23. Showdown
On their way to city hall Jade and Astoria took soul parts of a teacher, a secretary and a supermarket owner. Draco and Ron followed them to collect each of those people and brought them to city hall. On the way their victims had talked and spoke differently of witches and their influences on Salem.
Neither of them was scared anymore and was friendly to the all their neighbours and other muggles. The four witches and wizards made their way through the crowd which got quieter. They still had to find the lawyer before he ruined the plan.
Hermione had taken soul parts of the major, a doctor and a nurse who talked too much and spread rumours according to Chris. She still wasn't happy about what she was doing but she looked into smiling faces which made her feel less guilty.
"We are ready to go. It will take us a bit to get to city hall. We have the longer way" Scabior looked at his map and wanted to leave the hospital. Hermione's magic worked better with these people than her spell had worked on himself and he didn't trust the situation now it seemed too easy to be done. "Don't you worry why it works with them but I almost died?"
"I used the wrong gobstone. Astoria's soul was already within but now I have others" When he grabbed into her pocket she showed them a couple of stones and smiled. "I took them when the fire started. I wasn't sure if we come back and I'm pretty sure nowhere else I get these stones to examine them"
"You are not happy if you don't now everything, do you?"
"That's what makes me the brightest witch" Hermione smiled more but it vanished when Scabior took her hand and started running. "Let's go, bright Hermione. We see how your magic works and then we get out of here"
The lawyer was holding a speech in front of the main crowd. Speaking of revenge and Salem's future he spoke like a racist and made all of the four angry. Jade tried to get closer to him to give Astoria a better chance to cast the spell but it wasn't easy.
The muggles in the front were chanting and scared Draco and Astoria. They both hide behind their friends until Ron noticed someone. "Hey, is that Scabior?"
Hermione and Scabior couldn't see their friends in the crowd. Chris didn't see anyone either but didn't seem worried at all. "We have to go to city hall and make my father talk to the crowd. Your friends must be here somewhere because the baker talks to a group of people over there. Our plan begins to work"
"Chris, how shall we get to city hall? We can't walk through the crowd. If anyone notices me..." Hermione swallowed hard but Chris still didn't worry about their situation. "I take you to the back entrance. If we replace the lawyer with my father he can talk to this mob"
"I take the lawyer" Scabior grinned and grabbed Hermione's hand to follow Chris walking around the market place. They all stayed on side streets to stay out of sight and opened the back door with the major's key.
Hermione knew some of the corridors and led the tiny group to the front entrance where Scabior stopped her before she stepped too close and could be seen by anyone. With a grin on his face he kissed her hand and disappeared, quickly running outside and whispering something to the lawyer.
It was the moment Ron noticed him and at first didn't believe it when the lawyer nodded and cleared his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen! Our major has returned and wants to speak to us!"
All eyes were focus on the front door to see the elderly man stepping outside and listen to the applause of his citizens. "Ladies and gentlemen! I have come with news and I ask you to listen carefully. I know we are all afraid of the witches and their magic. They used their magic in Salem the past months and we have no weapon against them. But my son, Chris, has spoken to the new witches! He has told me they won't hurt us"
Screams from the crowd and an angry lawyer interrupted the major. The situation could come out both ways and Jade looked at Astoria who hugged her friend tight and was scared at the screams. Not all citizens followed the major's change and no one wanted to listen to Chris when his father suggested it.
Muggles don't just believe.
Muggles want prove.
Muggles want to be in control – just like Jade herself.
She had always thought to be a gobstone witch forever and control everyone who was in her way. Now she cared for someone and saw Ron did the same for Draco and Scabior went back inside to stand close to Hermione. They all had someone to protect and Jade didn't want to lose control and run.
She stepped out of the crowd and raised her wand. "People of Salem! Listen! Chris has spoken to us and we will leave Salem! We will leave today! I, Jade, promise this and give my wand to the major. I can't do magic without my wand and I won't come back. Salem is safe!"
For once the crowd was silent and watched Jade giving her wand to the major. She waved her hand and soon Scabior and Hermione stepped outside. They all took each other by the hand and walked away from city hall. No muggle stepped in front of them instead they moved away and let the witches pass.
A great part of the crowd followed to the edge of town to see the witches truly left Salem. At the ash tree Hermione and Scabior put down their wands too when their friends joined them. None of them looked back but Draco whispered. "And what now?"
"What about the school?"
"Don't worry, Astoria, the muggles believe we are gone and I will write to the headmaster. I'm sure he has a way to bring the students in safely and unseen. The main part of the school was invisible to the muggles and I'm sure students can be too" Jade looked straight forward and didn't stop walking while she held both on to Astoria and Hermione. "You did it again. A hero in the last moment"
"Don't call me that. I'm not a hero" Jade still didn't like to be called a hero and rolled her eyes while the rest of the group started smiling and felt a relief they left once more. Somewhere they are not known and no one special.
A place no one spoke of Harry and Hogwarts or gobstone witches and Salem. Jade led the way and all was fine.