Chapter 12 of year 4: Operation: Borgin and Burkes; Stage Two: Hogsmeade
The Entrance Hall was bursting with energy. Every student from third year and up was in the Hall eagerly awaiting the arrival of the carriages. Even the teachers seemed a bit excited as they chatted in their corner.
Remus kept his sights on Abbot and his friends. James and Sirius were busy pretending to shoot spells at each other, preparing themselves for a duel they felt sure would take place. Peter watched them, his face lit with amusement. Eilidh was waiting with her friends since she wouldn't be in Hogsmeade with them. She was talking avidly with Mary Macdonald and Josie Archer as Lily waved someone over.
Remus's stomach dropped when he saw who it was. It was Snape. Jealousy seemed to be getting the better of James recently, so Remus fixated his gaze on Abbot, determined to not let his friends know who was coming their way.
"Ahhhhhh!" James let out a sudden, agonizing, panicked yell as he fell to his knees. Snape stood over him looking confused and annoyed. Sirius took one threatening step forward.
"What'd you do to him," Sirius accused angrily. They were starting to gain the attention of the surrounding students. Snape looked even more confused with Sirius's wand in his face.
"I didn't-"
"He touched me!" James cried, clutching the front of Sirius's robes. Sirius lowered his wand, a smirk playing on his lips. He apparently found this amusing. "I've got his diseases now! I can feel it! It's spreading! I'm breaking out in-in… IN GREASE!"
People around them either laughed or turned away with a mild expression of annoyance. Lily started pushing her way through the crowd toward them. Snape stood froze on the spot, speechless and mortified.
"Don't touch me, you'll spread it!" Sirius yelled, pushing James off feigning disgust.
"Sirius, you have to help me!" James cried. "What do I do?"
"Ask Evans!" Sirius said, pointing at Lily bobbing her way through the crowd. "She's immune." James turned and waddled on his knees toward her.
"Shut up, Black," Snape snarled, in a low threatening voice. Sirius merely smiled at him as if daring him to make good on his threat.
"Evans, help-"
"Jump off a bridge, Potter," Lily said, savagely. She took Snape's hand and pulled him away from the scene.
"That sounds fun. Sirius put that on our bucket list. You're welcome to join us, Evans!" James shouted after her, getting off his knees.
"What was that, Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked firmly as she came up behind them.
"Oh, nothing but a bit of fun, Professor," James smiled, not seeming at all innocent. Peter covered his laughter with a coughing fit. Sirius grinned crookedly, his arm resting on James's shoulder.
"I certainly hope it was that and nothing more," McGonagall said, severely.
"But of course," James grinned toothily. Professor McGonagall eyed all four of them then swept briskly away. James, Sirius, and Peter burst out laughing.
"That way the funniest thing I've seen in while, James," Peter gasped.
"You all are terrible," Remus said, firmly. The crowd around them began to shift and thin, most hurriedly headed toward the front doors. Remus allowed himself to be swept along, not knowing what else he had to say to his friends.
"Oh, come on Moonchild!" he heard Sirius shout after him.
"Yeah, moonbeam it was only a joke," James added.
"Lighten up, Moony," Peter said. He heard the distinct sound of James's cackle before he was swept out the door and down the steps.
He hurried along, too angry and a bit nervous to face his friends. He made sure to save a carriage directly behind the one Abbot chose and focused on controlling his emotions.
"What was that?" Eilidh demanded as Lily and the rest of them strode past with their noses in the air, looking determinedly in the opposite direction.
"I don't know. James was having a laugh I guess," Remus muttered.
Eilidh sighed, angrily. "You'd think he'd be a bit more sensitive to what Lily wants considering."
"Considering?" Remus said, offering a hand to help her into the carriage.
"He's got a crush on her doesn't he?" she answered. "I'm not riding with you. Lily thinks I'm going with my brother I'd like to keep it that way."
"How do you know that? That James has a crush on her?" he asked, taking a seat in the carriage.
"Please. James Potter is the most obvious person I've ever met." She rolled her eyes and stared into the sea of people rushing to get a carriage. When she spotted James through the crowd she tensed.
"Eilidh did you see? Snape walk by and James was all AGHH HE TOUCHED ME!" Peter said, mocking James's movements in the Hall.
"Yeah, I saw. Along with most of the school. You're a proper git you know that?" Eilidh said, venomously staring at James. Peter, finally sensing her mood, sobered up and clambered into the carriage beside Remus.
"Relax, Eilidh. It was a joke," Sirius said, passing her without a second glance apparently not at all worried about her anger.
"It was just a laugh," James added indignantly. Eilidh stood before him, eyes narrowed, hands on her hips. She reminded Remus of his mother when he was caught reading after bedtime and he had to force himself not to laugh.
"It wasn't just a laugh. You embarrassed Snape-"
"Good," James interrupted fiercely.
"And upset Lily. Which we're probably going to fight about this later because I'm friends with you, so I'm guilty by association," Eilidh said, throwing her hands up in the air.
"Well, if she says anything just send her my way. I'd be more than happy to talk to her for you," James winked and ruffled his hair.
"I'm sure you would," Eilidh snarled. She pushed James, although gently, out of the way and stomped off.
"Oy, where're you going?" James yelled.
"I am riding with my brother," Eilidh responded defiantly, her robes swinging around her as she turned on her heel.
"We've got things to discuss!" James shouted. Eilidh flipped him off and kept on marching. Sirius was laughing again. Peter was biting his lip to hide a smile. James climbed up into the carriage and took a seat next to the chuckling Sirius.
"She- she's just- she's so," James said, seeming to be at a loss for words.
"Stubborn. Crazy. Ridiculous," Sirius offered, still amused.
"Exactly," James nodded.
"I was thinking more along the lines of right," Remus added seriously. Sirius looked at him arching a brow. Peter looked at James and Sirius as if expecting a stronger reaction.
"If I didn't know any better, Moony, I'd say you had a little crush-"
"Oh, shove off Sirius!" Remus said, kicking him lightly.
"Oy! Why - " Sirius yelped from the sudden kick.
"Anyway. Moony." James interrupted, putting his feet up in the seat between Remus and Peter. "We've been thinking…."
A new plan was made. The signal, "strideo" was the same and they were only to use it if a dark object was in sight. They would follow Abbot through Hogsmeade as discreetly as possible. If they had to split up James and Sirius would cover Abbot, Peter and Eilidh would cover Saunders, and Remus was trusted enough to follow Barker alone. They exchanged quick tips on duelling and clever spells they found useful, seeming to hope that an actual brawl would take place. Neither James nor Sirius seemed concerned with the fact that their enemy was three years ahead of them.
"Remember whatever happens-" James said, upon reaching the start to Hogsmeade village.
"We're in this together," Peter finished, confidently.
"No, we keep that dark object out Abbot's hands," Sirius corrected.
"Yes. And we are in this together. We've all got each other's backs, even that stubborn, crazy, ridiculous woman," James said the last part loud enough so Eilidh could hear as she approached.
"You haven't seen crazy, Potter," Eilidh said, raising her eyebrows, hinting that humour had returned to her.
"Save it for Abbot," James said, smirking. He pulled Eilidh closer into their circle. As they followed Abbot at a distance he filled her in on the new plan.
Abbot stayed glued to his friends. They walked side by side, closer than what would be considered normal. They stopped into various stores along the main street of the village. They all took turns following them in as the rest waited at a short distance, to not raise suspicion. It became apparent that Abbot was only doing this to look innocent like it was just a regular Hogsmeade visit to him. It was a good plan and it would have worked if he and his cohorts weren't so nervous and fidgety. They were constantly looking over their shoulders as if scared of being followed.
James was worried about getting caught, so they split up and took shifts. James and Sirius would follow behind Abbot while Peter and Eilidh ran behind buildings and Remus casually strolled in front of them. When they passed Remus, Peter and Eilidh would dash out in front, Remus would fall behind, and James and Sirius would duck behind the buildings, and so on. It was harder to do as they approached the outskirts of the village and the buildings grew farther apart. Remus actually caught sight of James rolling from one building to the next like he was in a Bond movie and had to bite back a laugh.
Remus, Eilidh, and Peter stopped outside the post office so they'd fall behind Abbot. James and Sirius met them instead of dashing ahead because there was nowhere else to go. The rest of the street was a residential area. They watched as Abbot and his friends turned up a narrow side street that inclined. They continued following Abbot, this time with an even larger distance between them. Abbot continued on until they reached a small inn at the top of the hill.
A battered wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket over the door, with a picture of a wild boar upon it, it's head severed and leaked blood onto the white cloth around it. The sign creaked ominously as they approached. All five of them hesitated outside the door. It suddenly became clear that this was much more serious that harmless pranks on suspected Death Eaters.
"Hog's Head then," Remus said, slightly nervous. "Bit obvious of them, isn't it...?"
James led the way inside.
They usually spent their time in Hogsmeade surrounded by the warm, cleanliness of the Three Broomsticks. Hog's Head could not have been more different. The pub was comprised of one small, dingy, and very dirty room that smelled strongly of barn animals - particularly goats. The bay windows were so encrusted with grime that very little daylight could penetrate the room, which was instead lit by stubs of candles sitting on rough slabs of wood that somehow passed for a table. The floor seemed at first glance to be earthy, though as Remus stepped onto it he realised that there was stone beneath what seemed to be centuries of accumulated filth.
Remus remembered that Hagrid sometimes talked of coming to this bar when he helped Madam Pomfrey escort him to and from the castle on full moons. He wondered why Hagrid would ever want to come here. Everyone in the place didn't seem to want to be caught there at all. They were all hooded or masked with horrible transfiguration jobs. Two hooded figures sat at the bar, talking in whispers. In a shadowy corner beside the fireplace sat a witch with white hair that fell to her toes covering her face so he could only see a bright red nose protruding through it. Not far from where Abbot sat hunched over with his friends was a man with a straight nose that wanted to be hooked, letting Remus know that this was a kinder transfiguration error. Instinct told him to run from the place and to definitely not attract attention to himself.
All five of them seemed to naturally want to cling to the shadows. They travelled in a tight circle, standing closer together than what was normal but it made him feel safer so he didn't say anything. He fell into a kind of stupor, shuffling and tripping over his feet as they made their way toward a deserted table and kept their heads down. Their eyes shifted habitually toward Abbot and his friends, twiddling their thumbs or bouncing their knees, nervously watching the door as if expecting someone to arrive. The three of them talked casually to each other as they sipped on their drinks - alcoholic by its looks.
"I wanna know what they're saying," James whispered, irritably.
"It's just small talk by the looks of it," Sirius said.
Remus kept glancing around the room at the disguised figures. They were more than likely criminals and the five of them seemed to have attracted their attention.
"We should order something," Eilidh declared.
"You really wanna eat something here?" Sirius asked, casting a look of disgust at the floor and the table.
"We're attracting attention just sitting here staring at them," Eilidh hissed, leaning towards him. James and Sirius both cast a quick nervous glance about the room. Sirius nodded.
"Butterbeers all around then?" James asked, standing.
"I'll help," Remus said. He seemed to be in direct eye sight of the witch and did not like the feel of her gaze. Before they could reach the bar though the door creaked open, blowing in even more dirt and dried up leaves, and in walked a woman. Not an 18 or 19 year old witch fresh out of Hogwarts, but a woman easily mid-20s who walked right up to Abbot and kissed him.
Distracted as they were by the new comer, neither Remus nor James noticed the bar man who had sidled up to them from a back room.
"Need something?" the man said, rather irritably. Remus jumped in surprise.
"Er, no," James said, distractedly. He had barely flinched when the man announced himself, his eyes were too focused on Abbot's greeting.
"Butterbeers," Remus said, nudging James's arm with his elbow.
"Right, five of them, please and thanks," James said finally turning around.
"10 sickles."
James passed over the silver and the barman took it, looking suspiciously for a moment between James and Abbot's group then turned to deposit the money in an ancient wooden till and began preparing the drinks.
"We're being too obvious," Remus whispered as quietly as he could to James.
"Maybe he's just not used to having Hogwarts students here," James shrugged, casting glances over his shoulder at Abbot.
"Just stop looking at them," Remus said, out of the corner of his mouth just before the barman returned with their drinks.
They returned to their table to find Eilidh, Sirius, and Peter having a heated yet hushed discussion.
"You really think he's innocent!" Sirius hissed.
"No, he's still here! He's just not as bad as we originally thought," Eilidh responded.
"That'd be a good thing wouldn't it?" Peter asked.
"Mate, pick a side or shut up," Sirius said.
"What are we talking about?" James asked, setting down the butterbeers he held afloat in front of him.
"Eilidh thinks that Abbot doesn't actually want to be a Death Eater he's just being manipulated by his older girlfriend," Sirius explained, tilting his chair back on its hind legs and crossing his arms looking smug. He looked at James anticipating his response.
"No, he obviously does but she could be the one that put the idea in his head," Eilidh defended. "Think about it. She might be one of them and because Rosier is too young to really do any damage you-know-who's using her to get to Abbot so he can get inside Hogwarts now that Malfoy and Wilkes are gone."
"Abbot said this morning that he's wanting to get his attention so he can have a chance to become one, if you-know-who's in on this he wouldn't need to get his attention 'cause he'd already have it," James argued. Sirius pointed his finger at James while looking at Eilidh.
"See! Abbot may look innocent but that bloke's just as twisted as Malfoy!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Maybe she-" Remus started to say that it was still possible for the woman to be manipulating Abbot before being interrupted.
"Guys look," Eilidh whispered, nodding toward Abbot's table. The woman had taken out a small black cardboard box. Holding the parcel in her right hand, she gesticulated wildly with her left as if explaining something. "That has to be it."
"Wouldn't it be funny if that was just cuff links or something," Peter chuckled, completely changing the tone of the conversation.
"After what we heard this morning it's not bloody likely," James said, smiling.
"No but this still could be a setup," Peter said. James's smile disappeared as he looked at Sirius.
"You don't think-"
"There's no way. They're not that clever," Sirius said, almost defensively. After all, they were Slytherins for crying out loud!
"Cunning is in their house description," Eilidh said, weakly.
"We don't have time to discuss this," Remus hissed and glanced towards them. "They're moving."
Abbot, Barker, Saunders, and the woman all stood, tucked in their chairs, and made their way toward the door. Sirius shot up and whispered, "Accio parcel" but no parcel came flying out of any of their pockets and they continued to the door as if nothing had happened. James ran after them, his wand at the ready, and they all followed.
"OY!" James shouted. Abbot and his friends looked over their shoulders but continued walking. The woman however sped up when she heard James. "OY I'M TALKING TO YOU SHIT FOR BRAINS!"
At this Abbot, Saunders, and Barker all stopped and turned around. The woman continued on without a backwards glance.
"What the hell did you just say to me?" Abbot asked furiously.
"You heard him," Sirius said, taking his place beside James. "He said you had shit for brains."
"I'd watch your mouth if I were you. He's Head Boy," Saunders sneered.
"SIRIUS, he's Head Boy! Run! He'll put us in detention!" James said with faux fear lacing his voice.
"Make us write lines. Merlin, I don't think I could take it," Sirius smirked.
"You don't cool the attitude I will make you write lines," Abbot said, authoritatively. "I'm definitely taking points off of Gryffindor for your mouth."
"Why do you reckon Dumbledore made you Head Boy?" James asked, conversationally. Abbot didn't seem to know how to respond to this. "See, we've been talking it over and we reckon that he was hoping you'd give all the stupid kids hope."
"Cause if an idiot like you can make Head Boy then there's hope for everyone," Sirius laughed. Barker moved forward, his wand pointed directly at Sirius. James and Sirius jumped into a fighting stance, Remus, Peter, and Eilidh tensed behind them.
"Will, stop!" Abbot ordered. Barker halted at once, his wand still pointed at them. "I don't know what you all are up to but we can discuss it in detention. Monday evening."
"You really think you'll still be in school come Monday?" Remus asked, stepping forward.
"Last I checked, bringing in a cursed object gets you expelled," James said. Abbot laughed a short humorless laugh. He turned to Barker and nodded.
Barker raised his wand, brought it down, and in that one elegant movement Sirius was on the floor as if his knees had suddenly forgot how to work. Peter stepped up and blocked the next spell Barker had aimed at him. Saunders strode forward and shouted "Stupefy!" pointing his wand at Remus. Eilidh pulled him out of the way and blocked the spell with her ready wand before Remus even had a chance to register his movements. James chased after Abbot who was running like a bat out of hell down the hill.
"I've got him! Help James!" Remus shouted at Eilidh as he took his wand out and prepared to duel.
With the exception of a few friendly bouts, Remus had never been in a duel before. His father, upon receiving his Hogwarts letter, had taught him a few spell he thought would be useful should he ever have to defend himself against an adversary. So when Saunders raised his wand again, clearly about to disarm him, Remus thought back to his father's lessons and said quickly and clearly, "Everte Statum."
Saunders flew back several feet, his disarming charm shooting aimlessly in the air, and landed with a thud on the ground and didn't get up again. Remus looked over his shoulder, checking to see if Sirius and Peter still had the upper hand with Barker. He was struggling against thick ropes tied around his arms, wrists, and legs, protruding from Peter's wand who was smiling victoriously at Sirius.
"Nice one, mate," Sirius grinned.
James, Eilidh, and Abbot were still dueling at the bottom of the hill. Abbot's wand waved wildly and almost uncontrollably around as Eilidh and James shot a string of spells at him. They almost had him. Eilidh and James began to separate slowly and didn't stop until they were on opposite sides of Abbot. He turned to deflect a spell that Eilidh shot at him. James charged, hitting him in the middle and bringing him down. Pinning him with his knees, James reached for his pockets. Abbot raised his wand. Eilidh grabbed his arm and pulled it down before he got a chance to hex James. Abbot swung and hit her head, successfully knocking her off. Both James and Eilidh reacted. There was a brilliant flash of multicoloured light leaving Abbot moaning in pain with tentacles all over his face. The attack distracted Abbot long enough for James to reach into his pocket and pull out the black box but not enough to stop Abbot completely. While Abbot raised his wand to attack again, James and Eilidh were about ready to cause more damage.
Dumbledore strolled up to the scene, unnoticed by the three in combat. He raised his wand and disarmed all three of them. He spoke. James and Eilidh retreated back up the hill. With a wave of his wand the tentacles on Abbot's face vanished and he and Dumbledore followed James and Eilidh.
"What's he want?" Peter asked nervously. Eilidh shrugged. She was bleeding from her brow where Abbot had hit her but otherwise seemed fine. James, on the other hand, looked furious and tense though physically unharmed.
"You guys alright?" James asked. Remus, Peter, and Sirius nodded. Dumbledore waved his wand over Saunders bringing him back to consciousness and helped him to his feet.
"You can let him go now," Abbot sneered at Peter who still had Barker bound.
"Nah, I think he likes being tied up," Sirius said with an unnoticed wink, he then ruffled Barker's hair. Barker jerked away from him and glared. Abbot snarled but said nothing.
"Is anyone in need of immediate medical attention?" Dumbledore asked, holding Saunders steady by his arm.
"No, sir," Remus said, feeling a little guilty about injuring Saunders so badly.
"Good. Now, Mr Potter if you'll hand over that box and Mr Pettigrew please release Mr Barker, I think I can take it from here," Dumbledore said. Peter lowered his wand and the ropes that held Barker fell. James handed the box to Dumbledore, keeping still furious eyes on Abbot. "Thank you. Please go and enjoy the rest of the day."
"That's-" Eilidh started but broke off seeming to think the better of her protest.
"We will be talking about this later, Miss Nicnevin, I assure you," Dumbledore smiled then strode past them back into Hog's Head taking Saunders, Abbot, and Barker with him.
"Let me see your head," Sirius said, tightly.
"If you don't mind, I'll just wait till we get back to the castle so Madam Pomfrey can look at it," Eilidh said, stepping away from him.
"Don't be ridiculous. I had detention with her for a month I can take care of a minor injury," James argued.
"James is really good at healing spells," Sirius assured her, catching her by her arm and holding head to keep it still. He whipped away the blood with his thumb. "James what do you think."
James stepped up and squinted at the cut on Eilidh's brow that was barely visible now that the blood was gone.
"Right, it's too small for any spells I know but it looks like it might leave a scar so you should probably see Pomfrey when we get back," James told her.
"Thanks," Eilidh smiled, awkwardly.
"I can't believe he hit you," Sirius said, finally releasing her, his furrowed brow gave the only sign of emotion. His years of experience with Sirius told Remus that he was trying very hard to control himself.
"Oh stop! If it was any of you, neither of you would be fussing this much," Eilidh demanded. James looked like he wanted to argue but couldn't find the words.
"You're probably right," Sirius shrugged, not looking at all bothered by the statement.
"Thanks, mate," Peter muttered. Sirius smiled and pushed him playfully.
"Hey, thanks for having my back, back there," James smiled, nudging Eilidh with his shoulder.
"Don't mention it," she smiled back.
"Moony! The way you knocked Saunders out! AGH, you've gotta teach us that!" James said, excitedly.
"You saw that," Remus said, his face felt warmer than usual.
"He flew like five feet in the air! Everyone saw that" Peter grinned.
"That was pretty cool," Sirius said.
"Black, I never thought you'd be taken down so easily," James teased.
"Oy, he took me by surprise!" Sirius defended.
"I don't know, it looked kind of obvious to me," Eilidh shrugged.
"Pfft, I'm still an ace," Sirius scoffed.
"Yeah, you're still an ace," Eilidh laughed.
***carlingwilliams, sleep happens all the time but Bart Crouch only happens once in a while so you've got your priorities straight. Currently Lily doesn't like James because he's still a bully in her eyes. I do like the idea of them working together on something but it can't be Snape because they're still friends and Lily (to me at least) seemed very protective of him. There's not much else I can say without spoiling what I have planned except Jily will totally happen. And thank you for reading and telling me that you liked it, it means a lot and I'm really glad you enjoyed it. XO
***Hey J, who is not James but is still cool cuz you sign J! I actually deleted the innuendo because I thought it was too awkward and I guess I didn't delete the note when I did but I like the way you think with the Princess Bride thing :D Thank you for the compliments. The way you word things is really interesting, have you written anything? XO
***LucidDreamer10, thank you. Jily will happen in its time. Unfortunately Lily is stubborn and James has his head up his ass. I will strive for longer chapters now that I know it's preferred so thank you for saying so. As long as there are people reading I will continue writing. XO*********
****Did you ever do something incredibly stupid like writing a chapter that isn't supposed to happen until like centuries from now and then get really excited about sharing it because you're actually proud of what you've written but you can't because I don't know why but you just can't?! Yeah, that's what I did. I also have zero impulse control so if you're following me as an author and you get an email saying that I've written a new story and care about reading something that isn't supposed to be written yet, don't read it.
Shout out to the followers and the favouriters and the lurkers, you guys are awesome!
You know the drill...
XO