21. Servants

The major's son was called Chris and managed to keep the witches hidden and save from his father. The major himself wasn't much at home the last week which made it easier for Chris. He cooked for the group and tried to get them anything they needed.

Before Jade and the others could go anywhere they wanted to be sure Jade was feeling better and well enough to travel. A few of the friends already thought about leaving but on the other hand they all knew there was a time they students had to return and who would protect them from the hate of the muggles? Should they just believe the problem solved itself?

Hermione sat in the kitchen with Scabior. He kept looking at Jade's little stones and the book Hermione was reading. The stones he had seen before but why should the witch put a piece of his soul inside it. "So, now I have to do everything you want? Like I'm your slave?"

"No, I will let your soul free like Jade did it. I have to burn it but first I have to find the ritual how to do it" Hermione kept reading the Grimoire but Scabior took it from him. "And what then? Jade cares for Astoria and used the soul thing to save her. You... you did it why? I'm nothing to you, witch"

"I'm sorry. I wanted to know more about a theory I had but now I know I was wrong" She tried to grab the book from his hands when he started laughing. "The great Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age is sorry? And she was wrong? You surprise me. I thought you are all clever and stubborn like Jade and never really fell"

"Do you think this of Jade? After what she did? I thought you are friends"

"Jade has no friends. Jade has servants and Astoria. She doesn't do things without thinking of what somebody else could do for her" Scabior had a smile on his face but it vanished when Hermione slapped him for his answer. "She saves us, you stupid idiot!"

Hermione left with the Grimoire and Jade's gobstones to return to the witches room. She saw Jade had just left her bed which was a good sign. The young Salem witch had recovered and wanted the things back which belonged to her.

"I'm proud I know you. Even we don't think the same about many things I know you saved us and your school" Hermione gave the Grimoire and Jade's stones back who didn't say anything to answer Hermione's words. Jade wasn't touch and knew she had been a hero which wasn't her favourite title. She left her room after one week of recovery and saw Scabior bow to her. "Good to see you again. We just talked about you"

"Yes, because you didn't value Jade's heroic act"

"I'm not a hero. Stop saying this" Jade was grumpy and her mood didn't got better when Draco and Ron joined them with Chris. "Oh, you are back on your feet. That's good. You are a witch and you are the most powerful of them all"

"See, this muggle knows how to call me" Jade's words made Astoria giggle but she stopped when Jade looked at her. "What do we do now? Do we stay or do we go? We are only six and can't stop all these muggles alone, can we?"

"Seven! I want to help you" Chris was excited and clapped his hands. He was more happy about this situation than the witches and wizards. He thought of this moment like an adventure and made plans himself which the group didn't accept.

"You can't help us. You are a muggle, Chris. You get yourself in danger and we have another problem. Your father will blame us if anything happens to you" Ron stayed the obvious and his friends agreed. It was too dangerous for Chris to help them. Chris had to be kept out of this and wasn't happy about this.

"We have to do something. We all agree to this" Jade put the Grimoire on the table and looked from one to the next of her little group. "If we do this you all have to do what I tell you. No arguing and no one runs away. After Hogwarts we can't also lose Salem. Witches have to be proud and to be better we have to learn how"

"Maybe we shouldn't call ourselves better than them" Hermione protested but was silent when Jade looked at her with anger. Jade had what she wanted. She was in control and her younger friend Astoria protected Jade's gobstones with her wand while the older one explained her plan. "The muggles won't listen to us. We have to use our magic to make them back off. We have to show them only a few of us can already bring a whole city down"

"You want to scare them? Threat them? Do you really think this is a good plan, Jade?" Ron wasn't pleased with Jade's idea and thought what Harry would have done. "We have to find a peaceful way"

"We can't talk to them. You know what they did just because they think it was a witch house many centuries ago. Not all are weak like Chris" Jade didn't care about the muggles and Chris didn't try to change her view until Hermione tried to come up with an idea herself. "What if Chris talks to them in our behalf? In London muggles in important positions like the minister know about magic and are regularly informed. What if we do this here?"

"And risk they burn this house and Chris with us?" Scabior didn't like any of the plans while Astoria asked for Jade's Grimoire and started reading it. "Maybe the Salem witches had an idea how to get out of town alive but then they were stopped before they could act"

"Yes..."

All eyes went back to Jade who sighed before she explained what she read before. "They had wanted to use all their gobstones together and create a peaceful Salem but we can't do this"

"Why not?" Draco's question was very quiet but made the rest nod who wanted to hear the whole plan of the Salem witches. "They... they wanted to control the town with gobstone magic. They had chosen who to take souls from and get this way in control of Salem. With just a piece of everybody they had enough power to make the rest follow and in time they should learn magic is no threat... but this town never learned anything; and we don't have many gobstone magic"

"You can't perform the spell anymore because you gave Astoria free. But... I could... and maybe the others try too. Chris finds us the main speakers and we calm the city again"

"This can't work, Hermione. If someone who is not a gobstone witch tries to use this magic it's dangerous for them. The only one who could do it is... you and maybe Astoria because her soul part was given back and maybe, only maybe, it came to her with just enough magic from me... but this is a risk I don't want her to take and you can't do it alone" Jade didn't accept any plan but her own while Hermione looked from Astoria to Scabior. "Do you feel like being controlled? Does it hurt?"

"No"

"We never feel anything and... Jade, I want to try it. This could be our only chance to save the school for future generations and I'm sure whatever happens to me I know you are still there for me" Astoria hugged her older friend and felt how Jade kissed her hair. The gobstone witch was giving in and they had to act soon.