve."
"You think Dippet wants to give us pointers?" Heron repeated, sounding incredibly relieved.
"I think there is a good chance, yes," the Black Heir responded brightly. "More to the point, we also get to see the papers today and see precisely where we went wrong. That in itself is going to be a great help."
By now, the group had arrived at the Great Hall and were heading to the Gryffindor table where Artemis, Minerva, the Weasleys, the Prewetts and Loreley were already tucking into their breakfast as best as their nerves would allow them. Harry cooed quietly as she watched Heron plant a kiss on Artemis' temple before he sat down between Artemis and Septimus.
Ignatius distracted himself from his own nerves by turning to Malum and Felix. "Morning, gents. You got a training regime for your new Seeker? Your rematch against the Badgers is fast approaching."
"Don't remind me!" Malum stated dramatically as he poured himself some coffee.
"We're starting to train Grey tonight; we just hope she is half decent," Felix huffed.
"I am sure she will do fine, boys," Walburga rolled her eyes.
"The new sparrow will be trained by lightning," Loreley sang as she sipped her juice.
"Oh boy," Caius grumbled, shaking his head. The others also didn't know what to do with the comment; Harry simply smirked as she met Loreley's eyes while sipping her coffee.
It was at this precise moment that the teachers were making their rounds with the dreaded envelopes that contained the fifth years' and seventh years' mock exam results. The tension that had hung around the Hall since breakfast spiked quite quickly; Harry found she too had an issue controlling the beating of her heart.
Professor Slughorn delivered the grades for her and her friends with a beaming smile on his face, jovially handing out the envelopes as though he were handing out invitations to one of his Slug Club parties instead of the grades that indicated at what level they were on for their subjects. Professor McCullagh delivered Loreley's at the same time.
"Oh Merlin and Morgana, I can't do this!" Ygraine wailed, holding her envelope at arm's length.
"I do not want to open it," Artemis agreed, shaking her head at hers as Dumbledore moved along the table, handing out envelopes too with a smile. "I want someone else to open it and then deliver the bad news."
Harry gulped a little as she took hers from Slughorn, who was still beaming away. She took a few deep breaths in and out, staring at the envelope as though it were a Howler that was about to explode.
"Oh bugger it all," she stated firmly and she took her breakfast knife and began to use the knife as an envelope opener. Harry was aware of the eyes of her friends on her as she fished out the folded piece of parchment and, with one more deep exhale, unfolded it.
Transfigurations – EE
Charms – O
Defence Against the Dark Arts – O
Potions – EE
History of Magic – O
Herbology – EE
Ancient Runes – O
Harry blanched and blinked rapidly at her results. "Holy Aithusa and Kilgharrah, I got an O for Ancient Runes!" she stated in disbelief.
Artemis, who had been reading over her shoulder, started chuckling. "And you got an O in Charms, Defence and History, girl! Plus three EEs: Transfigurations, Potions and Herbology."
"Yeah, I am not too happy about the Herbology one," Harry admitted; she knew she fudged up a definition here and there on her paper.
"Oh come on!" some of the boys sighed.
"My love, I think you are being too harsh on yourself," Tom stated with a small smile; Harry rolled her eyes.
"I think she will take a lecture from a lot of people about being harsh on herself, but not from you," Altair quipped with a grin.
Harry opening her results did tempt the others to see how well they did as well. Minerva was the first to open hers. The Scottish witch deflated very quickly in relief. "Oh thank Merlin!" she laughed.
Harry lit up. "What did you get, Min?"
Minerva handed her friend the list of grades.
Transfigurations – O
Charms – EE
Defence Against the Dark Arts – EE
Potions – O
Arithmancy – O
Ancient Runes – EE
"Damn, Min!" Harry laughed. "Well done."
"I still would like to know where I went wrong in Charms and Defence," Minerva informed as Harry handed her grades back to her.
"Fudge tart!" Artemis exclaimed in disbelief, eyes bugging out of her socket. "I actually got an EE in Potions!"
"I actually got an A in History!" Caius could not believe his eyes.
"Me too!" Malum added, looking ecstatic.
"Merlin's saggy trousers, I got an EE in Care!" Octavius' eyes were shining. "My first ever EE for a Care exam."
"I have an EE in Transfigurations for the first time in my life," Septimus added, looking extremely pleased.
"I don't have a single fail. I can actually avoid my father's wrath," Felix put in as lightly as he could.
Walburga was scowling at one of her grades. "EE for History! Urgh! That is not going to win me my bet with my brothers."
"You have time to fix that," Ophelia reminded her with a grin.
Overall, the seventh years were happy with their results. There were more than a few who were disappointed with one or two grades, but on the whole, they were pretty happy. The fifth years, not so much. More than a few of the tutors – including Harry – soon found themselves trying to still the fears and tears of the fifteen-year-olds who were not happy with their grade.
In Harry's case, War was frustrated with her EE and Yaxley was very upset at his A. She managed to calm the two storms – one that was set to rage and one that was weeping tears – by asking them to wait until their next History lesson to see what went wrong in the exam and to come and show her later. Her friend and her student were not too happy, but they knew that she was right so went back to their table.
Headmaster Dippet, who could see the excitement and disappointment very clearly, took the opportunity to call the students to order. "While I am aware that there is much to be relieved, and perhaps also disappointed, about, I must ask all of you to start preparing for your first lessons. I assure you, I and the rest of the staff are extremely pleased with what we have seen so far and we hope that the meeting today with your tutors will help to translate and improve your grades for the real thing."
The children complied; they finished their meals and drinks and then set off for their lessons. The seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins headed for Transfigurations, with Minerva looking anxious. Dumbledore, who was dressed that day in violet robes with clematis designs all over it, beamed as they entered his classroom.
"Happy New Year, my dear boys and girls. I hope all of you did not have too much of an unpleasant surprise this morning. As Headmaster Dippet already said, we will first be going through your exam papers and then the individual assessments of your performances of the spells you did," the Head of Gryffindor stated happily. "Then we will do a spot of turning gerbils into tea cups, yes?"
The kids all nodded in affirmation, which made Dumbledore beam even more. He handed out the exams and the assessment reports on the practical exams; the students jumped into them immediately. Very soon, the room sounded with a cacophony of disgruntled and gutted groaning. Even Tom, who was ever a perfectionist, was making an angry face at his mock exam paper at where he lost marks.
Ignatius blanched. "Are you kidding me? I missed one point on this question because I missed an attribute of the spell?"
Felix had his head on his table. "You mean to tell me I lost points because my trumpet was slightly rusty? Oh for Merlin's sake!"
Caius huffed. "Of course I lose points because my Queen got aggressive after being transfigured from a rook."
Minerva, with permission from Dumbledore, soon collected the exams together so that she could look through them to see what needed to be adapted or worked on; she barely paid attention when Dumbledore started the lesson on turning gerbils into tea cups. Much to the quiet envy of Harry, Orion and Artemis, Minerva turned her own gerbil into a stunning porcelain tea cup without so much as looking at the creature.
This was the routine for almost every single class that the fifth and seventh years had that day. The tutors were soon inundated between classes and during free periods with piles and piles of practise exams to look through to see where the majority of mistakes lay. In Harry's case, she could see that in some cases time management was still a problem; what really made her blood boil was that Professor Binns had deducted points on a few essays for one or two points that had been put into the 'Evidence' section of the essays and didn't give any useful feedback on how the students in question could improve.
It seemed that some of the other tutors were not happy with their teachers' commentary either. Harry and her friends met up with Rhona Percy, Tessa, Ossian Gilbert and Edward Diggory on the way to the Headmaster's Tower. Orion and Heron had the steam coming out of their ears and even Loreley's countenance looked colder than normal. Ophelia also looked extremely disgruntled.
"What has happened?" Tessa dared to ask.
"Babbling clearly marked some of those exams while she was half-ill!" Orion fumed.
Everyone gulped a little. Orion did not normally lose his temper but when he did, people were promptly reminded why he was Heir Black. Those electric blue eyes were more black than blue.
"I take it that you do not agree with some comments made by the staff," Rhona observed carefully.
"Indeed," Loreley concurred mystically. "A few of my fifth years were marked rather harshly, in my opinion."
"Are you sure it is wise to bring those qualms up during the meeting?" Edward wanted to know.
"Well, I think we should at least make our displeasure known," Ophelia responded primly.
"I fear that may cross into the boundary of impertinence, though," Tom put in.
"Yes well, Professor Binns knows me and my big mouth by now," Harry stated crisply. "And I am not going to let the fact he is my teacher stop me from telling him that some of his marking was, frankly, shoddy."
"Perhaps put that a little more kindly?" Ossian Gilbert blanched.
"Nope," Harry replied curtly.
"Harry, please don't land yourself in detention on the first day back," Altair pleaded, his eyes dancing with amusement.
"Hey, I am not the only one with complaints, love!" Harry pointed out. "I won't be alone in detention in that case."
"It's a detention I will happily earn," Heron backed her up unreservedly.
"Same here," Orion concurred.
"Well, I think we should first find out what the Headmaster wishes to discuss before we do something stupid," Minerva stated as the extensive group halted in front of the gargoyle to Dippet's office.
The gargoyle gave them all a judgemental look, like it couldn't believe they were being summoned for something other than a telling off, and then stepped aside to let the group go up to the Headmaster's office. Dippet, as it turns out, had been waiting for them, preparing several teapots and tea cups, humming away while the portraits of the past Headmasters and Headmistresses shook their heads at him.
The portraits were the first to notice the new arrivals.
"Ah, children, punctual as ever! Good to see that my great-grandson has not let his high standards slide," Phineas Nigellus Black stated grandly.
"Oh do be quiet, Phineas," Edessa Sakndenberg grumbled.
"Indeed! These children hold the exact same high standards as each other," Amrose Swott added.
"That I doubt, considering the filth that is amongst the group," Elizabeth Burke sneered, which earned her glares from multiple of her predecessors and successors. The children also glared up at the Headmistress' portrait for that unnecessary comment.
"That's enough out of you, Elizabeth. As unpleasant as ever," Headmaster Dippet sighed and turned with a smile to his students, beckoning them to join him. "Sit down, children, and don't be shy to pour yourselves some tea." The tutors complied and the Headmaster took to his own throne like chair. "Now, I know I must have given you a fright yesterday but the reason I really wanted this meeting was because I wish to discuss a few matters that my staff have come to me about."
The sixth and seventh years exchanged a look but didn't say anything as they stirred their tea.
Dippet continued. "You see, my staff were flummoxed at how well overall you and the fifth years did. Indeed, there was at least only one fail for some students and even those P grades were by narrow margins to say the least. What you have been doing, seems to be working and I am sure you can imagine that we wish to replicate this success with future fifth and seventh years. Hence, I would very much like to know your individual teaching methods; to see what can be adopted by the staff."
The tutors visibly relaxed in their seats at this point; Harry was smiling a small but triumphant smile to herself. It seemed she had gauged correctly what Dippet wished to discuss.
"To be honest, sir, I do not think one can expect your staff to be able to fully mimic our styles to the letter," Harry was the first to speak, putting her tea cup down carefully on the desk in front of her. "For example, I have a very different ethos and method to how Professor Binns teaches, and I think it would be unfair to him to ask him to change his teaching method after death. Plus, it is not simply our teaching methods that worked; it's the revision methods we taught the students that are the most important aspect, I think."
"Oh?" Dippet's eyebrows went up in surprise. "Revision methods, you say?"
"Yes, sir. Flashcards, the Text-to-Speech Charm, drawing, pacing," Harry started to list.
"Flashcards?" Dippet repeated with interest. "What are those, pray?"
Altair immediately dived into his bag and began taking out his boxes with flashcards for all of his different classes. "These are flashcards, sir," he stated as he lifted the lid on his Potions ones. The Headmaster carefully picked them out of the box. "Harry taught me this study method when I asked her to help me with my Potions homework at the beginning of September. I have to say they really saved my bacon. No matter how hard I studied the Potion ingredients just wouldn't stick in my head; these made it easier."
"We also played Ingredient Ping Pong," Harry supplied as the Headmaster went through Altair's flashcards with a look of awe. "A small game to see if the studying paid off. Three misses means one has to continue studying the flashcard for another half an hour."
"A few of us have adopted the method as well, especially with the kids who find it difficult to sit still or concentrate for a longer period of time," Edward Diggory put in.
"Merlin," the Headmaster chuckled as he carefully put the flashcards back into their box. "It looks so deceptively simple." He turned to Harry with interest. "What made you use this method with Mr. Nott?"
"I had a feeling that he had suffered the same problem as I did for a long time," Harry replied easily. "Simply memorising from the book doesn't work with his mind. It needs the information in more bitesize chunks. My friend Hermione was the one to teach me the method."
The Headmaster smiled warmly, a sadness in those three-hundred-year-old eyes. He then recovered quite quickly. "So, what made you use the Text-to-Speech Charm as a study method? That spell is reserved usually for blind students."
"I am aware, but I'm afraid you have students who can't read their books properly because the words start to jump from the page or swim before their eyes," Harry informed him candidly.
"What a ridiculous notion!" Elizabeth Burke sneered from her frame.
"Elizabeth, be quiet!" the other Headmasters and Headmistresses chorused.
The Lady Regnant ignored them. "Sir, if you wish to know how effective it has been, I suggest you meet with some of the students who use the Text-to-Speech Charm."
"I think I just might," the Headmaster stated with a smile. "I think I will also inform my staff of these methods." He poured himself another cup of tea. "Is there anything I can do for all of you to help you maintain your high standards? Is there anything you wish to discuss with me?"
"We do, sir," Orion responded immediately as he and Heron fished out a large pile of exam papers out of their bags. "We would like to alert you to some inconsistencies in the marking that we have noticed, and we would very much like an explanation."
"Inconsistencies?" Dippet repeated, eyes widening. "What kind of inconsistencies, Mr. Black?"
It was Heron who answered. He opened three fifth year exams onto their translation piece. "Here: there are inconsistencies in whether someone got marked down or not, all of them surrounding this passage about Lupa the giantess. These three students each translated her form, after shape shifting, to be a dragon, or a variant thereof – which is correct because the word in question has more than one good translation in English. But Professor Babbling has marked almost a quarter of them down for anything other than 'dragon'."
Dippet frowned as he pulled the papers to him; he had taken Ancient Runes and Sacred Languages in his time at Hogwarts. Ophelia took the opportunity to take a few exams out of her bag too.
"It isn't only Professor Babbling who didn't seem to keep to a strict protocol sheet for marking, sir," the Rowle heiress informed. "For example, one the question regarding the different genus of Jackalope, all of the students were required to point out the differences, yet they all gave the correct answers – but in different ways. A few made diagrams with the information underneath them while others wrote essay-style answers. None of them were objectively wrong but Professor Redferne marked down the students who drew diagrams when there is nothing in the rules that say one cannot draw a diagram." She then flipped to another question. "There are also inconsistencies in whether or not the students got marked down for missing the tenrec from the Diricawl's diet and the key differences between the Griffin and the hippogriff."
Dippet's brow furrowed even more, especially when Loreley and Harry also started fishing exams out of their bags. "I take it that the two of you also noticed inconsistencies in the marking of your respective subjects?"
"Indeed, sir," Loreley confirmed serenely.
"In my case, I think I know what went wrong and why Professor Binns decided to mark them down, but I would like to know what he thinks the students could improve on," Harry added. "There is no comment to suggest what he wants to see, or what the examinators wish to see. We are stuck with only a number at the side and that's it."
Dippet massaged his temples at the growing complaints from the tutors. He nodded thoughtfully. "Very well. Leave the exams with me and I will convene with my staff later to discuss the matter. I cannot promise anything will change but perhaps I can get you the answers you seek."
"Thank you, sir," the tutors chorused.
"Good," the Headmaster sighed with relief. "I also want you to know that I am extremely proud of all of you and pleased that you have proven my trust in you completely justified. As I knew you would, but still – I am an old man, I love to see if my hunches are still correct!"
The tutors flushed with pride and preened, including Tom, which made Harry chuckle to herself.
Dippet's eyes shone with amusement. "I think it's time you lot get some food before lunch is over. Thank you so much for your time."
"Bye, sir!" the kids answered in unison as they gathered their things and got to their feet.
"Oh Merlin," Rhona Percy breathed a sigh of relief. "Am I glad that is over."
"Indeed," Tessa concurred readily. "I am rather glad it wasn't too long."
"I am more glad he didn't put McGonagall, Black, Lestrange, Rowle and Evans in detention for pointing out that they do not agree with the professors' marking," Edward commented, exhaling with relief. "I highly doubt they would have gotten away with that if it had been Phineas Nigellus Black or even Dumbledore."
"Yes, well, we all know Dumbledore has an irrational mistrust of anyone not decked in red," Altair stated bluntly with a scoff.
Harry smiled brightly. "I say we focus on the rest of our day," she stated, slipping one hand into Altair's right hand and looping her right arm with Loreley's left. "We have Defence after lunch; I don't know about all of you but I am rather hungry and I can't deal with Merrythought on an empty stomach."
"Same! I swear if Ignatius and Billy have stolen all the good lunch options, I am going to use a Bat-Bogey Hex them," Tessa concurred bluntly.
##########################################################################
"Most of the residents have been behaving themselves. However, Ambrose and Bradley … they're back to barely eating again. Do not even get me started on their sleeping patterns. I have just managed to convince them to have some soup," Healer Hightower informed Philip and Emma when they arrived to start their shift in the early afternoon. Hightower had bags under her eyes that were darker than the rings around a badger's eyes; it seemed like she was operating on only coffee and Pepper-Up Potions. "Carstairs wanted to call you guys much earlier but I told him I would hex him into the next century if he disturbed your well-earned rest."
"Thank you, Alison," Philip answered with a quick smile. "We will take it over from here."
Hightower gave a quick nod before she went up to the canteen to get some food and perhaps a quick nap. Philip and Emma began making their rounds; they were rather glad the Yule period was over. Things were returning to their normal level of busy. As for the Janus Thickney residents, most of them were taking their afternoon siestas. Patricia included. Hourglass, Ambrose and Bradley were the only ones awake.
"I will see if I can persuade Hourglass to read again," Philip decided in a low tone to Emma. "Maybe you can get Ambrose and Bradley to tell you what the matter is? They have seemed to warm up to you."
Emma gave a curt nod in assent. The two men barely registered her arrival; they were too busy swishing their spoons in their soup, staring into space. The young apprentice took the seat next to Bradley's bed and coughed lightly, shaking the two out of their trains of thought.
Ambrose beamed at her. "Afternoon, Apprentice March! How are you?"
"Feeling much more rested," Emma answered truthfully with a smile. She sobered a little. "How are the both of you feeling? Healer Hightower says you had to be coaxed into eating again."
Bradley huffed. "Healer Hightower is worrying unnecessarily. We … haven't been sleeping all that well, that's all."
"Understatement. I hear you haven't been sleeping at all; we're lucky if you get two to three hours apparently," Emma responded sternly. She leant forwards a little. "What's going on? The two of you were doing so well."
The two former Hit Wizards exchanged a dark look before Ambrose answered, "he knows."
Emma frowned at this. "He knows … what?"
"Mr. Weird-Eyes," Bradley clarified. "He knows the girl's secret."
"The girl? What girl?" Emma pressed.
"Harry Evans. He knows – he's figured it out," Ambrose replied, gritting his teeth in annoyance.
Emma froze for a moment as she thought back to what the two had told her before. "Has this got to do with Operation Sparta?"
"Yes," Bradley growled. "But that is not what he cares about – he knows who she is. Mr. Weird-Eyes doesn't know what to do; for the first time in years, he's indecisive. Conflicted."
Emma's heart began racing. "Why would the most powerful Dark Lord in recent history be conflicted about one young girl?" she wanted to know.
"Because he genuinely likes her," Ambrose scoffed, chuckling mirthlessly. "The shadows … they are just as confused as he is …"
"He wants to put her powers to the test …" Bradley added. "Before he makes a decision about what to do …"
Emma swallowed a little. "But Miss Evans is safe at Hogwarts. The new wards will keep out whoever he sends."
Ambrose shot the apprentice Healer a pointed look. "Miss March, you are very intelligent. I think you know very well that no one is truly safe anywhere. Not even if the place looks like the safest place on this planet."
The young woman smiled sadly. "True," she was forced to agree. Emma exhaled sharply. "Please eat your soup. It will put our hearts at rest – and at least try to get a few hours of sleep. Even if it is just for my or Philip's sake."
The Hit Wizards nodded, looking a little guilty. They began eating their brunch very slowly; they were eating, that's all Emma cared about. The apprentice got to her feet and then decided to check the charts of the other residents to see when their next dosage of potions needed to be administered.
Philip had just managed to get Hourglass to read a magazine when he joined Emma's side. "Do you think we need to send for Meg, Ghost and Goliath?" he asked in a low tone, shooting a glance at Ambrose and Bradley.
"I doubt it will do them much good, sir," Emma admitted. "This is not something that anyone can alleviate. The more that I talk to them, the more I am convinced these 'shadows' inside their heads are not mere imaginings. Somehow, I think they are mentally tied to Grindelwald."
"What?" Philip blanched.
"The Portrait Charm is a dangerous spell for a reason," Emma pointed out. "The caster in effect becomes the painter; which means there are traces of Grindelwald's magic still within them. Somehow, and don't ask me how because I have no idea, these traces allow them to instinctively know what Grindelwald is up to."
"Sounds almost akin to Soul Magic of a Dark kind," Philip muttered.
Emma tactfully kept her silence, not knowing exactly how to answer that. Philip sighed. "Continue observing them; get them to talk whenever possible. I will discuss with Healer Wilkins what to do to try and ameliorate the affects of whatever Link exists between them and Grindelwald."
"Yes, sir," Emma concurred readily.
"Keep up the good work," Philip smiled. "I don't think I said that lately."
Emma grinned. "No, you haven't. But then again, I haven't either," she pointed out. "I will go and fetch the potions before our sleeping dragons wake up."
########################################################################
The Slytherin common room was filled by students studying for the first time since the Yule holidays. Harry and her friends – including Artemis, Minerva and Loreley – occupied the sofas and floor in front of the fire. Harry herself had decided to leave the homework and studying for one more day and instead helped her friends with theirs. The Lady Regnant eventually curled up against Tom and very nearly fell asleep on his chest as the warmth, her lover's heartbeat and din around her lulled her to sleep.
This made Druella chuckle. "Looks like we have levitate our friend to bed tonight."
"''Mmm … not asleep …" Harry answered groggily.
"Not yet, but you're close to it," Altair teased as he ran his hand through her curls.
"No … mm not …" the Mistress of Death internally winced at her half slurry tone.
Felix started smirking mischievously and then grumbled with faux-annoyance, "I still cannot believe the Muggles were stupid enough to think the Diricawl was called the Dodo and then thought it had gone extinct."
Harry's eyes were open in five seconds and flashing with silver; everybody braced themselves. "The Muggles in question were not stupid, merely unobservant. They believed that because they no longer saw the Diricawl in their home land by 1681 after the birds had been exposed to cats and humans and Disapparated in order to escape them, the Dodo – as they knew it – was hunted to extinction. Due to the fact that most magical governments are required to protect the Diricawl – wait a minute!"
Felix started cackling as his friend realised she fell right into his trap. "You're awake now!" he stated triumphantly as their friends started chuckling as well.
"You! You! I should turn you into a woodlouse," Harry replied moodily. "They're less annoying."
"Sweetheart, let's not allow one's fatigue cloud one's good sense," Tom told her, tone full of amusement. He placed a lingering kiss on top of her head to placate her. "Let's not give Professor Slughorn a heart attack within two days of term starting."
"Fine. I still hate you," Harry grumbled at Felix as she forced herself to sit up.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Felix's eyes shone with mirth.
Loreley suddenly yawned and stretched. "As much as I would love to stay a little longer, I think Harry may be on to something, though. I think I will get an early night. Harry, you want to walk with me?"
"Sure!" Harry was happy for a good excuse to jump to her feet. She also knew just by looking at Loreley that her Sighted friend had something to discuss with her in private.
"Night, Lorri!" Artemis called over her shoulder.
"Good night, Loreley," Orion added as well.
The Malfoy heiress gave them both a wave before heading out of the Slytherin dungeons with her Traveller friend close behind her. Once the pair were out of earshot of everyone and started up the stairs towards Ravenclaw Tower, Loreley's expression turned sombre and very dark indeed.
Harry already braced herself for some bad news. "Lorri, what in Merlin's name is wrong?" she asked.
"You are not going to like what I have Seen," the Sighted girl answered ominously.
The Traveller swallowed. "What is it?" she pressed.
"Grindelwald. He knows the truth; he knows you are Lady Peverell."
The answer made Harry's heart skip several beats and forced her to take a sharp intake of breath. She forced herself to follow Loreley up the stairs, her mind beginning to race.
How? How did this happen?
Who was it? Who blabbed? Did the wrong person somehow find out? Did someone manage to get in her friends' heads?
It seemed that Loreley seemed to know exactly what Harry was thinking. "It wasn't any of us. No one got into our heads. However, Gringotts' double agent and their Head of Security messed up – they didn't check the pin. For what it is worth, Queenie managed to keep your secret for as long as she could. She bought you time to get to Hogwarts – you will be safe here, for now."
"For now," Harry repeated in disbelief. "You mean, he will get to me here eventually?"
"In more ways than one," Loreley confirmed cryptically, which made the Mistress of Death roll her eyes. "For now, the Dark Lord is undecided on what to do. He is conflicted on what to do."
Harry could not help but scoff at this and she frowned. "Wait … what double agent?"
Loreley smiled smally. "The spy handed himself in to protect you months ago," she informed her friend; the Lady Regnant's eyes widened in disbelief. "He has been keeping Grindelwald away from any information that could lead him to you, but the Alliance is smarter than anyone ever gives them credit for. They used Muggle technology to spy on his meeting with Neil Lament's father. Lament told him – and thus the Alliance – of your true identity."
Harry's jaw clenched automatically. Damn Lament and his loose tongue!
"Shit," she growled.
"Indeed," Loreley agreed readily, sounding solemn.
Harry huffed in irritation. "OK … what do you suggest I do?"
"Do? Do nothing. Continue to train, harness your powers – polish your Animancy. Continue our training," Loreley smiled serenely. "Solve your assignments and, above all, keep your Occlumency barriers strong."
Harry caught onto the underlying message immediately. "The others cannot know."
"No," Loreley agreed. "They cannot."
"Good," Harry scoffed under her breath. "I don't need Tom and Altair to worry unnecessarily."
"Precisely," the amused glint was back in Loreley's saffron orbs. "Though I must say, you three continue to impress with your ability to restrain yourselves at almost every turn."
Harry rolled her eyes, but was unable to stop herself from turning red, causing Loreley to chuckle.
"Shush," Harry advised.
The Sighted Ravenclaw continued to chuckle. They soon arrived at the entrance of Ravenclaw Tower and with a good night hug, the two friends parted ways. Harry was actually rather happy to have a moment to gather her thoughts on the way back to the Slytherin dungeons. Indeed, she took the opportunity to open the Link between her and her divine guardians.
Did you hear all that?
Indeed we did, came the solemn reply from Thanatos. I have never been so happy that a Mistress of Death and a Seer became friends.
Agreed,
Melinoë concurred immediately. I have a feeling we may get some news from the goblins. That they are taking so long clearly shows they must be in a right panic.
I take it that it means I am going to have to master the rest of my powers sooner rather than later,
Harry responded grimly.
You will be fine. We will make sure of it, Thanatos reassured.
I don't doubt it, Harry allowed herself to grin. Just out of curiosity, where is Hypnos?
Eeeeeerrrrm … he's occupied,
Melinoë's tone was full of mirth to the point that Harry could hear the snickering through the Link. With Rollo.Harry found herself spluttering too, red in the face; she caught onto the implication immediately. About bloody time!
Agreed,
Thanatos sounded just as entertained.
Harry closed the Link just as she approached the Slytherin dungeon. She hissed the password in Parseltongue, *Alcazar*, and breathed in and out quietly as she entered the common room, attempting to keep her countenance as composed as possible.
"Fully awake now, Harry?" Malum teased.
"Half," Harry smiled as she approached Tom and Altair and kissed their temples. "I think I am going to also get an early night. I will see you tomorrow."
The Lady Regnant barely heard the calls from her friends, bidding her a good night. She fled into her dorm and quickly changed for bed, ignoring the concerned looks from Athenaïs, Sigyn and Seraphina. Harry drew her curtains around her bed and, for the first time in months, allowed the tears of stress to flow quietly.
Unbeknownst to her, Tom and Altair felt her sadness as clear as day.
###########################################################################
"Do you know what this is about?"
"Not a clue, I would have hoped you might have an inkling."
Credence and Vida had prepared to have yet another quiet evening, but had just been summoned to Grindelwald's office by a disgruntled Carrow, who was not happy at being used as an owl, and were not told the reason why.
"Do you think Queenie has already been summoned?" Credence asked with a frown.
"She must have been or she would have helped prepare the snacks," Vida pointed out as they turned the right corner and headed towards the grand doors, the pair of them keeping their unblinking eyes on them.
Vida was the one to knock on the door as the pair took a fortifying breath, mentally preparing themselves for anything.
"Enter!" Grindelwald called from within.
The two Generals complied immediately. Grindelwald smiled at them coldly as they did; Queenie was looking them with an undiscernible expression. "Right on time as always," he commented silkily as Credence closed the door behind them and put privacy charms on the door. "We have some very important news to share with you."
Vida and Credence exchanged a look but waited for their leader to continue.
Queenie was the one who spoke up. "The last Peverell has been found."
The eyes of the two Generals bugged out of their sockets and Credence physically gaped.
"What …?" Vida whispered in disbelief.
"How?!" Credence exclaimed at the exact same time.
"Queenie fixed the buggy thing; Lament told our dear Rollo under the influence of Veritaserum," Grindelwald stated. "Rollo himself has confirmed that it is indeed the case: our Cursebreaker is the last Peverell."
Vida still could not believe her ears; she began pacing. As for the Obscurial, he frowned darkly. Grindelwald continued. "I have been thinking on how best to approach our slippery little friend. We will not be able to reach her while she is on Hogwarts ground so I thought it would be … prudent to see if we can put her powers to the test."
"Putting her to the test," Credence repeated, anger flashing in his eyes. "We have wasted men and time and resources in finding the damn Peverells, and now that we have the last Peverell in our sights, you wish for us to test her?!"
Grindelwald's cursed eye began glowing menacingly. The Dark Lord raised his hand and curled his fingers; the Obscurial was soon on the floor, twisting and turning as he was fighting to breathe.
"Do you wish for us to waste more time, men and resources, dear Credence?" Grindelwald hissed. "Do you wish for us to take a Peverell without knowing who or what we are dealing with?"
Credence could not answer, on the account of him being strangled. The Dark Lord sighed dramatically and uncurled his fingers; the Obscurial rasped for breath and started coughing madly. "We will put Lady Hera Peverell to the test," he stated crisply. He smirked. "I think we should send her a few of my more pesky projects whose answers allude me."
"Yes, my Lord," the girls chorused obediently as Credence fished himself off the floor, glaring at Grindelwald.
"Make sure it possesses a challenge. We can't give her an easy ride," Grindelwald continued with a bright smile. "Queenie, my darling, I think since you brought this information to my attention, you get to pick her first new project."
Queenie dipped a curtsey and tactfully kept her mouth shut.
"Right. I am glad we have that covered. Now, I will leave the three of you be for today. Tomorrow is a new day!" Grindelwald twirled excitedly as he put his music back on with a wave of his hand.
The three Generals quickly made themselves scarce.
"Merlin, Morgana and all the fairies of Avalon," Vida whispered in disbelief as soon as they were out of the office. "She's a Peverell. She's a damn Peverell! General Evans' husband – he was a damn Peverell?! How did we miss this?"
"I have no idea, but I am pretty certain those Operation Sparta lot did everything they could to hide that fact from us," Credence growled as the three of them headed back down the corridor towards their chambers. "I am also pretty damn certain at this point that the Silver Dragon is also the Peverell girl."
"You think so?" Vida paled.
"It makes sense, V!" Credence exclaimed. "Who else would risk life and limb to get the Flamels out of an active war zone? Who would be able to hide the Flamels away from the Tracker? Who would know the divine laws well enough to perform a Blood Rite? It all suddenly makes sense! How could we have been this stupid?"
"That would mean admitting we got our behinds handed to us by a seventeen-eighteen-year-old witch who isn't even out of school yet!" Vida's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Considering she was part of Operation Sparta and was General Evans' child, I am not surprised," Queenie stated lightly. "This should be interesting to say the least."
"You don't say," Credence rounded on her with an accusatory look. "You have been acting strangely of late, Queenie. You avoid everyone and everything – and now suddenly, you fixed the bug and you are in possession of the information Gellert long sought after."
The Natural Legilimens raised a challenging eyebrow. "What are you suggestin', dear Credence?"
"I am suggesting you knew longer than for simply one or two days that the Cursebreaker is a Peverell," Credence snarled, causing Vida's eyes to widen. Queenie didn't react. "Why the hell would you not tell us?"
"I had no reason to tell ya," Queenie answered lightly. "I wasn't sure."
"Bullshit!" Credence snapped, his black Obscurial dust beginning to dance around his hands.
"Credence, stop!" Vida pleaded. "Look, I know this is a shock to us all but you need to calm down-"
The Obscurial stormed down the corridor without looking back at either of them; he went to his chambers and slammed the door. The two of them could hear their friend screaming in rage from inside the room.
Vida and Queenie were both breathing rather heavily; it had been a while since Credence had an episode with either of them. They had hoped he had a grip on his red mist, but it seemed that his hold had lessened. Vida turned to her friend.
"Queenie, did you withhold the information?" she whispered.
"Yes," Queenie answered breathlessly. "Only because I had no idea what to think … I kept second guessing what I heard. I was scared, V."
Vida regarded her in silence for a moment. "I get it," she reassured quietly. "Trust me, I do understand, Queenie. But Credence is right – you should have told us. We could have helped you."
Queenie snorted. "You might. Credence would have tried to use the information to try and bargain for that snake friend of his to be released."
"True," Vida conceded immediately. She gave Queenie a stern look. "The next time you hear or find something of importance, you tell us. Promise?"
"I swear," the Natural Legilimens answered firmly, smiling smally.
"Good."
"HOW DARE YOU MESS WITH MY MUSIC, YOU UNGRATEFUL EXCUSE OF POOR KINDLING?!"
"Uh-oh," Vida commented. "I don't think the Wand is very happy."
"No," Queenie whispered. "I think we can guess why."
The two ladies exchanged a look and scarpered to Vida's chambers.
###########################################################################
Credence is not happy – Grindelwald has settled for trying to test Harry's powers to see if she is a potential problem to capture. How will the Revision Club deal with the aftermath of the results? Will the Slytherin versus Hufflepuff rematch see yet another problem descend on them? How will the goblins help to protect Harry? Stay tuned to find out!
Oh my gods I am on the edge of my seat – and I am the author, yes I know. I get excited whilst writing my own stories as well; I am rather sad that way XD I hope you guys are as excited as I am though!
Orion: Gellert, what in Mordred's name are you sending her?!
Gellert: Muhahahahahaha hahahahahahaha!
Harry: Oh dear…
Tom: I think someone didn't get his tea and cookies today.
Queenie: He got way too many.
Orion: He raided the biscuit tin again, didn't he?
Queenie: Yes, yours.
Orion: WHAT?!
Gellert: … Uh-oh …
Harry and Tom: Gellert's screwed!
Oh boy … see you guys in the next chapter!
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