Author's Note: The story uses the Julian calendar in places, as the modern Gregorian calendar wasn't used until 1752. September 1st, 1379 (Julian) is a Thursday, but September 1st, 2000 (Gregorian) is a day later (Friday) because of leap year.
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For copyright and disclaimers, please see chapter one.
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4 – Second week, Third Year
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Sunday, September 3, 2000: (Gregorian)
Hogwarts, Staff room: 10:39
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"Come in, Miss Bell," Tonks called as Ginny escorted the Ravenclaw firstie in. "Now, I'd like to state that this meeting is being recorded by an Unchangable Quotes Quill as you see, and you are not in any trouble. Furthermore, you can have a parent or a solicitor here if you wish. Any questions so far?"
"There's a good bit of rumour," Vickie said. "Why only girls?"
Tonks replied, "A girl is missing, and it happened in the female loo on the train. There's a gender line on the doorsill, so it couldn't have been a guy." Vickie nodded, Tonks continuing, "Now then, we're in the Staff room of Hogwarts, and today's date is September 3, 2000, it's twenty till eleven am. Present are Ginny Potter as escort, Nymphadora Tonks of the DMLE, and Vickie Bell. Miss Bell, for the duration of this session, I'm going to put a truth charm on you, which will also help your memory. We've permission from the Wizengamot (she passed over a sheet of paper) for this. I'll remove the truth charm today; we're only concerned with the train ride to Hogwarts on the first, nothing else."
"What's the spell for?" Miss Bell asked, glancing at the sheet with two unfamiliar signatures.
"It helps you recall accurately," Tonks replied. "We'll ask you not to gossip about the investigation, since a girl from the train had to have done this, we don't want to tip her off, right?" Miss Bell nodded, Tonks adding with a smile, "Any questions? Want anyone else here?"
"No, nobody else, and let's get it done," the somewhat nervous firstie said. Tonks smiled, casting 'Veritas anima' and saying, "No reason to be nervous dear. Now then, your full name, and let's start at Platform 9 ¾...
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'Finite Incantatem', Tonks said to cancel the spell, and Vickie shook her head. "Are you all right, dear? Shall I call the infirmary?"
"No, thank you, I'm fine," the firstie said, the quill still industriously scratching away. "Why is it still going?" she asked.
"Everything's being recorded, keeps it all proper and aboveboard," Tonks replied cheerfully. "Have you any questions?" The girl shook her head.
"Now then, if you're feeling all right, you can be off." Vickie jumped up and ran out, Tonks sighing, "This is gonna take forever." She flipped through her pad of names, drawing a line through 'Bell, Victorinex.', and saying, "Next is Belks, Melinda, a seventh-year Huffie." Tonks stood to stretch, "I'm going to visit the loo if you'd be so kind as to fetch Miss Belks?"
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Sunday, September 4, 1379: (Julian)
Scotland, Hogwarts infirmary: 06:03
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The girl groaned, hand flopping to her forehead. "I have such a headache," she complained.
"'Tis no wonder, you took a nasty spill," a woman's voice replied as she put a cold cloth on her head. "Not to worry, we've maintained your dignity, I'm the one that undressed you." She tisked, adding, "Such scanty clothes, were you abducted in your nightwear?"
"No, it's my school uniform," she said, flopping the cloth over. "I don't mean to be rude, but who are you, and where am I?"
"I am Perenelle Flamel; my husband is Nicholas, professor of Alchemy. You're in the infirmary, this is Hogwarts School of Wizardry," she added.
"Thank you. Mattie Wayne," she offered, waving a hand. "Wait a minute, that doesn't sound right," she said, turning her head and wincing. "What spell did that little bitch Malfoy hit me with?" she muttered.
Perenelle sucked her breath in, but Mattie said, "It fits. She's been trying to bring the Dark Lord back to life for three years. Maybe she thinks this resurrection will keep." She pressed the damp rag to her forehead, asking, "What was the school's name again?"
"Hogwarts School of Wizardry."
Mattie pulled herself up. "I thought that's what you said. Your husband, Nicholas, teaches Alchemy?" Perenelle nodded, and Mattie twisted in the bed, wincing again. "May I ask the date?"
"September fourth."
"The year, please?"
"The year of our Lord 1379."
Mattie flopped back, "Wonderful."
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"You wished to see me, dear?" the grey-haired witch asked. "I am Headmistress Alberta Oldridge, and this is Master Nicholas Flamel. Oh, don't get up."
"Thank you, Mistress. Master Flamel," Mattie said, politely nodding her head. "I suppose we'd best get to business. If I am to understand you correctly, this is the year 1379?" Heads nodded, and Mattie took; then released a breath. "I was born May 31, 1988. Six hundred years from now."
"Six hundred nine," Master Flamel corrected absently. "I presume you are a student at Hogwarts. By your size, a sixth year?"
"Just starting third; I hope you know a time-travel spell, as I certainly don't."
"None come to mind. Have you any proof of this?"
"Um," Mattie thought, "I had a bag, and my wands?"
"Your bag is under your bed; your clothes are in the drawer. They were washed for you." Perenelle asked, "Why do you carry two wands, dear?"
"It's a long story, even if I could tell it, which I don't think I should," Mattie said as she dug through her bag. "Ah, here we are!" she passed over a tan wand, the Headmistress reading, "Property United States Government?"
"I doubt very much you have that government on this planet at this time. For further proof, I have money." Mattie passed over a British ten-pound note dated 1996.
"This is currency?" Master Flamel asked, rubbing it between his fingers. "It feels like fine linen cloth. You do not use gold?"
"Muggles haven't used gold since…" Mattie slapped her hand over her mouth. "Sorry. I have to be very careful about what I say. It is cloth, only there is some method the government uses that lets you fold it like paper." She took it back, and absently folded it into a paper airplane, "The government uses it instead of gold. It's much lighter and easier to carry." She flicked her wrist, and the banknote spiraled before softly landing on a bed.
"A thing that flies without magic…" Perenelle whispered, as their eyes followed it. Mattie blanched, and lunged for it, "Oh, god, oh god, oh god!"
"Why do you call upon the Lord, child?" the Headmistress asked.
"Because unpowered flight won't be invented for… a while! I have to guard the timeline!"
"We shall speak naught of it," the Headmistress said, eyeing the Flamels. They nodded, while Mistress Oldridge asked, "What is this 'timeline' you fear so much for?"
"But you still know of it! That by itself may be enough to disrupt it! I may have killed billions and billions of people!" Mattie took a breath, then asked, "May I erase the memory?"
"How might our knowing of something kill … how many people did you say?" Nicholas asked. "I do not think there are that many people alive!"
"Let me see if I can explain this," Mattie said. "Quantum mechanics and higher math was never my best subject." She thought for a minute; then said, "Imagine three groups of people walking along a stream. The footpath they're on is charmed so they cannot stop walking."
A mobilus charm, go on," the Headmistress said, leaning forward in her chair, fascinated.
"They're walking in the same direction and speed as the stream." The other three nodded, and Mattie continued, "You three are in the middle group. However, a strong wind just picked me up from the first group and dropped me in with your group. Now, when I landed in with you, I dislodged some rocks from the path, which landed in the stream. When you toss a rock into a stream, there's a brief period of time when that rock blocks the path of that bit of the stream. Follow me?"
"I believe so, but what of the third group on the path, the ones behind us?" Nicholas asked.
"Those are the people from six hundred years before now," Mattie replied. Choosing her words carefully, she asked, "In recent times, has there been a large loss of life?"
"Indeed there was!" Perenelle said. "The Black Death! Thousands of people died from it, and…" Mattie watched her, "… the people in the third group know not of it."
"No, they don't. They haven't walked that part of the path yet," Mattie said. "There are two other things. I mentioned stones being dislodged into the stream?" They nodded, "Each drop of water in that stream represents a life. What happens if a big enough rock is tossed into the stream?"
"The stream is blocked," the Headmistress said. "That is where your billions of lives come from?"
Mattie nodded, "By simply talking like this, I am throwing dust in the stream. However, by revealing that unpowered flight is possible before its time, I am throwing a rock in. How big, I don't know."
"Coming from the distant future, you should know what occurs," Perenelle said.
Mattie shook her head. "If a gust of wind picked you up, and dropped you with the third group, in the seventh century, what would you know? Only what you remember from school history classes, which used a very broad brush." She sighed, "People will ask me what their fates are, and I can't answer them, primarily because I don't know."
Perenelle opened her mouth; then closed it, thinking. Her husband said, "You do know some people's fates, though." Mattie nodded, Nicholas slowly continuing, "However, if you were to reveal them, you would be throwing a rock in the stream."
"Yes," Mattie nodded. "If you were to tell someone that they would die at a particular time, in a particular location, they would avoid that." They nodded, the Headmistress slowly adding, "That would affect other people, though."
"Which would affect still more people, and we wind up with billions of people," Mattie nodded. "Now, people are going to die no matter what, it's the manner of their lives and deaths that matter. Can you think of someone that died from the Black Death that was a true shame? A very bright person; or someone truly gifted?" All three nodded, and she asked, "What if that person was brought back to life? What would change?"
"You can raise the dead?" Nicholas asked.
"I cannot," Mattie said, and then changed the subject, "I'm sure that you have questions regarding the future," she grinned, "I know I would. I'll answer what I can, but if I don't..."
"We shall not press you," the Headmistress said. "I would suggest that we announce your status up front. If we were to lie, especially given your peculiar accent, we would be caught out in moments." She gazed at Mattie, "My question would be precisely where you are from?"
"I was not born in the British Isles," Mattie said. She thought for a minute, adding, "I was born in a city called Gotham on a continent that has yet to be discovered. Next?"
"A continent yet to be discovered?" Perenelle asked. "How big is the world, and how many live on it?"
"Seven continents, and Earth's population on January first, 2000, if I remember correctly, is about six and a half billion."
"Billion? But you spoke of Earth's population," Nicholas asked, "Does that mean that..." Mattie shook her head, "Oh, drat. Um, what of cities?"
"Tokyo is the largest, with 26 million or so, while London has seven million. Others, well..." Mattie grinned, "Sorry."
"You said that this field was not your best," the Headmistress said. "What schooling have you had, dear?" At Mattie's raised eyebrow, she explained, "I shall put this in the Headmaster's journal for your own headmaster to see, but it would be best if I knew what your academic background was."
"Um. Reading, writing, composition, basic mathematics," Mattie said, expanding at the Headmistress' eyebrow, "...Addition, subtraction, geometry, algebra, and basic physics and chemistry. At Hogwarts, I've taken second-year Astronomy, History, Charms, Herbology, Potions, and Defense. I was looking forward to taking Alchemy lessons, it's not a normally offered course. I've been studying it on my own, and bothering my Head of House about it – he's the Potions Master," she added.
"You are a Slytherin, dear? I wasn't sure, with the embroidered patch and the green..." Perenelle asked. Mattie nodded, "I don't think Alastair would know me, though. He hasn't Sorted me yet, although I've taken him to Quidditch games."
"Something he complains about," Nicholas added, "In any case, I am your Head of House, my dear. We shall talk later about Potions and Alchemy. For now, we shall withdraw, and allow you to get dressed for breakfast."
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Sunday, September 4, 1379: (Julian)
Scotland, Great Hall, Slytherin table: 09:05
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"Good morning," Mattie said as she smoothed her skirt and sat. "I'm Mattie Wayne; I'll be with you for a while."
"Thomas Bones," a fellow said. "I don't remember you being sorted into Slytherin."
"The headmistress will address that," Mattie said. "Pass the milk, please."
The pitcher dropped with a crash, breaking open. Mattie waved her hand at it; saying 'reparo'. A blond shook his head, saying, "You didn't use a wand."
"I've been practicing," Mattie said. "It's easier to use a wand to focus with, but what happens when you don't have one?"
The Headmistress entered, taking her place at the High Table and tapping a goblet with a knife. "Your attention, please. We have a new student for a time. Miss Wayne (she motioned, and Mattie stood), is visiting us from the future. You will not inquire of her regarding future occurrences, nor will you ask to your fates. To do so would have unimaginable consequences. If I hear of a student forcing her, you will be memory-wiped and expelled. Is that clear?"
Professor Flamel addressed his house, "You shall not press her on this, nor will you allow others to. She has given good and sufficient evidence to the Headmistress and I. You will regard her as any other third-year student." Nods and mutters of 'Yes, sir,' answered him, and he proceeded to the head table.
"Drat," one fellow said. "What can you tell us?"
"Not enough to keep either one of us happy," Mattie shrugged. "I'm sorry about that. I know how I'd feel if someone was dropped into my lap from six hundred years in the future."
"Six hundred years..." someone whispered. "What must it look like?"
"It's the same castle, from what I've seen so far. There's the same moving staircases and such, although I'm sure there are differences, of course." Mattie took a sip. "The uniform is different, as you can see, and the infirmary is on a different floor, though. Why it was moved, I've no idea."
"I'd be out of my wits," one girl said, adding, "Anne Bundy."
"I'm not very good with it," Mattie admitted. "I'm more frightened of saying or doing something that will endanger the future." She looked about the table, muttering, "No coffee, damn it."
"What is coffee?"
Mattie slapped her forehead, "See what I mean? Coffee is a drink, similar to tea."
"Ah, the Crusaders mentioned it," Anne said.
Mattie relaxed; then shook her head. "That's right, the Crusades. Here I was thinking I'd have to wipe your memories over coffee." She sighed, "It's so difficult to think common, everyday things haven't been invented yet, or places haven't been discovered."
"Surely you would have learned such things in History class," one blond fellow said.
"Yes, but my History instructor was not exactly exciting," Mattie said. "He tends to focus on one thing, one set of 'verified facts' as he called..." Mattie stopped as people went pale around her. "What?"
"You've just described Professor Binns... including his favorite phrase," Anne said. She jerked her head at the Head Table, "The fellow in the brown robes with the beard. He's the head of Hufflepuff."
"Oh, lord..." Mattie breathed. "You can't tell him..."
"We shall not," the platinum blond told her, adding, "Augustus Malfoy. What do you feel comfortable telling us?"
Mattie considered, "I was Sorted into Slytherin on September first, 1998."
"What is the ceremony?" Anne asked.
"Not in public!" Mattie hissed. She waved her hand, casting 'obscurus aqua' over the two of them, then asking, "Your name is Bundy? My Quidditch captain's name is Bundy." Mattie grinned, and continued, "The ceremony I went through was this: my head of house cast a spell on a column in the common room, and a listing of the members of the Den appeared." Anne nodded, Mattie continuing, "I tapped my wand on it, invoking my full name; then smeared some of my blood over each of the words. The names started scrolling again, and the ceremony moved on to the next person."
Anne nodded, "What order were you called?"
"Reverse alphabetical by last name."
"Cancel the spell, please." Mattie waved her hand, Anne announcing to the table, "She is a Slytherin. She has gone through the initiation ceremony." She turned to look at Mattie, "How came you here?"
"I was caught unaware by a spell cast by an enemy. Know any time-travel spells?"
"Not to travel six hundred years," Augustus said. "How will you notify your kin?"
"The Headmistress said there is a daily journal that is kept by the Headmaster. She will add to that, hopefully they will remember to look back at previous years."
Augustus said. "Why do you fear informing us of the future?"
"Two reasons," Mattie said. "Firstly, if I tell you what will occur, it may change, because of that foreknowledge."
"How so?" Anne asked.
"Simple," Mattie replied. "If you were to have foreknowledge of, say, the date and manner of your death, you would avoid that," and several people nodded. "That would affect the course of history, changing it and possibly sparing and killing billions of people."
"Billions?" Augustus asked. "There are not that many people alive!"
"If I remember correctly, Earth's population on January first, 2000 was about six and a half billion," Mattie answered. "Don't forget, there'll be thirty or so generations between then and now."
"Drat," Augustus muttered. "Why else can't you inform us as to our fate?"
"Simple, I don't know," Mattie said. "Put yourself in my place. You've just been sent several hundred years to your past, to say, the Roman occupation of Britain. What could you tell someone then of his future?"
"True... but you would know some..." Anne said.
"I do, or at least I recognize your clan, but as far as your individual fates?" Mattie shrugged again. "Sorry, and I have no way to look it up, even if I could answer. All my school supplies, with the exception of my bag, were left behind."
Augustus said, "Perhaps it would be best if we were to introduce you to everyone."
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Sunday, September 3, 2000: (Gregorian)
Hogwarts, Staff room: 11:49
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"Thank you, Miss Belks," Tonks said, and the seventh-year strolled out. She smiled at Ginny, "Let's get lunch; I owe you and Harry a good dinner for this." She checked her scroll, crossing off Miss Belks; "After lunch, we can do Miss Melinda Bobbin, a seventh year Gryffie."
"Who's going to do this during the week?" Ginny asked.
"Minerva's got a schedule of faculty, Monday morning is Vector, then Hagrid in the afternoon," Tonks said, waving a sheet of parchment. "Harry on Tuesday all day, bless 'im."
"This will take you something like three weeks to work through all the girls on the train," Ginny said. "I was there, too, and the trolly lady, can't discount us."
"Miss Wayne's brother, the copper?" Tonks asked, Ginny nodding, "We traded war stories once; the muggle coppers are called 'flatfeet'. I've got it easy now, I'm sitting during the day. I'll just have to march on." She heaved herself up, "C'mon, I'll buy y' a cuppa."
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Sunday, September 4, 1379: (Julian)
Scotland, Hogwarts: 12:33
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"... And this fellow is the groundskeeper, Mr. Peeves," Augustus said, and Mattie started. Anne caught Augustus' eye as Mattie politely greeted the crotchety old man, who grumbled and tugged on his forelock before moving off.
"You know him," Anne said quietly. "Not just his clan, the man himself. You reacted to his name."
"Damn," Mattie cursed. She reacted to Anne's crossing of herself by sighing, saying, "Sorry about that. This is harder than I expected."
"As difficult for us," Augustus said, "To know that you know the fates of some within this castle, but cannot speak of them," he raised a hand. "I cannot fault your reasons. Indeed, the knowledge that you care enough about them is to your credit, but I do not think I could bear that burden. Ah, here is someone else! Baron, a moment?"
The Slytherin house ghost floated closer, Augustus doing the honors, "Baron, may I present Miss Wayne. She is visiting us from the future Hogwarts, where she is a member of Slytherin House."
Mattie bowed, "Honored specter, a pleasure to see you again."
The Baron bowed himself, "A pleasure to meet one who has a grasp of the courtesies due the dead."
"I was instructed by the ghosts of my own time, sir."
"Excellent. I shall mention your courtesy at the next meeting of the ghosts' council. How long will you be with us?"
"Only long enough to return to my own time, sir. I fear disruption of the timeline."
"As well you should. If I may assist you, you have only to speak my name. I shall inform the other castle ghosts." The Baron bowed again courteously and vanished.
"Familiarity with the castle ghosts, knows two people by name..." Anne said, then fixed Mattie with a gaze, "Binns and Peeves are ghosts?"
Mattie looked at her, finally saying, "I can't answer that."
"Enough, Anne," Augustus said. "Ah, Melanie, you were not at breakfast. Miss Wayne, this is Melanie Snape." Mattie did another small start, which Anne noticed as Augustus continued, "You may get the tale from Professor Flamel, but Miss Wayne is visiting us from the Hogwarts of the future." He raised his hand, "We are instructed, on pain of memory erasure and expulsion, not to press her for details, nor allow others to do so."
"The future?" Melanie said. "Can you tell me who I will be married off to?"
"Er, sorry, no," Mattie said. Melanie pouted and ran off, and Mattie sighed. "Married off to?" she asked.
"No arranged marriages?" Augustus asked. "How will wizarding bloodlines be preserved?"
"It's not something I've worried about," Mattie admitted.
"I confess surprise," Augustus said. "You are apparently a powerful witch, with good bloodlines. I surmise you are sixteen or so, definitely marriageable."
"Twelve, actually. I started Hogwarts a year early, and my father's family is Scottish, my mother's French," Mattie said. "No, our tradition is for the couple to find each other, date, then marry. Arranged marriages are somewhat old-fashioned."
"Apparently so are we," Augustus said, Mattie shaking her head, "Different times, and different customs. I'm the guest, I'll have to adapt as well as I can." She glowered, "That doesn't mean you can marry me off to the next bloke that wanders by." A Hufflepuff wandered by, curious at the news, and the three Slytherins burst into laughter.
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Sunday, September 4, 1379: (Julian)
Scotland, Hogwarts: 19:22
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"Come, Mattie, I'll show you where we sleep." Mattie turned to the Slytherin dorms, and Anne giggled, "Not with the boys, silly."
"You don't sleep with the rest of the house?"
"I should say not!" Anne exclaimed; then considered Mattie's confused look. "Oh, you don't mean abed with them, do you?"
Mattie motioned for her to precede her, "No, in my time there are separate girls' and boys' dormitories for each house, although the phrase 'sleep with' does mean, or imply, having sex."
"Differences," Anne sighed. "How I dearly wish I could visit. However, that's not to be."
"At least here, you're home, while I'm not," Mattie replied, "Like on a long ocean voyage, not sure you'll survive the trip."
"You could always stay," Anne offered, but Mattie shook her head. "What about my own future marriage, children, and grandchildren? I have a family, my two brothers, one of who was just starting Hogwarts this year."
"Here we are, the girl's tower," Anne said, cocking an eye. "Another difference?"
"This is the astronomy tower," Mattie said, then stamped her foot, "I was so looking forward to class! I had such a great trip over the summer!"
"The Headmistress spelled the door in some way so that only women might pass," Anne said, pulling open the door. "'Tis frightfully advanced magic. Where did you go? Didn't it take years?"
"A few weeks," Mattie mused, waving her wand about and studying the magic. "It was a quick trip to Oa, only a day's flight each way. This is just a simple gender line, keyed off your chrom..." she looked up, wagging her finger, "Naughty, naughty. Upstairs with you, m'dear. I'll have to decide if you can keep that bit of knowledge." The door boomed shut behind them.
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"You bathe every night? Anne asked in shock. "It's, well, it's somewhat sinful."
"Every morning, too," Mattie said. "Haven't you heard the phrase, 'Cleanliness is next to Godliness'?" she asked, shivering as her foot entered the cold water, and casting sterilizing and heating spells. She sighed, then said, "C'mon in, it won't hurt you, and it will keep you healthy."
"How so?" She extended a foot to touch the water, adding, "It's hot!"
"Just warm, just a heating charm on the water. If you're bathing in cold water in a Scottish winter, I see why you don't want to make a habit of it." She motioned to Anne, "Do I have to pull you in?"
"Pull whom in?" Melanie asked as she entered. "Oh, you're bathing!"
"Yes I am, and I want each of you girls in here with me in the next five minutes," Mattie declared. "I am not getting sick and dying because of your fears. Bathe!"
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"This is actually rather fun," Anne said, splashing Melanie. "It reminds me of swimming in the pond in summer, but what did you mean by 'sick and dying'?"
Mattie regarded her, "I'll have to ask you to take me on faith, as you don't yet have any way to prove it or not." The girls nodded, "Many diseases are caused by very small vermin, called germs, which live on fleas, ticks, and so forth. Regular bathing and sanitation defeats those germs, which makes you stronger and healthier." She grinned, "It can also be fun to scrub with a partner," and winked.
"So you know what caused the Black Death?" a girl whispered in awe.
"Not specifically, but it's likely enough that I'd lay gold on it."
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Monday, September 5, 1379: (Julian)
Hogwarts, Great Hall, Slytherin table: 12:13
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"What are you on about?" Melanie asked. "Today's the first day of class, we haven't any schoolwork yet."
"I'm writing letters home," Mattie replied, dipping her phoenix feather quill in the inkpot. "I don't know when they'll get them, but I can at least write." She signed the letter, then drew her wand, 'Abditus ROT13' she said to encrypt one, 'Abditus Marauder' to encrypt the other. "There," she said, making notes and folding the two parchments. "All ready for the Headmistress' journal."
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Tuesday, September 6, 1379: (Julian)
Hogwarts, History class: 10:13
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Mattie yawned; Professor Binns was somehow even more boring in life than he was in death. She jerked up when he called her, "Miss ... Wayne, is it?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Perhaps you can tell us of the Elf-Goblin war of 1162, hmm?"
She stifled another yawn, "Sorry, sir, it's been a stressful few days. I haven't followed ancient history all that much." She stifled another yawn, "I'm better with more recent... err..."
"What would you consider 'recent', Miss Wayne?"
'In for a penny...' she mused, "Seventeen hundreds on, primarily."
"Ah, that's right, time travel," Professor Binns mused. "How do I know you aren't lying to us?"
"I'll ignore the insult," Mattie said, as a small gasp went around the room. She drew her tan wand, tossing it to the professor. "If that government exists on this planet right now, I'll eat that wand."
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Friday, September 8, 2000: (Gregorian)
Hogwarts, Staff room: 16:26
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"...so I held the door for Wayne as I left the loo, and..."
"'alf a tic, Miss Frobisher," Tonks said, starting up along with Professor Flitwick. "What did you just say?"
"I said I held the door for Wayne as I left the loo," Samantha Frobisher said. "There was someone else in a stall, and I did my business and washed up. Malfoy was in the loo, she had her bag open and was casting 'follicus extensis' on her hair in the mirror as I left and Wayne came in. The loo in my car wasn't working, a sign on it said so, you see, and the door was locked, so I had to find another." She frowned slightly, "Most of the loos were out of order that day, I wonder why?"
"I'll look into it," Tonks said, making a note. "Who was the girl in the other stall?"
"No idea, but she was crying about something. I offered to help, but she said she'd be fine. After that, I went back up two cars to my compartment, and then left the train, up to the castle in the carriages, and we had the welcoming feast. Was this helpful?"
"Very much so, Miss Frobisher," Tonks said, canceling the truth charm. "I hope you have a good weekend. If you're feeling all right, you can be off, and thank you."
After Frobisher closed the door behind her, Professor Flitwick said, "A break in the case."
Tonks nodded, "A witness that can place Wayne with at least two other people at the same time, and one of them tops Wayne's enemies list." She waved the parchment that Sprink and the others had drawn up. "We can account for Umbridge, and this is too sneaky for her, anyway. I still want to run down who the girl in the stall is, and why the other girls' loos were locked out. We don't have any proof it was Malfoy, or what spell or potion, if any, she used on Wayne. It's not illegal for a girl to fix her hair. Still, its progress to add to my report." She pulled her new laptop over to her, adding, "I hope you have a good weekend, Professor, and thanks for your help."
"My pleasure, Miss Tonks."
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