A/N I apologize for the long waits between updates – I've been having problems having uploading my documents to fanfiction.
They found muggle transport to Kings Cross Station, and had a small lunch while waiting for the eleven o'clock train. Sitting on a bench at platform 9 3/4 was odd for Sirius and Odessa, who hadn't ridden the train since they were students. They were used to the hustle and bustle of several hundred students boarding, now there were only three or four other wizards waiting to board.
"Different, isn't it?" asked Sirius as he took a large bight of a Reuben sandwich.
"Certainly is," said Odessa. "How are you, Minerva?"
"Fair enough, dear," said Professor McGonagall. "I'm still not sure what to make of all of this. I just hope the students are all right. They were left with that Puddinghaste fellow... I don't know what to think."
"It certainly doesn't make sense," said Odessa. "I mean, we all knew he was a bloody prat, and ambitious to boot... but trying to poison you... Just doesn't seem like something a prior Gryffindor would do."
"Not all Slytherins go bad," said Minerva, "And not all Ravenclaws turn out good. You really must get over your house prejudice."
Chagrinned, Odessa looked at the ground and said, "You're right, of course. It's just... I'm very wary of people these days. Remember how long everyone said Severus Snape was loyal to the Order? Turned out to be Voldemort's right hand... until Sirius's dad defeated him."
"Oh, that," said Sirius, rolling his eyes. "Famous Harry Potter... the boy who lived. You know... people have come up to me in the street and asked me if I have a scar like my dad's? Mental, all of them!"
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," said Minerva, "Yes, your father was famous. He didn't ever want to be. It just sort of happened. He is one of the humblest wizards I have had the pleasure to know."
"Yes... but you're not related to him. Mighty big shoes to fill," said Sirius.
"Which you fill quite nicely," said Minerva. "Don't let your father's legacy get you down. Remember, you're part of that legacy. Never forget that you come from a proud heritage, Sirius."
"Thanks for the encouragement," said Sirius. "I'll work on remembering that. I just want to be known for something I did, not something my father did."
"Train's here," said Odessa. They stood up, boarded the train, and headed off for Hogsmeade Station, hoping Professor Greene, Hastings, and Gabe had everything under control.
When Professor Greene, Hastings and Gabe apparated in front of the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade they found the usual few people going here or there and the sky was a brilliant blue. The air, crisp but a little chill foretold the coming of spring. It cheered them all somewhat.
"Come dears," said Jade, "We should get back up to the castle."
"Sunday," said Hastings, "A bit empty for a Hogsmeade Weekend, isn't it?"
"Oh, it was canceled," said Professor Greene, "With the suspicious way students have been acting it seemed best to use mass punishment in this case. Not fair to everyone, I realize, but I hope that it will teach them a lesson. We should get there as soon as possible, however, you never know what could be happening."
They trudged up to the castle, surprised to find no one on the school grounds. It was as quiet as a school day.
Hastings looked around, "You know, you would think that on such a fine day, some children would be outside. "Wands at the ready," said Jade. Both Gabriel and Hastings pulled them out, and continued walking with them.
"Sorry we didn't trust you," said Hastings, "We just... wanted to make sure that everything was all right."
"I understand of course, dear," said Jade. She stumbled a bit, "Oh, my laces have come undone. Go on ahead, I'll catch right up." She bent down to tie her shoes and Hastings and Gabriel walked onward.
"Do you suppose her feelings are hurt?" asked Hastings.
"Nah," said Gabe, "I think she's well enough. I just hope Puddingwaste didn't do anything to the kids." Hastings laughed at the nickname, remembering when she herself had called Falcon that.
Suddenly, both of them were blasted off their feet, and flew about twenty yards, feeling their wands ripping away from their hands. When they landed on the ground, silently but effectively disarmed, they turned over to see Jade standing over them, holding three wands.
"You two really ought to have practiced silent spells a little better," she said with a sneer.
Hastings opened her mouth but Jade quickly silenced them both, "Silencio! I am not silly enough to allow either of you to speak or call out in anyway. Not that it will do you any good, the school is already under my control. Now up with you both." Holding her wand steady, Jade watched as they stood up. She waved her wand once more and ropes tied their hands up. "Can't have you thinking you can escape. Now, walk towards the castle. If you make one move that's out of place I will kill you." Glancing at each other, both Hastings and Gabe silently agreed that it was better to obey for now. Slowly they started to trudge towards Hogwarts, wondering what had become of the students.
The hallways were empty, as were the classrooms. The castle was as silent as a tomb. Professor Greene marched them down to the dungeons, through a maze of hallways that neither Hastings nor Gabe knew existed, and into a small, stone room. Professor Greene shoved them inside and slammed the door shut. Hastings and Gabe stared at each other, unable to talk or to move their hands, which were still bound. Gabe slowly maneuvered around and awkwardly tried to write something in the dust with his foot. Hastings leaned over to see if she could read what he had written.
The word Pocket was barely legible and Hastings could only hope that she had read it correctly has she scooted closer to Gabe. She backed up to him, scooted herself around, and stuck both hands into the gaping pocket of his robes She felt around, moving her entire body to shuffle through various rubbish. She pulled out a piece of parchment, quills, an ink bottle, some Droobles Best Blowing Gum wrappers, and… a pocket knife! As it dropped to the ground, she turned and smiled brightly.
Gabe smiled back, and shrugged his shoulders. He knelt down and inched around to pick up the knife, and in no time his bonds were cut. Standing again, he walked around her and cut her loose as well. Once free, Hastings cupped his cheeks and gave him a quick kiss and a thumbs up.
Gabe walked toward the door and checked it, though he knew it would not open. Without his wand he was next to helpless but he tried in his mind, while concentrating on the lock, to open the door. Alohomora! he focused on it completely. There was a faint light coming from the key hole, which cheered him greatly, but that was all, and when he tried the door again, it still wouldn't budge. Now what? he thought. He knelt on the floor again where he'd scribbled the word "pocket", and wrote something else in the dust as Hastings watched. "Together, maybe? Silent spell, combining forces... Alohomora!" Hastings smiled and nodded, though she wasn't sure of the effectiveness of such a tactic. If it worked, she realized it would mean changes to teaching styles and making wands obsolete. Still, she shrugged and walked toward the door with Gabe.
Both of them concentrated like never before, focusing all their attention on the lock, and reciting the charm over and over in their heads. Once or twice they were able to get light to shimmer as Gabe had, an even stronger light than he had managed, but it remained locked. Finally, frustrated and exhausted from the effort, Hastings gave up and leaned against the door, breathing deeply. Gabe did the same.
As she leaned against the door trying to figure a way out Hastings remembered her first year at Hogwarts, walking through its strange corridors and looking at odd things. She'd seen a placard of remembrance on the wall in a hallway, revering the school's prior long-time headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. It mentioned his contributions to wizard-kind, and his eventual brave demise. There was a quote at the bottom of the placard; this Hastings particularly remembered, for she often went back to read it when she needed encouragement. It read, "I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me... Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."
Hastings thought it strange that she should think of this quote here and now... but it gave her comfort. She'd heard the stories, of course. She'd grown up believing the characters of the old days to be folk-heroes. Why, one of her best friends was the son of The Boy Who Lived... So much legacy was wrapped up in the heroes of wizard-kind, and Hastings realized that, even if she played a small role, she was a part of it. Even now, the school was facing a grave danger... Peril was here once more. A new legacy could be born this night... if only they had the bravery to finish what was started. The pride of her house... Gryffindor House surged through her. We have to save Hogwarts! Please... help me. We have to...
Without warning, the door opened, and she and Gabe (who were still leaning against it) fell to the floor outside.
"Well, that was..." said Hastings, then stopped, shocked.
"You... can talk!" said Gabe. "I... I can talk! What was that all about?"
Hastings smiled and said, "I have a hunch... but there's no time. Let's go."
"But we don't have our wands..." said Gabe.
"Look!" said Hastings. There, on the floor in front of them, as though they'd been blithely discarded, were their wands. Gabe picked his wand up, staring at Hastings.
"We really don't have time," Hastings apologized, grabbing her own wand. "Let's just say Dumbledore has returned."
"If you say so," Gabe said, still fingering his wand. "We need a plan."